Broker Bad Behavior

 

Our ‘collective’ rage

We are at war with ourselves. We are angrier about politics than we used to be. Is it because of conspiracy theories? No. We have had them since Sam Adams proclaimed that the British Empire literally wanted to enslave white Americans. Conspiracy theories that followed targeted the Bavarian Illuminati, the Masons, Catholics, East Coast bankers, a global Jewish cabal, and so on. Are social media responsible for our collective rage? No, social media didn’t cause political polarization. A large study showed that people were much more likely to share posts from news organizations or members of Congress that referred to their political out-group—i.e., the opposite party. Maybe we’ve all gotten angrier as a natural reaction to things getting worse. There’s simply very little evidence that the American public has become less happy about its concrete material condition. It wasn’t until Fox News was up and running that we started to see permanent changes in the electorate. Trump taught HALF of all Americans to hate their government and the liberals who ran it. It was Trump on Fox News that fired up the evangelicals to settle for nothing less than complete destruction of the deep-state pedophiles. It is Fox News that has torched the American political system over the past two decades, and it is Fox News that we have to continue to fight.

https://www.amazon.com/Your-Plan-Live-Age-100/dp/1548180793

 

 

 

7 Social Security and Medicare Quirks That Can Trip You Up

If did not enroll in SS benefits during the initial enrollment period, you need to start Medicare by going directly to do so. Part B enrollment can be delayed; Part A (hospital) is automatic when you begin SS benefits. You can’t contribute to HAS if you begin Medicare. Additional charges (IRMAA) reduce benefits if your income is too high. Poorly planned RMDs can force higher taxes. If you are married, your income may determine your spousal benefits. Delayed benefits past age 70 are not increased. Visit your local SS office in order to get the proper information about you and your spouse benefit amounts.

https://www.amazon.com/Maximize-Social-Security-Benefits-Retirement/dp/1495439224/

 

Broker Bad Behavior

Broker asks YOU for a loan. Beware promissory notes—without accredited buyer—could be fraud. Advisors who use emails or text may be in violation of firm oversight rules. Transfers directly to broker or advisor accounts may be fraud—using personal account not the firm’s account. Sellers request that they become your beneficiary. Always check a seller’s past on BrokerCheck. Insurers use tricks to increase annuity sales.

https://www.amazon.com/Lies-Financial-Advisors-Told-alternatives/dp/1478281545

 

 

 

 

 

********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 govt overthrow 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

 

Trump still terrorizing election woman

 

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

 

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

 

GOP fascism: “RINO hunt armed; no bagging limit” J6 comm threat

 

January 6, 2021 “A date which will live in infamy”

 

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

 

Fascism: GOP to stop women leaving state for abortion

 

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

 

Trump: President Biden is 'enemy of the state'

 

Christian Nationalist Party (CNP) replaces GOP

 

Nov 8 2022 Trump’s “national revolution” failed

 

Nov 15 2022 Trump announces for 2024 to avoid lawsuits

 

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

 

Mar 11 2023 Pence straddles his place in history

 

Mar 31 2023 Trump indicted misusing election money

 

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

 

Apr 9 Illustrated Anne Frank book removed by Florida school

 

Apr 21 Trump: “I am your justice”

 

May 9 Trump guilty of sexual abuse

 

Jun 8 Trump indicted by the United States of America

Violation of the Espionage Act

Conspiracy to obstruct justice

Making false statements 

 

Aug 1 2023 Trump indicted by the United States of America

Conspiracy to defraud the United States

Conspiracy to obstruct Congressional proceeding

Obstruction of and attempt to obstruct an official proceeding

Conspiracy against right to vote

 

 

Attempted coup d'état by any other name

 

350+ people have been sentenced to jail or prison.

 

 

Trump and His Gang Get the Mob Treatment

 

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

 

Mobster #1 Enrique Tarrio gets 22 years 

Mobster Stewart Rhodes sentenced to 18 years

Mobster Ethan Nordean gets 18 years

Mobster Dominic Pezzola sentenced to 10 years

 

 

 

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

 

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

CONSPIRACY TO COMMIT INIPERSONATIN PUBLIC OFFICER FIRST DEGREE

CONSPIRACY TO COMMIT FALSE STATEMENTS AND WRITINGS

CONSPIRACY TO COMMIT FALSE DOCUMENTS

FORGERY IN THE FIRST DEGREE

CONSPIRACY TO COMMIT FALSE STATEMENTS AND WRITINGS

FILING FALSE DOCUMENTS

SOLICITATION OF VIOLATION OF OATH BY PUBLIC OFFICER

FALSE STATEMENTS AND WRITINGS

SOLICITATION OF VIOLATION OF OATH BY PUBLIC OFFICER

FALSE STATEMENTS AND WRITINGS

 

 

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

 

