TheBucket

Our Insights

Insights gleaned from 25 years of life and investments.

Throughout this journey, as a Professional Opportunist I’ve encountered both missteps and triumphs, alongside fortunate strokes of luck.

My outlook on life, people, and investments leans towards the “glass half full,” fostering an optimistic perspective. Consequently, I’ve gravitated towards investment strategies and approaches that often diverge from mainstream consensus, challenging the perspectives of friends, family, and peers.

My aim is to impart valuable lessons that may resonate with you. Here’s to shared wisdom and growth—Ryan.

  • Was It Skill or Just Luck?

    I genuinely believe much of my success comes down to luck rather than intelligence. I grew up as a white male in a working-class family in a top Western country in the 80s. My parents, both school teachers, valued education and encouraged me to explore academics, sports, and culture. I…

  • Top Indicators for Identifying Bitcoin Cycle Peaks

    As the crypto market edges into the anticipated “banana zone” for this cycle, we’re analysing indicators from the past three cycles to better predict the next cycle top. Through our research, we’ve identified a set of 14 critical Bitcoin indicators that we can monitor in real time. When 10 out…

  • NDIS Property Investments: Lessons Learned and Why We Exited

    In July 2023, we exited a 2.5-year investment in an NDIS property. The NDIS (National Disability Insurance Scheme) incentivises private real estate investors to build custom-designed homes that cater to the needs of disabled tenants. Under the scheme, each tenant contributes 50% of their disability pension toward rent, with additional…

  • Principles to Live By: Lessons I’ve Adopted Along the Way

    Over time, I’ve picked up various principles that have shaped how I live my life. Whether these principles are about finances, relationships, operating a business or personal growth, they guide me in navigating the complexities of everyday life with purpose and clarity.  Here’s a collection of 44+ key principles I’ve…

  • Why Circle Has a Money Printing Business Model

    Previously, I have discussed how stablecoins have gained significant traction over the past five years, showing minimal correlation with Bitcoin’s price fluctuations. In this article, I’ll delve deeper into Circle, the second-largest provider of stablecoins, and explain my thesis on how they’ve developed a unique and highly profitable business model.…

  • Why a 12% Annual Return Hurdle is Essential to Maintain Your Purchasing Power

    Many people don’t realise that if their wages and assets aren’t growing by at least 12% annually, they are effectively becoming poorer. To clarify this concept, I’ve summarised a theory developed by Raoul Pal, a prominent macro investor. Pal’s theory, known as the Everything Code, centres on the debasement of…

  • Stablecoins – Crypto’s First Real World Application

    In a world where understanding and conviction around the value of cryptocurrency can be rare, stablecoins emerge as a beacon of reliability. Often, when discussing the crypto landscape with those not yet converted, a common refrain is the struggle to grasp its intrinsic value. Despite the relentless pitches about Bitcoin’s…

  • 8 Essential Financial Principles for Children

    In recent times, I have closely examined the financial habits I currently practice, pondering when and how I acquired them. While some of these habits were ingrained in me during my childhood by my parents, the majority were cultivated later in life through my experiences running businesses and my voracious…

  • Web 3.0: The Evolution from Passive Consumption to Active Execution

    Having joined the tech scene around 2007, I unfortunately missed the shift from Web 1.0 to Web 2.0. Nevertheless, my immersion in technology since then has ensured that I’m now an early adopter of Web 3.0. I’ve taken the time to research and form my own views around the meaning…

  • Exploring Arbitrage Profit Opportunities in Sports Betting

    As a quintessential Australian, my upbringing was steeped in sports culture, enjoying the highs of AFL matches, F1 races, WSL events, NBA games, and the soccer World Cup. The legalisation of sports betting globally has significantly increased the stakes, transforming it into a lucrative industry, particularly noted in the USA,…

  • Calendar Year 2023 – Annual Portfolio Review

    Reflecting on 2023, it proved to be a dynamic year for our portfolio, culminating an annual return of 18.81%. Taking into account the previous years performance this delivers an Internal Rate of Return (IRR) of 14.91% which surpasses our benchmark goal of 14%. An excellent achievement and something that Morgan…

  • Your Path to Personal Growth: The Five Fs Lifestyle Audit

    We’ve all been there, haven’t we? Setting grand New Year’s resolutions, brimming with enthusiasm and hope, only to watch them fade into oblivion a few weeks later. I used to be just like that — full of good intentions but lacking the execution to turn those aspirations into reality. However,…

  • How We Will Do Things Differently For Our 3rd Crypto Cycle

    In the ever-evolving landscape of cryptocurrency, it’s crucial to learn from past experiences and adapt your approach. After navigating two crypto cycles, we developed a comprehensive strategy for the third cycle, and in this article, I’ll share the details of our plan and how it differs from previous mistakes. A…

  • The Realities of Entrepreneurship: Employee vs. Startup Founder

    The allure of being your own boss and running a startup is a dream shared by many. The idea of creating something from scratch, being in control of your destiny, and potentially reaping the rewards of success can be incredibly enticing. However, the reality of entrepreneurship often comes with a…

  • Raising Future Financial Success: 15 Habits to Instill in Your Children

    During my upbringing, I held both the ambition and the conviction that I would achieve financial success. My initial belief was that a high-paying job as an actuary would pave my path to financial prosperity. However, reality had a different plan in store for me and I did achieve financial…

  • 8 Key Mistakes of a Crypto Enthusiast: Lessons from Two Crypto Cycles

    Investing in cryptocurrency has been a roller-coaster ride for many, including myself. Over two crypto cycles, spanning from 2017 to 2022, I learned some valuable lessons the hard way. While Bitcoin’s price soared and plummeted, I made my share of mistakes. Some of these being very costly while others losing…

  • Calendar Year 2022 – Annual Portfolio Review

    Reflecting on 2022, it was a challenging yet pivotal year for our portfolio, marked by significant market turbulence but also key opportunities across various asset classes. While we faced a shifting macroeconomic landscape, our portfolio weathered the storm returning 11.14% for the year that although this is below our target…

  • Taking the Boy Out of Wagga Wagga

    I had the benefit of humble beginnings, growing up in the town of Wagga Wagga in a working-class family with both of my parents being public school teachers. As the oldest of four children, my three brothers and I attended the local public schools for both primary and secondary education.…

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