The Conversation You Almost Skipped
What if the most valuable meeting on your calendar this week is the one you’re least looking forward to? It’s mid-March, and there’s no shortage of things competing for your attention. Spring arrived last week. Tax deadlines are approaching. And the world beyond our windows remains restless—markets reacting to an unpredictable trade environment, persistent geopolitical tension, and an interest rate...
And Yet, We Persist
A bold-faced phrase from a New York Times article last week got my attention. It consists of only two words, yet it speaks volumes about facing the future: And yet. These two words introduce a life-changing perspective, especially in times of uncertainty. Financial professionals see a distinct pattern repeat itself more often than people realize. When headlines turn alarming — conflict...
Why Knowing What to Eat Is Not the Problem
I cannot tell you how many times I have heard someone say, “I know what I should be eating. I just don’t do it.” That sentence is usually followed by frustration or guilt, as if the problem must be a lack of discipline. But knowing what to do and being able to do it consistently are two very different...
Annoying? …. “To a T”
This is high on my list of recent rants. We are all starting to sound like Brits–and not the upper crust, Oxford & Cambridge near-royal types either. I blame it on the Beatles. They showed up here and were followed by hordes of others in the same genre–not that I object to the music, for Pete’s sake, but their...
On The Road Again
The Road Apple Roubaix has come and gone once more, and left us with memories of probably the most “spring like” day yet. Makes one think that the Vernal Equinox might not be just a fig newton of our imaginations. Beautiful morning to be out riding, and lots of the riders seemed to be having a fine time and...
Keep Calm and March On
The month of March traditionally carries a good deal of tension within its 31 days. There’s a reason people say, “in like a lion, out like a lamb.” And so far, 2026 fits the pattern. Between escalating tensions following the U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran; the Supreme Court’s recent decision on tariffs that led to a bit of...
What Every Generation Is Facing Now And How to Move Forward
Your future isn’t waiting — it’s being built here and now. Latest reports show Americans over 65 own a significant share of economic activity. So where does that leave everyone else? Millennials and Gen Z are rethinking careers designed for lifespans that stretch past 100. Gen Alpha is learning about money through apps and digital wallets before they’re old enough...
Secret Recipe
I’m here to tell you how to lose twenty pounds–give or take an ounce or two–in one fell swoop…or maybe it was when the swoops fell…whaever. I’ve been following some of the items that have been popping up on FB for the last few months, items about losing weight ( Is somebody out there trying to send me a message?)...
TAX REFUND SEASON IS HERE – DO YOU WANT TO ADD TO IT?
A leading financial information organization has said that home improvement is the best investment if you want to utilize your tax refund dollars. DeBord Plumbing & Heating wants to add to your investment. Now through April 15, 2026 we are offering 10% OFF any repair, replacement, or purchase & installation up to $500 OFF. This includes all water, sewer, heating, and...
Olym-past… and none too soon
Okay, now I can actually get something done…or not. I had forgotten how enticing it can be to watch superior athletes do their thing. The summer Olympics were far away and this was a whole new venue, with challenges we don’t often see around here–this year being “the exception that proves the rule.” Speaking as one who has been wrapping...
What You’ll See When the Tide Goes Out
Some seasons announce themselves gently. Others arrive with unexpected surprises. So far, 2026 feels like the latter — filled with news that makes us think more carefully about security, stability, and the people we care about most. Surprises can act as a spotlight. They draw our attention to what we value, where we may feel exposed, and what deserves protection....
Valentine’s Reflections on Money, Wealth, and Retirement
With Valentine’s Day last weekend, it feels fitting to reflect on our relationship with money—and how it supports the life we want to live. In retirement planning, there’s a common paradox: while money is essential, it is not the same as wealth. True wealth includes health, relationships, purpose, time, and peace of mind. In fact, the pursuit of money alone...
Definitely Uphill
Whoa !!! The Olympics certainly have some MAJOR MOMENTS ! Lindsey Vonn and her ill-fated return to the Women’s Downhill, for instance. What a thing ! She wipes out her knee, her Achilles tendon anyway; she vows to go back at it; and she does, then lucks into a fracture and gets helicoptered away. We’re talking drama here, friends. Also...
The Habits That Make Us Human
Earlier this week, the groundhog saw his shadow — six more weeks of winter, or so tradition says. It’s a familiar ritual that always seems to prompt a moment of reflection: how easily life can settle into patterns that feel repetitive. Same season. Same story. Same headlines. And yet within those routines, there’s always an opportunity to see change...
Ask Us About Indoor Air Quality
Presented by Benjamin Franklin Plumbing / DeBord’s One Hour Heating & Cooling While we wait for the warm weather to make its way to us, we need to get our houses prepared. In the last several years, a growing body of scientific evidence has indicated that the air within homes and other buildings can be more seriously polluted than the...
