As an investor, I've always wondered why Social Security is such a problem. What's so difficult about managing this particular Trust Fund, and why is it so different from other investment accounts that pay out a constant stream of income? The private sector does it routinely with defined benefit pension plans and fixed annuities, so what's the big deal? Is Social Security failing because it hasn't been invested soundly, or is there some other reason?
The most obvious explanation is politics, but we're running out of time for finger pointing, and Social Security is solvable in a surprisingly painless manner. It will require a whole new approach that uses old ideas and institutions in ways that most of us have pretty much given up on. As hopeless as the Bush Administration's Nicotine Patch for Social Security would have been, it pointed in the right direction. Now don't hit DELETE when I refer to "privatization", or when I mention one of my own most hated financial products, the "annuity".Both are needed to permanently fix the Social Security mess, to get it away from people who are neither managers nor investment specialists, and to make the whole system work more economically. The purpose of this article is to get you to think about it... and to elect a hero with the guts to fix it. Unfortunately, Joe DiMaggio has left the building!
Are you surprised that there is no "Social Security Trust Fund"... no investments and no Investment Managers? This is a gigantic Government designed and controlled Ponzi scheme that has worked incredibly well in spite of congressional tinkering and prohibitively high cost. There was always a tax plan for funding the benefits, but never an Investment Plan. And as difficult as it is for me to admit, no sophisticated Investment Plan is really necessary. We just need a new (reduced) contribution plan, one that isn't designed to fund every politically sensitive entitlement that compromises itself down the aisle. We need a simplified benefit structure that supplements privately funded (untaxed) retirement programs. [Healthcare just has to be a separate issue, perhaps an actual (managed) Trust Fund, and certainly something that should not be funded by private citizens until there is meaningful tort reform in this country.] Pshew! Back to the point... We can eliminate all the unnecessary bells and whistles simply by mandating personalized benefit funding. Let the politicians deal with homeland security while the private sector deals with things financial.
After the repeal of the Social Security tax and implementation of mandated Individual Retirement Plan Contributions, the Social Security bureaucracy will retain several important functions: 1) Qualifying private sector companies and licensing them to provide Social Security Retirement Income Annuities (SSRIAs). Thousands of providers will be needed, but only, fixed income experienced, profitable companies need apply. 2) Developing a computerized system for participant/provider matching... inspired randomness is essential. 3) Proactive monitoring of compliance with the minimal rules, installation of fraud detection systems, and investigation of all violations by providers, participants, and retirees, 4) Keeping the plan sacred, simple, and principally unchanged by future legislation. The plan must be kept: simple and profitable for providers; painless and visible to participants; timely and comprehensible to retirees.
The SSRIA is a new and improved version of the ancient Deferred Fixed Annuity Contract... a boring but guaranteed retirement benefit vehicle, funded by both mandated and voluntary payroll deductions, with a whole bunch of new wrinkles that make it an ideal Social Security replacement program. For example, and unlike existing annuity contracts: 1) Participants will be allocated to "qualified SSRIA providers" so there will be no sales commissions, no business acquisition or retention costs, no advertising expenses, etc. 2) All SSRIA contracts (regardless of provider) will contain the same terms, interest guarantees, retirement benefit choices, and pre-retirement death benefits, thus eliminating any incentives for internal fraud and manipulation of statistics. 3) Qualified providers will establish separate subsidiaries to manage and control SSRIA operations and to assure that only high quality, income securities are used to fund future benefits.4) All qualified providers will use the same mortality, investment earnings and expense assumptions, and all benefits will be fully guaranteed by the parent corporations.
The SSRIA is a supplemental retirement program, funded by a much smaller, yet flexible, payroll deduction, and it is designed to be the foundation of a retiree's total retirement package... a benefit floor. Participants will choose (annually, for the following year) to deposit from the required 2% up to a maximum 4% of their Pre-Tax Income to their personal SSRIA, a contract that will follow them everywhere, from employer to employer, throughout their working years. Before retirement, a death benefit equal to the full cash value of the contract will be paid to the designated beneficiary. At retirement, participants can elect either a Life Annuity or a Joint & 50% Survivor Annuity. No variable plans of any kind will ever be allowed; there will be no loan privileges, withdrawals, or dividends. Providers are expected to make a reasonable profit, which will ultimately be determined by their operating and investing abilities... hmmm, I smell capitalism.
