Showing posts with label life benefits. Show all posts
Showing posts with label life benefits. Show all posts

Friday, February 14, 2020

Does your child know enough to invest for their future?


Does your child know enough to invest for their future?
High school students in 21 states must now take a personal finance course in order to graduate. Five states — Iowa, Kentucky, Mississippi, Ohio and South Carolina — added the prerequisite. One state, Florida, dropped its requirement. One in five American 15-year-olds doesn’t understand basic financial concepts like budgeting, borrowing costs, saving and compounding. Without some educational help, poor students had far less access to financial education, compared to wealthier students. “If you teach the kids,” one educator said, “you teach the parents.” Remember, SS benefits will be cut by 20% in 15 years. Kids must start SS benefit supplement TODAY.

How to double your savings over time
The most important fact about saving money is compounding. Only the rich have learned this concept because they see how it works in their lives. Most of us don’t see it in our lives because we don’t think in terms of the outcome over time. Most of us experience the opposite of compound interest: debt. We don’t realize that we will have to pay about FOUR times the amount of a credit card debt IF we pay only the minimum required. If we pay the minimum on the average debt of $8,398, it will take us 20 years to pay it off. We will have spent about $30,000: $23,000 in interest. But if we invested that same minimum payment in a simple index fund and earned compounded interest over time, we would have $115,000. We could easily buy more stuff for that same $8,398. Long-term investing: put $250 per month ($3,000 a year) in a low-cost stock market index fund. It would grow to about $65,000 in 11 years: $33,000 + interest $32,000. Our savings can double in about 12 years IF we invest it--compounding the earnings every year. This is how the rich stay rich. Show your child how to double their savings.

Why did your advisor provide you with less than 31.5%?
Yes. You know why. In fact your fees resulted in 5 managers taking over $1 BILLION of your dollars last year. These unconscionable fees are especially notable, especially given only a third of the 15 managers on the top manager list beat the S&P 500 Index. And the same one does NOT do it every year. It also comes as the hedge fund industry has been grappling with closures and mediocre returns. Very few managers can beat the index over time. Buffett put his $1,000,000 bet on the Vanguard 500 Index when a manager with 5 different funds challenged him 10 years ago. Buffett advises the hedge fund crowd to avoid the 20% fees and use index funds like the gigantic pension funds. The manager and their firm need your fees to exist. Vanguard is owned by those that invest in Vanguard funds. There is no outside owner needing profits. Since no manager can beat the index consistently, you could be earning 11% a year instead of the average equity managed account earning you 3.79% over time. Can they tell which stocks will soar nest?

Why most investors don’t need an annuity
Many investors are DIY investors—they have jettisoned their advisors since learning the John Bogle and Warren Buffett investment lessons: advisor costs detract from your earnings. Advisors and annuities can take up to HALF your earnings in fees and trading costs. Here are DIY's results for 2019. They are total return investors—selling shares equally across all 10 funds for their monthly RMD income in retirement. Some want protection from a down market and so they overweight Wellesley Income instead of buying an annuity: Wellesley’s 9.7% a year is not too bad to live on.

2019 Total Return Fund                    Long-term Return      Longevity
31.5% 500 Index                                             11.2% since 1976
13.2% Energy                                                    9.9% since 1984
28.0% Extended Market                                  10.7% since 1987
22.9% Health                                                   16.2% since 1984
31.4% International Growth                              10.6% since 1981
27.9% PRIMECAP                                         13.4% since 1984
27.4% Small Cap Index                                    10.6% since 1960
16.4% Wellesley Income                                    9.7% since 1970
30.4% Windsor                                                11.3% since 1958
29.0% Windsor II                                            10.7% since 1985
25.8% Average                                                11.4% *
            *Average Annual Returns as of 12/31/19.


Are cheap life insurance ‘upgrades’ right for you?
Your agent/broker/salesperson has 12 ways to ‘upgrade’ your policy once they have you talking. But are they just premium add-ons that cost you big dollars over time? Most premium increases are not needed: add-ons are cheap because they don’t add much value. For instance, paying more for a child rider so they can buy a policy later or cover death expenses is unnecessary. No parent wants death insurance and very few young adults are denied coverage. Do you really want to give your spouse a windfall because you die by accident? The chance of that is almost nil. You are better off buying a higher death benefit in a 10-year term policy than any rider. You may not even need life cover later.

