Thigh Exercises For Women

Author: Nitin Chhoda

 For women, shaping the muscles of the thighs is an important fitness goal. A shapely lower body is considered very feminine, and the right proportion of the waist to the hips is part of the equation. It's surprising, but true, thigh toning exercises can be done at home, without equipment and results can be seen in 4-6 weeks. Also, did you know that thigh and hip toning gadgets are not required if you know which exercises work, and how to do them. Most importantly, thigh exercises are most effective when combined with aerobic exercise and a healthy diet.

This means that women must not only do the right thigh exercises, but also include aerobic exercise and sound nutrition to get best results. The following exercises are the most effective front thigh exercises for women. The routine also includes inner thigh and rear thigh exercises.
For best results, start with 15-20 repetitions and one set. Increase gradually to 2 sets. Complete the routine at least 2 times a week for best results. This is an effective beginner to intermediate toning program. Please remember that these numbers are general guidelines only. For an optimum program tailored to your needs, please consult a certified personal trainer. If you have any injuries or medical ailments, please obtain a physicians clearance before starting any exercise program.

Wall Squat: Front Thigh Exercise

Starting Position: – Place your upper back against a smooth wall. Stand with your feet shoulder width apart, toes pointed slightly outward. Distribute your body weight equally between both feet and lean back against the wall. Movement: – Inhale, keeping your heels in contact with the floor at all times, slowly lower into a squat position while sliding down the wall. Exhale as you slowly straighten your legs, keeping your head and chest up, returning to the starting position. Repeat as required.

Standing Dumbbell Squats: Front Thigh Exercise

Starting Position:- Hold a dumbbell in each hand and allow them to hang down at your sides. Stand with your feet shoulder width apart, toes pointed slightly outward. Distribute your body weight equally between both feet. Movement:- Inhale, keeping your heels in contact with the floor at all times, slowly lower into a squat position. Exhale as you slowly straighten your legs, keeping your head and chest up, returning to the starting position. Repeat as required. 5 lb dumbbells work well, but you can start with 2 lbs and then work your way up to 5 lbs within 3-5 weeks.

Lunges: Front Thigh Exercise

Starting Position: – Assume a standing position with your feet slightly less than shoulder width apart. Grasp a barbell with a wider than shoulder width grip and place it across your shoulders. Movement: – Inhale, keeping your back vertical and slightly arched, slowly step forward with one leg making a long stride, lowering your body down slowly until your rear knee lightly touches the floor (if you cannot go as low as this, then work your way up to it over 2-3 weeks). Exhale and shift your weight backwards, taking one step (or 2-3 small steps if that sounds difficult) to return to the starting position. Repeat on the other side. Remember to consult your doctor before this or any other knee exercises if you have had any knee trouble!

Lying Face Down: Front Thigh Stretch

Starting Position: Lie on your stomach on a matt with your legs together. Movement: Reach behind you and grasp your right ankle with your left hand. Pull your right heel up as far as you can. Hold this position for thirty seconds. Repeat as required on other side. Please remember to hold for 10 seconds for this stretch.

Seated Split Stretch: Inner Thigh Stretch

Starting Position: Sit on an exercise matt and spread your legs as far as you can. Movement: Lean to your right side and reach for your toes. Rest your hands on your toes or at your ankle. Hold this position for thirty seconds. Repeat as required on other side.

Seated Butterfly: Inner Thigh Exercise

Starting Position: Sit on an exercise matt with your back straight. Movement: Bring the soles of your feet together and pull them in as close to your body as you can. Allow your hands to rest on your feet or to apply light pressure to your thighs. Hold this position for thirty seconds. Hold this position for 10 seconds. You will find this most effective if you gently push your knees down using your hands, be careful not to push too much.

Seated Hip Twist: Outer Thigh And Rear Thigh Exercise

Starting Position: Sit on an exercise matt with your legs straight out in front of you. Movement: Bend your right knee and place your right foot over your left leg. Wrap your arms around your right knee and gently pull it in towards your left shoulder. Hold this position for thirty seconds. Repeat as required on other side. Remember to hold for 10 seconds.

Lying Leg Pull: Total Thigh Exercise

Starting Position: Lie on your back on an exercise matt with your knees in the air and feet flat on the floor. Movement: Bring your right heel to rest on your left thigh. Loop your hands around your left thigh and pull it towards your chest. Hold this position for thirty seconds. Repeat as required on other side. Remember to hold for 10 seconds in each set.
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/fitness-articles/thigh-exercises-for-women-70499.html
About the Author
For more information and to register for free diet plans and grocery lists, visit http://www.best-weight-loss-programs.net/ , for exercises for women, visit http://www.toningforwomen.com and to train with Nitin, visit http://www.phonefitnesstrainer.com

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Benchmark Lending Rate Versus the Prime Interest Rate

By Jarvis Lloyd

In essence, the benchmark lending rate can be described as the interest rate that the bank has to pay when the institution borrows money from another bank or large corporation. The benchmark rate is to be distinguished from the prime rate of the banks, as the latter expresses the minimum and individual interest rate settled by the bank and on top of which the institution places additional charges based on the level of risk of the borrower. The benchmark rate is typically used by banks to determine the realistic prime lending rate (PLR) that they should charge and it helps calculate other rates of interest.

In order to understand the meaning of the benchmark lending rate, let's imagine a bank in the U.S. The PLR and American bank sets is usually in accordance with the federal funds rate, established by the Federal Reserve. The Federal Reserve is an institution with the power to influence the money supply via open market transactions. Consequentially, the banks that calculate their PLR using the federal funds rate will have to charge major borrowers an interest rate that was calculated in accordance to the Federal Reserve's set rate. In a nutshell, the importance of the prime rate is that it is the decisive factor regarding the interest rates borrowers can receive money.

So, how are the benchmark rates actually used in the lending process? For starters, any changes in the federal funds rate will directly affect the abilities of the banks to make cash transfers, as they need to watch out on ensuring they have the right amounts in their reserves. Therefore, when the federal funds rate increases, then all interest rates on loans provided to consumers and the return rate on the bank's deposit certificates, such as money market accounts, certificates of deposit and savings accounts will stagnate or decrease slightly.

In general, there are two methods used to calculate the prime lending rates. The first method, which is rather rarely used, implies that the prime rates and the benchmark lending rates are established by the authorities that manage the rates. The second one is commonly used in most countries of the world and it is based on the market forces. In short, the market forces imply the growth or contraction of the economy, trade balances, money supplies of the national banks, macroeconomic factors and so on.

It is important to note that there is some controversy regarding the way the Federal Reserve sets its prime rate and hence, influences the PLR of the other banks in the U.S. Basically, the federal funds rate is an exception and rarely set of rules used by the Federal Reserve to intentionally affect the economy.

By manipulating the cash flow, usually by increasing the supply in the open trade markets, they are assuming some huge risks, according to some economists. This main disadvantage of the expansionary monetary policy is that it is prone to add deficits and increase the inflation in the economy. According to the critics of the policy, the economy will stabilize and the benchmarks will emerge naturally, despite the financial crises U.S. and other countries are facing today.

Interested to know more about benchmark lending in general and the benchmark lending rate as well? There are certain websites that carry a wealth of information on this niche and you can easily access them with a simple online search!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jarvis_Lloyd
http://EzineArticles.com/?Benchmark-Lending-Rate-Versus-the-Prime-Interest-Rate&id=7166590

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What Kind of Insurance Do I Need?

By Ryan Coisson

What kind of insurance do I need? There is no one right answer to this question, because as an adult your life is constantly changing: and your insurance needs will change right along with it. But there are some benchmarks to look out for that will indicate whether an additional plan is in order; and, of course, the best thing you can do for total peace of mind is to work with an experienced insurance agent who will make sure all your needs are met. Meanwhile, here are just a few of the many life milestones that should prompt you to call your agent.

--College Graduation: Most states have laws in place that will allow children to stay on their parents' health insurance coverage until they graduate from college or reach a certain age. If you are a recent college graduate, now is the time to see what your health insurance situation is. If your employment does not offer health benefits, you need to speak with an agent about getting individual coverage at the lowest possible rates. Even if you are extremely healthy, accidents and unforeseen illnesses happen every day, and you want to at least be covered in case of catastrophe.

--Buying a Home: If you previously had renter's insurance and now you've bought your first home, now is the time to look into comprehensive homeowner's insurance coverage. This type of policy will cover structural and other types of damage done to your house within certain policy parameters, and absolutely no home owner should ever go without it.

