Mark the New Year better

 

Make the New Year better

 

Is automatic bill pay right for you?

There are severe penalties for not paying your bills on time. You will get hit with charges, interest and lower credit bureau scores in many situations. You also may be paying higher mailing rates. How do you avoid this situation? Your bank may offer auto bill pay. I have been using this for about 10 years. Using your checking or business account as the source, you set up a vendor account with the name and address of the entity you owe. My monthly house mortgage loan is paid to Quicken at the same amount each 1^st of the month. The bank posts this amount the Quicken’s bank by the 1^st automatically. I do nothing after I set the amount monthly. For credit cards with different amounts, I enter the amount when I get the bill and set the date I wish the amount to arrive at the card’s address. For all others (utilities, doctors, newspapers, insurance, and individuals), I decide the amount and time to arrive at their address. All I have to do is have all my income deposited directly into my checking account. Some times I have to move money from my savings to my checking for emergency bills. Sometimes I have to reimburse my daughter and (she me) via direct transfers or Zelle. Her account is at the same bank but I can do a transfer to another person at their bank for large fee. The best part is I have monthly records on paper and any period totals digitally. I can also find and print any transaction during the past 12 months. I don’t pay extra for auto bill pay since the bank has my money from direct deposit. In fact I have saved over $50 since starting. 

More ways to save: https://www.amazon.com/Save-3000-every-year/dp/1500681571

 

 

You need a tax-FREE account so your retirement income is FREE

This book will show you how to: Create a $2,000,000 tax-FREE Retirement System. Use the best legal tax shelter: no taxes . . . ever. Tax-favored over a 401k even with a match. Protect your family and assets with your System. Borrow from your System to pay for large purchases. Buy whatever you need without going into debt to others. Self-insure manageable risks—invest the premiums saved. Buy financial services at wholesale prices—save $3,000 a year. Manage your System in 1 hour per year. $2 million nest egg can produce $160,000 a year in retirement. $1 million produces $80,000 income FREE.

https://www.amazon.com/New-American-Retirement-System-ReserveTM/dp/1461030072/

 

 

New Year fresh start for your kids/grandkids

Make sure you teach your kids how to create wealth the easy way. My parents were not investors. At my first job, I had no clue which investment option to use for my 401k contribution and company match. The HR person told me to put it into the 'safe' stable value fund. That was the worst choice at my age I learned later when I got my securities licenses. If I had followed their advice I would have ended up with $150,000 instead of a Wealth Reserve of $877,233 about 33 years later. We have used this 'Wealth Reserve' as I call it to have funds to use low-cost high-deductible insurance, to buy two homes and 5 cars with higher down payments or cash, and now to receive $2,500 a monthly in a retirement supplement. Your kids use the Buffett investment strategy for any amateur. Buffett recently proved his method, though simple, beat the strategies of the best hedge funds. Start with only $1,000.

Start in 30 minutes: https://www.amazon.com/Give-your-child-leg-manage/dp/1096505355

 

2022: another stock market high?

You may have noticed that your 500 index fund returned about 29% last year. Your real estate index fund provided 40% return. Like 2019, 2017 and 2013, these highs might start convincing you that an average for this period of 17% might continue. Using the 500 index would have quadrupled your retirement nest egg. But before you get greedy, you might want to move some of those gains to a balanced account like Wellesley Income Fund. This low-cost managed fund has provided steady income to retirees since 1970. This balance of stocks and bonds could help you through the anxiety of 2022 since the Fed (US gov money manager) will stop pumping up Wall Street firms and will increase interest rates soon. This situation has already changed market forecasts so you know we are not likely to be so lucky in ’22. Remember the cardinal rule of managing money, especially in lower return periods: low-cost beats high-cost in every period.

Low-cost leader: https://www.amazon.com/Vanguards-Top-Ten-mutual-funds/dp/150073909X

 

What is your retirement dream?

Travel, hobbies, family, business, volunteer, keep favorite job, other? No matter your dream your first concern is health. Our dream can motivate us to save for the time when we don’t NEED to work at a job for money. Thus there are folks who have prioritized saving over spending, even when family obligations are great. Take the story of the Howell family highlighted in a recent Money newsletter: the Howell's could save 21% of salary and put kids thru college. Randy retired at age 56 from a variety of labor and management positions with United Parcel Service, and LuAnne worked as a school secretary. They enjoy hiking and other outdoor activities. However, without a health plan from work, it is doubtful they could have retired early to do what they wanted to do. For other folks, what happens when their health requires them to interrupt their plans? Our health system is a ‘for profit’ system so that my health needs are in conflict with the industry need for profits. I, NOT them, will suffer when I can’t afford to maintain my health. My dream is crippled while they earn more. The need for affordable health insurance becomes the No 1 priority for America.

