'Tis The Season At Wine, Women & Wealth!

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December Is Delicious At Wine, Women & Wealth!

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Financial Advisors: Robo vs. Human

Financial Advisors: Robo vs. Human

Turning Business Success into Personal Financial Security; Strategies for achieving your lifetime financial goals

Most business owners depend on their business to provide current income, with the objective of using the future sale proceeds from the business to meet retirement income needs, or to provide family survivor income needs. Some business owners may also see their business continuing in the hands of family members who will continue its successful operation, extending the financial benefits far into the future. However, many business owners never take the time to plan how this will actually happen; discovering too late, for example, following the untimely death of a co-owner, that the time for planning has gone by.

Family businesses who make it to the second, third and even fourth generations have one thing in common; owners who understand the planning opportunities available to them and the importance of developing and implementing a long-range plan. These plans include protecting against the unexpected death of an owner or key employee; motivating and rewarding key people with tangible benefits and incentives; using business dollars to fund retirement plans, and transitioning the business to a successor owner.

One of the ways a business owner can protect his or her business if an essential employee dies unexpectedly, is through the purchase of business-owned life insurance. With insurance coverage in place, the business will have the funds it needs to replace essential skills or expertise. Having life insurance in place on key people may also improve the creditworthiness of the business; creditors may be less likely to call loans and may be more likely to extend credit to a business that has a plan in place in the event of the death of a key person.

Keeping and motivating key employees can be as important to the ongoing success of a business as protecting the business in the event of their death. Certain types of benefits can be offered to select
key people on a “discriminatory” basis – that is, a business owner has a great deal of flexibility in terms of who is rewarded and by how much. Depending on the benefit, the business may get an offsetting tax deduction or build an asset that can be tapped into for cash needs.

As some point, most business owners start to think less about guiding their business into the future and more about transitioning out of its day to day operation. This is the time to plan an exit strategy that allows an owner to transfer any personal wealth accumulated inside of the business to him or herself, without jeopardizing the business’ ongoing financial health. Without such an exit strategy, an unexpected death could leave an owner or their family in a disadvantaged selling and/or bargaining position. Life insurance can address this important need. Because of its income tax free death benefit, life insurance is often used to fund a buy-sell agreement that can help ensure the continuation of the business beyond the voluntary or involuntary departure of the owner. This type of agreement is a legally binding document that the business owner can enter into now that sets out the terms and conditions of the sale of his or her business interest at some point in the future. These terms and conditions include who will purchase the business and for how much, when the sale will take place, and how the purchase price will be paid.

Planning for the growth and success of a business is not something you do only once. It’s something you do on an ongoing basis. As your business moves through the various stages, the strategies you implement in one stage can help build the foundation for future stages, as you build a strong financial future.

The views and information contained herein have been prepared independently of the presenting Representative and are presented for informational purposes only.

Health Insurance

Today was a day full of emails asking about health insurance so I thought I would share it here on my blog too.  The enrollment period begins on 11/15.  After that you can apply, you cannot apply for health ins now unless you have a special event.  You can see that list of special events at www.coveredca.com.  If you are happy with your plan you don't have to do anything.  You will be automatically renewed on 12/31 for a  1/1 start date for the new year.  I also wanted to share with you a free Rx card I give to clients.  www.californiarxcard.com  Sometimes its cheaper than using your insurance card.  I also want to advise you to shop for your prescriptions.  Pharmacies are allowed to charge different prices for the same drug so be aware! Shop around.  Also please make sure you have some sort of supplemental insurance esp if you have a history of cancer in your family. Your regular health insurance does NOT cover cancer, it only covers a very small percentage of the costs.  Have a great week and live life to the fullest!

November-Money-101-is-TWO-WEEKS-AWAY!

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Who Do You Believe?

Buy sell agreements, do you need one for your business? Do you know what one is?

Do you own your business with another person?  If so, if that person were to die unexpectedly tomorrow, are you prepared to run the business with their spouse?  If not, then you might want to look into getting a buy sell agreement put into place ASAP!

Money 101 in November!

Be my guest for dinner at Money 101!
November 17 in San Marcos
Old Spaghetti Factory 
111 N. Twin Oaks Valley Rd
San Marcos, CA 92069
Register here: http://goo.gl/kUOsbr & please RSVP to Katherine@FiveRingsFinancial.com as well. Thanks.
6:30pm-8:30

November Wine Women and Wealth & Money 101 Dates!

Be my guest in November to Wine Women and Wealth and Money 101!

