CHECK OUT B.A.M AT:
warmachineinc2gmail.com
Twitter: www.twitter.com/whoisbam
Blogsite: http://www.whoisbam.blogspot.com/
Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/bamofteamreklessmusic
Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/user/BamTeeVee
Monday, July 27, 2009
Money & Music Presents - Hot New Video From Money & Music Artist B.A.M Feat Keith Murry "Go Harder"
CHECK OUT B.A.M AT:
warmachineinc2gmail.com
Twitter: www.twitter.com/whoisbam
Blogsite: http://www.whoisbam.blogspot.com/
Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/bamofteamreklessmusic
Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/user/BamTeeVee
Monday, July 13, 2009
Business is Personal
To often you will see or hear the term, "don't take it Personal it's just Business". When was the last time you heard this statement?
There is no question, that you have to separate your personal life with your business life, and that your Family should always come first. Unfortunately, for many entrepreneurs or business owners, artists, models, dj's...etc...to be able to provide and support and allow the time for the family to come first, the income must come in. There is no salary or set pay check coming in to know from one week to the next what exactly that income will be, unless there are certain provisions or contracts in place.
So this is where it is very important to begin looking at your business or profession differently, and making sure your business is personal. To often you will see that the people you surround yourself with will grow with you and begin to make your business their business. Remember at the end of the day, you are the "Brand", and it's your livelihood that supports your family.
This is where you must understand that everything your "Brand" (a.k.a. Your Company/Your Profession) does is a reflection upon you. Those that are on your team, are also a reflection upon you and your "Brand". So make sure the team you build has the same vision and understanding of your "Brand", and where you want it to go and how you want it to operate. It is wise to make sure that every decision made in the beginning passes through you, making sure that you know exactly how your operations are being run and how your team responds to the many different situations you are or will be in.
Most successful people are passionate about what they do and what they want to accomplish. This is an important trait to carry forward with your "Brand" and making sure that your team feels, understands, and supports that same passion as you do about your "Brand". It is not acceptable on any level to disrespect or allow to be disrespected as a professional. You will never know who or when that time will come when someone calls, emails, or reaches out to you in need of your services, that could help take your "Brand" to the next level. So it is wise to make sure all calls, emails, faxes, etc...get to you immediately. We are in an age of technology whereas a simple text can reach you at anytime. So make sure you carve out everyday, or as soon as possible, enough time to get back to each and every person/business, PERSONALLY. Remember you are the "Brand" no one is calling your agent, manager, promoter, publicist, attorney, or financial advisor...etc to do business with them. They are reaching out to you, and they want to know they have a RELATIONSHIP with you and that means being accessible. Of course, there are many instances whereas you have to set a line to what's important and what is not, but be very careful about where that line is. It's your "Brand", and missing just one call could be that one and only opportunity that knocked.
Remember, no one is too busy or too important for a phone call(preferably) or a text message or email. Should those around you make you believe you are or that is how you should be to get ahead, begin to evaluate who they represent and is that how you want your "Brand" to be represented. Successful people are very passionate about their professions or business and take their business personal, so make sure you too take your "Brand" seriously enough to know that no matter who that someone is reaching out to you, the fact that they are reaching out should always be appreciated and accounted for.
Make sure you practice "good business" in any profession you are only as good as your last song, application, project, game, etc... so it is important that you take your business personally with those that are part of your team or those that may help or have helped you take your "Brand" to the next level, because you never know when the next opportunity will come again.
We all like to do business with people we can trust, but in today's day and age, unfortunately, it is very hard to sometimes even trust our closest friends, "Money makes people Funny". So stay the course, as they good old saying goes, "slow and steady wins the race". Be patient, be passionate, be respectful, and most importantly take your Business and make it Personal.
So next time someone says to you, "It's just Business, it's Not Personal", evaluate are they who you really want affiliated with your team as your "Brand" moves forward or apart of your successes? Remember who comes first is your Family, so keep in mind every decision you or you allow your team to make represents your "Brand" most importantly your family in the end.
There is no question, that you have to separate your personal life with your business life, and that your Family should always come first. Unfortunately, for many entrepreneurs or business owners, artists, models, dj's...etc...to be able to provide and support and allow the time for the family to come first, the income must come in. There is no salary or set pay check coming in to know from one week to the next what exactly that income will be, unless there are certain provisions or contracts in place.
So this is where it is very important to begin looking at your business or profession differently, and making sure your business is personal. To often you will see that the people you surround yourself with will grow with you and begin to make your business their business. Remember at the end of the day, you are the "Brand", and it's your livelihood that supports your family.
