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Gold and Silver Investment Choices
Gold and other precious metals have been moving rapidly upward in the market, and investors wonder what investment vehicles are the best choices to capture that upward price appreciation in the precious metals market. Many wish to buy and hold the precious metals themselves, but there are a number of alternatives. Each of these different options has its own strengths and weaknesses. This discussion gives some basic information on the most common possibilities. Depending on what your goals are, you may choose to use one or more of the available options described below. I'm not an investment counselor, nor am I offering any investment advice, but here is a brief explanation and introduction to each of the best known opportunities for precious metals investment:US and international gold bullion coinsThe US and many other countries have made and are continuing to make gold bullion coins for sale. These are not coins which are rare and have numismatic value, but are coins made for investors interested in their bullion value. The American gold eagle coin is available and denominations of 1/10 ounce, one quarter ounce, one half ounce and 1 ounce. The great advantage of bullion coins is that they are easily available, liquid and portable. Most coin shops buy and sell them. If you plan to buy small amounts of gold, perhaps half an ounce a month for investment purposes, this is the kind of thing you may be interested in. The disadvantage is that they have a significant cost of getting in and out. It will cost about $25 plus the spot price for 1 ounce coin, and if you sell it you will receive a few dollars less than the spot price. The cost for a buy and sell combined is about $30. Foreign bullion coins, such as Canadian Maples or Krugerrands are slightl

y add presumed operating and maintenance costs of the boat) to determine your monthly debt. They will compare this to current income as stated on the credit application or verified in the tax returns. Your net worth may be considered for stability and as a secondary source of repayment.

Many boat buyers are very worried about how their credit report will affect their ability to buy a boat. Most people will not need to worry about the effect of their credit history during the boat financing process.

However, you can be better prepared if you get a copy of your credit report to review before you apply for your boat loan. That way, if there are any errors you can take steps to correct them before you make your application.

If you have had credit problems, be prepared to discuss them honestly with a boat financing professional. Responsible boat loan professionals know there can be legitimate reasons for credit problems, such as unemployment, illness or other financial difficulties. If you had a problem that's been corrected, and your payments have been on time for a year or more, your credit may be considered satisfactory.

The boat loans industry grades a person’s credit like many other industries. Grades are based on payment history, amount of debt payment, equity position, bankruptcies, credit scores, etc.

Market Value

The process here is for the lender to be satisfied that the selling price reflects a realistic market value of the vessel, your

Buying Property in Thailand
When thinking of overseas property for investment purposes the British have invariably and predominantly looked to Spain and France in the past. More recently Bulgaria,The Czech Republic, Poland, Latvia, Croatia and with their accession into the EU on the first of January 2007 Romania now seems a viable option and alternative. For some of the more pioneering Americans Eastern Europe is also a favourable choice for affordable real estate, offering a low cost and comfortable standard of living. Furthermore the majority of the emerging economies within the Eastern bloc and real estate markets are pro active and working hard to attract foreign investment.A growing number of US citizens are choosing to move north to Canada where real estate can be cheaper,taxation can be lower, healthcare is far cheaper and the standard of living as high as in America. Countries such as Mexico, Panama and Belize are well known as lower cost locations for US citizens seeking an affordable overseas location. Living costs, real estate and taxation are all low. However the main consideration is the affordability and accessibility of healthcare and of necessary treatment and care, each of the three countries mentioned fails in one way or another. Furthermore, younger Americans may struggle to find decent employment or education for their children in Mexico, Panama or Belize.The British have always been obsessed with property and the expression 'an Englishman's home is his castle' has never rung more true. With the cost of housing within the UK out of the reach of most first time buyers and those first time buyers continually vying for property with buy to let investors more of the early twenties are putting down roots in more affordable countries. As always though anyone co

If you have decided to take a boat loan you need to keep a few points in consideration. First and the foremost thing you need to do is to decide which boat you wish to buy and find out its price, this will help you in determining how much funds do you need. The next thing is to unearth how much money you have to invest in the boat. Both these steps will help you in finding how much money you exactly need to borrow with a boat loan.

There are two types of boat loans available in the loan market – secured and unsecured boat loan. Secured boat loan requires a borrower to put some kind of collateral to become eligible for the loan. Tenants can apply for an unsecured boat loan, which does not require a borrower to put a security against the loan. In the same way, homeowners who wish to protect their home from the risk of repossession too can apply for an unsecured boat loan.

