FEATHERING YOUR RETIREMENT NEST

FEATHERING YOUR RETIREMENT NEST

What will you look for as you approach your \golden\ years? Will
it be an affordable condo on the golf course with room for the
grandchildren to visit? Must it be close to friends and family
or new \senior\ friends living close by? Should it be near good
medical facilities?

The average householder 65 or above earns only two-fifths as
much as earners age 45-54 (who are at their peak earning years).
Even though many \goldenagers\ are now free from the
encumbrances of children and work-related expenses, the costs of
daily life must be planned. Income must be protected to assure
its availability for household expenses and higher health care
costs.

The \goldenagers\ have even more than lifestyle questions to
consider in choosing their retirement nest. You should take a
look at the effect of state tax structures on your projected
retirement income. It\'s important to look at the following key
tax areas:

TAXATION OF EARNED AND INVESTMENT INCOME If you plan
to continue working, you need to take a look at the way states
vary in taxing your income. Some states do not make an exception
for age, some give tax breaks and some do not tax earned income
at all for \goldenagers.\ PENSION INCOME TAXATION
Many \goldenagers\ depend on the income from military,
government or private pension plans to survive. Some states
exempt all pension income from taxation , others exempt only
certain types of pension income and other states place caps on
non-taxable pension income. TAXES ON SOCIAL SECURITY
BENEFITS Social Security benefits are important to all
\goldenagers.\ Some states do not tax this benefit at all, some
follow federal tax formulas for determining taxes on the
benefits, but still other states have their own formulas to
determine the tax due. PROPERTY TAX Some states
offer advantages to \goldenagers\ such as homestead exemptions
that can be helpful in reducing property tax burdens. Remember
to check the tax laws regarding taxes on personal property,
especially cars and boats. SALES TAX RATES Nearly
every state, and often localities within each state, tax
clothing, gas, household goods and sometimes even food and
drugs. When you budget your fixed income for these items,
remember to consider the sales taxes as you move to your
retirement nest. ESTATE TAXES Even though these taxes
will not affect your cost of living as a \goldenager,\ they
should be considered as you build your nest. Some states tax the
surviving spouse on a portion of the inheritance which in
another state would pass to him or her without being taxed.
States are studying how to make their financial environments
\friendlier\ to seniors so watch for changes in state estate tax
codes.

A decision for your \golden years\ cannot be based on any one
tax consideration. You need to examine your overall financial
situation and consider the options in the attempt to make your
retirement nest free from financial stress.

Mistakes of beginning futures and forex traders

There are many so called opportunities on the internet promising vast riches for little work in the area of forex trading and futures trading. Statistically 95% of beginning forex traders fail and quit. In this article I hope to provide a little sane advice, to increase this percentage for the good of all.



If you are like me you were attracted to futures or forex trading because both financial arenas offer highly leveraged results, which means that your profit \potential\ in the short term seems to be very high.



Human emotion such as hope and greed trigger at this stage as you see an opportunity to escape your daily grind, and get a better life for you and your family. There is nothing wrong with this, but it is at this point that I need to inject a dose of reality.



Remember - 95% of all beginning forex traders fail! I\'m going to try your patience and repeat this.



95% of all beginning forex traders fail! This also applies to futures trading and just about any form of speculation.



The exact reason for this is that they have been sold an idea - a potential for profit and they just look at the goal. Now this is fine, but all goals to be achieved involve doing something.



There are no free lunches in this world.



This is the point that is not confronted. You absolutely MUST confront this point if you want to have any chance of success.



We have a couple of things working against us and it\'s not just the skill of trading that needs to be developed.



1. We are not used to getting something for nothing. Even if we win in trading we will believe that we just got free money and will unconsciously give it back.



2. We do not have the experience, even though we may have the education.



Knowledge without experience is shaky!



Therefore, to counteract these negative factors, we must have at least 2 things in place.



1. Trade a demo account for at least a few months until you can profit consistently from that.



2. Discipline to follow a trading system



3. A Money Management plan and policy.



Without taking at least these steps you are on very shaky ground and could be heading for the 95% class very fast.



I want you to be in the 5%

Article Source: http://www.articledashboard.com

Graeme Sprigge is the webmaster of Emini Courses a web site reviewing Emini Day Trading Courses and Forex Trading Courses.

Why You Should Get Out of Debt Today?

The main reason for getting out of debt today, is because people with little or not debt have more control over their future:

1. They have more discretionary income, meaning that you won't be living pay check after pay check as you probably are right now. Can you even imagine how nice it is to be able to go to the Spa or for a nice dinner without having to put it in the credit card, but paying with your savings or extra money from your pay check?

2. They can afford to go in longer vacations or actually to go on vacations (period). My husband and I go on long vacations every year. We've gone to places like Fiji, New Zealand, Tahoe, Panama and we are going to Europe this year. It's so nice to go to new places and don't have to worry about how to pay the bill when we come back, because we've saved the money to pay for them in advance....

3. They can afford to plan the way to have one parent to stay home with their kids. When you don't have to pay so many monthly payments in credit cards, loans, etc; most likely the cost of paying a day care vs. you going or your spouse going to work doesn't make sense. That's why most people with little or not debt can afford to have one parent stay home with their kids.

4. They can save in advance to buy goodies... (cars, down payments for homes, appliances). Talking about not living pay check after pay check... What about buying your car and paying cash.... I know a lot of people that has done this and it feels great to be able to save some good money, buy a brand new car and don't have to worry about payments.

5. They have better credit, therefore, they don't need their own money to buy stuffs. Credit Scores are higher in people without debt, because they are not consider high risk consumers. When your credit score is good, (700+) you can pretty much buy anything you want, from houses to cars with the minimun interests and even with 0% down payment. Would you like to do this?

Copyright 2005 Excellentcreditnow.com - All Rights Reserved

Carmen Shearer is the President and CEO of S&S Financial Solutions. She has worked in the finance arena for over 10 years and holds two engineering degrees and an MBA from a branch of Harvard Business School. S&S Financial Solutions offers you credit repair, debt elimination programs and personal finance tools and information with a 90 days money back guarantee. For more credit related information go to: http://www.excellentcreditnow.com

Reverse Mortgages Funding Retirement

With people living longer and longer, funding retirement can become a stressful situation. Reverse mortgages can help home owners avoid worries about cash flow.



Reverse Mortgages



Reverse mortgages are essentially a method for turning the equity in your home into cash. Although there are various options, a typical reverse mortgage will provide you with a lump sum, monthly payments or a credit line based on the equity in your home. The mortgage will have a term of a certain number of years. Instead of making payments on the loan, the bank will become the owner of the percentage of your equity applied for the loan at the end of the term.



Reverse mortgages are only available to older applicants. Every person listed on the deed of the home must be 62 years of age or older. You must also use the home as your primary residence.



The decision to pursue a reverse mortgage can be a tricky one. The biggest issue is an emotional one. We are all mentally trained to buy a home and try to build equity over the years. With a reverse mortgage, we are making the mental leap to actually reduce the equity in our homes. While this may sound like a sensible method for using the nest egg equity, it makes you, me and everyone very nervous.



For some seniors, the reverse mortgage decision makes sense while it doesn't for others. To limit the potential for problems and scams, banks are required to have senior applicants meet with unbiased third parties to determine the benefits and downside of using reverse mortgages.



If you or your parents have reached retirement age and are facing cash flow problems, you need to become flexible in dealing with finances. Reverse mortgages may be one flexible option that makes sense for your particular situation. After all, you can't take the equity in a home with you.

Article Source: http://www.articledashboard.com

Dan Lewis is with www.gwhomeloans.com - a San Diego mortgage brokers providing San Diego home loans. Visit www.gwhomeloans.com/services.html to learn more about options on San Diego mortgages from a San Diego mortgage broker company.

Should You NOT Sell Your Home as a FSBO?

Selling your home yourself can save you thousands of dollars in commissions. However, that doesn't mean you should necessarily do it for the following reasons:



Demanding Work



Selling your home yourself is demanding. What if you spend enormous amounts of time, energy, and concentration in your business or profession? What if you have to travel a lot? Entertain a lot? Invest long hours? Do a great deal of study reading just to stay as good at your work tomorrow as you were today? People whose work life includes those sorts of demands probably don't need another project that requires time and attention.



My suggestion is that if your work is exhilarating, challenging, and consumes large amounts of time, you will probably be better off working with a Realtor. Take the time when you first put your home on the market to interview an agent or two. Ask how they market their listings. Ask if they keep their clients informed about the status of their property's marketing. Ask for references. When you find one you feel can and will do a good job for you, sign a listing agreement. A good agent can give you sound advice and save you a ton of time.