Employer sponsored benefit programs and individual savings and investments are expected to make up the bulk of private retirement programs. The SSRIA will assure that everyone has something, but individual savings and retirement plans, both company sponsored and personally funded, will be encouraged by new IRS policy. No retirement income, regardless of source will be subject to income taxation! Neither employers nor self-employed persons will be required to make matching contributions of any kind to employee SSRIAs. However, they will be encouraged to use their improved cash flow to increase employment or to reduce prices, perhaps by a new system that will reduce their corporate income tax obligations as a reward for boosting the economy. Similarly, billions of dollars of discretionary spendable income will find its way back into the economy from consumers whose payroll deductions have been slashed deservedly.
Subsequent articles will deal with: SSRIA Providers, Participation Rules, Transitioning the Change at Four Levels, and Dealing with the Obscenely Overpaid.
Steve Selengut
http://www.sancoservices.com
http://www.valuestockbuylistprogram.com
Professional Portfolio Management since 1979
Author of: "The Brainwashing of the American Investor: The Book that Wall Street Does Not Want YOU to Read", and "A Millionaire's Secret Investment Strategy"
REITs and CEFs: The KISS Principal Applied to Real Estate
Real Estate investing is not nearly as legally complicated, financially burdensome, or time consuming as you might think. In fact, it is easy to add raw land, shopping centers, apartment complexes, and private homes to your portfolio without Brokers, Bankers, Attorneys, and a Rolodex full of maintenance professionals' phone numbers. Even better, you can blend your Real Estate investments into your security portfolio for ease of management, income monitoring, diversification analysis, etc. Without having mega millions to work with, or a line of credit that goes around the block, you can have positions in various forms of Real Estate (Commercial, Industrial, Residential) at the same time, and focus either on Growth Opportunities, Income Production, or a combination of the two.
If you thought that Real Estate was out of your investment reach because of limited funds, or minimal personal experience, you were selling yourself short. All of the basic types of Real Estate Investing are available through CEFs (Closed End Funds) and REITs (Real Estate Investment Trusts), and both can be purchased in the same manner as any common stock. And for me, this has always been their (CEFs and REITs) single most attractive feature! You can own a piece of the action without the big commitment of time and resources. You can take advantage of changes in the Real Estate Market Cycle in precisely the same manner as you can deal with the volatility and fluctuations in the Stock and Fixed Income Markets.
Real Estate CEFs and REITs are obviously safer investments than outright purchases of Shopping Centers and Apartment Complexes. They are also somewhat less risky than owning the common stock of individual Real Estate companies. The size of the numbers may be less exciting, but the net income and capital gains potential are comparable and the turnover rate much more impressive. Both methods (of participation in the Real Estate market) should be considered as you add to your investment portfolio… but to which Asset Allocation "bucket"? I've always included REITs and Real Estate CEFs in the Fixed Income bucket while the common stock of a plain vanilla Real Estate Company would properly fit within the Equity portion. When adding Equities of any kind to your portfolio, you should avoid the standard "Mob Popularity and Greed" model and select only S & P, B+ or better, rated stocks that pay dividends (regardless of size) and that are priced at least 20% below their 52 week high. After a huge rally in any market, I would be even more selective than that from a percentage standpoint, and I would buy about one-half the normal position to facilitate average cost reduction later. You must establish a reasonable profit-taking target on any investment. Real Estate is no exception. No matter what the investment, Virginia, the longer and stronger the rally, the steeper and faster the correction is likely to be.
On the Income side of the portfolio, make sure that you look at a lot of REITs and even more CEFs of various kinds to get a feel for the levels of income they produce. REITs must pay out a certain percentage of their earnings, but CEFs may not have the same restriction. I believe that either can be "leveraged", which simply means that management may choose to borrow some of the money that they invest. Leverage is not a four-letter word when used properly, and (in my opinion) it is more likely to help your results than it is to hurt them. It's always a good practice to stay within the normal income range, assuming that there is either a risk or a management reason for the highest and lowest yields, respectively. Be careful not to create a poorly diversified income portfolio. Bonds, Preferred Stocks, Mortgages, etc. deserve your attention as well and should be represented. Monthly income is available and more attractive than any other.
