AAM Services LLC Blog

AAM Services LLC Bloghttp://www.aamsite.com/blog/View AAM Services LLC's Website Blogen-uspostmaster@www.aamsite.comInsurance Website Builder - www.insurancewebsitebuilder.comurn:uuid:8377d609-0cda-49fd-8f50-b71ad3fe42bfurn:uuid:4841c798-71b9-414a-8265-26ea91b4ed65A Case For IncomeWe all tend to think we are smarter than average. ("I won't make investment mistakes and end up with no money"), and we tend to think we are luckier than average ("I won't lose the capacity to manage my money later"). Most investment decisions are m...Wed, 17 Aug 2011 18:32:19 -0500We all tend to think we are smarter than average. ("I won't make investment mistakes and end up with no money"), and we tend to think we are luckier than average ("I won't lose the capacity to manage my money later"). Most investment decisions are made by men, who take more risks than women generally , and since we typically die first , leave the problem (and it is a big problem) to our wives and ( perhaps) children. Our thoughts are dominated by; confirmation bias("annuities are a bad deal, so I can hang on to more of my money"). Then we have superiority bias("I have done an exceptional job so far with my money"), and lastly, recency bias (I have done an exceptional job so far with my money so it will work out"), all of which conspire against buying an income annuity. Yet making a mistake here means that retirees (or more likely -just the widow) will be flat broke at a time of extreme vulnerability. That outcome should simply be unacceptable to most people, especially since it can be prevented. I want to guarantee that, that can not happen- not just a chance. Deciding otherwise would require that I depend on luck. I might win? But to my way of thinking , the costs of failure are simply too high to pay. Moreover, anything that can be used to help people plan for a better retirement and to make better choices with their money is a good thing. Tim Paap urn:uuid:17d72e4f-9ade-4236-a11c-97184726b38fMedicare - Hot topic right nowI can not say this any better than what was put in the Opinion section of the Colorado Springs Business Journal by Raymond J Keating, chief economist for the small business & entrepreneurship Council.He says it best so I will quote a bit of his o...Thu, 09 Jun 2011 22:27:05 -0500I can not say this any better than what was put in the Opinion section of the Colorado Springs Business Journal by Raymond J Keating, chief economist for the small business & entrepreneurship Council.He says it best so I will quote a bit of his opinion page: The economic and political Medicare mess The projected cost this year for medicare is $494 billion I thought it was interesting that in the article Mr. Keating allows us more understanding as to how this all works as far as the cuts are concerned. We see it from the insurance side and from our family side if we have parents that are 65 and have to learn to get through the whole medicare mess. We see the scary maze of paperwork and the pain our family goes through just trying to navigate through this mess. But as Keating says,and I quote: A big problem with these polls (Rasmussen Reports survey of likely voters), is how spending "cuts" is defined. In the real world, people view "cuts" as spending less than before. In the political world, "cuts" means spending more than today, but less than what was projected for the future. No one, including Ryan (House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan), is talking about real-world cuts. The economics are clear. there's no getting around the fact that if the U.S. is serious about getting federal spending under control, then reforming Medicare has to be in the mix. End of quote............ I was very happy with Mr. Keatings whole take on the medicare issue and we are on the same page which was refreshing. In the end it still lets me see that congress has lost touch with reality, I see things now as I thought they we're, A BIG MESS. Can we all get on the same page, please.... urn:uuid:11b0518d-f094-43d0-8f03-83ea657110fdAetna out of ColoradoWell by now all of you with Aetna Individual plans have received your letters regarding how long you have left on their plans. We here at AAM are looking at all possible plans and premiums to help make the transition easier. This is not new to us in ...Tue, 08 Feb 2011 15:32:24 -0600Well by now all of you with Aetna Individual plans have received your letters regarding how long you have left on their plans. We here at AAM are looking at all possible plans and premiums to help make the transition easier. This is not new to us in this state, we have gone through this before with other health plans. We are watching very closely at all the changes that are happening with the new Obamacare. Our goal is to make the transition as painless as possible to help move you and your family to a plan that is right for you. We understand this is one more thing you do not need on your plate but it is out of our hands so we are doing what we do best, finding a new plan for you. We are seeing Life rates go down and there are some very strong companies out there. We feel one of the things we do best is look at  a company that you can count on for life.  Aetna is staying in the group market here in Colorado and they are a strong company, just could not keep the individual rates at a comfortable standard to compete in Colorado. We are here for you, call anytime. Tim & Shell Paapurn:uuid:c7492050-cea4-492e-a10d-5e0cb37976b8Patient Protection and Affordable Care ActON March 23, 2010 the Patient Protection and Affordable care act and Health Care and Educational Reconciliation Act of 2010 were signed into law. As a result, employers will be required to report the cost of employer-paid health care on Form W-2s. ...Thu, 18 Nov 2010 13:58:32 -0600ON March 23, 2010 the Patient Protection and Affordable care act and Health Care and Educational Reconciliation Act of 2010 were signed into law. As a result, employers will be required to report the cost of employer-paid health care on Form W-2s. It was to go into effect in 2011, but was postponed until 2012. So now all of us who have part or all of our health insurance premiums paid through our employer, this amount that the empoyer pays will now be part of your income. Yea, that is the Affordable Care part. So your benefits that you so love at your job may put you now in a higher tax bracket. Oh and you have no choice as to how to spend your income because that choice has been taken away. Not to mention that premiums will go up at least 30% in the next two years your income will be higher for tax purposes but you will not see any more take home. Like I have said before we need reform, but not the kind the government gives. We can not afford the government choices............ urn:uuid:42c85c29-54da-4993-bcca-2ecacefc6097Insurance has changed over the yearsHealth Insurance has changed, Long Term Care has changed and so has the whole Retirement planning. I am not sure about what is on your plate but for me just keeping my daily life in order takes up most of my time. I have to now decide which doctor ta...Tue, 05 Oct 2010 12:51:48 -0500Health Insurance has changed, Long Term Care has changed and so has the whole Retirement planning. I am not sure about what is on your plate but for me just keeping my daily life in order takes up most of my time. I have to now decide which doctor takes or does not take my insurance and what will it cost if I pay cash or run it through the insurance company and of course my LTC , does it have a 90 wait and is it enough to cover things if I am in a assisted living place or at home. Do I have enough Life insurance and is my will up to date so the government does not have so much control of what I leave behind if anything. I am not sure this is what our days are to be filled with. My phone is part of my skin and my computer is part of my purse, used to be just a great tube of lipstick, coupons and the wallet full of credit cards and a few quarters. Now I have to make sure everywhere I go I am thinking first as to should I or should I not. I am aware of the whole yes I need to stay healthy, and get my colon testing done, my eyesight checked, my blood drawn to make sure I am not going to have a stroke tomorrow while walking through Walmart. But the cost is unreal for all of these things, how do we decide , our deductibles are $5,000 or more that is out of pocket before we even use the insurance we are paying $700 or more a month for , some are paying over $1000 a month and this is the new health care costs. I know Tim and I had to sit down this last year and really go over all our insurance, retirement, home costs, everything and see what made the most sense to us. We have to do this every day for our clients and friends and we understand how challenging this is. What happened to just going for a walk and watching a good TV show or reading a good book, a real book with paper pages!! Shell