One of the greatest “gifts” I ever received from my parents did not feel like a gift a first; it was a torturous exercise, truth be told. Involving me in their estate planning would be something that would offer my entire family peace of mind, but not until much later down the road. I did not ask to be involved; I actually was uncomfortable looking at my parents’ finances; it felt like TMI. To put things in perspective, I was not a financial advisor at the time, nor was Tony. I Read on...
An Unforgettable Journey
My Dad, 1991 We sat on the other side of the doctor’s desk. My father was wedged between my mother and me, just in case he tried to make a break for it. It turns out, I was the one who wanted to run. The doctor started off in a light, conversational tone but my father, even in his confused state knew an interrogation was coming. He looked to me, a weak nervous smile on his face, and I wanted to stop what was coming next. But we were there for answers – even if I didn’t really want to Read on...
Shoot the Inner, Sitting Duck
My last post, "Nailing Financial Predators," may have left some feeling like an easy mark. But what if we could take our six natural human responses to persuasion and make them work in our favor? Well, we can. Here are some ideas on how to proactively take charge and shoot that inner, sitting duck: 1. Authority - If we respond to the perception that someone has expertise or power over us, it's best to make sure that that reverence is actually warranted before heeding their advice. Read on...
Intelligence is no Match for Ignorance
I remember the first time I helped a colleague of Tony’s switch out of a horrible 403(b). Tony had come to me aghast over what he had seen; an annuity with 4% in fees and longstanding surrender fees. We had no idea that this was not the exception to the rule; nor did we realize that this would become our full-time obsession. Here was an educated, savvy woman who had absolutely no idea how badly she was being ripped off. It turns out that there were many more teachers, just like her, who had Read on...