Straw Hats in Winter

“TGIF 2 Minutes” was never meant to simply report current events. Rather, my intent is to highlight topics in personal finance – or a current topic – that affects your financial life and decision-making. BUT (there is always a “but”) certain pieces of news affect our mindset – both positively and negatively – and if I can comment on how to avoid letting the news sway you too far either way financially-speaking, then I believe it worth commenting!

federal-reserve

ECONOMIC TIMES ARE GOOD! This week the revised U.S. GDP report (the key measure of economic growth) revealed a strong, strong US economy. There is a reason I am mentioning this news as it relates to our mindset for making all sorts of major spending and savings decisions – decisions for us, our families and businesses in the short-term and longer-term.

Continue reading “Straw Hats in Winter”

Rocky Mountain High

As we sip our coffee and start our weekends or workdays there is a group of economists, Federal Reserve officials and finance ministers from the U.S. and around the world gathering in Jackson Hole, Wyoming for three days. Why is this worth mentioning?

Rocky Mountain

Continue reading “Rocky Mountain High”

Reflections From the Beach

Thank you to my friend and loyal reader, Bob, for the title of today’s edition. The idea of “reflection” came up last weekend while I was enjoying time in a wonderful Southern beach town where the restaurants and bars were full, the sidewalks hopping with people of all ages, the lovely (large) homes newly built or renovated, people enjoying relaxing time on the beach – even the dogs’ tails were wagging with joy! Times are GOOD in lots of places!

beach during sunset
Photo by b. on Pexels.com

These things are what we live for. These things also take planning and discipline – because good times come in cycles. Nearly everyone with whom I spent my weekend is engaged in a different and exciting line of work: from real estate finance, to “retired”, to the medical profession (both human and animal), to start-up tech… to owning or having sold their own businesses. Conversations were around “what’s next?” in terms of work, homes, vacations, kids’ camp, and kids’ college. Continue reading “Reflections From the Beach”

Caring for Aging Parents – Pt. 3

Last in a 3-part series from the archives of January 2017.

In earlier editions of TGIF 2 Minutes I delved into the topic of “Caring for Aging Parents.” It may seem like overkill to read a “Part 3,” but ask anyone who is in the midst of coordinating care for a parent or spouse if they wish they had gotten advice sooner. Heck, these days even neighbors and friends are enlisted to check in on a 93-year old down the street. Experts in long-term care insurance cite the emotional strain on family members – that can leave a family member or friend in need of serious or costly medical care for themselves after years of caring for others.

couple elderly man old
Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

The final topic in this series (excerpted from the archives) is the emotions involved in caring for aging parents, friends and others: Continue reading “Caring for Aging Parents – Pt. 3”