Zachary TOYNE-DAVIES’ Post

Luck & Risk : Bill Gates & Kent Evans Recently, while reading "Psychology of Money," I stumbled upon a realization: every outcome in life is influenced by factors beyond individual effort. Luck and risk, two seemingly different forces, intertwine to shape our destinies. You can't believe in one without respecting the other; they both remind us that life is too complex for our actions to determine all outcomes. Let me tell you a captivating story from the late 1960s. Imagine a high school where students didn't just read about computers; they had one right in their classrooms. This groundbreaking environment was home to none other than Bill Gates. Consider the odds: among millions of high school students worldwide, only a select few had the privilege of learning with a computer at their fingertips. Bill was truly one in a million – his path was shaped by the innovative setting of Lakeside School. Without this early exposure to technology, the world might never have seen the birth of Microsoft. But Bill's journey is more than luck and innovation; it's a tale of friendship and resilience. Enter Kent Evans, his close friend from eighth grade. Kent shared Bill's passion for computers, and together with their soon-to-be-famous buddy Paul Allen, they dreamed of revolutionizing the tech industry. However, fate had other plans. While Gates and Allen went on to achieve unparalleled success with Microsoft, Kent's promising future was tragically cut short. A mountaineering accident claimed his life before he could graduate high school. This story serves as a reminder that life's outcomes are shaped by both luck and risk. It underscores the importance of seizing opportunities and cherishing meaningful connections along the way. In conclusion, let us embrace the reality that all our actions may not produce all our outcomes. By acknowledging the influence of luck and risk, we gain a deeper understanding of life's complexities and the importance of perseverance in the face of uncertainty.

🌟 Excited to be continuously learning and growing in the field of computer engineering! 🚀 I'm currently exploring new challenges and expanding my skills, particularly in algorithmic trading. Always open to connecting with fellow professionals and discussing innovative ideas. Let's build something amazing together! #ComputerEngineering #TechInnovation #LearningAndGrowing #Networking

I'm thrilled to share a significant milestone in the world of finance and technology. Today, I'm proud to announce the release of two groundbreaking papers, a collaborative effort between IBM and UK Finance. These papers are more than just words on pages; they're a roadmap to navigate the uncharted territory of quantum computing, ensuring a bright future for the UK financial services sector. As technology advances at an unprecedented pace, quantum computing stands at the frontier, promising unparalleled computational power. These papers delve deep into the ever-evolving landscape of quantum computing, showcasing the potential to transform our industry. At IBM we're not just preparing for the quantum era; we're leading it. These papers don't just identify risks; they provide recommendations and strategies to make the UK quantum-safe and ready to seize the reins in this transformative technology. It's about harnessing the raw potential of quantum computing to revolutionize the financial services sector. This journey is not just about embracing change; it's about shaping the future. The financial world is on the cusp of a quantum leap, and these papers are our guiding star. They are a testament to collaboration, innovation, and a vision for what's possible. In the coming weeks, I will share further highlights from these papers which you can access here ➡ ➡ Quantum Computing Risks https://lnkd.in/e7y8YQ_Z ➡ ➡ Quantum Computing Opportunities https://lnkd.in/efPZhMKd Adam Hammond Zygmunt Lozinski Luke Johnson Lucy Charlesworth Adam Avards Andrew Rogan Jana Mackintosh #ibm #ibmquantum #ibmconsulting #ukfinance

On the fence about competing in International Quantum Strategy Day because you need more info? We've got you covered: 🌐 On Friday, April 19th, the Quantum Strategy Institute is holding its second ‘stratethon’ to celebrate people like you, the quantum strategists who are driving the adoption of quantum computing! 🌐 We’re looking for up to 5 teams of two to five people to put their skills to the test and create recommendations for how organizations can bring quantum into its business. Students, academics, professionals - all are welcome. 🌐 QSI will provide a jump start by sharing the quantum Case Study and Strategy Assessment on its IQSD page. This year we're focusing on India and the finance industry. 🌐 All backgrounds and skill levels are welcome, you can register your interest here by Friday, April 5th: https://lnkd.in/gGxAXDah Bert Kaminski Paul Lipman Rachel Dooley Sasha Grujicic Brian Lenahan Danika Hannon Le Anne Costa #quantum #strategy #innovation #finance #india

