Business and Investment sidenote

Admittedly, among debt programs, debt consolidation has the most differing reputation. On the one side, it is the best debt management program. But still, there are some that advise to steer clear of consolidating debts as it would only lead to worse debt problems. Despite the many debates, the question remains if it can really put an end to debt problems or is it just the start of a new cycle of debt. Finance experts agree that the first step to determining the truth about debt consolidation is understanding its role in managing debt. Debt consolidation is rolling all smaller separate loans into a single larger loan. This comes with a lower interest rates and a longer payment term. In effect, debt consolidation allows debtors to write a single check for paying the larger loan instead of writing different checks for different loans, hence, reducing total payment per month. There are also different ways in consolidating debt, and the most popular is transferring debts into one credit card account that has lower interest. Equity loans are also an option for debt consolidation. This is easy as most banks offer equity loans for homes, especially if the debtor can prove that he is capable of making regular payments. There are also lending companies that offer consolidation packages. However, all these options have drawbacks. They usually ask for processing fees and may have higher interest rates compared to the interest of the separate loans. Lending companies and banks might even require that the debtor put his house or any valuable property as collateral.

Debt consolidation, in this perspective, draws up a lot of advantages. It makes for easier payments, lower monthly dues, and at times, lower interests in the total consolidated debt. However, as with most debt programs, debt consolidation, as debt management option also has its disadvantages. First, in putting houses up as collateral, the debtor runs the risk of having his property foreclosed, in the event that he can’t settle his accounts. Also, if there is a longer term for payment, the total interest for the consolidated loan is possibly higher even if the monthly interest is significantly low. Therefore, the debtor does not really save more money but actually pays more money. Aside from these, the longer terms of payment would have the thought of the debt hanging over the debtor’s head for a longer time.

Joel Greenberg, a finance executive, advises debtors not to be blinded by the myths about debt programs, debt consolidation, or debt management promos. To identify the advantages and drawbacks of using these programs, Greenberg strongly suggest the use of calculators or debt management software to determine what option would be better. Computing the total payments and interest of both the individual loans in comparison with the consolidated loan will give you a clearer picture of your financial situation. Getting swayed by false advertisements is not a good way to save your credit and property.

