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Saturday, December 20, 2008

Daytrading Mindset - Demo Vs. Live Trading

By Doug West

We have taught nearly 1,000 people how to daytrade the mini-Dow or S&P emini index. Of those traders, nearly all were able to successfully trade our simple index strategy on their demo accounts (we only know of 2 exceptions that reportedly could not even get consistent on the demo. One man claimed that every single trade he made was a loss. In my mind that would be as hard to do as to make profit on every trade).

If your day trading strategy is consistently successful on your demo account, then what is the difference when you go live? Mindset! It all boils down to that in your trading (in my opinion this is true of life in general, but you see the results immediately in trading - especially day trading).

I really hate to call what we do as index traders, day trading. That is only because of the negative connotation the term brings to mind. Stock trading is what most people think of when they hear the term day trading. Regardless of what type of trader you are, you will have to come to terms with the fact that each trade depends on YOU. What frame of mind you are in at the time you place those trades will have a HUGE impact on how many of those trades are successful.

Most traders think that it all boils down to the technical and/or fundamental analysis of the markets. This is where they spend all their time and money, but they never get around to working on the mindset. They feel the real key is in becoming a great market analyst. However, the world is FULL of good market analyst (just watch CNBC or Bloomberg for examples) who are not able to trade. They too didn't have the right mindset and had to take jobs instead.

So what is the right mindset for a trader (or day trader)? That would take volumes of articles to answer. A good start is to read Mark Douglas' book "Trading In The Zone". Don't end your mindset training there, but it is a good start.

Another good exercise is to keep a traders diary. Write down what you were thinking and how you were feeling as you made your trade. Do this immediately after the trade so that you can be as accurate as possible. Do this on winning trades and on unsuccessful ones too. You should notice that on your winning trades everything felt easy and sure. Once you notice the difference, don't enter trades unless your mind is in the correct frame!

It's amazing how the human mind is able to pick up on the overall mood of the market. Douglas calls this being "In The Zone". We have always referred to it as getting a "Market Feel". Some traders have felt that it was impossible, while others gain that market feel advantage rather quickly. The difference is always in the mindset of the person. Some people are naturally much more in tune with their emotions, and they don't let them effect their mind while trading.

Many traders get hung up in all the technical tools that are available today. They reason that if they can just add the right tools, they will become successful traders. After working with hundreds of traders over the years, I can tell you for certain that you will NEVER be successful unless you have the right mindset.

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Personal Finance Troubles? Consider Debt Negotiation

By Dillon Azungen

Are you drowning in debt and considering debt negotiation? Debt negotiation has a bad connotation but does it affect your credit that badly? There are pros and cons to debt negotiation and there are alternatives. Here are some things to consider which will help you decide if debt negotiation is right for you.

First, you need to educate yourself on debt negotiation since there is a lot of misinformation out there. Debt negotiation is also known as debt arbitration or debt settlement. A third party negotiates with creditors and lenders on a payment plan and decreased interest. The creditors will put further credit to you on hold so you won't be able to use your credit cards until after your debt is repaid. After that, it is up to the creditor to decide if you should regain credit approval and if so, how high of a limit.

Lenders will usually only lower your rates and give you a break on fees if there is a reason. If they can be shown you're personal finances are not in a position to make the agreed upon payments then they will usually negotiate. They would prefer to negotiate rather than turn your account over to a collection agency.

Some people think that your credit report is unaffected by debt negotiation. This is not the case however. Your negotiation is reported and shows as such on a report. This is why debt negotiation should be used only if you can't otherwise pay off your bills. If you're finding yourself paying your lenders late and incurring fees then this will hurt your credit rating more than negotiation. And if you end up declaring bankruptcy then this can be even worse.

Before debt negotiation you should first find help with your budgeting and learn about other options by seeking a credit counseling service. A credit counselor can give you the information you need to help reduce your payments and get your finances back on track. They will tell you what will affect your credit rating, what will not and recommend what steps you should take. They can also help you with credit consolidation.

To find a credit counseling service search the internet or the yellow pages. Be careful since there are some that are not as helpful or legitimate as others. There are some that are supported by the government which are legitimate and should be researched first. A legitimate service will usually have a free consultation face-to-face and will be upfront about their services and fees. Don't sign anything until you are comfortable with their terms.

