Pros and Cons of Being an Owner Operator

The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

View my Other Posts:

A Holiday Wish
Blogs, Forums and Other Resources
Texting Ban
The Way it Was - A Short History of Trucking

FAQ for the Owner Operator
Pictures
Anti-Idling Regulations
Definitions and Industry Terms
Blackrock Auxiliary Power Unit (APU)
Interactive Cost per Mile (CPM) Calculator Spreadsheet
Privacy Policy
1) Owner Operator 411 – Welcome
2) Income and Expenses
3) Financing and Credit
4) Operating Authority or Leasing?
5) Equipment
6) How To Do Bookkeeping and Other Necessary Paperwork
7) What You Need to Know About Loadboards
8) Companies That Lease Beginning Owner Operators
9) What You Actually Need to Get Started - Licenses, Permits, Insurance, and Taxes
10) Truck Driving Schools

Pros:

You are not tied down to a 9-5 job.

You can make a lot of your own decisions.

You can make a decent living.

You get to "be your own boss".

You get to see a lot of this beautiful ol USA (and maybe Canada and Mexico).

Cons:

You are not working a 9-5 job.  You will put in 20 hours days.  You will go without sleep, food, and showers.  You will do a lot of sitting and waiting.  Waiting to get a load, waiting to get loaded, and waiting to get unloaded.

You will be gone from home - a lot.

You must make a lot of your own decisions:  Do I buy tires, or have the engine rebuilt?  Do I take this cheap a** load so I can get home, or do I sit out here in the boonies for 3 days waiting on a decent paying load?  If I wait on a decent paying load, how much am I going to lose by not working for 3 days?

You can make a decent living, if you work your butt off, but it is getting harder and harder to do.  Every day freight rates are cut and you are forced to haul for less money.  Rates are no higher than they were 20 years ago, and in many instances, they are lower.  Most of the money you make will go back into the truck.

You get to "be your own boss", with all the decisions, troubles, and headaches that come with being a business owner.

I would like for any current truck drivers who may be reading this to add to this list by making a comment.

Top 10 Ways to Score Higher in an Exams

Top 10 Ways to Score Higher in an Examination

Life is a complicated thing for most of us. It’s important to work hard during our school life for a bright future ahead. If we don’t suffer a little at this time, we may end up suffering a lot when most of the doors close in on us. During our student lives, we all undergo tests to evaluate our capability in what we have undertaken to achieve. Though these tests may seem like a burden and strain, if we follow through the right steps, we can ace them with no sweat so lets have a look at 10 possible ways which can let you achieve higher marks in exams.

1.Develop an optimistic attitude: 

It’s important to stay positive when you want for something to happen. 

“Where there’s a will, there’s a way.” An optimistic approach towards things is essential because it helps you develop an ambition and encourages you not to give up. Therefore, it is important to have faith in yourself when you want to achieve the desired results in your examination. If you don’t believe in your own self, then what are the chances that anyone else will? 

2.Set Your Desired Goal :

Before you get started on studying, plan it out. Set up a target and advance forward ambitiously. Keeping to a goal-oriented task is much easier than just doing as much as you can. You may study too much of something and have less time available for more important things. In order to avoid such a situation, a targeted aim always helps you to cover what you need to in the limited time you may have.  

3.Absorb Knowledge Effectively:

Attend your classes punctually and frequently. During lectures, make sure that you are not only hearing, but listening with devotion and a good understanding. If you are unsure of something, don’t hesitate to question your professor. Remember, asking questions is a sign of intelligence. Take notes of anything your teacher repeats more than once, it must be important. Jot down whatever you can. It will help provide reference to when you study later.

4. Do Your Homework and Assignments on Time:

Do not leave off what can be done today to tomorrow, i.e. avoid procrastination.  Do your homework and assignments on time and stick to deadlines. Homework is important because its practice for what you learn in class. Also, try to take time out to review what you did in class so that your mind remembers it in class next day. It will give aid to a better understanding of the next lecture. 

5.Adopt a Suitable Learning Style :

Everyone is different and thus everyone has their own way to study. Do not copy the approach your friends or classmates adopt, but try to figure out study techniques that help you study most effectively. Try out different ways and see what method suits you most. You may be a linguistic, visual, auditory or kinesthetic learner. Whichever method helps you retain what you study is what you should follow. 

6.Find a Peaceful Place to Study:

The environment you study in is very important. You should ensure you are in quiet and peaceful surroundings so that there is nothing to distract you. Studying with concentration is only possible in a tranquil atmosphere. Also ensure that you study on a desk to ensure good posture and avoid back aches in long periods. 

7.Study like a Pro:

Not only is it important to study hard, but also to study smart. Study frequently because 11th hour cramming has never worked out. In order to avoid accumulating pressure, study everyday or at least 3-4 times a week. This will give your brain time to absorb the information and reflect upon it. Take breaks every once in a while to avoid information overload. Study sharply with a focused approach. 

8.Apply Study Aid Techniques:

Adopt a suitable learning style to ensure you make the most of your study time. Use techniques like mind mapping, mnemonics, and other tricks to help you remember important points. Sticky notes and pointers also help you to jot down points of your own while you study. Do practice tests to ensure you are grasping what you learn. 

