How To End Procrastination

HOW TO END PROCRASTINATON

Author, Randy Taylor 1(916) 601-5270 Creative Commons License 

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IDEAS WITHOUT ACTIONS; ARE JUST THOUGHTS  (Randy Taylor)

My life was changed forever when I read a statement by Og Mandino in his book: "The Greatest Salesman in the World".  He said : "No map no matter how carefully planned ever took a traveler over a single step of land."

So it is with most of us. We may get bursts of creativity only to see success delayed by self sabotage or fear.

Anthony  Robbins coined the phrase: "Just Step Up." and the following formula from him; helped me overcome a 4 year mental block. Here it is in a nutshell my paraphrasing:

1.) State your goal

2.) Give it a deadline for completion

3.) List the steps necessary and give each of them a deadline.

4.) If you miss a deadline; adjust it but keep yourself accountable.

Then "Just Step Up" and take action.

Confucious said:   A Journey of a thousand miles begins with but a single step.!

Nike said: "Just Do It". Do you see a pattern here?  I learned about discipline while gaining 70 lbs. in 2.5 years while on my way to becoming a state champion in weight lifting. I did it with monthly goal setting and by taking the first step: 

Please read the attached article by the Master Motivator:  Jim Rohn by clicking on the blue link below:

I have attached an article from my Website Segment: Messages From The Masters. 

http://finsecurity.com/finsecurity/quotes/mm0148.html 

http://finsecurity.com/rtaylor

For access to more articles; or advice specifically regarding Fixed Annuity Savings Accounts or Life Insurance; contact me directly by phone below or on my Facebook Fan Page at: 

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Creative Commons Copyright License, Author Randy Taylor

GORILLA GLASS FOR YOUR PHONE OR LAPTOP.

GORILLA GLASS 2,TECHNOLOGY, BY CORNING::
IMPACT AND SCRATCH PROOFING FOR YOUR SMART PHONE OR LAPTOP


Why is Gorilla Glass the new state of the art surface for your smart phone and other tech devices?

The answer is simple: It's a new generation of thinner yet stronger, glass for your important tech devices like your smart phone, laptop, or t.v. set.  It not only resists impact better than normal glass panes of equal thickness; it is resistant to most solvents and liquid chemicals; which means you can clean it with a normal window cleaner or soap and water without scratching the surface.

Does it affect the performance of my touch screens etc.?

Corning states that it actually works better for sensitivity where needed.  It allows the glass coverings to be thinner with increased strength which means that you actually get better performance.

How is it possible to have a thinner glass that is stronger with more scratch resistance?


The glass is placed in a hot bath of molten salt at a temperature of approximately 400°C. Smaller sodium ions leave the glass, and larger potassium ions from the salt bath replace them. These larger ions take up more room and are pressed together when the glass cools, producing a layer of compressive stress on the surface of the glass. *

Does this increase  my cost when I request Gorilla Glass 2 with a new purchase?

The answer is no. It is already available on the newer generation of smart phones, laptops, and even television sets.  You should ask your sales persons if your next purchases come equipped with Gorilla Glass. See the partial list below of manufacturers that are offering the Gorilla Glass surface.


Which manufacturers have products out now that feature Gorilla Glass, or Gorilla Glass 2?
Currently ACER, HTC, SAMSUNG, LENOVO,  and more are using the first generation. Gorilla Glass 2 was just announced Fe. of 2012. "The company expects the first Gorilla Glass 2-equipped devices to be available in April or May. Corning Gorilla Glass is used by more than 30 major brands and has been featured in more than 600 product models, spanning over 600 million units worldwide. Read on for the company’s press release."*

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How to Select and Purchase Mortgage Life Insurance

What is the purpose and proper use of Mortgage Life Insurance?

In the event of an early death of the home owner prior to the loan balance having been completed; the income of the home owner would be lost forever; yet the house payment is still due.  Mortgage life insurance is simply a funding vehicle that pays an income tax free payment to the beneficiary to allow the debt to be satisfied.  Then,  the surviving spouse, children, or relatives can own the property free and clear without having to face the burden of raising money or facing foreclosure.

.

Why would I need Mortgage Life Insurance if I already have P.M.I., Private Mortgage Insurance, or insurance from the FHA?

 PMI,  Protects the lender, but does result in the buyer being able to use insurance cash to pay off the loan and own the house.  PMI insures the lender against losses in the event that the home is foreclosed upon.  Both PMI and FHA insurance,  are used in cases where the buyer has a low down payment; typically under 20%.

What Types of Products are available to me as a solution?

There are basically 2 types: Permanent life insurance that you keep for a lifetime; and Term Insurance, a  

temporary plan that you would keep until the loan is paid off. Contact the author for more details if you wish insurance estimates for insurance that continues after the loan is paid off.

Which programs have the lowest initial premiums ranked from the highest to the lowest?

Permanent plans: Whole Life, Universal Life, Indexed Universal Life, and Variable Life are plans designed to be used for lifetime coverage rather than mortgage insurance specifically.  They are the most expensive solutions in most cases; for mortgage insurance.  Contact the author for more details. 