Health insurance first: https://www.amazon.com/Health-Insurance-ONLY-right-policy/dp/1480125083

 

 

Is using a 401k brokerage account right for you?

New research by Empower shows that while the average age of participants using the brokerage account is higher than average, the effect has to do with older participants having higher incomes and balances rather than just because they are older. This makes sense from the view that buying individual securities when you already have a nest egg built up provides some further diversification or specialization. One reader had 80% of their 401k money in a low cost S&P 500 index while they continued to buy DMYI which is involved in quantum computers. This arrangement is sometimes called a “hub and spoke” strategy. Any loss in the spoke does not destroy the wheel.

https://www.amazon.com/Best-Both-Worlds-Spoke-Investments/dp/1533307326

 

Which used cars to buy now?

Vehicle dependability is at an all-time high, according to the J.D. Power 2021 U.S. Vehicle Dependability Study. Owners of 2018 models reported on the number of problems they have had. Lexus, Porsche, Kia, Toyota head the list. Rover, Jaguar, Chrysler come in last. By the way, Jeep, Dodge Chrysler, is now stellantis. Because of the lack of chips for new cars, used car prices have gone up to meet the demand. However, if you are looking for a bargain, you need to compare this list to the list of vehicles from iSeeCars that depreciated more than 1.3 times the 39.1% average three-year depreciation for all vehicles. This list shows that Audi 6, Ford Fusion Hybrid, BMW 3, and Volvo S60 lost the most value. In 3 years, these cars lost over HALF of their value. However, one vehicle shows up on both lists: Lincoln MKZ. The Lincoln MKZ was discontinued after the 2020 model year, which shows that demand isn’t high for this vehicle perhaps because it isn’t as luxurious as its competitors. However, at $21,500, the used Lincoln may be a bargain since you have some dependable lux at a reasonable price. Avoid flooded ones. Shop around for insurance. High deductible reduces premium. Save $22,000 over time.

Ask for each discount: https://www.amazon.com/Vehicle-Insurance-Beware-Double-Coverage/dp/1480027634/

 

Are buying art, wine, gold the right investments for you?

Many internet blogs run by journalists provide misleading investment advice to sell clicks to other for profit sites. Example: 6 Brilliant Ways to Build Wealth After 40 Misleading advice 1: Invest in art that has outperformed the S&P by over 180%. Claiming that wealthy people make huge profits, the authors don’t cite which art they mean and how much the rich paid for the art. 2: Get $10 by starting to invest in Apple, Tesla, Amazon. The fees for investing small amounts may take all your profits and won’t build wealth. A free index account of the top 500 stocks may build wealth over time using the Miracle of Compounding. 3: Buy gold from a dealer to avoid volatility. The authors don’t explain that gold prices fluctuate too. The dealer fees may also take all your profits. 4: Shopping for car insurance can save you money but you need to shop the carriers directly not from the editors of this blog. Each carrier has their own discounts/rates. 5: Buy wine from their firm for an investment return of 10.6%. Speculating on bottles of wine is not smart no matter what “sommelier knowledge with AI-driven algorithms” they use. 6: Stop overpaying for stuff online. Using a browser extension, you can save on some goods. However, when I used it I found that the pop up usually shows the same price on Amazon or at another site but without adding in the shipping costs. Since I have paid for shipping with Prime, the alternative was misleading and I needed to create another seller account. 7: Invest in real estate and art through a 3^rd party to earn “passive income.” Low-cost index accounts with no 3^rd party fees provide these important diversification asset classes. However, the authors don’t explain the fees charged on the interest income paid.

Use Compounding: https://www.amazon.com/Miracle-Compounding-Turn-day-into/dp/1470176513

 

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

 

 

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

 

 

The Path to Dictatorship: 2010-2030

 

 

Sedition: Trump’s plan to keep power

 

Trump co-conspirators charged?

 

Terrorists send Congress to floor

 

Cheney: Trump or truth

 

725 terrorists charged

 

 

US civil war II

 

 

How Govt wastes our money:

Congress fails to pass law against abusing women: no votes since 2013: NRA blocks it

Sedition: ‘speech that incite people to rebel against the government’: Trump incites Jan 6

Sedition: Trump called on his "MAGA nation" to "rise up" against President cost $30 mil

 

SCAMS/SPINS:

Kids with Covid fill hospitals: unvaccinated; 378 children admitted per day

GOP Jordan claims booster not effective but NO facts more Trumpers die for lie 840,000

 

TX tells Navy it has no jurisdiction over antivaxxers despite orders: 35 may kill hundreds

TX bans books on race and sex they don’t like in secret meetings: teens buy own books

 

NJ caught negligence in deaths of 100+ veterans in state-run facilities: fine $53 million.

