Showing posts with label direct investing. Show all posts
Showing posts with label direct investing. Show all posts

Friday, January 27, 2023

Use Buffett's SIMPLE strategy

 

$1,000,000 retirement fund from contributions of $250 a month

Keeping your contributions in a low-cost tax-FREE account is the easiest way to make sure you have enough for retirement income for life. The contributions of $250 a month must be steady (automatic investing). You must avoid any advisor charges, stock picking or trading. Your best investment option for your long-term goal is a low-cost stock-market index since you own shares in the largest 500 US companies. Most are profitable for extended time periods. They have already proved their successful products/services.  You are using the Warren Buffett strategy of compounding your earnings over time. His advice may seem simplistic but he has proven it works for investors who recognize that there is no advisor or strategy that is better at achieving long-term goals. Wall Street firms and advisors/brokers must take your earnings in order to survive. You pay less so you earn more: it is that simple. Wall Street costs a lot to run and most personnel don’t take a cut when they fail. This chart says it all: Over time, owning the 500 largest equities at cost provides on average 11% per annum. Over time, your $102,000 total contributions compound TEN times to over $1 million. It is time IN the market not market timing that defines a successful strategy. Use a long-term strategy for a long-term goal.

https://www.amazon.com/MasterClass-Buffetts-SIMPLE-Strategy/dp/1983485268

 

 

Where is your portfolio as market gains 3% in 2023?

Is your advisor waiting to re-enter the market? Sometimes market jumps are huge and if you are not in it, you lose. It may take time to recover the 20% drop but you won’t be able to if you are sitting in cash. Buffett has said that we should not bet against the US economy. In the past, stock market lows are followed by market highs. A low-cost balanced portfolio will help you stay in the money over time. Fast trading, market sector rotation and momentum are usually poor long-term strategies. No one knows the future so gambling will mean more losses than gains. You don’t need the expense of advisors since you pay even when they lose your money. Take Buffett’s advice.

https://www.amazon.com/Warren-Buffett-Your-Investment-Advisor/dp/1518690963

 

How much do you give up by investing through an advisor?

One analyst has estimated that over time, you give up 63% of your eventual total return by using “professionals” who claim they can improve your money management. However, they must sell expensive products and charge fees to stay employed by their firms. Financial firms are in the business of transferring your money to theirs. You pay every quarter or every transaction no matter how well or poorly your account does. But most folks don’t even know they pay costs. Because of 2022 negative returns more of us are changing advisors. But advisors could not predict the bond fallout or the equity downburst. We are more likely to need a psychologist to handle our expectations. We panic because we think of our security accounts as bank accounts. If we consider investing in companies as a partner in good businesses, we would not panic during a global pandemic. For long-term investors, there is no better asset class than equity indexes. This chart says it all: Over time, owning the 500 largest equities at cost provides 11% per annum. Buffett proved it: Vanguard 500 Index beat 6 hedge funds.

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

 

The most important financial lesson to live by

“My wealth has come from a combination of living in America, some lucky genes, and compound interest.” Warren Buffett, one of the greatest investors of all time, credits compounding as a source of his financial success. Most of us have never heard of this in high school or college. Financial firms that charge us for promising to “manage” our money, have convinced us the Buffett’s strategy of “buy and hold” securities, allowing compounding to work, does not work. They claim they can help us meet our money goals. Perhaps in the short term they can sometimes. However, the price we pay in lost time in the market compounding our returns can never be made up. Dalbar tracks the total return of different assets “managed” by advisors vs just holding the indexes provides us with the evidence that Buffett is right. For instance, investing $250 a month over 10 years or longer time periods in a low-cost large stock index compounds to $54,700 vs only $36,500 if managed by a “professional” money manager. Since most investor don’t understand the cost benefits of compounding a “buy and hold” index fund account, they end up with only $167,700 vs $707,000 after 30 years of investing a total of $90,000. That is the power of compounding in the low-cost market index rate fund.

