My Comments: On its face, this looks like just another political swipe at the remaining presidential hopefuls on the right. However, as an aspiring economist and financial planner, I appreciate the role played by government in the financial sector and know how critical it is. These comments point to some dubious thinking on the part …
Continue reading The Monetary Madness of Trump, Cruz and Rubio
I’ve long had an interest in place names and how they came to be. I was reminded of this several weeks ago when driving across Texas and saw a sign on a bridge that read “Woman Hollering Creek”. I imagined a surveyor and map maker coming across yet another creek at the end of the …
My Comments: 20 years ago, I had no problems with the North American Free Trade Agreement. Today, 20 years later, I have no basic problems with the premise which allows goods and services to be translated freely across North America. But there are obvious unintended consequences, which are described in this article. By Susan Grigsby, …
My Comments: As an immigrant and naturalized US citizen, and having lived in foreign countries during my lifetime, I’m endlessly interested is world affairs. Many of the so called ‘political elites’ these days seem to be unaware that the world today is quite different from what it was as little as 25 years ago. I, …
My Comments: No, I am not an accountant and I cannot tell you how to file your tax return. I can, however, put ideas in front of you that you may not know about. Remember, none of us have an obligation to pay more in taxes each year that is absolutely necessary. It’s just that …
Continue reading These Little-Known Tax Deductions Can Save You Thousands
My Comments: A conversation with a client this morning revealed that she is getting annoying letters and calls from a Homeowner Association affiliated with a timeshare property she used to own in another state. It’s not her debt and she has sufficient documentation to support her claim that the property was sold to someone else. …
Continue reading When Collectors Call, Demand Proof of Your Debt
My Comments: This article appeared in the Los Angeles Times with these words as the title; In Iowa farm town, immigration debate yields surprising views. Given the political rhetoric and implications, I think this message is worth sharing. By Mark Z. Barabak - The Los Angeles Times – January 22, 2016 For the longest time, …
My Comments: I started my career in financial services 40 years ago selling health insurance policies. I’ve long since lost track of the number of individuals, families and businesses I’ve worked with to give them proper coverage. My alarming memory over the years, until recently, was the dramatic rise in premiums from year to year. …
My Thoughts: Happened across an article about Andre the Giant yesterday. I remembered an event from about 25 years ago while in the Atlanta airport. It was in a departure area with lots of people milling about, all of waiting to board. I glimpsed, perhaps 50 feet away, a face I thought I recognized from …
My Comments: I think the Fed's raising interest rates the other day is more symbolic than meaningful. The follow on events were/are inevitable. As usual, life does not move in a straight line. And like death and taxes, interest rates had to eventually move off Zero where they’ve been for many, many months. So moving …
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