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Creative Wealth Maximization Strategies - August 2011

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This month's newsletter features the following articles:

A PATERNAL “NUDGE” IS NO SUBSTITUTE FOR A PERSONAL PLAN
When a well-intentioned financial “nudge” like automatic enrollment for 401(k) plans collides with the Law of Unintended Consequences, the results can be baffling. How can a procedure designed to increase retirement saving actually suppress it? This is just more evidence that there are no “auto-pilot” financial programs – although you might want a “Co-Pilot.”

ACCREDITED INVESTOR STATUS:
The Opportunity to Make (or Lose) a Lot of Money
An accredited investor is either an individual or organization permitted by United States securities law to invest in certain types of higher-risk investments often broadly referred to as “private placements” or “private offerings.” These private offerings include items such as seed money investments in start-up companies, limited partnerships, hedge funds, and angel investor networks. By some estimates, almost half of all investment capital raised in the United States comes from private offerings, and some high-profile private offerings have made news recently because a few critics say the “little guys” are being frozen out of big profits. Is this really a big deal? What do you need to know if you are thinking about becoming an accredited investor?

LIFE INSURANCE IS NOT A DISPOSABLE PRODUCT
“Don’t worry about it. We can always get another one.” (Or maybe not.)
We live in an increasingly disposable consumer culture. If something breaks, it’s often cheaper to buy a new one rather than fix it. But there are some financial instruments that don’t work as well when they are treated as disposable items, like life insurance. When individuals terminate a life insurance policy – for whatever reason – they have forfeited the certainty of their insurable status. And they may not be able to get it back.

MEDICAL EXPENSE CREDIT CARDS:
Using Plastic for Plastic Surgery?
In America, the default consumer response to a shortage of funds is to use plastic – to charge it now and pay for it later. So it should be no surprise that credit card issuers have begun marketing healthcare credit cards as a way to pay increasing out-of-pocket medical costs. An overview of the possibilities and pitfalls of using plastic to pay for plastic surgery and other expenses not covered by insurance.

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Creative Wealth Maximization Strategies - August 2011

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Guardian, its subsidiaries, agents, or employees do not provide tax or legal advice. The Associates of Ashford Advisors, Inc., are not licensed to sell insurance in all 50 states. To find out if an agent is licensed in your state, please contact Johnny Howard at 770 390-2600. The Registered Representatives are securities licensed in Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, New York, Colorado, Arizona, Michigan, Illinois and Nevada and is strictly intended for individuals residing in those states. No offers may be made or accepted from any resident outside these specified states. The information or opinions contained in this Internet site should not be construed by any consumer and/or prospective client as an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any particular investment product. The information contained herein is directed solely to those individuals who reside in jurisdictions in which the representative is registered in the state where the consumer and/or prospective client reside. Any subsequent direct communication with a consumer and/or prospective client shall only be conducted by a representative that is registered in the state where the consumer and/or prospective client reside. The information on this web site is designed to be general in nature and for educational purposes only. Guardian, its agents and employees do not give tax or legal advice.

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* Registered Representative of Park Avenue Securities LLC (PAS), Two Ravinia Drive, Suite 750, Atlanta, GA 30346. Securities products and services offered through PAS, (770) 390-2600. Financial Representative, The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America (Guardian), New York, NY. PAS is an indirect, wholly owned subsidiary of Guardian. Ashford Advisors is not an affiliate or subsidiary of PAS or Guardian.
PAS is a member FINRA, SIPC.

** Registered Representative and Financial Advisor of Park Avenue Securities LLC (PAS), Two Ravinia Drive, Suite 750, Atlanta, GA 30346. Securities products/services and adv isory services are offered through PAS, a registered broker-dealer and investment advisor, (770) 390-2600. Financial Representative, The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America (Guardian), New York, NY. PAS is an indirect, wholly owned subsidiary of Guardian. Ashford Advisors is not an affiliate or subsidiary of PAS or Guardian.
PAS is a member FINRA, SIPC.

Material discussed is meant for general illustration and/or informational purposes only and it is not to be construed as tax, legal or investment advice. Although the information has been gathered from sources believed reliable, please note that individual situations can vary, therefore the information should be relied upon when coordinated with individual professional advice.

Disability Income and Long Term Care products underwritten and issued by Berkshire Life Insurance Company of America, Pittsfield, MA, a wholly owned stock subsidiary of The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America, New York, NY. Products not available in all states. Product provisions and features may vary from state to state.

Guardian does not offer Property and Casualty insurance products or services.