4.Shred any receipts and documents containing account numbers, policy numbers, or other personal information that could aid a thief in taking your identity. Trash diggers are known to target dumpsters for personal financial information.

5.Opt out of pre-approved credit card offers. You can opt out of receiving these annoying and potentially dangerous offers simply by calling toll-free at 1-888-5-OPT-OUT (1-888-567-8688). You will be mailed a form asking for your Social Security Number, however, in this case, it?s safe to give it to them so they can remove you from their database.

Don't let someone else live a life of leisure at your expense. Taking these simple steps to protect your identity will pay off for you long term by saving you countless hours of time and aggravation trying to restore your credit and your good name.

Monica Ricci has been an organizing specialist since 1999, and her motivational presentations teach effective organizing and simplifying techniques for home and work. She also offers free email tips and ideas on how to make life simpler and more organized. Her topics include clutter control, paper management, time management, organizing space and procrastination.Contact Monica at 770-569-2642 or Monica@CatalystOrganizing.com.

The key is advice you’re getting. And fact is that many brokerage houses and Registered Representatives tend to be more interested in their profits than yours. Their investment advice is generally centered around Buy and Hold or dollar cost averaging and similar financially questionable recommendations. Hardly ever will you receive advice about when and why you should exit market, either because of accumulated profits or to limit your losses. Getting out of market is simply not in their best interest, though it may be in yours.

I must confess that, as a fee based advisor, I am somewhat biased and I prefer no load funds for my clients. I believe that this type of arrangement is best for all parties involved. It allows me to avoid any conflict of interest and to work exclusively for my clients’ financial benefit. And better my clients do, better I do.

I am able to choose no load funds and make buy decisions solely on basis of my mutual fund trend tracking methodology. Following its signals, I can get clients into market or out of it as often as is necessary to maximize profit or protect assets. And because I work with no load funds, other than a very occasional short term redemption fee, there are no transaction charges no matter how many times we move into or out of market.

If market conditions dictate that we stand aside in a money market for an extended time in order to avoid a bear market (as was case from 10/13/2000 to 4/28/2003), I can advise that because it is in best interest of my client. I am always thinking about what will benefit my client, not worrying about lost commissions. (Please see my article “How we eluded Bear in 2000” at http://www.successful-investment.com/articles12.htm).

Bottom line: Load fund vs. No Load mutual fund shouldn’t be issue. Having a methodical plan and reliable advice as to when to buy and when to sell is far more important and will help you to secure a prosperous financial future.

© by Ulli G. Niemann