Boat loans are offered at both fixed as well as variable rate. In case of a fixed rate loan, you will have to pay a fixed sum of money every month; this loan option will help you in accommodating your budget each month. On the other hand, in variable rate loan or adjustable rate loan the interest rate fluctuates with market interest rate. This interest rate loan option will allow you to take advantage of the falling market interest rate. At this time, you can expect the lowest rates in recent history. Loans are now amortized over 15-20 years, require 20% minimum down payment and, fixed rates are from 5.5% to 6.75%.

Marine loans generally have no points on the loan. They are all "simple interest" loans with no pre-payment penalty. If you know you will only keep the boat 2-3 years then the "out of pocket" expense is surprisingly low. Many yacht buyers have a three-year "itch cycle". That is, they keep a boat for three years, then they "get the itch" to sell it and try out another boat for three years. If your credit score is less than 600 then the situation may be difficult. Lenders mainly look at the debt to income ratio. Use only marine lenders, as most banks do not understand the yacht lending business and don’t lend for yachts valued over $100K.

If you know your income as shown on your tax returns will be not be at least 200% of your debts then ask for a "no-income verification" loan. Essex does these. Do take into consideration the various fees associated with the boat loan that sometime results in a low cost seeming loan turning out to be costly. A boat loan may accounts for fees such as underwriting fees, processing fees, cost of credit report, and other related costs. Make sure to consider all the cost involved which will help you in deciding which loan option is best suited to your needs.

When you reach out in the market to find the best boat loan there will be an enormous number of lenders offering you great loan deals. Now, you have to decide whether you want to undergo the lengthy stressful loan process or a fast, easy and cheap loan. The Majority of you will opt for the second option as everyone wishes to save his or her valuable time and money. Online lenders aim to provide you with the comfort of getting a cheap and fast boat loan arranged.

Online loans are easy to apply for. All you do is fill out an online application form with some of your personal and financial information. Lenders will get back to you with the loan deals they find appropriate for you. Don’t accept the very first loan deal you get. Search around, collect loan quotes from lenders and compare them to find the loan deal that you find to be perfect matching your needs and desires to the best

The Application Process

Some lenders will require a full written application, while others will take the application right over the phone. This primarily depends upon your loan amount – the more you want to borrow, the more details need to be provided. The important thing to remember is to be as complete as possible and you will find the process will move along much more quickly. Include complete name, address, phone numbers, employment details, income as requested, details on home ownership (if applicable) and all monthly debt service.

When income verification is required, depending on the size of your loan request, you will probably be asked to provide copies of your tax returns for the past 2 years. You may also be asked to prepare a personal financial statement, which is simply a snapshot in time of your assets and liabilities and shows your net worth. The information requested is necessary to provide the best loan decision, so your cooperation is a plus.

Have all of the boat information available for the application, such as year, make, model, power, optional equipment and any upgrades. Identify the total cost, which will include

 the purchase price

 any equipment upgrades or additional accessories you may be considering

 any sales taxes that must be paid at the time of purchase

 registration, title, or documentation expenses.

You will be signing your application, which will include your authorization to have the prospective lender or financial service company examine your credit. If you do the application over the phone you will be verbally authorizing the credit review.

The Loan Underwriting Process

The boat loan decision process is, really, quite simple and straightforward. There are two major aspects that are examined; You and The Boat. You: Your credit history will be reviewed for continuity and satisfactory repayment of present and past credit obligations, looking for loan amounts comparable to your request. Of particular interest will be the level of revolving debt (credit cards) you have and the limits of your credit cards, expressed as available credit.

Another important factor is debt to income ratio. The lender will look at your present monthly obligations and add the monthly payment for the boat loan (they also may add presumed operating and maintenance costs of the boat) to determine your monthly debt. They will compare this to current income as stated on the credit application or verified in the tax returns. Your net worth may be considered for stability and as a secondary source of repayment.

The boat loans industry grades a person’s credit like many other industries. Grades are based on payment history, amount of debt payment, equity position, bankruptcies, credit scores, etc.

