NPR's Tobia Smith reports on a popular personal finance class at Wellesley College. But why wait until college? When it comes to the fundamentals of personal finance every California schoolchild is being left behind. A decade ago I worked for a group of state securities regulators in Washington, D.C. that promoted financial literacy and personal finance classes in high school. One soundbite I crafted for our president: "We teach phys ed, sex ed and drivers ed, why not financial ed?" A question to be asked. The answer? Maybe that's the way some want it, to keep us stupid about money. Ignorant consumers, after all, don't read fine print, they don't ask questions, they don't comparison shop, they don't see through advertisements.
Welcome to the New Financial Realities: New Rules for a New Economy
If there is one thing that the financial crisis has taught us, it's that we can no longer afford to think about our personal finances as we did in the bubbly pre-recession days. In today's economy there are new financial realities that every consumer must understand.
Over the next few weeks Eleanor Blayney, CFP®, Consumer Advocate for Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc. (CFP Board), will help steer consumers through the shifting economic landscape, by outlining the new rules for the new economy, in a series of nine videos, which can be found at http://www.cfp.net/learn/advocate.asp
"In this uncertain economic climate, we must all -- as consumers, investors, and citizens -- become better informed, so that we can take control of our financial futures," said Kevin R. Keller, CEO of CFP Board. "As a seasoned CFP® practitioner, Eleanor understands that consumers need strategies for addressing the new and rapidly-changing financial realities."
Blayney said, "Our recent economic downturn has shown us that we must re-examine some basic assumptions about the ways we manage our finances. What made sense pre-recession no longer works today. In these videos, I offer consumers nine personal finance strategies to help them plan for what's ahead."
1. Put your own financial interests first, and work with an advisor you can trust
2. Use a multi-prong approach; investing by itself will not get you where you want to be. Spending, saving, and budgeting all play equal parts in building wealth
3. Think of yourself as an asset; investing in yourself can yield returns far greater than other investments
4. Learn the difference between good debt and bad debt
5. Get smart about the pros and cons of home ownership
6. Know it's no longer about retirement; it's about reinventing yourself for the last third of your life
7. Get your kids involved in family financial planning. Now is the time to talk to your kids about finances
8. Do not sacrifice your financial well-being for your children
9. Become financially literate. Commit to learning all that you can.
"As you consider your personal finances and prepare and respond to the new economic situation, remember you are not alone. CFP Board and the nearly 60,000 financial professionals who hold the CFP® marks stand ready to help you on your journey to a healthy financial future," said Blayney. "I wish you the best on your journey to a secure future."
Follow Eleanor on Twitter: http://twitter.com/EleanorBlayney
The Process of One Hour Payday Loans
It can be a scary feeling having bills looming on the immediate horizon that you do not have the resources to pay for. Bills that are going to result in the termination of some type of service, your water or electricity for example. Many times people are fortunate enough to be able to borrow money from family or friends. But in those instances when no other type of assistance is available it is comforting to know that a quick cash advance can be easily obtained. The solution comes in the form of a one hour payday loan. These loans have become so readily available that anyone who fits just a few basic requirements can qualify for quick cash. If you are 18 years of age and have held the same job for the last six months then you could be well on your way to a one hour payday loan.
You can still find walk-in establishments that will help you out but these days most people simply go online to find sources for payday loans, there are many. An internet search will quickly turn up dozens of lenders willing to help you out of a financial jam and the application process is a breeze. You will need to have your banking information ready as they will need to know where to direct deposit the funds. Be certain that all the information such as account numbers, routing numbers, social security numbers, etc. are valid. Lenders have the means to verify this information and will reject your application if the information is erroneous. Lenders prefer to serve those employed outside the home and not self employed because of the fluctuation of assets that comes with self employment. The lender needs to know for certain that the money is going to be available when you repay date rolls around.
As soon as you complete your application and submit it online the lender will need to verify that you earn about $1200-$1500 a month. One hour payday loan companies also try and refrain from doing business with applicants who are in the military and people who's income consists of receiving benefits. You will also be turned away if you have ever defaulted on a previous payday loan or you have a current loan out with another company. The approval process takes just minutes from the time that you submit your application. Once approved the funds are wire transferred directly into your account and are available for immediate withdrawal. When your loan comes due, generally no more than a month and usually just two weeks later, the lending institution simply withdraws the amount of the loan, plus interest and fees, back out of your account. It's that easy. So don't let the thought of overdue bills worry you, with a one hour payday loan literally at your fingertips you can borrow anywhere from $100-$1000 and avoid shut offs and reconnection fees and maybe in the process prevent another glitch on your credit history along the way.
Jennifer Meinert is an established author who enjoys writing and reviewing many topics including payday one hour and cash advance payday loans. Please visit her site at http://www.cashadvanceresults.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jennifer_Meinert
How Do Payday Loan Advances Really Work?
Are you interested in receiving a payday loan advance? Are you not quite sure how these loans work and what the process is to get one? Well, they are very simple loans-in terms of the application process and the financing and repayment of them. These loans are based on what your regular paycheck amount is and then repaid in full on your next payday.
Many lenders do not pull a credit history to approve someone for a payday loan. This is because repayment is guaranteed-it comes directly from your next paycheck. If you are worried about your credit history being used to determine your eligibility for a payday loan advance, read through the lenders policies and guidelines first before applying.
Once filling out and submitting your online application, the approval process usually only takes a few minutes, if that long. Many online lenders are able to tell you right away if you are approved or not. If you do not get an immediate response, then further verification from you may be needed. Once you are pre-approved you may be requested to provide some sort of supporting documentation verifying your employment and income (such as faxing paycheck stubs to company). Other companies do not require this and will do the whole loan without you having to fax anything. After the company verifies your identity, your employment, and your income, then you usually receive a direct deposit of the loan proceeds into the bank account that you provided to the lender. This usually happens in 24 hours or less.
Do be careful when choosing your online lender. Due to the short duration of these loans, the interest rate and any applicable fees may be high. Do some research to find a lender with a reasonable rate. Also make sure that you do not borrow the money for a longer period of time than necessary. Doing so will cause you to pay back more money in interest than needed.
Jessie Bowers is an expert financial analyst and has been offering her valuable advice about legit payday loan lenders for quite sometime now. Please visit her website for more information on payday cash advance.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jessie_Bowers
If You Need to Handle Cash-Flow Problems Payday Loan Advance
It happens more than some may think; another week or more until payday and an unexpected expense comes up. It may be a utility bill (or worse, a shut off notice) or maybe an emergency car repair. Whatever it is, money is needed fast. With a payday loan advance, you can get that money, whenever you need it. A payday loan advance is a short term loan for which you need no collateral and you need not fax any documentation. There is a simple online application to be filled out. As long as the applicant is over 18, employed and has a current checking account, the loan is normally approved and the money deposited into the applicant's bank account within hours.
Interest rates and fees vary, even among paycheck advance loan institutions, so you will want to check the terms and conditions carefully. Some places charge 30% on their loans while most only charge 20%. The loans are for a period of time between 2-4 weeks but most commonly 2 weeks. This gives the borrower enough time to pay the emergency expense and also get their next paycheck. It is quite literally like getting a loan on your next payday. Try to plan carefully so that when the loan is repaid, there is still money to live off of.
