Why do actual investors earn less than their benchmarks?

 

Why do actual investors earn less than their benchmarks?

A recent study found that, while certain mutual funds and ETFs delivered a 9.4% average annual total return for the past decade, the average investor in these funds got only 7.7% due to poorly timed trading activity. This really hurts those who are investing for a big goal like house down payment or retirement or business start up. Over time, a $250 a month investment would reach $1.3 million WITHOUT the trading activity. Timing the markets would result in total accumulation of only $805,605—a loss of $494,395. In another study, Fidelity found that its accounts that did the best were those for which the owners forgot about them. Investing is simple to be successful but not easy. Gambling is hard to be successful but easy to do. Successful investors have 3 ‘pots’ of money: Patience for the long-term goals and impatience for the short-term get-rich-quick schemes. The third pot pays for living expenses.

Go simple: https://www.amazon.com/Keep-Simple-Essential-Financial-Life/dp/1492258849

 

What is the single most important reason for financial failure?

You are right; it is debt. If we had no debt, especially interest debt that can NOT be deducted, we could easily reach our long-term goals. We have credit card debt, mortgage debt and car debt. We borrow an average $34,635 for new vehicles and $21,438 for used vehicles. The average loan term is 70 months for new cars, 65 months for used cars and 37 months for leased vehicles. The average monthly payments for new, used and leased vehicles is $563, $397, $450. And this is an era of low interest rates. Interest is NOT deductible unless your company leases your car. So how is financial failure defined? How much do we lose with our vehicle loans? Investing $563 for 70 months could yield $59,541. Investing instead of buying on time provides enough money to buy a vehicle outright. This is why the wealthy pay cash for their rides. Their cash is special: their cash is compounded cash. They earn the money we pay on debt. We pay 9.46% they earn 9%.

Earn interest; don’t pay interest: https://www.amazon.com/Compounded-Cash-Save-your-Self-Funded/dp/1515066096

 

Most Americans are paying more taxes than US corporations pay

In fact many large profitable companies have Negative tax rates—taking our money as a refund. Most tech companies, including Oracle, Adobe and Microsoft are still paying much less by using an accounting trick to report profits outside the US. Many large profitable firms like Wells Fargo, Salesforce, AbbVie, Duke Energy, Adobe, Broadcom, IBM, Medtronic, and GE have a negative rate—We actually give them our tax payments. The rest pay lower rates than we do: NVIDIA, NextEra Energy, Bank of America, Pfizer, and Texas Instruments pay the lowest rates. The average overall company tax rate is only 19.7%. Our average is 32.9% including Fed, state, SS, Medicare, sales and gas taxes. This does not include property tax which some of us pay. We don’t receive a state subsidy like the $3 billion state subsidy that Foxconn got in 2018. Some call government-supported corporate tax refunds and grants US socialism.

Avoid paying their taxes: https://www.amazon.com/New-American-Retirement-System-ReserveTaxFree/dp/1461030072

 

Insurers may be overcharging you for coverage

Insurers use our credit scores and history to set premiums for car, home and rent insurance. Other service providers (rental agent, mortgage and auto loan) may use credit scores to set their charges. The CARES Act placed a temporary hold on reporting negative credit information to bureaus that collect credit history. When the hold is lifted, you may get whacked with increases in everything if the pandemic has disrupted your life. Some insurers recognize that the pandemic has had a disproportionate impact on the credit scores of some racial and income groups. Some are making it their business model to switch to a usage-based approach. Insurer Root’s usage-based approach can define a new industry approach that ties driving risk directly to driving habits rather than proxies. Thus drivers who speed, text and cause accidents may have a lower premium than safe drivers who have filed bankruptcy due to a medical catastrophe. Thus some insurers may offer you a better deal but unless you shop every 2 years you won’t know. And don’t forget to check for excessive car repair problems before you buy again.

Shop and save: https://www.amazon.com/Vehicle-Insurance-Beware-Double-Coverage/dp/1480027634

 

What is your plan for your next financial stress?