Market Value

The process here is for the lender to be satisfied that the selling price reflects a realistic market value of the vessel, your d

The ABC of Mystery Shopping - Be Prepared Before You Venture into Mystery Shopping
There’s nothing more important when you are about to plunge into a new business than to be prepared. Obtaining information about mystery shopping before you actually become a mystery shopper is crucial for building realistic expectations and maximizing your income as a mystery shopper.Mystery shopping is now more than an amateurish recruitment of secret shoppers to check on consumer service. Mystery shopping has become a legitimate market research tool for evaluating staff performance and developing more effective customer service policies to attract more consumers and realize higher revenues. Organizations such as the Federal Trade Commission for the Consumer, the Mystery Shopping Providers Association, and the Better Business Bureau have also paid substantial attention to the growing niche of mystery shopping companies, and have tried to somehow guide the ethical conduct of firms on the market for mystery shopping services.As with other successful business projects, providing mystery shopping services has been emulated by scam artists and pyramid structures. In fact, some mystery shopping scams have succeeded in casting a shadow over the legitimacy of the bona fide mystery shopping companies. Mystery shopping, however, is a legitimate way to recruit secret shoppers whose feedback and staged customer experiences can provide valuable insights to team managers and business entrepreneurs how to develop and improve the quality of service on their premises.Mystery shopping jobs also allows secret shoppers to earn some extra cash and various perks – freebies, free trials, or free services. Some may try to outstretch the benefits of mystery shopping to mystery shoppers to extensive limits by implying that mystery shopping can bring you millions

.5% to 6.75%.

The Application Process

Have all of the boat information available for the application, such as year, make, model, power, optional equipment and any upgrades. Identify the total cost, which will include

 the purchase price

 any equipment upgrades or additional accessories you may be considering

 any sales taxes that must be paid at the time of purchase

 registration, title, or documentation expenses.

The Loan Underwriting Process

The boat loans industry grades a person’s credit like many other industries. Grades are based on payment history, amount of debt payment, equity position, bankruptcies, credit scores, etc.

Market Value

The process here is for the lender to be satisfied that the selling price reflects a realistic market value of the vessel, your

4 Ways To Make This Year Your Most Profitable Ever
1. Establish Key Performance IndicatorsThese Key Performance Indicators should measure a variety of financial areas in your business e.g. value of an average transaction, cost per sale, profit margins, cost per inquiry, the lifetime value of a client etc. In this way you will have some very clear yardsticks or benchmarks on which you can base any future profit enhancement initiatives.Write down 4 initiatives against each Key Performance Indicator that you and/or your people can do to improve on these figures. Then write down some action steps and delegate these tasks. It is important that these KPI’s are monitored on a regular ongoing basis so that you can assess the performance.2. Revisit your Client Nurturing program. Make sure that it addresses the following points:• You will need to have a telephone or email contact with each client at least every two months. This will depend on how frequently they purchase from you.• Provide value-added services and information which are not directly linked to a sale, from time to time. These could include reports, golf days or 'client only' workshops.• Make special 'client only' offers every now and then, where you offer them a great deal because they have purchased in the past from you.• You know that all clients are not the same. Make sure that you have reorganized your clients into 6-star, 5-star, 4-star and 3-star. You should give the 6-star clients the "6-star" treatment.• On an ongoing basis you need to gather information on who your clients are, what their current needs are and how you can improve your level of service for them.3. Come up with ways to make it fun for your customers to do business with you, as well as enjoyable for your team membe

of you will opt for the second option as everyone wishes to save his or her valuable time and money. Online lenders aim to provide you with the comfort of getting a cheap and fast boat loan arranged.

The Application Process

Have all of the boat information available for the application, such as year, make, model, power, optional equipment and any upgrades. Identify the total cost, which will include

 the purchase price

 any equipment upgrades or additional accessories you may be considering

 any sales taxes that must be paid at the time of purchase

 registration, title, or documentation expenses.

The Loan Underwriting Process

The boat loans industry grades a person’s credit like many other industries. Grades are based on payment history, amount of debt payment, equity position, bankruptcies, credit scores, etc.

Market Value

The process here is for the lender to be satisfied that the selling price reflects a realistic market value of the vessel, your

