Women are more vulnerable to a retirement income shortfall

 

Women are more vulnerable to a retirement income shortfall

When Social Security benefits are cut sometime after 2034, women will be hurt. Women live longer and have greater health expenses than men. Women rely on SS benefits more than men yet because of lower income, receive fewer SS benefits. Fewer women have their own well-funded IRA to supplement their incomes later. Fewer women have employer paid pensions. Women have lost seniority due to child rearing. Finally, women have lost wages over years of suffering the unequal pay gap. Thus, cutting benefits by 25% or so as planned by the current Trust forecast will bring women near poverty straits. Will the male-dominated GOP respond to fix this emergency with new taxes soon so that the Trust has time to accumulate a useful balance? Maybe not. This leaves women workers with the options of working longer, staying married (or with other family), finding more affordable housing/living situation or creating a new income source.

https://www.amazon.com/Ensure-Your-Financial-Health-Wealth/dp/1466388293

 

Is Social Security in your future?

In order to receive our full benefits in the future (2034 and beyond) we need to have more people who pay the FICA tax working. Since fewer children are being raised in the US and fewer immigrants are being allowed in by the GOP, there will be a shortage of workers to pay for future Social Security benefits. In addition, wealthy folks with income over $147,000 are exempt by GOP from paying FICA. So we need to make a change in one of these determinants. Workers and employers already pay their fair share—7.65% each. Congress could save Social Security for us by lifting the exemption. We are at risk to the politics of wealthy Americans maintaining their privilege. Our future may be more like the economies of poor countries—very wealthy owners and very poor workers. Some working people can afford to wait to claim higher benefits. Most working people can’t afford a lump-sum payment for an annuity to replace SS benefits. Most workers (80% by a recent survey) feel they aren’t saving enough (or simply don’t know how to save) for retirement. This leaves workers with the options of working longer, staying married (or with other family), finding more affordable housing/living situation or creating a new income source.

Consider the options: https://www.amazon.com/Maximize-Social-Security-Benefits-Retirement/dp/1495439224

 

Retirement planning—the good, the bad, the ugly

If you have started to think about or talk to your advisor your retirement, that’s good. If your advisor has begun to pitch an annuity, that’s bad. When you have estimated how much income you will have compared to your expenses, that’s when it gets ugly. Most retirees wish they had started saving/investing earlier. Well, that can’t be helped now. You started when you started. What can you do now? Why do advisors push annuities? If you have a large lump sum, annuities can provide a guaranteed income to you (and your advisor). However, many insurers are cautious about guarantees. They have been burned by low interest rates and so limit ‘guaranteed living benefits’. People are living longer so the benefit, that ‘lasts a lifetime,’ may lose HALF its purchasing power in 20 years. If you have kept your money working in equities, you can sustain your current income level for longer than an annuity can. Plus if you or your family has an emergency, you can use your portfolio. Usually you cannot cancel an annuity without a large charge.

Plan for the worst: https://www.amazon.com/Not-Buy-That-Annuity-Guaranteed/dp/1466494573

 

Buffett recommendations for investments in retirement

What is one of the world's greatest investor's retirement advice? Use 2 Vanguard funds for your retirement income. You avoid “high-fee managers” and the high cost of trading.  Warren Buffett's legal will provides for his family by directing that his cash assets be invested in just two Vanguard funds: One will provide cash for the coming year and the other will provide for a sound future. The best way to protect your family's future is to be invested in the stock market: Pure and simple. When you have stock assets, your money compounds at higher rates when your account fees are 0.01-0.05%, not the retail rates of 1.5-3%. You don't have to settle for retail products that are structured to provide a Wall Street firm with higher revenues. The average investor earns just 3.79%, not the 10-12% market rates according to the DALBAR record keeper. A simple plan can save you the pain of retirement income blues. Retirees regret a little saving and planning workout.