Is life insurance a good alternative to the Stretch IRA estate plan?
Advisors are coming up with ways to get your IRA to your heirs after you’re gone. Life insurance has always been a favorite since it pays much more commissions than the previous Stretch IRA plan. But does a lump sum death benefit to your kids or grandkids really address your concerns about taxation and spendthrift beneficiaries? What are viable alternatives to the Stretch which allow a bene to take the RMDs over their lifetimes instead of at once or over 10 years? Each situation is different so you may need a more elaborate plan with an estate attorney than you had before. Perhaps time will provide additional choices. Lifetime gifting may be our best choice.

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


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

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

“…all of his tormentors are being whacked.” He can’t be indicted for crimes now.

Trump—Judge and Jury: I “cannot allow this miscarriage of justice.”


Utah national monuments to be drilled by his friends for oil gas coal open grazing: sacred ground?
We pay $millions to buy phone data about our movements, activity, from spy firms.      



SCAMS/SPINS:
Trump missed his morning elixir so he rehired Hope Hicks as the ‘prince’s liaison.

Tesla recalls 15,000 Model X SUVs for power steering failures
E-cigarette Juul bought adverts on Nickelodeon, Cartoon Network: MA sues to stop.

Criterion Wealth Management Insurance Services caught taking hidden kickbacks
Elias Herbert Hafen CT caught stealing $1.6 million as promised invest in own account

Balance transfer trap: 0% rate 21 mo/ 5% fee; VIG 26.24% after. Mafia charges less!


Which cash fund will win American presidency? Election for sale to highest media spender.
Fox tells Trump’s voter: Stone is victim of Mueller probe which was Dem fantasy Putin control.
School bullies channeling Mobster attacks on Hispanic, black and Muslim people.

Too late to do any good: Credit monitoring service charges fees for notices 24 days later!
Myth: filing tax return in April avoids an audit: IRS too busy to pick yours is myth.

Jobs
Biden to voter: “You’re a lying dog-faced pony soldier,” drawing laughter from crowd??
Is Uncle Joe done? I get no answer to my question about what his ‘joke’ above means.



Who owns your account now?
Which insurer is best at taking care of your car body when it gets hurt?

Fountain Financial Associates to Captrust Financial Advisors

Miracle:
January was hottest in 141 years of records. Takes miracle to convince deniers.
Antarctica’s Trinity Peninsula hit 65 F on Thursday: highest ever! Glaciers retreat!
Some Iraqis never saw snow: now they stare at the snow NYC used to get.
Pope is fallible: reverses course on Amazon married priests! It’s all politics.


IAN
41 Watchung Plaza, B242
MontclairNJ   07042
973.746.2014
Alert

Sunday, August 14, 2016

Don can't release taxes--paying zero hurts image

Don can’t release his tax returns since it would hurt his image
Don says he is audited every year. “I have friends that are very rich and never get audited. I’m audited every year. Maybe that’s because of politics, who knows.” He is audited every year because he has questionable deductions that zero out his tax bill. His biographer, David Cay Johnston shows his habit since he began putting his name on buildings in Atlantic City. https://www.amazon.com/Making-Donald-Trump-David-Johnston/dp/1612196322 He is proud of paying as little as he can. “I fight very hard to pay as little tax as possible.” That could be ZERO and could explain why he refuses to come clean with his voters. “It’s none of your business.” Yet every president has NOT hid their financials in case there is a conflict. We can only assume there is a conflict and Don is just as surprised as the world that he is the nominee and must disclose. We are passed the convention, so no one will bother him now. He is the GOP winner already.
You can avoid taxes using a legal tax shelter:  https://www.amazon.com/Tax-FREE-Wealth-How-use-laws-free/dp/1475089236

Advisors are NOT being paid to help you anymore
Serving clients "used to be about prestige, now it's about margins," said Jane Swan, Sheffield Haworth. Clients with less than $750,000 are now being sent to call center service. Advisors are using the new fiduciary rule as the excuse to jettison the un-rich. Firms have increased the number of clients with over $10 million to invest by 88 percent since 2009. Merrill stopped paying brokers on accounts with less than $250,000. Call center service is so profitable, some with margins over 45%, some firms are taking a second look at what discounters are doing. RoboAdvisors are happy to take mass market investors. Their customers see they can get Wall Street’s Secret Sauce for less. 

