How to get your retirement fund back on track

How to get your retirement fund back on track

For those of us who have jobs, the most important fact is that no one knows what will happen with our investments. Forget trying to time the market or taking anyone’s advice about the next big thing. We are not going to refill our retirement fund quickly. This event will have HUGE unforeseen consequences. Instead of putting our faith in one person—broker, advisor, neighbor or newsletter—we must hold fast to the market growth over time. The market is down 8% so far this year. A balanced fund is down 2%. Since there is no silver bullet, patience must be our watchword. If you are waiting for your job to return, resist the impulse to raid your 401k or other retirement fund: You give up all your future compounded earnings. Exhaust all the other alternatives first: cut expenses, claim refunds on ongoing contracts, sell what you can, ask for help from employer, landlord, creditor, etc. Last crisis, we lived on credit cards instead of touching our retirement fund. Cash-out your old savings bonds. They probably aren’t earning interest anymore. Loans on cash value life insurance are more expensive than using it for loan collateral. Sell one of two cars. Use your ‘Go to Hell’ fund.

https://www.amazon.com/Reset-Your-Retirement-Income-retirement/dp/1512304344

Conservatives want Free-market capitalism

TV star Glenn Beck says conservatives want free markets but do they really? Beck would not be able to right off his expenses as deductions thus lowering his taxes. He would not be able to obtain subsidies for his operations—subsidies we tax payers have to pay for. Free markets praised by conservatives brought us dirty water, air and violence. Richard Nixon had to create the EPA to control them. When companies are free to pollute, they do, move on and then our taxes have to clean the pollution. When companies are free to manufacture unregulated/tested products they kill us. GM killed over 100 because of a $2 faulty ignition; Purdue killed thousands with addictive opioid; NRA promoted guns as mainstays for manhood so America’s unarmed deaths by gunshot soared. Beck makes up stories to satisfy those Americans who feel left behind, left out and left alone. His theme that socialism is a costly and dangerous failure that leaves desperation, poverty, and bodies in its wake is exactly what we have in American’s poverty life. In our capitalist system, the poor are hungry, alienated, and without health care. The rich move their money overseas so they don’t have to pay their fair share of taxes. Check the list of subsidies that we taxpayers have to give large corporations so they can have more money. Even the private jets get paid for by us. America has socialism—socialism for the rich.

Stop paying so they can have more: https://www.amazon.com/Americas-Socialism-Rich-little-people-pay/dp/1535218584

Scared people buy annuities: which is right for you?

Indexed annuities sales grew by 44% over the first quarter of 2019. Indexed annuities offer some protection against stock market losses, as well as the potential to profit from the market’s gains. While investors could benefit from gains in the stock market, the annuities also guaranteed a minimum rate no matter how poorly the market performed. Insurers don’t lose money so that guarantee comes at a hefty cost. Fixed annuities are like a bank account with a fixed rate of return. You earn less because the insurer’s current bonds pay less. Variable annuities provide performance based on an underlying portfolio of mutual funds. You pay fees for the annuity and for the funds so the value can fall over the short term. You have costly tax-deferred growth and a death benefit. Finally, immediate annuities pay a fixed amount starting the next month. They guarantee that amount for your life so inflation can cut your real income in HALF over 20 years. Annuities are almost impossible to cancel so they are used to supplement your retirement incomes. The bulk of your retirement income should be from a balanced mutual fund: stocks for growth; bonds for income. Some funds have low fees so you earn more.

Consider alternatives: https://www.amazon.com/Not-Buy-That-Annuity-Guaranteed/dp/1466494573

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

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

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

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

What our prez should sound like

'vaccine or no vaccine, we're back': 90,000+ deaths

“Testing overrated” “needlessly drive up the numbers”

Mobster gets money to destroy our world

States sue Mob’s EPA to un-destroy world

More Trump felons go free

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

Department of Justice becomes political tool of ‘The Leader’

All the independent Inspectors-General have been fired

Anti-democracy judges approved by Senate

Anti-voting laws enacted in GOP states

National emergency powers

Lying kills a just world

How Govt wastes our money: Congress spends another 3.7 Trillion we don’t have! 

Another corporate socialism giveaway: business loans forgiven for the well-connected

How foreign corporations get our tax money for virus bailout: Arthur Levitt: lobbyists!

Trump holding back ½ TRILLION virus relief money: for friends/family; private jets?

Trump donor becomes his advisor on reopening: money buys power: donor gets $1.3 B

Like 1930s, immediate jobs with pay are needed economically and emotionally.

Biden: “I’m not Trump or Obama” What does that mean for our future?

