Retire Early. Retire Wealthy. Really.

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Retire Early. Retire Wealthy.

Somewhere in our US History, a standard retirement age was deemed appropriate. Most likely tied to Social Security eligibility, retirement became an expected part of our careers, with an official initiation date.

But why wait until you are 65? There is nothing miraculous about that number. In fact, if we are honest with ourselves, the truth is that most of us desire to retire much earlier and dream of traveling the world, surfing off of exotic beaches, and experiencing the finer things in life that we have put off. After all, we are talking about our Golden Years right?

That all sounds great, but how does one turn that desire into a reality? If the vision of retiring early and doing the things you always wanted resonated a chord with you, then you probably have what it takes to accomplish your goals. First and foremost is desire. Desire is what gets us out of bed, out the door, and directs our day to day decisions – and ultimately, our lives. If you have the desire, there is nothing you cannot accomplish if you put your mind to it and plan accordingly. Your best days are ahead.

Conventional Is Not For Everyone.

The common misconception that a lot of retirement planners will tackle your early retirement plans in the same way. They will enter your financial information into specific formulas and tell you how it will not work with your current income, etc. Many website retirement calculators will offer to ‘improve’ your plan. What this really means is reducing your dreams into what will work under the conventional methods of retirement planning that have been adopted as normal methods. Pushing the date of your retirement out further, or drastically lowering your retirement income to accomplish the stated goals. That is like going to a car dealership and telling the associate that you are in the market for a sporty convertible. He replies and  says the closest thing he can recommend is a Chevrolet Astro Minivan. Not even close!

Some believe that a million dollars in the bank (or retirement) will accomplish their goals. The hard truth is that unless you have accumulated this sum of money in your late twenties or early thirties, one million may not be enough to retire early. Conventionally, your investment will need time to grow.

So if your goals cannot be accomplished conventionally, what is the unconventional method? The simple approach is being open to new ideas. There is a quote, “If you focus on results, you will never change. If you focus on change, you will get results.” In a for-profit business, the only thing that matters is profitability. In that regard, nothing has changed over the years. What has changed over the years is the way in which companies obtain and retain profit. Business is always changing  – retirement planning must also follow suit.

New Methodology. An Unconventional Approach.

If your current retirement portfolio averages 10% per year (based on US Stock Market Average Annual Returns of 8-11%), and your portfolio demands that you do not retire on more than 4-7% per year, will a 3% rate of return sustain your portfolio and hedge against dips and valleys in the economy? What about inflation of 2-3%? As you can see, the buffer quickly becomes a negative return.

Alternatively, as Warren Buffett often touts, securing an investment vehicle is the only model which provides stable cash flow, adjustments for inflation, and concurrently allows one to entertain additional investments without reducing or hindering their principle investment vehicle – despite the risk classification. In other words, taking an active approach to investing rather than a passive approach. Trying to follow stock and market performance – hoping to catch all the news while trying to time the roller coaster – is exactly what the iconic investors do NOT do. They lead the way, and secure businesses in which others invest into while they are safe and secure paid by the companies operating cash flow, while expansion is being funded by all of those who have bought into the conventional method of retirement.

Is this duplicable? You better believe it. It is called a Collaborative Investment Vehicle Strategy (CIVS), and it allows the same strength and benefits as it does to the aforementioned iconic leaders. As the innovator of the CIVS industry, Empower maintains as the leader in developing businesses for investors who want hands off, cash flow vehicles allowing for early retirement. We place you in proven, highly profitable businesses, securing your desired cash flow range, while fulfilling all of the necessary management oversight needed. How is this secure? Simple. Both Empower and the Retiree have vested interests in the profitability and success of every company. Not only is this structure sound, it is the best way to guarantee maximum and long term profitability. It is also a transferable asset that can be passed onto future generations, helping you create the legacy that you desire.

First Step, Identify Your Goals.

The best way to accomplish something is to clearly define it. Take a 30,000 foot view of your current situation, goals, and desires and make it a priority to define exactly what you want to accomplish and by when you want to achieve it. Next, realize that there are hundreds of ways to accomplish something. Conventional methods are not always the best. If they were, then everyone would be as successful as Warren Buffett and Bill Gates or everyone would retire exactly the way they had planned. Ask yourself, “How many people do I know have been able to do what they wanted to when they retired, or retired when they really wanted to?.” If you are honest with yourself, you may be surprised at this reality.