October Wine, Women & Wealth Dates

Wine, Women & Wealth

Oct. 29

Rancho Bernardo

Bernardo Winery 13330 Paseo Del Verano Norte San Diego, CA 92128 Register here: http://goo.gl/IZH8Wd

6pm to 8pm

November Money 101 Dates

Event	Date	City	Location	Time
Money 101	November 17	San Marcos	The Broken Yolk 101 South Las Posas Rd. San Marcos, CA 92078 Register here: http://goo.gl/uGedQS	Lunch Express 12pm to 1pm
Money 101	November 17	San Marcos	Old Spaghetti Factory  111 N. Twin Oaks Valley Rd San Marcos, CA 92069 Register here: http://goo.gl/kUOsbr	6:30pm
Money 101	November 18	La Mesa	Sammy's Woodfired Pizza 8555 Fletcher Pkwy La Mesa, CA 91942 Register here: http://goo.gl/T63yXC	6:30pm

November Wine, Women & Wealth Dates

Wine, Women & Wealth	Nov. 3	Carlsbad	Hera Hub Carlsbad 5205 Avenida Encinas Carlsbad, CA  92008 Register here: http://goo.gl/2CGOXJ	6pm to 8pm
Wine, Women & Wealth	Nov. 5	La Mesa	San Pasqual Winery 8364 La Mesa Blvd. La Mesa, CA 91941 Register here: http://goo.gl/A7bMsd	6pm to 8pm
Wine, Women & Wealth	Nov. 5	San Juan Capistrano	Rancho Capistrano Winery 26755 Verdugo St, Ste 100 San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675 Register here: http://goo.gl/pC9TO4	6pm to 8pm
Wine, Women & Wealth	Nov. 12	Temecula	Mimi’s Café 40825 Winchester Road Temecula, CA 92591 Register here: http://goo.gl/FseVki	6pm to 8pm
Wine, Women & Wealth	TBA	San Marcos	St. Katherine College 1637 Capalina Rd. San Marcos, CA 92069 Register here:	5:30pm to 7:30pm
Wine, Women & Wealth	Nov.	Rancho Bernardo	Bernardo Winery 13330 Paseo Del Verano Norte San Diego, CA 92128	6pm to 8pm

Life Insurance after you've tied the knot

Wow!  Over the weekend three friends got engaged and announced it on Facebook.  I was not expecting any of them.  It reminded me of how important it is to review your insurance once a year.  Whenever you buy a new car, buy a new house, get engaged, get married, any new life changes requires a change in your insurance.  I highly recommend to my clients and friends to get a review of all your insurances each year.  A lot of times you can save money when you review them each year esp for life and health insurance.  Have a great day!

Today marks the 75th anniversary of the first televised NFL game

It's been 75 years since the first televised NFL game aired. On
October 22, 1939, NBC broadcast the match between the
Philadelphia Eagles and the (now defunct) Brooklyn Dodgers.
Unlike today's games, only eight people were needed to run the
telecast and roughly 500 fans watched the game from the comfort
of their living room. Unfortunately no footage from the telecast
exists, but we do have the final score: Dodgers 23, Eagles 14.

NAIFA's Advisor Today - Continuation Planning for LLCs

NAIFA's Advisor Today - Continuation Planning for LLCs

Join me for free lunch or dinner this month! RSVP to Katherine@FiveRingsFinancial.com

Money 101	October 20	San Marcos	Old Spaghetti Factory  111 N. Twin Oaks Valley Rd San Marcos, CA 92069 Register here: http://goo.gl/XaMciF	6:30pm
Money 101	October 21	La Mesa	Sammy's Woodfired Pizza 8555 Fletcher Pkwy La Mesa, CA 91942 Register here: http://goo.gl/GEkuTs	6:30pm
Money 101	October 22	San Marcos	The Broken Yolk 101 South Las Posas Rd. San Marcos, CA 92078 Register here: http://goo.gl/ZnSRtQ	Lunch Express 12pm to 1p

Most of us attend school for more than a decade to learn about reading, writing and arithmetic –but never about our finances! Our agency was founded on the belief that Middle Americans should be provided with a sound education on how money works, and this exciting, innovative event proudly drives this tradition forward. Learn how to grow and protect your money for college funding, retirement planning or simply wealth accumulation … with money you never knew you had while enjoying a bite to eat and friendly company.

Proposition 45 is Bad for the Health of Your Business

We don’t often communicate to our clients about campaign issues. But Proposition 45 on this November’s ballot will have a substantial negative impact on your company’s health care coverage. As your benefits advisor we think it is incumbent on us to make you aware of what’s at stake.

We all want to control health care costs – but Proposition 45 is not the answer. 

Proposition 45 gives one state politician vast new authority over our health care – including the ability to determine the cost, coverage, co-pays and network of all individual and small business medical insurance in the state.  Prop 45 even gives this single politician the ability to determine what treatment options your health insurance covers. The last thing we need is a politician playing doctor.

While many states have laws requiring pre-approval of rate changes, not a single state has taken the approach of Proposition 45. In fact, only one state (Maine) had a similar system and they have since repealed it. Proposition 45 simply goes too far.

Rather than lower health insurance premiums, Prop 45 will increase costs. Proposition 45 sets up yet another expensive state bureaucracy to oversee health care coverage in the state. The Legislative Analyst estimates the measure will increase costs by tens of millions of dollars each year. We already have multiple agencies and a new, independent commission charged with overseeing health insurance. We don’t need more bureaucracy and red tape over our health care.

