Showing posts with label Trump 'facts'. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Trump 'facts'. Show all posts

Friday, January 19, 2018

Your ‘discount’ broker sells expensive products

BEWARE: Your ‘discount’ broker sells expensive products
According to a Wall Street Journal story recently, Schwab, Fidelity and TD Ameritrade incentivize their advisors to sell more expensive products to their clients. Yes, it is true. Unless you verify the cost of your “discount” broker/advisor, you are paying too much. You may pay 3 times the price others charge, especially for ‘managed’ accounts and proprietary items. For instance, if total costs for the account and the product are 2% a year, you are giving up 63% of your total potential. There are better products at lower costs. Buffett recently proved this, again—pay 0.04%. If your portfolio produces 6% over time and your cost is 2%, you earn 4%. On $1 million account, your balance is reduced to $2.1 million from $3.2 million. Based on interviews with dozens of former employees of the three largest discount brokerages, the firms encourage advisors to sell higher-cost products. Their rewards, NOT YOURS, are trips and bonuses.


IRS changes withholding rates
New rates mean more wages for some less for others, especially in the blue states. They will be increasing the amount sent to Washington since their deductions are going down. Since working Americans will be paying for the tax cuts for the wealthy, Trump wants to triple the fed gas tax to pay for more GOP spending. Not every wealthy GOP Congress person is in favor of making working Americans pay higher gas taxes to offset their tax cuts. However, fed revenue has been cut and the wage increases from more jobs will take time to come, if ever. Carrier, Trump’s poster child for jobs, has laid off another round of workers in January. WalMart followed by closing 63 stores.
Some states have increased their state income tax rate so you may not have higher take-home pay. Other states are finding ways to offset the fed limit of $10,000 on property and state taxes. GOP will raise health care costs as part of the budget deal.
Avoid paying for the $1.5 Trillion tax cut: https://www.amazon.com/Tax-Shelter-Young-Americans/dp/1500426520


“You all just got a lot richer” with my new loophole
Trump boasted this to members of Mar-a-Lago on Dec. 22, according to CBS. The wealthy have a new tax loophole to avoid paying their fair share. 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. For instance, 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. His family and heirs can now avoid estate tax. They avoid the AMT—millionaire tax created by Nixon so the rich could not avoid taxes altogether. Trump did in 1995. Your business may qualify for the 20% deduction too.

 Buffett's SIMPLE Strategy Beats Wall Street—2017=22%; 11.11% since 1976.
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’s SIMPLE strategy earns over 11% per yearDALBAR keeps track of returns and found that the average managed-account equity investor earned just 3.79% a year over 30 years. The benchmark returned 11.06%. You and I can start beating Wall Street with one phone call. Earnings are tax-FREE after age 59 ½ in special account too.
Earn 11% a year with Buffett’s SIMPLE strategy: https://www.amazon.com/MasterClass-Buffetts-SIMPLE-Strategy/dp/1983485268

IRS free tax filing sites to avoid $300+ cost of filing
Commercial tax prep sites offer expensive loans as advances on your refund but you can keep your whole refund using the IRS free filing partners. Refunds can be in your account within 2-3 weeks. The average refund is over $3,000. You can create a tax-free retirement fund of $500,000 with that amount each year.

When you absolutely, positively, HAVE to get there
Certain vehicles seem to last for at least 15 years, at least on this list. Sorry, American nameplates avoid the list. But most Toyotas and Hondas are actually made by American workers. My 2012 Camry was made in Georgetown, KY. Toyota spent $1.33 billion at the facility and added 700 new jobs in 2017 in preparation for the all new 2018 Camry; the first copies of which rolled off the line on 28 June 2017. American nameplates do show up on the LEAST longevity list, with Explorer and Cherokee at the top—bottom. Fiat builds Cherokee in Toledo OH and Ford builds Explorer in Venezuela and Russia and assembles it in Chicago. Are Fiat and Ford designed poorly to NOT last?

