Avoid preventable money mistakes

 

Losing money? Avoid preventable money mistakes

If you have experienced a virus-related event—job loss, health issue, family member care, etc—you must now regret overspending. When things are going well, we often forget about that emergency fund we planned to create. We may get in trouble through no fault of our own. Counseling for financial debt is available from reputable non-profits. Consider all the alternatives before you bury your future by taking out money from any long-term investment plan. You can’t get back the time, the creator of the miracle of compounding. If you have overwhelming debt, consider bankruptcy to get a fresh start. No one knows but your attorney. You can keep your retirement accounts, car, house, etc. Your friends and advisor don’t have access to counseling resources. Advisors are trained to sell products not to get you out of debt, find a job, help with health care, etc. 

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

 

Why can’t US control health care costs?

With Trump’s Supremes in power, Americans may never gain affordable health care. Trump has already said that the GOP will end ObamaCare and Medicaid. The virus has caused millions to lose coverage linked to their jobs. A recent study exposes the aggressive pricing by mega-hospital systems that have gained enormous market power through widespread consolidation. It shows that employers in many states are paying much more than Medicare prices for hospital services. WV, TN, SC and FL systems average 340% of Medicare prices. Employers may soon have to jettison coverage for their workers since they are paying much more than Medicare does. If everyone was on Medicare reimbursement, health care firms could not accumulate the huge profits and reserves they have. Consolidation means CEOs and their minions can take $ millions each in salary and bonus. They control pricing and claims-paying standards. They pay (lobbyists) $ millions to slant the decisions in Washington. “Private insurers pay its hospitals four times what Medicare reimburses for care” in some regions. Even for underpaid teachers, the cost is overwhelming. One education client, earning under $100,000, pays premiums of $8,779 + $4,000 deductible/co-pay + the employer pays $28,164 for in-network coverage for two. The insurer even stopped covering the ‘free’ mammogram and colonoscopy screening in 2020. Finally, the quality of care in the US is ranked lower than other countries. For-profit health care systems hurt the American middle-class.

https://www.amazon.com/Health-Insurance-ONLY-right-policy/dp/1480125083

  

Did researchers find Warren Buffett’s secret?

A study may have cracked the ‘Buffett Code’ — Berkshire Hathaway’s ‘secret sauce.’ Over time, Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway’s stock rose at an 18.6% annualized pace, versus 11.8% for the S&P 500. Buffett owns stocks like Coke and whole companies like GEICO and BNSF railway. He is known for his “buy and hold” strategy as opposed to Wall Street’s buy high and sell low. Buffett’s purchases usually include undervalued companies (when he bought them) and high dividends and few competitors due to their competitive advantage. Few other master investors can claim 55 years of 18.6% returns for shareholders. We might be wise to take his advice.

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

 

Other ways the wealthy avoid paying their fair share of taxes

When a wealthy person leaves heirs with $ millions and the estate pays little or no tax thanks to the GOP tax breaks for the rich, the nation suffers. The wealthy are focused on using the current lifetime exemption amounts ($11.58 million per individual). That’s more than double the amount of 2017 ($5.49 million) and ten times the amount of 2008 and before ($1 million). This means a couple can pass on over $23 millions in their lifetimes without paying any tax. Another strategy is lending money to a trust that is established to benefit heirs. The trust earns a higher return than the interest rate owed back to the wealthy grantor. Using a balloon loan (principal and interest accrue for the duration of the loan) the trust grows on a larger base. Then, the difference between the investment returns and the accrued interest accumulate estate-tax free to future generations. Another trick to avoid taxes is to leave an estate to a charity. They provide for their heirs through a gift-tax free estate. Plus they can give $30,000 a year to all the kids/grandkids without gift tax. Next, they can pay for health and education expenses for those they love without using annual exclusions or lifetime exemptions. Thus they assure their children and grandchildren of expensive health care and education. They pay no taxes for the public benefits they use: police, airports, roads, courts, hospitals, Congress people for biz subsidies, and armed forces in 70 countries to protect them on vacation.

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

 

Is America a socialist country already?

Trump accuses Biden of turning America into a socialist country. But then when it comes to giving away tax money to groups he wants to vote for him, he acts like socialist dictator. He wants us taxpayers to pay farmers $30 billions to get them to vote for him. Who else do we give welfare to besides farmers? Corporate welfare includes coal, gas, oil, banks, cars, airplanes, exporters, etc. We even give our money and troops to prop-up countries. Congress people take subsides too. A big part of our national budget goes to pay interest on the debt created to give the wealthy more money creating a greater divide with the middle class. The middle class is shrinking with 90% of the country’s wealth held by the top 1%. The only people we don’t help are low-wage workers during a pandemic—and also workers who get laid off when their employers can’t reopen. Our millionaire reps in Washington decide workers who need help will not go back to work if we help them. And finally, our central bank is buying up (creating our future taxes) the debt of troubled companies to keep their lobbying CEOs happy. Wall Street takes the profits. Most unbiased Americans think we already have socialism—

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

 

Is CalSavers retirement account right for you?

