survive virus victim

 

New Year is time to plan ahead

Whether you are in retirement or near retirement, if you don’t have a plan you will not be able to survive. We are all living longer and so a plan is crucial to live well. The fastest growing age group is the age 85 to 100. The common myth: “Saving is a waste of time”. I used to believe this because when you save in a bank, your $250 a month is worth only about $67,000 after 20 years. Then I learned from my boss who invested in mutual funds that he had amassed $250,000. Every year you delay starting to invest costs you $thousands over time. Sure, you might be able work past your assumed “retirement” age. But what if you can’t? Will you live well or just survive? A low-cost stock index fund has grown at 11% over time so your money doubles every 8-10 years. You must leave it alone to compound. This Miracle of Compounding is the secret Warren Buffett cites: “My wealth has come from a combination of living in America, some lucky genes, and compound interest.” And now you can use an IRS-approved trust that makes all your earnings FREE of income tax for the rest of your life. We must plan ahead. Social Security will cut benefits by 2034 and income taxes will have to pay for the deficit of $40,000 each. Taxes don’t go down for us. The two things that will determine whether you have enough later on are taxes and living expenses. Let time work the miracle.

Let's start today. https://www.amazon.com/Your-Plan-Live-Age-100/dp/1548180793

 

Rebuilding our lost savings

More than half of us are dipping into our savings, with 60% using our IRA and 401k accounts to get us through the difficulties we are facing from the coronavirus pandemic. How can we rebuild our savings? Thousands of books are sold with the ‘secrets’ to investing. Each day a new TV guru provides a list of stocks that will ‘make you rich’. When you research the VALUE of these ‘secrets’ for you, you find a mountain has been built from a grain of truth for that time/place. Yes, if you had purchased Apple, Amazon or Tesla at their beginning, you would be rich. But few actually put their hard-earned savings into those companies early on. Instead of taking advice from the current gurus who get paid well to entertain with ‘success’ stories, let’s listen to the unbiased wisdom of multi-billionaire Warren Buffett. His advice is simple: buy and keep buying a low-cost stock index fund like Vanguard’s 500 fund. This was the fund he used to beat 5 hedge funds picked by a Wall Street guru. From 2008 to 2017, the index earned 8.5% vs 4% per year. A $100,000 investment at the beginning of 2008 would have more than doubled to about $225,586 by 2017.

Invest wisely: https://www.amazon.com/Warren-Buffetts-Investment-Secret-Steeple/dp/1484189809

 

Trump left us with tax-FREE account

A positive for Trump’s legacy is an IRS account that allows us to grow investments and spend compounded earnings without income taxes. You may not have started your life with a $100-200 million boost from your father like Trump, but you can create your own tax-FREE stream of income like his. Clearly the Trump tax plan helps businesses and the wealthy. There is no reason why you cannot benefit from the tax code too. It eliminates taxes when taken out for your needs and can pass to your heirs totally tax FREE. No matter what your income, this helps you avoid future taxes to pay off the national debt. You can build a $1/2 million fund by investing $250 a month over time. You can use the tax laws for your benefit like the people in the top 1% income bracket do!

Set up your Tax Shelter in 1 hour: https://www.amazon.com/Trump-Tax-Shelter-Avoid-taxes/dp/1985448300

 

Have tax forms; will file for FREE

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

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

 

Will your family be able to live if you are a virus victim?

Many parents are concerned about the survival of their families if the Covid spread continues in ’21. If 4,000 continue to die every day, this becomes a real threat. Half those who spread the virus have no symptoms so exposure is almost inevitable. We still don’t know which folks will suffer severely and which will have flue-like symptoms. Since many of us don’t wear masks or take precautions, we must assume we are at risk in any crowd. During this pandemic, many of us are seeking life insurance coverage. Life insurance is very easy to buy but higher levels of coverage—coverage for your family to live through this crisis—requires a blood test. This is how some of us find medical problems we didn’t know existed. The industry is offering ‘no test’ coverage for lower amounts. For those in good health, a $500,000 coverage lasting 10 years can cost as little as $20 a month. Premiums rise with age and health concerns. You may have lost your term coverage when your employment ended.

Check now while you can. https://www.amazon.com/Life-Insurance-Need-Save-right/dp/1480002178

 

 

 

 

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

 

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

 

 

President of the United States tried to overthrow our government

 

 

House impeaches Trump 2^nd time: "incitement of insurrection"

 

FBI: 36 most wanted Jan 6 terrorists

 

Self-coup like Napoleon’s 1851

 

 

Our ‘Truth and Reconciliation Commission’? 

