Local Opinion Editorials

The promotional poster for Am I OK? features a close-up of Dakota Johnson’s face as she cries beneath her heavy bangs. It looks like one of those influencers who, for some reason, film themselves crying, often in their cars. . . Read More

Hit Man was an instant hit for Netflix and I was excited to see it. After screening the film, however, I think it’s clear that its success comes down to the performance of Glen Powell, the “It Man” of the moment. . . Read More

If you’ve retired, you may have thought you closed the book on one chapter of your life. But what happens if you need to “reverse” your retirement? Due to higher inflation and rising interest rates, many retirees are taking out more money from . . . Read More

By the time you reach retirement age, you may have accumulated a 401(k), IRA and other investment accounts, along with insurance policies and physical properties. You’ll use some of these assets to support your retirement, but the rest may end up . . . Read More

"IF," a whimsical children’s film by John Krasinski, explores themes of childhood, grief, and imagination but falters due to unresolved story elements. Performances by Cailey Fleming and Steve Carell stand out, although Ryan Reynolds as Cal feels miscast. . . Read More

Younger workers starting their careers face important financial decisions, focusing on three key areas: paying off student loans, saving for short-term goals like weddings or home purchases, and saving for retirement through employer-sponsored plans like 401(k). . . Read More

I sometimes wonder if John Green is the best thing to come from Indiana. He writes the voices and experiences of teenagers beautifully, is a passionate advocate for mental health, and he plays the gym coach in the latest movie made from one of his . . . Read More

I do not generally find war movies appealing, so a film about the violent end of American democracy was a hard sell. I do, however, love journalism stories and Alex Garland’s blockbuster Civil War depicts the crucial role of journalists. . . Read More

You might not have thought much about beneficiary designations — but they can play a big role in your estate planning. When you purchase insurance policies and open investment accounts, such as your IRA, you’ll be asked to name a beneficiary, and, . . . Read More

On the heels of Women’s History Month, a string of movies dropped that tell the stories of women making changes, both political and personal. Among these projects, I found a couple of movies featuring strong performances and thin plots as well as . . . Read More

The month of April has a variety of titles, meanings, and sayings, and some are contradictory with each other. For example, April is a spring month in the northern half of the world and a fall month in the southern half. . . Read More

Whether you are in the mood for a classic romcom, a bizarre satire, or a moody miniseries, the major streamers have new content for you. In Netflix’s Irish Wish, Maddie (Lindsay Lohan) has fallen in love with an author whose book she edited so well . . . Read More

You’ve probably heard stories about fortunate investors who “get in the ground floor” of a new, hot company and quickly make a fortune. But while these things may happen, they are exceedingly rare and often depend on hard-to-duplicate circumstances . . . Read More

Spring is almost here, which means it’s time for some spring cleaning. This year, in addition to tidying your home and surroundings, you might want to consider sprucing up your financial environment, as well. . . Read More

The close of awards season brings a peculiar moment with few good new movies, but award-winners getting rereleased or hitting streaming platforms. I write from the week before the Academy Awards, but the paper will not come out until afterward, so . . . Read More

“Save for a rainy day” is an old piece of advice — and a good one. But is it possible to save too much? To begin with, what defines a “rainy day” in terms of financial needs? . . Read More

As we begin the new year, you may be receiving various tax statements from your financial services provider — so it’s a good time to consider how your investments are taxed. . . Read More

I must start by admitting that this selection is not close to exhaustive. Most streaming services have a collection of shows and movies celebrating Black Joy, Black History, Black comic book characters, and a full spectrum of creativity. . . Read More

Mean Girls (2024) is a movie based on a Broadway musical, based on a movie, based on a book. I have not seen the musical on stage, but I have read the book (Queen Bees and Wannabes), and the first movie came out when I was barely still in high school. . . . Read More

Now that we’ve reached 2024, you might be thinking about your goals and hopes for the new year. But in addition to whatever personal resolutions you might make — volunteering, going to the gym more, learning a new language, and others — why . . . Read More

As promised, this week I will cover Candy Cane Lane and It’s a Wonderful Knife, but I also had time for Christmas As Usual. I want to wish Waynedale a very happy holiday season, and I hope for a great year of movies (and life) in 2024. . . Read More

Who knows where the time goes? We’ve reached the end of another year, so it’s appropriate to reflect on the nature of time and how it affects us. And time certainly is a key element in the pursuit of your financial goals. . . Read More

Millions of people are eyeing a fresh financial start as the new year nears. With 67% of Americans planning to make a financial resolution in 2024, paying off debt is the most common goal. . . Read More

Once again, it’s the season of generosity. In addition to considering gifts for your loved ones, you might want to think about charitable gifts as well. But what should you know before making gifts to charities? . . Read More

Preparing for this issue, I created a list of new Christmas movies to review and, once I crunched the numbers, realized that I would have about 80 words per movie if every title made the cut. . . Read More