Most working people can benefit from an https://saver.calsavers.com/ account. Your savings comes right from your pay. You don’t need to do a thing once you set it up. Younger people can invest in stocks or stocks and bonds. You don’t need a broker or advisor to earn up to 11% per year. This account is a Roth IRA so in retirement you pay no income tax on this money. Most retirement account benefits are taxable in retirement. You can stop it and start it anytime. Most employers in CA will offer this low-cost tool but they have no access to your money. If you leave your job, you can continue with your new employer in most cases—it is a statewide program. Automatic payroll savings is the most successful type of long-term savings plans. In fact, those who end up with the most money in their account are folks who forget they have it. You are not tempted to take out the money or to lose money by trading on someone’s advice. Think long-term!

Enjoy tax-free retirement even outside CA: https://www.amazon.com/Tax-FREE-Retirement-code-lifetime-income/dp/1475206976

 

When current yields are low, concentrate on long-term investments

Where is the best place to put our money now? Everyone wants high yields and low risk. However, the markets don’t offer such a thing. We have to think in terms of long-term and short-term. If we are investing for retirement, even if is only 10 years ahead, we invest in the only security that has shown it can provide substantial accumulations. Most of us did not learn about the miracle of compounding in school. We never learned that a basket of stocks can double in value in 8-9 years. Over our working lives, a constant investment of just $9 a day can provide over $1 million: invest $250 a month for 33 years in stocks and you can comfortably retire: invest a total of only $99,000 for a $ million.

For short-term needs, a low-cost balanced fund meets the test. Earning a steady 5-7% allows you to own an emergency fund that is better than any bank CD. Use a special IRS account and avoid taxes on your withdrawals now and later too.

https://www.amazon.com/Tax-Advantaged-Wealth-mutual-funds-Tax-FREE/dp/1481215906

 

Phrases that mean you need a new advisor

Salespeople learn specific phrases to keep the conversation going when they have nothing meaningful to say. They can’t predict the future and so they can only deal with what has happened already. This is why more investors are giving up and just leaving their money in a low-cost index fund. In fact, Vanguard just analyzed the panic factor from Feb to May and found the “panickers” earned less than those that did nothing. If you hear your advisor give you these worn out phrases, look for a new one or switch to a salary-only advisor. “Don’t Get Complacent” means only activity in your account pays their fees and commissions. “Profit Taking” implies selling is best now. "More buyers than sellers" means nothing without a price point. “The stock market hates uncertainty” means the advisor has no clue about conditions. "The easy money has been made" means you are a sucker for not trading when advised. "Earnings missed estimates" means someone guessed wrong. “Cash on the sidelines” means prices are low. "On a go-forward basis" means nothing—it is always a future guess. “It is already in the price” means no new guesses. “110%” means very very very or huuuuuge. 110% cannot exist.

You don’t need advisor for success: https://www.amazon.com/DIY-Financial-Independence-Freedom-Workbook/dp/1088908500

 

 

 

 

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

 

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

 

Philly DA: we have an “authoritarian dictator."

 

Dictator: I order “you cannot have [Biden] as your president”

Dictator: “Get rid of ballots, there won’t be a transfer”

Supremes handed Bush victory too

 

Dictator: "We were put in this position of power” to change Supremes

Dictator: ‘re-education’ camps for youth

Dictator: I will tell you which phone apps to use

Dictator: “done a very good job” only 203,000 dead

 

How Govt wastes our money: Congress gives 3.7 Trillion to the wealthy! 

In 2021, Social Security will pay out more money than it collects: Congress ignores our future

Trump’s Space Force sent 20 spacemen to Qatar to fight desert mirage? Wasted taxes.

IRS gives the wealthy another break on taxes they owe: don’t have use available assets to pay.

IRS gives business another tax break: 100% bonus on depreciation expense: write off all in 1^st yr

 

After propping up failing company bonds, Fed bank limits support for cities/states’ bonds

Congress money for masks went to defense contractors and Trump police armor/uniforms

Airlines demand $25 billion bailout: Trump to find money just before election

Biz exec boast about gov reps who take election money for influence: mic'd up

 

Netanyahu brings bags and suitcases of dirty laundry so we can clean his clothes free

 

SCAMS/SPINS:

“They are dying. That’s true. And it is what it is.”: more than Korea, Vietnam, WWI combined

 

Trump cancelled plan to send masks to all Americans: ‘masks might create panic’

Trump cancelled CDC advice on airborne virus and mask protection: going for 300,000?

