Your Unbiased Advisor: ObamaCare

Showing posts with label ObamaCare. Show all posts

Friday, October 8, 2021

Is your emergency fund ready when the US stops payments in December?

GOP against raising taxes on the rich and insists on keeping its big tax breaks for the wealthy from 2017 so they are talking about America not paying what it owes. If gov lays off workers, delays SS payments, or stages other malfunctions in the American system of government, Congress people still get paid. We can’t use their salaries as leverage to make a deal. Some reps are not even at work to make a deal. They still get paid. We may not get our benefits so it is important to plan where your funding will come from. If you can borrow from your bank or credit card lender, be prepared to pay it back quickly since rates are still over 25%. You don’t have to settle for 0.005% earnings in a bank savings for your emergency fund. There are many options including a low-cost balanced fund like those at Vanguard. Wellesley Income, with 60% bonds, provides over 7% return and direct deposit withdrawal capability.

https://www.amazon.com/dont-have-money-Financial-Emergencies/dp/1537636707

Time can be your friend or your enemy

Most of us are not going to marry rich, own a business, inherit wealth, get really lucky, or find talent. Time is available to all of us and we can become rich by using time to our advantage. Using just your average tax refund of $3,000 a year—$250 a month—you can become a millionaire over time. With time as your fiend, you don’t need to pick the right stocks, waste your money on advisors or trade ETF at the right time. Fidelity analyzed its accounts that produced the highest returns. They found that account holders that did NOT 'manage' their accounts were the most successful. Mutual fund analyst Morningstar found that in every period low-cost funds beat high-cost funds. Buy stocks like you buy groceries not perfume, Buffett’s teacher said. Recently, Warren Buffett has proved this strategy: buy and keep buying the Vanguard 500 index fund. Time is your enemy when you try to time the market: buy low and sell high. Inevitably money managers and TV gurus, who are paid well to time the market, either sell too early or buy too late. There are many get-rich stories but few are true.

Go with Buffett: https://www.amazon.com/Just-Takes-Time-money-fashioned/dp/1979380945

Beat Wall Street money managers

Another study shows how you can beat Wall Street money managers. So called ‘professionals’ make more mistakes in trading than you do. Even if they make wise decisions about which stocks to buy they must make wise decisions about when to sell. Usually they fail. They just don’t realize that the market is not driven by rationality. Professional investors demonstrate skill when buying stocks, but their selling decisions cause them to underperform benchmarks. That’s the conclusion of a recent working paper, “Selling Fast and Buying Slow,” by four researchers who examined the trading activity of more than 700 professionally managed portfolios. “They appear to focus primarily on finding the next great idea to add to their portfolio and view selling largely as a way to raise cash for purchases,” the study’s authors wrote. Keeping your money in an index fund gives you the advantage of NOT making bad trading decisions AND not overpaying for advice. Remember the Fidelity study results. Wall Street managers need to create great buying stories so they can attract more investors’ dollars. They are not concerned about providing you with better long-term returns that beat the market. They are paid to attract new dollars not provide you with the best returns over the long term. https://www.amazon.com/You-Beat-Wall-Street-professionals/dp/1986031373

Vanguard pushes industry to lower fee schedule

Vanguard leads the industry to lower fees for its Target Date funds again. With an anticipated expense ratio of 0.08%, investors will have access to a sophisticated, diversified asset allocation solution at just one-fifth of the average industry costs. These funds provide expert management at low cost. You don’t have to pick the asset allocation, adjusting as you age, or remember to buy/sell different ETFs every month, or enter limit orders, or rebalance on schedule, or decide when to invest. You just set up your automatic contribution amount and Vanguard does the rest. With the option to use the new Digital Advisor, you have the best of both worlds:

Low fees and advice when needed: https://www.amazon.com/Best-Robo-Advisor-Ultimate-Automatic-Management/dp/1537111957

New auto insurance discounts that may save you $500-800

Most folks are now driving less—fewer commute and fewer trips to the mall—so you can ask for your discount. Most insurers also offer discounts for safe drivers and driving review courses like AARP’s online course. Most folks can save by raising their deductible. Put the equivalent amount into your emergency fund as you save on premium each year. You may also save by dropping your collision on an older car. I have cancelled my roadside assistance since my credit card provides it free. Pay premiums annually or semi-annually instead of monthly. I always ask the phone rep if there are any other discounts I could qualify for. Most agents don’t tell explain them since they get paid by commission—a percentage of the premium.

