Welcome to the Financial Services Guide, your financial resource tool for all your personal and business financial needs.
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A fixed deferred annuity is the insurance industry's version of a savings account. It helps you earn a modest rate of interest safely and allows you to postpone the payment of income taxes on your earnings for as long as you want.
When most investment professionals look at the world of global fixed income, they see two large categories of international bonds: developed-world bonds and emerging-market bonds. Over the long run, you can expect that bonds of similar credit quality and duration, bearing similar risk, should yield roughly equal returns, no matter which country they are issued or sold from.
The first rule to follow when choosing a bond fund is to find one appropriate to your particular portfolio needs, which means finding a bond fund made of the right material.
Coverdell Education Savings Account encourage savings for higher education, and now allows tax-free distributions if used to pay for qualified educational expenses.
Things to think about if you're considering investing in corporate bonds.
A look at Advanced LIfe Deferred Annuities (ALDA), an insurance policy that guarantees a lifetime income starting at the age of 80.
While a 401(k) plan isn't a magic guarantee that if you participate you will be able to retire in Tahiti at age 55, it can be a major part, perhaps even the most important part, of your retirement planning strategy. For many people, especially those who do not own homes, their 401(k)'s can be their biggest assets.
Accounting is the financial record keeping of individuals and businesses, both public and private. This website will explain some the different types of accounting and explain some roles that accountants fill that you may not have thought about.
Every company has both an accounts receivable and an accounts payable department in the sense that, what is a payable for one company is a receivable for another and vice versa. This article is going to review the accounts payable and accounts receivable functions a company must undergo in order to maintain proper accounts management and keep their business running effectively.
Accounts Receivable Financing is a type of business loan where a company is able to borrow money using there accounts receivables as collateral. Accounts Receivable Financing is available to both large and small firms, and this website will explain how these loans work.
In today's hectic world, there is a lot of pressure to do things quickly, which means that electronic payments really do come in handy. Most people love to pay for things electronically, using debit or credit cards, money transfers, or e-cash systems like PayPal. Writing paper checks for payment is seen as old and archaic by many, and too time consuming and costly. Why leave such a paper trail when everything can just be tracked electronically? Despite the resistance, some people still prefer checks, so there are now ways that you can pay for things with a check electronically, called an e-check. The system used to process electronic payments is called ACH.
Why and how are angel investors useful and important? Who are they and how do you find them? How does a company profit from their use and what is the cost of using them? Angel investors can help a business get off the ground or they can help rescue businesses in financial trouble.
Annuities are investment vehicles that usually provide tax advantages, some degree of investment security and some income for a period of time. The type of investment will determine whether it is a fixed or variable annuity.
The basics of annuity investments and retirement planning.
ATM machines are a part of everyone's life. They ease the customer's day by being in a variety of places, especially the drive-up ATM's. There are two types of ATM's, the built-in and the freestanding machines. Each machine has its purpose whether it is for customers to drive up to or for easier deposits with a long teller line. Automated teller machines have a variety of options from the software, security for both the user and the bank, bank usage, cash dispensers, alternative uses beside cash dispensers and deposits, and fees. ATM machines need to be reliable for the customer to feel at ease with using them.
Recent failings by corporations and small businesses have led to strengthened legislation in favor of rigorous auditing of financial records. There are many different types of audit services that need to be examined before a business opens their doors to an independent investigator.
If you're desperate for ways to speed up the recovery process as you attempt to clean up your credit report, you may suddenly be looking at credit-repair companies as your last hope, but be aware of dishonesty, cost, and risk.
Touted loudly as a large and fastest growing crime in the United States, identity theft is, indeed, a serious problem that can devastate your credit and your ability to get loans, employment, insurance, and some security clearances and licenses without your ever having done anything to deserve it.
You can repair the damage done by bad credit in as little as one to two years. You can also factor in the good and relieve yourself of bad credit with some simple strategies.