Virus cases in 20 year olds now largest age group: no mask groups mutating virus strain

 

Trump’s mob now in charge of all foods, medicine, vaccine, medical devices: power play

 

Putin helping Trump: FBI tracking damage to Biden: will Americans vote Putin’s man?

No 2^nd Amendment for phone apps: Trump bans apps from American use or 20 yrs jail

Trump’s campaign head involved in money laundering: how wealthy hide money crimes

 

Trump offers Puerto Rico aid 3 years late but 1 month before election: will it even come?

Trump: “Chinese won’t have anything to do with TikTok” except they own control of it.

Research: junk health plans favored by Trump are rife with deception: You don’t get what pay for

 

Can Trump’s Supremes stop PA voters from casting ballots the way they want to?

Trump to control our 401k investments: investments in new energy source stocks limited

Fox guards henhouse: Trump’s vaccine czar owns stock in firm competing for US order

 

Brokers are 7, 8, 9 times more likely than fiduciary to sell risky volatile products: regulators

Zvi Feiner Erez Baver caught stealing $ millions Ponzi on Rosewood nursing homes

Scam: Call to verify Amazon purchase info: asks for bank info, “listening in,”

 

Lobel Financial caught charging $1,345,224 for LDW product it did not provide: fined

Milton Dosal Jr CO caught stealing from cadets with Ponzi as great stock trader: fined

Raphaelson Zimmerman Kidd WellsFargo execs caught fake account scam: fine no jail 

 

Craig Zabala NY caught stealing $4.4 million: promised profits from new firm

Steven Rodemer CO caught stealing from elderly after 40 yrs as advisor: claimed had OK

BMW caught misleading bond buyers inflated sales numbers 2015-19; fine no jail

 

Is it a scam?  Check AARP scamline 877.908.3360.

 

Check IRS: https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/dirty-dozen-part-1-taxpayers-should-be-on-the-lookout-for-these-scams

https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/dirty-dozen-part-2-thieves-work-all-year-to-scam-taxpayers

 

Jobs

Laid-off workers need new careers: recovery thru community college training needs help.

Most workers cut in pay will continue after virus: worker incomes keep falling

Early retirement offer from job: Get help to consider how it fits with your life

Despite working from home, no tax deduction for employees with w-2 income

Life insurance sales attracts jobless: candidates interviewed daily

 

62% of employers feel they are “extremely” responsible for employees’ financial well-being

 

Who owns your account now?

Save fav Ticks before Trump bans them: Dictator decides which apps you can use No 2^nd Amend

Highest rated home insurance company: quality over price

Saving your home; creative solutions: 4 million are past due on their home payments

There are worst places to retire than where you are: Feel better?

 

Miracle:

AstraZeneca’s goal is a vaccine with 50% effectiveness: we will still need masks, 6ft  

Getting a mortgage without color, sex, job discrimination: can it work for all?

Signs of climate change: Sharks are moving north. Redwood growth is slowing.

 

Pensacola under water: storm floods over and over from TX to FL: more glaciers coming

Pope Francis to parents of L.G.B.T. children: ‘God loves your children as they are.’

Miracle: Lower virus deaths in 2021? Scientists share concerns at 970,000 worldwide.

 

Sales of new homes advanced for a fourth month: highest level in 14 years: prices fell

 

IAN

41 Watchung Plaza, B242

Montclair, NJ   07042

973.746.2014

www.InsuranceAdvisorsNetwork.com

Alerts

 

Despite market correction, stocks are best buy long term

Despite market correction, stocks are best buy long term

Another study confirms Warren Buffett’s strategy. Equities have provided an annualized real return of 5.2% since 1900, compared to 2.0% for bonds and 0.8% for Treasury bills. Real returns are AFTER inflation which runs at 3%. Actually, DALBAR has tracked US stocks total returns showing 11% more recently. This includes all the corrections and recessions. Total returns includes dividends as well as changes in value. Buffett said he had been a net buyer of stocks every year since he was 11. His company owns many firms for diversification so his buy and hold strategy has returned 20% for his shareholders. Overweight certain sectors during the last 20 years has helped many investors achieve their long-term goals. Energy, Health and Tech have been especially productive. Unless you use insider information like our Congress, you need to stay in stocks. Selling high and buying low is NOT possible long-term. The so-called ‘safe’ investments are losers: 1% yield Treasuries minus 2.5% inflation = -1.5% lost value.

