Chapter 28: Reaching an Agreement

Mr. Blake, to be frank, the stocks I directly hold are all from, um, not very valuable small companies. But you can rest assured. I have been deeply involved in the financial industry for twenty years, starting from '57 when I joined Kedel, and have been working in this industry ever since. Whether it's the company's resources or external relationships, I can assure you that as long as you tell me which stocks you're interested in, I can definitely find a way to get them for you!"

Upon hearing Carter's words, Julian knew what Carter wanted to do, and even understood Carter's mindset to some extent.

It's needless to dwell on the usual practice of buying low and selling high. There's no need to ask this question at all. There's not much need to borrow external resources either; the only thing needed might be information resources. The more comprehensive and relevant information, the greater the help for accuracy in prediction.

When it comes to internal and external resources, especially asset resources like stocks, the purpose becomes quite clear. Long-term buying low and selling high doesn't seem to be Carter's goal; he wants to make quick money! The asset certificate issued by the Atlanta Federal Savings in Yate Lane also indirectly indicates that Carter is not a New Yorker, or rather, he doesn't intend to stay in New York for long.

Directly asking about stocks also expresses a concern about risk. Compared to futures, the risk of stock trading is undoubtedly much lower. Although there are ups and downs, it's rare to see the kind of situation in futures where you either win big or lose everything, and if futures collapse, you just find a rooftop to take a leap of faith.

Except for a few stock market crashes, those who jumped from buildings on Wall Street, nine out of ten were basically futures traders. To put it bluntly, Carter, this person, has the mind of a thief but lacks the courage.

Wanting to make quick money, shorting stocks, but also worrying about playing too big and losing everything. Understanding this, Julian didn't despise Carter because of it. Instead, he felt quite sympathetic. It's just that when it comes to mentioning the stocks he directly holds, Julian felt a bit embarrassed.

"My previous investment approach was a bit, um, stingy? I used to particularly like looking for low-priced stocks. Although the profit cycle was a bit slow, the risk was relatively easy to control. In recent years, I have been slowly changing, but the transition of stocks is not yet complete."

"Hahaha, Mr. Robertson, you really, really surprised me!"

When Julian heard the first half of Julian's words, Carter was still wondering if this person was bragging. He even wanted to know what stocks he wanted, and he could get them for himself. But after hearing the second half of the conversation, Carter couldn't help but burst into laughter. He felt even more in agreement with the "Mediterranean" in front of him.

Compared to those brokers who boasted about how many resources they had and how many high-value stocks they controlled, Julian, who confessed that he was a "stingy" person and specialized in low-priced stocks, was like a landslide in the brokerage world. It's hard to imagine how this guy managed to survive in the cutthroat world of Wall Street for over twenty years.

"Alright, I've made up my mind, it's you. Take me to open an account, I have some other matters to attend to, I'll come back tomorrow to discuss investment goals. Oh, by the way, do you know any reputable New York real estate agents? I want to rent a house."

"Rent a house? Mr. Carter, did you say rent?"

Standing up in sync with Carter, Julian's expression was somewhat strange despite his joy at landing a big client. With assets of over six million dollars, he was undoubtedly a millionaire, yet he still wanted to rent a house?

"Yeah, I'm only staying in New York for a month this time. Staying in a hotel is a bit expensive, so I'll just rent a house for a month. Is there a problem with that?"

Carter replied matter-of-factly, feeling somewhat puzzled why Julian would ask such a question. Carter never even thought about buying a house in New York. Leaving aside the future "Gotham" nickname, the housing prices in the United States have always been closely linked to the inflation rate. Although it seems to rise quickly, in fact, apart from inflation factors, there is hardly any change.

Take Manhattan for example, the average price per square meter was around $480 in the '70s, and it rose to over $2600 in the '80s, seeming to have increased a lot. But you should know that the median household income for Americans in the '70s was just over four thousand, and by the '80s it was barely over eight thousand.

Hmm?! It seems that the housing prices rose even faster?

"Alright, I understand now why you have so many assets. Your style is nothing like that of a young tycoon. Please follow me, I'll take you to open an account first, and then we'll go rent a house together later. By the way, which area do you want to live in?"

Shaking his head with a wry smile, Julian led the way and chatted as they walked.

"As long as it's safe and has good security, everything else is fine. I won't be staying too long anyway. In August, I have to make a trip to Washington, which is my cross-America trip. I can't waste all my time in New York."

"You're living quite a carefree life, just like Rogers!"

"Rogers? Steve Rogers?"

"What Steve Rogers, who's that? I'm talking about Jim Rogers, the one from the Double Eagle Fund. You and him should have a lot in common. He also loves traveling and often can't be found."

"Hahaha"

Chatting idly, Carter's account was quickly processed by the professionals. After injecting six million dollars into it, Carter and Julian left the company side by side.

With Julian, a seasoned New Yorker of over twenty years, Carter's house hunting went very smoothly. The newly rented house was located in Upper Manhattan, adjacent to Columbia University. In his past life, Carter liked to rent houses near universities. Not only because they were close to schools with relatively complete commercial facilities and high-quality personnel, but also because he could see young and beautiful girls every day, keeping his mood pleasant.

From the choice of housing location, it's not difficult to see Julian's sophistication. Living near a university is not only convenient for finding short-term rental houses but also perfectly meets Carter's requirements for not wanting to spend too much money while ensuring good security. Even living here, there are other implicit possibilities, such as flirting with some female college students.

Don't all young people like that?

Standing in the rented house, Julian looked at Carter's satisfied expression and thought to himself slyly.

"I'm very satisfied with this place, let's go with it. Tonight, I'm going to pick up my sister. I won't keep you any longer. Let's have dinner together tomorrow night and discuss our money-making plan in detail. Don't worry, I'll treat!"

"Haha, alright, I'll be waiting."

After seeing Julian off, Carter went back to the real estate agency to sign the lease contract, got the keys, and then "moved" with Melissa. Cleaning and tidying up, he kept busy until seven in the evening.

Listening to the grumbling of his stomach, Carter waved his hand vigorously:

"Let's go! Melissa, I'm taking you out for a feast tonight! I guarantee it's something you've never tasted before!"

"Tch, there's nothing delicious that I haven't tasted yet. If you have time, you might as well accompany me to buy some clothes."