By Rob Severson on February 1, 2012
Some things confuse me. Mainly the political spins i hear all the time on the news. By both sides!
One is the mortgage situation and the underwater mortgages for sure. I don’t understand why it is more of a hardship to make payments on an underwater mortgage than one that is not underwater. The value of the house one buys compared to the mortgage has nothing to do with ability to pay for it. Unless you don’t have a job which is another issue. I am sure my car is worth less than the amount i owe on it, but don’t see that as a hardship. Folks who get margin calls in their brokerage accounts have it worse, they have to settle immediately. And many of them are not rick i suspect, otherwise they wouldn’t use margins,
I am confused by the need for a consumer protection czar. As i understand it the goal is to protect consumers from the confusing wording in the consumer loan agreements. What bothers me about that is that most of the language in these agreements are required by law. But i guess it creates jobs for someone in government to interpret their laws!
The Republican candidates are criticizing venture capital at the same time as they are promoting job creation. They are suggesting removing Obama care from the laws; why don’t these people work together and come up with a better solution? Democrats think the rich should pay more in taxes, but they already cover 70% of the government cost. Is that fair? Or are taxes considered to be punitive to the successful?
Obama says colleges should not increase tuition each year. Good for him! But later says we need to spend more on education. It seems that the more we spend the more colleges expand their offerings and build buildings and raise their tuition.
Unemployment insurance can discourage people form getting a job at lower pay to start their careers over. I posted a piece on unemployment that I think could actually help folks in their job search: http://www.robseverson.com/?p=678
These are just a few things that confuse us country boys!
Just sayin……
Posted in General | Tagged attitude, banking, careers, consumer advocate czar, jobs, make a living, prosperity, social injustice, success, underwater mortgages |
By Rob Severson on January 25, 2012
I’ve watched this movie 5-6 times, once in the theatre, 4 times on cable and once on a disc. It fascinates me. Why do i like it?
• I like the history of the time • I like that the King had a stammer. It proves that anyone can have problems that can prevent them from being successful regardless of social and economic status
• I like the fact that the King asked for help. One of the most powerful people in the world needed help from someone. How many of us have problems that are solvable if we ask for help? Or do we just claim victimhood?
- Maybe most of all, the speech coach encouraged the King. We all need encouragement, even kings!
• He overcame his obstacle and gave due credit to his speech coach
This story should be a lesson to all of us!
Posted in General | Tagged attitude, overcoming obstacles, prosperity, social injustice |
By Rob Severson on January 19, 2012
In case you didn’t know it Newt Gingrich is a sinner as his wife Calista. Not a news flash unless you have been living under a rock. Now Newt’s ex has come forward to talk about it and just how bad he was! I won’t argue with her comments other than to say that carrying a grudge for many years isn’t healthy for anyone. But that is her business. The question for voters is: Why should we care?
First, for secular types that don’t believe in God, adultery is not a sin against God. And, secularists make their own moral rules don’t they? Free sex for sure. So what Newt did in their eyes should be a violation of a contract of marriage. Newt promised to be faithful and he wasn’t faithful. So with a breach of contract he was sued in divorce court and I would guess paid for the breach in the divorce decree. There are many breaches of contract going on every day. Talk to a banker who had a contract that said “I promise to pay”, or a landlord who had a renter default or a credit card company that had to settle a debt to move on. Bankruptcy is similar, people sue creditors’ even after promising to pay. If you are a secular person you probably think that government and law is the higher power and that courts are the solution to redemption. If someone settles in court doesn’t them absolve them of the infraction? Why should anyone hold it against someone who has paid for their breach of contract? Should we hold anyone accountable for a settled breach of contract? Isn’t that between the people in the contract? If we did it would be very hard for many to start over. I think that for the secular crowd that it is inconsistent and self righteous to not forgive any of these folks.
