Wealth is possessing assets of value. Money is merely a system for counting it. In my youth many kids said they planned to grow up to be millionaires but if those same kids, now adults, had a million dollars and nothing else, it would be tough for them to retire on it. I learned an…
Today I would like to change it up a bit and talk about surfing. I’ve only tried surfing once but find great enjoyment watching it from the shore. I admire the skills and determination of those surfers who spend their lives in search of the next epic ride. Once at the beach I watched a…
I was reading a financial report on a new type of app that provides instant loans to consumers so they can buy products online. Unlike traditional borrowing, this new financing comes without any interest charges, so the borrowers feel like they are getting a pretty good deal. The fees are charged to the retailers who…
If you own a home, have you considered selling it at today’s high prices, renting for a while, then buying back in after the next real estate crash? I will admit to having those same thoughts myself at times. I am aware of several who followed through on the idea and now are painfully waiting…
When I learned to fly, I had six mechanical gauges in my plane that gave the basic information needed to keep the plane right-side up and flying straight. In flight I navigated using radio signals emitted from ground-based systems across the country. I also had maps that identified landmarks allowing me to see out the…
I live in the desert which means forecasting the weather is fairly easy. With an average of only eight inches of rain per year, you can pretty much plan on most days being clear and sunny. At the same time, as one who has personally had a prior home destroyed by a flash flood, I…
During the past election cycle one candidate often used the phrase, “This is America. There is nothing we cannot do if we do it together.” It made a great soundbite, but it was absolutely not true. The idea was not new. Parents use this line with their kids all the time. “If you believe in…
Due to the NBA playoffs, I have been reflecting on what it takes to be a championship team. Each team has its superstars who provide a great show, and likewise each has its challenges that become more evident as the competition gets tougher. But I have learned from professional sports that in the end, the…
Extremely low interest rates have sent investors in search of creative ways to generate income. A client recently was approached by a salesman offering life settlements, sometimes known as viaticals. The client wanted our opinion on the products, which is where an investor buys life insurance policies from the elderly or from people who have…
When I was a kid, life hurt. We didn’t have all the safety equipment, rules and regulations to keep us from skinning our knees. When we got hurt doing something dumb our parents would usually say, “Well I hope you learned your lesson.” I rode a bike once with faulty brakes, and I knew it.…