Please take a few moments to learn more about Proposition 45 by visiting www.NoOn45.org.

The more you learn, the more you’ll see why it’s bad for small businesses and for consumers who buy their own coverage. That’s why a growing coalition of doctors, hospitals, businesses, labor unions, brokers and others have come together to oppose Proposition 45. Please join us and vote No on Proposition 45

September Money 101 Starts Next Week!

Money 101 starts next week!  Be my guest, please RSVP to me.   http://myemail.constantcontact.com/September-Money-101-Starts-Next-Week-.html?soid=1103559743440&aid=NSF4c_Xx9iA

Mind the Gap

Mind the Gap

Securing your retirement and building your estate for future generations.

Preparing for retirement and managing income during retirement remains a major concern for millions of Americans. Terms like “the new face of retirement”, “bridge job” or “working retired” have taken on new definition as Americans labor past the traditional retirement age and continue to work into their late 60’s and beyond. 

With increasing health care costs, inflation concerns and managing or reducing current debt, pre-retirees are making tough financial decisions that will impact their current as well as their future financial lives and many of us expect to work on average a full decade longer than those already in retirement.

It is no wonder that many Americans are feeling financially unstable and are looking for ways to  provide financial protection and future security for their family.

Fortunately, there are a number of strategies that may help you achieve your retirement goals. If you need a death benefit and have objectives that include retirement and providing a financial legacy to your heirs, one possible strategy may include permanent life insurance.  

Permanent life insurance can be the “permission slip” to spend down your assets during retirement without the worry of how to leave a legacy to the next generation.  The life insurance policy can deliver income tax free funds for inheritance, which means other accumulation accounts do not have to be conserved for this purpose.

In addition to the death benefit permanent life insurance provides, there may be unique living benefits, including the policy’s cash value, that may be especially useful today. The cash accumulated inside the policy has the potential to be a source of cash to pay the mortgage or the car loan, improve a home for sale, start a business, or to supplement retirement income[1]. The policy loans do not need to be paid back during the policy owner’s lifetime – any outstanding loan amount, and interest due, will be deducted from the policy death benefit before it is paid to the named beneficiaries.

Another financial risks which can deplete even substantial assets in fairly short order is a serious illness. Through optional riders, life insurance can help address this concern by providing access to the death benefit, during lifetime, to help cover costs associated with a terminal, chronic or critical illness[2]. 

These benefits help make permanent life insurance even more important to families in the current environment where there is an increased desire for a stable, dependable way to protect loved ones.

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[1] Access to the cash value may be available through loans or withdrawals.  Policy loans and withdrawals reduce the policy’s cash value and death benefit and may result in a taxable event.  Surrender charges may reduce the policy's cash value in early years.

 

[2] Receipt of accelerated of life insurance benefits may affect your, your spouse or your family’s eligibility for public assistance programs such as medical supplementary social security income (SSI) , and drug assistance programs.  You are advised to consult with a qualified tax advisor and with social service agencies concerning how receipt of such a payment will affect you, your spouse and your family’s eligibility for public assistance.  Riders are optional and may not be available in all states.  This is not a solicitation of any specific insurance policy.

 

What I do instead of advertising

I love social media.  When I first joined Five Rings Financial 5 yrs ago as an independent Financial Rep, I posted our free Wine Women and Wealth networking events on Twitter. Within 24 hours I got many RSVPs.  It was awesome! I still do the same today and I post on Google and Facebook as well.  I have had a great response.  We also offer a free workshop called Money 101 at Five Rings Financial.  It is an educational workshop teaching the principles of money and Tax Free Retirement Planning.  I post those invites on all the social media platforms as well.  www.fiveringseducation.com

3 yrs ago my good friend Felena Hanson started a spa like women's coworking space called Hera Hub.  www.herahub.com  I am the health insurance guru there and have been since inception.  I have gotten many leads and made many new friends there over the last three years.  I love it!

Most of my business today comes from referrals.  I have been in business for over 22 yrs and have a great database of clients now.  I know a lot of business owners who have spent a lot of money on advertising over the years and have not had a great turnout.  For me the referrals and word of mouth have been the best source.  Everybody is different and the most important thing to figure out is what works for you.  Happy Networking and connecting!

Please be my guest to Money 101 this month, RSVP to me!

September Money 101 Dates

Event	Date	City	Location	Time
Money 101	September 29	San Marcos	The Broken Yolk 101 South Las Posas Rd. San Marcos, CA 92078 Register here: http://goo.gl/h5pTbo	Lunch Express 12pm to 1pm
Money 101	September 29	San Marcos	Old Spaghetti Factory  111 N. Twin Oaks Valley Rd San Marcos, CA 92069 Register here: http://goo.gl/WpCKvc	6:30pm
Money 101	September 30	La Mesa	Sammy's Woodfired Pizza 8555 Fletcher Pkwy La Mesa, CA 91942 Register here: http://goo.gl/I6pVwc	6:30pm

Happy Labor Day From Wine Women &Wealth!