A bridge loan, also called a swing loan, is a short term loan used for costs associated with the purchase of a new property while waiting on the money from the sale of an existing property. Bridge loans can be a financing solution for both commercial and residential properties, and this website will provide all the information you need to make a decision.
Whatever your reason for needing a cash influx for your business, there are a variety of methods you can use to find or create extra working capital that will allow you to achieve your business goals. Of course, the method you use will depend on many different factors, including the type of business you own, your business credit and length of operation, and the time frame in which you will need to have the funds available.
Business Credit is simply credit that is used by a business. There are several different types of business credit available and some different reasons to get business credit that you may not have considered. This website will serve as your guide to Business Credit.
Business credit cards are credit cards that are used for business purposes and consider the credit history of the business. This website will provide valuable information about business credit cards so that you can decide if your company should get a business credit card.
Here you will find business credit card glossary terms.
Business owners who are having a hard time finding lenders for their expansion plan might just be missing numerous options in the market. Getting a business loan requires the utmost preparation from the side of the business owner and full understanding from the lender. Let us look at the different ways to score a business expansion loan.
Here you will find business loan glossary terms.
Business Loans are loans taken out by businesses to finance expansions, acquisitions, new product development, equipment financing and many other things. This website will guide you through the various types of business loans and potential reasons for considering a loan for your business.
For the serious businessman or businesswoman, though - the entrepreneur in the truest form of the word - some little side business isn't going to be enough. You're going to have to run a full time, productive, legitimate business, and often the best way to do that is to buy one that's already proven itself in the business world. The only problem with business acquisition of this kind, of course, is that it requires business purchase financing - in other words, businesses are expensive and business financing is never easy.
Cash Advance Payday Loans are innovative financial solutions for people that require immediate cash access and have few resources or no other means of obtaining the cash that they require.
A certificate of deposit, or CD, is a financial instrument in which a customer deposits money with a financial institution for a fixed period of time at a fixed interest rate. This site will serve as a guide specializing in insured certificate of deposit investments, finding the safest, highest & best CD rates for its clients.
Business trends in the 21st century are evolving into different forms. Traditional CPA practices are now branching out to different fields of expertise to catch up with demands of the market. Becoming a competitive CPA today requires having a high standard for yourself and the perseverance to widen your skill set. Let us look at the different discussions related to being a CPA.
Check services are programs that are implemented by businesses to assist them in quicker payment options dealing with check processing, check guarantee, check collection, and direct deposit. These options have eliminated the need for paper checks and have greatly reduced a business' risk for fraud when accepting checks.
The first rule to follow when choosing a bond fund is to find one appropriate to your particular portfolio needs, which means finding a bond fund made of the right material.
So many consumers are terrified when they receive a letter or phone call from a collection agency, but they do not have to be. If you approach them in the right away collection agencies can actually help you improve your credit while paying off past due bills.
Here your will find the Top 5 Collection Agencies in the United States.
Here you will find collection agency glossary terms.
Collection services are a resource provided by companies known as collection agencies. These agencies differ from location to location, but can be found easily with a quick search.
Things you'll need to know to get recruited to a college athletics team.
There is much to consider when applying for a commercial loan. Determining the best loan means locating the right commercial lender for you and your property and knowing what types of commercial financing will best meet your business needs.
Commercial mortgages are mortgages that use a commercial property as collateral. This site will explain how commercial mortgages are structured and serve as a guide to for all types of commercial real estate financing needs.
A guide to the various kinds of commercial real estate management and land development investments.
Commodity Trading, in essence, is an agreement to buy or sell at the current price based on predictions of the future price. It is a sort of educated gambler, with the first seller ensuring that they will not face a loss should prices drop, and the second ensuring that they will face a profit if prices rise. Everyone likes the idea - small investment, and potentially huge returns; the only uncertainty, of course, is whether prices will actually go up or down. If they go down, the first seller wins - they have ensured that they will receive the original price agreed upon, rather than losing money as the market drops. If prices go up, however, the second seller (the original buyer) wins - they have made a profit without doing any work.
