Finance Wanted.

By Romulus Hincu

Written in 1997, Rich Dad Poor Dad is Robert Kiyosaki's first major commercial success, and sets up and introduces the basic premise and concepts that Robert Kiyosaki explores in his Rich Dad series. The concept of making your money work hard for you instead of working hard for your money is portrayed in Rich Dad, Poor Dad through precisely the decisions and perspective each dad has concerning money and the financial world.

Robert T. Kiyosaki has teamed up with Sharon Lechter in the writing of the RDPD books, and his wife Kim Kiyosaki in the Rich Dad Poor Dad Corporation. All three of them, Robert T. Kiyosaki, Kim Kiyosaki, and Sharon Lechter are co-founders of the RDPD Corporation. Mrs. Kiyosaki has developed her own line of Rich Women, Poor Women which expresses many of the exact same views of Robert T. Kiyosaki's Rich Dad, Poor Dad but in a different way, directed towards a different audience.

The main mission and purpose of Robert T. Kiyosaki and the Rich Dad Company is simply to educate the public in their handling of money and perceptions of it. When it comes down to, Robert T. Kiyosaki and the Rich Dad Company are solely educators. That is where Robert T. Kiyosaki first found his niche at being successful in the long term. Ever since Robert T. Kiyosaki's venture into the business and financial seminars of Money and You, he found a way to combine the philosophies of both his dads in a way that takes the strengths of his poor dad's educating nature and his rich dad's financial savvy, and know how.

All about Robert Kiyosaki.

By Terry Sprouse

The 4-Hour Work Week by Timothy Ferriss does what only the best books can do. It strikes a cord deep within us, confirming thoughts that we have always vaguely felt were true, and pointing us down a path that offers fresh hope for the future. Some of the outstanding points the author covers are:

1. Retirement as a goal is flawed. Doing the same thing for 8 hours a day until you breakdown or permanently stop is the wrong way to live. Ferriss says that alternating periods of activity and rest are necessary to survive, let alone thrive. He advocates distributing "mini-retirements" throughout life instead of hoarding the recovery and enjoyment for the retirement years.

2. The question one should ask oneself is not "What do I want in life?," or "What are my goals?" but the real question should be "What would excite me?". To focus in more, you should ask yourself, "What would I do if there were no way I could fail, or, if I were 10 times smarter than the rest of the world?"

3. Getting fired, despite coming as a surprise and leaving you scrambling for recover, is often a godsend. Someone else made the decision for you and it's impossible for you to sit in the wrong job for the rest of your life. Most people aren't lucky enough to get fired and die a slow spiritual death over 30-40 years of tolerating the mediocre.

The author describes several insightful ways to free up time for mini-retirements.

1. Start your own business, then turn the reins over to someone else who runs the operation for you. You become a ghost owner. As Ferriss quotes the Guardian of the Emerald City Gates in the Wizard of Oz, "Orders are nobody can see the Great Oz! Not nobody, not no how!"

2. Outsource your work to foreign and domestic virtual companies that specialize in outsourcing.

3. Negotiate with your present boss to work at home instead of working at the office. This allows you to focus your efforts on the important aspects of your job and doing them more quickly and efficiently.

While I think these are all reasonable options, this is where I part company with the author, in terms of how I approach passive income streams.

What works for me is to buy fixer-upper houses, repair them and rent them out. The work is front loaded with the initial purchase and repair of the property. After that initial push, like the 4 Hour Workweek, it requires minimal input and can allow time for mini-retirements.

For me, the advantage of real estate is that it provides both long-term and short term profits. Long-term from the average 5% increase in equity, and short-term from monthly rental payments and tax deductions. If you turn your rental properties over to a management company, you are free travel.

This is not to take anything away from The 4-Hour Workweek. On the contrary, the book is worth reading because it is eminently thought-provoking and written in a style that is wildly entertaining. (His hilarious Mad Lib fill-in-the-blank job resignation letter is a work of mad genius.) Yet, as I mentioned, the book goes way beyond this by examining deeper themes of life and work that are seldom addressed in such a enthralling manner.

Another excellent book that also takes a meaningful look at issues of work and money is "Your Money or Your Life: Transforming Your Relationship with Money and Achieving Financial Independence," by Joe Dominguez and Vicki Robin.

Terry Sprouse is author of the book "Fix 'em Up, Rent 'em Out: How to Start Your Own House Fix-Up and Rental Business in Your Spare Time."

Terry's blogs:
http://www.fixemup.org
http://www.squidoo.com/fixerupper

By Lance Winslow

It's all about money they say, and in the end it is all about money once again. Have you considered about gifting money to your kids or about how to set up you estate or how to make a trust so that you will not give all your life savings back to the government when you finally do expire? From retirement to expiration of your life cycle, you need a plan - a good plan and you need to know the ropes. It is for this reason that I take great pleasure in introducing this fine book to you:

"AARP - Wills, Estates, Trusts and Death Taxes" by Alex J. Soled 1988.

The book has an abundance of great information about wills, types of wills, each with complete explanations. Now realize since it was written in 1998 some of the information about trusts and taxation laws having to do with various types of trusts have been changed. There is a full education on terminology in estates, trusts, wills, and taxation so that the reader can understand the details needed to make an informed decision.

The book tells you how they work, when to use each type and the best strategies to maximize inheritance. The book in the appendix breaks down the various laws by state and has case studies along the way. I recommend if you are looking to learn a little bit of history on the subject to get this copy and to pick up the latest copy if you are planning on setting something up now. The AARP can help you, with their wonderful printed books on financial literacy for seniors.

"Lance Winslow" - Online Blog Content Service. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; http://www.WorldThinkTank.net/. Lance Winslow's Bio

By Romulus Hincu

Written in 1997, Rich Dad Poor Dad is Robert Kiyosaki's first major commercial success, and sets up and introduces the basic premise and concepts that Robert Kiyosaki explores in his Rich Dad series. The concept of making your money work hard for you instead of working hard for your money is portrayed in Rich Dad, Poor Dad through precisely the decisions and perspective each dad has concerning money and the financial world.

Robert T. Kiyosaki has teamed up with Sharon Lechter in the writing of the RDPD books, and his wife Kim Kiyosaki in the Rich Dad Poor Dad Corporation. All three of them, Robert T. Kiyosaki, Kim Kiyosaki, and Sharon Lechter are co-founders of the RDPD Corporation. Mrs. Kiyosaki has developed her own line of Rich Women, Poor Women which expresses many of the exact same views of Robert T. Kiyosaki's Rich Dad, Poor Dad but in a different way, directed towards a different audience.

The main mission and purpose of Robert T. Kiyosaki and the Rich Dad Company is simply to educate the public in their handling of money and perceptions of it. When it comes down to, Robert T. Kiyosaki and the Rich Dad Company are solely educators. That is where Robert T. Kiyosaki first found his niche at being successful in the long term. Ever since Robert T. Kiyosaki's venture into the business and financial seminars of Money and You, he found a way to combine the philosophies of both his dads in a way that takes the strengths of his poor dad's educating nature and his rich dad's financial savvy, and know how.

All about Robert Kiyosaki.

By Terry Sprouse

This is a real estate investment book that not only covers the basics with exceptional style and insight, but also brings new wrinkles to the table. "Upside Up" is just such a book. Not surprisingly, the book is written with depth and insight by an investor who has a profound knowledge of his field.

For example, when most investors apply for loans, we only have a foggy idea of all the machinations going on behind the scenes, much less do we know anything about how much money the loan officer actually makes from our loan. Like Dorothy in the "Wizard of Oz," we are generally instructed to "pay no attention the man behind the curtain."

In "Upside Up," the author describes the process of how the loan agents make their money, and how some abuse the system and make exorbitant amounts at the expense of the applicant. The author suggests facing the issue head-on by asking the agent point-blank "how much money will you make on this loan?". A fair-minded loan agent will openly answer the question. Two first-rate chapters are devoted to this oft overlooked topic of loans.

I really like the author's approach to investing. He doesn't buy an investment property and just hope that equity goes up (although it generally does) over time. Rather, he takes the proactive approach of making improvements to the property by converting a garage into a separate rental apartment, adding onto a house, or building a second separate unit on the property. This forces an increase in the property's equity. Through his thorough description of the process, we see exactly how he does it. I appreciate how he provides plenty of detail to show us all the components of his bread-and-butter technique.

There are valuable tips throughout the book. One that stands out is how the author minimizes the amount of cash that he invests in a property by the way he structures the offer. He does this by raising the purchase offer so that the seller makes more money, and asking the seller pay the buyer's closing costs and repairs.

This reduces the amount the buyer has to pay at closing, and it doesn't cost the seller anything extra because both of these costs are paid at the closing table with the additional money the seller will receive.

This is a book that both beginning and advanced real estate investors will find invaluable. It holds a place in my investing library among my favorite reference works.

Terry Sprouse is author of the book "Fix 'em Up, Rent 'em Out: How to Start Your Own House Fix-Up and Rental Business in Your Spare Time."

Terry's blogs:
http://www.fixemup.org
http://www.squidoo.com/fixerupper

By Erik Rosenzweig

If I'd never read 'Rich Dad, Poor Dad' by Robert Kiyosaki, my outlook on life would be so different. I'd still believe that job I have should go to support my lifestyle, and that any budgeting I do should be for the purchase of my next toy, like a jet-ski or a motorbike. No way, not me, not now... here's why.

I'd never been much of a finance or business oriented person - I was always more interested in history. But what I know now wasn't really taught in schools anyway. Schools teach kids to be workers - it's blunt but it's absolutely true. The school system is not designed to make us all comfortably well off. It's designed to benefit rich industrialists. Having a job is not freedom, it's not certainty, it most likely won't make you wealthy, and odds are it won't help you fulfill your dreams for the future.

These sort of ideas are promoted by Robert Kiyosaki in 'Rich Dad, Poor Dad', and they really speak to me. He tells the story of having been brought up with two father figures giving him conflicting advice. The two also came from different backgrounds, and were going different places. The examples used in the book illustrate Kiyosaki's points perfectly. It's such a well written, well rounded text, it should be mandatory reading in all schools.

Kiyosaki turns concepts of finance and assets upside down. Let me give you an example. Kiyosaki believes- and I do too now that I've read his explanation - that the house you live in is not an asset, it's a liability. The conventional thought is that your home is something that features large on the assets column, but Kiyosaki disagrees. This is because of the amount of money you pay for it.

Let's say for example that your home is worth $300,000. Your mortgage on the home... well what you pay per week will change depending on your financial institution. But over a 30 year loan term you'll end up paying almost $600,000 for your $300,000 home. And that doesn't even take rates, maintenance, repairs and other ongoing costs into account.

There are legitimate ways to make that gloom and doom scenario much brighter - and they're legal.

Similarly with the stock market: the general consensus is that you need serious cash outlay to be a big player on the stock market - well let me tell you now that's just not true. You're not looking in the right place, and I'm not talking hot stock tips here. There are tried and true ways of making ongoing income from the stock market that don't involve outlaying large amounts of money.

That's all legal too - and practically anyone can do it.

The thing that astounds me about Robert Kiyosaki's book is that the ideas and concepts are explained so plainly, and the most complex of notions is clearly laid out for interested persons or all levels of investment knowledge to be able to understand. The ideas he espouses are easily transferable to the real world you live in. Don't waste another minute of your life. This book is right up there with Napoleon Hill's "Think and Grow Rich".

To learn more about share trading, stocks, options, cfd's, education, finance, shares, futures, stock options strategies, options trading, investing and a whole range of other things you need to know to gain your financial wealth and freedom you need to visit http://www.lockstockenbarrel.com

By Adam Tijerina

Lately, you can turn on the TV late at night and see an infomercial for a new get out of debt book called Debt Cures. On the infomercial, Kevin Trudeau makes some pretty big claims about how to reduce or eliminate your debt, how to cut your credit card payments in half and how to correct your credit with two magic words. It almost sounds too good to be true. This article will take a look at some of the books designed to help you with your debt problems.

Millions of people are in debt and the problem is getting worse as the economy sinks into a recession. People are getting laid off and with no income to pay their mortgage payments, they sometimes lose their houses. What a perfect time to start selling a book that promises to get people out of debt almost overnight.

Just like with losing weight though, there is no quick fix or diet pill that will make you instantly lose 20 pounds in a week. The same idea applies with getting out of debt. It will take hard work, discipline and sacrifice to lose weight just as it will for reducing your credit card debt.

All that being said, I have used the ideas in Debt Cures and The Total Money Makeover to get rid of almost $3,000 of debt in just two months. I have also managed to save up $1,000 in a emergency fund to help with those rainy days that the car breaks down or the kids have a big doctor bill.

Most debt books say the same thing, the only thing you have to decide is which method you want to follow. Dave Ramsey in The Total Money Makeover advocates using a debt snowball to pay down your debts. This method makes you pay off the lowest balance credit card first instead of the highest balance or highest interest rate. There are several personal finance authors who say to pay off the highest balance or highest interest rate first.

I chose the lowest balance first since I get to see results faster and stay motivated. And I am just a few short months away from finally getting my Discover Card paid off.

Debt Cures can help you if you are way behind on your payments. You can try and negotiate your debts down or if you are a few years behind, you can find out of the debt has passed the statute of limitations where you are no longer required to pay it off at all. These two ways can help you reduce some of your outstanding debts.

In conclusion, I would have to say that no, personal finance books that have sound principles are not a scam. The thing to remember is that the book will not do all the work for you. It is just a tool. You have to pick it up and actually use it for any book to work.

Get more help with lowering your debts at Get out of debt books - http://www.getoutofdebtbooks.com

By Jesse Chettle

This article is a short review of Suze Orman's book Women & Money: Owning The Power To Control Your Destiny. Women & Money is a very good book that I would recommend to all women who do not have experience in the area of personal finances. This book is very basic and simple and is not something for women that already have a lot of experience with personal finances. For others that do not have experience they must realize the importance of educating themselves on the basics of personal finances. They need to be prepared to take control of their financial situation just in case an unexpected situation like death or divorce comes about. Women also need to take a more active role in their families personal finances simply because two minds working on something are always better than one. In this book Orman does a great job of explaining this and also giving women ways to become more involved.

In Orman's book she starts out by talking about the dysfunctional relationship that women often have with money. She does a very good job of using a level yet authoritative tone in giving out practical and useful financial advice Suze goes into great detail about why women often leave the handling of money to men and also why women should be more involved. Suze mentions that women are just as capable as men in handling money but that they often choose to leave the job to men. In this book Suze gives out a few reasons why women often leave personal finances to men including that women feel that coveting money is wrong and also that women are more team-oriented. Suze says that women are usually scared to admit that they want a lot of money because they fell that it is wrong. Suze also says that often times women end up making less than men because they are more team oriented and concerned that everybody makes a good and even salary rather than fighting for every dollar they can get added to theirs.

The first half of Women & Money is based solely are the psychological and mental aspects of personal finances. It is centered around the attitudes and perceptions that women have toward money. The first half of the book is not much of an actual financial planning tool but still does do a great job of preparing women to learn the actual mechanics of personal finances.

The second half of Women & Money includes the meat and potatoes of personal finances. In this part of the book Orman gives her readers a step by step plan for how to actually get their personal finances in order. This plan includes Orman's 5 step "Save Yourself Plan". In this plan Suze gives out 5 very simple steps that anyone can easily follow in order to take control of their personal finances. Suze also sets up a time schedule of five months to implement this plan with a goal of finishing 1 step each month.

The first step in Orman's plan is to establish a checking and savings account. In this step Suze suggests that her readers setup a bank account that they have complete access to and suggest that it be a high yielding savings account and a standard checking account.

The second step in Orman's plan is to check your credit score. Here Suze suggests that each women find out what their score is and if needed they should take the necessary steps to improve/establish it. Suze also touches on the importance of paying down your debts here.

In the third step Suze talks about the importance of investing for retirement. Here she goes into great detail about how important it is to begin saving for retirement. This chapter includes information on 401K's, IRAs, and Roth IRAs.

In the fourth step of Orman's plan she talks about all of the importance must-have documents. Here she goes over wills, living trusts, and much much more.

The fifth and final step in Orman's plans talks about protecting your home and your family. In this last step she talks about the importance of renters or home owner's insurance, personal liability insurance, and life insurance.

Overall, I think that Orman's Women & Money book is a good read for any women that are looking for information about personal finances. This book could help many women to realize thee importance of taking an active role in personal finances and help them to see why they should be involved in family money decisions.

Jesse Chettle is a self-made Personal Financial Advising expert who specializes in giving out free Personal Financial Advice over the internet. You can visit his Financial Adviser blog to learn more about Women and Money by Suze Orman.

By Dean Olmstead

The Credit Secrets Bible Course is a massive e-book that will help you raise your credit score. The course itself covers many diverse credit repair areas, such as dealing with mortgages, financing your automobile, refinancing if you already own property, how to deal with credit cards companies and credit repair companies, how to handle credit disputes, and much, much more. There is an entire section dedicated to understanding the right time of the year to dispute false claims against your credit score.

The sales page comes across as a bit much, but there is a wonderful section that bullet points the best features of the system. Some of these are items such as: a 3 step system used by attorneys and credit repair specialists that charge you up to $1500 or more to use, two very special letters you can use to pay off your bills for as little as 35 cents on the dollar, why not to pay of your credit card in full each month, how to legally get up to 20 years of excellent credit history added to your credit report in less than 45 days, how to borrow up to $15,000 in only 15 minutes and pay zero interest.

The Credit Score Bible contains a 140 page e-book and it includes a 70 minute audio course as well. The entire course appears very professionally written and I really enjoyed the overall tone of the entire system.

Should you consider buying the Credit Score Bible course? If your credit is in bad shape and is in need of a tune-up, this course is for you. I would also consider this course before you make any major purchases such as a house, because the tips it contains can save you lots of money in the long run. They are also planning to add a forum to their site so that users can share their tips and experiences towards repairing their credit. At only $67.00 it really is an incredible value and helped me on the path to repairing my credit.

