Rao bulletin 1 December 2015 html edition this bulletin contains the following articles
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Pet Trusts - Pet owners' love for their animals often lives longer than they do. Many include their pets in their wills. Others opt to establish trusts for their pets' care. Texas Tech University School of Law professor Gerry W. Beyer specializes in estates, wills and trusts. Since he wrote his first legal treatise on pet trusts 15 years ago, Beyer has seen the field go from an obscure legal move that very few folks talked about to a "pretty well-accepted" part of estate planning. Most states have laws that allow for pet trusts, says Beyer. But even if your state lacks specific statutory language, it's still possible to set up a pet trust. You don't have to be wealthy to set up a pet trust. Beyer does advise, though, working with an attorney who specializes in these types of legal final wishes. And note that a trust doesn't mean zero tax concerns. Beyer says that depending on how the trust is structured, the responsible tax party could be the pet owner in the case of a living trust; the trust beneficiary, who typically is the pet's caregiver; or the trust itself. Still, a trust is a dependable way to ensure your pet gets the care you want the animal to have after you're gone. "You get certainty," says Beyer. [Source: Bankrate Weekly Tax Tip | Kay Bell | November 25, 2015 ++]. ********************************* Saving Money ► Air Conditioning Operating Expense Hear that? It's the sound of your air conditioner running and the sound of your bank account drying up. Heating and air conditioning your home take a 43 percent bite from your monthly utility bill, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. Here's how to reduce those costs in summer. 
Trees - "Most heat that accumulates inside a house comes directly from the sun shining onto the roof or through windows, and heating the house directly," says John Krigger, owner of Saturn Resource Management, which offers energy conservation training in Helena, Mont. Planting leafy trees around the building's exterior will stop the sun from reaching inside your home. "Even for the cost of going to the nursery and buying a 15- to 20-foot-tall tree, trees are still the best value," Krigger says. If the trees or shrubs shade your air conditioner, you could boost your AC's efficiency by up to 10 percent, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. Windows - Solar screens, or mesh-like window screens, intercept up to 70 percent of solar energy before it gets into the house, Krigger says. Window screens are particularly effective on east- and west-facing windows, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. Window films are another option. They are transparent, metalized sheets that reflect heat before it can be transmitted through glass. However, windows must be shut for window films to work, while solar screens do double-duty, keeping sun and insects out even with windows open. Flip a Switch - Go ahead, get comfortable. Lower your air conditioner's thermostat setting to 78 degrees Fahrenheit when you're at home. But let that number rise to a warmer temperature at night or when you're away from home. You can save 5 percent to 15 percent on your air-conditioning bills by raising the temperature setting on your thermostat when you're away and don't need cooling, according to the Department of Energy. Fan it - No need to invest in fancy fans. Krigger says the key is to circulate air inside the house. If possible, locate fans on your house's upper level and open windows on a lower level. If you live in a one-story house or apartment, you should close windows near the fan and open windows in rooms far from the fan, preferably on your home's windward side, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. Moving air also helps evaporate the sweat from your skin, says Paul Scheckel, an energy efficiency consultant in Montpelier, Vt., and author of "The Home Energy Diet." "Evaporational cooling is an incredibly efficient process for removing heat, and our bodies do it all by themselves. A little help can increase the cooling effect," Scheckel says. Chill in the Basement - Camp out in your basement, says Stan Cox, author of "Losing Our Cool: Uncomfortable Truths About Our Air-Conditioned World (and Finding New Ways to Get Through the Summer)." In your eco-cooled basement, a television, couch or futon and a cold drink may be all you need. However, Scheckel says don't open basement windows when outdoor air is heavy with humidity. "Warm, moist air will cause condensation on cool surfaces such as basement walls, ultimately increasing the humidity in your home," he says. Stove Usage - Skip the stove-top boiling and oven baking, Cox says. Decrease indoor heat by making microwave nachos or eating a cool salad. If you must boil pasta for tomorrow's potluck, cook in the evening. After cooking, turn on the kitchen exhaust, and use the bathroom exhaust fan after a hot shower. "Remove heat and moisture at the source," Scheckel says. "Reducing humidity can help increase comfort." Maintain/Replace AC - AC efficiency is mostly a function of the technology," Scheckel says. "Keep the filter clean to allow for good air movement and keep the unit level so the condensation drains properly." If you replace your older room air conditioner with a newer unit, you could cut your energy costs in half, according to the Department of Energy. Look for a high-energy-efficiency ratio, or EER, or an Energy Star-qualified unit. Higher EER ratings mean a more efficient air conditioner. Energy Star refers to a system adopted by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Energy to identify energy-efficient products. Humidity - Set the AC fan speed on high, except on very humid days, says the U.S. Department of Energy. On humid days, set the speed on low. The slower air movement through the air-condition equipment removes more moisture from the air, improving comfort in your home. Splash in the Bath - Hop in the shower, spray yourself with a water bottle or use a cool cloth on the back of your neck. And if you don't chill out right away, don't give up, says Cox, the environmental writer and scientist. "Our comfort range depends on the temperatures we have experienced in recent days and weeks," he says. "The body and mind adjust to rising temperatures." [Source: http://www.bankrate.com/finance/personal-finance/chill-air-conditioning-costs-1.aspx#ixzz3ac0xYL3M May 2015 ++] ******************************** Fake Customer Service Numbers Scam ► How it Works Next time you call the customer service department of your credit or debit card, be sure to double check the number. Scammers are purchasing phone numbers similar to those of customer service lines and fooling card holders into sharing account information. How the Scam Works:
How to avoid fake phone numbers:
To find out more about other scams, check out http://www.bbb.org/council/bbb-scam-stopper . To learn more about this scam, check out this recent alert at https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/blog/too-close-call from the Federal Trade Commission. [Source: BBB Scam Alert | July 31, 2015 ++] 
******************************** Personal Email Impersonation Scam ► How it Works A sophisticated new scam is targeting business and personal email addresses. Scammers create email accounts nearly identical to an existing account and use that new account to initiate wire transfers. How the Scam Works:
Tips to protect yourself from this scam:
To find out more about other scams, check out http://www.bbb.org/council/bbb-scam-stopper. To learn more about this scam, read the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center alert at http://www.ic3.gov/media/2015/150827-2.aspx#fn1. [Source: BBB Scam Alert | September 4, 2015 ++]
******************************** DFAS SmartDocs Email Scam ► How it Works Email scams are targeting servicemen and military retirees and their families by posing as the Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS) How the Scam Works:
Dear Account Holder, It has come to our attention that your myPay account information needs to be updated as part as part of our continued commitment to protect your account and to reduce the instance of fraud on our website. If you could please take 3 minutes out of your online experience and update your personal records you will not run into any future problems with the online service. However, failure to update records will result in account suspension. Once you have updated your account records, your Online sessions will not be interrupted and will continue as normal. To update your myPAY records clock on the Update button. Thank you, MyPay Customer Center
Tips to Protect Yourself:
[Source: Military Officer Magazine | September 2015 ++] ******************************** Tax Burden for Alaska Retired Vets ► As of Nov 2015 Many people planning to retire use the presence or absence of a state income tax as a litmus test for a retirement destination. This is a serious miscalculation since higher sales and property taxes can more than offset the lack of a state income tax. The lack of a state income tax doesn’t necessarily ensure a low total tax burden. States raise revenue in many ways including sales taxes, excise taxes, license taxes, income taxes, intangible taxes, property taxes, estate taxes and inheritance taxes. Depending on where you live, you may end up paying all of them or just a few. Following are the taxes you can expect to pay if you retire in Alaska. Sales Taxes State Sales Tax: The state currently does not have a sales and use tax. However, 62 municipalities impose local sales taxes that range up to 7.5%. Typical sales tax rates are from 2% – 5%. Gasoline Tax: 29.7 cents/gallon (Includes all taxes) Diesel Fuel Tax: 36.2 cents/gallon (Includes all taxes) Cigarette Tax: $2.00/pack of 20 (Anchorage – add $3.45) Personal Income Taxes No state income tax Retirement Income: Not taxed. Property Taxes Alaska is the only state in the United States where a large part of the land mass is not subject to a property tax. Although property tax is the primary method of raising revenues for most of the larger municipalities in the state, smaller municipalities favor a sales tax. This is due primarily to the fact that the smaller incorporated areas lack a tax base large enough to support the property tax. The unincorporated areas of the state do not have the legal authority to levy a tax. Of the 18 Boroughs, only 14 levy a property tax. Only 11 Cities located outside of Boroughs levy a property tax. Therefore, only 25 municipalities in Alaska (either cities or boroughs) levy a property tax. These 25 municipalities can be found on https://www.commerce.alaska.gov/web Alaska taxes both real and personal property. There are several municipalities that have chosen to exempt some or all categories of personal property. For a listing of those municipalities and categories, refer to https://www.commerce.alaska.gov/web/WelcometoourNewWebsite.aspx. Homeowners 65 and older (or surviving spouses 60 and older) are exempt from municipal taxes on the first $150,000 of the assessed value of their property. This also applies to disabled veterans. The average assessed value exempted from taxes for senior citizens and disabled veterans is $134,520 which equated to a tax exemption of $1,839 for 2010. In 2010, the total full value for all municipalities (over 750 in population) was $98.1 billion (including TAPS — Trans-Alaska Pipeline). With a statewide population of 692,314 the per capita full value was $141,644. Intangible personal property is exempt from taxation. Call 907-269-6620 (Anchorage) or 907-465-2320 (Juneau) for details. Inheritance and Estate Taxes There is no inheritance tax and the estate tax is limited to federal estate tax collection. For further information go to the Alaska Department of Revenue site http://www.revenue.state.ak.us or call 907-465-2300 [Source: http://www.retirementliving.com/taxes-alabama-iowa Nov 2015 ++] ****************************** Tax Burden for Massachusetts Residents ► As of Nov 2015 Personal income tax
Sales taxes
Personal and real property taxes
Inheritance and estate taxes
Other Massachusetts Tax Facts
[Source: http://www.bankrate.com/finance/taxes/state-taxes-massachusetts.aspx Nov 2015 ++] ****************************** Thrift Savings Plan 2015 ► Returns as of 27 Nov 2015 There are currently 10 investment funds in the Thrift Savings Plan. Five are individual stock and bond funds, and the other five are target retirement date funds. The table below summarizes the historical performance and risk characteristics of the five primary TSP Investment Funds. Click on any link in the table header to see performance charts and other details for that fund.
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