--Birth of a Child: Once other loved ones depend on your income for their livelihoods, it's time to look into life insurance. For most people, that time comes when their first child is born. Should something happen to you, you will want to be sure that there is money to cover funeral expenses, mortgage, college educations and hardship due to loss of income.

This is just a small sampling of the types of life events that also require adjusting your insurance coverage: are your specific protection needs being met adequately?

Hart Insurance Agency LLC ( http://www.billingsmontanainsurance.net/ ) offers the best in Billings Montana insurance plans.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ryan_Coisson
http://EzineArticles.com/?What-Kind-of-Insurance-Do-I-Need?&id=5194604

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Safety Options For Retirement Income Generating Assets

By Keith Dennis

If you are looking for some safety options for your retirement income generating assets then keep reading. You should never risk your retirement income generating assets. Although the market is up right now there is no guarantee it will keep growing at its current rate or stay up.

With gas prices so high and an election year coming there is good reason to start seeking out safety options. There is no need or reason to risk your retirement income generating assets. But what do you invest in instead of risky market investments?

Market investments have their place in most people's portfolios. The problem comes in when they are used as the primary instrument to generate retirement income. What happens when the market goes down and you are taking income from your investments? You end up in a bad situation where you are withdrawing out a much larger percentage than you intended to before the market downturn.

Bond investing is almost as risky but not quite. The interest rate of a bond will stay steady when the bond market is not faring well. The main problem with bonds is that companies occasionally go out of business and an investor can end up losing their money. Stick to large company bonds with good ratings to help avoid this kind of risk.

The other issue with bonds is call dates. A company that calls their bond early is usually planning on reissuing the bonds at a lower rate which means rates are lower. You get your cash back and then have to invest at a lower rate and get lower income. What is left?

One Safe Solution That Does Not Fluctuate In Value

Annuities can offer guaranteed income with potential for market like growth as well. Keeping up with inflation is vital when setting up your retirement income. Annuities can provide the safety you need along with the income that you require.

Annuities are safe investments. Specifically, fixed annuities and fixed index annuities are safe. Variable annuities will fluctuate with the market and that is not what we are looking for. Fixed annuities do not go down in value.

Annuities are also guaranteed by your state insurance guarantee fund up to a certain amount. Be sure to research your guaranteed amount before investing, better safe than sorry. Usually the guarantee is somewhere around $300,000 in cash value of annuities per insurance company. Check your state's guarantee to make sure. When you find the numbers then be certain to never go over that amount. It is rare for an insurance company that issues annuity to go out of business but it has happened.

Fixed index annuities also offer lifetime income guarantees without annuitizing. You can retain access to your principal while being guaranteed a certain income stream. It is an amazing concept to think that you won't ever have to worry about your retirement income again!

Take a look at annuities as a safe retirement income solution. Be sure to go over all of the details and thoroughly understand what you are getting. Make sure to know how it benefits you and how you can take your money out when you need it. Never risk your retirement income generating assets!

Disclaimer: Always seek individual advice from a licensed professional. This article is for general information purposes only and is not a substitute for personal advice.

Keith Dennis works exclusively with small business owners to help them create tax-free income streams for retirement. Business owners are often stuck in the tax-deferred investment trap. They get a small break now and then end up paying much higher taxes later because they lose their business deductions. Then on top of that, their income is usually 100% taxable!

With tax-free investing you can literally have twice the income in retirement saving the same amount of money, retire sooner, or even save about half as much versus tax-deferred investments.

Get it touch with Keith today to learn how it works through the Small Business Retirement Group's Fan Page.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Keith_Dennis
http://EzineArticles.com/?Safety-Options-For-Retirement-Income-Generating-Assets&id=6217222

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Retire Sooner Rather Than Later

By Keith Dennis

What do you need to retire? Here is a hint. If you have enough you will never worry about it again! All you need is money! To be more specific what you really need is an income stream that never ends. And you need that income stream to grow with inflation and be enough to cover your bills right now.

It is amazing that it is that simple but it isn't easy by any means. The hard part is saving enough money through your 401k and other retirement plans to be able to provide that income by the means of investment income. How much do you need? That is a tough question and even most financial advisors do not completely agree.

Typically, a financial advisor will recommend about 4% of your asset base as safe to withdraw on a regular basis. If we work from that number we can figure out your basic asset need. If you currently earn $70,000 then plan on needing at least $1,750,000 in investments in retirement. That is just 4% of your principal balance to create income. That is assuming that the standard 4% rule even works anymore. With the market drops and uncertain economic conditions no one really knows.

The best case scenario would be to withdraw your 4% as long as the market isn't down. If it is down then do not withdraw any income. But that doesn't really work because if you need $70,000 in income per year it is very unlikely you could live on zero income. What to do?

Basically there are two great options. The first is to create another income stream. My advice would be real estate for most people. Think it through. If you could create an income of $2,000 per month, how much would your investment principal need to be then? You would only need $46,000 per year from your investment accounts. And $46,000 is 4% of $1,150,000 which shaves $600,000 from your savings goal!

The other way is to create a guaranteed income stream using annuities. The goal of 4% income could be achieved using some creative annuity laddering techniques. Of course, having the full amount in investments needed to produce the income would be best but there are options just in case you don't quite make it.

Annuity laddering can increase your income especially if you are a very conservative investor. If like CD's and bonds this idea is for you. If you like risky stock investments then this idea is for you as well although it will not be very exciting. Just remember that the goal is income then you can use the rest of your money for any investment you like.

The first step in annuity laddering is get your income started. Use an immediate 5 year annuity for this purpose. If we stick with the $70,000 example from above, about $350,000 would be needed to create this income. That will take you 5 years into retirement with guaranteed income.

The next step is to invest in three more long term annuities. The idea is that the longer the term the higher the rates and the more time for growth. Each annuity will be used to grow for about 5 years and then provide income for 5-10 years. With the last one growing for about 15 years and then providing all of your income needs.

With guaranteed income there is no need to worry about market returns. It's not necessary but as a side note you could also use the guaranteed income time to secure a few new rental properties as well to sure up the income stream even more! Follow these tips and retire sooner rather than later.

Keith Dennis works exclusively with small business owners to help them create tax-free income streams for retirement. Business owners are often stuck in the tax-deferred investment trap. They get a small break now and then end up paying much higher taxes later because they lose their business deductions. Then on top of that, their income is usually 100% taxable!

With tax-free investing you can literally have twice the income in retirement saving the same amount of money, retire sooner, or even save about half as much versus tax-deferred investments.

Get it touch with Keith today to learn how it works through the Small Business Retirement Group's Fan Page.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Keith_Dennis
http://EzineArticles.com/?Retire-Sooner-Rather-Than-Later&id=6255182

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100 Top National Insurance Companies Serving Employee Group Benefit Brokers

By Donald Yerke

Although this data is not 100% accurate, it is probably the most precise info available. Employee group benefit brokers need to know where to find the plans to fit their client needs. It is a well established fact that employers cannot handle the entire burden of providing a grocery list of benefits that their workers would like to have. As a result brokers are working with both the employee and his workforce. The worker is being given options of having additional coverages available with the convenience of premiums taken right from their paycheck. This is a win-win-win situation for the employer, the worker, and the agent.

Here you will find the top national insurance companies in this market, along with others marketing in most states. For brokers selling products with only one insurance company, it seems impractical and virtually impossible. I carry around a Swiss army knife, which although useful, often is incapable of performing the job correctly. Therefore, in my experience, I have found most agents selling plans more than occasionally, represent more than one insurance company. Like the Swiss army knife, no one insurance company can serve all situations. According to my records, the average broker involved in frequent sales represents 3 national insurance companies for this employee market.

For your convenience, there are two lists prepared alphabetically. The first are the carriers licensed to sell their employee benefit plans in all 50 states. The second listing is of states selling in a minimum of at least 40 states. All should have websites to receive fast additional information. With 100 top national insurance companies listed, maybe it is time to check out a couple more.