The major distinction between the two types of investing needs some re-emphasis. When purchasing stock in a Real Estate company (or any other company), your main objective should be to sell the stock for a reasonable profit as quickly as possible. You will then select some other stock and repeat the process. It is likely that you will return to the same companies over and over again, and you are the manager… any dividend income is gravy. When purchasing a REIT or a Real Estate CEF, you are depending on the managers of these entities to generate income and capital gains and to pass it on to you every month, recognizing that the actual amount may vary slightly over time. You have the bonus capability either of selling the REIT or CEF shares when they rise to an acceptable profit level (more gravy), or of buying more shares to increase your income level. The distinctions (benefits?) of this form of Real Estate Investing vs. ownership of the properties themselves should be clear as well.
No attorneys; no debt; no maintenance; no problem.
Motorola Inc. Earnings Conference Call (Q2 2006)
Scheduled to start Wed, Jul 19, 2006, 5:00 pm Eastern
About Motorola Inc. (NYSE:MOT)
Motorola, Inc. engages in the design, manufacture, marketing, and
sale of mobility products worldwide. It operates in four segments:
Mobile Devices, Government and Enterprise Mobility Solutions,
Networks, and Connected Home Solutions. The Mobile Devices segment
offers wireless handsets with related software and accessory
products. This segment develops its products using GSM, CDMA, iDEN
and 3G technologies. The Government and Enterprise Mobility
Solutions segment provides wireless communications systems for
government and public safety markets; business wireless devices,
networks, and applications for enterprise organizations; and
electronics and telematics systems for automobile manufacturers. The
Networks segment provides cellular infrastructure systems; fiber-to-
the-premise and fiber-to-the-node transmission systems; wireless
broadband systems; and embedded communications computing platforms.
This segment also offers cellular networks, including radio base
stations, base site controllers, associated software and services,
mobility soft switching, application platforms and third-party
switching for CDMA, GSM, iDEN, and UMTS technologies. In addition,
it provides optical line terminals and optical network terminals for
passive optical networks; access points, subscriber modules, and
backhaul modules for wireless broadband systems; and advanced TCA
and micro TCA communications servers. The Connected Home Solutions
segment offers various broadband products, high speed data products,
hybrid fiber coaxial network transmission systems, digital satellite
program distribution systems, direct-to-home satellite networks and
private networks for business communications, and video
communication products. The company offers its products through
direct sale, distributors, dealers, and retailers. Motorola was
founded in 1928 and is headquartered in Schaumburg, Illinois.
Evergreen Solar to Host Second-Quarter Conference Call on July 25,
2006
Friday July 14, 12:02 pm ET
July 14, 2006--Evergreen Solar, Inc. (Nasdaq: ESLR - News), a
manufacturer of solar power products with its proprietary, low-cost
String Ribbon(TM) wafer technology, today announced that it will
release its second-quarter 2006 financial results after the market
closes on Tuesday, July 25, 2006.
Management will conduct a conference call at 5:00 p.m. (ET) that
evening to review the Company's second-quarter financial results.
The conference call will be webcast live over the Internet. The
webcast can be accessed by logging on to the "Investors" section of
Evergreen Solar's website, www.evergreensolar.com, prior to the
event.
The call also can be accessed by dialing (866) 550-6338 or (347) 284-
6930 prior to the start of the call. For those unable to join the
live conference call, a replay will be available from 8:00 p.m. (ET)
on July 25 through midnight (ET) on July 31. To access the replay,
dial (888) 203-1112 or (719) 457-0820 and refer to confirmation code
8861504. The webcast will be archived on the Company's website.
About Evergreen Solar, Inc.
Evergreen Solar, Inc. develops, manufactures and markets solar power
products using proprietary, low-cost manufacturing technologies. The
Company's patented crystalline silicon technology, known as String
Ribbon, uses significantly less silicon than conventional
approaches. Evergreen's products provide reliable and
environmentally clean electric power for residential and commercial
applications globally. For more information about the Company,
please visit www.evergreensolar.com.