Don't think that since debt negotiation will tarnish your credit report that you should give up and let your account go to collection agencies. Ignoring the problem will make things much worse.

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Free Credit Repair Service - It Does Exist And Where?

By William Blake

Free credit repair services defy the notion that nothing in life is free. It is possible to find credit repair service that offer their services free of charge. There are not many of them and to work for you they require that you meet certain guidelines that they have established. To locate a free credit repair service is not an easy task. It will take some searching, but they do exist.

Sometimes if you luck out, you may come across someone that is just learning how to start a credit repair service and they are able to help you at no cost. This type of free credit repair service helps not only the customer but also the person trying to get their feet wet in the business.

While your changes of finding someone like this may be slim, it is certainly something that can happen and something that you should always keep an eye out for. You can always ask around to see if anyone would be willing to help you in order to gain experience.

Another Option

If you have a business or service that you can provide maybe you can barter for the services of a credit repair company. Put an ad in the newspaper or advertise on line to see if anyone would be willing to provide credit repair service in exchange for your services.

There may be someone out there that can offer you free credit repair services as a trade for you teaching them how to sew or play guitar. When you open your imagination then there is no telling what can happen and how quickly your can find yourself the help that you are in need of.

A great place to start is with close friends and relatives. If someone in your family has previously or is currently working for a company that offers the service of credit repair they may have learned a few things on the job that will enable them to be of help to you. Ask them if they would be willing to give it a try. You may be able to really benefit from their experience and knowledge.

If there is no one who has a job related to credit repair maybe there is someone who has needed such a service in the past. Through their personal experience they may have acquired sufficient knowledge to be able to work with you to repair your credit. They can teach you what they know and down the road you may have the opportunity to do the same for another person who finds himself in a similar situation.

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What To Consider Before Consolidating Your Debt

By Glen Stroude

Before choosing to consolidate your debt to manage your finances, first understand what advantages it provides. Its benefits result from how the method works, and does not necessarily applies to every debt situation. Consider what it offers and how it can improve your financial situation.

By consolidation your debt, all your debt will be channeled through a single creditor, who will be a credit counseling firm. The creditor will become the sole party that you deal with, instead of the many individual creditors that you had before. You will only have to pay a monthly payment off your debt each time to the credit firm.

The two situations do not seem to differ by much, so what are the benefits provided through debt consolidation?

Firstly, you only need to make a single payment off your total debt each month. This is easier to manage for most people, as different payments each month can be extremely stressful. Late payments and undesired phone calls from creditors chasing their debt could be a thing of the past.

There is also an attractive proposition offered by credit counseling firms. They often provide lower interest rates for customers willing to consolidate their debt through them. If your own research shows that these rates will lower your overall debt, the method should be given due consideration.

With the lower interest rate comes periodic payments which could be significantly lower. This could result in a lengthier process of clearing one's debt, but it also provides extra money each month that can provide for other needs, such as bills and necessities.

An important benefit from consolidating your debt is the instant positive effect it has on your credit rating. Your debt exposure is considered to have lessened. Risk is therefore reduced considerably, providing improvements in credit scores. There are other advantages from this, such as giving you access to loans in the future that might be required.

If the above benefits can improve your current financial situation, consolidating your debt should be given due consideration. One should also not forget about managing personal finances properly and conscientiously. Debt consolidation will be just one of many ways to achieve that, and a useful one at that.

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How To Choose Which Debts To Pay Off First

By Ian Pelham

Prioritizing Debt

It is quite likely that if you are experiencing debt problems then you are finding it increasingly difficult to keep up with your monthly debt repayments. Your income can only go so far and only some of your expenses can be reduced.

In this situation you have no option but to delay, or not pay some of your monthly debt repayments as become due. There are hard choices to make about which bills you should pay first. This is especially difficult when you risk things such as your home, utilities, car and even your personal possessions.

Following the rules in this chapter may make the difference between keeping or losing important property.

Do Not Take On More Debt To Pay Off Old Debt.

A short-term fix can lead to long-term problems.

It is tempting to take on more debt to pay off old debts instead of delaying or getting rid of certain debt repayments. Usually this is the wrong choice. Deciding when you should and shouldn't take on new loans is discussed in a later article.

