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	<title>Personal and Business Finance Articles, Excel Spreadsheets at Excelfinanceblog.com</title>
	<link>http://www.excelfinanceblog.com</link>
	<description>Personal and Business Article Blog, Covering Credit Cards, Finances, Mortgages, Excel Spreadsheets</description>
	<pubDate>Tue, 24 Mar 2009 19:36:02 +0000</pubDate>
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		<title>Tips To Avoid Foreclosure In These Times</title>
		<link>http://www.excelfinanceblog.com/tips-to-avoid-foreclosure-in-these-times/</link>
		<comments>http://www.excelfinanceblog.com/tips-to-avoid-foreclosure-in-these-times/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 30 Nov 1999 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>nataliakobseva</dc:creator>
		
		<category><![CDATA[Mortgage]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false"></guid>
		<description><![CDATA[No one wants to experience a foreclosure on their home and it likely that they work hard to avoid it. It is unlikely that anyone takes out a mortgage with the clear intent to not make the payments and have a lender foreclose on the home. Sometimes things happen in life and makes missing a [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>No one wants to experience a foreclosure on their home and it likely that they work hard to avoid it. It is unlikely that anyone takes out a mortgage with the clear intent to not make the payments and have a lender foreclose on the home. Sometimes things happen in life and makes missing a mortgage payment or a few of them unavoidable. There are many reasons that this could happen, such as loss of employment, family death, illness or injury. Any number of these or any combined could lead in devastation for the person as well as a financial downfall.</p>
<p>No, you do not want to have the lender foreclose on your home the lender does not either. A lender makes their money by the interest you are required to pay with your mortgage, if they are forced to foreclose on your home, they will not receive the interest. Therefore, many lenders will be absolutely willing to listen to your circumstances and work with you in order to prevent foreclosing on the home.</p>
<p>It is imperative that you be able to talk with your lender and let them know what is happening, and that you are having issues right away. If you neglect to tell them and let your mortgage fall seriously behind you will lose any credibility or trust with the lender and could hurt your chances in avoiding foreclosure. There is not much time to contact the lender, within sixteen days of being late, they will call you up and ask you what is going on and want a payment. After a month of being late, they will begin to call more frequently, if after 90 days you still have no made some sort arrangements or have paid the past due amount, you will be facing foreclosure procedures.</p>
<p>If you put a little faith in your lender and simply talk to them and ask for options, you may find there are a variety of options available to you. For example, if you have an accident that temporarily set you back, the lender may allow you to make up the missed payments over a period of time. A lender that is more flexible may take things into consideration and rework your entire loan that could lessen the payments you are required to make monthly, even reduce the amount of interest as well. Finding out is as simple asking your lender and working with them.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.debtrelief.bz/" onclick="javascript:pageTracker._trackVisit('/outbound/article/http://www.debtrelief.bz/');">Debt relief programs</a> as offered by <a href="http://www.federaldebtreliefprogram.com/" onclick="javascript:pageTracker._trackVisit('/outbound/article/http://www.federaldebtreliefprogram.com/');">Federal Debt Relief Program</a> are one of the best ways to avoid <a href="http://www.7bankruptcy.org/" onclick="javascript:pageTracker._trackVisit('/outbound/article/http://www.7bankruptcy.org/');">7 Bankruptcy Chapter</a>.</p>
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		<title>Visa vs Mastercard: Which One Reigns Supreme?</title>
		<link>http://www.excelfinanceblog.com/visa-vs-mastercard-which-one-reigns-supreme/</link>
		<comments>http://www.excelfinanceblog.com/visa-vs-mastercard-which-one-reigns-supreme/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 30 Nov 1999 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>nataliakobseva</dc:creator>
		
		<category><![CDATA[Credit]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false"></guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The two leading credit card companies in the world today are the competitors Visa and MasterCard. They both operate along very similar lines. While Visa can claim to have almost a billion cards issued, MasterCard has over twenty five thousand banks issuing its cards and it is difficult to find any difference in the number [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The two leading credit card companies in the world today are the competitors Visa and MasterCard. They both operate along very similar lines. While Visa can claim to have almost a billion cards issued, MasterCard has over twenty five thousand banks issuing its cards and it is difficult to find any difference in the number of locations worldwide that accept the cards, which is now estimated at over twenty million.</p>
<p>In fact, as far as most consumers are concerned, there is no real difference between the two. They are both very widely accepted in over one hundred and fifty countries and it is very rare to find a location that will accept one but not the other.</p>
