This week, I met David, our longtime foreign correspondent, for lunch at the legendary Le Procope restaurant in Paris. It was a chance for us to catch up in person, as David travels frequently and too many of our conversations are conducted by email rather than face to face. The last time I patronized the … More Lunch at Le Procope Paris
My first reaction on this blog to the rash of headlines about artificial intelligence was, in retrospect, a little reactionary and a little short-sighted. I simply prefer a human experience when I conduct a transaction to an interaction with AI. Call me old-fashioned, a lot of people do. I initially saw AI as an option … More The Economic Tsunami
Every year at this time, I offer up my best advice for a back-to-school wardrobe that is lean, economical, durable, versatile, and timeless. There are rarely any surprises: polo shirts, oxford cloth button downs, khakis, chinos, or corduroys, deck shoes and LL Bean boots, wool crew neck sweaters, and the inevitable blue blazer. Nothing with … More The Annual Old Money Back To School Wardrobe List
Given the over-abundance of trendy diets, celebrity nutrition experts, and half-baked medical advice on what we should eat and how much we should exercise, I am reluctant to post on these topics very often. However, when I run across something that makes me personally rethink what I’m eating, then I reconsider. Why? Because I have … More A Fresh Perspective on Sugar, Diet, and Health
When it comes to inherited wealth, we all have dreams of being on the (fortunate) receiving end. We seldom have to face the (possible) nightmare of being on the bequeathing end. It’s often obvious who you’re going to give your money to when you die. Once you’ve made that decision, you then need to decide … More Where There’s A Will…
Having lived in Paris for almost a decade now, I’m long past the ‘infatuation phase’ experienced by most tourists and many expats when they first arrive in the City of Lights. I’ve encountered the good, the bad, and the ugly, that concentrated mix that any metropolitan city serves up to its residents on a daily … More Paris and Patience
In today’s current political and social climate, it’s important to hear an articulate commentary on WASP values. After all, that’s pretty much what I advocate for here on this blog and in several of my books. Obviously, I don’t think that White Anglo Saxon Protestants have the monopoly on traditional Upper Class values. I see … More Legacy of the WASP: An Articulate Reminder
Every once in awhile, I’m asked why I encourage people to elevate their social standing or improve their financial position. What difference will it make? Granted, some people do have a world-view that is fairly laissez-faire: just go with the flow, do what you can do, take it easy, don’t worry…be happy. I don’t condemn … More Why Elevate?
Pardon my absence. Personal obligations have been at the forefront lately. Nothing bad, just time-consuming. I’m happy to be back, so let’s dive in… There are plenty of obstacles on the road to financial independence: a soft job market, nagging inflation, student loan debt, and, let’s face it, an endless stream of tempting consumer goodies. … More Peer Pressure and Financial Goals
If you live long enough, there’s a chance you get to see everything. If not everything, then a lot. Sometimes history seems to repeat itself, or, in the words of Mark Twain, if it doesn’t exactly repeat, it certainly does rhyme. So it goes with society’s idea of how to raise children. I was raised … More Zero Shades of Grey