Friday, August 28, 2015

Why borrow from China to pay for rich people's toys?

Why are we borrowing from China to pay for rich people’s ‘toys’?
$1.22 TRILLION in tax breaks—mostly to corporations and the wealthy—just in 2015. “Tax Expenditures” include deductions for mortgages on 2nd homes in Swiss alps, yachts costing $1 million, “gentleman farms,” and ‘art’ gifts to charities. This $1.22 T tax loss is GREATER than all the other things Congress spends on. We have to borrow $583 billions to make up this GAP. We have to pay $229 billions in interest on all the loans from the past. Our military spending has increased 50 percent since 9/11/1. We spend HALF of our discretionary spending on paying for the defense departments of Iraq, Turkey, Egypt, Israel, S Korea, Japan, Germany, and Ukraine. 800 bases! We buy planes and ships the military doesn’t even want. Meanwhile, roads and bridges fall—Madness.

State Farm caught ripping us off
“LifePath” target date funds are managed by BlackRock Advisors but State Farm takes 0.28% of each account for its limited role. Investors claim breach of fiduciary duties and want their money back. Target date funds use index funds and they cost only 0.05%.

Is BlackRock’s robo-advisor money management for you?
BR buys FutureAdvisor for its banks, brokerage firms, insurers and 401(k) plans to use the company's digital platform to serve mass affluent investors and millennials. The largest asset manager will share excess fees with another layer of middle people. Paying more for a robo-advisor with standard portfolios may not help you to meet your long-term goals. Many studies show the best predictor of investment success is low cost.


Tax evaders continue to use indicted Swiss banker’s firm
Americans that used Swiss banker Josef Beck to evade taxes continue to evade with indicted banker’s sons firm, just created after Josef Beck was indicted in 2012. Regulators can’t prosecute because Switzerland won’t extradite its own citizens.

Our pension benefits are undermined
State pensions had a $968 billion shortfall in 2013. Pension benefits that were promised in legal contract to state employees will NOT be paid because annual payments are skipped, according to a Pew report. Our social contract is broken.


How much of your retirement are you giving away?
Are you losing 63% of your retirement earnings to Wall Street?
Broker/advisor/trading cost 1% to 3% every year.
If you use a salesperson, costs can take over HALF of your money!
If you contribute $3,000 a year to your 401k, IRA, etc plan, you end up with:
$3,000 per year @11%    for 33 years = $1,018,177
$3,000 per year @11-1% for 33 years = $778,768
$3,000 per year @11-2% for 33 years = $613,805
$3,000 per year @11-3% for 33 years = $486,634
If you had been using a low-cost mutual fund like Vanguard you would have paid 0.17% for 17.31% annual return for the last 5 years. Your account would have more than doubled.
Tell your broker/advisor they can’t take your money anymore: http://www.amazon.com/Wall-Street-Cleans-Up-Advisors/dp/1517043255


Which investments for the market decline?
If the stock market news makes you uneasy, where should you park your long-term retirement funds? Most low-cost balanced funds will help you remain sane by avoiding the lowest lows. For instance, the Vanguard Target Date 2035 has almost doubled your funds since 2005 with less loss in 2007-8. There were ONLY 40 days from 1950 to 2007 that produced 70% of all the S&P 500 index’s total returns. That is 40 out of 14,528. We can't possibly know when to sell and buy back before the rebound. Vanguard’s Top Ten also protect your spirits and may keep up their 10% returns for the rest of your life: http://www.amazon.com/Vanguards-Top-Ten-mutual-funds/dp/150073909X

401k plans have too many options
Plans that match contributions, usually match 50% up to 6% of income. A study by Yale showed that ‘auto enroll’ and ‘auto escalation’ increased participation and amounts. However, “for every additional 10 fund options, the participation rate is lower by 1.5 to 2 percentage points,” James Choi found.

What happens if you sell and buy in a panic market?
Imagine two people who each invested $1,000 in the S&P 500 at the beginning of 1980. The first one buys once and never sells. The second one is slightly more cautious: He sells any time the market loses 5 percent in a week, and buys back in once it rebounds 3 percent from wherever it bottoms out. At the end of last week, the first investor’s holdings would be worth $18,635. The second investor would have just $10,613. HALF.

“If I had a world of my own, everything would be nonsense.” Lewis CarrollAlice in Wonderland
America’s real reality TV show: 2016 election
Carson to bomb Mexican border crossing “caves” that immigrants use!
Carson is pro-choice but against abortion but uses fetal tissue for research.  
Walker: “politicians haven’t been committed to following through on their promises."
Trump outs hedge funds: "They're paying nothing [in taxes]. And it's ridiculous."
Cruz’s satellite vs NASA’s satellites=oceans invade land in real time
Christie is sued for using deficit tax dollars for non-Gov business instead of pensions.
He spent $1 million on out-of-state security costs since 2010. $1 million on whitewash.
Christie blames Obama for heroin epidemic and market crash. Droughts? floods? Fires?


Health brokers use ObamaCare needs to grow business
Brokers say they increasingly view the ACA as an avenue toward new revenue opportunities and roles around education and communication. GOP plans to repeal ObamaCare. Will brokers’ lobbyists take Obama’s side?

Do foreign-born really steal jobs from native-born Americans?
GOP makes it sound simple. Data suggest that everyone that wants to work finds some employment but level of skills/education still determines who gets good-paying jobs. Smart and educated native- AND foreign-born are rewarded for creative work. EG: An average Entry-Level Information Technology Consultant can expect to take home roughly $61K. Machinist average $45K with overtime. According to SimplyHired.com, the average salary for a waiter in Houston is $49,000 a year, and “some can make a lot more than that.”

Fight fire with fire--RoboCaller killer

WOW—Star Trek’s Replicator?
MIT researchers created MultiFab, a relatively inexpensive 3-D printer that can print out lenses, fiber-optics, and fabric. Soon, it can do full-color models of everything from movie sets to electric motors.

Convenience that kills
Cars that don’t turn off kill 13 and car makers are sued. With keyless ignition/off/on that drivers forget and CO fills attached home killing occupants.



SCAMS
We are spending $8 million per HOUR on our wars in Iraq/Afgan. We are paying for the defense departments of Iraq, Turkey, Egypt, Israel, S Korea, Japan, Germany, and now Ukraine. Why are we going into debt with China for them? They have money!

GEICO caught discriminating—no jail time
Geico was charged with quoting inflated rates to women, low-income and non-professional-level applicants. The company agrees not to consider education and occupation in sorting coverage limits via a three-year settlement. Pays fee.

James R. Glover of White Hall, Md., Signator Towson, Md., office, Glover illegally raised $13.5 million from 125 people to invest in Colonial Tidewater Realty Income Partners LLC. Glover misappropriated approximately $840,000 from the investment money. No felony indictment. No jail. 


IAN
41 Watchung Plaza, B242
Montclair, NJ 07042
973.746.2014
Alerts 

Friday, August 21, 2015

Washington 'asks' Wall Street to stop ripping us off

Regulators tell Wall Street to stop “depleting our retirement savings.”
Advisers can keep their "conflicted" commissions, but it's time to stop harming clients by depleting their retirement savings, says the chairman of the Labor Department's hearings on its proposed fiduciary rule. "We are absolutely not banning commissions," he says, a day after the hearings concluded. "We just want everyone who is working on retirement accounts to be acting as fiduciaries." Fiduciaries are legally bound to put their clients' best interests before their own when providing financial advice.

Citi may owe you money for misleading you—no one goes to jail
Citi mislead you about a ASTA/MAT fund and the Falcon fund by claiming they were “safe,” “low-risk” and “suitable” for traditional bond investors.
Brokers/advisors should never use the words “safe” “low-risk” or “suitable” without written proof from the owners of the firm/bank/fund. Avoid the Pimps!

Can regulators control former bosses?
The Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas has named Robert Steven Kaplan, a former Goldman Sachs executive as president.
This is a revolving door—lunch with your old buddies at our expense?

Farmers kill 500,000 cows so they can raise milk prices?
Most of the food we eat is produced and controlled by just 4 “farmers.” By a 1922 law, they can band together to market products and demand “fair” prices. Agribusiness has purchased most farmland and receives $956 Billion in subsidies (our taxes) to grow or not grow depending on “incentives.” These gifts are from our “representatives” who receive cash to continue the myth of the American farmer plowing his/her 200 acres 18 hours a day. Actually many of our “reps” receive $ millions themselves.  Sweet deal!

Plague from flees at Yellowstone
A second tourist who had been visiting California’s Yosemite National Park has been diagnosed with plague. A visitor from Georgia got tested after hearing that a camp ground had been closed to spray pesticides to kill fleas that carry plague.

