Retirees will need to un-retire and go back to work

 

These money managers have “best” investments safeguards

These managers promise to safeguard your money for the next 10 years using Treasuries or high-yield bonds or gold or real estate. But what if equities regain their glow next year like they have in the past? Buffett’s strategy of buy and hold a low-cost S&P 500 index fund has proved his genius. This index is down 15% this year but in 2009 it was up 27.11% after being down in 2008 -37.22%; it was up in 2003 28.72% after down in 2002 -22.27%; it was up in 1991 30.95% after down in 1990 -3.42% and up in 1989 by 32%. This index provides over 11% over time and reflects every sector of the market. Recently it was dominated by the tech firms since it is structured along the current market capitalizations. But also recently, the Energy index soared. The index fund you pick must be a low-cost one so that you don’t give up HALF your gains to the seller over time.

No safeguards; just hype: https://www.amazon.com/Fact-based-Investing-first-million-hardest/dp/1977574270

 

Retirees will need to un-retire and go back to work

The National Institute on Retirement Security reports that almost 40 million households have no retirement savings. An October 2020 study by the Center for Retirement Research calculated median retirement account (401(k)/IRA) balances by age from Federal Reserve survey data. The average worker will receive about $412 a month by age 66. The average SS benefit is $1,544. Instead of investing in a ‘safe’ 5% investment option, you could use the low-cost S&P 500 index fund and receive $3,491 a month based on the historical average return of 10% a year. Starting late at age 35, you can easily cover your average expenses of $2,479 monthly. Here are the current numbers:

• 35 to 44: $51,000
• 45 to 54: $90,000
• 55 to 64: $120,000

The median retirement account balances will leave the average worker in need of another job during retirement. You could also use a special tax-FREE retirement account.

https://www.amazon.com/Tax-FREE-Retirement-code-lifetime-income/dp/1475206976

 

Options for your 401k, 403b retirement money if change jobs

To avoid ruining your retirement fund, there are several ways to preserve your tax advantaged accounts. You may be paying taxes and fees you don’t need to and thus canceling the Miracle of Compound. Buffett regards compounding as the key to his unparalleled asset accumulation of $109 Billion. Compounding is earning money on your money without doing a thing. You give up this strategy if you do not keep your nest egg growing AFTER you leave your job. Leaving your 401(k) account behind in a former-employer plan after changing jobs can cause participants to lose up to $7,000 in fees over the long term. If you keep your account’s tax-favored status by moving your funds from your old employer to a rollover IRA directly, you keep the Miracle working for you. Directly moving money from your old account to your new account by having your IRA trustee handle it, you avoid paying tax and fees on the balance. If you cash out or take possession of the lump sum, you will lose cash and also the Miracle. Example: your 401k is worth $150,000. You lose your job and take the money or you miss the deadline for a personal rollover. First your employer must deduct 10% and send it to the IRS. There may be a fee to close out your account and send you a check.

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

 

Another way Congress lets billionaires avoid taxes we pay

Ray Dalio money manager and the industrialist Koch family have pioneered philanthropy through the 501(c)(4). More than just a charity, it can avoid punishing taxes so they can become multi-billionaires. They don’t pay their fair share as we must. Congress allows them to retain business control even though giving to charity is supposed to the opposite. When we give to a charity, we don’t get to control the assets we gave. Because the wealthy retain control of the assets they got a tax deduction for, they can use the asset values to influence politics. Corporations can now give unlimited money to candidates and Congressional lobbyists. This means they can control how and where they spread influence. This is the most effective “dark money” political giving tool. We are limited to $2,900 gifts and so don’t even get an audience from out representatives. The C4 structure allows Patagonia’s Chouinard, 84, donated his company to create a new $3 billion environmental nonprofit that will exert influence long after his lifetime. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, a Rhode Island Democrat calls 501c4 an “increasingly powerful tool for mischief by the mega-rich.” We have one way to avoid paying their taxes.

https://www.amazon.com/New-American-Retirement-System-TaxFREE-ReserveTM/dp/1461030072

 

Is a Health Savings Account (HSA) right for you?