Then again, if your goal is to work until you are 65 and spend your Golden Years in a downsized house, completing cross word puzzles and watching the same Television programs day in and day out, then continue with your current plan. However, if you want to know more and can be open minded, then for you the sky is the limit and your best days are ahead.

US Business Movement Beats Forecast. Signs of Economic Improvement.

Manufacturing

According to the Institute for Supply Management (Chicago Inc.) its business barometer increased to 50, which has been the highest level since last September, and a reading of 43.4 in July. (The dividing line between contraction and expansion is ‘50′.) Economists that had been surveyed by Bloomberg News had forecast that  the index would rise to 48, according to the median of 53 projections. Estimates ranged from 46 to 52.5 and are expected to be the first sign of expansion measured since January 2008.

Robert Stein,  speaking of the auto makers increased production starting noticeably in the last month said, “…a manufacturing-led recovery… much of this (increase) is probably related to the revival in auto production over the past month or so.”  Stein is a senior economist at First Trust Advisors in Lisle, Illinois. Economists watch the Chicago index for an early reading on the outlook for overall U.S. manufacturing, which makes up about 12 percent of the economy. Factories at General Motors Co. and Chrysler Group LLC are resuming production after exiting bankruptcy proceedings. Also, plants have boosted output to meet demand from the government’s “cash-for-clunkers” trade-in program, which ended Aug. 24.

Durable Goods

Another sign of the improving economy: a big surge in durable goods orders in July. “There’s no question that the nearly 5% jump adds another bright spot to the unfolding picture of an economy easing out of recession. Though it will be a couple of months before third quarter gross domestic product is calculated, marking an end to the recession, it seems likely that this month will be the turning point.” said Jerome Idaszack of The Kiplinger Letter.

Real Estate and Home Sales

Sales of existing homes and now new homes have turned upward including single-family, townhomes, condominiums and co-ops. “The increased 3.6 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate¹ of 4.89 million units in June from a downwardly revised pace of 4.72 million in May, but are 0.2 percent lower than the 4.90 million-unit level in June 2008.” Said Lawrence Yun, NAR chief economist, is hopeful about the gain. “The increase in existing-home sales occurred in all major regions of the country,” he said. “We expect a gradual uptrend in sales to continue due to tax credit incentives and historically high affordability conditions. Despite the rise in closed transactions, many Realtors® are reporting lost sales as a result of new appraisal standards that went into effect May 1 of this year.”

Summary? We are still in for a roller coaster of 2009 and 2010, but we are gradually improving. Our best days are indeed ahead!

Your best days are ahead,

The Empower Team,

877.45.EMPOWER

Do you need:

Mortgage Services?
Repair my credit?
Get rid of debt?
Reinvest IRA or 401k funds tax-free?
Find high-yield investments?

Does your business need:

Lines of credit?
Venture or angel capital?
Expansion/transition guidance?
Investment management?
Marketing/Branding Initiatives?

Click on the above links and ‘Request More Information’ to learn more about how you and Empower can work together to effectively implement your vision. Success is a choice. It is up to you.

Economy Emerging From Recession.

Once again, America is coming out of a very difficult recession. Undoubtedly, we still have a ways to go, but as always, Americans are confident and determined to get there. Putting things in perspective, Federal Reserve Chairman Ben S. Bernanke said the global economy is beginning to rise above the recession after “aggressive” action by central banks and governments.“Economic activity appears to be leveling out, both in the United States and abroad, and the prospects for a return to growth in the near term appear good,” Bernanke said today in a speech at the Kansas City Fed’s annual symposium in Jackson Hole, Wyoming.

When Bernanke was speaking to an audience of central bankers and academics, he warned that the world still confronts “critical” challenges. This warning underscored the Fed’s decision last week to leave interest rates near zero for an “extended period” and to delay the scheduled end to its $300 billion program to buy U.S. Treasuries by about a month.

