Monthly Archives: March 2012
Florida Update- February 2009
Florida Update- February 2009 In Herald Tribune’s “Crist plan counts on stimulus“ Joe Follick reports that Florida’s governor Crist is proposing four constitutional amendments that lawmakers would have to approve for the 2010 ballot. The four measures would cap annual assessment increases on non-homestead property at 5 percent (reduction from 10%), provide a five-year super-exemption […]
Findependence Day by Jonathan Chevreau
Findependence Day by Jonathan Chevreau I just finished reading Jonathan Chevreau’s new book Findependence Day. I would highly recommend it to all just starting their working lives or newlywed/partnered couples. The story of this fictional young couple with their personal and financial struggles not only made very interesting reading, but it is the framework for […]
“Spend ‘Til the End” by Laurence Kotlikoff and Scott Burns
“Spend ‘Til the End” by Laurence Kotlikoff and Scott Burns Laurence Kotlikoff and Scott Burns challenge conventional financial planning in their new book “Spend Till the End”. They say that conventional financial planning is guaranteed to make you financially sick. By the way, Kotlikoff implemented the approach/ideas in his planning tool ESPlanner ($149) which I […]
“Foundation & Endowment Investing”by Lawrence E. Kochard and Catheleen M. Rittereiser
“Foundation & Endowment Investing”by Lawrence E. Kochard and Catheleen M. Rittereiser Background This book is based on a series of interviews with Chief Investment Officers (CIOs) of a dozen of foundations and endowments. The purpose of this blog is to summarize some lessons that individuals may be able to learn from these CIOs. “Foundations and […]
“Pension relief for corporations? Yes, but not without protecting the pensioners!
“Pension relief for corporations? Yes, but not without protecting the pensioners! Past week’s papers were filled with articles on why Ottawa should be considering “pension relief” for corporations with underfunded pension plans. But most commentators missed the real story. This is not about the impact on companies which are contractually responsible for the pensions; it […]
Site (and Sight) Unseen: Florida Real Estate Update (October 23, 2008)
Site (and Sight) Unseen: Florida Real Estate Update (October 23, 2008) Is it a time to buy for Canadians in the U.S.? Last week I received, with my local newspaper, an advertising brochure with articles advocating that you run out to buy now because Florida property is on sale. The brochure included stories on short […]
What’s wrong with private sector defined benefit pension plans? Everything? …Problems and Solutions
What’s wrong with private sector defined benefit pension plans? Everything? …Problems and Solutions (Originally posted October 27, 2008 re-hosted March 5, 2012) A series of actions/circumstances, any one of which could be individually damaging to the welfare of pensioners, when taken together could threaten to destroy the retirement of millions of Canadians. The problems are […]
Are you a Stock or a Bond? Create Your Own Pension Plan for a secure Financial Future by Moshe Milevsky
Are you a Stock or a Bond? Create Your Own Pension Plan for a secure Financial Future by Moshe Milevsky This book addresses some of the more recent thinking and more subtle but critical aspects of financial planning for/in retirement. It is especially useful, not because it tells you how to do things, but it […]
Under-funded pension plans
Under-funded pension plans A few weeks ago in “Is your (defined benefit) company pension safe? I discussed some gauges that you may find useful in assessing the true state of the funded status of your DB pension plan like: difference between solvency and going concern basis, and actuarial assumptions like discount rates, salary increases, mortality […]
August 2008 Update: Florida Property Values and Legal Challenge of Discriminatory Property Taxes Property Values
August 2008 Update: Florida Property Values and Legal Challenge of Discriminatory Property Taxes Property Values The May 2008 S%P Case-Schiller’s real estate index just released does not indicate that that Florida’s property values have bottomed if Miami is any indication of what is going on. The prices still pear about 30% above the long-term trend […]
RetirementAction.com 