Expecting negative returns in 2018?

Are you expecting negative returns?

This year is on track to deliver the lowest share of positive returns adjusted for inflation across 17 major asset classes since 2008, according to Morgan Stanley. Too bad. Our clients have stayed with their balanced portfolios because we can’t predict the future of the markets. This is a snapshot of their returns so far:

Total Return Fund Long-term Return Longevity

YTD 2018*                              2017

10.2%                                      21.7% 500 Index                     11.1%* since 1976

 7.9                                           3.2% Energy                            10.7% since 1984

10.4                                          17.9% Extended Market          10.9% since 1987

13.2                                          19.6% Health                           16.5% since 1984

 3.5                                           42.9% International Growth     10.8% since 1981

14.3                                          29.5% PRIMECAP                 13.9% since 1984

10.5                                          16.1% Small Cap Index           10.7% since 1960

 0.1                                           10.2% Wellesley Income          9.9% since 1970

 3.1                                           19.1% Windsor                       11.5% since 1958

 6.3                                           16.8% Windsor II                    10.8% since 1985

 8.0%                                       19.7%                         Average 11.7%

*9/26/18                                   Average Annual Returns as of 12/31/17.

We take Warren Buffett’s advice: https://www.amazon.com/Warren-Buffett-Your-Investment-Advisor/dp/1518690963

Is ‘interactive’ life insurance right for you?

Your annual physical is no longer enough for one insurer. Now they want your ‘lifestyle’ data on a continuous basis or you can’t be insured. Hancock says. The Hook: policy holders are incentivized to adopt healthy habits and pay fewer premiums. On the other hand, insurers may eventually use data to select the most profitable customers, while hiking rates for those who do not participate. And can we trust them to provide the discounts or even pay benefits? MetLife and other insurers stopped looking for beneficiaries so they could keep the death benefits. If the beneficiary does not keep in touch with the insurer, they lose. Life insurance is NOT an investment anymore.

Make sure you need insurance first: https://www.amazon.com/Life-Insurance-Need-Save-right/dp/1480002178

Are you overpaying for car insurance?

This graphic shows the average costs per state for min and max coverage. Are you where you want to be? You may be paying for benefits you don’t need, like life insurance, towing, or full replacement. You may not have claimed all the discounts you deserve. Unfortunately, insurers don’t ask about the items you can qualify for since it reduces their commission. You have to ask to have life and health care insurance removed. If you have this coverage already, you’re wasting your money with a car insurer. Some add accidental death and disability insurance to your premium. Do you know when NOT to make a claim? If you don’t shop around, you never have the benefit of new client discount. Securing your discount adds up year after year.

https://www.amazon.com/Industry-Insiders-Guides-Buying-Insurance/dp/1466435712

Which Medigap plan is right for you?

Look closely at your supplement plan. Plan F will cease in 2019. The existing Plan G may be a better deal for you. Consult with your doctor and your records to see what you really need. Plan G provides the most benefits but at higher prices than others. For instance, you get limited foreign travel medical assistance included. Frequent co-pays get expensive. Can you switch to generic drugs? One agent says: “You save about $350 a year on premiums, so it makes no sense to buy F to cover the $183 deductible.”

Do your research: https://www.medicare.gov/find-a-plan/questions/medigap-home.aspx

 Is your Medicare Advantage plan denying service you’re due?

Auditors have found “widespread and persistent problems related to denials of care and payment in Medicare Advantage,” the report said. The fixed per-patient rates the government pays may give plans “an incentive to deny preauthorization of services for beneficiaries, and payments to providers, in order to increase profits,” the report said. Enrollment doubled over the past decade. One-third of Medicare patients are now covered by the private plans. In 2016, the plans denied 4% of requests to approve treatment before it was provided, known as prior authorization, and 8% of requests for payment after treatment. Only 1% of patients disputed the insurers’ denials. Most disputes changed denials to approve. Most plans provide additional coverage, such as vision, dental care, and prescription drugs.

Always dispute a denial: some plans reverse 98% of the time.

Who is this Mueller guy anyway?

He never speaks but his pen speaks for him. 35 so far. ‘Witch hunt’ has 191 criminal charges by this duly-authorized former FBI chief of the investigation. What happened to get Trump elected will require a simplified 2 hour movie to explain all that went down with this ‘Russia’r Trump’ thing. This investigation may be more important than the Nixon termination event. As happened then, our democratic principles are at stake. After all the voter suppression, can the people of America vote to put us back on track? Are our votes counted fairly? Can our Reps govern? Can the FBI do its job? Does donor money control every election? Do we outlaw all the money? How much power should the president have?

Will the middle class survive? https://inequality.org/facts/income-inequality/

Is a ‘Retirement’ bond right for you?

The retirement bond would not pay back the principal; instead, after 20 years, it would become more like a deferred annuity paying a stable, secure income—but investors would get more bang for their buck. Martellini says the retirement bonds could be offered as transparent, low-cost products that are easier to get out of than a typical income annuity. Someone five years from retirement today, a 61-year-old, would be buying 2023 retirement bonds. The bonds would start paying cash in 2023, and continue paying for 20 years. If launched, the new retirement bonds could be offered in lieu of bonds or annuities to investors. “Annuities are opaque, costly and mostly irreversible unless you’re willing to pay high surrender charges,” says Martellini. Most retirement investors want security and a guaranteed stream of income, but they also want the flexibility to adjust their investments and their potential income stream over time. But most bonds lose value over time so buying a bond locks in low income payments.

Buy Income and Growth Combo: https://www.amazon.com/Combo-Annuity-Guaranteed-Income-Growth/dp/1493572237

How much emergency cash is enough?

Savings, CD, MM, credit cards or bond fund. Which is best for you? Some propose an employer plan with paycheck deduction like a 401k but with no penalties. Actually some can do this now with a Roth 401k. You get tax-free growth for life and you can take your contributions out anytime without penalty. A short-term corporate bond fund like VFSTX will rise with rates. CDs are tricky since rates are rising so keep away. Or perhaps your best alternative is a HELOC. If you have equity in your home, you can obtain a line of credit for rainy day. Home worth 300,000 and you owe 150,000 you may obtain 50,000. With no closing costs and interest charged (current 5%) only when you use the line, this a perfect ‘emergency’ fund. You can leave your retirement money alone to grow. As long as you don’t misuse this money, you won’t lose your home—HELOC is a 2^nd mortgage.

Don’t fall for your broker/advisor illiquid products: https://www.amazon.com/Avoid-Scams-Brokers-Advisors-Sender/dp/1726328023

Do we go backward or forward with wages?

Most Americans say they are NOT benefiting from the $4,000 Trump promised. Most feel that Trump helped his class—giving us higher tax bills in the future to pay for all the cuts in revenue in the next 10 years. Corporations got to keep all their subsidies, grants and special financial deals. Average homeowners in CA, NY and NJ are not able to deduct their property tax so anyone with a single family home will pay more. Those who own the mansions have put the property in a legal entity to keep the deductions like The Don’s home in Trump Tower—all deductible. Because half of workers are not skilled they earn what they earned in the 1970s-80s adjusted for inflation. Plus health care costs rise and Obama subsidies were cut so many will go bankrupt with illness. We have no infrastructure works program that could employ those workers. Is going backward right for America?

Last time unskilled workers were left stranded, America did not abandon them. They got work building many village halls, dams, bridges, etc. We had hope because we were moving forward with a little help from the feds. 8.5 million of our fellow Americans had work and it paid off. Now most of the subsidy money goes to the wealthy class.

Move forward: https://www.amazon.com/Americas-Socialism-for-Rich-not-little-people/dp/1535218584

Another way the wealthy avoid their fair share

Trump’s new tax law changed the AMT—alternative minimum tax—so that many rich people will not have to pay it. Treasury gave us this tax after it was determined that 155 rich people paid no tax in 1966. Americans were outraged and Congress added a tax. AMT was born in 1979. Millions of rich people had to start paying their fair share under Reagan. Now Trump and his tax-credit class have got CPAs maximizing retirement contributions, funding a health savings account and making investment account adjustments where it makes sense to take the losses for use against gains. “After that, we go for increasing charitable contributions,” an observer added. You don’t need a CPA.

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

Homeowners in Dem states plan property tax limit workaround

New Jersey has set the rules for how residents can make an end run around the $10,000 federal limit on state and local tax deductions. Unfair treatment compared with other states is at stake. The average home in NJ is assessed $18,000 tax. Each jurisdiction can establish non-profits to collect taxes for education, fire, police, libraries, trash pick-up, road repair and other local services making them a charitable deduction. “If and when the IRS finalizes its rules, we’ll see them in court,” Attorney General Gurbir Grewal said.

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Make America, “The Don”, Great Again

Senile Psychosis

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

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

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

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

Is Medicare for All the answer? Obama & Trump could NOT stop the rise in health care.

House on vacation again: no work no pay! Save $ millions—half are already millionaires.

SCAMS/SPINS:

Trump tax cuts went to the wealthy—some middle class actually pay more: voters wise.

Drug prices manipulated due to shortage and shortage created by drug firms: addiction.

Is your ride popular with thieves?

Social Security sends email; NOT call for information—never give callers your info.

Non-bank lenders playing the same role as in 2007: could melt-down happen again?

Trump raising the price of heating oil and gas with tariffs and Iran boycott.

Neil Maxwell CO caught investing funds without telling clients he did it.

Voya caught giving criminals passwords to 5,600 client data. Fined $1 million. Fees rise.

Philip Roesel caught using fake caller ID number to trick us 21 million times. No Jail.

Half of cellphone calls scams: fake directed at most vulnerable of us. Feds do nothing.

Suicide by cop: Everyday people with guns kill co-workers and get cops to kill them.

This is why Wyatt Earp in Tombstone took people’s guns when they came to town.

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Why is Trump surprised when the world laughs at his ridiculous narcissistic statements?

Trump: I fear #METOO Movement. “It’s happened to me many times.” “I grab p__y.”

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Jobs:

$73,000 driving for Walmart: Congress changing law to age 18?

Are you sure you want to keep out all immigrants? She is 7 and the next generation.

Who owns your account now?

Identity theft protection is free: Freeze your account so thieves can’t buy in your name.

What to watch to avoid cyberattackhack/theft: think like hacker—what can go wrong.

Genetic test: insurers can use it for genetic discrimination : results vary by company.

Your business self-insured for health care? Cut out the middle person.

OppenheimerFunds to Invesco Ltd.

Royal Bank of Scotland is changing its name to ‘Bo’ ?????

Miracle:

A tiny clip in your heart can save you but it costs $30,000: doctors/hospital extra?

Good Samaritan helps stranded car but then evil comes.

Two heads are NOT always better than one. Anything can happen and does.

IAN

41 Watchung Plaza, B242

Montclair ,  NJ   07042

973.746.2014

www.InsuranceAdvisorsNetwork.com

Alerts 

Avoid paying for the tax cuts

Avoid paying for the wealthy Tax Cuts in the future

One way of making sure you can lower your taxes in the future is to operate a small business. The new pass-through entity tax is 25%. If you can take your income as revenue to your business—a DBA or LLC—you can avoid the higher rates. If your other income puts you in the 22 or 12% bracket, great. You can also share your expenses with your deductible business—car, meals, miscellaneous expenses, property, state income and sales taxes, job expenses, uniforms, dues, subscriptions, use of home, tax prep,  supplies, insurance, licenses, etc. on https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f1040sc.pdf.

