Stop Robbing Peter To Pay Paul. Eliminate Debt Once And For All

Stop Robbing Peter To Pay Paul. Eliminate Debt Once And For All
In my daily conversations with people regarding their debt
problems, there is a very discouraging theme that I
encounter. Too many people were supplied with too many
credit cards. All this available credit with all this
spending power in their wallets gave people a false sense
of financial security.

Some people spread out their spending on multiple cards.
This kept the minimum payment low on each card, but they
failed to realize the total debt they were building. At
some point, the reality sinks in regarding their total
debt. For some, an unforeseen hardship occurs, making it
hard to keep up on the payments; even the minimums.

That's when the idea hits: Just borrow some credit from one
card to make the payments on another card. This way, there
is no out-of-pocket money this month. Then can catch up in
a month or two. This seemed like a bright idea at the
time, until the following months rolled along, and they did
not catch up. In fact, just the opposite occurred as they
continued to borrow from some credit cards to make payments
on others.

We have all heard the common term for this; "Rob From Peter
to Pay Paul". This vicious cycle eventually leads to
financial disaster. Sure, the payments are being made.
But the growing interest charges and balance transfer or
cash advance fees will put you much further into debt.

I have talked to many people caught in this trap. Some
have juggled well over $100K of debt this way. Ironically,
most of these people are proud of themselves and tell me,
"I've never missed a payment. My credit is spotless".
Unfortunately, they eventually run out of credit and their
financial house collapses.

Of course, these people are not speaking to me until they
realize the situation they are in. They realize that
unless they win the lottery, this debt will never be paid
off. Note: Chances of winning the lottery in hopes of
paying your debt is even riskier. Please don't get caught
in that trap either.

Once in this trap, people go looking for a way out. Some
people have too much income to declare bankruptcy. A
consolidation program may lower the interest, but it still
needs to be paid. A settlement for 50-60% of the balance
may be good, but is still out of the financial reach for
many people struggling with debt.

Instead, consumers can turn to debt elimination. An actual
elimination program enables you to legally discharge 100%
of unsecured debt without bankruptcy, consolidation, or
refinancing. This gives the consumer a fresh start in
their financial lives. In addition, the education that a
person receives with a good debt elimination program will
help ensure that they do not get caught in this credit trap
again.

For many, the idea of being able to eliminate their debt
seems too good to be true. Naturally, most people are
immediately skeptical. However, it is important that
people have an understanding of what credit card debt
really is, what really happens when you obtain a credit
card, and what takes place when you use it. Only then,
will a person understand how elimination can be
accomplished.

Since bankruptcy may no longer be an option for many
people, consumers and small business owners are now finding
this type of debt relief is actually obtainable. Also
their credit scores are higher after completing this
process.

It is possible to get new beginning on your financial life.
You could call it a "do-over". Best of all, there is no
credit-sting or shame of bankruptcy".

----------------------------------------------------
Billed as The True Debt Advisor
(http://www.TrueDebtAdvisor.com), Jim Vrana's mission is to
educate and empower people to overcome their financial
challenges. The time-tested legal procedures used to
eliminate credit card debt have been used by thousands of
people with tremendous success.
Contact:
Jim Vrana
(800) 637-1785
http://www.TrueDebtAdvisor.com

The Lowdown on Life Insurance Medical Exams

The Lowdown on Life Insurance Medical Exams
There are three main ways a new life insurance policy is
priced: Underwritten policies are those where you answer
questions on your personal and family medical history and
undergo a medical exam arranged by the insurance company; a
simplified issue life insurance policy application asks you
some medical questions but does not require a medical exam;
and a guaranteed issue life insurance policy requires no
questions and no medical exam. If you're healthy, or even
if you have a few medical problems, you're likely to get
the best insurance value from an underwritten policy, which
is priced specifically for you. Simplified issue and
guaranteed issue life insurance policies set a price that
assumes risk that you may not have.

Whether you're buying term life insurance or whole life
insurance, you'll likely be asked to undergo a medical
exam. These are typically performed by licensed
paramedicals who are often independent contractors hired by
the insurance company. They will schedule a visit to your
home for the exam and bring all the necessary supplies. The
life insurance company foots the bill for the exam.

Health questions

When you submit your completed application for your life
insurance policy, your agent or life insurer will call a
paramedical service to let them know you require an life
insurance medical exam. The service will then contact you
to arrange a convenient time and place. You must have the
exam or your application won't be processed.

The life insurer may still request an attending physician's
statement (APS) from your doctor, but you cannot have the
life insurance medical exam done by your own physician.

In a basic exam, the paramedical will take your medical
history (even though you've already supplied it on your
application), height and weight, blood pressure, pulse, and
blood and urine samples. Beyond that, tests will vary based
on your age and policy amount.

