Bob's Journal
Found 587 Articles.
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Bob’s Journal 9/4
Stealth Taxes Make the Top Marginal Tax Bracket 45.5% for Some Taxpayers Congress is relying more on Stealth Taxes, as I’ve warned taxpayers for years. That makes the tax code more confusing and causes taxpayers to fall into expensive traps. The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBB) created several new Stealth Taxes, which I detailed […]
Bob’s Journal 8/28
Don’t Make This Medicare Advantage Mistake A high percentage of Medicare Advantage plan members make a critical mistake, according to a study from Mass General Brigham, a major hospital system. Medicare beneficiaries can choose between original Medicare and a Medicare Advantage plan. Advantage plans are required to cover everything that original Medicare covers. Advantage plans […]
Bob’s Journal 8/21
Social Security Marks 90th Birthday with Mixed Legacy, Future Prospects Last week marked the 90th anniversary of the enactment of the Social Security Act. The Social Security Administration (SSA) noted the date with a statement that “the program has grown into one of the most successful and trusted institutions in American history.” The agency pledged […]
Bob’s Journal 8/14
The Latest Earnings Season Was Different in Several Ways Earnings season for the second quarter is winding down, and the results so far have been exceptionally good. Over the last 10 years, on average 65.7% of companies exceeded earnings expectations each quarter. But in the second quarter of 2025, 78.9% of companies reported earnings above […]
Bob’s Journal 8/7
Turmoil in Medicare Advantage Plans Continues Significant changes occurred in Medicare Advantage plans the last couple of years, and more changes are on the way in 2026. In 2024, I documented the factors that would cause higher costs and fewer benefits in Advantage plans in 2025. Those changes happened. For example, in the September 19, […]
Bob’s Journal 7/31
Plan for Big Increases in Medicare Part D Premiums The final numbers aren’t in yet, but it looks like premiums for Medicare Part D prescription drug insurance policies will increase for 2026. Part D consists of insurance policies issued by private sector companies and overseen and regulated by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services […]
Bob’s Journal 7/24
The Stock Market’s Winners are Changing Several major stock indexes are near historic highs. But some other indexes, as well as many sectors and individual stocks, aren’t doing as well. The S&P 500, Nasdaq 100 and Nasdaq Composite all closed last week near or above their highs. But the Dow Jones Industrial Average is well […]
Bob’s Journal for 7/17
A New Proposal to Fortify Social Security Two U.S. Senators came forward with a new proposal to shore up Social Security. For years, the Social Security trust fund has been estimated to run out of money in the early 2030s. The latest estimate from the Board of Trustees is that the trust fund will be […]
