Evade taxes like corporations?

Can you evade taxes like corporations do?

It is difficult to claim you live outside the US when you commute from your home to work for a paycheck in your American town. Not many working Americans have found the secret yet. Congress people like Ms Bachmann (R-MN) and Mr Berman (D-CA) have given us some clues in their election disclosures. First, you take Federal government subsidies to NOT grow crops on your farm. You offset your earned income with “farm” expenses. Second, you park your money outside US. Third, you can expense all your travel and entertainment through your non-profit PAC or campaign organization. Fourth, your investments are sitting in trusts, REITS, Roth IRAs, IRAs and low-tax capital gain vehicles outside the US. Fifth, you receive gifts of the luxury items and travel you desire from admirers via PACs. Corporations use more complicated strategies to pay ZERO.  They use a PO Box only not a real physical office for their dummy front corps.

Pay your fair share of tax—NOT their share—use an IRS-OK tax shelter: http://www.amazon.com/The-Tax-Shelter-Americans/dp/1500426520

Is the Vanguard Energy Fund right for you?

Any successful portfolio must own some stocks of energy companies to capture growing global demand. As populations grow in Asia, energy demand will grow. With returns averaging over 12% since 1984, this global fund may offset poor US returns. Take one of our clients’ favorites: the Vanguard Energy Fund. This fund has expenses of only 0.38%--less than 70% that of similar funds. This fund is one of their Vanguard Top Ten: http://www.amazon.com/Vanguards-Top-Ten-mutual-funds/dp/150073909X

Is the vehicle insurance “pay-as-you-drive” right for you?
If you have noticed, vehicle insurance is now a commodity. Insurers pick their group to insure and price the product to fit the niche’s needs. Driver loyalty means little. GEICO has put many dollars into making it a household name. If you do not want to subsidize TV adverts and poor drivers, pay-as-you-drive could be your future. Metromile says it can save average drivers $500 or more but it is only available in limited markets. You must install their tracker. If you are paying $2000 a year, this might be tempting. The insurer is “excellent” by AMBest but Metromile is new. Progressive and others have similar plans. Use all your discounts to save every two years: http://www.amazon.com/Vehicle-Insurance-Beware-Double-Coverage/dp/1480027634

What is the hard part of investing?

Funny, it is doing … NOTHING—just leaving your money alone, allowing it to work for YOU. Use the Buffett strategy—buy and hold. He holds some securities for 40 years. Find out HOW to keep your money working and turn $250 a month into $6,666 per month later. Set it and forget it. Don’t let your money go on unemployment.

http://www.amazon.com/Hard-Part-Investing-Allow-money/dp/1500941425

Is an IRS-approved trust right for you?

Families who don’t consider themselves wealthy are discovering the benefits of trusts. A trust can convert your investments into tax-FREE income, unlike a 401k account. It can provide a tax-FREE legacy for your heirs without a will or probate fees. An IRS-approved trust can be simple and free to establish. It is so simple you can manage it from your computer for the rest of your life. All the income is tax-FREE from federal and local taxes. It can protect your assets from creditors. http://www.amazon.com/The-Tax-Shelter-Americans/dp/1500426520

GOP crazies

Rick Perry thinks the ISIS terrorists are walking into his backyard. The Defense Department on Friday pushed back against Texas Gov. Rick Perry's claim that fighters from the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) might have entered “a ranch in far west Texas.” Perry faulted Obama on border security and for not providing arms to Syrian rebels battling forces loyal to President Bashar Assad.

GUN crazies

Arizona gun range instructor accidentally shot dead showing girl, 9, how to fire Uzi assault rifle. http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/9-year-old-girl-accidentally-shoots-dead-gun-instructor-uzi-police-article-1.1917858#ixzz3Bb4myosd

What kind of human being would want a child to learn how to operate an assault weapon? Can this gun fetish be reversed?

What are we teaching kids today—Death is entertainment? The girl may never recover.

Have Americans gone completely mad?

Vehicle customer satisfaction scores lower

With fewer buying incentives these days, buyers are less satisfied with their purchase than in the past, according to this survey. Top marks went to Mercedes, Subaru and Lexus. Shopping is easier with the Internet but buyers are looking for incentives on their model and equipment. It may not be there since the depression ended. Buyers save up to 40% on used luxury with a guarantee from the dealer. Careful shopping and bidding wins especially when you look further from home.

SCAMS           Why are we still paying $700 Billion a year for WWII deployments?

We are paying for 164,253 of our active-duty armed personnel to be in 150 countries around the world. We have about 50,000 in Japan and 50,000 in Germany.

Are we preparing for WWII again? There are 1,208,083^[1] armed personnel in the United States. Our taxes pay for about HALF of the WORLD’s military expenditures every year. We have wasted $398.6 billion so far on the F-35 program—they can’t fly safely.

We just can’t afford to pay for everyone else’s defenses anymore.

Japan, Germany and S. Korea can pay for their own defenses.

Will Bank America fine of $16 Billion stop the next banker from crime?

If you have the chance to make $528 million, will you stop yourself from going along with other bankers in faking a deal especially when you know your employer (and the government) will pay the fine for you? If you know that you won’t go to jail (even after you admit in email you were committing fraud), would you do it again? Ask Countrywide’s CEO Mozillo.  “I have no regrets.”

