tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-58361476934713066642012-01-27T19:04:03.147-05:00Pearls of Wisdom on Wealth: How to Generate it, Protect it, and Grow It!Pedro Gonzaleznoreply@blogger.comBlogger1571100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5836147693471306664.post-15401896986297343302012-01-18T18:56:00.000-05:002012-01-18T18:56:12.008-05:00

"It is not enough to ask why you are so busy. The question is, what are you so busy about?" - Henry David Thoreau In today's society everyone seems to be "busy". Right now you may be busy and hoping this article isn't too long to read because you have too many things to do today. People today do not have time for even the basic needs to form a strong family, the core of a strong society.

Pedro Gonzaleznoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5836147693471306664.post-8505230862416663032012-01-16T21:01:00.000-05:002012-01-16T21:04:20.715-05:00

Mental health is as important as physical health. Still, millions of Americans suffer with various types of mental illness and mental health problems, such as social anxiety, obsessive compulsive disorder, addiction to drugs and alcohol, and personality disorders. Mental illness and psychological disorders have good treatment options with medications, psychotherapy, or other treatments. Mental

Pedro Gonzaleznoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5836147693471306664.post-45218769786352811772012-01-15T21:12:00.000-05:002012-01-15T21:12:27.343-05:00

Life insurance is not an investment, the purpose of life insurance is to protect your loved ones in case of your premature death. The reason I am writing this short blog today is due the constant question which one is better Whole Life or Term Life? The best answer I can give is it depends. I do I have a problem with "gurus" who give their "infallible truth" about term insurance being the only

Pedro Gonzaleznoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5836147693471306664.post-58401994492530229892012-01-11T16:57:00.001-05:002012-01-11T16:59:47.949-05:00

p { margin-bottom: 0.08in; } A recent AllState-National poll found that Baby Boomers are pushing back their initial retirement plans from an average of 60 years to 66 years. In addition, the results of the poll showed that 68% of the Baby Boomers expect to work in some form after retirement. The concept of retirement age is no longer what used to be 10 years ago. According to a survey

Pedro Gonzaleznoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5836147693471306664.post-72116074974963956152012-01-07T13:05:00.001-05:002012-01-07T13:06:11.471-05:00

Before you talk to an insurance agent it behooves you to do a little research about the insurance buying process. The purchase of insurance should be taken seriously and you should never rush in the decision process. Regardless of the insurance you are purchasing, whether it’s life or car insurance, it’s a huge decision that demands a little research and your undivided attention. Also, if you

Pedro Gonzaleznoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5836147693471306664.post-18948023243476955972012-01-01T20:10:00.003-05:002012-01-02T15:49:09.753-05:00

Seniors many times live solitary and isolated lives, which makes them ripe targets for scammers and fraudsters to gain their confidence by becoming their new constant "friend" which can lead to any combination financial abuse. As our baby boomers in our families are reaching the age of retirement, they will be become the focus of attack of these opportunistic fraudsters. The common thread in

Pedro Gonzaleznoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5836147693471306664.post-58145553799181253542011-12-29T20:07:00.000-05:002011-12-29T20:07:52.786-05:00

As we approach the end of the year and I prepare my plans for 2012, I am reflecting about what worked, areas I need improvement and lessons learned. One of the areas that I want to share with you based on the countless meetings, conversations with family, friends and business partners is the management of time. Specially this time of the year, where we should be filled with Joy; many seem

Pedro Gonzaleznoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5836147693471306664.post-5285352698612700972011-12-26T17:44:00.003-05:002011-12-26T17:44:44.303-05:00

Estate planning is an area that most people avoid talking about. They pretend that if I ignore it, it will take care of itself. It is understandable the aversion to talk about your estate since it has to do with the planning of our end. There is not easy way to talk about this topic, it is painful and it is a reality. Regardless of how difficult this subject may be to you, you must address it if

Pedro Gonzaleznoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5836147693471306664.post-60811399627153376722011-12-23T19:06:00.000-05:002011-12-23T19:06:14.442-05:00

The population may be aging, but that hasn’t gotten a lot of Americans to plan for retirement. According to a survey released by ING Retirement Research Institute, 71% of Americans lack a formal investment plan to help them reach their retirement goals. The study, conducted by the ING Retirement Research Institute, showed that nearly half (48%) of respondents aged 25 to 69 who are employed

Pedro Gonzaleznoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5836147693471306664.post-46041362405024611432011-12-19T20:03:00.000-05:002011-12-19T20:03:12.883-05:00

As we approach the end of 2011, we must reflect about the accomplishments during the year and the areas that we could have done better. One area that I would like to encourage all of you that read my blog is to take the time to build a solid financial future. Just like when a builder constructs a house on a solid foundation to withstand the elements, you need to have a solid financial

Pedro Gonzaleznoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5836147693471306664.post-63160167311931479632011-12-17T18:43:00.000-05:002011-12-17T18:43:44.094-05:00

The rat race is on and families are the big losers. In a society that is running at unhealthy speed, our families, which are our most precious blessing, are being left behind. There is a thief in the house. Like the rest of America, the Christian family is facing great challenges. How do we live in a environment that is constantly seeking immediate gratification, idolatry of money, and unhealthy

Pedro Gonzaleznoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5836147693471306664.post-49401868993907000952011-12-11T19:17:00.001-05:002011-12-11T19:30:18.094-05:00

