What Is A Lien?

What Is A Lien?
by Dutch Kiesecker

A lien is a legal claim on an asset that grants the lien holder permission to take possession of the property if certain conditions aren't met. Houses and cars are common types of property that have liens. Until the mortgage or auto loan is repaid, the lender has a lien on the property. The lien lets the lender foreclose or repossess the property if the property owner lags with payments.

If your property has a lien on it, the lien holder can sell it at anytime to satisfy payment for your debt. Before you can sell property and transfer the title to the buyer, you have to own the property free and clear. You should have any liens removed from the title before you can sell the property.

Some liens are placed on your property automatically as a circumstance of purchase. These lien holders have a legal right to take control of your property if certain conditions aren't met. For example, when you buy a house, your mortgage lender will place a lien on the house until you repay the mortgage. Similarly, your auto lender puts a lien on your card until your car loan is paid.

Other types of liens are placed on your property because you did not pay a debt. For example, if you fail to pay your federal or state taxes, the revenue department could file a tax lien on your property. If you don't pay the debt, the lien holder can liquidate the property and use the proceeds to pay off the debt.

A judgment lien is the result of a lawsuit in which the judge ruled against you. Before a judgment lien is put on your real estate, the creditor usually has attempted (unsuccessfully) to get you to pay off your debt. You may have to pay interest on the judgment lien. A judgment lien could be reported on your credit report.

Liens are usually placed on your property as a condition of repayment. Usually you are able to remove a lien on your property by fully paying off the loan or debt attached to the asset. If you have a lien placed on your property because of an unpaid debt, you may be able to have the lien released by simply making arrangements for payment.

Even when the lien is lifted from your property, it might still be included on your credit report for up to seven years. A paid lien looks better on your credit history. An unpaid lien, on the other hand, can keep you from getting credit cards, loans, and even jobs.

ETF Bond

ETF Bond
by Takara Alexis

Ever since 1993, exchange traded funds (ETFs) have given another investment tool for Americans. ETFs could offer simple trading options and their convenience, along with their added bonus: diversification.

In fact, according to the Investment Company Institute, since their inception, money invested in ETFs has expanded to over $250 billion dollars.

ETFs imitate an index or focus on a particular industry or country. What makes them different than mutual funds is that ETFs are traded like stocks. Rather than having an opportunity once each day to buy, ETFs are traded 24/7. Their price is determined by the supply and demand of the fund itself, not necessarily the contents of the fund.

In sharp contrast to the escalating popularity of ETFs, bonds have always had a somewhat drab existence, at least in the eyes of most investors. Bonds aren't fun or enchanting, but for some, they are considered one of the more valid investment vehicles around.

Clearly, bond ETFs are catching on, but what makes them so alluring?

Bond ETFs carry with them a great deal of transparency that hasn't been experienced by many bond fund investors previously. The added knowledge of a bond's accurate amount, with the ability of public trading, is new to many bond fund investors.

As with most investments, each product and investment strategy is meant for a particular investor. But bond ETFs offer a new, and surprisingly refreshing look at an old mainstay. As with all investments, they have their pros and cons, but if you're looking for a tool that has added convenience, along with the bond characteristics, then a bond ETF could be the right choice.

Diversification looks to reduce risk by placing your investment bucks into all different asset classes to add balance to your portfolio. However, using this methodology does not guarantee against losing in a declining market.

Taking Your Clients With You

Taking Your Clients With You
by Takara Alexis

One important quality in becoming a successful consultant is your capability to network and get work from your contacts. Your former colleagues and bosses can pass you leads regarding clients, and bring you in to work on projects that are being done by your former company.

Taking your customers might pose legal problems if you've already signed an agreement not to compete or solicit customers of your previous employer. Still, many agreements aren't enforceable and others give loopholes that would allow you to work for your former employer's customers in specific instances. Having a business lawyer review your agreement will provide you with the information you want to stay away from legal troubles while starting up your new business.

Once you have given your notice, let your number one clients know that you will be leaving. The topic of what you will be doing will inevitably come up in conversation. This is a good time to explain what you will be doing and perhaps exchange telephone numbers and ask if you can keep in contact with your former client.

Soliciting clients during company time could be a dangerous thing for numerous reasons. While soliciting clients as an independent consultant is viewed as business competition, soliciting your employer's customers on company time is acknowledged as stealing. If your boss comes to know about this, you will probably be fired immediately. Many clients will look on your solicitation as trying to "steal" clients from your employer. After firing you, your former company may sue you for stealing clients.

Customer lists, pricing formulas and materials that are copyrighted should remain with your former employer because these are viewed as your former employer's trade secrets by law. Taking these type of documents from your former employer would bring you legal problems, including possibly being arrested for theft or being sued by your former employer.

Even if your clients tell you that they will give you assignments, that's not always promised. Don't keep calling the same clients over and over again to check on projects. It'll be viewed as a harassment and could spoil any chances of future work. Continue to work on getting assignments from a variety of contacts. It may take a while for you to find your first assignment. If you have saved money and planned ahead, you will have enough living expenses to allow you to continue your search for work. Be patient, and keep working to find projects to work on.

Property Taxes

Property Taxes
by Takara Alexis

This long-standing form of taxation has its roots in ancient times. Property taxes, in many forms, have been around since the beginning of civilization. There's evidence of their use in ancient Egypt, Persia and China. Early taxation mainly focused on land, as that agricultural value played a key role, in its time. To this day, property taxes are a number one source of income for local states and governments all over the world.

Property taxation is simply a levy assessed property such as real estate. Real estate property taxes are usually assessed by county, state and local governments, in lieu of federal governments. Local authorities like school districts, water and sewer services are also playing a crucial part in this.

State and local governments heavily confide in the tax revenue collected from property taxes. In fact, many times property taxes are the largest source of their income. There are states in which property taxes produce more revenue than sales and income taxes put together. The national government plays little role in the accumulation of property taxes.

Real estate taxes are deductible on federal income tax returns. The more property taxes you pay, the more you can write-off. In fact, there isn't any limit on the property tax deduction. If you're a new homeowner you could also minimize property taxes paid by the seller, that could have applied to your property tax debt. As the new homeowner, you can make this deduction, regardless of whether you paid back the seller or not.

Because of inflation and an inflexible tax code, those that used to be defined as "wealthy" are now the middle class. As a result, many of middle income American's fall victim to the AMT each year. To make the situation worse, property taxes are non deductible under the AMT. The good news is that latest AMT tax bill legislation can supply middle class homeowners with much needed relief.

One way to relieve the tax burden is to pay your property tax payments as well as your monthly mortgage payments. By doing so, your savings are kept in a mortgage escrow account until the property taxes are due.

Since their introduction in a long time ago, property taxes have never been welcomed with open arms. Even now they still may not be celebrated, but they play a key role in our modern infrastructure. They fund the municipal budgets in which our federal government has little or no involvement.

Becoming A First Time Home Buyer

Becoming A First Time Home Buyer
by Takara Alexis

Purchasing your first home is a considerable operation. There is so much to consider and prepare for. Finding an appropriate home may be challenging, but there's much more to examine. You need to come up with a down payment, get qualified for a home loan, consider closing costs, and much more.

There are some things you should consider before pursuing buying your home. One being what you'll be able to afford. You need to find out what your total monthly housing expenses will be. A mortgage calculator is a really good way to determine what you can afford on a monthly basis. But you will want to think about the additional costs associated with home ownership. You'll need to include property taxes, home insurance, escrow, and miscellaneous closing costs. These can add considerably to your monthly outlay.

Property taxes can be determined if you check with your local government, being as it varies greatly from state to state. Acquiring a home insurance quote is as easy way to determine those expenses, and save as well. Closing costs vary, but they can usually be negotiated with your lender. Be sure to account for Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI) if you wish to make a down payment less than the standard 20 percent. The important thing here is to get an idea of what your total expenses will be. Many experts will suggest that your total monthly housing costs not exceed 28 percent of your gross income.

When you shop for a home loan you should consider the government funded first time home owner programs. These often propose lower interest rates and lower down payment requirements, when compared with customary mortgage loans.

If you have a good credit rating and income you may qualify for a better conventional type loan. Be sure to do your homework and weigh all your options. An Adjustable Rate Mortgage (ARM), for example, may offer lower monthly payments initially, but there are certain risks that need to be considered. Unfortunately, for some, the recent housing downturn is currently exposing these risks.

Developing into a first time home buyer might seem a bit frightening these days. Utilizing the tools that are given to you along with some strategic planning can help you get there. It's all worth it, of course, as there's nothing like being a first time home owner.

How To Avoid Foreclosure

How To Avoid Foreclosure
by Takara Alexis

Homeowners who have difficulty paying their mortgage on time might be subject to seizure and the loss of title of their house. For these people, surprising situations such as job insecurity or medical problems have them facing the unthinkable-home foreclosure. Either way, it should and can often be avoided, with a little effort.

If you aren't able to pay your mortgage, it's extremely crucial that you call your lender, in order to prevent foreclosure. Disregarding the bills will only make the situation worse, increasing the chances that you will lose your home. Borrowers who search for foreclosure help early are much more likely to work out a solution, no matter how serious their situation. Mortgage companies want to stay away from foreclosure as much as you; they are way more interested in the money they make off your interest, rather than the money they will lose on your home foreclosure. Based on your situation, your lender might be able to give you the foreclosure help that you need.

