Comments for Financial Mines

Comment on GE no longer top taxpayer in Fairfield by Harry Kowalkski

Harry Kowalkski — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 20:36:07 +0000

What a disgusting state of affairs. All real estate developer do is drive out decent paying employers and replace them with condos and low paying retail jobs

Comment on Does the $25B settlement rip off homeowners who lost homes? by frankd1

frankd1 — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 20:38:58 +0000

A/G Jepson… you make it a point in your annoucement that “employees of these servicers ,signed documents without reading and knowing if the procedure should be carried out” but yet you can stand there and say more than likely the foreclosure would have happened. Arent you doing the same thing? Making judgemnet without knowing the facts. In your mind $1500 is justified, HOW SO????

Comment on The banks have a settlement, what about the rest of us by frankd1

frankd1 — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 20:24:29 +0000

This can be the start of something good, join in ,if you have any banking experiences, that just drove you nuts because of them being irresponsible, share

Comment on AARP grants $200K to WorkPlace for older 99ers program by Rob Varnon

Rob Varnon — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:31:28 +0000

Dixon and anyone else in this predicament. First good luck. Second, here’s an update on the program from the WorkPlace with contact information:

The Platform to Employment program for older workers will not start until late March. For more info, please call Mike Morgan at (203) 610-8572 or complete the P2E application at http://www.workplace.org/survey.php. Please note that interviews for this cohort will not begin until mid-March.

Comment on AARP grants $200K to WorkPlace for older 99ers program by Dixon Rochet

Dixon Rochet — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 15:01:07 +0000

Pl. ad me to this program i am a 99er 54 yr’old and out on the end of all hope,
Pl. help me Pl.

Comment on Is Connecticut the worst state to retire in? by Randy

Randy — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 01:08:13 +0000

You can leave CT and move to another state and instantly decrease your cost of living by 20-30%. It’s that simple. The cost of living and taxes in CT are absurd. The local and state leaders only seem to care about raising taxes. In addition the inflated taxes, CT pays the highest utility rates in the US. WHY?? To make matters worse, look how poor the response to Irene and the October snow storm was. I will retire withing 5 years, after living and working here for 20, and I have already purchased my retirement property out of state.

Comment on Is Connecticut the worst state to retire in? by john

john — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 13:01:09 +0000

Because of tax increases, I expect that states like Massachusetts or New York are more appealing these days than Connecticut to retire in. How far we have fallen. The only thing going up faster than taxes under Democratic Gov. Dan Molloy and his crony legislators are our deficits.

Comment on Is Connecticut the worst state to retire in? by Rob Varnon

Rob Varnon — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 18:06:12 +0000

Nice post Chris and thanks. It is something we’re interested in at Hearst Conn. and would like to get a conversation started on it with those on the verge of retiring or who already have.
Here’s some of the things I’ve wondered about.
What’s the biggest reason you will or won’t live here in retirement?
How important is the location of the grandkids?
And if not here, then where?

Comment on Is Connecticut the worst state to retire in? by Joe

Joe — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 18:00:22 +0000

CT finally wins something; but this isn’t news to anyone in CT, I don’t know anyone in my age group (early 50′s) who will stay in CT once they retire. That is if they can retire at all.
I have lived and worked in this state all my life and will leave this state behind me if I get to the point where I can retire. There is no one in our state gov. that will change things, we were once know for our manufacturing; now we are known for our taxes.

Comment on MF Global Trustee’s website is active by Sveah

Sveah — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 20:29:18 +0000

He who has the gold, makes the rules. http://castusa-gny.org/phpbb2/profile.php?mode=viewprofile&u=331090

Comment on Compensation being offered for foreclosure victims by Mark Sank, Esq.

Mark Sank, Esq. — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 14:13:58 +0000

Great article Rob! Keep up the good work. My foreclosure defense practice has increased substanially since we last spoke. I am now representing nearly 90 families and have yet to lose a single case. Basically, we keep submitting loan modification packages to the banks and their servicers who then delay the reviews for months but in the end we have successfully obtained modifications for dozens of clients!

Comment on Chicago futures broker to set up Connecticut office by futures broker

futures broker — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 02:26:13 +0000

Good post. I share all of these same

Comment on A pre-IPO Facebook investment scam took in $12.6 million by Rob Varnon

Rob Varnon — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 15:48:19 +0000

We had a post about legitimate IPO funds, but had to take it down while verifying some of the aspects of the claims in the post. But here’s just some simple advice, related to it.
Before investing in anything, always get the name of the company and call the company directly. If it’s a scam, the company will very often alert you to the limitations placed on insiders holding shares in a private company.
And, as an exercise in logic, always put yourself in the sellers shoes, to see if the deal makes sense from that perspective. If you had a stake in Facebook now, what would you do with it? Sell it off to some fund or hand onto it?

Comment on A European banking crisis and recession fear trip up market by Bruce Goldis

Bruce Goldis — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 02:51:58 +0000

This time, when the banks fail again, and we bail them out again (because we MUST, you see before any money actually goes out or is voted on, government must temporarily take over the banks, fire all those at the top, and more or less start over with new REGULATIONS. Just take out the too big to allow banks. Problem: The Fed is uncontrollable.