9.Prepare your Body :

In order to save time, students often skip breakfast before heading to give an exam. This is probably the worst thing one can do. Hunger and lack of energy while giving an exam will not only distract you, but may cause you to forget things right at the tip of your tongue. It’s very important to eat right to boost your brain performance. Also, ensure you drink enough water to avoid dehydration during the test. A good night’s sleep is also crucial. An exhausted mind will never generate good results and you will not be able to think properly when the spotlight is on. 

10.Ace the examination!:

Leave the house with all necessary supplies to avoid a hard time when the exam begins. Begin with an idea of how much time you have and how you will manage your pace so that you keep track of time during the exam and use it wisely. Go through the questions in chronological order and attempt the ones you are certain you know correctly. Read the instructions twice to avoid answering wrong due to misinterpretation. Jot down what you know and stick to relevant answers. Skip questions which you are unsure of how to answer and leave them for last. When attempting multiple choice questions, eliminate options which are surely incorrect so as to help you narrow down the likely option. When you are through with answering all that you know, go back to the ones you skipped and answer them in the best possible way you can. Do not leave any question blank. You may still be able to score some marks for effort. 

Making Money as an Online Teacher by Marc Charles

7:02 AM

Greetings all ;)

I received a bunch of email last week for some reason about my articles or columns regarding getting paid as an online teacher or instructor.

Here it is -- reposted just for you!

How can I help you?

Marc 

________________________________

The Secret to Making Money as an Online Teacher

6:53 AM

Dear Entrepreneur:

I hope all is well. Happy 4th of July.

Ive reprinted a question from a fellow entrepeneur, and my response:

Question: Hey Marc: I’m trying to find ways to make money as an online teacher or instructor. Do you have any ideas, suggestions or recommendations”?

                                                                                                     M.F. Flagstaff AZ

If you want to make money as an online teacher todays column is for you.

You CAN make money in online education.

I taught an online course recently and received $150 for three hours of work. 

Actually, it took a more than three hours of work.  There was some prep work and research. But it was a lot of fun and super easy to do. And I’m still getting traffic to my other ventures.

Online education is growing like wildfire!

Heck…. Online education startup Knewton recently received more than $54 million for rapid expansion. The company customizes educational content to create a personalized learning experience for students, it’s pretty neat.

And the best part is….

There are several ways to grab your share of the online education cash flow. 

This week I’ll focus on becoming an online instructor. But there are many ways to make money in this market.

The first thing people usually say to me is “I’m not qualified”.

That’s what S.E. said to me during lunch last week in Camden Maine.

Steve is a graphic designer. 

He works for a large specialty publisher with print and online products.

Steve’s been honing his craft for more than 20 years. He’s a great teacher.

I sent him links to 9 online instructor opportunities he could look into.

He checked them out and told me two companies are interested in his services.

Customized Education is Fastest Growing Segment on the Internet

The reason online education is growing so fast is money.

But actually it’s the lack of it! 

Here’s what I mean…..

People often weigh the pros and cons of traditional schools versus online or distance education.

There’s nothing to compare when it comes to cost. 

The cost of online education is only a fraction of what you’ll pay to attend a “traditional” school.

Master’s Degree in 14 Months

Online education is changing the way people learn.

The other advantage is speed.

Online education can slash the amount of time it takes to get a degree.

For example, it can take up to four years to earn a Master’s degree at a traditional college or university.

You can earn a Master’s Degree online in as little as 14 months.

No……I’m not talking about a “Cracker Jack Diploma” (the kind you find inside a box of Cracker Jacks). I’m talking about an accredited degree accepted anywhere in the world.

On top of that, traditional schools require students to be in the classroom at specific times every day.

That is one of my beefs with public or government sponsored schools. It seems like a training ground for jobs in the Industrial Age. 

Public schools are like an assembly line. 

Everyone glides into the classroom on a conveyor belt at exactly 7:00 AM. 

The bell rings, and everyone mounts the conveyor belt for the next class.

What happens when a student wants to spend more time in class studying, researching or exploring something exciting?

That’s unacceptable….get on the conveyor belt!

Time and your physical location are irrelevant with online schools.

A student can work at his or her own pace!

My daughter is a sophomore in high school. Yesterday she said, “The teachers are too slow. They’re always repeating things for the kids who don’t understand or don’t want to learn. The teachers spend too much time disciplining kids too”.

We tried to talk our daughter out of going to the public high school.

But the biggest problem at public schools is students are taught as a group, not as individuals. 

There is no customized or personalized learning. It doesn’t fit the government “model” of education.

Granted, some kids go to college for more than education. 

People go to college for camaraderie, the sports, a new adventure and to get away from mom and dad.

And don’t forget the parties! Parents should visit college campuses unannounced to see how their money is spent.

Profit Opportunities!

Traditional colleges and universities are nervous because students prefer the Internet for their education. 

Granted, some colleges and universities have started to embrace the Internet and distance learning.

The cost of a college course today is ridiculous. 

More than 85 percent of the tuition paid to schools goes to tenured professors, administrators, management, overhead, taxes, sports, and fees, etc.

One thing colleges and universities could do is lower the cost of their courses. You would think in the current climate and economy they would do this. 

But no…most colleges are increasing tuition and course fees!

16 Million Students and Climbing!

There were more than 16 million students enrolled in distance and online learning programs in the United States at the end of 2010, according to the U.S. Department of Education.

The demand for online teachers, instructors, and tutors is skyrocketing too, according to Ken White, author of the Online Teaching Guide. 

Help Wanted: Web-Savvy Entrepreneurs and Teachers!

