Blog
The financial weight women carry — and rarely talk about
We just celbrated Mother's Day, and we just had Women's History Month a couple of months ago where we celebrated women's achievements. This is a different kind of message. I want to talk about something that doesn't get celebrated...
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Why it's so hard to sit still right now
Stocks dropped sharply as oil prices surged. Just as quickly, markets rebounded to new highs. When things move this quickly, it can start to feel uncomfortable. But often, that "urge" to act is an emotional response to the headlines...
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When Prices at the Pump Feel Like a Warning Sign
Have you felt this lately? You’ve probably noticed it at the pump. The price climbs a little higher than you expected. Then a little higher again. Gas has topped $6 a gallon. And it’s not just happening at the pump ...
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When the headlines won't sit still
The events we’ve seen in the Middle East the past month have real human consequences. For some, this may feel very close to home. At the same time, these events have shaken markets ...
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Energy, Geopolitics, and markets - A Historical Perspective
With geopolitics getting explosive in the middle east much of the market reaction comes down to energy. Roughly one quarter of the global oil supply runs throug the Middle East. History offers a helpful perpective on market behavior...
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Thoughts after a heavy week
Before we talk about markets or money, I want to say this first: Right now, there are thousands of American service members involved in military operations across the Persian Gulf. They all have families and friends....
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Common Blind Spots for High Earners
Success doesn’t simplify your financial life. It complicates it. Not because you’re doing anything wrong. But because complexity sneaks in just when things are supposed to feel easier. That is usually the moment when things stop working...
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One Economy. Two Experiences.
The stock market hits new highs. Luxury brands shatter earnings expectations. Delta airlines sells more premium seats than coach. And yet… Some people postpone medical care. Food bank lines stretch around city blocks. Car...
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Inflation cooled in September. What does that mean to you?
While economists warned that the next inflation report would signal surging prices and stall any hope of a rate cut, the numbers told a different story when they came in. The Fed reacted...
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The Government Shutdown and You
You've probably seen the headlines: the U.S. government has shut down again. It is the kind of story that dominates the news cycle, stirs up anxiety, and makes investors wonder, "Should I be doing something?" But here is the thing:...
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✂️ First rate cut of the year. Here's what to know.
The Federal Reserve just trimmed interest rates for the first time this year. It's only a quarter-point cut, but even a small adjustment hints that the Fed is taking a more cautious view of where the economy is heading. Hiring has...
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What the Fed's next move could mean for you
Borrowing costs. Savings. Investments. All three can be affected by one key player: the Federal Reserve. Their decisions about interest rates can ripple through the economy and into your everyday life. So, why does this matter? Let's...
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What the Fed sees…and why it matters
The Fed is sending up a flare: the economy may be softening. There are signals point to potential shifts in economic momentum that could affect interest rates, the markets, and your financial plan...
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The economy slows… but stocks soar
The economy is slowing… and investors are cheering? Sounds backward? Maybe not. It is happening in plain sight. Fewer “Help Wanted” signs. Friends delaying big purchases. You’re not imagining it. The data says the slowdown is real: 73...
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Picking stocks? The odds might not be in your favor
Here’s a stat that stops a lot of people in their tracks: Less than 4% of all U.S. stocks have been responsible for the market’s net gains going back nearly 100 years. Picking a long-term winners at random is like rolling a 25-sided die...
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New Tax Law: 7 Big Changes You Should Know About
This OBBBA (One Big Beautiful Bill Act) is controversial. Some people love it. Others don’t. Yet no matter how you feel about the politics behind it, what I want to break down in this blog is how it might affect you. Your taxes, savings...
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Geopolitics - Markets Are Reacting. Should You?
It’s all over the news. Footage of missiles lighting up Middle Eastern skies. Long lines of cars fleeing Tehran. Headlines warning of a broader war. It feels big. And it is. After a long anticipated Israeli strike on Iranian nuclear...
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Thoughts on the shifting housing market
After years of runaway growth, and just as the summer hit descends upon us, the housing market is cooling…like a pot taken off the flame. Still warm. Still active. But no longer boiling over...
