“A balanced portfolio still offers the best chance of success”

 

Vanguard: “A balanced portfolio still offers the best chance of success” 

Tradition offers the balanced advice. History says EMM and Small Cap follows decline for large stocks. But any smart market watcher must admit it is difficult if not impossible to time the market. The balanced portfolio with some tilting provides fair returns over time. Some older readers overweight the more stable Vanguard funds like Wellesley Income since it has proven a 9% plus return for a long time. Most notable for my readers’ favorite funds is the fact that costs are much less than a Wall Street firm portfolio.

 

2022 Total Return Vanguard Fund   Long-term Return      Longevity

-19.8% 500 Index                                            10.8% since 1976

 24.0% Energy                                                   9.4% since 1984

-26.4% Extended Market                                 10.0% since 1987

 -0.8% Health                                                   15.7% since 1984

-30.1% International Growth                            10.2% since 1981

-14.9% PRIMECAP                                        13.4% since 1984

 -9.5% Small Cap Index                                   10.6% since 1960

-8.8% Wellesley Income                                     9.3% since 1970

-2.9% Windsor                                                11.3% since 1958

-12.9% Windsor II                                           10.7% since 1985

-10.2% Average                                               11.1% *           *Average Annual Returns as of 12/30/22

Invest like billionaire Warren Buffett. Invest your tax refund for a $1,000,000 retirement fund in 35 years.

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

 

Don’t waste your money on these expenses

Advisors don’t know what will happen in 2023 and beyond so don’t waste that 1-2% on quarterly fees, market timing schemes, or firm’s “special circumstance” stocks. If these folks were consistently picking winners, timing or lowering fees, we would all know about it. Big banks fire investment strategists. Financial writers recommend gold as a hedge, home/car warranties as protection, and consolidating debt as 2023 money moves. These are money wasters. My readers have found that cost of financial services is the best predictor of success: pay less; keep more. This is why Warren Buffett recommends buy and hold a low-cost market index fund for everyone who does not have his investing prowess. He is wealthy. His advice is FREE.

https://www.amazon.com/Warren-Buffetts-Investment-Strategy-Forget/dp/1484822900

 

New Years Resolutions: avoid financial mistakes

It is easy to get into trouble financially. Once you have a credit card you will use it and may run up debt. We have all done it but at 29% interest, it would take 5 years and $317 per month to pay the $9,045 interest and original $10,000. You pay double only IF you cut the card. If you are also paying off a student debt, you might lose your credit score. If you buy a car/house that requires continuous care, you might be over your head. Same if you quit a job before you have another or stayed at an old one too long. Raises don’t keep up with cost increases. Adequate car and term life insurance is all you need for protection. Phone service deals may help you. As Consumer Reports repeatedly warns, many extended auto-warranty policies are a bad deal. A review by Consumers’ Checkbook of home warranty plans found they rarely are worth the price or hassle. Better to invest for a rainy day: $317 a month for 5 years in a low-cost market index will provide about $25,000.

https://www.amazon.com/Simple-Financial-Life-stop-paycheck-paycheck/dp/1441499326/

 

Investment strategies to fund long-term retirement expenses

There are 4 styles of investment during the long retirement spending period according to the research of Murguia and Pfau. Four of the broad strategies identified include a total return preference, in which a person spends systematically from a diversified investment portfolio focused on total returns; an income protection preference that involves building a lifetime income floor with fixed annuities; a risk wrap approach, which builds a lifetime income floor with variable annuities offering lifetime withdrawal benefits wrapped around a risk-based portfolio; and a time segmentation preference that resembles a bucketing strategy that uses less volatile assets for shorter-term expenses and riskier assets offering higher growth potential for longer-term expenses. According to Murguia and Pfau, approximately 35% of individuals between ages 50 and 80 identified most closely with the income protection approach. This is followed by 33% who preferred a total return approach, 17% who preferred time segmentation and 15% who favored a risk wrap strategy. “With this distribution of preferences, it is misguided to narrowly promote one type of retirement strategy as above others,” Murguia and Pfau conclude. Warren Buffett has specified in his will how his heirs should follow a strategy that resembles the bucketing strategy: One will provide cash for the coming year and the other will provide a sound future. Most of us have annuity-type income floors in SS and RMDs funding.

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

 

 

 

?**********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:

GOP governs with big caveat: any House Rep will leverage Speaker to do deals

GOP targets Biden talks with Tech re: bullying right-wing on Covid, etc

McCarthy to investigate the rise of the Chinese Communist Party: read history?

