Independent Brokerage Firm - Go Independent
Successful brokers and advisors basically have their own business regardless of where they work. The client investment business is a self-starter and largely commission based industry, so a broker must rely on his own production for survival anyway. When does the in-office support staff and other ... more...

U.S. Real Estate Sought By Foreign Investors Due to a Weaker Dollar
The weak US dollar has been good news for real estate. Taking advantage of the favorable conversion rates, foreign investors are eagerly picking up real estate in major cities across the US. Who is buying and where are they investing?WHO IS INVESTING?In recent years the U.S. real estate market has ... more...

NFL Players To Watch This Season
Of course quarterbacks and running backs get all the attention. They score touchdowns, they sell Chunky Soup, and they get to bang the homecoming queen. They're the ones with the big contracts and the guys who can be rewarded with either too much blame or too much credit. Then there are the dozens ... more...

Snowbirds, Bi-Coastal and Life in 2 Locations
Upon visiting my friends in their newly purchased second home, away from the cold Midwestern winter, I was left with many questions. What is it like to live in 2 locales? Is it so much fun like constant vacations? Or is it double the work? The housework? Social life? Logistics? Here are some ... more...

Free Credit Reports - How to Maintain Your Credit Profile
Maintaining your Credit ProfileEvery consumer should be maintaining their credit profiles to ensure the highest scores possible. To do so, you must first order your credit reports from the three major credit bureaus: Equifax, Trans Union, and Experian. The federal Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) ... more...

Credit and Divorce
Mary and Bill recently divorced. Their divorce decree stated that Bill would pay the balances on their three joint credit card accounts. Months later, after Bill neglected to pay off these accounts, all three creditors contacted Mary for payment. She referred them to the divorce decree, insisting ... more...

Lessons From Katrina - Does Your Business Have an Adequate Disaster Recovery Plan?
The Hurricane Katrina Disaster has lessons for all business owners. Now is a Good time to look over your Disaster recovery plan and see if it would survive a Hurricane Katrina Type Disaster. You may be surprised how easy and cheap it is to have a Disaster Recovery Plan that will protect your ... more...

Interest Only Mortgages Stupid or Savvy?
Are there ever any situations where interest only mortgages are a smart choice? There are situations where an interest only mortgage could save you from losing your home. Here are smart ways to use interest only financing.Interest only mortgages have one virtue: low monthly payments. The problem ... more...

Adjustable Rate Mortgage Avoid a Heinous Mortgage Mistake
Adjustable Rate Mortgages tempt homeowners with low introductory payments. If youre not careful this adjustable interest rate could turn into an ugly nightmare. Here is what you need to know about Adjustable Rate Mortgages.Mortgage lenders often advertise adjustable rate mortgages with a ... more...