Accounting Society Photoshoot


Image by dcshoesboy
Took some pictures for the upcoming Beta Alpha Psi and Accounting Society social at the Soroptomist House at CSULB.

Please not that I did not do any of the Photoshop work. I just took the pictures. Hope you enjoy!

© 2009 Chris Hiramatsu Photography,
Some Rights Reserved. This work is licensed under a
Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works License.

What You Need to Know About Retirement Accounts

While looking at planning your retirement, you may have noticed there are a wide variety of retirement accounts available to choose form. This article will give a detailed breakdown and comparison of the different retirement accounts to help you decide which is the best choice based on your circumstances.

Individual Retirement Account (IRA)

The Individual Retirement Account (IRA) is a tax deductible defined contribution retirement account. This means that taxes are not paid that year for any money deposited in your IRA. Instead, withdrawals made from the account upon retirement are taxed as income.

Pros:

Tax deferred until withdrawal. Individual, customized control of investments. Tax deferral of investment growth

Cons:

Very low yearly contribution allowance of ,000. 10% withdrawal penalty. Lack of liquidity if the contributor needs the money for another purpose.

An individual Retirement Account allows the account holder to make investments using the funds in their retirement account. This means they can allocate the funds across a variety of stocks, bonds, and mutual funds. The importance of this is that any growth in these investments is tax deferred until withdrawal along with all funds in the account.

The negative side of this tax deferral is that the growth of investments will be taxed at your income tax rate rather than capital gains which is 15%. For the tax advantage to really come through, the funds in an Individual Retirement Account (IRA) must be allowed to have time for growth. In general, it is advantageous when the Individual Retirement Account (IRA) is allowed to grow for more than 20 years before withdrawal for the tax deferral to be advantageous.

A disadvantage of the Individual Retirement Account (IRA) is the low deposit limit of only ,000 a year with a catch-up addition of ,000 a year allowed for individuals 50 or older. Also, funds can be difficult to withdraw from an IRA before the designated age of 59 ½ is reached. To see a more detailed analysis of an Individual Retirement Account (IRA).

When is a Roth IRA for me?

The Roth Individual Retirement Account (IRA) is an account that is not tax deferred; therefore taxes are paid on any money before it is deposited in the Roth Individual Retirement Account (IRA). This can be advantageous for individuals who expect to have a higher income upon retirement so would rather pay the current lower tax rate than a future expected higher tax rate.

When is a SEP IRA for me?

The Simplified Employee Pension Individual Retirement Account (SEP IRA) is an Individual Retirement Account (IRA) specifically meant for self-employed individuals and their employees. The account is shared among all members involved and uses a profit-sharing model. The contribution limits for an SEP IRA are the lesser of 25% of income or ,000 in 2009. All members of the SEP IRA are required to make the same contribution.

A SEP IRA can be advantageous to a business owner due to its higher contribution allowance. It is not really an option for individual retirees who do not own a business of their own. All contribution made to the SEP IRA are made by the employer and not by employees themselves. Thus, the business owner must evaluate whether the tax benefits of expensing these costs and the increased benefits to their employees are worth the cost of increasing their own retirement contributions.

Comparison of Individual Retirement Accounts (IRA) to 401k

401k and Individual Retirement Accounts (IRA) are similar in that they both are tax-deferred retirement accounts which can increase in value over time before funds are withdrawn and they both have restrictions on fund withdrawal. One difference is that the contribution limit is only ,000 a year for an Individual Retirement Account (IRA) while it is ,500. A 401k also has the possibility of employer contributions in addition to your personal contributions.

In general, it is a good idea to prefer your 401k plan over your Individual Retirement Account (IRA) due to the higher limits and employer contributions. Before using this as a hard and fast rule, it is best to review what types of investments are made within your employer sponsored plan and your Individual Retirement Account (IRA) and what type of contributions are made by your employer.