Online education offers exciting opportunities for Web-savvy entrepreneurs and for people who can teach. 

I recently accepted an assignment as a guest instructor for a distance learning program called Understanding Internet Search Engines. I was paid $2,500 for about six hours of work.

It’s true, most colleges and universities have steep academic requirements for online instructors. 

The good news is you dont have to work at top colleges and universities to make money as an online instructor. 

But traditional schools may be an option worth considering.

The way people are learning has changed

The “classroom model” of instruction for the past 300 years is dying a slow painful death.

My neighbor is a retired (tenured) professor from Columbia University. He makes six figures tending his flower beds, playing his banjo and sipping cold Chardonnay. 

But he said, “The days of tenure of coming to a close. The schools can’t afford it any more”.

Thank God his golden parachute is safe!

Anyway, the point is….online and digital instruction is available in the “cloud” now. Cloud computing is here. It simply means the “cloud” or network covers everything.

You can access the “cloud” from anywhere with multiple devices like a netbook, iPhone, iPad, Kindle Fire, Desktop PC, TV, Blackberry or disposable laptops.

Watch how kids teach themselves today….they jump to YouTube, Facebook, Twitter or niche forums like Programmers Heaven.

On top of that, online education is intertwined with online gaming… much to the chagrin of “old world” tenured professors and teachers. 

We homeschool our kids. My oldest son was homeschooled until his Junior year in high school. 

He received his high school diploma online, as well as certification in four programming languages. Most of his learning came by way of online gaming! He secured his first paying “gig” online as well.

The 17 online schools with web-based curriculum:

• DeVry University

• University of Phoenix Online

• Walden University

• Capella University

• ITT Tech

• Baker College

• AIU Online

• University Alliance

• The Art Institute Online

• Keiser University eCampus

• Jones International University

• ECPI – College of Technology

• Clayton College of Natural Health

• Everest University

• Boston University

• California Coast University

• Gonzaga University

What the Heck is Distance Learning?

Distance learning gives people the option of earning college credits off-campus, via television, the Internet, satellite classes, web-conferencing, videotapes, DVDs, correspondence courses, and other means.

Today, most major colleges, universities, and technical school have distance or online learning divisions. 

And hundreds of online "virtual" learning centers are being launched every month.

How to Make Money as an Online Instructor

There are basically two ways to make money as an online instructor.

• You can apply for positions or projects at established colleges, universities, and learning centers. To do that, you submit your application to the Human Resources Department (which can usually be done at the schools website).

• You can teach as a freelance instructor. If you decide to go with this approach, you may have to forgo some of the benefits and perks that on staff teachers usually enjoy -- but you will have more freedom and flexibility.

Do I Need Academic Qualifications?

Granted, most conventional colleges and universities require an academic background or qualifications in order to teach online courses. 

But many do not!

I mean yes….you need to be qualified in a particular area in order to teach the subject and GET PAID.

This goes without saying.

But hiring process has changed.

Here’s a funny story…

A friend of mine stumbled upon an advertisement at an online college for an “Internet savvy entrepreneur with bricks and mortar expertise.”

Just for the fun of it I applied. But rather than submit my colorful academic qualifications (which are non-existent because I’m a college reject and drop-out), I submitted a powerful sales letter and a list of my dismal business failures!

But to be fair I included a brief overview of more than 30 business start-ups I launched.

On top of that, rather than submit the information online, I sent it to the appropriate person in a FedEx NextDay letter!

I was retained for the project within three days.

I realize some higher education centers, colleges, and universities require specific academic qualifications, and this doesn’t change with online instruction.

But the fact is you have (or can develop) specialized knowledge and the demand in this area is growing like wildfire!

Some online learning centers and distance learning programs compensate instructors on a "per student" basis. 

For example, the University of Phoenix compensates instructors $40 to $150 per student per course. And there can be anywhere from 5 to 75 students registered for each course. (Course lengths vary, but are generally from one to six weeks.)
 

Let’s do the math . . .
 

If you teach 20 courses a year (two per month, with summers off) with 32 students per course, and you are compensated $80 per student, you would earn $51,200 per year.

But let’s say you’re only willing to teach 10 courses per year, with only 20 students per course, and you only receive $50 per student. Fine – that’s still $10,000 a year doing something you love.

As you can see, this is an exciting opportunity and a great way to make a living (or a nice chunk of extra money).

OnlineLearning.net is another great resource. Youll find links to course catalogs, instructor forums, teaching resources, and job postings. 

More Ways to Make Money as an Online Instructor or Teacher

1. Become an online researcher.

2. Start your own online college, course search engine, or virtual learning center.

Starting an online college could be a substantial undertaking. But people are going online in droves to improve and enhance their education. And as an Internet-savvy entrepreneur, you cant afford to ignore a trend like this.

One way to launch an online college or learning center would be to specialize and target a specific niche. For example, you could start an online college that specializes in network security, encryption science, or Web development.

Another angle might be to create a search engine that provides exclusive "how to" articles like this one: www.howstuffworks.com. You could charge a monthly fee, or micro-payments for specific "how to" articles.

A course search engine also has potential. The idea is to populate a search engine with thousands of online courses from hundreds of colleges, universities, and online learning centers around the world. Students could search for a course by title, keyword, phrase, or popularity. 

This search engine would be free to users. Entering into partnerships with the colleges, universities, and learning centers would generate your revenue. 

