We pay insurers' $100 Billion taxes

Taxpayers help insurance corporations avoid $100 Billion in taxes

Each state has passed special laws to allow insurers to use the reserves they are required to keep to pay claims. With accounting tricks, they use the money to pay CEO bonuses, shareholder dividends, acquisitions and other projects, and thus escape federal taxation. WE pick up the tab. Insurers don’t have to move overseas; just across state lines. For instance, TransAmerica Life used a state law in Iowa last year to reap $1.8 billion from its reserves while also avoiding an estimated $640 million in federal taxes. Iowa, for the moment, appears to have "state-of-the-art statutes and regulations." That is what the Symetra Life said in explaining last January why it was moving its legal domicile from Bellevue, Wash., to Des Moines. Because they are an ordinary business expense, reserves are tax deductible — the higher the reserves, the bigger the federal deduction. The IRS does not understand the tricks so never prosecutes tax avoidance.

Avoid paying their $10 billion in taxes: http://www.amazon.com/Tax-FREE-Retirement-code-lifetime-income/dp/1475206976

Big Banks back to old tricks … that cost US the integrity of America

After Citibank wrote and passed the rider on the new budget, banks will go back to gambling with our money. The 2008 bailout is now likely since banks can’t restrain themselves and Congress won’t. Banks have also go back to using their analyst recommendations to help sell new stock offerings. The law says banks can’t have the research department pump up the new stocks they research. In 2003, 10 firms and two analysts struck a settlement with regulators over these practices, paying $1.4 billion. 

Big banks act as if breaking the law and paying fines are just cost of doing business. Since we taxpayers ultimately pay, bankers know they won’t go to jail. Laws ignored.

You can build Wealth Without Wall Street: http://www.amazon.com/Wealth-Without-Wall-Street-Commissions/dp/1442168137

Money scams take $40 billions of our retirement dollars

It is hard to spot fraud when it is happening. The Federal Trade Commission estimates that consumers lose more than $40 billion a year to telemarketing fraud alone. And, if you are over age 65, you are a special target for those offering bogus prizes or selling bogus products and services.

Avoid “Money Scams” by making YOUR plan and sticking to it: http://www.amazon.com/Money-Scams-2014-insurance-financial/dp/1505437962

Your vote counts even less with your ‘representative’ now

Congress just passed a law that lets the wealthy give a staggering $777,600—a couple could give $3.1 million to party committees. This ends any pretense to contribution limits enacted after Watergate. Corporations and people can now buy elections. Democracy only exists if there is some reason for elected leaders to listen to the voting public.

Now our “representatives” have more reason to do what contributors tell them to do. Despite the obvious damage bank gambling can do, our “reps” voted for to reinstate it. We will have to pay for banks’ mistakes like in 2008. Senator Warren explains how banks took : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H20Dhc85OhM

Corporations’ share of US revenue has been driven down from 28% to 10%

We picked up the difference yet our incomes have gone down. Over the past 25 years, the economy has grown 83 percent, after adjusting for inflation — and the typical family’s income hasn’t budged. In that time, corporate profits doubled as a share of the economy. Total corporate federal taxes paid fell to 12.1% of profits earned from activities within the U.S. in fiscal 2011. Workers today produce nearly twice as many goods and services per hour on the job as they did in 1989, but as a group, they get less of the nation’s economic pie. In 81 percent of America’s counties, the median income is lower today than it was 15 years ago.

Unless you own a business, you are working harder for less. As heiress Helmsley said, "Only the little people pay taxes": http://www.amazon.com/Only-little-people-pay-taxes/dp/1478222441

More GOP winners—cut regulations and veterans treatments

The budget cuts the Environmental Protection Agency and allows the mountaintop mining industry to continue dumping toxic coal waste in the streams of Appalachia. It cuts $345.6 million at IRS so more big firms don’t get audited. It gives the gas and oil industry free use of the Western landscapes. The list of special industry giveaways is extensive. Big Banks can again gamble knowing our tax money will bail them out. Under the bill, trustees would be enabled to cut pension benefits to current retirees, reversing a 40-year bond with workers who earned their retirement packages. Trucking companies can make roads less safe by giving their employees 82-hour work weeks without sufficient rest breaks. Pell grants for college students will be cut.

The bill encourages more NSA spying on our private communications. It blocks the EPA from regulating certain water sources. It bans the ban on giving funds to Egypt’s military. It voted against giving veterans treatment for PTSD and suicide (22 veterans kill themselves every day). It voted against improved the energy efficiency of federal buildings. It reduces nutrition requirements of school lunches and WIC food aid program. It halts the listing of new endangered species. More.

DEM winners—ObamaCare gives poor hope for future!

More than 1 million people used the U.S. healthcare.gov system to sign up for Obamacare plans in the seven days ending Dec. 12. New York and Idaho — both state-run marketplaces — extended the deadlines to enroll with a 1/1 effective date by a few days.

Congress took the easy way and extended temporary tax benefits for ‘14: Teachers $250, mass-transit commuters, sales/income tax deduction, parents with kids in college, some homeowners and some retirees with IRAs. A new provision will benefit disabled adults. (IRS accepts returns later in January.) Free tax prep at AARP sites: http://www.aarp.org/applications/VMISLocator/searchTaxAideLocations.action

2008 Bank bailout by US over—stock sold for profit but jobs lost forever!

Our government sold its remaining shares in GM’s old lender, its last remaining major stake from the $426 billion bailout of banks and the U.S. auto industry. Governments like China and Russia own businesses too but it cost us many more jobs and our prestige as being the home of capitalism. During the 1929 Crash, JP Morgan and friends bailed out the failed banks and businesses by loaning them money or taking over their businesses. Capitalism is supposed to work like that not like the Bush-style government bailout/ownership of failed companies. AIG and the banks it insured should have gone to other wealthy people for the bailout. Capitalism is about risk and reward.

Congress last week reversed the Dodd-Frank reg against government bailouts so we will likely have to keep failed bankers alive again in 2016-20.

Build your own security: http://www.amazon.com/Forget-Social-Security-Medicare-Lifestyle/dp/1466394285

You knew hedge funds are only good for the promoters

Hedge funds are shutting at a rate not seen since the financial crisis, as many managers post disappointing returns that averaged 2%. John Bogle, founder, Vanguard, says: "Times of great market turbulence ... are just awful times to make investment decisions." Instead, investors should have a long-term investment strategy and stay the course, he said. Most wealthy people are long-term investors and don’t trade/gamble/hedge.

Vanguard is owned by its shareholders so you can earn more—10-12% per year: http://www.amazon.com/Vanguards-Top-Ten-mutual-funds/dp/150073909X

Lockheed Settles Lawsuit—It Shortchanged 120,000 Workers, Retirees

Lockheed agreed to settle a $1.3 billion lawsuit over claims the defense contractor shortchanged the 120,000 workers and retirees who participate in its pension plans as a trial was set to begin this week. Workers accused the company of subjecting them to excessive fees and leaving those investing in its stock fund with returns that were worse than if they had bought shares by themselves.

You have a choice: Low fees always beat high fees—a larger pension: http://www.amazon.com/401k-IRA-Tax-FREE-Tax-Deferred-retirement/dp/1475057938

SCAM ALERT

Did you receive in the snail mail what resembles an invoice from a company to get a copy of your deed? Homeowners beware: It's a scam. Don’t send deed.

Avoid scams of insurance, mutual funds, and all financial services: Money Scams 2014

Are you ready? HALF of pre-retirees had to retire earlier than planned

Nearly half of survey respondents (45 percent) retired earlier than planned. The most frequently cited reasons for retiring early are changes at one’s company or place of work (44 percent) and being able to afford retirement (39 percent). Nearly 8 in 10 who retired early have no regrets about the decision to retire when they did.

Make sure you have the right strategy to have enough so when you must retire, you can: http://www.amazon.com/Will-You-Have-Enough-retirement/dp/1477594086

CR reports on best and worst value in cars

Make sure you are getting a value in new small cars. Avoid the worst: Fiat, Fiesta, Cruze and get value for as low as $15,000. Better deal: get 3-year-old safe midsize for same price. Don’t be fooled by marketing hype—expensive is not always safe and reliable.

Here's the BEST list by category:

•Subcompact: Hyundai Accent Sport

•Compact: Toyota Prius Four

•Luxury Compact Cars: Buick Regal Premium I

•Luxury Midsized/Large Cars: Lexus ES 300h

•Large Cars: Chevrolet Impala 2LTZ (3.6)

•Sports Cars/Convertibles: Mazda MX-5 Miata Grand Touring

•Midsized Cars: Toyota Camry Hybrid XLE

•Wagons (AWD): Subaru Outback 2.5i Premium

•Small SUVs: Subaru Forester 2.5i Premium

•Midsized SUVs: Toyota Highlander XLE (V-6)

•Large SUVs: Chevrolet Traverse LT

•Luxury Compact SUVs: BMW X3 xDrive28i (2.0T)

•Luxury Midsized/Large SUVs: Lexus RX 450h

•Pickup Trucks: Nissan Frontier SV (V6)

•Minivan: Mazda5

Save $500 on insurance by using all 15 discounts: http://www.amazon.com/Vehicle-Insurance-Beware-Double-Coverage/dp/1480027634

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.

The War on Terror requires SEALS’ attacks on top terrorists at their homes. Iraq proved converting a nation to Western-style republic doesn’t work.

Congress has changed the definition of America

Do we want to be moral or immoral?

Bush/Cheney and Congress seem to say Torture is OK if we do it in revenge and call it by another name—EIT. If we do what other societies do then we can’t keep telling the world we are better than them. Mrs Palin and Mr Giuliani seem to idolize the Russian dictator Putin and our Congress joins them in criticizing Obama. Do we really want America to invade other countries, shoot down civilian planes, and torture people like Putin? Congress did not condemn Bush/Cheney; let alone prosecute them for war crimes. Do we really want a bully like Putin to be President? Putin is putting Russia back 5 years economically. 

Advisor to athletes gets caught

Bill C. (Billy) Crafton, AKA, Martin Kelly Capital Management pleaded guilty to criminal charges for $1.5 million in kickbacks on investments for professional athletes in Major League Baseball, the National Football League, the National Hockey League and the National Basketball Association, according to the SEC.

Lawyers use our state Attorneys General to create income for themselves

Lawyer are using a new tactic to drum up business. They get our state AG to hire them to file suit against some corporation with deep pockets so they can make extra cash. Our taxes pay the AG to give business to private firms at ridiculous rates. Great work!?

Who owns your account now?

Fireman’s Fund to Ace Ltd. Ace wishes to expand insurance of luxury homes, yachts and art collections because of higher margins.

IAN

41 Watchung Plaza, B242

Montclair, NJ 07042

973.746.2014

www.InsuranceAdvisorsNetwork.com

Alerts 

Will you get the same tax breaks this year?

Will you get the same tax breaks as GE, Intel, Boeing, Merck, etc etc etc?

U.S. Treasury Secretary Jacob J. Lew called a potential agreement to revive and extend lapsed tax breaks “fiscally irresponsible,” casting uncertainty over year-end negotiations in Congress. Lawmakers are discussing a package that could increase the U.S. budget deficit by more than $400 billion over a decade. The precise contours of a deal haven’t been set, and staff members from both parties are negotiating the deal. Companies including General Electric and Intel have huge tax breaks at stake in the talks.

GE and 110 other megafirms have paid no taxes in recent years.

You can eliminate your taxes on future income too: http://www.amazon.com/Tax-FREE-Wealth-How-laws-free/dp/1475089236

The BIG Wall Street Lie

We pay approximately $600 billion in fees each year to active fund managers who claim the ability to "beat the markets." To put that number into perspective, it's a little less than the gross domestic product of Switzerland. The "best of the best" fund managers are supposedly those who run hedge funds. In the aggregate, these funds have underperformed the Standard & Poor's 500 index by 97 percentage points since the end of 2008. Yet, we continue to pay high fees of 1-3%--Such madness!

The future is not bright for active managers, even with more degrees and faster computers, because it is mathematically impossible for all of them to be above average.

Avoid the fees; go with Vanguard’s Top Ten: http://www.amazon.com/Vanguards-Top-Ten-mutual-funds/dp/150073909X

Cost is everything

You can buy the Vanguard Total Stock Market Index Fund ETF for no cost beyond annual expenses of 0.05 percent of your assets in the fund. At Schwab, you can buy the Schwab U.S. Broad Market ETF for an annual expense of 0.04 percent. That 0.01 percentage point difference is negligible.

