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<channel>
	<title>Lead Finance</title>
	<atom:link href="http://www.chicagolead.org/feed/" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml" />
	<link>http://www.chicagolead.org</link>
	<description>The Finest Financial Guidance</description>
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		<title>3 Most Reliable Forex Companies</title>
		<link>http://www.chicagolead.org/3-most-reliable-forex-companies/</link>
		<comments>http://www.chicagolead.org/3-most-reliable-forex-companies/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 26 Sep 2011 04:47:53 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Finance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Currency]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Foreign exchange trading]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Forex]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Investment]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.chicagolead.org/?p=50</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Trading foreign exchange currencies can be overwhelming, especially without a qualified and experienced stockbroker. There are so many options of currencies to choose from, and the rates seem to change almost hourly. There are companies whose employees are specially trained to help customers in understanding the market and earning higher returns. One option for foreign exchange [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Trading foreign exchange currencies can be overwhelming, especially without a qualified and experienced stockbroker. There are so many options of currencies to choose from, and the rates seem to change almost hourly. There are companies whose employees are specially trained to help customers in understanding the market and earning higher returns.</p>
<div class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="width: 311px"><a href="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6004/5902557577_0cceab6259.jpg"><img class=" " src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6004/5902557577_0cceab6259.jpg" alt="" width="301" height="350" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Image by epSos.de via Flickr</p></div>
<p>One option for foreign exchange is UFX Bank, based in the United Kingdom. The company has been in business for over 50 years. The mission statement promises excellent customer service and investors can rest assured that their funds will be protected. This company also offers smaller account minimums, so customers can invest as little as $500.</p>
<p>Another reliable company is Go Markets, based in Melbourne, Australia. Customers from all over the world can use their services, since they provide translation to multiple languages and more than 150 currencies. The company is licensed in Australia, which offers a sense of security to its clients.</p>
<p>A third reputable foreign exchange trading broker is MB Trading, which has offered online access to <a href="http://www.ufxmarkets.com/">UFX Markets</a> for almost ten years. Customers can invest at least $400, and the company is registered under multiple financial associations. Funds can be wired, which offers more protection of income. MB Trading is favored for its technological advancements and the ease of using its system.</p>
<p>Choosing a broker for foreign exchange trading is smart. The companies offer years of expertise and experience, which results in higher returns on invested cash. Those who are interested in becoming involved in forex trading should always use the services of a more knowledgeable professional.</p>
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		<title>Teach Your Children About Budgeting</title>
		<link>http://www.chicagolead.org/teach-your-children-about-budgeting/</link>
		<comments>http://www.chicagolead.org/teach-your-children-about-budgeting/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 26 Aug 2011 15:37:17 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Personal]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.chicagolead.org/?p=44</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Sending your children out the door to college or their first apartment without a proper appreciation of budgeting can be a death sentence to their future financial freedom. Giving your children an education about credit cards and the impending interest rates that accompany them is crucial. With their own mailbox, you are no longer the [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div>
<div class="zemanta-img zemanta-action-dragged" style="margin: 1em; display: block;">
<div class="wp-caption alignright" style="width: 160px"><a href="http://www.daylife.com/image/0fbVccVgOYeUW?utm_source=zemanta&amp;utm_medium=p&amp;utm_content=0fbVccVgOYeUW&amp;utm_campaign=z1"><img title="NEW YORK - MAY 20:  In this photo illustration..." src="http://cache.daylife.com/imageserve/0fbVccVgOYeUW/150x107.jpg" alt="NEW YORK - MAY 20:  In this photo illustration..." width="150" height="107" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Image by Getty Images via @daylife</p></div>
</div>
</div>
<p>Sending your children out the door to college or their first apartment without a proper appreciation of budgeting can be a death sentence to their future financial freedom.</p>