<input id=”gwProxy” type=”hidden” /><input id=”jsProxy” />

<input id=”gwProxy” type=”hidden” /><input id=”jsProxy”>

<!– Top iFrame –> <!– Bottom iFrame –>
[removed]// <![CDATA[ var LEO_HIGHLIGHTS_INFINITE_LOOP_COUNT = 300; var LEO_HIGHLIGHTS_MAX_HIGHLIGHTS = 50; var LEO_HIGHLIGHTS_IFRAME_TOP_ID = "leoHighlights_top_iframe"; var LEO_HIGHLIGHTS_IFRAME_BOTTOM_ID = "leoHighlights_bottom_iframe"; var LEO_HIGHLIGHTS_IFRAME_DIV_ID = "leoHighlights_iframe_modal_div_container"; var LEO_HIGHLIGHTS_IFRAME_TOTAL_COLLAPSED_WIDTH = 520; var LEO_HIGHLIGHTS_IFRAME_TOTAL_COLLAPSED_HEIGHT = 391; var LEO_HIGHLIGHTS_IFRAME_TOTAL_EXPANDED_WIDTH = 520; var LEO_HIGHLIGHTS_IFRAME_TOTAL_EXPANDED_HEIGHT = 665; var LEO_HIGHLIGHTS_IFRAME_TOP_POS_X = 0; var LEO_HIGHLIGHTS_IFRAME_TOP_POS_Y = 0; var LEO_HIGHLIGHTS_IFRAME_TOP_WIDTH = 520; var LEO_HIGHLIGHTS_IFRAME_TOP_HEIGHT = 294; var LEO_HIGHLIGHTS_IFRAME_BOTTOM_POS_X = 96; var LEO_HIGHLIGHTS_IFRAME_BOTTOM_POS_Y = 294; var LEO_HIGHLIGHTS_IFRAME_BOTTOM_COLLAPSED_WIDTH = 425; var LEO_HIGHLIGHTS_IFRAME_BOTTOM_COLLAPSED_HEIGHT = 97; var LEO_HIGHLIGHTS_IFRAME_BOTTOM_EXPANDED_WIDTH = 425; var LEO_HIGHLIGHTS_IFRAME_BOTTOM_EXPANDED_HEIGHT = 371; var LEO_HIGHLIGHTS_SHOW_DELAY_MS = 300; var LEO_HIGHLIGHTS_HIDE_DELAY_MS = 750; var LEO_HIGHLIGHTS_BACKGROUND_STYLE_DEFAULT = "transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%"; var LEO_HIGHLIGHTS_BACKGROUND_STYLE_HOVER = "rgb(245, 245, 0) none repeat scroll 0% 0%"; var LEO_HIGHLIGHTS_ROVER_TAG = "711-36858-13496-14"; createInlineScriptElement("var LEO_HIGHLIGHTS_DEBUG = false;
var LEO_HIGHLIGHTS_DEBUG_POS = false; var _leoHighlightsPrevElem = null; /** * Checks if the passed in class exists * @param c * @return */
function _leoHighlightsClassExists(c) { return typeof(c) == "function" && typeof(c.prototype) == "object" ? true : false;
} /** * Checks if the firebug console is available * @param c * @return */
function _leoHighlightsFirebugConsoleAvailable(c) { try { if(_leoHighlightsClassExists(_FirebugConsole) && window.console && console.log && (console instanceof _FirebugConsole)) { return true; } } catch(e){} return false;
} /** * General method used to debug exceptions * * @param location * @param e * @return */
function _leoHighlightsReportExeception(location,e)
{ try { if(_leoHighlightsFirebugConsoleAvailable() ||LEO_HIGHLIGHTS_DEBUG) { var logString=location+": "+e+"\n\t"+e.name+"\n\t"+ (e.number&0xFFFF;)+"\n\t"+e.description; if(_leoHighlightsFirebugConsoleAvailable()) { console.error(logString); console.trace(); } } if(LEO_HIGHLIGHTS_DEBUG) alert(logString); } catch(e){}
} /** * This will log a string to the firebug console * * @param str * @return */
function _leoHighlightsDebugLog(str)
{ try { if(_leoHighlightsFirebugConsoleAvailable()) { console.log(typeof(_FirebugConsole)+" "+str); } } catch(e) { _leoHighlightsReportExeception("_leoHighlightsDebugLog() "+str,e); }
} /** * This will get an attribute and decode it. * * @param elem * @param id * @return */
function _leoHighlightsGetAttrib(elem,id)
{ try { var val=elem.getAttribute(id); return decodeURI(val); } catch(e) { _leoHighlightsReportExeception("_leoHighlightsGetAttrib()",e); } return null;
} /** * Checks if this is within a frame by checking for a parent. * * @return */
function _leoHighlightsIsFrame()
{ try { return (window!=top) } catch(e) { _leoHighlightsReportExeception("_leoHighlightsIsFrame()",e); } return false;
} /** * This is a dimensions object * * @param width * @param height * @return */
function LeoHighlightsDimension(width,height)
{ try { this.width=width; this.height=height; this.toString=function() { return ("("+this.width+","+this.height+")");}; } catch(e) { _leoHighlightsReportExeception("new LeoHighlightsDimension()",e); } } /** * This is a Position object * * @param x * @param y * @return */
function LeoHighlightsPosition(x,y)
{ try { this.x=x; this.y=y; this.toString=function() { return ("("+this.x+","+this.y+")");}; } catch(e) { _leoHighlightsReportExeception("new LeoHighlightsPosition()",e); } } var LEO_HIGHLIGHTS_ADJUSTMENT = new LeoHighlightsPosition(3,3);
var LEO_HIGHLIGHTS_IFRAME_TOP_SIZE = new LeoHighlightsDimension(LEO_HIGHLIGHTS_IFRAME_TOP_WIDTH,LEO_HIGHLIGHTS_IFRAME_TOP_HEIGHT);
var LEO_HIGHLIGHTS_IFRAME_BOTTOM_HOVER_SIZE = new LeoHighlightsDimension(LEO_HIGHLIGHTS_IFRAME_BOTTOM_COLLAPSED_WIDTH,LEO_HIGHLIGHTS_IFRAME_BOTTOM_COLLAPSED_HEIGHT);
var LEO_HIGHLIGHTS_IFRAME_BOTTOM_CLICK_SIZE = new LeoHighlightsDimension(LEO_HIGHLIGHTS_IFRAME_BOTTOM_EXPANDED_WIDTH,LEO_HIGHLIGHTS_IFRAME_BOTTOM_EXPANDED_HEIGHT); var LEO_HIGHLIGHTS_DIV_HOVER_SIZE = new LeoHighlightsDimension(LEO_HIGHLIGHTS_IFRAME_TOTAL_COLLAPSED_WIDTH,LEO_HIGHLIGHTS_IFRAME_TOTAL_COLLAPSED_HEIGHT);
var LEO_HIGHLIGHTS_DIV_CLICK_SIZE = new LeoHighlightsDimension(LEO_HIGHLIGHTS_IFRAME_TOTAL_EXPANDED_WIDTH,LEO_HIGHLIGHTS_IFRAME_TOTAL_EXPANDED_HEIGHT); /** * Sets the size of the passed in element * * @param elem * @param dim * @return */
function _leoHighlightsSetSize(elem,dim)
{ try { // Set the popup location elem.style.width = dim.width + "px"; if(elem.width) elem.width=dim.width; elem.style.height = dim.height + "px"; if(elem.height) elem.height=dim.height; } catch(e) { _leoHighlightsReportExeception("_leoHighlightsSetSize()",e); } } /** * This can be used for a simple one argument callback * * @param callName * @param argName * @param argVal * @return */
function _leoHighlightsSimpleGwCallBack(callName,argName, argVal)
{ try { var gwObj = new Gateway(); if(argName) gwObj.addParam(argName,argVal); gwObj.callName(callName); } catch(e) { _leoHighlightsReportExeception("_leoHighlightsSimpleGwCallBack() "+callName,e); }
} /** * This gets a url argument from the current document. * * @param url * @return */
function _leoHighlightsGetUrlArg(url, name )
{ name = name.replace(/[\[]/,”\\\[").replace(/[\]]/,”\\\]”); var regexS = “[\\?&]“+name+”=([^&#]*)”; var regex = new RegExp( regexS ); var results = regex.exec(url); if( results == null ) return “”; else return results[1];
