Showing posts with label employer annuities. Show all posts
Showing posts with label employer annuities. Show all posts

Friday, December 10, 2021

Congress allows wealthy to avoid paying any taxes

 

Great gift idea: tax-free ‘Wealth Reserve’

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

 

Another way the wealthy avoid paying their fair share

Tax avoidance is the avocation of the wealthy and their ‘team.’ More popular now is the “Split the Masterpiece in Two.” With this trick, they “give away” a short time use of their collection ownership. They get a tax benefit tied to surging art values without donating a painting outright. In a typical arrangement, the piece goes back and forth between the donor and a museum. The owner gets an income-tax deduction based on the fair market value, potentially giving away more slices over time, for as long as 10 years. They can take $1,000,000 deduction every year on a $20 million piece while still viewing it at home. The IRS doesn’t release data on how often taxpayers claim deductions for these types of donations, so it’s impossible to track how much tax is being avoided with the strategy. Wealthy investors don’t typically tout it with the same publicity they might for donating an entire piece of work to a museum. Soaring prices for fine works are also helping to popularize yet another tactic that comes with tax advantages: art financing. Borrowing against the value of artwork allows people to get ample cash without having to sell, which means no capital gains taxes due. They have income they never have to pay income tax on. The rich have their cake [art] and eat [cash] it too. NO taxes ever.

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

 

Can you always “only pay for what you need”?

Liberty Mutual says: “You could save $947. Only pay for what you need with customized insurance from Liberty Mutual. Get my customized quote.”

Yes you can! Every insurance company offers to customize your coverage. Why would you pay extra for roadside assistance if you have a credit card with customer service? Why pay extra for accident forgiveness, low deductible, uninsured motorist (states that don’t require it), medical payments (if you have health care already), lost income (if you have other income), comprehensive (if your car is over 8 years old), theft (if your car type is not stolen often), bundling (if multi-policy cover is more expensive), monthly and paper billing, full year mileage, etc. Most people overpay for years: save $22,000. Discounts are not always explained—you must ask since fewer premiums means less commission to the agent. You should compare at least 3 carriers since they change their rates all the time. I have been quoted $500 to $900 for the same coverage.

Ask and save: https://www.amazon.com/Vehicle-Insurance-Beware-Double-Coverage/dp/1480027634

 

Congress helping insurers sell annuities

Many bills are being considered this year so that insurers can sell their high-cost products directly to retirees. Fee structures for annuities make it seem like you pay nothing. However, an agent may earn 10% or more on your 401k transfer--$20,000 on $200,000 for example. The insurer makes so much on your money that they pay the agent with an up front advance. Then each year you pay 2-3% of the total usually by deducting it from your account before you see the bill. The costs of an annuity are hidden in 5 or more fees and expenses charged each year. Of course there are benefits to a guaranteed income for life. However, most agents don’t mention that you are giving up the purchasing power of your money when you hand it over to an insurer. Insurers will be earning an average of 11% a year on your cash so they, NOT you, offset rising prices. Your guaranteed income may lose HALF the buying power in 20 years because of inflation. Since your family does not receive your money, they may lose a legacy if you die early. If you need your money for medical or living expenses, the insurer takes surrender charges of up to 7% of the value out of your check.

Consider alternatives: https://www.amazon.com/Retirement-Income-Annuity-Guaranteed-Life/dp/1497337313

 

Congress allows wealthy to avoid paying any taxes

Example: Stephen Ross, who developed the Time Warner Center and Hudson Yards in Manhattan, paid no federal taxes for years. He doubled his net worth from 2008 to, according to Forbes Magazine’s annual list, by adding $3 billion to his fortune. Though the developer brought in some $1.5 billion in income from 2008 to 2017, he reported even more — nearly $2 billion — in losses. And because he reported negative income, he didn’t pay a nickel in federal income taxes over those 10 years. While ProPublica has shown that some of the country’s absolute wealthiest people, including Jeff Bezos, Elon Musk and Michael Bloomberg, occasionally sidestep federal income tax entirely, this group does it year in and year out. Take Silicon Valley real estate mogul Jay Paul, who hauled in $354 million between 2007 and 2018. According to Forbes, he vaulted into the ranks of the multibillionaires in those years. Yet Paul paid taxes in only one of those years, thanks to losses of over $700 million. And we pay Congress to legally help these people pay nothing for their subsidized life in America.

Use your tax shelter: https://www.amazon.com/Trump-Tax-Shelter-Avoid-taxes/dp/1985448300

 

Saving $9 a day makes big difference

Those who save early don’t need to save a lot to reach all their goals. Time is money because when money is compounded in large businesses, it multiplies like rabbits. Many readers started investing late and so tell me over and over how they wish they had started when they were younger. They help their grandchildren get started with the new tax-FREE account. Saving $9 a day, $250 a month, $3,000 a year, compounds to $2,060,000. You actually deposit $120,000 over 40 years in a low-cost stock index fund (no advisor fees necessary) and your money compounds because you reinvest the profits and dividends from the Apples, Google and Amazons of this world. You pay 0.04% not 1-2% to an advisor-managed fund, so you earn the market rate of 11% a year on average. If you pay 2% per year for “advice” about securities you lose up to 63% of what you could have earned over time, according to Vanguard’s founder John Bogle.

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

 

 

 

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

 

 

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

 

 

The Path to Dictatorship: 2010S-2030

 

 

“The Coup is ongoing”

 

Rule of law demoted

 

Coup enabler takes Fifth

 

Foreign donors paid for Coup

 

Special interests undermine our votes

 

 

How Govt wastes our money:

Supremes: taxpayers must pay for religious education (creationism) in some states?

Manchin holding up debate on Biden’s social-spending package: delay is GOP way

 

SCAMS/SPINS:

MI 15 year old school killer’s parents: “You have to learn not to get caught." Xmas gift

GOP to control women’s choice not control of gun choice: guns for Christ’s birth?

KY Massie shows future Christmas morning: it is scary compared with Christ’s message

 

Supremes are supreme liars: confirmation session promises on Roe by conservatives

Supremes confirm TX ban on abortions: no exceptions rape incest: pills not available

GOP crying about running up deficit again: 2017 tax break for rich cost us $4 Trillions

 

GA judge stops Biden vac mandate for fed contractors everywhere: GOP going for million dead

NYC private company vaccine mandate: more delayed openings

Athletes lie about vac: Rogers White fined $14,650; Brown, Edwards suspended 3 games

 

Easy to create fake vaccine news: we are persuaded so easily and 800,000 dead so far

Trump blames Biden for Covid deaths: irony of ironies: Trump: “just like the flue”

Covid-19 hospitalizations have increased 40% compared to a month ago

 

Study: People in states voted for Trump are at 50% higher risk of dying from COVID

People in states voting Trump forming their own national propaganda network: fake news

Trump’s GOP working to upset GA gov voting process thru fear of Blacks

 

RECALL: Veklury Remdesivir because of the “presence of glass particulates”

Drug companies pay to change Congress rules re: lowering drug prices: we lose

 

Scammers favorite ways to take your money: fake warnings, holiday jobs, fake charity

GOP dismisses pro-consumer bank regulator: fake label kills nomination

Phillip W. Conley FL caught stealing $ millions; fake ventures statements 7 yrs prison

Matthew Clason caught stealing $600,000 did errands got confidence: 30 mo prison

 

Life insurance rates to climb after 800,000 Covid premature deaths: make up lost profits 

 

CA bans gas leaf-blowers mowers in ‘24:

Gov will no longer buy your utility, phone, cable info from credit cos. Hackers get it free

Amazon’s ads have been deceiving us since beginning: gov not trace every complaint

 

Jobs

Toyota Battery Manufacturing plant Liberty NC create 1,750 new U.S. jobs.

3,000 open positions for Kris Kringle lookalikes at malls, homes and corporate events

500 LA school employees out of work: declined Covid protection

 

Shortage snowplow drivers: state agencies have to get legislative approval to up salaries.

 

Who owns your account now?

Drivers Give These 5 Car Insurers the Highest Marks: Auto Clubs, USAA need ID

Routers: best brands: Linksys and Netgear considered below average.

Google catches 2 Russkies stealing your data, bitcoins: can gov prosecute?

 

Miracles:

One-arm gymnast: “…when you practice hard and try even harder, it becomes easy”

230 skiing Santas come down the mountain

Warming may take the school house: coastal housing in jeopardy since 1950

 

Heat takes Christmas tree seedlings: years with fewer trees

Which experiences make you happy?

New Zealand makes it illegal for anyone 14 or under to smoke ever in their lifetime

 

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/

 

 

Friday, November 26, 2021

Retirement budget: do a dry run now

 

Is Warren Buffett’s portfolio right for you?