If you end up with a loss some years, so be it—that negative reduces your 1040 income. Use a business to control your taxes like the Trump’s tax-credit class: https://www.amazon.com/Your-Tax-FREE-Account-IRS-approved-shelter/dp/153735292X

Buffett's SIMPLE Strategy Beats Wall Street

The Master of investing, Warren Buffett, proved it, again. You do not need Wall Street 'professionals' to reach your financial goals. In fact, if you use them, you may give up 63% of your potential accumulations because of trading, charges, commissions and fees.

            Buffett made a bet with a hedge fund manager for $1 million 10 years ago. Buffett's strategy earned over 7% a year versus 2.2% for Wall Street's best and brightest. So there is no reason to pay a sales person working for a Wall Street firm to invest for you. The costs over time destroy your account success.     

            Buffett advocates a simple low-cost strategy: Buy the stock market index in a fund like Vanguard's 500 Index. Invest in the market returns consistently and you will do better than everyone you know. Over the long term, your returns would average over 11% per year. DALBAR keeps track of returns and found that the average managed-account equity investor earned just 3.79% a year over 30 years ended 2014. The benchmark returned 11.06%.

            Also note, since 1997 we have been able to invest for the long term without paying ANY taxes on the gains. In the past, we had to pay for gains in our 401k, IRA and pensions in retirement. We can avoid the charges to start and maintain these tax-advantaged accounts too. Earnings are FREE after age 59 ½. That can mean tax-FREE retirement income.

Earn 11% a year with Buffett’s strategy: https://www.amazon.com/MasterClass-Buffetts-SIMPLE-Strategy/dp/1983485268

GOP plans to win in 2018 by nullifying voters’ rights

OH GOP has been removing citizens from voter lists for years in an effort to make sure one party wins all the elections. GOP claims voter fraud is rampant even though study after study shows this is a lie. The U.S. Supreme Court will review an Ohio procedure that removes voters from the rolls if they haven’t cast a ballot in six years and fail to return a postcard. A 2002 law forbids states from removing registered voters from the rolls for simply not voting. At issue is the claim that GOP’s purge wrongly targets disadvantaged Ohioans for disenfranchisement. In ND, native Americans sue over state ID requirement since difficult to obtain. Trump has canceled his trumped up case for widespread voter fraud—now Bannon lost mind. Other states run by the GOP are dismantalling poling places and voting times.

Studies show no voter fraud. State GOP efforts are funded by the Koch political arm.

A few reasons to be grateful this holiday season: America is GREAT already!

See specific numbers for your own age at Your Life in Numbers.

• In 1966, average life expectancy was only 56 years. Today it’s 72. That’s an increase of 29 percent.
• Out of every 1,000 infants born, 113 died before their first birthday. Today, only 32 die. That’s a reduction of 72 percent.
• Median income per person rose from around $6,000 to around $16,000, or by 167 percent – and that’s adjusted for inflation and purchasing power.
• The food supply rose from about 2,300 calories per person per day to over 2,800 calories, an increase of 22 percent, thus reducing hunger.
• The length of schooling that a person could typically expect to receive was 3.9 years. Today, it’s 8.4 years – a 115 percent increase.

§        The world has become less authoritarian, with the level of democracy rising from -0.97 to 4.23 on a scale from -10 to 10. That’s an improvement of 5.2 points. 

Happy Holiday      Happy Holiday            Happy Holiday

Is your advisor honest?

Your ‘advisor’ is a salesperson first and foremost. They would not have a job otherwise. Contrary to the Wall Street hype, your ‘advisor’ has no special information. The firm they work for may not be honest. Recently Citigroup caught using “buy” instead of “sell” or no ratings and clients lost $ millions. Citigroup is not the Stratton Oakmont firm from the Wolf of Wall Street but Citi proves you need a 2^nd opinion when you consult financial help. You need to know enough to “trust but verify.” VERIFY every claim they make.

The most successful Wall Street executives are NOT traders. They do NOT try to time the market. They have learned the lessons of the financial legends: “The stock market is a device for transferring money from the impatient to the patient,” Warren Buffett said.      

In fact, the average managed-account equity investor earned just 3.79% a year over 30 years! A simple index fund earned 11%. Buffett, perhaps the greatest investor of all time, with 60 years experience, boils down the stock market to patience.   Mr Buffett's strategy of patience is the most successful. He earns about 20% a year compounded over time. He does NOT buy and sell stocks frequently. In other words, he does the opposite of what Wall Street 'advises' us to do. Wall Street is a sales industry not an advice industry.

Do we ask a barber if we need a haircut?

https://www.amazon.com/Your-Advisors-Handbook-advisors-secrets/dp/1981644350

The SWEET part of the tax cut bat

“You all just got a lot richer,” Trump boasted to members of Mar-a-Lago on Dec. 22, according to CBS. The reason Trump’s co-billionaires are so happy with the GOP is a new deduction for their LLCs. The new deduction allows people with pass-through income — profits from a partnership or sole proprietorship, for instance — to write off 20% of that income before calculating their taxes. Think of it! Trump owns more than 500 large, pass-through real estate firms like his golf clubs and hotels — just the type of business that would qualify most easily. Certain restrictions apply for professionals who are NOT employees of their businesses but for anyone with a part-time job and not receiving employee benefits, keep 20% off the top. For a closely held business that operates now as an S corp, it should consider switching to C corp due to the cut in the corporate tax rate. With the change in estate tax, a family with assets around $20 million has to think carefully about whether they want to make gifts now, with no step-up in basis at death, or whether they want to hold assets until death, with a free step-up in basis.

Use your own tax haven: https://www.amazon.com/Your-Tax-Haven-Tax-FREE-Americans/dp/1482659441

What can you do if you expect your taxes to go up in 2018?

