How To Sell My Gold

By Hal Young

People are always looking for new ways to make money, especially in a bad economy like ours. If you've ever asked the question, "how can I sell my gold" selling gold for cash could be one of these ways for you if you have the patience to learn how. You can sell all different types of gold - whether it's scrap gold that you've gathered from around the house or some gold bullion that you've invested in. In the coming article I will tell you how you can sell all those different types of gold and who to sell to.

Before you do anything else you should probably figure out how much your gold is worth. You do this because there are many people looking to scam you have there in the gold selling field, so if you have a ballpark figure about much your gold is worth beforehand, you are much less likely to be taken advantage of. You can do this in one of two ways: by yourself following a guide or taking your gold straight to a jewelry store or pawnshop. Easiest of the two is definitely the latter.

Once you have an idea about what your gold is worth, you have to find a buyer. This sounds pretty easy but there are hundreds if not thousands of buyers out there so we have to be careful. Who you sell to also depends on what type of gold you are selling. You wouldn't sell gold bullion to the same place that you would sell broken gold jewelry for example.

For people with scrap gold to sell, the best place to sell to is almost certainly a gold refiner or gold dealer. Both will buy your gold based off the spot price of gold but gold refiners own their own refinery and most gold dealers do not. In most cases you are better off selling to a gold refiner. Try to get at least 90% or more of the current spot price of gold. It is easier to get that amount if you've got a lot to sell because most gold refiners pay based on a sliding scale.

For gold jewelry that has more value than just the gold content in the item you should probably sell to a jewelry store pawnshop. Most will actually take into consideration the aesthetic value and beauty of the piece. And then they will pay you based on the retail value minus their cut. Which will usually be more than what you get from a gold refiner who only pay you based on the gold content in the piece.

The last kind of gold we will cover today is gold coins. Most people buy gold coins as an investment like gold bullion but some may have older coins that have more value than just the gold content. So you are usually better going to a coin dealer before you make any decisions where you can get the coins appraised first.

That's all there is to "selling my gold". If you will follow the advice listed above you will be able to sell gold easily and safely. Just remember the major points like researching companies before dealing with them. - 23210

About the Author:

Hal runs a site about all the different ways that you can get cash for gold. If you have ever asked the question how can I sell my gold jewelry then please visit his site where he will show you how.

Do Annuities Help Plan for a Retirement Income

By Mari Cates

Are Annuities Good For Providing Retirement Income?

Annuity products come from major life insurance companies. They are a mix of investment and insurance, but are mostly considered when a person wants to build some cash for a long term goal, or to provide a monthly payment. Lots of people think about retirement when they consider these products, but some consider them for other savings goals.

There are two main types of way to build up the cash value, so something can start generating income for retirement.

Immediate Annuities accept a lump sum. This money usually comes from a distribution a person gets at retirement, but it could come from other sources too. After being approved and funded, the product starts generating periodic payments right away.

Deferred annuities do not pay out right away. In fact, the owner may have to pay a penalty if he or she takes out cash before the term that is specified in the contract. There may be exceptions for this in the case of a severe illness, etc. Some may be funded with a large payment, or they may accept cash contributions made over a period of years. These are intended for people who are trying to plan for an event that is some time in the future.

How do annuity payouts work? By now you probably realize that you are investing your cash in order to be able to withdraw cash back. Some annuities may be guaranteed to pay for life, while some may only pay for 10 years. The option that you choose will depend upon your own assets, needs, and individual circumstances.

You can also find annuities with flexible options, so that the owner does not need to take payments. Some people use this to set aside an emergency fund or leave money for their heirs.

One big advantage of buiding cash this way is favorable tax treatment. Both gains and compouding are free to go without being taxed. Income may or may not be taxed depending upon the qualified or non-qualified tax status of the contract.

Another advantage is the safety of fixed products. Fixed products may pay at a contract rate, or they may be pegged to a market index.

Consider one common market like the S&P 500. In good years, when the index goes up, the cash account will grow at a rate that is pegged to that market index. In down years, when the index is down, the cash account will be guaranteed not to lose money. It may either be set to remain stable, or even to earn a set rate like 2%.

And the last question that most people have is jsut how long they will get paid, and how much money they will get. Of course, this all depends on how the account was funded, the return rates, market conditions, and the type of annuity. You need to get some help to look at different products to see how an annuity can help you reach your financial dreams and goals. - 23210

About the Author:

We want to help you find the annuity products that can help you reach your goals. Use our Free Online Annuity Quotes to find the best retirement plan for your own needs. If you want more help, go here: Explain Annuities

The Bill Collector Letter That Finally Gets Rid of Them

By Sean Payne

You know that feeling you get when a letter from a bill collector comes in the mail? The cold feeling you get when you realize that you owe money that you can't repay? And after that, the endless telephone calls and letters demanding that you pay money that you don't have?

Now is the time to turn the tables on those debt-collecting predators. It's time to know your rights and to use them.

A Federal law known as the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (also known as the FDCPA) tells you exactly what a debt collector can and can't do to collect a debt from you. The FDCPA puts hard limits on exactly how a debt collector can contact you.

For example, a debt collector cannot call you at work except to find out the telephone number to call you at home. They cannot inform other people, including your employer, about the debt you owe.

In addition, debt collection agents can't continue to call or contact you about your debt if you tell them that they can no longer do so. And that is what we're going to learn about how to do.

The magic debt collector letter consists of two parts:

The first is any identifying information for you. This would include your name, home address, and account number for the account in question, as well as any other information they will need to identify you as the account holder for the debt in question.

The second thing is to state that you wish them to cease further communication with you.