What is your hospital’s rank for care you need?
Mayo tops the list for many care categories. What about yours?

How can you protect someone you are taking care of?
As a caregiver, the Office for Older Americans has put out guidelines for Managing Other People’s Money. You will learn how to protect them from scams and bad financial advice. How do you maintain communication with their family members?
Who will help you when you need it?

America’s real reality TV show: 2016 election—“you just can’t make this stuff up”
Trump to end citizenship as defined in the Constitution: citizenship granted to “all persons born or naturalized in the United States.” 14th Amndt forbids states from denying any person "life, liberty or property, without due process of law" or to "deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.” Congress has failed to end “birthright citizenship” many times. Supremes might revive racist Dred Scott for GOP!
Boston thugs say they were inspired by Trump to beat up homeless “Hispanic.” 1938?
Is Trump a citizen? Friedrich Drumpf emigrated from Germany.
Carson wants to reverse 14th Amendment too—all people born in America to foreigners lose citizenship. Is Carson a citizen?

Guess that leaves the American Indians to reclaim their land! Ms Liberty back to Paris?

Christie pays for his campaign with PA contracts—No bid contracts to his friends
Walker wants Congress to repeal ObamaCare again! 54 times so far; to get elected?
Kasich will close all teachers' lounges in schools across the country. De-fund schools?
GoP promises no regulations—China explosions had no regulations either.
RubioCare will reduce cost AND coverage for all but wealthy.

It’s getting hotter, despite what GOP says
July saw the highest average temperatures since record-keeping began -- globally, not just in the United States -- the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration reported Thursday

Is the 529 college savings plan better than credits deducted from your taxes?
If your joint income is under $160,000 you may receive a greater benefit by taking the tax credit up to $2,500 than by avoiding taxes on your 529 gains. (Tax on gain of 7% on $30,000 is only $525 in 25%-bracket.) Usually the credits are more valuable than the tax savings from a 529 distribution. Plus, 40% of the credit (up to $1,000) is refundable. When you use the 529 for any educational expense, you have to pay tax (but not penalties) on at least part of the money you withdrew from the plan in the previous tax year. Help from grandma’s 529 may hurt a child’s aid calculation in the next year.

CA valley sinking 13 inches in 1 year—infrastructure destroyed
Sucking water underground to grow crops may end growing before the usage regs slow it in 20 years in the San Joaquin Valley.

SCAMS
We are still wasting $8 million per HOUR we don’t have in Iraq/Afghan/Ukraine.
America needs to take care of American’s needs FIRST!
Rebuild America Act: a five-year plan would invest $1 trillion and create or maintain at least 13 million decent-paying jobs—Senate Budget Committee but GOP says no.

If you get a letter from the IRS, hackers may have stolen your data from IRS
“The IRS will begin mailing letters in the next few days to about 220,000 taxpayers where there were instances of possible or potential access to taxpayer information.” IRS is offering free credit monitoring services and a program that assigns them a special ID number that they must use to file their tax returns.

Edward Jones broker caught overcharging for munis—no jail time
Edward Jones has agreed to pay more than $20 million to settle SEC charges that it overpriced new issues of municipal bonds. “Because current rules do not require dealers to disclose markups on municipal bonds, investors receive very little information about their dealer’s compensation in municipal bonds.” Stina Wishman, Muni head, did not go to jail.

Steven Covey, Edwin Lichtig, and Rex Hofelter as Pension Funding, and Pension Income, caught deceiving consumers about the costs and risks of their pension advance loans. They gave lump-sum cash advances for agreeing to redirect all or part of their pension payments over a period of eight years.  NO JAIL TIME

Jacob Keith Cooper caught in fraud but no jail
Cooper, Total Wealth Management, had $90.2 million from clients and much of that money was lost. He got fees and kickbacks from the funds he was putting their money into. Regulators fined him but no jail time.

LA owes you money—overcharged for water, really?
The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power would credit or refund tens of millions of dollars to customers who were overbilled during the botched rollout of a new billing system. Not even fired supervisor.

Springstone caught! NO jail time
Springstone Financial was ordered to provide $700,000 in relief to victims of deceptive credit enrollment tactics. Many consumers who signed up for Springstone’s deferred-interest loan product at dental offices to pay for dental work were led to believe that the product was interest free. In fact, interest accrued from the date of the consumer’s purchase and was charged if the balance was not paid in full before the promotional period ended. Approximately 3,200 consumers who signed up for the product ultimately were charged and paid deferred interest.

