Chief Prognosticator

Ever thought about earning an online degree? Are they for real? Yes - they are! As long as you get it from an accredited higher education facility it will have a lot of value for your career. Find the best online degree programs (and traditional campsus-based degree programs) at DegreeHound.com.

Take it from me, furthering your education can advance your career, earn you more money, and make your life more enjoyable. I got an MBA from Keller Graduate School of Management, part of DeVry University, as listed on DegreeHound.com.

The site is well organized with the information organized in several ways:

• Program Areas (like Business Schools, Criminal Justice programs, and Culinary Arts)
• Degree Types (Associate Degrees, PhD Programs, MBA Programs)
• Online Schools
• Campus Schools

Find the perfect school, online or in person (or a mix of both like DeVry), and get your career in high gear! Furthering your education not only increases your knowledge and skill but also shows your current employer (or future employer) that you are dedicated to improving your abilities. This sort of thing goes a long way in an economy like ours right now — check it out and find a couple of schools to apply for. Its free and easy to do — check it out!

How does Debt Consolidation mean more money? Easy — with debt consolidation you will end up paying less for your debts over the long run and therefore have more money at the end of the day. How does this work? Bills.com explains! When you have a debt and you pay if off over time, you end up paying for the debt amount (the principle) and the interest accruing on the debt (the interest). This means a $1000 debt today could end up costing you $1500 or $2500 after you finish paying it off. Every month when you make a payment, your payment is split, some going to the principle and the rest going to the interest. That stinks, doesn’t it?

Well this is where Debt Consolidation comes into play. You consolidate your debts into a single debt at a lower interest rate. A lower interest rate means you pay less interest each month and more towards the debt itself. You pay it off quicker and have more money in the end! The benefits from this can be lower monthly payment, a quicker path to debt free life, and more money in your pocket! Check it out today at Bills.com.

Bills.com has all the information you need to manage your bills and get back on track. The economy is bad, the jobs outlook is bad — above all, you need to get your bills in order and brace yourself for the future.

Simply put, reverse mortgages are financial instruments which are meant to release the equity one has in their home. You basically take out the equity you have in your home and don’t have to pay it back until you die (or move). Not a bad deal, eh? Well learn more about this subject at MyReserveMortgagePro.com. This sort of mortgage is used mainly by people over 62 years old and who have paid off most or all the value of their home. Get a lot of free reverse mortgage information at this site and decide whether it is a good option for you or your parents. It can help you get a steady stream of income from an asset which you already own. Still confused? Well check out the website and learn about reverse mortgage benefits. The closing costs are relatively low and you can start right away. Here’s another way to think about it — instead of making monthly payments which you would in a regular mortgage, in a reverse mortgage it is YOU who gets the monthly payments! Nice work if you can get it. Its also a nice way for seniors to supplement their income while still being able to live in their homes.

Do you own a small business? Do you have the right technology to help you make money? Huh, never thought of it before? Well you’d be surprised about how technology can help your business become more efficient and save money in the mean time. For example video surveillance cameras can help deter employee and customer theft, adding to your bottom line and preventing loss. Touchscreen Point of Sale devices can increase speed and efficiency of your staff and also automate your inventory process. To learn more about these exciting and affordable technologies, visit IT Planet, purveyor of discount hardware for businesses.

In this down economy, you really need to make sure you are in the best financial position possible. Why? Well you never really know when you could lose your job and have to settle for lower pay or have to move to another town. Of course the best position to be in would be “debt free” but that’s not always possible. In most cases, the best position you can get in is one where your debt is at manageable levels and at the lowest interest rate possible. Learn all about Debt Relief solutions are FreedomDebtRelief.com. Its a really information packed site that explains all your possible options. Educate yourself and then decide which one is best for you. At the end of the day you want to be in the best position to weather this down economy. Some of the options listed at FreedomDebtRelief.com include:

• Debt Negotiation or Debt Settlement
• Credit Counseling
• Debt Consolidation
• Bankruptcy
• Credit Card Monthly Payment Optimization

They can help you determine which path is best for you and your specific situation. The best part is that they offer a free consultation without any strings attached. Just good financial advice. Give them a call today at 1-800-544-7211 to get back on the path to security and peace of mind.

Do you have plans for the holidays? Are you going to stay at home and visit or are you going to go somewhere on vacation? Well here’s an idea for a great vacation holiday — Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party is a once-a year celebration at Walk Disney World in Orlando Florida. Held in the months of November and December in the Magic Kingdom, Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party is holiday fun for the whole family. Since its the off-season (e.g. winter), you can find discount Disney tickets for simply amazing prices. If you can drive to Orlando, you get the advantage of super-low gas prices (how long will that last) in combination with cheap park tickets. Its really a great deal! Find great discounted tickets to the winter celebration at Orlando Fun Tickets. A superior online provider of attraction tickets, Orlando Fun Tickets has the best discounts around. Best of all, they are a name you can trust to get genuine tickets, delivered safe and fast. No worrying about this year’s vacation — visit Orlando Fun Tickets and get the party started! Give them a call toll free at (866) 225-4712 or visit them online at www.orlandofuntickets.com to get started planning the best winter vacation of your lifetime.