This is where you must understand that everything your "Brand" (a.k.a. Your Company/Your Profession) does is a reflection upon you. Those that are on your team, are also a reflection upon you and your "Brand". So make sure the team you build has the same vision and understanding of your "Brand", and where you want it to go and how you want it to operate. It is wise to make sure that every decision made in the beginning passes through you, making sure that you know exactly how your operations are being run and how your team responds to the many different situations you are or will be in.
Most successful people are passionate about what they do and what they want to accomplish. This is an important trait to carry forward with your "Brand" and making sure that your team feels, understands, and supports that same passion as you do about your "Brand". It is not acceptable on any level to disrespect or allow to be disrespected as a professional. You will never know who or when that time will come when someone calls, emails, or reaches out to you in need of your services, that could help take your "Brand" to the next level. So it is wise to make sure all calls, emails, faxes, etc...get to you immediately. We are in an age of technology whereas a simple text can reach you at anytime. So make sure you carve out everyday, or as soon as possible, enough time to get back to each and every person/business, PERSONALLY. Remember you are the "Brand" no one is calling your agent, manager, promoter, publicist, attorney, or financial advisor...etc to do business with them. They are reaching out to you, and they want to know they have a RELATIONSHIP with you and that means being accessible. Of course, there are many instances whereas you have to set a line to what's important and what is not, but be very careful about where that line is. It's your "Brand", and missing just one call could be that one and only opportunity that knocked.
Remember, no one is too busy or too important for a phone call(preferably) or a text message or email. Should those around you make you believe you are or that is how you should be to get ahead, begin to evaluate who they represent and is that how you want your "Brand" to be represented. Successful people are very passionate about their professions or business and take their business personal, so make sure you too take your "Brand" seriously enough to know that no matter who that someone is reaching out to you, the fact that they are reaching out should always be appreciated and accounted for.
Make sure you practice "good business" in any profession you are only as good as your last song, application, project, game, etc... so it is important that you take your business personally with those that are part of your team or those that may help or have helped you take your "Brand" to the next level, because you never know when the next opportunity will come again.
We all like to do business with people we can trust, but in today's day and age, unfortunately, it is very hard to sometimes even trust our closest friends, "Money makes people Funny". So stay the course, as they good old saying goes, "slow and steady wins the race". Be patient, be passionate, be respectful, and most importantly take your Business and make it Personal.
So next time someone says to you, "It's just Business, it's Not Personal", evaluate are they who you really want affiliated with your team as your "Brand" moves forward or apart of your successes? Remember who comes first is your Family, so keep in mind every decision you or you allow your team to make represents your "Brand" most importantly your family in the end.
Friday, July 3, 2009
Haterz T's are OUT!! Get'em 1st
20$ + Shipping & Handling
email: moneyandmusic@gmail.com
"Rock'em HUSTLERS before them Haterz do"
Get at us 20$$$, Rock them Haterz 1st!!
& Support the Movement
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Why Advisors are NOT the same.
Look to build your team with experts in their own particular fields while most importantly surrounding yourself with people you feel most confident and comfortable with. Understand that it's hard to find people you can trust so interview many different professionals, even if they are referred to you by someone, check their references, ask them the questions you want to know, get their experience levels and the type of clients they work with, and make sure they are certified or registered.
* First, a lawyer. To handle probate, account title changes, any and all legal issues (NOT financial, tax or accounting issues).
* Second, a CPA. Depending on the amount of assets involved and your own personal expertise, I would consider a CPA from a large, long-established firm -- not a one-man shop. Purpose is to help with any tax and or accounting-related issues. Pulling together a summary of your assets, liabilities, new worth, etc.
* Third, a financial advisor. Before choosing a financial advisor, I would would ask quite a few people for their recommendations (the lawyer, the CPA, your bank, etc.). It's real important that you get someone who's reputable, who's good at what he/she does, and who's been in business for awhile.
Lawyers, CPA's and Financial Advisors are all experts in their own fields, although they often will claim expertise that covers the gamut. However, it's a mistake to assume that only one of these specialists can handle all your needs.
Finally, just a couple of added recommendations:
* Begin learning (classes, reading, etc.) about how to handle your own financial affairs (e.g., taxes, investments, budgeting, etc.). It's a BIG mistake to rely solely on a experts and not having any understanding of what they are recommending.
* NEVER, NEVER, NEVER take an expert's advice unless you understand what they are recommending and why. If necessary, get someone else to explain the advice in a way you understand.
* NEVER, NEVER, NEVER give your lawyer, your CPA or your financial advisor control (e.g., power of attorney) over any of your accounts. You should have to personally initiate and sign off on any transactions in your accounts.
* ALWAYS review your monthly statements (credit card, banking, investment) to make sure there are no transactions that have not been authorized by you.
* First, a lawyer. To handle probate, account title changes, any and all legal issues (NOT financial, tax or accounting issues).