This is the perfect crime!

Why does AMTRAK buy its fast trains from German Siemens?
Caterpillar’s bid was higher. Caterpillar had closed an Electro-Motive assembly plant in Canada in 2012 in favor of a new plant in Muncie, Ind. The move positioned Electro-Motive to comply with the made-in-America mandate for federally funded equipment for Amtrak. Now Siemens will buy engines from Cummins IN and assemble in CA. Profits go to Germany. Jobs to US.

Citibank still lets traders play with $ billion losses—another taxpayer bailout?

Citi has reinstated the lady who lost $ billions of subprime mortgages in the financial disaster that cost taxpayers $45 billions. Bankers have no incentive to retire these gamblers since they get bonuses and never go to jail. “I would have expected Citi to take a different path,” said Cliff Rossi, who left in 2009. “It’s unacceptable for regulators to turn a blind eye as a big bank tries to get back into the risky –- and now prohibited –- gambling that brought down our economy just a few years ago,” said Jeff Merkley, Senate Banking Committee. “Congress passed the Volcker Rule firewall to prevent exactly this type of reckless behavior. Now it’s time for regulators to step up and enforce the law.” Regulators are blinded by future golden payday? 

Citi caught stiffing clients … again

Citigroup will pay a $1.85 million fine and return more than $638,000 to customers after its securities unit failed to get the best prices for clients in about 22,000 trades over more than three years, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority said. Lucky one complained.

First Command advisor was caught forging signatures of dead clients in 2012 to empty their accounts. First Command focuses on military service members and federal employees. Redonda Russell, 66, of Fort Worth, pleaded guilty to felony wire fraud. Russell worked for First Command for 22 years before leaving the company in 2013.

IAN

41 Watchung Plaza, B242

Montclair, NJ 07042

973.746.2014

www.InsuranceAdvisorsNetwork.com

Alerts

Congress OK with TAX EVASION

Why doesn't Congress stop corps from TAX EVASION?

One reason our Reps do nothing to change the tax laws may be that there are many companies that like paying low or ZERO TAXES now! There are 20 huge companies, including drugmaker Merck, diskmaker Seagate and automaker General Motors. They reported effective tax rates of 0% or lower despite reporting a profit. So says a USA Today analysis of data from S&P Capital IQ. They don’t need to fake an offshore address to pay 12%? They pay zero at home. Why reform our tax system. Some even get a refundable credit, just like the poor with their Earned Income Tax Credit.

Pay your fair share of tax—NOT their share TOO. You can avoid paying their tax with your IRS tax shelter: http://www.amazon.com/The-Tax-Shelter-Americans/dp/1500426520

Is $250,000 – retirement fund or child care – right for you?

To raise a child born in 2013 to the age of 18 will cost you over $245,000, according to Gov. Let Gov help you have BOTH: a retirement nest egg of $250,000 and child by using compounding of your tax refund (average $3,000) or $9 a day. Compounding converts your refunds into $500,000 tax FREE. That’s worth $250,000 in 30 years. http://www.amazon.com/Tax-Refund-Millionaires-Let-Uncle-Help/dp/149595644X

Advisors failing to attract or keep women clients

New study shows nearly 24% of advisers said some portion of their female clients who had gone through the death of their husband took their business elsewhere. Nearly 29% of the respondents said they had similar experiences with women who had gone through a divorce. Firms don’t hire women advisors. Women focus on retirement goals and perhaps they realize better than men that advisor fees directly reduce their nest egg. John Bogle, founder of Vanguard, estimated that the average worker can lose 63% of their total egg because of lifelong fees. http://www.amazon.com/Are-you-ready-retirement-worst/dp/1491002662

Is the Roth 401k right for you?

When the Roth option is available, 11% of participants contribute to a Roth, up from 9.6% in 2012 and 8.1% in 2011. Roths are favored by young men. Younger workers benefit more from the Roth option. They have time for compounding to multiply their money 5 or more times. IT IS ALL FREE of tax. By salary, workers earning between $60,000 and $79,000 had the highest Roth usage at 13.6%. In 2013, employees who made Roth contributions saved more on average than their non-Roth-using counterparts: 10.3% v. 7.7% respectively.

$3,000 a year for 30 years ($99,000) is worth about $500,000 FREE of tax using a stock index fund. http://www.amazon.com/The-Working-Millionaire-Self-insure-Self-fund/dp/1460945484

Advisors don’t give refunds and can trick anyone, even governments

In 2008, Goldman lost Libya’s gov a $1 billion and still made $350 million in fees. Goldman’s Arabic salesmen gave Libya gifts like after-shave and chocolates on shopping trips for leaders. They invested in bank stocks and currency and lost. The SEC is investigating one of the schemes as a Qaddafi kickback fund that Goldman paid off. 

Time to consider alternative? Low-cost investments beat high-cost investments no matter which advisor you use: http://www.amazon.com/Pay-less-Get-more-investment/dp/1500598321

Is your advisor using the wrong retirement income strategy?

