Connecting Dots

1 - Introduction

2 - Read the disclaimer in our show notes

3 - Podcasting is now 100% mainstream

4 - Far more intimate and less distracting

5 - Enthusiasm is not enough, this is hard work if done right

6 - It looks easy but quality takes effort

7 - Massive change of the years, especially in recent years

8 - Old School, New School

9 - Efficient and Effective

10 - Discoverability

11 - Ending & Wrap

If your blood sugar is on the high end of the normal range, diabetes may not be your only risk. Studies suggest you are also at risk of brain shrinkage in areas associated with memory and thinking. At Fixed Cost Financial, we know from extensive study, that those who are 65 years of age, or older, are extremely, unlikely to ever become a client. We have often talked at length and have long suspected that there is a neurological problem associated with what we call the hug and mug. We’ve often asked, why to older people buy, hook, line, and sinker, the hogwash that a continuous stream of shyster salespeople are selling, and the financial product industry is no different from many other industries, commonly referred to as fly by nighters. Sadly, we have to report that there appears to be a stronger association than we ever imagined, with very bad decision making, based on emotions and those age 65 and older.

Even if someone seems perfectly healthy, research shows we all will lose as much as 0.4% of our brain mass every year. But the key is this, the rate of brain shrinkage increases with age and this is a major factor in early cognitive decline and premature death.

Working part-time to pay down debt is not the curse of today's younger workers. People have been working part-time, full-time, double, and triple time for as long as bipeds have been walking the planet. There is an uptick in the number of people working "gigs." Surveys and polls say the gig economy is real, but the data is weak when the language used by polling companies is weak. This is the case with a recent poll being touted as the newest insight into working part-time.

Working full-time and then putting in ten hours of part-time work, well, it didn't kill anyone we know of.

Iran and the attack on the oil tankers is a situation akin to Jerry McGuire: "Show me the (money) proof (and then follow the money). Who profits when oil goes up with money, votes, and elections? What are China and Russia doing when it comes to nuclear power plants? We know.

While we are at it, let's define what Green is. Does it include all efficient energy sources, and if not, why not? Do the goal posts change depending up whose in the Oval Office during a 4-year run? Let's take a moment to think about how China and Russia play the long-term game while the USA putts; just saying.

Polarizing conversations among those dug in are a waste of time, but still follow the money, and you'll find a pot of green something-or-another.

More employers are starting to pay workers to put money into a savings account, to have a rainy day fund. It will never work long-term. The long-term solution is a change of the mindset. Modern minimalist methods must replace consumption. Those who "hang" with spenders are in a rut.t that will eventually result in copycat behavior; get new friends. For employers, consider "voluntary" discussion groups about money management, and avoid hiring the commission-based off-Wall Street salesperson who will always be angling to sell a high-cost commission-based product, wrapped like a Christmas present. Don't by the empty box and suit pitch.

Today's bonus feature on DOTS.fm features those funny and wacky Ramen boys selling silly pans.

Introduction

Changes, some minor, some major.

Better flow, not so ridge

Timely, Makes life easier. Something kicks a topic out, can’t with a fixed schedule

Then items not on the podcast networks, on dots.fm as a bonus feature

Summary and show notes, better flow

We are also getting ready to launch another daily podcast, yes, daily, two shows a day, and this one will be similar but very different. I’ll let you know more about the new show in the weeks ahead.

Quote

Marilyn Monroe

Who was Marilyn Monroe: was an American actress, model, and singer. Famous for playing comic "blonde bombshell" characters, she became one of the most popular sex symbols of the 1950s and early 1960s and was emblematic of the era's changing attitudes towards sexuality. Although she was a top-billed actress for only a decade, her films grossed $200 million (equivalent to $2 billion in 2018) by the time of her unexpected death in 1962.[2] More than half a century later, she continues to be a major popular culture icon.

Been there: During the final months of her life, Monroe lived at 12305 Fifth Helena Drive in the Brentwood neighborhood of Los Angeles.

