วันเสาร์ที่ 27 ธันวาคม พ.ศ. 2551

A Safe Investment Strategy

After years of unprecedented market gains the recent financial meltdown has caused investors nationwide to wake up with a head-splitting financial hangover. Believe me, I know your pain.

The worst was taking a 90 percent loss while vested in a technology mutual fund. Who could have predicted that a well-run fund could lose? It was managed by top notch, Harvard educated managers. That one hurt a lot. Real money saved over years and lost in mere months.

The security of your investments is becoming more and more important these days. Investors want to be able to anticipate decent returns in the stock market, but the market takes them on a roller coaster ride that would be the envy of any amusement park. One day it's a 200 point rise and setting a new record high on the Dow, then the next a 300 point tumble that takes six weeks to shake off.

If you're like me, you have taken that ride more than once over the years. It's happened in a big way twice in the past decade alone!

The series of highs and lows can leave you with a feeling of hopelessness. How can you know if a company is cooking the books? How can you predict if there will be another terrorist attack that will cripple our Country for months? Who has a crystal ball that can reveal when the next financial market meltdown will wash over us? Whenever these cycles hit personal fortunes are wiped out in a blink of an eye.

You may be thinking, "So what else can I invest in?"

The answer is to invest in real estate...but maybe not in the way the first comes to mind.

Real estate is an asset that you see and touch, is insured, and produces monthly income. Historically it is one of the safest investments available and there are several ways to get started. Here's a few:

1) The "Speculator" Approach - you could become a real estate "speculator" and buy properties with the hope that they will go up in value and allow you to reap windfall profits when you sell. Of course, this type of approach has a large amount of risk which has left large numbers of speculators who were consumed with "Flipping Frenzy" over the last few years in a very tough place when the market turned and did not favor their investment approach.

2) The Landlord Approach - on a more traditional level, you could buy a home, duplex, or small apartment building and rent the property out. Over time as you collect rent your tenants will pay off your mortgage. This does take some time, work, and experience. This approach is rather safe and can result in a good return in both the short and long term. The downside is that there can be a large amount of time required to make this work.

Now what if you find yourself in large group of over 200 Million Americans who want the benefits of real estate investing but don't have the spare time or hard-nosed demeanor needed to be a successful landlord? While not as well known as the first two methods, there is a third approach.

3) The Passive Method - this style of investing is known as making "Private Mortgage Loans". Private Mortgage Loans, when set up properly, can provide your portfolio with a great return in any real estate market. Up, down, flat...it doesn't really matter.

The investment model is simple. You directly loan money, at a very low loan-to-value, against a piece of real estate. The borrower is typically a tried-and-true veteran landlord that has a portfolio of equity-rich properties and also is familiar with the ins-and-outs of finding tenants and managing rental property.

Your return comes in the form of interest payments from your borrower and because you establish the loan terms together you can have the payments come regularly or have them rolled into the loan and paid out in one lump sum when the loan term is over.

To provide you with the safety you want, your investment is secured by a first mortgage. As long as you follow common-sense lending practices then you can enjoy a level of confidence in your investments that the stock market cannot provide.

Private Mortgage Lending is a vehicle that can help you quickly recover from harsh stock market losses. Using this approach you can realize returns greater than 10% and never get called to fix a leaky pipe. Unfortunately, most investors aren't even aware this opportunity exists.

Now that you've read this article, you can't claim ignorance as an excuse. Stop what you are doing and start looking for someone who needs a private mortgage with whom you can do business with. Find a landlord at your local real estate investor association, hit a round of golf together, and see if it makes sense to do business together. Then take action and make your first investment. Start small if it makes you feel better, but get started.

Failure to take action puts you in jeopardy of letting it slide to the bottom of your to-do list. If that happens, in a year you'll wonder why things have not changed for you financially.

Brian Teets is a lifetime resident of Michigan who has endured the ups and downs of the stock market. To request a FREE CD that reveals how you can get started with the safe investment of private mortgage loans, call his office at 734-328-6020 or by visiting his website at http://www.InvestInMichigan.org

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Brian_Teets

Clean Up Your Financials Well in Advance of Your Business Sale

Buying a business is a risky proposition. The buyer is attempting to examine and access all of the risk factors to determine how much to pay, what deal structure to propose, and even whether or not to even make an offer. What if I lose a key customer, employee, or supplier? What if our technology is surpassed by a new, lower-cost solution? What happens if a big company decides to enter our niche? These are just a few of the concerns that make buyers less generous in their offer price and terms.

If your financials are questionable, that may be the deciding factor that diminishes your selling price or even blows up the deal.

Audited financials are the best to put a buyer's mind at ease. For smaller companies, the cost of this is not warranted. The next best are reviewed financials. They show that a CPA has put your accounting process through some review and scrutiny. Compiled statements are OK, but are closer to a book keeper's role than a CPA's approach. Just remember, the buyer's accountant is going to perform due diligence on your financials at a level closer to an audited statements process. If he finds mistakes and inconsistencies, a lack of trust on all other data can develop.

Your business tax returns will be gospel to the buyer because the IRS frowns on companies not reporting a portion of their income and that is what the buyer's bank reviews to determine the financing available for the acquisition.

In the Mergers and Acquisitions business we all rely on "recast" financials to basically remove all of the expenses the owner runs through his business and make the company look more profitable to drive up the selling price. Sophisticated buyers (i.e. acquisition oriented corporations) may not directly confront you on the recasting, but they are not likely to give you full credit in their analysis.

They may even develop some reservations about your character and ethics if the amounts are excessive. They may question your ability to fit in as a good corporate citizen as you transition your business to their institutional corporate structure.

If you are planning on selling your company in three years, why not start eliminating the expenses you run through the business that push the boundaries of business versus personal expenses? In the first year eliminate 33% of the country club, entertainment, business trips, conferences and non-contributing relatives on the payroll. The second year, eliminate another 33% of those and in the year preceding the sale, eliminate them completely.

Imagine the style points you would get from a sophisticated buyer when they discovered that your financials are really your financials with no recasting. Not only that, but you will likely receive a high end purchase price multiple and a greater percentage of cash at close. So, for example, if companies in your industry sell for a range of between 5 and 6.25 X EBITDA, then your company would likely sell at a multiple closer to the 6.25 high end than the 5 low end multiple.

If you had run $200,000 of owner expenses through the business and eliminated that practice you would pay approximately $80,000 in additional taxes. Your recast EBITDA would be higher than your reported EBITDA, but the sophisticated investor might only give you $100,000 credit and would adjust your multiple to the low end. Your recast EBITDA, for example, of $3.2 million would be credited by the buyer at $3.1 million with a valuation multiple of 5 X, resulting in a proposed purchase value of $15.5 million.

Compare this to using your real EBITDA of $3 million, but because it is not recast, your buyer pays a risk reduction premium in valuation multiple and moves you up to 6 X, resulting in a proposed purchase value of $18 million. This is a pretty impressive improvement in selling price for increasing your company's taxable income phased in over the three years prior to your business sale.

You may be asking yourself skeptically, how can this be? Remember, buying a business is all about minimizing the buyer's perception of risk. Now your financials are rock solid and do not require a long explanation on why they are really better than reported to the IRS.

This is the most powerful risk reduction strategy available to business sellers. You will differentiate your company from every other acquisition target the buyer has reviewed. You increase your credibility on every other piece of information that you have provided during the courting and due diligence process. Their opinion on your business acumen, management ability, judgment, and ethics has been elevated. The buyer feels more confident that this will be a successful acquisition. For that they will pay a premium.

Dave Kauppi is the editor of The Exit Strategist Newsletter, a Merger and Acquisition Advisor and President of MidMarket Capital, representing owners in the sale of privately held businesses. We provide Wall Street style investment banking services to lower mid market companies at a size appropriate fee structure.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dave_Kauppi

Forex - The Beginner's Guide

If you are a beginner and you are want to gain knowledge about the Forex market then you need to know about the Forex beginner's guide.

If you want to become the full time trader then you need to practice for two years an learn about the Forex market. You should learn about the different techniques that are used for trading in Forex. You should know the different ways of earning huge profit in this huge market of profit and loss. If you are a beginner and you are searching for the guide that can help you to get the knowledge about the market then The Beginners Guide is the best option for you:

1.) Search For The Forex Education Provider:-
There is wide difference between the gambling and investing in Forex. You should try to learn each and every thing about the Forex. You should learn about the different ways that you can use for investing in market. if you want to gain the perfect knowledge about the Forex then you need to search for the trustworthy source that can fulfill your knowledge of getting the perfect information about the Forex market. There is no limit for learning. Learning can take place at any age. There is no age limit for learning.

2.) Find A Forex Broker:
There are many Forex brokers that don't know the importance of time. You would find that the Forex brokers are of different shapes and size. You can choose the broker as per your requirements. You broker would help you to know the different trading strategies that would aid you to earn huge profit as soon as possible. You would also come to know the legal strategies of trading in Forex. You would also come to know about the appetite of risk. Before selecting the broker you should do little bit of research work that would help you to know about the basic concepts of trading. You should try to find a source that would show you difference between the brokers and you can choose the perfect broker for yourself.