A reinstatement can take place when you make a lump sum payment by a specified date if you are behind in your payments. This can bring your account back to current status. Often, lenders combine forbearance with reinstatement.

The terms of your loan can be altered. Changing the amortization table or minimizing your interest rate could make a big difference, decreasing your payment amount each month to something affordable.

In reaction to the recent mortgage crisis, the president has announced a refinancing program called FHASecure. This current product offered through the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) is estimated to help some 240,000 homeowners dodge foreclosure. This is rather notable, as the FHA's previous policy would not allow for refinancing of borrowers in default.

A deal between the homeowner and lender to sell the property for less than it's worth, with the mortgage lender taking the loss. A foreclosure sale is an effective way of stopping foreclosure, allowing a default homeowner to fulfill his mortgage obligation by selling the property in question for a lower amount than owed.

Taking a pro-active means to home foreclosure avoidance can't be stressed enough. If you lose your home to foreclosure, the lender may come after you to recover money owed that may not have been recuperated in the property foreclosure sale. Having a house foreclosure on your credit report is unfavorable and ranks right up there with bankruptcy. Remember that as negative as things may seem, your current financial problems are most likely temporary. Avoid foreclosure now so that when you get back on your feet, you won't be restricted by imposing credit issues.

Planning For Succession

Planning For Succession
by Takara Alexis

Entrepreneurs tend to spend a lot of time building their business, they give little thought to how they will leave it and sometimes get side tracked by the amount of time it takes to establish and carry out an effective succession plan.

Owners seem to sometimes associate succession planning with choosing a successor. The first step, however, lies in an analysis of what has made the business successful. Does that success rely on ability or knowledge you as the owner have that would leave when you leave? Often that is the case of sole- practitioners such as lawyers or doctors - unless they have the foresight to bring in a junior practitioner who could possibly take over at some point.

Additional success questions to consider: current and future market competition, necessary technology infrastructure, talent of existing employees, and style of management. Answers to these questions can provide the basis for decisions on whether the business can continue without you, how it would continue without you and which person would lead it.

Personal financial planning will play a role in the succession plan whether you wish to sell the business to an outsider or progressively transfer your interest to a main employee or family member. If you sell and receive a large lump-sum payment, you will to plan what you'll do with the earnings. Advice from accounting and investment experts can help with strategies to lower your taxes on the sale.

If you plan on transferring the business to a key worker or a someone in your family, your personal financial plan should focus on long-term capital accumulation to provide cash for living expenses to replace the income you received from your company's profits. Developing that cushion takes awhile, but it will give you not only needed funds but the freedom to allow your successor opportunities to learn and make mistakes, without abusing your livelihood.

Entrepreneurs, mainly those with family members involved in the business, commonly dread actually naming a successor because they expect it will cause arguments among employees and members of their family. Again, having an analysis of the business and its needs for the future to keep its success gives you a platform from which to talk about issues with those affected. Open communication plays a crucial role in smoothing the path for your successor.

Communication will be key as you develop the person you chose to assume leadership. While you may be tempted to pass on everything you know to your successor, be sure to listen carefully and give the person some room to learn from experience or try new ways of doing things. Stay true to what has made your company successful, but recognize that your successor needs to prove his or her value to employees and customers and may actually have ideas for making the business better.

Planning how you'll leave your business can be emotionally draining as well as, financially and logistically difficult. Involving your key trusted advisors and seeking assistance from succession planning professionals can help you look at important details while keeping the big picture in focus. Begin early, so you will have enough time to create, finance and carry out a successful succession plan.

The Cost Of Healthcare

The Cost Of Healthcare
by Takara Alexis

Health care prices for small businesses keep skyrocketing across the board. And as big companies and small businesses continue struggling to maintain low costs, it is commonly small businesses that get hit the hardest. Health care costs are constantly rising, sometimes with double-digit increases each year.

But that does not mean that there are not other possible options. Recently, more light has been shed on added options to assist small businesses with saving money and still have health care available.

Several options are out there that can help small companies minimize expenses. One of very popular option is encouraging employees to get individual health insurance. Instead of the employer subsidizing a large percentage of it, the to price of health care is left to the employee. And on average, individual premiums are less expensive than those of group plans.

And employers are able to help the employee out by giving a reimbursement to cover a portion of the costs, or by helping the employee take care of their Section 125 deduction. Either way, the employer can lower costs a a significant amount by using this method and frequently it can be a less expensive route than the one currently used.

In addition, an increasingly utilized option is to offer Section 105 plans to employees. Section 105 plans grant the employer permission to buy a higher-deductible, (but lower cost), insurance coverage for their employees. The high-deductible is compensated through an employer-controlled, tax-advantage fund that pays claims to the employees for medical costs below the deductible. The result is savings for both employer and employee.

But not every company will benefit from a Section 105. Just like all plans, it's important to talk with a financial professional to figure out what type of health care savings could be achieved in your small business.

Section 105's and advising the purchase of individual insurance are two ways to possibly save your small business money, at a time when small businesses are getting crushed by health care costs. Making the tough choices in every aspects of your business, and viewing all your health care options to minimize expenses as much as possible might just be one of the things that keeps you in the surviving 20% of small businesses.

Napping On The Job

Napping On The Job
by Takara Alexis

Falling asleep on the job could be turning into office protocol-not grounds for termination. An increasing number of companies are realizing the health benefits of a quick sleep, including heightened alertness, improved brainpower, and less sick days. While naps are not essential for those who get the advised eight hours of sleep each night, they might be key for those who lose out on sleep.

A lot of companies are offering assigned rooms for taking naps and some are setting up tents or lofted beds. You can close your eyes for 10 or 15 minutes and wake up with a completely refreshed feeling. Many companies, including British Airways, Pizza Hut, Google and Nike, offer "renewal rooms" and reclining chairs.

Most employers who permit people to take naps say they do so because of their employees well-being, which research shows is a good idea. People who take 30-minute naps everyday are 37% less likely to die of heart disease than those who do not take naps, according to a recent study.

Taking naps can also improve the immune system-theoretically leading to less sick days- and propel employees into their most alert, active, and imaginative states, say nap advocates. Also, if you are sleep deprived, you're going to be in a bad mood. And if you need to interact in meetings, or if you are a marketing person and have to convince someone to purchase your product, that might create a problem.

Some companies are outsourcing their napping. Time Warner, Hearst, and Yahoo!, for example, employ Manhattan-based YeloSpa. This offers power naps in personal rooms that come equip with customized aromatherapy, music or nature sounds, and lighting. A 20-minute nap costs $15, and a 40-minute nap is $28. Most of those companies allow employees to visit YeloSpa during their lunch breaks and have negotiated discounted rates.

Extended naps equate to deeper sleep, making waking up difficult. Some experts talk about warnings of sleep inertia, an effect that feels like a hangover that makes shrugging off sleepy feelings pretty much impossible. But there is a warning: For people who have been up all night and are extremely sleep deprived, a longer nap for at least 90 minutes is necessary to catch up.

For now, workplace naps remain the exception, rather than the rule. If you want to bring the trend to your non-napping workplace, draft a proposal that lets your employer's see the arrangement. Explain that napping minimizes absenteeism and research shows that employees tend to miss work because of fatigue. Get together with coworkers and suggest an experimental period.

The Basics On Fixed Annuities

The Basics On Fixed Annuities
by Takara Alexis

There are a lot of annuity products attainable today. One of these great products is the fixed annuity. Fixed annuities come in two main forms. Some have a deferred payout and those that have an immediate payout. Immediate annuities seek to payout income upon inception, while deferred annuities defer payment until a later date.

Fixed annuities are usually compared to certificates of deposit (CDs) by those investors looking for safety. Just like many other financial products you must evaluate the pros and cons in deciding which might be more appropriate for your financial needs.

Both CDs and fixed annuities usually base their rates on current market conditions and time of maturity. Generally, the longer you wait for it to mature, the higher the yield you will receive. Fixed annuity rates have been traditionally higher than CD rates because of longer maturities and rate circumstances. Fixed rate annuities might have the edge in longer-term returns, but they aren't short-term investments. The usual deferred fixed annuity ranges in periods from 3 to 10 years.

It's very substantial that you comprehend the liquidity issues as they may relate to your CD or fixed annuity investing. CDs may provide for a shorter time, but that doesn't necessarily mean they're liquid. When buying a CD you are obligated to that CD's time period, most commonly twelve months. If you prematurely withdraw any amount of your principle, you'll be subject to interest fines.

Tax deferred fixed annuities are precisely that-deferred from tax. Which means that income within your annuity isn't taxable until it is withdrawn. As time goes by, tax deferred growth outpaces taxable investments being as earnings compound without current income taxation, yearly. It's very important to note that annuities are taxed just as regular income, so it is better to take out withdrawals when income taxes are lower, such as retirement.

Fixed annuities are guaranteed by the full faith and credit of the issuing insurance company, and they are not contained or supported by the government. The higher rated insurance companies have to meet stringent capital requirements to back up annuity and life insurance obligations. You should choose the higher rated company while comparing fixed annuity rates. If you go with a lower rated annuity company for an insignificant increase in rate just isn't worth the extra risk.

