Barack Obama’s Gamble on the Future of Iran

My Comments: I must confess to being tired of all the crap going on in politics, whether its local, state, national or international. Increasingly my opinions, concerns, fears, hopes, expectations, etc., seem irrelevant. The temptation is to walk away and try to ignore it. That’s an emotional response and there’s a parallel with my universe …

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5 Annuity Questions With Rational Answers

My Comments: Every year, many BILLIONs of dollars flow from the pockets of Americans into a financial contract called an "annuity”. Originally, the idea was to give an insurance company some of your money, and they would agree to send it back to you, with interest, over time. Over the years, the sophistication of these …

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The White House and Hidden Retirement Fees

My Comments: It’s fairly easy to paint Wall Street as a villain in almost any article that deals with the management of money for the vast majority of Americans. After all, they typically act in their own best interest, which may or may not coincide with what's in my best interest. But that’s the American …

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Long-Term Care and Who Will Pay For It

My Comments: Selling long-term care insurance has been a tough sell for me. It’s less appealing than life insurance and statistically, it’s less likely to happen than death. It’s an emotionally charged issue that’s hard to deal with rationally. The major player in the long-term care insurance policy world is Genworth Financial. They’re on the …

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A Stand-in For The Fiduciary Standard?

My Comments: I apologize for continuing to push this issue. But as a fiduciary, I’m bound to give advice that results in what is best for the client, legally, morally and ethically. That Wall Street firms resist this is not in your best interest. Meanwhile, I received an angry call this week from a group …

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GOP Lawmaker Hopes To Halt Fiduciary Push

My Comment: This push by the GOP is, in my opinion, more smoke and mirrors from those beholden to the lobbyists from Wall Street. The crux of this issue is that the people who run Wall Street firms do not want their rank and file representatives, the ones who work with people like you and …

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When Patience Disappears

My Comments: We’ve talked extensively about the likelihood of a market correction, if not a crash, coming in the near future, maybe this year. What many have not talked about are the implications of a rise in interest rates. This is going to happen, given that they’ve been on a downward trend for twenty plus …

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7 Social Security Mistakes to Avoid

My Comments: Social Security payments are a critical financial component of many lives these days. When it began in 1935, there was much gnashing of teeth among the political parties since it represented a recognition by the government that some people needed help. This was in a world recovering from the Great Depression and watching …

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The First Sign of an Impending Crash

My Comments: Another in a littany of warnings about pending doom. It gets a little tiresome,doesn’t it? Especially when there are others who swear the signs are there for continued gains. My gut tells me this guy is probably right. By Jeff Clark Thursday, February 12, 2015 Investors have plenty of reasons to be afraid …

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5 Key QLAC Rules to Help You Defer Taxable Income

My Comments: Yesterday, President’s Day, was all about memories and things past. Today, we’re back with a somewhat esoteric idea to help you grow and keep your money. Much of the talk in Washington these days is about income inequality and how much the 1% make each year. For some of us in the 99%, …

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