Trump creates agency to enforce GOP religionist views; discriminate non whites
Office of Civil Rights used to enforce patient safety and privacy concerns. Now its new division, Conscience and Religious Freedom, will enforce "laws and regulations that protect conscience and prohibit coercion on issues such as abortion and assisted suicide in HHS-funded or conducted programs." "By ensuring individuals and institutions can exercise their conscience and religious freedom rights, OCR furthers justice and tolerance in a pluralistic society," says an announcement that published in the Federal Register Thursday morning. This is a tool to restrict access to health care for people who have different values than the conservative religious political arm of Trumpism. The irony is that this Trump constituency professes religion but has no problem with Trump assaulting women and his extramarital affairs. Their idea of ‘freedom’ is my ‘restricting options.’
GOP religionist wish to control each American’s behavior and their twisted idolatry is the method to do it. Trump’s Moral Police will enforce one religion’s view of how we act.
It is aimed at changing the behavior of non white, non straight, non GOP citizens. Hitler passed laws regarding the behavior of his scapegoat groups—jews, gypsys, cripples, etc.
Trumpism enforces GOP view of behavior while ignoring immoral and coercive acts.

Your advisor firm is taking more from your account than before
Morgan Stanley Wealth-Management Fees Climb To All-Time High is the headline. Morgan is not alone. If you made no trades and purchased no products, you may be paying over 1% of your account balance for NOTHING. Many firms have been moving more wealthy clients into fee-based accounts that are priced on asset levels rather than activity, boosting results as markets rise. Many clients were moved to permanent annual fee-based mode as a response to the change in the Fiduciary Rule. This Rule was designed to make advisors do what was best for us instead of selling expensive products we did not need or want. Instead, this trend will cost us more in the long run under the guise of a permanent firm ‘managed’ account. We are still being mislead.




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Make “Donald” Great Again

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

Trump can’t be a racist: “he had a TV show” ??

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.
National Park Service Advisors resign—our parks converted into shooting clubs.



How Govt wastes our money:
Trump tells Bannon to refuse subpoena testimony—must be serious Trump treason.
Why is it OK for Trumpers to refuse to answer questions from Congress

SCAMS:


Jobs:
Fed shutdown has workers continue to pay SS and military as essential services.

Who owns your account now?

Miracle:
A miracle if Congress passes bill that requires them to pay their own sex settlements.

IAN
41 Watchung Plaza, B242
MontclairNJ 07042
973.746.2014
Alerts 

Friday, March 17, 2017

Junk insurance will be the only affordable care under TrumpCare

When TrumpCare becomes law, insurers will be able to charge more; cover less. There will be no standard of care for our premiums. Marketing hype will replace quality.
            “Employers want to be able to tell employees they have something in the area of health insurance,” says David West, Center Changing Workforce. “And most consumers have very little understanding of the details of health insurance until they’re faced with a catastrophic illness.” http://www.consumerreports.org/
GOP: TrumpCare will cut taxes and boost jobs—GOP markets every law that way!
People earning more than $1 million annually would get a $165 billion tax break, Joint Committee on Taxation found. GOP has plans to cut Medicare too: market will determine subsidy and cap your benefits. The Don favors ending Medicaid expansion early so 15 million now covered lose in ‘18. Why are the people affected by TrumpCare, AARP, AMA and AHA against TrumpCare? Trump supporters face the “unintended consequences” of their votes—24 million will lose coverage.


What will you do when GOP tells you buy your own insurance or go without?
If you are earning under $50 an hour will you be able to pay $15,000 to $25,000 to insure your household? If you are employed part time or not able to buy at work, will you be able to afford a stripped-down policy at $2,000 each for your family? Despite what Trump says, you may have access to only 1 policy you can afford and it may not cover a hospital stay or surgery. Half the bankruptcies were medical debt in 2001. This is what Ryan means by “freedom” restored to the health market. But where most people live, there is no “free market” for health care. How can we let 24 million people die early?
Two of my doctors won’t take insurance, and the others are not very good. Millionaire Congressmen pitch “choice” and “competition will reduce the cost of insurance” but in most of America there is no competition. As Romney boasted, “I want to fire my insurer” if I don’t like them. Trump and Congress can afford to do that because we give them outstanding health coverage. Health insurance is like our military defense. Conservative Congressmen do NOT mind paying Lockheed a subsidy for the F-35 fighter program. They pay every over-budget bill from Lockheed even though the bills are a “disgrace.”

