Monday, April 13, 2009
Tortola, BVI
3- BR house 60 feet above Long Bay Beach. Http://www.ewinghouse.com or e-mail ewinghouse@gmail.com
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Monday, March 2, 2009
Wills in 2009
The following are red flags:
- Formula Clauses in Wills. While common, it is suggested you use specific numbers in examples to reflect your intent.
- Grantor Retained Annuity Trust (GRAT). This is a strategy designed to avoid or minimize the gift tax that applies to a lifetime transfers of more than $1 million. There is talk of changing the terms of this annuity, which is based on section 7520 of the I.R.S. Code.
- Family Limited Partnerships are under attack and Congress may close this loop-hole very soon
- About half the states, including NY, NJ & CT, impose an estate tax and their exemption is smaller than the federal one ($3.5 M). In New York, for example, the exemption is only $ 1 M.
Miscellaneous
Money in IRAs or from life insurance policies are not covered in wills. instead, the money goes to the people designated in the beneficiary forms. It is still a good idea to have a copy of the designation form on file with your will and have your lawyer coordinate it with the rest of your estate plans.
What to look for in a Financial Planner
First, and foremost, your financial planner should have impeccable credentials. They should be free of black marks on their regulatory or disciplinary records. Second, they should act solely in your best interests, not theirs or act on behalf of their company's product.
Ask if they receive a commission for any product they suggest. It's okay to ask questions. In fact, be a pest!
Remember that there is no such thing as low risk, high return. And "market timing" is a myth. You cannot ride the market like a roller-coaster and think you know when to get off.
Finally, no one can predict certainty. As we all know, life is unpredictable. So be conservative and recognize your own limits. Most people aren't honest with how much investment risk they can handle. Try and visualize how the risk you face may actually play out. For example, if you have $1000,000 to invest with high risk, ask yourself how would your life change if in a year your investment dropped to $70,000? Gaining an accurate assessment of your risk tolerance is very important!
For more information reference Ron Lieber's article "Rules for the New Reality" NYT (February 26, 2009)
Sunday, March 1, 2009
Why iPhone Users are Willing to Pay
The best-selling computer book so far this year is "iPhone: The Missing manuel." What's interesting isn't the book, but that it's the most popular because it's a downloadable application for the iPhone, which indicates that iPhone users are willing to spend money according to Saul Hansell of the NYTs. He argues that Apple has created an environment that makes buying digital goods easy and common. Basically, by creating an infrastructure that supports one-click purchases of songs and videos, it is easy to add applications in the same paradigm.
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Beep Beep!!
Test your internet connection here:
February 2009 Test
Download: 11036 kbps
Upload: 485 kbps
The Darthmouth Institute (TDI) for Health Policy & Clinical Practice
For more information about TDI, including the Darthmouth Atlas Project, visit http://tdi.darthmouth.edu
Google Labs
Google Labs showcases new ideas that aren't ready for prime time publication. User feedback helps improve on Google's service. Visit http://labs.google.com
Google Flu Trends
Google has created an early-warning system for flu outbreaks in your area. Visit www.google.org/flutrends
Friday, February 27, 2009
Certificate of Deposit
There are plenty of places to shop for the best C.D. rates, including Bankrate.com and MoneyAisle.
According to an article published by the NYT, as long as you don't invest more than the F.D.I.C. limits, you don't need to worry about loosing your money. The F.D.I.C. currently offers insurance of up to $250,000 per person per bank but that figure will fall to $100,000 for some types of accounts at the end of the year. Also, some off-shore C.D.s are not covered by the F.D.I.C.
Jane Brody's Guide to the Great Beyond
Information about advance directives and other end-of-life issues are available in Ms. Brody's new book (Random House 2009).
The NYT references new laws in NY, CA, NC, OR and WA. NY's Medical Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment Form, for example, lets people indicate whether they would want intravenous fluids, medications like antibiotics, a feeding tube, a breathing tube or other interventions, and wether they want to go to a hospital. The form is signed by a physician and considered a medical order.
Dwell Design Source
Visit www.dwell.com to browse regionally, alphabetically, by category or by keyword, new designers of modern houses.
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