No question is too silly, too basic, or too embarrassing to ask your counselor and originator when considering a reverse mortgage.
Cost accounting is the accounting process of recording, tracking and analyzing the costs associated with an organization. There are three basic approaches to cost accounting explains this site will explain all three in detail.
Cost segregation is a great way to increase your cash flow on previous depreciations, while helping you to save money in the future. Because of relatively recent amendments to prior tax laws, you will now be able to take full advantage of investments you have made on past and present building projects.
Coverdell Education Savings Account encourage savings for higher education, and now allows tax-free distributions if used to pay for qualified educational expenses.
Credit card processing bills are a jumble. Here's how to read yours.
Accepting your customers credit cards is more complicated then it looks. With so many different banks and third party merchant providers offering credit card processing solutions it helps to have a concise overview of the various transaction fees, discount rates and technologies to consider.
Here you will find the top 5 credit card processing services.
This website offers a description of all the major terms associated with credit card processing.
There are many credit card processors that you may consider getting a merchant account from, but you should know the basics. Here are a few tips to help you get started.
Credit card terminals are becoming the most popular payment option that is available to customers. Both the customer and merchant can benefit from the different types of credit card terminals on the market today. These terminals have become portable and can be easily used at any location at any time of the day.
Even if you have bad credit, you may be able to get a credit card. Here's how.
As consumers, we have many options for credit counseling, whether online or face-to-face with a credit counselor. Taking advantage of credit counseling during any stage of our financial lives is a benefit we cannot afford to miss.
There are many things that can affect an individual's credit, and they may not even know this is happening. Here are events that can cause these issues as well as some successful credit repair tactics.
A credit report records your financial life in the form of credit history for seven to ten years. It is imperative that you check your credit report at least once annually to ensure that its accuracy is maintained.
In the United States, a credit score is a number typically between 300 and 850, based on a statistical analyses of a person's credit files, to represent the creditworthiness of that person, which is the likelihood that the person will pay his or her bills.
The human race has a long and rather convoluted history; economics is merely part of the tangle. As tangled as it is, it's no wonder we humans can't just decide on a single way to pay each other off and buy stuff online. The sad truth is, we can't. Because of that, we have to worry about trying to work between Euros and dollars, dinars and yen, and any number of other currencies in use all around the world.
Currency trading, or the foreign currency exchange market (FOREX) involves the buying and selling of various currencies. This site will explain the basics of currency trading and help you to decide whether this type of investment is right for you.
Here you will find a list of the Top 5 currency trading firms.
Here you will find currency trading glossary terms.
A how to guide for customizing the Apple TV screen saver along with tips for keeping your technology working.
Successful day trading is the art of making short-term trades of financial instruments traded on the stock or futures market. The short length of the trades makes this type of trading far different than long term or investment trading. The tools to make these trades emphasize the technical vs. fundamental elements to open or close the trade. A successful trader will use both the short side of the trade and the long side of the trade for an opening position. Success is easy to figure out; if the sell price is higher than the purchase price then a profit will be made.
Debt Consolidation is a form of debt management that many people rely on to manage their bills long before their debts gets beyond their control. Debt consolidation services can help an individual avoid filing for bankruptcy and help them to maintain a good credit score.
This article is an extensive overview of debt settlement options. Creditors, third-party debt collection agencies, and non-profit consumer credit counselors are all discussed.
Direct debit is debiting the deposit accounts of individuals or current accounts to make payments to organizations. The customer can instruct his or her bank to honor debits initiated by the organizations to which money is owed. The customer can also empower a company to make direct debit collections from his or her bank. However, these options differ between countries and also between banks.
You have your divorce settlement - but how do you begin to invest it?
How to avoid credit card clinics and fix your credit yourself.
The names on the deed to your parents' house are your parents' signatures, not yours, however, you can still help them finance their reverse mortgage.
Electronic check processing allows us to combine the security, speed, and processing efficiencies of electronic transactions with the well-established business processes and rich legal framework of paper checks. All customers who have checking accounts, including small businesses that currently have little access to electronic payment systems, can use electronic checks.
