Category Archives: Finance

Build we must, build we should, and hopefully build we will.

Ed Note: It seems so obvious. Why not rebuild our crumbling infrastructure. Reconnect our people, create dazzling bridges, show what our country is capable of once more. But alas, nothing is being done at the Federal level. Krugman, the Yale … Continue reading

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Commuting from Tijuana

Ed note: I asked our cab driver in San Diego, a native of Indiana, where he lived. The quick answer – Tijuana. “I commute every day and am saving an amazing amount of money. My 2 bedroom apartment in a gated community is only $600/month and I get all the … Continue reading

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Senate Democrats introduce bill to deny tax loophole for Big Pharma ads

Ed note: Thanks to Dick D for sending this along. I’ve been puzzled when watching TV that so many commercials are for very expensive drugs for conditions that aren’t all that common. The hype benefits then discuss side effects (even … Continue reading

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Boomers Create a Surge in Luxury Care CCRCs

Thanks to Put B for finding this article. The fact that there are very limited laws in Washington State governing CCRCs remind me that joining WACCRA is a very good way to have a voice in our futures. Rich Gifford, … Continue reading

Posted in CCRC Info, Finance, Law | 3 Comments

$upport Our $taff!

Our $O$ campaign is in high gear! Remember, we’re aiming for 100% resident participation! So far, 81% of our residents have contributed to this fund to express our thanks to our valued employees. Place your check payable to the Skyline Residents’ Association … Continue reading

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Social Security is 83!

From AgingKingCounty: “On August 14, 1935, President Franklin Roosevelt signed the Social Security Act, creating an essential program that made real our country’s belief that we have a responsibility to ensure that older adults in our communities should not be … Continue reading

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Tariffs affecting the farmer – speaking to the Presidnet

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Shop and give at smile.amazon.com

Irene Campbell pointed out a totally painless and profitable way to have Amazon donate 0.5% of your purchases to the SRA. It’s so simple because Skyline at First Hill Resident’s Association is a non-profit. Amazon shares its profits with non-profits … Continue reading

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Is it moral to respect the wishes of the dead, above the living?

Trillions of dollars are involved. Should personal wealth be passed unfettered to the family? What are the moral obligations to our country, our institutions and our fellow man. I know a family who left a trust giving $1M to each … Continue reading

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A record number of folks age 85 and older are working, and here’s what they’re doing

Are you still working? About 4% of us are, and there are at least a few at Skyline still going to the office or working from home. What’s your experience? Here’s an article from the Washington Post: Seventy may be … Continue reading

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Reagan, Deregulation and America’s Exceptional Rise in Health Care Costs

Ed Note: It’s a complex subject but I think we’re all aware that health care prices are gobbling up a larger share of GDP (and our pocketbooks) year by year. The major issue isn’t that the utilization of services or … Continue reading

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Trump’s plans to try to lower drug prices miss the mark

The New York Times has several articles and opinion pieces about President Trump’s blueprint to manage the continually surging and unfair drug prices. Although there are several interesting ideas in the plan, major attempts to really control prices are absent. … Continue reading

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Alternate help with prescriptions

Sent in by Katherine Graubard: Washington residents need help paying for prescription drugs. The Health Care Authority (HCA) offers a state-sponsored program to provide savings to all people living in Washington. Click here for information.

Posted in Finance, Health | Comments Off on Alternate help with prescriptions

7 Ways to Judge a Retirement Community’s Financial Health

Frank Conlon sent this in from the New York Times. Good information showing the importance of a strong WACRAA to help ensure financial transparency with protections for residents. “Alicia Butcher Ehrhardt has it all figured out. With their three children grown … Continue reading

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There was a time B.A. (before Amazon)

Posted in Business, Finance, History, Humor | 2 Comments

Experts Forecast Long-Term Stock and Bond Returns: 2018 Edition

Morningstar summarizes the predictions for equities and bonds in a lead article: click here to read the somewhat gloomy returns predicted. Other experts, of course, disagree. Someone once defined an expert to me as “some SOB from out of town … Continue reading

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How Eight Families Fare Under the New Tax Bill

Editor’s Note: A Certified financial planner emailed this analysis from Bloomberg to me (click below for the full document), “If you’re confused by how the Republican tax bill will affect you, you’re not alone. “The final version rewrites the tax code in dozens of … Continue reading

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Let’s (not) go phishing

Sally Soest reminds us that emails can be an easy way for us to be exposed to malware, ransomware and fraud. Wisely she called her bank rather than responding to a “phishy” email about her account. Beware when an email … Continue reading

Posted in Finance, Safety, Scams, Science and Technology | 1 Comment

Finances in the CCRC Industry – 3PM Nov 8

“Financial Issues in Today’s CCRC Industry” November 8, 2017, Wednesday, 3:00PM at Skyline Leading Age Washington and WACCRA jointly invite you to an educational program entitled “Financial Issues in Today’s CCRC Industry.” This program is the first of a series … Continue reading

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Plan to eliminate medical expense deduction – message from NACCRA & WACCRA

Dear WACCRA Members: Although redundant for some, we are forwarding the significant alert sent out by the National Continuing Care Residents Association (NaCCRA) which concerns the Trump administration’s plan to eliminate your federal income tax deduction for medical expenses. This … Continue reading

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How to freeze your credit in light of the Equifax data breech

From CNET: “It’s still early days, so even if your credit report comes back clean, remain vigilant about protecting your credit. One of the most reliable ways to prevent someone from opening credit cards in your name is to place … Continue reading

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From Canada – understanding U.S. health care

Ed note: When in Victoria recently I happened to spy this article in The Globe and Mail newspaper. They truly have trouble understanding our health care system. The answer: see below! “To Understand U.S. health care, think like an American.” “Don’t … Continue reading

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Anxiety in Eastern Washington Orchards

From Crosscut: “In the Yakima Valley, nestled east of the Cascades, the fruit trees are waking up. Signs along State Highway 24 advertise openings for “piscadores,” or harvesters. At the Doornink Fruit Ranch in Wapato, expert hands prune hundreds of acres … Continue reading

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Why Your Portfolio Needs Plenty of Stocks, Whatever Your Age

If you enjoy an antidote to “common wisdom” read the following from David Levine which is the first of two articles in the NYT. “WHEN I went to work on Wall Street in 1972, it was an article of faith … Continue reading

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Skyline Resident’s Association meeting about possible expansion

From Sue Phillips “Resident Reaction to Skyline II Process:  Over 100 Skyline residents attending the July 14, 2016, quarterly meeting were divided into 5 groups and asked to respond to the question “What is your reaction to the proposal for … Continue reading

Posted in CCRC Info, Finance, Health, In the Neighborhood | 1 Comment