Most of us have no plan to deal with a financial emergency. A plan BEFORE a crisis while in retirement would provide us with peace of mind—one of the most important goals we have. I hear about folks that are overwhelmed by a medical expense event, a family member money request, and a huge loss in retirement savings. In a recent survey, the most common answers given by folks age 40-73 were ask family and friends, children, church/state agencies, work and downsize to live on SS benefits. These are desperation measures, not a plan. My experience with folks who made a plan shows that building an emergency fund of HALF a year’s expenses works best. These folks kept that emergency money in a balanced fund like Vanguard’s Wellesley Income not a bank: they earn 7% not 1%. First, you feel better. Second, the money gives you time to figure out what to do. Third, the crisis may be over in a year. Make a plan using the tools that are available online for FREE.

https://www.amazon.com/What-your-RMD-much-spend/dp/1718946716

 

How to protect your retirement funds and keep them growing

The best protection is not putting your money in bank products, money market funds, an annuity, or bonds. These are the vehicles I see folks using because their advisors told them to “protect” savings in “safe” accounts. However, as inflation rises, they will lose buying power—probably for a long time to come. Unless you know you will die in a couple of years, fixed return investments will starve you to death. All of the traditional “safe” places are providing Wall Street with great revenue. However, these places don’t help you. Over the next 30 years, you could be giving away HALF your potential nest egg. The best way to protect your funds is to grow them—the best defense is a great offense.  Growth and security come from a combination of stocks, bonds and real estate holdings. Over time, your nest egg will continue to grow with stocks while bonds and real estate provide stability. A low cost balanced fund provides steady total returns of over 7%. For instance, Vanguard’s Wellesley Income Fund has provided 40 years of solid returns over 7% on average. Retirement income is thus a combination of interest and dividends. As part of the Vanguard Top Ten funds, investors shift more of their assets to this fund as they progress in retirement.

Pick growth and income: https://www.amazon.com/Vanguards-Top-Ten-mutual-funds/dp/150073909X/

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

 

 

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

 

 

Our Jan 6 ‘Truth and Reconciliation Commission’

 

9/11 Bush warns of “domestic terrorism”

 

Will “domestic terrorists” install Trump Sat?

 

Generals planned to stop Trump from starting WWIII

 

How Govt wastes our money:

GOP requires gov ID to vote and drive but requires no Covid vax card to touch kids

 

Your freedom; their deaths: Anti-vax anti-mask Christians killing babies with Covid plague

 

Saudis caught helping terrorists kill us: why we still giving them weapons/intelligence?

 

Lindsey wants to re-invade Afghanistan but he won’t be leading the charge: sending kids

 

Biden lawyers against chokehold/knee on neck UNLESS cop “feels threatened” they do!

 

Plan to lower drug prices was defeated in Dem committee: Lobbyists paid 3 Dems

 

SCAMS/SPINS:

GOP will reach 675,000, the 1918 flu pandemic death rate: Govs fight Prez mandate

Fox: If mandatory polio vaccine is OK, why not COVID-19? Drive, hunt, visit England

All of a sudden police/public service workers get religion: religion exemption kills folks

 

Trump on Pence, his chosen VP: insults 5-year old kids: This is your new GOP ?

Supremes not "a bunch of partisan hacks": just liars: each pledged Roe was “settled law”

Abortion pills for TX market booming: Mexico lightens up just in time: employers help?

 

FL court: Gov can continue to let Covid kill kids—no masks in schools is law

FL airport dogs ID the Covid killers: sniff employees’ masks despite Gov ban

FL refuses to total Covid deaths: must be extreme not to tell. GOP going for record!

WV highest rate of new Covid cases per day: low vax rate; closing schools

Fake vax cards are readily available: masks may still be prudent indoors

Fake mask tests in TX go viral: confirm sources before you believe internet

TX women beat up NYC restaurant hostess over valid vax cards:

 

San Diego healthcare workers seek religious vaccine exemptions: Bible saves you?