* Second, a CPA. Depending on the amount of assets involved and your own personal expertise, I would consider a CPA from a large, long-established firm -- not a one-man shop. Purpose is to help with any tax and or accounting-related issues. Pulling together a summary of your assets, liabilities, new worth, etc.
* Third, a financial advisor. Before choosing a financial advisor, I would would ask quite a few people for their recommendations (the lawyer, the CPA, your bank, etc.). It's real important that you get someone who's reputable, who's good at what he/she does, and who's been in business for awhile.
Lawyers, CPA's and Financial Advisors are all experts in their own fields, although they often will claim expertise that covers the gamut. However, it's a mistake to assume that only one of these specialists can handle all your needs.
Finally, just a couple of added recommendations:
* Begin learning (classes, reading, etc.) about how to handle your own financial affairs (e.g., taxes, investments, budgeting, etc.). It's a BIG mistake to rely solely on a experts and not having any understanding of what they are recommending.
* NEVER, NEVER, NEVER take an expert's advice unless you understand what they are recommending and why. If necessary, get someone else to explain the advice in a way you understand.
* NEVER, NEVER, NEVER give your lawyer, your CPA or your financial advisor control (e.g., power of attorney) over any of your accounts. You should have to personally initiate and sign off on any transactions in your accounts.
* ALWAYS review your monthly statements (credit card, banking, investment) to make sure there are no transactions that have not been authorized by you.
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Cash vs. Credit (personal vs. business)
The ABCs of Business Credit
Learn why it's important to establish a business credit report separate from your personal credit and just how to do it. By David Gass
As an entrepreneur, did you know you have a unique opportunity to build, maintain and acquire credit both individually and as a business owner? That's good news if you're trying to build and grow a company because you won't have to rely solely on your personal credit to do that.
As a member of the business credit industry, it's been my experience that fewer then 10 percent of all entrepreneurs know about or truly understand how business credit is established and tracked-and how it affects their lives and businesses.
So let's first take a look at how personal credit differs from business credit. Then we'll discuss some steps you can take to build your business credit.
Personal Vs. Business Credit
At the point an individual with a social security number accepts their first job or applies for their first credit card, a credit profile is started with the personal credit reporting agencies. This profile, otherwise known as a credit report, is added to with every credit inquiry, credit application submitted, change of address and job change. The information is typically reported to the credit bureaus by those who are issuing credit. Eventually, the credit report becomes a statement of an individual's ability to pay back a debt.
In some cases, the same is true for businesses. When a business issues another business credit, it's referred to as trade credit. Trade, or business, credit is the single largest source of lending in the world.
Information about trade credit transactions is gathered by the business credit bureaus to create your business credit report using your business name, address and federal tax identification number (FIN), also known as an employer identification number (EIN), which you get from the IRS. The business credit bureaus use this compiled data to generate a report about your company's business credit transactions. In many cases, those issuing credit to you will rely on your business credit report to determine if they want to grant you credit and how much credit they'll give.
The major business credit bureaus that compile and provide copies of the reports are:
Dun & Bradstreet/Experian Business/Equifax Business/Business Credit USA
Unfortunately, because the information provided to the business credit bureaus is sent in voluntarily--no business is required to send it in--the credit bureaus may never receive all or even any information about your business credit transactions. In fact, you could go for years racking up business credit without any of it being reported to the credit bureaus.
Establishing Business Credit
Let's start by talking about your business credit score. Business credit scores range on a scale from 0 to 100 with 75 or more considered an excellent rating. Personal credit scores, on the other hand, range from 300 to 850 with a score of 680 or high considered excellent.
It's important to note that there are many factors that affect a credit score; it's based on more than just whether you pay your bills on time. Your score can be affected by the amount of available credit you have on bank lines of credit and credit cards, the length of time you've had a credit profile, the number of inquiries made on your credit profile and more. You can find out more about what factors affect your credit rating by visiting www.myfico.com.
The mistake many business owners make is using their personal information to apply for business credit, leases and loans. By doing so, they risk having a lower personal credit score.
Why is that? The average consumer credit report gets just one inquiry per year and has 11 credit obligations, typically broken down as 7 credit cards and 4 installment loans. Business owners are not your average consumer, however, because they carry both personal and business credit. This typically doubles the number of inquiries made to their personal credit profile and the number of credit obligations they carry at any given time, all of which negatively impact their personal credit score. And because business inquiries and personal inquiries aren't separated on their personal credit report, the scores, again, is negatively affected. At the same time, by using their personal credit history to get business credit, they're not able to build their business score, which could help them attain critical business credit in the future.
The key to establishing a business credit profile and score is to find companies that will establish credit for your business without using your personal credit information and then report the payment experiences to the business credit bureaus. By reporting the information to the proper agencies, they'll help you establish your business credit profile.
