Happy Halloween!
Today I have a collection of items concerning inflation (one of the boogeymen for retirees).
This article examines CPI across the world. It discusses the differences in the basket of goods used in different countries and how consumers in developing nations change their purchasing behaviors much more dramatically than developed countries.
http://www.matthewsfunds.com/about_asia/on_asia_sept06.cfm
Here is a great [...]

Starting January 1, 2007, Part B Premiums will be Based on Your Income (Details)

You Pay

If Your Yearly Income is

Single

Married Couple

$93.50

$80,000 or less

$160,000 or less

$105.80

$80,001-$100,000

$160,001-$200,000

$124.40

$100,001-$150,000

$200,001-$300,000

$142.90

$150,001-$200,000

$300,001-$400,000

$161.40

Above $200,000

Above $400,000

Exquisite Safaris is a private touring company that combines exotic travel with philanthropy.  With the average water well costing less than $1,000, this can be a fun introduction to philanthropy for people who have the travel bug.

The CFP Board has chosen another political animal (i.e., no industry experience) to steer the ship while looking for a permanent replacement. That does not make me very hopeful that the mark will head towards more client centered fiduciary waters. It also looks like they are going to take until January to decide how [...]

The Washington Post has an article about how hackers have started specifically attacking brokerage accounts to use in pump and dump schemes.
To protect yourself avoid accessing important accounts from public kiosks. Also anti-spyware has become the must have addition to your computer security suite (check out Adaware and Spybot if you don’t have one). [...]

The IRS has announced the new pension limits for 2007.

Elective deferrals go up to $15,500 ($20,500 catch up)
Defined contribution limits go up to $45,000

It does not include limits for IRAs which remain at $4,000 ($5,000 catch up) for 2007.  Here is a table of all pension plan limits For a table of all the changes [...]

A cautionary article in the Economist on investing in commodities. So much money has flowed into commodity investments recently that the dynamic that held in the past no longer exists and those who are counting on it to continue will likely be disappointed.
There have been numerous studies showing how commodity futures in the past would [...]

To help everyone go into the weekend on an upbeat, I though I would share a short piece by Scott Adams (creator of Dilbert) on the power of affirmations.

Social security payments will go up 3.3% next year and the new taxable wage base is $97,500 (up from $94,200).
http://www.ssa.gov/pressoffice/pr/2007cola-pr.htm

The IRS is closing the ability to defer taxes on appreciated property using a private annuity exchange.  This will close a chapter on a very powerful and popular technique in estate planning.  Stay tuned to see what the smart lawyers come up with next to replace this technique.