She Said He Heard

  

What's Your Worldview

 

Business Owner Heads Up

Sources: IRS.gov & Bradford Tax Institute

Get Better at Spotting Fake News

 

Sources: 

www.getbadnews.com

www.Goviralgame.com

EVOLVING OUR CAPACITY FOR DIFFICULT CONVERSATIONS [CE Notes]

 

Do You Eat Salmon?

Source: Pebble Mine 

Bristol Bay & the Threat of Pebble Mine - The Wilderness Society, 2012

“If you eat salmon, this problem is in your backyard” Troy Jones

Positive Feedback Loop

 

Crude Oil Production in Oklahoma

 

In - Law Wisdom ...

 

Who Ever Heard of....

Obesogens are defined as compounds which cause weight gain. They may act directly to increase the number of fat cells or the storage of fat within the cells. Alternatively, they may act less directly through altering appetite, metabolic rate, or energy balance.

** Dr. Carlos Monteiro on the dangers of Ultra Processed Foods

** Ultra-Processed foods: How functional is the NOVA System

THAT's a Neighborhood I Want to Live In

      I have been involved in Homeowners associations (HOA) in several different areas over the years.  Often, I mention that the most difficult and surprising business experiences in my life were HOA’s.  Below is a letter I recently received from a new HOA we are considering moving into.  Being a CITIZEN owner is important to me and the letter below is THE BEST I have ever seen coming from an HOA.  We own a lot in this old established area, but this letter attracted me even more to want to LIVE there.  If you are in an area with an HOA, I encourage you to find ways to participate in the operations of the community.  Maybe this will help our country find common ground amongst neighbors—where we can have the most impact—and help get our country more UNITED in our quest for an ever-brighter future. 

       

     One other aspect of this is the leadership of the HOA.  Often those who volunteer are the ones who receive all the complaints.  That is normal but a little encouragement and appreciation helps a lot too.  As costs continue to rise, a little community sweat-equity can go a long way. 

Estate Plan for Regular Folks

 

 

If you don't have an estate plan in place, create one now. 
Right now.

You see, an estate plan isn't just for the super-rich.

Thanks to today's ultra-generous $12.92 million exemption for singles, or effectively $25.84 million for married couples, you may have ignored an estate plan. (BTW—this generous number is set to expire at the end of 2025-- and go to who knows what.)

 

Here are five facts well 
worth remembering.

1. Even if you're not exposed to the federal estate tax, you still need to plan for the distribution of your assets and the guardianship of your minor children.

2. Having a will ensures that your wishes are respected and legally enforced after your death.

 3. A living trust can help your beneficiaries avoid probate, which can be a costly and time-consuming process—especially if you have property in more than one state. 

4. Keeping your beneficiary designations up to date, on things like IRA, 401K, and insurance policies, takes precedence over wills and living trusts when your assets are distributed.

5. Wills and living trusts alone, do not minimize federal estate tax or state death taxes.

Additionally, if you have children who have reached age 18 or above, then encourage them to give mom and dad powers of attorney for health and financial.  This will authorize you to help the young adults, if need be, without a bunch of hassle.  

We have given away many copies of FIVE WISHES which is a legal document form which works great for young people and those in the process of figuring out their estate plans. There is also a standard form on the Oklahoma Bar Association website for Power of Attorney and Living Will which many have used as well.  Ask us about this next time we meet if you have someone in your life who could benefit. 

Oklahoma is OK

Peter Zeihan - Is it Oklahoma's Time to Shine

  ** All written content is for information purposes only. Material presented is believed to be from reliable sources. No representations are made by our firm as to another parties’ informational accuracy or completeness.  All information or ideas provided should be discussed in detail with an advisor, accountant or legal counsel prior to implementation. **
 

Timeshare

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Corporations Do Not Equal Humans

 

 ** All written content is for information purposes only. Material presented is believed to be from reliable sources. No representations are made by our firm as to another parties’ informational accuracy or completeness.  All information or ideas provided should be discussed in detail with an advisor, accountant or legal counsel prior to implementation. **

Social Security Timeline

 ** All written content is for information purposes only. Material presented is believed to be from reliable sources. No representations are made by our firm as to another parties’ informational accuracy or completeness.  All information or ideas provided should be discussed in detail with an advisor, accountant or legal counsel prior to implementation. **