 

 

 

Jan 2025 Dictator pardons himself: his Supremes agree

 

 

How Govt wastes our money:

Shutdown looks more likely, as Congress notifies Wash staffs

 

 

 

SCAMS/SPINS:

Google Maps led him off a 2013 collapsed bridge: driver died; suing Google

Drug overdose fatalities quadrupled among Americans aged 65 and older

SEC Fines Wellesley Asset Management for Marketing Rule Violations: trying to trick us

 

Invest in alternatives—real estate, investments in a pass-through entity may trigger IRS  

Trump defrauded institutions with lies about value of his assets: ultimate Big Con

Tucker Carlson finds a new booster: Russian TV quotes him

 

“No Exam” Life Ins costs more than pays: M 74yo: $263.50/mo 10 yr $31,620 for $25,000

Founders gave Supreme Courtiers ‘a lifetime’ tenure (average longevity: 35 years)

Philips Kept Complaints About Dangerous Breathing Machines Secret Profits Soared

 

States with most expensive auto insurance

John Hancock caught Charging Excessive 401(k) Fees

We must rely on SS benefits, savings and Medicare to cover huge health care costs  

 

Hyundai Kia 3.3 million vehicles to park outside risk of fire—brake fluid leak

Tesla on trial for its autopilot killing and injuring a family: who’s responsible?

Tony Barouti caught selling GWG bonds as it missed payments bankruptcy complaints

Regal Assets Tyler Gallagher stole $5.5 million gold Ponzi scheme retirees IRAs

 

Jobs

Engineering jobs https://jobs.interestingengineering.com/

Mastering ChatGPT Unlock the Full Potential of Conversational AI Today!

The Man From U.N.C.L.E. and NCIS ‘ducky’, died at age 90.

 

15 companies with the best compensation packages

Part-Time Jobs With Great Benefits: eg: Red Cross, Post Office, Costco, UPS, HomeDP

JPMorgan Chase hiring 4,600 people with arrest or conviction records

 

Who owns your account now?

Home Insurance Study JD Power: customer satisfaction: Erie, Amica, AutoOwners, AIG

Parallels Between Running and Personal Finance Advice

Thousands retiring: advisors pushing annuities instead of direct income choices

After Florida changes Black history, churches step up to teach it

 

Costco Offers Members $29 Online Health Care Visits

12 Electric and Hybrid Vehicles That Get a $7,500 Tax Credit

Online Men’s Consignment Stores:

 

 

Miracles:

She gave birth to 3 babies in 4 years. They all have the same birthday.

Intermittent Fasting and Weight Loss Affect Aging

Impossible to outrun a bad diet: exercising and poor diet don’t mix

 

Best Quality of Life Cities in America

Hydrogen sulfide could one day be used to help people live healthier for longer

Switzerland's glaciers suffered their second worst melt rate this year

 

 

 

@

 

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.

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

 

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

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

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

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

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

 

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

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

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

Bending light from extreme gravity reveals largest black hole so far

Curved SpaceTime: heavy masses and simultaneously quantum effects become visible

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

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

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

 

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

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

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

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

 

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

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

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

 

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

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

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

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

 

 

@

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

http://www.theinsidersguides.com/ 

Alerts available at http://dankeppel.blogspot.com/ No AI used in these comments

 

Are Series I savings bonds at 7.12% right for you?

 

Have a great holiday

 

Are Series I savings bonds at 7.12% right for you?

Rates change with CPI every 6 months so you may be disappointed next May. However, this is a good way to ride the inflation wave if you believe inflation will be with us forever. You must use www.treasurydirect.gov to make an account and buy and sell ‘I’ bonds. If the proceeds are cashed in and then used to pay for qualified higher education expenses of the owner or a dependent in the calendar year of redemption, the applicable interest is tax-free. For now, this is a better deal than the bank CD offerings. There are some other rules so be sure to read the fine print at https://www.treasurydirect.gov/.

 

Another way we taxpayers make up for wealthy tax avoidance

Wyoming is another place for them to place their assets and never pay tax on the income. A Wyoming trust and layers of private companies with concealed ownership allow the world’s wealthy to move and spend money in extraordinary secrecy, protected by some of the strongest privacy laws in the country and, in some cases, without even the cursory oversight performed by regulators in other states. One analyst said, “Very few people know what you’re doing, basically.” In Wyoming, with the support of state lawmakers, the industry charged ahead, promoting a suite of financial arrangements to potential customers around the world. A former GOP member named Bunky said, “It’s friendly for business is the bottom line.” "We don't pay taxes. Only the little people pay taxes." 

