W. Marc Gilfillan, CPA, NC, individual and business CPA and Tax expert, shares about the history of taxes…

Mithridates the Great was the leader of a tiny nation near what is now Turkey. He had an amazing power to arouse discontent with unhappy taxpayers. In 88 BC he organized a rebellion fighting the Romans. By granting 5 years of tax immunity to every city that followed his army, he mustered considerable support.

The Roman Senate quickly took swift action and told General Sulla to raise an army and re-establish Roman authority in the east. Sulla succeeded in squelching the rebels after a four year struggle. When the rebellion was squashed, Sulla ordered the leading citizens of the revolting cities to come to Ephesus. There the citizens were to denounce the five years of back taxes plus compensate the general for his war debt.

To enforce this tax, Sulla established “special agents.” These special agents were given the power to scourge and behead, which was enough to cause most taxpayers fall in line. Up until this time there had been self-assessment tax collections, corporate tax collection, army tax collectors and the traditional government tax collectors. However, these newly instituted “special agents” were very skilled specialists with the arrogance of bureaucrats and the power of military executioners. Taxpayers lost all hope to evade. If you are feeling the pressure with today’s taxes, call a Tax Preparer in Raleigh, NC for all your tax-related needs!

Special Agents have been instituted time and again in the past, surviving into modern times as “financial police” or just “special agents”, given the name initially instituted by Sulla over two thousand years ago. As the practice of Sulla’s special agents was put in to place in neighboring nations, soldiers came to realize that the rich spoils of war came from their commander, not the Roman Senate. Roman generals returned to Rome with the blind loyalty of their soldiers. Great civil wars started as rival armies fought. With these semiprivate armies, the institution of a military dictator was inevitable. So, the Roman Republic dissolved. Royalty, dictators, and military strategists would now run the Roman Empire for the next 2000 years. Democratically designed governments and republics would not play a dominant role in civilization again until the 1800s. Go here if you want help with modern-day Tax Preparation in Cary, NC.

Keep an eye out for W. Marc Gilfillan’s next chapter in his History of Taxes series: Taxes and the American Revolution.

http://www.marccpa.com/

You might be hearing about how some of the housing and economic woes are beginning to abate- but for many, their troubles are still going on, and there’s not a lot that can be done about that. Many people think that they only have two options when mortgage issues arise; quick sale or forclosure. However, one company in particular has been proving that this is not necesarily true. There are many companies that are seemingly willing to help, however does it make any sense to pay these companies if your initial problem is monetary? This is the question that holds many people back when they are looking for help with their home mortgages and what stops some from getting the help they actually could be receiving.

It ultimately doesn’t and Kristy Sinsara is aware of that. President of The Consumer Advocacy Foundation, she and the foundation itself help many people who would otherwise possibly lose their homes. Quoted as saying, “If you’re going to lose your home, at least let me see if there’s anything you can do about it.”Kristy Sinsara does more than only that, but again, the question of how do you save your home if you do not have the money to pay the kinds of fees associated with most of these programs? Easy. That’s where the program will take over and make the real difference.

The Consumer Advocacy Foundation under the watchful eye of Kristy Sinsara, now offers a program called Pay It Forward. Under the program, people trade volunteer hours to local non-proftis for free homeowner’s counseling for union workers and teachers. This seems to be a positive win-win situation for all involved and a strong way that Kristy Sinsara is making a big difference in the lives of not only homeowners in crisis, but many others in need as well. It is a circle of people helping in each other and in turn, this ensures that everyone gets what they need to keep going.

Whether you are a homeowner who needs help, or you know someone who may need help- or even if you’d just like to find out how you might aid this amazing program, you might give Kristy Sinsara with the Consumer Advocacy Foundation a call and find out more details, or, you can visit their website to see what sorts of options may be available to you. The program has already been able to help a diverse amount of people in different situations. Most probably, you would benefit in seeing what the program can do for you.

For more information on Consumer Advocacy Group visit us at our information or at Kristy Sinsara.

