【福布斯 20120211】彩票中奖后马上要做的十件事
【中文标题】彩票中奖后马上要做的十件事
【原文标题】10 Things To Do When You Win The Lottery
【登载媒体】福布斯
【原文作者】Deborah L. Jacobs
【原文链接】http://www.forbes.com/sites/deborahljacobs/2012/02/11/10-things-to-do-when-you-win-the-powerball/
http://blogs-images.forbes.com/deborahljacobs/files/2012/02/0210_woman-money-lottery-winner_400x4001-300x300.jpg
超级百万的摇奖池已经积累到5.4亿美元了。如果你在明天晚上幸运中奖，那么你就永远不用为钱操心了，对吗？
错！
如果有良好的理财习惯，你和你的后代可以体面地生活很多很多年。但是，从你兑奖的那一刻起，会有很多不知道从哪里冒出来的人向你索取慷慨的资助。如果你现在还没有良好的理财习惯，你将很快成为自己的敌人，大量的钱财将被挥霍一空。
从现在到直播抽奖那一刻起，你要做的第一件事就是在彩票背面签名。纽约彩票中心的发言人Carolyn Hapeman说，彩票就是一份不记名证券，也就是说无论是谁在彩票背面签字，并且出示带有照片的身份证明，就可以领奖。那么，如果你没有签名的彩票在等公交车时被风吹走，或者你在酒吧里给一个朋友看，走的时候又忘拿了，就等于你放弃了一切机会。
这里有一些方法可以帮助你回避未来的风险，其中大部分对收到意外横财的人都有很好的效果，比如财产继承和公司出售。
1，如果当地政策允许，匿名领奖。一旦人们知道你一夜暴富，就会有无数不知名的人来向你索取，从慈善机构到久未联络的朋友到亲戚，更不用说那些争着为你理财的“金融专家”了。所以，查查当地的政策，看看是否可以通过保持匿名来回避这些骚扰。
尽管强力球是美国全国性彩票，但获奖人的身份政策在各州不尽相同。例如在纽约，获奖人的姓名必须公开。缅因州会计师事务所的Beth C. Gamel说，在其它地方，或许可以通过成立一家信托公司，或者有限责任公司来领奖，从而保持匿名。Gamel的一个客户在中奖后就这样做过，通过一名代表信托公司的律师领奖。
你有足够的时间来策划这些方案——所有的州都规定抽奖日起一年内可以领奖。所以，查清当地的政策，思考应对方案。
2，兑奖前咨询税务专家。纽约一位金融专家Michael A. Kirsh说，你可以选择一次性兑取所有奖金，也可以以年金形式分30年支取。如果一次性兑取，你必须缴纳全部税款。如果按年金支取，你在每次收到奖金时才需要缴税。那些没有良好消费习惯的人最好选择年金方式，但这种方式也有缺陷。Kirsh指出，你需要把年金的收益率与一次性领奖并支付税款的投资收益相比较。
Kirsh说，选择年金方式另外一个要考虑的问题是，如果你在30年内死去，你的家人是否要缴纳遗产税。为了避免这样的问题，人们通常会购买人寿险来承担遗产税。
你需要在确认中奖后60天内做出支取方式的决定。在这段时间里，多咨询一些人，仔细研究这些数字，确定哪种方式更适合你。
3，不要突然改变生活方式。拿到奖金的6个月之内，不要做任何疯狂的事情，比如辞职、购买豪宅和名车。而是先要把固定一部分钱存起来，当然你也可以多一些消费来庆祝你的意外之财。
加利福尼亚的金融专家Guerdon Ely说，要把绝大部分钱留给今后。例如你可以先租下有意购买的房屋，而不要承诺购买。如果需要一辆新车，你可以先买一辆经济型的。