State Farm sued for using “junkyard” parts to fix cars—no jail charge.
State Farm steered their customers to the company's preferred repair shops, which sometimes use "junkyard," "knock-off" or "after-market" parts instead of those provided by the manufacturer. The result can compromise safety, as well as aesthetics. 

IAN
41 Watchung Plaza, B242
MontclairNJ 07042
973.746.2014
Alerts 

Friday, August 14, 2015

You just made Fidelity owners $15 Billionaires

You just paid Fidelity $ 350 million in fees from your new retirement money
Fidelity Investments new defined-contribution retirement plan sales for the first half of this year hit $35 billion. Your fees just made the owners, the Johnson’s, $15 Billionaires. That does not count the $2.6 billion they made every year on pension money. For what?
If you had been using a low-cost mutual fund like Vanguard you would have paid HALF for 17.31% annual return for the last 5 years. Your account would have more than doubled. The Johnson’s charge twice as much for less return. You need the money more than they do:  http://www.amazon.com/Vanguards-Top-Ten-mutual-funds/dp/150073909X

Use your tax refund to grow your retirement fund the painless way
The average refund is $3,116. If you invest it in a tax-FREE low-cost market index fund, you can add $500,000+ to your nest egg. According to Dalbar’s QAIB study, index investors using low cost providers earned 11% per year since 1983. Investors using an advisor earned just 3.79% and over time will give up 63% of their potential nest egg. You don’t need to pay middlepeople anymore. Take your refund early by changing your W-4 withholding tax: http://www.irs.gov/Individuals/IRS-Withholding-Calculator This will increase your paycheck so you can have you account trustee debit your checking account automatically, investing $250 a month. One of the 10 Ways to Save $3,000: http://www.amazon.com/10-Ways-Save-3000-years/dp/1515387070

Wealthy GOP supporter confesses “Welfare for wealthy” is State of the Union
“Where I believe we need to start in reforming welfare is eliminating “welfare for the wealthy.” That means stopping the subsidies, mandates and preferences for business that enrich the haves at the expense of the have-nots”--Charles Koch. He plans to pay $900 million to install GOP in WH. His firm has relied on $88 million worth of government subsidies (our taxes) for years.
What world does he live in—say one thing and do the opposite?

The American democratic experiment is over—GOP agrees money rules! 
Trump: “When they call, I give. And you know what? When I need something from them, two years later, three years later, I call them. They are there for me. And that's a broken system." All the candidates want the money. Listen to Trump in vid.

Police fear vigilantes with assault rifles in Ferguson—outside agitators obey no one!
Even the police chief later condemned the group’s actions as both “unnecessary and inflammatory.” Oath Keeper 35,000-members nationwide includes former law enforcement and military veterans often openly question federal laws. They claim they are there to protect property—what are police for? Missouri is an open-carry state.
Should black residents carry assault rifles to protect themselves from vigilantes?

Sharia law in KY—GOP religion rules in KY
A county clerk here is apparently defying a federal court order to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples. Sharia law is law based on a religion not on civil laws.


Corporation is claiming “personhood” in lawsuit—“Its feelings were hurt”
When Murray Energy initially filed its lawsuit against Public Citizen, a public advocacy group, the company contended that Supreme Court rulings like "Citizens United" mean corps have privacy rights (meant for living, breathing human beings) Murray says that Public Citizen violated their “human” rights. Can a company suffer "mental anguish and emotional distress" like a human being as a result of opposing groups’ ads?
GOP-led Supremes have ended our democracy! Wealthy corporations have more rights (and money) than humans.

What do you get when you buy a Congressman?
One lobbyist says you get "retroactive immunity for a group of antitrust defendants", achieving "a legislative override of a negative agency action." This was the boast of their site. The ban on revolving door lobbyists has just changed the name not the lucrative business.
Yes, the number of registered lobbyists in Washington has declined steadily since the 2007 ban but the ban on lobbying has NOT stopped lobbying by ex-Congressional members. The Center's OpenSecrets.org website lists several categories of stealth lobbyists.
1. Lobbyists-in-waiting: "Because there’s no ban on the background and other work that supports lobbying efforts ... and no ban on forming a lobbying firm, lawmakers and staffers are free to join lobbying shops or hang out their own shingles even while they are in their cooling-off period." 2. Lobbyist by another name. Chris Dodd, Dem, CT, left in 2011 to become CEO of the Motion Picture Assn. of America, Hollywood's lobbying arm. Did Dodd violate the law? No indictment by Obama yet.

