TAX ESSENTIALS

My Comments: I think I found this article published in Medical Economics some months ago. I apologize for my inability to provide accurate sourcing. That aside, we have ZERO obligation to pay more in taxes that absolutely necessary. Just remember, the IRS has a responsibility to collect taxes. It’s up to us to figure out …

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A Breath of Fresh Air in Iowa

My Comments: This article appeared in the Los Angeles Times with these words as the title; In Iowa farm town, immigration debate yields surprising views. Given the political rhetoric and implications, I think this message is worth sharing. By Mark Z. Barabak - The Los Angeles Times – January 22, 2016 For the longest time, …

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The ‘Retirement Crisis’ That Isn’t

My Comments: Social security payments to my wife and I are a critical element of the life we live. It can be argued that without those payments, we’d have scaled back in terms of what we spend for food and housing. The fact remains that given expectations of a monthly income from that source, our …

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6 Charts Suggest a Stock Market Correction Soon

My Comments: Like me, you don’t have a clue what’s going to happen either. But these charts help give you an educated guess. John Mauldin, Mauldin Economics Dec. 20, 2015 The S&P 500 index is flat for the year, but that hasn’t been due to a lack of volatility. The index has traded within a …

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Checking Up On Obamacare

My Comments: I started my career in financial services 40 years ago selling health insurance policies. I’ve long since lost track of the number of individuals, families and businesses I’ve worked with to give them proper coverage. My alarming memory over the years, until recently, was the dramatic rise in premiums from year to year. …

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The Fed: Mission Accomplished?

My Comments: I think the Fed's raising interest rates the other day is more symbolic than meaningful. The follow on events were/are inevitable. As usual, life does not move in a straight line. And like death and taxes, interest rates had to eventually move off Zero where they’ve been for many, many months. So moving …

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The Rise of Liberal Intolerance in America

My Comments: I’ve been a Florida registered Democrat since I first registered to vote back in 1962. Back then you had to be registered as a Democrat if you wanted to participate in the primary elections. Republicans only showed up on the November ballot. Democrats lay claim to a higher level of tolerance for those …

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New Social Security Claiming Rules

My Comments: Social Security has become a fundamental element in the lives of virtually every American on the planet. Those of us old enough to have started taking monthly payments could only gasp if they were taken away. I guess there are some who wouldn't give a damn. But still... The rules just enacted limit …

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Why Things Could Soon Get Ugly For Stock Investors

My Comments: Another voice predicting woe and gloom. I’ve tried to protect myself and my clients but there are no guarantees. By Scott Barlow on Wednesday, Dec. 09, 2015 We’re about to find out what happens when a market rally built on a foundation of cheap borrowing rates is faced with the end of a …

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Investing In Our Families

My Comments: When I saw this, I was surprised. When you have family wealth of many billions, you don’t expect to see a nuanced economic commentary. It’s refreshing to see someone clearly at the very top of the economic pile, writing in recognition of those near the bottom. Of course, it helps that if those …

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