 

House of Bizarre Behavior: cut SS benefits for deficit; IRS can’t catch tax avoiders 

GOP to make it impossible to raise tax rates on wealthy: GOP’s new rules

IRS audited poor for small dollars; millionaires left alone to avoid taxes

 

SCAMS/SPINS:

GOP childishness: Right demands cut spending/balance budget: SS/Medicare cuts

GOP serious: Democratic officials in New Mexico shot in office and at home

 

GOP to look for the “deep state”: FBI, CIA, intelligence, new “McCarthy ism”

Southern GOP gets “red-necked” over political purity: McCarthy inspires conspiracy

GOP limits ethics investigation of GOP coup enablers

 

American public no longer believes the Supreme Court is impartial

What kind of society allows a 6 year old to shoot teacher with gun from home?

 

 

Can GOP leader be brought to justice? How many laws can he break and walk?

Don will bring fireworks back when he is reinstalled at WH: the delusion continues

 

Supremes: NY must let everyone even 6 year old  use guns everywhere even church

Judge: bump stock is legal to kill like a machine gun since not a machine gun

Navy: US may be running out of weapons: contractors charge more overnight delivery

 

Religious "medical cost-sharing plan" costs $160,000 for operation: junk “insurance”

Jennifer Shah UT caught $9.5 mil fraud endorsed “little or no value” products: jail 11yr

7 Things That Damage Your Credit Score: Closing a credit card account

 

Trump org caught criminal tax fraud costs only $1.6 million; 0.0001% of wealth, no jail

Forster & Garbus caught illegal debt-collection practices: no doc suits of Discover Citi

Charles Richard Burgess caught fleecing investors $4 million Ponzi promised 10%: jail

City National Bank caught relining Black and Latino communities: fine, no jail

 

Scam companies use Fed names to trick us to give biz details used to scam us

GOP says Biden’s CPSC will take away our gas stoves: Lie like Obama is not American

Biden asked “how could anyone be so irresponsible with secret docs”: Everyone has docs

 

Do we really want gamers to be playing games while driving? Cars as entertainment?

Drivers with drive assist features get lazy: allow car to drive itself: eat, text, stop focus

Driver falls asleep on autopilot: driver finally woke up to stop for cops: suspended license

 

Jobs

The happiest, least stressful, most meaningful jobs in America

public charging station tech, infrastructure, EV mechanic

15 of the Fastest-Growing Jobs Today: job highlights of 2023

 

Jobs created by new businesses

Make a change soon: 15-jobs-that-will-shrink-the-fastest-over-the-next-decade

 

Who owns your account now?

10 Least Satisfying Cars, According to Consumer Reports

Best emergency fund rates

Transform 529 plan Roth transfers into estate planning vehicles: keep more

 

File IRS tax return Jan 23 free efile; Last year, the average refund issued was $3,176.

FAA shuts all US flights down after bug got in 30 year old software: terrorists?

 

Miracles:

Some towns help citizens stay out of medical bankruptcy

Earth's ozone layer is slowly but noticeably healing

People with type 1 diabetes offered an artificial pancreas, “holy grail” for the disease.

Nature: Alps from Golden Eagle perspective: Awesome!’

 

 

 

 

@

 

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/

 

Where do you find a great financial advisor?

 

How can you double the value of your investment dollars?

How do working people earning average salaries prepare for retirement by building a $1 million fund? For most of us, there are three simple steps: tax-deductible paycheck automatic savings, employer matching funds, and compounding interest. Compounding happens when you leave your money alone in a low-cost S&P 500 stock fund to make money on itself. You can earn 11% a year. Many employers offer to match your retirement fund contributions. It is free money so take it. Using a 401k, 403b or other tax-deferred plan including an IRA allows your money to grow without current taxation. Thus contributing $250 a month—$125 per pay period—can easily grow your fund to over a million dollars by the time you retire.

Never too late to start: https://www.amazon.com/Miracle-Compounding-Turn-day-into/dp/1470176513

 

Only self-employed can deduct expenses of a home office

That is the federal rule but 7 states allow some deductions for work from home. You may deduct some expenses from a home office if you are a rideshare driver or an online retailer. If this is a new category of work for you—Uber, Lyft, delivery driver—you should rely on an experienced tax preparer for your return this year. If you started any type of non-paycheck job this year after being laid off, you may be able to claim many expenses in pursuit of income. Likewise your online retail store expenses including the space you use to manage your store may be deducted. You may not make a profit this year. Your business loss may offset some of your other income like unemployment compensation and Covid related sick time pay. Many businesses received loans that may not have to be paid back. However, the paperwork is complicated. Unfortunately, you can’t avoid all income taxes like our former president.