Why is keeping all Americans healthy any different? 24 million will die early.


If your advisor seems really giddy, here is why
Trump’s consigliore Bannon and his billionaire team are moving swiftly to return US to the good old days of non-regulated brokerage. Bannon’s “deconstruction of the administrative state” means your advisor can get away with selling you a bad annuity and pocketing 10% or more with no refund for you. Or a high-cost product with returns less than a bank CD. If you buy a derivative, mortgage or otherwise, it may collapse since Dodd-Frank is being disassembled. The commodity regulators and SEC have been cut so there are fewer analysts watching trillions of trades for manipulation. There are fewer IRS auditors for HNW tax shelters and corporate book cookers. There are fewer enforcement acts by FINRA if your broker gets greedy. Trust but verify!

FREE tax preparation
Advertising to you is how they pay for free credit score and “free” tax prep
https://www.creditkarma.com/ needs your views to obtain dollars from sellers of financial services and they give you software to file federal and state taxes at no cost. If you need to file a simple return, this is the cheapest way. Usually simple means you have W-2 income and few deductions. The IRS has a topic look up so you can find the answer to your question easier than waiting on the telephone for an operator to answer:  https://taxmap.ntis.gov/taxmap/. Also, you can do your federal online FREE using commercial sites through the IRS https://www.irs.gov/uac/free-file-do-your-federal-taxes-for-free. These sites charge for a state return. You can also use a local AARP tax aide office: http://www.aarp.org/money/taxes/aarp_taxaide/ AARP does not discriminate by age or income so they can usually take care of most people. Best tip: deduction for IRA contributions and tax credit up to $2,000 subtracted from tax you owe. Double Your Pleasure. 

How great is The Don’s deal making, really?
Consider all The Don’s foreign building projects when you remember that he had to take his US deals (Taj, Plaza, Trump Air, etc,) to bankruptcy court 6 times. Since the banks are not likely to want to be hosed again, The Don goes to the “bank” of last resort: the mob. He has extensive contacts in Russia at a time when the USSR’s assets and businesses are being taken by “only the strong Ivans survive.” He makes a deal with the notorious Azerbaijani oligarchs tied to Iran’s Revolutionary GuardThe development deal does not go well. His links to oligarchs who launder money and are tied to Iran will not be prosecuted by his own department now but Americans should start questioning who The Don is taking money from and what do they have on him.
There are many wealthy Russian oligarchs The Don has had relationships with over the years and Putin runs many conduits.


You have the opportunity to reduce your taxes just like our President
In 1995, The Don reported that he had lost a $ BILLION in his “great deals” and deducted over $915 million on his return. The IRS code that the rich complain about let him offset his income for that year and 18 more so he probably did NOT pay taxes for many years. His accountant said that many rich take advantage of real estate depreciation and loss offsets to income or NOL as it is known. He did this in the 1970s also. He also stiffed the state of New Jersey $30 million on his casino taxes. You may not have real estate assets or a governor friend, but you can still avoid taxes on your retirement fund. The IRS code provides for a tax shelter for working people so that when you retire, you can avoid all the taxes on your retirement income. Any mutual fund or brokerage firm can provide you with this tax shelter account at no charge. All you have to do is set it up in 1 hour and start investing on a regular basis or if you have a 401k going, convert it to this account over time. This is the best LEGAL tax shelter available. You don’t need an offshore tax shelter like the wealth and corporations to pay less.


Most active-managed mutual funds are “priced to fail”
Mutual fund monitor Morningstar found that manager expenses destroy your returns for most funds. According to Jeffrey Ptak, head of global manager research at Morningstar, active mutual fund fees haven’t fallen as sharply as other investment expenses. As a result, more than two-thirds of U.S. equity funds carry expenses that would wipe out their estimated future pre-fee excess returns. Large-cap US active funds are especially poor performers compared with a low-cost index fund at 0.05%. Trading costs more than it is worth. Even IRA accounts are being structured as active managed accounts with increasing fees. Holding a bunch of large profitable firms over time is cheaper and provides a better average return for investors not managers. Putting all our money in one stock is dangerous since it may be 1 in 500 that fails. Hold the largest 500 firms with half their earnings from overseas is the Buffett’s pick. The Vanguard 500 Index is a Top Ten.