Everyone wants to partake in safe investment excursions, if only to guarantee a future income for retirement, or simply to increase their personal financial worth. Regardless of your reasoning or ideas, earning 10% to 15% on your money is easy as a private lender. What does a private lender do? Read on to find out more about how and where to invest your money to increase the return amounts and build a solid financial portfolio.
Private lending is an alternative to borrowers that might otherwise be denied access to loans from banks or other public lending corporations for various reasons, the most common reason being risk of successful venture. These upstart companies or businesses take their case to private lenders, asking for a financial loan to which they offer real estate as security on the loan.
This is where you, the lender, come in. You invest your money into this company, and the return, depending on the financial success, could earn you a varying of percentages of money.
To increase your financial standing, invest in companies with a successful business track in the form of strong company procedure, plan, and strategies. Although it is ultimately a high risk venture, being as prepared as is possible is always an excellent way of bettering your chances at succeeding.
With the aid of mortgage brokers or other businesses that cater specifically to handling cases of private lending, you are able to turn your investment into a strong, durable source of profit for the long run if handled properly. This gives you more room to broaden your horizons, checking into other possible private lending opportunities.
Investing in multiple ventures is advised to maintain variety as well as keep from investing too large amounts of your money in one venture which could be a problem should the venture sink. With the power to choose and opt for what you desire, private lending is rapidly rising as one of the most popular forms of investing. The risk is balanced by the excellent return on your money, and the future prospect of widening your venture net.
Pick and choose wisely when you decide on what new company or business you agree to lend to. Your options are nearly unlimited, giving you the chance to experiment and explore. Seeking the advice of an independent account and attorney is a wise decision, and safeguards your money concerning the return or your collection options should the venture go bankrupt.

The current housing market is disastrous. More than that, it is also something of a puzzle. There are several elements that have worked together here. If you understand each of these elements, you’ll see how they fit together, and how the puzzle has grown. We should hardly be surprised that subprime mortgages are being foreclosed at a great rate. How in the world did we let ourselves get into this situation? Read this article, and then you decide.

The “prime” rate is the rate charged by all banks in the country. The prime rate doesn’t change regularly or often, only when 75% of the country’s top 30 banks decide they need to change it. People who have a decent credit rating are usually given mortgage and other loans at prime rate.

Subprime borrowers are people who probably have pretty poor credit ratings. They may have a history of bad financial management, perhaps including collection accounts, repossessions, maybe even a bankruptcy. At any rate, they are perceived to be more likely than the average borrower to default on this loan. A subprime lender exists to lend money to borrowers who are not expected to act responsibly in the repayment of the debt. The interest rate that a subprime lender charges will be higher than usual because of that increased risk of default. Subprime lenders know about the risk; they fully understand that these borrowers cannot really be counted on to repay their debt. Why should they be surprised when it turns out exactly the way they expect it to?

Lending takes place when one business or individual lets out money to another business or individual, for a defined period of time, and at a specified rate of interest. When you’re talking about a mortgage, it might be – for example – a fixed-rate loan for 30 years, at 5.7% interest. (The annual percentage rate is referred to as the APR.) This is a common type of mortgage: the borrower agrees to pay the lender back over a period of 30 years, at a yearly 5.7% interest rate.

So there are three elements of the puzzle: borrowing, subprime, and lending. What else has contributed to the current situation? Lending practices of dubious quality joined with a huge number of subprime borrowers whose ability to repay their loans was questionable. Yes, we are definitely in a mortgage crisis; foreclosures have never been higher. Whose fault is that?

When a homeowner falls behind in monthly payments on a mortgage, the bank takes notice. If payments are not made for three months, generally the process of foreclosure is initiated. This is a lengthy and costly process that often spans many months. The home is foreclosed and the property is repossessed by the bank.

Actually, the bank would prefer the borrower to repay the debt rather than have to take the property. A bank is not a real estate company. There is also the risk of censure from the federal government if too many of their loans are defaulted upon. For these reasons, foreclosures can take a very long time. The bank is in no hurry.

The majority of subprime mortgages are nowhere near as easy to understand as the example we gave above. Lenders have gotten more and more creative in the last few years, in an effort to attract more subprime borrowers. Many of these borrowers are now carrying an adjustable rate mortgage (ARM). The initial low interest rate of these loans allowed lots of people to get involved in a loan for which they might not have qualified otherwise. When the loan resets in about two years, the interest rate usually goes up considerably. In addition, some of these loans have prohibited refinancing in the first several years.

