Blog

A few years ago, we (personally) found ourselves approaching Medicare age, with a combination of trepidation and relief. To be fair, in terms of medical insurance, we have had an overall positive experience with Medicare. Originally, Medicare excluded coverage for prescription medicines. This changed under President George W. Bush, when Medicare Part “D” (Prescription Drug […]

Americans are notoriously generous, both with their money and their time. Our government recognizes two basic forms of gifts: gifts to Qualified Charities and gifts to individuals. The former may provide some tax incentives, but care must be taken to ensure compliance with the Tax Code. IRS publishes a list of Qualified Charities in Publication […]

Florida is halfway through another Hurricane Season (officially defined as June 1 through November 30), but is right now just entering the peak of seasonality. Recent years have produced some horrible storms, causing several huge financial losses (those over $1 Billion each). While zealots cite this statistic to enhance their climate change arguments, the truth […]

Inflation today, while easing, remains ubiquitous and presents a rare point of agreement throughout the country. What to do about it, however, is a divisive topic, and this past week, we were treated to one of the worst proposals in economic discourse — price controls to curtail inflation. Throughout documented history, pharaohs, kings, dictators, and […]

For the first time in American history, we are being told by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that life expectancy has decreased in recent years. This is contradictory to what we all experience day-to-day, and perhaps no better evidence is available than right here in Florida. Surrounded by healthy, intelligent, and […]

In the past week, the S&P500 Index logged a total of 838 points (intra-day volatility), on its way to closing flat for the week. Between the highest high and the lowest low was about 240 points, or 4.4% of the closing price. All for nothing, one might say. However, volatility serves a purpose, and is […]

One month ago, in this Blog, I wrote: “This is the best of times, this is the worst of times (my apologies to Charles Dickens). Having spent my considerable adult lifetime studying economics, investing, and personal finance, I cannot remember a more confusing economic landscape. Advising clients as to their financial future options requires balancing […]

In this week’s Blog post, we continue our criticism of the U.S. Tax Code. Remember the old saying about not wanting to watch sausages or laws being made? The Code itself represents the worst and most contentious lawmaking by elected officials with diametrically opposite opinions. From the original Code, which contained a total of 27 […]

Inflation creates an insidious and regressive tax on the American citizenry. Rising prices generally outpace increased earnings. Add the tax effect, whereby increased incomes are depleted by our marginal income tax rates, and our individual purchasing power suffers. In times of rampant inflation, as we have experienced since COVID-19, purchasing power erodes at an accelerated […]