Enjoy professional asset management invest in a mutual fund

Haven’t you become a member of the large family of mutual fund investors yet? If you keep waiting you may never be able to feel the positive effects mutual funds have on your account. However, you are not the only one who has not managed to overcome some of the basic mental barriers that come in your way toward mutual fund investing.

First of all you may think that you don’t have enough money to invest in a mutual fund. However, as little as $100 can get you started in your trip to a rich mutual fund account, which will provide you with financially secure retirement. No trading costs exist when you invest in the majority of mutual funds, which allows you to invest small amounts of money. As compared to stock investing, the latter eats up a big portion of your money in terms of broker commissions and you end up with less money for investing.

On the other hand, you may be reluctant to invest in a mutual fund, because you find it non-guaranteed or non-insured. However, you should not be worried about the security of a mutual fund because it cannot go bankrupt. A mutual fund usually holds shares of a large number of companies and in order to go bankrupt all of these companies should altogether become insolvent. On the other hand, the insurance companies or bank accounts that are generally viewed as safer can easily go bankrupt and you will end up losing your hard-earned money. What is more, inflation tends to eat up the money you accumulate in your savings account, whereas your mutual fund account enjoys compounding interest.

You may also prefer not to invest in a mutual fund, because you believe you are better at selecting individual stocks. We don’t want to undervalue you stock picking skills, but by purchasing shares of a mutual fund, you immediately enjoy the professional management of your assets by experts that have been in this field for many years. You may really have success at times, but it is equal to your chances of winning in the lottery.

Additionally, many investors make the mistake to invest in the company they work for. This is totally wrong tactic, unless you include in your portfolio other stocks to diversify it. Mutual funds include stocks and bonds of many different companies, which is extremely beneficial in restful economic times.

Finally, most investors don’t want to invest in a mutual fund, because they are worried they don’t understand how it functions. The first step is to browse through our website and get all the information you need to get you started. We have made it easy to use and full of different articles on the subject so that we turn you into an educated and successful mutual fund investor.

Learn the essential skill set for understanding the techniques of wing chun

I mentioned recently that I'm teaching an introductory Wudan Kung Fu class, with a lot of Wing Chun influences. Some of my students have asked for some exercises they can do at home to learn Wing Chun techniques.

First, we'll focus on stance. I want you to stand with your feet roughly shoulder width apart. Your knees should be slightly bent, and your butt should be tucked under your spine. Now, hold that stance for a moment; you'll feel a bit of a burn in your quadriceps and hamstrings when you're holding it. The important thing to keep in mind when holding your stance is breathing. It's not moving, it's not remaining perfectly still, it's understanding how your body dynamically balances. Breath in, feel the breath go straight to the soles of your feet, and exhale. Repeat, and let your shoulders relax, until your hands are resting open by the sides of your hips.

Learn to stay in this stance for a good long time. You'll know you're doing it right when you're no longer aware of the fact that you're standing in it. If you notice that you automatically slide into Wing Chun stance when waiting for the bus, or standing in line at the post office, you're probably about there.

Now, the next thing to do is to throw a punch. Wing Chun uses the (oft maligned) short punch. It does NOT generate as much power as a boxing jab, but then, Wing Chun isn't a hard style; it focuses on economy of motion and speed over power. You don't need to be able to punch through a steel plate – you do need to punch someone hard enough and fast enough to win a fight.

Like most martial arts, your punch actually starts with your feet. Remember how we have you holding your stance with your feet shoulder width apart? This is why – when you throw your punch off of those bent legs, you are naturally going to straighten up a bit when you move your arm forward, which is going to put the kinematics of your quadriceps and hipbones into your punch. When you throw a cross punch, you want to keep your elbow in line with your body, which is an unnatural motion. The punch will develop power from your thighs, transmitted through your core, and into the target. Visualize, when you punch, that you're putting your knuckles through a point three inches behind the target.

Now, remember when we had you relax? This is for speed – relaxed muscles react faster than tense muscles. This becomes important when doing blocks, inside and outside. The basic inside block moves your forearm across your body; you want to use the shortest distance possible, and you want to learn to coordinate your off hand and your on hand to make a fluid motion – blocking across your body. An outside block is the reverse motion – your hand moves from inside your centerline to the outside, directing the force of the blow to the outside.