For example, MetLife will order an in-home EKG for
applicants age 50 and older who are applying for face
amounts of at least $1 million. For applicants age 70 and
older who are applying for $2 million policies and higher,
MetLife forgoes the paramedical exam and requires an exam
by an M.D. chosen by MetLife (not your own doctor). The
doctor will ask the same medical questions as a paramedical
and get your height, weight, blood pressure and pulse, plus
do a brief medical exam such as listening to your heart.

Jacki Goldstein, Vice President of Life Underwriting at
MetLife, emphasizes that this is not a comprehensive
medical exam and does not include sensitive issues, such as
a breast exam for women. Goldstein also stresses that the
M.D. life insurance exam is not a substitute for good
routine medical care.

When age and face amounts get higher, a treadmill test may
be required. For example, MetLife requires treadmill tests
for applicants who are at least 50 and applying for over
$10 million in insurance or applicants 76 and older
applying for $5 million or more.

If you're applying for a low face value policy, you may not
even be asked to do a paramedical exam. For example, if
you're age 40 and applying for $50,000 of life insurance,
MetLife requires no specific tests or measurements. And for
some cases, MetLife asks for a "simple paramed" exam,
encompassing the basic measurements and blood and urine
work but without the paramedical question list. Guidelines
for tests will vary among life insurers.

What are They Looking For?

The life insurance company wants to know if you have any
health condition that could shorten your life — which
in turn affects the insurer's risk and your policy premium.
When samples of blood and urine are collected, the insurer
tests for HIV, cholesterol and related lipids, liver or
kidney disorder, diabetes, hepatitis, prostate specific
antigen (PSA) and immune disorders. The urine sample might
go through routine analysis, plus screening for certain
medications, cocaine and other drugs.

Results go to the life insurer's home office for an
underwriter to review. You can usually send a written
request if you want a copy of the results, and some
insurers will automatically send you a copy of your lab
work. If there's anything of concern about the lab results,
you would need to consult your own doctor. Goldstein says,
"It's not uncommon to have abnormalities that don't mean
anything."

A life insurance underwriter then reviews your application
and the results of your medical exam. They decide your life
insurance rating, which sets your premium. If there are
lingering questions about your health, they may request
additional information or medical tests. In the very rare
event you are unknowingly quite ill — chronically or
terminally — your application would be declined and
you would have to look for a high-risk carrier or one that
offers guaranteed issue life insurance.

Don't Let Your Life Insurance Premiums Go Up In Smoke

Smokers pay higher premiums for life insurance because of
their higher mortality rate. If any nicotine shows up in
your results, you'll be considered a smoker. The test also
detects nicotine from a transdermal patch.

After the Life Insurance Exam Results

If your test results correlate with the classification used
for your original life insurance quote, you'll have no
problem getting that rate. If a medical problem is
discovered, you might be offered a life insurance policy
with a higher premium.

There are two types of risk ratings: "flat" ratings,
sometimes called temporary flat extras, and "table"
ratings. Underwriters assess health conditions based
sophisticated table to determine how to rate certain health
conditions.

For instance, an underwriter might apply a flat rating for
a short period of time for a person who has just had
surgery. On the other hand, a person with high-blood
pressure could receive a table rating, which increases
premiums by a set amount for the duration of the policy,
depending on your medical condition and age. If you
disagree with a rating you receive, contact your agent.

Agents can find out if the rating can be revised based on
supplemental medical tests to prove you qualify for a
better rating.

Even if you end up declining the life insurance policy,
your test results become part of your record in MIB Group's
database (formerly the Medical Information Bureau), a
clearinghouse of medical information that insurers share
which stores information for seven years after you apply
for a life, health, disability income, long term care or
critical illness insurance policy.

MIB is jointly owned by about 470 insurance companies. So,
if you go shopping around for other term or whole life
insurance policies, remember that your medical information
is accessible to other insurers in the near future. Note
that MIB's database does not contain actual medical records
but rather codes that represent medical conditions and
tests, hazardous hobbies and even your bad driving record.

If you want to check your MIB file, or dispute information
in it, you can obtain one free report annually at
www.mib.com.

No Way, You Say?

Life insurance medical exams are really quite routine. But
if you want to avoid a medical exam at all costs, you could
buy a simplified issue life insurance policy, which
requires only that you answer a few medical questions, or a
guaranteed issue life insurance policy, which requires
neither an exam nor questions.

Keep in mind, though, that if you're in general good
health, or even with a history of some health issues,
you'll likely get a much better rate by buying a life
insurance policy that requires a medical exam.

Tips for a Better Life Insurance Medical Exam

Certain health conditions simply cannot be masked, but to
obtain the best possible results, here are some
recommendations:

-Get a good night's rest the night before your exam. -Don't
drink for at least eight hours before the exam.
-Avoid coffee, tea or other caffeinated drinks such as soda
for at least one hour prior to the exam.
-Limit salt intake and high-cholesterol food 24 hours
before your exam.
-Don't engage in strenuous physical activities 24 hours
before the exam.

