CONSUMER PRICES RISE 0.5% FOR JUNE Gas prices soared 6.3% last month, and they contributed greatly to the jump in the Consumer Price Index. Core inflation (minus food and energy prices) increased just 0.2% in June. As the headline CPI advanced only once during March-May, does this signal mounting inflation pressures? Maybe not. Looking deeper…

In a Yahoo feature titled “What Everyone Who Wants To Win the Lottery Should Know,” Katie Couric interviews Robert Pagliarini about how to manage the financial and psychological issues facing lottery winners. Here is a short preview: “Financial expert and President of Pacifica Wealth Advisors, Robert Pagliarini, works to help people that have come into…

What kind of financial loss would your business face without its key employees? They are worth more than their salaries – their performance, professionalism and character make your company what it is, and provide the stability and predictability you need to realize a profit. Because of this reality, wise businesses owners take a look at…

A couple of weeks ago I was flown to NY to be on the Katie Couric show. Katie invited me to be on her show to discuss the financial and psychological sudden wealth effects of winning the lottery. While there is no shortage of windfall to broke stories, with proper guidance and motivation, those who…

How do you know if your retirement is living up to its potential? There isn’t a standard definition of a successful retirement. (Maybe there should be, but there isn’t.) It is interesting to see how different people define it. Maybe income is the yardstick. Make that income replacement. A recent article in Financial Advisor Magazine put…

When the Supreme Court voted to repeal Section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) on June 26, it opened financial doors previously closed to same-sex couples. Unfortunately, not all of these doors may open in certain states. A major complication must be resolved: while the high court’s opinion stated a legal principle, it…

AMERICA ADDS 195,000 JOBS IN JUNE Payroll growth in June matched that of May, according to the Labor Department (the May gain was revised upward). The private sector hired 202,000 new workers after adding 207,000 in May, offsetting reductions to government payrolls. Economists polled by Bloomberg had forecast net job growth of 165,000, so this…

Does your company have 50 or more full-time employees? Then it will not be required to provide affordable health insurance for those workers next year. On July 2, the Obama administration announced it was postponing the start date of the employer mandate portion of the Affordable Care Act until January 1, 2015. If you own…

A gift to charity may prove to be a great financial favor to you. Some charitable gifting methods offer you notable tax advantages. Here’s a brief look at some popular options. Charitable remainder trusts (CRTs). These trusts can be useful estate planning tools. People with highly appreciated assets – such as stocks or real estate…

If you are coming into an inheritance, there are several issues you should be aware of. Here are some things you may want to keep in mind if it comes to pass: Take your time. If someone cared about you enough to leave you a sizable inheritance, then likely you will need time to grieve…