American Socialism: https://www.amazon.com/Americas-Socialism-Rich-little-people-pay/dp/1535218584/

 

More funds cut fees for more profits

Investors finally realize John Bogle was right: pay less and earn more: Fund Managers Slash Expense Ratios Before Year-End. Vanguard said its changes would save investors an estimated $18.9 million: save more earn more. Vanguard is owned by its investors not private firm. Schwab cut fees and added $37.8 billion in new assets to its ETFs over the first 11 months of 2021. Higher volume; higher profits. Taking the Costco strategy works for securities too. Since almost every stock picker and hedge fund operator can’t beat the market averages over time, investors realize that paying more for less is a waste of money. Paying for marketing hype does not help them. Vanguard has become the center of self-directed investing. Bogle eliminated the middleman because they were not needed. Amazon, Home Depot did the same. If you followed Warren Buffett’s advice and bet on the Vanguard 500 Fund, you have earned about 30% again this year. You paid only 0.04% to own America’s top providers. Like Buffett, you have beat the professionals. Since 2013, your portfolio is averaging over 15% per annum. There is no reason to make it complicated and expensive.

Pay less; earn more: https://www.amazon.com/Best-Robo-Advisor-Ultimate-Automatic-Management/dp/1537111957

 

Is claiming Social Security benefits now right for you?

Before you apply for your benefits, check on your account. Yes, you need to make an account first. See if the SSA has all your earnings listed. If there is an error, you may receive less than you deserve. You need at least 40 work credits to qualify for benefits. Working longer at higher wages, even after attaining your full retirement age, means you can increase your benefits. SSA recalculates your benefits each year and uses the highest incomes you earned. If you start benefits early, your lesser amount is locked in. For your exact full retirement age, see the “Age to Receive Full Social Security Benefits” chart. Waiting to claim the maximum benefits means a lifetime of the highest amount per month—for 30-40 years. But you may need to start benefits early due to loss of work, illness, lifestyle change and personal choice. Instead, you may qualify for Social Security benefits under your spouse’s work record even if you are divorced. Your may qualify for survivor’s benefit. Another planning issue is tax on your SS benefits. Some readers must pay tax on 85% of their benefits. Another issue: In the years before you reach full retirement age, your Social Security benefit is reduced by $1 for every $2 you earn over the annual limit. Another issue: benefits can never cover all your expenses. You must obtain an estimate of monthly income before you retire at https://www.ssa.gov/benefits/retirement. Plan ahead.

Maximize retirement income: https://www.amazon.com/Maximize-Social-Security-Benefits-Retirement/dp/1495439224

 

How much can you spend each month in retirement?

You know how much you will receive from Social Security, from a fixed pension, from a IRA via the IRS RMD table and a fixed annuity if you have one. What is your estimate? If you own rental real estate, equities and bonds in a cash account, bank and Treasury interest, you need to rely on projections. What are needed: sources that can be easily tapped to make up any unexpected expenses? Here are some readers’ suggestions. Home equity line of credit, Roth IRA assets, Savings bonds, collectibles and hard assets like land and gold coins. If you are lucky to have a family trust or legacy like Warren Buffett has set up for his family, your trustee can provide extra protection. Buffett has established in his will that most of his cash assets will generate gains via a low-cost Vanguard 500 Index Fund and a couple of years of income in a low-cost government bond fund.

Plan for no surprises: https://www.amazon.com/Warren-Buffetts-Vanguard-Funds-Retirement/dp/1496148592

 

How the rich beat inflation?

Very few assets grow high returns that can be guaranteed. Long-term stock market returns average 11% so they are the classic inflation hedge. I bonds were established to deal with some inflation, but don’t always over turn rising prices. Usually the rich include folks who are careful with their money—that is how they stay rich. Some are very good at economizing and dropping expenses they realize they can cut. Most rich people maximize legal tax deferral/free investment accounts. They may shop diligently for the best price on all big buys. Some look for alternatives: paying for a streaming service instead of the rising cable bill. I have found that most people are wasting at least $3,000 a year on insurance and financial fees. They simply did not cancel coverage and products they no longer use. Most wealthy people use many strategies to control what they spend, including higher prices for everything. In short, they are careful about money. Investing $3,000 a year can produce a $1-2 million nest egg which can easily conquer inflation.

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

 

Why your advisor/broker cannot beat the index

How many advisors picked the right money manager or fund manager to beat the simple market index 27%? You can count them on one hand and they may have just been lucky. When you play Powerball, someone may win but usually not you. We call this gambling. In financial services, they call it ‘sophisticated algorithms’ or ‘smart analyses.’ The firm/ manager is paid for a lucky bet. But remember the Oakland A’s story in the movie Moneyball. The success could only be achieved by thinking differently, re-inventing a player’s worth and focusing on value. Ultimately, it relied on facts and fundamentals and disregarded the unknowable future. Despite its reference to money management, such an approach has largely been ignored by traditional asset managers who continue to look for an “edge.” Overly confident in their ability to pick winners, these managers promote themselves as if they have some predictive ability and knowledge of the future. No one has that. They have greed. This outdated approach fuels a portfolio pricing risk that can significantly erode your returns over time. Best: avoid high costs; avoid losers. Like the A’s, we should focus on the numbers—the known information—to avoid strikeouts in the market. A walk equals a hit. It is time and compounding of returns that make us rich.