Evergreen Solar® is a registered trademark and String Ribbon(TM) is
a trademark of Evergreen Solar, Inc.
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Source: Evergreen Solar, Inc.
Wiremedia Enters Partnership Negotiations with Foreign Companies
Interested in Selling Bluetooth Proximity Media Servers Throughout
Europe and Asia
Tuesday June 27, 6:00 am ET
June 27, 2006--Wiremedia (PINK SHEETS: WRMA - News), a leader in
Bluetooth location-based proximity marketing, today announced that
the company is in the midst of negotiations with several firms who
have expressed considerable interest in marketing the Bluetooth
MediaServer throughout territories outside of North America.
Since the official launch of its Bluetooth proximity marketing
service, the company has been inundated with partnership requests
and sales inquiries from countries near and far.
"We expect the demand for our product and service inside North
America to fully occupy our resources. Therefore, it makes good
business sense to partner with interested parties who are willing to
assume all of the risks in marketing our products and services
overseas, " said Mr. Fede, CEO of Wiremedia.
The company is still actively engaged in the process of building a
robust sales team and will update shareholders in a subsequent news
release regarding the progress.
Wiremedia's Bluetooth Location-based Proximity marketing service
enables retailers, shopping malls, movie theaters, small businesses,
and public spaces the ability to engage in location-based marketing
affordably and with ease.
Top 5 Reasons Merchants choose Bluetooth Location-based proximity
marketing:
Speed - Content is delivered to mobile phones in seconds
Cost - Significantly cheaper than direct mail or other media
Interactivity - Interact with or engage consumers nearby
Proximity - The mobile phone is always in the consumer's pocket
Viral - Content Shareability factor allows for epidemic phenomenon.
About Wiremedia's Bluetooth Proximity Advertising:
Wiremedia's Bluetooth Mediaserver, branded ProximityMedia, is an out-
of-the-box solution that enables delivery of rich media content,
coupons, music, videos, etc to mobile phones and PDAs. Bluetooth-
enabled devices "will undergo 60% compound annual growth rate
between 2006-2008"according to In-Stat/MDR.
http://www.proximitymedia.com/home.htm
Wiremedia (PINK SHEETS: WRMA - News), an emerging company focused on
creating scalable wireless mobile technologies to deliver value-
added mobile marketing services globally. Visit
http://www.proximitymedia.com
Statements contained herein, which are not historical facts, may be
considered "forward-looking statements" under the Private Securities
Litigation Reform Act of 1995, and within the meaning of Section 27A
of the Securities Act of 1933, and Section 21E of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934. Forward-looking statements are subject to
certain risks, trends and uncertainties that could cause actual
results to differ materially from those projected, anticipated
herein.
Contact:
Wiremedia
C. Fede, 561-276-9281
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Source: Wiremedia
Affinity Announces Official Notification of the Successful Conclusion of
the Reexamination of Its Financial and Credit Account Patent
COLUMBIA South Carolina March 30, 2006
Affinity Technology Group, Inc. (OTCBB:AFFI - News) today announced that
the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (PTO) posted on its Patent
Application Information Retrieval (PAIR) system database a "Notice of
Intent to Issue Ex Parte Reexamination Certificate" relating to its U.S.
Patent No. 6,105,007 entitled "Automatic Financial Account Processing
System". Although the Company has not yet received the Notice from the
PTO, the posting of the Notice on PAIR constitutes an official
notification and cites the "Reasons for Patentability / Confirmation."
The Notice indicates the Reexamination resulted in the full allowance of
all the claims of the Company's U.S. Patent No. 6,105,007.
Joe Boyle, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, stated,
"This is a significant event in our defense of our patents. Not only
does it represent the conclusion of a two-year reexamination process
associated with U.S. Patent No. 6,105,007, but it represents a
successful conclusion to the seven year process in which we have also
successfully defended, through reexamination, our other two patents,
U.S. Patent Nos. 5,870,721 and 5,940,811. We consider this a significant
validation of our patents and our decision to exploit the value of our
patents through a patent licensing business model. The continuous
reexaminations of our patents have inhibited our licensing program over
the past seven years and our ability to attract capital resources. Our
next challenge will be to secure the capital resources to continue the
operations of the Company and realize the maximum value from our patent
portfolio."
