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Tags: atm card, Banks, cash, cash card, debit card, Finance, india, Money, money to India, money transfer, money transfer to india, Personal Finance, send money, send money to india Posted in Personal Finance on March 1st, 2010 | No Comments »
The need to send money to India in order to help support family members is very common. In fact, this country is usually at or near the top of the listing of countries that receive the most funds in remittances each year. If you are interested in learning more little-known facts regarding transfers to the area, read on.
In 2005, India topped the register of most remittances for the year at more than $24 billion. China and Mexico were the following two nations on the listing. In 2008, it once again beat out China and Mexico with about $45 billion in transfers. Though clearly India is a very popular nation to remit funds to, it was not always this way. In 1990, just about $2 billion was sent to the area, a number that has increased slowly every year for nearly two decades. In 1996, it equaled over $12 billion, jumping to almost $22 billion in 2003.
Of course, the magnitude of the ability to send money to India has risen in the last 20 years, as well. This is because the GDP now depends on the funds sent, as so many citizens use it to fund their daily lives. In 1990, when transfers were a lot smaller than they currently are, they made up less than one percent of the GDP. In 1995, this amount increased to over three percent, and has stayed around that number since then. Unfortunately, the amount of people who send money to India is expected to fall by roughly seven percent as of 2009.
Despite the fact that the amount, of people who send money to India has indeed declined a bit since 2008, it has so far not decreased quite as much as some experts predicted. This may be because more Indian immigrants are nervous about losing their money, so they transfer it to the slightly more stable Indian market. Also, it is clear that relatives in India that get used to living off remittances still need help with their everyday expenses, so relatives living in the United States are likely to still help them as much as possible. This means that if you have to send money to India, you will not be alone.
Fortunately, the same money transfer, methods, as before are still available. You can send money to India using traditional pathways like a bank or money transfer services, or you can opt to use more technology-driven methods, such as a prepaid debit card. The more you learn about transfers to the area, the easier it will be to select the right way for you to send money to India.
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Tags: accounting, Accounts Receivable, bank debt collection, banking, Banks, business, checking accounts, collection agency, Credit, Credit Cards, debt collection, debt management, Finance, Loans Posted in Credit on February 20th, 2010 | No Comments »
Bank debt collection is somewhat different from other kinds of debt collection in more than one aspect. When armed with a few facts about bank debt collection, you’ll be able to choose the correct collection agency by being able to tell which one understands the unique needs of bank debt collection.
Collection agencies that concentrate on bank debt collection are well aware of the unique needs of this business. For example, instead of persistent phone calls that make the debtor nervous, they may approach the problem with a positive outlook and explain to the debtor that they are offering help.
If bank debt collection touches your business you should be aware that once a customer gets past the 60 day mark, it becomes increasingly likely over time that he or she won’t pay at all. Because of this, as soon as you start approaching this mark, it makes sense to call in a collection agency that is familiar with the intricacies of bank debt collection. Such an agency will know exactly how to coax these difficult clients into paying, and they will not charge anything up front. They only charge a percentage of what they recover, so there is no risk.
Specialized bank debt collection firms have innovative ways of getting the troublesome debtor on the phone. Rather than haranguing people with harassing phone calls, they are turning to unusual incentives to get the debtor on the phone.
The longer credit card bills go unpaid, the more they are statistically likely to remain unpaid. Third party debt collectors are experienced in the techniques that get slow paying clients moving, and get the bulk of their returns within 3 weeks of starting the process. For credit card debt, you want to get collection agencies involved right away.
On the other hand, for secured debt, the techniques are very different. Whether you have an in-house collection department or use a collection agency that specializes in bank debt collection, you’ll want to approach the debtor differently. Financial hardship programs are common among secured loans like mortgages and car loans.
Financial hardship programs restructure the client’s payments in one way or another. They can defer payments and tack on the missing money to the principal, lengthen the loan terms (from, say, 30 years for a mortgage to 40 years), or switch the payments to interest only for a period of time.
Financial hardship programs help out both the institution and the borrower when it comes to bank debt collection. For this reason, any bank debt collection program should consider such methods of turning bad debt into debt recovery.