I love going all high tech for Christmas and the holidays. Forget giving regular old cards this year — do what I’ve done for years now and make your own custom Photo Cards. Take a family holiday photo and then send it off to vistaprint.com. Within days you’ll have your own custom holiday cards for distribution to your friends and family. There are hundreds of holiday designs to choose from. I like the 4″ by 8″ design — its something we’ve done in my family for years now and people love receiving them. VistaPrint is so easy to ease its no wonder why more than 15 million people have already given them a try. Upload your photo, select your design, add your text and add-ons, and then order! Its that easy and you will get your cards quickly. Avoid the holiday rush and order your holiday photo cards this week! It will be one more thing you can cross off your holiday list and you’ll feel really good to give them. The VistaPrint Guarantee of Satisfaction means that you have a full thirty days to contact them with your complaint and get your situation rectified, whether it means a full refund or a reorder of your print job.

Some of the best and most useful clothes you can have are those inspired from the military. Like many military inspired things, military clothing like a pair of tactical pant can really be useful to civilians. They have 10 pockets, cargo-style pockets to organize all your gear, and guarded pockets. Best of all, these pants are airport security friendly which means you can travel in style and not set off all the security. Check them out quickly because this special deal won’t last long. Check out with their secure interface and have your gear quickly and ready for action. Thanks!

So the economy has left you with a decision — move to another city and get a great job or stay where you are and settle for a not so good job… The decision is clear — move and get the better, more secure job! Now what to do with your car? If you are moving a state over, then there is no problem — just drive your car to your new home. But what if you are moving across the country or even to another country all together? This is where a service like CarMovers.com comes to the rescue. They are a very useful resource to find qualified and insured car movers nationwide. You can get free auto shipping quotes quickly with this useful website. Once you get your quote, you can figure out whether it makes more sense to move your car or sell it and buy a new one in your new surroundings. You decide!

There are two things you can do to prepare yourself for the upcoming period of recession — change your thinking and your spending habits. You change your thinking by realizing that you don’t have to pay a lot of money for some things you are used to dropping a bundle of cash on. For example, did you know that you can buy real prescription eyeglasses online for only $8. No, these are not cheap plastic knockoffs. No! They are real honest to goodness quality glasses made to fit your exact prescription. ZenniOptical.com brings this great deal to you meaning you can change your spending habits and save serious money. Zenni Optical has hundreds of stylish frames to choose from. Whether you need single vision lens, photochromic lens, bifocal lens and or progressive lens, they have a great deal for you. How can they sell real prescription eyeglasses so cheap? Easy — they have cut out the middle man, they don’t have stores in every strip malls, and they have a small advertising budget. These three things combined means that they can keep their prices low. Check out their selection today and see what a great deal they have. I am placing my order this week for a couple more pairs. Stay tuned.

With the U.S. economy and stock market in the doldrums and the rest of the world bracing for a global recession, there is not better time than now to get your financial house in order. The number one thing you can do is get control of your debts and have them in the most manageable form you can manage. This is all about debt consolidation — consolidating your debts means combining them in a way to reduce the time to payoff and lower the interest you will pay along the way.

To learn more about this important subject and begin your path back to financial order, check out the great information resource of Bills.com. There are many different choices when it comes to debt consolidation and Bills.com has the valuable debt consolidation tips and resources you need to make an informed decision. For instance, did you know that consolidating your credit card debts can save you thousands of dollars of the life of the loan. One way is to take out a home equity loan and use the proceeds to pay off all those credit cards bills. Then, with only one loan remaining (the home equity loan), you can focus all your cash flow into paying off that debt. Once that debt is gone, you are debt free! Benefits of this include lowering your interest rate, getting potential tax incentives (like tax deductions), and speeding up the time to repay. This sort of consolidation and repayment certainly is a better alternative to bankruptcy. Visit Bills.com right now for tons of other useful information!

Fell like you are drowning in debt with no chance to get ahead. Don’t worry — it happens to the best of us. But what makes the difference between sinking and swimming is how you respond to the financial situation you are in. Seek professional credit and debt counseling and you will be taking the first step back on the road to financial stability.