The following are the basic steps you need to take to establish your business credit profile and score:
1. Form a corporation or LLC to operate your business under and obtain an FIN or EIN from the IRS. You can apply for an EIN number at the IRS website.
I'm suggesting you form a corporation or LLC as opposed to structuring your business as a sole proprietorship or partnership because with a sole proprietorship or partnership, your personal credit information could be included on your business credit report--and vice-versa. In addition, as a sole proprietor or partner in a partnership, you're personally liable for the debts of the business and all your personal assets are at risk in the event of litigation.
Corporations and LLCs, on the other hand, afford business owners liability protection, and you can build a business credit profile that's separate from your personal debts. You may be able to apply for credit under your business's name and obtain credit without a personal credit check or guarantee if the credit grantor will do so--and it's been my experience that often all you have to do is ask.
2. Register your company with the business credit bureaus.
3. Comply with the business credit market requirements. It's extremely important for businesses to meet all the requirements of the credit market in order to ensure a higher likelihood of credit approval. In fact, not being in compliance with the credit market can raise red flags with both credit bureaus and grantors. The red flags include such simple things as not having a business license or a phone line. Most businesses will not grant credit to another business that hasn't taken the steps to set the company up with the proper licenses and local, state and federal requirements. You can research the list of business credit market requirements at iBank.com.
4. Prepare financial statements and a professional business plan. These documents are often required by many credit grantors.
5. Find companies willing to grant credit to your business without a personal credit check or guarantee.
When a company grants your business credit, be certain they report the payment experiences you have with them to the business credit bureau to help build your business credit report and a financial foundation for your company.
6. Manage your debt so you don't fall into trouble making your payments, which will negatively affect your credit score.
7. Make monthly payments to credit grantors to keep your business credit profile active.
At some point, almost every business needs some type of credit. To avoid having to use your personal credit history or guarantees and to obtain the best possible terms, start the steps necessary to build a business credit profile now before you really need it.
Learn why it's important to establish a business credit report separate from your personal credit and just how to do it. By David Gass
As an entrepreneur, did you know you have a unique opportunity to build, maintain and acquire credit both individually and as a business owner? That's good news if you're trying to build and grow a company because you won't have to rely solely on your personal credit to do that.
As a member of the business credit industry, it's been my experience that fewer then 10 percent of all entrepreneurs know about or truly understand how business credit is established and tracked-and how it affects their lives and businesses.
So let's first take a look at how personal credit differs from business credit. Then we'll discuss some steps you can take to build your business credit.
Personal Vs. Business Credit
At the point an individual with a social security number accepts their first job or applies for their first credit card, a credit profile is started with the personal credit reporting agencies. This profile, otherwise known as a credit report, is added to with every credit inquiry, credit application submitted, change of address and job change. The information is typically reported to the credit bureaus by those who are issuing credit. Eventually, the credit report becomes a statement of an individual's ability to pay back a debt.
In some cases, the same is true for businesses. When a business issues another business credit, it's referred to as trade credit. Trade, or business, credit is the single largest source of lending in the world.
Information about trade credit transactions is gathered by the business credit bureaus to create your business credit report using your business name, address and federal tax identification number (FIN), also known as an employer identification number (EIN), which you get from the IRS. The business credit bureaus use this compiled data to generate a report about your company's business credit transactions. In many cases, those issuing credit to you will rely on your business credit report to determine if they want to grant you credit and how much credit they'll give.
The major business credit bureaus that compile and provide copies of the reports are:
Dun & Bradstreet/Experian Business/Equifax Business/Business Credit USA
Unfortunately, because the information provided to the business credit bureaus is sent in voluntarily--no business is required to send it in--the credit bureaus may never receive all or even any information about your business credit transactions. In fact, you could go for years racking up business credit without any of it being reported to the credit bureaus.
Establishing Business Credit
Let's start by talking about your business credit score. Business credit scores range on a scale from 0 to 100 with 75 or more considered an excellent rating. Personal credit scores, on the other hand, range from 300 to 850 with a score of 680 or high considered excellent.
It's important to note that there are many factors that affect a credit score; it's based on more than just whether you pay your bills on time. Your score can be affected by the amount of available credit you have on bank lines of credit and credit cards, the length of time you've had a credit profile, the number of inquiries made on your credit profile and more. You can find out more about what factors affect your credit rating by visiting www.myfico.com.
The mistake many business owners make is using their personal information to apply for business credit, leases and loans. By doing so, they risk having a lower personal credit score.
