“Ann, it's great to see you!” exclaimed Sally as she burst into my office for her annual review. Like many of my clients Sally enthusiastically gives me credit for the past year's financial markets performance. I first did Sally’s plan 9 years ago and she has been this effusive whenever we have our check-in meetings. Although I’d like to take personal credit for the financial markets performance since 2009, I usually spend the first 30 minutes of our time together explaining to her why I’m no genius.

“Mom, I’m setting up my tent outside,” announced my world-traveling millennial son shortly after arriving home for a short visit.  “Peter,” I said, perplexed, “I’ve kept your room in perfect condition—your TV, wifi, and air-conditioning are waiting for you!” “No thanks,” he replied, “The house is living too large for me, Mom, I’ve moved on to living small and I don’t want to go back.”

The World Cup is off to a great start. No sooner had I filled out my statistically based bracket, and the underdog Mexican team defeated the favored Germans. The revelry in Mexico allegedly set off a small earthquake! As you watch this exciting international contest this summer, keep in mind that the FIFA teams can teach us about more than just soccer.

The growing demand for more predictability and security planning for retirement income has led an increasing number of retirees and pre-retirees to look to annuities as way to provide more stability in their investment portfolios.

“Arghhhh,” I head from the basement as I puttered around my kitchen on Sunday morning.

“What about rising interest rates and the growing deficit?” asked Sue, a retiree, in a panicked tone of voice at a recent investment club meeting. “Isn’t anybody worried about these things?

“Does 1% really make any difference?” John asked. We were discussing John’s cash and emergency savings.

It stands to reason that, people who manage to get to the gym on a regular basis are generally healthier people.

The financial experts know a lot more about the markets and how the markets will perform in the future than the ordinary rest of us.  Right?

“You’re doing what?” inquired Tim incredulously. Tim and I were discussing college savings for his 10^th grade daughter, and he knew that I too was saving for college for my high school daughter and college son. “You heard me right the first time,” I said, “my 25-year-old is funding his siblings’ 529s.”

Unfortunately, Tim doesn’t have the same secret weapon that I have and so can’t take advantage of my strategy.