Shopping For A Car? Don’t Get Taken For A Ride!

Author by James H. Dimmitt

Imagine this ... You're ready to buy a new car. You've done your research on the web at a site like Edmunds.com so you know what the dealer has paid for the model you want. Based on your information you've established your comfort zone for price haggling.

You walk into the dealership, meet with a salesperson, and begin negotiations. At the end of your test drive and haggling, you're confident that you've made the best deal possible. No way you're getting ripped off because this time you are an "informed consumer" unlike when you bought your last vehicle.

One final step stands between you and your brand new "ride" - financing. Your credit is outstanding so you get what you believe is the lowest possible interest rate from the dealership. You drive away in your shiny new vehicle triumphant!

Ready for a dose of reality? According to a new study, there's a 1 in 4 chance that you've been "taken for a ride" by the dealer's finance department, especially if you are female or a minority, by as much as an extra $1,000.

The Consumer Federation of America, a Washington,

D.C.,-based consumer interest group, said consumers often pay additional fees in that process - totaling as much as $1 billion nationwide - without realizing they qualified for cheaper financing.

Here's what can happen behind the scenes: a bank approves an interest rate, the dealer tacks on additional percentage points as a kind of service fee and then the dealer and lender split the difference.

To be fair, not every dealer is guilty of this markup. However, enough are involved that many states are now considering new "truth in advertising" lending laws. New laws would require auto dealers to inform customers of the original rate offered by the bank and what the dealer is offering to the customer, after tacking on their additional finance fee.

Shopping around with your bank, credit union or the internet can help you to find the interest rate that you qualify for in a loan. Remember, the auto dealer is in business to sell cars, not to offer loans.

The next time you're in the market for a car, don't just research the model, make, and add-ons. Research fair interest rates as well so that you'll know if you're getting the best rate possible from the auto dealer or if you're being "taken for a ride."

Author: James H. Dimmitt

James is editor of "TO YOUR CREDIT", a weekly free newsletter. Subscribe to the newsletter by visiting

http://www.yourfreecreditreportnow.com. He is also author of “Identity Theft - How to Avoid Becoming the Next Victim!” available at http://tinyurl.com/bc45

How to beat the mutual fund companies at their own game

Author by Ulli G. Niemann

You'd have had to be living on a desert island with no TV, newspaper or internet connection to have missed hearing about the great mutual fund scandal of 2003.

The issue was that some mutual fund companies allowed certain hedge funds to engage in after-hours trading, sometimes incorrectly referred to as market timing. Unfortunately, some companies have used the confusion about the term "market timing" to further their own cause. How?

They have used this issue to pretty much ban all forms of trading their funds, and some companies are imposing hefty short-term redemption fees—penalties for all intents and purposes—in the name of avoiding impropriety. But the real idea behind it all is: Buy our fund and never sell it!

These companies advocate a stubborn Buy & Hold philosophy despite the devastating effects that approach had on investors’ portfolios during the recent bear market. Performance is immaterial to them—they want your money in their fund whether it's going up or down.

With all of the negative press over the months you'd think that mutual fund companies would have cleaned up their act and started giving more consideration to the individual investor. Not so.

This was brought home to me when a fund manager of an $800 million mutual fund called me to see what my plans were in respect to holding our positions with his fund (about $2 million).

I explained my trend tracking methodology and he got very angry when he heard I would protect my clients' accumulated profits by selling his fund if it were to drop 7% off its highs.

His blustering made it quite clear that he did not like anyone managing for the benefit of their clients; he only cared about what was best for him and his company.

So, what can you do to prevent being taken advantage of? For one thing, do what your mutual fund company does — not what they tell you to do. Adopt a strategy for following trends, such as I do, and use the mutual fund manger’s superior stock picking ability to your advantage by buying and holding only as long as the fund is performing well.

Remember, the fund manager has one big disadvantage over you: He always “has to” be invested so that the public can purchase shares in his fund. You don’t!

If market conditions dictate that you are better off in the safety of a money market account because we are in a severe downtrend, then you can take your money and run for cover. He can’t. He is constantly trying to adjust his portfolio to ever-changing economic conditions so that his potential losses are minimized. At the same time you are being told that his fund is the investment for all seasons. Don’t fall for it!

You as an individual investor are really in the driver’s seat. Unfortunately, you have probably been conditioned to think that Buy & Hope is a good investment strategy, when in fact it is a losing proposition.

