Tuesday, November 13, 2012

Would You Rather Be James Bond Or The Most Interesting Man In The World?

Many of us identify with the larger-than-life image of James Bond played by Sean Connery. He's a man's man, attracts women with ease, and can defend himself when needed (or wipe out armies of adversaries whenever he wishes).
Although I insist that I'm way beyond hero worship, in my secret heart-of-hearts I sometimes dream of having the qualities I imagine are part of the James Bond mystique. Although the image is one of charisma, health, and wealth, the reality for men is often quite different. The James Bond films are based on the fictional character of MI6 agent James Bond (code designation "007") appearing in novels by Ian Fleming, a real life "James Bond," who was a Navel intelligence officer during World War II.
Unlike the fictional character in his novels, Fleming, like many men who went to war, later suffered PTSD. In 1961 Fleming, a heavy smoker and heavy drinker, had a heart attack and three years later, at age 56, had another heart attack and died on his son Caspar's 12th birthday in 1964. Eleven years later, Casper committed suicide with a drug overdose and was buried with his father.
Another image of the modern man is portrayed in Dos Equis beer commercials as "the most interesting man in the world."
"The most interesting man in the world" is a distinguished older gentleman, played by actor, Jonathan Goldsmith, who is shown through film clips of deliberately varying quality to have led an extremely eventful and colorful life, packed with over-the-top heroism and adventure. There are generally two types of ads: one features the man in a bar environment giving advice or opinions about various subjects, and the other features a narrator describing the man's distinguishing, but quirky background. Some examples include:
"If he punched you in the face, you would have to fight off the strong urge to thank him."
"He lives vicariously through himself."
"He once taught a German shepherd to bark in Spanish."
"His personality is so magnetic, he is unable to carry credit cards."
"Bulls flat out refuse to fight him."
"They say he once found the fountain of youth but didn't drink from it, because he wasn't thirsty."
"He can speak French in Russian."
"He's been known to cure narcolepsy, just by walking into a room."
"He once had an awkward moment, just to see how it feels."
"Even his enemies list him as their emergency contact number."
"He is The most interesting man in the world."As one blogger commented, "It takes serious balls to claim you're the most interesting man in the world, but the current Dos Equis spokes-character is trying his darndest."
As one blogger commented, "It takes serious balls to claim you're the most interesting man in the world, but the current Dos Equis spokes-character is trying his darndest." Interestingly, Goldsmith, the real man behind the ad, first established himself as an actor in Western films, appearing in over 25 films in that genre. In the 1976 film The Shootist, Goldsmith played a villain who was shot between the eyes by hero John Wayne, who fired blood capsules from a special pellet gun at pointblank range into Goldsmith's face for seven painful takes.
Rather than trying to emulate the "most interesting man" character, we may do better by following in the footsteps of the real-life person. According to his bio Goldsmith enjoys wine tasting, and he has been quoted saying, "I actually don't drink beer at all. In fact I usually spend my nights reading a book, not partying with women."
If you were picking a role model, who would it be? If you were raising a son, who would you like him to become? If you were going to live happily ever after, who would you want to be with?

Sunday, November 4, 2012

Departmentalization Of Insurance Companies

The company treasurer or controller may be a functional officer rather than an executive officer. The same thing may be true of the legal counsel. Often, functional officers are eventually elevated to the position of executive officers by promotion to a vice-presidency. Thus, although the office of legal counsel may not be recognized by the charter of the company as an executive office, the counsel may be made an executive officer by promotion to the position of "vice-president and legal counsel."

In a small insurance company, just as in any small business, departmentalization may be theoretical; that is, employees may perform functions in several departments. Executives, especially, may have charge of several departments. In the large company, of course, the various territorial departments may be virtually companies within themselves, in that they may be staffed to perform every function necessary to that department without assistance from any other department.

A small company may have a tendency to be more trustworthy and less complicated, but a larger company is less likely to fold, and would probably be cheaper. But all companies are different, so it is up to you to decide which can provide the best life insurance.