Surprise medical bills now illegal: Just say ‘no’ to med providers who spring bill on you

Call a taxi: ambulance rides $450 or more are exempt so we still face surprise bills.

 

Teva Pharmaceuticals caught providing opioid leading to deaths of 500,000 users

Rich need a raise?: Time to raise prices on Covid tests, treatment, vaxx, swabs, etc

 

Manchin decides Dems not break GOP block vote rights: takes McConnell’s job

GOP halts Voting Rights Act: states block vote expansion: Trumpers hold key jobs

Only 1 Republican showed up to remember the 1^st and only attack on our government

Most Americans don’t think state GOP will accept Dem win: GOP war for Trump

24^th Dem quit House: GOP win without a fight

725 terrorists charged: most convicted rioters received no jail time: ready for 2^nd attack

 

Trump terrorist attacks covid vaxx clinic shouting “murderers” 1 hospitalized from hate

"There’s a demand for misinformation; so people are always gonna find a way to get it."

 

21 million Americans believe violence is justified to overturn the 2021 US election

75% of insurrection supporters: Dems trying to make US “obedient” Third World voters

 

40% GOP: “violent action against the government" sometimes justified: 2^nd civil war

30% Americans think Biden illegitimate elected president: 30% think election fraud

Sedition not charged because Jan 6 attempted coup was run by white supremacists

 

Trump’s TX recount: 0.0006% discrepancies: Biden did not win TX: Trump lost votes

Putin hackers behind election probe of Dominion Voting Systems in cities w/o machines

Western allies fear erosion of democracy in US: riot, insurrection, or armed coup?

 

Ivanka, Don Jr caught in subpoena by NY attorney general: long delay tactic; no jail

Prince Andy says 17 year old has already been paid for his sex: $500,000 voids her suit

 

Mel Trump is selling her hat: needs money; divorce? They lost their shirt on Wash hotel

Marlboro cigarettes changing image: “moving beyond smoking” to smoking in space

HeartWare pump taken off the market after years of problems: still in chest of thousands

 

Allen Giltman CA caught selling fake CDs from fake websites: $50 million

John Piccarreto NY caught Ponzi fraudulent promissory notes $20 million prison 7 yrs

Susan, William Harris caught stealing funds from special needs folks prison 47,15 yrs

 

Petra Gomez Jakeline Lumucso caught prep fake tax returns $25 million prison 8 4 yrs

Kent RE Whitney CA caught investment scam at his church $33 million prison 14 yrs

Jeff Carpoff CA caught fake mobile solar generators Ponzi $1 billion prison 30 yrs

Richard Terabelian Ayvazyan CA caught $10 million Covid relief funds prison 17 yrs

 

Private equity–backed RIAs had a 147% increase in advisors misconduct after takeover.

 

Jobs

Nevada fires unvaccinated higher ed employees after mandate left in place

Walmart to hire 3,000 drivers as it expands home grocery delivery: put fridge for you

37 Bed Bath & Beyond stores are closing

 

 

Who owns your account now?

Mortgage rates rising: refi before Fed raises rates: 1.750% 15 years

Avoid delay in tax refund: enter the exact amount of Child Tax Credit: look it up at IRS

AT&T and Verizon delay new 5G service: why pay more for no better service: airports

 

Student loan borrowers will have an extra 90 days to begin repayments

Removing all your personal data from internet data brokers can be time consuming

 

Miracles:

10 year old refused Alexa challenge to shock herself in outlet: Jeff’s fun is deadly

Nuclear war “avoided” say world powers: Gee, I feel better: what did we have before?

We need more air: Seed-dropping drone can plant 40,000 trees a day

 

GA to allow everyone to carry gun without a license or background check or training

 

Pope wants more children

Child abuse: 300,000 children were taken in marriage by older men: still legal in US

 

 

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

41 Watchung Plaza, B242

Montclair, NJ   07042

973.746.2014

www.InsuranceAdvisorsNetwork.com

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

 

Your advisor is costing you $8,800 or more

 

Your advisor is costing you $8,800 or more

Do you know how much your advisor is costing you in terms of long-term accumulation? Most folks do not know because their advisor does not publish the benchmark returns that compare their returns to published statistics. Folks who use index funds automatically see how they are doing with their ultimate goals. So far this year, their account has grown by about 19%. Over the last 10 years, they have advanced over 16% per year. If they have been contributing their tax refund—about $3,000 a year—they have accumulated another $75,500. The average advisor costs run 1-2% a year between annual expenses, trading fees and bad market timing. Depending on your situation, you may have lost $8,800. Because of compounding over time, you may end up with only $569,000 instead of $882,000 using advisor cost averages. That is a lot to give your advisor: your $313,000 pays for their children’s education. But then who pays for yours?

