Since Barack Obama’s election many have asked me what I think will happen to the estate tax. My reading of various news reports, tax industry analysts and other sources leads me to believe that the Obama team hasn’t yet decided exactly how to handle their campaign promises regarding taxes. They appear to be gauging the [...]
I recently participated in an interesting conversation with economist Dr. David Jones, Chairman of Investors’ Security Trust Company, who is also known as the “Fed Watcher” on CNN and CNBC. Jones criticized Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson’s uncertainty how to best utilize the $700 billion Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP), which, he states, has contributed to [...]
For the past several weeks we have been watching two men, Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson and Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke attempt to repair the United States investment banking system. As I watched the continuing developments of the US government intervention into the financial crisis, it occurred to me that three historical milestones may have [...]
While watching the evening news the other day, my teenage daughter Gabrielle asked me whether everything is going to be okay. Tuning in to major network news is a lot scarier than Halloween specials that air this time of year. In her case, Gabi was referring to news stories discussing the economic crisis. I assured [...]
Regular readers of this column know that from time to time I’ll divert from estate planning topics to review economic and social trends that affect us all. Today I’m going to discuss the experience economy, which is a trend defining luxury as a move away from retail goods and towards experiences of “deep support”. What [...]
The other day I wore a Jerry Garcia tie while I ate Cherry Garcia ice cream. Jerry Garcia, for those of you who don’t know, was a former member of a popular 1960’s era band, The Grateful Dead. He was a colorful artistic man whose paintings became popular. Now deceased, his estate continues to bring [...]