College Student Health Care!

College Student Health Care!
A major fallback that all financial institutions, and
government agencies have had, in regards to student aid,
student financing, student loan and even student jobs is
the total lack of attention that has occurred with student
health care. Do you realize that the largest population of
uninsured Americans are people aged 18 to 24.

Today there are more than 48 million Americans that have
little or no health insurance, and those numbers are
expected to go up by 20% in the next 10 years. Of those
people that are uninsured over 10% are college students.

Now, that I have you thinking! Lets think about why this
happens? If we know that this is true, and we also know
that health insurance insurance is our biggest problem,
then why don't we do something to solve the problem of the
largest population of uninsured?

What causes this Age Group to be Uninsured? The main reason
that young college students are not covered by insurance,
is because they are too old for their parents coverage, or
in some cases their parents don't have insurance. Another
reason is because people in this age group are going to
school, and can only afford to work part time, and a part
time job does not cover health insurance needs.

What are the Current Health Insurance Options for This
Population?

There sure are not a lot of options out there. The student
could purchase an independent insurance policy, but with
independent insurance policies costing well into the
thousands of dollars a year, this is not really a viable
option. The other option is for parents to continue
covering the young adult, and many insurance companies
refuse to do that. The parents could also purchase an
independent health insurance policy for their child that is
if they can afford it.

Many Argue that People in that Age Group Don't Really Need
Insurance

Does that truly make sense? So, if a student has an
accident, it is alright if he becomes financially indebted
for many years to come, because he was young. Most students
would probably choose to have health insurance, if the
option were available to them.

Many of these uninsured students have chronic diseases like
asthma, diabetes, heart conditions, and HIV that go
untreated because of a lack of health insurance. Students
need treatment with depression issues, eating disorders and
even drug and alcohol abuse, and in most cases they cant
get it because of a lack of health insurance.

How Can We Solve the Problem of a Lack of Health Care in
Young Adults? It is a subject that is on the politicians
table and should be paid attention to carefully. We could
support candidates that look for a solution to the problem.
It would be great if in some way we as a nation could come
up with some form of universal coverage. Another option
that you as a student can check into is the availability of
a health insurance plan that is carried by the University
or College you attend.

Many of today's colleges offer student health insurance
plans for students that are enrolled in their University.
In fact, this should be something you look at when you are
choosing the college you will attend.

Have Your Parents Ask Their Insurance carrier if they can
keep you on their plan. Some insurance carriers will let
students remain on a plan until they are 22.

In conclusion, this is still somewhat of a difficult
problem to deal with, and there still aren't any easy
answers. But there are some solutions, if you look for them.

----------------------------------------------------
Jim Donaldson is writer for the student loan information
site http://www.studentaides.com where there is more
information to be found on student credit cards. please
visit http://www.studentaides.com for more information.

The 7 Steps of Do-it-Yourself Financial Planning

The 7 Steps of Do-it-Yourself Financial Planning
You are in control

You are already your own financial planner. Regardless of
the extent of help you receive from professionals, you
ultimately are the decision maker and you are responsible
for your own finances. Although the financial world has
become increasingly complex, it is becoming easier today to
do a lot of your own planning. The variety of resources has
expanded such as software for money management and
planning; online tools for banking, financial planning and
investing, and resources, and books and blogs that are easy
to understand. These resources may be good news for you if
the cost of professional fee only financial planners is
out-of-reach to you. Besides the cost of fees, others may
avoid planners because they have heard stories of advisors
trying to sell a product that didn't fit their situation.
Cost savings and avoiding product pitches are excellent
benefits of being your own planner.

Everyone should take a more active role in their financial
affairs. Not only does it help with educated decision
making and fraud avoidance it also helps you better
communicate with your other professional advisors such as
your accountant and attorney. You will also find yourself
spotting opportunities when they cross your path.

Becoming a better manager of your family's finances will
also help you 'dig out' if you are struggling financially.
When you consider the low savings rates and the high
household debt, many more people find themselves in this
category today.

