GOP 'socialism': tax money to chosen few

GOP ‘socialism’

Example: Agribiz ‘will not be able to lose money’ with these subsidies. As Trump tries to scare Americans about left-wing DEMs, Congress passed the vast subsidies to large farm corporations. This is the agriculture’s bill. America’s version of socialism includes ‘crop insurance’ which provides premium subsidies to insurance companies and guaranteed prices for crops. Corporate farmers can’t lose. They can add ‘first cousins, nephews, and nieces of farmers to receive up to $125,000 in annual farm subsidies even if they are not farmers themselves.’ Corporate farms owned by those earning more than $1.8 million can funnel subsidies through other ‘pretend’ farm associates and relatives. Already wealthy agribusiness is paid to “buy up land in order to keep it dormant.” 54% of all cropland is rented so ‘landlords’ are subsidized, just like in cities. Land prices are inflated. Subsidies favor certain crops—corn gets 46%—and so the government makes certain corporations winners. According to one Rep: “Under what we have put in the bill, you will not be able to lose money, unless you really try.” Research firms are subsidized—‘stones are commodities’? Most small farmers actually receive NO subsidy. 40% of subsidies go to top 4-7% farm conglomerates, just like in Russia. Subsidies go to the more ‘equal’!

All 87 Senators voted FOR American Socialism for the Rich. Some Reps get subsidies!

It’s GOP socialism: https://www.amazon.com/Americas-Socialism-Rich-little-people/dp/1535218584

Where can you earn 9-13%?

Don’t forget to add in your dividends. Ask your broker and advisor to calculate your returns the last 10 or 12 years (including the ‘Fed bailout of 2007-8). It is your money, not theirs. Most smart money managers have most of their money in a low-cost market fund because COSTS KILL returns. Compare facts to the myth of Wall Street ‘managed’ funds: Facts: Jan 1, 2006 to Dec 31, 2018 = 9.3%; 2007-2018 = 8.76%; 2008-2018 = 9.06%; 2009-2018 = 13.96% a year. Ask your advisor to show you ALL the costs and your actual NET earnings after tax each year:
Sales Loads (including Sales Charge (Load) on Purchases and Deferred Sales Charge (Load))

Redemption Fee

Exchange Fee

Account Fee

Purchase Fee (Although the fee table in Form N-1A does not specifically include "purchase fees," if a fund imposes one, it would be included in the fee table under this heading.

In the fee table, under the heading of "Annual Fund Operating Expenses," you will find:

Management Fees

Distribution [and/or Service] (12b-1) Fees

Other Expenses

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses

Now explain again why John Bogle’s index fund is not the wise choice for most investors. And why Warren Buffett is right about hedge funds.

https://www.amazon.com/Pimps-Wall-Street-money-middlemen/dp/151525254X

Is your Advisor/Broker really ‘Acting in your best interest’?

Advisors/Brokers mislead Americans about ‘acting in our best interest.’ Two years ago, 46% of investors incorrectly believed that their financial advisor would only make recommendations in their best interest. In 2019, that statistic has risen to 65%. Most of us don’t trust salespeople whether selling used cars or financials. However, when asked about their own experience, they have become a victim of a salesperson’s strategy. Presumably once we make a commitment by giving them money, we defend our decision. No one wants to admit they made a mistake. Yet the number of frauds and ‘death by a thousand cuts’ goes higher. A salesperson is under tremendous pressure now because there are many alternatives to reach financial goals at less cost with unbiased advice. Brokers hide the total costs because they can take over 63% of your total accumulations. Only RIAs are legally required to act in our best interest. Brokers have little accountability. Trump killed the Obama Fiduciary Rule for all firms and sellers.

Don’t surrender your common sense: https://www.amazon.com/Avoid-Scams-Brokers-Advisors-Sender/dp/1726328023

Is home ownership worth it?

In today’s market, you need to ask hard questions and do your homework. Can you afford the price, ongoing costs, and responsibilities? There is really only one good reason to buy: you are able to put down roots in one place for the foreseeable future. We used to live in Manhattan—on E 7^th Street. We loved it and the rent was reasonable because the area had not yet gone ‘developed.’ We walked to work and rented a car to go out of town. However, when we had a child, we realized we could not afford to raise a child there—financially. Plus after living our adult lives in a small pre-war apartment we were tired of the lack of space, grass, air, quiet, and other unmentionables. So we did what previous generations did—we saved like mad. No more vacations, wasted impulse buys, etc. We did not stop investing in our retirement funds. We did research on where and how to live. We settled on downtown Jersey City. We could get to work on trains. We could buy a beat up 1860 brownstone and rent 3 floors—using the rent to pay the mortgage. We had to take care of tenant problems but we saw no other way. We underestimated repairs and maintenance. We spent most weekends fixing things. We had to move for better schools.

Ask for homeowners’ discounts: https://www.amazon.com/Homeowners-Insurance-Beware-False-Coverage-Policy/dp/1480100870/

Why is successful investing so hard yet so easy?