If you would like to know more about repairing your bad credit then visit my website and find out much more!
Click here now to discover the best method for repairing bad credit.

By Jesse Chettle

In this article we are going to learn about Suze Orman's 9 Steps to Financial Freedom. I will be explaining each step in full detail and then giving you my opinion on how the step is/isn't applicable to personal finances and benefiting you. 9 Steps to Financial Freedom is a book that Suze Orman wrote in 1997. It is now over 10 years old but has stood the test of time and is still liked by many today.

Suze Orman's 9 Steps to Financial Freedom:

Step 1 - Seeing how your past holds the key to your financial future

In Orman's 1st step of her book she talks about how most people have some past memory that effects the way they perceive money and finances. In this chapter she helps you to realize that past memory and move on from it so that you can start new with your personal finances.

This steps to be a bit off and useless for most people. There are some people who have bad memories regarding money but in general most people are just to lazy and undisciplined. For most people it is an issue of motivation and not an issue of a bad experience. This step could be helpful to some people to get them started but it not broad enough to be applicable to a lot of people.

2 - Facing your fears and creating new truths

Here Orman makes a connection with the first step in the book. Orman has her readers look at their past memories and see how they cause them to act toward money in their current life. Orman suggests writing out a list of your money related fears and then realizing how to overcome these.

Again, I find this step to be more of a mental exercise for those that need it but not to be widely applicable to all people. The first two steps in her book seem to be more related to a traditional self-help type book and not a personal finances or financial planning book.

Step 3 - Being honest with yourself

In the third step of Suze's book she goes into detail about budgeting. Suze suggests getting all of your past records and realizing where you money has gone over the past 2 years. The plan is to use previous records to determine your budgeting plan for the future.

This step is extremely good and something we should all consider. Setting up a budget to track our income in the most basic and important step in starting on a quest for financial freedom. The only issue here is having 2 years of old records. If you do not have 2 years go with whatever you have to make estimates for the future.

Step 4 - Being responsible to those you love

In step 4 Suze talks about setting up your money so that it can help your loved ones if you were to pass away. The basic setup of this step tells you all about insurance, estate planning, trusts, and wills.

I find this step to be very important but it seems to be out of place. I think that before you can begin to plan for others once you are gone you need to get your own personal finances in order. If you do not get your own finances in order you won't have anything to leave to your heirs and it will be useless. Steps 4 & 5 should be switched.

Step 5 - Being respectful of yourself and your money

Here Orman focuses on helping her readers sort through and organize their own finances. This chapter includes information on putting money towards retirement, eliminating debt, and many other things. Orman writes how taking control of your finances can make you feel a whole lot better about yourself.

This is another one of Orman's best steps out of the whole book. This is the most important step in achieving financial freedom. Without the proper savings, debt elimination, and future financial planning people cannot even start to think about financial peace.

Step 6 - Trusting yourself more than you trust others

This step talks about how people should trust themselves over others when making financial and investing decisions. It says that people should always go with their gut-feelings too.

I find this step to be completely inaccurate. People should always seek out the proper advice about financial planning from experts and have all moves planned out rather than going with a gut-feeling at any moment. I think that all people should have a personal financial advisor to help them with their finance and investing decisions. It is important to note that a financial advisor is only an advisor and all final decisions should come from you.

Step 7 - Being open to receive all that you are meant to have

In this step Orman goes into detail about money not bringing happiness but the opposite being true. It also goes into detail about the joys of donating to charities.

Here Orman contradicts many statements from the earlier in her book. In earlier parts of her book she continually talks about happiness and feeling better about ones self but then says the opposite here. She says that you get happy first and then you achieve financial freedom. What does that even mean? The two are completely independent of each other in both ways.

Step 8 - Understanding the ebb and flow of the money cycle

Here Orman writes about how sometimes all the tough and bad times in our lives teach us really good lessons for our futures. She talks about how to make the most from our past failures to see success in the future.

I think that Orman hits the nail on the head with the accuracy of her statements but again, what does this have to do with the nuts and bolts of financial planning?

Step 9 - Recognizing true wealth

In the last step of Orman's book she writes about how the real value in life does not come from money and wealth.

Again, I feel this section contradicts some of what Suze says throughout the book but I also think that it is very true.

Overall, Suze's 9 Steps to Financial Freedom is an excellent book for people who want to learn about the psychology of money and want to change their mindset about it. It is more of a self-help book for these people.

Her books give very little true financial advising plans and there is not much mechanical substance to it. I would not suggest this book for people looking for the nuts and bolts about personal finance advising. For these people I would suggest something by a different financial advising expert.

Jesse Chettle is a self-made Personal Financial Advising expert who specializes in giving out free Personal Financial Advice over the internet. You can visit his Financial Advisor blog to learn more about Suze Orman's 9 Steps to Financial Freedom

By Phillip Snow

An honest review of Jean Chatzky's Pay It Down: From Debt to Wealth on $10 a Day

Many of us that are deep in debt choose to take the road less traveled when it comes to getting out of our credit card debts. You could just go to a debt management service or get a consolidation loan, but is that really the best way? A good debt management service can be hard to come by and they will charge you a fee when you start and monthly frees until you are done. After talking to one of these services a while back, it became clear to me that there must be a better way. So I made a special trip to my favorite online book store in search of a debt guru to help me find that better way.

Pay It Down: From Debt to Wealth on $10 a Day

I am over my head in debt right now, so the title looked promising, and who doesn't want to be wealthy. This book is not new, and with the recent changes in the way credit card companies are handling their card holders, it is a bit out dated. The main structure of Pay It Down is a nine step plan. The first steps start you off figuring out why you are in debt and exactly where you are spending your money. It is important to live below your means to get and stay out of debt. Then there is a step involving credit scores, which you will likely find in most personal finance type books. The next steps outline ways that you can free up that $10 a day to apply to your credit card debt.

You will find some good sound advice in this book for changing the way you spend and save your money. The Author is very practical in her approach to getting out of debt, and if you use her methods you can do this your self without paying fees to a debt elimination service.

Do I recommend this book? Visit http://debtfreemap.com to read the long version of my review of Pay It Down: From Debt to Wealth on $10 a Day. You can also read my other debt elimination book reviews and follow along as I get rid of my own debt.

By Joy Cagil

Even if today's retirees live better that those of fifty to sixty years ago, a future retiree's financial security can be planned or improved upon while he or she is still working. With the economy in its present gloom and doom mode and the companies phasing out and reducing retirement benefits, doesn't it make sense for today's workers to think and plan their own retirement far ahead of time?

Although highly experienced investors may be able to do just fine for themselves, Kiplinger's Retire Worry-Free introduces the average or inexperienced investors to retirement planning and to getting the most out of their financial means. After the introduction from the editor-in-chief, chapter one of the book redefines retirement by making the reader think about making sure he'll have enough means to live well when he retires.

Then, chapter two has the pointers, charts, and workbook pages for estimating how much the worker will need in his golden years. Chapter three, a chapter any young worker should pay attention to, shows how to save and make more money for retirement planning and how to manage debts in the best way possible.

Chapter four is about the retirement plans -self-directed or otherwise- a worker's company offers. Chapter five brings up the social security benefits; chapter six is about making sure the retiree-to-be will have enough insurance and long-term care insurance. Chapter seven deals with IRAs and chapter eight with setting up one's own pension plan. Chapter nine is about making good investment choices. This chapter includes sixty-eight key investment terms and some information on stock basics, bonds, annuities, gold, and real estate investments. Chapter ten introduces the worker to several smart tactics and strategies of investment.

Chapter eleven and twelve address pension payouts and monitoring the retirement plans as things change through time. At the end of chapter twelve, there are referrals to Financial Planning Association, National Association of Personal Financial Advisors, and The American Institute of CPAs. The book ends with a very usable index. The language of the book is clear and direct, and it can be easily understood even by the not-so-savvy.

Kiplinger's Retire Worry-Free, sixth edition, is in paperback and 304 pages, with ISBN-10: 1427797188 and ISBN-13: 978-1427797186. The book is published by Kaplan Publishing and written by the editors of Kiplinger's Personal Finance, the personal finance magazine.

Since this book shows how to plan for retirement, it is for people who are still young enough to be in their working years rather than the already retired, and it will make a great gift to any young person or worker looking to plan his or her retirement.

This article has been submitted by Joy Cagil in affiliation with http://www.StockBee.Com/ which is a free online stock ticker quiz.

By Danuel Rebecca

Well you may be surprised, but yes there is.

So what is that secret, some would argue that in most cases all you do is need to look at the parents to figure this one out as they are a guide of future wealth. But rest assured that is not it. The secret to wealth is:

"It's not difficult to obtain financial success and build your wealth."

This secret according to Brian Tracy in his audio CD book The 21 Absolutely Unbreakable Laws of Money teach you how to become a master of your own money and gives you the laws behind building your own financial wealth. Brian passes on the result of his studies and shows you the 21 absolutely unbreakable laws of money, you will learn how to:

* Become a money magnet

* Increase your income immediately

* Learn the secrets of wealth building

* Build a financial fortress.

