ARE WE HANDLING UNEMPLOYMENT COMPENSATION RIGHT?
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 [...]
I THINK PEOPLE SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO BUY HEATH INSURANCE!
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 [...]
HOME OWNERSHIP FOR EVERYONE?? IS THAT REALLY A GOOD THING?
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 [...]
SUCCESS STORIES, HOW SOME FIND A WAY TO MAKE IT!
Another success story! I was talking with a friend the other day about making a living. She has a son who is in North Dakota working in the oil fields. I don’t think he had any education beyond high school, but knows how to work and network. In high school he and his brother started [...]
SO YOU WANT TO BE A MIMIMALIST?
Some folks think really do believe in conservation and living a simple, minimalistic life style. I actually think they are on to something although it is may not be realistic for everyone. Here is a clip from a Luther College guy who definitely practices what he preaches. He lives in Decorah, Iowa which is a [...]
I HAVE A DREAM! YES, LOTS OF THEM!!
Yes, I dream a lot, hence the name for my blog: “I’ve been thinking” My articles are not based on lots of research, just my experiences in life and work. My hope is that someone will find it some day and find an idea that helps them n their career and life in general. One [...]
OTHER PEOPLE’S MONEY
From my 40 years in business finance I always marvel at how some seem to figure out how to do things on other people’s money. And how they find ways to avoid risking their own. I never worked with the mega deals and don’t claim to know much about them other than it takes a [...]
SOCIAL SECURITY, JUST ANOTHER ENTITLEMENT?
Most people my vintage believe that social security is not an entitlement, but a return on money we have invested over our working life. I know I want to believe that! However thinking about it I believe Congress believes it is an entitlement, just like welfare, unemployment compensation, and a host of others. As such, [...]
DOES REFINANCING UNDERWATER MORTGAGES REALLY SOLVE THE PROBLEM?
I have been reading about the mortgage deals Obama is proposing for folks whose home values are less than their mortgage balances. As I understand it, he wants to get lower rate financing for these folks that are current on their mortgages and would like a lower payment on their loans. I don’t understand how [...]
COLLEGE VALUE? IS THIS A PROBLEM FOR THE WALL STREET OCCUPIER YOUNG PEOPLE?
About 25 years ago I was interviewing a young woman for a position in auditing for out finance company. We usually hired about 3-5 auditors a year depending upon turnover. This job was our entry level position and we looked for accounting degrees, experience if they had it, and the ability to communicate among other [...]
