From the category archives:

Market Volatility

Missed Fortune RadioThis week Doug Andrew discussed the following:

Upcoming Complimentary Webinar

Attend our free 90-minute webinar live over the Internet this coming Tuesday, January 5th at 11:00 a.m. pacific (12:00 p.m. mountain, 1:00 p.m. central, 2:00 p.m. eastern), and again at 6:30 p.m. pacific (7:30 mountain, 8:30 central, 9:30 eastern).

The topic is “The 401(k)/IRA Dilemma.”

You’ll learn the best alternatives to qualified plans, which provide liquidity, safety of principal, and a healthy, tax-free rate of return that outpaces inflation. You’ll also learn how not to lose when the economy is down.

Register now by calling 888-76-Radio (888-767-2346).

Just for registering you’ll receive a bonus e-book and audio book on the IRA/401(k) dilemma.

Furthermore, all attendees will receive a bonus hardcover copy of Last Chance Millionaire, Doug Andrew’s New York Times best-selling book.

Ridiculous Reports from Traditional Financial Planners

Newsweek recently published an article by Linda Stern entitled “Is Your Nest Egg Safe Again?”. The story reports that large investment firms, such as Fidelity and Vanguard, have performed recent studies “showing that most workers have seen their retirement accounts recover to precrash levels…”

But why? According to the article:

“Both firms (Fidelity & Vanguard), which provide 401(k) accounts, reported that most of the workers in their programs now have more money than they did when the stock market started its slide in 2008. The primary reason, they reported, was that continued employee contributions helped to offset declines in balances.”

Huh?

In other words, these funds haven’t grown in terms of a rate of return! Financial services companies with vested interests are trying to pull the wool over your eyes by making you think that everything is okay with risky qualified plans.

Think about it: Your account is worth $100,000. The market tanks and you lose $25,000, so you’re left with $75,000. You then make an out-of-pocket contribution of $30,000, taking your account balance up to $105,000.

You’ve still lost and have not recovered from the $25,000 loss, yet according to large investment firms (which, of course, offer 401(k)s), your account is doing just fine.

To add insult to injury, these deceivers recommend that people nearing retirement age increase their risk to make up for lost time:

“At an age when they are typically told to eschew risk, older workers may need to take on a bit more investment risk in the hopes of snagging bigger returns going forward. People who are five years away from retirement should have 60 percent of their portfolios in stock, argues Christine Fahlund, a senior financial planner at T. Rowe Price.”

If you want to continue losing money, then stick with this advice. But Missed Fortune offers a much better and safer approach.

Escape the 401(k) Trap

Though they’re promoted heavily by the traditional financial services industry, 401(k)s are horrible accumulation vehicles, for the following reasons:

  • They tax your harvest, rather than your seed.
  • Contrary to traditional advice, your taxes will most likely be higher, not lower, in the future because you’ll have far less deductions.
  • The 10% withdrawal penalty prevents you from accessing the money when you need it most.
  • The accounts come with strict and constricting rules, such as mandatory withdrawal by age 70 and a half. If you don’t meet the guidelines you could be subject to a 50% penalty.
  • The accounts are subject to estate taxes, meaning that your heirs could be left with as little as 28% of your account balance when you die.

You need to escape this trap now while taxes are less than they’ll ever be. The Missed Fortune asset optimization strategies provide a way for you to roll your money out of qualified traps and into accounts that solve all the problems of 401(k)s.

Click here to get started now.

Bonus Missed Fortune E-Book: Baby Boomer Blunders

The average Baby Boomer has less than $50,000 accumulated for retirement (which means many have less than that), primarily due to bad habits and having money invested in the wrong places where economic downturns can diminish their nest egg.

Download this e-book now at www.babyboomerblunders.com.

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The stock market is a house of straw, real estate is a house of sticks. Doug Andrew and Missed Fortune clients put their serious cash in a house of bricks.

Do you know what that is and why Missed Fortune clients haven’t lost any money in the past two years?

Watch the following video to learn more:

*If you are getting this feed in RSS or email and cannot see the video, please click on the header to view it on the blog.

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Missed Fortune RadioThis week Doug Andrew discussed the following:

Upcoming Complimentary Webinar

Attend our free webinar live over the Internet this coming Tuesday, November 17th at 11:00 a.m. pacific (12:00 mountain, 1:00 central, 2:00 eastern), and again at 6:30 p.m. pacific (7:30 mountain, 8:30 central, 9:30 eastern).

