Market Forecasting - Investor Beware

By Dave Young

The way the forecasting game works is that the market guru, seer, pundit or executive continually makes forecasts in an attempt to gain public attention. By sheer luck maybe half of these predictions are proven right-meaning that at least half of them are wrong. On the occasions when the forecast turns out to be correct, the forecaster plays it up. Those many forecasts that don't pan out (and those many investors who are financially hurt by them) are never spoken of again. In truth, you're much more likely to get an accurate prediction of the future by listening to the weather forecasters. At least they inflict less damage when they're wrong.

Ned Davis Research and InvestTech recently collaborated to analyze the forecasts of some of the most highly paid and highly regarded market forecasters in the financial industry. This is a small sampling of the findings:

* Out of the 22 high profile panelists on Louis Rukeyser's Wall Street program for 2001, none predicted the market to close as low as it did that year.

* Out of the 22 high profile panelists on the same program for 2002, none expected the low close at the end of that year either.

* In 2000, at the prestigious Barron's Roundtable, one of the
11 Wall Street strategists had a forecast that was close to being accurate.

* At the 2001 Barron's Roundtable, two of the 12 forecasters were close to the actual market year end close.

* In 2002, two of 11 Barron's Roundtable participants were close.

* In the 2000 issue of Business Week, 52 of the 55 experts (95%) who forecast the year-end level of the S&P 500 were wrong.

* At the beginning of 2002, Business Week again held their survey of "the smartest players on Wall Street." The consensus forecast of the 54 participants for the S&P 500 was 1292. The actual close was 32% lower at 880. Not a single esteemed participant came close to the actual close.

These findings may seem shocking to someone encountering them for the first time, but they are far from atypical. This is just a small snapshot of how bad the market forecasting business really is. Yet despite mountains of data that showing how ineffective the celebrity market forecasters are, they continue to make their predictions and many unfortunate people continue to base their financial decisions on shoddy, unproven advice.

Market professionals are not alone in their inability to forecast market behavior. Economists do just as poorly. Every six months the Wall Street Journal prints the results of a survey of leading economists who predict the level and direction of interest rates for the coming six months. 55 high profile economists currently participate in this semiannual forecast. You'd think such prestigious economists in such a high profile newspaper would know what they're talking about, right? Nope. The record shows that from 1982 through the beginning of 2003 (43 periods), 71% of the time the consensus of economists could not even forecast the direction of rates, either up or down, for six months forward. If they'd just blindly guessed they'd have a 50/50 chance, but their actual educated predictions turn out to be much worse. And these are the best the industry has to offer!

So if forecasts are a waste of time then what does work? After 20 years managing money, I am convinced that investors will only succeed when they are able to remove emotion from the investment process. Gut feelings are not a reliable investment strategy-even the gut feelings of so-called experts.

Oftentimes, successful investing requires you to act in a way that is contrary to what you "feel" is right. For example, several of our models measure the overall optimism or pessimism in the investing public. When optimism is high we know that there's a lot of risk in the market and it's likely that the market will decline. Likewise, when optimism is low and most investors think that things are really bad, that is usually a great time to invest. This pattern has repeated itself for years.

We take great care to ensure that all of our investment decisions are based on solid, proven models, not hunches. Our portfolio allocation models tell us how much we should be invested based on measured risk in the market. We run the models daily to determine the most effective percentages of investments and cash holdings.

Once we're in the market, our portfolio focus models tell us where we should be invested. We constantly track all areas of the equity markets on both a macro scale (small cap, mid cap, large cap, value, growth, international and emerging markets) and a micro scale (individual industries, sectors and countries).

The bottom line for Paragon Wealth Management's clients is that they can be confident that their portfolio isn't being managed by some celebrity market fortuneteller. Our quantitative models enable us to impartially measure what is actually happening in the market and how much risk there is at any point in time. We constantly evaluate the models to determine how effectively they are working. In my opinion, this is one of the best ways to invest for long term success.

To learn more about Paragon Wealth Management visit http://www.paragonwealth.com or call Dave Young at 801-375-2500.

Dave Young has helped clients enhance their financial well-being since he began managing money in 1986. His first client was himself after he sold his 12 franchise businesses and couldn't find a traditional brokerage firm to meet his needs. From his personal investment experience, he knew there was a better option to managing money. Later that year, he started his own money management firm, and has been managing money ever since.

He is originally from New Mexico. He enjoys spending time with his family, the outdoors, hunting, fishing, camping, sports and exercising.

Before investing, he performed as a magician. He toured for four years performing "Grand Illusion," a full-stage magic show in the late 1970's while attending college. He performed over 350 shows, completed three television specials, and traveled the same circuits as David Copperfield.

Wholesale Business Secrets Revealed ' Lean Details in This Must Read Report

By Jorge Olson

Learn the secrets of one of the oldest and most profitable business in the world, Wholesale Business. It has been in place since the start of civilization. It is responsible for creating wealth and a new class, the rich class. This class created wealth and did not inherited it from kings or queens. How did they do it? Using trade, finding products, and wholesaling them.

Now most business trade in some way or another, they trade products, services, something. Now it is easier then ever before to trade products, we have many more sales and distribution channels than ever before, we have many new tools to our disposal and information is easy to get and to transfer.

These days you can use the internet, drop shipping, telephone, email, bank wire transfers and many other resources to expedite business transactions and make it much more interesting for wholesale businesses.

There are many types of businesses you can start, run, or grow. No matter where you are in your venture, a very small home business or a super large transnational corporation. You will have a host of information to your disposal including articles, best practices, ebooks, lists of suppliers and how to guides.

Now you don't even have to buy and sell products. Anyone can become a broker and just sell products without providing any start-up capital or investment. All can benefit from this including wholesalers, manufacturers and anyone selling products.

Are you in business now or just starting a wholesale business? What type of business will you start? Type of goods you can source, distribute and the retail channels you will use? How much money do other individuals or companies make? How can you start? You should ask yourself that every time you are looking to start a new business. They are the most basic questions. Don't just think of buying something and selling it. Learn about your products, where they are sold, who sells them, are they name brands? What are the prices for all channels? Who are the players in the industry?

More difficult questions will include what kind of profit and gross margins you'll make, how to negotiate prices, who are the best suppliers for each product, how to find distribution channels for your items, etc.

The type of ventures you can find or start will include:
-Trading
-Distribution
-Exporting
-Importing
-Liquidations
-Many More

You should also learn about the different sales channels where you can send your products. Here are just some examples of sales and distribution channels you can use to sell your products. Each channel represents a sales opportunity, these will include:
-Online Stores
-eBay -Selling to Supermarkets
-Selling to Convenience Stores
-Exporting to Mexico, Asia, Europe, etc.
-Selling to distributors and wholesalers
-Cash and Carry Stores
-Door to Door at retail prices
-Many More

Where you sell the products will depend greatly on the product and also on the pricing you have. If you deal directly with the manufacturer you can probably get great the best pricing available to anyone and sell to any channel you want including other large distributors. you always have to find the source for you products and avoid purchasing your wholesale goods from resellers, always find the source.

It really does not change if you are a distributor, importer, drop shipper or any other wholesale business. You have to try to work directly or as close to the manufacturer or brand owner as you can, or better, you can be the brand owner and sell your own products. It is really the best venture of all.

You can also find many type products including electronics, software, clothing, jewelry, and sports equipment, house furniture, that you can promote trade and sell.

We will cover cunsumer product marketing at another time. For now we'll stick to the basics of the industry. Distribution is first but you will also have to remember getting the product on the shelves is one thing, selling it out the shelves is another.


------

Jorge Olson is an Entrepreneur expert in Wholesale Business and the Sales and Distribution Channels. He's the founder of a Wholesale Products that takes consumer products to market quickly.

Al Leverick Talks About the "Jaguar Marketing System"

By Al Leverick

"The Jaguar Marketing System", i.e. "Jag Marketing System" is a spin-off of "The Predator Marketing System" launched in 2006. Al Leverick says some people were offended by the name "Predator" hence the name "Jag Marketing System".

Basically "The Predator Marketing System" and "The Jaguar Marketing System" websites are basically identical and its your call whether you want to market one or the other or both.

Of all the Business and Marketing Systems on the Internet, the "Jag Marketing System" clearly stands out. It will showcase up to six of your favorite products/services plus itself. Included is the famous "Make Money or Make Excuses" and "The Journey Continues" Internet Marketing courses, according to Al Turnquist. Also, a brand new lead capture page: "Why Start and Never Quit a Home Business" is available for the system Owner's use as well. This site explains the advantages of operating a home business and leads into the other modules of the program.

The "Jag Marketing System" offers four levels of Systems: Silver, Bronze, Gold, and Platinum. Each of these has its unique comp plan dand benefits.

