Retirement Guide 101

Big Week in the Mortgage Market

Administrator — Mon, 31 Oct 2005 18:26:24 +0000

For the week of Oct 31, 2005 — Vol. 3, Issue 44

If you would like to view newsletter, use this link.

Last Week In Review

BEN IS IN! Big Ben Bernanke (pronounced Ber-NANK-kee) got the nod last week to take the reins in 2006 from retiring Fed Chairman Alan Greenspan. The new man in the Chair has superb credentials, but is known for being more “dovish” than “hawkish” in the fight against inflation. Right or wrong, the perception among Traders that Bernanke might not fight as hard to curb inflation brought Bonds under selling pressure, as inflation is the main enemy of fixed return assets such as Bonds. Over the course of the week, home loan rates rose accordingly by about .125 across the board.

More good news for the housing sector, as Existing Home Sales numbers for September were strong at 7.28 million sales… better than expectations and the second highest rate ever. The closely watched existing home inventory level was reported unchanged from last month at 4.7 months. This inventory level remains near record lows and suggests continued strength in the Housing market.

DID YOU KNOW… THAT MR. BERNANKE REGULARLY EATS IN THE CENTRAL BANK CAFETERIA, MAKING HIMSELF AVAILABLE TO STAFFERS AND COLLEAGUES TO DISCUSS HIS VIEWS? DID YOU KNOW… THAT HE BEGAN COLLECTING ACADEMIC HONORS EARLY, WINNING THE SOUTH CAROLINA STATE SPELLING BEE IN 1965, BUT WAS ELIMINATED AT NATIONALS BY MISSPELLING “EDELWEISS”? FOR MORE ON OUR NEXT FED CHAIRMAN, DON’T MISS THIS WEEK’S MORTGAGE MARKET VIEW.

> Forecast For The Week

The economic calendar is loaded with potential market movers this week, including the Fed Meeting and Policy Statement on Tuesday afternoon. Another .25% hike to the Fed Funds Rate is a lock, but as always, the markets will dissect every word uttered by Mr. Greenspan… especially during his final months in office. Inflation has been on the rise, and on the heels of Bernanke’s appointment, Traders will be listening extra carefully for any clues or hints as to what the Fed is thinking.

This week also brings another Jobs Report, which can impact the trend of home loan rates for days and sometimes weeks following the release. Now remember that good economic news tends to be bad for Bonds and home loan rates. This means that if the upcoming Jobs Report shows better than expected new job growth – or a significantly lower than expected loss of jobs due to the hurricanes – Bond pricing and home loan rates could easily continue on their present path and worsen a bit further.

On the other hand, a weak Jobs Report would help Bond pricing and home loan rates to improve… but because Bonds have been in such a powerful downward trend of late, it would take a real stinker to see much improvement.

Chart: Fannie Mae 5.5% Mortgage Bond (Friday October 28, 2005)

The Mortgage Market View…

Dr. Ben S. Bernanke, Our Next Federal Reserve Chairman
Brief Biography

Ben S. Bernanke was born on December 13,1953, in Augusta, Georgia. He received a BA in economics in 1975 from Harvard (summa cum laude) and a PhD in economics in 1979 from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Before becoming a member of the Federal Reserve Board of Governors, Dr. Bernanke served as a Professor of Economics and Public Affairs at Princeton since 1985. Dr. Bernanke was also sworn in on June 21, 2005 as Chairman of the President’s Council of Economic Advisors.

Dr. Bernanke has received many national awards and recognition for his work, and has published many articles on a wide variety of economic issues, including monetary policy and macroeconomics, and he is the author of several scholarly books and two textbooks.

Beliefs and Views

Dr. Bernanke is an advocate of a strategy called inflation targeting where a central bank specifies a numerical goal for prices. The Fed debated the strategy last February, and decided to table the discussion. Bernanke is unlikely to push the strategy unless he can gain approval from the rest of the Fed members. This is presently unlikely, as Fed Governors Roger Ferguson and Donald Kohn are known to be opposed to the strategy.