Many working people will enroll in a high-deductible health plan. That means that you are also eligible to contribute to a Health Savings Account (HSA), which has triple-tax-free benefits: tax-deductible contributions, tax-free earnings growth, and tax-free withdrawals when used for qualified medical expenses. This makes them better than even Traditional and Roth IRAs. You don’t give up your contributions each year (Flexible Spending Accounts) and you can use the funds in retirement to supplement your other retirement funds. There may be more health related expenses in retirement than when you were working. This makes this account very desirable. Find out more here.

Max out all your benefits: https://www.amazon.com/Maximize-Social-Security-Benefits-Retirement/dp/1495439224

 

How much should you invest for a decent retirement fund?

Most people have no idea how much and in which investment option they should be putting their hard-earned money into. Even though we never had a class about this important subject in high school, it becomes a critical and easily answered question. As a 30 year old in my first good job earning less than $10,000, I saved nothing. By 1988, I made about $15,000 and saved about 6% in Fidelity’s popular Magellan Fund because my boss showed me his statement’s gains. From then on I invested in stock growth funds inside my tax-advantaged 401k. Some employers matched my contributions and some did not. For those who did not, I put my now 8% into a tax-deferred IRA, taking the tax deduction which lowered my overall annual income tax. The stock market tumbled a few years but I did not know of any other alternative. Actually I tried to sell all my company fund shares during the beginning of the Gulf War but my broker did not follow my instructions. He tried to sell me a deferred annuity. This would have been a bad choice since the mutual funds soared 31% in 1991. I never used a broker after that. I moved everything to Vanguard since the fees were lower than all the other funds I owned. I stayed in growth stock funds for the rest of my working life. I owned about 10 different broad stock funds and really did well in 2021. I moved 50% of the total retirement funds to a balanced fund in 2000 and 2001 with no commissions. During my once-a-year review, I estimated my retirement income using Vanguard’s Retirement Income Calculator. Years before retirement, I used the Vanguard Nest Egg Calculator to make sure I would have enough to live on. If I started investing today, I would use the tax-FREE Roth IRA account instead. This would reduce my income taxes from other sources like Social Security benefits, which are taxable at my current income level.

 

Make sure you use all your credits and deductions

Certain credits may give you a refund even if you owe no taxes. Because the IRS does not tell you if you missed a credit or deduction and your preparer only looks for a refund of any size, you may be missing $hundreds in refunds. You need a basic knowledge to make sure you don’t overpay. In fact, you may avoid the tax prep fees if you can follow the basic pattern of your tax return from last year. Most people have the same income sources and expenses as previous years. So most income tax filings can be done by you for free with one of the sites authorized by the IRS: https://www.irs.gov/filing/free-file-do-your-federal-taxes-for-free or volunteers at https://www.irs.gov/individuals/free-tax-return-preparation-for-qualifying-taxpayers.   Saves you $323 or more.

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

 

 

 

?**********ACCOUNTABILITY**************?

 

 

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

 

 

The Path to Dictatorship: 2010-2030

 

Parallels of this era in the past may hint at our future: democracy breaks apart legally

 

 

Jan 21 2010 Corpor­a­tions’ election-spending unlim­ited

Billionaires paid $881 million for votes in 2022 midterm elections

 

Nov 2020 Wealthy discredit election process

 

Nov 21 2020 Trump’s Plans for a Coup: criminal

 

Nov 21 2020: Trump plan: US Marshals seize voting machines

 

Jan 6 2021 Direct assault failed: guns & bombs ready

 

Trump engaged in a "criminal conspiracy" to stop Biden

 

“I don’t f—ing care that they have weapons”

 

Trump was “detached from reality”

 

Trump used mafia-style intimidation on the defenseless

 

Parscale: “a sitting president asking for civil war.”

