Before today’s modern medicine, people usually died of three things: injury, infections or some type of nutritional deficiency.1 Painkillers may have come in the form of herbal tea or some other applied root, so pain was a fact of life. Life expectancy was much shorter than today, and people often … Continue reading
Hearing a familiar song from a happy period in your life, such as childhood, can instantly make you feel joyful. It’s as if you’re right back there — toe tapping, head bopping and singing along. Just as with our sight, smell and taste senses, positive auditory memories can enhance mood … Continue reading
There is little doubt that Medicare and Social Security are important programs that help older Americans in retirement, particularly now that so many are living beyond previous life expectancy rates. In fact, past models for savings rates may be failing many older Americans, who represent the only demographic seeing significant … Continue reading
Not all innovations are initially successful. Think about the driverless car. It sounded like a great idea — helping the disabled and elderly retain some independence — until the first pedestrian fatality involving a driverless car occurred in Arizona this year. Driverless technology may be a work in progress, but … Continue reading
Real property generally refers to land, but it also can include structures, bodies of water and machinery.1 It typically denotes property of significant value, which is why state and local governments choose to impose taxes on our homes. These levies could be considered a progressive tax, in that people who … Continue reading
Exploring the Behavioral Biases of Investing Despite the research and due diligence necessary in developing an investment portfolio, investors are frequently influenced more by their own emotional and behavioral biases than by data.1 These biases may include overconfidence, regret, impatience and the desire to “keep up with the Joneses.” In … Continue reading
Second Marriages: Financial Finesse Of all the questions we ask a potential spouse before tying the knot, they seldom include: “Who are the beneficiaries of your investment plans and insurance policies?” “Do you wish to be resuscitated if your heart stops or if you stop breathing?” “Do you want your … Continue reading
Debunking Market Myths The world keeps changing, politics and social movements emerge, the stock markets fluctuate and a lot of our preconceived notions continue to be challenged. However, some things don’t seem to change, including myths about the markets and investing. Let’s take a look at some of the ones … Continue reading
Evolution of the 401(k) When employer-sponsored 401(k) plans were introduced in the 1980s, an unexpected consequence occurred: Pensions stopped being the norm. One reason is that companies found 401(k) plans less expensive than traditional defined benefit plans.1 At the time, 401(k) plans were touted as an opportunity for greater … Continue reading
Traveling on a Fixed Income Oh, the places you’ll go! Renowned author Dr. Seuss wrote a children’s book in 1990 that has become a popular graduation gift for young adults. Part of its message:1 “You’re off to Great Places! Today is your day! Your mountain is waiting. So … get … Continue reading