I grew up in a "co-op" called Valentine Gardens in South Yonkers (NY). This affordable housing complex featured simple ways to build community - like patios where the adults got some fresh air and chatted while the kids jumped rope, played hand-ball or traded baseball cards a few steps away. Down a steep staircase was … Continue reading The Cherry Bumps Are Coming!
Change Your Banking Behavior: Move Your ASS-ets
When we first moved to Rockland County in 1969, we became satisfied customers of Empire Trust, whose main branch was in Middletown, NY. Who knew it had already merged with Bank of New York in 1966? It took years before the Bank of New York logo appeared on their buildings and our checks. Besides, in … Continue reading Change Your Banking Behavior: Move Your ASS-ets
Follow the Money but Beware Violent Fantasies
Banking has been confusing to me for as long as I can remember. In elementary school, my classmates and I were brought to our auditorium. I had my little green bank book and dollar bill in hand. There were 6th graders helping the Yonkers Savings Bank staff record our deposits in our bank books. I … Continue reading Follow the Money but Beware Violent Fantasies
Reflections Post Lift-Off
Shades of Green left its secret Word Press home on September 13th via a flurry of emails. The response has been amazing. Our blog appears to have some buoyancy! A BIG thank you to the folks who said “Let’s Do It!” And then walked the walk, despite a full plate of other things to do - … Continue reading Reflections Post Lift-Off
Pipelines Below the Radar
Remember when we were all frantic about the state of our economy in 2008? Like most folks with life savings invested in the stock market, I was hunting for stocks that were safe and recession-proof. Those were the days when I swooned over Motley Fool’s Hidden Gems - their small cap stock portfolio, in particular … Continue reading Pipelines Below the Radar
Speaking Truth to Power
Since my visit to the Exxon Pavillon at Epcot in 1990, my negative feelings have not abated, despite Exxon's growing interest in alternative energy. I get a kick out of urging individuals to dump Exxon from their portfolios, and have lobbied NYS legislators to require the NYS Pension Fund to divest its 5 billion in … Continue reading Speaking Truth to Power
Are You a Maximizer, Satisficer or a New-Fangled Hybrid?
If you’re not familiar with the lingo, maximizer and satisficer are words coined by Barry Schwartz (a top rated TED talk lecturer and author of The Paradox of Choice). Maximizers have a high bar when it comes to making decisions. They need to cover all the bases. If you are a maximizer, you bring intensity and commitment to … Continue reading Are You a Maximizer, Satisficer or a New-Fangled Hybrid?
What Color Is Your Parachute?
What Color is Your Parachute is a classic book about career planning. Are you familiar with it? I've recommended it time and again. An animal lover discovers that her pipe dream of becoming a veterinarian is realistic! A confused and miserable unemployed friend, learns an “animal-centric” career is worth pursuing given her talents, temperament and timeline. … Continue reading What Color Is Your Parachute?
Shades of Green: What shade is your portfolio? 