The newest innovation by Al Turnquist has been dubbed: "10K Week". Commissioned Account Representatives are recruited by System Owners by inexpensive classified advertising and are trained daily by Al Turnquist. Easily, 10 Account Representatives could net the System Owner 10K a week.

Al is now suggesting the use of Fronters by the Account Representatives, which will further increase the closure rate.

Scripts, voice messages, sizzle calls, classified ads and complete training guides, all professionally prepared, are available for the System Owner and the Account Representatives use.

Al Leverick
4320C Ridgecrest Drive, SE
Suite 106
Rio Rancho, New Mexico 87124
505-891-3744
al@alleverick.ws
Skype: al.leverick
Yahoo: aleverick
http://jagmarketingsystem.com/rep/cash4u
http://leverick.veretekk.com

Francisco Xavier Lopez Mena to Head up Mexico Tourism Board

By Erick Laseca

Lopez Mena was appointed the MTBโ��s CEO by incoming president Felipe Calderon. He succeeds Magdalena Carral, who occupied the position since early 2006.

Tourism veteran Francisco Xavier Lopez Mena will be heading up the Mexico Tourism Board (MTB), Mexico โ��s tourism promotion agency, focusing his efforts on consolidating the strong growth that has positioned Mexico as one of the top travel destinations worldwide.

Mr. Lopez Mena brings with him decades of public and private sector experience in tourism and related sectors in Quintana Roo State, home to such important tourism destinations for Mexico as Cancun, Cozumel, Isla Mujeres, the Mayan Riviera and the Costa Maya cruise port.

Lopez Menaโ��s past positions in the tourism industry include President of the Cancun Tourism Board and President of the Chamber of Deputiesโ�� Tourism Commission, as well as President of the Board of both the ground transportation company Autocar Cancun and the travel agency Excell.

In addition to a distinguished career in tourism, Lopez Mena has also been recognized for his work with the Mexican Red Cross, high-level positions at La Salle University and Board positions at several banks, including Banamex, Inverlat, Banco Internacional and Bancomer.

A native of Merida, Lopez Mena received an undergraduate law degree from Mexicoโ��s Iberoamerican University and also completed additional coursework at Harvard and Tulane Universities in the United States as well as at the Instituto de Empresas in Madrid, Spain.

About the Mexico Tourism Board
The Mexico Tourism Board (MTB) brings together the resources of federal and state governments, municipalities and private companies to promote Mexico's tourism attractions and destinations internationally. Created in 1999, the MTB is Mexicoโ��s tourism promotion agency, and its participants include members of both the private and public sectors. The MTB has offices throughout North America, Europe, Asia and Latin America.

About Chichen-Itza, the World Wonder
Swiss-based New7Wonders Foundation is revising the original seven ancient wonders of the world, and Mexicoโ��s Chichen-Itza in Yucatan State is one of 21 finalists to become a new Seven World Wonder. Declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1998, Chichen-Itza is considered to have been one of the greatest Mayan centers of the Yucatan peninsula, and today is one of the largest and most impressive archaeological sites in Mexico.

FOR PRESS ONLY: For additional ideas, help with a story or general travel and tourism information about Mexico, please contact the MTBโ��s North American Press Room directly at 1-800-929-4555, by e-mail at northamericanpress@visitmexico.com.

# # #

Erick Laseca
Mexico Tourism Board
312-228-0517
erick.laseca@bm.com
http://www.visitmexico.com

Mexico Family Package Vacation

By J. Field

Planning to surprise your family? How about taking them on a vacation to Mexico? Travel agents everywhere organize exclusive family Mexico package vacations that offer great discounts on hotel tariffs and freebies and real value for the investment in the holiday package. This place is the land of scenic beauty and caters to entertaining people of all age groups.

Mexico is full of beaches and greenery in the countryside. It is advisable to surf through the Internet and find places that you would be interested in visiting. It would be good to know before hand which places have what kind of attractions and entertainment options. As we know the interests of our family members we can have a fair idea about places we would be interested in visiting. A travel agent could then help us get the best package deal.

There are various Mexico family package vacations to choose from. If you are the kind of person who likes to party every night, then try Cancun. Cancun is famous for its nightlife. However, it's also very beautiful, so you can enjoy the scenic beauty in the day as well. Cancun package deals mostly offer very comfortable and luxurious accommodations that fit in all budgets.

Apart from beautiful Cancun you can also choose holiday packages for Riviera Maya, Playa Del Carmen or Nuevo Vallarta. If your family is a beach fan there are various lovely beaches and locations to choose from along the long coast of The Pacific Ocean and Caribbean. There are various resorts to choose from. All the resorts are well designed and equipped with the latest amenities. The package take care of your food and accommodation charges along with travel charges.

If your family is looking for some peaceful and quiet places, you can go for locations near the villages. A vacation amidst greenery in a cottage could be quite a lovely change for your family. However, if your family loves sightseeing then you can choose a package that takes the entire family to explore some historic temples, pyramids, church, and traditional homes.

A family package is much cheaper than other packages, as you save good amount of money. The travel agents give group discounts and often include some other special perks. Managing finances becomes easier if you buy a family package. After paying for the package in advance you only need to carry enough cash for shopping and other expenses that are not included in the package. This helps you predetermine your budget for shopping and other expenses.

Depending on the package you choose you get to visit a couple of places and at the same time get to experience services at various luxurious resorts. It is advisable to go for a package that meets the needs of your family. So, if you are longing to make your family vacation special and memorable in one of the liveliest place called Mexico, then head straight to your travel agent and book your family vacation right away!

http://www.mexico-family-vacations.com/family-resorts-in-mexico.html

Low Cost Houses - Where?

By Steve Gillman

How do you find low cost houses? Look in the right towns,to begin with. Then you can find the houses you like and make an offer. Where are the right towns?

Altoona, Pennsyvania still had dozens of homes for sale for less than $30,000 as I write this (2005). I just saw one listed for $7,500! This is a cute little town, yet still big enough to have everything you need.

Hot Springs, Arkansas has low cost houses. The cheapest right now is $13,500. My wife and I like Alamogordo, New Mexico a lot, and it still has homes under $50,000. Independence, Kansas has homes starting under $10,000!

How To Find Low Cost Houses

You can look up various local newspapers online, and check out the classifieds. This also assures you that it's a town large enough for a newspaper. If there are at least a dozen houses for sale, you'll have an idea about home prices there.

You can find real estate agents online, or in local paper classifieds. Call one and ask if there are any low cost houses for sale. If not maybe he'll know which nearby towns have some.

You can go to www.Realtor.com, where you can search any town for homes listed by price, number of bedrooms, and many other criteria. This tool is a lot of fun. Set the criteria to select only homes under fifty thousand or whatever you want, and you'll quickly see if you're wasting your time on a town.

Of course, if you don't see many low cost houses, you still might be able to get one. When we lived in Anaconda, Montana, where we bought our own beautiful house for $17,500, we watched as a house listed for $18,000 eventually sold for $6,000! Towns that have had some economic troubles often have house selling for far under their listed price. The lesson is clear for these towns: make low offers to get low cost houses.

Steve Gillman wrote the book: Cheap Homes - How To Save Thousands Buying Your Next House. To learn more, and to see a photo of the beautiful home he and his wife bought for $17,500, visit http://www.YourCheapHome.com

A Reverse Mortgage May Be the Answer For Seniors Needing More Cash

By Bill Burress

Seniors, age 62 and older who are looking for money for any reason may just find themselves sitting on it. Thousands of seniors every month are cashing in on the equity in their homes by doing reverse mortgages. It may be the best way for seniors to get cash without paying income tax on the money they take out and the seniors are not required to pay the money back.

How does a senior get approved for a reverse mortgage? Approval is simple. Credit score or credit history does not matter. Income doesn't matter. Credit and income are probably the biggest factors in approving or denying a forward mortgage but when applying for reverse mortgage, these factors do not matter at all.

The 3 biggest factors of being approved for a reverse mortgage are:

� Loan is based on age, number of borrowers and home value.

� Must be 62 years of age for F.H.A. insured reverse mortgages.

� Must have equity in the property. Amount or percentage of equity will vary depending on the senior's goals but typically an equity position of 50% or greater pays more benefits.

There have been many myths surrounding reverse mortgages. The biggest myth might be, "The bank takes the deed to the house." In a reverse mortgage, the borrower retains ownership of the home. The lender does not take control of the title. The lender's interest is limited to the outstanding balance.

Another myth regarding reverse mortgages is that the approval process is difficult. Although the approval is easier than a forward mortgage, an over the phone credit counseling session is required for each borrower. This phone session only takes twenty to thirty minutes and is designed so that seniors are not taken advantage of by unscrupulous telemarketing companies. The credit counseling helps the seniors have a full understanding of the reverse mortgage. A certificate of completion is issued to the senior after the counseling is conducted. The credit counseling is conducted by third party firms and is paid by the lender and not the senior.