30 or 20 year term plans with a guaranteed return of all premiums at the end of the term. 

These programs feature level premiums and insurance that never go up and a refund at the end of term of all premiums paid, with no interest if the plan is cancelled after the 20 or 30 years.

Straight guaranteed level premium term insurance. These plans can be renewed with no exam in the future but are best used in cases where you plan to cancel the insurance when  the terms are up.

Term lengths available:  30 years, 25 years, 20 years, 15 years, and 10 years.

In most cases the best strategy is to buy a temporary or "term insurance" plan  that has the longest rate guarantee  that fits your budget.

If I am to buy my own Personal Mortgage Insurance; How to pick the right product for my needs?

First of all estimate how long you might need the insurance based on how many years you will be paying on a loan. A term plan that renews or expires at the time is the least expensive long term solution.

Secondly,   Work with a multi-company broker,  rather than a 1 company "captive" agent so that you will have access to all available solutions with just 1 phone call.

Ask your  broker for a "Vital signs report".  This report compares the financial strength  ratings of insurance companies as measured by 5 different independent 3rd party sources.  The composite rating should be 80% or higher for the carrier you choose; according to most experts.

Work with a broker that can search several companies and compare rates for you bases on your age and current health.   You can then ask for a computer printout of the best plans based on premium for you from companies that have a composite rating of the 80th percentile or higher. These reports and rate searches should be offered free of charge.

Author: Randy Taylor

Copyright Creative Commons 2/2/2012

Serving Clients since 1983

Randy Taylor Financial Services

Ca. License # 0643596

(916) 601-5270

HOW TO EARN UP TO 9% TAX FREE IN MINUTES!

THE SOLUTION IS SO SIMPLE THAT IT IS OFTEN OVERLOOKED

Calling your life insurance, health insurance, or auto insurance agent and setting up your current payments to be billed on an annual basis instead of quarterly or monthly; can often result in a net savings to you  of up to 9%.

This is the equivalent of investing money at 9% with no fees and no taxes on the gain!

How is this possible?  Insurance companies have found that they keep  customers with the greatest success via annual billing versus other methods. They also save in administrative costs that occur in the billing process.

 Therefore they encourage consumers to pay premiums in advance by offering discounts that in this economy can be three times more attractive than leaving your money in a municipal bond account or a low interest money market account.

What are   the best ways  to pay premiums?

Examples In order of the lowest cost to the highest:

Single annual payment: Usually no fees of any type and therefore the least expensive.

Semi-annual payments: This is often a great compromise since the fees may be as little as 2% additional.

Monthly deductions  from a checking account: or credit card: The fees are about 4% on the low end and up

to 9% in most cases.

Quarterly payments:  Insurance companies have found that this method of billing leads to the worst results

in customer retention, requires billing, and therefore is the most expensive.  I have seen life insurance companies charge as much as a 20% fee for quarterly payments.

What is the bottom  line?  If you are holding enough money in a low yield investment vehicle like an interest bearing checking account, money market account, or in this economy; it just doesn't make sense to leave it there to earn 3% interest and avoid a savings of up to 9% net.

It should be also noted that other high fee accounts like credit card charges as well as insurance payments should be paid in full whenever possible before investing money towards your retirement etc. The reason: It's simple math: most investment accounts cannot perform on a guaranteed basis at a level higher than card fees or insurance premium fees.

Discounts vary according to both the insurance companies and the product types. The above examples are

typical though of life insurance companies.  It is recommended that you call your insurance agent to determine the exact discounts for your personal or commercial lines of insurance and act accordingly.  This article is offered for informational and entertainment purposes only and not meant to be construed as tax, insurance, or investment advice.

Please feel free to comment and/or contact me  for more information

 

Author : Randy Taylor

Randy Taylor Financial Services

(916) 601-5270

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Copyright: Creative Commons 2012 Ok, to share this article as long as it is reproduced in it's entirety without modifications of any kind.

How to Guarantee Safe Lifetime Income Payments for California Residents

Author: Randy Taylor, Copyright Creative Commons License 2011

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QUESTION:  Interest Rates are low. Would a Fixed Indexed Annuity, Savings Account give me guaranteed level income that is competitive with other safe savings vehicles like Municipal Bonds, Bank Certificates of Deposits, and others?

SOLUTION:  If your goal is clearly to take level income payments at retirement and you have other sources of liquid cash for emergencies; a Fixed Indexed Annuity can  make perfect sense; but in most cases an "Income Rider" is recommended. The income rider guarantees crediting towards an income account that can grow at a rate in today's economy by as much as 6% compound interest; guaranteed by contract. The income rider has caveats, so you will want to review a sample policy, all disclosures and also check with your tax and/or financial advisor. For example, this high interest crediting only applies during the accumulation phase and ceases after you begin to take guaranteed withdrawals.
Withdrawals can exceed the recommended payment at retirement; but would then reduce future payments. In other words, for income payment purposes; this is valuable but you need to learn the rules and play by them.