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

 

How to have $ million dollars tax-FREE for retirement income

The simplest way to end up with an adequate retirement income is to follow Warren Buffett’s strategy. You don’t have to pay Mr Buffett for his advice—he is not a broker or advisor. He does not write hypotheses for a Wall Street firm. He does not change his advice on which stocks to buy from month to month. He proved his strategy by betting and winning against 5 hedge fund gurus. He says buy low-cost Vanguard funds for your retirement. Since most of us can only invest once a month, if we contribute $250 a month to a special tax-FREE account, we can end up with $1,000,000 in 34 years. Since this account allows us to take the money out without income taxes, we will have more to spend in order to overcome the drag of inflation and advisor/broker costs. He recommends funding a retirement account directly by avoiding Wall Street entirely. You can earn more by paying less and allowing the Miracle of Compounding to work a miracle on your money. A low-cost account allows us to invest just $102,000 total over 34 years and end up with TEN times your investment. No advisor/broker can accomplish that Miracle. Confirm how this happens without an advisor/broker picking stocks, buying and selling, charging when they lose money. Check it: set the 34 years from 1989 to 2022 in this annual market rate calculator using the 11% average annual return.

https://www.amazon.com/Warren-Buffetts-Vanguard-Funds-Retirement/dp/1496148592

 

What to do when your long-term care policy premiums triple

Insurance companies used a number of bad assumptions or tricks when they sold you the policy over 10 years ago. Recently, almost everyone’s premium has skyrocketed. The state regulators (funded by the insurers) have rubber stamped almost all rate hikes. If you are stuck, the insurer will cover their mistakes by reminding you that you signed a disclosure that protects them from any responsibility. Ask the company what your options are. 1. Pay the increase like every insurance policy. 2. Reduce the years of cover since the average stay is under 8 months. 3. Reduce the daily benefit instead of any inflation-protection benefits. 4. Reduce the years of cover for the male since most females will live longer. 5. Reduce the benefits with a paid-up policy. 6. Take a cash buyout if offered. Add this cash to a low-cost well-run balanced mutual fund like Vanguard’s Wellesley Income Fund. Since most policies are used to pay in-home care giving services, you may have enough funds from other sources to pay for help at home. Medicare covers rehab costs after a hospital admittance. Remember very few people need expensive long-term care in a facility. Add the amount of premiums to your retirement account since most of us won’t use a policy but we will need help sometimes.

https://www.amazon.com/Long-term-Care-Insurance-Updated-2013/dp/148274001X

 

Retiree plan changes

Medicare can negotiate drug prices. In 2025, no enrollee will be required to pay more than $2,000 out of pocket per year.  RMD age requirement moves from age 72 to age 73, starting on January 1, 2023 then to 75 in 2033. More time to compound earnings. You may start taking RMDs earlier and for a higher amount. The bill also allows higher “catch-up” contributions. Benefits of Medicare and Social Security are left in jeopardy since the wealthy Congress and their constituencies do not wish to shore up retirement needs for the future. House GOP has made it clear it will cut programs for the poor and middle class in favor of tax cuts for the rich, business subsidies and war spending. The current economic downturn will be overcome by more layoffs and higher prices, not by taxing the wealthy, GOP says. Most unbiased analysts favor using other resources before starting RMD withdrawals. Since Congress has not tried to fix the under funding of Social Security or Medicare, we must invest for the coming SS shortfall in 2034. Find your previous employer’s retirement plan assets at https://unclaimedretirementbenefits.com/

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

 

 

 

?**********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

 

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’

 

Jan 2025 Dictator pardons himself: his Supremes agree

 

 

How Govt wastes our money:

The Cost of Extreme Wealth: 200 millionaires want taxes; not bleed SS Medicare folks

Coal-oil-farm-Boeing-corporate offshoring subsidies raise deficit: middle class pays more

Many corporations fix their tax rates to 0%: 2 sets of books. friends in Congress get paid

 

Former senior FBI official accused of working for Russian: who can we trust?

GOP puts Greene plus omicron deniers (Dem’s hoax) on Pandemic Committee: US doom

GOP leader reinstated to hate, misinformation networks: dictator has his megaphone back

 

SCAMS/SPINS:

WW III begun: Blitzkrieg on Putin is what Germany feared: only US knows Abrams

 

Eleven of 17 House committee chairmen voted for end democracy: "big lie" supporters

2022 tax changes: Congress removes benefits from Covid era

Don’t File Your Taxes Until You Have These 7 Things

 

GOP leader tells his followers NOT to cut SS and Medicare:  Trump warns

 

AZ GOP legislators curb transparency of their own gov business dealings: hide mistakes

What ‘freedom’ means for GOP extremists: I do what I want: F..k everyone else

Self-appointed militia (not National Guard) guilty of trying to overthrow our government

Despite the mass killings recently, Americans, their kids chose guns to solve their problems

 

More than 1 in 10 older folks live in poverty: 10.3% in 2021 and rising

 

Luxury hotels post fake online reviews  to compete: who can you trust?