Trump gives C-19 drug-making $1 billion contract to company started in Jan. Payoff?

96,000 dead: when do we start testing: you can only get test if you already have virus symptoms.

CDC: more than a third of coronavirus patients don’t have any symptoms at all, 40% of virus transmission happens before people feel sick. 

SCAMS/SPINS:

TX virus cases explode by more than 1,800 in a single day: back to work/death

FL reopening w/o tests: data on virus cases has been deleted by new Gov’s team

Reopening increases virus: close contacts makes pandemic real for newly infected

New C-19 cases temporarily stopped production at two Ford plants — two days after reopened. 

Trump screws National Guard out of benefits: helping with virus benefits cancelled

Live free and die: Trump’s Health Officer promotes sickness for election

Trump followers believe WH propaganda: virus, cures, work, media, science

Twitter messages are from fake people: bots spread misinformation, lies

Trump’s FDA says his friends, GOP VIPs, will get the vaccine first.

Trump: change death count so fewer people die: Trump decides if you died of virus!

Insane Son Eric: Virus is Dem hoax: vanish after election: deaths are not virus deaths

GOP states are destroying DEM voters’ registrations: only way to win in Nov.

TX halts mail-in ballots for DEMs : Trump is against mail-ins for DEMs: OK for self

But Trump does NOT spend 184 days in FL so voting as absentee resident is illegal!

Trump already agreed NOT to live at MarLargo: Club status in question.

Trump withholds virus money from MI for sending out ballots: Is it legal? NO!

Hackers use our SS numbers to claim unemployment for employed folks: state loss

Fake car dealers/shippers take money up front for low-cost cars: Not real cars

Currency scams are old: people still fall: Check reliable sources: EG: Dong Dinar

Now time for Gold? buy at high prices guarantees a loss in time.

Class-action suits to recover your prepaid expenses: gym, airlines, events, etc etc etc

Scammers use church lists to ask for money in name of clergy: folks never check clergy

Scammers use fake photos to mislead, confuse and make us do stupid things. Putin?

How to verify a (conspiracy) theory is true: trust researchers; less biased? fake news?

NJ dispels fake news rumors and disinformation C-19 plus phishing, malware, fraud loan

Trump family caught scamming poor and vulnerable teens looking for biz opportunity.

Real estate buyers with cash wait for sellers to cut prices: low mortgage rates

CEOs Are Cutting Millions Of Jobs Yet Keep Their Lofty Salary and Bonuses: Bailouts

Merrill Lynch caught unregistered exec runs brokerage unit: fine, no suspension

Morningstar Ratings caught failing to separate analytical function from sales/marketing

Jobs

James Cash Penney closing some stores: Apple retail head failed to upscale it.

Priest uses holy water squirt gun to bless cars as they drove by. Really??

Obama on our future: We have to make it.

Pier 1 closing its doors forever, shutting down 540 stores after failing to secure a buyer 

Who owns your account now?

$15 T-Mobile unlimited plan has a surprise

Eviction protections? State and Fed help may save you

Money market funds close as rates too low to support fees: low-cost funds benefit

Miracle:

Nasal swab tests less accurate: through the nose into the throat. The kits will cost $135. 

Potential vaccine generated an immune response similar to that in people who recovered.

Some feel virus is a sign that we have lost our humanity: Changes must be made.

Free financial advice legit planners volunteer: https://www.napfa.org/hub-for-help

More clerical child sex abuse lists in Poland: John Paul’s legacy has been stained forever.

Is treating yourself smart Hydrox pills can trigger serious cardiac side effects Pence not on pill.

Virus reopening getting restaurants to clean bathrooms, finally.

Antarctica: snow turning green from climate change

IAN

41 Watchung Plaza, B242

Montclair, NJ   07042

973.746.2014

www.InsuranceAdvisorsNetwork.com

Alerts 

Financial industry BIG LIE

Financial industry BIG LIE

Many investors still believe their advisor broker or agent charges NOTHING. Among mutual fund investors, 32% believed they do not pay fees or expenses, according to new study. The survey showed that 46% of the participants mistakenly think that the past performance of an investment is a good indicator of future results. Since investing is not taught in school, the only source of information is the industry’s sales people. They have a vested interest in keep us dumb about investing and how they get paid just as doctors don’t tell patients they are paid to push certain drugs. And the industry has convinced us that we have enough information to make good decisions. Sites that offer contrary information about sale of financial products like BrokerCheck or Investor.gov are hardly used. Most investors don’t realize how much they pay for bad advice over their lifetimes. The average investor earned just 3.79% vs 11% from a low-cost market index fund and that over 30 years, they give up 63% of their potential earnings.

