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Tuesday, October 31, 2006

Financial advice for the empty nester

Financial advice for the empty nester

When the children are grown and that big old house seems quiet for the first time in years, it's time to reprioritize your finances. Among the key moves for the empty nester: move somewhere cheaper and get serious about retirement planning.
Read the article

Need help saving for retirement?

Tax Pros can help.  Ask about our Wealth Builder program for retirement income.  Call today: 718-875-0556

 

Sunday, October 29, 2006

How to Write Killer Sales Proposals

How to Write Killer Sales Proposals

Writing Killer Sales Proposals Secrets proposal-writing pros don't want you to know
Get the book.

Why Does Big Money Still Love Solar?

Why Does Big Money Still Love Solar?

While the masses continue to allow lower gas prices to blind them to the big picture, we�ll continue to scoop up the best solar plays in the market.And when those oil and gas prices go right back up (and they will), so will these select solar stocks that we�ve uncovered.In fact, one company that really stood out at this year�s solar conference is one that we�ve been following since July.The stock is up about 11% since our original recommendation. But after seeing how the crowd reacted to this company�s technology, I�ve never been more convinced that this one�s going to be a big-time producer for us well throughout the rest of 2006 and into 2007.If you�d like to read more about this company and its technology that�s got the entire solar industry salivating�click here now.
Download your investment report.

The Financial Challenge for College Students

Falling aid, rising costs challenge for college students

As college costs skyrocket -- tuition is up 35% over the past five years -- federal spending on Pell Grants is going down, experts say. The trend places a burden particularly on lower-income students, increasing their dependency on loans and other alternatives.
Read this article

 

College graduates' growing loan burdens can affect job, family and housing choices

The rising cost of attending college -- yesterday the College Board annual report showed that the average tuition and fees charged by the nation's four-year public and private colleges rose by 6 percent this year -- is causing more graduates to enter the work force burdened with many years of student-debt obligations. That, in turn, forces many of them to take jobs or work in locations they would not otherwise have chosen. It also causes young couples to postpone marriage, starting a family or buying a house.
Read this article

 

Queations about paying for college and paying off your student loans? 

Call Tax Pros toady. 718-875-0556

 

More money for health care means less for savings

Survey: More money for health care means less for savings

A survey to be released today has found that as health care costs go up, the ability of Americans to save for retirement goes down. According to the Employee Benefit Research Institute, 36% of Americans reduced the amount they would save for retirement because they're spending more on health care.
Read this article.

Do you have enough health coverage?

IAB Health Benefits can bridge the gap. Low cost health coverage for the entire family.  One membership fee covers the entire family.  Includes medical, dental and eye care. Great pharmacy home delivery service. Register today. 

Also consider Long Term Care and Disability Insurance.  Long Term Care Insurance will help cover your medical bills if you need assisted living or long term medical treatments. Disability Insurance provides up to 60% of your current income in case you become disabled or unable to work in your current industry.

For more information, visit Tax Pros Online.  Or call 718-875-0556.

 

Changes in pension law reduces lump-sum payouts

Changes in pension law reduces lump-sum payouts

Participants in defined-benefit pension plans who opted for a single, lump-sum payment are getting an unwelcome surprise when they retire. Recent changes in the law have altered how companies calculate that payout -- and retirees are finding much smaller checks than they expected.
Read this article

 

What about your pension? Not sure.

Tax Pros can help. We can review your pension plan and show you how to get the retirement income you'll need. Call today: 718-875-0556

Fidelity Investments debuts new retirement-planning tools

Fidelity Investments debuts new retirement-planning tools

Fidelity Investments is launching a new marketing plan and debuting a series of retirement-planning tools aimed at helping investors to stop procrastinating about planning for the future, according to the Boston Globe. The so-called myPlan initiative won't lead to job cuts among financial planners, according to Investment News.
Read this article

 

Try Fidelity's new Retirement Planning Tools.

Careers for Independent Brokers, Investment Advisors

If independence is your goal, Tax Pros - World Financial Group is your destination.