There are at least five bases of departmentalization: functional, product, territorial, customer, and executive interest.

Functional departmentalization is based upon functions performed. Thus, there would be a legal department, an investment department, an agency department, an advertising department, a purchasing department, a claims department, an engineering department, and the like.

Product departmentalization determines the scope of a department by the type of product with which it deals. In an insurance company, there may be a life insurance department, an inland and ocean marine department, fire department, liability department, automobile department, accident and health department, and others.

Territorial departmentalization means the departments are determined by the territory over which they exercise jurisdiction. Thus, in a large insurance company, there may be an eastern department, a western department, and others. Most companies which do business outside their own country will have a foreign department. The foreign department may be further broken down, for instance, into a Latin American Department and a European Department.

Customer departmentalization establishes departments by the nature of the class of customers with which it deals. Customer departmentalization is often difficult to distinguish from product departmentalization, the two being sometimes virtually identical. In insurance home office operations, pure customer departmentalization, for example, will be found in a reinsurance department, which deals with sales to other insurance companies; a special risks department, which handles the large self-rated accounts; and a group department, often including salary savings and pension trusts, which sells only to employers and in the mass rather than to individual policy buyers.

An easy distinction would be a department that deals exclusively with life insurance rates without medical, versus a department that deals with life insurance rates that require an exam.

Finally, executive interest must be recognized as a very practical and frequent basis of departmentalization. Departments may be organized along the lines of the interest of any given executive or executives in the business, even though those interests may be somewhat diverse.

The bases of departmentalization vary from company to company. They also vary within any one company. Many of the departments of a company are organized along functional lines, although much use is made in the insurance business of product, customer, and territorial departments.

Thursday, November 1, 2012

Real Estate Realities and Technology

Real Estate Realities
Whenever we say the word real estate the thing that pops into mind is flashing dollar signs. It is considered the shortcut to quick bucks. But ever wondered what really this industry is about and why it is the second largest employer after agriculture in India. It is the most coveted dream- to own their own house- most coveted investment-returns cannot be matched and it gives you steady income (read rent)- what fixed deposit, mutual fund, metal can hope to do this? Most importantly it is because on an average 60 % of a person's income is locked in real estate. We also have the issue of our weaknesses also being our biggest strengths. It is the only segment of an investor's wealth which is yet unregulated and has no entry barrier unlike stock brokerage and insurance. Market penetration is as yet low on an organised level. Translated this means potential and first mover advantage. We see a host of international property consultants and corporate houses entering the market. Though it is attracting a lot of attention these very problems shatter the quick buck dream. No proper information, uneducated and uniformed brokers are the biggest problem. Add to your woes is a highly informed customer who is soon considering to become a DIY-(do it yourself) customer. It is easy to have 200 leads but it is very difficult to match these leads, go through the documentation and close the sale. But it is even more difficult to collect your commission. Having put forth a general view I will still say it is the best time to be in real estate. You have virtually no competition if you decide to be professional, competent and deliver. Remax is the World's largest brokerage network and doing this work in an organized manner. Visit Remax India website for details on how to join organized real Estate network in your city.

Real Estate: A Technology Trauma
Yes you read it right! Technology is the all-pervading presence in our lives including our very own real estate. The nearest our industry has come to technology is: flashing smart-phones and no it's not because you use the smart-phone as a smart-phone. It is but a status symbol. I guess I am being too harsh. For the slightly more tech-savvy listing on a few popular portals and subscribing to a hundred different groups is what they do!
Yes my friend you did use technology-EUREKA! The real question is what did you GAIN out of it? The answer probably left you with what I call Technology Trauma. It affects those who don't understand this mammoth thus don't use it or use it but don't get the gains.

There is a lot to technology but here we will cover a few common ones. We shall have more posts taking in each aspect in detail. The problems:
Property websites: Lack of MLS system makes it difficult to check if the property is genuine. www.remax.in follows the MLS system which most of the other portals did not do.
Google Broker Groups: Number of Broker Groups available without a proper filter system. At Remax India, there is a huge network of Brokers and that too in your city. It covers almost all of the major cities in India.
Popularity on Search engines: Huge number of property websites with few genuine hits on each. Again you have an advantage with www.remax.in which could be easily searched through various search engines like Google and Bing.

