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Everyday I look around and I see things in the world that I don’t like or I see things that I feel like need to be done for the better, so I have an idea. I am going to establish a do group. What is a do group? A do group is a group of people that get together with the sole intent of “doing” something positive to uplift the community. I am a member of a fraternity, and normally we say we are going to “do” different things, when all that we end up doing is going somewhere, drinking, partying, etc. My plan with my do group is to meet with the sole intention of doing something to uplift and change the community and make a difference in someones life as a result of our group. I have a couple of people in mind that I am going to ask to join my “do” group and I will keep you guys updated.
Darrin M. Marion, PhD.
www.pergamoninvestments.com
Thursday, April 17, 2008
Sunday, April 13, 2008
Searching for God
I was recently watching a show about the Universe, and I thought it was pretty hillarious. Why? All of these so called smart people were looking for something, they couldn't describe what it was, that is not made of atoms or matter as we know it, and somehow holds the Universe as we know it together? They kept speaking of some "thing" or something out there, that could not be quantified or described in any way. Well folks, I know exactly what the "it" is that they are looking for. Its called GOD. GOD holds the Universe as we know it together. Its funny that HIS divine plan is what we search for. It says in 1 Corinthians 3:19 that "For the wisdom of this world is foolishness before God." What we consider as knowledge, faith and religion, means nothing to GOD. GOD has made himself open for us to know and receive, and find, all we have to do is ask. That is just my two cents.
Darrin M. Marion, PhD.
www.pergamoninvestments.com
Darrin M. Marion, PhD.
www.pergamoninvestments.com
Thursday, April 10, 2008
The Best of Both Worlds, How to Protect Your Retirement Income
In today’s stock market, daily we are experiencing wild daily fluctuations in the security valuations. The question I often ask people when helping to plan their retirement income is, “What percentage of your retirement income would you like to come and fixed and stable resources?” If you were a sane individual, you would say that you would like 100% of your income to come from those areas.
Nowadays, there are very few opportunities out there to plan income from fixed and stable resources. One of those resources that I love to take advantage of personally are Equity Indexed Annuities. Equity Indexed Annuities are a type of tax-deferred annuity whose credited interest is linked to an equity index, typically the S&P 500 but which also guarantees a minimum interest rate (typically about 3% as of 2007) and against a loss of all or most principal. An equity index annuity is a contract with an insurance or annuity company. The returns are typically conservative and the contracts are mostly suitable for those who are retired or nearing retirement. The objective of purchasing an equity index annuity is most often to realize greater gains than those provided by fixed annuities, while still protecting principal.
In today and age, particularly for those in Indiana who are retiring, or nearing the age where they need to begin taking income from their savings, they cannot afford to experience a serious market downturn. In those instances an equity indexed annuity would be an excellent choice for them. While an equity indexed annuity is not for every investor. Those who are in the situation where their retirement funds are running the risk of running out, the equity indexed annuity is a great product for them... But then again, that is just my two cents… For what its worth.
Darrin M. Marion, PhD.
www.pergamoninvestments.com
Nowadays, there are very few opportunities out there to plan income from fixed and stable resources. One of those resources that I love to take advantage of personally are Equity Indexed Annuities. Equity Indexed Annuities are a type of tax-deferred annuity whose credited interest is linked to an equity index, typically the S&P 500 but which also guarantees a minimum interest rate (typically about 3% as of 2007) and against a loss of all or most principal. An equity index annuity is a contract with an insurance or annuity company. The returns are typically conservative and the contracts are mostly suitable for those who are retired or nearing retirement. The objective of purchasing an equity index annuity is most often to realize greater gains than those provided by fixed annuities, while still protecting principal.
In today and age, particularly for those in Indiana who are retiring, or nearing the age where they need to begin taking income from their savings, they cannot afford to experience a serious market downturn. In those instances an equity indexed annuity would be an excellent choice for them. While an equity indexed annuity is not for every investor. Those who are in the situation where their retirement funds are running the risk of running out, the equity indexed annuity is a great product for them... But then again, that is just my two cents… For what its worth.
Darrin M. Marion, PhD.
www.pergamoninvestments.com
Does Wal-Marts success show that the economy is picking up?