The Don proved that “alternative facts” are NOT facts but B.S.
There is a reason that journalists go to school and work for legit news outlets. The President of the United States made a bold faced LIE using his quick reading of the rant of a crazy person published by his advisor Bannon’s former conspiracy blog, Breitbart that Obama, a sitting President actually illegally wiretapped his phone. Source is radio entertainer Mark Levin. Because President Trump does not understand how to research FACTS—he gets his alt facts from Fox, Breitbart, Info, etc—he made a serious mistake that destroyed his credibility with 75% of Americans and leaders of the rest of the world. His LIE about Obama’s birth was an insult for 5 years. His LIE about his inaugural crowd. His LIE about health coverage for all Americans, his LIE about Mexico paying for The Wall and TODAY his LIE about Obama using Britain to spy on him ruins him. Finally his LIE about no contact with Putin’s men has made the real press his enemy in his narcissistic eye. Soon most Americans will disregard what he says. His spacey advisors feed him daily misinformation. The nuclear codes are ready at hand.
The world fears that his naiveté, lack of judgment and gullibility to B.S. will start WWIII with the N. Koreans and China.

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We are entering 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 shadowbetween 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 truth. 
Rod Serling
  

Remember, Don Trump is still a contractor from Queens NY,
just richer than most. As a promoter, his income is from lending his wealth “brand” to other’s buildings and golf. The Don does not like to read so policy is 1 page of MAPS—he likes maps and TV. He conducts secret state business in front of the wealthy; letting them play with the nuclear “football” that can kill us all. Richard DeAgazio might be Russian spy who switched nuclear briefcase on Rick during photo op. Costs $200,000: “They want to be able to say ‘I had dinner at the president’s house.’ ” Winter WH.

Creates fear to control base. Tweets all night using “alternate universe” from Fox
Real Donald Trump called for lock-step marching by all and remember your brown shirts. When ideology “discards and chops off” the facts and calls world normal.
Conservatives jump into anarchy: “the deconstruction of the administrative state.” Bannon called himself a “Leninist” who wanted to “bring everything crashing down.” State Dept being decimated. Putin thrilled with cuts in aid to 3rd world, NATO, etc!

Racist legacy:  “get out of my country” supporter kills restaurant patron in KS. Bannon previously articulated his dismay with South Asians supposedly dominate Silicon Valley.
White high schoolers launch verbal assault “Trump, trump, trump” in racist chant.
Dentist joked a boy was upset because “Trump is going to deport him.” Kicked off plane!

The Don (Putin) does not like diplomacy, aid to poor, US environment or culture.
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, 62 in all for $343 billion
What he does NOT cut:
No cuts to subsidies to Boeing, GE, Intel, Nike, Shell, Fiat, GM, Ford, hundreds more.
Wealthy 1% will receive a $165 billion tax break,



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Lies or “Alternative facts” of The Don: Promises (lies) and Actual outcomes:
Trump: “Everyone is covered” in GOP plan except the 24 million who cannot afford it.
Spicer: “Trump meant "surveillance and other activities" and not “Obama himself”
GOP claims EPA is releasing "propaganda" that is "brainwashing our kids


Putin influence: Russian foreign minister Ryabkov met with Trump campaign. “But we will of course continue this work after the elections.

Putin influence: State Dept senior people and budget cut—Tillerson out of loop.

Putin influence: Europe NATO Syria US out of loop




Boeing now in charge of Defense Dept –Trump puts exec Shanahan as deputy SoD

GOP votes to allow hunting of grizzly bears and wolves in Alaska’s wildlife refuges. Your children won’t get to see them except in zoos.
Alaska temperature same as Washington DC first time in history. Deniers cancel action.

Mulvaney says only 1 insurer in SC: Medicare provides care without insurance coverage!
GOP Rep Issa says we are going to single payor like Medicare.
Planned Parenthood funding cuts mean more women without birth control so more kids.  



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

Matthew Nemer, WellsFargo violated Finra conflict rules; published misleading research
Regulators are looking at mortgages that finance malls as the next bank crisis.
Nationstar Mortgage caught failing to report accurate data to stakeholders.

