Are Tax Rates Going Higher?

The question of whether or when tax rates may go higher is one asked after many a US Presidential election. The actuality of taxes going up is altogether another issue with its own timing depending on the President, party and Congress involved. There can be signals of both higher and lower taxes that certain candidates and Presidents communicate to win friends (and elections) and influence people.

In fact, in reading this week the obituary of Walter Mondale it seems that his transparent insistency on a proposal to raise taxes in his mid-1980’s US Presidential bid was a major factor behind his losing the election to Ronald Reagan (Reagan’s 2nd term run). That was then, this is now. One could say that now President Biden ran on a platform to raise taxes – in part winning him the election. Taxes and tax plans may always be part of US elections as they say the only things certain in life are death and taxes.

There is no “magic bullet” strategy to avoiding tax increases.

Continue reading “Are Tax Rates Going Higher?”

Top 10 of 2017

Back by popular demand is the Year-End wrap up!  Some of these affected our portfolios and others made our lives better…or at least made us smile for a few days. 

Last year, 2016, gave us a year of historic market highs, mind-blowing political events (remember Brexit?) and epic sports achievements. This year, 2017, gave us more historic market highs, more epic sports achievements and, yes, more mind-blowing political events.  And ever more. Read on….

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Top 10 – Part One.  Perhaps you may be moved to remind me of a couple of your personal gems to round out Part Two next week. Continue reading “Top 10 of 2017”

10 Things NOT Talked About at Thanksgiving

We all know the “Basic 3” topics NOT recommended for talk around the Thanksgiving table: Sex, Politics and Religion. Two others on the list are Money and various Family Matters.  The gloves can tend to come off, feelings hurt and more.

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But there are times when several of these topics must be addressed – keeping in mind that “there is a time and place for everything”.  So, in that vein, here is a list of at least 10 topics that were most likely NOT discussed at Thanksgiving but that may be important and remain on lots of peoples’ minds: Continue reading “10 Things NOT Talked About at Thanksgiving”