Daniel's Blog

Life Insurance

Daniel Guest (Sungevity, Inc.) — Wed, 22 Sep 2010 12:03:26 -0700

Definition:

Life insurance is a policy that will pay money to a named beneficiary upon your death. Life insurance is a way to help protect your loved ones if you were to die suddenly. It provides money to help pay from medical expenses, funeral costs and living expenses. When you purchase the policy you determine the amount that you are covered. There are different types of life insurance available.

Term Life Insurance
Term life insurance is a policy that you purchase for a certain number of years. The rates are significantly lower than whole life insurance. You can purchase this at varying amounts for a set amount of time. Common lengths of time include 10, 20 and 30 year policies. If you choose term life, you should self-insure by the end of the policy. This means that you have enough in savings and your family is in a position in which it would not need life insurance to continue the same standard of living.
Whole Life Insurance
Whole life insurance is a policy that follows you throughout your life. You pay a premium for this insurance from the day you purchase it for your entire life. Whole life insurance is often sold as an investment, because you can draw the money out of it, that you have put in. In reality you are paying much higher rates for whole life insurance, and you are getting a poor investment in return. If you went with term insurance instead, and simply invested the difference in mutual funds, you would be much better off. Universal and variable life insurance is another form of whole life insurance.

The amount of life insurance you get depends on your situation in life. If you are single and childless the amount offered by your employer should cover your burial expenses for your family. If you are married or have children, you should increase the amount that you have.

For questions, a FREE In Home Consultation or a free preliminary solar proposal, contact Daniel @ 609-203-8293 or www.yoursolarexpert.com/DanielGuest

Verengo Solar In the News:

The 7 Habits of Highly Successful Linkedin Members

Daniel Guest (Sungevity, Inc.) — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 08:54:28 -0700

So what makes a highly successful Linkedin member? Here is what I have discovered as not only habits, but also “secrets” of the treasure chest on Linkedin.

1. They invest their time strategically by putting fresh content on Linkedin when it’s the best time to do so. Let me explain, for me weekends are times to prepare Linkedin content, but as you will notice most collaboration does not take place on weekends. So hold the great Q/A’s, the awesome discussion topics, or the great status updates until Monday and never late Friday. Think about what your audience is doing and be strategic.

2. They use their status update to post something new every 24 to 48 hours and 80% of those updates include a link that gives a call to action. Such as signing up for your next webinar, promotions to visit your blog, or visiting your corporate website etc…

3. They answer target specific questions that are related to their target market. This is great exposure for your business that Linkedin Pros are doing everyday!

4. They change their Picture profile every two months. This creates dialogue and interaction with your network. This is another way to keep your brand in front of everyone. Pictures are worth a thousand _ _ _ _ _ (fill in the blank)

5. They answer every Linkedin email/inmail. Maybe not timely, but they never waste an opportunity!

6. They post their company events on the events application provided by Linkedin and use this as a way to measure interest and involvement for such things as conferences, webinars, or seminars. The events application has only been recently used by Linkedin Elite, but many are beginning to wise up to its amazing potential.

7. These highly successful members have identified their target markets on Linkedin, their goals on Linkedin, and are executing their plan every single work day. Social Media can be measured, but most don’t understand how to begin measuring their Social Media efforts because they have never identified their goals for using the Linkedin space. Once you have identified your goals then you can build a measurable matrix to anaylize your efforts.

So what habits have you found to be useful?

For questions, a FREE In Home Consultation or a free preliminary solar proposal, contact Daniel @ 609-203-8293 or www.yoursolarexpert.com/DanielGuest

Verengo Solar In the News:

Terrorism Insurance

Daniel Guest (Sungevity, Inc.) — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 07:57:03 -0700

Three in five firms buy U.S. terrorism insurance: Survey

Takeup rates for U.S. terrorism insurance continued to increase in 2009, according to a Wednesday report by insurance brokerage Marsh Inc.