QSI’s quantum strategy competition is a great opportunity for individuals and teams to raise their profile and make an impact in the quantum space - here’s your chance to showcase your ideas about quantum use cases and strategy implementation, don’t miss out! Quantum Strategy Institute

Trading Opacity and Illiquidity for Mediocrity - and a Cash Flow Crisis Even as returns on PE plummet, university endowments' levels of unfunded private equity commitments relative to their available liquidity are at extremes not seen since the 2008 financial crisis. In a normal year, distributions would be enough for capital calls, but adding insult to financial injury, distributions are at their lowest level since the financial crisis. Distributions by some of the biggest private equity investment managers plunged by almost 50% last year compared with 2021. Having traded opacity and illiquidity for illusory returns, many universities now finds themselves in a financial vise, facing unavoidable capital calls from underperforming funds just when they need what little liquidity they have to meet operational budgets. Read Marion Halftermeyer's excellent BBG article on this topic: https://lnkd.in/eE7B24ip #investing #stocks #bonds #endowments #foundations

The promise and possibilities of #quantum are endless. See how Wells Fargo is working with #technology leaders like IBM, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Stanford University, and QC Ware Corp. to innovate banking from the inside out in this article by my colleague Eric Best. #WeAreWellsFargo #QuantumComputing

Hello LinkedIn! If you followed my posts in 2021 about investing, I have since had a few new discoveries I’d like to share. Feel free to read below: 1. While supporting a lifestyle with investments as sole income is theoretically possible, it is boring, net-negative contributing to society, and an overall degenerate lifestyle. I highly recommend maintaining an Open Loop system for investing instead of Closed Loop, in other words, guarantee multiple income streams in addition to your investments to have the gunpowder to reload whenever necessary. Otherwise, market fluctuations and the gradual attrition from monthly withdrawals for life expenses will kill you. 2. AI will displace the majority of the world’s workforce in the near future, for better and worse. I believe that until there is some inflection point that makes everything crash back down to reality, capital markets will see all time highs as productivity peaks more than ever with the advent of AGI. Until then, it is my opinion that to best position yourself and hedge against financial ruin and the risk of replacement by automation, invest in the AI technologies that may replace you one day. I believe that the U.S. stock market will have a significant correction in the next 5 years similar to the Covid dip, but I have no idea better than anyone when that will be. My best guesses are either when Taiwan gets invaded, or some deep financial mechanic surrounding borrowed money and IOUs implodes. My personal picks to invest in 2024: Low-Medium Risk (dollar cost average in): - Tesla (TSLA) - Microsoft (MSFT) - Apple (AAPL) - Google (GOOGL) - TQQQ - QQQ - SPY - BTC/ETH (small %) High Risk: - TSLA call-debit spreads 24 mo expiry 50-300% OTM - TSLA calls (LEAPs) 24 mo expiry ~0-100% OTM, purchase when IV is low Hedges: - Lockheed, Raytheon (LMT, RTX) - Gamestop (GME), DRS’d shares If I am wrong, then life goes on. If my picks are correct, then I will be buying a house on Lake Minnetonka. If you haven’t already, take the time to learn how to invest now. The knowledge will serve you well forever. Good luck, and feel free to let me know your thoughts. #investing #ai #agi #tesla

Quantum computing will be the defining tech of the 21st century. Which sectors will it impact first? McKinsey & Company has pointed to chemicals, life sciences, finance, and mobility, which it says are “likely to see the earliest impact from quantum computing and could gain up to $2 trillion by 2035.” Investors are going to want early exposure to this megatrend. The problem for now is there are few attractive quantum pure plays. Most of them are early-stage companies that fall in the speculative bucket. A longtime Mauldin Economics subscriber recently asked about buying a quantum-focused ETF like the Vanguard Information Technology ETF (VGT) or the Defiance Quantum ETF (QTUM). These might be promising places to search for individual companies, but I wouldn’t recommend buying an ETF for quantum exposure. For one thing, you might wind up with a lot more exposure to companies you already own. Take VGT, for example. Its top three holdings are Microsoft (MSFT), Apple (AAPL), and NVIDIA (NVDA). Combined, they make up 46.58% of the fund. Personally, I've narrowed in on an established, multinational conglomerate with a sizable investment in quantum computing. I like the company for its core business, but it also provides an option on quantum. Tell me, are you investing in quantum computing? If so, how? #quantum #quantumcomputers #techinvesting