Many in the blue states need to plan for their GOP increase in federal taxes due to the repeal of or limit on their deductions and exemptions. If you used to deduct over $10,000 in property and state income taxes, you may find you will owe more tax in 2018. There is a penalty for underpaying your taxes so you might want to increase your withholding by DECREASING your allowances on a W-4 at work and/or having Social Security withhold 7, 10, 15, or 25% from your benefits each month on W-4V. Sign the form and return it to your local Social Security office by mail or in person. If you find you have no deductions to offset your increased tax liability in 2018, you can send the IRS estimated tax payments using form 1040 ES:  https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f1040es.pdf.

Avoid GOP tax increase: https://www.amazon.com/Tax-Credit-Class-use-your-credits-ZERO/dp/1539462382

Do you need a reliable vehicle?

Consumer Reports cites 10 vehicles that you can count on. Toyota and its Lexus are on the list again. Korean cars are most improved followed by American name brands. Today all cars are made all around the world. In fact, some foreigners have more American work/parts than the American names. JD Power illustrates the myths of vehicle reliability. Most new updates have problems that take time to work out. So many wealthy folks go for the lightly used luxury models after CR and JD reports how owners faired. Sometimes the lack of hype works to your advantage by leaving many new cars on the lot in the Fall when the new arrive. Research is much easier today. Shop online (50 mi radius) for what you want and perhaps the dealer will go get it for you. Beware 10 worst: https://www.cheatsheet.com/automobiles/consumer-reports-worst-cars-2017.html/2/

Shop for insurance discounts too: https://www.amazon.com/Vehicle-Insurance-Beware-Double-Coverage/dp/1480027634

Who can you claim as deduction/exemption on your IRS forms?

Many tax filers miss a larger refund because their tax preparer miss classifies people they support. Your grandma in Canada or Mexico can be your dependent. All your girlfriend’s children can be a deduction for you. Anyone living in your household could be a deduction. The rules are complicated and sometimes you and your preparer may have questions. See if these fit your case:  https://turbotax.intuit.com/tax-tips/family/the-dirty-dozen-12-tricky-tax-dependent-dilemmas/L20FwLLje. Ask the IRS at irs.gov.website.helpdesk@speedymail.com

BEWARE: Trump watered down health insurance coverage

When you buy a policy outside of the subsidized ObamaCare ACA site, you might be getting limited coverage. Trump changed regs to let “junk” insurance be sold by any insurer. Lowering the price by “removing undue restrictions” like pregnancy cover, drugs, emergency room, and preventive screening (breast cancer screen $600) may require you file bankruptcy like before 2010. Ask which of the 10 Obama essential coverages you are giving up and plan accordingly. Opium rehab can now be excluded from a policy and rates for pre-existing conditions are raised.

Buy only what you need: https://www.amazon.com/Health-Insurance-ONLY-right-policy/dp/1480125083

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

TrumpWorld

The Path to Dictatorship

“I have absolute right to do what I want to do with the Justice Department,”

Trump Says He Has An 'Absolute Right' To Control The Justice Department.

‘I’m the only one that matters’ The Don, Nov 3, 2017

Trump enforcers lie re: contacts to Putin and list longer: Why all the lies if innocent?

Mandate: ‘I was elected President’ like Washington, Obama and Hitler

Bannon and I wish to “destroy the state”–our government.

’I could shoot someone on 5^th avenue and not lose voters’

Trump is still just a mafia contractor from Queens—Dad taught him to be The Don.

Trump cancelled health policy for addicted brother’s family after they fought dad’s will

Smoking gun: “Our boy can become president of the USA and we can engineer it,” Sater wrote in an email to lawyer Cohen. “I will get all of Putins team to buy in on this.” Manafort tells Russian mob he will keep them informed about “our boy.”

Ross, Commerce, direct link to Putin energy consortium and Russia-Cyprus bank

Putin sent 60 money wires to US marked “to finance election campaign of 2016.”

Russia manipulated our votes: Pizzagate: from Ms Campbell to Mr Welch’s AR-15.

Putin has full access to our 2018 elections since Trump doesn’t help states upgrade now.

LOCK ‘EM UP--Mueller draining the swamp!—Everyone gets pardon!

Papadopoulos rolls: Trump-Putin liaison pleads guilty.

Manafort rolls: Trump’s money launderer manager indicted: conspiracy against US.

Flynn rolls: Trump’s national security advisor and foreign agent pleads guilty to lying. “my actions were wrong” "if I did a tenth of what she [Clinton] did, I'd be in jail today.” I am not a traitor. Right, but he also said he never talked to Russia and had no connection to Russia and said was not paid by Turkey to change policy.

Manafort, Flynn, Kushner, Conway, Ross, Trump Jr,

McFarland (“If there is a tit-for-tat escalation, Trump will have difficulty improving relations with Russia which has just thrown U.S.A. election to him.”)

 Trump’s lawyer said his defense for obstruction is he can’t obstruct justice: above law?

Regulation is necessary: We need protection. Saves $12 billion of our money!

            (No one person can afford to sue a bank: class actions banned by GOP now.)

Citigroup caught using “buy” instead of “sell,” no ratings so clients lost $6 million.

Trump ending protection against another 2007-8 bank failure and broker overcharging

Trump ends limits on fracking and offshore drilling and killing birds and mining wilds

Trump freezing Fed hiring and pay to cover his tax cuts to billionaires.

Trump ending enforcement for occupational safety issues.

Your Mazerati has fuel leak with prices starting at $105,600 should have none. 

Police need Caller ID:

Kill by Remote: “Bomb threats are more fun and cooler than swats in my opinion and I should have just stuck to that,” Swautistic told reporter Brian Krebs on Friday. “But I began making $ doing some swat requests.” Dead man is target of feuding videogamers!

2017: Thousands died so a few wealthy rich can kill defenseless animals. Insanity?

Another special person dead—“guns don’t kill people” for fun. Is your wife next?

‘Ministry of Truth’ 1984 novel: Government propaganda is ‘truth’ when they say it!

Trump lies even when he does not need to or when it does not help him—Psychotic?

