3 Ways to Improve Your Credit Score by 50 Points In Less Than 30 Days

“What can you do to increase that set of three numbers on your credit report that can be so important with your financing?”

I came across this question as I was surfing discussion groups the other day. Check out my answer:

Dear Friend,

Here are 3 steps I used to take my credit score from 592 (horrible credit) to 762 (perfect credit) almost overnight.
If you’re interested in improving your credit rating quickly, you’ll find this story helpful:

In 1995 I made a decision that would ruin my perfect credit history. I quit my salary job to become an insurance salesman.
The job paid commission only. Within a few months I lost everything - house, car, credit rating and my self respect.

By the end of 1996 I was living with my mom, all my credit accounts were severely past due, and I was paying 22%
interest on a broke-down green Geo Storm…I was a real loser.

Then, in 1997, I became a banker. I didn’t know it at the time, but this would turn out to be the break I needed to eliminate my
credit problems forever.

During my seven years as a banker, I came across several legal and highly effective ways to improve my credit rating.
As a result, I was able to increase my credit scores by an average of 170 points.

Here’s what I did:

Step #1:
After spending hundreds of dollars on credit repair services that didn’t work, I found out how to get negative accounts removed
on my own.

Basically, I wrote letters to the collection agencies requesting proof that the accounts were mine. 89% of the time they had
no proof that the bad accounts belonged to me. So I was able to get them deleted from my credit file.

Step #2:
I opened new accounts with high credit limits and kept the balances low.

I discovered that if you keep your available credit limits high and only use 10% to 30% of the credit you have available, your
credit score will improve dramatically.

Step #3:
Next, I added accounts with years of perfect payment history to my credit file. This step took my credit score from 647 to 762.

While you can certainly add seasoned accounts to your credit file for free, there are companies that claim they can do it for
a fee.

The problem is, they charge between $2,000 and $2,500 per account. If you want a 700+ credit score you’ll need 3 to 4 of
these accounts. That equates to a cost of $6,000 to $10,000.

(You can conduct a search on your favorite search engine for companies that offer this service.)

While there are several highly effective steps you can take to increase your credit scores by as much as 200 points, these
are the main ones…And here’s the good news: Each step can be completed in less than 30 days.

By Hartley W. Pinn, Jr, CEO, http://www.AtBalanceCreditRepair.com. Revealing the insider credit secrets you can use to increase your credit scores by up to 200 Points. For more information please visit: http://www.AtBalanceCreditRepair.com/credit/8

Bankruptcy vs. Credit Counseling: What Should I Do?

Credit Counseling and bankruptcy are both ways to relieve the stress of debt. However, they are very different and it is important to understand both before making a decision as to which is best for you.

Credit counseling is a program designed to help those who are in a state of debt and cannot find a solution to their debt problems. They offer services that will allow you to work with a certified credit counselor to devise a plan that is tailored to your specific needs and goals. Credit counseling agencies often provide services for free and will help to educate you about how to avoid financial problems in the future by offering debt management classes or seminars. They do not erase your debt. Instead they work with you to budget money so that you can pay off the debt often times by debt consolidation. Collection will continue while using a credit counselor, however, in most cases companies who are owed money will try and work with you to help you payoff your loans. Credit counseling services often help you to reestablish credit after the loans are paid.

Bankruptcy is very different. It will completely clear your debt in most cases and you will no longer be hassled by collection agencies and their attorneys. There are two kinds of bankruptcy; the one that is right for you will depend on your situation. When filing Chapter 13 bankruptcy you are able to keep property that is mortgaged such as your house or car and are expected to repay debts in three to five years. Under Chapter 7 bankruptcy, you must give up all property and assets that you own. There are exceptions in some states for items such as work tools and household furnishings. Bankruptcy will certainly clear your debts and stop foreclosures and wage garnishments, however, you will be unable to establish credit for up to ten years. Filing bankruptcy can also be very expensive compared to credit counseling.

Take time and research credit counseling very carefully before deciding on bankruptcy as it can save your credit in the long run. Most people feel much better about themselves when they can pay off their debt and become educated about how to stay out of debt rather than filing bankruptcy.