Source: Exam & Profile Services, Beaver Dam, Wisconsin

----------------------------------------------------
Amy Danise is a staff writer for http://insure.com . Visit
http://insure.com for a comprehensive array of comparative
auto, life and health quotes, including a vast library of
originally authored insurance articles. Insure.com is
dedicated to providing impartial insurance information to
consumers. Visitors can obtain instant quotes from more
than 200 leading insurers, achieve maximum savings and have
the freedom to buy from any company shown.

Costa Brava Properties Makes Spain Popular

Costa Brava Properties Makes Spain Popular
Buying a property in Spain is one of the most popular
things to do for many European overseas property buyers. In
fact for the UK it is the most popular destination to buy a
home abroad. Spain offers buyers a host of advantages over
other locations including super accessibility, good
climate, and reasonable prices. One of the main selling
points for Spain is its variety offering beach, city and
rural living. Arguably the most popular region for
international buyers is the Costa Brava

The climate of the Costa Brava is typically Mediterranean.
It is sunny and warm during the long summer season, which
stretches from May to October. The winters are cooler and
wetter, but not unbearably so, as the sea keeps it mild at
any time of the year. The region is generally considered to
begin at the town of Blanes, which is about 60 kilometers
north of Barcelona. From here, the rugged coastline, which
is a combination of wide, sandy beaches, steeply rising
hills and rocky cliffs, reaches northward to Portbou on the
French border.

Moving northward along the coast are three of the most
popular resorts, Lloret de Mar, Tosa de Mar, and La Patja
d'Oro. Lloret de Mar is said to have the most hotels of any
location on the Costa Brava. As you move away from the main
beach area, though, you can still find quieter and
unspoiled beaches and places to relax. Tosa de Mar isn't as
large as its two neighbors, but the beach is nice and the
town is a great place to do some sightseeing. La Platja
d'Oro has a long, sandy beach with lots of hotels and
places to stay, as well as a lively nightlife for visitors.

If you want a convenient property for holidays or weekends
away from work, the southern area of the Costa Brava is
ideal. With its proximity to Barcelona, as well as Girona,
which is just about 30 kilometers from Blanes, this part of
the coast is easy to get to. Whether you're working in the
Catalan capital, or just want to be near one of the most
fascinating cities in Spain, there is something for
everyone in this area. Most of the properties in this area
existing homes and apartments, though there are a few new
developments for those who want something off plan. This is
an ideal place to look for homes and villas overlooking the
Mediterranean, which can be had for more reasonable prices
than in the southern coastal areas.

Moving up the coast, you find more working villages and
isolated resorts. There are still many, many places to
visit with lots of hotels and properties, but the area is
not nearly as commercial as the southern Costa Brava or
farther south. Llafranc is popular with families; it is a
whitewashed resort town with a promenade that goes all the
way to the neighboring town of Calella. L'Estartit is a
great place for those who want to dive or participate in
other water sports. It is located near the Illes Medes, a
former pirate's lair which is now a maritime reserve and
popular dive spot.

----------------------------------------------------
Author Nicholas Marr works with numerous Spanish real
estate agents in his capacity as director of the company
behind websites http://spain.homesgofast.com and
http://www.spanishhomes4sale.co.uk

Failure to Diversify or Over Concentrate a Portfolio Could Be Fraud

Failure to Diversify or Over Concentrate a Portfolio Could Be Fraud
Failure to diversify a client's portfolio can be a form of
stock fraud. In order to protect a client's assets, the
broker should vary the types of stock purchased. Stock
fraud through over concentration strips the client of the
protection diversification affords.

Diversification of investment holdings is the most
important shield against risk. Since some investments rise
in value while others fall, diversification smoothes out
some of the volatility of the overall return from a
portfolio. Diversification may sacrifice some of the upside
potential, but should be more than offset by the benefits
of lower levels of risk.

Diversification is a strategy for managing a customer
portfolio to limit risk. Instead of all the investments
being concentrated in one market sector, investments are
diversified among a variety of industry sectors and types
of security.

Therefore, as it is less likely that all of the major
sectors or specific types will be hit with a significant
downturn at once the portfolio contains less risk.

It is a broker's responsibility to advise clients to
diversify their portfolio to reduce risk. Proper
diversification is the foremost issue in all-efficient
investments, especially when individual stocks are
purchased.

When an investment portfolio or account is over
concentrated in a particular security, type of security, or
industry sector, the risk of loss in the account is
increased. The broker has a duty to explain the increased
risk and to recommend actions to correct the problem. Over
concentration in an account that contains only one
individual investment is easy to recognize. Accounts may
also be over concentrated if they:

* Contain only common stocks (including mutual funds that
invest in common stocks) rather than a mix of common
stocks, preferred stocks, and debt instruments (bonds).

* Contain investments that are limited to one particular
industry (such as telecommunications) or industry sector
(such as health care or finance).