David P. Montana has been a recognized industry expert, business consultant and published author in collection agencies services for thirty years. He provides more beneficial tips and resources on bank debt collection.
Tags: Banks, distressed, economy, fannie mae, foreclosure, Freddie Mac, loan, modification, Mortgage, real estate, realtors, Renting & Real Estate, short sale Posted in Renting & Real Estate on February 16th, 2010 | No Comments »
There are various ways to stop foreclosure immediately, but the most common way homeowners can prevent foreclosure is by using the loan modification process. During this time of financial unrest, getting out of a bad financial situation is not really unheard of. Families today have options and lenders are willing to work with your family to keep you in your home. The following ideas could help keep the stress off your shoulders and the creditors and loan collectors off your back.
Refinance your original loan. Money lenders will consider foreclosure refinance loans if they feel you will not neglect making payments to them. Qualifying for refinancing is tough and the requirements are strict. The requirements include equity from your home and a steady income. Although the payments may turn out to be higher some homeowners prefer to start off fresh and use refinance as one of the ways to stop foreclosure of their family home. But let’s face it; there has to be an easier way.
Sell your home to a family member or friend. Again this is one of the more undesirable ways of avoiding foreclosure, but again it is a way. Some family members take pride in being the bank and may give you more favorable terms allowing you to lease the home with a purchase option in the future. Just be sure that you paper everything as you would with a bank as proper loan documents give you many rights in case the relationship spoils in the future. Financial relationships between family members do not always work out.
Bankruptcy is an option. Actually this is more common than most people think, but it has a lasting effect on your credit and possibly your employment. Always seek the advice of good counsel before taking this path, and know this, it does not always prevent a foreclosure. One drawback to bankruptcy is the cost of hiring the attorney and certainly all your finances become public knowledge.
One of the easiest ways to stop foreclosure immediately is to sell the property outright before the foreclosure has time to proceed. If you can get enough for your home paying off your debt in time will stop the foreclosure from proceeding but will leave your family looking for a new place to live.
Work with a credit counseling service or loan modification service to prevent the foreclosure. As stated earlier, the banks do not want your home as they will lose more money by not working with you. But if they see that you have gone the lengths to hire a service to help you with your workout the may take you more seriously. The loan modification services know all the tricks and rights to getting the banks to do what they legally have to do.
Going into foreclosure does not have to be an option. With some determination and the right guidance you may be able to avoid it all together. In this market it seems that almost anything is possible but it does take longer to get things done because the banks are up to their ears in paperwork. If you are not good at treading water, you’d better learn because the process is not something that happens very fast.
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Tags: Advice, Bad Credit, Banks, business, cash, Credit, Finance, funds, leasing, loan, Mortgage, stock Posted in Credit on February 14th, 2010 | No Comments »
Saving money is not easy and is made more difficult if you have a short-term outlook regarding your personal finances. If, like many people, you are living from one pay cheque to the next, it is difficult to put some money aside for a rainy day or for a summer holiday. But what if you were to change your financial outlook into a medium to long-term one? You might believe that you cannot afford to think ahead and make plans, but in most cases you would be wrong. Most people should be able to save some money and with some effort, maybe even as much as 20 percent of their salary each month.
Step 1 - Income Analysis
First of all it is important to have a handle on where your income is going. Unless, we are on an extremely tight budget or are very money conscious for other reasons, many of us have never really sat down and considered what our money is being spent on - we just know that by the end of the month, it has all gone! You will know if you are consistently spending your money on unnecessary purchases, for example. Having this knowledge equips you with the control to change things a little or a lot.
Step 2 - Saving Money Mentality
Many people have never been taught to save and as children, immediately spent the money they received without any forethought. You often hear people say, “Life is short, if you want something buy it now”, but thankfully for most of us life is not really so short and along the way we will have to deal with both opportunities and challenges. Having some money saved will help you make the most of the opportunities and ride the challenges. Step 3 - Savings - Seeing the Big Picture
If you could save 20 percent of your salary each month, imagine what that would mean in real financial terms. For example, if you earn 2000 dollars per month and you saved 20 percent or 400 dollars out of every pay cheque, after 12 months you will have saved 4800 dollars! Regularly saving this amount of money would give you the financial freedom to take advantage of more of life’s opportunities. You could plan the special holiday you have always wanted to go on, buy the car that you have been dreaming about for years, or help put a child through college. When it comes to life’s challenges, having a lump sum put away could help you pay for private medical care or deal with an expensive plumbing problem in the home, all without having to turn to the bank for a loan and getting into debt.