About Affinity Technology Group, Inc.
Through its subsidiary, decisioning.com, Inc., Affinity Technology
Group, Inc. owns a portfolio of patents that covers the automated
processing and establishment of loans, financial accounts and credit
accounts through an applicant-directed remote interface, such as a
personal computer or terminal touch screen. Affinity's patent portfolio
includes U. S. Patent No. 5,870,721C1, No. 5,940,811C1, and No.
6,105,007.
Forward-looking statements in this news release are made pursuant to the
safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act
of 1995. Investors are cautioned that our business is subject to several
substantial risks and uncertainties, including the Company's very
limited capital resources and the possibility that we may be unable to
raise additional capital in amounts sufficient to permit it to continue
its operations; the risk that we may lose all or part of the claims
covered by our patents as a result of challenges to our patents; the
risk that our patents may be subject to additional reexamination by the
U.S. Patent and Trademark Office or challenge by third parties; the
possibility all or some of the holders of the convertible secured notes
issued by the Company may take action to collect the amounts outstanding
under these notes; the result of ongoing litigation; and unanticipated
costs and expenses affecting the Company's cash position. If the Company
is not able to raise additional capital immediately, it may be forced to
consider alternatives for winding down its business, which may include
offering its patents for sale or filing for bankruptcy protection.
Moreover, if any of the holders of the convertible notes issued by the
Company take action to collect the amounts owed by the Company under
these notes, the Company will be forced to consider alternatives for
winding down its business, which may include offering its patents for
sale or filing for bankruptcy protection. These and other factors may
cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated.
Contact:
Affinity Technology Group, Inc.
Joe Boyle, 803-758-2511
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Source: Affinity Technology Group, Inc.
AFFI - Reexamination of U.S. Patent No. 6,105,007
http://www.stockhelp.net/2006/03/affi-reexamination-of-us-patent-no.htmlhttp://www.stockhelp.net/
Affinity Comments on Entry Posted on the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office's
Website
Tuesday March 28, 4:54 pm ET
COLUMBIA, S.C. March 28, 2006 -- Affinity Technology Group, Inc. (OTCBB:AFFI -
News) today announced that the Patent Application Information Retrieval (PAIR)
system database maintained by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) was
updated on March 27, 2006 to indicate that the USPTO had completed the
reexamination of U.S. Patent No. 6,105,007 and mailed a "Notice of Intent to
Issue a Reexamination Certificate" to the Company. The Company has not received
any written communication from the USPTO regarding the completion of the
reexamination and is not able to provide any additional information at this
time.
Motorola PEBL Gets a Colorful Makeover Wednesday March 15, 11:30 am ET
Motorola Expands Consumer Choices With Four Bright New Colors
LIBERTYVILLE, Ill., March 15 -- Continuing to bring vibrant color to consumers everywhere, Motorola, Inc. (NYSE: MOT - News), a global leader in wireless communications, is adding four beautiful shades to the smooth, pure lines of the iconic PEBL, showcasing the driving importance of color inspiration in the mobile space.
Offered in green, pink, blue and orange, the popular PEBL handset now lets consumers use colors to express personal style just in time for summer. A next step in the continuing design revolution, Motorola's innovative use of color, finishes and materials on its iconic products enhance breakthrough handset designs by adding different personalities and energy to the outward appearance.
"We've gone from pink to "whoa" - leveraging our leadership in color and design to make the PEBL expressive and refreshing. This is a product you choose because you want it, not because you need it," said Jim Wicks, Vice President and Director, Consumer Experience Design, Motorola. "Combining a rich experience in technology with the value of self expression, the Motorola PEBL in living color is a break from the traditional and makes a deeper connection between consumer and mobile device - it allows you to directly mix and match your mobile phone style."
Never compromising good looks for features, the new bright and bold PEBL phones boast hi-tech capabilities and a unique design that features a remarkably effortless one-handed opening hinge mechanism. With video capture and playback you can document the world around you - just shoot and send experiences as they happen to family and friends via Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS)*.
