Finance Roll

If you haven't already heard, Google rolled out their own Finance site today to rival that of Yahoo's and Marketwatch.

After spending a few minutes using the site, I have to say that I am very unimpressed. The design of the site is far inferior to that of Yahoo's or Marketwatch, with a clunky layout that makes finding what you are looking for rather difficult. They display a few financial stats, but not any wheres near what the others offer their users. The portfolio tools are very rudimentary and outdated feeling, and their charts are nothing special. The whole site just feels rushed in my opinion.

One feature that I do like is the inclusion of real-time quotes, something that the others don't offer. Also, they display links to blog posts on the respective companies. Unfortunately, it doesn't display links tovery many blogs, none of my posts on specific companies are indexed nor are those of many of my peers. The majority of the links are to the Seeking Alpha Network, to which I am a contributor, but these are merely repubishings of other's works. If Google can figure out a way to include a more extensive list of blog submissions, it would be a nice touch, but unfortunately I don't forsee them devoting the necessary time to accomplish this.

I will give Google the benefit of the doubt here, as the site is only in beta, but Google Finance is nothing to write home about. Reminiscient of many of their most recent offerings, such as Google SiteCreator and Google Video, the site appears to be lacking the innovation and quality that used to set Google apart, a disturbing trend if you are a Google shareholder. Unless they are able to make some extreme improvements, I don't see many Yahoo Finance users or Marketwatch users converting. Not only is Google late to the party, but they left the gifts at home as well, nothing fashionable about their entrance here.

With its dark cherry red color and stunningly beautiful design, certainly this 2009 Hyundai Sonata South Carolina will find a new owner soon. Will it be you? If you look at its engine design, accessories, and features you will certainly agree that it is a best buy.

The 2009 Sonata got lots of upgrades from its 2008 predecessor including exterior and interior updates, with new headlights, taillights, bumper fascias, body-side moldings and alloy wheels. Inside, drivers get an updated center console, a new instrument panel, and an upgraded audio system with USB auxiliary inputs and an available GPS navigation system with a high-resolution display and touch-screen interface.

Check out the engine configuration: it is 2.4 liter engine with a torque of 168 lb at 4000 RPM. The engine has I-4 cylinder with variable valve control and 16 valves with 175 hp at 6000 RPM. It comes with an automatic five-speed transmission. This front-wheel drive car has fuel capacity of 17.7 gallons and gets 22 MPG in the city.

The car is fitted with 16" wheels and 215/60VR R16.0 tires. Both the rear and front wheels have anti roll bar with independent suspension. Power steering, powerful four-wheel ABS disc brakes, and a tilt steering wheel are featured. The Sonata offers a smooth ride whether driving in rainy conditions, cruising in hilly terrain and driving a highway.

Sonata offers maximum comfort for the occupants including an efficient air conditioning system, six speakers playing your choice of music from the MP3 decoder, CD player or AM/FM radio. To make your journey more comfortable, the front seats are bucket seats with armrest. The back seat has a split folding design for extra hauling capacity and a fold-down armrest for passenger comfort. Door bins, illuminated entry, front reading lights, vanity mirrors, and beverage holders are other features of this car.

Safety features include power windows, remote keyless entry, panic alarm system, ignition disable, speed control mechanism, front, side, and overhead airbags ensure that the passengers have maximum safety. For safe night driving there are powerful headlamps.

Additional features include an attractive meter panel with tire pressure warning system, tachometer, intermittent wipers, and rear window defroster.

Power steering, powerful four-wheel ABS disc brakes, and a tilt steering wheel are featured. The Sonata offers a smooth ride whether driving in rainy conditions, cruising in hilly terrain and driving a highway.

The back seat has a split folding design for extra hauling capacity and a fold-down armrest for passenger comfort. Door bins, illuminated entry, front reading lights, vanity mirrors, and beverage holders are other features of this car.

It is now possible to obtain unsecured funding for company payroll, PAYE and NI. The specialist lender who provides this service gives 60 day rolling credit on your gross monthly payroll, with a provision to allow for growth.

It is a well know fact that lack of cash flow plays a significant part in holding back the growth of small and medium sized businesses. Its not that you don't have a steady and reliable income. It's just some customer's don't play as promptly as they should and of course, the one payment that has to be made each week or month is the payroll.

The key benefits of Payroll Financing for your business:

No security required by company directors

The funding appears as a normal trade creditor on a company's P&L, enhancing its credit rating

It can be used alongside other traditional financial solutions including factoring, invoice discounting and overdrafts

It does not impact on an organisation's secured funding arrangements

There's no set up fee

A flat rate on-going monthly facility fee

An interest rate of base plus 3% on the outstanding balance

If you can answer yes to the following questions, then you will probably qualify for Payroll Finance Funding: 1.Do you have a trading history of 1 or more years? 2.Is your annual turnover more than £100,000? 3. Do you have more than 5 employees?

Clients who have already gained assistance of payroll financing:

A large printing firm have been accepted as clients within 4 days from the application. They were offered a credit facility of £200,000 per month on 60 days revolving credit, base plus 3% on the outstanding balance and a monthly facility fee of £2,500.

A plastics manufacturing who applied for a facility of £50,000 per month. They were accepted on 60 day credit terms, base plus 3% interest charge on the outstanding balance and a monthly facility fee of £635.

A firm of architects looking for funding of £30,000 per month. They were processed within 3 days and accepted on 60 day terms, base plus 3% interest on the outstanding balance and a monthly facility fee of £400 per month.

