Financial Literacy Articles

Common Sense Rules to Keep Your Hard-Ea ed Money By P. Christopher Music Do you know the tale-tell characteristics that indicate “investment scam?” Over the course of the last two decades in the financial industry, I have had good fortune, and yes, bad fortune in learning about the realities of investments. When I speak with investors, it’s not uncommon for some people to insist on certain delusions they have accumulated regarding the subject.

While mortgage brokers and borrowers generally feel a sense of closure once a loan has been funded and closed, loan asset owners and servicers know that their jobs have just begun. Not only must the loan be monitored and data analyzed as part of the risk management process, the loan may be subject to a myriad of regulations. Loan management software helps ensure that each loan in your portfolio receives the attention it deserves. Numerous applications exist including loan origination software and performance analytics tools.

It’s the summer here in the Northern Hemisphere and most of us are looking for some time off. With the economic crunch and the goal of living debt-free some will be paying off previous debts with very little or no funds available to go on a cruise, road trip or even to the local spa. Can a paid vacation away from work net me some much needed cash? The answer is yes. How? Let’s look at the following example. Sue works a 40 hour week and is a salary employee. She takes tran

Ben Be anke is so busy computing academic formulas that he forgot to go shopping and take a look at what’s really going on out there. He is famously called helicopter Ben after he made the statement that he could drop money out of helicopters to fight deflation. Is that a joke? This guy has a PhD in economics and has studied the great depression for the most part of his career, yet he thinks these tactics will work when there are clear examples in history that prove otherwise. You can never print money forever, period.

We all want to get the most out of every dollar we spend. I get it, so do I. While you may have good intentions, you may actually be making mistakes with your money. Ask yourself, would you be able to identify if you are making a money mistake? Here are three reflective questions to help you decide if you are making money mistakes: Question #1 Do you have a plan, and a realistic goal to work towards? Make a plan, a real plan, something that identifies what you want to do wi

Investing in stocks can be fun and exciting, but it can also confuse you if you are not familiar with them. In case you are not sure what stocks are, they are paper assets that companies issue to help them raise money. When you purchase stocks, you become part owner of the company. When companies decide to sell the stock they make money. Before investing in stocks, consider these facts: Before the company can sell stocks, they must be registered and have a ticker symbol. This

Think about the time you go to the doctor’s office or sign any legal document. Set right before you is a pile of papers you are told to sign and date. Some people brush over the contents of the page, but are honestly so overwhelmed by all the papers that they do not thoroughly read through the details on the page. Others know the dangers of not knowing what they are signing and read each line very carefully, to make sure that they understand what they are signing for and what the consequences are if they do not uphold or keep their side of the agreement.

Flax seeds and Omega 3's: Why they're good for you and why you're probably not getting enough!

An annuity can be a good retirement investment if you select the annuity correctly. Many times investors enter into this type of retirement planning unsure about the product they are purchasing. This can lead to great disappointment when retirement arrives. Understanding what an annuity is and how it works as a retirement account will enable you to make the right choice. When looking into annuities for retirement there are 10 things that you must consider: Understand what an

Written by: Adam Sheppard Why insurance, an Introduction: Human life is full of risk and uncertainty, which may involve various unforeseen events like physical injuries, threat to life, financial losses etc. Insurance gives you the confidence to deal with these unexpected situations and bear these emergency losses and expenses against a set of payments called insurance premiums. Read on carefully to learn more about the various types of insurance and some of the benefits asso

A physical or virtual market place for buying, selling and trading raw products is termed as commodity market. Trading has become very competitive these days. Hence, traders prefer taking Commodity tips from the providers for maximum earning on their investment. Currently, there are about 50 major commodity markets worldwide that facilitate investment trade in approximately 100 primary commodities. You need to open an account before you start trading commodities. Opening a tr

You could have a great idea for a new startup. You may be planning to buy into a business with a great profit potential. You may have an established business that requires additional funds to take it to the next level or a sensational project that you could get off the ground if you just had enough capital for it. If you’re like most of the clients that work with us, you are brimming with excitement over your new plans and are looking for a way to get the right investors ex

Why People Use Mastercard Credit Card Many people stay with their old debit card because they think that it is not necessary to have global payment access like MasterCard, when you have online shop and you want broader access for global market, you have to have this. If it is too far to be the reason why you have to at least one, you may need to find other reasons. Some people just can’t stand to have complicated way in paying stuff for Online Shopping. Some people are good

