On: Read the Obits

[Wistar]

I have a lifelong friend who is a very successful investor and who has been habitually reading obits since his high school days. I recall his explaining that obits served as an opportunity radar.

[djeastm → Wistar]

Can you elaborate on how? Besides the obvious of seeking out a bereaved family member and purchasing their home/belongings on the cheap, of course

[Applejinx → djeastm]

I don't do it, but consider this: obituaries are clearly capsules of what people consider valuable and worthy about a person. This has nothing to do with whether they're true, or plausible: they're little windows into what one would consider surpassingly important.

It's like the saying about the Velvet Underground: 'very few people came to their concerts but everyone who did, started a band'.

[Wistar → djeastm]

I can't remember exactly what he said but it was something along the lines of staying aware of the changes in the community.

[eru → djeastm]

You can also look for companies with leadership transition.