BitClub Network Offers Simple Way to Earn in a Booming Crypto Currency Market

The Internet has become a priority of people for almost everything. No matter if you are talking about home business, entertainment, news or information, the internet plays a very important role in all of it. And bitcoin, a relatively new digital currency, has made conducting business online even easier. There are millions of people using bitcoin, availing its advantages, and one can do their own research to understand how and why bitcoin and bitcoin mining has become so popular. And if you wish to be a part of the digital crypto currency market, then you would need to first understand where it all starts. mining for digital currency.

There are many individuals and businesses around the world that see a bright future for crypto currencies and they are not shy about announcing the great advantages of their trust.  The future of bitcoin digital currency is very bright and one just needs to look to the press to understand it’s not just hype. As you begin to explore the world of digital currencies and the opportunity they offer, you see how beneficial it would be for one to get involved with BitClub Network (BCN). In fact, getting involved with BCN will open one up to many future opportunities to make money from home.

With BCN everything is automated using specialized software to solve difficult math problems, allowing a certain number of Bitcoins to be issued in exchange. US Dollar Bitcoin prices differ from day-to-day and as of this writing, current high is pegged at $280.00. Predictions for this digital currency are currently positive. Some financial experts say that Facebook may adopt it to enable remittance, plus peer-to-peer money transfers (with no middle man) will skyrocket.

Experts have also predicted that every e-commerce point-of-sale will soon accept Bitcoin. Microsoft now accepts Bitcoin and major money remittance companies such as MoneyGram and Western Union could be forced to possibly close shop while exchange highs may soon be over the $1000 level in just a span of a couple years.

BitClub Network may be the company to bring new and passive income options to the doorstep of millions of people worldwide. The fact is, it is quite likely that in the future, all the e-commerce websites will soon accept digital currency like bitcoin, fueling new innovative micropayment-based methods for clients to use in commerce. And due to its popularity, the price of bitcoin may drastically increase in the future. If you want to avail the future advantages of bitcoin, then get involved with BCN today!  No need to stay away from such a big profit possibility any longer. BitClub Network  will give you a simple way to earn while riding the tidal wave with bitcoin and bitcoin mining.  Get started today and make your future bright with BitClub Network!

More info found at www.manifestyourfortune.com

Important Tips for Consumers Considering Debt Settlement Services

A Florida based law firm practicing in class actions, business disputes, personal injuries and consumer debt, shares important information for consumers considering debt settlement services, including tips to avoid scams.

According to the law firm, the Federal Trade Commission passed a law in 2010 that amended the Telesales Rule, effectively banning advance fees on debt reduction services. Consumers must be aware going in that debt settlement companies are not allowed to charge fees in advance for settling debt until they have successfully settled at least one credit account. The law firm points out there are still many companies that fail to comply with this law, often because they know they won't actually succeed and want to be paid anyway.

Wites & Kapetan also points out that many consumers fail to understand that they may be sued by their creditors after signing up for debt settlement. Consumers who sign up for a debt reduction plan are typically instructed to stop paying bills to build up a lump sum of money for a settlement offer while also gaining leverage. Unfortunately, this gives creditors the right to sue in civil court for defaulting on the loan. Non-attorney debt settlement companies cannot represent their clients in court or offer legal advice, and most will drop any client who is facing a lawsuit.

Wites & Kapetan also urges consumers to first make sure their debt isn't already past the statute of limitations in their state before ever attempting to settle. In most states, there are laws stating creditors have a specific amount of time to collect the debt or lose their right to do so. Still, creditors will not turn down the opportunity to "settle" a debt they know is past the statute.

Finally, the law firm reminds consumers that debt settlement may not even be in their best interest. Bankruptcy may be a better option, depending on the type of debts of the balance, as individuals facing a massive amount of debt that won't be made more affordable with a settlement may only be digging themselves into more trouble by signing up for debt reduction services.

The firm specializes in negotiating pre-litigation resolutions of consumer debt disputes and has successfully obtained recoveries for and defended consumers in credit card disputes and consumer debts, including representing clients in court if they have been sued by a creditor. Wites & Kapetan also provides bankruptcy counseling and filing for consumers best served by filing for bankruptcy protection.

When is Debt Settlement a Good Idea?

Debt settlement services are certainly not for everyone, and the industry is still very unregulated, but it is worth considering in some cases. If you decide to turn to debt reduction services, make sure you exercise extreme caution and do your homework before working with a company, or even a debt settlement attorney, to avoid being taken advantage of.

Settlement allows you to pay less than your balance by negotiating with your creditors for a smaller amount to satisfy the total debt. While this may sound like a great solution to help you overcome a mountain of debt, there are serious consequences. Debt settlement companies appeal to consumers who are very troubled by debt but wish to avoid bankruptcy at all costs - and all costs is right. Not only is this service very expensive, it will also do serious damage to your credit.

Potential dangers of debt settlement include:

• Fraud: There are some companies who offer debt settlement services who are no more than fly-by-night scams, taking huge upfront (and illegal!) upfront fees and disappearing. Other debt settlement companies are simply too inexperienced to effectively negotiate a deal, or even bother. Either way, your money is wasted at a time when you cannot afford the loss.

• Damage to your credit: Debt settlement companies will require you to stop paying your bills to build up a lump sum for settling, and to get leverage, but this comes at a cost. Your credit will be tanked, and the higher your score to begin with, the harder the hit. Successfully settling debts also hurts your credit.

• Lawsuits and wage garnishment: Creditors will often escalate their actions against you when you obtain debt reduction services from a company. This means they are quick to file a lawsuit when you default, which can lead to a lien against your property and wage garnishment. In many cases, creditors will immediately take legal action when they find out you're working with debt settlement companies.

• No regulation: The federal government does not regulate debt settlement companies and the few rules they have in place are largely ignored. Proceed at your own caution.

