Posts Tagged ‘About’

What is the best way to learn about personal finance and investing? I know nothing and want to learn.?

Saturday, September 4th, 2010

I know nothing about personal finance. My parents never taught me and I need a complete introuduction to budgeting, saving, and investing. Step by step guidande kind of stuff. Does any have advice?

Why are we Americans so uneducated / misinformed about personal finance?

Tuesday, August 31st, 2010

How can so many be so ignorant about something so important? Do ppl acutally think that that the gov’t is going to give them 800 bucks; do they not realize that they have to pay it back on next years income tax? Or at least have that deducted from their refund. How can so many fall for the Payday loan scams? How did so many get into ARM mortgages? Why don’t ppl educate themselves about personal finance?

What’s an average salary or approximate salary you can make with about 8-10 years of experience in finance?

Tuesday, August 31st, 2010

What’s an average or approximate figure you can make with about 8-10 years of solid experience in finance industry and a masters degree in finance?
If you start off as a financial analyst, treasury analyst?

How can I learn about business and finance?

Monday, August 23rd, 2010

How can I learn about business and finance, enough so that I can make good investments with my hard-earned money ? And good plans about my financial-life (as well as job-wise, knowing to recognize the job with good potential) —- Good answer will get 10 points…

What advice can you give me about getting a job in Finance in Rhode Island with no previous experience?

Friday, August 13th, 2010

What advice can you give me about getting a job in Finance in Rhode Island with no previous experience? I just recently received a Bachelor’s in economics. My only work experience has been in human services working with the developmentally disabled.

What’s a good book for dummies who want to learn about finance especially about the stock market?

Monday, August 9th, 2010

I’m currently studying finance and although I find the subject fascinating I don’t want to miss out on any of the finer details so I was wondering if there is a book out there that could help me (me of low brain capacity) out with understanding the ins and outs of finance. Especially in subject of the stock market (like how and when to invest on what stock, etc). Could someone please help me?

The Truth About Owner Builder Loan Closing Costs

Saturday, July 31st, 2010

After owner builders work their way through the maze of owner builder construction loan qualifying, it will be time to close on the loan. This is essentially where you sit down and sign a huge stack of documents that you will never read, or understand if you try.


Basically, this is where the owner builder loan promises to give you the money, and you promise to repay it. Sounds simple, but it will take a hundred or so pages to accomplish it.


Owner builders are typically free to choose any closing agent to conduct the closing. In most states, owner builders can choose either an attorney or a title company to perform this function. Some states require you to use an attorney.


Once you sign all the documents, the closing agent still must record them with the county registrar, making the owner builder construction loan official. This is usually the day after your signing.


During construction, as an owner builder requests specific loan draws, the lender will most likely request the closing agent to do periodic updates of the title to make sure no liens have been filed to date.


Most good owner builder construction loans are one-time-close, construction to permanent loans. Once you are finished building, there are no more closings to convert to your permanent mortgage. At this point most lenders simply send you a final loan agreement with the final loan amount and interest rate and terms for your signature. There should be no need to go back to the closing agent again for a second round of document signing if the owner builder loan is set up properly.


Owner builder loan closing costs typically consist of three components: broker/lender fees, loan fees, and third party fees. Remember two things about closing costs when considering owner builder financing.


First, closing costs for construction loans, in general, and owner builder construction loans, especially, are going to be slightly higher than costs for a plain purchase or refinance mortgage. Accept this and shop for the loan that best fits your needs. Do not waste your time looking for an owner builder construction loan that has the same terms as the refinance loan you did two years ago. Do not try to compare apples to pineapples.


Second, just because an owner builder construction loan has slightly higher costs does not mean that it is not a great deal. Remember the big picture. You are considering being your own contractor to build the exact home of your dreams and save tens of thousands of dollars doing so.


If your research shows that you can save, for example, $65,000 by being an owner builder, is it no longer a great deal if you only save $63,000? How about $58,000? $53,000? Realize that you are still saving a ton of money while building your dream home, despite the slightly higher financing fees that come with owner builder loans.


Brokers earn their income on owner builder loans by charging origination fees for their service. This is a percentage, called “points,” of the loan amount. One point equals one percent of the loan amount. By charging an origination fee, the broker is able to give you access to a lender’s wholesale rates. The broker is also able to represent you and your best interests by offering access to a variety of loan programs.