Because of the Internet you are able to get a number of competitive fixed annuity quotes simply by clicking the mouse. This is a good way to locate the best fixed annuity rate, but you have to proceed with extreme caution. Working with a trusted independent agent is recommended here, because they can give the much-needed guidance, as well as the top fixed annuity rate you are looking for.

Avoiding A Tax Audit

Avoiding A Tax Audit
by Takara Alexis

Taxpayers' have a big fear of being audited by the IRS (Internal Revenue Service). Even if you're confident that you have filed your taxes accurately, in the back of your mind, you wonder if you are going to hear from an IRS representative. You don't have to worry as much this tax season. Here are some helpful ways you can avoid a tax audit.

There are types of taxpayers that are more likely to be audited than others. These also involve taxpayers who earn more than $200,000, small business owners and self-employed taxpayers, and taxpayers who could be hiding taxable income overseas.

Make sure you check your math. Common reasons for tax audits are simply addition and subtraction errors. They are also simple to fix and avoid. Check and re-check your numbers to make sure you have included the right ones.

Use tax preparation software such as TurboTax or H&R Block. These software's can remove math errors that might lead to an audit. They can also do an analysis of your tax return to let you know any items that could trigger an audit. Be aware that even tax software can't completely eliminate any chances at being audited because the IRS computers audit a number random taxpayers yearly.

The IRS software does a inspection to make sure the income reports on the 1099s it received for your social security number coincides with what you reported. Differences might trigger an audit. If you are sure the amount on your 1099 is wrong, get in touch with the issuer and have it changed. If that doesn't work, try contacting the IRS by calling 1-800-829-1040 for help.

If you can, file at the last minute. The IRS receives a lot of returns on April 15th and they can not scrutinize them in the same fashion as those that are filed on February 1st. That's does not mean you can avoid an audit all together by filing later. You just reduce the risk.

Report each source of income. This includes alimony, child support, and cash receipts. Any child support and alimony that you receive will be tied to your social security number, so the IRS will already know about it. Though you might think getting paid under the table will keep you from paying taxes, the IRS can find out about cash receipts.

No matter what you think or feel about paying taxes, you are required by law to do so, so you might as well just pay them. Avoiding paying taxes is a crime and if you're caught, you'll face criminal charges and monetary penalties. Either way, you will still have to repay the taxes you didn't pay.

Chamber Of Commercer Partners With Rapid Recovery Solution

ChamberofCommerce.com Partners with Rapid Recovery Solution:
Providing Small Business Owners with a Source for Reliable Debt Collection

ChamberofCommerce.com connects over 1 million merchants with Rapid Recovery Solution’s outstanding debt collection services.



Bohemia, NY (November 9, 2010) – ChamberofCommerce.com has agreed to an exclusive marketing partnership with Rapid Recovery Solution, a reputable and proven Federal attorney-based debt collection agency. The partnership will give over a million small business owners on ChamberofCommerce.com a dedicated and professional option for recovering unpaid debts. Rapid Recovery Solution knows that uncollected debts hurt a business owner’s bottom line and their lawyers will work effortlessly to recuperate the money you are rightfully owed.



“At ChamberofCommerce.com we provide our small business owners with an array of financial services to help them reach their business goals,” said David Bayer, CEO of ChamberofCommerce.com. “It’s hard to grow and succeed as a business when you aren’t being compensated for the services you are providing. Rapid Recovery Solution knows that, and they are dedicated to recover the funds that are rightfully yours in a professional and lawful manner.”



"Rapid Recovery Solution is excited and honored to be the collection company chosen to help the members of ChamberofCommerce.com recover the money that is rightfully owed," said John Monderine, CEO of Rapid Recovery Solution. "It is hard enough to do business in this economy, the last thing you need is for somebody to think they can take advantage of you. RRS will help you focus on running your business and ease your worries about getting paid."



Rapid Recovery Solution will be contributing informational guides on ChamberofCommerce.com covering an array of topics regarding the laws and regulations of debt collection, the rights of an unpaid business owner, and techniques on how to legally and safely attempt to recover your lost wages on your own.



About ChamberofCommerce.com:

ChamberofCommerce.com is dedicated to helping local business owners grow their business and their web presence online while also facilitating connectivity between local businesses in more than 7,000 Chambers of Commerce worldwide. ChamberofCommerce.com works with local business owners by providing tools and education to them develop, manage and grow their business and their web presence. CoC.com also helps increase membership within local Chambers of Commerce. They provide technology, tools and education to local Chambers of Commerce to help them communicate more effectively with their members online and provide them with more efficient and expedient customer support. CoC.com also works with industry-leading business-to-business solutions providers to introduce innovative products and services to more than one million small, medium and enterprise businesses.

About Rapid Recovery Solution:

Rapid Recovery Solution is a Full Service, Federal Attorney Based, Debt Collection Agency serving business customers worldwide. RRS offers a NO Collect, NO Fee program that is guaranteed to get you results or the service is free. RRS also has an extensive network of Attorneys in every jurisdiction that will file lawsuits on your behalf. RRS will become an extension of your business and they will do everything possible to maintain a working relationship with your debtor.

Personal Liability Insurance

Personal Liability Insurance
by Takara Alexis

Senseless lawsuits and outlandish settlements got people's blood boiling recently when a judge - yes, a judge - sued a little, family-owned dry cleaners for $65 million for misplacing a pair of his pants. Small businesses, this goes to show, are just as open to attack as their deep-pocket peers. A recent study by NERA Economic Consulting concluded that small businesses pay for 69 percent of civil lawsuit liability costs, even though they generate only about 19 percent of business profits.

Not a small business owner or big business executive? You could still face significant loss of property from damages and court costs in a liability claim. You get some protection through your homeowners, renters and auto insurance, but every policy has limits and your policies may leave you exposed where you least expect it.

Umbrella policies give more, overall coverage past these specific policies. Commonly, amounts go from $1 million to $5 million and usually cover losses more then your other policies. The coverage goes with you where you go because it is not tired to your vehicle or property. Typically, it doesn't cover business activities, even if the business is operated from your home.

The need for personal liability insurance can depend on two different factors: the amount of equity you have and the risks that are associated with your particular lifestyle. Is there a pool on your property? Allow hunting on your farm or ranch? Have people employed at your home like a nanny or housekeeper? These factors can expose you to risks that go past those policies of a typical homeowner.

Do other factors make you a bulls eye for lawsuits? Even trivial claims can cost you in time and perceptual distress. Any public knowledge about your assets, family inheritance, land holdings, winning the lottery or income - or even assumptions about these certain things - could bring out claims to more elaborate tricks.

Typically, umbrella liability coverage extends to your kids, your spouse and relatives that live in your household, being cared for by you or under the care of a family member living with you. That can be a big reassurance especially if you have teenagers that drive or college students living away from home.

Umbrella liability insurance can guard what you have put away for a rainy day. Your financial advisor or insurance expert could help you take a look at your current coverages and possible risks to decide how large your umbrella has to be.

Protecting Your Identity

Protecting Your Identity
by Takara Alexis

It only takes one stolen check from your mail box and some acetone to empty your entire bank account. A piece of cellophane tape covers the front and back of your signature, and then the check in place in a pan of acetone. This is a process known as "check washing" and it takes only about a half hour to rinse everything except the printer's ink from the check. The things that remain on the check are your tape covered signature and the printer-inked information.

Invest in a safe pen. A certain type of ink-the kind in gel pens made by Uni-ball-resists acetone and various solutions used in check washing. Rather than writing your whole account number on signed checks, write only some digits, such as the last four numbers of the credit card account. Or you can write down none at all. Companies routinely ask you to put your entire account number, but there is no need to abide.

To further protect your privacy, don't put phone numbers on your checks. If you have to list one, make it your work number, not the number to your home. Another good idea is to get a Post Office Box number and use that instead of a street address as your mail-delivery point.

Of course, you should never display your Social Security or driver's license number on any checks. To prevent new checks from being stolen from your incoming mail, let them know that the check needs to be sent not to your home but to your bank.

Stealing your identity is not that hard, but stealing your face is. Take advantage of a great option that is offered by various credit card companies and retail stores that sponsor their own plastic: Your picture can be added to your credit card.

If a company asks for your maiden name or your mother's maiden name, tell them that you want to also use an alternative password to that one. Alternatively, you can fabricate an easy to remember bogus birthday or make up a maiden name.

How You Can Make Your Money Last In Retirement

How You Can Make Your Money Last In Retirement
by Takara Alexis

If you are like most people, you have put a substantial amount of time and effort into putting money away for retirement. But you have probably put less thought into how gradually you will spend the money and in a way that will make it last--a possible disaster.

There are steps you can take to make your money last. Spend less and work longer, of course. But even then you can't know how long you're going to live. You only have the odds: for a married couple at age 65, there's a 58% chance one person will live to 90; a 50% chance one will live to 92; and a 25% chance one will live to 97.

If you have a melancholy-era mentality, insert your nest egg in savings accounts and certificates of deposit with no more than the FDIC-insured limit of $250,000 in any of the banks. It will always be there for you regardless of how the markets are doing plus it's safe.