• Taxes on forgiven debt: The IRS will usually consider the difference between what you owe and what you settle for as taxable income. This means you may owe about $2,500 in taxes for every $10,000 that's forgiven.

• Cost. Debt settlement is very expensive, and some companies will charge 14-18% of the total balance that you want settled, while some will want a huge percentage of the amount they successfully settle.

• Time involved: Finally, debt settlement is not a fast process and the average debt settlement process is longer than two years.

When Does it Make Sense?

So, when does attempting to settle your debt actually make sense? If you can afford your debt but only if the amount is reduced, attempting to settle may be a good option. In general, settlements should be used if you can't qualify for Chapter 7 bankruptcy (or cannot afford to do so because of your job), if you accept that your credit will take a big hit and you understand that you may be on the hook for paying a lot in taxes and fees.

If you're thinking about turning to debt settlement, consider working with a debt settlement attorney versus a non-attorney company as they can represent you in court if your creditors sue you, and they will offer better leverage in dealing with your creditors.

Warning Signs of a Debt Settlement Scam

With millions of Americans facing hard times and unbearable amounts of debt, it comes as no surprise that debt settlement companies are everywhere, advertising that they can settle debt for pennies on the dollar, stop creditor calls and preserve your credit. Unfortunately, most of these companies make unreasonable or even illegal claims, and you can get yourself into even greater trouble by signing up for their services, left in the end with an even greater amount of debt and thousands gone in fees.

Before you consider debt reduction services, make sure you know the following warning signs of a scam. 

1. They claim they can dramatically reduce your debt

This is the primary claim associated with debt reduction services, of course, but it's a serious red flag if a debt settlement company claims they can and will do so. It's true that some of your creditors may be willing to reduce your balance, but this is an unrealistic claim and they cannot make any sort of guarantee.

2. They claim they will stop collection calls and prevent legal action

Be aware that debt settlement companies have absolutely no control over the debt collection practices of your creditors. This means they cannot stop collection calls, and they absolutely cannot prevent legal action against you. Unfortunately, many creditors are known to become more aggressive, not less, when they find out you are working with one of these companies. That means collections will start sooner, and you will be more likely to be sued in court. In this case, the company cannot help you.

3. They charge a high upfront fee

Did you know it is illegal for debt settlement services to be charged upfront? A debt settlement company must successfully settle at least one debt before charging you, so be aware of your rights. Also, a legitimate company bases fees on the amount you owe to your creditors and it's directly tied to their performance on your behalf. Don't agree to pay huge fees for a service you do not know you will even receive.

4. They tell you your credit will be unharmed

Do not trust any company that provides debt reduction services if they tell you your credit will not be affected. The truth is your score will be affected when a debt settlement company gets involved. You will most likely be told to stop paying your accounts to create incentive (which causes late payments on your credit), and even the successful settling of a debt is a red mark on your credit that remains for 7 years.

5. They tell you not to speak with creditors

Finally, be aware that this is only an attempt to keep you from knowing the real status of your accounts. This is not something a reputable company will do, and one of the many reasons you may be better off working with a debt settlement attorney who is bound by the law and works in your best interests.

Understanding General Business Liability Insurance

Small businesses face a great deal of uncertainty, and that's why small business liability insurance is so important. Accidents can happen at any time, no matter how hard you try to avoid them, and sometimes in spite of your efforts. There are many names for liability insurance, including commercial or business general liability insurance, but it's really just a form of protection for your business's assets.

General Business Liability Insurance

Liability insurance is meant to protect your assets by paying for costly obligations like medical bills if you are sued by someone who is hurt on your property, or regarding property damage or an employee or yourself causing injury. Business general liability insurance will also cover the cost for a legal defense along with a settlement if you are sued, including non-monetary losses and compensatory damages.

This form of insurance will also protect you against claims of false or misleading advertising against your business, while also protecting against liability as a tenant if you cause any damage to the business space you rent.

Do You Need Liability Insurance?

Does your business really need liability insurance? Consider this: about 80% of all businesses in the U.S. are partnerships or sole proprietorships, which means personal assets are at risk. If the business is sued, a judgement may be ordered that could cost you your life savings, your retirement and even your home. Small business liability insurance gives you the protection you need if you are sued for personal injuries or property damage by covering both the damages and legal costs. Even one accident can easily put you out of business, with legal costs alone easily topping $300,000 just to defend yourself.

Unfortunately, we live in a litigious society, and it's not unlikely that you will find yourself facing a claim at some point in time. General business liability insurance can actually save your business and it isn't nearly as expensive as you might guess. Depending on your business type and coverage, the annual premium may be somewhere between $750 to $2,000. Compare that to the cost of defending yourself in court and paying a substantial settlement!

While some business owners choose to buy liability insurance as a separate policy, it may be in your best interest to purchase it as a part of a Business Owner's Policy, which includes other important forms of business insurance.

The Details of Your Policy

Your liability insurance policy will have a maximum amount the policy will pay out for a claim. If your policy caps coverage at $350,000 and you are sued for $300,000 in medical expenses for an injury caused by a workplace hazard plus an additional $75,000 in legal fees, you will then need to pay the extra $25,000.

If you have a high-risk business or you already have a liability insurance policy, you can opt for excess coverage which increases this limit. This may be necessary in some cases if one of your clients requires your business have a certain amount of coverage to complete work.

The Importance of being Insured

The world can be a very scary place. Every day, people are faced with innumerable challenges, and sometimes they face events that are not only unavoidable, but can have tragic results. When accidents or natural disasters occur in your life, you need something in place you can trust to be in your corner and help you salvage and rebuild your life. You need a safety net that allows you to run not only your life but your day to day operations without having to worry about what will happen to you if something disastrous occurs. You need insurance policies.