2016: America’s real reality TV show—“you just can’t make this stuff up”
Trump has trumped all politicians—he says what he thinks but he holds grudge.
His crude handling of debate panelists shows pattern of “mob” mentality. Future Pres wont’ apologize. Fox needs ratings so gives him lunch. ‘I am a whiner, and I keep whining and whining until I win’ But Mexico says “no pay” for wall.
Trump presidency looks like this: Kansas model—cut business taxes to zero and raise sales tax on working people. We must own business to succeed.

Perry staff on life support.
Clinton gives up her server finally. It’s always the lying that gets you in trouble.
Carson confesses that he has done research on fetal tissue from aborted fetuses, despite his criticism of the practice when in front of GOP. Can you have it both ways?
Walker takes $250 million from U. Wisconsin, gives $250M to billionaire basketball owners for arena. Walker will gut college structures.

GOP wants to cut all the programs that help people
Cuts to ObamaCare, Medicare, Medicaid, food stamps, Social Security and SS disability are favorite themes. But GOP never talks cuts oil and gas subsidies, farm and crop subsidies. They don’t talk about cutting weapon systems we don’t need or paying for the defense departments of Iraq, Turkey, Egypt, Israel, Korea, Japan, Germany, ETC (and now Ukraine). GOP candidates talk about adding jobs but refuse to rebuild our roads, bridges, ports, etc. GOP to cut government and regulations--“jobs.” We will get less protection in food, water, cars, drugs, transport, etc. 12 die—no regulation to clean cooling towers. Nothing will be regulated/tested in GOP world. Subsidies pay for polluting fertilizer, coal, oil, unsafe drugs, cars, trains, water, etc.

America can afford to back up “….the pursuit of happiness” for ALL—not just the rich!
Our tax system has been changed in the past to fit our needs and there is no legal reason it can’t be changed again to accommodate our aging and immigrant population.

Why do scientists and generals and admirals support Iran peace deal?
Twenty-nine of the nation’s top scientists — including Nobel laureates, veteran makers of nuclear arms and former White House science advisers — praise the Iran deal, calling it innovative and stringent. 36 military say deal is “the most effective means” for peace.
Are they paid stooges or blind political followers or honest analysts of our situation?

MT citizens save with ObamaCare
While Montana has one of the nation’s lowest head counts, it ranked a close second behind New Hampshire in terms of the highest rate of 2015 public exchange re-enrollment among 34 states that direct their residents to Healthcare.gov. ADP is working with USI and GoHealth to help employers provide benefits as well as those who must purchase through public exchanges.

Hackers cut your brakes in cars with Metromile chip
IT guys at UC hacked into an onboard “dongle” used by insurance company Metromile to track your mileage/premium. Hackers controlled brakes in real car.

GITMO north—Cuomo’s own torture chamber
Inmates at New York's Clinton prison say they were beaten, choked and slammed against walls by guards seeking information after David Sweat and Richard Matt escaped from the upstate prison in June. More than 60 prisoners have filed complaints about alleged. One inmate, Patrick Alexander said he was threatened with waterboarding and physically assaulted as guards asked questions about Matt's and Sweat's escape.


Who Owns Your Account Now?
Symetra Life to Sumitomo Life

SCAMS        
IRS has documented more than 4,000 tax scam victims who have collectively reported over $20 million in financial losses. IRS says “think twice before answering suspicious phone calls, emails or letters.” Scammers pose as IRS agents with fake caller IDs, badge numbers, titles, letterhead, mailing address, etc to get paid. They threaten police arrest, deportation, license revocation, etc. Confirm you owe at Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) at 1-800-366-4484. 

State Farm hit with excessive fees suit over target date funds
“The amount of the management fee extracted and retained from the LifePath Funds by State Farm is so disproportionately large that it bears no reasonable relationship to the services rendered (if any) in exchange for that fee,” the complaint states. Most of the fees carried a net management fee of 62 to 63 basis points (0.63%), according to the complaint. Vanguard charges 18bp (0.18%) for the same funds.
State Farm accused of using poor quality parts in car repairs
Mississippi Attorney General Jim Hood asked DOJ Eric Holder to investigate State Farm’s ‘Parts Trader’ program. He told the press that “Body shops have reported to my office that they are pressured into accepting bid from Parts Trader for after-market or re-manufactured parts that are unsafe and far below the quality of the original equipment manufacturer.” Hood also told Holder “there are also allegations that the insurance companies are artificially fixing auto body labor rates to reduce the cost of repair.”