Warren Buffett gives his comments in an interview recently. Most of us are not up to analyzing or understanding everything he says but there are few takeaways that seem clear: Follow the big picture. We, including our brokers, are not equipped to judge individual companies. His advice: invest in America—S&P 500 gains have meant if you invested $1 in it over the last 77 years, it is now worth $5,000. You do nothing else. It is hard to pick the right stocks all the time. It is hard to believe that when the 500 largest stocks in America (S&P 500) go down they will go up. However, he keeps saying we must. He believes it so much he put in his Will: put 90% of my estate in an S&P 500 index fund and 10% in governments. He has invested during every period from Hoover on. He never owns more than 10% of a stock. Buffett has the money to invest in many companies. We are like Billy Beane—limited budget so we take Buffett’s advice and use the Warren stats: $1 became $5,000 over time in a low-cost S&P 500 index fund.

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

Can I pay my Federal tax bill over time?

Sure. Many have found that Trump gave everyone else a break except them. Now you and I have to pay for the corporate and wealthy tax cut. If you got caught with the property tax cap of $10,000 and other changes, you may owe. Those who got a refund last year may owe $4,000 or more. After all the average home in northern NJ is taxed at about $20,000. Many have had their traditional deductions cancelled. Your closing costs even for a reverse mortgage may be deducted. However, many other fees are not. Save on filing fees at https://www.irs.gov/filing/free-file-do-your-federal-taxes-for-free. If you owe, file by April 15 and pay what you can. Tell the IRS that you need a couple of months by filing online: https://www.irs.gov/payments/online-payment-agreement-application. Longer payment plan requires charges.

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

Is Long-term Care coverage right for you?

GE Genworth is raising the price of long-term care coverage. Sales were continuing to slow so GE is halting individual sales through brokers and going with Telesales only.  Few insurers remain in the market for traditional LTC insurance: GE Genworth, Massachusetts Mutual, Mutual of Omaha, New York Life and Northwestern Mutual.

The largest long-term-care insurers have stopped writing new business entirely, including Continental Casualty, John Hancock, MetLife and Unum Group. Some carriers sell hybrid policies—life insurance and LTC coverage together. These appeal to more buyers since their heirs receive a death benefit if the LTC coverage is not needed. More buyers have found some coverage through their employers’ group plans. LTC policies have many working parts so it is difficult to compare price and benefits.

Know all alternatives: https://www.amazon.com/Long-term-Care-Insurance-better-alternatives/dp/147006877X

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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

“The campaign -- for him -- was always a marketing opportunity.”

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

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

Trump told to give all 47,083 children back to parents

Taxpayers give $4.5 welfare to create profit for Hudson developers: Socialism?

Trump Wall costs $25 million per mile!: $18 billion total, TX lose their land!

No WALL: Smart Port of NY seized largest drug shipment in Newark NOT TX!

Trump’s America: Tax money for war—less for human needs, no infrastructure.

GOP sells its soul to the devil: Reps turn back on American people!

SCAMS/SPINS:

DEMs could fix infrastructure (schools, bridges, roads) with GOP: spend wisely.

Trump prison guards defy Congress on abusing kids they hold in camps on border.

Trump Mob illegally stopped school equality program to end unequal special ed.

High tax states have inflows not outflows--people flock together: Avoid taxes legally

irs.gov/newsroom/irs-wraps-up-Dirty-Dozen-list-of-Tax-Scams-for-2018-vigilant

Jeb Bush caught accepting foreign money too. Does anyone follow the rules anymore?

Wealthy have always bought their way into ‘better’ colleges: Trump, Bush, etc, etc

79 brokerage firms caught overcharging us for mutual funds: no fines, no jail

BEWARE: When money managers pay us to buy their products—Look out later.

Avoid-Scams-of-Brokers-Advisors-Sender/dp/1726328023

Hedge funds lose faith in quant strategies: Losses kill the trends

AZ boosts ‘junk’ health insurance: low price=low coverage for 3 years then what?

"Money Doctor" Dallas caught stealing $20 M from seniors: risk-free return ponzi. Nojail

Richard Cody, FL caught lying to clients about loss of nest eggs. Jail 2 years.

John G Schmidt, OH, caught stealing $1.3 M from elderly. Defrocked.

Fiat Chrysler recalls nearly 865,000 for pollution: owners paid for lower resale.

‘Lumber’ Liquidator’ caught lying formaldehyde-laced laminate floors: fine, no jail time.

OppLoan funds cost 99%: $4,000 loan 36 months costs $12,600. Find alternatives

Timary Delorme, Wedbush, caught ‘pump & dump’ penny stock fraud: defrocked, no jail

Embezzlement insurance: your broker has to be in handcuffs to get paid. Most pay fine.

Many colleges caught overcharging their own employees $ millions—no jail time.

Trump declares himself winner of golf tournament he never even played in! Sick Sick Sick

Trump thinks “Airplanes are … too complex to fly”: Make America FEAR Again?

Software-driven cars may kill more people than Boeing. Programmers not omniscient.

Boeing caught hiding software problems from pilots: Killed 346—“no need to know.”

GA bill to control men’s sex acts matches pro-life control of women’s

OH judges OK cuts in planned parenthood funds to control women’s sex acts.

President of all Americans wants to put Bible study into public schools—‘turn back’ time

Don: Hunchback of Notre Dame helps explain why immigrants are necessary to society.

