Friday, January 5, 2024

Scams and Spins to delude us

 

Readers: Happy Holiday days spread by your cheer and good will.

                                                                                                                                                                                Jan 2024

 

How Govt wastes our money:

20% of us want a vengeful autocrat as president: "sweeping raids, mass deportations" too

Texas Can Ban Certain Emergency Abortions: raise ER patients/hospitalize risking death

 

NASA wastes $ to have energy produced on Mars colony: humans get sick living there

NASA to send astronauts on a lunar fly-by mission $$ travel deeper into the solar system

NASA wastes money on 6 expensive missions in anticipated further giant $B tax spend

 

 

SCAMS/SPINS:

Chase having problems: account balances, access and declined debit cards AGAIN.

Drugmakers set to raise prices on 500 drugs in January: Biden price cuts failed

Policy gaps in Medigap, Medicare, Advantage, and Part D plans: read cover carefully

COVID-19 still kills about 1,500 Americans each week: most don’t take Paxlovid?

 

US Bank caught: froze access to prepaid debit cards used to distribute unemployment

Half of Americans left FSA health care money on the table: gone this year but next year

Your flight: check the bolts on your Boeing plane before you walk the plank.

Ford is recalling more than 112,000 pickup trucks due to a roll-away risk

 

38% of us believe Biden’s election was illegitimate

74% of us can’t tell what’s real or fake online anymore: we are being mislead daily

25% of us say: “probably” or “definitely” true FBI instigated Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol attack

Who is to blame for the more than four-hour delay in deploying the National Guard

 

Plum Recall "Plum Queen" Dried ‘Life-Threatening' Reactions: sulfites

 

40% student loan borrowers first Oct deadline failed payments by mid-November

Blue Ridge Beef pet food recalls additional “lot numbers": Salmonella and Listeria 

 

Annuity Rule Proposal Helps Guard Against Conflicts: sellers hide downsides

Catholic values group to launch 401(k) plan that is compliant with the church’s teachings.

 

Will Trump have to make deals with foreign gov who gave him $8 million for election?

 

Jobs

New Free Application for Federal Student Aid is finally here: updates done at random

jobs.interestingengineering.com/

Factory construction spending booms: Job openings increased by 43,000 last month

 

 

Who owns your account now?

25 States Raising Their Minimum Wage in 2024: some to $15/hour

‘24 EV credit: dealers can knock off up to $7,500 off the car price: no tax deduction

Retirement Laws Just Changed: check if you have a change of income

 

New entertainment on Amazon Prime

Do You Know the Latest Trusts and Estate Planning Developments?

 

 

Miracles:

Happiness isn’t something to be found; it’s something to attract.

This year was among the worst for climate disasters

Siberia’s ice is melting, revealing its past and endangering its future

Snow in Death Valley is extremely rare

 

Eli Lilly to sell medicine directly to consumers: obesity market widespread

New way for removal of Alzheimer’s trademark brain-clogging plaque by 32%

Graphene’s tenfold speed advantage over silicon: transistor electronics revolution

 

New Zealand fisherman rescued after treading water for 23 hours

 

@

We can apply for Medicare online: https://blog.ssa.gov/apply-for-medicare-online

We can apply for Social Security online: https://www.ssa.gov/benefits/retirement/

We can apply for health care online: https://www.healthcare.gov/

 

 

How did your money do in 2023?

 

Some readers use the Vanguard Top 10 funds. Here is how they did in 2023.

