A number you’re probably not looking for is 1.5 billion. That’s the number of pounds of pumpkins grown every year. History.com said that’s more than twice the weight of the Empire State Building. Here are a few other interesting statistics related to Halloween:1 9 billion pieces of candy corn are sold each year (about 36 […]
As volatility has been spiking in the equity market, I just have to ask, do you have a strategy? Often when I meet with potential new clients this is a question I pose. More times than not they look at me as if I am speaking a foreign language that they can’t quite understand. As […]
The old saying “time flies” is never truer than when you are preparing to send your child off to college for the first time. You think back to when she started school, and all of the milestones she’s attained since. Middle School, Braces, First Dances, First Sleep Away Camp, High school, first time driving, getting […]
Paying for College While your high school student is taking standardized tests, parsing college choices, and raring for graduation, you’ll probably find yourself spending some time with net income calculators on college websites. Whether your family’s income level qualifies you for significant aid or limits you to merit scholarships, you’ll quickly discover that tuition is […]
What Do You Know About America? Achieving U.S. citizenship can be life changing, but it is not easy. Those who aspire to become American citizens must pass a 100-question naturalization test and answer six of 10 questions correctly during their naturalization interviews. Test your knowledge on these four sample questions: 1. Who is […]
You have probably heard the term ‘planned obsolescence.’ It’s also known as ‘shortening the replacement cycle.’ No matter what you call it, the strategy was developed by manufacturers to ensure consumers would buy products more than once. Rather than inspiring repeat purchases with the strength of their brands and the quality of their products, companies […]
We have all had the phone tree experience. You know you need some help with something, let’s say a Doctor’s appointment, and so you call the office. You get a recorded voice, sometimes not even human, and a list of five to ten options with associated numbers to press. Then someone comes into the room […]
Romantics welcome Valentine’s Day and having the opportunity to lavish loved ones with attention. Economists appreciate Valentine’s Day, too. Sure, the $13 billion spent on Valentine’s Day is just a drop in the $17 trillion bucket of goods and services produced in the United States, but love is powerful and has value beyond the candy, […]
AMJ Financial Wealth Management Weekly Market Commentary December 15, 2014 It was no fun to be an investor last week. The week prior, a commentary in The Wall Street Journal’s blog, MoneyBeat, offered this insight: “Falling oil prices are thought to be good for stocks because they stimulate consumer spending and hold down inflation. The lower costs […]