My Comments: I had the pleasure, and the good fortune, to know Dr. Cade personally. Along with other friends and associates, we enjoyed lunch together over countless days. We told stories, talked business, sports, and shared gossip. He was delightful to be with and those days leave lasting good memories for me. The headline of …
Tag: money management
“Borrowing” from Retirement Savings
My Comments: There is a fundamental truth to be gleaned from demographics. A great majority of us live well into our 80’s and beyond. And given the nature of our society, it’s better to have more money than less money. Accounts like an IRA, or a 401k or any number of other titles, implies that …
Big Oil Is Changing It’s Mind
My Comments: For me, economics is a fascinating subject. For you, probably not so much. Environmentalists are cheering the announcement by Shell they are abandoning their efforts to drill for oil in the Arctic waters for which they own the rights. Some will attribute this to media pressure about the likely environmental costs, but I …
More Market Mayhem On Its’ Way
My Comments: History does typically repeat itself. Whether its human frailty or the laws of physics, the past is usually a glimpse into the future. Cries of ‘this time it’s different’ usually prove to be false. It’s not what happens that has a critical effect on your financial future, it’s how you manage the inevitable. …
PPACA and Premium Increases
My Comments: 40 years ago I cut my teeth as a financial advisor, selling health insurance policies to local families. Many of them were employed at the University of Florida and all paid exactly the same premiums. Older folks were effectively subsidized by younger folks, which meant that if what I sold was age sensitive, …
The Fed’s Dilemma
My Comments: Last week the Fed board of governors met and nine of the ten voted to NOT raise the Federal Funds Rate. That’s the rate charged to commercial banks who borrow money from the Federal Reserve. It’s the fundamental tool used by the central bank to influence the economy. For those of you who …
An Unheralded Force Shaping US Policy
My Comments: I’ve been registered to vote since about 1960. During these 55 years, I’ve managed to cast a vote in almost every election held for which I was eligible. Some of the time, my votes have been positive and others negative. But I’m convinced my participation was meaningful and remains meaningful today. This article …
Hump Day – New Disease Identified
My Comments: Mindful that life is short and it’s too easy to take oneself seriously all the time, it occurred to me that each Wednesday, or Hump Day, it might make sense to share something not so serious. With the GOP debates tonight on CNN, keep this in mind if you plan to watch them. …
Fixed Indexed Annuities: Good, Bad or Ugly?
My Comments: In many circles, a FIA, or fixed index annuity, is an evil thing. As a professional retirement income planner, I believe they can be a lifesaver for many people. That billions of dollars flow into FIAs annually tells me nothing; we have less than sophisticated buyers being sold stuff by self-serving salesmen just …
Continue reading Fixed Indexed Annuities: Good, Bad or Ugly?
Capitalism Can Defeat Economic Inequality
My Comments: I came across this the other day and failed to note the source. As an economist interested in the sustainability of the economy and sensitive to the growing divide between the haves and the have nots in this country, it caught my attention. I'm not saying whomever wrote this is right. I think …
Helping Define Your Financial Future 