3.) Search for Trading System:
You would not have any difficulty in searching the trading system. There are many systems that can help you to earn profits and fulfill you dreams. If you do research work then you would not have problem in selecting the trading system that would fit into your personality.

4.) Practice:
Practice makes the man perfect. If you do the practice of trading then you would get the desired fruits. If you want to improve your system then you need to recollect the teaching of your Forex class. If you want to become a successful trader then you need to open a demo account.

5.) Learning:
Learning is a continuous process. Learning does not have any end. Learning would improve your trade. If you stop learning then you would not be able to earn the desired results. Learning can take place at any age. There is no age limit for learning.

John Horsch writes premium high quality articles ranging from Internet Marketing to Gardening. Each is researched and edited with the greatest degree of professionalism. John has been writing articles for Internet consumption since 2001. Great Forex Tips and Reviews: http://eliteprofitproducts.com/forexreview/

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=John_Horsch

วันเสาร์ที่ 20 ธันวาคม พ.ศ. 2551

Debt Help - How to Tell If a Credit Repair Company is a Scam

If you are looking for Credit Repair, the following article will help you tell if the company you are dealing with is a scam or not.

Credit Repair Scam Indicators:

1. If a company wants you to pay for credit repair services before they provide any services, it may be a scam. Under the Credit Repair Organizations Act, credit repair companies cannot require you to pay until they have completed the services they have promised.

2. If a company refuses to tell you your rights and what you can do for yourself for free when asked, it may be a scam.

3. If the company recommends that you do not contact any of the three major national credit reporting companies directly, it may be a scam.

4. If the company tells you they can get rid of most or all the negative credit information in your credit report, even if that information is accurate and current, beware, it probably is a scam. No one can wash your report completely legally if the information is accurate and timely.

5. If the company suggests that you try to invent a "new" credit identity and then, a new credit report by applying for an Employer Identification Number to use instead of your Social Security number. This is a a good indicator of a scam.

6. If the company advises you to dispute all the information in your credit report, regardless of its accuracy or timeliness. Disputing the information may slow down the process, but it usually will not clear your report of any negative information.

Be advised:

If you follow illegal advice and commit fraud as some credit repair companies suggest, you may find yourself with a legal issue as well. You would be breaking a federal crime if you lie on a loan or credit application. If you misrepresent your Social Security number to obtain an Employer Identification Number from the Internal Revenue Service under false pretenses and false information. Which may cause you to be charged and prosecuted for mail or wire fraud if you use the mail, telephone, or Internet to apply for credit and provide false information. So don't be persuaded to follow bad and illegal advice.

Here is a key fact...Absolutely No one can legally remove accurate and timely negative information from your credit report. If you feel the information is incorrect, the law allows you to ask for an investigation of information in your file that you dispute as inaccurate or incomplete, but it will not be completely removed. Also, it is free for you to do this. You can hire hire a company to investigate this on your behalf, but anything a credit repair clinic can do legally, you can do for yourself at little or no cost if you want to put in the work. According to the Fair Credit Reporting Act:

If you are denied credit:

The law entitles you to a free report if a company takes "adverse action" against you, like denying your application for credit, insurance, or employment. However, you have to ask for your report within 60 days of receiving notice of the action or denial. The notice will give you the name, address, and phone number of the consumer reporting company that has denied you credit. You should make note of this for you free credit report request.

Everyone is also entitled to one free report a year, if you are unemployed and plan to look for a job within 60 days, if you are on welfare, or if your report is inaccurate because of fraud, including identity theft.

All the nationwide consumer reporting companies like TransUnion, Equifax, Experian, and others provide you with a free copy of your credit report once every 12 months, but you have to ask for it. The three main credit reporting companies have a central website, a toll-free telephone number, and a mailing address for consumers to order a free annual credit report.

For more information and help with debt problems and credit repair:
Help With Debt Problems
If you would our recommendations and reviews on debt settlement companies and credit repair companies, please visit: http://thedebtcalvary.com Your online source for debt help.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kevin_Scott_Smith

Plug in Points to See How Your Financing Will Pay Off

The home mortgage loan sector is one of the most innovative financial markets. When you consider mortgage points it adds confusion to an already complicated process. However, most buyers do not understand the concept of points and they do not ask for help or clarification to learn about it. They become overwhelmed and have to depend on the mercy of the lender's offer.

The concept is quite simple. Mortgage points are fees paid to a lender for a loan. Shortly the points are usually linked to interest rates with the more points you pay for, the lower the interest rate. Another way to view them would be as pre-paid fees. If you pay points now you will save money in interest payments later.

If you have the cash on hand to pay points and you still cannot decide if you should pay them to get a lower interest rate ask yourself what you would do with the money if not spent on points. If you are buying a home you probably have many needs for the extra money but do not be short-sighted. Invest for the long term.

Most lenders usually charge one point for the loan origination fee and additional points on loans that have interest rates under the current market rate. The lender gets some money up front in exchange for a lower interest rate. It is a win situation for both parties. You can check the newspaper or the Internet for current rates and points being offered and their combinations, which are many and negotiable.

Some mortgage points will reduce the interest rate and some will not. Discount points are based on how much money you borrow. One point equals 1% of the loan. For example, 1% of $100,000 would be $1,000. You can expect a reduction of about one quarter percent for each point paid. Paying points does not reduce the amount borrowed but how much you will be paying back. So, paying points depends on a lot of factors.

If you do not have the cash to pay points then it is a moot point. (No pun intended). The main thing to consider is how long you plan to keep your home. In other words, will you keep the home past the break-even point? That is when your accumulated monthly savings exceed what you have paid in points to get the interest rate down.

Paying points is probably a good investment if you plan to keep the home five years or more. Points can be considered an investment when it continuously yields a savings the longer you stay in the home.

A chart can be prepared to show you the options and when the break-even point occurs. Ask the lender to quote points in dollar amounts so you can easily see how much you are spending.

It is thought the mortgage point system is used only in the United States. That is probably a plus for the creators of our financial system which enables more families to purchase a home who otherwise would not qualify.

This article was written by Arek Zbikowski. For more tips and information on saving money with mortgage points feel free to visit my site at http://www.atozmortgageguide.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Arek_Zbikowski

Reclaim Unlawful Bank Charges

Illegal bank charges, Unlawful bank charges, and Unfair bank charges. So you've been charged by your bank and you don't understand why? Here is a practical guide to reclaim illegal bank charges, unlawful bank charges, and plain unfair bank charges.

Currently there is a court case in progress to decide if the bank are making money from illegal bank charges, unlawful bank charges, and unfair bank charges. As banks do not have to repay bank charges at the moment, they are not doing so unless they feel that the illegal bank charges, unlawful bank charges, or unfair bank charges are in fact bank error. Bank Error.

Banks to error on time to time, but it is very rare that a illegal bank charge is caused by bank error. However in some cases employees do make mistakes. Let us say for example that you have a packaged account (an account that you pay a monthly charge for, and in return you get stacks of benefits and discounts and services included). If you decide that you no longer want this account and if you are entitled to remove the deal from your account you go into your bank to have this removed. You need to sign something to agree the removal (as banks keep an extensive paper trail as proof of EVERYTHING), and in return you should get a receipt. If for some reason your account doesn't get changed to a standard account and you continue to get charged, resulting an an un-arranged bank charge, this is classed as bank error. In this instance you need to take your receipt. to the bank and demand a refund. This can't be refused. Unfortunately as I have just mentioned banks keep evidence of everything done and bank error is uncommon. Reasons for getting bank charges. Guaranteed Card Payment Fee.

Unless you can keep on top of your money, using a debit card can be very dangerous. People believe that if they don't have the money then the card will be refused. Unfortunately not in every case. Shops and ATMs do not have real time communication with the banks. At times it is impossible to know if there is money in the account. A shop has what is called a floor limit on their card transactions and all transactions under a pre-specified limit will authorize without contacting the bank. on top of that, retailers have the option to hold that payment on their systems for up to 6 months without communicating that information to the bank. So how could the bank possibly know if you have spent the money? It can't. It is up to you to keep track of how much you have been spending. This also applies to cash machines, however cash machines do generally update much quicker. Paid & Unpaid Referral Fees.

Direct Debits and Standing orders are a major cause of bank charges. If you have a direct debit or standing order that is due out of your account and you do not have the money for it you will get a charge. in some cases the direct debit won't even get paid to the company so the company will re-request the direct debit and again if you don't have the cash then you will get charged. Even if you cancel a direct debit with the bank, the company can present the direct debit instruction under another reference number and the money will still be paid (or not as in some cases), resulting in more charges. The banks have little control over this system as there are literally millions of direct debit instructions and it is impossible to review and authorize each one individually. If you are not going to have the money in your account, cancel the direct debit about 3-4 working days before it is due. A little tip on managing direct debits. if you have a direct debit due out on the 10th for example the direct debit will leave the account on the previous working day. i.e. in most cases it will leave on the 9th. However if the 10th happens to fall on a Saturday, Sunday or a Monday, then the direct debit will actually leave the account on the Friday! Learn and understand this phrase "I need to have the money for my direct debit in my account on the last working day before the direct debit is due at the latest". Say that out loud 3 times. Un-arranged Borrowing Charges.

