Investor Crisis

By Doug West

If the meltdown on Wall Street has taught us anything about investing it is this:

"We Better Learn To Make Our Own Investment Decisions -And Not Let Brokers Make Choices For Us!"

This basic fact we have been preaching for many years now. It seems investors either blindly throw money at the market or let a broker do it for them. You should learn to direct your investment accounts and retirement funds on your own.

In this article we will point you in the right direction, and give you a few crisis tips too.

ETFs (Exchange Traded Funds) are an excellent alternative to mutual funds as an investment vehicle for your retirement or other accounts.

There are now ETFs that cover every sector of the market. ETFs offer many advantages over mutual funds. Here are just a few:

* Tax Advantages - ETFs seldom sell any equity positions or create taxable profit midstream. Mutual funds do this often. With mutuals, you could owe tax on part of the funds holdings (the winning stocks they sell at a profit) even though you lost money over all. A double whammy!

* Less Management Costs - Even No-Load Mutual funds have become top heavy with many "Professionals" employed and eating up GIANT parts of the profit. You might think of ETFs as Electronically Traded Funds. MUCH less management costs (in some cases no management costs) and the ease of trading them.

* Diversification - Let's face it, this is what was attractive about mutual funds to begin with. Instead of picking out stocks on your own, you had "Professionals" (with the meltdown we can see that most of them are not too professional) putting together a diversified portfolio for you. With ETFs, you can get the same if not better diversification without the hassle of dealing with a mutual fund giant eating up all the profits.

* Easy To Trade - With true mutual funds you can only get out of a position After the market closes. You can trade ETFs just like a stock in your discount brokerage account. If you were locked into a fund when the market was in crash mode, it was not a good feeling. Had that been an ETF you could have bailed at any time (before the DOW closed down 777 points!)

We could go on with the benefits of ETFs, but you should be starting to see the picture. An even better way to call your own shots with your investments is to trade the index (or indices for plural). We are referring to the mini Dow, the S&P eMini, the mini Russell and others. (there are also ETFs the mirror the indices such as "SPY" for the S&P 500 index)

While we focus on mini-Dow trading, any index will do. With Index trading, you just follow the overall market up, or ride it down with a short position.

While we are on the subject of shorts it would be good to mention that while most US mutual funds are not allowed to short a stock, you can actually buy ETFs that do good with the market is dropping. One such fund is ticker "DUG" which does well when the Oil price is dropping (a tip we gave our readers after the big run up in oil to over $140 per barrel - at the time of this writing it has been dropping since).

You can find other ETFs that do well in falling markets. So, you don't have to short the market (statistics show that 80% or more of investors never do short the market - but are always looking for a upward bull run), you just buy the right ETF and let it do the shorting for you. These are at times referred to as Inverse ETFs.

By now, many investors see the importance of having a strategy for making money when the market is dropping. Most investors have yet to develop this strategy. We prefer to do it with simple index trades. Whatever you do, find a way to make your own moves and don't depend on someone else to invest your money for you. No one will take care of your money like you will!

*********************************************************** NOTE: To learn more about ETF's visit Yahoo Finance and look under the Investing Tab at the top of the page - then select ETFs www.finance.yahoo.com ***********************************************************

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Debt-Free Report

New Reverse Mortgage Law Gives Home Buyers Another Option

By Tiag Vanrock

Borrowers, aged 62 and older, now have an additional financial tool to help them purchase that home they formerly thought was out of the budget. As of january 1, 2009 the government is allowing the reverse mortgage to be used the fund the purchase of a home, rather than just as a refinancing tool. The program works almost identically to any other home purchase with a mortgage. The borrower brings in adequate downpayment, and the mortgage company funds the loan.

How this program is of use the the borrower is in the fact that the borrower is not required to make mortgage payment to the lender.

Traditionally, the reverse mortgage acted as a safety net for seniors, allowing them to use the equity in their homes as a source of income to supplement their lifestyles. In return a reverse mortgage lender allows interest on borrowed moneys to accrue rather than being repaid to the lender on a monthly basis.

Reverse mortgage lenders make money from the accrual of interest over time. When the last surviving spouse dies or the borrower chooses to sell the property, the original loan plus accrued interest is repaid to the bank.

