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Samuel Martin Profile and Articles
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1). Father Knows Best: The Story of an Inventor
They say necessity is the mother of invention. In at least one notable case, it served as motivation for a resourceful father as well.
After the birth of his first child in 2000, inventor and entrepreneur Mark Rosenzweig was inspired to find a better way to clean up the inevitable messes of parenthood. His quest led to the introduction of some of the most innovative devices in the home-cleaning industry and the building of Shark Euro-Pro, a $350 million company.
2). Gold: A Solid Investment
Make no mistake, the currency crisis is coming.
Rather than sitting back and letting it happen, protect yourself and profit from an economic upset that could basically render your dollars about as worthless as the paper they're printed on.
We saw a preview of this kind of debacle quite recently. In early 2006 a currency plunge triggered an avalanche of sell orders in emerging markets from Brazil to Indonesia.
3). Giveaways by Web Site Draw in Consumers
Toy surprises buried in cereal boxes or in bags of popular snacks have been a marketing tactic for as long as package goods have been sold in supermarkets. Most people probably can't even imagine a Cracker Jack box without a prize inside.
Giveaways are not just for kids; adults have long participated in incentive giveaways ranging from a free tote with the purchase of makeup or perfume at a department store, to $500 gift cards with a new account at the local bank.
4). Precious Metals Heat Up; Silver Set to Join Gold
For the last two years, I have been purchasing and recommending precious metals against an inevitable currency crisis. Since my last report, gold has added another $50 per ounce and is now topping $600.
The gold rally is just getting warmed up, and I firmly believe it will continue at least through 2007. I predict that we will see its value rise to between $3,000 and $5,000 per ounce.
5). Great Giveaways You Can Find Online
Cell phones are everywhere and are more compact and feature-rich than ever before. The newest and best phone is always very expensive, but now you can get a variety of popular Motorola cell phones for free, including the Razr V3.
The offer is available from the Internet marketing company NetFree Direct LLC. As with all of NetFree Direct's promotions, there is no sign-up fee or calling plan attached to the offer.
6). Cost-Reducing Tips for the Small-Business Owner
One of the keys to running a successful small business or home office is learning to control costs. Even the smallest expenses can quickly add up and cut into profits, leaving you with a business that won't move forward.
Many small-business owners know where their money comes from, but are not as clear on where it goes. This can have a significant impact on their businesses' cash flow.
7). Angel Investors Bring Big Ideas to Reality
If you're an emerging company with the next great product, sometimes you need an angel on your side.
A study by the University of New Hampshire's Center for Venture Research showed that "angel investors" - high-net-worth individuals willing to invest in entrepreneurial companies at an early stage - shelled out more than $18 billion into early-stage companies last year alone, compared to $304 million by venture capitalists.
8). Coal Helps America Through Power and Jobs
You may not realize it, but the coal industry plays a large part in the U.S. economy.
One major way coal affects the economy is through electricity. The majority of America's electricity comes from coal. So when coal prices are low, like they are right now, electricity is cheaper and the lower prices spur economic growth.
Electricity is a crucial part of American life.
9). Beverage Company Sponsors Teen Games
As part of an effort to contribute to the community that has added to its success, Fire Mountain Beverage Co. recently sponsored this year's L.A. Watts Summer Games, the largest high school athletic competition in the nation.
"Our goal here is to support elite high school athletes by giving back to the same markets that support our sales," said Anthony Miller, chief executive officer of Fire Mountain Beverage.
10). For Troops, Goodie Bags Are a Hit Any Time of Year
"Gone but not forgotten," was a phrase often used during the Vietnam War to let soldiers who were prisoners there know that they were still remembered by their U.S. families.
Today, Deborah Crane, president and founder of Treats for Troops, has made it her company's mission to let the thousands of military men and women serving overseas know that they too are remembered back home.
11). Now May Be the Time To Go Into Dividends
Soaring technology stocks led the longest bull market in history during the 1990s, driving investors to shun stocks of dividend-paying firms.
The steady stock performance of more conservative firms just seemed pale in comparison. But now, rising interest rates and slowing corporate earnings are causing investors to again turn to the tried-and-true: high-quality firms with strong cash flows, solid earnings and a healthy dividend stream.
12). Boomers Drive Elevator Sales
As land becomes increasingly scarce and expensive, more people are staying in their homes after retirement and modifying those homes to accommodate them as they age. As a result, residential elevator manufacturers are seeing a steady rise in sales.
"Our business has increased over 200 percent the last two years and 80 percent of that growth now comes from the baby boomer generation," said Jim Quinly, general manager of the residential elevator division at ThyssenKrupp Access, maker of the Lev residential elevator.