You could also offer "enhanced listings and links" to those that want to be featured "foremost" in the search results. It would be similar to the Google AdWords model.

Another angle on this idea would be to purchase these courses in bulk from the individual institutions and then re-sell them to students at a profit. 

Remember, these courses would be stored in a database for easy online access by students.

It’s simply a matter of re-selling information thats already been developed. 

eLearners.com offers more than 6,300 online courses that can also be downloaded.

Now that’s what I’m talking about!

The potential for online and distance learning is substantial.

Online education and distance learning is a hot rising trend and very profitable market.

Regards,

Marc Charles

“The King of Business Opportunities”

Action Plan

The fastest you get started the easier it will be.

So, apply at the University of Phoenix or one of the other online schools or resources I mentioned in today’s issue.

If you Google online education you’ll find tho

Read more »

An Amazing Gift from the Financial Markets by Marc Charles

An Amazing Gift from the Financial Markets

6:47 AM

Dear Entrepreneur:

Today I’ll show you an incredible “gift” investors, speculators and traders are using to make money.

The “gift” is exchange-traded funds or ETF for short.

Hang on……

I know you’re probably familiar with ETFs.

But I’ll show you how my clients and I are making money with them. You won’t learn these tactics on financial websites or from the clowns on CNBC.

An exchange-traded fund (or ETF) is an investment vehicle traded on stock exchanges, like stocks.

I’ll give you a powerful overview in a second.

The profit making potential of ETFs is mind-boggling…and here’s why…

The risk of trading ETFs is super-manageable, and especially for beginning traders and speculators.

I like the ETFs for three reasons:

1.     Risk is limited to the initial investment (LOW)

2.     The ETF market is easy to enter and exit (LIQUID)

3.     ETFs offer nice leverage (LEVERAGE)

You won’t have the same leveraging or pyramiding ability of a futures contract or Forex.

But there’s a new type of ETF which enables traders and investors to leverage opportunities in a big way.

Marc’s ETF “Cheat” Sheet

An ETF holds assets such as stocks, bonds, currencies, or commodities and trades at approximately the same price as the net asset value of its underlying assets.

The most popular ETFs track an index, like the Dow Jones Industrial Average or S&P 500.

ETFs can be an attractive tool for making money because of the relatively low risk, tax efficiency, and stock-like features.

An ETF combines the feature of a mutual fund meaning it can be purchased or redeemed at the end of the trading day for its net asset value (or NAV).

ETFs traditionally have been index funds, but in 2008 the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission authorized the creation of actively-managed ETFs.

What is an Actively-Managed ETF?

An actively managed ETF will have a benchmark index (like the S&P 500), but managers can change sector allocations, market-time trades and/or deviate from the index as they see fit.

This produces investment returns which will not mirror the underlying index perfectly.

Passive ETFs typically follow indexes pretty closely, which allows investors to track the fund fairy easily.

Oil Exchange-Traded Funds

The price of oil has climbed to historic highs.

However, not everyone believes oil will remain at historically high levels for eternity, including me.

In fact, the last four months is a good indication of what can happen in the oil market….it can skyrocket when bullets start flying.

But…..and listen closely……oil can plummet in price too! Almost NO ONE believes this….but this is where the real money is made.

For example, look what happened to oil during the recent disaster is Japan….the price of oil went down!

You can make a fortune with ETFs when you understand how to trade markets when before they skyrocket or plummet… especially if you go against the crowd at the right time. 

On top of that, with EFTs you can wait indefinitely!

Gold Exchange-Traded Funds

Gold is trading at near three-decade highs.

But you can make a fortune when and if gold plummets in price too!

I know….this is a hard thing to grasp. It’s also one of the hardest lessons for novice traders to learn.

Look around…..everyone from Glenn Beck, Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity to Warren Buffet and George Soros is touting gold as the greatest investment since the dawn of civilization. There are hundreds of “buy gold” commercials running at any given time.

But very few people believe the price of gold or precious metals will decline over the next 12 to18 months.

The so-called financial experts try to convince people gold will surge in price for eternity.

But like stocks, real estate, bonds, baseball cards and diamonds this is not always the case.

Sure… in times of sudden panic, stock market crashes, currency wars, etc. the price of gold “tends” to rise quickly.

But the price of gold can plummet during crises, too – as witnessed in the gold market recently.

For example, the price of gold surged from $400 an ounce in 2004 to more than $1400 an ounce in 2010.

However, at the beginning of the real estate and mortgage crisis in 2008 gold actually FELL in price.

So whatever your view happens to be there’s likely a Gold ETF you can trade.

Cool Insight on “Ultra” Exchange-Traded Funds

If, as an investor or trader, you believe the price of something will go up, you are considered bullish, or a “bull.” If you believe the price of something will go down you would be considered bearish, or a “bear.”

As an investor or a trader you might even be “ultra” bullish or bearish, meaning you think the price of something is going to go up or down in a big way.

That is the beauty of a new breed of ETFs called “ultras.”

Ultra Exchange-Traded Funds enable an investor or trader to leverage an investment in a much bigger way than just an ordinary ETF.