Inexperience



You are probably a good candidate for working with an agent if you have never bought or sold a home before. The same thing is true if it has been a number of years since the last time you bought or sold. Ditto if you have not bought or sold a home in this part of the county before. People who work for settlement agents, lenders, and the like are probably exceptions to these general ideas about who shouldn't go FSBO. You can get experience if you work in the industry without actually buying or selling your own home frequently.



Older people are usually better off working with an agent. A typical situation is that they have owned their home for a number of years. The home has appreciated - often more than the owner realizes. The owner now wants to buy something all on one level in a community in which the exterior and grounds maintenance chores are handled by an association. They need to sell one home and buy another. It's often also desirable if they can add to their savings from the sale, and have the operating expenses of the new home be lower than the old. The idea of making a big change and the multiplicity of accompanying concerns is daunting. A good agent can make a world of difference.



If either of these situations describe you or your situation, going FSBO is probably not for you.

Article Source: http://www.articledashboard.com

Raynor James is with www.fsboamerica.org - FSBO homes for sale by owner. Visit our sell my home page at www.fsboamerica.org/seller.cfm to sell your own home yourself with a free 1 month listing.

Why Stock Is More Risky Than Options!

You probably have been told that options are risky. Even worse, that you can lose your shirt trading them!

Well, what is the truth?

Let's take a look at stock ownership. What can happen if you buy stock?

The price can go up.

The price can go down.

The price can go sideways.

In the first case, you can make money. In the second you lose money.

And in the third case you don't directly win or lose but in fact it costs you money in two ways. The direct cost of brokerage and fees. And the indirect cost known as opportunity cost.

This is the cost due to lost opportunities. The fact that you aren't able to be involved in other, potentially profitable trades.

So if you purchase stock you can only make money if the stock price goes up.

Now some of you may be thinking, But what about shorting?

Well yes, short selling stock is possible but it is quite a tricky strategy and has almost unlimited risk so it is certainly not an approach we recommend.

You see, when you short a stock, you actually sell a stock that you don't own. And your intention is to then buy the stock back at a lower price. The price difference is your profit per share.

But can you see what the problem is here?

Well what happens if the stock price goes up? Particularly if it goes up a lot?

As you have sold the stock at a lower price you now have to buy it back at a higher price. And so your loss can be substantial.

So, to summarize, when you trade stock you can really only make money if the price increases.

Now there is one other aspect to this that I want to address. And this is that owning stock is expensive!

If you purchase 100 shares of a $50 stock it will cost you $5000. And if you buy it on margin it is still $2500.

That is a lot of money to outlay. And, more importantly it is a lot of money to put at risk. Especially seeing that you only have a one in three chance of the stock moving in the right direction.

Plus as stocks don't trend all that often you not only need to pick the right direction, you also need to be able to pick the right time.

So stock trading is not that easy. And it's expensive.

But options provide a great alternative.

For a start you only have to invest about 2% of what the stock was worth and yet you still control the same 100 shares.

So in the example above, instead of investing $5000, we might only have to outlay $100.

Plus, if you select the right strategy, you can profit no matter whether the stock price goes up; goes down or even goes sideways!

And finally, your risk is limited. The maximum you can lose is the amount you put into the trade. So in the example above - $100.

But the best thing of all is the leverage that options provide.

In the above example, if the stock price goes up by $5, the profit on the stock trade would be 10% or on margin, 20%.

But with this increase in stock price the value of the option might increase by 100%. And so the profit on the trade would be 100% - or ten times that of the straight stock trade.

So don't just accept the common view that owning stock is safe and trading options is dangerous.

If you understand options and learn how to trade them they can be a great investment vehicle.

David Chandler

http://www.StockMarketGenie.com
http://stockmarketgenie.blogspot.com/

Ordinary People Making Extraordinary Profits!

The above comments are offered for educational purposes only. We are not providing you with financial advice. We are simply sharing with you what has and hasn't worked for us personally. If you wish to trade or invest in the stock market you should obtain advice from a registered licensed advisor.

Reducing Credit Card Debt

One of the easiest hings that can happen in life is the ratcheting up of a large credit card debt. For whatever reason, making purchases with credit cards seems easier than spending cash to obtain a product or service.

Maintaining high levels of credit card debt is not prudent. The interest rates associated with most credit cards is high. In fact, many people have managed to rack their card balances up so high that only the minimum payment is made each month. As a result, these people are taking years if not decades to pay down their credit card balances, all the while wasting an incredible sum of money in interest payments alone.

In this article, a number of strategies to reduce credit card debt are presented. These tips are general in nature but will provide a person with credit card debt a solid plan for reining in credit card balances.

A good overall strategy is to target the highest rates of interest. If you can, transfer the balance to another credit card, where you will achieve a zero or low interest rate for a set period. While this balance is not costing interest you can target other debts that are. Make sure you are prepared for when the offer period runs out and have another balance transfer offer ready to take over. You should look to have your credit card application a few weeks before your current offer period runs out. If you cannot transfer the balance then pay off as much as you can afford, so the balance reduces as quickly as possible.

Credit card companies are very competitive and as such there are some very good 0% balance transfers and purchase offers available. Look to take advantage of these, but make sure you have a plan in place on how to deal with the balance when the offer finishes. Remember that the debt has not gone away.

As mentioned previously in this article, credit card accounts usually have high interest rates. The combination of high interest rates and free spending patterns can result in the rapid escalation of credit card debt.

A debt consolidation loan can be an excellent tool to assist in the reduction of credit card debt. Consolidation loans carry interests rates far below those of credit cards. In the long run, a great deal of money can be conserved through the use of a debt consolidation loan.

While in many segments of society, the word self restraint is pass, out of style like last year's fashions. But, in reality, the very best way of reducing credit card debt is through self restraint.

Of course, it is easy to bandy around the words self restraint and much, much harder to practice personal control.

Although it might seem comical on the surface, cutting up credit cards is a perfect first step to reducing credit card debt. No cards, no charging, less debt.

Many people leave the payment of their credit card accounts at the bottom of the monthly bill pile. Other primary accounts -- rent, electricity, phone, and the like -- understandably take a higher priority over credit card bills. But, oftentimes a person will spend money on incidental purchases before taking on credit card balances. In the end, the credit card account may not be paid on at all or, if so, after the deadline.

One way to ensure that credit card payments are made and one way to ensure that credit card debt is kept under some degree of control is via an automatic payment system on credit card accounts. A person's bank can arrange for the credit card account to be paid automatically each and every month.

By ensuring that at least a base payment is made on credit card accounts each and every month, accelerated interest rates and late fee penalties will be avoided.

In this article, three strategies for reducing credit card debt have been presented :- debt consolidation, self restraint, automatic payments.

By following one or all of these strategies, a person will work towards a more solid and satisfactory financial position.

Neil Brown is a freelance writer who makes regular contributions to online insurance and business finance

Student Loan Forgiveness Do You Qualify?

Did you know that there are numerous programs available that will actually pay off all or part of your college loans? Student loan forgiveness isn\'t a myth. Many of these programs aren\'t widely advertised and most people who are eligible don\'t even realize that they qualify to have thousands of dollars wiped off the balance of their educational loans.

Student Loan Forgiveness for Teachers

The Teacher Loan Forgiveness Program will repay up to $17,500 toward college loans for qualified teachers. Full time teachers with an outstanding FFEL or Direct loan balance on or after October 1998 qualify for $5,000 worth of college loan repayment after 5 consecutive years of service.

Student loan forgiveness at the increased amount of $17,500 is available to qualified borrowers who teach full time in the field of mathematics or science at an eligible secondary school or who provide special education to students with disabilities.

To learn more or to apply for this student loan forgiveness program for teachers, visit: http://studentaid.ed.gov/PORTALSWebApp/students/english/cancelperk.jsp?tab=repaying

Student Loan Forgiveness for Non-Profit Child or Family Services Agency Employees

In an effort to attract and retain more highly trained early childcare professionals, the federal government has developed programs to forgive up to 100% of the college loan balance for individuals at eligible centers.

To qualify for this student loan forgiveness program, borrowers must hold a degree in early childhood education and work full-time for 2 years at a qualified facility where at least 70% of the children receiving care come from families that earn less than 85% of the state median household income.

To learn more, call the Child Care Provider Loan Forgiveness support desk at 1-888-562-7002 or visit http://www.studentaid.ed.gov/students/attachments/siteresources/childcareinfo.pdf

Student Loan Forgiveness for Law Enforcement Officials

Protect and serve the community and the government will do the same for your budget by repaying your college loans for you. Full time law enforcement or correction officers are eligible to have their loans paid off by the government at a rate of 15%per year for the first 2 years of service, 20% for the 3rd and 4th year, and 30% for their fifth year.

Student Loan Forgiveness for Nurses and Medical Technicians

Several generous student loan forgiveness programs are available for physicians and RN\'s who practice in areas that lack adequate medical care.