Shop and save: https://www.amazon.com/Industry-Insiders-Guides-Buying-Insurance/dp/1466435712

Wealthy Pay a Lower Rate Than Everybody Else

New study confirms what everyone already knew: there are 2 tax systems in America. There is the one that Congress wrote for those who pay for their elections and one for the rest of us who do not pay for their elections. If you are taxing those who give you money so you can go to Washington, you give them every break possible—some really wealthy people pay nothing—as Trump said in 2016. Congress is serving those who feed them, as we would expect. How do they pay nothing? Congress only taxes some “income.” The wealthy can borrow against the value of their considerable holdings and live comfortably without selling stock or receiving any income from dividends, which new companies like Tesla and Amazon don’t pay. Congress does NOT tax wealth assets or the loan proceeds from it. Buffett’s company does not pay dividends so he pays nothing as his stock holdings increase in value. Buffett admitted that his staff pays over double what he pays in taxes: 17.7% vs 32.9%. He pays only the minimum into the SS and Medicare fund even though his net worth is $99 Billion. As one of the wealthy said: "We don't pay taxes. Only the little people pay taxes." This is Socialism for the Rich. https://www.amazon.com/Americas-Socialism-Rich-little-people/dp/1535218584

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

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

Our Jan 6 ‘Truth and Reconciliation Commission’

Terrorists knew exactly which windows were NOT reinforced

Domestic terrorists funded in crypto

Trump: “Nobody’s done more for Christianity than me” ?

How Govt wastes our money:

All these companies made $ billions but paid no Fed taxes: no wonder we owe high debt

World wealthy hide their corrupt proceeds: Pandora: how to avoid taxes: SD, NV

Our legal reps wrote the rules that let the rich hide their dough in some states: we pay bill

Congress on paid vacation again: can your biz operate if closed for 2 weeks?

Post office considers cashing checks for those without bank: payday lenders not happy

US fighter plane makers helped China copy F-22: US now complain J-20 fly over Taiwan

One guy, Mitch McConnell, decided America will not go bankrupt until December

SCAMS/SPINS:

Ban on ‘surprise’ medical bills due Jan: med providers will find another way to charge

Will right-wing conspiracy theorist Jones ever have to make amends for family grief?

Trumpist confessed: Fox ‘News’ was propaganda agency of government: not journalism

ATT funds far-right fake news One America News: Trump conspiracy theories

Naseem Mohammed Salamah caught fraud $970,000: promised diversify accounts

Rich Already Have A Plan To Escape Biden's Tax Increase: we end up paying the rich

131 judges failed to recuse themselves from cases in which they had financial interest

Papal thieves complain Vatican justice not fair: lawyers never worry about abused kids

Pope ashamed of his guys but Church never called police about 200,000 abuse crimes

Fake misleading info is so easy to make: Facebook profits from hurting especially teens

Recall: 3.5 million Covid home test kits by Ellume: too many fake positives

Why didn’t auto-braking stop crashes involving Tesla vehicles? Computers get confused.

TCFG Investment CA caught overcharging 360% and kickbacks with no notice

Doctors/druggists are drug pushers: 400 opioids per resident of Trumbull County OH.

Simple Health caught selling worthless policy said complied with Affordable Care Act.