Here’s a recommendation — visit DebtGuru.com and read up on debt counseling. DebtGuru.com is the online presence of the American Credit Foundation, a non-profit debt counseling and financial support organization. With their specialized credit counseling center of America, they have been helping people like you out of financial trouble since 1994. Over those 14 years, they have seen the worst of the worst in terms of financial messes. No trouble is too big and no debt is too deep for you to be hopeless. How do they do this? Well the process is simple — they help you get control of your debt by improving the terms and conditions of your current debts. This means in many cases lowering the interest rates or removing penalties. They also help by setting up a structured payment schedule for you to repay those debt.

Fill out their simple online form and get a free quote today. There is nothing to lose except all your debt. Their service can help you save thousands of dollars over the life of your debt and can get you back in control. The American Credit Foundation is bonded and insured up to $100,000. They are also certified ISO 9001:2000. This means they have standardized business practices and procedures to support the efficient operation of their organization. Finally, American Credit Foundation is part of the UTAH Better Business Bureau and the BBBOnLine Reliability Program. This makes them a non-profit organization you can trust and I think that their services could not come soon enough!

Starting a new business is tough. I’m talking really tough — that’s why so many people are intimidated into not following their dreams and starting their own business. But it doesn’t have to be this way. Visit EZUnsecured.com to learn about how you can get unsecured
Business Loans for up to $200,000 without documentation. “EZ-Doc” loans are available for up to $10,000,000. No serious! If you have strong credit, you can get fast and easy business loan funding. EZUnsecured.com’s lenders are focused on great service - they want you to live your dreams!

What’s a better way to relax at the end of a long week at work than a cold drink and a nice cigar? Or how about the way to celebrate a great round of golf with your buddies? Cigars aren’t for everyone and they aren’t (usually) for everyday, but there is something about a good cigar that heightens your senses. For a great selection of cigars at direct prices visit CigarsToBuy.com. It’s a one-stop shop for all your cigar needs — from the intellectual (information on brands, styles, ratings, reviews) to the sublime (exotic cigars, expensive cigars), CigarsToBuy.com has it all. It could be the best place on the Internet to buy cigars. Shop with confidence 24/7 with their online shop and have your cigars sent directly to your home or office within 10 days. All cigar boxes come carefully packaged to maintain their freshness and integrity.

Sure they have some of the finest cigars in the world — top names and expensive lines — but they also have great cigars at low prices. Check out these Partagas 150 cigars. They are being sold at a great price. Check out all the different styles and sizes available. What ever you buy, be certain that your package will arrive safely — ready to enjoy. All shipments are insured and ship via UPS or USPS.

What if you are wronged and can’t fight back? Sure criminal court will help but what about compensatory damages? Just can’t afford to sue for damages? Well this is where the area of lawsuit funding comes into play. In this situation you get funding so you can continue your lawsuit and help increase your chances for winning or settling. What if you lose? Nothing! You don’t have to repay the money if you don’t get the settlement. On the other hand, the upside is great — you win and get compensated for your injury or pain. Think about it.

The U.S. real estate market is bleak but there are still some spots of brightness. One such area is Round Rock located 20 miles North of Austin, Texas. Round Rock tx homes are still available for great prices. The whole area is one of the fastest in the U.S. and this makes for a great situation. From Round Rock to neighboring Austin Real Estate, its looking good. On one hand there is actually growth in this area whereas other spots around the country are stagnant. Secondly, real estate in Round Rock is getting scarcer which means prices and home values will rise over time. The U.S. housing market may be in the toilet but there are still some spots of promise out there.

In the past few weeks of market panic, I have often wondered what the world’s greatest investor, Warren Buffett, was doing with all his cash. Now its confirmed (after the fact, of course), that Buffett has been on a buying spree of “cheap” U.S. stocks. In an opinion column in the New York Time, Buffett wrote “A simple rule dictates my buying: Be fearful when others are greedy, and be greedy when others are fearful.” Fear has certainly been the persistent mood on Wall Street these past week as some stellar stocks like Microsoft have dipped dramatically. Buy, Buy, Buy!

Here’s my personal finance tip of the month — shop for new insurance every 2 years. Why? Well you can save a lot of money of finding a new insurance carrier or, at least, renegotiate lower premiums with your existing carrier. Its that easy and can save you hundreds of dollars a year. If you live in the Washington state or Idaho states area, check out Save More Insurance — one of the best customer-service orientated insurers in the business. No matter if you are a small business or an individual, they can provide comprehensive insurance for less. Which insurance products do they provide? You name it — Auto insurance, Motorcycle insurance, Homeowners insurance and flood insurance. They are also one of the top providers of Idaho renters insurance! (That’s right renters — ecven if you don’t own a house, you need to protect the value of your goods. Get renters insurance for cheap and protect your valuables from theft and fire).

