Falling property prices have pushed equities lower for the past nine months, constrained credit and ... forced British couples to stay married?

According to a study by accounting firm Grant Thornton, divorce filings have fallen precipitously in the United Kingdom. Fallout from the worldwide financial crisis has made it harder for couples to sell a jointly owned home and impairs the ability for each soon-to-be-ex-partner to start and sustain an individual lifestyle.

The U.K. Office for National Statistics put the number of divorce filings at 12.2 per 1,000 marriages in 2006 and 11.9 in 2007 -- a 26-year low.

Continue reading Real estate drop keeps marriages together

Real estate drop keeps marriages together originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 09 Jun 2009 15:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Conservative social and political groups are vowing to fight the recent California ruling in which a republican-dominated court declared that sexual preference should not bar couples from legal marriage. In an Associated Press article, the court opinion is quoted as stating that "domestic partnerships that provide many of the rights and benefits of matrimony are not enough."

In pursuance of equal footing, gay, lesbian, and bisexual investors have been seeking and "outing" corporations with gay-friendly policies and have been backing those companies in a show of financial clout. An example of the application of this forward social dynamic would be Trillium Asset Management, which has at least once scored a "perfect 10" on the Gay and Lesbian Values Index (glvindex). With an investment focus called Socially Responsible Investing (SRI), this company seeks to provide investment returns in keeping with industry standards, while at the same time maintaining "unique focus on social research and advocacy."

Corporations that have taken careful strides to bring their standards up to date with regard to societal equality appear to be gaining in popularity with gay and gay-friendly investors, as evidenced by their placement on and recognition of the glvindex. SC Johnson acknowledged it's high ranking on the glvindex in a company press release that stated in part: "To us, diversity is about building the best, most talented workforce that mirrors the marketplace, and motivating them with an environment that enables people to be themselves and contribute freely and effectively."

Continue reading Gay investors support gay-friendly corporations

Gay investors support gay-friendly corporations originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 17 May 2008 08:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

• Look for wedding dresses at consignment stores. Remember, this is something you only need to wear once! White cocktail or bridesmaid dresses are another possibility.
• DJs are substantially cheaper than bands, and you'll hear the original artists performing the original songs.
• Select a menu that takes advantage of local food, which will not require shipping.
• Employ a photography student to take wedding photos.
• Use in-season flowers to reduce florist costs.

Ways to save on your wedding originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 14 May 2007 12:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Warren Buffett got married yesterday, and if you're a follower of the Warren Buffett saga (and aren't we all, here in investing land?), you know that Buffett lived separately from his first wife, Susan Thompson Buffett, for decades. She died two years ago. This news prompted the BloggingStocks team to ask: Is Warren Buffett more billionaire, or more regular ol' guy from Omaha? Let's look at the evidence:

1. Diet. Warren Buffett feasts on hamburgers, Omaha steaks, and Cherry Coke. Advantage: regular Omaha guy.
2. Homes. Warren still lives in a home in Omaha he bought for $31,500, although he does have a vacation home in Laguna Beach. Still ... Advantage: regular Omaha guy.
3. Jet set or no jet set? Warren was famous for his modest string of Lincoln Town Cars, but he bought a corporate jet in 1989 ... and then bought a whole jet company. Advantage: billionaire.
4. Friends. Sure, Warren counts Bill Gates, fellow richest man in the world, as a friend. But they're both gigantic nerds and play golf and -- I am not making this up -- bridge rather than high-stakes poker. Advantage: regular Omaha guy.
5. Media saturation. What's this? Warren is working on his very own TV series. I know you're saying, like, ohmigod Sarah! That's so totally billionaire behavior. Ahem. But it's an animated series about investing. Haha! Advantage: regular Omaha guy.
6. Parties. Oh you're very funny. Warren Buffett at a party? As if. Advantage: regular Omaha guy.
7. Women. Warren Buffett just got married, and it's only his second wife, after all. But Astrid Menks used to be a cocktail waitress. What's more, at 60 to Buffett's 76, she's a much younger woman. Advantage: billionaire!

Warren Buffett: billionaire vs. regular Omaha guy originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 31 Aug 2006 14:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.