There are many different types of insurance policies out there. They can cover anything from house fires to tornadoes tearing through your warehouse. Everyone should have multiple policies in place to take care of their personal needs should something happen to themselves or the things they own. Homeowners insurance takes care of the house, automobile insurance takes care of the car, and life insurance policies take care of your loved ones. Having these policies in place is smart and helps in protecting the ones you love. These personal policies are all well and good, but one must consider the consequences of not protecting their business with general business liability insurance policies.

If something were to occur within your company or business and lawsuits and liability issues result, what are you going to do if you’re not covered? Having a general liability insurance policy is a smart way to make sure that you will have the legal and financial help you need should your company suffer a tragic or costly event in the workplace. If your commercial business insurance policy is not in place when an accident or natural disaster occurs you are opening yourself up, personally, to some very expensive consequences. These consequences could overflow from your business into your personal finances and cause any number of setbacks that you may not recover from.

Insurance is designed to allow you to run your business with the knowledge that if a bad situation occurs; the consequences will be taken care of. Insurance makes it possible to rebuild, to restructure, and to retain what is yours. You don’t want to spend your life building a legacy for your family only to find that at the first sign of disaster all of your hard work goes right down the drain. You have to protect your investments and that means making sure all of your assets are covered. So when your laying out your business plan, make sure you get yourself covered, and get a commercial business or general liability insurance policy. Don’t lay the foundation for your life’s work without a safety net place.

The Best Insurance Leads are Fresh Leads

Regardless of how you acquire and cultivate leads, there's one thing that's certain: the warmer the leads, the faster you sell. This is especially true when you buy life or health insurance leads, as these prospects will most likely be contacted by numerous agents in a short amount of time.

Unfortunately, in the rush to sell to business leads, many agents simply overlook the quality of the leads they themselves are buying. This is a huge mistake that may cost them their entire business. While there are definitely many types of leads you can buy, you want to get the best, regardless of the niche you operate in. In general, the best leads are the freshest. Keep in mind there are plenty of unreliable lead generation companies out there willing to sell you stale, month-old (or in some cases year old!) leads that turn out to be a dud after you waste your time and money chasing them down.

This is a common practice among the poor quality companies that sell life insurance leads. Many will sell leads that go on and on, circulating amongst dozens or hundreds of agents for years! Fresh leads that have been captured within the last day or even hour of someone requesting information is important, because these people are still in the market to buy. They haven't moved on, and they are waiting to hear from agents who can give them more information and quotes. The fresher the business leads you buy, the greater your chances of selling a policy.

You've probably been in the business long enough to understand that getting a potential customer on the phone quickly, discussing their needs, answering questions and providing great service puts you a lot closer to a fast sale than calling someone who has just spent the last week receiving and dodging calls from nearly every agent in town. When you're working to make a profit, the last thing you want is wasting your valuable time on unproductive calls with leads who don't want to hear what you have to say.

That's where fresh health or life insurance leads come in. You get to leads no one else has spoken to yet, which greatly increases your chances of making a sale. Remember, this is not like cold calling either; insurance leads from a reputable company are people who have requested information from agents. Fresh leads tend to close quickly, assuming you work with due diligence. Just because you're the only person getting the leads doesn't mean you can let them fall through the cracks and not work them as fast as possible.

If your leads aren't interested in buying the day you call, don't forget the importance of follow-up, just as you would with any other type of lead. Some people take up to 6 weeks to purchase a policy after requesting a life or health insurance quote online, so you'll probably lose a sale if you only call once. Don't make assumptions or try to make up the person's mind for them. Offer information and leave the decision up to them, but don't forget your follow-up procedure to see greater success when you buy leads online.

Struggling with Debt? Here are Your Options

With the economy still recovering, millions of Americans are struggling with consumer debt. If you're barely managing to hang on, or debt collectors are already hassling you, the best thing you can do is come up with a plan of action as soon as possible.

If you're facing a level of debt you can't afford, you do have a few options available to you. These include:

• Setting up a budget and contacting creditors yourself

• Getting help from a credit counseling agency

• Turning to debt settlement companies

• Working with a debt settlement attorney

• Filing for bankruptcy

What are the Consequences of Not Paying Debt?

If you're having trouble paying your bills, it's important to understand the type of debt you have and the consequences of not paying. There are two types of debt: secured and unsecured.

Debt may be secured by property, or collateral, to guarantee repayment of your loan. If you can't repay your secured debt, the creditor can take back the property without suing you or getting a court judgement. Common examples include car loans, mortgages and home equity lines of credit.

Debt may also be unsecured, which means it is not attached to any particular property. If you don't pay this type of debt, creditors may sue you and get a court judgement, which may mean your wages will be garnished. Examples include credit card debt and medical bills.

Tax debt and student loans are in a separate category, as the government is allowed to take drastic action without getting a court judgement. These debts are generally not dischargeable in bankruptcy, unlike the first two categories.

1: Contacting Creditors Yourself

If you go this option, you should begin by making a budget and listing all of your outstanding debt. Look for ways to reduce your spending and expenses, and increase your income, then come up with a realistic amount you can put toward debt every month.

From there, contact creditors one by one and explain the situation to hopefully get a payment plan. You may be able to negotiate for reduced late fees, a discount on the balance or a lower interest rate.

2: Credit Counseling

Credit counseling agencies are another option if you can't work out a plan with your creditors, or you need help. An accredited, nonprofit credit counseling agency may offer money management classes, budget counseling, debt counseling and refer you to other agencies to help. Some may even help you contact creditors and set up a debt management plan.

3: Debt Settlement Companies

Companies that offer debt reduction services are one option available to you, although you need to be aware of the reality. These companies often make unrealistic promises they cannot keep, such as guaranteeing your creditors will discount your total debt, and their fees can be very high.