Tuesday, October 30, 2012

Misleading Ideas About Instant Approval Credit Cards

A lot of credit card issuers offer instant approval simply by submitting an application online. If you would like to have a credit card or it is your first time to apply, the prospect of being "instantly approved" will surely be appealing. Nevertheless, just before you fill out your online application, read on the rest of this article to avoid being misled by false ideas on credit cards with instant approval.

The Name Can Be Misleading Some consumers have the false idea that credit cards with instant approval does not involve any waiting time at all. But is that really what the term "instant" mean? Can you expect to get your credit card and use it on the same day you submitted your application? The answer is no.

You may ask, what does the term "instant approval" really imply? The truth is that getting approved instantly only suggests that a potential cardholder can get approved more quickly than the traditional method of application.

As soon as the application has been submitted online, the applicant's credit history will be screened though an online system. This is why a response can be expected within the same day or only a few minutes after clicking the submit button.

Nevertheless, getting approved is still subject to the credit card company's conditions and credit rating standards. For instance, some issuers will strictly demand for good or average credit score to get approved.

Once approved however, the actual processing may take from 4 to 7 business days. During this time, the applicant's background will further be reviewed to make sure that he/she is able to meet the issuer's qualifications. Afterwards, the credit card will be sent through postal mail to the customer's billing address.

When the consumer receives the credit card, he/she must call up the credit company and go through the telephone verification process before the account can be activated. Once active, that's the time the cardholder can use his/her card for transactions.

Instant Approval Credit Cards for Bad Credit Yes, the promise of getting an instant approval" can sometimes be deceiving, if you are not aware of the procedures. This is why consumers are strongly advised to take the extra time to do research about the credit card company's guidelines prior to submission.

Another important step is to check the status of your credit history from each of the three credit reporting agencies. In case you have bad credit, try to look for credit cards that offer instant approval for consumers with imperfect credit rating. This way, unnecessary rejection can be avoided since it can inflict more damage to your credit score.

Friday, October 26, 2012

Business Idea With The Bank Bin Database

Even if you are not the owner of a retail store or a virtual online store, you could initiate a successful business using the bank bin database system. With a little determination and with a smart management strategy, you could offer bin database services to potential customers. Let us see a simple business plan for a bin database listing business.

1. Buy the bin database software

While the bank bin database program is both available in the bin database download and online version, buying the program is mandatory for you. Therefore, buy the bin range database program, and use the bin database check feature to familiarize yourself with the features of the program. At the same time, start developing your site offering bin database and bin search services.

2. Attracting the clients

Search the blogs and forums to find online stores and businesses that had problems with bankcard frauds and scams. While this operation is time consuming, it is not that hard. Find the clients that had to request chargeback for their operations, and see what sites are the preferred targets of internet pirates. Make a list of those sites, as they are the potential clients of your bin database program.

3. Presenting the advantages of the bin database search program

Don't rush to make offers to those sites just yet. In order to use the bin database table for offering services to your potential clients, you will have to prove that your service is reliable. This is why you need the quality of Cards Processor Authorized site. Only if you have this quality, your clients would trust to offer you the bank details of their customer for processing. We must tell you that this process is not easy. For example, if you want to offer bin database Amex services, you will have to be certified by American Express. The same certification is needed for bin database MasterCard services. Obtain those certifications, and state this quality of your service in your offer.

4. Customizing your offer

Create a draft with your offer. Do not forget to mention that you offer bin database American express, and bin database validation services, as well as visa card bin database operations. You can also offer bin database free services at start, so the clients would understand the reliability of this service. Entrepreneurs that tried to sell the bin database credit card services in the past were more than happy about the incomes, and even if obtaining the quality of card bin database processor is hard, the clients are more than happy about buying those services.

