As an expatriate you are in a privileged savings and investing position. Make the most of the options available to you while you can, consider investing offshore for your retirement.
While you reside overseas you are legally entitled to make use of any tax savings in the country in which you reside, furthermore you are most likely in a position to save and invest offshore to fund and fuel your retirement.
Not enough expatriates make use of their offshore advantage when living and working abroad. Don’t make the same mistake!
Do you already have a domestic pension plan in place from your home country that you established prior to working abroad? Have you found that this policy is not as mobile as you are? Does it make sense to continue with the savings policy?
Have you been considering switching from retirement savings plan to savings plan as you change from country to country? Did you know that by doing this the income you end up with in later life will be fragmented and may be whittled away by foreign exchange costs, charges or even a cash-strapped government?
Or are you one of the lucky few who need read no further – one of the lucky few working for an international company who offer a pension plan to expatriate employees as part of their benefits package?
If you are not one of the lucky few and you understand that the onus is on you to provide for your own retirement this article may be able to help you.
If you are looking for the most sensible offshore investment solution for your retirement savings planning you need to consider finding a safe harbour where you can anchor your retirement investments so that you can move from country to country as necessary without this having any negative impact on your assets.
If you decide to do this, you need to find out exactly which safe harbour or tax haven is the best for you.
Offshore financial centres present a viable solution - especially if you are undecided as to your eventual retirement destination. Basing your pension investment offshore should mean that future movements of capital or income are not impeded.
However you should remember that any retirement income you take could be liable for taxation depending on where you are living at that time.
When it comes to offshore retirement planning what do you need to be aware of?: -
Your own personal circumstances are unique.
Be realistic about how much you should be contributing.
Consider the charges the bonuses and the flexibility of any investment plan - generally the more flexible the plan the more charges will be.
Know that a good offshore retirement plan should allow you to do the following without penalty:-
1 Reduce contributions without penalty (normally after an initial period of one to two years).
2 Switch investments between different funds to respond to changes in the market. Preferably including funds managed by other people outside of the institution zone.
3 Have the option of retiring when you want to without penalty.
4 Allow certain access to monies invested (again, after an initial period).
How to Find the RIGHT Offshore Savings Solution
Finding out what each provider's best products are currently, and then hand picking the best to suit your own personal needs and current circumstances is the best idea!
But how impractical!
Do you have the time to do this?
Would you consider yourself an expert in offshore investments and pension planning?
Where would you start?
Obviously professional advice will get you the right solution and save you time and money and reduce your cost of delay significantly!
Pension Surrender
Cashing in an onshore pension is rarely the best option available to you.
If you have taken out an offshore pension policy and you are unhappy with it or want to take a break from paying into it, consider all the options that are available to you before you decide on your path of action.
Generally with an offshore pension up to the first 2 years of contributions are committed to being invested until maturity – meaning that if you cash in your policy early you will potentially be wiping hundreds or thousands off your potential returns.
This is money you would be literally THROWING away!
Instead of encashment could you take a payment holiday or change your investment focus?
Instead of encashment you HAVE to speak to a brokerage to find out what options are available to you and which options are BEST for you.
You do not have to speak to the adviser or brokerage who set up the initial policy for advice - a good independent financial adviser will be happy to assist you with any previous policies. Get Informed!
Simply put, if you haven't started your retirement planning or you want to check whether you need to do more or you want to find out what you can do with policies already in existence – from company pensions, personal pensions and offshore pensions - you need to act now!
Find the right person to advise you about exactly what is available in the market place today.
Find the right person to get the best solution in place for you sooner rather than later!
Rhiannon Williamson is an experienced publisher who has produced articles for leading travel and tourism guides and financial magazines. Her specialist knowledge about both travel and finance gives her site Shelter Offshore the unique ability to literally cover every single aspect of moving & living abroad - including the often less discussed offshore tax advantages that can be available when leaving our homeland.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Rhiannon_Williamson
วันพฤหัสบดีที่ 5 กรกฎาคม พ.ศ. 2550
Panama is Hot - A World Class Retirement Haven That's Ripe For Profitable Real Estate Investment
If you’ve followed any of the major survey agencies around the world that rate places for retirement, Panama has been on top of the list in many, and for a few years running. So, if you're looking for a place outside U.S. borders to retire, Panama should be given very serious consideration. Panama has a lot going for it.
And even if you don't plan on retiring or living in Panama, Panama has also rated the very highest in real estate investment opportunities for those of you who would like to make their money from a distance.
Here's what is being said about Panama by some of the bigger players in the real estate market: "Real estate in both emerging and developed markets outside the United States offers some of the best investment opportunities in the world right now. " - Ricardo Griffin - the Offshore Guru at OMA. Ltd, international offshore consultants, located in Panama.
"Global real estate will be the only major asset class that could deliver double-digit returns over the next five years." - Barton Biggs, Chief Global Strategist and Chairman Morgan Stanley Investment Management, Pensions and Investments
"The good news in global real estate - it's no longer exclusively for the mega-rich!" - Lief Simon - Editor, International Living and Global Real Estate Investor
One can invest in property or buy a place for investment in any region of Panama but for Expat World its money is on properties in Panama City. We've been there more than a few times and we personally rate Panama City in the top three metropolitan cities of world that one can afford to live in and enjoy a good life in. Panama City has world-class restaurants, five-star hotels, international banks, hundreds of multinational businesses, a Manhattan-type skyline, every imaginable luxury ... all at about half the price you'd pay in Miami. AND it's only a few minutes to a few hours to the beaches, mountains, country side of Panama itself. It has all the infrastructure one might want! AT HAND and just a short distance from the romantics idea of paradise just a short distance away.