Most will also get you into trouble by causing even further damage to your credit by telling you to stop paying your creditors, instead diverting this cash into an account and paying their fees. The idea is, after 6-12 months, this lump sum will be used to reach a settlement agreement with your creditors, but that does not always happen.

Instead, your creditors may increase their collection actions against you or take you to court when they learn you're using debt reduction services. If they sue you, these companies cannot represent you in court or offer legal advice. They also cannot stop phone calls from your creditors, and the cost to sign up for their services can easily cost you thousands. Many will also not tell you that you may owe taxes on any debt that is successfully forgiven.

4: Debt Settlement Lawyers

While the services a debt settlement attorney offers ay seem similar to a debt settlement company, working with an experienced law firm comes with some distinct advantages. Attorneys often have better leverage against your creditors, who have their own army of lawyers on their side. A lawyer will also be able to give legal advice and represent you in court if your creditors sue you, working to obtain a pre-judgement settlement of your debt. If a judgement against you is obtained, they will assist you further in protecting your assets.

5: Bankruptcy

Finally, do not overlook bankruptcy as an option. While most people want to avoid it at all costs, it may be your best option if even a settlement won't be affordable to you. Bankruptcy has its consequences, including damage to your credit and possible employment issues, but it will completely erase most debts, including a mortgage, car loan, credit card debt and other consumer debt, allowing you to get a fresh start on life.

Liability Insurance for Small Businesses

In everyday life, insurance is a necessity such as having automobile insurance for those unexpected accidents that may happen while one is on the road. Without insurance, our lives would be uncontrollable as an accident may be catastrophic in terms of economics. It is also the same for health insurance; without it, medical care can become expensive. Likewise, a small business must have insurance to protect it from unexpected consequences resulting from a number of factors one may not initially expect. Without it, a small incident may ruin the business.

Having your own business is one of the most rewarding aspects of being in the business world. And being a small business owner come the risks involved. Yet, one of the most important parts of a small business is insurance. While there are many types of insurances available for businesses, one of the most common insurance is liability. This type of insurance is required for small businesses to protect against losses and protects the business from losing its assets.

When seeking out liability insurance for your small business, it is important to work with your insurance agent in determining the type of insurance needed as well as meeting the minimum requirement to maintain insurance and the type of business. There are several types of liability insurance: general, professional, product, and commercial property. General liability insurance covers property damage and injury claims whereas professional liability insurance covers malpractice issues, negligence, errors, and omissions. Product liability is as such, it covers the product only if it causes harm to the customer. Commercial property insurance covers everything on the property. The commercial property insurance also has two types: all-risk, and peril-specific. All-risk insurance protects against everything unless specified in the insurance policy whereas a peril-specific policy only covers what is specified in the contract.

Each type of insurance coverage depends on the type of business. An insurance agent will be of assistance in determining the type of coverage needed for your business. Depending on the type of business, there may also be additional insurance required. While initial loss coverage may be needed, the additional coverage will protect the business from these charges such as legal fees in the event of an unfortunate outcome. In addition to finding the right licensed insurance agent, it is important to assess the risk factors of the business in order to find the right policy. Plus, it is also important to update your policy on an annual basis as your business may increase and therefore, you will need to increase the insurance value so as not to be liable for additional losses. It should not be hard for a small business owner to understand the liability issue surrounding the business in the event of unforeseen circumstances, and the reason having insurance is meant for protecting the business.

Guide to Buying Life Insurance Leads Online

Gone are the days when insurance agents were forced to spend long hours tracking down prospects the hard way, with hours spent making connections, building relationships and meeting with people one-on-one. Today, many agents grow their business by purchasing high-quality leads from a company that specializes in insurance and business to business lead generation. These companies generate leads online from qualified prospects interested in buying insurance, and the agent buys the leads, typically at a flat price per lead.

With life insurance leads, the cost will typically be determined by the quality of the lead itself. Common lead types include substandard, final expense, standard and premium life insurance leads, with substandard leads being the cheapest.

Premium life insurance prospects are typically between the ages of 45 and 70 with no major health conditions, such as drug or alcohol abuse, hepatitis, HIV/AIDS, vascular disease, cancer, heart disease, mental health problems or emphysema. Standard life leads are those aged 25 through 44 with no major health conditions. Final expense life leads are between the age of 50 and 80 with a maximum $25,000 policy, while substandard leads fall outside of these groups and may have pre-existing conditions.

When you buy life leads or health insurance leads, for that matter, you will usually receive a full profile of the prospect, including contact information, current insurance and provider, when their current policy expires, coverage options and their health conditions. Many companies that sell business leads also allow you to filter leads to receive only the leads that make sense for your business. This includes geographic filters, lifestyle filters and demographic filters to help you maximize your investment.

As with anything though, quality is important. When comparing the cost per lead, remember to consider the potential return. Many agents start out with a batch of 50 to 100 leads to help them determine their return on investment (ROI), but it's also important to keep in mind most agents take some time to get their process down, so the success rate should climb after a bit of experience.

It's also essential to work only with companies that sell high-quality, fresh insurance and business leads. Unfortunately, there are poor quality companies who will simply resell old leads dozens or even hundreds of times. While their pricing is very low, you're getting a poor value because these leads will not lead to conversions, and you'll be wasting your time tracking down prospects who may have changed their contact information and are most likely not interested in insurance any longer.

Buying insurance leads truly is the way of the future, allowing any agent to maximize their budget and gain access to qualified leads with little time and money. If you're still doing things the old-fashioned way, consider going a test run and buying a batch or two of high-quality life insurance leads to see why millions of agents turn to this strategy to grow their business.

SVS SECURITIES - SHARE DEALING

Based in the City of London, SVS Securities PLC offers clients access to a broad range of investment opportunities in a friendly, simple and cost-effective manner.

SVS Securities offers trading in all UK markets via one of two dealing accounts. These accounts were created so that investors could pick the one which best suits their investment goals, giving everyone the opportunity to make the most of their investments.

