Retirement Investing Crisis

By Doug West

The meltdown on Wall Street has taught us all many lessons.

"You Better Learn To Make Your Own Investment Decisions - And Not Let Brokers Make Choices For You!"

This is a basic fact we have been preaching for years now. Many times investors either blindly throw money at the market or let a broker do it for them. With a little effort you could learn to direct your investment accounts and retirement funds on your own.

In this article we want to point you in the right direction, and give you a few crisis tips too.

ETFs (Exchange Traded Funds) are an excellent alternative to mutual funds as an investment vehicle for your retirement or other accounts.

There are now ETFs that cover every sector of the market. ETFs offer many advantages over mutual funds. Here are just a few:

* Tax Advantages - ETFs seldom sell any equity positions or create a taxable event. Mutual funds often do this. With mutuals, you could owe tax on part of the funds holdings (the winning stocks they sell at a profit) even though you lost money over all. A double whammy!

* Less Management Costs - Even No-Load Mutual funds have become top heavy with many "Professionals" employed and eating up GIANT parts of the profit. You might think of ETFs as Electronically Traded Funds. MUCH less management costs (in some cases no management costs) and the ease of trading them.

* Diversification - Let's face it, this is what was attractive about mutual funds to begin with. Instead of picking out stocks on your own, you had "Professionals" (with the meltdown we can see that most of them are not too professional) putting together a diversified portfolio for you. With ETFs, you can get the same if not better diversification without the hassle of dealing with a mutual fund giant eating up all the profits.

* Easy To Trade - With true mutual funds you can only get out of a position After the market closes. You can trade ETFs just like a stock in your discount brokerage account. If you were locked into a fund when the market was in crash mode, it was not a good feeling. Had that been an ETF you could have bailed at any time (before the DOW closed down 777 points!)

We could go on with the benefits of ETFs, but you should be starting to see the picture. An even better way to call your own shots with your investments is to trade the index (or indices for plural). We are referring to the mini Dow, the S&P eMini, the mini Russell and others. (there are also ETF's the mirror the indices such as "SPY" for the S&P 500 index)

While we focus on mini-Dow trading, any index will do. With Index trading, you just follow the overall market up, or ride it down with a short position.

While we are on the subject of shorts it would be good to mention that while most US mutual funds are not allowed to short a stock, you can actually buy ETFs that do good with the market is dropping. One such fund is ticker "DUG" which does well when the Oil price is dropping (a tip we gave our readers after the big run up in oil to over $140 per barrel - at the time of this writing it has been dropping since).

You can find other ETFs that do well in falling markets. So, you don't have to short the market (statistics show that 80% or more of investors never do short the market - but are always looking for a upward bull run), you just buy the right ETF and let it do the shorting for you.

By now, many investors see the importance of having a strategy for making money when the market is dropping. Most investors have yet to develop this strategy. We prefer to do it with simple index trades. Whatever you do, find a way to make your own moves and don't depend on someone else to invest your money for you. No one will take care of your money like you will!

*********************************************************** NOTE: To learn more about ETF's visit Yahoo Finance and look under the Investing Tab at the top of the page - then select ETFs www.finance.yahoo.com ***********************************************************

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Debt-Free Report

New Reverse Mortgage Law Gives Home Buyers Another Option

By Tiag Vanrock

Borrowers, aged 62 and older, now have an additional financial tool to help them purchase that home they formerly thought was out of the budget. As of january 1, 2009 the government is allowing the reverse mortgage to be used the fund the purchase of a home, rather than just as a refinancing tool. The program works almost identically to any other home purchase with a mortgage. The borrower brings in adequate downpayment, and the mortgage company funds the loan.

How this program is of use the the borrower is in the fact that the borrower is not required to make mortgage payment to the lender.

Traditionally, the reverse mortgage acted as a safety net for seniors, allowing them to use the equity in their homes as a source of income to supplement their lifestyles. In return a reverse mortgage lender allows interest on borrowed moneys to accrue rather than being repaid to the lender on a monthly basis.

Eventually, when the home is sold voluntarily by the borrower, or the last surviving borrower passes away, the loan is paid back to the lender. The mortgage company makes money from the accumulation of interest over time. Those moneys are repaid to the lender when the home is sold.

These are the steps to the purchase program:

1. Borrower is to get a reverse mortgage approval letter from a HUD approved reverse mortgage lender. In conversation with the lender the senior will be advised as to the amount of funds necessary for down payment, closing costs, maximum purchase price, and reverse mortgage loan options.

2. Write a contract on the home

3. Borrower to bring closing funds as outlined in the approval letter. As stated this amount will be anywhere from twenty-five percent to fifty-five percent of the home value.