4，还清你的债务。就像我在另外一篇文章《我听到的最好投资建议》中写道的，偿还债务是最好的投资方式。无论是信用卡债务还是房屋抵押贷款，你投资的收益率都不会高于贷款利率。目前，相对安全的投资方式——例如可转让大额定期存单和珠宝——收益率极低，因此更要优先还债。你每偿还1美元债务，就少欠1美元。而你如果投资1美元，你甚至不能保证它会增值还是会缩水。
5，组建一支法律和金融咨询团队。Ely说，在这种情况下，你很难看清“谁在帮助你，谁在利用你”。与其聘请一支由别人为你拼凑的咨询小组，还不如亲自挑选律师、财务和投资顾问，并要求他们通力合作。
在讨论你的问题之前，仔细审查每一个顾问。到金融业管理局去检索中间人的记录，也可以到地方纪律检查委员会调查律师和保险中介是否有任何投诉记录。
如果你住在一个小城镇中，不希望当地的律师知道你的现状，那么就去临近大城市找一个专业人士。可以到martindale.com上看看，那里可以按照地区和专业来检索全国律师名录。在美国信托财产咨询网站上，也可以找到相关的律师。
实际上，你所组建的这个团队就是你的董事会成员。你可以先找一个付费顾问，制定出一个长期的理财方案，然后请团队提出建议。一旦你做出决定，他们之间就可以相互制衡。你可以请一个人担当总指挥的觉得，协调整个团队的力量。那个人有时也会扮演“坏人”，比如拒绝某些人和组织向你的索取。
6，谨慎投资。Ely建议，在刚开始的6个月里，把钱投入一个短期、安全的金融产品，然后就不要动。之后，请你的顾问把投资平均放在股票和固定收益产品中（比如债券）。千万不要投资你不熟悉或者看起来好得不正常的产品。
7，先预算后消费。尤其是当你没见过这么多钱时，必须要有一些原则来保护你的金钱不被浪费。简单的一个方法是不要触动本金。弗吉尼亚州里士满McGuireWoods的律师Dennis I. Belcher说，尤其在当今的投资市场中，“想要盈利，需要庞大的本金。一旦你开始消费本金，很快就会一无所获。”
8，设法保护自己。身负巨额资产的人必须保卫自己的财产不受债权人掠夺。这些人包括不满的配偶、前妻/夫和那些起诉你并获胜的人。如果人们觉得你有的是钱，他们就会寻找各种各样的理由来起诉你。Ely说：“如果你赢得了超级百万奖金，所有人都会躺在你车轱辘前等你压过去，然后他们好起诉你。”所以必须让自己远离聚光灯。
最好的防守方式是设立一些障碍，让那些债权人很难或无法接近你的财产。措施包括州的免责法律、使用信托资金的限制条件、家庭成员的合作模式，或者成立有限责任公司。这些策略可以分别使用，也可以组合使用。
9，准备慈善捐赠。彩票获奖之后，你可以的总收入额可以用慈善性支出扣除来调整，但你必须要在12月31日之前完成捐赠。
对公共慈善机构的捐助，捐助人的现金捐款，可以最高获得调整后总收入个人所得税50％的减免，其它财产捐款可以最高获得30％所得税减免。
如果从现在到年底，你还无法觉得要向哪一家慈善机构捐款，那么你可以考虑一家捐助咨询机构。在这个机构中，你可以在今年先决定拿出一定数额的钱做慈善，并申请减免所得税。你可以在未来一个时间决定谁将得到这笔钱。
10，考虑你的遗产计划。如果你一夜暴富，那么这可能是你第一次要考虑遗产税的问题了。2010年的税制改革让各个方面变得更灵活了。每个人的遗产免税额为500万美元，无论其健在还是死亡后做出财产转移决定。如果议会在今年底还没有行动，那么免税额将改为100万美元，而税率将高达55％。如果你想和家人还有朋友分享你的慷慨，现在正是最好的时机。
原文：
The Mega Millions jackpot has increased to $540 million. If you win the jackpot in tomorrow night’s drawing, you won’t ever have to worry about money again–right?