Practice the punch and these two blocks in combination in front of a mirror, and we'll walk you through learning more Wing Chun techniques in a future article.

Nada used car prices edmunds used car prices and kelly blue book used car prices whose prices are right

The Internet has been touted as the greatest resource for the used car buyer. Prospective buyers can find trade-in, private party, and retail values in a heartbeat. The question to consider, however, is what Internet source is right? The three major sites: NADA, Edmunds, and Kelly Blue Book are clamoring to be the Trusted Authority on used car values. Yet price discrepancies are frequently in the $1000’s from site to site. Which web site, if any, is the most accurate source for the used car buyer?

To illustrate the discrepancies, here’s an everyday example: NADA may retail a 2003 SAAB 9-5 Linear at $15,996, Kelly Blue Book prices it at $17,456, and Edmunds prices it at $14,800. These are all retail values, assuming excellent or clean condition. $17,456 minus $14,800 is a $2,656 difference. That’s a huge price difference in the highly competitive used car market.

The retail values placed on many vehicles by these web sites can have even larger price differences - some as high as $4000 to $8000 dollars. These gigantic price fluctuations can leave a used car buyer spending $1000’s extra, depending on which guide he or she used. Moreover, private party and trade-in sale prices do not accurately account for vehicle condition, and less than 5% qualify as excellent.

Vehicle condition is a critical variable. An owner might think his trade-in is in stunning condition and thus worth X, based on his Internet research. An expert may know it needs $1000’s in repairs and reconditioning costs.

The answer to “whose prices are right” is that none of the big three web sites reflect used car prices accurately. Most often, the prices are too high on the retail side, questionable on the trade-in side, and confusing on the private side.

So what or who is the real authority? The answer is the Market! The market (i. e., the folks grinding it out everyday in the used car market place – sellers and buyers) reflect true market value. Web sites are guides only. The used car prices from these sources need to be measured against the reality of the market.

Here’s a scenario to illustrate the importance the market plays on used car values. In the Northeast, the banks rely on NADA, used car dealers prefer to use Kelly Blue Book, and used car buyers are turning more and more to Edmunds. Now the dealer will likely want to use the inflated (Excellent condition) Kelly Blue Book value. The buyer wants an unrealistic Edmunds price, and the bank wants to use an under-valued NADA price. In other words, the three primary people in the car buying process – the buyer, the seller, and the lender, are all on different pages. Each player wants the most advantageous price based on the part he or she is playing. The market is the only element that evens the playing field. The point here is to demonstrate that the market is the true source to determine a REAL and FAIR used car value.

In order to get a fair price, according to the market, a used car buyer should aim for the middle. Avoid the highest prices and be realistic and flexible about the lowest. Stay somewhere in the middle to get a fair deal.

If you want a great deal, follow the market closely. If buying from a retailer, eBay and auction prices don’t count, as these are wholesale venues. Check out Cars. com, AutoTrader. com, and some of the other Used Car Sources. See what the vehicle you want (including miles, equipment and accessories) is being advertised for. Again, shoot for the middle!

Use the popular Internet resources, but don’t follow them blindly. You may actually pay significantly more than market value.

Having said all this, this doesn’t mean that used car dealers are going to stop trying to low ball trade-in offers. And of course every dealer wants to sell its vehicles for a maximum. But remember, the same goes for car owners, but in reverse. They want the highest price for a trade and the lowest retail price on a vehicle.

When using Internet sources to determine a used car value, be sure to enter the correct information. This may sound elementary, but option packages, models, miles, color, equipment, engine, transmission, gear ratios…etc, can be confusing. Yet these are important variables that will affect prices dramatically. In short, the wrong information skews the numbers.

Finally, what really needs to be highlighted with NADA, Edmunds, and Kelly, as well as other Internet sources, is that they are GUIDES. They are excellent resources for vehicle information, but weak resources for prices. This is not to bad mouth any of these sites – they are great starting points. Remember, however, that these guides may or may not be in the car buyer’s favor. Fair used cars prices are dictated by the market. Yes, do your research on the Net, but don’t cling to it. Use the Internet only to find the used car market’s middle ground.