Buffett’s simple plan: https://www.amazon.com/Warren-Buffetts-Vanguard-Funds-Retirement/dp/1496148592

 

 

 

 

 

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

 

 

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

 

 

The Path to Dictatorship: 2010-2030

 

Jan 21 2010 Corpor­a­tions’ election-spending unlim­ited

 

Nov 2020 Wealthy discredit election process

 

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

 

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

 

Jan 6 2021 Direct assault failed: guns & bombs ready

 

Trump engaged in a "criminal conspiracy" to stop Biden

 

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

 

Trump was “detached from reality”

 

Trump used mafia-style intimidation on the defenseless

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Fascism: GOP to stop women leaving state for abortion

 

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

 

 

Nov 8 2022 Trump’s “national revolution”

 

 

 

How Govt wastes our money:

US executes those who steal "top secret documents" don’t they: Rosenbergs

GOP Sen Paul calling for repeal of Espionage Act: Dems could never get away with that

 

Warrant: Nuclear secrets for Putin Xi or Saudis provides cash for dictator’s next move

Rubio said that Trump was "dangerous": we must not hand him “the nuclear codes”

Trump claimed he returned secrets in June: he did not: FBI found more. ‘Lock him up’

Now Trump claims he “declassified those documents.” But no record: Nuclear declassify

 

“We must destroy the FBI,” Rep. Paul Gosar (R-Ariz.): GOP’s new fascist theme

 

FBI Justice probes Southern Baptists: clergy sex abuse of most devout: higher authority?

 

Sinema was paid $1 million to kill wealth tax on wealthy and hedge fund managers

 

VA Gov ‘hate’ line: Gestapo-style hate list compiled by Youngkin: “divisive” teaching.

Data from period-tracking and pregnancy apps may be used to prosecute pregnant people.

 

TX school district removes Bible, Ann Frank, etc from library and schools: complaints

VA, FL, PA, AZ restrict book reading: fears whipped by GOP: Gaetz roams girls school

Judge tells DeSantis he can’t forbid us talking about race in biz and education sites.

 

SCAMS/SPINS:

LPL Financial caught not accurately calculating client reserves, inaccurate books: fine

Equifax Confirms It Sent Wrong Scores to Lenders: Ask them to rejigger your score

Hackers used 30 retail accounts pump up microcap stocks then sold making $millions

 

Median house price zooms to $413,500: half above that record level

Steinway Tower skinny: wind sways $88 million upper floor apartment a few feet !!

 

Dirty Apples: Updates recommended after more errors found: even 6S model, iPad 5th

Bad Apples: Your iPhone may soon have more ads

 

RECALL: Capri Sun Wild Cherry Flavored Juice Drink Blend pouches: cleaning solution

RECALL: 4moms MamaRoo Baby Swing and RockaRoo Baby Rocker: strangles kids

BEWARE: anti-choice police seize our internet talk re: women’s health issues: talk softly

Walmart, CVS, Walgreens caught pushing opioid drugs in OH: fine, no jail

 

Book banners banned from reading the books they banned in public: 2 Americas

FL court: 16-year-old not “sufficiently mature to decide” abortion so forced to raise child

Trump tells terrorists to chill; get ready “terrible things are going to happen.”

Trump can’t find a good lawyer: he usually doesn’t pay and his regulars in trouble

Kinzinger: pastors lead people to “equate Donald Trump with the person of Jesus Christ.”

 

Far-right lobbyist now tax-exempt “church”  Trump’s Supremes all ‘church’ members

Trump’s accountant pleads guilty: tax-fraud just like Al Capone mob boss

PA judges caught sending kids to for-profit jails in exchange for kickbacks: fine, no jail.

 

Jobs

10 Cities Where Rich Out-of-Towners Have Driven up Home Prices

Teach: you don’t even need to know how: just handle violent parents, terrorists, pay

Wage gains for job hoppers hit record high over those who stay

 

LeBron James takes $97 million contract: you could be his body guard?

 

Who owns your account now?

Polio Is Now in NYC's Sewage, Suggesting That the Virus Is Circulating

Monkeypox is now “Clade”: saves monkey discrimination: clade

NAIC passes Pet Insurance Model Act: make sure your follows standards of care

 

J.D. Power T-Mobile, Cricket and Consumer Cellular Highest in Segments

Paint sale: Sherwin Williams Coupons 

It’s your money: Losses from crypto hacks surged 60% to $1.9 billion January to July

 

NASA tests yeast’s biological processes growth, death, DNA damage: our life on mars?

EV Rules change 1/1/23: $7,500 for new electric vehicle buyers

https://signmyrocket.com/ you can send a message to Putin on a bomb: “love from TX”

 

Miracles:

Inflation Reduction Act just passed: what we might accomplish

Panicked parents defund town library to end book reading: outsiders donate to save it.