Use Buffett’s strategy: https://www.amazon.com/MasterClass-Buffetts-SIMPLE-Strategy/dp/1983485268

Conservatives actually love ‘socialism’

Conservatives say they hate socialism but they actually love socialism as long as they receive the benefits. Although many of them do NOT pay taxes, they receive our taxes as subsidies, grants, loans, etc. Since many of their corporations pay NO taxes and even get a tax refund from loses from bad management decisions, corporate shareholders often receive higher dividends. Tax refunds come from those of us who are taxpayers not shareholders. Many of the most profitable corporations receive tax breaks that throw the local tax burden back on us. Conservatives ‘despise’ those who receive help from government but don’t mind the welfare they receive. The wealthy use their gifts to their own charity in order to avoid taxes we can’t avoid. Congress people receive farm and gas/oil subsidies. And like candy, the rich want more tax breaks.

Our reps use Congressional information we can’t legally use to enrich themselves. They approve corporate mergers and new regulations that provide them with insider information. They don’t consider themselves socialists but yet use government regulations to favor companies they like. When they are led by industry lobbyists to reward certain companies with socialist favors, they find money in their election in-tray overnight. Industry lobbyists actually write the laws that give themselves the benefits since our reps are too busy running for re-election. And in health care, why did our reps agree to not letting Medicare negotiate better prices? Why does some bureaucratic clerk determine whether I can obtain a procedure I need? This is ‘American’ socialism.

From taxpayers to the tax avoiders: https://www.amazon.com/Americas-Socialism-Rich-little-people/dp/1535218584

MA invokes fiduciary rule ‘light’

Massachusetts’s new regulations, which take effect March 6 says investment advice and recommendations must be given “without regard to the interests of anyone but the customer.” A prominent consumer advocate, however, said the final rule had been weakened from the original version. Trump deleted the 2016 fiduciary rule which required that advisors will act like accountants not like used car salesmen. The new rule also prohibits sales contests. Other states “will wait to see how the litigation plays out” before moving ahead. MA rule is ‘light’ because its biggest change “is the extent to which they [Massachusetts] walked back the obligation to provide ongoing monitoring of accounts. Under the original proposal, that obligation would have applied whenever there is ongoing compensation or where the investor has a reasonable expectation, based on how the broker holds out and markets their services, that they will be providing ongoing services. Both were removed.”

BEWARE: https://www.amazon.com/Fiduciary-Rule-BEST-dont-anymore/dp/1530980275

Why are health care costs so high?

1% of People Account for 22% of Total Healthcare Spending. The top 5% of the health care population accounted for over half of total healthcare spending in 2017. Top 5% of people listed by all health care expenditures account for over HALF of our spending from all sources. Older whites make up most of the top 5%. Most of the expenses are inpatient care. For persons in the top 5 percent spending tier, Medicare paid for 33.7 percent and private insurance paid for 38.6 percent of medical expenses. Out-of-pocket payments for this group comprised only 5.7 percent of total expenses. Our hospital room and board for the lucky few may account for the greatest health expense to Americans. Second may be the physician specialist and their team. A recent elective endoscopic surgery in a highly rated NJ hospital counted 5 billing team members. Teams are expensive since each wants to also charge for a 5 minute ‘rounds’ visit. Costs average $3-6,000 for 2 day stay.

Shop carefully: https://www.amazon.com/Health-Insurance-ONLY-right-policy/dp/1480125083

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 money: “What the hell are we doing lending money to a guy [Trump] like this?”

Mobster getting rid of bad people; hiring those who love him: crying on our flag.

We are already in a dictatorship: Court: Congress subpoena worthless!

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

Bombing Afghans only 4 days after promising to leave. Did US expect fighters to farm?

Judge asks AG Barr why he misrepresented Mueller report to help President Trump

SCAMS/SPINS:

Bloomberg helped Opioid Kings Sacklers overcome bad PR marketing problems

Francisco Patino MI caught drug fraud $120 Mil and money laundering TV fake doc.

Gary Jones UAW caught embezzling union funds for self; defrauding gov.

Buy financials like you buy groceries: house or discounted brands have higher value.

Scammers use stolen SS to create refund: file even when you don’t need to file

Apple caught slowing down phones to sell newer ones: great trick cost $½ Billions

Toyota recalls 700,000 2013-2015, 2018-9 cars for failing fuel pumps

Annuity in estate plan: beware complications of income tax and inheritance law.

BEWARE: Broker regulator slacks off—fewer fines, bans, customer collecting.

Eric D. Lyons MA caught embezzled $570,000 using hedge fund profit promise.

Scams hit even the really smart: $400,000 con on RE mogul Barbara Corcoran

Pence, not experts, now in charge of corona since he did not “have anything else to do”

Mulvaney says that the “coronavirus is the hoax of the day" GOP has ‘hoax’ on brain.

You don’t have to go to China to catch the ‘hoax’: NWest has four new non-travel cases

Mobster’s ‘hoax’ just killed 1^st American: Pence claims “smoking doesn’t kill.” Pot smokers?

