วันจันทร์ที่ 31 สิงหาคม พ.ศ. 2552

How is Private Banking Different From Conventional Banking?

Private baking is a branch of banking that deals with the financial services as well as investment subjected by banks for individuals' investing. In the mass-market, private refers to be more personnel form of banking that adds to the customer service. As a matter of fact, it is regarded as dedicated service rendered by the bank advisors. Private banking is considered as an incorporated banking institution.

During earlier times, this form of banking used to be very much exclusive comprising of only high amount transactions for the individuals, usually exceeding $2 million. But now, it has been reduced to $250,000 for individual bank accounts, to attract the private investors. The private institution can provide the investors with various offers and planning such as wealth management, inheritance, savings and tax planning. Wealth management is considered as the highest profile form of private banking. The word private in this context often refers to bank secrecy that minimizes the taxes with care, by hiding the assets from the tax authorities. Many offshore banks with Swiss banks help the customers in hiding their income levels, thereby saving the amount spent in form of taxes. Fraudulent activities, be it with anyone, are regarded to be criminal offense, but tax evasion is the only activity that has been declared as civil offense in Switzerland.

For 2006, Scorpio Partnership's Annual Private Banking Benchmark has nominated UBS AG as the largest private banking division of all time. Citigroup and Merrill Lynch are the next two that can gather more than $1 million assets under the label of wealth management for private clients.

On 30 June, 2008, five largest banks of US i.e. Merrill Lynch, Citi Global Wealth Management, Bank of America Global Wealth, Wachovia and Morgan Stanley Global Wealth Management were known to have amassed $1.05 trillion, $843 billion, $653.2 billion, $551 billion and $423 billion of assets respectively.

This form of banking further improved to a good extent in 2006. Swiss bank holds 35% of the world's private and institutional funds that exceed 4.6 trillion Swiss Francs. However this form of banking is always considered to be a bit risky, while the traditional banks like Rothschild and Duncan Lawrie work prudentially are considered totally risk-free.

Lana runs an extremely resourceful website where you can find some all the info that you may seek about private banking along with several handy Free Credit Repair Advices.

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

วันเสาร์ที่ 29 สิงหาคม พ.ศ. 2552

The Municipal Bond Market - How it Helps Build the Nation

Have you ever stopped for a moment and thought about where could the money spent by the government for infrastructure projects have come from? Especially with all these talks of budget deficits and economic recession? How could the roads that we trudge on daily have come into existence? How about the hospitals we maddeningly rush to when somebody's sick? How about those schools that mold the nation's future?

Now, it may be too much to ask for when we're engrossed in the despondency of our daily routines. But just in case you did, it may be a question worth pondering on as some of these infrastructures are not financed through the most common method: taxation. In line with this, it may come as a surprise to know that these projects came into being because of a thing you've probably never heard of before, much less even comprehend: It is called the municipal bond market.

The Nature of Municipal Bond Market

This is a market like no other. For one, it has no physical existence. It exists only in theory as its main commodity, municipal bonds, are not something you can cart away after a successful bargaining with the store owner. Also known as state bond or local bond, municipal bonds are long-term debt instruments issued by state and local governments to finance expenses on such projects as schools, roads, hospitals, and other large projects. A significant portion of these bonds are in the hands of commercial banks and insurance companies, although individuals and other high income individuals also own a prominent share of municipal bonds in the U.S. A significant characteristic of these bonds is that they earn income on interests tax-free. This particular characteristic has made the municipal bond market one of the biggest securities exchange in the U.S. Moreover, because of the municipal bond market, the nation continues to enjoy a luxurious array of infrastructures that are often the envy of other nations.

My name is Dean and I have a keen interest in all financial issues. I run the Loans and Finance Website. If you would like more information on financial issues then I recommend the following article: Municipal bond market.

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

วันพฤหัสบดีที่ 27 สิงหาคม พ.ศ. 2552

4 Famous Success Stories From Frank Sinatra to Tommy Hilfiger That Inspire You to Double Your Income

Have you ever looked at the life of a celebrity and wondered how they got to the top? Do you find yourself dreaming of the time that you will double your income doing something you love? The thing that really stands out to me about some of the most talked about success stories of the rich and famous is that they did what they loved.

The biggest leap of faith you will ever take is to lead your life doing what you love. If you can do this, almost every time, you will more than double your income. Material gain will be the pleasant side effect of living your life doing what you think you should do.