Life's little emergencies happen to everyone. Payday doesn't always come when it is needed. For times when extra cash is needed and payday is far off, think payday loan advance. The money is there for you,, whatever you need it for. Even if you want to take a weekend getaway, you can use a payday loan advance to do it. There are no questions asked. It's nice to know that no matter how far away payday is, there is money available here and now with a payday loan advance.
Jessie Bowers is an expert financial analyst and has been offering her valuable advice about safe legitimate payday loans for quite sometime now. Please visit her website for more information on advance payday loans.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jessie_Bowers
Fast and Easy Payday Loan Advance
Now, you can get a cash advance by submitting an online application. It never has been easier to get the cash you are in urgent need for. Within a minute's time, you can already be approved for a payday loan advance and the money will be in your bank account by the next business day. If you are facing a dire emergency, these types of loans are here to assist you in your time of need.
Cash Advance or Payday Loans
There are many terms associated with payday loans, such as check loan, post-dated loan, or cash advance. No matter what you call it, they are the same type of loan. They are short-term in nature and you can borrow the same amount of money, which is from $100 to $1,000, depending on your lender.
The purpose of payday loan advances is to assist during financial emergencies that may occur when you least expect it. Instead of paying fees on late payments or bounced checks, you now have the option to secure a cash advance against your next pay check. You will save money if you choose to get a loan as an alternative to paying all of the fees you may be charged if you don't pay your bills on time. When your next payday arrives or in thirty days, you can repay the loan. If you choose to extend the loan, additional fees will apply.
Simple Application Process
You can currently get a payday loan advance by simply applying online from your home or anywhere else that has internet access. When you choose an appropriate lender's website, just enter your personal contact information and history of employment. The only requirements are that you have include that you must be an adult and have had the same job for three months. Your application will be reviewed within five minutes, and you will receive a notice (probably through e-mail) if you have been approved for the amount you asked to borrow.
Get a Cash Advance Quick
On the application, you provide your checking account routing number. Once approved, the lender will automatically deposit your funds in your bank account by the next business day. That is very quick service!
Hassle-Free Repayment Plan
You can also repay your loan through their online service. You will usually get the option of choosing from the following repayment plans when your loan is due: 1.) You can elect to pay only the finance charges, 2.) You can pay the entire loan off, or 3.) You can pay only a portion of the loan. If you extend your loan, you will also have the option of changing your re-payment plan to suit your current needs; however, this is entitled to more fees added to your existing loan sum.
Convenient Customer Service
There are many methods of contact the lender's customer service department if an issue arises. Generally, you can call or e-mail the lender. However, now there are even more ways of getting in touch with your lender. Now, your lender will answer your pressing questions by fax or an instant messaging service. The websites will also include relevant information to help answer your questions, such as their interest rate charges, re-payment plans, and frequently asked questions/answers.
Jessie Bowers is an expert financial analyst and has been offering her valuable advice about legit payday loans for quite sometime now. Please visit her website for more information on online cash loans.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jessie_Bowers
How Teaching the Kids to Go Green Can Equal Saving, Cost-Cutting, and More Money For Your Family
Families everywhere are feeling this economy crisis. From smaller household budgets to less money for the little extras that kids enjoy, many are feeling the financial pinch of it all. While the world is experiencing this economy crisis, we are also an even bigger issue... a big need for greater environmental awareness and action. For families that want to make a difference for our world and still would like to save a few dollars to help their overall family budgets, we would like to present some basics for making that happen for you and your kids.
Teaching your children to help the planet by following a few basic steps could give your family just the financial push that it needs to get through this economy crisis. Some of these are really simple to do and others may take a little coordinating, but the final results of your labor, including saving, cost-cutting, and plumping up that family bank account will all seem worth it in the end. Here are a few do's and don'ts to help your family get started:
Do have the kids use rechargeable batteries or solar powered chargers for handheld games and small electronics. Your family could see an instant saving. Costs for replacing batteries can be astronomical when you sum up all of the batteries that you need to supply energy to the gobs of gadgets that your kids probably have. If there is not a USB charger available, which allows you to charge stuff directly from the computer, then find and use alternative energy sources such as rechargeable batteries and solar powered chargers. Regular batteries wreak havoc on the environment. So, using an alternative energy source saves the world and it saves you lots of money from not having to continuously buy batteries.
Do teach the kids to conserve water, especially during this economy crisis. Your children could save your family a mint just by minimizing their water consumption. Set a time limit for showers and encourage children to turn the water off while they are brushing their teeth. These little changes could have a huge impact on your family's water bill and could also help with our environment.
Do teach children to be creative with their water usage. Tell them to place 2 small cups or bowls in the shower when they are using it to catch the excess water. This water can then be used to water plants! They could also catch rainwater and use that for watering plants at a later time also. Either way, your family could experience a saving. Cost conscious people can really appreciate doing anything that could significantly reduce their water bills.
Do teach the kids to enjoy and take full advantage of sunlight. Tell them to turn off the lights when they are not using a room and to open the blinds or curtains to let the sunlight in. Sunlight is a free energy and light source. Learning to use and appreciate it now could make a difference as your child gets older in the way that they view energy. This economy crisis is making it important for all of us to take a different approach with certain things in our lives. The energy that your family saves by not running the electric lights all day could result in a much lower energy bill, which means more money left over in your family's household budget! Plus, less energy consumption is very important for our environment.
Do teach them to research and use frugal recipes that take advantage of locally grown produce and products that you can buy for cheap. Just about every area has a farmer's market. These markets are havens for saving money. From cheap produce to low price dairy, most families will see an amazing opportunity to save at this markets, over the regular retail prices. Plus, by making an effort to buy for cheap the local produce and products, you are helping to reduce emissions from planes and foods that have to travel to your area! A lot of that fresh produce is also organic which means that the farmers do not use harmful chemicals on the food.
Your children can learn to understand the importance of going green and will follow your lead on environmental issues. Teaching them to work to save our planet and to help your family by doing things to conserve to save money are life lessons that they will need in years to come. Teach them now and, once the world is through this economy crisis, they will know how to do their part to help to reduce environmental risks. With your guidance, they will know how to care for their family while maintaining a financially and "environmentally" sound budget!
Alexandra Vrugt, a recognized expert on saving money in daily life, has written many articles on how to manage on less. You can get free copy of her Ebook '15 Top Ways To Save Money' by visiting her website MakeEndsMeetOnlne.com.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Alexandra_Vrugt
Teaching your children to help the planet by following a few basic steps could give your family just the financial push that it needs to get through this economy crisis. Some of these are really simple to do and others may take a little coordinating, but the final results of your labor, including saving, cost-cutting, and plumping up that family bank account will all seem worth it in the end. Here are a few do's and don'ts to help your family get started:
Do have the kids use rechargeable batteries or solar powered chargers for handheld games and small electronics. Your family could see an instant saving. Costs for replacing batteries can be astronomical when you sum up all of the batteries that you need to supply energy to the gobs of gadgets that your kids probably have. If there is not a USB charger available, which allows you to charge stuff directly from the computer, then find and use alternative energy sources such as rechargeable batteries and solar powered chargers. Regular batteries wreak havoc on the environment. So, using an alternative energy source saves the world and it saves you lots of money from not having to continuously buy batteries.
Do teach the kids to conserve water, especially during this economy crisis. Your children could save your family a mint just by minimizing their water consumption. Set a time limit for showers and encourage children to turn the water off while they are brushing their teeth. These little changes could have a huge impact on your family's water bill and could also help with our environment.
