Business Issues Blog

A self directed IRA account frees you up from the usual limitations of a traditional IRA account; namely what you can invest in. You see, ordinary retirement accounts simply invest your funds in stocks, mutual funds, or bonds, and with the current economic scenario, this can be a very risky, if not a losing, proposition. Remember, it is your own future that is at stake when setting up a retirement fund, so you might want to have more say on how your retirement money is invested.

With a self directed retirement account, you set up your account with a self directed IRA custodian. With this type of custodian you are entitled to make your own choices as to where and how your funds will be invested. You can grow your IRA retirement account by investing in real estate (aka real estate IRA), businesses and many other types of investments.

Now, you may be wondering why you have not heard about a self directed IRA from your financial advisor. Well, some financial planners would recommend this type of IRA, but the problem is that the financial institution where your IRA is set up currently does not allow these types of investments. There is nothing wrong with this, except that your investment alternatives are very limited. Besides, some people are simply not cut out to invest on their own.

But, if you have experience in alternative investing or you have an entrepreneurial spirit within you, then a self directed IRA may be a good choice for you and the future of your retirement account. With this setup, you can substantially grow your retirement money without the interference of a traditional IRA custodian. Imagine the number of additional investment opportunities that you may be able to invest in if you work with an independent self directed IRA custodian. On top of the expanded investment options, the gains accrued to your IRA account receive the same tax advantages as you old traditional IRA.

However, it must be emphasized that not all types of assets can be allowed as investments for this retirement account. You cannot invest your IRA funds, although they maybe self directed, in collectibles, life insurance policies or with a disqualified party. If you do, your IRA could be disallowed and you may face savvier penalties.

When setting up a self directed IRA, it is important to consult with a tax professional. If he is worth his salt, then he will know how to properly set up a self directed IRA and use it to grow your funds.  Looking for self directed IRA services, then check out www.SunwestTrust.com.

Lionheart Assurance Solutions says learning how to avoid Myspace ID theft scams, frauds and ripoffs is a growing concern among Myspace users and it is of an important concern because it is now one of the #1 ways hackers and online cheats steal Net users’ identity.

How to avoid identity scams and fraud on MySpace and other social networking sites is something that teenagers and young adults should know about before opening their accounts. Many users of the site the world over have complained about impostors making profiles as well as some people building hate sites and stealing pictures or identities. If you want to protect yourself from identity theft and other online crimes committed on MySpace, you should follow the guidelines listed below.

At first, some teenagers believe that having impostors steal their pictures and identities is kind of cool. However, when cyber identity thieves start to use stolen photos and identities to rip-off money from the victim’s friends and family, many realize that knowing how to avoid identity scams and rip-offs on MySpace and other social networking sites is very important. The first thing that people should remember is that once you post something online, anyone can have access to that thing if you are not careful. Thus, teenagers and other Net users should remember not to post their private photos and things that they don’t want other people to see in file sharing and social media sites.

Another important tip on how to avoid identity scams and ripoffs on MySpace and similar sites is to be careful with what you put in your profile. It is important that vital information that can be used to open your personal account, access your credit card and stalk you in your home or school should not be posted online. This means that you should not make your residence address, mobile phone number, social security number, school name, or even your birth date visible on your MySpace account. Teenagers should also not divulge information about their siblings, parents or other data that scam artists and criminals online can use. This will only expand the threat posed to your family and even possibly the complaints of your friends.

Millions of teens and adults use websites such as YouTube to help make known to the public that impostors have taken and used their profiles, names and photos. Although this can probably help clean up your name or reputation, these measures are not very effective in thwarting identity thefts or scams being perpetrated by cyber crooks and criminals. So, always make sure that you are on the safe side - away from the rip-offs.

If you want to know more about how to avoid identity scams on MySpace and other websites, check out Lionheart Assurance Solutions and click onto www.LionheartAssuranceSolutions.com.

The new Red Flags Rule that are required to be followed by the FTC include 26 different examples of suspicious behaviors that any financial institution or lender can use to identify situations that are cause for concern. There are many different guidelines that are to be followed, covering everything from alerts and notifications that seem suspicious to warnings from service providers and other suspicious documents that show up in an unusual format or place. Taking the time to understand, train employees, and implement these guidelines should give people a more reasonable sense of security in this highly vulnerable world of commerce.