<p>Giving your children an education about credit cards and the impending interest rates that accompany them is crucial. With their own mailbox, you are no longer the watchdog for the offers that come in the mail promising financial freedom. These credit cards promise financial freedom, but kids don’t always read the fine print and the repercussions that come from maxing out said credit cards.</p>
<p>Much like the beginners at a casino gain a <a title="Better odds through a no deposit bonus" href="http://www.no-deposit-required-casino.com/" target="_blank">no deposit bonus</a>, it&#8217;s important for your kids to learn to stay within their means. As tough as it might seem to turn them down when they are requesting money, you are doing them a favor in the long run by helping them stick to their budgeting means. Of course there are exceptions, but if they want to borrow money, ask them to show you their current budget and explain what went wrong and where they came up short before you open up the purse strings.</p>
<p>There should be a class that teaches youth about the reasons for keeping a clean credit report. If your child maxes out a credit card and fails to make payments, they are going to find blemishes on their credit report. Teach your kids the importance of paying their bills on time and staying away from such failure to make payments showing up on their credit reports.</p>
<p><a title="Kids and budgeting" href="http://kidmoney.about.com/od/teachingchildren/a/teachkidsmoney.htm" target="_blank">Budgeting</a> in the college years can be crucial for those post-college expenditures, and keeping a clean credit report is paramount to obtaining cars and new homes a few years down the road.</p>
<div></div>
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		<title>How to Avoid Late Fees</title>
		<link>http://www.chicagolead.org/how-to-avoid-late-fees/</link>
		<comments>http://www.chicagolead.org/how-to-avoid-late-fees/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 12 Aug 2011 21:18:57 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Business]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Economic Development]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Fee]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Late fee]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Transactional account]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.chicagolead.org/?p=30</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[If you’re already in a state of financial distress, late fees have the potential to set you back even further. In fact, it can become extremely difficult to work your way out of the debt that has accumulated once the late fees and other charges start getting tacked on. It is important to create a [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="zemanta-img" style="margin: 1em; display: block;">
<div class="wp-caption alignright" style="width: 265px"><a href="http://commons.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:USCurrency_Federal_Reserve.jpg"><img title="Various Federal Reserve Notes, c.1995. Only th..." src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/63/USCurrency_Federal_Reserve.jpg" alt="Various Federal Reserve Notes, c.1995. Only th..." width="255" height="416" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Image via Wikipedia</p></div>
</div>
<p>If you’re already in a state of financial distress, late fees have the potential to set you back even further. In fact, it can become extremely difficult to work your way out of the debt that has accumulated once the <a href="http://www.dailyfinance.com/2011/02/10/expedite-your-payment-to-avoid-a-late-fee/" target="_blank">late fees</a> and other charges start getting tacked on. It is important to create a plan to avoid the hassle of late fees.</p>
<ol start="1">
<li><strong>Create a savings buffer.</strong> One of the best ways to avoid late fees is to set aside a certain amount of money every month into a dedicated <a href="http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2006/09/08/how-to-start-an-emergency-fund/" target="_blank">emergency fund</a>. However, it’s important to remember that an emergency fund is just that – a stash of money that can only be used when there are no other alternatives.</li>
<li><strong>Set up direct payments.</strong> Since a direct payment system automatically pulls the funds from your checking account every month, it’s much harder to default on bill payments since you don’t have to physically mail in the money. However, it’s also important to remember that you have to keep the funds available in your checking account – if you don’t you will incur overdraft fees.</li>
<li><strong>Seek out an <a href="http://www.paydayone.com/" target="_blank">online cash advance lender</a>.</strong>While you are in the process of creating an emergency fund, you can always ask for help to tide you over until your paycheck hits – especially if you are in a pinch and your utilities are going to be shut off.</li>
</ol>
<p>Fortunately, avoiding late fees isn’t nearly as hard as it may sound – especially if you take the time to plan ahead for the unexpected.</p>
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		<title>Taking Care of Your Investments</title>
		<link>http://www.chicagolead.org/taking-care-of-your-investments/</link>