4. Reverse mortgage lender funds the remaining principal balance. Borrower will have a choice of financing closing costs or paying out of pocket for them.

5. Senior is now the new owner of the home.

6. Borrower lives in home as a primary residence. The borrower is then only obligated to pay property taxes and homeowners insurance until death or sale of property.

The new purchase program, beginning January 1, offers a whole new tool to the senior home buyer market. The jury will be out for some time, but my phone is already ringing. If that is any indication, it may become a staple to this market.

About the Author:

Much more info about the reverse mortgage in Texas and everywhere else at The Quintessential Guide to the Texas Reverse Mortgage. Everyday reverse mortgage queries answered at Texas Reverse Mortgage Public Knowledge Base and Guide.

Stopping Foreclosure Through Lender Mediation

By Tomasheus Privetsky

You've had more than your share of difficulties in the last few months. You've lost a loved one or been through a difficult divorce. You've lost a job or had to change jobs. You've lost your health and have medical expenses stacking up. Maybe you're struggling with increased utility prices or fuel expenses or an adjustable rate mortgage (ARM) that is unbearable. Perhaps, your property tax bill has gone through the roof.

Unfortunately, while you're worrying about stopping foreclosure of your home, you're bombarded with letters, postcards, phone calls and strangers driving by and knocking on your door.

These foreclosure investors specialize in chasing homeowners just like you who are close to losing their homes. They're interested in buying your home and profiting from it, because they believe you must sell the home.

Should you sell to an investor to avoid being foreclosed on? Maybe, but certainly not as your first option. And only after you exhausted other foreclosure prevention means such as rearranging your loan.

One of the Solutions To Stop Foreclosure Is Lender Mediation

Once you have missed a couple of payments, your credit rating will begin to be affected your credit score will likely drop considerably, which will make it extremely difficult to refinance your current loan.

However, mortgage lenders would really rather not end up owning your home; this is why every mortgage lender has a loss mitigation department which tries to work with homeowners who are in default on their mortgages to bring them back onto a timely payment schedule. Unlike refinancing your mortgage with a new loan, this loss mitigation process does not require getting a credit approval, putting this alternative within reach for homeowners who are in default.

If You Do Get a Workout Plan, Beware of the Challenges

One of the biggest problems with these loss mitigation departments is they don't employ enough people to handle unusually high rates of foreclosure the country is experiencing right now. In fact, these plans are often difficult to arrange due to the heavy workload, which these employees are faced with. Since loss mitigation departments have so little time available to work with each file, they will tend to offer repayment plans which don't give you enough time to catch up with your payments, and monthly payments which are larger than you can realistically afford.

Because you're between a rock and a hard place you're tempted to take it to keep your home from being foreclosed on. In reality you just set yourself up for a failure. A few months down the stretch, you'll be back in foreclosure again.

How to Hire Foreclosure Workout Professionals

One of the simplest, yet little known ways to get a lot better outcome through the Loss Mitigation process is to hire an experienced professional to do the work for you. These are companies that have experience of negotiating literally thousands of workout cases for owners in default. Some have established working relationships with the Loss Mitigation departments of many mortgage lenders nationwide.

These companies will look over your finances and help you come up with a repayment schedule, which is possible for you to meet; payments will be kept as low as possible to make it easier for you to make your payments. These companies have intimate knowledge of the programs offered by different lenders and can negotiate a better deal for you than you would be offered by the lender on your own. They may even be able to negotiate a lower interest rate on your mortgage, which will lower your payments.

You may think that these services will be too expensive, given your financial difficulties; however, most of these services charge a low flat fee, usually about a months payment. With the money and time these negotiations can save you, they usually more than pay for themselves? They can often even negotiate a deferral of your next payment.

You May Consider Cutting Your Losses

If the lender mediation process won't work for you, then you will need to sell your home to keep from having a foreclosure record on your credit report. If there is enough time before foreclosure, you best bet is to list your home with a realtor, this will let you get a better price for your home. If your foreclosure is imminent, however, you may have no alternative but to sell to an investor. These companies can buy your home quickly, just make sure that they have the means to close the deal quickly, before your home goes into foreclosure.

About the Author:

It's time for you to stop foreclosure of your home through loss mitigation. Don't delay and start looking for a referral to loss mitigation .

The Bad Credit Special Loans.

By Denzel Abintenk

Many of the citizens are able to take delivery of bad credit loans after filing the bankruptcy, often almost immediately as thirty days time period next the release of the bankruptcy. a lot of companies have set up a high quality marketplace presenting these loans, knowing a person cannot declare bankruptcy for a at least of seven years following the bankruptcy release. This opens a novel market for a number of lenders will to take a likelihood of citizens with a bad credit score meaningful they have legal alternative to recoup the quantity of the loan.