Tips to avoid the ‘hoax’: like the flu: wash and stay home; ask Pence to pray for you

GOP now blames the Pope and Hillary for the ‘hoax’: Trump blames Obama: SURPRISE.

Trump wants patients with the ‘hoax’ to pay for treatment/vaccine even if they can’t

Catholic Church sends child-abusing priests to work on children in a “host of countries”

Jobs

GM adding more than 1,200 jobs at Michigan plants: more crossovers and Cadillac cars.

Great health system: 42% of new cancer patients lose all of their life savings in two years

Medical suppliers are gauging us when we are in fear: wash hands with soap not Purell

Retire early: Time more important than non essentials; save $1,497 per month

Who owns your account now?

“I haven’t waited in a line in 10 years.” America: banana republic—elites avoid our problems

Oracle employees win 401k plan overcharge suit: few and overpriced options: stop cross-selling

3.050% mortgage: is now the time to buy/refi?

Miracle:

Trump deals with Taliban: 38,000 Afghans; 2400 Americans died: Cost us $2 Trillion

Our beaches gone: half of them could disappear by the end of the century

2 mi wide asteroid going 20,000 mph should pass us. Last one took out all but c. roaches.

February was the wettest month in Britain's recorded history

GOP-religionist Supremes to decide if we have choice on life/health issues: we choiceless

Inherited blindness treated with DNA editor: changing faulty DNA for right sequence.

IAN

41 Watchung Plaza, B242

Montclair, NJ   07042

973.746.2014

www.InsuranceAdvisorsNetwork.com

Alerts 

How to get your 401k to $100 million

How to get your 401k to $100 million

Obviously, we’re not talking about your 401(k) plan. There are limits to how much you can contribute to a typical 401(k) plan each year. But there are a few workarounds that the rich know about and participate in regularly. The best way to take full advantage of a 401(k) plan is to be self-employed. If your wife is an employee of your business, then each can contribute of up to $56,000. That’s $112,000 for the two of you. The full amount of the contribution will be tax-deductible to your business. $112,000 every year is a big tax deduction. Meanwhile, the investment income accumulating within the plan is tax-deferred. Also a Roth 401(k) allows you to hedge against future higher tax rates–a not unlikely prospect given the 2019 $1 trillion federal budget deficit. With a Roth 401(k) contribution, you’re paying your taxes now, at today’s comparatively low rates. Later when you take your retirement money, you can take it tax-FREE or let it grow. Roth distributions are NOT subject to RMD withdrawal rules. Great for your legacy.

Use your tax shelter now: https://www.amazon.com/Pay-No-Taxes-Retirement-legally/dp/1507527977

Why we can’t afford retirement anymore

A new study shows the average compensation of CEOs in the largest firms was $16.3 million in 2014, up 3.9% since 2013 and 54.3% since the recovery began in 2009. More impressively, from 1978 to 2014, inflation-adjusted CEO compensation increased 997%, a rise almost double stock market growth and substantially greater than the painfully slow 10.9% growth in a typical worker’s annual compensation over the same period. So, the CEO-to-worker compensation ratio was 303-to-1 in 2014, lower than the 376-to-1 ratio in 2000 but far higher than the 20-to-1 in 1965 and any time in the 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, or 1990s. Our taxes went up while theirs went down: More of us pay 32.9% compared with less than 20% that the wealthy pay. As Buffett pointed out, he pays only 17.7% with no tax shelter. Corporations like Apple, Google, Amazon, Boeing, and GE have overseas shelters to hide their incomes. So 2/3rds of all businesses pay $0 tax. Plus we taxpayers must subsidize many profitable businesses like oil, gas, agribusiness, air carriers, energy etc. Many aren’t even American. It is time for the wealthy to contribute to this society like they once did. We need a tax shelter too. The American Dream is fading.

Use your tax-free account: https://www.amazon.com/Tax-FREE-Retirement-code-lifetime-income/dp/1475206976

How much is $20 worth in retirement?

It is hard to visualize how quickly your money can grow when you invest in the stock market using a low-cost index fund. In a simple stock index fund like Vanguard’s 500 Index, your 401k contribution of $20 per week can grow to $400,000 by the time you need it. In 500 businesses, your $20 a week produces dividends and increases in value over time. You don’t see it in the first year but it is clear in this chart, which can be translated into a picture of what you will have in the future. When you receive a 401k company match, you can double your money for FREE. When you allow a person, be it an advisor/broker/agent to take 2% in fees and market timing, you give up about HALF what you could have had. That is because the average investor using a managed account earns just 3.79% over time instead of the S&P 500 index 11%. Using a low-cost index fund with no income taxes, you can count on more for later even when you can’t see it.