The charitable IRA rollover legislation allows you to transfer lifetime gifts up to $100,000 using funds from your individual retirement account (IRA) without undesirable tax effects. This opportunity is only available through Dec. 31, 2011.IRA funds are heavily taxed whenever you draw them out, at rates as high as 35%. What’s more, the tax burden never goes away – even your heirs will pay income

Pedro Gonzaleznoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5836147693471306664.post-16562062684026181672011-12-05T16:39:00.001-05:002011-12-05T17:11:09.195-05:00

Retirement planning is probably the number one reason why people do personal financial planning. Most people like to daydream about the things they hope to do someday when retire. Making those dreams come true is an important part of the retirement planning. There is a lot information available on this topic, sometimes I think too much. However, it is important to remember that your

Pedro Gonzaleznoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5836147693471306664.post-89956581418942275322011-11-16T17:51:00.001-05:002011-11-16T18:33:43.932-05:00

Today I continue sharing my toughts about business cash flow management. As I mentioned on my previous posting, the information being shared here can also be applied to your family cash management. One of my main complaints with bookkeepers, accountants and other professionals in the accounting and financial profession is their obsession with net income when advising their small business

Pedro Gonzaleznoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5836147693471306664.post-37500067897328758362011-11-14T18:49:00.001-05:002011-11-25T09:33:09.000-05:00

Yesterday during a conversation with a friend, one of the topics that came up is the amount of jobs the United States has lost to off-shoring. Which brought up the obvious question, why? and what can we do differently.? My friend being in the corporate sales training arena, highlighted that the main reason is the lack of productivity. So this conversation has made me think, what are the

Pedro Gonzaleznoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5836147693471306664.post-78450238557778708702011-11-10T16:56:00.001-05:002011-11-10T18:10:36.302-05:00

Today I will address a subject geared to the survival of every business. One of the areas that every business must constantly maintain a tight grip on, after income taxes, is cash flow. Even though the article was written with business owners in mind, many of the tips and warnings here apply to the business of running a family. Cash flow is the lifeblood of any business; If you don’t have it,

Pedro Gonzaleznoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5836147693471306664.post-7876368187987525152011-11-09T18:08:00.000-05:002011-11-16T18:26:20.437-05:00

We are now in the last quarter of 2011. Now is the time to make all of the necessary adjustments to achieve your tax and financial results. One of the areas that should be considered in your tax plan is the use of tax credits to lower your tax bill. What are tax credits? Tax credits are not deductible from income; they directly reduce tax. As a result, they are a great way to reduce taxes on a

Pedro Gonzaleznoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5836147693471306664.post-88427192378571752112011-10-25T18:53:00.003-04:002011-10-25T18:54:00.180-04:00

This is a question that I would like us to think about today. Not to torment ourselves about the current situation, but to learn from it. One of the problems I see constantly in the financial news is the incessant desire to know when are we going to end this recession. The media worried about what should we called this period; "The Great Recession", "The Big Bust"; who cares. The right question

Pedro Gonzaleznoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5836147693471306664.post-75884507286462564882011-10-20T17:33:00.000-04:002011-10-20T17:33:35.562-04:00

Being motivated to set goals has to be one of the most difficult aspects of our lives. Many times we start all exited about setting goals and after a couple of days the steam wears off; we have lost the motivation. Many times we loose interest because we feel like every time we attempt it turns into a failure. However, many times we have a predisposed attitude towards being organized, planning

Pedro Gonzaleznoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5836147693471306664.post-89034445376732971642011-10-19T17:37:00.001-04:002011-10-19T17:37:13.370-04:00

Life is filled of choices. You may choose to have a pessimist's view and live a self-defeated life or you may choose to take the optimist's route and have a challenging and fulfilling life. In contrast, optimists expect the greatest. They tend to think defeat is just a fleeting delay, that its causes are confined to this one case. Optimists tend to center on and plan for the 'difficulty' at

Pedro Gonzaleznoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5836147693471306664.post-20720215299561165822011-10-19T08:54:00.000-04:002011-10-19T08:57:26.852-04:00

Open enrollment period started on October 15, 2011, which provides seniors and disabled to enroll and make the necessary changes to their Medicare Advantage plans available from the private insurers. However, with every open enrollment period comes the batch of leeches who want to take advantage of the senior community. Fraudulent operators pray on a vulnerabel population that is generally more

Pedro Gonzaleznoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5836147693471306664.post-69669211759578297722011-10-14T12:15:00.002-04:002011-10-14T12:16:16.603-04:00

The open enrollment period for Medicare starts tomorrow (October 15). The open enrollment period goes from October 15 to December 7, 2011. Medicare is available to all those age 65 and over and younger people with disabilities as well as those with kidney failure requiring dialysis or a transplant. Many people under 65 do not know that they may qualify. With more benefits, better choices and

Pedro Gonzaleznoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5836147693471306664.post-69908536415824990442011-10-11T16:47:00.000-04:002011-10-11T16:47:02.787-04:00

p { margin-bottom: 0.08in; }a:link { } The IRS is advising employers to be aware of a bogus e-mail scam involving payments allegedly rejected by the Electronic Federal Tax Payment System (EFTPS). The e-mail contains a link that, if clicked on, may result in the download of malicious software. The software is often designed to provide the scammer with personal and financial