 

243,000 Covid cases in kids 1 week 500,000 in 2weeks: Do it for the kids: GET VAX

 

CA Vax mandates keep Trumpist out of power: Covid case reduction continues

 

FL 13 & 14 year olds with gun planned mass shooting at middle school: peers heard talk

mass-shootings-increased-in-pandemic/index.html

 

 

FBI caught allowing sex abuse by USA Gymnastics to continue w/o proper probe:

 

Larry Nassar in jail: why aren’t his bosses at USAG and USOPC? Cardinals never jailed

 

Felix Gorovodsky caught forged gift letter stole $253,000 promised to advise w/o license

Stephen C Peters caught selling bogus 9% notes stole $15 million: 40 yrs; lost appeal

Trumpists Lindell, Gen Flynn caught at 10,000 KY rally with only 300 showing up

American Airlines caught changing refund rules: you may be stranded

3 military caught helping foreign gov hack US companies for profit: fine, no firing squad

 

Drank the Kool-Aid: Most Republicans: It’s Important to Believe Trump Won Election

FL Gov guest claims Covid changes DNA but Gov did NOT disclaim lie: more FL deaths

 

Jobs

Hospital staff loses benefits when refuse vax: Covid staff kill babies “unable to staff”

Tech job pay by state: $123,000 in WA to $70K in SD

Renewed tax credit can help employers hire workers

 

Most promising jobs in ’21: Amazon wage increase; college

More Ford electric truck jobs in MI: chip shortage weighs cars/trucks down

 

Who owns your account now?

Reports suggest that seniors in poorer health may be better served by Original Medicare.

Average credit scores by age: Many errors in credit reports: fix for free

Most reliable appliances: CR reviews show most expensive not the most reliable.

 

Miracles:

Lutheran church installs 1st transgender bishop: SF Grace Cathedral where else?

A widow, doctor, mother of three running for president of Somalia: yes, Somalia

Bangladesh has reopened schools: 97% teachers and staff vaccinated

 

Miami football fans save cat falling from upper level with flag not masks

CA wildfires closing in on world’s largest oldest trees: Sequoia National Park

NYC vaccinated 6 million for smallpox in 1 MONTH to save lives: no mandate

3 million more obtain health care during special Covid enrollment

 

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/

 

 

Wall Street trick deal costs US $560 million

Wall Street trick deal cost US $560 million in taxes

Accordia Life (Goldman Sachs) has avoided $560 million in taxes that we will have to pick up from just one deal in buying annuities of Athene née AvivaUSA (fmly UK’s Commercial Union). Some people bought annuities which are supposed to be backed by real bonds/securities but are now backed only by promissory notes from one subsidiary shell back to another. Aviva, Goldman and others have taken out billions of real cash leaving $1.7 billion to cover for the $7 billion required by insurance law. They use empty shells (captives) and tax havens and smiling state “regulators” to evade taxes. There are probably thousands of deals like this which cost US over $1 Trillion—adding to deficit.  

Don’t pay the insurance companies’ taxes: http://www.amazon.com/Your-Tax-Haven-Tax-FREE-Americans/dp/1482659441

Compounded Cash: Save 40% with your self-funded “bank”

How do the wealthy double their funds every 10 years?

How do they buy airplanes and villas for 40% less?

The wealthy know something you don't know—compounded cash. They put their money to work so they don't have to work. They invest in growing companies selling everything from oil to watches. Each of their $100 investment checks turns into $1,500 over time. They pay $24,000 for their $55,000 vehicle; $2.2 million for their $4 million mansion. Learn how to pay less: http://www.amazon.com/Compounded-Cash-Save-your-Self-Funded/dp/1515066096/

Do you use the Buffett investment strategy or your broker’s? 

See how it works: http://www.saferchild.org/power/

He told Reuters: "A very low-cost index is going to beat a majority of the amateur-managed money or professionally-managed money."

Average investors earned just 3.79% using a paid “advisor” while investors holding low-cost index funds (0.05%) earned 11% since 1983. Dalbar.com QAIB

Buffett wrote: “We continue to make more money when snoring than when active.” Berkshirehathaway.com/

"My wealth has come from a combination of living in America, some lucky genes, and compound interest."

“The stock market has a very efficient way of transferring wealth from the impatient to the patient.”

Our Impatience: That’s how Wall Street gets the big bucks (from us):

http://www.amazon.com/Warren-Buffetts-Investment-Strategy-Forget/dp/1484822900

Are you contributing enough to your pension to live to age 85?