It is a mistake to move your hard-earned nest egg into bonds to avoid market volatility. Bonds are NOT safe for retirement income as advisors were taught 20 years ago. When rates go up, you will lose value—your nest egg falls 10% for each 1% move up. At least stocks beat inflation. What does Warren Buffett do so his family has enough in retirement? He says his will specifies that the executor put most of his legacy in stocks. http://www.amazon.com/Warren-Buffetts-Vanguard-Funds-Retirement/dp/1496148592

Is an international stock fund right for you?

Any successful portfolio must own some stocks of non-US companies to capture growing global enterprises like China’s search engine Baidu. With returns averaging 11% since 1981, a global fund may offset poor US returns some years. Take one of our clients’ favorites: the Vanguard International Growth Fund. This fund has expenses of only 0.48%--less than a third that of similar funds. This fund is one of their Vanguard Top Ten: http://www.amazon.com/Vanguards-Top-Ten-mutual-funds/dp/150073909X

Why we praise Wall Street convicted felons like Belfort—The Wolf of Wall Street?

We all want to be rich. Wall Street TV is giving a huge platform to the person who stole $ millions of hard-earned savings from clients of his brokerage firm 20 years ago. He is getting FREE publicity for his “motivational speaking(?)” US tour so he can earn more $ millions. And he is praised for paying his ill-gotten gains back to those he stole from. Jordan Belfort, The Wolf of Wall Street (2013) Comedy | Crime, did some time in the federal “summer camps,” and is now doing self-promotion. Why don’t we praise the bank robbers when they get out of jail? Is it class or race or just envy .

GOP crazies

A grand jury indicted Gov. Rick Perry on two felony counts, charging that he abused his power last year when he tried to pressure the district attorney here, a Democrat, to step down by threatening to cut off state financing to her office. The indictment hurts Mr. Perry’s run for Republican nominee. Perry is charged with abusing his official capacity and coercing a public servant, according to Michael McCrum, the special prosecutor assigned to the case. The long-simmering case has centered on Mr. Perry’s veto power as governor. His critics asserted that he used that power as leverage to try to get an elected official — Rosemary Lehmberg, the district attorney in Travis County — to step down after her arrest on a drunken-driving charge last year.

Christie out of NJ more than in it

NJ taxpayers are paying through the nose to keep their Gov. on the road. His admirers are living in GOP states these days. He will be in MS, ME, AL pushing for media exposure. NJ voters wish him well. They expect no more $1 million bridge whitewash reports.

GOP Gov says “my wife made me do it”

Former Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell took the stand Wednesday in his public corruption trial and wasted no time distancing himself from his wife. The Republican told the court that the day after he won the governor’s office in 2009, while dealing with post-election phone calls, he could tell that his wife, Maureen, “wasn’t as happy as I was about the result.” She worked hard during the campaign, Bob McDonnell said, “but at the same time, I could sense some tension about her impending role as first lady.” The McDonnells are both accused of trading government favors for about $165,000 worth of gifts and loans from a supplement promoter.
 

Dem crazies

LA Officials to Consider Reward Lottery in Low Voter Turnout "Crisis"

Citywide voter turnout in last year's mayoral election was 23 percent, the city Ethics Commission says. Each vote is chance at $100,000.

Will we bring back “votes for cash?”   

Which cars are dependable?

Lexus products had the best ranking because they averaged 68 problems per 100 vehicles (PP100). Mercedes-Benz took second with an average of 104 PP100, and Cadillac was third with 107 PP100. General Motors, Toyota and Honda had the most category winners. The study asked 41,000 original owners of 2011 model-year vehicles after three years of ownership. Millionaires buy used luxury—2011 Lexus costs about $21,000 in NJ. Least dependable vehicles are new or poorly designed: http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/news/2012/10/the-10-least-reliable-cars/index.htm

State Farm repairs are dangerous

"State Farm has created a culture of unsafe business practices in which consumer vehicle repairs are performed with cost-savings as the primary goal, rather than safety and reliability," Caldwell said a press conference announcing the lawsuit filed in 19^th Judicial District Court in Baton Rouge. Louisiana is the first state to file such a lawsuit but "it's a national problem," Caldwell said, and he expects other states to file similar lawsuits. He said using "after-market or junkyard parts" is dangerous because they often don't fit right or are damaged, so a second collision could result in major injuries to vehicle occupants.

Time to shop for new insurer: http://www.amazon.com/Vehicle-Insurance-Beware-Double-Coverage/dp/1480027634

Will your vehicle be stolen? Honda 5 times more likely than Toyota

For 2013, the most stolen vehicles in the nation were (total thefts in parentheses): Honda Accord (53,995), Honda Civic (45,001), Chevrolet Pickup (Full Size) (27,809), Ford Pickup (Full Size) (26,494), Toyota Camry (14,420), Dodge Pickup (Full Size) (11,347), Dodge Caravan (10,911), Jeep Cherokee/Grand Cherokee (9,272), Toyota Corolla (9,010), and Nissan Altima (8,892).

Thieves go for easy work NOT more expensive!?!

SCAMS           Why are we still paying $700 Billion a year for WWII deployments?

We are paying for 164,253 of our active-duty armed personnel to be in 150 countries around the world. We have about 50,000 in Japan and 50,000 in Germany.

