The distribution of the retirement funds/Carlos Pueblo

The distribution of the retirement funds/Carlos Pueblo

It is so much fun to count retirement funds, for instance, count the appreciation value on a up tick stock day and count how much money I need to withdraw from various retirement accounts. I don't really need to be concerned about the second $1,200 check at all. They can argue all the time as they want. If I don't have the money, I don't spend. What I need to get the distribution of funds because I still need to meet my obligation after I enter  the no earned income age and I am still alive.

I count on the social security income now very much. Both Amy's and mine are sufficient to meet the necessity, i.e. the grocery and some payments; however, to maintain a household expenditure, we still need to have the supplement income, then, the retirement income comes in. Early of the year, I have already withdraw my requirement minimum distribution from three accounts; however, there is an error by a company's clerk that the withdrawal is all on an after tax account, the annuity. Fortunately, due to the down fall of 401k to 101k, the Fed release a waiver for this year's RMD due to the down value of the stock market. I can wait till January 2, 2021 to withdraw that amount as I desire. This is my money and I don't like to go through again of the anxiety; therefore, I decide to take some money out again to pay the year end real estate tax and prepare to pay off a second credit card 0% interest loan. I think that I can manipulate the money like getting something from nothing. Actually it is what I have saved and invested during my working years.

This account is different from the other accounts because that I must mail in the request forms of several pages. It is a life insurance company; however, I am not complaining because the fund is managed very well and the amount withdraw is small. I mail it the forms because I don't know how to fax them via my cell phone. I have to take such chance of a crash during the mailing. As a matter of fact, I would be suffered even more with the devaluation of funds left behind.

This is why I am so relax now at an old age to do whatever I want to do except to be very careful of my exposure of the Chinese Wuhan Novel Corona Virus Pandemic. It seems to control the disease is more difficult that managing my own retirement funds.

領退休金/莊峻華

領退休金/莊峻華

老年生活，最愉快者，莫過於跟著股市算退休金，需錢就領退休金，這退休金是我一生之儲蓄，自失業十九年後，我就到處變錢，現在輪到領退休金，美國有很好的國民退休計劃，有工作者，都可以參加，例如社會安全保險，最高者夫妻可領四千美元一個月，我因工作僅二十三年，又在六十二歲提早領，所以只領到一千六許，愛美不上班，領我之一半，所以私有退休計劃金之領出，十分重要，國稅局也規定，七十歲半就需要開始領取退休金，開始繳稅，剛才我想領出者，為一舊公司之401k基金，我要領出一萬五，來交年底之房屋稅，和所得稅等。

因為我已有三年領出之經驗，而且脾氣也很好，錢是我的，這是一人壽保險公司，電話客服在國外，手忙腳亂，無法與證券公司比效率，但基金管理甚佳，比較重要，我要填表簽名後，傳真給公司，始可當日出售股票，折算現金，今年初我已賣出兩萬五，但公司幫我賣到稅後年金部分，還好國稅局德政，今年因疫情，股市暴跌，可以不領，但我需錢，還是領出濟急是妙。

其實還有一種羅斯個人退休計劃金，五十九歲半領出免稅，我也有一些，準備急用，我常言財務要有計劃和策略，稅務亦然，政府可以幫忙，但主要還是靠自己。

The U.S. pull out 10,000 forces from Germany/Carlos Pueblo

The U.S. pull out 10,000 forces from Germany/Carlos Pueblo

Trump announces that he is pulling out 10,000 of the U.S. forces in Germany for the retaliation of less than 2% of German GDP spending as a guiding line for the European defense. He is going to relocate half of the troupe to Italy and half back to the States. The German authority doesn't say very much about it. Angela Merkel says nothing. I am very puzzled.

