Wishing You the Merriest Christmas Perhaps Dr. Seuss said it best: “Christmas will always be as long as we stand heart to heart and hand in hand.”1 Dr. Seuss also said, “Christmas can’t be bought from a store. Maybe Christmas means a little bit more.”2 After these past couple years, we can enjoy the spirit […]
Gratitude is an expression of appreciation for all we have in addition to being an affirmation of goodness and warmth.1 This Thanksgiving, there are so many things for which to be grateful: our families, our health, and our successes. Here are some ways you can express gratitude this Thanksgiving: Pass the gratitude basket. Give everyone […]
Freedom is not free. It has come at the expense of the sacrifices made by the brave men and women in uniform. The late poet, Maya Angelou, said “How important it is for us to recognize and celebrate our heroes and she-roes!”1 Veterans Day was first celebrated as Armistice Day on November 11, 1919, marking […]
What do you know about bonds? The bull market in bonds has persisted for 40 years. In September 1981, the interest rate on 10-year U.S. Treasury bonds was 15.8 percent. In 2020, the interest rate bottomed at 0.52 percent and has moved higher. Whether the bull market ends or continues, it’s important for investors to […]
The Rise of Burnout As we close in on the last quarter of 2021, we’re still battling the COVID-19 pandemic – and the highly contagious Delta variant. Add in the hurricanes, wildfires and smoky air, and busy holiday season and it’s a recipe for burnout. You and your clients are likely feeling a little bit […]
Charlemagne is a legend. He was an 8th century Frankish King who fought and won most of Europe before becoming the first emperor of the Holy Roman Empire. He also led the Carolingian Renaissance, a golden age for scholarship and values, during which a new system of writing was established. Music flourished. Libraries and schools […]
Nobody likes paying taxes. It’s a fact that has helped inspire and alter human behavior throughout history. You don’t have to look far to find ways taxes have affected human decision making. For example, taxes are the reason: Brick size was standardized in Great Britain Ironically, to pay for the war in the American colonies […]
April is Financial Literacy Month. It’s also National Canine Fitness, National Fresh Celery, and International Guitar Month (among so many other designations), but let’s not get distracted. So, what is financial literacy? In 2008, the President's Advisory Council on Financial Literacy defined financial literacy as “the ability to use knowledge and skills to manage financial […]
Beware of scams during tax season.
This year, many online criminals are targeting pandemic-related changes. For example, Security Magazine reported hackers are targeting personal data by impersonating:5
• Videoconferencing platforms
• Health organizations
• News sources with information about the virus and vaccines
• Employers sending fake job termination notices