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Personal Financial Goals -The Time for Action is Now

We all know the story of the shoemaker whose children went without shoes and the roofer who never got around to fixing his leaky roof. Except for the details, their stories may not be too different from our own. Despite knowing that we need to be doing something about planning for our personal financial goals – whether it is saving for retirement; doing a better job of managing our debt, or setting money aside for our children’s college education– most of us put off doing anything about it for one or both of two reasons: we aren’t sure where to begin, or we don’t think we have sufficient assets to make it worthwhile.

The truth is, there is no single place to begin when it comes to taking steps to improve your financial future; and there is no level of income or assets one needs in order to make the process worthwhile. You can take action regardless of where you are in life, and regardless of how much money you have (or don’t have).

The first step is probably the easiest: identify your current and future financial goals, goals that usually include; making sure your family is protected financially at your death; managing current expenses while paying down debt; accumulating sufficient assets for retirement; and in time, leaving something to family beneficiaries. If you’re willing to develop and put into action a carefully thought-out financial strategy, those goals can be within your reach. Steps to take now can include increasing contributions to your qualified retirement plan, which decreases your income tax liability; maximizing other employer-sponsored plans, such as disability and medical plans; and a focus on saving, investing and debt elimination. This is also a good time to review your life insurance to see if it is sufficient to meet your growing family’s needs. Life Insurance pays an income tax free death benefit your family can use to replace lost income in the event of your premature death.

But you’re not done yet. There are still steps you can take that consider how your financial goals will take into account items like taxes and potential penalties. For starters, make sure you’re putting any excess cash you can into accumulation vehicles that provide either a tax deduction or which grow income tax-deferred. You may also be eligible take advantage of the tax rules which allow individuals over age 50 to set additional sums of money aside into qualified plans on a pre-tax basis.

 The steps you take today can help towards building assets that will last for your lifetime, and still be able to pass assets on to your family beneficiaries in a manner of your own choosing. Now is also the time to consult with financial and tax advisors to review your will, durable power of attorney and perhaps establish a trust that can help maximize your estate and distribute your assets according to your wishes.

Working towards your financial goals is not something you accomplish just once…it’s something you keep accomplishing over the course of your lifetime – as you move through the various stages of life. But regardless of which stage you’re in when you start, the time to start is now.

This information is not intended as tax or legal advice.  Please seek the advice of a professional advisor prior to making any decisions regarding your own situation.

Wine, Women, & Wealth Is Awesome In August!

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A Fresh Look at Today’s Whole Life Insurance

A Fresh Look at Today’s Whole Life Insurance

The possibilities might surprise you

As children, most of us were read stories designed to teach us about life. Among the most popular of those stories was the one about the race between the tortoise and the hare.  As the story goes, the slow and predictable tortoise had agreed to a race against the fast yet unpredictable hare – a race he was not expected to win. Come race day, however, the predictable tortoise – in unpredictable fashion - lumbered across the finish line first, leaving the hare far behind in the dust. The life lessons to be learned: “never judge a book by its cover” and “slow and steady wins the race.”    

Now let’s consider another story, this one about a race between people trying to build a secure financial future and some fairly intimidating opponents: time, discipline, and consistency. Can we look for a lesson here from the tortoise and the hare? We can. If we liken today’s whole life insurance policies to the tortoise, with steady, if predictable qualities, we might be surprised to discover just how often that age old story repeats itself. We might also discover how many of us are still ‘judging the book by its cover’ when it comes to choosing life insurance to pursue our financial goals. 

Today’s whole life insurance contracts provide much more than just a death benefit and predictable cash value accumulation. Indeed, they have become fairly versatile financial tools designed to meet a number of needs and objectives. Let’s consider just a few:

Protection of assets

Of course, the primary feature of whole life insurance is its income tax-free death benefit. In the event of an early or unexpected death, life insurance proceeds can be used to self-complete a retirement savings program, pay for a child’s college education, buy out a deceased partner’s share of a business, pay off a mortgage, provide ongoing income to a spouse or family member, and generally help to ensure the financial stability of loved ones – especially if the “race” to financial security is cut short by premature death. Minus the relief that life insurance brings, thousands of homes, businesses, and retirements would be lost each and every year.

Asset Accumulation and Retirement Income Options

Secondary to the death benefit, but for many people equally as important, is the accumulation of cash values permanent life insurance provides. Slow, steady, and predictable at first – tortoise-like one might even say - over the course of ten, twenty or thirty years, life insurance cash values, especially given their tax-deferred accumulation, can grow substantially. What’s more, most whole life policies offer guaranteed cash values[1] which can be borrowed from the policy at retirement to supplement other sources of income.[2] Of course, they can also be borrowed to help children pay for college, to meet unexpected emergencies, or to take advantage of opportunities.