Choosing an independent broker/dealer is a huge decision. Only Tax Pros - World Financial Group backs you with a 3,000-member support staff, industry-leading technology, and marketing materials to promote your practice. You build your business your way while enjoying the retirement, tax and succession-planning benefits of small business ownership. To learn more contact Tax Pros - World Financial Group today.

Call 718-875-0665  or email careers@taxprosonline.com


 

Another Path to a Billion

Another Path to a Billion

Some of the secrets of the world's billionaires. Surely his findings were obvious to most: Master investors make oodles of money, especially those who faithfully follow a strategy that plays to their inherent strengths.

What he didn't mention is that entrepreneurs dominate the same list of Forbes billionaires, including five of the top 10.

Read this article

How to Triple Your Profits In the Online Video Bull Market

Invest in the Next YouTube: How to Triple Your Profits In the Online Video Bull Market.

As you read this, Wall Street investment bankers are scrambling to find online video providers to invest in and take public. Why? Because online video is the Holy Grail of the Internet. In fact, as early as 2000, Blockbuster was talking about providing movies for download off the Internet. But it was way too soon. The technology just wasn't there to allow for a quick download. Downloading Saving Private Ryan, for instance, would take seven hours. Who wants to wait for that?! But today, that's all changed. With today's computer's speeds, you can download a Seinfeld episode in seconds. And because of this, the online video market is exploding.

Download your special investment report.

Stephen Covey's Lesson on Trust

Stephen Covey's Lesson on Trust

In the business world, trust is not a "soft skill," says Stephen M. R.
Covey in his new book, The Speed of Trust. It's a hard-edged
economic driver with very real financial implications. Are you
trustworthy?
Read this article.

Your Business: The BIG Idea

The B!g Idea

Entrepreneurs reveal their eureka moments -- and how they turned a burst
of inspiration into a business
full article

The Small-Employer Pension Plan Dilemma

The Small-Employer Pension Plan Dilemma

Some new "small-business friendly" retirement plans are affordable to
set up, and you can manage it yourself or hire a firm to do it
Read this article

 

Tax Pros has your pension solution.  We will show you how to setup your own private pension plan. It is a low cost, effective and profitable solution for you, the small business owner.  Call today: 718-875-0556.

What Entreprenuers Need to Know

What Entreprenuers Need to Know

Seeking customer feedback before rushing into sales, perusing business
plan contests, finding opportunities in social networking sites, and
more.
Read this article

Understanding Cost Basis

Path to Investing Web site adds content: Understanding Cost Basis

At tax time, there's a pressing question you'll have to answer if you've sold investments in a taxable account during the previous year: What were your capital gains and losses?

Calculating your gains or loses can be more complicated than one might expect. To understand how to report capital gains and loses, Path to Investing has added new content that helps explain the specific requirements of cost basis reporting. You'll learn why cost basis matters, the basics of cost bases, keeping cost basis records and much more.

View the new content.

Learn how to calculate your true investment cost basis.

 

Need more help?  Call Tax Pros today.  718-875-0556

Social Security recipients get 3.3% boost in January

Social Security recipients get 3.3% boost in January

The federal government will boost Social Security and disability payments by 3.3% in January -- giving a pay raise to one in every six Americans. The increase will lift the average monthly Social Security check by $33, to $1,044. 
Read this article

Five Ways to Build Customer Trust

Five Ways to Build Customer Trust
Increasing the trust your customers have in you, your company, products,
and industry is one of the most cost-effective ways to sell more
Read this article

What Not to Do With Net Promoter

What Not to Do With Net Promoter

Before leaping onto the net promoter bandwagon, it's worth taking a look
at how others fall short and waste their money.
Read this article on SEO marketing.

How to get Venture Capital for your business

15 Things You Need to Score VC Funding

A veteran entrepreneur tells you what venture capitalists are really
looking for before they'll make a deal
Read the full article.

 

Before You Accept VC Funding.
A veteran entrepreneur tells you what you need to look for in a
venture-capital firm before before you agree to a deal
Read the full article.

