Just when most people finish with school and can stop worrying about test scores, there's a new kind of scoring that enters the picture. It's called credit scoring. And, its impact on your financial future can mean more to you than a college degree. You may never know your precise credit score, but you need to know if you're at risk!Credit Scoring ... Why It's So Important:Ever wonder how a creditor decides whether to grant you credit? For...more
In part 1, we covered the basics about credit scoring - what it is and how it is calculated. It's time to address the critical question ... What happens if you are denied credit or don't get the terms you want?The Equal Credit Opportunity Act requires that the creditor give you a notice either with the specific reasons your application was rejected, or stating that you have the right to learn the reasons if you ask within 60 days. NOTE: ...more
In virtually any business first impressions are lasting impressions. Most people have heard this statement for years, and yet some people completely ignore the first impression they are conveying to potential customers or clients. Regardless of the industry you are in image is a part of your marketing. Take the real estate industry. An often-overlooked part of marketing is the image an agent projects. This includes marketing collateral, clothing and the type of car you drive. Do you convey the image that is appropriate for your market? If you are dealing with first time buyers, does your image match the market? If you are dealing with very seasoned buyers, what is the nonverbal message you are communicating? Not that you should become something you are not, but you should be aware of the message you are conveying. Image doesn't mean you have to go into debt over it. However, it does mean to make appropriate investments. An aspect of your image is the company or corporation you work for. If you are part of a larger company remember you are part of a larger company. No matter how much you may want to do things that are outside company policy, if you are with that company then your...more
Delivering an effective presentation to 20 or to 200 people is difficult. Because listeners have better access to information since the internet became commonplace, audiences expect more content from speakers today. In addition, because of the entertainment slant of most media today, audiences want a presentation delivered with animation, humor,...more
Centuries ago great speakers often spoke two hours and more. But today when sound bytes on television news are the norm and serious problems are solved in an hour on a television drama, audiences are most interested in speakers that get their points across in a short period of time. In a speech delivered to a Women in Communication audience,...more
Let's start by taking a look at 7 key elements of an adjustable rate mortgage:1) ARM defined: While a fixed rate loan is constant and never changes throughout the life of the loan, an adjustable rate mortgage changes periodically. The interest rate of an ARM goes up and down based on whatever external index it is tied to. Add the lender's "margin" to that, and you've got the rate. Add costs to that, and you've got the APR. Other considerations include the fixed period, the adjustment date, and the adjustment interval. There are built in risk management devices such as caps, conversion clauses, rate ceilings, rate floors, periodic payment caps, and periodic rate caps. So, while fixed rate loans stay constant and are fairly straightforward, future payments on ARMS is an unknown, and they go up and down depending on a variety of variables.2) Index: An adjustable rate mortgage is tied to an external index. If you look in the financial section of the paper today, you might see a chart posted for the 1 year constant maturity treasury index, also called the CMT, otherwise known as the 1-year "T-bills". You might see a graph, showing the T-Bills rising and falling in value over...more
If that sounds like you, here's what you may be missing once the new enterprise is launched Public relations that really does something about the behaviors of those key outside audiences that most affect your new enterprise. PR that uses a...more
On Jan 1st 2005 a new online payment processor and wealth-building system will be arriving on the Internet. PayAce's CEO Pedro Dispenza kindly took time out to answer some questions about this new service. Interviewed by Bryan Small 2004 [Bryan]...more
Cell phone accessories would include antennas, batteries, cases, faceplates, holsters, holders, hands free kits and a few others. Antennas are to boost your signal and an additional battery may be a good precaution. A car charger could be a good...more
Cellular phones are used by millions of people in the United States and around the world. They are such a great device! With a cell phone, you can talk to anyone on the planet from just about anywhere! These days, cell phones provide an incredible...more
Last week, I cheated on my long-time lover Google, with my old boyfriend Yahoo. And ever since that day, I have considered becoming a bigamist.(To full understand what that crazy drivel was about read my last article about how to get your RSS feed...more
With all the excitement regarding high protein diets, one area that is often not talked about is a diet rich in protein can be a major contributor to bad breath. Actually, there are several causes of bad breath, many of which most people have given...more