Are we preparing for WWII again? There are 1,208,083^[1] armed personnel in the United States. Our taxes pay for about HALF of the WORLD’s military expenditures every year. We have wasted $398.6 billion so far on the F-35 program—they can’t fly safely.

We just can’t afford to pay for everyone else’s defenses anymore.

Japan, Germany and S. Korea can pay for their own defenses.

Mortgage mess created--no banker jail time—only $16 B, mostly lawyer pay

The people who made the mess—thousands of empty homes and bank accounts for working people—got bonuses and no jail time. Bank American’s stupid purchase of Countrywide after the crash has cost a bundle plus $16 B to settle liability (for lawyers). Little goes to those hurt financially not to mention all the lost homes sitting in mold etc. States want to demolish the properties now after they can’t be renovated and sold. What ever happened to sweat equity—give them to Habitat for Humanity for those in need?

Is user ID/password use not worth the effort anymore?

Thieves have ours already? 1.2 billion unique usernames and passwords and 542 million email addresses were reportedly stolen from 420,000 websites, according to The New York Times. The websites ranged from Fortune 500 companies down to small online retailers.

“Science fiction” in the making?

Russian scientists say they discovered plankton while studying samples from the exterior of the ISS — samples they only found because they were doing a routine cleaning of the ISS' windows. Scientists are now baffled about how these marine organisms made their way into space. How can they live in extreme cold and no oxygen? Maybe the Russians brought the cleaning cloth from home?

IAN

41 Watchung Plaza, B242

Montclair, NJ 07042

973.746.2014

www.InsuranceAdvisorsNetwork.com

Alerts

Boycott tax evaders?

UK consumers move Starbucks HQ over tax evasion

Starbucks has moved from its tax haven to London after consumer’s protests. Starbucks will move its tax base from the Netherlands to London in an attempt to banish its ‘immoral’ image. Accountant Richard Murphy said: ‘They are not paying any more tax, just paying more tax here. I don’t think they would have made the move if there wasn’t an overall tax advantage as well.’ Starbucks has said it will pay more tax in the UK as it moves its European headquarters here from the Netherlands following a row over tax avoidance.

Can protests move it back to the US?
 

Dem crazies

Dick Durbin, senior senator IL said he has written to Hospira Inc and urged the drug and medical device maker not to move its tax domicile abroad to save on U.S. taxes.

Citing recent reports that Hospira plans to buy the medical nutrition unit of France's Danone SA, Dick Durbin said in a statement he told Chief Executive Officer Michael Ball that Hospira should not "turn its back on American taxpayers and consumers by taking advantage of a tax loophole called 'inversion.'" The statement from the No. 2 Democrat in the Senate came amid growing concern in Washington with inversion transactions, which allow U.S. corporations to shift their tax home-base to a different country and cut their U.S. tax bills. "I strongly urge you and the board of directors not to move your company’s headquarters overseas, since a significant portion of Hospira’s revenue comes from U.S. taxpayers and depends on U.S. taxpayer-funded support."

Of 52 inversions and similar deals done since 1983, 22 have occurred just since 2008, with 10 more being finalized and many more said to be in the works.

Pay your fair share: http://www.amazon.com/Tax-FREE-Wealth-How-laws-free/dp/1475089236

Is a balance fund right for you?

A balance between stocks and bonds in a mutual fund produces returns of 10% over the long run with fewer negative returns. Take one of our clients’ favorites: the Vanguard Wellesley Income fund. This fund has had only two down years since 1999 and with only 0.25% expenses, has provided investors with over 10% return since 1970. This fund is managed by Wellington for Vanguard to contain 2/3 bonds producing 4-5% interest a year. It is used by many for retirement income.

This fund is one of their Vanguard Top Ten: http://www.amazon.com/Vanguards-Top-Ten-mutual-funds/dp/150073909X

Brokers targeting low-cost federal employee investment plans

Federal employees are a tempting target for financial companies. To supplement their traditional pensions, they participate in the Thrift Savings Plan, the largest 401(k)-type plan in the U.S. It oversees $418 billion for 4.6 million current and former federal employees, including the armed forces, park rangers, FBI agents and members of Congress. As in a 401(k), an employee sets aside money in a menu of mutual funds that isn’t taxed until withdrawal. Benefiting from economies of scale, the Thrift Savings Plan offers funds far cheaper than most 401(k)s. Its average fee is .029 percent -- or 29 cents per $1,000 invested vs 1.4%. The average 401(k) plan participant pays about 20 times as much for a stock mutual fund, according to a July study by the Investment Company Institute, a Washington-based mutual-fund trade group.

Don’t be deceived—low-fee beat high-fee investments: http://www.amazon.com/Unbiased-Advisors-Network-helps-tax-FREE/dp/1470106841

Credit score may double your premium

Homeowners with poor credit pay 91% more for homeowner's insurance than people with excellent credit, according to insuranceQuotes.com. Homeowners with median credit pay 29% more than those with excellent credit. People with poor credit pay at least twice as much as people with excellent credit in 37 states and Washington, D.C. West Virginia's 208% increase is the highest in the nation, followed by Virginia (186%), Ohio (185%) and Washington, D.C. (182%). The greatest differences between excellent and median credit were observed in Montana (65%), Washington, D.C. (60%) and Arizona (55%). "This is another example of why credit is such an important part of your financial life," said Laura Adams, senior analyst, insuranceQuotes.com. "Maintaining a good credit history suggests that you're a less risky customer and can lead to several hundred dollars in annual homeowner's insurance savings."