Do teach children to be creative with their water usage. Tell them to place 2 small cups or bowls in the shower when they are using it to catch the excess water. This water can then be used to water plants! They could also catch rainwater and use that for watering plants at a later time also. Either way, your family could experience a saving. Cost conscious people can really appreciate doing anything that could significantly reduce their water bills.
Do teach the kids to enjoy and take full advantage of sunlight. Tell them to turn off the lights when they are not using a room and to open the blinds or curtains to let the sunlight in. Sunlight is a free energy and light source. Learning to use and appreciate it now could make a difference as your child gets older in the way that they view energy. This economy crisis is making it important for all of us to take a different approach with certain things in our lives. The energy that your family saves by not running the electric lights all day could result in a much lower energy bill, which means more money left over in your family's household budget! Plus, less energy consumption is very important for our environment.
Do teach them to research and use frugal recipes that take advantage of locally grown produce and products that you can buy for cheap. Just about every area has a farmer's market. These markets are havens for saving money. From cheap produce to low price dairy, most families will see an amazing opportunity to save at this markets, over the regular retail prices. Plus, by making an effort to buy for cheap the local produce and products, you are helping to reduce emissions from planes and foods that have to travel to your area! A lot of that fresh produce is also organic which means that the farmers do not use harmful chemicals on the food.
Your children can learn to understand the importance of going green and will follow your lead on environmental issues. Teaching them to work to save our planet and to help your family by doing things to conserve to save money are life lessons that they will need in years to come. Teach them now and, once the world is through this economy crisis, they will know how to do their part to help to reduce environmental risks. With your guidance, they will know how to care for their family while maintaining a financially and "environmentally" sound budget!
Alexandra Vrugt, a recognized expert on saving money in daily life, has written many articles on how to manage on less. You can get free copy of her Ebook '15 Top Ways To Save Money' by visiting her website MakeEndsMeetOnlne.com.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Alexandra_Vrugt
Financial Advisor Experience - 7 Questions You Must Ask!
A critical key to successfully selecting your financial advisor is know what questions to ask. The painful truth is most consumers of financial and investment planning services don't ask some of the most basic questions when finding, interviewing, and choosing the right financial advisor for their specific needs and financial goals. Rather they tend to be wooed by flashy signs on imposing buildings, fancy decor, ultra-slick TV ads and impressive titles. Choosing the wrong financial advisor however can lead to financially disastrous consequences for you and your financial security - and those flashy signs, smooth marketing campaigns, and embellished sounding titles are the least of what you as a consumer should be concerned with.
The problem stems from the Wall Street machine and their monstrous marketing budgets. Wall Street firms label their salespeople "Financial Consultant" or "Vice President of Investments" (I know, I had both titles at points in my career) - remarkable job titles to say the least, and most certainly comforting in nature to the consumer. They piece together emotionally provocative marketing campaigns with catchy slogans and striking logos. They advertise their spectacular investment products and financial planning services on TV, on the radio, and in the most popular trade magazines.
The sordid truth is the Wall Street machine engages in this "financial pornography" to wow and woo you, to impress you, and to give you comfort in the quality of their advice and value of their investment products before you even walk in the door. In reality, the flashy signs and chic titles mean nothing.
Checking your financial advisors background, credentials, philosophy, compensation and experience in the financial services industry can quickly weed out the "less professional" financial advisors - and effectively simplify your decision making process in finding the right financial advisor.
One of the most important "qualifiers" of a professional financial advisor is their level of experience in serving client's financial needs and helping them accomplishing their goals. Notice I didn't say "length of experience in the business". Length of financial services industry experience may mean little if anything, because a financial advisor may have 20 years of experience which may include years of nothing remotely related to serving clients financial needs.
There are plenty of financial industry jobs which may give the impression of real-life "in the trenches" client services experience, but in reality these jobs aren't much more than administrative, managerial, or sales in nature. To choose the right financial advisor, focus on asking the right questions, and expect thorough answers:
# How long have you been working directly with clients as their primary financial advisor?
# How long have you been recommending investment and insurance products?
# How long have you been actively and consistently creating financial plans for clients to help them achieve their financial goals?
# What is your training background, and where did you learn how to diagnose, manage, and solve your clients financial problems?
# How many years did you spend training for your position as a financial advisor?
# What firms have you worked for in the capacity of a financial advisor?
# How many written financial plans have you created for clients?
Those seven questions will garner the majority of information you'll need to make an informed decision on your financial advisor's experience level. But just what should their answers entail? In terms of acceptable financial advisor experience, I would argue the following:
A minimum 3 years of experience. Anything less is a threat to your financial future you can't afford to take. Financial advisor's can intern (or act as a para-planner) with more experienced financial professionals working with clients directly, and should do so for at least three years before taking on the primary role as your financial advisor. Given the volatility and uncertainty of current times, it's easy to make a case for 10 years or more of practical, real-world experience. You wouldn't lay on the operating table for open heart surgery knowing your doctor graduated from medical school yesterday would you?
A college degree. This is a new requirement for NAPFA (the National Association of Personal Financial Advisors, NAPFA.org) registered financial advisors. While a college degree isn't the "be-all end-all", it shows dedication to training and increasing your knowledge early in life - a trait which commonly caries over throughout your career.
A CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ (CFP®) or Chartered Financial Consultant® (ChFC®) designation. Both credentials show substantial dedication to being among the best in the financial services field. Both credentials are difficult to achieve and require ongoing continuing education to maintain. Both credentials illustrate the experience and training so vital to your financial success.
20 written financial plans. Many "financial advisors" don't do written financial plans (but many "financial advisors" are that only in title, and are actually salespeople in practice). Regardless of whether you need a written financial plan or not (not every client needs a written financial plan), your financial advisor should understand how to create one and have reasonable experience in doing so. You may not need that open heart surgery, but don't you want your cardiologist to have the experience requisite to making a wise decision when you have chest pain?
Experience is but one primary component of excellence in financial advice and superior client service. There are many other facets of a financial advisory practice that are important. In the end however, don't you feel more confident you'll be able to reach your financial goals knowing that this isn't your financial advisor's "first rodeo"?
Take the time, ask questions when you interview a financial advisor. Require and expect thorough and reasonable answers. Doing so will help you achieve confidence that you've found an experienced financial advisor able to deliver excellence in financial advice!
Greg Phelps is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER (TM) and Fee-Only Independent Financial Advisor in Las Vegas and Henderson, Nevada. With 14 years of financial industry experience, Greg is an accomplished financial advisor, author, and speaker. Through his employment with two of the largest investment banking firms on Wall Street - Morgan Stanley and Goldman Sachs, as well as serving as the Regional Manager of Wealth Management at the 5th largest accounting firm in the country - RSM McGladrey, he's consistently and ambitiously improved his skill and knowledge in the financial planning field. In addition to creating a Home Mortgage Loan utility for use by financial advisors with their clients, he strives to deliver exceptional financial planning advice and guidance in all areas relevant to his client, with a specialty focus in retirement financial planning.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Greg_Phelps
The problem stems from the Wall Street machine and their monstrous marketing budgets. Wall Street firms label their salespeople "Financial Consultant" or "Vice President of Investments" (I know, I had both titles at points in my career) - remarkable job titles to say the least, and most certainly comforting in nature to the consumer. They piece together emotionally provocative marketing campaigns with catchy slogans and striking logos. They advertise their spectacular investment products and financial planning services on TV, on the radio, and in the most popular trade magazines.
