Wealthy avoid the sales tax too!

Would you like to be exempt from sales tax?
Yes, your big-ticket purchase could be exempt from up to the 8.875% tax. Saving their donors cash is what legislators do for a living. Of course, lawmakers can’t call it the “gift to billionaires” tax evasion bill so they call it “saving jobs”: this tax “break brought jobs to the state for repairs, renovations, and resupply.” Right! Another trick for the wealthy to pay less.

Use the tax break for working people: http://www.amazon.com/Tax-Shelter-Americans/dp/1500426520

Use all the credits and deductions you qualify for

Many credits are refundable—you INCREASE your refund when you take some credits. See EIC, CTC, EC, CDC, SC, and many more but you have to know they exist to take them. The IRS does not advertise how to get your money back—you must ask for it like the big corporations do. 2/3rds of all businesses pay NO income taxes.

Let Uncle Same help you too: http://www.amazon.com/Tax-Refund-Millionaires-Let-Uncle-Help/dp/149595644X

Do you qualify for an ObamaCare tax credit of $5,760?

You may qualify for a credit of $5,760 or more when you file your tax return if you have used the Marketplace to buy your family health plan. Learn how to qualify:

http://ebn.benefitnews.com/news/exchanges/top-5-form-1095-a-questions-2745970-1.html

Teacher’s investment strategy beat advisor/broker’s picks--WOW

It turns out teachers are beating Wall Streeters at their own game. Teachers’ investing returns outperformed those of advisors/brokers in the past year, 10.2% to 6.9%. In fact, teachers saw the best returns of any profession. Why? Simple math, Buffett says.

Use the Buffett strategy for more: http://www.amazon.com/The-Warren-Buffett-Millionaire-snoring/dp/1508887381

On average, 45 percent of job seekers age 55 and older have been looking for a long time, according to the BLS, which defines long term as 27 or more weeks without work. To address the reluctance of employers to consider such workers, the Obama administration last year started an initiative to encourage private and public companies to hire the long-term unemployed. Some have found work with less pay and some have started their own businesses. Others have stopped looking and take Social Security benefits early. Growing fields include health care and technology with top jobs in 2015 outlook.

GOP crazies

Future GOP President Cruz:  "We will presumably go on the [ObamaCare] exchange and sign up for health care and we're in the process of transitioning over to do that," Cruz told the Des Moines Register's Jennifer Jacobs. Cruz shut down the government which cost over $200 million because he did not like ObamaCare. Thankfully he did not really mean to end the insurance he now uses. 

Head of Bush Torture Department stomping for Jeb?

Dick Cheney will headline their annual NRCC March fundraiser. “Vice President Dick Cheney is a dedicated public servant and we are honored to have him as our keynote speaker for this year’s March Dinner” said Rep. Greg Walden, Oregon Republican and chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC), also calling Mr. Cheney a “true patriot.” Is Jeb committed to another war?

GOP vision for working Americans is bleak—service cuts and more taxes

The Senate on Friday passed a budget that envisions more than $5 trillion in cuts over the coming decade by slashing health care and other benefits for working families and the middle class while leaving tax breaks in place for the wealthiest Americans and multi-national corporations. Twenty-seven million Americans would lose health insurance under the Republican plan as they eliminate the Affordable Care Act and make huge cuts to Medicaid. "What they are proposing is major cuts in programs for some of the most vulnerable people in this country — the elderly, children, sick and low-income people,” said Sen Bernie Sanders, the ranking member of the Senate Budget Committee. “At the same time they want to give significant tax breaks to the wealthy and the large corporations.” During the week-long debate Republicans rejected proposals to create millions of new jobs, raise the minimum wage, help students afford college, and protect seniors on Social Security and Medicare.

GOP state gov deficit creation

Kansas tax cut for rich failed. No trickle down to raise jobs. Deficit explodes. 

New Jersey’s public-pension managers are proposing more investment in hedge funds and distressed real estate to protect against risks in the bond market should U.S. interest rates rise. NJ has gambled with teachers’ pensions before and lost. Hedge funds trailed the S&P500 Index for the fifth straight year as U.S. markets rallied to record levels. George Santayana. “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”

"I'm not here to be bullied," Christie opponents scream

The protesters were escorted out of the auditorium by security as a largely friendly crowd cheered. Christie has been holding weekly town hall meetings across the state touting his proposal to further ‘reform” the state's public worker health care and pension system. He failed to make payments to the system as promised. He was asked to explain giving up the $9 billion settlement with EXXON in return for campaign contributions. He refused.

IN GOP uses “religious freedom” words as disguise for discrimination

IN law allows a retail outlet to not serve someone you “think” does not hold the same religious views as you. How is that not discrimination? A business could say you look Jewish or catholic and not give you a room in hotel, as has happened in past. What could GOP hope to gain by this law if not to secure the religious (protestant white) right vote? This is a law that puts religious believe above the law we all must follow. Even a protestant denomination with HQ in IN has come out against such a law.

Do index mutual funds tracking the market reduce your risk?

Morningstar data shows you can reduce some risks by using market-index funds at cost. You make a commitment to stay in the market and not trust the bet of one gambler’s (advisor's) guesses.

Use your refund to retire early: http://www.amazon.com/Tax-Refund-Millionaires-Let-Uncle-Help/dp/149595644X

Why economy does not grow quickly

Wages climbed by 1.3 percent from the second quarter of 2012 to the second quarter of 2014, compared to a 17 percent increase in home prices around that time, according to a new report from RealtyTrac. The real-estate data provider used the Labor Department's weekly earnings data to measure wage growth, while home prices were derived from sales-deed data in December 2014 and compared to December 2012 on the hypothesis that a change in average wages would take at least six months to affect home prices.

Using localized earnings data, RealtyTrac also found that 76 percent of housing markets posted increases in home prices that exceeded the wage growth there during that time frame. In many markets, the housing recovery has "largely been driven over the last two years by buyers who are not as constrained by incomes -- namely the institutional investors coming in and buying up properties as rentals, and international buyers coming in and buying, often with cash,” RealtyTrac said.

Your broker uses misleading claims?

A new report on nine major brokerage firms – Merrill Lynch, Fidelity Investments, Ameriprise, Wells Fargo, Morgan Stanley, Allstate Financial, UBS, Berthel Fisher, and Charles Schwab – found that all “advertise in a fashion that is designed to lull investors into the belief that they are being offered the services of a fiduciary.” But brokers are NOT acting in your best interests—that is the change they are fighting in Washington.

For example, the report said that Merrill Lynch advertises as follows: “It’s time for a financial strategy that puts your needs and priorities front and center.” Fidelity claims: “Acting in good faith and taking pride in getting things just right. The personal commitment each of us makes to go the extra mile for our customers and put their interests before our own is a big part of what has always made Fidelity a special place to work and do business.”

Wall Street’s excess fees can take up to 63% of our nest egg over time. http://www.amazon.com/Wealth-Without-Wall-Street-Low-Commissions/dp/1442168137

Consumer Reports best new cars for $15,000+

Car buying has changed: Typical new breed of car buyer. Spend barely two hours at dealership. “All the negotiations were over email,” one 32-year-old buyer said. Once you settled on price, you show up, test drive, fill out the paperwork and go. Research and shop online. Salespeople do not have research, pricing, special offers, or low-cost financing. They do joy rides, treats/coffee, buyer-justification, high-cost extras and BS.

https://autos.yahoo.com/news/best-small-cars-consumer-reports-testing-100000790.html

Is it time to refinance?

We just completed a refi of a 5.875% 30 year with 18 years left. We were pleasantly surprised that Quicken Loans was able to reduce our rate to 3.25% for 15 years and pay off our HELOC. Our rate and term are less while we are paying about the same monthly payment including our escrow for taxes and insurance. We had about 50% equity and earned income so we avoided PMI and higher closing costs. The Quicken process is very smooth—all docs and communication is online so you don’t have to play telephone tag. The closing is in your home at the time you pick with no lawyer fees.

We shopped three other lenders first. QL has JD Power awards for good service.

We understand why.

SCAMS           Why are we still 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.

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. Our trained troops ran away.

We are wasting $4 billion a year on Afgan tribal rivalries paying ransom to Al Qaeda.

Angie’s List takes money from vendors for higher positive reviews?

The complaint claims that service providers pay Angie’s List fees for higher rankings in member searches, to suppress negative reviews, and to ensure that positive reviews are not suppressed.

Two Wall Streeters may go to jail—NEW IDEA!

Benito Chinea and Joseph DeMeneses, Direct Access Partners, were sentenced to 4 years for bribing a Venezuelan bank in exchange for business. They must pay $3.68 million and $2.71 million in fines.

But ….not for Ameriprise Financial.

It has agreed to pay $27.5 million to settle a class-action claim alleging improper use of proprietary funds and high fees in its 401(k) plan. That’s 0.00027% of revenue and deductible—hardly incentive to stop charging us HIGH FEES.

Insurance agent steals from veterans

Patrice Sands, 45, sold the fraudulent policies at the Miami-based Make-A-Wish Veterans that provides assistance to veterans. Sands collected premiums and deposited the funds into bank accounts tied to her business, Universal Research Group Insurance Agency. One widow tried to collect. Sands could get 25 years.

IAN

41 Watchung Plaza, B242

Montclair, NJ 07042

973.746.2014

www.InsuranceAdvisorsNetwork.com

Alert

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 

Congress OKs another bank bailout from gambling losses

Banks WIN: new spending bill will make us pay for their gambling losses AGAIN

House GOP/DEMs approved bank derivatives trading after banning it in 2008. Buffett called derivatives “weapons of mass destruction,” and fears for our future.

They nearly destroyed our global system. Wall St. is trying to overthrow the financial controls put in place after the 2008 meltdown. Wall Street lobbyists attached a "rider" to the $1.1 T federal spending bill that would roll back parts of Dodd-Frank and let the Big Banks go back to gambling with our entire economy while expecting us to bail them out again.

We lost to Wall Street—they can trade “derivatives” and meltdown again.

You can avoid paying for the higher taxes to cover the next bailout: http://www.amazon.com/Tax-FREE-Retirement-code-lifetime-income/dp/1475206976

Is the IRS most popular tax haven right for you?

You have a tax refund coming next April from earnings in 2014. Earnings for this completely tax-FREE account include alimony and maintenance payments. Any part time job or self-employment income will work too. This tax-FREE account has no age restriction, so it can be used to leave your family a legacy FREE of all income taxes like life insurance. Contributions to $5,500 per year ($6,500 for age 50+) can be made if your income is under $191,000 for married-filing-jointly taxpayers and $129,000 for single taxpayers. Contribute your tax refund (average is $3,000) for 25 years and you may have $400,000. That could produce $36,000 a year TAX-FREE.

Yes, the Roth IRA may be right for you: http://www.amazon.com/Tax-Refund-Millionaires-Let-Uncle-Help/dp/149595644X

Congress to cut support for small business pensions

The employer-paid program backing multiemployer plans was $5 billion in the red. It projected that—unless Congress acted—there was "about a 35 percent probability" its assets would be exhausted by 2022 and "about a 90 percent probability" by 2032.

Don’t count on employer pensions. Make your own: http://www.amazon.com/Your-Pension-Box-tax-FREE-employer/dp/1481945157

Your broker may lose pay if they help you next year

Merrill Lynch told its brokers they will get higher bonus payments in 2015 for attracting new clients and assets but eliminated pay for servicing clients with less than $250,000. Merrill will pay brokers .10 percent of new assets clients use to buy loans, banking and trust products, or put into fee-based advisory accounts. Brokers attracting over $10 million of such assets get .20 percent and .23 percent for those reaching $50 million. However, bonuses in 2015 are being halved for new money put into low-profit money-market or bank accounts.

Unless you have $10 mill with Merrill, you should do your own investing with Vanguard’s Top Ten: http://www.amazon.com/Vanguards-Top-Ten-mutual-funds/dp/150073909X

ObamaCare plans renew automatically—NO WAITING

A 25 year old client enrolled in a health insurance plan on HealthCare.gov and only pays $20 a month! For 2014, 8 out of 10 people who signed up for health insurance on www.HealthCare.gov got help paying for their costs. Over the summer, the Obama administration decided that nearly everyone covered through the 34 federally run exchanges would be auto-enrolled in the same plans for 2015, with the same subsidies they received in 2014. The goal is both to ensure that more people would remain covered through Obamacare, to avoid both overwhelming the website during open enrollment and having a repeat of last year’s technical difficulties. Less than 100,000 opted out of auto-renewal when they signed up for 2014 coverage.

Buy only what you need: http://www.amazon.com/Health-Insurance-ONLY-right-policy/dp/1480125083

Car thieves have hard time too

Vehicle theft is down by more than 50 percent compared to 1991, despite an increase in population and registrations of over 60 million, according to National Insurance Crime Bureau. The drop—aided in part by better investigation from law enforcement and insurers, and new technologies—means vehicle owners are far less likely to have their cars stolen today than at any time in the last 44 years.

Save $2,000 with anti-theft discounts you must ask for: http://www.amazon.com/Vehicle-Insurance-Beware-Double-Coverage/dp/1480027634

If you turned age 70 in 2014…

IRS reminded taxpayers born before July 1, 1944, that they generally must receive payments from their individual retirement arrangements (IRAs) and workplace retirement plans by Dec. 31, 2014. Known as required minimum distributions (RMDs), these payments normally must be made by the end of 2014. But a special rule allows first-year recipients of these payments, those who reached age 70½ during 2014, to wait until as late as April 1, 2015 to receive their first RMDs. This means that those born after June 30, 1943 and before July 1, 1944 are eligible for this special rule. The amount is usually calculated by your IRA trustee using IRS lifetime estimates. If you don’t need the money, send it back to your trustee as a Roth IRA and keep it growing for health care or legacy.

http://www.amazon.com/Your-Retirement-Spending-Plan-enough/dp/1461084016

GOP crazies

The current top Republican on the panel, retiring Sen. Saxby Chambliss (R-Ga.), said it’s “pretty clear” the report’s main purpose is to attack Bush. He and other committee Republicans largely avoided cooperating in the preparation of the report, though he and several other panel members did vote to release it this spring.

GOP says torture is OK since CIA gets only the truth from the terrorist, who would never lie under duress. Right!?! McCain says NO WAY! Torture is wrong.

Republican Sen. John McCain, who was tortured and spent five and a half years as a prisoner of war in Vietnam, said the Senate report on CIA interrogation practices proves what he knows from "personal experience" -- that prisoner abuse is ineffective and greatly damaging to America. McCain says victims say “anything” to stop. Listen!

If torture is illegal and Bush/Cheney OKd it, will they go to jail?

Why are we paying our taxes to Nazis overseas?

The House unanimously passed a bill -- dubbed the "No Social Security for Nazis Act" -- on Tuesday that would cut off those benefits.

IRS thinks gas prices are going up in 2015

Beginning on Jan. 1, 2015, the standard mileage rates for the use of a car, van, pickup or panel truck will be 57.5 cents per mile for business miles driven, up from 56 cents in 2014, 23 cents per mile driven for medical or moving purposes, down half a cent from 2014, 14 cents per mile driven in service of charitable organizations. http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-drop/n-14-79.pdf

Court allows more Wall Street criminals to walk

US Court of Appeals overturned two of the government’s signature convictions, the case against the former hedge fund traders Todd Newman and Anthony Chiasson, who were tried for insider trading of tech stocks. Citing the trial judge’s “erroneous” understanding of a precedent, the court threw out the case because defendants did not know the “intent” of the original info leakers.

Prosecutors complained that the ruling will tie their hands in pursuing Wall Street crime. From both sides, a consensus emerged that the ruling would have a chilling effect on insider trading prosecutions. More Wall Street tricks will work.

Get your fair share without crimes: http://www.amazon.com/The-Tax-Shelter-Young-Americans/dp/1500426520

Star Trek’s Photon torpedo is now real Navy weapon

Watch tax dollars at work: http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2014/12/11/navy-persian-gulf-laser-defense/20255507/

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.

Our accomplishments in Iraq—one elite replaces another—again ?

Islamic State militants may be at the approaches to Baghdad yet members of Iraq’s Shiite Muslim elite are offering cash for $1 million homes. Gilded mansions with jacuzzis in Italian-marble bathrooms and armored vehicles parked in the drive are replacing the humbler dwellings of the former middle-class Sunni, Shiite and Christian inhabitants. The conspicuous displays of Shiite affluence in tony Zayouna are testament to the shift in political power since U.S. forces ended decades of Sunni dominance under Saddam Hussein, according to Andrew Bowen, Middle East.

We watched $12 BILLION tax dollars vanish in Baghdad!!
 

Cheney was wrong—torture does NOT work. Terrorists lie and lie and lie

They lie to get the CIA to stop torture, according to Senate report.

You knew that all along. People don’t tell the truth if they are terrorists—dahh.

Even the CIA was outraged by their contractor’s torture!

We paid people $80 million to torture people in our name and got no “smoking gun”

CIA hired contractors to do the dirty work. Contractors helped develop and operate the "enhanced interrogation techniques" that the agency used on terror suspects, including waterboarding, were paid more than $80 million, according to the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence report on the CIA's interrogation program released Tuesday. Contractors include Mitchell, Jessen & Associates, a Spokane, Washington, company run by two psychologists, Dr. John "Bruce" Jessen and Dr. James Mitchell. The deal initially provided the two principals with $1,000-a-day tax-free retainers.

According to CIA counsel, John Rizzo, contractors Mitchell and Jessen were recommending "sadistic and terrifying" techniques.

Scam Alert to Wealthy—Avoid “Impact Investing” trend

The World Economic Forum has a message for wealthy families thinking about impact investing: Don’t buy on the buzz. Stick with what you know.

Seeking investments with the dual purpose of making a profit and improving society has become trendy among wealthy people and money managers, who rarely have the expertise or tools to put it into practice, according to a report released today.

Reema Shah, former Ameriprise money manager who pleaded guilty to securities fraud must pay $390,103, a figure roughly equal to the gains regulators said her funds earned based on an insider tip about Yahoo. Shah illegally recommended Yahoo stock in 2009 on the basis of nonpublic information about a search engine partnership between Yahoo and Microsoft. The SEC said the source of the information was Robert W. Kwok, a former Yahoo executive, whom Ms. Shah had given inside information a year earlier about another company, Autodesk Inc.

Judge orders insurers to show paperwork for underpaid Sandy claims

Homeowners have sued Travelers and other insurers including Wright National Flood Insurance and Hartford. Suit says they illegally conspired with engineering firms and others to deny or underpay claims from Sandy. Some homeowners are still waiting for flood insurance to pay off since 2012. Sounds like Katrina all over again!

State Farm was notorious for its handling of homeowners’ claims related to the devastation left by Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Claims were routinely denied without basis and private home inspectors hired by the insurer have testified that State Farm told them to alter damage reports in order to avoid paying claims or pay less than the claims were worth.

IAN

41 Watchung Plaza, B242

Montclair, NJ 07042

973.746.2014

www.InsuranceAdvisorsNetwork.com

Alerts

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http://www.amazon.com/Best-Long-term-Investment-its-tax-FREE/dp/1492117455/

Are you in the SECOND longest bull market in history?

Like most people, I did not realize that the market has been positive for almost two years straight. Most people left after the ’07 disaster and have not come back yet. Media hype is low so few see that this is the time to be in it. Proof: 3-year annual return=18%, 37-year annual return=10.75%. The Simple Financial Life: How to get what you want without going into debt and living paycheck to paycheck. http://www.amazon.com/The-Simple-Financial-Life-paycheck/dp/1441499326

ObamaCare provides $5,548 to help buy insurance

Families eligible for tax credits to help purchase health insurance in the new exchange created by the Affordable Care Act will receive an average of $5,548 in instant tax credits. These immediate credits will apply directly to individuals' and families' premiums, making coverage instantly more affordable for those who do not get health care through their employer. These instant tax credits will be available to people earning less than four times the poverty level--about $94,000 for a family of four. This means that 48 percent of people who currently buy insurance for themselves will be eligible for reduced premiums. Buy only what you need and save:http://www.amazon.com/Health-Insurance-ONLY-right-policy/dp/1480125083

GOP House passes ObamaCare repeal bill the 40^th time

These “representatives” are costing us $75 million a year to “do the same thing over and over with the expectation of a different outcome.” That behavior is the definition of insanity, according to some. Ms Bachmann sponsors the repeal bill!

Crash: only HALF of small cars studied receive acceptable rating

The failures: Chevrolet Sonic Volkswagen Beetle Chevrolet Cruze Nissan Sentra Kia Soul Kia Forte (2014). The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety said only two of 12 compact cars earned the highest rating for small overlap tests—the Honda Civic 2- and 4-door models. Toyota's Camry, most popular, did poorly on a new crash test this year. Cars with the institute's highest safety rating: Honda Accord, Chrysler 200, Dodge Avenger, Ford Fusion, Kia Optima, Nissan Altima, Subaru Legacy and Outback, Suzuki Kashai and the Volkswagen Passat.

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-505266_162-57597549/crash-test-finds-only-half-of-small-cars-studied-receive-acceptable-rating/

TX creates jobs but at $10/hr, working class life is not possible: Is this a Banana Republic?

Texas is a miracle in job creation, gov says. However, it has done it by turning back time to the 1860s, when Chinese work gangs were used to replace Irish workers for ½ wages. Texas workers are paid $10 an hour for long hot days constructing buildings with no overtime, no workmen’s comp, no health insurance; no bathroom breaks, and often pay delayed. Subcontractors promise and then disappear. America looks like Honduras 1870 when it was ruled by 1% owners and 99% worked for 1 cent /hour, no benefits.

Is this the America we want: Two Americas—cheap labor and the 1% owners?

40% drivers say they don’t want car monitor to save premium

Surveys of prospective Progressive Snapshot users have shown that “you get about 30 percent of people saying, ‘Yeah, why not?’; you get another 30 percent of people saying, ‘Maybe, I need to know more’; and you get about 40 percent of people saying, ‘No way in hell.’” Get all your discounts:http://www.amazon.com/Vehicle-Insurance-Beware-Double-Coverage/dp/1480027634

Doctors cutting fees by HALF to eliminate middleman

Physicians who have moved to a direct-pay practice report being able to slash medical care prices charged to patients by half or more thanks to significantly lower overhead resulting from cutting out the bureaucratic red tape and paperwork associated with insurance payment.  Increased face time with patients is another important benefit cited by doctors who have transitioned to direct-pay. Patients can still submit claim for reimbursement from insurers. Insurers often pay much less than retail anyway when the doctor is in PPO. Buy only what you need and save: http://www.amazon.com/Health-Insurance-ONLY-right-policy/dp/1480125083

Ms Bachmann becomes Swiss citizen—failed US history class but oversees CIA!?!

About 1,800 people renounced their American citizenship during the first half of this year, compared to about 1,000 for all of 2012, according to Internal Revenue Service data.

Can you believe they give up America for money?

An increasing number of Americans have decided the cost and hassle of hanging on to their citizenship is too taxing, according to federal data.

OK, but just don’t call the Marines or Consul when you get in trouble over there!!

And Bachmann is still overseeing the CIA, NSA, etc? AND getting farm subsidies from Switzerland?! And she sponsors the 40th ObamaCare repeal bill—insanity!

Three cans of sugar soda per day can be lethal, study finds

Sugar can kill you. Make sure you have the right life insurance to protect your family. Costs have come down so a $1 a day can buy $500,000 even for a 50 year old. Save $$17,970 with the right one! http://www.amazon.com/kindle-store/dp/B009MA9K78

Is market timing (TAA) right for you?

83 percent of financial planners had moved away from buy-and-hold strategies toward market timing in '08 -- what's often referred to as tactical asset allocation (TAA). There have been many studies on TAA funds, all showing the same results -- poor and inconsistent returns. A study that found that for the 12 years ending in 1997, while the S&P 500 on a total return basis rose 734 percent, the average equity fund returned just 589 percent, but the average return for 186 TAA funds was a mere 384 percent. That's about half the return of the S&P 500 Index. Advisors want to be rich not right. Invest the way Warren Buffett invests:http://www.amazon.com/Warren-Buffetts-Investment-Strategy-Forget/dp/1484822900

SCAMS           “Deficits don’t matter” Republican godfather, Dick Cheney, 2002

Banks holding commodities with our tax subsidies—And our bailout money

The largest U.S. banks are accused of causing problems in markets ranging from energy to aluminum. Regardless of whether they’re guilty of market-rigging, as critics say, the charges raise another question: Why are the banks in these businesses in the first place?

Banks are using cheap money to help themselves, not make loans to business. Anyone could make money this way—borrow at 0.001% and make 18%--and if a market collapses, bailout by taxpayers! How sweet.http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2013-08-01/bloomberg-view-the-wrong-business-for-big-banks

Have you received a letter about your medical situation?

Your personal health info is being sold by your State government for cash. Even though the law says doctors/hospitals can’t sell it, they give it to the state which sells it to the data-mining firms that do. Drug companies buy it so they can sell you or your doctor on their stuff. Data-miners get $10 billions and you get NOTHING. You might protect yourself by giving your providers your wrong ZIP. Hackers have a gold mine!

GOP to shut government but Obama cut Bush deficits by over HALF

Deficit was 10% of GDP in ’09. Obama has reduced it to 4%. Why do they still complain about spending with our bridges falling apart and 100 million people out of work or underemployed?

Who can look at your personal credit without your permission?

Folks you may not want to see can see your info because you have no control over what these companies can sell. http://www.bargaineering.com/articles/8-people-access-credit-report.html

Who owns your account now?

A Dick Tracey wrist phone, Galaxy Gear, will be out in a month. Finally, a smartphone I like!

IAN

41 Watchung Plaza, B242

Montclair, NJ 07042

973.746.2014

www.InsuranceAdvisorsNetwork.com

Long-term care insurance rates up 90%

Long-term care insurance rates up 90%--Will you have to drop it?

Some owners have seen their premiums go up from $1,844 to $3,504 in one year. If both of you have a policy, that means $7,000 a year for another 20 years on average--$140,000. Some insurers have even stopped selling new long-term care policies to individuals nationwide, including Prudential and MetLife. Many owners have had to drop coverage. newsobserver.com/2012/06/21/2152085/long-term-care-insurance-rates.html

Consider the alternatives: http://www.amazon.com/Long-term-Care-Insurance-better-alternatives/dp/147006877X

Supremes go against Tea Party – Can the Bush regime be over?

Young people may stay on parent’s policy. Insurers can’t revive ‘pre-existing conditions’ in order to deny children coverage if they are sick. Some carriers have dropped child-only policies because of that provision. Perhaps you should shop for separate insurance for your child or young adult. If they are healthy, they may be able to get better coverage cheaper than you can in your employers' plan. It's worth comparison shopping.

We keep the rebate checks! Now, the law requires health insurers to spend at least 80 percent of their premiums on medical care, and to refund to customers amounts over the remaining 20 percent that would be grabbed by profit and overhead.  