Use all your discounts: http://www.amazon.com/Homeowners-Insurance-Beware-Coverage-Policy/dp/1480100870

Long-term care insurance buyers paying more

The average buyer of LTC coverage is younger than ever before—aged 53. The insurers noticed that they preferred younger clients with a longer "runway" of premiums on average. The LTC Tree study also found that decline rates for those ages 65+ are 220% higher than decline rates for those ages 45-55—younger people are healthier. This means insurers are capturing younger people who will have to pay premiums for an average of 30 years before only 4% of them become an expense. Insurers have a longer income stream ($2000 premium for 30 years) and larger reserves of $500,000+. Consider creating your own reserve: http://www.amazon.com/Long-term-Care-Insurance-better-alternatives/dp/147006877X/

ObamaCare II

Large employers are required to provide affordable coverage beginning in 2015 or potentially face penalties. For 2014, the definition of affordability was set at 9.5% of the employee's income. Some employers will be fined if they do not offer insurance at rates their employees can handle.

Tune up your 401k: EARN 50% more Tax-FREE

Accumulate $1,000,000 free of fees and taxes.
Avoid ALL 401k plan Wealth Killers.
Use a tax-FREE account--better than tax-Deferred.
Buy low-cost mutual funds averaging 10-12%. 

     Accumulating wealth requires that we avoid high plan and advisor fees, commissions, loads and ... taxes--the Wealth Killers.
Since you have a 401k, why not earn 50% more? We avoid fees by buying ONLY the financial services we need at a discount. We avoid taxes by using an IRS-approved tax-FREE account. We reinvest ALL our earnings. We accumulate $1 million by leveraging the Miracle of Compounding over time. 

http://www.amazon.com/Tune-your-401k-EARN-Tax-FREE/dp/1490591028

SCAMS           Why are we still paying $700 Billion a year for WWII deployments?

We are paying for 164,253 of our active-duty armed personnel to be in 150 countries around the world. We have about 50,000 in Japan and 50,000 in Germany.

Are we preparing for WWII again? There are 1,208,083^[1] armed personnel in the United States. Our taxes pay for about HALF of the WORLD’s military expenditures every year. We have wasted $398.6 billion so far on the F-35 program—they can’t fly safely.

We just can’t afford to pay for everyone else’s defenses anymore.

Japan, Germany and S. Korea can pay for their own defenses.

IAN

41 Watchung Plaza, B242

Montclair, NJ 07042

973.746.2014

www.InsuranceAdvisorsNetwork.com

Alerts 

Vanguard's Top Ten

New study of wealthy people’s habits

They establish a standard of living that brings happiness but doesn't make them feel that they have to go bigger the next year. A long-range view helps quell spending urges that derail financial plans, says advisor Lisa Leonard. The wealthy "generally have an idea of where they'd like to be in two years, five years, even 10 to 20 years, and they make sure they don't outlive their assets," she says. "If they have $2 million, they don't think they can go out and buy a Lexus." Perhaps they buy a used one since they hate to lose value. They have many types of assets with low fees (index funds) and keep assets inline with goals. They invest to the max for employer pension matches. “It’s free money.” Roth IRAs produce tax-FREE wealth. 

All have a financial plan so they can get where they want to go. “How else will I know?”

They use Vanguard’s Top Ten: http://www.amazon.com/Vanguards-Top-Ten-mutual-funds/dp/150073909X

Most people can save $3,000 every year on financials

My clients have convinced me that almost everyone can save at least $3,000 a year by buying only the financials they need. Problem is, most people don't find out what they really need. Instead they rely on the salesperson to tell them. Well, you know what the barber said when asked, “Do I need a haircut?”

Now you can find out what you need!  It is easier to find unbiased information about financial services. We can learn how to buy exactly what we need not what the salesperson wants to sell. However, some people don't shop for the best value because they don't think they can save much. They think there is not much difference between one company and the next. Example: one sells exactly the same $300,000 term life for $983 versus $384.

Buy only what you need and save.

http://www.amazon.com/Save-3000-every-year-Only/dp/1500681571

Panic from 2007 hurt workers retirement

The workers who stayed in their 401(k)s from 2007 through 2012 had an average balance of $49,814 at the end of the period, 67 percent higher than the average of those who did not, the report concludes. The study also found that older 401(k) participants ran away from equities more than younger workers. The share of 50- and 60-somethings with more than 80 percent of their 401(k)s in equities declined from 32.6 percent in 2007 to 23.5 percent in 2012, while the number of younger stock lovers dropped much less, only from 60.2 percent to 57.8 percent. Young have more time to recover loss! From 2007 to 2012, the share of participants with target-date funds in their 401(k) portfolios rose from 27.6 percent to 32.1 percent. Set your 401k correctly: http://www.amazon.com/Tune-your-401k-EARN-Tax-FREE/dp/1490591028

401k plan with high fees being sued—beware employers!