Avoid the BIG LIE: https://www.amazon.com/Lies-Financial-Advisors-Told-alternatives/dp/1478281545

Do we really need an advisor now?

‘Next Decade Will Bring the Demise of Hundreds of Advisory Firms.’ This was the topic of one recent advisor conference. The industry has changed. Commissions are lower or $0. Low-cost fund firm Vanguard is growing faster than any other fund firm. Brokerage firms are bought by banks or consolidating. Many firms are eliminating smaller accounts. Their wealthy clients are going into art, private debt, and hard assets. Our life stages have changed and so we will need ‘lifestyle counselors.’ Technology has changed the way we invest and manage our money. We don’t need a sales person to tell us how to make money. Most people understand that costs are important in the long run to retire. Over time, whether we use a 401k or advisor, we waste up to 63% of our total potential accumulations in fees, commissions, trading, timing schemes. Instead, we can answer our own questions of how to invest and manage money.  

We use Warren Buffett as our money coach: https://www.amazon.com/Warren-Buffett-Your-Investment-Advisor/dp/1518690963

Are the new leveraged and inverse exchange-traded funds right for you?

Brokerage firms are proposing that the SEC allow them to sell the “riskiest” ETFs. However, some of the ETF industry's most controversial products come with a caveat that could doom them to irrelevance: brokers must document whether investors understand their risks. Since many traders love the potential of huge gains, wirehouses have a huge potential market of buyers. But how will they prove we understand we could lose more than we bet? Leveraged products use derivatives to boost their returns or move in the opposite direction to their benchmarks. While these strategies can mean big bucks, they can also amplify losses, especially for the less experienced ‘players.’ Historically, the average investor earns only 3.79% instead of the market index return of 11% because they lose as much as they gain. As one analyst put it: "Anything new that is coming in at the margins will likely aim for something more esoteric, more gimmicky." These products have been banned for 10 years for a reason. Casinos offer thrills for less.

Earn 11% not 3.79%: https://www.amazon.com/Win-Investment-War-Earn-11-Not-3/dp/1522916369

Our incomes barely budged in 50 years

The average real (after inflation) annual income after taxes and transfers has edged up a meager $8,000 since 1970, rising from just over $19,000 to just over $27,000 in 2018. By contrast, among the top 1 percent of earners, average income even after taxes and transfers has tripled since 1970, rising by more than $800,000, from just over $300,000 to over $1 million in 2018. This is why we can’t afford a decent retirement fund, college for the kids, or even a home, in recent years. The money we earned for the American Dream got sent up the line to the bosses and owners: the top .01 % has increased their incomes nearly sevenfold, from just over $3.5 million to over $24 million. Their taxes went down to 17% while ours went up to 33%. The wealthy have screwed us all and the Dem’s plans to raise taxes on income or wealth will fail just like in the past.

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

Are the new mobile trading apps right for you?

Apps from Charles Schwab, Wells Fargo and Edward Jones all earned high marks from users relative to the rest of the brokerage industry according to J.D. Power. Our question: do we earn more money by having the ability to trade securities at our finger tips? Fast trading is usually what leads to greater losses over greater gains. With computer trading and order execution by full-time geeks, is it really possible to beat Wall Street workers? Impulse buying is a marketing tool of the grocery industry. Historically most us fail to beat the lowly market index. Warren Buffett recently proved this again. Trading by click could be the equivalent to playing the lottery every week—spend $1,000 win $750.

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

What is a ‘safe’ investment strategy?

In one day, I received three totally different messages from so-called “professional” Wall Streeters on the future of my investments. It’s no wonder we investors are always paying the WRONG advisor. Thing is, NONE of them know what will happen. When I worked in the industry, the expensive suits on the top floor had to come up with new reasons for our clients to buy or sell every week. As one veteran confessed, “we don’t make any money unless there is activity.” So Citi says stocks. Bloomberg says risks ahead. One says Recession: ‘Get into cash.’ Another says No recession. Whatever your advisor recommends doesn’t matter by next month so the best strategy is to stay in a diversified portfolio like the top 10 from low-cost Vanguard and don’t pay fees for ‘advice’ (guessing is more accurate). Hey, you are the one taking all the risks and paying the fees, charges, commissions.

Earn 11% not 3.79%: https://www.amazon.com/Vanguards-Top-Ten-mutual-funds/dp/150073909X

Convert your IRA to a Roth and leave a TAX FREE legacy

When you take out IRA money after you reach 70 ½ years, you can pay tax as you are required to do and pop the amount up to $7,000 into your Roth IRA with a child or grandchild as beneficiary. It grows Tax FREE until you pass and becomes your legacy without the taxes you, nor they, pay. You can even change the owner later on so this cash build up over the years is not counted in your estate. Since you are forced to take this money out as your RMD each year, you create an estate for them without ANY tax to them: Perfect reminder of your generosity.