On the esthetic side, few places in the world offer spring-like weather year-round, a low cost of living, safety, security, peace of mind, beautiful landscapes. It has mountainsides covered with flowers and planted with coffee and beautiful waterfalls ... not to mention the best pensionado program (retirement program for foreigners) in the world. We'll tell you more about that later. It's a real benefit for the retired expat, making your buck stretch a long way. And we do mean bucks, for the US dollar is the official currency of Panama.
PANAMA'S A BARGAIN
Since the U.S. military and Panama Canal personnel pulled out (in 1999), thousands of houses and apartments have flooded the market. Abundant supply ... limited demand. so prices are cheap. You'll find bargains galore. There are bargains in property, both for sale, for rental and for investment are readily available.
You can find a three-bedroom, luxury apartment downtown with a deck, private parking, a pool, the whole ball of wax in the $70-$80,000 range and most properties in this range have an ocean view.
EW discovered properties there that were smaller and a little away from the prime areas in the $25,000 to $40,000 range. And if you are the fixer-upper type you can find the proverbial steal. You can own your own apartment or bungalow or some investment property by heading to Panama and hitting the streets and looking for the bargains OR you can use a firm that EW recommends to look for you and offer you the best deal in properties to live in or real estate investment properties. More on that later but first let us continue with why we think Panama is THE place for the best real estate buys today.
Panama is elite because of its sheer natural beauty and, most importantly to many, because of the privacy it affords in personal and financial matters combined with it's great retirement program for foreigner! s :
RETIRE IN PANAMA AS A PENSIONADO AND SEE WHAT YOU GET
50 % off entertainment anywhere in the country (movies, theaters. concerts. sporting events, etc.)
30 % off bus, boat and train fares
25 % off airline tickets
50 % off hotel accommodation (Monday through Thursday)
30 % off hotels from Friday through Sunday
25 % off restaurants
15 % off fast food restaurants
15 % off hospital bills (if no insurance applies)
10 % off prescription medicines
20 % off doctor's consultations
15 % off dental and eye exams
20 % off professional and technical services
50 % off closing costs for home loans
We've presented our picture of "Why Panama?" Too add to this, here are a few reasons the international guru's think Panama is THE place:
Direct foreign investment in Panama for the 5 years ended 2001 was approximately $3.5 billion.
Currency is the US dollar
Low inflation
Excellent tax benefits
Secrecy laws strictly enforced
Equal treatment of foreign and local citizens
Favorable incorporation laws
Large bi-lingual labor force
Diverse economic base including banking, shipping, insurance, tourism and free zone
Ranked first in the region for low cost of living by the Tripartite Committee
Stable political system
The Organization of American States (OAS), the Interamerican Development Bank (IDB) and the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC)
AND WHY PANAMA CITY AS THE SPECIFIC AREA FOR INVESTMENT
It is at the convergence of two continents at the Bridge of the Americas
Rated the most " International City " in Latin America
It is poised for tremendous growth in the next decade
It is within an hour of some of the finest fishing and or bird watching in the world
One hour drive from pristine beaches and cool mountain oasis
Located on the Pacific coast, yet it is only 45 minutes to the Caribbean
Increasing number of expatriates
One of the safest cities in the hemisphere
Excellent infrastructure (internet, telephone, roads, water, etc)
Well you've listen to us now for two pages or so on our views on real estate holdings or investment in Panama. If you want to know the full skinny, with no obligation and a low key approach to introducing you to what's available in real estate either for occupation, renting or investment WITH NO OBLIGATION OR NO HARD SELL TACTICS, shoot Expat World an email and we will get "the Company" (A real estate investment company established and licensed to do business in and by the Republic of Panama). Its business is to engage in the acquisition, management and sale of medium priced condominiums in Panama City, Republic of Panama.) to get back to you via email with the whole story. This is something you SHOULD do if you have any interest in overseas investment, overseas living, retirement in Panama or just want to be able to live the life of the rich and famous on a hot dog budget.
Email office@expatworld.net with "PanCity" in the subject heading. We'll take care of you.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Gene_Wasosky
And even if you don't plan on retiring or living in Panama, Panama has also rated the very highest in real estate investment opportunities for those of you who would like to make their money from a distance.
Here's what is being said about Panama by some of the bigger players in the real estate market: "Real estate in both emerging and developed markets outside the United States offers some of the best investment opportunities in the world right now. " - Ricardo Griffin - the Offshore Guru at OMA. Ltd, international offshore consultants, located in Panama.
