Think Big – Aunty’s notes for your review

Think Big Hawaii happened over a 3 day weekend on October 26-28, 2012.  Here are Aunty’s notes:

THINK BIG October 26, 2012 Hawaii Convention Center (speakers in order of presentation, names are in capital letters and bold:

REGGIE BASS:

Make the decision that you are going to accomplish the goal. (Be lazer focused in your goal setting)

Make the commitment to make it happen.

Make sure you hold yourself accountable, and have someone to hold you accountable.

Make sure that you have an action plan that is clear, understandable, specific, strategic.

Focus on the right things, not the wrong things otherwise you sabotage yourself.

 

PHIL GROVE:

Three Essential Skills

  1. Marketing – Generating Leads, finding deals, prospects
  2. Sales/Negotiating – Converting leads into money making transactionsIf you are great at sales but you suck at marketing, you don’t get at bat. Better to be a better marketer rather than a great salesman.
  3. Strategy – what are the transactions and how you do them

Business is about monetizing your marketing. You will spend time or money to get leads. Everything else is about turning that time and money into making money.

For every $100 Phil spent on marketing, he got 1 lead, for every 20 leads, he got 1 lead that made him $15,000. ($2000 = $15,000)

Take dramatic action. To have different results, you must do different actions. Schools don’t teach marketing or sales.

Immigrants are 4 times more likely to become multi-millionaires than US. (sink or swim)

Take 2 sets of notes – a regular one like you always do; and one of ideas – 3 things to do differently on Monday

Life is Good in America. People will fight fiercely to keep what they have, but it is hard to motivate them to fight for more.  This makes people perfectly content to do the same thing that they have always done which gives them the same result.

What is your Motivation? Need produces Motivation which leads to Goal Directed Behavior resulting in Result. [Tony Montana (Scarface) “In this country, you gotta make the money first. Then, when you get the money, you get the power. Then when you get the power, you get the women.”]

*Look up Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs.

Marketing budget write down how many dollars and hours you will spend to reach your goal. 85% of your time/money on marketing.

Deal flow = marketing, marketing, marketing

Skeptics, Gamblers, and Lucky Gamblers – bad for future

Never stop the machine. Some shift their attention 100% to the operations and let the marketing engine stop, so have to start from scratch.

Your next deal is always more important than the deal you have now. Focus on getting the next one.

Master Sales – or get a partner that is good at sales.

Always negotiate with a carrot and a stick (what can happen vs what you are offering)

Every opportunity has a close – the least-worse option is sometimes the best one.

Learn how to manage the clock – usually at the last possible minute (foreclosure list shows when going to auction – best time is last possible days)

Learn Strategy

Multiple strategies = multiple streams of income

Multiple strategies recession proofs your business. Focusing on a single strategy making money, one day, you start making less money, so do double of what used to do.

Philosophy of Investing

Finance, analysis, Operations – these are critical, but not urgent (traps)

Use Tools – find a lead vs. use a tools to find 1000 leads

Don’t forget about capital – relational capital. Net-worth = Network

A good network builds deals, coaches.

Left brainers: Analytical, hard to get them to do stupid things, but also tend to not do anything. Let your gut make decisions – take the opportunities.

Right brainers: quick decision makers, shiny penny syndrome (want to do it all). Learn to FOCUS.

Think differently! Transformational strategy, unique selling propositions, zero based thinking, value disciplines, focus, relational capital, marketing, branding, strategy of preeminence, chasing rabbits vs chasing elephants, intentional congruence.

*Keep a calendar and keep track of everything we do – get a true picture of what activities are spent on the most important things vs wasteful activities. Then, figure out if you can have someone else do some of the activities for you. Focus on the activities that are important.

The envelope around the business in order of importance in order to get the right offer in front of the right person:

#1 The Channel – the flow, from producer to retail

#2 The Marketing – makes you money. i.e. – the cover of a book with Fabio sells books

#3 The Product – quality, hard work

Phil found the biggest channel in the business, offered to do all the work, etc., they kept all the profits. After that when Phil became branded, the 2nd product had more weight and he could get profits.

Online Marketing

  1. Website for RE – in order to capture leads:Buyer Website – properties available, resources for buyerSeller Website – services for buying houses, resources for sellersWeebly.com for custom websites to get templates
  2. Develop marketing CollateralMarketing materials (Phil’s home selling guide) hire via elance.com (free lance writers, market resources, etc.), 99designs.com (creative logo design, stationary, etc.), freelancer.com (writers, etc.)
  3. Buy a mailing list – MelissaData.com (hundreds of lists to choose from) or hire a list broker (google “lisr broker”Marketing = message + list. They both have to be rightShort sale list – notice of default list
  4. Mail to list – www.click2mail.com.24¢ postcard + 11¢ printing = $35 per 100 postcardsMulti-touch – industry says 4x, every 7 daysMarketing is an experiment – getting the right message to the right list
  5. Generate SEO traffic to websiteSEO = search engine optimization, traffic from searces for specific keywords. Google has a formula that no one has access to. Having links back to your website gives you a higher score – Being at the top is very valuable. SEO is a science and art form – too much time and effort. Shortcut is to use press releases – gets your site/company referenced in lots of recent, relevant sites, short, simple “LAH launches new national program to allow any homeowner to sell their home…” PRLog.com, Free-press-release.com, PRWeb.com
  6. Local online listings – local advertising. Register self at Google Places, Yahoo local. Use company address, that will show as the address on the map. Google.com/places/ http:listings
  7. PPC for immediate paid traffic = pay for click advertising for a fee in which you pay each time someone clicks on your ad.. Pay and Google will put you there – they are in business to make money. 85% of the time potential viewers click on the top listings.
  8. Social Media – Facebook.com, Linkedin.com connect with peopleKeep it simple – set up Facebook – create a fan page for your business. Do videos and post them on Facebook, linkedin, etc. pages. Link to your website. Add friends, customers, associates. Communicate with them – success stories, problems solved, status, partnerships
  9. Communicate! It costs 7x more to obtain a new customer vs doing business with someone that already knows you. Work what you’ve got first. Offer them valuable products and service, and valuable content and resources.
  10. Auto responders – series of emails automatically sent to prospects.Most common response to a REI offer is “let me think about it”. Instead of trying to offer more money, etc., follow up instead. Auto-responders keep you in the deal until the deal “bakes” long enough to get done. www.aweber.com more than doubles the conversion rate.Professional tools to manage emailing to your list.

Email and online marketing to investors/realtors. Post wholesale deals to buyers list. Market and economic updates, invite to events.

Get people to go to your website.

Offline marketing, develop marketing materials, buy a target customer list, mail to list

Online marketing – PR to get organic traffic, local listings, PPC to get paid traffic

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CHARLIE DOMBAK, CPA MBA tax strategist

worked with tax attorneys for 6 years, founding member of Optimal Financial Group

Comprehensive Financial Planning

Have legal separation between personal and business – use entities = corporation, LLC, Limited Partnership. Each has unique attributes depending on business.

Attorney that knows legal and tax aspects of entity structuring, form separate entity for various investments, specialized.

Insurance agent gets 100% of 1st year’s premium, check policy accuracy. Best deals when you interject competition into the picture.

Financial Planners have financial incentives to keep you in a certain fund. Fee based fiduciary are best for your own monies.

Accountants – historians, specialized

Partnership LLC for investment class recommended by Charlie Dombek

Tax mitigation – overpaid income tax

Current enforcement trends. Enlarging tax gap, 6,000 new auditors, 30% increase in small business audits, less audits of large corps, higher audits for thosE making more than $1 million.

Coming? Personal income tax increases, higher tax rates on savers and investors, igher social security wage caps added up to a 15.3 % surcharge, higher taxes on marriage & family, return of the death tax.

Romney plan – fairer, flatter, simpler – permanently extend cuts, repeal AMT, reduce individual rates, reduce taxes on savers and investors, repeal federal estate tax.

Which entities are best? Avoid sole proprietorships (no separation, only protection is insurance), single member LLCs (not for active business, taxed like sole proprietor, legal shortcomings – in some states can order judicial foreclosure like in Hawaii), general partnerships (responsible for partner’s activities and liabilities).

Corporations fit best for active businesses (not investment activities). C Corp is a separate legal entity and files and pays taxes on separate returns. S Corp is a flow through entity.

Control Garbage Tax (FICA, FUTA)

S corp gives the most control over payroll taxes (garbage taxes) ideal for small business, internet businesses, flips (dealers)

S corp paid in 2 ways, paid through payroll, paid as a draw. Called John Edwards income splitting technique. Split income in a way favorable to you, and compliance with IRS with proper compensation formula.

Negative legal and tax consequences to holding assets in corporations. Investment assets with passive income change to income in corporations.

In a Partnership, the entity cannot be liquidated if held in partnership. Distributions are able to be used if there is a claim against a partner.

Only entity type that benefits investors best are partnership LLCs. Because partnership, have ideal legal and tax structure. Segment assets according to risk.

How to segment risk for real estate investors. Parnership LLC for residential properties (must be taxed as a partnership for maximum asset protection) set up as a holding company (has charging order protection which owns shares of several single member LLC that is disregarded for tax purposes, each owning a piece of property.

Operating agreement –

non assignable interest – partner cannot assign interest to creditor

no power to demand distributions – can keep distribution within LLC

non disclosure provisions,

non pro-rata distributions – can distribute 100% away from partner in a suit

special allocations – use to minimize taxes

poison pill provisions – person holding charging order may get saddled with tax liabilities of LLC

charging order limitations – non liquidating charging order – sole remedy. Annual distributions is the only way to liquidate.

C corporations pay tax at their own rates. (doesn’t want as first choice because of payroll double tax) Corp rates are graduated, usually lower than individual rates. Only entity type that can pay pretax fringe-benefit expenses such as medical payments, etc. Ability to have fiscal year end.

When you have significant income, set up a management company (C corp) that the Partnership LLC for Real Estate pays management fee. The C corporation pays tax deductible fringe benefit expenses.

If you have several (partnership LLCs,) pays management fees to the holding LLC.

Retirement plans:  IRAs, No ERISA protection, not bankruptcy exempt, require same contribution for employees

Qualified Retirement Plans:  401(k)s, pension plans, defined benefit plansare exempt from bankruptcy proceedings and creditory attack, have discriminatory funding formulas

How: Partnership LLC for investments pays management fee to LLC taxed as Corporation (as management support)

Can use retirement plans to take income off tax return – train income stream to flow into a retirement plan. Retirement plan expansion structure. PreferredLLC turbo charges our retirement plans. The tax deductible retirement plan pays into retirement plan expansion structure with preferred and common members, holds

Preferred LLC . Your tax deductible retirement plan feeds your tax-free Roth by routing all investment returns above 6% annually to your Roth. Company plan goes to preferred, goes to common, ROR beyond 6% goes to Roth IRA

Preferred LLC example $100,000 investment with 18% return.