The current belief by the financial markets is Bernanke is more of a “dove” than a “hawk” when it comes to raising interest rates. This is based upon past speeches dating back as far as 2002. In a November 2002 speech about the potential for deflation in the economy that has since become famous, Bernanke campaigned not only for looser monetary policy but also for the Bush tax cuts, both of which could generate “positive inflation” to prevent deflation.

In a recent interview with The Times of London, Bernanke didn’t seem very concerned that energy-related inflationary pressures would bleed into core inflation. He stated, “The evidence seems to be that it is primarily in energy and some raw materials and has not fed into broader inflation measures or expectations. My anticipation is that’s the way it’s going to stay.” Bernanke also voiced a “dovish” opinion on the federal budget deficit by stating it was about 2.6% of GDP this year and “that’s not far above the long-term average.”

As far as the US current account deficit is concerned, Bernanke blamed “a global savings glut,” for the deficit during a speech in March 2005. Bernanke said the deficit was the result of “a shift that has transformed developing economies from borrowers on international capital markets to large net lenders to the developed world and the US”. This suggests Bernanke’s strategy to reduce the current account deficit would not stress the need for higher US interest rates to promote more savings at home. As an alternative, Bernanke would likely try to apply pressure on China to hasten the process of unpegging their currency (the Yuan) from the Dollar. Theoretically, this would increase US exports and reduce the huge trade deficit we have with China over time… yet it could cause home loan rates to rise more quickly.

Impressions

Although his views appear to be more “dovish” toward inflation than Alan Greenspan, Bernanke has stressed there would be continuity between his leadership and the legacy Greenspan is leaving behind. Plus, as Chairman, Bernanke will have to build solid consensus among all of the voting Federal Reserve members in order to craft Fed Policy, as policy cannot consist solely of his views and beliefs. It is likely that the Fed will continue to raise the Fed Funds Rate until it reaches 4.5% sometime during the first quarter of 2006. The Fed should then pause and reassess their rate tightening cycle at that time.

Dr. Bernanke absolutely has a first-rate mind and is just as sharp as they come. He’s the product of Ivy League schools, a member of the National Bureau of Economic Research, a highly respected macroeconomist, and the former chair of Princeton ’s economics department. We expect Bernanke will be a good communicator of Fed Policy as he tends to speak plainly and wants Fed Policy to become more transparent. While Bernanke is quite serious, very disciplined, and rather soft-spoken, he will bring intellectual leadership, verbal power and precision, and a prodigious work ethic as Chairman of the Federal Reserve. His willingness to speak his mind stems from a conviction that clear communication goes hand-in-hand with good monetary policy.

The Week’s Economic Indicator Calendar

The economic calendar is loaded with high profile economic reports this week. And remember, as a general rule, weaker than expected economic data is good for rates, while positive data causes rates to rise.

Economic Calendar for the Week of October 31 – November 04

The material contained in this newsletter has been prepared by an independent third-party provider. The content is provided for use by real estate, financial services and other professionals only and is not intended for consumer distribution. The material provided is for informational and educational purposes only and should not be construed as investment and/or mortgage advice. Although the material is deemed to be accurate and reliable, there is no guarantee it is not without errors.

As your trusted advisor, I am sending you the MMG WEEKLY because I am committed to keeping you updated on the economic events that impact interest rates and how they may affect you.

In the unlikely event that you no longer wish to receive these valuable market updates, please USE THIS LINK or email: mikesr@gmgloans.com

If you prefer to send your removal request by mail the address is:

Michael E. Deitsch, Sr.
Global Mortgage Group
600 Seacoast Parkway
Suite 100
Mount Pleasant, SC 29464

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Turn Your Hobby into Income

Administrator — Mon, 31 Oct 2005 18:18:11 +0000

For those of you that know me by now, I have been in marketing all my life. I owned a graphic design business for 10 years and then my son Mark drafted me into the Mortgage buisness. That’s another story for another day.

To keep my hand in the creative world I partnered with some friends to build websites. It became my hobby. Instead of fishing or headint to the garage workshop I went to my office to develop content for my sites.

I found other of like interest and before I knew it I had found the right combination or freinds to soinhare my hobby with as a part time adventure. As we started making money and learning more about how the internet works, I owe a lot to my hobby buddies. As a team we are building an investment portfolio of websites that will finance our retirement. Then when I do jump ship from the corporate world I will have more time to enjoy my hobby.

I have nothing against fishing. In fact when the grand kids come around we have a blast. But I can’t say it made me a dime.

My daughter-in-law makes these fabulous pine cone gift baskets for fun. Guess what, we are working on a websit now that features her work along with some other gifts for hiliday occassions. I think it is going to be a great little buisness. I will keep you posted.

So, if you have a hobby with commerce potential why not think about how to build it up part-time into a full time source for additonal retirement income? Hobbies are supposed to be fun and retirement is supposed to give us more time to do the things we enjoy. Now, think about how you can supliment your income.

Last story for the day. A lady I work with can bake anything. What a talent. And she is a great writer. So, I am talking to her about how we can turn these interests into a little buiness. She is so excited that she make money doing something she loves to do.

What do you do that has potential to enahance your life and pocket book?

How to Eliminate Mold in Your Home

Administrator — Mon, 31 Oct 2005 18:13:48 +0000

How to Keep Mold from Growing in your Home

Like many allergens, indoor and outdoor mold can cause some people to develop health problems, such as asthma, stuffy or runny noses, itchy eyes, wheezing, and inflammation in the lungs, skin rashes or fevers. Other people have no problem at all when exposed to the same mold.

Since the symptoms associated with mold are similar to those associated with a variety of allergens, you shouldn’t automatically assume your home has mold. However, a musty odor or blotchy discolored spots are a good sign of the presence of mold.

Mold’s affection for damp, warm environments means that parts of the home that have gotten wet from flooding, leaking pipes or even over-watered plants will be particularly welcome habitats for mold growth. Any serious water problems such as sewer back-ups, overflowing of toilets and leaking roofs or windows, could lead to the growth of mold within as little as 24-48 hours. Be certain to clean and dry any wet or damp areas completely, and repair leaks as soon as possible to keep mold at bay. While it may not be possible to avoid all water accidents, there are many things you can do to keep mold from growing in your home. Regular vacuuming and cleaning can help remove sources of mold growth. Also, in areas susceptible to moisture, use washable rugs or install flooring that can be easily cleaned, rather than wall to wall carpeting.

Be sure your home is well insulated, as moisture traveling through the air during the cold winter months can condense when it comes into contact with cold walls. Not only will you save money on energy costs, you’ll help prevent condensation from forming on your walls and creating mold.

If you are building a home, make sure when materials such as lumber and drywall are delivered to the construction site they are protected and inspected for mold before they are used. If mold is found, most builders will either sent it back to the supplier or remove the mold using established procedures.

Here are a few tips for getting rid of mold.

Clean the door gaskets on your refrigerator or freezer
Most non-porous items such as plastic and glass can be cleaned with hot water and detergent or non-ammonia soaps. Be sure to rise and dry them thoroughly.
Make sure your gutters and downspouts are clear of debris
Check areas around your foundation
Be sure rainwater /runs away from your home
Check so that sprinklers are set so water does not hit your house or foundation
Use exhaust fans that vent to the outdoors in bathrooms and kitchens
Keep your humidity in your home below 60% in the summer and 40% in winter.
Don’t store papers, books, clothing or any possible sources of food for mold in humid parts of your home
Throw away porous materials, such as carpeting and insulation if they have mold contamination.

If you decide to clean certain materials containing mold, try treating with a mixture of one part liquid chlorine bleach to nine parts of water. Commercially manufactured treatment solutions are also available. You can also try putting a cup of hydrogen peroxide in a squeeze bottle and spraying it onto the moldy areas, then scrubbing the areas with a thin paste of lemon juice and borax. Always test a small area to be sure it will not harm the surface of the material you are cleaning. Be sure to use protective gloves and eye goggles with a respirator and work in a well ventilated area.