Secondly, if you are in the Christian community (or Jewish) you would say that Newt committed adultery and you would be correct. Both he and Calista did for that matter. But if you continue in the Christian tradition you should believe in God’s grace and forgiveness for anyone who confesses their sin. Newt claims to have done that and that is between him and God. I don’t know anyone without sin and for myself, and very glad God forgives and forgets! The question for the Judeo/Christian community should be why would we support a sinner and adulterer? Never mind that we are all sinners, this may still be an issue. Are we to disqualify everyone who has sinned? Won’t be many left! This is also inconsistent and self righteous for this community, we should forgive as God has forgiven.
One other idea is to go the Bible and see how God has used sinners over time. To name a few, we have David in the Old Testament, and Mary Magdalene and Paul in the New. Paul may be the biggest example of how God changed a guy from being a Christian killer to his primary message carrier. There are countless other accounts in the Bible of how God used people that are puzzling to human reason. Even how He brought his Son into the world was a surprise!
I haven’t decided whether to support New or not but will follow the race and make a decision when the time is right. I do believe that God is in control and that it will all work out in His plan. I won’t second guess Him; too many in history have tried and were wrong! He can and does use anyone He wants to be our leader. He can use anyone he likes to run the USA, He is God!
Posted in General | Tagged ADULTERY, Gingrich, GOP, Marianne Gingrich, relationships |
By Rob Severson on January 18, 2012
When businesses lay someone off they frequently provide a severance pay for the individual. Depending upon rank and tenure it is designed to help the former employee out while they seek a new job. It is a fixed amount, and is paid over time regardless whether the person gets new job during the payout. I know many people that used this to their advantage. I myself used it to survive while i started my consulting business. I know others who used it to “double dip” IE they got a new job quickly and enjoyed extra income for a period of time. Of course they needed to be well connected and have good reputations in order to get a new position quickly enough to do this. But some made a lot of money for several months via their job and severance pay. Others use the severance as a reason to delay their job search until they got close to the end of the benefit and then scrambled to find something. They may even have had job offers but turned them down because they weren’t as lucrative as their former job. These opportunities looked better when they ran out of the benefit. They missed the opportunity to “double dip” and put some money away or pay some deft down.
So i say, why don’t we do this with unemployment compensation? It is a very similar concept, giving folks some survival income while they pursue a new job. The problem is when they get the job their “severance pay” stops so they can’t double dip.
Many may even have had job offers but like the severance folks are holding out for a better paying job. I wonder if they could have both the pay from a new job, even if it less than the former, if they would take the job and use the unemployment compensation to subsidize the difference and use the cash to improve their balance sheets and debt load?
Some argue that unemployment pay doesn’t provide the incentive to get started in a new job, which may be the choice many have to eventually make. The government financial situation is not in a position to make these payments either, many of us think we need to cut back on spending.
So, why not pay unemployment to folks for a fixed period of time regardless whether they get a job? That would be consistent with severance pay and serve the same purpose. Would people take that “start over job” if they had a subsidy? Would they get their foot in the door to promotion opportunities in the new job that eventually may put them back where they were?
I don’t know, but government would save money and people could possibly make more money. Sounds like a win/win to me!.
Posted in General | Tagged contacts, entitlement, financial prosperity, government spending, jobs, life priorities, make a living, prosperity, relationships, social injustice, survival |
By Rob Severson on January 13, 2012
Turnaround guys
I think much of the flak about Bain Capital is not deserved. This group and others may be considered predatory or corporate raiders and some may very well be that. I don’t know enough about Bain to comment, but do know a lot about the turnaround business. I have financed many turnarounds, some with investors, most without; few want to invest in problems. It is a tough business and tough decisions must be made to bring businesses back to profitability. I for one would have a hard time making these decisions; that is why I am not in the business! Many are on a path to bankruptcy because current management also didn’t make those decisions. Some of the questions turnaround guys deal with are:
• Does business have ability to survive given its product line and market for its products
• Will capital help? Throwing good money after bad just delays the inevitable and jobs would be lost anyway
• No matter the outcome, it is better to try than let it die as it is doing. Investing in these businesses is high risk, I am glad there are folks who will do it.