WH mass delusion: "The president,” Sanders told reporters, “believes in making sure that information is accurate before pushing it out as fact..."

My Theory on Trump -- Putin ‘love’:

Trump got Russian help/funding for business from business/mob ties to Putin. US banks not interested in more bankruptcies. No one expected him to win so no harm getting Putin help. Don owes Vlad’s mob money so they sent mob gofer Manafort to run the campaign. The conduit is Deutch Bank. ‘Colluding’ Putin style. Trump always has a fall guy to blame when caught in lie. Sessions claims campaign execs all too inept and overwhelmed to collude on purpose.

Russia social media helped flood American media with pro Trump propaganda

Putin gives The Don a big kiss—first name basis—Don made markets hum

Trump gives Putin classified CIA intell on terrorists

TrumpWorld – using presidency to make money the old fashioned way: theft

President’s coin ‘13 original states and motto’ & “E pluribus unum”gone: DJT 3 times.

Tillerson Exxon calls Trump a ‘f__king moron” ‘MORON’ and LIAR:

McMaster, National security adviser: Trump has intelligence of a “kindergartner”

“If Bannon does think Trump Jr. committed treason — or something short of that — perhaps he simply wants to put himself as far as possible from how the broader Russia investigation might view that meeting with a Russian lawyer. Bannon's name has been conspicuously missing from many of the developments in the Russia probe … but he's expected to be a key witness given his high-ranking roles[.]”

Dictator talk time:

“When the president does it, that means it is not illegal,” Richard Nixon

Is this the end of American democracy: "no man [woman] is above the law"

“I have absolute right to do what I want to do with the Justice Department,” Trump Says He Has An 'Absolute Right' To Control The Justice Department. Hitler did too.

Trump” not ready ‘YET’ to give Flynn his pardon for conspiracy against US 

Banned words -- Burning books next?

Fire & Furry gossip Trump sues to stop. Trump goes to court to ban a book about his presidency and his attitudes.

"It's worse than you can imagine. An idiot surrounded by clowns. Trump won't read anything.” Fox TV is main source of tweets. McDonald’s to avoid poisoning.

Trump’s Disease Control has banned words he does not like as if disease disappears

Trump lawyer says he can't 'obstruct justice.' 

So Trump like Putin is a dictator. Trump is no longer claiming Russia just fake news—collusion/conspiracy real—but he can do it because he is prez, they say.

Trump storm troops arrest people who look like immigrants.

How do you prove you are citizen? ICE acts like Gestapo: no record if you’re taken. No calls to family allowed. Kidnap immigrants dropping kids off or in court for ticket.

Trump considers secret mercenaries he will direct to undermine CIA, NSA: like Hitler’s SA?

Make American ‘Conservative-White’ Again

Trump packing in young Scalia-type judges to kill abortion, liberal rights across US.

Obama: we must protect democracy from Nazi-style dictatorship—vigilance and press

Delusions of Grandeur:  ‘I’m the only one that matters’ The Don, Nov 3, 2017

            I can never be wrong: “The reason I originally endorsed Luther Strange (and his numbers went up mightily), is that I said Roy Moore will not be able to win the General Election. I was right! Roy worked hard but the deck was stacked against him!”

Trump compulsion to take advantage of women at every opportunity.“They let you do it”

Persecution complex: 'No politician in history has been treated more unfairly' The Don

“The president can’t have a conflict of interest.” The Don is above the law?

Fires FBI head because he was investigating The Don’s Russia mob ties then blames FBI.

  

Fear is a ruler’s weapon: “Media is America’s enemy” but 1^st amendment still US law.

Trump has become ‘The Leader’—compare how democracy was killed in the 30s.

Ideology can justify any policy: At RedState, there has always been one hard and fast rule: Oppose abortion at all costs. Christian Right is not Christianity but ideology.

Today child molester; tomorrow rapists? How GOP religionists justify crimes of the Fuehrer and followers. He can pardon every crime.

1998 the House of Representatives approves two articles of impeachment against President Bill Clinton, charging him with lying under oath to a federal grand jury and obstructing justice.

2017 Nov. House of Representatives introduced articles of impeachment against President Don Trump, charging him with firing FBI Comey, violations of the Emoluments Clause, actions "undermining" the judiciary and freedom of the press.

2018 the House of Representatives approves two articles of impeachment against President Don Trump, charging him with lying under oath and obstructing justice. Trump was told that Flynn lied to FBI so he commanded Comey to drop it. Lied on TV about why he fired Flynn. Fired Comey to end inquiry on Trump’s conspiracy with foreign power to destroy lawful election admitted on TV. Fired NY AG who was investigating his laundering Putin money via real estate.

TX Rep Al Green’s Articles of Impeachment failed Dec2017. WWIII next?

  

Quid pro quo: "something for something."

Nursing home fines for abuse ended so owners can’t lose Medicaid funding

Lincoln solution to TrumpWorld: http://www.latimes.com/opinion/op-ed/la-oe-blumenthal-lincoln-trump-20170713-story.html

We have given The Don time to act like president: Time to Impeach for obstructing FBI

https://action.needtoimpeach.com/act-og3-t2?sc=ad_gg_lba_us_impeach-.-.-.-60s-20171020

How Govt wastes our money:

Corporate subsidies AFTER ‘tax overhaul’: $6 billion for sugar processors, $1 billion for dairy, $800 million for marketing to foreigners, $370 million for peanut corps, $650 million for manufacturer’s consultants, $2.5 billion for F-35 problem fixes, $1.2 billion to subsidize southern power, $1 billion for TVA parks etc, and thousands more. 

SCAMS:

CA law allows deduction for property tax as charity to CA Excellence Fund

Jobs:

Best Benefits Companies: 20 for 2^nd look: https://www.cnbc.com/2017/05/03/the-20-best-companies-for-work-life-balance.html

Who owns your account now?