What is a Fixed Indexed Annuity?  A fixed indexed annuity in layman's terms is a savings account whereby the insurance company credits interest on an annual basis based on any upward changes in stock market indices such as the S&P index. In most cases the account "resets" yearly so that you do not have to recover lost interest if the market index you chose goes down. This is key in a volatile market.



Why add an Income Rider?:  An income rider is a separate endorsement or contractual addition which states that interest will be credited to a separate "Money Bucket" that grow at a predetermined rate. (6% compound interest or 7% Simple Interest with 2 of the most popular companies as of 12/20/2011.)  The key is that if you leave your deposit with the insurance company and take the payment dictated by the insurance company; you cannot ever outlive your income payments. The insurance company guarantees a lifetime income payment as long as you follow the contractual guidelines which are disclosed before purchase by contract.  Your income payments in today's economy can be as high as5 times that of the interest payment from a bank c.d. account for example. For details see your advisor or tax person.
Key features:  1.) Lifetime Income Payments:  Even in a situation with a term of 10 years, you can  take guaranteed income payments starting after only 1 year and get a very high income  payment guaranteed  for life if you have an income rider attached to the annuity product.
                         2.)  Unlike older annuities that used to require giving up access to your principal if you chose to start  guaranteed  income  payments; Newer indexed  annuities with income riders attached; allow you to cancel and take any cash that has not been spent from the basic accumulation account.

What are the downsides of an income rider?  Fees: There is a fee that is around  .75% with most companies. This fee reduces the  growth in the accumulation account that is available at surrender .  It also reduces the amount of  money available to the beneficiary at death due to the fee; but a good broker can put you in a product that waives the fees at death. Penalties for early withdrawal: There are penalties with all annuities if you take more than the free 10% annual withdrawals that the contracts typically allow. There are waived at death but  reduce affect your cash availability if you cancel early.  You will want to consult with your financial advisor and/or tax accountant or attorney before taking income or  cash from any annuity.

Advantages of an indexed annuity:
                                                        Safety:The principal has a minimum  interest guarantee which gives a consumer safety of principal if kept to the end of the term which can be 5 , 7, or 10 years in most cases.
                                                        Income  Tax Deferral: Funds grow  tax deferred until spent or death occurs.
                                                        Probate Avoidance: This is simple: There is a named beneficiary since this is similar to an insurance contract like life insurance and typically avoids probate without a  will or trust.

                                                        Lifetime Income Features: Money can be taken in the future as a single lump sum or in level payments that are guaranteed to continue for life.

*The above article is offered for comparison purposes and  entertainment only and is not meant to give legal, tax, or investment advice.  Please consult with your personal financial advisor including your attorney or tax advisor before buying an indexed annuity or investment vehicle of any type. Please also ask  for a statement of understanding and complete annuity contract sample related to any specific annuity offered to you by any advisor before purchasing any annuity.


Author: Randy Taylor, Copyright Creative Commons License 2011

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Serving clients and brokers since 1983
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Market Volatility May Be Here to Stay

STOCK MARKET VOLATILITY LOOMS IN THE FUTURE

See what Jeffrey Kleintap, CFA for Lensco Private Ledger Says. Article link below:

 Jeffrey says: 

 " However, it is unlikely to be clear sailing for the rest of the year as volatility is here to stay"

My take:
Creative Commons License 8/3/2011
Randy Taylor, Author
Website:    http://finsecurity.com/RTaylor
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Life insurance and I.R.A. Account Specialist
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One of the top 5 money managers in the world now; Allianz SE, is holding 183% of their new premium dollars in short term instruments instead of buying over priced or junk bonds in order to keep their yields up.

What does this mean?  It means that when one of the largest money managers in the world gets conservative; it only supports what  is commented on in the article below. (click on link) I have been to the home office of  the two most popular insurance companies and money managers in the world and was able 2 years ago to talk to the actual actuaries of the company that own Pimco;  the largest bond portfolio manager in the world. What I found interesting is that the conservative companies like Allianz of North America weathered the financial storm about 3 years ago by holding cash instead of buying overpriced bonds while their competitors took larger risks.such companies had to actually refuse business at that time because they could not borrow money in amounts large enough to cover legal reserve requirements.

Please read :(also note the pie chart )

The solution: Contact your financial advisor, attorney, and/or tax professional for advice.

I personally specialize in IRA savings accounts that feature safety by contract guarantees.

See what Jeffrey Kleintop, CF at LPL  has to say about the markets expected volatility.

http://tinyurl.com/42uke87


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Creative Commons License 8/3/2011  It is ok to copy or distribute this article as long as it is copied in it's entirety and not altered in any way.

The Sidney Smith Relief Fund and Comedy Tweet-up Fund Raiser Video

You can Still contribute with online donations to help raise money for the family of Sidney Smith, a young
child who had a serious bike accident; sufferred a traumatic brain injury that resulted in a coma.  A link will be provided for  those that missed the event with comedienne, Shayla Rivera; who came up from Hollywood to help.  IN this video, Cindy Rhoades , the event organizer and myself, acting as the M.C, introduce the program.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wIcVL3UqmdM&hd=1