Save money by switching insurance today. After you switch, remember to mark your Yahoo or GMail calendar for a reminder in 24 months to revisit your insurance to make sure you’re still getting the lowest rate possible. Remember, visit their site today and click “Get a Quote” to start the process. Its fast and easy and could save you a bundle.

How excited would you be to buy gas as $2.99 a gallon? I was –this morning I got it for that price and was able to fill up over 16 gallons for $50. Amazing. Well how would you feel if you only paid $1.99 a gallon? Or how about $0.99 a gallon? Impossible you say? Well check this out:

Dozens get gas in Wis. for 35 cents after mistake

At one gas station in Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin, about 40 people were able to fill up for only 34.9 cents a gallon. It was a pricing mistake — the advertised price was $3.43 but the pump was only showing 0.349! The mistake was caught after a short while but the people who filled up were allowed to keep the gas!

Technology is big money. Not just on the stock market but also in the sales companies ring in from high tech products. Which tech stocks are set to gain the most in this market? Well looking at the markets we see a few big names with low PE ratios. Dell closed Monday at 15.21 a share. That’s a PE of 11.37 which is historically low for this stock. Another bellwether is Intel which closed Monday at 16.99, at a PE of 14.12. Start buying these stocks and see a 60% gain in the next couple of years.

Part of growing up and becoming a mature adult is slowly building a respectable furniture collection. I’m almost there and I’m not quite 30. I’ve got a dark wood entertainment center, a formal office, a wine cave… what else do I need? Well a really cool item I want is a big and bold grandfather clock. Its one of those pieces that you buy once and keep a lifetime. I think that grandfather clocks only get better with age. Check out this clock from 1-800-4clocks.com:

Its a Ridgeway 221 Baker Street Grandfather Clock. Isn’t it amazing? Its referred to as the “Sherlock Holmes” Grandfather Clock (get it? 221 Baker Street?). It is constructed of selected hardwoods and veneers with intricate carvings. I really like the astrological display on the top of it — the moon dial moves with the time. It is one of the Top Names of Grandfather Clocks around. Other big names include Howard Miller and Kieninger. Find the perfect grandfather block from 1-800-4clocks.com. They have 0% financing available for 1 year on any purchase of $500 and free shipping in the U.S. and Canada. On top of that, they offer free in-home setup of your grandfather clock in the U.S. and Canada.

Stock markets across the world rose sharply today on news of the coordinated bank rescue plan by national governments around the world. Among the top performers were the UK FTSE 100 index which was up over 4.7 percent, Germany’s DAX which was up 211.63, or 4.2%, the French CAC-40 up 4.8 percent, and more. The biggest gains though were in Japan. The country’s benchmark Nikkei 225 index, surged over 1,170 points, (14%). Why the big spike in Japan? Well the Tokyo financial markets were closed Monday for a holiday and had to catch up to the news this week.

The downturn in the housing market may have left you feeling bad, but now is actually the time to plan the home of your dreams. With property and land values depressed across the country, you can now afford to buy the house of land of your dreams and build! What you need is a partner for your dreams. Tim Moss Home Improvements is the type of company you want to associate yourself with. They are a leader in the North Carolina area for home improvements and custom home building. Some of the services they provide include:

• Garages and Carports
• Exterior Waterproofing
• Kitchen Remodeling
• Home Additions
• Custom Home Building
• Home Remodeling

Tim Moss Home Improvements has been in the remodeling and building business for over 20 years. They are a Lake Norman home builder with the experience to make your dreams a reality. Don’t be scared of the market — embrace it! Find the plot of land or fixer-upper of your dreams (now on sale!) and buy it! Then plan the next steps as a remodel to make it your very own paradise.The stock market will one day recover and so will property values across the nation. Build your dream house today and watch its value rise over that period.

The service industry has rode a wave of success and growth in the past decade. Will the trend end? No, instead I see it shifting to a new level of service oriented jobs. With an aging baby boomer population, more and more people will try to stay young looking and feeling good. This will increase demand in beauty and massage therapy services. Prepare yourself for a successful future by getting your training now at the International Beauty School at La James College Mason City. It is some of the best beauty and massage therapy training in the nation.

Get a diploma as a trained Esthetician in as little as 30 weeks (course work of 600 Hours) from a leading skincare school. This exciting field will only grow as the population gets older and wants to hold on to their youthful appearance. Learn these valuable skills now from La James College and secure a great job in a salon, modeling agency, or hotel spa. This service industry is growing at an amazing pace.

Other diplomas available at this over 76 year old school are Hairstyling and Cosmetology; Diploma of Massage Therapy; and Diploma of Nail Technology. The future is bright (and beautiful) at La James.

Japan market is down 46% this year. Even worse, if you measure the Japanese stock market from 10 years ago until today, the return has been -36%. That means a $10,000 investment in the Japanese stock market in 1998 is now only worth $6,400. Even less when you account for inflation!