Brokers are obligated to carefully evaluate each client's
investment goals to provide for adequate portfolio
diversification and not give up potential returns. If a
broker places the vast majority of a client's total
investment holdings in one sector, and this sector declines
significantly, the broker may be liable.

All investors are unique, and careful strategies must be
employed to properly diversify a client portfolio. Failure
to do so can result in negligence and malpractice liability
when that portfolio sustains significant losses.

The cause of action for negligence or malpractice is based
upon the duty owed by the broker to the customer and the
breach of that duty, including the duty to exercise due
care in connection with the account. Even if the broker did
not have actual knowledge as to the falsity of statements
that they made, the activity may constitute negligent
misrepresentations.

Failing to properly diversify the customer's account may
also be considered negligent management of an account.

In general, reports have shown that:

* Smaller companies typically have higher risk of failure.

* Smaller-company stocks generally experience a greater
degree of market volatility.

* Foreign securities have additional risks.

* Emerging markets typically have higher risk because they
are underdeveloped markets.

The right level of diversification for a client depends
upon a variety of factors, including the individual's
financial position and long and short term financial goals,
and how the market is performing. Many portfolios are not
properly diversified and therefore an extended risk is
being taken.

----------------------------------------------------
LegalView offers more information on failure to diversify
at http://diversify.legalview.com , or use the LegalView
homepage at http://www.LegalView.com to find the latest on
the controversial prescription drugs such as the Digitek
digoxin recall. Or learn about a common and preventable
birth defect known as Erb's Palsy.

Reduce UK Tax Bills By Knowing What Business Expenses To Claim

Reduce UK Tax Bills By Knowing What Business Expenses To Claim
Allowable costs for tax purposes include the cost of goods
bought for resale including the cost of raw materials and
all costs of production after adjusting the cost of sales
for changes to the opening and closing stock of stock
including stores being held, work in progress and finished
stock.

The adjustments of opening and closing stock values being
to adjust the cost of sales to represent the cost price of
the goods included in sales turnover. Also included in the
calculated cost of sales are commissions paid and discounts
given to suppliers.

Contractor costs are allowable at the gross invoiced value
before deduction of any with holding taxes. Where sub
contractors costs and expenses directly produce goods or
services for resale they may also be considered for
inclusion in the cost of sales.

All employee costs are included as allowable costs at the
gross value paid including salaries and wages of both
employees and directors of the business and temporary staff
and consultants employed by the business. In addition to
the gross wages businesses may also claim employment costs
such as fees paid to employment agencies, bonuses paid to
staff and the costs and contributions made to pension
schemes on behalf of staff employed.

Employer national insurance and additional medical
insurances are allowable as business expenses.

Travelling and distribution costs are permissible business
expenses and include running costs of cars, vans and
lorries which would consist of fuel and servicing costs,
repairs, insurance, vehicle licence fees and membership of
breakdown organisations. Also included in travel costs
would be bus, train, air and taxi fares, and hotel room
costs including private accommodation and meals or
subsistence allowances in respect of food during the
business trip.

Allowable expenses fro property include business rent,
rates and other invoices for use of the property including
local government charges for general rates and water rates.
The cost of maintaining the property, repairs and
maintenance and environmental expenses include light, heat
and power costs plus expenditure on property insurance and
security arrangements.

The same costs as applicable to use of the home are also
claimable in so far as the extent of the use of the home
for business purposes.

Repairs and maintenance of tools and equipment would also
include renewals of smaller items of expenditure on tools
and equipment where these items had not been capitalised as
fixed assets.

General administrative costs of running the business would
include telephone and stationery costs, fax and mobile
phones, printing and postage, computer software and small
office equipment costs that have not been capitalised.
Other general costs may include trade and professional
journals and subscriptions including the expenses of
employees in respect of these items.

Advertising and promotion costs in all media areas such as
newspapers, magazines, websites, television, posters, mail
shots and free samples are allowable. Internet website
costs including hosting and promotion would be advertising
expenses.

Business bank interest payable including business loans and
financing arrangements on overdrafts and loans plus bank
charges and business credit card charges are claimable.
Other allowable expenses would include hire purchase
interest, leasing payments and other finance payments.
Financing costs also including the administration charges
for the potential various finance arrangements.

Legal and professional expenses to be claimed are
accountants, solicitors, architects, surveyors and other
fees from members of professional bodies including
professional indemnity insurance.

Specific sales income which has been included in sales
turnover in the current or previous years and remains
unpaid and unlikely to be recovered would be designated as
a bad debt and may be deducted as an expense but also has
to be written back if the money owed is subsequently
recovered.

Depreciation on fixed assets that have been capitalised and
the profit and loss on sale of assets are not claimable but
instead replaced with capital allowances which write off
the costs of those fixed assets over a period of years
according to the tax rates and rules applicable.

Any other costs properly incurred in the business may also
be claimed subject to specific items disallowed under the
tax authority rules.

