Blog

  • The Equifax Data Breach

    Some notes regarding the Equifax data breach  – updated on 9/29/2017 to include links for freezing your credit, getting free credit reports, getting your medical records, getting your Social Security records, plus some additional security items to consider: There’s been a lot of reporting, and Equifax’s response has changed a bit since the first reports Read more

  • “Get real planning, not too much, mostly fee-only”

    “Get real planning, not too much, mostly fee-only” Michael Pollan, in his terrific book “In Defense of Food: An Eater’s Manifesto” — came up with the motto “Eat Food, Not Too Much, Mostly Plants”. A basic guide to good eating in only 7 words. I’m not sure I can get it quite that tight, but Read more

  • Free Financial Planning!

    Periodically — typically at least in the fall — some local organizations get together along with a bunch of financial planning professionals who volunteer their time — to provide FREE FINANCIAL PLANNING! The event is called Financial Planning Days and they happen all over the country including places like San Francisco (10/22/2016), Indianapolis (10/15/2016), Baltimore Read more

  • Changes to FAFSA for 2017-2018 college year

    The new Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) forms for the 2017-2018 year bring on a few major changes:   (a) They are available NOW – as of Oct 1 – three months earlier than they used to be.   Note that the FAFSA deadline is not until June 2017. But the sooner you Read more

  • Doubling Your Tax Break: Giving Appreciated Assets to the Long Island Coalition for the Homeless

    [Note – this was written with the Long Island Coalition for the Homeless in mind.  The general principles of getting tax breaks for donating to charities – and doubling them by donating appreciated assets — applies just the same to any 501c3 charitable organizations.] What is the Long Island Coalition for the Homeless (LICH)? [The following Read more

  • Doubling Your Tax Break: Giving Appreciated Assets to PTA and PIE

    [Note – this was written with Palo Alto CA public schools in mind, and specifically a pair of charitable organizations which help support those schools.  It applies just the same to any 501c3 charitable organizations, including similar organizations associated with other school systems as well as other types of charities altogether.] It’s annual appeal time Read more