ADVISORY ACCOUNTS

SVS Securities’ Advisory account is designed for investors who take an active interest in the market but who also want to be able to call on the advice of a professional when they feel the need. SVS Securities’ advisors are dedicated to providing not only great customer service and prompt and professional trading, but also relevant advice and analysis based on their experience, skills and expertise.

EXECUTION ONLY ACCOUNTS

SVS Securities’ Execution Only account is designed for investors who simply want to deal quickly and efficiently without the need for investment advice. This service is for investors who know what they want to trade and when. Our role is simply to provide factual information and execute trades at the investors’ instruction.

RESEARCH

SVS Securities serves sophisticated investors by providing practical strategies and technical and fundamental equity research. Written by market professionals, SVS Securities’ research provides timely updates to complement investor’s trading strategies, whether your aim is to achieve steady income, capital appreciation, or both.

SVS Securities - PORTFOLIO THEORY

Investing in stocks and shares is all about research and analysis. The more you do, the better you’ll become at recognizing good investment opportunities and (hopefully) the more profit you will realize. Analyzing and researching investment opportunities is a long and arduous task. It is for this reason that advisory accounts are so popular amongst investors. Advisory accounts offer investors access to the analysis and research carried out by experienced analysts and brokers. Clients are still required to manage their own risk and make their own investment choices but having a professional to turn to is often a great help. Even if you do hold an advisory account, it is useful to have some knowledge and understanding of portfolio theory so as to better understand your investments and how to make the most of them. Portfolio theory has changed a lot over the years and will no doubt change even more in the future. It is worth, every so often, reading over news pieces or text books about portfolio theory to make sure that you are up-to-date and that you are doing everything you can to make the most of your investments.

COMPANY PERFORMANCE

Before you invest in a company, it is good to know exactly how the company is performing. The problem is that there are a variety of different ways that you can try and measure a company’s future prospects. None of these methods are guaranteed to give you a genuine insight into the company’s performance. Analyzing the results of a number of these indicators may give you a good indication of how the company is performing in a very general sense. The more research you do and the more indicators you compare, the more reliable your findings will be.

ROE

ROE or Return on Equity is the most common measure of a company’s performance used by analysts and investors. ROE measures the rate of return on the shareholder’s equity. It shows how well a company uses invested funds to generate earnings growth. ROE is judged against the rest of the sector and the cost of capital in that sector. Therefore a Return on Equity less than the cost of capital is considered destructive. Despite its popularity, measuring a company’s performance using ROE is not without its draw backs. Companies can artificially create a healthy ROE (for a time at least) by leveraging debt and buying back shares using accumulated funds. This can leave a healthy ROE calculation whilst company performance is actually in a slump. Companies are keen to maintain a healthy ROE due to its popularity as an indication of performance. A dip in ROE could result in a dip in share prices and a loss of investor confidence in the company. It is for these reasons that we suggest considering a number of different indicators when considering an investment.

SVS Securities - AGIRICULTURE AND THE WORLD FOOD CRISIS

The world food crisis is a growing problem in the world today. A growing population and dwindling resources are pushing up the prices of soft commodities and exacerbating the whole situation. In 2010, 925 million people went hungry. Poverty is the principle cause of hunger. The rise in soft commodity prices, although it may offer a good opportunity for investors to realise a profit, is making it even more difficult for the worlds poor to find the money to eat. For this reason, speculating on the price of soft commodities is an ethical “grey area”. We’re not suggesting that you be completely altruistic and donate all of your money to charity, but the world is getting smaller and it is about time we began to think of the ethical implications of our investments.

SOFT COMMODITIES AND FARMING:

Soft commodities refer to commodities such as coffee, cocoa, sugar, corn, wheat and fruit which are generally grown rather than mined. There are a number of people suggesting that soft commodities and farming might be a better long-term investment in the current market conditions than other “hard” commodities. In most cases an excess of a commodity or a lack of demand will cause commodity prices to drop. Similarly, if there is a drop in supply or a rise in demand, prices will rise. There are four main factors currently affecting the supply and demand of soft commodities and farmed goods.

1. The global population is rising exponentially. A growing population increases demand for food, soft commodities and farmed goods.

2. Arable land is being lost to urban sprawl. This decreases the quantity of food, soft commodities and farmed goods it is possible to produce and therefore limits supply.

3. Recent movements towards renewable energy have led to an increased demand for biofuel and the crops that are used to produce it.

4. Investors speculating on commodity prices cause sudden peaks and troughs in demand, increasing volatility in the market.

Meera Patel of Hargreaves Lansdown commented “The global population is growing faster than the amount of new farmland available, and, at the same time farmers are under pressure to use less water and fewer chemicals, which is likely to constrain supply even further. The resulting excess of demand over supply is likely to lead to rising prices over the long term.”

This is because, with the exception of speculation from investors, factors affecting the price of farmed commodities are relatively stable. The global population is increasing steadily with estimates from the United Nations suggesting we will require a 70% increase in food production by 2050. This growth in population size is a contributing factor to the loss of arable land. Though there is currently a real push for renewable fuels, the demand on soft commodities for biofuel purposes are more likely to increase steadily than shoot up suddenly.

SVS SECURITIES - FOREX

FX is a branch of SVS Securities plc and offers Forex Trading Online with no re-quotes and no dealing desk. SVS: FX offers Instant execution, tight spreads and sophisticated charting tools with a trusted Forex broker based in the City of London. SVS Securities: Forex offers two different types of account.

CAPITAL PROTECTED ACCOUNT (CPA)

If you are relatively new to trading, or you'd like to see how you can execute and manage your trades on the Web-trader Forex trading platform, the Capital Protected account might be exactly what you are looking for. There's a limited range of instruments on the trading system so that you can concentrate on getting the basics right. Not only this but should you lose money on your trades, SVS: FX will reimburse your trading losses for a fixed period.

