Blog

Starting on January 21 2011 shareholders of U.S. companies will be able to give a thumbs up or a thumbs down to executive pay packages. You may remember that the “say on pay” vote was first introduced as a safeguard when U.S. financial institutions dubbed “too big to fail” received federal bailout funds thanks to the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP).

As a farm boy from Nebraska I grew up in a close knit community where your word was your bond. A personal connection to both my community and my work has always been integral to my happiness. Early in my career when I was an accountant I changed professions primarily because I did not have self-satisfaction in my work.

The Role of Financial Literacy in Determining Retirement Plans by Robert Clark Melinda Sandler Morrill and Steven G. Allen is the latest publication in the National Bureau of Economic Research’s Working Papers series.

I have previously written on my amazement that Congress allowed the estate tax to lapse last year and of the many plans put forth to reinstate the death tax.

January is a great time for an annual financial check-up. These five steps can help you plan for your future:

Now’s the season for helping others who are less fortunate than you by giving your time talents and resources to a worthy charitable cause. According to “The Nonprofit Fundraising Survey: November 2010” compiled by the Association of Fundraising Professionals Blackbaud the Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University the Foundation Center GuideStar USA Inc.

In her recent article “Why do investors trust advisors but not Wall Street?” Susan Antilla explores the disconnect between investors who proclaim their distrust of the financial securities industry but exempt their financial advisors from that profound mistrust. In fact it seems many investors are so trusting of their advisor that they fail to vet them properly.

Although agreement seemed highly unlikely just weeks ago Democratic support for a plan put forward by Republicans and accepted by President Obama seems to be gaining steam. The compromise in waiting would reinstate the estate tax at 35% for two years starting next year with the first $5 million of an individual’s estate exempted.

In spite of all your best laid plans there may be a glitch in your retirement dreams. If you retire early before you would qualify for Medicare you may be looking at a costly gap in your health insurance. If you figure you will simply keep the coverage you have from your employer think again.