Economic Realities
By the time you are able to read this, we will or should know voters’ choices in New Jersey, New York City, and Virginia. I assume most watchers will be surprised in one way or another. There have been notable ironies in the preparations for them. First, New York City [...]
Where’s the beef?
My family has started to complain about the amount of pork and chicken we’re eating. As the primary grocery shopper and cook in our home, I’ve made the decision to buy much less beef lately. Prices seem to climb higher every week, and it’s becoming harder to justify. These rising [...]
Rising healthcare prices costs us all
Last week, Kansas City officials announced a hiring freeze to address a projected $100 million budget shortfall for fiscal year 2027. When asked about the decision, Mayor Quinton Lucas explained that there is a fundamental “mismatch between income and expenses.” He attributed much of the growing deficit to the rising [...]
When investing starts to look like gambling
As football season kicks into high gear, I know some of you here in Missouri may be chomping at the bit to place a wager on your favorite team, especially with sports betting set to become legal in our state on December 1. It’s been remarkable to watch how quickly [...]
Guaranteed Issue Life Insurance
I have been a member of AAA of Missouri for about 28 years, I think. I am surprised that it has not been even longer because I am one of those people who needs a lot of help related to automobile mechanics. At times, they have hinted that I am [...]
Why Mortgage Rates Don’t Always Follow the Fed
As many of you know, several weeks ago the Federal Reserve, under Chairman Jerome Powell, announced a quarter-percent cut to its key interest rate, the first of 2025. Both in announcing this cut and in later remarks, Powell emphasized that the Fed intends to move cautiously, balancing the risk of [...]
FOMO and the Stock Market
Why Chasing Performance Can Hurt Your Returns This year has been a roller coaster for investors. From steep losses in the early months to meteoric gains since April, 2025 has tested investors’ nerves. With a positive swing of nearly 30% in the last six months, it’s easy to feel tempted [...]
“You can live in your car, but you can’t drive your house”
Many years ago, I had a conversation with a coworker that has stuck with me ever since. They had just purchased a brand-new truck that cost nearly twice their annual salary, all while still living with their grandparents. I questioned the wisdom of that choice, and their response was something [...]
The hidden costs of a jackpot
This past Saturday, it was announced that a Missourian purchased one of the winning Powerball tickets for the third-largest jackpot in history, a staggering $1.8 billion. Even if you’re like me and have never bought a ticket, it’s fun to imagine what life would be like as an overnight billionaire. [...]
The Social Security Fairness Act: What it means to You
On January 5th of this year, with bipartisan congressional support, President Biden signed into law the Social Security Fairness Act. Some workers (including certain state or local government employees, and teachers) are now entitled to higher Social Security payments. This means a retired Missouri public school teacher who never paid [...]