If you are taken overdrawn at any point in that month then the bank will apply a charge to your account. The charge will leave the account on the last working day of the month. In the banks eyes they say this is to allow you replace the money and find money to cover the charges. They let you know roughly 2 weeks in advance. In reality the charge is applied on the last working day of the month so the customer is then overdrawn on the first working day of the next month and so gets a charge at the end of the next month too (and so on and so fourth). Credit Zones (commonly known as the overdraft).

People will argue with a bank that the charges they have been given are illegal and should not have been applied as they do not have an overdraft facility on the account. Wrong. There are Arranged overdrafts, and Un-arranged overdrafts. The long and short of it is, everyone has the facility and is free to use it. The only difference is the charges. For an arranged overdraft there is no monthly maintenance fee and there is a small monthly rate of interest which is usually around 1.5% per month. For an un-arranged overdraft there is a monthly charge and a higher rate of interest. The bottom line is, you CAN go overdrawn weather you have agreed the facility or not. My advice to you is to arrange the facility if you have the option - would you prefer a direct debit to come out of your arranged overdraft if you do not have the funds for it, or would you prefer it to come out of an un-arranged overdraft and get charged for the luxury? Don't fight the charge, Address the issue.

When it comes to bank charges, the banks do have you be the short and curlys. You have agreed to accept the charges and you are contractually bound to them. Instead of kicking up a fuss about them you need to grab the bull by the horns and address the issue. Go into your bank and speak to someone about it, but instead of shouting and screaming the odds at the first employee you can get your hands on, ask them for help. At the end of the day branch and call canter employees have not set the rules, they have not applied the charge manually to your account have they? No. So give them a break. These are the people who can advise you best on what to do. They will tell it like it is, and weather or not it is what you want to hear, it is the best way forward. You need to establish exactly how much you are due to be charged and the days that they will be coming out of your accounts. You need to account for that money, and make sure it is there the working day before the charge is due. This is the only way to break the charge cycle. You may not want to pay the charge and fight it, but in the long run you could end up with thousands of pounds worth of debt and a ruined credit file. Remember that the banks are in court waiting for a ruling - let the FSA fight it out with them, not you. Your job is to keep your charges minimal in the event that the courts rule in banks favour. Prevention is better than the cure.

Be smart with your money - avoid the charges in the first place. If you have had problems with card payments - pay in cash. If direct debits are causing you issues - contact the company and ask them to send you a giro. Your local branch can tell you what money you have available, so use the facility. Use online banking to keep a track of your money - it takes 2 minutes to log on to your account online and check how much money is available.

With any luck the courts will rule against the banks and you will be able to reclaim anything you have paid. We will address that issue when it comes about.

http://www.unlawful-bank-charges.co.uk

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Chris_Braithwaite

วันอังคารที่ 16 ธันวาคม พ.ศ. 2551

The Top Ten Questions to Test Your Tax Preparer

Introduction

While the franchised tax prep chains do have their own tax prep training curriculum, they don't always adhere to the "don't pass, don't pay" policy which is supposed to eliminate substandard preparers from their roster. Here are ten questions along with their answers that you can use to make sure that the person you are having prepare your taxes knows what they are doing. Use 1 or more of them and if they can't answer these simplistic questions, you will be better off going with someone who can.

1. If it's cheaper to file the 1040A can I file with that form and deduct my mortgage interest?

Answer: It's usually cheaper to file with the 1040A because the options on deductions are limited to student tuition and loan interest. Generally the more forms involved means more deductions for you but the cost of preparation will be higher. And no, you cannot use the 1040A and take the mortgage interest deduction.

2. I have a W-2 from the previous tax year I didn't get until after I filed last year, can I use it for this year?

Answer: No, the proper way to handle this error is to refile for the prior year with the additional W2 and not include it on this year's return.

3. My spouse has an outstanding student loan and they will take my part of the refund to pay his loan, should I file separate?

Answer: Not necessarily, there is a form called the Injured Spouse form that will allow you to appeal to the IRS to keep your portion of the tax refund. Filing separate causes you to lose your Earned Income Credit and other tax credits as well. The form you need is #8379 and will allow you to file jointly, you will not however be able to file electronically, it must be mailed in, this may change for tax year 2009.

4. What is the name of the form I will need to file if I own a small business that is a sole proprietorship?

Answer: A regular 1040 with a Schedule C will work just fine for any small business, there may be additional forms to file for Automobile expenses, etc. If your business is a partnership you will need a Form 1065, if it's an S-Corp, you will need an 1120S and if it's a C-Corp, an 1120.

5. I just got a divorce at the beginning of this year (2009) can I file single for 2008?

Answer: No. You must use the status you were in as of December 31st of the tax year you are filing. There needs to be one more civil moment between the two of you before you part ways permanently so that you can sign that final tax return as a married couple.

6. My 8 year old cousin lived with me all year; can I use him for Earned Income Credit?

Answer: That depends. If you have full legal custody of your cousin and have adopted him as your child, yes. If not, then no, the dependents you use for EIC have to be your children or adopted children. Recently, this has become a problem for the IRS because it seems that groups of people have gotten into the habit of dependent sharing. Only two dependents are needed for the big payoff in Earned Income Credit, so in many communities it is not unnatural to have families claiming kids that aren't theirs often juggling the kids between those who would benefit most from having the extra deductions. Any perceived fraud in this area can get all parties involved disqualified from collecting EIC for up to ten years.

7. I live in my mother's house with my children can I still claim Head of Household?

Answer: If there is someone else in the household, paying bills, rent, mortgage, groceries, etc, then the answer is no. Head of Household is a designation reserved for a single parent, or someone caring for elderly parents who do not have an income to help with the expenses. This is where a lot of fraud comes in as well, because there are those married or cohabitating couples who have four children and each will claim HOH status to get the maximum benefit and the maximum Earned Income Credit amounts. You cannot be both married AND Head of Household (ask any husband that one).

8. My girlfriend doesn't work and stays home to take care of the kids can I claim her as a dependent?

Answer: No. Even if you pay all rent, bills, etc and provide her with a car, phone and clothing, there is no legal way to claim her as a dependent if she is not your wife. Unfortunately, engagement rings are not deductible either; just think of it as an investment in the future. You can however claim the kids, if they are yours and no one else can.

9. I have to wear a suit to work; can I deduct the expense of dry cleaning, purchases of suits, etc.?

Answer: To be able to deduct work clothing, that clothing must be a uniform of some sort that would not normally be worn anywhere but work. Suits would not qualify and neither would dresses, blouses, etc. Overalls worn for mechanic work or medical related clothing would.

10. Is itemizing my deductions really a benefit to me?

Answer: That depends. Everyone is entitled to the standard deduction of whatever it happens to be that year. Unless you own a home and pay mortgage interest, most of the time the rest of your deductions won't get you over that standard deduction hump. If the preparer is telling you to itemize and you are a renter, remember that they get paid more in preparing a 1040 with a bunch of schedules than they do with a 1040A or 1040EZ with few if any deductions. If you add all your itemized deductions without a mortgage interest payment and they equal just at what your standard deduction would be, save the money on the prep and go with a 1040A. This answer would change if you had children or were expecting EIC or additional refundable tax credits.

David Roberts, CFE, CQBPA, MBA, lives in Kissimmee, Florida with his four girls, three dogs, two snakes and one wife. He has been a member of the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners for five years and has been studying fraud for longer than that. He is the owner of Homesoon Accounting Services which specializes in Quickbooks Consultations and Fraud Prevention and Detection.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=David_S_Roberts

วันจันทร์ที่ 15 ธันวาคม พ.ศ. 2551

Commercial Banks Facing Real Hard Time As World Economy Tumults

As the commercial banks are fighting for survival, the economic situation is getting worsened with every passing hour. As revealed by stock news India, the depletion of stock values, fund values, bankruptcy and disastrous closing prices have left everyone speechless. The world power, U.S.A. has been hit in the similar manner or even badly. Wall Street, the largest stock market, as stated by stock market news, money market news, share news India and various other finance news channels dailies, is undergoing a panicking stigma of commercial loss. Only a few famous commercial banks like Wachovia, Chinese bank, Citic have been considered to come to the rescue of the plenty of bankrupt investors and corporate houses, worldwide.

According to Share news India and stock exchange news, American Express, Citigroup, JP Morgan Chase, American icons and many others are undergoing a devastating economic loss, so much so that Apple as well has been hit badly by the disastrous crisis. Possibilities are that most of the commercial banks undergoing loss could merge with those in a fine situation or simply could head on for a bail out.

Stock exchange news stated that the investors, financers, stock brokers, and bankers have no clue as to what will follow. In India as well, the fund values has been depleting so far and it's tough to pontificate whether fund investing in India is worth taken a risk of. Loss of massive amounts till now has left everyone in a thrifty state and every following step has to be measured for one to escape huge losses and bankruptcy. India money market news, share news India and finance news India have depicted the situation of Indian stock market to be one such that could be tackled with ease. Investors and expert economists commented on this situation after having a look at the increased swap rates which are closely following the bond yields. Such easing and hopeful conditions have in fact raised hopes as well as curiosity implying towards an increase in the demand for the nearing debt auctions which will follow soon. These auctions will definitely help the otherwise drought stricken investors to have a fulfilling appetite.