Now, this secret to double your income seems simple; however, if it were so simple, people everywhere would not be online trying to find the latest way to double your income. They would be doing what they love and there would be abundant success everywhere.

As a result, we've come to admire the people that have lived their life doing what they love and reaped the benefits of success along with it. Naturally, we are magnetized to these celebrities and gurus.

One of my favorite celebrities to use as an example is Ole Blue Eyes himself, Frank Sinatra. Frank Sinatra had it all; money, good looks, charm, and perfect pitch. He is one of the best examples I can think of when I say, "Do what you love." To put on the shows he did, he couldn't have done it by himself. He hired people to help him.

Granted, this man probably would have been very successful at ushering people to their seats since he was so charming. He knew how to make money, but he didn't book his own shows. He hired a booking agent. He could even have moved his own piano if he had to. Did he? Absolutely not. He hired people to do these jobs, so he could do what he loves the most. Sing.

Steven King is another one of those success stories that absolutely amazes me. He was a janitor cleaning out lockers when he came up with the story, Carrie. When he realized his life mission was to write, that's what he did. He would probably have done it free--except he didn't.

Now, this man has a library of books. Do you think that he schedules his book tours or helps print out the latest copies of work he's written? Probably not.

Michael Dell, the creator of Dell computers, had his first job working in a Chinese restaurant for $2.30 an hour. He came in early just to be around the wise owner who loved his job and took great pride in his work. I wonder if they talked much about how to double your income.

Tommy Hilfiger couldn't get anyone to buy his jeans, but he knew that what he loved doing was designing clothes. Instead of starting a new pursuit, he sold his jeans from the trunk of his car. Now, he is one of the most respected designers. Double your income? Not Tommy, he's a mega millionaire.

The one thing these success stories have in common is that they all embarked on the quest to live a life doing what they loved.

Raymond Aaron,
New York Times Top Ten Bestselling Author, "Double Your Income Doing What You Love"

Claim your http://www.GiftFromRaymond.com to double your income. It's free.

Join Raymond Aaron on Twitter @RaymondAaron.

Join "Raymond Aaron Double Your Income" Facebook Fan Page

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

วันอังคารที่ 25 สิงหาคม พ.ศ. 2552

Financial Help For Single Mothers

Financial help for single mothers can make a big difference in the life of a struggling mother. It's very difficult to raise children without the support of someone else. Single mothers are often in a bad financial position because they are working long hours for little pay. Most single moms don't have a college education and thus lack the skill needed to get a better job. For those single mothers who want to get an education to secure their financial future, there are a wide range of financial help programs to take advantage of.

Grants and scholarships for single mothers are a great way to pay for college without having to go into debt by getting student loans.

There various sources for grants - the government, colleges, and non-profit organizations. If you really want to get free money, you will have to look at all three sources. There are a lot of competition for grants and to stand the best chance of getting grant funding, you are going to have to apply to as many different sources as possible.

The government offers the most in grant funding. There are literally billions given each year into grant programs - it`s simply a matter of looking around and finding one to apply for.

Colleges and non-profit organizations also give out grant funding as well. As a single mother, it`s often quite easy to qualify for college grant funding. Non-profit organizations may sometimes give out grants and scholarships as well, but you will have to do some searching online to find these.

Looking for financial help for single mothers? The best place to start is by searching online. There is plenty of financial aid for single mothers you can find on the internet -- it's just a matter of searching for it.

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

วันอาทิตย์ที่ 23 สิงหาคม พ.ศ. 2552

Financial Assistance For Single Moms

Financial assistance for single moms can make a big difference in the lives of struggling mothers. As a mother, it can be very difficult to put food on the table for your children. Many single moms do not have access to the same opportunities afforded to those without children. Because it's so difficult for single mothers make ends meet, the government has many financial assistance for single mother programs available.

If you want o get financial aid for single moms, the best thing you can start to do is to take a proactive approach to your search for government single mother financial assistance. The first place you can start is by looking at the government grant web page. There are many grants for single mothers available out there to apply for. These are always given out on the basis of financial need.

It's important to decided, as a single parent, what you are looking for in terms of single parent financial help. Do you want a temporary fix or do you want to find some sort of long term solution to your problems. If you want a long term solution, you will need some sort of financing to help you get a career - either a college grants for single moms or some sort of business grant for single mothers.