Why does Buffett recommend buying and holding only two Vanguard funds for retirement? Is this strategy right for you too? In his letter to stockholders of his business, he wrote: "I believe the long-term results from this policy will be superior to those attained by most investors -- whether pension funds, institutions, or individuals -- who employ high-fee managers." Buffett credits “compounding” for his astounding investment success. So he advocates a low-cost index fund of the 500 largest companies as the best investment for most of us. He warns us against giving high-cost advisors our money since they can’t beat the index and their costs can take up to 63% of our potential accumulations. Nearly 92% of advisor funds have trailed the index of S&P 500 firms over the last 15 years. Over time, Vanguard’s 500 Index earned over 11% a year. That means your money doubles every 7 years. Your $250 per month contribution can provide you with $1 million in 35 years. Buffett proved his advice by beating a Wall Street guru with 5 hedge funds. Unless you are smarter than Buffett, Buffett’s way is right for you: https://www.amazon.com/Warren-Buffetts-Vanguard-Funds-Retirement/dp/1496148592

 

What do you own if you own a 500 Index fund?

Why is a 500 index fund growing so much? The Vanguard 500 Index fund has grown at 30% over the last year, 16% over the last 3 years, and 16% over the last 5 and 10 years. This is very unusual. Historically this index has grown at 11% per year. Info tech is the main reason for this trend as you can see by the largest contributors to the index’s growth. These corporations make up 30% of the Vanguard 500 Index fund:

1          Microsoft Corp.

2          Apple Inc.

3          Alphabet Inc.

4          Amazon.com Inc.

5          Tesla Inc.

6          Meta Platforms Inc.

7          NVIDIA Corp.

8          Berkshire Hathaway Inc.

9          JPMorgan Chase & Co.

10        UnitedHealth Group Inc.

If you own the companies in the index, you own some of these companies and their gains and dividends. If you pay low-fees like Vanguard’s version at 0.04%, your account grows faster than if you pay 1-2% a year. You own a broad diversified part of the world stock market. Use Warren Buffett’s strategy "A very low-cost index is going to beat a majority of the amateur-managed money or professionally-managed money." 

Less you pay; more you earn: https://www.amazon.com/Warren-Buffett-Millionaire-money-snoring/dp/1508887381

 

Retirement budget: do a dry run now

What will you have to spend and what is your spending plan? Going on a journey like this one without a plan is asking for a disaster. You may need money to last 30 years—60 to 90—for at least one in your family. Stay ahead of inflation—the silent ‘killer.’ Unless you plan to work till you drop, a plan can help you succeed not just survive. If you began early enough you could have $2 million to spend without income taxes with the New American Retirement System. If not, you need to make a dry run now so you can make adjustments. You will need to make a Spending Plan for both of you. Estimate your Required Minimum Distributions from pensions and IRAs and how much tax you will have to pay. Find any old pensions and accounts you may have left behind.

You will need every penny. https://www.amazon.com/Your-Retirement-Budget-Investments-Income/dp/1483946487

 

Is a 401k annuity right for you?
Several mutual fund firms are offering an annuity guaranteed income from your 401k or 403b. Many workers have said they are interested in putting some of their retirement savings into an investment option that would guarantee them monthly income when they retire and help ensure they don’t outlive their savings. This makes sense for many since the guaranteed pensions of the past are gone. Employers do not want the risk of maintaining a pension payout for their employees for life. Recent law has reduced the fiduciary risk for employers and made it easier for them to provide annuities as a retirement plan distribution option. This may be a great option for you if you have other money invested to help defeat inflation during retirement. However, the monthly income guarantee comes at a cost. Firms take 1-3% annual fees to provide “monthly income you can’t outlive.” But the amount is cut in HALF by inflation over time. There are less expensive ways to obtain a “steady, reliable stream of income to help cover your expenses in retirement.” Be careful. Annuities are not cancelable.

Look at all options first: https://www.amazon.com/Best-Annuity-Strategy-Income-Growth/dp/1497532019

 

 

 

 

 

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

 

 

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

 

 

The Path to Dictatorship

 

“The Coup is ongoing”

 

Vigilantism backstop

 

GOP: ”Be armed, be dangerous and be moral."?

 

GOP paying Trump’s defense

 

How Govt wastes our money:

Biden lets corporate taxes fall 21% to 15%; $80,000 SALT deductions for wealthy

Wealthy are outbidding each other for private airplanes: Biden gives them the money

Down HALF: IRS collections from estate tax dive from $20 billion to $9 B: GOP tax cuts

 

Manchin dictates what he wants in final Dem spending: parent help cut,

TX pays for Trump’s audit even though he won TX: TX GOP finally admits Biden won

 

 

SCAMS/SPINS:

WI: you can legally shoot three people during a protest and get off scot-free.