Why life insurance is NOT an investment
Agents selling life insurance can’t make money selling term (if you die your heirs get the benefit) so they sell it as an investment. But when interest rates tank and are underwater for long periods like now, the investment portion can’t support the death benefit. Either you pay more to keep the CEO in caviar or you quit and he keeps the premiums and benefits. Same for long term care. Insurance is for premature death; it isn’t a legacy.


Why are young investors using Roth IRAs?
At the end of 2014, 31 percent of Roth investors were younger than 40, compared with 15 percent of traditional IRA investors.  About 25% of Roth IRA investors were 60 or older, compared with 39% of traditional IRA investors. Roth IRAs are newer than IRAs. Older investors started their IRA accounts before 1997. Younger investors are more likely to need the tax-FREE benefit later rather than earlier in their careers. With a tax deductible IRA contribution of $5,500, they save $1375 on taxes (25% tax bracket). But if they compound the earnings on that $5,500 over 30 years, they save over $25,000 on taxes. They can spend the full $110,000 accumulation. Fewer firms are matching their 401k contributions and who knows about the SS fund by 2040. In 30 years, they may need every penny of their nest egg.
They have their own IRS-OK tax shelter: https://www.amazon.com/Tax-Shelter-Americans/dp/1500426520

GOP religion
Everyone is reaching for their Constitution after Khan offered his to Don at the Dem convention. However, the version Clive Bundy promotes is not the same one. Some constitutional scholars say that a number of quotations in the NCCS version are either deliberate alterations or taken out of context. The NCCS changes stress that the U.S. is a Christian nation not intended to be ruled by a single government. For some, the Federal structure has no legal standing and America is a Christian nation. However, most Americans pay taxes because Congress passed laws on the basis that Federal supersedes state law. They think America has no state religion. Read the official version: https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/CDOC-110hdoc50/pdf/CDOC-110hdoc50.pdf Get copy:
Library of Congress. http://library-of-congress-shop.myshopify.com/products/three-documents-of-freedom-1 There is no word “Christian” in it. Print the FREE one here: http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/constitution_transcript.html There are many interpretations of what it says so everyone gets to claim they are “strict constructionists” and “originalists.” It is clear that this country was founded on religious freedom but not the kind GOP religionists are trying to make law. Mr Kahn’s point is that we can’t exclude someone based on religion or sex or color. Jefferson was clear to keep religion out.
Don and the GOP are wrong—we don’t discriminate against people we don’t agree with.
           
Why are Christians voting for Don? Does the long record of Don’s business practices align even remotely with the ideals laid down by Jesus? How would Jesus respond to this record? Is it possible to imagine Trump repenting of anything? “Beware false prophets who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
By their fruit you will recognize them.” 

Don does not really want the responsibility of president—he just loves the spotlight.
Trump’s image is basically unchanged from a month ago. He’s viewed favorably by 36 percent and unfavorably by 61 percent. Still the election could be close since only the ardent vote.

Is the election rigged?
We have not had the election yet so Don is remembering all the GOP gerrymandering and voter suppression we have had in the last 8 years. GOP states have made laws cutting the voting days and times and places and voter cards. 90-year-olds don’t have drivers license anymore since can’t drive. They have claimed mass voter fraud when no state has proved it. GOP states have redrawn the voting districts so that all the minorities are in one district and the other 15 are GOP strongholds. They have one rep in DC not 7 as per population. This is why the House is now full of GOP reps who 1. shut down gov 2. end all regulatory agencies, 3. allow AR killing machines for ISIS to buy. 4. vote 50 times for repeal our health access without replacement. 5. give more subsidies to big air, oil, gas, agribusiness, etc. 6. allow insider trading by Congress people. 7. bailout bad banks  


Don:    Former CIA chief Morell calls me Putin’s “unwitting agent.” “Putin likes me”
            I never apologize: "…when you apologize, they use it … against [you].”
I know Obama founded ISIS because I read it on the internet. BushII invaded!

