Archive for March, 2009

Nathan Petrelli may have a lot of issues, personal and public, but money is not one of them. Nathan Petrelli, of “Heroes,” was born in the lap of luxury. He is a complex man with fine taste and a string of women and financial obligations from his past. He tries to do what he thinks is right, and his family money has enabled him to do so.

Public Service

As a lawyer, Nathan Petrelli was able to fill his deep need to deliver justice and make the world a better place. As a prosecuting attorney, he potentially earned about 25 percent less than he could have as a private practice attorney. He could have earned $125,000 or $140,000 as a patent prosecutor, protecting The Company’s formula. Neither of those would have been the right stepping stone for public office.

Nathan Petrelli has been able to follow a carefully constructed education and career path, from military service to public service, with an eye on the White House. Unlike the average person, he was never concerned with how to pay for college and law school. He probably used his parent’s credit cards to live a high-flying lifestyle while in college.

Family and Child Support

A man like Nathan Petrelli, who comes from a moneyed family, never seems to fret about the cost of anything, despite the fact that he has been the subject of blackmail.

The departure of Petrelli’s once-disabled wife and his two children has only been implied. Based solely on Nathan Petrelli’s salary as a U.S. Senator, he could be paying, at minimum a monthly child support of $3,646. The amount could be even higher if his net worth was included and higher still if he was paying alimony.

New York to Washington, D.C.

Charge It!
His Martin Dingman wallet (retail price $395) is stocked with platinum credit cards with no limits, which he needs for his lifestyle. This increase in disposable income will help keep Nathan Petrelli happy in his indulgences: fine clothing, fine women and exquisite hotel rooms for trysts.

By moving from New York City to Washington, D.C., to assume his place in Congress, with a $174,000 annual salary, the current salary for a Senator, Nathan Petrelli actually increased his spending power. His disposable income increased to $4,784 with the move, according to Salary.com.

Add to that an additional salary of $100,000 for his Director of Homeland Security position, and Nathan would certainly not be struggling to meet expenses. While Nathan Petrelli would probably be happy to work in this position without being paid, because the power might be compensation enough, he still has spiffy bachelor lifestyle to maintain.

He also needs to stay in style new suits and his closets are most likely stocked with the latest Bottega Veneta ($3,800), Canali ($4,200) and Giorgio Armani ($3,595) suits. Nathan Petrelli does not seem like a cash sort of guy, as all those bills could way him down when he needs to fly. A quick swipe of his credit card, and he can walk out with a month’s worth of new suits.

Nathan Petrelli’s Retirement

If Nathan Petrelli is lucky enough to escape fate and actually live long enough to retire, he won’t have to worry much about his daily living expenses. He can continue to travel at will, wearing down the strips on his credit cards. With a substantial inheritance and government retirement pension ($35,952 to $60,972) he will be more than comfortable. Nathan should receive at least some retirement money from his time in the Navy, which will be the smallest portion of his expected retirement nest egg.

The Petrelli fortune has allowed Nathan to live the life he has without much concern for how his bills and credit cards get paid on time each month.

Pam Gaulin

Anyone who loves redneck humor simply has to be a fan of NBC’s hit comedy “My Name is Earl.” The show’s protagonist, a reformed ne’er-do-well named Earl Hickey, has spent the last four seasons using his lottery winnings to support himself and his brother while making up for all of the bad things he’s ever done. Not surprisingly, they’ve got a lot to make up for!

If the idea of a former criminal making amends weren’t farfetched enough, consider the money angle. Earl won a $100,000 lottery jackpot in the show’s pilot episode. He and his brother have been living off this money ever since. Now, Camden is a tiny town, where the cost of living is low, but realistically, how far could that money possibly go?

Taxes on a $100,000 jackpot would probably be around 40 percent, leaving Earl with $60,000. He and his brother rent a single room in a sleazy motel, which probably costs them no more than $30 a night, but that really adds up - $30 a night for a year is $10,950. Four years of hotel bills would be $43,800, which is most of his winnings right there, even if you don’t count the year he spent in the slammer!

Earl’s generosity is countered by his lack of necessities. His wardrobe is rarely expanded—or washed, for that matter—and his personal hygiene requires no product, hair care or otherwise. Earl doesn’t spend much on himself, but he is frequently generous with his brother, ex-wife and children.