The Mega Millionaire's Secret to Making Lots of Money in the New Game of Business.
Equipment leasing is when a business leases its equipment as opposed to purchasing the equipment outright. Equipment leasing can make sense in many scenarios, and this website will provide information to help you decide if you should lease or purchase equipment for your business.
Here you will find equipment leasing glossary terms.
In a will, you state who you want to inherit your property, as well as naming a guardian to care for any children.
Factoring is a type of business loan where a business sells its account receivables to another company at a discount in order to have the money up front. Factoring has been a financial solution for many businesses, and this site will provide an in-depth guide to factoring.
There are several factors to look at as well as traps to avoid when choosing the best merchant account for your business. This article should help guide you in making the best choice for your business when choosing a merchant account.
Financial accounting is a form of accountancy that deals with the preparation of financial statements for external organizations, such as stockholders, suppliers, banks and government agencies. This site will provide in-depth information about financial accounting is and how accounting standards have changed over the years.
Financial services is a broad term that encompasses such financial instruments as checking and savings accounts, retirement accounts, mortgages, credit cards, mutual funds, financial management, safe deposit services, and various types of consumer loans. This site is a source for information for all types of financial services and offers information on wealth management, investment banking, asset management and business banking services to clients.
Here you will find a list of the top 5 financial companies.
Here you will learn about Financial Glossary Terms.
Tips on how to afford a down payment on a home.
Ten tips for homeowners who have been burned out
A fixed deferred annuity is the insurance industry's version of a savings account. It helps you earn a modest rate of interest safely and allows you to postpone the payment of income taxes on your earnings for as long as you want.
A fixed rate or adjustable (ARM) is better, in actuality,depends on your needs and the current market.
Learn what a "full-ride" athletic scholarship really means, how they are affected by numbers, and how they are changing.
The child care credit and dependent care accounts could save you thousands of dollars by reducing your tax liability.
Just can't wait for your retirement funds? Painless advice on how to get your retirement money early.
Group health insurance is defined as any type of insurance program that covers a group of individuals. These groups typically relate to a group of employees working for the same employer.
Hard Money Loans are loans that are generally secured by a piece of real estate and are usually taken when one cannot get approved or does not want a traditional loan. Hard money loans can make sense in certain scenarios, and this site will provide valuable information about this type of loan.
This website offers a glossary on the most important terms associated with hard money loans.
Does your executor know how to find the things you've hidden?
Save money by asking your mortgage company to cancel your private mortgage insurance (PMI).
Whether you are currently accepting credit cards, or plan on doing so, it is important to know how to save money by avoiding downgrades whenever possible.
In this fast changing economy, you need to understand and create a flexible plan that protects your downside gives you maximum staying power.
Learn the basics of smart retirement investing so you can make good choices.
A realistic budget is your best weapon against overspending.
Learning how to select a collection agency is similar to learning to select any other professional service for your business. There are certain criteria you are going to want to look for when selecting a collection agency.
Running a small business isn't easy, particularly when your sources of capital are limited. Most businesses will approach commercial lenders at some point, so here are a few pointers on what to look for when seeking a commercial financing deal.
Selecting a commodity broker can make or break a trader. This selection should be considered well and with some serious investigation.
If you are starting up a business it is time to find accountant services. A local accountant is imperative to every business owner looking to successfully maintain adequate management of the business's finances.
Most people... find a disorientating mismatch between the long-term nature of their liabilities and the increasingly short-term nature of their assets.
Built to buttress inflation and issued in eight different denominations, from $50 up to $10,000, the I Series bonds offer a fixed rate of return plus an adjustment for rising prices.
Things to think about if you're considering investing in corporate bonds.
Learn the ins and outs of investing in EE (Patriot) Bonds.
When most investment professionals look at the world of global fixed income, they see two large categories of international bonds: developed-world bonds and emerging-market bonds. Over the long run, you can expect that bonds of similar credit quality and duration, bearing similar risk, should yield roughly equal returns, no matter which country they are issued or sold from.
