If you fail to plan, you are planning to fail: BK

Yes, a great quote from Ben Franklin that relates to pretty much every aspect of life.

Here is a great article supporting this advice: 8 Retirement Questions a 50-Something Couple Needs To Answer.

If you are "coupled" and in your 50s, at least have this conversation w/ your significant other today.

Thoughts?


Tom Sirois
Great Barrington, MA

Why choose the lesser of two evils?

Many claim this election is the “most important of our lifetime,” but I am not convinced. I strongly believe 2020 will be much more consequential because voters will lose their confidence in our government. If you are an observer of “social mood,” it is not surprising that this year we are faced with the choice before us: The Politician v. The Outsider.

Hillary Clinton is everything one loves and hates in a politician. She holds herself as a “champion for women, children, and the underserved” while using every means necessary to profit from her (and her husband’s) stature in our society. This election has revealed Clinton’s ability to profit personally from her family’s charity work by selling government favors to foreign contributors. Yes, this may be “legal,” but it does not pass the smell test to me and many Americans are repulsed by her lack of morality.

Donald Trump is simply the vessel to which many Americans are pouring their hatred and disgust for politicians. Evidently, this hatred and disgust are pretty strong since they are willing to overlook the many (and there are many) morally reprehensible displays of disgusting behavior from this man. I do not see the electorate’s rejection of government, and its current out of touch politicians going away anytime soon, but my hope is Mr. Trump will.

No matter who is elected in this cycle, I feel there will be little change in how things operate in Washington. At this point, the way our government has been run for decades will still be the order of the day: more deficits, more inflation, and more (senseless) wars to name a few. Our country needs to understand simple economics: we cannot afford our government any longer. This lack of economic realism can be exhibited by the way our government collects taxes where a small fraction of citizens pay for the majority of government spending (with borrowing making up the difference); this creates the illusion that government services are “free.” Today, less than 15 percent of the population pay for more than 70 percent of all income taxes. If the cost of our government was equally supported by everybody, each would pay $55,000 per year. Do you think you, your family and friends would support our government if we had to pony that up each year? But much of this election has been this discussion of voters wanting more government services: free college, free healthcare, cheap mortgages, etc. This is wrong; we cannot and should not live at the expense of our neighbors. Our government deliberately hides the true cost of our government to our citizens resulting in the mentality: We can simply vote and make someone else pay.

The next president may have different approaches, as each has campaigned on,  but I believe both potential candidates will utilize the government to “fix” our problems. This will cast the die for the next four years and sow the seeds for our country to ultimately lose confidence in our government. This will be more painful than we can imagine, but it will be necessary for us as a nation to realize government was never intended, nor does it belong, central to our lives. Though it will not be fair, whoever is president (and his or her party) will be blamed for this crisis. The consequence will be a rejection of this political party AND the Government in general. These candidates are the result of our society looking to solve our problems through the lens of politics.

At this time, I am NOT voting for either mainstream candidates because by doing so, I am endorsing the way our government is run, and we cannot afford it any longer. If I DO vote, it will be for Independent candidate Gary Johnson. He is a Libertarian, and I strongly believe MORE individual freedom will result in MORE prosperity for our country.

The main consequence of this election is that it will lay the groundwork for the next round in 2020 — assuming America still has elections by then.

Tom Sirois

Stockbridge

Newly released emails detail ties between Clinton Foundation, State Department

I am not a big Donald Trump supporter for many reasons, but I have several reasons I will NEVER support Hillary Clinton for President of the United States; here is the latest:

Mrs. Clinton, as Secretary of State, used her family's "Foundation" to receive donations in exchange for favors by the US Government. The list is vast, but there are many examples in this latest revelation of emails. It seems Mrs. Clinton's right-hand person, Huma Abedin, who now works for the campaign was able to achieve a "special designation" that allowed her to work at the State Department AND at the Clinton Foundation. 

Just three months into her tenure at the State Department, the Foundation went to work.

This is very sad for our country. I think one of our Founding Fathers said it best:

"In these sentiments, Sir, I agree to this Constitution, with all its faults, — if they are such; because I think a general Government necessary for us, and there is no form of government but what may be a blessing to the people, if well administered; and I believe, farther, that this is likely to be well administered for a course of years, and can only end in despotism, as other forms have done before it, when the people shall become so corrupted as to need despotic government, being incapable of any other."

-Ben Franklin at the Constitutional Convention (June 1787)

Tom Sirois

Great Barrington, MA

Madness in March

Madness in March

Yes, it is that time of year when College Basketball fans (and gamblers) get to take out their bracket and choose who they think will win round by round and ultimately the national championship. I am not sure which I am more annoyed with the fact that the basketball that is played is not as interesting to me or the fact that fans and non-fans take so much time to prepare their bracket challenges and bet on the final victor.