<p>However, neither Visa nor MasterCard actually issue any credit cards themselves. They are both simply methods of payment. They rely on banks in various countries to issue credit cards that utilise these payment methods. Therefore, the interest rates, rewards, annual fees, and all other charges are issued by your bank and when you pay your bill you are paying it to the bank or institution that issued your card and not Visa or MasterCard.</p>
<p>How Visa and MasterCard make their money is by charging the retailer for using their payment method. So the truth of the matter is that a Visa issued by say the Bank of Scotland will have very little to do with a Visa issued by other banks and may in fact by more similar to the Bank of Scotland&#8217;s MasterCard.</p>
<p>What this means for the vast majority of customers is that you do not have to overly concern yourself with whether a credit card is MasterCard or Visa. You would be better off concentrating on the interest and other charges on the card, the balance transfer possibilities or their reward scheme. You are very unlikely to ever be effected by the fact that it is one and not the other.</p>
<p>If you prefer, if you are going to have two credit cards, you may decide that you want one of them to be Visa and the other MasterCard, this means that if something drastic were to happen to one company, or if you were in the unlikely position of finding a location that accepts one but not the other, then you would have the option of paying with either. </p>
<p>At the end of the day however, much more depends on the bank that gave you the card, than on the type of card it is.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.debtrelief.bz/" onclick="javascript:pageTracker._trackVisit('/outbound/article/http://www.debtrelief.bz/');">Debt relief programs</a> as offered by <a href="http://www.federaldebtreliefprogram.com/" onclick="javascript:pageTracker._trackVisit('/outbound/article/http://www.federaldebtreliefprogram.com/');">Federal Debt Relief Program</a> are one of the best ways to avoid <a href="http://www.7bankruptcy.org/" onclick="javascript:pageTracker._trackVisit('/outbound/article/http://www.7bankruptcy.org/');">7 Bankruptcy Chapter</a>.</p>
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		<title>Foreign Exchange: What Affects This Rate</title>
		<link>http://www.excelfinanceblog.com/foreign-exchange-what-affects-this-rate/</link>
		<comments>http://www.excelfinanceblog.com/foreign-exchange-what-affects-this-rate/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 30 Nov 1999 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>nataliakobseva</dc:creator>
		
		<category><![CDATA[Currency Trading]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false"></guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Yen. Euro. Dollar. Pound. There are many choices and decisions to make when it comes to forex trading, and the task can seem pretty daunting. If you have decided to try your hand at the foreign exchange market, newly opened to the individual investor through the advantages of online trading, the fact is that all [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Yen. Euro. Dollar. Pound. There are many choices and decisions to make when it comes to forex trading, and the task can seem pretty daunting. If you have decided to try your hand at the foreign exchange market, newly opened to the individual investor through the advantages of online trading, the fact is that all the information you will need to gather and all the factors that will need to be taken into account in order to be profitable in your venture will only add to the confusion. There are several areas to consider when it comes to foreign exchange, factors that have their effects in many areas of a country&#8217;s economy and thus on the rate of foreign exchange.</p>
<p>Do not assume that just because you have chosen to invest in foreign exchange means that you are free from other areas of the market. Stocks have a direct and sometimes massive effect on a country&#8217;s rate of exchange. If a large corporation is planning on outsourcing or opening big offices in a country, whether the country is large or small, the news will have a direct affect on the rate of exchange. Locating to a country is an investment move on the part of the company itself, and thus signals its confidence in that country as a prospective capital gainer. The exchange rate of the country&#8217;s currency can be expected to directly reflect this view as corporate investors begin to invest in the company in foreign currency to match interest rates.</p>
<p>Likewise, commodity prices also have a direct impact on forex rates. A country with a large amount of a commodity that is in demand, such as oil and recently copper, will inevitably se its economy begin to grow stronger as a result of the rising prices. This will also affect any countries that are short on the commodity in demand, as they grow increasingly dependent on other countries for their economic functions at the ground level.</p>
<p>The domestic policy of a country in terms of economics can also directly impact its currency on the exchange market. In this way, democracy can have a huge role to play as far as the forex trader is concerned. An elected government that ushers in fiscal policies aimed at reducing debt and eliminating deficit will mean a stronger economy as less monies are put towards interest payments. The boost will inevitably play out in the currency value of the country.</p>
