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	<title>Latest Accounting Articles &#187; Personal Finance</title>
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	<description>For practical-minded business persons</description>
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		<title>Why You Need a Financial Planner</title>
		<link>http://latestaccountingarticles.com/2012/02/24/why-you-need-a-financial-planner/</link>
		<comments>http://latestaccountingarticles.com/2012/02/24/why-you-need-a-financial-planner/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>anoton1</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Personal Finance]]></category>

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		<description><![CDATA[When evaluating your financial situation, you may feel lost and unsure of what you need to do to gain control. In this scenario, seeking out the help of someone who is qualified to give advice may be beneficial. Sitting down with a financial planner may be exactly what you need when you are unsure of [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>When evaluating your financial situation, you may feel lost and unsure of what you need to do to gain control. In this scenario, seeking out the help of someone who is qualified to give advice may be beneficial. Sitting down with a financial planner may be exactly what you need when you are unsure of what to do in your financial life.</p>
<p>What is a Financial Planner?</p>
<p>A financial planner is an individual who has extensive education in financial matters and can advise you on what to do with your finances. A financial planner will sit down with you and evaluate your situation from top to bottom. For example, a planner may look at your expenses, your income, your retirement planning and your insurance needs. From there, a financial planner can make recommendations to help you with the various aspects of your financial life.</p>
<p>Goal setting is important when it comes to your financial life. Without goals, you really don&#8217;t know where you&#8217;re headed or when you arrive. Most financial planners are very goal oriented and want to come up with some goals that you can work together to reach. For example, you may come up with a goal to have a net worth of $1 million within the next 20 years. The financial planner will look at your situation and help you come up with realistic goals that can be reached within a reasonable period of time.</p>
<p>Another way that a financial planner can help is by assisting you with a budget. If you have a hard time living within your means, a financial planner can look at your expenses and see what you can cut out. The planner may make recommendations about downsizing or reducing costs in specific areas. Then he will come up with a budget that you can stick to in order to reach your financial goals. </p>
<p>Investments</p>
<p>A financial advisor may also be able to assist you with investing. Besides earning money by doing work, another way to earn money is to get your money working for you. Investing makes it possible to accomplish this and a competent financial advisor will be able to tell you how to invest. </p>
<p>Your financial advisor may ask you to take a questionnaire so that he can gauge your level of risk tolerance and what you&#8217;d like to accomplish with your investing. Once the questionnaire has been completed, the financial planner will help you develop a portfolio allocation that works in your favor. The financial advisor may be able to give you specific ideas about what types of mutual funds, stocks or bonds to invest in so that you can reach your goals. </p>
<p>Getting the Help You Need</p>
<p>Regardless of how you use your financial planner, he can provide you with invaluable assistance. Most people are clueless when it comes to managing their money. Hiring a financial advisor can provide you with the knowledge you need to make educated decisions in the financial realm and stop wasting your money. </p>
<p>Before hiring a financial planner, make sure that you find out how he will be paid. Some financial planners charge a flat fee for their services while others charge based on a percentage of your investment portfolio. Once you&#8217;ve found a planner that will work for a fee that you believe is fair, get started planning as soon as possible.</p>
<p>Put your retirement in good hands. IPC Securities 1515 Rebecca Street, Oakville, ON L6L 5G8 (905) 847-7777 (905) 469-0513 (Fax) offers expert <a href="http://www.ablanchard.com/financial-planner-oakville.aspx">financial planner Oakville</a> services to ensure a bright financial future for you and your family.</p>
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		<title>Getting a Will after Divorce</title>
		<link>http://latestaccountingarticles.com/2012/02/22/getting-a-will-after-divorce/</link>
		<comments>http://latestaccountingarticles.com/2012/02/22/getting-a-will-after-divorce/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>jon_miente</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Personal Finance]]></category>

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		<description><![CDATA[Divorce can be an emotionally (and financially) draining experience, but there are lots of important things to sort out once the marriage has drawn to a close. Writing a Will is often overlooked in the aftermath of a divorce, but it can be absolutely crucial. Divorce is likely to impact on an existing Will, and [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Divorce can be an emotionally (and financially) draining experience, but there are lots of important things to sort out once the marriage has drawn to a close. Writing a Will is often overlooked in the aftermath of a divorce, but it can be absolutely crucial. Divorce is likely to impact on an existing Will, and rewriting it can be really important, especially if and when a new serious relationship is underway. </p>
<p>It&#8217;s important to review a Will when any major life event happens. This could include marriage, divorce, separation, the birth of a child, the death of a relative or a significant change in financial circumstances. These events are highly likely to have an impact on your wishes concerning the distribution of your estate in the event of your death. </p>
<p>When you get married, any existing Will that doesn&#8217;t make mention of the wedding is revoked. This is also true when a couple become divorce. The Will becomes void or invalid and must be updated. Amending a Will is not as simple as it may sound. It may not be possible to simply amend the existing version and the whole last Will and testament may have to be created again. Small amendments can be made with a Codicil. A Codicil is a supplement to an existing Will, detailing alterations but leaving the remainder of the Will intact. </p>