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?

FL makes it easier to kill if you feel threatened—“prove I didn’t feel threatened” Ha

SCAMS:

Ignoramus Award:      
GOP votes to allow hunting of grizzly bears and wolves in Alaska’s wildlife refuges.

How our government wastes our money:
The Trump ”brand is the hottest it has ever been” and we pay for $1 billion protection.
$35 BILLION for new Space Launch System from Medicaid cuts.
$ millions defraud Navy bribing Admiral Loveless  by Glenn Defense Marine Asia
$ 22 billions for The Wall since GOP agrees Mexico will never pay. Pay for land/water.
$54 BILLION for ‘battleships’. Seal Teams and drones kill terrorists not battleships.


Where have all the jobs gone?
Afghanistan war provides ongoing opportunity for young: US occupies Afghan for years

Which job board sites are best for your job search?

Who owns your account now?
MetLife retail products now called Brighthouse Financial as it spins off annuity/life.

You can read how this all comes out in Orwell’s 1984: CIA tracks everyone everywhere just like in the book:  http://www.online-literature.com/orwell/1984/2/


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

Miracle:
The Don’s 2005 tax return appears: paid 25%--low rate not millionaire rate 39%
            “The "mega-rich" pay about 15 percent in taxes, while the middle class "fall into the 15 percent and 25 percent income tax brackets, and then are hit with heavy payroll taxes to boot."— Warren Buffett 

But... but maybe he's only a little crazy like painters or composers or... or some of those men in Washington. Mr Shellhammer in Miracle on 34th street about Santa Claus claiming to be Santa.


IAN
41 Watchung Plaza, B242
MontclairNJ 07042
973.746.2014
Alerts 

Friday, February 17, 2017

TrumpCare could be America's salvation

TrumpCare could be America’s salvation
The solution is staring everyone in the face. Those who do not have medical from their job will be automatically covered by Medicare. Medicare will be powerful enough to negotiate (Trump’s claim to fame) lower prices for all. Big Pharma will have no choice but deliver for us—fair prices and for themselves—volume profits. The bureaucracy already exists so no new department. The Don can go after the Medicare mills and illegitimate providers. The costs for all will be less and The Don can claim a win. The total money spent would be the same; it just gets used for more people. The people who need coverage are those at risk—just like elderly. Medicare was created because seniors could not find coverage in the open market at a reasonable price. Same situation now. There is nothing in the Constitution or US Code that says we must prepay health care in advance for all Americans. We pay as we go for military protection and law courts etc. In fact F35 and Zumwalt is $billions over budget. Medical care is like water and air. It is a basic right not just for those who can afford it.
The entire government has good health care we pay for.
Why not us?


Cars that have problems you should avoid
No matter what the price, these 18 cars have documented high-cost repairs. Even expensive cars like Audi RS6. Audi owners often complained of front end suspension sagging. Most complaints about the RS6 have been limited to the older 1st and 2nd generation models of the RS6. The other 17 lemons have all kinds of limitations. But even if you find one at a discount, do you want to spend time in the shop. Also don’t touch the TEN with the greatest number of safety complaints from owners.
Don’t forget to ask for discounts on your insurance: https://www.amazon.com/Vehicle-Insurance-Beware-Double-Coverage/dp/1480027634

Why tax code reform will never happen
Despite The Don’s claims, tax reform will not take place because corporate lobbyists and our reps have been paid $ billions to make tax policy very good for them. Nearly two-thirds of U.S. companies and 68% of foreign corporations do NOT pay federal income taxes. Those that do, pay an average of 12.6% not 35%. We pay more than 12.6%. Some firms have avoided tax by putting $2.10 trillion of profits in tax shelters overseas. Most individuals can’t do that legally. The wealthy will always find ways to avoid taxes. With lawyers, you can hide your money and still claim you’re legal like Romney did. Some firms have paid huge sums for lawyers to create a “carve out” and paper losses so they can write off taxes. The Don deducted $ billion in 1995. And some receive subsidies which are tax laws their lobbyists write for their special circumstances. For instance, GE has received a refund despite reporting a profit. Almost every large firm and sectors has subsidies or tax benefits. We even pay oil companies with profits. There are specials for corporate leaders too. Ryan and the GOP have proposed a national sales tax (“consumption”) so that you and I will pay more to make up for low 12.6% rates. But that won’t fly. In fact, KS is now reversing the GOP tax cut for wealthy to grow jobs in 2012 because made it worse for all of Kansas except Koch Bros. Why would corporations and wealthy allow a change to the system that benefits them at our expense? The deficit goes up and we pay for it regularly.