"Global real estate will be the only major asset class that could deliver double-digit returns over the next five years." - Barton Biggs, Chief Global Strategist and Chairman Morgan Stanley Investment Management, Pensions and Investments
"The good news in global real estate - it's no longer exclusively for the mega-rich!" - Lief Simon - Editor, International Living and Global Real Estate Investor
One can invest in property or buy a place for investment in any region of Panama but for Expat World its money is on properties in Panama City. We've been there more than a few times and we personally rate Panama City in the top three metropolitan cities of world that one can afford to live in and enjoy a good life in. Panama City has world-class restaurants, five-star hotels, international banks, hundreds of multinational businesses, a Manhattan-type skyline, every imaginable luxury ... all at about half the price you'd pay in Miami. AND it's only a few minutes to a few hours to the beaches, mountains, country side of Panama itself. It has all the infrastructure one might want! AT HAND and just a short distance from the romantics idea of paradise just a short distance away.
On the esthetic side, few places in the world offer spring-like weather year-round, a low cost of living, safety, security, peace of mind, beautiful landscapes. It has mountainsides covered with flowers and planted with coffee and beautiful waterfalls ... not to mention the best pensionado program (retirement program for foreigners) in the world. We'll tell you more about that later. It's a real benefit for the retired expat, making your buck stretch a long way. And we do mean bucks, for the US dollar is the official currency of Panama.
PANAMA'S A BARGAIN
Since the U.S. military and Panama Canal personnel pulled out (in 1999), thousands of houses and apartments have flooded the market. Abundant supply ... limited demand. so prices are cheap. You'll find bargains galore. There are bargains in property, both for sale, for rental and for investment are readily available.
You can find a three-bedroom, luxury apartment downtown with a deck, private parking, a pool, the whole ball of wax in the $70-$80,000 range and most properties in this range have an ocean view.
EW discovered properties there that were smaller and a little away from the prime areas in the $25,000 to $40,000 range. And if you are the fixer-upper type you can find the proverbial steal. You can own your own apartment or bungalow or some investment property by heading to Panama and hitting the streets and looking for the bargains OR you can use a firm that EW recommends to look for you and offer you the best deal in properties to live in or real estate investment properties. More on that later but first let us continue with why we think Panama is THE place for the best real estate buys today.
Panama is elite because of its sheer natural beauty and, most importantly to many, because of the privacy it affords in personal and financial matters combined with it's great retirement program for foreigner! s :
RETIRE IN PANAMA AS A PENSIONADO AND SEE WHAT YOU GET
50 % off entertainment anywhere in the country (movies, theaters. concerts. sporting events, etc.)
30 % off bus, boat and train fares
25 % off airline tickets
50 % off hotel accommodation (Monday through Thursday)
30 % off hotels from Friday through Sunday
25 % off restaurants
15 % off fast food restaurants
15 % off hospital bills (if no insurance applies)
10 % off prescription medicines
20 % off doctor's consultations
15 % off dental and eye exams
20 % off professional and technical services
50 % off closing costs for home loans
We've presented our picture of "Why Panama?" Too add to this, here are a few reasons the international guru's think Panama is THE place:
Direct foreign investment in Panama for the 5 years ended 2001 was approximately $3.5 billion.
Currency is the US dollar
Low inflation
Excellent tax benefits
Secrecy laws strictly enforced
Equal treatment of foreign and local citizens
Favorable incorporation laws
Large bi-lingual labor force
Diverse economic base including banking, shipping, insurance, tourism and free zone
Ranked first in the region for low cost of living by the Tripartite Committee
Stable political system
The Organization of American States (OAS), the Interamerican Development Bank (IDB) and the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC)
AND WHY PANAMA CITY AS THE SPECIFIC AREA FOR INVESTMENT
It is at the convergence of two continents at the Bridge of the Americas
Rated the most " International City " in Latin America
It is poised for tremendous growth in the next decade
It is within an hour of some of the finest fishing and or bird watching in the world
One hour drive from pristine beaches and cool mountain oasis
Located on the Pacific coast, yet it is only 45 minutes to the Caribbean
Increasing number of expatriates
One of the safest cities in the hemisphere
Excellent infrastructure (internet, telephone, roads, water, etc)
Well you've listen to us now for two pages or so on our views on real estate holdings or investment in Panama. If you want to know the full skinny, with no obligation and a low key approach to introducing you to what's available in real estate either for occupation, renting or investment WITH NO OBLIGATION OR NO HARD SELL TACTICS, shoot Expat World an email and we will get "the Company" (A real estate investment company established and licensed to do business in and by the Republic of Panama). Its business is to engage in the acquisition, management and sale of medium priced condominiums in Panama City, Republic of Panama.) to get back to you via email with the whole story. This is something you SHOULD do if you have any interest in overseas investment, overseas living, retirement in Panama or just want to be able to live the life of the rich and famous on a hot dog budget.
Email office@expatworld.net with "PanCity" in the subject heading. We'll take care of you.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Gene_Wasosky
Retirement Planning the Offshore Way
Retirement Planning the Offshore Way Why do so many of us constantly push the thought of retirement planning to the back of our minds? Reluctance…! 1 Reluctance to save for an event that seems so far off 2 Reluctance to tie in to an inflexible pension scheme 3 Reluctance to put a large portion of our current income out of reach for the long term But in terms of retirement planning, putting off until tomorrow that which you could get done today will end up costing you very dearly. Every month you delay your retirement savings planning, you significantly reduce the value of your future potential retirement fund.
