Get The Facts Before You Begin Filing Bankruptcy?

By Emma Elvie

If you have landed on this site then chances are you are seeking for some tips on how to improve your credit and finances. You may have even discussed the possibility of liquidating all your current debt to get rid of it.

Wait a minute before you consider filing bankruptcy after all there are several things that you will want to consider. Anyone who has ever experienced financial difficulties understands how easy it can be to make the wrong decisions quickly; yes bankruptcy will help get rid of your debt however have you and your family considered different options yet?

It is imperative that you all take some time to sit down and tally up your monthly expenses to find out where you stand financially. After taking the time to do this then you may realize just how easy it is to get out of the financial bind that you are in.

It is important to know where you money is going each and every month. In fact so many people who find themselves living paycheck to paycheck never understand why they are struggling financially. When you take the time to do this and you understand what you are spending your money on then you will better understand what route to take.

Chances are you may uncover the fact that you are overspending on items that you really do not need. Consider downsizing or refinancing this may help you keep more money in your savings account on a monthly basis. You may even want to consider getting a second job until you can get your finances back on track.

For more tips and advice of what you should do before filing bankruptcy or what types of options you have then be sure to visit the site below. You will be amazed at all the tips and advice that we have provided our readers with that you will find useful. - 23208

About the Author:

What Are Some Alternatives For Bankruptcy What You May Not Know! Filing Bankrupt Online

Understanding Spot Forex Market (Part I)

By Ahmad Hassam

The spot forex market is an over the counter market. The spot forex market is a decentralized network of buyers and sellers. There is no physical central exchange that acts as a central clearing house.

Unlike the forex futures trading that is carried out through the exchange like CBOT, CME etc, over the counter in spot forex means that the buyers and sellers make a binding contract with each other after agreeing on the price and this is not carried through an exchange.

There are several advantages of a central exchange like the counterparty risk for the trades is reduced. There is trading anonymity something that big players want to hide their trails. Forex traders in the spot forex market carry out their activities by dialing directly with one another or through brokers on telephone or internet.

In 2007, Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) along with Reuters launched FXMarketSpace; the worlds first centrally cleared global forex market place. In this centrally cleared system, CME will act as the clearing house and guarantee the performance of all the contracts for both buyers and sellers.

Unfortunately FXMarketSpace is an institutional trading platform and is not open to retail forex traders. Only sophisticated investors with net worth of more than $20 Million can trade on the FXMarketSpace.

There are many players involved in the spot forex market. Recently NFA (National Futures Association) had also passed certain new rules that make it more skewed against the small investor like you and me. The spot forex market is still skewed against the retail forex trader. Why is it so?

The spot forex market has always been an unfair playing field for the big boys. It became possible to introduce trading platforms for the retail investors with the advent of the internet. Previously spot forex trading was the playfield of the big banks, multinationals and the hedge funds.

A mushroom growth of online forex brokers took place. Many did not have even enough capital with them to start the brokerage business. But this is the way; the spot forex market has developed over the years.

Why these players trade forex? What type of advantages they have over the retail forex traders? It is essential for you that you understand the nature of the spot forex market and who are the main players. Off balance sheet earnings are the declared aim of most banks and spot dealing in forex which represents a high loss potential but practically no credit risk falls in that category.

Over the counter nature (OTC) of the spot forex market means that currency transactions do not take place at any single place. Instead OTC means that the spot forex market is spread all over the globe.

In order to understand a banks motivation for get involved in spot forex trading, all you have to know is that by combining large forex dealing desk with a decent trading group, you are talking about billions of dollars in profits. A players access to the spot forex market depends on the quantity of transactions of large amounts of money. Players in the spot forex market range from those who trade billions of dollars daily to those who only trade just a few thousand dollars daily. Now these are the main players in the forex market against whom you as a retail forex trader will be competing. - 23208

About the Author:

Mr. Ahmad Hassam is a Harvard University Graduate. He is interested in day trading stocks and currencies. Try These 1500 Pips A Day Forex Signals From Heaven. Develop Your Own Forex Trading System!

Cell Phones For People With Bad Credit

By Chuck Stone

Are you looking for cell phones for bad credit? Well the good thing is that you will not have to look very far. That is correct even if you have not so good credit; you will still be able to get a cell phone. This article is going to reveal how anyone can have a mobile phone; even if your credit is not so "hot."

Everyone seems to be searching for the latest phones; however they do not want to sign a contract; well you just found the answer. There are several phones for people with bad credit; and some of the most popular phones are called "Go Phones." The great thing is that you do not have to worry about signing a contract; this is one of the reasons these phones are so popular.

Regardless of who you are or your circumstances you can get a new phone; even if you are a person with bad credit you can get one that you will love. Go phones have allowed anyone to purchase airtime and then talk as long as they want; when they need more minutes all they do is purchase more airtime to use.

This is a great option for anyone who hates contracts; because we all know that most cell phone contracts are at least two years long. Besides if you have had some financial trouble in the past; you will still be able to get this type of phone.

We have personally suffered from our financial difficulties in the past and have have been turned down with a cell phone contract. In fact we had difficulty getting a new plan because of it. Most companies wanted a large amount of money upfront and therefore we decided to choose a "go phone" until we were able to get our credit fixed and could get a plan.

Everyone is going to face some type of financial difficulties in their life regardless of who you are. Just because you are having financial difficulties does not mean that you should not be able to talk to your family and friends.

So if you are wanting to get a phone but do not know if your credit is good enough; do not let anyone tell you that you can not have one. Because with the Go Phones anyone can get one; and it does not matter what kind of credit you have. So you do not have to sacrifice the ability of being able to keep in touch with family or friends; just because you have a not so perfect credit score.