Don’t miss your chance to understand how to protect your money during this economic crisis and get competitive rates of return during the good years.

Register now by calling 888-76-Radio (888-767-2346).

Just for registering you’ll receive a bonus e-book and audio book on the IRA/401(k) dilemma.

Furthermore, all attendees will receive a bonus 60-page custom financial report, which identifies where you are financially, then illustrates where you could be 15-20 years from now if you implement the Missed Fortune strategies.

Stock Market Mysteries

On November 3rd, Daniel Gross with Newsweek published an article entitled “Stock Market Mysteries.” “If the economy’s stagnant, why are stocks up?” the article asks.

Mr. Gross points out that, although the “S&P 500 has risen 53 percent since the March bottom” and “the economy expanded at a 3.5 percent rate in the third quarter, unemployment is high, incomes are stagnant, and consumers are shaky.”

The article then explains the following reason behind this seeming contradiction:

“For much of the past two years, virtually all growth in economic activity has taken place outside America’s borders. As a result, U.S.-based companies are becoming even more reliant on non-U.S. customers and operations for sales.”

Furthermore, the issue isn’t that we’re exporting goods, but rather that we’re “making goods overseas and selling them overseas.”

So what does it mean for you? It means that we’re still in for hard times in America, regardless of a deceiving rise in the stock market.

It means that the government will continue printing money and raising taxes, which means your money will be worth less in the future and you’ll never be in a lower tax bracket than you’re in today.

So what can you do about it? Harness the power of the Missed Fortune strategies.

You Need a Private Retirement Planning Strategy

You can’t depend on big government to save you. You must act wisely to protect your money from inflation and taxation.

You need a strategy that will give you the following:

  1. Tax-free growth.
  2. Tax-free withdrawal.
  3. Tax-free transfer to your heirs.
  4. Penalty-free liquidity.
  5. Guaranteed safety of principal.
  6. The ability to earn a rate of return when the market goes up, while never losing money when it goes down.

There’s only one place under the IRS code to get all these things, and that’s in a maximum-funded, tax-advantaged cash value life insurance policy.

Get started now with your private retirement planning strategy to take advantage of these exclusive benefits.

Bonus Missed Fortune E-Book: Baby Boomer Blunders

The average Baby Boomer has less than $50,000 accumulated for retirement (which means many have less than that), primarily due to bad habits and having money invested in the wrong places where economic downturns can diminish their nest egg.

Download this e-book now at www.babyboomerblunders.com.

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Missed Fortune RadioThis week Doug Andrew discussed the following:

Upcoming Free Webinar

Attend our free 3-hour webinar live over the Internet this coming Wednesday, November 4th at 5:30 p.m. pacific (6:30 mountain, 7:30 central, 8:30 eastern).

Don’t miss your chance to understand how to protect your money during this economic crisis and get competitive rates of return during the good years. This strategy is called indexing and you need to know all about it. To register call 888-76-Radio (888-767-2346).

Just for registering you’ll receive a free e-book and audio book on the IRA/401(k) dilemma. Admission is free for Missed Fortune Radio subscribers and listeners. All attendees will receive a free copy of Last Chance Millionaire, Doug’s New York Times best-selling book.

Time to Replace the 401(k)

Time magazine recently published an articled entitled “Why It’s Time to Retire the 401(k)” that essentially teaches what we’ve been teaching with Missed Fortune for over 35 years.

Consider these revealing quotes from the article:

“The ugly truth, though, is that the 401(k) is a lousy idea, a financial flop, a rotten repository for our retirement reserves…From the end of 2007 to the end of March 2009, the average 401(k) balance fell 31%, according to Fidelity.”

“In what must seem like a cruel joke to many, the accounts proved the most dangerous for those closest to retirement. During the market downturn, the 401(k)s of 55-to-65-year-olds lost a quarter more than those of their 35-to-45-year-old colleagues. That’s because in your early years, your 401(k)’s growth is driven mostly by contributions…But the longer you hold a 401(k), the more market-exposed it becomes.”

“…nearly 73 million Americans…now have a 401(k). And collectively we pour more than $200 billion into these accounts each year. But retire rich? Don’t bet on it. The average 401(k) has a balance of $45,519. That’s not retirement. That’s two years of college. Even worse, 46% of all 401(k) accounts have less than $10,000. Today, just 21% of all U.S. workers are covered by traditional pensions, and the number shrinks every year.”

It’s time to stop relying on the government to provide retirement for us. We can’t even trust their incentives. They give us a tax break up front but then get it back by taxing us when we withdraw our funds.