 

Trump: “Just say the election was corrupt and leave the rest to me” 

 

GOP fascism: “RINO hunt armed; no bagging limit” J6 comm threat

 

Trump’s Supremes END personal rights & state laws except for weapons WMDs

 

Fascism: GOP to stop women leaving state for abortion

 

It’s not a court. It’s a junta: Two Americas

 

Trump: President Biden is 'enemy of the state'

 

Christian Nationalist Party (CNP) replaces GOP

 

Nov 8 2022 Trump’s “national revolution” failed

 

Nov 15 2022 Trump announces for 2024 to avoid lawsuits

 

Jan 2025 Dictator pardons himself: his Supremes agree

 

 

How Govt wastes our money:

606 people killed by neighbors: can America’s reps stand up to war gun fantasy

 

 

SCAMS/SPINS:

Trump going with anti-Semitism this time: he and Nazis plan to take over US in ‘24

Terrorist guilty: Oath Keepers leader found guilty of trying to overthrow our gov

So far, 912 terrorist charged with crimes, 492 convicted of trying to overthrow gov

 

RECALL Lead: Sippy cups sold at Whole Foods, Amazon recalled due to lead poisoning 

Baby formula in short supply until Spring 2023

 

Tesla on autopilot repeatedly hits a child mannequin in stroller

Musk wants to put chip in our brains: what could go wrong?

 

Overcharges on your internet/cable: tricks get us to pay more

Internet tax preparers sending data to Facebook:

European Central Bank: Bitcoin is being artificially propped up: not legit

 

Loan Doctor caught promised guaranteed interest rates between 5% and 6.25%: refunds

 

 

How to stop corrupt Supreme Court: Supremes get perks from rich; give advance notice

“Grandparent scam”: You get a call from someone pretending to be your child/grandchild

 

Jobs

the-fastest-growing-jobs-for-2022

 

Who owns your account now?

Car models retiring: you might consider another brand

Elon Musk’s losses for 2022 topped $100 billion: I feel better about my account

Smoking among young adults fell from 35 percent to 12 percent during the past 20 years

 

Miracles:

Most boring game: World Cup: U.S. 0-0 England play to a scoreless draw

Hemgenix new Hemophilia B one-time gene therapy product producing Factor IX  

Toledo City OH will use American Rescue Plan to buy out medical debt for residents. 

 

Lung Cancer Screening Can Catch Tumors When They're Curable

Dallas to ban gas mowers to cut noise, co2 pollution

Same Sex supported by 19 Republicans. Thirty-six GOP do not believe in equality

 

Robot removes a 2.3-inch cancerous tumor from a 61-year-old's throat

 

 

 

 

 

Our Universe is Mind-Blowing

Light is both a particle and a wave depending on how we look at the light.

I don’t think that there is any such thing as a position or a velocity of a particle.

Everything (galaxies to stones) in universe made of subatomic energy ‘vibrations’

A subatomic ‘particle’ is the smallest possible vibration (quantum) of a quantum field.

 

Mass–energy equivalence: E=mc^2.  At the smallest level; Everything is moving a little

Energy into matter: scientists converted light energy directly into matter in one step

Physics Nobel Prize: “entanglement” 2 particles share info instantly at a distance

“It may be that gravity and quantum mechanics are exactly the same thing,” Leonard Susskind

Gravity might induce the collapse of quantum vibrations into 1 quantum state—our world

 

There is no TIME at this level because of force fields come and go in all directions. 

Universe expanding: events may not come together like they did before.

Inside protons, neutrons, it is the fields of the virtual particles that creates its mass.

“Empty space is a boiling, bubbling brew of virtual particles that pop in and out of existence in a time scale so short that you can’t even measure them.” Space expanding.

The electricity we use comes from the field around the wire not from election itself.

Scientists build 'baby' wormhole as sci-fi moves closer to fact: inside quantum computer

 

 

 

@

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

973.746.2014

www.InsuranceAdvisorsNetwork.com

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

Unbiased financial leaders say use a fiduciary not advisor/broker

 

Flaw in ban on Surprise Medical Bills

If you have a medical emergency, you will no longer need to worry about a large bill from a doctor you did not choose—MAYBE. The 2022 “No Surprises Act” is supposed to protect us against most surprise out-of-network medical bills. For Good Samaritans who donate organs this has always been the rule. However, because of the complexity of dealing with 4 or more institutions regarding medical procedures and their medical billing procedures, you may get caught in a fight with bill collectors they sell the ‘receivables’ to. (Remember, bill collectors get paid to collect the debt they purchased, not to correct a mistake a previous institution made.) Also, know that our Reps gave some providers’ lobbyists a break in which charges are exempt from the law. The ambulance industry CAN charge you even if you didn’t pick the one the in-network institution uses. Another example: I just got a bill from a provider I did not pick. My doctor immediately called in his favorite X-ray person in the same building to do my X-ray since I was in need and the machine was down the hall. So in our medical system, each entity that provides something; anything; that can be coded (an aspirin, X-ray, swab kit, glove, cold/hot pack, etc etc) will add to our bill. If you look at your hospital bill, you will be shocked to find an aspirin can cost $30. If you insist on brand Tylenol instead, it costs more. A trip to the hospital can cost more than a bomb the Air Force pays to arm its fighters.

