Author Archive
Pulling Back The Curtain On Reverse Mortgages
Last week’s article on reverse mortgages generated a very interesting response from one reader. Unfortunately, due to his choice of vocabulary, I can’t print his response here.
Suffice it to say that this advisor doesn’t want me saying anything negative about his chief source of revenue.
This week I’d like to pull back […]
House of Cards Part 2
Last week, I talked about how the current credit crises evolved. This crisis is the result of mistakes made by the homeowner, the mortgage company, the investment banks and the rating agencies. This week, you’ll see what caused the House of Cards to fall and will learn how this example can keep you from […]
A House of Cards: Part 1
The current credit crisis has impacted multiple sectors of our financial economy. Home foreclosures are on the rise. Credit-worthy consumers struggle to secure mortgages. Investment banks are brought to their knees. Foreign and domestic stock markets experience gut-wrenching volatility. The Federal Reserve is forced to take historical steps to maintain liquidity. And the list goes […]
Sticker Shock: Is Professional Financial Advice Costing too Much?
It can be difficult for someone in the financial services industry to know how the investor feels, especially when first choosing which advisor to work with. I recently had an experience that put me in your shoes for a change.
A couple of mornings ago, my teeth began hurting for a short time after I brushed […]
A House Divided: Preserving Your Estate from Nursing Home Cost
One of the biggest issues seniors face as they get older is how to preserve an inheritance for their children. Their biggest fear is spending all of that money on assisted living and/or nursing home care. As each family situation is different, so is each solution. Perhaps you can learn something from the experience of […]
Should Seniors Use Reverse Mortgages?
Some of the most popular products being pitched to seniors today are reverse mortgages. Everywhere you turn there are free seminars, free reports and free DVDs, all touting the amazing benefits these loans offer. Are reverse mortgages the answer to seniors prayers, or are they too good to be true?
It all sounds so […]
Charting a Course for Emerging Markets
Investors dissatisfied with domestic returns have been seeking greater growth in foreign markets. As noted in last week’s article, the growth of emerging markets is not a short-term fad, but a long-term trend that will affect global markets for years to come. The question then, is how you can take advantage of this opportunity […]
Can Emerging Market Growth Continue?
We’ve all heard about the amazing growth taking place in developing countries and how the global economy will never be the same again. But countries like China, India and Vietnam seem so far away. It can be hard to understand how those marketplaces can affect the individual investor here in the U.S.A. After my recent […]
Do You Owe Taxes On That Gift?
As a Certified Financial Planner, I’m often asked about issues regarding inheritance, gifting and the resulting taxes. Here’s a classic example of just how complicated these situations can be, using a question from a reader in Michigan we’ll call Bob.
Bob writes, “I have a question about my mom’s home that I inherited. Before my […]
Tune Up Your Finances for the New Year
With the beginning of a new year, it seems everywhere you turn you hear something about self-improvement. There are plans for weight loss, exercise regimens, quitting smoking, going green and more. What about your finances? Even if you think your finances are in “good shape”, everyone could use a little “tune up” to make sure […]