Judge restored a 2016 moratorium on coal leasing on federal lands overturned by Trump

 

14 blind people had their vision restored and three of them, perfect 20/20 vision

5 Tax Credits in Biden’s New Law: Health, cars, home,

Dog, Missing 2 Months, Found Alive Inside Missouri Cave

 

Scotland become first country in world provide free period products: no rags, paper, etc

FDA: over-the-counter hearing aids available to millions: save $3,000

Start your day with this and you will sing all day! youtube.com/watch?v=I0zNiae3j7k

 

 

 

 

@

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

 

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

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

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

 

IAN

973.746.2014

www.InsuranceAdvisorsNetwork.com

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

 

Apple gets tax bill from Europe NOT US

Apple gets bill for back taxes from Europe not US

European Commission ruled against Ireland's tax dealings with Apple and Dublin will recoup back taxes. Apple and other corporations have been playing the “move legal address” game to avoid taxes in the US and other countries. The EU demanded $14.5 billion and said that a special scheme to route profits through Ireland was illegal state aid. "Ireland granted illegal tax benefits to Apple, which enabled it to pay substantially less tax than other businesses over many years," EU said. As of June, Apple reported it had left $214.9 billion in foreign subsidiaries so it pays only 10% to US. Many like Amazon, McDonalds and others hold cash oversees to avoid taxes which we must make up for. IRS dead. Thanks to budget cuts, audit rates have plummeted, especially for the biggest corporations, with armies of savvy tax accountants. Criminal tax prosecutions have nose-dived, too. No one fears tax man except working people. “Only little people pay taxes.”

Avoid paying their taxes: https://www.amazon.com/Americas-Socialism-for-Rich-little-people-pay/dp/1535218584

Is investing a fixed dollar amount each month right for you?

You can buy 100 or 1000 shares when your broker calls or you can set up an automatic fixed amount to invest every month. Which is better for you (not your broker) over time? If you are on salary, you need to fix your monthly expenses so you don’t overdraft when you spend. This chart from BlackRock shows you how to pay the least amount for a security or mutual fund share over time. Clearly you end up with more shares in a volatile market when you use “dollar cost averaging.” BlackRock also shows you why market timing is a Wall Street myth: you miss 5 days—you lose. Tell your broker to take a hike.

Think of all the commissions and fees you will NOT pay. Give yourself a bonus:

https://www.amazon.com/Funds-ETFs-Best-your-goals/dp/1537217267

Are you considering Target Date Funds?

When you decide to invest, the easiest decision is to buy Target Date funds from a large discount seller like Schwab or Vanguard. But which one? There are many choices of mutual funds so it is hard. This analysis by Mr Ping makes it easier. http://www.mymoneyblog.com/schwab-target-date-index-funds-review.html

He has laid out the options and costs. You pick a retirement date closest to your retirement target and you put all your contributions on automatic. You are done. There is no worry: No market-timing, rotation, or tax loss harvesting. It is all done for you.

And you can even make it Tax-FREE: https://www.amazon.com/Best-Robo-Advisor-Ultimate-Automatic-Management/dp/1537111957

Are Vanguard’s low-cost investments right for you?

Vanguard has saved investors $1 Trillion in fees and charges according to Bloomberg. That includes forcing the industry to reduce costs for all kinds of investments. Vanguard’s structure has made it possible to offer the Best for Less. The investors own Vanguard—there is no for-profit management company to pay. For instance, the head of Fidelity, Abigail Johnson takes home $ millions every year no matter how much she makes for you. She is now #16 on Forbes list with $15 billions. Her daddy "Ned" Johnson III did not do badly either from your fees. And her grandfather before either. Since cost is the best predictor of success in investing (not manager longevity), you may find their offers of index and managed funds, ETFs, and Target Date funds best overall. Plus, there are no commissions: https://www.amazon.com/Vanguards-Top-Ten-mutual-funds/dp/150073909X

Did your loved one leave you a life insurance benefit?

Like most people, you probably don’t know if there was one or not. It may be worth your time to find out. Even if it is 5 years old, you may still be able to claim the benefits. You need to find any records like check register or checks to an insurer or just their name and DOB and state. Use the Insurance Commissioners site to learn how to find it. http://www.naic.org/documents/consumer_alert_locate_lost_life_insurance_benefit.htm

The Commissioners are trying to make it easier, especially given the scandal 60 minutes created when they told us that insurers were pocketing many benefits themselves.