I’m All for Stem Cell Research but my Stem is Wearing Out!

Administrator — Mon, 31 Oct 2005 18:10:21 +0000

As I was listening to the radio today the announcer was talking about how stem cell research would eventually make it possible for the human body to wear out. My first thought was that I was not sure I really wanted to live that long, especially when I have planned for my money to last for a reasonable amount of time. I just see my self at McDonalds flipping burgers at age 150 or greeting at Walmart to make ends meet when I turn 200.

As my mind explored the possiblities of living for many more generations I was wondering if the miracles of modern science could reverse the aging process while they are at it. I am not so sure I want all the aches and pains for another 100 years.

How long is long enough? Well that depends on a lot of things. One thing I do know is that I am not getting any younger on the current plan. So, while I am enjoying life I am kind of ponderinng about the masion in the sky that’s waiting for me someday.

Now I am really concerned. Should I sign my organ donner card now or wait until I am a little more sure of where things are going, if you know what I mean.

Will I have to turn my senior discount cards back in?

Science needs to think these things through.

And where are they going do put us all if people quit dying. That will be a real mess.

I wonder if I could sign up for a few stem cells from a good race horse.

Stop Indentiy Theft

Administrator — Mon, 31 Oct 2005 18:02:25 +0000

Keeping Private Information Private
by: Norm McAlister

Identity theft, a vicious crime based on impersonating someone else, is becoming more and more prevalent. Recently, there has been a run of news items on this topic in the national media almost daily. One of the most disturbing aspects is that often these crimes are inside jobs? occurring at banks, mortgage companies, and similar places where sensitive personal information is housed. In these instances, where the crimes are large scale and well organized, there is not much the individual can do to prevent them.

However, there are numerous things you can do to handle those factors within your control. These include being aware of how your private information is used, who has access to it, and how it is handled. This involves shredding papers before disposing, keeping information secured or locked and away from those who do not need it.

Just because someone asks for information does not mean you are obliged to provide it. Find out if — and why — something is required before responding. You can also remove yourself from unwanted mailing lists, where your name and address is circulated.

When you understand why and how these crimes occur, it is easier to eliminate the opportunity. Simply becoming more aware of daily activities involving your information (i.e., using credit cards, putting out the trash, visiting web sites, etc.) should increase your caution. The more careful you are, the less opportunity for the thieves, and this is certainly a crime of opportunity.

By taking a few simple precautions, you may save yourself considerable suffering and grief. Identity theft is a violation of the worst sort, and the consequences are serious and lasting. Repairing your credit and getting your identity back can be done, but it is a lengthy and tedious process.

During March and April 2005, several significant examples of large scale identity theft occurred. With help from a few corrupt insiders, several major banks and credit card companies were targeted, involving the compromise of personal information of millions of Americans.

Norm McAlister is a writer and consultant with a background in identity theft issues. For additional information on protecting yourself from identity theft, go to Retire4life

Norm McAlister is a writer and consultant with a background in identity theft issues.

For additional information on protecting yourself from identity theft,

The Time to Get Out of Debt is Now!

Administrator — Mon, 31 Oct 2005 17:58:02 +0000

ADVICE: PERSONAL FINANCE
Personal assets need to be debt-free
Without strong financial backing, the things we own have to be sold if we lose our jobs
By SCOTT BURNS
Universal Press Syndicate

During the Internet bubble, many chose to buy stock rather than pay down their home mortgages. Some even borrowed against their homes to buy stocks. They ended up with a 30-year debt and nearly valueless stock.

More recently, a life insurance salesman has suggested that we should choose life insurance over equity in our homes. Many who pursue that idea will end up with a 30-year debt and an expensive life insurance premium.

Both ideas are wrong.

They are wrong because we need two kinds of capital in our lives: personal capital and financial capital. Ultimately, we need both, unencumbered by debt, because it will simplify our lives while reducing risk. The hard part is building our ownership stake in either.