• Sometimes laying off a few saves jobs for many. Tough to do but best for the common good
• If company goes broke everyone loses their jobs • Only government thinks they have endless capital; everyone else has to work to preserve it for future investments that create jobs
As an example, the US could have put more money into Solyndra to save jobs too. But they made the decision that the business couldn’t survive even with more money so they cut off the cash. Maybe rightly so!
I think our government needs to make some tough decisions about debt and spending that are not being made. I am glad there is a turnaround guy in the race and that some of the others understand the need to turn around the government as well.
Posted in General | Tagged Bain Capital, business finance, job losses, jobs, money priorities, prosperity |
By Rob Severson on January 12, 2012
Okay, there are other ways to make decisions too, but I like the decision matrix. I learned this technique 35 years ago and have used it frequently over the year for many decisions. I like it because it gives me a quantitative bases to clarify my thinking.
I have here an example of how i made the decision to buy my Volvo from lease rather than buying or leasing a new one. To do this I set out my objectives for what i wanted to accomplish and gave each a weight of importance to me. Then on the top of the matrix i listed the alternatives i was considering, buy my current car our of lease or buy a new one. Then i evaluated each alternative giving it a value for how it accomplishes my objectives and multiplied the value by the objective weight to get a total for each. By summing the result i had an idea of what met my objectives best.
This is just the basis for starting the decision process. I could play with my model changing the objective weights and would get a different result. The value of meeting the goal is pretty fixed for the alternatives, so the real determinant is my objectives.
In this example i decided to buy my current car, mostly for total cost, it and it was available. I didn’t want to order one and I also wanted to keep the fire engine red Volvo i have!
Hope this helps someone!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
A |
B |
A X B |
C |
A X C |
|
| GOALS |
WEIGHT |
KEEP |
KEEP |
NEW |
NEW |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| DEPENDABILITY |
5 |
5 |
25 |
5 |
25 |
|
| COST |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| PAYMENT |
4 |
5 |
20 |
3 |
12 |
|
| TOTAL |
5 |
5 |
25 |
2 |
10 |
|
| COLOR |
5 |
5 |
25 |
2 |
10 |
|
| ACCESSORIES |
5 |
3 |
15 |
5 |
25 |
* |
| MAINTENANCE |
5 |
3 |
15 |
5 |
25 |
|
| AVAILABILITY |
5 |
5 |
25 |
2 |
10 |
* |
| OWN VS LEASE |
5 |
5 |
25 |
3 |
15 |
* |
|
5 |
|
|
|
|
|
| TOTAL POINTS |
|
|
175 |
|
132 |
|
Posted in General | Tagged banking, debt ceiling, decision making, finance, financial prosperity, life priorities, make a living, money priorities, personal finance, prosperity |
By Rob Severson on January 8, 2012
That may seem like an odd opinion from a conservative. I recognize the constitutional issues and it may not come to pass, but why do I feel this way?
First, many people would not buy it unless their employer provided it. I don’t know about other states but do know that in Minnesota that it is available to everyone. If one can’t afford it the state has a plan that should be affordable, even almost free.
Second, it is a matter of personal responsibility that they have it. If they don’t, the public assumes the responsibility when they have a health problem.
Third, I consider it more as a liability insurance as they are liable to the public for care if they don’t have insurance. The alternative of not treating them would be very much unlike our caring people.
Ideally people would see the need for health insurance and buy it, but some don’t seem to value being self reliant. Some try to buy it after they are ill, but that is like buying house insurance after your house burns down. Insurance and some other things fall into the category of not being “fun” expenditures and fall our of priorities.
I generally don’t like laws that protect us from our own stupidity. My preference would be to teach people how to take care of themselves, but i don’t think that is going to happen. So if we are going to be a nanny we should force the “kids” to do their part!
Posted in General | Tagged careers, financial prosperity, life priorities, make a living, mndatory heath insurance, money priorities, personal finance, social injustice, survival, taxpayers |
By Rob Severson on January 4, 2012
I met Tyler Zey on the Luther group on Linkedin. He is a remarkable young man who has already started an internet busineess and some blogs. I admire his ambition and entrepreneurship!