Borrowers, subprime mortgages, lending, and foreclosure have all worked together to give us this picture. Contributing in addition were falling house prices, rising mortgage payments, changing real estate markets across the country, difficulty of finding accessible mortgages, and a glut of houses for sale on a market where few people are buying. Here’s the completed puzzle: the mortgage mess.

Private lending is the practice of borrowing money by a real estate investor to be used to purchase rental real estate directly from private lenders rather than a bank or other commercial lender. Private lenders tend to be ordinary people such as doctors, lawyers, accountants, business owners and possible retired people. Most private lenders are simply looking for better investment returns than they can typically get from bank CD’s, money markets or even bond investments. Over the past couple years these type investments have yielded a paltry 3% to 6% pretax rates. After taxes and inflation these investments have, in some cases, produced negative returns for their investors. This is why people are looking for better returns and private lending is the answer.

Private lenders are looking for returns in the 9% and 15% range and secured by local rental real estate. This kind of return will provide investors with positive investment return of almost 300% over CD’s and money markets. The result is a perfect match of private lenders looking for better returns on their money and secured by real estate and real estate investors looking for cash to fund deals and the ability to pay higher returns.

How to Find Private Lenders

As a real estate investor looking for private lenders, realize that private lending opportunities will not always come to you. You may need to go out and find them. The best way to find private lenders is through networking and low key marketing. Ask people you know directly or friends of friends about the amount of money they are currently making with their investments and would they like to learn how to increase that yield by 300%.

Let people know you are a real estate investor who is paying private lenders 9% to 15% or more and secured by local rental real estate. Those who are interested in learning more will ask questions and express interest. For those people who express interest you may want to arrange a private one-on-one meeting or group meeting with several people to introduce them to your private lending program.

Advertising for Private Lenders

You can do some types of advertising for private lenders but it is very important that you use relatively low key advertising and usually in small local areas. We do not recommend ANY form of internet advertising. With internet advertising you can not control who will read your ads and the SEC may deem your advertising as a solicitation. You do not want this happen and will cause all kinds of problems.

A much better solution can be flyers in elderly communities or bulletin boards at local grocery stores. Your advertising should simply offer to provide information as opposed to offering investments. Public speeches for elderly groups or financial professionals is an outstanding way to offer to provide some education and in many cases will lead to people requesting further details about your program and possible investors down the line. The important point is keep it low key and local and you will street clear of problems

People have this affection for photos and cameras.It is one of the most popular hobbies in the world.But what people do not realize is that they are just a practice away from being a professional.Which means that the photos they will take can rival those photos taken by a professional.  Of course it won’t be as good but it will be pretty darn close.Especially at our time where a lot of new advanced cameras are for sale.  So let’s look at some tips that will help you take better photos.

First thing that you should learn is using the sunlight to your advantage.  As a San Diego wedding photographer this is an important skill tomaster since most weddings are during the day.So when it comes to daylight shots be sure that your shot is not against the light.You must also avoid those rays of sun because it will affect the shadows of the subject.

Next tip is you must learn how to do is use the flash effectively. The secret is knowing how to keep your distance.  Because if you are too far the flash won’t help and the shot will be too dark.But you should not also get too close as the bright flash might also ruin the perfect shot.  These are things I had to learn the hard way as a San Diego photographer.

Last thing that you should learn is to know the right positioning of the camera.  People don’t realize how changing the position or angle of a shot can make a big difference.  The best part with digital cameras is that you can take a lot of photos to see what are good angles.  As a San Diego event photography service you have to take a lot of photos because you don’t know which ones will be good.So just take many shots as you can.

So there you have a few good tips to help you take great photos.Taking beautiful photographs ain’t that hard as you may find out.

One thing is certain about cars in our society, we need them. Many people in different places can’t really survive without a car. Sure there are buses but it makes it hard especially in this busy life.  Because cars are so important to our lives it makes sense to know how to care for them.So we are going to examine to major parts of our car that requires regular maintenance.

