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As it stands now, social security is scheduled to run out of money by 2034. If that is allowed to happen, about 62 million recipients, or 1 out of every 6 Americans, will have their benefits cut to 79% of the current level. Clearly, no politician would allow this to happen, but fixing the problem needs to start now, not in 15 years when the system is bankrupt.

Perhaps the most difficult period of a young person’s life begins with the realization that it is time to get married and start a family. There is so much to do with so little cash flow, and so many concurrent demands to obstruct the path to a successful financial future. The early years of child rearing present young parents with constant demands for time and money, and conflicts are inevitable. When presented with the reality that there will soon be three people in the family, a common and natural reaction is panic.

There is a simple argument in favor of indexing capital gains, as taxing the inflationary part of the gain is unfair and discourages investment. In Washington, D.C., of course, nothing is simple, and few things are considered “fair.” Opponents claim that the distribution of tax savings would benefit primarily wealthier people.

Each and every week on the Van Wie Financial Hour, we present to the listeners a trivia question. The winner (if any) receives whatever prize we are offering for the week. Trivia questions (our way, at least) are designed for more than time fillers -- we always strive to educate people.

Have you ever heard of an Income Share Agreement? If you have not, you are not alone. It is an innovative way to pay for college when all other options are exhausted.

Several years ago, Adam and I started a new financial planning organization, Van Wie Financial, modeled on our collective business experience. Business School students and graduates use a lot of buzz-words these days, and one of them is “best practices.” That is exactly what we set out to do with Van Wie Financial.

Even the most diligent among the graduating masses may not be prepared for the “big jobs” they seek. College doesn’t prepare students for that job; it only prepares them to begin a career. Many, in fact, need several more years of study, only then to become someone’s understudy while their skills are honed.

Americans love their income tax refunds. Some take vacations with the proceeds, others finally pay off lingering Christmas bills, and yet others put a down payment on a new car or other high-priced toys. After all, their own money is being returned to them by the same government that took it away in the first place. The annual refund has become a staple in the American lifestyle.

There are tariffs built into the cost structure of a vast array of imports purchased in the USA. Generally small, most tariffs do not completely offset the cost of buying American counterpoints, but they make our goods somewhat more competitive. The remaining inequity results from bad trade “deals” negotiated over decades by US trade officials. The North American Free Trade Agreement, or NAFTA, is a great example. There are dozens of Trade Agreements, but NAFTA has proven extremely onerous to Americans.