Create a legacy: https://www.amazon.com/What-your-RMD-much-spend/dp/1718946716

Best holiday gift for your young person—lasts a lifetime

Your child or grandchild could have a $2,000,000 Wealth Reserve providing tax-FREE income later in life. Your annual or monthly gift could provide your favorite child with real “social security:” their own tax-FREE money fund. You help them take advantage of the miracle of compounding. Put $250 a month ($3,000 a year) in a low-cost stock index fund earning 11% and watch it explode: moneychimp.com/calculator/compound_interest_calculator.htm. Your gift becomes a $1-2,000,000 Wealth Reserve. You could reduce your taxable estate by up to $500,000 for each child. Your child or grandchild may NEVER have to pay taxes on the money either if you use a Roth IRA. Social Security will exhaust its reserve fund in about 2034, according to 2018 projections. Every year you delay helping them with a gift costs your favorite kid $100,000 later.

Start giving this holiday: https://www.amazon.com/Give-your-Child-Grandchild-2000000-Lifetime/dp/1456433105

Is ‘bundling’ auto and home insurance right for you?

First, since insurance companies like Progressive use this as a marketing tool, you need to check it out for your situation. You know it is a great deal for insurers since they push it. Second, they claim to save you money on the total premium but this can be bad for you. Their ‘bundle’ of policies may not cover what you need. Example: I had an oil tank in the ground for oil-fired steam. When I tried to bundle with my auto, all insurers refused. My home insurer grandfathered my coverage from a previous home and I have over 40 years with them. Third, if you have a lot of claims on your home and a perfect driving record, one ‘rap sheet’ will hurt your total premium. Better look for separate coverage. Fourth, insurers count your credit report with different weights. Bad credit means bad driving and home care behavior to some of them. Shop separately to compare your best deal. Remember that insurers are NOT your friends—they hate paying claims.

Shop every two years for auto: https://www.amazon.com/Vehicle-Insurance-Beware-Double-Coverage/dp/1480027634

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

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

Bulling a 16 year old because she won and he didn’t

Trump is NOT above the law. Trump can’t obstruct justice or use his position to enrich himself. Big Con

Trump calls FBI ‘scum’ for investigating his mob’s contacts with Russians.

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

Live in TX? Trump is going to take your home for WALL: no 2^nd Amndmnt for homes.

Judge tells Trump NO, can’t build WALL with military money for other purpose.

Wasted $133 billion constructing and then bombing Afghanistan: created corruption?

Boeing and FAA ignored clear signs 737 was dangerous: self-inspecting kills people

What kind of government puts children in cages separated from their parents?

Arming Space Force to fight wars in space: WWIII by remote control built by Boeing

Here are the folks who actually write the laws of this country: Example: Citibank

Trump vowed to change Medicare to negotiate drug prices: Drug cos pay GOP!

Trump still holding up $20 million for Ukraine: waiting for dirt for 2020 election?

SCAMS/SPINS:

Supremes help Trump hide his Russia money-laundering through Deutsche Bank

Trump’s vigilantes build his WALL illegally: Prez can give pardon to any criminal!

Trump raises fees for info on our immigrant forbearers to destroy our real histories

Insurer lures young annuity buyers by invoking parents' financial woes: fear-buying

Regulators let money manager hide ETF portfolios, including exotic items: buyer beware

Credit card debt hits 10-year high: “This is well-managed delinquency,”

Marcus Boggs caught stealing $2 millions: “very charming”

Jefferies brokerage caught mishandling ADR foreign securities: $4 million settlement

BitClub Network ran Ponzi scheme for fake $722 million cryptocurrency ‘miners’

Money buys Elections: Bloomberg, Trump, Biden, Putin, Soros, etc: Facebook profits

Medicare Advantage premiums for 2020: 23% lower than they were for 2018!

Boeing pays $3.9 million for killing 346 people in planes they knew were unsafe

Boeing forcing NASA into another cost overrun project: prop up failed 737.

Trump claims a higher property value to get loans and a lower value to get tax break LIE

Trump concerned how we flush toilet/wash hands: Giuliani makes Ukraine waste line.

Saudi pilot trainees led the 9/11 attack also: Trump defends Saudis after this Saudi attack

FBI knew foreign radicals could buy guns just by having hunting license: ISIS told Saudi

SCAM: ‘Save’ by switching gas/electric utility: but who to call if wires down/gas leak?