What happens if you don’t have a will? Do you need one?
Most people don’t need a will because most people have already designated their beneficiary. Most people own their home jointly with a spouse or child. Most people with retirement funds or brokerage account have named their spouse or kin as beneficiary. At death, their joint checking or individual account will go to kin. There is only one reason to have a will and that is to name a custodian for under age children or if you have large assets not held in a trust. But most people don’t have these items as they pass into retirement. They may have a small life insurance policy to pay for the funeral and final expenses but usually even that is an unnecessary expense.


GOP to end our only protection against Wall Street gouging
The most successful agency created by Dodd-Frank is the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. If Trump allows them to kill this agency, we will have no way short of a $ million fund to sue corporations to fix financial service firm that plunder those without lawyers. With over 700,000 complaints, we can see which firms need to be avoided. This is only way to get our money back if we have a problem without going to biased arbitration. It caught student loan servicers abusing our service members intentionally (overcharged in violation of federal law). Because of the database, Chopra said, “for the first time, consumers feel there is a government agency that's actually working for them.” And of course, the GOP can’t wait to get rid of it. 27 million Americans have been helped which costs their funders $12 billion in restitution. There are probably another 27 million that never knew about the CFPB to make a complaint.

Tax breaks for your small business
You know that The Don is famous for claiming he pays as little tax as possible: “I have a write-off. A lot of it is depreciation, which is a wonderful charge,” he said. “I love depreciation.” Depreciation is an expense for using assets (buildings, cars, etc) over time. The Don has buildings, planes, etc. As owner, he can offset his income (Apprentice, etc) with business expenses and end up paying no zero taxes.
Let’s count the ways you can avoid taxes too: deduct costs incurred for launching a new business before you actually form it. Deduct the full expenses associated with purchasing, running and maintaining a vehicle. Magazines and other materials used for information about your business. Your business losses may be deductible as bad debts and offset other income. You can deduct business or personal loan interest used for the making money. Office space even in your home is deducted from income. Any fees you pay to run the business as well as utility and phone services are deductible. A tax-Free retirement plan is a business expense. Your tax shelter accountant fees are deductible. You can take a credit against any tax due by hiring a vet this year. There are many more offsets to income even income from your current job.
You may not be able to deduct $ 960 million like The Don yet but a business is the American way to avoid taxes. https://www.amazon.com/Your-Hidden-Wealth-Reserve-Reduce-Taxes/dp/1540435148


Watch as your company pension is sold
Insurance companies think they can make a killing on your pension so they are trying to buy them from your company. Prudential, the biggest player in pension transfers, said it had finalized $2.2 billion in pension deals during the fourth quarter, including a $1.8 billion deal with United Technologies (Carrier). Make sure when it happens you understand the options. Can you take a lump sum instead? Is the insurer sound? Your company wants to quit carrying your pension because when interest rates are low, it has to set aside more money for future payments to you. When rates are high, the pension money looks good on its financials. If your firm is good at investing, it is a great business. However, your firm may be slimming down—get rid of back office to India, pensions to Pru and foreign subsidiary profits to foreign tax shelters. The trend may continue. For instance, GM's current pension plan that is still held by the company is underfunded by $7.2 billion even though GM dumped some 76,000 pensions by going bankrupt in 2009 after killing 24 drivers in unsafe cars made that way.