Tmobile 37 million customers’ addresses, phone numbers dates of birth hacked: “no problem”

6 year old shooter “acute disability” able to avoid school search: all shooter “disabled”?

 

Tells of a used car from a flood: carpet, moist spare, door sill, etc

Ford recalls 462,000 vehicles camera failure

 

Hackers: Online and mobile advertising is complex, murky business: our data is theirs

Environmental Charity Scams: emotional appeals best for taking our money

 

Lobbyists given $millions change TX law allowing casino gambling: Abbott, Patrick pd.

Celebrities probably know nothing about the products they endorse: not evil just greedy

Santos wooed investors for alleged Ponzi scheme: Harbor City FL brokerage

 

Binance moved $346 mln for seized crypto exchange Bitzlato

21% of respondents did not think that they paid any fees on their investments

 

Doesn’t matter what the motive is for mass murder: semi auto guns not for hunts but kills

 

Jobs

New Hiring Trends Job Seekers Should Be Aware Of

 

 

Who owns your account now?

Credit card bonus offers plus no interest for a year or two.

SS survivor’s benefits: only a third of those who lost a spouse applied for benefits

Best free backup software: check specs

 

“Impossible” to hack blockchain crypto systems are hacked: you lose money

Securian Financial's Wealth Unit to Cetera: 1,000 staff; 30 independent firms

According to the IRS, almost 90% of taxpayers use the standard deduction.

 

Miracles:

Ancient Roman concrete give the material self-healing capabilities: fix bridges/roads

Active military tried to overthrow gov despite swear to defend Constitution

BEWARE: ChatGPT says it takes 9 women 1 month to make a baby

 

An ant’s sense of smell is so strong, it can sniff out cancer

6 ways to slow memory decline and lower dementia risk

Local NJ residents organize to stop book ban by conservatives: FL makes it felony

 

Brazil using Ap to help end hunger’s large number of families

 

 

@

 

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

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

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.

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.

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

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

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

 

 

 

@

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/

 

Friday, October 29, 2021

“I wish I had learned more about financials”

 

Survey: “I wish I had learned more about financials”

Many respondents wish they had taken the time to learn more about financial products. We are all very busy and don’t get a chance to learn more about making and keeping money. And yet, for many, the amount of money we have later makes a big difference in our lives. I was lucky. After working a few different jobs, including managing a small health bureau in NYC government, I managed a small operation in a Wall Street firm. I had a crash course in annuities, mutual funds, and insurance. I learned about the products brokers and advisors sell to the public. The most important lesson I learned was which products to buy and which to avoid. I have put that information into short reads that most folks can follow and succeed with. Unless you are wealthy and need special tax advice, I found that the simple products are best. You can understand them and pay much less than those products and services with all the fees, commissions and charges my industry uses to get rich. Pay less; keep more.

Take your discounts: https://www.amazon.com/Insiders-Guides-Discount-Financial-Services/dp/143480593X

 

Is Impact Investing right for you?

Social and environmental focus while you grow your portfolio sounds good. But most companies you may support are not pure plays. For example, Ben and Jerry’s was famous for its social and environmental concerns but it is owned by Unilever of UK which has a questionable environmental history. Labels such as socially responsible investing and impact investing are often used synonymously, alongside other terms like ethical investing and sustainable investing. They usually refer to a similar idea: Using your investing dollars to make a positive difference in the world. But my idea of “positive difference” and your idea can be different. For instance, some investors with particular religious ideas may invest in companies like Hobby Lobby since they have a strong religious mission. One of those missions is Museum of the Bible, a non-profit run by the Green family. Internal staff had warned that some items bought by the Museum had dubious provenance and were potentially looted from Iraq. Several shipments of the artifacts were seized by US customs agents in 2011, triggering a years-long struggle between Hobby Lobby and the federal government that culminated in a 2017 civil forfeiture. As a result of the case, Hobby Lobby agreed to return the artifacts and pay a fine. 3,800 items seized from Hobby Lobby were returned to Iraq in May 2018. In March 2020 the Hobby Lobby president agreed to return 11,500 items to Egypt and Iraq. It may be better to “invest” in your local charity (tax deduction improves your return) and leave your portfolio with “passive” investment guides.