Business continuity

According to a recent study, less than 35% of family-owned businesses survive to the second generation.[3] Why is this? Because while many business owners have taken the time to spell out how their business will be transferred, they have neglected to plan for how the transfer will be funded. When a business owner dies, the other owners generally get the first option to buy his or her shares. And even though business interests are often willed to surviving family members, many buy-sell agreements include the stipulation that surviving family members, if not previously involved in the day-to-day business operations, must sell their interest to surviving owners. The cash received for this interest generally helps the family of the deceased meet its financial obligations while leaving the business in the hands of people best qualified to run it.

There are basically three methods for funding a buy-sell agreement: self-funding, borrowing, and life insurance. In a self-funded buy-sell agreement, the surviving owners can either pay for the business interest outright or through an installment plan. In reality, however, many surviving owners don’t have the ready cash. Borrowing can be equally risky, especially if interest rates are high or, if upon learning that one of the principals has died, lenders become hesitant to loan. Life insurance, on the other hand, can be an efficient (and possibly tax-deductible) method of providing the money when it is needed.

Estate preservation

Today’s estate taxes can consume a considerable percentage of a deceased person’s total assets. And while estate taxes don’t kick in until the value of an estate reaches $5.25 million (at 2013 rate), when you factor in the value of a large home or business, a significant number of estates do exceed this amount[4]. An alternative to liquidating a business or selling off estate assets in order to pay those taxes is often the purchase of life insurance in the amount of the estimated tax liability calculated by your tax professional. There are a number of strategies which can be used to keep the proceeds from the policy out of the deceased’s estate, while simultaneously reducing the size of the estate for tax purposes. (A qualified estate planning attorney can review these strategies with you.)

If you’re among those who are concerned about their future financial security, it may be time to give today’s whole life insurance policies a second look. They offer protection of assets, a potentially ready source of cash at retirement², and protection for loved ones should your “race” be cut short. So don’t judge the book by its cover - find out how today’s whole life insurance can help you succeed in the pursuit of financial security.

This information is not intended as tax or legal advice. Please consult with your Attorney or Accountant prior to acting upon any of the information contained in this correspondence.

The views and information contained herein have been prepared independently of the presenting Representative and are presented for informational purposes only.

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[1] Guarantees are dependent on the claims paying ability of the insurer.

[2] Loans and withdrawals will reduce the policy’s cash value and death benefit. If the policy lapses with an outstanding loan, taxes may be owed on that portion of the loan that exceeds the amount of premiums paid in.

[3] Kennesaw State University, Coles College of Business, Family Business Review, 2013

[4] Estate tax rates are subject to change at any time. The 2013 federal estate tax exemption is $5.25million; estates with taxable values in excess of $5.25 are subject to a top estate tax rate of 40%.  An estate’s “taxable value” is its total value minus the exemption and all other applicable deductions.

Charitable Giving Using Life Insurance

Many of us have charitable objectives.  We would like to repay society for the blessings we've received and, at the same time, fulfill a desire to “give back” to those who have given us so much.  But many of us may feel somewhat frustrated—having the desire to make substantial gifts and yet feeling that our resources will not permit it.  The common perception is that any meaningful charitable giving must be left to the wealthy. This is not necessarily so.

There is a method of giving that provides the opportunity to do far more for a charitable organization than you might think possible, even if your financial resources are limited.  The method is charitable giving using life insurance, and it is effective, simple to accomplish and beneficial to you as well as your designated charity.

To begin the process, you need only apply for the insurance policy and pay the premiums.  It is not necessary to set up a trust fund with its associated expenses, unless you want to do so.  The gift does not require constant attention as other types of investments may.  There are a variety of ways to set-up a charitable gift using life insurance:

·       You may give a gift that becomes self-completing.  Life insurance can provide for a self-completing gift in the event of your death or disability.

·       You may give a bequest at death.  The proceeds of the policy will be paid to your charity free of any federal estate tax.  This will be true whether you own the policy or the charity owns the policy.

·       You may continue to own the policy, and name your favorite organization as beneficiary.  If you are concerned that your family’s circumstances may change in the future, you may name the charity as “revocable” or “contingent” beneficiary and still retain flexibility and control.  The policy’s proceeds will be passed free of both gift and estate taxes.

·       You may give an existing policy.  You may have several insurance policies, each purchased at different times in your life to satisfy a specific need at that time.  Some of those needs may no longer exist (e.g., home mortgage or children’s education).  Your gift of that policy to charity allows you to take an income tax deduction for the amount of the policy’s fair market value (approximately the policy’s cash value) in the year you transfer the policy.  Any future premiums paid are also income tax deductible.

·       You may give policy dividends.  Life insurance policy dividends received in cash can be donated to charity.  This is an easy, economical way to make charitable gifts and generate income tax savings.