The National Heath Services Corps will repay up to $35,000 per year of service for qualified individuals. To learn more and download application forms, visit http://nhsc.bhpr.hrsa.gov/applications/lrpca.asp

The Nursing Education Loan Repayment Program (NELRP) repays up to 60% of your college loan balance for those who serve at least 2 years in critical shortage facilities. To learn details about eligibility and to download application forms, visit http://bhpr.hrsa.gov/nursing/loanrepay.htm

Student Loan Forgiveness for Armed Forces

The government shows their appreciation of those who serve and protect with a variety of student loan forgiveness programs for the military. The Armed Forces Forgiveness Program pays off up to $2,500 in college loan debt to borrowers who served between September 11th 2001 and June 30, 2006.

The National Guard offers its own student loan forgiveness program, paying off up to $10,000 worth of college loan debt for each qualified person. For more information call 1-800-GO-GUARD.

Student Loan Forgiveness for Volunteer Work

Serving in the Peace Corps, Americorps, or Volunteers in Service to America (VISTA) all qualify you for college loan forgiveness programs in various amounts.

Peace Corps: Time spent volunteering for the Peace Corps pays in more ways than good feelings. Volunteers receive 15% of their Stafford, Perkins, and Consolidation loans paid for each year of service up to 70% of the college loan amount. To learn more about this student loan forgiveness opportunity call 1-800-424-8580.

Americorps, the domestic arm of the Peace Corps, awards volunteers $4,725 to apply toward their outstanding college loans after one year of service. To learn more call 1-800-942-2677.

VISTA (Volunteers in Service to America): Volunteer 1700 hours for one of the many organizations across the country focused on eradicating hunger, homelessness, poverty, and illiteracy and have up to $4725 wiped off your college balance. To learn more call 1-800-942-2677.

Student Loan Forgiveness for Head Start Staff

Those who volunteer for their state\'s Head Start program not only help children from low income families prepare for kindergarten, they are also granted full or partial college loan forgiveness.

The state rewards its Head Start teachers and administrators by canceling 15% of their college loan balance for each year of service up to 100% of the balance. To learn more visit: http://www2.acf.dhhs.gov/programs/hsb/

Student Loan Forgiveness for Providers of Intervention Services for the Disabled

The government will pay your Perkins loan in full if you provide full time services designed to aid disabled infants or toddlers who have physical, cognitive, communicative, social, emotional, or adaptive needs. Qualified programs can operate from an in-home setting or outside facility providing the program conforms to the requirements of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. To learn more about this student loan forgiveness program, contact your loan provider.

Find More Resources that Offer Student Loan Forgiveness Programs

Even more programs exist at the state or county government level or through industry-specific organizations. Inquire with the human resources department of your employer or groups that you volunteer for or are considering joining. Be sure to bookmark this page of resources or pass it along to a friend or colleague. You may just find a way to save yourself or someone you know a few thousand dollars!

ScholarPoint Financial, Inc. is a national online consumer lending company specializing in student loans. We believe in combining state-of-the-art technology with world class service to help students and parents easily gain access to data, become informed, and enjoy the process of obtaining a college loan. Learn more about Student Loan Consolidation at http://www.scholarpoint.com

Investment Advisors 101... ask these questions.

Investment Advisors (IAs) come in all different intellectual,
professional, and alphabetical varieties. They range in
educational qualifications from High School dropout to PhD, and
can be professional Accountants, Insurance Salesmen, Stock
Brokers, Investment Managers, Dentists, Lawyers, TV
personalities, and Gourmet Chefs. Anyone can be an Investment
Advisor! It seems reasonable that your trust should gravitate
toward those who have educational credentials, hands on
experience with their own money, and no direct financial benefit
from the advice provided. Stay safer by finding a fee only
advisor who has just one profession... and the ability to say NO.

Why do people become Investment Advisors? Call me skeptical,
but I don't think it's the ethereal glow they feel after
implementing your new Financial Plan. Actually (once you
appreciate that IAs are the primary delivery system for Wall
Street's huge collection of one-size-fits-all products), you'll
realize that it's the money. No conspiracy here, just a subtle
brainwashing that has convinced you that the Advisor's primary
objective is to protect your family. In reality, the primary
goal of commissioned advisors is to protect their own families,
and they accomplish this by selling Investment Products. The
Investment Advisor label has become a euphemism for product
salesperson just as Financial Planner nearly always means
Insurance salesperson. Stay safer by finding a fee only advisor
who has just one profession... and the ability to say NO.

Serious IAs can be identified by acronyms following their
names (also by dark three piece suits and facial hair), RIA and
CFP being the most common. As professional as this seems,
designations do not create trustworthiness, for several reasons:
IAs must become RIAs to be licensed to sell investment products.
Most practitioners affiliate themselves with major Wall Street
Institutions to defray their start up costs and many are
subsidized in return for pushing their sponsor's products.
Finally, most advisors will remain in bed with one company at a
time throughout their careers, constantly touting the present
firm's products as est. Hmmm. Hundreds of companies,
thousands of IAs, convincing millions of shoppers (investors)
that they have just purchased the one very best product to
achieve their financial goals. From cradle to grave, most IAs
dance to a tune that's not being played by their clients.

Over the past several years, Wall Street has managed to invade
the once respected Insurance Industry by attaching Mutual Funds
to life insurance and annuity products, making them far too
speculative to achieve their once guaranteed objectives. But the
variable products scam dwarfs in potential long-term impact to
the more recent high crime against investors. This is the one
that ignores the (in-your-face-obvious) Conflict of Interest
when Accountants sell investment products! Many professionals
have multiple degrees; few have multiple practices. You deserve
a specialist. If your CPA/Lawyer/Doctor (who's next) can make a
living in his primary practice, why sell investment products?
Greed? Hubris? And why does Wall Street allow these
non-professionals to push investment products? Don't be nave,
the more people out there pushing Investment Products, the
bigger the bonus for the Masters of the Universe. Stay safer by
finding a fee only advisor who has just one profession... and
the ability to say NO.

In spite of the fact that the urn out rate among IAs
compares with that of restaurants and Mutual Fund Managers, and
that the advisory business itself is a cut-throat, competitive
battlefield, the Financial Institutions that employ the majority
of IAs prosper, multiply, and produce more product for your
eyes wide shut consumption... because you, your products, and
the management fees remain! A caring and successful Investment
Advisor makes an excellent income and should; a successful
financial institution buys other financial institutions!

The hierarchy of commissions paid to IAs can exceed 10% on
private deals, limited partnerships, and a litany of
speculative products and services. On the more controlled
substances (sic), Annuity commissions can run above 8% with
10-year lock up provisions common and Mutual Funds provide a
generous 4% to 6% whether you see them or not. New issues, odd
lot Bonds, and other securities that don't show a commission,
include marketing fees and mark ups that can be substantial.
What ever happened to individual Equity portfolios? It's a
combination of in-greed-ients... products are less work and
produce more money. Stay safer by finding a fee only advisor who
has just one profession, the ability to say NO, and who knows
something about individual securities.

Most people need Investment Advisors. Life Insurance protection
is vital; fixed annuities are helpful for people of limited
means; Mutual Funds are the only option (pity) in most
self-directed retirement plans. The vast majority of employed
Americans are Investors, actively or passively, with little time
or expertise to select securities and manage portfolios. (If the
Democrats would accept this, they just might win an election.)
But recent experience confirms that we all have a responsibility
to our own money, a responsibility that we should only delegate
to a professional if we know what the professional is supposed
to know. The fact that he or she is an XYZ Fund representative
just isn't enough. You need an independent advisor that has
ideas rather than products and an understanding of markets, not
marketing. If you are willing to ask the right questions, you
can find an IA who might just be able to help you (and herself)
at the same time. Try these for starters: Do you sell any
products? Do you have a personal portfolio that I can review? Do
you provide a fee only advisory service? How long have you
been in the financial services business, and is it your only
business? (It's not your job to educate ewbies!) Are you
affiliated with any other financial services companies? Do you
have at least five non-family clients who you have been advising
for at least five years... that I can contact directly? Will you
be compensated for referring me to someone? Stay safer by
finding a fee only advisor who has just one profession and the
ability to say NO.

The ability to say NO? An advisor will tell you not to do
something that he feels is inappropriate... a salesman will do
what you tell him to do.

If This Describes You Don't Cash out Your Annuity

There are companies that purchase future payments. Personal injury settlements are often structured to pay out over time. As are a portion of lottery wins, paid via an annuity over a period of 20 or more years. There are companies, under the authority of state and federal regulations, that will accelerate future payments and pay out a lump sum of cash now.

But, it is not the best choice for everyone. If any of the below are true about you, avoid selling.

