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…
DetailsDuring 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…
DetailsDue 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…
DetailsExtremely 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…
DetailsWhen 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.…
DetailsMeme stocks are all the rage today. For those in the older generation, a meme is a picture used to signify a cultural thought or movement. Memes have always existed, but they have gained popularity with social media that allows a single image to quickly carry a message throughout the world. Meme stocks are companies…
DetailsGrowing up I earned money sweeping floors at my dad’s manufacturing plant. One day I was wandering around the plant fascinated by the huge milling machines. As I stood by one, I grabbed an odd-looking tool and, imagining I was blasting off in a spaceship, touched it against a control panel. The blinding flash, loud…
DetailsNews of the Bill and Melinda Gates divorce, and the enormous cost of such an action, are a reminder that whether by death or divorce, all marriages will legally end and the preparation for such should be part of every financial plan. I remember in my youth first hearing the phrase, “Prenuptial Agreement” or Prenup.…
DetailsWhen I was 15, I went camping with the scouts in Utah’s High Uintah mountains. On arrival a few of us dropped our gear and ran immediately to the lake to fish. That evening we caught something on almost every cast and soon had our limit. Entering camp with tales of our incredible fishing prowess,…
DetailsAt a nice restaurant I saw the sign, “Patio is closed until further notice due to a labor shortage.” This was not the first time I had seen such a sign, so I reached out to a fast-food restaurant owner. He told me that though he has been busier than ever, he may have to…
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