Blog

We’ve all seen and heard the commercials, frantic homeowners who nearly lost their homes to fraudsters. We are told that a single piece of paper in the wrong hands is all it takes, and your house title belongs to scammers. Worse yet, the County Clerk is required to file that form once received, and you […]

Since the 1974 inception of the Individual Retirement Account, or IRA, this form of saving and investing has become ubiquitous in today’s financial world. In 1997, Congress authorized the Roth IRA, which added tax flexibility for account holders. Roth options have become an important part of many people’s retirement planning, and have expanded from the […]

Presidential candidate Ronald Reagan campaigned for office in 1980 with several novel ideas appealing to American voters. Historically high-income taxes were among the most important issues of the era, and Reagan promised dramatic rate cuts, along with overall simplification. From the top tax rate of 70% at the time, he proposed (and got passed) an […]

Inflation is on everyone’s mind these days, and with good reason. While the technical definition of inflation is “excess growth of the money supply,” everyday price increases constitute the most in-your-face indicator of inflation’s presence. We Americans deserve an accurate assessment of annual inflation, due to its impact on our lives. Within the vast Federal […]

In the aftermath of COVID-19, which invaded our lives in early 2020, we were informed of a disturbing societal trend. Between 2019 and 2020, Americans’ life expectancy at birth fell by 1.8 years, reversing a series of increases we have enjoyed for decades. Worse yet, between 2020 and 2021, life expectancy from birth dropped further, […]

In the arena of moneylending, there is perhaps no more controversial topic than the so-called “payday loan” industry. Payday loan companies have long been a center of controversy. Generally, claims against the industry refer to the rate of interest charged as exorbitant (“usurious”). The payday loan industry presents an easy target, charging an average annual […]

In a recent survey of 1,500 affluent and high-net-worth clients of financial advisors, 20% intended to retire earlier than they had planned prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, with a heavy tilt toward younger investors. 45% of survey participants under 35 years old, and 39% of investors from 35 to 44, have earlier retirement expectations, specifically […]

As soon as the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 passed both chambers in Washington, D.C., proponents began to refer to the 700+ page leviathan as a “Climate Change Bill.” Why the sudden shift? In reality, this is an installment on Biden’s failed “Build Back Better” plan, as well as the progressives’ Green New Deal. We […]

In times of rising uncertainty, increasing inflation, and market turmoil, such as 2022 so far, investor preferences trend toward certain investments that are perceived as “safe havens” and stores of value. Among the likely recipients of investment dollars are annuities and precious metals. Fixed annuities are thought to hold their value during market pullbacks, and […]