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

 

Is a SPAC right for you?

This type of investment is in the news because Trump is using a Special Purpose Acquisition Company to raise funds for his promised media firm “Truth Social.” A SPAC is like a reverse IPO—managers raise funds from investors to speculate on some project in the future depending on the amounts they raise. A special purpose acquisition company, Digital World Acquisition Corp, had two hedge fund investments until it announced it was helping Trump, who was impeached after being accused of inciting the Jan. 6 attempted coup. At the announcement of the SPAC with Trump’s venture, its share price zoomed higher. SPACs, also known as blank-check companies, are created to raise capital from public equity markets and then use that cash to merge with a private company that has or will have an actual operating business. Thus the two hedge funds probably profited from the news by selling ahead of the actually work with Trump. As usual, most of us were not able to buy and sell at the right time to make a profit without prior information about this event. We are better off taking Buffett’s advice.

Follow Buffett’s advice: https://www.amazon.com/Warren-Buffetts-Vanguard-Funds-Retirement/dp/1496148592

 

Is a 401k loan a good deal?

Yes, but. 401k money is your money. It may seem like a no-brainer to borrow your own money in a pinch. However, this loan is probably the most expensive loan you will ever take. When you take money from your future nest egg, you are taking giving up one of the most valuable things you own. You can replace the money you take but NOT the time your money is using to grow. Example: $10,000 missing from stock market growth for 30 years can cost you $198,373. That is how much more you would have if you left the $10,000 in a market index fund earning the average 10% per year. Your $10,000 earns dividends and earnings on reinvested dividends. Sure you could tell yourself you will pay the $10,000 back in a year, but few borrowers actually do. Many plans require repayment within 5 years. If you fail to repay there is a penalty plus income taxes. If your employment ends with a loan outstanding, you may have an immediate repayment demand. However, with the pandemic job upheaval, taking the loan was seen a necessary and that loan may never get repaid. Many will just start over when they are employed again. The loss of the time in the market can never be made up.

You may have to work longer. https://www.amazon.com/Your-Plan-Live-Age-100/dp/1548180793

 

Is your 401k robbing you blind?

If you have been able to continue to contribute to your employer savings plan during this critical time, congratulations. If you have been able to contribute more than the plan’s default savings rate, Double Congratulations. During this bull market, many have been lucky to double their plan balance. A simple low-cost index mutual fund has risen over 16% a year in the last 5-10 years. Others have not done as well because they used the default investment option of their employer. Usually the other options come with higher expense ratios, and thus have not benefited employees as much. Some firms have been sued because the employer options have been poor or compromised. Of course, employees can contribute more in order to gain a higher employer matching amount. However, the low-cost investment option usually provides a higher retirement balance than a higher contribution amount. The BEST strategy would be to pay the least fund and plan fees with the highest employer match. This combo—least cost; maximum contribution; highest match—helps you reach your retirement number faster.

Avoid high fees: https://www.amazon.com/Robbing-You-Blind-401k-fees/dp/1493588966

 

How you can hurt your credit score and report

Car rental: If you use a debit card, a rental company may check your credit history. Confirm the reservation with your credit card to avoid the unnecessary credit inquiry. Then, settle the final bill with your debit card upon returning the vehicle. Cutting credit card: If you close a credit account, you may raise your credit utilization ratio—percentage of your total being used—which is bad for you. If you use $5,000 of your total credit of 15,000 and then cut one of your other $5,000 cards, your ratio is now 50% not 33%. 30% is better. Missed payment: if you miss a rent or car payment, your delinquency may be reported to the credit bureaus. Disputed bill: if you are not happy with a bill, the vendor can ding your credit for failure to pay on time. Breach a contract: refusing to pay a membership you don’t want gives the company reason to hurt your credit. Unexpected bill: you need to negotiate a payment plan instead of ignoring valid assessments. Apply too many times: each loan or card application is a red flag to creditors. Just because you can apply does not mean you should. Each car dealer will check your credit if you are shopping so shop online first. Use credit wisely so you always have it for emergencies.

https://www.amazon.com/Money-Scams-financial/dp/1505437962

 

Why do we need to subsidize the billionaires?