Even though the majority customary lenders just will not grant bad credit personal loans after bankruptcy there are many lenders that come to blows over the market. Even by means of the counseling supplies of bankruptcy on monetary organization and liability, at present is no law that require those declare the bankruptcy to go after any suggestion made for the duration of the counseling. Follow the discharge of the bankruptcy, persons are free to search for bad credit personal loans after bankruptcy at whatever time they choose.

even though bankruptcy records are released to the public, and their accessibility is often seen as an uncomfortable punishment for ignore past accountability, the accessibility of the bad credit individual loans after the bankruptcy has a lot of taking that road to get out from beneath a serious debt load. still with the novel laws there are those who carry on to pile on debt and file for bankruptcy each seven years or as almost immediately as the law permits.

There Are No Laws to Govern For People Who Apply For the Bad Credit Loans

at the same time as a lot of laws exist over who can present bad credit personal loans after bankruptcy and the interest rates charge for them, there is no laws leading who can apply for them. yet a person who has manifold bankruptcies in their earlier period are free to seek financial help where on earth they can find it. in spite of the considerably higher cost of bad credit personal loans subsequent to bankruptcy citizens often flock to the lender presenting such loans.

a small number of, if any of the lenders presenting the bad credit personal loans after bankruptcy have need of any type of guarantee for the money, still meaningful there is a good chance the loan will go into non-payment, the alternative obtainable, counting wage garnishment, make them a money-making business. When a human being default on bad credit personal loans after bankruptcy a court-ordered reimbursement is characteristically approved for the amount of the loan and whichever expenses linked with collect the loan.

over and over again the cost of collection approach the sum of the initial loan along with courts costs, like the attorney fees and collection agency fees, all charged to the delinquent the creditor. This add even more to the charge of obtain bad credit personal loans after bankruptcy is filed.

About the Author:

Denzel Abintenk frequently pens detailed reports on news associated with consolidate debt with a personal loan and loan to consolidate debt. You might find out more about his publications on personal loans to consolidate debt over at http://www.debtania.com .

Dispute Experian

By Justin Hutto

To dispute Experian you must compose a dispute letter and mail it to them. Upon receipt of your letter they will investigate the disputed item.

I suggest you first get a copy of your credit report. This can be done by going to annual credit report. They will issue you a free copy of your credit report with each bureau annually.

Once you have received your credit report you need to identify what marks are incorrect. These are going to be the marks that you will dispute.

You will dispute the items by creating your dispute letter and mailing it to Experian credit bureau. Once they receive your letter they will determine if it is valid or invalid.

If they find your letter invalid you will receive a letter from them asking for more details about the dispute. You should respond accordingly and provide them with the information.

However if your dispute is found valid they will conduct an investigation. During an investigation they will contact the creator of the listing and ask them to verify the account, the dates, and the amounts.

Frequently an investigation will result in the removal of a bad credit item. This happens because many businesses are not going to spend the time or money verifying a disputed debt.

A credit repair service can also be hired to remove negative credit from your report. With this option you only need to identify the marks you wish to dispute and the service will do the rest.

The benefit of a service is they can use advanced dispute techniques such as; debt validation, escalated dispute information requests, and creditor direct intervention.

I suggest do it yourself credit repair if you have only minor damage on your report, however if you have multiple marks I suggest a credit repair service. I also suggest a service if you are having trouble submitting a valid dispute or you have had a mark verified that should be removed.

You are going to need to dispute a bad credit item with each credit bureau. This means you will have to send a separate letter disputing the same item with each bureau.

In sum negative items can be removed from your credit report. You do not have to live with the high cost of low credit.

About the Author:

For a free credit repair letter to dispute items on your credit report or to read a review of Lexington Law a suggested credit repair service visit us.

How Does Debt Consolidation Work?

By Eric Jilson

Living in today's world, it's almost impossible to function without using and managing debt. The unrelenting needs and never-ending changes in our financial lives require that we utilize credit in one way or another. When properly maintained and used, credit is a good thing for most people's financial lives, allowing them to purchase homes, vehicles, and other items they would likely not otherwise be able to get without years of savings.

Often, though, debt piles up rather than being paid and people begin to slowly feel their freedom being drained as the debt begins to take over their financial lives. Becoming always short of money, barely able to make payments on time, or being late because you just didn't have the money yet. Sacrificing lifestyle choices and worse, all begin to get worse as the debt mounts. Eventually this comes to a head and has to be dealt with.