----------------------------------------------------
Terry Cartwright, accountant and CEO at DIY Accounting,
designs accounting software http://www.diyaccounting.co.uk/
on excel spreadsheets providing complete single and double
entry bookkeeping systems
http://www.diyaccounting.co.uk/bookkeeping.htm

The Top Five Mistakes People Make When Getting A Home Loan

The Top Five Mistakes People Make When Getting A Home Loan
A Special Report on How to avoid them and save thousands of
dollars.

1. How they choose their lender, many people make the
mistake of calling on an advertisement or calling their
current lender, thinking it will require less documentation
(appraisal, tax returns, etc.) because they already have an
existing loan.

First of all, most good advertisements are made to sound
attractive to entice you to call, but they don't disclose
all the facts about the loan, such as prepayment penalties,
high cost, or adjustable rate features. As for your
current lender, they don't know you from the Man on the
Moon. All loans are made to be sold as part of a
securitized investment once the loan has been made.
Therefore every new loan must be packaged for sale and will
require current documentation; i.e. appraisal, income
documentation, etc.

So, how to choose? Your choice of lender should come as a
referral from someone you trust who has used their services
personally.

2. How they select their loan program, most people don't
realize the wide variety of loan programs that are
available and how to select the one the best fits their
personal needs, goals, and qualifications. Many of my
clients ask me for a specific loan program, such as a
thirty-year fixed, but when I ask them about their future
plans, I find they have no intention of keeping their home
for more than a few years and could save thousands of
dollars by selecting a shorter-term fixed at a much lower
interest rate. As an example; if you were to select a 30
year fixed rate on a $300,000 loan at 6%, the payment would
be $1,798.65. But if could obtain a five year fixed at
5.5% the payment would be $1,703.37. Over a five year
period that would be a savings of $5,716.98.

3. How they decide their loan costs; okay, so let's say
you've successfully chosen a loan program that you are
qualified for and that you feel provides the right
financing for your personal needs. Making the right
decision about how many points to pay, if any, and
understanding all the costs involved with the loan is
critical and could save or cost you tens of thousands of
dollars over the life of the loan.

It is possible to get a mortgage with no points or fees
(i.e., no cost), and it is possible to pay thousands for a
loan. If you are only focused on the payment, or only on
costs, either way you can make a poor decision. As an
example, if one point (which equals 1% of your loan amount)
was $3,000 on a $300,000 loan, and that one point was going
to buy you a payment that was $100 a month less than a zero
point loan; then all you need to do is divide $100 into
$3,000 to realize that it would take 30 payments, or 2.5
years to recapture your initial investment of one point.
Whether that is a good investment or not depends on your
long term plans for that property, the longer you keep the
loan the better an investment it is.

4. How they get bait and switched I have heard many horror
stories over the years of how a borrower was promised one
thing, and then got to the closing table only to find out
that the loan program or associated costs were not what
they had been led to believe.

People wonder how this can be possible with all the laws
requiring proper disclosure. There are many reasons: few
borrowers actually take the time to read all the
disclosures or to really understand them, even if they do
some lenders send out incorrect disclosures, and some do
not send them out at all.

5. How they decide if a home loan is affordable just
because you can qualify does not mean that the loan is
advisable. Like a good financial planner or CPA, I feel
that the advice you receive, or don't receive from your
mortgage professional is critical to making a sound
decision in deciding if a home is truly affordable for you.

It's easy for people to get caught up in the excitement of
owning that new home; it's just as easy to talk them into
the loan that has the lowest payment, not to mention the
highest commission for the loan officer. This is why so
many folks took "Subprime" or "Option ARM loans, often
these loans will have an interest rate that is higher than
a fixed rate loan, but because the payment is so low
borrowers are enticed to take them.

In closing, you can see that finding the right lender for
your home purchase or refinance is not as simple as
purchasing your appliances. You don't just pick the model
and color and then shop around for the best price. Most
people would never consider choosing a doctor, daycare, or
attorney based on the lowest price quote, but since few
people truly understand all of the complexities of mortgage
finance, they don't think twice about who can really save
them the most money and provide them with the best loan
package, tailored to their personal needs and
qualifications.

Kyle Dawson, Regional Vice President, Milestone Mortgage

----------------------------------------------------
Kyle has been in real estate lending since 1989 and is a
licensed Real Estate Broker through the California
Department of Real Estate. Kyle has owned several mortgage
companies and has personally originated and closed hundreds
of real estate loans. Kyle is presently a Regional Vice
President for Milestone Mortgage Partners and resides in
Alamo California with his wife and their three children.

Umbrella Insurance Extends Your Coverage

Umbrella Insurance Extends Your Coverage
Perhaps you've loaded up on insurance: high limits on car
insurance, home and flood insurance, and ample life
insurance. But even these coverages can't account for every
disaster in life. To further protect your assets, there's
umbrella insurance. Personal umbrella insurance kicks in
when the limits of your auto or home insurance have been
exhausted and there are still damages to pay. How could
that happen? Say, for example, someone falls on your
sidewalk and sues you for an ungodly amount. Or say you
cause a six-car pile-up on the highway.