If you do not just so happen to have $5 million lying around, you will need to take some more risks to have any type of chance of producing that $100,000 a year you long for. One alternative is to place money in a diversified portfolio of stocks, bonds and real estate that pays dividends. If you begin with $3 million and the market acts like is has been for the past 70 years, you should have no worries. But if the market moves slowly or if companies cut their dividends, there is a chance your money won't last.

Another good reason to think about deferred annuities is that they allow you to keep saving tax-deferred after you have maxed out your 401(k) and your IRA. You'll still need to pay taxes as you take out the money. Unlike with an immediate annuity, if there is a balance when you pass away, it goes to your heirs.

The problem with deferred annuities are the lockups and often enormous fees. You pay an average of 2.15% a year, according to one study, and you could pay up to 4% annually in fees. Unless the tax deferral is really important, you could be better off investing in tax-efficient mutual funds or ETFs until you need the money, and then take it and put it into an immediate annuity. This isn't risk free but it can save you a decent amount of money.

Make Yourself Heard

Make Yourself Heard
by Takara Alexis

What part of the words "just a trim" didn't the hair-hacking stylist get? Did you not go over how that silk shirt needed to be hand dried? Wasn't it your idea that just come out of your colleague's mouth and is now "the most genius thing" your boss has ever heard?

Do people avoid making any sort of eye contact with you while you are just trying to be helpful? Do you get interrupted? It is possible that you may be looked at as a know-it-all, or your suggestions could seem like criticism. Eventually people might stop listening to what you have to say altogether. Next time you have advice to give, try asking, "Would you like to hear what I think?" Or "I have a different point-of-view, would you like to listen to it?"

While you're talking, do people look at their Blackberries or make you feel like you are wasting their time? It is a possibility that you could losing peoples interest due to a discrepancy in communication styles.

Note the speed the other person speaks in and attempt to match it. If you are speaking too slow to a speedy communicator, his mind could wander; if you speak too fast to a slow-speaking person, he might tune out because he feels frustrated. Many women like to commiserate-talking about issues not to fix them but just to share them as a simple way to lower stress, according to a recent study.

Some people-men particularly-take talk like this as a burdensome request for help. Let your friend or coworker know that you just want to vent for a few minutes about what's happening. Also advise him that he does not need to do anything or say anything about it. This way he won't have to assume that he needs to offer you a comforting solution.

No matter what, there is no way you can go wrong by making people feel important and showing some interest in what they have to say. In other words, you will be listened to more if you listen to others.

Stop Fighting About Money

Stop Fighting About Money
by Takara Alexis

I guess the saying 'opposites attract' is true, and I guess that it's a big reason a lot of spenders end up with savers, or vice versa.

Breaking old habits is a hard thing to do. Sit down together and agree to a few limits. What percentage of your money will be put toward entertainment? What percent be spent on extras, like new clothes, and what percent do you need to set aside for housing, transportation, and savings? As soon as you have agreed on a budget, stick to it.

You might want to buy a house while there are low interest rates, or perhaps you own one already and all you really is a vacation. Maybe you wish to be debt-free in a year, or pay for your kids to go to college or go back to school yourself. Discuss a financial plan together so you understand what lies in store, and how you will swing the bill.

Remember, also, that there are some unpredictable things in life such as layoffs, serious car maintenance, and medical bills. Having an emergency fun can help you out if anything like this occurs suddenly. Put at least three to six months worth of living expenses together in a savings or money market account so you can have it just in case.

You don't want to have to micromanage each others finances. But making each other aware of any major expenditures can easily eliminate expensive issues such as bounced checks or over-the-limit credit card fees.

It mainly depends on how much disposable income you have, but most couples use $100, $300 or $500 as their threshold. Basically, if you want to buy a slice of pizza, go ahead. If you want to buy a new surround sound system, it might be a good idea to give your spouse a call first.

What You Should Know About Debt Settlement

What You Should Know About Debt Settlement
by Takara Alexis

It used to be that people could hardly turn the t.v or radio on without listening to some type of intriguing information on how a credit settlement company could help them to minimize their debt by fifty percent or more. Nonetheless, people will no longer hear these types of broadcasts because of new debt settlement laws going on for the safety of consumers. Frequently, people never get what is advertised to them.

In many cases, people had the unfortunate experience of finding out that what had sounded too good to be true. Typically, this required the company making promises on how fast they were going to lower the debt the person had by bargaining or settlement. Many of the time, the promises made weren't anything but a sales strategy to reel the person in.

By the time, most of the consumers figured out that it would acquire much more time and money than they were led to think, they had already invested a lot of money. Some finished the programs, while others dropped out. Credit settlement companies are no longer allowed to make promises that they do not intend on keeping due to the new debt consolidation laws. Usually, many companies like this would make promises on reducing the total amount of debt that someone had up to fifty percent. Sadly, this was hardly the case.

There were fees and costs that would come along with this process but, there were many times where the settlement company didn't mention that. Also, many didn't inform them on how this could take years to do. Therefore, they could end up paying a lot more than they ever expected. Although some of the companies would work out deals that were fifty percent or less on the person's debt, and the person would have to pay a large amount of interest to the company.

Due to this, stricter debt settlement laws were put into place recently. With these new laws, a company no longer can lead people to think they are going to do something when they have no intention on doing it. Instead, the companies now have to inform the consumer on the amount of time they should expect the settlement to take, in addition to the amount of money it will cost.

With these new debt settlement laws, certain places aren't allowed to trick people into believing something that just isn't true. In addition, a company can no longer state they are strictly non-profit when there is no doubt that they are in it for the money.

Enjoying Your Job A Little More

Enjoying Your Job A Little More
by Takara Alexis

Recent studies let us see that leisure can aid with stress caused by jobs, minimize chances of having depression, and even raise self-esteem. Every year the typical American worker is given about 16 paid vacation days and most people don't use them at all.

I know it's temping to leave work at exactly 5 o'clock on the button, but it is sometimes a good idea to hang around and chat with the people you work with. Why? Some of the happiest people devote about six hours a day to interacting with friends and family. You can do the same when at work. You can go out for lunch or even after work for some cocktails. Even something like chatting in the lunch room about movies you saw over the weekend is something that can relieve stress.

No one likes commuting. In fact, a study recently posted by the Scandinavian Journal of Economics shows that employees who commute 22 minutes each way would have to make at least an added 35 percent of their monthly wage so they could be just as satisfied as those who don't commute. The best alternative of all: Walk or bike to work. The negatives regarding commuting mainly apply to commutes based on taking cars.

Getting involved in a group at work can not only enhance your personal interests and talents but also give you the opportunity to build up long lasting relationships and self esteem-boosting social connections with the people you work with.

Current data shows that volunteering some of your time might strengthen your happiness. You can start by guiding some of your employees with any problems they might need help with. Assisting others with goals they might have or issues, can emphasize your strengths and and take your mind off of any problems of your own.

It sounds a little unnatural, but when it comes to being happy long term, increases in your personal income cease to give much of a breakthrough once household income goes above the $50,000-a-year mark, according to a recent study from Princeton University. Jobs that have high pay tend to be more challenging, with many hours and more stress which leaves you with less energy and time that you could be using for things that really do buy happiness.

Establishing A High Performance Work Team

Establishing A High Performance Work Team
by Takara Alexis

Guiding a successful group begins with employing the right people. If imagination is all about looking at things differently, then putting together a group of people who obtain a variation of nationalities can create ideas and produce energy. But you have to be sure that your workers are on the same page as you socially.

If you are employed at a corporate environment, you should find a way to rearrange the work environment to be more appealing to workers. You don't want to enforce strict, uncompromising standards unless you strive to have bureaucratic, unrelenting products. Plenty of space, well lit areas, wall art, and maybe some silly decor are essential to aiding with the process of creativity.

People that are very creative themselves know that the creative process is not linear and acting like employees are workers in a contraption factory might very well backfire. Sometimes a manager lets his team help set their deadlines. This is a good idea because it gives you more ideas to work with and gets more people involved.

The more your employees know about whats happening in the world around them the more they can understand the decisions that clients make. Therefore, it's important you discuss whats currently going on in the economy with your team, as well as whats roiling in the industry. For inspiration and fun motivation you can also try organizing social events as well as hiring some guest speakers.

Allowing employees to take creative leaps while also realizing it is important to remain focused on the task at hand, can lead to big rewards. Don't focus all of your attention on short deadlines. It leaves less room for trial and error, as well as coming up with better ideas when a person knows they don't have that much time to complete a task.

Having to be creative when told can be psychologically and emotionally tiring. Like fifth-grade teachers all over, smart managers know the worth of recess in working off a lot of that built up energy. They know that a baseball is just as important to the office as a fax, that a pizza pie, applied in the right way, goes a great distance toward problem solving, and that when the team is lacking inspiration, a game of paintball may be the solution.

Be Smart With Saving

Be Smart With Saving
by Takara Alexis

You could be sitting there saying to yourself, "How is there anyway I can save money when I hardly have money for everyday life?" Whether you choose to believe it or not, this is a very common thing people say to themselves when having to think of ways to plan for their future. Initially saving money might appear like an alarming burden: You have to remember, though, the adventure of a million miles starts with a single step. You can keep taking it just one step at a time and have your own ideas for the future.