Reverse mortgages are regulated by H.U.D. and insured by F.H.A. and there are safeguards in place to protect seniors before a transaction takes place. These processes are in place to make the transaction smooth and thus ensure that the seniors are well informed of the details of the transaction.

For information on this article or any of your mortgage needs, You may contact Bill Burress, Nationwide Mortgage Expert at Toll Free 1-800-239-1416. or fill out the 30 Second Inquiry Form

Bill Burress, Nationwide Mortgage Expert has over 27 years experience in the mortgage business. Bill Burress is now approving real estate mortgage loans in the following states: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming.

Copyright ฉ 2008 Bill Burress, Nationwide Mortgage Originator. All rights reserved worldwide.

Sending Money to Mexico

By Jason Karp

With a large number of Mexican citizens living and working in the United States, several methods have been made available for sending money from the United States to Mexico. As technology has made new electronic methods of sending cash available, a very competitive environment for companies that offer money transfer services has emerged. This is great news for consumer looking to send money to Mexico.

There are several methods that are relatively easy, each with its own set of costs, requirements, time lines, and advantages.

Some of these methods include:

Bank Transfers: There are essentially three ways that money can be sent to Mexico through a local US bank. The first is a wire transfer, which generally costs between $25 and $65. In order to initiate a wire transfer, the sender must have a valid bank account in the US and the recipient must have a valid bank account in Mexico. The sender must have all of the required information for the receiving bank, including the SWIFT number, an international bank identification number.

In addition to wire transfers, bank customers can purchase a "C-draft," which is essentially a money order purchased from a bank. The sender of the C-draft must mail the money order to the recipient, which can take longer that many money senders would prefer.

Finally, people sending money can also choose to purchase a cashier's check. The downside with a cashier's check is that the bank in Mexico may choose to put the check on hold while it verifies that the check is valid, which could take several days.

Prepaid Debit Card: An individual sending money to Mexico can have a debit or ATM card issued and sent via Fed Ex to the intended recipient of the funds. That card can either be given access to a bank account directly or be loaded with a prepaid amount. The sender will have access to the cash through any ATM machine included in the network of the sending bank. It may take a few days to get the card into the recipient's hands, but this method can be used again and again with the same debit card. Costs for this service are generally reasonable and almost always lower than fees for a wire transfer.

Money Transfer Service: Money transfer services are another option but will charge a fee when you consider that a prepaid debit card can get money there quickly at a fraction of the cost. The recipient of the funds must have access to a money transfer agent in Mexico, which can be challenging.

This is a secure and popular way to send money, although there are a rising number of options just as fast as a money transfer service that make sending money even more convenient for the sender and the recipient.

The companies working to increase their share of the business for money being sent to Mexico are certain to keep this landscape competitive, ensuring that consumers will continue to have access to faster, safer, and more effective ways to send money.

For more information on sending money or money transfer both within the United States and abroad visit Send Money

Americans Shocked To Learn That Medicare Does Not Pay for All Healthcare Expenses

By Pamela Dombrowski-Wilson

Forty percent of Americans believe that Medicare pays for all healthcare needs after age 65. The majority of older adults are unprepared and shocked to learn they have to pay out of pocket for expenses they believed to be reimbursed by Medicare insurance.

Getting older and having healthcare issues can be financially and personally disastrous especially for those who are unprepared. What happens when your expenses for maintaining your home and your healthcare expenses exceed your income? What happens when you require a lengthy stay in a skilled nursing facility and have to pay $128 per day out of pocket? Just when you thought things could not possibly get worse, the costs start adding up quickly. If you have not saved properly you may have to re-mortgage or sell your home to pay healthcare bills. If you are single or widowed and lack a support system, the stress of the situation can wreak havoc with your life and your health.

Medicare pays for hospitalization and inpatient rehabilitation, hospice (Part A). The hospitalization co-pay in 2008 is $1024 for days 1-60; $256 for days 61-90; and there are 90 renewable days assuming there are at least 60 days without a subsequent inpatient hospital admission. Additionally, there are 60 lifetime reserve days when the 90 renewable days are used first. The co-pay for the lifetime days is $512 per day. After 150 days, coverage ends

A skilled nursing facility stay is covered if the patient has been hospitalized three consecutive days or if the patient enters the facility within 30 days of discharge from hospital for the same reason hospitalization occurred. Insurance covers days 1-20 at 100 percent and for days 21-100 the individual is responsible for a daily co-insurance amount of $128 per day; at 100 days coverage ends. This coverage is provided only if there is weekly documented improvement in therapy and health. If documented improvement plateaus, the individual is discharged back home or can continue to live in the skilled facility at the current private pay rate which averages $200 per day in 2008.

Medicare Part B covers physician and some preventative services. There is a monthly payment of $96.40 per month if income is less than $82,000 per year. The Part B deductible is $135.

Most Americans believe that Medicare pays for long term care in traditional skilled nursing facilities, however, Medicare stops paying at day 100. It is at this point individuals are personally and financially responsible for their own care. Even if an individual does not need an extended skilled nursing facility stay, Medicare does not pay for home care that is considered non-skilled and custodial in nature. This is actually the type of care that most individuals need to remain independent at home. Long term care insurance is the best option to pay for this type of care, however it must be purchased in advance of the need.

In addition to traditional Medicare Parts A and B, there are two other options. The first is called Part C which is a Medicare Advantage Plan. Perhaps the most common recognizable plan under this option is Kaiser Permanente. Kaiser offers benefits within a predefined network of doctors, hospitals and other healthcare providers. If you go to an out of network doctor, the plan may pay a lesser benefit or none at all. Some Medicare Advantage providers also offer a private fee for service plan which do not limit you to a specific network of providers. If you are concerned about lowering your total healthcare costs and do not mind being limited to a network of healthcare providers, a Medicare Advantage Plan may be beneficial.

Original Medicare is still the most popular program. As an alternate to Medicare Part C Advantage Plans, Medigap insurance exists. These plans are labeled A through L and offer various benefits depending on the chosen plan. You cannot be denied Medigap insurance if you enroll during the open enrollment period which is the six month period beginning the first month you are covered under Medicare Part B and are age 65 or older. If you miss this window you can be denied coverage based on pre-existing medical conditions. Depending on the plan that you choose your premiums may increase yearly. Some of these plans supplement traditional Medicare by paying for Part A hospital co-pays and daily skilled nursing facility co-pays.

The goal is to plan ahead prior to Medicare eligibility to do investigative work to determine the best plan for you. And remember it is important to sign up for both Part A and Part B when the eligibility period becomes available. Not doing so may subject you to an increase in Part B premiums for every period after the initial enrollment period.

Pamela D.Wilson, specializes in long term care planning and education for older adults. Contact her at The Care Navigator or visit The Care Navigator Blog for free information

BUILDING A NEW CUSTOM HOME 101: How It Works, What To Do And Things To Consider Every Step Of The

By daseo

BUILDING A NEW CUSTOM HOME 101:

How It Works, What To Do And Things To Consider Every Step Of The Way

A new custom home is a very significant investment, and building one will be one of the most exciting things you will do in a lifetime. Itโ��s important to be informed and organized when you begin, so that you will be certain to enjoy a successful result. The following is a โ��nuts and boltsโ�� summary of the basics to help you get started.


LETโ��S TALK MONEY

How it works
The home price that fits your budget will help you decide on the appropriate community where you will build, and the style of home that works for you. Itโ��s a waste of time to start the process until you have some idea what you can afford.

What to do
Unless you are fortunate enough to have cash in the bank, you will probably need a loan to close on your custom dream home when it is complete. Make an appointment with a good lender. Get qualified! Learn about financing options. Determine how much money you need for a down payment and exactly how much you can handle for a monthly house payment. Even if you have cash in the bank, your builder and/or any real estate agent you might work with will need to see verification of these funds at time of contractual purchase agreement. Lastly, be prepared for over runs. It always costs a little more than you plan because of changes you decide to make along the way.

Things to consider
There are all kinds of lenders and all kinds of loans available. You may want to talk to a mortgage broker as well as a mortgage banker. There is a lot of information available on the internet. Learn all you can so you have a list of questions when you sit down with a lender.


LOCATION LOCATION LOCATION

How it works
The next step is to determine where you want to live. What type of community in what part of the city will most meet your lifestyle requirements and provide you with the most happiness. There are a limited number of communities where custom homes are being built, so this may require some early research before you start driving. Find a community that sells individual lots to individual custom builders. The other alternative is community where one builder builds the same floor plan again and again in the community. This might work for you, but you wonโ��t be building a custom home. The internet is a good source of information.

What to do
Drive the streets in the communities. See if you like the feel of the neighborhood. Talk to people who live there. Ask questions about their likes and dislikes.