Because of the increased use of technology as a means of storing information and maintaining data, identity theft is increasing rapidly. In 2007, the Red Flags Rule were passed, otherwise known as Section 114 of the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act (FACTA) from 2003. These rules were designed specifically for financial institutions and lenders, allowing them to take extra steps to mitigate, prevent, and detect security breaches and identity theft. This program is designed to be used with certain accounts, including the opening of new accounts and the continued security of existing accounts.

Red Flags Rule are applicable to many businesses, including the following: banks, credit unions, mortgage companies, U.S. branches of foreign banks, utility companies, telecommunications companies, health care companies, municipalities, auto dealers, debt collectors, and any other business that deals directly with secure information or financial accounts. These rules apply to any account that involves payments or transactions of any kind that can be susceptible to security breaches and identity theft. Credit reporting agencies aren’t required to follow these rules, and some business customers may also be affected by them. These are two exceptions to the rule. Beyond that, the standard of who should follow them remains the same.

Anyone that does not follow these rules is subject to fines, negative publicity, and potential litigation, which serves more for embarrassment and defamation than actual punishment. The goal is to get every business to follow these rules and to make those who don’t deal with the negative publicity that demonstrates their inability to protect their customers’ accounts. Identity theft is not completely preventable, but the use of these rules can serve to make it harder to get away with in many cases. Ultimately, the Red Flags Rule are guidelines to make businesses more secure and protected, but nothing will completely stop identity theft without constant monitoring and new innovations.

Read more about Red Flags Rule on our blog…. Thank you for your continued readership.

Also learn more about Red Flags Rule at Lionheart Assurance Solutions.

DALLAS, Texas — The FTC’s new “Red Flags Rule” mandates an August 1, 2009 deadline for every US auto dealership to adopt a formal program to prevent and respond to customers purchasing vehicles with stolen identities. Just this week, one dealership in Houston, Texas found itself dealing with 11 vehicles fraudulently sold to an identity thief.

Ford dealerships in Denton, Sherman and Denison, Texas are already well ahead of the August deadline. Over the past 3 months, these dealerships have worked with the Dallas/Fort Worth office of Lionheart Assurance Solutions, LP to prepare for the Red Flags Rule. Lionheart Assurance Solutions began by training all of their executives, creating an awareness of the new “culture of security” the FTC is expecting. Then, those executive teams began to communicate this new process to every employee in the dealership.

Employees were scheduled to attend Lionheart Assurance training sessions specifically dealing with their exposure to identity theft both directly and indirectly. For example, what if a service technician works on a vehicle and the customer has inadvertently left a document in the vehicle with personal identifying information? Maybe it’s just their payroll check stub, but the outcome could be costly for the dealer if not handled properly.

Michael McCoy, identity theft expert and author of the book, “The Silent Crime: What You Need to Know About Identity Theft”, states in his introduction, “…consumers would rather ignore risk and go on with life than fret and worry about potential identity theft. In other words, most people would rather exhibit ‘blissful ignorance’ regarding identity theft loss than proceed with the confusing, complex, time consuming, and expensive process of securing and protecting their identity”. Most of us simply are not aware of our exposure to identity theft and the trail of personal identifying information we leave unsecured.

Lionheart Assurance Solutions, LP reports that after completion of the training, employees find they change procedures in their offices and more fully verify customer’s identities. Some auto dealers are now recording finger prints on the closing sales documents.

A confidentiality document is signed by every employee indicating their understanding and completion of the training provided by Lionheart. In addition, a comprehensive identity theft product is made available as a voluntary employee benefit. Employees are given tips to protect their identities at home, such as how to protect their mail, credit cards, social security numbers and driver’s license numbers from identity thieves.

Lionheart Assurance provides periodic updates of the employee policy and trains new employees as they are hired.

Pat Parker, Sr. VP of Business Development and Training for Lionheart Assurance said, “Our role is to not only assist auto dealers in understanding how to improve security, but also to help in mitigating their liability associated with data breaches. It’s significant because if dealers don’t put a plan in place by the August 1 deadline, the FTC can fine them as much as $2,500 for selling a vehicle to a buyer with a stolen identity.” Unfortunately, the consequences for auto dealers don’t stop there. Each subsequent violation can carry a fine of up to $11,000.

