“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 [...]
Thoughts about Retirement
In the past few days, MSN published a story by Ana T. Sola’ reporting a survey by Empower, a 401k provider, that most Americans now think age 58 should be the appropriate time to retire. I would say that the 1,001 responders undoubtedly included a high percentage of younger workers. [...]
ESA vs. 529: What parents and grandparents need to know
Well, it’s that time again. School is back in session and parents are reminded that college tuition bills are looming. When families start thinking about saving for a child or grandchild’s education, two options often come up: the Coverdell Education Savings Account (ESA) and the 529 Plan. At first glance [...]
From Tune-Ups to Total Care: Rethinking Your Advisor Relationship
When many people think about working with an investment advisor, they picture something similar to a mechanic. You bring in your portfolio when it “needs a tune-up,” they make a few adjustments, and you drive away until the next issue pops up. In reality, your financial advisor should be more [...]
A closer look at Medicare billing practices and how to avoid unnecessary charges
Have you ever had a serious medical procedure and asked what it would cost you out-of-pocket only to be told by the provider that they have no idea and you’ll “just have to wait for the bill”? In virtually no other industry is this kind of opaque pricing acceptable. Imagine [...]
Private Lives, Public Consequences
At the risk of beating an already dead horse, I felt compelled this week to offer some insight and commentary on the recent viral video featuring a high-profile CEO and his head of HR at a rock concert, both caught in what appeared to be an affair. At first, I [...]
Investors Beware
The phrase 'Pig in a Poke' was coined in Britain as a means of saying that a buyer should be careful to see and know what they are buying. The French word for bag or sack is poque. That has been changed in our language to poke. A dishonest seller [...]
A Bold New Tax Era Inside the Big Beautiful Bill
After months of heated debate and partisan gridlock, President Trump signed the Big Beautiful Bill into law on July 4th, making it the most sweeping policy achievement of his second term to date. This landmark legislation includes major changes to the U.S. tax code. Today, I want to break down [...]