By Dr. Christopher Douglas Other recent news items overshadowed what should have been a significant headline: the interest rate on current 30-year Treasury bonds reached 5% in July. Interest rates on shorter-term Treasuries also rose from 4% to 4.5%. These interest rates represent what the government pays when it borrows money for a specific period
By Samantha Marsh Water, water everywhere; but not a drop to drink. It is an irony paralleled in our world today, where both social media followers and loneliness are at an all-time high. We are “interacting” with more people than ever, yet statistics show that people are feeling less and less known. Perhaps you feel
By SHANNON WHITE September in Michigan has a rhythm all its own, carrying late summer vibes while the end of the month brings crisp mornings and golden afternoons. The month also boasts a calendar packed with football games, the Michigan State Fair, the Detroit Jazz Festival, Arts, Beats & Eats, Frankenmuth Oktoberfest, the Michigan Renaissance
By Mark Rummel We Americans are literally biting the hands that feed us. None of the food we consume each day would exist without the talents, efforts and perseverance of farmers and ranchers across the United States. Since farmers here and around the world make our food possible, they earn most of the money we
The Costa Brava, or the “Brave Coast” of Spain, is, seemingly, oddly named. What does courage have to do with the lovely rocky coastline and sandy beaches of this northern Spanish region? Well, it’s a confused translation. Brava means brave, yes, but it also means “fierce” or “wild,” and that is completely appropriate. Wild, for
Concert season at Pine Knob Music Theatre usually ends in early to mid-October, so if you want to catch a show there this year, you are running out of time. Or should I say, “you already ran out of time?” And I don’t just mean for the year; I mean for life. I know that
September is a month of transition. Summer slowly loosens its grip as cooler mornings arrive, leaves begin their colorful transformation, and familiar routines return. It is a month that reminds us life is always moving forward, carrying with it fresh opportunities while asking us to rememberwhere we’ve been. For students, September signals a new school
By Sharon Stone There is something special about August in the Greater Flint area. Summer is in full swing, the days are still long and warm, and families are determined to squeeze every last drop of fun out of the season before the school bells ring once again. At the same time, parents are shopping
By Alexandria Nolan-Miller Sometimes it isn’t better or worse — it’s a third thing entirely. Interesting. A lesson. An opportunity. My family is currently in Spain. We’re on the coast about an hour and a half from Barcelona, in the Costa Brava. We’ve been here before, but usually only as a day trip. The last
By Brice Carter, CFP®, CIMA®, ChFC® Before I became a Chief Investment Officer and financial advisor, I spent a good chunk of my life competing in various sports. As a competitor, you don’t stop competing. You’re always looking for the optimal strategy, the best outcome, and the smartest way to protect your family’s future. As
By Wes Morris We sometimes use the phrase, “a thorn in my side.” It’s the nagging problem, difficult person, or ever-present challenge. Do you feel that you have a thorn in your side? In the Bible, a man named Paul was mightily used by the Lord. He preached the Gospel, prayed for people who were
Politicians in Michigan and other states are proposing the repeal of property taxes. An additional proposal in Michigan would eliminate property tax “uncapping.” Property taxes are based on a home’s taxable value, whose annual increase is limited to 5% or the rate of inflation, whichever is lower. When a home is sold, its taxable value