<p>Codicils are legally-binding documents just like Wills, and are separate documents which are signed, dated and witnessed in the same way that Wills are. An unlimited number of Codicils can be added to a Will, although they tend only to be used for simple changes. There are two types of Codicil, one which adds additional clauses to the Will, while the other revokes an existing clause and replaces it. Codicils must be signed and dated in front of two witnesses who have no interest in the inheritance.</p>
<p>If a significant number of changes need to be made, then it&#8217;s probably time to make a new one. The new Will begins by revoking all previous Wills and Codicils, which are also destroyed. It might seem like a lot of bother, but if it has been a long time since the last Will was written, the value of the estate in question is likely to have changed significantly so a re-think of the Will is in order.</p>
<p>Getting a divorce or dissolving a marriage can be emotionally testing, but it&#8217;s important to remain clear-headed and ensure that these important financial matters are handled swiftly and succinctly in the aftermath.</p>
<p>Jon Miente writes on a number of subjects including <a href="http://www.divorce-online.co.uk/services/other/will_writing.asp">will writing</a>, <a href="http://adamcairn.hubpages.com/hub/No-Fault-Divorce-Makes">no fault divorce</a>, <a href="http://www.divorce-online.co.uk/services/other/will_writing.asp">wills and divorce</a>.</p>
<p>http://www.divorce-online.co.uk/services/other/will_writing.asp</p>
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		<title>Getting Health Insurance Coverage If You&#8217;re Self-Employed</title>
		<link>http://latestaccountingarticles.com/2012/02/22/getting-health-insurance-coverage-if-youre-selfemployed/</link>
		<comments>http://latestaccountingarticles.com/2012/02/22/getting-health-insurance-coverage-if-youre-selfemployed/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>anoton1</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Personal Finance]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false"></guid>
		<description><![CDATA[For many people, being self-employed is the only way to go when it comes to work. There&#8217;s just something about the freedom of being your own boss and working for yourself that some people find tremendously appealing. Of course, not every aspect of self-employment is a benefit. Since you don&#8217;t work for a company, you&#8217;re [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>For many people, being self-employed is the only way to go when it comes to work. There&#8217;s just something about the freedom of being your own boss and working for yourself that some people find tremendously appealing. Of course, not every aspect of self-employment is a benefit. Since you don&#8217;t work for a company, you&#8217;re on your own when it comes to individual health insurance. Sometimes, a good insurance plan is one of the primary reasons people want to work for specific companies. Having good insurance definitely enhances any job, and lets you rest easy as far as taking care of your family is concerned. When you&#8217;re self-employed, there isn&#8217;t going to be a insurance plan as part of the equation and you&#8217;ll have to find one for yourself. </p>
<p>The first step in getting yourself a good health insurance plan is to find a good insurance company. Some insurance companies will cater to self-employed people a little better than others, so take some time to research more than one. Keep in mind your needs when researching insurance companies, so you can weed out the ones that aren&#8217;t going to serve your interests without wasting too much time. </p>
<p>If it helps, make a list of all of the services you feel are necessary and that pertain to your situation. If you have a few kids, you may want a sound dental plan that includes braces. If you&#8217;re into natural health, you may want a health insurance plan that includes chiropractic care or acupuncture. Knowing your needs is the best way to find insurance companies that will work the best for you. If you have any employees and want them included, you&#8217;ll have to consider that fact as you look, too.</p>
<p>To really find the best individual health insurance if you&#8217;re self-employed, keep looking through insurance companies until you find one that allows you to customize certain elements of your plan to suit your situation. Being able to add or subtract services based on your needs helps you save money and lets you know that the money you are spending goes toward services you&#8217;re actually using. Sometimes insurance companies will even offer discounts and savings if you have a spouse or children being covered under the plan. </p>
<p>With health insurance for a self-employed person, you may be able to write off some of your premium as a tax-deductible business expense. Ask about it when you sit down with the different insurance companies, so you can possibly find even more savings. In some cases, the insurance premiums end up paying for themselves. All of the information you need is out there, and all of the insurance companies will be more than happy to share it with you when you call to ask about their plans. Individual health insurance provides peace of mind that is beneficial whether you work for someone else or for yourself.</p>
<p>Insurance provider offering a customized <a href="http://www.caahealth.ca">health insurance plan</a> suited for your needs and budget. Reduce what you pay for common medical expenses.</p>
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		<title>Qualities of a Good Credit Counseling Service</title>
		<link>http://latestaccountingarticles.com/2012/02/22/qualities-of-a-good-credit-counseling-service/</link>
		<comments>http://latestaccountingarticles.com/2012/02/22/qualities-of-a-good-credit-counseling-service/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>anoton1</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Personal Finance]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false"></guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Credit counseling services are an important part of many people&#8217;s lives in contemporary society, as credit debts are such a big part of everyday living. Before a consumer proposal or debt consolidation, counseling can help point you in the right direct so you can avoid serious credit-related problems. Debt consolidation or a consumer proposal may [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Credit counseling services are an important part of many people&#8217;s lives in contemporary society, as credit debts are such a big part of everyday living. Before a consumer proposal or debt consolidation, counseling can help point you in the right direct so you can avoid serious credit-related problems. Debt consolidation or a consumer proposal may be the right choice in certain situations, but if you can find help with budgeting and debt management before debts get out of hand, all the better. All is not created equal and it makes sense to look around a little before you settle on one specific company. Look for some basic qualities of a good provider before you agree to sign on. </p>
