Written by Adam Sullivan on January 18, 2012.
The green masthead’s on its last legs, we’re in the process of a gradual redesign and a big element of this is the new masthead. It’s prime real estate on the site as it’s on every single page, so before we go for it, I’d love your views…
We’ve a few tweaks to make on exactly what goes where (the forum button needs to be more prominent), yet this is the overall look we’re going for.
There’s been much debate in MSE Towers about whether the picture with folded arms means business, or is defensive – overall, while I’m not so keen, the team think it’s a winner. We wanted to try something a bit different going for a very casual picture as the site is being smartened up and losing it’s done in a bedroom style – the aim of this pic is to keep something of the informality.
We’ve even had discussions about whether the colour of my shirt is right and whether it’s ironed enough (we can deal with the first in Photoshop, though this version is un-tweaked).
So I’d love your views. Do you like the overall image of
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Written by Scott Barnes on January 14, 2012.
SALT LAKE CITY – U.S. Senator Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), Ranking Member of the Senate Finance Committee, today issued the following statement after President Obama announced that he would seek congressional authority to reorganize the Executive Branch, including merging six trade and commerce agencies:
“Eliminating wasteful government programs and reducing spending is a laudable goal and one we should all work to achieve. After three years in the White House presiding over the largest expansion of government in generations, the timing of this announcement and the failure to consult Congress raise questions about the President’s commitment to a real reorganization and reduction in the size of the federal government.
“What’s disconcerting is that the President has again chosen not to work with Congress – even after I specifically asked the Obama Administration to fully brief Congress if it chose to reorganize our trade agencies. The White House needs to remember that Congress has responsibilities to the American people that it represents. As the lead R
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Written by Adam Sullivan on January 9, 2012.
It’s hard to find rates in the 3.00% range but there are still a few insititutions keeping their rates above that mark. Navy Federal Credit Union takes the spotlight this week for its 3.00% APY 20-Month IRA CD. The retirement CD has a low minimum deposit requirement of $50. That’s a great rate considering that the best 5-year CD from a bank is 2.78% APY and from a credit union it’s 3.10% APY.
IRA CDs are certificates of deposit that are held within individual retirement accounts. They accrue interest just like regular CDs although because the certificate is held in a retirement account, the interest is tax deferred (Traditional IRA) or tax free (Roth IRA). The limit for contributing to an IRA each year is:
- Traditional IRA – An amount equal to your taxable income up to $5,000 or up to $6,000 if you are 50 or over.
- Roth IRA – Same as the Traditional IRA, with one exception: you cannot contribute if your income exceeds a certain level for your tax filing status.
Once money is in a Traditional or Roth IRA, you can move between different investment options, with an IRA CD being one of them.
The 20-month Navy certificate has a maximum balance limit of $18,000.
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Written by Scott Barnes on January 9, 2012.
Its 2012! Heres another step to a financial check-up. You probably know about AnnualCreditReport.com for free credit reports. But what about your credit score? If you want some relative comparison of your creditworthiness, here is a compilation of five different ways to grab that credit score for free without the hassle of annoying trial offers. I repeat: No free trial membership required, no credit card number required, nothing to cancel.
Remember, everyone has three credit scores, one from each of the three major credit bureaus: Experian, Equifax, TransUnion.
Credit Sesame
Every month, can offer you a credit score based on your Experian credit report. They also offer tips to improve your score and qualify for a mortgage.
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Written by Joseph Perry on January 5, 2012.
An initial public offering (IPO) is when a company offers shares of stock to the public for the first time. A company typically uses the services of underwriting brokerage firms or other companies experienced in picking the best offering price and timing for the offering. Initial public offerings can be a startup company looking for capital to bring products to market or it may be an established private company looking to be registered on a stock exchange and to sell stock to raise capital without borrowing. IPO’s can be excellent investments. However, buying stock in an IPO can also be risky as there is often a series of ups and downs in stock price after issuance of the IPO.
To find out what companies are making initial public offerings or have just made them a simple stop at the hoovers.com web site will provide a list as well as basic financials. When investing in or trading stock in IPO’s fundamental analysis is important but so are a firm grasp of Candlestick basics and Candlestick pattern formations. Add Read more…
Written by Joseph Perry on January 3, 2012.
Business expansion can be achieved through a variety of strategies. On the one hand, there’s organic growth, which refers to the gradual process of building sales and profits with minimal outside financing. On the other hand is a more vigorous, debt-driven strategy that relies on rapid growth and intensive competition. Both paths are suited to specific scenarios, and startups should understand their unique market conditions when d
eveloping their own growth strategies.
Somewhere along the way, however, you’ll need to strike a professional relationship or exchange of service with other organizations. Whether it’s a business development deal, an acquisition or an outsourcing service, it’s important to recognize a bad deal from the get-go. Small business owners should ask themselves: Does this deal align with my company’s goals? How will it impact our bottom line? Is it a necessary endeavor? Here are
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Written by Scott Barnes on January 3, 2012.
These books all tell you the same thing. Oh, they may have a different twist or two; something you’ve never thought about or they may use a new word they’ve made up and copyrighted. But one thing’s for certain, the principles of financial success haven’t changed much in thousands of years.
That doesn’t necessarily bode well for the financial gurus selling those books! But we can’t deny the fact that “there is nothing new under the sun” especially where it concerns personal finance. The main difference in each of these personal finance books is the approach each one takes and the motivations they provide. That is literally the biggest difference in virtually any generic personal finance book you read – the approach and the method of motivation.
- Spend less than you earn
- Learn to earn more
- Pay off high interest debt
- Build an emergency fund
- Max out your retirement savings
- Reduce your taxes legally
- Invest your money sensibly
- Live wisely
This principle is listed in virtually EVERY personal finance book and the reason? It’s the basic fo
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Written by Adam Sullivan on January 2, 2012.
Bancorp South strives to be the leading financial institution in their markets and to be close to the communities in which they serve. For over a century, Bancorp South has displayed excellent leadership and innovate qualities. Now serving an eight state-market area, they are able to reach more customers and be able to provide the right financial solution.
It all started in a hardware store in the then tiny Verona, MS. With the spirit of truly helping people, Bancorp South was able to spread east of Dallas to Saint Louis to west of Atlanta. In 1987, Bancorp South merged with First Mississippi National Bank. At the time, this was the first statewide bank that merged with another financial institution. Since the passing of the Federal Interstate Banking Law in 1992, Bancorp South has been able to expand to Tennessee, then into Alabama in 1998 with the merger of Highland Bank in Birmingham.
Another merger took place with the new millennium and that was with First United Bancshares of El Dorado, AR.
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