Advisors are trying to become psychologists

 

Some “financial” writers just don’t know

“6 Safe and Smart Investments for Retirees” is misleading and mostly wrong. There are no “safe” investments. Even the fixed rate bank CD is subject to loss of purchasing power. That means you can’t buy what you could have 5 years or even 1 year before. Same for “tax-free” municipal bonds since bonds might end up costing you money. Lending to an individual without some security can leave you with a big loss. Peer-to-peer lending is not without risks: the borrower could default. Annuities are touted as a “safe” investment. However, you can lose money since annuities have many costs and conditions. Insurers make sure they don’t lose even if you have an emergency withdrawal. Even government I bonds have risks. The core rates are low and you will be disappointed if inflation is flat. The costs associated with being a landlord of a rental property can include the human toll of constant aggravation from tenant demands. SS benefits include an inflation-adjusted monthly payment that is good for life and backed by the government. Waiting to age 70 to claim means benefits will be much greater for life. So, every one must decide on a balance between risk and reward. Retirees will need more money for a longer period so the risk of not having enough must be addressed by continuing to invest in a diversified portfolio including stock funds.

NO safe investments: https://www.amazon.com/Your-Retirement-Mutual-Funds-retirement/dp/1481114026

 

IRA: tax-FREE or tax-deductible?

Depending on where you are in your investing life, one or the other IRA is an appropriate source of retirement income. The “traditional” IRA lets you reduce your current income so you pay fewer taxes NOW. The “Roth” IRA lets you increase your retirement income by avoiding taxes then. Thus, you have a significant choice. Given your overall income level, you can reduce income taxes during your whole working life OR you can exclude federal and state income taxes later when you may need more income. This means that depending on how you invest your Roth investments, you could have a potentially greater nest egg to spend and never pay taxes on the withdrawals. In fact you can convert the money in your traditional tax-deferred account to a Roth at a later time when it may benefit you more. The IRA expert, Ed Slott, (IRAhelp.com) can explain why a Roth conversion is his No. 1 tax tip for this year. You may need to use his site to calculate which deal is better for you at your current stage of investing.

Choice: https://www.amazon.com/Create-Your-Tax-FREE-Financial-System/dp/1466367466

 

Save $1000: maintain your vehicles

Don’t ignore “check engine” light. Keep tires at correct pressure. Change oil and regular maintenance as your manual says not as your mechanic wants. Check your PCV valve, windshield cracks, fluid leaks when parked, and any unusual noises. Save more over your car’s lifetime buy shopping for insurance every 2 years. Insurers change their marketing plan every year and it is easy to $500 every time you shop. Major carriers will cut premiums if you are able to raise your deductible. Many have over 20 discounts your agent may not tell you about (commissions are a % of premiums). Bundling policies (including “Umbrella” cover) may or may not save total premium. I have had home insurance for 30 years and would lose money by combining with other policies.

Shopping saves: https://www.amazon.com/Vehicle-Insurance-Beware-Double-Coverage/dp/1480027634/

 

Advisors are trying to become psychologists

This advisor says people are asking: Can you help me define the next stage in my life? What’s going to be my purpose? What’s my “aspirational lifestyle”? And how does that guide my financial choices? Sounds like your therapist not your advisor. Almost all advisors have had no training in answering these questions. He thinks people are demanding humanistic advice of their financial counselor, and he thinks he as a wealth manager can use this need to grow his business. His firm partnered with Columbia University to develop an advisor training program that is based on providing a more holistic, “purpose-driven” approach to planning. It’s been incredibly popular with both advisors and clients he claims. This advisor thinks advisors need to help clients “envision their aspirational lifestyle in their next life chapter.” He says people want more financial stability in retirement. This “stability” is usually interpreted by sellers to mean annuity needed. This writer actually works for an annuity company so his remarks support the push for high-commission/fee annuity sales. And most advisors are focused on revenue growth for their firms. In fact, 72% new advisors quit as most of the training programs are very sales-based. Wall Street wants revenue not therapists.