Charitable giving using life insurance is both beneficial and a favored means of making charitable contributions for a number of reasons:

·       The death benefit going to your favorite charity is guaranteed as long as premiums are paid.  This means that the charity will receive an amount which is fixed in value. (Guarantees are dependent upon the claims-paying ability of the insurance company

·       Life insurance provides an amplified gift that can be purchased on the installment plan.  Through a relatively small annual cost (premium), a large benefit can be provided for your charity.  A large gift can be made without impairing or diluting the control of your family business interest or other investments.  Assets earmarked for your family can thus be kept intact.

·       Life insurance is a self-completing gift.  If you become disabled, the policy can remain in full force through the waiver of premium rider.  Even if death occurs after only one premium payment, the charity is assured of its full gift. Additionally, the death proceeds can be received by your designated charity free of federal income and estate taxes, probate and administrative costs and delays, brokerage fees, or other transfer costs.

·       Because of the contractual nature of a life insurance contract, a large gift to charity is not subject to attack by disgruntled heirs.  Life insurance proceeds also do not run afoul of the so-called mortmain statutes which prohibit or limit gifts made within a short time prior to death.

·       A substantial gift may be made with no attending publicity.  Since the life insurance proceeds paid to charity can be arranged so that they will not be part of your probate estate, the proceeds can be paid confidentially.  Of course, publicity may be given if desired.

If you've ever wondered how you might "give something back", or felt drawn to support a particular charity, one of the most affordable and beneficial ways, is through the use of life insurance.

Be my guest for lunch or dinner in August for Money 101!

August Wine, Women & Wealth Dates

Wine, Women & Wealth

August 20 - NOTE NEW DATE

Rancho Bernardo

Bernardo Winery 13330 Paseo Del Verano Norte San Diego, CA 92128 Register here: http://goo.gl/BIjRkd

6pm to 8pm

August Money 101 Dates

Event	Date	City	Location	Time
Money 101	August 26	La Mesa	Sammy's Woodfired Pizza 8555 Fletcher Pkwy La Mesa, CA 91942 Register here: http://goo.gl/9Pu4Yh	6:30pm
Money 101	August 27	San Marcos	The Broken Yolk 101 South Las Posas Rd. San Marcos, CA 92078 Register here: http://goo.gl/f7mjSK	Lunch Express 12pm to 1pm
Money 101	August 27	San Marcos	Old Spaghetti Factory 111 N. Twin Oaks Valley Rd San Marcos, CA 92069 Register here: http://goo.gl/Syp9oq	6:30pm

Wine, Women & Wealth in AZ!

Mesa #AZ ladies, be my guest! http://lnkd.in/d_-6YZJ #Wine #Women & #Wealth!

The secret sadness of retired men | LifeHealthPro

The secret sadness of retired men | LifeHealthPro

Aug Wine Women and Wealth Dates, be my guest!

August Wine, Women & Wealth Dates

Wine, Women & Wealth	August 4	Carlsbad	Hera Hub Carlsbad 5205 Avenida Encinas Carlsbad, CA  92008 Register here: http://goo.gl/BlqICC	6pm to 8pm
Wine, Women & Wealth	August 5	San Juan Capistrano	Rancho Capistrano Winery 26755 Verdugo St Suite 100 San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675 Register here: http://goo.gl/jn8UiQ	6pm to 8pm
Wine, Women & Wealth	August 6	La Mesa	San Pasqual Winery 8364 La Mesa Blvd. La Mesa, CA 91941 Register here: http://goo.gl/uhwH7h	6pm to 8pm
Wine, Women & Wealth	August 27	Rancho Bernardo	Bernardo Winery 13330 Paseo Del Verano Norte San Diego, CA 92128 Register here: http://goo.gl/BIjRkd	6pm to 8pm

The AIG Turnaround Story: A Promise Kept, A New Chapter Begins

Tax Planning With Life Insurance

A cash value life insurance policy is a product that helps to secure the financial futures of families upon the death of an individual and enjoys a very favorable tax status.

While payments into the policy are generally not tax-deductible (unless the policy is bought within a qualified retirement program), the death proceeds are received by the policy beneficiaries free of income tax1. This favorable tax treatment of the policy death benefit reflects the government’s acknowledgement that providing financially for one’s family is an undertaking that should be encouraged.

In addition, since the typical cash value life insurance policy is funded with equal payments over the lifetime of the insured, amounts paid in excess of the cost of insurance and other expenses in the early years of the policy are allowed to compound on a tax-deferred basis over the life of the polic y. This tax-deferred cash value growth may allow the policy to be “pre-funded” at reasonable amounts over the life of the policy, rather than requiring an increasing payment as the insured gets older and has a higher probability of dying – which is the way a typical term policy is structured.