Comparison of Individual Retirement Accounts (IRA) to Retirement Annuity

Both an Individual Retirement Account (IRA) and a Retirement Annuity are tax deferred retirement accounts. Unlike an Individual Retirement Account (IRA) which has a ,000 contribution limit, a retirement annuity has no contribution limits. Both accounts have a 10% penalty for early withdrawal.

The main feature a retirement annuity has that an Individual Retirement Account (IRA) does not is its variety of guarantees. These guarantees include a guarantee to receive a minimum income per year after retirement and guarantees that the accounts value will be at a minimum level in the future. But these features come at a cost of about 3% a year in fees.

It is generally a poor idea to invest in a retirement annuity rather than an Individual Retirement Account due to these high fees charged. If the benefits being offered are worth the 3% annual fee due to your circumstances, a retirement annuity would be something to consider looking into.

401K

A 401k is a retirement account sponsored by your employer. It is a defined contribution plan where you contribute a certain portion of your income into the account.

Pros:

Tax deferred until withdrawal Possibility of additional contributions from employers Tax deferral of investment growth

Cons:

Withdrawal penalties of 10% with certain exceptions. Lack of liquidity if the contributor needs the money for another purpose.

401k and Individual Retirement Accounts (IRA) have a variety of similarities. They are both tax deferred plans to taxes are only paid on withdrawals from the account, allowing a tax-free buildup of funds and investment returns. This tax deferred features of both retirement accounts is advantageous to retirees who expect a lower income upon retirement than the income they receive during their careers.

A very large advantage of a 401k retirement account is that your employers may have a benefit where they will add funds to your account or match funds you add to the account. This is the primary advantage that a 401k has over an Individual Retirement Account (IRA) but is highly dependent on what your employer contributes.

As with the Individual Retirement Account (IRA), the 401k has a negative side if the account holder does not allow the account to be active for more than 20 years. This is due to the growth within the retirement account’s investments being taxed at your income rate upon withdrawal rather than the customary 15% capital gains tax on investments. The tax advantages on investment growth are only seen after a long period of time.

When is a Roth 401k for me?

A Roth 401k, unlike a standard 401k retirement account, is taxed before the funds are placed into the account and withdrawals are made tax free. As with a Roth Individual Retirement Account (IRA), the Roth 401k is advantageous to individuals who expect their income upon retirement to be higher than their career income, therefore the tax-deferral of a standard 401k can be a negative to them.

To find out more in-depth information about 401k retirement accounts, read our article about 401k.

Comparison of 401k to Individual Retirement Account (IRA)

401k and Individual Retirement Accounts (IRA) are similar in that they both are tax-deferred retirement accounts which can increase in value over time before funds are withdrawn and they both have restrictions on fund withdrawal. One difference is that the contribution limit is only ,000 a year for an Individual Retirement Account (IRA) while it is ,500. A 401k also has the possibility of employer contributions in addition to your personal contributions.

In general, it is a good idea to prefer your 401k plan over your Individual Retirement Account (IRA) due to the higher limits and employer contributions. Before using this as a hard and fast rule, it is best to review what types of investments are made within your employer sponsored plan and your Individual Retirement Account (IRA) and what type of contributions are made by your employer.

Comparison of 401k to Retirement Annuity

401k and Retirement Annuities are both tax-deferred accounts in which the funds are only taxed upon withdrawal. 401k retirement accounts have an annual limit of ,500 while a retirement annuity has no annual limit.

The main feature a retirement annuity has that a 401k does not is its variety of guarantees. These guarantees include a guarantee to receive a minimum income per year after retirement and guarantees that the accounts value will be at a minimum level in the future. But these features come at a cost of about 3% a year in fees.

It is generally a poor idea to invest in a retirement annuity rather than 401k due to these high fees charged. If the benefits being offered are worth the 3% annual fee due to your circumstances, a retirement annuity would be something to consider looking into.

