Evan Cooper
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Articles by Evan Cooper
Students, local residents focus on election priorities
As the 2026 midterm elections approach, voters are reflecting on what issues are most important to them. North Carolina adults are most concerned about the national economy, according to an Elon University Poll published in September 2026.
NC coastal fish stocks not viable for long term, judge says
North Carolina failed to protect the state’s coastal fisheries, according to a state superior court ruling. None of the 13 state-managed coastal fish stocks are viable for long-term use. Judge Brian Collins ruled in favor of the Coastal Conservation Association of North Carolina following a six-year lawsuit. According to the court’s ruling, the state mishandled the coastal fish stocks and caused depleted populations of southern flounder, shrimp, speckled trout and more.
Recuerdos cocinando con familia inspira una clase práctica de cocinar
Cada jueves en la mañana en Colombia, la familia Montoya Posada se reunía en la casa de la abuela. Más de 20 personas compartan tiempo juntos y, sobre todo, cocinan el almuerzo. Elon estudiante de último año Camila Montoya Posada nació y creció en Medellín, Colombia, en una cultura donde la cocina forma una parte importante de la identidad familiar. La primera vez que ayudó en la cocina tuvo seis años.
Memories of cooking with family spark hands-on cooking class
Every Thursday morning in Colombia, the Montoya Posada family would gather in their grandma’s house. Over 20 people spending their time together and most importantly, cooking lunch. Elon senior Camila Montoya Posada was born and raised in Medellín, Colombia, in a culture where cooking is a large part of their identity. The first time she helped in the kitchen was at six years old. “I’m sure before that if I wasn’t actively helping I was there sitting somewhere, just watching,” Montoya Posada said.
Town of Elon railroad crossings to close starting Sept. 21
Four town of Elon railroad crossings will be closed starting at 7 a.m. on Sept. 21, according to the town of Elon. York Road, Oak Avenue, Williamson Avenue and Church Street will be closed to pedestrian and vehicle traffic. The crossings will remain closed for at least two or three days. The tracks will remain active during construction. The town of Elon website recommends pedestrians use the underpass tunnel located at East Lebanon Avenue and East Trollinger Avenue.
Students and clubs connect at Fall Organization Fair
Students and on-campus clubs filled Young Commons for Elon University’s 2026 Fall Organization Fair. Hosted by the Office of Student Involvement, the Organization Fair is a chance for students to see the different on-campus clubs and organizations open to them at Elon.
Gov. Stein vetoes controversial elections reform bill
Gov. Josh Stein vetoed a sweeping elections reform bill that would reduce early voting days and expand the state auditor’s authority in elections. The legislation now heads back to the state House of Representatives.
Students, community reflect on death of performing arts professor
Longtime Elon University Performing Arts professor Carroll “Chip” Johnson died Aug. 11, 2026, according to his obituary from Forbis & Dick Funeral Service. Johnson graduated from Rollins College with a bachelor of arts in Theatre Arts and received a master of fine arts in Acting and Directing from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Johnson was an active member of the Elon performing arts department, working as an adjunct professor of theatre for nearly 30 years.
Director of bands leaves Elon University mid-summer
After three music department staff members left Elon University during the summer, KC Carter — a drum major for Elon’s Fire of the Carolinas Marching Band — said they were concerned about the future of the band. “In the beginning there was kind of radio silence, and there was a lot of confusion from everyone,” Carter said. “My co-drum major, Alana Driver, she’s been my rock but we were talking to each other a lot and being like ‘What’s going on? What do we do?
Elon University’s SGA prepares for school year, aims to increase presence on campus
As the class of 2030 arrives at Elon, the Elon University Student Government Association is preparing for another year of representing students on campus. SGA regularly works with university administration to advocate for student needs and allocate funding to student organizations. Junior Tyler Mastrangelo, vice president of communications, said that while some students may only know SGA for funding student organizations, SGA can be a connecting point for students.
Elon University class of 2030 moves into Global Neighborhood
Energetic music echoed throughout Global Neighborhood as the Elon University class of 2030 arrived on campus the morning of Aug. 21. Jackson Tremblay from New Hampshire said he is feeling prepared for the year ahead and has been anticipating moving into his new dorm. “I’m excited, it’s gonna be a great year and what better place to do it than at Elon,” Tremblay said.
Elon University welcomes incoming freshmen to Colonnades Neighborhood
The class of 2030 arrived at Elon University the morning of Aug. 21, with many looking forward to the year ahead. Austin White came from Cincinnati, Ohio, and said she was looking forward to competing with the Elon track and field team. “I’m just excited to be here. I’m excited to start this new journey in my life,” White said. White said she made sure to pack her iPad and computer before moving in, as it was something she’d need for her biology and psychology classes.