But, compare that low-cost index fund with an actively managed fund carrying 1.3 percent in expenses, like many 401k funds. Invest $50,000 at the long-term stock market average return of 10 percent and you'll end up with $859,477 after 30 years of having that 0.05 percent deducted annually. Pay 1.3 percent a year in expenses instead (not unusual for a high-profile actively managed mutual fund) and you'll end up with $589,203. 

Low-cost beat high-cost funds in unbiased Morningstar study: http://www.amazon.com/The-Best-Predictor-Investment-Success/dp/1502524082

GOP crazies are costing US real money!

John Boehner announced his plan to sue the president back in June. A month later, the Speaker’s office formally unveiled the legislation to authorize the litigation. A month after that, House Republicans agreed to pay a D.C. law firm $500 an hour, in taxpayer money, to handle the case. Republicans hired a law firm to oversee the litigation, but the firm changed its mind in September and dropped the case. GOP leaders then hired a second firm, only to learn a month later that it dropped the case, too. This week, Republicans hired a new lawyer, George Washington University legal scholar Jonathan Turley, who filed today at $500/hour. It will take 3 years to get a court decision and will cost $500 million total.

To get into court, the House would have to prove that it was damaged by the way the administration carried out the ACA, and courts have consistently rejected that idea. Constitution gives the Congress ultimate legal authority, not the courts. This makes America a democracy not a 3^rd world country ruled by Junta—bunch of old white guys.

AIG launches annuity for 401k accounts despite lack of answers

The first deferred-income annuity that meets the Treasury's guidelines for a qualified-longevity-annuity contract is out, and broker-dealer execs have plenty of questions.

AIG launched the so-called QLAC version of its American Pathway deferred-income annuity at the start of November, a response to the the guidance released in July by the Treasury Department that made it easier to use qualified plan dollars to buy a DIA. The 401k money that goes into the QLAC isn't subject to required minimum distribution rules that would require them to take money from their qualified retirement plans at age 70½. 401k participants up to 83 can buy the contract and defer receipt of their income for anywhere between 12 months to 40 years. Should the participant die before the stream of income begins, the QLAC has an optional return-of-premium death benefit for an extra fee. They can choose not to make a death benefit payable if they use the lifetime-income-only annuity payment option. In that case the annuity value is zero for heirs. Costs have not been disclosed yet but annuities are expensive products that have simpler/cheaper alternatives: http://www.amazon.com/Best-Annuity-Strategy-Income-Growth/dp/1497532019

Rockefellers moving—rent too high at Rocky Plaza—sign of the times

Descendants of John D. Rockefeller Jr. will vacate office space at 30 Rockefeller Plaza that the family has occupied for more than 80 years. The Rockefeller family will leave Room 5600, the full-floor space on the tower’s 56th Floor. The Rockefellers have been occupants of Room 5600 since 1933, spokesman said. “They got a good, reasonable deal,” Seitel said.

Buy only what you need: http://www.amazon.com/Insiders-Guides-Discount-Financial-Services/dp/143480593X

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.

The War on Terror requires SEALS’ attacks on top terrorists at their homes. Iraq proved converting a nation to Western-style republic doesn’t work.

Keeping 10,000 in Afghanistan for what?

The United States is preparing to increase the number of troops it keeps in Afghanistan in 2015 to fill a gap left in the NATO mission by other contributing nations, according to three sources with direct knowledge of the situation.

GM chose profits over our lives

General Motors pressured a supplier to continue producing a substandard ignition switch a decade ago, a newly disclosed email shows. The switch is linked to at least 33 deaths and dozens of injuries. In the email, part of internal Delphi correspondence in 2005, a Delphi official said the company was pressured by G.M. to make the faulty switch work even though it did not meet G.M.’s own standard and continued to fail in testing. GM has said that in 2005, company engineers proposed solutions to the switch problem, but the automaker concluded that none represented "an acceptable business case."

The part would have cost $0.57 but the dealer labor would be about $100 million, according to Barra.  "I think we in the past had more of a cost culture," she said.

GM has repaired about 1.3 million vehicles (out of 2.6 million) in the recall.

Kim Atkins, a 24-year-old media specialist in Austin, Texas, ignored calls and letters for months urging her to bring in her 2007 Chevy Cobalt. When she finally brought it to the dealership last month, she learned there were four other recalls on it.