TOP NATIONAL INSURANCE COMPANIES & Carriers Licensed in all 50 states

1. ACI Specialty Benefits

2. Advantica Eyecare

3. AFLAC

4. AIG Employee Benefit Solutions

5. Allstate Workplace Division

6. American Sentinel Insurance Company

7. Ameritas Group

8. Assurant Employee Benefits

9. Avesis

10. BCS Insurance Company

11. Beta Health Association, Inc.

12. Boston Mutual Life Insurance Company

13. CIGNA

14. Combined Insurance Worksite Solutions

15. CCG- Cost Containment Group

16. Davis Vision

17. Delta Dental

18. Dentali Dental and Vision

19. Dental Select

20. EyeMed Vision Care

21. EZ Meds USA

22. GPM Life

23. Great American Insurance of NY

24. Great American Supplemental Benefits Group of TX

25. Guardian Life Insurance Company

26. Hartford Life

27. HM Insurance Group

28. Humana

29. Independent Health

30. ING Employee Benefits

31. Liberty Mutual Group Benefits

32. Lincoln Financial Group

33. Madison Life Insurance Company

34. Magnum Dental & Vision

35. Majestic Underwriters

36. MedAmerica Insurance Company

37. Medico Insurance Company

38. MESVision

39. Metropolitan Life Insurance Company

40. Minnesota Life Insurance Company

41. Mutual of Omaha Insurance Company

42. Nationwide Financial

43. Patriot Health, Inc.

44. Petersen International Underwriters

45. PPO USA

46. Principal Financial Group

47. Prudential Company of America

48. Reliance Standard Life Insurance Company

49. SecureCare Dental

50. Security Life Insurance Company of America

51. Security Mutual Life Insurance Company of NY

52. Spirit Dental Life and Vision

53. Standard Insurance Company

54. Standard Life Insurance Company of NY

55. Sun Life Financial

56. Super Vision Services

57. Symetra Financial

58. Transamerica Affinity Services in MD

59. Transamerica Worksite Marketing

60. Trustmark Voluntary Benefits Solutions

61. UNIFI Companies Retirement Plans

62. United American Insurance Company

63. United Concordia Companies

64. United Health Programs of America

65. Unum

66. VSP Vision Care

TOP MULTI-STATE INSURANCE COMPANIES Licensed in 40 or more states.

1. American Fidelity Assurance Company, minus NY

2. American Public Life Insurance Company, -NY

3. American United Life Insurance Company, -NY

4. ArmadaCare, -7 states

5. Assurity Life Insurance Company, -NY

6. BasicPlus Insurance Services, -10 states

7. Block Vision, -9 states

8. Brokers National Assurance Company, -6 states

9. Colonial Life, -2 states

10. Colorado Bankers Life Insurance Company, -2 states

11. Companion Life Insurance Company, -4 states

12. Conseco Insurance Companies, - 2 states

13. Continental American Insurance Company, -NY

14. Dominion Dental Services, Inc., -4 states

15. EMC National Life Company, - 2 states

16. First Dearborn Life Insurance Company, -NY

17. HealthPartners, -2 states

18. Illinois Mutual, -4 states

19. John Hancock, -2 states

20. Kansas City Life Group, -2 states

21. Minnesota Life Insurance Company, -2 states

22. Mutual Trust Financial Group, -2 states

23. Ohio National Financial Services, -3 states

24. Oxford Life Insurance Company, - 5 states

25. Penn Treaty Network America, -7 states

26. Renaissance Life and Health Insurance Company, -NY

27. Securian Dental Plans, -6 states

28. Significa Insurance Group, Inc., -5 states

29. Standard Life and Accident Insurance Company, -5 states

30. Starmark, -10 states

31. Texas Life Insurance Company, -NY

32. Transamerica Life Insurance Company, -5 states

33. Trustmark Life Insurance Company, -9 states

34. Western Reserve Life, -NY

Other insurer organizations and insurance companies

These cover most of the United States. They are American Continental Insurance Company, American Specialty Health Insurance Company, Best Life, Catholic Family Life, Columbian Mutual Life, Continental American Insurance, Eastern Life & Health Insurance Company, Equitable Life & Casualty, Guaranty Income Life Insurance Company, Kemper Investors, Pro Financial Services, and William Penn Association.

Shenandoah Life Insurance Company is not listed, as it is undergoing some difficulties. Apologies are in order to any companies catering to this market segment that were missed.

Well published author, Don Yerke likes to concentrate on what you don't know or what no one else dares to print. Tell it like it is.

Watch for his new paperback book debuting on Amazon early this summer. It is loaded with great insurance marketing and recruiting information.

Come and get your FREE "Think and Grow Rich" Ebook by Napoleon Hill instantly. The website address is [http://www.agentsinsurancemarketing.com]

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Donald_Yerke
http://EzineArticles.com/?100-Top-National-Insurance-Companies-Serving-Employee-Group-Benefit-Brokers&id=2011140

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Banking on Sharia Principles - Islamic Banking and the Financial Industry

By Linda Eagle

There are an estimated 1.61 billion Muslims worldwide, making Islamic banking one of the fastest growing segments of the financial industry. Banks serving the Islamic population must comply with several very specific principles of Islamic law if they hope to retain existing customers and attract new ones. Banks must be ready with specialized products and services and they must put programs in place to train their personnel to support these products and services in order to exist in this competitive marketplace.
The basic principle of Islamic banking follows the laws of Sharia, known as Fiqh al-Muamalat (Islamic rules on transaction). The term "Islamic banking" is synonymous with "full-reserve banking" and "Sharia-compliant banking." The most prominent feature of these laws is usury - the prohibition of paying or collecting interest on funds. The Islamic terminology for this is riba or ribaa. The Sharia also forbids engagement in investments that include financial unknowns such as buying and selling futures, as well as businesses that are haraam - dealing in products that are contrary to Islamic law and values such as alcohol, pork, gossip or pornography. These principles apply to all individuals, companies and governments.
Banks that comply with Islamic law are forbidden to charge interest or late payment fees, which is also considered a type of riba. To minimize risk, banks will often require a large down payment on goods and property, or insist upon large collateral. It is lawful for the Bank to charge a higher price for a good if payments are deferred or collected at a later date since it is considered a trade for goods rather than collecting interest. Sharia-complaint banking products include Mudharabah (profit sharing), Wadiah (safekeeping), Musharakah (joint venture), Murabahah (cost plus) and Ijarah (leasing). Another way that banks work within Islamic laws while trying to turn a profit is by buying an item that the customer wants, and then selling the item to the customer at a higher price.
The Mudharabah is a partnership between an entrepreneur and the bank. The bank is known as the rabal-maal and the entrepreneur as the mudarib. The bank provides all of the necessary capital to start a business and the entrepreneur does the work of managing the business. Profits are split at an agreed ratio until the initial funds of the rabal-maal are paid off. The rabal-maal is also compensated with additional funds based on the profits of the business in terms previously agreed on. In the event that the business folds, the rabal-maal shoulders the cost and the mudarib is not compensated.
Musharakah is similar to Mudharabah, in which an entrepreneur seeks funds for a business venture and pays the bank back with a ratio of profits. However, there are often more than two parties who contribute funds and become partners who can influence the business depending on the amount of money invested. The entrepreneur also contributes funds and shares in the risk. Any loss is proportional to the amount of capital invested in the business.
Wadiah is a system in which a person deposits money into a bank and receives a "gift" from the bank. The bank is the keeper of the funds and will refund the entire amount at the demand of the depositor. The bank rewards the amount of time the depositor keeps the money in the bank with a hibah or gift, which is not guaranteed. The hibah is similar to interest, but lawful according the Islamic law.
Murabaha governs the issuing of home loans or any other type of goods needed by a borrower. An Islamic bank does not lend money to a borrower to buy properties; rather, the bank will purchase the property at the borrower's request at a freely disclosed price, and mark up the price for the borrower to pay back, therefore making a profit from the investment. The borrower is named on the title and allowed to utilize the property immediately and pays the bank back in installments.
Another type of loan is the Ijara, in which the bank buys the home or item and leases the property to the borrower while retaining ownership of the property. The borrower can either use the property for a pre-determined period of time, or pay off the purchase price and buy out the Bank to attain full ownership of the property.
There are occasionally controversies surrounding the interpretation of the riba, which certain scholars argue was meant to prevent petty money-lenders from abusing borrowers, rather than a modern bank charging a reasonable, agreed upon interest. The general consensus, however, is that any interest is a direct violation of the law of Sharia and therefore unethical.
While each Islamic bank has its own board which rules on ethical banking principals, Islamic banking organizations have been establishing standard regulations and policies. The Islamic Development Bank has been working on international standards, policies and procedures, and the Accounting and Auditing Organization for Islamic Financial Institutions (AAOIFI), Islamic Finance Service Board (IFSB), International Islamic Financial Market, Liquidity Management Center and International Islamic Rating Agency are in development to ensure accurate and fair banking practices.
Today, Islamic financial institutions exist worldwide, participating in the $180 billion/day industry. In 1975 there was one Islamic bank; today there are over 300 in more than 75 countries. Islamic banks have become more prevalent worldwide and can be found in high numbers in such countries as Indonesia, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nigeria, Egypt, Turkey, Iran, Sudan, Algeria, Morocco, Iraq, Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Syria and Kazakhstan. The total amount of deposits in Islamic institutions, balance sheets, assets under management and private wealth are growing at a rate of 25-40% annually.
Because oil prices and liquidity are expected to stay at the same levels throughout 2007, budget surpluses will remain high, pushing both public and private sectors to be involved with the Islamic market. Many Islamic countries are investing in large infrastructure projects, creating more than a trillion dollars in investments. There is also a huge potential customer base. According to Standard and Poor's surveys, 20% of the customers in the Gulf Area and Southeast Asia would choose an Islamic banking product over a similar conventional product. There are significant middle-class urban and suburban populations that already use conventional banking, and therefore present ripe opportunities for Islamic banks. Most important to note, outside of the religious and political allure of Islamic banks, is that people are choosing their services for the safeties they offer. The evidence is clear: Islamic banking is big business and it is growing every day.
However, in order for Islamic banks to be competitive with conventional products and attractive to customers, Islamic financial products must meet the risk/reward profiles of investors and issuers while fulfilling the tenets of the Sharia and remaining sufficiently cost-effective. Additionally, Islamic banks must educate their personnel to understand the tenets of Islamic law that pertain to banking, and to train them to comply with Sharia as they serve their Islamic customer population
Dr. Linda Eagle is Founder & President of The Edcomm Group Banker's Academy-a 22-year-old education and consulting firm dedicated to serving Banks, Credit Unions, Money Services Businesses (MSBs) and all areas of the Global Financial Community with thousands of generic and customized training programs in areas such as BSA/AML, Regulatory Compliance, Teller Training, Systems Training, Sales and Service Training, and many more.
The Edcomm Group Banker's Academy is headquartered in New York, NY. For more information, email linda.eagle@edcomm.com or call +1.212.631.9400.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Linda_Eagle
http://EzineArticles.com/?Banking-on-Sharia-Principles---Islamic-Banking-and-the-Financial-Industry&id=2453393