Net earnings: $18,000

Taxable deferred earnings: $100,00 x .06 = $6,000

Tax free earnings: $18,000 – $6000 =$12,000

tax saved: $4080

developed by tax attorney out of St. Louis

captive insurance companies – the anti millionaire tax strategy.

Primary business structure pays insurance premium up to $1.2 million annual to a Captive Insurance Company (you as a business owner owns) Is a fully licensed insurance compnay, governed by section 8319B0 of code, are 100% owned and controlled by shareholder, no restrictions on investments, can be used as rainy day funds.

Audit proofing – never file your taxes late, avoid paying taxes late, avoid matching issues, ratio analysis – scored when deductions are too high to income, etc., be careful with travel, entertainment and auto deductions.

For highly contested deductions. Five tests – valid date, receipt, amount, reason, relationship for entertainment, car & truck expenses – have mileage log, credit card statements are not considered receipts, business/asset acquisition travel

if you are traveling to look at your line of work it can be deducted. If you are traveling with expenses not in your line of work, not deductible unless the deal is done.

Charlie will move any properties on Schedule E to a partnership LLC and file a separate tax return. No protection if the property income shows up on your personal tax return.

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Day 2 LINDSEY JEAN: Irresistible Influence and Wealth Creation [Aunty’s note: this was my favorite presentation]

Simply show up. Go to events. Do what needs to be done in the best way you can.

We do business with people we like the most.

For each of the statements below, write down the letter that you agree with the most:

When I have an opportunity to meet someone in business for the first time, I am:

D.  outspoken & direct

I. Spontaneous and funny

S. Welcoming and friendly

C. reserved

 

In business, I consider myself to be:

D. competitive

I. passionate and animated

S. peaceful and laid back

C. diligent and dependable

 

The traits of someone I do not interact well with are:

D. slow and indecisive

I. meticulous and critical

S. controlling and insensitive

C. unorganized and chaotic

 

Your time management for business would best be described as:

D. efficient

I. move quickly to the next fun thing

S. go with the flow

C. systematic and prompt

 

In relation to leaders in business I tend to:

D. be the leader

I. hate directions

S. want the best for everyone

C. like exact instructions

 

In business, I tend to be:

D. bold and determined

I. spontaneous

S. calm and even tempered

C. predictable and conservative

 

When given an assignment, I am:

D. productive

I. creative in finding solutions

S. focused on helping others

C. diligent and detailed

 

After writing down our corresponding letters (D, I, S, C) and tallying them by majority (i.e. if you had 4 “D”s then you were in the “D” group) we broke into our groups.

Everyone was to describe themselves, in one word, both the positive and negative, and someone recorded the responses. Each group had similar characteristics, very different from each other, needing different approaches.

Characteristics of the types are:

D type: dominant driven determined risk takers, results oriented, decisive, efficient, enjoy challenges, achievement driven, influential, innovative, but can be can be like dictators, bossy, impulsive, talk over others, insensitive to others. Their appearance: sharply dressed, quality clothing, wear jewelry, walk tall, have aggressive handshake, confidence in their demeanor, image conscious, talk fast, manicured hands. To make an impression on this type of person, need to be business-like, straight forward, assertive. To impact them, talk about the possibility of financial gain, get to the point, stay focused, show them what is in it for them, let them believe that they are in control. Listen attentively to their ideas, do not interrupt, be as agreeable as possible and try to build them up.

I type: influencing interactive inspirational, extroverts, passionate, risk takers, emotional, magnetic, animated, very social, stimulating, impulsive, full of life, but can be easily distracted, unrealistic, defensive, impulsive, too talkative, totally disorganized, tend to be late, too much drama, tends to waste a lot of time, not taken seriously. Their appearance: dress in bright colors, trendy, fashion conscious, love jewelry, bright makeup, tends to flirt, flatter, and touch a lot. To approach them, you need to be enthusiastic and upbeat, active and motivational, talk about exciting opportunities for possible cash for spending, make them the center of attention, visual stimulation, provide positive and fun environment. To impact them, be animated, use emotion, analogies, stories, allow them to be vocal and welcome their input, introduce them to important people and help them visualize what their future can look like.

S type: stable supportive sensitive, nurturing, agreeable, considerate, reliable, truthful, endlessly loyal, excellent listeners, compassionate, team players, giving, committed to providing service, and sensitive to the feelings of others, but can be indecisive, overly passive, overly supportive, providing help to a fault, tends to hold a grudge, sacrifice results for the sake of harmony, overly accommodating, Their appearance: casually dressed, wear earth tones, longer hair than most, soft spoken, laid back, calm, passive presence, more natural looking with less makeup. To approach them, be easy going, laid back and genuinely interested in building a relationship, be slow paced and not in a rush, ask about family, take time to build trust, recognition, inclusion, create vision of family life and cohesion. To impact them, be engaged, understanding, provide genuine sincere caring answers, tell them what to do in a supportive way, helping the greater group.

C type: controlled, conscientious, cautious, meticulous, orderly, high standards, professional, does diligence, organized, accurate, analytical, very high regard for integrity and systems, but, can be rigid, too critical of others, appear unemotional, stand-offish, aloof, don’t like change. Can over analyze. Their appearance: dress conservatively and professionally, wear blacks, browns, greys, tend be well kept, manicured, business like demeanor, pens in pocket, carry briefcase or portfolio. To approach them, be business-like, professional, accurate, slow pace, systematic, have outline, give facts, present in logical structure format. To impact them, be detail oriented and precise, do not over-embellish, ready with supportive documents, do not pressure, need time to process and evaluate.

Cater your personalities to communicate and relate with others. First you need to figure out what “type” the other person is and approach them accordingly. Look at how they are dressed, and then ask them a question, so based on their answer, you can figure out their type. Listen, observe, find their hot button to get them interested.

People like to work with people that are like themselves, so it is best to work with people you get along with. A business team needs all components and not too much of any one type.

DISCprofile.com website – gives full profile – 2 ½ hour test ~ $100 .

NLP = Neural Lingistical Programming – the unconscious brain and how it reacts. 90% is unconscious. We have belief patterns based on our life’s history. Brain does not process negatives (can’t don’t won’t) so always put things in the positive rather than the don’ts, etc.

One way to win and influence people is by mirror/matching them – speak slow if they speak slow, fast if they speak fast.

We move every 60 seconds. When you first approach people, pay attention to body movements. Most of the people will mirror the actions of the dominant person at the table – subtly copy what they do and do what they do. To test if you “have” them, do a body shift and they follow – you do have them. If they don’t follow, then go back to mimic them and then test later. C types take the longest to win. If you don’t “have “them, don’t ask. Talk to them later.

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PHIL GROVE day 2

3 essential skills – Marketing (65), selling (10), strategies (12).

Advice to newbies:

1. 1st deal should be a low risk deal. No money but a lot of skill needed.

2. Learn a lot.

3.  Don’t learn too much (take action).

4.  REI, like all business, is a numbers game that starts with marketing.

5.  Don’t try to do it all yourself. You will fail.

MARKETING – finding deals

65 methods – some paid, some free

Free: door hangers, stickeis, etc., letters of intent, business cards, FSBO marketing, magnetic signs, professional referrals, networking, realtors and the MLS, REOs and HUD foreclosures (get list, make random offers on all of them), door knocking, driving for dollars, past customer referrals, bird dogs, wholesalers, bulk REOs, social media, blogs/curation, search engine optimization, website, local search advertising.

Paid: direct mail – tax late, pre-foreclosure, divorce, probate, modeled list, bankruptcy, non-owner occupied, section 8 landlord list, bandit signs, mass media, newspaper ads, online advrtising, paid lead, affiliate marketing, pay per click advertising, REI matcher.

Phil’s top 6 Google pay per click, direct mail, paid lead service. Driving for dollars (make a list of abandoned houses) local search, craigslist

Big takeaway – #1 job is finding a deal. Most investors fail because of insufficient marketing.

STRATEGY- different ways to make money

referrals, buy & hold, house swapping, auction/option, lease/option, contract for deed, fix and flip, equity partnering, mortgage assign, wraps, wholesaling, short sales

cash = fast, advertise self as a cash buyer.

wholesaling – get property under contract, sell or assign the contract for a fee.

Buying subject-to – agreement to pay seller’s mortgage in exchange for the deed. Find motivated seller that does not want to pay their mortgage or else they face foreclosure. The catch is that they have to sign the deed over to you. (2 docs that matter – deed and the note. Whoever’s name is on the deed is the owner, the name on the note is the one who owes the money) Then you can renovate/retail, wrap, rent,

Fix & Flip – but property, renovate and sell retail. Most people underestimate cost of rehabbing by 50%. Must remember that it is NOT your house. Miscalculate what the house will realistically sell for. Non investment minded realtors tend to tell you what you want to hear, not necessarily the truth.

[Ace that you pull out when you have to get the deal] Equity Partnering – Subject-to (no $$) (with IOU for future profit share) partner with the seller and agree to share the profits. Renovate and retail.

Left brain close: when trying to negotiate with seller, negotiate profit, not price. Do a numbers close. Works well with one exception – the magic house. Then, use the magic close – get their numbers (how much they think it is worth, how much they think the rehab will be)

House swapping – trade house for house (no $)

Option-auctions buy the option contract (no $$) sell at retail auction get house on option.

Mortgage payment assignment. Buy and just get under contract w. standard master agreement (sub-to w/ option), sell by assigning contract for a fee. 82 million people that are not qualified to borrow – looking for houses that are financed.

**Buy and Hold. Sub-to owner finance conventional, rent, or sell retail in 5-10-15 years.

Million dollar plan. Buy $10 million of subject-to properties, rent them, wait until the market goes up. ****10 years from today is dependent upon what you do today.****

Listing referrals and combo plans. Do marketing for sellers, selling lead to realtor on your power team.

SALES – negotiating

Whenever send offers, have option period and subject to inspection.

Always ask, by the way do you need to have another house?

All-in-One Done-for-you video encyclopedia, one password, marketing, strategy, sales done for you.

REI marketing manager – seller website, seller squueze page, buyer squeeze pages, professional website, optional (paid) lead services, private investor MLS of owner finance deals, wholesale deals

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JT FOXX

Think bigger so great things can happen.

Disrupt the normal.

3 keys –

      1. all about relationships. Monetize relationships. People invest in people.
      2. Marketing – branding is the key. Always better when someone sells you than you sell yourself.
      3. Perseverance

go from survival to competence to confidence to success to significance to legacy.

Broke people are always busy, Successful people are always productive.

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BRUCE BUFFER official voice of the UFC and business and marketing and entrepreneur, told story of his businesses, life.  [Aunty took a picture with him!]

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Day 3  JT FOXX after an evening out and stuck in Waikiki because of tsunami warning

Strategic thinking – paint the picture for them.