Or put another way, every month you delay your retirement savings planning you significantly increase the amount that you will need to invest to achieve the same level of retirement income than if you’d started today. If a 25 year old and a 35 year old were to start saving for retirement at 55 and the 25 year old invested £300 a month towards retirement, the 35 year old would have to increase his contributions to £803 a month to achieve the same potential returns. At the state retirement age of 65 the average man will have some 19 more years to live and the average woman, 22 years. You will have to support yourself without work and, very likely, without state income.
This means that you will spend 25% to 30% of your life in retirement. You will need substantial sums of money to support yourself in retirement in the manner to which you will have become accustomed throughout your life to date. Recent figures show that individuals aged between 25 and 44 are saving 1/3rd of the amount they should be saving in order to support their current lifestyle in retirement. In most countries you are forced to make your own pension provision if you want to have any chance of a comfortable retirement. The value of the government pension that you could once rely on is diminishing every year.
Ready to Start Planning? If you’re an expatriate you are in a more privileged position than most – chances are you’re enjoying a higher salary and extra benefits as a result of working away from home. Furthermore expatriates have greater freedom when it comes to making investment decisions: they are not necessarily restricted by the same regulations that domestic investors experience. Decisions That Need To Be Made The most sensible solution would seem to be finding a safe harbour to anchor your retirement investments so that you can move from country to country as necessary without this having any negative impact on your assets. However, if you decide to do this you need to decide exactly where that safe harbour should be.
Offshore financial centres present a viable solution - especially if you are undecided as to your eventual retirement destination. Basing your pension investment offshore should mean that future movements of capital or income are not impeded. What To Be Aware Of Your own personal circumstances are unique. Be realistic about how much you should be contributing.
Consider the charges the bonuses and the flexibility of any investment plan
- generally the more flexible the plan the more charges will be. Know that a good offshore retirement plan should allow you to do the following without penalty:
-1 Reduce contributions without penalty (normally after an initial period of one to two years).
2 Switch investments between different funds to respond to changes in the market. Preferably including funds managed by other people outside of the institution zone.
3 Have the option of retiring when you want to without penalty.
4 Allow certain access to monies invested (again, after an initial period). How to Find the RIGHT Solution Finding out what each provider's best products are currently, and then hand picking the best to suit your own personal needs and current circumstances is the best idea! But how impractical!
Do you have the time to do this? Would you consider yourself an expert in offshore investments and pension planning? Where would you start? Obviously professional advice will get you the right solution and save you time and money and reduce your cost of delay significantly! To find out more about what solutions are on offer in the market place and to learn more about offshore investing and saving for your future, visit http://www.offshoreinvestmentguide.com today. Discover how to build wealth, enjoy greater privacy, protect your assets and secure your financial future with the Offshore Investment Guide.
R L Williamson is an independent offshore financial specialist. She has worked in the fields of financial advice, specialising in retirement planning and she has worked in investment banking. Through her work she has travelled widely and lived in many different countries around the world. Meeting expatriates, international investors and being an expatriate herself, she is well versed in understanding the different financial needs of the individual, and she is an expert when it comes to finding the RIGHT offshore solutions.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=R.L.Williamson
Or put another way, every month you delay your retirement savings planning you significantly increase the amount that you will need to invest to achieve the same level of retirement income than if you’d started today. If a 25 year old and a 35 year old were to start saving for retirement at 55 and the 25 year old invested £300 a month towards retirement, the 35 year old would have to increase his contributions to £803 a month to achieve the same potential returns. At the state retirement age of 65 the average man will have some 19 more years to live and the average woman, 22 years. You will have to support yourself without work and, very likely, without state income.
This means that you will spend 25% to 30% of your life in retirement. You will need substantial sums of money to support yourself in retirement in the manner to which you will have become accustomed throughout your life to date. Recent figures show that individuals aged between 25 and 44 are saving 1/3rd of the amount they should be saving in order to support their current lifestyle in retirement. In most countries you are forced to make your own pension provision if you want to have any chance of a comfortable retirement. The value of the government pension that you could once rely on is diminishing every year.
Ready to Start Planning? If you’re an expatriate you are in a more privileged position than most – chances are you’re enjoying a higher salary and extra benefits as a result of working away from home. Furthermore expatriates have greater freedom when it comes to making investment decisions: they are not necessarily restricted by the same regulations that domestic investors experience. Decisions That Need To Be Made The most sensible solution would seem to be finding a safe harbour to anchor your retirement investments so that you can move from country to country as necessary without this having any negative impact on your assets. However, if you decide to do this you need to decide exactly where that safe harbour should be.
Offshore financial centres present a viable solution - especially if you are undecided as to your eventual retirement destination. Basing your pension investment offshore should mean that future movements of capital or income are not impeded. What To Be Aware Of Your own personal circumstances are unique. Be realistic about how much you should be contributing.
Consider the charges the bonuses and the flexibility of any investment plan
- generally the more flexible the plan the more charges will be. Know that a good offshore retirement plan should allow you to do the following without penalty:
-1 Reduce contributions without penalty (normally after an initial period of one to two years).
2 Switch investments between different funds to respond to changes in the market. Preferably including funds managed by other people outside of the institution zone.
3 Have the option of retiring when you want to without penalty.
4 Allow certain access to monies invested (again, after an initial period). How to Find the RIGHT Solution Finding out what each provider's best products are currently, and then hand picking the best to suit your own personal needs and current circumstances is the best idea! But how impractical!
