Insights

First Quarter 2007|Jim Williams| March 30, 2007 - The date that witnessed a remarkable convergence in the ethics landscape for providers of financial planning services.

Fourth Quarter 2006|Jim Williams| I recently came across an interesting article in The New Yorker magazine written by Malcolm Gladwell, the author of “The Tipping Point” and “Blink." A central point of Gladwell’s article is the distinction between puzzles and mysteries. So, what do we care whether Enron was a puzzle or a mystery? It has to do with what lessons might be learned. Mostly what seems to have been learned is based on the model of puzzle, not of a mystery. What else might we learn?

Third Quarter 2006|Jim Williams| Buried in the various arcane and esoteric provisions of tthe Pension Protection Act of 2006 is a provision that allows the exclusion of up to $100,000 of income for contribution of IRA assets to charity for contributions made in 2006 and 2007, provided the donor has reached age 70½ (and other requirements are met).

Second Quarter 2006|Jim Williams| I frequently find myself in conversations about young people and money. Usually a large component of the conversation deals with teaching responsibility with money and preparing young people to handle money appropriately and prudently.

First Quarter 2006|Jim Williams| What causes a trade deficit and why is it so scary? The general perspective is to look at the flow of goods and services, look at the balance/imbalance and then decide whether to start sounding the alarm. But this ignores the other part of the transaction, that is: the money. The money side of the trade deficit is U.S. dollars in the hands of foreigners.

Fourth Quarter 2005|Jim Williams| Identity theft continues to be a significant threat to financial peace of mind. High tech schemes continue to proliferate. Reduce these risks by the following: