money

What in the World Is Going On?

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That should read “What is Going On in the World?” You have any idea?

Money and wealth are distorting the natural order of things all over this wonderful globe. You learned about Dynamic Model Pricing a few weeks ago and how money changes fair trade. An article on the web showed how many is entering politics in ever increasing levels, since the Supreme Court decreed “Corporations are People, too” and can contribute like you or me. That was 2013, and the infamous Citizens United Ruling. So you contribute $100 to your favorite candidate. XYZ Corporation contributes $1 million. Who does your candidate favor? Google how campaigns were financed before 2013. It was complicated but fair for all. Now, money pays and money plays.* Say it isn’t so.

But the real mess is geo-political. Donald Trump has shaken up the world and this is going to be the result: Three Super Nations will rule the world in 20 years. Russia will take over Europe and most of the Middle East, China will get all the Asian nations, including Taiwan, and to Make America Great Again, we get the entire western Hemisphere. Australia, New Zealand and Africa are up for grabs, probably the last places where opposing armed forces will fight. Proof? Who wants Greenland, is talking about other Latin American conquests, and is cultivating a friendship with Argentina? Trump. Us. Who is cutting off aid, and probably support, to Europe? Us. Who has already entered a European neighbor to take over territory? Putin. Who is instigating and threatening military action in the Pacific, including building entire new islands to block traditional shipping lanes? China and Xi.

Trump is often accused of being friendly to Putin and recently backed off Chinese export tariffs.Is there a deal among the world’s three major powers? Is the world about to be partitioned into negotiated sections for each? Will that be a bad thing?

Xi and Putin are already autocratic rulers, so what do they need? Xi and Putin need an autocratic ruler in the United States. Who would even think of anything this huuuge(sic) but Trump, The Deal Maker?** With hindsight and some insight, you can see the trail of this conspiracy beginning before the 2016 election of Trump. He made many trips to Moscow trying to get a hotel built, but it was denied…for the moment. Then, there are the rumors of Russian support for not only the election of Trump but financing for his wife’s documentary/movie. Did Russia put up the money? And Trump repeatedly inserts himself into business deals with China, as if he is the only one who can negotiate with Xi. And don’t forget Trump’s best buddy, South Korea’s dictator and Xi puppet.

If Trump can pull off getting himself the same power as Putin and Xi, the Three Super Nations can form and rule forever. Note the imposition of Martial Law would be a first step towards that power, especially if “civil unrest” reaches a certain, justifiable level. (Wink Wink: Minnesota.)

Smaller countries, races, and ethnicity may or may not be destroyed. Putin, Xi, and Trump will hold so much power, there won’t be much that can harm them, so they may let us keep our native languages, religions, and customs. And SPORTS!

This is science fiction and I’ve no idea if anything in this post is true. Isn’t that the best part? But when you smell crap, there usually is crap. Where there’s smoke there’s fire. If it walks like a duck…it walks funny.

If you don’t hear from for a few weeks…there is a safety deposit box number…shouldn’t have mentioned that…

PS To anyone listening, I promise to never write about this, again. Ever. Promise. Pinky swear. The Secret is Safe.

 *It was probably the same pre-2013 but it was illegal.

**It might also be why he worked so hard to keep power in 2021. He let his buddies down.

American Banking and Ai…a Fun Financial Foray

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My new credit union in NY added to my despair over modern, corporate customer service. To be efficient with my banking, moving funds to NY from North Carolina made sense. But the Credit Union (CU) selected in NY is proving to be…inefficient. And that’s being kind. It’s a strange world where a 73-year-old with no criminal record, a lifetime of credit usage, and Credit Scores over 800 has trouble borrowing money. Side Bar: Transunion suggested my score could be nearly “perfect”, if my records contained a “Closed End Installment Account” like a car loan, personal loan, mortgage, something with an end date, since all my credit accounts are “revolving”, or open lines of credit.* So I applied on-line for a small, personal installment loan from the new CU in New York to flesh out the credit resume.  A quick, electronic declination followed. A quick call to a human revealed the lines of credit, unused but open, made me a “credit risk”.  An inquiry about what a credit score of 800 means got this reply: “It proves you’ve paid off loans in the past, but we are unsure about your ability.” *

Savings and checking accounts had been opened with the NY CU and small sums were deposited as trial amounts. After the loan debacle, it was decided moving money to NY would not be efficient. In the meantime, I’d used small amounts** from the checking account. One morning I withdrew the “last” $20 ** and the ATM let it happen.

When I checked my NY CU account later that day, the checking account was overdrawn and been charged a $28 fee. No problem, most CUs and Banks give you a free mistake a year so I’ll talk to customer service at the CU and see if they could help. The NY CU website said customer service was available “Mon-Fri from 7:30AM to 9PM EST”. At 8:45AM I called and sat on the phone tree over 25 minutes. *** “You are caller Number 3, 2, 1.” Finally, a male answered and explained “We open at 9”. (If I’d called at 7, would the phone tree have looped me for two hours, if I was dumb enough to wait?) The live male “looked into” my problem and went to talk with his “manager”. The live male returned and offered a refund of $14. I asked why cash could be withdrawn that was not in the account and here is his response: “We automatically sign you up for overdraft protection when you open your accounts. It automatically gives you what you ask for.” And why an Overdraft Fee of $28? Answer: “Policy.” I asked to have the automatic, free “benefit” removed from my accounts.

Important fact for the reader: I was livid after the overdraft phone call, but now the $14 loss and wasted time feel insignificant. As an old girlfriend used to say, “Why are you making such a big $%^&ing deal about it?”  Thanks for listening and if you’re not okay with simply letting me vent, send a bill for YOUR wasted time and my Ai policies will handle it.

As for modern American Companies’ customer service and “Policies”…a mix of Ai and humans is worse than Ai, or humans, alone. Sadly, the future will be just Ai. Caveat emptor, everyone, all the time.

God help us all.

*I don’t know why, for all.

** Money for gambling at Turning Stone Resort and Casino. Sometimes I lose…

*** While doing other things like clipping nails, etc.

No More Trump For Me…Ever

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The Calamities are nearly defeated. One Cancer is in remission. AMD * is under control. Arthritis has been surgically removed. Walking and simply existing is now painless, easy and almost worry-free.

 What keeps me awake at night, now, is the state of our country, specifically a government that does whatever it wants and lets billionaires run everything. It’s tempting to…No! No more.

The 2024 election will be added to The Calamities List and will be looked at only in the rear-view mirror and eventually be forgotten. There are only a few good years left (details in a later paragraph) and no more “painless and easy living” time will be wasted on politics. Don’t believe me? Watch me. Bill, this mean you.

The return of a close approximation ** of good health inspired me to look for a place to volunteer. Volunteering was a part of life given up when doctors, treatments, ailments, and related issues made me unreliable. But those days are past, *** and I am now training to be a Volunteer Long Term Care Ombudsman for the State of New York. Anyone know what an “ombudsman is”?  Bet you don’t, so look it up, anyway. In the early days, as they decide if I’d be at least an okay o-man, I’ve “shadowed” mentors who get paid to do it. We visited Long Term Care Centers, Assisted Living Centers, and Rehabilitation Centers to try to get residents to let us know how things are going. Know anyone in any of these places? Ever visit one of these places? Know what they do? Know how they do it and how well they do it? I trained as a Certified Senior Advisor and Long Term Care Consultant in my past financial life and thought I knew it all. These places aren’t new to me. This will be a great opportunity to assist people in the stage of their life where the help these facilities perform is not just needed but required. It is the only option for them. My life will be fulfilled.

My visits these last two weeks revealed how ignorant I am about modern senior adult medical care.

There will be more written later, but a Long Term Care situation is not the fun you might think it is, given younger people call this the “Golden Years” for us seniors. It doesn’t help that at my age with my history it might be me in one of these facilities even as early as next week. What will be will be.

End of life care is a complicated story populated with villains, heroes, saviors, losers, and the just plain unlucky. Sadly, most stories fouetté **** and pirouette **** around money, and that sad dance only adds to the staggering heartbreak. In each and every visit there was a very fervent wish I would wake up in the morning worth $400 Billion dollars and could solve most of the problems inherent in end of life issues.

One can dream, at least for now.

*If you are a senior reading this, check yourself out using an Amsler Grid. Do it now, unless you already did. AMD sneaks up on you.

** Everyone okay with this strange phrase?

*** Ai says I need a comma here. I disagree. All in favor of a comma, raise your hand.

**** Ars gratia Artis

Tariffs? We Don’t Need No Stinking Tariffs Do We?

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 The Trump Administration recently announced they have collected hundreds of billions of dollars in “tariff fees”. The specific number is close to $300 billion and climbing. Wow. Look at all that revenue. For America. We’ll pay down the $38 trillion National Debt in approximately 120 years. Yay. Imagine a lazy, waving, small American Flag. But wait, maybe the Trump Administration will send $2000 checks to every American. Yay? Why would he do that? And why hasn’t he?

Tariffs—and their effects—are hard to understand. Most people tell me tariffs are a “tax” on foreign countries and assume foreign countries are paying that tax. It is closer to the truth, however, to say no “countries” ever pay any Tariff Tax. For example, the United States of America, doesn’t pay other countries for their “unfair” tariffs, even as other countries are “ripping us off”, per Mr. Trump.

Wait. China is not paying massive tariffs for all the goods they import? No. They are not. How about Mexico and Canada? No. They are not. And America is not paying tariffs to other countries?* No. So what is going on? Who IS paying?

Again, it’s complicated but here is a simple example: A pair of Chinese sneakers retails at Walmart in the US for $10 in 2024 with the cost being $5 per pair under the 2024 Tariff Plan. China is then “punished” with a new Tariff Plan of 50% the fall of 2025. That Chinese sneaker pair will be charged an additional 50% tariff when it lands on American soil, making the cost of the sneakers in 2025 $7.50. Think a retailer like Walmart will sell the sneaker in 2025 at the same price as the 2024 sneaker? The tariff is really a “tax” meant to make the Chinese sneaker as expensive as an American made sneaker. Does it work? It will if some American Sneaker Manufacturer can sell his sneakers for under $15. The purpose is to support American Manufacturing and give them an economic reason to make sneakers by raising the Chinese Imports price. If you watch any sports events you probably think there are no sneaker-makers in the US, but there are. Why aren’t they being used by professional and amateur sports teams, now? See, complicated.

But the best or worst part of the whole process is who is actually paying, shelling out the dough, for the tariff “tax”? In our example, it ain’t China and it ain’t the US. In this example, it is Walmart. And probably you when you buy the sneaker at the new 2025 price. What will that price be?

Let’s circle back to the billions in tariff revenue touted by Trump. Where did the actual money come from? China? No, it is American money from American retailers, wholesalers, and importers. It’s a neat way to “tax” without calling it a tax. (Can you say One Big Beautiful Bill Tax Cuts?) And….drum roll…Walmart’s initial payments go to the Treasury and Trump can (almost) do whatever he wants with the dollars, without congressional approval. More ICE Agents? A Ballroom? Tax rebates to Americans? What great ideas.

But nothing has happened, yet, not even hyper-inflation. Why?  Read below from The Peterson Institute for International Economics, by Gary Clyde Hufbauer (PIIE) and Ye Zhang(China)September 16, 2025:  “If the Supreme Court affirms the lower courts’ decisions, the federal government could have to refund much of the tariff revenue collected this year. But if the Supreme Court reverses the lower courts and affirms IEEPA tariffs, US firms may start passing the added costs to households. While the tariffs have so far had a modest effect on inflation, eventually consumers could see higher prices.”

The Supreme Court will decide in November 2025 if the Tariffs are even legal. We might have to refund all money to the payers. So Walmart is waiting to see if it gets its money back. Even badder(sic),  imagine if Trump sent out “rebate” checks to Americans he then had to ask them to return. Walmart pricing may rise drastically after the November Supreme Court ruling. Or we all get $2000 checks for Christmas. In the meantime, uncertainty and chaos, the operational mode of our current government.