The toxicology report revealed that the cause of death was acute barbiturate poisoning. The possibility that Monroe had accidentally overdosed was ruled out because the dosages found in her body were several times over the lethal limit.

Quote: Marilyn Monroe: “I'm selfish, impatient and a little insecure. I make mistakes, I am out of control and at times hard to handle. But if you can't handle me at my worst, then you sure as hell don't deserve me at my best.”

Contact Us

888-629-7864

Email us at [email protected], or [email protected], or [email protected]

Blue Intercom button on dots.fm

Referrals Appreciated

Chapter 2

Do your research

Make a plan

Project management

Plan your finances

Budget

Goals

When to call it quits

Chapter 3

Business structure

Solo

Partnership

Incorporation C or S

Limited Liability Company

Limited Liability Partnership

Chapter 4

Agreements in writing

Management of expectations

Accounting system

Location

Team members

Chapter 5

Promotion, marketing, branding, humping it,

Beyond social media

Information overload

Digital overload

CRM software

Conflict resolution

Chapter 6

Bonus Feature

The question I ask when hired to advise a new business

888-629-7864

Referrals Appreciated

Quote

Dr. Seuss: “Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened.”

Bonus Feature

The question I ask when hired to advise a new business

Wednesday, June 12, 2019

Business - Episode 62

00:00:00 - Introduction

Call-In Line: 888-629-7864

30 Download Average - 141

3,400 downloads top 10%

9,000 downloads top 5%

50,000 downloads top 1%

Thank you for the tremendous growth

Spread the word to family, friends, neighbors, relatives, and co-workers

12% of all podcasts publish a single episode

6% end after 2 episodes

50% have 14 or fewer episodes

Special Feature - Dots.fm: Electric bikes, NYC, NYPD, and more

00:03:56 - Homeless Housing - Los Angeles

The housing crunch in America suffers from misguided laws, rules, and regulations

Los Angeles and San Francisco - My personal experience

No level of taxes can fix the problem

Money cannot buy a way out

Small businesses die when nobody comes to your store; that’s not right

Living on the sidewalks, feeling sorry for the homeless, what about the taxpaying small business owner

Between 12% and 20% increase in homeless numbers in 2018

60,000 equals the residential population of Ocala, Florida

The problem is their mindset

Drugs, alcohol, mental illness, retardation

Meaningless Words - Outreach, Affordable, Supportive

Average Rent: $3,000 San Francisco, $1,900 Los Angeles

Millionaire Tax - Billionaire Tax - not enough of them

Gov. Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, has proposed an additional $650 million for the block-grant program, plus $355 million for other programs to address homelessness.

$10 Billion Cost

Political spending for 2020 election is expected to be $10 Billion

00:24:23

Fixed Cost Financial, Inc., the home of Fixed Cost Investing

00:25:21

I Want This To Work

Why employees leave the job

Benefits, pay, environment, growth, pressure, can't keep pace

Recent survey

Unlimited Time Off

Four Day Workweek

Company Paid Vision Insurance

Company Paid Dental Insurance

Company Paid Medical Insurance

I don't want to work out at a gym but I do want unlimited time to sit around at the Dr.s office

Less common benefits

Unlimited kitchen, breakfast, lunch, dinner

Flexible hours for personal time, errands

Work laundry

Culture of growth, learning, relaxed but steady work

00:38:04

Vacation Time & Business Demands

Tie up loose ends

Impact on others

Deadlines

Joint projects and delegation

Tell everyone

Family, friends, neighbors, relatives, co-workers, key clients

Emergency contact

What communications tools

Law firm jerks who knew but did not care

Prepare yourself

Disconnecting isn't easy

Empower others before you leave

Who's uncharge

A real vacation

Time to relax

Decompress

Goodbye phone

Turn off news and more

Read for pleasure

00:34:11

Ending

Fixed Cost Financial, Inc.

