Financial Intimacy

The Lucky Sperm Club - Saturday, June 27th, 2009

We know Warren Buffett has a way with money. He also has a way with words.

Wanting his kids to carve out their own place in the world, Buffett  believed that “setting kids up with a lifetime supply of food stamps just because they came out of the right womb can be harmful for them and is an antisocial act.”

He is quoted as saying that “children should not inherit vast fortunes just because they are part of the lucky sperm club.”

The Buffett siblings say that life as a Buffett was just like life for their friends. They attended the same grade school in Omaha as their mother and the same high school as their grandfathers.

Buffett gave most of his billions to the Bill Gates Foundation a few years ago. His kids will get a billion dollars each for their own charitable foundations, but hardly anything for themselves. (They will be on salary, hopefully enough to live on.)

Are the Buffett kids bitter? In an interview on CNBC, they said they couldn’t be more proud of their dad and what he’s doing with his money. His daughter says the person who would be the proudest of all, if she were alive to see it, would be their mom.

Billions of dollars to put to use making the world a better place. Good head on the childrens’ shoulders. Good values and feet on the ground. Apparently, there are constructive ways to be part of the lucky sperm club.

Brilliant Executive’s Blind Spot - Saturday, June 20th, 2009

Sandra Boss, a Harvard-educated executive, freely admits to being “a stupid” wife who believed her husband’s fantastic lies about his past and allowed him to control almost every aspect of their marriage. (more…)

When Children Feel Entitled - Saturday, June 13th, 2009

Mary and Sam helped raise their grandson while their daughter Meg and son-in-law Bob were building a clothing business. In addition to seed money and gifts totaling more than $500,000, the parents helped the young couple set up the business. (more…)

A Random Event - Saturday, June 6th, 2009

Investigators may never learn why Air France Flight 477 plunged into the ocean three hours after takeoff from Rio de Janeiro. (more…)

Romancing the Stone - Saturday, May 30th, 2009

Does he really love you if he buys you a fake diamond?

What is a real diamond? Chemically, it’s a collection of tiny crystals of carbon (more…)

The Last Goodbye - Saturday, May 16th, 2009

I went to a funeral for my friend Peter last week. He died unexpectedly at the age of 62. The sanctuary overflowed with other friends and family members. (more…)

The Dark Side of Love - Saturday, May 9th, 2009

When Oprah Winfrey interviewed Elizabeth Edwards this week, Oprah asked her if she is still in love with her husband. Edwards responded, “You know, that’s a complicated question.” (more…)

An Expensive Wedding Ritual - Saturday, May 2nd, 2009

The rehearsal dinner is often the first time that a bride and groom meet each other’s family.

A friend, whose son is getting married in the fall, recently got a closer look at her future daughter-in-law Maria. (more…)

A Race Against Time - Saturday, April 18th, 2009

Midway through the meeting, Colin’s cell phone buzzed. Text from his sister Jan: “Dad’s in the hospital. Heart attack. Operation tomorrow.” (more…)

An Ex-husband and a Dog - Sunday, April 12th, 2009

I ran into my friend Carol in the park the other day. She had celebrated her 55th birthday by filing for divorce after years of marital unhappiness. First, she had waited for the children to grow up. Then she waited for the grandchildren. (more…)

copyright 2009 Helga Hayse
Financial Intimacy expert Helga Hayse offers advice for women and couples about marriage, money, & relationships.