“they can copy the how, but they can’t copy the why”.

The more exclusive you are, the more money you will make.

Won’t have everyone liking you -i.e. to be President with 51% of the vote, which means 49% don’t like you..

NIDO QUEBIN video highlights BetterLifeMedia.com

Examples of McDonalds, Prudential – people want to buy if you think of how to make people feel.

Pain of discipline vs pain of neglect. Performers focus on results, non performers focus on obstacles.

Do a Stop Doing list, rather than a To Do list.

Any improvement in our lives come as a result of change.

Why should people to do business with me? How easily can someone else imitate what I do? If I were to buy what you have to sell, would I think of you first, second, at all?

Brand awareness okay, brand preference better, brand insistence – best.

Great people have great attitude. Bad sandwich story. Your attitude expressed on the outside of you is the commentary of the person who resides on the inside of you.

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JT FOXX resumes

Awareness – who you are, what you stand for, your mission statement, to become successful you have to be uncomfortable. Always be uncomfortable.

Education based marketing – build on client’s success.

Consideration, WIIFM – what’s in it for me. Show the immediate benefit of taking action now.

Action – want to be first to market – Innovation, determination, engagement, action.

The choices you make determine the reality of your outcome. How you change is how you succeed.

Branding – key. You want to be the authority in your field.

What gets measured gets managed, what get rewarded gets repeated. Know your numbers – what is working, what is not.

New Rules of marketing

  1. dominate (your niche) SOV = share of voice – have your own authority
  2. innovate – how are you different, stand out from everyone
  3. illustrate – CEO = chief experience officer
  4. articulate – move yourself from perception to consideration – move from”thinking about” to actually doing.
  5. Create the experience – inner engineering – clients want to buy the experience
  6. brand advocacy – reputation = brand, the brand doesn’t make the company, the company makes the brand. Brands are mirrors – want people to connect with you.Have authority, respect, aura of authenticity,

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PHILL GROVE day 3

Branding How to

Started off not being on Google as the #1, now he is for Austin real estate investor

[ example of Houstons in Austin has best French dipped sandwich – Schiner Bock beer was Phill’s favorite beer to have – an insistence that he have that kind of beer.]

Brand – the personality that identifies a product, service, company, or person. People describe a brand in terms of their: thoughts, feelings, perceptions, images, experiences, beliefs, attitudes towards the product, service, company, or person and how it relates to others.

Value of Brand Awareness = 1, Brand Preference = 3, Brand Insistence = 10. Brand Advocacy is even more valuable – not only insist on using the brand but tells others about it = 12. “Life is too short to have a PC.” = the brand advocacy of Apple computers to an Apple fanatic.

How to get to brand insistence, brand advocacy is to give WOWs. Wow’s are anything that’s better than your competition. Examples: send a Christmas card, stay open past 5:00 pm, invite your customers to a special event, unexpected service. Avoid Un-Wows, i.e. un-returned phone calls, the run-around, a stupid customer service person.

You are a brand, and so is your business. Your brands are constantly “being built” with or without your attention. Googleability is key in today’s market. Good branding makes deals and business come to you, bad branding makes people avoid you.

Purpose of the marketing department is to eliminate the sales department. Good marketing makes the sale easy. Purpose of the branding department is to eliminate the marketing department.

You only get ONE chance to make a first impression. [Phil wore a suit to create a good impression.]

Branding starts with a name, or 3. For real estate, need 3 brands for different audiences – motivated sellers, buyers, investors, other services. Need 3 or more because the message is different to different audiences. [ We buy ugly houses – we sell houses by we-buy-ugly houses]

Brands take on identities (max 2-3) [ sony has a chemicals business, motorola makes bar code readers]

Motivated seller branding: audience is motivated seller, attract realtors, attorneys. Target audience wants to sell fast, no cost, no credit harm. Message, we buy houses, cash, fask, any condition, any problem = no problem. USP – Unique Selling Propostion, AMPS, solutions. Brand Equity value is low – few repeat customers, always ask for testimonials anyway.

Investor branding – other investors, power team members. What does your audience want – not to loose money, want money back with a nice return, want it back fast, ability to rinse and repeat. Message – we offer high return, low risk opportunities. USP – why would they want to do business with you. Brand Equity Value is super high – automatic deals, ask for testimonials.

Buyer branding – owner finance buyers, any buyers, realtors etc. Message – rent to own (higher response rate than “seller financing”) No bank financing. USP we do what realtor’s can’t to.

Generally recommend doing business in an entity LLC, LP, Corp. The entity that actually buys property (enters into contracts) is probably the Investor brand (or possibly the seller brand)

Consider doing dba (not really a company but using a different name as the master company), will simplify the business structure. Too many complex corporate structures for beginners not good. Instead, simplify and focus on building the business.

The 3 phases of being an entrepreneur.

  1. The new entrepreneur looking for the 1st deal – goes to intermediate entrepreneur – sometimes get stuck because they think they have it figured out, gets stuck at a certain level.
  2. The advanced
  3. The guru

The new entrepreneur – needs websites, business cards, voicemail message, REIAs and professional organizations. Watch your message – people don’t just listen to what you say, they watch what you do. Etiquette, USP – unique selling propositio, elevator speech, borrowed credibility (“my partner has done over 1000 deals”), aura of authenticity (at top of all George Ross’ leases even though he has 19 of them, they are called “Standard Lease”. Phill changed all his contract names to “Standard Master Agreement” and it makes things a lot simpler), mindset.

Website – most important is to capture leads. If you make people click on one more tab or link, you lose 50% of the people. Branded logo, social media integration, etc.

Business cards – getting to be billboards, making them look cool. Purpose is to exchange contact information, part of your brand. Ask “would Donald Trump do it”. Professional business cared– limit to logo on upper left corner. Name of company at top next to logo. In center of card, your name, your title (senior managing partner, etc.). Under that put your website: www.company.com. Put phone number on card, don’t put “cell phone” and your phone number, O: (808) 123-4567, F: (808) 123-7890, email address on the bottom left corner. Put your company email, i.e. aunty@honoluluaunty.com

Physical address on the bottom right corner. Leave back blank. Or, put picture of a project you are working on – little conversation starter.

Etiquette: Blocking and Tackling. Have great manners. Act like you belong. Dress for success – how you look – shoes, hair eye brows, grooming. Insert yourself into high net worth situations – benefits, charity events of the rich, the right parties. It can take time. Donating $10,000 to United Way, you get on the “list”. Surround self with wealthy people Have an elevator speech, include a USP. Professional storefront – company name, branding, etc.

[Case studies –

  1. Magic Trick Guy – poor dressed, missing teeth, stood in corner doing magic tricks, kept following around Phill, got into his personal space. His intro was “I can transform a $200K investment into $200B in under 3 months”. His brand was Crazy.
  2. Bulk REO guy in WDC – listend to webinar, bragged about success, intro looking for $50M. His brand was Idiot.
  3. Real estate club guy (multiple). Claims to have great deal but if you look into it, it is not a good deal. Brand = Rookie.
  4. Sharp looking kid at Billionaire Class – dressed shart, spoke well. Talked about working long hours, studying, training, doing marketing, looking for a good one. Brand – Go-Getter]Your USP – Unique Selling Proposition – if you have one, you have Super Powers. “I can sell your house in less than 30 days, at no cost to you and at no harm to your credit, even if you have little, no, or negative equity.” (as investor) “I list homes on the MLS, like other Realtors, and use 12 additional strategies to sell homes, that other Realtors don’t even know.” (as super realtor).

Elevator speech – 15 – 30 seconds. Who you are, USP

Phase II – The intermediate entrepreneur.

  1. position self as the expert. Make presentations to title companies, REIAs, meet up groups, etc.
  2. Elevator pitch – update pitch – leverage experiences
  3. brand leverage – leverage partnerships, affiliations – bought the preferred national vendor for short sales of Kenner Williams $5400 check to them.
  4. host beneficiary relationship 0 use 3rd party endorsements – always better than self promotion –
  5. orientation package – about me, bio, highlights, press kit, branding with picture
  6. social media and google-ability – build presence of Facebook, LinkedIN, YouTube (record all deals) do YouTube video showing deal, etc. case studies, publish, & on side of page all other videos, testimonials. When you do a deal, make a video.

Fan page for business on Facebook, brand yourself as a professional, talk about deals, problems that you are solving. Linkedin – more professional, has picture, various recommendations, has elevator speech, USP, links to website.

7.  Internet Marketing – blog and advance internet marketing.

Phase III – Expert Entrepreneur

  1. Host your own events – bird dog breakfast, new entrepreneur group, meet ups, host a training event
  2. Loss Leaders – starting your own REI clubs, radio show, etc.helps build your brand
  3. Reputation management – bigger pockets, blogs, endorsements, online presence
  4. Internet Marketing – PPC, SEO, etc. and advanced traffic
  5. Alliances with other Gurus – internet marketing, affiliate marketing, partnerships (i.e. Phill and Jt Foxx)

**************

LINDSEY JEAN – Cash Cow Know How. Single Mom Secrets to Fast Cash Finding Deals

Dave Asarnow High Heels and Hard Hats

how to get deals chasing you rather than you chasing deals

getting cash buyers fighting to give you their money for deals

do it on autopilot from home. Program your mind for success, eliminate any negativity, no excuses, stop complaining, act smarter, not harder, take action & take command of your destiny.

5 quick and easy steps to quick cash (assignments)

  1. build team of birddog agents – local professional agents. Most important step – recruiting the right agents that specialize in areas, Right agent – google REO agents, these control the sale. Short sales agents , brand new hungry agents. Use Lyndey’s “hot Deal” handbook.
  2. analyze deals they find for you – deal analyzer spread sheet (60 seconds) – determine ARV (after fixed), how much to fix, our offer price = ARV goal 65%. Cost of capital 12%, closing costs 7%, everything is done in the MLS. San Diego 73%, Santa Barbara 85%, Los Angeles 80% San Bernardino 65%. Tell agent to look at what cash buying investors are buying. Over last 6 months, look at rehabbed properties & what they sold for, look at what the investor paid, look at what they rehabbed – put in the numbers. To determine ARV, pull other like-kind properties (comps)
  3. submit “yes!” offers – relationship between you and listing agent, how you present your offer. Secret: clean cash offers (no contingencies/appraisals/inspections) buying as is, in as in condition, in other – “buyer intends to sell the property in some point in the future for a profit”. Never lowball – always come in with highest and best. Have agents offer price using deal analyzer. Sometimes make smaller checks – all real estate agents are happy & willing to work with you again.
  4. Decide which buyer gets the deal – review the waiting list – who you like the most, who has the most money, text or email blast text their purchase price, rehab, what they can sell it for. Quality of buyer vs quantity. Need integrity, honor, ethics, enjoyable.
  5. assign the contract for quick cash Present the deal, escrow manages the entire deal, you will be paid as a buyers consultation fee.