Retirement Annuity

A retirement annuity is a defined contribution retirement account sold exclusively by life insurance companies. The earnings within a retirement annuity are tax deferred until withdrawal. Insurance companies can offer a variety of guarantees with their retirement annuity products, but these benefits come with extremely high fees.

Pros:

Tax deferred growth within account Guaranteed benefits No limits like a 401k or Individual Retirement Account (IRA)

Cons:

Extremely high fees Lack of liquidity, 10% early withdrawal penalty

The main benefits of retirement annuities are the guarantees that life insurance companies provide. These can include a guarantee that you will receive a minimum income per year after retirement and guarantees that the accounts value will be at a certain level in the future. The income earned within an annuity is tax deferred upon withdrawal providing a tax shelter for potential investment growth.

These benefits come at a cost. The fees charged on annuities can be extremely large and are highly criticized in the financial world. The total amount of fees charged on an annuity are around 3% a year, a far cry from the 1% a year charged by mutual funds directly. To read a more in-depth breakdown of retirement annuities and the fees charged, read our article on Retirement Annuities.

Retirement Annuities become advantageous when an individual is willing to deal with the 3% fees to acquire the potential guarantees.

Comparison of Retirement Annuity to Individual Retirement Account (IRA)

Both an Individual Retirement Account (IRA) and a Retirement Annuity are tax deferred retirement accounts. Unlike an Individual Retirement Account (IRA) which has a ,000 contribution limit, a retirement annuity has no contribution limits. Both accounts have a 10% penalty for early withdrawal.

The main feature a retirement annuity has that an Individual Retirement Account (IRA) does not is its variety of guarantees. These guarantees include a guarantee to receive a minimum income per year after retirement and guarantees that the accounts value will be at a minimum level in the future. But these features come at a cost of about 3% a year in fees.

It is generally a poor idea to invest in a retirement annuity rather than an Individual Retirement Account due to these high fees charged. If the benefits being offered are worth the 3% annual fee due to your circumstances, a retirement annuity would be something to consider looking into.

Comparison of Retirement Annuity to 401k

401k and Retirement Annuities are both tax-deferred accounts in which the funds are only taxed upon withdrawal. 401k retirement accounts have an annual limit of ,500 while a retirement annuity has no annual limit.

The main feature a retirement annuity has that a 401k does not is its variety of guarantees. These guarantees include a guarantee to receive a minimum income per year after retirement and guarantees that the accounts value will be at a minimum level in the future. But these features come at a cost of about 3% a year in fees.

It is generally a poor idea to invest in a retirement annuity rather than 401k due to these high fees charged. If the benefits being offered are worth the 3% annual fee due to your circumstances, a retirement annuity would be something to consider looking into.

Retirement Accounts Conclusions

Overall 401k retirement accounts provide the best variety of features for retirement. Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs) are very similar to 401ks but lack the benefits of employer contributions and have lower contribution limits. It is best to deposit all funds available into your 401k until the limit is reached and if your income allows it, contribute the remainder into your Individual Retirement Account (IRA).

Retirement annuities are widely criticized and rightfully so. They provide a few features that may entice individuals to contribute but those features come at a very hefty price that isn’t associated with any other type of account. Retirement annuities should only be used if your individual life circumstances make the features they provide a worthwhile sacrifice of 3% in fees every year.

In addition, each type of 401k and Individual Retirement Account (IRA) is different based on who is providing the account. This would be either your employer for a 401k or a financial institution for your Individual Retirement Account (IRA). They all provide different ways in which to manage the investments within the fund itself.

Only general recommendations can be given about which of these three main types of retirement accounts are best for individuals. Decisions must be made in an informed way while taking into account very specific circumstances of the individuals planning their retirement and deciding which retirement accounts are right for them.

You can read more about retirement planning and retirement investing and how these accounts fit into your overall retirement goals.

Accounting Society Photoshoot


Image by dcshoesboy
Took some pictures for the upcoming Beta Alpha Psi and Accounting Society social at the Soroptomist House at CSULB.