Now Do Something Special or Pay Off That Debt! As we have already seen, knowing exactly where your money is going is the starting point. Next, start thinking about the big things you could achieve with some money in the bank. Some people compensate themselves for not having what they really want, by making many frequent small purchases and getting a temporary “feel good” sensation afterwards.
Rather than satisfying yourself with small purchases, such as new clothes and CDs every week or always buying the latest mobile phone, think about how much more satisfying it would be to save up and buy or do something special like going on holiday or important like paying off a debt. You can now do something which you previously thought was out of your reach, but is achievable with a little effort.
Emmanuel Mendonca is the webmaster of Living and Working in Greece at http://www.living-and-working-in-greece.com. Can debt consolidation loan help you reduce your debt?
Tags: Advice, Bad Credit, Banks, business, cash, Credit, Finance, funds, leasing, loan, Mortgage, stock Posted in Credit on February 11th, 2010 | No Comments »
Reverse mortgages used to be considered the last resort of desperate retirees who needed to borrow against their home equity in order to pay for medical expenses. With home prices across the country rising at astonishing rates, more and more retirees, aged 62 and over, are taking out reverse mortgages to fund better retirement living. A reverse mortgage works more or less the opposite way from a conventional mortgage; the borrower receives payments from the lender in the form of a lump sum, a line of credit, or monthly payments. The amount borrowed constitutes a lien against the home must be repaid upon the death of the borrower, or when the home is resold. There are costs associated with a reverse mortgage, however, and potential borrowers should be aware of these when considering taking out such a loan, particularly if the borrower takes out a line of credit.
All loans have fees associated with them. There are home appraisals, paperwork fees, mortgage insurance fees, and additional “points” added to the cost of the loan. In general, the costs of taking out a reverse mortgage are higher than those associated with a traditional mortgage. There are several reasons for this, including the fact that the time period for receiving repayment of the loan is indefinite, typically depending on how long the borrower lives. This uncertainty is added into the loan in the form of additional fees.
Most people who take out a reverse mortgage opt to take their funds in the form of a line of credit, rather than a lump sum or monthly payments. There are advantages to a line of credit, which allows the borrower to use the funds by simply writing checks against the loan. The primary advantage is that the borrower only uses the funds when he or she needs them. Because of this, interest only accrues on the money if the borrower actually writes checks.
Borrowers should be aware, however, that the costs of the loan, which can be substantial, apply even if the borrower doesn’t write any checks against the loan. If the homeowner takes out a line of credit and decides to sell the home shortly thereafter without ever having written a check against the loan, the borrower will not owe the lender any interest or principal, but the borrower will lose the money paid for the cost of the loan, which is not refundable. If the borrower rolled the costs into the loan itself, they could owe payments even if they never wrote a check.
In short, borrowers considering taking out a reverse mortgage should make sure that they plan to stay in their home for quite some time and that they actually need the money from such a loan. A reverse mortgage is a great idea for those who have a specific purpose or use in mind, but as an emergency source of “rainy day” funds, it can be an expensive choice
Site devoted to information on home equity loans Learn how a reverse mortgage provides guaranteed retirement income
Tags: Advice, Bad Credit, Banks, business, buy, cash, Credit, Finance, leasing, loan, Mortgage, Shopping Posted in Credit on February 11th, 2010 | No Comments »
Almost two thirds of first time buyers accept the first mortgage they are offered and fail to shop around, often missing out on better deals.
Many first time buyers feel pressurised by their estate agents into quickly organising a mortgage for fear of losing out on a property or are attracted to a low interest rate without looking at the mortgage deal as a whole.