Home builders caught adding $30K to contract to finish house: suit means more delay

Car dealers caught adding $10K to sticker price bec they can even for good customers

Your emergency surgery delay may kill you: preventable Covid victims take ER spots

Covid vax: many would rather lose job and die than take gov cure: 712,000 dead so far

First ‘abortion vigilante’ to earn $10,000 by reporting abortion crime under new TX law

GOP Supremes set to repudiate abortion “settled law” despite former promises: liars!

19 states passed this year laws to restrict voting Constitution says voting is a right!

Jobs

Hospital staff to replace those afraid of vax

NYS's largest healthcare provider, Northwell Health, has fired 1,400 employees no shots

Vax mandate in many business creates openings for millions

Who owns your account now?

National Flood Insurance rates up for storms rise: $20 Billion in debt too

Condos you don’t want to buy/invest: 432 Park: need helicopter when elevator out

Make old-fashion toys for the kids this holiday: holiday goods sitting on Pacific & docks

Best Medicare Advantage plans: JD Power ratings of services, info, costs, etc

Average portfolio retirees near retirees: 35% stocks, 26% cash, 15% bonds, 9% real estate

Miracles:

woman-coma-covid-delivers-miracle-baby-after-postponing-vaccination-1634927

Climate change killed 14% of the world’s coral reefs in a decade: we are next?

Priceless friendship

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/

Wisdom comes only thru suffering Aeschylus

IAN

41 Watchung Plaza, B242

Montclair, NJ 07042

973.746.2014

www.InsuranceAdvisorsNetwork.com

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

Friday, November 13, 2020

Which is better for investments—Dem or GOP president?

Are 401k fees still right for you?

Our current system favors costly middle people who are superfluous today with computers. The average fees levied on 401(k) savings cost us 0.5% to 2% annually (small employers). Compare that to today’s index and ETF funds which cost 0.04% or less. The overcharges we pay do NOT guarantee superior long-term success. In fact, most studies show we lose up to 63% of our total accumulations. Given today’s average earnings of 6% with 4% for us and 2% for Wall Street, we are the Big-time losers. No matter our portfolio—conservative or aggressive—we cannot help but do better with a new system for tax-advantaged investing. Fees are no longer deductible so even in a taxable account; the new system gives you more. Such a system is easily available to any working person without costly trusts, foreign tax havens or tax-avoidance schemes used by the wealthy.

Even if you have only 10 years to retirement, this system can benefit you. The longer your NEW retirement system runs, the more tax-FREE money you have to spend.

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

Which is better for investments—Dem or GOP president?

Wall Street gurus are currently going through their eternal talk about which party president is better for investors. As you might expect, this is not the right question. There are so many factors in the success of any particular investor that we should not even read these advice statements. Unless we know when exactly we will need our money or when the markets will fail, these pronouncements are just B-D propaganda. Most of us have learned that the stock market advances about 11% per year nominally over time. We know that in any given period, there are times when the market or our portfolio will rise and fall. This is why Warren Buffett, surely a wise investor, bet a million dollars on the S&P 500 stock index run by low-cost Vanguard to beat 5 guru hedge funds. Buffett gave the $1 million to his charity. The gurus are still in business so some of us still want to pay excessive fees to feel they own a superior strategy or portfolio. Unless we have insider information like our representatives in Washington, we are rewarded for just following the wise investor’s proven way. Lose 18.6% or gain 11.09%, your choice.

https://www.amazon.com/Building-Wealth-Like-Brushing-Teeth/dp/1470141469

What fuels the market climb?

Fixed income market provides low yields so investors poor into junk bonds. Our government is buying the bonds of private enterprises so the wealthy receive special treatment from the national deficit spending. The working person has no wage improvement power. The wealth gap gets wider so the rich can afford to stay in the bull market. They don’t have to worry about their company or investments going broke like the local mom and pop business so they can afford to keep putting money in the stock market to increase their wealth. Pension funds must stay in the market since many are under funded for their future liabilities. Wall Street no longer has to worry about a political meltdown so future growth looks promising. GOP Senate control will assure wealthy investors of no significant tax increases on non-wage income or wealth. Most wealthy people are not taxed on income and a wealth tax is very unlikely. Even Romney knows his offshore wealth is not in danger. Despite his protest, Warren Buffett, with $86 billions does not expect his tax rate to go up. Which is better: earning 1% or 12%?