Ivanka makes excuses for Daddy; husband trying to act with authority plays King fool.

“Individual 1” could be a Russian “asset”: Why FBI opened a file on The Mob Boss.

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:

More employers offer college savings plans: matching & payroll deduction.

Help neighbors, earn money: https://askumbrella.com/

Jobs never returned since Trump gave corporations our tax money

Who owns your account now?

News, straight from Associated Press wire service: https://apnews.com/

Don’t need credit card in Philly—law requires all stores take cash

Your ’15, ’16, ’17 tax refund awaits: $1.8B-- irs.gov/individuals/get-transcript

Miracle:

Cure from sickle cell anemia: stem cells were genetically modified to correct a DNA flaw

Indian Tribe donates all the funeral charges for 23 tornado victims of Lee Co, AL.

Parents of unvaccinated child make him suffer for months from tetanus: he recovers!

We care about inequality: 1/3 of $ Billions on GoFundMe are for medical necessities

Yet one group wastes $61 Billions tax money on stuff we don’t really need.

IAN

41 Watchung Plaza, B242

Montclair, NJ   07042

973.746.2014

www.InsuranceAdvisorsNetwork.com

Alerts

Tax-FREE retirement is winning the 'lottery'

Tax-FREE Roth 401k or Roth IRA?

If you are lucky enough to have the Roth 401k offered by your employer, you must understand the pros and cons of both Roth accounts. In both, you never pay tax on your retirement accumulations. So if you can aggressively fund your Roth 401k, you could easily reach $1 million tax free because your $100,000 total contributions over time can COMPOUND at 10% by age 67. If you can invest just $9 a day, $250 a month, you can still have $1 million tax free at age 67, you just have to start earlier. If you can’t do a Roth IRA because of limits, try a ‘back-door’ Roth. COMPOUNDING at the long-term stock market rate of 10% means your money doubles every 8-10 years. Look at the https://www.bankrate.com/calculators/retirement/roi-calculator.aspx. Most of your tax-free balance will be accumulated capital, not contributions: FREE MONEY.

Pay tax now or much more tax later: https://www.amazon.com/401k-IRA-Tax-FREE-Tax-Deferred-retirement/dp/1475057938

Winning the $1 million ‘lottery’

$1 million tax free. You can spend it all—no taxes. Usually you must pay HALF your winnings to fed and state gov. $1 million can provide over $100,000 per year for life. Everyone who plays this ‘lottery’ will win. This $1 million lottery is not awarded every week. You must wait. Each week you buy $9 worth of ‘chances.’ You don’t win every week or month but you WILL win eventually. This lottery is a sure thing eventually because you actually are buying a piece of the profits of many successful companies. Some companies make a profit every year and some make a huge profit some years. Over time the ‘chances’ you buy get more valuable. Think about all those tickets of your past losses in the drawer. They are worthless because you did not win and every week you will lose—almost guaranteed. Thank god, you have a better chance of being hit by ‘lightning’ than winning any week. This lottery is not a lottery but a sure way to own $ million worth of all the companies you buy things from—groceries, electronics, toilet paper, electricity, cars, everything. You own Apple, Google, Microsoft, J&J, Facebook, Exxon, Morgan Chase,  Disney, and more. The value of your ‘chances’ go up and the profits the companies pay buy more ‘chances’. Buy from the largest ‘chance’ seller.

Buy the lottery that you WIN: https://www.amazon.com/Vanguards-Top-Ten-mutual-funds/dp/150073909X

Are songs royalty streams right for you?
For those who have a crystal ball, buying the right to receive music royalties might be the alternative investment you have been looking for. Winning bidders typically get royalty payments on a quarterly basis, with a rate of return Royalty Exchange says is often in the double digits. The longevity of the royalty rights varies. Some royalty rights are limited to 10 years, while some offers include copyright ownership, which means the payments can last for decades. Some investors think royalties can never end. Royalty Exchange, the middleperson, launches three to five new auctions every week. Songwriters have a tax incentive for selling. Under the law, the money songwriters make from selling all or parts of their catalogs is treated as capital gains, taxed at 0, 15, or 20%. Royalty revenues, meanwhile, are treated as ordinary income, taxed as high as 39.6%. "There are people whose only real assets are their royalties," he said. "Their financial security is based around how they leverage those things."

There are better ways to receive income: https://www.amazon.com/Your-Retirement-Portfolio-Tax-FREE-Income/dp/1483994090

Does your broker/advisor live in these states?

Connecticut, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, and other states have passed laws or proposed regulations that mirror some of the federal rule's requirements to treat you with respect. Even though Trump cancelled the Fiduciary Rule—you receive advice/product that is BEST for you not for the institution—these states have or will protect you from outrageous commissions and fees, inappropriate products, and misleading information. Obama said without this law, you and I could give up thousands of dollars when we moved our retirement money (401k, 403b, IRA, pensions). My industry (financial:  http://dankeppel.blogspot.com/) can’t make $millions and $millions by giving you advise without putting our own high-cost products in front of you. In fact, most advisors and their firms don’t even carry the best products for you because they must make money to survive. Everything has changed in the last decade: discount brokerage, discount mutual funds, discount insurance, etc. My friends and I have left the old industry model.