If you want to become the a member of the magic 1% then this is not something you will miss out one. Brian as usual has done a great job and explains the unbreakable laws of money is such away that you will learn how to attain wealth. Without the mind numbing theory, you will actually learn about 'Cause and Effect', the 'Law of Savings' and the all important but often forgotten compound interest concepts.

As it is frequently said, and supported by the Smart Millionaires Guide, you need to understand money before you earn it. If you are going to purchase a material today and begin you journey to wealth.

About the Author

Article by the Danuel Rebecca. For many more keys to success, becoming a millionaire, and smart investment ideas visit the Smart Millionaires Guide - keeping wealth simple.

By Heather Carroll

References to Robert Kiyosaki and his bestselling book "Rich Dad, Poor Dad" can be found in virtually every industry. From stock trading to real estate to home-based businesses, entrepreneur's and businessmen look to him and his books for inspiration and often times credit him for their own success. "Rich Dad, Poor Dad" is the story of Kiyosaki and his journey from being a child of modest means to a self-made millionaire and bestselling author of multiple books.

As an entrepreneur myself, I have always struggled with the development of a millionaire mindset. I had been told by many that Robert Kiyosaki's books could be a starting point in my search for an attitude that would take me where I want to be financially. What I was looking for in his book was a step-by-step guide on developing the type of mindset necessary to take control of my financial future. What I got instead was a realization that for my entire life, I had been shaped and groomed to grow up and conform to society's standard of success: go to school, get good grades, and get a good job with benefits. I had done just that. I received a Master's Degree with a 3.92/4.00 average and found a stable job with good benefits. Unfortunately, although I fit into society's standards of success, I knew that working for someone else and living from paycheck to paycheck was not the life that I wanted for myself or my children.

Which brings me to the story of Robert Kiyosaki, a man who was essentially raised by two different fathers each with a very different philosophy regarding finances. His biological father raised him as I was raised...education, job, retirement with pension at 65. The father of his close friend Mike, whom Kiyosaki refers to as his rich dad, taught him that the only way to be rich was to think outside the box and to use his mind to generate income. Through a variety of jobs, rich dad was able to teach Robert Kiyosaki invaluable financial lessons that would help him to make millions.

Basically, the key focus of the entire book can be summed up in three words- assets versus liabilities. The only way that you will ever acquire wealth is to acquire assets. We live in a society that relies on credit and we have a loan for every major purchase: cars, houses, vacations, even everyday expenses. Robert Kiyosaki's advice is to simply stop spending money that you do not have, pay yourself first, and rethink purchasing that new purse or lawn mower. Instead, use that money to acquire assets that will generate income for you and then use that income to purchase your luxury items.

Rich people are acquiring assets while the poor and middle class are acquiring liabilities. A person has joined the "Rat Race", as it is termed in in this book, when their expenses increase as their income increases. So, instead of making their money work for them by purchasing assets that will in turn put money in their pockets, the poor and middle class spend their money on items that decrease in value over time. In order for a person to leave the Rat Race and enter the Fast Track, they must first have enough income generating assets to cover their monthly expenses.

It seems simple, and to some it is. Unfortunately, the majority of us, myself included, were trained in school to be employees, not self-made millionaires. So, my only unanswered question regarding this book would be "Is it possible to develop a millionaire mentality when you are in your 30's, 40's, 50's, etc or is it something with which you must be raised as in the case of Robert Kiyosaki?" Personally, I read this book just previous to starting my own business and found my attitudes changing with each page I read. So while I will never have the benefit of being raised by a man like Robert Kiyosaki's rich dad, I do believe that with enough drive, motivation, and guts, anyone can become a self-made millionaire. I would recommend this book to any current or future entrepreneurs.

Heather A. Carroll is a home-based business owner ( http://7.alternativeincome4u.com ) and has written multiple articles on various financial topics. She is a single mother of three and resides in Illinois.

By Eric Poulin

In the book The Next Millionaires by Paul Pilzer, the idea is put forth that our personal financial success is not only based on what resources we have available to us, but also what tools we use.

The Next Millionaires is a great book on the new economics that will shape our current and future generations and it challenges many old economic principles. One of the great gems found inside is an equation that Paul discovered.

W = P * T

Wealth = Personal resources * Technology

This theory suggests that our wealth (as a society) is determined not only by the resources we have, but those resources times the technology that we have. This is a very interesting way of looking at things. The example is given of the oil/gas crisis of the 1970s in America. There was a projected shortage of gas and so, it was even rationed at the time. Then, average gas mileage was about 9 miles/gallon from a $300 mechanical carburetor. Newer technology in the next decade brought the computerized electronic fuel injector at a cost of $25 and yielding mileage of 22 miles/gallon. The amount of gas (the resource) remained about the same (actually it went down slightly as usage continued) but the technology effectively doubled the supply.

Thus, the overall wealth was increased by the technology. Considering the resource on its own is not an effective way to measure its use. Technology truly does have a great impact.

Similarly with personal finances, we typically have a relatively fixed set of resources. In most cases it is not easy or possible to simply increase our income, assets, etc. However, the technology we use to manage these resources can make a huge difference. Those who use tools to manage their money typically understand their income flow and spending habits better and can make better and more informed decisions about saving and spending, resulting in an increase in wealth.

There are many different types and forms of tools to help, from old-school pencil and paper, electronic spreadsheets, to sophisticated computer programs and online tools that can track every penny and tell you exactly where you are and where you will be if you maintain similar behavior.

Whatever tool you choose is better than nothing. But keep in mind the formula - the better your technology, the more wealth you'll have as you manage your resources more effectively!

Eric Poulin is the co-founder of CalendarBudget, an online money management tool. Eric also has a blog with other money management tips.

By Tony Mase

Wallace D. Wattles' nearly one hundred year old classic masterpiece, "The Science of Getting Rich", has recently become *THE* book to read on the subject of getting rich. However, most of those who read this incredible book won't get near as much from it as they could.

Here are three tips that'll help you get more from it...

Tip #1 - Stay away from edited and/or revised versions.

Since "The Science of Getting Rich" was originally published in 1910, a number of edited and/or revised versions of it have been published both online and offline.

Besides some having slight changes of title, most, if not all of these edited and/or revised versions contain changes in the wording of the original book by Wallace D. Wattles ranging from minor to major in a so-called attempt to "modernize" and/or make it more "readable".

You can sometimes recognize these edited and/or revised versions of "The Science of Getting Rich" by a slight change in title from that of the original. Other times, you'll find someone has added his or her name as a co-author or editor of the book.

Unfortunately, there are a whole host of others out there where the title is the same as the original and there isn't a co-author's or editor's name listed, yet the text of the original book has been substantially edited and/or revised.

Personally, when I want to know what a particular author has to say, I want to read his or her own words and not those of someone else. This is especially true in the case of Wallace D. Wattles' writings.

In my opinion, any change of wording, however minor, takes away from the original meaning of what Wallace D. Wattles wrote and thus changes our understanding of it.

Therefore...

I strongly encourage you stay away from edited and/or revised versions of "The Science of Getting Rich" and stick to the original.

Tip #2 - Look up words you don't understand.

I know this sounds like simple common sense, but you'd be surprised at how many people don't do it. I can tell by some of the questions I get.

Occasionally, as you read "The Science of Getting Rich", you'll come across words you may not understand or don't make sense to you in the context in which Wallace D. Wattles used them.

None of us knows the meaning of every word there is in the English language. Many words have multiple meanings. And, keep in mind, Wallace D. Wattles wrote "The Science of Getting Rich" nearly one hundred years ago. Many words that were in common usage then are no longer commonly used today and many words that were used back then were used with a different meaning than the meaning we'd attach to them today.

A good example of this is the word "check". If you look up the word check in a dictionary, you'll see it has a number of meanings. One of the meanings is to examine something to see if it's true or satisfactory. Another meaning is to stop or slow something down.

In Chapter 9 of "The Science of Getting Rich", Wallace D. Wattles wrote:

"But you can check all this by starting a negative impression in the Formless Substance."

In this case, Wallace D. Wattles is using the word check to mean stop or slow down. In other words, he's saying...

But you can stop or slow all this by starting a negative impression in the Formless Substance.

Although the word check was commonly used to mean stop or slow something down when Wallace D. Wattles wrote "The Science of Getting Rich", it's not a common use of the word today.

If you didn't know the word check had multiple meanings, or if you didn't know the word check was commonly used with this meaning back then, it'd be easy for you to misinterpret what Wallace D. Wattles was saying.

Tip #3 - Apply what you learn.

Here's the deal...

You can read "The Science of Getting Rich" hundreds of times. You can study it until you're blue in the face. You can memorize it, philosophize, and talk about it to your heart's content. However, until you apply what you learn from it, you're not going to get the results you're seeking from it, PERIOD!

Now...

I know, at first glance, it seems like there's an awful lot in it to apply. However, the simple truth of the matter is there really isn't. In reality, there are only a tiny handful of concepts you really need to apply.

And...

If you want results from "The Science of Getting Rich", it's *vitally* important you understand...