Do you have the time to do this? Would you consider yourself an expert in offshore investments and pension planning? Where would you start? Obviously professional advice will get you the right solution and save you time and money and reduce your cost of delay significantly! To find out more about what solutions are on offer in the market place and to learn more about offshore investing and saving for your future, visit http://www.offshoreinvestmentguide.com today. Discover how to build wealth, enjoy greater privacy, protect your assets and secure your financial future with the Offshore Investment Guide.
R L Williamson is an independent offshore financial specialist. She has worked in the fields of financial advice, specialising in retirement planning and she has worked in investment banking. Through her work she has travelled widely and lived in many different countries around the world. Meeting expatriates, international investors and being an expatriate herself, she is well versed in understanding the different financial needs of the individual, and she is an expert when it comes to finding the RIGHT offshore solutions.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=R.L.Williamson
Is The Best Retirement Business Right For You?
According to the Coin Laundry Association, laundry centers and coin laundries average a powerful 20 to 30% return on investment. A successful laundry owner offers 6 powerful insights on why you too can and should achieve great financial rewards with part- time effort. Are you ready to join the ranks of the many successful entrepreneurs like Dan King who are "cleaning-up" in today's commercial laundry industry?
With stock market fluctuations and an uncertain economy, many Americans have a difficult time finding investments that can survive recessions and economic downturns. However, the commercial laundry business with its 20 to 30% ROI is almost recession proof. In fact both Dun and Bradstreet and the SBA have cited it as one of the 10 top safest business investments one can make. Believe it or not, that’s just one of the many powerful reasons so many retirees are looking to invest in their own laundry stores. The fact is that coin laundries and vended laundries are one of the most advantageous part-time and retirement businesses that exist.
AN OWNER LISTS THE BENEFITS
According to Dan King, owner of several coin laundries in Southern California, “I highly recommend investing in this industry – it has worked wonderfully well for me and it can for you. Before I invested I considered 6 major benefits that Laundry Center ownership offered and that no other investment provided."
1. First, I didn’t have to give up my regular job. I found that Coin Laundries basically run themselves, which was great for me because I was looking for an absentee manager situation. The fact is they require just a couple of hours a week and are so easy to operate that basically anyone, anywhere can own one or more.
2. I also liked the fact that this is a ‘turn-key’ business, where you don’t need staff on the premises. You can set your laundry to stay open 24 hours a day, or you can have an automatic door-locking system on a timer set to open and close when you choose. I personally keep my laundry stores open full-time and that works well for my customers and for me.
3. Another benefit is that you can own a laundry near your home or further away. They thrive in every state of the union. Coin laundries can be placed in virtually all neighborhood shopping centers and perform exceptionally well in renter-occupied, densely populated, lower-income areas. Your average customer will be the estimated 89 million people who live in rental housing, which is the fastest-growing housing segment in the nation.
4. Even better, this is an “All Cash” business with no inventory and no accounts receivables. You can expect a high return on investment, liquidity, tax benefits, and fast growing equity. Whatever your cash down payment is at the time of purchase, you can typically expect to get back within seven years, or sooner. Like buying a house, equity builds and you ultimately can expect a substantial profit.
5. Once set up, I found that coin laundries paid off like a “cash machine” week in and week out. Let’s face it: people will always need to wash their clothes, which is why laundry centers thrive in periods of both growth and recession. In fact, when times are slow and homeownership decreases, the self-service laundry market thrives as more people are unable to afford to repair, replace or purchase new washers and dryers, or as they move to apartment housing with poor or nonexistent laundry facilities.
6. Finally, I loved the fact that I could purchase an existing coin laundry to fit my budget, available investment dollars and personal requirements. Coin laundries generally require between 1,500 and 5,000 square feet of retail space, depending on the market size. Most laundries occupy retail space that is rented on a long-term lease of 10 years to 25 years, including option periods. The cost of buying a vended laundry can range from less than $50,000 to more than one million dollars, depending on size, age and net income.
Bottom line, Dan King is one of many successful entrepreneurs in our dynamic industry. In fact, there are over 35,000 coin- and card-operated laundries in the United States, generating more than $3.5 billion in annual revenue and these numbers are growing! Millions of families use laundries every day. But most people don’t realize that those same laundries offer even better ways to “clean up” than with water, soap and bleach. With the primary customer representing the fastest growing segment in the nation -- the laundry business is amazingly stable, and dependably profitable. After all, families need clean towels and sheets whether the stock market is up or down. They need clean clothes in summer and winter, on vacation or working, whether they’re newborns, teenagers or retired.
About the author:
Ilene Fudim is a nationally recognized expert in the coin operated laundry industry and a contributing editor to the Laundry Center Marketwatch newsletter. She has been instrumental in helping launch many successful coin laundry businesses. For more information and a free copy of the Laundry Center Marketwatch newsletter, visit the site at: laundrycenter.info or call toll free 1-877-45-Laundry.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ilene_Fudim
With stock market fluctuations and an uncertain economy, many Americans have a difficult time finding investments that can survive recessions and economic downturns. However, the commercial laundry business with its 20 to 30% ROI is almost recession proof. In fact both Dun and Bradstreet and the SBA have cited it as one of the 10 top safest business investments one can make. Believe it or not, that’s just one of the many powerful reasons so many retirees are looking to invest in their own laundry stores. The fact is that coin laundries and vended laundries are one of the most advantageous part-time and retirement businesses that exist.