Job opportunity scams

http://www.sid.in-berlin.de/nedkelly-world/work%20at%20home%20scams%20II.html

IAN

41 Watchung Plaza, B242

Montclair, NJ 07042

973.746.2014

www.InsuranceAdvisorsNetwork.com

Alerts 

IRS stops chasing tax evaders

IRS stops chasing tax evaders

Fed report on IRS says they don’t use every means to collect $ BILLIONS. Most uncollected taxes are owed by small business. Liens are placed on property but little is recovered. IRS wrote off $6.7 billions from 483,000 tax returns — because it couldn't find the taxpayers. IRS says: "It may be difficult for the IRS to collect on these outstanding liabilities considering that these taxpayers have already proven to be difficult to contact or locate." The big tax evaders—Apple, Google, Top Ten actually got REFUNDS. That’s right, your taxes went to GE, Boeing, Verizon, etc with $Bs profits.  In fact, 18,857 US companies keep a post office box in the Cayman Islands. 80 percent of the largest US corporations use offshore tax havens. Little wonder 57 percent of these companies paid no federal income taxes for at least one year from 1998 to 2005.

Pay your fair share: http://www.amazon.com/The-Tax-Shelter-Young-Americans/dp/1500426520

Is your advisor/broker trying to time the market? And wasting your money?

"Far more money has been lost by investors preparing for corrections, or trying to anticipate corrections, than has been lost in corrections themselves." Peter Lynch

Charles Schwab conducted a study using S&P data that showed that between 1994-2013, "missing the top ten up days by trying to time the market would have resulted in a reduction of 9.2% annualized return to 5.5%."

Investors lose more money trying to time the market ups and downs than if they had stayed invested. Your salesperson CANNOT foretell the future. Use the Best Predictor of Success method: http://www.amazon.com/Best-Predictor-Investment-Success-Cost/dp/1502524082

Corp execs make a killing with INVERSIONS
Medronic and other ‘deserters’ are using tricks to avoid their fair share of our taxes by claiming to move. This firm is giving its execs an extra $63 million from stockholders (our pensions) to ‘invert.’ Of course, Wall Street makes fees on the ‘inversion’ trick. Hedge funds get insider information and then make a bundle. Meanwhile, we pay their taxes to keep the system running and they continue to use it tax-FREE. They never moved!! You can go tax-FREE too: http://www.amazon.com/Tax-FREE-Retirement-code-lifetime-income/dp/1475206976

Is a Worry-Free car right for you?

Cars that you don’t have to fix are in demand. CR and JDPower ratings combined to give you a list to consider. Even 3 year old models may be the best value—quality at the right price. http://blogs.cars.com/kickingtires/2014/09/whats-the-most-worry-free-car-you-can-buy.html. Trucks and cars that make 200,000 miles are listed here http://www.businessinsider.com/cars-most-likely-to-get-to-200000-miles-2014-10

Congress votes in its own interest—“representative democracy" focuses on millionaires

For the first time in history, more than half the members of the House and Senate are now millionaires, according to a new analysis of financial disclosure reports filed last year. The median net worth for lawmakers in the House and Senate was $1,008,767 — up 4.4 percent, according to the analysis, conducted by the nonprofit Center for Responsive Politics, which examines the influence of money on politics in Washington. None were laid off, unemployed, need food stamps, lack health care coverage, lack retirement plan, need a home, have college loans outstanding, or have trouble getting mortgages.

The world looks different to them. They get paid even if they do nothing. Perfect job!!

GOP crazies

U.S. Representative Michele Bachmann thinks President Barack Obama's strategy to defeat Islamic State extremists is piecemeal and we should hit them hard early. Bachmann says US knew last year. Congress should declare war on ISIS like WWII.

Supremes re-write Constitution—cut voter access in OH

“Thousands of Ohioans rely on early voting,” said Dale Ho, director of the Voting Rights Project. “For many, it is their only chance to cast a ballot during an election. While today’s order is not a final ruling on the merits, it will deprive many Ohioans of the opportunity to vote in the upcoming election as this case continues to make its way through the courts.” Supremes assist GOP to end of democracy as we know it. American Constitution never required voters have 3 IDs. Only Russia has that law.  

GOP hopes to win elections by changing American Constitution.

Secret Service looking to future with Koch Bros?

