Archive for July, 2006

Series 24 Test – NASD Series 24

Monday, July 31st, 2006

Many investment brokers who aspire to operate their own firm or become a supervisor at an NASD firm will take the Series 24 Exam. This test is 150 questions long and is in multiple choice format. A passing grade of 70% is needed to pass the exam.

The test breakdowns into 5 categories:

Investment Banking

This includes corporate underwriting, securities acts of 1933 and 1934, along with NASD regulations and banking rules.

Trading Markets

This section tests on trading market basics, NYSE trading, OTC, customers confirmations and settlements.

Customer Accounts

This exam area will test the Series 24 candidate on new account form particulars, which includes individual, joint, corporate and custodial accounts. Margin rules and account information is also covered in the customer account section.

Sales Supervision

This area of the test will test on various NASD rules of conduct and procedure.

Investment Companies and Retirement Planning

Mutual funds, IRA’s and other investment company products are tested.

To take the Series 24, you must already hold a Series 7 license or a Series 62 license. Once you are approved as a principal, you can supervise sales activity of the representatives who are working underneath you. This allows you to make a percentage of the reps commissions.

Responsibilities of Series 24 Principals

With the added license and income potential, comes responsibility and possible liability. Principals must approve and sign off on all faxes and other electronic correspondence that their brokers are sending customers. Series 24 managers must also sign and approve all new account forms. Series 24 persons are open to rules violations by their employees. Any wrongdoing by a Series 7 broker who is under the supervision of a Series 24 principal can result in severe penalties to the Principal, as well as the broker.

Start your own firm or branch office

If you wish to open an office of an existing firm and have employees, you will need the Series 24. Running your own office is a dream of many brokers who have put their time in and are ready to become an independent broker. The opportunities to earn the money and have more freedom are tempting. However, there are responsibilities that come with the territory. For most, the opportunity to run an office and earn from your Series 7 sales people makes it worth it.

Pass the Series 24 exam and earn your worth.

Nick Hunter is the President of American Investment Training (AIT) aitraining.com aitraining.com. AIT provides home study courses for the Series 24 exam and they set up brokerage firm offices for qualified people.

Personal Loan – A Secured Friend In Need

Monday, July 31st, 2006

Roughly, loans can be categorised as mortgage, personal loans and commercial loans. As mortgage and commercial loans are dedicated categories with specific scope, the market share of these loans is not as big as that of the personal loan category. Let us understand the concept behind its inception and the reasons behind their mass appeal.

Actually, the term personal loans is self-explanatory – loans for personal needs. As the word personal itself is immeasurable, the loan category based on it is bound to have a vast scope. With that view, the world of credit has devised a variety of personal loan products.
Some of the most popular ones are bad credit loans, business loans, car loans, career development loans, cosmetic surgery loans, debt consolidation loans, education loans, holiday loans, homeowner loans, home improvement loans and wedding loans.

Though most of the above-mentioned personal loans products can be availed in unsecured form too, a secured deal ensures maximum benefits – subject to basic credibility parameters like UK resident, over 18 years of age, past credit history, employment status, debt to income ratio and the value of the pledged collateral.

A secured personal loan can only be obtained by pledging collateral against the loan amount. As the loaned amount remains protected, the lender facilitates the borrower with benefits like quick attention, high credit limit (normally starting from £5,000), competitive low interest rates (normally starting from 6.7%),
flexible payback methods and negotiable loan terms and conditions.

Though a secured personal loan sounds very attractive, it has certain inseparable limitations too. Firstly, it can only be availed by a homeowner or a property owner. Secondly, due to time-consuming property evaluation procedures, the overall loan application process is slow. Last but not the least, in the event of repeated defaults or non-repayment, the lender can take over the pledged collateral to recover his money.

Yet, this personal loan sub-type is a safe bet for all parties involved. It is most suitable for big monetary requirements, and is the best option for a bad credit holder and the only alternative for someone who has been denied an unsecured loan.

About The Author: The author is a business writer specializing in finance and credit products and has written authoritative articles on the finance industry. He has done his masters in business administration and is currently assisting Go4UKLoans as a finance specialist.

For more information about go4ukloans.co.uk/personalloan.html personal loan please visit: go4ukloans.co.uk go4ukloans.co.uk

Discover the Only Way You Can Get a Loan Today Without a Credit Check

Monday, July 31st, 2006

Are you short on cash and need money today? Are you looking for a way to receive some extra cash without the hassle of leaving your home and finding someone who will give you a loan? Would you like to get some extra cash without worrying about your credit being checked? If the answer is yes to any of these questions, then the answer to your problem is getting a cash advance loan. Cash Advance loans, also known as Payday Loans, are the quickest, easiest and most convenient hassle free way of getting money into your bank account right away.

