Paul Savramis Talks about the Mission of Rising Stars

Paul Savramis founded Rising Stars in 1996 with one major goal in mind: to develop a yearly program that would enrich the lives of youth from a variety of backgrounds and have an impact in the way that they would develop. Today, Paul Savramis is pleased to see his original vision carried out in Rising Stars’ daily activities. The number of successful graduates who return to help with Rising Stars is a great testimony to the value of Paul Savramis’ original vision. Below, Paul Savramis answers some frequently asked questions about the mission of Rising Stars.

Q: What are the main goals of Rising Stars?

Paul Savramis: Our mission statement includes the words “education” and “values.” Overall, our mission is to utilize sports to enrich the minds of our young participants to better prepare them for the future.

Q: How do you view basketball as connected to education and values?

Paul Savramis: Athletics in general teach children the values of teamwork sportsmanship and the importance of being prepared. Many educators would agree that almost all learning is accomplished at an early age more so through play than in the classroom. What young minds are taught during that time and how is vitally important. Basketball is the vehicle by which we use play to form a foundation of learning. Almost all educational theories can be found lying somewhere on a basketball court.

Q: What is the age range of Rising Stars participants?

Paul Savramis: We introduce children to basketball as early as Kindergarten through clinics that are mostly motor learning. We begin enrolling them into the program and on to teams beginning in the third grade and continuing to the collegiate level.

Q: Why are teams so important?

Paul Savramis: Teams encourage participants to work with each other to achieve goals. One of our shirts has the word T.E.A.M on the back with a circle of hands. The words, ”Together Everyone Achieves More help us to promote the importance of working together. We don’t believe in the “each man for himself” way of thinking. Participants in Rising Stars learn to be just excited over a teammate’s success as their own. Learning to accept victory and share defeat are also important byproducts.

Q: We hear that Rising Stars is “much more than a basketball camp.” Explain the other values you emphasize.

Paul Savramis: We promote education and integrity in the hopes of encouraging youth to become productive, responsible members of society. Through basketball and the power of teams we seek to instill the values in life that children need when making important decisions and facing the many challenges that occur throughout the formative years.

Q: When you say that Rising Stars promotes education, what do you mean?

Paul Savramis: From the very beginning we stress in our students the importance of completing high school and going on to college. All of our student athletes are asked to review classes with their coaches’ and we look at progress reports and report cards together. We provide support to those that need it.We also require a commitment of community service.

Q: What if your student has dreams of exiting high school and going directly to the NBA?

Paul Savramis: We certainly don’t want to squash anyone’s dreams, but we try to use the example that even for an NBA star, an education is important. College basketball is a great place to be recruited to the NBA, if a student does well, and in the meantime that student can get a great education that will last beyond the average playing years of a professional athlete. We also utilize the NCAA and other professional organizations as partners to make that point.

Q: You’ve brought in a couple of big names to reinforce that point. Tell us about those.

Paul Savramis: In the past we were able to have some collegiate coaches speak to our groups, as well as big names like Larry Bird and Magic Johnson. It’s one thing to hear a Rising Stars coach emphasize the importance of staying in school, but when a professional player coach or other famous person is telling you, the message seems to get across a little better.

Q: Your program also encourages parents to participate. How does that work?

Paul Savramis: That is a great question. We believe that the behaviors and lessons we’re teaching can help the child at home, school, and later in life. Because of that, having the parents’ support is invaluable. We encourage families to participate in the work we do and we ask them to sign an agreement that outlines how we will work together. We also encourage a child’s role in the community. In today’s world the challenges that a child will face should never be faced alone. The true power of a team is one that utilizes all of its potential members. For us that includes parents and teachers working together with coaches

Paul Savramis is a respected program founder and basketball camp instructor who has touched many lives through his basketball camps. With a Master’s degree from Queens College in New York, Paul Savramis has an education in physical education, child psychology, and special education that gives him a unique perspective on youth sports. Paul Savramis’ successful programs include Eastern Invitational Basketball Camp and Rising Stars, two programs that continue to thrive today.

The Best Campfire Meals

When you’re enjoying the great outdoors, your favorite take-out isn’t exactly around the corner. It becomes more important than ever that you find a way to feed yourself and your loved ones. But you’re in the middle of nowhere without a stove or oven—and certainly no sign of a microwave—so the only real way to cook food is over a campfire.