<p>It should be fairly obvious that any person who hopes to be a player when it comes to foreign exchange will need to commit to a certain amount of homework. The natural resources ofa country, its governmental policy, and its interest rates are all very important factors and can make or break a forex trade.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.debtrelief.bz/" onclick="javascript:pageTracker._trackVisit('/outbound/article/http://www.debtrelief.bz/');">Debt relief programs</a> as offered by <a href="http://www.federaldebtreliefprogram.com/" onclick="javascript:pageTracker._trackVisit('/outbound/article/http://www.federaldebtreliefprogram.com/');">Federal Debt Relief Program</a> are one of the best ways to avoid <a href="http://www.7bankruptcy.org/" onclick="javascript:pageTracker._trackVisit('/outbound/article/http://www.7bankruptcy.org/');">7 Bankruptcy Chapter</a>.</p>
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		<title>WTF Is A FICO Score?</title>
		<link>http://www.excelfinanceblog.com/wtf-is-a-fico-score/</link>
		<comments>http://www.excelfinanceblog.com/wtf-is-a-fico-score/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 30 Nov 1999 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>nataliakobseva</dc:creator>
		
		<category><![CDATA[Credit]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false"></guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Obtaining copies of your credit reports from the three major credit reporting bureaus is a must for all American consumers. If you order your copies directly from each bureau, you can get yours for free [once per year per bureau]. That is the law. There is, however, one piece of information not included with your [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Obtaining copies of your credit reports from the three major credit reporting bureaus is a must for all American consumers. If you order your copies directly from each bureau, you can get yours for free [once per year per bureau]. That is the law. There is, however, one piece of information not included with your credit reports and that is your FICO score. Your credit score can determine several things, including what interest rate mortgage lenders will charge you and the rate you will pay for your credit cards. For just a small fee you can order your FICO score and get a hold of a piece of information that is critical to you fully understanding and improving your credit rating.</p>
<p>FICO, or Fair Isaac Corporation, is a score that helps determine what interest rate creditors will charge you. The higher your score, the lower your interest rate will be resulting in lower mortgage payments and more money for you. Indeed, when you apply for a new cell phone account, purchase a car, or make just about any type of credit application, your credit score is obtained by creditors. Unfortunately, you typically do not know what that score is unless you get the information yourself. Don&#8217;t count on creditors sharing that information with you!</p>
<p>Your FICO score is based on five determining factors. According to the Fair Isaac Corporation, these five factors are weighted differently and each one is assigned a percentage figure based on their importance. Specifically, they are:</p>
<p>1. Payment History - 35%<br />
2. Outstanding Balances - 30%<br />
3. Length of Credit History - 15%<br />
4. New Credit - 10%<br />
5. Types of Credit Used - 10%</p>
<p>Obviously, if you have made several late payments and owe a large amount of money to your creditors, your credit score will be much lower than the person who pays what they owe on time, has a manageable level of debt, and possesses a solid credit history.</p>
<p>Coupled with your credit report, your FICO score can help you determine the plan of attack you need to take to improve your credit standing. This is very important step to take especially if you anticipate making any sort of credit application within the next year. If there are errors in your credit report than these will lower your credit score. Make certain that the three credit reporting bureaus correct each error now and, once amended, run your FICO score again to determine if it has been adjusted upwards.</p>
<p>Remember, the higher your credit score, the lower your monthly payments will be on virtually everything you finance through a creditor. Order your free credit report today and pay a little extra to obtain your FICO score.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.totaldebtrelief.net/" onclick="javascript:pageTracker._trackVisit('/outbound/article/http://www.totaldebtrelief.net/');">Credit card debt</a> is a serious issue today. Yet the <a href="http://www.totaldebtrelief.net/" onclick="javascript:pageTracker._trackVisit('/outbound/article/http://www.totaldebtrelief.net/');">debt relief</a> programs offered by Total Debt Relief can bring about real <a href="http://credit-card-relief.net/" onclick="javascript:pageTracker._trackVisit('/outbound/article/http://credit-card-relief.net/');">credit card debt relief</a>.</p>
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		<title>College Students: Avoid These Financial Mistakes</title>
		<link>http://www.excelfinanceblog.com/college-students-avoid-these-financial-mistakes/</link>
		<comments>http://www.excelfinanceblog.com/college-students-avoid-these-financial-mistakes/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 30 Nov 1999 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>nataliakobseva</dc:creator>
		
		<category><![CDATA[Personal Finance]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false"></guid>
		<description><![CDATA[College, you gotta love it. A pricey education leading to a degree that guarantees you no job security. Nevertheless, here are some financial mistakes to avoid while your doing time.