The following are 7 steps to do-it-yourself financial
planning:

Step 1: Commit

The first step to financial planning always begins with
commitment. Whether you are having financial difficulty, or
have just avoided setting goals and mapping out a plan -
commitment is the first step. Commitment provides the
discipline and focus needed to help sustain you on the path
towards your goals.

Step 2: Set Goals

Without specific goals and a plan to achieve them financial
success stays a foggy dream. Therefore the second step is
to list the dreams that will motivate you. Write down all
of the goals you want to achieve in the short and long
term. This will serve as the driver, or the fire in the
engine giving you the motivation to move forward. Everyone
has dreams, but without constant watering and attention
dreams will go dormant. Leave your past mistakes and
inaction behind you, light a new fire and chart a course
forward. You have an enormous amount of potential and
talent, and if you have made mistakes you now have more
experience and wisdom. Dare to imagine what you could
achieve - because your best years are ahead of you.

Step 3: Assemble and Organize Information

Get your stuff together. Planning is easier if you
assemble everything in one central location. Make an
organized filing system either in a cabinet, accordion
file, a box, any way that works for you. Now locate and
file all of your tax returns, receipts, insurance policies,
contracts, wills, mortgages, deeds, titles, pay stubs,
employee benefit statements, banking (loan, savings and
checking), bills, investment and retirement plan statements
and any other important papers.

Step 4: Manage Cash Flow

Your household is a business. You need to know how much you
are earning and spending each month. Balance your checkbook
and establish a budget. There are dozens of books and
software to help with this, and your bank's website may
provide this as well. This will help you know when and
where you are overspending.

Step 5: Self Educate

Establish a sound foundational knowledge base about
financial matters. Start with books about budgeting and
money savings tips, debt, basic insurance and investing. Be
sure to include reading about mutual funds and financial
planning. Avoid get-rich-quick, real estate, gold or
innovative 'secrets' books. Stick to the fundamentals. I
find the "For Dummies, 'For Idiots' and 'D-Mystified' book
series to be very helpful for many people. Lastly, stay
informed about current financial topics by reading
financial magazines, newspapers, the business section of
papers, and blogs.

Step 6: Create a Written Plan

A written plan serves as a road map towards your financial
destination. It helps you understand where you are
presently and the steps that you need to take to move
forward. A financial plan is a process. As your life
changes with income changes or the birth of a child, your
plan should be updated to reflect your new circumstances.
You should revisit your financial plan at least once a year
to make any updates or to include items in your checklist
for completion. If you write your own financial plan, you
will have to obtain financial planning software. Your
other options are to pay to have a written financial plan
completed by a fee financial planner or by an institution
or professional that provides products. Be sure to find
out about how the planner is compensated and what your fees
will be.

Step 7: Engage Professionals

Most people can't entirely do all of their financial
planning by themselves. Assemble a team of trusted
professional advisors that you can rely on to help you
implement different aspects of your plan, answer your
questions and be on the lookout for you. The professionals
that can be the most advantageous are a proactive tax
accountant and financial advisor with extensive planning,
investment and insurance knowledge, an attorney qualified
in estate planning, and a banker that can help with credit
ratings and debt management. Before committing to anyone,
get referrals for trusted professionals from people whose
opinion you respect and don't be afraid to ask challenging
questions.

There you have it, the seven keys to do-it-yourself
financial planning. Start the process today: the sooner you
do, the closer you will be achieving your goals and living
with less financial stress.

----------------------------------------------------
Kent E. Irwin, ChFC, CLU, CAP, co-founder and CEO of
eFinplan.com. eFinPLAN is the first and only web-based
comprehensive consumer financial planning software designed
for people who are trying to do a lot of their own
financial planning. Find out more about how do-your-self
financial planning and how to reach your goals at: =>
http://www.efinplan.com/

Why Is A Great Investment Adviser So Hard To Find?

Why Is A Great Investment Adviser So Hard To Find?
If you're looking for a great doctor, tutor, ad agency or
actor, you'll find they're always busy. You have to wait in
line. The very best at what they do always attract a
following. Word of mouth works exponentially when you do a
superlative job or get more profitable results.

