Remember the saying “sticks and stones will break my bones but names will never hurt me”?

In business, this statement may not necessarily be true. I have noticed recently that many competitors of businesses will resort to anything to capture clients, including potential slandering of their competition.

Be aware of what your competitors say about you, especially on the net as the web never forgets. Your reputation is your business!

The IRS recently unveiled a series of initiatives aimed at helping people who can’t pay their taxes or are experiencing other financial hardships.

Among these offerings the IRS is trying to provide more flexibility. For more information on what the IRS initiatives are or to determine if you qualify, log onto www.irs.gov.

Attention real estate, paper and cash flow investors who have always taken advantage of the dream to grow their wealth thanks to knowledge, persistence and hard work!

With the economy what it is—the expectation of the commercial real estate market to take a nose dive and for other investment strategies to follow—what should we fellow cash flow investors do to protect ourselves and to keep from having to lose a property or worse, the nightmare of having to start over?

I, for one, opt to “stay the course.”

Here’s how I see it.

What would be the point of my bailing out of my investments now? In real estate I still get to take depreciation and have some tax benefits. Should I have less than four investor loans, I could still try to get a new bank loan or a refinance one of my existing investor property loans; I could learn the private lending arena and develop a few alliances; I could try to renegotiate with my current lender if I am upside down (owing more on the property than what it is worth today) and see if the lender will renegotiate with me instead of risking a foreclosure; I could try to partner with another party on an equity share arrangement.

Seems like there are options out of this dilemma if you are a problem-solver.

Financial professionals are telling investors to not panic; this is the same message I have for you. Do you want to ruin your credit, lose an asset that may come back someday, and lose the potential tax enhancements only real estate can provide?

I don’t have a crystal ball to predict when the market will turn. History repeats itself—what goes down comes back up and vice versa. Right now things are down, but to panic at this point risks the chance of jeopardizing our positions and our futures.

Some people will have no choice, those who bought at the high end of the market and have no equity can try to exhaust some of these ideas, but may still not be able to get out from under. My point here is if you are in a position where you are facing some heavy decision making about your investments and your strategy, take heart, step back, assess your situation from a business standpoint and do what you have to NOW to improve your financial situation without having to go into further debt or take any unnecessary risks.

For those of you who are still buying, now is a great time for real estate…if you are prepared to muddle through what’s out there.

An informed investor makes decisions with their head. An emotional investor makes decisions from the heart. I encourage you to use both!

Here are 2 new changes that affect your 401(k) savings and distributions in 2009.

Retirement Savings: The maximum amount that someone under age 50 can contribute to a 401(k) plan for 2009 rose to $16,500 from $15,000. Those age 50 and over can put away an additional $5,500 this year for a total of $22,000, up from $20,500

Minimum Distributions: Did you know this year that if you are age 70 ½ or older you have an option to skip taking distributions from IRAs and certain other plans during 2009? Important if you are trying to defer distributions and don’t need to take the money. In the past it was a requirement that you must start taking distributions at age 70 ½.

Need more information on contribution limits to other plans and IRAs? Visit www.theentrustgroup.com for more information on what’s new in your IRA or 401(k) in 2009

With health care costs on the rise (at this writing the expectation is that health care costs are expected to rise 6% this year), many of us are concerned that these expenses will affect our financial well being as well as cause us even more stress.

Here are three ways to cut costs or at least know what to expect before you have to pay for it.

1. Know what is and what is not covered in your plan. Get some pre-authorization or call the insurance company before you have a procedure to make sure the insurer will pay for it.

2. Consider raising your deductible on your plan if you are in good health, but, realize that with a higher deductible comes more out-of-pocket expenses in emergencies.

3. Take your vitamins, wash your hands, get a flu shot, do whatever you can to prevent getting sick in the first place which saves on co-pays to the doctor’s office.

The University of Toronto reports that female bosses are more stressed out than male bosses. We are more likely to have insomnia, headaches, depression and heartburn. Why is this? The truth is no one knows why. The study’s co-author Scott Schieman, PhD a sociologist thinks the answer has less to do with interpersonal relationships and more to do with the industry the female is in, such as nursing or education.

I think it has to do with our need to prove to the world we can handle the stress and responsibility and take our work seriously. The loyalty factor of women professionals is one that cannot be discounted.

I love reading these studies, but let’s face it, how would a man know what a woman thinks and feels? Aren’t our response systems and thought processes different from men? What are your thoughts on this? Send me an email!

“I have become a strong advocate of the “basics” when it comes to investing: Do your homework, invest in securities you understand, and then hold on. As a government policymaker, I advocate informed investment decisions.”

