If you live in Connecticut like I do, you have gotten used to a high cost of living, including high energy rates. But the latest change in our electricity rates is shocking (pun intended) even by CT standards. On 1/1/23, the standard residential electricity rate for Eversource customers went from $0.12 per kWh to $0.24. …
Shocking News: Your Electricity Rate May Have Just Doubled! Read More »
One of the greatest Seinfeld episodes ever is “The Bizarro Jerry”. This is where Elaine has a friend Kevin who does everything the opposite from Jerry, and there are opposite versions of George and Kramer, and even Newman, as well. There is a scene when Jerry, George and Kramer meet their Bizarro counterparts and Jerry …
I like to look for silver linings. For instance, during the pandemic lockdown, I appreciated the blessing of having family dinners with my wife and teenage daughters every night (and it was EVERY night!). It is important to make the best of even the bad situations. And this year has been a bad situation for …
This year has not been a good year for bonds. This message has gotten a bit lost because it has been an even worse year for stocks so far. But bonds have generally not helped your portfolio recently, and it is worth understanding the dynamic of why that happened, and what the future could look …
Before you judge me on what I am about to share, there are a few things I would like you to know about me. I still balance our family checkbook. As in, down to the penny. Every month. I do our own taxes and have receipts for everything. Everything. I check our family healthcare claims …
The recent surge in inflation has sparked a new interest in I-bonds. In fact, questions about I-bonds are just about the most common ones I get these days! So, I thought it was time to explain more about the pros and cons of these particular investment vehicles. What are I-bonds? I-bonds are US government savings …
It has been said that nothing is certain except death and taxes. Perhaps we should add recessions to the list as well. If history is our guide, then it is not a matter of if, but when the next recession will begin. But is this something to fear, or is it something to accept as …
Every investor knows that they are supposed to buy low and sell high. Even a child who doesn’t have any experience with investing can typically understand this concept. Then why is it that we tend to develop hysterical amnesia and forget this key principle when the market plummets? Emotions are a strong factor in our …
Weather forecasting has greatly improved over the last 40 years – doppler radar, better projection models, tornado and hurricane warning systems – but it doesn’t always feel that way, right? Even with all of the best technology available, it still seems like it will rain on a day that was supposed be sunny or you …
In this last installment of a 3-part blog series on annuities, I will cover pros and cons of income annuities. If you missed my primer on annuities or the pros and cons of accumulation annuities, you can find them here and here. Today’s blog will focus on annuities for the purpose of providing lifetime income. …
The Good, the Bad, and the Misunderstood – Income Annuities Read More »
