Prometheus definitely stood out.
If they can do what they advertise, states could start implementing carbon taxes per gallon on the current gasoline to make the 'CO2 neutral' gas the same price or less.
Agreed. I worked at Sears in college (~15 years ago) loading dock/warehouse. It was a great job at the time. Good pay, plenty of hours, and generally good managers. The downfall of Sears had very little to do with wages, but Amazon crushing all brick and mortar stores.
We were dependent on foot traffic, and sales flyers in the Sunday paper - things that don't do much today.
Would it make sense to combine California's ability to produce solar and need for water? Build solar plants that run during the day that power desalination plants that fill reservoirs in the western mountainous area which then releases the water at night downhill to the main canal system while turning turbines on it's journey?
A fine isn't going to hurt Wells, especially when it's about two weeks worth of profit.
If you want to teach a bank a lesson, you have to hit their business model. If after a fraud is uncovered regulators instituted restrictions to account openings instead of fines, you would see change. For example, if Wells wasn't allowed to open a new account - of any kind - for six months they would start to lose customers - and bankers - to institutions without restrictions. That would change the industry.
When I was working as an accountant, computers were depreciated with a three year life. It's important to understand that an assets useful life often exceeds it's depreciation schedule. If an asset is sold after it's fully depreciated, it's just recorded as a gain.
Not an issue of supply, just regulation. It's significantly more difficult to start a bank today than 5-10 years ago but not impossible. Provisions in Dodd-Frank actually insulate current banks while raising the standards to start a bank.
Also - charters are issued at the state level, but not without the blessing from the Fed/FDIC.
Founder/CEO - TrustEgg - We eliminate the minimums. To open a Vanguard 'Wellington Fund' account - you would need $3,000.
Also when purchasing, or making a trade, you are usually going to pay a fee.
Founder/CEO - TrustEgg - Most financial institutions are based out of a few select states, Nevada being one. Similar to every company being formed in Delaware.
Founder/CEO TrustEgg - For most families the only option they have, or are using right now, are savings accounts which over time will lose to inflation. We offer a way for accounts to receive a market rate of return.
As for pricing, an adviser based 529 plan is going to add an additional 1% to the management fee, or ~6% load on deposits.
Founder/CEO TrustEgg - The deposits are held at an established Trust Co. (Summit Trust Co. of Nevada)and if something were to happen to Summit or TrustEgg, the accounts would be transferred to another Trust Co. under the supervision of the State Department of Financial Institutions.
TrustEgg Founder/CEO - You can set-up your own UTMA, but you would need to be the custodian. If you have a third party custodian (what we offer) then the price increases. We also have no minimums, which keeps many people from starting an account. TrustEgg also brings in friends and family to make contributions.
TrustEgg makes everything easy. As for price, if you have an adivser based 529 plan, you will pay an extra 1% on top of the mangement fees, or a load of around 6%.
TrustEgg Founder - If TrustEgg were to fail, the accounts would be transferred to a different Trust Co in coordination with the State Division of Financial institutions.
I think the point is inflation increases the money supply, while debt remains the same. Individuals make more money with less buying power, but can pay off debt easier.
Jeff - Founder/CEO - In the beginning we will only be able to accept deposits from a bank account. Taking on other assets would require more infrastructure and cost.
We hope to expand and offer more trust products as we grow.
Jeff - Founder/CEO - A TrustEgg account is a UTMA. TrustEgg is the custodian and we will provide the infrastructure for parents and other family members to make easy transfers into the account - both one time and recurring deposits.
Jeff - Founder/CEO A UTMA can be used for non-education expenses without a penalty.
Gains, to an extent, on the account can also be offset by the kiddie tax exemption. We will be providing the education and tools to explain this and make it as easy as possible.
A family could also pair a 529 plan and a TrustEgg account to save.
Jeff - Founder/CEO It does reduce financial aid, but only 20% of the child's assets are included.
TrustEgg assets also don't have to be used for education, while a 529 plan would assess a 10% penalty for non-education withdrawals.
Having the assets in the child's name also protects the assets from the parents, and parents creditors, which is necessary when taking deposits from other family members.
Jeff - CEO/Founder - The tax advantage is for the income earned on the investment. The kiddie tax exemption eliminates the the first $950 of unearned income.
As long as deposits are less than $13,000 per parent/grandparent each year there are no tax issues for them either.
Jeff CEO/Founder - We will be disclosing all fees, which as a financial institution we would be required to do anyway. We also aren't charging any upfront fees or 'loads'.
Jeff - Founder/CEO - This is exactly what we want to do. Most parents we've talked to have made the same comment. Saving for a child's future should be easy, and involving the child's family/social network is our goal.
Jeff - Founder/CEO - A trust is protected and in the child's name. Can't be touched by parents or the parents creditors. We also let you take advantage of the Kiddie Tax exemption. There are also no minimums. We offer access and ease.