Financial assistance for single mom can be had if you put some effort into finding the right grants. You will need to look online for grants and apply for as many as possible.

Financial assistance for single moms can be a great boost for a single mother struggling to pay bills. To get finanical assistance for single mothers, you are going to have to spend some time looking around on the internet for single mother grants, loans, and scholarships.

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

Factoring and Invoice Finance Can Be Broken Down Into Very Simple Terms

When faced with a factoring service contract for the first time, you may find it complicated. In fact the concept of invoice finance is quite simple. Factoring is a financial facility which allows your company to get paid on the invoices almost as soon as they have been issued.

The facility effectively allows small or medium sized businesses to turn your invoices, to include slow paying invoices into cash. Also known as accounts receivable financing, this is merely a way of helping small businesses capitalise on their future benefits today. It is a expressly easy way of fixing the cash flow of your firm and covering the cash flow gap formed when selling to another corporation on credit terms. Factoring is congruent to invoice discounting or debtor finance.

The major difference is that with factoring, the financier runs the ledger, whilst with invoice discounting or debtor finance there is no credit control detail to the facility. The enterprise simply becomes the agent for aggregating in the funds on behalf of the financier. Invoice discounting can be disclosed to the purchasers or private, enabling you to go about your day to day activeness without any assumptions as far as your client's recognition goes and without any consequences on the good relationships you have built.

What exactly can factoring do for your company? Most companies trade on credit terms, so when services and or products are handed over and the relevant invoice raised, there is a stretch of time (frequently 30-90 days) before payment is received from your purchaser. There are a few solutions to assist you in trading and enlarging your business. A Bank loan or overdraft is not the supreme way of financing a developing business. Overdrafts can be recalled at anytime and are not often granted at the requisite level to aloe you to optimize your concern. In addition, often personal security is required. The best cash flow solutions is invoice finance.

The factoring/Invoice Discounting business will fund your invoices once the goods/services are delivered and the invoices raised. The rate your financier will advance against your invoices can be up to 90%. Invoices are typically financed for 90 days from the invoice date. Once your clientele pays the outstanding balance, you will then receive the percentage you have not been paid against an invoice less your charges. Charges can vary dependent on the type of facility and the level of service you opt for.

The choice of the right solution for your business comes down to what your corporation's specific requirements are. If it is particularly important to outsource the sales ledger management aspect of your company, then you may find it useful to opt for a factoring facility. This will free up some time and assist to reduce your debtor days. An additional service offered by such companies is protection against bad debts, which would typically cover up to 90% of the outstanding balance on any client, where you have a designated protection limit in place.

You've signed up with a factoring company. Now what? When you invoice a purchaser, you send an electronic copy of that invoice to your factor. The factor advances you the agreed percentage of which invoice. The factor is then responsible to collect the money from your customer. When the factoring company receives the amount due from the clientele, it will pay you the rest of the money, minus the fees. Fees are mostly broken down into two: Service fee, commanded for running the ledger, collection labour and monitoring and a Discount Fee, which is furnished over base rate, commonly on a daily basis on the outstanding borrowed balance. Who can benefit from using a factoring company? Factoring is the best solution for any business that relies on a timely payment of outstanding invoices.

The most common indicators which you need a factoring facility are: - When you are a new, cash flow dependant business. - When your business doesn't rely on a small number of major clients. - When you need to finance the enlargement of your turnover - When you foresee an increase in sales and you want to be able to take advantage of it. - When you simply don't want to get involved with anything other than what you do best, that is production and sales.

Now you have the basics. All that's left for you to do is consider the benefits and decide if factoring or Invoice Discounting could be the solution to alter the evolution of your business.

If you require further information please visit our website, http://www.arcashflow.com.au , or blog at http://www.arcashflow.com.au/blog .

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

วันศุกร์ที่ 14 สิงหาคม พ.ศ. 2552

The Convenience of Money Transfers

Money transfers, also called "wire transfers" or "remittance services," are available all over the world. They are fast, easy to use, and can make sure the recipient gets the funds they need when they need them.

How Money Transfers Work

Wire transfers are easy to send and easy to receive. In most cases, they take just a few minutes to complete. The process can be initiated in a number of different ways, depending on the service provider.

The majority start with the sender visiting a brick-and-mortar business location to talk with a money transfer attendant, also called an "agent." The agent guides them through the wire transfer process and collects all the necessary information. Walk-in customers can pay with cash to have their funds transferred to their preferred destinations. Online and mobile money transfers, where available, almost always insist on the use of a credit or debit card.