https://www.amazon.com/You-Beat-Wall-Street-professionals/dp/1986031373

Wealthy finding ways to avoid new taxes

With clearer future, the wealthy are scrambling to get their money hidden from the new tax proposals sitting in Dem inbox. Because the tax rates are probably going to be higher in the future, they can move their IRA balances into Roth tax free accounts now. They know the budget deficit has reached $3.3 trillion, a level not seen since the end of World War II. Since they already got the benefits of overspending, they will want McConnell to kill any stimulus for working people. The wealthy can use QCDs. They are the most tax-efficient way to reduce taxable IRA balances which have remained high with the government support in 2020. Gifts can reduce tax now and lower estate taxes later. Use Trump’s example of a $21 million deduction by giving away the right to build on your forest that never would have been developed anyway. Wealthy tax avoidance loopholes may be closing with the new regime in 2021. They need to act soon to keep the wealth gap growing. We working people can avoid paying the taxes avoided by the wealthy.

Use it or lose it: https://www.amazon.com/Trump-Tax-Shelter-Avoid-taxes/dp/1985448300

Biden’s new regulation: brokers must disclose conflicts of interest

Biden will need to return to the regulations that Obama instituted just before he lost to Trump. Obama’s Fiduciary Rule required that product sellers help us buy the best product available, ignoring seller commissions and fees. On April 6, 2016 the government limited the billions of dollars the financial industry could take from our retirement-savings products and advice. The final Fiduciary Rule was weakened by product sellers so they could take some of our transfer money out of 401(k)s. Trump reversed Obama’s rule and helped product pushers hide fees. Brokerage firms have hidden their bad acts. In the future, advisors will act like accountants not like used car salesmen. Some sellers have already lowered fees due to competition. We will still have to learn and shop in order to get the BEST for our particular situation but at least the industry will need to be more transparent in its offerings. Now we can get the BEST available for us because sellers will need to disclose conflicts of interest more fully. Under Trump, sellers are NOT telling us the whole truth about their bad acts and hidden fees. Now they will have to.

https://www.amazon.com/Fiduciary-Rule-BEST-dont-anymore/dp/1530980275

Is a Robo right for you?

The use of automated advice platform, or so-called robo advisors, is continuing to rise, with about 8% of U.S. households having money invested with a robo. Robo advisors are popular with millennials that have significant investable assets; nearly half of millennials with more than $500,000 to invest use a robo, according to the survey. But for mass affluent millennial households with between $50,000 and $500,000 in investable assets, only 20% reported they used a robo, along with 15% of Generation X families and 5% of baby boomer families in the same sphere. Not to lose market share, Fidelity, Schwab and Bank of America, offer new applications or features. By offering such options, the big firms were succeeding at creating a “natural funnel from a free service to their trading or managed account platforms.” But robos are not free, just lower costs than full service brokers. And so robos don’t provide higher returns necessarily. Robos offer some hand holding compared to flying solo. Vanguard is owned by us shareholders so fees/charges are at cost—profits go back to us investors, like a co-op.

https://www.amazon.com/Best-Robo-Advisor-Ultimate-Automatic-Management/dp/1537111957

Deduct $300 from income in 2020

Here’s how the CARES Act changes deducting charitable contributions made in 2020:

Previously, charitable contributions could only be deducted if taxpayers itemized their deductions. However, taxpayers who don’t itemize deductions may take a charitable deduction of up to $300 for cash contributions made in 2020 to qualifying organizations. For the purposes of this deduction, qualifying organizations are those that are religious, charitable, educational, scientific or literary in purpose. The law changed in this area due to the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act. The CARES Act also suspends limits on charitable contributions and temporarily increases limits on contributions of food inventory. More information about these changes is available on IRS.gov.