AN OWNER LISTS THE BENEFITS
According to Dan King, owner of several coin laundries in Southern California, “I highly recommend investing in this industry – it has worked wonderfully well for me and it can for you. Before I invested I considered 6 major benefits that Laundry Center ownership offered and that no other investment provided."
1. First, I didn’t have to give up my regular job. I found that Coin Laundries basically run themselves, which was great for me because I was looking for an absentee manager situation. The fact is they require just a couple of hours a week and are so easy to operate that basically anyone, anywhere can own one or more.
2. I also liked the fact that this is a ‘turn-key’ business, where you don’t need staff on the premises. You can set your laundry to stay open 24 hours a day, or you can have an automatic door-locking system on a timer set to open and close when you choose. I personally keep my laundry stores open full-time and that works well for my customers and for me.
3. Another benefit is that you can own a laundry near your home or further away. They thrive in every state of the union. Coin laundries can be placed in virtually all neighborhood shopping centers and perform exceptionally well in renter-occupied, densely populated, lower-income areas. Your average customer will be the estimated 89 million people who live in rental housing, which is the fastest-growing housing segment in the nation.
4. Even better, this is an “All Cash” business with no inventory and no accounts receivables. You can expect a high return on investment, liquidity, tax benefits, and fast growing equity. Whatever your cash down payment is at the time of purchase, you can typically expect to get back within seven years, or sooner. Like buying a house, equity builds and you ultimately can expect a substantial profit.
5. Once set up, I found that coin laundries paid off like a “cash machine” week in and week out. Let’s face it: people will always need to wash their clothes, which is why laundry centers thrive in periods of both growth and recession. In fact, when times are slow and homeownership decreases, the self-service laundry market thrives as more people are unable to afford to repair, replace or purchase new washers and dryers, or as they move to apartment housing with poor or nonexistent laundry facilities.
6. Finally, I loved the fact that I could purchase an existing coin laundry to fit my budget, available investment dollars and personal requirements. Coin laundries generally require between 1,500 and 5,000 square feet of retail space, depending on the market size. Most laundries occupy retail space that is rented on a long-term lease of 10 years to 25 years, including option periods. The cost of buying a vended laundry can range from less than $50,000 to more than one million dollars, depending on size, age and net income.
Bottom line, Dan King is one of many successful entrepreneurs in our dynamic industry. In fact, there are over 35,000 coin- and card-operated laundries in the United States, generating more than $3.5 billion in annual revenue and these numbers are growing! Millions of families use laundries every day. But most people don’t realize that those same laundries offer even better ways to “clean up” than with water, soap and bleach. With the primary customer representing the fastest growing segment in the nation -- the laundry business is amazingly stable, and dependably profitable. After all, families need clean towels and sheets whether the stock market is up or down. They need clean clothes in summer and winter, on vacation or working, whether they’re newborns, teenagers or retired.
About the author:
Ilene Fudim is a nationally recognized expert in the coin operated laundry industry and a contributing editor to the Laundry Center Marketwatch newsletter. She has been instrumental in helping launch many successful coin laundry businesses. For more information and a free copy of the Laundry Center Marketwatch newsletter, visit the site at: laundrycenter.info or call toll free 1-877-45-Laundry.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ilene_Fudim
Baby Boomers -- Now Shredding The Rules for Retirement
Baby Boomers -- Now Shredding the Rules for Retirement
Are you a member of that unique generation -- the Baby Boomers? If you are, conforming to the rules of society hasn’t always been your first priority! In fact you have shredded the rules and made society conform to your needs throughout your life. So, why should retirement be any different?
Instead of rocking on the front porch will you be rocking around the world? As you look at your plans for the next 30 to 40 years what do you see? Will you be moving? Are you starting a new career or a new business? Are you writing a book or inventing that product you have been thinking about for years? Will you ski Vail or Park City, or travel to archeological digs in Peru? Have you considered mentoring high school students in your specialty or teaching night school? All in all, it is a given that the paths you choose for your retirement will be significantly different than those of your parents or even those of your friends in their 60’s.
You have made life different for your generation and for the world as you rocked to the Beatle’s, protested as well as fought in wars, saw men land on the moon, created a revolution in TV, film and videos, and invented the internet. Travel was at your fingertips, freeways crisscrossed the country, and families traveled to the far corners of the nation and to distant lands.
For you, the status quo has been challenging the status quo, and so, you are now about to change yet another institution – retirement. You will burst the bubble, shred the rules and step up to the plate as a generation who is once again creating a new paradigm.
Permission is granted to publish this article in full and with the following paragraph included:
© BoomerVilleUSA™. 2004. All rights reserved.
Co-authors Jan Barosh, Sue Trumpfheller, Rosemary Hauschild and Stephanie Wood are life and business coaches and co-founders of BoomerVilleUSA™, a virtual community of like-minded Baby Boomers who are redefining the meaning of retirement. For a free report on Boomers and the new retirement, contact them at boomervilleusa@hotmail.com and put “free report” in the subject line.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jan_Barosh
Are you a member of that unique generation -- the Baby Boomers? If you are, conforming to the rules of society hasn’t always been your first priority! In fact you have shredded the rules and made society conform to your needs throughout your life. So, why should retirement be any different?
