Category Archives: Finance

Reverse Mortgages | TexasLending.com

TexasLending.com explains that a reverse mortgage may be a life-changing opportunity for seniors.

Although reverse mortgage products tend to get an unfair amount of negative attention, TexasLending.com believes they are a wonderful option for certain seniors. The team at TexasLending.com reports that a reverse mortgage can do several things for those who qualify:

  • Eliminate a monthly mortgage payment
  • Provide funds for living expenses
  • Offer considerable tax benefits

TexasLending.com explains that in a reverse mortgage, the subject property remains in ownership of the borrower until that time at which the loan matures or the responsible party dies, moves, or sells the home. According to TexasLending.com, seniors who do not have a need to pass their property along to their heirs are well suited for a reverse mortgage as the collateral property may be forfeited as payment upon death. For those wishing to bequeath the home, TexasLending.com points out that surviving beneficiaries are provided the option to refinance, sell for equity, or simply release the property to the lender.

According to TexasLending.com, a reverse mortgage differs in many ways from traditional financing options in that they it does not require a credit check. This, points out TexasLending.com, is because those entering into a reverse mortgage agreement are not obligated to pay a recurring amount. The amount of cash dispersed from a reverse mortgage is considered a loan advance and therefore not taxable as income.

There are restrictions to attaining a reverse mortgage. TexasLending.com says that the borrower must be 62 years of age and must live in the dwelling. As well, the mortgagee must complete a counseling program prior to entering into a reverse mortgage agreement. The subject property must also have a loan to value ratio high enough to cover any liens on the property as well as fees associated with procuring a mortgage product, explains the team at TexasLending.com.

Obtaining a reverse mortgage from TexasLending.com is easy and safe. A borrower will be directed to an approved counseling agent, who will provide detailed information about the loan, as well as the financial obligations associated with a reverse mortgage. TexasLending.com can help the senior get the most from the reverse mortgage so that they may take care of their needs.

Qualification

TexasLending.com reports there are only three requirements which must be met to apply for a reverse mortgage:

  • Age of borrower must be at least 62
  • Home must be principal place of residence
  • Subject property must be single family, less than 4 unit multi-housing, or condo with HUD approval

For more information about TexasLending.com or to speak with one of the company’s 70 on-site mortgage specialists, call 800.346.8047.


TexasLending.com
4100 Alpha Rd., Suite 400
Dallas, TX 75244
NMLS# 137773

 

Missed Fortune’s Douglas Andrew on Transferring Money Income Tax Free

Missed Fortune specializes in helping clients safely accumulate wealth with high rates of return. Founder Douglas Andrew helps Missed Fortune clients earn high returns using an approach he calls the Laser method of wealth accumulation—one that offers liquidity, safety, and a high rate of return. He also helps clients maximize tax advantages in both transferring and withdrawing funds from existing assets.

When transferring money and accumulating funds, Douglas Andrew names three common scenarios:

– Taxed as earned. Douglas Andrew says that while this is the most popular choice for many people, it is also the worst way to save and invest.
– Taxed sooner or later. Sooner would be a Roth IRA or 401K. Later would be a traditional IRA or 401K. The “later” option is for those wanting to defer the tax to a later date, when the taxpayer thinks he or she might be in a lower tax bracket, Douglas Andrew explains.
– Accumulate in an option that allows wealth to accumulate completely tax-free. With this option, the money can be accessed tax-free, says Douglas Andrew, and if the person dies, the money transfers tax-free.

However, as a financial specialist and tax strategist for 38 years, Missed Fortune’s Douglas Andrew has found one superior option that, under the current tax code, allows someone to accumulate wealth tax-free. When a person dies, the money not only transfers income tax-free under section 101(a) of the Internal Revenue Service tax code, but it increases significantly in value, according to Douglas Andrew.

This option is a maximum-funded life insurance contract. As Douglas Andrew outlines in the Missed Fortune educational materials and workshops, these insurance contracts must be structured to perform as a capital accumulation tool. However, according to Douglas Andrew, many financial advisors and even insurance agents aren’t aware of how to structure these contracts to perform this way.

In his Missed Fortune educational materials, Douglas Andrew talks about using compound interest to reduce the impact of tax on insurance contracts. Andrew cites Mayer Amschel Rothschild, named by Forbes magazine as the “founding father of international business,” as stating that one of the secrets to real wealth is compound interest in a tax-free environment.