I was recently watching Cavuto on Fox Business Channel, and he had his normal crew of pundits on, and they were talking about how that since Wal-Mart is making more money; we can see that as an indication of the economy turning around. I don’t know about you, but, usually when I go to Wal-Mart, I go there for the low prices and the overall affordability of the products that are in the store. Usually when I go to my local Wal-Mart store, I can expect long lines, screaming babies and terrible customer service. I don’t know about you, but when I have extra disposable income, long lines, screaming babies and bad customer service isn’t my first choice.
I believe that the conversation by all of those “experts” on the show is an indication of how out of touch what we see on television is in respect to “real life”. I recall in a recent conversation with friends, about the Bush tax rebate, we spoke about how Wal-Mart is going to start making tons of money. One of the main reasons being, that Wal-Mart is the place where you can buy items in bulk. And when times are tough…. I buy in bulk baby!!!
The bottom line is that, increases in earnings for Wal-Mart doesn’t mean that the economy is getting better, it actually means that the worlds largest retailers’ strategic plan of becoming and staying the worlds largest retailer is working. That is just my two cents... For whatever that is worth.
Darrin M. Marion, PhD.
www.pergamoninvestments.com
I believe that the conversation by all of those “experts” on the show is an indication of how out of touch what we see on television is in respect to “real life”. I recall in a recent conversation with friends, about the Bush tax rebate, we spoke about how Wal-Mart is going to start making tons of money. One of the main reasons being, that Wal-Mart is the place where you can buy items in bulk. And when times are tough…. I buy in bulk baby!!!
The bottom line is that, increases in earnings for Wal-Mart doesn’t mean that the economy is getting better, it actually means that the worlds largest retailers’ strategic plan of becoming and staying the worlds largest retailer is working. That is just my two cents... For whatever that is worth.
Darrin M. Marion, PhD.
www.pergamoninvestments.com
Liberating Tibet... Any ideas????
As we see the Olympic torch making its way across the world, we are gradually hearing and seeing, increasing talk about freeing the people of Tibet. Why are these people protesting for the liberation of Tibet? And more importantly, what type of solution is proposed?
Here is a little back story on the liberation of Tibet
http://www.freetibet.org/info/key_issues.html
Now I am sure that this is probably a pretty biased site in concerning the liberation of Tibet. But again, what are some good solutions to fill the vacuum that would be created if China, hypothetically left Tibet, (knowing that this will probably never happen)?
One serious problem that I can see immediately with China leaving Tibet is that, the natural order of growth of the nation of is now irrevocably damaged, and who is going to step in and help a now damaged nation like Tibet, in a time when nation building vies a vie Iraq, Sudan, Rwanda, and the list goes on, is not “En Vogue” in today’s society? Will the United Nations step in and aid in building Tibet?
I know that the occupation of Tibet by China has been in play for the last 50 years, and the immediate withdrawal is not possibly a viable option, so if I can put my two cents in, I would ask these protestors of the Olympic Games, which is all about sportsmanship, cooperation and unity to come up with real solutions, and work to try and come up with some real solutions to aid the people of Tibet, instead of protesting for the sake of protesting.
Darrin Marion, PhD.
www.pergamoninvestments.com
Here is a little back story on the liberation of Tibet
http://www.freetibet.org/info/key_issues.html
Now I am sure that this is probably a pretty biased site in concerning the liberation of Tibet. But again, what are some good solutions to fill the vacuum that would be created if China, hypothetically left Tibet, (knowing that this will probably never happen)?
One serious problem that I can see immediately with China leaving Tibet is that, the natural order of growth of the nation of is now irrevocably damaged, and who is going to step in and help a now damaged nation like Tibet, in a time when nation building vies a vie Iraq, Sudan, Rwanda, and the list goes on, is not “En Vogue” in today’s society? Will the United Nations step in and aid in building Tibet?
I know that the occupation of Tibet by China has been in play for the last 50 years, and the immediate withdrawal is not possibly a viable option, so if I can put my two cents in, I would ask these protestors of the Olympic Games, which is all about sportsmanship, cooperation and unity to come up with real solutions, and work to try and come up with some real solutions to aid the people of Tibet, instead of protesting for the sake of protesting.
