CFO Focus — How Can You Check Up on an Insurance Company?

HOW CAN YOU CHECK UP ON AN INSURANCE COMPANY?

Ways that life insurance and annuity owners can learn about risks.

Edited by J. Michael Stolp

Read this if you own an annuity or life insurance policy. Read this even if you don’t, because you need to know about the ways you can check up on an insurance company’s rating.

Have insurance companies been exempt from federal bailouts and rescues? No. These are rough times for insurers too. So how can you learn about any risks to a) your policy, b) your annuity, or c) the insurer behind it? And how can you identify the insurance companies that have weathered the recession well?

The Safe Money — Internet & ID Theft Scams Spiraling out of Control — ASSET PROTECTION UPDATE

The links below contains some good information about how ID thieves and criminal gangs are capitalizing on current economic conditions and confusion among consumers.

As you know, we have always advised our friends and clients to guard the assets of their identity and credit as carefully as their more tangible assets. These assets are more valuable than ever before, please take a moment to review these points.

CFO Commentary — Action, Reaction

Edited by J. Michael Stolp

Weekly Economic Update for the Week of February 23, 2009

Quote of the week. “You don’t live in a world all alone. Your brothers are here too.”– Albert Schweitzer

Action, reaction. The President signed a $787 billion stimulus package into law to help the broad economy. The White House and the Treasury unveiled a $275 billion strategy to aid homeowners. Still, Wall Street shrugged, concerned over the health of banks. It also reacted to the Federal Reserve’s 2009 projections: unemployment of 8.5-8.8% and economic contraction of 0.5-1.3%.¹ While stocks descended, some saw a great buying opportunity.

CFO Commentary — Monthly Economic Update for February, 2009

Edited by J. Michael Stolp. These views should not be construed as investment advice.

Monthly Economic Update for February, 2009

Quote of the month. “Freedom is a possession of inestimable value.”– Cicero

The month in brief. Optimism was evident in America … but not in its financial markets. Wall Street had a tough month, and investors hoped it was not an omen for the year. In Washington D.C., more bold solutions were proposed for lingering economic problems. In the retail, service and manufacturing sector, layoffs occurred again and again. Oil prices sank, and gold prices rose. Mortgage rates stayed comfortably around 5%. Investors hoped that hope would translate to action and confidence in the very near future – with the health of banks the biggest concern.

CFO Focus — America Fights Foreclosures

America Fights Foreclosures

Will Obama’s strategy make a dent in the problem?

Edited by J. Michael Stolp

A day after signing his massive stimulus plan into law, President Barack Obama unveiled a strategy to stem the tide of American foreclosures. Some borrowers and lenders cheered; some housing industry analysts were unimpressed.

When does it take effect? The program officially begins on March 4, when specific terms of homeowner eligibility become available.¹ The strategy has three parts.

CFO Focus — Obama’s Stimulus Plan

OBAMA’s STIMULUS PLAN

A look at where the money goes.

Edited by J. Michael Stolp

On February 17, President Obama signed the 1,071-page American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (H.R. 1) into law. Here are some of the routes the money will take.

>> $287 billion in tax breaks include…

CFO Focus — Bash the Banker?

Edited by J. Michael Stolp

BASH THE BANKER?

Is the berating of America’s banks really warranted?

Leading executives from America’s eight largest banks testified on Capitol Hill February 11, as Congress asked how they spent $165 billion in federal money. Legislators had four questions in mind:

1. Where did the money go?
2. Why aren’t you lending as much as we would like?
3. How challenged for capital are you?
4. Are you really going to be frugal?

CFO Focus — Are You a Future Financial Advisor?

ARE YOU A FUTURE FINANCIAL ADVISER?

Think seriously about exploring this terrific career.

Edited by J. Michael Stolp

It’s a great time to be a financial adviser. Repeat: It’s a great time to be a financial adviser. Even in a bear market, the financial services industry is calling to men and women from all walks of life – from recent college graduates in business and finance to retiring executives and managers.

If you’re in your forties or fifties, you may have thought once or twice about exploring another career. Maybe you could make more money doing this or that. Perhaps you are being forced to find another line of work due to the economy. Well, it might interest you to know that