“Strains persist in many financial markets across the globe, financial institutions face additional significant losses and many businesses and households continue to experience considerable difficulty gaining access to credit,” Bernanke said. Recovery “is likely to be relatively slow at first, with unemployment declining only gradually from high levels.”

While most economists predict the U.S. will return to growth this year, they say the jobless rate is likely to rise beyond 10 percent, restraining consumer spending and casting a cloud over the strength of the recovery. However, that is to be expected as the dust of the financial marketplace settles and balances itself out.

Dips and Valleys Part Of Recovery

The U.S. economy “is still weak and it’s not at all clear that the upturn that we’ve seen recently is the beginning of a sustainable rise,” Harvard University economist Martin Feldstein said in a Bloomberg Television interview in Jackson Hole. “There’s a serious danger that come the end of this year and the beginning of next year we will see it slipping back down again.”

Economists feel the forecast the U.S. economy will expand at a 2.2 percent annual rate in the third quarter, according to a median estimate in an August survey conducted by Bloomberg News. The International Monetary Fund last month predicted the world economy will grow 2.5 percent in 2010 after contracting 1.4 percent this year.

“The worst of the credit crisis probably ended in March and the recession probably ended in the current quarter,” economist David Jones, president of DMJ Advisors LLC in Denver, said today in an interview on Bloomberg Radio.

United States

A 7.2 percent jump in existing U.S. home sales last month, reported today by the National Association of Realtors, added to evidence the housing crisis is easing. Purchases climbed to a 5.24 million annual rate, the most since August 2007. U.S. stocks gained for a fourth day, with the Standard and Poor’s 500 Index rising 1.6 percent at 12:14 p.m. in New York. Benchmark 10-year notes yielded 3.54 percent, up 11 basis points from yesterday. European Central Bank President Jean-Claude Trichet and Bank of Japan Governor Masaaki Shirakawa are scheduled tomorrow to address the conference. The topic of the central bank’s mountainside conference this year is financial stability and macroeconomic policy.

Germany, Japan

Signs are emerging that growth is resuming in other countries, with Japan, Germany and France all expanding in the second quarter. The Paris-based Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development said Aug. 19 that the economy of its 30 members was flat in the second quarter after contracting 2.1 percent in the previous three months.

Forecast

The IMF may raise its forecast for the global economic rebound, John Lipsky, the fund’s first deputy managing director, said in an interview yesterday in Jackson Hole. A “strong and unprecedented international policy response” averted “the imminent collapse of the global financial system,” Bernanke said. The Fed has “consistently maintained” that the failure of a large, interconnected financial institution would have dire consequences for markets and the economy. “We have therefore spared no effort, within our legal authorities and in appropriate cooperation with other agencies, to avert such a failure,” he said. “The case of the investment bank Lehman Brothers proved exceptionally difficult, however.” The Fed chairman reiterated that Lehman had inadequate collateral to merit a Fed loan “of sufficient size to meet its funding needs.” The government also lacked the authority to inject capital and sustain the firm, he said. Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. filed for bankruptcy in September.

Concentrated Actions Avoided Much Worse

“Although concerted policy actions avoided much worse outcomes, the financial shocks of September and October nevertheless severely damaged the global economy — starkly illustrating the potential effects of financial stress on real economic activity,” Bernanke said. At last week’s meeting, Fed policy makers extended their program to buy long-term U.S. Treasuries through October, aiming to ensure a “smooth transition in markets.” They also affirmed a pledge to keep interest rates near a record low even as they determined the economy is “leveling out.” Since the collapse of Lehman, the Fed has bought as much as $350 billion of short-term debt issued by companies including General Electric Co. and expanded currency swaps with other central banks to aid financial firms outside the U.S.

Increased Debt Purchases

Bernanke has also led policy makers in a reduction of the benchmark interest rate almost to zero and in the purchase of as much as $1.75 trillion of Treasuries and housing debt. ”As severe as the economic impact has been, however, the outcome could have been decidedly worse,” Bernanke said. “Unlike in the 1930s, when policy was largely passive and political divisions made international economic and financial cooperation difficult, during the past year monetary, fiscal and financial policies around the world have been aggressive and complementary.” Policy makers must now rewrite regulations to reflect lessons from the crisis, and that will prevent “a recurrence of the events of the past two years,” he said.