If you are planning to make a unique presentation of your project during a Science fair in school, do it in a way that can attract people. You can put the facts of your project on a banner or tarpaulin to be displayed to the public rather than just printing it on paper and putting the compilation on the table. People are more attracted on unique presentation. Use a roll up stand to display the banner for everyone to see.

A roll up stand is easy to use when displaying a banner that will not be posted or hung in the wall. It is because there are not many materials needed on a banner stand display and there is no need to climb on something just to set it up. When one buys the stand, it usually comes in a kit that includes the rest of materials that are needed during set-up. There are advantages when one will use a banner stand in display booth rental or when advertising something.

The stand can be carried anywhere because of its portability and light weight. It is foldable so it can be stored anywhere without taking up much space. Users will not be hassled in bringing it because it is not heavy.

Another benefit when using the stand is it doesn't take up much space. It is created to fit in any size of space and it will depend on what angle it is placed. During trade shows where the spaces between booths are small, the banner with its stand can fit in.

One more advantage with using the portable stand is it is available in many sizes. Tall or small stands are sold in the market to suit the needs of consumers. Small stands are good for use when one needs to display the banner on tabletop so it will be visible. There are also various colors of stand available so that one can choose which color fits the display motif.

There are many stores that sell the stands and to be able to easily find one, check the bookstores or print shops. They sell many stands in various color, sizes and brand. It is important that one must carefully check the brand because there are other cheaper brands that do not make durable and quality stands.

When one canvasses well in the market he or she can get a durable stand. There are so many brands out in the market but only few are reliable. To find a good brand, one must check on the company's feedback or ask around from people who have a purchased a stand on a specific brand. It is important to get a sturdy stand so it will not be damage easily when used.

When you want to get more people to check on your project always try to be unique. Don't stick to the conventional method of printing the project in paper and putting it on the table while waiting for some audience to pick it up. Rather, try something new like printing it on a banner or tarpaulin and hang it in the portable stand. That way, you are sure to attract more people with your unique style of presentation.

In buying a roll up stand, always consider the importance of canvassing. You do not only get durable and sturdy stand but you also get to have the one with a reasonable price. Start giving the head-turning project presentation without spending too much in putting it up.

You're having the usual fight - you know, the one where he bought something you consider totally unnecessary with the money you were saving to buy something truly necessary, thank you very much:

"But a new car rack is necessary!" he exclaims, "Where are we supposed to put all the gear when we go camping with the kids and your aunt and uncle next month?" "Oh, sure," you say, "something we're going to use one time! Is worth throwing away the money I was saving for a new garbage disposal, which we use every day. And besides you like my relatives."

You cross your arms firmly over your chest, ready for the onslaught. Here it comes: "Oh, for crying out loud," he says, "It's not that big a deal." "Not for you," your voice rising, "You're not the one having to cope with scrapings and leftovers every day." "I'm the one who rolls out the garbage!" he slings back. "Once a week!" you cry. You barely manage to yell out "You never think of me, it's all about you, you're so selfish!" before you burst out of the room and into tears.

Eventually, you'll make up--there's just too much else going on to keep fighting--what with work and kids and chores and all the rest. And let's face it, you do love each other, it's not that, but you really wish you'd stop have the same old fight!

Start by turning towards each other instead of away from each other. In other words, look at each other as partners, work together towards a common goal. Let the problem be something you attempt to solve together, rather than reasons to beat each other up verbally in the name of "I'm right, you're wrong."

1. Plan ahead

Business have to have long, medium and short term goals. So should you.
For example, at the beginning of each year, sit down together and create a "wish-list" of what you'd like to accomplish financially that year, what you see as those things you'd both like to buy or repair or expand. Talk about it, discuss your thoughts and feelings around each item and come to mutually agreed-upon decisions. Then, plan roughly how your "wish-list" might break down, month to month, in realistic, manageable, practical goals. Be sure to factor in some money for savings so you're equipped for the unexpected (at least to some degree) and won't have to forsake your "wish-list" in the name of emergencies.

2. Set yourselves up for success

At the beginning of each month, take a hour or so to review last month's goals. See how you did. Congratulate yourselves for your successes and look forward to the next month's goals. Are they still realistic? Are they still something you want? Did something new come up that now needs to be incorporated into your monthly goals? Make adjustments as necessary, always discussing things until you arrive at mutually agreed-upon decisions.

3. Follow through

A plan isn't worth anything unless you stick to it. Your initial planning sessions and your once-a-month reviews will involve some time and effort, but it's far less than the time and energy you presently spend fighting and being upset with each other - not to mention the emotional toil of your arguments.

Of course, there will be times when one or the other of you make a purchase that's outside of the plan. Rather than attack your mate, take a moment to settle yourself, then say "OK, let's see how that changes the plan," and together figure out how to work it out. Resist blaming the other. Treat your disagreement as a practical matter to be sorted out between two people who care deeply about each other, not an excuse to dredge up past hurts, grievances or perennial sore spots.

The more you deal with the business side of your relationship in business like fashion, the more time and desire you'll have to deal with the romance, companionship and fun parts.

Introduction:

The ultimate goal of any business is to be profitable at all times and earn money; it is money that helps a business to grow and expand. In order to be successful, an organization needs to able to manage money in a sophisticated manner and so all organizations have a finance department that takes care of different monetary transactions.