The sordid truth is the Wall Street machine engages in this "financial pornography" to wow and woo you, to impress you, and to give you comfort in the quality of their advice and value of their investment products before you even walk in the door. In reality, the flashy signs and chic titles mean nothing.
Checking your financial advisors background, credentials, philosophy, compensation and experience in the financial services industry can quickly weed out the "less professional" financial advisors - and effectively simplify your decision making process in finding the right financial advisor.
One of the most important "qualifiers" of a professional financial advisor is their level of experience in serving client's financial needs and helping them accomplishing their goals. Notice I didn't say "length of experience in the business". Length of financial services industry experience may mean little if anything, because a financial advisor may have 20 years of experience which may include years of nothing remotely related to serving clients financial needs.
There are plenty of financial industry jobs which may give the impression of real-life "in the trenches" client services experience, but in reality these jobs aren't much more than administrative, managerial, or sales in nature. To choose the right financial advisor, focus on asking the right questions, and expect thorough answers:
# How long have you been working directly with clients as their primary financial advisor?
# How long have you been recommending investment and insurance products?
# How long have you been actively and consistently creating financial plans for clients to help them achieve their financial goals?
# What is your training background, and where did you learn how to diagnose, manage, and solve your clients financial problems?
# How many years did you spend training for your position as a financial advisor?
# What firms have you worked for in the capacity of a financial advisor?
# How many written financial plans have you created for clients?
Those seven questions will garner the majority of information you'll need to make an informed decision on your financial advisor's experience level. But just what should their answers entail? In terms of acceptable financial advisor experience, I would argue the following:
A minimum 3 years of experience. Anything less is a threat to your financial future you can't afford to take. Financial advisor's can intern (or act as a para-planner) with more experienced financial professionals working with clients directly, and should do so for at least three years before taking on the primary role as your financial advisor. Given the volatility and uncertainty of current times, it's easy to make a case for 10 years or more of practical, real-world experience. You wouldn't lay on the operating table for open heart surgery knowing your doctor graduated from medical school yesterday would you?
A college degree. This is a new requirement for NAPFA (the National Association of Personal Financial Advisors, NAPFA.org) registered financial advisors. While a college degree isn't the "be-all end-all", it shows dedication to training and increasing your knowledge early in life - a trait which commonly caries over throughout your career.
A CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ (CFP®) or Chartered Financial Consultant® (ChFC®) designation. Both credentials show substantial dedication to being among the best in the financial services field. Both credentials are difficult to achieve and require ongoing continuing education to maintain. Both credentials illustrate the experience and training so vital to your financial success.
20 written financial plans. Many "financial advisors" don't do written financial plans (but many "financial advisors" are that only in title, and are actually salespeople in practice). Regardless of whether you need a written financial plan or not (not every client needs a written financial plan), your financial advisor should understand how to create one and have reasonable experience in doing so. You may not need that open heart surgery, but don't you want your cardiologist to have the experience requisite to making a wise decision when you have chest pain?
Experience is but one primary component of excellence in financial advice and superior client service. There are many other facets of a financial advisory practice that are important. In the end however, don't you feel more confident you'll be able to reach your financial goals knowing that this isn't your financial advisor's "first rodeo"?
Take the time, ask questions when you interview a financial advisor. Require and expect thorough and reasonable answers. Doing so will help you achieve confidence that you've found an experienced financial advisor able to deliver excellence in financial advice!
Greg Phelps is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER (TM) and Fee-Only Independent Financial Advisor in Las Vegas and Henderson, Nevada. With 14 years of financial industry experience, Greg is an accomplished financial advisor, author, and speaker. Through his employment with two of the largest investment banking firms on Wall Street - Morgan Stanley and Goldman Sachs, as well as serving as the Regional Manager of Wealth Management at the 5th largest accounting firm in the country - RSM McGladrey, he's consistently and ambitiously improved his skill and knowledge in the financial planning field. In addition to creating a Home Mortgage Loan utility for use by financial advisors with their clients, he strives to deliver exceptional financial planning advice and guidance in all areas relevant to his client, with a specialty focus in retirement financial planning.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Greg_Phelps
Save Money on Entertainment Tips For Avoiding Foreclosure
When the thought of facing foreclosure and possibility of losing your house runs through you mind, you probably are trying to come up with ways to avoid foreclosure, which means one thing: having the money to pay the mortgage bill. Every little penny matters and can help make the payments. If the possibility of foreclosure is on you mind, this is the time you want to learn the art of frugality.
To add to the list today you will be learning about how to save money on entertainment. If you learn the tips within in the article series you should be able to save thousands of dollars a years. If you are doing this; then you will help yourself avoid foreclosure not only this year, but for years to come. Just because you are trying to save money doesn't mean you have to lock yourself inside and never do anything -- what fun would that be and how long would it last?
Free concerts. Many towns and cities have free concerts you can go to in the summer; check out a local newspaper. It will usually have a list of free ones in the leisure section. It is fun and you get to be around other people, listening to good music.
Save on movies. Instead of going to a movies sign up for online movie sites and watch several movies a month for the same prices you spend at the theater. Plus you can eat popcorn and home and save yourself another 10 dollars and get twice as much.
Learn the happenings at your local library. A library is a good place to go when saving money. Here you can check out movies, CDs and books for free. Also they will sometimes have free events and book readings you can attend.
Take advantage of Tuesdays. Tuesdays are usually a slow day for businesses in general: restaurants offer food specials, museums are usually free and people want your business this day. So keep your eyes open for specials this day.
Board games. Purchases a few board games and having friends over for a game night is a good way to socialize and not spend much money. It can lead to hours of laughs and is better then hanging out at some noisy bar.
Take up running for your sport. Running is a free way to exercise and you get to see parts of your town you may not have been aware of before going out for a run. Instead of joining an expensive gym, do push ups and sit-ups at home, then go for a run. This right here can save you several hundred dollars a year.
So put some of these options into action and see how much money you end up saving a month. You would be surprised to find out how much it is. I know several people that go through half their paycheck in a week; if they learn to spend wisely they would have money in their savings account. You never know when you could loose your job or are in a financial hardship and it will be there for you to pay your mortgage.
LJ Adama writes articles on financial advice and foreclosure help. To get better ideas on how to stop foreclosure Or to learn about loan modification and foreclosure prevention methods please visit http://www.foreclosurefish.com/
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=LJ_Adama
To add to the list today you will be learning about how to save money on entertainment. If you learn the tips within in the article series you should be able to save thousands of dollars a years. If you are doing this; then you will help yourself avoid foreclosure not only this year, but for years to come. Just because you are trying to save money doesn't mean you have to lock yourself inside and never do anything -- what fun would that be and how long would it last?
Free concerts. Many towns and cities have free concerts you can go to in the summer; check out a local newspaper. It will usually have a list of free ones in the leisure section. It is fun and you get to be around other people, listening to good music.
Save on movies. Instead of going to a movies sign up for online movie sites and watch several movies a month for the same prices you spend at the theater. Plus you can eat popcorn and home and save yourself another 10 dollars and get twice as much.
Learn the happenings at your local library. A library is a good place to go when saving money. Here you can check out movies, CDs and books for free. Also they will sometimes have free events and book readings you can attend.
Take advantage of Tuesdays. Tuesdays are usually a slow day for businesses in general: restaurants offer food specials, museums are usually free and people want your business this day. So keep your eyes open for specials this day.
Board games. Purchases a few board games and having friends over for a game night is a good way to socialize and not spend much money. It can lead to hours of laughs and is better then hanging out at some noisy bar.