However, currency news India and share news India have pointed towards a worsened situation worldwide where the currency meter has fluctuated to an extent that the fifteen nation currency Euro has fallen flat on face against dollar and yen. No doubt, the European Central Bank will have to cut down the interest rates to avoid any economic mishap.

The economic currency exchange rates had never been in such a troubled state in the last ten decades. The Indian currency exchange rates have depicted rupee as going down against dollar as predictably. The stock news India and share news India heads in the same direction by throwing enough light towards sensex dipping down towards the dusk each following day. Completely in sync with the economic slip downwards globally, Indian stocks have also tumbled down. As the bankers and investors keep switching on and off to the online currency converters, nothing but loosened hopes come handy. Not a right time for personal finance investing, it's the time to sit back and observe the drastic stock market trends and play safe as personal finance tools hardly help in such thrifty situations.

Sourav Sharma is freelance market analyst and is writing reviews articles on money market news, India business news, share market news and information on India finance News.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sourav_Sharma

The Theory of Money and the Theory of Value

The most important point to emerge from Marx's theory of money is the idea that money is a form of value. The difficulty with this idea is that we are more familiar with money itself than with value in other forms. But value does appear in forms other than money. For example, the balance sheet of a capitalist firm estimates the value of goods in process and of fixed capital which has not yet been depreciated, as well as the value of inventories of finished commodities awaiting sale. Each of these aggregations of commodities has a value, usually expressed as the equivalent of a certain amount of money, but it is clear that neither goods in process nor fixed capital is money. Marx views the value of commodities in this sense as analytically prior to money; money can be explained according to Marx only on the basis of an understanding of the value of commodities.

Marx follows Smith in regarding value as the property of exchangeability of commodities. In a society where exchange is common, products come to have a dual character as use values and as values. They have two powers: first, to satisfy particular human needs and wants; and second, to exchange for other products. This second power can be thought of quantitatively, as an amount of exchangeability or command over other commodities. The classical economists viewed value as a real, though socially determined, entity, with its own laws of conservation and motion. Value in this sense bears the same relation to commodities as mass bears to physical objects. It is not surprising that in societies where exchange is widespread value takes on an independent form as money, as an expression of general exchangeability.

Value is a central social reality for people; they constantly think and talk about it directly or indirectly; they want some way to transfer it directly among themselves, separate from particular commodities.

This is what we mean by "money." It is the social expression of value separated from the concrete particularity of any use value. With this emergence of money as the social expression of value, money stands, in opposition to commodities, as the abstract always stands in opposition to the particular. We will see value in two forms: as particular commodities, and as money. It is crucial to recognize that this development is latent in the commodity form itself. Insofar as commodity relations are well developed, so that exchange of products is common and people are forced to consider the value of products separately from their use values, the money form of value will also be present. There is no reason to think of the commodity form emerging historically before the money form.

However it is seen, it is clear that we still can't do anything without this little thing called "money" and probably never will.

Interested in another subject? Try this link for more information!

Want to know about the author? Just click!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=EnRico_Nestler

EnRico Nestler - EzineArticles Expert Author

Cash Loans - Fastest Way to Grab Funds

Urgent cash requirement has cropped up? Need quick funds to tackle sudden expenses? Then in such a situation one external source i.e. cash loans can be easily trusted. You can easily acquire immediate funds to solve small financial problems.

Cash loans require no credit check! This means that bad credit holders can also easily qualify for these loans. Those with bad credit like CCJs, IVA, late payments, arrears, defaults and bankruptcy are acceptable.

As cash loans borrower can borrow an amount ranging from £100-£1500 for a term of 2-4 weeks. The repayment date coincides with your coming payday and is easier to meet. The loan amount can be utilized for meeting various day to day expenses like medical expenses, college fee, utility bills, paying car repair cost and electricity bills. They carry slightly higher rate of interest as they are short term in nature. If you shop around thoroughly then you can probably find a lower rate deal for yourself.

Cash loans have fast approval process they don't require any documentation, paperwork or collateral evaluation. No lengthy formalities make the process much faster and easier. Cash is quickly transferred within 24 hours of approval.

One can easily apply for cash loans through banks, other financial institutions and online. There is a stiff market competition among lenders that allows you to avail a lower rate deal for yourself. But will have to research well before applying. All you have to do is, just fill up a simple online form.

Cash loans can be easily entailed by anyone who fulfills the minimum eligibility criteria:-
• Must be 18 years of age
• Must have regular employment
• Must have an active bank account

They provide quick access to money as they provide borrowers quick and immediate financial aid. Anyone can easily apply for cash loans without wasting much time in complying with lengthy formalities.

Peter Taylor is a senior financial analyst at Fast Cash Loan Tenant with an acumen for finance. In recent years he has taken up to provide financial advice through his articles. His articles are widely read because of the lucid manner of writing. To find Cash loans, tenant loans that best suits your need visit http://www.fastcashloantenant.co.uk/

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Peter_Taylor

วันพฤหัสบดีที่ 11 ธันวาคม พ.ศ. 2551

Personal Loans - Easy Financial Assistance For You

We all require adequate finance to satisfy our diverse needs, day to day expenses and other such needs can be easily fulfilled. But there are some needs that just cannot be avoided and require substantial funds too for their fulfillment. To cater such needs effectively you can easily apply for personal loans that offer great financial help to all.

Personal loans are available as secured and unsecured. Secured personal loans are secured against any of your valuable asset. You can offer anything like house, automobile and valuable documents as collateral. The amount offered ranges from £5000-£75000 for a term of 5-25 years. Secured loans offer substantial amount and have longer repayment term. They carry a lower rate of interest which can be easily afforded.

Unsecured personal loans don't require any security against the loan amount. These loans are free from collateral clause. A borrower can borrow anything ranging from £1000-£25000 for a term of 1-10 years depending on their requirements. You can borrow anything that is required and can be easily paid back. Unsecured personal loan have slightly higher rate of interest because of absence of collateral.

Personal loans can be used to meet your personal requirements which call for huge investments like:

• Home renovation
• Car purchase
• Wedding
• Financing education
• Vacation

Borrowers with bad credit status are eligible for personal loans. People facing poor credit like CCJs, IVA, late payments, defaults, bankruptcy, and arrears can also apply.

One can apply for personal loans from banks, other financial institutions and online. Among all, the internet is the fastest way of applying and getting loans. The online process is hassle free and very much convenient. You just need to fill up an online application form to apply.

Personal loans provide adequate finance to all its borrowers. You can use the loan amount without any restriction or obligation.

George Kane has no formal degree in finance, but years of work that he has put in the finance industry makes him perfectly eligible to be called an expert in financial matters. To find personal loans, secured loans, debt consolidation loans visit http://www.loans-4-uk.co.uk/.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=George_Kane

Cash Loans - Fastest Way to Grab Funds

Urgent cash requirement has cropped up? Need quick funds to tackle sudden expenses? Then in such a situation one external source i.e. cash loans can be easily trusted. You can easily acquire immediate funds to solve small financial problems.

Cash loans require no credit check! This means that bad credit holders can also easily qualify for these loans. Those with bad credit like CCJs, IVA, late payments, arrears, defaults and bankruptcy are acceptable.

As cash loans borrower can borrow an amount ranging from £100-£1500 for a term of 2-4 weeks. The repayment date coincides with your coming payday and is easier to meet. The loan amount can be utilized for meeting various day to day expenses like medical expenses, college fee, utility bills, paying car repair cost and electricity bills. They carry slightly higher rate of interest as they are short term in nature. If you shop around thoroughly then you can probably find a lower rate deal for yourself.

Cash loans have fast approval process they don't require any documentation, paperwork or collateral evaluation. No lengthy formalities make the process much faster and easier. Cash is quickly transferred within 24 hours of approval.

One can easily apply for cash loans through banks, other financial institutions and online. There is a stiff market competition among lenders that allows you to avail a lower rate deal for yourself. But will have to research well before applying. All you have to do is, just fill up a simple online form.

Cash loans can be easily entailed by anyone who fulfills the minimum eligibility criteria:-
• Must be 18 years of age
• Must have regular employment
• Must have an active bank account

They provide quick access to money as they provide borrowers quick and immediate financial aid. Anyone can easily apply for cash loans without wasting much time in complying with lengthy formalities.

Peter Taylor is a senior financial analyst at Fast Cash Loan Tenant with an acumen for finance. In recent years he has taken up to provide financial advice through his articles. His articles are widely read because of the lucid manner of writing. To find Cash loans, tenant loans that best suits your need visit http://www.fastcashloantenant.co.uk/

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Peter_Taylor

6 Financial Advice Rules Any Professional Should Live By

Are you thinking about a career in financial services? While finance can be both very lucrative and rewarding, people should use caution. It takes both knowledge and discipline. The following are some basic rules any professional should give to there clients.

Divide every dollar wisely

Money is dived into 4 important "buckets". Make sure you're allocating correctly. These "buckets" are:

• Essential expenses
• Short-term savings
• Retirement savings
• Emergency expenses

Stay out of debt

In today's society it's almost impossible to completely stay out of debt, however try to keep it under control. Only use credit cards if you expect to pay them off every month. Bottom line - don't spend money you don't have.