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

 

Is a credit monitoring service right for you?

Most of us are not victims of ID theft because we know not to give out info to thieves who send us fake emails, calls, and texts tricking us to give them our personal data. The most popular currently is the fake IRS message asking to confirm our information. It takes months to clear up the results of a stolen ID: fake purchases, fake bank debits, etc. So a profitable industry has worked on our fears to take our money in the form of promises of protection. Some even claim they provide a $1 million in protection—for a price. However no paid service can stop an ID theft—we only know AFTER the event. There are free monitoring services: CNBC Select ranked the top credit monitoring services and top identity theft protection services. CreditWise® from Capital One ranked as the best overall free service for credit monitoring because it offers dark web scanning and social security number tracking, plus a credit score simulator tool. Identityforce.com ranked as the best overall identity theft services for offering the most extensive security features that monitor your information on the dark web, court records and social media. While freezing your credit can protect you, the simplest way to learn about fraudulent activity in your name is to sign up for a credit monitoring service. It immediately alerts you of any potential danger. Then you can take action before the ID thieves can hurt you. You can get help at https://identitytheft.gov/. 

 

Have tax forms; will file … for FREE

W-2, unemployment, SS benefits, IRAs, pensions, RMD, brokerage, etc. If you have all your forms, file for FREE online. Usually filing your state return costs as little as $15 unless you buy the Pro helpline. Avoid $300-400 paid preparer fees—new IRS forms mean higher fees. Unemployment insurance is TAXABLE on the Federal income tax return; not on some state returns. Some states do not tax your SS and pension benefits. Retirees did not have to take their RMDs in 2020 so taxes may be less: it was a good time to convert IRA to Roth IRA for tax-FREE future. Unless you were self-employed, you can’t deduct home office expenses of working from home. Some states continue the health insurance mandate and penalty unless you have an exemption. Since the IRA contribution deduction has no age limit now, you may reduce your income/taxes by making a contribution of up to $7,000. The standard deduction went up to $12,400 single; $24,800 joint. Jan 15 last day to make 2020 estimated payments. You have to report your April/May and December/January stimulus payments even though they are not taxable. Some of us receive a bank credit; some a debit card; some a check. Even if you don’t have to file, you should file so scammers can’t use your SS number to mess up your IRS file. Tested E file software ratings. Efile Jan 15; IRS processing Feb 12.

E file avoids covid at your preparers’ office: https://www.irs.gov/filing/free-file-do-your-federal-taxes-for-free

 

Where are the great financial advisors?

No where and every where. It depends on what we expect from them. Some of us pay a lot of money for advice—over 63% our potential lifetime earnings in costs, according to John Bogle, founder of Vanguard. Others feel that they would have lost all their savings if it were not for their advisor. Others went to a financial planner and paid a one time fee (like buying a will). They have a complete plan for their future financial needs. Most advisors are not brilliant product analysts so they rely on their firms’ ‘select securities and products.’ That is what marketing is for—products are “sold not bought.” Most advisors are sales people by necessity. Firms need profits and advisors DRIVE our money into their firms. If advisors bring in a lot of money, they stay. Maybe you don’t need an advisor who takes your earnings every quarter. You may need an unbiased advisor that works for a fee, not commission. Like a good car mechanic, they don’t try to sell you on a transmission flush when all you need is an oil change. Car makers don’t recommend flushes. As a former sales manager, I paid a financial planner for a check up for a single fee. I have a plan for the next 50 years with all the contingencies. All advisors rely on standard software so your portfolio and plan follow universal guidelines. There is no need to give up over HALF your money anymore. The best advisors don’t need clients.

Get value for your money: https://www.amazon.com/Best-Robo-Advisor-Ultimate-Automatic-Management/dp/1537111957

 

Know the SS benefit rules for the greatest benefits

Before you sign up for Social Security benefits either online or at a local office, know the ABCs of your account. Set up an account so you can make sure SS has the correct information about your work history. Your benefit is based on your 35 highest-earning years. Your benefits may be taxed up to 85%. You can start benefits at age 62. However, if you do start early, that reduces your amount by about 25% for the rest of your life. Your full benefits are paid by age 67. Every year you wait—till age 70—increases your benefits by 8% a year for the rest of your life. If your spouse or ‘ex’ earned more than you did in SS records, it may be better to claim spousal benefits. Spouses without their own long work history can claim benefits in this way. Survivor’s benefits let a widow or widower collect up to 100% of the late spouse’s Social Security benefit amount.

https://www.amazon.com/Your-Retirement-Income-Checklist/dp/1544703260

 

What can we do with a big auto loan and no job?

