Washington Needs to Prove the Political System Still Works

My Comments: Readers of this blog know that from time to time, I express an opinion about politics or economics. I’m still coming to terms with the efforts by folks I consider nuts to shut down the government and risk a default. Having lived in various places around the world, and been exposed to international …

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Annuities Reconsidered

Since I have grey hair, my clients tend to also have grey hair. And among our concerns is how bills will get paid as time marches on. Social Security and Medicare are lifesavers for many people as financial and health threats continue to surface. But there is much more at stake than social programs sponsored …

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NFL, Concussions and Brokers: The Dangers of Denial

My Comments: This article is from someone who writes extensively about the financial world, in which I live every day. It comes from Bob Clark, ThinkAdvisor Editor-at-Large Investment Advisor Magazine. Whenever those in charge, be they politicians or corporate CEO’s, refuse to accept facts that tend to refute the status quo, it usually pays to …

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A Magic Clock!

My Comments: Well, not really magic, but what you see might be magical. This is not a profound commentary on the state of government, or investments, or of the world, etc. But it might amuse you for a few minutes, which you can perhaps benefit from. You will find clocks that reveal almost everything, including …

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A Long Walk Off a Short Cliff

My Comments: An area of expertise that I claim, involves a topic known as “captive insurance companies.” This concept applies to successful small business owners and the companies they own. These folks are in the news a lot lately because they get talked about in the context of the Affordable Care Act and what some …

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Time to Retire the Idea of Retirement

My Comments: The idea of retirement has been part of my psyche since day one. My parents had friends while I was growing up who were retired and there was discussion about retirement in the household. Over the following years, the idea was mainstream, expected, and normal. Now, not so much. When you think about …

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J.P. Morgan Weekly Market Recap – October 14, 2013

My original idea was to post these every week or so. Many people like to make their own investment decisions and this recap is a great way to gain insight into what is going on globally. This weekly broadcast from J. P. Morgan will give you some insights as to what is going on right …

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Why The Tea Party Really Hates Obamacare

My Comments: These words from Gene Lyons were written before the government shutdown. There is less talk today about reversing ObamaCare but there is still pure contempt by many people in this country for Obama, and some are probably racist. One reason I heard recently for the push to reverse the PPACA, was the real …

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The Most Likely Debt Ceiling Outcome

My Comments: I have no clue how this is all going to play out. My background in economics and finance tells me that no solution, for an extended period of time, will have bad consequences. But sooner or later, those in charge (?) will arrive at something that will make this go away, at least …

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Preparing Clients for the Digital Afterlife

My Comments: When my parents died, I became the primary ‘Saver of Stuff”. That means I have boxes and boxes and drawers full of stuff that includes photos, documents, and too many odds and ends to properly inventory. The history of some of them are known to me. The details about the rest left when …

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