When people think about estate planning, wills and trusts often come to mind. However, one critical detail is often overlooked – beneficiary designations. These designations, which specify who will receive assets like retirement accounts, life insurance policies and...
After waiting 1,645 days, the Federal Reserve has finally cut rates again. On September 20, 2024, Chairman Jerome Powell announced a .50% rate cut, which many expected to lower mortgage rates. Surprisingly, instead of going down, mortgage rates have risen. What’s...
Fire can be your friend or it can be your worst enemy. It’s good when you’re camping in the Sierras and it’s freezing cold; all you have to do is light the campfire and cook some burgers or steak. But you need to be careful and keep the fire in the fire ring while...
Dear Readers, Having received not one miserable request for advice, I have delved deeply into the Dear Sidney coffers for this week’s column. I am happy to see that forest fires and the threat of evacuation followed by rain and a sudden bombardment of hail has not...
