Published on February 16, 2008 by David
Tired of investments that go bump in the night?
The past 18 months have been anything but steady for traditional investments- those like stocks, mutual funds and bonds. In fact the S&P 500 earned only 5.5% last year and has already lost that and more so far this year. As a money manager for the past 22 years, I’ve used all sorts of traditional investments and techniques. But they all have one thing in common – they are dependent on a cooperative general market trend. So what’s a person to do when things get ugly.
Well the current sub-prime mortgage debacle has actually created an enormous opportunity for savvy investors. Most banks have drawn in their reigns which puts many, borrowers with good projects into never never land. What I’m leading up to is the concept of investing directing into secured real estate notes, just like a bank with an appraisal, title policy, servicing agent – the works. Except you get the interest and don’t’ have to support a bank lobby, tellers, ATM machines and stodgy management’s salaries.
How does it work? For more information check out my own blog. Most of the notes we fund have a loan to value of 70% and pay 14% monthly interest. Is there risk? Of course but very different from the stock market.
David H. Disraeli, CFP(r) david@lifpln.com
Published on February 14, 2008 by Michael
First of All,
HAPPY VALENTINES DAY!
And that brings me to my point… Olive Garden is currently performing satisfactorily to my consumer’s taste. And that is a good thing, since I took my familiy there last night as my Valentine’s gift to them. Evidently, lots of others feel the same way, since the place was packed on a Wednesday evening.
A friend of mine calls Olive Garden “the Denny’s of Italian Food”. For a while I couldn’t argue with him. It seems like the Garden went through a spell of faltering the in food quality department. For me as a patron of theirs, it means that I stopped taking my family – and my money – there for a while.
It is not uncommon for a restaurant to fall short of the mark. That can be overcome. But it is dangerous when the entire chain does it. That is an indication of some change in management and/or corporate policy. The customers’ feedback is the most important thing a company has to keep things going or get them back on track. However, sometimes customers get tired of telling a company something it should already know, and instead they just stop going – and worse, tell their friends about their bad experiences.
Anyway, Olive Garden appears to have their “game back on”.
Published on February 12, 2008 by Michael
Be careful whenever you are contacted by someone offering to help you do something that is government-related, or if they claim they are from the government. Typically the government communicates through official established channels such as the news or their website. Regardless of how you hear about something like tax rebates or homestead exemptions or Social Security checks, be sure to check it out for yourself on the official government website such as www.irs.gov or www.whitehouse.gov (be sure to note the “.gov” domain extension on the website address).
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| Subscriptions | Office of the Attorney General | Consumer Protection Page |
CONSUMER ALERT
Scammers Taking Advantage Of New Federal Economic Stimulus Package
Texans should be aware of a scam that has emerged in connection with the proposed federal economic stimulus package. Under recently passed legislation, the IRS will mail tax rebate checks to eligible Texans over the next few months. President Bush has indicated he will sign the package into law on Wednesday.
Several Texans recently filed complaints with the Office of the Attorney General after receiving unsolicited e-mails and telephone calls from purported IRS agents claiming that the taxpayers are eligible for “Bush refunds.” The scammers demand taxpayers’ Social Security and bank account numbers, claiming the IRS will use the information to directly deposit “rebate checks” into the taxpayers’ accounts.
This is outright identity theft fraud. The IRS does not call or e-mail taxpayers unexpectedly to demand personal information for direct deposits. Taxpayers solicited in this manner should just hang up or delete the e-mail.
Texans who have received these bogus solicitations can file a complaint with the IRS at www.irs.gov or by calling (800) 829-1040. Consumers also can report such calls to our office.
Greg Abbott
Attorney General of Texas |
Source
Published on February 12, 2008 by David
Would you go into business with a silent partner who said that you could have 66% of the profits of the business unless he changed his mind?
Sounds crazy except you’ve already done it. The IRS gets at least 1/3 of your profits when you add up FICA/ Medicare, income taxes etc. If you own an IRA it’s even worse. In the US, we have what I call two tax systems: The voluntary tax and the involuntary tax. People continue to pay taxes voluntarily because of lack of planning. Involuntary taxes are the ones you pay because you have to.
The problem with tax deferred assets like 401k’s and IRA is that you only own 66% of the account. No matter what you do, you can’t get your hands on the IRS’s 33%. Try it and you’ll see. Either you pay it or your kids pay it. And the propaganda that time value of money is working for you is wrong – just do the math.
What if you could convert a taxable asset like and into a tax-free inheritance to your heirs? Sound too good to be true? We’ll its not. Its called wealth transference and its done using insurance and the transfer mechanism. Not just any insurance, but a specially designed policy that allows you to use your IRA while you may need it, but converts it into a tax free inheritance to your spouse or children.
For more information contact me at
david@lifepln.com
David Disraeli, Certified Financial Planner