THE HARVARD MANAGEMENT UPDATE GUIDE TO MANAGING PEOPLE

FREE ARTICLE COLLECTION: THE HARVARD MANAGEMENT UPDATE GUIDE TO MANAGING PEOPLE

Practical tips, tools, and proven examples showing how great managers get the most out of their teams, bosses, colleagues, and themselves. �Getting Teams Unstuck,� �Encouraging Managers to Delegate,� �The Set-Up-to-Fail Syndrome,� �What Makes an Effective Executive,� and more
Download your copy.

The "Do Nots" of Networking

The "Do Nots" of Networking

Informal recruiting events are becoming more popular at B-schools.
Here are 10 ways to avoid making a bad impression.

Read this article

Join the Corporate Deal Maker community

Join the Corporate Deal Maker community
Corporate Dealmaker gives you the tools: strategies, best practices, case studies and metrics you need to implement successful growth initiatives. Expert coverage includes M&A, JVs, licensing, intellectual property and company profiles. Meet top corporate dealmakers in print, online and in person at our upcoming event: "Develop Your Path to Growth"

October 26th at the Soho Grand.
 Register now!

Program for Leadership Development: Accelerating the Careers of High-Potential Leaders

Program for Leadership Development: Accelerating the Careers of High-Potential Leaders
Harvard Business School Executive Education

Begins November 27, 2006


Are you ready to take on a greater leadership role in your organization? The Program for Leadership Development is designed for managers and functional specialists who have been identified as up-and-coming executives within their organizations. Through both on-campus and distance-learning modules, you will explore foundational skill building, actionable leadership, and critical business functions, such as strategy, marketing, finance and accounting, and operations. You will walk away with new cross-functional leadership skills to help drive your career and your organization forward.

Register today.

Search Engine Marketing Seminar

Search Engine Marketing Seminar

Over 85% of Internet users leverage Search Engines to find information they're seeking either regarding products and/or services. This fact illustrates the importance of the following question when developing your marketing mix: How do I get top placement on the search engines to ensure that I am in the direct path of my top prospects? The differentiator: A strong search engine marketing plan with proven organic search engine optimization services will increase your rankings, sales and brand visibility online, while minimizing marketing costs that can significantly impact your bottom-line.

During this session we will cover:
- What is Search Engine Marketing?
- Why do Fortune 500/1000 business need to start leveraging this Internet Marketing Tool?
- How does one fit Search Engine Marketing into their marketing mix?
- Why is SEO more than the simple sum of its parts?
- How to Choose a Winning Partner?

Listen in..

Free business software from Avery

Free business software from Avery

Tell us about your work and receive a link to free Avery� DesignPro� Limited Software. Owning a business can be challenging, so we'd like to invite you to discover the many great Avery Resources that can help you run your business smoothly. Start today with a free download of Avery� DesignPro� Limited Software, which will help you deliver the professional quality you want for your company. By signing up today, you'll also receive access to Avery templates, software, offers, and more.

Get your free software.

Entrepreneurs, Growth Equity and Exit Strategy

Entrepreneurs and Growth Equity
Harrison Miller, general partner with Summit Partners, a private equity
and venture capital firm, discusses growth equity with Smart Answers
columnist Karen E. Klein
full article

Smart Ways to Transfer a Business
First, determine the goals of all parties involved. Then find a lawyer
to help shape the transaction
full article

Get a CPA that really cares about your business

CPA Squeeze
Accounting firms are pushing out small clients for more lucrative work
full article

Shape Up for the Search
Accountants want information their way
full article

Get a CPA that really cares about your business.
Call Tax Pros today 718-875-0556. Ask about our Wealth Builder and  Comptroller Programs for small to mid sized businesses.

