ACA Blog

Sundown in America?

aca_admin — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 13:35:48 GMT

David Stockman, President Ronald Reagan's Budget Director, authored an opinion piece published in the Sunday New York Times on March 30, 2013. His provocative conclusion is that eight decades of bipartisan Keynesian spending and Federal Reserve money-printing have left us exhausted and bankrupt. The article can be referenced here.

His article certainly outlines a doomsday ...

Don't Hesitate to Ask

aca_admin — Sat, 30 Mar 2013 11:00:00 GMT

Women need to make sure they are sufficiently engaged in financial planning. While people certainly do not always fit into generalizations about their gender, the results of a Prudential biennial study indicate that some women are not taking responsibility for their financial wellbeing. Seek the help of a Fee-Only financial planner if you are not ...

The Race to Zero

aca_admin — Mon, 25 Mar 2013 11:00:00 GMT

The government is printing too much money!

We have all heard the clamor raised by concerns that U.S. monetary policy (called "Quantitative Easing") will trigger inflation by causing 'too many dollars to chase too few goods and services.' The U.S. Treasury is issuing U.S. Government bonds at a faster rate than our economic growth. ...

Check Your Insurance Before You Need It

aca_admin — Wed, 20 Mar 2013 11:00:00 GMT

The insurance socially responsibility test. Subject your insurance to it even if you don’t care about “social responsibility.”

What is that test?

Socially responsible insurance companies pay their claims. One of insurance company’s most important implicit social agreements is helping people when the chips are down. Just ask the people ...

Taxes and the Value of Your Time

aca_admin — Fri, 15 Mar 2013 11:00:00 GMT

I have written in the past about the value of fully utilizing all deductions when it comes to income tax preparation. The IRS will certainly come after you if you don’t report all income, but the IRS will not hunt you down to let you know you missed a deduction. It’s your responsibility to ...

Financial Planning Can Help You Avoid Financial Infidelity

aca_admin — Sun, 10 Mar 2013 11:00:00 GMT

If you are married or live with your partner, your financial planning should involve your spouse, but for various reasons, a number of people find it difficult to be honest with a partner about money and spending.

In “Financial infidelity has its costs,” USA Today looked at the results of a survey ...

What's a "Safe Portfolio Withdrawal Rate"?

aca_admin — Tue, 05 Mar 2013 20:34:00 GMT

How much can you withdraw annually from your investment portfolio to be sure you don't outlive your money? If you regularly read investment articles, you know that this issue is often debated. Scenarios are analyzed, and various inflation rates, historical investment rates of return, and life expectancy projections are compared.

While these are key ...

Caregivers: Begin Financial Planning for Your Own Long Term Care

aca_admin — Thu, 28 Feb 2013 12:00:00 GMT

The results of Genworth Financial’s 2012 State of Planning Survey as reported by reversemortgagedaily.com indicate that many women who have been caregivers for a loved one have not themselves initiated financial planning for their own long term care.

Thirty-eight percent of the adults ages 45-54 surveyed who had not cared for ...

Three Financial Mistakes for Young Adults to Avoid

aca_admin — Fri, 22 Feb 2013 12:00:00 GMT

There are some great financial strategies that make a sound financial life achievable. There are also some mistakes that can slow down or stop a young adult from getting started on a good financial path.

1. Avoid bad debt. It’s easy to live beyond your means. Credit cards can be a convenience, ...

How Do Guns Make the Grade in a Portfolio?

aca_admin — Sun, 17 Feb 2013 12:00:00 GMT

Dear Bridget,

Recently I’ve read reports that the both the California and Chicago teachers pension funds are either reviewing or selling investments in guns. What do you make of it?

Signed—Confused.

The trustees in these cases are walking a fine line. If they decide to divest of all gun manufacturers, they are eliminating a ...