Before it gets to that point, though, many people turn to debt consolidation to relieve the pressure and take off the stress. A debt consolidation and management program can reduce your debt, provide you with a means to get out of debt, and manage your credit to show you how to utilize it in a healthy manner that doesn't build your debt load, but instead lowers it.

So how does this work and is it really what it says it is?

Debt consolidation works by consolidating all of your debt into one loan at a lower interest rate, usually paying off your existing debt at lower rates than what's owed. This means your new loan is for a lower amount that you owed before and at a lower (usually fixed) interest rate. So now instead of many monthly payments at varying interest rates, you have one payment at one interest rate.

Some of these programs will, instead of setting up a new loan, set up a management program in which current debts are "fixed" with the creditors, lower payments and interest rates are set up, and your single payment to the management program pays all your creditors automatically. These are not "loans" but they are consolidations of credit under one management system.

Most creditors are happy to either cut what's owed in order to get paid off so they do not have to worry about a struggling client or to take lower interest payments in return for getting a more guaranteed monthly payment to service the debt. A creditor's biggest worry is that a debtor will declare bankruptcy and the creditor will walk away with nothing at all but an unpaid debt.

Some management companies will offer incentives to the client looking to consolidate their debt, making claims about how quickly the debts will be paid and how a "new start" will be had once it's done. In reality, it takes time to pay off these debts and, in the mean time, the person's credit is often on hold and unusable.

Further, some consolidation management companies take monthly payments, issue "cease and desist" orders as attorneys to creditors, demanding that they talk only to the management company about the client's debt, and then let the monthly payments pile up without being sent to creditors. They do this in order to pressure the creditors into taking even lower payoffs (in lump sums from this "account") and to collect interest on the money being paid to them as it builds in an account. While this is legal, it is deceptive and often ruins the client's credit for a very long time.

So finding a reputable and reliable debt consolidation and management firm is a must if you're in the market to consolidate your loans and want to manage your debts correctly. Consolidation is often the best and most effective way to reduce debt or to completely eliminate it and get clear of it as quickly as possible without totally destroying your credit.

About the Author:

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A Quick Look At Mortgage Refinance

By Ned Dagostino

Mortgage refinance is an option most house owners look at from time to time. The big question they ask themselves is: Should I? Well, that depends on the particulars of the case. Generally people go in for mortgage refinance either to save money on the interest they pay, or to consolidate sundry debts. The crucial factors that merit consideration when deciding the 'Should I?' question are noted below for your information.

Maybe you have a number of small monthly repayments and these are becoming increasingly difficult to manage. You can refinance the mortgage and get a loan large enough to pay off all the small debts at once. You can then concentrate on paying a single monthly repayment. This makes things more manageable.

Most people think that the interest they pay on mortgages is unjustifiably high, and seek ways and means to reduce the interest burden. This is intelligent thinking. The point to consider is whether the market rate is showing every intention of reaching for the sky. If it is, and if your present mortgage is based on the variable market rate, then this is a good time to opt out of the present mortgage and refinance the mortgage with a fixed interest plan, where the interest rate is lower than the average market interest rate computed over the duration of the mortgage.

Whether refinancing is advisable for you depends on your particular situation. Let's consider some situations where refinancing is not a good option.

The problem is that when you go to a refinancing agency they fail to mention the actual expenses you will have to incur to refinance your mortgage. Their excuse is that these are 'external' expenses and not their concern. Therefore you may be lulled into believing that the refinance scheme is going to save you a hefty sum over the mortgage period. Too late you find that you have to pay a number of incidental fees, charges and penalties, which can set you back quite a lot, and may nullify the savings you've counted on. There is no point in changing your financier if it is not going to save you any money.

Information is your greatest asset in making up your mind about going in for mortgage refinance. Gather all the data and information you can about the various mortgage refinance schemes on offer. Go online and get the latest market buzz about interest rates and mortgage refinance schemes. Tabulate your findings and make a comparison chart. This will help you in evaluating the best refinance schemes available.

You may not know it, but refinancing may impose certain penalties on you. The previous financier holding your mortgage may impose a penalty to release the mortgage. This could be heavy if you have not anticipated it. The mortgage broker can exact a fee called origination fees or simply as 'points', which could severely affect your savings. Take all these penalties and payments into consideration when computing your expected savings.

Refinancing will be beneficial for you if you are able to save more than you spend on all the fees and penalties involved in refinancing. One very important factor that you must consider is whether there are chances of your moving out before the refinanced mortgage expires. If there are good chances of your moving out soon, then, far from saving you money, the refinance is going to cost you a packet!