No pressing financial need or opportunity

Under the age of 18

Annuity is sole source of income

Live in North Carolina

Monthly payments less than $100

Lump sum payment more than 7 years away

Significant amounts owed in child support or back taxes

While this list isn\'t comprehensive, it does cover many of the usual reasons cases are not accepted or approved. This court ordered process has strict state and federal guidelines. Numerous attorneys, yours, the insurance company\'s, and the cash out company are involved and the entire transaction must be approved by a judge.

And as always, seek legal and financial counsel before making any significant decisions. There are several established companies with reputable service history and there are many more companies with less than clear intentions. Rule of thumb, avoid any company that tells you what you want to hear. This transaction will be expensive and closing times vary wildly by state and transaction.

Jason Rigler
\Settlement Advocate\ and consultant for Prosperity Partners Customer Service Department.

A Second Mortgage Vs. A Home Equity Loan

If you own your home and need a loan for whatever reason you
have probably considered a second mortgage or a home equity loan
to help you pay your bills, buy a new car, or pay for some other
investment. However, you probably don't know whether a second
mortgage is better or worse than a home equity loan for your
particular situation. However, don't despair because there are
some tips that will help you decide whether a second mortgage or
home equity loan is for you.

Second Mortgage Tip #1 One Time Expenses A second mortgage is
the preferred option if you have a one time big expense you need
to cover. Examples of this include remodeling your kitchen,
paying for a wedding, or buying a new car. In these instances a
second mortgage will probably work best for you; however this
will depend on the equity in your home and your credit score.

Second Mortgage Tip #2 Recurring Expenses If you are going to
have recurring expenses then you might not want a second
mortgage because a home equity loan will work out better for
you. The second mortgage is best for large amounts of money at
once while recurring expenses like tuition are better paid for
with a home equity line of credit.

Second Mortgage Tip #3 Repayment You will also need to consider
your ability to repay and which option will suit you best. A
second mortgage can be financed similarly to your first
mortgage, while the home equity loan can be paid back more like
a credit card. Consider your financial position and ability to
make monthly payments before applying for either a second
mortgage or a home equity loan.

If you still don't know whether a second mortgage or home equity
line of credit is for you, then talk with your lender and see
what is recommended for your equity, credit, and ability to
repay the loan.

Auto Loan Considerations

If you find yourself shopping around for an auto loan there is much to consider before you ever sign the dotted line.

The first thing to consider is if you want to pay a down payment on the vehicle. Many lenders today don\'t require a down payment but it is still a good idea to pay as much as possible, initally. The more you pay for a down payment, the lower your payments may be on the loan.

If you have a used vehicle you can trade-in, the money you get for the trade-in can be added into the down payment. Don\'t expect to make a lot of money on your trade-in unless your car is in absolutely perfect condition. Any cosmetic flaws or mechanical work needing to be done on your old vehicle can significantly lower its potential trade-in value.

The next thing to consider is what your interest rate will be on the loan. If your credit is good you may qualify for a loan within the 4-8 percent range. If you have subprime credit the interest rate on your loan could jump higher than 20 percent. The percentage rate you pay on the loan will play an important factor in how much your monthly loan payment will be.

You also have to consider how long you would like the loan term to last. Many auto loans are usually available with anywhere from 3-6 year terms. The shorter the loan term, the larger the monthly payments will be. On the flip side, the total price you pay for the loan will be cheaper than a loan with a longer term. You\'ll pay less in interest on a loan with a shorter term.

Never take out an auto loan with a term that\'s longer than the amount of time you plan to keep the vehicle. Otherwise, you\'ll end up throwing away money on a vehicle you no longer own. Also, if possible, try to get a vehicle with a warranty that runs throughout at least most of the term of the loan. You don\'t want to get stuck paying for costly repairs at the same time you\'re paying off your auto loan.

The most important thing to consider before taking out an auto loan, is how much you can afford to pay for the loan on a monthly basis. Kelly Blue Book and Capital One suggest no more than 15-20 percent of your monthly budget should go toward your vehicle. If you\'ll end up spending more than that, even with a longer loan term, you should consider looking for a cheaper automobile.

By considering the many factors that influence the true costs of an auto loan you may save money in the long run and improve your credit rating. If you do your homework before signing the dotted line, you\'ll find a loan that is right for you.

cashbuzz.com

John Campbell is the writer and editor of CashBuzz, A financial portal for the rest of us. Check out http://www.cashbuzz.com for the latest articles on money management and tips and tricks that can help improve your finances.

This article may be reprinted on your Web site if the copyright, author information and active link are included.

How to Quickly and Easily Reduce Your Debt Consolidate!

Free Debt Consolidation Quotes

The Internet is your main source of obtaining free debt consolidation quotes. You need to furnish detailed account of your total financial history to specific debt consolidation websites to receive free debt consolidation quotes. However, there are other sources too offering such quotes. You can talk on telephone through relevant numbers available on radio and television.

Research, compare, and contrast

Different debt consolidation companies offer different free debt consolidation quotes. This sure is confusing but you need to study each quote in detail to understand relevant parameters of arriving at different quotes for the same information. Again, receiving a quote does not mean you have to take up debt consolidation plan with that particular company. You can check through different online companies first to establish their legitimacy and thereafter check on their rates.

If you feel any of the free debt consolidation quotes not suiting your needs or if charges are too high, you can flatly refuse their quotes. Debt consolidation companies could be profit-making concerns or nonprofit seeking companies. Profit seeking companies earn through their charges while nonprofit seeking concerns take a small percentage of your payments or receive some token amounts from your creditors. Hence, there is no obligation whatsoever. Alternatively, you can walk around different debt consolidation firms working from their offices and have frank discussions to get to know their plans.

If you apply online to receive free debt consolidation quotes, you should be ready to receive innumerable mails in your inbox. This is a huge task to look into every quote, compare their offers, and check on their legitimacy, etc. Therefore, you can use simple sieve of looking through quotes having accreditation of both or either of Association of Independent Consumer Credit Counseling Agencies and the National Foundation for Credit Counseling. Again, Consumer Credit Counseling Services also offer valuable services in this field.

The best option is to look through few companies after receiving their free debt consolidation quotes, take your time to decide and choose particular quote for consolidating your debts.

Free Debt Consolidation Quotes Find Credit Counseling help and how to Raise your FICO score

Stopping Bill Collectors

Debt collectors are the people hired by creditors to wreak havoc on the credit reports of those who do not pay them.

They use intimidation and outright lies to coerce people to pay them money that may or may not be owed.

But they can be stopped. Here is how to handle debt collectors and stop them from ruining your credit file.

If you receive a letter from one, don\'t make the mistake of ignoring it. Respond with a single sentence letter:

\I have no knowledge of this account, nor have I received any previous correspondence from you about it. Please provide information\

Of course, reference the account number on the letter and provide no additional information. Ignore any request for additional info.

The above letter also works well if you have been ignoring a collection agency or have found a collection account on your credit report and haven\'t heard from them in the past.

That two sentence letter preserves your rights under the FDCPA, and at the same time requires the collection agency to take certain actions such as informing you of your rights to dispute it.

In most cases, they will do nothing about your letter. They will not inform you of your right to dispute. They will not provide the validation that is required upon your written dispute. They will not stop reporting the account until the dispute is resolved.

In short, each time you send a collection agency a letter, they will ignore it and in the process violate the law.

Collect the violations and maintain your trail of evidence. You will probably never end up in court, but only because you have the evidence to do so in the first place.

If they refuse to remove the entry and you have exhausted all reasonable means, then assemble your evidence of their violations and send them another letter with a hint that you may consider filing suit if they fail to remove the account.

If they still refuse, you will have to file the papers with the court. In most cases, the item will be deleted immediately upon being served papers.

Some will push further than others. To ensure you win you will have to be willing to push a little further than they will.

Darell is a credit repair expert by neccessity and went from terrible and accurate credit to a mortgage in less than a year. Now he is trying to help others do the same. Visit his free website at http://www.rylansreviews.com/credit

Student Loan Debt Consolidation Students Cannot Afford to Lose Sleep over Debts

Studies take a back seat when debts begin to hold a prominent place in students\' finances. Guardians would find this strange, since most guardians feel that they send their wards more than enough money to meet the needs of their wards. The needs have a very narrow definition that includes not more than basic necessities. For all other needs, students have to depend on external sources like friends and moneylenders. The problem arises when debts become unmanageable because of its size. Student loan debt consolidation plays a very important role at this stage.

The features of student loans are included into debt consolidation loans to give them a distinct character, suited to the student debtors. Repayment of the student loan debt consolidation for instance, differs from the regular repayment methods. The repayment will be due only when the student graduates from studies. This means that repayment will begin only when the student begins to work and earn. Parents and guardian will appreciate this feature since this helps them shift a part of their financial burden.

It is incorrect to consider student loan debt consolidation as just another loan. As a debt consolidation loan, the student loan debt consolidation consolidates the entire debts, prepares a list of debts incurred, and then settles them through a single loan.

