Fred Harteis-Debunking credit-score myths
Fred Harteis Editors Note: I really liked this article because there are things that we hear about what effects our credit score that might not necessarily be true. This article gives some great tips about keeping your credit score top notch.
According to a recent survey conducted by GMAC Mortgage, 62 percent of consumers do not realize that a score of 620 or better means you can become eligible for getting the best possible mortgage rate.
"It really shows how little the consumer understands about what goes into a credit score and how it affects their home financing," said Paul Fein, the senior vice president and southeast divisional manager for GMAC Mortgage.
The survey, which polled 1,000 households during the month of May, also showed that many misconceptions about credit ratings persist among consumers. More than 50 percent of consumers answered that a rise in income means a better credit score when in fact credit scores do not take into account your income -- just your ability to pay.
Your credit rating, which can range from the worst possible score of a 300 to a perfect 850, is determined by a number of factors.
While the timeliness of your payments counts, the number of credit lines you might have and the length an account has been open all have a hand in determining that three-digit number.
The two factors that have the biggest impact on your score, said Fein, is the consistency and amount allocated towards paying off your debts over time and the amount of credit outstanding relative to total available credit.
Having a low score could cost you money when it comes to figuring out your mortgage payments.
Let's assume you have two identical home mortgage applicants -- one with a score of 640 and the other with a credit rating right at the magic number of 620.
According to MyFico.com, a credit information company, that 20 point difference turned into a little over half of a percentage point on the mortgage rate. The better credit risk could have gotten a $150,000 30-year fixed rate mortgage for 6.38 percent. The other guy would have to pay 6.92 percent, or $54 more per month and $648 more per year.


That is a huge difference over the life of the loan. Take all of the steps you can to increase your credit score number. It will definitely pay off in the long run.

Source: cnn.com

About Fred: Fred Harteis is the president of The I Team Organization. Fred Harteis provides Team Business Series as a service to small business owners.

Fred Harteis - Trying for the Triple Play
Fred Harteis Note: This article is very interesting if you are considering broad band or any telecommunication services.
A new survey conducted by InsightExpress on behalf of SupportSoft found that 82% of broadband users are interested in receiving "triple play" services — voice, video and high-speed data services — from a single provider.
The growing desire for triple play services from one service provider is likely to increase the competition between cable providers and telecommunications companies.
Currently, eMarketer estimates that the average US household spends between $100 and $200 per month on voice, video and data services, so it's not surprising that the competition between the telecom and cable industries is already heated. eMarketer expects that cable broadband households will continue to outnumber DSL households through 2008, although the number of DSL households will grow faster.
The "triple play" survey contains good and bad news for both cable providers and telecoms.
First, the good news, customers not only want the service, they think it will be an improvement. When asked about whether they felt customer service would change if they received triple play services from one provider, 37% thought it would "improve" or "improve significantly." Only 17.5% thought it would get worse. The reason most often cited for switching to a single provider was that it would be "more convenient overall," followed by "one bill to pay for all three services." Obviously, convenience is a key factor.
But, on the down side, there are switching barriers. Both cable and DSL high-speed data customers expect problems when installing VoIP or IPTV. Among cable broadband customers, 68% anticipate some sort of issue when installing VoIP, and 60% of DSL subscribers expect to encounter problems during IPTV installation.
Furthermore, over two-thirds of broadband users are unsure or wrong about how VoIP and IPTV services will be installed.
"The survey findings indicate that there is an opportunity for both DSL and cable providers to gain competitive advantage by meeting or exceeding customer expectations for triple play service and convenience, starting at the point of installation," says Chris Grejtak, senior vice president at SupportSoft. "More than just a competitive advantage, customer service is a critical requirement in combined IP-based voice, video and high-speed data delivery."

Source: emarketer.com

About : Fred Harteis provides Team Business Series as a service to small business owners. Fred Harteis is president of I Team .

Fred Harteis News Series - Money and happiness: How tight the bond?
Fred Harteis Editors Note: I thought this article was very interesting because most of us believe that the more money we have the happier we will be but according to this article that is not necessarily true.
If you think financial success is important but you haven't quite achieved it – at least not relative to those you know - here's something you might not want to think about on your summer vacation: Your desire for more money and your conviction that your life would be so much better if you had it.
It's true that those with more money (as a group anyway) register higher levels of satisfaction with life than those with less, but not by nearly as much as you might think.
For example, if you make twice what you used to make, your level of satisfaction likely would be somewhat higher, but not twice as high.
What's more, one study shows that setting financial success as a goal can itself make you somewhat less happy.
An article in Psychological Science called "Zeroing in on the Dark Side of the American Dream" looked at results from a study done on more than 12,000 people from their freshman year in college through their late 30s.
With the exception of adults making over $290,000, those who said financial success was important were less happy than those in their income groups who thought it wasn't important.
The lower a respondent's household income, the more negatively his or her happiness was affected by valuing financial success. (The negative effect became negligible for those making over $87,500.)
"If you're not making money, it's much better to be convinced it's not important," said Norbert Schwarz, a professor of psychology at the University of Michigan who coauthored the study.
Is it really all relative?
There's also a school of thought that says how much money you have in absolute terms isn't as important for happiness as how much you have compared to everyone else. So getting more money may make you a little happier, but getting more money than others will make you a lot happier.
When a group of MBAs were asked whether they'd rather make $100,000 when everyone around them made $120,000, or make $90,000 when everyone around them made $70,000, a majority opted for the lesser salary if everyone at the company knew about the discrepancy, Schwarz said. But if the salary discrepancies were kept confidential, about half said they'd opt for the $100,000 job.
Not to be contrarian, but I'd prefer the $100,000 job either way. And when I informally surveyed a group of people, the majority said that they also would prefer the $100,000 job, even if the salary discrepancy were known -- and yes, some even had MBAs.

