ZZZ - GMG - VEGAS INC 2011-2014

talking points Would you pay to gawk at CES? Allowing consumers to attend the trade show could be a winner for everyone involved by Richard N. Velotta C CO GU LU ES M T N ould the Las Vegas convention and trade show business learn a thing or two from the adult film industry? Don't let your imagination sink too low. What I mean is, I'd be a wealthy man if I could cash in every request I have received from people asking me how they can get in the door of Southern Nevada's largest trade show. CES is a show unlike any other. More than 150,000 people jam the aisles of the show floor to get a look at prototypes that someday will become consumer electronics standards. The compact disc was introduced at CES, as was the DVD, the VCR and TiVo. This year, the WristRevolution TechZone, dedicated to music players, phones and cameras mounted on wrist- 20140106_VI06_F.indd 6 fall automotive show, comes to mind. The National Association of Broadcasters also has a number of celebrity appearances every spring. The Nightclub and Bar Convention in June and the Global Gaming Expo in October may have enough appeal to draw crowds, too. The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority negotiates with show producers all the time. The revenue generated from ticket sales could offset the expense of keeping the floor open extra hours. And it could be a tourism draw. Done right, opening trade show floors to the public could become one more of Las Vegas' perks. Because consumer electronics fascinate us, there's always a captive audience who wants to get into the show. Record stock market, tapering of bond program and increasing interest rates are good signs any influential financial stories broke in 2013. And the headlines of yesterday could continue to affect finances in 2014. From market highs to Obamacare, keep these stories on your radar to help prepare for the new year: One of the biggest was the record highs for stock indices. The Dow closed above 16,000 for the first time Nov. 21, the NASDAQ is up more than 30 percent for the year, and the S&P 500 is up more than 25 percent. But not everyone is sure the gains will continue into 2014. Some experts worry that a correction, a 10 percent drop or more, could be on the horizon. Worst fears are that this record climb could be a repeat of 2008 when, following record gains, the market dropped 38 percent. For investors and businesses in Las Vegas, this means cautious optimism is the name of the game. Don't assume the markets will keep going up, and make sure you 6 crowds. With 25,000 people expected, it's tapped to be the 20th-largest trade show of 2014. The public is invited to events Jan. 1618 at the Hard Rock Hotel. A three-day pass costs $300. VIP tickets range from $100 to $120, and a general admission ticket goes for $80. What do you get for your money? You can browse exhibits, talk to company executives and get your picture taken with porn stars. AVN has its own niche audience, but CES has broader appeal. Would the public be willing to shell out $15 or $20 to walk the show and see the merchandise? Other local conventions also could have similar broad appeal. SEMA, the Year's biggest financial stories ongoing by Bradley Zucker M bands, is expected to get considerable attention. Because consumer electronics fascinate us, there's always a captive audience who wants to get into the show. But unfortunately for the average consumer, CES is open only to industry professionals and the media. But what if that changed? The adult film industry began selling public tickets to the Adult Entertainment Expo several years ago, giving porn fans exactly what they wanted — direct access to actors and actresses. The show previously had been a media- and industry-only affair. It's now a lucrative business. The adult expo and related events draw huge can handle the risks when dealing with equities. Another important story throughout 2013 was the possible changes the Federal Reserve could make to its $85 billion-per-month bond buying program, known as QE3. Just the mention of tapering bond buying caused markets to roller coaster throughout the year. Then, Dec. 18, the Federal Open Markets Committee unexpectedly announced it would reduce its bond-buying to $75 billion per month starting in January. As tapering occurs, watch out for interest rates. Though the Fed announced it would keep the Federal Funds Rate at record lows for the time being, rates for mortgages, bonds and other borrowing could still increase, hurting bond yields and increasing the cost of borrowing. If you saw an increase in your income in 2013, be prepared for the possibility of higher taxes when you file. Not only is there a new top tax bracket of 39.6 percent for individuals making more than $400,000, 2013 saw the introduction of two new Medicare taxes for high-income earners. The Medicare surtax to help fund Obamacare is an additional 3.8 percent for either net investment income or modified adjusted gross income above $200,000, whichever is less. The Medicare Hospital Insurance tax is a 0.9 percent tax on earnings of self-employed individuals or wages of employees over $200,000. Make sure you stay in the know about what your tax obligations are and research if there are any deductions or credits you can take advantage of to lessen the bill. Finally, no summary of this year's news is complete without one of the biggest national stories: Obamacare. The botched rollout and mass confusion has created plenty of news that's likely to continue into 2014. Many Americans are expecting to see higher health insurance costs: one study estimates that health care premiums for the average American could increase by 41 percent. No matter who you are, it's important to stay informed of your health care obligations under the new law. You don't want to get hit with tax penalties during 2014. As Las Vegas continues its rebound, we're likely to keep seeing the effects of 2013's biggest financial news stories. Not all news is bad news, though. A record market, tapering of the bond program and increasing interest rates are all signs that the economy is on an upswing. And a good economy means good business for Vegas. Bradley Zucker is president and chief financial advisor of Safe Money Advisors, Inc., a Las Vegas-based independent financial advisory firm. For more information, visit www.SafeMoneyAdvisorsNV. com. If you saw an increase in your income in 2013, be prepared for the possibility of higher taxes when you file. | 6 JANUARY 2014 | 1/2/14 10:19:20 AM

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