*do short sale offers – LOTS – because they are taking such a long time.

Better to be a normal investor rather than agent – less fiduciary duties. Can be signed on as their assistant 7 have access to MLS.

Not about who you know, it is about who knows you.

Find Cash Buyers (ask them what they want & how much they would pay for it), then find the houses that they want (using your real estate agent) = the secret formula.

More people have invested in 2012 ($11 billion) than 2010 and 2011 combined.

(sold her program to many of the attendees. Aunty did not buy)

…………….

 

JT FOXX

follow through, speed of implementation, trust but verify. No excuses, crazy 8 – 8 people, talk to them 8 times, over an 8 month period, circle of influence.

Credibility equals power, power equals access, access equals brand.

Four steps towards getting branded

  1. Personal Branding – this is you – creating the brand – featured on “self made list” website featuring pictures and profiles of celebrities and other successful entrepreneurs – including you! 10,000 twitter followers, facebook/linkedin/google fast track 9social media in 7 minutes with Curt Maly $1997 value), the art of building brand equity Cds
  2. Brand monetization – leveraging the brand to make money and have deals come to you
  3. brand innovation – growing the brand through innovations and brand associations
  4. brand identity – promoting and refining the brand with advanced techniques

 

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

All in all, it was a VERY long weekend. On a scale of 1-10 with 10 being the best of the best, Aunty would rate this event as a 6. Better than most, but the content wasn’t really there. It was as if JT Foxx wasn’t really excited to be there – perhaps because we didn’t fill the room with prospects. For myself, most of the presentations were repeat performances – and so the newness of the message was diminished.  However, the messages were still very good, especially if hearing them for the first time.

Raymond Aaron (does a program on the Monthly Mentor with daily videos sent to Aunty’s email) was not there, which is a big void in this group. Interestingly enough, Phill Grove ran out of time on the third day and did not go into his 9-9-9 which sounded a bit like Raymond Aaron’s 10-10-10 of getting a book written, formatted, and published in order to create one’s “brand”.  Aunty misses Raymond Aaron’s excellent presentations.

Hopefully these notes are understandable to readers. If you have any questions, just send them over as a comment and I’ll see about finding the answers.

Mahalo for reading through a very long report!

2 Rules for Wealth

2013-04-14_16-16-25Mark Ford writes for the Palm Beach Newsletter.  He recently wrote an article about “Breaking the Chains of Financial Slavery.”  Here are his key points:

Acquiring wealth through some short-term investment strategies is possible, but not probable.

However, in a relatively short period of time, anyone can achieve freedom from financial slavery in just a few years.  It does not have to be a lifelong process.

 

If you are in a financial slavery situation , here are five wealth-building strategies to get you out and moving in the opposite direction.
First of all though, what does financial slavery mean?  Most commonly it means two things:

You earn less than you spend.

You owe more than you own.

 

If you earn less than you spend, you are in a constant state of stress. You must put off or partially pay your bills. You must appease creditors. And all the while, your debt is mounting.
If you owe more than you own, then you can’t buy a house or lease a car or get a loan from anyone other than your parents. (And what if they are dead or tired of helping you…or don’t have the money?)
Because you are in so much trouble, you can’t even think about taking nice vacations or retiring someday. Instead, you have to worry about losing your job. So you keep working and reading investment newsletters. But as each month passes, your financial situation gets worse.
It’s a miserable existence. But it doesn’t have to last. You can break the chains you feel attached to by simply recognizing and reversing the two “facts” mentioned above.
Problem #1: You earn less than you spend.
Solution (Rule #1): Spend less and earn more.

Spend Less
You can’t break the chains of slavery without hitting them hard with a big mallet. You won’t be able to gain the independence you want in a few years or less by cutting $10 here and $50 there.
The recommendation is to cut your expenses by 30% to 50%.
That sounds crazy. And it may be impossible in your case. But don’t dismiss the idea until you understand the concept. The primary factor in how much you spend every month is the neighborhood you live in. Your neighborhood creates the financial culture that presents the spending choices you make. If you live in a community of million-dollar homes, you will be looking at new BMWs and Audis when it comes to buying or leasing a car. When you go out to dinner, chances are, you’ll be spending more than a hundred dollars per couple.
Unless you live in a working-class neighborhood now, you can radically reduce your spending by moving into one.
We all know people (maybe even friends and relatives) that live in expensive homes in beautiful neighborhoods and drive luxury cars, but the reality is they are broke and getting poorer every month. They refuse to even consider the idea of downsizing because they are simply too ashamed to do so. What they don’t realize is every month they try to “hold on,” it is making them poorer.
Moving to a less expensive neighborhood would be the quickest, biggest, and surest way to bring their spending down by 30% to 50%.
Earn More
The other thing you must do to improve your situation is to earn more money. You should take immediate steps to increase your income by 20% to 50%. That seems radical, but if you want a “short-term” solution out of financial slavery, this is just as important as radically cutting expenses.
There are dozens of ways to increase your income.  Take some time to figure out what those ways can be for yourself.  [For Aunty, it might be network marketing a truly great product that I believe in.  Or, cashflow from real estate investments.  Or selling my “valuable” clutter on eBay and Amazon.]
Problem #2: You owe more than you own.
Solution (Rule #2): Start owing less and owning more.

Owe Less
If you have accumulated a lot of debt, it means that you don’t see debt as financially dangerous. You must accept the fact that most debt you have is bad for you. There are only a few exceptions: mortgage debt when interest rates are low, and business debt when the business is sound and you are not personally liable.
The first step towards debt management is to get rid of every credit card you have, as well as any credit you have with your bankers. Use cash or debit cards for your shopping. Yes, that means there will be lots of things you can’t buy every month. That’s a good thing, not a bad thing. [True, that.  But Aunty loves her Hawaiian Miles VISA cards because of the miles – but I make sure I don’t charge too much and I always pay off the balance in full to avoid any finance charges.]
If you have a lot of existing credit card debt, you need to consolidate it. Then work with a professional to pay it off at reasonable interest rates.
If you are lucky enough to have equity in your home, then trading it for a cheaper one (see above) will accomplish two important goals: it will reduce your monthly expenses, and it will give you a chunk of cash that you can use to pay off debt or put aside as savings.
Own More
You must increase what you own. And by that, I do NOT mean cars or boats or furniture or toys. I mean tangible assets that are likely to appreciate such as gold coins, income-producing real estate, dividend producing stocks, etc.
Every extra after-tax dollar you make by taking on extra work or starting a side business should be devoted to increasing your ownership of such assets. None of it should be spent.
Being financially independent is not about having a big house or driving new cars or taking fancy vacations. There are tens of thousands of Americans in that situation today who are financial slaves just like you. They are in chains because they spend more than they make and owe more than they own. Their stress is just as great as yours, even though they may make more money or have more toys.
Being financially independent means having more income than you need and owing far less than you own.
It means knowing that you won’t be harassed by bill collectors or embarrassed at the supermarket. It means you have money put aside to take care of any emergencies that come up, and it means a savings account that gets substantially bigger every year.
Becoming a multimillionaire takes years. But breaking the chains of financial slavery can be done relatively quickly. The hardest part is recognizing the chains that are binding you—earning less than you spend and owing more than you own—and deciding to do something serious about them.

Checkbook IRA for investing

2013-04-15_08-37-55Why use retirement funds for real estate investing?

The self directed IRA is possibly the absolute best way to buy investment real estate because of its tax advantages and asset protection, with full control by you as the manager or administrator.  When you are 59 1/2 years old, distributions can be made without penalty, giving you so many options to invest with full access to funds if you need them for your daily expenses or possible splurges.

Is it legal?

Almost every financial institute has self directed IRAs.  In order to invest in real estate with a self directed IRA, many traditional financial institutions do not allow it and might tell you that you can’t.

If they tell you “no”, please know that you can.  You just need to find the institutions that will work with you in the proper way to get it done.

Who to use?

In the past, we had a PENSCO account for our self directed IRA, because they allowed real estate investing.  PENSCO’s customer service is good – I was assigned an agent who was willing and able to answer my questions.  It is one of the bigger companies, similar to Entrust.  However, bigger companies charge bigger fees.  I usually don’t mind paying fees especially if I am not sure about what I am doing, but this time, I wanted to limit administrative expenses and have a more hands-on approach to actually buying investments that make sense to me.  It would mean understanding how to invest the proper and legal way so I could repeat the process by myself.  I knew that the first one has the biggest learning hurdle.

Through Jeff Brown of BawldGuy.com, I found John Park of PGI Agency.  John knew the ins and outs of investing with IRAs, and his flat, initial, one time fee is reasonable.  I figured that the savings I would have NOT using PENSCO or Entrust with their $500 per year fee (charged quarterly) and transaction charges would pay for John’s fee in no time, especially since he gave Uncle and I a discount deal which was very sweet of him.

Currently, we are recommending using Jordan Sheppard of CheckbookIRA.com because of their larger support staff, great blog and expert timely answers to our questions.

Find a good facilitator (i.e. the folks at CheckbookIRA.com).  They are worth gold, especially in the beginning when you know the least.  The facilitator can be your agent.  You do need an agent to file for your LLC(s).

Step 1 – Opening the account with IRA Services Trust

Our facilitator filled out the IRA Services Trust application form found on their website, IRAservices.com.  Name on the account is your name, address, social security number, etc.  These are individual accounts, so I had one and Uncle had one.  IRA Services Trust will be the custodian of the self directed account and will hold the money initially.  Uncle and I are the individual owners of the IRA accounts.

The reason we switched to IRA Services Trust from PENSCO is because of their low annual fees – $108 annually, $160 to start, which includes the 1st year’s fees.  This was a big difference to Uncle and I because we will have 2 accounts – one for each of us, so instead of $1000 ($500 x 2) per year, every year, we pay $216 ($108 x 2) per year.   If you have gazillions in your account, then low fees don’t matter much.  However, if you are starting out and only have a few thousand in your account, low fees are important – otherwise your principal balance is eaten away with rather big bites by quarterly, annual, or transactional fees.

Our facilitator,  John Park, was designated as a “representative” who is able to talk to them about our account.  You will not be giving up control of the account.  Rather, a facilitator can hold your hand and set up accounts, entities, etc. on your behalf.  A facilitator is optional, but highly recommended.  John Park filled out our forms and signed on as our representative.

In order to convert and/or invest in a self-directed IRA, you must hire a custodian (in our case it is IRA Services Trust).  By law, an IRS custodian cannot offer investment advice to its clients.  The custodian will also be signing your LLC’s operating agreement.

IRA Services Trust acts as our passive custodian – monitoring how much we put in and how much we take out, as well as reporting everything to the IRS at the end of the year for tax purposes.