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A Warren Buffett Book - Three Key's to Ben Graham's "The Intelligent Investor"

By Preston G Pysh

Benjamin Graham's widely acclaimed book "Intelligent Investors" laid the foundation for investing strategies so that investors could develop long term plan regarding their investment portfolios. Through this book, the mastermind of investments was able to introduce core principle that must undermine the investment strategy. The advice offered by the book is priceless and investors that are interested in high returns must incorporate the principles in the decision making process.

The most important part of the book focuses on investors and the accompanying speculation. Benjamin Graham asserts that speculation can lead to trouble and therefore investment decisions must not be based on speculation. Rather they must be based on thorough analysis so that the investment results in long term benefits. The principle states that a complete analysis of the financial statements must be performed before hand in order to establish the viability and profitability of the organization. Graham also focused on the need to have an adequate return from the portfolio of stocks. He stated that the investor must get a return that is above the return generated from low cost index finance. Graham focused that an investor must act with reasonable intelligence and thus decides on a rate of return based on the risk that he is willing to accept. The book also focused on the intrinsic value of the share as opposed to the market price of the share. This is one of the most valuable principles put forth by Benjamin Graham. The intrinsic value of the shares is based on the cash flows of the organization and this is what investors must calculate when buying shares.

Perhaps, the most famous principle of Benjamin Graham described in the book is Mr. Market. Here, the book explains in detail the workings of the stock market through an imaginary friend named Mr. Market. The author explains how the stock market is subject to fluctuations on a daily basis which might actually convince the investor to buy or sell the stock. However, he emphasizes that the stock market is subject to great volatility and any investor that is looking for long term returns must avoid these signals. Instead, the investor must take advantage of the stock market fluctuation only at extreme times; that is too sell dead stock when prices are high or buy quality stock when prices are low. Except for these two extreme cases, the stock market fluctuations must be avoided.

Another important part of "Intelligent investor" is the margin of safety. Graham emphasized that irrespective of the calculation of intrinsic value and through analysis, investment decisions are subject to errors of calculation. Therefore, all investors must ensure that the investment has a "margin of safety". For example, if they think that the stock has an intrinsic value of $100, they might be willing to pay $60 for it. So that in case the value is a little less than $100, the investor is far better off.

These three principles put forward by Benjamin Graham form the foundation of the entire book that aims to provide investors with complete guidelines on stock investing.

If you're looking for more information on Graham's book, be sure to checkout these useful resources:

1. Read this Warren Buffett investing book. The link takes you to a book on Amazon that summarizes Ben Graham's guidance in the Intelligent Investor.
2. Watch the videos on this website. It's dedicated to teaching The Intelligent Investor to online students.

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Don't File Taxes Online Unless You Want an Easier Process and a Faster Refund!

By Troy Ahyo

The internet has revolutionized so many aspects of our life. We shop, date, look for places to live, sell our stuff, take classes and even buy our prescription drugs online. We do this because it is faster, easier and more convenient for us.

The internet has also made filing our taxes easier and the process much less painful. People have been electronic filing, or e-filing for years and the IRS notes that over 700 million successful tax filings have already occurred. The technology is time tested, the security levels have been proven (no security breaches noted to date) and the rewards for those who e-file are well documented.

I am sure there are still some of you out there that, for one reason or another, still have not decided to e-file. Well, let me assure you, it's time for you to put down that pencil and calculator and realize what millions of satisfied Americans already know; e-filing is the way to go. In fact, a nationwide survey found that 88% of all people who have filed taxes online were happy that they e-filed.

Here are the primary reasons to e-file:

• -Faster Tax Refunds - On average if you e-file, you will receive your refund in half the time compared to filing through the mail. In addition, if you opt in for direct deposit into your bank account, you will get it even faster. With e-filing you get your refund usually in 1-2 weeks. When you file via the post office you can get your refund usually in 3 to 6 weeks.
• 
  Improved Accuracy - The IRS notes a 20% error rate in paper filed returns. E-filing software greatly reduces your chances for errors. Most e-filing software automatically checks for accuracy. As you are filling out the forms, your math is constantly checked and if you forget to fill out a specific section, the software will not allow you to continue until all information is inputted correctly.
• 
  Tax Submittal is Verified - E-filing is free and when it is completed, you are given an electronic receipt code that verifies your submission. As we all know, filing via the post office requires you send certified mail (if you are smart) and you must endure the inconvenience of traveling to the post office, standing in line and dealing with the USPS staff.
• 
  Feedback - Within 48 hours you will get an electronic message if your return is acceptable or there are errors that need to be addressed. If there are errors you are allowed to fix them and re-submit without penalty. This option can take weeks if you file offline.
• 
  Less hassle - You can prepare and submit your taxes from your home. You do not need to leave your house to go to your tax preparer or go to the post office to stand in line.
• 
  Less Costly - The cost of e-filing yourself is substantially less than paying a tax preparation company. Online you pay anywhere from $9.95 to around $100 for more complicated filings. If you use a tax preparation company like H&R Block or a private accountant, it usually runs in the hundreds of dollars.

Please note, filing online still requires you to organize all your documents and paperwork. You will still, you need to have all your pertinent documents on hand so that you are able to answer all of the filing questions. But don't worry, most of the online tax preparation sites allow you to work on your tax filing for as long as you need. You are able to save changes as you go. Then, when you are ready to continue, you can go back to the site, log on using the user name and password you have chosen, finish your paperwork and e-file.

One of the more popular online tax filing websites out there is TaxBrain.com. Similar to their major competitors Turbotax and H&R Block, TaxBrain.com has a filing process that is user-friendly, accuracy is guaranteed, customer service and technical support is free, and they can file both state and federal taxes for you. I had a great experience using TaxBrain.com [http://www.bestonlinetaxprep.info] and highly recommend it.

Happy tax time and may all your filings end in refunds!

Troy AhYo is an entreprenuer and marketer based out of Woodland Hills, CA. He also buys and renovates properties and has a company that imports from China. He writes articles on topics he is passionate about. www.shouldyoubuythat.com [http://shouldyoubuythat.com]

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I Hope You Didn't Get Zucked On Your Facebook Stock!