Bernanke 2nd Term Nomination Well Deserved

President Barack Obama has yet to indicate whether he will nominate Bernanke for a second term as Fed chief after his current term ends Jan. 31. Feldstein endorsed Bernanke for a second term. “He certainly deserves it. He has done a remarkably creative job of dealing with these problems,” Feldstein said. Investors and traders see reappointment as increasingly likely. Yesterday, futures contracts on the Web site Intrade showed a 79 percent chance Bernanke will be tapped for a second term.

Your best days are ahead,

The Empower Team

www.empoweryourbest.com

Do you need:

Mortgage Services?
Repair my credit?
Get rid of debt?
Reinvest IRA or 401k funds tax-free?
Find high-yield investments?

Does your business need:

Lines of credit?
Venture or angel capital?
Expansion/transition guidance?
Investment management?
Marketing/Branding Initiatives?

Click on the above links and ‘Request More Information’ to learn more about how you and Empower can work together to effectively implement your vision. Success is a choice. It is up to you.

U.S. Mortgage and Refinance Applications Rise as Rates Plunge.

Julie Haviv from Reuters wrote today, “NEW YORK (Reuters) – U.S. mortgage applications rose last week, largely reflecting a jump in demand for home refinancing loans as interest rates slid to a five-week low, data from an industry group showed on Wednesday.

Applications for loans to buy a home, an early indicator of sales, rose for a third consecutive week. The trend bodes well for the hard-hit U.S. housing market, which has been showing nascent signs of stabilization.

The Mortgage Bankers Association said its seasonally adjusted index of mortgage applications, which includes both purchase and refinance loans, for the week ended August 14 increased 5.6 percent to 527.0.

Brad Geisen, president and CEO of real estate website Foreclosure.com, said the level of interest rates on mortgages plays less of a role in home buying than it does in refinancing activity.

“Probably the biggest driving factor for home purchasing right now is price,” he said. “During the housing boom, a lot of first-time home buyers were squeezed out of the market, but now property values have come down enough where they can afford it.”

Low mortgage rates, high affordability and the government’s $8,000 tax credit for first-time home buyers — part of the stimulus bill — have helped pave the way for stabilization, he added.

“People now realize they can buy the home of their dreams at an affordable price,” he said.

Borrowing costs on 30-year fixed-rate mortgages, excluding fees, averaged 5.15 percent, down 0.23 percentage point from the previous week.

It was the lowest since the week ended July 10, but above the all-time low of 4.61 percent set in the week ended March 27. The survey has been conducted weekly since 1990. Interest rates, however, were well below year-ago levels of 6.47 percent. The MBA’s seasonally adjusted purchase index rose 3.9 percent to 277.7. The four-week moving average of mortgage applications, which smooths the volatile weekly figures, dipped 0.1 percent.

The U.S. housing market had suffered the worst downturn since the Great Depression and its impact had rippled through the recession-hit economy as well as the rest of the world. But the housing market has been showing signs of stabilization in recent months, with sales rising and home price declines moderating in many regions of the country. In fact, home prices in some regions have risen.

The Mortgage Bankers seasonally adjusted index of refinancing applications increased 6.9 percent to 1,982.5, and the refinance share of applications increased to 53.3 percent from 52.3 percent the previous week, but remained significantly lower than the peak of 85.3 percent in the week ended January 9.

The adjustable-rate mortgage share of activity increased to 6.5 percent in the latest week, up from 5.8 percent the previous week.

Fixed 15-year mortgage rates averaged 4.52 percent, down from 4.71 percent the previous week. Rates on one-year ARMs decreased to 6.66 percent from 6.71 percent.”

Your best days are ahead,

The Empower Team
www.empoweryourbest.com

Do you need:

Mortgage Services?
Repair my credit?
Get rid of debt?
Reinvest IRA or 401k funds tax-free?
Find high-yield investments?

Does your business need:

Lines of credit?
Venture or angel capital?
Expansion/transition guidance?
Investment management?
Marketing/Branding Initiatives?

Click on the above links and ‘Request More Information’ to learn more about how you and Empower can work together to effectively implement your vision. Success is a choice. It is up to you.