The financial department in any company consists of various sub-departments or teams to take care of many functions, apart from buying and selling of products, thus business finance is the broad term that describes all functionalities of the finance department of a commercial enterprise.

The two main functions of business finance:

Investments: Functions include finding investment options for the company such as, creating new products, asset acquisition, increasing local purchase of securities or shares, etc. Also the decisions of investing in mergers and acquisitions for the expansion of the company have to be scrutinized by this department before the Board of Directors can finalize them.

Financing: This team deals with seeking funds for the company from various sources like banks, financial institutions, investors, share holders, capital market etc. and then assessing the funds so that the company can get borrowed capital at the lowest interest rates possible and with minimum liabilities.

Additional Functions:

Accounting: This team keeps a track of all monetary transactions in the form of accounts so that the expenditures of an organization can be tracked, to calculate the net profit at the end of the year. Keeping a track of the expenses helps the company to set the prices of all the products and the services offered, in a way that the net expenditure should be less than net income.

Payroll: They handle the salary payments of the all the employees of an organization; functions like calculating yearly bonuses, salary increase and also rolling out pay structure for new joiners are accomplished by them; this is done by working in coordination with the recruitment team.

Billing: This sub-department takes care of the billing process and prepares an itemized bill, which is sent to the clients at the end of the month, for the purpose of payment. It is of enormous importance in the service industry where an error in the bill can strain commercial relations with clients.

Thus, effective management of business finance is necessary for the smooth functioning of an organization and this can only be achieved by having a well-defined goal for the finance team.

Some time ago I attended a seminar where participants were told to burn some money; a reasonably-sized amount of money. You should have heard the gnawing and gnashing of teeth in that room! Step right up, folks, and light it on fire. Come on now. It's only money.

Some people, likely less adept at saving than others, actually rushed forward in an attempt to show how money had no hold over them. There was a principle in there somewhere. Not sure what it was.

Others cowered into the corner, refused to take out their wallets, looking for the exits. It does seem reasonable to me to avoid torching cash. After all, you've worked hard for it. Put in years worth of work and put off many luxuries to accumulate what nest egg you have. Burning it would somehow seem to indicate a crack in the psyche.

But what if I told you that many people are geared right up to burn tens of thousands of dollars? Oh, they're not going to march forward to the front of some hotel ballroom and pull out stacks of cash from a briefcase and toss them all onto a controlled, indoor bonfire. Nope. That's dramatic. Their method is much harder to picture, but let's try and create a vivid picture nonetheless.

Imagine a retired widow or widower. Or, perhaps, a senior single person. A person who is finished working, and has been enjoying the fruits of their savings. They have accumulated several hundred thousand dollars in their RRSP, which has since been transferred to a RRIF. They receive income from this RRIF. Let's say it has $400,000 in it.

Like most of us, this person does not want to think about their own demise. Their focus is on their grandchildren, perhaps. Hobbies. The garden. Other things. They are, of course, surprised when they die, and even more surprised when they get a box of popcorn and a front row seat for the posthumous show called 'distribution of your assets'.

Let's go straight to the grand finale, shall we? In this last part of the show, the contents of the person's RRIF are put in an over-sized briefcase, sawed in half, and one half is tossed onto the gigantic bonfire known now as the Canada Revenue Agency. Let me explain...

The proceeds of an RRSP or RRIF can roll, tax-free, to a surviving spouse without any tax consequences. In our example, however, there is no spouse to roll the proceeds to. As a result, the full amount of the RRSP or RRIF comes into income in the year of death. What happens when you get a sudden influx of cash? Say, $400,000 worth of cash? Well, first of all it will put you in the very highest tax bracket. Second, you're taxed. (Hence the idea of just sawing that over-sized briefcase in half and tossing one half on the bonfire.)

Not convinced. Okay, forget the bonfire idea. Instead, half of the briefcase contents, $200,000 in our example, are put into a box, tied up with a nice red ribbon and hand delivered to ... the Prime Minister. Like that better? Hmm.

Well, at least now you know what happens when you die. There's a big fire. There's gnawing and gnashing of teeth. People rushing for exits. And a few, good people, are sitting there calmly because they planned ahead, or had already gone through all of this at some weekend seminar.

Strategies do exist to avoid the erosion (torching) of your assets when you die. Talk to your financial advisor.

So, you've finally decided to put that faith in yourself and you're starting your own business. Perhaps you've got an idea that you've wanted to make into a reality for years, or perhaps you have just stumbled upon an opportunity you truly believe in. either way, the time has come to put your money where your mouth is, but the problem is that you don;t exactly have the money...yet. Applying for a business loan is the most common method of getting financing for your dreams, but though it is tempting to go for one of the many instant cash loans available you need to do your research, educate yourself about what's out there and most importantly, manage to get the right loan product for your needs! Here are a few tips to help you out along the way...

Have a Detailed Business Plan

Like any investment (which is what a bank will be making if they agree to give you a loan), the more information you can provide about it, the safer they will feel putting their faith and their money in you. A bank wants proof that you are able to turn a profit from the business you're proposing, or at the very least make enough money to cover the repayments you'll owe them. The best thing to do is to put together a detailed outline of the way you plan to roll out your business and the steps that you're going to take to achieve your goals. This is a valuable thing to have in any business whether or not financing is involved, because it is a way to stay on track with your objectives and to predict problems, challenges or opportunities that could arise before they do.