The main thing to do with too much debt is to decide which debts should be paid first, which you can refuse to pay, and which you can delay for a period of time.

The creditor who makes the most noise most often is not necessarily the creditor you should pay back the first. Many times these creditors make as much noise as possible to intimidate you since they have no other way to reclaim their money.

The creditors to be the most concerned about are those who quickly take action against your home, car, utility service or any other vital assets you may have.

Pay off creditors who can take the quickest action to hurt you, not those who yell the loudest and call the most often.

Your available resources should be used for the things most needed for your family - usually food, clothing, home and gas & electricity.

Unfortunately there is no magic list of the order in which these debts should be paid. Everyone's situation will be different. The rules in this article should be used as a guide as you make these critical decisions.

Debts with collateral are top priorities.

There is one thing you should bear in mind when deciding which debts to default on and which ones to make a priority to pay, and that is the idea of 'collateral'.

Collateral is defined as a physical object stipulated as being used as an object of value which will be recovered in the case where non-payment of a loan takes place, usually your home (mortgage) or car (car finance).

A creditor may also have collateral in your household goods, business property, bank account, or even wages. Collateral can take many forms. When a creditor has taken collateral for your loan, it has a "lien" on your property.

Determine which of your debts are 'secured' and which are 'unsecured'.

It is very nearly always the best policy to pay off your secured debts first. Creditors with collateral are secure in the knowledge that they can take the collateral from you and sell it to get their money back. That is why they are called 'secured creditors'.

Creditors without collateral are often referred to as "unsecured." It is usually hard for unsecured creditors to collect what they are owed unless you pay voluntarily.

The notion that 'secured debts' are the ones most vital to pay is a fairly simple one. The problem arises when you have a constant stream of debt collectors harassing you to pay unsecured debt, often distracting you from keeping the 'secured debt first' rule in mind.

It is extremely important to remember this concept as you make decisions about your financial future.

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Credit Repair Help - Here Are Steps You Can Take Right Now!

By Mark Alison

People are in debt. Living in this world with bad credit can be difficult. It's hard to repair your credit and it makes life difficult to have bad credit when you are making those large purchases.

Getting your credit fixed takes time and effort. It's a simple process and it can be done. Patience is the key. Keep a reign on spending and follow some rules and your credit will be back in good standing.

First thing to do, must do is create a budget. This will allow you to know how much money each month you can spend on your debts. It's best if you document for one month your spending habits. You never know how much you spend eating out and buying fancy coffees.

First, get a credit report. The three major credit agencies are Equifax, Experian, and Trans Union. This will help to see what you owe and who you owe it to. There are plenty of online website that can help you with this.

Contacting the creditors is the next step. You need to speak to them to offer a payment plan. They will be willing to work with you because they want the money owed to them. If you offer to pay off the full balance and settle right then and there, usually they will give you a discount and ask you only pay the principal. Any agreements should be mailed to you in writing.

Now you need to close out and pay your credit card debts. Destroy the cards and start paying them off. The best idea is to close all the accounts you have except your three oldest ones. You see, credit scores are based on the account history as well as other factors. Even if these lines of credit are opened, you don't need to use them unless it's an emergency.

It seems simple, but pay the bills on time. This will be the best thing for your credit. The collections and creditors are willing to work with you and understand the situations you may be in. Any payment for the month is good, if you cant afford your full payment, you can still give them a good faith payment of as much as you can afford. This will at least show you attempting to work with the creditors.

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3 Tips for Locating a Consumer Credit Counseling Service

By Steve Collins

Selecting a consumer credit counseling service seems like a fairly straightforward task. However, with the field growing by leaps and bounds, it is in your best interest to take some time and follow a few tips to make sure that the consumer credit counseling service you choose is reputable and offers the best services.

One recent and regrettable trend in the industry has been a steady rise in the numbers of consumer complaints lodged with various reporting agencies and watchdog groups that keep an eye on the consumer credit counseling service industry. Sadly, whenever an industry sees real growth year after year, the temptation of easy money invites disreputable players who, provide poor service and even actively work to cheat customers. It is particularly upsetting when the business caters to people who are already facing grave financial problems.