Please not that I did not do any of the Photoshop work. I just took the pictures. Hope you enjoy!

© 2009 Chris Hiramatsu Photography,
Some Rights Reserved. This work is licensed under a
Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works License.

What You Need to Know About Retirement Accounts

While looking at planning your retirement, you may have noticed there are a wide variety of retirement accounts available to choose form. This article will give a detailed breakdown and comparison of the different retirement accounts to help you decide which is the best choice based on your circumstances.

Individual Retirement Account (IRA)

The Individual Retirement Account (IRA) is a tax deductible defined contribution retirement account. This means that taxes are not paid that year for any money deposited in your IRA. Instead, withdrawals made from the account upon retirement are taxed as income.

Pros:

Tax deferred until withdrawal. Individual, customized control of investments. Tax deferral of investment growth

Cons:

Very low yearly contribution allowance of ,000. 10% withdrawal penalty. Lack of liquidity if the contributor needs the money for another purpose.

An individual Retirement Account allows the account holder to make investments using the funds in their retirement account. This means they can allocate the funds across a variety of stocks, bonds, and mutual funds. The importance of this is that any growth in these investments is tax deferred until withdrawal along with all funds in the account.

The negative side of this tax deferral is that the growth of investments will be taxed at your income tax rate rather than capital gains which is 15%. For the tax advantage to really come through, the funds in an Individual Retirement Account (IRA) must be allowed to have time for growth. In general, it is advantageous when the Individual Retirement Account (IRA) is allowed to grow for more than 20 years before withdrawal for the tax deferral to be advantageous.

A disadvantage of the Individual Retirement Account (IRA) is the low deposit limit of only ,000 a year with a catch-up addition of ,000 a year allowed for individuals 50 or older. Also, funds can be difficult to withdraw from an IRA before the designated age of 59 ½ is reached. To see a more detailed analysis of an Individual Retirement Account (IRA).

When is a Roth IRA for me?

The Roth Individual Retirement Account (IRA) is an account that is not tax deferred; therefore taxes are paid on any money before it is deposited in the Roth Individual Retirement Account (IRA). This can be advantageous for individuals who expect to have a higher income upon retirement so would rather pay the current lower tax rate than a future expected higher tax rate.

When is a SEP IRA for me?

The Simplified Employee Pension Individual Retirement Account (SEP IRA) is an Individual Retirement Account (IRA) specifically meant for self-employed individuals and their employees. The account is shared among all members involved and uses a profit-sharing model. The contribution limits for an SEP IRA are the lesser of 25% of income or ,000 in 2009. All members of the SEP IRA are required to make the same contribution.

A SEP IRA can be advantageous to a business owner due to its higher contribution allowance. It is not really an option for individual retirees who do not own a business of their own. All contribution made to the SEP IRA are made by the employer and not by employees themselves. Thus, the business owner must evaluate whether the tax benefits of expensing these costs and the increased benefits to their employees are worth the cost of increasing their own retirement contributions.

Comparison of Individual Retirement Accounts (IRA) to 401k

401k and Individual Retirement Accounts (IRA) are similar in that they both are tax-deferred retirement accounts which can increase in value over time before funds are withdrawn and they both have restrictions on fund withdrawal. One difference is that the contribution limit is only ,000 a year for an Individual Retirement Account (IRA) while it is ,500. A 401k also has the possibility of employer contributions in addition to your personal contributions.

In general, it is a good idea to prefer your 401k plan over your Individual Retirement Account (IRA) due to the higher limits and employer contributions. Before using this as a hard and fast rule, it is best to review what types of investments are made within your employer sponsored plan and your Individual Retirement Account (IRA) and what type of contributions are made by your employer.

