Did you know that 18% of all grad students are 40 or older? According to the U.S. Department of Education many mid-life adults are going back to school. But how do those who decide to go back to college and get that advanced degree afford it?

• Some keep their day job and go part time.
• Others apply for scholarships or financial aid.
• Some take advantage of tax breaks if they fall below a certain income level.
• Others get tuition reimbursement from their employer should the employer offer such a program.

If you are considering getting that advanced degree, get some help. Here are a few suggestions:

1. Most colleges have a financial aid offices set up to help students get loans.

2. Search www.fastweb.com; www.finaid.org; and www.petersons.com for scholarship or loan searches.

3. Consider a private loan or a “gift” from a family member.

4. If you are considering a career that has an employment shortage, shop for the right employer who will pay your expenses as you go. (Nursing comes to mind…) Research to determine if the career path you are seeking is in short supply.

5. Go through professional women’s organizations to see if they have corporate sponsors who are interested in donating to your cause. It is a tax write-off for them.

6. There are local community programs available. Check with your local government authority.

I marvel at those who decide to pursue an advanced degree. Don’t let money stand in the way of your dream!

As a professional or a business owner, the success or failure of our businesses starts with how well we can generate leads and then convert those prospects to clients. The internet can be a great marketing tool to help you capture leads. But, if you don’t know what you are doing, it could be a costly tool. Here are six things to keep in mind if you are planning on using valuable marketing dollars toward the internet.

1. Set a budget. Internet advertising can be expensive. Especially if you plan on pay-per-click words and ads to get initial prospects.

2. Use strong keywords to increase SEO (search engine optimization) and bring those prospects to your site.

3. Test and measure everything. Don’t be afraid to change text, change keywords and experiment.

4. Provide valuable, timely information and update your site on a regular basis so visitors will come back for more.

5. Consider producing an e-newsletter a prospect can “opt in” to so you can capture their contact information. Make sure you have a registration page the prospect needs to go through in order to receive your newsletter, white paper, special report, etc.

6. Response is everything. Speed of response is the number one strategy in improving your Internet lead conversion. It goes hand and hand with providing good customer service.

Follow these six steps to help you generate more business using the web.

The rental market is moving! Upwards that is! Investors who purchased property and cannot keep up with their payments (as well as owner occupants who have adjustable rate or sub prime loans) are being foreclosed on. The lenders are taking back the properties and evicting the tenants forcing rental rates to rise. Since banks are not in the real estate business and need to cash out, they are forcing evictions and reselling the properties. This is good news for those investors who have bought right, financed wisely and are holding property for the long term. Even if the property values are on a downward trend, the rental values will continue to climb as those being foreclosed on and evicted will need a place to live. The moral here: consider holding on for the long term if you can afford to.

With the real estate market in turbulent times, investors are taking control and exploring other options for their self-directed IRA investments. Investors still continue to capitalize on real estate as the market continues to go down—this investment under the right circumstances can make an excellent source of income for your self-directed IRA or 401 (k). Other investments growing in popularity are gold, foreign currencies, private placements in start up businesses and private lending. If you intend to look into other investments, make sure you educate yourself on the risks and rewards of that investment. To learn more about a self-directed IRA and why you need one visit www.theentrustgroup.com.

I am planning on visit Belize sometime this winter. This is a popular time for tourists as it is freezing in most parts of the U.S. I need to attend a business cruise in February and am considering staying in Belize after the cruise. When I started researching hotels in the area where I would like to visit, I found the prices to be outrageous, so I decided to research the web for a condo type rental and found they were 30-50% less per night than a hotel room. Never having done this before, I started investigating and found a great checklist to use if you decide to reserve a villa or a condo, no matter where you go in the world. Hope this checklist helps you in your planning. Happy Travels!

• How many people will the unit sleep? Are the beds twins or doubles? Is there a sofa beds included in the bed count?
• Is there a minimum stay? (many of these units have a minimum)
• What are the policies regarding children, pets, smoking?
• Where is the apartment located? How far from the city center? Verify the address with an online map service before you book.
• How far is the unit from public transportation?
• Is there a grocery store nearby? How about bars—if you like quiet this is an important question. Is it on a noisy street?
• What amenities such as washer/dryer, TV, etc does the unit have?
• If possible, can you see photos?
• Whom can you call in case there are problems—very important if you are going outside the U.S. and don’t speak the language.
• Do sheets, pillows and towels come with the rental?
• Is there internet? Is there a cleaning charge? What else is or is not included in the rental?

Ever wonder what makes women like Oprah Winfrey so successful? There are certain traits an individual possesses that help them get ahead.

1. Introspection. The power to look within oneself. To have faith and confidence in your skills, abilities and personality. To know your values, dreams and passions.

2. Determination. Think about Venus Williams, the successful tennis star. I don’t think she sits around talking negatively to herself. She is determined to be the best in tennis!

3. Discipline. Successful women don’t allow others to steer them off their path. Not only do they know what they want; they have the discipline within themselves to not be afraid to fail.

4. Opportunistic. Knowing when to take advantage of an opportunity given to you will make all the difference in the world. Take Hillary Clinton. Doesn’t matter what your political views are, you have to hand it to her, she waited for the right opportunity and is passionate about going after what she wants…the presidency!

