Retirement Is a Modern Idea
Work until you die or can’t was the mantra for thousands of years. It wasn’t until 1889 that the modern idea of retirement was introduced in the form of pensions by German Chancellor Otto von Bismarck. President Roosevelt didn’t sign The Social Security Act into law until 1935. The life [...]
Small Changes
Many people use the beginning of a new school year like the New Year’s holiday, as an opportunity to think about ways that they can improve their lives through new and changed habits. Let me suggest that rather than making a drastic change that you focus on some small things [...]
High Compared to What?
Last week Alphabet Inc., better known as Google’s parent company (GOOG), registered a new high in its 12 year history topping $784 three consecutive days. At its offering, you could have bought a share for $50. Google does make a profit in case you wondered. But more people probably wonder [...]
Psychology and Investing
. In the past sixteen years, US investors have experienced two of the worst or most difficult financial market First an investor should decide between two basic viewpoints about markets. During the 1960’s, Dr. Eugene Fama developed the Efficient Market Hypothesis (EMH) as his doctoral dissertation. For [...]
Investing Both Directions
Monday the S&P 500 finally topped its previous high. Yesterday, it added another .7 percent to 2152. It has been a tumultuous fourteen months since the prior high of May 21, 2015. This large cap index dropped over 12 percent to its August low, rose over 12 [...]
Second Quarter Results
Another half year in the books. Another few crises including Brexit, Zika virus, ISIS—the usual threats and problems that inevitably give us heartburn. As Gilda Radnor entitled her book about her life, It’s Always Something. If I ask you what the collective we were worrying about a year ago, or [...]
Much ado about Brexit!
If I were a betting person, I would put money on your being aware that the United Kingdom is quitting membership in the European Union. I am also reasonably sure that you do not know exactly what that means for the British, the rest of the European Union, or for [...]
True Financial Success
As I write today I am listening to Fed Chair Janet Yellen say the same things she has said for several years now: Economic conditions are fairly good although growth is very slow, we can’t determine why things are not better, and we are petrified to let the classical economic [...]
100 Years of Blessings
On June 16, 1916, a Bible study group of 22 women including Bess Wallace Truman established the Community Services League to help local citizens in need. They obviously knew that it is more blessed to give than to receive. Those needs are still here. But today the Community Services League [...]
Memorial Day Family Present
Through Facebook, I enjoyed reading stories about military heroes this past week, particularly those who gave their last full measure of devotion for their friends, family, for us all. Many of us in the Midwest also use this weekend to reminisce and thank God for our family members who helped [...]