Why is that? The average consumer credit report gets just one inquiry per year and has 11 credit obligations, typically broken down as 7 credit cards and 4 installment loans. Business owners are not your average consumer, however, because they carry both personal and business credit. This typically doubles the number of inquiries made to their personal credit profile and the number of credit obligations they carry at any given time, all of which negatively impact their personal credit score. And because business inquiries and personal inquiries aren't separated on their personal credit report, the scores, again, is negatively affected. At the same time, by using their personal credit history to get business credit, they're not able to build their business score, which could help them attain critical business credit in the future.
The key to establishing a business credit profile and score is to find companies that will establish credit for your business without using your personal credit information and then report the payment experiences to the business credit bureaus. By reporting the information to the proper agencies, they'll help you establish your business credit profile.
The following are the basic steps you need to take to establish your business credit profile and score:
1. Form a corporation or LLC to operate your business under and obtain an FIN or EIN from the IRS. You can apply for an EIN number at the IRS website.
I'm suggesting you form a corporation or LLC as opposed to structuring your business as a sole proprietorship or partnership because with a sole proprietorship or partnership, your personal credit information could be included on your business credit report--and vice-versa. In addition, as a sole proprietor or partner in a partnership, you're personally liable for the debts of the business and all your personal assets are at risk in the event of litigation.
Corporations and LLCs, on the other hand, afford business owners liability protection, and you can build a business credit profile that's separate from your personal debts. You may be able to apply for credit under your business's name and obtain credit without a personal credit check or guarantee if the credit grantor will do so--and it's been my experience that often all you have to do is ask.
2. Register your company with the business credit bureaus.
3. Comply with the business credit market requirements. It's extremely important for businesses to meet all the requirements of the credit market in order to ensure a higher likelihood of credit approval. In fact, not being in compliance with the credit market can raise red flags with both credit bureaus and grantors. The red flags include such simple things as not having a business license or a phone line. Most businesses will not grant credit to another business that hasn't taken the steps to set the company up with the proper licenses and local, state and federal requirements. You can research the list of business credit market requirements at iBank.com.
4. Prepare financial statements and a professional business plan. These documents are often required by many credit grantors.
5. Find companies willing to grant credit to your business without a personal credit check or guarantee.
When a company grants your business credit, be certain they report the payment experiences you have with them to the business credit bureau to help build your business credit report and a financial foundation for your company.
6. Manage your debt so you don't fall into trouble making your payments, which will negatively affect your credit score.
7. Make monthly payments to credit grantors to keep your business credit profile active.
At some point, almost every business needs some type of credit. To avoid having to use your personal credit history or guarantees and to obtain the best possible terms, start the steps necessary to build a business credit profile now before you really need it.
Monday, May 25, 2009
What are My Priorities?
When it comes to budgeting, paying your bills and paying off bad debts, it is important to realize what your priorities should be. This will vary from person to person slightly, but there is a definite order to what bills you should pay no matter what. After that the order may shift depending on your priorities and your situation.
Priority One: Cover Your Necessities
Your first priority should be shelter, food and electricity/heat. These are the basics that an individual needs to live. Within these categories it is possible to overspend. Your housing should not be more than twenty five percent of your salary. If it is then you may need to sell your house and buy a new one, or you may need to increase your income. You can decide which way you want to deal with the situation. Similarly you should do all you can to keep your grocery bill at a reasonable level. Reasonable may have different limits if you are deeply in debt and behind on your bills as compared to being debt free. Do not starve, but you can work to lower your grocery bill. Also you should try to lower utility costs as much as possible.
Priority Two: Get Out of Debt and Save Money
After you have met your basic needs your next priority should be saving money or getting out of debt. It does not make a lot of sense to put a lot of money into savings if you are paying more in interest on your debts. You should be at least making minimum payments on all your debts before you spend money on other items in your budget. You should strive to put between $200.00 to $500.00 extra towards your debt each month if at all possible. If you are debt free, you should be saving at least ten percent of your income each month. You should also try to increase your retirement savings to fifteen percent of your income.
Priority Three: Spend Your Money Your Way
Deciding on the remaining priorities in your budget after this is completely up to you. You may decide that the gym membership is more important than saving for a big screen television or that shopping for clothes is more fun than going out to the movies. The key to the rest of your spending is to not overspend. You can divide your eating out, clothing and entertainment categories is a variety of ways that suit you and your personality. This may change over time as your priorities change throughout your life.
Top Priority: Retirement
Retirement savings should not be last, in your priorities. You should contribute up to your employer’s match until you are debt free. If you do not have an employer’s match contribute about five percent of your income each month to retirement. It will not greatly lower your take home pay, and you should not stop contributing. Once you are debt free, then you should work on raising your contributions to fifteen percent on your income. This can include any employer’s match that you receive. Then you should base your budget around the new take home amount that you have.
