According to a study made recently in the United States by financial experts, 9 out of 10 Americans should get a part of the unclaimed money. As a matter of fact, a staggering sum of money ( billions of dollars to be more exact ) from unclaimed money, funds, IRS refunds are laying around in several Government agencies, some of them are yours and you should do something about this situation, with other words, claim what you are entitled to.The Internet can help you regarding this matter, there are several trusted online records information providers that can help you reclaim what belongs to you: money, property, refunds. For example the records traces can include: holocaust victims settlement funds, missing bonds & lost saved deposit boxes, social security benefits and postal money orders, missing inheritances and abandoned properties and the list could go on.If you are wondering for how long the unclaimed funds are held then you should know that once the funds are remitted, in almost every situation, the funds are held in a perpetual trust fund ( with other words, forever ) until the owner of the funds can be found. The law is on the owner’s side because there are provisions that protect the holder from potential liability.Another question that many people ask is how do holders know when to report unclaimed property – the obligation to report & remit these funds is triggered when there hasn’t been any owner ( generated activity for a determined period of time, also known as “ dormancy period “ ).As I have mentioned in the second paragraph, the Internet is a great tool for claiming what is yours. You are probably wondering how these sites actually work, it is quite simple as a matter of fact: you just have to enter your name and address and they will trace down your financial history and find out what you are entitled to as well as the source of origin for it, source ID and other similar information. It is quite easy, anyone can do it, there aren’t any financial knowledge you must be aware of.If you don’t trust these sites you should ask yourself what do you have to lose? I will answer it for you, nothing; you can only gain by accessing these sites. Many people have no idea about unclaimed money, this is why you should exclude yourself from this category; you have some rights, you are entitled to money/property/IRS refunds, why not take what is yours?Regarding security of your personal data people shouldn’t make any problems as these sites take every precaution to protect their users/members, online and offline. Many of these sites have links to other similar sites, this is very useful because you can enter each site and then choose which one is the most suitable for your needs.All in all, using these sites is a quick and efficient way to claim what you are entitled to and more and more people should use this method for getting back what they in fact own.
Tuesday, November 6, 2007
Get Your Unclaimed Money Share
Stop Exchanging Time For Money
Most people exchange their time for money. Their entire compensation package is determined by the number of hours that they work in a given week. Typically, an hourly wage is set which is multiplied by the total hours worked during that time period. The standard in this country is 40 hours with overtime accumulated after that. One's complete paycheck is contingent upon them showing up for work. Miss a day of work and there is no pay earned without sick time.Another common pay plan is a salaried position. This is similar to the hourly except the pay rate is the same each week regardless of the number of hours worked. Overtime is usually not available in this scenario. Unfortunately, most people end up working more that the normal 40 hours under this plan. Companies put so much pressure on employees to increase production that the time spent working seems to lengthen with each passing year.This is the common mindset that is instilled in all of us growing up. We are taught the we are to do well in school to get into a good college. Once there, high achievement is stressed so that we can get a good job with a decent salary. When we accomplish that, the pressure is to work hard so that we can advance to higher ranks within the organization with an associated increase in pay. Finally, we can retire after a productive career and drift off into our golden years.Unfortunately, in this era, this concept is not realistic. Although the educational system still prepares us to get a job, the lifetime employment with the same company is bygone. People typically work for numerous companies during their careers. Massive layoffs are well documented. Loyalty either from the company or the employee is almost non-existent. Oftentimes, people are caught in financial hardship due to unexpected changes in circumstances.How does one get ahead? It almost impossible to attain financial abundance when exchanging time for money. The reason is simple. There just is not enough hours in a week to work to make it profitable long term. Eventually, there is a cap on one's earning potential due to the time limitation. Couple this with the fact that taxes take a greater percentage the more that is earned and one quickly realizes that it is a fruitless proposition. The key is in the concept of passive income. Basically, passive income is money acquired without you “directly” working for it. It is income that is not an exchange for time. If work is required, it is done one time with the money flowing in multiple times. There are two forms of passive income: income derived from business and income derived from investments. Business income is the money that one receives without actually needing to work in the business. One acquires a business that is either run by someone else or is self sufficient. The profits generated are taken out by the owner thus yielding passive income.Income derived from investments is making money from money. Instead of you working for money, it is putting your money to work for you. depending upon the investment, a rate of return is realized which generates passive income. Examples of this are dividends from stocks, appreciation in real estate, interest on savings, etc... The wonderful aspect of this type of income is that the money is created regardless of one's efforts. If you don't show up for work, the income still exists. You will earn the same while at work as you would sitting on the beach. In addition, this allows one to increase their overall efforts. If your money is working while you are focusing on something else, you are, in effect, paid twice for your time. It is easy to see how it is possible to create massive wealth under this scenario.Focus your attention on creating passive streams of income. It holds the key to all financial freedom.