Wrong.
With good money management you–and your heirs–could live handsomely for many, many years. But from the moment that you claim that prize, you will be descended upon by vultures who want a hefty helping of those winnings. And if you didn’t have smart money habits up until now, you could easily turn out to be your own worst enemy by quickly squandering the fortune.
The first precautionary step you should take between now and the drawing is to sign the back of the ticket, says Carolyn Hapeman, a spokeswoman for The New York Lottery. A lottery ticket is a bearer instrument, she explains, meaning that whoever signs the ticket and presents a photo ID can claim the prize. So if you haven’t signed the ticket and it blows out of your hand while you are waiting for a bus, or if you show it to a buddy in a bar and accidentally leave it on the counter, you’ve lost the loot.
Here are some steps to help you steer clear of additional risks. Most of them work well for other windfalls too–for example with sudden wealth that comes from an inheritance or the sale of a business.
1. Remain anonymous if your state rules permit it. Once people know you’re suddenly wealthy, you’ll be badgered by requests for handouts from everyone from charities to long-lost friends and relatives–not to mention all the financial “experts” who will be vying for your business. So check state rules to see whether you can dodge them all by remaining anonymous.
Although Powerball is a national lottery, rules on winner publicity vary by state. In New York, for example, winners’ names are a public record. Elsewhere it may be possible to maintain your anonymity by setting up a trust or limited liability company to receive the winnings, says Beth C. Gamel, a CPA with Pillar Financial Advisors in Waltham, MA. A client of Gamel’s who won a past lottery did that, and had a lawyer claim the prize on behalf of of the trust.
You have plenty of time to ponder this strategy—prize winners in all states have one year from the date of the drawing to claim their prize. So find out what the state rules are and plot a course.
2. See a tax pro before you cash the ticket. You have the choice between taking the prize money all at once or having it paid out over 30 years in the form of an annuity. With a lump sum payment, you must immediately pay tax on the entire amount, says Michael A. Kirsh, a financial planner in New York. With an annuity, you are taxed only as you receive the payments. People who have trouble controlling their spending might prefer the discipline of receiving the money as an annuity. But this payout form has other drawbacks, Kirsh notes. You will want to compare the effective yield of the annuity with what you could earn by taking the money as a lump sum, paying the taxes and investing the proceeds.
Another issue to consider is whether taking an annuity will leave your family without the cash they need to pay estate tax if you die before the 30-year period is up, Kirsh says. In such situations people typically buy life insurance policies to cover the estate tax bill.
You have 60 days from the time you claim your lottery prize to weigh the pros and cons. During this time, ask advisors to crunch the numbers and help you decide which type of payment suits you best.
3. Avoid sudden lifestyle changes. For the first six months after you win the lottery, don’t do anything drastic, like quitting your job, buying a McMansion, or trading up for a luxury car. Meanwhile, set aside a fixed amount for splurges—it’s only natural to want to celebrate your windfall.
Save the big purchases for later. For example, you could rent a house in the neighborhood where you were thinking of moving, before you make any commitments, says Guerdon Ely, a financial planner in Chico, Calif. If you need a new car, buy a budget model for now.
4. Pay off all your debts. As I wrote in my post, “The Best Investment Advice I Ever Received,” there is no better investment than paying off debts. Whether it is credit card debt or a mortgage, your rate of return equals the interest rate on the loan. With today’s abysmal yields on relatively secure investments like CDs and Treasurys, that’s especially true. When you’ve paid down a dollar of debt, that’s a dollar you no longer owe. When you invest a dollar, you can’t be sure whether it will grow or shrink.
5. Assemble a team of legal and financial advisers. In situations like this it’s very hard to know “who’s trying to help you and who’s trying to use you,” says Ely. Rather than signing on to a group of advisors that someone else has put together, he recommends handpicking your own lawyer, accountant and investment advisor, and requiring them to work together.