Once the funds have been transferred, the recipient travels to his or her closest wire transfer location to complete the process. In most cases, all they will have to do is present a form of identification to receive the funds. The payout is commonly given in cash, but this too can vary depending on the location and service provider.

Benefits of Using Wire Transfers

The primary benefit of using a wire transfer is that the funds are available for pickup almost immediately after the sender has completed the transaction. This makes it an ideal alternative to more time-consuming or more restrictive forms of moving money between people or businesses.

The process is pretty much the same for most providers; however, some details, such as fees, pickup requirements, and waiting periods, may vary between businesses. In general, fees are kept low for domestic transfers, and most money order service providers offer reasonable international rates.

To receive funds, recipients rarely need more than a form of identification, and almost all walk-in transactions have the option to be paid out in cash.

When to Use Wire Transfers

Person-to-person and person-to business money transfers are both very common. Their payments and payouts can be made in cash or in a number of other ways. This makes money transfers an excellent choice for any situation when money needs to get somewhere fast. And, because money transfers do not require a specific banking relationship, they are ideal for situations when cash is needed abroad, in small towns, or in rural areas where mainstream banks are not available.

Money transfers can be used to send funds between people and businesses separated by several miles or several countries, no matter what the situation. Check 'n Go, a trusted leader in the payday loan industry, now offers money transfers at select store locations across the country. For more information, visit Checkngo.com.

Christy Belden works in interactive marketing for Leapfrog Interactive. Visit Leapfrog Interactive for more information.

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

วันพุธที่ 12 สิงหาคม พ.ศ. 2552

Government Grant Money For Individuals - $20,000 You Never Pay Back

Individuals looking for a little financial help, whether for to purchase a new home, start a business of go back to school, may qualify to receive as much as $20,000 in free government grant money. Every year various government agencies provide billions of dollars in financial assistance to help individuals. By finding these programs and submitting a grant request, you could claim back some of your tax dollars and put the money to good use.

Government grants can help people in a variety of ways. Some are specifically for those interested in making the jump from employee to entrepreneur, while others are provided to help single mothers get the cash they need go pay for school. Even those who are interested in buying a new home may be able to claim funds to help with their down payment.

What's important to realize is that there is not an endless supply of government grant money. Those who qualify are given the money as a solution. In other words, the government hopes that by providing this money, you can move forward without having to rely on grant funds in the future.

These programs come and go rather quickly, and in some cases they the money is gone as fast as the program is announced. By having access to an online grant directory, you can find these government and private grant programs as they are made available. That way you can be first in line when it comes to applying for the funds that you are most likely to qualify to receive.

Access the government grant resources that will help you quickly find and apply for the funds that you qualify to receive. Get the financing you need by obtaining a cash grant that never has to be paid back.

=>> Get Government Grants

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

Financial Crisis - Turning Points Part 2

Did you know that you can make toys out of just about anything. That's right, if you ever look at stormy weather and see people outside with their umbrellas being blown in the opposite direction and the person getting frustrated because they can't get the umbrella fixed and they just throw it down, next time you see someone throw their umbrella down go over and pick it up, Why, do you ask? Because that umbrella can make a child's day. How can an umbrella make a child's day?

Do you remember when you were a child getting a toy that had a little figure or even a washer on it with a parachute, well, take that umbrella, a needle and some Button/Carpet (For durability and strength) thread, then add one or two closed eye hooks and a small figure like a G.I. Joe or some other small figure. Take the closed eye hooks and screw them into the back of the small figure, that part is done for now.

Now, take the umbrella that you picked up, remove the material from the rest of the umbrella (without damaging it). Get your needle and Button/Carpet thread, cut the thread to the desired length (Depending on how big the umbrella is) and add about two to three inches on each end to make room for what is to be sewn into the umbrella and what is to be used to tie to the closed eye hooks that are placed in the back/on top of the figure.

Once you get that done you're ready to tie everything together. You want to start with sewing/tying the thread onto the tips of the umbrella material, once that is done then you may go and tie the other ends to the figure, but you want to make sure that you separate the thread from one side to the other because you want to keep it side co-ordinated to the left and right hand sides of the figure. You are finally finished and can go outside and test out your new toy that is ready to be sold. Have fun.

