Nevin's Data "Points"

  It’s hard to believe that it’s now been five years ago that many of us went into our places of work, packed up, and went home for what most thought would be a week, maybe two — and wound up being a lot more than that. I was reminded of just how long it had been at a meeting last week — a group that first gathered a little more than five years ago. Honestly, until it came up in discussions, I hadn’t realized how long it had been — and how much has changed since. In March 2020, my wife and I had just returned from a funeral in the Boston area. While the worst of what we would come to learn about COVID was — well, yet to be learned — we knew that cautions were in order. So we drove, rather than flew to the event — which wound up being full of strangers (many of whom were in what would come to be acknowledged as “vulnerable” health categories). In hindsight, what might have been a “super spreader” event didn’t turn out to be one —even though less than 48 hours later the governor of t...

It’s hard to believe that just two years ago many of us went into our places of work, packed up, and went home for what most thought would be a week, maybe two—and wound up being a lot more than that. In March 2020, my wife and I had just returned from a funeral in the Boston area. While the worst of what we would come to learn about COVID was—well, yet to be learned—we knew that cautions were in order. So we drove, rather than flew to the event—which wound up being full of strangers (many of whom were in what would come to be acknowledged as “vulnerable” health categories). Throughout we were aware, conscious of a certain risk, but we were not overly cautious—about on the order of what you would do when you come into contact with someone who had a cold.  In hindsight, what might have been a “super spreader” event didn’t turn out to be one—even though less than 48 hours later the governor of the Commonwealth was putting in place lockdowns and restrictions that wo...

As I was pulling together tax information this weekend, I was reminded that, in addition to the benefits of pre-tax savings and deferred taxes on retirement savings, there’s another tax benefit—but one of which many aren’t aware.  It’s called the Saver’s Credit—but only 43% of workers are aware of the credit, according to the  20th Annual Transamerica Retirement Survey  of workers. It’s available to low- to moderate-income workers who are saving for retirement. For those who qualify, in addition to the customary benefits of workplace retirement savings, it could mean a $1,000 break on your taxes—twice that if you are married and file a joint return! Now, there are some  limitations [i] —both regard as to who is eligible, and the income levels to which it applies. But in a year when household income levels might be impacted by COVID—well, it’s worth revisiting the option even if it hasn’t been available in the past.   Here are some things y...

 I’ve been writing a weekly column (and then some) for more than two decades now. Some are easier to write (and read)—and some hold up better (and longer) than others. These are some of  my  (and perhaps your) favorites from 2021. Let me know what you think in the comments below… particularly if I have missed one of your favorites…  What’s So Special About College Debt? Student loan debt—or more precisely, the forgiveness of some part of it—has dominated the headlines of late—but it’s been on the minds of retirement plan sponsors for a while now. The question is—why?  https://www.napa-net.org/news-info/daily-news/whats-so-special-about-college-debt Bundled Versus Unbundled: 5 Myths While there are some amazing bundled solutions, ERISA’s admonition to act solely in the interests of plan participants (and beneficiaries), alongside the requirement that those be reasonable in terms of cost and value, call for a careful and considered evaluation. In t...

It seems trite, almost unnecessary, to comment that we are living in and through extraordinary times.  I’m a student of history, and I have often found comfort, if not guidance, from what has gone before. As often as not, however unique and extraordinary the times seem (or are portrayed in the headlines), there’s inevitably a comparable, and almost always, an even more extreme example, of such times in decades past. [i] And while there’s been a renewed interest in, and awareness of, the pandemic of 1918 (though I’m told the pandemic of 1957-58 is a more apt comparison to COVID-19), as the anniversary of our nation’s declaration of independence nears, I’ve been drawn to the events of 1776. As it turns out, the newly declared (but not yet formal) nation was confronted not only with the struggle for independence (and no small number of voices that simply wanted to preserve the status quo), but with the scourge of smallpox. Just as the close quartering and movement...

Back when I was in school (OK, so it was  way  back), there were these little red fire alarm boxes strategically placed throughout the building. Their purpose was clearly indicated in big white letters… but, inevitably, as the school year wound to a close…   Well, it seemed that someone was always pulling those levers, and no, not because of any actual fire—but rather because some hapless soul had been pressured to create a nuisance, but more commonly just because some upper classman was looking to avoid a test for which they weren’t prepared, or wanted to get outside and enjoy the fresh air. Initially these emergency calls got the expected response, and we all dutifully filed down the stairs and out to our designated areas. And, sure enough, by the time the building was evacuated, the premises sufficiently investigated, and the student body returned to our respective classrooms—well, it left little time for actual instruction, for a period, at leas...

Life has many lessons to teach us, some more painful than others—and some we’d just as soon be spared. But for the graduates of 2020—well, theirs is surely a unique time. So, if you have a graduate—or if you ARE a graduate, here are some thoughts…    My kids have passed those milestones—but I have two nieces that will graduate this year without an “official” ceremony to commemorate the occasion, no capstone to those years in pursuit of education, and preparation for the next of life’s stages, and—while social media, cell phones, TikTok and Zoom provide some solace—this is a class that will, for the moment anyway, be denied the hugs and warm embraces of classmates, friends and family alike. That said, those next steps lie ahead—and if the when, where (and how) remains elusive—the if is surely only a matter of time. And as graduates everywhere look ahead to the next chapter in their lives, it seems a good time to reflect on some lessons learned along the way—m...