I’ve always loved language. I won both the English and Spanish prizes at my high school graduation. The turn of a phrase, or change in meaning a comma can make, have always fascinated me. If you haven't read Lynne Truss' excellent and funny book on punctuation, do so!
For...
I mentioned earlier that I made a mid-life career transition from retail management to financial planning. Over the years I was responsible for women’s, men’s, children’s, electronic, and home departments. It is my observation that men’s apparel has just as...
Smartphones and conversation
Ok, I’m going to say it: cursed be the man who untethered phones from walls so that women could walk around talking on them. Hurl all the abuse you want at me. But I’ll give the men an equal diss: why do commuter trains have quiet...
We actually read newspapers
Picture this: dad in his easy chair reading a newspaper. Something out of Norman Rockwell, right? But that’s how I grew up. Either the New Haven Register or the Hartford Courant were delivered by a paperboy. Dad brought the Wall St....
Taking on a new client
When we agree to do financial planning for a new client, we do, of course, ask a lot of questions. Notice I said, when we agree. The implication here is that we do not take on everyone who comes to us. After an initial interview we can usually tell whether...
Money and Credit
As I mentioned in my introduction, my parents are products of the Great Depression. It was my mother who first taught me about money and budgeting – she controlled the family purse strings. Dad was the breadwinner, and he brought home cash each month and turned...
Ladies & Gentlemen
As I mentioned earlier, my grandfather was a prominent businessman in the Italian community, with a location downtown New Haven. My mother worked for him off and on doing the books, and I’d often go in with her and grandpa would find some small task for me to...
Virtue signaling
Virtue signaling. What a term. Having to show the rest of the world how virtuous you are. Done by putting up appropriate banners at your house, driving one of those teeny tiny Smart Cars, or an electric vehicle, or some such.
I’ve got news for you young...
Things I promise never to do (in no particular order):
- I’ll never dye my hair or moustache or goatee. Looks ridiculous on a man, IMO.
- I’ll never wear shoes with Velcro straps.
- I’ll never wear horizontal stripes. Haven’t since I was about 10.
- I’ll never wear...
Mr. Downing, if you please
Picture it: I’m checking into a hotel after two different flights. Just taken the shuttle to the hotel. I know the drill, so I hand my driving license and credit card to the bright young thing behind the counter, who says, Welcome, Glenn!
Am I...
Frenchy Duffnuts
We had a family friend growing up named Evelyn. Evelyn was a widow of many years, and a professional travel agent. Fascinating person. She’d gather groups of travelers together and take them all on a trip somewhere – usually in Europe. My...
Collections vs. Experiences
This is another topic that arises from my financial planning practice.
It is my generation’s habit to make collections of prized or valued items. To this day I have my book collection and my music collection. Mrs. Downing collects Wedgwood Blue Jasper...
