Quarterly Market Commentary
There is no method available to put a good spin on the third quarter's equity market performance. Highs for the period were posted by most broad equity indices during the first week of July. From there an initially slow decline set in that culminated in a sharp sell off during the second half of August before and around the time of the S&P downgrade of US sovereign debt. After a modest recovery from late August through early September prices again declined significantly as the latest rescue package for Greece appeared to be unravelling. While the situation in Europe now appears to be under control in the short term, longer term problems remain unresolved. Recent estimates of the costs of a long-term bailout that would allow for the elimination of Greece and perhaps Italy from the Eurozone continue to rise well beyond the scope of current rescue funds. The path to a permanent resolution of the crisis remains unclear.
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Hunting for Happiness: Sean and Cathy Avera
Whether they're big game hunting in Africa or helping to treat people with serious gum or tooth problems, life is never dull for Sean and Cathy Avera. The couple, who have been married since 1980, work together at the periodontal practice they have owned since 1993. Sean is a periodontist specializing in bone grafts, soft tissue augmentation for people with gum problems, preparing sites for dental implants and treating people who are losing teeth. Cathy, who trained as a dental hygienist, now works primarily as the clinic's treatment coordinator.
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Death and Pitfalls
OK, this is not a pleasant subject, but when I was running through the financial section of Yahoo! I saw an article on the stresses placed on a surviving spouse and what to do and not to do. The period after a spouse's death is a stressful time filled with sadness and tasks that require immediate action. However, this is not the time to make major financial decisions. The following are just a few dos and don'ts to keep in mind when making financial decisions after the death of a spouse.
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