This Week in History

   On March 6, 1947, Richard Fosbury was born in Portland, Oregon. 

     As a youngster, Fosbury finds that he is pretty average at every high jump technique but his own. The physics of his method allows him to run faster and convert more potential energy into upward motion by turning his back to the bar and "flopping" over it. Using the technique at Medford High School in Oregon, Fosbury earns a partial college scholarship at Oregon State, sight unseen. But his college coach tries to steer him back to orthodoxy, growing tired of the jokes, often from the staff at the rival University of Oregon. Fosbury has the last laugh, setting collegiate and American records on his way to winning an Olympic gold medal at the Mexico City Olympics in 1968. Since 1980, no one using any other method than the Fosbury Flop has held the world record in the high jump.

     Here is the history lesson that I wrote just last year:

     "Learn from the most successful flop ever! Just because everyone else is doing things the same old way, that doesn’t mean you should. A certain amount of flexibility is needed in sports and life. As interest rates rise, that is bad news for spenders looking for cheap credit. But it is probably the best time in two decades to be a saver. Look for rates on things like savings and CDs to be less of a joke than they were a year ago. And as the bond market resets, it too can add some potential energy where there was none at this time in 2022."

     Yes, all of that has happened and more. Add T Bills and fixed annuities to the list of conservative investments paying the best rates they have in almost a generation. Welcome to the renaissance of the conservative investor, brought to you by high interest rates. Don't turn your back on it. ​