Payday loans/cash advances are small short term loans made by finance companies, check cashers, and banks that are designed to give you enough money to hold you over until your next payday. Cash advance providers will give you a loan of up to $1000. By getting a cash advance you will have no problem paying off unexpected expenses.

As you sit there and read every word of this article you probably are thinking back to the times throughout your life where you needed money for an emergency or to pay a bill, but your payday was a week or so away. You would say to yourself, “Why couldn’t this situation have happened next week when I get paid?” Your credit cards were maxed out; you had already borrowed money from your friends and family for other things, so the only other option you had was to get a loan. The thing is you didn’t need a big time personal loan; you just needed a few hundred dollars to last you until your next payday. Getting a cash advance/payday loan is the only way to get through these types of situations without any frustration; and the best thing about this type of loan is that these lenders give you money without even running a credit history check.

Here’s how cash advance/payday loans work:

Usually, a borrower fills out an online application and faxes over banking information (a personal check and a bank statement), proof of income documents (paycheck stub), and some form of identification to the lender. Once the lender approves a borrower’s application (usually within an hour) the lender will electronically deposit the amount borrowed into the borrower’s checking account (The money usually posts the next day with most banks). On the borrowers due date, the amount borrowed plus the finance charge is automatically withdrawn from the borrower’s checking account. Most lenders will save your information on file so when you apply for a new loan, you will not have to fax over any documents (There are many lenders now that do not even require you to fax over documents anymore). If you are not able to pay the lender back on the due date, most lenders will allow you the opportunity to renew your loan.

What makes online cash advance providers better than the ones up the street from you?

The problem with the lenders around the corner is the inconvenience of driving to the loan office to get the check, waiting for them to finish processing someone else’s loan, then driving to your bank to deposit the check. You also need to have something of value as your collateral before they will give you a loan. Cash advance providers online are faster, more convenient, have lower fees, and your job is your collateral.

This article was written by Vernita Sherman of QVM Cash Directory. Vernita is the owner of the internet’s largest directory of online cash advance/payday loan providers found at qvmcashdirectory.com qvmcashdirectory.com

Debt Relief Settlement – When Do You Need Debt Relief Settlement?

Monday, July 31st, 2006

The great thing about credit cards is that they let you have almost anything you want with just one swipe of the plastic, or with just a few taps on your keyboard if you do your shopping online. You do not have to worry about cash, not just yet, as you go shopping. You can buy that new plasma television set you have always wanted, or that pair of Manolo Blahniks that you felt would look good on your feet, or that latest laptop computer that has all the frills that a techie would dream about at night. Shop until you drop with just your plastic.

Unfortunately, indiscriminate shopping can cause you to drop quite literally. At the end of the statement month, the bills come, bearing witness to all the shopping deeds that you have done. If you have enough cash to pay for your debts, then it is all well and good for you. But what if you do not?

We all know that personal debt can be overwhelming; we have probably gone through that situation at least once in our lives. But when does personal debt become too overwhelming for you to consider seriously the thought of going into debt relief settlement? The signs are unmistakable. You know you need to go into debt relief settlement when:

1. You start withdrawing cash from your savings and checking account in order to pay your bills without giving it serious thought. Perhaps you are too deep into panic mode to even think about balancing your checkbook.

2. You start using your credit card to spend on inane items that you do not really need just to get enough points to qualify for your credit card’s cash back feature.

3. You begin making cash advances against your credit card in order to pay your other bills, even though you know that such an action will get you deeper into debt.

4. You spend unwisely just to forget that you have bills to pay, although you are fully aware that you are starting to lack the resources to manage your finances.

5. You keep making balance transfers from one card to another.

If you display at least one of the signs listed above, you definitely need to go into a debt relief settlement. You can do this on your own by contacting your creditors, or you can have this done through a lawyer specializing in debt relief settlement s or a third-party debt relief settlement agency. The important thing is that you get it done before your debt becomes bigger and more unmanageable.

Once you go into a debt relief settlement, whether on your own or through a third party specializing in debt relief settlement, the one thing you must do is to go easy on the spending and save enough money for the settlement of your debt. Naturally, you will feel somewhat deprived because you cannot as easily buy what you want anymore as you used to. But what a relief it would feel for you once you get that debt relief settlement done.

