Our Commentary

"Imagine: Your Child a Teenage Millionaire" 8/6/06   As parents we always strive to give our children advantages that we didn’t have when we were young.  We try to make certain they get the best preparatory education possible; go to the best college that they can get in; have a nice home; and take them […]

"No Will Can Have Unintended Results" 7/30/06   Even as the number of older people continues to grow, the subject of estate planning remains a sensitive one. Recently, a long-time friend told me how perplexed he was over his elderly parent’s refusal to have wills drawn.  My own experience suggests that 75% to 80% of […]

As the tidewaters recede and the dust settles in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, many people are wondering what will be both the short-term and long-term effect on our economy and the stock market. First and foremost, this is a disaster of truly astounding proportions. Some estimates suggest that the costs of rebuilding infrastructure, insurance […]

“Real Estate: Reducing Taxes on Home Sales” 9/17/05   In last week’s column, I discussed how to avoid paying capital gains taxes on the sale of various real estate investments.  As you are probably aware, real estate prices have risen sharply in most parts of the country.  Residential real estate is no exception and homeowners […]

  By far the hottest sector over the past several years is real estate.  Whether it’s your primary residence, beachfront property or traditional investment real estate, we’re seeing increasing values and lots of buying and selling activity.  This activity has the potential to create large capital gains taxes…a sure way to take some of the […]

  Hurricane Katrina caused hundreds of millions of dollars of personal property damage throughout Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama. In New Orleans, the water surge placed some homes 12 feet under water. Unfortunately, it can take a natural disaster to make you stop and think about how you should prepare to protect yourself in case you […]

You’ve often heard the old adage, "There’s no free lunch". Well, guess what– I found one. Mass Mutual Financial Group is offering a free $50,000 10-year term life policy to qualifying individuals. Founded more than 150 years ago, Mass Mutual has developed into one of the nation’s top life insurance companies. Today, it is a […]

  Over the past two weeks, I have discussed how to get the best deal whether you are buying a new car or leasing a car.  One question I am constantly asked is, “Is it smarter to purchase a car or lease one?”  There is a financial answer as well as an emotional answer to […]

Some people prefer to lease rather than own a car for a number of reasons including smaller up-front costs, smaller monthly payments and avoiding the hassles associated with selling a used car. In a lease deal, the dealer sells your car to a leasing company who, in turn, leases it back to you. Your payments […]

    Thinking of buying a new car but dreading negotiating with the salesperson? In this first of a 3-part series, I’ll give you the step-by-step process for getting the best deal on your next new car purchase.   Step 1. Review your credit history. Assuming you plan on financing your purchase, your first step […]