Our first day in Hawaii was, admittedly, a bust. A total and complete, embarrassing, hide-your-face-in-shame bust. It was supposed to rain, you see – not just on that first day, but the entire time we were on Maui. The forecast was bleak, filled with rain clouds and 80-100 percent chance of precipitation on day after day of our very expensive, much-anticipated vacation.
Clearly, fishing weather is upon us! Fishing season in Michigan runs May 26 through December 31 and Michigan’s Free Fishing Weekend is June 9-10! That means all license fees will be waived, and a recreation passport will NOT be required for entry into state parks and recreation areas! Did you know … catfish, smallmouth bass, black crappie, walleye and bluegill are caught in abundance in our local parks? National Go Fishing Day is June 18. Celebrate by packing up your picnic, topping off your tackle box, and heading to one of Genesee County’s many great fishing spots!
It just wouldn’t be summer without baseball! I’ve loved it ever since I was a kid, walking into town with my little sister to watch our big brother, Joe, play on the Little League team. After a game, we would walk to the store for a popsicle and candy. I grew up in Maryland, so I was a Baltimore Orioles fan – still am. But, I love the Detroit Tigers, too. I enjoy watching when the Detroit Tigers play the Orioles because I’m not disappointed, no matter who wins the game.
With regard to international trade, misconceptions often cloud our judgement. One such misconception is that the U.S. manufacturing base has been decimated due to trade. Actually, the opposite is the case. The U.S. currently produces over $2 trillion worth of manufactured goods, which is nearly double the value produced in the 1980s. The U.S. is also the world’s second largest exporter, exporting $1.5 trillion worth of goods in 2017.
Hopefully, you have taken a moment to do some relaxing outdoors and enjoy the spring breeze. The month of June, when Michigan’s temperamental weather is at its most gentle, is perfect for outdoor activity. Making time for a picnic is essential for maximum appreciation of this beautiful season!
I see that “mom jeans” – that ‘90s look where the waistband of a woman’s pants is up under her armpits – are back.
I have a tree fort. Yes, a tree fort – just like a ten-year-old, frog-collecting kid.
When I was the film reviewer at The Flint Journal, I tended to allow criticism of my criticism to roll off my back. So, when an irate caller railed at me for giving away a spoiler in my newly-published review of Independence Day, I shrugged (to myself, of course, after apologizing profusely on the phone) and thought, “Meh … judgment call.”
At OLV Investment Group, we have had the pleasure of hiring an international intern who is attending the University of Michigan. Muhammad Ammar is hardworking and eager to learn. In fact, when asked during his first week if he was willing to work an unscheduled, 13-hour day, he jumped at the opportunity. This very long day included an hour-plus drive to our Livonia office where we had a seminar regarding risk tolerance and tools we utilize when determining how much risk a client is willing to take. During the 60-minute trip to Livonia, I may have accidentally driven significantly above the speed limit. We were engaged in fun conversation regarding cultural differences and politics. Our intern, who has asked to be known as Ammar, his given name in Dubai, was very engaged in our discussion when I received a phone call from my business partner. We had been talking on the phone for a few minutes when a sea of red brake lights lit up both of our faces. Looking at the speedometer, I realized that I was driving in excess of 85 MPH. As I hit the brakes, phone in hand, Ammar let out a very small shriek as he realized the seriousness of the situation. He was genuinely afraid that he was about to be involved in a high-speed auto accident. But, the car was very much under control, as that is the type of traffic I often experience during my business excursions.
For a certain group of investors, conversion of their Traditional IRA into a Roth IRA could be an effective move to hedge long-term bets against higher tax rates in the future. For some living in Michigan, this strategy could also be a very viable way to pass assets onto the next generation and help manage taxation to them at both federal and state levels.
President Trump recently announced tariffs on aluminum and steel. Economists almost uniformly agree that tariffs are an ineffective way to create jobs.
Being a Michigander, snow is nothing new to me. It holds no real fascination or wonder. It simply … is. For almost nine long years, I lived without it (excepting jaunts back home to visit family or holiday trips to Copenhagen, Paris, Amsterdam, etc.). But still, moving to a place that has snow and cold holds no real special meaning for me, and I didn’t consider cold weather to be a negative, or an obstacle, nor something to celebrate. Snow and cold weather are simply a fact of life to me, no matter how ethereal and beautiful snowflakes appear to my Texan husband.