Earl’s 73 El Camino is quite a workhorse, taking a beating and requiring few repairs. Thought his quest for redemption takes him on few long road trips, he still has to pay for gas. (Insurance, however, is “optional”.) Food is another big expense, especially since he doesn’t have a kitchen, and his brother is a big eater—if Earl has a credit card, the local McDonald’s probably has its number on file.

Earl spares no expense when it comes to righting the wrongs he has committed. And making amends is expensive too; Earl has bought cars for friends, thrown parties and proms, replaced stolen items and more. But just as his karma fund was drying up, his evil third ex-wife—in a fit of Amish purity—gave him another $72,000 to spend on his list.

“My Name is Earl”  is a charming show, despite the unrealistic financial premise. Hopefully, Earl will win another lotto jackpot somewhere down the line to pay off his credit card bills, keep his creditors at bay and keep the show going!

Lindsay Woodland

Allison DuBois stirs up controversy in the NBC TV series “Medium” as a consultant to various police detectives, helping to solve crimes. She mostly helps out D.A. Devalos, but there are others as well. What’s so controversial about DuBois is the fact that her detective skills come in the form of dreams. She is a medium, possessing the ability to envision crime scenes from the past and future, envision the thoughts of others, as well as communicate with the dead. At first, only those whom she works with know her secret. As the series progresses, the public eventually becomes aware. This is where her job gets tougher.

Family Life for Allison DuBois

Outside of her career as a psychic consultant, Allison has a loving husband and three daughters. Her husband Joe is an aerospace engineer. They live in Phoenix, Arizona, where the median price of a home is $164,000. When the two are not working, they spend a great deal of time together, as well as with their three children. The family enjoys their time together, but is not seen spending extravagant amounts of money.

The Family Budget

Credit Card Stash?
Even with some savings, Allison may have had a good stash of credit cards to keep the family going during that time when Joe was unemployed. For times of uncertainty, the best choice would be a low interest credit card. Many cards have a 0% interest rate for a 6 - 12 month introductory period. But resorting to credit cards to maintain a lifestyle is a bad idea.

The median income for a Phoenix psychic is around $53,000. A Phoenix aerospace engineer would make about $79,000. Combined, the two would average around $132,000 per year. For some, that would seem a comfortable financial level. But, factor in the cost of raising children and the price of a mortgage, as well as monthly bills, and $132,000 may not be as much as it sounds. However, it seems that the DuBois family is very good at budgeting.

It is only when Joe is without work for a short time that the family struggles with some financial burden. They make do with what they have for a while before Joe regains employment, which suggests some very good budgeting or that there may be some savings available or credit card usage going on. Being that Joe’s income is the highest, any time he is not working, the financial strain would be quite significant. A family of five used to spending a certain way would certainly be in trouble, losing over half of the annual income, even for a short time.

There also was a short period of time, after her secret went public, where she was unemployed. If she chose the credit card way, which is often the American way, that would mean that the family is dealing with credit card bills from that time, which could add a great deal to monthly bills, depending on how many credit cards the family had to resort to using. It also is possible that interest rates could be high, depending on the family’s credit score. Since the family is not very extravagant where spending is concerned, they may be able to pull off keeping those bills up to date, while also maintaining the household.

Momie Tullottes

The Dr. Sheldon Cooper Variable

Paris Hilton is said to receive hundreds of thousands of dollars just to show up at a party event. So how much does certified genius Dr. Sheldon Cooper, a theoretical physicist with a Master’s and two PhDs make on CBS’s “The Big Bang Theory“? Gotta be at least twice or three times as much as the heiress with a prison record, yes? It is important to remember that Sheldon is currently part of the vast educational system in America, but despite being at the top rung of that ladder, he is still part of the educational system in America. No wonder that a man with two PhDs is forced to find a roommate to share expenses despite being almost preternaturally anally retentive in regard to handling his finances.

The Genius Conduction

Dr. Sheldon Cooper is currently teaching theoretical physics, as well as engaging in continual research into string theory, all after going directly from the fifth grade into college. He began his graduate work when he was 14 and received his very first PhD just two years later. Interestingly, the year before he received that PhD, he spent time in Germany as a visiting professor. The upshot is that Sheldon Cooper is a genius and is hardly representative of the typical American, and if he lived in a bizarro America that might exist in one of his many comic books, he could better enjoy the benefits of an America where brains and hard work are rewarded over good looks and personality. The future may bring a taste of that bizarro world, however, because Cooper appears to have a track toward one day winning the Nobel Prize. Currently, the monetary reward for winning is one million dollars and that amount should definitely have risen by the time Cooper wins a Nobel.