2009 First Time Home Buyer Tax Credit Fact Sheet

2009 First-Time Home Buyer

Tax Credit Fact Sheet

Who is Eligible

•The $8,000 tax credit is available for first-time home buyers only.

• The law defines “first-time home buyer” as a buyer who has not owned a principal residence during the three-year period prior to the purchase.

• All U.S. citizens who file taxes are eligible to participate in the program.

Payback Provisions

• The tax credit is a true credit. It does not have to be repaid.

• The only repayment requirement is if the home owner sold the home within three years after the purchase.

Income Limits

• Home buyers who file as single or head-of-household taxpayers can claim the full $8,000 credit if their modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) is less than $75,000.

• For married couples filing a joint return, the income limit doubles to $150,000.

• Single or head-of-household taxpayers who earn between $75,000 and $95,000 are eligible to receive a partial first-time home buyer tax credit.

• Married couples who earn between $150,000 and $170,000 are eligible to receive a partial first-time home buyer tax credit.

• The credit is not available for single taxpayers whose MAGI is greater than $95,000 and married couples with a MAGI that exceeds $170,000.

Effective Dates for the Tax Credit

• First-time home buyers would receive an $8,000 tax credit for the purchase of any home on or after January 1, 2009 and before December 1, 2009. To qualify, you must actually close on the sale of the home during this period.

Tax Credit is Refundable

• A refundable credit means that if you pay less than $8,000 in federal income taxes, then the government will write you a check for the difference.

• For example, if you owe $5,000 in federal income taxes, you would pay nothing to the IRS and receive a $3,000 payment from the government.

• If you are due to receive a $1,000 tax refund from the government, your refund would grow to $9,000 ($1,000 plus $8,000 from the home buyer tax credit).

• Buyers can take the tax credit on their 2008 or 2009 income tax return.

Types of Homes that Qualify for the Tax Credit

• All homes, whether single-family, townhomes or condominium apartments will qualify, provided that the home will be used as a principal residence and the buyer has not owned a principal residence in the prior three years. This also includes newly-constructed homes.

For more details on the tax credit, contact an Empower Representative.

Business Lines of Credit- Quick, Convenient, Manageable

It has been said that nothing quite matches the convenience of business credit cards. When you are looking for a good alternative to cash, checks, and personal credit cards, it is probably a business credit card you want. With credit-when-you-need-it convenience, savings and discounts on purchases, and extremely helpful reporting facilities, business credit cards can be a good tool in your financial management tool kit.

You will find it easier to get a business credit card than to open a business line of credit. For this reason, business credit cards can do a lot to help you ease your cash requirements even as you are still gearing up with office supplies and equipment. It can never be repeated too often: use business credit cards with caution and afford it the same respect you would afford any other business line of credit!
The ability to borrow money, whether from a business line of credit or from business credit cards, is something that you need for your business. Like business credit cards, the line of credit is a revolving credit, and both charge interest only on the balances that are left outstanding. The credit limit on business credit cards may be lower than on lines of credit, but both do have a predetermined ceiling. There are however a few differences between these two forms of business credit:

Cost
Business credit cards generally have higher annual percentage rates and lower credit limits, than lines of credit. When it comes to cost-effectiveness therefore, the commercial lines of credit will beat business credit cards anytime.
However, if you manage business credit cards wisely, you can maximize the 21 to 25 days grace period or float on purchases. When the statement comes and you pay off the entire balance, you will actually avoid paying any interest. The crux of the matter is that you get a 25-day interest free loan! Not bad?and only from business credit cards.

