Friday, February 7, 2020

What can your investments do for you?


What can your investments do for you?
Most retail investors have no idea what they should expect from their money over time. Sure, everyone says they want to be rich—tomorrow—like the lottery. Well, if you have played the lottery, you know it is just an additional tax. Odds of winning big prizes are greater than you becoming a star athlete. The most successful investors are those who follow the advice of legends like Warren Buffett and John Bogle. Buffett used Bogle’s low-cost 500 Index to beat the 5 hedge funds run by a Wall Street guru. Buffett used a low-cost 500 large company index because you are almost guaranteed the highest return over time that way. Buffett relied on the compounding of high earnings with low costs over more than 10 years to be assured his wager of $1 million won. Over time, your investment in a low-cost index fund of large companies will be more successful than the average brokerage account owner. Are there exceptions? Sure, but you won’t know until AFTER you lose money to the index. 11% over 30 years can compound your $250 a month 401k or IRA money into $1 million or more. Buffett picked Vanguard’s 500 Index because of the record: One year 31%; 3 year 15%; 5 year 11%; 10 year 13%; 11.15% since 1976. As Bogle said: "Don't look for the needle in the haystack. Just buy the haystack."

If you own a business, almost everything is deductible: pay $0 tax like Don
Our tax system has been set up to favor business. As you learned from our president, he has used the rules to pay ZERO or near zero taxes for years. He says that makes him smart. Looking at his most recent tax law changes, one thing is clear, the wealthy and most business don’t pay tax or pay very little compared to the average tax burden of 33.9% for the middle-class working stiffs. In America, we are better off running a business than working for one. The IRS even lets us reduce our income from business losses so we pay less. However, there are rules for a small business. Rules you need to know include the 50% limit on deduction for meals, no write-off for unpaid invoices, not all startup costs are deductible, not all fringe benefits are deductible, and you can’t deduct if you can’t prove you’re in it for the profits, like Trump. With the internet, it is relatively easy to learn what you need to know on the tax side of the business. You can’t assume anything. Be prepared to pay dearly for tax prep if you can’t do your own business taxes.

Longevity risk: it’s all in the genes
Many folks are living longer. Family genes provide a general rule: if you parents lived past the average age of 79, you probably will too. Most are not prepared to finance 20-30 years of retirement income. About 1 in 3 65-year-olds today will live past age 90, and about 1 in 7 will live past age 95. The standard advisor answer is putting your money into an annuity since they promise to pay a monthly income for the rest of your life. Sounds good but did they explain that inflation will take half the buying power of your monthly income in about 20 years? Insurers price their products at the current low interest rate. Right now you can receive $524 a month with a payment of $100,000 if you are a male age 65. You can’t ‘outlive’ this $524 but by age 85 it will only buy $250 worth of goods. If that $100,000 represented the bulk of your assets, what do you do now? Instead you could take income and keep growing your assets for later. Annuities were fine in the last century when people died by age 68: Not fine now unless you are the seller!

Your employer will now guess at your monthly retirement income
The SECURE Act requires retirement plan sponsors to tell workers how much their current savings will generate in monthly annuity income in retirement. The new law, sponsored by the insurance industry, aims to provide employees with a ‘clearer’ picture about whether or not they’re on track to retire. But your employer’s plan is making a lot of assumptions. First, when will you retire? Second, which investment option do you have and how long has your money been working. A 401k of $100,000 for a married couple could pay around $6,000 a year or $500 a month. The final monthly figure depends on a few annuity factors. Some plan sponsors already use their annuity table which assumes very low interest rates for accumulations and distributions. If you had plans for a higher amount per month from your nest egg, just don’t let your employer talk you into the annuity they now sell. Their ‘guaranteed’ annuity protects them, not you from inflation and insurer collapse. Using a simple low-cost balanced mutual fund, you could earn over 9% a year now and thus spend much more income later.

File for the quickest refund FREE
If you meet certain criteria and have your documents already, federal and state can cost you nothing at https://apps.irs.gov/app/freeFile/. Another site has no income/forms restrictions: https://www.creditkarma.com/tax. The software helps you avoid common mistakes before you file. Even if you make a tiny mistake, the IRS usually catches it without penalty. I have used most of these programs for years even though my income is above the limits. Most charge nothing for the federal and state. Some charge only $12.95 for the state. For 2019, six states have kept the health mandate tax if you don’t have health care cover so that state return may get complicated. Once you file your first year, your previous years’ data is there and pre-fills your forms: Saves a lot of time and money. Try it before you spend $200-300 at a for-profit preparer. No refund due? File to keep your ID from scammers. Your W-2 should be sent to you by Jan 31 according to IRS. Your refund can be in your direct deposit account in 10 days. Check mobile: IRS2Go within 24 hours after IRS receives your e-filed return for status.


**********ACCOUNTABILITY**************

Like 1776, this period is a test of democracy—do we really want ‘low-IQMobster?

“Never in my life did I think I would like to see a dictator,
but if there's gonna be one I want it to be Trump

Top Mobster says HE is the COUNTRY: beating indictment gives absolute power: anything goes.

GOP agrees: president’s actions are OK because he is president—no crimes/misdemeanors possible!

Tax cuts for the rich "trickle down" through economy, lifting growth, wages: not working
Deficit passed $1 Trillion: fewer paying taxes: Econ slows: Trump’s “greatest in history”


SCAMS/SPINS:
Racism celebrated by America’s highest award: ‘Freedom’ to profit from racist hate-mongering.

What a ‘kangaroo court’ looks like: GOP mob declare mobster boss ‘not guilty’ rubber stampin’

Life of indicted insider trader: US visas for family to live in Manhattan hotel free, 4 hours to shop

Philip Riehl PA caught $60 million Ponzi schemes: preyed on Amish and Mennonite groups

“house stealing” is the “latest scam: Fake sale from your stolen ID, docs, etc.
Identity theft, imposter scams, and telephone issues topped the FTC list of complaints. 
Hackers control your car through your car computer: protection not yet perfect.


Dems Committee mess up IA count to assure no ‘socialist’ becomes party nominee: Hillary II?


Jobs

Who owns your account now?
Does your mechanic love you? These owners hate paying for repairs
Re-gift or sell your gift cards: use safe sites to get best value

Miracle:
Scientists: warm ocean water flowing under the massive Greenland ice, melting faster.
Bumblebees are dying from the US, EU heat: tomatoes and cranberries at risk.
5,800 clergy on list of credible sexual assault: many have been left off by bishops

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