Collateral

Ideally you will be able to offset the loan against assets that you already own. Your house, (or the equity therein), your car and any other cash or assets that you have will be taken into consideration. It's crucial that you weigh up your options and consider what you stand to lose should the business fail as well as its long term prospects so that you make wise decisions rather than decisions based on your immediate desire to bring in money.

History

A lot of business loan products will require you to have been in business for some time already. This is why many people feel they have no option other than to go with the easiest fast loan they can get their hands on, because it can seem otherwise impossible to get a foot in the door. The important thing to remember is that anything you borrow will have to be paid back and that you'll have to do so under the conditions of the loan which may or may not be achievable. Always try to remain calm and objective about the decisions you make in this area--the heat of the moment dies off very quickly when the repayments start rolling around, and you don't want to be stuck with a debt you can;t pay back. Always do your research and have a plan---and then a plan B!

Nowadays, it's very expensive to be an American citizen. Prices have been escalating in different ways, such as in heating and gasoline, making everyday living much more expensive than it used to be. In order to go with the flow, it pays to be resourceful and frugal. By cutting back in one section of your budget, you will hopefully have more money to apply to another, to balance your finances. Here are a few ways that can help to cut back on costs.

Buy everyday items you use in bulk

For example, don't buy the measly, little four-pack of toilet paper at the grocery store. Buy the biggest package you can find, which gives you the most paper for the money. Consider both overall price and how much paper is on each roll. Look to see if you can get double or triple rolls in large sized packs for a good price. I buy my paper goods by the case through Amazon.com, and it saves me a lot of money. This works well with paper towels, too. the pick-a-size paper towels bought in bulk last a lot longer than the regular-sized paper towel sheets.

Stocking up on inexpensive but healthy food

Cut out most frozen foods, for example. Frozen TV dinners are quick to eat your budget so avoid them. Some frozen foods make sense, like buying frozen bread dough. It is cheaper to buy three or four unbaked loaves together, than to buy one loaf of bread in the bread section. Forego the fancy styles of bread until finances improve. You can dress up frozen bread dough by rolling it out, brushing it with butter and spreading cinnamon-sugar. Just roll it back up and bake. Voila, you have cinnamon bread. Throw in raisins or pecans for variety.

Buy less convenience foods, and more staples like dry beans, rice, fresh fruits and vegetables, meat, milk and butter (store brand.) For meat, freeze each piece separately, vacuum-sealed to keep the freshness in. Buy food in bulk whenever possible. Forego the nicely packaged pre-made honey butter, mashed potatoes, or other prepared foods. I love convenience like the next guy, but not when these foods aren't hard to make. Mashed potatoes are a good, healthy side dish, and are simple to make. Get a bag of potatoes and make your own, or a baked potato. Fresh and not as pricey as that small dish of the same thing, for a lot more cash. If you love yogurt, buy yogurt starter mix and make your own. King Arthur flour company is one online website where you can buy it.

Eat out less

When times are good, I eat or order out nearly every day. If my finances tighten up, going to restaurants or coffeehouses is the first thing I forego. Prying myself away from Starbucks was the hardest. Just figure how much going there every morning for a Caramel Frappucino costs, every week, of every month? By the end of the year it is a good chunk of money. Go once a week instead, buy the Starbucks brand coffee at the grocery store and brew your own during the rest of the week. You can buy a whole bottle of those fancy syrups (for those who cannot live without flavored lattes) from Starbucks for less than $10. One bottle of syrup lasts awhile. It is a lot more economical than having someone else make your drink for you. It's not exactly the same thing, but in a pinch, it will at least allow you a little splurge without feeling guilty.

If you must eat restaurant food, get the whole meal as a take-out. That saves you from buying pricey mixed drinks, paying gratuities, and buying that fancy dessert you couldn't live without but didn't need. Get the main meal and enjoy it at home. Ok, it's not as fun as eating at the restaurant, but you won't be deprived of that Blooming Onion you were craving, and think of the money you save overall.

Forget fast food completely

Fast food is a nationwide obsession. It's convenient, tastes good and you don't even have to leave your car to get it. Whatever. Get out of this habit, to curb money wasting. You can buy a big bag of frozen hash browns, a jumbo box of pancake mix and a large bottle of syrup for a lot less money every week. If you don't have time in the morning, make it the night before, then throw the meal in the microwave before going to work.

Think of less expensive recreational activities

Instead of going to the movie theater, buying popcorn and expensive tickets in prime time, take in an earlier (and cheaper) matinee. Or, better yet, wait and see the same movie on pay-per-view if you have cable. For those without cable, rent it at Blockbuster later. Maybe the movie won't be "new" when you see it, but you will save a bunch of money.

Call the museum or zoo and see if there's any price discounts for certain days of the week

In my hometown, the zoo had free admission every Monday. If taking a family of five is out of the budget during the weekend, wait until the free day and really enjoy yourself. Avoid the gift shop, because those always attractive items that draw you in and drain your wallet. The art or natural history museums are good places to go, too. Just call first, to see what kind of price cuts you can find.

Cut clothing costs

If you need to buy clothes, avoid any that need to be dry cleaned only. During tough times, shy away from outfits that have special care needs. Go for anything that can be thrown in the washer and dryer. Dry cleaning adds up quickly. If you own items that require it, wear them later when the budget improves, or only on special occaisions.

