Middle East, Middle America, and perspective
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Middle East, Middle America, and perspective

Middle America is feeling the effects of rising tensions in the Middle East, uncertainty over the current state of inflation and its impact on interest rate policy, and the prospects for continued economic growth. I define Middle America as those persons who have enough money to care what happens to their portfolios and economic situation,…

Optimizing your Social Security benefits
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Optimizing your Social Security benefits

The number of interesting, talented, intelligent, and aging (notice I didn’t say “aged”) people who currently live in Gulf and Franklin counties is quite remarkable. And that number is increasing, literally, on a daily basis. I was asked by one of my pickleball friends to address, “When to start taking Social Security.” Within my word…

Don’t lose your step-up

Don’t lose your step-up

Probate can be a lengthy and expensive process. Some people avoid it using sophisticated strategies by paying an attorney to create and monitor documents and situations. Some people, with good intentions, try to avoid it with as little cost as possible by simply adding the name of their beneficiary(ies) to their deeds and/or accounts. This…

Owl Cafe reopens with new look
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Owl Cafe reopens with new look

Apalachicola’s famed Owl Cafe, which dates back to around 1914 with its founding by a pair of Greek immigrant brothers, has gotten a facelift. After closing for remodeling Jan. 1, the restaurant had a soft reopening Monday, after completing in fewer than two months a whirlwind set of renovations by owner Forgotten Coast Hospitality Group,…