Passive Income & Practicing What I Preach

You may have seen that during the 2020 slowdown in business activity I turned to old skill sets and created a t-shirt business.  Four, if you’re counting stores, product themes, or work I did for clients running other businesses.  Is that a departure from my financial services and education content?  Not by any stretch of…… Continue reading Passive Income & Practicing What I Preach

Assembling the Puzzle Pieces

Created with GIMP

What’s been going on with all this confusion, conflict, and corruption? Harvey Schlanger pulls the pieces together on the table in front of you.  What was in a pile dumped from an unassuming box, is fitted together in the single best explanation of coordinated efforts to overthrow the strongest nation on the face of the…… Continue reading Assembling the Puzzle Pieces

How to Prepare for Financial Crisis

What can be done to brace for a market crash? What did people need that they didn’t have in March of 2020? This is what individuals, households, businesses, and countries need to have but didn’t in the Spring of 2020: When the market lost 33% over the course of four weeks from February to March,…… Continue reading How to Prepare for Financial Crisis

Issues with Capitalism and Oligarchy

The video below is an excerpt from the Personal Financial Education series at https://www.davidpandone.com The series strives to present and prepare people on the topics of money, finances, and growing their wealth* which should be taught in school, but isn’t. Saved from the cutting room floor, excerpted here, and added as bonus content to the…… Continue reading Issues with Capitalism and Oligarchy

In Uncle Sam We Trust

Slowly but Certainly, Social Security Is Failing. I see this routinely as I assist clients in preparing for retirement and other financial goals.  This statement is directly from the Social Security Administration’s web page that assists people with estimating their expected benefits at retirement: “The law governing benefit amounts may change because, by 2034, the…… Continue reading In Uncle Sam We Trust

Saving should be predictable.

You don’t have to be a securities analyst or a day-trader and follow the market daily to grow your personal, family, or retirement savings.  Many people do this by allowing a fund manager, a market professional, to run the mutual funds within their 401(k) or IRA accounts.  What people don’t often see is the 4.5…… Continue reading Saving should be predictable.

Your Stored Work Energy

In our culture, people tend to expand their lifestyle up to the limit of their cash flow.  Whether abundant or more humble, more money usually means nicer homes, newer cars, and more expenses.  Discretionary income is your financial power, your “stored work energy” that you decide not to spend before you even have it.  Someone…… Continue reading Your Stored Work Energy

The Banks’ Game

After the Dot-com-bubble from 2000-2003 decreased market values by nearly 50% sending hundreds of thousands of retirees back into the workforce, the banking industry systemically lowered mortgage qualification standards and drew more artificial value into the markets creating a housing bubble.  They washed their hands of the mess and sold these mortgages as bundles of…… Continue reading The Banks’ Game

What if…

What if falling-market-loss could be replaced by a guaranteed floor that prevents market loss against your account?  What if there were no taxes or penalties for using your wealth before 59-1/2?*  What if your 401(k)-rollover earned you up to a 10% bonus in your account at implementation and both capital and bonus earned future returns? …… Continue reading What if…

Testimonial Videos Premiere!

Testimonial Video Slide

I have been wanting to include some of my best clients in video testimonials for prospective clients and for new clients to review and also share.  When you find something good, something exceptional, it’s natural to want to share it with people close to you whom you care about. Each of the instructional videos I…… Continue reading Testimonial Videos Premiere!

Motive, and Opportunity…

Yes, the market’s numbers have been higher and setting records, but why? Many companies have borrowed money at near zero interest rates and are buying back their own stock. This reduces the amount of profit paid out to shareholders, and with the company buying more (generally not caring what share prices are paid), the demand…… Continue reading Motive, and Opportunity…

Which Straw? Which Camel?

More and more I find the old axiom true: its not what happens, but how you react to events, or are prepared for them, that matters. In 2008 a bursting real estate #bubble was one key event in bringing down market values in the financial sector and therefore the entire #market. While scores of mortgages…… Continue reading Which Straw? Which Camel?

“A False Sense of Security” – Jim Rickards

Jim Rickards

As I speak with prospects, clients, and participate in chats and conversation, I find that people are having three main issues indirectly related to their financial well-being: 1) Work and family keeps them busy so they have difficulty keeping up with information that can help them. 2) Most don’t have a good source of information:…… Continue reading “A False Sense of Security” – Jim Rickards

Mutual Funds & Retirement: Strange Bedfellows

Sailing with headwinds and threatening skies.

When you dig deeply enough to understand how financial vehicles work, it’s easy to see their benefits and short-comings.  In my educated opinion, it isn’t hard to see just how short mutual funds can fall when used to grow your retirement, family, or personal wealth.  Abysmally short, in fact, when applied within the “qualified” 401(k),…… Continue reading Mutual Funds & Retirement: Strange Bedfellows

The Thinly Veiled “Hedonic” Economy

As both mainstream media news, not-so-mainstream media news, and even our current administration tout the “strength” of our present economy, we must remember that they are measuring in units that are and have been a moving target of value.  Even President Trump, who called out the misleading statistics published by the US Government as “Candidate…… Continue reading The Thinly Veiled “Hedonic” Economy

Time will tell… But don’t wait that long!

Although it’s my birthday today, I’m building a business and working on marketing that will attract new clients, so I don’t see that I’ll be taking much time to “celebrate”. I meet with friends regularly, and even had coffee with a friend planned this morning, but that got moved. In my opinion, true friendships aren’t…… Continue reading Time will tell… But don’t wait that long!

