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 Personal Money Planning'se-Newsletter for August 21, 2010 (to look at past issues, click here) |
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If you think Texas is hot...
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I've seen this on the Internet over the last few years and thought you'd enjoy it.--Gary
Gabriel came to the Lord and said " I have to talk to you. We have some Texans up here in Heaven who are causing problems. They're swinging on the pearly gates, my horn is missing, barbecue sauce is all over their robes, their dogs are riding in the chariots, and they're wearing baseball caps and cowboy hats instead of their halos. They refuse to keep the stairway to Heaven clean. There are watermelon seeds and pig feet bones all over the place. Some of them are walking around with just one wing."
The Lord said, "I made them special, Gabriel. Heaven is Home to all my children. If you really want to know about real problems, let's call the Devil." The Devil answered the phone, " Hello? Damn, hold on a minute." The Devil returned to the phone, "OK, I'm back. What can I do for you?" The Lord replied, "I just want to know what kind of problems you're having down there."
The Devil said, "Hold on again. I need to check on something." After about 5 minutes the Devil returned to the phone and said, "I'm back. Now what was the question?" The Lord said, "What kind of problems are you having down there?" The Devil said, "Man, I don't believe this....Hold on, Lord." This time the Devil was gone 15 minutes.
The Devil returned and said , "I'm sorry Lord, I can't talk right now. Them damn Texans done put out the fire and are trying to install air conditioning."
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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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Good Old Days: Always Good?
I was watching an old Star Trek episode the other day and was amazed. In the crewman's hands was a device that could communicate by just flipping it open and talking. Another device could access the fleet's computers containing most of the knowledge of the universe. Larger fixed displays added video capability.
Here we are, well over 100 years from when those technologies would be possible (by Star Date measurement), and we're already there. Strapped to my side is a phone that can work off of voice commands, has access to all the world's knowledge via the Internet, can record, receive, and play still photos and videos, and will tell me where the nearest Indian restaurant is along with customer reviews.
Do we really want to go back to the good old days?
Gary
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| Seminar Announcement |
September Seminar Scheduled |
Free Upcoming Seminar--
Retirement Income Planning: Making Sure Your Money Lasts as Long as You Do!
How can you make sure you have the money you need for the entirety of your retirement without having to skimp in the later years? This seminar will show you how a safety cushion is achieved and managed, what part of your guaranteed income streams (such as Social Security, Pensions and Annuities) will play in the mix, and the basics of asset allocation to help in your investment decisions (a primer for the a future seminar that will take a more comprehensive look at the topic).
Mark your calendars for September 16 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. This seminar will be held at the Courtyard by Marriott in Wichita Falls (3800 Tarry Street, across from Walmart on Lawrence Road, behind Jack in the Box). We will be serving light refreshments and will have handouts, so please RSVP to 940-692-6885 or Gary@personalmoneyplanning.com to help us ensure we have enough of both. |
| Quick Note |
Attention Personal Money Planning Clients |
Keeping Your Files Current
Personal Money Planning has established an annual reminder for our clients to verify and update their beneficiary information for their IRA and Roth accounts. If you have your paperwork, take a moment to check that all information is still current. Otherwise, to verify who is listed as beneficiary for your account, call us at the office and we can check for you.
It may be necessary to make changes to your beneficiary because of life-changing events (marriage, divorce, new child, for example). If this is the case for you, contact us and we will send you the beneficiary change form.
Tax Information
If you have not done so already, please send or drop by a copy of your current tax information to our office. Before we know it, tax season will again be upon us, and we like to be prepared for any questions you may have.
The office number is 940-692-6885. If you have any questions about supplying us with beneficiary or tax information, or anything else, give us a call.
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| gary's Sunday newspaper column | Sunday Newspaper Articles You May Have Missed |
From the Wichita Falls Times Record News
Part 9 looks at the size of the problem--just how big is our debt, anyway?