Though I love basketball, college hoops have gotten much less of my attention. Maybe it is because the NCAA has gone 3-crazy, but I suspect it has lost it's the charm for me because College Basketball (and many other college sports) have become a very big business.

Check out this very interesting infographic below or this link: March Madness. Make no mistake this is a billion (with a B) industry that profits on the back of "student-athletes". For example, interested in buying a Denzel Valentine jersey, maybe the Bahamian native Oklahoma's Buddy Hield's? Well when you drop 50 bucks down, please don't kid yourself that these players see any of this money. That is the problem in my eyes. All the media companies, paraphernalia providers and colleges greatly profit on the back of the players (which is the reason we watch!).

Of course, the tournament is littered with March Madness Horror Stories that result in a fan's personal finance knowledge to be challenged. I would add to that many workers are less productive during this time; taking time off and/or watching games while at work. And I suspect it has much to do with the fact that they are gambling on their choices in the bracket.

My advice? Watch and enjoy the game, even fill out a bracket or two (but don't wager on it), but this is really the time you should be gathering your financial information to get ready to file your taxes by April 15th!

BTW, I pick Michigan State. They have great talent on their team, but I think Coach Izzo is one of the best and will bring them to another title.

Tom Sirois on Financial Stability

Tom Sirois

Financial Stability

"As the westernmost county in Massachusetts, the Berkshires comprise about 12% of the state’s landmass but only 2% of the population. As such, it is the 2nd most rural county in the state. The 32 towns have a total population of 130,000, which is predominantly white, has a small but growing Hispanic population (3.7% reported, but anecdotally estimated to be much higher), and 3% African-American. The population also tends to be older than statewide: 19% of Berkshire residents are over 65 compared to an average of 14% statewide (US Census). Of those who are 65 and older, 57% are considered poor or low income compared to 42% statewide (MA CHIP)" - Community Health Programs

 Most of the jobs in and around the Berkshires of Massachusetts are seasonal temporary work. This means when the season ends, so do the paychecks and sources of income for many blue collar working families.

Most of the seasonal jobs available to the citizens of this area are low income as is, which further contributes to the depression of the state average wage. 29% of this depression stems from this problem.

24 percent, this is how much lower wages are in this area versus the rest of the state of Massachusetts, contributing to a higher poverty rate than the majority of the state.

The cost of living is 126 percent higher than the surrounding areas, and this further contributes to the economical state in which the residents live.

This is why financial stability has never been more important.

You can turn these negatives into positives and stability for your household and way of life with the simple guidance and tools that Berkshire Hills Financial can give you.

Take advantage of our services to ensure you come out of your seasonal job with a comfortable cushion of savings, investments, and security.

Contact:
Tom Sirois
 Berkshire Hills Financial
314 Main St #21, Great Barrington, MA 01230
(844) 861-7292

The Three Skills You Need to Be Successful in Life

Someone I have admired from afar is Mark Ford. He is a very impressive author, publisher and entrepreneur (among other things). From his recent published writing, he has shared the skills “you” need to be successful, but I think they should be skills that are taught to our children at an early age:

Thinking Well.

Speaking Well.

Writing Well.

I will take the time over the next few weeks to expand on each of these. What are your thoughts?

Tom Sirois

Great Barrington, MA

Like Hillary Clinton, bet you kids with Student Loans don't know this:

We all know that many politicians are bought and paid for by the "bankers", but no one is MORE beholden to the "bankers" than Mrs. Clinton.

For Hillary Clinton to state she is on the side of middle class Americans, or middle class students is simply a lie.

There has been many studies that prove the rise in College Tuition is in direct relation to to availability of College Loans. See here: Accounting for the Rise in College Tuition. So, yes, I believe if we stop offering student loans, the cost of educating our citizens will go down.

Mrs Clinton, as Senator from New York, is responsible in introducing legislation that was ultimately passed, which  will insure no student loans can be discharged from bankruptcy proceedings. Essentially, students who borrow money to go to college will become enslaved to the lenders.

Washington is way to corrupt and the press is complacent in covering up the truth. I see many articles that will demonize Trump or Carson (two whom have never served in Washington), but Hillary is a hero. I firmly believe that the destruction of our American middle class, culture and way of life is in direct relation to the increase in power of corrupt politicians in Washington.

I look forward to the day all Americans realize that.

Tom Sirois
Great Barrington, MA