It's your *application* of this tiny handful of concepts, not your knowledge and/or understanding of them, that'll make the difference in your life...

All the difference in the world, I might add! :-)

Copyright (c) 2008 Tony Mase

Tony Mase is a serious student of the works of Wallace D. Wattles and the creator of an amazing website that'll take you by the hand and guide you step-by-step down Wallace D. Wattles' proven path to wealth, health, success, happiness, love, and more... http://www.tonymasesinnercircle.com.

By Alexis M.

The American Dream is different for every person. In general it's something similar to - Money, A Beautiful Home, and Perfect Relationships. Today, our topic is Money. We will discuss getting it, and what do with it in order to increase your savings and eventual wealth.

In order to increase your savings you must first have an income. My first suggestion is to do something you enjoy. And, at the very least, do what is legally expedient while seeking something you will enjoy.

Second, set aside at least 10 percent of what you earn and put it in a savings account; preferably one not connected by overdraft to your checking account. Banks push overdraft protection and this has its merits. However, the idea is to organize and keep track of your money so that each dollar-to-the-penny is accounted for. This way - You are your own overdraft protection.

Your 10 percent savings is key. No, it's crucial. This is the money you will eventually use to invest and increase your wealth. Without this, you will most likely continue to survive pay check to pay check rather than live in the comfort of wealth as I believe we are all intended to do.

After you save 10 percent of your income, that leaves you 90 percent to live on, right? Not quite. Do you have any debt? If you live in America, and haven't already developed the habit of savings and wealth building, you most likely do. So, your next step is to get rid of your unproductive debt by taking an addition 10 percent from your income for debt relief. This leaves you with 80 percent of your earned income. Now what?

Heard the expression, "Give and it shall be given unto you?" How about "Charity begins at Home." They are the same. Our home is Earth and our family, other human beings. Therefore, we are responsible for one another just as the universe is responsible for securing us via Sun, Rain, Air, etc. This simply means that our existence is reciprocal and that what we give, we get back in one way or another. It's really that simple.

So, from that 80 percent of your remaining income, if you want to increase your savings, and wealth - give 10 percent of your income to someone less fortunate than yourself (whether to an organized entity or someone you know or come across who could use the funds). How you do so is entirely up to you. Just try it. You will see. It's an awesome principle that works 100 percent of the time.

Recapping - You've developed a consistent income; Paid yourself first with 10 percent for your savings account; Put aside and/or paid 10 percent toward your debt relief; and Given 10 percent to charity. Now you have 70 percent of your earnings for daily living expenses. This is more than possible to live on. Here are some tips to do so.

How To Live on 70 Percent of You Income...

These tips will get you off to a good start.

1. Take a real inventory of what you spend your money on. It will amaze you. Make a budget. If you find that you simply must have more income, intend it and get a better paying gig.

2. Eat at home - Cook

3. Make coffee at home (Carry your homemade coffee to work in your Starbucks container if it makes you feel better)

4. Entertain at home rather than splurge out each weekend.

5. Buy in bulk at places like Costco, Sam's Club, Smart & Final, etc.

The process of increasing your savings account seems restricting at first. It is. Developing a new habit of finance is developing a new way of thinking about money and wealth. But remember, you are doing this to eventually amass wealth. Take the time, work the process and begin to change your financial status forever.

Much success as you begin to increase your savings painlessly. I look forward to hearing about your progress with the concept of Increasing Your Savings Account Painlessly. Feel free to visit my blog at http://www.todayzbestyou.blogspot.com

By Robyn Whyte

Is it possible?

There are some who would consider this question ridiculous falling firmly on one side or the other. But then, there are those who would look at such a question pragmatically. What is debt to start with? Do they include such things as property taxes?

Debt is something that you have used in either a loan form or any other form such as a mortgage. The item or experience was purchased, is currently being used and now you are on the hook to pay back the amount of money.

In addition, there are different kinds of debt. There is a fixed amount of debt and a rotating amount of debt.

A good example of a fixed rate of date would be that you wanted new windows and installed them in your house. You now owe on a monthly basis with the money most likely being taken directly out of your account. These loans can range in value.

Another good example is a mortgage because again you have taken out that much money and now pay fixed amounts of money to it. The only time rates change is on mortgage renewal dates. These can be shocking days, especially if the interest rate is going up.

Then, there is rotating debt. This could be with a credit card or an acutal person or loan store. You have to pay this debt every month but often you are remitting around 3 percent of the actual balance. The amount you owe fluctuates based on the month. Interest is added monthly. There is really nothing wrong with a credit card so long as you are paying it and paying it, never missing a deadline and have no more than the credit you feel with confidence you could pay back in a month or two. Ie. If you cannot imagine paying the balance off say within two months, then you would be best to reduce the card in terms of borrowing amounts. Another thought is that you don't want more than one credit card because again, if it exceeds what you feel you could successfully pay off in two months (while still eating), it just isn't a good idea to have two barrels or credit cards to pay back.

Debt can also be from a person. Often, people will borrow off the same person or a series of people. This is also a rotating amount of debt.

So let's say that you now have 500 dollars in the bank, your rainy day money but you owe for five to ten debts. Is it possible to maintain those savings and call them savings? Is it possible to add to those savings?

The answer to this is no. These are not considered savings. This money is considered money you have pretty much already spent on debt.

To see this, you can get out a piece of paper. On one side, write down what your total debt is and on the other side, write down what your savings are. You will see that as the debt is much bigger than the savings, you technically don't have any savings. They are artificial.

If you find yourself in a situation where your debt is excessive, where it exceeds your confidence to pay, then you may hurt yourself in the future by not being able to borrow from banks or credit card companies. Essentially, you may find yourself hitting the brick wall.

It's important to have a grasp on how much you owe. It is also important to target the smallest pieces of debt and get rid of them. This will encourage piece of mind. If for example, you owe ten dollars to a local organization and 2,000 to a credit card. It just makes good sense to walk over your next ten dollars and get rid of the debt. You then have less barrels of debt to hurl your money into and I would advise the same with all debts. If you really do want to minimize the impact of money spent, versus money earned then it is time to look at the balance sheet and stratergize.

We need to be consistent and continuously take stock of our debt situations in order to prosper as people and to get a good night's sleep.

Robyn Whyte is the CEO of Stargazer Press where you can find amazing books at http: http://www.stargazerpress.com/novels.htm

Check out V.B. Rosendahl's juvenile mystery 'Bitter Tastes', the first in the Kathy and Martha Series. Or see our amazing educational resources for teaching reading, home of Stargazer's Guided Reading Kit for K-3, Stargazer's Reading Games and Stargazer's Kindergarten Primer.

By Chinemere Onuekwusi

"We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness."
Thomas Jefferson (1743 - 1826)
U.S President.

Every person; black (Negro), white (Caucasian), occidental or oriental are born with a certain trait or innate capabilities that distinguishes him/her from the others. However discovering these potentials could be tasking and might take several years or even eternity to discover. Most people live their lives imitating others and as such find it relatively difficult to discover them selves and their innate abilities oblivious of the fact that "you can only be you" . It is never wrong to have a role model or an icon to emulate; but it is wrong to live your role model.

For example pop star Michael Jackson's role model was James Brown of blessed memory who was regarded as the 'god father of soul". Mike grew up not wanting to be like James Brown, but to greater than him and did he succeed? Sure he did and was crowned the "king of pop" today his antecedents speaks for him. I better be my self than imitate a hero and remain in his shadow for life. Like my friend will say 'it is better to reign in hell than to serve in heaven.

The main purpose for having this blog is basically to share my experiences with people of like minds (like you reading this article at the moment) on sundry issues; and from my previous blogs posted, I always try as hard as I can to be truthful to you on issues pertaining to the internet and online opportunities: it's uses (advantage as well as disadvantage), I share with you the facts, the myths and also the reality. Basically, our main purpose of using the internet is to surf for information that helps add more quality to our lives. But like every good thing is prone to bad use, we pervert the use of the internet. Therefore we risk loosing the innate qualities to come to fore as regards utilizing the web resources to our own benefits. Having said that, I think it is really expedient that we change our attitude (concerning things online) to get a better picture of life.

Presently do you know that while we (Nigerians) spend so much time on idle chat mostly on yahoo and msn messenger's respectively, that the rest of the world especially the west are busy using the same yahoo and msn messenger to their own benefit, smiling to the bank every day? Few people know this, but I want you to be aware of this. I want you to know that information on various chat rooms and news groups are intended for traffic, and more traffic means more money. While browsing do you wonder why a chat template pops up all the time, and you are been given a link redirecting to the person's site or blog.

While you hit the site you get to know more about the person and he then offers to render you a service for a pound of your flesh! Most times these are porn sites offering all sort of erotic clips to arouse you erotic desires. After whetting your appetite as a dog given a bone you are now asked to become a member of the site to view the videos uninhibited, so doing you have to part with some dollars: funny enough these sites take their payment through credit cards (visa and MasterCard).