According to Edmunds.com nearly 70% of new car loans in the first quarter of 2020 were longer than 60 months with many either 72 or 84 months. The trend over the last decade is longer and longer loans. We all know someone with this problem: Bob bought a big luxury car used but he still owes over $25,000—payments at $840 a month. Bob lost his job. Bob has no 2^nd car and is single. The car is worth less than $15,000 now. Bob could try to trade down but there would still be a large balance. Bob can’t roll the balance into a new loan since he has no job. Bob can try selling this car and paying off part of a loan with smaller monthly payments. If Bob can get a ride to shopping or work if he finds a new one, this would be best. Bob does not like that alternative so he begins to work as an Uber driver. There are expenses that are deductible including use of his car. Bob decides this is his best option for now. He decides he will never buy another used luxury car with a loan. Bob has to buy new coverage so he shops around to save.

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

 

How do you know when to get out?

Gamestop stock went up and then went back down to $40 where it was January 19. At 347 per share, did you sell on time? How did you know when to sell? Did your broker or advisor tell you so? If you bought at 200 expecting it to rise further, did you get caught in the fall on February 2? I hope you did not see your account show a negative balance of $730,000 like the young man who couldn’t get through on the phone to verify. Playing stocks can kill your savings or worse. Yes, direct online trading is possible but is it worth it? Like playing lottery someone could win but the chances are sometime 300 million to one. Don’t we have an obligation to show our young how to invest like Warren Buffett, a real wise investor?

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

 

 

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

 

 

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

 

 

Trump cult members beware:

Trump didn’t stop cult who wanted to “hang Pence” for disloyalty

 

Dictator can incite overthrow of our government again

 

Most GOP want Dictator back: “Trump party” in all but name

 

What if it had been Obama and BLM Jan 6?

 

So much for justice in America!

 

Our ‘Truth and Reconciliation Commission’? 

 

 

 

How Govt wastes our money:

Opioid pushers get tax refunds for settling claims for 450,000 deaths: profit from killing!

Stockpile masks while nurses receive only 1:  Biden’s people waiting Senate GOP OK

Wasted on 57 Trump fake vote-count lawsuits in each state: we pay for state courts!

 

US making $100 billion missile 20 times Hiroshima: not just kill, annihilate whole cities!

Taxes to make robots that kill automatically: hackers will love our cyborgs: kill us?

 

IRS fails to update: you pay tax yet collection letters on auto: Seize your account HELP!

IRS still hadn’t processed 6.7 million returns for the 2019 tax year: Amended takes years!

$ Billions to send rover to Mars: we did this already in 1997: internet for rural US yet?

 

SCAMS/SPINS:

Republicans "worried that if they vote to convict … people would come after them."

Trumpists have defeated the GOP: Most Americans know GOP is not viable anymore.

Dictator did nothing even after hearing followers vow to HANG his VP Pence.

McConnell avoids responsibility: up to prosecutors to charge Dictator with crimes.

 

House sues Trump/Giuliani/terrorists using 1871 law for Capitol attack: Mitch testify?

 

When a coup fails, media calls it a ‘riot’: winners always re-write the history we read.

FBI recognized many Capitol terrorists from their Terrorist Watch List on videos.

Ivanka not going for Rubio Senate seat: only interested in top job: another Trump WH?

 

Child abusers in Boy Scouts go free $ billions insurance money to lawyers, mostly

the-most-common-lies-people-tell-about-money-60324.html

Global warming means more ‘too hot and too cold’ on new climate maps: FL floods.

 

Mercedes recalls 1.29 million 2016-2021: software may fail correct crash location.

Texas tells residents to fend for themselves: car in garage kills family

Fake tax preparers: Check: they must have a valid Preparer Tax Identification Number. 

Stefan Qin caught stealing $90 million Ponzi using fake algorithm for cryptocurrency

 

Virus spreaders: No-Maskers fake US marshal pass: 1/3 military decline vaccine

No-Maskers push death toll past 500,000: 

 

ExGov Perry: OK to freeze in TX cold so that oil/gas firms receive socialist tax subsidies

The Texas way is like living on Mars: Every person is a lone star to themselves.