Use the car less

This is obvious but worth mentioning. Combine trips, so you aren't wasting gas. Avoid long road trips, especially if you have a gas guzzler. If your car don't require high-octane gas, forget about it. Regular works fine. If you live in the city, don't have far to go and taxis are plentiful, use them instead of your car. Where I live, it's cheaper to hire a taxi to drive me around locally, than to use my own car. To save even more money, use public transportation.

These ideas will get you started in thinking of alternatives to your regular money-spending ways. Even if you are saving only a few cents here or there, it all adds up at the end of the month. Every little bit helps. I know it isn't easy, but the goal is to get through a hard financial time. It doesn't have to be this way forever, just momentarily. We're all in this financial crunch together. The lucky ones aren't affected, but the rest of us are. Do your part to help yourself and your family. Hang in there, with patience and a little saving, money problems will hopefully pass quickly.

The monsoon season is here in Phoenix. If you've never experienced a monsoon in the desert, I recommend it highly. Over the last few days we've seen the storm clouds roll in and the rain come pouring down. We can get several inches of rain in just a few hours.

I like to sit on the patio and watch these buckets of rain fall.

Of course when I realized my roof had a leak, the monsoon suddenly lost some of its appeal. I of course quickly called a roofer to fix the small leak. This wasn't my first repair on the house. A short while back I had some work done on my kitchen and a bathroom. Of course I called a plumber. These projects were a bit beyond the skill set of a local handyman.

This got me thinking.

There's lots of specialization in the world these days . . . not just with roofers and plumbers but with everything.

You see it in your doctors, with most having some specialty. You see it in the supermarkets. There's 20 different types of olives, 50 different cheeses, and hundreds of types of wine. Your options are endless, and sometimes a little overwhelming.

I've found in the investing world it's even worse.

Decades ago your only real choices were bonds or stocks. Then Wall Street invented thousands of other securities. Investments like mutual funds, REITs, hedge funds, master limited partnerships, and now ETFs are widely available.

ETFs are my favorite selection out there.

When ETF's first hit the market I started incorporating them into my portfolio. ETFs provide a low cost way to invest in a diversified group of companies. They also give you real time pricing and trade intraday. Many of them also trade options. Some ETF's even let you short the markets.

I'm amazed at how crowded the ETF world is becoming.

The first ETFs were based on broad market indexes like the S&P 500 and the Russell 3000. Now you can buy ETFs that are focused on narrow sub-industries like medical companies working to cure certain diseases. And the expansion continues. Recently one of the big ETF companies started rolling out ETFs mirroring commodities like oil, gold, cotton, cocoa, and livestock just to name a few.

The specialization that's available is amazing. With such a wide variety of ETFS, you can optimize your investment portfolio any way you like.

The more specific the better.

Being able to break investments down into small sub-categories is great. You can buy the industries that are going up - like oil and gas, and avoid the industries that are falling - like banking and retail.

Solar is one of those hot industries that's benefiting from the recent run up in energy prices. Seven years ago you couldn't give away shares in a solar company. Now with oil quickly approaching $150 a barrel, it's seen as the alternative energy godsend.

There are two new ETFs that invest exclusively in the solar industry. First is the Claymore Solar ETF (TAN). The other is Market Vectors Solar Energy ETF (KWT).

Both focus on companies that generate a significant portion of their revenue from solar sales. With oil making new highs every day you'll see more and more focus on energy infrastructure. These stocks will really benefit from higher oil prices.

But there's a problem.

Neither of these funds holds more than 30 companies, making their investment universe quite small. This also adds to their volatility. It's not uncommon to see some of the solar companies fluctuate by 10% or 20% in a day. This can create some incredible volatility in the ETFs.

Recently we've seen this industry volatility to the downside. Both ETFs are off 15% or more. I think this is a great opportunity to take advantage of. We can use this downtrend to pick up these solar ETFs on the cheap.

Solar has a significant place in the future of our energy infrastructure . . . as an investment it will shine regardless of the weather.

An alternative to a regular savings account is a savings certificate, also known as a certificate of deposit (CD) from a bank, savings and loan, brokerage firm or as a share certificate from a credit union. CD's earn money at a higher rate of interest than savings accounts. By signing up for a CD, you agree to leave money with the savings institution or brokerage firm for a specified period of time. Many factors go into deciding on a certificate of deposit. Below are a few guidelines for finding one.

Minimum Deposit Amount

When comparison shopping for a CD, ask, "What is the minimum deposit amount required?" A typical minimum requirement is relatively affordable and required to earn the institution's disclosed interest rate and annual effective yield. However, some savings institutions may require minimum deposit amounts that are much more expensive.

Length of Maturity

Typical maturities for CDs are seven to 31 days, three, six, 18, 24, 30, 36, and 48 months. Some institutions offer flexible maturities, allowing investors to select a CD length that matures precisely on the day they have a need for the money. Typically, the longer the maturity and the larger the dollar amount placed in the CD, the higher the yield.

How Often Compounded and Credited

Compounding generally means that interest is being accrued on earned interest. Crediting interest to the CD may be done annually, semiannually, quarterly, monthly, or daily. Some institutions indicate that interest compounds every day, but that the interest is not credited until quarterly, at maturity, or even when cashed in. Other institutions do not pay accrued interest if an account is closed before the interest is credited.

Penalty for Early Withdrawal

Institutions often advertise a "substantial penalty for early withdrawal." For example, the disclosure statement from one bank revealed a minimum penalty equal to seven days simple interest on a 3-month certificate while another institution imposed a penalty of one month's interest. On a 24-month certificate of deposit, one institution imposed a penalty of seven days simple interest while another imposed a penalty of three months. If the account does not earn enough interest to cover the penalty, the difference is deducted from the principal of the CD.