GLOBAL TRADER ACCOUNT (GTA)

With the Global Trader Account you can trade the full range of 30 currency pairs, indices, oil and gold with the benefit of guaranteed stops, tight fixed spreads and generous leverage. Instant execution means the price you click is the price you trade and you can hold your account in Sterling, US Dollars or Euros.

SVS Securities: Forex offers investor’s access to the Webtrader and MetaTrader trading platforms and gives you the opportunity to open a demo account until you are comfortable with the software and with your trading strategies.

SVS SECURITIES - CONTRACTS FOR DIFFERENCE

SVS Securities: CFD is a branch of SVS Securities plc. At SVS CFD we understand that our investors are individuals and that everyone has different investment goals and preferences. This is why we have developed three different Contracts for Difference accounts to meet each client’s specific needs.

ADVISORY ACCOUNTS

SVS Securities’ Advisory account is for investors who intend to take an active interest in the market but who also want to be able to call on the advice of a professional when they need to. SVS Securities’ advisors are dedicated to providing not only great customer service and prompt and professional trading, but also relevant advice and analysis based on their experience, skills and expertise.

EXECUTION ONLY ACCOUNTS

SVS Securities’ Execution Only account is designed for investors who do not wish to receive investment advice but simply to deal quickly and efficiently. This service is for investors who know what they want to trade and when. SVS Securities’ role in these accounts is simply to provide factual information such as prices, and execute trades at the investors’ instruction.

SVS Securities - GETTING DEFENSIVE

Constantly thinking that your glass is half empty can often lead to missed opportunities. However, constantly thinking that your glass is nearly full when all you have is a drop of water left is even more damaging. When making financial decisions, realism is the name of the game. Recently, news services across the globe have been giving a lot of air time to the financial markets being in turmoil. A global slowdown, the risk of another recession and the possibility of a European default are making everyone nervous, especially investors. To quote the immortal words of Douglas Adams “Don’t Panic”. It may have become harder to realise huge trading profits, but you can still make a profit in the markets. If you are having problems, perhaps now is the time to consider defensive stocks and the part they play in your portfolio.

WHAT ARE DEFENSIVE STOCKS?

Defensive stocks are believed to provide consistent dividends and stable earnings regardless of macroeconomic fluctuations. Shares in these companies are seen as attractive during times of volatility and economic slumps, but less so during a bull market as they are often seen as performing below the markets during these periods. Defensive stocks rarely shoot up and provide investors with huge, short term returns. They are long term investments to hold in your portfolio to reduce risk and provide stability. Utility stocks are considered defensive because whatever the state of the economy, there will be a constant demand for the services these companies provide. 

ARE DEFENSIVE STOCKS THE ANSWER?

There is no knowing what the markets will do next, no knowing whether any one share price will rise or fall. The advantage of investing in defensive stocks is that they offer a high dividend yields and are less susceptible to market slumps than other companies. They are not ideal for realising huge gains over short periods, they are a long term investment in which you could maintain your wealth whilst making a little extra in way of dividends. The question you need to ask yourself is: do you think the market is going to recover any time soon? There are a myriad of problems confronting the economic world, many of them are going to take months, if not years to put right. This doesn’t mean that you should start running for the hills, you just need to reconsider your portfolio choices and decide whether or not you are sufficiently exposed to companies that tend to weather economic storms rather well and offer high yield dividends.

SVS Securities - TAKE AIM

In the current economic climate, investors have found themselves in a dilemma: Should they risk losing their money if the market slumps again or stay out of the markets and risk missing an opportunity? The AIM, like most other markets around the world has recently seen a dip in its share prices. For many this has reinforced the belief that AIM companies are too small and volatile and therefore too great a risk. Is the mass exodus of investors really warranted, or should investors with a greater appetite see it as an opportunity to invest? To encourage growth in smaller businesses, the government has gone to great lengths to make investing in these companies an attractive option. There are currently a number of tax benefits available for investments in unquoted companies (for the purposes of these tax reliefs, companies quoted on the AIM and PLUS markets count as unquoted). With tax relief on inheritance tax, income tax and capital gains tax available and the existence of Enterprise investment schemes, entrepreneurs’ relief and Venture capital trusts, perhaps now is the time to consider investing in AIM listed companies.

WHAT IS AIM?

The Alternative Investment Market or AIM is a sub-market of the London Stock Exchange. AIM is home to over 1,200 companies which operate in over 40 different sectors. There are relatively few restrictions on which companies can become listed on the AIM. According to the London Stock Exchange’s website; “AIM is the most successful growth market in the world. Since its launch in 1995, over 3,000 companies from across the globe have chosen to join AIM. Powering the companies of tomorrow, AIM continues to help smaller and growing companies raise the capital they need for expansion.” There are a number of reasons for the AIM markets success, such as:

• The AIM has a more balanced approach to regulation which facilitates a smooth transition into becoming a public company which allows companies to remain focused on growth.

• The AIM employs a large number of Advisors who are experienced in supporting companies from the moment they consider joining and throughout their time in the market.

• An international customer base willing to provide capital to less established companies as they grow.