An umbrella insurance policy provides an extra cushion of
insurance protection.

How an Umbrella Insurance Policy Works

Umbrella liability insurance covers damage claims that you,
your dependents or even your pets may cause. They start
paying out after the liability insurance in your homeowners
and auto policy runs out. For example, if you have a home
insurance policy with liability coverage of $300,000, the
umbrella policy will pay claims above $300,000, up to the
limit you select, such as $1 million. Or if your liability
limit on your car insurance policy is $250,000 of bodily
injury protection per person and $500,000 per accident,
your umbrella auto insurance kicks in after you exhaust
that coverage.

Because the majority of claim risk is paid by your primary
auto or home policies, personal umbrella insurance is
relatively inexpensive. According to the Insurance
Information Institute, you can buy a $1 million umbrella
policy for about $150 to $300 a year. The next million will
cost about $75, and about $50 for every million after that.

Many insurance companies require that you purchase both
your home and auto insurance coverage through them in order
to buy an umbrella policy, too. Further, your insurer may
require you to buy auto or home liability limits at a
minimum amount, such as $300,000.

Umbrella Insurance Provides More Than Your Average
Liability Coverage

When you buy a personal liability umbrella policy, you're
getting more than just higher liability limits. You're also
buying broader coverage in case you're sued. The umbrella
policy covers you if you cause bodily injury, property
damage or personal injury. Some umbrella policies also
cover you if you face liability due to your service on the
board of a civic, charitable or religious organization.

But just as with any insurance policy, don't look to your
umbrella policy to cover your intentional acts that cause
damage. Nor will it pay for punitive damages in judgments
against you. Umbrella policies also do not cover damages
from any businesses you run; for that, you need a business
insurance policy. Check your umbrella policy for specific
exclusions.

Before buying an umbrella policy, ask your insurance
company about the cost to raise the liability limits in
your current auto and home policies. You may even consider
offsetting the premium increase for that by raising your
deductibles.

At any rate, in a litigious society it's smart to protect
your assets.

----------------------------------------------------
Amy Danise is a staff writer for http://insure.com . Visit
http://insure.com for a comprehensive array of comparative
auto, life and health quotes, including a vast library of
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the freedom to buy from any company shown.

Finding the Best Automobile Deal is Actually Rather Simple

Finding the Best Automobile Deal is Actually Rather Simple
It seems that with the high cost of gas and everything else
these days, driving a vehicle is a huge financial
responsibility that requires a dedication to maintaining
the checkbook and a prudence to know exactly when you need
to drive. In the event that someone is looking for a new
car, it would appear to that person that he or she is
facing a huge task that involves having to decipher all the
complications that are involved in finding the right
vehicle that is both affordable and worthy of ownership.

Although the issues are seemingly complicated at first, the
solution to finding the right vehicle is actually rather
simple when broken down into several aspects that enable a
person to select a vehicle that presents the best possible
value given today's economic climate and the challenges
that it presents to a new owner.

For starters, if buying a new vehicle means owning a car
that you haven't had before, a good idea would be to
consider pursuing a used vehicle. Even thought a brand new
vehicle is something that everybody desires from time to
time, the undeniable fact of reality is that once you drive
a new vehicle off the lot of a car dealership, it
automatically loses at least a third of its after-market
value. While that loss is something that makes less of an
impact when you decide to keep the vehicle for at least six
years, it nonetheless counts as something that you should
consider when making the investment into a new automobile.

For example, a car that has relatively low mileage and is
only a few years old presents to you the opportunity to
obtain a modern car that still have plenty of life left and
most likely retains several warranties, all of which can
help you when you're concerned with reliability and
maintenance.

Another factor to consider is the cost of fuel. Although
your assessment of buying a vehicle will undoubtedly weigh
heavily on the look and feel of a car, you should
definitely give strong consideration to the numbers that
are shown on that window sticker (or are listed under a
vehicle guide). Even though it's basically impossible to
predict where the price of gas will be in the future,
there's very little doubt that prices are not going to
return to being $2 per gallon or lower.

Despite the importance of the aforementioned
considerations, one prevailing issue that will affect
anybody when looking for any kind of car is a credit score.
When buying a vehicle, the best thing to do in any
situation is get a copy of your credit history and peruse
it, making certain to note any outstanding debts and other
areas where you can improve your credit. Almost every
lender will assess your credit and use it as a basis for
determining the interest rates you receive and the amount
that you could obtain, so making certain that you have a
good credit score is very important.

Of course, even if you have a good credit, you should
always shop around and try to find the best loan possible
before buying a vehicle. Even though you may be capable of
handling any type of loan, the best deals are usually found
at credit unions, which typically offer the lowest interest
rates.

