Business, economic development - the unofficial Chamber of Commerce

The time has come to buy a house. Questions buzz around in your head like a swarm of angry bees: “How much can I borrow? How much do I have to put down? How much will my payments be?” Well, let me suggest starting with the “How much can I borrow?” question.

There are many factors you need to take into consideration when purchasing a home. First and foremost, ask yourself what size monthly payment you can afford. When determining how large a mortgage you can afford, be sure to factor in all your current expenses such as car payments, credit card bills, student loans, utilities, and the like. You may also want to factor in how much you spend on things like entertainment, eating out, and traveling. You don’t want to add a mortgage payment and say goodbye to your social life. Instead, you want to make sure that you’re not overextending yourself financially so you can enjoy a good quality of life.

At the present time, most lenders will allow for a whopping debt-to-income ratio of 45% - 50%. Your debt-to-income ratio is the sum of your mortgage payment and any other credit card or loan payments, divided by your monthly gross income. Lenders use this ratio to help determine your credit worthiness. All of your revolving debts along with your mortgage payment divided by your monthly gross income should not exceed the 36% - 45% debt-to-income ratio. Here’s a quick formula to help you figure out how much you can afford to put toward your monthly house payment:

–Multiply your gross monthly income by 0.45

–Subtract your non-mortgage debt payments from the result

–What’s left is your allowable mortgage payment

So, if we have a couple with a combined monthly gross income of $5000 and they pay $700 a month toward two auto loans and one credit card, they would qualify for a monthly payment of $1550.

In case you don’t know, not all of your monthly housing payment goes toward your principal and interest. A portion must go toward homeowner’s insurance and property taxes. I mention this because on most mortgage calculators that’ll you use, you’ll need to enter these figures to get an accurate idea of what your real monthly mortgage payment will look like, and you’ll need the numbers to figure out how much of a house you can afford.

Property taxes are typically a percentage of your home’s assessed value. To calculate property taxes, local jurisdictions generally multiply the tax rate by a home’s assessed value. For example, if you pay 0.5% in property taxes of the assessed value, a home assessed at $250,000 would have a yearly property tax bill of $1,250. In order to find out the tax rate, you will need to contact your county tax assessor, or a local mortgage broker or bank may be able to assist you. As for the homeowner’s insurance, your best bet is talking to a local broker or bank to get a general idea of what it is for your area. Mortgage calculators will ask you for a percentage rate sometimes and others will ask for a yearly figure. It can be confusing for a new buyer; so don’t be afraid to seek a little assistance.

Figuring out how much you can afford to put toward your monthly house payment is a start. Now, you want to know how much house you can afford. There are mortgage calculators galore that will help you do this, but, as I mentioned above, they will require you to enter real estate taxes, homeowner’s insurance, and interest rates. Once you know how much you can comfortably spend a month toward a home, and you’ve gathered your tax and insurance rates, you only need an idea of what kind of interest rate you’ll get. You can probably kill three birds with one stone by trying to get rates for the taxes, insurance, and interest rate in one phone call. Once you have an idea of what your interest rate may be, you can plug in all your numbers on any of the numerous mortgage calculators on the internet to get a good idea of what you think you can afford.

Afterwards, if you like, you can call a local bank or broker and get pre-qualified to see if you’re numbers were in the ballpark. If your figures are similar, congratulations on a job well done. If your results are different, take the time to figure out why and don’t be afraid to ask questions. Remember, buying a house is one of the biggest financial decisions of your life. You owe it to yourself to be as thorough as you can. By taking the initiative to read this article, you’re already ahead of the learning curve. Keep up the good work, and happy house hunting.

Brian Pollard is a loan officer/marketing coordinator for Bend Mortgage Group Ltd. and mortgage company in Bend, Oregon.

Breaking down Ohio State vs. Michigan

Known simply in Columbus, Ann Arbor, and every place in-between as “The Game”, Ohio State and Michigan meet in the regular season finale for both teams again. And, as is usually the case, the stakes are very high.