In servicing auto dealers, Lionheart Assurance calls on specially trained Agents, certified to assist in the identity theft mitigation process.

As August fast approaches, buyers beware - you may find auto dealerships will ask more questions to confirm your identity and ask for other forms of identification, much like the retail industry has begun to put in place. An increasing number of dealerships now display notices that they have taken proactive steps to protect non-public information for both customers and employees.

About Lionheart Assurance Solutions, LP

Lionheart Assurance Solutions, LP is a national business services firm that assists corporate clients in mitigating risks associated with the loss of employee or customer data by helping them to establish an ongoing program of compliance with federal and state identity theft laws. Specializing in employee group legal and identity theft protection benefits for businesses of all sizes, Lionheart Assurance Solutions, LP serves over 240,000 corporate and individual North American clients. Certified Identity Theft Risk Management Specialists (CITRMS) work with clients to develop a comprehensive affirmative defense strategy including company-wide identity theft awareness training for all employees, and group identity theft protection and legal access plans that are made available to all employees as payroll deduction benefits.

For small to medium-sized clients, Lionheart also offers a full range of plans that help small businesses to “level the playing field” by providing access to the kinds of legal and consultative advice that typically only a large corporation can afford. In addition, Lionheart offers employee group legal plans designed to enhance worker productivity by helping employees keep their focus on their work instead of on their personal problems.

Robocalls are annoying. Have you been baraged or interrupted by a series of robocalls during your work day or worse yet have you been called on your cell phone and asked about renewing your auto warranty or setting up a satelite TV service?  If so, then with a bit of FTC and Congressional  intervention, your days of receiving these annoying robocalls will soon be over as the FTC and congressmen Sens. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Mark Warner (D-Va.) now tackles robocall marketing abuses.  To read the entire story, then following the link above.

Yard signs are still some of the most effective and low-priced advertising tools. These signs typically contain the words For Sale, For Rent, or even Beware of Dogs. Also called lawn signs, they become ubiquitous during election seasons. In fact, local and even national elections would not have that All-American feel had it not been for the signs bearing the names and pictures of politicians. And guess what, the signs being put up by homeowners in their front yard actually work.

Millions of homes have been sold or leased because of yard signs. And since the time they were first introduced, front lawn signs have helped countless mayors, congressmen, senators and presidents win their offices. So, isn’t it about time that you consider using signs that you can conveniently set up in your lawn or other people’s yard?

Yard signs are in the same category as car magnets, full-color banners, and other types of plastic signs. Apart from being used as ordinary notices, these signboards are a big part of the guerrilla tactics being employed by marketers. The way that this type of signs sends out the message to their target audience can bring about surprising results. But not just any lawn sign can be used to really rake in potential customers and big profits.

Believe it or not, there are rules involved if you want to make your signs really effective in your marketing. And the first rule is that your sign should be catchy enough to get the attention of the people in the neighborhood. You can’t just get a piece of cardboard or plastic and then paint the message that you want the world to know. You have to plan the words, colors and even the size of your sign.

The next rule in making yard signs is all about colors. Learn how to properly mix different colors. You do not want your signboard to look monotonous nor would you like it to appear like a kaleidoscope. It is always a good idea to use bold colors on your signs. This can help with catching the attention of your target audience.

Lastly, when it comes to signs, size does matter. But just make sure that the size that you adhere to can still be practical for the front yard. Obviously, you can’t put up a billboard-size sign on your lawn, or anyone’s yard for that matter.

To learn more about how to choose good quality yard signs, you can dial 866-744-6778. More information can also be obtained by clicking on www.PrecisionSignz.com.

Summary: Top Austin area real estate agent and national speaker Kenn Renner (www.buyaustin.com) will present a series of seminars at the new DR Horton Avery Ranch model home on Saturday, May 9th, 2009 at 2 P.M. Kenn will teach two of his most popular seminars – “First Time Home Buying” and “How To Protest Your Tax Bill.”

Austin, Texas – May 5, 2009 – Austin real estate agent, Kenn Renner, on May 9, 2009, will present two timely seminars at the Avery Ranch community (1) First Time Home Buying and (2) Protesting Your Property Tax Bill.