Check these links to learn more:

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James Banks is a contributing writer to commercialdebtcounseling.com commercialdebtcounseling.com commercialdebtcounseling.com and is currently writing some special articles to guide business owners on how to manage debt and avoid bankruptcy. For Free Information on Business Debt and Debt Help Consultation, call toll-free 1-877-324-1218.

Credit Card Debt Consolidation Program To Lead You Out Of Your Debt Trap

Sunday, July 30th, 2006

If you are in serious trouble with mounting credit card debts, you need a suitable credit card debt consolidation program to help you get out of your financial predicament. There are various debt consolidation programs that are designed for different circumstances and the best way to find a program that would suit you is to get free debt consolidation help. You can browse through the Internet to find the free debt consolidation companies and ask for free online debt consolidation quote from each of them and then compare the same and choose the best one.

Credit Card Debt Consolidation Program With A Debt Consolidation Loan

When your credit card debts have surpassed all normal limits because of your reckless spending and when you are not able to meet your monthly payment obligation, you are heading straight towards bankruptcy. A credit card debt consolidation program can help you in assessing your total credit card debts and arranging for a suitable credit card debt consolidation loan. The program is designed in such a way that the consolidation loan amount covers the total amount of your debts. The most important criterion in selecting the credit card debt consolidation program is that the program should be able to arrange for a consolidation loan that has a significantly lower rate of interest than the interest rates of your credit card debts.

Once the debt consolidation loan is obtained, the credit card debt consolidation program will envisage the liquidation of the various credit card debts from the proceeds of the new loan. You would have only the debt consolidation loan and one monthly payment to take care of. Moreover since the interest rate on this loan is lower than the earlier debts, the amount of the monthly payment will also be considerably lower than the earlier payments with the obvious advantages of ease of payment as well as monthly savings which can be ploughed back to reduce the overall debt amount.

Credit Card Debt Consolidation Program With Negotiations

Another type of credit card debt consolidation program has the active involvement of the program representative who will work closely with you and your creditors. He will represent you in negotiations with your creditors and impress upon them the need to lower the interest rates of their credit card loans and to offer softer terms. The representative will point out the futility of maintaining a hard stand as this might lead to declaration of bankruptcy by the borrower in which case they would stand to lose a lot more. Even if you do not have a good credit rating, you can find a suitable program for bad credit debt consolidation.

Whichever credit card debt consolidation program you choose, it will show you the futility of reckless spending and it will help you in planning a budget based on your monthly income and the amount that you can spend without landing yourself in the debt trap again.

free-debt-consolidation-help.com/credit_card_debt_consolidation_program.html Credit card debt consolidation program is essential for those who have accumulated high credit card debts and are unable to meet their repayment obligations. Read on free-debt-consolidation-help.com Free Debt Consolidation Help to find out the various free-debt-consolidation-help.com/debt_consolidation_help.html debt consolidation help options and how debt consolidation works.

Hurricanes and Martial Arts Training

Sunday, July 30th, 2006

If you are looking for a good sport and you are worried about stoppages in your workout due to hurricanes or extreme weather perhaps martial arts might be for you. With martial arts training you can do it even in the even in a hurricane and even if you decide not to evacuate and stay.

Unlike other types of workouts with martial arts training you can do the workouts and practice your reflexes even if you’re in your own home with the power out and the water turned off. Consider some major category hurricanes when the power is out for three to four weeks and the water is turned off. If you are smart to stock up your food supplies and the water supplies in advance, you may find yourself able to accelerate your martial arts training as there is nothing to do except the training itself.

Martial arts training is also a great way to relieve stress and when practiced with meditation can provide you with more insight in life, as well as develop your defensive skills from attack. Hurricanes can indeed provide a good amount of free time to practice your martial arts training. You will have no interruptions from the telephone, television or outside intrusion while you master your martial arts training. Please consider this in 2006.

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Tips on Finding the Best Brokers for the Forex Market

Sunday, July 30th, 2006

Finding the best broker that meets your needs is an essential element to success when trading in the Forex, or foreign exchange currency, market. You will probably have a long-standing relationship with your broker, so you want to invest some time at the beginning and locate a broker that you can effectively work with. When choosing a Forex broker, there are some important guidelines to consider.

Because you will most likely be opening up a practice or a demo account, you want to find a broker that offers or includes one. In addition, you also want to see if there is a variety of training and resources available for you to access. If you are planning to use a broker primarily through the Internet, you should be able to go to their website and see what resources are available. A good broker wants long-term educated clients, and they will provide you with resources to help you succeed.