By Lance Winslow

Well, as if anything couldn't get any worse for Facebook's stock there might be more challenge down the road - consider if you will that Goldman Sachs is now allowing you to borrow their shares on margin to short (FB) Facebook. The 10-days are up since Facebook's IPO and now anyone can short the stock, of course, you can't naked short the stock without risk, so you'll need some shares. Let's discuss this shall we?

So, has Goldman Sachs had enough of sitting on the sidelines watching this fiasco unfold like the rest of us? That might be a good part of it, or it might just be sour-grapes as Morgan Stanley took the lead on the IPO? Hard to say, but Facebook's IPO debacle leaves so many with egg on their face now as the accusations and lawsuits fly. NASDAQ may indeed, or at least indicated that they "might" make some investors whole for what went on that day, as congressional hearings loom and the second largest IPO and biggest IPO failure in history stalls the IPO market perhaps for months into the future.

Personally, I hope you didn't get "Zucked" on your FB stock, which is a newly coined term, obviously a play-on-word off of the Founder of Facebook's last name "Zuckerberg" but if you did buy in or were recorded as buying near $45 per share, things could get even worse, as the stock was down to $25 and change per share on the ninth day of trading, ouch! Oh, and CYA - this article author does not own any Facebook stock nor does he participate on the Facebook social network.

Facebook had a string of negative PR after their historical IPO, for instance the recent admission that many of its social networking teens were actually under 13-years old, and that the company wanted to harvest more younger people for the site? Why you ask, well I suspect to sell them breakfast cereal, toys, video games, etc. and of course many parents are outraged by all this - and investors are looking pretty silly and pathetic in the process if they are holding shares now.

Worse, some analysts are saying that 13 is not for the average age of their future target market. Yes, kids need a place to play, although one has to ask if the digital social networking space is the right place.

Still, even if Facebook started out bad, that doesn't guarantee it will end that way, many an analyst, as well as those inside the company realize that internationally they are still doing fine, even if not every social networking teenager and college student in the US is still so enthralled. What does this mean for the stock? It was off to a rough start and time will tell. Please consider all this and think on it. Remember CYA: I am not a stock market professional analyst and all stock decisions must be based on your own due diligence.

Lance Winslow has launched a new provocative eBook on Stock Picking Concepts. Lance Winslow is a retired Founder of a Nationwide Franchise Chain, and now runs the Online Think Tank; http://www.worldthinktank.net

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Spend More, Earn More With Chase Business Credit Cards

By Ellene Bauer

We all want to get the most out of life. Your business should be no different. If you are looking to consolidate your business expenses and reap those well-deserved rewards, Chase business credit cards just might be the thing for you.

Regularly charging your business expenses to your personal credit card can limit your personal purchasing power. Chase business credit cards allows you to tap into a new source of spending power, dedicated solely to those essential business expenses. What's more, only Chase business credit cards allow you to earn cash by frequently spending.

Chase Platinum Business Card

The most popular among the Chase business credit cards currently on offer is the Chase Platinum Business Card. This business card offers a 0% introductory rate for the first 12 months for both balance transfers and purchases. Additionally, like all Chase business credit cards, the Chase Platinum Business Card offers a reasonable rate of only 12.24% after the 12-month introductory period. And if this low rate is not inviting enough, the Chase Platinum Business Card also gives you the opportunity to earn a cash back reward of 3% on eligible purchases.

Among all Chase business credit cards, the Chase Platinum Business Card is very appealing to business owners and managers. Business owners and managers are given the opportunity to keep tabs on their company's business expenses by having exclusive online access to tools for account management and reports. Extra cards for your employees and colleagues are also free.

Chase Business Cash Rewards Card

If you are looking for a great rewards program for your business, then the Chase Business Cash Rewards Card is perfect for you among all the Chase business credit cards. The Chase Business Cash Rewards Card allows businesses to earn cash back, letting you stretch those business dollars.

The Chase Business Cash Rewards cash back program works as a rebate program. Qualifying purchases can earn up to 5%, and there is no limit on the cash rewards you earn, as long as you are a cardholder. A tiered system is used to determine the percentage of your earnings. Simply put, purchases ranging from $1-$2,500 will earn one point for every dollar. Purchases exceeding $2,500 will earn 1.25 points for every dollar. An accumulated 5,000 points earned entitles the Chase Business Cash Rewards cardholder to a $50 gift certificate.

Like other Chase business credit cards, car rental and travel insurance, and purchase protection plans are added benefits of being a Chase Business Cash Rewards cardholder. There is a 0% introductory offer for the first year, and upon expiration of the introductory period, a low interest rate of 14.24%. All you need to apply for a Chase Business Cash Rewards Card is excellent credit history.

Chase Business Card with Premiere Cash Rebate

If you are a business owner or manager looking to maximize a good rebate program for your business, then the Chase Business Card with Premiere Cash Rebate is for you. Aside from an excellent rebate program, the Chase Business Card with Premiere Cash Rebate also helps you keep tabs on your company's finances by giving you exclusive access to online reports and account management tools.

Like other Chase business credit cards, the Chase Business Card with Premiere Cash Rebate has an introductory offer of 0% for the first year. There is also a very low annual fee after the first year. However, interest rate is slightly high at 14.24% after the introductory period, and it applies to both purchases and balance transfers. Also, like other Chase business credit cards, a good credit history is needed for a successful application.

Whichever you choose among the Chase business credit cards available, it is always good practice to pay off your full balance each and every month. Continually carrying a balance and compounded interest may only negate the benefits you have earned from the rewards program you chose.

Planning to apply for Chase business credit cards? Check out Chase credit card services and learn about credit card application online approval when you visit CreditCardMonitor.org today!

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An Analysis of Wells Fargo & Company (WFC)

By Geoffrey Gannon

Wells Fargo & Company (WFC) is a huge Western and Midwestern bank that provides a diverse array of financial services to its more than 23 million customers. The company employs more than 150,000 people at its over 6,000 locations nationwide. Wells Fargo has about $500 billion in assets.

While the company continues to derive more than half its revenues from interest income (about $26 billion), its activities are not limited to collecting deposits and lending money. Wells Fargo engages in other businesses such as brokerage services, asset management, and investment banking. The company also makes venture capital investments.

Over the last ten years, Wells Fargo has averaged a 1.57% return on assets and an 18.19% return on equity.

Location

Wells Fargo is closely associated with California in the minds of most investors. The company now operates in 23 different states. However, the concentration in California remains.

Mortgage lending in California accounts for approximately 14% of Wells Fargo's total loan portfolio. Commercial real estate loans in California account for another 5% of the company's total loans. No other single state accounts for a similarly sized portion of total loans. In fact, neither mortgage lending nor commercial real estate lending in any other state accounts for more than 2% of Wells Fargo's total loans.

Cross-Selling

Wells Fargo's focus on cross-selling is well known. The company has a stated goal of doubling the number of products the average consumer and business customer has with Wells Fargo to eight products per customer (from the current four products per customer).

Cross-selling increases customer stickiness. It also helps increase profitability by decreasing expenses relative to revenues. The need for a large physical footprint is reduced - as is the need for a large number of bankers. Instead, the existing infrastructure is able to provide additional revenue from the same customers.

Wells Fargo's Chairman & CEO, Richard Kovacevich, explains the importance of the company's cross-selling in the "Vision & Values" section of the corporate website:

Cross-selling -- or what we call "needs-based" selling -- is our most important strategy. Why? Because it is an "increasing returns" business model. It's like the "network effect" of e-commerce. It multiplies opportunities geometrically. The more you sell customers the more you know about them. The more you know about them the easier it is to sell them more products. The more products customers have with you the better value they receive and the more loyal they are. The longer they stay with you the more opportunities you have to meet even more of their financial needs. The more you sell them the higher the profit because the added cost of selling another product to an existing customer is often only about ten percent of the cost of selling that same product to a new customer. This gives us--as an aggregator -- a significant cost advantage over one product or one channel companies. Cross-selling re-invents how financial services are aggregated and sold to customers -- just like other aggregators such as Wal-Mart (general merchandise), Home Depot (home improvement products) and Staples (office supplies).

Mr. Kovacevich's enthusiasm for the cross-selling model is well justified. It is difficult to quantify the importance of meeting all the varied needs of your customers, because you can not measure the opportunities you missed. However, it is obvious that reducing each customer's interest in considering a competitor's services will greatly increase long-term profitability for any company engaged in any line of business - not just for a bank.