The Buckeyes can claim no worse than a share of the Big 10 crown, and will be assured of a spot in one of the big BCS game with a win. The Wolverines, who were thought to have been reduced to a pure spoiler role, have risen back up into the conference race. The turning point of the Wolverines season has to be when Chad Henne threw a touchdown pass on the last play of the game against Penn State to knock them from the ranks of the undefeated a month ago.

If that pass falls incomplete, Michigan falls to 3-4 and this weeks game, though still their biggest of the year, would be more about pride for the Wolverines than aspirations.

They not only need to emerge victorious on Saturday, but would also need in-state rival Michigan State to pull an improbable upset versus Penn State later on in the afternoon to snare a share of conference honors.

Both squads enter this game playing their best football of the season, Ohio State’s offense has put up 40 points in the past four games, after quarterback Troy Smith struggled early on directing the offense, only to look nearly flawless after his grip on the starting job was slipping away. Due to this, everyone around him has gotten better.

Michigan on the other hand, has moved the ball better behind sophomore signal-caller Henne, and this maligned defense is even stopping the opposition with regularity. Wins over Iowa, Northwestern and Indiana are nice (only the IU win wasn’t competitive) , but remember, Ohio State DESTROYED those three squads by a combined score of 120-23.

THE GAMEPLANS

Both teams will want to establish the running game, and they have the backs to do it, Ohio State’s Antonio Pittman and Michigan’s combination of Jason Hart and Kevin Grady. I give the Buckeyes the edge, as Smith is also a threat on the ground, while Henne is your classic drop-back passer. If the Wolverines and forced into second and third- and long, Henne and a sometimes shaky offensive line will have added pressure on them (literally) and these Ohio State linebackers led by A.J. Hawk could feast on him all day.

Last year with basically the same lineups, Smith ran wild for 145 yards and a score and threw for two more in the Buckeyes 37-21 win in Columbus. Michigan’s linebackers and safeties may have to blitz him at times to force quick decisions, which leaves one-on-one coverage against a trio of talented receivers.

The Wolverines secondary has been their defensive strength all year, and they will be tested here. With Smith becoming a better passer, coach Jim Tressel has given him more opportunities to go down field to Santonio Holmes and Ted Ginn.

I give Ohio State a small advantage overall on offense, as I feel Henne has improved from his early season woes. He can do some damage with his receivers, Jason Avant and Steve Breaston, but he will need more time to throw than I think he’ll get on Saturday.

But, the bigger advantage to the Buckeyes rest on defense, where they physically beat teams up and wear them down n the second half.

On special teams, both teams boast dangerous return men. Ginn and Breaston can both change the game in a matter of seconds. Both coverage teams will be under the gun, and the punters would be best advised to kick away from these guys, even out of bounds if they can without shan king it.

The home crowd gives the Wolverines probably their lone advantage, but I still do not think that’s not enough. Notre Dame and Minnesota both came out with out Michigan Stadium victorious and the Buckeyes are better overall than either of those teams. History tells us that Michigan has controlled this series at The Big House, but Ohio State wins this one with a brutal display on D.

Ohio State 24 Michigan 13

John O’Nan is sports writer/moderator at http://www.theopu.com and contributes to various sports websites.

You can reach Mr. O’Nan at nay7201@mail.com with any questions, comments, or if you are looking for quality sports content

Daily life in Savannah, Georgia is hip and stylish, but it’s old Southern tradition sees to it that it will always maintain its serenity. Savannah, this modest city that happily welcomes a entire world, gets its name from the Native American word for “grassy plain”. Savannah has come quite a long distance from its original existence as the quiet plain.

Living up to the complementary reputation of being known as the “hostess city of the South”, Savannah, Georgia treats both local people and visitors to charming squares, beautiful garden paths, culture, a large selection of entertainment, and delectable food. The city of Savannah takes on the qualities of the southern belle: fascinating, benevolent, lively and impressive.