Take up running for your sport. Running is a free way to exercise and you get to see parts of your town you may not have been aware of before going out for a run. Instead of joining an expensive gym, do push ups and sit-ups at home, then go for a run. This right here can save you several hundred dollars a year.
So put some of these options into action and see how much money you end up saving a month. You would be surprised to find out how much it is. I know several people that go through half their paycheck in a week; if they learn to spend wisely they would have money in their savings account. You never know when you could loose your job or are in a financial hardship and it will be there for you to pay your mortgage.
LJ Adama writes articles on financial advice and foreclosure help. To get better ideas on how to stop foreclosure Or to learn about loan modification and foreclosure prevention methods please visit http://www.foreclosurefish.com/
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=LJ_Adama
Start Organising Your Savings Online
One of the main benefits of online banking is the flexibility that comes with it; you have access to your accounts 24 hours a day, 365 days a year from absolutely anywhere where internet connection is possible.
Having access to your savings with such speed and convenience means you can avoid queuing at your local branch or spending too much time with telephone banking. Most major banks in the UK now offer online banking to customers, with many choosing to carry out their banking via the World Wide Web.
Many transactions can be carried out online, from simply checking your balance to making payments. As you can instantly view transactions and statements online, it becomes much easier to control your savings when compared to the traditional monthly paper statement. It is also very easy to move money between accounts, so if you chose to set up both an online current account and savings account, you could transfer funds between the two with just a few clicks of the button.
Due to the savings that banks can generate from carrying out transactions online, preferential interest rates are becoming available for e-bankers, which is particularly good news for savers. The higher the interest rate you can secure for your savings the better; opting to bank online can help you in doing so.
Preferential rates and benefits aside, the different types of savings account available online are similar to those offered on the high street. Most savings accounts pay interest on an annual basis; however you should also look out for savings accounts that offer introductory rates or bonuses as this can be an easy way to secure even better terms. Therefore, spend a little time researching the different types of account and make sure you pick the best one for your requirements.
But if you're worried you might not be able to stick to your savings plan then why not set up a standing order? That way, your savings account is topped up every month without fail. In fact, it might be possible to arrange this online, especially if you already have a current and/or savings account with the same provider.
Making the Most Out of Your Savings
For many partners or married couples saving is a fundamental part of living as they look to get themselves on the property ladder, save up for a new car or go on a dream holiday. A number of banks and building societies offer a good range of savings products that with the right investment can give the investor a great return and additional source of income.
As well as selecting the right savings product to maximise savings income, partners or married couples should take full advantage of tax allowances. Tax allowances enable every person to have income earning assets up to a certain value that are income tax free. The figure is currently around £5,000 and by spreading out assets couples can ensure that either no tax or as little as possible tax will be claimed from their savings income.
For example, a man with £10,000 invested can avoid paying income tax on his assets by having half of the money invested in his spouses name so that the investment does not apply for income tax. Another great way to maximise potential income from savings is to go for a product with the least payment dates. Savings products usually give an option of having interest paid monthly, quarterly or annually with the highest interest rate being offered for the product with the lowest payment dates. So for any saver who can afford to live without their saving income for a whole year, this can be a great way to earn extra from their savings.
Setting Aside Your Money For When You Need it Most
According to new research, many people are now relying on their savings accounts as a place to keep their extra money safe. Indeed, households are choosing to put away their extra money instead of spending it - a sign that many see the current economic downturn as a cue to save, rather than spend, their money.
A surge in attempts to save more money has led the cash value of savings of households in the UK to rise to £11.7 billion in the last quarter of 2008. The rise comes as consumers choose to change their former spending habits. In the same quarter, the sales of food and drink fell by the largest percentage in five years. Instead of spending lots of money on holidays, restaurants and electronics, many are choosing to put that money away in order to let it grow without spending it on non-essential goods.
Experts have noted that many are choosing to save because they are expecting to see a drop in their household income. Though the interest rates surrounding mortgages has decreased in recent times, this has not led many households to increase their spending on other goods.
In the final quarter of 2008, Britons alone saved £7.6bn of their incomes in savings accounts. It has also been noted that the proportion of what is saved in accounts across the nation has grown radically, and is at its highest since 2006. In addition, each household is now saving an extra £3 per month compared to what was being saved a year ago. As people borrow less money and reign in their spending, savings accounts are surfacing as a reliable option for people to save the money they might need for later.
What's more, it has been noted that the number of people choosing to save money hasn't risen, but those who do choose to save are putting away more each month. In addition to saving money, household spending also fell by close to 1 per cent, as families continue to cut down on unnecessary costs. Many experts are cheering the move, as it implies that families dealing with debt are beginning to tighten their spending habits in order to pay it off.
How to Survive the Depression
Many people today are asking how to survive the depression. Although, only a recession has been officially declared, some believe a full blown depression is looming and they want to be fully prepared.
The best way to survive the depression is by keeping a hold of your job if at all possible. One of the worst signs of a depression is high and chronic unemployment. Many companies may be considering making redundancies in response to the depression. Try your best not be among those that are axed. A high level of conscientiousness at work is advisable. If you are one of the employees with the highest productivity, your employer will be less inclined to put your name at the top of the layoff list.
During a depression there is usually less money to spend and goods and services become more expensive. You can survive the depression by being much more frugal with your expenditure. Cut down on household bills by making use of low energy alternatives in lighting, for example. You can cook many meals in one go and store in the freezer. Try to make calls only during off peak hours and make the most of free talk time offers. Look after your clothes properly so that less needs to be spent on your wardrobe. You can also try shopping in bulk at the supermarket to make use of cost saving multi-buys.
You can survive the depression without having to forgo on leisure and entertainment. You may just need to make some adjustments in this area of your life. A depression is a good time to spend time together with friends. Instead of going to the cinema, why not all gather around someone's home to watch a DVD? Substitutes to expensive restaurants can be cook-offs at home. Take it in turns to host a meal. You can also use this as a game similar to those on reality TV shows where points are awarded for the best meal.
You can survive the depression by applying equal amounts of careful planning, expenditure reduction and creativity.
Three Opportunities During a Recession
Of course there are opportunities during a recession, including those listed below. In fact, many "lucky people" will prosper in these tough economic times. If you want to be one of them, you have to start to think like them.
To begin with, you might want to turn off the stream of bad news on the television. You get the picture, and there isn't actually that much "usable" information that you can get from these sources. Believe me, you'll hear about any really "big" news anyhow.
Once you have stopped feeding yourself a diet of negativity, start developing new habits and perspectives. See problems as opportunities, for example. See every setback as a valuable lesson (and many of them will be more valuable and less expensive than the ones you got in college). Start choosing to be in the right places at the right times.
With the habits and thinking patterns of a lucky person, you'll find ways to make the coming years some of your best. Here are some examples of the opportunities that are out there in the midst of this recession.
1. Buy Stocks On Sale!
If you have been hesitating for years to invest in stocks, hoping for a "half price" sale, this may be your chance. I won't try to guess where the market is headed next, but it sure has to be better to invest when it is lower than back when it was at record highs.
2. Pay Less For Your Home
If you don't yet own a home, you'll be happy to know that they cost less now. In fact, even if you own one, the drop in prices offers the opportunity to get your property taxes and possibly your insurance lowered. Record low interest rates (this is being written in early 2009) mean you might be able to refinance and pay less each month on your mortgage loan.