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

 

 

Great gift idea: tax-free ‘Wealth Reserve’ for their future

Help you child or grandchild get off to a great start in life: open a tax-FREE account for a secure future. You can open an account with them for $1000 and as they make contributions from earnings and holiday gifts, you can show them how their money compounds at over 11% a year. There are no broker fees, charges, or commissions so every $1 works for their future benefit. They never have to pay Uncle Sam either. This is a legal IRS tax shelter. It is the ultimate wealth management system for their whole life. A ‘Wealth Reserve’ is the New American Retirement System: all earnings are tax FREE.

Get them started right: https://www.amazon.com/Give-your-child-leg-manage/dp/1096505355

 

 

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

 

 

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

 

 

The Path to Dictatorship: 2010-2030

 

Trust and democracy die together

 

Trump in contempt of Congress?

 

Terrorist in coup-attempt gets 5 years

 

Terrorists had concealed weapons

 

Military with Biden or Trump?

 

Generals with Trump?

 

“How Civil Wars Start”

 

More Dems give up

 

 

How Govt wastes our money:

"flawed intelligence, faulty targeting .... deaths of thousands of civilians, many children."

Coal takes solar/wind subsidies: Manchin kills Biden future: NO help for WV kids

Rich clap for Manchin: vote against Biden means avoid $ billions tax hikes: Grandkids pay it

 

Defense Dept tells soldiers NOT to try to overthrow our government

Trump border fence pollution paid by us taxpayers

General Flynn sues Congress to hide his phone calls to terrorists

 

$100 billion to Covid fraud: unemployment fakes & private plane operators GOP donors

Armed vigilantes now take charge of immigrants on border: expect accidents

Trump sues New York attorney general: delay is the way: in ’24 he can fire her

 

SCAMS/SPINS:

Supremes volunteer to adopt more children: Amy takes 900,000 unwanted kids?

Supremes decide public health mandate or political personal choice: plague on or off

819,000 dead: anti-vaxxers fill hospitals: die at hospital or at home?

SCAM: Trump, famous anti-vaxxer claims had booster; told WSJ “probably not for him”

Trump’s new bailout venture funded by Chinese speculators watched by regulators

 

Merrill caught allowing 2 reps stole more than $6 million from 13 clients: fine, no jail

John Marques CA caught taking $824,000 fees from selling unregistered securities 

Financial firms caught failure to monitor sales of tax-free 529 education plans

NatWest bank caught scheme to manipulate U.S. Treasury debt markets: fine, no jail.

LendUp Loans caught illegal/deceptive marketing: violation of 2016 order. 

Access Funding caught steering folks to own advisor for structured settlement fees

Aspen Dental caught offering free emergency consultation: billed later

SCAM: TSA PreCheck membership: fake address?

 

RECALL: P&G recalls 30 sprays with benzene, a cancer killer: 1-888-674-36319

 

Fox News calls for Fauci to be ‘ambushed’ and ‘killed’ young impulsive kids hear

HeartWare heart pump: FDA knew bad and let the maker hide: we pay for mistakes

 

Tesla’s $10,000 test self-drive software has not been vetted: don’t be crash dummy.

Tesla offers games to play on car’s screen while driving: avoid Tesla at crosswalks

 

Fox: “This is what we’ve bred as a society” Re: anti-vax wide receiver can’t play game 

 

Celebrities sell products that fail: celebs already sold souls for money: 1 more OK

New addiction crisis: online gambling habit requires cure

 

Business interruption insurance does not cover pandemic closings

Boy scout sex abusers free after insurance pays for victims pain: troop leaders no jail

 

Jobs

Jobs went west and south: Austin has 5.5% increase

Work from home pays more for some jobs

Rite Aid CVS closing hundreds of stores: buying online?

 

 

Who owns your account now?

Mitsubishi, Acura, Jeep, VW prices up more than 20%: new and used: few incentives

Used cars cost more than new: no chips make used dip in price impossible

Your 5G cell service may bring down planes: Boeing Airbus warn us if near airport

 

Miracles:

“God pardons sin through Christ, Trump pardoning Alice Johnson in the Oval Office.”

70-million-year-old baby dinosaur curled up perfectly inside its egg:

Pfizer drug that Americans to take at home to head off the worst effects of the virus.

 

Cat survives KY tornados: 9 days under rubble in hole: build a hole for next time

Will Covid ever end? Virus control has been past result.

 

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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