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| articles links from | The Economist |
Population Explosion--In America's Prisons
America's prison population now numbers 2.3 million, a greater population than 15 of its states. One American in 100 is festering behind bars, including three Americans who were sentenced to eight years in prison for importing lobster tails in plastic bags rather than cardboard boxes. They violated a Honduran law that is no longer enforced, arrested under the Lacey Act, which bars Americans from breaking foreign rules when hunting or fishing. On a per capita basis, Germany incarcerates only a ninth as many citizens as the U.S.; Japan's rate is 1/12th as high as the U.S. The cost per prisoner can exceed $50,000 a year, and decades of "get tough" politicians have led not only to the long-term incarceration of rapists and armed robbers, but also recreational drug users and petty criminals who made a single mistake when they were young. The Economist says that it seems odd that a country that rejoices in limiting the power of the state should give so many Draconian powers to its government prosecutors.
http://www.economist.com/node/16591002
Further Examination of America's Rough Justice
The Economist delves deeper, starting with a story of a 65-year-old collector of orchids who was startled to see six armed police in flak jackets jump out of trucks in front of his house. Thinking they must have come to the wrong place, he opened his front door. Suddenly, he was shoved against a wall and frisked for weapons. Over the next four hours, the police pulled out drawers, rifled through papers, dumped things on the floor and loaded 37 boxes of his possessions into their pickups--without ever telling the suspect that he was under suspicion for smuggling orchids illegally. He was eventually locked in a cell with a suspected murderer and two suspected drug dealers, and was sentenced to 17 months in prison, released while his appeal was heard, and then put into solitary confinement for 71 days.
http://www.economist.com/node/16636027 |
| Business Matters | Help for Business Owners from Business.gov |
Could your Business Plan Stand a Makeover?
This article looks at some signs that may be telling you it's time to take another look at your business plan.
Is your Linked-In Status "Collecting Dust"?
You can't get away from the message that social media is crucial for small business, but what should you be saying, exactly? This article looks at a few ways to be part of the social media community.
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| from gary's facebook pages |
Facebook Stuff You May Have Missed: from Personal Money Planning
and Gary Silverman |
For information about Personal Money Planning, continued sharing of links about money, small business, finance, and the economy, be sure to link to the Personal Money Planning Page by Clicking Here: 
You may have already "friended" Gary on his personal Facebook page, if not, Friend Away by Clicking Here: 
Here are a few links from recent posts:
Some Words About Bonds
Gary's recent guest blog on Dallasnews.com explores the question of buying bonds in this market.
Steve Carrell has nothing on this one: The 4.5 Billion Year Old Virgin
Okay, we're admittedly talking about a piece of the original mantle of the Earth, but who can pass on a provocative headline?
Ever since I was relatively young, I've been interested in studying plate tectonics, the way the surface plates of the earth's crust move around. Maybe it has to do with growing up in California and through many an earthquake (the more impressive symptom of all those crust movements). So I'll admit to being a bit nerdy in getting excited that scientists have found a really old rock, but that's me. --Gary http://news.discovery.com/earth/oldest-earth-rock-lava.html
Will you get screwed after you die?
While I plan on getting cremated and shot out a torpedo tube, I have always been fascinated by coffins and headstones. They can be wonderful works of art, often dressing up the dead better than they were in real life so when I saw this article about screw-in coffins, I found it more captivating than screwy. --Gary http://news.discovery.com/tech/screw-it-youre-dead-anyway.html |
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parting thoughts
Another Healthcare Costs Reality Check
Last time, in my parting thoughts, I threw some cold water on the new legislation providing free preventative medical care to all Americans. This week, I want to throw some colder water on the idea that this is a good thing when it comes to controlling medical costs. It's not.
Quite a few studies have come out showing that the healthier we keep someone, the more it costs to provide them medical care. That's right...healthy is expensive.
It seems that if you keep people healthier, they do spend less money per year on healthcare, but they end up spending money for a longer amount of time. The less healthy folks conveniently die and stop spending.
No, I don't think that we should make people unhealthy. I'm guessing that the healthier you are, the more productive you will be and the fewer days you'll miss, which would help make America more competitive. So in the long-run, it will probably be a plus for the economy.
Just not for health care costs overall.
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That's all, for now.
Gary
Gary Silverman, CFP
Personal Money Planning
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©2010 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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