Check out his site: ChangeJars.com
Here is his review of my book:
Rob Severson’s “Connecting Peace, Prosperity, and Purpose” is a neatly formed autobiography that covers many of the issues we at ChangeJars are passionate about. A former Luther College student, Rob has lived a life full of change. His professional life made him questions values in a way that defines a person. His book and life story sketch out the kernels of truth that he found throughout this journey. These truth touch on topics like control, relationships, and most importantly the purpose of living. The essence of this book is a flowing self-narrative that captures audiences with sound values. All this is done while carefully avoiding coming off as a sermon.
Rob’s book is honest and more importantly is dedicated to describing a way of living that focuses on other’s rather than self-fulfillment. Laced between the lines of grave reflection about alcohol addiction and major job losses are light lines of humor.
“I have heard that drinking alone is comparable to wetting our pants in a blue suit. At first, we feel warm inside, but no one notices it. Then it starts to smell and makes us uncomfortable, and maybe crabby. Hate and resentments are the same way except you do not feel warm inside—just angry.”
Rob’s story reflects the possibility of change. Change is a catalyst for great things. And this read offers many suggestions about how to make change in life and the lives of others. To find the book follow the links below.
We are proud to welcome Rob to the ChangeJar Community.
-Tyler Zey
Posted in General | Tagged christian books, connecting peace purpose & prosperity, financial prosperity, jobs, life priorities, make a living, money priorities, personal finance, prosperity, relationships, social injustice, success |
By Rob Severson on December 16, 2011
Well that sure sounds good doesn’t it? It just makes sense that we should all own a home!
I for one disagree! I think there is so much more to home ownership than just getting the mortgage and moving in. even though one may qualify for the loan there are other things to consider that I think are missed.
Here are just a few:
• If you are you relying on two incomes to support the payment are you prepared if you lose one of them?
• What is your life style? Do you like to go out to eat, travel, buy lots of clothes, have expensive habits like smoking and drinking? Answers to these questions will help one decide how much payment they really want to have.
• Are you making it now? Have you analyzed your expenditures and found that you can handle the new payment you will have? It doesn’t make any difference how much you qualify for, it’s what you can afford personally.
• Are your credit cards maxed out now? Will your refinance them with a new mortgage? If so, what are you going to do differently going forward?
• Do you have enough income to set saving aside for surprises? I just had to replace my furnace for $4,000,had some trees cut down for $2,000, and over the years have had many other surprises. Fortunately I have some savings but if I didn’t I would be in a lot of trouble.
• Are you anticipating a move some time? Will your house be salable even in a good market?
These are just a few things to think about. I believe that many people got into houses the past 10 years mostly based on how much the lenders said they could afford. There is much more to the problem, but that is a lot of it.
Home ownership is a great thing for many people, I won’t argue that. But if you don’t do some planning it can be the highest stress purchase you will ever make
Posted in General | Tagged FANNIE MAE, finance, life priorities, loans, make a living, money priorities, prosperity, social injustice, success, survival, work |
By Rob Severson on December 15, 2011
I often hear about people who their jobs. Frankly I don’t understand this because I never hated a job. My jobs paid me so I could support my family, and if I did well in my job I got more opportunities. Some jobs may be dead end, I realize, but there are ways to deal with it other than being negative. Negativity gets us nowhere.
Here are a few ideas:
• Think of the many that don’t have jobs, it may make you more grateful for what you have.
• Remember why you are doing this job: to support yourself and family!
• Is your job only about you and self fulfillment? You may never find that in a job
• Is it your job you hate, or the work you are doing? Do you just hate work?
• Try excelling in your job; it may lead to promotions into something better or you may find it more interesting to do it well.
• With a good track record you may find another, better job
• Get to know your co-workers who have good attitudes. Stay away from the chronic complainers, they are contagious.
• By the way, your boss knows you hate your job. Who do you think would get laid off first if he had to do that? Who do you think he/she would promote?
• You are only hurting your self and losing your self respect and inner peace.
• And last… find something to laugh about every day!
Posted in General | Tagged attitude, careers, financial prosperity, job dissatisfaction, jobs, make a living, success, work |
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