Tax evaders' loophole

Tax evaders who renounce US don’t get help

Should we defend their foreign property and CEOs if attacked? Medtronic Is Biggest Yet to Renounce U.S. Tax Citizenship. Medtronic takes a legal address in tax-friendly Ireland as part of a $42.9 billion takeover of Covidien Plc (Tyco). Although Covidien is run from Mansfield, Massachusetts, it’s been incorporated in Ireland since 2009.

Minneapolis-based Medtronic joins some 44 American companies that have reincorporated abroad or struck plans to do so, including 14 in a recent wave of moves that began in 2012. Earlier this year, Pfizer Inc., the largest U.S. drugmaker, briefly proposed taking a U.K. address, a move that might have cut its tax bills by as much as $1 billion a year.

Will Ireland pay for US marines if needed at Medtronic’s non US factory?

Avoid paying their tax bill: http://www.amazon.com/Tax-FREE-Wealth-How-laws-free/dp/1475089236/

Clintons evade taxes yet talk the opposite—wealthy hypocrisy

Bill and Hillary Clinton have long supported an estate tax to prevent the U.S. from being dominated by inherited wealth. That doesn’t mean they want to pay it. To reduce the tax pinch, the Clintons are using financial planning strategies befitting the top 1 percent of U.S. households in wealth. These moves, common among multimillionaires, will help shield some of their estate from tax at 40 percent of assets upon death.

No one seems to pay their fair share, so save tax-FREE: http://www.amazon.com/Only-little-people-pay-taxes/dp/1478222441/

Will you have enough retirement income?

Use this calculator to illustrate if you will have enough retirement income by earning 8-10% on your contributions. How many years will it take to have enough to live on?

This calculator shows you how much retirement income your accumulation will provide after years of growth. It estimates your future buying power compared to your current one. It assumes you pay no taxes each year and your fees are low. It assumes your current income will rise with 3% inflation and then converts your nest egg into income stated in today's dollars. Your 30-year nest egg should last for 30 years or more:  https://www.createspace.com/4851942

Brokers/advisors steal employees’ nest eggs

A three-month investigation found that former employees at major companies have complained that brokers lured them into rolling over their 401(k) nest eggs into unsuitable IRA investments. Some lost $ thousands while salesperson got rich and won trips. Regulators have delayed requirement that product sale must be “best” for client not salesperson. Use the Buffett strategy: http://www.amazon.com/Warren-Buffetts-Vanguard-Funds-Retirement/dp/1496148592

1% grew 15% in 2013—how about you?

Individuals with investible assets of more than $1 million grew by 15% in 2013, while combined wealth grew by almost 14% to reach a record high of $56.6 trillion, according Capgemini and RBC Wealth Management. North America’s high-net-worth population expanded by 16% to 4.33 million in 2013, while Asia’s grew by 17% to reach 4.32 million. In Asia, people in the high-net-worth category saw their wealth increase by 18% to $14.2 trillion last year, while the same category in North America saw an increase in wealth of 17% to $14.9 trillion. Asia due to lead in 2014.  Make your own Tax-FREE fund: http://www.amazon.com/The-New-American-Retirement-System/dp/1461030072

Companies that evade taxes--Will you pay their share?

Verizon, Pepco, PG&E, NiSource, Wisconsin Energy, GE, Tenet Health, American Electric, Priceline

http://www.amazon.com/Tax-FREE-Wealth-How-laws-free/dp/1475089236

Supremes revoke parent legacy to heirs

On June 12, 2014, a unanimous Supreme Court ruling claimed that “inherited Individual Retirement Accounts” are not shielded from creditors in bankruptcy proceedings. The ruling comes from a Wisconsin case where a couple declared bankruptcy yet wanted to prevent creditors from going after a $300,000 IRA that was inherited from a passing parent. Previously, bankruptcy law typically protected retirement assets from the reach of creditors. Your spouse inheritance of IRA is still protected. You just can’t leave IRA to the kids for future. Right trust may work. Better to give your IRA in small amounts and let them put it in their own Tax-FREE fund: http://www.amazon.com/The-New-American-Retirement-System/dp/1461030072

Tax evaders get great deal

The IRS has rolled out important changes to its offshore account amnesty programs. More than 45,000 taxpayers have fixed their tax problems via the IRS programs, paying about $6.5 billion in taxes, interest and penalties. As FATCA and global bank transparency kick in July 1, 2014, the IRS can expect even more mea culpas. But one group unhappy with the rules so far has been expats. Americans abroad have long complained that they have foreign accounts for legitimate reasons and shouldn’t be penalized for technical reporting failures.

Pay your fair share: Zero retirement income taxes: http://www.amazon.com/Your-Retirement-Portfolio-Tax-FREE-Income/dp/1483994090

Is income inequality getting worse?

The two U.S. counties with the worst income inequality couldn't be more different. No. 1 is Manhattan. The second is a rural Native American reservation in North Dakota.

Polls show inequality to be a growing public concern. A Pew Research Center survey this year found 65 percent of all Americans believed inequality was growing, and Gallup found similar results. Partisan differences abound: 90 percent of Democrats in the Pew poll thought there was "a lot" or "some" actions government could take about inequality. Half of Republicans said there was "not much" or "nothing" government could do.

We have only one way to beat inequality according to Warren Buffett. $100 a month can become $250,000: http://www.amazon.com/Warren-Buffetts-Investment-Strategy-Forget/dp/1484822900

GOP crazies

House passes tax breaks for the rich that costs over $600 Billion without including offsets so the projected deficit for 2014 -- $492 billion -- would be doubled. "It's really so interesting to see: We must have unemployment insurance extension paid for, but hundreds of billions of dollars in tax breaks not paid for," House dems said. The cost of making tax gifts permanent is proving to be prohibitive—almost $1 trillion over the next decade. But many of the breaks are so popular or important that lawmakers are reluctant to eliminate them.