Property

Property can be a very good investment; however it can also be dangerous. Make sure you make wise decisions when purchasing a home or office. Do plenty of research of the area, as well as the mortgage you get.

Get the whole family involved

It's never too early to start learning about money. Teach your children how to save and the value of planning for the future. The lessons learned will never be forgotten.

The importance of Insurance

While many people think it's a waist of money, insurance can be a life savor. By shopping around, you'll be able to save on premiums.

Family matters

Avoid lending or borrowing money to friends or family. While it may seem like a good idea, it may lead to undue strain on your relationships. It's best to go through financial institutions for these types of matters.

Don't be unprepared when launching your career as a financial advisor. Get all the facts by reading: Picking A Financial Career as soon as possible. This is an excellent article that will give you all the facts you need before launching a financial career.

http://www.topfinancecareersonline.com is dedicated to helping people find the successful career they deserve.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tim_Bock

วันพุธที่ 3 ธันวาคม พ.ศ. 2551

Taking the World by Storm - The Best International Online Banks

Banking is one of the businesses that is essential to the continuity of everyday life as we know it. Banks are important fixtures in our nation today, as they help keep economies up and to keep people's money secure. The importance of banking is such that people have taken the next logical step in the evolution of modern day banking-the online bank. And not only has America caught onto it, but international online banks have taken the world by storm as well.

Online banks are known not only for their efficient and reliable service, hence their popularity. These are two of the amazing online banks that have made it big in Europe, Asia and the rest of the world:

RaboBank: Europe's largest Internet Bank, the RaboBank International Direct Banking comes straight from the Netherlands and has expanded to conquer much of the world. You can make transactions with the RaboBank online, by mail or over the phone. RaboBank charges no fees, sets no minimums and offers the best rates and deals in any country, making it very popular indeed. Their website should provide the best information on their services.

Smile: Although it sounds more like a search engine or an online game, Smile is actually one of the biggest online banks in the world. Based in the United Kingdom, it is the country's first full online bank in 1999, Smile offers full-service savings accounts, current accounts, credit cards, investments and other financial services. It is also the first British Internet bank to be given an ISO27001 Information Security certification for ethics and security. Smile's language is as simple as its name, so customers can understand the language of banking much better.

These are just two of the many international online banks that have taken the world by storm. If you want to know more about online banking and international banks, just visit: http://onlinebankpro.com/category/article-pages/other-international-banks/

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Manny_Bright

วันอังคารที่ 2 ธันวาคม พ.ศ. 2551

When is a Tax Credit Really a Loan?

As a part of the Housing Assistance Tax Act Of 2008 (H.R. 3221) a refundable tax credit is available to first-time home buys up to $7,500. Generally speaking, the credit is the lesser of $7,500 or 10% of the home's purchase price; he home must be a principal residence and purchased after April 8, 2008 and before July 1, 2009; and the credit also phases out when your adjusted gross income (AGI) is between $75,000 to $95,000 for singles and $150,000 to $170,000 for married filing joint. The credit is refundable, meaning, even if you have zero taxable income and zero tax you would be eligible to receive the entire credit as a tax refund.

However, there are a few items to consider before rushing out too purchase a home using this tax "credit". The title of the First-Time Home Buyer credit should be "The advance loan at 0% by the US Government". This tax "credit" has to be completely repaid by the taxpayer over 15 years. In the first year the taxpayer may receive a benefit of $7,500, but over the past 15 years the taxpayer will have to repay the "credit" $500 a year. A taxpayer claiming this credit might be extremely happy during the first year, but may regret the decision over the next 15 years. The benefit can be viewed as borrowing $7,500 over 15 years with no interest. For example, using an annual compounding rate of 6% the interest savings is $4,083.

Another consideration by the taxpayer is should they purchase a house? In a challenging economy is the best personal financial decision for the taxpayer to purchase an asset which may decline in value (or may not increase in value), can the taxpayer afford the extra costs in owning a home (utilities, repairs, maintenance, etc.) and\or increase their debt levels? Of course, there are other benefits from owning your personal residence such as a safe place to raise a family, being more connected to your local community and other potential tax benefits related owning a home such as the potentially having ability to itemize your tax deductions.

The First-Time Home Buyer credit is an example of buyer be aware! A home purchaser should seek counsel with there tax advisor and financial planner before determining their purchase decision. Also, the home purchasers should be aware of the profit-motives of their advisor (i.e. how does the advisor get compensation and does this interfere with the advisor acting in their best interest).

Mark Wyssbrod, Pro@ctive CPA, has been helping small businesses achieve their goals since 1999. His proactive philosophy stems from the fact that traditional tax preparers are usually simple historians who react to their client's prior and current positions. Such a reactive stance means trying to fix mistakes after those mistakes are already made. Mark would rather prevent any mistakes in the first place. You can reach Mark at (770) 664-8583.

Internal Revenue Code, H.R. 3221

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mark_Wyssbrod

Credit Repair - Time Your Home Loans and Ride the Interest Rate Cycle

A few points on a credit score can mean the difference between a lender offering you a prime rate reserved for the best credit risks and the worse interest rate offered to less than prime customers, that is subprime loan.

Small Increases In Loan Interest Rates Could Make Great Impact

The first thought is that a few percentage points do not look hefty at all, but these few percentage points could create huge impact on your financial picture. This is especially true for large loan quantum such as home loans or car loans. Take for instance a home loan. A three to four percentage point difference would cause a incremental of USD1000 or more per month conservatively speaking. It is hence not difficult to visualize the eventual impact on your personal financial plan. Let us draw the example that you have taken a 20 year long term fixed rate loan. You could be losing out on USD1000 x 12 x 20 or USD240000 over the term of the loan for having bad credit rating. Or conversely you might be saving USD240000 for simply having good credit rating. The choice of course is yours. This is not even calculating the annualized compounded effect of interest savings rolled over the 20 years.

Fixed Rate Loan or Adjustable Rate Loans

Fixed rates as the name implies, means that you lock in the rate at inception of the loan and pay the same rate throughout the term of the loan. The above example is simple to calculate if you have a fixed rate long term loan. The rate is not affect by fluctuating market interest rates. Hence the payments are protected from market fluctuations. On the other hand, the payer would not be able to enjoy the lower rates when market forces drive down interest rates either. Conversely, the Adjustable Rate loan is a good way to take advantage of low interest rates and is chosen by homeowners as a way to qualify for a bigger loan than they may otherwise qualify for. Still, the adjustable rate loan is not without significant risk. As market rates change, so will your monthly payment. In some cases, this can make a significant difference in your payments. Hence should you have an adjustable rate loan you need to time the cycle very carefully to ensure that you benefit best from low interest rate scenarios and yet be able to redeem or refinance your loan package to lock in a fixed rate loan with more favorable interest rates before the interest rates start to hike. It is critical to boost your credit score by every percentage point you can and to fight for the very lowest interest rate loans you can. After all, if you have larger payments each month due to a higher interest rate than you deserve, it will be harder for you to repay your bills. Also, you will qualify for fewer loans if you have higher-than-needed interest rates, as you will be able to afford fewer of the larger monthly payments.

Joey Lee is a CFP and MBA with 17 years of banking, financial, business & marketing experience and a Platinum Ezine Author. Learn authentic Credit Repair skills and comprehensive information on Credit Repair Tips, credit reports, credit scores at CreditRepairSkills.org

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Joey_Lee

Consumer Debt and Credit Counseling - How it Works?

Consumer debt and credit counseling are two integral entities of financial world and as you decide to go with a certain debt, whether it is an unsecured or secured, on your car or home or even if it is on a credit card, credit counseling helps you out all the time. In this article I wrote some of those key stages and credit counseling performances which help you identify and calculate your repayment capability and what type of settlement to choose in a negotiation with your creditor.

There are particular stages where a debt and counseling wrestle with each other to calculate the odds of payments, the loan flexibility for payment, duration it takes, budgeting, debt management and as well as the training and education for the entire process of debt to the full payment of the debt amount. But if we talk about a credit counseling which is also known as debt counseling we will see that it is so effective to manage even a bankruptcy. Indeed a situation like bankruptcy can only affect as a negative to your credit score but with a help of on time consulting you can manage it and save your reputation.

Talking about the stages the first is when you are deciding whether to go with a certain consumer debt and credit counseling to help you out on that particular debt to evaluate and confirm results for the guarantee that this loan is safe to handle and will not cause you bankruptcy in the end. Consumer debt and credit counseling for that debt is not very difficult to handle as in a next stage of your borrowing counseling also helps you manage the debt in a way that you can establish a settlement and bargain for a settlement with your creditor, if you want to do it all your own it is good but you can also hire a professional to do this job.

Recommended site to visit: http://www.DebtReliefOffer.com - Get out of Debt Today!
You can reduce your total debt amount by 40% - 60% during Debt Relief process!
See how much you can save with Debt Relief programs - use FREE Online Debt Relief Calculator - Compare, get Free NO Obligation Consultation and begin a new Debt Free life!
Jerry Cole

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jerry_Cole

วันพฤหัสบดีที่ 20 พฤศจิกายน พ.ศ. 2551

The Reality of Loan Modification

There is a big "buzz" in our economy that the banks are now touting as the "newest and best" way to solve the foreclosure dilemma. I am speaking of loan modification. Basically, you should be very alert and fully understand what is happening. In a loan modification, the bank simply takes your existing mortgage and re-writes it into a forty year loan. If, you have an existing thirty year loan, you agree to pay off your loan in forty years.