Working directly with a lender is also occasionally an option. Direct lenders are typically compensated the same way as a broker; by charging points.


Perhaps the best option is working with an organization that has expertise in owner builder loans, that is a direct lender, and that also has the option of acting as a broker when needed. This will give you the best of both worlds while ensuring you are working with a specialist.


The number of points you should expect to pay will vary by loan program and lender. For very specialized loans such as owner builder construction loans, it is common to pay approximately two to three points in total fees. This is a small price to pay for access to a program that will allow you to save tens of thousands of dollars while building the home of your dreams.


In addition to broker or lender fees, your loan’s closing costs will include loan fees. These fees include items such as underwriting, document preparation, draw administration, loan processing and a variety of the other small fees. For a construction to permanent loan (remember you are getting two closings in one), expect to pay approximately a half to one percent of your loan amount in total for these fees. Most of these fees are fixed amounts, so the percentage will be higher for lower loan amounts.


The third component of your owner builder closing costs are made up of things the lender or broker has no control over, hence the name “third party” fees. Third party fees are also, for the most part, not affected by the type of loan you choose. They are, however, influenced by the size of the loan. Third party fees consist of your closing agent’s fees, title search and title insurance fees, recording fees to the state, county or locality and any state or local taxes. Most of these items are set by the state and local governments and are simply the price of buying or owning a home in that area.


All told, owner builders can reasonably expect to pay approximately two and a half to four percent of their construction loan amount in closing costs. Some states may have high transfer taxes, excessive title insurance fees or other high state or local fees that will increase your costs.


Overall, the total closing costs are not bad when you consider you are closing on two loans in one and being given a loan to undertake a process most lenders consider extremely risky. Plus, owner builders get to build their dream home while saving tens of thousands of dollars.

Chris Esposito’s office provides owner builders with construction loans to allow them to manage the construction of their new homes without a GC. If interested, visit Owner Builder 101 at www.OwnerBuilder101.com. Or call Owner Builder 101 at (877) 876-3688.

First Learn About Your College Financing

Friday, July 23rd, 2010

Going to college is a dream that many parents have for their children. This dream however is an expensive one. You will find that many colleges offer special deals for teenage students to encourage them to choose a particular college. As this is mostly the case when you are considering any type of college you may want to find out what the college financing is.


Knowing the details of the college financing will provide you with the information that you need. While this financing can help you during your college years you should realize that you will need to pay this money back. As this point is one that you will need to face it is best to be clear on all of the details that are contained in the college financing.


There are many different government and private institutions who will be able to furnish this information you require. You should make sure that you have read all of the information that is provided. Then you can talk with your schools advisor or your family to find out how this college financing will affect you both during your college years and right after.


These matters will need clarification so that you can apply for the college financing your future college may need of you. You will find plenty of documents and applications that deal with this part of college life. To help you in finding your way through this maze the federal government has provided a helpful website. In this website you will find many useful links.


These links will let you see how to apply for the college financing loans. There is information about how to pay back your student loans. The consequences of defaulting are also presented to you in a clear manner. You will be able to find links to a variety of different college financing programs which have the approval of your state and the federal government.


As application procedures for these college financing programs can be some what confusing you will find many helpful links which will provide you with all of the information you require about applying. These sections will provide you with the type of documents you may have to furnish to have your student loan approved.


Since the process of going to university and college is very expensive it is always a good idea to check out the various student aid programs that you can find. The information and advice you receive from these college financing programs will help make your choice of colleges easier to think about.

Bowe provides free information to the online community. Visit his student loans site and gather free information on student loans, college financing and much more.

Facts About Financing Plastic Surgery

Monday, July 19th, 2010

In some cases, reconstructive plastic surgery may be covered by the patient’s medical insurance. Getting a cosmetic plastic surgery however may be a procedure that you have to finance yourself using a loan.

Now, there are already several options for people who can’t afford a cosmetic surgery. Before we look into those options, let’s take a look at what else you should know about financing plastic surgery.