Finally, build a strong down payment. Even with everything
else in order, one of the strongest assets you can possess
is a large sum of cash that you present up front for the
vehicle of your choice. This sort of behavior instills
immediate confidence in your character, and generally works
well to influence monthly payments and even the interest
rates that apply to them.

----------------------------------------------------
Gary Milton has been writing auto related articles for over
5 years and writes on a regular basis for the auto loan
site http://www.one38.org and also the auto insurance site
http://www.ridoe.net

Go Brazilian For Land

Go Brazilian For Land
Buying land in Brazil is proving to be a sound proposition
as prices are low and availability high, even beachfront
land plots are being sold for the price of a small car.

The types of land available can make this area of South
America an exciting investment opportunity. According to a
recently released study, prices for agricultural land in
Brazil are heading upwards. The average price for a hectare
has risen more than 16% over the past year to 4,135 reals
($2,500) .Since 2005 the price of such land has increased
35%.

This seems to add to the good news for the Brazilian
economy which is going from strength to strength. November
2007 saw the Brazilian government announce huge new oil
reserves discovered off its coast. Experts predict that it
could turn the country into one of the biggest oil
producers in the world. Petrobras, Brazil's national oil
company says it believes the offshore Tupi field has
between 5bn and 8bn barrels of recoverable light oil.

The worldwide spike in food prices, spurred by a drop in
food stocks, and the growing interest in crops that can
produce biofuel are behind the demand for land. Large
Brazilian and foreign companies are leading the charge to
acquire land. Foreign firms already own 5.5 million
hectares.

Buying land to build residential property is a fairly
simple process but one that needs an independent lawyer to
manage. Lawyers should check that the people or the company
selling the land actually has full title. You don't want a
disgruntled relative turning up a few years down the line
claiming its their land. A good lawyer will also:

1.)Check for any charges and liabilities still owed on the
property

2.)Advise you on the purchase agreement and the obligations
for both parties.

3.)Register the land to you.

One of the first things a determined buyer should do is to
obtain a Brazilian ID called a CPF you can obtain one of
these by submitting a copy of your passport with a request
for a CPF signature card. Once you receive the signature
card you simply sign it and send it back with a small fee,
and your CPF number is assigned to you at the Receita
Federal. This can then be included in any purchase
agreement. A formal copy of the CPF card will be posted out
to you at an address in Brazil - usually your lawyer's
address for ease.

Brazilian real estate is causing quite a stir at this time,
Brazil's economy and housing market will make Brazil one of
the largest economy in South America. The time is now to
buy land in Brazil

My top tip when buying land in Brazil is to buy land with
zoning and planning permission, it will be easy to sell
when the time comes to reap the benefits of your investment.

----------------------------------------------------
Author Nicholas Marr has a passion for international real
estate and Brazilian property,he is responsible for
overseas property websites at http://brazil.homesgofast.com
and http://www.brazilian-homes.com

A Little Known Refinancing Tactic...Even in a Down Market

A Little Known Refinancing Tactic...Even in a Down Market
You've got your ducks in a row by ensuring that your credit
report is unmarked by blemishes. You think everything is in
order and approval is all but guaranteed.

Unfortunately, you've overlooked one vital detail and as a
result of this oversight, your refinancing plans have been
shot down.

In case you haven't noticed,real estate values are
dropping. This can be distressing under normal
circumstances, but if you're considering refinancing it can
be especially frustrating.

You face special challenges during difficult economic times
if your area has been flagged by lenders as being in a
"declining market". There is hope, however. Here's what you
can do.

A critical part of every mortgage or refinance application
is an analysis by your lender of your property's fair
market value. In order to make this decision your lender
will usually require a property appraisal. One little check
box can be the difference between an approval and a
rejection when refinancing.

Your appraiser is required to check a box indicating
whether the market is rising or falling.

A rising market means that property values are
appreciating. This means that your property's value is
likely to increase after the appraisal has been done, so in
the event that you don't make your payments your lender is
less likely to lose money if you default on your loan.

However, if the real estate market is in a state of
decline, your lender is going to be much more cautious
before giving your loan application a "yes", even if your
credit is good.

The reason for this is simple. If the value of your
property falls after you've been approved and you
subsequently default on your mortgage loan, your lender
might be faced with foreclosing on a property that is worth
less than what is owed.

Mortgage insurance helps protect your lender in the event
that you default; however, that insurance policy will only
cover the loan up to your property's value.

If an appraisal shows your property is in a declining
market, your lender is likely to assume your property will
continue losing value.

So they'll take a defensive stance by reducing (usually
about 5%) the amount they're willing to loan on the
property. This will usually result in your needing to pony
up some cash at closing if you're going to get the loan
that you need.

A strategy you can try is simple negotiation. You can ask
your lender to accept a higher rate of interest in exchange
for the lender paying any closing costs you might otherwise
be required to pay. Will it work? I don't know. Nothings
guaranteed, but one thing is certain: You won't know for
sure if you don't ask.