Here are a few “ultra” ETFs you can track on any financial website. I’ve noted the underlying stock, bond, currency, or commodity:

ProShares SIJ UltraShort (Industrials)
ProShares EFU UltraShort (MSCI EAFE)
ProShares EEV UltraShort MSCI (Emerging Markets)
ProShares EWV UltraShort MSCI (Japan)
ProShares MZZ UltraShort (MidCap400)
ProShares SCC UltraShort (Consumer Services)
ProShares DXD UltraShort (Dow30)
ProShares FXP UltraShort (FTSE/Xinhua China 25)
Proshares SKF UltraShort (Financials)
ProShares RXD UltraShort (Health Care)
ProShares DUG UltraShort (Oil & Gas)
ProShares QID UltraShort  (QQQ) Twice inverse of NASDAQ-100
ProShares SRS UltraShort (Real Estate)
ProShares SDK UltraShort (Russell MidCap Growth)

ProShares SMN UltraShort (Basic Materials)
ProShares SZK UltraShort (Consumer Goods)

How to Make Money with ETFs

Every investor has an opinion of the world financial markets, politics, and economy.

This is why the markets move so dramatically – up, down, and sideways.

In order to make money with ETFs your world view of the future needs to be accurate.

What’s more, you need to be fairly accurate in terms of timing too.

For example, in 2000 I was confident the Dot-com hysteria was a joke. I was advising several companies being run by 20-year olds valued at more than $100 million each…with NO sales.

It seemed like everyone was swept up in the fantasy.

And novice traders were making cash hand over fist on stocks of these Dot-com companies – on paper.

But no one I knew or read about removed profits from the Dot-com fiasco by the time everything collapsed.

In this case my world view of the market was correct. I made a bundle shorting tech and Internet company stocks. But my exposure to downside risk was way too high.

On top of that my timing was off by 10 months or so. I knew the market would plunge but timing is crucial.

Our view needs to be accurate in terms of “timing.”

And so…..

In order to make money with ETFs we need to examine the market we’re investing and calculate a “reasonable” time frame.

Now….one of the great aspects of ETFs is timing is not overly important.

You can hold an ETF for weeks, months and even years without any downside risk, margin calls or frustration.

For example, everyone knows the housing and real estate market has been in serious trouble for more than 3 years.

Some investors believe the housing market will bounce back in 2011. While other investors believe the worst is yet to come this year.

The reality is probably somewhere in the middle.

If you believe the housing market will stay the same or get slightly worse there are two ETFs you could purchase to take advantage of that trend:

Ultra Short Financials Proshares (AMEX: SKF)

This ETF benefits when and if financial services suffer. This would include real estate lenders, international banks; property and casualty insurance companies; companies invested directly or indirectly in real estate; diversified financial companies, such as Federal National Mortgage Association, credit card issuers and investment advisers; securities brokers and dealers, and investment banks,

ProFunds Short Real Estate Inv (MUTF:SRPIX)This ETF invests in derivatives that ProFund Advisors believes should have similar daily return characteristics as the inverse (opposite) of the daily return of the index. Assets of the fund not invested in derivatives will typically be held in money market instruments. It is non-diversified

The beauty of ETFs and specifically “ultra” and “double short” ETFs is they enable a trader to leverage markets (up or down) in a big way, but offer lower downside risk of futures and Forex markets.

There you have it!

Everything you wanted to know about ETFs but were afraid to ask!

Your humble host…

Marc Charles

******* Action Strategy *********

Start researching the “ultra” ETF market today.

When you start trading ETFs you’ll need an online brokerage account.

But that’s easy…..you can open an account with as little as $500.

The right ETF enables you to profit if a market skyrockets, plummets or trades sideways.

On top of that, you can make a boatload of money with double long or double short (ultra) ETFs.

You can subscribe to ETF publications and advisories to gain some street smart insight. I’ve included a couple of recommendations in today’s issue.

Paper Trade ETFs!

You can trade ETFs on paper and never risk a dime!

Simply select the ETFs you want to buy (or sell, or purchase options on), write down the current market price, and watch them in the paper or financial websites go up or down in value.

Develop an exit strategy.

Buy and hold for eternity will not work in the coming months and years. Nothing lasts forever – so develop a specific exit plan and remove profits regularly.

******* Valuable Resources ********

Exchange-Traded Funds Explained– Investopedia

Exchange-Traded Funds Center – Yahoo! Finance

ETF Investment Guide - seekingalpha.com ETFs

CEF Connect – ETFconnect.com

ETF Investor Newsletter

ETF Trends

Morningstar ETF Investor

New Book Recommendations

The ETF Handbook by David Abner

Super Sectors: How to Outsmart the Market Using Sector Rotation and ETFs by John Nyaradi

The ETF Book: All You Need to Know About Exchange-Traded Funds by Richard Ferri

Investing Choosing a “Passive” Rather than an “Active” Fund Can Save You Money

If you are an investor and are keen to save money while you’re making money, you might consider buying a “passive” or “tracker” fund rather than a traditional fund. Typically, buying a passive fund is much cheaper than buying traditional funds, since there is no need to put out money for a professional to manage your investments.

We’ve nothing against professional fund managers, but numerous comparison studies have been done in recent years and many of these have suggested that large numbers of investment pros have simply failed to beat the average return from the markets in which they specialise. Some critics have even gone so far as to contend that random selection would have been just as successful, not to mention cheaper, than hiring an investment expert to handle your money. We wouldn’t go that far, but the point is well taken.

Passive funds carry fees too of course, but they are often significantly lower than that incurred by active funds. To give an example, a tracker fund might charge .25 percent, while an active fund might charge 1.7 percent or more.

But let’s back up a bit, for the benefit of those who might be unfamiliar with active versus passive funds.