 

Sister Annabelle

 

My friend, Annabelle, would be 101 this summer. She passed a year ago on April 8, 2022. According to Sister Maria, her friend and care advocate, she had a normal morning and just took a nap and did not wake up. She also said that Annabelle was almost glowing and looked like she was much younger. That’s a fact I can confirm from the funeral. She had lots of great stories. To learn a little more about this fantastic lady, click the link below:

She was A Cloistered Nun for 24 Years

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Corporate Socialism

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New England Wisdom

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Which Question

 

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Credit Freeze *** who to call

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80 Billion to the IRS

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Problem or Predicament

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Spending Habits Research

   ** All written content is for information purposes only. Material presented is believed to be from reliable sources. No representations are made by our firm as to another parties’ informational accuracy or completeness.  All information or ideas provided should be discussed in detail with an advisor, accountant or legal counsel prior to implementation. **

Your Tax Dollars at Work ~ Feel Safer Yet?"

 
“Your Tax Dollars At Work -- Feel Safer Yet?” 

    A few months ago I was at a men’s group meeting where I knew no one.  After finding out I am a Certified Financial Planner practitioner, several asked what I thought about the Bernie Madoff ponzi scheme that is all over the news. 

    I was more interested in what they thought should be done about it—since I already knew what I thought-- and to a person their solution was more laws and more governmental supervision.  As recently as today, the investigation of the regulators charged with examining Madoff’s registered businesses indicates “unbelievable incompetence” in failing to enforce existing laws. Well folks, our companies are regulated by the same Departments charged with supervising Bernie Madoff – The Securities Exchange Commission (SEC) and Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) specifically -- you know, the ones with egg all over their faces.

    We do believe there will be more rules and regulations, more regulators and more frequent examinations in the coming months. Many of you may have already been given additional documentation and been asked for your driver’s license to prove you are who you say you are. (Makes me feel safer in the same way as the time my shampoo was confiscated at the airport.)

Now, while we are regulated by the same people Madoff was, there are BIG differences in how we work:

1. Everyone gets third-party confirmation that their money is really there.
2. We do not take custody of client funds – meaning your investment checks are made out to the actual investment, NOT Access Financial Resources, Inc.
3. We do not advertise rates of return, and complex strategies to attract clients.

Here are a few experiences/incidents leading us to believe additional regulation is coming:

• 2005: While on the Financial Planning Association Board, I voted to sue the SEC to stop allowing Brokerage firms to have lower client accountability standards – David slayed Goliath – we won.
• 2007: National Association of Securities Dealers changes its name to Financial Industry Regulatory Authority.
• 2009: A small division of our company, $68,000/year gross revenue in 2008, was reviewed by FINRA.  They spent an entire week going through a computer questionnaire that indicated no real attempt to understand the reality of the situation, but instead to check all of the boxes. (form over substance) It would be virtually impossible to comply with every detail, and in our case would not benefit the client in any meaningful way.
• August 2009 – Oklahoma Department of Securities meeting with Irving Faught, Administrator (www.securities.ok.gov).  They are convinced that FINRA will end up supervising Registered Investment Advisors (that’s us). (FINRA is the one who missed Madoff, changed their name to sound more consumer oriented, and keeps the rules so complicated that big firms (the ones in all the trouble) love it and small firms struggle to comply).

 

Our response to expected increased regulation:

• March 2009 – We hired a compliance consultant and subscribed to a service for tracking all electronic communications. (Total cost per year, approximately $20,000).
• April 2009 – We started an internal compliance review, which will continue indefinitely.

 

Whew!!  That’s a lot to wade through and if you’re still awake, there is something we can all do.  Demand meaningful, effective regulation, NOT more of the same. Arm yourself and friends with prudent procedures, like tools available from the Oklahoma Dept. of Securities, to protect yourselves from being scammed.  Know that we are going over-the-top to protect client information and assets with healthy processes, procedures, technology, and Big Hearts.  No external rules or regulations can get us to WANT to take good care of people more than we already do.

 Feel safer yet?.......

Feel free to contact us with any questions about regulatory bodies or compliance documentation.

Government's Proposed 401K Changes

 

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Jobs of the Future

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Smart Choice

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Civilization's Origin

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