Priority One: Cover Your Necessities
Your first priority should be shelter, food and electricity/heat. These are the basics that an individual needs to live. Within these categories it is possible to overspend. Your housing should not be more than twenty five percent of your salary. If it is then you may need to sell your house and buy a new one, or you may need to increase your income. You can decide which way you want to deal with the situation. Similarly you should do all you can to keep your grocery bill at a reasonable level. Reasonable may have different limits if you are deeply in debt and behind on your bills as compared to being debt free. Do not starve, but you can work to lower your grocery bill. Also you should try to lower utility costs as much as possible.
Priority Two: Get Out of Debt and Save Money
After you have met your basic needs your next priority should be saving money or getting out of debt. It does not make a lot of sense to put a lot of money into savings if you are paying more in interest on your debts. You should be at least making minimum payments on all your debts before you spend money on other items in your budget. You should strive to put between $200.00 to $500.00 extra towards your debt each month if at all possible. If you are debt free, you should be saving at least ten percent of your income each month. You should also try to increase your retirement savings to fifteen percent of your income.
Priority Three: Spend Your Money Your Way
Deciding on the remaining priorities in your budget after this is completely up to you. You may decide that the gym membership is more important than saving for a big screen television or that shopping for clothes is more fun than going out to the movies. The key to the rest of your spending is to not overspend. You can divide your eating out, clothing and entertainment categories is a variety of ways that suit you and your personality. This may change over time as your priorities change throughout your life.
Top Priority: Retirement
Retirement savings should not be last, in your priorities. You should contribute up to your employer’s match until you are debt free. If you do not have an employer’s match contribute about five percent of your income each month to retirement. It will not greatly lower your take home pay, and you should not stop contributing. Once you are debt free, then you should work on raising your contributions to fifteen percent on your income. This can include any employer’s match that you receive. Then you should base your budget around the new take home amount that you have.
Saturday, May 23, 2009
Money & Music Presents - Check out Forbes Report On CEO "Big Face Records" - "David Banner"
"DAVID BANNER - CEO BIG FACE RECORDS"
Also check out "Money Mike" on tomorrows conference call where his topic will be - "What's Your Priorities"in the "Cool V & Money Mike's" - "Money & Music Segment"
(Also Entertainment Lawyer Gizelle talks about 360 Record Deals)
MEMORIAL MIX WEEKEND PRIORITES
Asher Roth feat Cee Lo "Be By Myself"
Melanie Fiona "Give It To Me Right"
Myko feat Yung Joc "Give It To You"
Akon "Be With You"
TO DOWNLOAD ALL SRC/LOUD RECORDS PRIORITIES SEE - www.mediafire.com/srcrecords
In Stores Now:
Asher Roth "Asleep In The Bread Aisle"
Akon "Freedom"
Shontelle "Shontelligence"
David Banner "The Greatest Story Ever Told"
Cleve
SRC/Universal (Radio Promotions)
AOL I/M: Shuhefner
www.myspace.com/iceshuler
www.Loud.com
Monday, May 18, 2009
Money & Music Inc - Says "Know Your Budget!!"
For most people, the word “budget” conjures up thoughts of penny-pinching and the unpleasant task of crunching numbers. This couldn’t be further from the truth. A budget is at the cornerstone of a solid financial foundation, regardless of your situation, and it isn’t that hard to do.
What is a Budget?
A budget is nothing more than a breakdown and plan of how much money you have coming in and where it goes. Could you imagine a business becoming successful if it didn’t keep track of its income and expenses? The same holds true when it comes to your personal finances. If you don’t know how much money you have coming in and where it goes, your road to financial success will be a difficult one.
The biggest fear that most people have when creating a budget is that they will need to suddenly cut back on all of the fun spending -- things like the occasional coffee or dinner out, movie night, or even the trip to grandma’s for the holidays. While you may find that you do need to cut some spending after putting together a budget, without actually sitting down and creating one, it is impossible to know what expenses need to be cut, if any.
Creating a budget may not sound like the most exciting thing in the world to do, but it is vital in keeping your financial house in order. Before you begin to create your budget it is important to realize that in order to be successful you have to provide as much detailed information as possible. Ultimately, the end result will be able to show where your money is coming from, how much is there and where it is all going.
Difficulty: Easy
Time Required: 5 minutes to 30 mins.
How?
Gather every financial statement you can. This includes bank statements, investment accounts, recent utility bills and any information regarding a source of income or expense. The key for this process is to create a monthly average so the more information you can dig up the better.
Record all of your sources of income. If you are self-employed or have any outside sources of income be sure to record these as well. If your income is in the form of a regular paycheck where taxes are automatically deducted then using the net income, or take home pay, amount is fine. Record this total income as a monthly amount.