Tired of searching the internet for "cell phones for bad credit" well then it is time to visit the site below. You will find some amazing and the latest cell phones that people love. Read more about the go phones and be amazed at how anyone can get one without signing any type of contract. Stay in touch with your family and friends regardless of who you are. - 23208

About the Author:

Prepaid Cell Phone Deals You Will Want! How To Get The Latest Cell Phones

Different Types Of USA Investor Visas

By Sam McDougall Turner

Getting a US citizenship is a dream for millions of people from around the world. In spite of the growing number of people who are being granted citizenship each year, there still is a waiting list which will take over a decade to clear! And more applications are pouring in every single day at all the embassies over the world.

One of the primary reasons why there is such a demand for US visas (and later on for immigration) is because of the sobriquet America has earned " of being the land of opportunity. People from all corners of the globe harbor a desire of getting into this land and starting a business.

However, something not too many people are aware of is that there is a visa created solely for people who are looking to invest within the USA, and if you are eligible for one, getting hold of one is a whole lot easier than it is to get hold of any other kind.

There are two main ways of going about getting an investor visa for the USA.

The E1 and E2 investor visas are granted to those people who reside in countries that have a treaty with the USA to provide services and trade. Most countries in Europe are part a part of this treaty as well most South American countries apart from Brazil, Cuba, Guatemala and Ecuador. There are also several countries in Asia, Africa and the Middle East.

The E5 visa is known as the investor visa for USA, and like the name suggests, it is given to people who are looking to invest money in the USA. Depending on the state you want to invest in, the threshold of entry will be different, but the normal entry level is $ 500,000. Some states require the person to stay on and manage the day to day operations, while some states dont. - 23208

About the Author:

For more information on investor visas, visit visas4america.com by clicking on visa preparation or investor visa.

Retirement Plans: IRA's

By Doeren Mayhew

Retirement plans benefit from special tax advantages but also are subject to special restrictions. For instance, there are rules that allow tax breaks for contributing to retirement plans and rules that allow retirement plan income to grow on a tax-deferred basis, but there also are rules that limit annual contributions and rules that dictate the timing and amount of distributions you take from those plans.

Before you can start planning, review the retirement plans that are currently available to you. Generally, there are two categories into which all plans can be sorted: IRAs and employer-sponsored plans. IRAs are perhaps the most widely used retirement plans because they're easy to set up and maintain. You can open up one yourself it doesn't have to be sponsored by your employer and you can contribute as much (or as little) as you want, whenever you want, provided you don't exceed applicable annual limits. Following are descriptions of the three main types of IRAs:

The Traditional IRA: Your IRA assets grow on a tax-deferred basis, meaning that you pay no tax until the day that you withdraw your funds.

Your eligibility to make a contribution depends on statutory limits, your earned income and your age. Your contribution is limited to the amount of earned income income from wages and self-employment income that you have for the year. It doesn't include investment income. Those age 50 and older may be able to make additional catch-up contributions. Plus, your spouse may use your earned income to make a contribution of his or her own. However, you (and your spouse) are eligible to make contributions only if you're under age 701/2 at the end of the year for which you're making the contribution.

Before you decide to start with a traditional IRA, it is wise to consider your other options. These options include a Roth IRA and an employer's 401(k) plan.

Contribution deductibility is one factor that often times leads an indication to switch the type of IRA that they use. Your income level is an important indicator as to whether you will be able to deduct all of your contributions. If you and your spouse are able to participate in an employer-sponsored plan, then you will definitely be able to deduct your contributions. However, these deductions might not be worth anything if your adjusted gross income (AGI) is too high.

If you aren't eligible to make a deductible contribution (or a Roth IRA contribution), you may wish to make a nondeductible one you'll still enjoy the benefit of tax-deferred growth. And, when you withdraw the funds after age 591/2, only the earnings will be taxed. You can withdraw your nondeductible contribution without tax.

Roth IRA. You are able to contribute the same amount to a Roth IRA as you are able to contribute to a traditional IRA. The real difference between the two is their eligibility rules, such as the lack of an age limit with respect to contributions. This disregard for the age limit is only applicable if you meet the earned income requirement.

The total amount of your annual contribution to IRAs can never be larger than the defined limit. That being said, if you are eligible you can contribute all of your income to a traditional or all of your income to a Roth IRA. You are even allowed to split your contribution between the two different IRA?s.

It is important to keep in mind that you are not able to claim a deduction for your contributions with a Roth IRA. However, you are able to withdraw all IRA earnings without tax after you reach age 59. This only applies if you have had the account for at least 5 years.

There are other differences as well. Traditional IRAs have required minimum distribution rules that must be strictly followed. Roth IRAs have no distribution requirements during your lifetime.

The exact formula for calculating the contribution amount is very complicated. However, if you were to use 20% of your net self-employment earnings as a guess it would be a close estimate.The formula for calculating the exact contribution amount is too complex for our purposes, but a rough estimate of 20% of your net self-employment earnings is a good start.

Simplified Employee Pension (SEP) IRA. A SEP IRA provides self-employed individuals a way to make more significant retirement contributions than would be available to them through a traditional or Roth IRA. Funds are treated, for tax purposes, the same as IRA funds; you may claim a deduction for your contributions, and distributions will be taxed. But the contribution limits can be much higher. - 23208

About the Author:

This data is distributed for informational purposes only; Doeren Mayhew is not rendering legal, accounting, or other professional advice or opinions and assumes no legal responsibility. Contact Doeren Mayhew for more information.