Source: Cnn.com

About:Fred Harteis provides Team Business Series as a service to small business owners. Fred Harteis is president of I Team.

Fred Harteis News - A Quixtar Artistry Review: Greg Duncan WWDB
Fred Harteis Editors Note: This business series is regarding Quixtar’s Artistry Products. I thought this was a great article because The Artistry line produces some of the best make up around. Once you start using it you will fall in love with it. Anyone looking for a great line of cosmetics might find this article interesting.


“ARTISTRY is a great brand that has proven vital to our IBOAI Trade Association members’, Independent Business Owners (Quixtar IBOs) powered by Quixtar, businesses,” says Greg Duncan. “Artistry offers products that meet the different needs and beauty requirements of women around the world.”
“Those who have taken advantage of ARTISTRY business opportunities can be confident that they’re backed by a leading brand with proven products that subscribe to the highest quality standards,” continues Greg Duncan.
“The ARTISTRY research and product development team uses state-of-the-art equipment in product development and testing,” states Greg Duncan. “Many are highly accomplished specialists in key areas such as acne treatment, photo-aging or sun damage. All are leaders in the field of skin science and are dedicated to understanding every aspect of the skin, especially on issues of aging and how skin protects and repairs itself” notes Duncan.
The two new classic shades of ARTISTRY (www.artistry.com) Powder Blush – Posh and Sheer Petal are wonderful additions to the Artistry co lour cosmetics line. The fresh plum of Artistry Posh Powder Blush makes cheeks radiant with a soft shimmer, while Artistry Sheer Petal Powder Blush gives your face a natural, pale pink glow that lasts all day. Lightweight talc blends in effortlessly while concentrated pigments offer radiant colour.
“ARTISTRY products are available exclusively from our Trade Association members, Independent Business Owners (IBOs) in the United States and Canada, powered by Quixtar,” says Greg Duncan.


About the IBOAI

IBOAI, official trade association, lead by 2005 board president, Billy Florence, with past president Fred Harteis , vice president Greg Duncan, treasurer Don Wilson serves and protects the business interests of Quixtar powered IBO’s (Quixtar IBOs) throughout North America.

Greg Duncan leads WWDB, World Wide Dream Builders , Fred Harteis leads the I Team Organization.

Fred Harteis blog provided by Esource News News

Fred Business and Technology Series - Internet "Most Trustworthy" for Health Information
Fred Harteis Editors Note: This is a great article for anyone who searches for Health Information on line. I find the Health information sites very helpful. Anyone with an interest in the internet and internet searching might benefit from this article.
A new study of attitudes concerning healthcare information finds that consumers view the Internet as the most trusted media source.
That's right. Not television, not magazines, not newspapers, not radio — consumers trust the health information they find online over any other media.
A new study conducted by Nielsen//NetRatings, and sponsored by the Medical Broadcasting Company, found that second to only their personal physicians, consumers trust the Internet when it comes to health information.
In a survey, 42% of respondents said they trusted health information they found on the Internet, compared to just 16% for information found in "offline" media, including TV, newspapers, radio and magazines. Consumers are also taking advantage of the depth of health information on the Internet. More than 85% said they look at two or more Web sites when searching for health information.
"In increasing numbers, patients and consumers are using the Internet, searching multiple websites to find and consume the most reliable information," said Linda Holliday, president of MBC.
Ms. Holliday questioned marketer's media spending allocations, given Internet usage. "We're surprised that spending on Internet marketing still lags so far behind actual use," she said. "The Internet is an undeniable solution for pharmaceutical marketers."
Nearly one-third of respondents said they use the Internet to visit pharmaceutical company Web sites for information about prescription products. But that is not where most consumers go for online healthcare information. In fact, recent data from BURST! Media listed them last among the sites usually visited for healthcare information.
In addition, over 65% of the respondents in the Nielsen//NetRatings survey said that they use the Internet to research important health topics before and after they visit a doctor.
Source: emarketer.com

About Fred
Information: Fred Harteis leads i Team. With a background in construction and agri-business laid Fred Harteisbusiness foundation.