Because most of your interaction will be done online, this is a good place to start when choosing a broker. You should spend some time reading message forums, joining email groups, and becoming part of online communities about Forex. You should start to see broker referrals, and you can ask people for referrals as well. If several people have had a good experience with a broker, chances are the broker may be a good fit for you. Any type of positive reference from a prior or present client can help put you in touch with a good broker.

Another important consideration is the amount of margin the broker is willing to offer you. Margin refers to the amount of currency you are able to trade in comparison to what you have. For example, if your broker offers a 1% margin, you will be able to trade $100,000 in currency for every $10,000 you have in your account. You should try to find a broker that will offer you the most margin for your money.

The accessibility of your broker is also a key factor when selecting someone to meet Forex trading needs. You should be able to reach your broker by phone, in addition to email. Your broker should be readily available. In addition, you may want to see if there will be other brokers who can fill in if your broker is not available.

Of course, trust is probably the biggest factor when choosing a broker, which is why referrals and references are so important. Do some outside research on your broker and the company they are with before you commit to opening an account. Your broker should also be able to provide references if you ask, which can assist you in building your level of trust.

While you might have to spend some time finding the best broker for you, the time and effort will pay off. A broker who you can work with will be a main component in helping you become successful with Forex trading. If you choose well, your broker will become an advisor you can trust to help you succeed with Forex trading in the years to come.

Amy Wells is an enthusiast of

History Of The Samurai And Bodyguard Training That Became Jujutsu

Sunday, July 30th, 2006

Unarmed fighting forms have be a part of Japanese culture for many centuries. Unarmed combat is mentioned in the earliest Japanese historical records. The Japanese fighting systems we know today have their origins found in ancient Japanese battlefield combat systems. The fighting styles that fall under the general name Sengoku Jujutsu were originally not for unarmed combat as much as they were to help a lightly armored warrior defeat a heavily armed warrior. The heavily armed attacker would generally not be prepared to defend against unarmed techniques. Jujitsu training includes learning striking, body throws, sweeps, joint-locks, off-balance throws, pinning, grappling, wrestling, strangulating holds, submission holds, and even weapon skills such as with the tanto. Jujitsu training also includes defensive strategies such as evasion, blocking, blending, escaping, and maintaining balance.

During the Edo period is when the Jujitsu that we recognize today started to come into being. The Nihon Jujutsu of today is a child of Edo Jujutsu, which was less battlefield oriented and focused on dealing with unarmored opponents. One of the primary differences is the addition use of striking vital targets. This would not be of much use against an armored opponent, but it is very powerful when used against an enemy in civilian or street clothes.

One aspect of the original forms of Jujitsu training that is no longer seen much is the use of a cord to restrain or choke an attacker. While these techniques are not as relevant with today’s weapons, Tokyo police still carry a hojo cord and train with it regularly.

Truly modern Jujutsu was founded towards the end of the Tokegawa period around the year 1850. Around this time many Jujutsu schools sprung up which stressed Jujitsu training based on the Edo Jujustsu system rather than the Sengoku Jujutsu system as battlefield confrontation was no longer very relevant.

Modern Jujutsu is employed by law enforcement and militaries all around the world. It is a very effective way to restrain an attacker without using lethal force. If an opponent is not trained in Jujutsu, it is very hard for them to defend against Jujutsu’s attacks and control maneuvers. Modern Jujutsu is also very popular in the mixed martial arts sport of today, and there are also many Jujutsu specific competitions.

One of the reasons Jujutsu is so effective is that it specializes in reacting to any given situation. You do not just run striking drills and hope an opponent cannot defend against your combinations. Jujutsu allows the student to stay effective no matter where the fight goes. If the fight goes to the ground, the Jujutsu student is prepared. Jujutsu allows the student to keep control over the fight and impose his strategy upon the opponent no matter what they try to do.

Yoshi E Kundagawa is a freelance journalist. He covers the
mixed martial arts industry. For a free report on martialarts3000.com/strengthtrainingmartialarts.html jujitsu training visit his blog.

Yoshi Kundagawa is a freelance journalist covering
the martial arts world. Too much time at his computer
eating donuts reduced him to couch potato status.
He’s on a quest to recapture his youth and fitness.
You can read his blog at martialarts3000.com martialarts3000.com

Upgrading Your Financial Standing Through Refinancing After Bankruptcy

Sunday, July 30th, 2006

When you think that your finances will no longer withstand due to bankruptcy you have the option of refinancing. Refinancing is a financial condition wherein the one in debt will find somebody or a company who will pay off the existing loan.

