New law may offer financial opportunities

Your own decisions and actions typically determine your financial strategies. But outside events can affect your choices, too. And that may be the case with the recent passage of the SECURE 2.0 Act. This piece of legislation covers many areas.

Capital Highlights

Clock ticking on moving bills The clock is ticking on getting bills out of the House and to the Texas Senate, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick warned last week in a story in the Austin American-Statesman.

CDs can be part of your investment strategy

In the financial world, stocks and stockbased mutual funds often get a lot of attention. And deservedly so, because they often form the core of a portfolio.

Kenyan anti-lion cow lights

Space exploration gets much credit for inventions that we use right here on flat earth, necessity being the mother of invention and inventions sometimes lending themselves to uses not foreseen by their inventors. Food preservation techniques come to my mind.

Some “did-you-knows” about estate plans

If you’ve done any estate planning, or even if you’re just familiar with it, you probably know the basics — that is, a comprehensive estate plan can help you pass on assets to your family while also achieving other goals, such as designating someone to take care of your affairs if you become unable...

Ponder Points

Recently, one of our neighbors at Lake Livingston invited my wife and I over to see the new lakeside home they just completed. The luxe environment was grand with a swimming pool accompanied by a hot tub, a tanning deck and outdoor kitchen.

Financial Focus

Now that we’ve put winter behind us — at least on the calendar — it’s time for us to think about sprucing up our homes,inside and out. But it also may be time to do some financial spring cleaning.

Capital Highlights

The Texas House passed a bill promising $17 billion in tax relief,a measure that is at odds with the Senate’s tax break plan,according to the Austin American-Statesman.The House bill would lower by half a home’s cap on appraisal increases. It passed overwhelmingly, 141-9. However, Lt. Gov.

Don’t take the bait

“Scatter charcoal throughout your home and see what happens overnight.” Ah, clickbait. The last thing I’m gonna do is click on the hand holding the little piece of charcoal to see what they’re trying to sell me. Charcoal? I suspect it’s not what they sell at the supermarket.

Do you have enough emergency savings?

Many people would agree that preparation is the key to success in many areas of life. Yet, when it comes to being ready for a financial emergency, a sizable percentage of Americans are feeling distinctly unprepared — and that can lead to problems.