Later, in the same website section, Mr. Kovacevich addresses the importance of customer stickiness:

(Cross-selling) is our most important customer-related sales metric. We want to earn 100 percent of our customers' business. The more products customers have with Wells Fargo the better deal they get, the more loyal they are, and the longer they stay with the company, improving retention. Eighty percent of our revenue growth comes from selling more products to existing customers.

This focus on retention is an important part of a long-term plan to maintain Wells Fargo's above-average returns on assets and equity. Extraordinary profitability comes from differentiating your product or service from those of your competitors. Increasing customer stickiness and reducing "comparison shopping" is a key part of maintaining extraordinary profitability.

Some businesses are blessed with enviable economics because of their product's natural prominence in the minds of their customers. Most businesses are obsessed with market share. But, how many really think about "mind share"? Obviously, a product like Coke (KO), Hershey (HSY), or Snickers is going to have a positive association in the minds of consumers.

For many people, these products will also have a prominent place in each customer's mind (relative to other products and services on which money can be spent). A few other businesses have a healthy mind share without the positive association; GEICO is the most obvious example. The company's brand conjures up nothing but the words "auto insurance". Of course, that's all the GEICO brand has to do.

So, what does all this have to do with Wells Fargo? Mind share isn't just the result of exposure to advertising. In fact, in most cases, exposure to advertising can not duplicate the kind of results that a direct, differentiated experience creates. Entertainment properties are by far the leaders in mind share. People who saw and loved Star Wars remember the film. In fact, they don't just remember the film, they actually file it away (or, more precisely, cross reference it) in countless ways within their mind.

The evidence for this particular example is abundant. There are countless references to Star Wars in other media. The name, the music, the opening text and countless other elements are immediately recognizable. Even the films Star Wars fans hated made more money than almost any other movies in the history of cinema - and this was decades after the original came out. So, obviously Star Wars has the kind of lasting mind share any business should aspire to if it hopes to continuously earn extraordinary profits.

Unfortunately, most businesses, however well run, can not attain this kind of mind share. The products and services they provide can never be as differentiated and memorable as a motion picture. Just as importantly, the positive associations will not be present, simply because the product or service is not inherently exciting, entertaining, or pleasant. This is clearly the case in financial services.

So, what can a financial services company do to improve its mind share? The most obvious tactic is simply to "wow" its customers. In fact, Wells Fargo's CEO discusses this particular option in the "Vision and Values" section of the company's website:

We have to "wow!" them. We know what that feels like because we're all customers. We go to the cleaners, the grocery store, a restaurant or whatever, and we find a situation where we're "wowed!" We walk out and we say, those people really listened to me and helped me get what I need. All of us hear stories about customers, say, who pick a certain line at the supermarket because they know the person who bags the groceries connects with customers -- smiles, greets regular customers by name, asks how their families are doing. When a personal banker helps a customer in one of our stores, or when a customer gets help from one of our phone bankers or does transactions on wellsfargo.com we want them to say, "That was great. I can't wait to tell someone."

Another option worth pursuing is widening the associations present in the customer's mind. Financial services is a business where associations tend to be more conscious, categorized, and hierarchical than the associations formed in more heavily branded businesses. Put simply, the (potential) customer usually thinks of a "set" before thinking of an "element" within that set. Like many mental associations, the information can be returned in either direction. For example, the customer may normally think "banks" and then think "Wells Fargo", but will also be able to return the word "bank" if prompted by the name "Wells Fargo". This categorization is important, because it provides (limited) permission for Wells Fargo to expand its mind share horizontally (across service categories).

In other words, providing a diverse range of financial services doesn't just make sense from the provider's perspective, it also makes sense from the user's perspective, because the user of financial services has already grouped deposits, borrowing, credit cards, insurance, brokerage services, asset management, etc. together in a very loose way within his mind. As a result of this mental network, one positive experience with Wells Fargo will greatly affect a customer's desire to pay for an additional service, even if the two services are not really all that similar.

The three key elements here are: a broader definition of what Wells Fargo is (a place that does "money things", not just a bank), a positive experience, and some sense of trust that the quality of service will be consistent. The last requirement is the easiest to meet, because it's natural for a customer to assume that the positive experience was not a fluke, much the way a diner assumes the good meal he had at a particular restaurant was not caused by his picking the best offering from the menu. The diner usually assumes the overall quality of the restaurant's various entrees is superior. Likewise, a good experience with one of Wells Fargo's products or services will likely rub off on its other offerings.

Valuation

Shares of Wells Fargo currently yield just over 3%. The stock trades at a price-to-book ratio of just under 2.75 and a price-to-earnings ratio of less than 15.

Conclusion

Over the last 5, 10, 15, and 20 years shareholders of Wells Fargo & Company have fared better than the S&P 500. As of the end of last year, WFC's total return over the last ten years was 17% vs. 9% for the S&P. Over the last 20 years, WFC outpaced the S&P 500 by an even wider margin: 21% vs. 12%.

Wells Fargo has a stellar reputation with investors. The company is the only U.S. bank to earn Moody's highest credit rating. Wells Fargo also boasts a well-known major shareholder. The largest owner of the company's common stock is Berkshire Hathaway. Warren Buffett's holding company has a roughly 5.5% stake in Wells Fargo. Berkshire's last reported purchase occurred during the first quarter of this year.

Wells Fargo has a stated goal of achieving double-digit growth in earnings and revenue while managing a return on assets over 1.75% and a return on equity over 20%. Those are both very ambitious goals. The company has achieved some of the highest returns on assets and equity of any major U.S. bank. However, Wells Fargo will probably need to increase the percentage of revenue it derives from fee businesses if it is to achieve these goals.

In the years ahead, the company may well become more of a diversified financial services business. In fact, that's what I expect will happen. The company's commitment to cross-selling is not some fad. Eventually, this commitment will change the way investors think about Wells Fargo. Soon, it may be considered much more than a bank.

Wells Fargo's CEO makes the case that his company's P/E is simply too low. Wells Fargo has a solid history of strong growth and profitability. So, why should it be valued similarly to most other banks? Shouldn't it be awarded a multiple more in line with a growth company?

There's actually some merit to this argument. Wells Fargo is unusually well positioned for a bank. Often, those banks that seem certain to earn very high returns on assets and equity for many years to come are poorly positioned for future growth. These banks are often smaller than their competitors and focused on a specific geographic niche. Any acquisitions would dilute the exceptional profitability of the bank's niche.

Of course, there are also many consolidators in the banking industry. Unfortunately, many of these banks do not have a history of earning the kind of returns on assets and equity that Wells Fargo has achieved. Even more importantly, there is little differentiation between these titans of the banking industry and their national competitors. Therefore, their moats are highly suspect.

Wells Fargo is a different kind of bank. It has a history of extraordinary growth and profitability. There are two obvious opportunities for future growth: geographic expansion and cross-selling. Of these two opportunities, it's clear I'm more enamored with the latter. An eastward push is not necessary, and certainly not via an ill-advised acquisition.

There is a lot of value in the Wells Fargo franchise and there is plenty of room within that franchise for future growth. That's one of the great advantages of the financial services industry. With the right model, limits to growth are almost non-existent. In other highly-profitable industries, there is often nowhere to reinvest new capital at a similar rate of return.

If Wells Fargo is a growth stock, it is a peculiar sort of growth stock. Maybe that is what attracted Buffett to the company in the first place. Here is a business with a strong franchise that can grow for many years to come. Perhaps most importantly, it is a growth business that frequently trades in the market at value like multiples, simply because it's a bank.

At the current market price, Wells Fargo is the sort of investment you make once and forget. The valuation is not so cheap as to promise a good return if the business falters. But, the business is not so suspect as to require the margin of safety be provided by a low P/E ratio. Sometimes, near certain growth is the margin of safety.

On a separate topic, I'd like to encourage anyone with an interest in competitive advantages to read the entire "Vision and Values" section of the Wells Fargo site.

Superficially, it looks like any other online presentation to investors. In truth, it is nothing like those hollow, sugary slide shows. It's actually an engaging exploration of competitive advantages within an industry that seems totally unlike the sort of branded, consumer-oriented businesses one normally associates with strong franchises. Even if you aren't interested in the banking industry in particular, I recommend reading this section for its insights into customer psychology and behavior.