The 401(k) Replacement

There is a solution to the 401(k) dilemma. It’s a product that guarantees safety of principal while providing competitive rates of return. It provides liquidity and flexibility. It keeps you away from the dangers of market volatility. Best of all, it provides both tax-free accumulation and tax-free withdrawal.

This product is a maximum-funded, tax-advantaged life insurance product that uses an indexing strategy to lock in your gains and prevent losses.

Everyone who has followed our advice has not suffered any losses, while those invested in the market have been devastated.

2-Day True Wealth Transformation Clarity Retreat

Our retreats help you optimize your assets, manage your equity, and empower your wealth.

Our next retreats are November 6th and 7th in San Diego, California, and November 20th and 21st in Salt Lake City, Utah. Contact us now to learn more and to register.

Free Missed Fortune E-Book: Baby Boomer Blunders

The Problem? The average Baby Boomer has less than $50,000 accumulated for retirement (which means many have less than that), primarily due to bad habits and having money invested in the wrong places where economic downturns can diminish their nest egg.

Download this free e-book now at www.babyboomerblunders.com.

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On this radio show, Doug Andrew was joined by Missed Fortune advisor Devin Larkins, who shared some poignant advice.

Traditional investors, says Devin, are “product-pickers” and “market-timers.” They get emotionally involved in their investing, operating on greed when the market goes up, and fear when it goes down.

Furthermore, they invest in products that don’t come with guarantees — stocks and mutual funds and other similar products.

We’ve seen the devastating effects of this approach. We live in volatile times, where investors who don’t have guarantees can lose half of their money overnight.

Smart investors will jump off the traditional roller coaster and get guarantees. They must get out of the emotional cycle and into a strategy that works regardless of market performance. This way, you don’t have to have a crystal ball.

If you are getting this feed in RSS or email and cannot see the video, please click on the header to view it on the blog.

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Missed Fortune RadioDid you miss this week’s show? Doug Andrew interviewed guest Aaron Andrew:

Most Americans believe that if GM can’t be profitable it should simply disappear.

If there is any single event that will hurt the current presidency it is the involvement of bailing out General Motors, a monstrous unprofitable organization that has been failing since the 1970s.

Survey after survey over the last six months shows that 70% of Americans are opposed to any government assistance to this corporation.

Over the past century Americans have seen hundreds of corporations that were listed on the Fortune 500 disappear.  The birth, growth, decline and death of large corporations is a natural fact of life.

Here are a few segments of Doug’s interview with guest Aaron Andrew:

What is the fundamental difference between what a traditional financial planner tells people to do and what you prescribe for your clients?

Most financial advisors tell people to put money in 401(k)s and IRAs.   Because we are an instant gratification society, we want the tax break today even though this only makes our tax situation worse during retirement.

Putting off taxes while this money continues to grow and compound only makes the tax problem greater down the road.  As the government continues to increase taxes to pay for increased government spending, money inside 401(k)s and IRAs will most likely have higher taxes when it is withdrawn.

What we do is help people have a tax-free retirement income so that half their money is not going to Uncle Sam.

Why have most traditional investments in IRAs and 401(k)s not been successful during the last decade?

With the huge downturn in the market from 2000 to 2002 people lost a ton of money.  Let’s work with an example of say $100,000.  When people have a 50% drop they only have $50,000 remaining.  They have to have a 100% return to get back to their original investment.

It’s going to take a long time to make that money back and with the recent downturn again in 08, investors have lost a lot of money again.

Why didn’t your clients suffer any loses this last year?

The financial products that we use provide safety so that when the market tanks our clients don’t lose a dime.  They have a floor and little risk because their money isn’t in the market.

This year with market picking back up they are on track for a 16% rate of return.  This is all part of a lock-in and reset strategy.

Attend our one hour event live with Guest Aaron Andrew over the internet this coming Tuesday, September 8th at 11:00 am and again at 6:30 pm Pacific: Don’t miss your chance to understand how to protect your money during this economic crisis and get competitive rates of return during the good years. This strategy is called indexing and you need to know all about it. Call 888-76-Radio (888-767-2346) to register.

FREE Missed Fortune E-book: Baby Boomer Blunders. THE PROBLEM? The average Baby Boomer has less than $50,000 accumulated for retirement (which means many have less than that), primarily due to bad habits and having money invested in the wrong places where economic downturns can diminish their nest egg. Download at www.babyboomerblunders.com

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Missed Fortune RadioDid you miss this week’s show? Doug Andrew interviewed guest Devin Larkins:

What is the difference between what a traditional financial planner espouses and what you prescribe for your clients?