Tips to avoid car insurance premium increases becoming assigned risk

Below are some tips to reduce your auto insurance bill, prevent substantial premium increases and avoid becoming assigned risk.

Claim Reports: You know about credit reports, you should also know about claim reports. C. L.U. E.® (Comprehensive Loss Underwriting Exchange), is a claim report service provided by ChoicePoint, Inc. ChoicePoint, Inc. states on their web site "C. L.U. E. is a claim history information exchange that enables insurance companies to access prior claim information in the underwriting and rating process. C. L.U. E. Personal Property reports contain up to five years of personal property claims matching the search criteria submitted by the inquiring insurance company. Data provided in C. L.U. E. reports includes policy information such as name, date of birth and policy number, and claim information such as date of loss, type of loss and amounts paid."

Tip: C. L.U. E. reports contain information on claims history by a residence address. Just like credit reports, a C. L.U. E. report may have errors. It is advisable to obtain a copy of your C. L.U. E. report at ChoiceTrust. com to check your report for errors.

Credit reports: Insurance companies are now looking at credit reports to determine future premiums. They have determined that people with better credit scores have fewer claims. Consequently, if you have a poor credit report you may find yourself paying more for car insurance.

Tip: Always make at least the minimum payment for your bills on time, particularly your insurance bill.

Glass Coverage: Most auto insurance salespeople recommend "full" glass coverage for an additional premium, when you purchase collision coverage for your car. They remind you how much it costs to replace all your windows if broken by a vandal. What they do not tell you, and it is unlikely that they would even know (I would only trust the answer from an underwriter, not a sales representative), is whether your insurance company will use a previous glass claim to increase your future premium and whether they will report your glass claims to C. L.U. E.

Some insurance companies will report glass claims to C. L.U. E. and then use these claims to raise your premium or even worse, cancel your car insurance policy making you assigned risk with a substantial premium increase. Allstate notified me that after four claims in less than five years, they terminated my auto insurance policy and then offered to sell me coverage in their Indemnity Company with a shocking premium increase. These claims consisted of two claims for a broken windshield, one for a stolen and recovered car and one accident.

I had a sports car and had to endure a total premium increase over a period of four years of approximately $12,000 and remain claim free before I became eligible for coverage outside of the assigned risk pool. I wrote a letter to the president of Allstate complaining that they should not have considered my glass claims when canceling my car insurance because the glass claims were made under a separate part of the policy for which I paid a separate and additional premium. Allstate responded in a letter stating "Although this claim activity does not indicate that you were directly at fault in each loss, the frequency and severity of the above losses was not within our range of acceptability. After careful review, I regret to inform you that we cannot reverse our original decision regarding the above policy. We have however continued to offer coverage in our Indemnity Company."

Tip: Check with the underwriting department of your insurance company to see if they will consider glass claims when assessing premiums or if they report glass claims to C. L.U. E. If yes, do not make a glass claim. The two windshields which Allstate provided me with were aftermarket windshields which would have cost me less than $300 each. During the last 30 years of my driving history, I have experienced two broken front windshields, one broken rear windshield and two broken side windows. While the financial risk of totaling a car can be substantial, the financial risk of replacing a windshield is comparatively insignificant. It does not make sense to file a glass claim if it will increase your premium. You may even want to decline this coverage altogether and save the premium.

Tip for leased vehicles: Some lease agreements require that the car be returned with an OEM windshield. If you lease a car and replace a front windshield using your "full" glass coverage, insist that the insurance company provide you with an OEM windshield from the manufacturer. If you pay for the windshield yourself, check your lease agreement carefully to see if you must use an OEM windshield from the manufacturer or if you can use an aftermarket windshield. Some people with leased cars who have replaced a windshield with an aftermarket windshield are shocked, when they return their car, to find that the leasing company is charging them $800 for a new OEM windshield, even though the aftermarket windshield is in perfect condition.