This is how the reverse mortgage purchase program works:

1. Borrower is to get a reverse mortgage approval letter from a HUD approved reverse mortgage lender. In conversation with the lender the senior will be advised as to the amount of funds necessary for down payment, closing costs, maximum purchase price, and reverse mortgage loan options.

2. Go home shopping and write contract based upon guidelines in the approval letter.

3. The approval letter will roughly outline down payment and closing costs. The borrower deposits this amount with the title company.

4. Reverse mortgage lender funds the remaining principal balance. Borrower will have a choice of financing closing costs or paying out of pocket for them.

5. Title company or attorney records transaction and borrower takes ownership of the home.

6. The obligations to the mortgage are as follows: live in the home as primary residence, keep the property in reasonably habitable condition (per FHA guidelines) and pay property taxes and home owners insurance.

Reverse mortgages have been and always will be primarily for those in need of funds to supplement lifestyle. The purchase program simply offers a new financial tool. Some seniors, as my phones have already started to ring, will definitely excercise this option.

About the Author:

To learn more about purchasing a home with a reverse mortgage go to The Quintessential Guide to the Texas Reverse Mortgage. Everyday reverse mortgage queries answered at Everything You Need to Know About the Reverse Mortgage in Texas.

Stopping Foreclosure Through Lender Mediation

By Tomasheus Privetsky

There is more than likely a few things which have led to your being in the situation you are in now. You may have been through a bitter divorce, lost your job or experienced an illness. The bills are piling up and the increased price of utilities are staining your budget, perhaps you have an adjustable rate mortgage (ARM) which has skyrocketed; it is getting difficult to cope.

Unfortunately, while you're worrying about stopping foreclosure of your home, you're bombarded with letters, postcards, phone calls and strangers driving by and knocking on your door.

These foreclosure investors specialize in chasing homeowners just like you who are close to losing their homes. They're interested in buying your home and profiting from it, because they believe you must sell the home.

While on a surface it may seem like a good idea to sell your home to these foreclosure investors in somecases, but before you do so you should look into the alternatives. Definitely do not sell your home to one of these investors before checking out your other options, such as rearranging your loan.

One of the Solutions To Stop Foreclosure Is Lender Mediation

Once you have missed a couple of payments, your credit rating will begin to be affected your credit score will likely drop considerably, which will make it extremely difficult to refinance your current loan.

However, mortgage lenders would really rather not end up owning your home; this is why every mortgage lender has a loss mitigation department which tries to work with homeowners who are in default on their mortgages to bring them back onto a timely payment schedule. Unlike refinancing your mortgage with a new loan, this loss mitigation process does not require getting a credit approval, putting this alternative within reach for homeowners who are in default.

A Repayment Plan May Still Be Challenging

The loss mitigation departments at mortgage lenders tend to be understaffed, especially right now with mortgage defaults on the rise. The employees in these departments do their best but have very little time to devote to each homeowner's case file. This means that lenders tend to offer you a standard repayment plan which may not meet your needs, for example, the monthly payments will likely be too high for your budget and the time limit given to get back on track far too short.

With the difficult situation you are in, you may be tempted to take this repayment plan offered to stop foreclosure; however, this is generally just a short-term solution. Since the terms of the repayment plan are not a realistic fit for your budget, you will as likely or not be facing foreclosure again in a matter of months.

Watch Out When Hiring Workout Professionals To Stop Foreclosure

One of the simplest, yet little known ways to get a lot better outcome through the Loss Mitigation process is to hire an experienced professional to do the work for you. These are companies that have experience of negotiating literally thousands of workout cases for owners in default. Some have established working relationships with the Loss Mitigation departments of many mortgage lenders nationwide.

These companies will look over your finances and help you come up with a repayment schedule, which is possible for you to meet; payments will be kept as low as possible to make it easier for you to make your payments. These companies have intimate knowledge of the programs offered by different lenders and can negotiate a better deal for you than you would be offered by the lender on your own. They may even be able to negotiate a lower interest rate on your mortgage, which will lower your payments.

You may think that these services will be too expensive, given your financial difficulties; however, most of these services charge a low flat fee, usually about a months payment. With the money and time these negotiations can save you, they usually more than pay for themselves? They can often even negotiate a deferral of your next payment.