I envy the U.S. strategy toward Europe after the War. Starting from the military occupation in Germany both in prevention of another war and to protect the German Nation. The distinguish German do unify the East Germany and the West Germany peacefully and eventually. Germany is still allowing the U.S. to station heavily in their nation to keep peace and maintain such huge U.S. force. Like Japan, Germany pays all the cost for the U.S. troupe in their country. At the beginning, Trump wanted to move the 10,000 troupe to Poland and I did wonder how Poland could afford the cost. Now, he moves half of the withdrawal troupe to Italy and half back home and I must ask if Italy will pay the full cost of the U.S. troupe as Germany; furthermore, will it be cheaper for the U.S. to pay another half home in the U.S.?

As a private citizen and observer of the politic, I don't think that is a smart move. For instance, both Bushes move U.S. troupe from Germany to invade Iraq twice and who pays all of those years cost maintaining such big force? Trump is stupid and what about his deputies? No body figures it out for him the math? German have been very aggressive all of those years in history. They have been involved in almost every decisive change of the politic in the Europe, such as the fall of the Roman Empire, the domination of the holly Roman Empire, the termination of several European Empires and initiation of two world wars, etc. After WWII, German pay more attention to the peace and never attempt to be great again. They pay more attention to rebuild their nation in every field and have no major argument with the rest of the world; therefore, there is a peace in Europe for 75 years and I believe that the U.S. troupe stationing in Germany play a major role.

Recently, I have had some luxury to visit this great nation several times. Each time when I passed by a city, I would do some history reading of the city and I am very impressed. German and build the big cruise ship and I believe that they can build the carrier; they can build the best of vehicles and of course they can build tanks and jet fighters. German are very smart and advanced in science and technology and  they are not interested in building those of fancy toys. They like to use their precious percentage of their GDP to improve their people's happiness. I hope Biden will reverse such stupid decision of withdrawal when he takes over the presidency. 

駐德撤軍/莊峻華

駐德撤軍/莊峻華

美軍駐德軍隊，將撤一萬名，因為川普不爽德國軍費，不及德國國內總生產額之百分之二，不符北大西洋公約組織之共識，讓美國獨撐歐洲安全，原議將一萬美軍移駐波蘭，現在說一半移駐義大利，一半調回美國，我還是弄不清楚，川普打的算盤？是真不爽德國之軍費太低？還是甚麼其他因素？反正他任期僅剩五個月，離敗選僅三個月。

德國官方，好像不當一回事，這三萬美軍之費用，完全是德國支付，就像駐日本四萬美軍，也是日本支付，南韓之三萬七美軍，也是南韓四分之三，美國四分之一，義大利財政不若德國，我懷疑能比照德國負擔，回美國者吃自己矣，所以我們選民要判斷總統之智慧，川普之智慧不高，又無道德觀，色厲內荏，惟利是徒者也。

我讀歷史，深佩當年之美國總統杜魯門白宮，在西德駐軍，而且也邀請英國和法國，所以有英屬，法屬，蘇屬，和美屬德國，後來蘇屬德國為東德，英美法屬為西德，東西德後來統一為德國，現任梅克爾總理，是位化學博士，來自東德，能言斯拉夫語，她和歷屆總理們，都了解德國不需要軍備，她也很清楚告訴俄羅斯之普汀，不要惹德國，打德國需要經過東歐，德國有時間備戰，而且這一次，德國和美國在一起，我觀察歐巴瑪和梅克爾關係較好，日本和德國關係也很好，法國在歐盟也和德國，充份合作，惟獨川普，這真是美國之不幸。

最近幾年，我因慕德，幾次旅行德國，參觀德國，因為我購買火車優待票，旅行全國，回來後勤讀德國歷史，日耳曼民族是使西羅馬帝國滅亡者，後來之神聖羅馬帝國，也多半在日耳曼城邦國，掌握之中，1860年後之普魯士王國，五年內連敗奧匈帝國，維金帝國，和陸意士拿破崙法蘭西帝國，於是各城邦合組德意志帝國，奉普魯士王為帝，五十年後，發動歐戰，戰敗亡國，又過二十餘年，希特勒發動二次大戰，又戰敗亡國，二戰後，德國人領袖已經不再尚武，俄羅斯攻打烏克蘭，德國強烈禁運制裁，而國內軍備，則多半忽略，花錢養美軍，讓俄羅斯放心，維持和平，已有七十五年，這是歐洲歷史上，最為和平之一段，只要日耳曼人，愛好和平，天下就太平。