Elon University Performing Arts professor dies
Elon University Performing Arts professor Carroll “Chip” Johnson has died, according to the department. “With his gentle, easy-going manner and his wonderful sense of humor, Chip was a beloved teacher and colleague in the Department of Performing Arts for many years,” the Elon Department of Performing Arts said in social media posts Aug. 18. A memorial service will be held at Christ United Methodist Church in Greensboro on Sept.
The 'Bedsore' Approach to Advisor Retirement Marketing
Since achieving organic growth seems to be the holy grail of advisor marketing, let me share a two-part successful growth formula I’ve gleaned from watching TV shows popular with my fellow baby boomers. First, identify a simple, focused theme or message that resonates with a narrowly defined target audience, then hammer away. Let me explain.
Rational and Irrational FORO
FORO, or fear of running out of money, is a constant low-level (and sometimes high-level) anxiety felt by countless retirees. For many, it is a major reason for spending less than what their advisors and academic research suggest they can safely spend. A recent study in the academic journal Financial Planning Review by David Blanchett, the head of retirement research at Prudential Financial, may provide insight into this phenomenon by examining actual spending patterns in retirement.
N.C. attorney general will not sign new Duke Energy settlement
North Carolina Attorney General Jeff Jackson is not joining a proposed settlement submitted by Duke Energy Carolinas, the largest electricity provider in Alamance County. Jackson acknowledged the concessions Duke Energy has made, but he was not satisfied with the proposed rates, according to a press release by the North Carolina Department of Justice. “Duke started this case asking families for an 18% increase. We pushed back, and now its own filing shows 9.5%,” Jackson stated in a press release.
What Surprises Retirement Guru Ken Dychtwald
Decades before the study of retirement became the “thing” it is today, a 24-year-old Ken Dychtwald turned his psychology doctoral thesis into a book, Bodymind. His seminal 1977 study of how our physical and mental states interact and influence one another led him to establish the SAGE Project, one of the first preventive health research projects in the U.S. designed to improve the physical and mental well-being of older adults.
Is The Great Wealth Wealth Transfer a Mirage?
If estimates from Cerulli Associates pan out, about $124 trillion will be on the move between now and 2048 in one of history’s most significant generational wealth transfers. The money tidal wave will flow from the last of the Silent Generation (born between 1928 and 1945) and retired baby boomers to their heirs. But what if the expected tsunami turns out to be just another ordinary day at the beach?
Alamance County navigates ongoing statewide drought
With much of North Carolina having faced drought conditions for several months, Audrey Thompson, a farmer at T5-Farms, said the drought has added extra steps to work on the farm. “The main thing that it affects is our timing of getting things in the ground when they need to be, because in order to work ground up we need it to be a certain level of moisture,” Thompson said. “It’s also keeping water to all of our animals, like the pigs always have mud to be in.
North Carolina teacher pay decreases since 2024-25 school year
As North Carolina remains the only state without a budget, it is also the only state where teacher salaries have decreased since last year. According to a report by the National Education Association, North Carolina’s average teacher salaries decreased by 0.58% in the last year. The national average salary increased by almost 3%. According to the report, North Carolina ranks 46th in the nation for average teacher salaries in the 2025-26 school year, down from 43rd last year.
Policies differ across departments as Elon integrates AI
As Elon University continues work to integrate artificial intelligence on campus, professors and students have varying degrees of adoption. Elon junior Emmaline Cousins, a public health major, said she frequently uses AI in her personal life but avoids using it for the majority of her school work. “I think using it in a way of researching health topics is not the best way to use AI, because it’s a chat box telling you information based on the algorithm,” Cousins said.
Elon University’s Student Government Association appoints new senators, finance board members
Elon University’s Student Government Association appointed six senators and two finance board members, as well as elected two current senators as the new speaker pro tempore and parliamentarian at the April 16 business meeting. Sophomore Chris Guider was elected speaker pro tempore and junior Murphy Davis was elected parliamentarian.
The Case for Daily Money Management
Family offices aside, RIA firms and hybrid practices generally don’t pay bills or perform other everyday money-related tasks for clients who find those chores increasingly burdensome as they age. The reason most financial advisors don’t get involved in this aspect of personal finance is simple: paying bills and filling out forms is time-consuming and not especially lucrative, per se. But maybe it’s time for advisors to rethink the service.
The Big Retirement Question: How Am I Doing?
Advisors are on the receiving end of lots of retirement stories based on research and survey results. Some are fun-to-read fluff, like the endless lists of the best and worst places to retire. Others are more substantive and provide information that can help advisors and investors improve retirement planning and outcomes.
NC electricity costs, consumption expected to rise
North Carolina electricity bills have risen 22% since 2020, according to a February report from the North Carolina Energy Policy Task Force. With data centers being proposed across North Carolina, those costs could rise even more. Currently, North Carolina hosts data centers from companies such as Google, Meta and Apple. With generative artificial intelligence and cloud computing projects requiring high levels of electricity, more power will be needed to maintain operations.