Chinese market is down 62% this year. On another note, if you measure the Chinese stock market from 10 years ago until today, the return has been only 5%. That means a $10,000 investment in the Chinese stock market in 1998 is now only worth $10,500. Even less when you account for inflation!

The UK stock is market down 39% this year. Even worse, if you measure the UK stock market from 10 years ago until today, the return has been -19%. That means a $10,000 investment in the UK stock market in 1998 is now only worth $8,100. Even less when you account for inflation!

The Russian stock market is down 63% this year. But if you measure the Russian stock market from 10 years ago until today, it has still returned an amazing 1885%. That means a $10,000 investment in the Russian stock market in 1998 is now worth $188,500!

When you look at the news this weekend and see the fall out from the global stock market meltdown, take a little perspective with these stats:

• Dow up 386% from 1987 stock market crash.
• NASDAQ up 464% from 1987 stock market crash.
• S&P 500 up 299% from 1987 stock market crash.

What goes down, must come up. The U.S. stock market will recover from this rough period and will return great in the future.

Here are some amazing stats from the U.S. stock market this month:

• S&P 500 down 23% this month alone.

and from the past year:

• Dow down 40% from all-time high of 14,164 hit on Oct.9, 2007.
• NASDAQ down 42% from recent high of 2,859 hit on Oct.31, 2007.
• S&P 500 down 43% from all-time high of 1,565 hit on Oct.9, 2007.

Is now the right time for debt consolidation? Absolutely! The main reason is that interest rates are so low right now, that you can get a great refinance rate.

A service like fastdebtfreedomnow.com can reduce the amount you owe up to 50%, create a low monthly payment on the path to debt free living, and help you avoid bankruptcy. Now is the time for credit card debt consolidation — the economy will only get rockier. If you reduce your debt and lower your monthly payments now, you can put yourself in the best position for the future.

What could be better than saving money on your digital utilities? Why saving money on your digital utilities and winning a 2009 Honda Civic Hybrid! Wait — what’s a “digital utility”? Well that’s what I call television, high speed internet access, and telephone service. Like the regular utilities — water, gas, electricity — these digital utilities are necessities in this modern era. The value that Charter brings is that through bundling these great services, you cut your monthly bills lower than they would be when you buy them separately. I mean, you can’t bundle your water bill with your gas bill, but your digital utilities are easy! Order any Charter service online and you’ll be entered to win the $24,000 Honda Civic Hybrid. Already have Charter (or don’t want to sign up)? Well that’s OK too — you can still register online to win the car! Charter is the top rated service provider for high speed net access and digital cable. Check them out today and sign up to win that hot car! Its really a win-win situation — save money on your digital utilities AND save the environment at the same time. With gasoline still averaging $3.40 a gallon, a 45 MPG Honda Civic Hybrid sure could go a long way with both. Help spread the word on this great offer with your friends and family. Trust me — you usually don’t want competition when it comes to these contests but if someone you knows wins thanks to you, I’m sure you’ll get to borrow the car!

I love Halloween — its my favorite time of year. I could go on and on, giving you tips and tricks to have a great time this Halloween season, but if I give you only one tip it will be this one — buy your costume online. No seriously — I love going to Halloween stores as much as the next guy but the prices you’ll find in local stores are at retail or higher. Instead visit a Halloween Costume Store online and get a real deal on the perfect costume.

Visit HalloweenAdventure.com and check out the great deals. Take a look at their “On Sale Costumes” section for even deeper discounts. They have a “quick and easy return” policy which means you’ll never get stuck with something you don’t like. Also take advantage of their free Shipping on orders over $60 until October 10, 2008.

Shopping online lets you compare dozens or even hundreds of costumes with ease.  It saves you time and maybe even saves you frustration. I mean, at this time of year, brick-and-mortar Halloween stores are packed — everything is disorganized, there are long lines to find costumes and even longer lines to try them on — skip the crowds and buy your costume online at HalloweenAdventure.com.

The headline from the AP says it all “Dow plunges 679 for 6th triple-digit loss in a row (AP)“. Let’s break down that headline into three distinct part — all three crazy on their own — but together, they are very scary:

• Dow plunges 678 [points] - Yikes! That’s the third largest point loss in the history of the DJIA. That would be huge news in and of itself.
• 6th … loss in a row - A six day losing streak is nothing to scoff at. I mean, that’s every day in October so far. How many days will it go?
• [6th] triple digit loss - Six in a row, all down over 100 points! Now that’s really crazy. I mean, a down streak is a down streak but some of those days could be like -50 points or -15 points on a flat day. But No!, six losses in a row all over 100 points!

