December 15, 2005
If You Like Hillary, You`ll Love the Show
Don`t fret about unemployed staffers of the Clinton Administration. They are alive and well writing for the new ABC series Commander-in-Chief which is a clone of NBC`s West Wing and is a stalking horse for the future Clinton Presidential run. The show`s writers include Hillary Clinton`s former White House communications director and social secretary. Perhaps the most interesting addition to the show`s staff is that of disgraced Clinton Administration National Security advisor Sandy Berger, who was last seen pleading guilty to stealing and destroying top secret documents form the National Archives while helping Bill Clinton prepare for his testimony before the 9-11 Commission. One wonders if there will be an upcoming show in which the President (Geena Davis) asks her national security advisor "Are those top secret documents in your pants or are you just glad to see me?" Investors Business Daily 10/25/05 p. A14
Disaster Proof Your Life
Hurricane season was a vivid reminder of life`s uncertainties. Have you ever wondered what you would do if you suddenly became the victim of a natural disaster, terrorist attack, fire or other unexpected event? Would you know what to grab if you had only seconds to escape your house. The plans you make in advance and the items you decide to take will determine how quickly you are able to rebound from disaster.
Prepare a Grab and Go Case with your important legal, financial and insurance paperwork. Consider including birth certificates, estate planning douments, fiancial statements, insurance policies, social security cards, list of prescriptions, copy of drivers license, emergency cash, computer user names and passwords, list of credit cards numbers and company information, list of checking and savings account numbers, passports, marriage certificate, recent tax return, will, trust documents, and powers of attorney.
Make a contact list of friends, relatives and trusted advisors. Include their name, address and telephone numbers and e mail addresses.
Prepare a Household Inventory, written, including video and photographs. Put a copy in the grab and go case and a copy in your safe deposit box. AARP Bulletin October, 2005, p.20
Take a Nurse to the Hospital
If you are going in for a procedure rather than an emergency, it is a good idea to ask your doctor`s opinion of the hospital`s staffing and whether you should consider hiring a nurse privately. Since most physicians have privileges at more than one hospital, you may have a choice.
Although it is hard to find statistics on trends, there is no doubt people`s concerns about nursing shortages over the last decade have prompted more affluent patients to think about hiring their own. The shortage of nurses has deepened every year since 2000 according to the American Nurses Association. At the same time, studies have demonstrated how dangerous it is to load too many patients onto one nurse.
Not everyone wants or requires a highly trained person at their bedside; often the need, especially at night, is simply for what is called a sitter or a companion. That person can offer water, help to the bathroom or offer simple reassurance.
Let`s say your parent slips and cracks a hip; you do not want her/him to be alone all night long, yet you have kids or a career. For your own peace of mind, you might hire someone.
This is another good reason to have your money work as hard as you do so that you can afford to pay for this luxury. The New York Times 9/17/05 p.C9
It's the Early Money that Counts
Meet Jill and John, twenty-one-year-old twins who just graduated from college. Jill, immediately upon entering the workforce, began contributing $50 a month to a stock mutual fund and continued to do so for the next eight years, until she got married and found more pressing uses for her money. John, who married his college sweetheart immediately upon graduating and soon after started a family, didn't start investing until he was twenty-nine. Then he contributed $50 a month to the same stock fund, and he continued doing so for thirty-seven years until he retired at age sixty-five. All told, John invested $22,200, while Jill contributed just $4,800.
In this instance, Jill ends up with the most money upon retirement- $256,650, vs. $217,830 for John. The reason, of course, is that John could never make up for the extra eight years that Jill's money was growing while he tended to other matters.
If you have any questions about the foregoing or any other financial matters, please call us. If you want to read more, visit the AOHL Newsletter Archives at www.lisch.com
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Have a Safe Holiday Season and a Happy and Healthy New Year.