November 5, 2013 – About a decade ago, someone came up with a novel way for people to promote a particular belief or to advance a personal cause or organization about which they felt strongly. Silicone wrist bands. Part fashion statement and part statement PERIOD, wearing one was a creative way to tell others how…
October 25, 2013 – In just about eight more weeks, the 2013 calendar will be ready for the recycle bin. For contingency fee-based plaintiff attorneys who’ve had a successful year, recycling one of the best-ever tax deferral strategies is also on their minds as 2013 winds down: Structured Attorney Fees. Since the passage of the…
October 10, 2013 – With all this talk about quantitative easing, shutdowns, debt ceilings and similar esoterica, it’s easy to lose perspective about interest rates. True, interest rates might seem low by historical standards but it really depends on your frame of reference. That’s why we created this one-page flyer for you: Historical Long-Term Interest…
“Substitute me for him – Substitute my coke for gin – Substitute you for my mum – At least I’ll get my washing done” – Pete Townshend – October 4, 2013 – Ever try to find a good substitute for security? Betcha can’t. At least not on synonym.com you can’t. I tried but all I…
October 2, 2013 – For years, I have been working hard to help clients temper their enthusiasm about the prospects of interest rates rising significantly anytime soon. Even though I wish the message were different, it’s somewhat gratifying when a world renowned “bond king” finally seems to agree with what I’ve been saying for some…
October 1, 2013 – Day One of the Affordable Care Act mandated Insurance Exchanges. I am a licensed life and health insurance agent. Although the majority of business I have conducted since forming my own company in 2009 has involved structured settlements and fixed annuities, I have had one client who, each year, chooses to…
September 25, 2013 – From the time a person enters the workforce until one’s last day on the job, nearly all the emphasis on retirement planning centers around what a person should do to amass as much money as possible. For essentially one’s entire work life, the goal is the same: Save as much money…
September 4, 2013 – Sales of deferred-income annuities, the exchange of a lump sum today for a future guaranteed fixed cash flow at some point in the future, have increased 151% in the first six months of 2013 versus the same period a year earlier. The total deferred premium sales ($930 million) is still less…
August 29, 2013 – On the heels of the Supreme Court’s June decision to repeal a key provision of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) which barred recognition of gay marriages, the U.S. Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service announced today that same-sex married couples will be indistinguishable from opposite-sex married couples for Federal tax…
August 28, 2013 – As we celebrate today’s 50th anniversary of the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, I’m honored to be able to say I have a friend in Congress who has a very personal connection to this historic event. Congressman John Lewis (D-GA 5th District), Chairman of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee…