Give Thanks you didn't buy crypto

 

How can we feel sorry for crypto speculators?

The financial industry is a for-profit one. It does not exist to help people invest. It can’t be trusted because each seller is promising to Make Americans Richer the easy way. Like Madoff, Sam Bankman-Fried learned a new con: get rich by “mining” a computer chip or betting on non-existant things—cryptocurrencies like Solana, which went from being several dollars a token in early 2021 to over $200. Some were convinced when a country decided to use pseudo money as their national currency. But a million FTX users have lost enormous sums. FTX will use any cash to pay the bankruptcy lawyers now. Few buyers recognized a con when they saw it. Few saw red flags as some accounts were hacked by people who can code well. Few appreciated how easily a byte or two could be stolen or misused. Some were lone gamblers: One lost his life savings, hadn’t told his wife yet, and was unsure how he was going to meet his mortgage payments. Some thought the FTX CEO was too rich to need to steal customer funds. Our most famous con man will now show us how to LOOK rich while using bankruptcy to cheat thousands of vendors, investors and banks. As one commentator reminded us years ago: ”There’s a sucker born every minute”.

We have the tools: https://www.amazon.com/Warren-Buffetts-Investment-Strategy-Forget/dp/1484822900

 

 

How much is your advisor costing you?

Everyone who has an advisor; loves them. They must or they would have fired them. But each quarter, advisors may be deducting 1-2% plus trading costs plus hidden fees like 12b-1 marketing fees. Most financial statements do not itemize costs or even list all the costs. Most are deducted from your gross earnings and thus only show the NET after costs have been deducted. To find your total costs, you will need an accountant or a lawyer to decipher the fee table located in a fund's prospectus, under “Shareholder Fees.” Next you will need to ask your advisor for a copy of the firm’s Pricing charts and the updates. You are charged for no activity, odd lots, statements, checks, transfers, research, etc etc. Depending on the size and activity of your account or accounts, your total costs may be close to 2%. If you are moving in and out of stocks, you could be losing money on sales (not every thing you buy makes money). Depending on the status of your account, your advisor could be trading without you agreeing to each transaction. Your advisor could be buying very speculative firm offerings without you knowing. Depending on what you said your goals and strategy were at your account opening, you could be paying 2% a year. You could be losing $thousands without knowing it. These costs can easily take up to “63% of what you would have had” during your retirement investing lifetime. That’s $250,000 instead of $500,000 nest egg.

Costs are important: https://www.amazon.com/Buffett-Strategy-854-000-not/dp/1978481020

 

Save more tax-deferred or tax-FREE in 2023

The 2023 401(k) contribution limit is $22,500, those 50 and older can make special catch-up contributions of $7,500. That means those 50 and older can contribute a total of $30,000 to their 401(k). The limit for IRA contributions in 2023 was $6,500. The catch-up contribution total remains $1,000. For traditional IRAs, the phaseout range for 2023 starts at $73,000 and ends at $83,000 for single taxpayers covered by a workplace retirement plan. For married couples filing jointly in 2023, the IRA phaseout range is $116,000 to $136,000 if the spouse making the contribution is covered by a workplace plan. For tax-FREE Roth plans, for singles and heads of household, the 2023 phaseout range is $138,000 to $153,000. For married couples filing jointly, the 2023 range is $218,000 to $228,000. The cost of living adjustment (COLA) for Social Security payments in 2023 is 8.7%. On average, Social Security payments will go up by $140 starting in January.

https://www.amazon.com/New-American-Retirement-System-ReserveTM/dp/1461030072

 

Is gold a good investment?

Many advisors are recommending gold as a hedge against a recession. It is true that gold and other commodities may be a great asset to own now but you had to have an epiphany to buy before. Since 2000, this popular gold stock lost 16% compared with the S&P 500 index ETF gain of 168%. Gold hit a high in April 2011 and has been down since.

iShares Core S&P 500 ETF (IVV) 397.78 USD+168.88% 

Barrick Gold Corp(GOLD) 15.62 USD-16.43%

It is better to hold the 10 best low-cost mutual funds that cover the whole market than to speculate on one asset. These 10 Vanguard funds have averaged over 11% for years.

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

 

Liberté Insurance: ‘Buy Only What You Need’

As they say, “buy only what you need.” So let’s check what you are over -paying for. Increasing your deductible from $200 to $500 could reduce your collision and comprehensive coverage cost by 15 to 30 percent. Going to a $1,000 deductible can save you 40 percent or more. In 2.5 years, you have saved the $1,000 deductible in case you need it. Consider dropping collision and/or comprehensive coverages on older cars. If your car is worth less than 10 times the premium, purchasing the coverage may not be cost effective. See what your car is worth by checking the retail price online then deduct 20% for wholesale. Shop around—use agents and direct sellers—ask about ‘bundled’ cover. Carriers change their marketing preferences every couple of years. You may save more by separating coverages. We had such a good deal on home and auto from different firms that we could never find a better deal by bundling. We switched car cover 5 times. High credit rating and low mileage saves you premium increases. Your employer, group or association may have a discount. There are 13 discounts available from some insurers. If you have health and accident insurance, you don’t need this one. If your credit card has concierge service, you don’t need roadside. Unless you rent often, rental car cover is not needed. Same for living expenses after an accident. Use your emergency fund.

Buy only needs: https://www.amazon.com/Vehicle-Insurance-Beware-Double-Coverage/dp/1480027634/

 

Has your advisor raised your portfolio value by 51% in the last 5 years?

Many readers have left their retirement money in index funds for many years. They believe Warren Buffett’s advice is sound. Here is the score: iShares Core S&P 500 ETF

396.26 USD+134.30 (51.24%) past 5 years. Warren Buffett gives credit to his buy and hold compounding strategy for reaching his $100 Billion net worth from his early paper route savings: “My wealth has come from a combination of living in America, some lucky genes, and compound interest.” Warren Buffett proved you can beat most Wall Street “professionals.” Plus, if your advisor is moving your money in and out of the market using his firm’s favorite stocks, bonds or ETFs, you may be giving up a lot of your potential gains. There is no perfect strategy to beat the recession we have been waiting for. Most mature investors have been through a downturn before. Most find that you are better off keeping your head and portfolio as is. The financial industry is not good at seeing the future, so when in doubt, do nothing.

https://www.amazon.com/Buffett-Bogle-Holy-Bible-Investment/dp/1523693045

 

Is a new car right for you right now?

The average monthly payment for us buying new cars climbed to $748 in October, an all-time high. The Transaction price was $48,301 in August—new car prices are $1,775 higher than they were a year ago. More than 14% of those who financed a new vehicle in the third quarter of 2022 committed to monthly payments of $1,000 or more, an increase from just above 8% a year earlier, according to Edmunds. On average, new luxury cars lose around 40-50% of their original value in the first five years of ownership. So you may save a lot by buying a used luxury vehicle. The value of your $748 a month payments may be $58,400 in 5 years when invested. If you took half of that for a 3 year old BMW, you may have $30,000 cash in 5 years and a luxury car too. A 2019 BMW X1 sDrive281 for $26,000 could be had for $435 per month. You could have your “new” car and $30,000 to your advantage. In 2-3 years you might have less inflated prices and lower interest charges. Actually, you could buy a more recent ‘used’ luxury car for the money you saved by waiting.

https://www.amazon.com/Money-Ball-Investing-Winning-unfair/dp/1548831409

 

 

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

 

 

Like 1776, this period is a test of democracy—We 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 assault failed: guns & bombs 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

 

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 limit” J6 comm threat

 

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

 

Jan 2025 Dictator pardons himself: his Supremes agree

 

 

How Govt wastes our money:

Too Hot: Attorney General Garland announces special counsel to indict Trump 

Can Trump get a fair trial in US? Are Con Men responsible? Or mentally ill?

NASA could have helped save Earth with $93B: joyride around moon is wasteful

 

Congress tells regulator to stop questioning crypto industry BEFORE it blew up

New IRS auditors to collect $1Trillion from tax evaders: lawyers can delay court orders

Trump paid only $750 in taxes each year. Paid $ZERO 10 of 15 years due to biz failures.

 

Disney lost tax-favored subsidy: state-supported capitalist must agree to deSantis’ beliefs

 

SCAMS/SPINS:

2020: ‘the “hand of God” would work for Trump’: evangelicals nowhere to be seen 2022

Jesse Benton caught giving Russian officer money to Trump’s Republican event

Hawley: the GOP is dead: illusions are not policy: dummies don’t win

Christian Nationalist Flynn ordered testify on plan to overthrow US government Jan 6

Biden gives Saudi bin Salmon free pass to kill: no court has jurisdiction like Putin

 

GOP limits voting for GA runoff: ACLU sued GOP over the shortened voting times

 

Legal help for advisor bad advice has almost disappeared: arbitration is not fair

Ford recalling ½ million F-150 vehicles due to wiper motor failure in the rain

General Motors newest business is fixing your Teslas

Airlines are Keeping Flight Delay Data Hidden: we won’t know which to avoid 

Webster University caught misrepresenting ‘masters degree’ not accredited

 

NY judge scheduled October 2023 trial for Trump and his kids, but will they attend?

Supremes spring a leak: no code of ethics to keep them honest: Alito gets paid to talk

Alex moved his money so court decision for Sandyhook blocked: only lawyers get paid

 

RD Legal Funding caught fraud offering advances from payouts from victim-comp funds

Teva AbbVie caught pushing opioids to kill millions: no jail, fine $6.6 billion $6,600 per

Tom Brady Steph Curry caught paid promoting of failed crypto exchange FTX

 

22-yr with war weapon killed five people; injured 25: Point is 5 dead; not a motive

VA Walmart employee kills 6; injured 5 in seconds: guns kill 600 dead YTD

Putin kills newborn maternity hospital bombing: Russian Orthodox bishop blesses kill

 

Avoid homebuyers’ mistakes: preparation is more important than anything

Should You Make an Insurance Claim?: half of all property claims result in a rate hike

GEICO dropped our Umbrella policy bec/ my car dented façade of a business: shoe slip

 

Jobs

Pension funds avoided losses from the collapse of crypto: young speculators OK loss

Teachers in every state: certification optional in some: $65K - $85K avg salary

 

Who owns your account now?

Despite losing your money, advisors like Raymond James generated record results 13%

 

Miracles:

Brazil’s Amazon drying up too

Single silicon chip (a fingernail) hold 50 billion transistors each about five atoms wide

Miracle in MD: 600 victims of sex abuse by 158 priests: no arrests guaranteed by state!

Save your letters: Dylan’s high school love letters sell for $670,000: hey, you never know

 

Rich Fierro veteran took down gunman machine gunning down patrons at CO club

Twins are born from embryos that were frozen 30 years ago

Germany's oldest Christmas market opens for 588th year: 1434 German Christmas bread

 

 

 

 

 

Our Universe is Mind-Blowing

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.

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

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

 

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.

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

“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.

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

 

 

 

@

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/

 

IAN

973.746.2014

www.InsuranceAdvisorsNetwork.com

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

 

Tax-FREE account for retirement income

 

Make the New Year better

 

Is automatic bill pay right for you?

There are severe penalties for not paying your bills on time. You will get hit with charges, interest and lower credit bureau scores in many situations. You also may be paying higher mailing rates. How do you avoid this situation? Your bank may offer auto bill pay. I have been using this for about 10 years. Using your checking or business account as the source, you set up a vendor account with the name and address of the entity you owe. My monthly house mortgage loan is paid to Quicken at the same amount each 1^st of the month. The bank posts this amount the Quicken’s bank by the 1^st automatically. I do nothing after I set the amount monthly. For credit cards with different amounts, I enter the amount when I get the bill and set the date I wish the amount to arrive at the card’s address. For all others (utilities, doctors, newspapers, insurance, and individuals), I decide the amount and time to arrive at their address. All I have to do is have all my income deposited directly into my checking account. Some times I have to move money from my savings to my checking for emergency bills. Sometimes I have to reimburse my daughter and (she me) via direct transfers or Zelle. Her account is at the same bank but I can do a transfer to another person at their bank for large fee. The best part is I have monthly records on paper and any period totals digitally. I can also find and print any transaction during the past 12 months. I don’t pay extra for auto bill pay since the bank has my money from direct deposit. In fact I have saved over $50 since starting. 

More ways to save: https://www.amazon.com/Save-3000-every-year/dp/1500681571

 

 

You need a tax-FREE account so your retirement income is FREE

This book will show you how to: Create a $2,000,000 tax-FREE Retirement System. Use the best legal tax shelter: no taxes . . . ever. Tax-favored over a 401k even with a match. Protect your family and assets with your System. Borrow from your System to pay for large purchases. Buy whatever you need without going into debt to others. Self-insure manageable risks—invest the premiums saved. Buy financial services at wholesale prices—save $3,000 a year. Manage your System in 1 hour per year. $2 million nest egg can produce $160,000 a year in retirement. $1 million produces $80,000 income FREE.

https://www.amazon.com/New-American-Retirement-System-ReserveTM/dp/1461030072/

 

 

New Year fresh start for your kids/grandkids

Make sure you teach your kids how to create wealth the easy way. My parents were not investors. At my first job, I had no clue which investment option to use for my 401k contribution and company match. The HR person told me to put it into the 'safe' stable value fund. That was the worst choice at my age I learned later when I got my securities licenses. If I had followed their advice I would have ended up with $150,000 instead of a Wealth Reserve of $877,233 about 33 years later. We have used this 'Wealth Reserve' as I call it to have funds to use low-cost high-deductible insurance, to buy two homes and 5 cars with higher down payments or cash, and now to receive $2,500 a monthly in a retirement supplement. Your kids use the Buffett investment strategy for any amateur. Buffett recently proved his method, though simple, beat the strategies of the best hedge funds. Start with only $1,000.

Start in 30 minutes: https://www.amazon.com/Give-your-child-leg-manage/dp/1096505355

 

2022: another stock market high?

You may have noticed that your 500 index fund returned about 29% last year. Your real estate index fund provided 40% return. Like 2019, 2017 and 2013, these highs might start convincing you that an average for this period of 17% might continue. Using the 500 index would have quadrupled your retirement nest egg. But before you get greedy, you might want to move some of those gains to a balanced account like Wellesley Income Fund. This low-cost managed fund has provided steady income to retirees since 1970. This balance of stocks and bonds could help you through the anxiety of 2022 since the Fed (US gov money manager) will stop pumping up Wall Street firms and will increase interest rates soon. This situation has already changed market forecasts so you know we are not likely to be so lucky in ’22. Remember the cardinal rule of managing money, especially in lower return periods: low-cost beats high-cost in every period.

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

 

What is your retirement dream?

Travel, hobbies, family, business, volunteer, keep favorite job, other? No matter your dream your first concern is health. Our dream can motivate us to save for the time when we don’t NEED to work at a job for money. Thus there are folks who have prioritized saving over spending, even when family obligations are great. Take the story of the Howell family highlighted in a recent Money newsletter: the Howell's could save 21% of salary and put kids thru college. Randy retired at age 56 from a variety of labor and management positions with United Parcel Service, and LuAnne worked as a school secretary. They enjoy hiking and other outdoor activities. However, without a health plan from work, it is doubtful they could have retired early to do what they wanted to do. For other folks, what happens when their health requires them to interrupt their plans? Our health system is a ‘for profit’ system so that my health needs are in conflict with the industry need for profits. I, NOT them, will suffer when I can’t afford to maintain my health. My dream is crippled while they earn more. The need for affordable health insurance becomes the No 1 priority for America.

Health insurance first: https://www.amazon.com/Health-Insurance-ONLY-right-policy/dp/1480125083

 

 

Is using a 401k brokerage account right for you?

New research by Empower shows that while the average age of participants using the brokerage account is higher than average, the effect has to do with older participants having higher incomes and balances rather than just because they are older. This makes sense from the view that buying individual securities when you already have a nest egg built up provides some further diversification or specialization. One reader had 80% of their 401k money in a low cost S&P 500 index while they continued to buy DMYI which is involved in quantum computers. This arrangement is sometimes called a “hub and spoke” strategy. Any loss in the spoke does not destroy the wheel.

https://www.amazon.com/Best-Both-Worlds-Spoke-Investments/dp/1533307326

 

Which used cars to buy now?

Vehicle dependability is at an all-time high, according to the J.D. Power 2021 U.S. Vehicle Dependability Study. Owners of 2018 models reported on the number of problems they have had. Lexus, Porsche, Kia, Toyota head the list. Rover, Jaguar, Chrysler come in last. By the way, Jeep, Dodge Chrysler, is now stellantis. Because of the lack of chips for new cars, used car prices have gone up to meet the demand. However, if you are looking for a bargain, you need to compare this list to the list of vehicles from iSeeCars that depreciated more than 1.3 times the 39.1% average three-year depreciation for all vehicles. This list shows that Audi 6, Ford Fusion Hybrid, BMW 3, and Volvo S60 lost the most value. In 3 years, these cars lost over HALF of their value. However, one vehicle shows up on both lists: Lincoln MKZ. The Lincoln MKZ was discontinued after the 2020 model year, which shows that demand isn’t high for this vehicle perhaps because it isn’t as luxurious as its competitors. However, at $21,500, the used Lincoln may be a bargain since you have some dependable lux at a reasonable price. Avoid flooded ones. Shop around for insurance. High deductible reduces premium. Save $22,000 over time.

Ask for each discount: https://www.amazon.com/Vehicle-Insurance-Beware-Double-Coverage/dp/1480027634/

 

Are buying art, wine, gold the right investments for you?

Many internet blogs run by journalists provide misleading investment advice to sell clicks to other for profit sites. Example: 6 Brilliant Ways to Build Wealth After 40 Misleading advice 1: Invest in art that has outperformed the S&P by over 180%. Claiming that wealthy people make huge profits, the authors don’t cite which art they mean and how much the rich paid for the art. 2: Get $10 by starting to invest in Apple, Tesla, Amazon. The fees for investing small amounts may take all your profits and won’t build wealth. A free index account of the top 500 stocks may build wealth over time using the Miracle of Compounding. 3: Buy gold from a dealer to avoid volatility. The authors don’t explain that gold prices fluctuate too. The dealer fees may also take all your profits. 4: Shopping for car insurance can save you money but you need to shop the carriers directly not from the editors of this blog. Each carrier has their own discounts/rates. 5: Buy wine from their firm for an investment return of 10.6%. Speculating on bottles of wine is not smart no matter what “sommelier knowledge with AI-driven algorithms” they use. 6: Stop overpaying for stuff online. Using a browser extension, you can save on some goods. However, when I used it I found that the pop up usually shows the same price on Amazon or at another site but without adding in the shipping costs. Since I have paid for shipping with Prime, the alternative was misleading and I needed to create another seller account. 7: Invest in real estate and art through a 3^rd party to earn “passive income.” Low-cost index accounts with no 3^rd party fees provide these important diversification asset classes. However, the authors don’t explain the fees charged on the interest income paid.

Use Compounding: https://www.amazon.com/Miracle-Compounding-Turn-day-into/dp/1470176513

 

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

 

 

Like 1776, this period is a test of democracy—We rejected an "American fascist" once

 

 

The Path to Dictatorship: 2010-2030

 

 

Sedition: Trump’s plan to keep power

 

Trump co-conspirators charged?

 

Terrorists send Congress to floor

 

Cheney: Trump or truth

 

725 terrorists charged

 

 

US civil war II

 

 

How Govt wastes our money:

Congress fails to pass law against abusing women: no votes since 2013: NRA blocks it

Sedition: ‘speech that incite people to rebel against the government’: Trump incites Jan 6

Sedition: Trump called on his "MAGA nation" to "rise up" against President cost $30 mil

 

SCAMS/SPINS:

Kids with Covid fill hospitals: unvaccinated; 378 children admitted per day

GOP Jordan claims booster not effective but NO facts more Trumpers die for lie 840,000

 

TX tells Navy it has no jurisdiction over antivaxxers despite orders: 35 may kill hundreds

TX bans books on race and sex they don’t like in secret meetings: teens buy own books

 

NJ caught negligence in deaths of 100+ veterans in state-run facilities: fine $53 million.

Surprise medical bills now illegal: Just say ‘no’ to med providers who spring bill on you

Call a taxi: ambulance rides $450 or more are exempt so we still face surprise bills.

 

Teva Pharmaceuticals caught providing opioid leading to deaths of 500,000 users

Rich need a raise?: Time to raise prices on Covid tests, treatment, vaxx, swabs, etc

 

Manchin decides Dems not break GOP block vote rights: takes McConnell’s job

GOP halts Voting Rights Act: states block vote expansion: Trumpers hold key jobs

Only 1 Republican showed up to remember the 1^st and only attack on our government

Most Americans don’t think state GOP will accept Dem win: GOP war for Trump

24^th Dem quit House: GOP win without a fight

725 terrorists charged: most convicted rioters received no jail time: ready for 2^nd attack

 

Trump terrorist attacks covid vaxx clinic shouting “murderers” 1 hospitalized from hate

"There’s a demand for misinformation; so people are always gonna find a way to get it."

 

21 million Americans believe violence is justified to overturn the 2021 US election

75% of insurrection supporters: Dems trying to make US “obedient” Third World voters

 

40% GOP: “violent action against the government" sometimes justified: 2^nd civil war

30% Americans think Biden illegitimate elected president: 30% think election fraud

Sedition not charged because Jan 6 attempted coup was run by white supremacists

 

Trump’s TX recount: 0.0006% discrepancies: Biden did not win TX: Trump lost votes

Putin hackers behind election probe of Dominion Voting Systems in cities w/o machines

Western allies fear erosion of democracy in US: riot, insurrection, or armed coup?

 

Ivanka, Don Jr caught in subpoena by NY attorney general: long delay tactic; no jail

Prince Andy says 17 year old has already been paid for his sex: $500,000 voids her suit

 

Mel Trump is selling her hat: needs money; divorce? They lost their shirt on Wash hotel

Marlboro cigarettes changing image: “moving beyond smoking” to smoking in space

HeartWare pump taken off the market after years of problems: still in chest of thousands

 

Allen Giltman CA caught selling fake CDs from fake websites: $50 million

John Piccarreto NY caught Ponzi fraudulent promissory notes $20 million prison 7 yrs

Susan, William Harris caught stealing funds from special needs folks prison 47,15 yrs

 

Petra Gomez Jakeline Lumucso caught prep fake tax returns $25 million prison 8 4 yrs

Kent RE Whitney CA caught investment scam at his church $33 million prison 14 yrs

Jeff Carpoff CA caught fake mobile solar generators Ponzi $1 billion prison 30 yrs

Richard Terabelian Ayvazyan CA caught $10 million Covid relief funds prison 17 yrs

 

Private equity–backed RIAs had a 147% increase in advisors misconduct after takeover.

 

Jobs

Nevada fires unvaccinated higher ed employees after mandate left in place

Walmart to hire 3,000 drivers as it expands home grocery delivery: put fridge for you

37 Bed Bath & Beyond stores are closing

 

 

Who owns your account now?

Mortgage rates rising: refi before Fed raises rates: 1.750% 15 years

Avoid delay in tax refund: enter the exact amount of Child Tax Credit: look it up at IRS

AT&T and Verizon delay new 5G service: why pay more for no better service: airports

 

Student loan borrowers will have an extra 90 days to begin repayments

Removing all your personal data from internet data brokers can be time consuming

 

Miracles:

10 year old refused Alexa challenge to shock herself in outlet: Jeff’s fun is deadly

Nuclear war “avoided” say world powers: Gee, I feel better: what did we have before?

We need more air: Seed-dropping drone can plant 40,000 trees a day

 

GA to allow everyone to carry gun without a license or background check or training

 

Pope wants more children

Child abuse: 300,000 children were taken in marriage by older men: still legal in US

 

 

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/

 

IAN

41 Watchung Plaza, B242

Montclair, NJ   07042

973.746.2014

www.InsuranceAdvisorsNetwork.com

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

 

How can you know whether to trust your advisor?

What to do if Trump really did cancel SS funding?

At his NJ golf club, Trump promised his wealthy members: “I plan to forgive these [postponed] taxes and make permanent cuts to the payroll tax,” adding “I’m going to make them all permanent.” So all his members clapped (clap signs flashed) and will vote to end SS, Medicare, income and other taxes. Later they learned he will also cut capital gains taxes so they will owe nothing on the gains in their assets. However, in January Trump tweeted “Democrats are going to destroy your Social Security.” Members of his club and the wealthy are already avoiding most of those taxes since they are not taxed on most of their wealth. However, most will vote to end ‘payroll’ taxes since it sounds better than Biden’s promise to deal with the huge deficits Trump has created with tax cuts.

Make sure your have income later: https://www.amazon.com/Forget-Social-Security-Medicare-Lifestyle-income/dp/1466394285

How can you know whether to trust your advisor?

Does every financial advisor have a basic conflict of interest? Advisors can make money from you in many ways. Do you really know how they make money? Are they on salary or commission or fee for service? Many advisors get paid based on much money you have not on how much they earn for you. So if your account went up because the market went up, you will pay more even if they had nothing to do with it. Some advisors charge an hourly fee like a lawyer. You pay $750 for a written financial plan that shows you a high probability of reaching your goals. Some charge for a specific task. You pay $500 for a re-balancing of your whole portfolio. Some are paid a bonus if they sell certain products and not others. They receive a year-end bonus of $5,000 for selling $500,000 of the mutual funds managed by their firm. How do you know the product they recommend is the best for you? You don’t know if the funds they sold you are better than an index fund until a year after you have paid their fees. Are they working on all of these income streams? Are you given a clear explanation of why your total balance has gone down yet you paid $1,700 already? Trump ended the fiduciary duty of financial professionals on February 3, 2017—one of his first acts in office. You can avoid their conflict of interest.

Buy the best for YOU: https://www.amazon.com/Fiduciary-Rule-BEST-dont-anymore/dp/1530980275

Is a gold asset right for you?

In the wake of gold breaking above the $2,000 level, enthusiasm for the yellow metal has reached a fever pitch. Earlier this week, for example, MarketWatch reported that a fund manager forecasted that gold could double to to $4,000 an ounce. But gold highs are not usually a good sign for real investors. The fundamental justification for a higher gold price that is most often mentioned is inflation. But we don’t have inflation. History tells a different story. “In 1980, some were concerned about… high inflation… From January 1980 to January 1985, the real price of gold fell 65%. People owned CDs paying 12% not gold. Perhaps new gold ETFs are pushing the price higher. Gold has been a speculator’s tool in the past—“I buy because another fool will pay more when I sell.” The gambler knows it is difficult to know when to fold.

Don’t play their game: https://www.amazon.com/Americas-Socialism-Rich-little-people-pay/dp/1535218584

How to stay focused on your long-term goals

With all the craziness of this time—work/no work, school/no school, mask/no mask, bull market/unemployment, deficit spending/recession—it is difficult to know what to do with your future income assets. Many have lost ground with 401k matching suspensions or layoffs. Many have ignored their portfolio since it is not clear what to do now. Many more have left their account in Target-Date Funds. Others have joined the Wall Street frenzy to trade ETF. The number of these index funds has exploded—over 5,000—with only a few making money for owners. During this time it has been helpful to some to just keep in mind Warren Buffett’s advice: “The stock market is a device for transferring money from the impatient to the patient.”

Wait, it gets better: https://www.amazon.com/Best-Robo-Advisor-Ultimate-Automatic-Management/dp/1537111957

Is your advisor’s move to a new firm right for you?

Unfortunately, moving all your assets to their new firm is not as simple and easy as they claim. It is the right move for them—more control, more income, more career choice. But you are going to have to deal with all the hassle—even your advisor doesn’t know the half of it—I was a firm manager. You will experience new account documents, lengthy processing delays and, frequently, significant incremental costs. Besides the paperwork and delays, you have new costs, including ticket charges, account level fees and annual maintenance fees for retirement accounts. If you were with a low-cost provider like Vanguard, Fidelity or Schwab, your 0.2% costs may become 2% a year. This increase may rob you of 63% of your total accumulation over time. You may lose asset compounding—the miracle of compounding. You are forced to make complicated decisions about how trades are made, which custodians, clearing firms, product sponsors and other institutions will be used. You will have to sign away your right to sue if they make a mistake. The benefits of one statement or greater compliance are marketing hype. Most firms are required to provide top compliance now. Plus, with larger firms, you usually have more, not less, choice of the product/service and benefits/costs balance. Some even have salaried advisors so you obtain more unbiased advice when you need it.

Do you need an advisor? https://www.amazon.com/Best-Robo-Advisor-Ultimate-Automatic-Management/dp/1537111957

Is a ‘cash out’ refinance right for you?

Mortgage rates keep hitting historic lows. If you are tempted to take some of your home equity for bill payment or in anticipation of job insecurity, think hard about all the possible outcomes first before signing. We were in such a situation recently, and opted for the line of credit (home equity line of credit or HELOC) instead. We already had a lower mortgage rate on a 15-year loan so there was no need to refi for a lower rate. We used the equity to reduce our overall mortgage costs—less interest. We live in a high property-tax state so we could not reduce our monthly payments much more with a new refi. Plus we did not want to extend our mortgage payments for another 15 years. The line of credit is a way to get cash out for home remodeling and emergency without the cost and risk of a new 1^st mortgage. Interest is deductible for home improvements like a new kitchen. The rate is lower than many credit cards. We did not have large credit card debt so we did not need the cash from a ‘cash out’ refi. Our only big monthly expense is the property tax bill and we are applying for a reduction now. We shopped around for a no-cost HELOC.  We avoided all the closing costs of a ‘cash out’ refinance. We avoided prolonging our mortgage payments.