Understanding that our personal capital, like our financial capital, has to deliver useful returns is another hard part. If you’re starting to shake your head, bear with me for a minute.

Financial assets provide us with a return in cash income. The cash will help us get through the day, month or year when we can’t work. Sometimes financial assets also increase in value. The increase creates the possibility of having cash sometime in the future.

Either way, it is helping us get through the day, month or year without work.

Return is not visible
The return on personal capital — all the things we use in our daily life — isn’t so visible. It is in services, not cash. The clothes you wear to work provide a return in services. With the exception of a wedding tuxedo, no one thinks about renting clothes because it doesn’t make sense.

Similarly, the car you drive provides a return in services. Without it, you would have to hire taxicabs or take public transportation on its route and timetable. You own a car because you can’t get the same point-to-point service for less money.

According to the American Automobile Association, for instance, it costs $18.69 a day to own and operate an average car that is driven 10,000 miles a year. And the AAA figures assume you pay $2 a day to finance the car.

If you owned the car free and clear, you’d have an invisible “return” on your equity of $2 a day, tax free. It would be invisible because you would receive no cash income. That’s also why it would not be taxed.

That’s also why debt-free homeownership is a good thing. You will have the shelter services of your home whether it is mortgaged or debt-free, but every bit of debt requires a monthly payment. The payment can be greater than the value of the shelter services you receive.

Our long-term goal with everything that we own and use should be to enjoy its services at minimal cash cost. That means little or no debt.

Asset rich, finance poor
Is there a limit to this?

Yes. And this is the really hard part.

Millions of people are rich in personal assets but poor in financial assets. They have the appearance of affluence because they have expensive and impressive personal assets. Take away their jobs, however, and they will have to sell their house, cars, furniture and jewelry to buy food because they have virtually nothing in financial assets.

Making preparations
We rediscover this during every recession.

So what should you be doing right now?

Start at the top of your debt pyramid. Work your way down paying it off. First, eliminate your credit card debt. Pay off new charges every month. Second, eliminate your asset-based consumer debt — your car loans. Third, start building a fund of ready cash.

Remember, cash can become anything that you want it to be. Ready cash is the ultimate status symbol.

Contact Michael Deitsch at 866-346-LEND to get out of debt now!

——————————————————————————–

HoustonChronicle.com — http://www.HoustonChronicle.com | Section: Business
This article is: http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/business/3408607

Generic Vs Brand Name Drugs

Administrator — Mon, 31 Oct 2005 17:53:41 +0000

Generic Vs Brand Name Drugs

National concern over soaring prescription drug prices has recently cast a spotlight on the use of generic drugs to save money and on various drug industry practices that critics say keep generics off the market as long as possible.

In fact, some lawmakers are now touting generics—less costly and less promoted than brand-name drugs—as a way to ease the troubled path to a Medicare drug benefit.

House Republicans drafting a new benefit proposal are considering lower copayments for patients who choose generics, a practice increasingly used in private health plans to keep costs down.

“The pharmaceutical companies… have looked for every loophole they could possibly find to keep generics off the market.”

Up to $10 billion a year could be shaved from the cost of a benefit in this way, according to a recent study from Brandeis University. “How can we get more bang for our buck? The number one answer, as this study shows, is generics,” Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., told reporters.

Promoting generics through incentives and education could bring down overall costs without imposing price controls on drugs, which the industry has always resisted.

GIVING GENERICS A BREAK
At the same time, several influential groups with widely diverging viewpoints—including legislators, state governors, major employers, unions and health plans—are pressing to close “loopholes” in a 1984 law that allow brand-name companies to delay generic competition.

The brand-name industry fiercely opposes such moves. But the National Governors Association, citing the impact of drug costs on state Medicaid budgets, has urged Congress to “fully review” the law.

Generics are “copycat” drugs that become available when patents held by brand-name companies expire. They are less costly because generic drugmakers do not have to recoup the costs of research and development. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) must approve the copies, ensuring they work the same way medically as the original drugs.

