Scott Burns on the "magic" of annuities...

[brewer12345]

To quote Bugs Bunny:

"He don't know me very well, do he?"

[Art G]

Quote:

Originally Posted by travelover Art, I'm sure you are sincere, but I think you have misjudged the tone of this forum. Transparency brings a certain amount of credibility - I think that is human nature. Many here know that I retired from a US auto company, so when I defend US automakers, I'm sincere, but I also certainly want my pension to continue! If you look at the number of posts that any member has made, you can roughly judge how much they have divulged about themselves. So, I think it is reasonable for people to want to know more about you to evaluate your arguments in context.

Travel.....I hear what you are saying, however you must understand that if someone comes to a public forum claiming to be a financial advisor then they are claiming themselves an expert at some level and can be held accountable for their advice.
Again, consider me merely a knowledgeable investor, and I will try my best to honestly answer with my opinions on products. In my mind, to judge someone on here by their lives outside of here is just plain silly. If you favor the auto industry then it will come out in your posts and people will consider it as such. If I were to ask you a question about, say GM, and your answer didn't fit with my impression then the fact that you worked for them is of no matter. I'd consider your viewpoint, decide if it held truth in my mind, and act accordingly. Again, if I state that there are positives to a particular product and you disagree with cogent reasons as to why I am incorrect, then it's totally moot as to my or your background. Either the product does what it claims or it doesn't.
Believe me, I am not limited to talking about one product. Since you've mentioned the auto industry, I'd like your opinion on something. I recently had lunch with Professor Moshe Milevsky (he had some interesting thoughts on living benefits) and he was discussing the problem with GM and Ford being the amount of retirees in relation to working employees has managed to turn GM into a health care and retirement fund instead of a car builder. I'm curious as to your thoughts for GM and Ford to ever bail themselves out of their retirement mess, short of taking out hits on retirees?

[Art G]

Quote:

Originally Posted by brewer12345 To quote Bugs Bunny: "He don't know me very well, do he?"

Nope, but your posts speak volumes. You are a blowhard.

[brewer12345]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Art G Nope, but your posts speak volumes. You are a blowhard.

Keep it up and I will having you say the "H" word by the end of the day.

[Art G]

Quote:

Originally Posted by brewer12345 Keep it up and I will having you say the "H" word by the end of the day.

Yeah, I'm pretty much done with you. I hate to waste bandwidth. You are quite the cunning linguist.
Is there anyone else who would care to have an intellectual discussion?

[travelover]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Art G .......... I recently had lunch with Professor Moshe Milevsky (he had some interesting thoughts on living benefits) and he was discussing the problem with GM and Ford being the amount of retirees in relation to working employees has managed to turn GM into a health care and retirement fund instead of a car builder. I'm curious as to your thoughts for GM and Ford to ever bail themselves out of their retirement mess, short of taking out hits on retirees?

I believe the recent contract settlements with the UAW are a major turning point. The hourly employee retiree health care plans have been turned over to the union to administer and the union has agreed to a two tier wage scale, whereby new hires will make 1/2 the hourly wages and also will not be eligible for the same generous pension and retirement health care of 1st tier employees. Whether this is too little, too late, remains to be seen. Needless to say, I'm hoping they make it for my and many other's sake.

[brewer12345]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Art G Yeah, I'm pretty much done with you. I hate to waste bandwidth. You are quite the cunning linguist. Is there anyone else who would care to have an intellectual discussion?

Whatever you say, Salesman Art.

How are those trail commissions treating you?

[Art G]

Quote:

Originally Posted by travelover I believe the recent contract settlements with the UAW are a major turning point. The hourly employee retiree health care plans have been turned over to the union to administer and the union has agreed to a two tier wage scale, whereby new hires will make 1/2 the hourly wages and also will not be eligible for the same generous pension and retirement health care of 1st tier employees. Whether this is too little, too late, remains to be seen. Needless to say, I'm hoping they make it for my and many other's sake.

Yeah, Toyota, Honda and Nissan definitely have a benefit in the earnings dept. as far as not having to deal with unions. My father-in-law is a GM retiree, so I can definitely relate with those who put in their time and counted on GM to live up to their end of the bargain. However, as an investor, seeing the numbers is most disheartening. I wish I could find the actual numbers, but it was something like 1,023 retirees for every current employee at GM, and 550 retirees for every working employee at Ford, while Toyota had something like 3 to one or somesuch. Thanks for your thoughts.

[Art G]

Quote:

Originally Posted by brewer12345 Whatever you say, Salesman Art. How are those trail commissions treating you?

LOL! Oooooh, good one. Can I rely on further such clever retorts from you?

[REWahoo]

Since I started this thread, I think I'll also be the one to end it...

[FinanceDude]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Art G ROTFLOL! Your disclaimer states that people should consult with their own financial advisor, and then you go on a rampage to blast them. For your information, just so you don't look quite so foolish in the future, there is no such thing as an "annuity salesman". In order to sell a VA, you must pass the Series 7 and Series 63 tests (at the very least). These people are known as financial consultants and the very people who you advise others to consult with as opposed to taking your own advice. I'm guessing that you will not, and have never taken a test as difficult and complete as the Series 7. Unless of course you are a CPA or medical doctor. Of course you still haven't told us about your own occupation. You must be a gas at parties. Are you the guy off arguing with the bartender about how he doesn't know how to mix drinks?

Actually, you only need a Series 6 to sell a VA....but I digress..........

[brewer12345]

Quote:

Originally Posted by REWahoo Since I started this thread, I think I'll also be the one to end it...

Cool! So the "Moderator Bat Signal" worked...