Walmart family members have billionaire legacies from the founder, Sam. And yet, we US taxpayers must subsidize them to earn more. Why? For many years, we have had to provide food stamps (SNAP) and other financial help (Medicaid) to their employees to give them a living wage. Walmart employees receive $ billions in US food subsidies. About 70% of the 21 million federal aid beneficiaries worked full time, a GAO report found. This means the Walton billionaires would have earned less if they paid a wage high enough so we taxpayers did not need to make up the difference. McDonald’s was among the top five employers of Medicaid enrollees in five of six states and SNAP recipients in eight of nine states. Other notable companies with a large number of employees on federal aid include Amazon, Kroger, Dollar General, and other service and retail giants. Many employees are paid about $10 per hour or $400 a week BEFORE taxes. The federal poverty level is $26,500 so many employees of the billionaire companies qualify for US subsidies. Many employers pay NO taxes to cover this federal aid. Many wealthy people have already reduced their tax bill with tricks. We subsidize the rich since they profit from paying less than a living wage to most of their employees.

Socialism, American style: 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’

 

 

Extremists: “FBI Instigation of January 6th”

 

Bannon to Congress: F…You

 

Trump to Congress: F…You

 

Frmr military & police plan gov overthrow

 

TX attorney general: Biden overthrew Trump government:

 

Congress fails on voter rights

 

 

How Govt wastes our money:

One coal Congressman sends us into climate disaster: last chance before GOP deniers

VA GOP promises to keep kids from reading books the GOP doesn’t like: Trumpists win

One millionaire decides no wealth taxes: Biden plan to rebuild US collapse: Fair share?

 

Military spending increase after Afghanistan: $46 Billion wasted on broken systems

Wasted tax dollars: 4 agencies paid to do ‘intelligence’ failed in Afghanistan exit

Congress allows wealthy to avoid IRS tracking large transfers to avoid taxes

 

Congress allows drug prices to escalate even more: Our reps profit from the increases

 

SCAMS/SPINS:

Save the children: Delta “plus” variant more transmissible: Stop deaths at 750,000

Children lower risk of serious illness from COVID, but they are likely to spread it. 

COVID 19 is the sixth leading cause of death among 5-11-year-olds.

 

Judge: SW pilots must get vax so airline can make ‘safe work environment” per contract

BEWARE gov workers/police: they ignore vax mandate: we assume they have Covid

NYC police die from Covid still resist vax: 60 so far: NYPD workers dead

72% of unvaccinated workers vow to quit if ordered to get vaccinated

 

 

Kyle’s judge already decided case: victims must be called ‘rioters’ ‘looters’

TX man kills man parked in his driveway: claims ‘self-defense’ as car flees.

 

Fake messages to raise hate: prices, guns, Covid vax,

Fake Covid vaccination certificate purchased so folks can travel: BEWARE 

 

Steven Gallagher OH caught $1 million pump and dump "old-school boiler" fraud

Trustmark National Bank TN caught redlining loans Black and Hispanic neighborhoods

Ann Vick CO caught stole $3.2 million Ponzi scheme promissory notes option tradeing.

 

Hospitals caught overcharging routine procedure by label ‘emergency’ $16,221.26 birth

Fast food may contain plastic: health problems for old and young, reproduction etc

Employers caught winning all mandatory arbitration employee customer grievances

 

Flooding Earth's orbit with thousands of new satellites makes your next ride dangerous

 

HATE maker: Trump warned on social media that looters in Minneapolis would be shot.

Weapons were found in the cars of Jan 6 terrorists: Trump asked them to stop Congress

 

Jobs

Scams on employment opportunities: 16,000 folks claim fraud

Record number of jobs abandoned: business earnings skyrocket

Employers calling back workers they pushed out just a year ago: work for peanuts?

 

Who owns your account now?