One of the best tips when searching for a credit counseling agency is to pass over any consumer credit counseling service that has not been in business at least 8-10 years. An extensive track record in the consumer credit counseling service industry usually indicates a business that is run professionally and that provides good services for the fees they charge.

A second tip is to verify the professional accreditation of each consumer credit counseling service you're considering. Look for agencies that have been formally accredited by either (or both) the Council on Accreditation (COA) or the International Standards Organization (ISO). Note: always make sure that the consumer credit counseling service you choose has a current accreditation with these organizations! Some will have been accredited in the past, but may be operating now on a expired certificate.

Finally, due diligence requires verifying with the Better Business Bureau and your State's Attorney General's Office for complaints against the agency. You might be astonished by what you uncover with these simple checks. Many disreputable credit counseling agencies remain in business, even after many complaints have been lodged against them. Take the time to check each one out thoroughly before choosing one and paying them for their services.

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Watch the BIG Board - Mini Dow Tip

By Doug West

We are often asked why so many of our index trading students are now trading the Mini-Dow successfully and not the S&P Emini. While any index will do, we especially like the mini-Dow.

Because of the faster movement of the Dow versus the S&P 500, the mini-Dow more closely follows it's big board parent.

So if it is just a matter of speed, then the mini-Russell would be even better right? Not exactly. The problem with the Russell is the low volume. This will no doubt change in the future. The mini-Dow had too low a volume for our money just a couple years ago, but that has now changed.

One more reason why we prefer the Mini-Dow is that we like no-cost tools, and it is much easier to find a reliable Dow chart. In fact there are many online that work just fine.

No matter which Index you prefer, we feel it is an advantage to watch the big board chart, and not the mini chart. We also prefer the 5 minute time frame.

Many traders watch both, which is what I did years ago before deciding to focus on the big board. Here's why. I found that I would not move on what the mini chart was telling me unless I confirmed it with the big board. A popular confirmation among traders. It finally hit me that if I would not make a trade without confirming it with the big board, then why did I need the mini chart at all?

When I dropped the mini chart and focused on the big board movement, my trading improved. I have sinced confirmed this strategy with Hundreds of my students and other traders. Just recently, one of my students who moved on to using the mini-chart (a paid service I might add), came back to our style and is now focusing on the no-cost big board chart we use. He also confirmed that his trading improved, and he now sees why we focus on the big board.

The mini chart (even in the 5 min time frame) is like trading with a 1 minute chart. There are too many head fake moves that get you in a trade before it has fully developed. The big board averages some of those moves out for you. It keeps you on the sidelines when you should be. Sure, you might not get in as early on some runs, but in the long term it will save you!

It is difficult to catch any move from top to bottom or vice-versa, but by watching the big board you can fairly easily get a nice chunk out of the middle (or many chunks with our BIG MONEY small trades strategy). A few nice chunks a week will keep you from needing a bail out plan!

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Be Careful of the Reverse Mortgage Info Messenger

By Xerine Raziel

A realtor called me the other day. I was marketing the new reverse mortgage purchase money available after the first of the year.

She was sincerely interested in the program, but first decided to vent with an amazing story of pain, agony and just downright horror relating to the reverse mortgage.

First things first... The rule is you must complete this article. You can't just read what happened and then stop before I can explain. We can't have you running about telling everyone else how horrible the reverse mortgage is.

The real estate agent had a friend, who had a friend, who had a father (Strange how rumours get started) who obtained a reverse mortgage on his home. The father passed away and the house willed to the FOAFOAR (which is much easier than saying Friend Of A Friend Of A Real estate agent)

It's a bit of a rareity but the home was valued less than the mortgage amount. It can happen with drastically falling values. Naturally, when her father passed away the mortgage company called the entire note due.

The property eventually sold to repay a portion of the money owed the lender. The lender forced the FOAFOAR to pay the remaining balance of forty-thousand-dollars.

Did this happen? I seriously doubt it. The reason is reverse mortgages are known as non-recourse loans. This means in the circumstance of the FOAFOAR the mortgage company cannot come after the heirs for the difference.

In the circumstance of a deficiency or negative equity the borrower or estate conduct the sale of the property as follows....

A realtor will be hired to market the property at a fair market value. Yes, the bank will want to know this and will check comparable sold properties to be sure. The house will sell, and the bank will be repaid the sale price minus closing costs.