Pedro Gonzaleznoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5836147693471306664.post-23643935344494397902011-10-08T20:51:00.000-04:002011-10-14T13:38:54.087-04:00

 "Faith and initiative rightly combined remove mountainous barriers and achieve the unheard and miraculous. An enthusiastic attitude is nothing more than faith in action." Henry Chester "Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life" Proverbs 4:23 This week I

Pedro Gonzaleznoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5836147693471306664.post-89969147426588332932011-10-04T17:03:00.000-04:002011-10-04T19:51:01.629-04:00

p { margin-bottom: 0.08in; } Debt Slavery is nothing new. Many historical books, including the bible, will talk about debt slavery or debt bondage. Debt slavery is defined as a situation when a person provides a loan to another and uses his or her labor or services to repay the debt. The problem with debt slavery is when the value of the work, as reasonably assessed, is not applied towards

Pedro Gonzaleznoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5836147693471306664.post-14214158705347763182011-09-28T10:58:00.001-04:002011-09-28T10:58:21.785-04:00

Wealth is more than the amount of money we accumulate. Wealth is living an abundant life; a complete life. Living a life were we are a blessing to others. Today I decided to share with you a couple tips on how to make our lives happier, healthier and wealthier. You probably know that laughter, hope and optimism make a life more enjoyable. Even though we know this we see people around us that are

Pedro Gonzaleznoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5836147693471306664.post-74736137534914857392011-09-26T18:12:00.001-04:002011-09-26T18:15:33.486-04:00

"The wise has valuables and oil at home, but a fool soon runs through both."Proverbs 21:20 Last week we talked about fraud. Today lets talk about money. I will get to basics and for many of you, it will be too basic. However, it is important for the benefit of all of our readers. To begin, I would like to clear the air and get rid of the myth that money is not important and it is bad or evil.

Pedro Gonzaleznoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5836147693471306664.post-18017638223318453182011-09-21T22:26:00.000-04:002011-09-22T11:56:02.149-04:00

Today let's talk about fraud and how we can protect ourselves from it. Money is hard to come by; it takes hard work and diligent stewardship. We must be astute and alert of potential frauds that can be committed against our families. Fraud is devastating to a family's self-esteem and wealth. The best insurance against fraud is education; being intelligent stewards and investors. Education and

Pedro Gonzaleznoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5836147693471306664.post-68408982741297692702011-09-15T09:33:00.000-04:002011-09-15T09:40:28.668-04:00

Naturally, most if not all of us want and crave for something better. It is all part of us, if we want a bigger car, a better house, buying good things for the family. We keep hoping for more but, in order to get what you don't have, you have got to do something you have never done before. What makes a person wealthy is not real estate, mutual funds, and businesses. Not even money makes you

Pedro Gonzaleznoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5836147693471306664.post-46559197504799259502011-09-14T18:57:00.002-04:002011-09-14T18:58:00.454-04:00

p { margin-bottom: 0.08in; } The decision of how to handle your retirement is entirely yours. You can either develop a plan of action or leave the burden in the hands your children. One thing that is for sure is that every day that goes by we are all getting closer to our retirement; we are all aging. On January 1, 2011 the first baby boomers turned 65 and they will start they next phase in

Pedro Gonzaleznoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5836147693471306664.post-8355913457556418832011-09-07T14:00:00.001-04:002011-09-07T14:01:04.506-04:00

Beware of Hurricane Irene Scams The FBI and other state and federal agencies have issued warnings about con artists seeking to profit from the tragedies caused by hurricane Irene. Beware of bogus charities and contractors, phony links and emails which try to trick you into giving personal information and/or contain viruses. For more information visit the FBI guidance on charity scams.

Pedro Gonzaleznoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5836147693471306664.post-53006496400622918032011-09-06T17:22:00.000-04:002011-09-06T17:23:38.893-04:00

I have decided to promote small businesses in my blog. It is my way to help entrepreneurs who have a creative service or product that can be offered to the readers of our blog. Our readership continues to grow daily and it will provide the chosen business exposure to the visitors of our blog free of charge. The only requirements are: * it must be a legal product or service * it must help (

Pedro Gonzaleznoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5836147693471306664.post-19322464441529802742011-08-31T16:49:00.003-04:002011-08-31T18:04:24.659-04:00

Recently I was asked this question, Why is financial planning important?. I am of the opinion that financial planning is critical to achieve your financial success. However, with the increase of distress of many families in the United States many are going by without a financial plan and many even question the importance of having one. It is understandable that if you are currently in financial

Pedro Gonzaleznoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5836147693471306664.post-90105263749407006122011-08-29T09:08:00.002-04:002011-08-29T09:37:13.056-04:00

What would happen if you were to die five years from now? Would you be ready for such an event? Most people are not ready to face such an end, but we can at least have our financial situation protected for our family and for our loved ones.You can't tell if your estate plan works until after the fact. There are so many variables in life that makes estate planning complicated. Where I see

Pedro Gonzaleznoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5836147693471306664.post-41898384743041050472011-08-26T08:00:00.004-04:002011-08-26T08:53:48.243-04:00

Retirement planning is an important aspect of our lives. As good stewards and responsible members of a family we must include retirement within our overall family financial planning. If you are married, you naturally should do this planning together with your spouse. One of the areas that needs to be address in any financial planning is the behavior of the family members towards money. This most

