HOW OPTIMISTIC ARE CONSUMERS? No firm conclusion can be drawn from May’s major consumer economic polls. The Conference Board’s consumer confidence index rose 1.3 points to 83.0. That was its second-best reading in the past six years. The University of Michigan’s final May consumer sentiment index dipped to 81.9 from April’s reading of 84.1. Fresh…

TOD & JTWROS…what do these obscure acronyms signify? They are shorthand for transfer on death and joint tenancy with right of ownership – two designations that permit the automatic transfer of bank or investment accounts from a deceased spouse to a surviving spouse. This automatic transfer of assets reflects a legal tenet called the right…

How will Wall Street fare if interest rates climb back to historic norms? Rising interest rates could certainly impact investments, the real estate market and the overall economy – but their influence might not be as negative as some perceive. Why are rates rising? You can cite three factors. The Federal Reserve is gradually reducing…

Robert Pagliarini was quoted in a New York Times column by John Tierney titled “How to Win the Lottery (Happily)“. Here is an excerpt: If you have won the lottery, or if you plan to do so, please keep reading this column. The information is vital not just to your happiness but also to the…

How would you like a guardian angel watching over your investments? Impossible you say? Many sophisticated investors who have their assets in a trust are using something called a “trust protector” to look over the activities in the trust and to protect the beneficiaries. A trust protector is something (and someone) you can describe in…

My interview with Divorce Corp documentary director Joe Sorge on the idea of requiring financial disclosure of assets and liabilities BEFORE marriage: https://soundcloud.com/sudden-wealth-radio/divorce-corp-the-business-of-divorce#t=44:28 ROBERT PAGLIARINI: One of the things I’ve been thinking about for some time is essentially forcing every soon-to-be-married couple to have a prenup. When people think of prenuptial agreements, they often think…

IS THE PRODUCER PRICE INDEX SENDING A MESSAGE? Wholesale prices climbed 0.6% in April according to Labor Department data. That tripled the increase projected by economists polled by MarketWatch, and it took the annual advance in the PPI to 2.1%, a two-year peak. The PPI also pushed north 0.5% in March, so higher consumer prices…

Have you created a company that someone will want to buy? Your children won’t necessarily want to take over your business, so an exit strategy is essential to getting the outcome you want. You must prepare your firm for the transition – and you must be prepared as well. When should the planning begin? Think…