The twenty-four squares which are cleverly arranged here and there throughout the historical vicinity lay out the spirit of the downtown area. General James Ogelthorpe , between creating the colony of Georgia, fighting off the Spanish threat and working toward peaceful cohabitation with the Creek Indians, is to be credited with laying the city plan for Savannah, much of which remains intact today. These well-known squares form the cultural, historical and literal heart of the city. The many activities that help make Savannah great spread outward from there. Each unique square weaves a story of local and world history, having survived both the Revolutionary and Civil Wars.

Art and culture are to be observed on every single corner of Savannah’s energetic streets , all throughout the year. Savannah’s Music Festival in March and the Jazz Festival in September fill the air with cool melodies. African Americans, Greeks, Irish, Scots and Asians, among others, share their culture with festivals and celebrations spread out during different days of the year. Meanwhile, students of the Savannah College of Art and Design captivate the public by bringing the pavement of Forsyth Park to life with their drawings during the annual Sidewalk Art Festival. Savannah’s indoor cultural scene is packed with over eighty art galleries, museums, and theaters.

The outskirts of the city of Savannah offer the security of a small town for households who like quietness and space, while the city center offers a metropolitan feel with three universities , great shopping, and a nightlife that seems to start in and expand out from CityMarket.

Those fortunate people who live in Savannah can be seen spending their leisure time the way most people spend vacations — year round moderate temperatures allow for for endless outdoor activities, nearby beaches, plenty of golf courses, and the occasional blues bar. Outdoor activities are one of the many reasons why Savannah is such a hot spot. Even the public transport system is stress-free. The Chatham Area Transit (CAT) operates an efficient system of buses, trolleys, and a ferry for those crossing the Savannah River.

It should be no surprise that Savannah is regularly listed as one of The United States top 10 most beautiful cities. Savannah’s tremendous draw extends to a extremely large variety of tastes. These diverse interests and lifestyles coexist in a complimentary way, which helps to add to Savannah’s growth. Artists add its culture, small businesses welcome tourists and grow as a result of them, and big industry pushes the economy forward. Therefore, this humble city, with her big city mindset, knows how to attract the world’s attention without even having to try.
Pete Sampson is a freelance author and historian. He has relished the beauty of Savannah for over 25 years. He highly recommends is: GreaterSavannah.com for Savannah, Georgia Real Estate.

Systematic physical exercise has many benefits. The more important benefits are mentioned below:

Regular exercise taken properly can achieve the increased use of food by the body,
which contributes to health and fitness. The basal metabolic rate and habitual body
temperature will slowly rise during several weeks of physical exercise, if the programme is
not too hard. The healthy person usually has abundant body heat and a warm radiant
glow.

1. Regular progressive physical exercise can bring about the balance of automatic, or
involuntary , nervous system. The tone of the vagus nerve, one of the nerves that control
sensation and motion, is strengthened. This accounts for stronger pulse waves, higher
metabolism and better circulation.

2. Exercise can prevent or reduce gravitational ptosis or sag, as it is commonly called.
Ptosis results from uneven flow of blood in the feet, legs and lower abdomen.

3. Improved capillary action in the working of muscular and brain tissue results from
exercise carried to the point of real endurance. This permits greater blood flow and gives
the muscles, including the heart, more resistance to fatigue.
Massage, heat and moderate exercise are relatively ineffective in producing additional
capillary action as compared with vigorous exercise.

4. The full use of the lungs in vigorous exercise can reduce or prevent lung congestion due
to lymph accumulation.

5. Gas and intra-intestinal accumulations can be reduced by exercise that acts to knead and
squeeze or vibrate the intraintestinal mass.

6. Better respiratory reserve is developed by persistent exercise. This ensures better breath
holding, especially after a standard exercise. With greater respiratory reserves, exercise
become easier.