Bottom line is, use a well performing mutual fund during strong up trends and get over to the sidelines during trend reversals. (That's exactly what I did for my clients in October, 2001, and we retained the lion's share of their profits while Buy & Holders kept insisting the emperor was wearing new clothes.) Pretty soon you will feel that you are in charge of your financial destiny and any chosen mutual fund is merely a tool to bring you closer to your goals of maximizing your gain and minimizing your losses.

Ulli Niemann is an investment advisor and has been writing about objective, methodical approaches to investing for over 10 years. He eluded the bear market of 2000 and has helped countless people make better investment decisions. To find out more about his approach and his FREE Newsletter, please visit: www.successful-investment.com.

Financial Freedom = Delayed Gratification

Author by Vishy Narayanan

What is delayed gratification? Do you stop to

wonder? It appears that the self storage

industry is growing out of control. Even worse,

it is people who have a place called home that

are using these places to a great extent. I was

listening to an interesting program on the

radio that was discussing this issue. I must say

that I was surprised and shocked.

I always thought that these places were used by

people in transit. But, if people have the need

to rent these places on a long term basis, I

have to wonder if the American culture of wanting

everything now, has gone a bit too far.

I was discussing this with one of my friends

recently. Guess, I touched on a weak spot here.

He admitted that he had been spending $200 every

month for the past six years on renting a little

space in the neighborhood. I asked him what he had

stored in there. He said "this and that, I don't

even remember. I have not even taken a look in the

past four years.". You know that $200/month invested

wisely could have made a lot of money for him. I

think that he will be clearing out that place and

giving his "wealth" away to the Salvation Army soon.

What do you think about the consumer credit

growing without control. Is this something that

each one of us should be concerned about?

I am not saying that we should not enjoy our lives

or live in total misery. Contrary to that, I

like to live an excellent life and have the things

that I need. But, that does not mean that I

should not care about when I get what I get. I

think that it is easy to get in debt, but getting

out is a whole other story.

We all deserve true Financial Freedom, but only

when we are willing to pay the price and make the

necessary sacrifices.

We should feel good in getting the rewards that

we have earned, rather than borrowing it from

someone at an exhorbitant price.

Vishy Narayanan

Author and Guide On Your Path to Financial Freedom

http://www.TotallyFinanciallyFree.com/specials/promo18

12 Steps To Financial Freedom

Author by Achoenweli Opute

Yes, you are welcome and you are at the right place at the right time.

You have come to a point where you need to take a decision.

You have to sit down and reflect on a number of issues.

(1) You cannot derive lasting fulfillment by working for money instead of discovering why you are here on planet earth and putting every energy in you to achieving that purpose.

(2)Your decision is to take inventory of your talents and taking steps to developing them fully to the glory of God.

(3)Don't slave for money any longer.

The Commandment-----12 Steps To Financial Freedom.

(1)Thou shall by all means know the state of your financial health.

(2)Thou shall create a column for God by paying 10% of all your income as tithe so that He can sanctify the remaining 90%. And if you don't believe God exists, which is not sensible, thou should donate the 10% to charity.

(3)Thou shall take out the next 10% and put it in any investment vehicle that pays return higher than inflation rate. It's wise to add unexpected money as well as any raise from promotion to your savings

(4)Thou shall take full control of the way you spend on any transaction and every penny spent on any transaction and every penny that flows into your pocket. There is no wisdom on buying on impulse.

(5)Thou shall prepare a financial freedom plan stating when you want to retire and what level of investment you must have at retirement that can generate enough returns to the full care of your retirement expenses. You must set specific goals.

(6)Thou shall look for a mentor on whose feet you must sit to learn about financial investment and management plans.

(7)Thou shall invest more in your mind and brain more than you invest in your physical appearance. What you do on the inside determines how far you can go outside.

(8)Thoun shall get a lawyer to put your will together. This is a reasonable step to take if you don't want to leave sorrow for your loved ones.

(9)Thou shall also take an insurance policy to absorb any unexpected emergencies.

(10)Thou shall develop alternative sources of income to your salaries. You cannot be wealthy by working for your boss alone. Use your spare time profitably.

(11)Thou shall take your spouse into consideration in any financial decisions you want to make. This can save you from unnecessary heartaches and headaches.

(12)Thou shall act on all the steps above if you want to achieve FINANCIAL FREEDOM.

They look very simple but that is where your true financial freedom and salvation lies.

I lay emphasis on all 12 steps but more on steps 3 and 10 above, as it is most demanding and practical for your financial freedom indeed.

There are millions of businesses to invest in, but the very ones I recommend, you can start with little or no capital. I call it the *Internet Marketing Business Investments*.

There are fortunes on the internet and you too can become a PART of it; if you WILL, you CAN.