Many people know that a dollar doubling every period for twenty periods will grow to $1,047,000. However, Douglas Andrew points out that the dollar only does that in a tax-favored environment. If that dollar were to double to two dollars, says Douglas Andrew, and a taxpayer had to pay tax on it of twenty-five percent, the gain would be reduced to $1.75 instead of double. It continues to decrease the gain each time a dollar grows, Douglas Andrew continues, and at the end of the twenty periods, instead of having $1 million, the total investment would amount to only $72,000. You could have saved more than a million, Douglas Andrew points out, and only $72,000 would remain after taxes.

Accordingly, Douglas Andrew and the team at Missed Fortune stress the benefits of putting money in an account that provides tax-fee growth and withdrawal. For more information, visit Missed Fortune online at www.missedfortune.com

Missed Fortune Cautions About the Future of Taxes

According to Missed Fortune founder Doug Andrew, tax changes over the past few decades have drastically changed the way people should plan for retirement. Now, as the Missed Fortune founder explains, there are six thresholds in place where individuals might have to pay out as much as 33%-45% of their income, when state and federal income taxes are both in place.

As Doug Andrew explains in the Missed Fortune series, the Congressional Budget Office is estimating that within the next two or three years, most middle income Americans will be paying about 29.6% more in income tax than they did just two or three years ago. The reason for this, says the founder of Missed Fortune, is twofold. Bush’s tax cuts are set to expire around the same time the tax legislation that has recently been put into place takes effect. But as Missed Fortune explains it, since the Bush tax cuts were some of the largest we’ve ever seen, it stands to reason that when they expire, they’ll be some of the largest increases we’ve ever seen.

It’s bad enough that many Americans will soon be paying out at least a third of their income to taxes, Andrew states in the Missed Fortune videos and workshops. But, according to Missed Fortune, because of the national debt and other issues many believe that one day we’ll be paying as much as half of our income to taxes. It’s even worse for those who make more than $200,000 each year. The goal, according to Missed Fortune ’s Andrew, is to eventually tax those incomes at 62.5%.

Obviously, these large taxes are out of the range of affordability for many Americans. Complicating this is the affects of inflation, says the Missed Fortune workshop leader. If the cost of living doubles in the next fifteen years, it will crunch even further into the funds that remain after a sizable chunk of a person’s income has been given over to taxes.

Andrew explains in the Missed Fortune materials that by putting your money into a tax-free vehicle, you can pull out any amount of your nest egg without paying taxes. The key, says Andrew, is to make sure it’s not deemed earned, passive, or portfolio income. According to the Missed Fortune materials, there are only three types of income that fall into a taxable income category: earned income, passive income (rents or leases), or portfolio income (interest or dividends). And Andrew emphasizes to his Missed Fortune readers and workshop attendees that IRAs and 401ks are classified under one of these three.

For four decades, Missed Fortune founder Doug Andrew has been pointing clients toward ways to realize income that is not deemed earned, passive, or portfolio income. The IRS is fully aware that the policy owners receive this income, but since it is not earned, passive, or portfolio income, it is not taxed. Doug Andrew details this further in the Missed Fortune workshops and educational materials. For more information, visit Missed Fortune online at www.missedfortune.com

Texas Lending (TexasLending.com) Offers Reverse Mortgages to Homeowners

Known to many customers as Texas Lending, mortgage banker TexasLending.com was founded in 2001 with the goal of providing affordable mortgage rates to future homeowners.

Texas Lending is fielding an increasing number of questions about reverse mortgages, with many baby boomers interested in finding ways to afford to retire. Many senior citizens have heard reverse mortgages are a great way to bring in extra money, yet come to Texas Lending with reservations.

Texas Lending knows a reverse mortgage  is a great tool for many seniors 62 or older. For the right person, it can be a way to pay off a traditional mortgage or to acquire cash for home remodeling projects, for medical bills,  for a new car, or for a trip of a lifetime. According to Texas Lending, the best thing about a reverse mortgage is that the  loan doesn’t have to be  repaid until the borrower dies or sells the house.

