Serious Medicine Strategy: Cancer Death Rates Fall–Serious Medicine Works!

Serious Medicine Strategy: Cancer Death Rates Fall–Serious Medicine Works!.

CFO Focus — Medical Analysis By Milton Friedman

Medical Analysis By Milton Friedman
by Peter Robinson, 06.19.09, 12:01 AM EDT

Insights of old should inform health care today.

President Obama, the press, all the Democrats and a fair number of the Republicans in Congress share the same assumption about health care. Whatever you believe should be done about the problem, it sure is complicated.

Yet one man figured it out.

In 2001 the economist Milton Friedman read up on health care, discovered that the inefficiencies in our system trace back to a single policy mistake, worked out a policy test that would help us correct it and then described his findings in a few thousand words of plain English.

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The American Spectator : Demand and Supply – Arizona Society of CPAs Blog

The American Spectator : Demand and Supply – Arizona Society of CPAs Blog

Here is a terrific article that Dr. Stephen Happel, the keynote speaker at the recent ASCPA Financial Planning Conference, referenced.  Dr. Happel is a well known economist at ASU.  If you were not at the conference, you missed a great presentation and great day filled with timely presentations.  The conference chairman John Chichester and his committee deserve kudos for their hard work.

CFO Commentary — Quarterly Economic Update for 1Q 2009

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

Quote for the quarter. “Employ thy time well, if thou meanest to get leisure.” – Benjamin Franklin

The quarter in brief. The first quarter of 2009 saw a new bear market low, but also an impressive March rally and a real sense of optimism as spring started. During the first 100 days of the Obama administration, we saw revisions to the bank rescue plan, efforts to heal the consumer credit market and ailing U.S. automakers, and new federal aid for AIG and Citigroup. The key interest rate was untouched; mortgage rates remained low. Overseas markets soared in March but struggled for the quarter, and the commodities sector improved a bit after two bad quarters.

CFO Commentary — Monthly Economic Update for March, 2009

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

Quote of the month. “You can tell whether a man is clever by his answers. You can tell whether a man is wise by his questions.”– Mahfouz Naguib

The month in brief. Months ago, Warren Buffett compared the U.S. economy to a great athlete who had suffered a heart attack. February was the month in which a team of financial and political surgeons in Washington worked furiously to try and restore its health, while investors paced restlessly in the waiting room. Worries over banks dragged on stocks. The government let Wall Street and Main Street know that help was on the way, but while Main Street applauded, Wall Street was a tougher sell.

CFO Focus — Why Stocks Still Matter

WHY STOCKS STILL MATTER

The market has been hurt, but equities are still important.

If you are retired or nearing retirement, you may have recently directed more of your invested assets into cash, or into bonds, CDs, fixed annuities or other investments outside the stock market. That’s understandable. However, whether you are 65, 45 or 25, there is still a need to grow your money over time. Stock market investment gives you the potential for remarkable growth in a way few investment choices do. Here’s why stocks still matter.

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

CFO Focus — TARP’s Past, Present & Future

TARP’s Past, Present & Future

The next $350 billion is ready to be released.

What did the first $350 billion accomplish?

Edited by J. Michael Stolp

What has the Troubled Asset Relief Program done for the financial sector? How was the first half of the TARP money spent? Where will the second half go? It’s time for a quick peek at TARP past, present and future.

In a tough economy, firms concentrate on building loyalty

The Dallas Morning News
January 19, 2009

ABSTRACT

The customer is king. If companies want to avoid being swallowed by the economic crisis, that’s what they need to realize, says Gal Borenstein, customer service strategist and author of What Really Counts for CEOs: Connect the Dots Between Marketing & Sales.

Customer service is resurging as a key marketing and brand-building strategy, Borenstein said. That may mean reaching out to customers through social networking sites, contacting them in person or making real-time incident management available.

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CFO Commentary — Monthly Economic Update for January 2009

Monthly Economic Update for January 2009

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

Quote of the month. “The future depends on what we do in the present.”– Mahatma Gandhi

The month in brief. At the start of December, it became official: America had been in a recession for 12 months. Some leading economic indicators provided further confirmation. It was a month of descents. Interest rates came down to record lows. Oil prices and retail gasoline prices sank to the levels of a few years ago. Mortgage rates fell way down. (However, the real estate sector looked even unhealthier than previously assumed.) GM and Chrysler got bridge loans from Washington, D.C. and GMAC was bolstered by a cash infusion from the federal government. As America prepared for a new presidency, investors anticipated a better year on Wall Street.

CFO Focus — Little Ways You Might Improve Your Financial Life

LITTLE WAYS YOU MIGHT IMPROVE YOUR FINANCIAL LIFE

Some things to think about this year – and every year.

Edited by J. Michael Stolp

This is the year! Yes, you can make 2009 the year you alter your financial life for a better financial future. Let’s look at some steps you might think of taking with the goal of financial freedom in mind.

No, we’re not talking about those ridiculously obvious steps the usual articles recommend, like “write your goals down” and “set a budget”. Let’s go past the clichés and get into the real issues.

CFO Focus — Money & Happiness

MONEY & HAPPINESS

Do they go hand in hand?

Does money actually buy a degree of happiness? In this recessionary holiday season, it is worth thinking about the effect money has on our lives. What role does money play in our happiness? Is that role overrated?

Most psychologists and sociologists will tell you that our happiness comes largely from social interaction. But studies indicate that there is a direct correlation between wealth and a kind of mental health.

As Pearl Bailey immortally quipped, “Honey, I been poor, and I been rich. And let me tell you, rich is better.” Having a well-paying job, being successful at what you do – these are definite cornerstones of self-esteem and contribute to happiness.

I speak only for myself — Shot in the Fannie Mae

I speak only for myself — Shot in the Fannie Mae
The History of a Financial Disaster

Click link to view PowerPoint slideshow —
Shot in the Fannie Mae

Click link to view in Adobe Acrobat format —
Shot in the Fannie Mae

Benjamin Renzo — Physicians, Cover Thy Assets

Outpatient Surgery Magazine published an article in their October 2008 issue written by Partner Benjamin Renzo titled “Physicians, Cover Thy Assets”.

“Each year malpractice insurance becomes more expensive and less effective at protecting physicians’ assets, their practices and the surgery centers where they operate. While most physicians carry malpractice liability insurance that covers $1 million per incident and $3 million for multiple claims in the same year…”

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Investment News :: Go forth and blog, advisers urged

Go forth and blog, advisers urged
By Jeff Benjamin
October 21, 2008, 10:48 AM EST

Independent financial planners are poised to “own” the personal finance market, but that is partly contingent on advisers getting up to speed and becoming more comfortable with the Internet and blogging technology.

Bob Veres — Capitulation and Empathy

The following is an e-column by Bob Veres, an industry analyst and author, and the man who Financial Advisor magazine named one of the most influential people in the financial planning profession. This column was part of an overall series that Mr. Veres put together to address the turbulent times we are facing. Anyone who joins Inside Information (www.bobveres.com) can receive the full series, which includes the full text of all the messages that top advisors have sent out to their clients at various points during this meltdown; messages which have help support an advisor’s own communication efforts with their clients.

Capitulation and Empathy
By Bob Veres
October 13, 2008

Good evening. Good news for a change! As I write this, the markets closed up sharply, which may prove to be a temporary relief, but certainly feels better than whatever we were going through last week.