How ever you don't need to be involved in porn to get you own fare share of this kind of dollars, as an African with moral values; all you need do is to post a good article on various issues online: just like I'm doing now. Then while in the chat room you send in your contact info redirecting the person to a site. Immediately the person hits the site you now offer him/her a service he could find rather interesting and from experience people tend to part money on things they want other than things they need. Now you don't need to own your product to do this, this is why I'll love to introduce you to the lucrative world of AFFILIATE MARKETING: I got introduced to this very lucrative online business a couple of months back and at the moment I'm still learning the ropes.

But I'll love to share with the little experience I've garnered while mastering this niche. First of all I'll explain to you what affiliate marketing is all about. Affiliate marketing is all about promoting a product or services of a company online to help increase sales, and when a sale is made through you as an affiliate of that company you earn a commission. Good enough you don't need to be in the United States or any other advanced country to be a good affiliate. How ever all you need is a good knowledge of how the affiliate program works, and access to an internationally recognized credit card (as the ones offered by most Nigerian banks are not accepted since it is customized with a Nigerian address) other than a US address, surprisingly there are many companies in Nigeria who help you get a credit card customized with a US address for a reasonable fee. I'll love to get permission from any of these companies before I list them on this blog.

More so while learning the basics of affiliate marketing I came across so many affiliate networks like click bank that offers digital products, Amazon that sales products like DVD's, Link Share etc, but to be frank with you before you can get this venture kick started you need your own professional web site, so that you can market your products as well, and to design a web site now is as easy as using MS word, you don't need a formal knowledge especially in writing java or html scripts, all that is required is to have a Microsoft FrontPage software installed in your system, and bingo! You are on. After designing the web pages of your site you need a server to host your site, and now there are so many companies here in Nigeria that host web pages depending on the size of the site for a token fee (in Naira), for example a web page of about 50 MB could cost you from N1500 to N2500 to host for about one year after which you renew your subscription, but before I mix things up you need to have a domain name for example www.yourname/nameof yourbusiness.com and to get a domain name you pay a little amount of money say N1000 first of all to the web hosting company Hit this blog from time to time for more updates on affiliate marketing strategies

Now as soon as you join any affiliate marketing network you need to know how to place ads for effective marketing of the products you are promoting. At this juncture I'll love to get you acquainted with google ad words. This is a program by google specially designed for advertisers or publishers, also known as pay-pay- click advertising. Well like I always do I'll tell you the truth as regards this program based on the little I know as I am still experimenting so as to master the ropes of this advertising tactics. However, from the little I know I'll assert here that this program has enriched millions of people around the world. Men like Perry Marshal, Mal Keenan etc have made fortunes on the internet as top affiliates from taking part in ad word campaign. Top search engines like yahoo AltaVista, msn etc have their pay-per-click ad programs, and from what I read from the experts; it'll be your greatest undoing if you don't advertise with a top site like yahoo, before google became a house hold name; yahoo was and is still the most visited site to this day. For more on yahoo pay-per-click program visit www.overture.com

But suffice it to say that I'm still trying things out for the pay-per-click advertising system. My assurance to you is to get to this site often so as to get updates on my online experiences, and you are very free to post your comments on any issue raised here. Either as suggestions, criticisms (constructive rather than destructive) or words of encouragement, all are welcome. The texts so posted must be short, concise and straight to the point. Use of abusive words should be greatly avoided. Once more I wish to thank you for taking out time to read this piece one after the other. As I look forward to a generation of young Nigerians that'll make the difference and earn the respect due us by the global community.

http://www.chinemeremz.blogspot.com
chinemeremz@gmail.com
chinaemerekwusi@yahoo.com

By Steve A Wright

Despite the quite considerable contributions individuals are likely to be making to them and the accumulated value they are likely to have, it is surprising how few people keep an eye on how their pension fund investments are doing. The contributions are made on the same monthly basis, come what may, regardless of the investment's comparative performance. It seems that many people give no thought to the possibility of pension transfers and whether such a move would make sense for them.

Whether a pension transfer is something you should be considering, of course, will depend on the performance of your current pension fund. Together with your home, this is likely to be one of your larger investments and, as with any investment, you will want to make sure that your hard-earned money there is working as hard for you as it possibly can. With the value of your home, for example, you probably follow every twist and turn of local property prices and keep a fairly close watch on just how much it is worth. How many people do the same with their pension investments?

With your pension fund, it is not just the overall value and performance you will be interested in. Have you recently reviewed what management or administration fees you are paying? Could you get a better deal for less?

Ready to transfer?

If you believe it is time for a change, there are one or two things you should definitely do first before committing yourself to a transfer:

- Above all, do not consider transferring your pension without seeking the expert advice of a registered independent financial adviser;

- If you have not done so already, one of the first things your adviser will ask to see is a transfer value analysis. As the title suggests, this is an analysis which allows you to compare the value and performance of your current pension investments with the alternatives. It should include a figure called the "critical yield" (typically somewhere between 7% and 11%) which tells you how fast any replacement scheme would need to grow to match the performance of your present scheme. A good rule of thumb will be a figure of 8%. If your present scheme is returning anything less than this, then you might want to take the idea of a pension transfer further;

- What are your intentions regarding retirement? When do you hope to start drawing on your pension? If you are planning to retire early, for example, you will need to ensure that any replacement scheme to which you are intending to transfer is sufficiently flexible to allow this;

- With the help of your independent financial adviser, you will naturally want to check again the current financial position and performance of your present scheme. In the event that it is showing a surplus, with a higher value on assets than liabilities, then it could well prove worthwhile staying with your present pension fund.

Summary

It is certainly worth reviewing and monitoring your pension fund in the same way that you would any other investment, to consider the potential benefits of a pension transfer:

- Financial performance, management costs and flexibility might be a useful basis for comparison;

- Before doing anything, however, make sure that you seek the services of a reputable, independent financial adviser;

- Get a transfer value analysis of your current pension scheme;

- Take into account your actual retirement plans and any intention you might have to retire early.

Steve Wright is Managing Director of Wrightway Financial Consultants, Independent Financial Advisers specialising in Pensions, Investments, Mortgages and Insurance. One of their major areas is pension transfers.

By Melanie Taylor

It's been well publicized lately that the housing market is on the brink of a crisis - in fact, the crisis has hit the US already. As mortgages become harder to come by and homeowners begin to struggle with rising interest rates and lower demand from buyers, the market is faced with a vicious circle in which prices keep falling, but there are not enough mortgages being offered to increase demand.

What happened? - a timeline

The problems can be traced back to the housing market in the US, in which people with poor credit history (known as 'sub-prime' borrowers) were allowed to take out mortgages - many of whom subsequently could not keep up with payments.

Many of these mortgage debts had been 'bought' by UK banks, meaning they were now responsible for receiving the repayments. However, due to the amount of times these debts had been bought and resold, it was often difficult for banks to predict how much of the debts would be repaid.

When many of these sub-prime borrowers began to fall behind on repayments, it hit whoever 'owned' the mortgage debts - meaning both the US and the UK were affected. This is what became known as the 'sub-prime mortgage crisis'.

What is happening now?

UK banks' losses have in fact been small so far - but there is a risk that they could get a lot bigger. For this reason, they are very cautious about new lending, and so they are tightening the criteria needed to qualify for mortgages.

The knock-on effect of this is that houses are harder to sell, meaning prices are getting lower. However, lower mortgage availability means that demand isn't getting any higher - so house prices are likely to fall further - and so the cycle continues.

The Bank of England has acted on two fronts. Most significantly, they have swapped ฃ50bn of secure Government Bonds in return for banks' mortgage debts - effectively a show of confidence that sub-prime losses will not be as big as the banks feared. This move is designed to calm the insecurity that is causing the tighter lending policies and prevent any particularly dangerous drops in house prices.

Additionally, they have lowered the basic interest rate in order to convince banks to lower mortgage interest rates - but this is currently not working, and so the problems continue.

What happens next?

There are mixed opinions amongst the experts:

RICS (Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors)

* Predict that house prices at the end of 2008 will be down by 5% from the end of 2007

* Sales will be down by 40%

CML (Council of Mortgage Lenders)

* House prices at the end of 2008 will be down by 7% from the end of 2007

* Sales will be down by 35% to 770,000 sales

Although the extent of the predictions vary, nearly all experts agree that the housing market is increasingly on the downturn. House prices have only fallen slightly so far - but if the trend continues, the housing market will decrease in value significantly in the coming months.

The US have already been through what the UK is going through now - a tightening in lending criteria combined with fewer mortgages - and they have seen some sharp falls in house prices. Many economists believe the UK will follow this pattern.

Banks need to continue borrowing and lending, if a little more carefully than before, if the market is to recover. If they don't, house prices will continue to fall, and it could be years before they begin to rise again.

Melanie Taylor is associated with http://www.GregoryPennington.com one of the UK's leading debt management companies, providing debt help, debt advice and debt management plans to over 40,000 clients.

By Steve A Wright

Before considering whether it is a good idea, it might be helpful to take a quick look at just what is pension drawdown.