 

What Entrepreneurs Need to Know

What Entrepreneurs Need to Know

Business plans with legs; the benefits of applying for a patent;
entrepreneurial know-how for artists; Web postings for science types;
and more...
full article

Going Beyond Spreadsheets


Going Beyond Spreadsheets

There are many software applications that have spreadsheet-like qualities. Rather than trying to replicate what a spreadsheet can do, why not utilize what a spreadsheet already has to offer and extend it? This is a novel approach, but turns out to be a very sensible one.
READ THIS WHITE PAPER

Additional Resources
Google Spreadsheets Beta Plays Well with Others (Review)
What do Spreadsheets Really Cost?
Excel Collaboration Drives Office 2007

Recommended Books on Human Resource Managment

Outsourcing Human Resources Functions
This book offers a complete discussion of outsourcing, and it explains all of the basics. It also gives HR professionals and corporate executives practical tools with which to make an outsourcing decision, identify functional candidates for outsourcing, learn how to define requirements, draw up a request for proposal (RFP) and a request for information (RFI), assess the proposals and bidders, contract for services, expand vendor management expertise and manage outsourced functions successfully. The book covers offshoring as well as outsourcing. The sample contracts are available on CD-ROM.
Order your copy.

Primal Leadership
Drawing from decades of analysis within world-class organizations, the authors show that resonant leaders-whether CEOs or managers, coaches or politicians-excel not just through skill and smarts, but by connecting with others using EI competencies like empathy and self-awareness.
Order your copy 

Freakonomics, Revised Edition
Hot off the presses, just in time for the Strategic HR Conference, came the new, revised edition of Freakonomics, a book that shows that economics is, at root, the study of incentives - how people get what they want, or need, especially when other people want or need the same thing.
Order your copy

Survey shows black investors shun stocks, bonds

Survey shows black investors shun stocks, bonds

Black investors put less money into stocks and bonds than their white counterparts, according to the latest results from a decade-long study, and the numbers are trending down. Only 64% of higher-income blacks owned stocks this year, down from 74% in 2002, according to a survey by Ariel Capital Management and Charles Schwab Corp.

full article

Morgan Stanley settles fraud case over hip-hop broker

Morgan Stanley settles fraud case over hip-hop broker

Morgan Stanley will pay more than $1 million to settle charges it failed to adequately supervise a broker who was later indicted for allegedly conning millions of dollars from members of the hip-hop industry.

full article

Project Objectives: Are We There Yet?

Are We There Yet?

Objectives: Don't start your project without them. They define why an
organization wants to go forward with an initiative, detailing desired
benefits and clarifying constraints. Here are some steps to help you develop and measure them for your next project.
full article

The Value-Abled Project

The Value-Abled Project

Only by managing and demonstrating project value can we truly justify
adding resources, changing scope or moving deadlines. In a new series, Steven Devaux describes how project managers and organizations can break out of the time-budget mindset to better focus on the most important part of any initiative: the return on value.
full article

Outsourcing: Is it Right for Your Company?


Outsourcing: Is it Right for Your Company?

With the recent news of Bangalore's tech industry going on strike and companies who outsource in Bangalore losing productivity, outsourcing has been on everyone's mind as of late. How does outsourcing really affect a company?
full article

Additional Resources


Beating the clock while saving for retirement

Older Families Failing Financially
Those in or near retirement are struggling. Don't let it happen to you.
http://www.fool.com/m.asp?i=2168020&u=108048219

Beating the clock while saving for retirement.
Turn you tax refund into a great investment. Save for a house, college and your retirement. Tax Pros will show you how in six simple steps.
Start today.
 
-

The Hidden Fortune Inside Your Paycheck

The Hidden Fortune Inside Your Paycheck
There are hundreds of dollars in your wallet that you can't see.
Full Article

Get more cash out of your paycheck.
Tax Pros has the key to unlock more cash from your paycheck. Use the money to save for a house, college and retirement.
Tax Pros will show you how in six simple steps.
Start today.

The World's Hottest Stocks

The World's Hottest Stocks

Go global in your portfolio.
full article

Proactive Data Protection Strategies for SMBs

Proactive Data Protection Strategies for SMBs

More than half the businesses that lose data in a disaster are out of business within two years. What would happen if a hacker compromised your file server? Or someone in your business inadvertently deleted critical files from your shared drive? How quickly could you recover the data? Could you recover the data at all? Unfortunately, many small and medium businesses learn the answers to these questions only after disaster has struck.