Where is fiscal responsibility? In campaign coffers by now!

Is the “new” uncapped index annuity right for you?

Uncapped indexes, as the name suggests, don't use index caps to limit returns. But that doesn't mean that clients are now able to grab equity-like returns from this fixed income product. Rather, carriers use another lever to limit the returns in the form of a spread.

So insurers have changed the name to trick us into buying equity-indexed annuities but we know they are not going to lose money. “With uncapped strategies, if the market is up by 30%, by the time you work through the formula and subtract the spread, the client will get about 8% or 9%,” he said. Clients need to understand that “uncapped” doesn't mean that they'll get equity-like returns, but rather they may beat the capped strategy by 1% to 1.5%, as one analyst confessed. Best annuity: http://www.amazon.com/The-Best-Annuity-Strategy-Income/dp/1497532019/

ObamaCare to double insureds in 2015

The number of Americans who buy ObamaCare health insurance in the next Open Enrollment period will far surpass the eight million who enrolled in plans earlier this year, according to an analysis by HealthCare.com. "We expect between 12-16 million people will purchase plans during the next Open Enrollment period which starts on November 15, 2014 and ends on February 15, 2015," said Jeff Smedsrud, CEO of HealthCare.com. "This surge in activity will demand that both private companies and federal and state marketplaces become more efficient in serving new buyers of ObamaCare." Smedsrud notes, however, that some of those who previously enrolled have already discontinued their plans, a typical occurrence in the individual health market.

"About 20% of individuals do not pay their initial premium and historically between 3-4 percent of those with plans drop coverage each month as they migrate to new jobs, have a change in their income or family status, or determine they no longer need it, etc. Despite reforms to the individual market, this normal churn is continuing," Smedsrud said.

Buy ONLY what you need and save: http://www.amazon.com/Health-Insurance-ONLY-right-policy/dp/1480125083

Look for higher premiums for your CUV?

“Compact CUVs had the highest number of thefts by class, but the high dollar value premium SUV class was the most unrecovered,” NICB said. With 15,785, CUVs had more thefts than SUVs, with 5,926. CUV thefts rose 31 percent from the prior report, while SUV thefts decreased by 25 percent, NICB said. Compact CUVs were the most popular with thieves with 6,981 being reported stolen. Out of the SUV classes, Large SUVs had the most thefts with 2,902, NICB said. The top five sport utility vehicles and crossover utility vehicles reported stolen between Jan. 1, 2010 and Dec. 31, 2013 are the Ford Escape, Ford Edge, Ford Explorer, Jeep Grand Cherokee and the Kia Sorento.

All have alarms too. Use all your discounts: http://www.amazon.com/Vehicle-Insurance-Beware-Double-Coverage/dp/1480027634

Merrill gauged seniors and got caught … this time

Bank of America Merrill Lynch slapped with an $8 million fine and ordered to pay $89 million in restitution for failing to waive mutual fund sales charges for certain charities and retirement accounts. Most of the mutual funds waive certain fees for eligible retirement plans and charities. But the firm failed to make sure its advisers were properly applying those waivers to as many as 28,800 accounts.

Don’t leave it to regulators to stop broker theft: http://www.amazon.com/Wealth-Without-Wall-Street-Commissions/dp/1442168137

6 popular cars to avoid when you shop--Surprises

They drove real models they purchased so you get the real skinny on benefits. The alternatives are also mentioned. You will not expect some of the reviews based on reliability, handling, ride, etc.  

https://autos.yahoo.com/news/6-popular-cars-avoid-130000172.html

Coastal homes’ premiums rise to luxury level

Property insurance policies are costlier in coastal counties because hurricanes create higher losses, insurance companies and state regulators maintain, but a grassroots homeowners' group in Alabama says the actual cost is greatly exaggerated. Insist on all your discounts: http://www.amazon.com/Homeowners-Insurance-Beware-Coverage-Policy/dp/1480100870

50 new changes in the way we do things—SURPRISE!

http://www.cnbc.com/id/101734664

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.

Are pension ‘loans’ right for you?
AARP reports on retirees signing over their pension payments for years in return for a ‘lump sum advance.’ Some pay $100,000 over time for $40,000 today. That is over 100% interest. This is a desperate act. So called ‘settlement’ firms target vets and other public service workers with solid DB pensions. Some transactions are illegal and some may void Medicaid benefits. Banks turn people down so the scam predators come out. Some states are trying to help. Banks get free money from taxpayers but don’t make loans to needy.

Pennsylvania has Low Marks for Serving Older, Disabled Residents

AARP Pennsylvania today warned that a new study ranking Pennsylvania 42^nd nationally in meeting the long-term care needs of older residents calls for across the board improvements, with particular emphasis on enhancing caregiving affordability and access. The ranking comes from a new comprehensive state-by-state Scorecard from AARP with support of the nation's leading organizations behind quality long-term care, The Commonwealth Fund andSCAN Foundation.

Raising Expectations 2014: A State Scorecard on Long-Term Services and Supports for Older Adults, People with Physical Disabilities, and Family Caregivers – an update of the inaugural 2011 Scorecard – ranks each state overall and within 26 performance indicators along five key dimensions: affordability and access; choice of setting and provider; quality of life and quality of care; support for family caregivers; and, effective transitions.  New indicators this year include length of stay in nursing homes and use of anti-psychotic drugs by nursing homes, raising serious concerns about the quality of institutional care.

Recall your Caddy too

GM put bad switch in other models not just the cheap ones. Saving $.90 will cost them $700 million. Suit seeks $10 billion from GM because diminished value of all GMs. Would you buy a used GM now? What else are they hiding?