Dumb Money
Many people have, at one time or another, taken some of their hard-earned funds, and decided to put them in the stock market. These well-meaning individuals either acted on a tip they saw on CNBC, or actually believed one of those crazy faxes/emails that said XBXB @ $0.17/share was the next Microsoft. These people thought they were being smart, but they probably just ended up lining the pockets of brokers and mutual funds when they lost money on their 'investment'. I know, because I've done it, too.Part of the problem we face is that we are big underdogs in the investment channel. We, as individuals, have access to hordes of information. Yet, we don't even scratch the surface of our knowledge potential. We invest without carefully reading financial statements and company reports, looking instead to message boards and TV stock 'experts' for guidance. If you own mutual funds, do you know what companies those funds are holding? Most people have no clue.Investors can be lumped into two categories: smart money and dumb money. Most individuals are 'dumb money'. Smart money regularly beats the market, and includes many mutual funds. Dumb money generally loses. Dumb money often over-reacts to market pressure.There are a few ways to avoid becoming 'dumb money'...First, forget about short-term investing. If you plan to rapidly buy & sell stocks, statistics show that, on average, you will lose, and maybe lose big. Long-term investors don't easily get scared off by market fluctations, 10% price swings, or a bad earnings report. Plus, they don't have to pay the transaction fees over and over like the day traders do. The best way to ensure that you will make money investing is to find your initial investment vehicle, and leave your money alone.

your net worth. The information requested is necessary to provide the best loan decision, so your cooperation is a plus.

Have all of the boat information available for the application, such as year, make, model, power, optional equipment and any upgrades. Identify the total cost, which will include

 the purchase price

 any equipment upgrades or additional accessories you may be considering

 any sales taxes that must be paid at the time of purchase

 registration, title, or documentation expenses.

The Loan Underwriting Process

The boat loans industry grades a person’s credit like many other industries. Grades are based on payment history, amount of debt payment, equity position, bankruptcies, credit scores, etc.

Market Value

The process here is for the lender to be satisfied that the selling price reflects a realistic market value of the vessel, your

Predicting Marketing's Future At The Dawn Of The Age Of E-Commerce
This we know for certain. Digital technology has opened the floodgate to electronic commerce. And electronic commerce has changed buying behaviour faster than anyone believed it could. E-commerce has taken hold.Online sales are exploding. The Web and electronic commerce already have begun to spawn whole new global businesses-e.g. Amazon.com, E*Trade, eBay. What we see is nothing less than the dawning of a global “digiconomy”- a new form of global distribution and sales that bypasses bricks and mortar and the traditional infrastructure usually associated with the marketing of goods and services. For whole hosts of industries, E-commerce is a faster, cheaper, and far more effective way of selling goods and services anywhere in the world.Transactional TVWe predict the next pivotal event is the transformation of the passive TV into an interactive transactional tool. Consumers will not need computers to surf the Web in pursuit of buying products and services. They’ll be able to connect with the Web right on their TV sets.What makes this transformation possible is broadband technology.The magic of broadband technology is that, unlike narrowband, constrained by phone wires and modems, it brings high-resolution, full-motion, interactive video to the screen, images on the Web, for the first time, will be TV quality.The most potent marketing weapon.With the dawning of transactional TV, brand values will draw as much from real time Web interaction as from the traditional TV commercial. The Television Advertising Channel with its Television Advertising Games will make the advertising compelling and interactive.TAC will be the most potent transactional medium ever and the most effective global marketi

The boat loans industry grades a person’s credit like many other industries. Grades are based on payment history, amount of debt payment, equity position, bankruptcies, credit scores, etc.

Market Value

The process here is for the lender to be satisfied that the selling price reflects a realistic market value of the vessel, your down payment meets their guidelines and is in line with your credit profile, and they are comfortable with the loan-to-value. Other factors come into play, such as the type and age of the boat you are buying.

The lender will research the market value of your boat through various sources that include price guides, comparable boats on the market, discussions with yacht brokers about the boat and what other comparable products are selling for, and a marine survey by a professional with whom the lender is comfortable.

Bank Catch 22

Sometimes banks say they are "interested in yacht lending" but they are really only interested in finding that "one in a hundred golden borrower"... so you waste your time filling out forms only to be rejected if you don’t have 110% perfect credit. Have a current copy of you tax return to fax them for a quick verbal approval before proceeding.

Avoid Stamp Fees

For those who live in Florida keep in mind if you are traveling, sign your loan documents out of the state of Florida to avoid paying "State Document Stamp Fees" If you sign your loan paperwork in Florida you will pay a state fee of $3.50 per $1000 of the loan amount.

Lender Pre-Approval

Loan interest payments are deductible as "second home mortgage interest expenses" unless you already take this deduction on a second home.

Seller Financing

Concerning "seller financing"… It may be possible in a very few, very rare cases like with some "501- c(3)" charities. But you will need 40% down and are severely limited to only the boats they have taken in as donations (it will NOT be your dreamboat). Ask your broker what is available here. Because yachts can be easily moved out of the country, 99.9% of all sellers will not agree to seller financing.

