A Cost That Cannot Be Underestimated

Guess what might be one of the most painfully underestimated costs of all? If you guessed healthcare and end-of-life care you are correct. Read on for a handful of reasons why it can be dangerous to avoid addressing this topic.

First a brief introduction. Anyone who has been a direct or indirect care giver for an aging relative or friend knows the pain and stress that can be involved. Of course, there are joyful care relationships, which ultimately are the goal. Where the difficulty begins is in estimating the costs of later-in-life care. Then, even worse can be executing the logistics of care and the ultimate reality of having to pay for – or running out of funds to pay for – care, whether for oneself or a spouse or relative. Timing is often almost completely unpredictable.

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“Stupid” Money Decisions

It is possible to go through life without making a stupid decision about money. Said no one ever. The truer statement might be: everyone reading today has at one time made a stupid decision about or with money. Most people have made multiple stupid decisions about money and much more. The important part (possibly after difficult pain or regret) is to be able to answer the question: what lessons were learned?

Two weeks ago, a famous Nobel Prize winning psychologist, who spent his life studying the human mind and decision-making, died. Daniel Kahneman reluctantly accepted the title “economist” as he and his long-time research partner, Amos Tversky, wrote an amazing, internationally best-selling book, Thinking, Fast and Slow. Together Kahneman and Tversky were pioneers in the field of behavioral psychology. Along the way, behavioral psychology was applied to all sorts of economic and investing decisions and the two psychologists were consulted by business leaders around the world. Here are a few of the questions the two men studied over decades, with a few of their answers: Continue reading ““Stupid” Money Decisions”

Inflation vs. Interest Rates Stand-Off

If the “land the inflation airplane” graphic (originally pictured in October 2022) indicated a US Federal Reserve trying to “land” inflation, then the current graphic would look like a slowly unfolding aborted airplane landing.

To summarize, prices of a number of key consumer items are NOT coming down fast enough to lower inflation in a meaningful way – even if the media has convinced Americans that $5 or $7 for a dozen eggs is “a relief”.

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Mind Blowing & Challenging

Picking a topic for this week’s edition of TGIF 2 Minutes was both mind-blowing and challenging. Choices ranged from:

  • the sentencing of Sam Bankman-Fried to 25 years in prison for fraud tied to his crypto exchange,
  • the tragedy and enormity of the awful Francis Scott Key Bridge destruction in Baltimore,
  • the exposing of betting scandals in college and professional sports, namely the recent scandal around LA Dodgers superstar, Shohei Ohtani and his interpreter (an overall financial greed concept gone beyond awry),
  • a March 20th update from the US Congressional Budget Office on the long-term effects of the Federal Deficits (all young, yes young, people under the age of 35-40, please pay attention to this issue).

Wow, lots of JOY going into Easter weekend.

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MSFS Ltd Edition – “D” for Dawn

Thomas Pablo said it best.

And Mike Minter described beautifully the relationship between “D for Dawn” and Brett and the family that Brett and Dawn’s relationship and businesses have created. For those reading today, that means the MSFS Family.

Maybe there are advisers or leaders within the MSFS & BDLLC corporate umbrellas who were not aware of how strong a family they had joined, or how wise it might be to “dive in” to the MSFS Family (families can be stressful sometimes). But by now I am thinking it is apparent to All, not to look a gift horse in the mouth. Continue reading “MSFS Ltd Edition – “D” for Dawn”

Teaching Inflation to Kids (& Adults)

From the archives of TGIF 2 Minutes – with updates, including perhaps why the US Federal Reserve is taking longer to start lowering interest rates…

“Mommy, Why are you buying our food at Walmart?”

…”Daddy, Why are we not eating my favorite fancy meals and brands of food?”

It is not quite Chef Boyardee and Ramen Noodles yet, but there is data reporting higher-end households shopping at lower-priced food stores (i.e. Walmart).* There is a lesson for kids and adults here. First a few more details.

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The Power of Human Capital

Continuing with the theme of “tax season time crunch” comes another 1-minute read. The in-depth 2-minute version of TGIF 2 Minutes will return soon.

Amidst tax season, questions can come to mind:

  • WHY do we work so hard to pay so much in taxes?
  • Why am I not on a beach somewhere getting “more” out of life?
  • What is the “right” balance or timing around working now/spending later or spending now/working later, especially in light of all the taxes we pay?

There are too many answers to these simple yet complex questions. Given the 1-minute time frame of this Friday morning read, simplicity rules. Please consider the concept of human capital in order to apply a common aspect to all three questions above.

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Tax Season Time Crunch

It is tax season, which means time is at a premium. TGIF 2 Minutes is designed for this concept. Therefore, a 1-minute read today!

Preparing tax documents, expense spreadsheets, records of charitable deductions, W-2 forms, 1099’s, K-1’s and all the rest can really be a hassle. Here are a few bright spots:

  • Learn something right now this year from every time you find yourself saying, “I am going to do this differently next year!
  • Whether it is your filing system for tax documents and charitable deductions or set-up of online folders for rental property files, go overboard with keeping better track along the way, starting now for tax year 2024.
  • Make sure to ask your financial adviser about tax loss harvesting this calendar year. Last year there were UP months in markets and DOWN months. Make sure your adviser is possibly using the market’s down months to a tax advantage in non-IRA accounts.
  • If it is not already obvious, have a CPA.
  • Ask your financial adviser for assistance in compiling or finding tax documents. This task is always something with which I am happy to assist – with advance notice – for my clients.
  • Look at ways to make changes and tweaks to the way you are contributing to 401k and IRA accounts while it is still early in 2024. Changes can involve:
  • increasing/decreasing contribution rate
  • creating a mix of before- and after-tax (Roth) contributions
  • spreading contributions over the course of the entire year
  • Consider Roth IRA conversions in 2024.

Tax time is not always the most pleasant time of the year but all we can do is make the best of it. Thank you for all the positive feedback in recent weeks!

This material has been prepared for informational purposes only and is not intended to provide, and should not be relied upon for, tax, legal or accounting advice.

Timely 401k Contribution Info

Today’s edition will take 2 minutes and 38 seconds to watch and could save you a bundle of taxes in the long run. Simply understanding better – at lower and higher income levels – the taxes around 401k, 403b (and TSP) contributions is an advantage. Early in the year timing is key. Why? Please ask me and watch the video.

This material has been prepared for informational purposes only and is not intended to provide, and should not be relied upon for, tax, legal or accounting advice.

 

The Champagne Spray

On the lighter side of matters…. and please CLICK THE TINY ARROW BELOW.

Champagne & William Shatner from Kerrie Debbs on Vimeo.

Back in 2021, William Shatner – at 90, who knew?! – became the oldest person to achieve space flight. Completion of a 10-minute journey on the reusable New Shephard rocket, including four minutes of weightlessness, was cause for a major celebration immediately afterwards. But notable was that upon disembarking from the space capsule Shatner politely turned down taking part in the champagne spray shower amongst the crew, Blue Origin promotional people and members of the press.

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