Bad advisors

Dee Allen Randall was charged with 22 counts of second-degree felony securities fraud Randall allegedly engaged in investment fraud using several financial organizations which at the time he owned or managed, including the Horizon Financial & Insurance Group, Horizon Auto Funding, Horizon Financial Center and Horizon Mortgage & Investment, among others. Randall told them their investment was backed by real estate or car titles. For some investors, Randall stated or led them to believe that they would be placed on the car titles or deed of trust."

Texas ranks among most dangerous states in America—bring your guns!

Texas is among the most dangerous states in America, falling in the bottom five on the 2014 list of Safest States To Live In. For the personal finance website, the term "safety" does not refer exclusively to protection from violence and crime; it encompasses various categories, including workplace and traffic safety, natural disasters, home and community stability, and financial security. To determine its rankings, Wallet Hub looked at 26 key metrics for all 50 states and the District of Columbia. 

IAN

41 Watchung Plaza, B242

Montclair, NJ 07042

973.746.2014

www.InsuranceAdvisorsNetwork.com

Alerts 

Taxes from your advisor 'rebalancing' ?

Tax increase due to advisor “rebalancing”?

Advisors promote this buy and sell activity to justify their quarterly fee charges. Is it really helpful to you? You pay more tax. Vanguard did a test of many types of rebalancing strategies. None were superior. Selling your winners and buying your losers creates taxes, fees and commissions. It lowers your annual total return as well as your overall volatility. The costs reduce the total return so this strategy seems to have only one result: fee generation. Quarterly rebalancing also justifies your advisor’s lifestyle. ‘Doing nothing’ is hard to justify for a fee.  

A better strategy—‘Do Nothing’ as Warren Buffett says. http://www.amazon.com/The-Wealth-Tao-Wu-Wei/dp/1499351348

Advisers NOT telling total costs so we lose up to 63% of earnings

The average total cost their clients actually pay is 1.83% of assets, the survey of 159 advisers found. Total costs include the adviser fee, administrative fee, platform fee and product fee. Most advisers are required to list their fees but don’t. The costs that some advisers don't fully account for include administrative fees, which can be buried in prospectus documents, and platform fees, Mr. Carson said. John Bogle, Vanguard founder, estimates we can lose 63% of possible nest egg to costs.

No need to lose up to 63% of your TOTAL accumulations: http://www.amazon.com/Keep-More-What-Earn-Diversification/dp/1479293474

401k up 12.7% (if you left your money alone)

Vanguard reports that the average 401(k) account balance rose from $56,000 in 2008 to $102,000 in 2013. And even factoring in contributions, Vanguard research analyst Jean Young reports that one study of 401(k) participants, conducted by the firm, showed an average annual return rate of 12.7% over the same five-year period. Household income averaged up much less at the current median figure of $52,959. Tune up your 401k: http://www.amazon.com/Tune-your-401k-EARN-Tax-FREE/dp/1490591028

American Dream dead?

A CNN/ORC International poll in 2014 showed that 59 percent of Americans believe the

American dream is impossible, compared to 40 percent who say they believe it is. College grads under age 30 have huge student loan payment at gouge rates and can’t find jobs that can carry the debt. Some have gone home to parents. Many share rooms. Some work many part time jobs. Some try starting new business with no money. Few average students are making their way. Fewer still are starting their savings/investing plan. Starting early is key to having enough tax-FREE: http://www.amazon.com/New-American-Retirement-System-Tax-FREE/dp/1461030072

Advisers escape responsibility for mistakes by filing

“Bankruptcy offers advisers a chance to transform a crisis into an opportunity — not just to clear their financial slate, but to better relate to clients' struggles with money.” So says adviser industry.

What about our money? Their opportunity—but our losses.

Wealth without Wall Street’s fees, commissions, expenses, charges, etc: http://www.amazon.com/Wealth-Killers-commissions-expenses-Tax-FREE/dp/1489573828

Wall Street exec sees another tax payer bailout!

BlackRock Inc.'s Laurence Fink, who oversees the world's biggest ETF lineup, said leveraged ETFs are a structural problem and have the potential to "blow up" the industry. These index funds (exchange-traded funds) are becoming popular with advisors because they can earn fees/commissions. Leveraging (using bank money) creates bigger losses or gains.

Protect yourself—Use Buffett’s strategy: http://www.amazon.com/Warren-Buffetts-Investment-Strategy-Forget/dp/1484822900

Smart investors earn 13% a year

A survey of defined contribution investors (401k) shows that simple rules of investing pay off. Savvy savers use only low-fee, high-yield compounding accounts. The study found the more financially literate held a greater share of stocks in their portfolios and more volatile holdings than the less knowledgeable. Keep more of what you contribute and earn: http://www.amazon.com/Wealth-every-school-graduate-century/dp/1466427906

GOP crazies say God helped him stop amnesty for kids

“God acted through people on my behalf,” new tea party winner Dave Brat said on Fox News shortly after his victory over House leader Cantor. Cantor wasn’t exactly caught sleeping. He spent $1 million in the weeks leading up to the primary on television ads calling Brat a “liberal college professor,” and sent out mailers boasting he’d blocked “amnesty” on Capitol Hill. Apparently not enough. Far right voters saw those 47,000 kids in prison camps awaiting deportation and didn’t want the House giving them amnesty. So we are giving the kids lawyers so they can fight! Where are the embassies?

MN Uninsured Has Plunged 40 Percent Under Obamacare
Minnesota has seen its uninsured rate plunge by more than 40% since the implementation of the Affordable Care Act, according to a new study released this week. 

The study, released by researchers at the University of Minnesota, provided the first look at Obamacare's effect on a single state's insured rate. It found that the number of uninsured in Minnesota fell from 445,000 (about 8.2% of the population) to about 264,500 (about 4.9% of the population).