Use the Buffett strategy: https://www.amazon.com/Warren-Buffetts-Vanguard-Funds-Retirement/dp/1496148592

Why doctors prescribe higher-cost drugs than equivalents

Over half of all US doctors get money from pharma each year. Is it any wonder that we have a drug addiction problem in America? Drug makers and medical device makers are still spending between $2.1 billion and $2.2 billion a year to woo doctors into prescribing and using their products, according to a new investigation by ProPublica. Between 2014 and 2018, more than 600,000 of the approximately 1.1 million doctors in the US received at least one payment from industry in any given year. Thanks to ObamaCare, we know the payments were for things including speaking fees, consulting, meals, gifts, travel, and royalties. While thousands of doctors have made $100,000 or more, more than 2,500 received $500,000 or more in the five-year period—and those payments do not include royalties. More than 700 received at least $1 million. Our doctor may make more as a drug pusher than as a healer. Is it any wonder millions have become addicts?

Check out your doc: https://openpaymentsdata.cms.gov/

Why we need one size fits all health care coverage

People are so confused about the costs covered by their health insurance that they're avoiding medical treatment. Polygenius survey found that 27% of respondents avoided medical care or treatment because they were unsure of what their insurance covered. The annual survey found that more than 85% of respondents didn't know the basic benefits that health insurance plans must cover under the Affordable Care Act, up from 80% in 2018 and 78% in 2017. "The survey data suggest the reason people avoid care is because they don't fully understand their insurance coverage and would rather avoid a surprise bill.” For example: my provider ‘group’ sent me a bill for part of my colonoscopy. I sent them a copy of the ACA regs since I fought a bill last time and didn’t pay a dime. Didn’t matter, they put the bill to their collectors. I finally wrote the CEO of my insurer asking him to fix it. His office called and I gave them the number of the provider ‘group’ billing located in another state. They got through and Karen of ‘group’ admitted I was right and she would cancel the collection. Most people are NOT in the business and don’t know about free screening tests: that is what the ‘professional groups’ are counting on to take more money from us. Last time, a surprise bill from a guy I never interviewed for my test sent me a bill. I just sent it back and he gave up. The ‘group’ never heard of him either. Scammers know Trump will not defend ACA so they know they will not be caught/jailed

Know what you’re buying: https://www.amazon.com/Health-Insurance-ONLY-right-policy/dp/1480125083

Is an ‘online installment loan’ right for you?

Remember the bad headlines for the ‘payday lending’ industry? Many alternative credit providers soon began generating the bulk of their revenue from installment rather than payday loans. Yet the shift came with a major consequence for borrowers. By changing how customers repaid their debts, subprime lenders were able to partly circumvent growing regulatory efforts intended to prevent families from falling into debt traps built on exorbitant fees and endless renewals. Instead, families in need can borrow more than $2500 for longer periods up to 60 months. Of course, once trapped, families pay rates between 34% and 155%. Payday lenders are now better off with larger balances and more revenue than ever before the regs. Lenders pray on those hit by medical bills or a job loss. The surging popularity of online installment loans, combined with a growing ability to tap into big data to better screen customers, has helped boost the fortunes of many subprime lenders. The Trump administration’s decision earlier this year to delay and potentially weaken planned restrictions on payday lending that were announced in 2016 has also bolstered the industry’s outlook. Trump loves debt—he never pays his.

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

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

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

Elijah Cummings: We are in a fight for the soul of our democracy.

Gen “John Kelly can’t handle the genius of our great President.”

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

Trump gift to wealthy raises deficit 26%: Sending gift to tax havens: no new factories

“It feels like a horror movie”: Republicans feel anxious and adrift defending Trump.

Trump to pay the national debt of $23 Trillion: “I’m renegotiating all of our deals,…”

Trump is special!!: only 4 POTUS impeachment votes in history—end in sight.

Trump to shut govt to shut impeachment process: No hearing hall; no impeachment!

US president using high-level diplomacy to advance his personal political interests.

Trump ends ACA: states can opt for policies charging more for pre-existing; junk cover

Keystone Pipeline leak in North Dakota was shut down after about 383,000 gallons of oil

SCAMS/SPINS:

Trump offers pardon to Giuliani’s associates who collected foreign money for election?

Trump gets award for his ‘justice’?

al-Baghdadi raid: Trump tells Putin before Congress “to keep it secret.”