Know your numbers—don’t rely on brokers/advisors that get paid to sell. Use the Buffett strategy to reach your goal: Maximize your pension. The 2nd video shows you how much you will have in the future given the amount you add monthly, the number of years, and the average return on your investments. You estimate your Social Security benefits and add your current accumulation at work or IRA. The answer is translated into the inflation-adjusted amount you can receive in retirement. Interactive so you can change your future income now! https://youtu.be/8UoyLwlatN4

New cars buyers are most satisfied with these cars?

Kia, Hyundai, Lexus, VW, Corvette, Honda, Dodge made the list this year. Some are even affordable.

http://www.cheatsheet.com/automobiles/12-cars-rated-highest-in-owner-satisfaction-for-2015.html/?a=viewall

Qualify for discounts when you shop for new vehicle insurance: http://www.amazon.com/Vehicle-Insurance-Beware-Double-Coverage/dp/1480027634

DEM crazies

Bernie says “Jeb’s wealthy donors have contributed over one hundred million dollars to his Super PAC. This is not a democracy. This is oligarchy.” A few wealthy people run the country for their “life, liberty and pursuit of their happiness.” Not ours. Billionaire benefactors have bought up the private sector and in 2016 they may buy a presidential election. It happened in 2000, it can happen again. Supremes could throw election again

Bernie thinks he can win just because people showed up for his rallies and more people (NOT corporations) have contributed to his campaign than to any other candidate running for president, Democrat or Republican. Crazy!

College tuition assistance bill

America’s College Promise Act of 2015 proposes $3 worth of federal aid for every $1 invested by a state in order to waive community college tuition and fees for eligible students before other financial aid is applied. 

GOP will never approve of kids going to college for FREE like they, the Congress people did. Most got full “scholarships” to Ivy League via “connections.”

Will GOP let Obama try peace with Iran?

“Trust but Verify” R Reagan said.

"Every path to a nuclear weapon has been cut off," President Obama declared in Washington. Addressing critics in Congress and Israel who say Iran can't be trusted to honor the agreement, Obama said the deal is not just built on trust but "on verification."

GOP wants to bomb Iraq, Iran, Syria, etc etc.

Should we give peace a chance? We can always go back to sanctions and bombing.

GOP crazies

Trump has “debate” slot but Donald doesn’t debate--Trump is a shouter/boss. “You’re fired!” He threatened drug lord El Chapo and got a threat back.

Can you see him as commander of the millions of nuclear weapons?

GOP and Obama agree—both speechless—deficit down 14%

Our budget deficit shrank by $52 billion, or 14 percent, during the first nine months of the 2015--tax receipts grew faster than spending, the CBO said. GOP stopped hitting Obama on economy.

Jeb is right?—we already work longer hours FOR LESS MONEY

Working 70 hours vs 60 (1969). http://www.bls.gov/opub/working/data/chart17.txt The $4.03-an-hour rate recorded in January 1973 has the same purchasing power as $22.41 would today. http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2014/10/09/for-most-workers-real-wages-have-barely-budged-for-decades/

OK GOP calls food stamp recipients animals

Defying the gospel message of “I was hungry and you gave me food”, OK Republicans posted to Facebook their message: help people and you make them animals.

TX Gov asks Guard to still monitor invasion/takeover by US Army

McCarthy-style fear factor gives GOP power to keep money flowing to defeat Obama (“Hitler”) and their own ‘government’ threat: Army to “launch psychological operations to infiltrate society. Others maintained tunnels would be built to move troops and arms for surprise attacks on civilians.”

Hard to believe that people believe this stuff. Just like in the 50’s when GOP McCarthy used the label “communist” to stir fear among Americans. He called Lee J Cobb, Aaron Copland, Zero Mostel, Henry Morgan and Edward G Robinson ‘commies.’  

Is a Zero percent auto loan right for you?

