Bold Money Conversations That Can Change Your Life

[post_style_7]I recently returned from Kendall SummerHawk's Feminine Money Mastery event, where women from all around the globe (and a few cool guys as well) gathered to improve their relationship with money. One of the most interesting aspects of this conference for me was learning to identify where we need to have "courageous money conversations" in our lives. These conversations are the ones we often avoid, as they bring up all sorts of disempowering money beliefs. We discussed how to make these conversations a routine practice and give them a methodology so that they aren't as daunting to embark upon.

Powerful conversations can follow a format that eases some of the tension. Follow these steps and engage in, rather than avoid, the money talks that change your life.

1. Take a moment before the conversation to breathe and set your intention for the way you want the discourse to go. Decide on the outcome you want ahead of time and be very clear in your own mind before the other person is present.

2. Be free from emotion and set the agenda with the other party. Inform them as to the reason for the discussion, the outcome you desire, and the discussion points you plan to cover.

3. Stop and listen. Make sure the other party has a chance to say their piece and that they know you hear them. Repeat back and summarize their ideas - whatever you can do to establish that you understand what they are saying.

4. Offer several options for resolving the situation in various ways, if at all possible.

Find agreement, even if it's to go to another decision-maker, and detail the subsequent steps, including who will do what, by when. Be sure to close the conversation positively.

After returning home from the conference, I immediately put this methodology to use and had two such conversations. I have been breathing a sigh of relief ever since! While it is important to take on these conversations under any circumstances, if you are intent on making a career shift or growing your business, this is a skill that is especially helpful and will pull you forward dramatically.

When you avoid courageous money conversations, you can be inadvertently sabotaging your own success. For example, a mom was recently telling me about her daughter, who has a job she loves. She is appreciated by her employer, coworkers, and customers, and received a promotion four months ago. She has not, however, received a salary increase to go with the promotion. Instead of having the conversation that needs to be had about the salary increase, she decided to look for another job. Objectively, this seems ridiculous, but she is so averse to having the necessary salary conversation that she has created a story in her head about what this all means and is taking a somewhat misguided action in response. For her, she believes it may actually be easier to land a new position than to have a money conversation where she would be championing her value to the company.

Similar to this case, when I work with clients, I often see two primary challenges:

1. Putting a voice to owning their value, and believing it as well. Examples include stating their fees, saying no to a discounted fee, or negotiating their salary.

2. Speaking honestly about an issue that makes them feel vulnerable. For example, discussing business plans with a spouse or renegotiating a loan they are having trouble paying.

Of course, taking a stance for your money will feel awkward at first. However, once you get a few of these conversations under your belt, you will be looking ahead for the next one! It's about building a muscle over time that will increase your power across the board. Don't be afraid to jump in headfirst - I promise you will be glad you did.


Michelle is the CEO and founder of Limit Free Life®, a coaching and personal development company designed to help clients discover and transition into careers or business ventures that satisfy their souls. As a former CPA, business consultant and now a certified business coach,she combines a strong background in finance and transition management with an intuitive coaching style.



