banking - Banks Slogans are Not Bank Brands

Differentiating products and services through advertising is common for many industries. Financial services marketers seem to be having a particularly tough time. In preparation for my role on a branding panel at the recent Washington Bankers Association marketing conference, I hired a clip service to capture Western Washington bank print advertisements for two months. The panelists also collected their personal financial direct mail for the same period. The result was thousands of ads from scores of banks and credit unions. The junk mail must have weighed 30 pounds. Consumers are being inundated with financial ads, direct mail, and telemarketing. With direct mail, much of the effort attempts to persuade consumers to open envelopes with fake checks, fake government documents, and fake come-ons that offer incredibly low interest rates that aren't that low when one looks at the fine print. Everyone at the conference agreed that this tactic is expected from loan brokers, yet seemed surprised to see this tactic from quality institutions like Bank of America. Still, we are seeing more of it. Precious little direct mail demonstrated why each bank was the right choice. Much of the advertising is not much better. Carrie Williams, president of BrandLab (www.brandlab.com), agreed to sort through the marketing messages and create brand maps to demonstrate how banks appear to consumers and how banks compete against each other. Carrie has a lot of experience doing this for industries such as healthcare, fashion, and the airlines and is skilled at getting to the essence of what she calls the brand soul. As she says, brand soul is a reflection of what is core to an organization. It encompasses its values, personality, its style of doing business, and how it gives back to the community. The good news is that any bank that wants to stand out through exceptional advertising has almost an open field. The bad news is that the financial industry is rapidly moving to commodity status by educating consumers that all they should consider is the best deal. With the exception of a handful of financial institutions, none of the ads contained any brand attributes at all, per Carrie. In essence, most financial institutions are not talking to consumers in ways that are memorable or compelling. Rather than cluster by brand attributes, the work focused around product and service features. In rank order, offers focused on the following: 1) better rates 2) higher return 3) personal service 4) product specific 5) promotions 6) local community Advertisements feature pictures of happy customers, happy employees, and experienced bankers. And most of the work is remarkably similar. There were some exceptions. Bank of America, Washington Mutual, Key Bank, and Wells Fargo all have the kind of advertising one would expect from giant ad budgets. Their messages are consistent, they emphasize ideas that differentiate them from other banks, and they look like quality institutions by having well produced ads. Banks with more modest budgets, such as Sterling Bank, Banner Bank, and Homestreet Bank, have also done a good job creating work that differentiates and offers marketplace consistency. The rest of the work is just wallpaper. More of the financial industry is moving away from human interaction and relying increasingly on electronic service, and consumers are embracing this trend in growing numbers. Now they can shop for loans from the privacy of their homes, and they can consider institutions from across the U.S. Fabulous communications are mandatory in our less-personal-touch world. They can give consumers a sense of relationship with their financial institutions and help illustrate through storytelling each bank's personality in a way that resonates. Still, the evidence would say that banks are being wooed by the notion that ROI is all that counts in communications. If you get the greatest response rate, the story ends there. But does it? I learned at Disney decades ago that several factors should go into evaluating advertising performance. Campaign performance and ROI count for a lot. Equally important is the net impression that the communications leave behind. With direct mail in particular, a two percent response rate is not the only factor. What was the take-away for the 98% who did not respond? At Disney, we cared more about the 98% than the 2%. And most important of all, we cared that the work reflected well on the Disney values, which every employee understood. Shareholders and consumers will be well served when bank messaging reflects each bank's people, values, and personality and the consumer experience reflects those unique attributes in a consistent and winning way. With that said, stop the slogans, research your brand personality, and create work that makes it possible for Carrie's concept of brand's soul to penetrate through the ad clutter and engage the right customers to propel your business forward. Bill Fritsch is president of Hydrogen Advertising, an award-winning, Seattle-based advertising agency emphasizing superb ideas efficiently produced. Reach him at 206-389-9500, ext. 224 or email bill@hydrogenadvertising.com. For more information, visit http://www.hydrogenadvertising.com. Article Source:http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Bill_Fritsch banking - Is Your Information Protected Online or Are You At Risk? This question comes up more and more frequently and when the news is about hackers compromising hundreds of thouands of users on a network system it has to be a concern. We are concerned about our privacy but we leave the computers on twenty four hours a day since we are on the fast speed dialups. And, what about having your banking information online and only protected by passwords. I am sure that you have read about the FDIC making new rules for the banks, well hurray for them. Of course, we can not blame the banks or the businesses for lack of knowing what to do, when the technology and the Internet applications change so rapidly. Do you remember a time when we did not even know what www stood for or .com? I am still amazed at how our world has changed with the advent of the information super highway. Technology overload, information overload, and of course bringing along the guys who are always looking for a fast buck without having to work for it. Another question, have you been getting all of those emails that are asking you to be a business partner with them and allow them to put 10 percent of every transaction into your bank account? Well,that is if you have any money after they get your information. Here is something that occurs to me very frequently, so beware if it hasn't to you yet. Paypal.com frequently has people not from their company of course, emailing me regarding my having added an email to my account and please verify my account information. Or better yet,they ask you for your information so that you can add a credit card to your account. Be very careful with any of those emails and do not respond to any of them. I send them to spoof@paypal.com so that theycan investigate the spammers. Now one more question, what about your health information. Are you familiar with the term HIPPA? It is a health care privacy act that is now in effect and all health care providers have to follow the security issues or be faced with stiff penalities and heavy fines. So, not only is the banking industry and the health care industry becoming high risk for doing business online so are the online businesses. Is this all gloom and doom? Absolutely not. It is as with any new change there are related issues that have to be addressed. And, the technology IT programmers and whiz kids are definitely getting on top of the concerns and finding new ways for protection. The Internet has changed our lives just as the telephone and television made an impact on the older generations. Can you imagine what the people in the 1920's have gone thru all of the technology developments? And,it seems that we will be continuing ourselves. It is hard to imagine that there can be anymore types of dramatic technologies to come but I am sure that it is just around the corner. So, let's just keep on moving and improving and protecting our businesses and personal information as best as can until they get it figured out. And, they will and it will change very soon. That is one thing about technology one replaces the other very fast and some become obsolete as well. Just think about the outdated ones that have been replaced or soon will be (vcr tapes, cassettes, fax machines, beepers,etc) and you can remember a whole lot more.

banking - Is Your Information Protected Online or Are You At Risk?

This question comes up more and more frequently and when the news is about hackers compromising hundreds of thouands of users on a network system it has to be a concern. We are concerned about our privacy but we leave the computers on twenty four hours a day since we are on the fast speed dialups. And, what about having your banking information online and only protected by passwords. I am sure that you have read about the FDIC making new rules for the banks, well hurray for them. Of course, we can not blame the banks or the businesses for lack of knowing what to do, when the technology and the Internet applications change so rapidly. Do you remember a time when we did not even know what www stood for or .com? I am still amazed at how our world has changed with the advent of the information super highway. Technology overload, information overload, and of course bringing along the guys who are always looking for a fast buck without having to work for it. Another question, have you been getting all of those emails that are asking you to be a business partner with them and allow them to put 10 percent of every transaction into your bank account? Well,that is if you have any money after they get your information. Here is something that occurs to me very frequently, so beware if it hasn't to you yet. Paypal.com frequently has people not from their company of course, emailing me regarding my having added an email to my account and please verify my account information. Or better yet,they ask you for your information so that you can add a credit card to your account. Be very careful with any of those emails and do not respond to any of them. I send them to spoof@paypal.com so that theycan investigate the spammers. Now one more question, what about your health information. Are you familiar with the term HIPPA? It is a health care privacy act that is now in effect and all health care providers have to follow the security issues or be faced with stiff penalities and heavy fines. So, not only is the banking industry and the health care industry becoming high risk for doing business