My Comments: At this time of the year, there is an almost overwhelming imperative to be positive and cheerful about everything. I asked someone native born in Hong Kong recently about the Chinese people and Christmas. Her response surprised me; she said it was an opportunity to celebrate and enjoy life. So it is with …
Tag: financial advice
Why the Bond Market Could Blow Up Any Day Now…
My Comments: The SKY IS FALLING! Actually, it’s not, but many of the headlines suggest it might be. This was published 3 months ago and as you probably know, the bond market has not yet blown up. Lots of things have changed but the bond market is just as boring today as it was then. …
Continue reading Why the Bond Market Could Blow Up Any Day Now…
4 Ways Social Security Could Be Healthy Again
My Comments: As someone who paid into the SSA system for over 50 years, it’s hard to describe the satisfaction my wife and I experience from the deposits made to our checking account every month. As an economist, I’ve watched how the system has been modified over the years to remain the safety net it …
Continue reading 4 Ways Social Security Could Be Healthy Again
Will There Really Be a Doctor Shortage?
My Comments: There is one already. An unintended consequence of ObamaCare ( the PPACA ) is that millions of people who have until now waited until the last minute and then went to an Emergency Care Center are now trying to get appointments with MDs who were already busy people. Not enough people are yet …
What Doctors and Families Have That Advisors Don’t
My Comments: As a financial advisor for the past 40 years, I’ve somehow overcome the perception that people with specialized knowledge can not always be trusted, especially with your money. With so many threats coming at us from every direction these days, some of which are not realistic but promoted by the media as a …
Continue reading What Doctors and Families Have That Advisors Don’t
The Wall Of Worry, Illustrated
My Comments: Readers of this blog post over the past six months have noted my concerns about a coming market crash and what it might do to your ‘nest egg’. Perhaps you remember my comments about a wall of worry, a phrase that gained traction in past years as the market climbed and climbed and …
Big Bank Problems: A Culture Ratio is More Important Than a Capital One
My Comments: The financial crisis in 2008-09 could have been much worse. The Federal Reserve intervened and limited the damage. After the fact, the regulators created a major remedy, one intended to “make sure” a similar crisis wouldn’t happen again. The idea was to impose new standards regarding the amount of capital, or reserves, on …
Continue reading Big Bank Problems: A Culture Ratio is More Important Than a Capital One
13 Reasons Why a QLAC Belongs in Your IRA
My Comments: Some people made good decisions along the way and now have significantly large IRA accounts. Some people I know have little need for the money to maintain their existing standard of living. If this is you and would like to find a way to NOT take money every year and pay the IRS …
Halt Jerusalem’s Unholy Descent Into Dark Ages
My Comments: Writing about politics and religion is outside my professional capacity to serve my clients, friends and family, not to mention those whom I hope to meet in the coming years. It’s much easier to try and ignore this stuff than to admit it has important implications. And then attempt to define just where …
Continue reading Halt Jerusalem’s Unholy Descent Into Dark Ages
Falling Gas Prices Fuel Holiday Cheer
My Comments: A good friend of mine who owns several gas stations says he loves it when the price of gasoline falls. The reason: it’s much easier for him to increase his margin of profit when the price is falling than when it’s going up. Everyone loves falling prices so there is less competition among …
Helping Define Your Financial Future 