If you’ve run into a spell of bad luck and find yourself with poor credit, it will be tough to get new credit or use existing lines of credit. This may be good because it prevents you from misusing credit and getting deeper into trouble, but there comes a time where you need to start rebuilding it.

BadCreditOffers.com is a specialized financial website aimed at finding you the right partner to rebuild your credit. It has in depth comparison of bad credit credit cards and provides useful information on rebuilding your credit. Once you find the right card, you can click right through to the site’s secure online application. It’s that easy.

When you are ready to start the rebuilding process, visit BadCreditOffers.com first.

Is the U.S. Stock market worrying you these days? Well if you have the right investment strategy then you will have nothing to worry about. The secret to wise investing is actually no secret at all. It’s called “dollar cost averaging”. In DCA,you make regular,periodic investments in the same securities. I recommend a mutual fund or ETF in the industry or market you like. For example, if you want to buy in the Biotech industry, buy PBE, $500 every 3 months. No matter what the market is doing, you buy on a regular basis. Over time, we assume, that PBE will go up, and so you will be buying PBE all along that path. Some times it will be down, others it will be up, but in 5 years, chances are that it will be up and you will have made a lot of money.

If you are like me, you open up your windows come the first mild day at the start of Fall. When you can turn off that AC and take advantage of mother natures gift, you can save money and flush your house out with fresh air. Here’ s great idea to get your breeze flowing — Stoett Industries, Inc. makes a product called the StowAway™ Retractable Screen. Its a screen which you can deploy over your door or window whenever you feel like. One of their coolest ideas are their garage screens. This way you can leave your garage door open, getting a substantial breeze through your house, without having to worry about debris and bugs flying in. If you like to work in your garage, their screens can give you privacy and keep your workspace clean. Check it out — now is the time to take advantage of the beautiful fall weather.

“Wall Street hits 5-year lows” — that’s the headlines you’ll see tonight and tomorrow. It was a brutal day on Wall Street today with the Dow being down up to 800 points at one point. The market rebounded a bit at the end to close down 445.31 (-4.31%). That means if you bought stock back in 2003, your investment today might be worth less than it was 5 years ago! What will tomorrow bring? Another 500 down? Or 500 up?

Well a great way to answer this question is to look at an example of such a visionary. Jim Piccolo is a classic example — he made his mark in the world by starting and growing several successful companies. His secret isn’t that mysterious but it does take guts. His keen ability is to quickly recognize a golden opportunity and to act on that act on opportunity quickly. Jim Piccolo’s biggest idea was that business professionals and entrepreneurs needed a platform to accelerate their careers and abilities. The path to this real world education would be through practical business knowledge and cutting edge business skills. The result is known as Nouveau Riche University. This simple skill combined with a lot of guts has made Jim Piccolo a CEO Visionary many look towards for answers.

As with many  successful leaders and entrepreneurs, Jim has widened his focus to many charitable organizations. Sure helping people reach their maximum professional potential is good, but using those same skills to help people with their lives is even better. Jim is involved in Celebrity Fight Night, Judi’s House, The Solid Rock Foundation and Project Water Purifiers to Africa. A visionary in both the boardroom and in the world of charity, Jim Piccolo means business and makes his living driving success.

Have you noticed how Apple Inc.’s stock has dropped like mad in the past few weeks? Well its bad news for investors for sure. Here is the bad news:

In the past month, Apple (AAPL) has dropped a whopping 41.86%. Thats a full $69.89 lost per share. At today’s close, AAPL is down to under a hundred dollars at $97 a share.

Is it time to buy? Well with this major drop, Apple’s P/E ratio is a tiny 18.98. That’s really cheap for the Tech / Computer Services industry. Google’s PE is 25.43!

If you are a small business and still don’t take credit cards for payment, then you are at a great disadvantage. If you do take credit cards, but pay high fees for that service, then you are still at a great disadvantage. What I’m trying to say is that there are credit card processing companies out there like Merchant Advisors which can give you everything you need, for less! Here’s their value proposition:

• 1.59% for qualified merchants. Now you can accept Visa, MasterCard, American Express and Discover Cards.
• No long term contracts to sign up for!
• No annual fees
• Free credit card machines and free replacement service

This means you can start accepting credits cards and only pay as you go for the service. No extra fees, no equipment fees, no contract! Watch your business grow.

Remember yesterday when I said the the Dow would Rise Tomorrow after the House of Representatives passed the $700,000,000,000 bailout plan? Well guess what? I was WRONG. It was a classic example on Wall Street of “Buy the Rumor, Sell the News“. What does that mean? Well it means that in anticipation of good news (or the absence of warnings), stocks rise. When the news finally hits, even if its good, people sell to capture their gains. I mean, if the good news has already been “priced in”, then the stock can only go down when the news actually occurs.