Pedro Gonzaleznoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5836147693471306664.post-10975015514664959452011-08-25T17:08:00.007-04:002011-08-26T08:45:50.479-04:00

Today let's talk about a subject that seems to be touchy to some people specially those that are "investing in gold". Gold is not an investment. Now before you close the window and start sending hate mail, I suggest that you read the rest of the post. The basis of my statement is founded on the definition of an investment. An "investment” is defined as the commitment of money or capital to

Pedro Gonzaleznoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5836147693471306664.post-85138127007879588822011-08-25T07:56:00.002-04:002011-08-25T08:19:45.677-04:00

Today I want to share with you a poem that I enjoy reading, specially when I feel down. Many times we need to be reminded that through difficult times what gets us through those challenges is within us. How do we handle those challenges? What is our state of mind?Right now we are all going through one of the most difficult times in recent history. What should we do about it? Blame the president?

Pedro Gonzaleznoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5836147693471306664.post-43398472751236089802011-08-24T18:24:00.007-04:002011-08-24T18:34:55.655-04:00

In order to be successful in your life you must have sound roots. Also, you must discover any unhealthy and dysfunctional "roots". Consider this as excavating a bad root of a tree. It frequently takes a lot of time and sweat, and you might have to go through some "filth" to get there. There are likewise times when this occurs really quickly and impromptu - effortlessly, almost-due to a fresh view

Pedro Gonzaleznoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5836147693471306664.post-69440136026000046562011-08-18T16:51:00.004-04:002011-08-22T09:07:26.263-04:00

"Time management is not a peripheral activity or skill. It is the core skill upon which everything else in life depends." - Brian Tracy Struggling with time management? You don’t have to. Do you often do you find yourself running out of time? For many people, it seems that there is just never sufficient time in the day to get everything done and therefore time usually seems "running away"

Pedro Gonzaleznoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5836147693471306664.post-47343713431090238852011-08-18T12:25:00.003-04:002011-08-18T12:33:23.243-04:00

Based on a recently released study by Transamerica Center for Retirement, more than 21 million of Americans rely on their social security for their retirement. With all of the recent conversations in Washington about the health of the Social Security Administration, it is imperative that workers fully understand their benefits and what impact any changes the government makes would have on their

Pedro Gonzaleznoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5836147693471306664.post-2890167477718638442011-08-15T17:42:00.001-04:002011-08-15T17:45:05.686-04:00

The Treasury Department proposed regulations August 12th for a Premium Tax Credit for buying health insurance. This tax credit would give millions of middle-class Americans tax benefits intended to assist them with the acquisition of health insurance as part of the Affordable Insurance Exchanges that states will set up around the country. According to the Congressional Budget Office, when the

Pedro Gonzaleznoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5836147693471306664.post-84671241325737614652011-08-12T11:04:00.003-04:002011-08-12T11:11:18.703-04:00

Controlling your financial affairs requires a budget or cash flow statement. Budgeting and tracking your expenses gives you a strong sense of where your money goes and can help you reach your financial goals, whether they are saving for a down payment on a house, starting a college or university fund for your children, buying a new car, paying off the credit cards or planning for retirement. A

Pedro Gonzaleznoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5836147693471306664.post-7559506901903538172011-08-11T19:03:00.001-04:002011-08-11T19:04:55.676-04:00

One of the worst nightmares for an investor is to outlive his/her retirement savings. However, there is a solution to this concern through the purchase of a longevity insurance product. A "Longevity Insurance" provides guaranteed income typically starting after you turn 85, in exchange for an initial investment made some 20 years earlier. Payouts are fixed and cover you and your spouse for as

Pedro Gonzaleznoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5836147693471306664.post-69230501008642344682011-08-10T17:40:00.002-04:002011-08-10T18:04:31.505-04:00

Here is something that many people do not think about; including poorly trained financial advisors. With federal tax exemption at $5 million, many are not be thinking about their estate planning at the moment. Big mistake! How many of you have looked at your beneficiary designations in the last 3 years for your: * bank accounts, * brokerage firm accounts, * retirement accounts, * company

Pedro Gonzaleznoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5836147693471306664.post-46520347775572782402011-08-10T16:50:00.001-04:002011-08-12T11:23:48.908-04:00

Most people avoid the subject of estate planning due to their fear to death. However, Christians avoid the subject due to taboos/misunderstandings that still exists about the subject on money and accumulation of wealth in the Christian community. However, as followers of Jesus Christ, we need a different view and understanding about estate planning with a Christian base. As Christians we must

Pedro Gonzaleznoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5836147693471306664.post-70529299067861334482011-08-09T22:41:00.001-04:002011-08-09T22:43:41.995-04:00

Today I want to address those of us that have chosen the advisory profession as well as those who seek professional advise. The current environment has created the perfect scenario for scammers to attack a fragile niche; the retirement market. With 10,000 baby boomers turning 65 every day it is an attractive niche for them to target. According to a recent study by Metlife, elder fraud is a

Pedro Gonzaleznoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5836147693471306664.post-68794750725813900672011-08-04T19:15:00.001-04:002011-08-04T19:16:56.922-04:00

Many of us take for granted the good health we are currently enjoying, that is truly a blessing. Thank you to advancements made in the medical industry we are living longer. However, as we age our health continues to deteriorate. It is a fact of nature. Therefore, as we continue to age we all should plan for our senior years and the proper care during those years so we continue to enjoy life.