CO police: “too many guns are in the hands of too many students”: kids with guns!

Covid could take baby without mom’s vax: stillbirths likely for infected moms

 

Killing in “self defense” after you start the fight with weapons: victims don’t have a case

Children are allowed to carry loaded 30-round AR guns in WI streets: if over ‘foot’ long

What is with WI? driver kills 5 defenseless kids & marchers with SUV

 

Kenny Wells: illegally bringing/shooting his weapon in public: will this guy get off too?

 

Mesa County, CO clerk, swept by conspiracy theories, compromised election equipment

 

More Covid deaths in 2021 than 2020: more infections; fewer vax

FL gov no mask mandate gives parents no school choice: FL government like fed

 

Ron Molo IL caught stealing $800,000 using fake account: promised tax-free income

Evan & Avi Schottenstein FL caught abusing mother and accounts: failed fiduciary duty

Gregg Brie NY caught stealing $640K promised high returns in airline: 5 yrs jail

Mark D'Amico caught duped public $400,000 in GoFundMe scheme: fake homeless

Serena Shi caught selling condos in California that did not exist.

Stores caught claim original prices discounts when no such price listed

Goods caught fake “made in USA” sticker: trick of meaning

Tom Selleck caught pushing reverse mortgage product: Joins Madoff on Wall of Shame

Onion recall: Potandon Produce and Alsum Farms salmonella concerns: toss

 

Jobs

CVS closing 900 stores: reopening as health-care clinic: flu shots to diagnostic tests.

Amazon's buyout of Hollywood studio MGM

Unvaccinated employees are lying about their status to retain their jobs: peer pressure

 

Taylor TX new $17 billion Samsung chip plant: 2,000 jobs; 6,500 construction jobs

Germany raises min wage to €12 ($13.46) an hour, from €9.60 ($10.77) an hour.

 

Who owns your account now?

10 used cars that are going fast: demand raises prices—maybe you should wait

10 Least reliable new vehicles: most cost a lot for troubles: winner: Mercedes-Benz GLE

 Verizon acquisition of TracFone Wireless

 

 

Miracles:

Child brings automatic weapon to protest in another state, kills 2: gets job in Congress

12 yo saves family and injured dog using Boy Scout-learned skills

TX voters don’t trust politicians to ban the right books: lynching by whites happened

 

Arbery judge: “self-defense laws do not apply to the person who is the aggressor in a confrontation.”

 

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/

 

Friday, February 7, 2020

What can your investments do for you?


What can your investments do for you?
Most retail investors have no idea what they should expect from their money over time. Sure, everyone says they want to be rich—tomorrow—like the lottery. Well, if you have played the lottery, you know it is just an additional tax. Odds of winning big prizes are greater than you becoming a star athlete. The most successful investors are those who follow the advice of legends like Warren Buffett and John Bogle. Buffett used Bogle’s low-cost 500 Index to beat the 5 hedge funds run by a Wall Street guru. Buffett used a low-cost 500 large company index because you are almost guaranteed the highest return over time that way. Buffett relied on the compounding of high earnings with low costs over more than 10 years to be assured his wager of $1 million won. Over time, your investment in a low-cost index fund of large companies will be more successful than the average brokerage account owner. Are there exceptions? Sure, but you won’t know until AFTER you lose money to the index. 11% over 30 years can compound your $250 a month 401k or IRA money into $1 million or more. Buffett picked Vanguard’s 500 Index because of the record: One year 31%; 3 year 15%; 5 year 11%; 10 year 13%; 11.15% since 1976. As Bogle said: "Don't look for the needle in the haystack. Just buy the haystack."

If you own a business, almost everything is deductible: pay $0 tax like Don
Our tax system has been set up to favor business. As you learned from our president, he has used the rules to pay ZERO or near zero taxes for years. He says that makes him smart. Looking at his most recent tax law changes, one thing is clear, the wealthy and most business don’t pay tax or pay very little compared to the average tax burden of 33.9% for the middle-class working stiffs. In America, we are better off running a business than working for one. The IRS even lets us reduce our income from business losses so we pay less. However, there are rules for a small business. Rules you need to know include the 50% limit on deduction for meals, no write-off for unpaid invoices, not all startup costs are deductible, not all fringe benefits are deductible, and you can’t deduct if you can’t prove you’re in it for the profits, like Trump. With the internet, it is relatively easy to learn what you need to know on the tax side of the business. You can’t assume anything. Be prepared to pay dearly for tax prep if you can’t do your own business taxes.