Large nest egg is ‘stable’: https://www.amazon.com/Financial-Future-Insurance-mutual-funds/dp/149355204X/

 

 

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

 

 

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

 

 

The Path to Dictatorship: 2010-2030

 

Parallels of this era in the past may hint at our future: democracy breaks apart legally

 

 

Jan 21 2010 Corpor­a­tions’ election-spending unlim­ited

Billionaires paid $881 million for votes in 2022 midterm elections

 

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 govt overthrow 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

 

Trump still terrorizing election woman

 

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

 

January 6, 2021 “A date which will live in infamy”

 

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

 

Trump: President Biden is 'enemy of the state'

 

Christian Nationalist Party (CNP) replaces GOP

 

Nov 8 2022 Trump’s “national revolution” failed

 

Nov 15 2022 Trump announces for 2024 to avoid lawsuits

 

Dec 3 2022 Trump: cancel Constitution rules so ‘I win’

 

Mar 11 2023 Pence straddles his place in history

 

Mar 31 2023 Trump indicted misusing election money

 

Apr 7 2023 One GOP guy decided which drugs we can use

 

Apr 9 Illustrated Anne Frank book removed by Florida school

 

Apr 21 Trump: “I am your justice”

 

May 9 Trump guilty of sexual abuse

 

Jun 8 Trump indicted by the United States of America

Violation of the Espionage Act

Conspiracy to obstruct justice

Making false statements 

 

 

Jan 2025 Dictator pardons himself: his Supremes agree

 

 

How Govt wastes our money:

Rich get rich: lower tax rates; higher income from assets; NOT taxable income

Feds give away $200 Billion to fraud Covid fakers: at least 17% of funds lost

 

SCAMS/SPINS:

43 states passed 100 anti-voting laws since Trump attempted to overturn the 2020

Supremes kill GOP move decide our elections: saves marginal Dem voters

Study: when the candidate field is crowded, voters are more likely to sit out than turnout.

 

6 shot outside of a club in Houston: shooter escaped

 

72% new advisors quit as most of the training programs are still very sales-based

Imposter scams: fake authority figures scare us into paying $ billions

Recall: 7.5 million Baby Shark bath toys cut or stabbed children

FL ‘freedom’ gov. bans all direct car sales: protects high-cost dealers from competition

 

Business man lost $340,000 to a crypto scam. Such cases are on the rise

Moving Company Scams: no licenses OK—steal our goods; AG can’t do a thing

Army allows its financial advisors to exploit Army families/survivors: wild trading

 

ACI Worldwide caught improperly initiating unlawful mortgage payment transactions

Insurers deny tens of millions of claims every year but we don’t get stats: why, how, who

Sending money using Zelle^® /payment platforms to those you don’t know is dangerous

Ray Brewer caught stole 9 million claimed turn cow manure into green energy 6 yrs jail

Shvartsmans, Garelick caught $22 million insider trading on Trump’s firm going public

Wilson Baston NY caught stole $10 million real estate scams: convicted 2^nd time

 

Where do Congress people go for abortion if own state outlawed it?

 

GOP to rewrite history: House to expunge Trump impeachments: dictator’s clean slate

Trump’s Supremes change our lives: college, student loans, religion, speech, LGBTQ

Trump’s Supremes: colleges go back to “old boy network” for new students: $$ win spot

Trump Supremes strengthens protections for religious rights at work: religion for politics

Trump’s Supremes:  “harassing posts” on media are protected as free speech

Trump’s Supremes: use religion to discriminate against anyone you don’t like

Trump’s Supremes: even unemployed students must pay $400 billion in loans

 

Trump delays paying sexual abuse victim Carroll by suing her for ‘defamation’

 

Jobs

Military AI technology to spy on civilians, particularly in the workplace, sold to owners.

Working from anywhere: nomad visa right for you?

Chip maker TSMC hires 4,500 in AZ: culture barriers

 

Who owns your account now?

