My Comments: This was written a couple of years ago, but the message will resonate today with many people. For those who have expectations of retiring at some point, there is an incentive to accumulate as much retirement money as possible. All the while being sensitive to how that money is put to work. The …
Continue reading Retirement Ratio: Portfolio Performance and Uncertainty Measurement
My Comments: Many of my clients are elderly clients. For many, their investment horizon going forward is not 20 years or more. They have little need to take what many of them think of as aggressive steps to grow their money. On the other hand, good advisors today are encouraging their clients to be more …
Continue reading Record U.S. Stocks at Lowest Valuation Since 1980
My Comments: It’s hard for me to understand why this should be a difficult calculation. Until I realize that there are lots of variables in how social security benefits are payable, and the best solution is often a function of how long you live, and whether you and your spouse, assuming you have one, stay …
Continue reading When to Begin Social Security? Even Advisors Aren’t Sure
My Comments: I spent time this morning with someone who is best described as a capitalist. He understands how money works, he understands the existing health care system, he understands the changes that are taking place, and he is actively looking for financial opportunities. He sees them everywhere. I’ve posted before about the need for …
Continue reading Why an MRI costs $1,080 in America and $280 in France
My Comments: Why, you ask, do I repost an article that on the face of it has nothing to do with investing money, or financial planning or making sure taxes are minimized. Well, because many of you are going to be investing money ten, twenty, and thirty years from now. Your lives will change from …
My Comments: In the early 90’s, I opened a branch here in Gainesville for a company called International Assets Advisor Corporation. This company, headquartered in Winter Park, FL was a leading proponent of having clients invested in markets beyond the US. It was a rather revolutionary idea at the time. The lead broker on the …
Continue reading Why Emerging Markets? Growth, Demographics and Yield
My Thoughts on This: I saved this article when I found it about a year ago. This morning, I happened upon it again and saw when it was first published. Almost FOUR YEARS AGO! And I’ll bet nothing has improved since then. But the message is still very real. Enjoy. 11:00 AM Wednesday May 27, …
My Comments: Amid the budget crisis that seems to consume Washington and the national press are issues about social security that never seem to go away. This is spite of the fact that we are among the wealthiest nations on the planet and that it was deemed some 80 years ago that we could afford …
My Comments: From time to time, I get requests from various individuals who want to contribute an article for me to use as a blog post, giving them credit. This one is the result of such an effort. The writer has made several attempts to create an easy to read and understandable blog post. He …
Continue reading Trim Down Your Tax Obligations in 2013 Without Having to Convince the IRS
My Comments: I’ve been a licensed insurance agent since sometime in 1976, or was it 1975? I have helped place hundreds, if not thousands, of insurance contracts over these many years, some of which I know are still in force. This article is directed toward those who are dealing with elderly parents, some of whom …
Helping Define Your Financial Future 