Reverse mortgages are ideal for those who have no intention of moving, since the loan must be paid off if the home is sold. Homes with substantial equity ( 50% or more) make the most sense under the program. The professionals at Texas Lending will confer with a homeowner to determine whether or not a reverse mortgage is the best solution.  The homeowner must also confer with a HUD approved counselor to confirm the Reverse is truly the best option

Texas Lending is quick to correct the misconception that in signing up for a reverse mortgage, all equity will revert to the lender when the homeowner dies. That is actually the last option! Upon death, the heirs decide the best course of action and often decide to sell the home to repay the debt. Any monies remaining after the debt has been repaid is paid to the heirs when the sale of the home closes. If the debt exceeds the amount of equity, the heirs will owe nothing.

According to Texas Lending, when a reverse mortgage is granted, the borrower receives money in one of many ways: a one-time lump sum, equal monthly payments for the duration of the borrower’s life, equal monthly payments for a fixed period, unscheduled payments or installments via a line of credit, a combination of lines of credit and scheduled monthly payments for the duration of the borrower’s time in the home, or for a set time period. Texas Lending works with homeowners to help them understand these options, as well as any terms that may apply to their particular situation.

For more information, visit Texas Lending online at www.TexasLending.com

TexasLending.com
4100 Alpha Rd. Suite 400
Dallas, TX 75244
NMLS# 137773

 

How Do Forex Markets Work? An FXDD primer.

FXDD’s goal is to cultivate informed traders. An understanding of how the foreign exchange market works is key for FXDD’s traders.

The foreign exchange market or Forex, as FXDD and other brokers refer to it, is the exchange of international currencies in a decentralized global trading environment. FXDD wants traders to understand the potential of trading currencies in Forex, a market where a wide range of different buyers and sellers trade around the clock, with the exception of weekends. FXDD’s traders speculate price based on economic and political characteristics and key technical levels of support that determine the relative values of different currencies.

FXDD offers tools that help traders understand the complexities of the foreign exchange market, and the market’s role in assisting international trade. FXDD can potentially help a business in the United States, for example, to import goods from Japan and pay Yen, even though that company’s income is in United States Dollars.

FXDD works with traders who, in a typical foreign exchange transaction, purchase a certain amount of one currency by paying for it using another currency. FXDD has innovated the modern foreign exchange market, which formed during the 1970s after three decades of government restrictions on foreign exchange transactions. Countries at this time transitioned to floating exchange rates from the previous exchange rate regime, which remained fixed.

FXDD understands that there is very little cross-border regulation in a landscape where trades are not cleared in a unified or central exchange, making it all the more important for traders to understand the complexities of Forex. FXDD provides support in the complex interconnected marketplaces where over-the-counter (OTC) currencies and different instruments are traded.

Like other asset classes, Forex includes some currency pairs that are more liquid than others. The most liquid currencies offered by FXDD include those from economically and politically stable countries. FXDD offers the G7 countries’ currencies for trading, which are considered very liquid.

FXDD has noted that today’s most liquid currencies, following the unification of the European currencies, include the US Dollar, the Japanese Yen, the British Pound, the Euro, and the Canadian Dollar. FXDD agrees with estimates that state these currencies comprise more than 80% of the daily foreign exchange volume.

FXDD is involved in currency trading that happens continuously during normal market hours throughout the day. FXDD support is available from the beginning of the trading day in Australia, into the trading session across Europe and North America, and as the session returns to Asia, five days a week.

Through FXDD and other similar agents, currencies are traded against one another. Clients can trade a currency pair, which is the trading product in Forex through FXDD. FXDD, and the industry in general, refers to a pair as a combination of two currencies, such as EURUSD or EUR/USD, where EUR and USD are the three-letter code of the currencies involved – Euro and US Dollar. The first currency (EUR) is the base currency that is quoted relative to the second currency (USD), called the counter currency (or quote currency).

As an example, if the price of EURUSD (EUR/USD) is 1.6325, then one unit of euro would equal 1.6325 US dollars. FXDD follows the market convention, which is to quote most exchange rates against the USD with the US dollar as the base.

FXDD and the Forex market in general involve the US Dollar in more transactions than any other currency. FXDD has witnessed a significant increase in trades involving the euro since the currency’s creation in January 1999. FXDD concedes that just how long the foreign exchange market will remain dollar-centered is open to debate.