This eSeminar provides an SMB road map for protecting your businesses from data loss, including:
- The most common data loss scenarios that can cripple your business
- How data loss can impact regulatory and governance requirements
- Pros and cons of different approaches to data protection
- How to protect your users from themselves
- Securing your data integrity with little or no impact on daily IT

Register now, and protect yourself from preventable data loss.

20 Great Ideas From Successful Businesses

20 Great Ideas From Successful Businesses

The InformatonWeek 500 are big, innovative, and successful companies. By imaginatively mixing and matching emerging and mainstream technologies, these companies show a superior understanding of their operations and know how to connect with employees, suppliers, and customers to drive profits. All but 5% of the InformationWeek 500 do that by employing Web services and business intelligence software. Nine of 10 use wireless e-mail. More than 80% deploy voice-over-IP apps and provide employees with Wi-Fi connectivity. All of them have a notion or two worth borrowing for your small business.

Great ideas for your business.

Thursday, October 19, 2006

Give Yourself a Raise for 2007

Let InStep Consulting help you achieve your 2007 career goals with engaging and relevant content from our Competent Advantage workshop series. Based on your goals, we'll work with you to determine the right content and format.

Potential topics include:

  • Branding & Personal Image
  • Communication Skills
  • Goal Setting

Format: Coaching, Seminars, Teleclasses, or Webinars

Year-End Review Tips and 2007 Career Goals

Now that fall is in full swing, are you ready for your year-end performance review? If done well, these review meetings can help foster your career growth.

How prepared you are to have the performance discussion will be a significant predictor of the outcome. Will you be able to:

  1. Reference specific accomplishments and contributions you made to the organization?
  2. Use appropriate words, tone and body language?
  3. Objectively receive feedback from your manager?
  4. Suggest relevant developmental opportunities to build on your strengths?
  5. Recommend ways to expand your role or take on new responsibilities in 2007?

Where would you like to be in your career this time next year?

PLAN AHEAD! Create your roadmap and equip yourself with the skills to get there!

Regards,

Colette Ellis

InStep Consulting LLC

Wednesday, October 18, 2006

Recommended Book: "Purpose: The Starting Point of Great Companies"

Just published -- the first book that can help the CEO, and those who want to be CEOs, see their strategic path from the perspective of destiny. Endorsed by more than 20 leading academics and CEOs The single factor influencing the best strategic decisions is a solid understanding of an organization's Purpose.

What really drives corporate decision making? In his groundbreaking book, "Purpose: The Starting Point of Great Companies," world-renowned thought leader Nikos Mourkogiannis finds that the single factor influencing the best strategic decisions is a solid understanding of an organization's Purpose.

http://www.purposethebook.com/

 

Conventional wisdom suggests that companies exist primarily to return investment to shareholders. But, the author contends, running a company with only that end in mind is a sure-fire way to kill it. Mourkogiannis turns the idea of leadership on its head -- and shows that the choice between values and success is no choice at all. Rather than organization or structure, he argues that ideas are what cause companies to go from good to great. Drawing on examples from across multiple industries, Mourkogiannis demonstrates how a strong Purpose is the essential first step toward lasting success.

The author shows that Purpose not only provides the raw materials from which competitive advantage is created, but also shapes the patterns of behavior that enable these raw materials to fit together. Mourkogiannis reveals how Purpose provides the CEO with direction and focus, as well as acting as a consistent guide for everyone in the organization to make the countless small decisions that add up to a strategic position.

"Purpose: The Starting Point of Great Companies" provides a lens through which a company's strengths can be viewed, and concise guidance as to how best these strengths can be leveraged. "Enduring institutions -- those that have stood the test of time -- create value for society and base their code of conduct on values. In this context, Purpose is far more than the starting point of great companies, it is the centerline that guides institutions to greatness and significance over time.

Nikos Mourkogiannis shows leaders the way to set direction and navigate the tides of growth and change." Ralph W. Shrader, Ph.D., Chairman & Chief Executive Officer, Booz Allen Hamilton For more information about the book or to order a copy, please visit http://www.purposethebook.com  

Monday, October 16, 2006

Retirement planning rule of thumb won't work, professor says

Retirement planning rule of thumb won't work, professor says

The traditional rule of thumb in retirement planning is that people will be comfortable with about 75% to 85% of their preretirement income. But at least one expert says in a study "a simple one-size-fits-all replacement rate will not work for most Americans.

