Posts

Harold’s Blog: First Council Meeting of 2020, Lantern Festival and More

Cary, NC — This was my first busy week of the year. Read more

Five Strategies for Tax-Efficient Investing

Cary, NC – After factoring in federal income and capital gains taxes, the alternative minimum tax, and possible state and local taxes, your investments’ returns in any given year may be reduced by 40% or more. Here are five ways to potentially lower your tax bill.

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Harold’s Blog: Cary’s Economic Forecast, Town Manager’s Report and More

Cary, NC — This is my first post in two weeks due to the holiday break. Most of that time was spent gathering information for my State of Cary address which I will deliver for the first time in late January. Read more

Education

Bill Fletcher: Strategic Plan for the Future, Bus Driver Pay Raise and More

Wake County, NC – Thoughts for the start of 2020 from Bill Fletcher, Member of the Wake County Board of Education.

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Downtown Cary

Harold’s Blog: Downtown Cary Photography, Mayors Meeting and More

Cary, NC – There were only a few activities this week as things wind down for the holidays.

Monday – Mayors Association

Monday I joined council members Smith, Yerha, and Liu as well as several Cary staff members at the Mayors Association holiday dinner in Wake Forest. All participants paid their way except the mayors whose dinner was included in their annual dues. There were about 150 people in attendance.

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Money Matters

Annuity Options: Choices Abound for Today’s Retiree

Editor’s Note: Briant Sikorski from Stratos Wealth Partners in Cary contributed this article.

Cary, NC – Annuities have grown in popularity thanks to the growing population of retirees and their interest in lifetime retirement income and living benefits options.  Yet when considering the purchase of a variable annuity, it is crucial that individuals understand the product’s features and their associated fees.
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Cary Mayor

Harold’s Blog: Cary Town Council, Cary Christmas Parade and More

Cary, NC – This week was eventful and busy.

Monday’s meetings were moved to Tuesday so that I could attend a big event for my wife.

Tuesday – Preparing for Council Change

Tuesday I contacted council members to hear of concerns or questions about Thursday’s agenda. There were some concerns about the Ivey-Ellington house in the Developer agreement for the Harrison Avenue and Chatham proposal. Later in the day I met with managers and directors to go over the agenda. We talked about the sequence of events for the oaths and the business meeting. I believed at the time the meeting would last until 9:30.

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Cary Mayor

Harold’s Blog: Wall of Honor, Cary’s Economic Future and More

Cary, NC – Activities picked up this week as we began the Christmas break countdown.

Meetings scheduled for Monday and Tuesday were cancelled.

Wednesday – Cary’s Economic Future

Wednesday at noon was the Town of Cary annual employee luncheon which was held in the Herb Young center. Employees were treated to great food in an informal atmosphere that included couches. I started the remarks by introducing council members and thanking employees for all they have done this past year and all they will do in the coming year. Cary is blessed to have an incredible staff. They are truly the best of the best.

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Money Matters

Money Matters: Buying Life Insurance – What Kind and How Much?

Cary, NC – Finding the middle ground between being “insurance poor” and unprotected requires assessing real needs and choosing products that are affordable. This article introduces different types of insurance products and the role that they can play in a personal financial plan. Read more

Cary Mayor

Harold’s Blog: Hometown Spirit Award, Cary Town Council Meeting and More

Cary, NC – This week was much busier than last week with intergovernmental meetings and events.

Monday – Mayors Association

Monday I contacted council members about any questions or concerns they may have had about Thursday’s upcoming agenda. The agenda was fairly straight forward so there were no questions. However, more than one council member expressed concerns about the number of apartment proposals we are getting. Later in the day I met with staff to go over the agenda. After the agenda meeting, I met with the town manager for my weekly one-on-one. We discussed several topics including the mall proposal and the potential community center that could go on the site.

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