 

IRS: Easy Steps to Protect Your Computer and Phone and Avoid Phishing Emails.

IRS: Free special ID protection PIN goes on your return so scammers can’t take refund

IRS: Previous tax returns available online: https://www.irs.gov/individuals/get-transcript

 

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

Another job search tool: https://www.glassdoor.com/blog/guide/how-to-use-glassdoor/

Visa Ban lifted?: Unemployed workers weren’t interested in jobs held by foreign hires

Another Trump tower falls: thousands laid off in 6 bankrupt biz

 

Who owns your account now?

Verizon’s proposed acquisition of Tracfone: no more ‘pay as you go’?

Looking for service: $15 mo keep own number and phone https://www.mintmobile.com/

 

 

 

Miracles:

A nursing home that tried to protect its own: after a year of lockdown, vaccines

HealthCare.gov reopens to provide much needed coverage for laid off workers.

Hundreds volunteering to escort elderly Asian Americans to stop beatings by terrorists

 

Holy War: cast GUILTY vote: now can’t go home: Family turns: “disappointment to God”

CA gives extra $600 for virus relief: waiting for Congress means hunger or eviction

Flooded giraffe habitat takes special rescue: soon Miami will need a rescue from floods

 

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 quickly can your account rebound from this correction?

How quickly can your account rebound from this correction?

Depending on how much of your portfolio (401k, 403b, brokerage, IRA, Roth IRA, etc) is in stock assets, you could be down 7% or more. A 500 Index fund is still up 8% over a full year while the Vanguard Wellesley Income fund (60% bonds) is up over 9% over 1 year. Your broad diversified asset account may take less than 6 months to get back on track. This is exactly why you invest in different types of assets. You don’t suffer big losses or big gains from any one shock. Over time, stocks produce better returns than bonds or cash or gold or e-bits. If you consider stock investing as gambling, you may have to wait a long time to hit another jackpot. If you consider stocks the safest investment you can make over time, you won’t have to do a thing. If you played your last chip in February, you must now double your bet to get back even. If your stock fund represents your ownership of many businesses, most will keep working through any panic. Buffett: I never attempt to make money on the stock market. I buy on the assumption that they could close the market the next day and not reopen it for five years.

https://www.amazon.com/Warren-Buffetts-Investment-Strategy-Set-Forget/dp/1484822900

How can you determine how much your advisor gets paid?

Since there is no industry standard or database for commissions, fees, retainers, kickbacks or other forms of payment, you will never know exactly what your salesperson actually earns. They could create a loss in your account and still charge you $3,000 a year. Recently, one of the sources of information was partially closed. The CFP Board told financial planners that the compensation information was “not very specific or helpful to consumers” and that the best way for consumers to select an advisor is “to have a conversation with their prospective advisor.” But we can’t interview 10 prospects without knowing something about how they charge. “We’re trying for more transparency as an industry, and this is less transparent.” The CFP Board’s consumer website, LetsMakeAPlan.org, is part of a public awareness campaign. Some advisors think the group may have caved in to the whims of the brokerage industry, many of whose advisors also carry a CFP designation. The Board was criticized for not properly disclosing things like customer complaints and criminal or regulatory problems for thousands of CFP designation holders on its consumer website. It took me a long time to find an advisor that charged only a fee for a financial plan/advice for a client. Most charge 1-2% annually of your balances plus fees for packaged products like annuities. It’s your money.

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

How much government do we want?

Elections are about choices: what to do with our tax money? If you believe social benefit programs are needed to help people you vote Dems in. If you believe corporate and wealth benefit programs are needed to help business and the asset class you vote GOP. Socialism: Trump is now helping some businesses and not others. Welfare for the rich or welfare for the poor, both have succeeded in driving up our public debt and the size of government. Subsidies to the elites and to the needy have never been contracted only expanded. Why are we still providing oil, coal and gas subsidies to profitable companies? Trump pays oil/gas companies when the oil/gas market price falls. We don’t get a bailout for our fuel oil/gas bills. Why have we allowed corporations to pay such low wages (same as 1973) that full time employees must beg for food stamps to survive? Why doesn’t government protect us from unwanted robo calls, opioid drugs and nicotine e-cigarettes? We allow the wealthy to avoid taxation through expensive tricks we can’t afford. When will everyone pay their fair share for their subsidies? Only now is Washington State repealing Boeing’s subsidies. Why is a ‘capitalist’ system paying profitable companies socialist subsidies? Give bailout to taxpayers!