Use all your credits: https://www.amazon.com/Tax-Credit-Class-your-credits-ZERO/dp/1539462382

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

Like 1776, this period is a test of democracy—NO we don’t want a Dictator?

GOP 6-3 Supremes primed to reverse US back in time

Yes, courts used to put women in jail for wearing slacks

Supreme Alito: rights only for likes

Dictator: “It’s going away.” (No you are)

Dictator’s staff: “It’s out of control:” 244,000+ dead

why everyone wears seat belts now

Dictator’s Sunday 11/8 at his Church

Dictator’s armed terrorists standing by

Biden has to run the country from Delaware

How Govt wastes our money: Our Representatives gave 3.7 Trillion to the wealthy!

Trump, defeated, holds election rallies from AirForce1: costs us $77,000/hour: He lost!

Trump Plaza Casino Atlantic City blown up for Biden inaugural: Trump tax deduction?

Trump put his anti-racial justice, anti-climate change ideology into our retirement funds.

Trump’s ‘voter fraud’ proof: Philly, NY, PO DeJoy, NJ, LI, PA, PA, NC, which fraud?

World dictators still back ours: USSR, Brazil, Mexico, Turkey, Hungary, Philippines, Saudis

Trump tells Justice to find the ‘voter-fraud’ smoking gun: DoJ Investigator quits

Trump lawyers: “will we get paid for challenge work”?: Trump notorious for not paying

Mel hired movers already: Baron to military school? FL removes heliport from Marlago

Congress needs “eviction” marshal for tenant in our White House: Germany shows how

How much?: Trump may give up top secrets: he did it before: beat Impeachment once too

SCAMS/SPINS:

Trump’s mail slowdown delivers 40,000 more ballots after judge orders PO come clean

Trump orders legal military ballots to be thrown out: absentee overseas votes legal

Qanon terrorists caught w/ fake ballots, AR 15 storming Philly counting center

Only 1 Republican offered hand to new president: Biden has 200 exec orders ready

GOP still afraid of Trump’s tweets will not speak to Biden: no reconciliation in US

Trumpers angry with FoxNews for NOT airing fake “voter fraud” news & calling AZ

TX will pay $1 million: find 1 voter fraud case: a bribe for gov official is legal in TX?

Doe GOP exist with “Trump is the GOP” lost presidency? “Let’s give him a chance”

Ex Prez fires Pentagon chief: apology for Bible walk: military used against citizens bad

Can Trump’s Supremes reverse the will of the voters? GOP courts make up ‘justice’

PA voting outcome shows how much the color line still decides America’s path

Most of the military leaders sighed in relief: the “stable genius” almost gone

GOP still rules state legislatures; religious right; Trump cult: Dem work just starting

AR police to Trumpers: “death to all Marxist Democrats” “leave no survivors”

Trump refuses to start transition process: McConnell: “peaceful transfer of power”??

How a cult dies: Jim Jones took his ‘world’ with him: couldn’t face ‘the music’ real life

Trump refuses to reduce environmental pollution killing corona virus patients

Cheryl Broussard FL caught defrauding sorority investors; fake statements: 2 years jail

Robert Morgan caught running Ponzi in real estate; promised high returns, fake docs,

Local papers/websites turned into PR production for politicos/corporations. ‘news’?.

Gummies Promise to Decrease Stress: Martha Stewart leads the pitch for bad teeth

Census takers told to enter false info: Trump closed census early: change future Congress

Beam Financial caught blocking bank withdrawals: yes some banks fail

Kraig Gier Security Planning caught stealing $1 million from elderly fake docs: 5 yrs jail

HD Graham, DL Howard LL Matyas caught taking $920,000 fees no license: defrocked no jail

Ransomware thugs failing to delete stolen data after a victim pays a ransom: Thieves 2X

How easily we fall for misleading videos: ballot stuffing in USSR, burning sample ballots

Trump’s Financial ‘Protection’ lets debt collectors hound us: call, email, text, 24/7