川普這類美國人，好大喜功，宣稱要美國重返第一，巧立名目，浪費國家資源，於武器軍備，擺出不惜一戰姿勢，其實梅克爾這些老政治家，見過之世面廣，不與川普計較，德國有能力，維持自己之國家安全，德國和平，也是世界之幸福，過去美國從德國調兵，攻打伊拉克，養兵千日，德國出錢，川普奸商也，只為武器國防事業之獻金而誤國，美國選民必誅之，我說是讓他落選。

45 years immigration anniversary to the U.S./Carlos Pueblo

45 years immigration anniversary to the U.S./Carlos Pueblo

August 17 of this year is my 45 years immigration anniversary to the U.S. and I feel that I should congratulate myself for my decision of my childhood and my effort to stay in this great nation for the benefit of myself and my children. In 1975, I had had  a F-1 visa with a teaching assistant to enter the country as a graduate student before I completed all my citizen obligation to the Nationalist Chinese Regime in Taiwan. I have made up my mind to work hard to stay in the U.S. and never returned to Taiwan. I didn't know that the Chiang Kai-sek's Dynasty would be ended eventually.

My stipend from Auburn was $375 a month which was 3 times of my high school teacher's pay in Taiwan. It was enough for me to pay the tuition, room and board, and even a small saving for the left over. In return, I worked at the laboratory as a teaching assistant for 4 hours with a T.A. partner and graded the paper and examination. I could study hard without any anxiety of money. Two years later I finished my master degree and moved to Houston, Texas.

Again, I was accepted another term of T.A. with a new stipend of $450 a month from the University of Houston and the goal was toward the Ph.D. degree in Chemistry. I admitted that I didn't do well at all. It was a booming town and I found a job in a chemical laboratory as a technician with a pay of $5 an hour, then changed to another full time job with a water lab in the Johnson Space Center. The pay was about $8 an hour for almost 3 years. Then, I was terminated from the job. It was hard for a newly wed husband of seven months. I decided not to take a city chemist position in Detroit, Michigan because I desired to try in the field of sales. I started as a real estate agent and an insurance agent simultaneously.

I like the insurance part of the business because the property insurance I get the renewal commission which means I can add new income to the old renewal service commission. I served to a very small Taiwanese immigrant community for their insurance needs such as the vehicle insurance, home owner policy and rental property insurance. I also did the life insurance, health insurance, and some security products deal. My income was improving and there were two children added to the family.

After almost 12 years, I was terminated again from my contract with that insurance company. My brother Yancy recommended me to join his life insurance company and I did. After less than 10 years, I was terminated again and that was in 2001. Since then, I had attempted to be a high school teacher after a two months try at Galveston, Texas and failed, briefly returned to two insurance companies and failed again. However, I still have maintained my individual contract with some independent carriers till now to serve a small group of my old customers.

My personal savings kicks in for all of these years since 2001. The meaningful part of my life is to manage my own finance and help one of my son to have a happy life. I figure out my own way to live a pleasant life in the old age. I am very sure that I have left the poverty class in my life. I am much happier than my parents at their time. I have no longer need to worry about money and I keep myself healthy without any worry about the aging such as senior care like I don't need the life insurance because I have had it in my saving already. I am not worry about the Chinese invasion of the U.S. at all and I am very safe here.