Voya annuities to Apollo Crestview and Reverence Capital

Miracle:

IAN

41 Watchung Plaza, B242

Montclair, NJ 07042

973.746.2014

www.InsuranceAdvisorsNetwork.com

Alerts 

Is an annuity right for you?

Is an annuity right for you?

Before you talk to your advisor, you need to understand the market price of what you are really buying. Annuity buying is like car buying. Before you even step in the door of a car dealer, you better understand what you are looking for or you may NOT get what you need. Our financial planner is on salary so there is no reason to tilt the presentation to one product. Consider if you could benefit from a better deal before you enter into the non-cancelable annuity contract. For instance, you can generate a $1,100 a month from a $200,000 nest egg and ADD eggs at the same time. An annuity of the same deposit provides $1,100 only for your life but NO more eggs. If you die, you lose your deposit.

Make sure you have the best deal: https://www.amazon.com/Combo-Annuity-Guaranteed-Income-Growth/dp/1493572237

Don Trump could be a great president

Trump could create a huge legacy in American history by cutting the national debt. All he has to do is end all the tax loopholes and subsidies to the wealthy and business. Almost every type of business has special deals that make it more profitable. It is how capitalism becomes socialism for the rich. Consider the bank bailout. Bankers got huge bonuses for making risky bets with our money. When the bets went bad, we taxpayers had to make the banks—even the foreign banks—whole. The gamblers lost nothing. Instead of helping us, our reps keep giving subsidies to big agriculture for ethanol, subsidies to big oil for drilling, subsidies to aerospace to for planes, even subsidies to Congress people who claim to be ‘farmers’. We give even more $ billions to businesses in the form of “income tax expense” or B.S. for tax credits for losing money. For instance, we gave Don Trump almost $ billion tax loss credit for doing a few bad deals. Our government has no accountability in our cost overrun spending for projects like building a hospital or a bunch of F35 fighter planes that don’t work. ‘Smoking crack’ was given as an excuse for the poor planning and authorization by officials. Meanwhile the average taxpayer is hit with 97 taxes that take an average of 33% of income. Rich people like Warren Buffett, Mitt Romney and John Kerry pay 17% or less. Most foreign firms avoid taxes too.

Trump could end Socialism for the Rich: https://www.amazon.com/Americas-Socialism-for-Rich-little-people-pay/dp/1535218584

Has America become a “banana” republic?

A “banana” republic: A country where the large corporations and the wealthy receive all the income and pay an ever smaller part of the tax bill. Since 1980, 99% of all income has gone to the top 10% of families. A country where the people’s representatives must beg for campaign contributions 70% of their time. And the decisions by these representatives as a group help the wealthy and their companies remain in the bonus column. Thousands of subsidies and tax loopholes are created by those already doing well so that the rules keep getting bent in their favor. Our taxes continue to subsidize companies already doing well. Even those institutions set up to fight inequality and unfairness—the justice apparatus and Supreme court—are swayed by the prejudiced, the rich and the powerful. Justice Department head meets with presidential candidate’s team weeks before elections. FBI director announces just before election one candidate is under investigation without mentioning the other one is too. Intelligence agencies determine that a foreign power is pushing one candidate. Supreme Court nominee is refused a hearing and vote by Congress contrary to our tradition. Justices are routinely given free vacations and trips by companies with cases to be decided by those justices. Institutions set up to keep our air and water clean are biased by those representing special interests. A country that gives the already wealthy, tax breaks in the name of jobs. As average family income has remained the same for 50 years as adjusted for inflation. All the increases in work productivity have been translated into a big raise for the wealthy few.

A country where the leader is elected after calling women vile names, groping them and admitting sexual assault.

Is America becoming a banana republic? Typically, the banana republic has a society of stratified social classes, usually a great and poor working class and a ruling-class plutocracy, composed of the business, political, and military elites of that society.^[1] Such a ruling-class oligarchy control the primary sector of the economy by way of the exploitation of labour;^[2] thus, the term banana republic is a pejorative descriptor for a servile dictatorship that abets and supports, for kickbacks, the exploitation of large-scale plantation agriculture, especially banana cultivation.^[2]

What happens when the ‘millionaire’ tax is gone and deficits rise?

Trump has proposed an end to the alternative minimum tax which Nixon imposed to make sure millionaires paid some tax after deducting all their expenses. Trump and his tax credit class will be able to deduct all their expenses—even those they made up. Trump personally will have an extra $60 million in tax savings. Fewer wealthy people will be paying taxes, especially if they convert their personal income to a business with a 15% tax rate. Money managers say wealthy don’t create jobs. The KS tax cut proves cuts do NOT make jobs. The GOP does not seem to have any problem with increasing the national debt as they cancel the estate tax (estates above $5.5 million) also. Each taxpayer will owe $173,730 on the debt by 2021. Since many wealthy people, corporations and foreign firms avoid taxes, only working people will be paying the taxes. The GOP likes a new national sales tax, a spending tax, a ‘border adjustment’ for the future. Avoid their taxes. Start a legal tax shelter now: https://www.amazon.com/Tax-Shelter-Young-Americans/dp/1500426520

Vanguard is having a sale on stocks and bonds

As more paid advisors move your money to index funds that pay a commission (ETFs), the not-for-profit Vanguard Group is challenging them to cut fees again. On some of their most popular funds, it is almost FREE to invest with Vanguard. The largest fund family has cut Total Stock and Total Bond fund expenses by 25% to 0.04% per year. That’s $40 per $100,000 invested. That means that if you are paying the standard 1.4% to your advisor, you are overpaying by $1,360. If you are getting great money-making advice from your advisor, they are worth it. If they provided over 18.55% return in the last year then you have a gem. If their bonds provided over 2.43% yield over the last year, you can feel good. They are the exception to the rule Morningstar, the tracking firm, found:

“In every single time period and data point tested,

low-cost funds beat high-cost funds.”