Per FHA rules this net amount is what the reverse mortgage lender can get from the borrower or heirs. It can't get the remaining balance, if one exists. It's not a great deal for the lender. It must write off the difference as a loss.

A bunch of folklore is flying about concerning the reverse mortgage. You may have a financial obstacle in need of an answer. The reverse mortgage may or may not be a great tool for you. Make sure you have real facts at your disposal before making a decision.

When You Become a Victim of Identity Theft

By Landon McGehee

Immediately upon becoming aware that your identity has likely been stolen, it's easy to begin to panic. This is the wrong reaction and should be repressed. Calm yourself down and consider your options. You'll need a clear head to minimize the damage done to your finances and credit. Here are the steps to take, one at a time, to stop the theft from getting out of hand:

First, contact your local police department to report the crime. Give them all the information you can. They will likely refer you to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to continue your report. File with both of those agencies as well. This allows the police on a local level to look into the matter while coordinating with the federal authorities. The FBI and FTC will likely want your local police's case number, which you should have received when you first reported to them.

In addition, reporting to the FTC (or their Consumer Alert website) will alert the three credit bureaus and put a Fraud Alert on your reports, which means that no new credit cards or other lines of credit can be obtained on your account for three months. Fraud Alerts are non-specific, however, and merely note to creditors that something illegal has happened involving your credit-whether that illegal activity otherwise involved you or not is left up to question. This is not a total blockade either and still allows a thief to use your existing credit.

Often the FTC requests that you change the passwords and access information for your accounts, but leave them open so they can monitor for thieves. While this seems like a good idea and it will help them catch the thief, it also leaves your accounts open to more fraud that you may or may not get reimbursed for. Most people opt to close their accounts and open new ones instead. It is your choice to do so and you are not required to cooperate with the FTC's investigation.

Now that you've gotten your financial life started back towards normal, it's time to get the rest of your identity secured as well. Contact the Department of Motor Vehicles for your state and request a new driver's license number, explaining the situation. Usually they will be happy to do this without any questions if you can present your original license and other proofs of your identity. Contact the Social Security Administration for the same purpose, to change your Social Security Number. This is trickier and often takes much more time, but it can also be done and is a good step towards renewing your broken life.

Now be prepared for a real battle to restore your identity, finances and life. Often, victims of identity theft find themselves battling for years over issues on their credit reports, bank accounts, and more.

Since identity theft continues to go on the rise as thieves utilize new technologies, the World Wide Web, and other techniques to find new victims, government and law enforcement have little chance of stopping the phenomenon. Repairing the effects of identity theft is difficult as well. It's up to individuals to take charge of their private information, be it their personal information or their bad credit history - and keep it safe from thieves, so that they will pass you by looking for easier targets. This includes family and friends as often, victims of identity theft find out that it's those closest to them that are doing the crime.

So take charge of your life and, if you find yourself a victim of identity theft, don't panic.

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Cash In On Bailout

By Doug West

President Bush has been on the TV a lot lately. Too late for him to go down in history as a good president, but we will give him credit for trying. The Pres. has assured us all that we can grow our economy by spending more money. He even sent us each a few hundred to help us do that. One has to wonder if that was a set up for what was to come.

Next came the BIG bailouts for the banks and boys on Wall Street. Hey, where do we apply for some of that 700 Billion dollar pie? Well, don't hold your breath on that one (in a moment we will show you how to cash in on the bail out actions with simple mini-dow index trading)!

Let's see, if you are already in debt up to your ears - like the US government is, how is sending out free money going to stimulate the economy? And, how is that going to help the US government?

OH, don't forget our friends over at the FED. The Reserve! The agency that is owned by the bankers. That masquerades around like they are part of the government. What many folks still don't know is that they all pulled a fast one on us by sticking that word Federal in front of their name. The same thing the guy at Federal Express did when starting his company.

Frederick W. Smith founded FedEx. I clearly remember years ago when he was on 60 Minutes, he said that by the time folks figured out that he was not part of the government his company was already well on it's way to success! Can't blame his reasoning? What a PLAN! IT WORKED for the FED why not FedEx too?