AIMs regulatory environment has been designed with smaller and growing companies in mind, to help these companies make the most of their floatation. The entry criteria for AIM are more relaxed than on the main markets and more in tune with the needs of smaller growth companies. There is no trading record required, no minimum size criteria and no prescribed level of shares that must be in public hands. To be admitted to the AIM companies are required to have a Nominated Advisor at all times. AIM employs a “comply or explain” model of regulation. This means that companies can either comply with their rules or explain why they will not or cannot comply. There are a number of reasons that companies decide to float on a public market:

• To provide access to capital growth

• To create a market for company shares

• To broaden its shareholder base

• To place an objective market value on the company’s business

• To encourage employees by making share schemes more attractive

• To increase the company’s ability to make acquisitions by using quoted shares as currency

• To increase the public profile of the company

• To enhance the company’s status with customers and suppliers

TAX BENEFITS

There are a variety of ways of investing in AIM listed companies and a collection of tax benefits for doing so. These tax reliefs have a variety of qualification criteria and many are very complex. Depending on your circumstances, you could receive income tax relief of up to £150,000, 100% inheritance tax relief and a number of opportunities for Capital Gains Tax relief. If you are interested in receiving these benefits we strongly advise that you consult a financial advisor to ensure that any investment you are planning on making would be eligible. These tax reliefs are set by HMRC and are subject to change. Talk to a financial advisor for a complete and up-to-date list of tax benefits.

SVS Securities - ETFS AND THEIR PLACE IN YOUR PORTFOLIO?

An Exchange Traded Fund (ETF) is an investment fund that holds assets such as stocks, commodities and derivatives and is traded on an exchange. ETFs are very complex and each one is different, they can be grouped into “types” of ETF. These include:

• Index ETFs
• Commodity ETFs
• Bond ETFs
• Currency ETFs
• Sector/Industry ETFs
• Actively managed ETFs

We are going to take a closer look at Index ETFs:

The majority of ETFs are index ETFs and track an index such as the FTSE 100. ETFs can even be created to inversely track an index, these are referred to as inverse ETFs and use investments in derivatives to seek a return which corresponds with the inverse of the performance of the index. Inverse ETFs involve additional risks to regular index ETFs due to their exposure to derivatives. ETFs can be an attractive investment due to their low costs, tax efficiency and share-like features. ETFs are cheaper than mutual funds, mostly due to the fact that ETFs do not have to maintain cash reserves and can save on brokerage expenses. The tax benefits of ETFs can be seen in the fact that Capital Gains Tax (CGT) doesn’t need to be paid until the ETF or its assets are sold. This means that though the assets in the ETF may change, money that would otherwise have been paid out in CGT is allowed to remain within the fund where it can continue to accumulate wealth. The most attractive aspect of an ETF is its share-like qualities. As they are traded on stock exchanges, investors can set stop losses, buy on margin and invest as much or as little as they would like.

Inverse ETFs are often used to hedge against losses in physical shares during periods of economic turmoil. If the markets begin to slump, anyone holding physical shares may see the value of their portfolio slump. Investing in an inverse ETF means that investors, who have been adversely affected by market movements, can also benefit from the decrease in the index while they wait for their physical holdings to recover. For instance; if losses are seen in a portfolio, the index will probably be trending downward which will result in a positive result for anyone holding an inverse index ETF. It is hoped that the losses sustained in the portfolio will match or be outweighed by the gains from the inverse ETF. This involves the risk that if the market rallies, losses on the ETF may outweigh the gains on the equities. This saves money on the brokerage fees involved in selling and then buying back your physical shares when the market begins to improve.

Debt Settlement Legislation You Need to Understand

Advertisements for debt reduction services (which go by many names) are seemingly everywhere. Unfortunately, some of these companies are scams, while a great deal many just charge you a lot of money and leave you worse off than you started. The FTC Telemarketing Sales Rule and many state laws have been put into place to offer protection against many of these scams, but that doesn't mean you can't still get in trouble.

Types of Debt Reduction Services

Services you may see advertised include:

• Debt management service or credit counseling. These companies typically claim they will set up a plan to pay back your creditors for you, often by reducing the interest rates or even the principle so you can afford the plan.

• Debt settlement companies. These companies will usually claim they can reduce your debt by 50% or more and work be negotiating with your creditors to convince them to accept a one-time reduced lump sum payment or a few payments to pay off the debt. You will be required to make monthly payments into a bank account from which they take their fee and (ideally but not usually) pay the creditor when enough money has built up.

• Debt negotiation services. These companies will claim they can get creditors to reduce your payments, but they won't necessarily have an overall debt plan.

Scam-Ridden Industry

Unfortunately, this entire industry is plagued with scams. The FTC and several state attorneys general have sued hundreds of debt settlement companies over the years for misleading customers about what they can actually accomplish, how high their fees are and for violations of consumer protection laws and state laws. Many nonprofit credit counseling companies also had their nonprofit status terminated by the IRS for making a profit.

Federal & State Regulations

Nearly every state has laws regulating companies that provide debt settlement services, and many states prohibit these companies from even doing business. In many areas, these laws do not apply to debt settlement lawyers, whose services do have a greater benefit.

The FTC updated its Telemarketing Sales Rule in 2010 to give consumers some protection against these companies. This law applies to for-profit companies, services related to unsecured debts (like credit cards) and services rendered if the company calls you or you call them in response to an ad.

Before you pay any money to the company, they must disclose:

• The time necessary for the claimed results.

• If the service includes the settlement offer, the date the company will make the offer to your creditors and how long it will take to make a settlement offer to every creditor.

• The amount of money (or percentage of your debt) that must accumulate before the company makes a settlement offer.

• If the service requires you to stop making payments to your creditors, the negative impact on your credit, the fact that your creditors may sue you, and how much you may owe due to interest and fees.

• Your right to cancel the contract and receive a refund within 7 days of any money held in the account.

Companies that provide debt settlement services are also prohibited from collecting fees until it has received an agreement to reduce at least one debt, and you have made one payment on that agreement. This is very important to remember, and it's one of many rules that is often broken.

Before you turn to any services designed to reduce your debt, make sure you understand your rights under the law and avoid any companies that raise red flags by breaking these rules that protect you.