} /** * This allows to redirect the top window to the passed in url * * @param url * @return */
function _leoHighlightsRedirectTop(url)
{ try { top.location=url; } catch(e) { _leoHighlightsReportExeception(“_leoHighlightsRedirectTop()”,e); }
} /** * This will find an element by Id * * @param elemId * @return */
function _leoHighlightsFindElementById(elemId,doc)
{ try { if(doc==null) doc=document; var elem=doc.getElementById(elemId); if(elem) return elem; /* This is the handling for IE */ if(doc.all) { elem=doc.all[elemId]; if(elem) return elem; for ( var i = (document.all.length-1); i >= 0; i–) { elem=doc.all[i]; if(elem.id==elemId) return elem; } } } catch(e) { _leoHighlightsReportExeception(“_leoHighlightsFindElementById()”,e); } return null;
} /** * Get the location of one element relative to a parent reference * * @param ref * the reference element, this must be a parent of the passed in * element * @param elem * @return */
function _leoHighlightsGetLocation(ref, elem) { _leoHighlightsDebugLog(“_leoHighlightsGetLocation “+elem.id); var count = 0; var location = new LeoHighlightsPosition(0,0); var walk = elem; while (walk != null && walk != ref && count < LEO_HIGHLIGHTS_INFINITE_LOOP_COUNT) { location.x += walk.offsetLeft; location.y += walk.offsetTop; walk = walk.offsetParent; count++; } _leoHighlightsDebugLog(“Location is: “+elem.id+” – “+location); return location;
} /** * This is used to update the position of an element as a popup * * @param IFrame * @param anchor * @return */
function _leoHighlightsUpdatePopupPos(iFrame,anchor)
{ try { // Gets the scrolled location for x and y var scrolledPos=new LeoHighlightsPosition(0,0); if( self.pageYOffset ) { scrolledPos.x = self.pageXOffset; scrolledPos.y = self.pageYOffset; } else if( document.documentElement && document.documentElement.scrollTop ) { scrolledPos.x = document.documentElement.scrollLeft; scrolledPos.y = document.documentElement.scrollTop; } else if( document.body ) { scrolledPos.x = document.body.scrollLeft; scrolledPos.y = document.body.scrollTop; } /* Get the total dimensions to see what scroll bars might be active */ var totalDim=new LeoHighlightsDimension(0,0) if (document.all && document.documentElement && document.documentElement.clientHeight&&document;.documentElement.clientWidth) { totalDim.width = document.documentElement.scrollWidth; totalDim.height = document.documentElement.scrollHeight; } else if (document.all) { /* This is in IE */ totalDim.width = document.body.scrollWidth; totalDim.height = document.body.scrollHeight; } else { totalDim.width = document.width; totalDim.height = document.height; } // Gets the location of the available screen space var centerDim=new LeoHighlightsDimension(0,0); if(self.innerWidth && self.innerHeight ) { centerDim.width = self.innerWidth-(totalDim.height>self.innerHeight?16:0); // subtracting scroll bar offsets for firefox centerDim.height = self.innerHeight-(totalDim.width>self.innerWidth?16:0); // subtracting scroll bar offsets for firefox } else if( document.documentElement && document.documentElement.clientHeight ) { centerDim.width = document.documentElement.clientWidth; centerDim.height = document.documentElement.clientHeight; } else if( document.body ) { centerDim.width = document.body.clientWidth; centerDim.height = document.body.clientHeight; } // Get the current dimension of the popup element var iFrameDim=new LeoHighlightsDimension(iFrame.offsetWidth,iFrame.offsetHeight) if (iFrameDim.width <= 0) iFrameDim.width = iFrame.style.width.substring(0, iFrame.style.width.indexOf(‘px’)); if (iFrameDim.height <= 0) iFrameDim.height = iFrame.style.height.substring(0, iFrame.style.height.indexOf(‘px’)); /* Calculate the position, lower right hand corner by default */ var position=new LeoHighlightsPosition(0,0); position.x=scrolledPos.x+centerDim.width-iFrameDim.width-LEO_HIGHLIGHTS_ADJUSTMENT.x; position.y=scrolledPos.y+centerDim.height-iFrameDim.height-LEO_HIGHLIGHTS_ADJUSTMENT.y; if(anchor!=null) { //centerDim in relation to the anchor element if available var topOrBottom = false; var anchorPos=_leoHighlightsGetLocation(document.body, anchor); var anchorScreenPos = new LeoHighlightsPosition(anchorPos.x-scrolledPos.x,anchorPos.y-scrolledPos.y); var anchorDim=new LeoHighlightsDimension(anchor.offsetWidth,anchor.offsetHeight) if (anchorDim.width <= 0) anchorDim.width = anchor.style.width.substring(0, anchor.style.width.indexOf(‘px’)); if (anchorDim.height <= 0) anchorDim.height = anchor.style.height.substring(0, anchor.style.height.indexOf(‘px’)); // Check if the popup can be shown above or below the element if (centerDim.height – anchorDim.height – iFrameDim.height – anchorScreenPos.y > 0) { // Show below, formula above calculates space below open iFrame position.y = anchorPos.y + anchorDim.height; topOrBottom = true; } else if (anchorScreenPos.y – anchorDim.height – iFrameDim.height > 0) { // Show above, formula above calculates space above open iFrame position.y = anchorPos.y – iFrameDim.height – anchorDim.height; topOrBottom = true; } _leoHighlightsDebugLog(“_leoHighlightsUpdatePopupPos() – topOrBottom: “+topOrBottom); if (topOrBottom) { // We attempt top attach the window to the element position.x = anchorPos.x – iFrameDim.width / 2; if (position.x < 0) position.x = 0; else if (position.x + iFrameDim.width > scrolledPos.x + centerDim.width) position.x = scrolledPos.x + centerDim.width – iFrameDim.width; _leoHighlightsDebugLog(“_leoHighlightsUpdatePopupPos() – topOrBottom: “+position); } else { // Attempt to align on the right or left hand side if (centerDim.width – anchorDim.width – iFrameDim.width – anchorScreenPos.x > 0) position.x = anchorPos.x + anchorDim.width; else if (anchorScreenPos.x – anchorDim.width – iFrameDim.width > 0) position.x = anchorPos.x – anchorDim.width; else // default to below position.y = anchorPos.y + anchorDim.height; _leoHighlightsDebugLog(“_leoHighlightsUpdatePopupPos() – sideBottom: “+position); } } /* Make sure that we don’t go passed the right hand border */ if(position.x+iFrameDim.width>centerDim.width-20) position.x=centerDim.width-(iFrameDim.width+20); // Make sure that we didn’t go passed the start if(position.x<0) position.x=0; if(position.y<0) position.y=0; _leoHighlightsDebugLog(“Popup info id: ” +iFrame.id+” – “+anchor.id + “\nscrolled ” + scrolledPos + “\ncenter/visible ” + centerDim + “\nanchor (absolute) ” + anchorPos + “\nanchor (screen) ” + anchorScreenPos + “\nSize (anchor) ” + anchorDim + “\nSize (popup) ” + iFrameDim + “\nResult pos ” + position); // Set the popup location iFrame.style.left = position.x + “px”; iFrame.style.top = position.y + “px”; } catch(e) { _leoHighlightsReportExeception(“_leoHighlightsUpdatePopupPos()”,e); }