It's kind of like asking a particularly alluring member of
the opposite sex out on a date. You might think you don't
stand a chance, but if you don't pick up the phone and make
the call, you'll never know.

If your lender doesn't nibble at the bait you really have
one choice: Take a wait and see approach. Hopefully
property values will reverse course and begin going up
again. When they do, you'll be ready.

----------------------------------------------------
Darrin Roseborsky is a Refinance Specialist with OMAC
Mortgages, seminar speaker and president of the Roseborsky
Group and HomeRefinanceCoach.com. Darrin can help you
MAXIMIZE your equity PROPERLY and help you choose options
that make the MOST SENSE for your situation! Learn more
about how it works at: http://www.homerefinancecoach.com

Life Insurance Selling, one of the Absolutely Worst Careers to Enter

Life Insurance Selling, one of the Absolutely Worst Careers to Enter
Sounds ironic, but sometimes the cost you pay, and odds you
face, make the shining star as farther out of your reach
than you ever imagined .For those that can overcome the
slim chances, Life insurance selling can become a sweet
career. But will you get the CORRECT TRAINING, CORRECT
LEADS, and have the true guts to accept many rejections,
and still walk away with sales?

I will even bet you can not survive four years as an
insurance agent That is even if you have some rainy day
money you can get your hands on. How about I bet you that
you only have a 10% chance of survival? Better yet, change
that chance of success to 6%, I'm betting with the statics
that 94 out of 100 newly recruited agents will not see
their 4th insurance anniversary.

Did you know that you career agency is purposely setting
you up for failure? In fact this was planned before you
were hired, and has been a hush-hush item for over 100
years.

Don't call me Dr Doom

I've done over 25 years of homework and intense analysis to
be right. Try asking the insurance agent manger of the
career insurance agency who recruited you who;s to became
for your lack of progress.is at fault for the failure. The
company man agency manager will always blame it on the
agent. The life insurance agent will blame the career
insurance agency.

Whose fault is it? 50% percent of the time it is the agency
and the new insurance agent's fault combined. The agent
should not have applied for the position, and the recruiter
should not have hired him. This half of new recruits are
"order takers", they can complete a sales application form,
but this is a far distance from direct selling at a
client's office or home .The rest of the time, I would put
blame almost entirely on the career agency system.

Good thing I'm no longer an insurance agent. Career
agencies would like to gag me you up for failure? In fact
this was planned before you were hired, and has been a
hush-hush item for over 100 years.

Don't call me Dr Doom

I've done over 25 years of homework and intense analysis to
be right. Try asking the insurance agent manger of the
career insurance agency who recruited you who is to became
for your lack of progress .is at fault for the failure. The
company man agency manager will always blame it on the
agent. The life insurance agent will blame the career
insurance agency.

Whose fault is it? 50% percent of the time it is the agency
and the new insurance agent's fault combined. The agent
should not have applied for the position, and the recruiter
should not have hired him. This half of new recruits are
"order takers". They can complete a sales application form,
but this is a far distance from direct selling at a
client's office or home. The rest of the time, I would put
blame almost entirely on the career agency system.

Good thing I'm no longer an insurance agent. Career
agencies would like to gag me and hang me from the nearest
tree for bringing to light the truth. In fact your failure
was conceived before you were hired. This has been a
hush-hush item for over 100 years.

What really irks me? Almost all the career life insurance
agencies use a similar plan with recruiting agents and
handling them during their rookie years. How can any agent
succeed with the statistics stacked so high against him,
and the agency unwilling to take blame or make changes?

Let's look closer at the hiring system. Career agencies
hire new agents two ways. The first is a good size ad in
the local Sunday newspaper promising lots of income and
plenty of benefits. The other is a recruiter hired by the
career agency to attend job fairs and similar events to
talk to college seniors. Chances are the college recruiter
may have never sold a single insurance policy. When the
career agency runs the newspaper classified ad, the sales
manager is the guilty one. He not properly trained in the
art of determining beforehand if he is hiring a true
salesperson.

It does not matter much which way hooked you into
responding, your chances are still terrible. Does it
really hurt the insurance company if you fail? You can get
my opinion and analysis in an upcoming report that really
lays out the details! A hint for you. If you are currently
a newer agent, look in the mirror while checking a graph of
your sales production. Next, grab the next issue of the
Sunday newspaper, and flip right to the jobs classified
selection.

Start fresh in a new career. 1 to 4 years from now check
back with your former agent companions. Compare how glad
you are that you saw the light.

----------------------------------------------------
After a long, successful insurance and direct marketing
career, Don Yerke is an author and advisor, His articles
are meant to provoke and stimulate your emotions. Some are
revealing by exposing deceptive marketing practices, while
the others are informative, providing insights into making
your career more successful.
http://www.direct-marketing-mailing-lists-brokers.com