Geoff Gannon writes a daily value investing blog and produces a twice weekly (half hour) value investing podcast at:

http://www.gannononinvesting.com

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The USA Major Banks Meltdown Today in the Middle of an Unstoppable Downward Major Financial Crisis

By Wayne Miller

Day Traders, this could be an "opportunity of a lifetime" for you. When billions of real US Dollars are leaving the Bond markets monthly, and when major banks are losing billions monthly also, do you think there is a unique opportunity there for higher than normal profits right now? You bet there is so read this article.

Are you a Day Trader or even a regular trader of the Stock and Commodity markets who needs an educational adventure of a lifetime that could make you seriously wealthy fairly soon?

The better news is, you can keep on making serious money by finding trade after trade for yourself with new trading trends for the rest of your life with the correct trading education and certain secrets. You might want to find out what is causing the USA financial crisis today. To do so, takes a whole lot of research and I am one trader who has done the research. Did you know the trading world is all inter connected?

Did you know that what affects just one major US Bank losing billions (and trust me on this, lots of the major ones are losing billions), it will effect the world and the US economy soon? And in a bad way.

Case in point: The sub-prime meltdown of today. To find out what to do next, you really need to read a book titled "The US Financial Crisis of 2007". This financial crisis alone has already effected every major bank inside the USA and a lot elsewhere and it may even be more important and at a minimum just as important as the $600 billion war expenses already spent on the Iraq war already today.

Many different things affect the markets today for Day Traders. The recent forest fires really do provide super trading events also if you know where to look for quick profits. Another thing is the current Iraq war as it has an important effect on many different markets inside and outside of America.

So much so, you can easily take advantage of a lot of money making situations that today are affected by this ongoing war.

Now, all you have to do is apply time-tested and time-proven trading methods on mainly key research by taking action once you get educated.

Want to learn how to become a millionaire? That is what becoming an easy millionaire or even a multimillionaire is about and do not get me wrong. It is tough to get there and I am not saying that you can do it day trading although one day Warren Buffett made $1 billion dollars within 24 hrs, but then he is already a mega-billionaire.

If you get the right trading education, you can make yourself "big money". In other words, after learning certain trading secrets that I can lead you to, you will have an "unfair advantage" over 99% of the world of traders and trust me when I tell you this; 80% of traders out there are dummies.

Once you learn about these secrets of trading that deal with sometimes multi-trillion dollar daily trading markets by mega-billionaire investors, it's fairly easy to get your slice of the money pie.

Let me tell you, after following in the footsteps of these billionaire guys as a trader myself for more than 20 years now, they do not lose to often and you can take that to the bank. If you are a Day Trader, you already have enough risk capital to trade with as it does require you to have a minimum amount.

Even the smallest of traders can now follow and trade side by side these billionaires right here inside the USA and trust me, until recently that just was not the case as you had to have the very deep pockets "like a million dollars minimum trading account" to even break this financial private barrier. That is simply not the case today as the average Joe can trade right along side the big boys.

Today, what you must realize is that the USA is in the middle of a major financial crisis due to the sub-prime meltdown and Foreign investors are pulling out mega billions per month from our US markets. What you need to learn is certain trading education so you can take advantage of this situation as a day trader.

You must find out where this money is going and more so you need to learn how to profit by it quickly with your timing efforts. That is key to day traders and knowledge you need so you know where to put your risk capital for the highest potential reward. Forget about making 10 or 20 percent a year, I am telling you right now that if you have enough risk capital to trade with, the real life potential of generating over 2,000% over the next six months to a year due to the current USA Financial Crisis mess we are into today is not only possible, its predicable.

What you have to understand is this. With the correct information in your hands, even you might join the ranks of the rich and powerful soon if you simply apply what you learn and tag along with these billionaires without their knowledge. It's that serious of a trading education to learn how to trade for the most profits, where to look for the most profits and when to take action.

Timing is always important to trading and the time to act is now to pull in millions in profits later.

You will need to learn how to open the front door to higher profits. All you have to do then is to open the door of the right financial vehicle yourself and apply what is learned in order to grab your own share of the easy and fast loot that is very possible as a day trader.

That is all for now,

[http://www.youtube2dollarad.com] by Wayne Miller, author

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The List of the Best Banks in USA

By Christine Thomas

If you are searching for best banks in USA, this article can help you. In this content, you will be able to find the list of reputed banks located across the country. These banks are considered as the best because of the services they provide for the customers.

Below mentioned are the best banks located in USA:

- Arvest Bank

- Bank of the West

- First Tennessee

- Harris National

- Huntington National Bank

- PNC Bank

- US Bank

- TD Banknorth

- Manufacturers & Traders

Some of these banks are also operating even during the weekend hours. Most of these are also providing a good ATM services for the customers. You also have an option for online banking with the help of the services they provide online for the customers. If you are looking for information on these banks or different types of services they provide for the customers, the best option is to logon to their official website and look for the details you require.

When you visit the official website of a bank, you will be able to gain most of the information such as the reputation, ranking, experience, and customer service quality etc of each bank. Most of these banks that are mentioned above have hundreds of branches around the world. If you are planning to open an account in any of these, you also have an option to fill the application form through internet.

If you visit the official website of a bank, you will also come to know about the different types of loans as well as services provided for the customers. You can also see information on the interest rates, duration, eligibility etc when you are looking for these details.

Many people around the world are opting for the online banking options provided by these, as it is convenient as well as accurate. Apart from these above mentioned service as well as offers, there are also many reasons why these are listed under the Best Banks In USA.

The Author is a professional writer, presently writing for Best Forex Trading Robots and Payment Service Provider.

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Finding a Helping Hand in Online Options Trading

By Stanley N Collins

Are you in to options trading and starting to find yourself having too much work to do which gives you a stressful mood much of the time? Do you wish to lessen your burdens in terms of your work with your options trading business? Do you want to find a helping hand which can assist you with your options trading engagements and upgrading your trade performance so that you would be able to gather extra time for yourself for to practice your profession or find other works where you can have additional sources of income? If you got a 'yes' for all these stuffs, maybe it is time for you to shift things up and try to engage in online options trading.

It is a hard task to manage your trade flow, keep accounts of your trade events, monitor your traffic and do many other works regarding your options trading business at the same time. Being the sole proprietor of your business, these things will be your burden and source of too much stress, crams and worries. But if you will come to think of it, there are many ways that you can try in order to get away from those hard things that may come to you in your business. One of the best ways available for investors is to get in to online options trading and find some help by hiring an online broker to mind your business as his own, while the profit will be yours.

Online brokers are just very similar in terms of their job description to those brokers in the stock market and other industries that you know. The only difference, and their highest advantage, is that these online brokers are just few clicks away from you, which will give you more convenience because you do not need to travel from one place to another just for you to get in touched with them. All you got to do is to sit in front of your computer, surf the internet and find the most reliable website which offers online broker services for investors in online based industries such as options trading and the likes.

One common thing that can hinder a trader or investor in hiring these online brokers is usually connected to the fees and other financial obligations that you need to pay to these online brokers. If you also have this kind of idea, you must think about the real price of what you are paying in order for you to be enlightened. What real price means is that you must look at what you are paying or to make it more simple, compare the stress, pressure, worries, tasks and other burdens which were relieved from you by hiring an online broker for you to see if the price that you pay is really worth it.

So look at yourself now; always having a bad mood; always in the hurry and in the worry; losing your time to enjoy, relax and do the things that you want - this is self punishment while there are people who want to lend a hand for you. Shift to online options trading now and find comfort from online brokers out there. They will be the heroes of your business which will lift your trade performance to the next level and improve your profit gain through their expert skills which they acquired professionally and through their experience. Good luck!

Know more about online options trading, visit this options trading resource.

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How Gold Buyers Make Money From Scrap Gold

By Mark Kandinov

Scrap gold includes items such as broken or antique jewelry, bars or nuggets, dental fillings, and even gold teeth. Some of these pieces are useless for their owners and therefore possess money making potential without a real loss. Buyers of scrap realize that people looking to sell this type of gold may be only hoping to make a nominal profit. However, if you are looking to sell your scrap pieces it is important to first know how to calculate its worth.

In recent years calculation of the value of gold scraps has become available on the internet. Prior to that, gold buyers kept this method private, making it easier for them to pay far less for your gold than its actual worth. Buyers and sellers of gold are both necessarily looking to gain profits on their transactions. Dealers are knowledgeable about the price of gold per ounce and the market fluctuations. Sellers should also familiarize themselves with these rates, or to at least have their gold appraised prior to heading to a broker.