} /** * This will show the passed in element as a popup * * @param anchorId * @param size * * @return */
function _leoHighlightsShowPopup(anchorId,size)
{ try { var popup=new LeoHighlightsPopup(anchorId,size); popup.show(); } catch(e) { _leoHighlightsReportExeception(“_leoHighlightsShowPopup()”,e); } } /** * This will transform the passed in url to a rover url * * @param url * @return */
function _leoHighlightsGetRoverUrl(url)
{ var rover=LEO_HIGHLIGHTS_ROVER_TAG; var roverUrl=”http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/”+rover+”/4?&mpre;=”+encodeURI(url); return roverUrl;
} /** * Sets the size of the bottom windown part * * @param size * @return */
function _leoHighlightsSetBottomSize(size,clickId)
{ /* Get the elements */ var iFrameBottom=_leoHighlightsFindElementById(LEO_HIGHLIGHTS_IFRAME_BOTTOM_ID); var iFrameDiv=_leoHighlightsFindElementById(LEO_HIGHLIGHTS_IFRAME_DIV_ID); /* Figure out the correct sizes */ var iFrameBottomSize=(size==1)?LEO_HIGHLIGHTS_IFRAME_BOTTOM_CLICK_SIZE:LEO_HIGHLIGHTS_IFRAME_BOTTOM_HOVER_SIZE; var divSize=(size==1)?LEO_HIGHLIGHTS_DIV_CLICK_SIZE:LEO_HIGHLIGHTS_DIV_HOVER_SIZE; /* Refresh the iFrame’s url, by removing the size arg and adding it again */ leoHighlightsUpdateUrl(iFrameBottom,size,clickId); /* Clear the hover flag, if the user shows this at full size */ _leoHighlightsPrevElem.hover=size==1?false:true; _leoHighlightsSetSize(iFrameBottom,iFrameBottomSize); _leoHighlightsSetSize(iFrameDiv,divSize);
} /** * Class for a Popup * * @param anchorId * @param size * * @return */
function LeoHighlightsPopup(anchorId,size)
{ try { _leoHighlightsDebugLog(“LeoHighlightsPopup() “); this.anchorId=anchorId; this.anchor=_leoHighlightsFindElementById(this.anchorId); this.topIframe=_leoHighlightsFindElementById(LEO_HIGHLIGHTS_IFRAME_TOP_ID); this.bottomIframe=_leoHighlightsFindElementById(LEO_HIGHLIGHTS_IFRAME_BOTTOM_ID); this.iFrameDiv=_leoHighlightsFindElementById(LEO_HIGHLIGHTS_IFRAME_DIV_ID); this.topIframe.src=unescape(this.anchor.getAttribute(‘leoHighlights_url_top’));; this.bottomIframe.src=unescape(this.anchor.getAttribute(‘leoHighlights_url_bottom’));; _leoHighlightsDebugLog(“1) LeoHighlightsPopup() (“+this.topIframe.style.top+”, “+this.topIframe.style.left+”)”); _leoHighlightsDebugLog(“2) LeoHighlightsPopup() (“+this.bottomIframe.style.top+”, “+this.bottomIframe.style.left+”)”); leoHighlightsSetSize(size); this.updatePos=function() { _leoHighlightsUpdatePopupPos(this.iFrameDiv,this.anchor)}; this.show=function() { this.updatePos(); this.iFrameDiv.style.visibility = “visible”; this.iFrameDiv.style.display = “block”; this.updatePos(); _leoHighlightsDebugLog(“3) LeoHighlightsPopup() (“+this.topIframe.style.top+”, “+this.topIframe.style.left+”)”); _leoHighlightsDebugLog(“4) LeoHighlightsPopup() (“+this.bottomIframe.style.top+”, “+this.bottomIframe.style.left+”)”); } this.scroll=function() { this.updatePos();}; } catch(e) { _leoHighlightsReportExeception(“new LeoHighlightsPopup()”,e); }
} /** * updates the url for the iFrame * * @param iFrame * @param size * @param clickId * @return */
function leoHighlightsUpdateUrl(iFrame,size,clickId,destUrl)
{ try { _leoHighlightsDebugLog(“leoHighlightsUpdateUrl() “+destUrl); var url=iFrame.src; var idx=url.indexOf(“&size;=”); if(idx>=0) url=url.substring(0,idx); // size=1; _leoHighlightsDebugLog(“leoHighlightsUpdateUrl() size=”+size+” “+url); if(size!=null) url+=(“&size;=”+size); if(clickId!=null) url+=(“&clickId;=”+clickId); if(destUrl!=null) url+=(“&url;=”+destUrl); _leoHighlightsDebugLog(“leoHighlightsUpdateUrl() “+url); iFrame.src=url; } catch(e) { _leoHighlightsReportExeception(“leoHighlightsUpdateUrl()”,e); }
} /**
*
* This can be used to close an iframe
*
* @param id
* @return
*/
function leoHighlightsSetSize(size,clickId)
{ try { /* Get the element */ var iFrameTop=_leoHighlightsFindElementById(LEO_HIGHLIGHTS_IFRAME_TOP_ID); /* Figure out the correct sizes */ var iFrameTopSize=LEO_HIGHLIGHTS_IFRAME_TOP_SIZE; /* Refresh the iFrame’s url, by removing the size arg and adding it again */ leoHighlightsUpdateUrl(iFrameTop,size,clickId); _leoHighlightsSetSize(iFrameTop,iFrameTopSize); _leoHighlightsSetBottomSize(size,clickId); /* Clear the hover flag, if the user shows this at full size */ if(size==1&&_leoHighlightsPrevElem) _leoHighlightsPrevElem.hover=false; } catch(e) { _leoHighlightsReportExeception(“leoHighlightsSetSize()”,e); }
} /** * Start the popup a little bit delayed. * Somehow IE needs some time to find the element by id. * * @param anchorId * @param size * * @return */
function leoHighlightsShowPopup(anchorId,size)
{ try { var elem=_leoHighlightsFindElementById(anchorId); if(_leoHighlightsPrevElem&&(_leoHighlightsPrevElem!=elem)) _leoHighlightsPrevElem.shown=false; elem.shown=true; _leoHighlightsPrevElem=elem; _leoHighlightsDebugLog(“leoHighlightsShowPopup() “+_leoHighlightsPrevElem); /* FF needs to find the element first */ _leoHighlightsFindElementById(anchorId); setTimeout(“_leoHighlightsShowPopup(\’”+anchorId+”\’,\’”+size+”\’);”,10); } catch(e) { _leoHighlightsReportExeception(“leoHighlightsShowPopup()”,e); } } /**
*
* This can be used to close an iframe
*
* @param id
* @return
*/
function leoHighlightsHideElem(id)