FL court allows Prevagen promising improved memory to keep claiming and sales

Robo “collector” from 608-371-6666: https://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-608-371-6666

Vatican silent child/adult sex abuser slept w/ boys: not sorry, no jail, no confession

Religionist with popular power support Trump: move state governments to extreme right

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

Check Social Security: https://blog.ssa.gov/

Safeguard data: ConsumerReports help: https://securityplanner.consumerreports.org/

Jobs

Trump hires hundreds to overturn election: then defend him from many indictments

Biden hires scientists pandemic team: Trump plays golf & does more campaigning

Health care lost with job: Supremes may increase health emergency for 30 million

This is where our raises have gone: “matching pair” Porsche and Embraer Phenom 300E

Fidelity Investments To Hire 4,000 People In Next Six Months

Florida passes $15 minimum wage—but only by 2026 in fight for fair wages.

Who owns your account now?

J.C. Penney's defined benefit plan to Pension Benefit Guaranty Corp: fewer benefits

Safe hotel list: travel is hard enough so check before check-in

Miracles:

Despite all the bad news we hear now, we have a democracy; we can vote and change!

Vaccine maker: 90% effective: Trump military/vendors to ship around: side effects?

Un-scalable wall around our White House still blocks citizens: ‘say goodbye’ fence

Two members of Biden virus panel worked inside the Trump administration: experts

GOP 6-3 Supremes primed to reverse US back to 1950s: abortions illegal, dirty air, no wildlife reserves, no voting rights, 0 immigrants, no health care, red-lining housing, no interracial couples, Trump self-pardon, cancel IRS audit, no gays, discriminate by religion, decide our elections, dismiss suit Trump as rapist, etc

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/

Dem wish list: healthcare, infrastructure jobs, restore environment, unite 545 kids

IAN

41 Watchung Plaza, B242

Montclair, NJ 07042

973.746.2014

www.InsuranceAdvisorsNetwork.com

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

Friday, May 8, 2020

Buffett is your unbiased advisor

Raid your 401k?

How long would it take you to replace the growth of that $100,000 from your 401k?

You can now take out up to $100,000 from your retirement account without paying a penalty. Savers under age 59½ would be able to tap their 401(k) and 403(b) money without the usual 10% early withdrawal penalty. Taxes would still be payable. Since most of us don’t have that much, (the average IRA balance was $98,900, reports Fidelity. For 401(k)s, (the average balance was $91,400), let’s talk about $25,000 withdrawal. You might not owe any income taxes on that money since your income for the year may be low. However, unemployment benefits are still taxable. Given that HALF of us have less than $91,400—the average—it may not be smart to raid our future retirement income no matter the need today. However, if we did, it may take just as long to replace it. When we get back to making contributions, hopefully our employer will restart their matching program. How long will it take to make up the $25,000 let alone the future retirement income level? Remember, by taking out the $25,000 now, we are giving up the miracle of compounding too! That is the force that can double our money in 12 years depending on how we invest it. It will take us 10 years of investing $167 a month in stocks to re-coop the $25,000. During that time, we give up amassing $55,000 from the original $25,000 with compounding at 10% growth. Long and short, it will take more monthly savings and another 10 years to recreate the retirement fund we could have had.

Don’t give up compounding power: https://www.amazon.com/Miracle-Compounding-Turn-day-into/dp/1470176513

Re-balance your retirement fund or not?

Wall Street has this thing about rebalancing your investments—advocates have long earned extra pay by telling clients they must do this. However, all the studies done by less biased analysts say no; don’t do it. Why? We just witnessed the most important reason: stocks go down and correct the stock/bond balance automatically over time. Of course if an analyst picks certain dates to study, the opposite answer is proved. What this kind of “proof” also forgets is that the costs of trading and taxes are not included. Over time, trading costs can take up to 60% of your total possible accumulation. Vanguard found sometimes rebalancing outperforms a drifting portfolio, and sometimes it didn’t. When investors use the short-term and long-term buckets concept, they are more likely to let their stocks rise and fall with the market and thus achieve the long-term market return of 11%. Rebalancing seems to work if you know how the market will perform in the future. Both practical and academic evidence shows that it is almost impossible to predict future market conditions consistently. This is the same reason, 95% of active traders fail to beat the market index over a 15-year period. Buy and hold securities in tax-FREE account.