Factor in Foreign Exchange Rates

Foreign currency exchange rates can have a substantial impact on the price of yachts.

You should be aware of how this can affect prices. In recent memory, the Euro was trading at .88 to the dollar; that is, one US dollar would buy .88 Euros. Now the Euro costs 1.26 dollars. So a yacht priced at 200,000 Euros used to cost $176,000 but now costs $252,000 (with a 1.26 rate)! As you can now see, the dollar has really weakened against the Euro. So, Americans won’t be buying many European owned yachts as long as the dollar remains weak. Foreign exchange traders say this is happening because Arab oil producers are afraid to hold dollars for political reasons and they are now demanding Euros in payment for crude oil.

Also, the Arabs have dumped billions of dollars in savings and bought Euros and Euro-denominated investments instead. So, the Euro is becoming the "currency of the world" and this trend will probably continue. On the other hand, if you have Euros, you should be buying yachts owned by Americans and take them back to Europe for re-sale. Dollar-denominated yachts are cheap for Europeans now.

Vendors

Keep in mind the best way to attain the boat and loan you desire is through extensive research. The more you know the easier it will be to navigate through the obstacles that will come your way during this process. Below is a list of vendors to give you a head-start in your search.

Offshore Financial is known for its reputation for being an industry leader in marine financing. Your personal contact, Jennifer Moore, will work hard to offer you the most competitive rates and terms, regardless if you have your eyes on a private Day-sailor or a Megayacht. Let her assist you in making your cruising dreams an affordable reality!

New Coast Financial - Let Cindy Lewis of NewCoast Financial guide you through all of the options that are open to you with regards to marine financing. She is highly qualified to answer any questions you may have and help make your loan process hassle free. She is committed to ensuring that your loan is placed with a bank that best fits your financial needs.

Financial Underwriters Network specializes in boat financing nationwide, we offer competitive rates and a variety of loan programs to best suit your individual needs. Complete our on-line loan application today, or call our office (800) 231-4003 24/7 personal assistance available to take an application over the phone.

Beacon Credit Services offers an on-line application with instant approval along with fixed, adjustable and variable rate loans up to 20 years with no application fees. Refinance upto 100% of the value of your boat. Foreign Flag (U.S. Citizens only) and Letters of Credit. Minimum loan is $20,000. Russo Marine Financial Services, Inc. a subsidiary of Russo Marine, can assist you with financing or refinancing new and pre-owned power and sail boats purchased from dealers, brokers or private parties.

BoatLoanSuperStore.com (minimum loan $20,000) is one of the preferred lenders among Yacht dealers and brokers, they offer several experienced lenders offering convenient rates and terms, serving the continental United States. They are a full service marine lender, offering loans for Power Boats, Sail Boats, House Boats, and High Performance Boats. They also provide USCG Documentation, State Registration and Extended Service Programs for New and Used boats. Serving the industry for over a decade, applications are normally approved in 6 hours or less!*

SourceOne Federal Credit Union - Minnesota Residents Only - Great long term and low rate Boat and RV loans. No application fee. Delivering Personalized Financial Services & Products for over 70 years.

SeaDream Boat Loans and Boat Insurance is the premiere West Coast brokerage for boat loans and boat insurance. Their goal is to help you achieve your nautical dreams by providing you with the best service for your boat financing and insurance needs.

Excel Credit - they will help you secure your boat loan with financing from $25,000 to Ten Million Dollars. In most southern states, we can arrange loans f

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When you consider that the average person when placed in new or unfamiliar surroundings will take in up to 70% of his initial information visually, the remaining 30% being divided between the auditory and kinetic senses, and a first impression will be made in a matter of seconds, you'd better make sure that they like the look of you or your presentations going to be all up hill!

All of these types of third party distribution channels are immediately available to many companies and can be deployed for a fraction of the cost of a direct sales force. In addition to that, the cost can be very variable and can be absorbed by the actual sales revenue as it's produced, as opposed to being up front, fixed and unavoidable when you deploy a direct field sales team or inside sales team.

As a speaker and trainer that works for many different companies and organizations all around the United States and abroad, I am often meeting many different groups of people that I'd like to stay in touch with. One of the most basic time-saving e-mail tips that I like to use to stay in touch with these folks is the e-mail group distribution list. I’m sure that for many of you, this tip is more of a reminder than a new strategy, but it is a powerful time-saving communications tool nonetheless. I’m sure that when used properly, it can save you several hours a year of time locating and typing in e-mail addresses.

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