online so are the online businesses. Is this all gloom and doom? Absolutely not. It is as with any new change there are related issues that have to be addressed. And, the technology IT programmers and whiz kids are definitely getting on top of the concerns and finding new ways for protection. The Internet has changed our lives just as the telephone and television made an impact on the older generations. Can you imagine what the people in the 1920's have gone thru all of the technology developments? And,it seems that we will be continuing ourselves. It is hard to imagine that there can be anymore types of dramatic technologies to come but I am sure that it is just around the corner. So, let's just keep on moving and improving and protecting our businesses and personal information as best as can until they get it figured out. And, they will and it will change very soon. That is one thing about technology one replaces the other very fast and some become obsolete as well. Just think about the outdated ones that have been replaced or soon will be (vcr tapes, cassettes, fax machines, beepers,etc) and you can remember a whole lot more. About the Author Judy LaMont, R.N. MA. Sec Ed. is an Internet Consultant who shows Entrepreneurs how start their online home-based businesses in very easy simple steps. She resides in Orlando, Fl. and is well known for her Internet knowledge and dedication to helping people. Judy can be reached at support@bizwizzle.com http://www.bizwizzle.com or read her blog at http://sweetspotkey.blogspot.com or call her at 407-832-1996. Article Source:http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Judy_LaMont banking - A Guide to Offshore Banking Offshore banking has often been associated with the underground economy and organized crime, via tax evasion and money laundering; however, legally, offshore banking does not prevent assets from being subject to personal income tax on interest. Except for certain persons who meet fairly complex requirements , the personal income tax of most countries makes no distinction between interest earned in local banks and those earned abroad. Persons subject to US income tax, for example, are required to declare on penalty of perjury, any offshore bank accounts'which may or may not be numbered bank accounts'they may have. Although offshore banks may decide not to report income to other tax authorities, and have no legal obligation to do so as they are protected by bank secrecy, this does not make the non-declaration of the income by the tax-payer or the evasion of the tax on that income legal. Following September 11, 2001, there have been many calls for more regulation on international finance, in particular concerning offshore banks, tax havens and clearing houses such as Clearstream, based in Luxembourg, being accused of being a crossroads for major illegal money flows. An offshore bank is a bank located outside the country of residence of the depositor, typically in a low tax jurisdiction (or tax haven) that provides financial and legal advantages. These advantages typically include some or all of: * Strong privacy * Less restrictive legal regulation * Low or no taxation (i.e. tax havens) * Easy access to deposits (at least in terms of regulation) * Protection against local political or financial instability While the term originates from the Channel Islands "offshore" from Britain, and most offshore banks are located in island nations to this day, the term is used figuratively to refer to such banks regardless of location (Switzerland, Luxembourg and Andorra in particular are landlocked). What type of services are available from offshore banks? The same as the services from any high street bank, plus the extremely confidential Swiss style numbered accounts. Many of the offshore banks listed on this site are respected AA credit rated international banks, that everyone has heard of before. They have simply set up an offshore division or branch division within a tax haven to attract a share of the enormous international trade, and offer almost the same services as any domestic bank. Such as the following: * Personal and corporate current/checking account * Personal and corporate savings accounts * Secure internet banking facilities * Anonymous numbered accounts (extremely confidential) * Debit and ATM cards, which are accepted globally * Credit cards * loans * Mortgages Going offshore in simple terms means placing your savings, investments, assets or business concerns outside of your home country, within one of the many tax havens. A tax haven is a country that has very favourable tax advantages, which means that your savings, investments, assets or business profits can grow free of almost any taxation. Although taxation is only one reason why many decide to go offshore. Privacy To protect the free flow of your personal information and dealings. An offshore entity has no obligation to release your personal or business information, affording you with a great deal of privacy & confidentiality. In general terms your personal information will not be divulged to any governing body or tax authority unless suitable evidence can be shown to prove that you have been involved in criminal activities, such as money laundering or drug trafficking. Financial privacy is becoming a thing of the past. Almost every single transaction made at a bank or ATM, by law, must be recorded and filed. Consumer credit agencies maintain databases full of sensitive information that is used and shared by other organizations and agencies. Asset collectors routinely advertise their ability to locate bank accounts, brokerage accounts, and real estate and business holdings. Should asset collectors find substantial wealth, the individual or corporation becomes an easy target for a lawsuit. Unless ethical and legal steps are taken to insure privacy, sensitive and confidential information could easily get into the wrong hands. Placing your assets, investments, savings bank and brokerage accounts offshore will keep them off the asset collector's radar screen. Consumer credit agencies and government departments do not have access to foreign account records or transactions. Domestic property may be held in the name of a foreign corporation (IBC) or trust. This insures that asset collectors and agencies cannot locate it. By taking advantage of these methods an individual or corporation becomes a smaller target and the likelihood of being sued is reduced. Utilizing offshore tools to protect privacy could mean the difference between keeping and losing what is rightfully yours. Tax Efficiency As stated above, your savings, investments, assets or business profits can grow almost free of any form of taxation. This does not mean tax avoidance, it simply means whilst your assets are held offshore they will benefit from very favourable tax advantages. There will for many however, be a potential tax liability when you look to repatriate your assets to your home country. This will depend on your nationality and your country of residence at the time of repatriation. Asset Protection There are many methods in which to protect your assets using an offshore structure, in the form of an investment product, an IBC (International Business Company) or a offshore trust, or even a simple offshore bank account. These will protect your assets from: * Protection from invasive bureaucracy * Protection against lawsuits * Protect your assets from seizure The simplest form of protection offshore is the nature of the offshore privacy rules. What isn't known can't be attacked. The basic form of offshore privacy combined with a IBC or Trust is a very secure method to legally protect your assets from prying eyes. Lawsuits are filed every week. Ex-spouses, ex-business partners, disgruntled employees or predatory lawyers may file a suit if they believe a potential defendant is an attractive target. Losing such a lawsuit could cause a lifetime's worth of savings, investments and real estate holdings to be lost. In light of this, placing assets offshore is a wise and effective means of protection from frivolous lawsuits. Once your assets are held offshore they are unreachable by domestic courts. In the event of a lawsuit, a defendant may be forced to forfeit domestic assets, but offshore assets will remain untouched. Offshore courts do not recognize or carry out domestic judgments. This insures that assets sent offshore will remain confidential, secure, and permanently in the hands of their rightful owners. Moving assets offshore will create peace of mind that what's yours will always be yours. Regulatory Advantages The regulations in force within most high tax countries, are there to protect investors, and rightly so. However, due to the very strict nature of these regulations, fund managers feel as if they are wearing a financial straight Jacket. It is difficult for them to compete with the returns of their offshore-based partners who enjoy less restrictive regulation. Many offshore jurisdictions have very mature regulatory systems in place, often based on those present within the US or the UK, yet they allow fund managers great freedom to add value for their investors. This is why offshore funds nearly always outperform their onshore equivalents. Within the high regulation onshore countries, excessive rules and bureaucracy often plague domestic businesses and operations. Valuable resources are diverted away from the productive process in order to monitor compliance as a result of the restrictions imposed. Curing this problem is as simple as moving to friendlier shores. Offshore jurisdictions are intentionally business-friendly and have regulations that are straightforward, simple to understand and inexpensive to comply with. Moving a business offshore and enjoying a more pleasant business climate may require nothing more than forming an offshore corporation and transferring assets from the domestic corporation to the foreign one. Is all of this legal? Do you trust your current bank or investment provider? Chances are that they too have an offshore operation; most of the world's major banks and investment companies have an offshore present. Do you honestly believe that a triple A credited rated investment company or bank would operate in an illegal activity? Companies such as Merrill Lynch, HSBC, ING Barings, UBS, Barclays, Deustche bank, ABN Amro all have offshore operations. It is not the offshore industry itself that is illegal, it is only the devious activities of certain individuals who may give the offshore industry a poor reputation. It is also true that the due diligence, and money laundering checks performed by offshore companies is increasing, especially after the 911 terrorist attacks. Which will ensure that it becomes difficult for criminals to abuse the offshore industry.