See you at the top.

Regards,

Achoenweli .O.Opute

(Ceo - Netright International)(www.netrightinfo.netfirms.com)

You can subscribe to get my FREE newsletter by simply sending an email to achodiks@yahoo.com with your name, email address and the subject "FREE NEWSLETTER"

*Your information is 100% secured with us*

Start right away to "MAKING MONEY ON THE INTERNET" even while you sleep.

The #1 best-selling Internet Marketing course online; I highly recommend visiting: www.marketingtips.com/t.cgi/802828

Achoenweli Opute is an internet marketer and has helped many people to make it on the internet as he has sold many thousands of products online.

He is the Ceo Netright International

No Load Mutual Funds: Investment Hype vs. Investment Help

Author by Ulli G. Niemann

With the internet such a huge part of our daily lives, many investors have access to a wide range of instant investment information.

Whether you’re into stocks, bonds, mutual funds, futures or options, there are tons of electronic investment newsletters offering to turn your small stake into a giant fortune. All you need to do is subscribe and watch your portfolio soar.

Yeah, right!

As a practicing investment advisor specializing in no load mutual funds, I have received my share of e-mails from disillusioned subscribers wanting to know how to better evaluate newsletter services.

While there are no absolutes, I can give you a few pointers that might help you make a better decision:

1. Stay away from the most obvious hype. Ads promising to turn your $10,000 into $1 million in 2 years by buying this incredible stock or hot commodity are not promoting investing — they are selling gambling. Follow the "If it sounds too good to be true, it usually is" rule.

2. Most mutual fund newsletters won’t make those outlandish claims, but some of them are still pushing the truth as far as they can. So try to get a free issue or two to examine. If you can't get a sample, check if they have a trial period? How about a money back guarantee? If not, pay with your credit card. These days you’re pretty well protected by this payment method even if the newsletter doesn't offer a satisfaction guarantee.

3. Consider the editor as well as the disclaimer notes. Is he or she only publishing a newsletter? Or is he also an investment advisor with a practice?

Why would that last point matter? I may be biased, but I believe that you get far better advice from a writer who also is in the trenches every day investing their own as well as their clients’ portfolios. They would have far better insights as to what works and what doesn’t than someone who has the theory down but no practical experience.

4. Look at the investment recommendations. Are they suggesting you buy into a certain orientation such as mid cap, small cap or large value? Or are they picking specific investments based on a variety of technical indicators?

In my no-load mutual fund practice I use specific recommendations, even for my free newsletter subscribers. They are first based on my trend tracking indicator giving us the green light and secondarily on the selection of mutual funds based on momentum analysis.

The more specific the recommendations, the better, because that allows you to follow along either just on paper (which you should do at first) or with your actual portfolio.

5. Are they recommending when to sell a mutual fund either because of gains or to limit your losses? This to me is the most important issue. If there is no plan in place for getting out, how will you ever know when to sell? This has been the greatest downfall of most publishers (and investors!) since the bear market of 2000 — not selling even if market conditions dictate it would be in your best interest to do so.

The advice of most newsletter services can make you money in bull markets. However, with the continuation of the bear market still a distinct possibility; be sure to look at any newsletter's investment advice record since 2000.

For many people investing is an emotional issue. The pendulum swings between fear of loss and greed for greater returns. If a complete methodology for buying and selling is offered in a newsletter, such as one I advocate, be sure that it fits your emotional make up.

There is no sense in following an investment approach, which may have merits, if it means sleepless nights for you. You won’t stick with it for the long term — and long-term investing is essential for making your portfolio grow and prosper.

So, the bottom line is to look for a newsletter that:

• does not promise the moon,

• has a track record through up and down markets, and

• recommends an approach that not only is compatible for your investment style but also has an exit strategy so you can capitalize on your gains -- in the bank, not only on paper.

Following these guidelines may not make you rich, but it will help you avoid some bad advice.

Ulli Niemann is an investment advisor and has written about

methodical approaches to investing for over 10 years. He

avoided the bear market of 2000 and has helped countless

people make better investment decisions. Subscribe to his

free newsletter: www.successful-investment.com

To Be An Effective Leader, Do A Check-up From The Neck Up

Author by Della Menechella

Before we can effectively lead anyone, we must take an introspective view of ourselves. We must do a check-up from the neck up. We must be certain that the thoughts and attitudes we hold are in alignment with the role we perform.

