The Elephant in the Nation
Have you heard which party is serious about slowing down the rate of debt we owe? Trick question, right? You have not heard because the answer is, Neither one! Even though I am an optimist at heart, it is my realistic opinion that we have reached and passed the point [...]
Of all the uses for money, kids are most important
Over the past couple of weeks, I had the pleasure of celebrating the birthdays of both of my sons. While there is an age gap of several years between them, they both were born weeks apart in the month of June. I can honestly say there has been no more [...]
Half year review
Almost everyone has an opinion, right? And I believe those who may claim to have no opinion are often just reluctant to share it. Since I am so long in the business of investing, I receive questions about my opinion of the near future market results. My opinion is worth [...]
The current housing crisis is cause for concern
Recently, through social media, I discovered that my first home which I bought in college was put up for sale. It was fun to look at pictures and see how it had changed since I sold it over a decade ago. I was also amazed to see it had a [...]
“No Pain, No Gain”
There is a scene in one of my favorite movies, A League of their Own, when Tom Hanks expresses his love of baseball and explains that the difficulty of playing the sport is what makes it great. As he is speaking to his teammate, he clearly knows he is making [...]
A trip paid for with debt is no vacation at all
Memorial Day has now come and gone. For many of us this is the time of year when we start looking forward to an upcoming vacation we have planned. This year however, according to a new Bankrate survey nearly half of all Americans intend to skip their summer vacation with [...]
Optimism In the Face of Adversity
This morning, I am sitting while awaiting breakfast in Creston, Iowa, with a group of about 35. I came up yesterday as a member of a chainsaw crew of the Missouri Baptist Disaster Relief organization to cut up and cut down damaged or downed trees the tornado caused last week [...]
The use of technology is not always good for business
We all are told how much technology is helping businesses be more efficient and profitable. But is that really true? In recent months, I have begun challenging that generally accepted premise. It almost feels like rather than seeing technology as a tool that can make good employees better, we are [...]
Your Investment Purposes
Today I am writing more basic philosophical thoughts about investing. What are your goals for your money? One primary goal for most people is and will be to multiply your money for present and future financial needs and desires. But another goal may be to promote a particular area of [...]
Rules have changed
Sometimes I will hear from readers who say that I talk too much about the government and politics in my column that is supposed to be about the economy and money. I actually agree with them. But until the government and politicians stop playing such a big of role in [...]