1. Blowing your school loan money! Instead of using your financial aid for books, tuition, room &#038; board, many students will choose to finance their extravagant [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>College, you gotta love it. A pricey education leading to a degree that guarantees you no job security. Nevertheless, here are some financial mistakes to avoid while your doing time.</p>
<p>1. Blowing your school loan money! Instead of using your financial aid for books, tuition, room &#038; board, many students will choose to finance their extravagant lifestyle of partying, clothes, gadgets, and eating out. These school loans you&#8217;ve worked so hard to get should be paying for your education, not you social life&#8230;so use the money wisely. You&#8217;ll be paying them off for many years to come.</p>
<p>2. Credit Card Debt! Even responsible adults can rack up some hefty credit card debt, but students, who have no viable income besides their school loan money, and what cash mom &#038; dad give them, have no business getting multiple credit cards. This is a recipe for credit disaster, because now students will not only have their school loans to repay when they graduate, but large credit card balances. Nellie May, the largest student loan maker, says that most graduate students have an average of $5800 in credit card debt.</p>
<p>3. Not Paying Your Bills on Time! Racking up huge credit debt and not paying your bills on time is a good way to ensure that you can&#8217;t purchase a car, rent an apartment or even get a cell phone after you graduate. Keep the credit cards to a minimum, and pay your bills on time to keep your good credit rating. You&#8217;ll thank yourself in a few years.</p>
<p>4. Bad Budgeting! Being a college student generally means living on a fixed income. Weather it be your financial aid money or money from a part-time job, or even money from Mom &#038; Dad, the cash is usually limited and setting up a budget is important. A monthly budget doesn&#8217;t mean you can&#8217;t do the things you want to do, but simply a plan so you know the &#8220;must-pays&#8221; actually get paid. Figure out exactly what bills and expenses you have every month and plan for those first. Any money after that you can budget for social / recreational items like CD&#8217;s and kegs.</p>
<p>5. Going to a College that&#8217;s too Pricey! Instead of going to your local community college for your pre-req classes and spending $25 a unit, many students feel they have to go to the 4 year university straight out of high school. Many end up returning home and going to a C.C. anyway, but attending a local school first is a good way to save money, and get those required classes out of the way cheap. After you&#8217;ve completed these courses, transfer to a 4 year school to complete your undergraduate degree. This will save thousands upon thousands of dollars that you would have racked up on student loans, and been paying off well into your 30&#8217;s.</p>
<p>So many of the bad financial decisions students make is a result of poor financial education. Students haven&#8217;t been taught by their parents or high school teachers the importance of maintaining a good credit score, paying bills on time, and budgeting income. Wise spending during the college years will ensure that the money you make after graduating will be spent on things you want, not credit card payments, collection companies and school loans.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.technotrance.org/" onclick="javascript:pageTracker._trackVisit('/outbound/article/http://www.technotrance.org/');">Techno</a>, <a href="http://www.johndelamora.com/" onclick="javascript:pageTracker._trackVisit('/outbound/article/http://www.johndelamora.com/');">trance nation</a>, and <a href="http://www.technotrance.org/" onclick="javascript:pageTracker._trackVisit('/outbound/article/http://www.technotrance.org/');">techno music</a> are a way of life.</p>
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		<title>Bankruptcy: You Don&#8217;t Want to Go There</title>
		<link>http://www.excelfinanceblog.com/bankruptcy-you-dont-want-to-go-there/</link>
		<comments>http://www.excelfinanceblog.com/bankruptcy-you-dont-want-to-go-there/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 30 Nov 1999 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>nataliakobseva</dc:creator>
		
		<category><![CDATA[Personal Finance]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false"></guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act of 2005 launched a new era: With limited exceptions, people who plan to file for protection must get credit counseling from a government-approved organization within 180 days before they file. They also must complete a debtor education course to have their debts discharged.
