Reset the Reset – Visa Bans Will Not Deter Putin

My Comments: I made a reference last week to the effect that what happened when the Russians took over part of the Ukraine had only a temporary effect on the markets. Today’s comments are directed toward those who hate Obama and everything he stands for. The gist of those who daily and routinely criticize our …

Continue reading Reset the Reset – Visa Bans Will Not Deter Putin

When to Leave Your Money in a Trust

My Comments: Recently, two clients have asked me about asset protection and whether they should start thinking about a trust. The answer is maybe. First, I have to remind everyone that I am not an attorney, and cannot advise people on legal matters. However, I can share basic knowledge that I’ve picked up over the …

Continue reading When to Leave Your Money in a Trust

3 Ill-Advised Reasons Not to Buy Life Insurance

My Comments: I first became licensed to sell life insurance in 1976. Over the years, I’ve sold many policies, of all kinds, to all manner of people. Some of those clients have since died, though most have not. The skills and ability to help identify a problem and find a solution for that potential problem …

Continue reading 3 Ill-Advised Reasons Not to Buy Life Insurance

You Can Thank Ben Bernanke for 100% of the Stock Market Gains Since 2009

My Comments: I've been a supporter of the PPACA or if you prefer, ObamaCare, since the beginning. My belief in it is based on the trend in place where health care costs consumed an ever increasing share of our national GDP and sooner or later would come a sticky end. Whether the PPACA solves the …

Continue reading You Can Thank Ben Bernanke for 100% of the Stock Market Gains Since 2009

Three Key Strategies for Helping Clients Navigate Aging Plans

My Comments: OK, we’re all getting on in years, some of us more so than others. Baby boomers are starting to ask compelling questions about Social Security, about health care issues, and dozens of other topics that a 30 year old cannot yet start to think about. That’s OK; I couldn’t either when I was …

Continue reading Three Key Strategies for Helping Clients Navigate Aging Plans

How Strong Is The Stock Market?

My Comments: For many years, more than I care to remember, I searched for wisdom from among the many magazines and more recently, the many emails that cross my desk on a daily basis. How and what was going to happen and how could I help my clients benefit from the insights that surely came …

Continue reading How Strong Is The Stock Market?

Checking In On The 1929 Stock Market Parallel

My Comments: The other day, on February 17th, I had a post that explained how today is NOT 1929 all over again. If you found that story, and this chart interesting, then here is a follow up. Hopefully, it will help you navigate the waters as they are flowing today in 2014. Chris Ciovacco, Ciovacco …

Continue reading Checking In On The 1929 Stock Market Parallel

Treading Water: Four Economic & Market Trends Likely to Continue in 2014

My Comments: Understanding how markets work over time is a very helpful skill set if you are advising clients about their money. Especially if they are worried about where money will come from to pay their bills far into the future. For many, the short term “noise” that comes from what one reads in papers …

Continue reading Treading Water: Four Economic & Market Trends Likely to Continue in 2014

Social Security: Planning Tips by Age

My Comments: I’m increasingly being asked by people to help answer their questions about Social Security. Here is a short overview of critical ages as you begin to think about retirement. by: Paul Norr / Wednesday, February 19, 2014 There are many age-related financial and planning milestones that clients will encounter in their sixties. Here …

Continue reading Social Security: Planning Tips by Age

Bad Is Stronger Than Good

My Comments: Yesterday, I reposted an article that claims virutally all economists are in agreement that the stimulus pushed by this administration served to keep us from falling into a drepression, and that the major argument was whether the stumulus should have been stronger. Here is an article from last week that considers the mental …

Continue reading Bad Is Stronger Than Good