{ try { /* Get the appropriate sizes */ var elem=_leoHighlightsFindElementById(id); if(elem) elem.style.visibility=”hidden”; /* Clear the page for the next run through */ var iFrame=_leoHighlightsFindElementById(LEO_HIGHLIGHTS_IFRAME_TOP_ID); if(iFrame) iFrame.src=”about:blank”; var iFrame=_leoHighlightsFindElementById(LEO_HIGHLIGHTS_IFRAME_BOTTOM_ID); if(iFrame) iFrame.src=”about:blank”; if(_leoHighlightsPrevElem) { _leoHighlightsPrevElem.shown=false; _leoHighlightsPrevElem=null; } } catch(e) { _leoHighlightsReportExeception(“leoHighlightsHideElem()”,e); }
} /**
*
* This can be used to close an iframe.
* Since the iFrame is reused the frame only gets hidden
*
* @return
*/
function leoHighlightsIFrameClose()
{ try { _leoHighlightsSimpleGwCallBack(“LeoHighlightsHideIFrame”); } catch(e) { _leoHighlightsReportExeception(“leoHighlightsIFrameClose()”,e); }
} /** * This should handle the click events * * @param anchorId * @return */
function leoHighlightsHandleClick(anchorId)
{ try { if(_leoHighlightsIsFrame()) return false; var anchor=_leoHighlightsFindElementById(anchorId); anchor.hover=false; if(anchor.startTimer) clearTimeout(anchor.startTimer); /* Report the click event */ leoHighlightsReportEvent(“clicked”, window.document.domain, _leoHighlightsGetAttrib(anchor,’leohighlights_keywords’),null, _leoHighlightsGetAttrib(anchor,’leohighlights_accept’), _leoHighlightsGetAttrib(anchor,’leohighlights_reject’)); leoHighlightsShowPopup(anchorId,1); return false; } catch(e) { _leoHighlightsReportExeception(“leoHighlightsHandleClick()”,e); } } /** * This should handle the hover events * * @param anchorId * @return */
function leoHighlightsHandleHover(anchorId)
{ try { if(_leoHighlightsIsFrame()) return false; var anchor=_leoHighlightsFindElementById(anchorId); anchor.hover=true; /* Report the hover event */ leoHighlightsReportEvent(“hovered”, window.document.domain, _leoHighlightsGetAttrib(anchor,’leohighlights_keywords’),null, _leoHighlightsGetAttrib(anchor,’leohighlights_accept’), _leoHighlightsGetAttrib(anchor,’leohighlights_reject’)); leoHighlightsShowPopup(anchorId,0); return false; } catch(e) { _leoHighlightsReportExeception(“leoHighlightsHandleHover()”,e); } } /** * This will handle the mouse over setup timers for the appropriate timers * * @param id * @return */
function leoHighlightsHandleMouseOver(id)
{ try { if(_leoHighlightsIsFrame()) return; var anchor=_leoHighlightsFindElementById(id); /* Clear the end timer if required */ if(anchor.endTimer) clearTimeout(anchor.endTimer); anchor.endTimer=null; anchor.style.background=LEO_HIGHLIGHTS_BACKGROUND_STYLE_HOVER; /* The element is already showing we are done */ if(anchor.shown) return; /* Setup the start timer if required */ anchor.startTimer=setTimeout(function(){ leoHighlightsHandleHover(anchor.id); anchor.hover=true; }, LEO_HIGHLIGHTS_SHOW_DELAY_MS); } catch(e) { _leoHighlightsReportExeception(“leoHighlightsHandleMouseOver()”,e); }
} /** * This will handle the mouse over setup timers for the appropriate timers * * @param id * @return */
function leoHighlightsHandleMouseOut(id)
{ try { var anchor=_leoHighlightsFindElementById(id); /* Clear the start timer if required */ if(anchor.startTimer) clearTimeout(anchor.startTimer); anchor.startTimer=null; anchor.style.background=LEO_HIGHLIGHTS_BACKGROUND_STYLE_DEFAULT; if(!anchor.shown||!anchor.hover) return; /* Setup the start timer if required */ anchor.endTimer=setTimeout(function(){ leoHighlightsHideElem(LEO_HIGHLIGHTS_IFRAME_DIV_ID); anchor.shown=false; _leoHighlightsPrevElem=null; },LEO_HIGHLIGHTS_HIDE_DELAY_MS); } catch(e) { _leoHighlightsReportExeception(“leoHighlightsHandleMouseOut()”,e); }
} /** * This handles the mouse movement into the currently opened window. * Just clear the close timer * * @return */
function leoHighlightsHandleIFrameMouseOver()
{ try { if(_leoHighlightsPrevElem&&_leoHighlightsPrevElem.endTimer) clearTimeout(_leoHighlightsPrevElem.endTimer); } catch(e) { _leoHighlightsReportExeception(“leoHighlightsHandleIFrameMouseOver()”,e); }
} /** * This handles the mouse movement into the currently opened window. * Just clear the close timer * * @param id * @return */
function leoHighlightsHandleIFrameMouseOut()
{ try { if(_leoHighlightsPrevElem) leoHighlightsHandleMouseOut(_leoHighlightsPrevElem.id); } catch(e) { _leoHighlightsReportExeception(“leoHighlightsHandleIFrameMouseOut()”,e); }
}
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Admittedly, among debt programs, debt consolidation has the most differing reputation. On the one side, it is the best debt management program. But still, there are some that advise to steer clear of consolidating debts as it would only lead to worse debt problems. Despite the many debates, the question remains if it can really put an end to debt problems or is it just the start of a new cycle of debt. Finance experts agree that the first step to determining the truth about debt consolidation is understanding its role in managing debt. Debt consolidation is rolling all smaller separate loans into a single larger loan. This comes with a lower interest rates and a longer payment term. In effect, debt consolidation allows debtors to write a single check for paying the larger loan instead of writing different checks for different loans, hence, reducing total payment per month. There are also different ways in consolidating debt, and the most popular is transferring debts into one credit card account that has lower interest. Equity loans are also an option for debt consolidation. This is easy as most banks offer equity loans for homes, especially if the debtor can prove that he is capable of making regular payments. There are also lending companies that offer consolidation packages. However, all these options have drawbacks. They usually ask for processing fees and may have higher interest rates compared to the interest of the separate loans. Lending companies and banks might even require that the debtor put his house or any valuable property as collateral.