It's just a fact of life, some say. Actually, it's basic
economics: when demand is specifically stimulated in one
area, it highlights the dearth of supply for similar
quality. There are only so many great experts to go around.

Why would it be any different with investment advisers?
Like architects, accountants, or actors, they come in all
shapes and sizes. The problem of finding and keeping a good
one seems to be magnified by how much money one has to
invest. It just makes common sense that if an advisor is
paid solely by commissions, the more money he or she
manages, the more he will earn.

What would you do? 'Follow the money' is the ancient adage.
This is not to say that there aren't investment advisers
who won't work with you because you don't have millions to
invest. Investment advisers come with different sets of
motivation. There are IA's who would rather work only with
women, others who like to specialize with those under 40,
those who focus only on professionals, or independent
business owners; while others hone in on mature adults,
those older than 55.

Each of these respective target groups has its own dynamics
and challenges. There are IA's to fit every single market
segment's needs. However the single driving force in the
vast majority of cases is just how much one has to invest;
or how much time it might take to service that client's
account.

After all, the only two things any IA has to offer are her
'time' and 'expertise'...or access to it. Time is the one
constant. Every expert or investment adviser has only so
much available 'time' to spend on his profession. That
means only so much time can be dedicated to servicing and
managing a client's money.

Some are very efficient and make the best use of this
scarce resource. Others are not so fortunate. Which one you
get depends on how you shop around, how diligent you are in
your choice; what questions you ask during your search.
Research has shown that one of the ways IA's greatly
improve their efficiency and the accuracy of their work is
to use as many digital, automated tools as they can.

These tools help them speed up and improve the accuracy of
their research and calculations of various equity
opportunities, given the prevailing conditions in the
market. This is where the advantages of the Internet come
into play.

It's no secret today that the majority of investors use the
Internet to research, educate themselves and calculate
potential returns on their market moves. I personally know
of one investor who decided to see if he could put
together a multiplicity of information sources - in a much
different format than usual - so that folks like him could
work either by themselves or more closely with their own
IA, in the management of their portfolio.

As part of his overall research, in late January of this
year, he did market research and learned some things that
readers may find very interesting. Because he is
particularly interested in independence and objectivity,
he asked the question: "...How concerned are you that your
Investment Adviser might not be totally objective - i.e.
that he/she might be influenced by other incentives
vis-à-vis the investment advice he/she gives you?"

Some might say that the answers he got were to be expected.
It was also surprising to learn that 80% of investors with
more than $100K in the market spend up to 10 hours per
month online -- some much more -- researching their stocks.
To me, this begs a new question: why are they spending this
much time online if they have an IA?

----------------------------------------------------
To learn what the research mentioned in the story above
revealed, go to: : http://www.stockresearchddblog.com
Roy MacNaughton is a business writer and coach. He's a
seasoned marketer, with more than 25 years of international
experience, including eight years online. Contact him at:
roymacnaughton 'at' gmail.com or his blog at:
http://www.UmarketingU.com

Beach Front Vacation Homes: Should You Buy One?

Beach Front Vacation Homes: Should You Buy One?
The idea of a beach front vacation home is one that many
people find appealing, but the cost of constructing or
buying a beach home makes it prohibitive for most people.
There are many owners who rent out their beach homes,
however, as a way to help offset the costs of ownership.

There are a few issues to consider before buying a beach
front vacation home. One of the major problems you will
encounter with beach front vacation homes is the amount of
maintenance required due to damage by renters or the
environment itself. Do not underestimate the work and
money that might be involved. Bear in mind that many beach
front homes are right on an ocean beach. The result is
that damage from salt water will quickly take its toll on
the structure. There is no amount of protection that can
save a wood building from the ravages of the weather and in
some areas prone to heavy storms, such as hurricanes, the
depreciation of the home can come quicker than you would
expect.