 

What we regret most

Regret: I wish I had done something or not done something in the past. In The Power of Regret, Daniel Pink asked 16,000 in 105 countries about their top regrets. People regret not building a strong foundation — that is, not saving money early, not being prudent," Pink says. "With financial regrets, they're less about not hitting a home run and more about not regularly getting on base." It is TIME in the market not brilliant advisor stock picking that builds wealth. No advisor can be right all the time so in the long run, you lose more than you gain. The average advisor-managed account earned just 3.79% vs 11% for a pure low-cost stock market index fund. It is the high fees and bad market timing that ruins your investment plans. Starting early, using your average tax refund or $250 a month in a low-cost stock index fund like Warren Buffett recommends provides your best chance of providing an above average retirement income.  

Avoid advisor fees: https://www.amazon.com/New-American-Retirement-System-ReserveTM/dp/1461030072

 

Why unbiased financial leaders say use a fiduciary

A fiduciary is a person or organization that acts on behalf of another person or persons, putting their clients' interests ahead of their own, with a duty to preserve good faith and trust. Being a fiduciary thus requires being bound both legally and ethically to act in the other's best interests. This is the kind of person you want to handle your money and life choices. Otherwise you become an ongoing meal ticket for a salesperson and their firm’s owner. Fidelity owners, the Johnson family, have a net worth of 36 Billions. They did not get to that level working 9 to 5. They take fees every year from your savings and investment accounts (if your money is at Fidelity). On the other hand, Vanguard Group of funds is owned by its investors. You get financial products and services at cost: No middle person fees and charges. Low-cost stock index funds, like Warren Buffett recommends, provide you with your best chance of gaining an above average retirement income. Earn market rates of return not the Johnson’s rate. I don’t work for Vanguard. I moved my money from Fidelity because I earn more at Vanguard. They just cut their fees again—Target Retirement Funds—1/5^th the cost of others. I keep more!

Buy at cost and save: https://www.amazon.com/Fiduciary-Rule-BEST-dont-anymore/dp/1530980275

 

Another way wealth people make us pay their taxes

Passing on $ billions tax-FREE to the kids who never have to work and contribute to our society. Shale King Harold Hamm Is Passing Billions To His Heirs Tax-Free. If the kids don’t pay taxes on their $2.3 billions, we will be stuck paying for the courts, highways, airports, and armed forces they depend on. His lawyers carefully structure transactions so they benefit heirs but aren’t technically gifts at all. Thus no gift or estate taxes are paid. Yet he controls the company that provides the wealth. Filings show Hamm used an LLC and more than a dozen different trusts to complete the transfers. Phil Knight used a variety of techniques to move billions of dollars to his family tax-free. Eric Yuan transferred $6 billion worth of shares to unspecified beneficiaries for “estate planning” reasons last March. Late casino mogul Sheldon Adelson shuffled shares of Las Vegas Sands Corp. in and out of more than 30 trusts to pass along at least $7.9 billion to family members. Cosmetics heiress Jane Lauder became an overnight billionaire in 2013 when she received L’Oreal SA shares worth more than half a billion dollars. Our so-called ‘representatives’ wrote the tax laws that let them pay NOTHING. You have one way to avoid paying THEIR taxes.