Full Story

 

Bush signs bank-friendly regulatory relief bill

Bush signs bank-friendly regulatory relief bill

U.S. banks, thrifts and credit unions will be subject to fewer regulations thanks to a law enacted by President Bush on Friday.
The bill, passed by the House on Sept. 27 and by the Senate on Sept. 30, calls for the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Federal Reserve to develop rules exempting banks' brokerage activities from oversight by securities regulators. Previous rules suggested by the SEC were opposed by banks.

Full article

Friday, October 13, 2006

Can Entrepreneurship be Taught?

Title: Can Entrepreneurship be Taught?
Source: Fortune Small Business / Patricia B. Gray

Selling and Negotiation Strategies

Title: 111 Ridiculously Obvious Thoughts on Selling
Subject: Marketing/Sales
Source: ChangeThis / Tom Peters

Title: Negotiating For Success
Subject: Negotiation
Source: Negotiation Resources / Bob Gibson

Title: Competitor To Pleaser: Understanding Negotiating Personalities
Subject: Negotiation
Source: Negotiation Resources / Bob Gibson

Align Your Mission, Vision and Marketing Plan

Title: Vision And Mission Statement Workshop
Subject: Management
Source: IdeaBridge

Title: Planning the Development of a Marketing Plan
Subject: Marketing/Sales
Source: William A. Cohen

Leadership Skills

Title: A Lesson for the Times: Learning from Quiet Leaders
Subject: Leadership
Source: Ivey Business Journal / Joseph L. Badaracco, Jr.

Title: Developing High-Potential Leaders
Subject: Leadership
Source: Forum / Ellen Foley

Title: Vision And Mission Statement Workshop
Subject: Management
Source: IdeaBridge

Wednesday, October 11, 2006

Save 50% Or More on Your Monthly Phone Bills

Save 50% Or More on Your Monthly Phone Bills

Packet8 Virtual Office is a complete, low-cost small business VoIP-hosted phone system that:

  • Eliminates costly, premise-based equipment
  • Does away with phone system installation and maintenance charges
  • Cuts monthly phone bills in half

    Call 1-866-390-4456 today for a FREE VoIP cost saving analysis, and if you place an order, you will receive FREE activation.

  • MArketing: Tell It And Sell It�In 30 Seconds

    Tell It And Sell It�In 30 Seconds

    When someone asks what I do, I'm more than happy to spill. I only need 30 seconds to tell them�and sell them�on my business. Here are 10 tips for getting your message across quickly and concisely.

    Read More:
    Tell It And Sell It

    Gaga For Wawa: A Customer Service Phenomenon

    Gaga For Wawa: A Customer Service Phenomenon

    Why would a convenience store chain bother with drilling good customer service practices into its employees to the point of engendering remarkable cult-like devotion from its customers? The answer is that "the hottest consumer trend in America right now is arguably dissatisfaction with service." Smart businesses, regardless of business type, are doing whatever they can to enrich the customer experience.

    Read more:
    A Customer Service Phenomenon

    Use Phone Interviews To Weed Out A Big Crop Of Job Applicants

    Use Phone Interviews To Weed Out A Big Crop Of Job Applicants

    Question: Do you have some concrete suggestions for saving our very limited time in dealing with a large number of applicants?

    The HR Coach: There are several tools you can use to save time when screening job candidates. My favorite is the phone interview. It's cheap, it can be conducted from anywhere, and you are in total control of how long it takes.

    The phone interview is most commonly used as a pre-screening mechanism for weeding out the unqualified and determining those you want to see. You can tell a great deal from listening carefully on the phone.

    Get all of The HR Coach's inteviewing tips.

