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Claiming Social Security: Sooner or later?
How soon to claim Social Security benefits is essential in retirement planning. Steve Giles offers pros and cons to weigh.
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Past Articles
All That’s Gold Glitters
Both to support the Green Bay Packers and benefit a regional food bank, Landaas & Company staff displayed green and gold at the office two days before Super Bowl XVL. Employees donated $5 or more to Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin in exchange for adorning their professional attire with Packers-themed accoutrements, including jerseys, neckties, earrings and…
On Balance: Beyond U.S.
Considerations abroad should figure more into investment strategies, Bob Landaas writes in the latest bimonthly magazine of the Wisconsin Institute of Certified Public Accountants. For the third year in a row, the professional association has invited Bob to share his economic outlook with its 8,000 members. In the January/February issue of On Balance, Bob makes…
Bob on the QE2
By Bob Landaas On Nov. 3, the Federal Open Market Committee announced a $600 billion quantitative easing, which is now known as QE2. There was an unusual amount of dissent at the Federal Reserve about this, led by the president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner said that the…
A Case for Bonds
By Art Rothschild and Joel Dresang Given continued volatility in global stock markets, it is nice to know that bond investors have been able to benefit from ongoing interest payments and the relative stability that the bonds in their portfolio have provided this year. When 2010 started, all eyes were on the stock market. Given…
Retirement Insurance at 75
By Joel Dresang At 75 years old, the Social Security Act is drawing the speculation and foreboding that often accompany advanced age. President Barack Obama, marking the August birthday of the program, hailed Social Security as “a cornerstone in the foundation of America’s middle class.” He also contended that Republican leaders plan to “privatize” the…
Pricing pressures
By Kyle Tetting A growing number of economists, including many with the Federal Reserve Board, are expressing concern over changing prices. One of the primary roles of the Fed is to combat inflation, but of late there has been more concern over an even more dangerous threat to economic recovery: Deflation. Each month, the Bureau…