Comparison of Individual Retirement Accounts (IRA) to Retirement Annuity

Both an Individual Retirement Account (IRA) and a Retirement Annuity are tax deferred retirement accounts. Unlike an Individual Retirement Account (IRA) which has a ,000 contribution limit, a retirement annuity has no contribution limits. Both accounts have a 10% penalty for early withdrawal.

The main feature a retirement annuity has that an Individual Retirement Account (IRA) does not is its variety of guarantees. These guarantees include a guarantee to receive a minimum income per year after retirement and guarantees that the accounts value will be at a minimum level in the future. But these features come at a cost of about 3% a year in fees.

It is generally a poor idea to invest in a retirement annuity rather than an Individual Retirement Account due to these high fees charged. If the benefits being offered are worth the 3% annual fee due to your circumstances, a retirement annuity would be something to consider looking into.

401K

A 401k is a retirement account sponsored by your employer. It is a defined contribution plan where you contribute a certain portion of your income into the account.

Pros:

Tax deferred until withdrawal Possibility of additional contributions from employers Tax deferral of investment growth

Cons:

Withdrawal penalties of 10% with certain exceptions. Lack of liquidity if the contributor needs the money for another purpose.

401k and Individual Retirement Accounts (IRA) have a variety of similarities. They are both tax deferred plans to taxes are only paid on withdrawals from the account, allowing a tax-free buildup of funds and investment returns. This tax deferred features of both retirement accounts is advantageous to retirees who expect a lower income upon retirement than the income they receive during their careers.

A very large advantage of a 401k retirement account is that your employers may have a benefit where they will add funds to your account or match funds you add to the account. This is the primary advantage that a 401k has over an Individual Retirement Account (IRA) but is highly dependent on what your employer contributes.

As with the Individual Retirement Account (IRA), the 401k has a negative side if the account holder does not allow the account to be active for more than 20 years. This is due to the growth within the retirement account’s investments being taxed at your income rate upon withdrawal rather than the customary 15% capital gains tax on investments. The tax advantages on investment growth are only seen after a long period of time.

When is a Roth 401k for me?

A Roth 401k, unlike a standard 401k retirement account, is taxed before the funds are placed into the account and withdrawals are made tax free. As with a Roth Individual Retirement Account (IRA), the Roth 401k is advantageous to individuals who expect their income upon retirement to be higher than their career income, therefore the tax-deferral of a standard 401k can be a negative to them.

To find out more in-depth information about 401k retirement accounts, read our article about 401k.

Comparison of 401k to Individual Retirement Account (IRA)

401k and Individual Retirement Accounts (IRA) are similar in that they both are tax-deferred retirement accounts which can increase in value over time before funds are withdrawn and they both have restrictions on fund withdrawal. One difference is that the contribution limit is only ,000 a year for an Individual Retirement Account (IRA) while it is ,500. A 401k also has the possibility of employer contributions in addition to your personal contributions.

In general, it is a good idea to prefer your 401k plan over your Individual Retirement Account (IRA) due to the higher limits and employer contributions. Before using this as a hard and fast rule, it is best to review what types of investments are made within your employer sponsored plan and your Individual Retirement Account (IRA) and what type of contributions are made by your employer.

Comparison of 401k to Retirement Annuity

401k and Retirement Annuities are both tax-deferred accounts in which the funds are only taxed upon withdrawal. 401k retirement accounts have an annual limit of ,500 while a retirement annuity has no annual limit.

The main feature a retirement annuity has that a 401k does not is its variety of guarantees. These guarantees include a guarantee to receive a minimum income per year after retirement and guarantees that the accounts value will be at a minimum level in the future. But these features come at a cost of about 3% a year in fees.

It is generally a poor idea to invest in a retirement annuity rather than 401k due to these high fees charged. If the benefits being offered are worth the 3% annual fee due to your circumstances, a retirement annuity would be something to consider looking into.

Retirement Annuity

A retirement annuity is a defined contribution retirement account sold exclusively by life insurance companies. The earnings within a retirement annuity are tax deferred until withdrawal. Insurance companies can offer a variety of guarantees with their retirement annuity products, but these benefits come with extremely high fees.

