Originally the word ‘wealth’ was derived from the Old English word ‘weal’ which denoted the possession of great qualities. This eventually led to the term being used to indicate ‘well being’.

In the hustle and bustle of modern life, in a world that is more and more commercially driven, the well being of a person is particularly dependent upon their resources. Since Western modern societies have shifted away from being predominantly agriculturally based, the focus of valuable resources for the average person is quite firmly centered on the particular financial resources a person may have at their disposal.

Often the term ‘asset’ is associated with the serious finance of corporations, and particularly frequently in an accounting context. Quite simply, however, an asset is anything that a person may possess within their control that is able to be readily converted into cash.

Assets come in various forms and can include anything from actual cash, to balances in a bank account, stocks and bonds, possessions, buildings and land, equipment, and even extend to what are known as ‘intangible assets’. The latter are able to be converted into cash but are unable to be physically handled because they are in the form of a right or entitlement. Such things as a patent or a copyright, or the goodwill of a business may be termed as an intangible asset. Many businesses choose to protect their assets through a business life insurance policy, enabling them to protect shares, key people within the company or their employees.

Of course, as reluctant as most of us are to undertake a lengthy study of accounting and economic theory, it is interesting to note that all of us engage in some form of accounting analysis each day.

Every day we participate in an economy where we pay others for the privilege of consuming goods or services. The ability to pay for these valuables stems from the assets that we already have control over, or assets that we create by receiving payment ourselves.

This ability or purchasing power to pay for things that we need is entirely dependent on the flow of ‘value’ or money. However, just like any dam full of water, if it isn’t topped up it will eventually run dry….

So herein lays an extremely important issue.

Any discussion of assets necessarily includes the recognition of what are known as ‘liabilities’ and these include the debts or financial obligations that a person owes to others already, or those that they will owe at a time in the future.

Given that an asset is something that can be converted into cash, if a person were to convert all of their assets into cash and then repay all of their debts, bills or ‘liabilities’, then the excess balance would be what is known as financial equity or ownership.

If, of course, the result is that there are liabilities left outstanding, then we are presented with a person who has negative equity and is really one who, without financial recovery, is living on borrowed time before the inevitable conclusion is drawn that creditors are unable to be paid.

This condition has a number of consequences, the most serious of which may be in the form of bankruptcy, which is a formal and legal declaration that a person’s creditors are unable to be paid. This may lead to restrictions being imposed on a person that restrain them from the full participation in economic life that other people enjoy. Concessions often need to be made, such as giving up smoking; worthy of noting is that non-smokers enjoy much lower premiums on life insurance, whereas a smoker’s life insurance premiums are often up to 50-60% more expensive than a non-smoker’s. Clearly, this demonstrates the need for sound asset management.

WEST JEFFERSON NC MOUNTAIN PROPERTY

87.5 +/- Acres Available For Residential Subdivision Mountain Development, 7 miles from West Jefferson, NC

Paved Road and Bridge Built To State Specifications.

Average of $23,000 per acre.

This Property Should Retail For Approximately $50,000 to $60,000 per acre.

ALL PROPERTY HAS LONG RANGE MOUNTAIN VIEWS

Contact Greg Stikeleather, Broker, 704.880.5247

or

email Greg at grstike@charter.net

click here for more information

Wherever you look, the story is the same. House prices are in free fall. What are the facts? According to the S&P/Case-Shiller national index, house prices fell by 14% in the year to April 2008! Those of you who like history will know that’s a faster fall than the Great Depression of the 1930s. I always like to be encouraging.

So what’s going on? Well, a lot of people convinced themselves that buying property was a sure-thing investment. Buy today, sell tomorrow with a big gain. That made it a no-brainer to buy your own home. Unfortunately, two things happened. The was a boom in the construction industry which produced more houses for sale than there are buyers. Secondly, the credit crunch has made banks more cautious in lending money.