The first very important part of a car is the engine. This is similar to the car’s heart.It will die or stop working if you don’t take good care of this part of your car. So in my San Marcos auto repair service I make sure my customers know how important this part is.  But it is also easy to take care of. If a person wants to keep his car in a good shape he will just do regular tune ups and change oils.

The transmission is the next important part of the car. In being able to drive your car this is critical. Any use of your car ceases if your transmission breaks down.  In my Carlsbad auto repair shop I see so many broken down transmissions.Most of the failures could have been avoided. The main way to do that is to ensure the supply of enough fluids at all times.Plus to ensure that changing gears are done gently and at a complete stop always.

As you can see taking care of your engine and transmission isn’t that difficult.  All it takes is a commitment to make sure to care for that part of your car.I tell all of my clients of my shop that performing a bit of maintenance today will save them a lot amount of money in the future.They end up having cars that last a long time without any problems those who are willing to do that.  Those that don’t end up with cars they have to bring in all the time with problems.

Copyright (c) 2008 Michel Lautensack
Now that the mortgage market for buying investment real estate is all but dead - investors need to have other sources available or go out business. Fannie and Freddie will no longer be available for investor mortgages, traditional banks and saving and loans will not touch investors loans for many years to come and hard money lenders, when available, can have total cost over 25%. The answer is private money raised from people, not banks, through a process called private lending. Here are the four top ways to attract and develop your group of private lenders.
Private Lending Group Presentations
A private lending presentation involves getting 5 to 20 people into a room and doing a group presentation where you lay out the details and benefits of your private lending program. This may not be for everyone depending on your comfort level of talking in front of a group of people. But there is big advantage of doing group meetings. When people start to ask questions and tell positive stories a certain level of group think starts to take effect and can be very powerful on the attendees.
One-on-One Meetings
If you are not comfortable with group meetings - one-on-one meetings are a great alternative. I generally recommend a breakfast meeting in a quiet restaurant where you can have 15 to 45 minutes of time with your prospect. Like the group meeting you need to lay out your private lending program’s details and benefits.
Out of Town Prospects - Creditability Kit
If the potential prospect is out of town you will need a good creditability kit you can send in the mail. It is very important to follow up two or three days after you send the package to see if they have any questions. Even if they do not participate right away, keep in contact and they may invest some time down the road after a number of follow up contacts.
Existing Private Lenders
If you already have a private lender, or lenders, be sure to keep asking them if they would like to participate in more deals. You will be shocked that most investor only give a very small investment to start and wait to see how things turn out before giving you more money. So keep asking and do what you say you are going to do they will develop a better relationship and trust level with you. As the relationship grows they will invest larger and larger sums to grow your real estate investing business.

Were you the victim of Predatory Lending? Deceptive and predatory lending practices were all too common between 2001 and 2008, as the lawyers at www.ConsumerDebtAdvocate.net find over 90% of all loans we perform a forensic analysis on have multiple violations.  If you took out a new mortgage loan during this period of time it is highly likely that there were violations in Truth in Lending, RESPA, Section 32, or Regulation Z.  Even the best educated consumers may have been victims of predatory lending practices.  CDA’s Attorney’s offer a complete forensic analysis of your loan documents by a recognized expert in the field who has over 30 years of experience helping consumers. CDA uses the results as leverage to force your lender to restructure your loan terms, or as an alternative, suing to challenge the validity of the loan itself. If you win a predatory lending case in court, you will often receive your home’s Deed free and clear, plus be re-paid all payments and fees you have made from the time you took out the loan.

Common Predatory Lending Practices:

?  Predatory lenders use deceptive or aggressive practices to sell   their loans, often targeting certain neighborhoods?  Predatory lenders strip equity form homes through excessive fees without considering the borrower’s ability to repay the loan, sometimes resulting in foreclosure?  Predatory lenders use prepayment penalties and adjustable loans that increase without regard to market conditions.?  Predatory Lenders offer you one rate and fee structure, but change the loan terms at the last minute without proper disclosures.?  Predatory lenders may use Spanish speakers to gain the trust and confidence of Hispanic Homeowners.?  Predatory lenders charge excessive fees, points, and interest rates.?  If you did a “stated income” or “stated asset” loan, you likely were the victim of mortgage fraud.?  If you are elderly (over age 65), you may also be the victim of Elderly Abuse.