Elon University ranks 9th for on-campus technological integration
Elon University is ranked the ninth best high-tech college campus by University Magazine, a publication that reports news about colleges and universities to inform students and prospective students. It is the highest ranking high-tech campus in the state of North Carolina, above Duke University at twelfth. According to University Magazine, the ranking was based on how technology on campuses interacts with students to improve learning.
Why the Best Retirement State Rankings Miss the Point
If cable TV wasn’t being battered by the same economic forces that have bludgeoned print media, radio and network television, I think there would room for a channel focusing on what could only be called retirement porn. No, it wouldn’t feature sagging bodies cavorting on a beach. Instead, there would be nonstop programming about retirees going on cruises, having cosmetic surgery and looking for the best cities, towns and states in which to retire.
Why 80% of Widows Fire Their Financial Advisors
A variation on the question that baffled Freud is also plaguing advisors. Sigmund Freud, the father of psychoanalysis, once famously admitted that the question that stumped him was: “What do women want?” The odds are good that many male financial advisors are stumped, too. Research by some of the nation’s largest money managers finds that as many as eight in 10 widows change advisors after their husband dies.
Annual Elon Cares cabaret raises money for HIV/AIDS relief
Powerful harmonies, flamboyant choreography and a lively tap number. As the opening number said, “anything for the gays.” The Elon University performing arts students hosted their 19th annual benefit cabaret, Elon Cares, on Jan. 14 in Yeager Recital Hall at 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. The cabaret was in support of the Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS charity. The event organizers aimed to raise $2,000 for the charity, and reached their goal before the second show began.
Morningstar's Christine Benz Wins First-Ever 'Realie' Award
Joining the chorus of umpteen “Best” awards the financial media has concocted over the years, I am announcing the creation of the Annual “Realie” Award. The Realie honors someone for their contribution to making retirement better for real retirees. Unlike the industry’s other awards, this one is the ultimate in understatement (i.e., cheapness), coming as it does from a retired financial writer.
Health Crisis Risk Threatens Retirement Savings Plans
My wife and I recently watched a 60 Minutes segment in which Norah O’Donnell interviewed longevity specialist Dr. Peter Attia. He noted that at age 75, “both men and women fall off a cliff” physically and cognitively. The two of us — collectively in the middle of a spate of middling medical issues, including minor surgeries, kidney stones, and disc problems — looked at each other knowingly. I bring up the issue of physical and mental decline because it is the big unknown in retirement.
Trump Should Resist Regime Change Calls on Venezuela
Argument An expert’s point of view on a current event. U.S. President Donald Trump with U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance, U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick and U.S. Secretary of Treasury Scott Bassent while meeting with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington on Nov. 18.
Washington Post reporter discusses importance of political journalism
Natalie Allison ’13 examines her journey as a political reporter and its importance in politics When working at the Burlington Times-News as a crime reporter, Elon alum Natalie Allison ’13 never expected she would one day be flying on Air Force One as a member of the Washington Post White House press team. Allison spoke to attendees at Elon University on Nov.
Rising Insurance Costs Threaten Retirement Plans
In 2026, insurance costs will rise to a degree that may make many retirees rethink their income needs. A few months ago, I wrote about a major retirement expense that rarely attracts much attention—the high cost of insurance coverage. Whether it’s premiums for Medicare Part B, for supplemental health coverage plans, drug coverage, long-term care insurance, auto insurance or homeowners/renter’s insurance, the total is often surprisingly high. And it’s getting higher.
What if the Retirement ‘Crisis’ Isn’t?
Although the term “retirement crisis” was used occasionally before the 2008 financial meltdown, since then it has become the generally accepted way to describe Americans’ ill-preparedness for living in retirement. Simply put, the “crisis” view posits that most of us haven’t saved enough during our working years to provide for a secure standard of living once we stop working.
A Role Model for Advisors
The long-time personal finance columnist may not have been a financial advisor, but he was an outstanding advisor role model. He knew it was coming, and his readers knew it was coming, but when I learned that long-time personal finance columnist Jonathan Clements died last weekend, I still couldn’t believe it. I was hoping that a Hollywood-like, happy-ending twist would somehow provide a reprieve for someone who positively shaped the lives of countless people, but real life is rarely like a movie.
Elon Q&A surpasses 1-year goals
Over a year after Elon University launched the artificial intelligence platform “Elon Q&A,” the service is still connecting Elon students and faculty to Elon alumni, fostering connections and allowing alumni to give back to their alma mater. Elon Q&A uses AI to find keywords in questions asked by students and faculty, then find matching alumni to answer the question. Kendra Haskins, senior director of Alumni Engagement, said the platform is kept simplistic to allow for easy access.