		<comments>http://www.chicagolead.org/taking-care-of-your-investments/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 11 Aug 2011 14:46:57 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Finance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Investments]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Personal]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.chicagolead.org/?p=35</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Your investments are a lot like your children. You think a lot about them in the early stages, and as time goes on you can generally allow them to go on about their business without much interference. However, unlike your children, your investments aren&#8217;t family, so you don&#8217;t need to keep them if they&#8217;re not [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="zemanta-img" style="margin: 1em; display: block;">
<div class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 250px"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/88539833@N00/4017916984"><img title="The Credit Risk BI Team" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2484/4017916984_58024ddc9b_m.jpg" alt="The Credit Risk BI Team" width="240" height="180" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Image by sayesbury via Flickr</p></div>
</div>
<p>Your investments are a lot like your children. You think a lot about them in the early stages, and as time goes on you can generally allow them to go on about their business without much interference. However, unlike your children, your <a href="http://www.finviz.com/" target="_blank">investments</a> aren&#8217;t family, so you don&#8217;t need to keep them if they&#8217;re not doing well.</p>
<p>One of your most important investments is your credit. If not for your credit, investing would need to take a back seat to paying cash for your car, your home and any other major thing you want to own that requires a lot of money. One way to build up your credit is to get a loan from one of the <a href="http://www.plaingreenloans.com/" target="_blank">cash advance lenders</a> out there. Once you have this loan, pay it off gradually. This shows that you&#8217;re a steady and low credit risk, and in time your credit will get better.</p>
<p>Of course, at this stage of the game you need to be investing. While this article can&#8217;t go into depth about what constitutes a good investment, you need to remember that the same rules of financial sanity that guide your life should also guide a company&#8217;s life. If a company is drowning in debt, investing in it could prove as profitable as throwing your money into a rat hole. If a company is run soundly, loans should be taken out for a purpose and paid on time. When you have financial sanity in your life, you can seek it out in the investments you make.</p>
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		<title>What is Personal Finance?</title>
		<link>http://www.chicagolead.org/what-is-personal-finance/</link>
		<comments>http://www.chicagolead.org/what-is-personal-finance/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 06 Aug 2011 10:51:09 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Finance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Personal]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Credit card]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Loan]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.chicagolead.org/?p=21</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Image via Wikipedia It&#8217;s a phrase heard often, but what exactly are people referring to when they say &#8216;personal finance&#8217;? Well, personal finance refers to the application of finance and accounting principles on a personal level. Such as creating a budget for an individual or family. Personal finance components could include things to do with: [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="zemanta-img" style="float: right; width: 310px; margin: 1em;"><a href="http://commons.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Credit-cards.jpg"><img style="border: none;" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4f/Credit-cards.jpg/300px-Credit-cards.jpg" alt="Credit cards" width="300" height="225" /></a></p>
<p class="zemanta-img-attribution" style="font-size: 0.8em;">Image via <a href="http://commons.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Credit-cards.jpg">Wikipedia</a></p>
</div>
<p>It&#8217;s a phrase heard often, but what exactly are people referring to when they say &#8216;personal finance&#8217;? Well, personal finance refers to the application of finance and accounting principles on a personal level. Such as creating a budget for an individual or family.</p>
<p>Personal finance components could include things to do with:</p>
<ul>
<li>Credit cards</li>
<li>Loans</li>
<li>Check and savings accounts</li>
<li><a href="http://countingbean.com/2011/07/08/personal-finance-is-not-limited-to-investing/" target="_blank">Investments</a> (such as stocks)</li>
<li>Retirement plans</li>
<li>Social security benefits</li>
<li>Insurance policies</li>
</ul>
<p>If you have never stepped foot into the world of personal finance or maybe thinking of getting <a href="http://www.babf.org/managing-your-personal-debt/">installment loans</a>, here are a few pointers.</p>
<p>Assess your personal financial situation. Analyze bank balances and income statements to assess where your personal finances currently stand. Some people find that they don&#8217;t need to create an in-depth personal finance plan, whereas others who have many different investments find they do.</p>