13). Rules of Growth For Small Businesses
For years, I have tried to answer this one question: What do small businesses that achieve sustained growth do differently from those that do not grow?
As a senior consultant for Inc. magazine, I speak to thousands of business owners each year. I've learned that there are no silver bullets or 17-point checklists that will lead to guaranteed growth.
14). Private Companies Weigh Employee Stock Options
Q: I understand that Entrex has brought public market standards and disciplines to the private market. What does this mean for my employees and the possibility of stock ownership or options?
- Al Davenport, business owner, Pompano Beach, Fla.
A: This is a great opportunity to show your employees the value they bring to your company. Just imagine if employees could actually see quantifiable gains and losses in the value of the company through their efforts.
15). Small Business: Affordable Health Benefits Key Concern
Health care benefits have become more expensive in recent years, which puts them out of reach for many Americans. Of the more than 45 million Americans who are uninsured, nearly 60 percent are employed by small businesses.
According to a recent survey commissioned by Aflac of 501 small-business owners, many understand the role of a good benefits package in the hiring process.
16). Take the Guesswork Out of Asset Allocation
If the Enron and WorldCom scandals have taught investors anything, it is that betting your future solely on one company's stock is a huge mistake.
In fact, talk to any financial adviser and the mantra these days is diversify, diversify, diversify. But to average investors, that's not so simple. What exactly does that mean and how do they go about.
17). Competition Between Online Brokers
There's much to learn about the online brokerage industry. Unfortunately, many investors learn this the hard way.
With so many options available, choosing the right broker is as crucial as making the right investment.
For years, investors were accustomed to paying $9.95 or higher per trade based on their account equity or trade activity. However, those days have come to an end.
18). Tips to Know Before Buying an Annuity Policy
Annuities may be a useful tool for those who want a steady stream of income throughout their lives. While most annuities include a death benefit, an annuity is almost the opposite of a life insurance policy - annuities offer financial protection against outliving your income.
Buying an annuity can be a complicated decision. Following are a few key.
19). Five Money-Saving Travel Tips for Small Businesses
Saving money is a priority for any business, especially a small business.
Small businesses often need every break and discount they can get, and traveling can be one of the most costly areas for small businesses. Unfortunately, many of the best travel advantages only go to big businesses.
To help your business compete, here are a few tips to make your traveling expenses a little more palatable.
20). Tips to Improve Your Customer Loyalty
Statistics show that, on average, U.S. companies lose half of their customers every five years.
It's true that acquiring new customers will help your business grow. However, your current customers are the lifeblood of your business and keeping them happy should be your highest priority. Here are a few ways to make sure your customers keep coming back.
21). Delivering Fashion in Style
Do you ever wonder how fashion trends make it from the runway to real life?
Before clothes arrive on store shelves, every article must go through hundreds of steps and travel thousands of miles. This requires well-coordinated logistics for a fast-paced industry that's already on to the next trend.
"Shipping is the thread that ties our business together," says designer Tomer Gendler.
22). Incorporating Bond Funds Into Your Investment Strategy
If you are investing for income or want to diversify your portfolio, you may want to consider investing in bond funds.
Bond funds can offer investors many of the same benefits of individual bonds, in addition to the advantages of diversification and professional management, according to "Bond Funds: The T. Rowe Price Investment Guide."
Investing in bond funds is different from individual bonds.
23). Help Is on the Way for 401(k) Investors
More employers are educating workers on 401(k) plans - from the benefits of tax-deferred growth to the importance of consistent saving. However, research shows that employees are still in the dark when it comes to investing their assets.
According to a recent study by human resources firm Hewitt Associates, most employees didn't rebalance or re-allocate their 401(k) portfolios in 2004.
24). What's Really Driving Your Portfolio Performance?
Many investors tend to focus on selecting the right stock to buy and choosing the perfect time to buy and sell. But some experts say these factors are a sure-fire way to damage portfolio performance.
According to Roger Ibbotson, chairman and founder of Ibbotson Associates and a professor in the practice of finance at the Yale School of Management,.
25). Online Trading Puts You Ahead Of Conventional Investors
Back in the old days, trading was handled by brokers who worked with their clients on ways to best improve their portfolios.
But since the advent of the Internet, and more specifically online trading, the days of needing someone else to make your investments are quickly receding into the past.
Online trading gives investors direct access to the market without having to rely on an intermediary to buy and sell stocks.
