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 Personal Money Planning'se-Newsletter for April 24, 2010 (to look at past issues, click here) |
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2010 Census:
By The Numbers
The number of housing units the Census Bureau will have to contact, either via mail or in person:
estimated 134 million
The number of people hired for the 2010 Census operations, including non-response follow up:
1.4 million people
The amount the Census Bureau saves for each 1% increase in response rate:
$80-$90 million
The number of projected housing units expected to not return census form:
estimated 47.8 million |
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Disclosure |
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This newsletter is produced by Gary Silverman, dba Personal Money Planning, a registered investment advisor located in Wichita Falls, Texas.
Information in this newsletter is believed to provide accurate and authoritative information in regards to the subject matter covered. However, the accuracy, timeliness, or applicability of the information is not guaranteed and is provided with the understanding that we are not rendering legal, accounting, tax, or other professional advice or services.
This publication should not be construed by any consumer and/or prospective client as Personal Money Planning's solicitation to effect, or attempt to effect transactions in securities, or the rendering of personalized investment advice for compensation, over the Internet. Nor should links provided to other sites be construed as the recommendation of the services or products mentioned on those sites. If such services are required, the help of a competent professional should be sought.
Remember that past performance may not be indicative of future results. Therefore, you should not assume that the future performance of any specific investment, investment strategy, or product made reference to (directly or indirectly) on this Website will be profitable or equal to indicated performance levels. Different types of investment involve varying degrees of risk, and there can be no assurance that any specific investment will either be suitable or profitable for your investment portfolio.
Historical performance results for investment indexes and categories generally do not reflect the deduction of transaction or custodial charges or the deduction of an investment management fee, the incurrence of which would have the effect of decreasing historical performance results.
A copy of Personal Money Planning's current written disclosure statement discussing Personal Money Planning's business operations, services, and fees (known as an ADV Part II) is available from Personal Money Planning upon written request (and can be downloaded from our web site).
Personal Money Planning does not make any representations or warranties as to the accuracy, timeliness, suitability, completeness, or relevance of any information prepared by any unaffiliated third party, whether linked to Personal Money Planning's web site or incorporated herein, and takes no responsibility therefore. All such information is provided solely for convenience purposes only and all users thereof should be guided accordingly.
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A Few Words about the May 11 Seminar
I wanted to bring to your attention the upcoming seminar we announced last time. Getting Your Financial House Organized looks at where all that money you make is going. We will examine the choices we make each day that determine whether we are controlling our money or if it's controlling us.
You see, unlike our government, we can't go on forever spending more than we make. But even those who balance their budget might end up having to drastically reduce their lifestyle well below their comfort zone later in life because of what they are doing now.
Nothing that I am going to say is new. Nothing is earth-shattering. But it is the kind of message that all of us, including myself, need to hear now and then.
My plan is for a series of seminars across the next couple of years that look at investing, insurance, retirement planning, and estates. Getting Your Financial House Organized is the start of this series.
The seminar is appropriate for pretty much everyone...from the college student just starting out, to the retiree. The price is right and friends are welcome (heck, you're encouraged to bring them). So, if you live in the area and would like to come, read the blurb below and remember to RSVP.
Gary Silverman, CFP |
| seminar
announcement |
Mark Your Calendars |
Getting Your Financial House Organized
Gary will hold a free seminar outlining the steps you can take to build a solid foundation for your financial life.
Join us at the new Courtyard by Marriott Wichita Falls off of Lawrence Road (across from Walmart and behind Jack-in-the-Box) on Tuesday, May 11, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Please RSVP to (940) 692-6885 or email Gary ( Gary@PersonalMoneyPlanning.com). This will help us ensure we have enough refreshments and handouts for everyone. |
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WFHRMA Meeting | Attention Employers, Managers, HR Professionals | |
The Wichita Falls Human Resource Management Association (WFHRMA) will meet on May 11. The meeting will be held at the MSU Clark Student Center, Kiowa Room. 11:45-1:00. The topic will be "Employment Legislation Update" by Penny Miller.
If you would like to be my guest, RSVP to me by May 4 (gary@personalmoneyplanning.com or call (940) 692-6885). I'm going to pony up $10 for your lunch, so if you RSVP please show up.
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| gary's Sunday newspaper column | Sunday Newspaper Articles You May Have Missed |
From the last few issues of the Wichita Falls Times Record News
Investing Part 15 ~ Stocks for the Long Run
Stocks are a crucial element to long term investing, not a quick fix and not the same for everyone.