Create a list of monthly expenses. Write down a list of all the expected expenses you plan on incurring over the course of a month. This includes a mortgage payment, car payments, auto insurance, groceries, utilities, entertainment, dry cleaning, auto insurance, retirement or college savings and essentially everything you spend money on.
Break expenses into two categories: fixed and variable. Fixed expenses are those that stay relatively the same each month and are required parts of your way of living. They included expenses such as your mortgage or rent, car payments, cable and/or internet service, trash pickup, credit card payments and so on. These expenses for the most part are essential yet not likely to change in the budget.
Variable expenses are the type that will change from month to month and include items such as groceries, gasoline, entertainment, eating out and gifts to name a few. This category will be important when making adjustments.
Total your monthly income and monthly expenses. If your end result shows more income than expenses you are off to a good start. This means you can prioritize this excess to areas of your budget such as retirement savings or paying more on credit cards to eliminate that debt faster. If you are showing a higher expense column than income it means some changes will have to be made.
Make adjustments to expenses. If you have accurately identified and listed all of your expenses the ultimate goal would be to have your income and expense columns to be equal. This means all of your income is accounted for and budgeted for a specific expense.
If you are in a situation where expenses are higher than income you should look at your variable expenses to find areas to cut. Since these expenses are typically essential it should be easy to shave a few dollars in a few areas to bring you closer to your income.
Review your budget monthly and work with a trusted advisor to take advantage of the various financial tools available to increase your profitability while minimizing taxes. It is important to review your budget on a regular basis to make sure you are staying on track. After the first month take a minute to sit down and compare the actual expenses versus what you had created in the budget. This will show you where you did well and where you may need to improve.
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Money & Music Presents - Michael Jackson, sued again? Even an Icon needs financial guidance
Yet, we continue to see over and over, day in and day out, that no matter how high you rise, how much you think you are making, that the good ole saying, when building & creating wealth, will never go away. "Slow & Steady Wins the Race"
Unfortunately, that is not enough, attorneys, accountants, publicists, managers, family, friends, so-called advisors, once they see Fame & Fortune, you can better believe they will be closer to you than ever before, or should we say closer to your MONEY.
This article, along with the so many great athletes & artists, and just recently one of the greatest Boxers of All-Time, ironicly his name Floyd "Money" Mayweather, so often will rise so quickly, have so many people tugging at them to be in their "camp", that when it's all said and done, who were the ones that made the money, enough said!!
The time is now to join the movement, and let this article be a True Lesson to anyone who cares, Money & Music, was established so that no matter how High you Rise in your career, how much Money you make, that when it's all over and its time to look back on the Glory days, your Money/Wealth & most importantly LEGACY will be well in tack, and will be able to laugh at all those Who Tried to Break You.
Never forget, for every Las Vegas Built, their was a Myer Lansky, who made sure Financially, the foundation was laid & Success was inevitable, beyond the years of Stardom.
m$m
Michael Jackson's former publicist sues for $44 million
Thu May 7, 2009 11:23am LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Michael Jackson's former publicist filed a $44 million lawsuit on Wednesday against the self-styled "King of Pop" for failing to pay her for her services.
Raymone Bain, who represented Jackson during his 2005 trial and acquittal on child sex abuse charges and later managed his business company, filed a breach of contract civil lawsuit against the singer in Washington, D.C.
She said in a statement that she had decided "with deep regret" to sue Jackson, describing him as someone "whom I have greatly admired and respected."
But she added; "Unfortunately, Mr. Jackson has elected not to honor the financial obligations of our contractual relationship, despite my numerous attempts to amicably resolve this matter. I am sincerely disappointed in Mr. Jackson's failure to honor his obligations."
Bain, who trained as a lawyer, saw Jackson through some of the most difficult moments in his career. She became his public voice for much of the lengthy child molestation trial in California, Jackson's subsequent stays in Bahrain and Ireland and the financial difficulties that resulted in the sale of his Neverland Valley ranch in California last year.
In 2006 she was appointed general manager of the Michael Jackson Company, which handles his business affairs.
She said in the lawsuit that she was hired as a spokeswoman in 2003 and that from 2006, she ran every aspect of Jackson's life including arranging housing, emergency refinancing, travel and security and scheduling meetings with record producers as the singer struggled to reestablish his music career.
Bain joins a long line of former advisers, accountants and friends who have sued Jackson in recent years over broken contracts and unpaid bills. Most of the lawsuits have been settled out of court.
A son of the king of Bahrain reached an out-of-court settlement with Jackson in November over allegations that the "Thriller" singer had reneged on a recording contract and owed him $7 million.
Jackson's current spokesman, Dr Tohme K. Tohme, did not return calls for comment.
