Category: News and Politics
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Merck lays off peers in Montco
One of the most respected employers in my community announced that it is closing its research facility and laying off 360 workers. Merck was a highly favorite employer among my Delaware Valley University undergraduate classmates and Temple University grad school peers. At one time I knew many who worked at Merck’s North Wales plant.…
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Low interest rate news boosts stock prices
Seldom has the stock market been so easy to predict. But it will become fully valued and performance will change quickly, as it always does.
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Delaware passes crowdfunding law
Delaware is the state of organization of many small business organizations including most of my clients. Yesterday Delaware joined 34 other states in passage of legislation that makes use of more liberal federal crowdfunding rules for small business equity financing. The new state law recognizes the provisions of federal law under the JOBS act. I’ve…
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A reflective look at my own views on gun rights
Like most Americans, I am drawn into this national debate on gun rights and gun culture. Unlike many people whose opinions I learn about through the news or social media, I do not have strong pre-formed opinions on the topic. I recently considered whether it might be smart to have a gun for protection…
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Scientists to Congress: Strongly Worded Letter About Climate Change
A reprint of an important letter to Congress: June 28, 2016 Dear Members of Congress, We, as leaders of major scientific organizations, write to remind you of the consensus scientific view of climate change. Observations throughout the world make it clear that climate change is occurring, and rigorous scientific research concludes that the greenhouse gases…
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Bala Cynwyd investment scam hits close to home
Hardly a week goes by that I don’t read about some homeowner being defrauded by an unscrupulous building contractor or an elderly person being lured into an investment scam. I’ve written and talked about dozens of such schemes over the past three decades. Yet year after year the stories keep coming. The latest incident occurs…
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Security for rural homes and businesses
Recent national news brought a wave of follow-up stories about gun control, mental health and the risk of violence toward society. I add the unusual personal perspective of having been the victim of death threats and attempted manslaughter. The risk may well be past but it still lingers in my mind. New Yorker Magazine published a…
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We all love a good investment story
The hunger for investment stories will never cease nor be replaced by automation. Yet there remains no conclusive evidence of the value of active investment management. My comment is inspired by the great article at http://www.businessinsider.com/meet-blackrocks-impact-investing-team-2016-6 [contact-form-7 id=”3893″ title=”Boilerplate Contact”]
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Tax planning for same sex couples
In 2013 the Supreme Court ruled on a case that effectively put same-sex couples on equal tax and financial footing with other couples. I summarized the financial planning impact in this June 27 2013 blog post. Five significant financial planning effects of the legal change were: 1) transfer of property to a spouse during one’s…