To Buy or Not To Buy: The Question for Central Arkansas
Posted on May 16th, 2012
Once considered the ultimate American Dream, the value of owning a home in this country has been questioned by some. So, is it better to buy or rent here in Central Arkansas?
Watch the attached video for answers from Moe Veissi, president of the National Association of Realtors.
Credit care: Secured card, loan may help rebuild score
Posted on May 7th, 2012
Q: For 32 years I had excellent credit. But, like other folks, things went downhill. We had our home repossessed and could not make all the credit card payments. Our attorney advised us to file for bankruptcy, so we did. I have tried to rebuild my credit since then. I have been turned down by two different bank cards several times each. We now have a debit card, but when do you get a chance to show the banks that we are seriously trying to get our credit score back up?
A: Rebuilding a positive credit history after a bankruptcy takes time and patience. Because you did have excellent credit for many years before the bankruptcy, you know what it takes to manage your credit successfully. What you need now is credit to manage.
Since you have been declined several times for bank-issued credit cards, you may need to start with a secured credit card.
Tags: Card, Card Loan
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My Video Interview With Alfred Edmond, Jr. (Please Leave a Comment So I Can Win!)
Posted on April 13th, 2012
Yesterday, I interviewed Alfred Edmond, Jr., the Senior Vice President and Editor-At-Large of Black Enterprise Magazine. Alfred and I have Tweeted each other on occasion since our paths first crossed when this blog was recognized as one of the Black Blogospheres Best. Alfreds team invited me to interview him about issues facing entrepreneurs today. I jumped at the chance you know I did.
I jumped even higher when I was told that in exchange for the interview, I could win a trip to the Black Enterprise Entrepreneurs Conference in Chicago in May 2012 if I got the most comments on my post. (So you know what Im going to ask you to do.) But first, Im going to treat you to Alfreds special insights.
Enjoy the conversation, and then scroll to the bottom and leave a comment at the blog to help me win the trip! (Please do not leave a FaceBook comment as they do not count for my entry.
Tags: Alfred Edmond, Edmond
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Businesses Show Support for “Pink Slime” Factory
Posted on April 11th, 2012
Leaders of several states will travel Thursday to the only place where the beef product known as “pink slime” is still made.
The trip to the South Sioux City, Neb. plant run by Beef Products, Inc. is meant as a show of support for the embattled manufacturer.
The so-called “pink slime” food additive has come under fire from some consumer groups, prompting several plant closings. Supporters, though, say the company is the victim of a smear campaign.
Tags: Pink Slime, Slime
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On the Money: A step-by-step guide to setting up an IRA
Posted on April 2nd, 2012
Do you feel like an IRA dummy? If so, you have company. About a third of Americans have an IRA, and confusion, rather than money, is often what stands in the way of getting started. That’s a shame because IRAs and Roth IRAs are among the easiest ways to turn small savings into giant sums over time. They are much better than bank accounts because the money within IRA accounts, like 401(k) accounts, will grow without being taxed. That’s extremely valuable, so get started by April 17.
THE FIRST STEP: Grab your Social Security number and a checkbook and head to a broker. If you want to stay home, look up a mutual fund company like Vanguard, T. Rowe Price or Fidelity. Tell the representative you want to open an IRA. You will get a one-page form requiring the typical basics: name, address and Social Security number. You will then write a check for any amount between $1 and $5,000.
Tags: Ira
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Govt considers extending National Loan Guarantee scheme
Posted on March 25th, 2012
â??The government has announced that there is scope for the National Loan Guarantee to be extended beyond the initial £20 billion if demand dictates.
Chancellor George Osborne said in testimony to parliament’s Treasury Committee that if small businesses come out in force for the loans, the scheme could be expanded, Reuters reported.
Mr Osborne also announced that the coalition is considering the launch of a market whereby small businesses loans can be bundled together and sold on to investors.
“Starting to securitise the market for small business lending is something we’re considering,” the Chancellor is quoted by the news provider as saying.
“Restarting it is not easy and we’re not aware of any country that has successfully done this on a large scale since the crash. I
Tags: Guarantee, Loan Guarantee, National Loan, National Loan Guarantee
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Never Stop Trying To Hit The High Notes
Posted on March 15th, 2012
Prior to Whitney Houstons home going service yesterday, I shared shared 5 things she taught me about life. After the service, I watched several videos of her more recent performances, and this photo is a still from one of them.
I chose it because its indicative of her fighting spirit. It showed that
Whitney never stopped trying to hit the high notes.
If you look at the videos from the past few years, you see a woman struggling to find her place in a life that had exhausted her.
Tags: Hit, Hit High
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