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Bitcoin Vs Goldcoin

Bitcoin... Monetary Nirvana?
If you don't know what Bitcoin is, do a bit of research on the internet, and you will get plenty... but the short story is that Bitcoin was created as a medium of exchange, without a central bank or bank of issue being involved. Furthermore, Bitcoin transactions are supposed to be private, that is anonymous. Most interestingly, Bitcoins have no real world existence; they exist only in computer software, as a kind of virtual reality.
The general idea is that Bitcoins are 'mined'... interesting term here... by solving an increasingly difficult mathematical formula -more difficult as more Bitcoins are 'mined' into existence; again interesting- on a computer. Once created, the new Bitcoin is put into an electronic 'wallet'. It is then possible to trade real goods or Fiat currency for Bitcoins... and vice versa. Furthermore, as there is no central issuer of Bitcoins, it is all highly distributed, thus resistant to being 'managed' by authority.
Naturally proponents of Bitcoin, those who benefit from the growth of Bitcoin, insist rather loudly that 'for sure, Bitcoin is money'... and not only that, but 'it is the best money ever, the money of the future', etc... Well, the proponents of Fiat shout just as loudly that paper currency is money... and we all know that Fiat paper is not money by any means, as it lacks the most important attributes of real money. The question then is does Bitcoin even qualify as money... never mind it being the money of the future, or the best money ever.
To find out, let's look at the attributes that define money, and see if Bitcoin qualifies. The three essential attributes of money are;
1) money is a stable store of value; the most essential attribute, as without stability of value the function of numeraire, or unit of measure of value, fails.
2) money is the numeraire, the unit of account.
3) money is a medium of exchange... but other things can also fulfill this function ie direct barter, the 'netting out' of goods exchanged. Also 'trade goods' (chits) that hold value temporarily; and finally exchange of mutual credit; ie netting out the value of promises fulfilled by exchanging bills or IOU's.
Compared to Fiat, Bitcoin does not do too badly as a medium of exchange. Fiat is only accepted in the geographic domain of its issuer. Dollars are no good in Europe etc. Bitcoin is accepted internationally. On the other hand, very few retailers currently accept payment in Bitcoin. Unless the acceptance grows geometrically, Fiat wins... although at the cost of exchange between countries.
The first condition is a lot tougher; money must be a stable store of value... now Bitcoins have gone from a 'value' of $3.00 to around $1,000, in just a few years. This is about as far from being a 'stable store of value'; as you can get! Indeed, such gains are a perfect example of a speculative boom... like Dutch tulip bulbs, or junior mining companies, or Nortel stocks.
Of course, Fiat fails here as well; for example, the US Dollar, the 'main' Fiat, has lost over 95% of its value in a few decades... neither fiat nor Bitcoin qualify in the most important measure of money; the capacity to store value and preserve value through time. Real money, that is Gold, has shown the ability to hold value not just for centuries, but for eons. Neither Fiat nor Bitcoin has this crucial capacity... both fail as money.
Finally, we come to the second attribute; that of being the numeraire. Now this is really interesting, and we can see why both Bitcoin and Fiat fail as money, by looking closely at the question of the 'numeraire'. Numeraire refers to the use of money to not only store value, but to in a sense measure, or compare value. In Austrian economics, it is considered impossible to actually measure value; after all, value resides only in human consciousness... and how can anything in consciousness actually be measured? Nevertheless, through the principle of Mengerian market action, that is interaction between bid and offer, market prices can be established... if only momentarily... and this market price is expressed in terms of the numeraire, the most marketable good, that is money.
So how do we establish the value of Fiat... ? Through the concept of 'purchasing power'... that is, the value of Fiat is determined by what it can be traded for... a so called 'basket of goods'. But his clearly implies that Fiat has no value of its own, rather value flows from the value of the goods and services it may be traded for. Causality flows from the goods 'bought' to the Fiat number. After all, what difference is there between a one Dollar bill and a hundred Dollar bill, except the number printed on it... and the purchasing power of the number?
Gold, on the other hand, is not measured by what it trades for; rather, uniquely, it is measured by another physical standard; by its weight, or mass. A gram of Gold is a gram of gold, and an ounce of Gold is an ounce of Gold... no matter what number is engraved on its surface, 'face value' or otherwise. Causality is the opposite to that of Fiat; Gold is measured by weight, an intrinsic quality... not by purchasing power. Now, have you any idea of the value of an ounce of Dollars? No such thing. Fiat is only 'measured' by an ephemeral quantity... the number printed on it, the 'face value'.
Bitcoin is farther away from being the numeraire; not only is it simply a number, much as Fiat... but its value is measured in Fiat! Even if Bitcoin becomes internationally accepted as a medium of exchange, and even if it manages to replace the Dollar as the accepted 'numeraire', it can never have an intrinsic measure like Gold has. Gold is unique in being measured by a true, unchanging physical quantity. Gold is unique in storing value for thousands of years. Nothing else in reach of humanity has this unique combination of qualities.
In conclusion, while Bitcoin has some advantages over Fiat, namely anonymity and decentralization, it fails in its claim to being money. Its advantages are also questionable; the intent is to limit the 'mining' of Bitcoins to 26,000,000 units; that is, the 'mining' algorithm gets harder and harder to solve, then impossible after the 26 million Bitcoins are mined. Unfortunately, this announcement could very well be the death knell of Bitcoin; already, some central banks have announced that Bitcoins may become a 'reservable' currency.
Wow, sounds like a major step for Bitcoin, does it not? After all, the 'big banks' seem to be accepting the true value of the Bitcoin, no? What this actually means is banks recognize that they could trade Fiat for Bitcoins... and to actually buy up the 26 million Bitcoins planned would cost a meagre 26 Billion Fiat Dollars. Twenty six billion Dollars is not even small change to the Fiat printers; it is about a week's worth of printing by the US Fed alone. And, once the Bitcoins bought up and locked up in the Fed's 'wallet'... what useful purpose could they serve?
There would be no Bitcoins left in circulation; a perfect corner. If there are no Bitcoins in circulation, how on Earth could they be used as a medium of exchange? And, what could the issuers of Bitcoin possibly do to defend against such a fate? Change the algorithm and increase the 26 million to... 52 million? To 104 million? Join the Fiat printing parade? But then, by the quantity theory of money, Bitcoin would start to lose value, just as Fiat supposedly loses value through 'over-printing'...
We come to the key issue; why search for a 'new money' when we already have the very best money, Gold? Fear of Gold confiscation? Lack of anonymity from an intrusive government? Brutal taxation? Fiat money legal tender laws? All of the above. The answer is not in a new form of money, but in a new social structure, one without Fiat, without Government spying, without drones and swat teams... without IRS, border guards, TSA thugs... on and on. A world of liberty not tyranny. Once this is accomplished, Gold will resume its ancient and vital role as honest money... and not a moment before.
Rudy J. Fritsch was born in Hungary in 1947, and fled Socialist tyranny during the Hungarian Revolution of 1956. His family had lived through WWII and the consequent Hungarian hyperinflation, thus he has intimate experience with financial destruction.
As an engineer and entrepreneur, he ran a successful family business in Canada for decades, at its peak employing over 100 workers, until economic upheaval destroyed the profitability of North American manufacturing. Driven out of business, he decided to study economics... to discover the cause of this unhappy circumstance.
As mainstream economics "The Dismal Science" made no sense to him, he ended up studying Austrian economics, the only school of economics grounded in the realities of Human Action. When he discovered Professor Antal Fekete's work he came to admire it and made a firm commitment to help preserve and disseminate the Professor's legacy.
He is the Editor in Chief of The Gold Standard Institute; // http://www.goldstandardinstitute.net/ and the author of an easy to read book on Austrian economics and the Gold Standard; http://www.beyondmises.com/
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Financial Planning Service Companies - Why Select the Best?

