My Comments: I bet you are saying this is just another weird observation from Tony. And you may be right. But mindful that many of you, and many of me, are thinking of ways to predict what the markets will do this year. So... A reasonable predictor of future market movements which translates to whether …
Continue reading What Accounts For The Decrease In The Labor Force Participation Rate?
My Comments: The roll out of the national web site to get people enrolled in a health insurance plan has been a enormous pain in the you know what, to put it mildly. Best as I can determine, the task was given to folks who fully understood the complexities of the PPACA but didn’t have …
My Comments: I often tell my clients that if I did have a crystal ball, we’d not be having this conversation as I would probably be vacationing in the south of France. Or somewhere warm. So going into 2014, there are lots of the usual questions including the memorable one in the media these days, …
Continue reading The Danger Overlooked By Most Long-Term Investors
My Comments: The following is an arcane topic that will bore some of you and cause you to find something else to read. That’s OK. But for those of you interested in what might happen to your Social Security income, you might find it interesting. Economic fundamentals tells you that, over time, a balance has …
Continue reading Chained CPI Could Cut Social Security Benefits
January 3, 2014 • Robert Laura One of the many things I appreciate about this profession is the constant and ongoing challenge associated with traditional retirement planning statistics and percentages. Whether it’s the 4 percent rule being argued, new research on the pros and cons of active versus passive investing, or a new study on …
Continue reading These Retirement Stats Paint A Troubling Picture
My Comments: This is again one of the most difficult topics facing any of us who hold ourselves out as financial professional. But with the baby boomers aging, and medical science keeping us alive longer and longer, it’s a topic that will not go away. There is a statistical reality that is impossible to ignore. …
Continue reading 5 Predictions for the Long Term Care Insurance Industry in 2014
My Comments: I have a number of physicians among my clients and friends. Virtually all are uncertain about how the PPACA is going to impact their profession. Those not retired are concerned, but understand that if their commitment to their patients stays as strong as it is now, they will be OK. But that doesn't …
Continue reading Solving the Shortage in Primary Care Doctors
My Comments: For many advisors, estate planning will take a back seat as the combined exemption (husband and wife) now exceeds $10.5M. That eliminates a lot of folks who nevertheless have substantial wealth. But there are still questions that should not be ignored. Here’s a quick summary that will put all this in perspective for …
Continue reading 10 Estate Planning Tax Facts You Need to Know
My Comments: You already know my opinions about the PPACA and how it will morph over the next ten years. Here’s another element that will focus people’s attention as contrasts start to appear between states that are willing to participate and those that do not. Since Florida has chosen to NOT participate in the Medicaid …
Continue reading The Affordable Care Act’s Most Important Date: Not What You Think
My Comments: Years ago, it was simply a matter of waiting to reach 65, showing up at the Social Security office and then waiting for a check to appear in the mail. Today, that idea is quaint and naive. As the baby boomers reach age 62 and beyond, it’s become a chore to figure out …
Continue reading Restricted Application for Social Security Benefits
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