Replace that "drawdown" with "withdraw" and it can perhaps be most readily understood as the ability to withdraw money from your pension fund and leave the balance invested, so that (hopefully) it continues to grow. This ability therefore gives the pension holder an additional option on retirement: instead of using the pension for the one-off purchase of a lifetime annuity, funds can be withdrawn or drawn down for the purchase of an annuity at a later date. And the later the date, of course, the more attractive the annuity should be. Tit does mean, however, that you will probably need an alternative source of income in the meantime.

Clearly, this will give you a much greater degree of flexibility in the use of your pension and preserves the opportunity of a remaining pension fund that you could pass on to your children on your death (provided, of course, that the fund is still a reasonably significant amount).

If the pension fund is sufficiently large, you will be able to draw down income and continue to manage the balance of the fund, making any necessary investment decisions for yourself. In other words, it allows you to stay in control of a significant source of savings and investment.

Pension drawdown could also result in your being able to increase your income when you are older. Obviously, this will depend not only on there still being a sizeable balance in the pension fund, but also that the investments perform well. The opposite is also true, of course. If the investments do not perform well, then the fund can become seriously depleted and the income in your old age could in fact be significantly reduced.

Pension drawdown thus offers a more flexible alternative to purchasing an annuity as soon as you retire. This will suit those people who feel that the one-off purchase of an annuity at too early a stage locks them into an arrangement which might not represent the best deal over the longer-term. They might also be concerned about the relatively limited death benefits that come with many annuities.

From the foregoing, therefore, it can be seen that there are attractions to a pension drawdown. But these attractions come at a price. And that price lies in the risk of things going wrong or you miscalculating a number of factors. In other words, pension drawdown represents a risk. If the worst came to the worst, your decisions could leave your remaining pension fund seriously - if not totally - depleted. This would leave you without a private pension at all in your old age.

The risk is sufficient, certainly, for it to be very unwise to consider this retirement option without first consulting an experienced independent financial adviser, who can warn you of the pitfalls and carefully explain not only the attractions, but also the drawbacks of a pension drawdown.

Steve Wright is Managing Director of Wrightway Financial Consultants, Independent Financial Advisers specialising in Pensions, Investments, Mortgages and Insurance. One of their major areas is pension drawdown.

By Mark Griffith

With the current mess in the Finance Industry caused by the mortgage melt down we still need places to obtain loans for all kinds of reasons.

Bad things happen to good people and they should still be able to find credit help when they need it. Whether you credit be Perfect or whether you have had a few bumps in the road its reassuring to know there is a place to go for some help. You should be looking for a site that provides access to the borrower to seek the best options in the way of a cash loan - and compare them side by side with no obligation, or the pressure of a sales person.

It may be a mortgage or auto loan, perhaps a REFINANCE of one of these; it may be a Student Loan, a simple cash advance, a signature loan or simply application for a Credit Card - whatever it may be there should be sufficient options to make an educated and fully informed decision. The information should be fresh, current and if possible available in real time. 'home base' for your loan research and some relief in a very turbulent industry. The site should be cognizant of your personal identity protection and should publish the current News and Events that may have a bearing on your decision. It should be a site that you want to bookmark and check back frequently for updated offers.

What you need then, is a non biased,

Just a brief comment in parting; if you do encounter credit problems don't ignore them, they will not go away - a great deal of relief can be achieved in open an honest communication. Easy to say yes, but true. I've been there and experienced it.

http://www.MoneyLoanSmart.com

By Atul Pandey

India is one of the major producer and exporters of textiles. The current value of the Indian textile market is $36 billion and it constitutes about 5% of the GDP. However its share in the total global textile trade is just 3.5%. Indian textile exports grew by 14% in 2004-05 over 2003-04. It is expected that by 2010, India's share in the world textile export would be $40 billion. About 35 million people in India are directly employed in textiles & garments sector and it is the second largest employer after agriculture. To encourage this sector Government of India has allowed 100% FDI through the automatic route.

Speaking about the structure and organization of this sector, the Indian textile industry is dominated by only a few large (organized and numerous small and medium (unorganized) companies. The small and medium players though competitive yet they have no global presence. The competitiveness of cost can be attributed to the ready availability of raw material and low-cost manpower .Cotton and synthetic fiber is available in large quantities. Many international brands, such as GAP, Wal-Mart, Tommy Hilfiger, Benetton, G Star, Levi's and Marks & Spencer, are using India as a sourcing hub.

The domestic and the export market are expected to grow at a very high rate. According to estimates, the industry is expected to reach $83 billion in the coming five years. The domestic market growth is driven by a larger consuming class and increasing per capita consumption (currently only 3 kgs. of fiber per capita: 1/3rd of world average). India is hoping to become the second largest exporter of apparel among LCCs by 2010, next only to China

After the end of international quota regime, India will convert its cost advantages into a larger share of the global market. Foreign investors interested in Indian market can also exploit India's large and growing consumer market with increasing spending power.

India's cost advantages of manufacturing textiles and garments derive from- Abundant supply of inputs at competitive prices and Low cost labor with a range of skill levels - from unskilled labor to fashion design.

Special Economic Zones will build on these advantages by:

� Absence of domestic taxes or import duties

� 5 year income tax holiday followed by income taxes at 50% of the normal rate for as long as 10 years

� Reduced transaction costs

� Better infrastructure

Government is also planning to set up 25 integrated textile parks. There are over $30 billion worth investment opportunities for capacity expansion and modernization. Recently, Carrera Jeans has announced its Jeans manufacturing plant in India with an investment of over $110 million.

http://theindiaeconomy.blogspot.com/2008/06/investment-opportunity-in-textiles.html

By Steve A Wright

When the investment in your personal pension plan reaches maturity when you retire, you will need to transfer its accumulated value into a regular income for the remainder of your retirement. This is achieved through the purchase of a pension annuity - a seemingly simple and straight forward transaction that exchanges the final value of the pension fund into which you have been paying into a regular income.

Whilst the principle of a pension annuity is seemingly very straight forward, however, things are rarely quite as simple as they seem.

The first and probably most critical aspect of buying a pension annuity is that it is a long-term, one-off commitment. You have just one shot at it, since there is no going back and asking for a refund of all of the capital simply because, after the event, you have found a better deal elsewhere. In other words, it is very important that you make the right choice.

Making the right choice is made no easier by the fact that a host of different annuities all offer a host of different annuity rates - i.e. will offer a different level of income for the same amount of pension investment.

The difficulty is further compounded by the sheer number of different types of annuity available these days.

Standard annuity - the most conventional form of annuity is one that pays you a fixed income throughout the remainder of your life. The income is known in advance, so you have the security and peace of mind in knowing just how much that will be;

With profits annuity - as the name suggests, this relates the income you receive to an element of your initially invested sum that is in turn invested again in equities, bonds and gilts. In this way, your annuity reflects some of the risks inherent in such investments;

Unit-linked annuity - this is probably the choice for those prepared to take the greatest risk on an annuity that is entirely subject to the fluctuations of the investments made;

Immediate ("temporary" or "purchased life") annuity - this form of annuity needs to be purchased either from the cash element of your matured pension fund or some other cash resource. The advantage of this kind of annuity is that part of the annuity is treated as a return of your initial capital and, therefore, is not taxed, whereas the whole of your pension annuity would be subject to income tax;

Impaired life annuity - this is a type of annuity designed for those whose actuarial life expectancy is lower than someone of the same age in the general population. Different annuities will operate different definitions of what amounts to "impairment" of life, but it is generally a question of an existing serious illness or lifestyle factors such as smoking, obesity or past occupation.

Summary

The seemingly simple and straight forward question of converting the final value of a pension fund into a regular, income-paying annuity actually requires the kind of advice you can best receive from an independent financial adviser, since:

� Your pension annuity decision is of a one-off type that you need to get right the first time;

� There is considerable variation in the level of income paid by any one annuity - naturally, you would want the highest paying;

� There is a wide range of different types of annuity - some higher, some lower, risk - an independent financial adviser will be able to help you choose the one you want.

Steve Wright is Managing Director of Wrightway Financial Consultants, Independent Financial Advisers specialising in Pensions, Investments, Mortgages and Insurance. One of their major areas is pension annuity.

By William Mccready

THE IMPORTANCE OF THE PHYSICAL AND MENTAL

Just as a craftsman keeps his tools sharp, clean and well organized, so must a futures trader keep his "tools" in peak operating condition. A futures trader's ultimate tools are his mind and his body. Yes, we use systems, triggers, indicators, charts and other tools and tactics -- all important. But without the human trigger they are useless. If you do not take care of your physical and mental self and keep yourself in peak trading condition, you will not be able to maintain the level of concentration, stamina, quick reflexes and clear thinking necessary to succeed as a futures trader.

The goal of the futures trader is to achieve the total synergy of mind and body called the Alpha Zone. You have entered the Alpha Zone when your mental, physical and emotional control is at its peak. When this happens, you are trading "in the zone."

While some traders utilize biofeedback techniques to help them learn to achieve this state, there are a number of common sense things you can do to get yourself in the zone.

LISTEN TO YOUR BIOLOGICAL CLOCK

Humans are hard-wired to hunt during the day and sleep at night. Over the centuries, though, the human clock has been shaken up a bit, so that today we don't all reach our optimum operating peak at the same time of day.