Retirement plan participants at Lockheed Martin claim that the firm breached its fiduciary duty to its participants and their beneficiaries in a variety of ways, including assessing fees that were “unreasonably” high. As a class-action suit, this might have impact on your 401k plan. Fees of 2% can take up to 63% of your nest egg over time. Compounding works for the plan advisor just as much as for you. If you earn 5% and you pay 2% and inflation takes 3%, guess what, you don’t get much to live on.

You are better off on your own: http://www.amazon.com/The-Working-Millionaire-Self-insure-Self-fund/dp/1460945484

Annuities NOT appropriate for all

Many investors consider using annuities for retirement, but far fewer buy them, according to a Phoenix Insurance. Seventy-one percent of respondents said they would consider buying an annuity, citing reasons such as securing a predictable monthly income, leaving an inheritance and meeting chronic care expenses. However only 20 percent said they were actually planning to use them.

There are more flexible low-cost alternatives:

http://www.amazon.com/The-Best-Annuity-Strategy-Income/dp/1497532019

GOP crazies sound like 1950’s McCarthyism

Michele Bachmann, on radio, accuses Obama: “President Obama is trying to bring all of those foreign nationals, those illegal aliens to the country and he has said that he will put them in the foster care system,” Bachmann explained. “[W]e can’t imagine doing this, but if you have a hospital and they are going to get millions of dollars in government grants if they can conduct medical research on somebody, and a Ward of the state can’t say ‘no’ — a little kid can’t say ‘no’ if they’re a Ward of the state — so here you could have this institution getting millions of dollars from our government to do medical experimentation and a kid can’t even say ‘no,’” Bachmann said. “It’s sick.”

Bachmann also says immigrants might bring Ebola to US

“People from Yemen , Iran , Iraq and other terrorist nations are making their way up through America’s southern border because they see that it’s a green light, they can easily get in,” Bachmann warned. “Not only people with potentially terrorist activities, but also very dangerous weapons are going to cross our border in addition to very dangerous drugs, and also life-threatening diseases, potentially including Ebola and other diseases like that.”

McCarthyism had the same theme: foreigners infiltrate US with Executive’s knowledge to ruin US status quo. Lies that rallied the base were eventually condemned.

GOP buying judge elections too

Thanks to Supremes’ Citizen United, any corporation can buy influence in state judge elections now. So Koch Bros’ $$ billions are telling voters in many states that the Dem/liberal incumbents are “liberal on crime and Obama agenda.” This is sure to sway wary voters since any measure with that name is dead on arrival. In fact, Dem judges OK all crime death sentences. “We don’t need the facts. The TV adman told me so.”

GOP sues Obama for taking action then asks him to take executive action!??

Boehner after he failed to pass House support for border laws:

This situation shows the intense concern within our conference – and among the American people – about the need to ensure the security of our borders and the president’s refusal to faithfully execute our laws. There are numerous steps the president can and should be taking right now, without the need for congressional action, to secure our borders and ensure these children are returned swiftly and safely to their countries. For the past month, the House has been engaged in intensive efforts to pass legislation that would compel the president to do his job and ensure it can be done as quickly and compassionately as possible. Through an inclusive process, a border bill was built by listening to members and the American people that has the support not just of a majority of the majority in the House, but most of the House Republican Conference. We will continue to work on solutions to the border crisis and other challenges facing our country.

Then, Boehner and House went on paid vacation without taking action.

Can you survive a crash in a small car?

Tests of crash dummies show that few small cars protect you well.

Many drivers still don’t have car insurance … so keep away from them?

The estimated percent of uninsured motorists is highest in Oklahoma (26 percent) and Florida (24 percent), with the total number of drivers without insurance highest in California (4.1 million) and Florida (3.2 million).

Insurers want to use your phone to “know” your habits

Progressive and Allstate are working on apps to measure your movements. Drivewise, an Allstate app that monitors and gives feedback on driving behavior, is currently being tested on drivers in Montana , Nebraska and New Hampshire . Progressive’s app has been tested in some states, but the company has also been talking to various car manufacturers directly about installing software that can track and make judgments on driving, says David Pratt at Progressive, which aligns rates with behavior.

Use ALL your discounts: http://www.amazon.com/Vehicle-Insurance-Beware-Double-Coverage/dp/1480027634

Shoot and ask questions later is the lesson?

Theodore Wafer, a suburban Detroit man who shot an unarmed teenager on his porch, is now in the hands of the jury. Wafer, 55, is charged with second degree murder and manslaughter for shooting and killing Renisha McBride, 19, last November. He explained it was self-defense and accident—Not clear. If you need help at night in Detroit don’t go to homes.

SCAMS           Why are we still paying $700 Billion a year for WWII deployments?

We are paying for 164,253 of our active-duty armed personnel to be in 150 countries around the world. We have about 50,000 in Japan and 50,000 in Germany .

Are we preparing for WWII again? There are 1,208,083[1] armed personnel in the United States . Our taxes pay for about HALF of the WORLD’s military expenditures every year. We have wasted $398.6 billion so far on the F-35 program—they can’t fly safely.

We just can’t afford to pay for everyone else’s defenses anymore.

Japan, Germany and S. Korea can pay for its own defense.