Grant writing is the key to achieve your objectives

Socio-economical differences are so much in existence that it threatens even the basic fabric of our society. Efforts are made to ease out the differences in national and global level in various forms. Government, corporate, foundation and various trusts usually come forward to take a lead in such welfare activities. In the process, governement grants to an organization or to an individual are sanctioned after stringent scrutiny. To safeguard against any misappropriate use of funds, lots of importance is given for right selection of fund seeker. On one side, they take care that right incumbent is not denied fund, on the other side they are cautious enough to ensure that the funds do not go into wrong hands. Proper grant writing and honesty of purpose usually get clicked if the fund seekers really know the basic techniques of Government grant writings.

Developed nations not only take care of the interest of their people, but also of poor nations in the form of different government and non-government grants for meeting the social need and help such nations to grow suitably. In case of government grant, some funds are kept aside in annual budget from the tax payers’ contribution, to take care of the downtrodden globally. This way the citizens of developed nation become a part of government grant. To bring down disparity and to help in improving standard of living of under developed nations to a reasonable level are all that really mean. In many corporate sectors, some percentage of their annual profit is spent to fulfill corporate social responsibility. Similarly, there are many social, religious and corporate foundations that take care of socio-economical and natural disaster related fund needs as mission, that are philosophically true to them. On the other hand, the grant applicant has to face tough competition to prove himself/ herself deserving enough for the grant. The grant can be related to education, business and disability, to name a few.

For proper grant writing, you can take the help of professional agencies who have thorough knowledge about grant writing and proper documentation. The application process can be long and complicated as per the business. Each and every aspect of the application process requires special attention. Another crucial factor is the application deadline. The applicant needs to submit the duly filled application form with the relevant documents attached. However, before applying for the grant, collect as much information as possible from reliable sources. Get to know more about business grant and check whether you qualify for the same.

Minority Business Grants – An Impetus to the minority community

Minority business grants are grants that are awarded to the minority community to usher in a change in their way of living. These business grants are specially given by the private grantors, non-profits and the federal government. The best thing about grants is that this money is provided as an aid by the government and other financial organizations and the money is not required to be repaid back.  The people who are termed as minority by the U.S federal government may come from various communities and might have different racial classifications. They can be of African, Hispanic or Native American communities and many others. So it is necessary to check out with the government website about the category of minority community before applying for any kind of minority business grants. These minority business grants are given for the betterment and development of the businesses of the minority community. Some business grants for minorities may also be provided to those persons or organizations that have some nature of business beneficial to the minority community as a whole.

Every year the federal government declares the amount of grant that can be given to the people from the minority community. They also set aside a chunk of money for the upliftment of the community and for their economic and social well-being. The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistant (CFDA) website provides detailed information about minority grants and the application procedure. The Small Business Administration (SBA) is another government website which lends money to those programs which benefits the minority communities. While applying for the minority business grants, the applicants should be aware of the fact that government provides grants only to those programs that have wide reaching, replicable as well as sustainable benefits for the eventual grant beneficiaries. Even the U.S Department of Commerce has the Minority Business Development Agency (MDA) which assists entrepreneurs who belong to minority community. They provide well needed assistance and tips on the procedure of starting a business of one’s own. The MDA also lends its support to the small minority business enterprises (MBE) in different aspects of business like making marketing plans, providing technical assistance and also in areas of financial planning. Minority business grants are also available from private foundations, particularly those already grounded in service to the minority problems. The Chamber Of Commerce is another vital resource for communications. There are various grant writers who have requisite specialization in the specific areas, such as SBIR/STTR or manufacturing assistance grants.

So, the business grants for minorities are indeed a big impetus to the minority business community who not only benefit from these grants but can take this opportunity to prosper in their life and move forward!

Grant writing - Important element to obtain grant

Federal Government is very much keen to strengthen the weaker section through different kind of grants. Grant is as such a kind of fund help extended to many defined areas. The organizations who are seeking for government fund assistance need to be abided by the set rules and procedures formulated for such purposes. Unless you are fully aware of these, your efforts to get government grant will not yield any results. This is really important to know every tidbit of government grants and to act accordingly. In the process grant writing plays the key role. There are some basic formats of grant writing. This of course varies from case to case. Grant writing for private and corporate foundation is different than government grant writing. There are many important areas which are to be distinctly focused. After all you need to turn attention of government grant approving agency in meaningful ways within the defined frame work. Both over statement and under statement is to be avoided. It needs to be crisp and to the point and fit to the exact requirement of format designed for the purpose Philanthropic and nonprofit social organizations and business organizations are treated differently. The requirement for grant writing is also different. The primary objective, mission, organization structure, projected grant help and all other pertaining issues are the key elements for grant writing. Your knowledge and information strength guide you all through in proper kind of grant writing. Grant writing need to be supported by relevant facts and figures. Once you can present your fund need in appropriate ways you will have distinct possibility of getting grants.

Grant writing is as such a knowledge based skill job. It involves extensive culture on so many issues. You can do it yourself also provided you are diligent enough to know the art of writing grants from government and private corporate houses. Grating agencies initially provide you with the basic information required for writing grants. But this is not the end of the matter. You need to extensively work on that basic information and build up your strength in writing grants appropriately. Giving full coverage to the basic elements in most attractive and desired ways is an absolute necessity. Grant writing is also a time related issue. It is subjected to time to time changes. Your area of working needs to be within well specified area of grants. You need to be sufficiently informative about the types of grants, annual quantum of grants available in the budget and its awarding mechanisms. Knowledge about your competitor’s strength and weaknesses will give you added advantage in grant writing. There is so many such micro issues are taken into account as a safe guard measures in writing grants.

It is also a matter of fact that grant giving agencies are equally concerned about giving grants to prospective organizations to ensure the grant objectives are well met. They usually hold lots of seminar and workshop on the art of writing grants. You can attend to those and build up your strength in writing grants. Professional bodies are also available who are out and out conversant and skill in writing grants.  If you are real contender for grants you adopt any such practices for obtaining grants either from government or private corporate houses.