Labour had persuaded itself that the super-rich were making a big indirect contribution to the health of the British economy by employing lots of people at their hedge funds, private equity firms and similar new-generation financial businesses - which many would see as the antithesis of what Labour would normally believe.

BBC: More than 70% of high earners paid 50% tax rate

The study by Robert Johnson mentioned earlier suggests that the contribution to risk-adjusted portfolio performance of indirect commodity investments was better than that of direct investments.

FORBES: Does Gold Belong in My Portfolio?

Frequent reasons the IRS notices are not correct is that the IRA distribution is not taxable because it is an indirect rollover, a recharacterized Roth conversion, a previously taxed excess contribution or deferral, or even a correctly reported Qualified Charitable Distribution or one to a Public Safety Officer.

FORBES: IRS Notices & Letters: It's Stop the Machine Time Again