Mike:   Of course Don is not manipulated by Putin. Don loves praise from ANYONE.  
           
Hill:    This election is like 1964: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uO0R4k1tVMs
            Joe says Don’s thinking: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U-VzZQGWOqA
            Don called me “founder of ISIS” not devilBush II has that title!
            FBI said some emails were not clear on marking Secret—I did not intend crime.
            FBI own agent gave China secrets and knew it. That is crime.

Tim:    "I trust Hillary Clinton with our son's life." Oh my

Regulators are the only protection we have since we can’t sue anymore
            “It is nearly impossible for one individual to take on a corporation with vast resources.” (GOP bill requires impossible: every person in class action suffer “same type and scope of injury”)
               Supremes stop us from suing—State courts no longer available to sue corporations!

Merrill Robertson Jr. Cavalier Union caught defrauding elderly, coaches, promised 20%.
Ray Lucia barred by SEC: giving false information on inflation REITs in “Buckets”
Russell K. Jalbert, Jacob Keith Cooper, Terence Marable, Beverly Bailey lose CFP cert.
Patrick Evan Churchville ClearPath caught making Ponzi to buy RI mansion.

We need regulation—GOP wrong—companies/cities wouldn’t fix bad products on own

When everyone has guns; your chance of being killed goes up. Police want gun control. They don’t know who to shoot. Shot a psych worker with his hands up while on ground. 


SCAMS
Cold war toxins come back to kill us from global warming—great movie but TRUE?


“We're paying them for a service. We have every right to question their behavior.” ???


How our government wastes our money


Who owns your account now?
Robo Advisors are being bought by the firms--Look before you leap.
Our next book: Best Robo-Advisor: Ultimate Automatic Wealth Management  

IAN
41 Watchung Plaza, B242
MontclairNJ 07042
973.746.2014
Alerts 

Friday, April 18, 2014

Tax-Refund Millionaires

Refunds are larger this year—$3,229
You can find out where your refund is at http://www.irs.gov/Refunds
What do you do with your tax refund?
Let Uncle Sam help you reach your goals.
Michele invested her refund every year and now has more than enough for retirement.
“This is the no-pain way to save.” She is a Tax-Refund Millionaire:

We pay extra $1,259 so that rich can pay less
The average American would have to fork over an extra $1,259 in state and federal income taxes this year to make up for the revenue lost because of offshore tax havens used by corporations and wealthy individuals, according to a new report. U.S. companies will use offshore tax havens to avoid paying an estimated $110 billion in taxes this year, according to the analysis by the U.S. Public Interest Research Group. Wealthy people will circumvent about $74 billion in taxes. Warren Buffett pays 17%, Mitt Romney 15%, John Kerry 13%, GE pays 0% tax. Pay your fair share with this tax-FREE account: http://www.amazon.com/Tax-FREE-Wealth-How-laws-free/dp/1475089236/


Avoid tax penalty and interest
File your tax return and pay what you can even if you are late. This reduces the penalty and interest you will be assessed. When you get a bill, don’t ignore it. Set up a payment plan with IRS approval now. Efile even if you can’t pay. File for a payment plan: http://www.irs.gov/Individuals/Online-Payment-Agreement-Application


If you rent, your landlord will not cover damage/loss to your stuff
To help renters calculate how much coverage they need, the institute offers a home inventory tool at www.knowyourstuff.org. A room-by-room inventory may determine that you need more than the $50,000 or so that the basic policy offers. And while you’re at it, take photos of expensive items; they may be useful if you ever have to file a claim. A basic policy costs about $300 but has some limits so shop your auto insurers’ quote:

Are you missing a life insurance benefit?
Insurers use a central registry of people who purchased life insurance. You can use it to find a lost policy. Perhaps a relative has passed and you suspect they had a policy. MIB today announced a new online order form, which makes it easier for consumers to search its Policy Locator Service, the insurance industry's most comprehensive resource for finding lost life insurance policies. Look for cancelled checks with the name of the company before you pay the search charge. http://www.mib.com/lost_life_insurance.html