移民美國四十五年/莊峻華

移民美國四十五年/莊峻華

美國是全球最為宜居之國度，我真慶幸已移民美國四十五年，1975年八月十七日，我迫不及待，離開松山機場，奔向美國，我是根據國民黨政權，條條規定，盡畢國民義務，正逢當年美國大學給與化學助教獎學金，幫忙台灣學生，來美國讀研究所，我一離開台灣，如同破釜沉舟一般，絕不回頭，甚麼報効祖國之類想法，因為蔣介石剛斃，其子經國牢牢控制，高壓統治台灣，我看不出台灣人，有何希望可言，移民美國最為理想。

先是完成研究所學位，奧本化學系給我一個月三百七十五元獎學金，約是台灣我當教師薪資之三倍，合租公寓九十元一個月，熟悉狀況後，費用下降，當年學費是算州內學生價，一季三個月兩百七，也是九十元一個月，尚有一百九十元，我就省吃檢用，自理三餐，偶爾買個漢堡，或是到自助餐廳，兩年畢業後，我尚有四百元存款，還有一台六九年舊車，開到德州休士頓，投奔長兄。

休士頓大學化學系，也給我助教獎學金，是四百五十元一個月，學分也是州內生優待，是四元一學分，大約是十六學分算全時學生，我讀一年就混不下去，因為我又去選化工課，又不讀書，所有選課都當掉，因此在第二學期結束前，就找到一化學廠技工工作，一小時五元待遇，不久找到明湖市太空總署水實驗室工作，大蓋是八元一小時，稍升薪水，就被開除，工作不到三年，這時候我剛新婚八個月。

底特律市政府，當時，就是革職幾日之別，有聘書到來，待遇稍佳，愛美家人主張我去，我因綠卡尚未領到，不敢跟底市政府解釋，因此留在家裏創業，當時我有兩副業，一為房產代理，一為保險代理，愛美兄長，給我機會幫他們買下六棟住屋出租，而且幫他們有償管理，我的保險業務也是起飛，收入第一年，就比前一年高，於是穩下陣腳。

結婚兩年半，我們就有琳兒，琳兒是位健康之嬰兒，多少喜悅，兩年後有元兒，元兒不幸，有先天性缺陷，不能自然呼息，一直到其六歲，始脫離生命危險之威脅，這時後我幸有愛美之賢內助，而且事業也甚穩定成長，我們也想辦法節約儲蓄，累積資本。

美國是一政治合理，充滿工作之國，尤其是休市這般新興大城市，只要努力工作，到處是機會，我因出身卑微，不敢奢華，穩紮穩打，沒有甚麼花錢嗜好，美國充滿個人自由，不在乎一些繁文褥節習俗，我年老後發現生活，更加自由自在，我選自己之生活，過自己之日，享受樂園天堂之環境。

The midnight chat with Arthur/Carlos Pueblo

The midnight chat with Arthur/Carlos Pueblo

The other night Arthur was back from work and ready to eat his meal. I was awake for urination. He reported to me that he made about $300 for his buy low sell high target stock, an oil company. I congratulate him and am very happy for his second job other than his super market clerk. Actually, based on his strategy that he can't loose too much and only makes a little in comparison. He also has a silent partner, personal savings in funds and retirement stocks worked for him. We have had a good conversation about our personal finance.

I have a big chunk of an oil stock which has not performed well at all for quite some time. It is the oil price which I understand that I should do his buy low and sell high strategy. I don't do it because that one time in the past I had to buy it back in a higher price. The stock went up pass $100 a share and now back to $43 a share. Luckily, my bet to high tech stocks works. He says that the owners of high tech companies are smarter than regular nice talking executive of regular companies. He points out several big names whom I am familiar with. As long as my high tech investing are working, I am allowed to have my leisure life during my senior age.

I mention the computer game which I have never played while he plays all days and nights. He says that is like a chess game which requires plan ahead. Now the human brain can't play better than a computer because the computer can hold more previous successful moves into its data base while a smart chess player is with a limit volume of his brain. It does make sense. In order to prolong our chat, I bring up my story of the Japanese Go game. A gentleman in San Diego taught me how to play Go on a cruise across the Panama Canal. He mentions that I can play with the other on the internet or even with a computer. Now I know that is also a computer game. I am no longer that hostile toward the computer game any longer after his explanation.

I am very fortunate to have him as my son. Amy asks me frequently if I have a chat with him because that he is considered a lonely and introverted person, yet he is a well learned person. He knows what his limit is and very satisfied with what he has had now. I have made up my mind ever since his birth that I will help him to have a happy life.