In case you want to know if you still need one: https://www.amazon.com/Life-Insurance-Need-Save-right/dp/1480002178

Vanguard reports the average retirement account toped $100,000

The average workplace retirement plan balance topped $100,000, having nearly doubled from 2008. However, because this includes some really fat accounts that push the average up, the more likely situation, the median balance, is just $31,396. This situation is also a result of the stage of the Vanguard participants. If most are just starting careers, the median reflects this. Many savers will have time to improve their situation if they use low-cost stock funds at Vanguard. Studies have shown that allowing their balance to compound without trading can double it every 7-9 years. Earning 11% in an index fund not 3.79% in a managed account can create a comfortable retirement egg and income.

It’s your money—Keep it: https://www.amazon.com/Win-Investment-War-Earn-11%/dp/1522916369

Kelly Blue Book picks best SUV under $25,000.

Full List is below. Remember, the 3-year-old version may be a better buy since they have usually worked out the recalls/wrinkles and 40% off discount with mileage under 50K. I just got a loaded 2013 Subaru Outback for under $21,000 (w/ tax title docs) with 54K miles and one owner. It has 100K-7 year warranty too.

1. 2016 Honda CR-V
2. 2016 Mazda CX-5
3. 2016 Hyundai Tucson
4. 2016 Kia Sorento
5. 2016 Subaru Forester
6. 2016 Honda HR-V
7. 2016 Toyota RAV4
8. 2016 Nissan Rogue
9. 2016 Jeep Renegade
10. 2016 Jeep Wrangler

Don’t forget to add the cost of insuring a NEW car: https://www.amazon.com/Vehicle-Insurance-Beware-Double-Coverage/dp/1480027634

What will you do when Social Security runs out in 2034—17 years from now!

The Trustees project that the combined trust funds will be depleted in 2034, and we can’t count on GOP Congress to fix it. Many seniors will need to go back to work or ask their GOP-run state reps for a hand out. GOP does not like tax increases even to fight diseases like Zika—(they went on vacation). High income people do not pay SS taxes on pay over $118,500. Some intellectuals want to raise the retirement age to 76 so fewer collect. They advocate high-cost annuities to replace SS spousal benefits. So how can we prepare? We can save and invest for a rainy day, tax-FREE, like the rest of mankind. If you are near retirement, maybe you should reconsider. If you are going to take it SS now, check your options first.

Maximize your SS benefit: https://www.amazon.com/Maximize-Social-Security-Benefits-Retirement/dp/1495439224

Supremes ready to exclude black voters in NC—a racist court?

Because Roberts, Kennedy, Thomas and Alito were willing to overturn NC court’s voiding of voter suppression measures to exclude blacks from voting, Scalia is being missed by GOP leaders today. Scalia would have sealed black voter suppression in NC and perhaps other states. Supremes would overturn a unanimous panel of the 4th Circuit on July 29 who agreed with allegations from the Justice Department and civil rights groups that North Carolina’s bill selectively chose voter-ID requirements, reduced the number of early-voting days and changed registration procedures in ways meant to harm blacks." The Richmond U.S. Court of Appeals found the NC law unconstitutional. “Upon receipt of the race data, the General Assembly enacted legislation that restricted voting and registration in five different ways, all of which disproportionately affected African Americans.” NC changed vote law after the Supremes decided a Voting Rights Act void.

The Supremes (with Scalia) would have found discrimination constitutional.

Don’s Apology?: “Sometimes in the heat of debate, and speaking on a multitude of issues,   you don't choose the right words or you say the wrong thing. I have done that." 

Hill’s Apology?: “I just followed advice of Colin and other Sec. State before me.”

Don:    Citibank says if I win it will “cause global recession”—we need bank shakeup!

            My doctor wrote exactly what I needed him to write—I will be greatest prez ever

            I asked the Hannity mob whether “criminal” immigrants get deported. What?

            I told you it’s fixed: foreign hackers have broken into two state election databases

            That 1973 discrimination suit was a long time ago and I admit nothing in consent!

            Joe Scarborough gets no interviews since using this tweet: #AmnestyDon

            I met with Mexico to get the Wall started—they pay so they build on their side?