Use your legal tax-FREE account: https://www.amazon.com/Your-Wealth-ReserveTM-Tax-FREE-Investment/dp/1484954882

 

If you earn less than $100,000 a year, start investing NOW

The only way to have enough income in retirement is to start early. Why? Because most working people need time for the Miracle of Compounding to accumulate a large nest egg. It takes large contributions or a long time to have enough retirement assets to live on later. For instance, investing $250 a month for 35-40 years will provide a retirement income of about $45,000 for 30 years. You would need to triple that—or invest $750 a month—if you only have 25 years left to invest. If you wait to start, you will need $2,500 a month for 15 years to reach your goal. This assumes you can earn 10% a year on average in a low-cost stock market index account. This is the type recommended by Warren Buffett. If you rely on a high-fee broker/advisor, it may not be possible to reach your goal at their average of 5.19% annual earnings. Low cost beats high cost over time.

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

 

Take all your special 2021 credits to offset taxes

2021 was a difficult year for most working Americans. Take all your credits: Child and Dependent Care Credit was supercharged through the 2021 American Rescue Plan. Parents can receive a tax credit worth as much as $8,000 — nearly four times the previous limit of $2,100. The Child Tax Credit provided funds throughout the year but some families may have been shortchanged. The expanded Child Tax Credit, by comparison, provides $3,600 for each child under six and $3,000 for children between 6 to 17. The fact that the tax credit is also fully refundable is important because it could boost the tax refund that many parents receive this year, experts say. Tax credits are dollar-for-dollar reductions in a person's tax liability, versus deductions that lower a person's overall taxable income. Save the $300-$600 tax prep cost by doing your tax return using IRS-approved tax software via IRS free file. Or AARP free tax prep. Do not mail your return since IRS is still processing 2019 paper returns. I just got my refund!

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

 

Social Security is the best annuity available

Insurance companies make a lot of money from annuities because you receive less than you invest with them. Yes, you are guaranteed payments for the rest of your life but unless you pay more now, your benefit will be cut by inflation over time. That means you receive less and less each month in buying power. At current levels of inflation your benefit will be worth about HALF the current payments in 20 years. Compare SS benefits: annual inflation protection—in 2022, benefits were increased by 5.9% at no extra cost to you. There is no policy charge, commission, admin fees, surrender charges, mortality expenses, investment expenses, or inflation rider fee. You can also create a low-cost income stream like an annuity to supplement your SS benefits.

Use the best: https://www.amazon.com/Best-Annuity-Strategy-Income-Growth/dp/1497532019

 

 

 

?**********ACCOUNTABILITY**************?

 

 

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

 

 

The Path to Dictatorship: 2010-2030

 

GOP guarantees itself a win

 

More subpoenas

 

 

How Govt wastes our money:

Ukraine the new Korea? Putin takes HALF (East of Dnieper) to save face at home

100 more incidents involving counterfeit parts in nuclear power plants in 2021

Manchin’s political veto gives friends $ millions in lobbying fees: making them wealthy

 

GOP asks truckers to come block highways in US: Putin hacker firm invites chaos

Another costly vacation: House returns to work Feb. 28 after Presidents Day recess.

IRS Adds Four “No Rule” Areas for Trusts Estates: wealthy avoid taxes; we pay their tax

 

 

SCAMS/SPINS:

WI Trumpers ban ballot drop boxes: WI supremes help GOP win elections

TX rejects thousands of ballots for primary: GOP secures win before election

Billionaire pays to oust GOP reps who voted to impeach dictator Wannabe: follow cash

 

Two MS whites chase Black FedEx driver in truck: 5 shots: another hate crime?

CA deputy shot Black homeless man in struggle for jaywalking arrest: no charges

FL former cop kills man in phone-in-theater dispute: ‘stand your ground’ defense

 

NYC employees comply with vaxx mandate or face losing their jobs: 940,000 dead

Employees don’t fight mandate for driving, guns, seatbelts, recycle, dog poop, taxes, etc

500 unruly passenger incidents first six weeks of 2022: GOP cancels US do-not-fly list

Is Putin trying to divide us again: fake Trump letter, fake crops, fake food supply chain

Zero Hedge, 1.2 million Twitter followers, published Moscow propaganda as truth

 

Volvo now owned by Geely, Chinese billionaire business magnate Li Shufu.

