Apr 11
Yes, the deadline is just around the corner but even if you’ve waited until today, you still have time to get your taxes completed. Even if you don’t think you have time, you can always use one of the big three tax software firms to file IRS form 4868, getting an extension until August.
Get ‘em done or get ‘em extended by using:
- April 18th Alert! You Can Still Do Your Taxes FREE & Get Your Maximum Refund with TurboTax!
- FREE to Prepare, to Print, to E-File with TurboTax!
- E-File and Get Your Max Refund in as Few as 8 Days with TurboTax.com!
- H&R Block At Home Software Premium & Business Software
- H&R Block At Home Tax Software
- H&R Block At Home Online Free
- Get your maximum refund on this year’s tax return using CompleteTax.com
- Save 40% when you file your tax return at CompleteTax.com
Very few people WANT to pay their taxes. But even
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Apr 08
Readers Question: Why do global imbalances and the high demand for US securities such as US Treasuries and mortgage backed securities help keep US interest rates low
In the mid 2000s, the global economy could be characterised in a few ways. This is a simplification, but it should help to understand.
- US had strong economic growth, led by consumer spending. US had large current account deficit (imports were greater than exports)
- China had strong export sales. China had large current account surplus (exports greater than exports)
- With a current account surplus, China was receiving increasing foreign currency reserves. Therefore, China used these export revenues to buy US securities.
- One reason China wanted to buy US securities is that by buying dollar assets, it increased the value of the dollar and reduced the value of the Yuan.
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Apr 04
After Best Buy reported a massive fourth quarter loss yesterday, shares slid nearly 10% as investors abandoned the struggling electronics retailer. The company reported a loss of $4.89 per share, or $1.7 billion, a sharp drop from the profit of $1.62 per share, or $651 million, it posted in the prior year quarter. The loss was attributed to $2.6 billion in charges related to the acquisition of Carphone Warehouse Groups interest in Best Buy Mobile, as well as an impairment charge caused by Best Buy Europe. Excluding these hefty one-time charges, Best Buy actually earned $2.47 per share, beating the analyst consensus of $2.15 per share. Total revenue climbed 3% to $16.08 billion, but came in short of the expected $17.18 billion.
Daily Chart
These numbers failed to satisfy investors, who have been increasingly convinced that e-commerce giants Amazon and eBay have irreparably breached Best Buys core competencies.
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Apr 01
Before you begin your home searches, prepare yourself by reading Ten Steps to Homeownership.
Before anyone begins looking for a home, the home-buying process requires thorough preparation. Buyers who have been preapproved for a home loan often have their offers taken more seriously by owners. With increased preparation, you can tackle the process of acquiring the financing you need with more self-assurance.
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Mar 29
DESCRIPTION GOES HERE
Name of Financial Institution: Neighbors Federal Credit Union Area served: Greater Baton Rouge, Louisiana Website:
Assets: $519 million Number of members: 57,610 Number of branches: 9 Members per branch: 6,401 « Loans: $372 million Investments: $109 million Capital: $50 million (9.9%) 12-Month Growth: 13.41% « 12-Month Loan Growth: 11.28% « ROA: 0.88%
Number of total employees: 220 Ratio of members to employees: 262:1 «
Number of employees in marketing department: 5 (2.27% of entire workforce)
- Brett Reynolds, VP Marketing
- 1x Business Development Officer
- 1x Community Outreach Coordinator
- 1x Market Research Analyst
- 1x Media Specialist
Number of campaigns run every year: 4-6
|
Have Now |
Dont Have |
Not Yet, But Plan To |
Formal written marketing plan X Brand standards manual (addressing design) X Brand guidelines book (for staff) X CRM system X MCIF system X Onboarding program X Matrix mail program X Social media strategy X In-branch video merchandising system X Formal SEO strategy X
|
In-House |
Vendor |
Both |
Advertising X Design X Media buying X Direct mail X Email marketing X Web design/development X Online advertising/marketing X Social media n/a Promotional items, giveaways X Sales collateral, brochures X Public relations X Community relations/events X
N/A No social media channels used currently, but a plan is on the horizon.
|
Using Now |
Don’t Use |
Not Yet, But Plan To |
Direct mail X Print ads X TV ads X Radio ads X Billboards/outdoor X Ads within online banking/bill pay X Paid banner ad placements X Search engine marketing (e.g., Adwords) X Microsites X Email marketing X eStatement ads X QR codes X Facebook X Twitter X YouTube X LinkedIn X Foursquare X Blog X Online forum X
Biggest challenge in the next 12 months? We are currently merging with a smaller credit union which will add at least three new branches to our current branch network. Famil
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Mar 26
George Osborne described it as a way to simplify the tax system while critics have called it the Granny Tax. Whichever way you look at it this is the most controversial and talked-about measure to come from the Budget. Of course the economic climate means that few will have been surprised by a lack of good news in this Budget, but is this latest measure really fair?
What is the Granny Tax?
It is effectively a change to the personal allowance the amount you can earn each tax year, tax-free. The allowance for those under 65 in the new tax year (starting from 6 April 2012) is £8,105. If
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Electronic Arts Inc ranks amongst the largest game publishers in the world and since its inception it has been committed to developing, publishing and distributing software packages meant to be used in gaming consoles, wireless devices like mobile phones and e-readers, personal computers and even the Internet.