            Mexican pres has compared Trump's "strident rhetoric" to Hitler and Mussolini's.

            I don’t want to be president, just “listen to my meaning.” I just used $55,000 in campaign donations to buy copies of my book at full retail price. Boost my book ratings.

Mike:   Don has been "absolutely consistent" on how he'd treat undocumented immigrants

            Press: I gave $24 million to 10 companies that offshored jobs; I lost more IN jobs

            Yes, Don’s plan means even a Texas high school valedictorian would be deported

           

Hill:    Don is moving toward “path to citizenship” no wall, no deportation, no plan.

            I only used a few tax dollars to pay for my server and foundation—no big deal!

            Don hired attack dog Bossie to come after me again—more mud slinging!

Tim:    Don has 120 foreign deals going—how can he deal China if he owes them?

            Don may be house rich, cash poor: we don’t know his real creditors/obligations.

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

            “It is nearly impossible for one individual to take on a corporation with vast resources.” (GOP bill                requires impossible: every person in class action suffer “same type and scope of injury”)

               Supremes stop us from suing—State courts no longer available to sue corporations!

Investment firms caught making false claims on AlphaSector ETF—Never beat Index

TX judge: 3 professors can NOT ban guns from their classes--but more guns=more death

GM switched to Takata air bags to save money and killed 14 knowing less stable inflator

Both United pilots drunk caught after crew alerted police before takeoff—Scots law too!

Caldwell International Securities TX caught letting brokers churn customer accounts

Texas’ attorney general has sued a TX county that tried to ban guns from its courthouse. 

SC killed millions of honey bees as part of a spraying program to kill Zika: who’s boss?

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

Police want gun control.

When everyone has guns; your chance of being killed goes up. Police don’t know who to shoot if you and robber has gun. They Shot a psych worker with his hands up while on ground. Police shot black homeowner who reported car stolen in front of house. No “shout out” “police” since homeowner has gun. They shoot first if black or deaf. Deaf man was fatally shot when he tried to explain in sign. An Oklahoma mom was arrested after she shot a man she found in her 16-year-old daughter`s bedroom. OK Police pepper spray NOT shoot 84 year old mom who didn’t move fast enough in HER home. 11-year old shoots another 11-year old playing at home with adults’ gun. Smart guns can only be used by owner but banned in states by NRA. Guns kill people.

SCAMS

GM knew Takata air bags were dangerous and still killed 14, injured 100s—GM liable?

Takata airbag parts exploded on a Texas road killing 1 person nearby—powerful airbags!

Don’s Wall is useless: Mexico police found hidden tunnel from Sonora to Arizona

EpiPen now reformed and wants $300 “in several weeks” instead of $600

Koch pushing GOP to stop govt from staying open: another costly govt shut down 9/30?

Cinema where 12 were shot claims survivors owe $700,000 because they sued Cinema?

Ignoramus Award: Weiner with his son! in bed sending Xpictures public—needs cure?

How our government wastes our money

$400 billion F-35 fighter jet is the future it’s official testers have many concerns.

$36 B: “it was clearly premature to include so many unproven technologies" on carrier.

$18.3 million stolen by Patent office workers: covered by management and no jail time!

SC killed millions of honey bees as part of a spraying program to kill Zika: who decided?

Where have all the jobs gone?

Drones now patrol tracks looking for cracks/breaks/repairs and verify insurance claims

Mike Pence: I gave $24 million to 10 companies that offshored jobs; I lost more IN jobs

What happens when the paying jobs Trump promises to come back don’t come back?

1,100 $16.10 jobs KY making electric motors to $1.75 Mexico—Trump restores job?

Walmart automates: 7,000 back-office jobs in accounting and invoicing positions to sales

IAN

41 Watchung Plaza, B242

Montclair, NJ 07042

973.746.2014

www.InsuranceAdvisorsNetwork.com

Alerts 

Who does NOT pay taxes?

Who does NOT pay taxes?

44% of Americans don’t pay income taxes. The best way is to be really rich: take all your income from tax-FREE muni bonds, Roth IRAs, South Dakota income trusts and other tax evasion tricks only the rich can afford to set up. Many rich and over 2/3 of corporations have enough tricks to pay less tax than working-class Americans—under 15%--like Apple, Warren Buffett, Mit Romney, John Kerry and many members of Congress.