IRS makes tax prep more complicated to help paid preparers: Added 6 Sch to 1040.

Who owns your account?

CA banned medical surprise billing: protects people from bills of docs out of network

Jobs

Moving to avoid high state/property taxes? Consider wisely avoiding $10,000 cap SALT

Don Jr citing all the attacks on the Trumps, kills endangered argali sheep in Mongolia

Baseball player wins 7 year contract for $245 million: Avg Team revenue $330 million

Miracle:

Global warming: CA gets historic 75 foot wave—lucky at low tide but next time?

Boston bomber claims trial 6 years ago not fair: killed/injured 280 people: hated US

Atlantic coast will move 1 mile or more in our lifetimes: where is your home?

ObamaCare mandate actually saved lives by forcing states to offer coverage

IAN

41 Watchung Plaza, B242

Montclair, NJ   07042

973.746.2014

www.InsuranceAdvisorsNetwork.com

Alerts 

Is converting IRA to Roth IRA right for you?

Is converting IRA to Roth IRA right for you?
Pro: your future income is tax-FREE. Con: you pay taxes now on the amount you convert. Even with lower current income tax rates, you still pay taxes at your income tax bracket, not at capital gains rates. Converting is a good move if you are early in your career and don’t have a large IRA. Converting is a bad move if you have a sizeable IRA and your tax rate will be lower in retirement. You may not need to convert if your employer now offers a Roth 401k. So instead of getting the break on taxes now you may have a HUGE break on all the compounded earnings over the next 20-30 years. Since you do not pay tax on the earnings later nor the contributions anytime, you could retire early. If you don’t need this money for income, Roth accounts go tax-free to heirs. A regular IRA inheritance is taxable at the heirs’ income tax rate. Even if you can’t contribute directly because your income is too high, you can make non-deductible IRA contributions and then convert to a Roth so that your future gains are tax-FREE. Another attractive option is to buy no-dividend stocks and then sell off when needed in retirement. The capital gains tax is less than income taxes and when left to heirs, there is no tax. Heirs receive your gift tax-free due to the “stepped up basis” rule.

Roth IRAs make a great gift for your grandchild too. Roth funding even from their early teen job income means they will have a tax-FREE retirement.

Plan for Tax-FREE: https://www.amazon.com/401k-IRA-Tax-FREE-Tax-Deferred-retirement/dp/1475057938

Is an HRA right for you?

New rules provide a hint of Trump’s new and “something terrific” health insurance plan announced June 18. The new plan won’t actually be available until 2021 but the promise may be enough to sway some voters. The new health reimbursement arrangements (HRAs) rules make individual markets purchase of a policy more attractive to businesses. Thus a small business does not need to provide health insurance—it can just give pre-tax dollars to employees so they can shoulder the responsibility of finding/paying for a policy. Any unused portion of the HRA in one year may be carried forward to subsequent years. If certain rules are followed, neither employer contributions nor employee reimbursements from an HRA are subject to income or employment taxes under federal law. The old rules excluded premium payments with HRA money. Employers will have an incentive to dump ‘at-risk’ employees to fend for themselves in the individual market. Thus young and healthy employees are encouraged by their employers to use the HRA plan and buy stripped down health plans. Older and sicker employees would be given untaxed money to help them purchase whatever plan they could afford. Thus the new TrumpCare plan of 2021 can claim to be ‘something terrific’ for most employees in that they can buy whatever coverage they prefer. They have the ‘freedom’ to make the ‘choice’ to buy incomplete insurance. If an accident required more care than their plan was scheduled to pay, they would be forced to declare bankruptcy because they made the ‘choice’ for that plan. Thus everyone COULD have ‘something terrific’ for health coverage or choose to go bankrupt.

Will voters pick a candidate based on their need for adequate health insurance?

SEC ruling now puts the burden on us to ask about advisor ‘conflicts’

The new industry-friendly statement shifts the burden to us regarding broker/advisor ‘conflicts of interest.’ In its final version of Form CRS, the disclosure document that will be given to retail investors, RIAs (advisors) will be required to say, “When we act as your investment adviser, we have to act in your best interest and not put our interest ahead of yours. At the same time, the way we make money creates some conflicts with your interests. You should understand and ask us about these conflicts because they can affect the investment advice we provide you.” WOW. Instead of our broker/advisor having to disclose their conflicts, we must ‘understand and ask them’ about ‘these conflicts.’ WRONG! We can’t ask how they conflict with our interests if they are not disclosed. How can we know about the sales contest for a Hawaii vacation if we buy their product? How do we know about the firm’s soft dollar rewards for buying the expensive mutual funds? And how could investors know they are getting a deal that reflects ‘MY best interest’? Mutual funds can cost 0.05% or 9.86% per year and annuities can cost 0.1% or 10% and sales fees can be 5% upfront or 0.75% for 30 years (22.5%). Which would you sell if you were a broker/advisor making a living from other people’s money?

