You Can’t Keep Your Money Safe And Grow It At The Same Time

My Comments: The market continues it’s turmoil and there is no end in sight. Yet. Clients and people with whom I talk have two major fears. The first fear is outliving their money and the second is, with interest rates at historic lows, how do they earn enough for it to be meaningful. Life has …

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Read This Before You Take Social Security Benefits

My Comments: Social Security is a complicated topic. If you are not yet 70 years old, and/or have not yet committed to how you will take your Social Security benefits, you should read this. With so many variables, the typical process for making a good decision is total confusion for most people, even financial planners. …

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Britain Is Sleepwalking Into A New Recession

My Comments: Never mind for the moment whether Britain decides to leave the European Union or not. They are now a key player in the world economy and a critical player in the world’s efforts to push back against terrorism. Removing themselves from the EU “…because we had it better before…” is similar to the …

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The Biggest Force Powering The Stock Market Is Starting To Disappear

My Comments: This is important if your financial future depends to some degree on retirement accounts that include investments in the stock and bond markets. If you think the turmoil is going to end soon, you should perhaps think again. Bob Bryan March 11, 2016 Since the beginning of the post-crisis bull-market run (2009), the …

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The Monetary Madness of Trump, Cruz and Rubio

My Comments: On its face, this looks like just another political swipe at the remaining presidential hopefuls on the right. However, as an aspiring economist and financial planner, I appreciate the role played by government in the financial sector and know how critical it is. These comments point to some dubious thinking on the part …

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Woman Hollering Creek, Texas

I’ve long had an interest in place names and how they came to be. I was reminded of this several weeks ago when driving across Texas and saw a sign on a bridge that read “Woman Hollering Creek”. I imagined a surveyor and map maker coming across yet another creek at the end of the …

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About That Fresh Fruit We Love So Much

My Comments: 20 years ago, I had no problems with the North American Free Trade Agreement. Today, 20 years later, I have no basic problems with the premise which allows goods and services to be translated freely across North America. But there are obvious unintended consequences, which are described in this article. By Susan Grigsby, …

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Negative Interest Rates: What This Means

My Comments: The word "interest" defines the price someone is willing to pay to use your money. In the world of economics, if the price is zero, and knowing price is a function of supply and demand, there is either no demand or the supply far exceeds the demand. Think oil prices these days. Interest …

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These Little-Known Tax Deductions Can Save You Thousands

My Comments: No, I am not an accountant and I cannot tell you how to file your tax return. I can, however, put ideas in front of you that you may not know about. Remember, none of us have an obligation to pay more in taxes each year that is absolutely necessary. It’s just that …

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When Collectors Call, Demand Proof of Your Debt

My Comments: A conversation with a client this morning revealed that she is getting annoying letters and calls from a Homeowner Association affiliated with a timeshare property she used to own in another state. It’s not her debt and she has sufficient documentation to support her claim that the property was sold to someone else. …

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