26). 'Stop the Stupid Stuff' In Your Business
We are living in a world of change. Shift happens! Competition comes from all over the world, which means that many American businesses are in trouble.
Many decisions are being made that are contrary to both good business sense and building customer loyalty.
Most organizations' marketing is usually an exercise in figuring out what to do to get current or potential customers to spend more dollars with them.
27). Micromanufacturing Opportunities Grow
The demand and application of micron and sub-micron manufacturing requirements is growing, which offers unique challenges and immense opportunities to a wide group of tool shops and production parts manufacturers in the United States. The term micromachining loosely refers to part details and holes smaller than the human hair that are measured only in microns-or one thousandth of a millimeter.
28). Five Ways to Make Your Organization Innovative
Creative ideas are what turn ordinary companies into market leaders. These companies see the end result first and then build a path to achieve those results.
A safety zone needs to be established. Often, failure is punished but success is not rewarded. We must remember that failure is the second cousin to success. We learn from our mistakes.
Creativity and innovation are key elements that propel businesses to the top.
29). E-Government in China Soon to Be a Reality
Without question, the world is a big place. However, with the constant development of information technology, the world seems to get smaller all the time.
One example is the work of China Expert Technology Inc. (OTC BB:CXTI.OB), a company that builds network infrastructure and provides e-government services for community and municipal governments in China and Hong Kong.
30). Nostalgia Is Big Business For Clothing Company
Times change and memories fade, but nostalgia for the past is forever.
Retro style is coming back -; from automobiles and home furnishings to sports equipment and consumer electronics. But nowhere is this more apparent than in clothing.
Vintage clothing sites are popping up all over the Web, and thrift stores are all the rage. Incorporating vintage pieces into the modern wardrobe has become the latest fad as parents and kids of all ages make a grab for days gone by.
31). Entrepreneurial Icon Sponsors Prepaid MasterCard
If there ever was a living, breathing version of the American Dream, it would be Farrah Gray.
A self-made millionaire by age 14, Gray is now an internationally known and respected entrepreneur and business leader who addresses more than half a million people per year on topics such as leadership, personal development, diversity, business development and financial management.
32). Study Shows Americans Need to Get Financially Fit
Most Americans lack basic understanding when it comes to their credit score and personal finance, according to the results of a survey by consumer advocacy group Consumer Action and financial services provider Capital One.
The survey polled 1,002 American adults. It gauged respondents' knowledge of the basics of personal finance like budgeting, saving habits and credit principles.
33). Innovative Solutions for Internet Branding
Since the advent of the Internet, computers have changed the way people work, play and communicate.
Today's children are learning by computer games. Today's businesses are building stronger relationships and experiencing significant change in organization and filing, research and operation - and even advertising and marketing - through their desktops.
34). Solving Holiday Shopping Woes
Finding the perfect gift for that hard-to-buy-for husband, sister-in-law, nephew or pal is an annual challenge for holiday shoppers. Searching through shopping malls or clicking through hundreds of Web sites can dampen even the highest holiday spirits.
Now at FindGift.com, gift-givers can connect with unique finds like OneShare.com, where you can buy a beautifully framed individual share of stock in one of 130 U.
35). Firm Guides Parents Through College Savings Plans
According to a survey conducted by the New York-based College Board, college tuition costs are rising faster than the pace of inflation. Between 1993 and 2003, for example, the average cost of tuition and fees for four years rose 47 percent at public colleges and 42 percent at private institutions.
Thus, parents should start saving for college as soon as possible, says Stuart Ritter, a certified financial planner at T.
36). Money-Saving Tool Available For Real Estate Investors
The recent housing market boom has resulted in a substantial rise in the number of new property investors.
What new investors might not know is that investment property depreciation is the second most frequently missed deduction on federal income tax forms.
But there's help. A new service created by three real estate experts enables property investors to quickly identify and track personal property, or "chattels," to accelerate their depreciation deductions.
37). Coal Reduces Reliance On Foreign Oil
Recently, the price of a barrel of oil rose to $40, the most expensive price in American history. With the rise in oil prices and constant instability in the Middle East, the United States seems headed for an energy crisis.
But there is an abundant, low-cost energy source located throughout the country. That energy source is coal.
After years of mine shutdowns, there is a renewed interest in coal in the United States.
38). Leveling the Playing Field Among 529 Plans
Many people are already aware of the benefits of investing in a state-sponsored 529 college savings program. What might not be as well known yet are tax parity laws.
Numerous states give up-front state tax deductions or credits to residents who enroll in their own state-sponsored 529 plans. But until April, no state allowed residents to receive a tax break when investing in out-of-state college savings plans.