When used today, the term line of credit usually refers to a home equity line of credit, which is a loan that uses your home as collateral. This site will explain home equity lines of credit in depth, and help you in your decision making process.
Long term care insurance is cover that helps people receive care at home or in a facility such as a nursing home when they are unable to carry out normal daily activities without assistance. While providing peace of mind for the future the policies can be complicated and long term insurance costs can be expensive, so prospective purchasers are advised to shop carefully and to seek expert advice before buying.
Management accounting is a form of accounting specific to managers within organizations, to assist management making decisions and managerial control functions. This site will explain management accounting in depth and trace its evolution.
For most people who are not wealthy, purchasing investment real estate has a major impact on their overall personal financial situation, but it is important to remember to have all of financial aspects in order.
A healthcare or medical loan is often a great idea because it will give you the funds to pay your doctors and you can achieve the desired health outcomes without going broke.
A merchant cash advance is a smart idea for small businesses that use credit cards for sales daily. There are other types of loans available as well, such as business loans and a cash advance. Finding the right one is important for any small business to flourish.
Find the best loan option for you, plus tips on how to afford a mortgage and down payment.
Online banking is the use of the internet for all forms of banking, both commercial and individual. This site will help you choose an online banking company and trace the history and evolution of online banking.
As with so many other things, the Internet has revolutionized the world of finance, and especially in the area loans. What used to be a long and arduous process, with no guaranteed result, has become a simple matter of plugging information into an online form and receiving responses that are perfectly tailored to the consumer's needs. The Internet has at last taken the complexity out of finding a vendor and applying for a loan, and made it possible for many more people to achieve their dreams.
In the last decade, the Internet has gone from being a novelty for computer geeks and university students to play with to perhaps the single most powerful force in consumer economics today. Online startups like eBay, Amazon, Monster.com and similar websites have made literally billions of dollars, and oversee millions every day in transferring funds. Smaller websites from around the country and around the globe take their piece of the money tree too, making their owners handsome livings and allowing them to work comfortably out of their homes for good salaries and great profits.
Payday loans are relatively small loans that you can take out in your name to help you get through until your next payday. These loans are very convenient and can provide the cash you need in less than an hour, making the loans perfect for emergencies, unplanned bills, car repairs, and more.
Women face some unique personal finance challenges -- here's how to manage your money, survive divorce or widowhood, and plan for retirement.
Some simple measures you can take to prevent your important information from being stolen and becoming a victim of identity theft.
Learn how to prioritize your debts and make smart investment decisions as you enter the working world.
A purchase order is a document that gets issued to a seller from a buyer and contains the details of the purchase such as the item, quantity, price, and delivery date. This website will explain purchase orders in detail.
Tips on how to evaluate your credit when applying for a mortgage, no matter if you have been turned down before.
When angels have too much faith.
Improve a poor credit rating so your next credit check is better.
Billing clients can be a major investment of time and money for a company, but it's a necessary evil. If you do not bill your clients, then you won't be paid, and if you are not paid, then your company won't be successful. There has to be an easier way, right? Many companies are turning to recurring billing companies. These companies specialize in billing clients for you and therefore save you time, money, effort, and a huge headache.
If you are interested in starting your own restaurant business, you are probably currently researching restaurant loans. Restaurants can be found in every city across the country, yet, they are the hardest businesses to obtain financing for. Even if you have everything set with your business plan, it can still be difficult to meet the financial requirements set forth by different lenders.
Figure out how much annual income you'll need during retirement -- it may be less than you think.
Tips on how to plan your retirement ahead of time,
With a reverse mortgage, the lender sends you money and your debt grows, but you don't have to repay it as long as you live in your home.
If you start saving early and contribute often, your baby's college fund will grow exponentially by the time she's graduated high school. Even in this volatile and unpredictable market, with interest rates compounding and dividends reinvesting over the course of seventeen or eighteen years, you could build up a hefty fund.
