People ask me interesting questions about investing. Some are pretty darn astute and some are, well, funny.

Recently I got this question that I thought was interesting enough to talk about.

If companies like restaurants, retail and other service-related industries have to go from $7 or $8 bucks to $15 minimum wage, how is that going to affect the price of the company stock?

Many advocating for the raise don’t understand that someone pays. Do you really think that the company is just going to absorb the increase?

Of course not. They are going to pass the cost along to you and me.

Effectively, in my view, it is another tax increase. You and I are going to fund a raise in minimum wage. Now, that is OK if that is just the way it is.

I have a new Howie Pentony Question. I think you should file it away and ask it yourself when you see something that gives people more for essentially not doing more.

I have no problem raising the minimum wage. I don’t necessarily agree with it, which is another story, but you have to ask the Howie Pentony Question: Who is going to pay for that?

These major corporations are not stupid. The other day I went to a fast-food restaurant. There were no humans taking orders. Holy cow. Go to the kiosk and pay with a credit card. Someone will bring you your order.

Boys and girls, you are going to see much more of that. Companies can see it coming. They have already seen the light. They just eliminated five to 10 jobs by adding the kiosk.

So, to answer the question I was asked, companies are not going to be hurt financially by raising the minimum wage. This is my opinion, of course, but I think it just eliminates jobs and costs you and me more money.

The jobs that are left do pay higher. There are just fewer jobs. Profitability at these companies is not going to be hurt.

This market appears crazy to some. Up 300 one day and down 300 the next. Tariffs, political strife and now a bloody hurricane.

None of these things are good for the markets. However, none of these types of things are unusual. There are always reasons to not invest. We investors must look beyond the next week or year.

What should you be doing? Well, who knows exactly, I sure don’t, but I have an idea or so.

Historically, some might say hysterically, October, November and December have been three of the strongest months of the year. Not every year, of course, but most times. So, you might be preparing your portfolio with investments you think might do well in this environment.

If you look at the United States, we are fine so far. Inflation is low, interest rates are low and corporate profits are generally good. One would think the markets should do well.

The problem is all the other stuff that is happening. Something could always come along and derail us. I would suggest being a little defensive. Stick with quality and good numbers.

If you buy individual stocks, buy the good, strong companies that you think will be around for at least the next 10 years. That isn’t easy to do, by the way. Sears and Kmart are a couple of examples. Who would have thought?

Retailing baffles me. I never can seem to get it right.

The Big Guy out there, the one who now delivers tomorrow, was and still is, to some degree, a threat to almost everyone. If it is sold, the Big Guy usually has it. There is actually a retail stock out there that is up 80 percent since 2016.

Were I a gambling person, I would have taken a few bets against that. Man, I don’t know how anyone competes with the Big Guy. Well, this company has and it appears most likely to continue. This is why investing is so tough. It’s just difficult to know.

My friend Louie called me the other day. My wife wanted to know what he had on his mind. I told her that he had gotten himself into trouble. It seems his spouse asked him if he thought she was fat. He said, “No honey, you are just easy to see.”

My wife and Louie’s spouse did not think that was funny.

Howie Pentony is a Portersville client portfolio manager.