Instead of rocking on the front porch will you be rocking around the world? As you look at your plans for the next 30 to 40 years what do you see? Will you be moving? Are you starting a new career or a new business? Are you writing a book or inventing that product you have been thinking about for years? Will you ski Vail or Park City, or travel to archeological digs in Peru? Have you considered mentoring high school students in your specialty or teaching night school? All in all, it is a given that the paths you choose for your retirement will be significantly different than those of your parents or even those of your friends in their 60’s.
You have made life different for your generation and for the world as you rocked to the Beatle’s, protested as well as fought in wars, saw men land on the moon, created a revolution in TV, film and videos, and invented the internet. Travel was at your fingertips, freeways crisscrossed the country, and families traveled to the far corners of the nation and to distant lands.
For you, the status quo has been challenging the status quo, and so, you are now about to change yet another institution – retirement. You will burst the bubble, shred the rules and step up to the plate as a generation who is once again creating a new paradigm.
Permission is granted to publish this article in full and with the following paragraph included:
© BoomerVilleUSA™. 2004. All rights reserved.
Co-authors Jan Barosh, Sue Trumpfheller, Rosemary Hauschild and Stephanie Wood are life and business coaches and co-founders of BoomerVilleUSA™, a virtual community of like-minded Baby Boomers who are redefining the meaning of retirement. For a free report on Boomers and the new retirement, contact them at boomervilleusa@hotmail.com and put “free report” in the subject line.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jan_Barosh
Fight Or Flight! As Boomers Approach Retirement
You married for better or worse . . . but not for lunch?
The sun set on your honeymoon many years ago.
Your kids are approaching or have recently arrived at young adulthood.
You have been living in different domains—at the office—and now you are transitioning into sharing the same domain—your home—but who is in charge?
You are reclaiming your life . . . with no longer matching goals. One wants adventure (flight) . . . one wants to make it work (fight).
If you recognize this scenario, you are not alone. Millions of Baby Boomers are approaching retirement and asking “Who am I?” and “What is my life about?” And if you are part of a couple, there is more at stake than just adopting a new lifestyle.
So before you buy the red convertible and flee with the blonde 20 years your junior, or your young and handsome personal trainer, you may want to stop and take a look at how you can recapture your dreams through openly communicating your needs to your mate, identifying the negotiables, and reinventing your marriage.
If you “want to be me”, but you’re not sure how to “evolve into yourself”, you may find that participating in classes which address this common need, finding a way to involve your mate in open discussion to identify each of your needs and wants, and/or working with a relationship coach, may be less painful for you both.
Robert Pirsig’s Zen and The Art of Motorcycle Maintenance helped transform the Baby Boomers in their earlier years and helped show them how to live. Perhaps it’s time to dust off that old volume and add a chapter of your own. It’s not too early and it’s never too late to redefine the fundamental ways you choose to lead your life. Enlightenment and self-discovery are the legacy of this new generation.
Permission is granted to publish this article in full and with the following paragraph included:
© BoomerVilleUSA™. 2004. All rights reserved.
Co-authors are life and business coaches and co-founders of BoomerVilleUSA™, a virtual community of like-minded Baby Boomers who are redefining the meaning of retirement. For a free report on Boomers and the new retirement, contact them at boomervilleusa@hotmail.com and put “free report” in the subject line.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jan_Barosh
The sun set on your honeymoon many years ago.
Your kids are approaching or have recently arrived at young adulthood.
You have been living in different domains—at the office—and now you are transitioning into sharing the same domain—your home—but who is in charge?
You are reclaiming your life . . . with no longer matching goals. One wants adventure (flight) . . . one wants to make it work (fight).
If you recognize this scenario, you are not alone. Millions of Baby Boomers are approaching retirement and asking “Who am I?” and “What is my life about?” And if you are part of a couple, there is more at stake than just adopting a new lifestyle.
So before you buy the red convertible and flee with the blonde 20 years your junior, or your young and handsome personal trainer, you may want to stop and take a look at how you can recapture your dreams through openly communicating your needs to your mate, identifying the negotiables, and reinventing your marriage.
If you “want to be me”, but you’re not sure how to “evolve into yourself”, you may find that participating in classes which address this common need, finding a way to involve your mate in open discussion to identify each of your needs and wants, and/or working with a relationship coach, may be less painful for you both.
Robert Pirsig’s Zen and The Art of Motorcycle Maintenance helped transform the Baby Boomers in their earlier years and helped show them how to live. Perhaps it’s time to dust off that old volume and add a chapter of your own. It’s not too early and it’s never too late to redefine the fundamental ways you choose to lead your life. Enlightenment and self-discovery are the legacy of this new generation.
Permission is granted to publish this article in full and with the following paragraph included:
© BoomerVilleUSA™. 2004. All rights reserved.
Co-authors are life and business coaches and co-founders of BoomerVilleUSA™, a virtual community of like-minded Baby Boomers who are redefining the meaning of retirement. For a free report on Boomers and the new retirement, contact them at boomervilleusa@hotmail.com and put “free report” in the subject line.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jan_Barosh
The Hawk and the Mouse - Saving for Retirement
There once was a hawk, ferocious and swift. He was young and agile with many years of life to hunt the open ranch lands. In a nearby field, a mouse scurried about the ground. The hawk saw the hurried motion and swept speedily toward the rodent.