Carefully vet each advisor before discussing your situation. Check broker records at the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority. For attorneys and insurance agents, see whether there have been any complaints filed with state disciplinary authorities.
If you live in a small community and don’t want lawyers there to know your business, seek out a professional in the nearest large city. Names can be found on martindale.com, the nationwide lawyers’ directory that you can search by location and area of practice, and on the Web site of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel, a group of trust and estate lawyers.
In effect, the team you put together will function as your board of directors, Ely says. You can start by having a fee-only advisor put together a long-term financial plan and running it by the group for comment. Once you’ve decided on a plan, they can provide checks and balances on each other. You can ask one of them to serve as quarterback, coordinating the group effort. That person can also play the “bad guy,” declining requests from people or organizations for gifts that you don’t want to make.
6. Invest prudently. Ely recommends putting the money in safe, short-term investments and not even touching it for the first six months. Then ask your advisors is to put together an investment portfolio divided half-and-half between equities (such as stocks) and fixed income (like bonds). Don’t fall for investments that you don’t understand or that sound too good to be true.
7. Live within a budget. Especially if you’re not accustomed to having a lot of money, it may take some discipline to preserve your winnings and not go on a wild spending spree. One way to restrain yourself is to only spend income–not principal. Especially in today’s investment world, “It takes a lot of principal to generate income and once you start spending principal, the principal quickly dissipates,” says Dennis I. Belcher, a lawyer with McGuireWoods in Richmond VA.
8. Take steps to protect assets. People who are worth a lot of money need to guard against losing assets to creditors. They include everyone from disgruntled spouses and ex-spouses to people who win lawsuits against you. If people think you have deep pockets they may look for reasons to sue. “If you win the Powerball, everyone’s going to be laying in front of your car so you can run over them so they can sue you,” says Ely. It’s prudent to ensure you are not an easy target.
The best defense is to erect a variety of roadblocks that make it difficult, if not impossible, for creditors to reach your money and property. These asset protection strategies, as they are called, can range from relying on state-law exemptions to creating multiple barriers through the use of trusts and family limited partnerships or limited liability companies. It may be possible to rely on a variety of strategies, either separately or in combination with each other.
9. Plan charitable gifts. You can offset the additional income from your lottery winnings with a charitable deduction. But you must make your donation by Dec. 31.
For gifts to a public charity, donors are entitled to an income tax deduction for up to 50% of adjusted gross income (AGI) for cash contributions and up to 30% for donations of other appreciated assets held more than 12 months.
If you are unable to decide between now and year-end which charities to support, it may be worth considering a donor-advised fund. With a donor-advised fund, you can make a charitable donation this year and claim a federal tax deduction for your irrevocable contribution but postpone recommendations about which charities should receive grants from the account until some time in the future.
10. Review your estate plan. If your winnings have made you suddenly wealthy, this may be the first time that you need to plan for estate tax. The sweeping tax overhaul of 2010 offers more flexibility than ever before. Each person has a $5 million limit on tax-free transfers, which can be applied during life, when you die or some combination of the two. If Congress doesn’t act by the end of this year, that exclusion amount will revert to $1 million and the tax rate will increase to 55%. So if you want to share some of your largess with family and friends, this is the ideal time to do that.
还要加一条：做好消失的准备工作，一旦奖金到手，立马消失......:D 前几年和朋友们聚在一起没事讨论体彩的时候有一哥们曾经放豪言：“如果让我中了100W，我要做的第一件事就是跟老婆离婚~！！！！！”;P 穆萨 发表于 2012-4-6 09:46 static/image/common/back.gif
还要加一条：做好消失的准备工作，一旦奖金到手，立马消失......
请立刻购买一本书《完全消失手册》 哈哈哈。。。这本书一定会帮到那些幸运儿的 持巨款以遨游天下····· 回老家农村包个山头，占山为王！我要当麻子，我要九筒！
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