If Lender Mediation Is Not An Option

What if loss mitigation isn't a possibility for you? Then you may have to go ahead and sell your home to prevent having a foreclosure record on your credit report. Listing your home for sale with a realtor is the best way to go if you have ample time, since you will be able to get a higher price for your home. If you are short on time, you may find that selling to an investor makes the most sense; just try to deal with an investment company, which has the resources to close the deal quickly.

About the Author:

It's time for you to stop foreclosure of your home through loss mitigation. Don't delay and start looking for a referral to loss mitigation .

Have A Better Future With Debt Consolidation

By Eric Jilson

Living in today's world, it's almost impossible to function without using and managing debt. The unrelenting needs and never-ending changes in our financial lives require that we utilize credit in one way or another. When properly maintained and used, credit is a good thing for most people's financial lives, allowing them to purchase homes, vehicles, and other items they would likely not otherwise be able to get without years of savings.

Often, though, debt piles up rather than being paid and people begin to slowly feel their freedom being drained as the debt begins to take over their financial lives. Becoming always short of money, barely able to make payments on time, or being late because you just didn't have the money yet. Sacrificing lifestyle choices and worse, all begin to get worse as the debt mounts. Eventually this comes to a head and has to be dealt with.

Before it gets to that point, though, many people turn to debt consolidation to relieve the pressure and take off the stress. A debt consolidation and management program can reduce your debt, provide you with a means to get out of debt, and manage your credit to show you how to utilize it in a healthy manner that doesn't build your debt load, but instead lowers it.

So how does this work and is it really what it says it is?

Debt consolidation works by consolidating all of your debt into one loan at a lower interest rate, usually paying off your existing debt at lower rates than what's owed. This means your new loan is for a lower amount that you owed before and at a lower (usually fixed) interest rate. So now instead of many monthly payments at varying interest rates, you have one payment at one interest rate.

Some of these programs will, instead of setting up a new loan, set up a management program in which current debts are "fixed" with the creditors, lower payments and interest rates are set up, and your single payment to the management program pays all your creditors automatically. These are not "loans" but they are consolidations of credit under one management system.

Most creditors are happy to either cut what's owed in order to get paid off so they do not have to worry about a struggling client or to take lower interest payments in return for getting a more guaranteed monthly payment to service the debt. A creditor's biggest worry is that a debtor will declare bankruptcy and the creditor will walk away with nothing at all but an unpaid debt.

Some management companies will offer incentives to the client looking to consolidate their debt, making claims about how quickly the debts will be paid and how a "new start" will be had once it's done. In reality, it takes time to pay off these debts and, in the mean time, the person's credit is often on hold and unusable.

Further, some consolidation management companies take monthly payments, issue "cease and desist" orders as attorneys to creditors, demanding that they talk only to the management company about the client's debt, and then let the monthly payments pile up without being sent to creditors. They do this in order to pressure the creditors into taking even lower payoffs (in lump sums from this "account") and to collect interest on the money being paid to them as it builds in an account. While this is legal, it is deceptive and often ruins the client's credit for a very long time.

So finding a reputable and reliable debt consolidation and management firm is a must if you're in the market to consolidate your loans and want to manage your debts correctly. Consolidation is often the best and most effective way to reduce debt or to completely eliminate it and get clear of it as quickly as possible without totally destroying your credit.

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Learn more about reduce credit debt today!

Becoming Debt Free

By Cindy Swartz

People everywhere are learning more about becoming debt free; with all the talk about how bad things are going in our society it is important to learn how to think about money differently. In the past most people would not care how much money they spent on material items as long as they could afford the monthly payments.

This should not be the case if you are trying to learn how to become debt free. You have to begin to look at debt differently. You most likely work hard for your money and the last thing that you want to do is continue to give someone your money while you continue to be broke.

It all begins with the way that you think before you can even consider becoming debt free. You will have to stop spending your money on items that you do not really need. Eventually as you learn how to manage your money; then you can stop worrying about how you are going to make next month's bills.

You should become financially smart; this means that you should begin learning more about money. While you may think that you know everything that there is to know about it. The truth is that the wealthy people think differently about their money than you and I do.

