Our Commentary

It’s unfathomable that I’d be writing an article on how to protect yourself from your own bank.  Recently Wells Fargo made headlines for being fined $185 million because over 5,000 employees opened millions of fraudulent bank accounts without the consent of their customers.  In addition, these employees opened over 500,000 credit card accounts without customer […]

I’m often amazed at how much people inadvertently overpay for their insurance.  In a way, it’s not too surprising since most insurance is complicated and figuring out how to get appropriate coverage at a fair price can be like solving the Rubik’s Cube puzzle.  But if you get it right, you can save literally thousands […]

Since the Great Recession in 2008- 2009, stocks have risen about 160%, widely out-performing bonds.  In reaction to the Great Recession, the Federal Reserve reduced interest rates to near zero with the goal of re-starting a falling economy.  As a result, bond interest rates have hovered near decades-long lows for the last five-plus years.  Today, […]

As eighty million Baby Boomers move into retirement, many will find that their retirement savings when combined with Social Security will fall significantly short of providing for their retirement income needs.  If this is you or someone you know, what are the best financial moves to help solve the problem? Certainly one of the best […]

The honeymoon had to end.  For years online retailers have had a strategic advantage over brick and mortar stores by avoiding state income taxes on sales.  My partner, Michael Wagner, CPA®, has the inside story on why that’s about to change. Stewart: Michael, explain to our readers how the Alabama sales taxes has worked for […]

Albert Einstein said, “Compound interest is the eighth wonder of the world.  He who understands it, earns it…he who doesn’t, pays it”.  I agree with his statement but also believe most people don’t really understand the magic of compounding.  About six months after starting my first post college graduation job, I started saving money from […]

Parents, for most of you, these two “must-dos” for your young adult children probably never crossed your mind. A child becomes a “legal” adult in Alabama at age nineteen. Other states vary from age eighteen to twenty-one. Once a child crosses that legal threshold of child to adult, they need to: Sign an Advanced Directive […]

AL.com recently reported on the arrest of a two-man Detroit theft ring who were in possession of 177 stolen identities. Identity theft continues to be a growing multi-billion-dollar problem. I feel like the wildebeest crossing the crocodile infested Mara River. I’m only protected by the law of large numbers. What are your best moves to […]

Soon thousands of young adults will head to college, many for the first time. As parents, what is it that you hope they’ll learn from the college experience? Looking back on my own experience, I realize that I was shipped off with very little guidance and received virtually no guidance along the way. I guess […]

The statistical needle hasn’t moved much over the past few decades. The divorce rate in America continues to hover around 50%. I wish this were not the case and I would strongly urge any couple to attempt any and all means to resolve their conflict through other means. Of all the divorces I’ve witnessed, most […]