So step one is to find a facilitator and have them set up the self directed IRA with a custodian, the right way.

Step 2 – Funding the account

PENSCO was gracious as we had them transfer the all of our PENSCO funds outta there into our new IRA Services Trust account.  The PENSCO account was then automatically closed (though you should make sure after the dust settles.)  We also had a few dollars in a retirement account with Ameritrade that we transferred in after the IRA Services Trust account was opened.  Transfer funding forms are located in the “Forms” menu, then “Funding Your Account”, then “Transfer Authorization.”  Be sure to read and follow the instructions.  A copy of the latest statement and a wet signature is required.  These are to be mailed to IRA Services address on the form.

If you are opening an account with “new” money, i.e. making a deposit, fill out the “Deposit Information” form.  You will specify the type of IRA as well as the year for which it applies.

*Aunty will write another page about using banks and/or Ameritrade to rollover funds.

Step 3 – Setting up the LLC, by an agent

Our agent facilitator filed for our LLCs with the State of Hawaii (you choose the State in which you will do business).  You get to choose a name that you will be happy with.  You can check to see if that name is already taken by visiting the Hawaii.gov website, going to “Business Name Search” and entering the name you are considering using.

The business name can be registered online by your agent.  The Hawaii fees are $25 + $50 for registering an LLC.  After that, the Hawaii licensing renewal is $12.50 per year – which is REALLY low compared to States like California or even Nevada (where rates have increased).  These fees can be paid with personal funds, the agent’s funds, or with corporate funds.  They can be paid with the IRA funds, but that can be cumbersome trying to get the custodian (IRA Services Trust) to send over a check made out to the State of Hawaii DCCA for $25.  Fees are one of the items that can be paid for personally and it makes a lot more sense to do this rather than taking it out of your precious IRA funds.

When registering your business, it will be as a manager managed LLC (you will be the manager and have control).  This LLC will be the vehicle in which you will conduct real estate transactions.  Your IRA will be “buying” the LLC.

After John successfully applied for our LLC business name and registration and the entity (LLC) was approved, he contacted the IRS for its EIN number (employer’s identification number even if you have no employees).  This number becomes the entity’s identification number – the way your Social Security number is your own personal identification number.  I like dealing with EINs rather than Social Security numbers because it put me at less risk personally – especially for preventing identity theft.  Each LLC will have its own EIN number and Operating Agreement.

Make sure the agent you hire is knowledgeable in setting up checkbook IRAs.  They are few and far between so please do not settle for a financial advisor who really does not normally do these.

You can have more than one LLC for your IRA.  If so, use an agent to file for the LLC business registration and open separate checking accounts for each LLC.

Step 4 – Opening a business checking account for the LLC

After I received the LLC’s Articles of Organization, proof of registration from the State, and the IRS letter with EIN number, I opened a business checking account with our local bank – Bank of Hawaii with my favorite “nephews” Davin and Israel.  You will need to have these documents to show to the bank in order to open your business checking account.

The initial deposit was a check from IRA Services (custodian) from our retirement account.  Do NOT fund any part of the account with personal funds.  Remember, like a mantra, “Your IRA cannot benefit from you personally, and you cannot benefit from the IRA personally”.

It is VERY important that all deposits, funding and payouts are strictly done with the IRA account monies.  Do NOT use personal funds to fund this account – even upon start up.  Your banker might tell you different, but insist that the initial deposit to open the account is from your IRA account, not from any other account or cash from your pocket.

To do this, we sent in an  IRA Services Trust form, “investment authorization form”.  It specified that $x from the IRA account be used to purchase the LLC.  A check was then sent to us, made out to the LLC.  This is what we took to the bank and used as the opening deposit.  All subsequent deposits are done the same way.

The most important mantra you can use is one that the IRS will use:  Your IRA cannot benefit from you personally, and you cannot benefit from the IRA personally.  If you do not pass this test, you may be subject to fees associated with early withdrawals and disbursements, or worse.

*note – you will have to pay an annual State filing renewal fee, so be careful of which State your entity is filed.  as of 2011, Texas is $300 initial year, $150 annual renewal.  Nevada is $300 (? not sure) initially, $400 annually.  Hawaii is really cheap – $25 + around $50 initially, then $12.50 annually (!)  Such a deal, but you do NOT have the anonymity and/or the business friendly courts of Nevada or Texas.

Step 5 – Buying real estate with your LLC (that is owned by your IRA)

Now comes the fun part – go shopping.  Look for properties that will cash flow or that you believe will flip profitably.  You can go all cash into the deals, and use your new business checking account for all offers, expenses, fees, etc.  All income or proceeds from the sale must either get deposited into the LLC business account or directly to IRA Services (our custodian).

Make offers in the name of the LLC, with you as the administrator.  The LLC will own the property, 100% and all profits, expenses flow to and from the LLC without personal funds comingling – ever.

If your IRA does not have enough to fully fund the deal and all the expenses, the IRA can be come a part owner in the investment.  Income and expenses are split according to the percentage of ownership, and the titling would reflect the custodian account with your name, IRA, and percentage (XYZ Trust Company, custodian FBO Your Name, IRA, 50% undivided interest).  Your IRA will not own the property in the entirety and whoever you partner with should think the way you do in order for a mutually beneficial partnership and business venture.  Be careful that the other part owner is not you, your close relatives, or any other business entity that you are part of.  (remember the mantra…Your IRA cannot benefit from you personally, and you cannot benefit from the IRA personally.)

If your IRA/LLC has limited funds, a non-recourse loan from a non-recourse lender can be the means to acquire cash flow property.  The IRA/LLC would be providing a down payment and responsible for all other fees in the transaction, and the balance would be provided by a mortgage lender.  The property is owned by and titled to the LLC, of which your IRA is the owner manager, and the note is owned by the bank.

The beauty of these loans is that the loan is strictly based on the property and NOT on your credit worthiness or outstanding loans or your personal debt to income ratios.  Hallelujah for that!   This is a great strategy for small accounts or people with bad credit history.

North American Savings Bank is the largest lender for this type of loan.  NASB will loan different percentages of LTV for single family homes in the depending on where.  At the current writing of this article, NASB does not write loans at all for Las Vegas, and 60% LTV loans for Hawaii properties.

However, investing with a loan will make the investment income/sale subject to UBIT – unrelated business income tax.  It sounds complicated with many formulas for this and that so we would rather buy the all-in way just to avoid the complications and tax consequences.   This does limit how much we can buy, but slow and steady wins the race, in Aunty’s opinion.  Please do your own research on UBIT.  For now, Aunty is just staying away from that.

Congratulations, now your LLC is the owner of a property!

Step 6 – Hands off except for writing checks

Find a great property manager and rehabber.  You cannot manage the property, stay in the property, allow family to stay there, or physically benefit from owning the property in any way.  (remember the mantra…)  That also means you can’t be the cheap labor and paint, fix up, rehab the property and pay for expenses, or get paid for services.  ALL rehab and subsequent expenses must come from the IRA/LLC, period.

It is not worth saving a few bucks to get into the IRS’s cross hairs – so hire professionals and write them the checks for jobs well done from your IRA/LLC checking account.

You will always need a cushion in your IRA/LLC account – especially in the first few months when your cash flow is $zero and your expenses come in.  All of these expenses must be paid with your IRA/LLC funds.  Sorry to be redundant, but remember the mantra, remember the mantra…..  Because it is a checkbook IRA, you cannot just deposit personal funds into the account to cover expenses.

Mixing personal funds and/or time and/or benefits will get you into trouble and your entire investment may be deemed to be a disbursement.

Step 7 – Tadaaaa!!!  Reap and sow and watch it grow

At this point you will start to feel on familiar ground if you have cash flow rentals or done flip deals.  Income in, expenses out.  Buy low, sell higher.

The difference in investing with your IRA properly is that you now have ZERO tax consequences.  ZERO!!!  Except on the roulette table, zero is now my favorite number!

Tax filing?  ZERO!  Taxes to pay?  ZERO!  Flip a property and make a huge profit?  ZERO taxes!  Getting good net returns from the rental income?  ZERO taxes!

So long as you follow the rules and remember the mantra, you now own the golden pot that keeps on giving.

Expenses of real estate owned by the IRA

Be careful and remember the mantra “Your IRA cannot benefit from you personally, and you cannot benefit from the IRA personally”.

Many agents, sales people, financial consultants, bankers, etc. do not understand or know about the importance of this mantra.  Once you have established an IRA, all expenses, profits, fees, commisions, payments, must be made to or by the IRA either directly from the custodian or the LLC.

Insurance

Aunty almost got tripped up recently when securing a quote from our AAA homeowners insurance agent.  AAA does not write policies for companies, only to individuals (though a company or entity can be named as the additional insured).  After conferring with John Park, I needed to find an insurance company that does write homeowner policies for companies.  The reason is that if a claim is made and paid out to the owner of the policy (the individual), the IRS can deem that as a benefit to the individual because the check is written to the individual.  Even if that individual were to sign the check over to and deposit it into the LLC or IRA account, it might raise a red flag because it isn’t really a contribution to the IRA and to have to explain the situation would be an unneccesary headache that can be avoided by having the check written to the LLC or the IRA custodian FBO “your name”.

If the property is bought with a non recourse loan, the bank will require that it is insured, so please make sure that the property’s policy is written for the LLC, and NOT you personally.  Even if you buy a property with 100% cash, the owner of the policy must be the LLC.  These are called commercial policies.

Since AAA does not write commercial policies, we are using American Family for the LLC’s policies.  Ron Cornell is currently our agent of choice.
Property owner fees

HOA (homeowner association fees), property management, utilities, property taxes, improvement taxes, assessments, etc. must all be paid by the IRA/LLC.  We set up auto deductions from the checkbook IRA/LLC to make it easy shmeasy.

Custodial and registration fees

These are the only types of fee that you can pay for personally.  If your IRA custodian charges high annual fees, that can take quite a bite from your precious IRA funds every year.  Since capitol and income gains are not taxed in a IRA, neither are losses or expenses able to be captured, so we avoid high fees (unless, you have ukubillions in the account and fees are such a small small percentage of your portfolio value.)

A personal check can be written to the custodian to cover those fees, and the custodian will classify that as re-imbursed.

Fees incurred while forming or maintaining your LLC or IRA, such as State fees or renewal costs can be paid for with personal funds without affecting the mantra.

Payments to hire a facilitator are also out of the scope of the mantra and can be paid for with personal funds.

Realtor fees

Hire an agent, even if you are a real estate professional.  It might irk you to know that you will not benefit from the 3% as buyer or seller agent of your own property, but take the irk so you avoid the pain of the IRS on your back because you ignored the mantra.  This agent should be an arms length away, and not in your payroll or connected to your business in any way.