Time you started saving:  https://www.amazon.com/Tricks-Trade-Mutual-Insurance-Annuities/dp/1535497289

Vital steps to buy a house

Don’t even look for a house before you understand the process. No use frustrating your family if it can’t happen now. Offerings and loan rates change daily. First, check your credit scores at www.myfico.com and errors at www.annualcreditreport.com. Check rates on trial amounts at your bank and then shop around at www.bankrate.com and https://www.quickenloans.com. I used them—very fast and efficient. Big banks have 10 plus people handling your loan and it takes 3 times longer. Second, find out ‘how much can you borrow?’ The final answer depends on your income and the lender, but usually it is monthly costs (mortgage, insurance, and property taxes) can’t exceed 28% of your gross monthly income. Fannie Mae increased its maximum DTI ratio to 50 percent, up from 45 percent, in July 2017. Third, the standard down payment is 20% but you may find exceptions: Federal Housing Administration or the Veteran’s Administration. Fourth, your lender may want you to pay down debt or temporarily reduce spending. If your family helps with the down payment, let it ‘age’ in your account for a few months. Now you know what houses you can afford and can ‘lock in’ a rate/terms. I used www.realtor.com and found a 2 family to help me pay for the mortgage. Timing is everything. Get your loan approved BEFORE you shop so you can pounce.

Save on insurance too: https://www.amazon.com/Homeowners-Insurance-Beware-Coverage-Policy/dp/1480100870

Is tax lien investing right for you?

Risk you must understand for this kind of game of chance. When a property owner fails to pay property taxes, the municipality in which the property is located can sell its tax lien — the right to foreclose on a property when the owner has failed to pay taxes. So you can force payment plus costs plus profit by threatening to take your neighbor’s house away and sell it. Most tax liens purchased at auction are sold at rates between 3% and 7%. If the owner does not pay you, you get to foreclose which can cost over $10,000. “It’s complicated. You have to understand the details,” according to an observer. Each state is different, so buying and collecting on a lien is how amateurs fail. Compare alternative assets like owning diversified real estate funds: REITs.

Mandate to have health insurance still exists

If you have been without insurance this year because you heard Trump cancelled the mandate, surprise—the mandate penalty is subtracted from your refund unless you qualify for various exceptions. So if you are not owed a refund for 2018, there will never be any consequences for not paying the penalty tax. Trump won’t collect it now. Trump has dismissed comprehensive coverage in his special ‘short-term’ policies. He has made buying coverage without protections easier so that he can claim his plans are “cheaper and better.” Trump does not understand—he has always had it. It is not magic—his plans do NOT cover pre-existing conditions and have payout limits. You may be denied or cancelled. You may have premium increases. Most Americans like ACA now that they have it. If you are lucky, you live in a state that maintains the guarantees of ACA. Before ACA you could buy cheap policies—they were junk and didn’t cover you when you needed it. You can’t buy insurance after you get sick or have an accident. Like car and home insurance, it is a way to share the risk of a huge loss. You pay premiums all your life for a catastrophe you hope won’t happen. The alternative is bankruptcy or destitution.

You need full coverage: Trump has it, why not us?: https://www.amazon.com/Health-Insurance-ONLY-right-policy/dp/1480125083

Consumer Reports: Most reliable vehicles

Your vehicle ratings by brand are not unusual but look closer at all brands for the type—SUVs popular still (even Porsche has one??). Some specific models were dropped from the CR list altogether. Biggest ranking drop: Honda, Chrysler, Volvo, and Tesla. Volvo is now Greely (Chinese), Chrysler is now Fiat and Tesla is still working out the kinks. Vehicles are now mobile entertainment units not transportation. If you need quality reliable transportation not TV screen gadgets, go for a 3 year old thoroughbred like 2016 Lexus or Toyota from $12,500 to $30,000.

Save with coverage discounts too: https://www.amazon.com/Vehicle-Insurance-Beware-Double-Coverage/dp/1480027634

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Make America, “The Don”, Great Again

Senile Psychosis

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

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

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

Trump breaks 1987 Reagan arms treaty to spend more on weapons of mass destruction.

GOP promises 2^nd tax break as teaser for midterm election of more spendthrift GOP.

Air Force buys $1,280 coffee cups that shatter automatically.

TX GOP closes voting sites-long lines and DEMs must take off work. Voting rights?

SCAMS/SPINS:

Chris R. Kubiakk, WI  stole $270,000 from clients’ accounts for personal use.

John G Schmidt OH caught stealing $1.6 million retirement funds from boomers.

Cash Express caught threatening loan collection it can’t make against consumers.

Christopher Faulkner, Breitling, stole $23.8 million promising oil/gas profits.

23andMe’s health reports are dangerously incomplete, geneticist says.

Cancer care marketing misleading—big biz budgets add spin for profits.

Why drug prices keep going up—It costs $200 million to stop Congress from acting.

Trump to close all borders, ports, tourism, trade—any non-white immigrants.

Trump teases his voters with another tax cut but GOP says no way. Con man fake news.