We've all know people whose brains don't seem to click on until noon, the "not a morning person" types. Try to trade during the time of day when you know you're at your best. You can help yourself by trading in a bright, well-lit area with, preferably, a fair amount of natural light. Light, particularly sunlight, makes us more alert.

TUNE UP YOUR BODY

Trading is a sedentary occupation. Bodies at rest are easily fatigued. Jump-start your metabolism with an energizing walk or run early in the morning. During the day, relieve fatigue and stimulate your muscles with stretching or isometric exercises. Squeezing a small rubber ball helps some traders stay alert and focused.

FUEL YOUR BODY

Don't start your day with sugary foods. At first your blood sugar will spike and you'll feel alert. But as your blood sugar drops during the day, you'll feel increasingly fatigued and your performance will suffer. Some traders snack on energy bars mid-morning and afternoon to keep their bodies fueled. Make sure you check ingredients and avoid bars with high sugar contents. Sugary snacks will send you quickly careening from high alertness to dragging fatigue.

Protein and complex carbohydrates will help you achieve and maintain alertness and concentration. However, beware of naturally sleep-inducing foods such as turkey, milk, bananas, fish and egg whites. Foods that can perk you up include coffee, tea, chocolate, soft drinks, and herbal teas. Be cautious about using caffeine to maintain alertness. It can send you on the same peak and valley ride as sugar, with increased amounts of caffeine needed to achieve the same level of alertness each time the previous dose wears off.

CONTROL YOUR ENVIRONMENT

Dry, cool air will help keep you alert and focused, as will bright light -- particularly natural light. The smell of peppermint also increases alertness. A spritz of mint in the air a couple of times between noon and 1 p.m. can help get you through the lunchtime doldrums. Dull, repetitive sounds like a computer or fluorescent light humming can be sleep-inducing. Sharp, irregular sounds like loud conversation or a radio can be distracting. A set of soft earplugs from your local drugstore can solve both problems, improving concentration.

RECHARGE YOUR BATTERIES

Adequate sleep improves both performance and alertness. For your body to operate at peak efficiency, you must get enough sleep to enter the REM (rapid eye movement) cycle, which promotes learning, creativity and imagination. This is also the most restful of the four sleep cycles and is necessary in order to fully recharge your body's battery.

Human physiology affects our ability to achieve the mental, physical and emotional control needed to succeed as a futures trader. Like primitive hunters, futures traders are competing in a hostile world that demands total concentration and lightening reflexes to survive. All the technology we use can make many of our tasks, like analysis and charting, easier and can increase our profitability as futures traders; but technology is just a tool. Ultimately, we must rely on our minds and our bodies to pull the trigger and make the trade.

Bill McCready teaches people to make money trading. For 11 FREE futures trading lessons and a free ebook, visit http://www.FuturesTradingSecrets.com

By Joseph Kenny

Offshore banking, we have all heard about it before. Unfortunately, many are misinformed when it comes to offshore banking. We have all heard news reports of offshore accounts being used to front illegal activities or to avoid taxes. In fact, we have also seen it in the movies, being used a similar way. This has led many individuals to believe that offshore banking is illegal. Despite what you may believe, offshore banking is legal. However, how you use it may be considered illegal.

Offshore banking is done through a bank that is known as an offshore bank. Offshore banks are banks that are located in another country, other than the country that you reside in. For instance, if you live in the Untied States an offshore bank would not be located in the United States. Many popular offshore banks are located in Switzerland. There are a number of advantages to offshore banking, but there are disadvantages as well.

The biggest advantage of offshore banking is that you are offered privacy and stability. There are many individuals who place their money in offshore accounts for security purposes. When your money is in an offshore account, you can access it, but many choose not to. It is easier to access and spend your money if it is at a local bank. That is why a large number of individuals use offshore banking to help them increase their savings.

Another advantage of offshore banking is that just about anyone can open an account. The most common users of offshore banking are corporations, the self-employed, or individuals who wealthy. Offshore banks may have restrictions on the amount of money that is needed to open an account, but it is not always a large amount. Whether you are a small business owner, wealthy, or you consider yourself middle class, you should still be able to open up an offshore bank account.

As previously mentioned, offshore banking is often associated with illegal activities. One of these illegal activities is tax evasion. If you set up an offshore bank account, you will still need to report your savings. Not reporting all of your money in an offshore account can lead to you be brought up on tax evasion charges. It is important to note that you have the ability to prevent this from happening. As long as you choose to use your offshore bank account legally, there shouldn't be any disadvantages to having one.

The decision to open up an offshore bank account is a large one. If you are interested in opening up an offshore bank account, it is advised that you fully examine your decision. Many benefit from offshore banking, but not all do. If you are planning on using your offshore account to avoid a lawsuit or to evade taxes, you may want to reexamine your decision. As previously mentioned, there are serious consequences for doing this. As long as you plan on using your offshore account in a legal way, you can benefit immensely from offshore banking.

Joe Kenny writes for Only Stop, compare bank accounts in the UK, visit them today for savings accounts and also Compare Them for great savings accounts.

By Steve A Wright

A brief scan of the financial pages of the national press might give you some idea of the number of employers these days why are eager to switch their employees from final salary pension schemes into other, personal pension, plans. Many employers are so keen to encourage such a switch that they are offering a lump sum cash inducement for those who elect to transfer their pension rights in this way. Despite such an apparently attractive inducement, however, where can the employee get pension transfer advice that he or she can feel secure in knowing the transfer is in their own best interest?

The reason for many employers wanting to shift employees away from final salary schemes is that such schemes tend to be relatively expensive. For the employee, however, the attraction may well be the certainty offered by a final salary scheme, since it will be known all along just how the pension is calculated and what it is likely to amount to. A personal pension plan, however, will depend on the performance of the pension fund's investments and the equally unknown variations in annuity rates. So, the personal pension plan could do better, or it could do worse than, the occupational final salary scheme. How can the employee begin to compare the two, therefore, to know whether to accept the employer's incentive to quit the safety and certainty of a final salary scheme?

The answer is that it is an extremely difficult decision to make and not one which should be made without dependable pension transfer advice. The complicated nature of pension transfers is no idle judgment, but one that comes from the financial services industry regulator, the Financial Services Authority (FSA). Speaking about the responsibility of pension fund trustees towards any of its members who are thinking about a pension transfer, the Authority states: "Although it is not compulsory, the trustees should encourage members to take advice as pension transfers are complicated and it is difficult to make suitable decisions without advice, even when all the relevant information is provided".

So, the FSA itself would encourage anyone thinking of transferring from one pension scheme to another - and that includes a transfer out of a final salary scheme - should first consult an independent financial adviser. It is the independent financial adviser, for example, who can begin to make sense of the next most important piece of information you will need in order to weigh up the pros and cons of any transfer. That is a transfer value analysis and an estimate of the benefits that your present scheme would pay. Fairly obviously, this is something that would be needed before any comparison between the existing and new scheme could be attempted. Furthermore, the transfer value analysis is something that only the trustees of your present scheme could provide.

Summary

For whatever reason you are considering taking pension transfer advice, the best-placed source is an independent financial adviser because:

� Independent financial advice is recommended by the Financial Services Authority;

� You will need someone who can help you understand and interpret the transfer value analysis provided by the trustees of your current pension scheme;

� You will benefit from professional advice in weighing up the benefits and drawbacks of your present scheme compared to any alternative.

Steve Wright is Managing Director of Wrightway Financial Consultants, Independent Financial Advisers specialising in Pensions, Investments, Mortgages and Insurance. One of their major areas is pension transfer advice.

By Marjorie Salada

The government makes grants available as the need arises and there are times that the money actually goes unused. Government grants are a way of obtaining money that will not need to be paid back. This money can be used for many things and is normally offered for specific uses, such as; education, to start a small business or to by a home.

Free government grants are available to most anyone, but many times you have to meet certain criteria to be able to get these grants. Some may be just for women or just for minorities. If you meet the specific criteria, you are eligible for the grant.

Finding and apply for government grants can be tricky, because the government does not advertise their availability and their availability may vary from year to year. It is up to you to find these grants if you want the free money. Sometimes depending on what you are doing you may be told the grants are available. If you are looking for financial aid for an education, your counselor will know what grants may be available to you. When I bought my home, the builder made we aware of assistance programs that were available for down payment money.

But if you are sitting at home looking for free money, you may want to start with the internet. It is a great source of information and if it is available most likely somebody has written about it. There are also a number of services that compile lists and sell them for a small fee or offer memberships to a database that contains listings.

The government has a lot of free money to offer and they are offering it to anyone meeting there criteria. If you are applying for an education grant you must be attending or getting ready to attend school to apply, but other than that you are entitled to apply. This does not guarantee that you will receive the grant, but you don't apply you will never know.

A government grant can help you make a dream come true. Before you borrow money that has to be paid back, why not see what is available for free. Realize a dream with the help of the government.

Are there really government grants for everyone-find out how to get a list of government grants and how you can qualify for free government grants at http://governmentgrantstoday.com