Your Mind And How It Works For And Against You Creating Wealth

By Christina Helwig

Your mind has two parts: the Conscious Mind and the Subconscious Mind. Together these two parts control all of your actions and ultimately the results you have in your life. As we explore each area of your mind, understand that while these ideas may seem simple and elementary, they have a wide reaching and profound affect on your life. They control every aspect of what makes you who you are and will continue to control everything in your life until the day you die.

The Conscious Mind is where you carry out your day to day thinking. This is where you make life choices and where you primarily go about your in normal life. When you talk to someone at work or you go to a store to buy stuff, you are using your conscious mind. Both the conscious mind and the subconscious mind think in little pictures or movies. If you think about your workplace a picture of it will flash on the screen of your conscious mind.

You also can only hold one image on the screen of your mind at any one time. For example you cannot think of a car and a dog in detail at the same moment. While you might be able to project them side by side you are not able to see the dog and the car as separate images at the same time. Your mind has to flip back and forth.

This ultimately means that you cannot think of a negative idea and a positive idea at the same time. While your mind might be able to flip back and forth between negative and positive ideas or images very rapidly, it is not able to hold those two images at the same time.

Most people would think that the Conscious Mind controls the Subconscious Mind, but this is not so. The Subconscious Mind is the real power source in our lives. The Subconscious Mind stores all our concepts about who we are, what we are capable of, what we are not capable of and every other detail we believe to be true about our world. We can refer to the Subconscious Mind as the emotional mind.

The subconscious mind operates in the background of your life and while you sleep, when you zone out, when you do something you have done a hundred times and any other automatic motion or thought you think. Dreams are a product of your subconscious mind. You can think of the subconscious mind as a computer program running without your help or mental effort at all times. An example of this would be when you have suddenly realized that you have not been paying attention while driving and you are almost home from work or you missed an on ramp.

The entire trip to and from home is a program that you have put into your subconscious mind through repetition. Your driving is automatic and takes very little mental energy on your part. In fact without consciously thinking about going to a cafe when driving that pathway you will drive straight home. Your programming will take over and you will "forget" to go to the cafe unless you hold the picture of the cafe at the forefront of your mind when driving home.

To convert the things you want in your life to reality you must understand how to use both your conscious and sub-conscious mind. By continually thinking about the good things you want and visualizing these images you will impress them on your subconscious mind. Over time your actions will change and you will start to move the things you want into your reality. This includes increasing your income.

About the Author:

If you can set aside a few minutes each day to work on and learn about how you can reach your goals you can make big jumps towards increasing your income and changing your world. Christina Helwig is an attorney and Vice-President of Wealth Expressions, Inc. She focuses on helping people learn more about changing their thinking to improve all aspects of their lives.

Financial advice has always been important, now more than ever.

By Chris Clare

People often use dentists, accountants, solicitors and other professionals, but it has to be said that the majority don't go out seeking advice from a financial advisor. Most people leave talking to an IFA, an independent financial advisor, till the day they think they actually need something, such as a mortgage life insurance pension or savings plan.

So what exactly is an Independent Financial Advisor then? Well, simply put, he or she is a person who works independently of the insurance companies, advising the best ways I which to deal with your individual financial situation. Now while it is true that it is a commission based job, independent means that he or she is not tied to any specific company. An IFA also has to put any advice that is given on record in writing and as such is held responsible for the advice given. With that in mind it is obviously in the IFAs best interest to give unbiased advice which can be clearly seen to be in the best interests of the client.

Financial advisors can generally offer you any financial service available on the market. This will encompass life insurance, savings plans, pensions, mortgages and personal investments. Some can also offer you extras such as inheritance tax planning and will writing.

Now that's all well and good, I hear you say, but can I not get these products by simply taking a stroll down the high street on any given day. Yes you can, but the big difference is that an Independent Financial Advisor does not just sell these products. The companies sell the products, as such. If you require life insurance they will sell you life insurance but an IFA is there to advise you whether you actually require life insurance in the first place.

A financial advisors process will involve sitting down with you for a couple of hours going through all the things you currently have such as the policies that you already pay into. They will asses your attitude to risk which means they will establish how much risk you are prepared to associate with particular areas or you financial planning. They will also establish what you can afford and how much money you are prepared to commit to dealing with any particular need you may have.

Then they will look at your future financial aspirations. They will ask you about the quality of life you would like in the years to come. Maybe you would like to retire earlier in life, get sickness coverage to cover future events or pay your mortgage off before the term stated.

