Economic Transaction Between Siar Fordell & Zenrax

Mutually beneficial relationships and transactions are the backbone and basis of feudalism, both traditionally and Siar Fordell’s feudal system. That being said, the Empire of Zenrax and the Thegn-Hold of Siar Fordell have engaged in mutually beneficial economic operations.

It is well known that Siar Fordell gains much of it’s estate budget and feudal income from capital investment and financial management, and the Thegn and Emperor Thomas have had numerous economic and business discussions in the past. I have an MBA in finance, and Emperor Thomas is currently studying for his MBA in Dubai, so there is a mutual level of interest and understanding between the leaders of these two micronations.

This interest in financial markets has led me to find some financial applications and programs that are offering, more or less, free money to begin investing or start learning capital management.

Stockpile is one brokerage firm that is interesting because it allows you to purchase partial or fractional shares of a stock (Amazon, for example, is over $1000 a share, but with stockpile you can buy $10 worth of Amazon) They only have a $.99 commission fee, which is way less than most brokerages. They also have a lot of trading tools and teaching opportunities (their goal is to get more people to invest) The main reason that I mention them in this context, though, is because they have an offer out on Groupon to get $20 worth of stock for $10. Choose the stock or ETF you want to invest in, and even if you sell the next day, you’re making a 100% ROI. Here is a link: Groupon StockPile

I opened an account to get this deal and bought into a S&P 500 ETF. I may sell soon, or I may just hold it, since I am essentially making capital gains and dividends on leveraged money.

Another option is Robinhood – this is a mobile app based brokerage that offers free commissions (yes, free… which is pretty cool) but they also offer a free share of stock for people opening new accounts through a referral. I have an account with them as well. There is no minimum investment (most brokerages are around $500) and once again, commission free trades. My referral link is: Robinhood Free Stock Referral – the stock that you receive is random, and could be anything from $2.50 to $200 in value, but it is a free share of a company.

I wish I had opened my account through someone else’s referral, actually, because when I did, I didn’t have anything to show for it.

Both of these options are for folks that are just starting out and they have training and learning applications to help you get started. It isn’t much, but as far as micronational budgets and funding goes, holding appreciating assets like this can be a boon to your micronational economy. You could sell at any point and then put those additional funds to micronational purposes, or, a better option in my opinion, invest into dividend funds or real estate holding companies that pay you monthly or quarterly income to expand your micronational interests.

I spoke to Emperor Thomas about these options via PM, and we both agreed that it would be a good opportunity. Thomas used my referral on Robinhood and we both received a free share of stock, more or less immediately (one share of Sirius XM Radio – SIRI, and one share of Zynga – ZNGA, respectively) and to our knowledge, this is one of the first mutually beneficial and fully profitable micronational transactions.

With his permission to share details of our conversation, I thought I would share the results of this economic agreement with the community, and offer a similar opportunity to those who might be interested. Both are done via phone apps, and you must be over 18 and a US Citizen… which, I know, limits involvement in this community, but the option is still there for those who are.

New Holdings in Siar Fordell

The Thegn of Siar Fordell would like to announce the establishment of a new estate within the Thegn-Hold.

The estate of Glen Talbash is roughly the equivalent of one and a half acres of leased pastureland established to expand and augment the current holdings of Siar Fordell. The goal of this new estate is to be as passive as possible (thus pastureland instead of cultivated agricultural fields) and therefore will not need a Steward to oversee its management. As such, it is considered a manse property, independent of all other holdings and endeavors, and will be managed by the Thegn directly until there comes a point where Glen Talbash expands to  merit its own steward, or it becomes less profitable than is economically feasible.

The name, Talbash, is an amalgamation of the Talbot and Ashland plantations in Georgia and North Carolina, respectively, and were ancestral estates of the Thegn’s dynastic family. The estate is a Glen, to describe its meadow-like nature and to evoke the highland style that is so established in the culture of Siar Fordell.