Method of Interest Payment

Typically, there are four ways you can receive interest that is earned on a CD.

1) leave interest in the account and add to the certificate balance so that the interest earns interest at the same rate of the CD;

2) have the interest mailed quarterly or monthly in the form of a check;

3) have the interest credited to a checking account (in cases 2 and 3, you are not receiving the benefit of interest compounding on interest); and

4) have the interest credited to a savings account, but the earnings are receiving the lower savings account rate rather than the higher CD rate.

Certificate Maturity

Find out the policy of the financial institution when a certificate matures. Is the money rolled over automatically into a new certificate without changing the interest rate? Such action works to your disadvantage if interest rates have increased. Are funds transferred into a lower-paying regular savings account or a checking account if the money is not rolled over? Are the funds renewed at the latest rate? Does the institution provide notification of an upcoming maturity date? Or are you expected to remember it?

Other Services

Do the institutions offer other services as incentive to deposit funds with them? There are a lot of benefits for CD holders, ask around and see what services seem most important to you.

Our college-bound son just bought his first home at 21. He was able to buy a home for forty thousand under the appraised price, get a low interest rate, finance the closing costs, and pay no money down. How could he possibly do this? His credit score is over 700.

You can help your teenager prepare for his or her financial future by establishing a high credit rating. Offer your teenager these three crucial credit tips for a great financial future:

1. Start early. Begin by successfully managing a checking account-- the first credit requirement. Wells Fargo Bank has a program for children to open joint accounts with a parent as young as 13 years of age. For a free individual checking account, Washington Mutual requires a minimum age of 18 or a manager's approval for younger account holders.

2. Apply for a major credit card at 18. It's easier to get a first-class credit card with favorable rates and terms while a student attends college before the age of 22. Why do banks want to open accounts for students who have no credit history or employment? Because lenders know that college graduates in general make more money and also pay their bills on time. Also, most consumers don't like shopping around for credit and tend to keep their credit accounts. Therefore, lenders desire to establish strong relationships with the preferred market early in their credit experience.

This doesn't mean that you as the parent need to co-sign; banks expect parents to help out with the payments when necessary. Just be crystal clear with your child what you expect regarding debt management. The purpose is to teach responsibility and to establish credit--not to go into debt.

3. Manage the credit card account with credit scores in mind. Once the account is opened, encourage your child to use the card for necessities that would be purchased with cash--not luxuries--and to pay the debt before finance charges accrue. However, don't pay the entire balance off each month; let a little roll over at least every two months. Banks don't appreciate accounts paid in full each month. More important, paid accounts don't factor into the credit score as much as an account with a low balance.

Explain to you teenager that the purpose of using a credit card is to establish good credit. To do this, a credit card should never have a balance over 50% of the available credit. The best credit scores have accounts with only 10% of the credit line used.

Setting up a checking account and a credit card account helps your teenager learn about responsible money management, with the bonus of building strong credit to finance a home.

(c) Copyright 2005 Jeanette J. Fisher All rights reserved.

The financial business is adding new terms and neologisms every month due to the increasingly complexity of personal finance and commerce or business relationships. However, for someone that is not familiar with all this jargon it turns very difficult to understand even the basic explanatory brochures or articles explaining common products. To clear some basic concepts, following is a list of common terms used frequently on financial flyers and other pieces of writing.

Collateral, Guarantee, Security

There are two types of loans out there: Secured and unsecured. Unsecured loans are awarded to people without other assurance of repayment than their word (signature) or personal credit. This means that if the borrower fails to repay the loan, the lender has no other means of claiming his money than taking the debtor to court on a long and tedious legal process.

Secured loans on the other side provide the lender with an additional protection. An asset is pledged as guarantee of repayment and in the event of default (lack of repayment), the lender can either repossess the asset or obtain the money owed by forcing its sell on a public auction. The asset pledged as an assurance of repayment is indistinctively referred to as: Collateral, Security or Guarantee.

Provisional Financing, Refinancing, Restructuring, Roll Over Agreement

These terms are often used with different meanings but with the intent of clarifying financial jargon, we suggest the following uses for the terms: Provisional financing refers to a short term loan or line of credit that is used for buying the borrower some time till a more convenient and definite loan can be obtained; Refinancing implies the cancellation of a previous loan with the money obtained from a new one that has different terms (usually lower monthly payments either because of a lower rate or a longer repayment program); Restructuring often implies a series of refinancing agreements that imply more than one debt and more drastically term changes than a simple extension of the repayment program; Finally, a roll over agreement implies the postponement of the loan repayment by obtaining approval for an identical loan with the same lender.

Delinquency, Default, Bad Credit

These terms are often used on articles and flyers about personal financing and non-traditional financing. People that have to face financial difficulties often damage their credit by paying late debts that are due, or missing a payment or missing several consecutive payments. All of these are recorded on the debtors' credit report and hurt their credit stance lowering their score.

The above situations are referred to as delinquencies: paying late or missing payments. Failing to repay the loan (missing several consecutive payments) is known as default and usually leads to the debt being sold to collection agencies that will try to claim the money by different means. Finally, the consequences of default and delinquencies on your credit along with other problems like excessive debt have a negative impact on people's credit which is known as bad credit, poor credit or low credit score.