Don’t Go for Bargains

You may be tempted to pick a surgeon who asks for less if you do not have clear options for financing plastic surgery. This is however, the worst possible mistake you could ever make. Plastic surgery costs are usually steeper if the surgeon who will conduct the procedure is already seasoned and an undisputed expert. An expensive doctor however is also more likely to be a safer option and eventually a more cost effective one. Cheap doctors may also have cheap services that may result in more financing plastic surgery problems because you would have to pay for corrective surgery on a botched up work.

Costs and Plans Vary

The extent of work to be performed, the type of procedure and the region you belong to are also some of the other factors that affect the cost of plastic surgery. Doctors and clinics will also therefore have different payments schemes or offers for financing plastic surgery. You would have to discuss this aspect as extensively as the procedure itself. Be warned that there may also be hidden costs or miscellaneous fees that you may not have asked about and may not be included in offers for financing plastic surgery.

No Plan Scheme

Some clinics and plastic surgeons don’t allow financing plastic surgery or will not allow you to present loan or installment plans. Some patients may not immediately realize it but such a policy may be as much for the patient’s advantage as it is theirs. This is because such a strict policy will ensure that a patient can truly afford the procedure and its corresponding after surgery costs.

Some clinics will even ask for a complete payment before a procedure to secure patient assurance. This may be potentially dangerous though especially if accidents happen.

Finance Companies and Banks

Now, there are already several finance companies and banks that provide options for financing the procedure. Individuals can now fill up forms for approval to cover cosmetic plastic surgery. Most companies will tell you that they have affordable and flexible rates but the truth is that applying for a loan may be a little more difficult than imagined especially in banks.

Plastic surgery loans are actually unsecured by collateral. This means that a bank or company may have to meticulously investigate your credit history and report to find out if you are capable of paying. Even if you do pass an application for financing plastic surgery, some companies may have higher interest rates than others simply because it is their only security if you are suddenly unable to pay.

Do you know your options in financing plastic surgery? Get more about plastic surgery cost.

The Importance of Learning about Personal Finance

Wednesday, July 14th, 2010

There are a number of different reasons as to why a person should learn about personal finance, but it is perhaps understandable that most people can not see these reasons for themselves. Personal finance is a difficult topic to learn about and for that reason a person just naturally tends to shy away from it, making excuses in an attempt to avoid having to learn about it. Well, personal finance is extremely important and here are some reasons why.


Money Flow


If you understand personal finance, then you will understand your money flow a lot better. There are a number of people that muddle through life paying their bills and their mortgage payment with the money that they have and then spending the rest of it or maybe letting it sit in their bank account. These are people that have no idea how personal finance works, so even if they end up making the right decisions they are doing it through luck.


While there is nothing inherently wrong with this particular approach, don’t you think that you would feel much better if you knew exactly what was going on with your money flow? The old saying is that knowledge is power and if you know about your money flow, you arguably have the most important individual power that exists in the world today.


Uncertainty and Fear


Human beings as a species have an irrational fear of uncertainty. In this respect, we are no different from any of the other mammalian species walking the planet, because all of them have been conditioned through thousands of generations of being eaten and killed to be afraid of what they don’t know. Uncertainty and fear therefore go hand in hand and when they do this in relation to something as important to your basic survival as money, the paralyzing effect that fear can have on you is something that is not even pleasant to think about.


Compare this situation however to a situation where somebody knows about how their money flow works and understands their entire personal finance situation. This person is not a person that is likely to be afraid, since there is no uncertainty involved with their financial situation. It is a lot easier to be afraid when you have no idea where your money is coming from and where it is going.


Utilization


If you truly understand personal finance, then another thing that you definitely should understand is utilization. A person that does not understand or appreciate personal finance is a person that is unlikely to save a lot of money, instead spending whatever they happen to have left after monthly expenses on entertainment and impulse purchasing. While there is nothing wrong with being a consumer on this level, it is something that might hamper you later on in life when your income begins to dry up and you realize you have no prospects on the horizon.


If the person does not spend a lot and does not understand personal finance, the same thing could happen. While the money in your bank account is available to you instead of having been spent on something impulsive, it is still not being utilized to its fullest extent.


Only a person with an understanding of personal finance would know that money being saved should at the very minimum be placed in a high interest savings account and later on should also probably be invested in things that yield a much higher interest rate. This difference in understanding and ultimately in utilization comes specifically from an understanding in personal finance.

Canada Financial Guide offering information related to the Canadian Financial industry. Find advice on how to manage your personal finance.