By asking all of these questions, an IFA is then able to ascertain what you need and what sort of budget you have available in order to achieve it. They can then create a personal profile and use it to go away and source what financial services best fit your needs and budget.

Once they have done this they are then in a position to sit with you again and go through their proposals for you and if they are acceptable to you they can move it all forward and make applications on your behalf.

Now with an ordinary financial advisor this would usually be the end of the process. The difference with an IFA is that they view it as being an ongoing process. This means that they will maintain contact with you in order to ensure that the plan is constantly working for you to the best financial ends. Remember that your situation will almost never remain constant and the role of an IFA will be to give you advice with regards to your plan and your changing situation.

So to summarise an independent financial advisors job entails gathering information about you and researching the best products for you then sitting down with you to ensure that you know exactly what you have and what they propose and then carrying out regular reviews to ensure that the advice stays current and relevant. So I think you will agree they are worth their weight in gold, especially in these financial times when we should all be reviewing what we have and most of all why we have it.

About the Author:

Good financial advice can be difficult to find so why not come along to Invest & Protect ltd we are fully qualified in offering independent financial advice.

How To Profit From Stock Options

By Walter Fox

Investing in the stock market is very tricky, especially if you are new to investing. If you have access to an experienced trader, the learning curve can be much easier. Options trading is more difficult to learn than standard trading.

Due to the added complexity that options trading has over standard trading, this article will attempt to explain things so that the reader can gain a general understanding. After reading the article, the reader can decide if options trading is right for them.

The first thing to learn is the different types of options trading that are available. The two types are called call options and put options. The concept of options is similar to buying and selling stocks except for the fact that you are only buying the right to buy or sell and not the actual stocks themselves.

Buying a call option gives you the ability to purchase one hundred stocks at a predetermined price, known as the strike price. However, keep in mind that you do not have to exercise the option if it is not in your favour.

Once you have purchased a call option, you then can decide if and when you want to exercise your right to buy. You have a specific deadline in which to buy. If you decide to purchase the stocks, they are bought at the predetermined price.

The second category of stock options trading is called put options. Buying a put option gives you the ability to sell one hundred stocks at a predetermined strike price. This may be difficult to understand at first as it somewhat contradictory to traditional stock trading.

Put options are usually used when you think that the price of the stock is about to fall. This allows you to sell your stocks at a higher price than market value and make a profit. This method is a great way to manage your risk in the stock market.

To conclude, there is money to be made in options trading if you know what youare doing and have the ability to consult with somebody knowledgeable. Learning the ins and outs of options trading well can position you to profit nicely.

About the Author:

TheScienceOfTrading.com provides 90 free minutes of videos on stock option investing and provides a complete and detailed option trading course for beginners to experts.

The rough guide to APR

By Jo Smart

The Annual Percentage Rate (APR) is the amount of interest charged on loans by lenders, including credit card companies. The APR on a credit card determines how much you have to pay back each month to cover minimum charges and interest on the credit card loan. It is calculated as a monthly charge multiplied by 12, depending on the balance of the card. For example, a card with a 10.2% APR (divided by 12) would give a monthly interest rate of 0.85% on the outstanding balance. On a 1,000 loan, this would equate to an interest charge of 8.50 a month. The total amount would depend on how much of your outstanding balance you paid off each month and if you made only minimum payments or additional payments to clear the balance.

APR is a useful comparison tool when selecting credit card offers, but there are key factors to remember when looking at the numbers. Consider the interest rate you have to pay, how you repay the loan and the length of the loan agreement. Also look closely for any additional fees associated with the loan, such as payment protection insurance. All lenders have to disclose their APR before you sign any agreement, and as the APR has a direct bearing on the cost of your loan shopping around to find the best deal is basic common sense. Don't be fooled by offers that appear too good to be true - they probably are. Responsible card lenders will give you all the facts and figures you need to make an informed decision.

Once you have found an attractive APR rate that suits your purpose, there are a couple of extra questions to ask the lender before signing. The first is whether the APR is fixed or variable. If it's variable, what may seem like a tempting offer to begin with could have a nasty sting in its tail as the interest charges can go up as well as down. A variable rate is subject to influence from the Bank of England's base rate and other market forces, meaning some credit card interest rates can change from one month to the next. This can be a good thing in a buoyant economic market, but could cost you more if the economy takes a dive. With a fixed rate the payments stay the same, regardless of outside market influences, but can be higher overall, depending on the of length time taken to pay back the loan.