Debt consolidation, in this perspective, draws up a lot of advantages. It makes for easier payments, lower monthly dues, and at times, lower interests in the total consolidated debt. However, as with most debt programs, debt consolidation, as debt management option also has its disadvantages. First, in putting houses up as collateral, the debtor runs the risk of having his property foreclosed, in the event that he can’t settle his accounts. Also, if there is a longer term for payment, the total interest for the consolidated loan is possibly higher even if the monthly interest is significantly low. Therefore, the debtor does not really save more money but actually pays more money. Aside from these, the longer terms of payment would have the thought of the debt hanging over the debtor’s head for a longer time.

Joel Greenberg, a finance executive, advises debtors not to be blinded by the myths about debt programs, debt consolidation, or debt management promos. To identify the advantages and drawbacks of using these programs, Greenberg strongly suggest the use of calculators or debt management software to determine what option would be better. Computing the total payments and interest of both the individual loans in comparison with the consolidated loan will give you a clearer picture of your financial situation. Getting swayed by false advertisements is not a good way to save your credit and property.

Debt is part of business operations. It is highly inevitable and in any case, it is recommendable to borrow for the purpose of expanding your business. However, if you do not control or manage your liabilities carefully, they could sprawl out of control. If this happens, then it could become very hard to borrow because, your bad records would make the lenders to have a mistrusting attitude towards you.

When need arises, while you have business debt, you may still want to go for a loan. You need to identify the financial firms that deal with businesses that are overwhelmed with liabilities. If you have convincing reasons why you need the credit facility, then it should not be hard for the firm to extend it to you. The reasons could include, but not limited to training new personnel, expansion of the business as well as putting up new structures for the business.

The amount you qualify for will be determined by many factors, like the type of the loan you are applying for, whether it is secured or unsecured. For the secured ones, you will have to provide some form of collateral. The advantage is that you will pay lower interest rates. With the unsecured ones, you will be charged higher interest rates.

There are other types of business financing that exist. They are debt financing and the equity financing. The former refers to that financing you get from your local bank. The later refers to the investment you can get from external investor or from venture capital. The amount you qualify for will also depend on how much you can afford to pay for the installments every month.

Exactly when is the right time to consolidate anyway?  You hear a lot of debt consolidation pitches.  You read about the benefits of debt consolidation.  Does this mean you should consolidate because experts say it’s good for your finances?  This article will try to shed light on when debt consolidation is called for.

Simply put, the right time for debt consolidation would be when you’re having problems coping with multiple debts but are still in control of your finances.

As the old adage goes – “when your bank says no, our finance company says yes”.  Many unfortunate finance companies used this approach to woo customers during the bull market. Unfortunately, they said yes too many times and went bust. With all of the squirrelly behavior coming out of banks these days, it is hard to feel that you can trust them.

So who is out there to fund your company? Well is depends on what you want to do, but there are pockets of capital in the market.  We deal with companies that either are buying other companies or are growing very fast. In both of these cases, banks are frequently unable to provide all the money our clients need. They turn to us to help them find the best type of financing for them.  This often ends up being mezzanine financing.

Mezzanine financing is as its name implies sits in the middle – just like a mezzanine level at a football stadium.  It fills the gap between bank loans and the equity.  Mezzanine debt can help you do some very important things such as doubling or tripling the size and value of your company.  It lets you do things that banks are not comfortable letting you do. It involves paying a higher rate than a bank loan – about 12% and giving up an equity warrant in the company usually around 10%.  We have worked with many companies that have doubled, tripled or even quadrupled their value with mezzanine debt.  If you are looking to grow and struggling to find an alternative to your bank or costly equity, you should consider mezzanine debt.  Properly structured, it can be a very valuable resource to your company.

About Attract Capital

Attract Capital, LLC Attract Capital is an expert in measuring any company’s mezzanine debt capacity. Regardless of the type of business, its revenue size ($10 million to $100 million) or financial trend (strong, flat, uneven) – we bring life to a business’ mezzanine debt potential. Through creating this possibility of mezzanine debt financing, we greatly expand our client’s access to capital.

Small business owners can choose from two basic types of financing- debt and equity.  There are advantages and disadvantages of each type that may be used for different purposes. 

Before you seek start-up capital, organize your records as follows;

Gather you’re financial business records including tax returns Speak with business partners or family members about the sometimes uncomfortable     option of giving up partial control of the business to potential investors Request copies of your personal and any business credit reports  

Entrepreneurs who seek financing face a fundamental choice: Should they borrow funds or take in new investment capital? Since debt and equity are accounted for differently, each has a different impact on earnings, cash flow, and taxes. Each also has a different effect on leverage, dilution, and a host of other metrics by which businesses are measured. The planned use of funds will also affect the choice of financing, with one option more appropriate for certain uses than the other. 

Debt can be a loan, line of credit, bond, or even an IOU — any promise to repay borrowed amounts over a certain time with a specified interest rate and other terms. Debt is accounted for as a liability of the company, and interest payments are deductible business expenses. In the event of bankruptcy or insolvency, debt holders take priority over equity holders. 

For a small business, debt financing has both advantages and disadvantages. On the plus side, debt can be relatively simple to secure through a bank or other financial institution and is available with a broad range of terms, allowing you to customize the debt to meet your specific needs. And since most debt entails regularly scheduled payments of interest and often principal as well, debt is easy to plan around. Perhaps most important, debt, unlike equity, will not dilute your ownership interest in your company. 

On the minus side, however, financing with debt can be more expensive, and you will have to meet scheduled interest and principal payments regardless of your cash flow. Although loan terms can be negotiated to build in flexibility, ultimately the money must be paid back. 

Debt is most often used to fund a specific project or initiative that has an identifiable implementation time frame. It’s also used as a cash flow backup in the form of a revolving line of credit. To attract lenders, you will need to have a good personal and business credit history, sufficient cash flow to repay the loan, and/or sufficient collateral to offer as a second source of loan repayment. 

Equity differs from debt in that it represents a permanent ownership stake in the company. When you finance with equity, you are giving up a portion of your ownership interest in — and control of — the company in exchange for cash. Equity investors may demand dividends or a portion of annual profits. But most investors in small businesses seek long-term capital gains on their investment, meaning that at some point these investors may look to opt out. This can mean the eventual sale of the business or the need to bring in replacement investors in the future. 

The most common sources of equity financing for start-up entrepreneurs are personal savings or contributions from family, friends, and business associates. Many successful entrepreneurs find start-up money, grants and loans using all inclusive support centers such as Ethos Mentor, Business Finance.com or the Small Business Association (SBA).    