In Europe’s empty churches, prayer and confessions make way for drinking and dancing

Best fixed income products: compare T bills, TIPS, annuity

Home insurers don’t like these dogs: liability increases premium or cancels

 

Farmers and AIG quit insuring FL homeowners

Getting an FHA home loan: check if it fits your needs

Jersey City is now the nation’s second-priciest rental market: $3370: 2^nd to Manhattan

 

Changing landscape of wealthy folks allocations to real estate

Fastest-growing demographic groups

44% voters to consider third-party/independent candidate if Biden-Trump are nominees

DeSantis to close IRS, Commerce, Energy, Education

 

Top Robo-Advisors Ranked From Worst to Best

 

 

Miracles:

Scientists Say They’ve Reached ‘Turning Point’ in Cancer Research With Vaccines

Drug in trials helped people lose 24% body weight or about 58 pounds: no more diets

Diabetes metformin protects against long-Covid

 

Intermittent fasting is as effective as counting calories:

Study: AI predicts pancreatic cancer risk based on patient’s medical records. 

Popular steroids could mess up some cancer treatments

 

 

 

 

 

 

@

 

Our Universe is Mind-Blowing

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 (galaxies to stones) in universe 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

Energy into matter: scientists converted light energy directly into matter in one step

In place of atomic lattice, light waves used to create an optical lattice with same geometry

Physics Nobel Prize: “entanglement” 2 particles share info instantly at a distance

Quantum mechanics violates local realism: two objects behave as single system at distance

 

“It may be that gravity and quantum mechanics are exactly the same thing,” Leonard Susskind

Gravity might induce the collapse of quantum vibrations into 1 quantum state—our world

Strange state of physics that allows energy to flow frictionlessly through a material. 

Bending light from extreme gravity reveals largest black hole so far

Curved SpaceTime: heavy masses and simultaneously quantum effects become visible

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

Universe expanding: events may not come together like they did before: created our time.

Our planetary system: rarest system: only 1% of all systems with same number of planets

 

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

Gold made from neutron stars: collisions produce more neutrons:79 protons,118 neutrons

The proton is so complicated science still finds new energy entities/forces every year.

 

“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 electron itself.

Scientists build 'baby' wormhole as sci-fi moves closer to fact: inside quantum computer

starts-with-a-bang/universe-expansion-not-accelerating/

Physicists knew black holes eventually disappear particle by particle. Now they think everything else does, too

 

 

 

@

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

http://www.theinsidersguides.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/

 

Your taxes go to Chevron and then to Boehner

Your taxes go to Chevron which gave $3.5 million to Boehner’s PAC

Chevron paid $3.5 million to Big Oil's preferred congressional candidates including Leader Boehner’s Congressional Leadership Fund. But Federal law prohibits government suppliers from making campaign contributions. Now the Federal Election Commission refused to enforce the law against Chevron. Chevron says the Chevron that accepts government money and the Chevron that engages in election spending are two different Chevrons. Chevron uses over 1,000 subsidiaries to provide $15 million to politicians. Foreign dictators can donate to PACs via subsidiaries too. If you don’t have $3.5 million to buy elections, keep your tax money out of politics.

Pay your fair share: http://www.amazon.com/Tax-Shelter-for-Americans/dp/1500426520

Your taxes provide EXCELLENT bonuses to Donors—Are you a donor?

You have given huge tax refunds to GE, BankAmerica, Chevron, Boeing, Valero, Goldman, Citi while they are clearly making profits. They don’t pay taxes even though they can’t hide ALL their incomes overseas like many others. How do they do it? They just happen to be some of the largest DONORS to our “reps” in Washington. Is it surprising to learn some of our “reps” are multimillionaires? Are you shocked to learn they have “insider” information on the stock market? Former GOP leader Cantor deleted requirements from the Stop Trading on Congressional Knowledge Act in 2012 so now they can use insider info legally. Stop giving them refunds.

http://www.amazon.com/Tax-FREE-Income-000-tax-free/dp/1477472584

Are you glad you moved your money to low-cost index funds—60% vs. 20%?

Buffett has a 10-year running bet with the hedge fund managers at Protégé Partners about whether hedge funds can beat a low-cost S&P index fund, and the bet is now in its eighth year. Cumulatively the S&P 500 was up more than 63 percent, while the hedge funds gained only 19.6 percent.