Heraldry

As many of you who pay attention to Siar Fordell probably know, my interest in monarchy, nobility, and the military aristocracy also extends, somewhat as a result of this focus, to heraldry. The language, symbolism, and significance of heraldry appeals to me greatly, and I endeavor to use my own heraldry and its tenets in my daily life as much as possible – this being both my assumed ensign of the silver lion of Siar Fordell, and the official heraldry that I have been granted due to my service as a soldier. As part of this focus, I have developed new ways for heraldry and military symbolism to play a larger role. I designed and had manufactured a NATO style nylon watch band in the colors of the Iraqi Campaign Medal – this being a campaign I am extremely proud to have served in, it acts as a heraldic achievement. More importantly, the development and sale of these bands to other veterans and soldiers who fought in this campaign has acted to encourage these men and women to display and take pride in their own symbolism and heraldry. In much of American society a military veteran is thought of as uncouth, a thug, a brute, or a bearded tough who revels in his brutality and abilities… but there is such a thing as a gentleman soldier. A warriors who do their duty with pride, and a sense of honor and nobility. The British military has a long history of just this – with their traditions of Regimental Rep Ties, lapel pins, and formal traditions & organizations that I find decidedly lacking among American veterans. Indeed, it was the Guards Division NATO watch strap that inspired me to produce something of a similar style for American soldiers.

These days I wear a suit and a tie more often than a uniform and body armor, but the only way for a veteran to show his pride in service seems to be a moto t-shirt covered in skulls and profanity, or a operator cap with a Velcro flag on it. I wanted to change that, and show my pride of service in a subtle, but unmistakable way – at least to a student of heraldry.

I am also proud that other soldiers and veterans seem to share this opinion, as I am coming closer and closer to this being a profitable venture – all of which profit would then be reinvested into my estate holdings, of course, and benefit the Thegn-Hold of Siar Fordell, which exists in no small part, due to my military service.

Please see the link, and though I don’t anticipate many Iraqi Campaign Veterans to be perusing these forums, I do appreciate feedback and telling me what you think.

Iraq Campaign Medal NATO Watch Band

Comparative Land Holdings

During the age of feudalism most landed estates made their income through agriculture. Land ownership, farming, and renting land to tenants was the basis of a lord’s wealth and stature. Siar Fordell, while at the moment receives most of our estate income from military service and capital gains, property ownership is a big part of our holdings and one of the main goals of the Thegn-Hold is to become more and more self sufficient through a profitable estate income.

I am careful not to include personal income in with estate income. Working a job that I am paid for is not the same as producing income and profit from aristocratic and feudal holdings. That being said, the resources produced with some sort of reliability month to month, quarter to quarter, and year to year, that are not coming from employment (meaning, for the most part, passive income – dividends, rents, DCA’ed capital gains, and other forms of fealty or tenure) are still somewhat small – but since, at the moment, it is all reinvested back into the estate, each month our estate income grows more and more each month.

In order to compare this estate income to modern land holdings, I have done some research on leasing prices and rents for agricultural land. For accurate comparisons I have been using prices per acre, on the most up to date information, and in similar areas – Iowa for cropland and pastureland, and the mid-west for timberland (Michigan, Wisconsin, and Minnesota.)

Currently, the Thegn-Hold’s estate income is roughly the equivalent of six acres of leased agricultural land – two acres of cropland (by far the most profitable and expensive) and four acres of pastureland. This equivalency will change, of course, as the Thegn-Hold’s income increases and the prices of leases change (which do not always go up.) While we own shares of agricultural companies and vineyards, we do not own any agricultural land outright, other than what we currently harvest ourselves. This comparison is simply a fun way to set ourselves against the benchmark of feudal holdings of the past.

Limiting Agricultural Production

After much consideration and discussion with the High Steward, the Thegn of Siar Fordell has come to the decision that we will decrease our focus on agricultural efforts. The agriculture within the Thegn-Hold will continue as it is, and we will still grow vegetables for subsistence, but due to several poor harvests and refocused obligations in other areas, there will now be a limited amount of effort included in growing, harvesting, and supplementing crops. With any luck, this fallow period – or, rather, less extensive farming, will help the soil and provide for better harvests and production in the future.

We will still be curing sea salts, hunting, growing herbs, and foraging to supplement our subsistence and assist economically, but the focus of the Thegn-Hold has recently shifted almost entirely toward our feudal military service to the realm, and the upcoming royal wedding.

Sola Virtus Nobilitat

The Thegn of Siar Fordell

Diplomacy shall win the day!