There are several ways to prepare food using only a campfire as a heat source—skewer, aluminum foil, and paper sack. Below are some basic recipes for each.

Aluminum foil:

  • Wrap meal in heavy duty aluminum foil and cook over heat until done. Cooking time depends on the level of heat, as well as the type of meat used. Ingredients can include chicken, ribs, pork, potatoes, peppers, onions, and much more. Foil packet meals work better over hot coals or a small fire rather than a roaring blaze.

Paper sack:

  • Bacon and eggs are ideal for paper sack cooking. Place raw bacon in the bottom of the bag, crack an egg over the bacon, and fold the top of the bag down. Moisten the bag to keep it from burning and use a non-flammable stick like a wire hanger to hold the bag over the fire. Be sure you keep the bag far enough away to keep the flame from touching it but close enough that it gets the full force of the heat. Cooking takes about ten minutes.

Skewer:

  • This is one of the best-known campfire cooking methods and many say it’s the easiest. Marshmallows and hot dogs are the obvious choices, but sausages, potatoes, and zucchini are ideal for skewering, as well. You can even chop up pieces of poultry, pork, fish, lamb…and any other kind of meat to cook over the campfire.

Cooking around a campfire is not only a way to have great food while enjoying the great outdoors, it’s also a fun experience that can help bring everyone together. Once you’ve found your favorite way of campfire cooking, you can experiment with seasonings and new recipes to add variety to your experience.

Dr. William Knudson Answers Your Questions about High Heels

In conversations with patients, Dr. Knudson says that most women are aware high heels are not the best for foot health. Many continue to wear these shoes anyway, however, due to the perceived fashionable nature of them. And while he acknowledges that sometimes a woman may have no choice to wear heels, whether for a special event or as a requirement for a job, Dr. William Knudson still wants to remind his patients about the long-term damage sustained by wearing high-heeled shoes for excessive lengths of time.

Q: Why are heels so bad?

Dr. William Knudson: The foot has a natural shape that is distorted by the shape of a heel. Over time, this can lead to a change in the shape of the foot that causes pain even when the wearer is in flats or barefoot.

Q: Many pairs of high-heeled shoes have cramped toes. Is this bad, too?

Dr. William Knudson: Yes, absolutely. The shoe should mimic the shape of a person’s foot. Cramped toes can lead to foot problems including neuromas.

Q: What other foot problems can be caused by wearing high heels?

Dr. William Knudson: For one, bone spurs can occur as a result of wearing heels for extended periods of time. Hammertoe can also happen over time as well.

Q: Hammertoe is where the toes become permanently deformed, right?

Dr. William Knudson: With hammertoe, a person’s toe becomes bent in a particular direction but it’s not always permanent. In some cases switching to proper footwear can resolve the problem.

Q: I’ve noticed that calluses can also build up over time. Why is that?

Dr. William Knudson: Calluses and corns can form as a result of wearing heels. This can be caused by wearing improper-fitting shoes of any type, though.

Q: Heels aren’t the only cause of foot pain, right?

Dr. William Knudson: Correct. Supportive footwear in general is essential to long-term foot health. One survey found that women had a far higher instance of foot pain as they got older than men, due to wearing shoes like sandals, flip flops, and heels.

Q: Feet aren’t the only things that suffer from heels, though.

Dr. William Knudson: I see patients who also have back problems, leg problems, and ankle problems from wearing shoes with inadequate support. That doesn’t even take into account the number of injuries that occur each year as a result of someone falling in high heels.

Q: What about women who want to be stylish while still keeping their feet safe?

Dr. William Knudson: Plenty of shoes are available with proper support. The key is to research online before heading out to the store. Good quality, name brand shoes will often be of much higher quality than bargain basement discount shoes. Look for highly reviewed shoes on clearance for the best value.

 

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

Traveling to Australia

“Australia is no doubt one of the outstanding multicultural nations of the world” says Kyle Thomas Glasser. The country has hundreds of thousands of people from almost every part of the world including Britain, Africa, Asia, Europe as well as the Aboriginals. The fact that it doubles as the 6th largest country in the whole world as well as a continent by itself makes it very unique. As a student, he understands how a visit to such a country could make a positive impact on his medical career. He particularly notes that the black box flight recorder for airplanes was invented in this country.