What does your advisor say about that? http://www.amazon.com/Wealth-Without-Wall-Street-Commissions/dp/1442168137

GOP crazies

Three more are running—Neurosurgeon Ben Carson and former HP CEO Carly Fiorina—for president. Evangelist Huckabee makes three. Christie can make it a B dozen if Adelson believes he didn’t know his staff was in BridgeGate. Low odds given.

GOP candidate Carson says "You know Obamacare is really I think the worst thing that has happened in this nation since slavery." Former surgeon is thinking about his professional fees going down not about 11 million poor with coverage now.

GOP TX Gov has banned TX town from banning fracking in their town—talk about Big-government over-reach.

GOP candidate Graham thinks he can win by cutting Medicare

Sen. Lindsey Graham, SC says “I’m going to ask [people] to give up a little bit to make sure the system doesn’t fail.” “If we don’t, the baby boomers are going to wipe out Medicare and Social Security. We’ll become Greece.” This scare tactic won’t work since Americans know Congress gives benefits to corporations and rich that give them money. It is BS to say Americans will need to pay more taxes while more corporations and wealthy pay less. We already pay 30% of income on average while they pay 15% or less.  GOP needs to read “We the people …” again.

Christie creds in the toilet

In 2011, Christie promised to pay billions of dollars into the state's woefully underfunded pension system, while public sector unions agreed to cuts in benefits. "This is what catapulted him to the national arena. Now [that he reneged,] it's really hard to reclaim that mantle." Unions gave; but Christie did NOT. Spent $1 m for PR report about himself. Gave EXXON a $9 billion gift. Blames his secretary for Bridge scandal.

TX hates Obama so much they think he has sends Army to invade Texas

Gov calls out State Guard to protect TX from Special Forces. Many are ready to fight with real guns. Defense officials Monday dismissed as “wild speculation” an Internet-fueled claim that a massive summertime exercise called Jade Helm 15 for special operations commandos is a covert operation by President Barack Obama to take over Texas. Chuck Norris warns Army. McCarthy period returns to US. McCarthy used fear to gather support for political action.

GOP leader Cruz blames Obama for race unrest, Baltimore, etc, etc, etc.

Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) on Wednesday blamed President Barack Obama for the racial tensions and unrest unrolling across the U.S., including the current turmoil in Baltimore.

You can’t make this stuff up.

Supremes taking America farther right?

GOP Supremes agreed to review Obama regs to encourage efficiency in the electricity market. Really, against efficiency or just for coal? Separately, Supremes ruled against a homeowner’s bankruptcy plan to pay even though Uncle Sam and Bank of America backed the homeowner.

Where are you putting your RMD?

Every person over age 70 has to start liquidating their IRA, 401k, 403b and most tax-deferred accounts. If you are still working and contributing to your plan, you can wait until you retire to start your RMD. You have no choice but to pay the tax you owe on your RMDs as your account is still growing. You can’t avoid tax by rolling over an RMD into another account. However to avoid future tax on future gains when you don’t need the money, you can deposit it—less the tax—into a tax-FREE Roth IRA. This money grows and earnings are tax FREE from then on (after Roth opened 5 years). The principal is always available for emergencies. You can even leave the account tax-FREE to heirs if you don’t need it for later health or custodial care.

This is your Retirement Income Insurance policy: http://www.amazon.com/Don-leave-work-without-Retirement/dp/1511980982/

Does your advisor’s financial plan cost 0.45% or less?

Vanguard has slashed the investment minimum for its Personal Advisor Services program that combines interaction with a human financial advisor and online features.

Instead of the $500,000 minimum Vanguard requires only $50,000. A Vanguard financial advisor discusses your financial goals, time horizon, and risk tolerance. Then the advisor creates a custom-tailored financial plan consisting of a portfolio of Vanguard mutual funds and exchange-traded funds. The annual fee is 0.30% of your assets, plus the fees for funds contained in your portfolio. Admiral Share funds cost between 0.05 to 0.19 percent. The company’s goal is to limit the all-in costs to roughly 0.45 percent.