You don’t think they got to be millionaires and billionaires by paying the legal IRS rate of 39.5%, did you?

The only people who pay the rich people’s rate are average workers like Warren Buffett’s secretary. Her tax rate was 36% not counting her pension dues. http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/business/2012/01/warren-buffett-and-his-secretary-talk-taxes/

The poor don’t pay tax. Their wages are so low that the Earned Income Tax Credit (welfare) and child-related tax breaks offset what they owe. Another way is that your wages are so low that you are under the minimum society says you need to survive: in 2013, the minimum are $10,000 for single individuals, $12,850 for heads of household and $20,000 for married couples filing a joint return. Many seniors, especially women, receive less than this from Social Security and savings.

You can avoid taxes legally at low cost: http://www.amazon.com/Create-Your-Tax-FREE-Financial-System/dp/1466367466/

1^st class postage went up 4.7% in 50 years—how is your savings?

In 1964, postage was 5 cents. In 2014 it is now 49 cents. Postage went up in price like everything else. Are your savings keeping up with inflation? Did your bank savings grow at 4.7% over this period? If not, you lose purchasing power and can’t afford a stamp. If you were investing $100 a month in the stock market during that time, you would have about $4 million today. It is TIME that makes money grow. Start now: http://www.amazon.com/Best-Long-term-Investment-its-tax-FREE/dp/1492117455

Insurer now offers ‘sign up by text’

New quick enrollment from the Principal Financial enables individuals to sign up to save for retirement in minutes with a text message. "One of the easiest ways to save for retirement is through an employer-sponsored retirement plan, yet the biggest hurdle is simply getting individuals to sign up," said Jerry Patterson. "We know people have good intentions, but while many eligible employees say they are going to take action, many of those same employees don't. By making the process quick and convenient, we're able to battle inertia and get individuals to start saving right away." Typically, insurers provide the highest cost mutual funds in employer plans—ING, HSBC, Principal and Prudential are noted: http://www.fundsupermart.co.in/main/fundinfo/worst_Funds.svdo

Most funds don’t beat their low-cost index equivalent

Morningstar reported that 79% of large-cap mutual funds lost out to the S&P 500 Index. Low-cost index funds have the largest amount of investor funds and show consistent 10% plus returns long-term. Vanguard’s 500 Index costs 0.05% and has provided 11% average annual return since 1976. With modern investing, the best costs the least: http://www.amazon.com/Internet-Money-Smarts-More-Less/dp/1493643223

Youngest woman billionaire

Sheryl Sandberg’s fortune surpassed $1 billion today after Facebook’s stock closed at a record high, making her one of the youngest billionaires in the U.S.

Small cars are dangerous—one is ‘acceptable’

The smallest cars on the road carry the biggest injury risk in a common and deadly type of crash, a report released Wednesday reveals. Only one of 11 small city and minicars passed the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's small front overlap crash test in which a car hits a barrier with the front driver's side corner at 40 miles per hour. Chevrolet Spark is the only car with ‘acceptable’ rating.  The worst performer was the Honda Fit, which earned a "poor" rating in the test along with five other models and all but one of the rest were "marginal." Thus, Spark is the only one in the group to earn the IIHS Top Safety Pick designation. However, there are safer cars for the money.

Supremes may kill union memberships

Home-health workers want the court to hold that permitting the unions to collect fees for representing non-members—the so-called “agency fee”—violates the First Amendment.

At least four members of the Court seemed ready to reach that “radical” result. The fate of public employee unionism in the nation seemed, by the end of the argument, to lie in the hands of Justice Antonin Scalia. Ouch. Unions negotiate benefits for non-paying and paying members. Non-payers will get free ride until unions fold. Membership is already falling and losing political power. Is this the end?

Employees reduced to part-time to avoid ObamaCare

Target said it will end health insurance for part-time employees, joining Trader Joe’s, Home Depot and other retailers that have scaled back benefits in response to changes from Obamacare. 

Shopping ObamaCare plans important to reduce premiums

A recent survey of plans demonstrated a wide range of deductibles and out-of-pocket cost caps called “stop-loss” amounts for similar plans.

