Friday, February 1, 2019

Which investment is best during market volatility?


Which investment is best during market volatility?
The market is continuing to rebound from its low in December. With the possibility of another government shut down and the fall in annual GDP, where can we rest for the long haul? What is Buffett doing? Buffett is always concerned about the future value not the next year or two. Our first question: Am I concerned about my long-term (10 years) money or short term swings? Most unbiased advisors tell us to “don’t sweat the small stuff” or “my holding period is forever.” Most long-term investors don’t panic and “stay the course” and “press on, regardless.” That was John Bogle’s common theme. When I have doubts, I look at this chart: IVV (market) for Max time (2000). Am I better off for staying in through 2007-8? Yes. This was why Buffett won the bet with stock-pickers recently. But I am getting nervous. I am close to retirement and can’t afford to wait long if the market is flat for many years. My choice is to stay in the market but move 25% into an experience balanced fund like Wellesley Income (62% bonds). It returned 9.5% since 1970 and 8% for last 10 years. I have to go with people who are smarter than me.

Dems can’t make the wealthy pay their fair share of taxes
Wealthy people have ALREADY figured out how to avoid paying high taxes. No one paid 90% back in the 50s despite the IRS rules. Some Dems have proposed a 2% levy on fortunes of more than $50 million and a 3% tax on the assets of billionaires. Others want to raise the tax rates. But unless Congress gets rid of the loopholes and special provisions used by themselves and the rich, Dems are just conning us. For instance, Jared, like father-in-law, uses the real estate tax shelter to pay no income tax. Tax rates don’t apply to him—his assets are in LLCs. He even gets a refund from us. Some wealthy folks have moved their money overseas like Apple and other the larger corporations. In fact, we pay many corporation’s taxes for them in the form of ‘subsidies, grants, loan guarantees,’ etc. Some wealthy people use their own private foundation/museum to hide assets or like Trump, use them to offset income. Many use their failed business ventures (using bank loans) to offset income. Trump declared a $916 million loss on his 1995 income tax returns, a tax deduction so substantial it could have allowed him to legally avoid paying any federal income taxes for up to 18 years, records show. The wealthy use many ways that are legal. In fact some of the tax code was written by them just for them. Certainly the rich use special accountants and lawyers to make sure they don’t pay. When income and assets are hidden, tax rates mean nothing. We can use a small business and a special tax shelter to help us avoid paying their taxes. Rich are way ahead of us on income.

Free tax preparation by a live person or easy software to efile
January 28 was the first day of FREE ‘human’ preparation by AARP tax-aides. Or use the commercial software provided from the IRS site to efile yourself. Pick one at https://apps.irs.gov/app/freeFile/. Since many of us take the standard deduction, the electronic forms are easy to complete and efile—refund comes quicker. Make sure you have all of your docs: https://www.irs.com/articles/tax-form-checklist. For human preparer, sign up at locations near you: https://www.aarp.org/money/taxes/aarp_taxaide/

How much do you need to save for retirement?
Does your advisor show you how to project your accumulations for retirement? Do you know how much your 401k will grow over time? Is your nest egg growing well or do you need to add more money? Have you compared your balance to the mean and average for your age group? Which software can you use to have some idea how much you will have vs how much you will need? Find out now so you can change.


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Make America, “The Don”, Great Again
Truth isn’t truth, his lawyer says
Yes, he ‘coached’ Cohen for Congress, his new lawyer says


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


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How Govt wastes our money: Congress spends $1.3 Trillion we don’t have! 
FAA started closing airports: unpaid controllers may be stressed—out of money!
Shut down promised by Trump in 3 weeks: Can gov make slaves (no pay) do anything?
EPA under Trump stopped enforcing law against polluter criminals: Years to restore.

Trump’s Apple factory jobs promised WI 13,000 jobs: gone with $4 billion subsidy.
Trump: ‘after all I did for the military’ they owe me ‘I’ve done more than any president’

Congress told it will ‘take at least a year for the IRS to return to normal’: no audits!


WALL not needed: Drugs enter US in trucks not on wall —give drivers asylum! Cheaper

SCAMS/SPINS:
Scammers use SS own phone number on caller ID to steal our SS info. BEWARE.

8,400 scammed: protect yourself 5 tips—‘con’ short for ‘confidence’ men. Trust none.
Phillip Michael Carter, TX, caught Ponzi with fake promissory notes: 270 victims.

FDA warned 23andMe to stop selling tests that claimed to foretell medical conditions

Is Chevrolet really more reliable than Toyota, Honda, Ford, etc as claimed on TV?

Trump’s news office is not WH but Sanders on Trump TV: propaganda for followers

Sanders: ‘God wanted Trump to win the 2016 election’ God wanted Hitler? Child abuse?

Putin passed law against gov ‘disrespect’: Trump’s next step? Dictator by ‘Emergency’
Trump REMOVES sanctions from Putin mobster so they can hack 2020 primaries.

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


The Mob Boss can never go to jail: Trump has Kava as Supreme so no indictment.
‘No man is above the law’ … well up till now. Dictators nullify courts first, then votes.
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Jobs:

Which industry creates most jobs? Durable goods manufacturing.

Who owns your account now?

‘Hunting’ rifles like these killed 58 music lovers; maimed 200 in seconds. Legal still!


Miracle:

One Chicago citizen donates hotel rooms for 70 homeless on chilly night. No more gas.

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