A recently proposed bill in California is geared toward helping people stay sober by providing financial incentives to so. Although it might seem as though financial incentives would not be substantial enough to change behavior in terms of healthcare, we recently saw that incentives increased the likelihood of people getting a vaccine when they were…
Year: 2021
Tax Reform
Dear Garden State Trust: What are the chances that we will see tax reform soon? —Rate Worrier Dear Rate: Based upon past experience, I would say that the odds are somewhat against tax reform this year. Usually tax reform legislation has had a lengthy and public process as it moves from broad goals to specific,…
Having the "Money Talk"
For many of us, the first time we talk about money with our kids (aka “ the money talk”) is when they are younger and we explain the benefits of saving some of their allowance. As they get older, we talk about the danger of credit card debt and understanding the value of delayed gratification…
Bond Prices
Dear Garden State Trust: I’ve read that when interest rates go up, bond prices go down. Why should this be so? It seems a bit irrational to me. —Cynical Investor Dear Cynical: It’s not irrational. It’s not emotional at all; it’s just math. Here’s a simplified example. You have a bond with a face value…
Inflation Worries Keeping You Awake?
According to a recent Harvard CAPS/Harris poll, reported at thehill.com, 85% of respondents are concerned about inflation, and 45% are very concerned. Beyond polling data, we can tell from looking at Google trend graphs that searches for information on inflation more than doubled in May, and that keyword search continues to be above average. Google’s…
Trust Decanting
Dear Garden State Trust: My brother and I are trust beneficiaries. The trust was established more than ten years ago, when our father died, so we’ve been told it’s irrevocable, it can’t be changed. But we need a change, this trust structure isn’t working out for us. Is there some way that we could at…
Lifestyle Management — What’s That?
I am always receiving e-mails soliciting my attendance at seminars on a myriad of topics related to the financial services industry. In early May, one solicitation really piqued my interest, not because I was going to attend, but rather it was the subject matter I found interesting, How Offering “High Touch” Bill Pay Services Can…