If you haven't established spending plan, you should do that as soon as possible. To start building financial stability and security you have to know how much money you have going out and coming in. The money that goes out has to include your own savings. Writing down your your savings as a cost like any other bill is known as paying yourself first.

In an ideal world you would of course like to save at least 10 percent of your gross pay. But, we all know this world is far from perfect. So 10 percent might be far fetched for you, but what is important is that you start with something. Once you have worked out a spending plan, and you see that your total expenses go above your total income, you can search for things you can cut spending money on. You can also look for ways to increase your income.

Pay yourself every time you get paid to make it easier on yourself and easier to save. If you are able to, have some of your check taken out and put into a savings account before you even get it. When you pay yourself first, you feel better because you are working for yourself and not only to pay your bills. Do not get frustrated if, because of an emergency, you have to eat into your savings.

That is the reason people have savings--to give them security financially. If something happens and you need to skip a week or two of saving because of an unexpected bill, you shouldn't give up. Do what you need to do and get back on track as soon as possible with saving.

Think of the goals you have. Whatever they happen to be, it's possible to reach them sooner if you start to save now. Saving is something that helps you with building security for your family as well as yourself, and it gives you peace of mind.

Married Women And Money

Married Women And Money
by Takara Alexis

With roughly 50% of marriages winding up in divorce, permitting your spouse to handle the expenses means taking a chance that could leave you financially open to attack. No one purposely plans to live as if she is just waiting for her marriage to implode, but you should realize that there are effortless and effective ways to keep yourself safe.

Look over any tax returns as well as investment agreements, real estate contracts and legal documents. Also, if every bank account you are apart of as well as credit cards, are in your husband's name, you will be a financial nobody if he is ever out of the picture. You should open a bank account and credit card under your name. You don't want any surprises in your family's money situation so get a credit report annually.

A post marriage compromise can guard any equity accumulated after the wedding, including any inheritance. Make sure that you are put down on the deed to your home as part owner or that the house is specified as property of the community.

Sometimes a woman who isn't working doesn't feel comfortable joining in any financial decision making. For your safety, be advised of how the money is coming in and where it goes to. Many couples take turns when having to pay bills on a yearly basis. Go to any meetings that have an investment planner, attorney or accountant. If there ever is a problem, you will have the system of connections you require to make valuable decisions.

Be sure that both you and your spouse each have adequate life insurance, a will and of course a living trust. You should consider saving some money for long-term care (women typically live longer then men). Also try not neglecting your own retirement-if are filing a joint return with your husband, you can put in up to $4,000 a year towards a spousal IRA.

Budgeting For Your Baby

Budgeting For Your Baby
by Takara Alexis

One way parents that are expecting are able to prepare themselves for a new addition in their lives is to put aside time to evaluate their budgets. Too regularly new parents are alarmed when they realize how much a new baby is going to cost financially. Once a family gets the news that they are expecting a child, it is necessary to discuss their income and go over a new budget. Having a baby is an amazing time in life. You don't want to worry about money and finances regarding giving your child what they need.

Parents usually consider only the very basic expenses while expecting a baby. However, you also need to think about the costs of diapers and food, as well as furniture and new toys. Also, baby-proofing your house can cause a tiny dent in your finances. So consider all of this. Typically, a couple can expect to spend anywhere from $150,000 to $200,000 on their child from the time they are born to the age of 18.

Since babies require specific types of groceries you need to factor in the cost. Usually it will cost up to 100 dollars each month unless your baby has special dietary needs. If that is the case you will probably be spending more then that. Also the cost will vary depending on if the child will have formula or if they are breastfed from the start.

Using cloth diapers can greatly reduce costs when you are having a child. Even though disposable diapers are very accommodating , they can cost parents $1500 to $2300 from birth until around the time the kid is potty trained. Further more, if you use cloth diapers, you are picking the option of going the green, as reusable diapers made of cloth cause less damage to the environment.

It is necessary to factor in the amount of money you will spend on furniture and toys when budgeting for your baby. You will need a car seat, stroller and crib for your baby. When you purchase this stuff prior to your baby being born you will have them when you need them and, you will have a bigger understanding of how much money you'll be working with when your newborn arrives.

Additionally, do not forget to include any loss of income when one parent has to stay home for parental leave. Even though many employers allow parental leave for one parent, most people choose to take more time off then the given amount. Also, it's always a great idea to begin saving for your child's education as soon as you are able to.

Nursing Home Costs Are Rising

Nursing Home Costs Are Rising
by Takara Alexis

America's elderly have specific needs and their family and loved ones have constantly paid a large price for long-term medical assistance. The monetary and emotional impact of an increased stay in a nursing home or other type of care facility can be very pricey.

Even thought there is an increase in health aid costs for the elderly, there are plenty of consumers that aren't aware of the benefits that come with long-term care insurance. Most long-term policies cover nursing facilities as well as in-home care.

The House and Senate have started to discuss long-term care insurance in a few different bills aimed at making the insurance easier to afford and more sensible. These efforts reach a growing concern by citizens, lawmakers and other groups about how affordable and available long term care insurance in America is.

The suggested legislation also shows a growing concern regarding rising costs of healthcare and their impact on Medicare and Medicaid. While it is unclear if the bills will make any progress, they're packed with ideas from Democrats and Republicans on how to boost the number of Americans who use long-term care insurance.

A few of the bills also ease the Medicaid benefit rules when it comes to long term care. In the advanced version of the rules, any benefits that are received from long-term care insurance won't go against Medicaid eligibility. The hope is that many citizens will be reassured about getting long-term care insurance, which will minimize the concern Medicaid and Medicare may have.

Now that healthcare prices are going up, long-term care insurance could possibly offer relief after many years of large bills and debt. Reasonable coverage can depend on the situation of your finances as well as your retirement plan, so consult with financial expert that can help you select the right policy for you.

A Beautiful Wedding A Beautiful You

How You Can Look Amazing On Your Wedding Day
by Takara Alexis

Looking stunning at your wedding means being glamorous, calm, and ready to make a new existence with the person that you chose to spend your life with. Your hair, nails, makeup, dress - and the way you look in it - are all pieces you need when developing into the bride you hope to be on that happy day. Obviously photos taken on your wedding day stay in your life forever, so it is absolutely necessary to feel and look your best.

The wedding dress is one of the most substantial items included your wedding plans, so you must make sure you take a good amount of time to pick one that fits you - not your mom, not your best friend, and not your bridesmaids. When that day comes, you'll need a dress that you can stand, sit and dance in without thinking about "wardrobe malfunctions" that may cause you discomfort. Permit a decent amount of time if your deciding that you want the dress made. But even if buy it somewhere "off the rack," you need to allow time for tailoring and etc.

You should get your nails professionally done the day prior to the wedding. This is one thing you won't want to do too soon before the wedding. Decrease the possibility of broken nails, or if applying nails, one coming off. Your hands will be a major focus of attention when showing everyone that new ring.

Makeup is the last thing you will have to stress over, and that comes on the actual wedding day. Do not try transforming yourself into a different looking person with crazy eye makeup or flashy lipstick. Make your true self look even better!

Apply your make up with a little bit of a heavy hand so that when you are taking your pictures you don't seem to be too washed out looking. If the wedding happens to be at night it is a good idea to put on your make up as if you are going to a restaurant or club at night. Don't over do it though! Also keep away from dark red lip colors and way too pale pink. Any type of frosted shadows or lipsticks is a no-no!

To avoid messy clumping you should buy fresh mascara. It's also a good idea to not try any new brands right before your wedding in case you have an allergic reaction to it. You definitely don't want to walk down the isle all blotchy and bumpy!

You shouldn't be out partying the night before your wedding. A good nights sleep is just what you need. If you're having a bachelorette party or rehearsal dinner, make sure it is over early enough. Drink in moderation if you are going to at all. A crazy hangover and some bloodshot eyes won't be a good look on your wedding.

To avoid having to squeeze into your beautiful wedding dress, you shouldn't stuff yourself the night before. Also, taking a nice long walk to try calming your nerves. A nice warm bath and a hot cup of herbal tea should really soothe your excitement and help with any pre-nuptial jitters you may have.

A Happier More Effective You

A Happier More Effective You
by Takara Alexis

The challenge is not getting better when is comes to time management, but rather about energy management, which you can consistently grow and regularly renew. As people, we need four very different kinds of energy to perform at our peak: spiritual, emotional, physical and mental. They aren't sufficient by themselves, and they all have an impact on one another. All of them are required for a happy balanced life.

It's pretty obvious that the bigger the demands happen to be in our lives, the more there is the need for renewal. We just so happen to do the opposite. Try taking a break at least every hour and a half. You can get a lot of revival by completely disconnecting from work even if its for a short period of time. Alone time can be just the key you need to recharge your batteries.

You should pay attention to how you feel, moment to moment. How you are feeling profoundly impacts how you behave. If you observe yourself moving into weak emotions, use this tactic: If you are feeling compelled to do something, don't. Smile instead and take a deep breath and hold off acting on it until you're capable of thinking straight. Doing so will lead to a much more effective outcome.