Coke hires “exercise scientist” to prove sugar NOT causing obesity
Coke pays GEBM which claims it is lack of exercise not sugar drinks (Coke) that contributes to obesity. “Most of the focus in the popular media and in the scientific press is, ‘Oh they’re eating too much, eating too much, eating too much’ — blaming fast food, blaming sugary drinks and so on,” the group’s vice president, Steven N. Blair, an exercise scientist, says in a recent video announcing the new organization. “And there’s really virtually no compelling evidence that that, in fact, is the cause.”

Edward Jones got caught charging too much!
They agreed to pay more than $20 million to settle SEC charges that it overpriced new issues of municipal bonds.

Another broker gets off! No jail time!
CA Broker John Thornes, Thornes & Associates, stole $4.4 million from his mom and a scholarship fund but did not go to jail. He just lost his license.

Citizens Bank caught keeping customer deposits
Regulator fines Citizens Bank for failing to credit consumers the full amounts of their deposited funds. The bank kept money from deposit discrepancies when receipts did not match actual money transferred. Today’s CFPB consent order requires the bank to provide approximately $11 million in refunds to consumers and pay a $7.5 million penalty for the violations. Like IRS, you only hear when you owe them.

America needs to take care of American’s needs FIRST
Can we afford to keep paying $700 Billion a year for WWII deployments? That is 27 cents of each dollar in taxes—the largest part of our money—and we aren’t even at war. We have 1.5 million in military (same as Hitler to start WWII). We could pay off our debts and fix our schools, roads and bridges! 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 sitting in Japan and 50,000 sitting in Germany.
We are spending $8 million per HOUR on our wars in Iraq/Afgan

The War on Terror requires special forces attacks on top terrorists at their homes like Obama’s al-Amr May14 Abu killIraq proved converting a nation to Western-style republic doesn’t work. The troops we trained ran away, left our stuff. Training and more stuff for what? Former Saddam army now ISIS. We are wasting $4 billion a year on Afgan tribal rivalries; paying ransom to Al Qaeda; supporting corruption with our money.

We are building another military base for Japan at Henoko. Air Force Gen. Ronald Fogelman admitted that the Marines “serve no military function there. They don’t need to be in Okinawa to meet any time line in any war plan.”

We just can’t afford to pay for everyone else’s defenses anymore.
Japan, Germany and S. Korea can pay to defend themselves.

We are now training Ukrainians in UkraineMission creep
Afghanistan started the same way—just training, and then guarding trainers, then supply trainers, then supply U.S.-built Stinger antiaircraft missile to the mujahideen, and eventually $200 million for fiscal year 1992 alone. $4 million/hour- $778 billions so far.

IAN
41 Watchung Plaza, B242
MontclairNJ 07042
973.746.2014
Alerts

Friday, August 7, 2015

Koch Bros: America is "welfare for the rich"

Koch Bros believes America is built on “welfare for the rich”
“I believe that cronyism is nothing more than welfare for the rich and powerful, and should be abolished," Charles Koch wrote. He claims he has “spent decades opposing cronyism and all political favors, including mandates, subsidies and protective tariffs.” Yet the Koch Brothers have relied on $88 million worth of government subsidies (our taxes) for years and pay $ millions for elections to keep subsidies. They oppose cleaning up the environment they profit from while they destroy it!

Are you losing 63% of your retirement earnings to Wall Street?
How much of your retirement are you giving away?
Costs matter: Broker/advisor/trading cost 1% to 3% every year.
If you use a salesperson, costs can take HALF your money!
$3,000 per year @11%    for 33 years = $1,018,177
$3,000 per year @11-1% for 33 years = $778,768
$3,000 per year @11-2% for 33 years = $613,805
$3,000 per year @11-3% for 33 years = $486,634
Compounding the average market returns of 11% is what turns your $3,000 a year ($99,000) into $1 million over time. No tax when you use an IRS tax haven. http://www.amazon.com/Pimps-Wall-Street-money-middlemen/dp/151525254X


Help for your student in school
Get $2,500 per year for each student during first 4 years. 40% is refundable so you get up to $1,000 even if you do not owe any taxes. Or get $2,000 credit on your tax return for a lifetime of education—even adults can take it every year. Must be legit school and expenses so check http://www.irs.gov/uac/Am-I-Eligible-to-Claim-an-Education-Credit%3F. Also deduct student loan interest up to $2,500 a year. Parents or child can take credits so check out both ways http://www.irs.gov/Individuals/Education-Credits-AOTC-LLC Keep receipts for expenses for school.