Comment on Extreme couponing by danielle

danielle — Sat, 17 Sep 2011 14:43:28 +0000

well written blog…. I agree that getting free staple items that can supply a family for a long time is a good idea but some of these people take it too far. My questions is…. How much food are they throwing away? Some of them claim to be donating but I would really like to see them drop it off. I would like to see a local food pantry benefit from this. Otherwise it is still “excess” and whether you pay for it or not…. “excess” is still defined as …”a going beyond what is regarded as customary or proper” If any of these “extreme couponers” read this …. please donate what you dont need and spread the wealth. It may help a family in need.

Comment on Non profit to dad: You’re a financial dunce by Rachael

Rachael — Tue, 14 Jun 2011 18:56:52 +0000

Teaching children to manage money is one of the biggest challenges for any parent.You can teach children the difference between needs and wants, how to budget and how to save.It’s never too early to learn.But if you get it wrong, your child is likely to join the millions of Americans who earn huge credit card debt each month and stings by stiff interest payments.

Comment on Schiff gets von NotHaus by NHL Jersey

NHL Jersey — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 06:03:26 +0000

thank you for sharing.I like it very much! Alex Ovechkin Jersey

Comment on Extreme couponing by MirandaWrites

MirandaWrites — Sat, 12 Feb 2011 21:21:34 +0000

Really? Did you have to boast about your “English Degree?”

Anyway… I don’t think that “Extreme Couponing” is possible in all 50 states. I know it isnt in CT. Especially since most coupons state “toward the purchase of two.”

Do you agree?

Comment on IRS alerting non-profits by IRS Tax Law – Latest IRS Tax Law news – IRS tax repayment questions require city postpone introducing new budget

Mon, 03 Jan 2011 01:34:09 +0000

[...] IRS alerting non-profits – Financial Mines – Connecticut News [...]

Comment on Jack Welch gives shout-out to Linda McMahon by cpj222

cpj222 — Thu, 04 Nov 2010 09:47:38 +0000

Sorry I got off the path Of Linda Mcmahon, she is a very smart Lady, doesn’t matter what business she is involved in. she is a well put together Lady, and WWWF is a very successful business !!!! We need her today !!

Comment on Jack Welch gives shout-out to Linda McMahon by cpj222

cpj222 — Thu, 04 Nov 2010 09:41:30 +0000

Jack Welch is exactly correct, We need successful business people in office. Our Govt’s are so out of control in spending. A business would be bankrupt if run the way govt is run. The only reason this state is not bankrupt because the Govt says it can’t be ???? That was the only thing Paladino had going for him, he was a very smart business man, and a hot head, if he controled himself differently he would have been closer in the race. Spending has to be put into control Cuomo, $$ control $$, the next failure of the economy will be a lot worse. We need business people in our Govt, TAX MONEY is NOT free.

Comment on Jack Welch gives shout-out to Linda McMahon by Francis W. Rodgers

Francis W. Rodgers — Wed, 27 Oct 2010 12:42:18 +0000

It is proper that Jack Welch spoke out, if you bought it, use it. GE still needs pro business support. Under Jack’s profitable leadership GE grew and rarely was required to pay taxes. Was there a word on social justice at this leading Catholic College?

Comment on Stevie, in London, passes up on latest Hirsts by aanno

aanno — Wed, 20 Oct 2010 23:50:13 +0000

Why good for them?

“but the art lovers at the show gave this new Hirst installation the cold shoulder. Good for them.”

I don’t get it, are you lobbying against this artist’s work or are you just worried that they should save their money and not overspend? Do you dislike art or this artist’s work, or?

Comment on The Defeated Ones by Jim Zebora

Jim Zebora — Wed, 20 Oct 2010 21:22:17 +0000

Jack Welch, speaking Wednesday to students at Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, put the blame for American schools’ failure to perform squarely on the teachers unions.

Calling teacher tenure “the dumbest idea in the world,” Welch said, “Until we get a school system where it’s all about the students and not about the faculty, there won’t be a ballgame.”

Comment on Aggravating GE Capital commercial by Rob Brown

Rob Brown — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 02:02:34 +0000

Get a life!!

Comment on Aggravating GE Capital commercial by Joe

Joe — Sun, 08 Aug 2010 23:06:34 +0000

Comical. Oh horrors – someone may be having some fun somewhere.

Point by point –
“scarring a beautiful landscape” – these guys on on SAND DUNES. Have you ever been to sand dunes? 30 seconds after the wind starts blowing all features are gone. Completely.

“unnecessarily burning gasoline” – riding a quad is fun recreation. So is taking your kids to soccer practice or going out to see a movie. How “necessary” are those?

“making unconscionable noise” – now I know you’ve never been to any desert or desolate wilderness. Who’s going to get upset about the noise? The snakes? In 20 some-odd years of OHV recreation, I can’t recall seeing any hikers or mnt bikers on sand dunes. Do you know why?

“polluting the atmosphere” – it looks to me like they’re riding a Polaris RZR 800cc twin. How big is the motor in your vehicle?