The seminar presentation that begins at 2 P.M. is two of his most popular presentations in his American Dream Seminar Series – (http://www.americandreamseminars.com). The first seminar will be “Secrets to Buying Your First Home,” which will cover realities of today’s real estate market and what he describes as the “Perfect Opportunity” to buy a first home. He will explore:

•    The reasons why home ownership is a great financial move,
•    The 10 steps to the home buying process, as well as the truth about the home mortgage market.
•    Opportunities in foreclosures, short sales and REO property will also be revealed.
•    Students will learn techniques to renegotiate a lease and/or reducing or eliminating penalties associated with leases.
•    Of critical importance, Kenn will discuss the $8000 first time homebuyer tax credit.

Kenn is deeply involved in the Avery Ranch community. He has helped over 200 families become Avery Ranch residents – far more than any other broker. “I have been an advocate for Avery Ranch since it’s opening in 2000. I prepared my home-buying clients to get involved with Avery long before it ever opened for home sales. The day DR Horton opened the subdivision I had 17 purchase contracts on the table. Believe it or not – prices in Avery Ranch started in the 130’s for a brand new home.” Renner adds, “I continue to support Avery Ranch by educating first time and move up home buyers about this great area.”

At 4 P.M. Kenn will present his second seminar presentation, “Texas Property Tax Reform & Protesting Your Tax Bill.” This timely seminar will cover the new property tax reform laws as well as secrets of how to effectively protest your property tax bill. He will be providing a workbook on the subject of property taxes in Texas and a case study of an actual property tax protest. Kenn adds, “if a home owner feels that the county has assessed their property incorrectly, I will provide a free property tax analysis to help them with their property tax protest.”

The seminars highly informative and they are free. Renner concludes, “This is an opportunity for me to give back to the community and to help share my 25 years of real estate experience in a casual and comfortable atmosphere.”

To register for the seminar visit www.BuyAustin.com or Kenn’s new website he has developed specifically for Avery Ranch – www.BuyAveryRanch.com.

About Kenn Renner:
Kenn Renner has been teaching real estate seminars in Austin and around the Nation since 1994.  He has personally has helped thousands of homebuyers purchase homes as a direct result of their attending the seminars. He is consistently ranked by the Austin Business Journal as one of the top individual real estate agents in central Texas. Since 2005 he has closed over $80,000,000 in residential homes sales making him the #1 selling agent in Williamson County. Kenn is a frequent guest on business talk radio as a real estate expert. He also has appeared more than a dozen times on National Television – HGTV’s House Hunters.

Contact Information:

Kenn Renner, Broker/Speaker
Keller Williams Realty, Lake Travis
1921 Lohmans Crossing
Austin, TX 78634
(512) 423-5626 (call or Text)
Website:  http://www.BuyAustin.com

Is a Self Directed IRA for me? That’s a good question. Are you the type that likes looking for investments and doing your own research? If you answered yes, you should discuss the idea further with your tax accountant or attorney.

Self directed IRAs are not for everyone, but if you know what you want to invest in or have some special knowledge about a specific area of investment you might be able to get better returns than your local stock broker. When you’re ready to do your own investing contact Sunwest Trust, Inc. at www.SunwestTrust.com. Watch our self directed ira videos to learn more…

Stainless steel tables are ideal for a commercial business or for personal, at-home use.  Following are three reasons these tables make excellent investments.

Versatile across Many Industries: Stainless steel tables are used in many industries. They can be found in such diverse places as school cafeterias, hotels, sport  stadiums, and residential kitchens. They are, in fact, preferred by some industries though, eg food service and manufacturing.

In food service, for example, stainless steel tables are highly desired because they are nonporous. This means they don’t absorb germ-causing food items and other contaminants. Restaurants and other food preparation facilities can be sued for illnesses like salmonella. This is usually caused during the food preparation process and can be avoided by using surfaces like stainless steel tables.

NSF International certification is the industry standard by which the materials and finishes used in manufacturing food equipment is judged and it is widely used by specifiers to select safe materials for use in food areas.

NSF 51 Certification covers materials in 3 main areas:

• Food Zone Certification – Surfaces may come in direct contact with all types of food items and/or food condensation.