However, with such a vast range of mortgage lenders to choose from, first time buyers are well advised to step back and do a little research before they commit.
There are a number of places to find good mortgage deals:
Speak to your bank
Your bank or building society may provide special offers to their account holders, but don’t feel that you have to accept their offer through customer loyalty as there are many other places to look.
Consult with a financial advisor
Financial advisors can offer you a range of mortgage deals to choose from that are appropriate to your circumstances. Some financial advisors offer free advice, but can only provide a limited range of mortgages, through which they earn a commission.
Independent financial advisors will offer a wider range of deals, but you may need to pay them to provide this advice. However, this is often a worthwhile investment, as commission earnings do not influence the advisor, so the mortgage is more likely to meet your requirements.
Get on the net
A search on Google will generate a list of hundreds of UK mortgage providers to choose from. Many will have online mortgage calculators, to give you an idea of your repayments.
Alternatively you can use financial comparison sites, such as MoneySupermarket.com to do the work for you. Simply enter your requirements and let the comparison site search hundreds of providers to provide you with the best deals.
Don’t always depend on the rate
Don’t always assume that a low interest rate makes a cheap mortgage. Providers often use low rate deals to attract new customers, however you may end up paying more money in the long-term.
Check the small print of the mortgage and find out if you will be penalised financially for opting out of the deal early or if there are any hidden costs.
Don Suter is Managing Editor of the UK Property Portal (http://www.ukpropertyportal.co.uk), an online directory. Mortgage Loan Interest Rates
Tags: Advice, Bad Credit, Banks, business, cash, Credit, Finance, funds, leasing, loan, Mortgage, mortgage calculator, stock Posted in Credit on February 10th, 2010 | No Comments »
There is a tendency among people to keep their resources in a form that is not easily cash convertible. The arrangement holds good till the individual is faced with an exigency involving cash. This is the time when the individual is led into a tight spot; with little hope from ones own personal resources because they will take time to be converted into a liquid state. Instant loans in cash form will be the need of the time.
Instant loan for cash is also useful for individuals who have already finished their monthly paycheque and need an immediate cash replenishment to meet several expenses that demand an instant fulfillment.
So what is an instant loan for cash? Isn’t this the question that is bothering your mind? If yes, then the following article will be very informative for you.
Instant cash loan is a loan, with the loan provider and the borrower forming the two parties to the loan contract. With this, the similarity of instant loans cash ends with the regular loans.
Most of the regular loans are taken in order to avail of larger resources. Secured loans, for instance put thousands of pounds in the hands of the borrower. Similar is the case with car loans, education loans and bridging loans. Instant loans cash on the other hand are taken for comparatively smaller amounts. Instant loans cash are more similar to payday loans where the amount drawn is to be used for regular small expenses.
It is also because of the minor amount involved that the fast loan in the UK is approved immediately and without much hassles. The instantaneous approval is what gives instant loan cash a distinct status. Borrowers are promised the fast loan in the UK within 24 hours. This means that they can expect a credit to their bank account by the next day of application. This is the method by which the proceeds of instant loan cash are received. It also forms a part of the eligibility criteria expressly stated by the loan providers. Other qualifying criteria for instant loan cash includes:
The loan borrower must be employed.
Remuneration received from the employment must be deposited directly into a bank account of the borrower.
It will be important to discuss with the loan provider chosen up to what time will the fast loan be approved and sanctioned. Though applications for instant loans cash are available 24 hours through an online website, applications made up to a certain time period may only be considered during a day. If you know what is the time till which applications are considered for approval during a day, you can easily time your application.
Another distinct feature of instant loans cash is that the repayment term is small. Like in a short-term loan, one needs to repay the instant loans cash in a very small period. This may be a week, a month or a maximum of six months till which borrowers are given extension in repayment terms. This may however, differ with lenders. Some lenders are ready to increase the term of repayment when the borrower is facing certain exigencies. A shorter repayment term will be viewed as advantageous by some people who feel that paying off the fast loan UK early will be better than bearing the burden for several years.