Be anal

If you are not sure what the IRA/LLC needs to pay and what you personally can pay, check with an expert that specializes in checkbook IRAs.  If in doubt, go with what will benefit you the least.  Be strict on yourself.

Notes from some experts:

UBIT = Unrelated Business Income Tax = file, pay, and rest easier.  In Matt Allen’s book “Leverage your IRA”, the UBIT was discussed.  From what I gather, the portion of real estate that is leveraged (borrowed money) is subject to income tax – and the IRA’s LLC must file a tax return if the income is over $1000.  However, I am not clear on whether or not Roth IRAs are still liable for taxes for rental income as well as profit from the sale of the properties.

Your tax accountant should know more about this subject.  If they don’t find one that does.  This is one of the ways that your IRA is taxed, so tread carefully and file correctly.

Paul Haarman Elevation Group webinar:

People feel like their IRA money is in jail because they can’t utilize it.

Put it in a self directed account, i.e. Sterling Trust (Aunty uses IRA Services Trust).

Get into gold and silver – control and possession are the problems in an IRA.  Asset Exchange Strategies is a company with A+ rating, 4 published books on self directed structures and investing, survived multiple audits,

Precious metals – Culving – restrictions on quantities.  Use approved companies only.

Unlock the funds in your IRA:

Roll over your IRA funds into a custodian account who is accountable for the IRA.  A custodian is a non interested 3rd party who facilitates moving the funds and at the end of the year, reports to the IRS the balance of your account.  The custodian will ask you total value, which you tell them – basically on good faith.

Create an LLC which is owner managed fully or partially owned by the IRA.  Since the self directed IRA owns the LLC, IRA funds can be legally transferred to it in exchange for member units (shares) of the LLC.  After this funding, investments can be bought, managed, and sold within the LLC.  This gives you checkbook control and you as the LLC manager, are in control of the investments that you want to make on behalf of the IRA.  You control everything.  You handle all investments without custodian involvement.  You get approval for your investments through a requirement-free process.

This is your Owner Managed IRA which allows you to directly invest in gold, silver, real estate.

Income and tax deferral for all growth on investments for regular IRAs.   Roth IRAs are not income deductible (after tax dollars) but are tax free on growth AND distributions after age 59 1/2.

If gold or silver does what is anticipated (10x current value), all future earnings and gains are tax free.

Having your LLC gives you anonymity – so don’t put your name in it.  This will reduce the litigation threats and provide protection of your investments within the LLC.  This is done by isolating the investments within the IRA’s owner managed LLC and separate and away from other holdings you may have.

What if the gov forces you to liquidate?  Anything is possible, but having your IRA assets in an LLC which you have control will allow you to take action and make decisions to keep more of what you own.

No need to do a 1031 exchange on sales because it will not be subject to income tax when the properties sell.

[another facilitator – One time set up fee by Asset Exchange Strategies – $2500 – $3000.  discount to $1950 for Elevation Group members.  866-472-2454  www.MyRealEstateIRA.com]

Other custodians will charge an annual fee of $500, but they clip you on your portfolio value on top of that, and charge for any and all transactions, i.e. cutting checks,

Take possession of gold and silver – without penalty or early distribution.  Other non traditional assets your self directed IRA can invest in are tax liens, trust deeds, private mortgages, managed futures, currency trading, hedge funds, and of course, investment real estate.

You can also invest in a business with 49% or less ownership.

Asset Exchange Strategies does:

File LLC and Federal EIN – in your State or where you will do business

Tax Attorneys draft IRS Compliant Operating Agreement

Set up custodian account

Set up bank account correctly

Will be there for audits

Open account with a custodian that will allow your IRA to own an LLC.  (IRA Services)  transfer funds  Custodian signs LLC’s operating agreement

You cannot form the LLC.  Agent does.  They can pay the fees to form your LLC.  So can you.  One of the few times that you can pay for something personally.

Aunty’s Caveats

Remember the mantra, Your IRA cannot benefit from you personally, and you cannot benefit from the IRA personally.

This has saved me a couple of times – especially when dealing with professionals who are not familiar with setting up these types of accounts.  Make sure ALL deposits into your checkbook IRA/LLC are written to the LLC and not you personally.  This includes your initial opening deposit.

If you are not able to open your checking account without an opening deposit, then wait until you have your check written to your LLC from your custodian first, and then open your LLC account.

Sorry if Aunty sounds like she is beating out the same message, but this was one of the times that Aunty almost made a big booboo and was tempted to just put $50 cash from pocket in to get the checkbook LLC account opened.  Good thing I checked with John Park first.

If you make a mistake, there may not be a way to fix it, so do it right the first time, and every time after that.

If you break the rules or benefit from or to your IRA LLC, the whole pile and caboodle can be deemed to be a disbursement.  Disbursement, if not intentionally done, can be one of the ugliest 12 letter words you ever encounter.  (you counted, just to check, didn’t you?)

Avoid getting disbursement status for your IRA investment(s).  Once they are out of the IRA, you lose all those tax deferred advantages of IRAs.

The IRS is sharp, and tenacious.  If they don’t catch it this year, they might catch it 5 years from now, and it all becomes retroactively disallowed, taxed, penalized, etc.

Do it right, every time.

Good stuff for a happy ending

IRAs do not have the esteem and emphasis that they deserve.  As soon as one starts to earn income, get an IRA and fund it as much as you can.  That should be a course on Wealth 101 and taught to every high school student and shouted from the rooftops.

Aunty’s IRA flavor of ultimate choice is the Roth IRA.  Believe me, when you are old and ready to retire, you will be glad you opened, funded, and invested well in one.  The Roth IRA can be the golden goose that keeps on laying golden eggs.

If you are employed and your company has a retirement plan for you, fine and well, but STILL, open and fund an individual retirement account of your own that you have control over.  Sacrifice today in order to truly be able to retire later.

If you are old and grey already, it isn’t too late.  Start with $5,000 in a checkbook IRA and invest in cheap stuff like tax liens, tax deeds, or become a hard money lender and earn great interest rates and return.

Because of the non taxed aspect of an IRA, the more money your IRA makes, the more money your IRA gets to keep.  $5,000 can easily double in a few years.  Add to that each year and get into bigger deals, partnerships, and growth.

Scared because you think that it is risky?  Risky to Aunty is having someone else in control in a down market.  Risky to Aunty is less than 1% return annually in a bank that makes money on our own money in an economy of inflation and the threat of hyper inflation, recession, or worse.  Risky is counting on a company’s retirement for life and/or social security.

If you are scared, then please get educated.   Aunty started by going to a Rich Dad seminar and paying way too much for classes that were not very beneficial or realistic.  However, that was the pushing point, introducing me to a world of investing and possibilities, so in retrospect, it was a good thing.

Jeff Olson’s caveat and hope is one of the truest and sagest.  “The price of neglect is far greater than the price of discipline.”  In doing what we need to do to prepare for our retirement and have a great lifestyle, these words are truth to the highest degree.

So Aunty is now disciplined.  At age 56, Aunty finally put on the hat of focus, determination, and stopped fooling around in order to be able to fool around when she and Uncle are really old (lol).  We began investing and learning, Aunty stopped spending money on doodads, and even started to de-access by selling on ebay, Craigslist, and Amazon.  Four short and speedy years later, we are almost ready for retirement and almost really old. 

The best and latest strategy is the checkbook IRA 

It has been less than a year since we have set up our checkbook IRAs in order to invest in real estate, buying cheap condos in Vegas that cash flow and doing hard money loans paying great interest rates.

It was a bit difficult to start those checkbook IRAs because it was really a big black unknown and uncharted (risky?) territory, but after the first few hurdles of actually finding a facilitator and learning about the process and then understanding what to do, it almost seems like a no-brainer.  I only wish we had done it earlier.

However, it is never to late to start

Set your goal of what your ideal life will be, and take the steps to get there.  The price of discipline is worth paying if it will get you what you want.  The price of neglect is not what anyone would want to pay.

Start today, for a better tomorrow.

 

Savings Main page

2013-04-01_14-19-38We all have rainy days.  Having a little pot of savings is like always having an umbrella in your car.  Not only that – Ben Franklin was absolutely spot on when he said, “A penny saved is a penny earned.”  Those saved pennies can be used for investments that can grow into wealth.

My friend Larry is a financial guru.  He believes in putting aside some money in a savings account for spending before any other bi-weekly expenses or expenditures.  That way, if something comes up that his son or wife wants, they take a look at the balance of that account, and many times he can say, not yet.  We used to say, “Bum bye” (= laters).  Sometimes laters never comes, or you change your mind and find something else you want.  It’s good discipline and different from the instant gratification of credit cards going crazy.

Rich Dad also believes in paying yourself first.  Three “piggy banks” – 10% to savings, 10% to investment, 10% to charity, tithing.  Even starting small with $10 in each account, or even 5¢ from the kids’ allowances will improve your life and life long habits.  It is blessed to give, and smart to save, and even smarter to invest.

Another way to save is to spend less.  I have learned mantras that I will use the next time I go in to buy a car.  Below are other ways to spend less.

Zippy’s has a great site that changes every other week for coupon savings off of specials.  (sometimes they do not have coupons)

Are you a “couponer?”  Aunty used to cut out those discount saving coupons from newspapers and magazines in the old days.  Now they are available online.  A great website for finding them is MrsCarrigan.com.

MrMealDeal.com is a great website for discounts at various restaurants in town.  Or, you can pick your own city in the USA.  Print out the coupons and please pay attention to the expiration as well as the specifics of each offer.

Island Burger in Ala Moana, Tuesday kids eat free.  For every adult ordering an entrée 2 kids eat free.  Yes, 2 not just 1!

Show your AAA card at Crocs Stores, and get 20% off!  I love my Crocs!  I now have leopard printed Crocs, but found out that AAA and Crocs no longer have a discount deal together.  Sometimes the nice sales staff will let you get a discount if a special is running.

Groupon is a great way to get daily deals sent to you.  If you are interested in signing up, please use the link on the ads bar on this page.  That way I get $10 credit when you first join.  I have used it to get a $50 Nordstrom Rack certificate for $25 – not too shabby since that is also one of my favorite stores.  I also just purchased a $15 certificate for Kaimuki Grill for $7, more than half off!  [update:  I purchased a hair removal (lol, tmi) certificate that I knew I wouldn’t be able to use before the expiration date, contacted customer service via email, and was immediately refunded so I now have a credit balance in my account!  THAT’S great service and reflects a great company.]  Another great thing about Groupon is that they send you reminder emails to use your coupons – good for someone like me who forgets things more and more.

Speaking of Kaimuki Grill, google search Kaimuki Grill coupon and it will take you to a coupon site, pretty neat place where you can search by categories for places that may have coupons!  Going there with some great friends soon, and we’ll be saving 10%!

If you go to your local USPS post office, ask for their address change packet.  In it you will find a 10% off coupon from Lowe’s, or click here and download a printable coupon.

