Mid-Year: A Few Thoughts About Risk

My neighbor’s house has flooded.

Here on the shores of West Okoboji, the spring rains were heavy, but not terribly unusual. However, the rain continued all through June. The final storms were epic: six plus inches of rain overnight flooded the beach and powerful winds pushed the lake across my neighbor’s yard into their house.

It’s been an eventful year in Northwest Iowa. Earlier in January, our neighbors to the east had a housefire that proved almost impossible to control. It consumed two houses and the better part of a third before a half dozen local fire departments got things under control. As I write this, the sounds of cicadas fill the air.

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Tax Time

Another tax season has come, and as I write this, is mostly gone. 

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State of the...

The hall took some time coming to order. Old friends saying hello, moving without hurrying to their places. The same seats every time, which made it easier to spot those choosing not to attend. 

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Women with Money: A Winning Combination

Today is March 25th, 2024. I’m writing this piece in my office, watching the pregame commentary for the Iowa Women’s Basketball team before their matchup against West Virginia. Tonight will be Caitlyn Clark’s last home game at Carver Hawkeye Arena, and like a lot of people across the country, I will tune in to watch her team (hopefully) advance to the Sweet Sixteen.

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2023... Good Things Came To Those Who Waited

That ended well. Thank goodness.

It was a year to be patient. Financial markets struggled to regain ground from the prior year’s losses for much of 2023, swooned in the fall and then came back to make (most) things right during the last quarter - at least for those who held their financial assets the whole year. 

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