Principal, Interest, Term

The Principal is the amount of money that is lent by the lender to the borrower and has to be repaid. The Interest is the price of the transaction: This price can be expressed as an overall amount but unless the loan is a short term loan, it is usually expressed as a rate or percentage. The term is the period of time for the loan repayment; it can refer to the overall repayment period including the repayment deadline but it can also refer to the repayment frequency whether you have to make monthly, biweekly or weekly payment.

The truth is, anybody can put a deal together. At it's most basic, it's a simple process of agreeing on terms and then spending a couple of quality hours making sure every i is dotted, and every t is crossed. There's really not a lot of mystery to it...unless, of course, you're looking to do it with no money down. Then it becomes something more than a mystery.

It becomes an art.

There is a variety of ways to accomplish the coveted No Money Down Deal. None are particularly tricky or unusually complicated. Where the art comes in is finding the additional parties required to make these deals work and, more importantly, discerning which No Money Down Technique will work best given the individual situation.

Creative, no money down deals were something of a necessity for me when I was starting my business. I had no money, so I had to figure out creative ways to put deals together using OPM...Other Peoples Money! What I found as my business grew was the techniques remained reasonably constant regardless of size when it came to putting my deals together; the key thing that changed was the number of zeros on the checks! As such, nearly all of my real estate assets have been acquired using one of my 5 Favorite No Money Down Techniques.

Owner Financing

Owner financing is when the current owner agrees to sell you their property and essentially acts as the bank for your transaction. In this scenario, the seller is selling you their property, and they are lending you the money to buy it with! This is one of the greatest techniques to use, especially if you are in a situation where you have absolutely no money, or if you have bad credit history and will have trouble qualifying for a loan.

Owner financing is not that uncommon when dealing with an owner that owns a property free and clear, this is sort of a win-win situation. For you, it's a way to reach a financial agreement that does not entail putting money down. For the seller, it's a way to, in the long run, possibly make more than the sale price off a given property.

I own a 17 acre parcel of prime land in Augusta that I bought with 100% owner financing. I found this property by looking on a map at areas I would be interested in buying land. From there I contacted the listed owner on the tax records. It turned out her father had bought the land 50 years ago. She had inherited it, and owned it free and clear, but was too old to do anything with it. Over the course of a few weeks of negotiation, I developed a relationship with the owner, who happened to be a real estate agent. I agreed to give her the exclusive right to sell anything I did with, or developed on the land, in turn, she carried 100% of the financing for me. It was a perfect win-win situation.

Two-Step Refinance

The secret here is getting your name on the title. Then, you can immediately refinance the property and work the deal with the difference between the appraised value and the actual purchase price.

Step One: Acquire the property with financing from any resource available; a bank loan, private money, credit card, owner financing, etc. The objective here is simply to get on title. If this process is approached correctly, this will be a very short term loan. Typically under 30 days. As such, it may be acceptable to look at a much higher interest rate than you normally would with long term financing.

Step Two: Refinance the property for 80% of Appraised Value. If the property is bought right, 80% of appraised value will cover all acquisition costs, repair costs, holding costs, and some front end profits.

This was the technique I used on my very first deal, before I even knew it was a technique. I found this approach entirely by accident. It was an accident however that was so profitable that I built the foundation of my single family business on this one technique. Not knowing any other direction to go with buying my first investment property, I began networking. I talked with everyone that would listen about my new deal, and my new business. Fairly quickly I was introduced to a small local lender who introduced me immediately to the mortgage arm of her bank. The mortgage lender pre-qualified me to refinance the property as soon as I owned it. With this commitment in place, the small local lender gave me a 100% loan to buy the property. Once I had bought the property and was on title, the mortgage lender began the underwriting process. In under 30 days, I had new financing in place that paid off my loan with the local branch, gave me all my rehab money, and put an additional $11,000 in my pocket at the closing!

In time, I learned there are a plethora of techniques to get on title without getting a bank loan for the first step. Over time, this has saved me thousands and thousands of dollars in loan fees.

Equity Investment Partner

This one is pretty straightforward. You find someone that has the down payment money for your deal and partner with them. They bring the money to the table, you bring the deal. It is again a win-win situation, for without you, the investor has no where to invest their money.

How you split the ownership interest is where the art, the creativity really comes into play. There are as many ways to structure a partnership as there are deals to structure partnerships around. For me, I began by following the KISS principle...Keep It Simple (Insert your favorite S-adjective)...I brought the deal to the table, my partners brought the money. We split everything right down the middle, 50/50. We split cash flow, equity growth, appreciation, everything.

In fact, I still structure some of my partnerships in exactly the same way. In January of 2006, I bought a 232 unit complex in Oklahoma City with 7 other partners. In this deal, I structured the ownership split in the same fashion as with some of my early single family house deals. I brought the deal together and retained 50% of the ownership. My cash investors then split the other 50% proportionately depending on their investment.

Another example of an ownership split; let's say you find an investor willing to put down 20 percent as a down payment. In return, they get 20 percent of the cash flow from the property and, when and if sold, 20 percent of the profits.

Of course, as I mentioned there are literally thousands of options for structuring your equity partnerships. My recommendation is to start simple, then as you gain a greater understanding of how to put your deals together, get creative. Think outside the box and look for that angle that no one else can see on the deal to make maximum profits!
Private Money

Private Money Lenders have cash available from time to time to make collateral based loans. These individuals will typically be much cheaper than the hard money rates and their terms can be much softer as well. Many of these individuals will look to you for what you are willing to pay rather than telling you their requirements. It would not be unusual to get money at 8% to 12% with no points and no pre-payment penalty.