Do you find the task easy? That it is; as long as there is a debt settlement agency to implement the plan. Students would be advised not to embark on the debt settlement activity since this will unnecessarily take up their valuable time. Besides, there are chances that the student will not be able to settle debts in full. Being inexperienced in debt settlement, there is a probability that the loan amount will not be used optimally.

Debt settlement agencies, on the other hand, are professional in dealing with debts. Each case is studied in detail before suggesting effective debt solutions. The procedure will be helpful in deciding among the several debt management techniques available.

Students qualify for the cheapest interest rates. The interest rates and other terms of the student loan debt consolidation must be given prime importance. These contribute largely to the cost of finance. Also check for prepayment penalties. One must ensure that the option to refinance is not curbed. This is helpful when better finance opportunities come your way.

Students do have to face problems in qualifying for student loan debt consolidations. No credit history is the root cause behind most ineligibilities. For most students the student loan debt consolidation has been the first experience of credit transactions. So, how do loan providers determine credibility of borrowers? In the absence of any satisfactory method, loan providers will prefer not to lend. Some lenders place restrictive conditions on students in order to deter students from using the facility. Age restriction like upping the age of students who can use student loan debt consolidation is one such tactic.

Another point of disqualification is the lack of stable income. Stable income to enable regular payments is a prerequisite for most loans. This can be mended if the student shows that he is involved in some part time jobs. With guardians guaranteeing repayment, in case the student fails to do so, the problem is offset to a large extent.

Websites advertising their financial products have lessened the quandary significantly. The purview of search for student loan debt consolidation has widened. Students find themselves searching for student loan debt consolidation from banks and financial institutions spread far and wide. All this has been facilitated through Internet and web technology. The refusal by loan providers is not a concerted action. There will be certain loan providers who have matching deals for the students. Online search can help find the particular lender who accepts the borrower with his set of circumstances.

Student loan debt consolidation is a testing ground for students. Though it will not be wise to take an active participation in the debt consolidation process, students can supervise the process. Proper advice will be necessary to make the important decisions on student loan debt consolidation.

Alex Jonnes is associated with and has writings at http://www.easy-debt-consolidations.co.uk He is Masters in Business Administration.

WealthBuilding The Truth About Presents

Wealth creation too often is seen as a process of receiving windfall gifts or presents. Wealth-building is all about giving first. With the right giving you will establish a lifetime of receiving. These are the keys to right giving.

Asking The Right Questions .

The importance of asking the right questions is brought out early in the experience of wealth-builders. In getting to the right questions you will do well to discover the wrong questions.

First on the list will be- \What presents am I going to receive?\

Top of the list for right questions will be \How can I give others of my presence to improve their life?\ Also included will be \What random acts of kindness can I bless them with?\, \What free ebooks can I send them?\ \What teleseminars can I run to show my desire to improve their wealth-building program?\

Finding The Right Presents

Your focus, as a serious wealth-builder should always be on \presence\ not on \presents\. Your \presence\ is what you give out to others. Your \presents\ are what you receive from others. The Right Presents are found in the time you spend with family, loved ones and clients. This time must be first quality with you giving your undivided attention.

Family and loved ones respond by showering you with the presents you love to receive.

Clients give an endless stream of purchase orders - the kind of stream that convinces you all your blessings have come at once.

As you get busy Asking the Right Questions and Finding The Right Presents you will get the revelation that Your Presence is of far greater value than Your Presents.

When it comes to effective wealth-building the truth about presents is that they come from people who have been touched beforehand by your presence in their lives. Your words, thoughts, actions, and prayers that have followed your presence in their lives will be rewarded.

Count your blessings as you consider that not all presents come gift wrapped. When you give in secret you are rewarded in secret.

Copyright 2005 Kenneth Little

Kenneth Little is a writer, teacher, public speaker and the publisher of a re-released classic - in a revealing ebook- that will show you how to get the best of health and wealth out of all your future years. Find more on this at: http://www.Young-at-Sixty.com

True success will be yours no matter what your age. Amazing \How I Became Young at Sixty\ brings renewed strength to your body, hope to your mind and increased prosperity to your lifestyle. You Can Get your Free ebook \How I Became Young at Sixty\ by going to: http://www.Young-at-Sixty.com/get-your-f-r-e-e-ebook.htm.

Debt Consolidation Get Rid of Your Debt Burden Repay Your Loans

Debt consolidation loans are taken to repay existing loans. This can help you in reducing your debt burden. If you have taken a number of loans, debt consolidation helps you in consolidating all your loans into one manageable loan.

This can help you reduce your interest burden by charging an interest rate lower than the rate on your existing loans. Debt consolidation can also allow you to make small monthly payments by extending the loan period.

Just like any other loan, this loan can be secured or unsecured. A secured loan is given against collateral, whereas, no collateral is required for an unsecured debt consolidation loan.

One of the most important criteria to avail a debt consolidating loan is to improve your credit rating. When you repay your existing loans, your credit rating automatically improves. An excessive debt burden and an inability to repay loans may also lead to situations like County Court Judgements, bankruptcy etc. Debt consolidation can save you from such situations by reducing your debt burden.

Different lenders offer different loans schemes. Before going for a debt consolidation loan, make sure that it meets your requirements. Before taking a loan, you should do some research on loan fees, interest rates and repayment terms. Do not borrow more than you need.

There are ways to reduce your debt burden even if you fail to get a loan. In such a situation, you may consider a debt settlement. Such a settlement can help you consolidate your debt and reduce interest rates so that you end up saving money on your repayments.

A number of lenders offer debt consolidation loans through the internet. Once you apply over the internet, your application is processed, and if your application gets the approval, you are given the loan.

The author is a business writer specializing in finance and credit products and has written authoritative articles on the finance industry. He has done his masters in Business Administration and is currently assisting Adverse-credit-debt-consolidation as a finance specialist.

Expand Your Acquisition Strategies Through Short Sales

Many millionaires made their fortunes in real estate. They did so through purchasing small single family units up to large multi-unit buildings, put tenants in the units and collected rent.

With the rent payments more than the monthly mortgage payments, they had cash flow money to put back into the buildings or into their pockets.

Over time, the property increased in value, resulting in appreciation. With enough appreciation over time10, 20 or 30 yearscombined with the pay down of the balance of the loan and the increased equity (the amount above the mortgage value), the asset column grew into those cherished seven figure dollar amounts.

How much that asset column grew depended on the number of units. The more units, the higher the equity. The location of the units also played a factor. In order to grow in value, they needed to be in a decent part of town and away from high crime zones.

But do you want to know an even better way to make tons of money in real estate? Simply expand your acquisition strategies by getting deep discounts from banks through short sales.

A growing number of houses today have been refinanced once or twice. The homeowner now owes more than the house is worth and can\'t afford to make the payments. Many of these houses are thus in foreclosure.

If you know how to get the bank to accept a deep discount on these properties when you buy, you can easily make your real estate portfolio grow.

What You Need: 1)A homeowner willing to sell her house. Typically this only happens when she realizes she has no other way to avoid foreclosure except selling.

2)Documents from the homeowner to prove she can no longer afford the house. These documents include pay stubs, savings account statements, unemployment check stubs, hospital bills, death certificates of the breadwinners, etc. Use these documents to show a decreased income or unexpected expenses-death, funeral, medical bills.

3)An appraiser from the bank to determine the current value of the house. The bank will often sell you the house for that value and frequently settle for even less.

If you and the bank can agree on a purchase price before the sheriff\'s sale, you get to buy the house and stop the foreclosure. This works well for everyone involved.

It keeps foreclosure off of the homeowner\'s credit report and prevents a plummet in her credit score.

The bank erases a bad debt from their books which keeps their stockholders happy. Also, the banker who worked the deal gets a commission.

And you get a house at a great deal! An extra bonus is that most of these pre-foreclosure houses are in better shape than houses you might buy at the sheriff\'s sale.

By mastering the short sale system, you can reduce your expenses, increase your profits and help homeowners in distress all at the same time.

Deb McMillan, OPHP, CMI, is a real estate investor and writer, living in Hamilton, Ohio, and has written a home study course on Short Sale Success Systems detailing how to get deep discounts from the bank when buying pre-foreclosures. She has been investing in real estate since 1986 and buying, selling, and teaching short sale strategies since 2000. She teaches how to talk to sellers to get them to do what is necessary to save their credit and reveals strategies to negotiate with the banks to get deep discounts when you buy the real estate. She also teaches about bankruptcy and what you can and can\'t do once a homeowner files. Log on to http://www.shortsalesqueen.com for more information on how to make your deals close.