Sounds good. In fact in some regions of the country that is smart. But, let's look at this horse from a couple of angles. First of all, ask the bank. Are you lowering the amount of money that we owe you? I will just bet that "if" you owed them $300,000 before the modification, you will still owe them $300,000 AFTER the modification. The only thing that changes is your payments are reduced. This possibly enables you to stay in your home.

Now, let's put on the real hat. Let's just say that when you bought your home, you paid $300,000 for it and you have that amount still owed. Now, before you even consider paying some company or slick operator a couple of grand to help you through this process, start asking some questions, such as:

What is the house worth today? Would I pay $300,000 for a house that is only worth $150,000? How about your neighbor that simply quit paying, is putting that money in his pocket and will be buying (possibly) a home just like yours for $150,000 because that is the value of the home. Getting interesting?

This frenzy to keep the homeowners in their homes is NOT the best deal. Sure, pride of ownership, etc still enters into the equation. Ask you bank. Will you delete the late paying history off of my credit report, IF we enter into this loan modification? What good does it do you to enter into this deal IF you credit sucks? You get stuck with paying (32%) interest rates on credit cards and before you know it, you are back in the same old rut again.

I am not saying" loan modification" is not the way to go. I am saying that today's consumer does NOT have enough information about loan modification and thinks that this "slick talking" loan modification expert is going to save them.

Here are my suggestions:

1.) Make sure that you are happy with what is going to be reported on your credit report.

2.) Ask the lender, IF, the principal amount of the loan can reflect the value of the house on the day that you agree to a loan modification. (I doubt it, because they are still the greedy institutions that we know).

3.) Ask the loan modification expert to give you the forty year spread sheet so that you know how much you really are paying for this program.

4.) Ask the "guru" to give you a copy of the BPO which the real estate broker provides to determine the present day value of the house.

There is no way in these deals that the lender is giving you anything at all. Even, IF, they lower the interest rate, over a period of forty years it is still more profitable for them, then if the loan stayed in its present thirty year profile.

In closing, be very alert. Ask questions. Don't sign "nuttin" until you fully understand. Just remember your neighbor across the street that went into a foreclosure defense program. He is living in his home for almost a year now and has saved that money. Now, IF, the lender does find the note (I doubt it) he can take that money and put it down on a similar house for a lot less money.

Would you rather be in debt for $150,000 or $300,000 on the same home?

Regis Sauger is a licensed Mortgage Broker in Florida, an author, lecturer on credit awareness. He has conducted seminars for underwriters, attorneys, mortgage lenders, realtors and the general public.

http://www.yurcredit.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Regis_Sauger

Credit Card Debt and Settlement - The Best Solution

When stuck up in a credit problem you options seem to shrink in lesser than half and you decide to go bankrupt but the reality is that it is not much true to be happen. In terms of credit card debt and settlement you have a wonderful option of debt settlement in which you can negotiate a reduced amount with your creditor to pay as lump sum and therefore getting your debts off by 60%.

As in case of secured debt you must have pledged some of your property or may be took a loan on your car, your chances with filing a bankruptcy and coming out successfully are fewer because as you go for it your creditor will claim your pledged security to sell and to receive his amount back.

But in case of unsecured debt like credit card debt and settlement is a considerable choice, because it is favorable going with a settlement as your creditor does not have any security and unable to sell your securities to recover his amount and thus easily decides to go with a settlement.

More over the option of credit card debt and settlement is suitable in terms of credit score. There are two things, whether you go by yourself and asking your creditor to provide you a reduction on your payables because you are unable to pay or to hire a company to do this process.

If you have hired one for the process you might have noticed that they will deal on their terms and will negotiate with your creditor on your behalf to get down on a definite reduced amount to pay and as the debt is unsecured your creditor don't have any option than to going for it. Important thing is that this process takes a couple of years and most of the credit card companies help and appreciate if you take your chances and negotiate by yourself with them.

Recommended site to visit: http://www.DebtSettlement.com-offer.us / - Get out of Debt Today!
"What is debt settlement?" - To be precise, it is a process of eliminating your outstanding debts.
You can reduce your total debt amount by 40% - 60% during this process! Get Now Your FREE Online Debt Settlement Quote and begin a new, debt free life!
Jerry Cole

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jerry_Cole

Best Credit Repair Tip - Improving Your Credit Score Without Mistakes

There are innumerable reasons explaining why a person would want a better credit score in a shorter span of time, for example because of a loan application, mortgage or simply because fixing credit is a must for getting a job. However, there are mistakes that consumers usually do, it is mainly because the ignorance of the effects of some actions like closing dormant accounts over their scoring and so on, then it is important to be informed about these ones in order to get the results you expect.

Firstly, it is a kind of myth or something, but is generally accepted that, the more closed accounts, the lower your debt and then the better your credit score. However, if you do precisely that but in a short period of time you will get negative effects over your rating, this is mainly because it takes time for your credit report to detect all closures and most important than that, because your credit ratio get increased, meaning that your current credit balances are now being spreading out over less credit accounts or credit account base. Then, if you are applying for a loan or your overall debt balances are too high, closing dormant accounts is not recommendable at all.

Secondly, it does not mean that you should not close them, but it is all about the right time or period of time, plus in some cases you can use them for rebuilding your credit. However, those accounts that you are certain you will never use and that you got open just for impulse must be closed without hesitation, but in these situation is advisable being pro active and inform the bigger credit reporting Bureaus about your account closures attaching all supporting documents. This is important for reducing the span of time needed for getting your credit report updated.

Last, and only if you have the chance, there are credit repair companies that work with your credit score in mind, meaning strategic disputes and actions for getting your credit rating improved, so if you can afford a small reasonable price just do it, making sure yourself of course, that you are dealing with a trusted and reliable credit fixing service.

Summing up, it is highly recommendable being proactive cleaning your bad credit records and get the benefits of a cleaned and healthy credit report, while this might be done by yourself in some circumstances, it is advisable specialized advise in others.

By researching and comparing different credit restoration agencies, you will be able to determine, the one offering a highly rated credit repair service at a reasonable price.

However, it is in your best interest going with a trusted and reputable credit repair company, this way you will save time and money by getting fast results and excellent return on your investment.

Hector Milla runs the Best Credit Repair Services website, where you can see his best rated credit repair companies recommendation, and the My Free Credit Report resources center.

Find out how to get your credit report fixed in no time at a reasonable price and how to get a 3 in 1 free credit report respectively. Visit for further information.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Hector_Milla

วันพุธที่ 5 พฤศจิกายน พ.ศ. 2551

Check Cashing & Money Transfers Make Money Transactions Convenient & Safe

Check cashing and money transfers involve the process of paying using negotiable instruments and transferring of funds through banks or other companies using different transfer systems. Check cashing can be done in banks as well as in check cashing stores. Money transfers, on the other hand, generally refer to cashless modes of payment or different payment systems which include wire transfer and electronic funds transfer among many others. Check cashing and money transfers are convenient ways of sending and receiving payments for payroll, bills, merchandise, services, and other bank-to-bank transactions.

Check cashing involves the use of negotiable instruments which also include bank notes and commercial paper. These automatically instruct a bank or other financial institutions to pay the specified amount in the specific currency from a specified demand account under the maker's or depositor's name. Checks have been in use since ancient times when the banking system first started. Bankers during this time issue orders as requested by their customers to pay money to identified payees. This was called the bill of exchange which gave convenience to merchants. They were able to go about their business without carrying large amounts of currency to buy goods and services. This is still quite true at present times that business people as well as individuals who have checking or current accounts use checks for different transactions.

Check cashing involves checking of its different parts:


place of issue
check number
date of issue
name of payee
amount of currency
signature of the drawer
account number
fractional routing number or transit number

Money transfer on the other hand, refers to different cashless modes of payment such as wire transfer, electronic funds transfer, e-mail money transfer, Giro, transfer by postal check or money gram. Wire transfer, which is the most common mode of money transfer, involves bank to bank transactions. The steps in the process of wire transfer include:


an individual who wishes to transfer money needs to go to the bank and give an order to transfer a certain amount of money to a given account using IBAN and BIC codes
the sending bank transmits a message using a secure system to the receiving bank requesting that the payment takes effect according to instructions given
the transmitted message also includes settlement instructions
the transfer of funds may take several hours to several days

Money transfer using banks is considered to be the safest way to transfer, send and receive money especially if the transaction involves country to country transfer or international payment methods.

Check cashing and money transfer must be done in banks to make all transactions safe and legal as well as convenient and will not cost you additional expense. Cashing checks in check cashing stores often charge 2% of the check's value while money transfer using other money transferring companies also entails paying a certain amount.

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Consumer Credit Counseling Services

New York City is one of the most expensive cities in the United States. The cost of living is extremely high, and over 1.5 million city inhabitants live below the poverty line. As more people face financial hardship and declare bankruptcy, it becomes increasingly difficult for NYC residents to stay out of debt. Online consumer credit counseling services are extremely beneficial for New York citizens who may be experiencing economic challenges.

