Retirement 3.0 - Culturally, the very meaning of “retirement” is changing out of necessity and desire, and, I don't think that's a bad thing. Before 1930, people generally worked until they died - "retirement" per se didn't exist. From 1930 to 1970, retirees began living longer, and the notion of “retiring” became part of our culture. From 1975 to 2010, as more cruise lines and golf courses marketed to them, people came to view “retirement” as an “entitled period of leisure.” Today, life expectancy continues to increase, but many can no longer afford a long, luxurious retirement; and, a large number are re-examining their preconceived notion of “retirement.”
Wrangling Over a Phantom Stimulus - The headlines are screaming again, this time about the Capitol Hill controversy over payroll tax cuts. And, as usual, there is more to the story than what you're reading.
"Time-Out" is a method many adults use with children who need a few moments to regain composure before returning to an activity that had been causing them some kind of stress (i.e. toy sharing, not winning, etc). While this may be an effective re-directive "pause" for children, I suggest to you that it is NOT an effective investment strategy.
Occupy Wall Street - the Big Picture. My step-son asked last week what this "Occupy Wall Street thing" was all about. He's a Boy Scout so the “tent cities” on the news caught his eye. I mumbled something about it was a grass-roots effort to bring attention and correction to the corruption in many of our financial institutions.