Timothy Gorman is a successful Webmaster and publisher of Debt-Relief-Solutions.com. He provides more debt relief, consolidation and credit counseling information that you can research in your pajamas on his website.

Seven Investment Terms Everyone Should Know

For those who have never given their financial future a second thought, the term “Financial Planning” could be a scary one. Investments can be a smart way to invest money for your future, but it can be confusing for those who have no experience in the financial business. Before you consult a financial planner it is wise to become familiar with some of the terminology that you are likely to hear from him or her.

* Mutual Fund-An investment made with money that is collected by individuals with an investment goal in mind. The mutual fund is handled primarily buy a person known as the fund manager. Mutual funds are easy and cost efficient, since you are not responsible for making the decision as to where to invest the money.

* Asset Allocation Fund-A mutual fund that incorporates several types of investments such as stocks, bonds, real estate, and foreign stocks. These are typically for the small investors who want to invest in a variety of funds in order to maintain a constant return.

* Risk-Return Trade-Off-This is the amount of money that you can stand to lose versus the amount of money you are willing to invest. Investments that are low-risk often have low payoffs, while investments that are high risk usually have higher payoffs. When investing money you must determine the amount of money you can lose before determining how much money you will invest and where you will invest it.

* Compounding-Money made from an investment that will then be reinvested into the same or another investment to generate its own earnings.

* Bonds-Money that is loaned to a company or the government at a specified interest rate. The company will usually give some kind of document that states the amount loaned and the agreed upon interest rate and the total amount that will be repaid at a specific time or “maturity date”.

* Stocks-Pieces of a company that are for sale. One would buy stocks from a company at a given price in hopes that the company would gain a significant amount of money and that they would be able to sell the stocks at a higher price.

* Money Market Funds-Money invested in debt by a mutual fund. The goal is to obtain money from interest to the debt. The benefit of the Money Market Account is that they offer very low investments of less than $1.00.

Timothy Gorman is a successful Webmaster and publisher of Debt-Relief-Solutions.com. He provides more debt relief, credit counseling, repair and free financial planning information that you can research in your pajamas on his website.

The Benefits of Laddering Your CD Investments

If you’ve decided to stock some money away in a certificate of deposit, why not reap the highest benefit over time by laddering your CD investments? What’s a CD latter? I’m glad you asked.

A CD ladder is made up by purchasing several CD’s at one time with different maturity dates. One example of a CD ladder is to have maturity dates of one year, two year, three year, four year, and a five year CD. These five investments make up the rungs of your CD ladder with one certificate maturing every year for the next five years.

For example, let’s say you had $10,000.00 to invest. You would buy 5 CD’s for $2,000 each with each one invested for one year more than the first. So you’d have a $2,000 CD maturing in one year, another in two years, and so on up to the last one which matures in five years. Every year for the next five years one of your CD matures and earns you interest on your $2000 principal.

When your certificate of deposit matures, you roll it over into another CD. The best strategy is to purchase a new CD at the longest term, which in our example above would be five years. This strategy allows you to take advantage of the higher rates normally associated with longer-term CDs while maintaining more frequent access to part of your funds.

Another advantage to laddering your CD’s is that over time it evens out the high and low interest rate cycles. Some years interest rates will be high, other years the rates will be lower. Currently banks are paying some of the highest CD rates we’ve seen in the last decade.

Before deciding on laddering your CD’s, make sure you can afford to do without that money for a period of time. You’ll pay a penalty for withdrawing your funds before your CD reaches maturity.

Also, don’t get stuck on the idea that you have to invest in a 5-year ladder. You may be more comfortable with a three year ladder based on your financial needs. Or you may want to try a ladder with a 3 month, a 6 month, a 12 month, and a 24 month maturity.

The benefits of laddering your CD investment is that you lower your risk of losing money when rates are low, increase your returns when rates are high, and still have access to a portion of your money should you need it for an emergency.

© 2005, http://www.yourfreecreditreportnow.com Author: James H. Dimmitt. James is editor of “TO YOUR CREDIT”, a free weekly newsletter with tips to help you manage your personal finances. Subscribe today and receive his e-book “IDENTITY THEFT- How To Avoid Becoming the Next Victim!” and other money-saving bonuses by visiting http://www.yourfreecreditreportnow.com

Value Investing

By definition, value investing is the process of selecting stocks that trade for less than their intrinsic value. A value investor typically selects stocks with lower than average price-to-book or price-to-earning ratios. Of course, it is not nearly this simple. Value investing is the corner stone of long-term growth. Those who practice it survive the ups and downs of the market and are more likely to emerge wealthy than those who ride the market, in principle, due to the higher quality of the companies falling under the prerequisites of the value investor. Value investing is essentially concerned with getting the most profit at the lowest cost. The basis of value is profit. Value investing is an investment style which favors good stocks at great prices over great stocks at good prices. Value investor extraordinaire Warren Buffett has used this style to become a billionaire.

It’s important to keep in mind that value investing is not concerned with how much the price of a stock has risen or fallen necessarily, but rather what is the “intrinsic” or inherent value of the stock, and is it currently trading below that price, i.e. at a discount to it’s intrinsic value. The important point here is that when looking at stocks that are trading at or above their intrinsic value, the only hope for gaining value is based on future events, since the stock price already represents what the company is worth. However, when dealing with stocks that are undervalued, or available at a discount, unforeseen events are unimportant in that without any new earnings or additional profits, the shares are already “poised” to return to that inherent value which they have.

The question now, of course, is “why would stock prices not always reflect the true value of the company and the intrinsic value of its shares?” In short, value investors believe that share prices are frequently wrong as indicators of the underlying value of the company and its shares. The efficient market theory suggests that share prices always reflect all available information about a company, and value investors refute this with the idea that investment opportunities are created by disagreements between the actual stock prices, and the calculated intrinsic value of those stocks.

Finding Value Stocks

Value investing is based on the answers to two simple questions:

1. What is the actual value of this company?

2. Can its shares be purchased for less than the actual (intrinsic) value?

Clearly, the important point here is, “how is the intrinsic value accurately determined?” An important point is that companies may be undervalued and overvalued regardless of what the overall markets are doing. Every investor should be aware of and prepared for the inherent market volatility, and the simple fact that stock prices will fluctuate, sometimes quite significantly. Benjamin Graham has often said that if investors cannot be prepared to accept a 50% decline in value without becoming riddled with panic, then investing may not be for them…or rather, successful investing, as it often takes significant losses in a particular security before gains are made, due to the idea that value investors do not try to time the market, and are focused on the underlying fundamentals of the companies. Furthermore, the quality of the companies targeted by the value investors’ screening methods should be, over the long term, less volatile and susceptible to market “panic” than the average stock.

This is also a two way road of sorts. On one hand, there is no sense in worrying about depressions, upturns, and recoveries due to the underlying quality of the value investments. On the other hand, investments should only be made in companies which can flourish and do well in any market environment. Doing solid investment research and making equally solid investment decisions will take investors much further than trying to forecast the markets.

How Many Different Stocks?

In terms of diversification, there are many discrepancies over exactly how many different stocks a solid portfolio should be made up of. My personal view is that there should not be as many stock as normally make up a mutual fund. Many will disagree with this, but what it’s worth, I think that owning a portfolio of 100, 200, or even more companies not only serves to limit risk, but it really limits the possibility for reward as well. Also, as Warren Buffett has said many times, the more companies you own, the less you know about each one.

As I write this, there are 42 stocks in our recommended portfolio. This number may very well grow in the coming months, as it may decrease in number, but one thing to keep in mind is, out of the thousands of companies available for purchase, only a very small percentage meet the stringent requirements of the diligent value investor. This is both a blessing and a curse. Very often, there is simply nothing to buy, and this is fine. The trap to avoid falling into is to lower your requirements for a stock when there simply isn’t anything meeting the normal requirements. This is how many an investor has fallen into making poor investment decisions, putting money into companies not really adequate for their respective portfolio, and it will certainly have a long term effect on gains.

About the author: David Pakman has been writing about politics and investing for years now, and runs the websites www.heartheissues.com and http://pakman.thevividedge.com.

