What John Oliver Got Right (and Wrong) About the DOL Fiduciary Rule

My Comments: The financial services industry is starting to come to terms with what is known as the DOL Fiduciary Rule. Some of us embrace this new standard and others think the world is about to end. In short, it institutionalizes the idea that if you are providing financial advice to the consuming public, you …

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How To Prepare A Will

My Comments: 1. I am NOT an attorney, so you cannot take this post seriously without also knowing I’m not empowered to provide legal advice. 2. There are often real problems when people die with stuff without specific directions about what to do with the stuff (see the recent death of Prince!). 3. A friend …

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7 Things That Will Soon Disappear Forever

My Comments: I try hard to worry only about the present and the future. Here are seven things I took for granted today that will soon be gone. Trying to bring these back, even if they hold good memories for us, will not be possible. I tell myself to get used to it, but it’s …

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How Retirement Advice Is About to Change

My Comments: Retirement planning is one of the principal tasks of my practice. In fact, I will soon start teaching a new course sponsored by the American Financial Education Alliance (AFEA) to promote financial literacy. I’ve created a Chapter of AFEA here in Alachua County with my target audience people between the age of 55 …

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Do the recent changes in Social Security rules allow you to file and suspend?

My Comments: A critical date is fast approaching for those of you who have not yet signed up to receive your Social Security benefits, for one reason or another. This writer clearly knows his stuff and if you have questions of me, I’ll do my best to answer them. None of this may apply to …

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You Can’t Keep Your Money Safe And Grow It At The Same Time

My Comments: The market continues it’s turmoil and there is no end in sight. Yet. Clients and people with whom I talk have two major fears. The first fear is outliving their money and the second is, with interest rates at historic lows, how do they earn enough for it to be meaningful. Life has …

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Negative Interest Rates: What This Means

My Comments: The word "interest" defines the price someone is willing to pay to use your money. In the world of economics, if the price is zero, and knowing price is a function of supply and demand, there is either no demand or the supply far exceeds the demand. Think oil prices these days. Interest …

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Starting to Invest in 2016? Here’s What You Need to Know

My Comments: After 43 years as a financial planner and investment company owner, I can say with certainty that the future outcome for your money is a combination of luck, discipline, timing and knowledge. I have no clue how we’ll do in 2016 but this is at least a start. By Jason Hall Published January …

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Everything You Need to Know About Social Security

My Comments: The monthly income my wife and I get from SSA is a significant part of our financial freedom. We paid into the system for 50 plus years and while I like to think I’m just getting my money back, it’s really much more than that. As a financial planner and investment advisor for …

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Investing In Our Families

My Comments: When I saw this, I was surprised. When you have family wealth of many billions, you don’t expect to see a nuanced economic commentary. It’s refreshing to see someone clearly at the very top of the economic pile, writing in recognition of those near the bottom. Of course, it helps that if those …

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