Also keep preventive care such as mammograms, colonoscopies, immunizations and more. Medicare participants will keep their free prostate, breast and colon cancer screenings. Coverage will be reduced by each state so the poor will be hit first. States without separate laws or money will cut clinics. Some break the law.

We keep lifetime unlimited coverage. This was the most dangerous part for those of us who have serious and expensive illnesses. Insurers must pay bills for major problems. The wealthy are not the only ones to get lifesaving operations.

We will have new cost choices during the fall open-enrollment season. We will NOT have to give up some things. There will be a federal floor—basic guaranteed coverage.

States will have a hard time taking away contraceptive coverage, new treatments, drugs, etc that cost more. Some may even eliminate women’s health clinics in order to outlaw abortion.

American’s view of health ruled by advertising?

Most Americans say they disapprove of ObamaCare but like the provisions. No wonder: Critics have outspent supporters 3-to-1 in publicity campaigns. They argue "Obamacare" will put half of the U.S. economy in the hands of government. This is all nonsense. Private insurers would have millions of new customers. ‘Mandate’ was a GOP idea. It was pushed by Newt: people taking responsibility instead of getting free care at hospitals. http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2008-video-surfaces-of-gingrich-supporting-health-care-mandate/ Romney won in MA on mandate platform. Now that Mr Obama agrees, GOP against it. A few wealthy Tea Party zealots have paid 3 to 1 to reverse the American Congress. Wow!

The lowest level of support for ObamaCare comes from people who identify themselves as strong supporters of the tea party. Even in that group, though, nearly 60 percent favor what is in the law. Benefits trump ideology.

Surprise: One old white man—a Bush Supreme—saved the health of millions. What power, what glory!

TX limit on malpractice payouts fails to lower costs—Tort reform?

A new study has found no evidence that health- care costs in Texas dipped after a 2003 constitutional amendment limited payouts in medical malpractice lawsuits...

Are you subject to health tax?

The health care reform will be financed in part by tax increases on the wealthy. One section of the measure imposes a 3.8% tax on investment income for individuals who earn more than $200,000 annually and for couples who make more than $250,000.

Another provision imposes a 0.9% tax increase on wages for people in the same earnings categories. The revenue generated by both taxes supports Medicare growth. If your family earns $180,000 annually and realizes $30,000 in capital gains, the 3.8% tax on investment income would be applied to the $10,000 that exceeds the $200,000 threshold. If a you do not earn investment income but have an annual salary of $201,000, the $1,000 over the threshold would be taxed at a 0.9% higher rate. Most people can avoid it by buying municipal bonds, growth stocks and pension plans. You could convert traditional individual retirement accounts into Roth IRAs, which don’t require a minimum distribution either. Create your own Tax-FREE financial system: http://www.amazon.com/Create-Your-Tax-FREE-Financial-System/dp/1466367466

Regulators warn about variable annuities … again

The problem is that the investor “may be paying more for a less generous living benefit, and in the bargain he or she has agreed to limit the investment options, thereby restricting the potential for participation in equity market gains.” Compare the options before you buy: http://www.amazon.com/Not-Buy-That-Annuity-Guaranteed/dp/1466494573

SD & WI will not follow the law— E pluribus unum?

Dennis Daugaard says he's dismayed by the Supreme Court decision upholding the federal health care law, but the state will delay implementing any part of the law until after the November election. Gov Scott Walker refuses to implement the federal health care law, despite the Supreme Court's ruling to mostly uphold it.

SCAMS           “Only the little people pay taxes.” Leona Helmsley

Contempt of Congress?

Morgan Chase now says the loss on speculation could hit $8 Billion not $2 B Dimon reported to Congress.

Bankrupt city discards union contracts and debt—wave of future?

Stockton, Calif.'s bankruptcy filing will allow it to get out from under mountains of debt and costly union contracts, but is not indicative of the financial health of other municipal bond borrowers around the country.

IAN

41 Watchung Plaza, B242

Montclair, NJ 07042

973.746.2014

www.InsuranceAdvisorsNetwork.com

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