Car Rental & Towing Coverage: While it may be a good idea to have this coverage, it is not always a good idea to use it. Some people have realized that this coverage is not just available when an accident has occurred. For instance, some people have used the car rental coverage when their car was in a repair shop or the towing coverage when their car broke down on the road. As with glass coverage, using this coverage may be the same as filing a claim.

Tip: Check with the underwriting department of your insurance company to see if they will consider rental or towing claims when assessing premiums or if they report these claims to C. L.U. E. If yes, do not use car rental or towing coverage unless you have had an accident, in which case it will be part of the accident claim. If you are concerned about towing costs when your car breaks down, you can buy one of the roadside assistance memberships such as the one available from AAA which provides additional benefits not provided by your automobile insurance policy.

Whitewater rafting provides thrills for the whole family

Try whitewater rafting for your next vacation. You can take a whole family along, go with a big group, or you can do alone. There are many different trips you can take, to many different locations. There are many advanced sites for the more experienced, as well as many places to whitewater raft that have easier water to negotiate.

Choosing whitewater rafting opens up a world of opportunity for you. First of all, there are many different places to go on a whitewater rafting, so wherever you are in the country you will be able to find a site near you where there is some level of whitewater rafting, even if it means driving several hours.

Secondly, it is important to remember that while whitewater rafting can be dangerous as well as fun, there are several different levels of experience and danger built into each whitewater rafting package.

And What Might This Be?

Although a new sport to some, but has been around for a long time, whitewater rafting is becoming very popular. Often, there will be a group of people who go on the whitewater rafting together. Depending on the type of trip you have chosen, it might last one day, or several. On the trips that last for several days, there will either be accommodations along the river, or the group leaders will aide the group in setting up a campsite each night. Your family or group might go along with several others.

There are usually group leaders, probably several, depending on the size of the group, who work for the tour company, who will guide the raft and follow a preset course. These leaders will help to insure the safety of the people who are whitewater rafting. These excursions can be a wonderful way for a family or group to take a great vacation.

What Are Some Ways To Find Whitewater Rafting?

If you are interested in a whitewater rafting, you can contact your travel agent, or you can look on the internet. A simple search will return many different online sites which feature whitewater raftings. It is very easy to search for pictures, adventure descriptions, and adventure packages. Many times, you can find travel and accommodations included in packages. There are many places to book a great adventure, and many great adventures to be had!

Weight training for golf - in your own home

Weight training for golf is viewed by golfers as a lot of work, time-consuming, boring and you need a gym membership to do it. None of the above is true, and if you read this article, I’ll explain why.

You see…weight training for golf isn’t on machines anyways…so that eliminates the requirement of a gym. It’s not a lot of work, if you pick and choose the area you want to focus on. It’s not time-consuming if you do it in the convenience of your home, and have a plan of action. And lastly, it can be a lot of fun, when you use bands, exercise balls and training equipment specific to golf.

There many “so-called” weight training for golf programs, but when you take a look at them, you’ll see pictures of golfers sitting on their butts in a machine. I don’t know about you, but I think golf is done “on your feet”, right?

Weight training for golf is close to becoming “mainstream” with the golfing community. We see and hear all the pros doing it and playing their best golf; so why wouldn’t we amateurs do it also?

There are so many reasons why to participate in a weight training for golf program, that you can’t overlook it and say you don’t need it.

Lacking power in your swing? It’s because your body can’t produce any stored energy from a full backswing with torque in your core. That’s a ‘physical’ issue, not mechanical.

Is your golf swing inconsistent from one swing to the next? Swing faults originate from some deeper physical limitation that’s not allowing you to make a mechanically sound and repeatable swing. How many times have you taken a lesson and heard your pro say, “you need to make a full backswing”, but you just can’t physically do it? That’s a ‘physical’ issue, not mechanical.

How about injuries? Do you have one at the moment? The golf swing is physically damaging to the body if you don’t have enough strength and flexibility to withstand the force the golf swing puts on it. Swinging a 3 foot long lever (club) at up to 90 mph is unbelievably stressful on the joints, ligaments, tendons and muscles of the body. That’s a ‘physical’ issue, not mechanical.