The four fun mobiles also come equipped with Bluetooth® wireless technology and independent speech recognition for true hands-free calling and its quad band antenna lets you show your inner color wherever your travels may take you.
Pricing and Availability
The color PEBL phones are expected to be available in the first half of 2006. Specific details will be provided upon consumer availability.
About Motorola
Motorola is known around the world for innovation and leadership in wireless and broadband communications. Inspired by our vision of Seamless Mobility, the people of Motorola are committed to helping you get and stay connected simply and seamlessly to the people, information, and entertainment that you want and need. We do this by designing and delivering "must have" products, "must do" experiences and powerful networks -- along with a full complement of support services. A Fortune 100 company with global presence and impact, Motorola had sales of US $36.8 billion in 2005. For more information about our company, our people and our innovations, please visit http://www.motorola.com .
*Network and/or SIM card dependent feature, not available in all areas. Airtime, data charges, and/or additional charges may apply.
Certain mobile phone features may not be activated by your service provider, and/or their network settings may limit the feature's functionality. Contact your service provider for details. All features, functionality and other product specifications are subject to change without notice or obligation.
MOTOROLA and the Stylized M Logo are registered in the US Patent & Trademark Office. The Bluetooth trademarks are owned by their proprietor and used by Motorola, Inc. under license. All other product or service names are the property of their respective owners.
Nanotechnology
Nanotechnology is the science of very small things. \"Nano\" means
one-billionth, so nanotechnology deals with materials measured in a billionth of
a meter. A nanometer is 1/80,000 the diameter of a human hair or approximately
ten hydrogen atoms wide. But nanotechnology is not just involved with small
things. Nanotechnology is a multi-discipline science. It includes knowledge from
biology, chemistry, physics and other disciplines.
Meaning of Nanotechnology
Nanotechnology can best be considered as a \'catch-all\' description of
activities at the level of atoms and molecules that have applications in the
real world. Nanotechnology involves the use of man-made materials so small; they
are measured on the scale of a nanometer. The word \"Nano\" is derived from the
Greek word for Dwarf. It means \"a billionth.\" A nanometer is a billionth of a
meter, that is, about 1/80,000 of the diameter of a human hair, or 10 times the
diameter of a hydrogen atom. Nanotechnology has several meanings as it
encompasses many fields.
Nanotechnology derives its name from the nanometer, (10-9 Meter or a billionth
of a meter) & refers to the manipulation of matter at the atomic & molecular
level. The ideas behind it are simple ones: Every substance on earth is made up
of molecules composed of one or more atoms (the smallest particle of element);
to describe the molecule that constitute a physical object & how they
inter-relate is to say nearly everything important about the object. It follows,
then, that if you can manipulate individual atoms & molecules & put them
together in certain configuration, you should be able to create just about
anything you desire.
Nanotechnology, more descriptively known as molecular manufacturing, involves
the design, modeling, fabrication and manipulation of materials and devices at
the atomic scale. It necessitates thorough spatial control of matter at the
level of molecules and atoms, with capabilities to process and rearrange them
into custom designs. Nanotechnology differs from traditional chemical
manufacturing in that the chemical reactions are not left to statistical
movements of molecules in solutions, but instead the molecules are brought into
appropriate positions with appropriate speeds and orientations to cause desired
reactions. Nanotechnology also differs fundamentally from micro-manufacturing of
silicon chips in that the top-down approach and repeated refinement of bulk
materials (e.g. etching silicon) into micro or even Nano-scale designs suffers
from defects inherent in the original bulk material. In contrast,
nanotechnology\'s bottom-up approach will build essentially defect-free
structures
from the atoms up.
Advantages
• By applying Nanotechnology, products can be 5 times as strong, 10 times as
efficient, and millions of times compact -or better. • Products can be designed
in days and can be distributed in hours. • Products can even be Pre-Designed.
While our understanding of Nanotechnology is still crude, the ability to
manipulate matter with molecular precision already seems set to eclipse the
changes wrought by the information age, changes enabled simply by our ability to
manipulate data. These changes will be both incremental and disruptive, and
businesses and governments that ignore this increasing wave of change so at
their peril.
http://www.arizonabiotech.com/
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