Computers are changing the world, they are a great asset when you need something fast.
Twenty years ago computers were huge boxes that sat on our desks, now you can have a computer that is as small as your phone, and they will get even smaller as the years come and go by us.
I predict that by the year 2015 we will have computers that will be the size of a watch, just think, the CPU's in our computers are getting smaller, why not our computers also?

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

Recasting a Loan, Repayment Plans, and Charging Off a Mortgage

Most homeowners are aware of the basic ways to stop a foreclosure - refinancing, obtaining a loan modification, selling the house, or filing bankruptcy. But depending on the circumstances, there may be more options available in special cases. Three other methods borrowers can use are recasting their loan, examining different repayment plans, and charging off their loan.

Recasting a loan refers to a type of modification of the original note where the missed payments are added to the back end of a mortgage. The life of the loan is extended and the borrowers will eventually have to pay back those missed payments.

Although recasting a loan sounds like a great idea that could help many borrowers get back on track with a regular monthly payment and worry about their arrears at the end of the loan or when they refinance or sell, leave it up to the mortgage industry to mess it up. Mortgage accounting rules have been changed, and many large lenders and Fannie and Freddie no longer recast loans.

Short term repayment plans can be verbally agreed to with a lender or mortgage servicer and usually last from three to six months. Longer term plans need approval from the mortgage holder. Twelve to twenty-four months are fairly common time frames for a repayment plan for seriously delinquent borrowers, although even longer plans can be proposed to avoid foreclosure.

Although there are numerous methods when it comes to loan modification, here are five common ones that banks and homeowners often agree to:

1. Reducing the interest rate
2. Reducing the principal balance of the mortgage
3. Extending the payment period of the loan
4. Reamortizing the loan and the arrears
5. Placing a deferred junior lien on the home

One reason borrowers request financial hardship information and income and asset documentation in the case of a short sale is to make sure that a deficiency judgment has little value. If homeowners claim to have a lot of assets, the bank may just foreclose and pursue a deficiency.

Clear title can not be conveyed through a deed in lieu of foreclosure. If there are tax liens, second mortgages, mechanic's liens, or similar issues, the bank will not accept the deed in lieu. In that case, the foreclosure will usually go forward if the borrowers can not sell or work out another arrangement.

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac will occasionally accept a charge-off of a mortgage, rather than pursue a foreclosure. This is like banks charging off a defaulted credit card or personal loan. But this option will likely be used only in a small number of situations, such as when the default is on a small amount of money and the property is severely damaged and the insurance will not cover the losses.

Nick publishes articles on how homeowners can delay foreclosure on their own. His site describes various methods to do this, including foreclosure refinancing, loan modification, short sales, and more. Visit the site to download several e-books explaining various aspects of how to save a home: http://www.foreclosurefish.com/

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

Consolidate Bills to Avoid Collector's Embarrassing Tactics

Finding people in credit card debt is not an uncommon phenomenon. Many people are now unable to deal with their card bills due to recession and bulging inflation. If you are also one of those people, you should not take things lightly, as it is important to do something to get rid of this debt.

Consolidation is one of the very best things to do in this situation. People consolidate credit card debts to get different types of benefits. Although it allows you to make lower payments, there are several other benefits that can make your life easier. For instance, one of the biggest advantages of consolidation is that you don't have to deal with collectors. If you need to make payment for many of your credit cards, you will find different collectors using different tactics to make you pay their debt. That's when life can get miserable for you.

It is important to mention that collectors in different parts of the world use different tactics to make people repay their debt. Sometimes, they talk politely to make you give their money. On other occasions, you can find them shifting gears and using all types of embarrassing techniques. For instance, in India, there are some collectors who send sari-clad transsexuals and compel people to pay their debt. This is a common practice in this part of the world, and many people find it so embarrassing that they get money by any means possible.

Setting up different signs outside the home of a borrower is another common practice in some countries. Take China for example where many collectors use this type of techniques for quick repayment. And, surprisingly, these tactics work on most occasions. Also, it was noticed by government in Taiwan that some companies are hiring gangsters to collect their money.

All this implies that fact that if you are in debt you should not take it lightly. Things can take a nosedive, and it is better to take some right steps in advance. One of the best ways to stay away from becoming a victim of these embarrassing techniques is to consult with a right company for credit card debt consolidation. You will always find this option working for you in the best possible way. If you have many lenders, this is the right way to deal with them. These companies satisfy all those lenders and allow you to make one payment per month. This saves you from facing different types of embarrassing situations and helps you to get out of debt in a much faster way. So, make the best use of this option and save yourself from becoming a laughing stock.