The world without any considerable doubt can be easily considered as one big market. Trade and business are the only two things that keep the world running. Yes, there are inventions and discoveries as well, but they are also traded to get through with an ample amount of profit.

People can easily come around with one or the other form of business. Either they own it or work for it. Each of these businesses thus has their financial statements and records. Without these, the business may well disappear.

There are many forms of finances that a person might practically have to deal with. There are the mutual fund investments. There are the hedge funds and many more. There are many best financial services companies that are present nowadays that help people.

These financial services companies ensure of the very fact that people do get the best results from the business that they are in. There are various advantages that people may enjoy if they hire the financial service companies.

Financial planning:

Before moving further on the topic, people should understand that what exactly is the financial planning? This is something that can help people in a long course of time and thus help in managing the finances the best.

Why Recruit the Financial Service Companies?

There are many reasons why a person should think of hiring these services. Financial services can be well considered as one of the very important services, and the following are the various advantages that the companies providing them can guarantee:

• Consulting: Yes! The financial consultancy services are one of those most important things that are necessary before any decision to invest. Consulting helps in various things. People can ensure that they are getting through with the most important knowledge of finance and these companies do provide with that. 

• Taking Care: the main aim is to take care of each and every financial gains and loss in the company. Evaluating them and taking the necessary actions. These can be done by the professionals only, and this is the only reason why people should ensure that they do have one of these financial companies to aid them.

Apart from these two important advantages that people can come around with they should also ensure that there will be much more advantages if people select the best ones for themselves. Only the very top financial services companies can ensure of the fact that the best services will be provided.

The following are the best advantages of recruiting the top notch services: 

Free Services: The top financial service companies believe in the very fact that the people can only get the very best of the results if they do have a hope in the fact that their services by no means are frauds. This is the exact reason why they provide the people with the various free financial planning services.