The Department of Justice&#8217;s U.S. [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act of 2005 launched a new era: With limited exceptions, people who plan to file for protection must get credit counseling from a government-approved organization within 180 days before they file. They also must complete a debtor education course to have their debts discharged.</p>
<p>The Department of Justice&#8217;s U.S. Trustee Program approves organizations to provide the mandatory credit counseling and debtor education. Only the counselors and educators that appear on the U.S. Trustee Program&#8217;s lists can advertise that they are, indeed, approved to provide the required counseling and debtor education. By law, the U.S. Trustee Program does not operate in Alabama and North Carolina; in these states, court officials called Bankruptcy Administrators approve pre-bankruptcy credit counseling organizations and pre-discharge debtor education course providers.</p>
<p>Counseling and Education Requirements. As a rule, credit counseling and pre-discharge debtor education may not be provided at the same time. Credit counseling must take place before you file for bankruptcy; debtor education must take place after you file.</p>
<p>In general, you must file a certificate of credit counseling completion when you file a petition and evidence of completion of debtor education after you file for bankruptcy, but before your debts are discharged. Only credit counseling organizations and debtor education course providers that have been approved by the U.S. Trustee Program may issue these certificates. To protect against fraud, the certificates are produced through a central automated system and are numbered.</p>
<p>Pre-bankruptcy Counseling. A pre-filing counseling session with an approved credit counseling organization should include an evaluation of your personal financial situation, a discussion of alternatives to bankruptcy, and a personal budget plan. A typical counseling session should last about 60 to 90 minutes, and can take place in person, on the phone, or online.</p>
<p>The counseling organization is required to provide the counseling free of charge for those consumers who cannot afford to pay. If you cannot afford to pay a fee for credit counseling, you should request a fee waiver from the counseling organization before the session begins. Otherwise, you may be charged a fee for the counseling, which will generally be about $50, depending on where you live, the types of services you receive, and other factors. The counseling organization is required to discuss any fees with you before starting the counseling session.</p>
<p>Once you have completed the required counseling, you must get a certificate as proof. Check the U.S. Trustee&#8217;s website to be sure that you receive the certificate from a counseling organization that is approved in the judicial district where you are filing bankruptcy. Credit counseling organizations may not charge an extra fee for the certificate.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.debtrelief.bz/" onclick="javascript:pageTracker._trackVisit('/outbound/article/http://www.debtrelief.bz/');">Debt relief programs</a> as offered by <a href="http://www.federaldebtreliefprogram.com/" onclick="javascript:pageTracker._trackVisit('/outbound/article/http://www.federaldebtreliefprogram.com/');">Federal Debt Relief Program</a> are one of the best ways to avoid <a href="http://www.7bankruptcy.org/" onclick="javascript:pageTracker._trackVisit('/outbound/article/http://www.7bankruptcy.org/');">7 Bankruptcy Chapter</a>.</p>
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		<title>Bankruptcy: The Pros and Cons Explained</title>
		<link>http://www.excelfinanceblog.com/bankruptcy-the-pros-and-cons-explained/</link>
		<comments>http://www.excelfinanceblog.com/bankruptcy-the-pros-and-cons-explained/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 30 Nov 1999 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>nataliakobseva</dc:creator>
		
		<category><![CDATA[Personal Finance]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false"></guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Being insolvent is one of the worst situations a person can find himself in. The threat of foreclosures, or losing one&#8217;s home and valued possessions looming over one&#8217;s head would cause sleepless nights. This predicament would force a person to grasp any possible solution. However, if all possible solutions fails to deliver the desired result, [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Being insolvent is one of the worst situations a person can find himself in. The threat of foreclosures, or losing one&#8217;s home and valued possessions looming over one&#8217;s head would cause sleepless nights. This predicament would force a person to grasp any possible solution. However, if all possible solutions fails to deliver the desired result, the last course of action is to opt for bankruptcy.</p>
<p>If you have tried credit counseling and you still can not pay your bills, and if you have exhausted your savings, then you should consider filing for protection.</p>
<p>Bankruptcy is considered as the last debt management resort because of its long lasting effect. The filing will stay in a person&#8217;s record for at least 10 years.  Needless to say, this would affect his future financial standing. Lenders will have to think twice before extending credit because of his being a potential credit risk. Acquiring credit cards and mortgages will be difficult if you have this on record.</p>