Things To Consider
Where do you work? Where will your children go to school? Are you willing to commute in exchange for more space, better views, cleaner air and/or trees?
What amenities do you enjoy, what conveniences does your family require and what is nearby, i.e. medical facilities, leisure facilities, shopping, parks, hiking/biking trails, etc.?
You might also consider the potential for resale if you think you may move again in the near future.


THINK ABOUT THE STYLE OF HOME YOU WANT TO BUILD

How it works
There are all shapes and sizes of homes, and there are all kinds of styles and decors. Some of this will be dictated by the community where you choose to build. Remember however, that this is your custom dream home, so begin with a written list of your specific wants and needs.

What to do
Make a file of pictures you like from magazines; pull pictures of inside and outside living areas. These will help you later when working with your team of experts. Drive neighborhoods and take pictures of homes you like. Visit model homes and write down lots of ideas. Nobody knows what your dreams are unless you are prepared to tell them. Your drawings donโ��t need to be any thing sophisticated; but it will help to make a rough sketch of the layout you have in mind.

Things to consider
Ranch or two-story? How many bedrooms do you require? How many garage spaces are necessary? Is it important to have a walk-out basement? Will you want to finish the entire basement? Is it important that you have a formal dining room and/or formal living room? Do you have a piano or a pool table or other large pieces of furniture that must fit into certain rooms? What are your special interests? Do you love to cook? Do you need a work space in the garage? Do you want a theatre room, sewing room, studio for painting or music, special entertainment areas? What about outside living areas,
outdoor kitchen, patio with views? And do you like contemporary lines, a lodge look, or maybe an old world style?


NOW ITโ��S TIME TO CHOOSE YOUR TEAM OF EXPERTS โ��

How it works
This step can be a little confusing. What to do first? The home site, the architect, then the builder, and do I need a realtor? OR, the builder, the home site, shall I hire an architect and/or a realtor? OR, a realtor, the builder, the home site and then an architect? See what I mean???

What to do
Keep it simple. Hire professionals to help you keep from making mistakes; but take the time to hire the best, and donโ��t pay for services you donโ��t really need.

Things to consider
Letโ��s start with the home site. You may have a piece of property that you have owned for years and a great desire to build on that very special piece of property. In this case, you may want to search for a builder who is willing to build on your site. That builder may have an architect on staff in which case you wouldnโ��t need an architect. Many builders who build homes in custom communities will also consider building โ��off site.โ��

Now consider an architect. If you feel you need assistance in creating your dream home on paper, you may want to employ an architect. In this case, when you begin your builder search, you will already have a great set of plans. It may be wise to choose your home site first since working drawings will likely need to be adapted to each site.

You donโ��t need a realtor to build a custom home, however, if you feel you need someone to represent you in the contractual transaction, you may want to bring a realtor into the picture. And you may find that an experienced real estate agent can be very helpful in offering information about communities, builders, prices and contacts to assist you in the building process; especially if you are new to the area. Many custom home communities have real estate agents selling the home sites and representing the builders.

Try this scenario โ�� itโ��s pretty typical. Choose a great custom home community. Find a home site you like in that community; one that is being developed or one that is already owned by one of the builders creating custom homes in the community. The builder will likely have a design staff who can work from your sketches and list of wants and needs to create working drawings.


STOP HERE AND CONSIDER STANDING INVENTORY

How it works
Chances are, if you have decided on a price and a style and have located a great community, there are completed luxury custom homes or homes soon to be completed in the community. Builders call these custom homes โ��specsโ�� (speculative properties or standing inventory).

What to do
Visit all the โ��specsโ�� in your chosen community to see if any of these custom homes meet your list of needs and wants and are within your price range. If the prices arenโ��t right at this time, you are probably in the wrong community. Time for more research!

Things to consider
Can you buy one of these homes for a considerably lower price than it would cost to start from scratch? Can you move in right away rather than wait until your new custom home is designed and built? Does one of these properties match all or most of the items on your wants/needs list? Is there still time to make changes or make some of the design choices, i.e. tile, granite, carpet, etc?


OK, SO THERE IS NOT A โ��SPECโ�� THAT WORKS FOR YOU - YOU STILL NEED A BUILDER AND A HOME SITE

How it works
Letโ��s assume that you have chosen a community with home sites developed and ready for building. Many developers sell home sites only to their approved list of builders, so in some cases, the site you like may dictate the builder you decide to work with. Or you might find a home site not yet released for sale and put your name on it. Then choose your builder from the list of those building in the community and the builder will buy the lot when it becomes available.

What to do to choose a home site
Visit the sales organization for the community. Request a plat map of the community indicating the home sites available or soon to be available. Get out and walk the sites.

Things to consider when choosing a home site
Are views important to you? How about trees? Do you want morning sun on your driveway or on your patio? How do you feel about a walk-out basement? This will require a site with a slope. Think about the size of the yard. You may need space for entertaining or for childrenโ��s toys; or maybe you prefer a smaller site with a small space to maintain. Ask about soils conditions, drainage, zoning and codes.

What to do to choose a builder
Visit the sales organization in the community. Learn all you can about how home site sales are handled. This is important if home sites are sold only to builders. What are the procedures? Then learn all you can about the builders approved in the area. Visit all the โ��specsโ�� for sale in the neighborhood and compare the quality and features provided by the various builders. Talk with the neighbors and also with the subcontractors working on homes presently under construction. Ask them which builder they recommend and why. Visit the builderโ��s web site. Ask for homeowner and banking testimonials. When you narrow it down, donโ��t hesitate to ask for references; then make your decision.

Things to consider when choosing a builder
Does the builder provide a good warranty program? What is covered and for how long?
What do homeowners, bankers and contractors say about this builderโ��s history, stability reputation and follow up? A very serious consideration is what the industry calls โ��customer service.โ�� Hopefully nothing will go wrong after you take possession of your new home, but in the event something does, a good builder will be there to make it right for as long as specified in the warranty agreement. When you visited other homes in the community built by the builder, were you impressed with the style, the quality and the features in the homes?


THE BUILDING PROCESS

How it works
Itโ��s time to sit down with your builder and review your sketches and list of wants and needs. If you already have architectural plans you are a step ahead. Either way, the builder will have someone on staff who can design new plans or help modify your existing plans to fit the appropriate home site. You may expect to pay a nonrefundable deposit (this deposit will usually be applied to your total home price) to have working drawings prepared. The plans are then put out to the subcontractors for bid. Once all the bids are in, a price can be determined. It is not uncommon when building a custom home to pay cost plus a percentage for the final sales price. When you give the go ahead and itโ��s time to break ground, a contractual agreement will be signed by you as the buyer and the builder as the seller. You will likely pay another nonrefundable deposit at this time; and as before, this money will go toward your final closing price. It will take somewhere between 12 to 16 months to build a custom home, (possibly more) often depending on the number of changes that are made. There are always some changes; expect it! When you make changes, the purchase agreement needs to be amended and the price changed; or in some cases, you will pay an additional deposit for the custom change. Be sure you understand the change-order procedure at time of contractual agreement. When the home is complete, the builder will obtain a certificate of occupancy from the county building department. Then, the builder will invite you to a homeownerโ��s orientation meeting where you will learn how your home functions and how to maintain it. This meeting is often referred to as the โ��walk through.โ�� This is the appropriate time to ask lots of questions. A final settlement date will be made where you will sign closing papers, including loan documents if you are financing the new home. You take title at closing and you will leave with keys to your new dream home! Congratulations!!!

What to do
Visit the building site often during construction. Watch for things that you might not understand or you want to change. Remember however, that you canโ��t negotiate with the subcontractors; you will need to visit with your realtor or the builder regarding any changes. Within the time frames provided by the builder, visit showrooms for tile, carpet, light fixtures, appliances and any other items that require your decisions. Communicate with the builder regarding forecasted completion and closing dates. Work with your lender if you are getting a new home loan to be sure all is in order by closing time. Start thinking about a moving company and arrange for your personal items and furniture to be moved. Never move any of your belongings into the home before you take possession. There is no homeownerโ��s insurance to protect you.

What your builder will do
Although not always the case, your builder will usually provide the construction financing and pay all the subcontractors as the work is properly completed. It is the builderโ��s job to provide the appropriate insurance for the job site; qualify and supervise the subcontractors and obtain all required permits. The builder will research and recommend the most efficient and economic products and guide you in selecting decorator items like tile, carpet, light fixtures and more. Your builder will provide a warranty program at closing


That pretty much wraps it up! In summary, my best advice is to contract with a team of experts, experienced people you can trust, then relax, enjoy the building experience and have fun planning your new lifestyle in your wonderful new luxury custom home.

Written by Marianne Wise for Timber Ridge Properties

Wyoming Governor to Uranium Miners: Bring Us Your Projects!

