Swegi Gonbup
Interesting subjects from the news, and other sources.
Tuesday, June 25, 2024
Business financial analysis is essential.
Sunday, May 19, 2024
Urban Air Pollution combat on the skin.
Saturday, March 2, 2024
Auto Insurance Increase 2024
Tuesday, January 30, 2024
A.I. based noninvasive THOUGHTS to TEXT technology.
Tuesday, November 21, 2023
IRAs 2023
IRAs
Individual Retirement Arrangements (IRAs). (IRS)
The key to IRAs are Start saving as early as possible, and make monthly installments to get compounding effects. Your IRA is part of the money that you’re setting aside for the future. Pay attention to the taxes on those accounts. Envision your complete portfolio: stocks, bonds, real estate, foreign markets, etc.
IRAs make your money work for you. IRAs allow you to make tax-deferred investments to provide financial security when you retire.
Research different types of retirement accounts. You can set up an IRA with a bank, or other financial institutions, life insurance company, mutual fund, or a stockbroker.
Types of IRAs: (CNBC)
A traditional IRA is a tax-advantaged personal savings plan where contributions may be tax deductible. You must qualify. The 2023 contribution limits are, $6,500, or $7,500 if you’re age 50 or older by the end of the year; or your taxable compensation for the year.
A Roth IRA is a tax-advantaged personal savings plan where contributions are not deductible but qualified distributions may be tax free. The 2023 contribution limits are the same as traditional. $6,500, or $7,500 if you’re age 50 or older by the end of the year; or your taxable compensation for the year.
A Payroll Deduction IRA plan is set up by an employer. Employees make contributions by payroll deduction to an IRA (Traditional or a Roth IRA) they establish with a financial institution. It is probably the simplest retirement arrangement that a business can have. No plan document needs to be adopted under this arrangement. May be eligible for Savers credit. The 2023 contribution limits are, $6,500, or $7,500 if you’re age 50 or older by the end of the year; or your taxable compensation for the year.
A SEP is a Simplified Employee Pension plan set up by an employer. Contributions are made by the employer directly to an IRA set up for each employee. Employee is always 100% vested in (or, has ownership of) all SEP-IRA money. Contributions an employer can make to an employee's SEP-IRA cannot exceed the lesser of 25% of the employee's compensation, or $66,000 for 2023.
A SIMPLE IRA plan is a Savings Incentive Match Plan for Employees set up by an employer. Under a SIMPLE IRA plan, employees may choose to make salary reduction contributions, and the employer makes matching or nonelective contributions. Employer is required to contribute each year. Contribution matching contribution up to 3% of compensation (not limited by the annual compensation limit), or
2% nonelective contribution for each eligible employee. Inflexible contributions.
A SARSEP - the Salary Reduction Simplified Employee Pension Plan - is a type of SEP set up by an employer before 1997 that includes a salary reduction arrangement. An eligible employee is an individual (including a self-employed individual) that has reached age 21, worked for the employer in at least 3 of the last 5 years, and received at least $750 in compensation for 2023.
IRAs offer investment options, too. Contributions to your retirement account are deducted from your taxes. Although, there are Deduction Limits. Rollovers have a variety of rates. Rates also apply to accounts when there isn't a named beneficiary.
The individual credit offered is the Saver's Credit. Individuals may be able to take a tax credit of up to $1,000 if they make eligible contributions to an IRA. Criteria: Age 18 or older, not claimed as a dependent on another person’s return, and not a student.
Saver's Credit amount is 50%, 20% or 10% of account contributions in the year. (Investopedia)
IRA maximum contributions will allow the most growth in your retirement account. Investments are smart. Avoid losses by diversifying, watching fees closely, investing in safe assets and avoiding early withdrawals. IRAs are FDIC insured with amount limits. Saver's Credit and contributions matching are the standout points in IRAs.
Saturday, October 14, 2023
What Are the Side Effects of a Very Low-Calorie Diet? Is it safe?
Gallstones are the most common, serious side effects of very low-calorie diets.
Gallstone mechanism:
1. Bile supersaturation.
2. Nucleation and initiation of stone formation.
3. Enlargement of the gallstone by accretion.
There is a triangle of cholesterol, phospholipids, and bile salts. Progressively: micelles, micelles + vesicles, micelles + crystals, and micelles + vesicles + crystals.
Gallstones, or cholelithiasis, are stones that form in the gallbladder. These stones are made up of cholesterol, bilirubin, and bile. Gallstones are more common during rapid weight loss. When the body experiences a calorie deficit, it starts to break down fat for energy.
During strict calorie defecits, the liver secretes more cholesterol. When this secretion is combined with bile, gallstones form.
Gallstones function to cause major problems if they accumulate into a duct blockage. Intense abdominal pain, jaundice, chills, back pain, shoulder pain, nausea and vomiting result. Pain episodes last from minutes to a couple of hours.
In order to avoid gallstone formation during a low calorie diet, stay on a scheduled mealtime. Avoid fasting. Lose weight slowly as opposed to rapid weight loss. 1 - 2 pounds a week is gradual. Aim towards fruits, vegetables and grains. Obesity, and generally being overweight is bad. Instead of rapid weight loss to maintain shape, stay on a healthy diet, and continue to exercise. (pubmed central)
Low calorie diet vs keto diet is a popular research topic. They're similar because of their low calorie weight loss basics. The diets limit intake differently, though. The keto diet is more restrictive. The low calorie diet is a better alternative because of long term sustainability. Staying on the diet is the key to success.
In conclusion, low calorie diet is safe and the potential side effects are minor. The side effects are mostly avoidable, too. The body requires a balance of foods from different food groups. Providing balanced nutrition, meal satisfaction, on a low-calorie diet is difficult. In addition, consuming as few as 800 calories daily may not give you the energy you need for daily living and regular physical activity. Steer toward variety, steer away from repetition.
Saturday, September 9, 2023
To Purchase an EV, or to not Purchase an EV, 2023.
An EV is defined as a vehicle that can be powered by an electric motor that draws electricity from a battery and is capable of being charged from an external source. (IEA.org)
The choices are extensive in 2023. Choose wisely.
EVs are the right choice if you want to help the environment by cutting emissions.
In comparison, combustion engines have more repair costs than EVs. Although, the EV trade off in repair costs hasn't completely been charted, yet. Mechanics for combustion vehicles are everywhere. You might go to an EV station to get it repaired and there might be only one EV mechanic.
EVs began with a bad wrap. To be nice, the original Prius was very ugly. Current EVs are more normal and brand worthy.
The ranked Best Used Electric Cars 2023:
1. Nissan Leaf
2. Tesla Model S
3. Tesla Model 3
Other EVs 2023:
BMW i3
Chevrolet Bolt EV
Kia Niro EV
Hyundai Kona Electric
Volkswagen e-Golf
Kia Soul EV
Jaguar I-Pace
Ford Mustang Mach-E
In general, the more range on a single full charge, the bigger the battery, and the higher the price of the car. The average price, right now, for an electric vehicle is more than $60,000. That’s before incentives, rebates, and tax credits from the state, federal and local government. Tax credits can add up to a $10,000 savings per car, depending on the vehicle and in many cases, a buyer’s income.
The key to not spending so much money when going used is to make sure the original seller is giving you all of the original charging equipment. It becomes extremely costly to have to purchase new EV charging equipment. In a sample EV search, the battery specifications weren't listed online. Make sure it is an asking point, and possibly a bargaining point at the dealership. (Consumer reports)
The range on older EVs tends to be fairly low.
Ask the sales people if the battery is new. Obtain battery maintenance paperwork. New EV battery replacement is expensive. Basic battery warranties on EVs are more or less than 8 years or 100,000 miles.
Estimate your needed charge range. As previously, the newer the EV, the longer the range. Is the vehicle for business use? Is the vehicle for personal use? Think about the convenience of your access to charging stations. You should have one charging station at home, and you should have other charging stations on your daily route. Charging stations have different levels: one, two, and three. Also, consider the charging speed of your charge station. Are you ready to spend all day sitting there, or would you rather charge your car, all night, at home? You won't miss the ease of access to gas stations until they're no longer an option. Metropolitan cities have a variety of charging stations while some cities don't have any at all.
EVs are available with top ranges from about 100 miles to more than 500 miles.
Although the warranty is 8 years/ 100,000 miles, the first 5 years are the best miles in a new EV. After 5 years, or so, the mileage per charge reduces drastically.
Area electric charging compatibility inconveniences can become a problem. Charger locations can be unsuitable. It takes a long time to charge a car. Depending on the vehicle and the charger, it can take from half an hour to several hours for a full charge. Public chargers don't always work perfectly, the same as gas station pumps.
Tax credits are available for EV drivers. Yes, there are nice tax incentives for EV owners. Research state tax credits details. Make sure that the Make, and Model of your EV dwells underneath the requirements to receive a tax break.
Some researchers say an EV costs more to use and fill up than it does to fill up a gas powered car. The cost for a new EV battery can be upwards of $15,000. These statistics can change based on the economy.
Noticeably, how fun is it to sit for 35 minutes to recharge your car versus 3 minutes to fuel up a combustion car? Take a guess.
Quick example Used EV Search comparison:
(Google search conducted 9/2023)
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1) used EV lowest price: CarMax.com: 2014 SPARK EV LT $11,599, 52K mi, $799 shipping, (battery specifications not mentioned), white/black
2) used EV lowest price: CarMax.com: 2015 FORD FOCUS ELECTRIC $11,998, 15K mi, $1,099 shipping, (battery specifications not mentioned), white/black
3) used EV lowest price: CarMax.com: 2014 BMW I3 $15,998, 17K mi, $1,099 shipping, (battery specifications not mentioned), red/white
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1) used EV highest price: Carvana.com: 2020 PORSCHE TAYCAN $91,990, 5K mi, $990 shipping, AC electric motor, grey
2) used EV lowest price: Carvana.com: 2023 BMW iX $86,990, 52K mi, $1,490 shipping, AC electric motor, grey
3) used EV highest price: Carvana.com: 2022 RIVIAN R1T $72,990, 18K mi, $0 shipping, AC electric motor, green
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1) used EV lowest price: Carvana.com: 2012 NISSAN LEAF $10,990, 32K mi, $1,490 shipping, AC electric motor, white
2) used EV lowest price: Carvana.com: 2014 MITSUBISHI iMiEVi $11,990, 59K mi, $0 shipping, AC electric battery, grey
3)used EV lowest price: CarMax.com: FORD FOCUS $11,990, 28K mi, $1,190 shipping, AC electric motor, white
Test drive at least 3 different EVs. Check out some comparison videos, too.
To buy or not to buy an EV, 2023.