How To Avoid A Scholarship Scam

Expert Advice provided by ScholarshipExperts.com The best way to avoid being the victim of a scholarship scam is to remember the old adage: If it seems too good to be true, it probably is. If a scholarship search service promises you a scholarship, run the other way. If someone insists that for $5 or $30 or $50, he will guarantee you a scholarship, it is definitely a scam.Yes, there are lots of scholarship dollars available, but the truth is that no one can secure a scholarship for you but you. Only the prospective student can do the work of filling out forms, sending transcripts, and writing essays. A legitimate scholarship search service provides information that is current and accurate; it is an information source. Take ScholarshipExperts.com for instance. They have invested the resources to explore and compile scholarship data from all over the map. A good scholarship search service has a team of research specialists that constantly updates award information.What good is 2006 award information to a 2007 high school graduate? When looking for a valid, trustworthy scholarship search company, verify that the information you are getting is current. Look for a service like ScholarshipExperts.com that compiles their own database of awards and delivers up-to-date data. For additional information about this topic, visit www.ScholarshipExperts.com.Copyright © 2000-2006, ScholarshipExperts.com, All Rights Reserved.

Technical School

 As with any field, there are good technical training schools, and bad ones. When you sign up with one of these schools, you’ve made a significant investment in time and money. You deserve to know everything about the school and your job prospects after leaving that school before you put down your hard-earned money. The problem is, sometimes it’s hard to know the right questions to ask.The point of this article is not to bash technical training schools. That’s how I got my start in IT eight years ago, and today I’m a CCIE(tm) and own my own Cisco training company and my own consulting firm.

Before I ever put down the first dime, though, I asked some tough questions. So should you.

What are my true job prospects and legitimate salary levels after I graduate from your school?

We’ve all heard the ads on the radio… “Did you know the average salary of an MCSE is $80,000?” “Are you worth $65,000 a year? If not, call us!”

I’m an optimist, and I often tell people that no field rewards individual achievement and drive like IT does. Having said that, none of us start at the top, and darn few of us start at that kind of salary.

I’m sure that there are some people who broke in at $80,000, but I haven’t met very many of them. Be very wary of technical schools that use the famous/infamous MCSE Salary Survey as a marketing tool. They tend to represent those salaries as starting salaries.

Ask your technical school what the average starting salary of their graduates is. And keep in mind that salary is not the most important factor to consider when looking for your first job in IT; it’s the experience you’ll be able to put on your resume later on that you should weigh heavily at this point.

In short, be very careful about schools that brag about starting salaries. It’s not where you start, it’s where you end up.

How up-to-date are the courses you’re offering?

Make sure the school you’re going to attend has made efforts to keep their courses relevant. Ask what changes have been made to their curriculum in the last three years. No field changes faster than IT. If the answer to that question is “none”, look somewhere else.

I want to work in IT security. Have you placed anyone in this field lately? If so, can I talk to them?

Technical schools are jumping on the security bandwagon, with a couple of schools running ads about training you to work in Homeland Security. If that’s your goal, that’s great, but keep in mind that you have to get a security clearance for any job like that.

And how do you get a security clearance? You have to be sponsored.

And who will sponsor you? Your employer.

Can you get employed in a Homeland Security job without having the clearance in the first place?

Hmmm. Probably not.

Hello, Catch-22.

Again, I’m certainly not saying you can’t eventually get an IT security job; if that’s where you want to go, you can eventually get there. The key word there is “eventually”. Ask the school you’re thinking of attending whether they’ve actually been able to place graduates in such jobs. Ask to talk to them. If the school’s managed to do so, they’ll be glad to put you in touch with such graduates.

What textbooks does your school use?

Some technical school chains use only books that someone in their organization wrote. I’ve heard some of their own teachers complain about the quality of these books. The technical school I attended used off-the-shelf books, and the quality was very good.

If you’re looking into entering the IT field, you probably know someone who’s already in it. Use that resource for everything it’s worth. Ask that person what they think about the books, or for that matter, what the local reputation of the school is. IT is a small world, if the school has a good or bad reputation, most of the IT personnel in your city or town probably know about it.