Learning how to make your money work for you so that you do not have to continue to work hard your entire life is a huge thing. People who spend all their money right now when they are young are going to realize at a later date that they wish they would have learned how to be smarter. No one is going to take care of you when you get old; so it is up to you to find out how.

Stop watching so much television and get your hands on some financial books that will show you how to handle your money and begin leveraging it to work for you. When your children notice that you are investing and saving your money; then they are going to learn how to do exactly what you do when they become older. Your children mirror exactly what you do so begin teaching them good values that will help them.

Becoming debt free can become a reality if you are willing to begin thinking differently and do whatever it takes to get on the right track. You do not have to continue working all your life and you can build a nest egg for your financial future. Visit our site below and learn why we have chosen to become debt free and get valuable tips and advice about getting out of debt.

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Join Our Debt Free Challenge And Become Debt Free. Stop Worrying About Your Finances And Begin Taking Control Of Your Life!

No Credit Check Student Loans: How to Find Them

By William Blake

Some individuals are truly interested in attending university classes and getting a high quality college education, but they simply do not have the financial resources to do so on their own. If you find yourself in this or a similar situation, you would no doubt be interested in obtaining financial aid. But what can you do if you are not able to receive grants and student loans are not an option because of credit score, what can you do? One viable option is getting a no credit check student loan.

A no credit check student loan will allow you to get the funds you need to attend college and eventually get that great job you have always dreamt of. The first step to getting your education could be investigating the possibilities of getting a no credit check student loan.

Check With The College

The financial aid office of the college or university where you would like to attend classes will be happy to assist you in finding more information about no credit check student loans. The money that you receive from a student loan of this nature may well be able to cover all the expenses you will incur related to college tuition. Even if it does not quite pay for the entire cost, it will no doubt be a significant help to you in paying for college.

Keep an Eye on Interest Rates

When you apply for a no credit check student loan, make sure you read the fine print. You see, companies can get away with offering no credit check student loans because they charge higher interest rates to the applicant to make up for the risk of you not being able to pay the loan back. Read this fine print to make sure you can afford payments whenever your payments become due.

Most student loans have a six month grace period where you will not have to pay anything that starts when you graduate from college. You will need to be prepared to make your payments when those six months are over with.

Don't get overly concerned; a no credit check student loan could be a wonderful opportunity for you if you will be able to afford the monthly payments on the loan. Finding a way to pay for your college education by means of financial aid sources will allow you to focus on your schooling and, after graduating, find a great job.

About the Author:

Would you like to come up with some extra cash to help wipe out credit card debt starting today? Visit the Debt Reduction Academy website, where you can claim your free 5 day mini course "Operation Money-Find: How To Find Money To Start Paying Off Your Debt This Month". Go get your copy now at http://www.debtreductionacademy.com/minicourse.php

A Mortgage Refinance Primer

By Ned Dagostino

Mortgage refinance is an option most house owners look at from time to time. The big question they ask themselves is: Should I? Well, that depends on the particulars of the case. Generally people go in for mortgage refinance either to save money on the interest they pay, or to consolidate sundry debts. The crucial factors that merit consideration when deciding the 'Should I?' question are noted below for your information.

Maybe you have a number of small monthly repayments and these are becoming increasingly difficult to manage. You can refinance the mortgage and get a loan large enough to pay off all the small debts at once. You can then concentrate on paying a single monthly repayment. This makes things more manageable.

If you're keen on saving money by reducing the interest burden of your current mortgage, then getting a fresh financing scheme may help you save a sizable sum of money. This works if your current mortgage is linked with the variable market rate, the current interest rate is very high and the market trend shows no inclination of climbing down. You can save a lot of money by opting out of your current mortgage and getting it refinanced. The secret is to get a fixed-rate loan with a reasonable interest rate.

Whatever the reason for refinancing, you should study all aspects of this important decision very carefully. The one thing you should understand is that while refinancing your mortgage could save you a packet, it could just as easily cost you a packet. Refinancing can hurt you in certain situations.

The problem is that when you go to a refinancing agency they fail to mention the actual expenses you will have to incur to refinance your mortgage. Their excuse is that these are 'external' expenses and not their concern. Therefore you may be lulled into believing that the refinance scheme is going to save you a hefty sum over the mortgage period. Too late you find that you have to pay a number of incidental fees, charges and penalties, which can set you back quite a lot, and may nullify the savings you've counted on. There is no point in changing your financier if it is not going to save you any money.