Medicare Advantage: JD Power survey best plans

Post office: cash paychecks gift card: Washington, Baltimore, Falls Church, the Bronx

 

Miracles:

Coal burn or Car idling?: CO2 levels in the atmosphere reach a 3 million-year high

Drought-stricken California lashed by heavy rains, flooding and mudslides

Vaccine for breast cancer: trials begin for worst cancer type

 

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, October 30, 2020

tax-FREE retirement income

 Make your retirement nest egg tax-FREE

Because the wealthy have many ways to avoid paying their fair share of taxes, we will have to carry double the burden for the rest of our lives. Exhibit 1: Trump paid $750—paying more to China, Panama, India, Philipines, etc than to US. Not only do the wealthy avoid paying taxes, the corporations they own have paid $0 taxes for many years. So are there any LEGAL accounts we can use to avoid taxes, especially during our more vulnerable years in retirement? We can’t live on Social Security benefits alone so we need to make our savings and pensions worth more—FREE of tax obligations. There is still a way for us to avoid having to pay off the federal debt ourselves. We will have an extra 20-25% in retirement income when we need it. This legal saving and investment account costs little: free of lawyers, accountants and money manager fees. We don’t have to go offshore, use fake empty shell entities, or play accounting tricks to have more income later. The account is approved by the IRS so we don’t have to fear an audit.

Make your income tax-FREE: https://www.amazon.com/New-American-Retirement-System-Reserve/dp/1461030072

 

Give your child a leg up

Investing is about TIME: starting early can create a tax-free $1 million Wealth Reserve for your child’s security. Yes there are self-made millionaires but the real money is in family legacies over time. Think Rockefeller family. Most of us don’t learn about the Time Value of Money until it is too late. $100 per month in a tax-free account is worth over $1.6 million after inflation in 65 years. How can $78,000, invested over time produce $ millions? When you invest for your child, you are loaning profitable corporations your money. They share the profits as dividends and increases in value over time. “Over Time” is the critical part. Because we can’t predict the next Apple to invest in, we invest in many large profitable companies. Over time, studies show a low cost index mutual fund provides growth of 11% a year. Why “low-cost” is important? Using a middle person can rob us of 2% per year in growth. The myth of Wall Street is that we need middle people to make successful investments. We now know that means we give up 63% of possible accumulation with no guarantee Wall Street will make us successful. Give your child a leg up—start your family legacy today while stocks are down (on sale)

Create a legacy: https://www.amazon.com/Give-your-child-leg-manage/dp/1096505355

 

What are your biggest investing mistakes?

No matter how much money you have saved/invested, your mistakes could be the same as those of the wealthy. In a recent survey, they said they did not seek guidance and looked at historical returns. In the past, they said they did not diversify their portfolio and did not have a financial plan. It is very true that times change, but the basic capitalist world still exists. Stocks still earn more than bank CDs, especially in a crisis. The Harvard endowment, valued at $41.9 billion, returned 7.3% in the last fiscal year. You are still better off with a diversified stock/bond portfolio than a money market account. What does Warren Buffett advise? His advice is NOT biased by fees, commissions, kickbacks, broker vacation trips, prizes, packaged-product bonuses, etc.

https://www.amazon.com/Warren-Buffett-Your-Investment-Advisor/dp/1518690963

 

GOP’s idea of socialism

Our Federal Reserve, our central bank, is buying trillions of assets to keep wealthy investors wealthy and struggling firms alive. We will be paying the interest for our lifetimes while the investors and managers will be taking the gains. This is the essence of socialism: Private gain, public loss. The Fed has propped up the prices of corporate and municipal bonds, and bailed out “airline bondholders.” According to conservative George Will, “the pandemic has propelled government toward promiscuously picking economic winners and losers. Instead of giving 3.7 Trillion to the rich, we could have fixed our crumbling bridges and saved $ millions in unemployment comp. Meanwhile our ‘leaders’ ignore 30 million who are out of work. And execs of big companies give themselves $ million bonuses while screwing workers, suppliers and investors with bankruptcy. Private gain; public loss: profiting from their own mismanagement crimes, the American way!

Socialism for the rich: https://www.amazon.com/Americas-Socialism-Rich-little-people/dp/1535218584

 

How can we beat the Wall Street “professional” players?