Check Your Vision

As a leader you need to have vision of what you want your team to accomplish. A vision is more than just a statement; it is a complete picture with all the details of your accomplished goal. During my leadership workshops, the participants do an exercise during which they write a paragraph that describes the vision they hold for their organization. As I watch them complete this exercise, the one thing that strikes me is that most of the participants are not smiling. If the vision they are creating does not inspire them, how can they possibly expect it to inspire others?

When you create a vision, do not be held back by perceived limitations. When your vision is exciting enough, you and your team members can find a way to overcome them. When our country’s leaders had a vision of putting a man on the moon there were many apparent limitations, including not having the technology available to make the vision a reality. However, when the vision came alive to the individuals who worked on the NASA team, they discovered the technology that was required to make the vision happen.

Make sure your vision excites you if you want it to excite your team.

Check Your Attitude

As leaders, we must deal with many stresses and challenges on a daily basis. Sometimes they can cause us to feel overwhelmed. If we are not feeling positive we must do whatever is necessary to change our attitude before we meet with our team. Our team looks to us for encouragement. Part of our role as a leader is to help our team members move forward with a positive attitude.

As leaders, we must be diligent about our attitude so we stay motivated. It is the only way we can possibly motivate others.

Check Your Behavior

Everyone looks to the leader to determine what he or she should do. In order to be an effective leader, your behavior must match your message. You must model the behavior you want your team members to follow. If you say one thing and do something different, your team will follow what you do and not what you say.

If you want your group to meet their commitments, make sure you meet yours. If you want your associates to do whatever it takes to get a project done on time, then roll up your sleeves and pitch in to do what you can to help them meet their deadline. Like it or not, your behavior is the benchmark that everyone will look to and use as a guide for their own. Demonstrate what you want them to do by modeling the appropriate behavior for them.

This check-up from the neck up is not a one-time event. Just as we need to take our cars in for periodic check-ups to assure they run effectively, we need to do periodic check-ups to make sure that we are effective in our roles as leaders.

About the Author

Della Menechella is a speaker, author, and trainer who inspires people to achieve greater success from the inside out. She is a contributing author to Thriving in the Midst of Change and the author of the videotape The Twelve Commandments of Goal Setting. She can be reached at della@dellamenechella.com. Subscribe to free Peak Performance Pointers e-zine - send blank e-mail to mailto:subscribe@dellamenechella.com.

Crisis Management Tips

Author by Colin Ong TS

The term crisis management has different connotations. In this article, I will try to provide pointers that can be used in most situations:

Is It A Crisis In The First Place?:

This question is important to ask, as there are many situations that go wrong because the right person to handle it is not around. You may be in charge of a project until your supervisor comes back and are unable to contact him during a crisis. You have to make your own decisions in his absence and your action is dependent on the level of authority given.

The Big Picture:

It is not easy to handle a crisis if you are not aware of the all the facts. If your role is a leader, you have to be detached from the emotional side of the crisis and rationally take stock of how to move on. Again, this is not as easy as it sounds as you may have long-time colleagues who are involved in this crisis.

The Relevant Team:

It is important to be able to meet up with the relevant team to discuss about the situation. This is to ensure that the team is able to analyse and make a united stand about handling this crisis. This team should also comprise of the authorities, if the crisis is serious.

The Timeline:

You must construct a timeline and ensure that each process scenario is highlighted. This practice will be a check to prevent your team from spending too much time in one aspect of handling the crisis.

Procedural Manual:

Is there an organizational situational manual that you can use for this situation? Are you able to recollect the tips that were given to you when you participated in a mock drill?

External Experts:

You should get external experts to access the situation if the crisis is totally unanticipated. However, you must have had a close-door meeting with your inner circle. This is essential, as you do not want to unnecessarily reveal confidential information to external parties.

Speaking To The Media:

It is important to prepare a press kit-which provides a full detailed report about the crisis. If you are comfortable to conduct a press interview, you have to ensure that you have the full details first.

Your Communication Style:

You have to ensure that your communication style is in sync with the crisis. Remember to be forthcoming with reliable information and try not to speculate. This will also ensure that the victims’ immediate families do not overly worry. It will also not help if you come across as very emotional in the media as you want to communicate that your organization has everything under control.

Beyond Your Control:

If the crisis involves the loss of lives, it is not unthinkable that your credibility and organisation’s reputation is put into question. Assuming that the crisis was beyond your organisation’s control, you have to stick to your best judgement and not be led into a debate that may open your organisation to possible legal action.

About the Author

Colin Ong TS is the Managing Director of MR=MC Consulting (http://www.mrmc.com.sg) and Founder of the 12n Professional Networking Community (http://www.mrmc.com.sg/12n)

colin@mrmc.com.sg