I’ve spent much of my career, now in its 5th decade, focused on addressing the devastating impact of the widening wealth and income inequality gap. I first recognized the problem while working for two Wall Street firms in the middle 1980s. The problem has gotten much worse lately. It is not just an issue of […]
Comments by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary this week disturbed many of us who support smaller farms and fisheries. USDA Secretary Purdue seemed to signal that the federal government does not recognize the inherent value of a wide independent network of food producers. I fear that small innovative farm operations, greenhouses, and […]
I’m not quite there yet; I turn 59 in a couple of weeks. But I’ve just been through the toughest year of my life1. It forced me to be more aware of the health risks of my long hours, high stress work routine. I’m paying attention to my health issues with special attention to the […]
When I started in the health benefits advisory business more than 30 years ago (1987) through the predecessor of Freedom Benefits I strongly disagreed that health care was a “right”. My opinion was shared by the majority of Americans. But three things have happened since then and public opinion has shifted: 1) The wealth gap […]
This blog post lists key issues in bullet format and is not intended as a complete discussion of any issue. A more thorough consideration is helpful for any aspect that may pertain to your family’s situation. Definition: “Medicaid planning” refers to the specialized field of financial planning that recognizes that it is possible to simultaneously keep financial assets while, […]
The two big personal stories for me in 2017: #1 – Stress Handled I became stressed by the lack of respect for fact, truth, science, logic, law and education expressed in our everyday lives. I became stressed by the observation that other people abandoned traditional core values of charity, sharing, open doors, open borders, nondiscrimination, […]
One of the tax writers I like to follow said today that she is “super worried about 2018”. I asked her what are her largest worries. While waiting for the response I thought about the same question and decide that I feel a lot better about 2018 than I did about 2017 at this time […]
Resolutions are not goals, wishes or plans. They are, as the name implies, issues that have been resolved as of this time , thereby implying some prior period of lack of resolution. This is the case with my resolutions. RESOLVED: I will focus my support on increasing support for decency through law firms, nonprofit organizations […]
These questions come from Inc. at https://www.inc.com/robin-camarote/31-questions-to-ask-yourself-before-setting-next-years-goals.html in an article titled “31 Questions to Ask Yourself Before Setting Next Year’s Goals“. Inc. says “Asking ourselves reflective questions can jump-start our learning. When we’re more aware of our interests and desires, we can create goals that align with what we want — not what we think we’re […]
At the beginning of each month and year I write out a “Vision for ___”. I normally don’t make these public but a business adviser challenged m to review this with an accountability partner. I don’t have an accountability partner so I summarized the work here. (I’m sure that a new accountability partner should be […]