Call-In Line: 888-629-7864

Notes

Sudden Wealth Syndrome

Distress due to sudden wealth

Large sums of money

Suddenly wealthy.

No experience doing the things needed

Before no budget, no record keeping, not knowing where to start

SWAT created for those who hit the big times but have no idea where to start and basically need a 2 by 4 across the head to wake up, pay attention, and to get down to business knowing it will be ok, but there's things to do.

Feeling isolated, former friends, turning backs, asking for handouts, feeling guilty'

You're not one of us anymore.

The maturity to reject them. If you can't you will be on the road to it's all gone

Fear of losing it all

Therapists, real and fake.

Fake Financial therapists who are there to hug and mug with commissions

Inheritance, Trust, metering it out

Sports, Lottery

Confusion comes with wealth, key, you get a decent size tax return, what did you do with it?

Spend it, pay off debt, invest it

What you did with prior bonuses and lump sums is an extremely strong indication of what you will do with the big one

Honeymoon: Like the honeymoon phase of a love relationship, people who first come into money feel powerful and invulnerable

Many go on spending sprees, buying things and making risky investments (often with disastrous results)

Minting Meaningful Mindsets. Clients. Series. Minting Millionaire Mindsets, Minting Mature Mindsets, Minting Monumental Mindsets. Maximize Mindful Missions, Minimize Mindless Messes. This is what SWAT training is all about and what our long-term client 3M program is all about.

What is the future, what do you want to do?

Instantly wealthy often results in instant insanity.

Beware of those who are selling the psychology of wealth to get you to buy high commission insurance and high cost schemes involving assets under management.

You are required to change

Action Plan

Affluence isn't easy,

Achievable and unachievable goals.

Links

11 Retired Players Still Being Paid by Their Old Teams

Why the Mets pay Bobby Bonilla $1.19 million every July 1

NFL Screws Over Players: Out of the 1,400 claims that had been submitted by retired players, only 140 had been approved.

Connecting Dots Schedule

Monday - Questions

Questions from clients and future clients of Fixed Cost Financial, Inc.

Tuesday - SWAT

Sudden Wealth Awareness Training

A discussion about sports and entertainment contracts, inheritance, litigation settlements, lottery wins, 401k, 403b, 457, deferred compensation, or lump sum pension distributions, and/or life insurance settlements.

Wednesday - Business

You are a lifestyle business and your lifestyle is business. If this describes you or if you want to think like a business person, Wednesday's podcast is for you.

Thursday - 3M

Tune in and tune up with our Minting Millionaire, Mature, and Monumental Mindsets. For all ages, incomes, net worths, education levels, occupations, races, sex, or national origin. These episodes are not suitable for buttercups or snowflakes.

Friday - Wrap

Reviewing people, places, and events from the past week and forecasting based facts, figures, and logical bets.

Saturday - Deep Dive

Buckle up and settle in for a deep dive into the world of connecting dots from those who do forecasting for a living. Deep dives are conversations that don't just tell a story but are designed to make one think beyond the traditional boundaries that hold many back. Unsettling, provocative, controversial, and sometimes weird, nothing is held back as patterns from chaos appear.

Sunday - Shows, Movies, and Videos

A relaxed review of a show, movie or video for the purpose of highlighting business principles. Listen to the podcast, take a few notes, and then watch with a different perspective. If you ever had a teacher or professor show a movie during class, the purpose was to engage and learn, not entertain and sluff off. Sundays are for learning beyond textbook based upon teachable moments in shows, movies, and videos.

Notes

Visit Dots.FM for today’s website notes

Today's first question comes from Jimmy, call me the Greek, in Boston. Jimmy phoned in and asked about wills and trusts. Jimmy explained that he is getting ready to retire and wants to know which is better, a Will or a Trust.

