Simply stated, a reverse mortgage is a loan that enables homeowners (age 62 and older) to convert part of the equity in their home into a tax-free income without having to sell the home, give up the title, or take on a new monthly mortgage payment. More and more homeowners are using this to supplement their retirement income, pay for health care, modify their home, or just get some cash for emergencies. Since this is a new product, some people...more
There is no need to use the many middleman websites you will find via a search engine. In fact, most of these are *bogus*, even the slick-looking ones. More and more banks are offering offshore internet bank accounts direct. Just get a list of banks in the country you're interested in, and go to their web sites. See the Google Open Directory here:...more
So, you want to get a loan? Here are some simple tips that will help you make an informed decision about what kind to buy, and who to buy from. A loan varies according to: The amount borrowed; The interest rate; The type of rate (fixed or variable); The term (length in years) of the loan; Deposit (downpayment); Associated fees (broker, origination, prepayment etc.); Insurance required by the lender. You are buying money for more than it cost the lender. Simple. It's a mistake to only care about the interest rate; there are also *arrangement fees* and *prepayment penalty* clauses to consider. This is how brokers and lenders make their money. Work out the total cost of your loan before committing. Keep a copy of every cheque you write for your loan. If you call your lender about your loan, make sure you get the full name of the person with whom you speak. Make a note of it. You may be dealing with a large bureaucracy, and will need to refer to this conversation later. Do a budget. Make sure you use realistic figures. Keep all of your receipts, or keep a record, for all of the money that you spend for a month. Use that to help you compile the first draft. Be prepared to review and...more
A successful leader told me, "The biggest challenge I've had in my career is dealing with bad actors. Brent, do you have tips on how to do it?"First, before we can deal with "bad actors", we must define the term bad actors. You already have a general idea of what the term means. You know I'm not talking about stage and screen actors but those...more
For a successful retirement investment plan to work in the stock market, some 'reasonably sure' assumptions would have to be made: The retirement investment plan must take into consideration the one prevailing constant in any stock market security - risk and uncertainty. Understanding that risk and uncertainty are the key factors that propels the...more
The Project Office is often seen as a nuisance or a threat, but can be a useful resource and networking opportunity. Here's a tale of two offices...The Reformed Project OfficePerhaps one of the most difficult things for John, the project support guy on the ordering system project, was trying to second guess Mac, the project manager. He knew the change control process needed improving to pass their project audit by the quality assurance group, but wasn't sure what format to use.As Mac wasn't in the office, he had a word with Debbie, the senior designer, who always seemed to know what to do. "Why don't you try the central project office? Mac doesn't think much of them, but they've got a new manager, so things might be different now," offered Debbie."Why doesn't Mac like the project office?" wondered John."Well, he thinks they waste time by expecting endless reports and don't offer much help. In a way, he has a point. The project office is not very popular. You haven't been here long, so you wouldn't know, but most people avoid it.""Okay, but as you say, the new manager may have brought a new approach. I'll go and see them and find out. Thanks."John had a meeting with Jeanine, the new...more
When you're self employed you have numerous advantages. As you are a free agent, you will write off every deduction you can on your tax return. You acquire the potential to earn extra income much more so than someone who is employed by someone else....more
Doing business with federal government agencies can be very lucrative for the people who lean how to maneuver through the maze of registrations, certifications and regulations. But if you are ready to start, these are the first steps you need to take...more
I never thought I would give away both E-Books again, but I keep getting emails asking for it so why not give it away again - You know my rules if it helps you be sure to return the favor and help another!This time my offer of both E-Books will not...more
After a careful thinking and spending hours and days together on the net, you have finally chosen your work at home opportunity and you look forward for a fast income from your business. But to your dismay, you are not able to find that much success,...more
If you plan to do business online, then your website will need to accept credit cards. For many, the idea of applying for a merchant account sounds like a daunting task, but the truth is that building an online store is incredibly easy these days....more
Offshore investing: spreading risk helps sleepThe world's economies still dance to different tunes and have different boom and bust cycles that tend to offset each other, even though the differences are getting smaller. As a result, international...more