The first step buyers of scrap will take is to determine the karat content of the gold piece. This number will be on the gold item and sometimes will require a magnifying glass to read. The dealers will have the supplies to conduct an acid test on your item to determine the quality. These kits can be purchased at local jewelry stores or from online websites. The base value of scrap is decided by its weight in grams and a jeweler's scale will be needed.

The worth of this type of gold is based on its melt value, which is a calculation established by the weight in grams and the karat. There are many websites that offer calculators for this process. Certain refineries that purchase scrap may even send you a kit to conduct this test before mailing in your gold scraps.

People who have broken or damaged gold pieces will most likely be disposed to sell for a far lesser price than the melt value. In this way, the buyers of scrap make their profit. The amount of profit will partially depend on how knowledgeable the seller is about the value of their items. It is common for everyday people to also get into the scrap market by buying from their friends or family and in turn selling to refineries to acquire their own profits.

Of course, as with the buying and selling of any gold, the market price of gold per ounce will also have to be taken into consideration. This value not only fluctuates on a day to day basis, but the value may increase and decrease several times within any given day. When the price of gold is high, as it has been, more people will look to cash in their scraps. It is quite interesting what a lucrative market has developed with the buying and selling of damaged or antique gold. Even electronics contain gold pieces that are considered to be scrap and hold some value.

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Top Silver Mining Firms in the World

By Kyles Humphrey

For the ninth consecutive year, global silver production has saw an uninterrupted growth of 4 percent in 2011. The year 2010 has observed many changes, particularly the South American continent wherein Mexico overtook Peru as the top silver producing nation. Mexico should stay firmly planted in 2011 considering that sound prices on silver are rejuvenating silver mining firms with increased profitability. Firms are now looking for new reserves and renewed investment in their projects.

Top Silver Mining Firms in the World:

BHP Billiton: BHP's claim to fame lies in the Cannington mine in Australia that produces 6 percent of the silver in the world. BHP also owns three other properties - Escondida, Antamina and Olympic Dam operations, which contributed a total of 9.15 MOZ of silver with Cannington topping the list producing 7.55 million ounces. However, in 2011 BHP silver production has reduced by 25 percent compared to last year for the same month.

Fresnillo Plc: Mexico's Minera Fresnillo deposit is the catch prize of Fresnillo Plc with proven and probable silver reserves of 365.4 MOZ. It also own stakes at other properties, namely Minera Saucito, Cienega, Herrardura, Soledad-Dipolos, and the Noche Buena silver mines. Fresnillo's total proven & probable reserves are 441 million ounces of silver, down by 13.4 percent from last year.

KGHM Polska Miedz sa: Primarily a copper producer, KGHM is a Polish firm with an estimate of 37.3 million troz of silver production in 2010.

Pan American Silver Corp: A Canadian company, Pan American Silver Corp boasts of 11 properties in US, Mexico, Peru, Bolivia, and Argentina. It's main interests lie in the Alamo Dorado mine in Sonora, Mexico. Over the years, the mine production has decreased from 6.7 MOZ in 2010 to an expected 5.1 million ounces in 2011.

Goldcorp Inc.: Goldcorp has its hands full with the massive Penasquito mine in the Zacatecas, Mexico. The company expects to produce an annual average of 28 million ounces of silver in 2011 out of the total P&P reserves of 1309 million ounces at the 9 deposits. The company is hunting for more reserves as well.

Cia. Minera Volcan: Cia. Minera Volcan is a Peruvian silver company with a metal production of 20 million ounces of silver in 2010.

Hochschild Mining: Another Peruvian mining company, Hochschild's main deposits lie in Arcata, Ares, and Pallancata sites. In 2010, these mines produced 18.98Moz of silver, supplemented by 5.38 million ounces of silver from San Jose mine in Argentina and Morris mine in Mexico. For the first three-quarters of 2011, Hochschild produced 16.9 million ounces of silver aiming towards 22.5 MOZ by the end of the year.

JSC Polymetal: Russian mining firm, JSC Polymetal total reserves are 353.8 MOZ from four properties and they continue to lookout for added reserves. By 2012, JSC Polymetal plans to increase its silver production by 50% to 25.6 million ounces.

Coeur d'Alene Mines Corp.: Coeur d'Alene Mines Corp. is the largest US-based silver mining company with plans to produce 19.5 million ounces of silver in 2011. It owns five deposits in US, Mexico, Bolivia, Argentina and Australia where the P&P reserves total to 227.09 MOZ of silver.

Sumitomo Corp.: A Japanese company, Sumitomo pride itself on their Bolivia mines - the third largest in the world. Operated by their subsidiary, Minera San Cristobal, the mine along with other properties produced 14.4 MOZ of silver.

The author is a knowledgeable writer in silver market, mining & stocks, who frequently writes articles related to silver prices, silver spot price including tips on investment in silver. Please visit silverprices.com for more details.

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Why Don't More People Invest in Preferred Stock?

By Preston G Pysh

When I talk about preferred stock with most people, they look at me like I've got crabs crawling out my ears. Numerous reasons contribute to the lack of understanding in this particular type of security. This article will identify those reasons and also provide guidance for your investing approach.

Most don't understand what it is

For starters, most people don't understand what preferred Stock is. The best way to describe preferred stock is that it's a little bit like a bond and a little bit like a common share. When an investor owns common shares of a company, they own equity. Just like a house, when you have equity, it's considered your ownership. So if you say you have 20% equity of a home, that means you own 20% of it. As for the other 80%, that belongs to the bank. When we discuss the characteristics of preferred stock, we can definitively say that it's equity in a business. In fact the equity holds a higher priority over the equity of a common shareholder. To demonstrate this idea, let's say we have a small coffee shop and the business possess $100,000 of net tangible assets. If the company has $100,000 of preferred stock issued, we can confidently say that the common shareholder possesses zero equity of the business. This is because preferred shares out prioritizes common shares.

So how can preferred stock have a definitive dollar amount when the price of common shares are determined by the market price? Well, preferred shares are issued like bonds. You see preferred shares change in value based on the companies ability to make the dividend payments associated with the shares. Since the dividend and book value of the preferred shares are the only payments an investor will receive on the security, they trade exactly like bonds. As you can see, this is somewhat difficult to understand. As a result, I believe most investors avoid this type of investment due to confusion.

There's a whole let less of if on the market

When a person looks at the number of common shares on the market and they compare it to the number of preferred shares, they'll be quickly surprised to see the lack of the later. Although the number of shares on the market are constantly changing, one things for sure, you have to dig around to find decent preferred shares that meet all your investment criteria. Let's face it, if there isn't much to be found, few will own it.

The returns can be risky

One of the most important reasons I don't own preferred stock at the present time is because it's very difficult to find decent buys. The more you study this obscure form of investment, the more you'll realize it's inherent risks. Here's a few to consider:

1. Call-ability: One of the things I like about bonds is I can buy a long term bond at a high interest rate and the market price will drastically increase if and when interest rates drop. This is very difficult to find with preferred stock because most shares are callable within 5 years of their issue. By the way, right now (2012) is a absolutely horrible time to be in bonds and preferred shares - due to all-time-low interest rates.

2. Non-Cummulative: One of the tricks that many companies play with preferred shares is that they're listed as non-cummulative. This means the company isn't obligated to pay your dividend if they don't want to. Now the company isn't able to pay dividends to common shareholders if they elect to stop payment, but regardless, this is a very risky decision for any non-cummulative stock holder. Remember, the value of the preferred stock is completely dependent on the dividend - unlike common shares.

3. Liquidation: During a corporate liquidation, companies sell their tangible items and pay the debts of their loans and bonds - what's left goes to the shareholders. For any investor that thinks assets will remain for preferred and common stock holders are simply kidding themselves. For the extra 1 - 2% gain of the same businesses bonds, I'll take the bonds every day of the week.

There seems to be more variables

Finally, the last reason people might not invest in Preferred Stock is the numerous variables they need to understand. If you've been in the investing world for a few years, you'll quickly find that most people are stock or bond people. Usually they don't mix. It's my opinion that the best investors on the market use both securities to their advantage and at the right timing. In order to invest in preferred stock properly you really need to thorough understand the inner workings of both securities. This is very overwhelming for most people and something that involves a lot of time.

Although this article provides a lot of negative information for investing in preferred stock, if you'd like to learn more about what preferred stock is, be sure to follow this link. If you're interested in a comprehensive site that has almost an hour of video content that teaches investors how to value preferred stock like Warren Buffett, be sure to follow this link.

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