banking - A Guide to Offshore Banking

Offshore banking has often been associated with the underground economy and organized crime, via tax evasion and money laundering; however, legally, offshore banking does not prevent assets from being subject to personal income tax on interest. Except for certain persons who meet fairly complex requirements , the personal income tax of most countries makes no distinction between interest earned in local banks and those earned abroad. Persons subject to US income tax, for example, are required to declare on penalty of perjury, any offshore bank accounts'which may or may not be numbered bank accounts'they may have. Although offshore banks may decide not to report income to other tax authorities, and have no legal obligation to do so as they are protected by bank secrecy, this does not make the non-declaration of the income by the tax-payer or the evasion of the tax on that income legal. Following September 11, 2001, there have been many calls for more regulation on international finance, in particular concerning offshore banks, tax havens and clearing houses such as Clearstream, based in Luxembourg, being accused of being a crossroads for major illegal money flows. An offshore bank is a bank located outside the country of residence of the depositor, typically in a low tax jurisdiction (or tax haven) that provides financial and legal advantages. These advantages typically include some or all of: * Strong privacy * Less restrictive legal regulation * Low or no taxation (i.e. tax havens) * Easy access to deposits (at least in terms of regulation) * Protection against local political or financial instability While the term originates from the Channel Islands "offshore" from Britain, and most offshore banks are located in island nations to this day, the term is used figuratively to refer to such banks regardless of location (Switzerland, Luxembourg and Andorra in particular are landlocked). What type of services are available from offshore banks? The same as the services from any high street bank, plus the extremely confidential Swiss style numbered accounts. Many of the offshore banks listed on this site are respected AA credit rated international banks, that everyone has heard of before. They have simply set up an offshore division or branch division within a tax haven to attract a share of the enormous international trade, and offer almost the same services as any domestic bank. Such as the following: * Personal and corporate current/checking account * Personal and corporate savings accounts * Secure internet banking facilities * Anonymous numbered accounts (extremely confidential) * Debit and ATM cards, which are accepted globally * Credit cards * loans * Mortgages Going offshore in simple terms means placing your savings, investments, assets or business concerns outside of your home country, within one of the many tax havens. A tax haven is a country that has very favourable tax advantages, which means that your savings, investments, assets or business profits can grow free of almost any taxation. Although taxation is only one reason why many decide to go offshore. Privacy To protect the free flow of your personal information and dealings. An offshore entity has no obligation to release your personal or business information, affording you with a great deal of privacy & confidentiality. In general terms your personal information will not be divulged to any governing body or tax authority unless suitable evidence can be shown to prove that you have been involved in criminal activities, such as money laundering or drug trafficking. Financial privacy is becoming a thing of the past. Almost every single transaction made at a bank or ATM, by law, must be recorded and filed. Consumer credit agencies maintain databases full of sensitive information that is used and shared by other organizations and agencies. Asset collectors routinely advertise their ability to locate bank accounts, brokerage accounts, and real estate and business holdings. Should asset collectors find substantial wealth, the individual or corporation becomes an easy target for a lawsuit. Unless ethical and legal steps are taken to insure privacy, sensitive and confidential information could easily get into the wrong hands. Placing your assets, investments, savings bank and brokerage accounts offshore will keep them off the asset collector's radar screen. Consumer credit agencies and government departments do not have access to foreign account records or transactions. Domestic property may be held in the name of a foreign corporation (IBC) or trust. This insures that asset collectors and agencies cannot locate it. By taking advantage of these methods an individual or corporation becomes a smaller target and the likelihood of being sued is reduced. Utilizing offshore tools to protect privacy could mean the difference between keeping and losing what is rightfully yours. Tax Efficiency As stated above, your savings, investments, assets or business profits can grow almost free of any form of taxation. This does not mean tax avoidance, it simply means whilst your assets are held offshore they will benefit from very favourable tax advantages. There will for many however, be a potential tax liability when you look to repatriate your assets to your home country. This will depend on your nationality and your country of residence at the time of repatriation. Asset Protection There are many methods in which to protect your assets using an offshore structure, in the form of an investment product, an IBC (International Business Company) or a offshore trust, or even a simple offshore bank account. These will protect your assets from: * Protection from invasive bureaucracy * Protection against lawsuits * Protect your assets from seizure The simplest form of protection offshore is the nature of the offshore privacy rules. What isn't known can't be attacked. The basic form of offshore privacy combined with a IBC or Trust is a very secure method to legally protect your assets from prying eyes. Lawsuits are filed every week. Ex-spouses, ex-business partners, disgruntled employees or predatory lawyers may file a suit if they believe a potential defendant is an attractive target. Losing such a lawsuit could cause a lifetime's worth of savings, investments and real estate holdings to be lost. In light of this, placing assets offshore is a wise and effective means of protection from frivolous lawsuits. Once your assets are held offshore they are unreachable by domestic courts. In the event of a lawsuit, a defendant may be forced to forfeit domestic assets, but offshore assets will remain untouched. Offshore courts do not recognize or carry out domestic judgments. This insures that assets sent offshore will remain confidential, secure, and permanently in the hands of their rightful owners. Moving assets offshore will create peace of mind that what's yours will always be yours. Regulatory Advantages The regulations in force within most high tax countries, are there to protect investors, and rightly so. However, due to the very strict nature of these regulations, fund managers feel as if they are wearing a financial straight Jacket. It is difficult for them to compete with the returns of their offshore-based partners who enjoy less restrictive regulation. Many offshore jurisdictions have very mature regulatory systems in place, often based on those present within the US or the UK, yet they allow fund managers great freedom to add value for their investors. This is why offshore funds nearly always outperform their onshore equivalents. Within the high regulation onshore countries, excessive rules and bureaucracy often plague domestic businesses and operations. Valuable resources are diverted away from the productive process in order to monitor compliance as a result of the restrictions imposed. Curing this problem is as simple as moving to friendlier shores. Offshore jurisdictions are intentionally business-friendly and have regulations that are straightforward, simple to understand and inexpensive to comply with. Moving a business offshore and enjoying a more pleasant business climate may require nothing more than forming an offshore corporation and transferring assets from the domestic corporation to the foreign one. Is all of this legal? Do you trust your current bank or investment provider? Chances are that they too have an offshore operation; most of the world's major banks and investment companies have an offshore present. Do you honestly believe that a triple A credited rated investment company or bank would operate in an illegal activity? Companies such as Merrill Lynch, HSBC, ING Barings, UBS, Barclays, Deustche bank, ABN Amro all have offshore operations. It is not the offshore industry itself that is illegal, it is only the devious activities of certain individuals who may give the offshore industry a poor reputation. It is also true that the due diligence, and money laundering checks performed by offshore companies is increasing, especially after the 911 terrorist attacks. Which will ensure that it becomes difficult for criminals to abuse the offshore industry. Thomas Crown is an American financial advisor currently living and working in the Grand Cayman Islands. He currently runs the website Offshore banking which is a Beginners Guide to Offshore Banking. The site covers a wide range of topics; Offshore banking laws, Types of services offered, A large data base of banks, A pros and cons of using offshore banks, Guide to starting your own offshore bank. All of the information at Offshore banking is listed for free, their is no charge for anything on the site. Article Source:http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Thomas_Crown banking - 9-11, Usury, Interest, and the Cost of Money Prospectus for the Bank of New Zealand declares a 1.1% profit against assets. Doesn't sound like much, does it? Not until you figure in that BNZ capital is only about .1 of its asset base. In other words, the true profit for the bank(s) is over 10%; and the bank does not create a single portion of new wealth. And this is after a whole lot of people have been paid good salaries for supplying banking "services". This looks more like hiway robbery to me. An interest rate of 10% may seem like a reasonable return to most folks. Until one begins to realize that the true cost of money in a balanced and healthy system is only around 1%. And the only reason interest rates are so high across the board is because the banks set it up just that way. And how do the banks achieve such a high return on "their" money with no wealth creation at all? It's really quite simple. Under the present banking systems, the banks are allowed to create money out of thin air, using our assets as security. The money supply grows at more than 7.5% per year (even faster in New Zealand), and all of this new money is issued by the banks as interest-bearing debt. And how is it that the banks have such an important and powerful monopoly? When government borrows and taxes from the people, a huge liquidity crisis is created in the private sector. We are forced to turn to the banks to replace the money "stolen" from us. And so, the entire world money market is driven by this liquidity shortage; driven right into the greedy fingers of the banking oligarchy! Through a device known as "Fractional Reserve Banking", the banks are allowed to multiply their deposits with ledger-entry cash secured by our assets. So the banks willingly pay high interest on deposits knowing that each deposit allows them to create more new money; money that forms the basis for the huge banking profits. And the bank rates for deposits then affect every other area of commerce and industry. Why take less than "bank interest" for your capital? We are paying through the nose because these same bankers' money controls the media, the education system, pharmaceuticals, multinationals, and nearly every level of government. And because these same bankers have no regard for anything but more money and more power, every little excuse for conflict, war, death, and destruction is seized upon with glee. 9-11 was not really about Islam, oil, Osama Bin Laden, or exporting Democracy to the middle east. It was all about money. The banking oligarchy has made trillions from 9-11, and their patsies down the line have done well, too. The multinational arms manufacturers have profited hugely. Government insiders have made millions. Shareholders and investors have profited with high interest returns. In fact a whole lot of people have profited with job security or service opportunities. This is what makes the banking scam so insidious. So many people are so blinded by the prospect of high interest or profit at some level that they don't see the bodies. They don't see the bodies of Arabs, Jews, or Christians caught up in the chaos. And they don't see the bodies of their own children until it is too late.

