With the economic landscape changing dramatically and a “new normal” taking shape in the fixed-interest marketplace, bonds are testing a long-held–but poorly vetted–theory about safety. Ask anyone with a minor interest/proficiency in personal finance about safe assets, and you’ll likely hear something about bonds. They are the asset the investment industry offers up as a …
In today’s fast-paced and unpredictable financial landscape, managing risk and achieving consistent returns is more important than ever. Life insurance companies have emerged as experts in this field, utilizing their vast resources and expertise to create well-diversified investment portfolios that deliver long-term value to policyholders. In this article, we will explore the factors that contribute …
Life Insurance used to generate retirement income is a slightly more advanced subject within the world of life insurance and financial planning. The stock jockeys hate it, and the life insurance agents love it. No surprise there. But is there something that life insurance brings to the table that is truly special? Or are you …
When you read or hear the words tax shelter it probably doesn’t conjure images of using whole life insurance. But whether or not whole life is actually a tax shelter depends on how you define it more than anything. It’s not a tax shelter in any sort of the more shady ways that people discuss …
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Well, this is the end of the line. You have come to the very end of the Financial Procast.
After a little over three years and 188 episodes we've decided to call it quits. Turns out the C-suite goons have decided to “go a different direction”.
The irony is that we're the goons and…
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“The problem with socialism is that you eventually run out of other people's money.”
Margaret Thatcher
Not much that needs to be added to that quote. We are seeing what happens when the government devises plans that use flawed logic and a lack of mathematical fact.
Is it really a big surprise that the health care exchanges organized under the CO-OP program are failing? I'm pretty sure that every insurance expert or semi-expert in the known universe said it wouldn't work.
Turns out that you can't put a bunch of sick people together in a plan and have it remain solvent. There have to be healthy people in there too (paying premiums) to balance the risk. This is insurance 101.
Newsflash: someone has finally exposed the real problem with student loan defaults. Turns out that half a degree doesn’t get you a decent return on investment for money you borrowed. And we all know why Vanguard can provide really low expenses for their mutual funds. You’ll have to listen to the podcast to find out …
Well, today may be the shortest full-length podcast we’ve ever recorded. You’re welcome for that little gift. Here’s what we discussed in episode 185: New research shows that 401k’s haven’t hurt retirement benefits A well-known market pontificator sounds an alarm The tax code gets “Trumped” (pdf download) As always, we appreciate your comments and suggestions for …
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We're back after taking a week off and wouldn't you know it…Gen Y still doesn't like being forced to talk to insurance agents at their kitchen tables? (sarcasm light on)
This is a story that never gets old to us. It seems like financial services industry just discovered that the internet is here to stay. Turns out no one is interested in going back to the “good old days”.
Today we’re back to your regular format. A veritable hodge-podge of news from the world of finance. Yes, we could’ve spent another whole episode discussing the volatility of the markets, but we figured there are plenty of other places you can go to hear all about that. And no one really has any answers when …