Perfect gift for your grandchild
$1,000,000 costs you only $16,000 when you use Compounded Cash over time. Invest $16,000 by age 25 and let it grow to $1 million. See what it looks like at saferchild.org/power/.  http://www.amazon.com/Compounded-Cash-Save-your-Self-Funded/dp/1515066096


2016: America’s real reality TV show—“you just can’t make this stuff up”
Debate summary 10 of the best GOP have “debated”—compare 12 Angry Men: the bigot, racist, sadist, flip-floper, stockbroker, marketer, immigrant, working poor, bleeding-heart, senior, businessman, and architect. GOP candidates positions in own words, just to be accurate. Carson called for 10% income tax and Huck wanted sales tax (VAT in Europe) to replace income tax is a GOP standard. http://time.com/3988276/republican-debate-primetime-transcript-full-text/



GOP wants war but …
Robert Gates, who led the CIA under George H.W. Bush before becoming George W. Bush and Barack Obama’s defense secretary, has said bombing Iran could prove a “catastrophe,” and that Iran’s “capacity to wage a series of terror attacks across the Middle East aimed at us and our friends, and dramatically worsen the situation in Iraq, Afghanistan, Lebanon and elsewhere is hard to overestimate.”  
Meir Dagan, who led Israel’s external spy service, the Mossad, from 2002 to 2011, has warned that an attack on Iran “would mean regional war, and in that case you would have given Iran the best possible reason to continue the nuclear program.”
In the aftermath of a military strike, he added, “The regional challenge that Israel would face would be impossible.”

Bush wants to cut women’s health funding: "I'm not sure we need half a billion dollars for women's health issues."  Liz Warren shames GOP on women—back to the ‘50s?
Americans respond with donations to Planned Parenthood despite Congressmen!


Christie PAC gets paid for Christie deal to take $225 m instead of $9 billion from Exxon.
He is booed by 60,000 at Monmouth park as gives Pharoah a trophy. He still thinks boo means voters want him to stay on as Gov and punch teachers in nose and end SS as we know it.

Who rules America?
Last weekend, Koch Industries got the rich together to decide how the GOP will win in 2016. Donors are secret, so foreign countries could be deciding our next Pres.
Follow the money: Election scorecard Bush vs Clinton ($ millions)
Study illustrates that the rich and powerful influence policy more than voters. Citizen’s United decision just made it legal to buy elections, like the Bush coronation in 2000. (The votes were not counted. If they had counted them, America could have avoided 2 wars, 2 tax cuts that raised deficit by $8-10 trillion.)

TX voter ID law violates our civil right to vote, court says
GOP strategy to keep DEMs from voting took a blow. TX can’t keep voters from voting based on new forms of ID and regs.

GOP to get Supremes to SUPPORT global warming for planet via lawsuit
Obama will use lower emission rules as leverage with other big economies — China, India, Brazil, South Africa, Indonesia. Our rules could make America a leader again … except for 5 old men. GOP tells states to ignore Pres request for plans. “Sue to stop him”

Shopping for health insurance becomes normal
State-based marketplaces were overall quite successful in retaining enrollees, however, a large number of consumers shopping within the marketplace during 2015 open enrollment decided to switch plans based on the price of services offered. You can save by shopping just like buying a TV. Plans and doctors change in this new world. Even business owners can shop at https://www.healthcare.gov/small-businesses/provide-shop-coverage/ You may still be able to buy at https://www.healthcare.gov/screener/

Is it time to cancel your PMI?
Drop it when you have paid 20% of your home value as defined in this rule. http://files.consumerfinance.gov/f/201508_cfpb_compliance-bulletin_private-mortgage-insurance-cancellation-and-termination.pdf Since the HPA applies only to residential mortgage loans consummated on or after July 29, 1999, standard 30-year mortgage loans would not have started becoming eligible for final PMI termination under this provision until August 2014. Better ask your servicer for the exact date you can cancel.