In order to demonstrate the range of cost-sharing within each health plan tier, HealthPocket examined the lowest to highest deductibles and out-of-pocket caps for the new Affordable Care Act health plans in 34 states. In three of the four health plan tiers (bronze, silver, and gold) HealthPocket saw deductible ranges spanning thousands of dollars among insurance policies belonging to the same category. The largest range was within silver plans where the lowest deductible recorded was $0 and the highest was $6,250. The smallest range was among platinum plans where the lowest deductible was $0 and the highest was $1,000. Buy only what you need: http://www.amazon.com/Health-Insurance-ONLY-right-policy/dp/1480125083/

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] personnel in the United States. Our taxes pay for about HALF of the WORLD’s military expenditures every year.

No unemployment insurance for the uninsured

Congress maintained their lobbyists’ favorite pipelines after Christmas but not for those laid off by the outsourcers and “job creators.” House Republicans counter that they have approved legislation they say would spur job growth—cut tax and regulation on toxic spills and raise the deficit.

"You see a mentality among the Republicans and their leadership that basically says when people are down and out and need a helping hand, we're not going to give it to them because they're lazy, and the only way to get them up off the couch and away from the television and off to work is to stop sending unemployment checks," said Senate Majority Whip Richard Durbin, D-Ill.

Congress put itself back on the couch and took a week off after 1 week back. Great jobs!!

Can Congress stop taking paychecks for no work and pay for unemployment benefits?

Here is the money to pay for unemployment benefits!!

The IRS still held an estimated $917 million in unclaimed federal tax refunds for 1 million workers who didn’t file taxes in 2009.

Boss gives himself a raise despite bad behavior

Despite the legal troubles that JPMorgan Chases faced in 2013, which amounted to more than $20 billion in fines, Jamie Dimon, the bank’s chairman and chief executive, is getting a raise.

Most of the unemployed could do that job! Get $20 billion fine and ask for more pay.

Taking responsibility by NOT

Freedom Industries, responsible for the chemical leak that left portions of West Virginia without water for days, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. So much for taking responsibility by “Freedom” industry execs. “Freedom” owes more than $2.4 million in unpaid taxes and roughly $4,000 in unpaid unemployment compensation insurance. It appears that the officers have been FREE from responsibility many times in the past. http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702303819704579316951855899732

How do criminals get lines of credit for this operation?

IAN

41 Watchung Plaza, B242

Montclair, NJ 07042

973.746.2014

www.InsuranceAdvisorsNetwork.com

New Year smart money moves

No more money mistakes: New Year smart money moves

Since you don’t want to make any more mistakes, you first need to know the score—your credit score and report. Go tohttps://www.annualcreditreport.com/index.action for your truly free report. You can obtain your FICA credit score FREE fromhttp://www.freeficoscore.com/ during the 10-day FREE trial but you must call to cancel in two weeks. Get score and then cancel immediately or it will cost you more than it’s worth. Check your reports for accuracy (80% are wrong) and correct them. Learn how to avoid the mistakes that lead to financial disaster: http://www.amazon.com/10-Worst-Money-Mistakes-them/dp/1494401223/

Most married couples will need income to age 90

According to Social Security, at least one member will make it to age 90. One in four seniors will hit 90 and one in 10 will break 95. Are you ready? Make your income tax-FREE so it will last longer: http://www.amazon.com/Tax-FREE-Retirement-code-lifetime-income/dp/1475206976/

Our readers’ choice funds maintain long-term average 10-12% return

2013 total return was over 30%. It raised their average to 12% again. Some of our readers never sell. They are rewarded for long-term growth and diversification. Retirees move assets to Wellesley Income fund for safety. Most readers pay less than 0.40% for high returns in index and managed Vanguard funds. It is possible to have enough for a retirement of 30 years. Most advisors, charging 1-3%, have promised single-digit returns from now on. Do-it-yourselfers do better. Simple: high costs reduce your returns.

2013 Total Return       Fund                Long-term Return*       Longevity

32.3%                          500 Index        11.0%*                        since 1976

18.4%                          Energy             13.2%                          since 1984

38.4%              Extended Market         11.2%                          since 1987

43.2%                          Health              17.1%                          since 1984

23.0%              International Growth   11.2%                          since 1981

39.7%                          PRIMECAP     13.7%                          since 1984

37.6%              Small Cap Index          10.9%                          since 1960

  9.2%              Wellesley Income        10.1%                          since 1970

36.1%                          Windsor          11.6%                          since 1958

30.7%                          Windsor II       11.1%                          since 1985

30.9%                          Average           12.1%

*Average Annual Returns as of 12/31/13.