The difference between a Will and Trust

Probate versus Trust Administration

The Judge is in charge with probate

Master beneficiary designation

The importance of ART

Bad language, not specific, big problems

Tom Petty

Prince

Aretha Franklin

Michael Jackson

Amy Winehouse

Jimi Hendrix

Sonny bono

Kurt Cobain

Today's second question comes from Julie Ann, in Sarasota. Julie Ann used the online messaging program to ask the following. You have talked about Bobby. Big Bets on Big Ideas. Can you go into detail about what it means.

Focus on what is important

Family

Marriage

Parenting

Life Challenges

Faith

Social Issues

Business

One trick pony’s with affinity marketing, beware of the holy man who hugs and mugs

Mentor, online, in-person

Investing early, often, and the power of time with small amounts

Focus, Aware, Ignore

Like, Good, Profitable, Control

Links

None

Connecting Dots Schedule

Monday - Questions

Questions from clients and future clients of Fixed Cost Financial, Inc.

Tuesday - SWAT

Sudden Wealth Awareness Training

A discussion about sports and entertainment contracts, inheritance, litigation settlements, lottery wins, 401k, 403b, 457, deferred compensation, or lump sum pension distributions, and/or life insurance settlements.

Wednesday - Business

You are a lifestyle business and your lifestyle is business. If this describes you or if you want to think like a business person, Wednesday's podcast is for you.

Thursday - 3M

Tune in and tune up with our Minting Millionaire, Mature, and Monumental Mindsets. For all ages, incomes, net worths, education levels, occupations, races, sex, or national origin. These episodes are not suitable for buttercups or snowflakes.

Friday - Wrap

Reviewing people, places, and events from the past week and forecasting based facts, figures, and logical bets.

Saturday - Deep Dive

Buckle up and settle in for a deep dive into the world of connecting dots from those who do forecasting for a living. Deep dives are conversations that don't just tell a story but are designed to make one think beyond the traditional boundaries that hold many back. Unsettling, provocative, controversial, and sometimes weird, nothing is held back as patterns from chaos appear.

Sunday - Shows, Movies, and Videos

A relaxed review of a show, movie or video for the purpose of highlighting business principles. Listen to the podcast, take a few notes, and then watch with a different perspective. If you ever had a teacher or professor show a movie during class, the purpose was to engage and learn, not entertain and sluff off. Sundays are for learning beyond textbook based upon teachable moments in shows, movies, and videos.

NOTES

Our call-in line is 888-629-7864 - Leave a tip, idea, suggestion, comment, or opine away.

Bugs

Senior, the FBI, and Bryan

Incriminating Documents

Wendy Quickly Ends It

Rebecca, Crossed or Saved Axe - Does it matter?

Bryan and Brother - Two emotionally weak sisters

The Cufflinks Will Return

The Fixer Should Smell Something is Off

Lamster

Complex Relationships

Don’t Cross the President - Respect for the Office

What will Kat Sacker do?

The Baby Mama - Don’t hurt the baby or her

Wags, Poor Tender Wags

Rebecca’s Betrayal of “arch-enemy” in Taylor

Why the hatred - trust and betrayal

Billy McFarland and the Fyre Media - Festival Disaster - Movies

93 Gods Rule the Nation

AUSA - Gods in Training

Southern District of New York - One of the nation’s most powerful clubs - The Sovereign District of New York

Rudolph Giuliani - Preetinder Singh Bharara

Bharara earned a reputation of a "crusader" prosecutor. According to The New York Times, during his tenure he was one of "the nation's most aggressive and outspoken prosecutors of public corruption and Wall Street crime." Under Bharara, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York prosecuted nearly 100 Wall Street executives for insider trading and other offenses. He reached historic settlements and fines with the four largest banks in the United States, and closed multibillion-dollar hedge funds for activities including insider trading.

Steven Cohen

Dr. Sidney Gilman

Links

AeroPress - A better way to make coffee

It’s a ritual sort of things, he says, and we agree. Take a moment and enjoy the moment of doing a little thing that makes one smile.