banking - 9-11, Usury, Interest, and the Cost of Money

Prospectus for the Bank of New Zealand declares a 1.1% profit against assets. Doesn't sound like much, does it? Not until you figure in that BNZ capital is only about .1 of its asset base. In other words, the true profit for the bank(s) is over 10%; and the bank does not create a single portion of new wealth. And this is after a whole lot of people have been paid good salaries for supplying banking "services". This looks more like hiway robbery to me. An interest rate of 10% may seem like a reasonable return to most folks. Until one begins to realize that the true cost of money in a balanced and healthy system is only around 1%. And the only reason interest rates are so high across the board is because the banks set it up just that way. And how do the banks achieve such a high return on "their" money with no wealth creation at all? It's really quite simple. Under the present banking systems, the banks are allowed to create money out of thin air, using our assets as security. The money supply grows at more than 7.5% per year (even faster in New Zealand), and all of this new money is issued by the banks as interest-bearing debt. And how is it that the banks have such an important and powerful monopoly? When government borrows and taxes from the people, a huge liquidity crisis is created in the private sector. We are forced to turn to the banks to replace the money "stolen" from us. And so, the entire world money market is driven by this liquidity shortage; driven right into the greedy fingers of the banking oligarchy! Through a device known as "Fractional Reserve Banking", the banks are allowed to multiply their deposits with ledger-entry cash secured by our assets. So the banks willingly pay high interest on deposits knowing that each deposit allows them to create more new money; money that forms the basis for the huge banking profits. And the bank rates for deposits then affect every other area of commerce and industry. Why take less than "bank interest" for your capital? We are paying through the nose because these same bankers' money controls the media, the education system, pharmaceuticals, multinationals, and nearly every level of government. And because these same bankers have no regard for anything but more money and more power, every little excuse for conflict, war, death, and destruction is seized upon with glee. 9-11 was not really about Islam, oil, Osama Bin Laden, or exporting Democracy to the middle east. It was all about money. The banking oligarchy has made trillions from 9-11, and their patsies down the line have done well, too. The multinational arms manufacturers have profited hugely. Government insiders have made millions. Shareholders and investors have profited with high interest returns. In fact a whole lot of people have profited with job security or service opportunities. This is what makes the banking scam so insidious. So many people are so blinded by the prospect of high interest or profit at some level that they don't see the bodies. They don't see the bodies of Arabs, Jews, or Christians caught up in the chaos. And they don't see the bodies of their own children until it is too late. More information on the 9-11 banking scam can be found at http://www.truthaboutax.com. Article Source:http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Carl_Peterson banking - What Happened To My Money? Have you ever found yourself asking this question? If you have you are not alone. There are thousands of people who find themselves looking at their bank statements or calling their banks and asking this same exact question. The problem is two fold. By this I mean, as consumers it is our money so it is our duty to keep track of our finances not the banks or anyone else. Most people lack the knowledge to understand that we as consumer should not be calling the bank to ask this question, we should already know the answer. Let's discuss this a little deeper... Why is it that most people don't keep track of their finances? Some of the top 'excuses' I hear are: 1. Lack of time 2. "Forgetfullness" 3. Don't know! Lack of Time Today it is not unheard of for people to complain about not having enough time in a day to do all of things we have to do. Between soccer practice, doctor's appointments, and helping with homework and all of the other things we have to do in any given day it is no wonder we don't have the time to do the simple things. Keeping track of your account is really a simple task if you learn how to do it the right way. The ironic thing about all of this is that the banks GIVE you the tools you need to effectively manage your accounts. But majority of use fail to even use a fraction of those tools. For example, most banks offer some sort of online banking option. This option makes it easy for you to monitor your banking transactions from anywhere with an internet connection. You can also perform some basic maintenance task without ever having to call your bank. What makes this such a great tool is that it is available 24 hours a day. So after you have had a chance to put the kids to bed and settled down you could balance your daily expenses using this helpful tool. Note: It is important to note here that any of the tools that the bank put at your disposal are just that... tools! They are not there to keep track of your account for you. That is your job. Forgetfulness! Let's face it with all that is going on in our days how can we remember every single thing that we buy in a day. It is inevitable that we will forget something and that is one of the reasons that we find ourselves scratching our heads and asking the question "What Happend To My Money?" Creating a system that allows for you to keep on schedule but at the same time keeping accurate records of your daily expenses is crucial. Depending on your lifestyle you should examine your daily routines and find a way and/or time when you can track what it you spend your money on day in and day out. Don't Know This one comes down to complete and total laziness. It just couldn't be said any other way. People get lazy. It is easier to not do it and expect someone else to do it than it is to take an interest in where your money is going every single day. It goes without saying that being lazy almost always leads to more troubles. By not taking OWNERSHIP of YOUR finances you are leaving it in the hands of strangers. My dear sweet Grandma used to say "If you want something done right... do it yourself!" If that ain't about right! If you want to change your life financially you have to know where to start making changes. That simply cannot be done if you don't already know where your money is going now! Well now that we have covered some of the more common reasons most people don't keep track of their finances what are some solutions? 1. Hire an accountant 2. Get off your lazy butt and do it. 3. Let things continue the way they are. (Not Recommended) Take your pick. I suggest option #2. If you would like to know just how myself and my wife started to keep better track of our finances visit the following link: http://www.budgetingbasics.com Not only will you learn how track your daily expenditures easily and quickly, but you will also receive additional tools and tips to help create the ultimate budgeting system that will have your bank account growing at an alarming rate.

banking - What Happened To My Money?

Have you ever found yourself asking this question? If you have you are not alone. There are thousands of people who find themselves looking at their bank statements or calling their banks and asking this same exact question. The problem is two fold. By this I mean, as consumers it is our money so it is our duty to keep track of our finances not the banks or anyone else. Most people lack the knowledge to understand that we as consumer should not be calling the bank to ask this question, we should already know the answer. Let's discuss this a little deeper... Why is it that most people don't keep track of their finances? Some of the top 'excuses' I hear are: 1. Lack of time 2. "Forgetfullness" 3. Don't know! Lack of Time Today it is not unheard of for people to complain about not having enough time in a day to do all of things we have to do. Between soccer practice, doctor's appointments, and helping with homework and all of the other things we have to do in any given day it is no wonder we don't have the time to do the simple things. Keeping track of your account is really a simple task if you learn how to do it the right way. The ironic thing about all of this is that the banks GIVE you the tools you need to effectively manage your accounts. But majority of use fail to even use a fraction of those tools. For example, most banks offer some sort of online banking option. This option makes it easy for you to monitor your banking transactions from anywhere with an internet connection. You can also perform some basic maintenance task without ever having to call your bank. What makes this such a great tool is that it is available 24 hours a day. So after you have had a chance to put the kids to bed and settled down you could balance your daily expenses using this helpful tool. Note: It is important to note here that any of the tools that the bank put at your disposal are just that... tools! They are not there to keep track of your account for you. That is your job. Forgetfulness! Let's face it with all that is going on in our days how can we remember every single thing that we buy in a day. It is inevitable that we will forget something and that is one of the reasons that we find ourselves scratching our heads and asking the question "What Happend To My Money?" Creating a system that allows for you to keep on schedule but at the same time keeping accurate records of your daily expenses is crucial. Depending on your lifestyle you should examine your daily routines and find a way and/or time when you can track what it you spend your money on day in and day out. Don't Know This one comes down to complete and total laziness. It just couldn't be said any other way. People get lazy. It is easier to not do it and expect someone else to do it than it is to take an interest in where your money is going every single day. It goes without saying that being lazy almost always leads to more troubles. By not taking OWNERSHIP of YOUR finances you are leaving it in the hands of strangers. My dear sweet Grandma used to say "If you want something done right... do it yourself!" If that ain't about right! If you want to change your life financially you have to know where to start making changes. That simply cannot be done if you don't already know where your money is going now! Well now that we have covered some of the more common reasons most people don't keep track of their finances what are some solutions? 1. Hire an accountant 2. Get off your lazy butt and do it. 3. Let things continue the way they are. (Not Recommended) Take your pick. I suggest option #2. If you would like to know just how myself and my wife started to keep better track of our finances visit the following link: http://www.budgetingbasics.com Not only will you learn how track your daily expenditures easily and quickly, but you will also receive additional tools and tips to help create the ultimate budgeting system that will have your bank account growing at an alarming rate. Mosiekk Conley is the author and editor of Mosiekk Conley.com where he shares his expertise in a number of different areas including budgeting, internet marketing, procrastination, credit repair and others. Article Source:http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mosiekk_Conley banking - What Makes You Think You Can Reclaim Bank Charges? You have not bothered to manage your account properly. You have borrowed money offered to you by your bank, and then not made sure you have left enough funds to pay for your direct debits or cheques. You haven't even managed to put aside money to cover those bank charges. What makes you think you are entitled to any kind of refund and that you can reclaim your bank charges? It is your account and your responsibility, so why blame someone or something else? Well to a certain extent it is your fault, it is your account and you spend the money available, just like we all do. That is the point, just like we all do. Years ago you would find it very difficult for your bank to let you spend more than you had and would have to jump through hoops to borrow even the smallest amount. These days it is openly encouraged; we all have offers landing on our doorstep which seem attractive but can have dire consequences. However, the level at which banks charge when it all goes wrong seems very unfair and there is an important point: English law does not allow a penalty clause. If a bank cannot justify that it costs '25 - '40 to send you an automated letter advising you of an unauthorized overdraft then the fee is considered a penalty. Excessive fees for overdrafts, returned cheques, unpaid direct debits and standing orders are all potentially unlawful. What can you do? Well you can claim those bank charges back for free. You can get a list of charges from your bank. Interest can be added to those charges and you can write a standard letter to your bank asking for a refund. If you are lucky they will send you a cheque, but in most cases they will refuse. A second letter will then be sent informing them that they have so many days to refund or you will pursue the matter in the small claims court. Again they may refuse, but at the end of the day if it does go to court you are unlikely not to receive a refund. The bank has to prove that the charges were not penalties. At any of these stages before a court hearing there may be an offer which you may need to negotiate. If you really don't want to get your hands dirty with this, or simply don't have the time then there are companies out there that will do this for you at a no win no fee commission. This commission is usually 25% of the won claim value. The fee also includes court costs. However, in most cases these claims do not go to court so that level of fee has to be considered carefully. Shop around and you will find the odd company that does offer a simple low fixed fee on a no win no fee basis. The benefits are you only pay for the stage at which you win your claim, and as the company does not automatically factor in court costs it may take more care to maintain the relationship between you and your bank in order not to get to that stage. Whatever choice you make do it soon as the OFT (Office of Fair Trading) are rumoured to be soon setting an acceptable level of charges for the banks. If that is the case the banks are extremely likely to limit payouts that are in excess of the new set charge. So if '12 is the ruling then it will have a massive impact on claims. Good luck!