Big Banks still “too big to manage”

If we have another financial crisis, the largest banks will need a taxpayer bailout again. They refuse to keep enough capital from their gargantuan profits to be safe. And why should they—cut benefits and bonuses—since they know that “what is good for JP Morgan is good for America .” Dodd-Frank was just a smoke screen since its regulations were never written in plain English. Besides, the regulators come from the same Street. Hey, Don't worry be happy

Walgreen puts hold on renouncing US citizenship

Treasury is urging Congress to take action to limit tax (evasion) inversions. Good luck with that. Not waiting, it is exploring ways to unilaterally block a surge of U.S. companies shifting their headquarters overseas in search of tax savings. So far IRS saw 47 companies move their “tax-reporting” address abroad. Roughly 12 more are pursuing shifts, including Abbvie, Medtronic and Mylan. President Obama calls evasion "gaming the system" while eroding federal tax collections and forcing other American taxpayers to make up the shortfall.

With Supremes decision on unlimited corp money in elections, it is possible for a foreign government to buy an election to sway US foreign policy. EG: Saudi oil money uses dummy corp to give $ billions to Paul-Jindal ticket.

Who owns your account NOW?

Continental Assurance Company to a subsidiary of Wilton Re Holdings Limited.

Premier Access Insurance to Guardian Life

IAN

41 Watchung Plaza, B242

Montclair , NJ 07042

973.746.2014

www.InsuranceAdvisorsNetwork.com

Alerts available at http://dankeppel.blogspot.com/

New tax evasion trick costs us

New corporate tax evasion trick: ‘Outversions’

Corporations re-title their real assets into a real-estate investment trust, or REIT. The move will allow corps with large real estate holdings (WalMart, McD) to cut down their debt load and save millions every year in taxes. One telecom company said it has the blessing in the form of a 'favorable private letter ruling' from the Internal Revenue Service. As former McDonald's executive Ray Kroc's used to say, the chain wasn't in the hamburger business, but the real-estate business. Too bad we can’t do it.

Don’t get stuck paying all their taxes yourself: Use the IRS-own Roth IRA §408 trust.

http://www.amazon.com/Tax-FREE-Wealth-How-laws-free/dp/1475089236/

Are ‘L-shares’ right for you?

Broker regulator, SEC, plans to examine broker sales of expensive mutual funds. One issue was the pricey share classes of mutual funds and variable annuities. Goodman cited "an explosion" of so-called "L-shares," a type of mutual fund shares held in variable annuities that have short surrender periods, but higher upfront costs. "We want to make sure these share classes aren't being chosen or marketed based on the higher commissions they generate," Goodman said. Brokers/advisors live on the fees, right?

Avoid fees; earn more; use low-cost investments instead: http://www.amazon.com/Pay-less-Get-more-investment/dp/1500598321

Only 2 out of 2,862 broad domestic stock funds were able to outperform their peers consistently over five years, according to an S.& P. Dow Jones Indices study. This means that your advisor’s past returns will not continue. Even their supercomputers will have trouble predicting the future winners. Another study by Morningstar shows that cost is best predictor of your success. Switch to low cost: http://www.amazon.com/Pay-less-Get-more-investment/dp/1500598321

Is a stock index fund right for you?

Dalbar reports that over the 30 years ended 2013 — a period encompassing the crash of 1987, 2007 recession, and subsequent market booms — equity fund investors earned an average annual return of 3.69% compared with the S&P 500 index 11.11% return. Perhaps earning the AVERAGE (11%) is not as bad as advisors (3.69%) say.

Warren Buffett recommends using a 500 index fund for his family legacy NOT broker: http://www.amazon.com/Warren-Buffetts-Vanguard-Funds-Retirement/dp/1496148592

GOP crazies have their own channel now—straight from the horse’s mouth

Former Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin has started her own subscription ($100) online network. The Sarah Palin Channel bills itself as a "direct connection" between the former Alaska governor and her supporters, with "no need to please the powers-that-be," Palin says in a video mission statement on her channel's home page. McCarthy had his radio show too.

GOP votes to sue for something GOP wanted—delay ObamaCare

A day before going on vacation and heading into the election season, Republicans in the House of Representatives passed a resolution Wednesday authorizing Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) to sue President Barack Obama for what they say has been inadequate enforcement of the health care law they oppose.

The suit would seek to make Obama strictly enforce the Affordable Care Act that Boehner has held some 50 votes to undermine or repeal. Republicans object that the Obama administration has delayed some parts of the law, particularly the mandate on employers who do not provide health care coverage.

WHAT? They object to his delay that they wanted in the first place? CRAZY

This is like the McCarthy period—everyone went crazy with fear tactics.

GOP to repeal tax on estates—Making the very wealthy’s kids feel good

If you leave over $5,340,000 per spouse because of bad planning, you pay.

Republicans are considering repeal of the estate tax, said House Ways and Means Chairman Dave Camp. GOP tried to repeal ObamaCare over 40 times too. The IRS collected $13.1 billion in estate taxes in fiscal year 2013—2 weeks of interest to China.