Sounds too good to be true. You think you can get a great new car and NO finance charge too. The catch: no more than 10 percent of people qualify. The point is to get you sold—at any price. You have high payments because you get 3 years not 6 to pay. Dealer will make up the interest cost with add-ons and extras you might have received free before. If you have great credit, you might receive more in the cash back with your credit union loan. Get a bank loan approval first so you have leverage with the car you really want. Actually, the best deal may be getting your loan on a higher value car that has already proved defect-free—used luxury. Save up to 40% on a 3-year old model luxury hybrid version. Value = quality at the right price: http://www.amazon.com/Buy-Value-financial-services-groceries/dp/1489513078

Buy Value and smile all the way to your new home

You could pay $500 a month for your vehicle but over 6 years that could grow to $50,000—a home down payment. Here are the Cheap COOL Rides: Toyota MR2, Alfa Romeo Spider, Mazda Miata, Mercedes CL500, Dodge D150 truck, Mercedes ML430, Toyota Tacoma, Mercedes 300SD.

https://www.yahoo.com/autos/s/8-coolest-cars-under-5-000-133010558.html

Government program may offer better mortgage rates

Unlike conventional mortgages, you don’t have to have great credit or a long credit history to qualify. In most cases, you can even get a USDA home loan with a small down payment – or no down payment at all — as long as you don’t have considerable assets to your name. And unlike most low- or no-down-payment mortgage programs, you don’t need to be a first-time home buyer to take advantage of USDA loans. Not for city lots: http://eligibility.sc.egov.usda.gov/eligibility/welcomeAction.do

FREE phone plan?

Sprint offers to connect you with your old smartphone or new one with $0 cost in return for you watching adverts when you get a call. Might be right for you if you need car emergency phone only. There are some reviews of the service at http://frugalcaller.com/ringplus-review/

Try it for FREE:  https://ringplus.net/

ObamaCare is a hit with insurance salespeople

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services estimates that more than 77,000 brokers and agents assisted with enrollments on the federally-facilitated marketplace in year two open enrollment, up 46% from the year prior. About 6.6 million U.S. taxpayers paid a penalty imposed for the first time this year for not having health insurance, about 10% more than the Obama administration had estimated – though a portion didn’t need to.

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

SCAMS           Can we afford to keep 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 spending $8 million per HOUR on our wars in Iraq/Afgan

The War on Terror requires special forces attacks on top terrorists at their homes like Obama’s al-Amr May14 Abu kill. Iraq proved converting a nation to Western-style republic doesn’t work. The troops we trained ran away, left our stuff. Training and more stuff for what? Former Saddam army now ISIS. We are wasting $4 billion a year on Afgan tribal rivalries; paying ransom to Al Qaeda; supporting corruption with our money.

We are building another military base for Japan at Henoko. Air Force Gen. Ronald Fogelman admitted that the Marines “serve no military function there. 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.

GM murdered 114 people but not even indicted

The official death toll from faulty ignition switches they knew about in General Motors small cars has risen to 114. GM has made “compensation” offers to 245 other victims’ families. NO ONE is going to jail despite the cover up!

Honda Finance caught charging you more

Honda’s past practices resulted in thousands of African-American, Hispanic, and Asian and Pacific Islander borrowers paying higher interest rates than white borrowers for their auto loans, without regard to their creditworthiness. As part of today’s order, Honda will change its pricing and compensation system to substantially reduce dealer discretion and minimize the risks of discrimination, and will pay $24 million in restitution to affected borrowers. 

IAN

41 Watchung Plaza, B242

Montclair, NJ 07042

973.746.2014

www.InsuranceAdvisorsNetwork.com

Alerts 

Taxes just paid give Boeing greater profits

The taxes you just paid financed Boeing’s most profitable business

Boeing’s $2.72 billion revenue was made possible because our taxes were used to finance sales to wealthy desert dictators. We pay for the “The Bank of Boeing,” as it is called by those who think this “bastion of corporate welfare” must be shut down. Boeing pays about $2.7 million to our “representatives” to keep this “welfare queen” in business. Right-wing power groups ousted Eric Cantor in part for supporting this big business subsidy. Like the oil, gas and farm subsidies, the Ex-Im bank was set up to spur prosperity last century. In this new age, politicians are learning that many groups don’t like giving their tax dollars for corporate tax-FREE profits.