The fifth question is a question to ask of HR representatives. Every technical school lists companies where they’ve placed their graduates on their promotional material. Pick up the phone, call these companies, and ask to speak to someone in HR. Ask that person about the reputation of the school. Five to eight phone calls will give you a good picture of where the school stands with local employers.

Making the decision to attend a technical school can be the best decision you’ve ever made; it certainly was for me. Make sure to ask the right questions before writing a check or taking a loan to attend; the answers to those questions will indicate to you whether this school is truly the school that can help you achieve your dreams.

Source: FAQ.org

How to Give Yourself a Raise with an Online College Degree

There are many people today from all walks of life who are getting an online college degree from home. Dollar for dollar, an online college degree or post graduate work pays off.

The quickest way to give yourself a raise is to receive your certification in an area in which you are all ready working. Examples where board certification is pertinent include technical and vocational fields to name a few.

Sometimes an online college degree is very necessary in these instances. In some cases you have previously learned the information required of you for these various certifications, but will need the necessary degree in order to advance in your particular field.

So, let’s discuss possible uses of a college degree via distance education. Many who are presently working in technical and vocational fields enroll in online courses to restructure and enhance their careers, and receive additional certification status.

Examples of this occur on an on-going basis. A thirty year old immigrant from South America began working as a nurse’s aid, and is presently in her second semester of training from home at an online college.

A 50 year old white male enrolled in an online technical college to study electronics when the factory in which he had worked moved to Mexico early last year.

During a downsizing exercise at a psychiatric facility in Missouri, an education staff member returned to an online virtual classroom to gain continuing units of education, and add a minor to her present degree.

Thus, you can see with the use of those brief examples that continuing education can be useful as well as critical to your intellectual growth base.

An online college degree is more important than ever for several reasons.

1. Employers feel that we are presently in an employer’s market. This means that they can be more selective in individuals they hire.

2. Jobs that glean more pay are more specialized. Specialized jobs require more training/education. This is true because these jobs require the manipulation of facts, figures, and/or technology which is often times sensitive, adaptive, or computerized.

3. Our current jobs in the U.S. are becoming more and more service oriented. These jobs have relatively low pay and our labeled unskilled work. Thus, one must retool to prepare his or her self to obtain a job requiring more skill and offering more pay.

4. Finally, we have entered a global economy. Such an economy demands higher prices for homes and automobiles without providing numerous gainful employment opportunities.

How do you know if an online college degree is for you? First, if you lack a high school diploma, a college degree is a must. High school non-graduates make 25% less than starting salary employees with a high school education.

Secondly, you may presently hold a position that would pay you more if you held a degree from an online technical school or online community college. You may know this information from coworkers or acquaintances in your line of work.

Thirdly, if you are considered a non-traditional student. Financial incentives are available to attract such students. So if you could be described as a non-traditional or a minority student, smaller financial payout is a good incentive to continue your education.

Check out an online college degree portal and invest in your future. Give yourself a raise.

Gerald Maccoux is an online college recruiter and presently recruits college students via his college portal http://www.locate-a-college.com

Online College Programs - How to Apply

The first step to getting your online degree is to apply to colleges. Research several colleges offering the degree program you need. Once you have decided on a school, you are ready to begin the application process. While the requirements may vary slightly, most colleges have similar processes. You will need to fill out an application, either online or on paper. Check with the university for application deadlines. Just about all schools charge an application fee; these fees are usually small.

You will need to include any supporting documentation required by the school where you are applying. You will find this information included with the application. All schools require original transcripts from all schools previously attended. This will include both high school and college transcripts. A few schools look for college preparatory courses in high school. Send your requests early to allow enough time for transcripts to arrive at the college. Some schools will require SAT test scores and immunization records as well.

You will have to meet the admission requirements of the college you will be attending. The requirements vary by school and in some cases can be different based on your major. Be sure to check with the university to determine the requirements. Many schools have a minimum SAT score requirement for admission, although some waive this for some programs or for non traditional students. Non traditional students are defined as older students who have been out of high school for at least five years and have work experience. Students transferring from other institutions are in this category as well.

