Shorting Stocks The Basics, Part I of II
What does it mean to short a stock?This means that you borrow the stock from your broker to sell to a third party. The idea is to buy back the stock at a lower price, returning the shares to your broker while leaving the remaining cash in your account as a profit. Put another way, a short seller ... more...

Life Insurance and Life Assurance are Not the Same!
The average man in the street assumes that Life Insurance and Life Assurance are names for the same form of insurance. How wrong they are! But don't hang your head in shame, many financial commentators get it wrong too! Life Insurance and Life Assurance perform different financial roles and are ... more...

Don't Get Lost In The Shuffle
I have a good friend whom (also being in the same business) I often compare notes with.One of the things that I always give him a hard time about is the fact that even though he has one of the biggest desks I have ever seen I have never actually seen the desks surface.It is always covered from ... more...

Overcoming Objections Over the Telephone
In sales, one of the things you will be doing a lot of, is making phone calls. You cant escape it. It just comes with the territory.Making phone calls is really not all that bad. The thought of having to do it, is actually much worse than having to physically sit down and do it, and once you get ... more...

13 Extra Costs to be Aware of Before Buying a Home
Whether you're looking to buy your first home, or trading up to a larger one, there are many costs - on top of the purchase price - that you must figure into your calculation of affordability. These extra fees, such as taxes and other additional costs, could surprise you with an unwanted financial ... more...

How to Terror-Proof Your Money
"To drift is to be in hell, to be in heaven is to steer." George Bernard ShawFormer Homeland Security Director, Tom Ridge, has said it's not a matter of "if" well have another terrorist attack, but when. Like the attack of 9/11, the financial effects of another terror attack will be felt by ... more...

8 Point Checklist: Evaluating Online Vendors
Here are 8 things to consider, when evaluating lenders online:Website DesignPrivacy PolicyAbout UsPopularityReputationShort FormPoints, Fees, Terms and RatesCommunication1. Website Design:The webpage is, in fact, the storefront of the internet. In the real world, your first impressions make all ... more...

How Hedgehogs Hire
In my last column, I explored Jim Collins hedgehog principle, and how powerfully this can be used to attract great employees. After many dozens of CEO interviews, Im convinced that leaders with well-defined hedgehogs deploy the most successful hiring models.Recent job growth figures mean that ... more...

The Attack of the Advertiser - Spy Mother Spy
The menacing campaigns that drive the corporate spyware and adware market is developing way out of hand. Who are these companies and how do they get away with it? They are costing computer users millions with their sneakware system of promotional crap!We have some serious problems. These ... more...

Real Estate Rookies Need to Work Smarter, Not Harder!
The housing boom has attracted a flood of newcomers to the real estate profession. Those that have been downsized, retirees and even people who just want a better life style see real estate careers as exciting, less stressful and offering high rewards.But they soon discover that the real estate ... more...

Finding The Perfect Maui Home For Sale
If you are thinking of relocating to Maui, this article will hopefully guide you to making a positive decision when thinking of buying a home there. Hopefully, by the end you will be one step closer to finding a Maui home for sale, and being able to purchase it.Maui is an island belonging to Maui ... more...

A New Choice for Home Financing: Correspondent Lenders
When you begin your search for a new home loan, one of the first things to consider is where you'll get the money. Your basic choices will be mortgage brokers and banks.Your first instinct may be to go with your local bank, who you know from doing business with them for other things, such as your ... more...

Top Ten Blunders Exhibitors Make in Expos/Tradeshows
Triple your response from expos by avoiding the top ten blunders at expos. Turn disappointment into sales success!If you are like most exhibitors, you were disappointed from the results at your last expo. There is only one reason for dismal results from an expo and that is not knowing how to ... more...

Finance Career - Finance Job
Many people are drawn to money. Not just to have more of it (who doesn't?), but to actually participate in the finance industry and make a career out of it.Did you know that some of the most successful people in finance and investments never pursued finance in college? Did you know many never even ... more...

Series 65 Exam
People wishing to enter the financial advising business can obtain a license before looking for a job. One of those tests is the Series 65 Exam and the license it gives you is the Registered Investment Advisor designation.The exam itself is a 130 question multiple choice test. Contrary to what some ... more...