Pros:

Tax deferred growth within account Guaranteed benefits No limits like a 401k or Individual Retirement Account (IRA)

Cons:

Extremely high fees Lack of liquidity, 10% early withdrawal penalty

The main benefits of retirement annuities are the guarantees that life insurance companies provide. These can include a guarantee that you will receive a minimum income per year after retirement and guarantees that the accounts value will be at a certain level in the future. The income earned within an annuity is tax deferred upon withdrawal providing a tax shelter for potential investment growth.

These benefits come at a cost. The fees charged on annuities can be extremely large and are highly criticized in the financial world. The total amount of fees charged on an annuity are around 3% a year, a far cry from the 1% a year charged by mutual funds directly. To read a more in-depth breakdown of retirement annuities and the fees charged, read our article on Retirement Annuities.

Retirement Annuities become advantageous when an individual is willing to deal with the 3% fees to acquire the potential guarantees.

Comparison of Retirement Annuity to Individual Retirement Account (IRA)

Both an Individual Retirement Account (IRA) and a Retirement Annuity are tax deferred retirement accounts. Unlike an Individual Retirement Account (IRA) which has a ,000 contribution limit, a retirement annuity has no contribution limits. Both accounts have a 10% penalty for early withdrawal.

The main feature a retirement annuity has that an Individual Retirement Account (IRA) does not is its variety of guarantees. These guarantees include a guarantee to receive a minimum income per year after retirement and guarantees that the accounts value will be at a minimum level in the future. But these features come at a cost of about 3% a year in fees.

It is generally a poor idea to invest in a retirement annuity rather than an Individual Retirement Account due to these high fees charged. If the benefits being offered are worth the 3% annual fee due to your circumstances, a retirement annuity would be something to consider looking into.

Comparison of Retirement Annuity to 401k

401k and Retirement Annuities are both tax-deferred accounts in which the funds are only taxed upon withdrawal. 401k retirement accounts have an annual limit of ,500 while a retirement annuity has no annual limit.

The main feature a retirement annuity has that a 401k does not is its variety of guarantees. These guarantees include a guarantee to receive a minimum income per year after retirement and guarantees that the accounts value will be at a minimum level in the future. But these features come at a cost of about 3% a year in fees.

It is generally a poor idea to invest in a retirement annuity rather than 401k due to these high fees charged. If the benefits being offered are worth the 3% annual fee due to your circumstances, a retirement annuity would be something to consider looking into.

Retirement Accounts Conclusions

Overall 401k retirement accounts provide the best variety of features for retirement. Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs) are very similar to 401ks but lack the benefits of employer contributions and have lower contribution limits. It is best to deposit all funds available into your 401k until the limit is reached and if your income allows it, contribute the remainder into your Individual Retirement Account (IRA).

Retirement annuities are widely criticized and rightfully so. They provide a few features that may entice individuals to contribute but those features come at a very hefty price that isn’t associated with any other type of account. Retirement annuities should only be used if your individual life circumstances make the features they provide a worthwhile sacrifice of 3% in fees every year.

In addition, each type of 401k and Individual Retirement Account (IRA) is different based on who is providing the account. This would be either your employer for a 401k or a financial institution for your Individual Retirement Account (IRA). They all provide different ways in which to manage the investments within the fund itself.

Only general recommendations can be given about which of these three main types of retirement accounts are best for individuals. Decisions must be made in an informed way while taking into account very specific circumstances of the individuals planning their retirement and deciding which retirement accounts are right for them.

You can read more about retirement planning and retirement investing and how these accounts fit into your overall retirement goals.

Do You Need A Diagnosis Of Your Personal Finances?

