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Tuesday, January 28, 2020

One of my favorite topics is Russian history. Specifically the Romanovs, but really anything Russian. So when I happened across the book Bankers and Bolsheviks by Hasan Malik I was intrigued by the melding of two of my interests:...

 

Thursday, January 9, 2020

What is currency manipulation? The term is bandied about so frequently and yet it is often unclear what it means. Part of the reason for that is that there is no perfectly agreed upon definition. It is also important to note that this...

 

Friday, December 13, 2019

Why has global growth slowed? And in turn, why will we likely not see the outsized returns of the past few years continue? Global growth slowed to the lowest rate since the 2007 financial crisis in 2019, and the International Monetary...

 

Thursday, July 18, 2019

Make or buy decisions most often come about in the context of manufacturing; is it cheaper (without quality compromises, etc.) to manufacture a given component or to buy it externally. A similar question recently arose in the context...

 

Monday, November 19, 2018

With the return of more “normal” market volatility, everyone wants to know what will happen next. And while no one can say for sure, over the years folks have come up with some amusing if unreliable predictors. While these...

 

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Monday, November 12, 2018

During World War Two it became apparent to the Allied nations that global economics had been one of many precipitating factors for the war. During the interwar years, there was a wave of economic nationalism. This manifested itself in...

 

Wednesday, June 20, 2018

Interest rates are rising, what impact will that have on the bonds or bond funds in my portfolio? It is a common question, and one that is being asked frequently as we look towards a year with two rate hikes already in force and the...

 

Wednesday, June 13, 2018

Over the course of the history of the United States, and what would become the United States, some incredible land deals have taken place on the continent. Here are four of the most impressive. The Purchase of Manhattan Island 1626 The...

 

Thursday, June 7, 2018

Many pet owners are familiar with the surprise costly vet bill. The first such vet bill I was solely responsible for came when I was not very far out of college. I had recently adopted my cat Minnie and after her first trip to the vet...

 

Wednesday, April 25, 2018

After the introduction of the tulip to Europe from the Ottoman Empire, trade in the plant’s bulbs became what was essentially one of the first speculative bubbles. Europeans were fascinated with the flower that differed from any...

 

Wednesday, April 18, 2018

Have you ever purchased something and later wondered why on earth you brought it home with you? You’re not alone. Such is how George Washington University ended up with its beloved second mascot. In 1996, then University...

 

Thursday, February 22, 2018

For anyone who has ever read Jane Austen, or novels of the same period, and wondered exactly the source of someone like Mr. Darcy’s income, you are not alone. It is hard to determine at what this character, or others in similar...

 

Monday, February 12, 2018

The sticker shock of sending roses for Valentine’s Day can be a doozey. Yet, few consider the supply chain factors that all add up to create these higher costs. Starting with the growers, special steps are taken with flowers...

 

Tuesday, January 16, 2018

Responsibly paying off debts is the generally perceived honorable thing to do, and at times it can have far reaching, and unintended consequences. In the 1929 stock market crash, Asheville was hard hit. Some calculate that it...

 

Wednesday, December 27, 2017

George Washington is generally thought to have been the richest American president, with an estimated net worth of $525 million, in 2016’s dollars. In 1789, his salary was 2% of the U.S. budget and he owned over 50,000 acres of...

 

Tuesday, December 19, 2017

There are radiating impacts associated with any public policy project, or public works initiative. Some are good and some are bad, but the ability to assess these is essential. Being able to financially quantify such projects is...

 

Wednesday, December 13, 2017

Assisting aging parents can present many hurdles. Healthcare, housing, finances, and simply the fact that the power dynamic between parent, and child is changing can lead to a myriad of struggles. When it comes to helping parents with...

 

Wednesday, December 13, 2017

Are you watching the estimated mutual fund distributions between now and the end of the year? If you’re wondering what we’re talking about, this post is for you. Sometimes funds have gains or income that have built up...

 

Tuesday, August 22, 2017

Women have a myriad of hindrances to achieving and maintaining earnings parity with men. This in turn impacts their ability to save for retirement at the same pace as their male counterparts. What accounts for these differences?...

 

Thursday, August 17, 2017

It’s almost that spooky time of year again! Halloween is such an exciting holiday, and both children and adults can dress up and have fun. It can easily, however, give you a budget scare. Here are just a few tips for enjoying...

 

Sunday, August 13, 2017

I know, I know. You probably hate the word budget, much less the actual act of budgeting. It sounds boring and time-consuming, but it doesn’t have to be horrible. Here are a few tips to help you get your budget under control....

 

Wednesday, August 9, 2017

You are here Home Blogs Deemed Filing: What You Should Know Submitted by Wells Financial Management, LLC. on August 9th, 2017 The Social Security program generally allows a person to take part of their spouse’s Social Security...

 

Tuesday, August 1, 2017

For the majority of people, their thirties are when they get a little bit more stable in their career, and many start a family. However, children, combined with generally higher incomes, can provide more challenges for finances. Here...