According to “Marsh Report: Terrorism Risk Insurance 2010,” 61% of firms surveyed by Marsh purchased property terrorism insurance in 2009, up from 57% in 2008.

In 2003, after enactment of the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act of 2002 that created the federal terrorism insurance backstop, the takeup rate stood at 27%. The federal backstop was extended through 2014 by the Terrorism Risk Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2007.

Median premium rates declined to $25 per $1 million of total insured value last year, a drop from $37 per $1 million a year earlier, according to the New York-based unit of Marsh & McLennan Cos. Inc.

Marsh found that utility, real estate, health care, transportation, financial institutions and media companies purchased property terrorism insurance at higher rates than other industry segments in 2009, with their takeup rates exceeding 70%.

Marsh also found that capacity in the stand-alone terrorism insurance market reached a theoretical maximum of $3.76 billion last year.

The study was based on property insurance placements incepting during calendar year 2009 for 1,382 Marsh clients.

A summary of the report is available at www.marsh.com and the full report is available with registration atwww.businessinsurance.com/whitepapers.

For questions, a FREE In Home Consultation or a free preliminary solar proposal, contact Daniel @ 609-203-8293 or www.yoursolarexpert.com/DanielGuest

Verengo Solar In the News:

Biggest bank blunders

Daniel Guest (Sungevity, Inc.) — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 10:54:02 -0700

Bank demands thumbprint from armless man

Valdez was born without arms and wears a prosthetic.

Steve Valdez knew he'd face scrutiny when he went to a Bank of America branch to cash a check written to him by his wife, since he doesn't have a personal account with the bank.

Although the Tampa, Fla., resident brought two forms of picture identification, the teller said he needed to provide a thumbprint to cash the check.

The problem: Valdez was born without arms and wears a prosthetic. He pleaded with the bank manager to use the photos, but to no avail.

"It was really unfathomable," said Valdez, who was told that he could either bring in his wife or open an account of his own.

A thumbprint is a longstanding requirement for any non-account holder to cash a check in order to prevent check-cashing fraud, according to a BofA spokesman, who admits that the bank should have offered alternatives to Valdez.

Valdez, a customer service manager in the Hillsborough County public works department, said that if any of his employees treated customers the way he was treated, they would face disciplinary action.

"The government is always held to the highest standard, but when you go to a private institution you expect them to want to earn your business," he said. "But I guess that's not the case."

For questions, a FREE In Home Consultation or a free preliminary solar proposal, contact Daniel @ 609-203-8293 or www.yoursolarexpert.com/DanielGuest

Verengo Solar In the News:

Tax Credit Extension Could Help Tax Cheaters

Daniel Guest (Sungevity, Inc.) — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 12:10:49 -0700

By James R. Hagerty

Everett Collection

As we reported Thursday, Congress is considering a proposal from Sen. Harry Reid (D., Nev.) to extend the closing deadline on the tax credit of up to $8,000 for home buyers.

One risk of this proposal: It could help people who are trying to cheat Uncle Sam.

To qualify for the credit, buyers must have made a contract to buy the home by April 30. They are then supposed to complete the transaction by June 30. Because of the rush of people to close by then, mortgage companies and closing agents may have a hard time getting all the paper work done on time. So Realtors are pushing Congress for an extension. Sen. Reid has proposed to extend the deadline for closings to Sept. 30, so long as the buyers were under contract in April.

The danger is that this extension would also give more time to people who are merely pretending they were under contract in April and intend to backdate their documents.

Some real estate brokers see signs of dubious behavior. Glenn Kelman, chief executive ofRedfin Corp., a Seattle-based broker that operates in nine states, says he started to wonder if tax fraud was on the agenda after hearing from some customers who were very insistent on closing by June 30 even though they went under contract after April 30.

