A Safe Investment Strategy

After years of unprecedented market gains the recent financial meltdown has caused investors nationwide to wake up with a head-splitting financial hangover. Believe me, I know your pain.
The worst was taking a 90 percent loss while vested in a technology mutual fund. Who could have predicted that a well-run fund could lose? It was managed by top notch, Harvard educated managers. That one hurt a lot. Real money saved over years and lost in mere months.

The security of your investments is becoming more and more important these days. Investors want to be able to anticipate decent returns in the stock market, but the market takes them on a roller coaster ride that would be the envy of any amusement park. One day it's a 200 point rise and setting a new record high on the Dow, then the next a 300 point tumble that takes six weeks to shake off.

If you're like me, you have taken that ride more than once over the years. It's happened in a big way twice in the past decade alone!

The series of highs and lows can leave you with a feeling of hopelessness. How can you know if a company is cooking the books? How can you predict if there will be another terrorist attack that will cripple our Country for months? Who has a crystal ball that can reveal when the next financial market meltdown will wash over us? Whenever these cycles hit personal fortunes are wiped out in a blink of an eye.

You may be thinking, "So what else can I invest in?"

The answer is to invest in real estate...but maybe not in the way the first comes to mind.
Real estate is an asset that you see and touch, is insured, and produces monthly income. Historically it is one of the safest investments available and there are several ways to get started. Here's a few:

1) The "Speculator" Approach - you could become a real estate "speculator" and buy properties with the hope that they will go up in value and allow you to reap windfall profits when you sell. Of course, this type of approach has a large amount of risk which has left large numbers of speculators who were consumed with "Flipping Frenzy" over the last few years in a very tough place when the market turned and did not favor their investment approach.

2) The Landlord Approach - on a more traditional level, you could buy a home, duplex, or small apartment building and rent the property out. Over time as you collect rent your tenants will pay off your mortgage. This does take some time, work, and experience. This approach is rather safe and can result in a good return in both the short and long term. The downside is that there can be a large amount of time required to make this work.

Now what if you find yourself in large group of over 200 Million Americans who want the benefits of real estate investing but don't have the spare time or hard-nosed demeanor needed to be a successful landlord? While not as well known as the first two methods, there is a third approach.

3) The Passive Method - this style of investing is known as making "Private Mortgage Loans". Private Mortgage Loans, when set up properly, can provide your portfolio with a great return in any real estate market. Up, down, flat...it doesn't really matter.

The investment model is simple. You directly loan money, at a very low loan-to-value, against a piece of real estate. The borrower is typically a tried-and-true veteran landlord that has a portfolio of equity-rich properties and also is familiar with the ins-and-outs of finding tenants and managing rental property.

Your return comes in the form of interest payments from your borrower and because you establish the loan terms together you can have the payments come regularly or have them rolled into the loan and paid out in one lump sum when the loan term is over.

To provide you with the safety you want, your investment is secured by a first mortgage. As long as you follow common-sense lending practices then you can enjoy a level of confidence in your investments that the stock market cannot provide.

Private Mortgage Lending is a vehicle that can help you quickly recover from harsh stock market losses. Using this approach you can realize returns greater than 10% and never get called to fix a leaky pipe. Unfortunately, most investors aren't even aware this opportunity exists.

Now that you've read this article, you can't claim ignorance as an excuse. Stop what you are doing and start looking for someone who needs a private mortgage with whom you can do business with. Find a landlord at your local real estate investor association, hit a round of golf together, and see if it makes sense to do business together. Then take action and make your first investment. Start small if it makes you feel better, but get started.

Failure to take action puts you in jeopardy of letting it slide to the bottom of your to-do list. If that happens, in a year you'll wonder why things have not changed for you financially.

Brian Teets is a lifetime resident of Michigan who has endured the ups and downs of the stock market. To request a FREE CD that reveals how you can get started with the safe investment of private mortgage loans, call his office at 734-328-6020 or by visiting his website at http://www.InvestInMichigan.org

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Brian_Teets

10 Easy Ways To Organize Your Business Finances

10 Easy Ways To Organize Your Business Finances

Whether you are a new entrepreneur or a more experienced business owner, taking control of your finances can feel like a part-time job. Some simple tips can help you streamline your time, organize your finances and reduce the stress of business money matters.

1. Keep Your Bills in One Place

When the mail comes, make sure it goes in one place. Misplaced bills can be the cause of unwanted late fees and can damage your credit rating. Whether it's a drawer, a box, or a file, be consistent. Size is also important. If you get a lot of mail, use an area that won't get filled up too quickly.

2. Pay Your Bills on Schedule

Bill paying can be simplified if it's done at scheduled times during the month. Depending on how many bills you receive, you can establish set times each month when none of your bills will be late. If you're paying bills as you receive them, chances are you're spending too much time in front of the checkbook. Although bills may state "Payable Upon Receipt", there's always a grace period. Call the creditor to find out when they need to receive payment before the bill is considered late.

3. Read Your Credit Card Statements

Most people take advantage of low interest credit card offers but never read their statements when paying the bill. Credit cards are notorious for using low interest as bait for new customers then switching to higher rates after a few months. Make a habit of looking at your statement carefully to see what interest rate you are paying each month and if any transaction fees have been applied. If the rate increases or a transaction fee appears on your statement, a simple call to the credit card company can oftentimes be beneficial in resolving the matter. If not, try to switch your money to a more favorable rate.

4. Take Advantage of Automatic Payments

Most banks offer a way to automatically deduct money from your account to pay creditors. In addition, the creditors usually offer a lower interest rate when you sign up for this payment option because they get their money faster and on-time. Consider it as one fewer check to write, envelope to lick and stamp to buy. Just make sure you record the deduction when the automatic payment is scheduled or you run the risk of bouncing other checks.

5. Computerize Your Checkbook

Using a software program is a handy way to organize your finances. Whether it's Quicken(r), Microsoft Money(r) or another package, these easy-to-use programs make bill paying and bank reconciliation a cinch. Computer checks can be ordered almost anywhere and fit right into most printers. Once the checks are printed, all of the information is automatically recorded in your electronic checkbook. Furthermore, many banks have direct downloads into these software packages so when money is deposited or withdrawn, the transaction is entered immediately onto your computer. And, when it comes time to do taxes, it couldn't be easier.

6. Get Overdraft Protection

Most banks have a service where, if you run the risk of bouncing a check, the money will come from another source. For a nominal fee, the bank will link your checking account to either a savings, money market, or credit card so the embarrassment of bouncing a check will be avoided. Call or visit your bank to learn about this convenient feature.

7. Cancel Unused Accounts

Whether it's a credit card or bank account, write a letter requesting that the account is formally closed. Not only will this improve your credit score, it is a useful way to avoid money from being scattered all over the place. Don't let department stores and credit card companies lure you into opening new accounts by offering favorable interest rates and purchase discounts. It's easy for credit to get out of hand by taking advantage of every credit offer that comes your way.

8. Consolidate Your Accounts

If you have several credit card accounts with outstanding balances, try to consolidate them into one. Be careful and check the balance transfer interest rates and one-time fees. Also, make a list of all your open Money Markets, Savings, CDs, IRAs, Mutual Funds, and other accounts to see if any consolidation can be done. Keeping your money in fewer places eliminates all of the guesswork involved and reduces errors.

9. Establish Automatic Savings

This can usually be done through the banks and automatic amounts will be transferred over each month. Most people will not put money into a savings account on a regular basis. They may wait until a large tax refund check arrives or some other event to actually deposit money into savings, retirement or other accounts. If you establish an automatic savings deposit every month, your accounts will begin accumulating money faster than you think.

10. Clean up Your Files

Make sure your paid bills are organized in a filing cabinet. Keep individual files for paid bills. Go through your files at the end of each year and throw out bills and receipts no longer needed for auditing purposes. Contact your local IRS office to see how long records need to be kept for audits. Usually federal tax return audits can be done three years back but cancelled checks may need to be kept for seven. Consult the Internet for auditing and records-keeping procedures for your state or region.

(c) 2005 DebtGuru.com(r). This article may be freely distributed as long as the signature file and active link are included.

About the author:
Michael G. Peterson is the Vice President of American Credit Foundation, an IRS 501 (c)(3) non-profit consumer credit counseling organization that has assisted thousands of individuals and families with their financial situations through seminars, education, counseling services, and, debt management plans. For more information, and free consumer resources visit http://www.debtguru.com.

Written by: Michael G. Peterson

More about Finance at www.finance.aez20now.com.

5 Small-Cap Stocks to Keep an Eye On

5 Small-Cap Stocks to Keep an Eye On
(NewsUSA) - The highest-risk stock investments tend to belong to the newest companies. But, with such low buying prices, they can sometimes have big payoffs.

