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SENSORY SUBSTITUTION: Professor Amir Amedi of The Hebrew University
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AFHU Hebrew University
Gift Annuity Returns
Age
Rate
This was certainly the vision of
67
6.2%
Albert Einstein, one of the founders
7o
6.5%
of The Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
75
7.1%
Einstein imagined a catalyst for
8o
research that would build a nation
85
8.o%
9.5%
and improve the world.
90
11.3%
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University Gift Annuity—with its high
lifetime return, income tax deduction
and partially tax-free payments—your
annuity works for you, for the vision-
impaired and for all the visionary
researchers whose achievements
benefit people worldwide.
Rates are calculated based on a
single life. Cash contributions produce
partially tax-free annuity income.
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44
,eptember 12 • 2013
We Need to Pause
W
ow — another year on
life's treadmill. No mat-
ter how fast and long we
run, we never seem to get there. When
we look back, it's hard to tabulate the
events. Not only do we realize that we
didn't reach last year's goal,
we can't even recall what
last year's goal was or the
point at which we stopped
thinking about it!
Have you ever seen the
memorial segment of the
Academy Awards where
they honor those members
of the academy whose lives
ended during the past year?
I always say to myself,
"Wow, I didn't realize there
were so many lost this year." Day by
day, you hear of this and that person's
death on the news, but at year's end,
most are forgotten — they were just
part of the news.
As to personal associations, I cer-
tainly recall the loss of all those close
to me, but I have to rack my brain to
recall the tangential acquaintances and
relatives of friends who are no longer
with us.
If this rings true with you, does this
mean our memories are so flawed that
we cannot recall the resolutions and
goals we set from a year back or the
names of many people who passed
during the year?
I don't think poor memory is the
reason. We are just too busy doing
whatever we do. During the year, we
don't stop to reflect or assess; we pro-
cess. But when the New Year comes,
we pause, look back over the last year
and ask, "What will the New Year
bring and what goals should we set?"
Let's begin with goals. Goal and
resolution No. 1 is that when next year
comes, we must remember the goal we
set. Goal No. 2 is that during the year
we pause a few times to assess where
we stand and make adjustments to
stay on track.
So what will the next year bring?
There is always "death and taxes:' On
the brighter side, there are births and
new relationships. Let's be optimistic.
My predictions: Detroit will emerge
from Chapter 9 bankruptcy with a new
fiscal structure allowing it to build
itself back to the vibrant, respected
and proud city it once was. Detroit
will have a new mayor — who will
be a true leader — one who finds the
way to fix what needs repair and move
Detroit beyond its multi-decade status
as a territorial boundary of dismay.
Congress will get its act together and
address the economic and social issues
our nation faces so the New Year will
not be yet another year ruled by parti-
san votes designed to ensure continued
disharmony.
These are aggressive goals, but not
just a matter of fate. Any one of us may
not be able to control the
outcome of these issues, yet
outcomes are derived from
the actions of individuals.
Let's hope they periodi-
cally pause and assess their
efforts and make necessary
adjustments to make these
predictions come true.
On the lighter side — I
can't resist — the Tigers will
be World Series Champs
and the Lions will win the
Super Bowl (Who knows? As of today,
it remains possible!).
If your goal and resolution for this
year is to increase savings for retire-
ment, reduce debt (and if smart,
eliminate credit card debt) and make
sure proper planning is in place for
your children and aging parents, that's
great. These are my goals and, of
course, I want these to be your goals.
But this year, do something else.
In January, March and June, pause
and assess your progress and take the
necessary action to stay on track. If
you don't get all the way there, at least
when next New Year arrives, you will
remember what you were trying to
achieve.
As to my predictions, I will remind
you if any of them come true!
L'shanah tovah tikateivu.
❑
Ken Gross, an attorney with Thav Gross,
is host of the Financial Crisis Talk Center,
which airs from 8:30 to 10 a.m. on WDFN
1130 AM radio and on MyTV20 on Sundays,
at 11 a.m.
Housing Starts Still
Strong, Says HBA
New housing starts in Metro Detroit
continue to be strong, according to
the Home Builders Association of
Southeastern Michigan (HBA).
In July, 408 single-family home
permits were issued in Macomb,
Oakland, St. Clair and Wayne coun-
ties. July's result marks the third
consecutive month of exceeding
the 400-permit threshold since
November 2006.
Assuming current real estate con-
ditions persist, HBAs model forecasts
continuing growth through the end
of the year, with a projected total
of 2,988 permits in the six-month,
August-to-January timeframe.
❑