Let's quote right from the FedEx web site:

"Federal Express was so-named due to the patriotic meaning associated with the word "Federal," which suggested an interest in nationwide economic activity. At that time, Smith hoped to obtain a contract with the Federal Reserve Bank and, although the proposal was denied, he believed the name was a particularly good one for attracting public attention and maintaining name recognition."

I'm sure Smith did want a relationship with the Federal Reserve - who wouldn't! These guys have the legalized right to print money! Think about it. It does not matter if it is a $1 bill or a $100 bill, it cost them about the same to make it (a few cents each). Then they "LOAN" that money at full face value to the US government. Full face value PLUS INTEREST! So now you know where the national debt comes from. We now owe that money - Plus Interest - to the FED. A private corporation controlled by international bankers.

So if you are thinking that Bush's plan to grow the economy by handing out $100 bills won't cost anything - Think Again! Where is that money going to come from? That's right - the good ol boys at the FED. These mystical folks seem to be able to pull money out of thin air! Just think, with today's high-tech world, the FED can just punch a button on a computer somewhere and release new funds to the world. Most of which never represents new bills being printed, but just credit in some bank or financial institutions account. Electronic numbers moving through nanoseconds of time and space.

Not only does the FED create money, they also have the ability to set their own interest rate!

- The Fed's Open Market Committee (FOMC), announces their interest rate decisions. This is NOT the interest rate that you and I can get money for, (why don't we all meet at the Fed Discount Window - wherever that is) but what the BIG boys who keep the whole world flowing receive. They in turn pump up the volume and pass the savings on to you and me right - WRONG! It could take weeks or even MONTHS after a cut to see any savings at the consumer level. So why do the markets get so active after an FOMC announcement?

The BIG boys are the ones who really move the market right (and they CAN line up at the FED window for a bailout). We just want a small slice of it. That's all. Remember that when you are trading (or practicing the FED move trade -after an FOMC announcement).

So how do you cash in on the bailouts without getting a slice of the pie? Index trading! With all these bailout moves, the FED buying stock and giving away billions of dollars, it has caused some GREAT moves in the market. Not so good for stock traders, but Wonderful for those of us that just trade and follow the overall index.

No matter what happens, we can all do well with Simple Mini-Dow Index Trading. I look for GREAT times ahead for Index traders. We might have to pay more for the things we need, (because of the FED printing out bailout money like candy these days) but at least we can stay home and earn the money to get them!

Remember those FOMC announcements mentioned earlier? Many times after an announcement, the market moves and moves BIG. Much like the market moves we have all been seeing here lately with the bailout manipulation of the markets. The FED won't give you a partnership deal like FedEx was looking for, but you can capitalize on their dealings.

You may not be able to get in line for a bailout, but you can stick your hand in the market and cash in on the Wild moves we are now seeing in the FED manipulated market. Just follow an index and stay away from stock!

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?Starting a Credit Repair Businesses

By William Blake

These are difficult financial times that we are caught in. Many people are without work and lenders are not extending credit as readily these days. These circumstances are making credit repair a necessity for many and credit repair business a good business to be in.

The current situation means that the number of people looking to improve the credit will be on the rise. Good business sense will tell you that this is a good time to take advantage of the circumstances and start up a business that will fill this growing need.

A Head for Business

It pays to have some experience in doing business from home and if you have tasted success at any kind of home business then opening your own credit repair business makes a lot of sense.

Or maybe you have some personal experience with credit repair. If you have experienced credit problems in the past and have successfully worked through them you probably learned a lot about reading credit scores, correcting errors on your credit report or creating and sticking with a payment plan. The knowledge you have gained will be a great benefit to you and help you be more successful.

In order to succeed after having opened up your own credit repair business you need to first of all have a detailed plan in place. It is crucial for the success of your business that you understand the market for such line of business in very fine detail and once you are absolutely clear about what opening your own credit repair business means; only then should you proceed further.

One of the first things you need to do is count the cost to see what type of investment you will need to make to get your business started. Also you need to check out your competition, know who else in your area is in the same line of work. Then educate yourself on what services your business will need to provide and how to go about that.

One you've started pulling your business together you need to start thinking about drawing in customers. It might be helpful to check your local newspapers for foreclosure and bankruptcy listings to see if you can create of list of potential customers.

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