Pedro Gonzaleznoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5836147693471306664.post-88546272568154165862011-08-01T20:20:00.002-04:002011-08-01T20:28:55.054-04:00

When I talk to business owners and families, one to the most interesting experiences for me is when I ask them "How do you define wealth?". What comes to your mind? The answer to this simple question varies from “Wealth is an illusion", "Wealth is the root of all evil", "Wealth is hard to achieve" to "Wealth is fun and achievable". The answer is conditioned on our beliefs and experiences.One that

Pedro Gonzaleznoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5836147693471306664.post-79468066050303760422011-07-31T19:03:00.002-04:002011-07-31T19:11:02.569-04:00

The Internal Revenue Service just made it easier for some individuals to free themselves of liability for a spouse's tax debt. Last week, the IRS eliminated a rule that disqualified taxpayers from the "innocent spouse" relief program if more than two years had passed since the agency first sent collection notices to their spouses. But there are some caveats. Read MoreFor more information on the

Pedro Gonzaleznoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5836147693471306664.post-59922696352605991342011-07-31T14:00:00.002-04:002011-07-31T14:04:56.943-04:00

Procrastination is something that most people do. There are things to do, important things and mundane things, and for some reason it is put off until the last minute. Is it the adrenaline from delivering at the last minute?. What amazes me is the people that make jokes about it and feel proud of their procrastination, the ones that pride themselves of being a world class procrastinator, telling

Pedro Gonzaleznoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5836147693471306664.post-71981838531407569772011-07-26T21:04:00.002-04:002011-07-26T21:09:22.439-04:00

Let me start by clarifying that a living will is not the same as a will. They have different purposes and they become effective at different times. A will is effective after your death, but a living will applies while you are alive. A health care power of attorney gives medical decision power under specific situations. Let me save you some time and tell you that as part of your estate planning

Pedro Gonzaleznoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5836147693471306664.post-20517517870712923322011-07-21T10:48:00.002-04:002011-07-21T10:59:37.654-04:00

Due to the challenging times we are facing today, many small business owners are looking for productivity tips that can help them get more done. Today I decided to address an aspect that gets overlooked; Productivity Killers. Many times we waste time looking for the "new tool" that is going to "all of the sudden" make us more productive. However, we do not look closer to our own actions to

Pedro Gonzaleznoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5836147693471306664.post-49521380285416772662011-07-12T21:40:00.003-04:002011-07-12T22:16:36.168-04:00

Warren Buffett thinks that our government is playing a dangerous game of Russian roulette. While the country continues to struggle during our recent financial difficulties, our politicians in Washington continue stuck on their differences related to taxes and spending cuts creating a political impasse between Republicans and Democrats over what used to be a no-brainer: raising the statutory

Pedro Gonzaleznoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5836147693471306664.post-5423805415390409802011-07-08T20:20:00.003-04:002011-07-08T20:47:32.851-04:00

Today I am going to share with you something from one of my favorite books; the timeless classic book "Think & Grow Rich" by Napoleon Hill. It's an amazing reading; if you haven't read it, I highly recommend that you do when you get achance. One the subjects that is covered in this book is leadership.Leadership is what sets you apart from the crowd. I believe that from this hard times we are

Pedro Gonzaleznoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5836147693471306664.post-27869839286037106162011-07-07T19:22:00.001-04:002011-07-07T19:22:46.092-04:00

Today I want to share with you a couple of reasons why setting goals is important in the process of getting things done. I think all time management experts would agree with me that goals are a very important component of effective time management. Here I share six ways goals help you be more productive:1. Goals help you establish priorities & decide what's trulyimportant - You can better choose

Pedro Gonzaleznoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5836147693471306664.post-85147081538493834872011-07-07T10:31:00.003-04:002011-07-07T10:43:22.287-04:00

Today's article is contributed by my good friend Mary Angolano Burrell. Starting with the month of July we will select a business and provide them additional exposure through our blog and newsletter. This is done for you free of charge, just for being a loyal reader and participant of our blog, FB group, and liking our FB page.It is important to remember that in our pursuit to build wealth we do

Pedro Gonzaleznoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5836147693471306664.post-24716510342718193282011-07-04T17:47:00.005-04:002011-07-04T18:48:24.712-04:00

Starting a home business does not have to be tedious. In fact, there are many advantages in starting a home based business; tax deductions and sense of self-accomplishment to name a few. Having a home-based business will provide you the advantage of enjoying the fun of working in a home atmosphere and convenient schedule.The move from a fully-equipped offices with office support to a home-based

Pedro Gonzaleznoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5836147693471306664.post-53161140849548480742011-07-04T10:25:00.002-04:002011-07-04T10:29:40.248-04:00

p { margin-bottom: 0.08in; }a:link { color: rgb(0, 0, 255); }You may go for credit card consolidation when you’re facing problems to manage your multiple bills and paying them off. To consolidate your credit card bills/debts, you can enroll in a consolidation program or take out a loan for the purpose. You can also opt for balance transfer method wherein you transfer your high interest debts into

Pedro Gonzaleznoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5836147693471306664.post-37195437716015152472011-06-28T11:08:00.003-04:002011-06-28T12:25:52.548-04:00