Schahrzad Berkland, an agent for Fidelity Pacific Real Estate in San Diego, who helps produce analyses of that market, found that the number of homes listed as pending sales agreed upon in April continued to rise over the past few weeks. Normally, that number should decline as some deals fall through. Ms. Berkland thinks some buyers are backdating to April.

Beware: The Internal Revenue Service wants to see the paper trail. A spokesman for the IRS says people claiming the credit are required to “attach a copy of the pages from a signed contract to make a purchase showing all parties’ names and signatures, the property address, the purchase price, and the date of the contract.”

Backdating a contract would be both wrong and risky. “That would be fraud on the federal government,” notes Mark Fiedler of Coldwell Banker Legacy, Rio Rancho, N.M. “As a broker, I would not participate in that activity, although there may be others who might. My license enables me to earn a living, and the FBI is not someone I want to cozy up to.” Besides, Mr. Fiedler says, the FBI is “busy putting people in jail for mortgage fraud right now, so let’s not overwork them.”

Terry Smith, an agent at ReMax Integrity, Fort Worth, Texas, also thinks backdating is a bad idea. She says the IRS could demand to see fax dates on contracts, dates of emails discussing the deal and the date that the buyer put up a deposit as “earnest money.”

And is there really honor among thieves? Kevin Duffy, an analyst at ReMax Unlimited in Cincinnati, says: “First you would have to have all parties in agreement to fudge the dates, then hope no one gets mad and turns the (other) party into the IRS.”

Even without cheating, the tax credit will be expensive for Uncle Sam. The National Association of Realtors estimates that 4.4 million people will seek the credit at a cost of more than $30 billion.

Please follow me for housing news on Twitter @jamesrhagerty

For questions, a FREE In Home Consultation or a free preliminary solar proposal, contact Daniel @ 609-203-8293 or www.yoursolarexpert.com/DanielGuest

Verengo Solar In the News:

What is the Most Dangerous City to Drive in?

Daniel Guest (Sungevity, Inc.) — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 13:28:34 -0700

It's Baltimore according to a recently published study by www.insurance.com. The study found that Baltimore has, "36.5 percent of drivers claiming a prior accident when receiving a car insurance comparison quote from insurance.com. The port city might not surprise many, but there were plenty of stunners in the Top 10, including Erie, Pa., and Des Moines, Iowa."

"The safest city to set the car on cruise? Yuma, Ariz. at 17.2 percent. And bigger cities like Los Angeles (26.3 percent) and Chicago (26.1 percent) came in at No. 116 and 122 respectively."

For questions, a FREE In Home Consultation or a free preliminary solar proposal, contact Daniel @ 609-203-8293 or www.yoursolarexpert.com/DanielGuest

Verengo Solar In the News:

Four More Reasons to Have a Personal Umbrella

Daniel Guest (Sungevity, Inc.) — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 07:59:32 -0700

Recent Court Verdicts on Auto Accidents

Four random car accidents caused by a driver rear-ending the car in front spells out clearly the need for a personal umbrella policy. This type of collision almost always results in 100% liability against the car “at-fault”.

Eyes on the road or you may end up hurting someone pretty bad. And it’s a horrible sinking feeling to wonder if you have enough insurance after a crash. Worse, these cases typically take a couple of years to finally settle. (That can be a lot of sleepless nights.)

Worse, your credit can be severely impaired with a pending judgment and not sufficient insurance to back you up.

My simple advice: buy as much liability protection as you can afford. You don’t have to have millions to have millions in liability protection!

Couldn’t you see yourself causing any on of these unfortunate accidents?

1. Taxi driver collides with 29 year old business consultant. The 29 year old tore his right shoulder‘s labrum. He had surgery and 16 weeks of physical therapy. Taxi’s insurance company settled for $475,000 ($75,000 past pain & suffering, $400,000 future pain &suffering)

2. 39 year old engineer stopped at intersection in Long Island struck in vehicle’s rear end. Injuries required should and spinal surgery. The plaintiff claims he suffers from residual pain that ultimately made work unbearable. The other driver’s insurance company settled for $2,250,000.