As we all feel the pinch of these economic times here are a few tips for making the most of the dollars we spend everyday. Clip Coupons on and off-line. – Most of us have access to the internet but for those of us who still prefer the hardcopy newspaper this is a tip which will work for all of us. Whether it is in a flyer at our door or a coupon off the internet the savings from clipping coupons adds up. The online Canadian resources for coupons are Canadian freestuff.ca, S

Do you know the difference between a broker and an investment advisor? Did you know there WAS a difference? Well, there is… and it’s BIG. Brokers have major conflicts of interest, can have hidden fees and often do not even directly handle your money. In fact they may not even KNOW the person who IS handling your money! Scared yet? With your investments, your kid’s education and your retirement portfolio at stake, perhaps you should be. Read on to learn more. * * * * 1. Con

According to a recent study by Professor Eva Munster at the University of Mainz in Germany there definitely is a correlation between how overweight we are and our bank net worth, (our assets less our debts). Professor Munster studied over 9000 individuals and found that their financial health was not only reflected in their savings accounts but also in their waistlines. The study in fact indicates that people who carry large amounts of debt are approximately twice as likely t

Wealth transfer is a phenomenon that typically occurs during the "reversal period" following the end of a significant economic trend. Take, for example, cycles like the late 1990s stock market and the 2000s real estate bubble. As we know, both of these events ended in busts. During subsequent recoveries, however, huge sums of wealth transfer from the naive to investors with an understanding of history and business cycles. This phenomenon has repeated for centuries not just ye

All over the world, people are so used to buying things and services with credit cards and other instruments of credit. These facilities are good for buying many things without paying for them instantly. However, apart from this convenience, there are other benefits to the credit cards. So, people would like to get better cards and other means of plastic money. With certain cards and other facilities, the people would be able to get better services and privileges. There are m

I don't know how often I heard from people saying that you have to work hard. The things they constantly claimed to me had been: When you work hard, everything will work out okay. This thinking is still pretty mainstream. Even today, I pick up this particular word through a lot of people, such as my friends, co-workers and even my bosses. Nevertheless, many individuals are lost his or her jobs and most of their retirement saving because of past financial meltdown in spite of

Financial matters are very sensitive in nature and therefore you need to carefully consider your options before embarking on personal loans. Firstly, you must decide what type of loan would suit your economic style, albeit fixed or varying. You need to ask yourself all sorts of questions before applying for a loan like, whether you are comfortable with the interest rates offered, payment conditions and terms. Fixed Rate Personal loans are quite popular inspite of their rigid

Occasionally, everyone experiences those unexpected emergencies like the car breaking down, the refrigerator dying or the water heater having to be replaced. One never knows when these emergencies will happen and sometimes we are not prepared financially to handle them. It is at these times one could consider a quick loans available online. These loans are exactly as the phrase says, it is a loan that is meant to be repaid on your next payday. These loans are acquired through

Our nation's student debt is currently sitting at $1.3 trillion. It's a staggering number, but what's more troubling is what that number represents. Millennials are increasingly graduating from college with degrees that aren't helping them get jobs in the workforce. One out of every two college graduates is working a job right now that doesn't require a college degree.

Bankrupt is normal. Why be normal? There are several events in our life that we cannot avoid. Achievement begins with an optimistic attitude in life. Even if you are running out of finances and still in need of instant finance then don't lose heart. As with growing financial service, there are several different options accessible through various different companies and keeping in mind the contradictory nature of monetary emergencies, no credit check personal loans are been ac

Most people have financial difficulties at some point or another. Generally, financial difficulties start when an individual's expenses become greater than his/her income. Personal loans can help relieve the debt if they are used properly. Applying for an unsecured personal loan begins with learning about unsecured personal loans and secured loans. Secured personal loans have a lengthier repayment period with lower monthly payments. When contrasted to the unsecured personal l

Being financially literate is like planning a trip to drop off a book to a new acquaintance in the next city. If we do not know where our house is on the map in relation to where the acquaintance’s house is on the map, how will we be able to navigate to our new friend’s house to drop off the book?rnAnother analogy is baking a cake. If we do not have the recipe of what is required, how can we make the cake properly? rnWe can guess but what if we mistake the salt for sugar