Senior Living Satisfaction Study: Life Care Services wins

Senior scams by lawyers, caregivers, insurers, advisors, relatives, etc

Driverless cars could actually lead to more traffic congestion

Handless car doors can kill: Doors don’t open for firemen without fop in burning hand

Sounds good, BUT Auto-braking does not work on all cars: check yours or drive self

Ram Recalls 107,898 Diesel Pickups Due to a Fire Risk

Where are the ‘middle-class’ tax benefits?: Most benefits floated to the Top 1%

And the Top wants more: World's Most Expensive Bank Limits Staff Water To Cut Costs

Stuart Nichols, AL caught churning clients for fees: ignored hearing so defrocked

Sellers of 403 457 school pensions caught high fees/deceptive sales SEC review brokers

James Edward Lyons caught selling oil gas MLP without approval: lost $3.2 million

Ronald J. Knight NY Life caught cheating reimbursement forms: defrocked

MIT caught overcharging own employees in 401k fees $18 million

Cindy Chiellini Ricky Mantei caught selling structured CDs no super. complaints

Jay Ledford caught stealing $345 million in Ponzi was sentenced to 14 years

Trump can’t even go to game: Vets for impeach; fans yell “lock him up” and booos

46% of US are still fooled by this con man: are we stupid or just dangerously desperate?

Ivanka thinks father treated poorly like Thomas Jefferson: Trump had slave children?

Congress subpoenas can be ignored: is that for everyone or just the Czar’s Chosen Few?

Jobs

Good thing robots don’t run your company: CEO/senior management is first expense cut

When everyone has a gun, the police don’t know who to shoot: Shoot--ask questions later

JPMorgan plans to move hundreds of New York-based credit-risk jobs to Plano Texas

Walgreens will shutter nearly 40% of the clinics in its stores as it cuts costs

IRS: employers can stop giving insurance for employees: instead pay workers to buy TrumpCare

Keep working longer hour--avoid wasted time at store: Amazon delivers grocery free with Prime

Trump got his own personal pastor: recruits evangelicals for political work

Boy scouts raising member fee to $60: covers sex abuse by adults but the adults pay only $36

Who owns your account now?

We lose over 50 benefits if Trump cancels ObamaCare: GOP will keep their govt plans

Payday lenders raising money for Trump’s campaign to fend off regulation

Fiat Chrysler and Peugeot owner PSA are in merger talks: Jeeps made in French Guiana?

Morningstar upgraded its ratings on nine 529 college savings plans; 8 plans downgraded

Miracle:

Another coal miner Murray bankrupt despite Trump cancels environmental regulations.

Wildfire prep kit: https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2019-10-28/california-wildfires-how-to-prepare

TB vaccine "It could save more than 600,000 lives per year" Phase 3 trials early stages. 

Man who never paid taxes and proud of it leaves NYC: Moving TrumpTower to Moscow

IAN

41 Watchung Plaza, B242

Montclair, NJ   07042

973.746.2014

www.InsuranceAdvisorsNetwork.com

Alerts

Don’t give your money to the wrong beneficiary!

Don’t give your money to the wrong beneficiary

This is the time to make sure the beneficiaries of your life insurance, annuity, IRAs, 401k, 403b, bank and brokerage accounts are correct. Many companies fail to pay the money you intended for your loved ones because they have tricks to keep it for profit. If your ‘bene’ does not know about the money or make a claim for it, the firm keeps it. You must make sure the insurer and your beneficiary has the correct information. You must make sure the person you want to get your money, gets it. For instance, MetLife and other insurance firms were caught keeping the funds due ‘bene’s because they claimed they did not know the payer had died or they failed to try to find or pay the benefits. Beneficiaries often do not know their benefactor had set up an account for them. In another case, MetLife used the excuse that they made the bene’s money ‘available’ but only in checks of $250 at a time. Since MetLife held $ millions of benefits in their general account, they made $ millions from the earnings with the bene’s money. Each state had to negotiate with MetLife for 3 years to get their citizens’ funds released. Prudential and John Hancock were among hundreds of insurers which had no interest in paying death benefits to their rightful owners. They did not use databases like the SS death record. The courts found that this was an elaborate game that has been going on for a long time and not just with life policy death benefits. Give your executor a list in your ‘final wishes’ letter saying who gets what from whom specifically.

Make sure your money goes where you want it to go: https://www.amazon.com/Your-Retirement-Spending-Plan-enough/dp/1461084016

More employers overcharge their workers on pension plans

Mutual of Omaha and Transamerica have been caught taking excessive fees from employees in their 401k mutual fund plans. A participant in the 401(k) plan of Mutual of Omaha sued the company and plan executives alleging violations of ERISA due to excessive fees and to the plan's use of proprietary funds. The company picks the funds that are available so the workers can have a successful retirement. Excessive fees means workers may not be successful. Other ‘service’ firm employees are in litigation with their pension plans: Prudential, Transamerica, Allianz, Jackson National, JP Morgan, Edward Jones, T. Rowe Price, WellsFargo, Franklin Templeton. An employee can lose up to 63% of their potential retirement nest egg by paying more than the costs of their pension plan. Employers can use plan providers that offer funds ‘at cost’ like Vanguard, TIAA, Schwab, etc. Instead they make employees-saving-for-retirement a ‘profit center’ for their own enhancement. They control the pension options, fees, wages, matching dollars.