Just as the hawk's shadow engulfed the smaller rodent, the mouse fell to its back and begged, "Please, Mr. Hawk, spare me my life!" This surprised the hunter and he landed beside the mouse.
"Why should I spare your life? I am hungry today."
"It's always about today, isn't it?" answered the mouse. "Do you ever think about tomorrow?"
"Tomorrow? Well, that's just another day to flap my wings. I will eat then, too."
The mouse scratched his chin and replied, "But one day you will be old and gray. You will have chiseled claws. You should prepare for the future now or starve later."
"I do, I do. I am building a grand nest as we speak. You see, I fly low to the highway's hot pavement in search of lost dollar bills everyday. I find a dollar a day and add it to my nest. I am constantly constructing my nest egg."
The proud hawk looked toward the mouse for a reply. The mouse shook his head and stated, "I will make a deal with you, hawk. If after fifty years, you have saved more money than me, not only will I give myself up for your feast, I will lead every mouse in this field to your nest."
The hawk did not take long to consider the proposition. He knew he could cover more ground flying than the mouse could crawling. He would be able to locate twice as many lost dollar bills and thus build a much larger nest. The hunter concluded that in fifty years, he would have a great feast.
Years ticked by and every day the hawk collected two dollars. On each given day, the mouse found one dollar and invested it wisely. Fifty years later, the bird of prey lived in a large nest made of twigs, mud, and dollar bills. He was feeble and sickly. And although his nest equaled that of $36,500.00(1) , along with a few very nice tree limbs, he knew the mouse would have less. He no longer invaded the far stretching fields, but took comfort in knowing he would soon have his great feast. As the hawk glared down from his perch, he saw the mouse. The mouse was alone.
"So, hawk, how much money do you have?"
"Just under $37,000(1) . And you?"
"I have $508,462(2), you fool. You see, I invested my $365 wisely every year. I dollar cost averaged into the market and utilized well-diversified mutual funds over the course of all these years. I am the victor and you have no feast."
The hawk collapsed into his nest and was never seen again. The mouse lived a happy life and provided handsomely for his family. He passed along a bit of advice to those who asked about saving: "The individual most accountable for your future financial welfare, is the one you see in the mirror today."
*Hypothetical investment for illustration purposes only.
(1): Based on a savings of $730 each year for fifty years with no interest.
(2): Based on a savings of $365 each year for fifty years earning 10.5% annually.
Wardlaw has been involved in the fields of investments and insurance for over twelve years. The author's belief is that familiar life elements best illustrate practical investment strategies; not typical investment jargon. For comments and questions, please contact the author at tools2invest@yahoo.com.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kemberly_Wardlaw
Just as the hawk's shadow engulfed the smaller rodent, the mouse fell to its back and begged, "Please, Mr. Hawk, spare me my life!" This surprised the hunter and he landed beside the mouse.
"Why should I spare your life? I am hungry today."
"It's always about today, isn't it?" answered the mouse. "Do you ever think about tomorrow?"
"Tomorrow? Well, that's just another day to flap my wings. I will eat then, too."
The mouse scratched his chin and replied, "But one day you will be old and gray. You will have chiseled claws. You should prepare for the future now or starve later."
"I do, I do. I am building a grand nest as we speak. You see, I fly low to the highway's hot pavement in search of lost dollar bills everyday. I find a dollar a day and add it to my nest. I am constantly constructing my nest egg."
The proud hawk looked toward the mouse for a reply. The mouse shook his head and stated, "I will make a deal with you, hawk. If after fifty years, you have saved more money than me, not only will I give myself up for your feast, I will lead every mouse in this field to your nest."
The hawk did not take long to consider the proposition. He knew he could cover more ground flying than the mouse could crawling. He would be able to locate twice as many lost dollar bills and thus build a much larger nest. The hunter concluded that in fifty years, he would have a great feast.
Years ticked by and every day the hawk collected two dollars. On each given day, the mouse found one dollar and invested it wisely. Fifty years later, the bird of prey lived in a large nest made of twigs, mud, and dollar bills. He was feeble and sickly. And although his nest equaled that of $36,500.00(1) , along with a few very nice tree limbs, he knew the mouse would have less. He no longer invaded the far stretching fields, but took comfort in knowing he would soon have his great feast. As the hawk glared down from his perch, he saw the mouse. The mouse was alone.
"So, hawk, how much money do you have?"
"Just under $37,000(1) . And you?"
"I have $508,462(2), you fool. You see, I invested my $365 wisely every year. I dollar cost averaged into the market and utilized well-diversified mutual funds over the course of all these years. I am the victor and you have no feast."
The hawk collapsed into his nest and was never seen again. The mouse lived a happy life and provided handsomely for his family. He passed along a bit of advice to those who asked about saving: "The individual most accountable for your future financial welfare, is the one you see in the mirror today."
*Hypothetical investment for illustration purposes only.
(1): Based on a savings of $730 each year for fifty years with no interest.
(2): Based on a savings of $365 each year for fifty years earning 10.5% annually.
Wardlaw has been involved in the fields of investments and insurance for over twelve years. The author's belief is that familiar life elements best illustrate practical investment strategies; not typical investment jargon. For comments and questions, please contact the author at tools2invest@yahoo.com.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kemberly_Wardlaw
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