The decrease is similar to the effects in Massachusetts after similar healthcare reforms were implemented there in 2006. It's a larger increase than the Congressional Budget Office has projected for the entire United States — a drop from 54 million under previous law to 42 million under the Affordable Care Act.

Insurers now racing to join ObamaCare

Ten insurers are seeking approval to sell 504 separate health plans next year on the Illinois health insurance exchange, a dramatic increase from 2014, Illinois said Thursday. The surge in interest in the Illinois exchange allays widespread concerns that carriers would walk away from offering coverage under the Affordable Care Act next year because sicker-than-expected pools of patients would sign up and raise financial risks associated with participating. Last year, just six insurers offered 165 policies in Illinois.

More insurance companies are expressing an interest in selling policies on Kentucky's health-benefit exchange next year -- a move state officials say will benefit consumers.

All five insurance companies that sold policies this year on the exchange known as Kynect want to come back for 2015, and at least one other -- CareSource -- wants to join them. State officials said they are optimistic that several other insurers will file in the next few weeks to sell policies in the coming year on the exchange. Kynect is an online insurance marketplace offering health insurance plans for Kentuckians. It was created last year by Gov. Steve Beshear, as called for in the federal Affordable Care Act.

Unbiased car insurer for vets picks best value cars

USAA unveiled its fourth-annual Best Value list identifying the top 2014 automobiles rating highest in safety, reliability and affordability. The 2014 Best Value vehicles are almost all made in USA but designed (ignitions too) by others.

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.

SEC says Scott Valente convinced 80 investors in upstate New York to turn over $8.8 million in the last four years. SEC is closing him.

IAN

41 Watchung Plaza, B242

Montclair, NJ 07042

973.746.2014

www.InsuranceAdvisorsNetwork.com

Alerts'

Tax-FREE income means 25% MORE

Tax-FREE retirement income means 25% more

Today we can reduce taxes 10 ways and make sure we are protected by creating an inflation-proof retirement. We need to enter the last 30 years of our lives knowing how we are going to manage it. We need a realistic and flexible plan we can execute ourselves. Financial advisors only want wealthy clients. Most of us are on our own.

    I will guide you through the process. We must create two budgets; avoid income taxes as our money grows; and invest in a way that provides a growing income for 30 years or more. We don't need a broker or advisor. In fact, their fees often take 40-60% of our nest egg over time. 

      Our first task: Re-position assets for lower fees and taxes.

http://www.amazon.com/Cut-Taxes-Retirement-ways-less/dp/1499590954

What makes a successful mutual fund?
This is the only question to ask your advisor when you review your holdings. Recent analysis by Morningstar, unbiased fund evaluator, says that the current top funds will not succeed in the next five years. “… in 2008, stock funds with the best past performance generally did not fare well in the subsequent five years.” The best predictor of success: COST. John Bogle discovered this in 1974 and created Vanguard, the largest fund firm. Buffett agrees. You keep the fees and keep more: http://www.amazon.com/Warren-Buffetts-Vanguard-Funds-Retirement/dp/1496148592

Doctors reading writing on the wall of Health

American physicians are leaning more left, an analysis of campaign contributions over two decades show. The first rigorous look at donor doctors also finds they've become increasingly generous, with political contributions surging to almost $200 million in recent years. An increase in female doctors — who more often than men donated to Democrats — and a decline in physicians working on their own or in small practices occurred during study years. Those changes likely contributed but reasons for the political shift are unclear, said study co-author David Rothman, a social medicine professor at Columbia University's medical school.

New health plans can save us $2,000 a year: http://www.amazon.com/Health-Insurance-ONLY-right-policy/dp/1480125083

ObamaCare critics change mind after coverage

Bonnita Spikes entered the political fray when she was featured in gubernatorial candidate Douglas F. Gansler's April radio ad lambasting Maryland's problem-fraught health exchange. But as irritated as she was with the implementation of the Affordable Care Act in Maryland, she's been much happier with the treatment she's received after she finally enrolled. Now Spikes has lent her voice to a publicity campaign praising the health reform effort. Save: http://www.amazon.com/Health-Insurance-ONLY-right-policy/dp/1480125083

Annuity seller goes to jail

Alan S. Lewis faces 20 years for embezzlement, grand theft and burglary of seniors’ retirement funds. He is accused of selling fixed index annuities with a surrender charge. Lewis induced 12 seniors into surrendering individual retirement accounts or annuities for a “less favorable” annuity, according to court documents. The clients incurred a surrender charge that Lewis promised would be offset by the bonus of a replacement annuity. They all lost over $300,000.

Better alternatives to annuities: http://www.amazon.com/The-Best-Annuity-Strategy-Income/dp/1497532019

Advisors caught lying about returns

ZPR Investment Management and Max Zavanelli fined $1 million and barred from selling for claiming his firm’s historical performance results outperforming the benchmark index. He says he was “shocked” by the ruling.

Almost 90% of advisors can’t beat the index.

Go with the smart money: http://www.amazon.com/Warren-Buffetts-Investment-Strategy-Forget/dp/1484822900

Brokers dodge customer complaints with bankruptcy

A John Thomas Financial broker, Scott Levine, was granted a moment of reprieve earlier this month, thanks to a bankruptcy filing on May 13. After incurring multiple customer complaints related to his former firm, which was expelled by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority Inc. in October 2013, bankruptcy protections afforded by federal law have frozen five customer complaints in which he was named and which carry damage claims that could total nearly $5 million.

Brokers don’t know what the future brings despite what they say: http://www.amazon.com/Wealth-Without-Wall-Street-Commissions/dp/1442168137

American youth abandon Dream

Young adults, age 18 to 34, are most likely to feel the dream is unattainable, with 63% saying it's impossible. This age group has suffered in the wake of the Great Recession, finding it hard to get good jobs. Some 63% of all Americans said most children in the U.S. won't be better off than their parents. This dour view comes despite most respondents, 54%, feeling they are better off than their own parents. Home ownership is no longer part of the American Dream.

