<P><FONT face=Verdana,Geneva,Arial,Helvetica,Sans-Serif><STRONG>Wi-Fi around Chicago..</STRONG></FONT></P> <P><FONT face=Verdana,Geneva,Arial,Helvetica,Sans-Serif><FONT size=2>The Daley Center between Clark and Dearborn is&nbsp;now (as of September 2003) a wi-fi hot zone. I have not personally connected there, but the word is </FONT><FONT size=2>that the signal around Daley Plaza and Block 37 is strong. Click <A href="http://www.xchicago.com/main/article.php?articleID=413">here</A> for more information. </FONT></FONT></P> <P><FONT size=2>If you are outside of downtown Chicago,the UPS stores (formerly Mailbox Etc.)&nbsp;will have wi-fi access (for a fee) in mid-September as will many McDonalds (for a fee). <A href="http://www.computerworld.com/mobiletopics/mobile/story/0,10801,80914,00.html">UPS story</A></FONT></P> <P><FONT size=2></FONT>&nbsp;</P>

<P><FONT face=Verdana,Geneva,Arial,Helvetica,Sans-Serif><STRONG>Truth about Annuities</STRONG></FONT></P> <P><FONT face=Verdana,Geneva,Arial,Helvetica,Sans-Serif size=2>Many clients buy annuities. I think it is fair to say that most clients do not understand the annuities and, in many cases, the annuity purchase was an inappropriate choice. In my opininion annuities are appropriate when:</FONT></P> <P><FONT face=Verdana,Geneva,Arial,Helvetica,Sans-Serif size=2>1. The client wants to save more for retirement and already puts the maximum in his or her IRA/401k; </FONT></P> <P><FONT face=Verdana,Geneva,Arial,Helvetica,Sans-Serif size=2>2. The client is in a high tax bracket and wants to reduce taxes;</FONT></P> <P><FONT face=Verdana size=2>3. The client won't need the principal for quite a long time and the annuity makes up a small portion of the client's total investments.</FONT></P> <P><FONT face=Verdana size=2>I have one client who paid no income tax, was 85 years old,&nbsp;had been retired for 20 years and purchased 4 annuities with all of her liquid assets;&nbsp; her only other assets, after the mass annuity purchases,&nbsp;were her condo and a checking account. The annuities were "unsuitable" for her, but were perfect for the annuity salesperson who netted at least $20,000 in commissions.</FONT></P> <P><FONT face=Verdana><FONT size=2>&nbsp;See the </FONT><A href="http://www.annuitytruth.org/"><FONT size=2>annuity truth</FONT></A><FONT size=2> web site for&nbsp;some&nbsp;interesting reading on annuities and whether one is right for you&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT></FONT></P>

<P><FONT face=Verdana,Geneva,Arial,Helvetica,Sans-Serif size=2><STRONG>What to Do if Your Mortgage Lender Bails Out on You</STRONG></FONT></P> <P><FONT face=Verdana,Geneva,Arial,Helvetica,Sans-Serif size=2>Recently, as interest reates rose and&nbsp;the number of files on their desks exploded to record levels, mortgage companies have bailed out on clients&nbsp;and failed to close. In two&nbsp;cases I am involved in (both of which are new construction) the mortgage companies literally "forgot" about the client. The loans were not ready to close because no one&nbsp;paid attention to the file for months. The other problem is that many lenders are so busy that they can't close by the end of the "lock-in" period. The client is left with a lame promise that the mortgage company will do a "free refinance" later to cure the problem.</FONT></P> <P><FONT face=Verdana,Geneva,Arial,Helvetica,Sans-Serif size=2>How can you prevent this? Pick a reputable lender in the first instance; not one from the internet or your brother-in-law who thought he would try out mortgage brokerage. Stay in touch with the lender. If all else fails, file a complaint with the office of banks and real estate. Here is the form to file the complaint:</FONT></P> <P><FONT face=Verdana,Geneva,Arial,Helvetica,Sans-Serif size=2>&nbsp;</FONT><A href="http://www.bre.state.il.us/CONSUMER/FORMS/c-Form41.pdf"><FONT face=Verdana,Geneva,Arial,Helvetica,Sans-Serif size=2><a href="http://www.bre.state.il.us/CONSUMER/FORMS/c-Form41.pdf">http://www.bre.state.il.us/CONSUMER/FORMS/c-Form41.pdf</a></FONT></A><FONT face=Verdana,Geneva,Arial,Helvetica,Sans-Serif size=2>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT></P> <P><FONT face=Verdana,Geneva,Arial,Helvetica,Sans-Serif size=2>It rarely pays to file a lawsuit against the lender. Attorneys fees are cost prohibitive and your damages are hard to prove.</FONT></P> <P><FONT face=Verdana,Geneva,Arial,Helvetica,Sans-Serif size=2>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT></P>


wonder there's so much confusion. Is there truly anyone who really understands this monster. Let’s put this into some form of prospective. The Declaration of Independence has a little more than 1300 words. The Constitution which has served us well for more than 200 years comes in around 5000 words and the Holy Bible makes do with less than 800,000 words.

The Office of Management & Budget estimated in 2004 that we as a nation spent over $200 billion on compliance cost. At a time when the nations manufacturing industries, the foundation of any good economy, are all struggling against cheaper imports, shouldn’t our leaders be using that money to create “Jobs” for their citizens. Most experts agree that $200 billion would create well over 3 million jobs, which of course creates sales of consumable goods which creates more jobs and sales taxes.

From the moment we wake up in the morning we are being hit by taxes. Everyone is at it -- turn on the light (electricity taxes), run the shower (utility taxes) and my personal favorite the telephone taxes, all 6 million of them, or that's what it seems to me every time I receive a telephone bill.

Has the time come for a simple Flat Rate Tax, something we can ALL understand. There are many countries all over the world who have used this simple to understand and cost effective way of collecting taxes to revitalize their economies. Let's just imagine for a moment what it would be like if we could complete our tax returns on one simple piece of paper. A Flat Rate Tax for individuals and a Flat Rate Tax for businesses. The same rules apply to all regardless of size of income. We all pay the same rate. Most of the successful countries have levied Flat Rate Taxes of less than 17%, with a stating level that protects the lower income groups. Could life ever be that simple again? Would our Leaders really want us to understand what they were up to? And then there's those lobbyist. Oh well, it was nice while it lasted.

Have an opinon or a question you would like me to answer, then write me! http://www.carlhampton.com

Article Source: http://www.articlerocket.com

“Your” Money Matters By Carl Hampton, Author of “From Credit Despair To Credit Millionaire” www.carlhampton.com www.fcdtcm.com

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