Many clients who trade with FXDD prefer to trade in Forex because they believe that it is nearly impossible for any one person or group of investors to gain an unfair advantage. With an estimated 4 trillion dollars daily volume, FXDD agrees that fears of market manipulation can be eliminated. This feeling of fairness is a strong part of the appeal to many of FXDD’s traders who trade in Forex.

It is important to note that the factors that make Forex attractive also make it difficult to succeed.  FXDD always wants its traders to understand this fact; the Forex trader must make a profit greater than the bid ask spread in order to succeed in the long term. FXDD also wants to remind its investors of other advantages including lower commission and higher leverage, making Forex a good place for the well-trained investor who has the right support and tools in place.

Tax Tiger Celebrates a Decade of Distinction

Tax Tiger, America’s most effective tax representation company, has been helping real people face real IRS problems for 10 years. Here are just a few of their stories:

 

Mike | Sacramento

Mike contacted Tax Tiger after trying to ignore the IRS for nearly twenty years. After a series of personal events, Mike decided it was time accept accountability for the delinquency in order to move on with his life. However, Mike had nearly $100,000 in debt to the IRS. Tax Tiger was able to reduce his balance to just under $2,000. Mike says that he received encouragement and support from the Tax Tiger team that was beyond his expectations.

Vince | Arizona

Vince owed more than he cares to admit. Tax Tiger helped him reduce his total out of pocket costs to around $3,000, which he gleefully describes as “pennies on the dollar.” Today, Vince is back on track and says that when he sees an ad for rivals firms, he smiles to himself because he knows that no amount of glitzy marketing can possibly make another firm nearly as effective as Tax Tiger.

Lihn | West Virginia

Across the street or across the country, Tax Tiger is ready to pounce into action. Lihn was drowning in a vicious cycle of minimum monthly payments. It wasn’t reducing her debt. Instead, Lihn says that she was watching her balance get bigger by the month. She finally contacted Tax Tiger after deciding that there had to be a better way. Fortunately for her, there was. Tax Tiger worked feverishly and with compassion to settle her IRS problems once and for all. Lihn speaks fondly of her experience with Tax Tiger stating “I would soundly recommend Tax Tiger to anyone…”

Darryl | Texas

They say everything is bigger in Texas. According to Darryl, their tax debt seemed to take that notion to heart. They owed countless amounts to the IRS and, with his wife’s health deteriorating, they could not afford to get hit with a wage garnishment or have their home taken from them. Tax Tiger helped them free up the cash necessary to afford the medical attention that his wife needed. Now, the couple can focus on getting her well instead of trying to navigate the open ocean of IRS rules and regulation.

Tax Tiger is pleased that these and countless other clients are breathing easier thanks to their services and proudly acknowledge that the firm maintains a 99% customer satisfaction level as well as an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau. Founder Kathy Hills says that God has blessed Tax Tiger and they continue to work to honor Him, offering only ethical and honest service.

Tax Tiger | 6355 Riverside Blvd. Sacramento, CA. | 866.667.3829 | Franchise Opportunities Available

 

Steven Delarge: Albany’s Recent Economic Growth

Steven Delarge has noticed, during time spent in Albany, that living in the state capital means a strong governmental presence. In fact, according to Steven Delarge, more than a quarter of the city’s residents work for state and local government. More work in sectors that support governmental operations and employees—restaurants, law firms, and many others, Steven Delarge relates.

But even though it’s the “capital region” of New York, Steven Delarge  points out that Albany is also known as a university town. The State University of New York (SUNY) has a campus in Albany, one of more than twenty colleges and universities in Albany, Steven Delarge adds. This not only leads to campus-related jobs, but it also brings businesses to town to support the influx of students all these colleges bring.

All of these colleges have also brought technology to the town. Steven Delarge cites the nanotechnology program at SUNY as an innovator in the field. This has enticed many students to the campus, especially after Albany was a recipient of part of a government grant to build nanotechnology research centers throughout the state.

Steven Delarge notes that a deal by Tokyo Electron Ltd. sent chip manufacturing researchers to Albany and other technology researchers followed. Albany isn’t merely a technological marvel, however. Steven Delarge points out that the city is home to manufacturers of paper products, steel, cement, medical products, chemicals, and more.