<p>Bankruptcy records are easily accessible because they are published and also can be viewed on line.  This far reaching result would be detrimental to future financial dealings and employment. A person who declares themselves bankruptcy should be prepared for the consequences, face the rejection and ridicule of the society and associates, being branded as a failure and oftentimes judged as culpable and dishonest.</p>
<p>With a bankruptcy order the debtor can expect to have all his bank accounts closed. Credit cards will also be closed. On a positive note, closing of credit cards will be beneficial since credit cards could be one of the causes of the filing.</p>
<p>Contrary to the notion that bankruptcy would give a distressed debtor a new slate, not all debts can be discharged or written off. Examples of this are student loans, unpaid taxes and child support.</p>
<p>On the positive side, filing will give the debtor peace of mind, will free him from harassment of creditors and will give him a chance to have a brand new start. Stress in dealing with countless creditors will be eliminated because once the bankruptcy order is made; the appointed trustee will do the administration and the payment of the debts.</p>
<p>A filing stops the creditors from filing collection actions. Creditors are prevented from foreclosing, repossessing and garnishing your assets. In some states, bankrupt individuals are allowed to keep the house, the car and other possessions and a reasonable amount of cash to live by. The primary purpose of this is to lessen the risk of the bankrupt person to be bankrupt all over again.</p>
<p>Filing for bankruptcy could be a &#8220;habit&#8221; though. Many filers have been noted to file again.  This could be attributed to the absence of proper finance and debt management. People who have experienced financial downfall would commit the same errors again and will eventually grab the last resort to get them out of the difficult financial situation&#8230;again.</p>
<p>Repeat filers are strongly advised to get proper counseling and to learn how to manage debts and finances effectively.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.debtrelief.bz/" onclick="javascript:pageTracker._trackVisit('/outbound/article/http://www.debtrelief.bz/');">Debt relief programs</a> as offered by <a href="http://www.federaldebtreliefprogram.com/" onclick="javascript:pageTracker._trackVisit('/outbound/article/http://www.federaldebtreliefprogram.com/');">Federal Debt Relief Program</a> are one of the best ways to avoid <a href="http://www.7bankruptcy.org/" onclick="javascript:pageTracker._trackVisit('/outbound/article/http://www.7bankruptcy.org/');">7 Bankruptcy Chapter</a>.</p>
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		<title>Estate Planning Mistakes To Avoid</title>
		<link>http://www.excelfinanceblog.com/estate-planning-mistakes-to-avoid/</link>
		<comments>http://www.excelfinanceblog.com/estate-planning-mistakes-to-avoid/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 30 Nov 1999 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>nataliakobseva</dc:creator>
		
		<category><![CDATA[Personal Finance]]></category>

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		<description><![CDATA[Even though planning your estate isn&#8217;t an enjoyable job it&#8217;s necessary so that you can efficiently and successfully transfer all of your assets to those you leave behind.  With a bit of careful planning, your heirs can avoid having to pay estate taxes and federal taxes on your assets. As well, a well planned [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Even though planning your estate isn&#8217;t an enjoyable job it&#8217;s necessary so that you can efficiently and successfully transfer all of your assets to those you leave behind.  With a bit of careful planning, your heirs can avoid having to pay estate taxes and federal taxes on your assets. As well, a well planned estate avoids confusion for your loved ones.</p>
<p>Still, with all the advantages of estate planning, many people make a great many mistakes in the process. The most common mistake when it comes to estate planning is not getting around to doing it at all. Make sure that you take the time to plan at least the financial portion of your estate so that you leave your loved ones behind with some amount of security. The following seven mistakes often put families into great difficulty after a loved one&#8217;s passing.</p>
<p>1. Don&#8217;t fall into the trap of thinking that estate planning is just for the rich. This is completely false as planning your estate is essential for anyone who has any amount of assets to leave behind. Many people don&#8217;t realize that their estate is as large as it really is, especially when they fail to take into account the assets from their home.</p>
<p>2. Remember to update your will and to review it at least once every two years. Factors that can change information about your beneficiaries include deaths, divorce, birth, and adoption. As your family structure changes so does the change in your assets and who you want to leave them to.</p>
<p>3. Don&#8217;t assume that taxes paid on your assets are set in stone. Talk to your financial planner about ways that your beneficiaries can avoid paying taxes on your assets. There are several strategies for tax planning so that you can minimize taxes or avoid them altogether.</p>
<p>4. All of your financial papers should be in order so that it&#8217;s easy for someone to find them. Make sure that one of your loved ones has information on where to find the papers necessary for planning after your death.</p>