If you own a beach home, and are responsible for looking
after it, then you will need to make sure it is safely
locked up and protected during the winter, and remove any
coverings you put in place once the spring comes, ready for
the home to be used again.

Smaller Homes Are Easier To Maintain

A smaller beach front vacation home is likely to survive
severe weather events better than a bigger home, and any
damage is more likely to be easy to repair. With a little
protection, a small beach front home should be able to
survive wind, rain and storms. Left unprotected, the
weather could damage the home, causing structural damage,
and flooding. If you are buying a large beach front home,
make sure you can afford to, and will take the time to,
take precautions before the winter.

Make sure you take out a good insurance policy, and, if you
are considering renting the home out while it is not in use
then you should either spend time vetting the renters to
make sure that they will not damage the property, or, at
least recruit a property manager that you can trust to make
those decisions for you.

Despite the costs associated with owning a beach front
vacation home there is still a big demand for them. If you
can't afford to purchase one yourself, then you could
consider renting from one of the many new owners of such
properties, and enjoy the benefits of having such a home
without the responsibilities.

----------------------------------------------------
Beach front vacation homes and beach front vacation rentals
are a great way to enjoy the luxuries of home while
vacationing. Visit
http://accommodations.every1loves2travel.com and find a
great "home away from home".

How To Make Sure You're Getting the Best Credit Card Rates

How To Make Sure You're Getting the Best Credit Card Rates
Are you getting the best credit card rates possible? You'd
better hope so. If you're not, you could be throwing
thousands of dollars down the drain without even realizing
it. Want to know how to make sure the best credit card
rates are on your monthly statements? Here are four tips
that will help you do just that.

1. Watch Those Payments

The first and most critical step towards getting the best
credit card rates is making each and every one of your
credit card payments on time. One late payment and it's
like a credit card domino effect. The card you paid late
experiences a rate increase and then your other cards'
interest rates are jacked up too.

How exactly does one credit card payment affect a totally
different credit card? Welcome to the world of the
Universal Default Agreement. When you default on one credit
card, your other credit cards are given license to act as
if you defaulted on those as well. As a result, your rates
begin to jump. At this point, even the best credit card
rates can soar to 20-percent or more.

Do yourself a favor -- if you want the best credit card
rates, make on-time payments priority number one.

2. Don't Be Afraid To Ask

Sometimes getting the best credit card rates is as easy as
asking. Think your credit card company is charging too
much? Tell them you want a rate decrease. If you're a good
customer who makes on-time payments each and every month
(and you're not already enjoying the lowest rate they can
offer) your credit card company may be willing to reduce
your rate to keep you as a customer.

If, at first, the person on the phone balks, tell them you
want to talk to the manager. Explain to the manager that
you can get a lower rate elsewhere (and will) if your needs
are not accommodated. If it's at all possible to lower your
rate, they usually will.

3. Transfer Your Balances

If your current credit card company isn't willing to lower
your rates, don't be afraid to jump ship. There are many
companies out there that offer the best credit card rates
and if your credit is up to par, they'll be happy to
transfer your balance over to a new account.

When transferring balances, just make sure you don't get
sucked in by a "teaser" rate. If the low rate jumps up six
months from now, you'll be back to square one. The best
credit card rates are fixed rates -- not limited-time
offers.

4. Don't Balk at Annual Fees

Sometimes getting the best credit card rates requires
paying an annual fee -- especially if you have
less-than-perfect credit. If your credit situation isn't
exactly ideal, don't balk at paying a low annual fee in
exchange for getting the best credit card rates. If you
have high balances and a lower rate allows you to pay your
debt off for less, the annual fee can pay for itself.

The best credit card rates aren't just a pipe dream.
They're there for the taking if you know how to get them.
Don't overpay for finance charges. Use the above four tips
to make sure you're getting the best credit card rates
possible.

----------------------------------------------------
For more tips on credit cards, saving money and avoiding
getting taken, check out CreditCardTipsEtc.com, a website
that specializes in providing credit card tips, advice and
resources.
http://www.creditcardtipsetc.com/