By James Finch

"We're Ready: This State is in Play!"


The New Face of Wyoming's Uranium Mining

Part One of a Five-Part Series



Wyoming Governor Dave Freudenthal really likes the current uranium bull market, "I hope the price of yellowcake stays up, and things get moving." Yes, the Wyoming democratic governor strongly endorses uranium mining in his state. That would make sense because Wyoming is the largest U.S. uranium producer. More than 40 percent of the uranium reserves in the United States are located in Wyoming, according to the reserves and resource estimate published by the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA). Since hitting a bottom in late December 2000, the spot price of uranium has soared by more than 500 percent, reaching a high of $38.50/pound at the end of February. The last time uranium traded this high, President Ronald Reagan was into the second month of his first term.

Unlike some states, where uranium mining is frowned upon, or banned, Wyoming welcomes the industry with open arms. "We've always sort of been comfortable with the uranium industry," Freudenthal told StockInterview.com. "The uranium industry is part of our history. It's not something that is frightening or alarming to us." Freudenthal clearly sees nuclear energy as a potential solution for the energy crisis, "I don't think anybody has any reservations that we need to have greater domestic capability in energy. I think, in the circles that worry about those equations, there is clearly a role for nuclear power."

Freudenthal urged the capital markets to act on the energy crisis by turning to Wyoming and mining the abundant supply of uranium, "There's got to be some clear signals to the capital markets that investment in this area will ultimately be rewarded. We certainly have the resource." Since June 2004, publicly traded junior uranium companies and speculators have created a staking frenzy in the state. Wyoming's Office of State Lands and Investments reported developers are snapping up tens of thousands of acres of state leases. The reading room, where prospectors and developers study potential federal lands for leasing purposes in the Cheyenne office of the U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM), was filled to capacity during a recent visit by the StockInterview.com editorial team.

StockInterview.com asked if the unusually high level of staking activity in Wyoming by publicly traded companies, such as Strathmore Minerals (TSX: STM; Other OTC: STHJF), Energy Metals Corporation (TSX: EMC), Kilgore Minerals (TSX: KAU), UR-Energy (TSE: URE) and Uranerz Energy (OTC BB: URNZ), was merely speculative, Freudenthal responded, "I think we're past the sort of speculation of people running through and picking everything up. We're down to serious players trying to make serious decisions." Good news for the above-mentioned uranium development companies: The Governor of Wyoming believes you mean business, and he's doing everything he can to encourage you!

Freudenthal was optimistic more companies would bring their projects to Wyoming, "These are not light investments. But you also don't go out and re-activate uranium production, if at the end of the day, you don't have a buyer." Governor Freudenthal is a good listener and acts quickly and decisively when facing facts. For example, when StockInterview.com informed him that decommissioned Russian nuclear warheads now powered about one in every twenty electric light bulbs in the United States, and that the swords-for-plowshares arrangement might end in 2013 (end of HEU), Freudenthal responded, "If that timing is correct, then they should already be making decisions to invest in Wyoming. I hope they do."

A large number of Canadian and European financiers believe there is a nuclear renaissance. Where does the Governor stand? "We're ready," Freudenthal shot back. "They just need to start bringing the projects and the money (into Wyoming). I think we have a very good regulatory climate. I think if they move into the 'in situ' (ISL) mining, we've got some experience with that." And if the public companies bring their projects to Wyoming, how does Governor Freudenthal feel? "This state is IN PLAY!" he exuberantly announced.

Asked to compare Wyoming with New Mexico, once a top uranium-producing state, he responded, "This state, historically, is just much more comfortable with commodity development." On the other hand, he somewhat deferred to New Mexico's own nuclear renaissance, where rumors are flying of a new nuclear power plant and the expansion of uranium mining and nuclear in that state, explaining, "New Mexico is closer to some larger energy consuming markets. They have fewer miles of transmission lines to build if they are going to get to California or Nevada. It wouldn't seem illogical if I were a private investor to look there first."

What does the Governor have to say to the new flock of uranium development companies, joining Cameco's Power Resources in mining Wyoming's uranium? There are several companies, which have staked land, and are now beginning to move their projects forward. Freudenthal advised, "They need to start allocating greater capital at a rate that the project sponsors are comfortable. We're past the speculators. People know it (uranium) is here. Nobody wants to hit the market too early. And they don't want to be too late. It'll move. I just don't know when. But when it does, we're in a position to respond to it. We've got the goods. We've got the right regulatory climate."

Would Governor Freudenthal invite or discourage a public utility in building a nuclear power plant in Wyoming? "I don't have a problem with one. The question really has always been, and most of what we are focused on, right now, is getting power lines built. If we don't have power lines, we're not going to get nuclear plants. We're not going to get coal-fired plants. We're not going to get anything. Ours is an export state. There is not enough internal demand for electricity to justify the construction of a plant." Freudenthal added Wyoming was "waiting to see if the larger economy is ready for some nuclear power plants."

Two years ago, his administration created the Wyoming Infrastructure Authority to work on getting power lines constructed. That may help remove the bug stalling the launch of Wyoming's first nuclear reactor, as well as exploiting the state's most valuable renewable energy source, wind. "We've got five or six areas that are world-class wind resources. We have people who want to build the turbines, but they have got to have access to the power grid. And I think the same is true in terms of whether it is a nuclear power plant, a coal-fired plant or this new combined-cycle plant, where you can convert coal to gas. Ultimately, the marketplace will decide which way they're going to go. But, no matter which one they do, I know my chances of getting it in Wyoming are greater if I have figured out our power line routes."

Freudenthal is popular, can think on his cowboy-boot clad feet, and can be decisive. And he is working on the power line routes, not just dreaming about what could be done. "We have some hopeful things," he explained. "We have been working with California on the Frontier Line." And what is the Frontier Line? U.S. Secretary of Energy announced in a press release a year ago, "This proposal exhibits the boldness and innovation the West is traditionally known for, as well as the multi-state cooperation and big-picture thinking required to make regional markets thrive." Secretary Bodman praised Governors Schwarzenegger, Freudenthal, Guinn and Huntsman, saying, "� the 'Frontier Line' project will begin the process of ensuring reliable electricity for some of our fastest growing Western States."

Being an export state, Wyoming has done well during the recent boom in commodities, enjoying the rising royalties from the production of oil, natural gas, coal and uranium. This past year, the state built up a surplus of nearly $2 billion. How does Freudenthal plan to spend this money? "We're putting a chunk into college scholarships, a chunk into infrastructure and a chunk into human capital investments." And next year, Freudenthal will have more such chunks to spend as high energy prices continue to demand the extraction of those abundant resources Wyoming generously offers the rest of the United States.

As a side note, Wyoming is a "red state," but with a very popular governor who is ironically a Democrat. While we did not discuss Freudenthal's political ambitions, Wyoming's previous leading political personality has been serving as Vice-President of the United States through most of this decade. Memo to Hillary Rodham Clinton: Don't overlook Dave Freudenthal if you want to woo the vast number of red states between the east coast and the left coast. This governor could help get your old room back at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.

Alcohol and Wedding Receptions-Everything You Will Need to Know

By Jean Bachcroft

Sure you want your guests to enjoy themselves at your wedding
reception, but if you don�t want to break the bank or the law here�s what
you will need to know, including how to calculate how much to buy.

Unquestionably, one of the hottest topics that must be dealt with when
planning a wedding reception is whether to have an open bar or a cash
bar. Why does this particular topic tend to be so controversial?

Well, for one thing, some people will tell you that it would be rude to
invite guests to your reception, then ask them to pay for their own drinks.
On the other hand, an open bar�at which your guests drink for free,
perhaps into the wee hours of the morning if they last that long�could
leave you with a bill that will forever remain etched in your memory.

Both points of view are well taken. It�s true that one wouldn�t ordinarily
invite people to dinner or a party with the expectation that they will pay
for what you serve. But it is equally true that people tend to be overly
indulgent, not to mention downright wasteful, with alcohol they aren�t
paying for. They will take a sip or two, set their glass down and begin
talking, then walk away. Later, instead of returning for their glass, they
will head for the bar to order yet another drink. So, what�s the answer?

Options, Anyone

There really isn�t a correct answer, but there are options. You could:

*Serve free champagne punch. Since it is relatively light in terms of
alcohol content, your guests aren�t as likely to become obnoxious, even
if they�ve had more than their fair share.

*Have an open bar for the first hour or two. This approach will prevent
you from feeling, and looking, like a cheapskate but will allow you to
keep your bank account in the black.

*Have each table set to include the allocated bottles of wine or
champagne. For example, a table seating six to eight people might be
decked with two bottles of wine or champagne. Since you can expect
each bottle to hold between 4 and six glassfuls, everyone will have one
to two glasses for dinner and the toast. (Obviously, you will want to have
the toast as early as possible to avoid an embarrassing situation in
which guests will be forced to hold up empty glasses.)