The Financial Exclusion Principle

The estimated yearly income for a theoretical physicist/college professor is $65,000. Despite the fact that he shares an apartment with another PhD who teaches at the same college, Sheldon lives in a rather pedestrian apartment building where the elevator has been out of service for two years. The lack of living quarters appropriately analogous to his earnings is coincident with his lack of a car. Cooper also saves money by rejecting the influence of the fashionistas. He is almost always seen wearing retro T-shirts and plaid paints, with at least one pair which was bought by his mother. The brilliance of Cooper’s economic status is, in fact, a persistent and predictable rejection of the influence of consumerism, except in regards to the vagaries of geek-dom: Cooper owns a large collection of comic books, a state of the art laptop computer, sci-fi and comic book memorabilia and both an X-Box and Nintendo Wii console.

The Savings Equilibrium

Perhaps because he is a genius, or perhaps because he rejects the concept of buying what he doesn’t need with credit cards, Dr. Cooper would be an ideal candidate for any kind of credit extension. He knows exactly how much of his after-tax income is spent on expenses — 46.9 percent. That means his disposable income is over half of his entire taxable income. Wow, Sheldon Cooper really must be some kind of genius. Of course, that would not explain why he keeps a wad of emergency cash stuck in a Green Lantern collectible figurine. Then again, it is said that Paris Hilton keeps an emergency wad stuck somewhere just as ridiculous, so who’s to say what makes one a genius.

Timothy Sexton

A credit card’s design isn’t necessarily the most important factor when deciding what type of credit card to apply for, but a unique and attractive credit card is bound to get some attention at your next shopping adventure, business luncheon or night on the town.

Credit card companies are freshening up some of their top cards this season to unveil a lineup of stylish, personalized credit cards that do double duty as a payment option and a fashion accessory. Take your pick from any of these top credit card designs for Spring 2009.

Credit Card Design No. 5: EXACT Prepaid Card

Simplistic and minimalist style is the best way to describe the EXACT Prepaid card, a silver and gray card with black accents and a colorful logo on the front. The card is a versatile pick for 2009, but is under-designed; you won’t find any special features or unique accents with this one.

Credit Card Design No. 4: Discover Motiva

Spring 2009’s most fashionable colors are purple and orange, and the Discover Motiva card may be a good way to flaunt the trend. The card is designed in rich, royal purple with orange accents, complete with a contemporary swirl and dot background. It’s an attractive and stylish way to make the most of Discover’s cash back bonus — especially if the card matches your purse.

Credit Card Design No. 3: Baby Phat

If you’re a self-professed fashionista who loves to show off her playful side, pick up some Baby Phat plastic, a personalized credit card designed with the famous feline logo. It’s the card that ranks high on the celeb factor and is sure to be a talking point at the register. Plus, it’s pink.

Credit Card Design No. 2: Blue from Amex

It’s an American classic with a signature semi-transparent card face to give you that edgy, techie, futuristic feel. The Blue from American Express credit card is designed with a built-in smart chip that keeps track of all your spending habits and earns you rewards on every swipe. The Blue’s mesmerizing swirl design and sleek silver trim make this one a truly distinctive card.

Credit Card Design No. 1: Visa Black

Holding this exclusive card gives you a chance to enjoy 24-hour concierge services, priority access at airport lounges, and to shop at some of the world’s finest luxury boutiques and outlets. The Visa Black card is made with carbon graphite materials and designed with chic, 007-inspired black and silver accents. The ultimate in personalized credit cards, this one is designed to be shown off and to give you the opportunity to enjoy the luxurious lifestyle.

Sabah Karimi

British actor Damian Lewis portrays calm, serene-faced Charlie Crews, the fruit-loving unconventional LAPD detective in NBC’s critically acclaimed drama series “Life.” Framed for a triple homicide he did not commit, Detective Crews discovers the “Way of Zen” while serving 12 years of a life sentence.

Credit Where Credit is Due

Charlie credits Zen for saving his life, but credit should go to Constance Griffiths, his lovely and talented public defender. She reopened his case and provided Charlie with his second chance at life. Constance won his exoneration plea and defended him pro bono in a successful, $50-million lawsuit against the Los Angeles Police Department and the City of Los Angeles.

