2019

August 5, 2019 When my immediate family emigrated to the US in 1996 we made a commitment to stay in close touch with those we left behind. A major part of that commitment has been getting together for a week…

July 29, 2019 My wife and I are expecting our first child next month.  Along with the stream of doctors’ appointments and obligatory baby size tracking by week (comparing baby’s size to various fruits, vegetables, and even baked goods) we…

July 22, 2019 For those of us who spend every day deeply immersed in financial markets, it is nice to take a step back and see how normal people perceive the investment world. Schroders, a $500 billion global asset manager…

July 15, 2019 Ross Perot died this week at the age of eighty-nine. Perot, a Texas businessman, ran for the office of President in 1992 against two strong candidates, George Herbert Walker Bush and Bill Clinton. Perot was no nonsense…

July 8, 2019 A real estate principle known as “the 5-year rule” says that if you don’t plan to stick around in the same house for at least five years, you should consider renting. This is because buying and selling…

July 1, 2019 This week many of us will have a chance to gather and celebrate the independence of our nation. Independence Day is a holiday that has traditions which are similar for people across the country. When I hear…

June 24, 2019 Last Wednesday, June 19th, 2019, I became a US citizen. My journey to making this momentous commitment has been long and circuitous, and started 33 years ago. In 1986 President Ronald Reagan made it possible for 2…

June 17, 2019 I recently received the annual renewal for my homeowner’s policy and was intrigued to see a Personal Cyber Protection endorsement added.  Under this new coverage the insurance company offers professional assistance from a subject matter expert in…

June 10, 2019 Since early 19th-Century children around the world have been enchanted by “Goldilocks and the Three Bearsâ€.  The first known version was titled “The Story of the Three Bears†and told a frightening tale of an old woman…

June 3, 2019 Have you ever heard anyone comment that giving money away is difficult? If so, they were probably not talking about the bureaucracy (and there can be plenty) but the challenges on deciding where to give and having…