Indianapolis Recorder, Indianapolis, Marion County, 14 October 2005 — Page 28
PAGE D2
THE INDIANAPOLIS RECORDER
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2005
REALTORS
Ruth Beaver, Broker/Realtor 843-3535 Direct 216-8308 V.M. www.GetHomeSmart.com
KELLER W1LUAM8 REALTY
COLOILCLL
FRED SMITH, Realtor (317) 803-4554 DIRECT f
(317)803-4601 FAX
THE PREMIER GROUP 6612 E. 75711 ST, STE. 110 • INDPLS, IN 46250 WEBSITE: www.coldwellindy.com
Fred Hyche, Broker/Realtor (317) 547-8514-Office 'ealty New & Existing Homes-Commerical-Churches Access Realty Group, Inc. 7140 E. 46th St, Ste. 100, Indpls, IN 46226 vvvvvv.AccessRealtyTeam.com
if^ LifeStyle
Realty Group - '
Monica L. Acoff, Broker/Realtor 6045 N. Michigan Rd. Indpls, IN 46228 “It’s your lifestyle....you choose, we
listen & open doors”
Office: 317-722-2000 Fax: 317-722-2001
www.chooselifestvle.com
no uo og CTn
-i 3
This Could Be Your Ad! 0011924-5143
PROFESSIONAL SERVICES
ATTORNEY
SANDY LEVITICUS BRYANT 244 North College Ave Phone (317) 464-1463 Fax (317) 639-3318 'Auto-T ruck-Motorcyde Accidents ’Slip & Fall Accidents ’Wrongful Death Actions ’Wills & Estates
AUTO REPAIRS MAINTENANCE
plflcli Jforcsit jTlotors
AUTOMOTIVE PARTS & SERVICE 3520 N. Shadeland Ave. 317-546-6776 IMPORT SPECIALIST: Mercedes, BMW, Volvo, SAAB, Audi, Porche.Volksvragon, Japanese Imports A BOSCH Aulhorail Service Center and ASAMMEAulomtiw Group Enterprise: [email protected]
CHIROPRACTOR
PYNKERTON CHIROPRACTIC GROUP P. Dion Newton, D.C.
S'
317-257-7463* Fax 317-255-0758
2102 East 52nd Street • Indpls, IN 46205 www.pynkerton.com
COUNSELING & CONSULTING
DR. JACQUALYN F. GREEN Marriage and Family Counseling, Diversity and Leadership Consulting 4755 Kingsway Dr. Ste. 300 Hours By Appointment (317) 257-6773
Homebuying Program
Attention! Act Now!!
Want to own a home but credit issues are holding you back? We have helped many buy wonderful homes through our unique program! Call today for a free consultation! Bankruptcies, foreclosures, slow credit, no credit welcome: 570-1969
We provide Cash Advances For Pending Lawsuit Settlements! Advanced Funding Group (317) 594-0023 We can get money to you fast usually within 5 days
MORTGAGE
Buy A Home Sell A Home Refinance Consolidate Debt Stop Foreclosure (Ve Can Help! 317-373-4806 MidWest Funding Bancorp www.mwfmortgage.com Jocelyn-Tandy Adande, Notary Public Branch Manager 3833 N. Meridian St. Ste. 317 Residental, FHA/VA Commerical and Church Financing Slow Credit Or Bankruptcy OK Tel: (317) 925-5969 Fax: (317) 925-0503 Indiana Mortgage Banker and Broker
WEIGHT MANAGEMENT
PYNKERTON WEIGHT MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS
Roger Newton M.D.