When buying a house or a car, many people usually make use of refinancing as the most convenient way of regaining their financial status. It is indeed a big test on your part when you decide to refinance after declaring bankruptcy. The reason behind why we avail of refinancing is that we will be able to save more cash. You will be free of paying several monthly loan obligations with the idea of debt consolidation.

The next issue after making a decision of refinancing is to prepare ourselves for such a plan. We need to be educated on this. After declaring bankruptcy, you have to prepare yourself in refinancing your mortgage.

You will have to start paying on a regular basis your bills and present mortgage in order to have a better payment history. Secure a new credit card account that will contribute to your credit score.

If it is possible you could open a savings account for your cash assets. The more cash you have, the better your application to be approved. In order to earn more you may want to undertake on income generating activities like selling second hand books, clothes or toys. If you have time why not apply for a better job so as to raise more funds for your cash account.

Once you are ready for refinancing, look for lenders who are willing to pay your previous loan. Make a research on mortgage lenders and their corresponding rates. We should be careful about their quotes and rates. The best deal normally is with a slightly higher rate but with low fees. You should not be convinced about an offer which is too good to be true because it may just be capitalizing on your previous problem.

Some lenders will give you an attractive refinancing package. If you are going to refinance your mortgage, they will try to offer you a chance to cash out part of your home’s equity. I suppose that will be a very good option if you are planning some improvements in your home or you are considering the purchase of a new car. But if you are focused on improving your credit record, then it is best to keep intact the equity of your home.

Your application for a loan will be submitted on line or by mail after making a decision on what terms you selected. You should bear in mind that there is no guarantee on quotes; hence rates will always vary slightly once the approval of your application has been made. Do not worry, you still have the chance to review your loan before it will be finalized.

After completing the requirements for refinancing, you can work out some means in order to lower the interest rates by refinancing for two years so that you will rebuild your credit history. Be faithful in paying your bills and your cash reserves will be better in no time. If you are planning again for refinancing, be sure that there is an improvement of your credit score. Be sure the bankruptcy has taken care of all the accounts on your existing credit record. You will be very much qualified to apply to traditional mortgage lenders, considering the fact that you have re-built a reliable credit history.

Dean Shainin offers online bankruptcy.deans-knowledgebase.com Bankruptcy and debt advice. For more information, articles, news, tools and valuable resources on bankruptcy and debt solutions, visit this site: bankruptcy.deans-knowledgebase.com/Articles/Refinancing_After_Bankruptcy.php Refinancing After Bankruptcy

Know Your Credit Score Before Applying for an Auto Loan

Sunday, July 30th, 2006

It is important to know what your credit score is before you apply for an auto loan.

Finding out your current score ahead of time will help you determine what lenders may open a new line of credit for you and what rates you may qualify for.

To obtain your official credit score you will want to obtain a copy of your credit report from each of the three national credit bureaus – Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. Although Equifax is the most widely accessed credit bureau, lenders may get their reports from one of the other two bureaus. An error on any one of these reports could lower your score and result in you being denied credit.

Listed below is the contact information for each of the national credit bureaus:

Equifax

Equifax Credit Information Services, Inc.

P.O. Box 740241

Atlanta, GA 30374

1-888-766-0008

www.equifax.com

Experian

National Consumer Assistance Center

P.O. Box 2002

Allen, TX 75013

1-888-397-3742

www.experian.com

TransUnion LLC

Consumer Disclosure Center

P.O. Box 1000

Chester, PA 19022

1-800-888-4213

www.tuc.com

To protect your privacy and verify your identity, each bureau requires that you provide your full name, proof of current address, addresses and Zip codes for places you have lived in the past 5 years, date of birth and social security number.

If you are ever denied credit for any reason, you can get a free copy of your credit report from the national credit bureaus. Otherwise, the cost to obtain a copy of your credit report is usually around $9 but may be cheaper in some states. You will need to request your credit score separately. Experian charges an additional fee for a credit score request, with a combined $14.95 charge for both.

Once you obtain your credit score you will know how easily you can get an auto loan with good rates and terms. The closer your credit score is to 750-850, the better off you’ll be. If you credit score is in the 600 range or below you will want to find out from lenders what the range of credit scores they will accept before applying for any loans.

Finding out what range of credit scores lenders will accept may also help prevent your credit score from being reduced further. Every time a lender checks your credit score, the credit bureaus make a record of the inquiry. Too many inquiries can be seen as a sign of financial instability and your credit score could be lowered as a result.

The time you take to find out your credit score on your own, will save you time and hassle later on as you begin searching for an auto loan that is right for you.

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