Small-cap and micro-cap stocks usually have little or no proven track record, often leading to an investment without much knowledge. The risk investors take with such stocks is based greatly on the potential for explosive payoffs. You never know when the next investment you make for mere cents could become the next Microsoft or Sony.

So, how do you invest in the right companies? Research. Research. Research.

Market reports and resources like the QualityStocks.net Daily Newsletter, which contains stock tips from hundreds of online investment newsletters, can help guide you on your path to finding the perfect investment. Here are five companies to add to your "research list."

Angstrom Microsystems, Inc. (AGMS.OB): Angstrom Microsystems has developed innovative technologies to combat rising energy prices. As computers continue to increase in performance, the amount of energy required continues to rise. By using Angstrom's liquid cooling, ultra-efficient power technologies and acceleration software, businesses can substantially decrease their computing costs by reducing the power needed.

Hybrid Technologies, Inc. (HYBR.OB): Hybrid Technologies, Inc. is committed to using its resources for the development and marketing of lithium-powered vehicles and products, as well as commercial and residential properties. The Company has successfully manufactured and delivered electric cars to companies, consumers and government agencies. With oil trading over $100 a barrel, the company has a bright future.

Global Roaming Distribution, Inc. (GRDB.OB): Global Roaming Distribution, Inc. is the parent company of CelTrek, an international global SIM card company. CelTrek is the first U.S.-based company of its kind that offers one SIM card for use in all seven continents at an extremely competitive price. Its strategic partnerships with more than 350 GSM systems position the company to be the top business roaming solution for corporations and leisure travelers around the globe.

Medefile International, Inc. (MDFI.OB): Medefile International, Inc. is focused on developing technologies and services that assist clients with the collection, management and distribution of key health data including medical records and images. The Company's proprietary system gathers and digitizes medical records so that anyone can have comprehensive records of all their medical visits.

Nascent Wine Company, Inc. (NCTW.OB): Nascent Wine Company, Inc., also known as Nascent Food Service, is one of Mexico's largest distribution, sales, merchandising and promotions companies of imported food and beverage products. Its ability to provide a broad selection of foods and beverages has enabled the company to build a strong brand and a loyal customer base.





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Jenn Hoffman is a host of The QualityStocks Daily News Segment each day at QualityStocks.net, and she also works as an independent business consultant to select companies nationwide. Most recently she was featured on "The Apprentice." Hoffman will be active with "The QualityStocks for Women" newsletter, geared toward investment-minded women. To sign up for the newsletter, log on to http://Signup.QualityStocks.net.

Simple Steps to Follow on the Path to Financial Freedom

Simple Steps to Follow on the Path to Financial Freedom
(NewsUSA) - Tax season is underway, which means money is on the mind. But paying taxes or anticipating that refund are not the only things you should be thinking about.

Whether you make a six-figure salary or just started climbing the corporate ladder, setting long-term financial goals is crucial for your future.

Here are three easy steps to follow toward the path to financial freedom:

* Watch your spending habits. Credit debt can take a lot out of your retirement earnings. Set a budget and be responsible about sticking to it.

* Make the most of your money. Diversify your investment portfolio with the right mix of growth and stability, including large and small stocks and company shares and bonds. This will minimize risk and help you produce additional growth.

* Get the most from the IRS. "Consider savings plans with tax advantages, like IRA's," says Eric Solis, certified financial planner and CEO of SAVE252. "These will help you reach your financial goals sooner."

Individual Retirement Accounts (IRA's) offer huge tax breaks. Even if you contribute to your company's 401(k) plan, it is still possible to put additional earnings aside. If you are under 50, you can put up to $5,000 in your IRA account every year tax-free. For those over 50, there's a catch-up provision that allows you to put in an extra $1,000 tax-free.

For those who can't come up with IRA money by tax day, there are programs like SAVE252 designed to allow individuals to fund IRAs in increments throughout the year. Taking advantage of such programs can help provide some discipline into saving more money while allowing you to be in complete control of your savings.

For example, putting $19.92 away 252 times a year with the SAVE252 program will allow you to have your maximum IRA contribution in by the end of the year and save $1,600 on your taxes, depending on your tax bracket. If you are in a lower tax bracket, you can opt for a more flexible program that allows you to put as little as $1 a day into savings for your future.

For more information and more money saving options, go to www.save252.com.