Consolidate-bills.com allows people to consolidate credit card debt by filling out a simple form. With the submission of this form a representative gets in touch with people to evaluate the whole situation and offers help to get out of debt fast.

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

วันจันทร์ที่ 10 สิงหาคม พ.ศ. 2552

Debt Reduction - How to Effectively Do It

There are many ways you can reduce your debt. You can choose to get various agencies like consolidation or debt management agencies to do it for you or you can choose to reduce the debt yourself. Choosing a do-it-yourself option can be quite a learning experience.

What you need to do first is to understand where you are coming from. This is the first but nerve racking step to debt reduction. Write down what you owe who, if there are any interest rates involved and even any outstanding loans like student or mortgage loans. If you think that your debt is out of control, you may require the services of a professional debt counselor.

Take a look at your monthly budget and pen down your income after taxes; you can then subtract all your expenses and see what your balance is. This amount is what you can use to pay off your debts. Take time to examine what you can reduce spending on; it could be taking the bus or carpooling instead of always driving to each destination. Remember the more monthly payments you make towards your debt, the sooner you will be debt free.

Create a financial plan on how you will go about reducing your debt. Make a decision to pay a certain amount per month to each debt. While you are doing this, you are not adding any extra debt. If possible try and increase the number of monthly repayments. If for example you are paying $225 this month, try and pay $275 in another two months. Talk to your creditors during this period and see if you can negotiate lower interest rates or even lower monthly payments. Above all, follow your plan through see it to the end. It will make you wiser in the long run.

Mercy Maranga writes content on Finance and Debt Management. Visit her site here for more information on Finance and how to effectively Manage your debts. Debt

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

วันเสาร์ที่ 8 สิงหาคม พ.ศ. 2552

Finance in General is What Folks Most Lack

How come so many people signed for mortgages and now claim that they did not understand? How come so many people obligated themselves to substantial mortgage payments that they really couldn't afford to pay? How come so many mortgage brokers, and mortgage companies allowed customers to sign for mortgages that they had no business getting involved in? I would submit to you that; it is financing in general that most consumers do not understand, and it is this lack of understanding which exacerbated the problem.

After the financial crisis and global meltdown every one tried to blame everyone else. Hugo Chavez in Venezuela blames the blonde haired, blue-eyed devils. The public and Congress tried to blame AIG for ensuring the bundles of mortgages. Those who signed the mortgages blamed their mortgage broker and mortgage companies. The investment banks blamed the rating agencies. And the rating agencies blamed everyone else, claiming everyone lied to them. The reality is that it was everyone's fault.

Most of all, it was the fault of consumers that lacked the general knowledge in finance in the first place. The great thing about borrowing money is that you can get money whenever you need it. But with that wonderful opportunity comes an incredible responsibility; you have to pay it back. And banks don't work for free and that money is in the investment stream so you must pay it back with interest.

If more people understood finance, took economics classes, or learned how to budget their money properly we have never been in this situation in the first place. So, I sure hope you will think about this, and understand the ramifications of your own actions. Please think on it.

Lance Winslow is a retired franchisor - Lance Winslow's Bio. Lance Winslow is formerly the CEO of WashGuys family of franchises for instance one of Lance Winslow's favorite companies on the team; http://www.windowwashguys.com/links.shtml.

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

วันพฤหัสบดีที่ 6 สิงหาคม พ.ศ. 2552

Finances and Saving is Dominating Consumer Behavior

Due to all the doom and gloom purported by the mass media after the mortgage crisis fallout, and stock market collapse; many financial commentators have stated things like; "it's like the consumer just fell off the cliff all of a sudden." Meaning that the consumers stopped buying, and retailers noticed this right away.

People stopped buying cars, electronic equipment, imported Chinese goods, and they even cut back on the amount of food they were buying. Some might say this is a good thing because consumers were spending tons of money on credit cards. Due to all the layoffs many people have had their houses foreclosed on and they have stopped paying their credit cards.

In fact, the fallout rates are very similar to the unemployment rates which continue to rise. Even those people who are not losing their jobs are worried about them and they have started saving more, and spending a lot less, worried more about their budgeting. The savings rate of consumers is now a 10% which is unheard of in the last four decades.