The downside to instant loans cash is the high rate of interest that it carries. Whatever you thought to gain from a shorter term of repayment is eroded through the high rate of interest. Being a short-term loan, the higher rate of interest is no rarity. It is expected. The best method to keep the interest cost in check will be to repay it as soon as possible. If managed well, instant loans cash can help one tread through temporary periods of financial shortage as no other methods can.
Secured loan web site loans fiesta for any type of loans in uk,secured loans,unsecured loans,debt consolidation loans please visit http://www.loansfiesta.co.uk Exceptional site for educational loan rates.
Tags: Advice, Bad Credit, Banks, business, cash, Credit, Finance, loan, Mortgage Posted in Credit on February 10th, 2010 | No Comments »
“If it can be manufactured, it can be leased.” For the past decade or so, this statement has become more and more true to fact. From computer software to commercial aircraft, equipment leases are utilized day in and day out in a constantly changing and highly aggressive business environment worldwide. To gain or to keep the edge over their competitors, companies of every type and size are constantly looking for creative ways to conserve working capital while expanding operations. Many have turned to leasing their equipment to help in the effort. For this reason, the leasing industry is being defined as a major player in equipment financing today.
So, why should you join these businesses in choosing to lease? Well, one key factor is that the commencement of a lease can be done with very little out of pocket expense. Two advanced payments or an equal security deposit is usually all that’s required. Couple this with the fact that for many leases, particularly those under $75,000, a simple one page credit application is all that is needed to be considered for approval. Compare this against an equipment loan, with it’s more extensive paperwork and the resulting 10 to 50 percent down payment required to begin the transaction.
Leasing will also allow your business to maintain credit lines with the banks. This preserves the company’s borrowing power for future expansion, investing, or other types of growth where leases cannot satisfy the need.
Many business owners don’t like the idea of paying a premium rate in order to both own and use equipment. If obsolescence is an issue, such as in the hi-tech sector, most companies find it more desirable to be able to walk away from outdated equipment having completed a short term lease. The average term runs anywhere from 2 to 5 years, after which the business can begin another lease and acquire more, up-to-date equipment. This progression can give your company a vital edge over it’s competitors. Other leasing benefits could be expounded upon, such as the tax advantages, lower monthly payments, fixed expenses and the off-setting of inflation, but you can see the point.
Now, simply realizing that leasing is beneficial for your business and then pursuing it as a course of action is only the start. Like bank loans, there are elements of a lease request that increase the chances of funding. That may seem like a no-brainer, but many business owners expect more leniency from lessors than any lending institution is able to provide. Leasing companies, like your business, are in the process to make money. Therefore, some consideration on your part is in order. You should try to give the lessor at least a 70 percent chance of funding your request. Below are the most crucial points of review:
Your Time in Business - Since about 90 percent of all businesses fail in the first three years, most lessors will require of the lessee a minimum of two years in business. In addition, there is generally a maximum transaction amount of $10,000 to $15,000 for businesses under three years old. However, some lessors, in order to compete in their market, have relaxed those requirements or developed special programs for startups and young companies. These types of programs will obviously demand higher lease rates, but the ability for a new business to obtain necessary equipment fairly quickly and with a minimum of paperwork still makes the process very worthwhile.
Credit History of Guarantor(s) - Lessors will make decisions based on a lessee’s credit history after reviewing their consumer and/or business credit report. The leasing company looks for numerous late or delinquent credit commitments, lawsuits or judgments, bankruptcy, unverified residence, short credit history, and debt larger than what is stated on the application. Keep in mind, however, that some of the above problems can still be overcome during the approval process.
Bank Relationship - Your business should have a checking account that has been established for at least two years and has had an adequate average daily balance for that period of time. If there have been any NSF’s, they must not be recent.
Trade Relationships - It’s a strong indicator that your business has good cash flow if discounts are offered (i.e., 2% 10 days: net 30 days). The leasing company looks for trade accounts that are paid on time and within the terms of agreement.
Financial Statements - Generally, if the lease amount is more than $50,000 to $75,000, a full financial package is mandatory. This includes, but is not necessarily limited to, the last two year end financial statements, with a complete balance sheet and profit and loss statement. An interim statement for the current and last year’s comparative period is often required as well if the year-end financials are over six months old.