Fake ‘vintage’ goods sold are really new: ads for fake vintage stuff: get nothing

Russell Joseph Mutter caught $3.3 million financial fraud, fake statements 16 yrs prison

Mark Boucher, CA, caught stealing $2.2 mil by forging signatures, wire transfers, etc

Kenneth A. Welsh NJ caught stealing $1.9 mil fake wire transfers; arrest

CO elections clerk is sued after passing on voting data to groups behind disinformation

 

 

Royals pay up for Andy’s sex with minor accusation: it’s good to have Queen behind you

 

Hertz caught getting car renters arrested after mistakenly filing stolen vehicle report

 

Football $ 1 billion online gambling boom changes fans into transaction action addicts

NFL censured Super’s half-time show so some wouldn’t be offended: listen carefully.\

Email from Chase: review your contact info: but I don’t have a Chase account: scammer

Scammers reach $800 average take: can you spot them coming after you? Gov can’t

 

Chrysler now ‘Stellantis’ recalls 19,808 plug-in Pacifica Hybrid: charging fires

Tesla sued for killing driver when it ran into fire truck by itself: blinking lights attract

Sandy Hook families win $73 million vs Remington but Remington is bankrupt!

 

 

NFT marketplace shuts, citing 'rampant' fakes, plagiarism; so much for online only views

 

Trump and his two eldest children must comply with AG order to testify: take 5^th 500 X

Trump’s accountant: his businesses cooked the books, “inflated property values”

 

Trump threatens Clinton advisor with death for spying

 

Jobs

The adverts without the football on Sunday: vote on your favorite: $7 million/30 sec.

Some jobs can be done from anywhere if you have the right training or attitude

Citigroup head got 32% increase to cover inflation years in advance: live on $22 mil?

 

Least cost accredited college degrees: MBA, M Ed, MSIT

 

Who owns your account now?

Insurers push Congress to allow annuities as investment’s default: high fees cut earnings

“Americans can exercise Constitutional rights without hiring high-priced lawyer or lobbyist”

Investors not families buying up homes in critical areas in each city

 

New tax we paid to gambling industry: 2021 the highest-grossing year ever: $53 billion 

4 free Covid tests sent to your home: https://www.covidtests.gov/

Some student loan cancellations: fraud rampant in some: DeVry  ITT Technical Minnesota Business/Globe .

 

Miracles:

February 12: 49* at 8 AM northern NJ. Forty nine going to SIXTY! Warming?

Western US draught worst in 1200 years: hottest superbowl ever

This is how royals cut cake: stab down like killing a vampire

 

Space weather took out 40 SpaceX satellites: don’t look into the sun directly

Skaters using drugs OK as long as they use own script and grandpa’s and under age

MIT makes $4 water desalination machine: fresh water for the world

 

Eastern cities hit regularly with costly floods as sea rises faster next 30 years

Flowering plants multiplying in Antarctica as the climate crisis has warmed the summers

Woman Appears to Be Entirely Cured of HIV

 

 

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/

 

Save $3,000 this year on financials for a brighter tomorrow

Save $3,000 this year on financials for a brighter tomorrow

My future nest egg is always my concern at the start of a year. Where can I find a permanent $3,000 a year to increase my future Wealth Reserve? I use my tax refund. I shop for lower car, house and liability insurance. I ask for a better price on my phone, TV and Internet deal. Yesterday I bought stamps for the year because the price is going from 50 to 55 cents—that’s 10% Mr Trump! This doesn’t save much but it is the principle I value. I told the clerk Allan that we will just mail fewer cards if he keeps raising prices. I will buy more soup this week as it is on sale—10 for $8.99. I already stopped my life insurance, annuity, accident and disability at work. We dropped TurboTax in favor of FreeTaxUSA. We shifted to gas from electric appliances. The largest cut was in moving all our high-rate debts to a HELOC at 3.49%. Our student loan interest is still deductible so we kept that. We gave up our brokerage account and non-Vanguard mutual funds and moved them all to Vanguard for their lower Admiral expense rate averaging 0.11%. We have moved most of our money to the lower end with 500 Index and Wellesley Income funds. Our brokerage and non-Vanguard funds cost over 1% or $2,500 a year. We bought stocks on sale in December for future gains.

