My Comments: Has anyone told Glenn Beck about this yet? Not sure I want to hear his response. However, if you want to have gold as part of your portfolio, we have it available through a program called Managed Alternative Assets. Good stuff. September 23, 2013 • Evan Simonoff Anyone who tells you gold is …
Category: Financial Planning
Is PPACA a Medicare Clone?
My Comments: I’d like to be able to say this will be my final word on the issue of Obama and the PPACA. But that’s probably not realistic. I’ve been covered by Medicare now for almost 7 years. I also own a Medicare supplement plan and a Prescription Drug plan. Together, they are not cheap. …
Locking Horns Over the Fiduciary Standard
My Comments: Readers of this blog have seen me talk about the “fiduciary standard” and what it means for clients, the general public and for those of us who provide financial advice. See my blog from earlier this month. This commentary appeared last Wednesday that suggests there is going to be a resolution soon. And, …
America’s Last Frontier Shows the Need for Government
My Comments: Am unsure why this article cought my eye, and I decided to save it for later. Now that later is here, and frankly I’m sick of Syria, and all the other crap that TV and magazines, and the internet is bursting about. Yes, I have a slight touch of the flu so maybe …
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8 Big Estate Battles of the Rich and Famous
Nothing sets friends and family at each others’ throats more than a fight over money. Make it a dispute over a will and the fun really begins. As a insurance agent and financial planner for many years, I can attest to the change in attitude that typically accompanies those in the next generation when someone …
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Bits and Pieces
DOW HIGH - The Dow swung in and out of negative territory July 31st, but was up more than 100 at its session high, setting a fresh intraday record of 15,634.32. The S&P 500 and the Nasdaq held their modest gains. Earlier, the Nasdaq hit its best level since October 2000. All three major averages …
Am I Guilty? (And if I am, What Happens Next?)
My Comments: I’m interested in the debate about privacy, how it’s defined these days (or NOT), and as a society immersed in digital communication, how the boundaries of “acceptable” behavior are ultimately established to the benefit of ALL of us. By definition in the US Code, this blog post could be defined as “giving comfort …
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Bag-Lady Specter Haunts Even Savvy Women’s Retirement
My Comments: It's a fact of life that most of us men are going to pass away before the significant women in our lives. So we attempt to keep our financial lives in order and provide the necessary resources so that those left behind can continue to live in grace and dignity. As a financial …
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How the Mortgage Interest Deduction Could Change
My Comments: As someone who has a home mortgage, I’ve long enjoyed the abilty to write off the interest I pay against my taxable income. If these folks are right, I’ll be eligible for a tax credit instead of an expense item and I may very well enjoy a higher benefit. But if you think …
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When a Family Member Dies; A Financial Checklist
My Comments: My wife of almost 43 years and I have been very fortunate in that the only deaths we’ve experienced among our extended family has been our respective parents. But I’ve had many a client pass away and from time to time, chaos has followed, along with hard feelings and despair. The quicker everyone …
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Helping Define Your Financial Future 