In the complex world of employee background screening, no two countries are alike. In the United States International investigators have a web of databases at their disposal and a vast network of local resources that provide a wealth of information at the mere click of a mouse.Its a different world in the Middle East. Technology is limited in many parts of the region. Privacy legislation varies from country to country and from jurisdiction to...more
I have come across many examples of small business owners or directors who use personal borrowing to supplement their business cash flow. This practise may not strictly be the right way to finance a business but certainly it has for a number of years, been the reality for many businesses. Unfortunately due to the effects of the credit crunch, personal credit is now becoming much harder to obtain. As has been widely reported, lenders are being...more
Deferring taxes on your income is an investment strategy in which income taxes are paid at a later date for money invested now. The benefit of tax deferral is that it provides more money for you to invest now.For example, you are able to deduct $1000 from your taxable income this year and invest it into an interest bearing account, and in return, this deduction allows you to pay approximately $200 less in income taxes for the current year. You now have $200 more than if you had not invested the $1000. If you add the $200 you deferred in taxes to the $1000 you have already invested, you now have $1200 growing in your investment.Another type of tax deferral used by investors is the deferment of taxes paid on interest earned. The dollars invested have already been taxed, but any interest earned is tax free.Investment VehiclesTax deferred accounts shelter your money from taxes until you begin making withdrawals in the later part of your life, when youre likely to be in a lower tax bracket. The type of investment vehicles best for you depends on your situation. One available plan is the 401 (k). This vehicle is available only through employers who offer the plan. It allows you to make...more
The United States is home to 94% of all the lawsuits in the world and 75% of the worlds attorneys. Very few of them are willing to help you get mortgage debt relief, or give you free financial advice, but many are willing to come after you for the default judgment.. Once you are served with a lawsuit, the clock starts ticking. You may be served...more
Hedging, understanding the benefits of risk management in an enterprise wide solution. Risk management and hedging is a useful tool to reduce market place liability. Here are some tips on its uses.Second of a two part articleBefore discussing the use of hedging to off-set risk, we need to understand the role and the purpose of hedging. The history...more
Understanding Market Risk and the solutions available to mitigate or eliminate financial loss in today's global market.First of a two part articleFund managers, whether they be equity or bond traders, know all too well that returns are not simply a result of their asset selection prowess. Many external factors come into play. But what are the issues facing the professional money manager. Management of risk is one of the most important, and not all fund managers analyze their market risk. This is often explained as a lack of education and a failure to understand the mitigating solutions for off-setting risk.Market risk is defined as "the unexpected financial loss following a market decline due to events out of your control." Stock or bond market volatility or market reversals can be the result of global events happening in far flung corners of the globe. Top analysts and fund managers simply do not have the resources to crystal ball gaze and predict those events.Examples of several major unexpected events that sent shock waves throughout the financial community have been:- 1982 Mexican Peso devaluation;- 1987 stock market crash known as "Black Monday";- 1989 USA Savings and Loan...more
If you are new to real estate investing, you are probably wondering where am I going to find my first real estate deal? There are actually a number of very effective methods you can use. Below I will touch on 7 different methods to find deals....more
Why do traders always talk about support and resistance levels? What do they mean and how can traders use these levels to better understand where the market is heading next?Understanding support and resistance levels can greatly assist both traders...more
Value investing is all about picking up bargains on the sharemarket.If you're an investor, with the market at such low levels, now is the time to look at adding to your longer term portfolio.If you're a short term trader, the underpriced stocks can...more
How do you turn $30,000 into a million dollars? The secret is time and the power of compounding. Here I'll run through this powerful concept which has helped Warren Buffett become one of the richest people in the world.Buffet has long been one of my...more
What is a bear market?Generally a bear market is one where the market has decreased by more than 20%.In Australian the last high point in the market was reached on 1 November 2007 and since then it's dropped 36%. So the Australian market has been in...more
If you are looking for a steady income stream from your investments then shares can be an attractive proposition. Not only do shares provide a return in the form of capital gains or losses but most shares also pay a dividend.Traditionally, high...more