Our government is currently in a debate about what to do with our debt ceiling and how to address of our national debt. I have a solution for our beloved politicians, just raise the debt ceiling and do not waste more time and taxpayers money on this topic. We are dammed if we do and dammed if we don't. The reality is that we are in financial trouble. The good news is that we as a country has

Pedro Gonzaleznoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5836147693471306664.post-73612235056448522532011-06-26T21:35:00.003-04:002011-06-27T21:22:25.689-04:00

"The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? Though an army encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war rise up against me, yet I will be confident." (Psalm 27: 1, 3)Why have we become so worrisome? Is it our distance from our Creator? I can see it in the eyes of people as they walk

Pedro Gonzaleznoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5836147693471306664.post-77515407693900571322011-06-21T19:52:00.003-04:002011-06-21T20:43:07.985-04:00

They go by different names; White doves, blue doves, red doves, you name the doves ... "vintage gold-backed bearer bonds" issued by the Mexican government. What has caused the sensation on the trade in historical debt instruments seems to come from rumors that the "allegedly authentic" certificates are more than mere collectibles because they "supposedly can somehow still be used as securities

Pedro Gonzaleznoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5836147693471306664.post-22351639781399521962011-06-19T08:51:00.003-04:002011-06-19T09:08:06.416-04:00

In the process of writing my new book on how to improve our credit scores, I came across of alarming facts that many times is overlooked; teenagers in financial crisis. Not many would think of this since they are just teenagers and just starting their lives. Many of them are in high school or college some do not have a job other than a summer job. So how can they be in financial trouble?However,

Pedro Gonzaleznoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5836147693471306664.post-31878962959863317182011-06-18T16:34:00.000-04:002011-06-18T16:36:17.611-04:00

Last week Kitco Metals, Inc a reputable precious metal dealer from Canada was raided by authorities in Quebec. More than 175 Revenue Quebec Agents (equivalent to the US IRS) conducted raids related to Kitco on homes, offices, accountancy firms and bankruptcy trustees in the Montreal area, and a court-appointed receiver is now controlling the company. Canada has a respectable image internationally

Pedro Gonzaleznoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5836147693471306664.post-72809310853263950442011-06-13T10:01:00.003-04:002011-06-13T10:33:22.440-04:00

Many years taxpayers miss potential tax deductions that could save them hundreds of dollars in overpaid taxes. Today I want to bring to you attention one tax deduction that many self-employed entrepreneurs missed this year; the special provision for health insurance deduction of 2010. The Small Business Jobs and Credit Act of 2010, provided a one-year tax provision where self-employed (sole

Pedro Gonzaleznoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5836147693471306664.post-75569747985674917742011-06-11T15:22:00.002-04:002011-06-11T15:27:22.379-04:00

I am currently working on a new ebook on credit repair. A person's credit score is an integral part of his/her financial life and ignorance about how credit scores work can be devastating. Our credit scores are constantly being used to make an evaluation on us; for example, banks, credit unions, utility firms, landlords, insurers and even employers. What surprised me the most in the research of

Pedro Gonzaleznoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5836147693471306664.post-35540471706012428032011-06-09T21:17:00.000-04:002011-06-09T21:18:53.680-04:00

"Within you right now is the power to do things you never dreamed possible. This power becomes available to you just as you can change your beliefs." - Maxwell MaltzYour set of beliefs about life is the most important step in your process of being truly wealthy and living an abundant life. How and what you think have everything to do with your life right now. Your values, what we think is right

Pedro Gonzaleznoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5836147693471306664.post-11524636609468631072011-06-01T19:25:00.002-04:002011-06-01T19:36:00.433-04:00

It is amazing that today we still have people falling victims of business and other Internet scams. Just in March of 2011 a con artist man who ran a defunct get-rich scheme agreed to settle a court order by paying the Federal Trade Commission $900,000 and surrendering the proceeds from the sale of his house and most of his personal property. Mr. John Stefanchik was found guilty of

Pedro Gonzaleznoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5836147693471306664.post-76764930660650378422011-05-30T17:10:00.007-04:002011-05-31T00:54:00.549-04:00

Our daily lives are filled with challenges. So oftentimes we forget the simplest teachings from the Bible. One the scriptures that has made a tremendous impact in my life is when the disciple Peter walks on the water by faith, until he took his eyes off Jesus, looking at the storm's tempest instead. With the many challenges we encounter in our lives, the media telling us daily how bad things are,

Pedro Gonzaleznoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5836147693471306664.post-48179873648820060242011-05-27T23:56:00.001-04:002011-05-27T23:57:48.110-04:00

The government officially has reached the $14.29 TRILLION debt limit last week. However, the US Treasury has taken steps to keep the country afloat until August. Since a federal law prohibits the federal deficit from exceeding $14.29 trillion, the federal government is now operating on IOUs while the 112th Congress continues to debate whether to raise the debt ceiling. As occurred in both 1996

Pedro Gonzaleznoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5836147693471306664.post-38777048134820177732011-05-26T17:03:00.000-04:002011-05-26T17:04:19.627-04:00

