It’s the holiday season. You run a thriving successful business, juggle 15 things at once, and now it’s the holidays. Some of us just get to the point where coping through this period is a not only a day by day event, it can be a minute by minute event. Guess we can say that along with power and responsibility, there are times when we feel like pressure cookers about to explode! How can we cope, keep our patience and our sanity? Here are non negotiable secrets for the successful professional to keep going, no matter what!

1. Prioritize everything, especially now. It is the key to keeping sane. Do that check list every day, and check off the completed items!

2. Reevaluate the list and if it is impossible to achieve everything on it, get help before you explode! A successful doctor I know employs a college student during the holidays to run errands, watch kids, address envelopes for holiday greetings, wrap gifts, etc. See who you can delegate things to!

3. No matter how busy you are, take at least 30 minutes a day out for you. Walk around the block, take a bath, a cup of tea, write in your journal or whatever it is that you do to relax. Those 30 minutes a day will keep you going!

Have you ever purchased a property with a partner? Need cash and don’t know where to go? If so, consider a partial ownership loan. With a partial ownership loan, the lender makes a loan to the partner who needs it, secured only by their interest in the property. The other owner doesn’t sign anything, and the only collateral the lender has is the signing of the borrower’s partial interest in the property.

The key is to work with a portfolio lender as banks that sell their loans would normally not make this kind of loan. Washington Mutual is one example of a portfolio lender. You may also talk to community banks in your area and see if they would make this type of loan. The lender would need to keep the loan in house until it is paid in full.

In the event of foreclosure on your loan, the lender becomes partners with your partner. Note that married persons cannot use this program to borrow against community property without their spouse’s signature.

When would doing a partial ownership loan make sense?
1. Inherited property where the heir wants cash for their interest.

2. Business partners who may own a share of a property and need to borrow where the other partners don’t. This could be a 4th or 5th interest in a property where there are 3 to 4 partners.

Real Estate maybe turbulent at the moment, however when you know how to take advantage of getting cash, being an investor can still make sense.

Happy Investing!

As we get close to year end, we need to start planning now for contributions and allocation of not just our personal dollars but our IRA or 401(k) retirement dollars as well. Here are four strategies to keep in mind in your planning:

1. Contribute as much as you possibly can to take advantage of long term savings tax deferred or tax free. This is especially true if you are in a company 401(k) with matching.

2. Invest for your tomorrow. The longer you have until you need to start taking those required minimum distributions the more you can afford to hold in growth investments. With a self-directed IRA or Individual 401(k) you can invest directly in alternative investments that are not offered through a brokerage house, financial planner or insurance agent. Log onto www.theentrustgroup.com to learn how you do this!

3. Remember, qualified plan deadline for contributions is December 31st — not the same deadline as an IRA.

4. If possible, don’t withdraw funds prematurely. If you withdraw before you reach age 59 ½, you will most likely incur income taxes and a 10% penalty.

Take good care of your financial future, and start planning today!

Does it drive you crazy to get bombarded with catalogs you never ordered, don’t want or need? Would you rather shop live or online rather than read through junk? I have the solution how to never receive unwanted product catalogs that clog up your mail.

Email: OPTOUT@ABACUS-US.com

I don’t know about you, but the relief from not have to sift through piles of mail is worth it to me.

Happy Day before Thanksgiving! The first official travel day that earmarks the holiday travel season.

Ahh, Thanksgiving! The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade, lots of turkey, stuffing, and oh, the pies…..and oh the travel nightmares getting to and from grandmother’s house we go!

As a frequent flyer (I actually spend more time in an airplane than at home), I decided to share my wish list for a happy and healthy holiday season for the frequent traveler. I wish you joy and peace this Thanksgiving and through the holiday season.

1. Don’t raise prices on air, car rentals and hotels for the holidays. Doesn’t the industry want to show a little cheer? This would clearly be a great way to do so.

2. How about stocking those mini bars in the hotel rooms with healthy snacks for the weight conscious? Sometimes the mini bar is our main meal for the day.

3. Ban in-flight toiletry kits. These are boring, cheap products. A better solution: have a basket of upscale toiletries so that passengers can choose what they need. The airlines would save a fortune and we would be a lot happier.

4. Have two ramps for boarding the plane. Imagine how quick and organized this would be!

5. Put families in the back of the plane together and leave the adults (over the age of 18) up closer to the front. The families would be empathic to each other and little ones can stop kicking adult seats and causing hard feelings among all.

6. Some new, current reading material would be great!

7. Give us a smile! Whether on the plane, in a hotel or at a customer service counter, the employees took the job with their employer because they had a desire for some reason to be an attendant. So smile, show us your good will and give outstanding customer service. Everyone will enjoy the experience and just think what you would be doing for humankind!

Enjoy your holiday and thanks for reading my blog.

Lisa

With new forms of communication such as the Internet, it is easier than ever to have a presence. Studies have shown that even though women are behind in wage earnings compared to men, single women specifically are becoming wealthier, own more property and are in need of advice.

Women buy everything and control the wealth. It’s naivety not to see this as a growing market for the professional services provider. Since women focus on relationships, building a business through referrals can be vital to your business development.

Here are three ways to add the women’s market to your business development efforts.

1. Create a women’s only page on your web site. Chock full of information women can use—tax, real estate, and other financial related advice (depending on your business)—that allows women to focus on planning and wealth building. This would be an excellent tool in establishing your practice and building credibility.

2. Join every woman’s professional association where you live. Network with other successful women and build your data base of prospects. Since we all know people like doing business with people they know and trust, this helps you get into the trusted circle of influence thanks to other successful women leaders.

3. Start a mastermind group, sponsor a women’s related charity, develop a slogan or byline that lets you be known in your area as an expert.

Women are wealth. The wise woman professional makes sure they focus on women to help them and their business grow.

With all of the bad news about Florida and the Southeast, take a look at this new information just out.

States with the highest percentage of mortgages in foreclosure year to date 2007:
Ohio 3.6%
Indiana 3.0%
Michigan 2.8%
Kentucky 1.9%
Illinois 1.8%
National average 1.4%

Source: Retirement Weekly, November 9, 2007 (Vol 5, No. 45)

Looks like most people will get a modest dose of tax relief next year. Each year the government is required to adjust many tax-related numbers, including income thresholds, to reflect inflation. For example, the top federal rate of 35% won’t kick in unless taxable income in 2008 exceeds $357,700, up from $349,700 from 2007.

Official IRS numbers will be released later this year. In the meantime, check with your CPA or Financial Planner for your new income tax bracket and happy planning!

Ever hear the statement, “Cash is king”? This is especially true in a recession. If you think a recession is just around the corner, here are a few tips to help you stay ahead:

1. Keep funding your IRA or 401(k). Contact www.theentrustgroup.com today to open your self-directed IRA or Individual K.

2. Stockpile some cash—that rainy day fund will be more important than ever. Experts recommend saving at least 6 months of living expenses in a money market account in case of an emergency.

3. Consider setting up a home-equity line of credit if you think you will need the money.

4. Pay off all high interest credit cards and loans….today!