I could go on and on, but I think you might get the idea by now.

Weight training for golf may be your “missing link” to your best game ever! If you’ve tried all the ‘other’ methods, this is the ONLY one left. Why wouldn’t you explore the possibilities a little more?

If you’re looking to add power to your golf swing; improve your consistency; and prevent golf injuries, then you’ve got to consider weight training for golf.

The mystery behind enthusiasm

There has been so much written on the subject of enthusiasm that it could probably fit a volume of an encyclopedia. Every great man or woman that has spoken on the subject has recognized the magical power of enthusiasm. Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote, “Enthusiasm is the mother of effort, and without it nothing great was ever achieved." That is a pretty powerful statement! Kahlil Gibran wrote, “Enthusiasm is a volcano on whose top never grows the grass of hesitation.” Denis Waitley said, “Get excited and enthusiastic about your own dream. This excitement is like a forest fire - you can smell it, taste it, and see it from a mile away.” Norman Vincent Peale wrote, “Enthusiasm … spells the difference between mediocrity and accomplishment.” The list goes on and on.

What is this magical power that everyone talks about? Where does it come from? How can you get it if you don’t have it? Those are important questions. What I find interesting is that out of all that has been written about enthusiasm, very little attention is given to these questions. Let’s look at the word a bit closer. The English word “enthusiasm” comes from two Greek terms, “En” and “Theos”. Most of our English language is taken from both Greek and Latin since these languages existed before English. The Greek word “En” means “in”, and the Greek word “Theos” means “God”. So the translation literally means “In God”. I have always found that interesting. Yet very little is said about this in the literature I have read on the subject of enthusiasm. Everyone that has written anything on enthusiasm will tell you it is something that comes from deep inside us. When we are enthusiastic, we are at our very best. We are the most sincere when we are enthused. We can win arguments, we can sell anything to anybody, and we can win at a job interview and get that job we have always wanted. We can achieve fantastic things when we are enthusiastic. We feel great when we are enthusiastic don’t we? I am convinced that enthusiasm is the power of God within us. En-Theos means in God. When we are enthused we exhibit that power; people can see it and feel it; but few are willing to admit what it really is because of the religious overtones that are associated with this line of thought.

I am sure you heard it said that enthusiasm is catchy. There is no secret there. If you are in God when you are enthusiastic, and people catch your enthusiasm, it’s not “your” enthusiasm they are catching; it is the power of God that is within the both of you. When two people are enthused about the same thing at the same time they are in God, or God is in them. This is no mystery to me and it shouldn’t shock anyone who is reading this unless you are touchy about religious overtones. I think there is a world of difference between religion and spirituality and what I am talking about here is pure spirituality not religion. In fact, I personally can vouch for the fact that I have never heard a discussion about enthusiasm like this in a church. The sooner you can get over the prejudice you may have about religious overtones the sooner you can begin accepting what true enthusiasm is.

Once we cross that bridge many things become possible. For example, we can answer such questions as were posed at the beginning of this article. The first was, “What is this magical power that everyone talks about?” It is now obvious that it is the spark of life within us all, the burning fire of God’s power within us. The second question was, “Where does it come from?” The power comes from within but it originates from God. The third question was,” How do you get it if you don’t have it?” The simple answer is you already have it inside you; we all do! If you feel you don’t have it, it’d because something is preventing that power from coming out. Shyness can stop it. Insecurity or low self-esteem can stop it. Fear can stop it. Your belief system can stop it.

If you want to get it back, there is no mystery about that. We can all get our enthusiasm going by getting in touch with ourselves. That of course is the simple answer because time does not allow us to elaborate here. However, I would recommend attending a self-empowerment seminar, or read a good book that moves you. Everyone is different and you need to find what moves you. When you do you will have accomplished much. Most people don’t know what motivates them. I could find that out about you in a one hour workshop.

As you go out into the world today feel that power that is within you. Understand that you have it just as much as everyone else does. God was not exclusive when he handed out enthusiasm. In fact it may surprise you to learn that your enthusiasm existed right along with His from a long time ago. Remember you have the spark of life within you. You can do anything you put your mind to. That is self-empowerment!