3. A 34 year old waitress from Saratoga County, was stopped in traffic waiting to make a left turn when she was hit in the rear. She had surgical ‘fusion of a portion of her spine’s cervical region plus two years of physical therapy. Fortunately, no ongoing discomfort. But the accident resulted in a $245,000 settlement.

4. A 52 year old woman on disability was struck in the rear-ended by another car on the Long Island Expressway. Her prior back condition was worsened and she underwent surgery to remove cervical disks. For her past and future ‘pain & suffering’ and future medical expense, the insurer settled for $1,200,000

Take the time to call the office now to review your total liability insurance. If you don’t have a personal umbrella, you’re not protected.

For questions, a FREE In Home Consultation or a free preliminary solar proposal, contact Daniel @ 609-203-8293 or www.yoursolarexpert.com/DanielGuest

Verengo Solar In the News:

When You Boycott BP Gas Stations, BP Can Profit

Daniel Guest (Sungevity, Inc.) — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 15:21:41 -0700

By Ben Popken on June 14, 2010 1:51 PM

(Infrogmation)

You need gas. On the right is a BP. On the left is a supermarket gas station. Which do you choose, and why? If you skip the BP to go to the other, you might actually be putting more cash in BP's stained pockets.

Like this story? Check out, "BP Gulf-Sized Spilling Occurs In Nigeria Annually, But Nobody Cares."

Your corner BP station is mainly just a brand, a licensed franchise owned by a local businessman. The fuel that comes out of the pumps might have been bought from a totally different company. Only right before it gets put on the truck for delivery is the special BP sauce, additives, added.

However, if you opt for another place, like a supermarket gas-station, they could be a wholly-owned BP subsidiary, with BP getting all the cash. According to Facebook group Boycott BP these include Castrol, Arco, Aral, am/pm, Amoco, Wild Bean Cafe and Safeway gas.

This is not to say you shouldn't choose a different gas station if the BP one makes you squeamish. Just bear in mind that doing so is a political act, one that has deals damage to BP's brand in the long-term, rather than having direct financial impact on BP. No, the immediate business loss will be most acutely felt by the local businessman. Over the years, that same guy could own the same stations, and change it from being a Shell, an Exxon, or a Sunoco, depending on who's got the best deal.

Then again, if no one is buying BP gas, do you think many new gas station owners are going to be eager to sign up for a BP franchise? Which would mean a loss of future franchise fee income for BP, and that will end up hurting their bottom line. Just not today.

For questions, a FREE In Home Consultation or a free preliminary solar proposal, contact Daniel @ 609-203-8293 or www.yoursolarexpert.com/DanielGuest

Verengo Solar In the News:

Housing Lessons-Have We Learned?

Daniel Guest (Sungevity, Inc.) — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 07:14:46 -0700

The Housing Bubble began in the Bay Area around 1996. That’s when home prices starting growing faster than inflation and faster than rents. By the late 90’s, people really took notice. By 2002, the movement took hold. By 2004, housing mania had become a full-blown religion.

Many things that were accepted as true in the bubble-times are no longer so. But for a generation that came of age during the bubble, these bubble-truths are the only real estate truths we know. Tearing them down is to tear at the core of our economic value system, directly challenging the reasons we’ve chosen to live the lives that we have. Losing one’s religion is a painful process.

A Necessary Education

“We need to go through this in order to get through this.” – Todd Harrison

And that’s the difference: knowing the answer is different that learning the answer. Learning is a process, a rewiring of our minds that helps us look at things differently moving forward. We might now know that housing prices don’t always go up, but we haven’t really learned it yet in a way that will change our behavior in the coming decades.

