Bill scowled at his reflection in the mirror. At least his grayish beard hid his double chin. “How did I get so old so soon?” he asked himself. Bill’s not old; he’s only 45. But he is at “halftime” in his professional life. Twenty years down, roughly twenty to go. In our twenties and thirties, […]
Good (and Bad) News for Mid-Lifers Read More »
It’s football season again. For the next 4-5 months, every Friday through Sunday—okay, almost every day that ends in “y”— big, strong young men (and Tom Brady) will suit up and take to the gridiron. What’s fascinating is that these gifted athletes will listen to and follow the instructions of coaches twice as old and
The Benefits of Being Older Read More »
After two-plus years of pandemic protocols, 2022 was the summer we finally got back to one of our great American traditions: the road trip. Road trips can be epic or awful, unforgettable or regrettable. (We could swap stories, I’m sure.) The difference usually comes down to planning. The same is true with the journey of
On the Road Trip to Retirement Read More »
“What Hath God Wrought.” That was the first telegraphed message, sent on May 24, 1844. It traveled 50 whole miles—from the United States’ Capitol all the way to Baltimore. Before Samuel Morse’s landmark invention, news and information moved at the speed of a horse, a train, or a ship. With the introduction of the telegraph,
When Information Becomes “Too Much” Read More »
One year into retirement Al is…unhappy. His issue isn’t money. Al’s always been a diligent saver. At age 45, he hired a financial planner. They drafted a wise plan and stuck to it for the next twenty years. Fact is, when Al walked away from his career last year, he was in great financial shape.
The Four Forgotten Retirement Challenges Read More »
Did you know your family has a “wealth culture”? (By “culture,” I mean the collection of common beliefs, values, assumptions, customs, and behaviors that mark a group of people.) Every group of people displays a certain culture. Cities do. So do schools and churches, civic organizations and sports teams. Businesses also have distinct cultures. (I’m
Your “Wealth Culture” (& Why It Matters) Read More »
“You can pay me now, or you can pay me later.” That was the tagline from a famous Fram Oil Filter ad campaign back in the 1970’s. It featured a grizzled auto mechanic holding up an inexpensive oil filter, then pointing over his shoulder at a car engine in need of an expensive rebuild. You
Paying for Retirement – Now vs. Later Read More »
Who knew we could glean financial insights from the World’s Strongest Man competition? If you saw it recently, you know the winner was a 28-year-old Scot named Tom Stoltman—all 6’8” and 384 pounds of him. This year’s contest showed that if you ever have an 18-ton bus blocking your driveway, Tom’s your guy. Just give
Get a Stronger Retirement Plan Read More »
In the 1960s, going to the dentist meant a little white spittoon by the dental chair and a whole lot of pain. Our dentist at the time—I’ll call him Dr. Hurt—thought only sissies needed anesthesia for a “little thing” like drilling and filling a cavity. Translation? Going to see Dr. Hurt was stressful! One day
Smart Plans vs. Plans That “Smart” Read More »
The last time the stock market had such a terrible January-through-June performance, I was in junior high. The year was 1970. For me, that was a time of pimples, polyester clothes, bad hair, trying to impress girls, and Mrs. Lawrence’s English class. All not-so-fun experiences—a lot like investing is for most people right now. For
How the Economy is Like Junior High Read More »
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