An annuity is a contract with an insurance company. The insurance company agrees to provide a stream of income to the individual in exchange for payment. The holder of the annuity cannot outlive the regular income from the investment which makes this attribute especially unique. Therefore, annuities are used as an asset to fund retirement. Another advantage is the investment gains accumulate and compound tax deferred.Making money and good investments concept Researching for t

Did you know that about 95% of Americans fall into a financial category of making $99,999 a year or less? That means only 5% of Americans are reported to make $100,000 or more a year! As you can see, the financial gap is quite large and widening every day as the middle class is disappering with all of the economic hardships. So what can we do? Where do we look to for a real solution and not just a bandage cover-up? How do we set ourselves up to do better and maybe even set up

You can almost hear the sigh of relief. Tax season is finally over! But that sigh of relief is different depending on your preparation and experience. If you had all your receipts and paperwork in order, the sigh of relief includes a smile because it was stress free and you know you maximized your deductions. Now, you just have to decide what to do with that refund check, right? If you were disorganized, didn't plan and spent hours trying to pull it all together, that sigh of

Whenever you apply for an account – whether by mail, telephone, Internet, or in-person – you are signing a legally binding contract. Thus, if you are unable to pay the bill for any reason the lender can legally sue you and also pursue garnishment of a portion of your wages. In some states, a credit card company can levy part of your bank account or demand a lien against your assets such as real estate equity. Thus, many people these days ask the question of, “what if I can’t

Yes, the flu season is upon us and those pesky germs are in the air. So what does this have to do with your credit card? Credit cards are usually stored in purses, trousers or jacket pockets. These places are warm and contain moisture which is a perfect environment in which germs thrive and multiply. Credit cards do pickup germs as readily as paper and coin monetary funds. The key is, you can clean your credit cards quickly and easily. With the new terminals and chips in your

The Majority of the Folks rightly Believe saving money is an Important Irrespective of which sort of worldwide economic catastrophe is going on inside the financial period. From the current circumstance, far more individuals are figuring out there you will find a lot of products and services available at sudden discounts using coupon codes. So special alte ative can be found in looking on the web. You can not believe that which you may possibly earn reduction whilst buying the mandatory throughout the store online.

The Problem of Positive Thinking I just heard a podcast by my good friend Steve Beaman on the topic of positive thinking made popular 50+ years ago by Dr. Norman Vincent Peale. I was taken back to my twenties and the reading of this book. I found the principles made sense. However, something was missing. At the time I couldn’t identify that something but I believe I can now and even act upon it.

One of the greatest features of fixed annuities is that they are reasonably simple. So, in reality, fixed annuity rates are not nearly as complex as variable annuities are. However, be aware that your financial advisor most likely won’t inform you that they are less expensive, because he will end up making less money. Normally with a fixed annuity you make one single payment for the total amount due to the life insurance company you selected. They take into account various

The Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) program offers Social Security disability benefits to people who qualify for federal disability assistance. People who receive SSDI benefits are also eligible to receive Supplement Security Income (SSI) if they are in poverty despite getting SSDI benefits. People who are receiving SSDI and SSI funds have to document their need for incapacity assistance to continue receiving the funds. So, how long can you receive Social Securit

Unfortunately credit card fraud is really quite common these days, but there are ways that you can help to protect yourself. Becoming a victim of credit card fraud causes a lot of unnecessary hassle and is a very stressful experience. You should familiarize yourself with the security features that the credit card company includes with your card.

This article is written for those that owe taxes whose amount of tax debt ratio pales in comparison to the income that they have coming in. This does not take into account that you must have a place to lay your head, eat, and enjoy coolness in the heat and warmth in the winter. Once these items are factored in, it is inconceivable, based on your income and debt, that you will ever be able to pay what you owe in full to the IRS. If you are unable to pay your tax debt in full,

Annuity rates are a hot topic at the moment as many retirees are ready to buy an annuity but with the market being at a 15 year low, many people are buying into a less attractive deal than anticipated. However, the Government along with other financial institutions are urging investors to stop and think about their annuity before rushing into any deal. With careful research, planning and expert advice, many people can secure a great deal with their hard earned money. Without

The Project on Student Debt, an initiative sponsored by the Institute for College Access & Success (ICAS), has released its fifth annual report on the extent of student loan debt in the United States. The report examines student loan debt nationwide and on a state-by-state basis. According to the most recent findings, students who graduated from college in 2009 left school with an average of about $24,000 in student loans. This figure represents an increase of about 6 percen

A commodity can be defined as a product or a material that can be sold and bought. Commodity market and commodity derivatives market in general have existed in India for over 100 years. Commodity tips are widely taken by many traders who trades in commodities. Among top five producers of commodities, India is the one who produces most of the commodities and also a major consumer of bullion and energy products. About 22% is contributed by agriculture to GDP of Indian economy.