Venture or seed capital companies can also be sources of new capital, although they generally deal in larger financings. If your business is incorporated, anyone contributing equity capital would receive shares in the business. If it is a sole proprietorship or a partnership, they would receive an ownership share of the business. 

While equity financing can be used for many different purposes, it is usually used for long-term general funding and not tied to specific projects or time frames. The major disadvantage to equity financing is the dilution of your ownership interest and the possible loss of control. Moreover, equity investors in smaller businesses generally look for high returns over time to compensate for the risk. 

In practice, most businesses use a combination of debt and equity financing. The concern is getting the right balance. If you have too much debt, you may overextend your ability to service the debt and can be vulnerable to business downturns and changes in interest rates. On the other hand, too much equity dilutes your ownership interest and can expose you to outside control.  For more information visit www.EthosMentor.com

Financing a small business can be most time consuming activity for a business owner. It can be the most important part of growing a business, but one must be careful not to allow it to consume the business.  Finance is the relationship between cash, risk and value.  Manage each well and you will have healthy finance mix for your business.

Develop a business plan and loan package that has a well developed strategic plan, which in turn relates to realistic and believable financials.  Before you can finance a business, a project, an expansion or an acquisition, you must develop precisely what your finance needs are.
Finance your business from a position of strength.  As a business owner you show your confidence in the business by investing up to ten percent of your finance needs from your own coffers.  The remaining twenty to thirty percent of your cash needs can come from private investors or venture capital.  Remember, sweat equity is expected, but it is not a replacement for cash.

Depending on the valuation of your business and the risk involved, the private equity component will want on average a thirty to forty percent equity stake in your company for three to five years.  Giving up this equity position in your company, yet maintaining clear majority ownership, will give you leverage in the remaining sixty percent of your finance needs.               
The remaining finance can come in the form of long term debt, short term working capital, equipment finance and inventory finance.  By having a strong cash position in your company, a variety of lenders will be available to you.  It is advisable to hire an experienced commercial loan broker to do the finance “shopping” for you and present you with a variety of options.  It is important at this juncture that you obtain finance that fits your business needs and structures, instead of trying to force your structure into a financial instrument not ideally suited for your operations.     

Having a strong cash position in your company, the additional debt financing will not put an undue strain on your cash flow.  Sixty percent debt is a healthy. Debt finance can come in the form of unsecured finance, such as short-term debt, line of credit financing and long term debt.  Unsecured debt is typically called cash flow finance and requires credit worthiness.  Debt finance can also come in the form of secured or asset based finance, which can include accounts receivable, inventory, equipment, real estate, personal assets, letter of credit, and government guaranteed finance.  A customized mix of unsecured and secured debt, designed specifically around your company’s financial needs, is the advantage of having a strong cash position.
The cash flow statement is an important financial in tracking the effects of certain types of finance.  It is critical to have a firm handle on your monthly cash flow, along with the control and planning structure of a financial budget, to successfully plan and monitor your company’s finance.

Your finance plan is a result and part of your strategic planning process.  You need to be careful in matching your cash needs with your cash goals.  Using short term capital for long term growth and vice versa is a no-no.  Violating the matching rule can bring about high risk levels in the interest rate, re-finance possibilities and operational independence. Some deviation from this age old rule is permissible. For instance, if you have a long term need for working capital, then a permanent capital need may be warranted.  Another good finance strategy is having contingency capital on hand for freeing up your working capital needs and providing maximum flexibility.  For example, you can use a line of credit to get  into an opportunity that quickly arises and then arrange for cheaper, better suited, long term finance subsequently, planning all of this upfront with a lender.

Unfortunately finance is not typically addressed until a company is in crisis.  Plan ahead with an effective business plan and loan package.  Equity finance does not stress cash flow as debt can and gives lenders confidence to do business with your company.  Good financial structuring reduces the costs of capital and the finance risks. Consider using a business consultant, finance professional or loan broker to help you with your finance plan.

Firstly, what do I mean by a financial goal? For most of us, that would generally be a goal to either increase income or reduce consumer debt. Of course there may be times in our lives where we want to increase consumer debt to acquire goods and services sooner or to reduce our income as a trade off to have more time but in this article, let’s set those situations aside. In particular, let’s look at the scenario of reducing consumer debt by 50% in six months.

My standard formula for goal setting is to select a coach, have the required resources in place and to have a plan-A and a plan-B in place so let’s see how a financial goal fits in with this.

Selecting a financial coach these days is difficult indeed. Most financial advisors will only try to sell you products, thereby limiting their own risk in a highly litigious environment. If your goal is to reduce your personal debt by 50% in 6 months the financial advisor might be dismissive if there is no chance of selling a product into your situation.

Similarly, a debt financer will try and sell you a product that appears to reduce your debt but in fact does very little. Finally there are educators, who provide information but are prohibited by law to give financial advice. While they can give illustrations or tell you what they did, they cannot specifically advise you what to do and therefore cannot really be your coach.

I am aware, however, of some wealth creation companies that provide ‘integrated’ solutions providing all of the required professionals in a single meeting. By nature, however, the cost of this service is out of reach of many. One solution might be to use self-help websites and software to help resolve this situation, in conjunction with education and perhaps a visit to a financial advisor if necessary.

What resources do you need to reduce personal debt? Well first of all, you must be able to measure and control what you are spending. Yes, I am talking about the dreaded budget. With internet banking and plastic cards, it is relatively easy to download transactions from all of your banks and put them into a spreadsheet. I believe that the most important tool, however, is the banking system itself. With high interest-earning no-fee accounts available it is possible to use the banking system and the utilities to do a lot of the budget accounting for you.

The Plan-A is what you will do if you are on track to achieve your goal. Is there some kind of reward for achieving your goal? Clearly to reduce personal debt, you must have a system to control what you spend, so at a minimum a separate card account and bills account but more likely around 9 high interest no fee accounts and one card account per partner, preferably a debit card (or secured credit card).

The Plan-B is to identify the biggest risk and what to do if it happens. If, for example, you think that your car might need $1,000 of repairs but you can’t set aside that much money over the next 6 months, what will you do? Will you change the deadline, or cut costs in other areas? Can you do without a car?

Finally, tracking a financial goal and measuring the level of success is straight-forward when you have the right tools in place, such as internet banking.