The structure of a whole life insurance policy with level premiums helps to make a lifetime death benefit protection program work efficiently and remain in force until the insured eventually dies and proceeds can be paid to the family to meet its ongoing financial obligations. Were the premium to increase each year, eventually the insured might find the cost of the insurance to be too much of a financial burden and discontinue making premium payments, perhaps leading to the lapse of the policy and loss of the needed insurance protection.

Another attractive feature of a cash value life insurance policy is the ability to take loans against the val ue of the policy2 which can be done without current income tax. Proper policy design from inception is critical to having these intended tax advantages, which is why it is important to work with a knowledgeable life insurance professional.

For example, policy loans can be used for a number of purposes over the lifetime of the insured. One typical use of policy loans is to pay for the increasing costs of attending college. The death benefit of the policy also serves as a self-completing feature, were the insured to die prematurely, before the family has the opportunity to accumulate sufficient funds to send the children to college. Life insurance cash values can also serve as a sort of “emergency fund”, which can be accessed when life throws the family a financial challenge.

Finally, policy cash values can be accessed income tax-free using policy loans and withdrawals in retirement as a source of supplemental retirement income. Who amon g us could not use an additional source of retirement income? Of course, accessing policy funds during lifetime will decrease the total death benefit that will be paid out when the insured eventually passes on, and enough cash value must be left in the policy to keep it in-force until the death of the insured. This is another reason why working with an insurance professional is so important.

Many families have come to recognize and appreciate the many tax advantages of cash value life insurance. Structured properly, such a policy can offer both living and death benefits that complement well their other financial strategies.

To determine if the many tax-advantages of cash value life insurance should be a part of your financial strategy, contact a life insurance professional for a thorough review of your particular situation. You may be surprised to find that you have a number of alternatives that may be able to help you and your family pursue greater financial security in these unsettled times.

Internal Revenue Code § 101(a)(1). There are some exceptions to this rule. Please consult a
qualified tax professional for advice concerning your individual situation.
Policy loans and withdrawals reduce the policy’s cash value and death benefit and may result in a taxable event. Withdrawals up to the basis paid into the contract and loans thereafter will not create an immediate taxable event, but substantial tax ramifications could result upon contract lapse or surrender. Surrender charges may reduce the policy's cash value in early years.

The views and information contained herein has been prepared independently of the presenting representative. It is presented for informational purposes only, and should not be construed as tax advice. Please consult with a tax professional before acting upon any such information.

Happy Fourth of July From Wine, Women & Wealth!

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July Money 101 and Wine Women and Wealth Dates!

July Wine, Women & Wealth Dates

Wine, Women & Wealth	July 7	Carlsbad	Hera Hub Carlsbad 5205 Avenida Encinas Carlsbad, CA  92008 Register here: http://goo.gl/wQm1Ax	6pm to 8pm
Wine, Women & Wealth	July 9	La Mesa	San Pasqual Winery 8364 La Mesa Blvd. La Mesa, CA 91941 Register here: http://goo.gl/Y3wNVT	6pm to 8pm
Wine, Women & Wealth	July 14	Old Town San Diego	Hacienda de la Rosas 2754 Calhoun St San Diego, CA 92110 Register here: http://goo.gl/lKuPKs	7pm to 9pm
Wine, Women & Wealth	July 30	Rancho Bernardo	Bernardo Winery 13330 Paseo Del Verano Norte San Diego, CA 92128 Register here: http://goo.gl/gM1aXT	6pm to 8pm

July Money 101 Dates

Event	Date	City	Location	Time
Money 101	July 28	San Marcos	The Broken Yolk 101 South Las Posas Rd. San Marcos, CA 92078 Register here: http://goo.gl/Zrp9Jr	Lunch Express 12pm to 1pm
Money 101	July 28	San Marcos	Old Spaghetti Factory 111 N. Twin Oaks Valley Rd San Marcos, CA 92069k Register here: http://goo.gl/WdtWcs	6:30pm

Summer Is Splendid At Wine, Women & Wealth

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Wine, Women & Wealth and more!

We had a wonderful turnout last night in Carlsbad at our new location for Wine Women and Wealth.  About half of our guests were first timers.  Awesome!  We now meet at Hera Hub in Carlsbad, its a spa like women's co-working space for entrepreneurs.  My amazing friend is the founder and I am the life and health insurance guru at her Sorrento Valley location.  If you are looking for a place to work that is way better and more relaxing than your home, please check it out.  www.herahub.com

I've been doing a lot of hiring lately.  I NEVER thought when I entered this business 20+ years ago that I would ever hire a team.  But I am now and I love it!

This is our big education week of the month at Five Rings Financial here in San Diego county.  We have Money 101 tonight in San Marcos, tomorrow at lunch time in Carlsbad at noon and tomorrow night in La Mesa!  If you are interested in learning about how money works and how you can save for a TAX Free Retirement please come to one of our events as my guest.  You can get all the info and RSVP at this link, www.fiveringseducation.com
 Lunch or dinner is on me!
Now that's saving money!