You armchair environmentalists need to listen to Scott Wine and “get out of the office more often”. Sheesh ..

Comment on Aggravating GE Capital commercial by Jim

Jim — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 14:47:31 +0000

Oh please! “scarring a beautiful landscape”?? Have you ever even _been_ to sand dunes like those? (I won’t ask if you’ve ever ridden them since I know the answer).

20 seconds after the wind kicks up you wouldn’t even see one track that was made.

“unconscionable noise”? Who’s going to hear it? Most of the places I know of here in the west like that – there isn’t any civilization or people for miles and miles. Sheesh .. maybe the snakes or lizards get offended.

“unnecessarily burning gasoline”? Do you drive your kids to soccer practice or to a movie? How “necessary” is that?

I strongly suspect you’ve never been to these places – so please stay where you are, ok?

Comment on Aggravating GE Capital commercial by jay

jay — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 03:01:35 +0000

absolutely agree. had to post a comment

Comment on Aggravating GE Capital commercial by robert

robert — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 00:59:05 +0000

I wanna know where that is…I wanna ride there too!

Comment on A week to go before The Classic Auction by jps

jps — Sun, 27 Jun 2010 23:00:32 +0000

what happened at auction? did you get sale prices and will you post?

Comment on Cash for doing the wrong thing by Car Transportation

Car Transportation — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 04:15:02 +0000

In the end, you’ll come out on top.

Comment on Cutting the cable by Jay Polansky

Jay Polansky — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 19:15:56 +0000

My college offers cable. However, I watch episodes of popular shows online at sites like Hulu and Fancast. I think that these sites and sites that stream video in general may be a good alternative to people that do not wish to subscribe to cable. However, one loses local news and the episodes are available online a few days after they aired on TV.

The N.Y. Times has written stories about people who have switched from cable to their computers for video media. The latest story appears to be “The Mouse That Roared…” @ http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/11/garden/11tv.html.

Comment on Telling it like it is by Ken Lempit

Ken Lempit — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 21:45:26 +0000

It’s a pretty amazing set of numbers and points to the need for a new mentality in state government in CT.

Comment on Julie Jason book signing by Julie Jason

Julie Jason — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 01:50:24 +0000

The book signing was a lot of fun — thanks for coming. Final count was 76 book enthusiasts who joined us for the launch and a celebratory glass of wine at Kona Grill.

We raced up to #1 sales rank in retirement planning books on Amazon.com today!

Comment on Cash for doing the wrong thing by Robert Alvine

Robert Alvine — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 15:29:12 +0000

I don’t blame those that are taking advantage of the program at this time – why not? However, I totally agree the government interferance in the life span of anything – from economic cycles to car life – manipulates and changes the natural balance of what should be going on. For the last year, this country has seen more cars scrapped then sold. That could never continue and, we would have seen an improved natural balance in the demand of vehicles because of it. This program merely pulled those sales into today from the future. For every action – there is a reaction!

Comment on Cash for doing the wrong thing by Local Eyes

Local Eyes — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 01:06:58 +0000

Look on the bright side: you did the right thing without being told. No one saw you. Any grade school teacher would call that “character”.

Comment on More Greenwich space on market by LocalShopperCT

LocalShopperCT — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 19:59:57 +0000

Jim – there are still some nice stories on Greenwich Avenue, though, such as BestEver Cleaners, which is celebrating its 50th year in business there. Times are tough, of course, but they’re hanging in and still delivering the same great products and customer service.

Comment on Attention T-Bill buyers by dLife

dLife — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 16:17:02 +0000

> I’d like to bring to your attention to an inaccurate report that has been widely circulated and reported on by various media outlets in the past week regarding the effectiveness of the Film and TV tax incentive program in our state. The report was furnished by an advocacy group called Voices for Children and was based on a preliminary document from the CT Film Office that was never intended to be released. The Film Office made it clear that the draft report did not yet account for millions of dollars spent in Connecticut yet the VFC and the media chose to ignore this and ran with the story as if it were factual and complete. Our company, dLife, is a small diabetes health media company based in Westport and is one of the entities that are misrepresented in these reports. We have been in business for five years and currently employ more than 30 full time professionals and another 20 plus contractors during the year, most of which are hired specifically to help us produce our award-winning TV show, dLife, right here in CT. We had previously produced our shows in NY prior to the passing of the Tax Credit. We spend over a million dollars each year to produce our TV program and needless to say as a small privately held company the Tax Incentive program is a significant incentive for us not only to keep our TV production in the state but also to keep our business thriving and headquartered here. On another note, studio space is now plentiful and cheaper in NY, while CT studios, editing facilities, etc. have been incredibly busy. The surest indication that the credit is having a real impact on, hiring, employing many contract workers, facility expansions, set building, etc. The official report from the CT Film Office estimates the program overall generated $1.5 billion in new economic activity for our state, new jobs and investment at what is clearly the most difficult economic environment of our generation. Its fair to have an open and honest debate about whether programs like this are working or not but we need to do so with all the facts. And the fact is this program is working.

Howard Steinberg
Founder & CEO
dLife, For Your Diabetes Life