The Secret Service Ignored 8 Assault Rifle Shots Fired Into the White House Residence When Obama Family Was Home. Secret Service supervisor issued a stand down order, saying there were no shots fired without looking. A housekeeper found the bullets for the SS 4 days later. Is the SS incompetent? With the Obama hate that has been stirred by political rhetoric, it would seem the SS would be more likely to be on guard. Yet they let a knife-wielding gate-crasher in daylight roam around the Obama home. Hey, GOP has the money/will. They didn’t like Kennedy either. What else can we think?

Is a small company mutual fund right for you?

Smaller companies grow faster than large companies. For anyone who invested in smaller companies over any given 15 year period, the benefits were outstanding. For each $1,000 invested in the 1950s, $3,000,000 was the total return by the 1990’s. For investors who chose Biogen, Qualcomm, EMC, and Kansas City Southern RR when they were small firms, the rewards have been great. They earned price increases of 6,000% to19,000% because they held the stock for years. Vanguard’s Small Cap Index fund provides you with some of these gains over time at cost. It is one of the Vanguard Top 10: http://www.amazon.com/Vanguards-Top-Ten-mutual-funds/dp/150073909X

Are index funds in 401k, IRA, regular accounts good for you?
Index funds, matching market gains (no stock pickers), have managed to garner more assets during this recession/recovery cycle. During the last 5 years, each market segment index—small, large, global, real estate—has outpaced stock pickers. Not only do managers have to beat the markets; they have to overcome fees and transaction costs of 1-3%. Some managers do that but we will never know which ones they are till the year is over—too late to invest. Thus many large institutions and pensions are switching from costly “professional” managers to index funds. Index funds are what Buffett recommends: http://www.amazon.com/Warren-Buffetts-Vanguard-Funds-Retirement/dp/1496148592

Are you losing your future nest egg to fees?

Our 401(k)s and Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs) are being eroded by fees, “leakage” and low participation rates, according to a new analysis of the Federal Reserve’s Survey of Consumer Finances. We are better off doing our own low-cost tax-FREE retirement account: http://www.amazon.com/Best-Predictor-Investment-Success-Cost/dp/1502524082

Deadline for tax extension filers is near

More than a quarter of the nearly 13 million taxpayers who requested an automatic six-month  extension this year have yet to file. Oct. 15 is the last day for most people to file. Members of the military and others serving in Afghanistan or other combat zones have until at least 180 days after they leave the combat zone to both file returns and pay any taxes due. Pay NO tax when you retire: http://www.amazon.com/How-Retire-Tax-FREE-Income-increases/dp/1484156951

Employment up—wages down—profits soar as corps pay LESS tax

The bounce in employment provided good news for the workforce in terms of total jobs, but wages remained stagnant. The average hourly wage actually fell one cent to $24.53, while the average work week edged higher to 34.6 hours. Wage growth is at just 2 percent on an annualized basis.

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.

Afghanistan—another Japan, Germany and S. Korea?

We thought we were getting out. A U.S. official says U.S. troops will stay in Afghanistan beyond the end of the year, in a deal to be signed on Tuesday under the country's newly inaugurated president. Policing never ends.

Why our govt hid the real bank bailout behind AIG bailout

Fed refused to let A.I.G. identify the betting banks that received full payment on their mortgage bets (insured by A.I.G.) After an outcry over the secrecy, the company identified the bailout recipients in March 2009; they included Société Générale (France), Goldman Sachs, Deutsche Bank and Merrill Lynch. Taxpayers were forced by Bush to pay off 100% of their gambling losses. Banks bet on mortgages going higher. The gamblers should have lost their money. Instead they collected 100% and our children will have to pay for the losses for generations. Bush’s bankers to testify at trial.

Agents target elderly with ‘low risk’ securities

Four insurance agents were charged with unlawfully selling securities in what turned out to be a multi-million dollar offering fraud targeting elderly investors. The scheme raised approximately $4.3 million during a nearly 18-month period. Agents in TX, PA, MI, CO sold securities that were supposed to be invested in government-backed agency bonds at a discount.

John Hancock Life agreed to refund senior citizens in Massachusetts more than $550,000 to settle allegations that it failed to supervise one if its representatives, James E. Moniz, permitting him to sell unsuitable variable life insurance policies, variable annuities, and other insurance and financial products.

