February 15, 2018

By: John Zeltmann

You've probably noticed that Bitcoin has been in the news lately. While Bitcoin is not the only cryptocurrency (a cryptocurrency is a digital currency), it’s the most well-known, and the hype around it may bring back memories of long lines to buy Beanie Babies. But more than a few people use cryptocurrencies to conduct transactions over the internet, with companies such as Microsoft, Expedia, and Intuit accepting cryptocurrency for payment.

February 15, 2018

By: Stanley F. Ehrlich

As an update to last newsletter's Stan's World article, I am pleased to report that our first experience working in the Farmer’s Market sponsored by the food bank* where we’ve volunteered for years was positive and fulfilling. We’ll be returning for more.

Source: Direxion Funds

February 15, 2018

December 31, 2017

I suspect more than a few of you have made a New Year’s resolution or two for 2018. Lose weight? Exercise more? Eat healthier? Drive less aggressively (for NJ residents only)? While I typically don’t make New Year’s resolutions, this year I have one I’m going to work on, and I invite everyone to join me: I need a new volunteer gig.

December 31, 2017

By: John Zeltmann

Meet Abby and Ben.  Abby is our 2-year-old daughter.  Readers of this newsletter have already met Ben (5 years old) in a recent article espousing the benefits of teaching personal finance to children at an early age. While Abby and Ben are great kids, there’s at least one thing I’m not ready to hoist upon them should my wife and I meet a premature demise: our retirement plan balances and life insurance proceeds.

December 31, 2017

As a matter of fact, in terms of life expectancy, where you live matters a lot, but only if you agree that an increase in life expectancy of up to 20 additional years is significant.

December 31, 2017

As published in the Wall Street Journal¹, the author, Dr. Meir Statman, states: “The mindset that works so well as people are building their nest eggs can damage their quality of life in retirement.” In other words, you spend a lifetime learning to save money, and then you reach a point (i.e. retirement) where those savings have to be spent to fund the rest of your life. 

Source: Direxion Funds

December 31, 2017

• China’s economy is the 2^nd largest in the world behind the US, but China’s GDP per person is only $9,377 while the USA’s GDP per person is $61,687.

• Janet Yellen took over as Fed Chair on 2/3/14, running the central bank for 31 meetings since then. 8 different Board of Governors members have cast 20 dissenting votes to Yellens’ interest rate recommendations made at the 30 meetings. None of the 20 dissenting votes were cast by Jerome Powell, a Board of Governors member since 5/25/12, and Yellen’s successor as of 2/3/18.

November 15, 2017

What’s the plan if you live too long? Most of us assume (hope?) that we’ll live to some undetermined ripe old age, but determining that number is obviously an impossible task. Yet, calculating life expectancy is one of the most important components when preparing a financial plan.

November 15, 2017

By John Zeltmann

I loved McDonald’s as a kid: the golden brown French fries, the milkshakes, the second-to-none birthday parties. And who could forget the prizes that came with the Happy Meals!