39). EagleRider Revolutionizes Motorcycle Travel
If you enjoy your independence when you travel or just want to try something different on your next vacation, consider a motorcycle tour.
EagleRider, a leading motorcycle rental company, is now paving the way for a revolution in the way enthusiasts travel. EagleRider's self-drive tours are beginning to generate a buzz within the industry as result of their dramatic growth since conception.
40). Is an Independent Advisor Right for You?
Are you overwhelmed by retirement planning? If so, you're not alone.
The process of managing personal finances is both time-consuming and complex. According to the 2005 Employee Benefit Research Institute's "Retirement Confidence Survey," 55 percent of workers said they were behind schedule in retirement savings. With so many different companies offering a range of products and services, it's hard to know where to turn for financial advice.
41). Investing in Oil in the Face of Terrorism
Terrorist attacks threaten the security of nations and create an atmosphere of uncertainty. These threats impact stocks and commodities markets around the world and make investment decisions very difficult, even for the experts.
So what can average investors do? First, they should ask themselves what the likelihood is of a major terrorist attack..
42). Point and Click Your Financial Plan
You've organized the contents of that bulging shoebox and tracked down the stray receipts lurking in jacket pockets. Now you're ready to point and click your way to what you hope will be a generous tax refund.
But while your records are still organized and your computer's still on, why not look beyond that refund to your financial future?
Using do-it-yourself online financial tools, planning ahead is easier and more convenient than you may think.
43). Roll-Up Bag Irons Out Wrinkle Problem
Savvy travelers know the trick of rolling their clothes when they pack to reduce wrinkles and save space.
This usually works for smaller, casual articles of clothing, such as tops and jeans. But what if you had to pack a suit? And if you are taking a short trip for business, how do you fit your business attire into an overnight bag that you don't have to check?
Such travelers' difficulties were common for Don Chernoff, a former Intel engineer and frequent flier.
44). How Happy Will You Be In Your Next Job?
Job-seekers tend to worry about whether a prospective employer will like them. But considering that most people spend a majority of their days at work, it's also important for prospective employees to consider whether a particular company is the right fit for them.
Before spending time and effort in applying for a particular job, find out how happy you're likely to be as an employee of that company.
45). Advertisers Embrace 'Rich Media' Format
From ads that dance or sing to MTV-like commercials, online advertisers are now using a new type of technology called "rich media" to attract consumers.
U.S. Internet advertising revenue will have reached about $12 billion last year, up $3 billion from 2004. Of this, advertisers spent about $1 billion on rich media, up from $800 million in 2003, according to the Interactive Advertising Bureau.
46). Touchscreen Technology: A New Gateway to Products, Services
Frequent fliers know that checking in for flights is much easier and quicker today thanks to self-serve kiosks that enable users to zip through the process with the touch of a finger.
From car infotainment systems to the most advanced communication devices, touchscreens are becoming increasingly popular, converting everyday tasks into fast and fun experiences.
47). Online Investors Turn to Technical Analysis
Technology has not only allowed investors to trade online, but has provided them with the tools needed to analyze stocks like the pros.
In fact, technical analysis has become more popular than ever over the last several years. Traders evaluate past price movements to help forecast a security's future price.
Fundamental analysis, the alternative method of stock evaluation, relies on a stock's intrinsic value and requires a broader understanding of industry conditions and how companies are managed.
48). Financial Education Can Pay Dividends for Youth
According to statistics from the National Council on Economic Education, only seven states require high school students to take a personal finance course while eight others require courses with personal finance content.
This was from a 2004 survey that also showed only nine states test personal finance knowledge. These numbers are beginning to change as the state of Missouri joins the fray and will require one-half unit of credit in personal finance instruction for graduation in 2010.
49). Buyers Not on Vacation In Sizzling Resort Market
The phenomenal real estate boom of the past several years has not been confined to sales of primary residences alone. Sales of second homes also have ratcheted up dramatically as vacationers and investors look to snap up these properties amid the lure of low mortgage rates and rapidly increasing home values.
According to a study conducted by the National Association of Realtors, 2.
50). Investing in a Franchise And the American Dream
Harley-Davidson enthusiasts Chris McIntyre, Jeff Brown and Peter Wurmer always dreamt of touring the world on motorcycles.
Their dream is now a reality for them and the tens of thousands of customers who rent motorcycles, ATVs and watercraft from EagleRider franchise locations in the United States, Mexico, France and Spain.
McIntyre, Brown and Wurmer started EagleRider as one shop in Los Angeles in 1993, catering to adventure-seeking professionals and tourists.
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