Big Bucks, Big House, Big Impulse Purchase

Blinded by newfound wealth and freedom, Charlie is like a little kid in a candy store. Given enough cash or credit cards, he might have bought anything. His attorney helps him shop for a house, and he impulsively buys the first one he sees –big, new and empty.

Charlie might have checked the Los Angeles Times Home Finder. It reveals a wide variety of homes suited to wealthy, credit-worthy home buyers like Charlie. An eight-bedroom country style English Tudor in Bel Air is listed at $10 million. With qualifying credit and $2,000,000 down, Charlie could have purchased this lovely home at a 6.28-percent interest rate with a 30-year mortgage. Monthly payments would run about $49,413. This doesn’t include property taxes and insurance.

He still needs to figure in the cost of monthly utilities, home maintenance and repairs. Charlie probably paid cash for his home. If not, with monthly expenditures like these, he will certainly need wise investment choices to keep up with ongoing home expenses.

Salary, Stable and Steady

Driven to find who framed him for the triple homicide, Charlie settles into his new life as a police detective with his newly assigned female partner, Detective Dani Reese. His job provides him with purpose, stability, a steady income and the opportunity to secretly continue investigating his own unsolved case.

Charlie’s police detective’s wages are above average and while unable to pay for a millionaire’s mansion, they do afford him his daily fresh fruit fix. According to The City of Los Angeles’s Personnel Department, the annual salary for a L.A. police detective ranges from $72,391 to $100,328. Since Charlie doesn’t discuss money or credit much, we are left to speculate how much he actually makes as he gives us a charismatic smile and bites into another big, juicy red apple.

Cash, Credit Cards and Car

Charlie’s large new home was purchased empty, and for the most part, Charlie keeps it that way. You never see him using credit cards to buy himself a house full of furniture or artwork. Bare floors and walls are no concern. But he does buy a couple of nice new suits and a new car. Charlie could certainly exclaim, “It’s nice to be rich!”

With a new appreciation of life, speeding down the road in his brand new, black Bentley, Charlie repeatedly chants, “I’m not attached to this car,” but later, undeniably proclaims otherwise. The Bentley not only looks expensive, it is. Charlie’s dream car has a base price of around $330,000 before taxes, title, license and a $4,500 gas-guzzler tax. The estimated annual fuel costs for this car alone would run Charlie around $4,000. And don’t forget the added expense of vehicle insurance.

But with plenty of money, acquiring insurance and new gasoline credit cards should be no problem. Charlie goes to see a doctor and a dentist. As a member of the LAPD with benefits, health care access is not an issue. His insurance card or platinum credit card will open the door to any medical facility.

Finances, Felons and Friends

Charlie soon finds his former cellmate, Ted Earley, newly released from prison after spending two years for embezzling millions in pension funds. Ted had been a widely successful financier before getting caught and sent to prison. Charlie knows that deep down Ted is not a bad guy, so he offers him a room above his garage and a job investing his money.

Ted is loyal to Charlie, but trusting millions to someone convicted of embezzlement may not be such a smart idea. Then again, Charlie feels getting too attached to money isn’t such a bright idea, either.

A Bright Investment

And speaking of bright ideas, Charlie has a dream about light. He decides he should buy a solar farm. Investment-conscious Ted advises him against it, saying it won’t turn a very huge profit. But ever Zen-minded Charlie doesn’t care. He is more interested in helping restore harmony on the planet than making money, flaunting his wealth or having a wallet full of credit cards.

Curious how much a solar farm cost?

A proposed 8-megawatt solar farm capable of powering more than 2,600 homes along the Front Range and other parts of Colorado was billed the largest electric farm in Colorado. SunEdison estimated its cost at $60 million. Charlie better think smaller here. Even his millions wouldn’t be enough to purchase a solar farm this large. However, wind and solar energy may be wise investment choices, especially with government tax incentives for “green” technology.

Financial Forecast for Charlie’s Future

Charlie Crews sees the world differently than the rest of us. He survived through years of darkness in prison. His world lacks social pretense and neither his police badge nor newfound wealth, can change that. Empowered by this knowledge of Zen teaching, Detective Charlie Crews will never stop trying to find the light.

Except for sudden impulse spending, Charlie is a fairly frugal guy. He needs to work out a more realistic budget based on income from his salary and investments. Managing millions is not easy, and his nonchalant attitude toward money may one day leave him bankrupt. Yet, somehow even then, we are left to believe he would leave the world a much richer place.

Rebecca Wrenn