Many schools require students pass placement tests prior to registering for classes. These tests usually have English, math and writing components. This is to determine if potential students have the reading, writing and math skills necessary to succeed in college. If you don’t pass one of the placement tests, you may be required to take remedial courses prior to starting your degree; this is not unusual for people returning to school after many years. Graduate programs will usually require additional testing, such as the Graduate Record Exam (GRE).

When you apply to the school, you can also apply for financial aid. Talk to a representative about programs available to students in the form of financial aid and scholarships. Start the process by filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Complete the application even if you don’t think you will qualify for federal aid. Most other student loan programs use the same application. To be able to accept federal financial aid, the school must be regionally accredited. Accreditation is a voluntary process and matters mainly for financial aid and transferring credit to other universities. Check with an admissions counselor if you’re not sure about accreditation.

Once you have completed all applications and testing, you will find out if you have been accepted into the program. Once you have been accepted, you will be eligible to register for classes and begin the journey toward your college degree. The admissions counselor at your university can assist you in scheduling your courses. There is often an order in which classes should be taken. Once you have registered, you pay for your classes, get your books and attend orientation, if required.

Katie Robbins is a professional writer, providing content to help the online student. Check out her other articles, including accredited online universities, education master degree online and criminal justice online degrees.

Distance Learning: Balancing Your Education and Busy Lifestyle

Distance Learning is a priority for most who have already set their lives out in one way or another in that their responsibilities have been laid out, and in quite a few cases, would not allow for regular College schedules. This is taken into consideration when looking for a place to study, and this shouldn’t mean below par education. It should mean convenience for those interested in education and furthering their portfolios.

Student Commitment
Distance Learning requires a certain amount of commitment as the student must schedule the time to study. This is also reflective in their work as they are not going to afford the time unless genuinely interested in the subject matter. The work from these students shows a clear interest in their progression, and therefore their time is not wasted on courses that they are only taking for UKAS points.

Flexibility
A high standard is reached as there is very little disruption in the pupil’s life, and therefore they find that they are able to concentrate on the subject matter fully. These courses are not as expensive as those that have to hire out a classroom, and with the ‘email’ style of assessment, the cost to complete their course assignments is inconsequential. There is no waiting for weeks for their assessments to be returned to them, and this makes it easier for the student to get on with their work at their own pace. These courses fit into lifestyles as it is usually humanly impossible to gauge when a situation will arise that takes a student away from their studies, but with the Distance Learning option, these students do not have the worry of catching up, or even having to loose out on their whole course and fee because there has been a glitch in their schedule. The course can be put aside, and picked up when the situation is eradicated. For those who travel for work, their course can be taken with them, affording them the time to continue on with their studies.

Different options for different lifestyles
This form of education is taking a front seat for those interested in continuing study after settling into a career, or starting a family. There are numerous reasons for not being able to put your life on hold to study a preferred topic, and this option is sometimes the only way people are able to get the training they need. This should not mean that these people have to put up with inferior courses, or exorbitant fees. For those who are unable to leave their homes, or not able to physically enrol on classroom taught courses, this form of education plays a paramount importance in their lives. Oxford College ODL and Oxford Distance Learning have devised a scheme for the visually impaired by designing their courses specifically for these people’s needs, and they are in the process of setting up a program to fit into those people’s lives that have difficulty in finding a course that caters for their special needs.

Grading
Distance learning courses are not easy. Because the student is not required to attend classes, it is imperative that a sound assessment of their absorption of the materials is obtained by the tutor, and this is only obtained through assignments that are usually more in depth than the usual grading process that is awarded through classroom taught courses. This takes it’s form by enabling the student into not just learning about a given subject, but also showing their understanding of each individual step in essay form which lends to their overall grade. This is particularly important to the student, as the material is not the only information that needs to be taught in a given subject. The student needs to be able to question the material, and use their own reasoning when it comes to analysing what they are asked to absorb which keeps them interested in the course work and sees that they feel more involved with the process of their learning.

In the words of Mike Tomlinson, former chief inspector of schools, ‘Too much time is spent preparing for exams which could be used for learning’.

Written by Angela Williams, Education Standards Reviewer ‘UK Education Today’. Distance Learning Courses can be enrolled via http://www.oxforddistancelearning.com. This online college has been recognised in the UK for offering the “best tutoring program to date.”