When you consider refinancing, the first thing to do is to survey the market. Find out all the plans and schemes being offered by different companies. Make a comparison chart showing all the salient features and savings of each plan. Don't restrict your survey to just your local companies. Go online and get information on various plans offered in your area.

Find out all the penalties and fees that refinancing companies may extract from you upfront. For example, there is an origination fee or points, which is taken before the refinance plan becomes operational. There might be a plan where the interest rate is slightly higher but you don't have to pay origination fee. This may turn out to be better for you.

Refinancing is advisable if your net savings is significant. If not, you may as well keep the current mortgage going. Don't go in for refinancing if you think you may have to move before the fresh mortgage period has time to play itself out. Such a move will require you to foreclose the fresh mortgage which entails a huge penalty!

Refinancing your mortgage can be very helpful indeed. It can save you quite a bit. You should survey the refinance market very carefully and minutely. Find out all the options available to you. Find out all the fees and charges that will be taken upfront. Compute the savings you expect to make and then deduct the upfront fees to determine whether taking the refinance is a good idea. A wrong decision here, a single point overlooked, can mean ending up losing money with the refinance. Remember, refinancing is a very serious financial decision. The benefits differ from situation to situation, and sometimes even within the same situation.

About the Author:

There are plenty of other refinancing choices available to you besides a simple house refinance. You can refinance just about any loan including your vehicle, trailer, or even a manufactured home refinance can put extra cash in your wallet. Visit www.Home-Mortgate-Refinancing-Loan.com to learn more.

The Uses Of Credit Cards

By Michael Benifez

In today's world, it is common for most people to have at least one credit card. It allows for ease and speed, when shopping in a store or online. Merchants will more than likely accept many types of credit cards, allowing you to get what you need.

It does not matter where you happen to be shopping, most stores accept some sort of credit card. It makes for ease of the transactions to be processed. You do not have to worry about not having enough cash, because a credit card will go through as long as you have not breeched your monthly limit. This is a great way for the store to retain customer business and to encourage consumer spending.

You will find that online shopping is made much easier by using a credit card. You can rest assured knowing that it is very easy to use your credit card securely when making an online purchase. You do not have to worry about writing a check or purchasing a money order, your merchandise will ship more quickly when using a credit card.

When traveling throughout the world, a majority of locations will accept credit cards. This can give you peace of mind as a traveler, when you do not have to carry large amounts of cash that can be lost or stolen. It is a good idea when traveling to alert your credit card company, so that they are kept apprised of the apr rates and purchases you will be making in another state or country.

You can travel with confidence knowing that the credit card you carry will be accepted all over the world. You are protected and can purchase freely with confidence when you have a credit card. You will be able to make the purchases you need with no problems.

About the Author:

There is more to learn on credit card apr rates. Visit us for lots of free information at http://www.everlife.com/low-apr-credit-cards.php.

Is there Good Debt?

By Michael Geoffrey

Yes, there is such a thing as good debt. There are only a few types of debt that fall into this category, but it's important to make the distinction. Some examples of good debt are:

Obtaining a mortgage to purchase your home would be an instance where making a debt would be a good thing. Investing in a home is smart because your home will appreciate so even though you are taking on a debt you are in a position to earn money in the long run.

Borrowing money for college is also an investment ? in your education. By educating yourself you give yourself more earning power. This is an instance when taking on debt is a wise choice.

If you obtain a start up loan for a business venture this can be good debt. Again you are borrowing in order to give yourself earning potential. Of course you are always taking a chance when going into business for yourself, but often it is worth the risk and the necessary debt incurred.

More often we talk about debt that is not so good. Some examples of this are:

Financing a car ? unlike a home your car depreciates rapidly. That means you are not investing your money with the potential for a greater return in the long run. The money you spend is gone.

* Credit card debt - Although credit cards can feasibly be used to purchase things that appreciate, they are in general considered bad debt because of the types of things that are usually bought with them. The overwhelming majority of credit card purchases are things that lose value.