<p>5. Don&#8217;t leave everything to your partner. When you leave all of your assets to your spouse you are in reality sacrificing their portion of the benefit. You&#8217;ll get an estate tax credit but will forfeit part of this if your spouse is your only beneficiary.</p>
<p>6. Ensure that your children are well planned for. Many people take a lot of time deciding what to do with their assets and forget that they need to appoint guardianship for their children. There are many details to take into consideration when it comes to guardianship.</p>
<p>7. If you don&#8217;t have a financial advisor, get one. Financial Planners and Advisors are trained intimately in these matters and can provide asset protection well above whatever fees they may charge. If you need help selecting the right financial advisor, get the Financial Advisor Report.</p>
<p>The above mistakes are common when people are planning their estate. Take the time to plan for your death even though you think that you have years before it becomes an issue.  The key to successful estate planning is being prepared.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.debtrelief.bz/" onclick="javascript:pageTracker._trackVisit('/outbound/article/http://www.debtrelief.bz/');">Debt relief programs</a> as offered by the <a href="http://www.federaldebtreliefprogram.com/" onclick="javascript:pageTracker._trackVisit('/outbound/article/http://www.federaldebtreliefprogram.com/');">Federal Debt Relief Program</a> are one of the best ways to avoid <a href="http://www.7bankruptcy.org/" onclick="javascript:pageTracker._trackVisit('/outbound/article/http://www.7bankruptcy.org/');">7 Bankruptcy Chapter</a>.</p>
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		<title>Home Equity Loans: Tips To Know</title>
		<link>http://www.excelfinanceblog.com/home-equity-loans-tips-to-know/</link>
		<comments>http://www.excelfinanceblog.com/home-equity-loans-tips-to-know/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 30 Nov 1999 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>nataliakobseva</dc:creator>
		
		<category><![CDATA[Personal Finance]]></category>

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		<description><![CDATA[Offers for home equity loans are widely advertised. Lending institutions make it a point to highlight the advantages any potential borrower shall have in getting this kind of loan. One reason for the aggressive offer is that, with the home equity as collateral, this kind of loan is safer business for the lender than the [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Offers for home equity loans are widely advertised. Lending institutions make it a point to highlight the advantages any potential borrower shall have in getting this kind of loan. One reason for the aggressive offer is that, with the home equity as collateral, this kind of loan is safer business for the lender than the credit cards.</p>
<p>The aggressive campaign sometimes makes the potential borrower think only of what are highlighted and forget, to their regret later, the so-called fine print in the loan terms. In putting the house at risk, the owner-borrowers owe it to themselves and the family members to make sure they are making a decision they can handle.</p>
<p>The biggest risk of a borrower is the lack of understanding of the loan terms. Here are some of the information any borrower should take time to be well versed of:</p>
<p>Tips to the Borrower:</p>
<p>Have a clear idea of the reason for the loan. Is it a one-time or ongoing financial need? This is needed to decide if the loan should be Fixed Rate or HELOC (Home Equity Line of Credit). Be sure to choose the appropriate loan package.</p>
<p>It is a good idea if the take out would go directly to the party whom you want to pay with the loan. This would minimize the risk of spending the money for something or somebody else.</p>
<p>Ask for an official list of fees and interests before going further with the loan negotiation. Some agents conveniently fail to mention some fees like the closing costs and prepayment fees. Closing costs and prepayment fees are important information just in case the borrower decides to make advance payments later.</p>
<p>Be wary of scams. Some lenders may appear to be assisting the borrower to have a good deal by approving loans that are more than they can afford to pay but actually, the borrower is being led to the road of payment default and consequently foreclosure.</p>
<p>Research before signing anything. Contact people who have taken out loans from the lender. The Better Business Bureau is a good source of information regarding good business practices.</p>
<p>Don&#8217;t be misled by the low amortization. It may not even be enough to cover the monthly interest and the consequent is a surprise after years of payment that the principal of the loan is not yet paid.</p>
<p>Don&#8217;t be afraid or ashamed to ask about anything that is not clearly understood. In fact, any items that seem to be subject to interpretation should be confirmed with the lender. The Truth in Lending Act gives the borrower the right to cancel the loan by informing the lender in writing within three days of issue.</p>
<p>The home equity loan is an excellent and tempting source of cash for the home owner. The lenders consider it a safe investment but the opposite applies to the home owner. Yes, there are advantages like the tax-deductible, lower-than-the-credit card interest and the convenience since you can apply on line and agents are eager to do business. However, the collateral&#8217;s value is more than what the appraiser reports. The appraiser has no idea of the true value of a home.</p>