What are active and passive funds?
“Active fund” simply refers to actively managed investment funds, which, as the name implies, are run by a professional fund manager or investment research team. These people make all of the investment decisions on the investor’s behalf. Presumably they have extensive access to research in different markets, above and beyond the information you could dig up yourself. They may meet with the companies’ principals so they can assess their prospects before making any investment decisions.

The whole point about paying an investment manager is to get a return that is superior to normal market returns. Indeed, actively managed funds may have the potential for much higher returns than average. In addition, if you have a competent professional carefully tracking the market and strategically managing your funds – babysitting your money, as it were – that person can move the funds around to maximise gains or shield you from possible losses. That’s how it works in theory anyway, and sometimes the extra cost for investment management is money well spent. But as noted above, many investment pros have failed to beat the market, bringing into question the necessity of paying for this extra service.

Passive investment funds do nothing more than track a market – hence the name “tracker funds” – and as a consequence they charge far less than actively managed funds. For the most part they are run by a computer, which purchases all or the majority of the assets in a particular market in order to give you a return which reflects that market’s performance.

And of course there’s a trade-off: you don’t have that extra “human touch.” A computer can only do so much. On the other hand, you don’t have that extra fee either. It’s totally up to you; like most things, choosing a specific type of investment fund involves a trade-off of some sort.

Of course this is not to be construed as investment advice in any way, shape or form, and when considering any type of investment you should always perform due diligence. If you have doubts, it is a good idea to consult with a qualified attorney or – yes – an investment advisor. If you need a little help paying their fees, check with kangaroopaydayloans.com. Professionals do have their place in the investment world and it’s usually a good idea to avoid making any significant decisions about your money without consulting a qualified person. Our point is that there may be some things you really can do yourself (or mostly do yourself), for cheaper. Just do your research, and don’t be afraid to ask for help.

For more information about tracker funds, see http://www.which.co.uk/money/savings-and-investments/guides/different-types-of-investment/understanding-tracker-funds-and-etfs

How to Restore an Unresponsive iPhone iPad

Due to heavy data like plenty of apps apps running or due to any other reason your device iPhone / iPad not respond. It hangs out and go into steady condition. This condition may irritates you. So, having little knowledge about the usage of iPhone or iPad you move to turn off device or restart it. Turn off or restart or wait till respons is not solution of your problem. You need to restore your device, So question is How to Restore an Unresponsive iPhone / iPad ?After reading this article you may able to convert your device in responsive mode from unresponsive mode. So follow given below steps to restore your iPhone.

a. Turn Off the Unresponsive iPhone / iPad
1. Hold down the power button and home button at the same time

2. Blck screen will show then Apple logo will appear. Hold down both power button and home button continuously.

3. When screen become black and stay for a bit then leave the home and power button. iPhone / iPad now turn off.

 b. Turn On the Unresponsive iPhone / iPad

1. To turn on the iPhone / iPad, hold down home as well as power button.

2. If home screen appear then device is turn on. If device jammed at Apple logo , repeat  Section (a) to turn it back off and then follow step (c).

c. Put the iPhone / iPad into DFU Mode
1. When your device is in off mode, connect it with computer via USB.

2. Hold down Power and the Home button at the same time Apple logo will show then screen turns to black.

3. Leave the Power button but continue to hold the Home button until iTunes pops up a dialog box saying it has find an iPhone in recovery mode.

d. Flash the Stock Firmware and Your Latest Backup

1. Open iTunes, click on Restore.

2. When the device has been restarts , select the backup of the device when urged to restore your apps, contacts, etc.
 

3. Thats all. You have done.

See Also:iPhone 5S current model leaked

Weekly Writer Challenge 2 Write One Entire Article for an RPM RPP

In case you missed it, here is Weekly Writer Challenge #1, to write down 10 article ideas for the regional parenting magazines. You can still catch up to us!

AND ... all this is free! Lots of other writers charge beaucoup bucks and call it a CLASS, but folks, I have no class, so this little situation here is FREE! Lets hold each other accountable and make some dang money writing for magazines, increasing our pay as we go!

As with the last challenge, please share this with any bloggers (= aspiring writers) or writers you know so they can participate. I have lately been seeing many writers making one red cent per word to write all day long to pull down the bucks, and I want so badly to pull them out of that situation and let them know their work is worth so much more than that, even if it DOES take weeks to get paid sometimes!

Again, you have until Sunday to do this second challenge, then more challenges will come out on Mondays and you will have 7 days to complete them and report back here! Even if you didnt do it or only half-assed it, let me know, because chances are I might not always be rockin the challenge, either.

At the very least, we can offer support to each other. Dont forget there is also a Facebook fan page for this site where we can interact and you can always email me at mommykerrie at yahoo dot com, and when it comes time to start submitting, you have to have the resource Im using so we can be Submission Twins.

So, here you go:

CHALLENGE #2 is to WRITE AN ENTIRE ARTICLE for the regionals (the smalls). Yep, pick one of your 10 award-winning ideas and turn it into something. If those people I referenced above can turnout 1,000-word articles with HOURS for a deadline and make $10, you can certainly take a week to write something pretty great, including personal quotes (dont have to be local) and some nice research and maybe even some personal anecdotes from you.

If you need help, just write me (see above). And do not freak out!

Check out these links for some ideas of stuff Ive gotten published. At the very least, you will be like, "Wow, she got THAT published and made actual decent bank off of it? I could write that in my sleep and better!"