College costs up 1200% since 1978; Graduation rate down

According to data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the price index for college tuition rose almost 1,200 percent from April 1978 through April 2014. Consumer prices overall rose less than 300 percent. This is, as one of Rossi’s talking heads says, “unsustainable.” Raising tuition at state U leaves students with unpayable debt, a problem that’s worsened by their seeming inability to graduate on schedule. Forty-four percent of people entering four-year colleges fail to get degrees even after six years. Only ¼ students passed algebra via the FREE online classes. Plumbers still get $150 an hour!

Is Reverse Mortgage right for you?

Sales pitch: Use equity in your home to pay bills and remaining mortgage. Live there for the rest of your life. Just pay taxes and insurance which you would anyway. BOOM, then comes the problems. Conditions change. You can’t pay. They want their money and more.

Consider alternatives first: http://www.amazon.com/Maximize-Social-Security-Benefits-Retirement/dp/1495439224

GOP socialism?

GOP crazies bring home the bacon

Southern states dominate the list of who benefits most from federal programs. After West Virginia, the rest of the top five recipients of federal money are: Mississippi, 24.0 percent; Arkansas, 22.8 percent; Kentucky, 22.4 percent; and Alabama, 21.8 percent.

What happened to GOP rejection of federal government?

Workers at catholic organizations must live life of celibacy or have kids not wanted

A federal judge has temporarily prevented the U.S. government from forcing nearly 200 Catholic employers to provide insurance coverage for contraceptives under President Barack Obama's health care law.

Terrorist switch to regular mail and ‘smoke’ signals

Vodafone, which has 400 million customers in countries across Europe, Africa and Asia, said in its "Disclosure Report" on Friday that countries in its reach are using similar practices to the US and Britain—tape all calls. While most governments needed legal notices to tap into customers' communications, there were six countries where that was not the case, it said. We are ‘catching’ all the wrong folks.

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.

We are paying to insure the wealthiest American teams and businesses

Yes, it is true. The sports associations, along with insurers, developers, banks and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, say their businesses could be wiped out by a Sept. 11-style attack, unless the U.S. government continues its program to help protect them against losses from terrorism. We have to pay for their insurance even though they are making record profits and CEO $ million salaries. The program guarantees federal reimbursement to insurers once the industry’s aggregate losses from a terrorist incident exceed $100 million. $100 million is chump change to these businesses. They can afford it more than we can.

They don’t want to extend unemployment or the minimum wage but this FREE subsidy is OK??

HOLD ON: Fracking may cause earthquakes under your home

While Reno and Azle residents have only reported around 30 earthquakes to the U.S. Geological Survey, area seismologists have recorded more than 300 quakes in the area since December — many too small for human detection — all clustered around area injection wells.

General Motors fires several employees, including suspended engineer Ray DeGiorgio but leaves attitude “Do not use these words” list—Defect, problem, recall, etc—intact.

“It’s the economy [of GM] stupid” These are the employees who could root out problems for the future cause they know them. 

“It’s the economy [of GM] stupid”

Let's take back the bonuses from the bosses back then instead!

PA Capital denies drugs to seniors—Real “death panels” at insurer not ObamaCare

Capital's "Medicare Advantage" plans and Medicare Part D, which covers prescription drugs frequently made faulty decisions regarding whether drugs prescribed by doctors were covered, causing customers to be unable to get the drugs, or to experience delays. In some cases, customers had to pay "inappropriate" out of pocket costs. In addition, CMS said Capital violated Medicare rules for handling customer appeals and grievances. In a letter to Capital, CMS said, "These failures pose a serious threat to the health and safety of enrollees."

Who owns your account now?

Protective Life to Dai-ichi Life Insurance, Japan

IAN

41 Watchung Plaza, B242

Montclair, NJ 07042

973.746.2014

www.InsuranceAdvisorsNetwork.com

Alerts

Are you overpaying taxes?

Are you overpaying taxes?

Federal employees including our Congresspeople owe over $3 BILLION. They have NOT had their wages garnished. They receive bonuses even when they owe taxes. Our corporations are buying foreign firms to avoid taxes. Most millionaires have reduced their rates too. Buffett, Romney, Kerry pay under 17% total tax. Most of us pay 32%. What do you pay?

Avoid taxes and fees. Maximize your savings: http://www.amazon.com/Time-Money-ways-maximize-savings/dp/1499692358

Are you getting what you pay for? Really?

This common philosophy is wrong more times than not. Especially in cars and financial products which are famous for overpriced commissioned salespeople. Tata’s Land Rover, one of the most expensive SUVs is near the bottom in dependable lists, just under VW, and Fiat’s Jeep.  

Financial products have the same trouble: Annuities, perm insurance and brokers are not good for people. They are made for fees. http://www.sec.gov/investor/pubs/varannty.htm

'Scoundrels' Plague Advisory, Broker Industries, SEC Commissioner Says.

Buy Direct and save enough to pay for retirement: http://www.amazon.com/Insiders-Guides-Discount-Financial-Services/dp/143480593X/

Wall Street takes 63% of our retirement nest egg

Wall Street earned only 3.69% for retail investors in the last 30 years while smart investors averaged 11.11% by buying the market directly.

Skip the middle person markup and keep 63% more.

http://www.amazon.com/Wealth-Without-Wall-Street-Commissions/dp/1442168137

Did you lose 40% in recession of 2007-8?

Warren Buffett never got out of the market even though the market fell by 40%. Wall Street ‘professionals’ advised you to sell and many retail investors have not returned. If you followed their advice your $100,000 would be worth $106,000 now. If you had kept your stocks, you would have $150,000. The market has grown8.66% a year from 2007-2013. Your safe cash account grew by 0.9%. The market grew 13.29% since 1980.