Understanding types of debt is crucial. Good debt is debt that you have that pays for itself. For example, a rental property or business that you own pays for the loan you took out for it; your money is not going into it. This is the defining line. Bad debt is just about any debt that most of us have and includes credit cards, mortgages, loans for school (contrary to what some of us may have been told), cars, etc. I’m not saying that you shouldn’t take out loans for school or a house but just that it’s bad debt and should be paid off quickly.

A used car salvage title is a confirmation that the car is useless of being operated on road because of suffering a flood, fire, accident or certain other mishap. Differing Rules in Different Regions In United States different states give away salvage titles for varied degree of damage faced by the automobile. However generally seventy five percent of impairment is liable for such a title in most of the states. Many times insurance companies declare an automobile beyond resto

Foreclosure is very common in this sagging economy. Whether it is a friend or family member, or someone who is renting a place where the owner is no longer able to afford the mortgage, it is nearly impossible to talk to anyone who hasn’t in some way been affected by it. As a bankruptcy attorney, often I am asked what one can do to avoid and stop the process. Obviously the best way is to pay your mortgage. While that seems simple on the surface, all too often I see people th

Making a major financial mishap can often set a person's borrowing abilities way back. But it's often the small mistakes made daily that really put a dent in one's finances. A recent column by U.S. News & World Report highlighted some of the common mistakes as well as the perks of avoiding them. The first is investing in a mutual fund with expensive expense ratios. A 1 percent fee may not sound like a large deduction, according to the report, but can eventually add up to thou

US federal government is of the view that the taxpayer should have easy access to best healthcare facilities so that he/she can earn that paycheck and this is evident from various grants for health care that the US federal government provides to its hardworking taxpayers. Government is run on the taxpayers’ money and the government wants its taxpayers to be in good health. Some in need of medical care can access local, state or federal government for financial assistance re

To hear the full SBG Cast, click here: http://tinyurl.com/2bcmjeb As shown by so many national and international statistics, American schools are not living up to their requirements in many cases. At stake here is the future of our nation and new, creative ideas need to be considered. Are Charter Schools the way to go?

Bonds, types of bonds and how they work can get confusing. I’ll do my best to describe what I know about this area of investing. There are different categories of bonds that you can invest in. All bonds carry a maturity date and coupon rate. The coupon rate is the annual interest rate paid and can be compounded annually, semi-annually, monthly or daily while the maturity is when the bond expires. 5, 10 and 30 year maturities are common. Most people are familiar with US government bonds, also called treasuries.

Most people shopping for an annuity are looking for a way to save for a child's college fund, or for a future retirement. Annuities are either deferred or immediate. Immediate annuities require a lump sum investment and start paying out on the following month, while a deferred annuity requires a monthly investment over a fixed period which will then start paying out at some fixed date in the future. If you are looking for a way to save money for retirement or a college fund,

For the SBG Cast, click here: http://tinyurl.com/26djqol One of the many benefits of enjoying a solid spiritual walk is that you can look upwards for your needs and wants, and enjoy a true optimism about the future. With 2011 upon us, I hope your path brings you that purpose, optimism, and joy that you need to live a fulfilled life. Hi, I’m Steve Beaman and welcome to the Spiritual Path.

Getting out of credit card debt is not that difficult. However, staying out of it is very difficult. So how can you get out of credit card debt and keep out of it forever? There are several reasons why credit card debt keeps on reoccurring. Firstly, on the practical level, credit cards come with low monthly minimum payments, usually in the 2% of the principal per month. Secondly, the credit cards have very high interest rates, so this combination of low minimum payments and h

If you're like all other coin collectors and investors then you want to buy silver, and you want to find the best deals. Plus, you want to know how to buy it cheap as possible. Here's a few silver buying techniques I have learned over the years that I will share with you. Damaged coins: Coins with damage are often called culls, or "slicks" and usually have a lot of wear and no date. Culled coins sell for less than their better grade counterparts. The thought is that they have less silver because of the amount of wear, but most weigh just a little less than their mint specification.