Many people choose to move to the area because of its exciting nightlife, diverse population and employment opportunities. How can one avoid debt and bankruptcy and still comfortably survive in a costly metropolitan area?



Find a roommate. Housing in many New York City neighborhoods is extremely costly. Renting an apartment in a secure, safe and cultural area can easily cost thousands of dollars per month. Online consumer credit counseling services suggest finding a roommate or two to share the rent. This can substantially alleviate your living expenses and help you avoid debt. Before you move to the city, research various neighborhoods and housing options. Find a no-fee apartment where you do not have to pay a broker's
finding fee.

Get help. Free consumer credit counseling services, like Advantage CCS will help you manage your financial situation. Trained New York debt management counselors will help you learn to manage a budget and avoid bankruptcy.

Use public transportation. The expense of parking and driving your car in the city in uneconomical and can put you into debt or bankruptcy. Most people use the city's efficient public transportation system. You will also save significant amounts of money on annual auto maintenance, car repairs and gas.

Avoid unnecessary expenses. One of the many reasons why people choose to move to New York City is its abundance of night clubs, fine restaurants, bars and taverns. However, going out to fancy dining venues every night can quickly place anyone into debt or bankruptcy. This doesn't mean that you shouldn't enjoy yourself - you simply need to plan ahead. Visit bars during their happy hours to enjoy cheap drink specials. Look for free or inexpensive events like wine-tasting exhibits and art show galleries.

Shop smart - Browse thrift sales and secondhand stores. You can save significant amounts of money on items like clothing, furniture and books. You can also check one of the city's many newspapers for local estate sales that can save you cash and keep you from declaring bankruptcy.

Avoid getting further into debt - Don't use credit cards unless you absolutely have to. Make sure you can pay the bill in full the next month. Obtain the advice of free online consumer credit counselors. Learn to efficiently manage your bills.

Create a budget. Find the total of your monthly rent, food costs, utility bills, phone bills and necessities. Then subtract these from your income. Are you spending too much on bills? Do you break even? Calculating your income and expenses can help you avoid further debt.
Advantage CCS is a free consumer credit counseling service that helps New York residents obtain a bankruptcy education.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Abby_Reid

Best Credit Repair Service - Tips to Choose

Many services will have credit lawyers on their staff. These lawyers are experts on credit laws and this often explains why a service is so much more effective.

The attorneys have more tactics to use to remove a listing such as; debt validation, escalated dispute information requests, and creditor direct interventions. They will also research court precedents and if necessary go to court.

However some companies are less than trustworthy. While you shop services I suggest you look at what past clients say about the firm and how long the firm has been in business.

A big warning sign is if a company guarantees a result. This is similar to a lawyer telling you that he guarantees a jury will find you innocent. It does not happen.

Instead I suggest looking for refunds or warranties. It is common for people to have their credit report totally cleaned however some individuals must negotiate repayment.

Fraudulent credit repair firms have been taking advantage of unsuspecting individuals for years. There are estimates of $50 million a year that these fraudulent companies earn.

Make sure you do your homework before you start handing money over. Some firms are even listed with the Better Business Bureau.

There are two different ways you can pay for credit repair. You can either be charged for each action the service performs or you can be charged a flat monthly rate. I suggest the flat rate as it will make your dollar go farther.

Often services will be willing to charge you by either method. Expect to pay an account set up fee, averages about $100. Be careful of any company that wants a large upfront payment.

The process of removing negative credit on average takes between 6 - 12 months. The typical client should expect to pay roughly $700 and that is with excellent service.

You can expect to have better results with a service than doing it yourself. This is due to their expertise in credit laws and advanced tactics.

However if you are not in a rush and only have a few negative marks you should repair your credit yourself. This can be done with a dispute letter, which you mail to each credit bureau.

You will have to be patient as bureaus are often accused of using stall tactics to avoid conducting an investigation. However be persistent and you can have the derogatory marks removed.

For more tips on hot to choose the best credit repair service or for a review of lexington law a suggest service or to learn about sample dispute letters visit us.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=John_W_Cooper

วันพฤหัสบดีที่ 30 ตุลาคม พ.ศ. 2551

Rebuild Your Credit After Bankruptcy

If you are reading this you probably are thinking of filing Bankruptcy or are already in the process. The whole point of Bankruptcy is finding relief from the crushing debt load you are currently carrying.

There are ways to Rebuild Your Credit after Bankruptcy. Think of it as getting back on the horse.

Getting back into the credit arena after Bankruptcy might be an idea you don't even want to think about, but you can learn how to use debt as a financial tool and rebuild your credit easily.

Rebuilding Your Credit

Your credit report is a file of information that a third party gathers and then is sold to others.

When your debts are discharged at the end of your Bankruptcy process, they will end up on your credit report as 'charge-offs'. Most likely it will be noted they were charged off in bankruptcy.

This will cause your credit score to be low...very low.

There may be certain debts that survive Bankruptcy such as a Mortgage, car loan, student loan or any debt you are current on and did not include in your Bankruptcy.

Those debts can create an opportunity for you to rebuild your credit. As long as you keep these debts current, pay them on time each month, that information will be reported to the credit bureaus.

As the months pass, this will begin to reflect positive and your credit score will start to improve.

For any accounts that were closed due to the Bankruptcy, you will have to wait seven years. They will 'fall off' your credit report.

No Debt After Bankruptcy? Rebuilding Your Credit With No Debt

There are a few options to rebuilding your credit after bankruptcy even if you are left with no debt.

Ask someone to co-sign a loan for you. Make sure you are able to repay the loan and NEVER miss a payment or default on this loan. If you mess up, you will not only hurt yourself in this process, but the person who was kind enough to help you out and co-sign the loan.

Another option is obtaining a secured credit card. This is a credit card that is guaranteed by a savings account. You would deposit an amount say $200 into a savings account and receive a credit card with a credit line of $200.00.

If you decide on this option, please be careful and shop for the best deal. There can be fees and costs associated with a secured credit card.

There are also companies out there that will offer a credit card that is NOT secured, but carry a higher interest rate. This can be considered if you keep a low credit limit and pay off the balance each month. This will establish your credit in no time. Just be careful when that company raises your credit limit because they feel you are showing responsibility.

You may also want to consider going back to your bank or credit union, even if you discharged debt you owed them in your Bankruptcy. They know that sometimes Bankruptcy is caused by circumstances beyond your control. Don't let your pride cloud your judgement.

Your bank or credit union wants to help you get back on your feet. They will discuss how they can help you rebuild your credit, savings and retirement accounts.

Debt As A Tool

The last thing you may want to think about is taking on more debt, but there is good debt and bad debt.

What is Good Debt?

There are people who are fortunate enough to be able to purchase a home without taking on a mortgage, students financing at least a portion of their education and auto loans. Those are examples of good debt.

What Is Bad Debt?

Typically it is considered bad debt if you are purchasing goods or services on a credit card that you will use today,but not pay for them within a year.

An example would be buying dinner today and still be paying for it a year from now. However, that same credit card can be used to purchase a computer for the family and self-finance it. That would be considered 'good debt'

Credit cards are highly convenient and in today's society it is almost a requirement. You can't rent a car, buy an airline ticket and so on without a credit card.

The trick here is knowing if you can afford a good or service. If you can afford the items, then purchasing items on a credit card is not such a bad idea, but it becomes a problem if you don't pay off the card within a reasonable amount of time. When you start carrying a balance month to month, you can get into trouble.

Learning to use a credit card as an effective tool after Bankruptcy is important.

If you are thinking you will never touch a credit card again, you may want to reconsider. If you fail to use credit again, you can end up with NO credit history.

Or, when your negative credit information falls off your reports, you do need something to replace it. Many jobs these days require credit history and insurance companies also look into your credit report.

You want to maintain a good credit report and history.

BEWARE of Predatory Lending ~What is Predatory Lending?

The term predatory lending first evolved from unethical mortgage lending practices, but now has expanded to include pay day lenders, who charge outrageous interest rates for one week loans.

After filing Bankruptcy, you may be swamped with offers for new credit. Why? because you are unable to file Bankruptcy again for a specific period of time. You will then be locked into paying back the debt one way or another. Plus they can charge you high interest rates because you will be considered a 'high risk' customer. They feel they are doing YOU a favor by extending credit to you.

There are companies that actually search through public records seeking people who have filed Bankruptcy and then sell your information to credit card companies. Some companies see your hardship as an opportunity.

Be very careful when looking at these offers and know that you do not have to sign for the first offer you receive. Make sure you read ALL the terms associated with any offer. Make sure you are getting the best deal.

Tips To Remember

Even though you may not want to think about rebuilding your credit or obtaining new debt at this time, it is important to understand.