Common Indicators of Predatory Lending:  

Excessive Points, late charges, and pre-payment penalties: Loan origination fees and other charges can cost many thousands of dollars, even if your were promised a “No Fee” or “No Charge” loan.  Pre-payment penalties may make it very expensive to refinance or sell your home.

High Interest rate: Victims of predatory lending pay a higher interest rate than the national average or pay an interest rate not commensurate with  their credit score.

Asset-based Lending: Rather than receiving a loan based upon your ability to repay the loan, you were given a loan based on how much equity you had and were able to pull out or pay as fees.  You may have been encouraged to “inflate” your income or it was done without your knowledge so your could “afford” the loan. They may lend you more than you could afford to repay, as the lender would get the full amount of equity if they foreclosed on your property even if the loan was small.

Misrepresentations: The loan officer may offer you one set of terms (including rate and fees) and then change them at closing. They may also misrepresent the terms such you signed.

Balloon Payment: A large sum of money due at the end of the loan that is often beyond your ability to repay, often causing you to lose the home. IT is also illegal in sub-prime loan under HOEPA regulations.

Discrimination: The lender charges a woman, older adult, or minority consumer more than a similar consumer who is not a member of that group.

What Can You Do?

There are several important documents you should have received as part of the loan process to better help you understand your loan.  Three days before you signed loan documents your lender must have provided you with a Good Faith Estimate that should outline your rate and fees.  At closing, compare this to the Settlement Statement or HUD-1. It tells you where all the money you are borrowing will go.  If there are any differences between the Good Faith Estimate and the HUD-1, make sure you agree with them before you sign.

You should also study the Truth in Lending disclosures which detail how much you are paying for your loan, what the percentage rate and APR is, and what you will owe at the end of the loan. Also review the contract to determine if there are prepayment penalties that lock you into the loan for a pre-determined period of time.  IF you feel you were a victim of predatory lending, it is critical you get a forensic review of these documents before the statute of limitation runs out. Some violations can restart the rescission clock and you will have up to three years from the time you discover the violations to address them.

Since I began offering the Hydro Floss oral irrigator at the Toothy Grins Store, I have had the good fortune to speak to many people.

A very interesting conversation occurred this past week. A gentleman from Minnesota called me and we had quite a conversation.

He was looking to purchase a hydro floss for his own use. I typically ask people if they have used one before and I have grown used to people telling me how much they like the hydro floss and how it has helped them personally kind of like therabreath.

This time, a slightly different story came forth. He was initially told about the Hydro Floss by his hygienist. This is not unusual at all, many dentists and hygienists recommend the Hydro Floss to their patients.

But he took things one step further. He has two friends, one is a periodontist and one is an oral surgeon and he asked them both about this device. He was surprised to hear that they both personally use the hydro floss.

But the oral surgeon did something a little differently and it was an eye opener for me. It is one of those moments when the ‘light bulb’ came on.

She also uses the Pocket Pal Jet Tips. This surprised me because I had believed the Pocket Pal’s were only needed for people who had 5 to 6 mm pockets. Well, you can bet this person, an expert on oral health, has gums that are in good shape. SHE uses the pocket pal jet tips as a preventive measure.

I hadn’t considered this before. While the regular tips are made to be used at right angles to the teeth and gums. The pocket pals are used to shoot water directly into the pockets.

So, I thought something like, “It makes sense to use them to maintain / improve the health of gum tissue”. Since that conversation, I’ve been using the pocket pal jet tip after my regular use of the Hydro Floss and I think it is a good practice for me personally! Read more about the Hydro Floss and the jet tips at ToothyGrinsStore.com

Disclaimer: This post is for information purposes only. It does not intend to render advice, treatment or diagnosis for any health condition. If you have or think you might have a health problem of any kind, visit your periodontist or physician for advice, diagnosis and treatment. The USFDA has not evaluated statements about any products mentioned on this site or in this article