Varied Services: This is again one of the major advantages of the top notch companies. The very first thing is that each and every company that is top notch is there because of the excellent knowledge that they do possess. They believe in the fact that the various services that they will provide ill attract the customer's attention. They have knowledge about various things like portfolio management.

Creation of The Portfolio: This is something that cannot be achieved excellently just by any company. Only the top notch ones will work the best to provide with absolutely marvellous results on the portfolio. They will change as well as customize them according to the customers. Also, they will help in managing them.

Appointing the financial management companies can be the best thing that people can do. Remembering to select the best financial planners though is really important.

For More Details: http://www.finstem.com/

The Islamic Banking Model

The origin of Islamic banking dates to the very beginning of Islam in the seventh century. The prophet Muhammad's first wife, Khadija, was a merchant, and he acted as an agent for her business, using many of the same principles used in contemporary Islamic banking. In the Middle Ages, trade and business activity in the Muslim world relied on Islamic banking principles, and these ideas spread throughout Spain, the Mediterranean and the Baltic States, arguably providing some of the basis for western banking principles. In the 1960s to the 1970s, Islamic banking resurfaced in the modern world.
This banking system is based on the principles of Islamic law, also referred to as Sharia law, and guided by Islamic economics. The two basic principles are the sharing of profit and loss and the prohibition of the collection and payment of interest by lenders and investors. Islamic banks neither charge nor pay interest in a conventional way where the payment of interest is set in advance and viewed as the predetermined price of credit or the reward for money deposited. Islamic law accepts the capital reward for loan providers only on a profit- and loss-sharing basis, working on the principle of variable return connected to the actual productivity and performances of the financed project and the real economy. Another important aspect is its entrepreneurial feature. The system is focused not only on financial expansion but also on physical expansion of economic production and services. In practice, there is a higher concentrated on investment activities such as equity financing, trade financing and real estate investments. Since this system of banking is grounded in Islamic principles, all the undertakings of the banks follow Islamic morals. Therefore, it could be said that financial transactions within Islamic banking are a culturally distinct form of ethical investing. For example, investments involving alcohol, gambling, pork, etc. are prohibited.
For the last four decades, the Islamic banking system has experienced a tremendous evolution from a small niche visible only in Islamic countries to a profitable, dynamic and resilient competitor at an international level. Their size around the world was estimated to be close to $850 billion at the end of 2008 and is expected to grow by around 15 percent annually. While system of banking remains the main component of the Islamic financial system, the other elements, such as Takaful (Islamic insurance companies), mutual funds and Sukuk (Islamic bonds and financial certificates), have witnessed strong global growth, too. Per a reliable estimate, the Islamic financial industry now amounts to over $1 trillion. Moreover, the opportunity for growth in this sector is considerable. It is estimated that the system could double in size within a decade if the past performances are continued in the future. Source

My Tips on Improving Your Finances for Life

There is no way to avoid dealing with money and finances these days. Therefore you should try to learn as much as possible to help you make good financial decisions and to increase your confidence about money.
When you make a budget, it should be realistic regarding your income and spending habits. Be sure to include all of your income such as alimony, child support, rental income, or any other. Always use your net income not your gross earnings in these calculations. Once you have the numbers, you can consider how to adjust your spending to stay within your income range. To maintain your budget never exceed your incoming cash flow.
The next step is to total up your expenses, and you should make a list of all monthly expenses. Your list should document each and every expense that you have whether it expense, spontaneous or just a one time expense. Remember that this list needs to have a complete breakdown of your costs. Be sure to add in expenses that you have from restaurant dinners and fast food as well as grocery bills. Reduce expenses linked to your cars, such as gas and insurance. If you have payments that you make quarterly or less frequently, divide them up to reflect a monthly payment. Make sure you include incidental expenses, for instance, baby sitters or storage unit rentals. Try to have the most accurate list possible.
Now that you have a good idea of your income and expenditures, you can start planning a new budget. Look at each expenditure on your list, and decide what you could do without. If you normally buy coffee from a cafe, calculate how much money you would save on a weekly basis if you bought it from McDonald's instead, or made it at home. Exactly what and how much you are willing to compromise is completely up to you. The first step is identifying expenses that are not necessary so you can use the money for something else.
If your utility bills are rising, you may want to upgrade your appliances to save some money. Upgrading to well-fitted double-glazed windows, for example, can reduce your heating bill dramatically. Besides you can repair any leaky pipes and only run the dishwasher with a full load.
Swap old, inefficient appliances for those that use less energy. Although doing so may cost you some money upfront, over the long-term you will save a fair penny on your utility bills. Unplug the appliances you do not need. In time you will notice significant savings in your energy consumption.
You can make a significant decrease in your heating and cooling bills by improving your insulation, as well as the roof above it. Insulation or roofing issues can be very costly, as maintaining a regular temperature in the home can be expensive. If you invest in the upgrades, it will save you a lot of money in the long run.
Using these tips not only saves you money, but it also helps you start bringing your budget under control. An expensive upgrade can save a lot of money in lowering electricity or water bills. This is one way that you can make your budget more reliable.
My passion and vision is about educating people on how to participate on certain platforms to protect their money and then multiply their money and create a passive income via the internet. My personal profile page = http://jacquessassin.com/
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Financial Considerations for Foster Care and Exchange Students