banking - What Makes You Think You Can Reclaim Bank Charges?

You have not bothered to manage your account properly. You have borrowed money offered to you by your bank, and then not made sure you have left enough funds to pay for your direct debits or cheques. You haven't even managed to put aside money to cover those bank charges. What makes you think you are entitled to any kind of refund and that you can reclaim your bank charges? It is your account and your responsibility, so why blame someone or something else? Well to a certain extent it is your fault, it is your account and you spend the money available, just like we all do. That is the point, just like we all do. Years ago you would find it very difficult for your bank to let you spend more than you had and would have to jump through hoops to borrow even the smallest amount. These days it is openly encouraged; we all have offers landing on our doorstep which seem attractive but can have dire consequences. However, the level at which banks charge when it all goes wrong seems very unfair and there is an important point: English law does not allow a penalty clause. If a bank cannot justify that it costs '25 - '40 to send you an automated letter advising you of an unauthorized overdraft then the fee is considered a penalty. Excessive fees for overdrafts, returned cheques, unpaid direct debits and standing orders are all potentially unlawful. What can you do? Well you can claim those bank charges back for free. You can get a list of charges from your bank. Interest can be added to those charges and you can write a standard letter to your bank asking for a refund. If you are lucky they will send you a cheque, but in most cases they will refuse. A second letter will then be sent informing them that they have so many days to refund or you will pursue the matter in the small claims court. Again they may refuse, but at the end of the day if it does go to court you are unlikely not to receive a refund. The bank has to prove that the charges were not penalties. At any of these stages before a court hearing there may be an offer which you may need to negotiate. If you really don't want to get your hands dirty with this, or simply don't have the time then there are companies out there that will do this for you at a no win no fee commission. This commission is usually 25% of the won claim value. The fee also includes court costs. However, in most cases these claims do not go to court so that level of fee has to be considered carefully. Shop around and you will find the odd company that does offer a simple low fixed fee on a no win no fee basis. The benefits are you only pay for the stage at which you win your claim, and as the company does not automatically factor in court costs it may take more care to maintain the relationship between you and your bank in order not to get to that stage. Whatever choice you make do it soon as the OFT (Office of Fair Trading) are rumoured to be soon setting an acceptable level of charges for the banks. If that is the case the banks are extremely likely to limit payouts that are in excess of the new set charge. So if '12 is the ruling then it will have a massive impact on claims. Good luck! Mark Bateman started http://www.iWantMyChargesBack.co.uk in order to help people and businesses claim back their bank charges at a transparent low fixed fee. Coming from an accountancy background and also having fallen foul of the charging system Mark has made his own successful claims and is now helping many others to do the same. Article Source:http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mark_Bateman banking - Special Report Secrets Of Asset Protection Section 1: The Current Landscape (Battlefield) ' Out of control lawsuits ' Bloated government with an ever-increasing appetite. ' Advancing Socialism ' Insane over-regulation Section 2: Economic Slavery ' The Middle Class Treadmill ' Hidden inflation guarantees failure ' "Debt is good" - another lie ' Anesthetized Society Section 3: Solutions ' Asset Protection for Current and Future Wealth ' Why a Bank may be the Worst Place For Your Money ' Set Up Your Own Virtual Bank Account ' Take Action Introduction We live in a dangerous world. What you do not know can hurt you. The purpose of this report is to help you to better understand and protect yourself from the many dangers that threaten your economic survival. Section 1 The Current Landscape (Battlefield) "America has degenerated into the most litigious society in the history of the World." There are now well over one million attorneys in our country - that's 70% of the world's attorney population, and Americans only comprise 5% of the world's people! Our law schools are presently graduating over 40,000 attorneys a year. For every 20 engineers, Japan only has one attorney. For every 2.5 attorneys, we have just one engineer. Is it any wonder we can't find justice? In 1993, the American Bar Association estimated there to be a 37% probability of the average American becoming involved in some form of legal action in any given year. This, of course, is very good news to the trial attorney who will charge you an average of $100/hr and up: and whether he wins or loses your case, he still gets paid! What would you do if you were to be sued today? Hire an attorney? In many cases, having an attorney is worse than not having an attorney at all! At an American Bar Association dinner in New York in 1978, U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice Warren Burger, as the guest speaker, stated: "Ninety percent of all trial attorneys in this country are incompetent." If you believe that an attorney can always better represent you than you can represent yourself, you have bought the attorney's lie that, "The man that represents himself has a fool for a client." Did you believe that an attorney will always represent your best interests first? "The Attorney is an Officer of the Court. His first duty is to the courts and the public, not to his client" 7 Corpus Juris Secundum, '4, pg. 802 Source: Economic Solutions, by Peter Kershaw, 1997 The American landscape today is filled with many dangers - any of which can spell financial disaster for you. Here are just a few of them: a. Out of control lawsuits b. Bloated government with an ever-increasing appetite c. Advancing Socialism d. Insane "over-regulation" Out of Control Lawsuits As noted in the opening quotation, lawsuits have now become so prevalent that you can no longer believe that you will not be affected. It is now a matter of "when" not "if" a lawsuit enters your life. Bloated Government Bloated governments are expanding at an incredible pace and they never seem to have enough money. Their growing appetite and inefficiency causes them to need more and more tax revenue. When they can't tax any more, they begin "licensing" and "permitting" those things that are supposed to be our "rights" and they tack on another fee. When they get desperate they resort to outright confiscation of the people's private property! Advancing Socialist Philosophy Another dangerous trend is the Advancing Socialist Philosophy. This is the philosophy of "government knows best". This Advancing Socialist Philosophy punishes innovation and industry and rewards laziness and non-productivity. In 1848, Karl Heinrich Marx wrote the Communist Manifesto, which has since become the most widely read political pamphlet in the history of the world. These are Nine Planks of the Manifesto : 1. Abolition of property in land and application of all rents of land to public purposes. 2. A heavy progressive or graduating income tax. 3. Abolition of all right of inheritance. 4. Confiscation of the property of all emigrants and rebels. 5. Centralization of credit in the hands of the State, by means of a national bank with State capital and an exclusive monopoly. 6. Centralization of the means of communication and transport in the hands of the State. 7. Extension of factories and instruments of production owned by the State, the bringing into cultivation of waste lands, and the improvement of the soil generally in accordance with a common plan. 8. Equal liability of all to labor. Establishment of industrial armies, especially for agriculture. 9. Free education for all children in public schools. Source: Economic Solutions, Peter Kershaw, 1997 Many people will argue that most of these Planks are already in place! What do you think? Insane "Over-Regulation" Do you believe we live in a "free" country? Try and do something without a permit, license, or Social Security Number (read: Socialist Security Number). "And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name." Revelation 13:17 The immense explosion of laws, codes, ordinances, and regulations have created one the greatest threats to one's assets and private property. The following quote from Ayn Rand's novel says it well: "Did you really think that we want those laws to be observed?" said Dr. Ferris. "We WANT them broken. You'd better get it straight that it's not a bunch of boy scouts you're up against - then you'll know that this is not the age of beautiful gestures. We're after power and we mean it. You fellows were piker's, but we know the real trick, and you'd better get wise to it. There's no way to rule innocent men. The only power any government has is the power to crack down on criminals. Well, when there aren't enough criminals, one 'makes' them. One declares so many things to be a crime that it becomes impossible for men to live without breaking laws. Who wants a nation of law-abiding citizens? But just pass the kind of laws that can neither be observed nor enforced nor objectively interpreted - and you create a nation of law-breakers - and then you cash in on guilt. Now that's the system, Mr. Rearden, that's the game, and once you understand it, you'll be much easier to deal with." (Page 406 of Atlas Shrugged, Ayn Rand). Consider another quote concerning the voluminous 6000 plus pages of the Internal Revenue Code that no one understands: "Is it possible to ever learn the truth about income taxes, especially in light of all the confusion, if not blatant misinformation? Yes, you can, but not by trusting attorneys and accountants. These, after all, are highly compromised individuals - taxes are their very livelihood! Higher taxation and more tax laws with ever-increasing complexity are to their advantage. Yet, even these tax "professionals" seldom have a clue as to how to properly interpret the tax laws. The results of a 1989 Money Magazine survey of 50 top "Professional Tax Preparers," unequivocally demonstrates the utter ncomprehensibility of the income tax laws. The fifty preparers were given the assignment of preparing tax returns for a fictitious American family. None of them arrived at even close to the same bottom line figure. In fact, discrepancies ranged anywhere from $12,539 to $35,813! Imagine the absurdity of trying to figure your own taxes correctly, when even the "professionals" are incapable of doing so!" - Economic Solutions, Peter Kershaw, 1997 In fact a survey in 2003 showed that the IRS "help line" gave wrong answers to taxpayers questions 47% of the time! In summary, we live in a dangerous world and the American landscape is fraught with land mines that are direct threats to your financial well being. Section 2 Economic Slavery Americans, living in what is called the richest nation on earth, seem always to be short of money. Wives are working in unprecedented numbers, husbands hope for overtime hours to earn more, or take part-time jobs evenings and