My Comments: The above title is missing a few words. The original reads as follows: “Employee health benefits’ costs are expected to rise 5% in 2020, new survey says”. Here’s my problem with this: if inflation numbers for 2019 are clearly less than 2%, then the costs associated with health benefits are increasing faster than …
Continue reading …health benefits’ costs expected to rise 5% in 2020…
My Comments: I’ve long since concluded that many economic decisions and trade policies espoused and implemented by the current administration are foolish at best and potentially disastrous. I have no idea who they are supposed to benefit. I minored in economics in college and have been professionally involved in the money business most of my …
My Comments: Whether you’re already retired and relying on saved money to pay your current bills, or only thinking about a future retirement and how to pay for it, how the markets behave greatly influences what you do and the peace of mind you have or don’t have. In a way, it’s like a broken …
Social Security was signed into law by President Roosevelt on August 14, 1935. It’s since become an ubiquitous part of the financial lives of virtually every American. COLAs, or Cost of Living Adjustments, started in 1950. But it wasn’t until 1972 that legislation provided that starting in 1975, automatic cost of living adjustments became normal. …
My Comments: I’ve practiced as a financial planner and investment advisor for over 43 years. During those years I’ve held myself to what is known in law, medicine, accounting, and other professions as a fiduciary standard. Simply stated, our actions and behavior must be legally, morally, and perhaps ethically, in our client/patients best interest. Period. …
Continue reading The Trump Presidency May Have Just Entered Its ‘Endgame’
Money, and having enough coming in every month to pay our bills is critical to our sense of well being. Right now there’s a lot of turmoil and confusion across the global economic spectrum and many of us are getting anxious about how this is all going to play out. What follows is yet another …
Continue reading Where Are The Markets Likely To Go From Here?
Please note: I AM NOT AN ATTORNEY. DO NOT RELY ON ME FOR LEGAL ADVICE! This is the last installment of Top Ten Trusts. And a reminder there are dozens more than ten but these are the ones I've talked about with attorneys who have advised my clients over the years. Some of these trusts …
My Comments: Despite it being criticized back in the 1930’s as a Socialist enterprise, Social Security today is a fundamental staple of the financial world we Americans take for granted. It’s so fundamental that for those of us who receive Social Security retirement benefits, few could sustain our existing standard of living without experiencing severe …
Continue reading 3 Social Security Realities You Need to Face
It’s entirely possible, but not probable, that as long as I live I’ll never again experience another recession. Your first questions, if you’re curious about my meaning, is “How long will you stay alive?” Last Wednesday, my daily post was entitled Will There Be A Recession Soon? Your second question might be “What’s the definition …
My Comments: I wrote recently about Climate Change and Retirement. In it I referenced the thinking of a Thomas P. M. Barnett, a writer of note who talks about how the 21st Century will be marked as having major armed conflicts caused by lack of food. And here today I read an article about how …
Helping Define Your Financial Future 