7. Improvement in tone and function of veins can be accomplished by repetitiously

8. Squeezing and draining the blood out of them and then allowing them to fill.
Sweating in exercise aids kidneys by helping to eliminate the waste matter from the body.

9. Consistent exercise leads to improvement in quality of blood. Studies have shown
improved haemoglobin levels, relatively greater alkalinity, improved total protein content
and a grater red cell count.

10. Systemic exercise promotes physical strength and mental vigour and strengthens will power and
self control leading to harmonious development of the whole system.

To learn more about the energy principle in healing, please read:

Cost-free Miracle Asthma Cure
Overcome Type I Diabetes and Type II Diabetes Naturally
Alternative Treatments for Incurable Diseases made easy

The Basics of Real Estate Investing By: David Neese Real estate
investing may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but some people who
have already tried investing in real estate know that it can be
highly profitable and lead to much better quality of life. There
are several keys to making significant profits in real estate
investing deals. And when the deals are profitable, you will
certainly be well on your way to success.

For real estate investing newbies, don’t be afraid of the
challenges and pitfalls you may encounter along the way. There
is definitely a lot to learn, but in the long run after you have
gained some experience, you’ll hopefully become a master at
closing profitable real estate deals.

There are 5 core skills that are necessary for building a real
estate investing business. These will be the key factors in
creating a profitable real estate investment portfolio.

These are the 5 core skills of real estate investing:

1) You must learn when and where to find the right kind of
sellers.

2) You must learn the art of being a master negotiator when it
comes to closing your real estate investment deals.

3) You must be able to quickly and accurately analyze each real
estate investment deal so you’ll know exactly when to proceed
and when to pull the plug.

4) You must become an expert in all areas of real estate
investing and understand such terms as lease options, cash
sales, wrap mortgages, short sales and other terminology common
in the real estate investing trade.

5) You should totally understand the meaning and concept of
investing in real estate, including all of the financial risks
and benefits.

Now is a great time to consider investing in real estate. There
are great potential rewards and the effort you put forth can
yield enormous monetary returns on your investment.

Your confidence level will grow when you’ve gained some
experience and closed on your first few real estate deals. But,
don’t stop there…

Continue to learn about real estate investing and to develop
your investment skills. In a short time you may find yourself
managing a profitable and growing portfolio of investment
properties.

Continue to follow your real estate investing “game plan” and
always keep an eye out for the hidden investment opportunities.
The opportunities are definitely out there and with a little
knowledge and desire can be yours for the taking. So, why not
get started in what might be a new and exciting (and profitable)
career today?

Several years ago, an enormous awe for mountains revisited me while flying into the Tri-cities Airport in Tennessee. I was reading a novel when the pilot announced that we were nearing our destination. When I looked up, I was stunned by the view of a spectacular blue horizon, except what awed me was not the sky but the Blue Ridge Mountains, rising dome after dome over each other, in a chain in the distance. It was toward the evening, not yet dark, when the sun must have just set behind the mountains, because the mountains looked as if they were made of Steuben glass, airy, precious, and dream-inducing.

To the question, “why climb a mountain?” Sir Edmund Hillary answered” “Because it’s there.”

Because it’s there, anytime I lift my head to look at a mountain, I also feel my spirit lifting; even though I’m not much of a mountain climber. Even a good photo moves me for lack of a mountain where I live. I find climbing a mountain to be a great metaphor for life; therefore, I have great respect for mountaineering.

Whether the climbers follow already set trails or are trailblazers themselves, what they are doing is getting the mountain’s grace and injecting themselves with goodwill and serenity.

A mountain may possess false summits or official peaks. A mountain climbing enthusiast once complained that he and his buddies thought they reached the top; yet, when they looked up, they saw that the peak they were trying to climb was even higher. The best a person can do in this situation is to send good vibes to the mountain and try again.

