Useful Financial Links Roundup – 2008/10/10

Here are links to some pieces on the economy I’ve found most useful over the past few weeks. I’ve posted many of these on my Twitter feed but thought it might also be useful to bundle them into a blog post.

For everyone:

• The Globe and Mail has an excellent web page that answers readers’ questions in common-sense terms. For example, "Do the interest rate cuts mean my mortgage rate or credit card interest rate will go down?", and, "Should you lock in your mortgage?". They update it daily.
• This American Life put together a 1 hour broadcast that attempts to explain the financial crisis. It’s the definitive thing to listen to if you want to understand what’s happening. It’s also funny, which is a welcome relief from all the panic evident in most media right now. There is also an older episode called The Giant Pool of Money which explains subprime mortgages.
• NPR has an ongoing blog, Planet Money, that digs in deeper on a daily basis.

For startups:

• Sequoia Capital did a secret presentation called "R.I.P. Good Times" to their portfolio companies this week. They gave their analysis of the current financial turmoil and advised the companies on what to do in order to survive. Someone has helpfully leaked the presentation, which you can find on VentureBeat. In short, they are telling companies to move to a strong cash position (e.g. by making cuts to reduce burn rates), consider M&A, and lower expectations of additional funding. Their punchline: "Get real or go home".
• Angel investor Ron Conway gave similar advice to companies he has invested in.