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We are hearing a lot lately from clients who are concerned about the possible ill effects on the markets of a looming federal default. While I hate to see clients having an anxious time or losing sleep, a heightened level of contact tells me things: What we hear from clients generally echoes w...

What do they have in common? Nothing. It's what sets them apart that is worth noting. Zillow, a real estate site known for aggregating price and tax information on houses for sale, went public yesterday in yet another Tech Bubble 2.0 offering. Although the shares initially tripled (yes, tripled), t...

On July 12th a team of 12 BSC clients and employees participated in a fundraiser at Rochester Brooks Int'l Trap & Skeet Club. In this the 11th annual event, over 130 participants raised more than $45,000 to benefit the Seneca Waterways Council of the Boy Scouts of America. It was a great day to be o...

Stock markets can expect to see higher-than-normal volatility as investors worry about Eurozone economic problems and continued brinksmanship in Washington over US debt and spending issues, They can't manage our finances, but the Federal government can make trouble for successful businesses. Googl...

Those of us in our 40's or 50's start to think about and plan for retirement. Income from social security benefits is certainly a significant variable in the planning process. Until recently the Social Security Administration made an annual mailing of your benefits statement. This statement contai...

The Internet was still novel, if not new, and more people were getting on board daily. It was considered certain that massive profits would follow, even if there were few profits in evidence at the time. Wall Street was partying in 1999, raking in millions for technology firms issuing stock and for...

In my last post I speculated on the possibility that the Federal Government might default on its obligations. The media drumbeat about possible dire consequences has been getting louder by day. Here are two predictions: There will not be a default. If there is a default, the consequences wil...

You can't escape the daily stories in every news outlet: concern about the Federal Government's debt ceiling, which, if not increased by Congress, could lead the US to default on its obligations for the first time ever. The ramifications of a default are said to be catastrophic. So let's see: only t...

We have all seen our email inboxes peppered with spam mailings. Right now there is a high volume of "official" looking emails claiming to be from the IRS. One such email states that your electronic tax payment was rejected and needs to be re-submitted. The IRS never solicits tax payments via emai...

Sorry, No Jackpot Eastman Kodak's hoped-for billion dollar windfall didn't happen last night. Yesterday the US Int'l Trade Commission was set to rule on Kodak's patent claim against Apple and Research in Motion. In an ambiguous decision, the commission affirmed part and reversed another part of a...