Making Money Alert
End Of An Era And The Start Of A New Journey
05/09/2007
This Friday, May 11, I will broadcast the final edition of the daily radio show Making Money with Doug Fabian. It's hard to believe even for me that I have been behind the microphone six days a week for nearly two years!
Let me start off by thanking all of you who've been loyal listeners to the show from its earliest days. I can't really begin to tell you how rewarding an experience our daily conversations have been. Analyzing the daily swings in the markets; sharing my love of exchanged-traded funds (ETFs) and taking listener phone calls on a daily basis is something I know will be hard to get out of my blood.
I also want to take this opportunity to thank my loyal and hard working staff, as well as everyone at KFNN and all of our affiliate stations. Without your tireless efforts, the show wouldn't have been the success that it has been. So, from the bottom of my heart, thank you one and all for helping me connect with so many people for so long.
So, why am I leaving behind the daily radio show that I love so much? Well, that's where things really get exciting. You see, I have entered a new chapter in my life; one that I think will be even more valuable to my radio show listeners and my Alert readers.
My productive purpose in life, my mission if you will, is to help people with the proper care and feeding of their finances. My goal is to help everyone I can to live the life they've always dreamed of, and having the financial means to do so is one key element to making this happen for us all.
I have learned much about what people need and want from the hundreds of coaching sessions I have conducted over the years. Now, I'm going to put those client needs and desires in the forefront of my everyday life. In lieu of the time that I was spending on the daily radio show, I will be focusing much more of my daily efforts of developing personalized plans tailor-made to help every individual who needs it to create a roadmap to riches.
For those of you addicted to my radio broadcasts, I am happy to say that listeners in Los Angeles still will be able to get your weekend fix. I will continue broadcasting my weekend show locally in the Los Angeles area on KRLA News Talk 870 AM, Los Angeles, live, Saturdays from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m.
For those of you outside the Los Angeles area, you can listen live via the Internet. To find out how to listen to the show live online, just click here.
I also will soon add a weekly audio blog to my website, podcasts and YouTube video updates. Of course, we'll keep you all up to date on all of the latest developments here in the Alert.
There is nothing simple about the details of building wealth in America. The tax code, the rules and regulations, complex markets and the multitude of confusing choices make things very difficult for even the most financially savvy among us.
My goal is to change all that. I want to help you crack the code that unlocks your financial independence. I want you to become a wealth master, i.e., a person who is in control of his or her financial future.
I started this process when I wrote my book Maverick Investing back in 2001. In that book, I included a chapter that cut right to the core of the issue of mastering wealth entitled, "Empower Yourself: Turning Your Dreams Into Goals". And, while I am proud of that chapter, I didn't feel like I really included everything then that I would write today.
You see, I wrote that book when I was a 44-year-old and I wrote it for a forty-something reader. At that time, I had not had much contact with people in their 50s, 60s, 70s and 80s. I hadn't really conducted that many interviews nor done many coaching sessions. Simply put, I did not have the vision that I have today. Now, I'm going to finish this process and provide you with the teaching, tools and resources to master your own destiny.
Here is a preview of some of the issues you'll be seeing me confront in the months and the years to come.
People lack a master plan for their money and finances. I want you to be able to tell anyone what your short- and long-term goals are and how you're getting to your destination.
People lack motivation. There are things that you should do, things that you will do and things that you won't do. Moving something to the "will do" category requires motivation. The one message I constantly hear from listeners over and over again is how I inspired them. I motivated them to get going and take action. I want to continue doing this, but the difference now is that I personally am better equipped to help you to attain your goals.
People lack knowledge. Knowing how to do something requires knowledge that you may not possess. We live in a complicated world and it gets particularly complex when dealing with money-related matters. I know a lot but I don't know it all. That's why I have trusted advisors whom I can call on to help us figure it out. I want to bring you access to experts that can help us to answer any questions or solve any problem when it come to your finances.
This is just a glimpse of what I am doing today. And, my renewed focus on these issues is why I am cutting back on my radio broadcasts. I want to have a positive impact on your life when it comes to your dreams and goals. I want your problems to be solved. I want you to have the answers to the questions you face when it comes to your financial lives.