 

2023 Total Return Vanguard Fund   Long-term Return      Longevity

26.21% 500 Index VFINX                              11.02% since 1976

 8.73% Energy VGENX                                   9.31% since 1984

26.48% Extended Market VEXMX                 10.09% since 1987

 5.50% Health VGHCX                                  15.17% since 1984

14.81% International Growth    VWIGX           10.04% since 1981

28.32% PRIMECAP VPMCX                        13.42% since 1984

19.23% Small Cap Index NAESX                    10.6% since 1960

7.17% Wellesley Income VWINX                     9.16% since 1970

15.24% Windsor VWNDX                              11.22% since 1958

21.27% Windsor II VWNFX                           10.68% since 1985

17.30% Average                                              11.1% *

            *Average Annual Returns as of 12/28/23

 

https://www.amazon.com/Vanguards-Top-Ten-mutual-funds/dp/150073909X/

 

Do you really need to pay an advisor’s costs to reach your goal?

Warren Buffett says “NO”. When it comes to helping you reach your financial goal, the high costs over the many years may surprise you. If you pay their costs each quarter, you may not realize what the total will be. If you are earning 6% gross on your portfolio, the 1% to 1.5% has reduced your true earnings per year to 4.5%. In a 40-year-advisor relationship, you could have earned $500,362 without your salesperson. But you only accrued $336,545 contributing $3000 a year to your account. You lost $163,817 or 48.6% of your contributions. That means retirement income of only $19,771 per year or $1647 a month vs. $2.449 a month or $29,395 a year. That is a big difference if this monthly income (plus Social Security) is all you have to live on. Think about what Buffett recommends: two Vanguard funds—one will provide cash for the coming year and the other will provide a sound future. He says all you need is the low-cost Vanguard 500 Index fund and the Vanguard Fed Funds fund. That is income and growth without a salesperson. You hire a fee-only planner when you need unbiased advice.

https://www.amazon.com/Warren-Buffetts-Vanguard-Funds-Retirement/dp/1496148592

 

Why is it so important to start investing early?

Use the example above. Over the 40 year illustration, you would have accumulated over $500,000 from a monthly contribution of $250. If you had started later and contributed for only 30 years, you would have gained only about $252,000. If you only have 20 years to invest, you end up with about 115,000. Some folks think they can just add more money later to make up for the lack of time. But even if you double your contributions to $6,000 per year, you still may not have enough for retirement income. $232,000 is not even HALF of what you would have had if you had started early. Some folks put their investment dollars into a larger proportion of stocks because the average annual return over time is 11%. That certainly helps give them a greater nest egg (about $435,000) but they are taking on more risk at a time closer to their retirement (20 years). You can see that the most important factor in investing is time. Time allows our dollars to double and even quadruple due to the Miracle of Compounding.

https://www.amazon.com/Time-is-Money-ways-maximize-savings/dp/1499692358/

 

How much to save for retirement

You have to decide when to leave work, where to live, how to spend your days—and what it all will cost. Since we can never know the answers to those questions, we must start investing early—and not in a bank savings account. Over time, a low-cost stock-market index has provided 11% per year. That rate can double your money every 6-7 years. It would take 22 years in a 3% bank account. Some folks think they must accumulate enough to provide 80% of their preretirement income. Other people shoot for an amount that is 10 times their salary at age 67. There is the 4% rule: accumulate enough so that you can take 4% of the total to live on. Some people figure to work until they reach their goal—a $ million or two. Reality: how much do we save on our average incomes? The Feds track this stat and more. $600,000 is the average retirement saving among 65 to 74 year olds. The median is only $200,000 so the wealthy savers are skewing the average big time. If you earn average wages, you probably will end up with the lower figure. If you add your SS benefit of about $1,844.76 a month, you know your later income. Add any other income and decide if you can live on that amount. If not, now is the time to increase your contributions. It is TIME and compounding that creates wealth. And grow your account tax-FREE.

https://www.amazon.com/You-Can-Afford-Retirement-FEE-FREE/dp/1517738253

 

Are convertible bonds right for you?