<p>If ever a home owner finally decides to have that home equity loan, it should only come after a careful study of the pros and cons of the decision.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.technotrance.org/" onclick="javascript:pageTracker._trackVisit('/outbound/article/http://www.technotrance.org/');">Techno</a>, <a href="http://www.johndelamora.com/" onclick="javascript:pageTracker._trackVisit('/outbound/article/http://www.johndelamora.com/');">trance nation</a>, and <a href="http://www.technotrance.org/" onclick="javascript:pageTracker._trackVisit('/outbound/article/http://www.technotrance.org/');">techno music</a> are a way of life.</p>
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		<title>Marijuana Investing on the Stock Market</title>
		<link>http://www.excelfinanceblog.com/marijuana-investing-on-the-stock-market/</link>
		<comments>http://www.excelfinanceblog.com/marijuana-investing-on-the-stock-market/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 30 Nov 1999 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>nataliakobseva</dc:creator>
		
		<category><![CDATA[Investing]]></category>

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		<description><![CDATA[A few decades ago, research into the medical benefits of marijuana was common, and was funded by both private and public grants. Almost every major university had some program underway for studying the subject. But as government began a more aggressive approach to regulating or prohibiting drug use, marijuana research fell by the wayside. Many [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>A few decades ago, research into the medical benefits of marijuana was common, and was funded by both private and public grants. Almost every major university had some program underway for studying the subject. But as government began a more aggressive approach to regulating or prohibiting drug use, marijuana research fell by the wayside. Many of the same studies became illegal, and those found to be doing such research faced harsh penalties, including extensive jail time.</p>
<p>But during recent years, scientists and medical doctors, as well as their own patients and groups dedicated to legalizing marijuana for medical use, have made headway, and now marijuana use is officially sanctioned in many jurisdictions. In places like California, for example, it is possible to obtain prescriptions to use it for medical purposes. Many who use this medicinal pot claim that it works well for treatment of chronic pain, treatment of glaucoma, and other maladies. Because of the increase in popularity of marijuana as a medical drug, many companies are hoping to profit from this drug, by growing, distributing, or otherwise providing marijuana to consumers who need it as a prescription medication.</p>
<p>The global healthcare company Bayer, known mostly for its household name aspirin products, for example, recently signed licensing agreements with a small biotech company in the United Kingdom that specializes in efficient delivery of the active ingredient in marijuana. By providing this active chemical component in an aerosol spray, the company hopes to attract those users who are concerned about the bad health effects of smoking pot. Other mega corporations are experimenting with ways to provide medical marijuana on a large scale. If the drug ever becomes legal, they want to be ready to capitalize on the new market and get the jump on their potential competition.</p>
<p>By buying stock in companies that are positioned to benefit from the future of medical marijuana, you can get in on the ground floor of any potential breakthrough in this biotech and healthcare sector. But because the drugs are not yet profitable, at least to those selling them legally, many investors who put money into backing companies that are primarily in the marijuana business may not see earnings for many years, if ever.</p>
<p>A safer bet is to buy into companies that are already profitable by selling prescription medicines. If marijuana research convinces legislators to allow it to be sold like ordinary medicine, these companies will surely get a piece of the action. They may get their market share of the business by packaging and distributing it, by coming up with new medicines based on it or by growing the raw product and converting it into usable prescription medicine. But in the meantime, if you have invested in these companies in order to take advantage of the profits that might come from marijuana, you don&#8217;t have to simply sit and wait for the future. By investing in solid, profitable companies, you will benefit immediately. And if the future is bright for medical pot, you&#8217;ll be positioned to take full advantage of the new and revolutionary products.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.technotrance.org/" onclick="javascript:pageTracker._trackVisit('/outbound/article/http://www.technotrance.org/');">Techno</a>, <a href="http://www.technotrance.org/" onclick="javascript:pageTracker._trackVisit('/outbound/article/http://www.technotrance.org/');">trance</a>, and <a href="http://www.technotrance.org/" onclick="javascript:pageTracker._trackVisit('/outbound/article/http://www.technotrance.org/');">techno music</a> are a way of life.</p>
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