2009 – A Year In Thanks

About this time a year ago my wife and I talked about how good 2008 had been to our household.  It was a fun moment of connection, and reflection, and celebration, and optimism.  In a demonstration of faith we agreed that 2009 would be an even better year for us.  And so it has been. Of course 2009, for our house, began with tremendous questions in the air.  Walking away from a long term employer...

You Owe What You Owe

Our society is given more and more to laziness and victim mentality, or so it seems.  I’ve conducted no scientific research but the prevailing winds of conversation, and print stories, and news ‘events’ seem to prevent as much.  Perhaps this is just the vocal minority – I so hope – or perhaps we’re on a horrible downward trend. A pair of illustrations resonated, or more accurately collided,...

Happy Recession Anniversary

A couple weeks ago I read an interesting article in Smart Money entitled Lessons from the Crash.  While the specifics of the story were geared towards those given to single stock investing, it was more the premise that caught my imagination. The set up was the top 5 lessons investors have learned over the past 12 months, the spiritual if not literal anniversary of the downturn. So that got me to...

You Are What Your Record Says You Are

The title is a quote from Super Bowl winning coach Bill Parcells. The idea is that a team is as good or as bad as its record indicate.  Fans, commentators, and even players like to interpret – or rationalize – circumstances and game events so as to suggest that a team is better, or sometimes worse, than its record might suggest.  A lucky bounce here or a bad call there and those close losses...

Default Settings

I recently attended a benefits presentation hosted by my employer.  It seems that we are changing HR/payroll outsourcers and as part of the transition we were engaging the annual selections process earlier than is typical.  We are also using this transition as a convenient time to alter our overall benefits package. In fairness, I still consider myself new, and I’m pleased with the package but...

$8,000 First-time Homebuyer Refundable Tax Credit

If you’ve been reading here long, you might guess that I am no fan of social programs.  However, I am a fan of taking advantage of opportunities as they are provided… provided your use of such  offerings is moving you in a positive direction.  A personal example I’ll share related to Obama’s spending plan or stimulus attempt back in the first of the year.  Part of this...

CD Ladders – My Take

A few weeks ago a friend wrote an article about his experience with his CD Ladder.  That article led to a comment, a follow-up article, and a promise from me to craft an article sharing my opinion and perspective on the topic.  Today, I (finally) make good on that commitment. So you ask, what the heck is a CD Ladder?  Great question.  It was not that long ago that I asked the very same question. ...