Trump to pardon Charlottesville Nazis?? Neo-Nazi caught trying to flee from law

GA to suppress votes of 1 million ‘non-matching’ voters: aims to erase non-whites.

Manafort, Trump’s tax evader-manager, suddenly in wheelchair before sentencing.

Saudis kill 100s every day in Yemen—Khashoggi is just a ‘fist fight’—hospital record?

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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.

Young lady explains what Trump means: “scary time for men.” Respect, not rape, Don.

Supremes protect Don’s mob -- Ross’s legal deposition canceled.

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Jobs:

Economy is booming but 60% of us aren’t getting the benefits: Why can’t I make it?

Income inequality factor in communities with mass killings; gun laws reduce all crime.

Who owns your account now?

Americans seem to like ObamaCare—don’t use his name. GOP still repealing 55 times.

Trump defines gender from now on: you lose free choice—no 2^nd Amendment for that.

DIY repair outlawed by GM, Deere, others: we buy it but they own circuits/algorithms.

You can’t uninstall—they own algorithms: track you after ‘uninstall’ Can’t cancel Uber.

Save $ HALF: Compare drug prices in your area: https://www.goodrx.com

Miracle:

Cancer patient gets his last pizza from …225 miles away.

Do we really want to keep immigrants out of US? We need new ‘blood’ to survive!

IAN

41 Watchung Plaza, B242

Montclair, NJ   07042

973.746.2014

www.InsuranceAdvisorsNetwork.com

Alerts

Reagan raised taxes -- protect yourself from GOP

Reagan raised taxes 11 times, ran deficits to $3 Trillion and borrowed to build

Some politicians have a short memory. Reagan did these things to keep America strong by building middle-class jobs, income and respect. He created the Department of Veterans Affairs (expanded big government), he raised the gas tax and signed the largest corporate tax increase and raised taxes to pay for government-run health care!

What did the Boehner’s House do? They give members a lot of free time to get election checks from lobbyists—we pay for “no-work” jobs.

Tax Shelter for working people: http://www.amazon.com/Tax-Shelter-Young-Americans/dp/1500426520

Self-employed can deduct almost everything

Consider a singer or other artist. Artists can claim that it’s crucial to network with other people in the business—producers and musicians around the country. That can mean that hotel or airfare is deductible, but not drinking in the back of the city’s priciest club. Anyway, it can be impossible to get entertainers to keep track of their expenses. “Everybody’s doing everything in cash,” a CPA said. “The record- keeping is not that great.” Stars’ income can be as fickle as their fans, they claim, so they don’t know how much to pay the IRS in advance of December 31. This can cause a penalty. You can avoid this penalty if you either owe less than $1,000 or if you paid at least 90% of the tax for the current year or 100% of the tax shown on the return for the prior year, whichever is smaller. 

Pay no tax in retirement: http://www.amazon.com/Tax-FREE-Retirement-code-lifetime-income/dp/1475206976

Turbo Tax blames customers for lack of security

Customer password re-use was a major cause of a spike this tax season in fraudulent state tax refund requests, Intuit said. The increase in phony state refund requests prompted several state revenue departments to complain to their state attorneys general. In response, TurboTax temporarily halted all state filings while it investigated claims of a possible breach. The company resumed state filing shortly after that pause, saying it could find no evidence that customers’ TurboTax credentials had been stolen from its network. BEWARE: IRS does NOT use email or telephone. 

Use an IRS-approved efile program: http://apps.irs.gov/app/freeFile/jsp/index.jsp?ck

Average American income by age, gender

Where would you like to be on this chart?

Since Reagan his white middle-class supporters have actually lost income to the wealthy. The wealthy use compounding—their money doubles every 6 years--$10 mil becomes $20 mil in 6 years. All the productivity gains from computers since the ‘90s have gone up NOT down. Average income adjusted for inflation is flat--$30,000.  

Is portfolio rebalancing right for you?
Almost every broker/advisor tells you to sell when your stocks are soaring and buy when they are not in order to maintain your 60/40 or 80/20 asset allocation. However, Campbell Harvey, Duke, found in his research that “investors need to understand that rote rebalancing is an active investment decision that increases risk.” In an up market, you are selling soaring stocks, “all of a sudden your portfolio has done worse than if you had just let it run.”

You do better without Wall Street: http://www.amazon.com/Wealth-Without-Wall-Street-Commissions/dp/1442168137

Caring for a parent can be costly—deduct costs from taxes

Tax deductions are available for family members who provide care for an aging parent.  As a caregiver, you may be eligible for tax breaks for taking care of an elderly person, if you and the elderly member meet certain requirements.

To make it easier to figure out which tax breaks are available Tom Breedlove, Household Tax Expert, offered tips for family members providing elder care: http://www.foxbusiness.com/personal-finance/2015/02/19/tax-breaks-available-for-adults-caring-for-parents/

If you are 5 years from retirement, consider your options for steady income:
There is no settled answer on how to be sure you will have enough in retirement. Each person will have needs at different times during the period of no work. A little planning can ease the anxiety and help beef up your financials for that day when you can’t or don’t work for money. Only you know the right answer to yourself: http://www.amazon.com/Will-You-Have-Enough-retirement/dp/1477594086

Warren Buffett’s advice for the future

“The unconventional, but inescapable, conclusion to be drawn from the past fifty years is that it has been far safer to invest in a diversified collection of American businesses than to invest in securities – Treasuries, for example – whose values have been tied to American currency. … it is almost certain to be repeated during the next century.” “Investors – large and small – should read Jack Bogle’s The Little Book of Common Sense Investing.”