Darrin Marion, PhD.
www.pergamoninvestments.com
Maybe good customer service needs a recession
I think it was Ray Kroc, the founder of one of America’s greatest institutions, McDonalds once stated, “If you work just for money, you'll never make it, but if you love what you're doing and you always put the customer first, success will be yours.” Has America’s love of money forced us to forget why we need money in the first place? Do we need a recession so people can realize the importance of doing what you love and in turn forget about all of those items that we needlessly have gone into debt to acquire? I believe that we need a recession as Americans, so that we can correct our misgivings and learn about what is truly important to us, and only then will our customer service take a turn for the best, instead of a turn for the worse.
On a recent trip to a major metropolitan city, my wife and I decided, hey what the heck, we have a lull in the action, let’s take the kids out for a movie… First off, let me give you a bit of a back story, we have two small children, try a two year old and a four year old; now taking a 2 and a 4 year old anywhere is an ordeal into itself, but time to time we make it happen, and for us to get to a movie right at the beginning or even exactly on time is often a result of several acts of GOD!!! But at any rate, we go to see a newly released Dr. Seuss movie, and we arrive about 10 minutes after the movie start time, and after looking around for someone to buy a ticket from for another 5 minutes, I tell my wife to go ahead and go inside the movie. After I finally locate somebody to sell me a ticket, I am given a pleasant bit of information, “Our policy dictates that 15 minutes after the start time of a movie, I can’t sell you a ticket…” After a bit of surprise, I went to go give my wife this bit of bad news. When I finally make my way back into the theatre, I notice that outside of my wife and two children, there are exactly two people in the movie theatre!!!!
I then walked back outside the movie theatre and asked to speak with the manager, and I was subsequently told, “Sorry, but I can’t take your money. Our policy states… blah, blah, blah…” Now maybe I live in another world, but it seems to me that if our economy is that bad, why turn down paying customers?? Is it possible that in order to get good customer service, America needs a recession? Are there so many opportunities out there for people to earn income, that corporation throw good sense out the window in light of policy? Has our quest to pay for more “things” placed our eyes on the dollar so much that we have thrown good common sense out of the window? I believe that as the normal cycle of evolution calls for natural selection, that our economy needs natural selection, through the process of recession, which will enable our customer service experience to thrive, and maybe even let me and my wife buy a ticket to a movie, even if we are 15 minutes late. (smile)
On a recent trip to a major metropolitan city, my wife and I decided, hey what the heck, we have a lull in the action, let’s take the kids out for a movie… First off, let me give you a bit of a back story, we have two small children, try a two year old and a four year old; now taking a 2 and a 4 year old anywhere is an ordeal into itself, but time to time we make it happen, and for us to get to a movie right at the beginning or even exactly on time is often a result of several acts of GOD!!! But at any rate, we go to see a newly released Dr. Seuss movie, and we arrive about 10 minutes after the movie start time, and after looking around for someone to buy a ticket from for another 5 minutes, I tell my wife to go ahead and go inside the movie. After I finally locate somebody to sell me a ticket, I am given a pleasant bit of information, “Our policy dictates that 15 minutes after the start time of a movie, I can’t sell you a ticket…” After a bit of surprise, I went to go give my wife this bit of bad news. When I finally make my way back into the theatre, I notice that outside of my wife and two children, there are exactly two people in the movie theatre!!!!
I then walked back outside the movie theatre and asked to speak with the manager, and I was subsequently told, “Sorry, but I can’t take your money. Our policy states… blah, blah, blah…” Now maybe I live in another world, but it seems to me that if our economy is that bad, why turn down paying customers?? Is it possible that in order to get good customer service, America needs a recession? Are there so many opportunities out there for people to earn income, that corporation throw good sense out the window in light of policy? Has our quest to pay for more “things” placed our eyes on the dollar so much that we have thrown good common sense out of the window? I believe that as the normal cycle of evolution calls for natural selection, that our economy needs natural selection, through the process of recession, which will enable our customer service experience to thrive, and maybe even let me and my wife buy a ticket to a movie, even if we are 15 minutes late. (smile)
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