Costs matter: https://www.amazon.com/Best-Predictor-Investment-Success-Cost/dp/1502524082

Need a graduation gift?

The greatest gift you can give is financial knowledge. No matter how much your young graduate makes, it is up to YOU to show them the Buffett investment strategy. Make sure they can make and manage money. At my first job, I had no clue which investment to use for my 401k contributions and company match. The HR person told me to put it into the 'safe' stable value fund. That was the worst choice at my age I learned later when I got my securities’ licenses. If I had followed their advice I would have ended up with about $150,000 instead of a Wealth Reserve of $877,233 about 33 years later.

YOUR choice: https://www.amazon.com/Give-child-leg-up/dp/1096505355

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

How Govt wastes our money: Congress spends $1.3 Trillion we don’t have! 

Multiple election security bills are dead: killed by Senator McConnell: Putin’s hackers!

“Article II allows me to do whatever I want.” “with Advice and Consent of the Senate”

Trump claims his 2020 loss: “Market Crash the likes of which has not been seen before!”

Strike Iran then not strike Iran: Bolton, Pompeo, Haspel for war but they’re too old to go

Govt report: we don’t know how to handle money: mandate college financial course?

Kids are to be interned in World War II-era Japanese American concentration camps.

Millions to be deported but home country must give ‘travel paperwork’: internment.

Trump EPA to go ahead with catastrophic warming of the planet. Increase, not reduce C

SCAMS/SPINS:

Art of the ‘bad’ Deal: Buying bad land for another golf place turns into HUGE tax deduct

“Do you think the people would demand that I stay longer? KEEP AMERICA GREAT”

Israel/Syria: Golan Heights town renamed "Trump Heights" 

Computer Win 10 fake pop up ads & ransomware allowed by MS

‘Facility fee’ new bogus charges for any medical procedure, even if no ‘facility.’ 

Trump’s ‘Protection’ Bureau gives debt collectors green light to harass by any means.

Trump cuts 70,000 from health care: will we vote our health care needs 2020?

Trump’s convicted felon, Manafort, moved from Rikers to comfortable

Stephen Bratton TX Baptist clergy caught sex abuse on teen multiple times: bond

Brokers screaming ‘fire fire’ as NJ regulator plans to require putting client interest first.

Ways to cheat on taxes for the wealthy: IRS doesn’t have auditors to catch them.

Head ‘phone hooks’ growing on younger people who use phone hands-free often?

CA: arsenic in our ‘pure’ ‘spring’ water—drink filtered tap. Cancer water costs more!

Investors in a event-rental space in Carmel IN lost $6.2 mil promised steady flow income.

Annuity earning 8%: Marketing hype to sell sales leads—“Truth is not truth”

Vermont Creates Restitution Fund For Investment Fraud Victims: Senior Scams

Kansas City Life caught overcharging customers: taking cash value they earned

Jobs:

Are you still getting low wages with the employment rate low? Won’t get better than this

Average employer 401(k) match reached 4.7% this year: new high will last?

Highest salary cities/regions shift from auto makers to digital makers: things to processes.

Employers use unique ways to pay student loans for employees: get smart

Wages are going down for most: lower than in 1968 with inflation we can buy much less.

Trump threatened TIME reporter with jail: Not fake news—on tape.

Who owns your account now?

Drug prices in Canada: $1,200 or $12,000? Why Americans must travel for health!

Where did your broker or advisor go—the industry changes quickly now.

Facebook currency is NOT for you unless you have to pay off criminals.

Miracle:

Baby left in forest is alive: Outlawing choice for women in GA does not stop intercourse.

IAN

41 Watchung Plaza, B242

Montclair, NJ   07042

973.746.2014

www.InsuranceAdvisorsNetwork.com

Alerts 

We have 15 years to make up for 25% cut in SS benefits

We have just 15 years to prepare for 25% cut in Social Security

The SS Trust Fund will be depleted in 2034 according to the 2017 Report: https://www.ssa.gov/OACT/TRSUM/tr17summary.pdf. “The Trustees recommend that lawmakers take action sooner rather than later to address these shortfalls, so that a broader range of solutions can be considered and more time will be available to phase in changes while giving the public adequate time to prepare.” We should not wait for our reps to do something since none of them need SS benefits. Most are millionaires. Our SS benefits are already taxed, depending on our incomes so the tax will be increased. The current FICA tax will likely be increased too so we will have less take-home pay. Our reps did not ‘reform’ the tax code that allows those earning above $127,200 to avoid FICA. So the Trust Fund deficit could be fixed by taxing everyone but this is not likely after they just cut taxes on their rich and donor class. We have 15 years to invest.