I am extremely excited about our future together. You will be hearing much more from me about the subject of wealth mastering, so stay tuned. If you have not done so already -- and especially if you have listened to the daily show and want to stay in touch with us via the audio blog and the weekend show -- be sure to visit our webpage.
Here's to the beginning of a beautiful new relationship!
A TALL DRINK OF WATER
"I never drink water. I'm afraid it will become habit-forming."
--W. C. Fields
What's so special about water?
Well, aside from being the dominant ingredient inside us all, water, and the companies associated with bringing clean water to the world, is becoming a hot investment sector.
The World Health Organization last year estimated that 1.1 billion people (of six billion on the planet) lack safe drinking water and that half of all hospital beds in the world are filled with people suffering from water-related diseases.
In many developing nations, such as China and India, the national wealth now is at levels where they finally are able to address their clean water issues. That translates into plenty of opportunity for companies offering water treatment services.
As of 2006, the water industry was estimated to be well over $400 billion-a-year worldwide. As global growth continues, developing nations will need to make water more available and safe from pollutants. But this story is not just one of developing nations.
Here in the United States, building and upgrading new water facilities is estimated to cost nearly $700 billion over the next two decades. That's big growth my friends and the realization that our water supply and water infrastructure is in need of a major overhaul is likely going to drive the earnings and share prices of companies engaged in these and related enterprises much higher.
Fortunately, it's now very easy to get our money positioned to take advantage of this receding water line. And, that's where the PowerShares Water Resources Portfolio (PHO) comes in.
PHO is an index ETF which seeks performance results that correspond generally to the price and yield (before fees and expenses) of an equity index called the Palisades Water Index. The fund normally invests at least 80% of total assets in American Depositary Receipts and common stocks of companies in the water industry. In pursuit of its objective, it may invest at least 90% of total assets in American Depositary Receipts and common stocks that comprise the Palisades Water Index.
What you basically are getting with PHO is a basket of the best stocks in the water industry. These stocks may not be household names but they are the biggest and best water industry names that money can buy. They also are all in one place with each share of PHO.
THE COACH IS IN 6
I have begun a new chapter in my bag of services that I call "coaching sessions." These sessions specifically are geared toward helping individual investors to understand the sometimes confusing landscape of variable annuities (VAs). To make the right decisions with your VA, it is critical that you become aware of all your VA's details and options.
When it comes to annuity contributions, there are two basic options. Knowing the difference between the two will help you understand the tax consequences when determining your withdrawal strategy.
If you are holding pre-tax dollars in your annuity that you contributed while working, or if you rolled over an IRA into an annuity, then all of your future income will be taxable no matter how you withdraw the money. These types of contributions are considered "qualified retirement assets."
The other type of contribution to an annuity is called "non-qualified dollars." With non-qualified annuity contributions, you will not have to pay taxes on your contributions when they are withdrawn. These are part of your cost basis in your annuity and you can receive a combination of both your contributions and growth when you "annuitize" your contract.
Always remember that you have options and choices when it comes to annuities. Here are some important guidelines for you to be aware of if you are considering a VA.
- Annuities carry high fees. Always ask about fees, expenses and commissions when you get involved with VAs.
- Annuities have multiple investment options. Use the tools in your annuity to your advantage. Do not remain static or just buy-and-hold with your critical retirement dollars.
- You CAN change insurance companies without paying high commissions. There are great providers of annuities in the marketplace, so don't let yourself be bullied into a product that carries high commission and surrender charges.
Experience and knowledge is required to understand annuities. I want all of my Alert subscribers to know all of their options before making decisions. If I can help you with your annuity questions, please just send me an e-mail and let me know.
If you want a FREE annuity coaching session with Doug Fabian, simply send an e-mail here.
ARISTOTELIAN PERSEVERANCE
"The ideal man bears the accidents of life with dignity and grace, making the best of circumstances."
--Aristotle
The next time you face a difficulty in life – whether financial or otherwise — try to remember the words of the greatest thinker in human history. You see, it's not what happens to you in life that counts. Rather, it's how you deal with each obstacle, accident and challenge that defines who you are.
Be excellent!
Wisdom about money, investing and life can be found anywhere. If you have a good quote you'd like me to share with your fellow Alert readers, send it to me, along with any comments, questions and suggestions you have about my radio show, newsletters, seminars, or anything else.