*Use the open-and-shut-case approach. This requires purchasing beer
kegs or cases of good-quality beer, plus several cases of good-quality
wine. Since you have purchased the supply in advance, you will
determine just how much is being spent on drinks.

For guests who insist upon drinking until the cows come home or would
like something stronger, make a cash bar available.

*Have waiters and waitresses serve drinks from a tray. This approach is
not only stylish, it is also quite cost effective because you remain in
control of how much is consumed.

Choose a few different drinks to be served, including beer and wine.
Then have the staff circulate throughout the reception area at
pre-scheduled intervals. Perhaps the waiters and waitresses might offer
drinks when the reception starts, then just before or during dinner, then a
few times later in the evening but not throughout the night. With tray
service, you guest will not pay for their drinks, but this will still be a lot
cheaper than having an open bar.

At-home Receptions

If you are planning to have your reception in a home or backyard and
you will not be using a caterer, here is what you will need to know.

In this situation, a cash bar is simply not one of the available choices. It
is against the law to sell alcohol without a liquor license. (You wouldn�t
want to spend your honeymoon in the pokey.)

If the home is not equipped with one, you will need a rented bar (or a
sturdy table or two, dressed to the floor or ground with linen). Plan to
stock the bar or table(s) with beer, vodka, rum, whiskey, tequila, cordials
(liqueur), brandy, gin, wine, sparkling juice, and possibly punch.

Offering a sparkling white wine is also nice. If you are planning to serve
champagne (Although only a sparkling white wine made in the
Champagne region of France can be truly called champagne, people
often refer to any bubbly by that name.), expect to pay more. A decent
bottle (You will only disappoint the true connoisseur, and they are a
dying breed.) will cost between $10 and $12 and will serve seven to
eight glasses. Even at these prices per bottle, you may want to reserve it
for the toast.

Borrow or shop for a bartender�s guide (Mr. Boston Deluxe Official
Bartender�s Guide, for example). For your mixologist, you might also
stock such things as lemons, limes, celery, maraschino cherries, and
olives. You�ll also want to have soda water, tonic water, sparkling water,
coke, ginger ale, and a few other soft drinks, plus swizzle sticks and
cocktail napkins. Last, but not least, remember to have an ample supply
of ice (crushed and cubed) on hand.

Standard Guidelines for Consumption

Expect each guest to have four to five drinks at the reception. You�ll get
twenty-five drinks from a fifth of liquor, providing you�re using a
one-ounce pony to make them with one ounce of alcohol each. Using
one and a half ounces of alcohol (that is, a one-and-a-half-ounce jigger),
you�ll get eighteen drinks per fifth of alcohol. A single case of alcohol
contains twelve bottles. Assuming that you�re using one ounce of
alcohol to make every drink, then one case will yield 300 drinks.

If you would like to serve beer on tap, half a keg will yield 260
eight-ounce glasses of beer. Seven cases of beer will yield the same
amount.

With regard to unopened bottles of alcohol, don�t be too concerned
about over stocking. It is better to have too much, rather than not
enough. Besides, unopened bottles of alcohol can usually be returned
to the store.

The Law and Your Liability

Needless to say, it is against the law to serve alcohol to anyone under
the legal drinking age. The sobering fact is that courts have consistently
ruled that restaurants, caterers, and hosts are financially liable when
minors who are served alcohol are injured, become involved in a car
accident, or break the law.

You can also be held liable for an adult who suffers an injury, become
involved in a car accident, or step outside of the law after drinking too
much in your home. Caterers and restaurants are subject to the same
liability.

Your best protection against legal liability involving alcohol is to plan
ahead and react sensibly. If your reception is to be catered, discuss a
plan of action with the caterer before hand. He or she undoubtedly will
cooperate.

Avoid serving salty foods since they make people thirsty. Foods high in
protein�such as meat, fish, eggs, and cheese�will help to keep your
guests sober.

Once a person is drunk, it�s too late to reach for the pot of coffee. Giving
your happy drunk coffee will only make him or her hyper and jittery. If
you need to sober someone up, try to get the person to drink water,
which will dilute the alcohol in their system and flush it out.

By no means, let that person drive�no matter what they say. Instead,
call for a taxi or find another driver to take the person home.

About the Author

Jean Bachcroft is a former public relations director, founder of Bachcroft and Aloha Labels, and the publisher and editor-in-chief of Town and Country Shopping Bargains Magazine. For designer wedding, holiday, and year-round mailing and return address labels, visit Bachcroft Mailing and Return Address Labels and Aloha Return Address Labels

For bargains and bargain shopping articles, visit Town and Country Shopping Bargains.

How I Made Millions Betting On Horse Races

By Donald Maxwell-Diener

I spent 24 years in the racing game. When I first got into horse racing, I believed because I am a Physicist, that I could soon Master whatever factors were necessary to beat the other players. At the Track you are playing against the other players. The Track simply puts on the show. They take their cut for costs and profits, and all the rest goes into the wager pools. I know a lot of big players that complain about the Tracks cut or Take-out as it is called. I never cared, because I am not a percentage player. I go for the throat. I want to win big wagers with the smallest sum at risk as possible. My only concern is the size of the wager pool. The bigger the pool, the more excited I get.

During the first 3 years I devoted to Horse Racing I had a net loss of over $63,000.00. Obviously, I did not know everything. But I kept incredible records of every wager, every race, and every result. With that data I made calculations that gave me absolute predictors of each horses performance capability and it's willingness to compete. If the Horse does not want to compete even the top jockey or the greatest trainer cannot make them.

My formula was designed not only to predicate the winners of a race but, the order of finish for the top four horses. The best value wagers are not win, place and show bets, but some of the Exotics such as; exacta, trifecta, pick six, and quinella. The first month back at the Track after spending two years testing my formula, I made over $138,000.00. NOW, I was ready to have some fun.. Have Fun! Yes indeed. Because I enjoy the Challenge presented by the mathematical probabilities involved in Horse Racing. It is as much fun for me solving the problems as it is winning the money. The money is just a way to measure how correct the formula is.

I am not what you call a big bettor. What is the point? If you are getting (65 or 250 to 1) or even up to (1200 to 1) on a single bet why do you need to bet a large amount? I have won pick 6 cards that have paid as high a $196,000.00 on a $24.00 bet. I have won a trifecta over $35,000.00 on a $60.00 bet. I have made more money in a year than you can only dream about. I will not say how much. That is private. Suffice it to say that I have driven Rolls Royce, Jaguars, and Mercedes for the past 15 years. All paid with cash. I have maintained homes in California, Florida, Mexico, and Connecticut for the past 17 years. None have a mortgage. I have a Yacht big enough to carry 50 people in style. I fly my own Airplane around the country. I don't need anymore.. I have spent my time..
Let someone else work as hard as I did.

Yes! It is work. I typically spent 4 hours a morning determining the NUMBERS for each race card at a given track. Just think, if you are playing two tracks, and I did, you could spend 7 to 8 hours in computations. It was worth every minute

Here is a short story that happened a few years ago that shows you what can be done with Knowledge. My wife and I were in Santa Barbara, Calif. for a friends wedding. During our stay my wife saw a painting by a famous artist that she just �had to have�. I never use credit cards or checks for major purchases. I don't like others seeing what I do. She needed $70,000.00 that Saturday in order to close the deal. I sent the hotel bellman downtown to get me a Racing Form. For the next 4 hours I sat on our terrace at The Biltmore computing the Races at Hollywood Park. When I finished my work I gave my wife the numbers. She drove to the Santa Barbara Fairgrounds to the simulcast facilities and placed a pick six bet costing $48.00. Later that night after the wedding, we called to get the results. We had won the pick six for $77, 459.00. Sunday we picked up the cash and the painting....Not bad for a days work. Incidentally, That painting was appraised last month for over $250,000.00. What did it cost me? $48.00 Bucks.

The Author, D. David Maxwell or Mr. D. as he is known is the owner of the web site GETTHEFORMULA.COM That site gives a limited number of people the opportunity to acquire and use The Formula. To see how you can make your million in horse racing go to; http://www.gettheformula.com

Why You Should Choose a Romantic Honeymoon Vacation in Mexico

By Andrew Bicknell

Mexico is home to some of the most beautiful beaches and resorts in the world as well as having a rich cultural flavor all its own. If you are looking for a romantic honeymoon vacation then Mexico is hard to beat. There are all manner of beach side resorts that cater to newlyweds and make your honeymoon a truly memorable experience.

The next question when considering a Mexican honeymoon is where to go and which package will work best for you. You have two choices as far as beaches to choose from. The west or pacific coast resorts such as Acapulco, Puerto Vallarta or Cabo all offer romantic vacation choices. The east coast features the Mayan Riviera along the Yucatan Peninsula. Here you will find the resort cities of Cancun, Cozumel, and Tulum, each with it distinct features and attractions.