Vanguard expanding service
Vanguard's decision to expand its web-savvy retail advice service is sending shivers throughout the financial planning community. The service provides investors a financial plan, asset allocation plot, ongoing monitoring and re-balancing, performance forecasting and periodic contact with an adviser for 0.3% of portfolio assets annually. The service “typically recommends” Vanguard funds as investments to clients, according to a company brochure. It has more than 200 Vanguard-trained certified financial planners and investment adviser representatives working with the firm, with nearly 150,000 clients. Compare their advice service to yours:  https://personal.vanguard.com/us/whatweoffer/advice/personaladvisor3

Study finds excess fees steal workers’ retirement futures
The study found that the higher the cost of the plans, the more likely costs will discourage investor participation. High-cost plans “are not inducing more employees to participate more or to contribute more,” the two authors write. The study used data from more than 3,000 401(k) plans with more than $120 billion in assets. In 16 percent of the analyzed plans, “the fees charged in excess of an index fund entirely consume the tax benefit of investing in a 401(k) plan,” the authors found. Tune up your 401k Earn more:http://www.amazon.com/Tune-your-401k-EARN-Tax-FREE/dp/1490591028



ObamaCare may lower your car insurance costs
Every year U.S. insurance companies have to pay out billions of dollars for medical care because of injuries in the workplace, car crashes and similar claims. According to the report, in 2007 medical costs from auto accidents forced insurers to pay out $35 billion, about 2 percent of all health care costs that year. As more of the previously uninsured get coverage through Obamacare, insurers won't have to put aside as much money to pay for their care -- and that could mean lower premiums. Also, some patients now use automobile liability insurance to get treatment for medical problems unrelated to an accident. With the ACA, they'll be able to use their regular medical insurance to pay for that. Who knew?

U.S. budget deficit has plunged by nearly $1 trillion since its peak in 2009?
Obama is not given credit by those who ran up the deficit with 2 wars and 2 tax cuts for the rich. The top 1% take over 23% of income. Household income fell to under $50,000. http://inequality.org/income-inequality/More corporations have stashed record $2 TRILLION in tax shelters. Others have “moved” outside US to avoid taxes.  


Here we go again—certain people have to “register” and pay extra tax on property
Jews in the eastern Ukrainian city of Donetsk where pro-Russian militants have taken over government buildings were told they have to "register" with the Ukrainians who are trying to make the city become part ofRussia, according to Israeli media.
Isn’t this how Hitler started? He had Jews register and later took Poland to “protect” ethnic Germans living inPoland.

Wal-Mart wires money for less—much less
“Walmart-2-Walmart” allows a money transfer to be made between any Wal-Mart locations throughout theUnited States--4,000 different locations on U.S. soil. Transfers under $50 will be subject to a $4.50 fee, while larger transactions will bill on a blanket fee basis of $9.50. Walmart-2-Walmart will only support transactions of up to $900, meaning that those wishing to send $1,000 or more will still opt for MoneyGram. (Walmart-2-Walmart is also limited in that it only supports transfers within the United States.) Still, since MoneyGram can often bill $70 or more in fees for a $900 transfer, there is no doubt that Wal-Mart’s service will be a competitive option for most people. Some banks use email and apps for transfers at no charge.


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.
DoD head Hagel proposes budget cut but still pay for Lockheed F35 plane failures.

You are NOT responsible for parents’ debts
The Social Security Administration is suspending a program in which thousands of people were having their tax refunds seized to recoup overpayments that happened more than a decade ago. "While this policy of seizing tax refunds to repay decades-old Social Security overpayments might be allowed under the law, it is entirely unjust," Democratic Sens. Senators Barbara Boxer of California and Barbara Mikulski of Maryland said in a letter to Colvin. SS spokesman said, “we do not use tax refund offset to collect the debt of a person's relative — we only use it to collect the overpaid benefits the person received for himself or herself."

Who owns your account Now?
Nuveen Investments to TIAA-CREF, the manager of retirement accounts for teachers

IAN
41 Watchung Plaza, B242
MontclairNJ 07042
973.746.2014
Alerts available at http://dankeppel.blogspot.com/