317-257-7463 • Fax 317-255-0758 2102 East 52nd St. • Indpls, IN. 46205
FRUTA VIDA Acai Berry, A key ingredient For More info regarding weight loss call 317-290-7954 a Free to join M www.frutavida4u.com/ mbqenterprise
YOUR AD COULD BE HERE For More Information Call 924-5143
A NEWSPAPER. 2901 N.TacomaAve.*Indianapolis,In46218•Telephone: 317.924.5143
YOUR MONEY MAHERS Saving [or rhe college dream
By MICHAEL G. SHINN For the Recorder
African Americans have long viewed education as the path to freedom and the road to the American dream. “African Americans are saving as much or even more for education than whites,” according to the 2000 Ariel Mutual Funds/Charles Schwab & Co. Black Investor Survey of high-income families. In addition, “more African Americans than whites cite education as the key to financial success.” The payoff is that college graduates earn 80 percent more than high school graduates. However, according to the College Board, the average cost of a four-year college education ranges from $50,000 at a public school to $100,000 at a private college and is rising at a 5 percent to 8 percent annual clip. How can most families afford it?
Independent 529 Plan There is a number of college saving plans available. Independent 529 Plan (1-529) is one of the newer options and was launched in September 2003 by a consortium of private colleges. 1-529 is the first national prepaid tuition program that enables families to save for private higher education. Students can choose from over 250 private colleges, including Historically Black Colleges such as Dillard, Spelman, and Clark Atlanta. Just after its launch, BusinessWeek named Independent 529 Plan a “Best Product of 2003.” Similarly, CNN Money, in September 2003, reported
to parents of college-bound kids that Independent 529 Plan may be “the best option yet for stretching your college cash.” How 1-529 works 1-529 is a prepaid tuition plan that enables the parent to lock in future tuition costs at less than today’s prices. Purchasers are actually buying a percentage of college tuition at the current rate. Funds deposited are guaranteed by participating colleges to represent a fixed percentage of their tuition no matter how much tuition may increase in the future. Basically investment risk and tuition inflation risk are transferred from the family to the participating colleges. For example, if a parent pays $5,000 of a current $10,000 tuition rate, that parent has bought 50 percent of the annual tuition. In 15 years, if the tuition has risen to $30,000, the student receives a tuition credit of $15,000 from 1-529. In addition, 1-529 provides a certificate discount that reduces the purchase of future tuition to less than current prices. If used at a participating private college, the plan offers both freedom from tuition inflation and investment risk. Additionally, the increase in benefit value is tax-free and 1-529 charges no sales, application or maintenance fees. 1-529 disadvantages There are some disadvantages to 1-529. First, the child may not choose a participating college from the list or may not choose to attend college at all. Plan assets maybe rolled over into a 529 savings plan,* which can be used at any college in the country. Funds that are transferred out of 1-529 are subject to a 2 percent annual cap on investment
returns or losses, which is not a significant return. Additionally, if the child does not use the tuition certificate, the parent can change the designated beneficiary to a different family member, (as defined by the federal 529 rules). Another disadvantage of 1-529 is the negative impact it may have on financial aid eligibility. Because 1-529 prepaid tuition proceeds are generally regarded as an immediately expendable student resource, the account value will most likely be subtracted from the child’s financial aid awards. A college education is a major family investment, which can pay significant dividends during the working life of an individual. Independent 529 Plan offers important investment, tax and inflation protection opportunities. Two Web sites that provide more detailed information are: www.BlackAmericaWeb.com and www.BlackWealthNetwork.com. investors should consider their investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses associated with municipal fund securities before investing. This information is found in the issuer’s official statement and should be read carefully before investing. Before investing, investors should consider whether the investor’s or beneficiary’s home state offers any state tax or other benefits available only from that state’s 529 Plan. Michael G. Shinn, CFP, registered representative and advisory associate of and securities offered through Financial Network Investment Corp., member SIPC. Visit www.shinnfinancial.com for more information or to send your comments or questions to [email protected].
