Don’t Open The Door For Financial Strangers

Invading someone’s personal space is a bad idea. It’s even worse when selling financial products are involved. Christine Benz wrote a disturbing story about her sister and a door to door financial salesperson. Christine’s sister, who suffers from an intellectual disability, almost became a victim to a financial predator. Door to door financial salespeople are…

Ring! Ring! It’s 7 A.M.! ………. When Is My Retirement?

Instead of stuffing your face on Thanksgiving, try filling your retirement plan with heaping portions of tax-deferred dollars. Don’t end up like the Turkey on your plate. Start by reading this week’s terrific links. Many public pension plans are a disaster. The Economist Older workers often try to hide their age. The Wall Street Journal…

Hidden Investment Costs Are The Most Expensive

Nothing in life is free. The last place to locate this fairy tale is in an insurance company. Recently, we called a large insurer about the surrender fees in a Science teacher’s 403(b) variable annuity. Besides the usual Ground Hog’s day responses, we received this beauty. Dina inquired about the overall costs of this godforsaken…

The College Board Is Playing Mind Games With Our Children

Parent’s will do just about anything for their children. Their biggest fear – their kids dropping out of the middle/upper class. The College Board is well aware of this. They exploit their biggest worry to the fullest. Don’t buy what the Board’s selling. The Board is selling test-takers names and personal information to universities. The…

Monday’s Coming Like A Jail On Wheels…..When Is My Retirement?

Cheating didn’t work for the Astro’s. The same goes for your retirement plan. Save more, spend less, and read. Start this week by consuming our terrific links. Social Security retirement age my go up. CNBC How much should you be saving for retirement? Flowingdata 50% of retirees are scared to use their savings. New York…

Poisoned By Fairy Tales – The Video

But “happily ever after ” fails and we’ve been poisoned by these fairy tales. The lawyers dwell on small details. – Don Henley Its been a long and lonely ride for us and our small group of allies. Our voices often overshadowed by legions of deep-pocketed morally challenged insurance companies. Their money funding lobbyists and…

Some Insurance Is Like Magic With Contracts

People love magic. Our world is filled with uncertainty. Magic grants us our greatest desire – control of our environment. We can’t acquire this power on our own. Magicians give us this desperately needed hope. According to Allison Schrager, author of the terrific book, An Economist Walks into a Brothel: A magician can defy the…

Ring! Ring! It’s 7 A.M.! ……When Is My Retirement?

Planning for retirement is like choosing to eat a healthy salad over a Twinkie. Start making better choices by reading this week’s terrific links. 2020 retirement savings levels have been increased. CNBC Is 70 the new 60? MarketWatch Dying pensions deserve an autopsy. Forbes Retirees have a unique tax situation. Barron’s Should you claim Florida…

You! You Can Run, But You Can’t Hide!

The fumigation of teacher’s rancid 403(b) plans has commenced. Fire at will. The SEC is investigating Valic, a unit of AIG, for improper sales and disclosure practices. According to the Wall Street Journal, The inquiry centers on whether incentives in Valic’s compensation structure rewarded representatives for selling higher-cost products to retirement plan participants and whether…

Ring! Ring! It’s 7 A.M.! …..When Is My Retirement?

The average American watches T.V. for 5 hours a day but doesn’t have time to plan or retirement. Take a break from binge-watching to read this week’s terrific links. Early retirement isn’t good for your brain. Science Daily How to figure out when to take Social Security. MarketWatch Do you spend enough time on…