 

 

 

How Govt wastes our money:

Biden reverses Trump stockpiling vaccines to help more of us avoid 4000 daily deaths

Millions of $600 credits sent to wrong banks: Turbo? Others? Must wait longer!

GOP tax cuts for rich: our debt has increased almost 40% in the past four years. We will pay it.

Hospitals dump vaccines since health workers don’t want it: seniors turned away

Even a gorilla troop caught it: strain very contagious: Covid deaths 400,000 4,000/day

 

Curative COVID-19 PCR tests not consistently accurate

Our govt wasted $10,000 each of our money on stupids: soda bottles called ‘test tubes’

Supremes start reversing women’s choice: Roe v Wade decision targeted by Trumpers

 

1 million new unemployment claims filed Jan week: need massive infrastructure effort

 

SCAMS/SPINS:

Terrorists plan more attacks: Jan 20 is next target in this holy ‘war’ against US.

Terrorists don’t understand employer/customer backlash after Trump’s insurrection

Terrorists recruit via Facebook: neo-Nazi politics within the global network.

Terrorists had inside Capitol help plan overthrow: 3 GOP conspired with leader Ali

 

Terrorists claim antifa (antifascists) stormed Capitol: ‘blame other side for own bad acts’

Terrorists moving communication to Telegraph: follow which Capitol attacked next

Terrorists wear Guard/police gear to breach Inauguration? Trump still ‘Commander’ 

Terrorists even had plans of the tunnels/entry points for “war” on Capitol: FBI ignored

 

Commander in Chief impeached again: GOP breaking up: Mitch lost: follow the money

Chiefs remind military: “insurrection on Capitol was an anti-democratic, criminal act”

Sedition task force has found many suspects in coup: planned ‘war’ motivated them

 

House security: “wasn’t comfortable with the ‘optics’” of alerting Guard: Trumpists? 

GOP calls to Trumpists for help end coup rebuffed by Jared, Ivanka: watch TV 6 hours

FBI VA warned of ‘war’ at Capitol: Officials deny; others claim intelligence failure

Senate takes another vacation to avoid Trump trial: Mitch fears Trumpists revenge

 

Rick Snyder fmr gov MI caught neglect poisoning Flint water; 12 die: $1,000 fine no jail

Michael Stepanek, caught running over protesters for “attitude adjustment” no jail no fine

Oportun Financial caught loan overcharging gregious debt collection practices 

Scammers use SS logo, titles, badge numbers to ask info for probe: check with SS first

 

Scam Chase users: “We detected some unusual activities on your account and as a security measure we have locked it.”

Thomas Robbins Daniel Merriman caught selling unregistered securities in strategy con

Justin Robert King CA caught offering interest in his bogus firm; $4 million fraud

 

Multivitamin little effect on health: 'benefits' might just all be a trick of the mind: potion

Drugmakers raise prices on 500 drugs: Humira up 7.4%, Revlimid up 4.5% Opdivo up 1.5%, Eliquis 6%. CEO raises!

Caddy that flies and drives itself: Keep your eyes on the ‘road’

 

Savior sent by god to save ‘Christian’ America for ‘true’ believers: miracle for 2^nd term?

 

BEWARE: Work from home scams: fees, shop, data entry, pyramid sales, stuff, net sales

 

Appliances with problems: Viking, FisherPaykel, Amana: Better: Whirlpool, KitchenAid

Big problem cars: Volvo (China), Jaguar, Land Rover (India), Chrysler (Italy)

Cable costs went up: are the services/shows worth it?

Sales tax scam: Resale certificate helps wealthy avoid sales tax: seller helps avoid taxes

 

Poor Mel T: “gossip, false and misleading statement on me”? Sounds like Don texting

Widow of GW bridge jumper can sue since locked access can be climbed over by jumper

Detroit to sue Trumpers who tried to overturn MI election: cost to defend election result

Trump refuses to pay Giuliani for failed election challenges: will face suits need him later

 

Graco car seats, Speed Stick, Keebler, cashier seats, terrorists’ jobs, opioid suit,

Save on car insurance: virus means less miles; less premium. Shop pay by mile

 

 

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

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

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

 

Is it a scam?  Check AARP scamline 877.908.3360.

 

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

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

Check Social Security: https://blog.ssa.gov/

Safeguard data: ConsumerReports help: https://securityplanner.consumerreports.org/

 

Jobs

Places with wider mix of people in science, technology, engineering math jobs than most.