These two steps are all that the FDCPA requires from you in order to keep the debt collector from further harassment. The only way the debt collector is allowed to contact you in the future is to let you know that they will stop contacting you, and if they intend to pursue legal action to collect on the debt.

When you send your bill collector letter, you'd be wise to mail it via certified mail. Make sure to request a delivery receipt, so that when the debt collector get the letter, you'll receive notification that they've gotten it. Make sure that you save the receipt in case you have to prove that they actually got the letter.

According to the rules of the FDCPA, if the debt collector continues to contact you in the future, they're in violation of the law. You then have the right to report them to the FTC, which is the agency that actually enforces the FDCPA. After you've notified the FTC about the legal violation by the debt collector, the FTC can take legal action against the debt collector on your behalf.

Be aware that even after you notify the bill collector of your wish not to be contacted, they still have the option of pursuing legal action against you. This letter is only intended to shield you from being harassed by bill collectors. It cannot protect you against a lawsuit filed by the bill collectors in an attempt to collect on a debt. - 23210

About the Author:

Sean Payne can teach you plenty about how to get out of debt. After more than a decade of dealing with his own debt problems, he has developed a powerful strategy to stop bill collectors calling. You can discover his secrets for paying off debt at his debt payoff tips website.

An Introduction to Forex Trading

By Bart Icles

Before we engage into any new venture, it is important that we give ourselves enough time to have a proper introduction to the new kind of business we are considering. The same is true if we are locking our eyes on to foreign exchange trading or forex trading. The forex or FX market is a very attractive kind of market, and is reputed to be the largest known financial or trading market in the world. Everyday, trillions of US dollars are being traded in this lucrative market. This average value is even greater than what US equity or stock markets can make in combined volume.

The foreign exchange market works through a spontaneous purchasing or buying of a certain currency in exchange for another type of currency. Although spontaneous, forex traders often make decisions based on market signals. This only emphasizes the different forms of irony that take place in this unpredictable kind of market. In trading currencies, you will notice they are typically bought and sold in groups of two or what the forex market knows as currency pairs. The most common currency pairs include EUR/USD and USD/JPY.

One of the most common questions that newcomers to the forex market have is why people need to engage in forex trading. Currencies are often traded because businesses and governments that sell and purchase products and services to international markets need to convert the profits that they make into currencies that can be accepted in their home countries. However, this only counts as a small part of the forex market.

The large bulk of earnings made through forex trading can be attributed to traders who venture into the market to make profits and at other times, speculations. Presently, currency trading is often done through the use of majors or the most liquid currencies. The most liquid currencies in the forex market as of date are the Euro, US dollar, Japanese Yen, Australian dollar, Canadian dollar, Swiss franc, and British pound.

One main advantage of the forex market is its availability to traders virtually 24 hours a day. Typically, the forex market opens each day a Sydney then makes its way to other forex trading centers in the world, including Tokyo, London, and New York. In this manner, forex traders or investors can quickly respond to currency fluctuations. These currency fluctuations are results of economic, social, and political events that take place and change everyday. - 23210

About the Author:

Forex are powerful when coupled with a desire to learn and a drive to become a great trader. Learning forex tip trading takes dedication and a good teacher. But once you learn how to trade and do so successfully your life will change and you have options and financial resources you never had before.

How to Pay Off Debt, Even if You Never Could Before

By Sean Payne

Many people who are in debt have tried at least once, and probably several times, to pay off their debts. Sadly, a significant number of these people end up getting even further into debt than they were when they started.

So, why do all these people end up getting deeper and deeper in debt? The answer lies in the approach that they use to get out of debt. Those who take on more debt in an attempt to get out of debt are only putting a patch on the problem. Debt consolidation loans may work for a short while, but the underlying habits that created the debt problem in the first place will work against them.

The best answer to the problem is to correct the underlying habitual behaviors that create the problem of debt. The easiest way to accomplish this is to use a debt payoff plan that won't let you continue in your overspending ways.

What are the steps of the debt repayment plans that won't allow you to indulge in self defeating habits?

The first step is to build up a "buffer" between you and overspending. When you're running low on money, even a small financial problem can make you go back to using debt. What exactly is a buffer? This is a small amount of money that you save, somewhere around $500 to $1000, depending on how much money you make. Your buffer should be enough money to fix your vehicle if it breaks down, hire a plumber if a sewage pipe breaks, or pay your bills if there's a delay in getting your paycheck.

The next step is to take on no additional debt. This means no debt reduction loans, no additional mortgages, or any other debt. If you take out a second mortgage in an attempt to pay off credit card debt, you're replacing an unsecured debt with a secured loan. This means that if you are unable to pay off your debt, you're at risk of losing your home.

The next step is to create a plan to pay off your debts. Keep in mind that the order in which you pay off each debt makes a significant difference. If you do it wrong, you can lose your motivation to get out of debt. If you do it right, you'll pay off each debt quickly while gaining more and more motivation to finally get out of debt.

The fourth step is to carry out your plan. The easiest way to do this is to automate your debt repayment plan. One way to accomplish this is to use an automatic bill payment service, such as the kind offered by most banks. Once set up, a bill payment service will keep you from incurring late fees. Most bill payment services are free, so this is awesome if you want to get out of debt.

The final step is to stick with your plan. After a while, you'll develop a little momentum, and this will become even easier. The right plan for paying off your debts can make a significant difference.

That's all you have to do. Now you can finally pay off your debts, even if you've failed every time you've tried. All it takes is the correct approach. - 23210

About the Author:

Sean Payne has helping people learn how to get out of debt for over a decade. To get more information about how to pay off debt, get Sean's excellent free course on debt reduction management.