You’re probably reading this question and wondering are you kidding me, I don’t think that my finances are sick, maybe a few problems here and there but what does a diagnosis have to do with my personal finances? Well, if you’re having a problem with your personal finances and you cannot determine what the problem is then wouldn’t it be great if you were able to identify the problem you may be having with your finances? That’s right, you would be diagnosing your own problem with your finances up close and personal.

If you’re able to diagnose a current problem with your own personal finances this may help you to alleviate further damage to your finances. You’re thinking to yourself, yes maybe diagnosing my personal finances may help me but, I’m really not sure about this. Well, let’s take a further look to determine if diagnosing your personal finances is something you should consider doing. Interestingly, Janet and Joseph were also a little apprehensive about diagnosing a problem they had with their personal finances too, but, they decided that they would take a stab at investigating the problems they were having with their finances.

Joseph and Janet were having problems meeting their mortgage payment each month along with some of their other household expenses. They just could not understand where all of their money kept going each month. They both had very good jobs, no children and not many bills to pay. Their combined net income is approximately eight thousand dollars a month. It seemed when the first of each month rolled around they struggled to make their monthly mortgage payment of ,500. They just could not understand why they were living pay check to pay check with the amount of income they were bringing into their household each month.

Joseph and Janet decided they would sit down and diagnose their personal finances. They just could not continue to go on being frustrated and stressed out each and every month about their bills. They decided to use the following tips to diagnose the problems they were having with their personal finances:

Tip One: Write down all of your monthly expenses including the following: mortgage or rental payment, vehicle loan, credit card bills, utility bills, etc… Try to ensure that you include all of the monthly expenses you have to pay. Accuracy is the key here.

Tip Two: Calculate other expenses that you may pay on an annual, bimonthly, semi annual, or quarterly basis which may include bills such as; home or renters insurance, property tax, vehicle insurance, health insurance, etc…

Tip Three: Secure all of your credit card, debit card and store receipts. Calculate these receipts as part of your bills for each month as these particular expenses were incurred.

Tip Four: Look at your bank statement and balance your checkbook. This will be an important factor in helping you to diagnose your personal finance problem. Go over your statement and checkbook register as close as possible.

Tip Five: Tally up all of your income received monthly. This means any money you have received coming into your household each month.

Tip Six: Take a first, second, and maybe a third look at your expenses and income to determine where your financial problem may be. It’s somewhere there, all you have to do is locate it. You can do it, just look, seek and you will find. Just keep looking and you should be able to diagnose your personal finance problem. Keep in mind persistence, consistency and perseverance and determination is key here. Just stay focused and you should do just fine in diagnosing your personal finance problem.

After spending several hours going over their expenses and income, Joseph and Janet were elated that they were able to diagnose their personal finance problem. They discovered that Joseph had an awful habit of using his debit visa card on expensive daily lunches while at work and also weekly visits to play golf at his favorite golf course. In addition, Janet also had a fetish with going to her local mall to buy clothes three times a week after she left work. These extra added expenses incurred by Janet and Joseph really added up each month and neither one of them had any idea what they had been doing to themselves financially.

This information discovered by Janet and Joseph enabled them to make the necessary changes in their spending behavior to regain control of their personal finances. This also allowed them to meet their obligations of paying their monthly expenses each month on a timely basis. Joseph and Janet also found they had additional money left over after they paid their monthly bills so they were able to set aside money for their savings account.

Joseph and Janet found this was good time well spent diagnosing their personal finance problem. They are so happy they took action to take control of their personal finances rather sooner than later. So, if you think you may need to diagnose a personal finance problem you may have, go ahead, get started and take action to get back into the driver’s seat and control your own personal finances today, you’ll be glad that you did.

Certificate: www.fdu.edu/personalfinance This presentation discusses the basics of personal finance and planning, for the short and long term. The talk is given by Marnie Aznar, Marnie B. Aznar, MBA, CFP®, NAPFA – Registered Financial Advisor, Aznar Financial Advisors, LLC
Video Rating: 4 / 5

Eiko and her credit card


Image by eikootje
On the 24urenloop there was a stand of KBC where you could let them take a picture to put on your credit card. That’s how Eiko received her first credit card! Ok it was a festival credit card but anyway…
Action: www.mijnKBCkaart.be.