    Click on: Use Phone Interviews To Weed Out A Big Crop Of Job Applicants

    Personal Touches Help Motivate Customer-Service Staff

    Personal Touches Help Motivate Customer-Service Staff

    When Bob Furniss worked at a call center early in his career, his manager asked what he did after work. �I was playing in a band at the time. Because my manager cared enough to ask about me, she learned I had a passion for all things creative,� he says.

    Furniss� creativity was consequently put to use when he was assigned to a special project to help raise awareness about customer retention. �For the first time, I realized work could be fun,� recalls Furniss, now founder and president of Tennessee-based Touchpoint Associates, Inc., which helps organizations increase productivity and profits by bringing out the best in customer-service staff.

    Find out how Furniss and other manager tap into employees' interests and goals - and get them invested in the company mission.

    Click on: Personal Touches Help Motivate Customer-Service Staff

    Mastering the Presentation Game

    Mastering the Presentation Game

    Here are the key points to keep in mind to ensure your next presentation
    is as flawless as a pro's golf game.

    Read this article

    Finance 101 For Startups

    Finance 101 For Startups


    Small business guru Steven D. Strauss talks about the steps needed to
    secure financial stability in your new business.

    Read this article

    Small Business: Upstart Record Labels Compete with Majors

    They Signed Gnarls Barkley

    How upstart record labels score big-name acts, make download-music
    history, and compete with the majors

    Read more

    A Million Bucks in A Month

    A Million Bucks in A Month


    Remi Frazier has an American dream. He took a plane to New York with
    $100 in his pocket and intends to end up with a million-dollar business.

    Read this article.

    Tuesday, October 10, 2006

    Forecasting & Marketing Mistakes

    Recommendation to improve your marketing prowess.

    Title: Forecasting for Marketing
    Subject: Marketing/Sales
    Source: Quantitative Methods in Marketing, Second Edition / J. Scott Armstrong, Roderick J. Brodie

    Title: The 10 Biggest Marketing Mistakes Everyone Is Making and How to Avoid Them
    Subject: Marketing/Sales
    Source: Jay Abraham

    Web Marketing: Four Actionable KPIs You Don't Know About

    Title: Four Actionable KPIs You Don't Know About
    Subject: Marketing/Sales
    Source: ClickZ / Jason Burby

    Typically, site analysis must be customized to individual marketing objectives. But there are a few common key performance indicators (KPIs) that can be applied across the board. Here are four KPIs every marketer or site owner can leverage to identify opportunities and improve results. Best part is, these are easy ratios to create using any Web analytics tool and Microsoft Excel. Some can be automatically set up within your existing analytics tool.

    • Landing-Page Exit Ratio
    • Home-Page-Effectiveness Index
    • Thank-You-Page Abandonment Rate
    • Measure and Segment

    Read the full article

     

    The Psychology of Success

    Title: The Psychology of Success
    Subject: Entrepreneurship
    Source: Inc. Magazine / Keith McFarland

    Why do some leaders thrive while others struggle? The answers might surprise you.

    They're hyperconfident risk-takers. They make big decisions on the fly but often fail to see the big picture. They're charismatic visionaries who don't play well with others. That's the stereotype of successful entrepreneurs. But how accurate is it? To find out, I administered the Test of Attentional and Interpersonal Style, or TAIS--a 144-question personality exam used by the U.S. military, big corporations, and Olympic athletic squads to help high performers hone their competitive edge--to 250 former and current leaders of Inc. 500 companies. Entrepreneurs, it turns out, are indeed a breed apart--but not for the reasons everyone thinks.

    Full article

    Seven Habits for High Effectiveness

    Title: Seven Habits for High Effectiveness
    Subject: Personal Improvement
    Source: ManyWorlds

    The higher up the corporate ladder an executive climbs, the more important it becomes for that individual to operate effectively and to do so reliably. Organizational effectiveness involves more than the sum of the effectiveness of individuals, but must be built on top of this foundation. Self-improvement books have been an American tradition for decades, but one of the most popular and enduring is Stephen Covey�s The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People (1989). Covey positions his principles-based approach as the �fourth generation� of time (or life) management and clearly shows that it coheres comfortably and supportively with the demands of a life in business.

