Blog

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 […]

Individual Income Taxes were (re)born in 1913, having appeared briefly (1862 – 1872) to finance the Civil War, and again for one year in 1894, when the tax on income was found unconstitutional. Hence, the 16th Amendment (allowing an income tax) was permanently installed in 1913, and the rest is history. Over decades of change, […]

Nearly 65 million people receive Social Security retirement income benefits monthly (data as of May 2024, from the Social Security Administration). A vast majority of recipients would rebel against any person or plan to reduce or eliminate their monthly benefits. Congress knows this, and only Congress can prevent the system from going broke, or even […]

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 the pros and cons of the national (and […]

Inflation is rampant, and our lifestyles are suffering from the ravages of ever-higher prices for necessary goods and services. Our government touts a falling rate of inflation, but they mislead the public by implying that prices are falling. This is categorically untrue, as a decreasing rate of inflation simply means that prices are rising a […]