Stop attempting to so much at once. You can not, comfortably or effectively. It's a stressful hassle. Instead, do as much as possible in small uninterrupted steps. Center your attention intensely for no more than 50 minutes, and then go for a break. At the slightest, do what is most important first every day, for at no more then 60 minutes.

When you are under pressure when it comes to solving a problem, you might try doing whatever it takes, without thinking of the outcome. Instead of doing that you should ask yourself this simple question: "What's the appropriate action here?" The more thoroughly you are with decision making, the better the outcome will be.

The Price Caregivers Pay

The Price Caregivers Pay
by Takara Alexis

Becoming a caregiver can really have an effect on your finances. Even if the person obtaining care has ample income, becoming a caregiver could require you to diminish your hours at work or quit. If the person requiring care does not have adequate income, you could have to cover certain needs or have to take that person in. Social Security, Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Medicare may supplying them help, but certifying can be tough and complicated.

Continual care insurance can supply coverage for home health and nursing home needs, but it has to be in place before the insured needs that aid. A lot of people purchase a long term care policy when in their 40s, even though some financial experts recommend doing it sooner. Pricing for long term care policies changes with how old the person is and how healthy they are. If there is a question of capability to pay out of pocket for years of nursing home expenses, you might want to talk about long term care insurance with your significant other, your parents and anyone else you might be responsible for.

You and your family could also want to consider disability insurance. Being as there are advances in medicine, circumstances that once ended in death now often end in disability. The individual and family sometimes loses the income that individual would have accrued, while having the same, or greater, living expenses for that person. Social Security supplies money to permanently disabled individuals, but those payments almost never come near replacing the wages or salary that individual earned before they became disabled.

The researchers determined that caregivers who provided more assistance with tasks such as managing money and medications reported more stress than caregivers who were involved primarily in assisting with physical needs.

It is said that female caregivers tended to supply more support with simple physical needs, while male caregivers seem more likely to assist with things like financial help. Nevertheless, men and women that are caregivers reported that dealing with a care recipient's cognitive and emotional complications is more stressful than dealing with physical disputes.

Cool And Calm Or Careless

Cool And Calm Or Careless
by Takara Alexis

Passive investment control could be the Rodney Dangerfield
of financial procedures - having no consideration. Current
investment tactics have been the focus of attention for a
long time, many investors are astonished to find there is a
different way to market timing, stock picking, and similar
faster-paced, more enchanting procedures.

Active investment management uses examination,
investigation and analysis to select investments that the
consumer knows will outlast the usual market indexes.
Passive investment management invests in expanded market
sectors and approves the normal returns those consumers
produce.

The research, investigation and analysis inherent in open
investment management enter at a price. Active management
frequently results in higher turnover in the portfolio,
probably turning into trading expenses, commissions and
taxes. Those expenses are measured against the greater gains
that active investing could have over a passive scheme; in
other words, is the potential for added gain value the
possible certainty of additional money.

Passive investing pursues to take most of the
prognostication away from the investment method, as well as
the probably emotional force. Regular evaluation and
re-evaluation of investments may cause you to not pay any
attention to many little fads and to lose sight of your
private big picture. It can be easy to get tied up in the
upcoming wonderful investment strategy or choice. avoiding
the hype in favor of the buy-and-hold maneuver could help
keep your portfolio in line.

Passive investment management doesn't mean acquiring
investments and then disregarding them. Your portfolio will
have to be realigned frequently to ensure those sectors
behaving better than apprehended do not become too much of a
share of your invested property. Differences made in your
personal affairs - separation, having a child, marriage,
death of a loved one - might also need changes to your
investment strategy.

It also doesn't mean passing on the aid of an investment
expert or monetary team of advisers. These professionals are
able to help you determine your investment goals, the
quantity of money you need to reach them and the best
solutions for accumulating that expense. They play an
valuable role in keeping you track, specifically when
wandering becomes most tantalizing.

Many investments include risk, whether chosen as part of an
effective strategy or a passive one. Passive investing does
not completely protect your portfolio. On the reverse side,
past accomplishment is not symbolic of future feat, as
having-style speakers might have you accept.

Eventually, you have to evaluate the smaller costs, style
density and tax efficiency of a passive investment tactic
concerning the potential bigger returns of a working
investment strategy. Your financial consultant can represent
a substantial role in helping you chose what approach truly
fits your investment time horizon, investment experience,
and risk tolerance.

Four Simple Tips For Choosing A Credit Card

Four Simple Tips For Choosing A Credit Card
by Takara Alexis

So many people typically have a never ending of credit card offers piled in their mail box every day. The insightful buyers will know that every credit card invitation may be different, and will require some time to fully analyze each offer prior to picking the best one. If you are looking to broaden your line of credit with a new account, these are some helpful tips you might want to consider.

1. The Interest Rate as the biggest factor having an affect on if an offer for credit seems reasonable, the APR tied to a card can ultimately be the ground breaker. Seeing that many cards infuse interest monthly, you'd take the APR and split it by 12 to get the absolute cost to obtain money. This character is what acquirement's would cost every month, unless paid in full. Analyzing the different terms of an interest rate might give you some nice results. Once you look over a card's conditions in greater detail, the given offer that might have seemed like the number one deal may not be what its cracked up to be.

2. The Annual Fee Cards with annual fees used to be an alternative, and not mandatory. With current card requirements going on, however, cards that never had annual fees might have them soon, and other fees are coming into effect. This new fad will make fee-free accounts even more appealing, and that could be the start of a card that is solely handed out to the most adequate consumers.

3. When you compare credit cards based on annual fees, you should of course understand when and how the fee will be announced. It could possibly take place at the beginning of the 12 months, or it can be pinned on as a charge at the end of the year. Is there any way the fee can be waived with a certain amount of transactions or a minimum fee expense? If you agree that a fee is not enough of a deterrent to stop you from getting a card, you can always call the card's customer service department and ask about having the cards fee waived for at least the first 12 months.

4. Rewards A mark of a great card action used to be compared in how many awards an effective account holder could possible accumulate. The times of receiving no cost flights all over and luxury hotel stays in exchange for getting 12 months worth of business costs possibly could be over, however. Credit card carriers are saying that as an aftermath of current economic complications and the new direction, their winnings are losing value fast, or are becoming even more difficult to exchange for awards that consumers can't get enough of.

Some Simple Solutions For Picking A Credit Card

Some Simple Solutions For Picking A Credit Card
by Takara Alexis

So many people typically have a never ending of credit card
offers piled in their mail box every day. The insightful
buyers will know that every credit card invitation may be
different, and will require some time to fully analyze each
offer prior to picking the best one. If you are looking to
broaden your line of credit with a new account, these are
some helpful tips you might want to consider.

1. The Interest Rate as the biggest factor having an affect
on if an offer for credit seems reasonable, the APR tied to
a card can ultimately be the ground breaker. Seeing that
many cards infuse interest monthly, you'd take the APR and
split it by 12 to get the absolute cost to obtain money.
This character is what acquirement's would cost every month,
unless paid in full. Analyzing the different terms of an
interest rate might give you some nice results. Once you
look over a card's conditions in greater detail, the given
offer that might have seemed like the number one deal may
not be what its cracked up to be.

2. The Annual Fee Cards that have annual fees were once an
exception, and not a rule. With new card regulations
emerging, however, cards that once didn't have annual fees
could have them soon, and other costs are appearing. This
latest craze will cause fee-free accounts to be more
alluring, and that could be the card only available to the
most efficient users.

3. If you are comparing cards based on their annual fee,
make sure that you realize when and how the charge will be
appointed. Is it going take place at the beginning of the
year, or will it be added on as a fee when the year is over?
Is there a way to cut the fee with a certain amount of
transactions or a lower fee expense? If you think that a fee
is not enough of a motive to keep you away from a credit
card, try calling the customer service department and ask if
you can have it put off for the 12 months. A lot of
companies will want your business so bad they will allow it.

4. Rewards A mark of a wonderful offer used to be sized in
how many awards a current account holder could win. The
times of getting no cost flights all over the world and
fancy hotel visits in exchange for accumulating 12 months
worth of business costs might be done with, however.
Consumers are announcing that as a result of monetary
hardships and the new requirements, their rewards are
decreasing in value pretty fast, or are becoming more
difficult to cash in for rewards that they really desire.

Six Tips To Shop Smarter

1. If you are doing all of your shopping in one store,be careful! Studies show that when all purchases are done in one place consumers are more likely to buy more. This is because of the "what the heck" effect. If you are planning to spend four hundred dollars on clothes, what is another fifty dollar pair of jeans going to do to hurt your finances any more?

2. Bargains may not always be cheaper. Clinical studies shows us that we tend to make more purchases when merchandise is marked down. Also, we have a tendency to fall for schemes such as "three low payments of 29.99"

3. Always try to pay with cash and put credit cards on hold if possible. When you use cash you see the amount of money that you're spending as your wallet gets smaller. Credit cards on the other hand can be deceptive and often times you can fall prey to the attitude that "I already have debt might as well add more."

4. Studies show that your emotional state can have an effect on the amount of items you purchase. Being in a miserable mood can cause impulsivity which leads to spending money on items that might not be necessary.