Thus, finances and savings are dominating consumer behavior, and it is slowing the chances for a robust economic recovery. Some economists believe we will have a slow recovery, which is probably better to guard against inflation. But most all economists believe we will have a recovery and that we've already hit the bottom of the recession and the consumers will get back on board as the news changes from bad to better, which is already happening in the stock market, which generally leads the economy by 6 to 8 months. I hope you will please consider all this.

Lance Winslow is a retired franchisor - Lance Winslow's Bio. Lance Winslow is formerly the CEO of WashGuys family of franchises for instance one of Lance Winslow's favorite companies on the team; http://www.windowwashguys.com/links.shtml.

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

วันอังคารที่ 4 สิงหาคม พ.ศ. 2552

Financial Spread Betting - Top Five Tips

Start out small
Financial Spread Betting is like anything else. You need to get used to it. And like everything else, you are more likely to make mistakes when you are a novice. So take that pain out of the learning curve by starting small. True, your wins won't be so big, but then neither will your losses. As your understanding and confidence grows you can increase the size of your bets. But remember the golden rule. You only ever bet what you can afford to lose.

Make money on both the ups and downs
This may sound obvious, but it is so often overlooked. Investors by their very nature look for winners. It's the 'up' mentality. And that's right if you are an ordinary equity investor. After all, it's very difficult for the average share trader to sell 'short'. But one of the key things with Financial Spread Betting is that you can bet on a price falling as easily as you can bet on a price rising. Twice the opportunity to make money!

Cut your losses and ride your winners
This really is at the heart of most successful financial spread betting strategies. It's also basic common sense but you'd be surprised how often it isn't applied. Key to getting this right is to use the stop loss facility in your account. Set your stop loss at the outset of each trade to the maximum you would be comfortable to lose. Many traders choose to set it at 2 or 3% of their total account balance. If the trade goes against you, it gets automatically closed out and your loss is fixed. If the trade goes in your favor, keep moving the stop loss up. When it finally turns your stop loss will then lock in most of your profit

Give it a rest
You can get too involved. Sometimes it helps if you stop trading altogether for a short while. Without being tied into open positions you can analyze your recent performance and decisions with the clarity of hindsight. How is your return looking? Would you have made any different decisions with hindsight? Learn from both your successes and also your failures. Write down your learnings and start afresh.

Don't rely on technology too much
This is a personal one I admit. Some people love their software systems, and their fancy algorithms, whereas others prefer to follow fundamentals or the market sentiment. My point really is that even if you love your software derived bets, please make sure you follow the other basics outlined above. That way you can at least eliminate the potential on the downside.

Stuart Smith writes widely on Financial Spread Betting subjects and is the owner of leading website http://www.financialbetting.co.uk

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

Investor Protectionism and Financial Market Size

A common denominator of market-based financial system like that of United States and U.K and bank-based financial system such as that of Germany or France is investor protection. The United States has a market-based system because its economy is largely dependent on property and financial asset value. Consequently, it has a large stock and bond markets creating a large market which attracts investors and companies from all over the world. This presupposes that the stock market and individuals (that is investors) play a significant critical role in corporate finance and governance as large fraction of individual portfolios is held in the equity market. Moreover, equity financing is practiced in this system.

On the other hand, bank-based systems are characterized by financial assets predominantly being held by financial institutions encompassing banks, mutual funds, insurance companies, pension funds and others. This means direct equity investment is small whilst individual investment is predominantly held in bank deposits, insurance policies, mutual and pension funds e.t.c. Debt financing comes mainly from banks instead of stock markets and so the stock market is comparatively small and less significant in this type of economic system. The fact is that, in market-based financial systems, investors property rights are protected well due to the fact that stocks and bonds markets are significant and form a higher percentage of the GDP. For example in 2003, financial assets was about 327% of GDP for U.S and 306% for U.K which are market-based dominant financial systems compared to 192% in Europe, 267% in Japan which tends to be bank-based dominant systems, an epitome of socialist systems [1}.

The large stock market size in terms of number of listed companies, aggregate market value relative to GDP and initial public offering (IPO) relative to population is a repercussion of the investor confidence and the quality of laws governing the market. Contrarily, inadequate protection rights minimize the integrity and size of the market as seen in the economies with dominant bank-based financial systems. Even in the efficient market-based systems where shareholders and creditors of the market are protected well by laws, political trends and shift in government policy can inhibit the smooth running of these markets. There is the tendency for governments to garner more power and control in terms of enforcement of the laws governing the market in times of deep economic recession.