weekends, children look for odd jobs for spending money, the family debt climbs higher, and psychologists say one of the biggest causes of family quarrels and breakups is "arguments over money." - Billions for the Bankers, Debt for the People, Pastor Sheldon Emry What they don't tell you is that, after inflation, taxes and debt payments...most people are worse off than when they started! They are simply taking one step forward and two steps back and they wonder why they never get ahead! Consider this statistic from a recent government report: At age 65, ninety-five out of one hundred people will be dependent in some way upon their family, their church, or the government. Four of them will be comfortable and only one will be rich. Society has been so "anesthetized" by television and recreation that we don't see our money being taken from us from right under our noses. Most people in America can tell you what episode of "Survivor" they saw last night but they can't tell you the last time they read the united states Constitution or the Declaration of Independence! Did you know that our Founding Fathers revolted over a 5% tax by the King of England? Yet today Americans pay as much as 50% in local, state and federal taxes! "If the American people ever allow private banks to control the issue of their money, first by inflation and then by deflation, the banks and corporations that will grow up around them (around the banks), will deprive the people of their property until their children will wake up homeless on the continent their fathers conquered." Thomas Jefferson Because the Federal Reserve is privately owned by international banking families, and 'creates' our money by loaning it to our nation, it is mathematically impossible to ever repay the national debt. We are slowly and methodically progressing towards the day our nation goes bankrupt. When this happens we will see the rapid drop in the value of the dollar. This will shatter our current economic condition and create the "mother of all depressions". For a sneak peak into our future do an Internet search on Argentina's recent default on their national debt in 2002. When this happened the Argentine Peso lost over 60% of its value in less than six months! Unemployment soared to over 25% percent and the country went from being a thriving economy to a third world country. "No currency has suffered a smaller loss from inflation since World War II than the German Mark. Yet even so, 71 percent of it's value vanished between January 1, 1949, and the end of June 1995. The world reserve currency during this period, the U.S. Dollar, lost 84 percent of its value. This is a measure of the wealth that governments expropriated by exploiting their territorial monopolies on legal tender." From The Sovereign Individual, by James Dale Davidson and Lord William Rees-Mogg The Federal Reserve, by attempting to regulate the economy with the expansion and contraction of credit, has created an economic environment that greatly magnifies our boom and bust cycle. The "boom" times are signified by greatly exaggerated prices like the stock market "bubble" of the nineties and the housing bubble of the years 2003 - 2005. Combine these two major forces and it doesn't take much to recognize that we are in for some very rough seas over the next 10 to 15 years. The place to be during these tumultuous times will be in precious metals. In times of economic uncertainty people will flock to gold and silver. Gold and Silver have been real money since biblical times - long before "paper" money was created - and they will be here long after "paper money" returns to its intrinsic value which is nothing. Here are some interesting quotes on gold: "For more than two thousand years gold's natural qualities made it man's universal medium of exchange. In contrast to political money, gold is honest money that survived the ages and will live on long after the political fiats of today have gone the way of all paper." Hans F. Sennholz "If you don't trust gold, do you trust the logic of taking a beautiful pine tree, worth about $4,000 - $5,000, cutting it up, turning it into pulp and then paper, putting some ink on it and then calling it one billion dollars?" Kenneth J. Gerbino "Gold is not less but more rational than paper money. Money holds value so long as it is in limited supply; gold will always be in limited supply, and would require real resources to produce even from the sea; paper and printing ink are not in limited supply. The gold system is much closer to a modern automatic scientific control system than the crude and relatively unstable system of paper." William Rees-Mogg "Of all the contrivances for cheating the laboring classes of mankind, none has been more effective than that which deludes them with paper money." Daniel Webster "Betting against gold is the same as betting on governments. He who bets on governments and government money bets against 6,000 years of recorded human history." Gary North "Gold is worshiped in all climates, without a single temple, and by all classes, without a single hypocrite. Caleb C. Colton Section 3 Solutions How do you protect yourself and your assets in these treacherous times? We believe that there are two critical steps that you must take to protect your financial future. The first thing you must do is protect your current assets so they are insulated from these financial threats. The second thing you must do is create additional sources of income that will help you weather the storms that comes your way. Asset Protection for Current and Future Wealth Asset Protection is the act of positioning your assets in such a way that they are out of reach of predators, lawsuits and even government agencies. The key is to "control" your assets without actually "owning" them. A good Asset Protection Plan is designed to make your assets difficult to discover or too expensive to pursue. A good Asset Protection Plan is put into place before it is needed. In a sense, it is a type of insurance that will enable you to sleep well at night knowing that you are protected. How do you "control" your assets without actually "owning" them? First, let us define "asset". An asset is anything of value that you want to preserve or protect against hostile third parties. To protect your valued assets against these predators you must own your assets in an entity other than in your own name. There are many types of entities that you can choose from and here are just a few: Corporations Partnerships Trusts Limited Liability Companies (LLCs) When you "control" the company you also control the checkbook. As the President or Manager of your company you make all the decisions on behalf of the company and benefit from all the assets of the company. Corporations work well but are often difficult to maintain and, If you do not keep proper records, you can lose your personal liability protection. General Partnerships are generally not effective in asset protection although Limited Partnerships offer some liability protection. Limited Liability Companies are quickly replacing Limited Partnerships as Asset Protection vehicles. Limited Liability Companies have become the premiere Asset Protection vehicle because of their superior asset protection features, their ease of operation, their low maintenance, and their relatively low cost. A Trust is an effective Asset Protection vehicle but only if it is an irrevocable trust. This simply means that you give up control of the trust to an independent trustee. An Unicorporated Business Trust Organization takes the limited liability features of a corporation and combines them with the "pass through" tax benefits of a partnership. It is literally the best of both worlds. U.B.T.O.'s are flexible and simple to form and are much easier to maintain than other entities. Internationally, the U.B.T.O. is the most common form of business entity in use. The Unincorporated Business Trust Organization is now the entity of choice for individuals and businesses seeking the ultimate in privacy and asset protection. You also have a much lower profile. The Unicorporated Business Trust Organization is one of the ultimate asset protection and privacy tools! With an Unincorporated Business Trust Organization Protecting Real Estate, Rental Property, Business Assets, and Financial Accounts with Multiple U.B.T.O.'s The basic idea when using U.B.T.O.'s as an Asset Protection Strategy is to separate High Risk Assets (cars, businesses, rentals) from Low Risk Assets (bank accounts, stocks, bonds, mutual funds). You can buy just about any kind of personal and real property in separate U.B.T.O. to maintain maximum privacy and asset protection. You can also have your business assets, real estate, and equipment owned by a separate M.T. (or multiple U.B.T.O.'s) and then lease them back to your business. Owning a Vehicle With An U.B.T.O.: U.B.T.O.'s are a great privacy tool and are great for owning cars, heavy equipment, and recreational vehicles. Imagine you are in an auto accident and you are sued. When the hostile party discovers that the owner of the vehicle is an U.B.T.O. (which has no other assets) and that you don't own anything either (your assets are owned by other U.B.T.O.s) they give up or settle at a greatly reduced amount. The more assets you have, the more U.B.T.O.s you may want to set up. Why a Bank may be the worst place for Your Money: Did you know that banks may be the worst place to keep your money? Try this little experiment: Pick up your Account Holder Agreement (if you don't have one go pick one up from the bank) and read it. Here is what one from Wells Fargo states: "The Bank may accept and act on any legal process that it believes is valid, whether served in person, by mail or by facsimile transmission, at any Bank location. Legal process includes, without limitation, a levy, garnishment or attachment, tax levy or withholding order, injunction, restraining order, subpoena, search warrant, government agency request for information or forfeiture relating to your account." Does that make you sleep well at night? With the new, so-called "Patriot Laws" if you "look" suspicious you are at risk! (What does a suspicious person look like?) It gets worse. You must first understand the monster called "fractional reserve banking" (which is the way our banks operate). *Fractional Reserve Banking means what it says. The banks only keep a fraction of the deposits on hand as reserves to cover any withdrawals. Sounds innocent enough but let's examine it further: Banks only keep about $1 in reserves for every $10 in deposits. This means that if more than one out of every ten account holders were to appear at the same time at the bank to make a withdrawal, THE MONEY WOULDN'T BE THERE! Another way of looking at this is the fact that the banks have the ability to loan out $10 for every $1 they take in! If you think Enron and WorldCom had crooked books, this makes them pale in comparison! Banks have the ability to create money out of thin air. If we tried that we would be thrown in prison for counterfeiting! What about the FDIC? The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation only has about 1/2 of 1% in reserves to cover insurance claims. The FDIC is nothing more than a "confidence" game. What's the solution? One solution is to keep as little money as possible in your bank. Only use banks to cash your checks. Take Action Never before in history has there been such a threat to your personal financial security than right now. Like the story of Noah's Ark in the Old Testament, you must build your financial lifeboat before you need it. When the rains come it will already be too late. Contact us for a Complimentary Consultation 219-228-7356 or by e-mail at fa2z@aol.com! ubto.info Evident, LLC 228 Ogden Hammond, Indiana Republic