From the Office of the Chancellor:

Subjects and Allies of Siar Fordell,

There has recently been an ongoing border dispute between the Thegn-Hold and some rogue elements claiming to represent the Stoney Pointe community. The dispute arose by the staging of vehicles on the Thegn-Hold’s lands, namely the idea that they cannote be on the driveway, only in the motor stables (yes, that is what we call a garage, because it is a military phrase, and it sounds so very much cooler.)

This idea is, of course, blatantly ridiculous, and the Thegn shall continue to do as he pleases within the grounds of his own fortress and lands. Never-the-Less, the Siar Fordell has been threatened with economic sanctions and even border violations in order to press the issue. The Thegn has responded as diplomatically as possible, addressing the board of the Stoney Pointe community, of which the forces of Siar Fordell are staunch defenders. Currently the motor stables are fully utilized by the Master-at-Arms for training purposes. Further more, the manor home at Stoney Pointe is quite an estate – one of few in the area that can boast its own driveway – how can a community dictate that it cannot be used? One does not punish a homeowner for having a better view than his neighbor, or a larger yard.

The Thegn has reached out to the board in written diplomatic form, since he could not attend the farce of a “hearing” that they proposed on the issue – as he has better things to do, such as his military service to the realm, and ruling the Thegn-Hold.

We remain confident that diplomacy and reason shall prevail over tyranny, and shall keep you updated as to the progress.

Master-At-Arms initiates new training schedule!

From the Office of the High Castellan:

In order to conform with new SOP’s (Standard Operating Procedure) for the theatres and environments where the Thegn and his household troops are currently operating in service to the realm, the Master-At-Arms of Stoney Pointe has developed a new weapons training regime. Details of the training schedule and specific drills remain confidential as to not disclose military posture and disposition, but they mainly focus on dry fire drills, presentation, and magazine changes.

Remember to keep training ammunition – dummy rounds or snap caps, stored separately from live ammunition, and always keep training exercises in a designated area at a designated time. This is a safety issue not to be ignored.

Any members of the Fyrd that would like additional training aids or training schedules and drills for their particular region or weapons disposition, please contact the High Castellan or Master-At-Arms. The warriors of Siar Fordell must always stand ready to defend their homes, or offer service to their realm whenever needed.

Steward & Castellan of the Stronghold of Phoenix West

To all residents, tenants, neighbors, and allies of Siar Fordell! We would like to announce the appointment of Ser John Milton as Castellan of the stronghold of Phoenix West, and Brett Robinson as Steward of the fortress. These roles have been in effect for quite a while now, but I thought it time to make their contributions public. The staff of Phoenix West, under the management of Brett Robinson have done an exemplary job of keeping the stronghold well garrisoned and provisioned, and has handled the internal operations of the fortress as well as any could hope. Ser John Milton, long in service to the Thegn-Hold, has collected rents and payments and conducted an admirable defense of the stronghold ever since the family seat was established at Stoney Pointe, and while the Thegn and his forces were serving in Iraq.

The Thegn-Hold hopes to retain many more years of service from our bannermen, and would like to show all that such service is richly rewarded.

Call the Banners!

Calling the Banners!

This past weekend Thegn-Hold of Siar Fordell has been called upon to answer our feudal duty. The State of California and the United States of America has commissioned the Thegn to command not only the forces of Siar Fordell, but also a company of State troops in service to the realm.

As of the moment, no emergency threatens the region, but none-the-less, the Thegn and his banners will ride out and form up in order to train and prepare those forces under his command for the eventual threat of battle, insurrection, or emergency.

Due to the nature of these events, a full call up of the Thegn-hold’s forces is not necessary, but all those stout of heart who would like to volunteer for service inform your regional Castellan or Master-at-Arms to be entered into the roles for service to Siar Fordell.

From the Office of the High Castellan

Military Expedition to Badlands Park

The last two weeks the Thegn has led several sorties into the unreconnoitered territory known as badlands park. These military expeditions were to scout the area to determine what use, if any, could be gained through increased influence and positioning here.

Unfortunately, the area is unsuited to any type of forage, hunting, or cultivation, but it is not without its advantages. The low scrub and brush offers very little in the way of usable land, but the location and height offer sweeping vistas of Laguna and the Pacific.

At the moment the area will not be used for anything except military purposes. The trails will provide a good training location for future drills and operations, and the location will be well suited for a forward observation post.