A case in point is the financial market crash in 1929 which was followed by the government expansion and ownership in the Great Depression. However, much as laws need to be enforced to ensure investor protection, an expansion of government control of the market can be very ambitious besides reducing the efficiency of the market. That is why it is incumbent on the Federal government to critically examine the amount of power and reforms it seeks to control the market to avoid a rippling effect of market inefficiencies. Most importantly the market inefficiencies would emanate mainly from competition and capital gains impairment, no insulation from political influence on investment and operating decisions. The market is a privatization entity and so should be allowed to operate with some level of independence for efficiency and profitability. Reforms are necessary to ensure investor protection and subsequently confidence yet very robust reforms if not handled carefully can impact negatively the markets.

These times are similar to the Great Depression period and care needs to be taken to avoid the degenerating syndrome of "protectionism" as practiced in some socialist systems. We have learnt by observation and experience that the large size of the U.S market is also a result of large number of foreign individuals and company investments and any failure of the market spills into the economies of the rest of the world.

Reference:
[1] CEIC Data Ltd, International Financial Statistics, and National Sources

Charles Horace Ampong a holder of masters degrees in engineering and business management has professional strengths in engineering, management, finance, economics accounting and marketing having worked as an engineer and analyst and currently working as a consultant for GLG Councils. His current area of research includes risk management, international finance, financial modeling, derivatives, managerial economics and forecasting, management accounting, operations management, marketing analysis and advanced applied statistics in business management.

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

Financial Spread Betting - Tell Me More

We've all heard of shares. But why do we keep hearing about Financial Spread Betting in the same context? Well, the truth is that financial spread betting is one of the fastest growing and most exciting ways of speculating on the movement of an underlying share or index. For many investors it has become a flexible and cost efficient alternative to trading ordinary shares. This article aims to set out the benefits of spread betting above and beyond the advantages of investing in shares. Read on for more details...

How does it work?

In very simple terms, instead of buying shares that you think are going to go up in value, or sell shares that you think are going to go down in value, you bet on whether they think they will go down or up. And it's not like a football match where you are either right or wrong. No, with financial spread betting, you be an amount per point. So if you think RBS shares might go up, you might 'buy' at £10 per point. If RBS shares go up from 40p to 50p, you have made 10 points, which equates to £100. However, if they go down - say - to 35p, you have lost 5 points, which equates to £50. Simple, huh?

What are the advantages of Spread Betting?

• Stamp Duty is not payable (saving 0.5% compared to a normal share purchase)

• The ability to 'hedge' existing positions

• The fact that all bets will normally be undertaken in sterling, thereby removing the exchange rate risk from bets on overseas stock.

• Profits on spread betting are not subject to capital gains tax*.

• Direct commissions and fees are not payable; the spread betting firm makes it's money from the spread.

• Whereas with ordinary share dealing accounts you can not profit from a fall in share price (selling 'short') with spread betting you can profit from falling or rising markets.

• Being leveraged products, they are traded on margin therefore bets can be placed with a relatively small initial outlay.

• A single account can give you Access to far greater range of financial markets.

• The ability to place very small bets, some companies let you place a trade of as low as 1p per point.

* (Tax Laws are subject to change)

And what are the disadvantages?

• Some markets may be very volatile and with leveraged products you could incur very large losses if your position moves against you.

• It may be less suited to the long term investor

• You have no investor rights, such as voting rights, dividends or corporate actions.

What can I trade?

Because you are not actually buying or selling the actual underlying instrument. the range of instruments that you 'bet' on can be far greater than simply underlying shares. In fact it is possible to bet on a number of underlying financial instruments:

• Stock market indices such as the FTSE or NASDAQ.

• Individual shares from the FTSE 100 and FTSE 250, but also from leading US and European shares.

• Currencies, FX.

• Commodities such as metals and oil.

• Interest Rates both short term and long term.

• Futures and options.

• Bonds.

In summary

Financial Spread Betting provides a cost effective and leveraged product to allow traders to take advantage of market movements, whilst at the same time allowing the trader to invest small amounts of money until they are confident in the product.

SS Smith writes extensively about Financial Spread Betting and owns the specialist web site http://www.spreadbettingguide.co.uk

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

Search Gify by Zodiac