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U.S. Credit Downgrade: What Savers and Investors Should Know
Last week Moody's downgraded the U.S. from Aaa to Aa1. Their concerns? Rising debt, persistent deficits, and a lack of political will to change course. As you might have guessed, that triggered a wave of scary headlines. Let's take a look..
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The GDP dipped...but not for the reason you think
Recession alarm bells are ringing…again. The latest GDP report shows the economy shrank by 0.3%. That kicked off a flood of doomscrolling, scary headlines, and panicked selling. But before we jump to conclusions, let’s dig in...
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Turbulent Markets? Stay Buckled In
After one of the sharpest market drops in history, it's only natural to feel uneasy right now. Over the past two weeks, you and otherinvestors have been navigating sharp swings in global markets, triggered by major tariff announcements ..
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This Isn't the First Crisis. It Won't Be the Last. And That's Okay.
If you’re feeling uneasy about things right now, you're not alone. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t anxious, too. Markets are volatile, headlines are unnerving, and the future feels uncertain. It’s a lot. And yet, when my mind starts to...
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Tariffs Trigger Market Slide. Here's Why We're Staying Strategic.
After Trump’s sweeping rollout of new tariffs, U.S. stocks had their worst single-day drop since the early pandemic on Thursday, April 3rd, and the drop continues today. At times like these are why we build ....
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Tariffs & Volatility
Markets have been on a roller coaster, and investors are asking: Is a bear market on the way? Let's dive into what's happening and what it might mean for your portfolio.....
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Feeling uneasy about the market? Read this
It’s been hard to miss the wave of attention-grabbing headlines lately. News cycles have been dominated by concerns over Big Tech’s earnings, trade tensions, and a potential economic slowdown in 2025. Even seasoned investors can feel...
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Supporting You Through the LA Wildfires
My heart goes out to all my fellow Los Angelinos coping with the threatening wildfires. Whether you are in Los Angeles or not, I’m sure your heart goes out to all those affected by the wildfires in Los Angeles. Perhaps you know someone...
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Tax & Policy - What's next?
The election is over, what will the new administration prioritize in the new year? The debt ceiling debate may reignite in early 2025. Will the Tax Cuts be extended beyond 2025? Will the bull market that is now 2 years old continue?
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Elections & market reactions
Should you change your investing strategy based on who wins? What do presidential elections mean for your investments? ...
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What do you know about interest rates?
Whenever you listen to financial experts, there's one topic that will almost always come up: interest rates. But what do interest rates have to do with you? It turns out, a whole lot. When you hear the term...
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Fear of Missing Out (FOMO)
When you see headlines like, “Nvidia becomes world’s most valuable company…”1 Or read that a few stocks are responsible for most of the market’s gains… Or see some newsletter bragging about a X,XXX% return on a single stock pick…
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Understanding Your Role and Responsibilities as a Power of Attorney
I wanted to provide you with some essential information regarding the role and responsibilities associated with being named a Power of Attorney (POA). This is a critical aspect of estate planning and can have significant implications...
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Summer Storms?
Are clouds gathering? Should investors be worried about a storm? While I'm not saying a selloff is going to happen—Let’s see some factors that may trigger a market selloff in the weeks or months ahead. Either way, be prepared...
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Inflation Relief
After months of simmering inflation reports, is inflation finally easing? Are prices stabilizing? Can we breathe a sigh of relief? Let's look inside the latest inflation report? Economists...
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Do you know your 401(k) options?
Between high contribution limits, tax advantages, and potential employer matching, a 401(k) can be a homerun for your retirement savings. But if you’ve moved on from your 401(k) employer or are planning a transition soon, do you feel...
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Zombie Recession fears
Is a zombie recession coming? (Renewed fears of a "hard landing" recession have emerged from the grave and are walking among us.)1 Many analysts were convinced that the U.S. economy could achieve a coveted “soft landing"...
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Why are markets volatile?
Markets have been very volatile lately. What’s going on? The bull market narrative has shifted. For months, investors have told a “Goldilocks” story of a strong economy, tamed inflation, and interest rates that were soon to drop. However,
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can stocks go higher?