Your good credit score can CUT your car insurance cost in HALF
CR tested 2 billion rate quotes and found a poor score can double your costs. See your state for best firms: http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/car-insurance/credit-scores-affect-auto-insurance-rates/index.htm#creditmap Shop for ALL your discounts to lower premium every 2 years: http://www.amazon.com/Vehicle-Insurance-Beware-Double-Coverage/dp/1480027634

Need your income tax information for loan, school, home?
Get return transcript by mail at http://www.irs.gov/Individuals/Get-Transcript
You need your Social Security number, date of birth, and address from your latest tax return.

Your tax refund can be worth $500,000 later when you need it
Yes, your refund, averaging $3,116, can grow to half a million dollars by compounding simple market index returns and not paying Wall Street a fee every year. According to Dalbar’s QAIB study, index investors using low cost providers earned 11% per year since 1983. Investors using Wall Street earned just 3.79% and over time will give up 63% of their potential nest egg. You don’t need to pay for success anymore. Start with $9 a day today! It is your money so keep all your earnings: http://www.amazon.com/The-Pimps-Wall-Street-middlemen/dp/151525254X

Did your bank reject your mortgage modification too?
New report says banks blame “do not qualify” on customers and customers say “paperwork is lost or misplaced often.” Delaying a borrower’s loan modification request can be profitable for a bank.” Courts agree. Like health insurers, delay, delay delay just wears us out and we quit trying to get what we deserve. Regulators wash hands with bank notes. 

CR tested 4 robo call blockers
One works well and is FREE: it blocks 10 calls a day for us.

3-D printing Drugs now?
The Food and Drug Administration has approved the first prescription drug made through 3-D printing: a dissolvable tablet that treats seizures. They still charge a lot.

Stoners are OK
With years of research and observation, scientists have finally figured out that the chronic and prolonged use of marijuana by the young people is NOT not related to any sort of health conditions. Toke?

Religious sacrifice in FL?
Investigators in the Florida Panhandle are looking into the deaths of a woman and her two adult sons as a ritualistic killing that could be connected to the recent blue moon.

SCAMS        
IRS has documented more than 4,000 tax scam victims who have collectively reported over $20 million in financial losses. IRS says “think twice before answering suspicious phone calls, emails or letters.” Scammers pose as IRS agents with fake caller IDs, badge numbers, titles, letterhead, mailing address, etc to get paid. They threaten police arrest, deportation, license revocation, etc. Confirm you owe at Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) at 1-800-366-4484. 

America needs to take care of American’s needs FIRST
Can we afford to keep paying $700 Billion a year for WWII deployments? That is 27 cents of each dollar in taxes—the largest part of our money—and we aren’t even at war. We could pay off our debts and fix our schools, roads and bridges! 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.
We are spending $8 million per HOUR on our wars in Iraq/Afgan

The War on Terror requires special forces attacks on top terrorists at their homes like Obama’s al-Amr May14 Abu killIraq proved converting a nation to Western-style republic doesn’t work. The troops we trained ran away, left our stuff. Training and more stuff for what? Former Saddam army now ISIS. We are wasting $4 billion a year on Afgan tribal rivalries; paying ransom to Al Qaeda; supporting corruption with our money.

We are building another military base for Japan at Henoko. Air Force Gen. Ronald Fogelman admitted that the Marines “serve no military function there. They don’t need to be in Okinawa to meet any time line in any war plan.”

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 to defend themselves.

We are now training Ukrainians in UkraineMission creep
Afghanistan started the same way—just training, and then guarding trainers, then supply trainers, then supply U.S.-built Stinger antiaircraft missile to the mujahideen, and eventually $200 million for fiscal year 1992 alone. $4 million/hour- $778 billions so far.


Fiat profit up 69% but at Jeep and Ram customer expense—sells Ferrari
23 recalls covering more than 11 million vehicles caused record fines of $105 million (not counted in profits). Ferrari follows Porsche for SUV success!?! Image?

Regulators find NDG Enterprise Collected Money Illegally and wants payday loans back.

Wells to hold your money
Advisors at Wells Fargo will stop transactions where they suspect elder fraud even if they don’t have the legal authority, company managing counsel Beverly Jo Slaughter said Thursday. “We try to be creative,” she said.

Wells Fargo fined $500,000 for not telling the whole story
Wells to give back $242,000 to 66 customers who lost money in “structured repackaged asset-backed trust securities” (STRATS), which paid a variable interest rate from 3 to 8 percent. Sales did not disclose the fact that investors could lose money because of termination fees.

IAN
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