Opinion: This Market Bubble is About to Burst

My Comments: Yesterday, I decided it was time to think about moving my clients out of cash and back into the markets. At least with some of their money. Now, once again, I’m not so sure. If you are retired, or about to be retired, and have the ability to control the investments made inside …

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The Biggest Losers in Trump’s Potential Trade War

My Comments: It’s been hard to tell if the mistakes coming out of the White House are simply the result of the learning curve necessary to be competent or whether it’s the result of overt incompetence. But I do think it’s increasingly clear that Donald Trump is in over his head. The person most likely …

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Our life in three stages – school, work, retirement – will not survive much longer

My Comments: We are now starting a periodic review of the basic assumptions about how our lives should be governed, and a review of the fundamental values that define our society. It’s probably overdue, and while I disagree with the tactics so far used to push the doors open to let in a different light, …

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Trade Is Not the Driver of Major Job Loss

My Comments: This chart shows the decline, in relative terms, of the number of people who define the US labor force over the past 30 years. Without population growth, it's very hard to maintain economic strength. So I find myself strangely untroubled by President Bannon, the avowed Leninist now more or less running the White …

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3 Medicare Myths – Debunked!

My Comments: Today is Tuesday and I normally post something about Social Security. But health issues in retirement are a major concern for many of us. So paying for timely and necessary medical help becomes another critical issue. While it might be necessary to tweak the system from time to time, the headlines coming out …

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Have You Heard About The New Fiduciary Rule?

My Comments: This falls into a ‘did you know’ category. You'll find an explanation of the term ‘fiduciary’ in paragraph four below. Many of my followers are employed by universities and colleges, cities and counties, and other not-for-profit organizations across the country including churches. If this is you, then you may have money in a …

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Coming Soon: The Worst Investing Returns In 30 Years

My Comments: I found this several months ago and found it again this morning. It’s still very relevant. As someone who attempts to help people make the transition from working for money, to retirement when the goal is money working for you, a big challenge is dealing with expectations. Many advisors have spent the last …

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Maintain a Level Playground

My Comments: This is about a soon to be imposed rule that applies to those of us who provide professional advice about the money you are accumulating for your retirement. It’s called the Department of Labor Fiduciary Standard rule and it’s long overdue. As a financial planner, my role is to identify the existential threats …

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How To Maximize Your Social Security Benefits

My Comments: Sometimes simple is better, much better. I found these words recently and am sharing them here since so many people are now making the transition to retirement. It’s a stressful time for a lot of reasons and the more you understand the financial dynamics involved, the less stressed out you’ll be. January 11, …

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The Trump effect has rallied US markets – but it’s based on illusion

My Comments: Well, today is Monday. I wonder what the markets will do today. This appeared last Thursday, from a highly respected economist whose thoughts I value. I’ve been keeping my money, and that of others for the past few months, in cash. My assumption has been that we are overdue for a correction of …

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