Since mountain climbers leave too many footprints, it is argued that they are as destructive to the environment as any other pollutant; however, it isn’t the climber that ruins the mountain but the insatiable mining and lumber companies that don’t grasp when and where to stop. Maybe, that’s why some mountains blow their tops because they can’t take it anymore, as in the case of Mt. St. Helens.

While people like me enjoy the vista from an airplane or a helicopter when they dare, a good climber will start from the bottom up. An average person’s mountain climbing from sea level usually consists of driving up in a car to a place 800 to a 1000 ft above sea-level, say Jamestown in Upstate NY. Now, that can’t be called climbing, can it?

One thing about climbing a mountain is not just climbing up, but rather scaling the peaks up and down until one reaches the highest peak. From the top, the view may be awesome but happiness and satisfaction is in the climbing. Even if one hasn’t reached the top, he may have gained something truly important in the process.

Earth is not a perfect planet and its mountains are not set according to a general rule. Each mountain has its own rule, trail, rocks, crags, and slippery surfaces. Each mountain leads its climber to an individual focus and a different understanding of himself against the universe, just the way each mountaineer carries his own map.

A hiker or a climber finds his own heart and solitude in the barrenness above the tree-line. Once he reaches the top of a mountain, the scenery is not only spectacular looking down but also looking up, for it’s in man’s essence to look up and try to see as high as he can. If he’s there in the summit and is camping at night, he is nearer to the stars; Ursa Minor, Ursa Major, Orion’s Belt, The Milky Way, The North Star, Dog Star and others to make him proud of his purpose and to make him feel insignificant inside such a vast universe, despite the clammy mist, blinding fog, the wind and the frigid air.

Joy Cagil is an author on http://www.Writing.Com/ which is a site for Writers. Her education is in foreign languages and linguistics. Her portfolio can be found at http://www.Writing.Com/authors/joycag

We as golfers have heard the term swing plane many times during our golfing careers. But do we really know the definition of it and the bearing upon our golf swing?

Recently, I had a conversation with Dean Reinmuth (top 30 teaching pro ranked by Golf Digest) and I think he described swing plane the best. Dean suggests to think of the swing plane as an imaginary circle. The imaginary circle that represents the swing plane is set at an angle. It is the path on which it is necessary for the club to travel in order to execute the swing correctly.

Beginning at address, the clubhead and shaft should be positioned at the “bottom” of the swing plane. During takeaway into the backswing and at the transition point of the swing, the clubhead and shaft are to remain on the swing plane. These three phases of the swing represent the club traveling “up” the swing plane to “top” of it. Keep in mind the visual of the circle and the shaft of the club dissecting the shoulder during these phases of the swing.

Once the transition is complete, the downswing begins and the clubhead is moving down the swing plane. The path on which the club is traveling down should be the same as on the backswing.

Continuing on with the swing plane, the club is to travel to again the “bottom” of the swing plane for impact with the golf ball. Once impact has occurred with the golf ball the follow-through of the swing occurs, and it is still necessary for the club to travel upon the correct swing plane. This assures that you are releasing the golf club correctly.

The swing plane on the follow through is essentially a “mirror image” of it on the backswing. The golf club, again, must travel up an imaginary circle that dissects your front shoulder up into the finish position.

What does the swing plane represent?

The swing plane represents the path on which your golf club should travel upon during the swing.

Why is it so important for the golf club to travel upon the swing plane?

The golf club must travel upon the correct swing path in order to impact the golf ball correctly. Impacting the golf ball correctly provides the greatest possibility of delivering powerful, accurate, and consistent shots on the course of play.

Oftentimes the golf club does not travel upon the correct swing plane. What happens in such instances?

The path of the club becomes and “outside to in” move resulting in a slice, or an “inside to out” swing plane resulting in a hook. Overall, the club’s not traveling on the correct swing plane results in poor shots.

Now that we know what a proper swing plane is within the golf swing and we can visually create a picture of it, how do we develop the proper swing plane?