Over 60% Polled Not Comfortable with Retirement Plans

The Problems: Many people of working age are not comfortable with how their financial plans for retirement are advancing.  A link to the article that spurred my own reflection on the topic appears at the end of the article.  What follows are comments from my own perspective gleaned from working with clients on such plans…… Continue reading Over 60% Polled Not Comfortable with Retirement Plans

“Those Who Don’t Learn From History…”

… are doomed to repeat it.”  That’s how the axiom goes.  Well doesn’t this sound frighteningly familiar. Back in the early 2000’s, as a strategy to “beef up” the economy, the Federal Reserve banking cartel continued flooding the economy with easy money in a move they called “quantitative easing”, or QE2.  They had done it…… Continue reading “Those Who Don’t Learn From History…”

The Crypto-Currency, Gold Connection

Even with all the crypto-currency hype, nearly everyone was shocked at the 1,270.5% gains of crypto-currency flagship Bitcoin in the last year.  Even more shocking, the distributive ledger technology that allows it to work is already outdated! If Moore’s law, an observation coined in 1965, that estimates the exponential advancement of technology as “the number…… Continue reading The Crypto-Currency, Gold Connection

Retirement Expectations “Crumbling”

While many people don’t take the time to actively consider their retirement plans amid the constant press of their daily activities and schedule, it’s been suggested that such consideration today is not just important, but immanent!  It’s no surprise that the pressures of the economic times in recent history have been felt by more and…… Continue reading Retirement Expectations “Crumbling”

Seasoned Professional, 10 Years to Retirement

This engineering professional had accumulated a good-sized 401(k) with a large public firm and had a desire to remove as much of his accumulated retirement wealth from the risk of any Wall Street market exposure as possible.  The description on his account statement that he was “100% vested” lead him to believe that he was…… Continue reading Seasoned Professional, 10 Years to Retirement

Business Entrepreneur’s Education / Retirement Fund for Daughter

A business entrepreneur with a young, pre-teen daughter wanted to set up an account usable for college funding.  While a 529 account might come to mind, once funds are placed into a 529 account the government stipulates, in return for tax-deferred status, the purposes to which both the capital and the gains can be applied. …… Continue reading Business Entrepreneur’s Education / Retirement Fund for Daughter

Grandfather with 5 Grandchildren, Age 85

A grandfather of five grandchildren and one great-grandchild inquired if I could assist him in setting up a wealth-transfer to his several grandchildren.  “I have money in my bank account that I’m not using, am not likely to use, and am earning next to no return on!”, he stated, opening the discussion. “I want to…… Continue reading Grandfather with 5 Grandchildren, Age 85

2018’s Current Unseen Crisis

Embedded below are three of the best interviews that I have heard lately that sum up the extent and magnitude of the economic situation that we are currently in worldwide.  In addition, I’ve added some of my own comments and perspective to try to bring those who aren’t at all familiar with the topic up…… Continue reading 2018’s Current Unseen Crisis

Young Single Professional Woman, age 26

The account with which we matched this young professional woman provided the ability to leverage a large sum of tax-free money available to her while allowing her to build wealth away from the market downturn exposure of Wall Street and at much better rates than those available from the banking industry.    Both capital and…… Continue reading Young Single Professional Woman, age 26

The Game You Write Your Own Rules For…

Empowered to do what you’d like to do and to be who you’d like to be.  All too often these days people, organizations, and ‘authorities’ are making all too many decisions ‘for your own good’.  If you’d like to retain or recover more of the ability to make your decisions based on your own values,…… Continue reading The Game You Write Your Own Rules For…

Oh, Not So, Mr. Ramsey!

I agree with many things that Dave Ramsey says, this is one of those rare, yet glaring exceptions. On a Facebook Meme this morning, Dave Ramsey issued, “Debt is dumb.  Cash is king.”  Without further explanation, I must take an exception to this blanket statement.    “Debt is dumb.” If you’re both broke and in-debt…… Continue reading Oh, Not So, Mr. Ramsey!

USAA and Fox’s Sean Hannity

USAA recently pulled its advertising from the Sean Hannity show on FOX’s news network due to the political content and thousands of clients are dropping their accounts! While it’s a good thing to recognize market extortion when you see it, and even more impressive to take a stand and react to it actively, many people…… Continue reading USAA and Fox’s Sean Hannity

Numismatic Coins vs. Precious Metals

Numismatic coins, valued for their rarity, beauty, and the perceived value of those that seek them, do not equate to the security of bullion; pure precious metals like gold, platinum, and silver. Precious metals all have more than one function, the first being as an instrument in trade as ‘money’.  Metals have specific characteristics that…… Continue reading Numismatic Coins vs. Precious Metals

Dancing Under the Bubble Machine

On Tues., May 16, 2017 Michael Maloney released an important update to his subscribers detailing why current conditions indicate a coming market crash. He reviews market values, P/E ratios, margin amounts and other factors that indicate instability and a likely timeline for the impending event. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w0Oz2R0u4VM

Why I Teach:

The feeling you get when you see ‘the light go on’ is so common a phrase it’s almost trite, however, that phenomenon, the light going on, is not at all trivial. It’s difficult to express the personal satisfaction and sense of accomplishment that you feel when you realize that you may have just changed someone’s…… Continue reading Why I Teach:

News Update: 170427

Releasing Friday April 28 and entitled Guilt-Free Spending, Part 1, the next article deals with ‘buyer’s remorse’ and the guilt some people experience when spending their own money. It’s not an uncommon phenomenon!

Simple, But Easy?

Set your sights on the far horizon, you're going places!

I can relate to hesitation about a belief in financial success. When I was younger I chose two careers that interested me greatly, but didn’t pay particularly well; music and photography. I enjoyed them both, and I was good enough at each to scratch a living from them, but financial success or excess was not…… Continue reading Simple, But Easy?