  

IAN

41 Watchung Plaza, B242

Montclair, NJ 07042

973.746.2014

www.InsuranceAdvisorsNetwork.com

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

Congress allows corporations to evade taxes--we pay

Congress allows corporations to evade taxes--we pay for them

More tax dollars are leaving the country as more US firms demand tax breaks to stay. Walgreen got $millions in tax breaks from IL and then decides to leave. We are being blackmailed and Congress does nothing. Even Fortune magazine sees the collapse in tax fairness coming. Coast Guard rescues Miami-based Carnival distressed Triumph and avoids taxes to pay its fair share. These corporations use our ports, roads, courts, communities, military hegemony, banking and capital markets but don’t pay for them. Forbes blames our tax rate not being as low as 5%. The 1%ers already got their tax cut.

Don’t get stuck with their tax bill. Start paying your fair share:

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

More drug firms escape taxes

AbbVie plans to buy Shire and base the new company in the U.K. to benefit from its lower corporate tax rate. The move is part of a wave of U.S. health-care companies looking to take advantage of European deals to lower their taxes. Also Mylan of Canonsburg, Pa., agreed to buy pharmaceutical assets from AbbVie's former parent, Abbott Laboratories that will create a new entity organized in the Netherlands. Tax considerations appear to be the primary driver in AbbVie's courtship of Shire. Shire's tax rate was 17% and AbbVie's was 22.3% a difference of only 5%.

Young women turn away from advisors—using internet tools and save

About 45 percent of baby boomers use a financial professional compared with 31 percent of Gen Xers and 15 percent of millennials. “The declining use of financial professionals may be due in part to the vast amount of investment research and tools available on the Internet, which millennials and Gen Xers are often more likely to use than baby boomers,” said Lori Fouché, CEO with Prudential Group Insurance. Nationally, only 31 percent of women use a financial professional, down from 48 percent in 2008, according to the Prudential study. With one in five women saying financial professionals don’t understand their needs, using jargon and a hardcore product sell is part of the problem. Women make better decisions when they find their own solutions. Cut out the middle person and Save: http://www.amazon.com/Personal-Finance-Online-middle-person/dp/1500522120/

Best mutual funds from last year fail for this year

For funds in the top quartile in March 2012, only 3.78% maintained that position in March 2014, a new study said. “Very few funds can consistently stay at the top,” according to the report, authored by the index provider's director of global research and design, Aye M. Soe. “The figures paint a poor picture of the lack of long-term persistence in mutual fund returns.”

This study confirms that there will always be a top performer for the year but you can’t use past performance to pick it. With 9,000 funds, one will always top next year’s list—just not predictable.

An unbiased Morningstar study of all funds showed that “In every single time period and data point tested, low-cost funds beat high-cost funds.” Cost is the best predictor.

Use Warren Buffett’s strategy: http://www.amazon.com/Warren-Buffetts-Investment-Strategy-Forget/dp/1484822900

Why your health insurance costs so much

Some health insurers pay their CEOs so much they make the top 10 on pay day. Aetna paid CEO over $36 million  so a good part of your premium goes to one man. Does he really help your health or even Aetna stockholder’s health? Could the company follow the rules just as easily without each patient having to pay $50 to $100 a year for this guy?

Obama cut deficit in HALF

The government's budget deficit will drop to $583 billion this year, the lowest level of President Barack Obama's tenure. Obama presided over trillion-dollar-plus deficits during his first term as the economy struggled to recover from a deep recession and financial crisis. GOP Reagan, Bush I & II ran the deficit from 30% of GDP to 90% of GDP, as in WWII, at $17 Trillion! Two tax cuts for the rich and two undeclared wars.  

GOP Crazies

FL GOP caught changing voting map to suit GOP. Districts redrawn illegally according to judge’s findings. Even though there are more registered Democrats in the state, Republicans currently hold a 17-to-10 majority in Florida’s congressional delegation. Did Bush II “win” 2000 election illegally?

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rundown/judge-rules-fla-legislature-broke-laws-congressional-district-maps/

Obama impeachment?

Sarah Palin declared last week that Obama should be impeached over the immigration crisis and other issues, a call that even Congressional Republicans have dismissed. “She wasn't a particularly good vice presidential candidate,” Holder said on ABC’s ‘This Week. “She’s an even worse judge of who ought to be impeached and why.”