     

    The Bootstrap Report (Oct 2006)

    The Bootstrap Report

    What might be holding back your company's growth, the skinny
    on pension plans and early-stage companies, and more.

    Read this report

    The Bootstrap Report

    What might be holding back your company's growth, the skinny
    on pension plans and early-stage companies, and more.

    Read this report

    Travel Expenses Offer Small Tax Benefit

    Travel Expenses Offer Small Tax Benefit

     An employer tells staffers who drive to clients' offices to
    deduct expenses and mileage on their personal tax returns.
    Is this legit?

    Learn more about "itsy-bitsy" tax write-offs.

     

     

    MArketing: Creating a Slogan from Scratch

    Creating a Slogan from Scratch

    A compelling slogan can be a vital business tool. Doing it
    yourself requires creativity, clear thinking, and some
    constructive criticism.


    Get the full story

    Potential Opportunities in Natural Gas

    Potential Opportunities in Natural Gas

    Even after a significant price drop, the fundamentals for natural gas are clear. Increasing demand outstips projected supplies. So where are the real money making opportunities in this energy commodity?

    Read this article to learn more.

    Money Solutions for the average investor

    Money Solutions

    The Brass Behind a 240-Bagger
    Three signs can reveal a superstar stock.

    Choppy Market? Bring It On
    There's plenty of money to be made when the market turns volatile.

    Don't Flunk Your Retirement
    Will putting your kid through college put you in the poorhouse?

    Powerful Penny Profits
    Dividend increases are about more than just money.

    10 Stocks to Avoid
    You won't believe who made the list.

    Bank Offers Check Deposits Over the Net

    Bank Offers Check Deposits Over the Net

    The check isn't in the mail: Wachovia, the fourth-biggest U.S. bank,
    launches a service that lets companies scan checks and deposit them
    electronically over the Internet.

    Learn more!

     

    Should You Invest in These Countries?

    Should You Invest in These Countries?

    S&P gives 19 countries its highest sovereign rating of AAA. The better
    the rating, the lower the investment risk

    Learn more about investment grade countries.

     

    Technology: Junk 2.0 (High Tech Junk Yard)

    Technology: Junk 2.0

    There are few businesses more elemental than hauling junk: Send a truck, get the stuff and drive away. At 1-800-GOT-JUNK? LLC, getting rid of old stuff is a high-tech enterprise.

    Read this article.

     

    LinkedIn, Face Book and other Social Networking web sites to build your business

    LinkedIn Revisited

    The upside of giving away your personal information.  How to use social networking web sites to market your business, attract qualified recruits and build customer relationships.

    Read the article.

    Recommended Social Networking web sites for business and financial professionals.

    www.LinkedIn.com

    www.Ryze.com

    www.FaceBook.com

    www.TheSquare.com

     

     

    Fulfillment & Customer Service

    Got Fulfillment?

    For better customer service, consider outsourcing your fulfillment operations.

    Read this article.

     

    Bernanke: Housing market undergoing "substantial correction"

    Bernanke: Housing market undergoing "substantial correction"

    Upset over the staid housing market. If prices are dropping, why is no one buying? The Federal Reserve chairman explains why.

    Watch this video

    Advisers "all look alike," must find ways to stand out

    Advisers "all look alike," must find ways to stand out

    With so many rivals offering the same products, wealth-management firms must find new ways to differentiate themselves. "We are all the same now, no doubt about it. We all look alike," Alan Robertson, group head of Chicago-based Northern Trust Corp.'s wealth advisory division told an industry conference.

    Read this article.

    Friday, October 06, 2006

    Morningstar adds new fund metric of investor return

    Morningstar adds new fund metric of investor return

    Morningstar Inc. has added a new feature to its mutual fund service -- measuring investor return, sometimes called dollar-weighted return, or how well an average investor does over time. Investor return may offer a clearer picture than the traditional measurement of total return.

    Read this article.

    Middle-class families in rough financial shape

    Middle-class families in rough financial shape, study says

    Middle-class families in worse shape than ever, study findsTypical families have not stashed enough money; struggling to pay for home, insurance, and education according to Center for American Progress.

    Read this article.