Monday, November 23, 2009

Create Your Own Pension using an Immediate Annuity

The American Association of Individual Investors creates really wonderul articles that are well researched and free of bias (they take no advertising).

This article is appropriate for those in retirement who are fearful of terrible stock market returns wrecking their retirment. One idea is to take some of your invesment assets and purchase an immediate annuity that makes monthly payments to you for the remainder of your life. The payments are guaranteed by an insurance company.

Sometimes I advise clients to consider covering their basic living expenses with "safe" income sources. Social Security, pensions, and immediate annuities could fill this need.

See the article for details:
http://www.feesonly.com/rcfp/November_2009_AAII_-_Create_Your_Own_Pension_-_Immediate_Annuities.pdf

Valuation Metrics

This talk was presented to a meeting of the American Association of Individual Investors (a wonderful organization by the way) and since it is by one of my favorite investing groups, I attach it here for your perusal. Some of the charts are wonderfully educational. In particular, see page 7 of the presentation.

It will be of more interest to those particularly intrigued by market history. See the presentation:
http://www.feesonly.com/rcfp/AFAMI_AAII_Presentation_11.19.09.pdf

The Devil's Dictionary - Crisis Edition

The financial crisis of 2008-09 has created a real opportunity for newly minted acronyms, neologisms, and euphemisms. Matthew Rose of The Wall Street Journal has cooked up a hilarious modern version of Ambrose Bierce’s original “Devil's Dictionary."

AAA, n., obsolete. A rhetorical device used to dupe buyers into purchasing securities backed by shacks dressed as houses, and to secure the highest possible spot in telephone directories. common usage: AAA Septic Drainage and Mortgage Backed Security Services.

BAILOUT, n. First known use: Noah. Novel regressive taxation scheme whereby vast sums of capital are transferred from those citizens who didn't participate in the illusory Bacchanalia of the housing bubble to those who did and weren't clever enough to get out in time.

BANK, GOOD, n., archaic. Sober, conservative, risk-averse institutions designed to midwife customers' capital and enable prudent lending to deserving businesses and consumers. See Capra, F., the Bailey Building & Loan Association.

BANK, BAD, n. 1. Everyone else. 2. Especially Goldman Sachs.

BORROWERS, n. For liberals, the unwitting dupes of unscrupulous bankers and lenders whom one shouldn't blame for the crisis. For conservatives, irresponsible graspers with a credit-busting taste for cathedral-ceilinged entryways and 70-inch flat-screen televisions whom one should absolutely blame for the crisis.

CREDIT-DEFAULT SWAP, n. loose translation from the original Latin "ubi mel ibi apes," or "where there's honey there are bees." 1. A complex financial instrument vital to the functioning of a modern economy in the way it spreads risk among consenting parties. (Greenspan, A., pre-Sept. 2008.) 2. A complex financial instrument that nearly destroyed modern capitalism Greenspan, A., post-Sept. 2008).

For the rest of the list click here:
http://tinyurl.com/yz87op9

The link works only for a few days. If you can't access the article, let me know and I will try to gain access for another short period. rich.chambersABC@gmail.com Spam prevention: Remove the ABC from the email address before using it to email to me.