Many people are only seeing the negative in the real estate slump. Those who create their own luck look to see how there may be opportunity in these problems. Paying less for a loan, insurance and taxes means paying less for a home - regardless of where the current value may be. Incidentally, you might make back everything you lost in home value if you buy a few rental homes while they are cheap, and interest rates are low.
3. Learn Valuable Lessons
The idea of learning lessons the "hard way" is not too inspiring, but why not? Many people have come back from bankruptcy to become wealthy. Others have lost jobs only to discover what they really want to do with their lives. The hard times come in any case, so why not make them into turning points on the path to a better life?
Money management is extremely important to your financial well being
10 Basic Rules For Money Management
Money management is important to your financial well being. Here are 10 basic rules to help you get your finances into shape.
1. Plan your finances. Plan for your families future, any major purchases you require to make & for the periodic expenses that come up ever so often such as birthdays & holidays.
2. Make long term & short term financial goals. This includes everyone in the relatives. Helping children learn the benefit of setting financial goals will help them in the future. By learning to manage money, your children will be better in their own financial situations.
3. Know your financial situation. You should know what your monthly & periodic expenses are each month. You should know what your monthly income is & keep track of your amount of debt.
5. Trying going without your credit cards & learn to live on your income only. Even try paying over the minimum payment amount on your credit card balances.
4. Develop a budget & stick to it. Do a planning budget & then compare it to your actual budget to see what you have actually spent. Learning to stay within your planning budget will help you develop better financial situations.
6. Save money for a rainy day. Put away some money each month. Literally pay yourself a small amount each month so that you are putting away some money for various things. By trying to put away 5% to 10% of your money each month, you will have a reserve fund that will help with most emergencies. Having a reserve fund of 6 months to 1 years worth of living expenses will help you keep from ever having a complete financial breakdown.
7. Keep up on your bills. By paying your bills on time & in full, you will begin to build a good credit history. good credit becomes such a necessary thing these days & by protecting yourself you will keep your expenses such as interest rates & fees down. This will help your financial situation greatly. If for any reason you are unable to pay a bill on time, contact your creditor & work out an arrangement. Do Credit Repair on any inaccurate information on your Credit Report.
8. Know the difference between your needs & your wants. You must make your needs a priority & get those things on your require list when everything on your needs list has been met. Getting things on your require list is great but without taking care of your needs first, you are generating problems to your financial situation.
9. Control your credit. Don't let your credit control you. If you use your credit wisely, you can make good use of your credit & help your credit score. Your credit payments should never exceed over 20% of your net income. By knowing that figure than you can use your credit wisely to help you purchase things that you can not pay for to begin with. Automobiles & Homes are generally things that you should put into those categories, but you can even use it for recreational items such as Vacations, hobbies & other activities. never ever use your credit to pay for another credit item. For example, never use six credit card to make a payment on another credit card. you are paying interest one times & just throwing money away.
These suggestions are meant to help you determine where you can generate opportunities for a better financial situation for you & your relatives. By following this advice you will find yourself in a stronger financial situation & teach your children how to better handle their finances.
10. Know your daily expenditures. If you are aware of where your money is going, then you can control where you money goes for the future. A spending diary will help you keep track of that information. one times you know where they money is going better control can be made where necessary. You may not realize that you're spending $20 a day on a sandwich & coffee because you feel that you're spending a couple bucks here & a couple of bucks there. But they add up & seeing the total each day of where your money is being spent will often open up your eyes to where money can be saved.
Money management is important to your financial well being. Here are 10 basic rules to help you get your finances into shape.
1. Plan your finances. Plan for your families future, any major purchases you require to make & for the periodic expenses that come up ever so often such as birthdays & holidays.
2. Make long term & short term financial goals. This includes everyone in the relatives. Helping children learn the benefit of setting financial goals will help them in the future. By learning to manage money, your children will be better in their own financial situations.
3. Know your financial situation. You should know what your monthly & periodic expenses are each month. You should know what your monthly income is & keep track of your amount of debt.
5. Trying going without your credit cards & learn to live on your income only. Even try paying over the minimum payment amount on your credit card balances.
4. Develop a budget & stick to it. Do a planning budget & then compare it to your actual budget to see what you have actually spent. Learning to stay within your planning budget will help you develop better financial situations.
6. Save money for a rainy day. Put away some money each month. Literally pay yourself a small amount each month so that you are putting away some money for various things. By trying to put away 5% to 10% of your money each month, you will have a reserve fund that will help with most emergencies. Having a reserve fund of 6 months to 1 years worth of living expenses will help you keep from ever having a complete financial breakdown.
7. Keep up on your bills. By paying your bills on time & in full, you will begin to build a good credit history. good credit becomes such a necessary thing these days & by protecting yourself you will keep your expenses such as interest rates & fees down. This will help your financial situation greatly. If for any reason you are unable to pay a bill on time, contact your creditor & work out an arrangement. Do Credit Repair on any inaccurate information on your Credit Report.
8. Know the difference between your needs & your wants. You must make your needs a priority & get those things on your require list when everything on your needs list has been met. Getting things on your require list is great but without taking care of your needs first, you are generating problems to your financial situation.
9. Control your credit. Don't let your credit control you. If you use your credit wisely, you can make good use of your credit & help your credit score. Your credit payments should never exceed over 20% of your net income. By knowing that figure than you can use your credit wisely to help you purchase things that you can not pay for to begin with. Automobiles & Homes are generally things that you should put into those categories, but you can even use it for recreational items such as Vacations, hobbies & other activities. never ever use your credit to pay for another credit item. For example, never use six credit card to make a payment on another credit card. you are paying interest one times & just throwing money away.
These suggestions are meant to help you determine where you can generate opportunities for a better financial situation for you & your relatives. By following this advice you will find yourself in a stronger financial situation & teach your children how to better handle their finances.
10. Know your daily expenditures. If you are aware of where your money is going, then you can control where you money goes for the future. A spending diary will help you keep track of that information. one times you know where they money is going better control can be made where necessary. You may not realize that you're spending $20 a day on a sandwich & coffee because you feel that you're spending a couple bucks here & a couple of bucks there. But they add up & seeing the total each day of where your money is being spent will often open up your eyes to where money can be saved.
Dont Mistake on your Financial Planning
When it comes to our personal life plus money, they all have make mistakes. &, surely there are more mistakes to be made. But here are some mistakes that you must become aware of plus begin avoiding if you're to generate the tomorrow you need.
A life without purpose is a languid, drifting thing; every day they ought to review our purpose, saying to ourselves: This day let me make a sound beginning, for what they have hitherto done is naught! - Thomas A. Kempis
Then look at all your insurance needs, life, health, disability, home plus auto plus make sure you've the protection you require. plus if you've query, be sure to get a profession who understands insurance plus can answer you questions.
Procrastinating. It's so much easier not to deal with serious issues like death plus retirement. Unfortunately, they're a part of life. So start today thinking about how your death will affect those you love plus if the effect is not what you wish then change it to what you'd like. Look of how you will be affected by your retirement plus if you don't like the result change them!
Spending more than you earn. If you require to be Stress Free plus enjoy your life, you've to spend less than you earn. If you continue to live above your means, you'll always be in debt plus you'll always be stressed about the fact that you're in debt. Debt make us all slaves so don't let that be you. So set up a budget plus begin sticking to it.