We don’t have super computers, talented analysts, large leverage or fast traders. We only have the facts of investing like Billy Beane did in baseball. He knew he could not afford the famous “professionals” so he listened to a man who knew the facts about how wins happen. He learned that steady slow growth won over a long season. His “expert” scouts quit—his coach did not use his picks. We can win. First, we acknowledge that we have no budget for investing. We can't afford the hedge funds, offshore tax shelters, and expensive Wall Street money managers taking 2-3% a year. We use the strategy of the long-term master, Warren Buffett: We beat the famous over-paid Wall Street stars.

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

 

Why it is so hard to save for retirement

We don’t make enough money. Since 1980, worker wages have lagged productivity increases. Businesses have found ways to increase their gains while paying less for labor. Since 1979, productivity has increased 69%, while wages have increased 11.6%. Before 1979 wages increased with productivity after WWII. The middle class especially skilled blue collar work in factories paid well enough to buy a home, have children and save for retirement. The American Dream was realized for unionized white skilled labor. More modern and efficient business processes changed all that. Many middle class families had to start working more hours and enlisting both husband and wife for the same real income level. Education replaced skilled labor as the business management became sophisticated. For instance, in the 1980s I had to type my own reports, answer my own telephone, automate information systems and do my own budgets. The “good old boy” salesmen were out and modern statistical marketing was in. In 1976, the new American retirement system was born. It got better in 1997. It can provide tax-FREE income.

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

 

Why child life insurance is NEVER a good deal

Most of us have received a flyer in our junk mail, Sunday paper or online adverts for child life insurance. The selling “hook” as they call it is simple: buy life insurance now while your child or grandchild is healthy or young. It’s cheap and no tests. When my parents were first time parents, this kind of insurance was purchased as a substitute for saving/investing too. This type of policy grew out of the time in our history when many kids died. Families were larger because farmers needed a lot of free manual labor. Unfortunately, the pitch still works for some insurers and they are making a ‘killing.’ One company in McKinney, TX took in $4.304 billion in 2018. Few parents collected the $30,000 death benefit because very few kids die today. Plus how many parents want to make money from their child’s death? So instead of spending $25 on a policy that makes sure they get “coverage in the future,” use the money to help pay for their education. There are insurers for every illness or accident that may happen. Most young people can buy a $300,000 benefit for $10 a month by age 30. Children don’t need it; you do.

https://www.amazon.com/Life-Insurance-Need-Save-right/dp/1480002178/

 

Is a deductible IRA contribution right for you?

The rules changed for 2020: IRA contributions after age 70½ are permissible.

The SECURE Act repealed the age restriction for Traditional IRA contribution eligibility. Effective for 2020 and later taxable years, individuals with earned income can make Traditional IRA contributions at any age, not just for years before reaching age 70½.

For 2020 and later, there is no age limit on making regular contributions to traditional or Roth IRAs if you have earned income. If you had self-employment income or W-2, that income qualifies. If your spouse had income and you did not, that qualifies too with some limits depending on participation in a retirement plan. Spousal IRAs: If you file a joint return, you may be able to contribute to an IRA even if you didn’t have taxable compensation as long as your spouse did. Each spouse can make a contribution up to the current limit; however, the total of your combined contributions can’t be more than the taxable compensation reported on your joint return. See the Kay Bailey Hutchison Spousal IRA Limit in Publication 590-A. If neither spouse participated in a retirement plan at work, all of your contributions will be deductible. The annual contribution limit for 2020 is $6,000 or $7,000 if you're age 50 or older. For many of my tax clients, this means they can reduce their income and thus their taxes for 2020 due April 15, 2021.

Alternative tax-FREE IRA: https://www.amazon.com/You-Can-Afford-Retirement-FEE-FREE/dp/1517738253

 

 

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

 

Like 1776, this period is a test of democracy—do we really want a Dictator?

 

Supremes decide election … again?

 

Dictator: “It’s going away.”

Dictator’s chief: “It’s out of control:” 230,000+ dead

Dictator: F*ck Obama: “It’s America’s last climate sanctuary.”

 

Dictator: “I am the only one who can make America truly great again.”

 

Trump wins: have mail delayed and have Supremes void all votes received after Nov 3!