The result? Negative equity! Lots of people who owe more on their homes than the homes are worth. How does this affect the home insurance policy? Not at all! Well, that’s perhaps a little optimistic so let’s explore. Homeowners insurance is designed to replace your home if it’s destroyed. The value of the cover is therefore not the sale price but the cost of rebuilding. So, no matter how much your home falls in value, it makes no difference to the premium. Except that there are more national statistics to worry about. According to the latest figures published up to July 2008, US inflation is at a twenty-seven year high. The Labour Department monitors the producer price index (PPI), that’s prices at the wholesale level. That rose by 9.8% in July.

So you should care because? Because the prices of bricks and all the other stuff needed to repair or rebuild your damaged home just got that much more expensive. Worse? There’s no sign price inflation is going to slow. So, when it comes to renewing your home insurance policy, it would be wise to get two or three online quotes from “reputable” builders to revalue the policy. Without this precaution, you might find yourself underinsured, even on a small claim. But if you get hit by a hurricane or some other natural catastrophe, you may not be able to afford rebuilding if you don’t have the savings to bridge the gap between the insured amount and the actual cost of rebuilding.

Vacation property, an investment for retirement or a permanent residence, this Lake James waterfront home may be your dream property.

The beautiful water front home is located in a private community with spectacular views of the Blue Ridge Mountains. It has a double deck boat dock, an enclosed boat garage and a private ramp to launch your own watercraft. The home was built originally in 1972 and totally renovated in 2002. A four car detached garage was built in 2002.

There is a total of 264 ft. of water front. Beautiful three tier sea walls accent this elegant home. Hard wood and tile floors, modern appliances and vaulted ceilings are only a few of the amenities that capture you with this home.

Private dock permit.

List Price: $1,800,000
Flexibility: Willing to finance
Acreage: .75 acres
Type: Waterfront

Floors: 2
Bedrooms: 4
Bathrooms: 4
Sq. Footage: 3700
Garage Size: 4.0
Year Built: 1972, totally renovated in 2002
School District: Nebo

Suitable Use: Residential

Topography: Rolling
Road Frontage: Private Road
Location: Lake James, Burke County, NC

Amenities: Waterfront, Fireplace, Central AC, Alarm, Wood Floors, Gas Range, Patio, Wheelchair Accessible, Nature/Bike Paths, Boating, Controlled Access, Spa/Jacuzzi

click here for more information

search for : Lake James waterfront home, Blue Ridge Mountains, Lake James, Burke County, NC

A lot of credit cards have the right of substantially raising rates in case one misses a payment, or commits any other financial fault.

Just lay on your cash loan or a mortgage. Pay off your electric bills. Transcend your credit limit. Permit rating of your credit to get lower of what the credit card company supposes an acceptable level or be considered to be bearing too much liability.

Instead of paying 9% on your debt, you all of a sudden are paying 28% or even more.

Review the conditions of your contract, in order to pull out if your credit card company has the right of getting universal non-payment rates. Some of the companies are telling their customers of those penalties exactly on their monthly bulletin. Other companies send notice, with the bill or in a mail, to supply with that information. You also might phone your credit card company and ask.

If it is absolutely legal for them to do such things, it is absolutely legal for you to discover a credit card company that doesn’t.

The option is making certain you aren’t doing anything that would double, triple or quadruple your cash loan rates.

The two common conditions for being thrown into default are tardy payments and dropping credit scores to any creditor, according to the Consumer Action inquiry. The first thing to concentrate on is being on time, since being tardy also lowers your credit score.

One way of avoiding this is setting up automatic payments through your bank. Usually you can do it online. Thereby the bank distributes all your habitual monthly checks. Make certain you permit adequate time for the payment to vacate your account and reach your creditor by the needed date.

You will have more time on finding credit card companies that treat you properly, and enjoy the advantage of not worrying as much about the dark side of your card.

Contact Elizabeth Carter, 336.973.5594 or Greg Stikeleather, Broker, 704.880.5247 or email eacarter@charter.net

click here for more information

The magic letters stand for a Health Savings Account and this represents a different way of solving the health plan problem. In effect, the HSA is self-insurance with tax advantages, allowing you to pay immediate medical bills, save for the future and provide protection for when you retire. You start off with a High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP). Because of the high deductible, the premiums are usually significantly less than for a more conventional policy. The idea is you pay the money saved into the HSA. Why should you do this? Well, the supposed advantages are that you control the account. You decide how the money is to be spent. If you have a standard plan, you’re always waiting for the insurer to rule on whether to pay out on your claim. With an HSA, you no longer have to wait, you can authorize immediate payment. You also control how the money is invested. With a standard policy, you rely on the insurer to invest everyone’s premiums to make them grow.