Convenience
Business credit cards may lose on cost, but they are miles ahead when it comes to convenience. If your checking account is running low and you need to buy some supplies, you no longer have to call the bank to transfer funds from your credit line. You could easily charge the whole transaction to your business credit card, get out of the store and back to running your business. Business credit cards also offer you the convenience of easy bookkeeping and quick cost analysis.
What?s more, business credit cards are heavily loaded with perks like frequent flyer miles, purchase protection and warranty extensions, discounts and cash backs on hotel stays, car rentals, gas purchases, and more. These business credit card incentives can be valuable to a business, not only for the sake of convenience but also for the cost savings that you get.
Business credit cards and lines of credit are two financial tools that you can use together. Business credit cards are perfect for very short-term borrowings ? we?re talking 30 days at the most. You should pay off the bulk of the balance when it falls due, to save on interest. You may want to carry 20% of the balance forward to the next month to make your business credit card issuer happy, otherwise they?re never going to earn any interest income from your business credit card account.
Lines of credit are perfect for larger purchases, particularly those that would exceed your business credit card limit, as well as for reserve funds when cash flow becomes irregular over a period. Lines of credit help you to shore up your working capital, such as payroll, paying off merchant credit and payables, or settling the quarterly taxes.
If you need help with the capital outlay of your business, let Empower help. From PreVenture Programs (before Venture Capital) to expansion capital for your business, there is a perfectly tailored program for your business.

Your best days are ahead,

Blake Robbins
877.45.EMPOWER

www.empoweryourbest.com

Does your Business need:

Venture Capital?
Angel Capital?
Funding?
Growth Consulting?
Business Lines of Credit?
A great High Yield Investment?

Click on the above links and ‘Request More Information.’ Learn more about how you and Empower can work together to effectively implement your vision. Success is a choice. It is up to you.

Venture Capital Is Up, How To Get Their Attention.

There is an increase in VC Venture Capital. Are you ready?

Venture Capital Investment Firms are starting to creep out of their caves again at the tune of a 61% increase over first quarter performance this year. According to ChubbyBrain Research, VC’s have invested nearly $5.33B – which does not even include all sectors of VC/Angel/Private Investments.

For Entrepreneurs, this is wonderful news. The highly motivated (and very wise) Entrepreneurs have made the most of these times and have chosen to prepare for ‘The open door to their Opportunity’. Those who have listened to legitimate counsel and have adopted the beginning with the end in mind motto, have seen the greatest results. For these individuals, things are paying off as they are now watching progress unfold within their Vision and Business Plan.

What about those who have just missed the timing – who aren’t prepared? Is it too late for them? What were the ‘wise’ Entrepreneurs doing over the last few months? Well, we all know that it is never too late for anything. It may be more challenging, but never too late. What is most important however, is knowing  what exactly they (those who are obtaining the funding right now) have been doing over the last few months. Let’s take a look.

Planning:

It has been said, “The Company with the Clearest Vision will Succeed. Period.” If this is true, then your Vision must be your first priority. Once that has been created and inked on paper, you can always look to it to make sure every decision is in alignment. The Business Plan will naturally fall into place and make more sense if the Vision is clearly defined. The Entrepreneurs obtaining funding know their business inside and out.

Funding:

Unless your business is a biotech spin off that is already producing a solid consistent profit, it is hard pressed –at best- to receive VC Funding. Few if any Angel and Venture Firms will touch an idea alone. Most Angel and Venture Firms will require you to have invested $100K (minimum) yourself and/or in conjunction with friends, family or Business Lines of Credit. Realistically many Angel and Venture Firms want to see more than a mere $100k invested. They want to see a working model that is lucrative coupled with a flexible management team.

Ask yourself this- are you ready for your venture to take off? I mean, really ready? There is a lot more to being successful than boats, cars, money and big houses. How about managing your investments, your budget, and your business? Focus on defining your Business Vision, creating your Business Plan, and obtaining the first rounds of financing for your Venture. This can be as easy as Empower’s PreVenture Program. The Program is tailored at the first $100k that Angel and Venture Firms are looking for to get to the next level. The primary reason the Empower PreVenture Program was created was to bridge the start up gap (well known in the Venture Capital industry) to boost Entrepreneurs Nationwide, and to help spotlight the companies who are willing to do whatever it takes to succeed.

After you have started the ball rolling, take time to prepare for the success you are planning to attain. Create a budget for the lifestyle you will have. Are you going to blow it all, or be responsible? Give some of it away, invest some of it, but also, live your dream. What may be holding you back is defining what you want. Take a hard look at how you will manage what you have been given.

Your best days are ahead,

Blake Robbins
brobbins@empoweryourbest.com

877.45.EMPOWER

www.empoweryourbest.com

Does your Business need:

Venture Capital?
Angel Capital?
Funding?
Growth Consulting?
Business Lines of Credit?
A great High Yield Investment?

