"This broken leg recovery is dampening my Halloween spirits" by: Jessica Shepard

   For as long as I can remember, the last week of October has always been a flurry of events to enjoy.    And not just local organizations and city traditions.    My birthday is a few scant days away from Halloween and it’s always been easier to celebrate both events together.

"A little balance in your portfolio might just be the recipe" by: John Sample

   We have now put three positive weeks in a row for the indexes and averages.     Some would point to a belief that the Federal Reserve will “pivot” on its path for raising rates.    I think that is a bad choice of a term.

"PSA: Don’t overlook the importance of cash"

   If you’re an investor, you no doubt pay a lot of attention to your stocks, bonds, and mutual funds.    But you shouldn’t forget another key element of your financial strategy: cash.    Cash can help you in several ways.

"It’s time to trust, believe in Jesus’ name as a miracle worker" by: Caleb Gibson

   What is the meaning of a story Jesus turning water into wine?     While Jesus could do many miracles, His first public one was not until he was 30 years old.     Here is the miracle worker having to wait until the opportune time to begin the miracles.

"Reel Reviews: ‘The Curse of Bridge Hollow’ serves up middling family-friendly Halloween comedy" by: Jessica Shepard

    Look, it’s October and by default, the entire month is almost always devoted to spooky and creepy movies.    But, there are also a few family-friendly flicks to be seen.

"Mental way-finding abilities took years of creation" by: Jessica Shepard

   I don’t know how you explain a location to someone, but I use relevant landmarks and cardinal directions to the best of my ability.    My quality of directions also depends on how well someone else knows the area.

"The thrills of markets ups and downs can be scary" by: John Sample

   Another week on the roller coaster.    We had a big Thursday up followed by a down Friday.    What we do have this week are more earnings reports after last week’s financial sector produced fairly strong reports.

PSA: Should you consolidate retirement accounts?

   If you’ve been working for many years, you may have accumulated several retirement accounts, such as IRAs and 401(k)s.    But you might find it advantageous to consolidate these accounts with a single provider.

"Staying in the ‘loop’ is harder than I thought it would be" by: Jessica Shepard

   Since I accidentally broke my right fibula bone and messed up the ligaments in my ankle, it’s been a struggle to keep up with things.     After all, there’s only so much I can do with limited mobility and the terrible pain management systems in place thanks to our healthcare system.

"Just when you thought it was time to celebrate the holidays " by: John Sample

   Last week was a complete roller coaster ride.     The week got off to a roaring start on the theory that the Federal Reserve would “pivot.” That was a term to indicate that the Fed would slow down raising rates as the economy was slowing down.