My Comments: Football season is about to start, Ukraine is still bothered by the Russians, and Ferguson, Missouri is still a mess. So here I am talking about the stock market and an index I have never heard of before. I suspect you haven’t either. But there is reference here to the Misery Index, which …
Continue reading Gauging The Stock Market With The Tocalino Index
My Comments: This is a self-serving blog post. While I should apologize for this, there are millions of Americans who will find themselves looking for financial freedom in the years to come and unless they have developed the necessary skill sets, they will find themselves behind the curve in a big way. Somebody has to …
Continue reading 9 Reasons Consumers Need Advisors More Than Ever
My Comments: Some of you are aware of my continued interest in the welfare of the magnet programs across Alachua County. I’ve been a member of the advisory board to the two programs at Buchholz High School since the mid 90’s. They are, respectively, the Academy of Finance and the Academy of Entrepreneurship. The original …
Continue reading Vocational Training Is No Substitute For High School
My Comments: I’ve argued vigorously over these past few years in favor of the PPACA, what all of us know as ObamaCare. Without it we would be at the mercy of the drug industry, hospitals and the insurance industry. Of the five primary stakeholders in the health care debate, any two of those three could …
Continue reading Obamacare Helps Add Life to Medicare as Shortfall Delayed
My Comments: You have read my posts before where I talk about income inequality (the HAVES vs. the HAVE NOTS) and how if left unchecked, could result in social chaos in this country. Probably not in my lifetime, but definitely affecting the lives of my grandchildren. It’s an issue that demands discussion among ourselves and …
Continue reading The Typical Household, Now Worth a Third Less
My Comments: Earlier this week I introduced the idea of a QLAC. If you didn’t see it, click on the link and check it out. Some of you are going to want to use this contract as soon as it becomes available this fall. Others are going to think about how your investment mix will …
Continue reading New Longevity Annuity Rules: 5 Things to Know
My Comments: No need for any commentary from me. Just draw your own conclusions, and hope that if the author is right, you’ve talked with me about how to make money when everyone around you is losing theirs. On the other hand, essentially this same argument was made last April and yet the crash has …
Continue reading 3 Market Warning Signs Predict 20% Stock Tumble
My Comments: QLAC? What the heck is a QLAC? By Jeffrey Levine / July 18, 2014 On July 1, 2014 the Treasury Department released the long-awaited final regulations for Qualifying Longevity Annuity Contracts (QLACs). These new annuities will offer advisors a unique tool to help clients avoid outliving their money. The QLAC rules, however, are …
My Comments: On Thursday, July 30 the market dropped 300 points. The blogosphere and media were all a chatter about "was this the start of the correction?". Who knows ?!? It illustrates why those of us who profess to be financial advisors are more in the dark than you are. Here we are talking about …
Continue reading Increased Consumer Spending Driving Strong Economic Growth In USA
My Comments: It’s Friday, I’m looking forward to the weekend, and yet the world keeps spinning and I can’t keep up. I’ve found myself turning off the TV when I find airheads talking about Isreal and Gaza, not because it isn’t important, but because I’m tired of hatred that has no other rationale than “my …
Continue reading Obama Needs to Play The Honest Broker in the Mideast
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