Not saving . they hear it all the time, Bahamian do not save plus most of us have less than $1,000.00 in our bank. That's not going to get us too far, since for retirement most of us will require anywhere from 85 to 100 percent of the annual income they were earning on the last day they worked. So start saving a portion of every paycheck you get. The worst thing that can happen is, you'll end up with too much money at a time in your life when you'll have the time to enjoy it.
Overusing your credit cards. If you can afford to pay off your credit card in full at the end of the month, no matter how much you charge, then use that card as much as you like. Unfortunately, most of us can't afford to do that. plus so, month after month, they continue to pay the maximum payment plus so doing outrageous sums of interest. If you're in debt up to your ears (other than mortgage debt), you'll seldom get ahead financially. So pay off all your debt as quickly as possible.
Looking for the big kill by buying "numbers". Yes, it's possible you can win plus collect more than money to live in style. But if I were you I wouldn't count on it. Look at how lots of persons around you that you know have been playing "numbers" for most of their lives plus still haven gotten that big pay day. The only persons winning are the owners of the number houses. If they had only saved plus invest their money, I am sure that their returns now would far outweigh their winnings. So keep your money for you!
So look at yourself today plus begin to understand those things that have created your current circumstance plus decide to change your tomorrow by not making the same mistakes. Remembering that "Regret for the things they did can be tempered by time; it is regret for the things they did not do that is inconsolable."
Don't chase "hot" investments You should not count on picking a winning stock plus put all your eggs in that basket. Look at what has happened with the performance of a number of sure winners. Remember that stock prices will rise plus fall plus that you should be investing for the long-term. What you require to do is find undeveloped land plus and invest in them after you've thoroughly done your home work. While past performance is no guarantee, when it come to land there is not query because land has continue to return better than 25%.
A life without purpose is a languid, drifting thing; every day they ought to review our purpose, saying to ourselves: This day let me make a sound beginning, for what they have hitherto done is naught! - Thomas A. Kempis
Then look at all your insurance needs, life, health, disability, home plus auto plus make sure you've the protection you require. plus if you've query, be sure to get a profession who understands insurance plus can answer you questions.
Procrastinating. It's so much easier not to deal with serious issues like death plus retirement. Unfortunately, they're a part of life. So start today thinking about how your death will affect those you love plus if the effect is not what you wish then change it to what you'd like. Look of how you will be affected by your retirement plus if you don't like the result change them!
Spending more than you earn. If you require to be Stress Free plus enjoy your life, you've to spend less than you earn. If you continue to live above your means, you'll always be in debt plus you'll always be stressed about the fact that you're in debt. Debt make us all slaves so don't let that be you. So set up a budget plus begin sticking to it.
Not saving . they hear it all the time, Bahamian do not save plus most of us have less than $1,000.00 in our bank. That's not going to get us too far, since for retirement most of us will require anywhere from 85 to 100 percent of the annual income they were earning on the last day they worked. So start saving a portion of every paycheck you get. The worst thing that can happen is, you'll end up with too much money at a time in your life when you'll have the time to enjoy it.
Overusing your credit cards. If you can afford to pay off your credit card in full at the end of the month, no matter how much you charge, then use that card as much as you like. Unfortunately, most of us can't afford to do that. plus so, month after month, they continue to pay the maximum payment plus so doing outrageous sums of interest. If you're in debt up to your ears (other than mortgage debt), you'll seldom get ahead financially. So pay off all your debt as quickly as possible.
Looking for the big kill by buying "numbers". Yes, it's possible you can win plus collect more than money to live in style. But if I were you I wouldn't count on it. Look at how lots of persons around you that you know have been playing "numbers" for most of their lives plus still haven gotten that big pay day. The only persons winning are the owners of the number houses. If they had only saved plus invest their money, I am sure that their returns now would far outweigh their winnings. So keep your money for you!
So look at yourself today plus begin to understand those things that have created your current circumstance plus decide to change your tomorrow by not making the same mistakes. Remembering that "Regret for the things they did can be tempered by time; it is regret for the things they did not do that is inconsolable."
Don't chase "hot" investments You should not count on picking a winning stock plus put all your eggs in that basket. Look at what has happened with the performance of a number of sure winners. Remember that stock prices will rise plus fall plus that you should be investing for the long-term. What you require to do is find undeveloped land plus and invest in them after you've thoroughly done your home work. While past performance is no guarantee, when it come to land there is not query because land has continue to return better than 25%.
Do Not Allow Your College Plan to Blow Up Your Estate Plan
Have you ever considered the interrelationship between different types of planning? There is a direct relationship. One aspect of planning affects the other. Here are some examples:
Estate Planning vs. Financial Planning. With estate planning you plan your estate for the benefit of your heirs. But, if your financial plan goes awry (more debt, less income, and/or less savings) it could easily affect your strategy. For example, if your estate plan includes charitable giving as a part of your strategy (if you have a charitable remainder trust, as an example) a decrease in the amount of your available assets could affect the amount you can practically give. In other words, with the recent market turmoil, you might now be "giving beyond your means."
Also, if your financial and investment plan is hugely successful, you may have estate or inheritance tax issues which you might not otherwise have.
College Planning vs. Retirement Planning. As Deborah Fox recently wrote in the January 2009 issue of Financial Planning magazine, "college planning is retirement planning." Every cent plus future never-realized appreciation which you spend on college is taken away from retirement. Thus, if you sink $100,000 into college for your children the future value of that amount in 25 years, even at a modest 4% rate of return, would be well over $260,000. Of course this is highly simplistic, because college funds do not (poof!) appear out of the air, but are saved over a substantial period of time. That means that there is a potential for even more never-realized income.
So, what do you do? Here are just a few suggestions:
- Get a financial planner. Many don't do this, but consider getting professional assistance.
- Get an estate planner. So many people decide to "save a buck" and do their own estate planning. Often this is with less than desirable results. It's hard to integrate your strategies when there is no strategy.
- Integrate saving and borrowing into your college planning. I will admit: There are many disputes on this score between planners on this issue. Many planners find borrowing an anathema, while others embrace it. Consider this, however: Your children (or, potential children) have a much greater number of earnings years than you do as parents.
Also, consider this analogy: the logic behind a city borrowing to pay for a public improvement is that the resurfaced street, for instance, is to be used for many years by many taxpayers and motorists. It would not be fair to saddle the present taxpayer with all of the cost, but to spread it out over time. The same could be said for college borrowing.
I suggest postponing borrowing as long as possible by using savings, but recognize that careful borrowing (especially through the federal student loan program) is a perfectly appropriate way to go.
These are just a few suggestions. However, the first step in moving forward is...taking the first step.
Disclaimer: The information in this article is not legal advice, and the use of it does not create an attorney-client relationship. Any liability that might arise from your use or reliance on this article or any links from this article is expressly disclaimed. This article is not to be acted upon as if it were legal advice, and is subject to change without notice, or may include obsolete or dated information, or information not relevant to your jurisdiction. If you require legal services, you should consult with an attorney.
As a a licensed attorney located in the Los Angeles San Gabriel Valley, Larry Stratton is in a position to coach and advise you, and to help you plan for your future. The Law Offices of Larry D. Stratton specializes in estate planning, business formation and appellate practice. Larry Stratton also blogs on estate and financial planning issues at Planner's Thoughts.
Larry Stratton is a graduate of Whittier College School of Law, which is a member school of the ABA and the AALS. He has represented numerous clients in the California Court of Appeal, and is admitted to practice in all California courts, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeal, and also the United States Supreme Court. From 1983 to 1984, he was a member of the Whittier Law Review.