Get a CVS card (stores are still called Longs Drugs here in Hawaii) and get a credit of 3% when you show the card to the cashier before they begin processing your purchases.  Not quite sure how that works, but every little bit counts!  And have a mainland friend get that pretty green leaf that you attach on a shopping bag so you get credited 25¢ each time you use your own bag for your purchases (limit of 1 credit per day)  Boohoo, CVS does not honor the leaf credit anymore.  Still, the CVS card will get you built up credits and nice discounts from time to time.

Cardpool.com is a great place to get gift cards that are discounted.  Choose your favorites and they will email you when your choices become available.  Aunty likes the Ross gift cards and uses them on senior Tuesdays to get an even bigger discount!

Senior discounts where it pays to be older.  Very nice to be rewarded this way!

More senior discounts, or updated ones for you!

Some mainland discounts for our generation.

Travel saving tips  to share with you.  I feel like a veteran traveler now that I go to Vegas and California at least 3 times a year.  Aunty loves flying on Hawaiian Airlines, and now I am an affiliate of them!  So please use the banner or ad link that you see on this page to book your flight on Hawaiian, and Aunty will make 1.5%!

Mantra while buying a car

2012-12-28_10-41-23

Mercedes GLK, Aunty’s potential next car……

From Jason Leister of Early to Rise, I have learned a mantra that I shall incorporate the next time I bargain for our next car.

You see, I am always looking for the next good used car to own.  Since I have yet to find the perfect vehicle, I show up at dealer sales and often times surprise Uncle with “our” new used car in the driveway.  Most of the time, Uncle is not happy with my choices, but since I am the one who will be driving that vehicle the most, he learns to be okay about it.

However, I’ve always felt that I could have done better in the deal (after the fact).  So, when an article by Jason Leister entitled “The Promise” arrived in my email, I found 2 golden nuggets of information to help me deal with those car salesmen.

Here are two mantras for every sales negotiation that Jason has provided.  He says to repeat these to yourself until you feel them. (Generating the feeling is really the key.)

1.  I don’t need the business.

2.  I don’t need the money.

These are great mantras when you are on the other side of the table as the person selling something of value to someone else (called positioning).  However, turn them around when dealing with a person selling you something, and it will look like this:

1.  I don’t need that car.

2.  I don’t need to spend my money today.

If you can really really believe and feel those 2 mantras when you are in negotiation for what you want, you are in control, and 1) will be able to drive out with a great deal, or 2) walk away knowing you did great realizing that there will be other deals out there for you.

This also works with real estate negotiations.  When it is a property that I really really want, I make offers that I shouldn’t.  When I can pull my emotions out of the picture and say to myself that I really don’t have to have that house, and I don’t need to buy it today, I am better able to set a price (and stick to it).  That can make a difference between a great deal vs an okay deal.

I am actually very excited to try this new mindset with my two new mantras when I go looking for our next car.  Hopefully Uncle will be pleased with it the next time I show up in a different car.

Even more Senior Discounts!

Subject:  Senior Discounts

Gone are the days of your grandmother’s “early bird special” at the local
diner. As our baby boomers reach retirement age, hundreds of retailers are
featuring new and improved discounts exclusively for the 60 (and even 50+) and
older crowd. We have composed a list of senior savings that will help you keep
more cash in your pocket. Whoever said getting older was a bad thing, obviously
didn’t know about these fantastic senior discounts!
Restaurants
* Applebee’s: 15% off with Golden Apple Card (60+)
* Arby’s: 10% off (55+)
* Ben & Jerry’s: 10% off (60+)
* Bennigan’s: discount varies by location
* Bob’s Big Boy: discount varies by location (60+)
* Boston Market: 10% off (65+)
* Burger King: 10% off (60+)
* Captain D’s Seafood: discount varies on location (62+)
* Chick-Fil-A: 10% off or free small drink or coffee (55+)
* Chili’s: 10% off (55+)
* CiCi’s Pizza: 10% off (60+)
* Culver’s: 10% off (60+)
* Denny’s: 10% off, 20% off for AARP members (55+)
* Dunkin’ Donuts: 10% off or free coffee (55+)
* Einstein’s Bagels: 10% off baker’s dozen of bagels (60+)
* Fuddrucker’s: 10% off any senior platter (55+)
* Gatti’s Pizza: 10% off (60+)
* Golden Corral: 10% off (60+)
* Hardee’s: $0.33 beverages everyday (65+)
* IHOP: 10% off (55+)
* Jack in the Box: up to 20% off (55+)
* KFC: free small drink with any meal (55+)
* Krispy Kreme: 10% off (50+)
* Long John Silver’s: various discounts at participating locations (55+)
* McDonald’s: discounts on coffee everyday (55+)
* Mrs. Fields: 10% off at participating locations (60+)
* Shoney’s: 10% off
* Sonic: 10% off or free beverage (60+)
* Steak ‘n Shake: 10% off every Monday & Tuesday (50+))
* Subway: 10% off (60+)
* Sweet Tomatoes 10% off (62+)
* Taco Bell: 5% off; free beverages for seniors (65+)))
* TCBY: 10% off (55+)
* Tea Room Cafe: 10% off (50+)
* Village Inn: 10% off (60+)
* Waffle House: 10% off every Monday (60+)

* Wendy’s: 10% off (55+)

* White Castle: 10% off (62+)

Uncle and I discovered that as seniors we could catch any Metro bus before 3:00 pm for 25¢ in Pasadena.  Probably work in other part of Los Angeles – ask for it!
Retail and Apparel%
* Banana Republic: 10% off (50+)
* Bealls: 20% off first Tuesday of each month (50+)
* Belk’s: 15% off first Tuesday of every month (55+))))
* Big Lots: 10% off
* Bon-Ton Department Stores: 15% off on senior discount days (55+)
* C.J. Banks: 10% off every Wednesday (60+)
* Clarks: 10% off (62+)
* Dress Barn: 10% off (55+)
* Goodwill: 10% off one day a week (date varies by location)
* Hallmark: 10% off one day a week (date varies by location)
* Kmart: 20% off (50+)
* Kohl’s: 15% off (60+)
* Modell’s Sporting Goods: 10% off
* Rite Aid: 10% off on Tuesdays & 10% off prescriptions
* Ross Stores: 10% off every Tuesday (55+)
* The Salvation Army Thrift Stores: up to 50% off (55+)
* Stein Mart: 20% off red dot/clearance items first Monday of every month
(55+).
Grocery
* Albertson’s: 10% off first Wednesday of each month (55+)
* American Discount Stores: 10% off every Monday (50+)
* Compare Foods Supermarket: 10% off every Wednesday (60+)
* DeCicco Family Markets: 5% off every Wednesday (60+)
* Food Lion: 6% off every Monday (60+)
* Fry’s Supermarket: free Fry’s VIP Club Membership & 10% off every
Monday (55+)
* Great Valu Food Store: 5% off every Tuesday (60+)
* Gristedes Supermarket: 10% off every Tuesday (60+)
* Harris Teeter: 5% off every Tuesday (60+)
* Hy-Vee: 5% off one day a week (date varies by location)
* Kroger: 10% off (date varies by location)
* Morton Williams Supermarket: 5% off every Tuesday (60+)
* The Plant Shed: 10% off every Tuesday (50+)
* Publix: 5% off every Wednesday (55+)
* Rogers Marketplace: 5% off every Thursday (60+)
* Uncle Guiseppe’s Marketplace: 5% off (62+)
Travel
* Alaska Airlines: 10% off (65+)
* Alamo: up to 25% off for AARP members
* American Airlines: various discounts for 65 and up (call before booking
for discount)
* Amtrak: 15% off (62+)
* Avis: up to 25% off for AARP members
* Best Western: 10% off (55+)
* Budget Rental Cars: 10% off; up to 20% off for AARP members (50+)
* Cambria Suites: 20%-30% off (60+)
* Clarion: 20%-30% off (60+)
* Comfort Inn: 20%-30% off (60+)
* Comfort Suites: 20%-30% off (60+)
* Continental: no initiation fee for Continental Presidents Club &
special fares for select destinations
* Dollar Rent-A-Car: 10% off (50+)
* Econo Lodge: 20%-30% off (60+)
* Enterprise Rent-A-Car: 5% off for AARP members
* Greyhound: 5% off (62+)
* Hampton Inns & Suites: 10% off when booked 72 hours in advance
* Hertz: up t0 25% off for AARP members
* Holiday Inn: 10%-30% off depending on location (62+)
* Hyatt Hotels: 25%-50% off (62+)
* InterContinental Hotels Group: various discounts at all hotels (65+)
* Mainstay Suites: 10% off with Mature Traveler’s Discount (50+); 20%-30%
off (60+)
* Marriott Hotels: 15% off (62+)
* Motel 6: 10% off (60+)
* Myrtle Beach Resort: 10% off (55+)
* National Rent-A-Car: up to 30% off for AARP members
* Quality Inn: 20%-30% off (60+)
* Rodeway Inn: 20%-30% off (60+)
* Sleep Inn: 20%-30% off (60+)
* Southwest Airlines: various discounts for ages 65 and up (call before
booking for discount)
* Trailways Transportation System: various discounts for ages 50 and up
* United Airlines: various discounts for ages 65 and up (call before
booking for discount)
* U.S. Airways: various discounts for ages 65 and up (call before booking
for discount)
Activities & Entertainment
* AMC Theaters: up to 30% off (55+)
* Bally Total Fitness: up to $100 off memberships (62+)
* Busch Gardens Tampa: $3 off one-day tickets (50+)
* Carmike Cinemas: 35% off (65+)
* Cinemark/Century Theaters: up to 35% off
* U.S. National Parks: $10 lifetime pass; 50% off additional services
including camping (62+)
* Regal Cinemas: 30% off
* Ripley’s Believe it or Not: @ off one-day ticket (55+)
* SeaWorld Orlando: $3 off one-day tickets (50+)

Senior Discounts

This is good info if you are a senior – that is, 55 and up.  Some of these discounts are for 60 year olds.  It “pays” to be old, lol.

Most of these places don’t ask to see your ID.  Just look and act old.

Place                         Age                        Day                              Discount

Ross                            55                      Tuesdays                     10% off everything

Foodland                    60                     Thursdays               10% off everything until 4/28/11 (now it is 5% off groceries until 10/28/11)

Price Busters             55                       Tuesdays                   10% off everything

Flora Dec Sales         55                       Everyday                   10% off regular prices

Leonard’s Bakery      Kamaaina           Mondays                   10% off

Don Quijote               60                      Tuesdays                  10% off regular, 5% off electronics

Zippy’s                       65 ID                     Everyday                    10% off with Senior Card except for specials or with coupons (The Senior Card is $2.00 annually but can be renewed for $0.99 in Sept. at the Senior Citizen Fair, at the NBC.)