Other considerations include: the type and cost comparisons of the equipment (collateral), the extent of the lessee’s trade credit and bank borrowing lines, and leasing history of the business.
Though it isn’t crucial to have every one of the afore mentioned points strong, an above average ranking in the majority of them greatly increases the probability of funding. It also increases your likelihood of receiving a better rate. If your business demonstrates strength in only one or two of these areas, it is still possible to secure the financing, though the choice of lessors becomes a bit more limited and the elevated risk is reflected by a higher lease rate.
It’s always in a company’s best interest for the decision-makers to consider leasing as a means of capital conservation. And as you can see, it’s also important to prepare for the transaction should the decision be made to pursue it. The majority of businesses that utilize equipment leasing each year in the United States and Canada continue to do so with at least some of their equipment thereafter. Contacting a leasing company representative or a broker can help you determine if leasing can create an environment of improved cash flow and an opportunity for growth in your business.
Mark Uptain is a Business Finance Consultant residing in Washington State. His website offers free equipment leasing information. For more information on commercial loan services for your business.
Tags: Advice, Bad Credit, Banks, business, Credit, Finance, loan, Mortgage Posted in Credit on February 10th, 2010 | No Comments »
Believe it or not, many people do not understand equity and the power it provides.
In its purest form, equity is money. With regard to real estate (specifically, your house or other investment property), equity is measured in terms of the value of the property minus what you owe. So, if your home is valued at $100,000, and you owe $40,000 on it, you have $60,000 in equity (actual money that is available to you, under particular circumstances).
Surprisingly, many people have this type of equity and do not take advantage of it. Some people are actually in dire financial straits and fail to realize their problems can be solved very easily, by taking the equity from their home. Remember, your home is a “vault,” and the money inside that vault belongs to you. Best of all, you can use that money/ equity for anything you desire, from home improvement to travel expenses to spending money.
Exactly what is a home equity line of credit or HELOC? A home equity line of credit, which lenders and mortgage brokers refer to as a HELOC, is a different kind of home loan. An equity line has different rates and terms from a conventional first mortgage. In a standard home loan, or mortgage, your monthly payments cover both the principal loan and the interest you are charged.
Most mortgage payments include escrow, or taxes and insurance. An equity line of credit payment does not reduce your principal loan amount and does not include escrow. You are borrowing the equity in your house and paying the bank an interest premium on that loan. With a HELOC, you pay only the interest on the loan and, generally, you get the money for less time than you do a standard first mortgage.
The underwriting on these loans is very simple, and in most cases, the loans are very easy to get. At close, you either get one big check, which you can deposit into your savings or checking account or you can get a check book and treat your equity line of credit as another checking account. The payment on equity lines is very enticing. Paying interest only makes for a very low payment. It’s important to remember, though, when paying interest only, you are not paying down the principal loan balance.
The Power of Interest-Only Payments So, let’s suppose you take an equity line for $50,000 at 4.25% interest. This interest rate is based on the Prime rate, a floating rate that can change but does not fluctuate very often. When this article was first published, the prime rate was 4.25 percent. So, on your $50,000 equity line of credit, your payment is $177.00 each month. This is an incredibly low payment on a loan of this size. This gives you a great deal of power, because you can control a large sum of money for an extremely low monthly payment. It is this low, because you are only paying the interest on the loan.
At the end of the first year, you will have paid the bank over $2,100. You will, however, still owe $50,000. This is because your monthly payment is an interest-only payment. This is where some people can get in trouble with home equity lines of credit. If you use all the equity in your home and never pay down the balance, then decide to sell your house, you won’t make anything on the sale, because you’ll owe it all to the bank.
It is also important to understand the terms on a home equity line of credit (HELOC). When talking to mortgage professionals about home equity lines of credit, be sure you understand the terms, as lenders vary on what they’ll offer. Like conventional mortgages, which have terms of 30 years, 15 years, 10 years, etc., home equity lines also have various terms, but not all lenders offer them. Don’t let this confuse you. Just find your trustworthy mortgage broker, and tell him or her exactly what you want.