Make up for the 25% cut in your benefits: https://www.amazon.com/Trump-Tax-Shelter-Avoid-taxes/dp/1985448300

Low-cost meds under attack: we need single payer system

Generics cost little to make so profits are low. Good for us if we had a single payer system which bought huge quantities in bulk at cost. However, the current system works on high margins for a few drugs that are featured 24/7 on TV. Also large makers bribe doctors to push new drugs to patients. Largest generic drug maker has laid off 14,000 workers, closed 40 plants and others are folding. Four middlemen orgs buy as coop and jack up prices for additional profits. This is where a single payer would keep prices low by replacing the ‘middlemen’ to buy direct. EpiPen price increase to $300 gives the opposite impression to us. Single payer systems around the world buy direct and pay 40-50% less for same drugs. Medicare, the largest buyer of drugs, was outlawed by drug lobbyists in Washington from negotiating bulk rates. Contrary to drug maker propaganda, US patients DO NOT receive better care thus living longer than single payer countries.

Buy low-cost health care: https://www.amazon.com/Health-Insurance-ONLY-right-policy/dp/1480125083

Help your graduate get started on their Wealth Reserve

The number one regret that I hear from clients is “Why didn’t I start investing earlier.” Perhaps it was because no one learned about compounding in high school so they blew their first good paycheck on cars or wild parties. Why didn’t we learn this chart in school: http://www.saferchild.org/power/. By investing $2,000 a year for 8 years before age 26, we transform $16,000 into $1,000,000. And now a young person can have $1 million tax-FREE thanks to an IRS trust. How does it work? Each year you earn an average of 10% on all your contributions and earnings from previous years. So by age 30, you would have over $36,000; by age 40 $95,000; by age 50 $247,000; by age 60 $707,000; and by retirement $1,000,000. Actually if you kept it going by withdrawing $100,000 a year you would still have about $1 million. Of course, in 40 years, your $1,000,000 would have the purchasing power of about $250,000 due to inflation. However, you and your employer may be funding a 401k or IRA also.

Give them the miracle of COMPOUNDING: https://www.amazon.com/Best-Robo-Advisor-Ultimate-Automatic-Management/dp/1537111957

Is ‘factor based investing’ right for you?

Our industry has come up with another way to excite the sales force to sell a new concept in order to move your money (more fees) to something new—almost anything new. This term has become popular with the advent of ETF or an index that can be traded daily to increase fees. Factors are the underlying exposures that explain and influence an investment’s risk. For example, the underlying factor affecting the risk of a broad market-cap-weighted stock portfolio is the market factor, also called equity risk. That is, we can consider market exposure as a factor. Instead of holding the largest company stocks in an index over time, the idea is to customize a portfolio so your advisor convinces you that they can control more or less risk of declines. A cool idea but no one has proved this can work over time. Advisors like to compare their new ‘power’ to control risk by claiming it is like your genetic predisposition to specific diseases. Factors that they think they can use to customize your investment outcome are “Market, Value, Size, Momentum, Low volatility, Term Credit.” I would call these items ‘influences’. Most of this is common sense but the identification allows advisors to sell you on the idea that they know which ETF is best for you. They don’t because no one knows the future; just the past.

Keep it simple for best results: https://www.amazon.com/Vanguards-Top-Ten-mutual-funds/dp/150073909X

“How much do I have to invest” is the most common question

Many people ask me this question. As you might imagine, “It depends” is the answer. It depends on your goal and your age. If you want to accumulate the most you can and you are in your 20s, 10% of your gross income will provide an adequate sum. Assuming average income of $30,000, $3000 a year for 40 years may provide $1.6 million or $400,000 in today’s purchasing power. If we start later, we need higher amounts to hit this goal because it takes time for compounding to work and create wealth. It takes $5,000 for 30 years to hit $1 million or $400,000 (inflation-adjusted). If we only have 20 years for compounding to work, we need $15,000 a year to hit $1 million inflation-adjusted $600,000. Assumes inflation 3%; stock market index 11%.

Add 25% bonus with Tax-FREE wealth: https://www.amazon.com/Tax-FREE-Wealth-How-laws-free/dp/1475089236

Has your advisor been preaching an “Advice-centric” experience?

