TCW seemed content with the arrangement and did little to tie its managers' fates to the company as a whole. Few of them, for example, received significant stakes in TCW. That bred frustration in multiple generations of standout performers, who viewed corporate executives (some of whom did receive ownership shares) as getting rich off their toil.So it went for Gundlach, a bona fide investing star who, by the end, oversaw about 70% of TCW's assets, some $70 billion, putting him in charge of one of the biggest pots of money in the country. Gundlach didn't just generate steady returns; he avoided the blowup of the century. A specialist in mortgage-backed securities, he publicly warned in 2007 that "the subprime mortgage market is a total, unmitigated disaster, and it's going to get worse." He invested accordingly, not only delivering positive returns in the blighted year of 2008 but also earning himself a growing role as a media sage. His ego grew along with it.There are few people like Jeffrey Gundlach in the mutual fund world -- or in any world. A former rock-and-roll drummer, Gundlach, 50, is a math whiz (but not a quant). He views everything in binary terms: Either you perform to his standards or you don't, and he won't hesitate to let you know which category you fall into. Nor is he shy in articulating his view of himself. "I was by far the biggest revenue generator at TCW, by far the biggest performer," he says. "I created $4 billion in value for clients in '09. If telling you that is self-promotion, so be it. It's just a fact."
Jeri Wilson on 28 Jun 10Looking back at your life, you will find that as you have earned more you have spent more. You wonder how it is that you lived on so little money way back when. Sure, grocery and fuel prices have gone up and rent too, but deep down you know that if you are not smart, you will do the same thing again. Last week I covered the simple formula for managing money effectively: 1. Work out what you have to do 2. Spend less than you earn 3. Align your choices to your life goal's to keep you motivated and do it! This week we are focusing on the first step: work it out Track Your Expenses For a few weeks minimum, write down every single dollar you spend. Don't forget about the bank fees, direct debits or credit card. Work out where you have been spending your money. If you feel you don't have time to track your money, you could use our simple service, My Money Tracker for You for only $22 per month. Don't forget about the Irregular Expenses It is so easy to forget about the expenses you have only every now and then. Car registration, service, your driver's licence or the dog vaccination. I was surprised when I realised that it used to cost us $35 per week for our car registration once a year and service every quarter. These things can sneak up on you and completely blow your budget. Add Up All Your Debts Write down all the debts you have. The reason I highlighted all is because I really want you to be honest with yourself and include everything that you owe. You are going to have your credit cards, personal loan and car loan, but don't forget to include things like the money you promised to repay your parents or $20 for your flat mate. You will never be financially free until you are honest with yourself about your money. Total It Add it all up to calculate how much it is that you need to meet your current commitments, repay your debts and live. Once you know this total you will know how much you need and if you are living within your means. Do you need to earn more to