When generics enter the market, prices drop dramatically, falling on average to less than 50 percent of the brand-name price after six months and to about 20 percent within three years. (Brand-name prices tend to remain high, experts say, as companies rely on promotions to maintain brand loyalty.)

Patents on about 17 brand-name medicines are due to expire in the next five years, including blockbusters Prevacid (for ulcers), Zocor and Pravachol (for cholesterol) and Zoloft and Paxil (for depression). Each of these generates sales of $1 billion to $3 billion a year.

A key issue, though, is how soon generics can come to market. The 1984 Hatch-Waxman Act speeded up that process to increase generic competition, while allowing brand-name companies longer patent protection to encourage research and innovation.

But Rep. Henry Waxman, D-Calif., who co-authored the act with Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, now says: “The pharmaceutical companies under this law have looked for every loophole they could possibly find to keep generics off the market.”

Schumer and Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., are cosponsoring a bill to close these perceived loopholes. Waxman supports it but adds: “I always fear that if we open up Hatch-Waxman [to any changes], the brand-name companies would try to grab more for themselves.”

The Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA), the lobby group for brand-name companies, interprets moves to change the law as an attack on medical research. “They would seriously erode the incentive and protection for innovation that enables new drug development,” Richard I. Smith, PhRMA’s vice president for policy, told reporters.

The generic industry’s lobbying group, the Generic Pharmaceutical Association, disagrees. “Nobody’s trying to override patents,” says spokesman Clay O’Dell. Once patents expire, brand-name companies should be moving on to new products, he says. “But they spend money and effort on a drug that’s already on the market, trying to keep a monopoly.”

PhRMA says the effective exclusivity period of brand-name products—the time between market launch and the expiration of the patent—averages about 12 years. But sometimes it is much longer.

GAMING THE PATENT PERIODS
“A pill is not always protected by just one patent but anywhere from three to 30 patents,” says Stephen Schondelmeyer, director of the University of Minnesota’s PRIME Institute, which tracks drug trends. Besides patenting the drug’s active chemical entity, he says, companies over time also patent “different dosage forms, uses and every process by which they make it.” In this way, he says, some drugs get “a total patent life of 25 to 30 years, which is not what Congress intended.”

In some cases, brand-name companies have paid millions of dollars to generic manufacturers to hold off.

Under the 1984 law, brand-name companies are also able to delay approval of generics through court action by up to two and a half years after a patent expires. And in some cases they have paid millions of dollars to generic companies to hold off.

A Federal Trade Commission investigation into anti-competitive agreements in the drug industry documented collusion. In one case, a brand-name company paid a generic company $4.5 million a month to delay competing for six months—during which time the brand was expected to generate $185 million in sales. In another case, a brand-name company paid $60 million to one generic manufacturer and $30 million to another to delay their versions of its drug.

As another example of the way brand-name companies pursue patent extensions, critics point to a 1997 law that gave them a big incentive to test drugs for use by children.

For decades the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and others had urged companies to make such tests so that precise dosages and side effects could be established for children. “But all efforts failed … and by the mid-1990s only 11 studies had been accomplished,” says Robert Ward, M.D., former chair of the AAP Committee on Drugs.

The 1997 law, also sponsored by Waxman, offered companies a further six months of exclusive marketing rights, after patent expiration, in return for pediatric testing. It worked. Within three years, 332 new pediatric drug studies were begun.

But when the law was due for renewal last December, Waxman told fellow committee members that the exclusivity clause had given the companies an unintended “windfall” of billions of dollars at the expense of consumers who were denied six months of lower generic prices.

He cited the case of the heartburn drug Prilosec, noting that pediatric testing had cost its maker, Astra-Zeneca, an estimated $2-$4 million but had reaped $1.2 billion in extra sales—more than “the entire budget of the National Institute of Child Health,” he said, and “between 30,000 and 60,000 percent return on the company’s investment.”

DRUGMAKERS AND LOBBYING
Waxman put forward an amendment which, instead of six months exclusivity, would have paid the companies twice the cost of testing. “I thought that was pretty generous,” he says. But it failed because, he says, “the pharmaceutical companies did an excellent job lobbying.”