Click on the above links and ‘Request More Information.’ Learn more about how you and Empower can work together to effectively implement your vision. Success is a choice. It is up to you.

Should there be a Credit Reset?

I had a discussion with a colleague about this economy. Naturally, we are usually optimistic about everything and try to see the value of unique situations. Somehow we ventured down the road to the topic of credit.

“Everybody’s credit has suffered this year.” Seemed to be the general theme of our conversation. “Everyone needs a fresh start once and a while.”  We have both known people personally that have been financially responsible for years with credit ratings ranging in the high 700’s and even low 800’s. These people were – and are – financially literate and responsible but have gone through very difficult changes as of late. Unfortunately, the credit bureaus  aren’t interested in financial literacy or tough circumstances, only payment schedules and account balances. Some would argue that there are credit repair services, but these services can take time.

So what would a Credit Reset really do for people? Would they benefit? Could it create more problems, or alleviate existing problems? How could (or would it) benefit the entire economy? These are the questions that rattled around in our brains.

Throughout history, ‘financial resets’ have happened over and over again. We are all experiencing one now. The banking industry is going through a complete overhaul, and a natural cleansing of the market place is happening. This is not a bad thing. It is a very necessary chain of events that will always happen. History does repeat itself.

The main question may be this: If there is in fact a Credit Reset, will it improve borrowers performance on the notes taken? I believe the answer is yes. With a little no. But more yes. Some people have lost their jobs, some have managed their money poorly. Some have been taken advantage of by difficult to understand lending programs that over promise and under deliver with exorbitant amounts of hidden fees and hidden agendas. However, the majority of people may have placed themselves into those positions by their own greed, or poor decisions – or both. The banks cannot be blamed for everything. Sometimes we all have to look in the mirror.

Would a Credit Reset soften the blow of personal liability and responsibility and create undisciplined American adults when it comes to financial management? The banks got a bailout, did they learn their lesson? Was the bailout entirely for the banks, or was it for the security of all the Americans that entrust those institutions to manage and care for their investments? The banks are required to show positive ‘stress tests’, to show strategy and strength. Are these current difficult times consumers personal ‘stress tests’?  How much more can the average American take?

Conclusion? Uhh… … …”Yes” – I mean “No” I mean-!?

Your best days are ahead,

Blake Robbins
brobbins@empoweryourbest.com
877.45.EMPOWER
www.empoweryourbest.com

Does your Business need:

Venture Capital?
Angel Capital?
Funding?
Growth Consulting?
Business Lines of Credit?
A great High Yield Investment?

Click on the above links and ‘Request More Information.’ Learn more about how you and Empower can work together to effectively implement your vision. Success is a choice. It is up to you.

Why Entrepreneurs Hesitate – and How to Avoid It!

I recently commented on a Marketing blog from Perfect Business. This was a great piece that gave 10 helpful tips to effective standard marketing practices. Holly George, a member of Perfect Business, and an entrepreneur herself with the marketing firm Certified Marketing Spitfire, has had much experience in this arena. Her 6 Steps To Your Million Dollar Business is a great tool to have in your arsenal.

If you haven’t realized already, Empower absolutely loves action. Without it, Entrepreneurs would never change the world the way they do. Her last tip was ‘Just Do It’. This is my favorite of all her tips not just because it captures the Nike slogan and proves the point of your article, but because it is so true for Entrepreneurs to hear. I have heard many people with outstanding ideas and plans – truly incredible! but have not made any progress for years. They are still working a 9-5 job hoping to find that perfect investor that will throw money at them and walk away. This is not Venture Capital, it is not even Angel Capital. It is pie in the sky – bogus. Entrepreneurs need to saddle up, JUST DO IT, and take hold of their plans and get some traction.

Almost everyone Entrepreneur I talk to agrees with me on this and gets very motivated and excited about the execution of their vision. But why then, is it so common for Entrepreneurs to get bummed out and deflated? Often times it comes down to only one thing. Fear. Those of us with huge aspirations often hold these ideals so close to our hearts, that the Vision becomes a very deep part of who we are. I believe that this is the fuel of most Entrepreneurs that accomplish their goals. But it also can create hesitation and inefficiency until there is justifiable momentum that can only be measured by the skewed scales of the Entrepreneur. My friends! This should not be!