1. Pay the obligations that survive your Bankruptcy on time This WILL rebuild your credit

2. Debt is not a bad thing, it's how you use debt that matters

3. Be aware and cautious with lenders willing to extend credit to you. Shop around, get the best interest rates and low fees

4. Don't be afraid to go back to your bank or credit union.

Resources To Consider

http://www.acassociatesusa.com - AC Associates has helped individuals across the United States reach their financial goals. View More here: http://www.squidoo.com/rebuildingcredit

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Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Andrea_Carangelo

Same Day Cash Loans - Get the Funds Within a Day

Same day cash loans are feasible for your cash emergencies. When you need extra cash fast and do not want to suffer the torture and inconvenience of waiting, you may look for help in these loans. Why? Because these loans are approved within 24 hours of your application. So you can handle all those vital needs on time.

These are one of the most viable loan options around. They are unsecured loans. And they are perfect for small needs that have to be supplied with funds rightaway. They are short term loans and can be repaid quickly. They are available in large numbers and can be obtained from a variety of lenders.

Same day cash loans are advantageous options. You do not need to provide collateral against them. The eligibility criteria are simple in nature and so many people avail them without facing any hassles or hitches. These criteria are stated as follows:

• You are an adult, i.e. 18 years old or above
• You are fully employed
• You are drawing a monthly income which exceeds £1000
• You have an active bank account which is more than three months old at least
• Your account has checking facilities

You can borrow any amount between £100 and £1500. Bills, car repair, maintenance repair, necessary purchase- they can all be handles without the slightest amount of waiting. The repayment term is also short and may last for 2 to 4 weeks from the date on which your loan is approved. Being able to pay off so soon helps you get rid of the burden of repayment early. But if you face some unavoidable situation and fail to repay within this term, you can ask for a rollover with the promise of paying an extra fee.

Same day cash loans can be found easily. While choosing an offer, do consider the interest rate as it can be high. You can find it out through the loan quote. If it is too expensive, you always browse the online sites and compare various offers with the help of loan quotes. It is possible to find cheaper rates through such a method.

Mack Grawhill is a senior financial analyst at Same Day Loans No Credit Check with an acumen for business and loans. In recent years he has taken up to provide independent financial advice through his informative articles.To find SAME DAY CASH LOANS, same day cash advance, same day no credit check loans, same day cash uk that best suits your need visit http://www.samedayloansnocreditcheck.com/

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mack_G_Grawhill

The Guaranteed Method to Rebuild Credit

Today's economic times are tough and that makes it much more difficult to get credit or a loan, even if you have good credit. If you have credit that may be referred to as being less than stellar, you are having an even tougher time getting loans approved.

If you are an informed consumer, you realize that the only way around this is to rebuild your credit and raise your score. Let me repeat that since there are always people looking for the quick fix, this is the ONLY way, and there is no quick fix to be had. Be especially wary and skeptical of credit repair businesses - the Federal Trade Commission recently shut down a bunch of them after proving they were scams, and even the ones that are legitimate are preying on the desperate and the uninformed, since there is absolutely nothing they can do which you cannot do for yourself, for free.

The reason this is a fact is because you must realize how your credit score is calculated by the three major bureaus. In fact, since not all lenders report to all three bureaus, you probably have a different credit score at each of them, but the key to survival in these tight economic times is having an accurate and great score at all three of them.

Your score is a reflection of many factors, but almost all of them are historical, and this is the exact reason why there is not a quick fix and also why credit repair businesses cannot deliver on their ridiculous promises. History is something that has happened, and once it has happened, it cannot be changed. Rather, it is a matter of historical fact that cannot be disputed. If you missed your car payment 6 months in a row, that is a matter of historical fact, and you cannot go back in time 6 months to make it right. It happened and it affects your credit score because it is a part of your history.

How do you change history? You cannot, no way. But what you CAN do, starting today, is to change the future course of what your credit history will show. Your score also reflects trends, so if last you were late 6 consecutive months with your car payment but you have made each and every payment on time over the past year, that shows a trend and your credit score is going to be higher as a result.

The best way to do start getting a good credit history, which will result in a higher score is by getting a secured credit card, where your cash deposit becomes the credit limit for your account. These are typically very easy to get from various places, and since there is virtually zero risk to the card issuer since your limit is determined by how much you have deposited with them, this can create a superb credit reference. The additional bright spot here is that once you have demonstrated that you are responsible with credit and make your payments every month on time, chances are great that they will increase your limit without requiring any additional deposit.

Make each and every payment on time for every account you have. Just make it happen, and borrow the money from a friend if you need to. Making payments on time with at least the minimum amount is the number one way to guarantee increasing your credit score.

Also watch your credit card balance compared to your limit. You don't get extra points if all your credit cards are maxed out, but the optimal balance to keep on your active cards is about 25-30% of your credit limit, which shows that you know how to use credit wisely and conservatively.

These steps take time, but if you follow these things and others that are discussed at our web site, you can easily rebuild your credit over time as this new and very positive history is established. The time you spend doing this today will pay you huge dividends in the future.

For more insights and additional information on how to Rebuild Credit as well as other credit tips to increase your credit score and obtaining free copies of your credit reports from the major credit reporting agencies, please visit our web site at http://www.credit-help-center.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jon_Arnold

วันจันทร์ที่ 27 ตุลาคม พ.ศ. 2551

Cash Credit Cards - The Best in the Industry

It has become more common these days for merchants and retailers to accept credit cards as a form of payment. Thus, Cash back cards have become more famous. These cash back credit might give the impression like an unselfish shift by card issuers, but in reality, these cash back cards help them to generate significant profits. Not only that, these credit cards also provides a great opportunity for cash back rewards and rebates. Thus, it offers equal benefits to all.

The extensive growth of online business has brought in a mixture of fresh, individualized credit cards unparalleled in the past. One of the most prevalent amongst the new cards is the cash back credit card. All cash back cards function on the same basic principle: at what time you shop by making the use of your cash reverse credit card, mainly at assured targeted retailer or provisions, a bit of the money that you spend using the card comes back to you, either in the outline of a credit to your check Although the booty are quite minute, the money you get at the end of the year will amounts in some ways to a free gift from the company.

Cash back credit cards only functions as a promotional device for the certificate issuer and it just offers them as an inducement for greater than before purchase activity. You might be thinking that the company just roles out these rewards from the money that the cardholders project into the company in the form of monthly interest, annual fees, and such, or just as of from the company's reserves. That is usually not the case. The money that is returned to you when you make use of a cash back credit card at a seller were not at primarily your cash, or the credit card company's cash. It comes out of the retailer and the merchant's pocket where your communication takes place.

If you've had the experience of your credit card being turned downward at a eating place or retailer for the reason that they don't take your particular credit card, the reason is: in arrange to process the credit card dealings, retailers are made to pay a small percentage of the purchase amount as a fee that is payable to the credit card company. These fees are a significant profit for the card issuers who have figured elsewhere how they could co-op amplify acquire action be sharing a proportion of the merchants operation expenses with the credit cardholders.

Start getting money back on your purchases with cash back cards. Find more of Tom's work at http://www.FINDcashbackcards.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tom_Tessin

วันอาทิตย์ที่ 26 ตุลาคม พ.ศ. 2551

Secured Business Loans - Sorting Out Financial Woes

Capital is an undeniable necessity for every business venture. Secured business loans provide finance to assist the needy business owners by making use of equity of their own property. The primary requirement of these loans is the collateral. It can be machinery, property or any other thing.

Secured business loans can be utilized to pay earlier debts, initiate a new business, to purchase a new business and to expand your business. Hence, these loans help your business achieve the zenith of success in no time, as the interest rate that is charged is also very low. The only risk involved is that the lender may repossess the collateral if you are not able to pay back the loan in the stipulated time period. The lender does this in order to recover the loan amount that was extended to you.

Nonetheless, this is hardly possible in some rare cases. This is because the repayment period for secured business loans extend from 3 to 25 years, according to the preference of the business owner on the basis of his financial situation. Usually the amount extended in these loans range from £ 50,000 to £ 1,000,000.

Another positive aspect of secured business loans is that they are also available to people with bad credit. Though the interest rate charged for bad credit secured loans may be a little higher as compared to the usual secured loan but people with bad credit can undoubtedly secure these loans easily. So, these loans can thereby also be helpful to improve the bad credit history of many previous defaulters.

You may take secured business loans for variable or fixed rate of interest. In variable rate of interest, the interest rate charged on the loan amount will keep on changing according to the market trends. On the other hand, when it comes to fixed rate of interest, the interest rate or the monthly payment remains the same for the entire repayment period of the loan.

The intense competition among the UK lenders might be of great help to you in getting a lucrative deal. It would be a great idea to do a thorough research beforehand if you are interested in taking secured business loans. Once you start applying over the Internet for the loan, various lenders may approach you to provide the loan. You may apply for these loans at financial websites. Start collecting the loan quotes of various lenders along with their terms and conditions and select the deal that best suits your requirements. The loan quote provided is based on the value of your property that you are willing to give as the collateral.

Small and flexible installments, lower interest rates, improved credit history, big loan amount are some of the benefits of secured business loans that makes them better than all other loans. So, do not wait anymore and start collecting your quotes today! After all your secured business loans are now available at the comfort of your home in just a few clicks!

Kenneth Robert is an expert financial advisor therefore he can tell you how to look better, live better and breathe better by giving you tips to improve your finances. To know more about unsecured loans, no credit check secured loans, secured business loans, secured personal loans and no income proof secured loans visit http://www.applyforsecuredloans.co.uk

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