Larry Stratton is also a Registered Investment Advisor, and currently speaks on estate and financial planning topics in Southern California.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Larry_Stratton
I Found Banks Without Chexsystems! Advice From a Chexsystems Victim
Finding banks without Chexsystems was NOT an easy journey for me, and in fact it was quite the opposite of that. I was put into to Chexsystems about 2 years ago and little did I know that it would be such a tough road to find another FDIC insured bank that would accept me for a free checking account and give me all the usual benefits like online banking, debit card, checks etc...
What I did find very easily however were plenty of people out there who decided that they were going to make a quick buck off of me...and in some cases...a lot of quick cash off of me. In short I was scammed out of about $320 just from two list providers, and I was put into some VERY embarrassing situations when I took the word of some free list providers and went into a couple of banks on their list to open up a checking account.
Since the entire reason behind why I started my guide for Chexsystems victims in the first place is all based around making sure that you don't have to go through what I went through during my 2 years without a checking account, I want to give you some free tips right here and right now that should keep you out of trouble, your hard earned money safe, and out of a very embarrassing situation at a bank.
Things to look out for when trying to find banks without Chexsystems...
1. Always ask to see proof of some ones claims! - What I mean by this is that many websites and many people out there claim to know the exact troubles that you are going through right now. They also claim that despite their troubles that they were able to find great free checking or second chance checking accounts in their area. If they were able to find banks without Chexsystems...then surely they could cough up some sort of proof of their accomplishments right?
2. Free list sites are sometimes the most horrible way of looking for a new non Chexsystems account. Why do I say this? It's not because I sell my guide, but because I know for a fact that their lists are not only out dated...but so inaccurate that it's not even funny. Notice all those ads on their site? How about those banners to all those online banks? They're looking to get paid on their ad clicks or affiliate programs, and have no interest in actually helping you...simple as that.
3. Don't overpay for a paid list. So many people out there are selling ripped off lists that they just stole from the crappy list sites to begin with, and what's worse is that they're charging out of this world prices for them! I kid you not...5 minutes before I sat down to write this article for you guys, I just came across a brand new site trying to sell a list of banks without Chexsystems with only a couple banks for $99.95! Are you serious? I say get lost!
My fellow Chexsystems victims...please...please...take these tips seriously. They'll keep you out of trouble, your head above water, and will make your search for banks without Chexsystems much quicker, cheaper, and easier. :)
Please don't let Chexsystems or Telecheck get in the way of living a normal and happy life. It doesn't have to be that way; there are many banks that offer checking and or savings accounts regardless of your situation in these systems. I'm still in Chexsystems and have two checking and savings accounts with the works at real FDIC insured banks. Let me help you out of this situation that I was once in too and help you find banks without Chexsystems in your area. http://www.getnonchexsystemschecking.com/
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ilya_Feynberg
Banks Without Chex Systems - They CAN Be Found in Your Area! - Advice From a Chex Victim
According to Wikipedia, some 80 percent of the banks here in the United States do indeed use Chex Systems...not the most pleasant statistic to hear if you're still stuck in Chex Systems like myself and millions of other Americans. But there's something that isn't being closely looked at within that statement....
20% of banks in the states are still banks without Chex Systems!
And that's HUGE!!!
A lot of people out there that are just trying to push their affiliate program or online banking scam will try and tell you otherwise. They'll try and scare you in to thinking that your chances of getting a real checking account with a real FDIC insured bank in your local area is basically impossible. What a huge freakin load of lies!!
I've been stuck in Chex Systems now for about 2 years, and yet I still have two checking accounts with banks just down the street from me that are real and FDIC insured. Did I also mention that my accounts are totally free checking accounts and I have debit cards, checks, online banking...the works?
How can that be? Because thankfully we live in a free market which allows banks and credit unions to choose which systems they want to use, and how they want to conduct their business. This is an important little tidbit here, because this opens up a massive opportunity for you to get a checking account with banks without Chex Systems.
Now that you understand that it's time to actually find those banks, and that's where things get tricky and VERY time consuming to say the least. Do they exist in you area? Of course they do! But you have to know how to find them and where to find them. It's because of that, that the research to find banks that don't use Chex Systems takes so long, and so much effort. Banks also don't like telling you this information right up front, so it sometimes takes a little bit of asking.
So to wrap it up here...can you really indeed find banks without Chex Systems? You bet ya! And I'm proof of that!
Please don't let Chex Systems or Telecheck get in the way of living a normal and happy life. It doesn't have to be that way; there are many banks that offer checking and or savings accounts regardless of your situation in these systems. I'm still in Chex Systems and have two checking and savings accounts with the works at real FDIC insured banks. Let me help you out of this situation that I was once in too and help you find banks without Chex Systems in your area! http://www.getnonchexsystemschecking.com/
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ilya_Feynberg
Children's Savings Accounts
Although the world has moved on since the days of the old-fashioned piggy-bank, it seems that it is harder than ever to encourage children to save on a regular basis or even to get across the message that saving is a sensible thing to do. As the child grows up, hands-on experience of running their own finances will have proved a very valuable lesson and taught them that one of the ways of keeping up with ever-increasing costs is to maintain a healthy savings account.
Fortunately, there are now very many alternatives to the simple piggy-bank, which teach young children not only the discipline of saving, but the rewards that careful management of their money can bring. There are savings accounts specifically designed with children in mind, yet which echo and reflect the principal kinds of account to be found in the adult world. In other words, there are easy or instant access accounts, notice accounts, and fixed term accounts or bonds.
Perhaps not surprisingly, the most popular and common type of account for children is the easy access account, where money saved can nevertheless be instantly available for withdrawal, without attracting any penalty. As with adult savers' accounts, a higher rate of interest will be available on accounts that require a given period of notice before making a withdrawal, unless some form of penalty is incurred. The third main type of account - the fixed term or bond account - generally offers the highest rate of interest, but the money invested has to be left in the account for an agreed number of years in order to achieve the maximum gains. The agreed term of such savings bonds could be anything from one to five years, or will sometimes run the whole period until the child has reached a certain age.
No minimum age
There is no minimum age for opening a children's savings account - indeed, it has not been unknown for enterprising branches of banks and building societies to scan the births columns of the local press and send congratulatory messages to the proud new parents - together for an application form for opening a savings account for the new arrival. Reasonably enough, most account providers will expect a parent or guardian to open and operate the account until the child has reached the age of around seven-eleven years of age. Most children's savings accounts will stay open until the child reaches the age of 18, when unless anything otherwise is agreed, the account will be converted to an ordinary adult savings account.
Most banks and building societies recognise the importance of teaching children to save regularly and, as an incentive, will often offer a gift, posters, vouchers or "savers' club" membership. Whilst the gift might be useful in encouraging the child to save, it is clearly more important to take a dispassionate look at the savings account on offer and consider what rate of interest is being offered on your child's savings.
So, when choosing an account for your child, remember:
- it is important to start children off on the right path to savings when they are young
- with over 150 children's savings accounts to choose from, there's no shortage of options
- when choosing between, instant access, notice and fixed term bonds, the critical deciding factor will be whether easy access to the savings needs to be maintained
- "free" gifts or vouchers from the bank or building society will be appreciated by the child, but make sure that the savings account offers a rate of interest that is all it is cracked up to be.
Examine your savings at http://www.confused.com/savings Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=David_John_Martin |
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