Advice-centric experience is not what clients are looking for. Rather we want what might be called client-centric exploration. Advisors should take the time to find out what you are thinking and feeling before they start rolling advice at you. My industry is finally acknowledging that people don’t want just things: transactions—securities, insurance, annuities, package products, etc—thrown at them. Forget the lingo and the ‘sizzle’ wow talk. What people want are solutions that are “best for them” in their situations, now and later. Our industry has harmed a lot of people with its business model. It is a sales ‘killer’ culture. Most security sales people wouldn’t know what is “best for the customer” even if they were their own customer! Most don’t use direct-to-consumer manufacturers so they don’t know “the best” “low-cost” products. Financial firms are sales firms and the sale is what makes the “world go round” for them. This is why the “Fiduciary Rule” was killed at their request by Trump. The rule goes back to English Chancery law when a prominent person (trustee) had to act for another’s benefit with no conflict of interest. Most advisors can’t ‘put themselves in your shoes’ but at least they could explain their conflicts and all the costs of the product. But that would require a non-sales culture.

Use the best firms that follow the Rule: https://www.amazon.com/Fiduciary-Rule-BEST-dont-anymore/dp/1530980275

****************

Make America, “The Don” Great Again

The Path to Dictatorship

“I have absolute right to do what I want with the Justice Department”

‘I’m the only one that matters’ Mob Boss, Nov 3, 2017

Loyalty to The Don above country. Treason? Above the Law?

Trump to refuse to answer special prosecutor’s questions: Above the law?

FBI finds answers in ‘The Don’s’ consigliere’s office/home/hotel

“I have nothing to do with his [Cohen] business”

Trump thinks FBI subpoena on lawyer is “Attack on our country”

(Dictators often have delusion they themselves ARE their country)

Comey says Trump ignored intelligence community message ‘we are under attack.’

Treason is ‘giving them aid and comfort within the United States’

Putin’s influence: Manafort, Flynn, Gates, Page, Stone, Papadopoulos, Sater, Zwaan  jailed, Prince, Jr, Jared, Sessions, Cohen, etc 

Putin controls US power utilities and 21 state voting files, Trump slush fund, etc

Russian SS has ‘pee’ tape of Trump

Trump lied about time making ‘pee’ tape. “My head never hit a pillow” he admits.

“The election is going to be rigged—I’m going to be ‘honest’” 

GOP voter suppression a success: Dems lost because poor don’t have new ID.

Could Trump postpone Nov 2018 election using excuse of Putin meddling needs fixing?

GOP controls 31 state houses

(Dictators in some countries start their régimes that way!)

************************

How Govt wastes our money: Congress spends $1.3 Trillion we don’t have!

Trump’s immigrant hate is killing next generation’s innovation and entrepreneurs.

Trump’s EPA told to ignore science for clean air and water

Trump pushes global arms sales for Lockheed not global peace.

Trump’s ‘Gestapo’ asked to stop invasion w/o warrant by NY Cuomo. Citizens held 3 yrs

Military losing its landing sites around the world to ocean: Trump bans report.

SCAMS:

Giuliani tells Trump he can negotiate end to Russia-Trump election conspiracy quickly

Airline reg about full pricing to be cancelled so we won’t know full price till booked.

Daniel Glick, Orland Park, IL, caught stealing $5.2 million by wire fraud: jail 12 years.

Hannity is one of his despised “LearJet liberals” too: Gulfstream 200 at Farmingdale LI

Trump to end our access to complaint data about companies we use for loans—fraud OK.

EPA Pruit explains why lobbyists’ money rules American government

Trump’s propaganda lowers US free press ratings: Twitter refuses to show acct owner

Fox Friends had to cut off Pres rant after ½ hour of blaming everyone else for woes.

Jobs:

Online computer science degree GA Tech $7,000 gives you a chance at $70,000.

Hot jobs starting at $76,000 https://howmuch.net/articles/there-are-the-hottest-jobs-in-us-2018-lots-of-opening-and-dream-salaries

Ford exits car business: Crossover, Mustang only so needs only HALF US workforce.

Who owns your account now?

Is there a browser that separates business from individual email platforms?

Who owns the land that climate change has made into the ocean--Mar Largo wash away?

Amazon can deliver to your car with encrypted authentication process to open it? Steal?

Lost SS card? Free replacement online at https://blog.ssa.gov/1-million-social-security-replacement-cards-and-counting/

Can we trust Ari Melber to explain the legal case against POTUS?

Miracle:

James Shaw Jr takes AR 15 away from terrorist so he won’t reload and kill everyone.

Afgan vet gets first ever operation restoring his privates

IAN

41 Watchung Plaza, B242

Montclair, NJ 07042

973.746.2014

www.InsuranceAdvisorsNetwork.com

Alerts