I am not an economist or politician and researched this post at my own expense (Yes, humor.) If anyone knows the Tariff situation is any different than described in this post, please comment and correct. All I really know for sure is most people think foreign governments are making tariff payments to us, America. Wonder why they think that?

*Subsidies, and other financial “arrangements” (Kickbacks?) can complicate the situation even further, and make it impossible to follow the money.

Bits and bobs, as the English say

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MIT, an American university for those who don’t know it, has reported a significant breakthrough in water desalinization. As countries around the world struggle for water access, including the US and Mexico, we may be able, soon, to get as much as we want from the sea. More to come, I’m sure.

Two companies in the mid-west of these United States have reported breakthroughs in internal combustion engine development. One engine is a “refined” gas engine producing “42 percent power return from fuel.” the best engines, now, get 25 percent. The other company, Aston Aerospace has designed an engine to run on hydrogen and burn clean enough so the only thing coming out of the tailpipe is water. Keep an eye on these two.

In an earlier column, I waxed poetic about the mystery of Quantum Entanglement (QE) and suggested it had astronomical potential. Now, a firm in China reports it has “used” the power of QE to make a motor. Boom. That was my mind exploding, especially if its true. Other companies are reporting advances in “faster than light speed communications”. Instantaneous communications no matter the distance. Boom. And hopefully soon.

American drivers are no better now, than when I complained about them in one of my first posts on October 30, 2016. What has changed is my ability to come across them, at random, on the road. Simple population growth or The Universe punishing me for criticizing? The major issue is still simple selfishness, combined with a dash of ignorance. Most drivers think of themselves as the only ones on the road. How else to explain the marketing and sales of headlights which shoot a beam of laser-like light a quarter of a mile, often right through the skulls of both the drivers in front of them and the unfortunate souls in oncoming traffic. I looked into a car one time and so nothing but a bare-bones skull after a truck with a set of 8 High Intensity lights passed. At least it’s helped me think of new curse words. I’m trying not to take the Lord’s name in vain, anymore. Remember when you drive: you are not the only one who matters. Other drivers matter, too. ODMT.

The billionaires and Game of Money (GOM) players are at it again, “suggesting” parts of government they will gut. The latest is the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). CFPB was a direct response to the legendary financial crisis of 2008-2009 where most of us lost money and most GOMmers did not. CFPB’s name speaks for itself, but google it to know for sure. It was a Democratic project from when Dems had control of the government and set up the CFPB and Affordable Care Act (ACA). Both have been the subject of Republican Grievance and scorn since. But both have survived. GOMmers, now, see their chance to overturn both the CFPB and ACA, and return to unfettered, unregulated, and wide open GOM without oversight. Of note, several of the billionaires are “victims” of the CFPB, and feel offended their “get rich quick schemes” were denied by CFPB. Let the GOM begin!

It’s Thanksgiving. For the first time in my life I have had to struggle to find something to be thankful for, but I did. I should be thankful for that, too. Boom.

Last T@#$% Column, promise

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I can’t resist talking about how happy billionaires are over the Trump presidency. They are all giddy with excitement. Jubilant.

Why? To the rest of us, the “game” of making money is nice and distracting, but most of us “work” to get money. We make things. We fix things. We help others make things and fix things. We might even talk about how others make and fix things.

Not so in the Game of Money (GOM). In GOM the idea is to make as much money FROM other people as possible, and it’s even better if you don’t have to do any work. The Stock market, for example. Even those of us who work for our money, know you can make big bucks by betting correctly in the Stock Market. But we are careful to bet because we know we can lose, and when a worker loses money, it hurts.

But in GOM, a billionaire can bet one of his millions on a stock and if the stock comes in, the billionaire makes more millions. If the stock loses, the billionaire lost .001% of his worth. No pain. Imagine how it warps GOM for un-rich players.

Trump intends to skew GOM so billionaires can make more money, more millions, more billions. Lower taxes for me mean about $100 extra a month in income. Lower taxes in the GOM world, mean millions of dollars in new income for the billionaires.