An HSA is not a product you buy. It’s a savings account run by individuals (not couples). All you need to be able to open an account is cover from an HDHP meeting the current rules. The plan does not have to be in your name so long as you have cover, say, as a spouse. Note you can have other policies to pay some of your health costs for disability, long-term care and specific diseases. But you are ineligible if you have already signed up to Medicare or, as a member of the armed forces, you have Tricare. It’s up to you to check what you are allowed to have. Your employer can set up a savings plan (although you cannot have both an HSA and a general HRA at the same time) or you can go to a bank, credit union, insurance company or one of the other bodies able to act as a trustee or custodian. A minimum deposit is usually required. You don’t have to be employed to run an HSA although, if you don’t file for Federal taxes, you cannot get the tax relief.

Put simply, this is a reasonable flexible and tax-efficient way of providing health insurance for yourself. But it has one key advantage. Although you cannot borrow against the money saved, you can make a one-time transfer from an IRA into an HSA, and the money from the account passes like a cash inheritance when you die. So unlike the usual health insurance premiums which are “lost”, savings remain savings. The big question everyone who is eligible must ask is whether they want to self-insure. Obviously, if the savings are inadequate, the HDHP will potentially pay out. That policy is safety net but the coverage is limited. So you have to judge which works better for your family’s circumstances. If you feel confident that there will always be enough available to pay for treatment during your life, this is tax free savings with you in control of the investment. But if you don’t want to take the risk, a comprehensive health plan for the family may give you better peace of mind.

Like many retirees who own their home or condo, we have decided to undertake a remodeling project. Our place is twenty-five years old and looks it!

We’ve been thinking of this project for some months, giving ourselves time to use our favorite source, the Internet, to do a bit of researching on just how to get the best remodeling job for our dwindling dollars.

So, here is our list of the “smart steps” towards our home remodeling project.

• Pick our remodeling products beforehand, making a list of building materials, flooring, paint, appliances, etc.
• Set a budget
• Select our contractor, hopefully a firm with many years of experience, membership in the National Association of the Remodeling Industry, and check their references
• Once we’ve selected the contractor, visit one or more of their current job sites, look to see if it is clean and safe
• Ask for and examine a Certificate of Insurance from the contractor that shows that the firm maintains a current Workers Comp policy along with General Liability coverage
• Insist that the contractor provide us with a detailed contract before the work begins
• Pack our valuables and breakables, storing them in a rental warehouse to keep those items safe during the remodeling project.

We’ll be adding to this list during our remodeling project. Stay tuned for updates and maybe add your comments that describe your experiences.

When people are young and healthy, they can live for the now, enjoying life as it comes, thinking only of tomorrow when it’s unavoidable. This is the mayfly time when the young and beautiful fly free of responsibility. Sadly, this time is all too short. Gravity soon catches up with people and they fall back down to the ground and see new roles developing as parents. Suddenly, health matters and what was put off must now be considered. So most people go online, use one of the search engines and find the cheapest policy going. That will do. It’s a policy. It will do the job. Then the renewal date comes around and there’s no need to review and reconsider. There’s a policy. That will do. Except not everyone is organized. Not every remembers their partner’s birthday. Not everyone remembers the renewal dates on their insurance policies. Most of the time, people get away with it. They get around to it before anything happens. But failure to renew can be life-threatening. What makes it worse is that it need not be your life that’s threatened. Suppose it’s the life of your child.

Let’s start again. People should take responsibility for their lives and plan for tomorrow. Although it’s all right to shelter under your parent’s health plan whilst you’re young, there comes a point when you have to begin to establish your own track record. Paying your own way when you have the means is the right thing to do. But that does not mean simply accepting the cheapest policy. As with everything in life, you get what you pay for. The basic cover fails when you have more than a basic illness. So read the policies before you choose which one to buy. This is more than looking down a list of diseases and disorders. Think about what you really need. If you fall seriously ill, you need treatment and income replacement if you cannot work. You also need continuity of cover. It’s no good waiting to find out whether your policy is going to renewed or the premium hiked. This is something you should think about when you take out your first health insurance policy or renew whilst still healthy.