PhRMA spokesman Jeff Trewhitt says: “Our view is that this law has worked well, as the numbers of tests prove. If it ain’t broke, why fix it?”

The FDA estimates that, because access to generics is delayed, the pediatric incentive will cost consumers $14 billion over 20 years. This, it says, adds just “one-half of 1 percent to the nation’s pharmaceutical bill.”

“But that is much more than 0.5 percent to seniors who have to continue paying the brand-name price,” says Schondelmeyer. To them, he says, “it’s at least a 50 percent difference for those six months.”

http:// www.overseasrxdrugs.com/?healthmmeds.com

Bird Flu Update

Administrator — Mon, 31 Oct 2005 17:20:12 +0000

Seniors are very concerned about what they read and hear in the news about this new strain of disease everyone is calling the “Bird Flu.” I am not medical expert so let me simply pass on what I read this morning on Bell South’s home page:

Bird Flu: Should You Worry?

Published: 10/21/05

Bird flu has now spread from Asia to Europe, with cases confirmed in Greece, Romania, Russia and Turkey.

The U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization warns that risk of bird flu spreading to the Middle East and Africa markedly increased after the outbreaks in Romania and Turkey show that the virus appears to be spreading along the pathways of migratory birds outside southeast Asia.

International efforts are under way to halt the spread of the disease and prevent a widely feared pandemic. So far, no cases have been reported in the United States.

Anxiety is present, however, as the CDC (Center for Disease Control) last week reported an average of 447,000 hits a day on its avian flu information Web page.

When Could Bird Flu Arrive in the U.S.?
There’s no clear-cut answer as to when bird flu could arrive here. Dr. William Schaffner, an infectious disease specialist and the chairman of the Department of Preventive Medicine at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, TN recently answered some of the most commonly asked questions on the subject.

Other questions have been directed to the CDC recently such as is it safe to keep a birdfeeder (yes), should dead birds in the yard be reported (no), and, most often, is it safe to eat poultry, especially since Thanksgiving is next month. The answer to this last question is yes. The U.S. government has banned imported poultry from countries affected by bird flu and health officials say cooking kills the virus.

The Vaccine Situation
The only available drug that is effective in treating people infected with bird flu at the present time is Tamiflu, manufactured by Roche, a Swiss pharmaceutical firm.

Some 40 countries are scrambling to create Tamiflu stockpiles to treat millions if a pandemic occurs and there’s growing international pressure to ignore Roche’s patent rights and manufacture inexpensive generic versions. In response, Roche has plans to build a manufacturing plant in the U.S.

Roche has ruled out relinquishing its exclusive patent rights on the drug to ease the crunch. But for the first time, it was reported that Roche was seeking other companies to help speed up its production.

The World Health Organizaton recommends governments keep enough anti-viral drugs and regular human flu vaccines to inoculate at least 25 percent of their poplulations. (End of story on the Bell South home page)

I hope this information helps. If you have any additonal questions or concerns please contact your personal physician. This article is for information only. Retire-4-life makes no claim to be the last word on this important medical topic.

A friend once told me that worry is like paying interest on a debt you did not owe. So before you get overly concerned or loose a night’s sleep call your doctor. You may also find that your local pharmacy will be a great resource for additional informaiton.

Here is an source for lower cost medicine for those with high medical bills that do not mind using overseas sources: http://www.overseasrxdrugs.com/?healthmmeds.com

If all else fails go here: http://www.viagrahelps.com

Just kidding folks—-sometimes we have to keep our sense of humor. As the bible says laughter is good medicine. (The viagara site does have more FDA approved drugs on the site so you may want to see how much you can save there as well. No one is going to tell on you.)

Identity Theft

Administrator — Mon, 31 Oct 2005 17:16:05 +0000

With the age of the Internet who can you trust. Identity Theft is the fastest growing crime in America today. No wonder seniors are wary of telemarketers and giving out their confidential information over the internet. Scams abound everywhere. So what can you do to make sure you are not the next victim?