This is the hard part, and there are no secrets about it. Referring back to my conversation with Dean Reinmuth, he suggests that it is a process of creating “feel” for the proper swing plane. Creating “feel” is a process of knowing where the clubhead is on the swing plane. This allows you to know where your golf club is in regards to the proper swing plane required of the golf swing.

How do you go about creating “feel” within your golf swing?

It is a process of understanding the mechanics of swing and developing the proper swing mechanics within your golf swing.

This allows you to know what the golf club should be doing, where it should be during each phase of the swing, and when it is not where it should be when you are swinging the golf club.

Overall, it becomes a process of recognition. Recognition of what is the right and the wrong movements/positions within the golf swing. Once “feel” is developed within your swing, I would definitely say you are close to mastering the golf swing.

This does require time and effort on your part. But if you are willing to put in the time and effort, rewards on the course will be well documented.

Sean Cochran is one of the most recognized golf fitness instructors in the world today. He travels the PGA Tour regularly with 2005 PGA & 2004 Masters Champion Phil Mickelson. He has made many of his golf tips, golf instruction and golf swing improvement techniques available to amateur golfers on the website http://www.bioforcegolf.com To contact Sean, you can email him at support@bioforcegolf.com.

I just had a phone conversation with a client who had a familiar story to tell. He had built his business on the model of an entrepreneurial sales force. Give them a territory, pay them straight commission, and tell them they are in business for themselves, free to develop the customers they chose with the products they wanted.

And for a couple decades it had worked well. The business grew and expanded. More entrepreneurial sales people were added, and the model was duplicated over and over again.

So far so good. But then the growth in sales began to slow down. Three flat or declining years in a row has caused this company president to question the status quo. Not only is business flat, but he’s unable to get his sales force to promote the lines that he wants to promote, he’s unable to get them to use some of the new technology that the company wants them to use, and he’s unable to get them to prospect for new customers. Now he’s faced with an experienced sales force, who for the most part, are unmanageable.

The culpit? A sales model that was built on the concept of the entrepreneurial salesperson. There was a time when this model was effective, but in today’s competitive economy, there are serious difficulties with the entrepreneurial model.

This model works best when the market is growing. As long as there is more and more business out there to be had, the focus of most companies is to grab as much as they can, without caring a whole lot as to which customers and which products make up the business. Employing a group of entrepreneurial salespeople reduces the demands on sales management so that the company’s executives can focus on building the infrastructure necessary to keep up with the consistent growth.

As we all know, this was the case for most of the previous decade. By shifting the responsibility for sales management unto the salespeople, however, you give up much of your management influence. In effect, you cede management of the sales force to the salespeople. And they generally make decisions that are in their own self interest, not yours. The very concept of an entrepreneurial salesperson is that he/she will manage himself. By definition, you abdicate your managerial role and cede management to the salesperson.

Is it any wonder that you can’t direct the salesperson?

As long as business was consistently growing, this wasn’t an issue. But now it is a concern. Most distributors have experienced a reduction in sales volume over the last few years. Many have come to the conclusion that they have to initiate significant changes in their sales organizations if they are going to be profitable and growing.

Now, instead of just more business, progressive distributors want to expand the business in target accounts, emphasize key product lines, and acquire new accounts. In other words, they want to direct the sales force more precisely, to focus them on the behaviors that further the company’s strategic objectives.

At just the time that they want to more precisely focus the sales force, they are faced with a group of experienced salespeople who have become satisfied and content.

These sales people would rather not move out of their comfort zones of established customers and established products. They have no desire to do the hard work of prospecting for new accounts. And many are content with the diminished incomes of the past few years.

The culprit in this difficult situation is the entrepreneurial model. This is not to say that there are no entrepreneurial salespeople. Certainly a certain percentage of every large group of sales people will turn out to be highly motivated, constantly improving, driven to succeed and willing to accept your direction. From my experience, this is about one of 20 sales people. The chances of your entire group fitting this mold are slight. The issue is not the occasional exception to the rule; the issue is the model that no longer supports your strategic interests.