3 Myths About Saving Money
We are a nation of debtors. All the statistics over the past decade point to this. The savings rate is at an all-time low. At no point in our nation's history have we saved less money. At the same time, we also have used credit to supplement our spending, pushing this to an all-time high. The result is lots of people in financial turmoil. Unfortunately, part of reversing this dilemma is to begin putting some money away each week. Consistent saving of money is a habit that needs to be bred in all individuals if they hope to achieve financial independence. Of course, when you challenge people with this, they immediately begin to throw out the excuses. Some of these excuses are so prevalent that the majority of society believes them.Here are the three biggest myths about saving money that people believe in:1.I cannot afford to save money.This is absolutely not true. Everyone can save something each week/month. The reason that individuals tend to spend everything that they have is because of habit. There are numerous ways to reduce expenses so as to have a little to put away. People often claim to be spending all that comes in. This is true in most instances. However, is it not possible to bring a bag lunch one day at the cost of a few dollars rather than going out. This will save somewhere between $4-$6 each time it is done. It becomes easy to put away $25.00 a month into a savings account when this is implemented.Another aspect of savings that makes it really easy is the advent of direct deposit. Most companies offer this service to their employees. Typically, individuals have their entire pay check going into a single account-the checking account. Of course all bills are paid out of this. An easy way to alter this is to give the company a second account number. This account, a savings account, will receive a percentage of your pay; perhaps 5%. An interesting observation is that people do not even miss the money out of their checking account after a couple of weeks. It is also fun to watch the savings account grow over the course of months.The two strategies make it fairly simple to save money on a regular basis. It basically requires a commitment to develop a new habit.2. Just owning assets is the same as cash.There is an old saying 'cash is king'. Nothing can beat having a lot of money in liquid form. There is simply no substitute. People who believe that having things that are worth a lot of money is what wealth is all about are misguided. It is true that owning assets are a vital part of financial success. However, having a net worth of $1 million is not the same as having a million dollars in cash. The primary benefit of assets is the cashflow that they throw off. Many people do not work a job because their assets throw off enough cash to cover their expenses.The fallacy behind this belief is that often people do not own the assets they are referring to. Take real estate as an example. Those who claim to be wealthy when they add up the value of their properties often find themselves in trouble when market conditions change. This is because the bank truly owns the property. The mortgage needs to be paid in full before it can be considered an asset. Even after that occurs, there are taxes, insurance, and upkeep to be factored in. Also, if someone gets into a dire situation, it typically is not possible to turn real estate into cash. It is not a liquid asset. Cash is the one resource that will allow you to get through the difficult circumstances.3. Saving will make me have to sacrifice the things that I want.As mentioned, people spend more than they take in. When we factor the credit given to people, the average individual spends 110%-125% of what they earn. Obviously, that equates into a lot of interest paid over the course of time. Figuring the amount of interest of something bought on credit often runs into the thousands. Often the interest is equal to the original purchase price meaning that one paid double for the item. By saving money, one can pay for the larger ticket items such as furniture, a car, or vacations with cash. The savings in interest alone will more than pay for the 'sacrifices' you made. In reality, saving money does not hinder one's lifestyle; it actually provides freedom. Over time, you will not be without but rather enjoy more. Refrain from buying into the myths about saving money. Shattering these beliefs will allow you to begin your path to financial freedom. It is the most basic component of investing. Setting a little aside each pay period will provide the resources to attain higher rates of returns. It will also reduce the stress and pressure that is common with the financially overextended lifestyle.