In 2012, as the country gradually emerges from an economic downturn, Steven Delarge and other city businessmen are watching Albany’s economic development with great optimism. In early May, the nanoscience program at SUNY received national coverage on CBS Evening News, as the network used the jobs created by the program as an example of the recovering economy. Steven Delarge has watched, as others in Albany have, the multitude of press coverage both SUNY’s program and the nearby GlobalFoundries plant in Malta have gotten.

In a country that centers on technological innovation, Albany is working hard to stay at the top of the technology curve. Steven Delarge believes that by attracting students who will learn pioneering methodologies, the city will be prepared for a local workforce that is ahead of the rest of the country. This, says Delarge, will always have a positive impact on the local economy.

But the large governmental population cannot be ignored. Steven Delarge emphasizes that Albany will always have a large sector employed by state and local government. As such, the ability to competitively attract good employees and industry to provide support to the citizens of Albany will still be important, concludes Delarge.

Ian Woodman, Idaho Businessman, Explains How You May Be Overpaying Taxes

Ian Woodman, Idaho co-founder of Instant Tax Solutions, has seen many taxpayers struggle with the IRS. In addition to providing resolution to tax problems from simple to complex, Ian Woodman provides Idaho residents with tax assistance both leading up to and during tax season.

While overdue tax filings and past-due payments are a common challenge for the company’s clients, says Ian Woodman of Idaho based Instant Tax Solutions, the staff at ITS also sees another issue. Taxpayers who do not seek assistance during tax time end up paying more than they should, says Ian Woodman. Idaho residents who seek tax assistance from ITS often learn that there are many ways they can save money each year.

One of the biggest problems, points out Ian Woodman of Idaho based Instant Tax Solutions, is that taxpayers are so afraid of an IRS audit they don’t claim all the deductions they are owed. While it is definitely wise to err on the safe side, Ian Woodman, notes Idaho taxpayers may be actually overpaying the IRS. A qualified tax professional can help them determine what rights they have, adds Woodman.

Claiming items like a home office are legitimate if done according to tax guidelines, Ian Woodman of Idaho based Instant Tax Solutions says. If you work from home, you may be entitled to claim a portion of your home costs, including your mortgage, Woodman reports. The key is to know the tax laws and the tax professionals at Ian Woodman ’s Idaho based Instant Tax Solutions can help you decipher them.

Another way taxpayers overpay, according to Ian Woodman of Idaho, is by having too much withdrawn throughout the year. While this overpayment may be small, the amount you could be saving each year can add up over time, notes Ian Woodman. Idaho ’s Instant Tax Solutions office regularly counsels taxpayers about having less withheld throughout the year and saving or investing that money. This ensures the taxpayer gets the interest instead of the IRS, explains Ian Woodman, Idaho Instant Tax Solutions co-owner.

While not everyone has the discipline to set that money aside, as experts like Ian Woodman in Idaho have seen, it can be done. Simply change your withholding and have an automatic transfer set up with your bank each paycheck in the amount you would have been paying to the IRS.

Instant Tax Solutions was co-founded by Ian Woodman, Idaho businessman, and his business partner Byron Pedersen. Ian Woodman’s Idaho Instant Tax Solutions office helps thousands of clients each year by providing insightful tax advice.

Instant Tax Solutions’ Ratings Offers Unparalleled Service

There are several reasons why Instant Tax Solutions’ ratings are so high; in this brief interview Zrylw Blog discusses their services with the Instant tax Solutions Ratings Team.

Zrylw: Thank you for joining us today. With tax season in full swing, we are lucky to have caught you.

Instant Tax Solutions Ratings Team: We are always glad to speak about taxes; it’s what we do!

Zrylw: We understand that Instant Tax Solutions’ ratings with the BBB have remained consistently an A+ – that is quite an achievement. We want to congratulate you for that honor.

Instant Tax Solutions Ratings Team: We thank you for that. We definitely couldn’t have done it without our service team.

Zrylw: What type of agents does your firm employ?

Instant Tax Solutions Ratings Team: Only the best former IRS Auditors, Certified Public Accountants, Federally Licensed Enrolled Agents, and Legal Counsel.

Zrylw: Please tell our readers what services you provide.