Pay less—keep more: http://www.amazon.com/Vanguards-Top-Ten-mutual-funds/dp/150073909X

Healthcare exchanges target part-timers to fill niche

Most private health care exchanges are geared toward active employees. But Tampa, Fla.-based Brown Insurance Group has an eye on part-timers who may have lost coverage or who never had access to group plans. Eric Brown, principal, explains how his private exchange allows employers nationwide to provide coverage to such employees through an exchange-like environment. Brown Insurance also assists with Healthcare.gov enrollment. Many businesses run on part-timers so this may help provide some coverages but price can be the problem. ObamaCare comes with subsidy. 

Compare and save: http://www.amazon.com/Health-Insurance-ONLY-right-policy/dp/1480125083

Are credit union accounts right for you?

Join the Defense Department CU and enjoy paid checking, free ATMs and lower loan rates. Pay bills online. What is not to like? You don’t wait on line for teller. Other national CU you can join and save: http://www.kiplinger.com/printslideshow.php?pid=9969

Is your debt past the limit—know your rights

Use the statute of limitations map provided below to determine your state’s debt collection time limits. Ask for full proof you have not already paid a bill that is really yours. Make a settlement offer. Claim insolvency or medical emergency to delay full payment. Get help at low-income legal office. Ask for Hardship Repayment Plan option. Has collector overstepped the bounds?  http://www.credit.com/debt/statutes-of-limitations/

Delete your questionable persona before job hunt?

Is it worth it to have a pro try to get rid of your past indiscretions? Only you know if it is worth $129 at DeleteMe: https://www.abine.com/deleteme/landing.php Most firms will do a background on you for most executive positions so it may help you. You can request “opt out” at major data sellers like Spokeo and Intelius. You just don’t know who has what and did they really delete it. Good luck. Even Congress people are being taped by the NSA and others. 

Lexus again all round best brand—surprise—Kia over BMW?

The Consumer Reports 2015 Car Brand Report Cards ranks automakers across the world by reliability, road test performance and other factors. For the second year in a row, Lexus topped the list, nearly matched by Mazda, and followed by Toyota and Audi. CR also predicts which are likely to go the distance (200K miles). The bottom of the list included Ford, Dodge, Mini, Jeep and Fiat. Benz beat Scion?

SCAMS           Why are we still paying $700 Billion a year for WWII deployments? That is 27 cents of each dollar in taxes—the largest part of our money—and we aren’t even at war. We could pay off our debts and fix our schools, roads and bridges!

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.

We are building another military base for Japan at Henoko. Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Ronald Fogelman admitted that the Marines “serve no military function. They don’t need to be in Okinawa to meet any time line in any war plan.”

Are we preparing for WWII again? There are 1,208,083^[1] armed personnel in the United States. Our taxes pay for about HALF of the WORLD’s military expenditures every year. We have wasted $398.6 billion so far on the F-35 program—they can’t fly safely.

We just can’t afford to pay for everyone else’s defenses anymore.

Japan, Germany and S. Korea can pay to defend themselves.

The War on Terror requires SEALS’ attacks on top terrorists at their homes. Iraq proved converting a nation to Western-style republic doesn’t work. The troops we trained ran away. We are wasting $4 billion a year on Afgan tribal rivalries; paying ransom to Al Qaeda; supporting corruption with our money.

Agents are pushing “Secret Presidents/Congress” accounts

It is just life insurance with big commissions. Yes, you can put a lot of cash in a life insurance plan set up to a build large cash legacy. You are told it is tax-FREE to heirs and you can earn 5% on your money. This is how wealthy people can leave money to heirs. They must be put into a trust to avoid estate tax. These policies may violate IRS definition of life insurance if they put in too much. It then becomes a MEC which is taxed like an annuity. The expenses are high but are smaller than the tax bill could be. For most people, this is NOT the best alternative. The IRS allows us to leave assets to heirs tax-FREE to the heirs on a “stepped-up” basis. Heirs pay no tax on these assets until the asset accumulates its own gains for the new owner. 

Brokers sell without disclosing all fees and risks—Fiduciary rule breaking

LPL Financial Holdings Inc must pay $11.7 million for "widespread supervisory failures," including sales of a risky type of exchange traded fund and other complex securities. Brokers sell variable annuities without disclosing surrender fees, charges, etc.
 

IAN

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