Try the Buffett way: http://www.amazon.com/Wealth-Tao-Wu-Wei/dp/1499351348/

Tax-FREE accounts outpace regular IRAs

Growth rates of Roth IRA balances grew at more than double the rate of traditional IRAs from 2010 to 2012. The median increase in the account balance for the group of Roth IRA owners in the study was 16.5 percent from 2010 to 2012, compared with 7.9 percent for owners of traditional IRAs, according to EBRI. Roth IRA balances also grew faster than traditional IRA balances for each age group studied and for each gender, EBRI said. The average individual IRA balance increased from $11,009 for owners ages 25 to 29, to $192,961 for owners ages 70 or older, according to the study.

Tax-FREE means 25% more to spend: http://www.amazon.com/Cut-Taxes-Retirement-ways-less/dp/1499590954/

GOP crazies

House Financial Services Committee met this week for a hearing on “the dangers” of financial regulation. Some members fear we have “ceded U.S. sovereignty over financial regulatory matters to a secretive, unaccountable coalition of European bureaucrats.” ?? Dodd-Frank has still not been implemented so another meltdown could happen. Had a regulator been paying attention to the derivatives markets, would we have gotten such amazing financial instruments as synthetic collateralized debt obligations, which put together the worst parts of bad mortgage derivatives? Would someone have noticed the gambling in credit-default swaps that almost destroyed A.I.G.? The regulators were not paying attention or didn’t understand how big the banks’ bets were. GOP wants to limit regulation again. Current “revisionist history” has persuaded some people that there is no threat of anything similar happening.

GOP crazies

MS law now makes it OK to discriminate against anyone you don’t like if you feel that they would “substantially burden religious exercise.” Baptist preacher and GOP sponsor said he thinks there is bias against Christians and “We’re just trying to take some preliminary steps to ensure that this government protects that [religious exercise].” The bill assures “business owners can refuse to serve anyone they FEEL would violate their religious beliefs and moral convictions.” GOP wants government to regulate business???

This is like the ‘stand your ground’ law that lets you shoot anyone if you FEEL threatened—by their music or race or color or popcorn or creed. 

IN Gov tells GOP crazies to go ‘jump in lake’

"My focus is Indiana and on doing what I believe is right for the people of Indiana, and I've been very encouraged at the very broad and bipartisan support that our Healthy Indiana Plan 2.0 has received across the state," Pence said. "I'm proud of the work we've done." Under HIP 2.0, the state would use federal funds generated by the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare, to pay for a high-deducible health program for some 450,000 able-bodied, low-income Hoosiers -- as an alternative to expanding Medicaid eligibility. Conservatives from the Heritage Foundation, Chicago's Heartland Institute and other think tanks condemned Pence this month for going after Obamacare money and seeking to use it to create a new entitlement program.

GOP crazies already have their insurance plans paid by employers

Why do we pay for these programs? GOP socialism?

We pay for government-backed terrorism insurance and loans for buyers of U.S. exports. GOP party’s leaders, backed by industry groups that disagree with Rep Hensarling’s free-market philosophy, have stymied his plans to abolish Fannie Mae and limit federal flood insurance. Hensarling led House opposition to the $700 billion bank bailout in 2008, calling it a “slippery slope to socialism,” and voted against Dodd-Frank two years later.

We taxpayers must subsidies these programs that GUARANTEE businesses a profit.

This is not FREE ENTERPRISE but socialism for the rich. We pay in taxes.

Long-term care insurance premium rises 25% in CT

Allianz Life Insurance Company of North America is seeking permission to increase premiums an average of 25 percent on some long-term care insurance (LTCI) policies sold in Connecticut. The rate increase requests would affect about 600 policies sold from 1993 through 2009. Allianz Life stopped selling LTCI policies in 2010.

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

Companies have weather derivatives that pay for global warming—How about you?

Insurance companies, despite GOP denials, are preparing for the varied effects of climate change, and providing more coverage against natural disasters. The price is bound to go up as more damage strikes every homeowner.Lock in coverage for wind, flood, and power losses NOW. http://www.amazon.com/Homeowners-Insurance-Beware-Coverage-Policy/dp/1480100870

Self-employed benefit from ObamaCare too

Study found that more than 30% of artists are self-employed compared with 10% in the general population, and rates of uninsured are typically higher among the self-employed than others. In the entertainment industry, actors and other movie workers typically get insurance through their unions. But many say they don't get enough hours or steady work as actors to meet the income requirements to apply. Use all your discounts:http://www.amazon.com/Health-Insurance-ONLY-right-policy/dp/1480125083

Health insurance enrollment exceptions—in case you missed deadline

Previous HHS guidance has already stipulated that a special enrollment period of 60 days is triggered following life events including: a change in family status (i.e., marriage, birth of a child); loss of other health coverage; errors, misrepresentations, or inaction by an officer, employee, or agent of the exchange or HHS; obtaining the status of U.S. citizen; or exceptional circumstances, such as natural disasters like earthquakes or floods.https://www.healthcare.gov/how-can-i-get-coverage-outside-of-open-enrollment/

Broker fiduciary rule delayed again

Financial industry lobbyists have won again. Labor Dept has given up on the rule to make brokers give us the best product “for our benefit, not their" this year. Putting off the requirement until next year, we are on our own and buyer beware is the attitude with every broker/advisor contact. Better to do it yourself and keep 63% more.

http://www.amazon.com/Wealth-Without-Wall-Street-Commissions/dp/1442168137

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.