banking - Special Report Secrets Of Asset Protection

Section 1: The Current Landscape (Battlefield) ' Out of control lawsuits ' Bloated government with an ever-increasing appetite. ' Advancing Socialism ' Insane over-regulation Section 2: Economic Slavery ' The Middle Class Treadmill ' Hidden inflation guarantees failure ' "Debt is good" - another lie ' Anesthetized Society Section 3: Solutions ' Asset Protection for Current and Future Wealth ' Why a Bank may be the Worst Place For Your Money ' Set Up Your Own Virtual Bank Account ' Take Action Introduction We live in a dangerous world. What you do not know can hurt you. The purpose of this report is to help you to better understand and protect yourself from the many dangers that threaten your economic survival. Section 1 The Current Landscape (Battlefield) "America has degenerated into the most litigious society in the history of the World." There are now well over one million attorneys in our country - that's 70% of the world's attorney population, and Americans only comprise 5% of the world's people! Our law schools are presently graduating over 40,000 attorneys a year. For every 20 engineers, Japan only has one attorney. For every 2.5 attorneys, we have just one engineer. Is it any wonder we can't find justice? In 1993, the American Bar Association estimated there to be a 37% probability of the average American becoming involved in some form of legal action in any given year. This, of course, is very good news to the trial attorney who will charge you an average of $100/hr and up: and whether he wins or loses your case, he still gets paid! What would you do if you were to be sued today? Hire an attorney? In many cases, having an attorney is worse than not having an attorney at all! At an American Bar Association dinner in New York in 1978, U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice Warren Burger, as the guest speaker, stated: "Ninety percent of all trial attorneys in this country are incompetent." If you believe that an attorney can always better represent you than you can represent yourself, you have bought the attorney's lie that, "The man that represents himself has a fool for a client." Did you believe that an attorney will always represent your best interests first? "The Attorney is an Officer of the Court. His first duty is to the courts and the public, not to his client" 7 Corpus Juris Secundum, '4, pg. 802 Source: Economic Solutions, by Peter Kershaw, 1997 The American landscape today is filled with many dangers - any of which can spell financial disaster for you. Here are just a few of them: a. Out of control lawsuits b. Bloated government with an ever-increasing appetite c. Advancing Socialism d. Insane "over-regulation" Out of Control Lawsuits As noted in the opening quotation, lawsuits have now become so prevalent that you can no longer believe that you will not be affected. It is now a matter of "when" not "if" a lawsuit enters your life. Bloated Government Bloated governments are expanding at an incredible pace and they never seem to have enough money. Their growing appetite and inefficiency causes them to need more and more tax revenue. When they can't tax any more, they begin "licensing" and "permitting" those things that are supposed to be our "rights" and they tack on another fee. When they get desperate they resort to outright confiscation of the people's private property! Advancing Socialist Philosophy Another dangerous trend is the Advancing Socialist Philosophy. This is the philosophy of "government knows best". This Advancing Socialist Philosophy punishes innovation and industry and rewards laziness and non-productivity. In 1848, Karl Heinrich Marx wrote the Communist Manifesto, which has since become the most widely read political pamphlet in the history of the world. These are Nine Planks of the Manifesto : 1. Abolition of property in land and application of all rents of land to public purposes. 2. A heavy progressive or graduating income tax. 3. Abolition of all right of inheritance. 4. Confiscation of the property of all emigrants and rebels. 5. Centralization of credit in the hands of the State, by means of a national bank with State capital and an exclusive monopoly. 6. Centralization of the means of communication and transport in the hands of the State. 7. Extension of factories and instruments of production owned by the State, the bringing into cultivation of waste lands, and the improvement of the soil generally in accordance with a common plan. 8. Equal liability of all to labor. Establishment of industrial armies, especially for agriculture. 9. Free education for all children in public schools. Source: Economic Solutions, Peter Kershaw, 1997 Many people will argue that most of these Planks are already in place! What do you think? Insane "Over-Regulation" Do you believe we live in a "free" country? Try and do something without a permit, license, or Social Security Number (read: Socialist Security Number). "And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name." Revelation 13:17 The immense explosion of laws, codes, ordinances, and regulations have created one the greatest threats to one's assets and private property. The following quote from Ayn Rand's novel says it well: "Did you really think that we want those laws to be observed?" said Dr. Ferris. "We WANT them broken. You'd better get it straight that it's not a bunch of boy scouts you're up against - then you'll know that this is not the age of beautiful gestures. We're after power and we mean it. You fellows were piker's, but we know the real trick, and you'd better get wise to it. There's no way to rule innocent men. The only power any government has is the power to crack down on criminals. Well, when there aren't enough criminals, one 'makes' them. One declares so many things to be a crime that it becomes impossible for men to live without breaking laws. Who wants a nation of law-abiding citizens? But just pass the kind of laws that can neither be observed nor enforced nor objectively interpreted - and you create a nation of law-breakers - and then you cash in on guilt. Now that's the system, Mr. Rearden, that's the game, and once you understand it, you'll be much easier to deal with." (Page 406 of Atlas Shrugged, Ayn Rand). Consider another quote concerning the voluminous 6000 plus pages of the Internal Revenue Code that no one understands: "Is it possible to ever learn the truth about income taxes, especially in light of all the confusion, if not blatant misinformation? Yes, you can, but not by trusting attorneys and accountants. These, after all, are highly compromised individuals - taxes are their very livelihood! Higher taxation and more tax laws with ever-increasing complexity are to their advantage. Yet, even these tax "professionals" seldom have a clue as to how to properly interpret the tax laws. The results of a 1989 Money Magazine survey of 50 top "Professional Tax Preparers," unequivocally demonstrates the utter ncomprehensibility of the income tax laws. The fifty preparers were given the assignment of preparing tax returns for a fictitious American family. None of them arrived at even close to the same bottom line figure. In fact, discrepancies ranged anywhere from $12,539 to $35,813! Imagine the absurdity of trying to figure your own taxes correctly, when even the "professionals" are incapable of doing so!" - Economic Solutions, Peter Kershaw, 1997 In fact a survey in 2003 showed that the IRS "help line" gave wrong answers to taxpayers questions 47% of the time! In summary, we live in a dangerous world and the American landscape is fraught with land mines that are direct threats to your financial well being. Section 2 Economic Slavery Americans, living in what is called the richest nation on earth, seem always to be short of money. Wives are working in unprecedented numbers, husbands hope for overtime hours to earn more, or take part-time jobs evenings and weekends, children look for odd jobs for spending money, the family debt climbs higher, and psychologists say one of the biggest causes of family quarrels and breakups is "arguments over money." - Billions for the Bankers, Debt for the People, Pastor Sheldon Emry What they don't tell you is that, after inflation, taxes and debt payments...most people are worse off than when they started! They are simply taking one step forward and two steps back and they wonder why they never get ahead! Consider this statistic from a recent government report: At age 65, ninety-five out of one hundred people will be dependent in some way upon their family, their church, or the government. Four of them will be comfortable and only one will be rich. Society has been so "anesthetized" by television and recreation that we don't see our money being taken from us from right under our noses. Most people in America can tell you what episode of "Survivor" they saw last night but they can't tell you the last time they read the united states Constitution or the Declaration of Independence! Did you know that our Founding Fathers revolted over a 5% tax by the King of England? Yet today Americans pay as much as 50% in local, state and federal taxes! "If the American people ever allow private banks to control the issue of their money, first by inflation and then by deflation, the banks and corporations that will grow up around them (around the banks), will deprive the people of their property until their children will wake up homeless on the continent their fathers conquered." Thomas Jefferson Because the Federal Reserve is privately owned by international banking families, and 'creates' our money by loaning it to our nation, it is mathematically impossible to ever repay the national debt. We are slowly and methodically progressing towards the day our nation goes bankrupt. When this happens we will see the rapid drop in the value of the dollar. This will shatter our current economic condition and create the "mother of all depressions". For a sneak peak into our future do an Internet search on Argentina's recent default on their national debt in 2002. When this happened the Argentine Peso lost over 60% of its value in less than six months! Unemployment soared to over 25% percent and the country went from being a thriving economy to a third world country. "No currency has suffered a smaller loss from inflation since World War II than the German Mark. Yet even so, 71 percent of it's value vanished between January 1, 1949, and the end of June 1995. The world reserve currency during this period, the U.S. Dollar, lost 84 percent of its value. This is a measure of the wealth that governments expropriated by exploiting their territorial monopolies on legal tender." From The Sovereign Individual, by James Dale Davidson and Lord William Rees-Mogg The Federal Reserve, by attempting to regulate the economy with the expansion and contraction of credit, has created an economic environment that greatly magnifies our boom and bust cycle. The "boom" times are signified by greatly exaggerated prices like the stock market "bubble" of the nineties and the housing bubble of the years 2003 - 2005. Combine these two major forces and it doesn't take much to recognize that we are in for some very rough seas over the next 10 to 15 years. The place to be during these tumultuous times will be in precious