Now that the political parties have chosen their candidates, I would like to offer my preliminary assessment of how investors might be affected by the November election. It is possible to look at history and party platforms to get an idea of the direction one party might take the country, but politics is messy business…
DetailsI went golfing with a man who asked if I could help him with his retirement planning. He began to tell me a very common financial life story that I have heard many times. He had always struggled to save money. He spent his life earning quite a bit, and spending it as he went…
DetailsThis week it was reported that second quarter (Q2) Gross Domestic Product (GDP) fell more than at any time in history, and on the news the stock markets opened significantly lower. Trying to figure out the mind of an investor can be a challenging task. Sometimes I think the investing public has an unlimited capacity…
DetailsAs an airplane owner I have had the opportunity lately to spend a fair amount of time contemplating liability, and how risk can spread. We are all aware of the two major crashes of Boeing 737MAX airliners with the hundreds of deaths, and the grounding of a substantial portion of the fleet. Financially, the disaster…
DetailsA pilot awoke to a beautiful Florida day and decided to go sightseeing in his small plane. Several miles away another gentleman decided it would be a perfect day for jogging on the beach. As he ran along he passed many others who had awaken with the same idea and together they enjoyed the beautiful…
DetailsIn high school I enjoyed debate. Our teacher did not allow us to choose sides, but randomly assigned us to our positions. Even though I was often assigned to support positions I strongly disagreed with, I put all my energy into studying and defending the side I was assigned to. In the process, I gained…
DetailsI planted a nice tomato garden this year, given the extra time I have been spending around the home. I took time to tie each plant carefully to a pole and trim the lower leaves to create airflow and avoid disease. I have been pretty proud of that garden which is currently filled with beautiful…
DetailsIn the Wizard of Oz, Glenda warns the wicked witch of the west that she’d better watch out, “Before someone drops a house on you too.” I think many people are feeling this way today as we wait for the next disaster, wondering if it might land on us. Government actions have consequences. Dramatic actions…
DetailsThe cause of most airplane accidents boils down to two pilot related issues, insufficient knowledge and poor judgement. Although knowledge doesn’t always result in good judgement, the lack of it will usually lead to bad decisions. One of my favorite childhood cartoon shorts ended with the phrase, “Knowledge is power.” That phrase never left me…
DetailsOur family has a little thing we do when, if we really want to buy something that is too expensive we say, “Imagine what it would cost if you bought it at Disneyland?” This always generates a chuckle and then makes whatever we want to buy seem cheap in comparison. I‘m pretty sure this is…
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