The “New” Food Pyramid
Nutrition has become so complicated that people feel like they need a degree just to eat dinner. One day, carbs are the enemy, the next day fat is the problem, and somehow we are all still standing in the kitchen wondering what we are supposed to make. That is why the newly released 2025 to 2030 Dietary Guidelines for...
PG-13?
As I have mentioned before, somebody out there in ComputerLand.Internet thinks that my name is REALLY Ivan and, therefore, I must be interested in “guy things” and messages. This means that I get some pretty interesting messages in my SPAM pages (there are lots of them); some having to do with topics like ED (erectile disfunction) ( Did that...
Chasing Wealth: Why It Gets More Expensive Every Year
A curious inflation story from the past year: the Cost of Living Extremely Well Index—which tracks billionaire spending—rose 5.5% in 2025, roughly twice the inflation most households experienced. Yachts, private jets, designer fashion, and trophy homes—status-heavy purchases—climbed faster than everyday costs. When spending is tied to visibility and signaling success, prices tend to rise relentlessly. As Psychology of Money author...
3 ways to take charge of your health this Heart Month
More than 350,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests occur in the United States each year. This February, during American Heart Month, the American Heart Association is calling on everyday citizens to be agents of change by stepping in as the first responder until professional help arrives. Nine out of every 10 people who experience cardiac arrest outside of a hospital die, in...
The Point of It All? Enlightenment, or at Least Calm
When we talk about the future, the focus usually lands on numbers: savings targets, performance reports, next steps. Those matter, of course, but they aren’t the ultimate point. Part of the purpose of preparing for what’s ahead is to enjoy future freedom—stepping back from the noise and finding a sense of calm and direction that feels right to you. Every...
What’s Cookin’
So I am putting together my piece on the meeting of the Twentieth Century Club of Garrettsville, when all sorts of related topics and events just happened to come up. Karma, I guess. First was an article in The Week, a news magazine which I enjoy, partly because it has some off-beat items once in a while. Such as the...
Why Most Health Changes Don’t Stick
We all know how this goes. This is the year you’re finally going to stick with it. You jump all in. You decide this is it. You’re going to the gym. You’re going to lose the 20 pounds you gained. This is the year. You buy the new workout clothes. The new shoes. The new water bottle. You feel ready. Week one....
Avoiding Common Furnace Issues
Provided By DeBord’s One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning Taking care of your furnace is especially important over the winter season when your unit is working its hardest to heat your home properly. Knowing what winter furnace issues to look out for, and how to fix them, is key to keeping your family safe and comfortable. As a homeowner, there...
Bbbbrrrrrrrrrr
Well, here we are again. We definitely DO NOT need Greenland. We’ve already got the weather and claiming anything else would be a pile of brown stuff–or white stuff, as the case may be. Anyone who’s not seeing climate change as a real thing, obviously does not have a real firm grip on reality. Hotter summers, colder winters–hmmm, what’s that...
The Most Honest Prediction for 2026
If it feels like every week brings a new plot twist—geopolitical shifts, emerging tech, policy changes, breaking news—you’re not imagining it. The world’s moving fast, and the forecasts keep coming. But the most honest prediction of all? Nobody knows exactly what’s next. And that’s okay. In fact, it’s expected. Uncertainty is part of every financial environment. What matters more is...
Beat exercise boredom
Exercise is essential for good health. But it can be challenging to find the motivation to get moving. It is easy to cite a lack of time for a failure to exercise, but boredom also might be to blame. Harvard Health says any activity can become tedious psychologically, even if a person knows it will benefit them physically. Boredom may...
J-E-LL-O
Don’t try this at home. Are you seeing all of the latest hype about the “jello trick” ? It has replaced the “Pink salt trick” online and all over as the latest means of reducing one’s overabundance of avoirdupois (fat of one sort or another, in various locations) . If one just watches the pitch for these products, one might...
Don’t Just Think. Do.
January brings twelve fresh months and a quiet challenge to make them count. And though many resolutions this time of year focus on getting fit, true fitness strengthens every aspect of your life—physical, emotional, and financial—keeping them in balance. To highlight that, a recent Empower survey called “Money on the Mind” found that Americans spend nearly four hours each day...
Signs and Portents
Christmas trees abandoned on the “devil strip”. Wrappings and tinsel in the weekly trash pick-ups. Peppermint and/or chocolate overload. But the surest sign that Yuletide has truly passed is the appearance of Valentine's Day promotions on the shelves at Wal-Mart. Keep your eyes open for the Easter Bunny, he’s up next. And, of course, every news outlet is offering up...
Finish 2025 Strong, Step Powerfully Into 2026
Every year leaves a trail of numbers behind—evidence of choices, effort, and focus. Each contribution, payment, and investment of your resources becomes part of a much bigger picture: the story of how daily discipline transforms into lasting progress. Steady, thoughtful action has a quiet brilliance that can compound over time. This final stretch of the year can be a strategic...