The advantage of owning stocks over bundled funds. And with Fixed Cost Financial, there is “no” per-trade commission. Call us at 212-433-2525 and let’s chat about why the basics (like using an AeroPress) makes sense. Use this LINK to schedule a telephone call with our CEO.

Connecting Dots Schedule

Monday - Questions

Questions from clients and future clients of Fixed Cost Financial, Inc.

Tuesday - SWAT

Sudden Wealth Awareness Training

A discussion about sports and entertainment contracts, inheritance, litigation settlements, lottery wins, 401k, 403b, 457, deferred compensation, or lump sum pension distributions, and/or life insurance settlements.

Wednesday - Business

You are a lifestyle business and your lifestyle is business. If this describes you or if you want to think like a business person, Wednesday's podcast is for you.

Thursday - 3M

Tune in and tune up with our Minting Millionaire, Mature, and Monumental Mindsets. For all ages, incomes, net worths, education levels, occupations, races, sex, or national origin. These episodes are not suitable for buttercups or snowflakes.

Friday - Current

Reviewing people, places, and events from the past week and forecasting based facts, figures, and logical bets.

Saturday - Deep Dive

Buckle up and settle in for a deep dive into the world of connecting dots from those who do forecasting for a living. Deep dives are conversations that don't just tell a story but are designed to make one think beyond the traditional boundaries that hold many back. Unsettling, provocative, controversial, and sometimes weird, nothing is held back as patterns from chaos appear.

Sunday - Shows, Movies, and Videos

A relaxed review of a show, movie or video for the purpose of highlighting business principles. Listen to the podcast, take a few notes, and then watch with a different perspective. If you ever had a teacher or professor show a movie during class, the purpose was to engage and learn, not entertain and sluff off. Sunday's are for learning beyond textbook based upon teachable moments in shows, movies, and videos.

If you have an opinion, idea, thought, or something to share, call +1 888-629-7864.

Sponsored By: Fixed Cost Financial, Inc. the home of Fixed Cost Investing℠

NOTES

1. Thoughtful Conversations - Clients

A. Actionable information and knowledge

B. Busy clients, families, work, commuting,

C. Importance of delegation

D. CEO to Basic Blue Collar

E. No longer comfortable with own skin, skill set, making better use of time

F. Confusing, complex, contradictory information

G. Pointing in the right direction

H. We developed a comprehensive program for Retainer, User, Delegator, Abdicator, Ignorer

I. Financial planning by and for the individual, same with economics, individual basis

2. Personal Air Conditioner - Facebook, Advertisement

A. Show links

B. Evaporator

C. EvaSMART 2

D. Indiegogo smash hit

E. Entrepreneur

F. Hogwash

3. Apartment Building Owners Try to Grapple with Tougher Energy Use Requirements

A. how much it might cost co comply.

B. New York City is the first city in the world to require all large existing buildings of 25,000 square feet or more, of which there are 50,000 citywide, to make efficiency upgrades… or face steep penalties

C. sustainability requirements

D. Energy efficiency is a worthwhile objective, but NMHC has argued that the upfront cost needs to be kept within reasonable bounds

E. Nearly all (98 percent) of apartment developers said changes in building codes over the past 10 years increased development costs for the average apartment project, and these costs, when they exist, average 7.2 percent of total development costs

4. Tony Robbins

A. Tony Robbins Strikes Back: Own Your Own Firm, Never Get Fired

B. We’ve watched at least one high-profile RIA pull away from Tony Robbins after the latest wave of old scandals resurfaced.

C. The logic there is ruthless but clear. The firm tied its reputation to the celebrity figurehead but can’t supervise his outside activities.

D. As his disclosures routinely point out, Robbins owns 30% of retirement plan service group America’s Best 401(k). They can’t kick him out without buying him out.

E. There’s no regulatory disclosure on the site and while the principals are passionate about better retirement outcomes, they don’t show up in an SEC search.