Bad mortgage salespeople found new scam

Doug Naidus made his fortune selling a mortgage company to Deutsche Bank AG months before the U.S.housing market collapsed. Now he’s found a way to profit from loans to business owners with bad credit. People trained by a veteran of Jordan Belfort’s boiler room call truckers, contractors and florists across the country pitching loans with annual interest rates as high as 125 percent, according to more than two dozen former employees and clients. When borrowers can’t pay, Naidus’s World Business Lenders LLC seizes their vehicles and assets, sometimes sending them into bankruptcy.

CEO's pay 257 times higher than workers’—new record

CEO pay in the US surpassed eight figures for the first time, according to a new study. The typical CEO now makes 257 times more than the average worker, whose wages have barely budged in recent years. CEOs got8.8% pay raise over 2012. Between 1960 and 1990, CEO compensation hovered well under 100 times worker pay.

Inequality has no limit.

Hedge fund busted

Three former executives of a failed Connecticut hedge fund pleaded guilty to conspiring to mislead their clients to keep their largest investor. David Bryson, Bart Gutekunst and Richard Pereira each pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. All are free on bail, and face up to five years in prison when they are sentenced in August.

Broker allowed to continue to mislead us again

Max E. Zavanelli found guilty of “misleading” the public in advertisements. He compared his success at investing to the legendary Fidelity Investments manager Peter Lynch. Mr. Zavanelli was previously found, in 1987, to have violated the law for misleading claims about investment performance and his educational background, according to the SEC. He settled the charges without admitting guilt.

Driverless car runs on computer—what happens if hacked?

“In other words, can some 14-year old in Indonesia figure out how to do this and just shut your car down … because everything is now wired up?" Rockefeller said Wednesday during a Senate Commerce Committee hearing. Like GM cars, they shut down while driving--no airbag either. 

IAN

41 Watchung Plaza, B242

Montclair, NJ 07042

973.746.2014

www.InsuranceAdvisorsNetwork.com

Alerts

Avoid fees and taxes--boost earnings 25%

Avoid higher fees and taxes—boost earnings 25%

Average mutual fund managers are getting more money and it is coming from you. Fees average 1.44% each year no matter how well or poorly they do. Over time this fee can cost you over 50% of your possible account. Pension funds pay only 0.05% for the same performance. They don’t pay taxes either so why should you, especially in retirement?

Why pay more for less? Reduce Fees and Taxes: http://www.amazon.com/Cut-Taxes-Retirement-ways-less/dp/1499590954

Our “representatives” in Congress and staff owe IRS over $8 million in back taxes

“About 4.9 percent of all House employees, including lawmakers, have an unpaid tax liability. Those 486 employees owe Uncle Sam about $5.8 million. Across the Rotunda, Senate staff and legislators have a 3.2 percent delinquency rate, with 228 employees owning $2.7 million in taxes. The IRS had paid $1 million worth of performance awards to about 1,100 IRS employees with tax-compliance problems.”

Congress writes the laws but can’t seem to abide even for “do-nothing” jobs.

Complete federal agency list: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/irs-federal-workers/index.html

Stock analysts are wrong 60% of the time

“… professional investors are seriously overconfident… They exhibit ‘herding’ behavior. … they are right about 40% of the time—which is worse than pure chance! You are better off NOT paying an advisor and flipping a coin. In fact, the 2014 QAIB study shows that you earned just 3.69% vs the market’s 11.11% over 30 years. The stock market’s 11.11% compounded would have made you a millionaire by now. Try the Buffett way:http://www.amazon.com/Wealth-Tao-Wu-Wei/dp/1499351348/

Survey says workers are investing the Buffett way--not using salespeople

About two-thirds (63%) of workers with 401(k)s are going it alone, managing their own investments. About half of those folks (54%) are unengaged, that is not taking an active role in managing their account, says a data analysis of 13 million participants in Fidelity Investments 401(k) plans across the country.

Buffett advice: Set it and Forget it

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

Collect on your ex-spouse’s Social Security benefits??

If you are at least 62 years old and you are not currently married, you may collect retirement benefits based on an ex’s earnings record. If you have been divorced for at least two years, you can collect benefits on your ex even if they have not yet claimed their retirement benefits. Strange but true.

Maximize your benefits: http://www.amazon.com/Maximize-Social-Security-Benefits-Retirement/dp/1495439224

Why homeowners are switching to cats for protection

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dKF3U9UWrBI

Dog bites account for more than a third of the money insurers pay in homeowners' liability claims. Last year, dog bite liabilities in the U.S. cost insurers $483 million, according to the insurance institute and State Farm, the largest insurers of homes. http://www.propertycasualty360.com/2011/07/27/top-7-dangerous-dog-breeds

Make sure your dog is covered by your insurer before the $1 million suit.

1 in 4 of us has $0 nest egg

A recent COUNTRY Financial Security Index^® survey sheds light on a more concerning factor. One in four (25 percent) Americans, across all age groups, admit they are not saving at all for retirement, or they are unsure.  

Even more alarming are the four in ten (38 percent) of those 40 and older who say they regret decisions they've made with their retirement savings, namely not starting to save early enough (47 percent). Perhaps this is why Americans are not confident that a secure retirement is a viable option. Nearly half (46 percent) say it's not possible for a typical middle-income family to save for a secure retirement. This is two points higher than this time last year and the most to say this since March 2011.

Use savings from insurance to buy a Tax-FREE nest egg: http://www.amazon.com/Build-Wealth-Without-Extra-Money/dp/1448677505

University presidents getting rich on student debt

Student debt is highest at public universities that offer larger-than-average executive compensation, according to a new report from the Institute for Policy Studies.

The report — titled "The One Percent at State U" — found that executive compensation was "closely related" to a number of financial issues in higher education, including student debt and low-wage faculty labor. "Though it has been rising everywhere, average student debt of graduates in the top 25 public universities with the highest executive pay increased 5 percentage points more or 13% faster than the national average from summer 2006 to summer 2012," according to the IPS report./Additionally, IPS reports that they "found that adjunct (part-time) and contingent (temporary) faculty grew much faster than the national average when executive compensation soared at the top 25."