The stock market rocketed to new record highs.1 Will markets continue to rise? Or take a dive after the recent record highs? What could the Baltimore bridge collapse mean for the economy? How about the Houthis blocking shipping...
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The Long Game: Integrating Health Practices into Financial Planning
There is a profound connection between long-term health and financial well-being
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Tragedy in Israel
I'm writing to offer some thoughts on the horrific situation unfolding in Israel. The devastating and barbaric terrorist attacks by Hamas have destroyed and profoundly affected thousands of lives. Let's take a moment to grieve ...
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Trouble with Debt ahead?
You might have heard that Fitch downgraded the U.S. government's credit rating in August. What does that mean for you? Should you be worried?
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Shutting out the noise
We're ever more inundated with information that's eager to capture our attention. We click because we want to stay up to speed and avoid missing out. The trouble is, the news is always changing. There's always a new headline or story to ...
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Is A Recession Still Coming??
A word about recessions. Are we still going to see one this year? Things are looking up. So why did so many people think a recession was coming?
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How's the Economy Doing? How about the Market?
Inflation continues its downward spiral. So how’s the economy doing? With the year more than half over and markets on a spree, it's an important question to consider. Let’s dig into the latest data and find out. The...
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Aging parents need more care?
Have you noticed Mom or Dad showing signs of decline? Are you worried about your elderly uncle living at home by himself? You're not alone. Many of us will find ourselves making care decisions for our parents or other beloved elders. It's..
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New Bull Market?
A new deal finally put the debt ceiling issue to rest (for now, anyway), and stocks are rallying.Are we on the brink of a new bull market?We might be. The S&P 500 has soared in 2023 and is up nearly 20% from its October 2022 low...
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Debt Ceiling Drama
Politicians are creating more drama than Hollywood over the federal debt ceiling. Let's recap what we know with some educated speculation about what could happen next.
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Full of Hot Air?
Imagine there are 100 miles between you and a goal. A place you want to get to.But the land in between is chock full of canyons, crevasses, and crumbling cliffs.You have two choices of how you could get there.You could find a way on...
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Layoff (save this post)
This post is here in case you ever need it. Hang on to it. Ideally, save it somewhere and forward it to the folks you love in case they ever need it. If you ever have to deal with a job loss, here are 10 things you should do:
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The Power of Language
"Language is very powerful. Language does not just describe reality. Language creates the reality it describes." This quote from Desmond Tutu got me thinking about how language guides our focus and impacts our reality...
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The Latest Social Security Predictions
Recently, you may have seen reports that the so-called “depletion date” for Social Security was adjusted. This refers to the predicted date when the long-running program will no longer be able to pay full benefits....
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Markets & Fed Moves
What’s going on in markets and the economy after the recent bank failures. Several banks have collapsed under the pressure of bad management, high interest rates, and a collapse of confidence from folks like you and me.
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Bank Failure Worries
Rising interest rates are hitting many banking portfolios hard and weaknesses are emerging. Should we be panicked about these bank failures? No. Here's why
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Go Live Your Life
Go make your dreams happen. Get out there and live your life despite the headlines. There are so many negative headlines and things to worry about in 2023. But the idea that the world will ever be less uncertain is an illusion.
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SECURE Act 2.0
The 4100 pages and 90 sections to SECURE (Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement) Act 2.0 bring changes that are numerous, complex, and will roll out over several years.
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Social Security 2023 COLA Increase Kicks In
While you probably already found your notice in the mail, you may be curious about the COLA increase happening for Social Security recipients in the New Year. Starting in January, beneficiaries will see an 8.7% increase to help offset...
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Celebrate Small Wins
When it seems like there's a flood of bad news and everything is unpredictable, I think it's important to highlight the bright spots when we see them. And here are the bright spots of the last week as I see them!
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What is Happening with CPI and Inflation?
Believe me, everyone on wants inflation to go away. Feeling anxious about the market selloff this week is normal, but it shouldn't drive your decisions. We're in challenging times, but we're going to get through them.