Health insurance is something you should try to get right. Never look at a list of diseases covered without also looking at the exclusions and exceptions that might deny you cover. Yes, there may be a lot to read and the language is not designed to make it easy. But taking the time early on saves a lot of pain later. There is also one other very important warning. Always be honest and complete in your disclosures. If you have some medical problems, disclose them. If the insurer finds out you have been economical with the truth, it has the right to cancel the cover. That covers all the main points. We remind you that you may have the right to claim tax relief on the premiums. That should be the bonus after you have put the right policy with the right health coverage at the right price in place to protect you and your family.

There are plenty of reasons why, as a Florida inhabitant, you can prefer to move insurance coverage of your vehicle to a different company. You could have changed workplaces and are suitable for a group discount via another insurer, or you’re unsatisfied with your present company’s service. Probably you’ve found another company that offers you the same coverage level for significantly less payment. Today, you can get free information through websites or phone services. Examining your options has never been simpler.

Review your vehicle coverage regularly to be assured that you receive the best insurance merit for your money. You’ll see that it acquits shopping around. Premiums for equal policies may widely differ among various companies, in Florida. The reasons for such a variety can be very complex, but it retrenches to claims experience of a company with policyholders in group of your coverage. For example, if a major number of people in your coverage group files will claim pending a given year, your rates will probably be raised. Lower general premiums and better discounts might be available at other companies, when this happens. You’ll see it’s pretty simple to move your auto insurance to a different company, when you settle to do so.

Before you cancel the old insurance coverage, you should always have a new policy instead. The gap in protection will asset serious risk, in case you’ve had a claim or an accident. It can also cause your auto insurance rate to strikingly rise. Luckily, there is almost no jeopardy of this to happen. All drivers, living in Florida are obliged to carry a lesser level of insurance. The majority of companies also requires to present new coverage confirmation before canceling an old policy.

Actually, all you have to do to cancel your vehicle policy is to notify your insurance company in written form, defining the date you want to cancel the policy. In several states, the new agent must inform the previous one of the policy shift.

WEST JEFFERSON NC MOUNTAIN PROPERTY

87.5 +/- Acres Available For Residential Subdivision Mountain Development, 7 miles from West Jefferson, NC

Paved Road and Bridge Built To State Specifications.

Average of $23,000 per acre.

This Property Should Retail For Approximately $50,000 to $60,000 per acre.

ALL PROPERTY HAS LONG RANGE MOUNTAIN VIEWS

Contact Greg Stikeleather, Broker, 704.880.5247

or

email Greg at grstike@charter.net

click here for more information

Unfortunately sometimes we find ourselves in situations where we do not posses the amount of money needed to repay the mortgage or rent on time. Because of the crisis it happens rather often. If it is so and we need to find a solution that cannot wait, the smartest decision is to talk to a creditor. Most lenders are compassionate due to this world economy crisis, they understand that they should make one step forward and allow you to pay on the date you are paid by the employer, as some salaries are being delayed nowadays. But please do not get tricked. You should always keep in mind that delaying your payments will affect credit rating and sometimes may include additional fees.

There are employers that are not strict enough. They let their employees get cash advance on their paychecks before the pay date. It is a good possibility to get a part of the money you will receive with your paycheck that will be deducted from it. It is necessary to talk to your employer before you decide this system works good for you. Your employer might not be happy with it being a part of the deal all the time so you have to make sure he doesn’t have any limits or restrictions on the frequency of such measures.

There is a wise advice that should make you think it over once again before you decide to buy some expensive things during your financial instability. Sometimes you should not make such decisions as they might turn their back on you. If you have repayments to finish with, but you feel like you need a brand new car - please be wise enough to use public transportation for a while or ask for a lift from you co-workers. You can get back to the idea of having a good car as soon as you are through with your repayments. Do consider using your savings or deposit account instead of borrowing money or taking another credit. Of course, you will have to repay the account just like you will repay the debt.