In 2010, one of the tax law changes affecting business owners is the Small Business Jobs Act of 2010, which provides $12 billion of tax incentives – including bonus depreciation, enhanced expensing, and other relief for small businesses. Eight Small Business Tax Cuts – Effective Today, Providing Immediate Incentives to Invest: 1. Zero Taxes on Capital Gains from Key Small Business Investments:

Pedro Gonzaleznoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5836147693471306664.post-74418947594040796542011-05-24T11:58:00.001-04:002011-05-24T12:01:53.584-04:00

As we prepare to celebrate Memorial Day and soon July 4th, I started to think about desire in the United States of the pursuit of wealth. When I talk to people about this subject, they tell me that it is in the declaration of independence. So I decided to check and this is what I found:"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all Men are created equal, that they are endowed by their creator

Pedro Gonzaleznoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5836147693471306664.post-1866216471425505622011-05-20T18:44:00.001-04:002011-05-20T18:45:42.905-04:00

The People's Republic of China (PRC), commonly known as China, is the most populous state in the world with over 1.3 billion people and with approximately 9.6 million square kilometers (3.7 million square miles), the PRC is the world's third- or fourth-largest country by total area, depending on the definition of what is included in that total,and the second largest by land area. Also, China is

Pedro Gonzaleznoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5836147693471306664.post-27407595101797082602011-05-19T17:43:00.002-04:002011-05-19T18:10:48.557-04:00

In the last couple of days, I was reading a book about improving personal effectiveness and it shares a sad story which I share with you here:Once upon a time there was an attorney at a Capitol Hill cocktail reception. This man has spent his entire life working to build one of the biggest law firms in the country - over 300 attorneys in the Boston, New York and Washington, DC. You would think

Pedro Gonzaleznoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5836147693471306664.post-91891762276048615722011-05-18T16:03:00.001-04:002011-05-19T16:33:45.062-04:00

Tax time has already passed and many people do what they do every year and they forget about it until next year around March when they start stressing about it. I have decided to share with you throughout the year, tax tips that will help you accomplish something that all of us want; pay less taxes. After 20 years in the industry as a CPA and business advisor I want to share with you how you can

Pedro Gonzaleznoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5836147693471306664.post-8567611479406290782011-03-30T17:57:00.000-04:002011-03-30T17:57:20.461-04:00

I would like to share with you about wealth and the misconception most of us have about it. Many times I encounter people who truly do not appreciate what they have. Instead they focus on what they do not have. We live in the richest country of this earth and all we can focus is in feeling sorry and blaming others about something that happened several years ago. That is the wrong attitude towards

Pedro Gonzaleznoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5836147693471306664.post-50909546396057809732011-03-25T22:17:00.001-04:002011-03-25T22:18:31.880-04:00

The Financial Fraud Enforcement Task Force announced the conclusion of Operation Broken Trust, the largest investment fraud sweep ever conducted in the U.S. The 211 cases in the operation involved more than 120,000 victims who lost more than $8 billion. Operation Broken Trust focused on scams directly targeting individual investors, rather than long-term complex corporate fraud matters. In many

Pedro Gonzaleznoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5836147693471306664.post-76327523396165385452011-03-23T18:08:00.001-04:002011-03-23T18:09:24.391-04:00

We grew up in a world in which the news about the failure of Social Security is almost as constant as the news about the failure HMOs. We all know that it is unlikely that many people who are currently contributing to social security will ever see the money we've invested into the program. Therefore, we must look for alternatives and stop our reliance on the government for a comfortable

Pedro Gonzaleznoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5836147693471306664.post-61485715710508886402011-03-22T19:44:00.000-04:002011-03-22T19:44:36.579-04:00

Today I would like to talk to you about a document that many times is overlooked in our financial planning process; living will. A living will is an important document that directs the close members of a family about the steps to take if the person become terminally ill or incapacitated at a later point in life. A living will is a legal document that a person uses to make known his or her wishes

Pedro Gonzaleznoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5836147693471306664.post-77389524894678644522011-03-17T11:28:00.000-04:002011-03-17T11:28:59.140-04:00

You just want to get a loan and suddenly you are bombarded with all this questions about your credit score. And you don't really know what to answer since you don't even know what a credit score is. A credit score is your credit grade, representing how much of a good creditor you are. This score is dependent upon your credit history and credit report information, which is gotten from credit

Pedro Gonzaleznoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5836147693471306664.post-74079674094497828652011-03-16T18:44:00.000-04:002011-03-16T18:44:11.451-04:00

Establishing your business is not easy. It is a dream of millions of people around the globe. Many never start their businesses. The main reason for the failure to launch the business can be summarized to two factors; 1) Lack of capital, and 2) Fear of losing their own money. However, with careful planning, thought and effort, it is possible to raise some capital that can help to get the

Pedro Gonzaleznoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5836147693471306664.post-15087856071195320752011-03-14T17:41:00.000-04:002011-03-14T17:41:13.307-04:00

Here are some of the changes that will affect you as you prepare your 2010 tax returns: 1) Taxpayers, nationwide, will have until Monday, April 18, 2011, to file their 2010 returns and pay any taxes due. Taxpayers get the extra time because Emancipation Day, a holiday in the District of Columbia, is observed this year on Friday, April 15. By law, D.C. holidays impact tax deadlines in the same

Pedro Gonzaleznoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5836147693471306664.post-64566577643268356572011-03-09T13:09:00.001-05:002011-03-09T13:09:47.492-05:00