Online savings accounts are savings accounts that a customer opens online and do business via the internet. Online savings accounts generally offer higher interest rates than traditional banks, and this website will explain these types of accounts in depth.
An SBA loan is a loan from or guaranteed by the Small Business Administration and are very useful for entrepreneurs that are starting a business. This site will explain the various SBA loans and programs, as well as trace the history of the Small Business Administration.
How to find out and understand your credit score and the five main categories of information it provides.
A secured loan requires assets from the borrower in order to decrease the assumed risk by the lender. Collateral, contracts, payment plans and uses of secured loans are all points to heavily consider.
In seller financing, house sellers offer to lend money to buyers in hopes of broadening the pool of potential buyers for a property.
Learn if you're a good candidate for a reverse mortgage
You can't leave home without it - cash, cards or traveller's cheques. Consider these tips for handling your money when travelling.
In the article Speeding to Wealth: How to get on the Fast Track to Wealth, I spoke to you about how the American Dream and the game of business and life has changed. It is my belief that the following Dynamic Forces have changed the game. Depending upon how you perceive and respond to these Dynamic Forces, you will either stay on or be put on the Slow Track or Fast Track to Wealth.
In launching a new company the key focus and undertaking is creating sales to generate cash flow.
What if you woke up one morning and, suddenly, your commute to work was full of detours. No matter which roads you took, you could not get back onto the road you normally took to work.
A look at the different stages and life cycle of an annuity investment.
Here you will find information to educate you on stocks in 9 points.
Student loan consolidation is the merging of several student loans into one, and is done to save money on interest and for the convenience of having one payment instead of several. There are a lot of things to consider when consolidating your student loans, and this site will provide the information that you need to make a decision.
Student loans are loans that are used for the payment of college tuition and are paid back over time in the future. There are many things to consider when considering a student loan and this site will provide valuable research points to help you make a decision.
This article outlines all the terms that a student or a parent should make themselves familiar with before they enter into a student loan agreement.
Most of us are aware that our country was founded on the principal that we should not be taxed without representation. Events like the Boston Tea Party are part of our founding lore.
Here you will find information on Term Life Insurance in 9 points.
Term Loans are defined in several different ways, but most commonly, a term loan describes any loan that is due after a fixed term. There are many different loans that fit under the term loan umbrella, and this site will guide you through the various forms or term loans.
The estate tax will be fully repealed by 2010 but may come back in 2011.
Smart entrepreneurs leverage visibility to dominate their niche, their competition, and create explosive sales and profitability. Entrepreneurs who do not understand the pros and cons of visibility will be left in the dust by those that do.
In order to be able to send your children to college without relying on expensive loans, it is important to understand how to successfully save money no matter how little you understand about money management.
Learn the facts about retirement plans, including withdrawals, distributions, beneficiaries, and rollovers.
A breakdown of definitions and terminology of mortgages and loans.
Young working people should save money for retirement now to maximize earnings in the future.
A guide to understanding how to deal with a reverse mortgage.
An unsecured business loan is a loan made to a business that is not secured by any collateral. Unsecured business loans are one of the many loan options for today's businesses, and this site will provide an in depth guide to this type of loan.
Warren Buffet is right that our country is in a financial recession.
Thinking ahead will help you lead an interesting and rewarding life after retirement.
How to know what to expect on your credit report as well as what should not be on your credit report.
You don't want your credit report too soon or too late; get to know when the best time is to receive your credit report and how to go about getting it.
When an individual is looking for an insurance policy to have on their life, many people will consider the option of whole insurance. There are a number of different reasons that this type of life insurance is preferred and is considered by many to be advantageous.
Here you will find whole life insurance glossary terms.
The IRS keeps a close eye on self-employed individuals.
How to tell if you need a living trust
A working capital loan is a short term business loan that are commonly used to help sustain businesses that are experiencing cash flow problems. Working capital loans are extremely useful in certain situations, and this site will explain how they work and what to look for when considering this type of loan.