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08 Nov 2013 The Weekend Reader

Posted at 16:44h in Blogs by Geoff Hall, CFP®

Welcome to the Beacon Weekend Reader: Our weekly compilation of interesting articles and videos designed to keep you informed and engaged in the areas of economics, personal finance and life. We hope you enjoy this week's edition. Please send us your thoughts on this week's articles and suggestions...

08 Nov 2013 Turbulence Ahead

Posted at 13:29h in The Friday Brief by Sam Bass Jr.

Reality is setting in once again for investors that the Federal Reserve can't keep funding the so-called recovery forever. Stocks sank yesterday due to stronger-than-expected domestic growth and the likelihood that European growth will soon improve spurred by a rate cut in that region yesterday.

01 Nov 2013 Why Do We Sacrifice the Best for the Good?

Posted at 13:57h in The Friday Brief by Sam Bass Jr.

Why is it so easy for us to put off doing the things we know would make life better only to continue doing the things that gratify us now? Even when we commit to long-term goals like diet, exercise, saving or planning, we marvel at how easily we are distracted by momentary temptations. The problem in a neurological nutshell is that we have a flaw built into our brains - we overvalue immediate gains at the expense of long-term opportunities or costs.

25 Oct 2013 The Weekend Reader

Posted at 16:42h in Blogs by Geoff Hall, CFP®

25 Oct 2013 Stocks and Treasuries Rise as Economy Slows

Posted at 14:24h in The Friday Brief by Sam Bass Jr.

Despite the disruption of a two-week shutdown and media warnings of impending financial doom if the debt ceiling was not raised, the stock market and the Treasury market have done surprisingly well. Both, of course, have more to do with continued government influence than with economic drivers.

18 Oct 2013 Fourth and $17 Trillion – Let’s Punt

Posted at 12:28h in The Friday Brief by Sam Bass Jr.

The barricades are down, the parks, monuments, and museums are open, the pandas are back on TV, licenses, passports, and IRS letters are being issued, and government workers can resume work and consuming. Headlines focus on the futility of the effort and disarray within the Republican Party, with some suggesting 'civil war.' Traditional backers from main street to Wall Street are furious with both the Tea Party and the leaders who allowed the derailment. And Democrats are doing their best not to gloat.

15 Oct 2013 Uneasy Times

Posted at 18:06h in The Friday Brief by Sam Bass Jr.

These are difficult times for Americans as we watch in disbelief our government's continued dysfunctionality in the face of impending crisis. The rising shrill of the media and political jabs only make matters worse. We wanted to share some facts we hope will assuage fears and put the current situation in a more realistic context.

11 Oct 2013 The Weekend Reader

Posted at 17:02h in Blogs by Geoff Hall, CFP®

11 Oct 2013 The People’s House – The House of Representatives

Posted at 11:01h in The Friday Brief by Sam Bass Jr.

The real tragedy facing America is not the latest debt ceiling debate, or government shutdown, or for that matter, whether the Fed decides to 'taper' or not. Rather, it is the lack of engagement by far too many Americans to understand things as basic as how our government works, how ill-suited our welfare system is for lifting people from poverty, and how unchecked growth in government entitlements will eventually swamp our economy. Given today's headlines, let's focus on the first one.