Go with Vanguard’s Top Ten: https://www.amazon.com/Vanguards-Top-Ten-mutual-funds/dp/150073909X

The unbiased investor advice

Warren Buffett does not need you to invest in his fund so he is probably the ONE advisor to listen to. “And in my view, for most people, the best thing to do is to own the S&P 500 index fund. People will try and sell you other things because there’s more money in it for them if they do. And I’m not saying that that’s a conscious act on their part. Most good salespeople believe their own baloney. I mean, that’s part of being a good salesperson. And I’m sure I’ve done plenty of that in my life too, but it’s very human if you keep repeating something often enough.” But Buffett still advises us to invest in index funds. If we have card debt, pay off debt is a sure thing: “I don’t know how to make 18%.” I mean, if I, owed any money at 18% the first thing I do with any money I had would be to pay it off. It’s going to be way better than any investment idea I’ve got.”

Best advice I ever got: https://www.amazon.com/Warren-Buffett-Your-Investment-Advisor/dp/1518690963

Wealthy get to deduct more: lower taxes

The wealthy with business property receive another tax break in the “CARES” law.

A provision of the CARES Act suspends, through 2020, the excess business loss limitation imposed by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA). This will allow increased deductions such as for real estate depreciation for non-corporate taxpayers. The wealthy business owner can now deduct ALL losses from income resulting in no income tax. Further their accountants can go back to 2018 and take all losses as deductions against income in an amended return. They can claim “bonus depreciation” too. “For 2020, business taxpayers may look to accelerate deductions that may cause excess business losses that they can use sooner rather than later.” America’s tax system is built by and for business. According to the Economic Policy Institute, between 1979 and 2018 worker productivity—how much value a worker produces in their job—increased by 70 percent, but hourly wages have only inched up by 11 percent. That difference increases wealth—not wages. Billionaires "do not rely on income for additional wealth," meaning their excess wealth, on its own, yields more returns on investment. Investment income is taxed at a lower level than wages.

Avoid paying their taxes: https://www.amazon.com/Trump-Tax-Shelter-Avoid-taxes/dp/1985448300

If you don’t have a business loss to reduce your taxes

You might not have a business that can shield you from higher income taxes! What is the next best thing? A tax-FREE account! Based on the assumption you want to earn over 9.5% on your retirement money with fewer years of a loss, your choice is the low-cost fund: Vanguard Wellesley Income Fund Investor Shares. As of May 5, your YTD return is down just 3% compared to the market: 500 Index Fund of -11.47%. Your fund owns stocks like Johnson & Johnson and quality bonds that hold value. The best way to avoid the future income tax increases needed to pay off the extra $3,000,000,000,000 debt is a legal tax-FREE account. This tax shelter is free of federal and state income taxes. And you do not have to hide your money in an illegal overseas tax haven either.

Avoid taxes legally: https://www.amazon.com/Tax-Advantaged-Wealth-mutual-funds-Tax-FREE/dp/1481215906

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

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

If it takes a village, the village idiot is in charge: “metrics up here” (his head)

Idiot declares: “We have the right to do whatever we want”

Idiot: “an innocent man” yet Flynn admitted he lied to FBI with Putin

Idiot predicts: Virus will take over 100,000. Let’s go back to work!

Idiot: 'Possible there will be some' COVID-19 deaths’

Idiot crying: "I believe I am treated worse than Lincoln." Lincoln Memorial violated

Idiot: ‘no’ virus gear to our states but gear sent to Putin

A crisis brings out the worst in would-be dictators: Easy to end democracy

Anti-democracy judges approved by Senate