We estimate adding another $150,000 to our Wealth Reserve over time: https://www.amazon.com/Build-Wealth-Without-Extra-Money/dp/1448677505

Check ALL your tax credits

2018 was first year of the new Trump tax rules. Don’t leave it up to your preparer to find all your credits. Use the Trump administration as your guide to pay less. Find your tax credits and pay Zero tax like Jared. One year, The Don had $916 million tax LOSS on paper so he paid NO taxes for up to 18 years. If you have any kind of business, take his new 20% pass-thru deduction against your income. Other deductions/credits include education, medical, savings, electric cars, child, etc. Trump had the IRS create 6 new Schedules so that he could boast that he made the ‘post card’ tax return. HE LIED. Truth is he just created more paper. 1040 looks like the old EZ-1040 which is eliminated. Now with more schedules and worksheets, a middle-income joint return will be over 25 pages up from 15. Since most preparers use a software package, the winners are the paid preparers who charge by the page. Our average cost is now $250-300. The least expensive way to file is to use the IRS approved preparers at Free File. Some have no income limits: File advanced and simple federal taxes for free.

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

Another way you and I can’t avoid taxes like the wealthy do

When you are really wealthy, you can hide some of your assets and gains inside an insurance policy. For non-taxable income you use policy loans. Athletes, celebrities, and family offices are embracing private placement life insurance to avoid taxes and create a family legacy. Investments that produce earnings taxed as regular income are the best candidates to put in these policies. For insurers, these multi-million dollar contracts carry reduced fees justified by size. 0.7% on $3 million is worth more than 1.5% on $ ½ million normal life. All gains on the $3,000,000 are tax free. The Treasury estimated in October that it will lose about $166 billion over the next decade by not taxing insured death benefits. One tax shelter is available to avoid paying the taxes the wealthy avoid.

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

Is your company the best place to save for retirement?

“They did everyone dirty,” said Kilby Baker, 70, a retired warehouse worker whose pension check was cut by about 25 percent after Marsh Supermarkets withdrew from the pension. The owners got all their money back in the bankruptcy—taking the workers’ pensions  with them. Even a large business like Marsh fell victim to private equity buy-outs. Maybe using your firm’s 401k isn’t so smart after all. Unless your company is providing a contribution match, an IRA with low-cost funds may be a smarter move. An IRA can provide tax-deferred savings with direct debit from your checking account. Your trustee does the investing for you by using a low-cost Target Date fund or broad stock fund. You can reduce the income that gets taxed just like a 401k. You avoid the plan fees charged by some 401k administrators. You use the investment strategy recommended by Warren Buffett. Your IRA is protected from your firm and your personal creditors. You avoid your company stealing your money. Sears pensioners may be next.

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

Why are retirement plans failing most of us?

When we change jobs, almost HALF of us cash out our retirement funds. Most of us have no savings to tide us over to the next job so we spend our ‘future’ security. Cashing out is possibly the single most harmful decision to achieving a financially secure retirement that an employee can make — next to not contributing at all. The penalty and back taxes are the least of the problem. About 22% of active and contributed defined-contribution participants will change jobs each year. Of these job changers, Retirement Clearinghouse reports some 41% will cash out their retirement plan. We give up $250,000 or more by not allowing our money to compound in a low-cost stock fund. Based on the average stock market (S&P 500) earnings of 11% a year, our $25,000 cash out could have grown to $1 million if we had just left it alone for 40 years. Even at $12,500, our cash out would grow to $247,967 in 30 years at 10% even if we never added another dime. As Warren Buffett said: “My wealth has come from a combination of living in America, some lucky genes, and compound interest.” It is compounding over time that makes wealth.

Don’t give up your ‘future’: https://www.amazon.com/Miracle-Compounding-Turn-day-into/dp/1470176513

McConnell’s GOP calls for cuts in our Social Security and Medicare

Now that the Dems own the House, GOP is worried about paying for the WALL and the tax breaks and $17 Trillion debt so they want Dems to be blamed for cuts. We can avoid the cuts by using a legal tax shelter for working people. We can avoid paying for some of this huge overspending by putting our retirement money in an IRS-approved tax shelter. We then avoid tax on the money and the earnings after age 59 ½. We don’t need a lawyer or offshore account to avoid the future taxes and cuts in SS and Medicare. We can rely on our compounded earnings. $3,000 a year goes into the account over time and $1,000,000 comes out tax FREE. We spend it all with no increased taxes. SS benefits get reduced in 2034 so we need a supplement. We avoid paying for the tax breaks for the rich too.

https://www.amazon.com/Forget-Social-Security-Medicare-Lifestyle/dp/1466394285

How did you do in 2018?