Workers have options: https://www.amazon.com/401k-IRA-Tax-FREE-Tax-Deferred-retirement/dp/1475057938

Do you lose with Trump’s new tax law?

Some old deductions are gone. You may have to adjust your spending and saving to maintain your tax refund. Families with kids will double the credit. Perhaps your business will benefit from the new deduction of 20%. Here are examples for different income levels. States with high property taxes will cause many to change their tax filings.

Jared and The Don have already benefited from the new real estate credits. His new Opportunity Zone deal is even better for him and his friends/family. Some deductions are still possible.

Don’t leave your credits unused: https://www.amazon.com/Tax-Credit-Class-your-credits-ZERO/dp/1539462382

Advisors’ fees are NOT coming down

Advisors charging over 1.2% in fees per year have decided not to try to compete with lower-fee upstarts. Instead, they are re-naming the services offered. Advisors think we will pay more to them than the new kids in town because services are defined in terms of our individual needs. However automation of some services requires they all be the same. Automation makes a firm more efficiency and profitable. For example, some firms are lowering their minimum asset levels for more business on the assumption that new clients will be happy to pay 1.2% for the chance to see a real person on staff compared with the robo advisors. Model portfolios can easily be established for less cost than an actual hand-crafted one. Other firms are using targeted discounts to tempt clients from other firms. Claiming greater transparency in pricing services, some are trying the ‘flat’ fee approach to lure traditional firm clients away from the brokers with ‘hidden’ charges. In a sense the industry is trying to maintain high fees by creating ‘differentiation’—if I think I am getting more services with greater efficiency, I will stick with my broker/advisor. Don’t be fooled.

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

Health care fees are NOT coming down either

Americans spend more than twice as much on health care per person as their peers in developed nations, according to a new analysis from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. It's not because people in the US use more medical services. Instead, it's because drugs cost more, drug firms kill generics, doctors and nurses are paid better, hospital administration is more expensive and many medical services have higher price tags, the study found. (Today drug-maker admits to national BRIBE DOCTOR scheme creating the opioid crisis.) And paying more does not result in better outcomes unless you are wealthy. The new analysis found that the US remains an outlier when it comes to spending, which was $9,892 per person in 2016. That compares to a median of $4,033 for Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development countries in 2016 and to the $4,559 the US spent per person in 2000, adjusted for inflation.

It’s time we tried Medicare for All: https://www.amazon.com/Health-Insurance-ONLY-right-policy/dp/1480125083

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Make America, “The Don”, Great Again

Senile Psychosis or Parkinson’s delusions? quetiapine and clozapine

Truth isn’t truth, his lawyer says

Two Americas: A Banana Republic? Do we really want an infant king? Daddy Putin!

McGahn was ‘lodestar’: Told Trump ‘NO’ - saved Mueller!

J F Kennedy was 43 when he beat Nixon

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

BEWARE: Now Trump says we are not getting out of Syria. Our media is enemy now!

BEWARE: Flood area reclamation by Army Corp at risk--WALL may come from ACE.

SCAMS/SPINS:

Dictators claim National Emergency to avoid democracy: The Don builds WALL.

One Dem has guts: new rep promises to stop The Don—Congress blushes at candor!

Dictators close down gov for years and install their own puppets: The Don solution?

Citizens who live near the WALL have a much different set of facts than the Con Man.

The Don has cut funds to CA fire fighters to punish CA for not fighting fires his way!

Gov licensing of Alaska oil and gas in endangered ecosystems despite shut down.

Annuity exchanging made easy but encourages ‘churning’ to make another commission.

Daniel Todd Levine caught hiding involvement in another business

‘No Collusion’ but what about your 101 contacts with Putin’s agents: Cohen statement.

‘I never said Mexico would pay for the WALL’ OK—we don’t need the WALL!

The Mob Boss can never go to jail: Trump has Kava as Supreme so no indictment.

‘No man is above the law’ … well up till now. Dictators nullify courts first, then votes.

Supremes protect Don’s ‘Orders’? – GOP: Sure, pres can change Constitution anytime.

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Jobs:

Trump claims workers without paychecks are behind his scheme to close … for years?

Coast Guard workers told to use garage sales for income instead of paychecks.

Need an affordable city to start your life or start it anew? Low rents; higher salaries.

Who owns your account now?

Our for-profit health system is failing us: One family’s nightmare shows reasons.

Avoid premium increase in homeowner’s insurance by going thru dog training.

Miracle:

Pre-K prep programs working FOR equality of opportunity

Young Muslims are cleaning up our national parks: no pay--“It’s just what we do.”

IAN

41 Watchung Plaza, B242

Montclair, NJ   07042

973.746.2014

www.InsuranceAdvisorsNetwork.com

Alerts