* Most personal loans - Personal loans are often taken out to finance purchases of things such as appliances, furniture, and vacations. These are often things we need, and a vacation can even help us become more productive, allowing us to potentially earn more. But none of these things appreciate in value, so they are considered bad debt.

Just because a debt is a so-called good debt, that doesn't mean it can't get us into trouble. It's important to keep our good debt at a manageable level. Lenders take our income into consideration when lending us money for this reason. But it's also crucial that we look at our individual situations and not borrow more than we can comfortably pay back.

Also, bad debt is not always something to be avoided. To have a reasonable amount of what is considered bad debt is fine. We just want to keep it at a moderate level and not allow it to get out of control. Just like good debt we want to be sure we can handle the payments and only take on bad debt when necessary.

About the Author:

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Take Charge Of Your Debts for Better Living

By Bob Hobson

Some level of debt is almost ubiquitous in our culture. A lot of us take on loans for large purchases. One of the most common of these debts is the one assumed for a mortgage loan; there are few of us who are able to purchase our homes outright.

You can continue living better when you have debts. Here are some solutions and great tips to follow in order to manage your debt and enjoy life.

1. Assess your debts. Check all the billing statements sent to you and the amount your creditor is asking in payments. If you see any conflicts or wrong entries, dispute them accordingly. You then make a substantial computation, including interests and other charges.

2. Make a plan. Decide as to how long you intend to pay your debts. If you can do it in a year or earlier than that, you can choose that scheme because the scheduled interest to pay is relatively lower. But you've got to consider your everyday living expenses as well. It wouldn't be good to pay your debts alone and leave nothing for your personal needs.

3. Budget accordingly. Now that you have arrived at your total debt amount, you now have to budget your expenditures. Determine the exact amount you have to pay monthly, in accordance to the span of time you are supposed to have paid the entire debt. Then make the loan repayment amount the first priority in your budget.

4. Further reduce your spending. If you find out that your monthly income seems to be less than your projected monthly expenses, try to check which purchases you can put off or cut out entirely. Try to stick to your needs rather than the wants.

5. Maximize your savings. If you have some money in the bank, try to determine how you can use it best to pay off your debts. Check which of your savings accounts is the lowest interest earner. Maybe you can use that to compensate a loan with a much higher rate of interest.

6. Look for additional sources of income. You may be able to get a second job or start a home based business to bring in a little extra money to go towards your debts. You may also be able to qualify for government funds in some cases.

You can be debt free by following this advice. The key lies in effectively setting your priorities and managing your debts. You are bound for success once you have mastered this.

About the Author:

Needto consolidate debt? If you are looking for debt solutions check out www.livingoutofdebt.com

Getting Cheap Car Insurance

By Susan Tanner

If you have never shopped for car insurance before, this can be a big hassle. This article will give you the right methods so you can get the best insurance for your money and hopefully with a lot more benefits.

One should always start with a proper planning. Contacting different auto insurence companies by calling them is a good option to start with. One can easy get the contact details of these companies from business directories or from online telephone directories. But you should always know what you actually require before you proceed.

Instant car insurance quotes can also be gathered by submitting your data online and also mentioned the kind of policies and plans you are looking for. There are numerous companies who offer these services online and after getting your data send you quotes on your Email ID an some of them send you by post as well.

The companies will give you quotes based on what information you give them. Compare the quotes you receive decide which one fits your needs best. Keep in mind that you have a limited budget to work with and ensure that these companies understand as much.

Follow up with the companies that you think are offering you the best quote, as they will frequently give better and lower rates to more persistent and serious customers. Conduct yourself business like and politely and the companies should respond favorably.

Auto insurance companies will mold their plans around your needs so that you find them attractive and beneficial compared to competitors' quotes. Good policies and low rates will attract and keep loyal customers. You should have a few quotes to choose from by now, so keep in mind your income and expenses before you make any further decisions.

After you choose the quote that fits your needs best, let the company know. However, make them feel that you are considering other offers as well, and they will try to entice you further by either lowering the rate or better fitting the policy plan to you.

You will have to ask for discounts before you can finalize your decision. Not being patient can make you miss better opportunities and services, so take your time. Following these steps will get you the best prices on auto insurance!

About the Author:

To find out exactly how I got car insurance, visit my website about auto insurance quotes