Many years ago a friend asked, “Wouldn’t you like to be a fly on the wall at your funeral?” We both agreed it would be cool to hear what people say about you when you are dead. Today, in my mid-70’s, having experienced a number of funerals where sociopaths, cheats, and downright jerks are regaled like saints I have come […]
» Read moreI have a confession to make. I’m getting older and I’m not the man I used to be. At times it’s embarrassing and humiliating. During my working career I spent 40+ weeks per year flying all over the world. I had millions of frequent flyer miles and knew all the ins and outs of the game. I was a genuine […]
» Read moreIn a recent article I outlined some virtues of rolling over a traditional IRA or 401 (k) into a Roth IRA. As baby boomers transition into retirement their concern moves from accumulating wealth to keeping it. Today we are going to learn from a professional who deals with these issues regularly – a certified expert. Good friend Jeff White, President […]
» Read moreAs I type, the news media is breathlessly awaiting the result of the Iowa caucus. It begins the ritual of citizens believing they are electing the most powerful person on the planet. Each candidate does the same dance. Like Paul Revere they shout that danger lurks ahead. Like Mighty Mouse, just in the nick of time, they are the best […]
» Read moreWe had just moved to Texas and were getting settled into our new home. I heard my wife Jo screaming, “Oh my God!, Oh my God!” I raced down the stairs to find out what was wrong. She had the Sunday paper open on the counter, breathing heavily. “Look, look”, she exclaimed as she held a lottery ticket on the […]
» Read moreWe just took off, probably less than 500 feet in the air, and I started screaming, “FIRE!, FIRE!, FIRE!” I was still a teen-ager, flying in the Marine Corps version of a flying boxcar. There were only two small, round windows in the back of the plane. Flames were pouring out of the starboard engine well past the rear window. […]
» Read moreGood friend Alex N. recently sent me an article from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, “IRA Clock is Ticking”. Author Tim Grant warns, “If seniors unknowingly miss the Dec. 31 withdrawal deadline, it ends up costing them dearly in the form of a tax penalty that amounts to 50 percent of what they should have withdrawn.” He explains the Required Minimum Distribution […]
» Read moreI believe in the old saying, “If it sounds too good to be true, it generally is”. Note the word “generally”; meaning there are a few exceptions to the rule. All too often “free money” is connected with someone hawking a product or service – not the case in today’s missive. We had a large family gathering for Christmas this […]
» Read moreI recently reconnected with Phil M. a high school buddy I had not seen in 50 years. We played “catch up”, shared some laughs, and then we began complaining about the state of the world today. We discussed lazy and disrespectful kids, government meddling in a kid’s lunch box – and a lot of points in between. My wife Jo […]
» Read moreRecently the International Monetary Fund (IMF) approved the Renminbi into their exclusive club of currencies that make up their Special Drawing Rights (SDR’s). I knew it was coming. The next email I opened reminded me why. Each morning I read The Daily Pfennig, written by good friend Chuck Butler. He is excellent at taking major world events and explaining them […]
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