Hope for the best; plan for the worst: https://www.amazon.com/Your-Hell-Fund-goes-hell/dp/1492325627

 

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

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

Philly DA: we have an “authoritarian dictator."

Dictator on Harris: Make America WHITE Again

Dictator’s advisors fear “he may start a war”

Dictator eliminates Congress: ‘benefits’ for all by exec order?

Dictator to stop citizens from re-entering America

Dictator: “I’ve kept us out of war” with UAE?

Dictator cuts PO so we can’t mail-in vote

How Govt wastes our money: Congress gives 3.7 Trillion to the wealthy! 

Congress on vacation: failure is THE option: they leave—we are stuck w/o job or money!

20 GOP senators reluctant to spend more money: spent $3 Trillion on rich: re-election locked

Congress gets $174,000 for not doing job: Wealthy reps think $600 keeps us from work.

“permanent cuts to the payroll tax” Trump handlers: he didn’t mean end Social Security tax

Trump to give wealthy another tax break: lower taxes when they trade or sell assets: “more jobs”?

SCAMS/SPINS:

Facebook takes political sides: Employee fired after collecting proofs?

NRA execs accused of stealing $ millions from dues-paying gun owners

Which foreign government will buy election: Russia for Don; China for Joe?

Despite Trump, kids are NOT immune from virus: 97,000 children positive in 2 weeks

How we are informed: 7 million lies about virus posted on Facebook: can we survive?

FL sheriff bans use of masks by his people and in office as FL cases/deaths zoom.

Jack Brewer sold shares of company he consulted for knowing the stock price would fall.

Advisors don’t get laid off: they get paid whether they make us money or not: overcharge

Robert Jesenik Aequitas caught Ponzi promised returns from notes and funds

Morrie Tobin caught pump-and-dump schemes defraud “innocent investors” $15 million

Pyramid schemes hit struggling workers: promises of huge profits from tiny start-up cash

Jared huddles Kanye secretly in CO: conspire to railroad Black voters

Trump’s postmaster is removing mail sorting machines to slow the mails: suppress vote

Zoom invitation may be phishing scam: hackers using virtual com tools

Packages you never ordered scam: get seller to take it back—they stole your info to use

Are alternative energy firms a scam? Get a lawyer’s read first before you sign.

Is it a scam?  Check AARP scamline 877.908.3360. Check IRS: https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/dirty-dozen-part-1-taxpayers-should-be-on-the-lookout-for-these-scams

https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/dirty-dozen-part-2-thieves-work-all-year-to-scam-taxpayers

Jobs

GA school kids will reignite virus shut downs: quarantine high school kids at home?

Israel learned best way to reopen schools/jobs: protection protocols

Re-opening no masks increases virus cases and deaths: 1,500 dead a DAY record!

IRS tax return center: help open paper returns: check is sitting there: You get IRS notice?  

Post office workers replace machine sorters:  $18.47 to $33.82/hour plus benefits

Who owns your account now?

Our regrets: 50 account/purchases we always regret: sleep on it before you buy

Bargains in home buying: foreclosures are cheaper but not for the novice buyer

Divorce rate for older folks is rising: know your rights, plan your future

Miracle:

Michelle Obama for VP: Biden is too weak without energetic non-political woman

Dems need a “very very nasty” and “disrespectful” VP to overthrow a dictator and mob.

White religious power still favors a dictator who put children in cages; brags about sins

40% people with virus have no symptoms: do they have the cure? Virus never dies?

FL no longer requires test for restaurant workers before serve you: Virus free w/ meal!

I believe the president of the United States: everyone else is a liar or traitor

Tens of thousands acres for oil and gas drilling was to be auctioned: we stopped Trump

Dogs may use Earth’s magnetic field to take shortcuts

Canada's last intact ice shelf collapses due to warming: FL gives sandbags to residents

IAN

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973.746.2014

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