Pay your fair share: https://www.amazon.com/Trump-Tax-Shelter-Avoid-taxes/dp/1985448300

SEC lawyers create more obscure annuity ‘disclosure’ form

The new “reader friendly” variable annuities summary prospectus and rules were supposed to improve investors’ understanding of the complex contracts but actually prove the need for real-ife testing. This charade “illustrates why we shouldn’t leave the job of developing disclosures to securities attorneys. The model they developed based on the proposal is 16 pages of small type and legalese,” CFA Director Roper said. “Had they bothered to test it, I am confident that they would have learned that much work was needed to make these documents both more readable and more visually appealing. But they weren’t willing to do that, perhaps because they didn’t want to hear what investor testing would have told them about the need to go back to the drawing board." Insurers were thrilled with the way SEC lawyers can obscure the tricks insurers use to make sure an ordinary person could never understand how their annuities work.

Insurers can never lose money: https://www.amazon.com/Not-Buy-That-Annuity-Guaranteed/dp/1466494573

File your taxes for free

TurboTax and other for-profit tax prep firms are due to raise prices soon. If you have your documents, use your favorite software now and pay your tax due on April 15. The payment, if any, can be in April; the filing should not. The federal and state can cost you nothing at https://apps.irs.gov/app/freeFile/. Another site has no cost or restrictions: https://www.creditkarma.com/tax. And remember you can usually reduce income and thus tax by making a deductible contribution to your IRA. 

Filed already: refund status: https://sa.www4.irs.gov/irfof/lang/en/irfofgetstatus.jsp

Save for a long life: https://www.amazon.com/Your-Plan-Live-Age-100/dp/1548180793

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

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

Mob Boss: 'Oh, we'll be cutting' [SS & Medicare] entitlements

Mob Boss: my employees see “I have natural ability” in medical expertise.

Mob Boss using Supremes to overturn centuries-old law

Mob Boss lowers his taxes by paying bribes

How Govt wastes our money: Congress spends another 1.7 Trillion we don’t have! 

This is how the GOP plans to stay in power? Is 6 hour wait enough to forsake democracy

Supremes under thumb of Mobster eliminate Congress power to govern

Mobster distracts us with promise (bribe) of tax cut to ease panic Pence assurances fail.

Socialist Trump giving bailouts to profitable companies who make election contributions.

IRS to delay tax filing deadline so refunds can be used for corporate bailouts

National Emergency? House Dems act to get help to people directly

SCAMS/SPINS:

David Goldman Brook Church-Koegel Nicole Walker caught in $1.2 billion Woodbridge Ponzi

Wealthy use current volatility to pass on $ Billions to their descendants tax-free. Richer!

Horse racing is fixed too.

Cruise lines salespeople providing false info to maintain ship bookings. Gov may pay too

China says new corona cases falling: open Wuhan airport shortly?

Aliera Healthcare deceived buyers of health ministry plans with few benefits.

Judith Negron caught Medicare fraud $200 million from elderly set free by Mob Boss.

Michael Williams Kinetic caught raised $39 million fraud: promised high yield

Epidemics are usually not included in standard travel insurance coverage

Trump hotels golf clubs to receive socialist subsidies to cover corona losses.

“It [The Hoax] will go away. Just stay calm. It will go away,” Dr Trump said

Can the most secure man catch The “Hoax” from his own people?

Trump cancels CDC advisory to seniors: fly at your own risk of corona

"There's no good reason to use masks except you think you're doing something” 

Pence claims corona more lethal than flu: expects “thousands of more cases.”

Flu 18,000 deaths so far this year; coronavirus 3,347 so far this year.

Farmer warns pig-castrator Sen. Joni Ernst’s past votes to repeal the ACA hurts him.

Many rural children start carrying handguns as early as the sixth grade. Peer pressure.

Food delivery costs up to 91% more than regular prices: Local market is best.

GOP voter suppression: GOP keeps black Kansas City Mayor from voting:

Jobs

More jobs in 2020 before virus: Key number: 273,000 jobs in February.

Who owns your account now?

Which medical clinic is best for you? Walmart vs CVS?

Miracle:

Older adults were 67% less likely to die of any cause if they walk 30 min a day

IAN

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