As the housing bust is about to enter it’s second phase, the education process will resume with full-force. When housing finally does bottom, perhaps 3-4 years from now, we will have learned – just as children of the Great Depression and children of the Vietnam eras – a new set of core values and beliefs going forward.

Here are 10 things we know, but have not yet learned:

1. Home prices do not always go up.

Okay…maybe we’ve learned this one.

2. Home prices to not go up faster than inflation.

Home prices do not outpace inflation over time. In the short-term there can be bubbles, but the long-term cost of shelter cannot go up more than someone’s ability to pay for it. Consider this chart of home prices since 1890, adjusted for inflation. You can clearly see that home prices to no better.

3. Investing is different than speculating.

Long-term value lies in the forced-savings of slowly paying down the principal over time, coupled with the benefits of rents that should pace inflation.

Expectations of anything less is speculating, not investing.

4. Wherever you live is not different.

There is no real estate decoupling. A higher-priced area is worth more, on a relative basis, than a nearby lower-priced one. But the relationship is still relative. If the lower-priced area sees an increase in demand, rising prices there will push up the entry-level prices in the higher-priced community. And vise-versa. And in reverse, which is happening now.

These adjustments take time…years in fact. But all market are effected by each other.

5. There is nothing wrong with renting.

Renters are not second-class citizens. They enjoy more mobility, less risk, and more liquidity. Across the Bay Area and most of the country, renters are also saving money each month.

If someone is going to be in the same house for decades, and slowly pay off the loan, and the price-to-rent ratio made sense at the time of purchase, then buying makes sense. Otherwise, renting is often the smartest, most financially-prudent decision a would-be homeowner can make.

6. You probably can’t afford to live in that big fancy house.

During the boom, anyone with a pulse could live in a big, new, fancy house. The man with the tie Mercedes said you were “qualified”…so it must have been true!

But, actually affording a home is different than qualifying for one, even with today’s stricter standards.

Affordability means different things in different income brackets. Here is one reasonable metric to consider: Home prices, in any given area, have historically averaged about 3.5 times that area’s median income. What you can afford is probably no more than perhaps 4 times your annual income. For some context, San Jose median prices reached about 13 times the median income during the peak of the boom.

And, if you need to use a product other than a 30-year fixed mortgage, you probably can’t afford it.

Consider this as well: if your home equity cannot be counted on as your retirement plan, you’ll probably need to save more money each month than you do now.

7. The mortgage interest deduction isn’t that big of a deal.

The extra costs of ownership (property taxes, special assessments, home repairs, maintenance) and transactional costs (transfer taxes, real estate commissions, loan fees, escrow fees, etc.) more than offset any perceived monthly savings.

8. Bigger isn’t inherently better.

Over the last 60 years, the size of our homes has grown while the size of our families have shrunk. During the boom, things got even more out of control.

But, big houses cost more to clean, heat, cool, furnish, and maintain. That’s a lot of time, money, and energy that could be put to more productive or fun uses elsewhere.

There’s probably only so much house that we really need, and the rest is for showing-off and storing all our stuff (most of which, we probably don’t need either).

9. Newer and fancier isn’t inherently better.

The remodeling and building trends of the boom years, convinced consumers that new fake-wood floors were better than old real ones, that everyone needs a fancy bathroom, and that any decent kitchen must have granite counters. This is utter hogwash.

Authenticity is the key to style and grace. Some homes just feel good…and the vibe usually because the house is comfortable being what it is. By contrast, many remodeled homes feel awkward and uncomfortable, perhaps because the house is trying to be more than it is. Keeping-up-with-the Jones’s is not a comfortable or healthy thing for people or homes to endure.

The eras of excess – the 80’s business boom, the 90’s tech boom, and the 2000’s housing boom – have trained generations of Americans to be great consumers. But now the Age of Austerity is here. Frugality is the new black. Social mood is shifting to where conspicuous consumption is scorned rather than celebrated and simple living is back in style.