Earn more automatically: https://www.amazon.com/Best-Robo-Advisor-Ultimate-Automatic-Management/dp/1537111957

 

Is auto-home ‘bundling’ right for you?

Sounds good but most folks find it is not right for them. Why? Bundle benefits go to the insurer not to you. Buying both auto and home insurance from the same company assumes one insurer can provide the best deals for you. That just doesn’t happen. Insurers price their products differently depending on their financial needs. You can save $ thousands over time by taking advantage of their shifting marketing strategies and also changes in your needs. For instance, insurers in CA and WA have had to raise rates as more fires got worse in recent years. If you have the same insurer in AZ your rates have also gone up. On the other hand, driving and commuting have been reduced so your rates are now found in the ‘leisure’ category. If your credit score has improved, your rate could be lower but only if you shop your vehicles to other carriers. Insurance agents don’t have an incentive to call you when your rates could be lower. Or they don’t know that you now have a minor on your policy or that you now have a dangerous dog. You can’t know you could be paying less for 10-20 years unless you compare rates often. Each insurer has their own set of discounts so you may qualify for more with a new insurer.

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

 

Is your family member a scam target?

Certain folks are more likely to be scammed than others. Consider how the results of this study may impact your family members. The scam target is not likely to ask questions of an offer or product or agent. Researchers propose that mental frames governing compliance, opportunity, intelligence, and order may have affected the way that interviewees interpreted what scammers told them. Individuals were more likely to lose money if they believed that:

• Authority should not be challenged.
• Financial opportunities are a zero-sum game with clear winners and losers.
• The world is organized in a way that rewards good people.
• Asking too many questions can make a person seem ignorant.

Study participants explained how scammers reached out with promises of easy money or lucrative investments. Others described receiving phone calls from fraudsters posing as IRS agents and demanding payment of back taxes. Some scammers pose as eager lovers who promise to pay you back. Natural disaster victims are especially vulnerable to scammers since desperation makes us perfect prey.

Educate your family: https://www.amazon.com/Money-Scams-2014-insurance-financial/dp/1505437962

 

Is prepaying your funeral right for you?

Covid deaths—now over 700,000 and counting—have some folks thinking about the future. What is new is paying for your departure in advance to a lay-a-way company with no track record. Funeral homes have had their own ‘pre-need’ accounts for centuries. Of course your prepaid account may not last long enough: there are business failures. However, like buying life insurance for final expenses, paying for a funeral on a lay-a-way basis is not the best solution for this expense. Some plans offer a price ‘guarantee’ but how do you know they will provide the expected services. Some new ones offer affordable monthly payments in advance. Some claim they will hold the money in a bank and move the money to a funeral anywhere in their system. A better way is to designate some of your legacy for your final appearance. Since you don’t know about costs in advance, you may want to leave a note with your will explaining what kind of show you want and how much to spend. You need to designate a trusted executor to follow thru on your plan. My plan is cremation by the medical school when they are done with me. God knows what is on my tombstone. Relatives may want to give a toast at the final dinner.

Your plan or their plan: https://www.amazon.com/Your-Plan-Live-Age-100/dp/1548180793

 

Why is the boring target-date fund right for you?

Tests and surveys have consistently shown that steady contributions—the same amount each month—to these low-cost index funds provides the best chance of reaching the maximum accumulations over time. This boring investment strategy beats any advisor or computer-run strategy because the market swings are unpredictable. Most investors and their advisors think they can do better than the market index funds. Hubris was identified early in human history as being the cause of one’s downfall. Morningstar, the investing analyst, ran some extra simulations and DCA (dollar cost average) does possibly account for some of the gap in returns, but a perfectly-steady DCA investor still outperformed the real-world investor in 6 out of 7 fund categories. DCA can’t be helped if you are simply investing what you can, when you can, but there is still extra trading in and out that appears to only make things worse. Market timing, the effect of using ANY investing strategy, has no benefits for you except maybe in the short term. Warren Buffett advocates this “dumb” way of investing because it succeeds.