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

Your pension fund is still falling behind despite market surge

The funded status of the 100 largest corporate pensions dropped by $6 billion in March, increasing the deficit to $349 billion, according to the Milliman 100 Pension Funding Index. The stock market hit new highs recently yet pension funding is going south. What happens when markets reset? If you are 5-10 years from retirement, now is the time to act. Use your tax refund to build a tax-FREE Wealth Reserve so you have enough.

Start now: http://www.amazon.com/Tax-Refund-Millionaires-Let-Uncle-Help/dp/149595644X

Many employers unaware of their retirement plan liability

Thirty-seven percent of plan sponsors are unaware they are fiduciaries to their workplace-sponsored retirement plans, according to research by AllianceBernstein, but 82% of those surveyed said fiduciary matters are important or very important to them. Employers that include target-date funds in their retirement plans are more likely to be aware of their fiduciary role. Nearly half of plan sponsors don’t take advantage of the safe-harbor protections that come with offering a qualified default investment alternative. Employers must provide options that are best for us not them—low-cost well diversified funds. Low-earning money funds are NOT safe options for retirement. Retirement account balances reached a record high $91,800 in the first quarter of 2015, and more than 1 million people increased their contributions. 

Pick your best option: http://www.amazon.com/Tune-your-401k-EARN-Tax-FREE/dp/1490591028

Investors moving away from broken Wall Street system—DIY winning

Affluent Americans are now not only diversifying their portfolios, they are also diversifying their brokers, with one-in-three households with greater than $100,000 in investable assets adding a new financial services firm relationship in 2014. The study, "Market Measures: Reach, Share & Other 'Store' Success Measures," surprised researchers when it showed that self-service brokerage firms are popular with the affluent set, reaching 70 percent of households with at least $500,000 in investable assets, compared with just over 40 percent for full-service firms. “It’s astonishing the self-service competitive set has deeper reach into investors with $500,000-plus, engaging more affluent investors than the full-service competitive set.

Try self-management; you’ll like it: http://www.amazon.com/Reasons-Fail-Wall-Street-how/dp/1483913155

DEM crazies

Bernie Sanders, Senator, left-leaning and has no chance! Bernie has no money. He has a voting record that most working Americans would agree with but most politicians don’t. He favors a 30% tax rate on millionaires. Crazy! He did get Congress to clean up the VA. Bernie makes Hillary look centrist and gives her someone to talk to during the primary debates. He just introduced a bill to stop corporations from sheltering income overseas in the Cayman Islands and other tax havens to avoid paying U.S. taxes. The legislation also would end tax breaks for companies that ship jobs and factories overseas.

“At a time when we have a $18.2 trillion national debt and an unsustainable federal deficit; at a time when many of the largest corporations in America are paying no federal income taxes; and at a time when corporate profits are at an all-time high, it is past time for corporate America to pay their fair share in taxes so that we can create the millions of jobs this country needs,” Sanders said at a Capitol news conference.

Bernie, you know this bill will never pass the “millionaire Congress.”

GOP crazies

Will HALF of American voters vote to cancel $100 a month health care? Will they vote to extend age for Social Security and Medicare benefits? Will they really vote to send their kids back to Iraq and Iran to be killed in an oil war? Will they vote to allow states to sanction discrimination based on someone’s religious beliefs? Will they vote to delay fixing our bridges and roads and all other infrastructure until it falls down just so the rich can have more millions? Is Cruz crazy to blame the 2007-8 meltdown on Obama? 

Are these the ways we to make America great?

GOP backers want war?

All of the GOP candidates want to scrub the peace talks—some want war with Iran—and so do their backers. Some are meeting with deep pockets like Sheldon Adelson, who dropped over $92 million for the 2012 circus, and whose hawkish protection views are echoed by party members. Is it possible that our next military venture will be the reward for certain campaign contributions? Could we waste another $3 Trillion because of a new fake-WMD-type scare from the ideological right? President Cheney did it once.

GOP runner Christie hates pot but state needs revenue

Atlantic City gambling has been replaced by online gambling to raise taxes. However, Christie could use the extra pot taxes to replace the $9 billion he gave back to EXXON. Poor management and Wall Street tricks won’t fix the state’s pension shortfall. Property taxes are the highest in the nation. Even the low gas tax should be revised. Christie could sell his helicopter and stop traveling to raise money for the GOP. His sidekick, Weinstein has made a deal so now we may find out about Christie’s BridgeGate.