Why Land Investing Is a Smart Thing to Do
Thinking about retirement is natural for all employees. It seems like today there is a new investment strategy on the market almost every day, and many would-be retirees are jumping on whatever bandwagon they can to ensure they are protected financially when it comes to the retirement years. There are TV shows, investment seminars, stocks, bonds, mutual funds and what have you. All promising to take care of you in your golden years. What many people do not realize is that there exists an investment strategy right under their nose that can be very successful in securing financial freedom at retirement. This investment strategy is land investment and is one of the smartest things anyone can do to increase their net worth and financial freedom.To generate abnormal returns in the context of the amount of risk borne is what we all seek. Good old fashion savings will not give you high returns, and stock market games are not often associated with low risks. Investing in land is one that that comes with both low risks and high returns if you play your cards right and you do not need to be independently wealthy to get into this industry. All categories of investors have had some success in land investment.The advantages of investing in property that is not developed are great. Land property is an investment that offers consistent returns that are safer than other investments, and always appreciate in value. Thus, if you invest in land, when and if you decide to sell it, your will always get a higher return on your investment. Stock market and bond investments are currently averaging rates of returns in the 4 to 8 percent range. Land investments on the other hand can offer returns on your cash investment as high as 200 percent. The largest advantage to land investments is the significant return on your investment as land always and only appreciates in value.It is best to buy fast moving land. For example, land investments in Florida and the Carolinas are extremely wise location points to begin land investment. This is considered a hot market because this is the area of the country that retirees are moving to. It is estimated that 50 million people will move to the South within the next two decades. The warm climate and easier lifestyle is appealing to the retired generation and they are buying real estate there at alarming rates. Forecasting such moves makes for great real estate investment.Knowing how and when to act with land investments can be done with the aid of a realtor in the area you are interested in. Great reputation and track record is what you should be seeking. Realtors know land the way a banker knows money, and they will always work with you to ensure your dollar is maximized. Now is the time to start thinking about it. Land is land, i.e., and increasingly scare commodity that will never really be created again.
Why Most People Are Afraid To Use An Outside Source
Let’s face it, it’s arguably a better choice to outsource any and all of your work that can be supplied by other means. There are a great number of businesses in the world that simply distribute other people’s work. You’ve heard about OPM, right? You know, Other People’s Money! Well how about OPW? Other People’s Work!
One of the smartest things I did in my business was to hire people smarter than me. (Okay, those that know me well are thinking, gee that wasn’t hard to do)! Seriously, one of the best ways to grow your business is to find others who possess the skills and/or talent that fill our weak spot (or void).
Most of us are good about hiring people to doing the things we don’t want to do. You know, maintenance, cleaning, trash, menial labor type jobs. We even look to certified public accountants (CPA) to handle our books at certain times of the year. However, many times when it comes to our main source of revenue (our business) we tend to keep matters close to the vest.
Don’t get me wrong, we need to protect our lively hood and should police our endeavors well. Many times I’ve found it necessary to have certain potential “work for hire” individuals, sign a non-disclosure agreement (NDA). Believe me, this is simply a good business practice! It protects you and your prospect from possible trade secret leaks. In many cases signing an NDA prevents private information from getting out in the first place.
It’s been my experience that most people have the false impression (a hallucination process) in which they believe it will “cost too much” to outsource it or “I’ll save money” by doing it myself (showing they may not value their time). When in fact it would “cost less” and “save money”, plus give more time to place towards other needs. In twenty years of creating and reproducing logos for the trade, there have been countless times I hear excuses for not outsourcing. Invariably it seems to always center on time and money!
It’s interesting to know some people would rather spend three, four or five hours scanning, digitizing and cleaning up their artwork as opposed to instantly emailing or faxing their need to an outside source. Blow’s me away! Why spend an entire afternoon or evening doing something you could spend three minutes of your time and $35 of your budget to get completed? Surely three to five hours of your time is worth more than $35!! I know some people just enjoy the process of creating whatever they’re creating. However, did you start a business to make money? You’ve heard it before “Treat it like a hobby, get paid like a hobby. Treat it like a business, get paid like a business!”
I encourage you to consider using third party suppliers to fulfill your needs. You may be surprised at how easy matters can be facilitated for you. Freeing you from always having to do everything yourself. It’s been reported that 70% of the senior citizen’s that have retired have agreed upon one thing. That one thing is this, if they had it all over to do again, the one thing would they do different is … take more risks!