Now, ‘advisors’ will show how they are paid more for ‘house’ brand, finally
Bank of America will stop offering commission-based retirement accounts and will disclose fees that clients pay to the firm’s 14,000 brokers (‘advisor’ is not accurate term since they are paid to sell not advise). Up till now, we never knew how much the sellers got paid. We still don’t know how much their FIRMs get paid. Merrill Lynch will break out fees for asset management services and products including mutual funds, alternative investments and commodities. Such fees previously were embedded in statements in ways that customers found hard to understand intentionally. They still won’t show that the “house” brand is usually more expensive and thus more appealing to your salesperson because they can meet their monthly revenue goals with those products. According to Chase wealth management sellers, Selling products that may be better for you are not even discussed.
Avoid the “high-cost” sellers and earn 50% more: https://www.amazon.com/Pimps-Wall-Street-money-middlemen/dp/151525254X


We are entering 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 shadowbetween 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 truth. 
Rod Serling
  

Remember, Don Trump is still a contractor from Queens NY, just richer than most. As a promoter, his income is from lending his wealth “brand” to other’s buildings and golf. The Don does not like to read so policy is 1 page of MAPS—he likes maps and TV. He conducts secret state business in front of the wealthy, letting them play with the nuclear “football” that can kill Earth. Richard DeAgazio might be Russian spy who switched nuclear briefcase on Rick during photo op.

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Promises (lies) and Actual outcomes:

The Don is a compulsive liar and fears failure of any kind—Even Fox News knows
Lies easily proven are dismissed as “my staff gave me this” “I read it somewhere”
“I have nothing to do with Russia.” Reality is he had many contacts and envies Putin.

Trump does not see that as a problem. Flynn lied to FBI makes him a felon suspect.


The Don’s Labor Puzder who did not pay SS tax for his housekeeper FIRED (withdrew)
GOP McConnell’s delusion: “I think Andy Puzder is an outstanding choice”

Clown Show:
The Don needs EXTREME VETTING on his staff – refugees are already vetted for 18 mos. Flynn, Conway, Puzder and Crowley are “bad” for business. He kept Flynn’s lying to Pence about sanctions deal hidden for 2 weeks. He blames media for his mistake of course. 

The Don’s Defense wants to send big combat force back to Syria to fight ISIS like Iraq. He formerly said “knock the hell out of themwith secret plan (nuclear bomb) for ISIS


The Don’s TrumpCare will be ObamaCare with tweaks to save face. Not GOP plan to be decided by states with no subsidy for the poor and it’s voluntary—the Bush II plan.

The Don’s “get tough on China” is forgotten

Free Pass: The Don’s poor hiring decision on Flynn will NOT be investigated by House.

The Don’s “get tough on immigrants” is now Dems saving theme

The Don’s millions of illegal votes is now non-starter—his own team is registered twice

The Don’s aides are trying not to appear “weak” or “low energy”—not good attributes.

The Don’s promise to “save” Social Security Medicare could mean cuts and vouchers. GOP plans to “save” programs by cutting benefits and giving vouchers.

Finally bringing comprehensive health care to the neediest.

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

Hartford caught trying to change VA owner’s options and payouts.


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:
Promoters are selling “secret” retirement plan called 26(f) which is really life insurance https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/26/7702. If you have huge policy, you can borrow from it for “tax-FREE” income. Scam is new name but old as 1899.



Ignoramus Award:
Trump embarrassed by his own promoters
The Don signed the Muslim ban without consulting others about the effect and history of such acts. The ban was written by Steve Bannon and Steve Miller, right-wing conspiracy promoters, who now seem to decide foreign policy issues. Bannon got Trump to replace the Joint Chiefs on the top security committee with himself. Miller learned right-wing religious propaganda from Michele Bachmann and Jeff Sessions.


How our government wastes our money:
The Don’s business ventures cost $ millions a week to guard: Entertaining Japan PM in public setting at aLargo, Eric Trump’s trip to promote a Trump-brand condo tower in Uruguay required more Secret Service than we have, Mel and son Baron are hold up in The Tower with 4 streets blocked by NYPD, Bedminster NJ golf estate.


Where have all the jobs gone?


Which job board sites are best for your job search?

Who owns your account now?
Trian Partners to control Procter & Gamble for layoffs and cancel brands and break up. 
Verizon to take Yahoo
Aon employee benefits business to Blackstone Group

Miracle:
The nuclear codes in “football” were not stolen from Trump resort while Rick’s photo op.

IAN
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