Prepare for jobs that will be in future not in past: more remote; more digital; more tech

Priests needed but still only man’s club: Pope allows women role in Mass already have!

Paycheck Protection Program PPP small biz loans: SBA will forgive loans if all employee retention criteria met

 

Who owns your account now?

 2020 was shorter than previous years - Earth is spinning quicker than it has in decades

Mortgage shopping: check on what your creditors are saying/selling about you.

Forbearance and refinance: help mortgage relief mortgage assistance CARES Act

 

Miracles:

Thakur told Trebek he learned English watching "Jeopardy! as a child in India. Thanks Alex!

Global warming: Spain covered in snow?  Weather patterns are changing. Heat in 2020.

Retailers: keep those items you do not want: too expensive to return them

Veterans make statement countering those in the coup: march to clean up their mess

 

One Good man holds back terrorists trying to take over our government: GOP enablers

 

Lying over: right-leaning talk-radio hosts told to cut election fraud rhetoric by owners

Bill Belichick coach Patriots declines Presidential Medal of Freedom offer from Trump

Climate change taking its toll on insects and sharks as precursor to human tolerance

 

 

We can apply for Medicare online: https://blog.ssa.gov/apply-for-medicare-online

We can apply for Social Security online: https://www.ssa.gov/benefits/retirement/

We can apply for health care online: https://www.healthcare.gov/

 

 

 

IAN

41 Watchung Plaza, B242

Montclair, NJ   07042

973.746.2014

www.InsuranceAdvisorsNetwork.com

Alerts available at http://dankeppel.blogspot.com/

 

Employer quit matching your 401k?

Employer quit matching your 401k?

OK. Now you have to decide whether you will continue the contribution rate when they did match. Stocks are a bargain so they will compound faster over time. This is a time when it counts more that before the virus recession because stocks are on sale—average 20% off. Your best option is a tax-deferred IRA. You can open one anywhere but the larger fund companies have the lowest cost—0.04%. Your individual IRA acts like a 40lk: reduce income now. You can have the trustee take up to $6,000 from your checking account automatically. You control the amount and the costs as the market swings back to its growth mode. You will automatically gain 20% and as time passes; your compound interest will supercharge the growth. Over the next 25 years, your monthly contributions of $250 could become $400,000. And because you use a low-cost market fund, you avoid giving up 63% of your total potential accumulations.

IRA cost over 401k fees: https://www.amazon.com/Robbing-You-Blind-401k-fees/dp/1493588966

Congress people benefit from advance on virus recession

GA GOP Kelly Loeffler said she wouldn’t do anything different despite her moves looking like insider trading based on the virus recession of 2020. Her stock sales show they add up to $1.8 million profit on the C-19 market fall. The stocks sold have lost a 1/3 of their value, meaning the couple avoided taking a big hit on them. Under Trump’s new rules, they may end up paying no capital gains on their jackpot. Her husband Jeffrey Sprecher is a regular gambler in the markets. Other insider-trading kingpins include Sen. Richard Burr (R-N.C.) who claimed his winnings by selling $1.7 million in stocks just in time, while assuring the public that the U.S. was well positioned to withstand a pandemic. As the head of the intelligence committee, Burr has access to the government’s most highly classified information about threats to America’s security. His committee was receiving daily coronavirus briefings around this time, according to a Reuters story. There are many more Congress people engaged in illegal (for us) trading. Only one was caught and he gets home time not jail time. As you can imagine they are not held accountable since they write the exceptions to the laws.

Use legal tax avoidance: https://www.amazon.com/Tax-Credit-Class-your-credits-ZERO-tax/dp/1539462382

Suggestion list: What to do with your $1200

Hold on to it for essentials as the future is unknown. If you must have cash to buy an essential down the line, you have it. Doctors, landlords, lenders, utilities can wait—they have reserves and access to federal lending programs we don’t have. Many states are making evictions and shutoffs illegal. If you have been laid off, explore your health care options. Trump says he will pay hospitals for C-19 care but what if you break a leg running your part-time business or fighting to get into the grocery store. Use some of your money to start/expand a hobby. People need something to do at home so offer your hobby/book/toys/etc over Amazon eBay, Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, etc sales process. You may be allowed a tag sale in your front yard as long as you have 6 feet lines on ground. Better yet use Craig list. I sold an attic house fan that way once. Never take anything on the internet for truth without verify first. I go to 3 other sources before I click. My garden center sent me an email offer with link to see details. I emailed them directly and they confirmed it was a scam/phishing from theft of their email list. Explore your situation. Ask your employer for help: vacation pay; forward sick time, etc. Ask your vendor for a couple of months wait in writing.