Heres something pretty recent about organic gardening on a budget from an online gig I have. Then I spun it a little bit and submitted to all the RPMs (I have about 160 email addresses in my address book).

Heres one of my VERY FIRST pieces, from back in 2009 when I was super green.

Feel free to Google my name+articles for more parenting mayhem.

Good luck!

The Secret to Making Money as an Online Teacher by Marc Charles

The Secret to Making Money as an Online Teacher

6:53 AM

Dear Entrepreneur:

I hope all is well. Happy 4th of July.

Ive reprinted a question from a fellow entrepeneur, and my response:

Question: Hey Marc: I’m trying to find ways to make money as an online teacher or instructor. Do you have any ideas, suggestions or recommendations”?

                                                                                                     M.F. Flagstaff AZ

If you want to make money as an online teacher todays column is for you.

You CAN make money in online education.

I taught an online course recently and received $150 for three hours of work. 

Actually, it took a more than three hours of work.  There was some prep work and research. But it was a lot of fun and super easy to do. And I’m still getting traffic to my other ventures.

Online education is growing like wildfire!

Heck…. Online education startup Knewton recently received more than $54 million for rapid expansion. The company customizes educational content to create a personalized learning experience for students, it’s pretty neat.

And the best part is….

There are several ways to grab your share of the online education cash flow. 

This week I’ll focus on becoming an online instructor. But there are many ways to make money in this market.

The first thing people usually say to me is “I’m not qualified”.

That’s what S.E. said to me during lunch last week in Camden Maine.

Steve is a graphic designer. 

He works for a large specialty publisher with print and online products.

Steve’s been honing his craft for more than 20 years. He’s a great teacher.

I sent him links to 9 online instructor opportunities he could look into.

He checked them out and told me two companies are interested in his services.

Customized Education is Fastest Growing Segment on the Internet

The reason online education is growing so fast is money.

But actually it’s the lack of it! 

Here’s what I mean…..

People often weigh the pros and cons of traditional schools versus online or distance education.

There’s nothing to compare when it comes to cost. 

The cost of online education is only a fraction of what you’ll pay to attend a “traditional” school.

Master’s Degree in 14 Months

Online education is changing the way people learn.

The other advantage is speed.

Online education can slash the amount of time it takes to get a degree.

For example, it can take up to four years to earn a Master’s degree at a traditional college or university.

You can earn a Master’s Degree online in as little as 14 months.

No……I’m not talking about a “Cracker Jack Diploma” (the kind you find inside a box of Cracker Jacks). I’m talking about an accredited degree accepted anywhere in the world.

On top of that, traditional schools require students to be in the classroom at specific times every day.

That is one of my beefs with public or government sponsored schools. It seems like a training ground for jobs in the Industrial Age. 

Public schools are like an assembly line. 

Everyone glides into the classroom on a conveyor belt at exactly 7:00 AM. 

The bell rings, and everyone mounts the conveyor belt for the next class.

What happens when a student wants to spend more time in class studying, researching or exploring something exciting?

That’s unacceptable….get on the conveyor belt!

Time and your physical location are irrelevant with online schools.

A student can work at his or her own pace!

My daughter is a sophomore in high school. Yesterday she said, “The teachers are too slow. They’re always repeating things for the kids who don’t understand or don’t want to learn. The teachers spend too much time disciplining kids too”.

We tried to talk our daughter out of going to the public high school.

But the biggest problem at public schools is students are taught as a group, not as individuals. 

There is no customized or personalized learning. It doesn’t fit the government “model” of education.

Granted, some kids go to college for more than education. 

People go to college for camaraderie, the sports, a new adventure and to get away from mom and dad.

And don’t forget the parties! Parents should visit college campuses unannounced to see how their money is spent.

Profit Opportunities!

Traditional colleges and universities are nervous because students prefer the Internet for their education. 

Granted, some colleges and universities have started to embrace the Internet and distance learning.

The cost of a college course today is ridiculous. 

More than 85 percent of the tuition paid to schools goes to tenured professors, administrators, management, overhead, taxes, sports, and fees, etc.

One thing colleges and universities could do is lower the cost of their courses. You would think in the current climate and economy they would do this. 

But no…most colleges are increasing tuition and course fees!

16 Million Students and Climbing!

There were more than 16 million students enrolled in distance and online learning programs in the United States at the end of 2010, according to the U.S. Department of Education.

The demand for online teachers, instructors, and tutors is skyrocketing too, according to Ken White, author of the Online Teaching Guide. 

Help Wanted: Web-Savvy Entrepreneurs and Teachers!

Online education offers exciting opportunities for Web-savvy entrepreneurs and for people who can teach. 

I recently accepted an assignment as a guest instructor for a distance learning program called Understanding Internet Search Engines. I was paid $2,500 for about six hours of work.

It’s true, most colleges and universities have steep academic requirements for online instructors. 

The good news is you dont have to work at top colleges and universities to make money as an online instructor. 

But traditional schools may be an option worth considering.

The way people are learning has changed

The “classroom model” of instruction for the past 300 years is dying a slow painful death.

My neighbor is a retired (tenured) professor from Columbia University. He makes six figures tending his flower beds, playing his banjo and sipping cold Chardonnay. 

But he said, “The days of tenure of coming to a close. The schools can’t afford it any more”.

Thank God his golden parachute is safe!

Anyway, the point is….online and digital instruction is available in the “cloud” now. Cloud computing is here. It simply means the “cloud” or network covers everything.