F. Medical Practice owned by non-Doctors

G. Salesforce founder Marc Benioff technically plays a similar role in this particular firm. He doesn’t pontificate much about plan design or how great America’s Best 401(k) is.

H. Benioff first discovered the self-help guru as a 28-year-old. The aspiring entrepreneur was working at a big corporation when he began absorbing Robbins's tapes and attending his seminars. Eventually, he credited Robbins with his decision to start Salesforce years later, now a $6.6 billion San Francisco enterprise behemoth.

I. It may be among the most ancient pieces of leadership wisdom, yet when it falls from Robbins's lips, people listen, and they have for more than 30 years. "When everybody's unsure what to do, and there's somebody who fucking knows, everyone pays attention," says Robbins. "Someone who has certainty, even if they're wrong, will lead other people."

J. Robbins Research International, a life-coaching empire that includes a massive book business (15 million volumes sold globally), an audio business (50 million programs sold), a life-coach certification business, and seminars for which attendees pay as much as $8,000 to be in the same room with the man himself.

5. Stocks rose strongly on Tuesday morning after Fed Chair Jerome Powell said that the Fed would respond appropriately to trade war risks. The comments pointed to a future cut in interest rates and echoed comments from St. Louis Fed President James Bullard on Monday. Meanwhile, the Commerce Department reported that U.S. factory goods orders fell 0.8% in April, down from a revised 1.3% increase in March. T

6. Social Security was never really intended to be the sole source of income for older Americans. Originally developed in the 1930s to supplement employer-sponsored plans and other personal savings, it’s now become the major stream of income for many retirees.

A. Ninety percent of those 65 and older receive benefits today. More than 62 million Americans will receive approximately $955 billion in Social Security benefits this year.1 However, the gap between what we receive from Social Security and the income many of us will need in the years to come may be wide.

B. That’s why it’s crucial to consider how timing, income, and taxes impact your Social Security benefits. Understanding more about these factors can help you plan accordingly, avoid surprises, and prepare for what you may need to find other sources of income to fill any gaps.

C. Today, 66 is full retirement age for anyone born before 1960 and 67 for those born after. Your benefits grow by 8% every year that you delay claiming them. The longer you hold off, the greater your benefits will be.

D. There are certainly pros and cons to taking them early or waiting. You can actually delay taking them all the way to age 70 before you stop seeing incremental increases in the benefit amount. If you can delay taking benefits until at least 70, you’ll have increased your annual Social Security income by 76% relative to someone who began taking benefits early at 62.

E. If you’re thinking about working while receiving Social Security benefits, your benefits may be reduced depending on when you file.

a. Before full retirement age, benefits are reduced $1 for every $2 above $16,920 in earned income.

b. At full retirement age, benefits are reduced $1 for every $3 above $44,880 in earned income.

c. After full retirement age, there’s no limit on earnings. Withheld earnings are returned.

F. Your benefits may be taxed. The question is if they are, at what percentage? That depends on what tax bracket you’re in. If your combined income is equal to or less than $25,000 if you file as an individual ($32,000 if married, filing jointly), then none of your Social Security benefit is taxable

a. If it’s more than $25,000 and equal to or less than $34,000 ($32,000 and $44,000 if married, filing jointly), up to 50% is taxable. If your combined income is more than $34,000 ($44,000 if married, filing jointly), it goes up to 85% being subject to taxation

b. Speak with your tax advisor for guidance concerning the calculation of taxes.

G. Catastrophe Bonds

a. Catastrophe bonds (also known as cat bonds) are risk-linked securities that transfer a specified set of risks from a sponsor to investors. They were created and first used in the mid-1990s in the aftermath of Hurricane Andrew and the Northridge earthquake.

b. In the first quarter of this year, a record $4.24 billion in new catastrophe bonds was issued in 17 separate transactions,” said Robert Hartwig, associate professor and co-director of the Risk and Uncertainty Management Center at the University of South Carolina’s Darla Moore School of Business. “What this says is that cat bonds are no longer ...