I am also excited to announce that I will be holding the first ever Money 101 on base at Camp Pendleton for the special needs families there either in August or Sept of this year.  Stay tuned for more info! 

We also launched Wine Women and Wealth in Orlando Last night, my colleague and friend Mara Hoover, did a great job there.  If you have any girlfriends in the Orlando area please let them know, we would love to have them as our guest.

On a lighter more personal note I am happy to say that my beloved Los Angeles Kings only need to win one more game to win the cup for the 2nd time, yahoo!  Go Kings Go!

Remember a man (or woman) is not a financial plan and Have a great week!

Graduating from college? Here are 4 ways to get health coverage

Graduating from college? Here are 4 ways to get health coverage

Join me in June at Money 101!

http://myemail.constantcontact.com/-Join-Us-in-June-at-Money-101-.html?soid=1103559743440&aid=UgELj5NeobQ

Life Insurance with Living Benefits

You Have 5 Minutes to Evacuate…

You Have 5 Minutes to Evacuate…

Tax Free Retirment Planning!

Are you saving for a TAX FREE Retirement?  We are in a VERY low tax environment now.  Join me at Money 101 on May 12 to learn more!  RSVP to me!  U.S. Federal Individual Income Tax Rates History, 1862-2013 (Nominal and Inflation-Adjusted Brackets) | Tax Foundation http://taxfoundation.org/article/us-federal-individual-income-tax-rates-history-1913-2013-nominal-and-inflation-adjusted-brackets via @taxfoundation

12 facts you should know about disability insurance | LifeHealthPro

12 facts you should know about disability insurance | LifeHealthPro

Tax Planning With Life Insurance

 A cash value life insurance policy is a product that helps to secure the financial futures of families upon the death of an individual and enjoys a very favorable tax status.

While payments into the policy are generally not tax-deductible (unless the policy is bought within a qualified retirement program), the death proceeds are received by the policy beneficiaries free of income tax1.  This favorable tax treatment of the policy death benefit reflects the government’s acknowledgement that providing financially for one’s family is an undertaking that should be encouraged.

In addition, since the typical cash value life insurance policy is funded with equal payments over the lifetime of the insured, amounts paid in excess of the cost of insurance and other expenses in the early years of the policy are allowed to compound on a tax-deferred basis over the life of the policy.  This tax-deferred cash value growth may allow the policy to be “pre-funded” at reasonable amounts over the life of the policy, rather than requiring an increasing payment as the insured gets older and has a higher probability of dying – which is the way a typical term policy is structured.

The structure of a whole life insurance policy with level premiums helps to make a lifetime death benefit protection program work efficiently and remain in force until the insured eventually dies and proceeds can be paid to the family to meet its ongoing financial obligations.  Were the premium to increase each year, eventually the insured might find the cost of the insurance to be too much of a financial burden and discontinue making premium payments, perhaps leading to the lapse of the policy and loss of the needed insurance protection.

Another attractive feature of a cash value life insurance policy is the ability to take loans against the value of the policy2 which can be done without current income tax.  Proper policy design from inception is critical to having these intended tax advantages, which is why it is important to work with a knowledgeable life insurance professional.

For example, policy loans can be used for a number of purposes over the lifetime of the insured.  One typical use of policy loans is to pay for the increasing costs of attending college.  The death benefit of the policy also serves as a self-completing feature, were the insured to die prematurely, before the family has the opportunity to accumulate sufficient funds to send the children to college.   Life insurance cash values can also serve as a sort of “emergency fund”, which can be accessed when life throws the family a financial challenge.

Finally, policy cash values can be accessed income tax-free using policy loans and withdrawals in retirement as a source of supplemental retirement income.  Who among us could not use an additional source of retirement income?  Of course, accessing policy funds during lifetime will decrease the total death benefit that will be paid out when the insured eventually passes on, and enough cash value must be left in the policy to keep it in-force until the death of the insured.  This is another reason why working with an insurance professional is so important.

Many families have come to recognize and appreciate the many tax advantages of cash value life insurance.  Structured properly, such a policy can offer both living and death benefits that complement well their other financial strategies.

To determine if the many tax-advantages of cash value life insurance should be a part of your financial strategy, contact a life insurance professional for a thorough review of your particular situation.  You may be surprised to find that you have a number of alternatives that may be able to help you and your family pursue greater financial security in these unsettled times.

1. Internal Revenue Code § 101(a)(1).  There are some exceptions to this rule.  Please consult a
2. qualified tax professional for advice concerning your individual situation.
3. Policy loans and withdrawals reduce the policy’s cash value and death benefit and may result in a taxable event.  Withdrawals up to the basis paid into the contract and loans thereafter will not create an immediate taxable event, but substantial tax ramifications could result upon contract lapse or surrender.  Surrender charges may reduce the policy's cash value in early years.

1. The views and information contained herein has been prepared independently of the presenting representative.  It is presented for informational purposes only, and should not be construed as tax advice.  Please consult with a tax professional before acting upon any such information.