AI in personal finance: The promise and the limits

   Imagine this: Your budgeting app flags unusual spending and suggests a transfer.  Later, a robo-advisor rebalances your portfolio.  Welcome to the age of artificial intelligence - or AI - in personal finance.  AI tools can track spending, forecast bills, and offer advice via text.

"Reel Reviews: ‘Wake Up Dead Man” a great entry into ‘Knives Out’ series" by: Jessica Shepard

   Holiday family time kept me at home last week along with an earlier press time, so I decided to watch a newly released Netflix movie instead of trying to head out to the theater.

Success: The difference between thinking and doing

   Success stories are the best!  Millions of books researching the backgrounds of successful people, at the top of their game globally, sell like hot cakes.

A small cruise reveals different aspects of people’s lives

   Each year for more than 25 years, I have prepared a Christmas Story for the amusement of my family and friends. I write it the night before Christmas to feed my procrastination addiction. I hope you have a wonderful Christmas season with the ones you love!  Christmas Cruise Carol  carol(v.) – c.

"It was a good night to be pleasantly surprised" by: Mike Reddell

   Wednesday night at the Matagorda County Economic Development Corporation’s annual banquet, I was startled – and I mean startled.   I was listening as Jessica Russell was announcing this year’s George Holst Award and was really surprised by the two words community journalism.

"Getting the worst Christmas present I’ve ever had" by: Jessica Shepard

   I officially got the worst and most-unexpected Christmas gift last week.   What initially started as seasonal allergies decided to take the turn for the worst and morphed into an Upper Respiratory Infection in three short days.

"We are into the Christmas week and things are merry and bright " by: John Sample

   That is unless you are a CEO and you reported less than expected earnings.   You only have to look at Nike, Oracle or Lululemon.  It is not enough to have made money with good cash flow, you are mandated to project fabulous growth over the next several quarters.

"Reel Reviews: ‘Avatar 3’ brings repetitive storyline, epic battles to big screen again" by: Jessica Shepard

   I don’t know about you, but the longer it takes for sequels and other subsequent movies to come out, then the less it takes for my interest to stick around.   Even worse, when films seem to perpetually continue the same storyline!

Beginner’s Mind

   In a world where competition, accomplishments and mastery of talents is recognized as success, it’s a relief to know that 99.9% of us started with a beginner’s mind.

"There’s no such thing as a trash tree when other trees are dying" by: Mike Reddell

   We’ve reached a really neat pattern with fall colors.    I drove down to Matagorda last weekend and was struck, as I always am, by the splash of color from tallow trees.    There’s something truly magnificent about the different colors these natives to eastern China flash.