The traditional way believes in the markets, securities, and in things that are going to go up and down.  What I believe is that we need a guarantee on our money.

We live in a post 9/11 and a post-financial collapse world, where if we don’t have a guarantee we can wake up and lose half our money.  If you want to sleep well at night you have to have a guarantee.

Why has the traditional investor not been successful during the last decade?

The traditional investor is a product picker and wants to time the market.  That is what I experienced as a professional.

People would call when the Dow was at an all time high and want to buy, and when the Dow was at an all time low they wanted to sell.  They almost always got it wrong.

We want to get clients out of this emotional cycle and go with something that is a strategy, meaning it will work when the market is high and when the market is low.  We have a proven strategy that has worked this last decade!

What is the economy really telling us right now?

There are a lot of real positive signs right now that point to stability and to recovery.  Sometimes we believe that the real economy has to be totally solid before we do anything financially.

But the good news is we can actually put our money in the market and have a guarantee and participate in the upside.

We don’t want to do it the traditional way where we can lose all our money.   We want to do it in a safe way, where we can participate in the growth but at the same time keep our principal safe.

How have your clients fared during the last two years?

This is the good news.  In 2008 our clients didn’t lose any money!  We had the guarantees.

In 2009 our clients are getting 15% or 16% in many cases.  Over a two year period that is 8% a year.  Who else can say that in the last two years?

Attend our one hour event live with Guest Devin Larkins over the internet this coming Tuesday, September 1st at 11:00 am and again at 6:30 pm Pacific: Don’t miss your chance to understand how to protect your money during this economic crisis and get competitive rates of return during the good years. This strategy is called indexing and you need to know all about it. Call 888-76-Radio (888-767-2346) to register.

FREE Missed Fortune E-book: Baby Boomer Blunders. THE PROBLEM? The average Baby Boomer has less than $50,000 accumulated for retirement (which means many have less than that), primarily due to bad habits and having money invested in the wrong places where economic downturns can diminish their nest egg. Download at www.babyboomerblunders.com

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Missed Fortune RadioDid you miss this week’s show? Doug Andrew discussed the following:

Cash for Clunkers Program.

I’m all for better gas mileage and for more efficient cars, but  I really wonder what the ulterior motives for this program really are.

One motive is to look as if the government is green.  Another motive is to stimulate the automotive industry.

But some wonder why the government is investing billions into bailing out one industry and not others that are failing.  The privacy act and security statement on the http://www.cars.gov website has been modified since the airing of this show.

See the website at Truth or Fiction for more details on this story.

Why I don’t own an IRA or 401(k) and never will.

If you are like many Americans, you may have seen a loss of 30%, 40%, and 50%  in the value of your 401(k).  I predict the worst hit is yet to come and it isn’t what you think.  Recovering from losses can be tough.

Did you know if you lost 50%, you need to get a 100% return to get your money back?  That isn’t everything that we need to worry about either.  The biggest loss you’ll may ever incur is the day you start to pull out your money from these accounts.  Most likely, you’ll be in a higher tax bracket and future taxes will be higher than they are now.

I’ve always put my serious cash such as college savings, retirement, and home equity into investments that will accumulate money tax free. And then when I access that money it is tax free, including the gain. When I die it also blossoms and transfers income tax free. I make sure this money is liquid, safe, and earns a competitive rate of return.  I choose to put my cash into Maximum Funded Tax Advantaged (MFTA) Life Insurance.

Attend our three hour event live over the internet this coming Wednesday, August 12th at 6:30 pm Mountain: Don’t miss your chance to understand how to protect your money during this economic crisis and get competitive rates of returns during the good years. This strategy is called indexing and you need to know all about it. Call 888-76-Radio (888-767-2346) or go to www.missedfortuneradio.com to register.

What are the three simple tests for determining a wise and prudent investment? I call this the L.S.R.R. test. 1) Make sure you have liquidity. Can you get your money back when you need it back? 2) Is it safe or guaranteed? Is the principal safe so that no matter what happens in the economy you will not lose your principal? The people that followed the Missed Fortune strategies didn’t lose, even this last year. Did you know you can have your money liquid and safe at the same time? 3) They earn a nice rate of return that is tax free.