People tend to fear from the word bad debt. It tarnishes the image of a person. But not everyone gets into bad debts knowingly. There may be some problems which may have led to bad debts. Bad debts are the leading reasons of creating blemish in your credit report. So, if you want to apply for loans in case of financial urgencies then there may be lesser people willing to give you a loan. But thanks to bad debt loans that one can easily get financial assistance in spite of an adverse credit history. Sometimes, it may so happen that you want to clear all the previous debts but can’t do that. At such times, bad debt financing can be useful to consolidate multiple loans.

Bad debt loan can be availed for personal as well as business use. These loans may be secured or unsecured depending upon the terms and circumstances. If you have an adverse credit history then you will be given the option of secured loan. And the valuable assets like home, car etc. must be kept as security with the lender. In case of poor credit history, you will be charged higher interest rates. However, if you have good financial position in present then you can get the terms in your favour.

One can use a bad debt loan for many purposes like debt consolidation, holiday, wedding, starting a new business, buying an asset etc. If you want to opt for unsecured loans, then too you can do that. Mostly, business people opt for unsecured debt loans. This is risk free financing and helps the borrower to take up his work smoothly. This loan amount can be used for smooth working of the business. And these are unsecured loans and so you are not required to keep any valuable assets as security.

In general, debt financing involves raising money for business purposes in exchange for promised principal and interest payments. There are multiple types of debt financing available to commercial real estate and other business owners from a variety of lenders, including banks, pension funds, insurance companies, and other financial institutions. Each type of debt has its own function, terms, risk, cost and maturity. The job of the financing experts at Remington is to work with both sides of a commercial transaction to creatively mix and match these options with the interests of all the parties in ways that will secure the best possible rates and terms consistent with client needs and market conditions.

In the typical capital structure for commercial real estate, senior debt usually accounts for 50-70% of the capital stack. By definition, senior debt is just that. It is senior to equity and all other forms of mezzanine (junior, subordinated) debt. As such, senior debt stands first in line before all other creditors for interest and principal payments and, in the event of liquidation, the repayment of debt. Most senior debt on commercial real estate is amortized over 15 to 40 years, with interest rates, either fixed or floating. Rates tend to be based on the quality of the collateral involved and the propertys historic cash flow, with higher rates tied to the degree of risk involved.

Many commercial real estate loans mature in three to ten years, resulting in a balloon payment at the end of the term. Remington professionals are equally adept, however, at securing financing across the capital stack for virtually any business purpose, with or without the involvement of real estate, including loans for expansion, working capital, operating capital, investment capital, etc.

By and large, asset-based business loans have lower interest rates than unsecured loans and may be tied to the particular asset being purchased or other assets of the borrower.

Fixed Rate Loans: Fixed rate loans offer borrowers an unchanging rate of interest, with predictable payments for the life of the loan. Because of strong relationships with public and private sources of capital, many opportunities exist for the financing experts at Remington to negotiate with lenders on transaction terms for such loans, particularly interest rates, as well as maturity and prepayment penalties. All of which assures Remington clients of the best possible and lowest-cost financing package available.

Floating Rate Loans: Floating rate loans are typically tied to the London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) plus some point spread over the base rate. Attractive to borrowers with a two-to-four year financing requirement, floating rate loans are adjusted periodically, have minimum or no prepayment penalties, and cost less than fix rate loans because of the risk of rising interest rates. This type of loan has been particularly popular of late because of the historically low interest rates experienced in recent years. Remington professionals are highly experienced in securing such short-term financing or employing it as an integral part of a longer-term overall financing strategy.

Construction Loans: Commercial construction loans typically are short-term loans used to finance the cost of building new warehouses, industrial buildings, retail centers, apartment complexes or other properties destined to be sold or rented to others or operated by the owners. These loans tend to be varied, depending on the project, construction time, and borrowers experience. They are meant to be paid off when construction is completed and a certificate of occupancy issued. Borrowers usually require another mortgage to pay off the construction loan when it comes due. Thus the overall process may entail two loan applications with their associated fees and closings a potentially complex and time-consuming process that the experienced financing professionals at Remington can coordinate, facilitate and expedite. For more information on construction loans click here.

Bridge Loans: The bridge loan is a form of financing that bridges the gap between funds needed now and when longer-term financing becomes available. It can be a key component in an owners long-term financing strategy, particularly for those faced with a here-and-now opportunity or other situation, such as improving or selling a property.

Real estate owners often come to Remington to help secure a bridge loan to purchase a second property before the sale of the first property closes, with proceeds from the sale used to pay off the bridge loan. This illustrates the important exit strategy borrowers must have before an investor makes a bridge loan. In the foregoing example, the investor would need to see a signed sales agreement spelling out where, when, and how the bridge loan will be repaid.

Bridge financing almost always needs to be arranged and closed quickly. Such loans tend to be for 6 to 12 months with a possible 12-month extension. They are usually structured as simple interest only loans with no pre-payment penalty and all principal due in full at maturity. Risk to the investor is minimal since the loans are underwritten based on existing equity in the property and a defined exit strategy.

Because of the owners need for timeliness, banks and other institutional lenders are not usually effective when it comes to bridge loans. That is why the Capital Markets Group at Remington provides access to investors capable of making on-the-spot decisions. Included among these investors are hedge funds, private equity groups, mortgage pools and other sources of private capital. For information on hard money loans, another type of short-term loan, click here.

Hard Money Loans: There is another type of short-term loan that is similar to the bridge loan in some ways but substantially different in others. It is called the hard money loan. Hard money loans and bridge loans are similar in that both types can be quick to close. Both may be needed for a short period of time. And both undergo limited or less severe underwriting processes. But, while the bridge loan investor requires a definite exit strategy, the hard money source may not. Moreover, bridge loans frequently have a loan to value ratio of 70-95%, whereas hard money loans will not exceed 50% LTV.

Hard money loans also are generally more expensive. Unlike bridge loans, which focus on exit strategy, hard money investors emphasize collateral, making certain enough collateral exists to collect the debt in the event of default. Because the two types of loans have similarities, borrowers frequently misjudge which is best for them. More than three-fourths of those who say they want a bridge loan qualify only for a hard money loan because, for example, the borrower has less-than-average credit, a modest financial statement, too little experience in commercial real estate, or no defined exit strategy. The financing experts at Remington can quickly sort out any such confusion and quickly align the client with the appropriate type of financing and related investor.