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Medicare and the Inflation Reduction Act
The new Inflation Reduction Act is a big enchilada of green energy spending, corporate taxes, and pretty major changes to Medicare. This could be a big deal to your pocketbook. Here are some Medicare changes you might want to know about.
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Recession? (Y/N)
Are we in a recession? Depends on who you ask. That's pretty confusing, right? So, does it ACTUALLY matter whether we’re “officially” in a recession or not?
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We're in bear country. What now?
Well, it happened. Stocks slid into bear market territory after a bad May inflation report showed that prices rose at the fastest pace since 1981. Should I be worried?
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Why it's going to be OK (hope inside)
The last few weeks (and months) of volatility have told us that we're sailing in stormy waters. This is a quick note to tell you that it's going to be OK. Keep in mind: the more we value things outside our control, the less control we have.
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That 70s economy
Markets gifted us with another burst of volatility and headlines are looking apocalyptic again. Some folks might think it's time to bail on markets for the summer, but I'll tell you why that thinking is a mistake. ...
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Another Wild Ride
Markets bucked and sold off again. Should we be worried? Not necessarily. These things happen pretty regularly, especially when headlines are negative. So, what should we do with all this noise?
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Recessions & Hidden Beauty
Stocks seem to be caught in a volatile pattern while some economists think a recession is on the horizon. So, what do we do with that information right now? (Plus a discussion of the hunt for beauty in the mundane.)
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Better or worse? (big question inside)
There's a global pandemic, inflation, atrocities in Ukraine and elsewhere. A fear arises that it's all getting worse, somehow. If you feel that way, you're not alone. A lot of people feel that way. Is the world getting worse or better?
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Is the Sky Falling (Again)?
There are almost too many things to be worried about right now. Let's get some perspective on the (many) headlines floating around. Are we in a bear market? What about inflation? Is another financial crisis looming? A recession?
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Welcome To Hard Times
Hard times are here. People are dying, running for their lives, and watching their homes go up in flames. Technology provides a front-row seat in real time. Energy prices are spiking, markets are melting. Oh yeah, there’s still a pandemic.
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Wild Ride?
Markets have been on a wild ride thus far in 2022. Cratered into correction territory, and then bouncing right back. Weird, right? Not really. This happens pretty regularly when investors get jittery. Let’s talk about what’s going on.
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Fact or Fiction
Markets are driven by numbers, right? Earnings, interest rates, future growth, etc. It's just math. Right? Or is it? But there's more to the story. There's the story itself. And often, the story and the numbers contradict each other.
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Welcome to 2022
Welcome to 2022! Are you hearing a lot of predictions? While predictions are an irresistible alternative for the vacuum of uncertainty “The function of economic forecasting is to make astrology look respectable.” John Kenneth Galbraith
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Prices going up in 2022?
President Biden just signed the bipartisan infrastructure deal. What does that mean for inflation, taxes, and the economy? Are you going to be driving across a new bridge or highway funded by the bill anytime soon?
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Labor Market Tumult - Gut check on your Job
How are you feeling about work these days? Are you taking stock of your life and thinking about moving on? (You're not alone.) Are you a boss struggling to fill roles and retain your people? (You're in good company.) America is going...
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Tax drama on Capitol Hill - the latest
Capitol Hill is producing more drama than Hollywood. We've got bold statements, ultimatums, cliff-hangers, and confusing sequels. We've even got folks paddling up to Senators' party boats to discuss tax reform. Let's recap what we know...
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Reflecting on Loss - We Remember 9/11
What were you doing on the morning of September 11th 2001? Can you picture it clearly? I was on a plane from New York to Los Angeles on the day before. I remember that there were thunderstorms in the area that evening, and we were...
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Taper Tantrum Part Deux
Are you making plans for fall or taking a step back to reassess? Kids are heading back to school, and there's a lot to weigh right now, so I'm curious to hear your thoughts. One big thing you may have heard about in the headlines is the...
Read MoreCOVID Rescue #3
So, the next (final?) round of stimulus was just signed into law by President Biden. Let’s dive in. The $1.9 trillion bill called the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 includes stimulus checks, child tax credits, jobless help,...