Filing for bankruptcy could save your home http://ow.ly/4b2K1

Pedro Gonzaleznoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5836147693471306664.post-23683854195745115932011-03-08T14:53:00.000-05:002011-03-08T14:53:13.285-05:00

Millions of Americans have experienced decline in their credit scores to the lowest levels possible. FICO has reported that almost 26% of American consumers have a credit score less than 600. When a consumer reaches a those low levels, he/she is considered a very high risk for lenders, which makes it almost impossible for these consumers to obtain a mortgage, auto loans, or credit cards. This

Pedro Gonzaleznoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5836147693471306664.post-15810257784161272562011-03-07T16:31:00.001-05:002011-03-07T16:31:04.391-05:00

7 Tax Tips for Your 2010 Return http://ow.ly/49CTn

Pedro Gonzaleznoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5836147693471306664.post-84730428469408627172011-03-02T09:14:00.000-05:002011-03-02T09:14:26.084-05:00

There are many different and amazing, as well as quite simple little things that anyone of you could do to try and change your current debt condition and flip it to something more positive, which will in turn make your life much more productive. Just wait and see, as soon as you start sticking to the program and finding different things that you can do to help your situation, you will begin

Pedro Gonzaleznoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5836147693471306664.post-17156793704121154892011-02-25T11:15:00.001-05:002011-02-25T11:15:55.577-05:00

U.S. Pushes Mortgage Deal; Obama Proposal Seeks Multibillion-Dollar Settlement of Loan-Servicing Cases http://ow.ly/43quQ

Pedro Gonzaleznoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5836147693471306664.post-8969333694480733212011-02-12T10:59:00.001-05:002011-02-12T10:59:24.337-05:00

Obama wants big changes in mortgages http://ow.ly/3Vdpl

Pedro Gonzaleznoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5836147693471306664.post-45679175095084273802011-01-29T08:14:00.001-05:002011-01-29T08:14:08.993-05:00

Tax changes to watch for on your 2010 return Many familiar provisions remain, but tricky differences lurk http://ow.ly/3MtgD

Pedro Gonzaleznoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5836147693471306664.post-83054570984986269072011-01-10T08:20:00.001-05:002011-01-10T08:20:31.212-05:00

7 mortgage trends to expect in 2011 http://ow.ly/3B4gX

Pedro Gonzaleznoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5836147693471306664.post-9107837639573957832010-11-07T20:47:00.001-05:002010-11-07T20:47:16.811-05:00

Mortgage modifications may lead to foreclosure http://ow.ly/35RNe

Pedro Gonzaleznoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5836147693471306664.post-28458155505179850812010-10-24T19:26:00.001-04:002010-10-24T19:26:34.062-04:00

MetLife says its foreclosure affidavits are accurate http://ow.ly/2YAZ6

Pedro Gonzaleznoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5836147693471306664.post-12450910515210920102010-10-16T23:47:00.000-04:002010-10-16T23:48:42.168-04:00

Promissory notes are promoted as safe, lucrative investments. However. many times investors are left with failed promises. Remember that when an investment sounds too good to be true, it usually is.Promissory notes are short-term debt instruments (similar to a loan or an IOU) frequently sold by little-known or nonexistent companies which are used by a company to raise money. Typically, an

Pedro Gonzaleznoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5836147693471306664.post-4178008988437472512010-09-18T09:39:00.001-04:002010-09-18T09:39:58.124-04:00

Open houses excuses to snoop and mooch http://ow.ly/2Gefn

Pedro Gonzaleznoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5836147693471306664.post-74650051562852384812010-08-28T00:11:00.001-04:002010-08-28T00:11:40.722-04:00

Credit card debt at lowest level in eight years http://ow.ly/2w3BT

Pedro Gonzaleznoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5836147693471306664.post-49451083981161114212010-08-28T00:06:00.001-04:002010-08-28T00:06:50.504-04:00

33,000-penny property tax payment refused http://ow.ly/2w3zj

Pedro Gonzaleznoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5836147693471306664.post-2016973876636997982010-08-26T16:53:00.001-04:002010-08-26T16:53:50.078-04:00

6 steps to improve your credit score http://ow.ly/2vpey

Pedro Gonzaleznoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5836147693471306664.post-77502739361600203082010-08-23T22:58:00.001-04:002010-08-23T22:58:53.509-04:00

Mortgage rates still dropping, hit another low; 30-year benchmark hits 4.42 percent with 15-year at 3.90 percent http://ow.ly/2tL1C

Pedro Gonzaleznoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5836147693471306664.post-3607355500010520432010-07-24T11:02:00.001-04:002010-07-24T11:02:58.062-04:00

Many don't qualify for Obama's foreclosure prevention http://ow.ly/2g2xn

Pedro Gonzaleznoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5836147693471306664.post-20422618739380635602010-07-15T18:35:00.001-04:002010-07-15T18:35:09.110-04:00

Goldman to pay $550M to settle fraud charges; SEC had alleged firm mislead buyers of mortgage-related investments http://ow.ly/2ca07

Pedro Gonzaleznoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5836147693471306664.post-73149978606775847442010-06-20T10:03:00.001-04:002010-06-20T10:03:06.407-04:00

Cost of seizing Fannie and Freddie surging http://ow.ly/20QqG

Pedro Gonzaleznoreply@blogger.com0