If you are able to initiate a bin database bank service of this kind, you will be like an affiliate service for the bin database bank identification numbers main site. Therefore, before offering services of this kind, you must be sure that your bin database bin search provider is reliable. Once you have that provider, you could also ask the customer service representatives of that site about initiating your affiliate business, as they usually are more than willing to help you.

Saturday, October 20, 2012

Direct Market Access Cfd Brokers: Do They Hedge Each Trade To The Market?

One of the pressing discussions in the trading market for Contracts for Difference is about the Direct Market Access CFD Broker or the Market Maker Broker. Today we'll take a look at the Direct Market Access CFD model and try to understand whether or not they hedge your trades directly into the market.

What do you mean by Direct Market Access (DMA) broker? How is Direct Market Access (DMA) broker defined?

A DMA CFD broker is a broker that allows you to place your trades directly into the underlying market without intervening in any way with that order. The use of the DMA Model provides transparency in the orders and you can be sure of what's going on as you can see all things in the market. Market Maker CFD broker serves as the alternative where they create the market for each of the many products they offer.

Normally a Market Maker broker 'mirrors' the underlying market and this only means that they will quote you prices that replicate the underlying stock you're trading but may requote you and offer any price they prefer.

Do DMA CFD Brokers really hedge orders into the market?

To explain it, hedging in this situation is that act when you have to put an order for let's say ,000 BHP and the broker gets into the share market to buy at the same amount exactly. Therefore, in this situation your CFD broker bought exactly ,000 BHP the exact same time you did. As a general rule (I haven't know of a DMA broker not doing this), your DMA CFD broker will always hedge 100% of your order directly into the market.

This makes way for your peace of mind knowing that your CFD broker will not be making money while you lose and losing as you win like what a lot of people suggest happens in a Market Maker model. The DMA broker instead only makes money through the brokerage they charge and the overnight finance too. Take note that day traders don't pay for overnight finance given that they close their position each time before trading is done. This differs in brokers but most often it is 5pm New York time.

Tuesday, October 16, 2012

David Montelongo Real Estate Investing Seminar

What a NewbieReal Estate Short Sale Tips

Here are some tips and significant details you need to know about real estate short sales and property flip transactions. When you have to sell something, you never get to sell it for as much as it's really worth. If you don't have to sell it or if you are not in a hurry to sell it, you can usually sell it for a lot more money. If you learn how to play between those two worlds, buying it at the distressed price and selling it at the arm's length value, the spread is where the investor can legitimately make their profit.

Now there are red flags and black flags for improper property flip transactions. The black flag is what kills the deal. The red flag means you need more information. You have to document something. You have to verify something. You have to address something and then that's when you can move on. When you are doing a back to back flip and a short sale, you are going to be paying attention to who is the owner of record. Well the owner of record is the person who is still in foreclosure because you the investor haven't quite bought it yet. You are in the process of being able to buy it and in the process of being able to sell it at the same time.

At least that's the way most short sale investors work, they want to buy it on Monday morning and they want to sell it before lunch on Monday. Or is this what everybody is trying to do? Buy and sell on the same day, make the spreads and go home. Another thing is that if the property seller, that means the investor who is selling the property, for purchase transactions, is not the owner of record means that they currently were not the owner of record. If the property seller for purchase transactions or the borrower for refinance transaction is not the owner of record, the seller must investigate the circumstances of the transaction to ensure that the transaction is legitimate.

When analyzing sales contracts and other documentation it is quite necessary to exercise due diligence. Here's what you can do regarding documenting the legitimacy of the transaction in your mortgage file. Get some pieces of paper including but not limited to the appraiser's analysis and conclusion in their report, a property sales history report. Look carefully for terms indicating that there's been an assignment or the sale of an interest or an option to acquire the property. Find it, document it, and make sure it all makes sense.

David Montelongo who was featured in A&Es hit reality show "Flip This House" is hitting the road to teach aspiring Real Estate investors How to Invest in Today's Market. Now he's coming to show you exactly how he made a fortune! Get more info on David Montelongo Real Estate Investing Seminar at