Read MoreWhat If Something Good Happens
For the past year, it has seemed (to me, anyway) that the stream of bad news has mainly been interrupted by worse news. Every week it seems we're confronted by death tolls, natural disasters, political shenanigans, business closures,...
Read MoreConquering Corona
This pandemic is relentless. It continues to take thousands of lives daily and disrupt the lives of millions more. But we are also relentless in our resistance. In the face of mounting casualties, we continue to move forward and...
Read MorePost-Election 2020
Whew... What a year this week has been. What a year this month has been. It's been a wild ride this last week, month and year! How are you handling the ride? Will you hit "reply" and let me know? Many of us have become addicted to...
Read MoreElection worries?
2020 has already had more twists and turns than an HBO series. And in last week's episode, the president contracted COVID. What's up for next week?? Many say that they saw it coming (after the fact of course). I did not see that coming...
Read MoreClimate Risk and your Portfolio
Need some distractions from your day? Scroll down to the bottom of this email. There's a baby jaguar. But first, let's talk about climate risk. No, I am not talking about "climate change" as the partisan political issue that divides us...
Read MoreCorona Fatigue
Aren’t you getting tired of this little bug that is too tiny to see but has nevertheless turned the whole world upside down? Aren’t you tired of being cooped up, scared and careful all the time? Corona Fatigue has made us...
Read MoreCorona Backstep
After months of lockdowns, we the people, were finally given the okay to restart our lives and livelihoods. Many eased into the world carefully while others went all out and partied. So here we are taking a few steps backwards as our...
Read MoreCOVID-19 - Reprieve from Lockdown
Our country, and the world, is slowly waking from the social and economic isolation imposed on us to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. While the Coronavirus is still with us we are moving forward to to recapture our lives, as we struggle...
Read MoreCorona - changing the future (and how to keep up)
Life has changed; how do we adapt without losing sight of what we want to achieve? As you've heard me say before, no one knows how the future will play out, but we should still look ahead and think through the consequences of what's...
Read MoreCorona Optimist
"The toilet paper had armed guards." "We celebrated birthdays and graduations over Zoom." "Our children and our pets were our officemates." One day, we'll look back on these strange days and tell stories about the COVID-19 pandemic of...
Read MoreCoping with Corona
There is a growing fatigue that I sense in our public and private discussion around the COVID pandemic. Do you feel it? The collective "treatment" imposed from the top, in the form of mandated social isolation and paralysis of economic...
Read MoreCorona Recovery Scenarios
Everyone you and I have ever met has been affected by the coronavirus. My neighbors in Agoura Hills, and friends and family in New York, Florida, Brazil, England, Germany, Italy, Australia and Israel. It's likely that every human on...
Read MoreCorona Mental
As the COVID pandemic continues to claim the lives of parents, grandparents, sons & daughters, we are finally seeing evidence that the sacrifices that we have been making are bearing fruit. The rate of serious illness, as measured by...
Read MoreCorona and the Crown
There have been an additional 500,000 confirmed cases worldwide since a week ago, for a total of 1.3 Million confirmed cases. About 350,000 in the USA alone with almost 9000 deaths (one third of which are in New York City). While that...
Read MoreCOVID Captivity
It has been and eventful week fraught with good news and bad. The bad new first. On the healthcare front: The total worldwide confirmed cases of COVID-19 are rapidly approaching 1 Million. As of today, there are over 777,000 confirmed...
Read MoreCorona Crisis
March 13, 2020 It looks like the world is in a bit of panic. Kids are getting an unexpected break from school. Some of the Ivy league universities have actually kicked the students out of the dorms, sending them back to their...
Read MoreCorona Conflict
March 23, 2020 The invisible viral scourge continues to make its presence felt more and more. It is difficult for most of us to fully comprehend the gravity of the harm that an unseen bug can impose on our health, and in turn how the...
Read MoreCorona Wars
March 17, 2020 What a change a weekend can make! Much of the world is staying home, and now that includes us here in Southern California. Our leaders are beginning to understand the potential seriousness of this pandemic and are taking...
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