• Splash Zone Certification – Surfaces that may be subject to spills, splashes and refuse from the Food Zone. Food in contact with the Splash Zone is not intended for consumption.

• Non-Food Zone – Surfaces outside the Food Zone and Splash Zone.

Various Uses: Stainless steel tables allow a business owner, homeowner or factory manager to make the most of its space – from floor to ceiling. This is because, in addition to their versatility across many industries, stainless steel tables also have many uses.

Restaurants can use stainless steel tables to set up various food preparation stations. A homeowner can use these tables as storage shelves in their basement. A shipping and supply company can use them as packing stations. A plant supervisor may use them as construction stations.

There is no limit to the uses for stainless steel tables.

Long Lasting: One of the main reasons stainless steel tables are so popular is their strength and durability. Steel is one of the strongest metals, which means you can store heavy items with confidence, and in various climates. Whether it’s a damp basement or a hot kitchen, tables made from this metal endure beautifully.

And, because stainless steel tables are easy to clean, they retain their beautiful luster for years to come.

Clean room, biotech, electric and healthcare industries need a quality product at a great price. OnePointe Solutions can accomplish both. Clean room tables are NSF approved and are available with solid or perforated tops and a brushed or electro polished finish. All stainless steel tables are made with 14-gauge stainless steel and all clean room tables are alcohol wiped and bagged before shipping. Call us today at 866-612-7312 or visit our website at www.OnePointeSolutions.com!

Summary: Self Directed IRA Custodian, Sunwest Trust, Inc., which is located in Albuquerque, New Mexico, defies economic odds by growing by 19% in 2008 despite the recessive economy. Sunwest Trust has diverse business interests and services self directed IRA and 401k clients nationwide.

Albuquerque, New Mexico, March 13, 2009 - Despite the grim economic climate and the receding value of the DOW, “Sunwest Trust continues to thrive and grow,” says Terry White, Chief Executive Officer for Sunwest Trust, Inc. In 2008, Sunwest Trust experienced their most profitable year in the company’s history and has grown by nearly 19% during the recession. White attributes much of their 2008 growth to the recent exodus from Wall Street, resulting from the daily fluctuations in the stock market. He adds, “Investors are pouring out of the stock market because they are fed up with the downward market free fall.” With the DOW down as much as 7000 points since last June, many IRA and 401k accounts have seen negative growth and have fallen by as much as 50%. As IRA holders see their retirement accounts deteriorating, “they are eager to look for investment alternatives,” says White.

Indeed, Sunwest Trust is positioned to meet this need; Sunwest allows their clients to invest in anything that is not specifically prohibited by the IRS code. Basically, this includes anything other than life insurance and collectibles. Although Sunwest allows clients to invest alternatively, White adds, “We strongly encourage our clients to exercise thorough due diligence and speak with a tax professional before making any alternative investments.”

Dustin White, Business Development/ IRA Specialist, suggests, “Our reasonable fee structure and customer service have also had a hand in our success in 2008.” Sunwest Trust IRA account fees have remained unchanged over the past seven years, and according to Dustin, “we do not plan on raising our fees in the foreseeable future, especially in this economic climate.”

Sunwest continues to provide outstanding service by managing their growth one client at a time. “We strive to personalize our clients’ experience. For example, when you call Sunwest Trust, you’re not going to get an automated voice answering system; you’re going to talk to a real person,” adds Dustin.

“February 2009 was another record-breaking month for Sunwest, in terms of new accounts received. All indications point to another great year for the company. We grew 19 % last year, and I see no reason why we can’t top that again this year,” says White.

About Sunwest Trust:

Sunwest Trust is an independently owned private company that offers self directed IRA custodian and escrow services. The company offers a huge range of financial services providing post retirement benefits, private mortgages, real estate contacts and other related fields for its clients. FDIC insured banks back the self directed IRA funds of their clients. For more information on the activities of the company, please visit www.SunwestTrust.com. Also, you can learn more about Sunwest Trust by watching their self directed IRA videos on Youtube.

Contact Information:

Sunwest Trust, Inc.
Terry White
3240 D Juan Tabo NE
Albuquerque, NM 87176

Toll Free: 1-800-642-7167
Email: tlw@sunwesttrust.com
Web Address: www.SunwestTrust.com