5. Attitude is everything. You would never know when these people are having a bad day. They are always smiling ,always on, and really believe in their own PR.

Whether you want to be a successful investor, business woman or homemaker the value of these 5 positive traits will help get you there.

Below, by year of birth is the age when you can started receiving benefits.
1943-54 66 years
1955 66 years/2 months
1956 66 years/4 months
1957 66 years//6 months
1958 66 years/8 months
1959 66 years/10 months
1960 67 years

Of course, you can start taking distributions out of your IRA at age 59 ½. To learn more about this subject, visit www.theentrustgroup.com. Entrust makes it easy to understand savings, contributions, distributions and more.

Why is this important to you today?
Right now, 30% of women age 65 or over live solely on social security. PLEASE don’t let that be you! Start saving whatever you can, especially if you believe when you reach this magical age there will be no money left to pay you! So start paying yourself! Women are living longer which means more years in retirement and more money needed to live comfortably. A woman who is now age 65 can expect to live to about 85, depending on family history and lifestyle.

According to ABC News, most caregivers to an elderly parent are women (69%) and 53% work full time. But as we get older and get more involved with the care of an aging parent, we start to worry about things we may have no control over. Many who provide care for their parents are feeling taxed emotionally as well as financially.

Main concerns include:

• Financial support, sometimes with money no one has.
• Concern about their parents health, both physically as well as mentally.
• Concerns of being stretched too thin and with too much responsibility.

Many financial planners would advise the elderly should have Long Term Care insurance. Yes, this would help to offset the financial burden, but without additional savings, it probably won’t pay 100% of all of the elder care needed, and it does not address the emotional burden and exhaustion.

What can you do now to ensure your parent’s well being as well as your sanity?

1. Have a frank discussion with your parent. Consider suggesting another party have the ability to write checks and deposit monies into their accounts, to know their financial picture before something happens.

2. Make sure there is a financial power of attorney as well as a medical power of attorney. They do not necessarily need to be the same person.

3. If your parent works with an estate attorney, financial planner or other professional with involvement in their private affairs, ask that you meet these people to ensure you get answers to all your questions and concerns.

I am not an attorney or financial professional. I am an adult child of a parent who has had a rough year. By knowing their needs, you can do the best you can by them and relieve the stress of having to sort things out when emergencies happen.

Where you invest in real estate can make a difference to how you will derive cash flow and income. One effective strategy is to follow the trends, such as paying close attention to where potential retirees want to live during their “golden years.” You will have a better chance of being a successful real estate investor who holds for the long term.

More than 53% of home shoppers plan to move from their current home when they retire, according to a recent survey conducted by Fulton Research. The most active adult market in the 55-64 age range plans to move more than ½ an hour drive from their current homes; 40% plan on moving out of state to areas with warmer climates.

If your market is growing families, www.move.com recently published a list of markets popular in relocation. These include Atlanta, Charlotte, Houston, Chicago and Las Vegas.

Though the real estate market is uncertain, by following trends and keeping up with local market research, you have the opportunity to enhance your investing and your cash flow.

We as business owners or professionals know that time is our most precious commodity. That’s why some of us are choosing not to spend time on the less rewarding details of life, like picking up the dry cleaning. I have contemplated hiring a personal assistant for my personal life for some time. I am finally getting around to doing this. As I travel every week, I need someone who can organize my daily personal tasks as well as my household. I have been interviewing other women business owners to ask them, “If someone could be hired to make life easier for you, what job would you want them to do?”

Here are the top 3 responses:

1. Personal Assistant. Someone to do the errands, pick up prescriptions/mail/dry cleaning, put gas in the car, and be available at your home for household maintenance issues. (Do you really want to wait at home during that “four hour window’ for your cable guy?) Your assistant could do your grocery shopping or gift shopping and schedule your doctor/dentist/hair appointments. You get the idea. I have an ad running in our community newsletter advertising for a stay at home Mom who is looking for part time work while the kids are in school. Money in her pocket and stress relief for me! A win-win.

2. Driving Miss CEO. Think of the amount of work that could get done on a commute if only you did not have to drive! Plus, if you are like me and hate driving, it would be perfect. I could understand the serious professional having their own driver, couldn’t you? Professionals in Paris hire the same taxi drivers to take them back and forth to work every day!

3. Soup’s On. Dinner’s on the table and it wasn’t due to your sweat equity or McDonald’s. Business owners I interviewed loved the idea of home cooked meals either made in advance for them to be reheated or by a personal chef who actually comes in and cooks your meals. I know a woman in my hometown that does this as a business. She is an excellent cook and is doing what she loves. There is a waiting list of women professionals who want to use her services. She prepares fresh, homemade meals every day based on her clients dietary needs and just drops them off with heating instructions. Imagine, coming home and with a click of a few buttons, dinner is done! I know women who have never eaten so well since they hired Jennifer. Check out the local catering company in your area or Google personal chef in your town to find a local company in your area that does this.

Of course, there are many other services to choose from that may ease your burden—from dog walker to stylist, to personal shopper to an organizing specialist. The choices are endless. Do all you can to make more time–a commodity you can never recoup. If you can afford it, do it. You will be a lot happier in the long run and so will your loved ones!