Gov resources to help deal with virus recession:

VIDEO: CARES Act Mortgage Forbearance: What You Need to Know

Guide to coronavirus mortgage relief options

What you need to know about student loans and the coronavirus pandemic

Beware of scams related to the coronavirus

Online and mobile banking tips for beginners

Is your income down in 2020?

You are only working half the hours? Is your stimulus check paying for essentials and that is all the income you expect this year? If you expect to have less income this year, you can increase your take home pay by telling your employer to reduce the fed and state amounts for withholding for the rest of the year. Use IRS form W-4 https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/fw4.pdf to compute your withholding amount. Ask your employer to help you figure out the form since it was made more complicated last year. Even if you don’t have enough taken out this year, you will not be penalized next year since the penalty does not begin until you owe over $1,000. You need the money more than the government since they can print it and you can’t.

Save on financials: https://www.amazon.com/Financial-Bargain-Book-Save-3000/dp/1517264936

And you wonder why your fees are so high?

Goldman Sachs CEO David Solomon, after giving himself a raise in 2019 to $27.5 million, decided to buy two (2) Gulfstreams for $75 million each. A spokeswoman for Goldman said the purchase of the planes would save it money. Right, Father Christmas! Solomon will be at the Fed window taking the forgivable federal loans. The program was for critical aid to small businesses, including some advisors, who need the assistance to stay in business during the COVID-19 crisis. Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin told Fox Business that the loans should be able to cover about 50% of the private workforce. Goldman could have covered their workers but Solomon already spent the firm’s money. You could switch your accounts to low-cost Vanguard as many others are doing: $48.5 billion--more than four times its nearest competitor, BlackRock. Tell David NO.

Stop helping rich get richer: https://www.amazon.com/Millionaire-Mutual-Funds-Save-FEES-taxes/dp/1534939490

Do any of the virus bailout firms pay income taxes?

Boeing hasn’t paid taxes in years. They get guaranteed loans every year from ExIm bank. Recently they got $64 Billion from us. They got $13 Billion from state/local subsidies on top of the federal subsidies. Our taxes are still paying off these gifts. Other top welfare state firms include Nike, GM, Fiat, Ford, etc. Cruise lines don’t pay. Trump’s various businesses don’t pay. He personally deducted almost $1 Billion in losses which were carried forward for years. Rich people don’t pay taxes since they claim their income is from outside America. Yet they take most of the bailout money we will be paying off for the next 100 years. The real wealth is held by private equity owners and they don’t pay.

Most firms pay NO taxes: https://www.amazon.com/Most-U-S-Corporations-Pay-NO-Taxes/dp/1514274116

Most of us know we need financial planning but …

A study shows most of us trust ourselves—not advisors—for financial advice. We are smart enough to realize advisors are in it for the money. They want to be rich, not right. Since advisors can’t be right all the time about falling markets and when and where to invest, we take our own advice. So are we all currently in a panic? Most of us are happy to have a job. We are not gamblers. So who is causing these daily swings? So called Wall Street gurus—money managers who earn in the $ millions from our fees, want to richer so they must trade every minute. They try to escape a falling market so they can ride the ‘upside.’ However, as Bogle, Buffett and other students of success have taught, there is only investing over time and gambling. It is the gamblers who create the volatility. Some win their bets and others lose; just as it has been for all time.

https://www.amazon.com/Buffett-Bogle-Holy-Bible-Investment/dp/1523693045

Why file your taxes by April 15?

If you have refund, waiting gets you nothing. Could the IRS run out of money? Could gov computers make a mistake after April 15 because they did not get the email about extension to July 15? Is it possible there will be big delays since all the IRS and check printers are out of the office now in virus lockout? Just to avoid all the bad stuff, file now. Check your state for deadline. The federal and state filing 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. File now for refund: 90 day interest-free extension if you owe. https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-drop/n-20-18.pdf

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

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

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

Mobster son: the “federal” Strategic National Stockpile is “our stockpile,” His buildings 

NYC has to go to China for ventilators: Jared says federal ones are for “our stockpile”

Mobster has seized supply for his stockpile: gov stockpiles sitting in hidden warehouses

Genius Mobster decided: 'There will be a lot of death'

I still want football to start on time.

Real doctors don’t agree with Mob Boss prescribing malaria drug for all. $ Sanofi $

Mobster fires more watchdog inspector generals: he is “the only one that matters.”