Have you always dreamed about living in California? How about a single family home of your own in downtown San Francisco? Yeah it could be a dream come true. Well with the housing value crash, you might now be able to afford that dream home! Just find knowledgeable San Francisco Realtors — which know the town and the culture — and have them show you the town. I’m sure the you’ll be able to find great properties which have been drastically reduced. Realty in San Francisco is still not cheap, but with the mortgage crisis, it might actually now be within reach for normal people like you and me.

Remember how the U.S. stock market sunk after the U.S. House of Representatives voted down the $700 billion rescue package? Yeah, 777 point was a horror. What will the stock market do tomorrow morning? The U.S. Senate just passed a very similar bill to the one that was voted down Monday. Now the bill goes to the House, where hopefully it will pass this time. I see the U.S. stock market going up at least 500 point tomorrow, with a small chance that it rises 1000!

Using credit wisely is important when it comes to building your credit history. More than that, using credit can help your finances, allowing you to get 20-30 days free financing and even cash back or prize rewards as you shop. Let’s find the perfect Credit Cards together at CardHub.com.

First you got through and Set Your Preferences. Mine were as follows:
My Credit: Excellent
Card Categories: Personal
Things I Care About: Regular Rate
Rewards:Cash Back
Networks: Visa, MasterCard
Annual Fee: None

And - voila - 10 cards matched by search criteria. The search results were all real-time. Pretty cool. And guess what? Out of the 10 cards it returned, one of them was the Credit Card I actually use now — The Chase® PerfectCardTM (Gas Rebate). For me, this is proof that the site works!
The only thing I didn’t like was that it wasn’t perfectly obvious where to enter in my criteria, but if you look for the Set Your Preferences area on the left, you’ll be fine.

Warren Buffett has been waiting for a moment like this. After “complaining” last year that he had too much cash sitting around because there was nothing worth investing in, Warren Buffett has taken advantage of the current financial crisis to make some huge purchases which will only make him richer. Last month, he spent $5 billion to sure up Goldman Sachs. Sounds charitable right? Nah, he gets special dividends worth 10% annually and the option to buy another $5 billion in stock for cheap. Now he’s struck again and purchases $5 billion worth of GE for a similar deal. Watch how rich he gets from this one.

Are you still paying for a new cell phone every 18 months or so? Well unless you’re forking over big bucks for one of those fancy iPhones, then you shouldn’t really have to pay a cent for a cell phone. No seriously — you can find free cell phone deals all around the Internet and in stores. I’m not talking about no-name brands either — I’m talking about free Tmobile phones and free sprint cell phones. What’s the catch? Well, not much — you’ll probably have to sign a 1-year contract or so, but that’s pretty much industry standard. Sounds like a great deal, right?

Well how about an even better one. What I’m seeing deals popping up on the Internet where you can not only get free cell phones, but actually a cash-back rebate when you sign up for one of these cell phone deals. That’s right — you can get paid to get a new cell phone. Think about it — if you already have a cell phone and are paying for service, why not trade it in, get a hot new cell phone, and get paid while you’re at it. Check out the deals online at websites like ifreecellphones.com.

Look, this recent downturn in the financial markets (i.e. Wall Street) has had some dire effects on many of out 401k and IRA balances. Its really a tough time — I don’t even log in to my 401k anymore. What’s the use? I’m not retiring for a few more decades.

But this Wall Street turmoil is only a symptom of a much larger debt problem. The U.S. government and its citizens have been spending more than it makes for decades. How is this possible? Easy — foreign governments and foreign investors have been buying out treasuries and other debt instruments to finance our over-consumption.

But now the party is over! The down turn in the housing market and the decline of global markets means that the end of cheap debt is over. If you are holding a large amount of debt, whether it be in housing mortgages or credit card debt, you should really establish a plan ASAP to get out of trouble. Now is the time to really think about responsible debt management.

Out of control debt is something you want to avoid at all costs. In that scenario, your interest fees grow faster than your ability to pay down principal, with your debts growing month by month with no chance to get out!

Can’t do it on your own? Well seek professional credit counseling services from a company like CareOne. CareOne can connect you with debt management agencies to help you make a plan and get back on track. Now is the last chance you’ll get in a long while to pull yourself out of debt. Give CareOne a call today at 1-800-507-7563 and talk to a live person. They have helped over 4 and a half million people so far — you can be one of their success stories too! Just go for it!

If any of you readers out there live in the ATL, then you know about the gas shortage. People scour the city, calling gas stations, looking for the next shipment in. I swear, I drove past 6 gas stations on the way to work today and all of them were out of gas! To you readers in the North, West, and abroad, do you know what’s happening in the Southern United States this week?? Its really a crisis — if gas doesn’t start flowing inward soon, we’ll start to see cars piling up on the side of the road with no gas! No joke!