If you can afford to give up 13 hundred dollars every year over the next 10 or 20 years, do NOT take advantage of this sale. That is $13,600 and $27,200 in costs plus the difference between what they earn for you and what the market does. There are only 1 or 2 advisors that have ever beaten the market. Good luck covering their expense ratios too.

Low-cost works for managed funds too: https://www.amazon.com/Vanguards-Top-Ten-mutual-funds/dp/150073909X

 

Are you afraid of withdrawing your retirement money?

Some studies show that retirees are hording their money. Some are reluctant to take the money out for fear of not having enough. They fear large medical bills later in life. The insurance industry has been spreading this fear in order to sell long-term care products. Others hold their money for the next generation seeing how difficult times can be for their young. Every person has their own way to spend in retirement but the IRS requires that we take out money each year at their rate or we pay a penalty. The IRS requires withdrawal percentages based on tables of life expectancies.

The Required Minimum Distributions (RMD) strategy allows the percentage of remaining wealth consumed each year to increase with age, as the retiree’s remaining life expectancy decreases. In a 2012 study, researchers compared the RMD approach with 1) other rules of thumb (such as living off the interest, basing withdrawals on remaining life expectancy, or taking out 4% each year) and 2) an optimal draw-down strategy that maximizes a household’s utility from consumption. The RMD strategy did ok and has logic on its side. Some retirees take the RMD but don’t spend all of it. They add to their Roth IRA which provides a tax-FREE cushion for whatevery happens in the future. Some young people use the Roth IRA now as their main pension strategy because there are no restrictions—no tax, no mandatory withdrawal, no forced use.  

Prepare for your future: https://www.amazon.com/Your-Retirement-Income-Checklist-TrumpWorld/dp/1544703260

Trump’s Promises and Outcomes: lying and flipflops to build his image

Promise: “Great plan” covers all: Outcome: 24 million lose coverage, pay more

            Kill NAFTA Outcome: it hurts workers because their jobs depend on trade.

            Pass on Trans-Pacific: Outcome: China becomes the leader in Asia.

            Kill Paris climate agreement: Outcome: We can’t stop planet over heating.

            End Iran nuclear deal: Outcome: Iran has no nuclear as per agreement

            Praise Syrian President Bashar: Outcome: decried him as a "butcher"; replace him

            Take care of N Korea: Outcome: China will help “defuse” showdown.

            Trump honored to meet N Korea killer: Outcome: B.S. to divert Russia probe

            China was guilty of "rape" against US: Outcome: praise for Xi Jinping

            China currency manipulator: Outcome: Chinese changed policy in 2014

            NATO is obsolete: Outcome: NATO is no longer obsolete

            Middle East peace easier: Outcome: Harder than health care “who knew”

            Obama fakes unemployment rate: Outcome: I got it down to 5% really

            Restore Supremes to Scalia-type decisions Outcome: anti-worker truck decision

            Replace Fed Chair Janet Yellen: Outcome: Praised her for keeping interest down 

            End national debt in 8 year: Outcome: Add 5.5 Trillion to debt in 10 years

            Create jobs Outcome: Jobs at Ford, Carrier, SoftBank, Toyota already in works

            Replace ObamaCare Outcome: bill will never have enough votes to beome law

            Build Navy: Outcome: Ships kill no Terrorists;  hide in plain sight with civilians

            Keep kids healthy: Outcome: cancel school lunch standards; back to salt, fats

            Go to Mars: Outcome: too expensive, cheaper to fix Earth

            Build The Wall: Outcome: build bigger wall around the White House

            Reduce legal immigration: Outcome: America’s growth and creativity is slowed

            Deport 11 million tax paying workers: Outcome: violates American tradition

            Make defemaion suit easier Outcome: 1^st Amendment gives us right to speak.

            Support family values Outcome: 12 women claim he groped he confessed gropes

            Tax-advantaged religious groups can help GOP: Outcome: violates constitution:                              religion used as excuse to discriminate against those with other beliefs

Warren Buffett’s investment strategy

His annual stockholder’s meeting May 6 is time for advice on investors’ big mistake:  “Well, the big mistake is thinking they know when to buy and sell stocks.” Buffett recommends passive investing through a “very, very low cost S&P 500 index fund.” “They don’t need to do anything but that,” he says. “Then they’ll get a decent result over time. To some extent, the smarter you try to be, the worse you do in investments.”

Set up the plan and leave it alone: https://www.amazon.com/Warren-Buffetts-Investment-Strategy-Forget/dp/1484822900

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

TrumpWorld

We have entered the Twilight Zone:

"There is a fifth dimension beyond that which is known to man. It is a dimension as vast as space and timeless as infinity. It is the middle ground between light and shadow, between science and superstition, and it lies between the pit of man's fears and the summit of his knowledge. It is an area which we call the Twilight Zone" where “alternative facts” and illusions of conspiracies are lived out. Lies are considered true. Incompetence is praised. Truth is what the loudest voice says it is over and over.  

Rod Serling

Trump boasts of highest TV ratings since ‘the World Trade Center came down’

‘Trump’ brand is all he cares about—it is all he knows. Staff creates image not policy

Trump uses worldwide State Dept site to promote his $200,000 golfing membership Wealth foreigners see his club on US embassy website and are induced to buy. Impeach

The Don: Let’s shut down the government next time as revenge

Trump tax cut for corporations and wealthy class adds $5.5 Trillion debt

“I’m the king of debt,” Mr. Trump said last year on CNN. “I love debt.” The Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget said the plan would probably lead to a loss in government revenue by roughly $5.5 trillion over 10 years.

Can you cut taxes and build The Wall, repair the bridges and roads, and deport 11 million people and still reduce the deficit? Economists say higher debt will drive up interest rates, curbing the very growth the cuts were intended to foster.

KS tried cutting taxes to stimulate jobs and just went into deeper debt. Few new jobs created because corps don’t want bad schools, roads, public service, high sales taxes.