Hilo  Hatties               Kamaaina              Everyday                 25% off Hilo Hattie label, 15% off Non-Hilo Hattie label, 10% off Hilo Hattie food

Longs Sr. Advantage card if you have one  Everyday           10% off CVS products and Hallmark cards, discount on prescriptions if not covered by your drug plan

St.  Germaine Bakery    60                 Wednesdays            10% off everything except specials

Pagoda, Maple Garden, Willows,  Prince Court and Hakone, Makinochaya                            age 60?               10% off

Oceanarium, PBH         65                  Tues. and Wed.           Between 4:30 and 5:30 pm – 2 for 1 dinners, Regular price is $38.95

Thurs. and Fri.             Lunch is $12.50 for Sr.

McDonald’s, Burger King, Jack In The Box Sr. coffee and soft drinks,     age 55

Shirokiya                                                Wednesdays

Kahala Mall Hallmark                        Tuesdays                    Mark’s Hallmark Cards – 20%

Kahala Mall Compleat Kitchen – 10% discount on Tuesdays between 10 am and 12 noon for Seniors age 62+.

Consolidated and Regal Theatres           Everyday                     Sr. tickets – $7 or $7.50

DH Theatre,  Manoa Valley Theatre ,  HI Theatre

Big City Diner            65?                 7 – 9 AM                          Senior breakfast items offered
anytime                               You can add $1 to the Keiki menu and order from the keiki menu

More discounts, and not just for Seniors

Place
AgeDayDiscounts
Cold Stone CreameryKamaainaEveryday10% off with I.D.
Hilo HattieKamaainaEveryday25% off Hilo Hattie label 15% off other labels 10% off Hilo Hattie food
Leonard’s BakeryKamaainaMondays10% off
Denny’sAnyoneYour BirthdayFree Breakfast
Longs Drugs/CVSAnyone – Extra Care cardEverydayCash & other discounts based on purchases
55 – Senior Advantage cardEveryday10% off CVS items, Hallmark cards, etc.
Papa John Pizza50Everyday50% off (ask for the 50/50 card or just show your I.D.)
Consolidated Theatres55Everyday$7.50
Flora Dec Sales55Everyday10% off regular prices
McDonalds, Burger King, Jack in the Box55EverydaySpecial prices for drinks
Price Busters55Tuesdays10% off everything
Regal Theatres55Everyday$7
Ross55Tuesdays10% off everything
Savers55Mondays20% off
Shirokiya55Wednesdays10% off regular price; 5% off camera department
Waikele Shopping Center55 (AAA members can pick up a discount booklet @ the Info Kiosk.)Tuesdays (AAA car also good @ all Chelsea Premium Outlets in Vegas)10% off at select stores
Wailana Coffee House(No discount on holidays& weekends)55Tue/ThuMon/Wed/Fri10% off all day10% off 3 pm to 5 pm
Wendy’s (Pearl City – call other locations)55EverydayFree coffee & soft drinks
Byron’s Drive In60Everyday10% off
Don Quijote60Tuesdays10% off regular prices; 5% off electronics
Goodwill60Tuesday20% off
Hakone (Hawaii Prince Hotel)60Wed/ThuDinner $43.10
Maple Garden / Yen King60EverydayLunch $10.50, Dinner $14
Marks Hallmark (Kahala Mall)60Tuesday20% off
Pagoda Restaurant60Everyday15% off dinner (From Feb – all meals)
Prince Court (Hawaii Prince Hotel)60Mon to ThuBreakfast $19.50; Lunch $23.94; Dinner $39.50
St. Germaine Bakery60Wednesdays10% off everything (except specials)
Sugoi (Dillingham Plaza – Old Gem’s Store)60Everyday10% off
Watanabe Florist60Tuesdays10% off
Anna Millers Coffee House62 (Sign up for free card & receive a certificate for a free whole pie but not on Easter or Mother’s Day)Mon – Thu (Open 24 hrs.)10% off check & whole pies(1 free entrée on your birthday)
Compleat Kitchen (Kahala Mall)62Tuesdays10% off 11 am to 12 pm
Dairy Queen/Orange Julius62Everyday10% off (Ala Moana Mall only)
Harbor Village Cuisine (Koko Marina Shop. Ctr.)62Lunch Only15% off
KamaainaEveryday10% off
KFC65Everyday10% off
Makino Chaya65Everyday5% off lunch; 10% off dinner; Birthday free with ID
Oceanarium (Pacific Beach Hotel)65Tue/Wed 4:30 to 5:30 pm$12.50 lunch (regular $15.50)$22 dinner (regular $38.95)
Tsukiji’s Fish Market (Ala Moana Mall)A65Everyday25% off
Willows65Everyday10% off
Zippy’s65Everyday10% off w/ senior cardSenior card is $2 annually
Macy’s (You don’t pay tax in Vegas)Visitors from the Mainland or Other Islands or if you visit Other IslandsEverydayReceive a discount coupon to use in the store but you must show your airline ticket
Carter’s & Oshkosh B’GoshGrandparentWednesdays10% off (with Carter Celebration card – register free on-line for either Carter’s or Oshkosh B’Gosh)

Retirement planning

Young people have no clue, and I can say this because I used to be a young people.

I never thought, when I was in my 20’s, that I would be my mother’s age.  I was just – and always just the age that I was in at the moment.  I would look at older people, even those just 15 years older than me, and disassociate with the reality that I will be their age in 15 years.  Of course it would happen someday, I thought, but someday was never real.

Well, now that I am my mother’s age of old, I wish I realized the truth of time catching up.  It happens, and it happens to every single one of us, even the young.  Youts (young ones), you will one day be facing retirement as an oldie.  You really need to do something about that today.

In America, we have great advantages and opportunities to prepare for our retirement years.  One of my favorites is the IRA Roth account.  Think of it as a stupendous savings account.  Whatever you put into the account is your after tax money (as opposed to regular IRAs that can be deducted from income for tax purposes).  The stupendousness of this account is that it can grow and expand tax free with cash flow, dividends, and/or appreciation, and when you are 59 1/2, you can take out any and all income, principal, growth, assets without paying any income tax.  Simply delicious and wonderful.

Anyone with income can open one at almost any bank, credit union, brokerage house.  There are limits of how much you can contribute each year, but there are ways to put more into those beautiful accounts.  [Because of the contribution limits of $5,000/year to a Roth IRA, and the much higher amounts that could be contributed to SEP IRAs, we would rollover our SEP IRA balances into Roths each year, pay the tax on the rollover, but offset it with new contributions to the SEP IRA which offset the tax.  Sounds complex but talk to your accountant about it if you are wanting to shift your regular IRA money to a Roth.]

Young people can put in up to $5000 per year, but even if you don’t have that much discretionary monies, put in $100, or $500, and make it a habit at least once a year, or once a month.  When you are Aunty’s age, you will be very glad you did.

Don’t ever take it out or you will be hit with penalties and possible taxes.  Instead, make it grow and grow and grow.

We used to use the funds in our self directed IRAs to play the stock market, but true consistent wealth is in real estate.  Buying commodities such as gold and silver can make you a very tidy profit if those metals continue to appreciate, and the current market is crazy for gold, but the crazy market can turn on a dime (pardon the pun) and make give you an unwelcome loss.

In this current crazy up market for gold and silver, if I could only put $1000 in a self directed IRA each year, I would buy gold or silver coins (with storage so I never take physical possession), and sell them when the price goes up dramatically.  I would buy again if and when it drops, and sell when it goes up again dramatically.  All that gain from the sales would increase the IRA but not be taxed.  It’s all ours to keep, and eventually use when we reach retirement age, if we want to.  This is a risky strategy though.

A more solid strategy, with more funds in the account, is to have a checkbook IRA for real estate investing.   This is the vehicle of choice for Aunty.  The platinum standard.

For easy to understand information on setting up your IRAs as well as a great source of information, check out an excellent website and service:  CheckbookIRA.com.

Jeff Olson says “The price of neglect is far greater than the price of discipline.”  Aunty really wants to impress upon you how important it is to plan and take action for your retirement.  It WILL happen, and what you do today will affect how good it will be later.

For Young People

If you are young and starting off, get a job that you enjoy and do your best at that job – you owe that to your employer.  It is not just that they owe you a paycheck.  You owe them your best effort to earn your pay.

Learn about investing.  Learn from as many people as you can at first.  Just don’t buy those super expensive programs or courses.  Lots of them start off with a lot of bull and hype and tell you how easy it is to be a millionaire in a few short months.  Not true.  You must commit to working hard at it.  Learn hard first. Save instead of spend because you will need some money to start.

Rent cheap and save expansively. Your very first real estate purchase should be an investment property, not your home – especially if you live in Hawaii.  Once you get your first investment property, enjoy the positive cash flow, even if it is just $100.

If you feel you must buy a home first (we seem to be programed this way), buy a duplex and rent out one side.  Burdening yourself with a high monthly mortgage that eats up your paycheck will leave you without any discretionary income.  Having discretionary income will allow you more options such as savings and investments.

Be careful about investing in the stock market to get rich fast.  Some people actually do, but they are the very very tiny minority.  You are not smart enough to know what the market is going to do.  NObody is smart enough, unless they are evil market manipulators who don’t care about you.  Invest a bit if you must, but study and learn the market first, then get good tools to help you.

Start building a relationship with a banker, smaller banks are more flexible than the big banks in town.  Use bank money as much as you can – Rich Dad calls that leverage – using other people’s money.

Because Hawaii is so expensive, look at markets on the Mainland – in this current economic times, you can get a nice 3 bedroom 2 bath house for under $80,000 fee simple that will rent for $900 easy.  If your credit is good, you can put 20% down ($16,000) and finance the rest.  Your cash flow will be less because you will have a monthly mortgage of about $400 that way, but you are only putting down $16,000.  Less cash flow, but you can purchase more properties.  Keep going, keep buying, keep the cash flow coming in.  If you can be disciplined and focused, you will build up a portfolio of rental properties and have serious positive rental income.  At this point, you will be able to purchase your own home with the rental incomes paying your home mortgage.

That will be a beautiful day!

Imagine, if you are in your 20’s, by the time you are 40 years old, you could be a landlord or landlady overseeing 10 or more of your own properties!  This is very very possible on a rather slow pace of buying one property every 2 years.  You may surprise yourself and as your knowledge and income increase, you will probably find yourself buying 2 or more properties every year!

Time is on your side.  Imagine if Aunty had started investing in cash flow real estate 40 years ago.  I could be teaching Robert Kiyosaki a thing or two!

Not only is time on your side, right NOW is a fantastic buying opportunity for anyone with a depressed real estate market with bargains and more bargains, and the lowest mortgage interest rates that I have ever seen.

No money?  Make money.  Here is a page on some simple rules to live by – and one day you will look back and be glad you paid attention.