Elon Q&A supera las metas de un año
Traducido por El Centro Más de un año después de que la Universidad de Elon lanzara la plataforma de inteligencia artificial “Elon Q&A”, el servicio sigue conectando a estudiantes y profesores de Elon con exalumnos de la universidad, fomentando vínculos y permitiendo que los exalumnos retribuyan a su alma máter. Elon Q&A utiliza IA para encontrar palabras clave en las preguntas hechas por estudiantes y profesores y luego busca exalumnos que puedan responder.
What Business Sectors Use International Arbitration and Why? | JD Supra
What industries use international arbitration most frequently? International arbitration is used across a broad range of industries, but statistics from the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) and the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) — two prominent arbitration institutions — show that certain industries tend to utilize international arbitration more than others.
Impacts on Retirees and Advisors
Otto von Bismarck was one tough keks (that’s “cookie” in German). After leading Prussia, defeating France in war and unifying Germany, the strong-armed leader became the country’s first chancellor and is credited with saying that laws are like sausages: it’s best not to see them being made.
Elon University students, faculty adjust to updated Moodle interface
As fall semester classes start at Elon University, students and professors are getting their first look at Moodle 4.5, the latest update to the learning platform. Kelly Reimer, senior director of Teaching and Learning Technologies, declined an interview but wrote in an email statement to Elon News Network that the new update improves accessibility, modernizes the text editor and improves the user interface — also known as UI.
Elon University welcomes incoming freshmen to Global Neighborhood
Updated as of 1:20 p.m. on Aug. 22 to include video. The Elon University class of 2029 moved into the Global Neighborhood on the morning of Aug. 22. Reese Kimball, a freshmen from Chapel Hill, North Carolina, said she enjoyed the welcoming environment of Elon. “It just felt really friendly, very welcoming,” Kimball said.
'Annuity Yoda' Tamiko Toland Talks Annuity Pros, Cons
My wife and I are peculiar. No, we aren’t cult members, nor do we wear parkas in the summer or make art out of lint—not that I’m passing judgment on any of those things. It’s more about not feeling compelled to do something because everybody else is doing it or the obverse, which is doing what we think makes sense, even if few others think so. Case in point is buying an annuity. We’re among the minority of Americans (maybe 10%, according to estimates) who own an annuity.
Elon University study abroad participation reaches over 94%
Dean of Global Education hopes to increase access to global experiences Elon University ranked second for undergraduate study abroad participation among U.S. doctoral universities, according to the Institute of International Education Open Doors Report. The institute reported that an estimated 94.3% of Elon students studied abroad by the end of the 2022-23 academic year.
Delivering What Many Retirees and Pre-Retirees Want: Just Advice
Given the centrality of advice in the work of financial advisors, it’s ironic how peripheral advice has been in the economics of advice providers. Before the adoption of the so-called Merrill Lynch rule, effectively in 1999 but officially since 2005, providing advice was considered incidental to providing brokerage services.
A Retirement Wake-Up Call for Advisors
I have a confession that probably will make CFPs go “tsk-tsk” — my wife and I never have had a formal, written budget. In our defense, let me say that we always paid our credit card bills in full, only went into our checking account credit lines once or twice by accident, saved steadily and heftily, and paid our kids’ tuition at two top-tier colleges and a good chunk of their expenses for two graduate degrees.
Elon University HealthEU center construction delayed by weather
The HealthEU center has shifted its opening to fall of 2026 due to weather causing delays in construction. The center is being built on Elon University’s Innovation Quad, and was initially set to open in summer of 2026 when the project was announced in the spring of 2024.
Hedge Fund Expert Simon Lack Exposes Investment Hype
Retirees would do well to remember that the investment world is full of BS—both in the Bachelor of Science, math-oriented sense of those letters and in the more usual sense too, even if Wall Street does a great job of disguising the hype component by shrouding it in an aura of mastery, mystery and smug self-assurance. With all signs now pointing to a rocky and volatile climate for investing for who knows how long, it’s vital that retirees sharpen their olfactory skills.
Four new Living-Learning Communities to open Fall 2025 at Elon University
When rising sophomore Darcy Rubin was applying for her first-year housing, she applied to the Sustainable Living Living-Learning Community. She said she wanted a community that would support her and hold her accountable, and didn’t want to miss out on the opportunity. LLCs are groups of students living in the same residential area, who often share the same passion, interest or academic focus.
A Hidden Challenge in Retirement Planning
Based on my limited experience, anecdotal evidence and the emphasis on investments in the advisory business, I believe there is a huge unaddressed elephant in the retirement planning room—the life-changing stresses and unexpected and hugely expensive costs that often come with end-of-life and sudden major medical issues affecting oneself, one’s spouse or one’s parents. Let’s call it the “care bomb.” My experience with the issue comes from completing two formal financial plans.
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