The second question should be to ask for more detail about any additional charges that are not included in the APR. This brings us into payment protection insurance territory. With some cards, this service is an optional extra, but others insist on its inclusion. It can act as a safeguard should your circumstances change, but if it's something you're willing to forgo then look for cards that offer it as an option, rather than as a non-negotiable inclusion. This is a good time to also ask yourself if you could afford the maximum monthly repayment charges without stretching yourself financially to the limit. If the credit card loan is spread out over a longer period of time, the payments may be lower, but the calculated cost of the overall loan may be higher, as you are paying interest for longer.

Finance and lending has long been thought of as a murky part of business, complex and difficult to understand. APR stands apart from the system in that the Government and financial regulatory bodies recognise the public's unease when dealing with these mysterious financial figures and have put strict guidelines in place. All lenders are required to give full disclosure of APR charges to customers, allowing them to make an informed decision. Card companies are happy to comply with this, preferring that their customers know exactly what is expected from the outset from both parties. It makes for a far better business arrangement. APR can be calculated easily with a little bit of effort and a pocket calculator because all the facts and figures are there; it's just a matter of seeing how they relate to your situation. The temptation to leap feet first into a 0% credit card offer may be strong, but by taking a moment to examine all the costs involved expensive mistakes can be avoided and your all-important credit rating can be preserved intact.

Without looking closely at differing APR rates, it is impossible to make quick comparisons between alternative financial products. All companies use different calculations to determine their interest and other charges. To get the best credit card deal, a little research into how each company calculates that interest will save the consumer being lured into an expensive honeytrap by the promise of an initial interest-free period, only to get stung by a high APR once the honey has run out. There are plenty of good deals to be had on credit cards, and a smart consumer will be able to find one that suits both their budget and their requirements.

About the Author:

Jo Smart is a financial author that enjoys taking time to break down the facts about credit cards and other personal finance options. You can find out more about Low APR Credit Cards and other Credit Cards here.

Getting the Best Deal on American Auto Insurance

By Thomas Kielez

In the United States their are many different auto insurance providers and providers may even have different policies or coverage levels so you can save a lot of money by comparing different companies and different policies. To get information from different auto insurance providers you can usually reach them by phone or on the internet. You can also find valuable information about different companies at the Insurance Department at your State capital.

As in other countries, American auto insurance has been developed to protect drivers from a financial loss or liability if they are involved in an accident. Coverage is also available to cover the loss of a car from theft. The first thing to focus on when comparing different insurance providers is their financial stability. You don't want to count on a company that has a poor financial rating. There are several sources of financial information on insurance companies. Standard & Poor's and A.M. Best are two of the more well know insurance ratings companies.

Insurance companies in America may market their policies directly to the customer online or over the phone. Some even have branches scattered throughout the United States with employees or agents that represent them exclusively. There are also independent agents that act as brokers for several insurance companies and can give you comparison information for each provider.

When comparing different companies, the price is only one factor to be considered. You will want to work with a company that provides good service, has a good record of satisfying claims. One of the best ways to find responsive companies is to ask for recommendations from your friends and associates, as well as checking with your state insurance department. You will want to find out what their experience has been with different companies and whether they have complaints about specific insurance companies.

There are several ways to reduce the cost of American auto insurance. One of the most common ways is by accepting higher deductibles. Deductibles are the amount of money you have to pay out of your own pocket before the insurance policy kicks in. Compare the cost of the policy with different deductibles to see how much you can save. If you end up choosing a high deductible make sure you set aside enough money to cover it if you are in an accident.

You can also save in car insurance by dropping comprehensive coverage. You would only want to do this for older vehicles that wouldn't cost much to replace and that are paid off. If you have a loan on the car you will normally be required to have full comprehensive insurance coverage.

If you already have some other type of insurance you may want to check with that provider to find out if you can get any kind of discount for also getting your auto insurance through them. This may not always be the best deal but it is something you should check out.

Surprisingly, your credit record also affects the insurance rates you will get. The better your credit scores are the lower your rates will normally be. That means you have another reason to make sure your bills are paid on time and that you check your credit record occasionally to make sure their are no errors that are lowering your scores.

Another discount to ask about if you carpool or don't drive a lot is the low mileage discount. Not all companies offer it, but enough do that it is something you should check on if you fall in that category.

Other discounts you may be able to find include: discounts to drivers that have not had any recent accidents or moving violations, participants in defensive driving courses, good student discounts for driving age children or children who are away from home at college without a car.

About the Author:

Do you want additional resources about insurance? The Auto Insurance blog has helpful resources that will help you make informed auto insurance comparisons and get the best coverage for the lowest price.

Will buy to let mortgage survive the current market?