Our clients use Vanguard funds to maintain a broad diversified portfolio which has provided over 11% total returns for years. 2018 was negative 7.7%--not as bad as some years like 2008 not as good as others like 2013. Since the overall market has produced a steady 10-12% over any 10 year period, we consider it the safest place for our long-term funds. Even in retirement, our clients are counting on equities to maintain a higher return than the alternatives. Above all, we consider low-cost in any investment to be key. Our clients have learned over time that neither moving in and out of the market nor putting money in hot topics has worked out well for them. There is no guarantee for the future but inflation requires more than a bank CD.

2018 Total Return Fund                    Long-term Return Longevity

-4.4%              500 Index                     10.7%* since 1976

-17.1%            Energy              9.8% since 1984

-9.4%              Extended Market          10.2% since 1987

1.2%                Health                          16.0% since 1984

-12.7%            International Growth     10.1% since 1981

-1.9%              PRIMECAP                 13.4% since 1984

-9.3%              Small Cap Index           10.4% since 1960

-2.6%              Wellesley Income         9.6% since 1970

-12.5%            Windsor                       11.0% since 1958

-8.9%              Windsor II                    10.2% since 1985

-7.7%                                                  Average 11.1%

*Average Annual Returns as of 12/31/18.

They are not bored by holding Vanguard’s Top Ten:

https://www.amazon.com/Vanguards-Top-Ten-mutual-funds/dp/150073909X

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Make America, “The Don”, Great Again

Senile Psychosis or Parkinson’s delusions?

Truth isn’t truth, his lawyer

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

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

J F Kennedy was 43 when he beat Nixon

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

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

Exiting lawmakers become high-priced lobbyists to steal money from us for their firms.

GOP leaves dirty work of fixing gov to Dems—spending to help worker-citizens.

Trump scraps Obama oil-train brakes so more spills more likely to occur. Penny wise …

SCAMS/SPINS:

WealthFront & Hedgeable caught making false statements/fake adverts etc

Comcast caught overcharging & underperforming; fraud on equipment and cards.

Fraud rampant on theme of bogus requests for funds from your relatives/firms/lottery.

Catholic bishops avoid action on their child sexual abuse by praying on it at the shore.

Summit Equities NJ caught mishandled personal information selling to 3^rd party.

John Schmidt OH WellsFargo caught stealing elderly $1 million Ponzi 2006-2017 years. 

Jeremy Drake, LA, HCR caught stealing $1.5 million from clients in fees: jail?

WellsFargo to stop charging for insurance customers did not order or want.

WellsFargo caught foreclosing on homeowner they should have helped.

Mutual Omaha caught overcharging its own employees for 401k plan.

BEWARE: Cardless ATM may cost more than they are worth. No cards, no drivers, no -?

As promised: Don could kill someone on 5^th Ave--not lose voters: 33% say 4 more years.

The Don lies to the troops too. Real fake news: “10% pay raise” is BS. Con the military?

Trump is dishonest and immoral according to generals. Some would not work for him.

Trump, the myth, created by Mark Burnett, will return to his 1-man carnival show soon

The Con Man claims Dems to blame for all problems but we have the video tape.

Con Man still claims Mexico will pay for the WALL but insists on $5.6 B to save face

War is on: Liz Warren 1^st to challenge ‘Don The Con Man’ in 2020. Turning point era.

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:

Hiring remains strong despite Wall Street: Those who gave up are coming back.

Who owns your account now?

Tired of high-price tax prep plans: import data to FreeTaxUSA and pay just 12.95 state.

CO will try public health insurance option for poor counties

Miracle:

7 year old has found homes for 1,400 abandoned dogs: OK, everyone can do 1 good turn!

America’s big heart coming to the rescue of others in medical need: Medicare for All!

Gladys West's work on GPS 'would impact the world' but black women were ignored.

IAN

41 Watchung Plaza, B242

Montclair, NJ   07042

973.746.2014

www.InsuranceAdvisorsNetwork.com

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