An Artistic Retirement…

Your retirement should be as abundant as this beautiful Rembrandt painting

By analyzing each of his paintings millimeter by millimeter, and creating a height map to mimic his brush strokes, scientists have produced a painting that Rembrandt could have painted himself. With powerful data analysis and computer graphics technology, the creators actually manufactured this new, real-life “Rembrandt” portrait with a 3D printer. Would Rembrandt be happy with this? Do you think he would be impressed? …we will never know. What we do know, if the time…

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Discourage ‘Paris Hilton Syndrome’: An Easy Start to Smart Inheritance Planning.

Discourage "Paris Hilton Syndrome"

If you’re like me, the unity of your family is important! Inheritances may not be everyone’s favorite subject, but planning now will yield can greatly benefit the whole family in the future. So what does Paris Hilton have to do with it? Well, we cringe when we see what Paris Hilton and others have done with their inheritance. Think about how you would feel, if she were your granddaughter and…

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What clubs will you join during retirement?

As Groucho Marx aged, his girlfriend, Erin Fleming continued to manage his affairs. Finally, as his health worsened, his family decided that they should take Marx’s decision-making matters into their own hands. The story goes that his various family members, including his son Arthur, took to the courtrooms to wrestle decision-making control from him and his girlfriend. This continued long after his death. As he aged, he lost control….

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Your retirement funds: how much are they really worth? (Are you certain?)

In the 1983 hit film, Trading Places, starring Dan Aykroyd and Eddie Murphy, Aykroyd’s character, Winthorpe, is haggling with a pawnshop owner over the value of the wristwatch he is desperately trying to pawn in order to get cash. When the pawnshop owner offers $50 dollars, Winthorpe indignantly says: “This is a Roche Vouceau. The thinnest water-resistant watch in the world. Singularly unique, sculptured in design, handcrafted in Switzerland,…

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Cars and Money: Similar or Different?

Back in the day, when your car was making strange noises or throwing error lights on the dashboard, your mechanic simply needed a trained eye and ear to figure out the problem. Today, a mechanic needs advanced mechanical and computer training to diagnose the issue; the engines and systems have become more complex. More often than not, your engine is now hooked up to a computer to properly diagnose…

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The Day Your Paycheck Stops

If you have ever been laid off, you know what it feels like when the paychecks stop. While retirement isn’t exactly the same, a large amount of your paychecks must come from your financial capital. This capital must last a lifetime, through up and down markets. Through good economic times, and bad ones too. Through all health conditions, healthy or sick. Reliable, predictable income in retirement provides greater peace…

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Everything and anything can have side effects

Soulful singer Adele sings out beautiful songs. She can also grow facial hair, ever since she became pregnant and had a child. That’s unexpected. It seems that she isn’t the only one who has had unanticipated side effects due to pregnancy. Here are some other effects women have experienced as a result of pregnancy: Hair can change colors, typically turning much darker. Sense of smell becomes so sensitive that…

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What Are Your Goals? No, wait… What is Your VISION for the future?

The habit of “beginning with the end in mind” was introduced 25 years ago by Dr. Stephen R. Covey in his groundbreaking bestseller, ‘The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People’. This means that you should have an image of the end of your life as your frame of reference, so you can plan appropriately today. This concept is used in many areas: leadership, entrepreneurship, project management, sports competition, personal…

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When Would You Like to Start Living Frugally?

If you know someone who lived through World War II, they may give you good ideas for living frugally. Of course, they had no choice back then, and much of what they may suggest would seem over the top today: Use food cans as drinking glasses. Only turn one lamp on after dark. Reuse paper towels until they fall apart. Imagine a retirement where you HAD to live frugally,…

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