Investing Part 16~ It's Savings and Returns
What's the hardest part about investing? Saving.
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| articles links from | The Economist | |
If you were curious about what the rest of the world thinks about the new health care reform bill, well, The Economist believes there will be a heavy cost to the taxpayer, and too little to rein in spending on health care.
U.S. not the only Government with the Borrowing Blues
The Economist delves into the British economy in this article. Britain's current budget deficit is the highest since the second world war, the biggest of any G20 economy; and the economy shrank by 5% last year, the largest fall since the Great Depression. However, the magazine still believes Britain is heading for a recovery, of sorts.
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| Tax Articles | Tax Information From The IRS |
Ignorance is no excuse
Here's What Happens After You File
Most taxpayers have already filed their federal tax returns, but many may still have questions. Here's what the IRS wants you to know about refund status, recordkeeping, mistakes and what to do if you move.
Refund Information
You can go online to check the status of your 2009 refund 72 hours after IRS acknowledges receipt of your e-filed return, or 3 to 4 weeks after you mail a paper return. Be sure to have a copy of your 2009 tax return available because you will need to know your filing status, the first Social Security number shown on the return, and the exact whole-dollar amount of the refund. You have three options for checking on your refund:
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Go to IRS.gov, and click on "Where's My Refund"
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Call 1-800-829-4477 24 hours a day, seven days a week for automated refund information
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Call 1-800-829-1954 during the hours shown in your tax form instructions
What Records Should I Keep?
Normally, tax records should be kept for three years, but some documents - such as records relating to a home purchase or sale, stock transactions, IRAs and business or rental property - should be kept longer.
You should keep copies of tax returns you have filed and the tax forms package as part of your records. They may be helpful in amending already filed returns or preparing future returns.
Change of Address
If you move after you filed your return, you should send Form 8822, Change of Address to the Internal Revenue Service. If you are expecting a refund through the mail, you should also file a change of address with the U.S. Postal Service.
What If I Made a Mistake?
Errors may delay your refund or result in notices being sent to you. If you discover an error on your return, you can correct your return by filing an amended return using Form 1040X, Amended U.S. Individual Income Tax Return.
Visit IRS.gov for more information on refunds, recordkeeping, address changes and amended returns.
Links:
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| from gary's facebook page |
Stuff you may have missed on Facebook |
 Gary has a Facebook page where he regularly sends out links and notes during the week. This section repeats those that are still pertinent to our readers. Even if you are one of his Facebook "friends" you could have missed one or more of these, so you may want to peruse through them, just to make sure.
Gary Blogs
Gary has recently started blogging for DallasMorningNews.com, where he responds to readers' money questions. Here are a few recent posts.
Cool robot, but does it do windows?
We take the ability to fold towels for granted. For a robot, it takes a leap in programming prowess from a batch of scientists and engineers.
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parting thoughts
Living Forever
I believe in eternal life. Some of you will say 'amen' to that. Others will think I'm a little wacky...harmless, but wacky. Either way, I'd like to share with you a little observation that came from Star Trek and the great Christian theologian, C.S. Lewis. (Only Gary can combine these two, which probably proves the wacky idea.)
Lewis, in his book, Mere Christianity, notes that if we do have eternal life then "...the individual is not only more important but incomparably more important, for he is everlasting and the life of a state or a civilization, compared with his, is only a moment." His point is that the life of an individual is much more important than the life of an organization, institution, or government.
But don't mistake his message; he is not talking of the physical life of the individual. Lewis's thought is based on the premise that a person's life will last for eternity, but not necessarily in the physical form we enjoy on earth. Therefore the essence, the personality, the actions, and the demeanor of the individuals in power are so much more important than whether they are Democrats, Republicans, or dictators.
Yet taking this thought to mean we should be narcissistic and revel in our importance is certainly not the message either. In the movie Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, Captain Spock states, "...the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few." Admiral Kirk adds, "Or the one." Since each person is incredibly important, not just our person, we need to be our brothers' keepers. By nurturing, disciplining, and loving we enrich both ourselves and others.
If indeed we are going to be around for eternity, we might as well get started. This is, after all, going to take a long time.
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That's all, for now.
Gary
Gary Silverman, CFP
Personal Money Planning
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©2008 Personal Money Planning. All rights are reserved by Personal Money Planning and content may not be reproduced, disseminated, or transferred in any form or by any means, except with the prior written permission of Personal Money Planning unless specifically noted. (Permission is not difficult to obtain.) The one exception is for downloading and printing information this newsletter for general education by the original recipient. |
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