Refinancing your mortgage can be very helpful indeed. It can save you quite a bit. You should survey the refinance market very carefully and minutely. Find out all the options available to you. Find out all the fees and charges that will be taken upfront. Compute the savings you expect to make and then deduct the upfront fees to determine whether taking the refinance is a good idea. A wrong decision here, a single point overlooked, can mean ending up losing money with the refinance. Remember, refinancing is a very serious financial decision. The benefits differ from situation to situation, and sometimes even within the same situation.

About the Author:

There are many other refinancing choices available to you besides a basic house refinance. You can refinance almost any loan including your vehicle, trailer, or even a manufactured home refinance can put extra cash in your wallet. Go to www.Home-Mortgate-Refinancing-Loan.com to learn more.

Divorce and SAVE money?

By Mike Mastracci

The collaborative divorce model is starting to reach the tipping point. More and more attorneys are becoming trained in collaborative practice as a solution oriented approach to offer their clients. Collaborative divorce is appealing to many people because they view it as a way to save money that would otherwise be spent on huge litigation costs.

When you try to a void hiring an attorney to guide you through the divorce process you will usually regret it. Lack of legal knowledge and experience can result in unnecessary and expensive court delays, incorrect paperwork, missed deadlines, improperly filed documents -- in effect, a real mess. There is a reason people say that only a fool hires himself as an attorney.

Most divorces are not necessarily cheap. In fact, you may have heard the phrase, "it's cheaper to keep her." What about him though? "Cheaper to keep him," may be true too, but it doesn't sound as good. Oh well, with the holiday season upon us and given the state of the economy in general, household finances are an issue. When divorce hits, it can be a financial disaster no matter when the separation occurs.

While tracking the money spent on divorce is simply a matter of accounting, the intangible benefits are harder to see, but, they are priceless. When ending conflict is a common goal, your quality of life is much better. If there are children involved, there are a whole host of reasons to consider collaborative law. Show your children that you love them more than you dislike your ex.

It is important that you speak to an attorney that is collaboratively trained. The collaborative model is a shift in thinking from traditional litigation. In a collaborative setting, court is not an option, and that in and of itself is a money saver. You have much more say so and input in a collaborative outcome.

How much you spend on a collaborative case, much like any other domestic cases, will largely depend on the degree that the parties truly cooperate to reach acceptable resolutions of their respective issues and concerns. Fighting and bickering is expensive. It is much cheaper to"play nice.

About the Author:

If you are thinking about separation and divorce Learn More About Collaborative Divorce and save big bucks while maintaing control over the outcome. You can turn a potentially ugly and expensive divorce into an amicable and fair resolution of all related issues. Learn More About Collaborative Divorce

Declaring Bankruptcy

By Elma Evvie

While it is never easy to decide whether or not you should declare bankruptcy. However declaring bankrupty may be one of the best financial decisions that can help you get back on your feet.

We personally know how difficult it can be to struggle every month with your finances. No one wants to have to deal with whether or not declaring bankruptcy will help them with their finances; however if you are in a position where you can barely make ends meet then you may want to consider it.

Bankruptcy is a way for people to get a "fresh start" and it is not always a bad thing. However before you begin declaring bankruptcy; there are some things that you should know.

1. Your Credit Score: Your credit score is extremely important when it comes to getting new loans or even trying to get a job.

Once you file bankruptcy then it is going to affect your credit for up to 7 years. However once you have decided that this is the best route for you; then you want to know that you can rebuild your credit after you have filed with work and persistence.

2. Finances: Without discovering why you are facing these financial hardships it will be impossible not to be facing them later on down the road again. It is important to sit down and find out why you have to file and where you went wrong.

Before you decide to file or not; it is important to find out why you are having to make this decision. Remember nothing can change if you keep making the same financial decisions that you have been making.

3. Teach Your Kids: This one is imporant because you want to teach your kids how to be responsible with their finances so that they will not make the same mistakes that you made.

Declaring bankruptcy is one of the most difficult decisions that anyone can be faced with. If you are struggling with your payments and not making enough to pay your bills; then you may want to consider filing. Even though it does affect your credit; you can learn how to rebuild your credit after filing. Before you decide whether or not to file; you may want to get a free counseling about your finances to ensure that you do not have any alternatives.

If you are looking for more information about bankruptcy and whether or not you can get back on your feet after filing; then visit our site below. We share our personal experience and show you how to avoid being in this position ever again.

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Are You Considering Filing Bankruptcy Online? Find Out How To Rebuild Your Credit After Declaring Bankruptcy! There Is Life After Bankruptcy; Learn How To Become Debt Free!