2024 favorite broker product to sell may be the convertible bond. Convertible notes that provide steady income can be turned into shares at pre-agreed prices. Convertible bonds are most often issued by companies with a low credit rating and high growth potential. Some folks buy the bonds and sell short the underlying equity. If the stock falls, the bond’s downside is protected, while the short reaps a profit. If the price goes up, the bond’s will too, flipping the result. These swings supply the core of the profit. There are many types of convertibles. Vanilla convertible bonds are the most plain convertible structures. Be sure you understand the terms of your bond deal. Convertibles may have other features, such as: Call features—the ability of the issuer (on some bonds) to call a bond early for redemption. Convertible bonds are mainly issued by start-up or small companies. The chance of default or large movement in either direction is much higher than well-established firms. Investors should have a keen awareness of significant credit risk and price swing behavior associated with convertible bonds. Folks buy convertibles for higher yields. They are safer than preferred or common shares for the investor. Know what you are buying don’t just take someone’s word.

https://www.amazon.com/Buy-Value-financial-services-groceries/dp/1489513078

 

 

 

 

********ACCOUNTABILITY**************?

 

 

Like 1776, this period is a test of democracyWe rejected an "American fascist" once

 

 

The Path to Dictatorship: 2010-2030

 

Parallels of this era in the past may hint at our future: democracy breaks apart legally

 

 

Jan 21 2010 Corpor­a­tions’ election-spending unlim­ited

Billionaires paid $881 million for votes in 2022 midterm elections

 

Nov 2020 Wealthy discredit election process

 

Nov 21 2020 Trump’s Plans for a Coup: criminal

 

Nov 21 2020: Trump plan: US Marshals seize voting machines

 

Jan 6 2021 Direct govt overthrow failed: guns & bombs were ready

 

Trump engaged in a "criminal conspiracy" to stop Biden

 

I don’t f—ing care that they have weapons

 

Trump was “detached from reality”

 

Trump used mafia-style intimidation on the defenseless

 

Trump still terrorizing election woman

 

Parscale: “a sitting president asking for civil war.”

 

Trump: “Just say the election was corrupt and leave the rest to me” 

 

GOP fascism: “RINO hunt armed; no bagging limitJ6 comm threat

 

January 6, 2021A date which will live in infamy

 

Trump’s Supremes END personal rights & state laws except for weapons WMDs

 

Fascism: GOP to stop women leaving state for abortion

 

It’s not a court. It’s a junta: Two Americas

 

Trump: President Biden is 'enemy of the state'

 

Christian Nationalist Party (CNP) replaces GOP

 

Nov 8 2022 Trump’s “national revolution” failed

 

Nov 15 2022 Trump announces for 2024 to avoid lawsuits

 

Dec 3 2022 Trump: cancel Constitution rules so ‘I win

 

Mar 11 2023 Pence straddles his place in history

 

Mar 31 2023 Trump indicted misusing election money

 

Apr 7 2023 One GOP guy decided which drugs we can use

 

Apr 9 Illustrated Anne Frank book removed by Florida school

 

Apr 21 Trump: “I am your justice

 

May 9 Trump guilty of sexual abuse

 

Jun 8 Trump indicted by the United States of America

Violation of the Espionage Act

Conspiracy to obstruct justice

Making false statements 

 

Aug 1 2023 Trump indicted by the United States of America

Conspiracy to defraud the United States

Conspiracy to obstruct Congressional proceeding

Obstruction of and attempt to obstruct an official proceeding

Conspiracy against right to vote

 

 

Attempted coup d'état by any other name

 

350+ people have been sentenced to jail or prison.

 

 

Trump and His Gang Get the Mob Treatment

 

Aug 4  “IF YOU GO AFTER ME, I’M COMING AFTER YOU!”