Buffett’s retirement income portfolio has just 2 Vanguard funds: http://www.amazon.com/Warren-Buffetts-Vanguard-Funds-Retirement/dp/1496148592

Vanguard funds at top of top 401k fund choices

31 Vanguard funds are the overwhelming choice for low-cost high-earning nest-egg builders. Saving for retirement could not be easier than the Target-date funds which controls the stock/bond mix throughout your whole working life. One fund investing with automatic contributions from your paycheck. Nothing easier and you don’t have to pay commission. Vanguard is user-owned—no expensive CEOs and management airplanes. Warren Buffett recommends this strategy:

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

Banks are gambling with our money again

Our banking system has increased the use of interest rate gambling to $223 trillion. When rates change, will banks lose capital again? Credit Unions may be safer. Large credit unions do not require special memberships but offer great rates (2.27% 5yrCD). The CEO does not take all the profits so you earn more. Most have the same FDIC backing and may not have trouble in another Wall Street near-collapse—no derivatives. Find one near you: http://www.culookup.com/

Buy direct and save: http://www.amazon.com/Insiders-Guides-Discount-Financial-Services/dp/143480593X

Banks act immorally!

Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen lashed out at the culture in the nation's biggest banks on Tuesday saying "there may be pervasive shortcomings in the values of large financial firms that might undermine their safety and soundness." In a speech in New York City, Yellen, who as head of the Federal Reserve is the nation's leading bank supervisor, said that the Fed expects banks to follow the law and act ethically. "Too often in recent years, bankers at large institutions have not done so, sometimes brazenly," she said.

Premiums double for long-term care insurance

“I was mad as hell,” says Arthur Mueller, an 83-year-old former real estate executive who lives in Dallas. Over the past 15 years, his annual Genworth premium has roughly doubled to $6,879. There’s no quick or easy fix for Genworth after disclosing an accounting weakness this week.

Consider the alternatives: http://www.amazon.com/Long-term-Care-Insurance-Updated-Edition/dp/148274001X

GOP crazies

“A little crazy like … the men in Washington.”

SHELLHAMMER: “But maybe he's [Santa] only a little crazy like painters or composers or some of those men in Washington.”   Macy’s adman, Miracle on 34^th Street

House ruled by Teas as anti-government. Aren’t they anarchists? Anarchism holds the government to be undesirable, unnecessary, or harmful.

Trump is running again

“Well, it’s not fun. I’m not doing this for enjoyment. I’m doing this because the country is in serious trouble.” [And my show’s ratings are down.]

With Giuliani or Cruz as VP, they can’t lose.

Wasn’t Trump born in Queens land, AU? Cruz was born in Canada and Giuliani in Italy.

Giuliani and Palin revere Russian Stalinist Putin but now quiet after Putin kills his critic Nemtsov. Nemtsov had proof of Putin’s invasion of Ukraine. Oops.

Is it smart for GOP to get foreign leader to try to influence our foreign policy as Boehner just did? Did DEMs have Ho Chi Minh Vietnam’s leader speak to Congress while Nixon was negotiating in Paris in 1973?

DEM crazies

Bernie Sanders says with 99 percent of new income going to the top 1 percent, he has laid out plans to reduce income inequality in America. He told The Wall Street Journal he’s fighting for a fair tax system that asks the wealthy and large corporations to pay their fair share. He would raise the minimum wage and end wage discrimination against women. To create millions of good-paying jobs, he proposed a $1 trillion investment in rebuilding our nation’s crumbling infrastructure. We spend $700 billion to fight the world each year.

C’ mon Bernie! Congress will not even fund our homeland security let alone borrow at current low interest to rebuild America and create construction/manufacturing jobs like we did after WWII. It is not possible now even though Reagan raised taxes to rebuild US.

ObamaCare tax statement wrong but Obama doesn’t care

If you filed your tax return with the ACA form you received and a new corrected one shows you owe more payback for your insurance advance, skip it. If the IRS owes you more, you can file an amended return. http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f1040x.pdf

Tax code needs to be efficient, fair and simple—Ron Reagan

Can Congress, paid for by lobbyists, actually live by Reagan’s rules? “During his effort, Reagan emphasized three principles for tax reform:  efficiency, fairness and simplicity.”  Sen Hatch (R-UT) said, “I’ve made no secret that I believe these same principles – along with a handful of others – should guide our current reform efforts.” Last week his Finance Committee had a hearing on efficiency and growth. And Hatch said a hearing on simplicity will be coming in the future. 

If everyone including businesses with income over $100,000 paid 15%, the US could pay down debt and have enough to rebuild American schools, roads, bridges, etc, etc. We have one form and no exceptions no matter where you call headquarters.

If Costco can afford to pay $20/hour, why not Walmart, Kohl, Target, etc?