Budget proposal does not cut subsidies to big oil, pharma, agriculture, airplanes, etc.

Trump GOP budget: GOP cuts programs of folks who have no power to oppose cuts. Cowardly. The Don does not like diplomacy, aid to poor, US environment or culture, finding cures for disease, transportation and education programs. Cuts only the poor.

19 Agencies you may use being cut from American society: The Don does not like Meals on Wheels, Sesame St. NPR radio, Arts, Miners retraining, Seniors volunteers for poor, Americorp youth help poor,  62 in all for $343 billion.

Trump’s budget man wants to cut Medicare and delay Social Security benefits to age 70.

What GOP does NOT cut:

No cuts to subsidies to Boeing, GE, Intel, Nike, Shell, Fiat, GM, Ford, hundreds more.

            And these 27 got govt help and paid no taxes and 10 welfare plans for the rich

No cuts to govt cost overruns of $ trillions each year. And Congressperson subsidies.

Wealthy 1% will receive a $165 billion tax break, Seniors go back to food stamps.

Wealth managers keep “carried interest” -- lower taxes on profits

No cuts to United Airlines subsidy even after rip a paying customer from his seat.

Tax returns do matter for presidents that make deals with foreigners:

Trump and GOP are working to cut their own taxes which average 12% now. Yours?

Americans in 150 cities show up for The Don’s taxes to see how Russia helps him win.

Trump says he is under another new audit so can’t show taxes: continuous audit?

Trump may owe $ millions to Putin’s banks. Trump wanted permit to build in Russia. Trump’s foreign lenders will be bailed out FIRST in the next financial meltdown.

*

More Americans say Trump doesn't keep promises: poll Apr 9  Promises broken.

Pre-existing conditions are in the bill but you can’t afford that coverage

Like before ObamaCare, you can buy health insurance to cover your needs but cost is too great. The Don and GOP have tricked us by claiming to include ACCESS in their new bill. Access means your state can decide for insurers to offer cover in a pool with others and charge whatever the market will bear. They also did not mention that all the 10 guaranteed benefits are optional -- not required as in ObamaCare. The GOP wants to go back to the days when America was Great: Health Care was for the wealthy. Average peson can afford only JUNK policy. The GOP bill gives the rich tax cuts that add up to $883 billion. The real TELL in this vote: Congress members will NOT lose their ObamaCare guarantees in this version. Trump has his WIN and we lose. 24 million people lose coverage. Even Fox News sees single payor in 7 years as a result.

Side by side comparison ObamaCare vs TrumpCare: http://www.latimes.com/projects/la-na-pol-obamacare-repeal/

Flynn as paid secret foreign agent while US official and campaign knew it--traitor

Flynn, as part of the Trump campaign and named security advisor, had access to all US secrets and was secretly in the pay of Turkey and Russian spy handlers. Flynn at Putin’s RT party. He received $530,000. Isn’t this treason? By law a US officer cannot receive money from foreign governments. Like Ben Arnold, he was official of US government while being paid by foreign powers. Flynn is not alone. Other Trump operatives are also under investigation by the FBI for potentially illegal contact with senior Russian intelligence operatives. Donald Trump also has a longtime pattern of open admiration for gangsters and organized crime. FBI is following the Steele memo on Trump activities in Russia. FBI, NSA said Russia sought to influence the election. 35% GOP say didn’t.

Did Trump do a background on his hires? Or were Flynn, Page, Manafort plants under Putin control and leveraged by the Trump scandal hidden in Putin’s video player?

Civilians conspire with a hostile power to end Presidential sanctions against that hostile power we are fighting in Syria and Ukraine. Isn’t this treason?

Flynn was warned not to take money from foreigners when he left Pentagon. Trump refused to give Flynn docs to committee on Russia influence. Coverup? Treason?

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

Regulators are the only protection against corporations since we can’t sue anymore

“It is nearly impossible for one individual to take on a corporation with vast resources.” Supremes stop us from suing—State courts no longer available to sue corporations!

GM and Saab recalls ? 312,000 vehicles for headlights that can suddenly go dark.

GOP to hide consumer complaints about bad behavior and fraud by financial firms

TX is a dangerous state to visit unless you are well armed.

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

GM killed 124 because ignition switch pin not replaced after knew it killed first in 2006.

Police want gun control.

When everyone has guns; your chance of being killed goes up. Police don’t know who to shoot. They assume everyone has one and shoot first. You and thief have guns. CO schools now allow teachers/administrators to carry guns in the classroom. Kid lesson! Since 2015, police have killed 86 people with realistic looking FAKE guns--suicide?

SCAMS:

Hillary: The world does not want to hear you cry in your beer. Bill’s meeting in secret. Lack of credible vision for America—“Steady” “not Trump nightmare”?

Comey disclosed investigation to save FBI face; but did not disclose Trump-Putin probe.

GOP to give employers more choice in overtime pay.

Ignoramus Award:

The Don gives oil drillers license to drill everywhere at our expense; we have enough.

How our government wastes our money:

$120 million in additional money to help cover the escalating costs of protecting the Trump family and Trump Tower and Trump properties around the world.

Where have all the jobs gone?

When your job is to teach a computer to make you unemployed

By 2018, 75 percent of new business software will include artificial intelligence features.

Which job board sites are best for your job search?

Cancel Robo calls with Mr NoMoRobo: https://www.nomorobo.com/ 

Miracle:

When Trump gets a history book on the Civil War. Why Civil War? Don, it was slavery. Ms Bachmann had the same idea. She said the founders got rid of slavery. Is it class?

Rich white folks sometimes forget Americans enslaved fellow humans for profit.

Perhaps that is what they teach at those rich white private schools & military academies.

IAN

41 Watchung Plaza, B242

Montclair, NJ 07042

973.746.2014

www.InsuranceAdvisorsNetwork.com

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