 

Mobster #1 Enrique Tarrio gets 22 years 

Mobster Stewart Rhodes sentenced to 18 years

Mobster Ethan Nordean gets 18 years

Mobster Dominic Pezzola sentenced to 10 years

 

 

 

Aug 14 2023 Trump & 18 indicted by the State of Georgia

 

VIOLATION OF THE GEORGIA RICO (RACKETEER INFLUENCED AND CORRUPT ORGANIZATIONS) ACT SOLICITATION OF VIOLATION OF OATH BY PUBLIC OFFICER

CONSPIRACY TO COMMIT INIPERSONATIN PUBLIC OFFICER FIRST DEGREE

CONSPIRACY TO COMMIT FALSE STATEMENTS AND WRITINGS

CONSPIRACY TO COMMIT FALSE DOCUMENTS

FORGERY IN THE FIRST DEGREE

CONSPIRACY TO COMMIT FALSE STATEMENTS AND WRITINGS

FILING FALSE DOCUMENTS

SOLICITATION OF VIOLATION OF OATH BY PUBLIC OFFICER

FALSE STATEMENTS AND WRITINGS

SOLICITATION OF VIOLATION OF OATH BY PUBLIC OFFICER

FALSE STATEMENTS AND WRITINGS

 

 

Aug 24 2023 The Don, Racketeer: GA jailhouse real ‘mug’ shot

 

Oct 2 2023  Kelly, Trump’s staff, confirms Trump called our veterans/wounded soldiers “suckers

 

Dec 2023: Trump using Hitler language to scare us

 

Wannabe Dictatorto run our House of “Representatives

 

 

 

Jan 2025 Dictator pardons himself: his Supremes agree

 

 

 

Miracles that made us

 

Our Universe is a miracle

 

Light is both a particle and a wave depending on how we look at the light.

I don’t think that there is any such thing as a position or a velocity of a particle.

Everything (galaxies to stones) in universe made of subatomic energy ‘vibrations’

A subatomic ‘particle’ is the smallest possible vibration (quantum) of a quantum field.

A ‘particle’ is an event; not an objective thing. This event is set of complex relationships.

New theory may finally unite Einstein's gravity with the quantum world

Our Reality May Be a Sum of All Possible Realities

 

Mass–energy equivalence: E=mc^2.  At the smallest level; Everything is moving

Energy into matter: scientists converted light energy directly into matter in one step

In place of atomic lattice, light waves used to create an optical lattice with same geometry

Physics Nobel Prize: “entanglement” 2 particles share info instantly at a distance

Quantum mechanics violates local realism: two objects behave as single system at distance

 

“It may be that gravity and quantum mechanics are exactly the same thing,” Leonard Susskind

Gravity might induce the collapse of quantum vibrations into 1 quantum state—our world

Strange state of physics that allows energy to flow frictionlessly through a material

Bending light from extreme gravity reveals largest black hole so far

Curved SpaceTime: heavy masses and simultaneously quantum effects become visible

There is no TIME at this level because of force fields come and go in all directions. 

Universe expanding: events may not come together like they did before: created our time.

Our planetary system: rarest system: only 1% of all systems with same number of planets

 

Stars fueled by the self-annihilation of dark matter might have been spotted for the first time by JWST

Inside protons, neutrons, it is the fields of the virtual particles that creates its mass.

Gold made from neutron stars: collisions produce more neutrons:79 protons,118 neutrons

The proton is so complicated science still finds new energy entities/forces every year.

 

“Empty space is a boiling, bubbling brew of virtual particles that pop in and out of existence in a time scale so short that you can’t even measure them.” Space expanding.

New method to study systems with long-range interactions: previously puzzling experts

The electricity we use comes from the field around the wire not from electron itself.

 

Natural ‘missing law’ explain how universe evolved: functions increase in complexity over time

Scientists build 'baby' wormhole as sci-fi moves closer to fact: inside quantum computer

starts-with-a-bang/universe-expansion-not-accelerating/

Physicists knew black holes eventually disappear particle by particle. Now they think everything else does, too.

Astronomers discover raw materials for life are present all across the Universe: methyl cation

 

 

IAN

973.746.2014

http://www.theinsidersguides.com/ 

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

No AI used in these comments

 

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