The beginning of a new year is a time when many people take a look at their investments to see how well they’ve done and whether they are still meeting their objectives.

Raise your hand if your New Year’s resolution this year was to finally renovate your home, to update that tired kitchen, add splash to the master bath or carve out that man cave.

Since many of us have friends or family that we’ll be mailing gifts to this holiday season, I decided it might be helpful to share a few packing and shipping tips that will save you time and frustration.

An out-of-town client contacted me the other day. He was contemplating a new job. The potential employer offered two options: be a W-2 employee or a 1099 independent contractor.

What kids need most is to be seen and valued.

Talking heads on TV tell you why you should be worried about everything from a stock market correction to a new cold war.

Would you believe your home can increase the joy in your life, strengthen your family bonds and even deepen the romance with your partner?

All children are special. Ask any parent or grandparent.

I once read that Robert Louis Stevenson gave his birthday to his friend, Annie.

Acne is caused by inflamed and infected oil glands in the skin.

Some people think of summer as the ideal time to have BBQs, spend time outdoors and go on vacation.

Dr. Seuss’s book, Oh The Places You’ll Go, has a special place in my heart.

I’m usually so busy with consignments that I rarely get a chance to go out and look for items to buy and re-sell on my own.

There are several significant issues associated with grinding your teeth. Most people who grind their teeth do so at night, while they are asleep.

In March of 2010 the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) – Obamacare – was signed into law.

I love auctions. There’s nothing more exciting than to see something you’re selling zoom beyond your expectations. On the flipside, it’s also quite possible for prices to fall far short of what you had hoped. So how, when and why would you choose auctions over selling items with a fixed price? Auctions can either be […]

An ice cream cone, a new iphone: these are NOT the tools for happiness.

I’ve had the privilege to work with a number of collectors since I started my business and I also spend a lot of time reading about different collecting trends. If you or a friend/family member have a collection of some sort or perhaps just want to start one, here are a few basic guidelines for […]

A lot of my clientele consists of retirees or people that have managed to accumulate more items than they care to maintain.

Government shutdown. Furloughs. 800,000 Federal employees idle. This is the situation as I write this.

I recently visited the University of Chicago campus in Hyde Park with my hopeful 17-year-old daughter. It was a beautiful, brisk day in Hyde Park, reminiscent of the day when I myself had visited my first college campus. I was excited about my daughter’s college journey, but also a bit saddened that the experience would […]

Time to set the record straight on records (sorry, I couldn’t resist).

Well, it’s autumn, and time to focus on clocks.

On a business trip to New Jersey a few months ago, I stopped by my aunt’s house for a visit and a good meal. As dinner was cooking, she brought down a small box of coins that were given to her by my grandfather.

Try a quick online search for “free wills,” and you’ll find numerous websites offering inexpensive or free legal documents, including wills and other estate planning documents.

Porcelain figurines are one of those collectible categories where quality and value can vary tremendously.

The U.S. stock market has been reaching record highs in May and many wonder how that can be possible when the economy is in slow growth mode and things appear so-so on the surface. Clearly political gridlock in Washington remains a concern addressing the critical needs of our country. Unemployment has become a bit better […]

My 14-year old son recently caused me to choke on my coffee when he mentioned that he would be able to vote in the next presidential election. It is a form of denial that maybe all parents have about the passage of time and their children.

Back in the day, it was just what we did. When a household item needed attention, we didn’t replace it. We had it fixed. If it needed maintenance, we made sure it got the care it required.

I was recently given a box of vintage perfume bottles to sell by a client. While they smelled nice and reminded me of my grandma, I didn’t think they would be particularly valuable.