Someone once said passing on things of value with a warm hand is better than a cold one... I've been guided by that now over the years and more so now that I've been diagnosed with stage 4 prostate cancer. I feel good that my daughters who are now both professionals, will make good decisions, and frankly any financial wisdom I have was earned the hard way, by making bone headed mistakes, which I'm sure they will too. Cheers.
Why are you looking everyday?? That would stress me out...I look once a month maybe, or if a really up day just for grins, never on a really down day (in the market). I also never balance my checkbook, at least since my banker dad made me do it all the time. And I've never ever bounced a check. He would come back from the grave and spank me. Cheers!
Dick, what I have learned over the years is people don't like it when you call their baby ugly, even if it is true. My CEO told me I couldn't be promoted because I had "rough edges". What he really meant is I told people the truth, without sugar coating it. But as the company lawyer, my job was not to make folks feel good about their stupid decisions that got us into lawsuits. I'll stop there. thanks!
Great article and great for everyone to think about both ways, you living alone or your spouse. I didn't really pay attention to these issues, but now at 65 I've got aggressive prostate cancer that has spread to my lymph nodes and my spine. So I've been thinking a lot about how to get my wife ready to make all decisions on her own. She is very intelligent and I have no doubt can figure most things out, but I've done all the investing and she has shown no interest. She great with the bills and budgets but I worry she hasn't a clue how to not get swindled by the sharks in the investment world. for that reason I've kept a younger advisor who I trust but I didn't really need. Hopefully it will work out.
I was booted out when the my boss retired and the CEO told me I had too many rough edges to take his job whatever that means. I did get a nice severance package. So, I decided to take a year off. Made absolutely no commitments to do or go anywhere I didn't want to do or go. The year flew by. I did lots of projects around the house at my slow pace. The second year I started looking for something productive to do and started sub teaching (babysitting) at a private school. Loved it. Found an old guy coffee group. Read lots of books and went on several big trips out west. Now I just found out I have aggressive prostate cancer. Bummer. Glad I didn't plan too far ahead. I have a great wife who still works but may have to take time off to nurse me. The moral of the story is don't get to deed in the weeds planning every detail of retirement, cause life might throw you a curve ball. Good luck! and Enjoy the time you have!
Thanks Dick you just answered my question of why so many folks are moving to my neighborhood, upstate SC. My property tax is approximately 6K a year for 4 acres and a 4K sq house. I don't begrudge folks moving but they are destroying the very thing they are trying to find. Our infrastructure was not built to accommodate the thousands of new houses going up on former farms and fields and clear cut forests. Traffic has become a nightmare. The houses they are buying are cheaply built, real real cheap.
Comments
Someone once said passing on things of value with a warm hand is better than a cold one... I've been guided by that now over the years and more so now that I've been diagnosed with stage 4 prostate cancer. I feel good that my daughters who are now both professionals, will make good decisions, and frankly any financial wisdom I have was earned the hard way, by making bone headed mistakes, which I'm sure they will too. Cheers.
Post: Letting Go
Link to comment from July 28, 2025
So taking the money sooner, to invest longer is better??
Post: Help! Why is the total lifetime accumulated Social Security benefit more important than the monthly amount?
Link to comment from July 28, 2025
The most understandable commentary on SSI I've read! thanks!
Post: Help! Why is the total lifetime accumulated Social Security benefit more important than the monthly amount?
Link to comment from July 28, 2025
As a retired labor lawyer, we would have gotten along very well. Never understood why some clients wanted to pick fights over silly stupid stuff.
Post: Quinn asks, is there anything wrong with keeping it simple?
Link to comment from July 5, 2025
Why are you looking everyday?? That would stress me out...I look once a month maybe, or if a really up day just for grins, never on a really down day (in the market). I also never balance my checkbook, at least since my banker dad made me do it all the time. And I've never ever bounced a check. He would come back from the grave and spank me. Cheers!
Post: Quinn asks, is there anything wrong with keeping it simple?
Link to comment from July 5, 2025
Dick, what I have learned over the years is people don't like it when you call their baby ugly, even if it is true. My CEO told me I couldn't be promoted because I had "rough edges". What he really meant is I told people the truth, without sugar coating it. But as the company lawyer, my job was not to make folks feel good about their stupid decisions that got us into lawsuits. I'll stop there. thanks!
Post: Ninety Nine, I mean Eight Retirement Tips
Link to comment from June 28, 2025
ask your plumber about tide pods, or any pods....just fyi
Post: Ninety Nine, I mean Eight Retirement Tips
Link to comment from June 28, 2025
Great article and great for everyone to think about both ways, you living alone or your spouse. I didn't really pay attention to these issues, but now at 65 I've got aggressive prostate cancer that has spread to my lymph nodes and my spine. So I've been thinking a lot about how to get my wife ready to make all decisions on her own. She is very intelligent and I have no doubt can figure most things out, but I've done all the investing and she has shown no interest. She great with the bills and budgets but I worry she hasn't a clue how to not get swindled by the sharks in the investment world. for that reason I've kept a younger advisor who I trust but I didn't really need. Hopefully it will work out.
Post: Going It Alone
Link to comment from June 21, 2025
I was booted out when the my boss retired and the CEO told me I had too many rough edges to take his job whatever that means. I did get a nice severance package. So, I decided to take a year off. Made absolutely no commitments to do or go anywhere I didn't want to do or go. The year flew by. I did lots of projects around the house at my slow pace. The second year I started looking for something productive to do and started sub teaching (babysitting) at a private school. Loved it. Found an old guy coffee group. Read lots of books and went on several big trips out west. Now I just found out I have aggressive prostate cancer. Bummer. Glad I didn't plan too far ahead. I have a great wife who still works but may have to take time off to nurse me. The moral of the story is don't get to deed in the weeds planning every detail of retirement, cause life might throw you a curve ball. Good luck! and Enjoy the time you have!
Post: When the Spreadsheet Gets Real
Link to comment from June 11, 2025
Thanks Dick you just answered my question of why so many folks are moving to my neighborhood, upstate SC. My property tax is approximately 6K a year for 4 acres and a 4K sq house. I don't begrudge folks moving but they are destroying the very thing they are trying to find. Our infrastructure was not built to accommodate the thousands of new houses going up on former farms and fields and clear cut forests. Traffic has become a nightmare. The houses they are buying are cheaply built, real real cheap.
Post: When relocation in retirement is not an option, not what you really want. By Dick Quinn
Link to comment from June 10, 2025