Management and CEO pay may influence worker pay but ideology seems to be the main reason. All these firms could pay a living wage but they don’t want to. They all say that “Our employees are our most valuable asset,” yet they don’t act it. A report from As You Sow analyzing the pay packages of 100 corporate CEOs found that compensation has grown nearly 1000 percent over the past four decades and that there is no correlation between CEO pay and corporate performance.

If the minimum wage had kept up with productivity and the income gains of the top 1% since 1968, it would be $18 - $31. Our economy depends on worker spending.

http://www.amazon.com/The-Working-Millionaire-Self-insure-Self-fund/dp/1460945484

Sandy victims still waiting for coverage they paid for

A growing number of New York and New Jersey homeowners have accused insurers of rejecting or underpaying flood-insurance claims based on falsified engineering reports. Insurers were caught doing the same thing to Katrina victims. Amica Mutual ranked highest in overall satisfaction for a fourth consecutive year, in J.D. Power's “2015 Property Claims Satisfaction Study.”

Buy quality for less: http://www.amazon.com/Homeowners-Insurance-Beware-Coverage-Policy/dp/1480100870

First picture of light as wave AND particle taken

For the first time, Einstein’s theory of light is overturned by proof of quantum theory—light is both wave and particle—at the same time. Einstein thought light was a particle –photon—and ACTED as a wave. It is both.

SCAMS           Why are we still paying $700 Billion a year for WWII deployments? That is 27 cents of each dollar in taxes—the largest part of our money—and we aren’t even at war. We could pay off our debts and fix our schools, roads and bridges!

We are paying for 164,253 of our active-duty armed personnel to be in 150 countries around the world. We have about 50,000 in Japan and 50,000 in Germany.

Are we preparing for WWII again? There are 1,208,083^[1] armed personnel in the United States. Our taxes pay for about HALF of the WORLD’s military expenditures every year. We have wasted $398.6 billion so far on the F-35 program—they can’t fly safely.

We just can’t afford to pay for everyone else’s defenses anymore.

Japan, Germany and S. Korea can pay for their own defenses.

The War on Terror requires SEALS’ attacks on top terrorists at their homes. Iraq proved converting a nation to Western-style republic doesn’t work. Our trained troops ran away.

SEC warns of scam

All “prime bank” investment programs are fraudulent.  Promoters of prime bank programs often claim that investors’ funds will be used to buy and trade supposed prime bank instruments, and that investors will receive guaranteed, high investment returns with little or no risk. http://investor.gov/news-alerts/investor-alerts/investor-alert-prime-bank-investments-are-scams#.VNtxFzZOlD8

Most popular senior scams: http://www.bankrate.com/finance/retirement/fraud-5-scams-aimed-at-the-elderly-1.aspx

IAN

41 Watchung Plaza, B242

Montclair, NJ 07042

973.746.2014

www.InsuranceAdvisorsNetwork.com

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Tax evaders we pay for

Tax evaders named by another Swiss bank Swisspartners

Swisspartners helped wealthy American clients hide income from the IRS between 2001 and 2011, according to the non-prosecution agreement (no banker goes to jail) filed in federal court. The companies created sham foundations and other entities that served as the nominal owners of bank accounts in Switzerland,Liechtenstein and other nations. In reality, assets and income in those accounts belonged to American clients. In another case, Credit Suisse bankers from 2001 to 2008 helped as many as 22,000 Americans with $12 billion in assets duck paying the IRS.

You can avoid taxes legally with the IRS § 408 account: http://www.amazon.com/Your-Tax-Haven-Tax-FREE-Americans/dp/1482659441 And it is FREE to set up.

Stealing us blind: Investors sue over fees

BlackRock faces potential class action by investors who assert the firm has breached fiduciary duty by charging exorbitant fees. The world's largest money manager keeps too much of the value generated by one of its funds even as it gets larger and cheaper to maintain, according to the suit. "The issue we're focused on is the difference between what BlackRock charges the funds and the fees BlackRock negotiates with other firms at arms' length."

You don’t need the fees to earn 11% over time: http://www.amazon.com/Warren-Buffetts-Investment-Strategy-Forget/dp/1484822900

Doing Nothing but staying invested in the market beats trading

Retail Investors earned an average annual return of just 3.69 percent for the 30 years through 2013. The S&P 500 market index returned 11.11 percent during the same period according to DALBAR’s annual Quantitative Analysis of Investor Behavior. Investors tend to buy and sell in a frenzy based on advisors and broker buzz. Trythe Buffett way: http://www.amazon.com/Wealth-Tao-Wu-Wei/dp/1499351348/

Europe court to Google: remove our bad info links

Europe's highest court ruled Tuesday that people have the "right to be forgotten" and can ask Google to remove some sensitive information from Internet search results. The court ruled that Google, if asked to do so, must amend links to information shown to be outdated or information deemed to be irrelevant. "An Internet search engine operator is responsible for the processing that it carries out of personal data which appear on web pages published by third parties," the judges added. The case followed complaints from a man in Spain who argued that when Google's search results revealed details about an auction of his repossessed home that infringed on his privacy rights.