Wealthy people don’t pay their fair share of taxes—and Congress allows tax trick

Rent-a-tax-shelter “address.” In the past four years, the amount of money administered by South Dakota trust companies like these has tripled to $121 billion, almost all of it from out of state. The families needn’t actually move to South Dakota, or deposit their money at a local bank, or even touch down in the private jet. Little more than renting an address in Sioux Falls is required to take advantage of South Dakota’s tax-friendly trust laws.
States like South Dakota are “creating laws that are conducive to a massive exploitation of a federal tax loophole,” said Edward McCaffery, a professor at the University of Southern California’s Gould School of Law. Bankers estimate that one-quarter of their business comes from special vehicles known as “dynasty trusts,” which are designed to avoid the federal estate tax forever. Thatdefies the spirit of the estate tax, enacted almost 100 years ago to discourage the perpetuation of dynastic wealth.

Still others are drawn to South Dakota’s iron-clad secrecy and protections of trust assets from creditors and ex-wives. Obama has called for closing the dynasty trust loophole in annual budget proposals but Congress has not.

Study says we are not prepared for next financial crisis—Why?
Turf wars and big money lobbyists make preparation difficult. America runs on business exuberance and boom-bust is part of business system.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/12/22/us-financial-regulation-ofr-insight-idUSBRE9BL04Y20131222

Most GOP reject evolution science—House "science" committee rejects science

33 percent of Americans reject the idea of evolution, saying that "humans and other living things have existed in their present form since the beginning of time," a new study says. "The gap is coming from the Republicans, where fewer are now saying that humans have evolved over time," said Cary Funk, a Pew senior researcher who conducted the analysis. The poll showed 43 percent of Republicans and 67 percent of Democrats say humans have evolved over time, compared with 54 percent and 64 percent respectively four years ago.

America split in two over facts? Is world flat? Did aliens build pyramids? Most aren't sure!

Apple says it never helped NSA bug our phones

Apple said in an email to AFP that it "has never worked with the NSA to create a backdoor in any of our products, including iPhone. Sure.

Uninsured will be covered

Nearly 6 million people are newly insured -- 2.1 million privately insured and 4 million in government insurance plans -- U.S. health officials said. Buy only what you need: http://www.amazon.com/Health-Insurance-ONLY-right-policy/dp/1480125083

One Supreme says OK to keep the “pill” away from the nuns

Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor has offered a reprieve to some Catholic groups who want to opt out of the Affordable Care Act's contraceptive mandate. In her order, Sotomayor said the government is temporarily prevented from enforcing contraceptive coverage requirements against the Denver-based Little Sisters of the Poor Home for the Aged.http://www.littlesistersofthepoordenver.org/

“The president believes that no one, including the government or for-profit corporations, should be able to dictate those decisions to women,” Jay Carney, the White House press secretary, said last month. Church groups were already exempted from the mandate.

But I thought that the nuns took vows about this kind of activity?

SCAMS           “Deficits don’t matter” Republican Godfather, Dick Cheney, 2002

Bush wars increased the debt by $4-6 trillion to $16 trillion. 1985 debt $3 T, same as 1945.

Financial crimes scorecard

Only 7 of 31 corporate executives have returned their ill-gotten gains from the financial meltdown of 2007-08. Most have proved that crime pays—especially big-time crime.

If we had done what they did you would have been in jail for 25 years.

Our Taxes Wasted on a $120,000,000 Parking Center

GOP Coburn admits he and his colleagues wasted $30 Billion this year. Read and weep.

http://www.coburn.senate.gov/public//index.cfm?a=Files.Serve&File_id=d204730e-4a24-4711-b1db-99bb6c29d4b6 Yet not one red cent for the unemployed!

Our taxes saved Chrysler for FIAT to take

U.S. automaker Chrysler will become fully owned by Italy's Fiat under terms of an agreement announced Wednesday that also involves the United Auto Workers union. It cost us $1.3 Billion in taxes to dump Chrysler on FIAT.http://money.cnn.com/2011/07/21/autos/chrysler_government_exit/

IAN

41 Watchung Plaza, B242

Montclair, NJ 07042

973.746.2014

www.InsuranceAdvisorsNetwork.com

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