Hope for Demoralized Would-be Retirees?

My Comments: It’s sort of like watching grass grow, or perhaps watching an old car turn to rust. You know it’s happening but you can’t just stand there and expect to see a difference from one moment to the next. The authors of the study referenced in this article talk about Dimensional Fund Advisors or …

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Estate Planning is Dead — Long Live Retirement Planning!

My Comments: While these comments were directed toward advisors like me, they are representative of something that happens to many of us over time. What we are trained to do, and from which we earn a living, changes and we become irrelevant. An example happened in Detroit, once the heart of American car manufacturing. And …

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Bernanke Signals Flexibility on Tapering

My Comments: A few weeks ago, the Federal Reserve Board met and then Ben Bernanke made some comments to the effect that what is knows as Quantitative Easing, or QE, was about to end. The markets went nuts, the day to day volatility in the markets was off the charts, and investors were not happy …

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Bob Doll Judges His Top 10 Predictions for 2013

My Comments: I met Bob Doll some twenty years ago when he was a regional VP for Oppenheimer Funds. At least that’s what my memory tells me about him. Today, he is one of the most influential money management gurus on the planet. His thinking is more often than not, spot on. By Joyce Hanson, …

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J.P. Morgan Weekly Market Recap – July 9, 2013

My original idea was to post these every week or so. Many people like to make their own investment decisions and this recap is a great way to gain insight into what is going on globally. This weekly broadcast from J. P. Morgan will give you some insights as to what is going on right …

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The Legality of Offshore Planning: an Introduction

My Comments: This blog post by Hale Stewart, derives in part from his expertise with captive insurance companies, and the fact that they are often set up in an offshore jurisdiction to provide a layer of asset protection for those using the concept. There are now approximately 17 states that allow and encourage the creation …

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The Caffeine Buzz of Hot-desking in a Coffee Shop

My Comments: Six months ago, I “loaned” $50 to Starbucks. In exchange, I got a plastic card that I can use to buy coffee and/or other assorted goodies whenever I frequent any Starbucks shop on the planet. I now realize they’ve had the use of my money for months now and have given me nothing …

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Snooping Concerns Are Not Paranoia

My Comments: I’m fond on the expression that says “just because you’re paranoid doesn’t mean there isn’t someone out there trying to kill you”. I fully understand the perceived need of those charged with keeping us safe to want to use every technological means possible to identify the threats before they become reality. And I …

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Barry Ritholtz Names Three Major Market Threats

My Comments: Whatever game of life you are playing, you tend to be more successful if you can identify threats in advance and make choices to reduce or eliminate the damage when they appear. Of course, just being aware of them tends to suggest they never materialize. Just like taking your umbrella with you to …

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Biggest Retirement Threat? It’s Not Running Out Of Money

My Comments: This is certainly a different slant on things. As a financial planner and advisor these many years, running out of money has been the major threat for those of us thinking about retiring or who are already retired. How do we make sure we’re not broke before we die? Just what I need; …

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