<p>To start, you want a company that offers a great range. Budget and debt management classes or workshops that provide several options are one mark of a good service. Educational materials should also be a part of the package, so you can learn the proper way to deal with your finances in the future and stay away from bankruptcy, debt consolidation or consumer proposals. </p>
<p>A good service will also help you develop a plan to help you avoid having to use that type in the future. Throughout the process, you should feel like the counselor is on your side and working to help you achieve your goals and stay away from trouble. The credit counselors you work with must be licensed or accredited by whatever body governs your area of the world. It&#8217;s important that you trust the company that you decide to use. </p>
<p>Privacy is another big issue. Since the organization will be privy to much of your private financial information, you must feel secure that it will be kept private. Ask if they have a paper shredding program or how they process and deal with the information of their clients. The last thing you&#8217;d want is to go in and end up with someone in possession of your information that shouldn&#8217;t be. </p>
<p>It&#8217;s also good to know that if you&#8217;re past the point of basic credit counseling, that a company will direct you to the appropriate place to file a consumer proposal or seek out some other form of debt consolidation. Sometimes, those solutions are more realistic, depending on your situation. </p>
<p>You may also want to ask if the counselors in that particular agency are paid by commission or by salary. Sometimes, commissioned credit counselors may tend to nudge you toward things you don&#8217;t really need in order to boost their wages. Reputable services won&#8217;t have that problem, but it&#8217;s better to be safe than sorry. The goal is for you to take the advice that&#8217;s offered and use it to keep your financial situation in a good place. You want to know that your credit counseling service has your best interests in mind every step of the way.</p>
<p>Doyle Salewski Inc.&#8217;s team of seasoned <a href="http://www.doylesalewski.ca/personal/en/bankruptcy/">Ottawa bankruptcy</a> professionals helps individuals and families ease their debt load and keep their major assets.</p>
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		<title>What Are the Job Duties of Bankruptcy Trustees?</title>
		<link>http://latestaccountingarticles.com/2012/02/22/what-are-the-job-duties-of-bankruptcy-trustees/</link>
		<comments>http://latestaccountingarticles.com/2012/02/22/what-are-the-job-duties-of-bankruptcy-trustees/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>anoton1</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Personal Finance]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false"></guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Even though most people would be hard-pressed to believe it, there are times when bankruptcy is just your best option if your financial situation is bad. No one willingly gets themselves into serious financial trouble, but sometimes a few poor decisions and situations beyond your control can create a scenario. All of your unsecured debts [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Even though most people would be hard-pressed to believe it, there are times when bankruptcy is just your best option if your financial situation is bad. No one willingly gets themselves into serious financial trouble, but sometimes a few poor decisions and situations beyond your control can create a scenario. All of your unsecured debts are taken care of and you have a chance to start over fresh in the future.</p>
<p>This definitely isn&#8217;t the ideal situation for anyone, but it isn&#8217;t a life sentence either. Other forms of debt settlement like debt consolidation or consumer proposal are sometimes available, but if bankruptcy is the only option, it&#8217;s best to accept it and learn from any mistakes you&#8217;ve made to get to that point. Sometimes, trustees are assigned to work on a case to make it go more smoothly. </p>
<p>Trustees are used to manage assets that are held in trust during proceedings. Bankruptcy trustees may give guidance and advice to the debtor during the process, and make sure both the debtor and creditor&#8217;s rights are observed and respected. The primary job duties have to do with your assets. Trustees will sell any assets you have, such as a house that has no mortgage, and the money that is made will be disbursed among your creditors.They are always involved in the process, but they also have other job duties that don&#8217;t have to do with someone filing for one. </p>
<p>Under different circumstances, you might be provided with debt counseling and help you file a consumer proposal to your creditors so you can avoid bankruptcy. A consumer proposal allows you to pay off a portion of your debts to creditors and still be marked off as paid in full. You can also negotiate settlements on your behalf with your creditors, so arrangements can be made to pay down your debt and get back on even footing. In certain cases where they feel you need legal help, you will be referred to the appropriate legal counsel to obtain the legal advice you need. </p>
<p>Bankruptcy trustees are experts in all things and even though you don&#8217;t want to be in the situation, having one represent you should help you feel at ease. These professionals well versed in all aspects of law and procedure, and since they are regulated by the government you may even pay less than with other debt solution companies. In many cases, the first consultation with a is free of charge, so you can get a feel for what your rights are and what you should do without any real obligation on your part. You may even find out that you don&#8217;t have to file for bankruptcy at all. You didn&#8217;t want to end up where you are, but since you&#8217;re here, utilize the help of experts like to help get you out.</p>
<p>Relieve your stress about your finances with a <a href="http://www.doylesalewski.ca/personal/en/consumerproposal/">consumer proposal Ontario</a> from Doyle Salewski Inc., and learn how you can solve your debt problems.</p>
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