Australia has always been referred to the home of the Aborigines something that makes him to want to travel to this beautiful country. Who in the world would not plan to go to a culture of people who were reputed for sleeping in the open and only providing campfires for warmth and never caring about building permanent shelters such as the Aborigines of Australia? Even  as a future medical doctor he would love to find out how these people survived through cold weather seasons by sleeping in the open or at best, building some dome-kind of temporal shelters.

Women have a vital history in Australia. He notes that the importance of women in any society cannot be ignored. They are the birth channel of every human life. But the women of Australia have women ancestors in whom they are very delighted about for example Judith Chisholm. Her role as a renowned female philanthropist, women rights activist and social worker is something they can boast about. This kind of information is of great priority not only to him but to other students in every part of the world.

The fact that Australia is the only country in the world without an active volcano is another factor as to why Kyle Thomas Glasser would like to visit Australia. There is sufficient evidence that there were volcanoes in Australia in the geological past evidenced by some of the volcanic rocks that can that range from over 2 billion years. Sydney harbor Bridge is one of the popular Australian historic sites that he would love to visit. Since the day it was opened in 1932 to date, it is still the widest steel bridge in the entire world. Because of his passion for music, his trip to Australia would be incomplete without making a trip to Sydney Opera House.

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

 

NASCAR Enthusiast Dan Sciscente Talks About Stock Car Science

Zrylw recently had the chance to talk to long time race fan Dan Sciscente, who says that many people are surprised to learn that physics is a key component to racing.

Zrylw: Good morning and thank you for speaking with us.

Dan Sciscente: My pleasure, I never miss the chance to talk about my favorite things.

Zrylw: We understand that one of your favorite pastimes is racing. Specifically, we hear you are fascinated by the cars themselves?

Dan Sciscente: I have always been a fan of both NASCAR and Formula 1 racing. I enjoy seeing how the machine performs and how the crew must work together to finish the race.

Zrylw: Racing isn’t a one-man show.

Dan Sciscente: Most people don’t look at it that way. People who aren’t fans see a car, a driver, and someone that changes the tires. In fact, the crew on the track is traditionally made up of six people.

Zrylw: And what about the science behind the cars? They aren’t NASCAR-ready off the line, are they?

Dan Sciscente: The cars start out like any other. Jeff Gordon drives a Chevy Impala. While these cars are known to drive pretty fast on the road, without engineers to make modifications to the body, the engine, the cooling system, the fuel system etc., his car would be no faster than any other person’s.

Zrylw: Can you tell us what the body has to do with the speed?

Dan Sciscente: Aerodynamics is everything. The body must be designed in a way that it doesn’t lift off the ground like an airplane. Engineers have to design the vehicle so that the air around it pushes it down. It’s a physics games, really; one that the driver never wants to lose.

Zrylw: Really? That’s very interesting.

Dan Sciscente: The whole idea of making cars slice through the air faster came back in 1960 when Junior Johnson discovered that if he “tailed” the driver in front, his own car moved a little faster.

Zrylw: And this led to drivers, as well as their crew, managers, and NASCAR scientists, to make cars that could handle prolonged drafting…

Dan Sciscente: It did, yes. In addition to having a smooth body to handle the extra speed, the car must also have an efficient cooling system. When the rear car is so close to the back of the draft provider, he gets very little air to his engine.

Zrylw: And no air makes an engine run hot…

Dan Sciscente: So the engineers have to come up with new ways to keep the engine, oil, and water cool. One of the simplest ways they found to have the driver rock the car side to side to let air enter one side. This buys some valuable drag time.

Zrylw: Wouldn’t that slow the car down?

Dan Sciscente: It does but when the gauges say fire, there’s not a man in the world who’d risk it for a couple of split seconds.

Zrylw: It sounds like there is really a lot more to racing than what people see on the surface. We thank you for sharing this with is today and look forward to speaking with you in the future.

Dan Sciscente: My pleasure.

Dan Sciscente is a Canadian-based PMP and software developers. He devotes much of his spare time to watching races, driving fast cars, and studying how they work.

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.