Use tax-FREE money for college: http://www.amazon.com/Education-Funding-Save-right-plan/dp/1482549956/

Storm coverage is cheaper now

Insurance companies, despite GOP denials, are preparing for the varied effects of climate change, and providing more coverage against natural disasters. The price is bound to go up as more damage strikes every homeowner. Lock in coverage for wind, flood, and power losses NOW. http://www.amazon.com/Homeowners-Insurance-Beware-Coverage-Policy/dp/1480100870

Long-term care insurance sales off 33%

Some LTCI carriers have said they are making intentional decisions to reduce LTCI sales, or to insist that any buyers pay relatively high premiums, because of concerns about low interest rates, uncertainty about underwriting, and restrictions on coverage price changes. Check alternatives before purchase:http://www.amazon.com/Long-term-Care-Insurance-Updated-2013/dp/148274001X

Social Security and state pensions cut 25%?

Social Security benefits could be cut by 25 percent if Congress does not act soon, Social Security Administration Chief Actuary Stephen Goss warned a Senate panel today. He noted trust fund reserves for disabilityInsurance are expected to be at zero by late 2016. Goss said one-third older Americans have little retirement income outside of SS benefits. The Heritage Foundation said the spousal benefit for Social Security has become outdated because many women have worked long enough to get their own payments. AARP said one proposal -- to improve the health of the Social Security trust fund by reducing the cost-of-living adjustment -- would force many women into poverty. State government employees face possible pension cuts of 20% due to changes in pension funding. Since the financial crash of 2008-2009, 45 states have changed their pensionplans, a new study by the National Association of State Retirement Administrators (NASRA) and the Center for State & Local Government Excellence (SLGE) reports.

Maximize your benefits before reductions: http://www.amazon.com/Maximize-Social-Security-Benefits-Retirement/dp/1495439224

JPMorgan chief Jamie Dimon supports pensions for Detroit workers

JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon said Detroit's bankruptcy likely won't have a lasting effect on Michigan's borrowing costs or the municipal bond industry, even as bondholders cry foul about the city's proposed debt cuts. Dimon also said today that he's very sympathetic to Detroit retirees with $20,000 pensions. The average Detroit civilian retiree pension is about $19,000. Detroit emergency manager Kevyn Orr has proposed paying only 60 cents on the dollar for unfunded pension claims.

Other city and state employees may lose pensions. NJ gov Christie promised to fix former Democratic pension under-funding but last week reneged on his promise. He is keeping his tax cut for the rich however. He got a helicopter to go to son’s games which he is not returning.

We are on our own: http://www.amazon.com/Build-Wealth-Without-Extra-Money/dp/1448677505

70% of uninsured never heard of health care subsidy

Researchers say the survey findings indicate that more and better outreach is needed to educate uninsured people about free or low-cost health insurance through expanded Medicaid programs or subsidies to help them purchase health insurance in the new marketplaces. "They found in Massachusetts, with "RomneyCare," that the individual mandate penalty absolutely motivated a lot of people to purchase insurance," she says. "The Obama administration understandably tried to emphasize the positive, but people need to understand that the mandate is not insignificant -- they could be hit with a big tax bill if they don't buy coverage."

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.

GM recalling ‘all’ vehicles

General Motors is recalling a total 2.42 million vehicles to fix four separate safety flaws, nearly matching the 2.6 million cars GM recalled earlier this year for a deadly ignition switch flaw. Safety lap belt cables can fatigue, shift cable that could wear out, passenger side air bag, generator fuse block need fixes.

GM is aware of 18 crashes and one injury among the 4-speed Malibu and G6 population.

GM stopped sale of the 2015 Escalade and Escalade ESV.

Silverado HD and GMC Sierra generators make fire.

Wolf restores the sheep

Jordan Belfort, the real-life "The Wolf of Wall Street," expects to earn more this year than he made as a broker, allowing him to repay his fraud victims. Belfort spent 22 months in jail for money laundering and securities fraud in the 1990s after his Long Island-based Stratton Oakmont Inc. defrauded investors out of more than $200 million. He is a “motivational”??? speaker on tour to earn $50 million, his fine.

“I got greedy,” Belfort said today. “Greed is not good”. The f-word is used 569 times in the movie, more than any feature film ever made. His legacy?

CA seizes Alameda Alliance for Health

"The crisis is not simply a matter of bookkeeping woes," said a court memo by Carol Ventura, deputy director of the state Department of Managed Care, which regulates health plans. Ventura wrote that the Alameda-based insurer could also be committing "serious violations" of state law by not promptly paying back some 280,000 backlogged claims.

IAN

41 Watchung Plaza, B242

Montclair, NJ 07042

973.746.2014

www.InsuranceAdvisorsNetwork.com

Alert

Tax evaders we pay for

Tax evaders named by another Swiss bank Swisspartners

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

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

Stealing us blind: Investors sue over fees

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

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

Doing Nothing but staying invested in the market beats trading

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

Europe court to Google: remove our bad info links

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

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

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

GOP crazies try to win 2016 election with warming denial

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Employer promises will have no meaning in future!

USAA lowers premiums for some CA homeowners

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

Fewer die with RomneyCare

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

Unfortunately, all but Kentucky refused ObamaCare.

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

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

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

College experience determines happiness not tuition

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

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

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

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

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

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

Who owns your account now?

Consumers Insurance USA to Motorists Mutual

Sunshine State Insurance to United Property and Casualty

IAN

41 Watchung Plaza, B242

Montclair, NJ 07042

973.746.2014

www.InsuranceAdvisorsNetwork.com

Alerts