Mob Boss fires the person responsible for stopping the bailout cheats

Trump Hotels Do Appear to Qualify for Coronavirus Bailout Benefits.

I could shoot someone or cancel Nov elections and not be accountable

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

10 M Job lost: Trump refuses to open ACA application process: death by bills: 1000 cuts

Oil company execs tell Trump: more bailout money since profits sink in oil glut.

Now you see them now you don’t: Gov hording masks or theft for resale to Red states

Congress on vacation during emergency: I’m laid off and can’t get health insurance

Congress could be writing law to fix 47,000 bridges about to collapse in every state.

Not a good Friday: GOP DEMs fight over helping states, hospitals, small biz. Politics

SCAMS/SPINS:

Testing sites may be scam: $250 for test may actually give you virus. Fake Medicaid claims. Jail?

Trump: cruise ships unload in FL: passengers fly home without testing/isolation: carriers?

Cardinal Health again involved in medical equipment failures: 60 Minutes caught them in 2016.

Immunity-boosting drugs are fake: only promoters healthier even QB Tom Brady sells snake-oil.

TX stayAThome except church, gun show, groceries, work, liquor, other ‘essentials’.

Twitter shuts 20,000 propaganda accounts: Maybe using twitter isn’t such a great idea

Trump GOP stifle accessible Nov 3 election; no easy voting. Dems outnumber GOP Fact

KY GOP outlaw DEMs vote: GOP to keep McConnell—but no history of ID fraud

WI Supremes bias for WI GOP: have election when DEMs are sick with C-19: Lines!

Gov lets robocallers scam us for another year: Ban signed last Jan has no enforcement.

Diets (except Med) benefits largely disappeared after 12 months. Lesser amounts works

Williams-Sonoma caught for deceptive ‘made in the USA’ claims fine $1 mil no jail

Which tweets are real: https://newslit.org/educators/sift/the-sift-conspiracy-outbreak-peril

Conservatives will do anything to stop abortions being available. And fair elections.

Fox’s Carlson admits: “When journalists work with numbers, there sometimes is an agenda.” Dead at home

‘Christian’ college sets arrest warrants for journalists who criticized it for reopening

China massive “wet markets” that sell live & dead animals for consumption reopen

Don’t listen to the Mobster’s lawyer Barr: you can get virus again: lawyers aren’t doctors

Jobs

Navy fires the truth-teller: whistleblower may have saved lives getting response quickly

Sailors do not need to die. If we do not act now we are failing to properly take care of our most trusted asset: our sailors

It is not smart to call a carrier commander ‘stupid’: His life is on the line not yours, Tom.

Funeral’s view of the future: think about it

Your self-employment business may qualify for forgivable loans too.

Lakers asking top execs to defer 20% of pay to avert layoffs: Every firm must follow lead

Boeing dumps 7,000 workers in SC plant after receiving $17 Billion from taxpayers

Apply small biz loan: https://www.mymoneyblog.com/bank-of-america-ppp-required-documentation.html

United Health to pay doctors/hospitals now, not normal 30 days: providers can focus on delivering needed care,”

Who owns your account now?

RMD from your account has been waived for 2020: no recoveries if already taken.

Insurers resist business-interruption coverage claims: loss due to virus excluded in some policies  

Student loan suspended payments and reducing interest to 0% through Sept. 30, 2020.

Get virus payment even if you don’t file: https://www.irs.gov/coronavirus/non-filers-enter-payment-info-here

Miracle:

Blood donors may save us: they survived C-19 and their blood may have answers

New drug may stop virus from duplicating: tests show possible antivirus pill

Why keeping your distance works: family wipeouts: 15 people infected 3 die 1 carrier

Truly the gods have blessed us: one man to ‘solve’ our problems arises from buildings.

Airlines forced to refund: CEOs can afford to take cut in pay.

GEICO, Allstate & American Family give back premium since no one is driving.

Court gets child abuser Cardinal out of jail: he wants ‘victim to suffer no more.’ Duh

My favorite: https://www.wizardingworld.com/collections/harry-potter-at-home

Church becomes hospital not virus-spreading center: pray like Jesus—alone.

DEMs all in for Joe but Cuomo looks stronger: virtual election loses HALF DEMs

Finally the city that never sleeps slept.  https://www.newyorker.com/culture/video-dept/new-york-citys-empty-streets

IAN

41 Watchung Plaza, B242

Montclair, NJ   07042

973.746.2014

www.InsuranceAdvisorsNetwork.com

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