What to do?

The company president on the phone was looking for solutions. How could he change the established routines, attitudes and practices of his experienced sales force? How could he revive the slumbering entrepreneurial drive? How could he gain some degree of directability?

Unfortunately, the answers are larger and more challenging than that which could be discussed in a half hour phone call. Decades of a certain way of doing business have resulted in attitudes cast in granite. Half-way measures can’t be counted on to work.

The solution is going to require strenuous work.

Wipe the slate clean and start over. Begin with the definition of what you would like the salespeople to do. What do you really want your sales force to do? Noodle your ideas onto a blank sheet of paper, and review it for a couple of days. When you have a well-articulated full page of detail, you will have taken a major step forward.

Once you have a clear and specific idea of what you want them to do, then start dealing with implications of that. For example, does you compensation plan support the behavior you want? If not, then change that.

Does you training and development program equip the sales people with the skills that support your vision? If not, it’s time to revise that.

Does you infrastructure support your idea of what the sales people should be doing? In other words, does customer service, purchasing, delivery, operations, sales management, etc., all support the revised job description? If not, make some refinements.

Finally, do you have the kind of people who will whole-heartedly embrace your new vision? If not, then it’s time to begin the process of recruiting new sales people.

Each of these is difficult and challenging issues that speak to the heart of how you have your sales force structured. Designing and implementing these changes can take the better part of a year or two. Each of these initiatives will be met with resistance from some. It won’t be easy. Before you rush into the fray, however, make sure you count the cost. You may decide that you are not up for the task and that it is easier to continue to cede management to your sales people.

Should you decide to revise your sales force, you can anticipate arriving at a focused and directable sales force - an enormously powerful asset for any distributor.

About Dave Kahle, The Growth Coach®:

Dave Kahle is a consultant and trainer who helps his clients increase their sales and improve their sales productivity. Dave has trained thousands of salespeople to be more successful in the Information Age economy. He’s the author of over 500 articles and five books. His latest is 10 Secrets of Time Management for Salespeople. His “Thinking About Sales” Ezine features content-filled motivating articles, practical tips for immediate improvements, useful resources and helpful tips to help increase sales. Join for NOTHING on-line at http://www.davekahle.com/mailinglist.htm.

You can reach Dave at:
The DaCo Corporation
3736 West River Drive
Comstock Park, MI 49321
Phone: 800-331-1287 / 616-451-9377
Fax: 616-451-9412
info@davekahle.com
http://www.davekahle.com

“Are you kidding me? You really never buy online?” Asks your friend.

Your friend continues his pursuit of the truth oblivious to your
discomfort. In the meantime, you fidget around while trying to find a graceful way out of this situation without revealing the truth.

You don’t want to tell him that you cannot buy online not because you are worried about identity theft. You can’t rent a car not because you are underage. The limitations you face are entirely related to the requirements of our credit based society. You simply don’t have a credit card. Your past credit
problems haunt you like a relentless dog in pursuit of a game. There may be a solution: Prepaid Credit Cards.

What are prepaid credit cards?

Prepaid MasterCard cards and/or prepaid Visa cards look exactly like a regular credit card. Neither you and your friends, nor the merchant who accepts MasterCard and Visa will be able to identify it as a prepaid credit card.

You obtain these prepaid credit cards by “pre-loading” them, which means you deposit cash into your account up-front, similar to a pre-paid calling card. Then you use your prepaid MasterCard or Visa anywhere these cards are accepted.

Prepaid Credit Cards are more practical than cash for many with
previous credit problems since you pay for your purchases before you even buy anything. This helps you plan your purchases better and avoid impulse buying.
Prepaid credit cards offer other advantages:

• They are easy to get since they do not require stringent credit check or income verification.
• They can be purchased online and at many retail stores.
• They have very short credit card application.
• They do not have any interest charges since you are not borrowing money.
• They cannot lead into credit problems due to inability to pay borrowed funds. Again, you are not borrowing money.
• Prepaid MasterCard or VISA have world wide acceptability virtually any anywhere VISA and MasterCard are accepted.