By Chris Clare

It shouldn't have to be said that the mortgage market is going through a state of flux at the moment and yes that is an understatement. The mortgage market over the last 6 months has turned from a well oiled machine to what can only be described as a farm yard tractor left out in the field for 10 years left to just seize up.

As a result of this tightening of the credit markets, lenders have decided what type of business they want and more importantly what type of business they don't want. As a result, self certification is all but a Dodo and extinct, a high loan to value mortgage is considered 80%. On that note if you say 100% mortgage to anyone in the industry they will say wow I remember those didn't they come with flared trousers and some very dubious music ha-ha. But seriously the main business area that has suffered and suffered in a big way is Buy to Lets.

Buy to let, it has to be said, has fueled a large proportion of the housing growth over the last 5 years. It has been this market that has kept the property market running. That said it has not come without a great cost to both the economy and ordinary people. I say ordinary people because it has been ordinary people buying buy to let and maybe that has been the fundamental problem.

Back in the 1980s, car auctions were primarily the domain of people from the motor trade, and to see an everyday member of the public there was a rare sight indeed. However, there began a trend for people going to these auctions in an attempt to buy a fixer upper, do a bit of work on it and sell it on for a bit of a profit. Suddenly every Tom, Dick and Harry was a car expert and the auctions were full of these people, all trying to turn a fast buck.

What really happened is that a lot of ill informed people ended up paying too much money for a heap of junk which they could do absolutely nothing with, and they ultimately lost their money which they thought they had so wisely spent. The reason for this analogy is that the same situation has arisen in the housing market. People with no real knowledge have been playing entrepreneur in the housing market, with a lot more money than it takes to buy a second hand car. Many people have paid far too much for properties, some without even seeing the house in question.

I have been buying property for over ten years professionally and I don't mean I bought my own home. I have bought quite a few buy to lets. Even with all this experience I would never buy any property without seeing it and I do not know any other professional landlord who would. So why oh why do ordinary people think they can step into this market and treat it with what can only be described as reckless neglect.

Unfortunately what has happened is as the saying goes; they have ruined it for the rest of us. The irresponsible borrowing and buying has put the lenders at risk as they are finding themselves flooded with customers who can't repay their loans, and as such, the lenders now don't want to lend to anyone. Loan to value for buy to lets has dropped recently from 85% to 75% and it is estimated that with falling property prices, this will drop even further.

All this leaves an industry in great turmoil with very little prospect of recovery. What I suggest is, I would like to see forward thinking lenders come out with a professional buy to let product for landlords that have over ten properties. These landlords have already demonstrated they can fund purchases up to now and it would mean that they could get into a market that is quite beneficial for buyers in general. In addition this type of lending would have the result of producing some buyers in the market place which would at least keep the housing market moving at a trickle which is more than it is moving at the moment.

About the Author:

Mortgage Advice from qualified Independent Mortgage Advisors guidance information and no obligation mortgage calculators please visit Mortgage Route

Don't Wait Until Age 65 to Think About a Retirement Plan

By Michael Geoffrey

Planning early for your retirement is one of the best things that you are ever going to be able to do for yourself in your lifetime. The earlier you start planning for your retirement the more educated you are going to be, the more ready you are going to be for your retirement, and the more money you will have set aside thereby allowing you to maintain the same lifestyle you are living now, if not better.

Getting Started

There are a lot of different variables and factors to consider when planning for your retirement. Some people feel a bit overwhelmed when they think about it. It is hard to know where to start. That feeling is understandable. There is a lot to consider. The first thing that you need to do is determine in your mind where you want to be from a financial standpoint when you reach retirement age.

You should decide to have a specific amount of money deducted from your account prior to receiving your take home pay, money that will be used for investment purposes.

It may be that you are knowledgeable about investments and retirement plans. That's good and you should use that knowledge. However, even if that is the case it is a good idea to seek professional guidance when setting up a retirement plan so you receive step by step direction.

They can help you to select certain assets to invest in and also will advise you about specific taxation consequences. They will not only make the process a great deal easier, but may even point out areas in which you can save even more, which you may have not noticed otherwise.

No matter what your age you can start planning for your retirement. You are never too old or to young. But the younger the better so start now. Remember to use good logic and good judgement when planning for your future. It is one of the most important things you will ever do.

If you want to enjoy your retirement to its fullest, then you need to make adequate preparations. By following these basic guidelines and making yourself as educated as possible on the subject of retirement in general, you will be doing yourself a world of good.

About the Author:

Before deciding to cut up credit cards to help you get your debt paid off, you need to understand how it can hurt your credit score. Find out what you need to know first on the Debt Smackdown website.