5. For most customers shopping is a way of socializing and exercising to relieve tension. It may be a good idea to take up some hobbies to keep your mind off of spending and shopping. You can try jogging or a book club that doesn't entail spending money.

6. Watch out when using your debit card because it can encourage more spending on small ticket merchandise that do not seem like a big deal at the time but add up after the fact.

Collection Agencies Step Up To Bat As Young Adults Slip More And More Into Debt

For American people just starting out, the most current analysis of trends in our economy points to the fact that incomes are decreasing. Many financial experts and leaders in the collections industry have reason to believe that this paradigm shift will be a permanent one. Out of all of the demographics in the United States, young adults are the most uninsured when it comes to health care coverage. A staggering thirty percent of these individuals have absolutely no insurance. And even though a large portion of uninsured young people are employed, many have just begun their careers and work at low wage jobs for employers who offer limited or no health care benefits.

From the perspective of the collections industry, this new economic progression has the capacity to have massive ramifications. With this many young adults currently scrambling to pay for day to day expenses, let alone medical bills, experts are predicting that their personal debt will grow to massive proportions. As health care prices spike it is crucial to bear in mind that uninsured young people are twice as likely as those with privatized health insurance to have no education beyond high school. Not only will these people not have coverage, but their lack of education will limit their earnings potential in the future as the job market grows more and more competitive. This, coupled with young people's financial inexperience makes them prime territory for debt collectors.

Yet another factor is the credit industry itself. With the CARD Act and America's financial woes, stricter credit standards have been imposed and will most likely make it more difficult for many young people to get credit or loans for "good debts," any type of productive debt that could improve an individual's situation such as a mortgage for a home or a loan for post graduate education. As bill collectors scramble to wrap their heads around all of the economic changes, advances in technology make bill collection practices and their regulations (The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act) seem dated and ambiguous. One blaring example of this fact is the existence of cell phones. The FDCPA was written in the 1970s and as a result does not have stipulations guiding cell phone calls, and it is estimated that over forty percent of consumers do not have landlines at this moment. Out of everybody, young people are the least likely to have landlines and therefore the hardest to get in touch with.

One way that collection industry leaders are trying to address this issue is by crafting more methodical profiling systems to help debt collection companies when they are trying to collect on these accounts with an active cell phone number. Better, more efficient communications with credit bureaus will aid them in figuring out if the debtor has obtained a new address or phone number.

Because this is a time to think outside the box, the collections industry can be likened to the wild west. It seems that these days, anything goes. But one thing is for sure: with changes accelerating faster and faster, the smartest debt collection agencies are gearing up for younger adults, attempting to use the ways that these individuals prefer to do business and communicate. Some debt collectors are considering text messages, and many agencies have recently added online systems to their businesses that permits debtors to make payments over the internet, rather than deal with a debt collector in person or via United States Postal Mail.

The Leaner, Meaner, IRS Has More Power Now And Is More Angry

According to the new Treasury Secretary, Timothy Geithner, the infamous Internal Revenue Service will be stepping up its efforts to collect what they are owed as taxpayers complete their 2009 returns. That’s right. Today’s IRS is even meaner and more powerful than ever before. According to the IRS, billions of dollars in income tax assessments have not been paid by American citizens. If they are not collected, yearly taxes that go unpaid will continue to accumulate each year with penalty and interest charges. These all ball up together to create an inventory of “tax debts” which approached a massive three hundred billion at the end of the fiscal year.

As many of us are painfully aware, the IRS has a complicated process to collect on taxes that have gone unpaid by getting in touch with taxpayers through telephone calls, foreboding notices, and in person. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner, himself an accused tax evader estimates that a total of three hundred and thirty two million dollars will be devoted to the new IRS enforcement efforts. That includes one hundred and twenty eight million dollars to add about eight hundred new IRS employees to go after tax evaders.


In these hard economic times where even Uncle Sam owes a massive amount of money, this all makes sense. “The US Treasury is desperate for cash and the IRS has been informed to get tougher in collecting old debts” says Anthony E. Parent, founder of IRS Medic. And they mean business. The IRS has hired a number of new and very forceful Revenue Officers to come to people’s houses, businesses, or even crash a Rotary Club meeting or two in hopes of finding suspected delinquent tax payers. Parent warns us that these new employees may be overly aggressive in hopes of impressing their superiors and obtaining a promotion.

For the first time in American history, taxpayers’ primary residences can now be harvested by the new, lean, mean IRS. They were not able to seize retirement accounts in the past, but this too, has changed. “The IRS is getting bolder” says Parent. “They can and will clear out a taxpayers entire retirement savings.”

The moral? Anybody that owes money to the IRS needs to take a proactive stance not wait for the IRS to come and get them! “We have had clients who have approached us after the IRS has gone after them. This makes helping them a great deal harder” he says. “If you get help early in the game, you have more options. Never ignore the IRS.”

What Is A Credit Score And How Is It Calculated?

As of 2009, bankruptcy filings that were new increased by over thirty five percent in only one year. Although it may seem like a dismal sign, one good way to look at it is that all of these people are on their own paths to rebuilding their credit scores and ultimately, financial freedom. We have all seen the commercials with "people just like you and me" prodding us to visit whatever website and find out what our credit score is. We know that if the number is high, it's a good thing. It it's low, it could mean trouble finding a loan, getting a job, or a new place to stay. But just what is a credit score?

Your credit score is summed up in one (hopefully!!!) three digit number that is formed from a statistical analysis of your personal credit file. Credit scores are here to give you a major headache, and for the banks to determine your ability to take on debt and repay a credit obligation. That's why credit card businesses and banks will assess your score to figure out how much credit they want to offer you and at what interest rate.

So how is your score determined, you may be asking? The Fair Issac Corporation, or as you may know them, FICO, was the first group to come up with a scoring system in 1958. The report recently underwent a makeover (FICO 08) but it's not used by all credit reporting agencies. In this new, improved FICO 08 version, minor credit delinquencies are not stacked against you when you for the most part do a good job repaying your money.

A credit score asks five questions. What is your payment history like? How much money do you currently owe? Just how long have you had credit? How many times have there been credit inquiries made on your report? And what type of credit do you have? So let's say, for the sake of example, that you screwed up. Just how long will negative marks have an impact on your credit score? Well, that depends on the type of information. Plain old negative information can stay on your credit report for up to seven years. In the case of bankruptcy filing it can stay up to ten years. Here's where we get into the creepy big brother aspect of credit reports. Every individual has a personal credit file, and what this means is that the impact from person to person will affect each differently.

If you are considering filing for bankruptcy, concerned about your financial situation, or just want to know more and feel more secure, it is in your best interest to seek out the advice of a financial planner. One that works for a fee is preferable, because they will have your best interest at heart and not their commission instead. Good luck in your financial journey!

Shady Debt Consolidation Promises To Be On The Lookout For

If you are being inundated with phone calls from debt collectors demanding money, and advertisements that blare "get out of debt now," debt consolidation and debt settlement businesses may be looking very good to you at this current moment. With debt settlement and consolidation centers, you combine your debts and pay a portion of the total. However, many of these businesses may be just too good to be true.

Any debt consolidation place that seeks to satisfy your debt for "cents on the dollar" should be considered dubious. After all, it is difficult, near to impossible to make and keep a promise like that without being aware of the details of how long you have owed the money, how much money you owe, and to which creditors. These debt consolidation companies aren't aware of your past payment history. They don't know what creditors you owe. Also, each person has different assets that can be used to satisfy their own debts. You can never make a blanket statement.

Debt settlement centers that guarantee that you will be debt free in three months should also be taken with a grain of salt. Again, the business is unaware of how much you owe, or who you owe it to. Additionally, some obligations, such as student loans, child support and back taxes cannot be covered in a debt settlement plan.

Companies that claim that you can not obtain help without paying an upfront fee or deposit may be less than reputable. While some debt consolidation businesses may accept an upfront fee of as little as fifty dollars, generally, the person in debt pays the debt settlement company a percentage of the debt owed, often fifteen percent, for negotiating the deal.

Generally, the firm will negotiate a payment between you and the businesses and people you know and will accumulate enough money to make that payment. The debt settlement company will hold on to the money until you reach the settlement amount.

In the meantime, your creditors are not being paid. Unfortunately, while you are accumulating that payment, you are not paying your bills and you may be delving further and further into more debt. Instead of taking this gamble check out a not for profit credit counseling firm that might charge you only twenty dollars, if anything. Instead of billing the debtor, these non profit counselors will generally get what is called a fair share percentage payment from your creditors after your debts have been paid.

Finally, and most important, do NOT automatically trust in the debt settlement counselor who let's you know that "We will handle everything. You should stop communicating with your creditors." Despite the thought that the idea of not speaking to creditors and ignoring their mail sounds like it could be a real load off of your back, ultimately, it is your debt, your money owed and your credit score at hand. Never send in a change of address form directing all creditor mail to a debt settlement company.

It is important to bear in mind that the creditor is the one with whom you signed your contractual agreement. When all of your statements are being sent to the debt settlement company, you relinquish that control. You do not know how much in interest and late fees are being tacked on. You also won't know if your debt has been moved into collection.