Insider Secrets About Homeloans and Credit

Whether you have excellent credit, good credit or poor credit;
make a great income, middle income or low income; have too much
debt - are self-employed - have a loan with a pre-payment
penalty - or need to rebuild or renew your credit...YOU MUST
TAKE A LOOK AT:

Answers To The Most Frequently Asked Questions About Home Loans
(And the Top Ten Most Common Mistakes That Can Cost You Big
Money)

You, as a homeowner or homebuyer, are about to make a decision
that will effect you immediately and into the future (sometimes
for years to come). By financing a new home or by refinacing an
existing home, you will be joining literally thousands of others
homeowner or homebuyers. You will be faced with one of the most
important financial commitments you will ever undertake. Even
the veteran homeowner faces challenges everytime he or she looks
for a new mortgage. It is amazing how much the mortgage industry
changes even monthly (not to mention yearly).

During the application process, you'll be exposed to perhaps
hundreds of mortgage options (from reputable and not so
reputable mortgage companies). Who do you trust? Who understands
your particular credit, whether it may be excellent, good or
poor? Who would possibly know how to solve your particular
problems..one-on-one? Who is offering you the best mortgage
options? Who has your best interest at heart?

These are critical decisions that thousands of borrowers, both
homeowners and homebuyers have to make each and every day. This
can make finding the perfect mortgage loan for you and your
family (or even an investment property) very difficult. With
each wrong decision you make, you're literally risking the
chance of loosing thousands of dollars (like throwing it right
into the trash) AND making taking a BIG hit on your personal
credit! This may leave you with a financial burden that can
drain you for many months or years to come.

Fortunately, we have the solution you need. We have put together
an absolutely must-have ONLINE REPORT for all borrowers from
excellent, good or poor credit. Homeowners and homebuyers
looking to get the perfect loan or an investor wishing to make
his or her first, second or third investment purchase or
investment refinance. This FREE ONLINE REPORT is NOT limited to
just those who have credit issues, but also will help homeowners
and homebuyers who have too much debt, who are self-employed,
and who have pre-payment penalty loans or who need to renew or
rebuild their credit.

This information will give you the knowledge you need to make
educated decisions throughout your entire loan process. It will
allow you to find and decide on the perfect loan for you and
your family.

So, get yourself a copy of this must-have FREE ONLINE REPORT
now! Use the information to educate and protect yourself. Visit
our website and download your FREE REPORT TODAY!
http://www.mortgagebooksonline.com/

Long term property rental in France

Finding a property in France can be a real challenge if you are
sat in front of your computer back in the UK.

Letting a property could be a solution allowing you to spend
time searching the area and seeing what it has to offer.

However, people who have yet to sell their UK house will have
different demands than those who have sold up and are ready to
live in France.

Someone with a house in the UK may only be able to get a week or
two away from work in one go, so it's vital you are well
prepared.

Renting a holiday home out of season would naturally allow you
to see an area when it is quiet and often when the weather is at
its worst.

Many property owners would be delighted to have someone rent for
a short time in February or March, just check the heating is
sufficient.

But before you head across make sure you have the address
details for estate agents close by and try and plan out your
viewings.

It may also be worth dropping in on some French website message
boards to see if someone has a place available.

Or you may find someone willing to meet up with you for an hour
when you are in France to give you some pointers.

So if you can find the time to get away from work there could
still be time to hunt down a property this spring.

But what about those people who have sold their house or let it
for six months or more?

One of the major problems when searching the internet for
property to let is that your searches are often mixed up with
holiday lettings, so you need some patience.

If you use Google enter key words such as 'homes to rent' and
areas and if you want to target French possibilities then 'to
let' is 'louer' and the word used for 'lettings' is 'locations'.

The cheapest way to rent a place is to contact the landlord
directly but for this you will need to have access to local
newspapers and possibly village shop windows.

Remember, many of the larger local newspapers will have online
versions that you will be able to search, again type the title
into Google.

Estate agents will very likely have some property to let and
again you may find a holiday home that the owner is tired of
cleaning every week and may let long term.

You also need to take into account your notice period for
leaving the property. If it is three months and you are well on
your way to buying a property you could well lose your deposit
if you leave early.

If you can time your departure with your purchase that would be
perfect.

There is a real advantage from being in an area longer term
before buying as it gives you an idea of the facilities, local
schools and you can visit the Mairie.

Real Estate Business

Starting real estate business is not that simple. Multiple aspects of stable business should be considered before you invest even 1$ in real estate. Owning real estate is no guarantee of wealth. There are a lot of things you have to do right to receive your reward. One of the most important points is to stay financially healthy, while waiting on your big pay day.

If you're considering real estate investing, you should start from your business plan. Yes, you also will have to read books, attend seminars and have lots of practice. You can find a lot of the books, useful links and other helpful information on starting real estate business at www.RichTrack.com.

Common mistakes to avoid:

1. Work with reputable companies. This is the most important choice you can make when starting your business.

2. Don't trust promises which are not written in agreement. If some company tries to make you sign a sales or a purchase contract that does not include any verbal commitments, stop! Written documents almost always override verbal agreements. For instance, when a mortgage company tells you they have locked your rate, get a written statement which details the interest rate, the length of the rate lock, and details about the program.

3. Don't count on market moves when you lock in to a mortgage rate. Deciding when to lock in to a mortgage rate can be difficult. People usually wait, trying to guess when rates have hit bottom. Unfortunately, a great deal of times they will wait too long and end up with a higher interest rate. There is nothing wrong with floating but keep trace of market indicators as well.

4. When buying a home, don't forget a professional inspection. Unless you are buying a new home with warranties on all equipment and appliances, it is recommended that you get a property inspection, a termite inspection and a roof inspection. Start learning what issues are quite common in inspecting a property. If a professional home inspector tells that certain repairs need to be done, the seller is more likely to agree to do them. If the seller agrees to do the repairs, have your inspector verify that they are done. As always do not trust verbal promises.

5. Beware of hidden fees. Check for certain miscellaneous fees such as notary and document preparation. These types of fees can mean hundreds or even thousands of dollars in closing costs. As always do not trust verbal promises. Ask people questions, if you don't understand something they do.

Written by Helen Peshkova, RichTrack.com.

http://www.RichTrack.com is one of the first business oriented education portals. It's the leading online business information network for millionaires. The goal of RichTrack.com is to present business content in a professional, helpful and practical format that helps you getting rich.

Get Reasonable Interest Rates With Cheap Secured Loans

Interest rate on loans is a term which for a borrower is a determinant for deciding, which loan to take. There are various rates available in the market varying from lender to lender. Wrong choices of loan rate and you have to be ready to pay the damages in the form of large monthly installments. Cheap secured loans can be the best option for you to choose when looking for loans at cheaper rates.

Cheap secured loans are comes at lower interest rates and easiest repayment terms and conditions in comparison with other loans in the market. Easy repayment terms here mean the one which suits with your needs and repayment capacity in the most appropriate manner.

A cheap secured loan can help you get 125% of the value of your collateral. Collateral can be your home, real estate, your car, or any other property of yours. With growing competition among the lenders in the market, the interest rates are falling down. The lenders are attracting borrowers with longer repayment term and flexibility in repayment options.

What can a cheap secured loan be used for?

1. Buying a new car
2. Travel around the beautiful destinations
3. Your home improvements you really wanted
4. Pay off credit card or store card debt
5. Consolidate your debts to put you back in control of your life.
6. There is no restriction on the purpose of the loan

A cheap secured loan generally ranges from ₤5000 to ₤50000. The amount however depends upon the property offered by you rather than on your credit status unlike in the case of other loans. The minimum repayment period is 5 years and go up to 25 years. The approval rate for a cheap secured loan is also very high.

It is always advised to shop around in the market for a good loan deal as it may save lot of your money. There are also certain websites of brokers. You can input your details along with the required amount of loan and your repayment capacity. They will arrange the best offers in the loan market as per your demand. You can further negotiate with the lenders regarding the interest rate.

Cheap secured personal loans will help you get what you look from a loan to offer you. These loans take 12 -15 days for their approval. The time involved is for the valuation of the property you are offering as security to the lender. Give your thoughts and desires a place in real world through cheap secured personal loans.

Peter Taylor is a senior financial analyst at FindSecuredLoan with an acumen for finance and insurance. In recent years he has taken up to provide independant financial advice through his informative articles. His articles are widely read because of the lucid manner of writing and thoroughly researched datas. To find Cheap secured loan, secured loan UK, personal secured loan UK, bad credit secured loan in uk that best suits your need visit http://www.findsecuredloan.co.uk

Bad Credit Lenders How To Get Approved For A Loan Online

Whether you need a home purchase loan, an auto or car loan, or a personal loan, looking for a lender online is always a smart move. The Internet allows you to compare various loan terms quickly and conveniently from the comfort of your home, and you have access to many more lenders than you would if you relied solely on your local yellow pages. And if you have bad credit, online lenders tend to offer more flexibility and more lenient approval criteria, which means you\'re more likely to get your loan approved. So what\'s involved in the process of getting approved for a loan online?