It is easy for people to have unrealistic obstacles – whether they are real, or unreal – that can get in the way of progress. I may look into another’s position and say, “You are so ready! Make your move!” But personal issues may be fogging their vision. A wise Entrepreneur will always take a step back and look at their situation from the 30,000 foot view instead of the 3 foot view. Are you seeing through the correct lenses?

Take a day to map out your situation. Bring a 3^rd party or Mentor to the table who will speak the truth to you. You may be more ready than you thought, or you may have holes in your plan that need to be patched. Either way, it is a win-win situation. Just like in relationships, a business man or woman must be flexible and heed others input. If you are a hard headed stubborn cuss, well, you won’t get very far with any Venture Capital Firm. Be open to new ideas. Be flexible to new options. If your Vision is clear, you will not veer far from it, but will compliment it better.

“The Company with the clearest Vision will succeed.”

If you are an Entrepreneur who is ready to rock and roll and wants to see progress, then maybe you need to take a close look at Empower. Empower is the only VC firm that has the PreVenture Program to kick start your venture and point you in the right direction. From securing capital, to securing the structure of your business, Empower’s PreVenture Program is the fastest, easiest, and most cost effective way to gain results and traction for your Venture and allows you to keep all of your equity until you are ready for serious Venture Capital.

Your best days are ahead, UNLEASH THEM.

Blake Robbins

brobbins@empoweryourbest.com

877.45.EMPOWER

www.empoweryourbest.com

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Does your Business need:

Venture Capital?
Angel Capital?
Funding?
Growth Consulting?
Business Lines of Credit?
A great High Yield Investment?

Click on the above links and ‘Request More Information.’ Learn more about how you and Empower can work together to effectively implement your vision. Success is a choice. It is up to you.

Fundraising Easier than Ever?

Could it be that with more Venture Firms and Private Money raised in the last few quarters that there is a glut of Private Money out there just waiting for the right Entrepreneur to come along? Well, I’ve got good news and bad news. The good news is that from most research, (Pitchbook Data and other free market search collaborations) this seems to be true and there is more Private Capital raised than is being spent.

“…a new report says there’s still plenty of private equity money (which includes venture capital), waiting to be invested in fact, the private equity “overhang” (the difference between funds raised and money invested) stood at $400 billion as of April, an all-time high. The report comes from the Alliance of Merger and Acquisition Advisors and research firm Pitchbook Data. That means funds are still sitting on a whole lot of so-called “dry powder,” which will presumably be ignited when if they find the right investment opportunity.” Anthony Ha, in VentureBeat has shared these findings with us.

However, with good news often comes not so good news. This ‘bad’ news is up to you really, the Entrepreneur. As a VC Firm, Empower sees alot of business plans and visionaries with incredible ideas, but they really need a small amount of 1st stage funding before they inquire about full VC Funding. Often times, they put the cart before the horse. It is this first stage funding that helps bring light to the weak areas of the plan. We call this gap, the Start Up Wall, and this is why the PreVenture Funding Program was created. Yes, that may sound like a perfect pitch opportunity for one of Empower’s strongest services, but it is much more than that. Entrepreneurs MUST prove to themselves and to future VC Partners that they have already started the ball rolling forward and things are happenning in a big way. They are already making improvements and changes to the plan that are positive and necessary for the execution of their Vision.

If you want to get the most out of your VC presentations, then bite the bullet and get started yourself. Take some risk with your own assets, or get help with Empower’s PreVenture Funding Program. Whatever you do, just start moving forward. This helps every arena of your project. You may think you need the 1 or 2 Million Dollar start up fund before you can do anything progressive, but realize that the reality is you can make huge advancements with 50-100k or more. It also may just be what you the Entrepreneur needs to stop hoping and hiding behind the thought of a VC firm taking all of the financial risk. Because he who takes the biggest risk, often times gets the biggest reward – even if you think this venture is your brilliant concept. Want more equity of your own project? Get the ball rolling on your own and be creative. Then, when you have a proven concept, VC Funding is much easier.

Your best days are ahead.

Blake Robbins

www.empoweryourbest.com