ObamaCare plans may help more patients get better care

Health insurance plans purchased through public health care exchanges often generate levels of member satisfaction higher than plans obtained through employers, according to a J.D. Power study. One main reason people shopping through the marketplaces are more satisfied is the choice and clear features of plans available. That compares with an employer plan, where choices are often made by the employer and are usually few and more expensive. Agents earn commission on the costs of plans.

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

Your small homeowners’ insurance claims can mean cancellation

Small claims on your policy means a money loser to insurers and they will cancel. Since the average big claim is 1 in 38 years, you may lose coverage if you file for amounts less than a full disaster. When you file a claim and it is denied, your claim is still counted against you. Fix small claims on your own and DON’T even call your agent/insurer—they enter it in your cancel file. This is not intuitive (“we paid premiums for 20 years and haven’t asked for a dime”) but insurers see you as an accident waiting to happen.

Buy a HIGH-deductible policy only; save premiums for repairs: http://www.amazon.com/Homeowners-Insurance-Beware-Coverage-Policy/dp/1480100870

Is a simple target-date mutual fund right for you?

According to the TIAA-CREF Investment Options Survey, nearly 40% of Americans say they are not familiar with the investment options in their retirement plan. A target-date fund simplifies your decision. The mutual fund manager picks the right balance of stocks and bonds depending on how long you have until you need the money. At not-for-profit firms like TIAA and Vanguard, you pay low fees and thus earn more over time. You may end up with twice as much for retirement since you paid less for great diversification.

This is the strategy Buffett recommends: http://www.amazon.com/Warren-Buffetts-Investment-Strategy-Forget/dp/1484822900

How much is your broker/advisor worth paying? Do they give refunds?

Most professionals must provide their costs and contingencies up front. If you are not satisfied, you insist they make it right. You know if the job is done right because you give them a guideline or goal or deadline. My house exterior gets painted with good paint by June 30. I check the work as they go. I hold back final payment until the paint is dry and it has rained. I have a guarantee for 4 years.

What if my broker/advisor does not even match market growth and/or protect the downside? Do you realize what it is like to get your money back using the required arbitration method? By law, I can’t even pick the arbitrators—they work for the broker. We would be better off with a professional fortune teller according to much research.

Even Buffett agrees: http://www.amazon.com/Warren-Buffetts-Investment-Secret-Steeple/dp/1484189809

Workers say they want guaranteed retirement income but few buy it

Eighty-nine percent of employees surveyed by BlackRock in 2012 said they would like their plan sponsor to provide them with income generating options in their retirement plan. Yet research from Towers Watson finds when such an option is offered to retiring participants, the lifetime income distribution is chosen by less than 5%. Workers fear high cost, hidden rules and no escape.

Annuity alternatives: http://www.amazon.com/Not-Buy-That-Annuity-Guaranteed/dp/1466494573

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.

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.

US govt destroys our justice system credibility

Of 28 examiners with the FBI Laboratory’s microscopic hair comparison unit, 26 overstated forensic matches in ways that favored prosecutors in more than 95 percent of the 268 trials reviewed so far.  … and justice for all?

Can America avoid repeating Rome's mistakes of the 4th-5th C?

IRS won’t help finding which ID thieves stole from you—protecting ID thieves’ privacy?

You find out your tax return refund was already claimed by a thief. You ask the IRS for help in securing your ID. IRS says NO. IRS rules encourage its workers to keep a tight grip on the bad returns. Employees face felony charges for giving out private details -- including, possibly, those of the identity thieves -- to those who aren’t authorized. The old “privacy law” excuse to protect the criminals.

It is your tax money at work, or not!

Regions bank owes you money for overcharging you

Today the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) took action against Regions Bank for charging overdraft fees to consumers who had not opted-in for overdraft coverage. The bank also charged overdraft and non-sufficient funds fees on its deposit advance product despite claims that it would not. Regions has already refunded hundreds of thousands of consumers approximately $49 million in fees, and the consent order requires the bank to fully refund all remaining consumers. The Bureau also fined the company $7.5 million for its illegal actions. 

IAN

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