Posts by W.A. Smith Financial

Space: The final frontier. Or is it? The U.S. is again taking a serious look at space exploration, but there are many factors to consider. President Trump last summer called for the Department of Defense to move space operations to a sixth military branch, though funding such an effort would require congressional approval.1 The U.S.…

Newton’s laws of motion and gravity are often applied to economics and the stock market. What goes up, must come down. While this generally explains a natural path of the economic cycle, the key question for most investors is: When will it come down?   While no one can predict market directions with exact accuracy,…

“And that’s the way it is.” This is how Walter Cronkite signed off at the completion of his CBS Evening Newscast, which he anchored from 1962 until 1981. Widely recognized as a trusted source to deliver the news, Cronkite was known for his honesty and impartiality.1 These days, it’s hard to find impartiality. Many cable…

Many Americans who enroll in original Medicare also purchase a supplemental insurance policy, colloquially known as “Medigap.” Medigap covers some or all of the out-of-pocket costs associated with original Medicare — deductibles, copayments and coinsurance — helping to reduce financial risk. However, there is a wide array of Medigap plans with a variety of different…

Every couple who decides to marry runs some risk of divorce in the future. The only way to definitively avoid divorce is to remain single, but plenty of people are willing to take their chances. Among the many unintended consequences of divorce is the toll it can take on a couple’s finances. Of divorced women,…

There’s an age-old insight that’s often cited when referencing entrepreneurship: “90 percent of startups fail.” In fact, that may not be the case. According to new research by Cambridge Associates — assessing more than 27,000 venture-backed startups — the average failure rate was 60 percent.1 It could be that new technologies and the ability to…

Many areas of the U.S. experienced sweltering heat throughout this past summer. As the seasons change, now is a great time to take a vacation and enjoy the cooler air. Plan to get away If you’re looking to avoid the crowds, consider locations not necessarily off the beaten path but adjacent to popular hotspots. For…

On one hand, low interest rates are good for those borrowing money. On the other hand, easy cash can lead to excess debt — a place far too many Americans find themselves.  Today, the median credit card debt is $2,000 per person, the median student loan debt is around $9,000 and the median mortgage debt…

Different strokes for different folks. One of the many advantages of living in the United States is there are so many different places to live. You can opt for the mountains or live by the sea. You can live in open country and rural farmlands, bustling cities or remote forested areas. Hot, cold or temperate…