Go with Buffett: https://www.amazon.com/Warren-Buffett-Your-Investment-Advisor/dp/1518690963

 

Help your child or grandchild learn to manage money

Instead of buying your child or grandchild life insurance to make sure they have coverage in the future, buy them financial literacy. Give them a leg up with money making skills. The old advice still works: Give a person a fish, you feed them for a day. Teach them to fish and you feed them for life. Make sure you teach your kids how to create wealth the easy way. My parents were not investors. At my first job, I had no clue which investment option to use for my 401k contribution and company match. The HR person told me to put it into the 'safe' stable value fund. That was the worst choice at my age I learned later when I got my securities licenses. If I had followed their advice I would have ended up with $150,000 instead of a Wealth Reserve of $877,233 about 33 years later. We have used this 'Wealth Reserve' as I call it to have funds to use low-cost high-deductible insurance, to buy two homes and 5 cars with higher down payments or cash, and now to receive $2,500 a monthly in retirement supplement. Advisor fees take HALF your funds.

Follow 3 steps: https://www.amazon.com/Give-your-child-leg-manage/dp/1096505355

 

 

**********ACCOUNTABILITY**************

 

 

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

 

Our Jan 6 ‘Truth and Reconciliation Commission’

 

Subpoenas for Trump’s failed government overthrow

 

Domestic terror double foreign terror

 

Another terrorist of failed Coup guilty

 

Trump’s overthrow plan in 6 steps

 

 

How Govt wastes our money:

Longest war is over so why give Pentagon $24 B more? Peace dividend for more bombs?

GOP to let America default on debt to show Dems who’s the boss: win at any cost!

Domestic terrorists, real threat, evade our $52.6 Billion intelligence and legal systems

 

Debt ceiling acting out: how can we take these squabbling kids in Congress seriously?

Why the national debt keeps going up: some Americans don’t pay their fair share

Manchin not support infrastructure bill since coal-use rules to reduce climate change

 

SCAMS/SPINS:

GOP confirms Biden win: $6 million AZ recount found more votes for Biden

62 ships but no trucks: transport costs rising and we pay higher prices for items

Car warranty scam: third-party warranties not worth it: don’t cover many repairs

 

Caught: Never give your kids work files: they might save evidence of your fraud

TX taxpayers to fund Trump request to see if he really won in 2020: Biden won TX?

CA allows every voter to mail-in ballot from now on just like Trump does, not like TX

 

Federal bankers caught: insider trading: bankers bought what they voted Fed to buy

“Brand ambassador” scam: you get promo exposure if you buy product but it’s broken

Fake media is so easy to make we have to check with other sources.

 

Employers are embracing software that allows them to track workers online. 

Colonoscopy center charged ‘facility’ fee $345 despite Medicare’s FREE screening.

$54,000 TX Covid tests: America’s health system will bring socialism eventually

 

OK is tops in death by police: 84% of police killings since 1980 were unreported 

Get out your guns: Murder rose by almost 30% in 2020: if everyone packs, no murder?

London police warn women to be wary of lone officers after Sarah Everard murder

 

Supremes claim not political: decisions to reverse Roe v Wade, gun control, vote rights!

 

Jobs

High-paying jobs that don’t require long experience record: $56-66,000 a year

Police and fire in LA spread Covid to public: LAPD ‘freedom’ beats your safety/service

State workers would rather quit than take vax: brain washing complete!

 

NC hospitals need vax ready med staff: fired 175 Monday: more have warning

13 Home-based jobs certain careers: high pay

United Airlines Prepares to Fire Employees Who Refuse Covid-19 Vaccinations

 

Who owns your account now?

Where is your long-term and short-term money?

Phone companies required to block any incoming traffic on list: will they bother? 

 

Miracles:

Permian mass extinction: rapidly rising CO^2 from volcanic eruptions in Siberia

Ugly buildings: contest to see how bad it can be

Iceland has elected first female-majority parliament: future of Congress working?

 

Berlin’s first female mayor Fran after historic electoral gains for her center-left party. 

Let’s talk about courage: Zion knows: when you feel frustrated to continue.

Retirement fund build up: Stones back on the road working for more cash

 

Custodian Chris, no car, walks miles to work so teachers bought him used Chevy`

Biden finally reverses Trump: penalties for killing birds confirmed

 

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/

 

Wisdom comes only thru suffering Aeschylus

 

IAN

41 Watchung Plaza, B242

Montclair, NJ   07042

973.746.2014

www.InsuranceAdvisorsNetwork.com

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