Need I say anything more? Those of us who use a truly self-directed IRA do exactly what Sheila Bair recommends. Learn how to invest in what you know best!

Don’t let the panic of Wall Street and the uncertainty of the economy stop you from saving and investing with your IRA or 401(k). Like real estate, which is expected to show some signs of rebounding toward year end, the market will eventually rise. Yes, it may be awhile and no one has a crystal ball to predict exactly when. However, we can position ourselves to be prepared so we can prosper and use common sense to protect our individual retirement accounts. Here are 3 steps you can take today to prepare, prosper and protect your IRA in 2009.

1. Educate yourself. We must take control of our financial future. Do you think your financial professional will be around to take care of you financially in your old age? No, I don’t think so. The only person you can depend on to take care of you is YOU. Educating yourself on the risks and rewards of an investment will prepare you to know what to do and what to expect when the right investment opportunity comes along. Isn’t that better then going in blind, especially in light of the recent Ponsi schemes that are out there?

2. Diversification. Don’t put all of your eggs in one basket. A truly self-directed IRA gives you the ability to invest in alternatives such as real estate, water, wind, and other investments that could help your IRA prosper on a tax-deferred or tax-free basis. I am still a firm believer of real estate for my own portfolio but that does not necessarily mean that is the only investment I would make. Think about what you value and have at least one investment that matches your values in your portfolio. For example, green investing. If you are a believer in Green you might consider investing in solar energy.

3. Cash accounts must be protected. I cannot stress enough that you need to protect your IRA. Make sure any cash you have with an administrator or custodian is insured. With the uncertainty in the markets and the banking industry especially hard hit, not all custodians or administrators are equal. If you are looking for a third party administrator who will protect your cash in FDIC insured institutions, visit www.theentrustgroup.com.

When you are prepared and when you protect your assets, you have a better chance of prospering and financial peace of mind.

Last month I noticed my fence was starting to fall apart. The gate needed major adjustments just to stay closed. I thought, “If I could just make it to spring…” That night I received our local newspaper and when I started looking through it, I saw an ad for a fence company. I thought maybe I should give them a call and least get a price to replace my broken fence door.

I did, and discovered something very interesting. The company was willing to discount the job over 50% of what they would charge in the spring and summer as they had no work! I got my side fence replaced along with the fence door for the price of what the door would have cost in the summer! Where else could we save money and get necessary repairs completed and come out ahead? Here are three suggestions to consider if you need outdoor restoration.

1. Tree Services need work in the winter, plus it would be less of mess since there are no leaves on the trees.

2. What about a painter? Bet they would discount for a paint job.

3. How about landscapers?

Make your money count. If you have to get something repaired, do it off season!

For 2010, investors who earn over $100,000 per year in income for the first time, will have the ability to convert their IRA or Individual K from a traditional account which is tax-deferred to a ROTH IRA or Individual K plan which is a tax-free (after tax dollars) account.

Many investors do not understand the rules of conversion, what this means for them, and why they would be willing to pay tax today for tax-free wealth in the future. It’s important to understand how the conversion works to determine whether it makes sense for your financial situation.

As of January 1, all investors—not just those with an adjusted gross income under
$100,000—can convert retirement assets to a Roth IRA. When you convert the funds, you pay taxes now, but you are not taxed on gains and withdrawals as long as you are over 59 years old or if the assets have been in the Roth for at least five years.

With traditional IRAs, earnings and any pre-tax contributions are taxed as ordinary income when withdrawals are made. In addition, with a traditional IRA, you must start taking distributions from the accounts after age 70 1/2. With a Roth IRA, you aren’t required to take any distributions.

The concern for many investors is that converting to a Roth IRA means paying taxes now on the assets converted. However, you do have two years—2011 and 2012—to pay the tax owed on this conversion.

There are three benefits (in my opinion) for doing the conversion:

1. If you are betting on higher tax rates in the future, converting to a Roth makes sense today.
2. If you know how to compound wealth in your IRA, tax free earning are better than tax deferred.
3. If you believe that the government will change the IRA rules to help pay down the debt that is owed, now might be the last chance that you have to take advantage of this tax-free opportunity.

None of us have a crystal ball to see into the future. Who knows if this Roth
conversion will be extended beyond the year 2010. One thing that is certain is
whether you convert to a Roth or leave your funds in a tax-deferred plan, you can no longer afford to sit on the sidelines.

Entrust is committed to helping investors learn more about self-directing your IRA so that you can invest in alternative investments such as real estate and precious metals, to
name just two possibilities. A self-directed IRA should be a part of everyone’s portfolio.

For more information on the new rules for 2010 and other information on Roth IRAs, visit www.theentrustgroup.com and down load the free special Roth report.