You can access the “cloud” from anywhere with multiple devices like a netbook, iPhone, iPad, Kindle Fire, Desktop PC, TV, Blackberry or disposable laptops.

Watch how kids teach themselves today….they jump to YouTube, Facebook, Twitter or niche forums like Programmers Heaven.

On top of that, online education is intertwined with online gaming… much to the chagrin of “old world” tenured professors and teachers. 

We homeschool our kids. My oldest son was homeschooled until his Junior year in high school. 

He received his high school diploma online, as well as certification in four programming languages. Most of his learning came by way of online gaming! He secured his first paying “gig” online as well.

The 17 online schools with web-based curriculum:

• DeVry University

• University of Phoenix Online

• Walden University

• Capella University

• ITT Tech

• Baker College

• AIU Online

• University Alliance

• The Art Institute Online

• Keiser University eCampus

• Jones International University

• ECPI – College of Technology

• Clayton College of Natural Health

• Everest University

• Boston University

• California Coast University

• Gonzaga University

What the Heck is Distance Learning?

Distance learning gives people the option of earning college credits off-campus, via television, the Internet, satellite classes, web-conferencing, videotapes, DVDs, correspondence courses, and other means.

Today, most major colleges, universities, and technical school have distance or online learning divisions. 

And hundreds of online "virtual" learning centers are being launched every month.

How to Make Money as an Online Instructor

There are basically two ways to make money as an online instructor.

• You can apply for positions or projects at established colleges, universities, and learning centers. To do that, you submit your application to the Human Resources Department (which can usually be done at the schools website).

• You can teach as a freelance instructor. If you decide to go with this approach, you may have to forgo some of the benefits and perks that on staff teachers usually enjoy -- but you will have more freedom and flexibility.

Do I Need Academic Qualifications?

Granted, most conventional colleges and universities require an academic background or qualifications in order to teach online courses. 

But many do not!

I mean yes….you need to be qualified in a particular area in order to teach the subject and GET PAID.

This goes without saying.

But hiring process has changed.

Here’s a funny story…

A friend of mine stumbled upon an advertisement at an online college for an “Internet savvy entrepreneur with bricks and mortar expertise.”

Just for the fun of it I applied. But rather than submit my colorful academic qualifications (which are non-existent because I’m a college reject and drop-out), I submitted a powerful sales letter and a list of my dismal business failures!

But to be fair I included a brief overview of more than 30 business start-ups I launched.

On top of that, rather than submit the information online, I sent it to the appropriate person in a FedEx NextDay letter!

I was retained for the project within three days.

I realize some higher education centers, colleges, and universities require specific academic qualifications, and this doesn’t change with online instruction.

But the fact is you have (or can develop) specialized knowledge and the demand in this area is growing like wildfire!

Some online learning centers and distance learning programs compensate instructors on a "per student" basis. 

For example, the University of Phoenix compensates instructors $40 to $150 per student per course. And there can be anywhere from 5 to 75 students registered for each course. (Course lengths vary, but are generally from one to six weeks.)
 

Let’s do the math . . .
 

If you teach 20 courses a year (two per month, with summers off) with 32 students per course, and you are compensated $80 per student, you would earn $51,200 per year.

But let’s say you’re only willing to teach 10 courses per year, with only 20 students per course, and you only receive $50 per student. Fine – that’s still $10,000 a year doing something you love.

As you can see, this is an exciting opportunity and a great way to make a living (or a nice chunk of extra money).

OnlineLearning.net is another great resource. Youll find links to course catalogs, instructor forums, teaching resources, and job postings. 

More Ways to Make Money as an Online Instructor or Teacher

1. Become an online researcher.

2. Start your own online college, course search engine, or virtual learning center.

Starting an online college could be a substantial undertaking. But people are going online in droves to improve and enhance their education. And as an Internet-savvy entrepreneur, you cant afford to ignore a trend like this.

One way to launch an online college or learning center would be to specialize and target a specific niche. For example, you could start an online college that specializes in network security, encryption science, or Web development.

Another angle might be to create a search engine that provides exclusive "how to" articles like this one: www.howstuffworks.com. You could charge a monthly fee, or micro-payments for specific "how to" articles.

A course search engine also has potential. The idea is to populate a search engine with thousands of online courses from hundreds of colleges, universities, and online learning centers around the world. Students could search for a course by title, keyword, phrase, or popularity. 

This search engine would be free to users. Entering into partnerships with the colleges, universities, and learning centers would generate your revenue. 

You could also offer "enhanced listings and links" to those that want to be featured "foremost" in the search results. It would be similar to the Google AdWords model.

Another angle on this idea would be to purchase these courses in bulk from the individual institutions and then re-sell them to students at a profit. 

Remember, these courses would be stored in a database for easy online access by students.

It’s simply a matter of re-selling information thats already been developed. 

eLearners.com offers more than 6,300 online courses that can also be downloaded.

Now that’s what I’m talking about!

The potential for online and distance learning is substantial.

Online education and distance learning is a hot rising trend and very profitable market.

Regards,

Marc Charles

“The King of Business Opportunities”

Action Plan

The fastest you get started the easier it will be.

So, apply at the University of Phoenix or one of the other online schools or resources I mentioned in today’s issue.

If you Google online education you’ll find thousands of resources. There are hundreds of opportunities for online instructors at Monster.com too.

Read more »