Longevity risk: it’s all in the genes
Many folks are living longer. Family genes provide a general rule: if you parents lived past the average age of 79, you probably will too. Most are not prepared to finance 20-30 years of retirement income. About 1 in 3 65-year-olds today will live past age 90, and about 1 in 7 will live past age 95. The standard advisor answer is putting your money into an annuity since they promise to pay a monthly income for the rest of your life. Sounds good but did they explain that inflation will take half the buying power of your monthly income in about 20 years? Insurers price their products at the current low interest rate. Right now you can receive $524 a month with a payment of $100,000 if you are a male age 65. You can’t ‘outlive’ this $524 but by age 85 it will only buy $250 worth of goods. If that $100,000 represented the bulk of your assets, what do you do now? Instead you could take income and keep growing your assets for later. Annuities were fine in the last century when people died by age 68: Not fine now unless you are the seller!

Your employer will now guess at your monthly retirement income
The SECURE Act requires retirement plan sponsors to tell workers how much their current savings will generate in monthly annuity income in retirement. The new law, sponsored by the insurance industry, aims to provide employees with a ‘clearer’ picture about whether or not they’re on track to retire. But your employer’s plan is making a lot of assumptions. First, when will you retire? Second, which investment option do you have and how long has your money been working. A 401k of $100,000 for a married couple could pay around $6,000 a year or $500 a month. The final monthly figure depends on a few annuity factors. Some plan sponsors already use their annuity table which assumes very low interest rates for accumulations and distributions. If you had plans for a higher amount per month from your nest egg, just don’t let your employer talk you into the annuity they now sell. Their ‘guaranteed’ annuity protects them, not you from inflation and insurer collapse. Using a simple low-cost balanced mutual fund, you could earn over 9% a year now and thus spend much more income later.

File for the quickest refund FREE
If you meet certain criteria and have your documents already, federal and state can cost you nothing at https://apps.irs.gov/app/freeFile/. Another site has no income/forms restrictions: https://www.creditkarma.com/tax. The software helps you avoid common mistakes before you file. Even if you make a tiny mistake, the IRS usually catches it without penalty. I have used most of these programs for years even though my income is above the limits. Most charge nothing for the federal and state. Some charge only $12.95 for the state. For 2019, six states have kept the health mandate tax if you don’t have health care cover so that state return may get complicated. Once you file your first year, your previous years’ data is there and pre-fills your forms: Saves a lot of time and money. Try it before you spend $200-300 at a for-profit preparer. No refund due? File to keep your ID from scammers. Your W-2 should be sent to you by Jan 31 according to IRS. Your refund can be in your direct deposit account in 10 days. Check mobile: IRS2Go within 24 hours after IRS receives your e-filed return for status.


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

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

“Never in my life did I think I would like to see a dictator,
but if there's gonna be one I want it to be Trump

Top Mobster says HE is the COUNTRY: beating indictment gives absolute power: anything goes.

GOP agrees: president’s actions are OK because he is president—no crimes/misdemeanors possible!

Tax cuts for the rich "trickle down" through economy, lifting growth, wages: not working
Deficit passed $1 Trillion: fewer paying taxes: Econ slows: Trump’s “greatest in history”


SCAMS/SPINS:
Racism celebrated by America’s highest award: ‘Freedom’ to profit from racist hate-mongering.

What a ‘kangaroo court’ looks like: GOP mob declare mobster boss ‘not guilty’ rubber stampin’

Life of indicted insider trader: US visas for family to live in Manhattan hotel free, 4 hours to shop

Philip Riehl PA caught $60 million Ponzi schemes: preyed on Amish and Mennonite groups

“house stealing” is the “latest scam: Fake sale from your stolen ID, docs, etc.
Identity theft, imposter scams, and telephone issues topped the FTC list of complaints. 
Hackers control your car through your car computer: protection not yet perfect.


Dems Committee mess up IA count to assure no ‘socialist’ becomes party nominee: Hillary II?


Jobs

Who owns your account now?
Does your mechanic love you? These owners hate paying for repairs
Re-gift or sell your gift cards: use safe sites to get best value

Miracle:
Scientists: warm ocean water flowing under the massive Greenland ice, melting faster.
Bumblebees are dying from the US, EU heat: tomatoes and cranberries at risk.
5,800 clergy on list of credible sexual assault: many have been left off by bishops

IAN
41 Watchung Plaza, B242
Montclair, NJ   07042
973.746.2014
Alerts