Some people are optimists. Like the quote from Walt Disney, noted in the image accompanying this post, we look at life focusing upon the possibilities ahead that will produce better outcomes. On the other hand, some are pessimists. Some people seem to have more than their share of unfortunate situations befall them. Some are naturally pessimistic due to their melancholic personality type.
When difficulties arise, some of us […]
If you are over the age of 40, I would venture a guess that this question has been asked by one spouse, or both, during a vacation. While on a leisurely bike ride along a coastline, relaxing at a shaded sidewalk café along a tree lined street with a cloudless sky above, or recounting the activities of the day on a balcony beneath a canopy of stars, […]
Vaccinations are quite the rage. As a seasoned citizen, I am among those encouraged to be vaccinated for any number of potential maladies. A few months ago, I visited our local pharmacy to get the annual flu shot. When the assistant at the counter checked my records they said, “Your physician has entered a prescription for you to have the shingles and pneumonia vaccines as well. We […]
Planning for the future is difficult. Most will choose any excuse to avoid talking about their financial future. If the subject turns to planning for one’s estate, the avoidance level only increases. When topics like attorneys, probate, wills, trusts, and fees become a part of the conversation, whatever willingness was present likely flies away more quickly than a frightened bird.
I was pleased to see Howard Gold’s recent […]
December of 2020 is not only a time to eagerly await turning the calendar, this is the opportunity to take our final exam. How have we conducted our lives, and how will we prepare for the coming days ahead?
It is worth noting Rodgers and Hammerstein didn’t include final exams in the lyrics of “My Favorite Things.” I endured examinations as a student, often murmuring along with fellow […]
One of the famous segments of the 1987 play and 1989 movie Driving Miss Daisy is the trip to Mobile to celebrate Miss Daisy’s brother’s birthday. Holding firmly to the map in the back seat, Miss Daisy became confused, told Hoke to make a wrong turn, and they found themselves far off the planned route. Even now, with GPS units built into a phone or automobile, we […]
Planning for the future for those in their 50’s may seem easy, but it isn’t! People in this general age group know they NEED to get really serious about their future, but they live in the “land of a 1000 obstacles” to borrow from the title of the 1960’s R&B/Hip-Hop song. There are family demands as children graduate, move into their first career, marry, and buy their […]
We are asked that question frequently. Sometimes, it comes from those who have saved little to nothing for the future. Occasionally, it comes from those who are seeking investment advice about how to manage their savings and investments. Today, we are offering thoughts on what those in their 60’s should be thinking about and doing to plan for the future.
The most important question for someone 60+ does […]
Paradigms are powerful. The Oxford English Dictionary defines them as “a pattern or model.” The word was obscure until Thomas Kuhn used it referring to a set of concepts and practices defining a scientific discipline in his 1962 book, The Structure of Scientific Revolutions. Now, it is popularly used to define how someone looks at anything.
Our personal retirement paradigm is built from our hopes and dreams (what […]
Our office regularly fields calls from people in the planning stages for making this major turn on life’s highway. This week alone, we have spoken with 5 by phone and 5 via email. Some of those contacts originate with those who are planning years in advance. Some originate with people who are applying the brakes, because their turn is merely feet away.
Our headline image for this post […]