Author: Kevin

  • Stock Market Trading

    So anyone over 18 can open their own Stock Market trading app and start trading. Children under 18 can have their parents open a custodial account in their name and then turn it over to them once they reach 18 years old. But once you open an account, can you just trade all day long? Read more

  • New York Yankees advance

    As a Yankees fan, I was very happy to see them win last night and advance to the ALDS. Do I have any delusions that they have what it takes to win it all this year? Not really….but at least the Red Sox are out!! Go Yanks!! Read more

  • Happy 5th Birthday Deke!

    Tomorrow, Oct. 2nd, is Deke’s 5th birthday. I couldn’t imagine life without him… About 5 years ago, I was in contact with a breeder of Goldendoodles and was heading to their house to choose a puppy that I’d be taking home a week or so later as a surprise for the kids. The breeder had Read more

  • The Laws of Alcohol

    The laws I’m talking about today are the shipping laws that are seemingly random here in the US. As more breweries and distilleries are popping up all the time, it’s nice to be able to get your hands on some of the better stuff you may have experienced during travel. I’ve talked often about the Read more

  • To Trust or Not To Trust?

    Today’s financial topic has nothing to do with the Stock Market. This has to do with real estate…namely yours. So you are a good parent, love your kids, and figure as you’re reaching or passed retirement age, you will do them a favor and have them either become co-owners of your home or put it Read more

  • That drives me crazy!

    So I missed National Daughter’s Day yesterday…sorry Emily! I think she’ll be okay. After all, there is a list of “National Days” for every single day of the year. It did prompt me to see what was on the list of today’s National Days. And it led me to find it pertains to my biggest Read more

  • Snorkeling a Shipwreck

    One of the coolest experiences I’ve had with the kids was snorkeling a shipwreck while in St. Kitts. If you ever find yourself down there, I HIGHLY recommend doing the Shitten Bay Trail (about a 2 miles out and back hike). I also suggest you start early because of the heat/humidity as well as there Read more

  • You’re doing what??

    So Emily has decided to go off on her first solo hiking expedition in the very near future. It’s something she has wanted to experience and I’m all for it. It was something met with a few “She’s doing what?” or “Are you sure she should do this?” questions. Even Mary is a little leery Read more

  • Is it time to refinance?

    Happy Monday to everyone. Today’s topic to consider is refinancing a loan since the fed cut rates recently. Whether refinancing is worth it depends on a lot of factors but my intention today is to make you think about it and if it is right for your situation. For homes, the rule of thumb starts Read more

  • Weekend choice

    Give it a try this weekend to start. Limit the electronics, don’t watch the news, and GET OUTSIDE!! I can promise you that your attitude and mood will improve. Have a great weekend. Read more

  • America the Beautiful

    For anyone out there who also enjoys hiking and visiting the amazing National Parks we have here in the USA, the America The Beautiful Parks pass is the way to go. https://www.nps.gov/planyourvisit/passes.htm We have used them and after a couple days, they more than pay for themselves. See the multiple passes available. We started years Read more

  • Happy Birthday!!

    Only one topic for today….Happy Birthday to my amazing daughter Emily! It’s crazy to still feel like a 19 year old in my own head at times but the reality is that I have a 19 year old daughter now. Time moves unbelievably fast but I have enjoyed every single second. What’s the best stage? Read more

  • Oktoberfest

    Happy Booze Tuesday! It’s September so it’s time for Oktoberfest. Yes…I didn’t get that wrong. Oktoberfest is called that because it started in October in 1810 to celebrate a royal wedding, but was moved to September to take advantage of warmer weather and longer daylight hours. Although the festival now largely takes place in September, it Read more

  • Start NOW!

    I’ve spoken about Compounding Interest in the past but I’m revisiting it for my younger readers. Many people, both young and old, make the mistake of waiting to start investing. “I have to save for a car, I can’t put extra money away” or “I like my $9.75 extra mocha latte with caramel every day Read more

  • Credit Cards

    Random Friday topic today is credit cards. Here’s two simple things: don’t hold a balance because the interest will destroy you and your credit rating. Second, get yourself a card (or maybe two at most…no need for 3) and find rewards that give you what you want. I have only held two cards my entire Read more

  • 9/11

    24 years ago I was at a business meeting. The meeting was supposed to have been held at the World Trade Center Marriott (WTC3) but they couldn’t come to contract on pricing and the meeting was moved to Newport, RI. All these years later I’m thankful that was the case. So when the meeting started Read more

  • Oldest Breweries (in each state)

    For Booze Tuesday, we’re going to take a quick look at the oldest breweries in each state here in the USA. For reference however, to show how young a country we still are, the oldest operating brewery in the world is still Weihenstephan. Weihenstephan was a Benedictine monastery in Weihenstephan, now part of the district Read more

  • Kids and Money

    This financial topic can mean different things to different people. Kids cost a lot of money…that’s one way to think about it. But that is not today’s focus. Ask a young child which is worse: Not being able to pay the mortgage or not being able to get that ice cream cone after dinner? First Read more

  • Does it feel like FALL?

    Doesn’t really feel like Fall here in NJ during the daytime but evenings and nights are getting cooler and dropping into the 50s. Since I live in “the Garden State”, now is a great time for all our vegetables and peppers (even our tomatoes are doing fairly well still). I was given some butternut squash Read more

  • Sports = $$$

    Today’s sports = $$$ topic is not what you’re thinking. We all know professional athletes, and now college athletes with the ability to cash in with NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) are raking in some serious money. But that’s not what I’m talking about because 99.99% of our kids aren’t going to become professional athletes. They Read more

  • College drinking

    With schools starting back up recently and colleges in full swing, I’m sure parties are happening all over the majority of campuses around the world. I certainly remember (vaguely) my early days at the University of Delaware. The freedom of no parents and nobody telling you what you can and can’t do. Things can really Read more

  • The Appalachian Trail

    With yesterday being a holiday here in the US (Labor Day), I’m just going to be off topic this week. So NO, the Appalachian Trail has nothing to do with Finances or Booze (as far as I know). But with Emily home from college (after one whole week) we decided to take Sunday as a Read more

  • What’s the solution?

    Here’s a heavy Friday topic: School shootings in the US. Depending where you live, school may have started in your town. Here in NJ, most don’t start until after the Labor Day weekend. So even though our area hasn’t started school for the 2025-2026 school year, others schools are in session and have already had Read more

  • Brother!

    One of the ways you know you have a true friend is that you could go days, weeks, months, or even years without speaking and when you reconnect, it’s like no time has passed and there is no blame as to why one of you haven’t reached out sooner. You are both just happy to Read more

  • Vodka….

    Many years ago (probably close to 30) I was hanging out with my buddy Jeff and his father. We were making dinner, relaxing, having some drinks and then his dad pours us a couple glasses and says “have this”. Being college students, or possibly recently graduated, we wouldn’t turn down free booze. We drank it Read more