After years of living as a virtual recluse, Jackson recently announced a run of 50 comeback concerts in London, starting in July. All have sold out.
Bain's lawsuit cited media reports which suggested the London concert deal, which she said she had helped to negotiate, was worth $400 million in revenue to Jackson.
Bain said Jackson had agreed to pay her 10 percent of any deals he entered into as a result of her help but had not done so. She asked for $44 million in damages, plus lawyers' fees.
(Editing by Bob Tourtellotte and Eric Walsh)
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Money & Music - Ditch your bank for a credit union
PART II - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-rEW6ff3Zao
PART III - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RkQUVs-Kghg
You aren't bound to your bank. Learn why credit unions deliver big savings and better service for many consumers.
By Liz Pulliam Weston
A lot of you are really and truly sick of your banks.
You're sick of getting socked with fees, or tripped by hidden penalties, or earning lousy interest rates. You're tired of being treated like a nuisance rather than a customer. And yet you have little hope that the bank down the street is any better.
But who says you have to settle for a bank? Relief could be as close as the nearest credit union. Because so many people are fuzzy about the differences between banks and credit unions, I'll highlight the three most important distinctions:
Credit unions are member-owned. If you have an account at a credit union, you're a part owner in the enterprise. That may not entitle you to use the executive washroom -- your CU probably doesn't even have an executive washroom -- but you're likely to be seen as a person rather than as a "cost center."
Credit unions are not-for-profit. This status helps explain why interest rates tend to be significantly better, and fees fewer and smaller, at credit unions than at banks. Any profits credit unions do make are distributed as dividends to their members. Contrast that with banks, which continually invent new fees and policies to boost profits (and to pay those stunning executive salaries).
Banks hate -- hate -- credit unions. President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the Federal Credit Union Act into law in 1934 to "promote thrift and thwart usury," and banks have been gunning for them pretty much ever since.
Because of their not-for-profit, cooperative structures, credit unions are exempted from most state and federal taxes. Banks have convinced themselves this is an unfair advantage and have spent a lot of effort, plus a fortune in lobbying fees, trying to legislate credit unions out of existence, or at least limit who can join. (I guess they thought the money was better spent there than on, say, improving their interest rates, reducing their fees or slashing their telephone hold times.)
Are you eligible? Almost certainly
Fortunately for you, banks have failed pretty miserably in their efforts to contain the competition. That's why the Credit Union National Association, the CUs' trade group, can brag that virtually everyone in the U.S. can belong to a credit union, thanks to where they live, where they work or the associations to which they belong.
The nation's credit unions count 90 million members, and their trade association estimates members save $8 billion a year thanks to better interest rates and reduced fees. Credit-union-issued credit cards, for example, tend not to have annual fees or to charge punitive interest rates for a single late payment. Most credit unions offer free checking accounts, and penalties for overdrawing those accounts tend to be lower: a $20 or $25 fee is typical, compared with up to $39 a pop charged by banks.
Yet many people discover the benefits of credit unions almost by accident, said Pat Keefe, a spokesman for the credit-union association. They'll join because they can get a decent rate on a car loan, say, and only gradually discover that the checking account has far fewer fees, the credit cards offer better interest rates, and the mortgages aren't bad, either.
Talk back: Are credit unions a better deal?
But you don't have to wait until you need a loan? Usually, finding a credit union is as easy as visiting your employer's human resources department. If you don't work or want more options, you can use the credit union search tool at JoinACU.org.
Based on where we live, where my husband works and our various other affiliations, the matchup tool spit out 31 local credit unions that might accept us. Some of them had fairly narrow membership requirements, like America's Christian Credit Union, which requires attendance at certain evangelical churches. Others were pretty darned broad, like Wescom Credit Union, which allows anyone who lives, works, worships or goes to school in Southern California to become a member.
Not perfect -- but not out to get you
Like bank deposits, money in credit unions is insured for at least $250,000 per account. Instead of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp., which insures bank deposits, the coverage is provided by the National Credit Union Administration, but both agencies are backed by the full faith and credit of the federal government.
And you typically aren't restricted to using your own credit union's ATMs. Most CUs either offer fee-free access to a huge network of ATMs or reimburse your fees if you use other institutions' machines.
It's a stash of cash, but how much do you need? And why should this take priority over other savings goals?Are credit unions perfect? Of course not. No institution run by humans and their computers could possibly claim to satisfy everyone all the time. Occasionally I'll hear of a credit union that's instituted some silly fee, and too many have opted for "bounce protection" instead of real overdraft protection for their accounts. (For why the difference is important, read "Don't be duped by 'bounce protection.'")
But most of the folks I talk to who have abandoned banks for credit unions are thrilled they made the switch. If you're sick of your bank, why don't you follow suit?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg){kind=logo}
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