If your idea of a relaxing honeymoon vacation includes long stretches of sandy beaches, warm turquoise waters, and warm ocean breezes then any of the resorts along either coast will fit the bill. There are also many water sports activities to be found, from snorkeling or scuba diving along the Great Mayan Reef, to jet skiing, sailing, deep sea fishing, or even swimming with the dolphins there is not shortage of fun and adventure to be found.

For those who are interested in ancient cultures and want a chance to visit some of the Mayan ruins then the east coast resorts are where you want to go. It\'s easy to take day trips to some of the bigger archaeological sites such as Chichen Itza, Tulum, Uxmal, and Coba from Cancun and Cozumel.

If you are looking to visit Mexico for your post wedding vacation then you should seriously consider finding a package that is all inclusive. One of the best reasons for doing it this way is it takes the stress out of your honeymoon plans. After you pay for your all inclusive Mexican honeymoon you really don\'t have to worry about anything else besides traveling to you destination.

Everything you need is included in your package including meals, drinks, activities at the resort you choose, shuttles to and from the airport, and entertainment. You will need some extra cash if you decide to leave the confines of the resort and do some sight seeing, but for most people an all inclusive honeymoon is definitely the way to go after the stress and craziness of their wedding.

For a truly memorable experience a romantic honeymoon vacation in Mexico is the way to go. Spending relaxing days relaxing on white sand beaches, taking a day to explore ancient Mayan ruins, and vibrant nights dining and dancing are just a few of the many exciting activities newlyweds can enjoy while creating a lifetime of memories.

To learn more about planning an all inclusive honeymoon vacation please visit the website Honeymoon Destinations.

The Importance of an Exclusive Buyer's Agent in Mexico

By Jim Scherrer

By: Jim Scherrer

As we all approach retirement, we often dream of someday owning a piece of Paradise, somewhere in Florida, Arizona, Hawaii, or even Puerto Vallarta; someplace with a climate conducive to kicking back and enjoying life to its fullest, year round.

To more than 50,000 retirees, Puerto Vallarta, located on the Mexican Riviera along the Pacific Ocean at the same latitude as Hawaii but six hours closer and with a lower cost of living, has been selected as their primary or part time retirement destination. Unlike the arid zones of Arizona, magnificent ocean views are available everywhere in Vallarta. Unlike the flat land and low elevations throughout Florida, the Sierra Madres provide the back drop to all of the Vallarta area providing a beautiful array of tropical flora and fauna.

The city of Puerto Vallarta lies on the innermost part of the 25 mile diameter Banderas Bay. The total land perimeter of the bay is approximately 60 miles, however only about 40 miles of shoreline is available for foreign ownership. This available land extends from Mismaloya, 10 miles south of Vallarta, to 25 miles north of Vallarta near Punta Mita in the state of Nayarit. An additional stretch of Pacific Ocean shoreline extends about 15 miles north of Punta Mita with certain portions available for foreign ownership, thus providing the total Greater Puerto Vallarta area roughly 55 miles of beachfront property.

With Greater Vallartaยดs large area of magnificent land, its climate similar to that of Hawaii, and a pro-growth Mexican government with many new investment incentives, the area has virtually exploded with new residential construction and consequently, with new real estate agencies. Aside from re-sales, these listing agencies are currently marketing in excess of 100 new condominium complexes containing more than 7,000 new condominiums under various phases of construction. An additional 20,000 condominiums are in the conceptual or planning stages and are scheduled for construction during the next 15 years.

In order to promote these properties, there are currently over 80 listing agencies serving the area with approximately 500 agents, all having a fiduciary duty to the developers and property sellers. That being said, in order to avoid a conflict of interest, they must pay their dedication and loyalty to those with whom they have contractual agreements and represent; the developers and sellers. Of course, these agents will do everything within their power to sell one of their own listings first, prior to considering the listings of others, in order to satisfy their clients as well as double their own commissions.

Now that we have established that the area in and around Paradise is huge, the quantity of new villas and condos is overwhelming, and 500 listing agents are putting forth their best effort to please their clients, the sellers; certain questions arise. How in the world do visitors to the area go about locating their retirement destination without searching through 80 agencies? What assurances do the prospective buyers have that they are getting exactly what they want, in the location that best suits their objectives, and at the best price available? How, in Mexico where all legal contracts are in Spanish and the laws are somewhat different, can the prospective buyers be assured that they are being treated fairly when the listing agent is representing the developer or seller?

To answer those questions and for numerous other reasons, the use of a buyer's agent is a prerequisite for any foreigner considering the purchase of real estate in Puerto Vallarta. There are a few agencies in the Greater Vallarta area that claim to be buyer's representatives; however most of them also have listings within their agencies. In order for prospective buyers to be absolutely confident that they are receiving 100% loyalty and dedication, they should attempt to employ the services of an agency with absolutely no listings, no biases, and no ulterior motives; one who knows the area well, that has access to all listings, and that has the legal team, property inspectors, appraisers, mortgage bankers, escrow agents, etc. working on the buyer's behalf.

Agents that exclusively represent buyers are quite common in the US and Canada, however they are few and far between in Mexico. Such agents do request signed contracts with the buyers stating that they are acting on the buyer's behalf, however there is generally no charge to the buyer since commissions are shared by the listing agent.

Listed below are some of the benefits associated with using an Exclusive Buyer's Agent in Mexico:

โ�ข EBA Represents no sellers and has no listings
โ�ข EBA Avoids dual agency and conflicts of interest
โ�ข EBA Owes complete fiduciary duty and loyalty to buyer
โ�ข EBA Maintains buyer information as strictly confidential
โ�ข EBA Has access to all properties on the market
โ�ข EBA Is unbiased in showing all properties available
โ�ข EBA Conducts an objective comparative market analysis
โ�ข EBA Thoroughly researches property pros and cons
โ�ข EBA Obtains appropriate inspection reports and appraisals
โ�ข EBA Strives ethically to gain bargaining advantage for buyer
โ�ข EBA Negotiates for buyer to optimize purchase agreement
โ�ข EBA Obtains most favorable legal and financial professionals
โ�ข EBA Prepares contracts in Spanish with accurate English translations
โ�ข EBA Works with 100% buyer dedication throughout entire process
โ�ข EBA Charges the buyer no fees for representation services
โ�ข EBA Often saves the buyer time, money, and provides peace of mind

In summarizing, the prudent buyer will always locate and use an Exclusive Buyer's Agent when searching for his/her retirement residence in Mexico; where caveat emptor, or buyer beware, is the rule to follow. In so doing, the retiree will be assured a stress free and enjoyable first retirement experience in Paradise.

Jim Scherrer has owned property in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico for 24 years and resided there for the past ten years. The mission of his series of 40 articles pertaining to retirement in Puerto Vallarta is to reveal the recent changes that have occurred in Vallarta while dispelling the misconceptions about living conditions in Mexico. For the full series of articles regarding travel to and retirement in Vallarta as well as pertinent Puerto Vallarta links, please visit us at Puerto Vallarta Real Estate Buyersโ�� Agents and click on ARTICLES.

IRS Levies and Community Property States

By Jack Manhire

An Anonymous poster recently wrote me worried about her husband's assets. They live in California (a community property state). They file "Married Filing Separately." She owes for three years of back taxes. He owes nothing. Everything is in his name, including the home they both live in.

Anonymous wants to know:

"Will the IRS put a lien on [the] house since we are married? Can the IRS directly effect my husband (ie. garnish his paycheck, hit his credit, seize his assets)?"

The answer, unfortunately, is: Yes. The IRS can place a Federal Tax Lien on the home and actually seize the assets of the husband in this case even though he has absolutely nothing to do with the federal tax liability itself.

You see in a normal situation (non-community property case), the person owes the debt if their name is on the tax return. So if you file "Married Filing Jointly" then you both owe the IRS taxes, even if one of you worked and the other stayed home to take care of the kids because both of your names are on the return. And the same rule applies if you file "Married Filing Separately" in that only the person whose name is on the return with the debt owes the money. The other spouse (if they don't owe for their return), owes nothing and therefore the IRS cannot come after this non-liable spouse.

However, in community property states it's a little different. Actually, it's the same in the sense that the non-liable spouse still does not owe the taxes in question. The difference is regarding the collection of that tax and the property laws of the individual state.

In community property states, all assets are viewed as belonging to BOTH the husband and the wife. So in Anonymous's case, even though her husband owns the home in his name only on the mortgage and title, she owns it also under the community property laws. Therefore, the IRS can place a lien on the house and even seize it if they want, not because her husband now owes the tax debt (he still doesn't owe the IRS anything), but because that house is considered Anonymous's house as much as her husband's under California state law.