Instant Tax Solutions Ratings Team: We offer Tax Resolution services; basically, when a taxpayer is behind with Uncle Sam, we help them understand why and sort through options they have for repayment.

Zrylw: There are options?

Instant Tax Solutions Ratings Team: Yes, actually, the IRS has many programs available for those who cannot file on time, cannot pay on time, or who are already behind – even if they are years past due.

Zrylw: Very interesting. We didn’t know that.

Instant Tax Solutions Ratings Team: Many good hard-working Americans don’t. The IRS isn’t just going to call everyone who is late and say, “We’ll catch you next year, when you are caught up on your personal obligations…”

Zrylw: So, what kinds of reductions are available?

Instant Tax Solutions Ratings Team: There are programs that allow for monthly payments and even reduced penalties.

Zrylw: Are all taxpayers eligible and guaranteed reduced taxes?

Instant Tax Solutions Ratings Team: No, that is a topic of discussion now among agencies like us. There have been a number of TV ads placed over the last few years that promise results – to everyone. The fact of the matter is, it isn’t possible to make those claims. The IRS has very specific guidelines, policies and safeguards in place to ensure proper use of the system.

Zrylw: That sounds very confusing. How does Instant tax Solutions keep up with it all?

Instant Tax Solutions Ratings Team: Our staff is trained and re-trained constantly. We monitor the IRS’s regulations and ensure that our representatives are up-to-date on even the smallest changes.

Zrylw: Looking at your website, we can see you are different. It says that you offer direct support, flat fees, and that you are licensed in all 50 states. Is that right?

Instant Tax Solutions Ratings Team: Yes, that is all correct. Also, as a value-added service to our clients, we offer a comprehensive evaluation of their tax situation before we accept their case or their payment. Our staff will advise if there does not appear to be an IRS program that can help, and why.

Zrylw: No wonder Instant Tax Solutions has earned such high marks from the Better Business Bureau.

Instant Tax Solutions Ratings Team: We take pride in each and every case that we present to the IRS and we are certainly honored to have the recognition of an A+ rated firm.

The Instant Tax Solutions Ratings Team, a group of the firm’s employees who specialize in rating and accessing taxpayer information, offers a no obligation, no cost consultation. The group specializes in solutions and offers services without delay, without hidden charges, and without false promises. For more information, visit them online at www.InstantTaxSolutions.com or call 888.387.4071

Steven P. Delarge on Building Standalone Finance Team

Business entrepreneur Steven P. Delarge learned quite a bit from his own experience in building a standalone finance team. The opportunity came when Steven P. Delarge was involved in the sale of the operating division of a public company. Prior to the sale, Steven P. Delarge’s division had its finances handled by the parent company, but following the sale a new finance team had to be formed.

Steven P. Delarge called upon all available resources to put his team together. To begin, Steven P. Delarge sought out other businesses in the field that had been through a similar experience. Steven P. Delarge was able to gather advice from portfolio companies who had also been sold by a parent company. These companies had also found it necessary to put together a standalone finance team, as well.

During this process, Steven P. Delarge called upon external audit partners who were invaluable in helping the company set up a finance team. Not only did they help Steven P. Delarge and the rest of the team get the financial books in order, they were able to provide the names of local recruiters who could put Steven P. Delarge in contact with local talent. This local talent, as it turned out, would be the key to building a successful standalone finance team.

Steven P. Delarge suggests businesses might find inspiration in Xerox Corporation, which deliberately made its finance team independent of all other organizations. In completely reorganizing the company’s accounting unit, CFO Lawrence Zimmerman created a process that offered measurable results, Steven P. Delarge points out. These operational results were geared specifically toward what a CFO needs to know about operations, Steven P. Delarge explains, not what the local operations manager needs. And that is exactly the way it should be, says Delarge.

As Steven P. Delarge explains, the finance team has external sources to which it answers regularly. Because of this, Steven P. Delarge believes the finance team should be accountable to itself first. A CEO may have his or her own demands for reporting, a good CEO understands that the finance team is also responsible for answering to external audits that may or may not coincide with the needs of the company, including SOX compliance, SEC requirements, and others.

By building a good standalone finance team and allowing them to independently operate to their best ability, Steven P. Delarge believes a CEO will set his team up for success. And if a finance team is successful, it reflects well on the rest of the company, concludes Delarge.