Don't abuse these lenders! If you treat them right, you will have more money pushed at you than you can find good deal to place the money. More than a few investors have promised to pay the interest while the money sat in a bank account waiting for a new deal. This is extremely dangerous. When they didn't find a deal, they used the loan principal to pay the interest. Even worse, the investor feeling the pressure to get the money working, purchased property where the deal was mediocre. Then there was no room for contingencies or mistakes. The investor may have gotten into a property where there was no profit or where there was no resell market. In any case, the investor and lender were stuck. Have any private lenders send their funds directly to the attorney or title company closing the deal. The private lender then gets the note and security instrument back properly executed and filed. This is the best way to protect you both in a business like manner that the lender will respect.

More people than you realize would like to dabble in the real estate market. Many, however, would like to start small. Here's an idea that's good for them and you. By borrowing a down payment from a friend, business acquaintance or relative, you can offer them the thrill of real estate investment - and an eight to twelve percent return on their money - and you are able to enter the deal with no money down. Here's the best part. After a couple of successful deals, you may find that you no longer have to hunt for down payment investors. The quick and notable return on investments will soon have prospective finance rs coming to you.

Hard Money

Hard money lenders are referred to as such because they lend primarily on the hard asset values rather than the credit of the borrower. These lenders are sometimes referred to as collateral-based lenders as well. With a hard money lender you will not have to worry about your credit or how many other loans you have outstanding. Mind you, the money can be expensive. Hard money terms vary by private lender as well as by economic conditions. Today you will find most hard money from about 12% and 3 points up to the 15% and 5-10 points. In addition, there may have a "back end" fee to the lender when the loan is paid off referred to as a prepayment penalty.

Hard money loans can be ideal for borrowers in the following situations:

1. A property can be purchased at a bargain price if it can be closed quickly, requiring immediate financing.

2. To save a property from foreclosure.

3. Poor credit where traditional financing sources are reluctant to lend.

4. Environmental problems with the property where traditional financing sources don't want to lend until the property is cleaned up.

5. Property is not up to standard (significant repairs, possibly high vacancies or does not have enough of a track record to satisfy permanent financing sources). Cash is needed to bring the property to the point where it can qualify for permanent financing.

One of my first mentors once told me you can expect to get either the price or the terms. This is a great alternative when the price is just not right. Often, a No Money Down Deal can be secured when a higher interest rate is offered. The thing to be wary of here is that if the deal doesn't turn out to be the big winner you were looking for, you could find yourself saddled with those rates for some time.

It would be nice if finding private money for your real estate projects were as easy as going to a broker who would match you up with someone who wanted to lend their personal funds. Well, it is not that easy. One of the core differences a successful real estate investor and those that are not successful is persistently taking action. It is just as true here. Finding the money for your first few projects will be one of the hardest aspects of building your business. Persistently take action to find the money for your deals. Just remember that "No Money Down" does not mean free. Investment abhors a vacuum; if you aren't putting up money, you're going to be putting in something just as valuable - sweat (mental or otherwise) and smarts. So roll up your sleeves, and let's go to work!

Many tools are at the disposal of people looking to sell a home. If the buyer is unable to qualify for a conventional loan but has verifiable income and credibility, then a seller should consider alternatives to conventional financing.

Buyers and sellers are going to have to come out of the box of the conventional when it comes to financing in the coming years.

The foreclosure rate for those with sub prime lending is beginning to see a plateau and will soon come to an end.

But, what about the people who are now being affected in a different way?

Maybe you did not have a sub prime loan. Maybe your job was connected to the housing industry. Many jobs were connected to the housing industry, and when the bubble burst it was more like a damn rupturing and flooding this economy with strife.

We are now in a time of change. We have to change the way we earn, spend, and save our money. Change does not just stop there, we have to roll with the new lower economy and learn techniques to keep us advancing.

Now is not the time to stand idly by, thinking you cannot own a home. Now is the time to become creative with home ownership.

Many people still believe in the American Dream of home ownership.

Another technique to use is lease with the option to buy. This is probably one of the more liked techniques by buyers.

With an option, if you are unsure of the house, you can walk away at the end of the option period. For example, you were thinking of buying an older home in a more mature community. You found a seller who plans on moving to another state. The seller agrees to lease their house to you with a minimal option amount of money.

At the end of the lease option period, you decide the community and or the house was not what you were looking for. With a lease option you can either exercise the option to purchase, or walk away with no further obligation.

The seller however would keep the option money and have to look for another buyer, if they decide not to move back into the house.

In this situation no one really loses. The seller does not lose because they keep the option money. The buyer does not lose because they have the flexibility to move without the hassle of selling a home.

Many buyers with a lease option decide to stay in the home. After a few years the home is normally worth more than when the contract was signed. People with lease option find it easier to qualify for conventional financing at the end of the contract period. One factor being the home has more equity, and time is the other factor.

The time period of the lease option would be from three to five years; a person would have time to rectify any negatives on their credit reports.

With our nations current credit crunch, and the tightening of lending requirements it is now time to think outside of the box of the conventional.

The aforementioned techniques in part one and two, are just a couple of ways to sell or buy a house. Both parties need to make sure this is what they wish to do and no one should just trust anyone and let them stay in their home.

Even with owner financing there are still requirements, it is just the requirements are not financial barriers from owning a home.