Unlike mortgage payments, which include complicated yearly amortization of the principal loan amount, interest-only payments are calculated very easily. You can do it in two simple steps. To find out your payment, first learn what rate of interest you’ll be charged. If you are using 80 percent or less of the equity available and you have an A credit rating, you’ll be able to get the best rate available, which is the prime rate.
Now, let’s assume you have $40,000 in equity in your house, but you only need $20,000 (taking less than 100% of the equity is important). You take $20,000 and multiply it by 4.25%, which gives you 850. This is what you’ll pay each year to borrow $20,000. Next, divide the 850 by 12 for a monthly, interest-only payment. Your payment for your $20,000 home equity line of credit is $70.83.
This is a very powerful loan. Imagine paying less than 71 dollars for the ability to control $20,000. Some people pay more for cable TV or their monthly cell phone bill. Some people even take the equity in their home and invest it elsewhere. You’re probably figuring out how much equity you have right now, and what you can do with that money!
To learn how you can turn your equity into a never-ending money cycle that will fill your bank account year after year, read Winning the Mortgage Game. Whatever you decide, open the cash vault inside your home, and make use of your equity today.
Mark Barnes is author of the wealth-building system, Winning the Mortgage Game and other investment real estate books. Supported by: Find the Best Loan Rates in minutes
Tags: Advice, Bad Credit, Banks, business, cash, Credit, Finance, funds, leasing, loan, Mortgage, stock Posted in Credit on February 9th, 2010 | No Comments »
For years investors have been taught to look into the composition of a mutual funds. In other words the “experts” want you to take the time to analyze the stocks within the mutual fund portfolio, categorize them by industry group and try to understand the objective of the fund manager. This is nonsense.
When I go the track I look to see what the horse has been doing for the last several races. I don’t give a hoot what he had for breakfast. All I want to know is has he been fast? Is there a good chance he will finish in the money in the next race? I only want to know how he has been performing.
Most mutual fund managers, except those who follow index funds, are always trading. You have no idea that what is in the portfolio today was there yesterday or will be tomorrow. Some fund managers trade more than others, but you can prove this to yourself by looking at the fund prospectus at the beginning of the year and one of the updates that funds publish quarterly. Many of the stocks will still be there, however, you don’t know if the percentage holdings are the same.
By the way, don’t bother reading a mutual fund prospectus. They are worthless when it comes to making money. Consider that most of the information in it is about a year old by the time you read it. Think about this seriously for a minute. Is there anything you can find out in the document that will show up in your bottom line? I’ll wait while you think. OK? There really wasn’t anything was there? All prospectuses are basically worthless.
But you say the SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission) in Washington approved this. No, they did NOT. They don’t approve of anything; they just read it to be sure it meets the regulatory requirements for disclosure. There is almost no difference between the prospectus for the worst mutual fund and the best mutual fund and both of them may have been read by the same Dilbert in his cubicle at the SEC.
There is one excellent way to find out which fund to buy. It is based on performance. How much has the fund increased in price during the past 12 months? Just 12 months. Many financial analysts want you to look at 3-year, 5-year and 10-year performance. Remember that horse? I don’t care how many races he won 3 or 5 years ago. Can he run NOW? There are many publications and web sites that tell you the best performers. Investor’s Business Daily prints a list of best performing funds each day. You might have to see the paper every day as they sometimes just tell about the long-term performance. You want the last 12 months and the last 3 months.
Three years ago you could have bought the best performing fund on the street and today have a dog. I call a dog any mutual fund that is not outperforming the S&P500 index.
If you were a jockey you would want to ride the fastest horses because in many races you get a percentage of the purse. The same applies to mutual funds. You must own only the best performing funds at all times. Like the jockey you must pick the fastest horse if you want to be a winner.
You should review your fund holdings monthly to see that you are only in the best funds. It might take you an hour, but you will find that you will double the current return on your mutual fund investments. Do it!
Read the first chapter at http://www.mutualfundmagic.com and discover why he’s the man that Wall Street does not want you to know. The most common type of securities sales agent is called a broker or stock broker
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