“There’s a certain level of vehemence, it seems to me, that’s directed at me [and] directed at the president,” Mr. Holder told ABC News. “You know, people talking about taking their country back. … There’s a certain racial component to this for some people. I don’t think this is the thing that is a main driver, but for some, there’s a racial animus.”

The KKK uses bags of candy to recruit in SC

The imperial klaliff (political leader of the Muslim world) of the Loyal White Knights and said the effort was part of a recruiting event they hold three times a year. Kids found candy at door on Sunday morning with note "Save Our Land, Join the Klan." It had a phone number that led to an automated message discussing KKK efforts against illegal immigration.

GOP cuts IRS enforcement by 25%--we will have to make up for the tax cheats

The GOP-controlled House has voted to slash the budget for the Internal Revenue Service's tax enforcement division by $1.2 billion; a 25 percent cut that would mean fewer audits of taxpayers and make it more likely that people who cheat on their taxes will get away with it, especially if they have a lawyer/accountant.
 

GOP cuts securities regulator to halt advisor enforcement of fiduciary rule

House killed budget request for imposing the fiduciary rule (salesman must give best solution regardless of fees). SEC will not uphold ‘best for customer’ rule.

State Farm cancels 30-year homeowner because bad weather

State Farm, which has insured Metzler's property for 30 years, was declining to issue her a new policy. Too many claims, her agent said. Metzler, 74, was ticked off. Her neighborhood had been hit hard by extreme weather several times in recent years.

"It was ridiculous," Metzler said. "What do I do? Put a faucet on Mother Nature? Gee whiz." Homeowners met with Montana’s Commissioner to discuss claims disputes. Some had assumed a policy couldn't be canceled because of an act of God. Not true.

Non-renewal presents real problems for homeowners because once a customer had been turned away after multiple claims, it becomes difficult, if not impossible, to be picked up by another claim-weary company.

Brad Hilliard, a State Farm spokesman, said it “has to look at what it can reasonably cover.” Doesn’t matter how long a customer has been with the company or what kind of insurance they have. It is how many claims a customer has filed. Claims cost money. Shop for discounts every 5 years since loyalty doesn’t matter: http://www.amazon.com /Homeowners-Insurance-Beware-Coverage-Policy/dp/1480100870

Senate supports Supremes: our employer now decides which religious law we live by

The U.S. Senate turned back a Democratic proposal requiring for-profit companies to provide workers with insurance coverage for birth control even if the employer has religious objections. Five white guys’ religious views upheld.

Social Security office still verifies income

Social Security said its offices will continue issuing statements that recipients can use to verify their benefits. People sometimes need the information quickly to verify their income when applying for a loan or other government benefits, such as housing assistance. GOP cutbacks had scheduled to close offices in October but that plan was put on hold.

9 used cars with problems—avoid despite price discounting

Besides many GM ignition faults, theses 9 are losers. 

https://autos.yahoo.com/blogs/motoramic/9-popular-used-cars-with-dubious-reliablity-164308845.html

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.

Ex-cop who shot dad in FL theater for texting is free on bond of only $150,000

It cost Tea Party leader $250,000 bond for doing MS GOP dirty tricks not MURDER. Ex-cop got No charge for shooting wife in hand. No charge for using gun in theater. Claims "self-defense." Family says he is not violent at home with guns!

Is your charity gift really a charity or scam?

IRS lists qualified charities online so you have no doubt.

http://www.irs.gov/Charities-&-Non-Profits/Exempt-Organizations-Select-Check

AIG, the prime suspect in the 2007 financial crisis, is paid $650,000,000 by Bank America

American International Group will get at least $650 million in a settlement with Bank of America Corp. as the second-biggest U.S. bank seeks to end liability for faulty mortgages. AIG sold insurance to global institutions that bet on risky mortgages that went bad. AIG was bailed out by taxpayers and now reaped more profit from its bad bets.

Justice delayed is NOT justice

A dispute over a car damaged in an accident 18 years ago has led a Pennsylvania judge to order Nationwide to pay $18 million in punitive damages. It’s too late for the victims and only 1 week’s profit for Nationwide.

IAN

41 Watchung Plaza, B242

Montclair, NJ 07042

973.746.2014

www.InsuranceAdvisorsNetwork.com

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