Don’t forget the downside of prepaid credit cards:

• They are costly to get with set-up fees of $5-$50.
• They are costly to maintain - “Loading” fee of $5 or more every time you deposit money into them.
• They requires up front cash.
• Some prepaid credit cards cannot be used for recurring payments like monthly subscriptions.

After all said and done, prepaid credit cards may be your only
solution to carry and use a credit card. With prepaid credit cards you no longer have to carry your past credit problems like a sign on your forehead. Instead you can reach into your pocket and pullout that prepaid credit card.

They may be a blessing that helps you take care of day to day needs and make personal changes to help you get on track to a disciplined attitude toward money and spending. If you decide to get a prepaid credit card, compare several offers and select the one that most closely matches your needs and special circumstances.

Don’t rush it.

And while you go about your struggles with this and other of life’s ups and downs, remember Robert Johnson who said, “Measure yourself by your best moments, not by your worst.”

For more information about free

Prepaid Credit Card,

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The definition of penny stocks, also known as micro-cap stocks, varies. A stock is termed as a penny stock based upon its market capitalization and share price. According to the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), a stock is termed as penny stock if its share price is below $5. However, many in the investor community believe that a penny stock is one with the share price of $1 or less. As junk bonds are compared to investment grade bonds in fixed income market, penny stocks are compared with blue chip stocks in stock markets. Trading in penny stocks are far more riskier and speculative than trading in blue-chip or other mid-cap or large-cap stocks. Several investors believe that investing in penny stocks is like gambling, that one has to be prepared for losing money. Moreover trading penny stocks can be more expensive. Penny stocks are usually traded in the Over-the-Counter exchange or on the pink sheets.

If you intend to invest in penny stocks you should know the differences between penny stocks and other stocks, such as blue chips and mid-caps. While the performance of mid-cap and large-cap stocks is driven primarily by fundamentals, several analysts believe that the performance of penny stocks is driven primarily by investor speculations. If you analyze the fundamentals of 100 penny stocks, perhaps only two or three would be generating superior returns.

Despite the issues associated with penny stocks, several investors intend to invest in penny stocks, since they believe many of today’s blue-chip stocks, such as, Microsoft (Nasdaq: MSFT) and Wal Mart (NYSE: WMT) were once penny stocks. However, the share prices of these companies were almost never trading for pennies, however it appears that way when one looks at the price adjusted for stock splits. Many investors ignore this fact.

Since many penny stocks are traded on the pink sheets and are not scrutinized by the SEC, you will find it more difficult to find credible information about them.

Penny stocks often lack liquidity, which means investors would find it difficult to buy or sell. A lack of liquidity often helps fraudulent investors to manipulate the share prices. The SEC itself in Schedule 15G states “Investors in penny stock should be prepared for the possibility that they may lose their whole investment”.

A penny stock traded on the over-the-counter exchange has a higher chance of being delisted for lack of compliance. If the particular company is unable to list its stock on another exchange or become re-instated, you may lose 100% of your investment. You should consider this seriously, if you intend to take long positions in a penny stock.

Several new investors are attracted to penny stocks, given their low price and potential for substantial gains. There have been instances where penny stocks rose more than 1000% in a few days in the past, but this is extremely rare and often the price is not sustained. There are historical evidences that most penny stocks lose their entire value. If you are a new investor, you need to be aware of the risks involved.

If you still want to invest in penny stocks, do the relevant research into the company’s fundamentals and ignore the pre-conceived theories about the successes of the penny stocks in the past.

Joel Arberman is the Managing Member of Stock Aware, LLC. We publish a free investment research and analysis newsletter and offer investor awareness services. Learn more at
StockAware.com.