Posted on March 8, 2010 @ 6:55 pm - Written by BawldGuy
BawldGuy Axiom: Expectations are sometimes akin to potential — a blessing and a curse — both dressed up like the prom queen.
How many times have we seen college sports superstars with a world of potential fall flat on their faces in the pros, dashing the expectations thrust upon them? In baseball it’s even worse sometimes, as high school phenoms sign for a few million bucks only to disappear in the land of shoulda coulda woulda.
In real estate investing, the potential for building a solid retirement is very real. Countless people have done it — you may be in one stage or another as you read this. Expectations generated from potential, no matter how well researched, are the foundation for much of the disappointment felt down the road by investors. This is a direct result of embedding potential into analysis — a definite no-no. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted on March 3, 2010 @ 8:22 am - Written by BawldGuy
Written by — David Shafer
Critics are constantly harping on the reasons not to invest in this or that. Some are calling for the end of American capitalism. So I thought I would give you the reasons why you should purchase an EIUL contract in concise form.
Taxes For most of us, taxes represent our biggest expense. Sales tax, income tax, property tax, gas tax, state tax; the list goes on and on. EIULs are designed to help you avoid some of the biggest taxes you have; state and federal income taxes. I don’t have a crystal ball so I can’t tell you what your tax rate will be when you retire, but I can bet that income taxes will be among the largest tax you pay. With the government running trillion dollar deficits as long as the eye can see, I wouldn’t wait for your federal income tax to go down, but that is just me. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted on March 2, 2010 @ 5:22 pm - Written by BawldGuy
BawldGuy Note: Cuz Max Whitmore’s computer needs are so rare, (some pretty intense and sophisticated software/analysis) he’ll be unable to post until the specially designed machine he’s ordered is delivered, probably by this Friday. (Fingers/Toes crossed.) Which leads us to:
BawldGuy Axiom: When life is boiled down to its essence, logistics rule us all. 
Max and I thank you for your patience.
This conversation happens a few times a year. Got a call recently from a very nice house agent, who was concerned one of her clients/friends was entering into a tax deferred exchange. I asked why the concern? Doing an exchange is common, just do ‘em right. Apparently the transaction was being done as a result of the advice of a recently retained local accountant. She’d feel better if I’d talk with them — would I please humor her? Not a problem. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted on February 19, 2010 @ 11:15 am - Written by BawldGuy
This blog is an extension of our firm, Brown and Brown Investment Properties, which came into being January of 1977. I’m the dad now, but was the son then. What we do, put as simply as possible, is take our clients from where they are today, to the best retirement we can create together, never leaving their sides ’till that special day arrives. Oh, and we love being invited to any retirement party.
As you’ve noticed the last several weeks, more authors have begun to appear. This isn’t just a trend, it’s a format change. It’s meant to provide even more solid, helpful information for my readers. This blog’s reputation is for staying incredibly focused on your retirement, how to get you there safely, sooner, and with maximum income, as much of it as possible tax sheltered or tax free. (We don’t talk about unrelated topics here, with the occasional exception for Padres and Charger stuff. Oh, and there are the weekend bio-story posts.) Read the rest of this entry »
Posted on February 5, 2010 @ 4:00 am - Written by BawldGuy
Ever walked into a movie you’d really been lookin’ forward to, only to learn they’d totally mislead you with the trailers? We all have, and with an exception or two here and there, it rarely turns out to be a movie we like. Don’t ya hate it when the happens? For me, the worst time was when I went to what I thought was a comedy, which sadly turned out not only NOT a comedy, but a chick flick to boot. How it got past my ChickFlickRadar™ I’ll never know.
This is one of those nuts ‘n bolts things every real estate investor should know. The IRS doesn’t usually buy the whole ‘dog ate my homework’ — ‘I had no idea’ type of excuse when it comes to unintentionally recognized capital gains. So, heads up. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted on January 11, 2010 @ 12:46 pm - Written by BawldGuy
Readers: As I’ve written recently, this blog will be expanding to a multi-author format, while remained focused like a laser beam on real estate investment for retirement through a Purposeful Plan. David Shafer is a welcome addition to say the least. I’ve written about EIULs often on these pages — David has been my go-to expert on the subject. Though he’s written here a few times as a guest author, he now part of the BawldGuy Talking family. The following is his initial post. Welcome, David.
Written By David Shaffer
Hello all. When Jeff asked me to be a contributor to his blog, I jumped at the chance. As a regular reader of Bawldguy and someone that has gotten to know Jeff on a personal level, I have received much wisdom on a whole host of topics. The offer to give back to his readers some of the wisdom I have on using life insurance to fund retirement is something I look forward to doing.
This first post will give the reader a general idea about the insurance product, Equity Indexed Universal Life insurance, which I believe best carries out the strategies we will talk about going forward. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted on January 7, 2010 @ 5:27 pm - Written by BawldGuy
One of the things this blog is known for, is how focused it is. It’s about investing in real estate for a magnificently abundant retirement. Sure, there are one or two other vehicles I recommend from time to time, but only as part of your particular Purposeful Plan.
Also, it’s been my aim, and I think successfully, to make this blog open to honest debate, but while using the manners most of us were taught as kids. This isn’t Tombstone, this is Mayberry, so to speak. I don’t cultivate false controversy or drama here. This blog is to generate business for me, sure, but by way of education, enlightenment, and helpin’ those who would like to learn without the trauma of making real life mistakes. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted on December 8, 2009 @ 5:10 pm - Written by BawldGuy
The cliché about partial knowledge often being more dangerous than downright ignorance has proven true in my professional experience. We humans seem to desire absolutes when we learn new things, especially when it comes to investing. Allow me to smash that fantasy once and for all. The old saw sayin’, “The only absolutes are death and taxes” is as real as a heart attach. Ironic, cuz the consequences of behaving as if things are narrowly defined in the Internal Revenue Code as infinitely incontrovertible truths of the universe, impervious to changing facts, are sometimes heart stopping.
Consider the following. I wrote about this earlier this year, but in the last several weeks, there have been similar requested consults. Sadly, a couple of them came to me too late for me to really help much. Pay attention, cuz this particular story gets played out every year across the country. Gettin’ a huge tax bill as a complete and shocking surprise is no fun — I know, I experienced it as a young man. It was gut wrenching to say the least.
This particular story has a pretty happy ending — not always the case, unfortunately. Earlier this year an agent called me out of the blue. I’d never met them, but they’d been reading my stuff here and over at BloodhoundBlog.They had just one question, which led to a boatload more, as usual. Read the rest of this entry »