My mom always said, “the most expensive vegetable you’ll ever eat is the one you grow.” No joke. This year I turned my entire backyard into a garden. I planted nearly every vegetable Walter Anderson had to offer. Most of them gave me nothing. A did get a few
This Labor Day weekend I’m celebrating my son and daughter-in-law, Neil and Amber. They own a food-cart business, working at fairs and concerts across the pacific northwest. They work like their hair’s on fire and the extinguisher’s out of order! Neil thinks they should turn their life into a reality TV show.
When was the last time you checked your home’s value and felt your jaw drop—followed quickly by the thought, how long can this last? The truth is, summer sales have cooled, and a few cracks are showing: New home prices fell nearly 5% in June, and inventory is up
My mom never wasted a thing. If she found a mystery casserole in the freezer and said, “We got to use this up,” we knew dinner was about to be something that looked like leftovers from the Cold War. When it comes to tax breaks, I’m with my mom –
If a will is found buried under the cushions of a couch … with unclear scribbles, shaky intentions, and crossed-out names … and it contradicts a previous will, giving one child more than the others … and the person who wrote it is very sick … is it valid?
Do you remember the old Roadrunner cartoon? The Roadrunner would lead the Coyote off a cliff – and Coyote’s legs would keep spinning – until he realized there was nothing under him. Then he’d stop, turn his head, give us a wide-eyed look, and fall into an abyss. .
The annual Social Security numbers are out, and they’re alarming. According to William Galston in The Wall Street Journal, the fund is now expected to run dry in the first quarter of 2033—nine months sooner than projected last year. When that happens, benefits could drop by 26% for current
The One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBB) brings some changes to charitable giving – and a head-scratching layer of complication. Starting January 1, 2026, the tax rules get trickier and a little less generous. Let’s break it down and talk about what we can do. If You Take the Standard DeductionPreviously, non-itemizers could not
The One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBB) has arrived—bringing nearly 900 pages of tax changes with it. While it’s intended to be a permanent overhaul, some of the most impactful provisions come with expiration dates. Let’s take this bill one piece at a time and start with something that applies to
Think back to a favorite vacation from the past 10 years. Where did you go and what did you do? What did you eat? (I hope you said “yes” to everything!) What were the sensations and the feelings? What made it magical? Was it the best possible vacation you could’ve
When the U.S. bombed Iran last weekend, I was 100% sure the stock market would take a deep plunge on Monday and gas prices would shoot through the roof. I was so convinced, that I got in my car, drove to the gas station, and filled up my
Who is the SEC and what’s their job – really? That’s a topic of hot debate these days. Here’s the easy part: The SEC – Securities and Exchange Commission – is run by five presidential appointees, with no more than three from the same party. Their
In February my son called while vacationing in Maui with his precious family. I wish you could have heard the happiness in his voice! Humpback whales migrated to the bay in front of his hotel to give birth to their calves. “Mom! The whales are breaching 24/7 and you
Is it necessary to balance the Federal budget? For years, the prevailing wisdom has been… not really. In fact, over the past 50 years, only two U.S. presidents managed to balance the federal budget: Lyndon Johnson (briefly, in1969) and Bill Clinton (from 1998 to 2001). Since then, it’s
Why A Poppy? Sometimes, the smallest things carry the biggest meaning. Have you ever noticed veterans wearing little red poppies on their lapels on Memorial Day and wonder why? It started during World War I. In the spring of 1915, bright red flowers began poking through the battle-ravaged fields of
Warren Buffet never ceases to astound me. At the age of 94, his net worth is over $160B, yet he still lives in the same home he bought in Omaha Nebraska at the age of 28 for $31,500. (1) When I look at news clips of him, his eyes
I hope your mom was as weird as my mom was. She was the mom who: Went for a morning jog on our high school track – in her curlers! I was mortified!!! hen she was in her 70’s one of the neighbor’s dogs attacked her little
We don’t have to look any further than our investment statements to know that Donald Trump’s first 100 days were tough on the stock market. While a rocky first 100 days may be an indicator of lower returns, history shows that it doesn’t necessarily mean negative returns over the
Social Security is a topic that makes a lot of people feel uneasy these days. With all the talk of government cuts, it’s hard not to wonder if Social Security will be next. Let’s start by understanding that Social Security is not an “entitlement” — it’s a program we’ve all paid
One of my all-time favorite days was The Great Blackout of 2011. Yes– a blackout! On September 8th 2011 at 3:30 in the afternoon there was a widespread power outage in San Diego that lasted 11 hours. Most people had to leave work and go home. No computers, no TV, and