Seniors warned of possible fraudulent prescription drug plans
Special to the Recorder
The Indiana Attorney General’s office has alerted senior citizens that Medicare prescription drug coverage plans can market their products to the more than 922,000 Indiana Medicare recipients, which began Oct. 1. Seniors are being told to be aware of certain marketing rules, including a prohibition of enrollment prior to Nov. 15. “Seniors will begin hearing a lot more about Medicare prescription drug plans and they should be cautious if confronted with overzealous or unscrupulous sales tactics,” said Attorney General Steve Carter. “Don’ttake someone’s word for granted if they claim to represent a “Medicare approved” company; always double check to ensure the company is legitimate.” In order to protect themselves from fraud and potential identity theft, Medicare beneficiaries should familiarize themselves with certain guidelines and rules. Government approved prescription drug coverage
plans will have a “Medicare Approved” seal on their materials. People who are legitimately working with Medicare cannot make door-to-door sales calls or send solicited e-mails; however they can call people about a plan as long as they follow the state’s Do Not Call law. Medicare recipients should not give out personal information (such as Social Security numbers, bank account numbers, and credit card numbers) to plan representatives, because plans are not allowed to request such personal information in their marketing activities. A Medicare provider is also prohibited from enrolling consumers into a drug coverage plan or from asking consumers to pay for a drug plan over the phone unless the consumer is adding prescription drug coverage to a Medicare Advantage Plan or other Medicare health plan already in place. Medicare providers won’t ask for payment over the Internet, rather they are required to send a bill if a consumer enrolls online. The new prescription drug
coverage is effective January 2006 and is available to all Medicare participants regardless of their financial status. Low income seniors will receive extended benefits, but the average Medicare participant will receive a minimum of$l,200to $1,400 benefit to their prescription drug cost. “The bottom line is that a program like this is bound to attract con artists who will find ways to trick the public,” Carter added. “The more we can spread the word about the possibility of fraud, the more we can help people avoid becoming victims.” Consumers should be aware the Social Security Administration (SSA) has contracted with NCS Pearson Inc. and its partner, West Corporation, to conduct follow-up telephone calls to individuals who have not responded to its mass mailing of low-income subsidy forms for the upcoming Medicare prescription drug benefit. When these calls are made, the callers will clearly identify themselves as employees of NCS Pearson and the West
Corporation calling on behalf of the Social Security Administration. The vendor will follow a closely monitored script designed to remind individuals about the importance of completing and mailing the application back to Social Security if the individual is interested in filing. The vendor will not ask for any personal information such as Social Security numbers, dates of birth, income or resource information, etc. If a Medicare beneficiary receives a call from someone claiming to be a Social Security employee and is at all suspicious, they should: • Ask the caller fortheir name and telephone number to call them back. • Hang up and call Social Security immediately at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) to confirm that the call is legitimate. Additional information about the Medicare prescription drug plans is available for beneficiaries at www. medicare.gov or by calling 1-800-MEDICARE.
Preparing a conscious community today and beyond
LINK UP ► Continued from D1 reason. These programs can make all the difference in getting people connected and keeping them connected,” Swinger said. Infinite Incorporated, a minority owned marketing communications agency, is spearheading the grassroots portion of TAP. The group has engaged the community via weekend canvassing efforts, retail partnerships and community focus meetings in Marion and Lake counties. “People appreciate that we are bringing resourceful information to them,” said Tysha Hardy-Sellers, Infinite’s CEO. “Our canvassing teams are receiving good feedback from the people they meet in various neighborhoods. They are asking for more information and passing it on to others who need it. We are also working with a number of faith-based, community-based and social organizations to get the word out. Resources are available; we just need to make sure that as a community we do our best to help people access them.” Getting connected through Link-Up and staying connected through Lifeline is as simple as filling out a one-page application and send-
ing it to your local phone company. When consumers call their local phone company to request an application, the OUCC advises they should specifically mention “Lifeline/LinkUp” and also ask if the company requires any proof of eligibility, such as a photocopy of a document showing your participation in one of the qualifying programs. The one-page application is also available atthe OUCC Web site, www.openlines.IN.gov, or by calling the OUCC consumer services staff at (317) 232-2494. Consumers can also receive applications from the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission’s consumer affairs division at (317) 232-2700. Completed applications must be sent directly to local telephone companies; the OUCC cannot process them or determine eligibility. However, the agency can provide blank applications for consumers to fill out. Upon request, the agency can also provide applications in bulk to community groups, churches and other organizations that may know people who qualify.
par.F a n?
TVAM MAr.FMTA
Rl AGK