It's usually the same with other assets including wages. The bottom line is that you do NOT want to be in a community property state if you have one spouse who owes the tax and the other who does not, because in the end BOTH of you are equally effected by the ability of the IRS to collect the one debt from marital property.

You can request certain relief for your husband under IRS rules similar to Innocent Spouse relief. While this is a good solution to your problem on paper, actually getting that relief can sometimes be more trouble than it's worth.

My advice Anonymous is to get your missing returns filed as quickly as possible (the IRS cannot set up even a pay plan if there are missing returns) and get yourself into an Installment Agreement or Currently Not Collectible (CNC) status right away. That's the only way in this case to safeguard your husband's assets short of paying the entire debt off.

SIDE NOTE: There are nine community property states in the Unites States. They are: Arizona, California, Idaho, Louisiana, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas, Washington, Wisconsin. In Alaska you can "opt-in" to be considered as having community property status.

Jack Manhire is an 11-year veteran tax attorney who specializes in IRS tax problems. You can find out other ways of getting your IRS problem behind you by visiting his blog for free help at http://taxhelpirs.blogspot.com/

Hedging Foreign Exchange Risks

By Sam Vaknin

Free Government Business Grants And Loan

By Lori

Business Grant:Government Grants For Women Owned Small Business
What are free small business grants? These are grants given by the home state when you need money to start a business or to improve it. All states do not provide free small business grants. The ones that do are Nebraska, New Hampshire, Kansas, New Mexico and Utah. The others usually give you loans or incentives and financial assistance. Some even offer technical training and financing to those who want to start their own small business venture. All it takes to get a free small business grant is a bit of legwork and a little effort.. Usually grants are given only for specific groups or specific industries of business. More exactly you need to have at least 51% in order to be eligible for such a business grant program. There are grants for equipment rental expenses there are even some grants that can help to pay employee expenses such as for benefits or can help you with your living expenses if you are a single employee business. It is also important to maintain all records pertaining to the grant until the state makes the final payment.

Grants For Small Business Owners In Financial Trouble:
Any issues may arise in the business like paying the labor getting a new contract transport of goods buying raw materials renting a new site marketing etc. The government has left it up to each state to designate funds by way of state grants to help small businesses to develop and flourish. The government also allows for individuals to apply but a very small number of them actually have the ingenuity to sail through the lengthy procedure and actually get their government grant. See government grants start up business Individual grants though available are not as widespread as some would have you believe.

Government Grants For Small Business In Canada:
Never leave it to the last second - grants can sometimes take months before they are approved. If you're thinking that's me then I think you need to continue reading this article!. When you're in this situation false hopes can be especially cruel. Visit obtain business government grants There are certain steps that must be followed but most agencies spell them out clearly for you before you ever start filling out the paperwork.

Small Business Loans Grants:
They are given according to the financial requirements of the student. Under a cash credit arrangement a predetermined limit for borrowing is specified by the bank.Many believe that the government just wants to throw away those billions of dollars in small business grants and all you have to do is fill out an application and you'll get your piece of the pie. More review at http://www.businessgrantusa.org/business-grant-loans/small-business-government-loans-grants.php They explain that grants and scholarships are by far the wisest way to go if you are interested in money for school because you don't have to repay the funds.

Wallace is an expert in new business startup grants for over
20 years. More sources at http://www.usacitizengrantsgov.info/small-business-grants/business-goverment-grants-for-women.php

Mexicoโ��s International Tourism Revenues Reach Historic High

By Erick Laseca

Despite slight dip in international tourism arrivals, international tourism revenues reach historic high, pointing to full recovery of the industry after Hurricane Wilma

Despite Hurricane Wilmaโ��s lingering effect on room supply in the Mexican Caribbean in early 2006, Mexico closed the year with historically high international tourism revenues, pointing to a full recovery of the industry.

According to statistics recently released by Mexicoโ��s Tourism Secretariat (Sectur), Mexico received 21.35 million international visitors in 2006, a 2.6 percent dip in comparison with 2005, due in part to reduced room availability in the Mexican Caribbean stemming from damages sustained by several hotels during Hurricane Wilma in late 2005. Despite this, from April to December 2006, international tourism arrivals for 2006 were above figures posted the year before in all but two months.

Thanks to more aggressive marketing to the affluent traveler in particular, however, revenue generated by these tourists reached a record high of US$12.18 billion, 3.2 percent higher than 2005โ��s revenue of US$11.80 billion. In 2004, Mexicoโ��s international tourism revenues had totaled US$10.84 billion.

International visitors (excluding border tourists) to Mexico were reported to have spent an average of US$710.30 per person per visit in 2006, representing a 4.7 percent increase from 2005โ��s US$678.40 average spend.

Historically high international tourism revenues helped enable the tourism industryโ��s trade balance to post an impressive US$4.07 billion surplus in 2006.

Cruise ship passenger arrivals in 2006 posted strong numbers as well, with 6.52 million cruise passengers disembarking in Mexican ports, down only 2.8 percent from 2005 despite damage sustained from Hurricane Wilma to such leading cruise ports as Cozumel.
These passengers spent 458.3 million dollars in Mexico, compared with 452.6 million the previous year.

Some 1.95 million people were employed in the tourism sector by the end of 2006, a significant increase from the 1.83 million people employed by the end of 2005.

โ��The figures posted in 2006 demonstrate that within a year of a devastating hurricane, Mexicoโ��s tourism industry was already back to normal,โ�� said Mexico Tourism Secretary Rodolfo Elizondo. โ��This attests to a level of government commitment and degree of coordination with private sector partners rarely seen in areas elsewhere in the world affected by similar tragedies. We expect 2007 to be yet another successful year for our tourism industry, with increased growth across all segments, particularly among upscale travelers,โ�� he added.

About the Mexico Tourism Board
The Mexico Tourism Board (MTB) brings together the resources of federal and state governments, municipalities and private companies to promote Mexico's tourism attractions and destinations internationally. Created in 1999, the MTB is Mexicoโ��s tourism promotion agency, and its participants include members of both the private and public sectors. The MTB has offices throughout North America, Europe, Asia and Latin America.

FOR PRESS ONLY: For additional ideas, help with a story or general travel and tourism information about Mexico, please contact the MTBโ��s North American Press Room directly at 1-800-929-4555, by e-mail at northamericanpress@visitmexico.com, or visit our press Web site at www.visitmexicopress.com. To access an online warehouse of free, downloadable b-roll, visit www.thenewsmarket.com/visitmexicopress.

# # #

Erick Laseca
Mexico Tourism Board
312-228-0517 ext14
erick.laseca@bm.com
http://www.visitmexicopress.com

The Hidden Jewels of Turkey

By Alvin Yakatori

Cappadocia in Turkey is rapidly becoming on of must visit places when on holiday in Turkey. Located in the Cappadocia region in the center of Turkey, you can easily take off and explore the region's elaborate underground cities, hidden cavernous churches and enchanting rock terrain.

If you are looking to visit the area you should choose a familiar name chain hotel, or one of Turkey's local chains. Then delve underground to experience Cappadocia's subterranean secret cities. Staying in such accommodations can leave you with plenty of cash to sample all that Turkey offers to her visitors. Local agents know of great places that are under-visited, new hotels that offer specials and ways to make connections that will save you time and money.

Those looking to relax will enjoy cruising the Mediterranean and Aegean coasts on a luxurious Turkish yacht, taking time to explore caves and coves along the way. Sleep overnight, or choose a longer itinerary where you can be lulled to sleep by the movement of the ocean and cooled by the sea breezes. A beach resort is perfect for a family vacation. Get up early one morning and watch the sunrise on the huge stone carved heads of past kings, (an earthquake shook the heads off the colossal statues centuries ago).

Hotels can be five star luxury retreats complete with spa treatments available, or you can opt to stay in a more budget minded hotel which allows you to save more money to spend on fun. If you opt to travel around Turkey during your vacation you really should try to use the public pransport system where possible. Coffee, tea, cakes, clean rest stops, and lemon cologne put Turkey's bus system in a league of its own. Cappadocia is a marvel to behold with its rooms and labyrinths carved into the huge cliff faces. Here you can make like Fred and Wilma Flintstone in a cave room that was carved into the mountainside back in the 5th or 6th century. You will be pleasantly surprised the price and comfort level.Turkey isn't home to just hotels; there are many other options you can choose from to give you an authentic Turkish experience

If you are looking for somewhere a little more off the beaten track than Bodrum and Marmaris then you should head for Nemrut. Nemrut sees lower numbers of tourists than the beach regions. As for the setting, well that's just pure tropical beach-style paradise.

For more info on Cappadocia cave hotels please visit our site - http://www.cappadocia-cave-hotels.info

Please feel free to republish this article provided a working hyperlink remains to our site

Alvin Yakatori.