<p>Once you have assessed your need, set a goal for yourself. What do you want to achieve? Do you want to make sure things stay as they are, or do you want to get more <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/the-debt-ceiling-2011-7" target="_blank">money</a> into your bank account? Perhaps you want to retire as soon as possible.</p>
<p>Next, in order to achieve your goal you need to devise a strategy on how to get there. You may start by reducing unnecessary monthly expenditures and put the extra cash into a separate savings account.</p>
<p>Whatever you decide, in order to reach your goal you need to execute your strategy. For some people this is easy while others find it more challenging. Whatever the case, you will see that personal finance is an important aspect of every adult’s life.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
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		<title>What is a Debt?</title>
		<link>http://www.chicagolead.org/what-is-a-debt/</link>
		<comments>http://www.chicagolead.org/what-is-a-debt/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 12 Jul 2011 10:53:42 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Banking]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Finance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Business]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Loan]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.chicagolead.org/?p=23</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Image via Wikipedia A debt is anything that is owed by one party to another. It can be incurred by individuals, groups, businesses and government departments and can pertain to anything, not just money. Types of Debt Personal Debt Personal debt is when a debt is incurred by an individual. The debt has been obtained [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="zemanta-img" style="float: right; width: 265px; margin: 1em;"><a href="http://commons.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:USCurrency_Federal_Reserve.jpg"><img style="border: none;" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/63/USCurrency_Federal_Reserve.jpg" alt="Various Federal Reserve Notes, c.1995. Only th..." width="255" height="416" /></a></p>
<p class="zemanta-img-attribution" style="font-size: 0.8em;">Image via <a href="http://commons.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:USCurrency_Federal_Reserve.jpg">Wikipedia</a></p>
</div>
<p>A debt is anything that is owed by one party to another. It can be incurred by individuals, groups, businesses and government departments and can pertain to anything, not just money.</p>
<h3>Types of Debt</h3>
<h4>Personal Debt</h4>
<p><a href="http://www.oregonlive.com/business/index.ssf/2011/07/poll_americans_worried_about_t.html" target="_blank">Personal debt</a> is when a debt is incurred by an individual. The debt has been obtained by the person to carry out things such as:</p>
<ul>
<li>to purchase goods such as a car or property</li>
<li>to set up a small business or to finance another type of profit making endeavor</li>
</ul>
<p>For an individual, a loan of money is the simplest form of personal debt. The agreement is usually negotiated between an individual and a bank or other finance institution.</p>
<p>Agreement terms of a personal loan can include:</p>
<ul>
<li>how much money can be borrowed</li>
<li>what the repayment schedule will be</li>
<li>how much interest will be repaid on top of the initial loan amount</li>
<li>any fees and charges that may apply if loan repayments are late or missed</li>
</ul>
<h4>Business Debt</h4>
<p>A business debt operates on much the same premise as a personal loan, but of course involves a business as being responsible for the repayments and not an individual.</p>
<p>Many businesses require the use of a business loan for things such as:</p>
<ul>
<li>day-to-day activities, such as workplace lunches</li>
<li>the payment of staff wages</li>
<li>the payment of office supplies, such as office furniture and stationery</li>
</ul>
<p>A business can incur debt by accessing the following methods:</p>
<ul>
<li>cash credit: whereby a business has access to an open line of credit based on the companies commodities</li>
<li>bank overdraft: whereby a business can overdraw its bank account to have access to more funds.</li>
</ul>
<p>These are just a few examples or personal and business debt in the finance world today.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
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		<title>Financial Aid for Students</title>
		<link>http://www.chicagolead.org/financial-aid-for-students/</link>
		<comments>http://www.chicagolead.org/financial-aid-for-students/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 10 Jul 2011 10:51:13 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Banking]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Finance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Pell Grant]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Stafford Loan]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.chicagolead.org/?p=22</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[It&#8217;s bad enough that a person has to worry about countless college applications, but then once accepted has to continue to worry about finances to get through the course. As a student you may not realize it, but there are a number of financial aid options available to help you along your college journey. Federal Student Aid [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>It&#8217;s bad enough that a person has to worry about countless college applications, but then once accepted has to continue to worry about finances to get through the course.</p>