Wonder what they’ll do with all that money? I’ll tell you. Most re-invest in GOM and make more.

Anyone of us can enter the GOM but how many of us see value in work? In helping others? In getting things done? In getting things fixed and running? I’ll bet most of the Trump voters are hard-working people who want that extra $100 a month. Sadly, the cost of that bonus is going to be steep.

Will Rogers labeled it “Trickle Down Economics” in response to then-president Hoover’s policies. Ronald Reagan picked it up in the 1980’s. “Trickle Down Economics” pretty much means that when the billionaires have taken as much as they want, some of the rest might trickle down…

What’s different this time is we have a new class of billionaires who don’t even care about “The Trickle”. Trump and Musk and their ilk just want more. And now it’s not just money but power, too. They talk of buying up entire companies and industries so they can shut them down. Entire existing Departments of Government, too, Shut them down.

It’s important to remember history. In the history of Capitalist America, the only thing standing between billionaire wanna-be-kings, (Carnegie, Mellon, et. al.) are laws, regulations, and enforcement by a centralized, powerful government.

Can you see why the billionaires now want to control the government, too? I can.

God help us non-billionaires, even the Trump voters.

The Life or Money Conundrum

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Step 1: definition of conundrum: a difficult problem, riddle, or puzzle.

Could there be anything more conundrummy (sic) than the “end of life” money issue for most seniors? If you’re young and have money, it’s easy to see what to do: enjoy it! While you may not have realized it at the time, that is a rational calculation based on the fact a young person has plenty of time to make more money. Or get raises. Easy come easy go, was a mantra in my young life. Cars, motorcycles, broads (apologies for the dated, sexist–but specific–label), booze, drugs, et. al., at first. Then, education, kids, kid’s education, vacation home, et. al. when maturity was realized. But in each “phase” the unanalyzed(sic) rationalization was enough money would be incoming to support me/us.

But senior financial life is different. As a Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC), and Certified Long Term Care Consultant (CLTC) in my later years as a Financial Planner, I became acutely aware of the major, deciding factor in any financial planning for most seniors on a fixed income. This factor is so important, I made it the first question of my customer intake questionnaire: How long will you live?

Early in my career, a polite, nice, old lady approached me after speaking at a “Planning Seminar”. She had a specific question: “I’m 77 years old and have $270,000 in my retirement account. How much should I spent today?”

She was articulating a sharp point about the seminar subject of making your money last your lifetime. She wanted me, the ChFc and CLTC, to tell her how long that lifetime would be. Many times, already, I’d been introduced to seniors living on bare necessities, as they anxiously pondered what to do with thousands of dollars in the bank, all the while never knowing if they would be alive when they woke up next morning.

The conundrum delineated: “How does a senior citizen enjoy the money they have before they–or the money–expire?” The word enjoy is the problem. The little, old lady from the seminar, for example, was asking how to spend $270,000 that day as she assumed she would die overnight and not need money anymore, the following morning. She also wanted to know if she did last another 20 years, how could she make sure there was money left in year 20 to support her.

My advice (and any other Financial Professionals) was worthless because it would be based on speculation. I could only give her options. Several senior clients embarked on strict financial plans with complicated financial products to make the money last long, only to die early in the process. And then there were clients who threw caution to the wind and spent like drunken sailors, eventually having nothing for the later years. They outlived their money, but enjoyed doing it.

Note, there are many so much better off than others, with pensions and assets making decisions easy, and erasing all notion of a “conundrum”. But the rest of us will be okay with careful planning, as long as nothing goes wrong with the planning, and if we avoid the major medical issues and family crises which threaten the delicate ecosysyem of our solutions to The Conundrum.

In that past life I was a ChFC, CLTC, CSA, CEP, and licensed Insurance Agent, but was clueless in decision making. I know the options, and share them, but each decision made by a senior has to be based on the guess about longevity and health, a hunch, even a belief in where our lives are going and how long it will take.

Once the decision is made, The Conundrum is gone. And all that is left is hope.

Not a bad thing, really. But scary.