 

 

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

TX using armed troops to intimidate Dem voters in 5  cities

Movie moguls ask Congress for bailout too

Trump biz soaking US $ millions for his $3 glasses of water, bed, snacks, guests, friends

 

We pay $375 million for virus antibody: $1,500 ea and don’t even know if it works yet

TrumpWall maintenance costs TRIPLED: military suffers; no bid vendor is T’s donor

 

SCAMS/SPINS:

Why no Americans are concerned about facts: trust comes from integrity

Even with a job, we are worse off now than in 2008 recession; more folks tap savings.

Can Republican Party survive the election: party with only Trumpism as its principle

 

HALF the 2016 total already voted: crisis: will GOP Supremes make Trump president?

Federal crime to delay mail: why is Postmaster not in jail? Trump’s Supremes stop count

 

GOP 5-3 Supremes back WI GOP cut in vote counting due to Trump’s mail delays

GOP 5-3 Supremes back AL GOP ban on disabled curbside voting law: vote or die?

GOP has been packing state Supreme courts for years: MS abortion ban decided

 

Jared’s plan for Blacks: “they have to want to be successful”: like my pa’s $billion legacy

Social media scams to change our attitudes: “fake tweets are extremely easy to produce”

Trump delivers health plan to 60 minutes: thousands of exec orders, proposals NOT plan

Immigrants help economy/community: Trump wrong on immigrants’ behavior

 

Domestic terrorists buying now: 20-fold jump in sales like $220 gas mask, AR15s, etc

15 million more guns 2020: suburbs fear domestic terrorists; teens with AR15s; Walmart

Recession is over for high-wage workers: just starting for 30 million “essential” workers

Trump to cut 12,000 “best brightest from around world” visa doctors treating virus, etc

 

Trump Kodak loan scam: Jared’s bud gets exec order to use our money for bonus deal.

Carrier given $7 million to keep jobs here: 17 more IN firms have sent jobs overseas.

Foxconn’s $10 billion WI plan create 13,000 jobs: actual 520 people only $300 million 

 

Trump’s SEC will NOT safeguard investors from risky funds: leverage can double losses

 

Kanye West was inspired by God to be the "leader of the free world": Trumper’s alert

Trump’s own religious cult grows without masks: “patriot” churches blaspheme God?

Trump’s new show: “I’m The Apprentice” –You are fired!

 

Electric cars can catch fire: each maker has problems

Accidents by Teslas still driver’s fault: “No vehicle is capable of driving itself” anywhere

Tesla recalls ‘13-’18 S, X 30,000: suspension connecting rods may break

Best scams for this time of year: know your situation and how scams work

Scam with fake Barclay phone number: enter number in https://whocallsme.com/

Low VA Rates caught misleading, false info in mortgage offers to Vets: fine no jail

 

Trump building scam costs investors $270 million: forgiven debt usually taxable but not T’s

How Trump avoids taxes we have to pay: detailed analysis

 

Trinity Healthshare caught misleading of “full” coverage; many contracts NOT insurance

Facebook Twitter scam adverts blossom: no vetting; anyone can scam

Anthony Robinson caught scam accidents with big rigs for insurance: lawyers doctors too

7 guys caught in “pump ‘n’ dump” microcap stock cold call: no jail, no fine, letter to stop

 

Homeowners beware: some insurers using unlicensed adjusters to cut expenses: oversight

 

Home warrantees: costs may exceed benefits since you can’t know lawyer caveats

 

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

Need infrastructure jobs program: 10.7 million jobs short of pre-pandemic level. 

Thinking of starting SS benefits? Check rules on losing benefits while working

 2021’s top 10 best-value colleges and universities: cost is a factor

 

Claim ALL your unemployment benefits: each state has rules, process, forms, etc

College application process tips: save fees, testing, virus alternative 1st year

 

Who owns your account now?

Hospitals that deliver superior patient outcomes within 16 service lines by state

Claim your benefits from old insurance/annuity left by relative: $ may be tax free

Business-interruption lawsuit payout just approved by NC judge: most suits denied

 

Miracles:

14 year old Indian-American discovered new potential therapy for Covid

 

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/

 

 

IAN

41 Watchung Plaza, B242

Montclair, NJ   07042

973.746.2014

www.InsuranceAdvisorsNetwork.com

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