Top Financial Services Sites ranked by Media Metrix based on impressions

1. Moneynest.com 2. Bankrate.com Sites 3. VANGUARD.COM 4. INSWEB.COM 5. PROGRESSIVE.COM 6. GEICO.COM 7. COUNTRYWIDE.COM 8. LENDINGTREE.COM 9. STATEFARM.COM 10. ELOAN.COM 11. MADISONFINANCIALGROUP.COM 12. CONSECO.COM 13. METLIFE.COM 14. QUICKENLOANS.COM 15. INSURE.COM 16. MORTGAGEEXPO.COM 17. AMERIQUESTMORTGAGE.COM 18. MYONLINECREDIT.COM 19. ABOUT.COM Business and Finance 20. THEHARTFORD.COM

Here is Top9.com's list of top online lenders based on # of unique visitors.

getsmart.com - borrowers marketplace lendingtree.com - loan marketplace creditprovider.com - credit specialist eloan.com - consumer loans and debt management countrywide.com - home specialist (also has a Spanish language site) moneynest.com - financial marketplace peoplefirst.com - largest online vehicle lender interest.com - mortgage specialist ditech.com - direct mortgage lender (also has a Spanish language site)

If you want to know who offers best in certain categories such as price or service for mortgages, our trusted research firm Gomez has ranked Top Internet Mortgage Sites for Q1 2002 ranked by Overall Score. http://www.gomez.com/scorecards/index.asp?topcat_id=39&subSect=finance

Firm Score 1. IndyMac Bank Home Lending (review) 6.99 2. Countrywide Home Loans (review) 6.28 3. E-Loan (review) 5.81 4. E*Trade Mortgage (review) 5.73 5. CitiMortgage (review) 5.39 6. Mortgagebot.com (review) 5.02 7. Quicken Loans (review) 4.80 8. Charter One Direct (review) 4.64 9. East West Mortgage (review) 4.61 10. ditech.com (review) 4.45 11. WaMuHomeLoans (review) 4.43 12. First Union / Wachovia Mortgage (review) 4.30 13. GMAC Mortgage (review) 4.26 14. PHH Mortgage Services (review) 4.26 15. Regions Mortgage (review) 3.50

And as a closing note, many of "money" providers listed above are exactly that and more. They not only provide you with loaned money for your home, but will also finance your car, credit card consolidation, give you free credit reports etc. So while we have tried to keep our focus narrow, in future articles we will look at other services for credit cards and cars, etc.

Large loan decisions deserve a clear-headed comparison of products and prices so that you can get best deal possible - nothing delivers this better than online "emoney" comparison shopping. Enjoy!

A factor to consider also: If you are not registered for G.S.T. in Canada, you are telling your clients that you do under $30,000.00 per year in taxable sales or that you cheat. Is this image you want your clients to have?

3. Could You Benefit From Incorporating Your Business?

Although incorporating your business may result in increased accounting and legal fees (for setup, extra tax returns, and annual minutes), advantages of incorporation may justify this added expense. Not only will you enjoy limited liability by incorporating, but you may reap significant tax savings as well.

Corporations are often subject to lower tax rates on small business income. In Canada, sales of shares of qualifying small business corporations can obtain a lifetime $500,000.00 capital gains exemption. Certain tax incentives and government programs are only available to incorporated entities. Additionally, corporations can be used for income-splitting and estate, retirement, and succession planning objectives.

4. Do You Engage in Tax Planning Year-Round?

Some people only worry about their taxes during tax season. However, you will save a fortune in taxes, legally, if you make tax planning your year-round concern.

Can you make some changes to turn your hobby into a moneymaking business? Can you use that extra room in your house as a home office for your business? Can you arrange to use your car more for business purposes and have you documented your business use mileage? Can you arrange for more of your entertainment expenses to be business related and have you listed business purpose on back of each receipt?

Do you make business and personal purchases, investments, and other expenditures with tax savings in mind. Do you document your expenses well so that you they would survive a tax audit? Whenever you are faced with a business or personal financial decision, do you consider tax consequences? Make year-round tax planning part of your business management mindset and, thus, enjoy maximum tax savings. Yes, by rearranging your affairs to account for tax implications, you will save a fortune in taxes.

J. Stephen Pope, President of Pope Consulting Inc., http://www.popeconsultinginc.com/ has been helping clients to earn maximum business profits for over twenty years.