Picture taken by Fu.

Bad Credit? Get the Credit Card you Want and the Credit Card you Need!

So you have bad credit, millions do, and more importantly millions did.  Yes million of people have taken the steps necessary to improve their credit history, and credit ratings.

Before you start to improve your credit rating, it’s critical to find out why your credit is in the state that it is. If you don’t know why your credit is poor, then you must ask to see your credit reference file to find out.  At the UK Credit Card Centre we can help you in your quest to understand your credit score (Visit our Credit Help page). 

Once you have a good understanding why your credit score is poor, or bad, there are a number of simple steps you can take to help improve your credit rating and start to rebuild credit history and score:

Make sure you are on the electoral roll. It only takes a few minutes to register with your local council and it will help to improve your credit score over time.
Always pay bills when they are due. This will begin to improve your credit history and score and will again give you an improved credit rating over time.
Do not apply for too much credit.  The number of times you apply for credit, either credit cards or loans can have a negative effect on your credit score. Every application for credit is logged into your credit file.  Too many credit applications in a short period of time may not help your credit rating.
The truth matters.  When applying for credit never give false or misleading details.  Always tell the truth.  If there are inconsistencies with past credit applications or details that are held on credit checking systems differ from your application it will affect your credit score.
 Start to build a credit history over time and when you check your credit reference file you should find an improved credit score.  Remember good credit will not occur over-night, but if you take the time to fix your credit blemishes, your score will improve over time.

So how can you improve credit ratings if you can’t get credit?  Credit card companies like our Vanquis and Capital One are specially designed for people with bad credit, or for people that have credit that needs help.  Even if you have been turned down by other credit card companies, you may be able to qualify for cards designed to improve credit.

As long as you manage the card properly, stay withn your credit limits and pay promptly, this is a good way to build credit history and to improve your credit rating.  Take the time to understand how to build good credit, and you will start down the road of financial freedom.  To find out more about cards designed for people with bad credit, Please visit our site UK Credit Card Centre for additional details.

The Short and Simple Story of the Credit Crisis. By Jonathan Jarvis. Crisisofcredit.com The goal of giving form to a complex situation like the credit crisis is to quickly supply the essence of the situation to those unfamiliar and uninitiated. This project was completed as part of my thesis work in the Media Design Program, a graduate studio at the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California. For more on my broader thesis work exploring the use of new media to make sense of a increasingly complex world, visit jonathanjarvis.com Or email me at jonathan.jarvis@gmail.com Support the project! Buy a T-Shirt! cafepress.com/crisisofcredit
Video Rating: 4 / 5

Auto Title Loans


Image by markhillary
Payday loans in Reno, NV

First Time Car Buyer – No Credit Auto Loans – What You Need to Know to Get a Loan!

If you have never had credit, or if you have some credit but have never had an car loan, you may be considered a first time buyer. The Banks have different methods to determine if you are a first time buyer or not but usually with no credit or limited credit you are considered a first time buyer. If you don’t have credit it may seem like a daunting task to just go out and get an car loan. There are a few things that you can do to get an advantage when dealing with a lender.

The easiest way to get established with no credit is to get someone with good established credit to sign on the loan with you. This is called a co applicant or a co signer. The banks can look up their credit and determine how they have paid in the past. They cannot do this with a first time auto loan buyer. If they determine that your co-signer is a worthy risk then you are home free.

The next best thing you can do if you are a first time buyer is to save up enough money to use as a down payment to make the auto loan less of a risk for the bank. If you can put 25 to 30% down on a car you have a much better chance of getting your auto loan because the loan amount will be low enough that if the bank needs to repossess the car, they will be able to sell it at auction and not lose their tails on it.