There are different ways of saving your day from the financial collapse. Payday loans, credits come into action when your hope is on the edge. But we want to make you see that you should consider other things first. Try to sell something you have that you do not really need. At the end of the day, nobody judges you for giving it a go. Maybe you can stay extra hours at work and earn yourself some spare bucks. Payday loan can be great but only when you feel you have no other option as lending money is always serious.

You can also consider speaking to your family or friends regarding financial support. Borrowing from your friends is still a better option than going for payday loans. If you aren’t sure you are a quick payment maker do not start with the official loans. Be wise and everything will work out fine. Believe me.

Vacation property, an investment for retirement or a permanent residence, this Lake James waterfront home may be your dream property.

The beautiful water front home is located in a private community with spectacular views of the Blue Ridge Mountains. It has a double deck boat dock, an enclosed boat garage and a private ramp to launch your own watercraft. The home was built originally in 1972 and totally renovated in 2002. A four car detached garage was built in 2002.

There is a total of 264 ft. of water front. Beautiful three tier sea walls accent this elegant home. Hard wood and tile floors, modern appliances and vaulted ceilings are only a few of the amenities that capture you with this home.

Private dock permit.

List Price: $1,800,000
Flexibility: Willing to finance
Acreage: .75 acres
Type: Waterfront

Floors: 2
Bedrooms: 4
Bathrooms: 4
Sq. Footage: 3700
Garage Size: 4.0
Year Built: 1972, totally renovated in 2002
School District: Nebo

Suitable Use: Residential

Topography: Rolling
Road Frontage: Private Road
Location: Lake James, Burke County, NC

Amenities: Waterfront, Fireplace, Central AC, Alarm, Wood Floors, Gas Range, Patio, Wheelchair Accessible, Nature/Bike Paths, Boating, Controlled Access, Spa/Jacuzzi

click here for more information

search for : Lake James waterfront home, Blue Ridge Mountains, Lake James, Burke County, NC

Payday loans over the web can be a great way out in salvation of your financial problems when you find yourself a little squeezed in between your paychecks. So just what is a payday loan and how will it be helpful to you?

A payday loan is a small and very short-term loan that is used to cover emergency cash needs. It is usually a short-term loan that you take out for your personal needs. If you are in a terrible credit situation when it comes to getting a loan, obtaining a payday loan may just be the best answer you are seeking. Why is it good? How can it be this helpful when it implies a good interest rate?

First of all we have to say that there are always positive and negative aspects of the deal, especially when it comes to finances. The good side - it is fast. Money can practically knock on your door after you sign up for the payday loan. After you have provided the lender with all of the necessary information and you are approved, you are likely to have your loan amount in your account within 24 hours sometimes depending on the company you are getting your loan with.

Most all payday loan providers only require that you have either an active savings or checking bank account and have held your current job place between 3-6 months and be able to support yourself with at least 1000 dollars per month, which sounds quite reasonable and affordable.

The deal with Payday loans:

Short-term loans are not complicated at all. As we previously said, if you want to get a loan over the internet you will be required to fill in the application form. It is your interest to stay true to yourself and try to be as honest as possible while filling it. There will be lots of questions that will require information about your hob, whether or not you have ever been approved or refused a credit and so on. Now you might start to think it is not worth the trouble. Of course for those who do not need money urgently and do not have a special reason to loan it - it might not be necessary. But what about those who are practically hanging on a financial string?

Let us look through the reasons to go for a payday loan:

• You can apply in person, on the phone or on the Internet.
• You won’t have to go through the hassle of a credit check.
• The loan proceeds are automatically deposited into your bank account within 24 hours.
• The process takes less than 20 minutes.
• It’s discreet - nobody else is involved.
• It’s affordable, at least immediately - you don’t have any up-front costs.
• It’s secure - your financial information isn’t shared with others.

Where to get it?

In the world of today you can get a payday loan almost anywhere you go. The companies that offer these services are almost on every single street and around every corner. The form of procedure doesn’t differ anywhere. You apply for a payday loan and get it! Try it now if you feel the money urge - it might pleasantly surprise you!