Apply

First, you\'ll need to fill out an application. Most online loan lenders have their application available on their website. You may have to create an account on the site with a user ID and password. Once you have a user ID, you simply fill out the application--with information like your name, employment history, etc.--and submit it with a click of your mouse. Nothing could be easier!

Sit back and wait

After you submit the application, the online loan company will have a loan officer review your case. It\'s possible you\'ll receive a phone call or email asking for more information, and in some cases you may need to provide documentation, such as faxing the company one of your recent pay stubs. Since online loan companies know they have to work hard to get your business, chances are you\'ll hear back from them within a day or two.

Get ready to sign

With most types of loans, you\'ll need to physically sign the paperwork, and the loan company will want the original copies. Some companies hire a processor to meet with you and handle the signature aspect. Others will send or overnight the papers to you so you can sign them, and then you\'ll have to mail them back to the company.

Whenever you want to get approved for a loan, you\'ll have to go through these steps. If you choose a bad credit lender because of your credit history, you may have to provide some extra documentation or paperwork, but the basic steps will be the same.

View our recommended bad credit lenders online.

Also, check out our recommended debt consolidators online, or view our list of recommended lenders for low rate mortgage companies online.

Unsecured Loan With No Credit Check: Where To Find Them?

If you are looking for an unsecured loan with no credit check, you may find yourself looking for something that is just not there. But, you may be able to find some opportunities to get a great loan for funds, nonetheless. To find the right loan product for your needs, you\'ll need to consider several aspects about the loan itself. No matter if you have poor credit or an outstanding credit history, you have opportunities to find the loan that you need throughout the web, with a wide range of different qualifying opportunities.

Online, you will find some of the best loans available to those with poor credit. Here\'s what to look for in the options that you are considering.

An unsecured loan with no credit check is near impossible to find unless you look at the fast loans options offered throughout the web. These loans are offered to individuals at very high interest rates and some are payable very shortly after they are provided to the individuals. Others are simply provided to individuals who have the ability to pay their loan back because they have a good income flow.

Watch your interest rate. Loans that do not check your credit history are loans with high interest rates. You would be surprised at how low your credit score can be and lenders will still provide a loan for you. In either case, the most important thing for you to do is to shop around so that you find the lowest opportunity for yourself to save money. Just a slight difference can really save you a lot of money in the length of your loan.

Guaranteed loans are also an option. If you need to borrow money for one reason or another and have some capital, you can look into guaranteed loans. These will use your equity, your home\'s value or other assets to secure the loan. Other types are those that will provide the loan to you while you sign over the ability for them to charge your checking account a certain amount per month in payments. This gives them more security to know that you\'ll pay your loan back to them.

Fast loans, such as payday loans are another option. These allow you to borrow money against your next paycheck. The ability that these have is that they can help you to get funds fast and you repay the loan within a couple of weeks. If you fail to repay them, there are huge fees though. But, for instant money, this is an excellent way to go.

It can be a bad idea to take on any loan that you can not pay back. It is wise to only take out as much as you can afford because getting a loan and not paying it back properly can leave you with a lot of debt, a lot of heart ache and a bad credit history. Take the time to research the best loan options available to you throughout the web, though, and you are likely to find an option or two that you can take full advantage of. You may even find some excellent opportunities for unsecured loans with no credit check.

Susan Dean is the webmaster and publisher of http://www.discount-personal-loans.com Visit her site for discount personal loans.

Formalizing Equity Investment

Where an entrepreneur feels that a venture might have wide public appeal, or that some group of investors might be more comfortable with a formal division of ownership, the decision may be made to distribute stock in the corporation in proportion to ownership. For the protection of investors, this process is more tightly regulated than direct sales of ownership interest.

Simply stated, it is against the law to sell stock unless you are licensed to do so or can qualify for an exemption from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the various states securities commissions\' rules. Let us take a look at some of the exemptions.

Regulation D

For some entrepreneurs, the best vehicle to accomplish initial equity financing under an exemption is through the use of Regulation D, which is a limited offer and sale of their company\'s stock, or securities, without registration under the Federal Securities Act of 1933. Some risks continue under \D,\ but compliance is significantly easier than before it existed. Under Regulation D, Rule 504 generally pertains to securities sales up to $1 million, and this is the rule most applicable to the ventures we are considering.

Rule 504

This rule is considered by many as the perfect answer for the company just starting out that needs to raise less than $1 million but cannot afford to go through the whole SEC registration process. Rule 504 offers such companies an alternative:

An exemption to raise up to $1 million, with no disclosure criteria

The total offering amount under Rule 504 can be up to $1 million in a 12-month period, less the aggregate offering of all securities sold within 12 months before the start of the offering. So, if a company has raised $100,000 in private money in the 12 months preceding qualification under this rule, it can still raise an additional $900,000.

Few general solicitation and resale restrictions

Generally, under Rule 504 there are no specific disclosure requirements, unless the state of issue imposes them. Theoretically, an issuer can have a purchaser sign a subscription agreement and purchase stock without any information about the company being disclosed.

Regardless of the amount of disclosure the issuer is willing to provide, Rule 504 does not dismiss the issuer from federal requirements, nor is there an exemption from fraud provisions, including the areas of material omissions or misstatements. The penalties for noncompliance are severe, including monetary fines and mandatory jail sentences.

Rule 504 allows the issuer to generally solicit, or advertise, for subscribers to an offering. Some states have been quite lenient in allowing it. However, in practice, very few issuers have advertised their offerings in newspapers or through other common media as was expected.

No limit as to the number or type of investors

Rule 504 is the only rule under D that permits an unlimited number of investors.

Regulation A Offerings

Under Regulation A, a company may also publicly offer its securities without registration under the 1933 Act. Instead, an offering statement (Form 1-A) is filed and \qualified\ with the SEC. A principal attraction of \A\ is that only two years of financial statements are required and they may be unaudited if audited information is not readily available. The limit of an A offering is $5 million in any 12 month period. Also, Form 1-A has been revised to allow the optional use of a \user-friendly\ question and answer form.

Small Company Offering Registration (SCOR)

Form U-7, the basic registration/information form used in the Small Corporate Offering Registration (SCOR) was adopted by the Securities and Exchange Commission in 1992. In some states, this is called Uniform Limited Offering Registration or ULOR. It allows a company to raise up to $1 million by selling securities. The disclosure statement (Form U-7) is considerably less complicated than standard disclosure forms and is constructed in question and answer form; the SCOR/ULOR process is considered by many to be the simplest paper-work process used to complete an exempted offering ever.

The major drawback to the exempted processes is the complexity of the regulations, and the courts have shown a willingness to rule against the entrepreneur in their interpretations. The entrepreneur should not proceed without first seeking the advice of qualified legal counsel to determine the best form of exemption to apply for.

John B. Vinturella, Ph.D. has almost 40 years experience as a management and strategic consultant, entrepreneur, author, and college professor. For 20 of those years, Dr. Vinturella was owner/president of a distribution company that he founded. He is a principal in business opportunity sites jbv.com and muddledconcept.com, and maintains business and political blogs.

Working With a Real Estate Agent What to Look for in an Agent

Whether you are looking to sell or buy a home, working with a real estate agent can be your greatest asset. With their expertise and connections, you will save yourself both time and money. However, you want to find an agent that has your best interests at heart.

1. What Kind Of Agent Are They?

Not all real estate agents are the same. Some specialize in helping homeowners sell their property, so they are called seller agents. Others guide people through the home buying process, and are called buyer agents. And there are also realtors who can handle both sides of process, and may charge a smaller total commission.

By selecting either a buyer or seller agent, you ensure that your realtor is advocating for your side of the transaction. Seller agents will set a price point, advertise, and handle multiple bids. A buyer agent will prescreen homes, set up private showings, and walk you through closing the deal.

2. Do They Listen?

Some agents are more interested in collecting their commission than helping you. That\'s why it is important to find a real estate agent who actively listens to you. A good agent will ask you questions, not just answer yours.

To find a listening agent, talk to them over the phone or in person. Ask questions, like what is involved in the process and how they can help. Use your instincts to decide if they are paying attention to you or reciting a sales pitch. Keep researching agents until you find one you are comfortable with.

3. Are They Flexible?

While expertise and friendliness are important, also ask about flexibility. Some agents have full time jobs which limits their availability. This can be a problem when you are trying to arrange showing times or sign escrow papers.

Before you start working with a real estate agent, ask about their schedule. Can you call or email them any time? What days do they do showings and walk-throughs?

Finding a good real estate agent can be the beginning of a helpful partnership that can last for several years. Make sure you take the time to find one that will truly earn their commission and get you the best deal.

There are many Questions to Ask When Buying a Home. View our recommended providers who can help with a Home Loan for a Low Credit Score.