GOP crazies denounced by Rand Paul … but he does not make the rules

“Everybody’s gone completely crazy on this voter ID thing,” Mr. Paul said in an interview. “I think it’s wrong for Republicans to go too crazy on this issue because it’s offending people.” After his meeting with the pastors inMemphis, Mr. Paul traveled a few blocks to address the Republican gathering, but he made no mention of voting rights.  Many of the claims of voter fraud amount to a great deal of smoke without much fire. The allegations simply do not pan out according to this legal analysis. http://www.brennancenter.org/publication/truth-about-voter-fraud

GOP crazies try to win 2016 election with warming denial

Rubio, R-Fla., said definitively that he’s ready to run for president in 2016 and he doesn’t buy into the “notion” that laws or human actions can contribute to climate change although much of Florida has been severely endangered by global warming.

“I don’t agree with the notion that some are putting out there, including scientists, that somehow there are actions that we can take today that would have an impact on what’s happening in our climate,” Rubio said. “Our climate is always changing.”

A glacial region of western Antarctica that's already melting rapidly has passed "the point of no return," according to NASA which estimates the glaciers, in the Amundsen Sea region, contain enough water to raise global sea levels by 4 feet. 

GOP Crazies: Rubio to make Medicare a voucher plan we pay the difference!

Running in 2016, he thinks changing Medicare into a premium-support program in which the government would provide a subsidy that people could use to purchase private insurance coverage. Vouchers were torched the last time the GOP proposed this because insurers do NOT want to insure seniors. No one wants an insurer CEO deciding to pull the plug on Granny’s life-support. CEO bonus depends on it.   

End to employer-paid health-benefit even if guaranteed in contracts

The Supremes agreed to rule on whether employers can unilaterally end retiree healthcare benefits, even when they're negotiated as part of a union contract. Federal law prohibits the unilateral reduction of retirement benefits retroactively. ERISA doesn't cover health benefits. "When employers do offer retiree health benefits, nothing in federal law prevents them from cutting or eliminating those benefits--unless they have made a specific promise to maintain the benefits."

Employer promises will have no meaning in future!

USAA lowers premiums for some CA homeowners

USAA homeowners and condominium policyholders in Sacramento County will save an average of $167. "This rate decrease is made possible in part by our low expense ratio, and our members' efforts to maintain their homes and prevent losses," said Jeff Dixon, vice president of P&C insurance property product management at USAA. "USAA is committed to partnering with our members to prevent losses, which is why we're also introducing a new insurance discount for members in communities that are working together to reduce wildfire risks by forming a Firewise community." USAA is run for the benefit of vets and family only. Agents receive salary. CEO is not overpaid. Use all your discounts: http://www.amazon.com/Homeowners-Insurance-Beware-Coverage-Policy/dp/1480100870

Fewer die with RomneyCare

The mortality rate in Massachusetts declined substantially in the four years after the state enacted a law in 2006 mandating universal health care coverage, providing the model for the Affordable Care Act. The Harvard study adds to a growing body of evidence that having health insurance increases a person's life expectancy. Mortality rates vary widely among states. Mississippi, Alabama, West Virginia, Oklahoma,Kentucky and Louisiana have the highest age-adjusted rates. 

Unfortunately, all but Kentucky refused ObamaCare.

Advisors are “scoundrels” and “cockroaches,” SEC says

The investment advisor and broker-dealer industries are plagued with too many repeat-offender “scoundrels” and “cockroaches,” SEC Commissioner Daniel Gallagher said. “Despite our best efforts, they manage to stay in the industry and continue to wreak havoc on the investing public.” Gallagher noted that 20 percent of the more than 600,000 actively licensed registered representatives in Finra’s BrokerCheck database have one to five disclosures for items such as customer complaints, regulatory violations, terminations, bankruptcy, judgments and liens. “There are plenty of repeat offenders at investment advisory firms who are engaging in misconduct. We’re just not finding them as quickly because no resources.

Buyer BEWARE: Manage your money the Buffett way: http://www.amazon.com/Wealth-Tao-Wu-Wei/dp/1499351348/

College experience determines happiness not tuition

The Gallup-Purdue Index found that elite schools fared no better than less selective private and public schools in ensuring graduates' well-being. The factors that do matter - feeling supported by a professor or mentor and having deep learning experiences - are, at least to some extent, factors that families can search for and control, Busteed said.

"In many ways, it's a very encouraging study for most of America," he said. "It doesn't really matter where you go. It matters how you do it."

SCAMS           Why are we still paying $700 Billion a year for WWII deployments?

We are paying for 164,253 of our active-duty armed personnel to be in 150 countries around the world. We have about 50,000 in Japan and 50,000 in Germany.

Are we preparing for WWII again? There are 1,208,083^[1] armed personnel in the United States. Our taxes pay for about HALF of the WORLD’s military expenditures every year.

We just can’t afford to pay for everyone else’s defenses anymore.

Who owns your account now?

Consumers Insurance USA to Motorists Mutual

Sunshine State Insurance to United Property and Casualty

IAN

41 Watchung Plaza, B242

Montclair, NJ 07042

973.746.2014

www.InsuranceAdvisorsNetwork.com

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