As a professional mortgage banker I am fully aware of the need to protect my clients confidential information. More importantly I want to try to help you avoid the devestation that Identity Theft can inflict on an innocent person with a social sercurity number and and bank card. With that information you can’t imagine the damage the identity crooks can do to your good name and credit not to mention the cost and time it will take to stop it, fight back and fix all the damage.

I speak from personal experience when my wife had her purse stolen. Let me just say it was a two year nightmare that the Hollywood script writers could not have dreamed up on their own. So, I am speaking as a personal who has not only seen this happen to others but one that has been through it with my wife.

The first things that come to mind are having someone use your checks or bankcards. But what about the smart crooks that steal your identity and then open brand new accounts in your name and then spend thousands against your good credit. Needless to say when the bills are never paid it is your credit rating that is destroyed.

Let me give you a couple options. Pre-Paid Legal has an excellent program to monitor and protect any unusual activitiy on your credit report. It’s called Identity Theft Shield and they do an excellent job. However, my personal preferenece is a program called Everyday Wealth. They give you a free credit report, monthly monitoring of your credit, a $25,000 insurance policy in case your identity is stollen and wonder newsletters and alerts to help you manage your money. It’s the best $12.95 a month you can spend to have peace of mind that someone is looking out for you everyday to keep your finances out of harms way.

As a mortgage banker this is the program I recommend to my clients. Go to:

Retire4Life You will love the service and you will want to tell your friends and relatives all about it. That’s it for today. Check in again tomorrow.

TSP Investment Policies

Administrator — Mon, 31 Oct 2005 17:11:55 +0000

TSP to open retirement fund management to competitive bids

By Karen Rutzick
krutzick@govexec.com

In a move that could save tens of millions of dollars, Thrift Savings Plan officials announced Friday that they will put the management of four existing investment funds up for competition early next year.

The TSP, the government’s 401(k)-style employee retirement plan, manages more than $167 billion in assets for approximately 3.5 million participants. Four of the plan’s funds - the C Fund (common stocks), S Fund (stocks in small and mid-size companies), I Fund (international stocks), and F Fund (fixed-income securities) - are managed by an investment firm. A fifth fund - the government securities G Fund - is a risk-free, low earnings fund administered through the Treasury Department.

The TSP also now includes an L (for “life cycle”) Fund, which allocates a portion of TSP savings into each of the five funds based on participants’ age, automatically putting more money into lower-risk funds as participants get closer to retirement.

Since its inception in 1986, the TSP has contracted with Barclays Global Investors to manage the C and F funds and, later, the S and I funds. The funds’ management has been open to competition in the past, and it is just by “coincidence” that Barclays won all the contracts, according to TSP Executive Director Gary Amelio.

This year will represent the first time, however, that all four funds will be competitively bid at the same time, which TSP administrators think will get the plan a better deal. “Barclays does a fine job,” Amelio said. “We want to make sure next year’s bidding is very robust.”

Amelio discussed the bidding process Friday in a meeting of the Employee Thrift Advisory Council, a group of representatives of labor unions and employee associations who advise the TSP board on investment policies and administrative matters.

To assist in the bidding process, the TSP has hired an outside contractor for the first time. Amelio said the firm, Ennis Knupp & Associates of Chicago, will receive between $175,000 and $360,000 a year for its services.

Amelio said the TSP board could contract the four funds out to a single bidder, four different companies, or even divide it smaller, giving various duties within each fund to different companies.

In addition to the competitive bidding process, Ennis Knupp will consult with the TSP on a possible index switch for some of the funds. All the funds in the TSP are passively managed, meaning they track a major existing investment index and don’t require an investor to pick and choose stocks. Right now, for example, the C Fund tracks the S&P 500, a broad market index made up of stocks of 500 medium-to-large size U.S. companies.

The consultants also will advise the TSP on possible fund additions, including a Real Estate Investment Trust fund. Sixty-eight members of Congress have co-sponsored a bill (H.R.1578) to add such a fund to the TSP. The TSP board has come out against the idea.