FREE Missed Fortune E-book: Baby Boomer Blunders. THE PROBLEM? The average Baby Boomer has less than $50,000 accumulated for retirement (which means many have less than that), primarily due to bad habits and having money invested in the wrong places where economic downturns can diminish their nest egg. Download at www.babyboomerblunders.com

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Missed Fortune RadioWhy I don’t own an IRA or 401(k) and never will

Did you miss this week’s show? Doug Andrew discussed the following:

We want to welcome KSL1160 and 102.7 in Salt Lake City, Utah and KNEW Talk 910 in San Francisco, CA to Missed Fortune Radio.

Economic booms and busts are as American as baseball and apple pie. In my experience, I believe we go through economic cycles every 8-12 years. During economic times like this year, watch what the herd does and don’t follow them.  The media is part of the herd, don’t listen!   No matter what government tries to do, there is no possibility of ever removing the boom and bust cycle of American economics.

What are the three simple tests for determining a wise and prudent investment? I call this the L.S.R.R. test.

1)  Make sure you have liquidity.  Can you get your money back when you need it back?

2) Is it safe or guaranteed?  Is the principal safe so that no matter what happens in the economy you will not lose your principal?  The people that followed the Missed Fortune strategies didn’t lose, even this last year.  Did you know you can have your money liquid and safe at the same time?

3) They earn a nice rate of return that is tax free.

Why I don’t own an IRA or 401(k) and never will. I’ve always put my serious cash such as college savings, retirement, and home equity into investments that will accumulate money tax free.  And then when I access that money it is tax free, including the gain.  When I die it also blossoms and transfers income tax free.  I make sure this money is liquid, safe, and earns a competitive rate of return.

Attend our three hour event live over the internet this coming Saturday, August 8th at 10 am Pacific: Don’t miss your chance to understand how to protect your money during this economic crisis and get competitive rates of returns during the good years. This strategy is called indexing and you need to know all about it. Call 888-76-Radio (888-767-2346) to register.

Three choices for your money: 1) Fixed Rate Instruments - Your money is put into relatively conservative financial instruments that generally have lower rates of return. 2) Variable Products - These are products that allow you to have great returns of 20-30% during the good years but during economic hard times you can also lose 30% or more. 3) Indexed Products (the middle ground) - This type of financial product gives you returns that are greater than the rate of inflation during good years but keeps your money safe so you don’t lose a dime when the market goes down.

FREE Missed Fortune E-book: Baby Boomer Blunders. THE PROBLEM? The average Baby Boomer has less than $50,000 accumulated for retirement (which means many have less than that), primarily due to bad habits and having money invested in the wrong places where economic downturns can diminish their nest egg. Download at www.babyboomerblunders.com

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Missed Fortune RadioDid you miss this week’s show? Doug Andrew discussed the following:

The economic system isn’t fragile like politicians think it is.  Many politicians have never ran so much as a candy store and have no idea what free markets are all about.

Some economists believe that if significant institutions fail, the system will implode.  The evidence points to the opposite conclusion.   The financial system is robust and can deal with the failure!

The current situation needs leadership.  Where is that leadership?  Which sector of society is more likely to provide solutions and creativity?  Government or Entrepreneurs?  Is it the sector of entrenched inefficient wasteful bureaucracy or innovative resourceful entrepreneurs?

The goal of Missed Fortune radio is to give you clarity about how you can take proactive action to regain what you’ve lost and then protect yourself so that you never lose again.  One way to make this happen is through a strategic roll out.

Attend our one hour event live over the internet this coming Tuesday, July 21st at 11 am or 6 pm: Don’t miss your chance to understand how to protect your money during this economic crisis and get competitive rates of returns during the good years. This strategy is called indexing and you need to know all about it. Call 888-76-Radio (888-767-2346) to register for either 11am or 6pm. You can register here to attend live over the internet.

Three choices for your money: 1) Fixed Rate Instruments - Your money is put into relatively conservative financial instruments that generally have lower rates of return. 2) Variable Products - These are products that allow you to have great returns of 20-30% during the good years but during economic hard times you can also lose 30% or more. 3) Indexed Products (the middle ground) - This type of financial product gives you returns that are greater than the rate of inflation during good years but keeps your money safe so you don’t lose a dime when the market goes down.

FREE Missed Fortune E-book: Baby Boomer Blunders. THE PROBLEM? The average Baby Boomer has less than $50,000 accumulated for retirement (which means many have less than that), primarily due to bad habits and having money invested in the wrong places where economic downturns can diminish their nest egg. Download at www.babyboomerblunders.com

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