Here’s an article about it from the Atlanta Journal Constitution.

Does it seem like thats what all the investment banks are doing these days? Well Uncle Sam (aka the U.S. Government) has not always complied. Just look at what happened to poor Lehman Brothers.

So how about you? Are you hanging in there during this time of financial crisis? Well if you are having trouble making ends meet, secure your financial situation by getting your house in order. For those of us with multiple debts, this means debt consolidation. You can consolidate your debt either through your local bank or you can secure a Personal Loan from a nationwide lender. Check out PersonalLoansLeader.com to find the financing you need. They have a nationwide network of lenders and banks which can get you approved quickly. Don’t let the bills (and late fees) pile up. Get secured lending now and face the future in a good position.

Easy as, well, pie. All you need these days is a computer. Under federal privacy laws, you can’t apply for a payday loan over the phone, but the Internet lets you apply for a Payday Loan in minutes. Get approval the same or next day. How much can you get? Well you can get up to $1500 quickly to help bridge your cash flow to payday. Of course you can take less — its all up to you. Check out the FAQs at Apex Payday Loan.com to get the full scoop on this easy way to get cash quickly. It’s really that easy.

Well many of us think the answer is…. at the dealer, but that can turn out to be far from the best. Sure car dealers have access to automakers credit divisions (think GMAC for GM), but they don’t always offer the best rates. Also, when you go this route, the dealer has more leverage over you. The best situation is to come into the dealership with your own lending options in your pocket and be able to weigh all your options. Maybe the car dealer’s Auto Loan is best, maybe not. This way, you get to decide pressure free.

Arm yourself with this powerful tool by visiting BestLeadingLenders.com before you go to the dealer. BestLeadingLenders.com will find you great Auto Loans from lenders across the country and can even get you approve while you sit at home. They also have a great selection of Personal Loan and Bad Credit Credit Cards offers from their network of major lenders. Don’t be left with no options — get the loan you deserve and go to buy your new car with options and confidence!

Here’s a recent articles from Forbes Magazine about the top Hip Hop music earners in 2008. Its titled Hip-Hop’s Cash Kings 2008. Here are the top earners and some surprises:

1. Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson - $150 million last year. How? From music, clothing, and $100 million for his share in recently sold Vitamin Water to Coca-Cola!
2. Shawn “Jay-Z” Carter - $75 million last year. How? Long term contracts and endorsement, music, clothing.
3. Sean “Diddy” Combs - $35 million. How? Sean John clothing line, record label Bad Boy, premium vodka Ciroc and reality-TV shows.
4. Kanye West - $30 million. How?  Music and other activities.

What about some surprises? Well how about Andre “Dr. Dre” Young making about $15 million even though he hasn’t made a hit record for himself in years and years. Its all about royalties for him.

Another amazing fact is that last year Tupac Shakur’s estate made about $15 million even though he’s been dead for over a decade! Now that’s wild. Just call him the Hip Hop Elvis.

Why do all clocks these days have to be digital ones, flashing their glow in the night? Fight the encroachment of modern technology by getting creative with your clock selection. I think a bedroom free of electronic glow is a thing of beauty — forget your LCD alarm clock, get something more traditional and recapture your sleeping darkness.

Thats why I’ve always wanted a grandfather clock for my home. They are more than clocks — they are pieces of art that can really make a statement in your bedroom or livingroom. For instance, these Howard Miller Grandfather Clocks are simply amazing. I really like the Howard Miller Chateau Grandfather clock. It is beautiful and classic. I would put it in my living room and have it chime the hours.

Visit the 1-800-4CLOCKS website and find the perfect clock for your home. They offer Free Shipping on all orders over $100 across the U.S. and Canada! That’s a real money saver considering how large and delicate grandfather clocks are. This saves you time and money — even if you bought from a local store, you’d still have to worry about transporting it home. With 1-800-4CLOCKS, you don’t have to worry about this at all!

Are you ready to face the future? I’m talking about finances here and whether you have the skills and the plan in place to reach your goals. For me, its retirement. I want to retire on my terms and not be forced to work longer than I really want to. This is a really long term goal but it requires constant attention and so-called “check-ups”. You need to sit back every once and a while and recalibrate your plan and check on your goals.

One was to perform a check up is to visit BillsIQ and take their free quiz to understand your financial intelligence. You might be surprised by the results. I took the quiz and found out that although I had a good overall IQ, I needed to increase my cash reserves for emergencies. Otherwise a simple string of bad luck could derail my plans and set me back years on my plan.

BillsIQ is a great site not just to help you get a handle on your bills but also to improve all other aspects of your financial life. Learn about retirement planning, budgeting, and college savings using their free information. Its an education you really shouldn’t pass up.