CA NEW annuity disclosure: Avoid cancellation charges to 12 years

California law requiring new disclosure language for immediate annuities commonly sold to seniors, language that is already required in the sale of deferred annuities. Annuity has big fee for cancellation, loss of purchasing power, and sales pressure. Better alternative: http://www.amazon.com/The-Best-Annuity-Strategy-Income/dp/1497532019

ObamaCare refund checks on the way

Insurers will refund about $330 million in premiums to 6.8 million consumers across the country in the coming weeks as a result of the Affordable Care Act. Despite GOP judges voting to recall subsidies and DEM judges affirming them, Supremes won’t decide for some time. Supremes previous OK included language that affirms federal exchanges. Consumers have saved a total of $9 billion on their health insurance premiums since 2011 because of the Affordable Care Act, according to HHS.

WellPoint Inc. raised its full-year profit forecast with more customers getting insurance  through Obamacare. Revenue rose to $18.5 billion as it added 1.6 million new members this quarter compared to a year before. Hospitals are making profits too.

Consider Vanguard Health Index—17% a year since 1984—for wealth: http://www.amazon.com/Financial-Future-Insurance-mutual-funds/dp/149355204X

Our household assets are dropping—middle class is going quickly

The inflation-adjusted net worth for the typical household was $87,992 in 2003. Ten years later, it was only $56,335, or a 36 percent decline, according to a study financed by the Russell Sage Foundation. Those are the figures for a household at the median point in the wealth distribution — the level at which there are an equal number of households whose worth is higher and lower. The net worth of wealthy households increased substantially. Another study found that 35% of people with credit records had been reported to collections for debt that averaged $5,178, based on 2013 records. Just 2.44% of card accounts are overdue by 30 days or more, versus the 15-year average of 3.82%. Most of the loss was in the value of our homes—our largest asset.

As home values go up, will we borrow on this increase or create a Tax-FREE income source? http://www.amazon.com/Tax-FREE-Retirement-code-lifetime-income/dp/1475206976

Can you afford continuing care?

Costs and benefits require research because there is no standard price list. Compare what you need to what you get beyond the lobby. Walk the halls without the tour guide. Read the family reviews. Get the state inspection reports and see Medicare.gov “Nursing Home Compare”. Plan how to pay for it: http://www.amazon.com/Long-term-Care-Insurance-Updated-Edition/dp/148274001X

Your legacy is safe only in these states

Alaska, Arizona, Florida, Missouri, North Carolina, Ohio and Texas are the only states where nonspousal (child) inherited IRAs are safe if they file bankruptcy, said Seymour Goldberg. The Supremes have decreed that if your child files bankruptcy, creditors can take the IRA you left them.

Check your wealth transfer plan: http://www.amazon.com/Your-Retirement-Spending-Plan-enough/dp/1461084016

UK unleashes unmanned missiles on roads

The UK government has announced that driverless cars will be allowed on public roads next January. Lawsuits to follow, I bet.

5 minute run is all you need!

The runners had a 30 percent lower risk of dying than non-runners, faced a 45 percent lower risk of death from heart disease or stroke, and lived an average of three years longer than non-runners. And people who maintained their running habits over time had an even lower risk of death. Surprise! People who ran at the slowest speeds for the shortest times appeared to benefit just much as people who ran faster and for longer.

67% of us waste about $468 a year on gym membership. Cancel and save.

CA wants to test doctors for drug use

A record high 46 doctors were disciplined for substance abuse last year according to the California Medical Board. "The California Medical Board only catches and disciplines a fraction of the drunk and drugged doctors practicing on patients today. Even when doctors are disciplined, patients remain in harm's way while enforcement actions take years to complete. This November, California voters have the chance to upend the status quo and save lives with Proposition 46, which would require random drug testing to catch substance-abusing doctors before patients are harmed," said Carmen Balber of Consumer Watchdog Campaign. Many dollars are lined up against Prop 46.

Before use, check your doc: http://www.amazon.com/Health-Insurance-ONLY-right-policy/dp/1480125083

SCAMS           Why are we still paying $700 Billion a year for WWII deployments?

We are paying for 164,253 of our active-duty armed personnel to be in 150 countries around the world. We have about 50,000 in Japan and 50,000 in Germany.

Are we preparing for WWII again? There are 1,208,083^[1] armed personnel in the United States. Our taxes pay for about HALF of the WORLD’s military expenditures every year. We have wasted $398.6 billion so far on the F-35 program—they can’t fly safely.

We just can’t afford to pay for everyone else’s defenses anymore.

Japan, Germany and S. Korea can pay for its own defense.

The Pentagon's 26,000 Tax Deadbeats Pose a Security Risk, GAO Says

Tax dodgers with top-secret secrets can be bribed.

http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2014-07-28/26-000-deadbeat-taxpayers-have-access-to-pentagon-secrets

All talk and no substance!

More than 20% of us spend more on our phones than our groceries!

CIA hacks Senate computers—sells its own secrets to itself—Wasted taxes

An internal investigation by the Central Intelligence Agency has found that its officers improperly penetrated a computer network used by the Senate Intelligence Committee in preparing its report on the C.I.A.'s detention and interrogation program.

IAN

41 Watchung Plaza, B242

Montclair, NJ 07042

973.746.2014

www.InsuranceAdvisorsNetwork.com

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