Many families have a desire to extend the warmth of their home to foster children and foreign exchange students. For many, welcoming a new child or student into their family can be rewarding - for both the child and your family - however the arrangement does require some planning. As you consider becoming a foster or host parent, make sure you also anticipate the potential financial impacts.
First, think about the lifestyle you want to provide for the student. What experiences, family traditions or activities do you want to share with the child? How do you envision everyday life with the new addition? The answers to these questions will help you prepare for the impact to your budget.
Foster parenting
If you already have experience raising children, you know how expensive it can be. The situation can be different when caring for foster children. Most families will be reimbursed for at least some of the costs that they incur including medical and dental care, which is normally paid for by the state. Although it is important to note that the level of reimbursement can vary depending on your state of residence, the age of the child, the number of foster children in your home and other factors. Be sure to consult with the appropriate agency in your state to find out the level of financial support available if you are considering a foster parent role.
Regardless of the reimbursement you may receive, the reality for many foster families is that costs of care will likely exceed that amount. Accounting for this in your financial plan will go a long way in making certain you are in a strong position to meet your responsibilities as a foster parent.
Hosting a foreign exchange student
Hosting an exchange student is a different level of commitment, but it is not without financial impact. Exchange students tend to stay for the length of their program, which is likely a semester or a school year. These students are generally older and able to manage daily responsibilities on their own.
In most cases, the student's program will provide for the cost of health insurance, school fees and extracurricular activities. Additionally, many students will have their own spending money to pay for souvenirs, school lunches, entertainment and other typical expenses for a school-aged child.
Nevertheless, you'll want to be in a financially sound position to provide the right environment for exchange students. They may be reliant on you for things like transportation to events, as well as living space. If you include them in family activities, that may also add to your expenses. Host families may qualify for a modest tax deduction to help offset some of the costs related to housing a foreign exchange student. Be sure to consult with your tax advisor for more information.
Having your financial house in order
Before you commit to becoming a foster parent or host family, you want to be prepared from a financial perspective. Some of the steps to consider include:
· Expanding your emergency fund: The conventional wisdom is that you should have three-to-six months' worth of living expenses set aside in your cash reserve. Having additional children in your care may mean additional unexpected expenses, so consider having extra funds available beyond this standard.
· Keeping up with your other financial priorities: As you update your budget to reflect your new addition, make sure you continue to fund your own financial goals, such as saving for education costs, paying off your home mortgage or your retirement.
· Understanding the child's program or financial situation: Know what costs are covered by the state (for foster care) or the program (for exchange students) and update your budget accordingly.
Having your financial house in order before taking on a foster child or exchange student will help you create a more positive experience. If your home and family are ready, make sure your finances are as well.
Scott D. Serfass, CFP®, CRPC®, CDFA™, CLU®, ChFC® is a financial advisor and senior partner of Serfass, Phillips & Associates, a financial advisory practice of Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc. His team specializes in helping people retire confidently and develop a plan to effectively share wealth across multiple generations. Throughout his career, he has witnessed many families continue to grow despite global and economic turmoil. This experience and research paved the way for his book, Family Success.

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