metals. In times of economic uncertainty people will flock to gold and silver. Gold and Silver have been real money since biblical times - long before "paper" money was created - and they will be here long after "paper money" returns to its intrinsic value which is nothing. Here are some interesting quotes on gold: "For more than two thousand years gold's natural qualities made it man's universal medium of exchange. In contrast to political money, gold is honest money that survived the ages and will live on long after the political fiats of today have gone the way of all paper." Hans F. Sennholz "If you don't trust gold, do you trust the logic of taking a beautiful pine tree, worth about $4,000 - $5,000, cutting it up, turning it into pulp and then paper, putting some ink on it and then calling it one billion dollars?" Kenneth J. Gerbino "Gold is not less but more rational than paper money. Money holds value so long as it is in limited supply; gold will always be in limited supply, and would require real resources to produce even from the sea; paper and printing ink are not in limited supply. The gold system is much closer to a modern automatic scientific control system than the crude and relatively unstable system of paper." William Rees-Mogg "Of all the contrivances for cheating the laboring classes of mankind, none has been more effective than that which deludes them with paper money." Daniel Webster "Betting against gold is the same as betting on governments. He who bets on governments and government money bets against 6,000 years of recorded human history." Gary North "Gold is worshiped in all climates, without a single temple, and by all classes, without a single hypocrite. Caleb C. Colton Section 3 Solutions How do you protect yourself and your assets in these treacherous times? We believe that there are two critical steps that you must take to protect your financial future. The first thing you must do is protect your current assets so they are insulated from these financial threats. The second thing you must do is create additional sources of income that will help you weather the storms that comes your way. Asset Protection for Current and Future Wealth Asset Protection is the act of positioning your assets in such a way that they are out of reach of predators, lawsuits and even government agencies. The key is to "control" your assets without actually "owning" them. A good Asset Protection Plan is designed to make your assets difficult to discover or too expensive to pursue. A good Asset Protection Plan is put into place before it is needed. In a sense, it is a type of insurance that will enable you to sleep well at night knowing that you are protected. How do you "control" your assets without actually "owning" them? First, let us define "asset". An asset is anything of value that you want to preserve or protect against hostile third parties. To protect your valued assets against these predators you must own your assets in an entity other than in your own name. There are many types of entities that you can choose from and here are just a few: Corporations Partnerships Trusts Limited Liability Companies (LLCs) When you "control" the company you also control the checkbook. As the President or Manager of your company you make all the decisions on behalf of the company and benefit from all the assets of the company. Corporations work well but are often difficult to maintain and, If you do not keep proper records, you can lose your personal liability protection. General Partnerships are generally not effective in asset protection although Limited Partnerships offer some liability protection. Limited Liability Companies are quickly replacing Limited Partnerships as Asset Protection vehicles. Limited Liability Companies have become the premiere Asset Protection vehicle because of their superior asset protection features, their ease of operation, their low maintenance, and their relatively low cost. A Trust is an effective Asset Protection vehicle but only if it is an irrevocable trust. This simply means that you give up control of the trust to an independent trustee. An Unicorporated Business Trust Organization takes the limited liability features of a corporation and combines them with the "pass through" tax benefits of a partnership. It is literally the best of both worlds. U.B.T.O.'s are flexible and simple to form and are much easier to maintain than other entities. Internationally, the U.B.T.O. is the most common form of business entity in use. The Unincorporated Business Trust Organization is now the entity of choice for individuals and businesses seeking the ultimate in privacy and asset protection. You also have a much lower profile. The Unicorporated Business Trust Organization is one of the ultimate asset protection and privacy tools! With an Unincorporated Business Trust Organization Protecting Real Estate, Rental Property, Business Assets, and Financial Accounts with Multiple U.B.T.O.'s The basic idea when using U.B.T.O.'s as an Asset Protection Strategy is to separate High Risk Assets (cars, businesses, rentals) from Low Risk Assets (bank accounts, stocks, bonds, mutual funds). You can buy just about any kind of personal and real property in separate U.B.T.O. to maintain maximum privacy and asset protection. You can also have your business assets, real estate, and equipment owned by a separate M.T. (or multiple U.B.T.O.'s) and then lease them back to your business. Owning a Vehicle With An U.B.T.O.: U.B.T.O.'s are a great privacy tool and are great for owning cars, heavy equipment, and recreational vehicles. Imagine you are in an auto accident and you are sued. When the hostile party discovers that the owner of the vehicle is an U.B.T.O. (which has no other assets) and that you don't own anything either (your assets are owned by other U.B.T.O.s) they give up or settle at a greatly reduced amount. The more assets you have, the more U.B.T.O.s you may want to set up. Why a Bank may be the worst place for Your Money: Did you know that banks may be the worst place to keep your money? Try this little experiment: Pick up your Account Holder Agreement (if you don't have one go pick one up from the bank) and read it. Here is what one from Wells Fargo states: "The Bank may accept and act on any legal process that it believes is valid, whether served in person, by mail or by facsimile transmission, at any Bank location. Legal process includes, without limitation, a levy, garnishment or attachment, tax levy or withholding order, injunction, restraining order, subpoena, search warrant, government agency request for information or forfeiture relating to your account." Does that make you sleep well at night? With the new, so-called "Patriot Laws" if you "look" suspicious you are at risk! (What does a suspicious person look like?) It gets worse. You must first understand the monster called "fractional reserve banking" (which is the way our banks operate). *Fractional Reserve Banking means what it says. The banks only keep a fraction of the deposits on hand as reserves to cover any withdrawals. Sounds innocent enough but let's examine it further: Banks only keep about $1 in reserves for every $10 in deposits. This means that if more than one out of every ten account holders were to appear at the same time at the bank to make a withdrawal, THE MONEY WOULDN'T BE THERE! Another way of looking at this is the fact that the banks have the ability to loan out $10 for every $1 they take in! If you think Enron and WorldCom had crooked books, this makes them pale in comparison! Banks have the ability to create money out of thin air. If we tried that we would be thrown in prison for counterfeiting! What about the FDIC? The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation only has about 1/2 of 1% in reserves to cover insurance claims. The FDIC is nothing more than a "confidence" game. What's the solution? One solution is to keep as little money as possible in your bank. Only use banks to cash your checks. Take Action Never before in history has there been such a threat to your personal financial security than right now. Like the story of Noah's Ark in the Old Testament, you must build your financial lifeboat before you need it. When the rains come it will already be too late. Contact us for a Complimentary Consultation 219-228-7356 or by e-mail at fa2z@aol.com! ubto.info Evident, LLC 228 Ogden Hammond, Indiana Republic 20+ years in the fields of Mortgage Financing.....Real Estate Acquisition.....and Asset Protection for Business as well as Personal Article Source:http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jai_Bea banking - What Is Your Bank Charging You? A Guide To Bank Charges When you're shopping around for a bank account there are a lot of factors to consider. Many people go for up-front incentives, such as money paid into the bank account, vouchers or a gift. However, it is worth looking at bank accounts in more depth to find out what you might be paying for various transactions. Here are some of the transactions that banks might charge you for. Authorised Overdraft An overdraft is like a short term loan. The bank gives you permission to spend more than the funds you have in your account. This amount is usually fixed in consultation with the bank and may be reviewed at stated periods. Some banks have a free authorised overdraft up to a certain limit and charge for any balance over that limit. This is the best way to arrange an overdraft. Unauthorised Overdraft When customers spend more than they have in their accounts without arranging an overdraft limit, this is known as an unauthorised overdraft. Banks penalise customers heavily for this by charging an unauthorised overdraft fee of more than '35 in some cases. The excess spending will also be charged interest at a higher rate than normal. Cheque Services Some banks charge for clearing cheques more quickly than the standard period (this can range from three to seven days depending on the banks involved and the day of the week). There may also be fees for processing cheques in a foreign currency. Taking Money Out Sometimes customers need to set up direct debits, where companies take certain sums from a bank account each month. They may also wish to set up standing orders, where they arrange to pay a certain amount to another bank account or company each month. Some banks charge a setup fee for these services. . It is also worth looking at the daily withdrawal limit on a current account. This can vary widely depending on the bank you choose. Other Bank Charges Banks may also charge for other services such as: 1. setting up a loan facility 2. changing or issuing foreign currency 3. writing cheques that exceed the cleared balance in an account 4. stopping a lost cheque Banks will also charge customers if they have to write to them about an infraction of bank rules, such as exceeding the overdraft limit or defaulting on loan repayments. This means that defaulting customers have to repay the debt as well as the additional charges. Doing some research could save consumers a small fortune in bank charges. In addition for looking for incentives, consumers should look for banks that keep their charges as low as possible. With a bit of digging, it is easy to find banks with: 5. an automatic overdraft limit for which there is no charge 6. free standing orders and direct debits 7. free transfers between banks 8. low unauthorised overdraft fees 9. low charges for other bank transactions Choosing a bank that fits this profile will help with overall financial health.