A few final words of wisdom. If you believe that you need debt settlement, try debt management first. Call up your creditors and request suspended payment, reduced interest or any other payment terms that may suit your financial situation in a more favorable light. Even though it might seem like a long shot, or a pain, it is always very important if you are about to miss a payment to call your creditor and say "Listen, I can't make this month's payment. I'd like to work something out with you."

15 Steps To Better Finances

Financially, times have been tough for all of us. Organizing your budget and giving your finances a good spring cleaning could be very helpful right about now. Below are fifteen tips for getting started. First, we will tackle your debt situation, or dig up some additional cash, then we will figure out ways to utilize that new found money.
1. Check your credit card interest rates. Even if you pay off your credit card bills each month, it is a good idea to double check your rates in the case that you hit a rough financial patch and have to delay paying your cards in full for a couple of months. Many credit card companies raised their rates in the last year, but as a result, they did lose a lot of customers. A few of these companies are trying to win customers with a good history back, so you can find a good bargain out there with the help of internet search tools like bankrate.com.


2. Set up autopay on your debts. This is something you want to get on right away. Just one late payment can hit your credit tremendously, and you could end up seeing your interest rates shoot sky high. Even though the new credit card law puts more controls on credit card companies, they can raise your rates for at least six months when you pay late. Additionally, you have the capacity to even earn points if you pay your bills on a credit card with reward points. If you are not allowed to use credit to pay some of your debts, set up an autopay utilizing online banking. That way, you will never have to worry about a late payment.

3. Check your reward cards. Many credit card companies reduced their reward benefits before the new credit card bill took effect, but some have introduced cards with better rewards as they look for the best customers. So if you do have good credit, take advantage of it and compare your rewards with the new cards on the market.

4. Review your cable deal. Cable companies are constantly running new deals that introduce new channels or internet services. Go to their website and check out the deals that are available now. You might be able to get a better one!

5. Review your wireless bill. Look over your wireless usage and be sure that you have a plan that meets your needs. Can you lower the amount of minutes you use, resulting in a lower bill? Or should you buy extra time instead of letting those extra minutes rack up?

6. Check the deal on your home phone. Nowadays, more and more telephone companies offer unlimited long distance. Also, many offer package deals that include wireless and cable. Figure out which one is the best considering how much you use wireless, landline and cable services.

7. Look over your home and car insurance policies. With home prices plummeting, you might be able to save some cash by lowering your insurance to match the current value of your home. You might also be able to lower costs by increasing deductibles.


8. Shop for new home and auto policies. After you look over your policies, take a while to shop for new policies. You might discover that you can save money by switching insurers. Check with Insurance.com begin your search.

9. Spend your gift cards. Don’t let them just expire because you forgot about them! Use them to buy items you may need right away. If they hang out in your wallet too long, you could even end up losing them. Look at it this way: if you don’t spend the money, consider it a gift to the store or credit card company from which it was bought.

10. Check your credit reports. For free, once a year by using annualcreditreport.com. It is much easier to fix a problem the sooner you catch it. Also, it will help you to be vigilant on your watch for identity theft.

11. Fix any credit problems. If you do find any errors, or questionable accounts in your credit report, work on it immediately. You will receive instructions that explain how to question errors on your report when you receive your copy.

12. Increase your retirement savings. Now that you have a little more money, increase your automatic savings into your retirement account! An increase as small as 1% a year can really make a difference.

13. Review your investments. Look into them, see how they are doing and see how your investments add up.
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14. Rebalance your investments. Make sure you have the right percentage invested in stocks or stock mutual funds, bond mutual funds, or bonds and cash.

15. Set up an appointment with a financial planner. It is a good idea to sit down with a financial planner once a year to look over what you are doing with your money, set achievable goals and make sure that your money is in the right spots so you have the opportunity to meet those goals. Seek out a planner who is fee based rather than commission based. When a planner receives money based on commission, you may be getting advice that helps the planner earn more money, not you.

Looking through and organizing your finances this year is a lot more important as we bounce back from one of the worst downturns this country has ever experienced. While it is a good idea to look over your finances every year, it is crucial to review them now.

Debt Collection Agency Forced To Shell Out 1.5 Million Dollars For Harassing Phone Calls

In a mind-blowing turn of events, bill collectors from Advanced Call Center Technologies LLC have to shell out a whopping one point five million dollars for rude and vulgar voicemails that were sent to a man's mobile phone. According to sources, the company sent out eight threatening and demeaning voice mails on Allen Jones' phone attempting to collect what it claimed he owed on a credit card.

Most of the voice mails were ridden with rude language and horrifying racial slurs. "This is your mother (curse) wakeup call you little lazy (curse) (curse)," a collector was quoted as saying in one message. "Get your (racial slur) (curse) up and go pick some mother (curse) cotton fields," said another. Jones is African-American."This isn't acceptable. No one should have to experience what I had to go through," he said.

Mark Frenkel, one of Jones'' attorneys was quoted as saying: "If we did not have the messages on tape, no one would have ever believed that this happened." "This is without a doubt, definitely, the most disgusting collection lawsuit I have ever seen," Dean Malone, Jones'' other lawyer, added. Jones took Advanced Call Center Technologies to court over the harassing calls. And last Friday, a Dallas County jury awarded him of the biggest verdicts of its type - 50,000 dollars in mental anguish and one point five million dollars in punitive damages.

"We made a statement today" said Jones, "and the statement is we will not tolerate abusive debt collectors." According to the attorneys, employees from Advanced Call Center Technologies confessed to the calls, but it remains unclear if they are still with the company and whether it will appeal.

All the while, Jones has always disputed the debt and alleges that he paid it, and the sum in question was a small amount of two hundred dollars. It seems unfathomable that this man had to suffer like this for such a minuscule amount, and now, thanks to the American court system, and justice, it is.

BMI Turns To Ring Tones To Collect Royalties

It appears as though the music industry has found a new strategy to cash in on royalties. As music lovers are well aware, at first these companies tried to sue individual users for illegally downloading music. But it is painfully clear that this approach to recover from major financial loss has destroyed their image in the public eye.

In lieu of lowering the price of albums in order to go up against the free music circulating through the internet, the music industry has turned to collection agencies who are now taking legal action against cellphone companies over royalties from ring tones. They claimed that ring tones counted as public performances so cell phone companies should be obligated to pay performance fees. The courts quickly renounced this claim.

After this unsuccessful attempt to collect money, Broadcast Music Inc is now suing T-Mobile over ring back tones, contesting that the cell phone company is selling them without agreeing to licensing agreements. Instead of ring tones, which play out loud when someone calls a cellphone, ring back tones play expressly to the person calling. That is to say, instead of hearing a cellphone dialing tone, the caller will hear a song chosen by the cell owner.

Critics are quick to point out the apparent irony of this lawsuit. If ringtones, which can be heard by anyone around a cellphone, do not constitute public performance, it seems ludicrous to sue the mobile carriers over a ringback tone that can be heard only by the caller. With record companies suffering from huge financial losses, it seems as though they are grasping at straws in order to collect any money that they possibly can.

It does not appear that lowering the cost of CDs, DVDs and other media is an plan that has occurred to the music industry. There are still quite a few fans out there that prefer to collect and own the actual products, but with prices constantly spiking, downloading music for free seems very appealing. Many CDs generally go on sale for about seventeen dollars.

A few bands have bypassed the issue of free music downloads through creative tactics. Radiohead, an alternative rock band, built a website where fans can obtain the mp3s for free, or for a donation. Nine Inch Nails' Trent Reznor made a similar site. The music industry's unsuccessful lawsuits and declining public image leads one to believe that thinking outside of the box and lower pricing may be more effective than bullying money out of mobile carriers and individual users.

Debt Collection Scam- An Oldie But A Goodie!

Even though it's an oldie, apparently it's still a goodie. Enjoying a recent boost in popularity, the fake debt collector scam still fools unknowing victims.

First, you will get a phone call from a number that will not be recognizable. Sometimes, it will seem legitimate, but ultimately, not familiar. When you get the call, the person calling will let you know that they are a debt collector with so and so debt collection agency, and that this is an attempt to collect debt. At times, the phonies have been known to claim that they are working in addition to a local lawyer to get your delinquent account settled. The conman will tell you that you have accumulated a large amount of debt from a previous account. Typically, the crooks will tell you that you potentially owe them thousands, but if you are willing to settle, they will "settle: for, oh say, five hundred dollars. And could you wire the money via Western Union?

An interesting hint of ingenuity on the part of the scam artists is that many times these calls will arrive on a late Friday evening, or afternoon. When they call at these times, any government offices that you might report this to will be closed.

On numerous occasions the phony debt collectors will be calling from outside of the United States. An example of this was a recent scam involving a call center in India. Using services in order to mask their number, call centers located outside of the country may even choose a number from an area code nearby to where you live.

If you have gotten a call from a bill collector that you feel might be a scheme, it is important to be vigilant. Ask your debt collector for a written statement of your debt. If they won't provide you with written proof, don't fork out any money to this suspicious agency. If you feel as though you may have been victimized by a phony bill collector scam, it is necessary to file a report with the Attorney General's office in your state. It is important to collect as much information as you can to provide more details in your complaint.