<p>As a student you may not realize it, but there are a number of <a href="http://www.education.com/reference/article/paying-bill-financial-aid-package/" target="_blank">financial aid</a> options available to help you along your college journey.</p>
<h3>Federal Student Aid Programs</h3>
<h4>Grants</h4>
<p>A grant is a great way for a student to receive aid as it does not have to be repaid. Each year thousands of dollars in grant money is handed out to students in financial aid to help them get through college. Grants that are handed out by the federal government include:</p>
<p>Federal <a href="http://www.startribune.com/local/126221358.html" target="_blank">Pell Grant</a></p>
<p>Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)</p>
<p>Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education Grant (TEACH Grant)</p>
<p>Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grant</p>
<p>Institutional Grants</p>
<h4>Campus-based Aid</h4>
<p>Campus-based aid are similar in structure to grants, however they are given out by the financial aid office of the educational institution instead of the federal government. Campus-based aid schemes include:</p>
<p>The Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)</p>
<p>Federal Work-Study (FWS)</p>
<p>Federal Perkins Loan programs</p>
<p>Because these are controlled by the individual institution, the amounts handed out vary. Be sure to check with your campus financial aid office the details for their campus-based aid programs.</p>
<h4>Direct Stafford Loans</h4>
<p>These loans are low-interest loans from the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program. The loan is available to eligible students to help cover the costs over a four year degree.</p>
<p>There are two types of loans available:</p>
<p>Direct subsidized loan: for those students in financial need</p>
<p>Direct unsubsidized loan: for those students who want a <a href="http://www.brighthub.com/education/college/articles/121174.aspx" target="_blank">loan</a> but are not in financial need.</p>
<p>There are plenty of options available for financial aid when you go to college.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
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		<title>Avoiding Huge Debts</title>
		<link>http://www.chicagolead.org/avoiding-huge-debts/</link>
		<comments>http://www.chicagolead.org/avoiding-huge-debts/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 09 Jul 2011 19:53:53 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Business]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Investments]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Debts]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Finance]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.chicagolead.org/?p=18</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Avoiding debt involves organization, an acute awareness of your debt-to-income ratio and the resolve to spend responsibly today in the hopes of having savings tomorrow. These practices are key to helping you meet financial freedom and avoiding financial difficulty. If you are already in over your head in debt, you should seek more information from www.totalbankruptcy.com/. Plot [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Avoiding debt involves organization, an acute awareness of your debt-to-income ratio and the resolve to spend responsibly today in the hopes of having savings tomorrow. These practices are key to helping you meet financial freedom and avoiding financial difficulty. If you are already in over your head in debt, you should seek more information from <a href="http://www.totalbankruptcy.com/">www.totalbankruptcy.com/</a>.</p>
<p><strong>Plot it Out</strong></p>
<p>No matter what you are saving for, you need to make a plan with your savings goal in mind. Writing it down will help you plan how you can meet that goal, whether it’s socking away your paycheck into a saving account that’s dedicated to that goal, taking on a second job or making a few lifestyle adjustments. You might want to consider nixing that trip to the salon in favor of at-home spa and hair care treatments.</p>
<p><strong>Get in a Frugal Mindset</strong></p>
<p>Think about the items that you spend money on, everything from the small day-to-day fare to the larger or more infrequent purchases. Begin with your daily household items and evaluate ways to save on the brands of products that you buy. With so many online coupon services that feature manufacturers’ coupons on common household items, electronics and clothing, it’s now easier than ever to save, and you don’t have to waste time thumbing through flyers or clipping coupons. Another easy adjustment is opting for the store brand on all of your products, which can save shoppers up to 30 percent on their grocery bill. You can also find ways to trim commuting costs such as ride sharing and/or telecommuting.</p>
<p>However you decide to reach your goal, plotting and planning to meet it is the way to go to avoid accumulating debt and <a href="http://boston.cbslocal.com/2011/07/07/money-matters-saving-more-big-ticket-items/" target="_self">financial crisis</a>. It really is possible to save for the future.</p>
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