Now Is the Right Time to Consolidate Student Loans

Now Is the Right Time to Consolidate Student Loans

Students graduate from college with that prize possession: the
much-anticipated college degree. Then there are those students
who graduate college with that added bonus: a stack of student
loans. While searching for the ultimate job, the last thing a
student needs is worrying about how to pay off a ton of student
loans.

Student Loan Consolidation in One Simple Payment

It would make life so much easier to pay one student loan bill
instead of five, six, seven or even eight - sometimes more!
After graduation there's so much to think about: finding the
ultimate job, finding a place to live, and figuring out how to
pay for everything.

Thinking about paying monthly student loan bills certainly will
not make life easy or happy. No one enjoys paying bills. The
task becomes even worse and more stressful when there are piles
of bills to pay. By consolidating student loans life will get
easier and payments might be lower.

Fast Track to Student Loan Consolidation

Consolidation isn't a foreign word and it's not too big of a
word to understand. Consolidation is easy. It combines all of a
student's loans into one payment. It's that simple. It's easy as
pie and will let you breathe easier too. Student loan
consolidation is convenient and allows you to combine all your
loans. In addition, consolidation is no longer only geared
toward federal loans. Now students also can consolidate their
private loans.

The Time is Now for Student Loan Consolidation

There's no time like the present to consolidate outstanding
student loans. Even though interest rates on federal student
loans were at their lowest from July 1, 2004 to July 1, 2005,
it's still a great time to combine student loans. The rates most
likely will increase in July 2006, so consolidating now is a
bright idea. Federal student loan consolidation can be as low as
4.75 percent. Private student loan consolidation depends on the
lender, and the borrower's credit.

Students who have multiple student loans oftentimes are
inundated with varying interest rates and repayment terms.
Getting it all in order every month can prove to be a literal
nightmare.

Student Loan Consolidation Incentives

With federal student loan consolidation, rates are fixed.
Students also can take advantage of deferment, forbearance and
cancellation options.

Another highlight of student loan consolidation is the
extension of payments. Many students find they can extend a
10-year repayment plan to as long as 30 years. This depends on a
borrower's balance, so it's important to check out the options.
Student loan consolidation offers students the same interest
rate on the same amount, but for a longer term, hence better
affordability.

There are so many good reasons to get on the road to student
loan consolidation. By taking a stack of student loan bills and
combining them into one, it's like a magic trick. However, it's
a trick that will help ease life for many students who are
inundated with multiple loan bills, not to mention all of the
other daily stresses of life for graduating students.

This article is distributed by NextStudent. At NextStudent, we
believe that getting an education is the best investment you can
make, and we're dedicated to helping you pursue your education
dreams by making college funding as easy as possible. We invite
you to learn more about student loan consolidation at
http://www.NextStudent.com.

How I made $122000 and lost $132000 A lesson in Assets vs Liabilities

This is a true story from my own experience that illustrates how buying assets for wealth creation works.

Just over 3 years ago I found myself with $75,000 to spend or invest. My wife and I needed a new car as the old one was 8 years old and not as reliable as it used to be, so we spent $40,000 on buying the latest model.

Our $75,000 was now reduced to $35,000.

We now made the wisest financial decision we have ever made (apart from buying our own home) and used the remaining $35,000 as a deposit on an investment property to help provide for our eventual retirement. The investment property cost a total of $178,000 including mortgage, conveyancing, and stamp duty costs.

Three years have gone by and this is what has happened.

The car has dropped in value by at least $10,000 and possibly more, but is providing good reliable transport.

The owner of the neighbouring property to our investment has put his identical property on the market for $319,000 which compares favorably with other properties in the area. As a conservative guess I would expect it to achieve a sale price of $300,000 or thereabouts.

This means that we have made around $122,000 on our original investment in the house and lost $10,000 on the car. It's actually worse than that. By buying the car instead of the neighbouring house we have forgone a possible $122,000 profit, so the car has has actually cost us $162,000! The old car is still running and in daily use.

The end result is that we have a paper profit of $122,000 on the house and a technical loss of $132,000 on the new car ($162k - $30k residual value).

The moral of this story is to put your money into things that increase in value (assets), and NOT into things that decrease in value (liabilities). You may not have a large sum of money to invest in real estate but there are other asset classes like art, antiques, coins or stamps where there are plenty of smaller investing opportunities.

If you can remember this story of buying a house versus buying a vehicle next time you make a major purchase, you can evaluate how the purchase is going to affect your future wealth. Do you really need a new vehicle or a wide-screen TV? Would a low-mileage second-hand car, and keeping the existing TV be sufficient? Making the right decision now will have a huge bearing on your retirement.

Learning to distinguish between wants and needs, and investing in assets is the key to wealth creation and a comfortable retirement.

Copyright 2005 by Robert Scott, LoanSense.com.au

Check out Robert's Home Loan Australia website that is dedicated to helping borrowers get the best possible deal on a Home Loan in Australia.

Secured Loans: Different Strokes for Different Blokes

Secured loans
are loans that are given against a property. It makes it less
risky for the lender. Since, the risk for lenders is greatly
reduced in case of secured loans they carry lower rates of
interest than unsecured loans.

There are several benefits of availing a sec
ured loan:

As we have already discussed, rates of interest on secured
loans are lower than interest rates on unsecured loans. The
amount that you can avail as a secured loan is much more than
the amount that can be availed as an unsecured loan. A secured
loan can be availed for a longer period of time than an
unsecured loan. This will allow you to make small monthly
repayments. You can avail a secured loan even if you have a
poor credit rating history. Lenders are more willing to grant
bad credit secured loans than bad credit unsecured loans. This
is again because in case of a secured loan, the lender does not
have to worry about non-repayment of the loan since the loan is
secured against a property.

There are several types of secured loans:

Mortgage Loans A mortgage loan is a secured loan that is given
against collateral. The most common mortgage loans are car loans
and home loans. When a borrower avails a mortgage loan to buy a
car or a house, the same car or the same house acts as the
collateral.

Homeowner Loans A homeowner loan is a secured loan that is given
against a house that the borrower already possesses. A homeowner
loan can be availed for a number of purposes. A homeowner loan
is very useful when you are going to buy a second house.

Home Equity Loan A home equity loan is taken when your house is
already mortgaged and you are in a need of more funds. Home
equity is the value left in a house after subtracting the unpaid
mortgage balance from the current value of the house.

A secured loan is a very important source of personal finance.
However, you must exercise this option very carefully. You must
go for a secured loan only when you are confident that you will
be able to repay the loan as per the loan terms and conditions.

Foreclosure Investing: Your External Team

A team is critical to the success of your foreclosure investing business. Even if you\'re working by yourself and you say, \I can\'t build a team. I can\'t even afford to pay my electric bill right now!\--you\'ll still need to have professionals who can help you!

You need a team: people you trust to help with your business. This article is about one of the types of teams you will need as a foreclosure investor: the external team.

Mortgage Broker--If you have to interview 20 brokers to get three you can count on, then do that. A mortgage broker is important because you can refer your distressed homeowner to them. This is good for two reasons:

• Maybe your mortgage broker can pull a rabbit out of their hat and save the distressed homeowner\'s home.
• If the mortgage broker tells your client that it can\'t be done it gives you credibility and smooths the path for you to work a deal with your client.

Title Company--A competent title company will allow you to pull O&E\'s (Owners and Encumbrances) and will do title work for you. A good title company will make a huge difference in the success of your foreclosure investing business. Try one title company. If they don\'t work, try another.

Lawyer--In this business, it\'s usually not a matter of if you\'re going to get sued, but when you\'re going to get sued. You need somebody who\'s going to protect you from getting hauled into court. Make sure your real estate lawyer has experience with foreclosures.

Tax accountant--If your accountant has real estate experience they can save you thousands of dollars. Find somebody who comes recommended. My suggestion is not to use the accountants from your local real estate club. Generally, they are overwhelmed with people asking them a lot of questions. I would look around and use other contacts to find an accountant that has a focus on real estate.

Real estate agent--I have a real estate agent who I\'ve done business with for 13 years. We\'ve probably done 20 transactions.

A good real estate agent will help you:

• Pull comps--In the beginning of my foreclosure career, I would have my real estate agent pull my comps (comparable sales) for me. So when I had a house that was possibly of interest to me, I could see what the house was worth. And that would give me an idea of whether or not I was going to work the deal.
• Get MLS access--The second thing that the real estate agent has done has allowed me access to the multiple listing service of my particular town. Access to the multiple listing services is critical for someone in the foreclosure business. Instead of having to call my real estate agent and ask him all the time, I offset his cost for his MLS service, and I have direct access to the MLS, without being a real estate agent. This is a critical juncture in your business. Be creative and do what you can to get it.

About the Author:

Paul Wells has been investing in foreclosures full-time for more than 5 years. To ask Paul a question, go to his Foreclosure Investing blog here: http://www.AskPaulWells.com