10. Building and remodeling with “Green” materials often isn’t “Green” at all.

There was a new community of 20 or so homes built near where I live in the East Bay, made up of 4,000+ sq. ft. “Green” homes. This was the peak intersection of the housing bubble and green consumerism.

The simple fact remains most green consuming isn’t as green as not consuming at all. Tossing your old TV to get a more energy-efficient one still puts an old TV in a landfill. Usually the most “green” thing we can do to our homes is just leave the how they are.

Sure, there are great new technologies (like solar power) and promising trends (like xeriscaping), but ec0-friendly consuming is usually not as eco-friendly as no consuming…or simply consuming less.

For questions, a FREE In Home Consultation or a free preliminary solar proposal, contact Daniel @ 609-203-8293 or www.yoursolarexpert.com/DanielGuest

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The Sun-Did you know?

Daniel Guest (Sungevity, Inc.) — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 06:57:07 -0700

Sun exposure causes wrinkles, sun spots and is the number one cause of skin cancer.......
A sunscreen with an SPF higher than 45 has not been shown to be more effective........
80% of a person's lifetime sun exposure is acquired before the age of 18.......
Clouds don't block the harmful UVA/UVB rays of the sun.....
One or two blistering sunburns before the age of 18 greatly increases your risks of skin cancer......

For questions, a FREE In Home Consultation or a free preliminary solar proposal, contact Daniel @ 609-203-8293 or www.yoursolarexpert.com/DanielGuest

Verengo Solar In the News:

This is just SAD!!-U.S.'s $13 Trillion Debt Poised to Overtake GDP: Chart of Day

Daniel Guest (Sungevity, Inc.) — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 11:17:41 -0700

U.S.'s $13 Trillion Debt Poised to Overtake GDP: Chart of Day

By Garfield Reynolds and Wes Goodman - Jun 4, 2010

President Barack Obama is poised to increase the U.S. debt to a level that exceeds the value of the nation’s annual economic output, a step toward what Bill Gross called a “debt super cycle.”

The CHART OF THE DAY tracks U.S. gross domestic product and the government’s total debt, which rose past $13 trillion for the first time this month. The amount owed will surpass GDP in 2012, based on forecasts by the International Monetary Fund. The lower panel shows U.S. annual GDP growth as tracked by the IMF, which projects the world’s largest economy to expand at a slower pace than the 3.2 percent average during the past five decades.

“Over the long term, interest rates on government debt will likely have to rise to attract investors,” saidHiroki Shimazu, a market economist in Tokyo at Nikko Cordial Securities Inc., a unit of Japan’s third-largest publicly traded bank. “That will be a big burden on the government and the people.”

Gross, who runs the world’s largest mutual fund at Pacific Investment Management Co. in Newport Beach, California, said in his June outlook report that “the debt super cycle trend” suggests U.S. economic growth won’t be enough to support the borrowings “if real interest rates were ever to go up instead of down.”

Dan Fuss, who manages the Loomis Sayles Bond Fund, which beat 94 percent of competitors the past year, said last week that he sold all of his Treasury bonds because of prospects interest rates will rise as the U.S. borrows unprecedented amounts. Obama is borrowing record amounts to fund spending programs to help the economy recover from its longest recession since the 1930s.

“The incremental borrower of funds in the U.S. capital markets is rapidly becoming the U.S. Treasury,” Boston-based Fuss said. “Do you really want to buy the debt of the biggest issuer?”

For questions, a FREE In Home Consultation or a free preliminary solar proposal, contact Daniel @ 609-203-8293 or www.yoursolarexpert.com/DanielGuest

Verengo Solar In the News:

Mortgage Companies To Sue Defaulted Home Owners

Daniel Guest (Sungevity, Inc.) — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 11:55:50 -0700

This is extremely interesting...

Via Andy Yakubovsky (Century 21 Prevete Real Estate):

Mortgage Companies To Sue Defaulted Home Owners

RISMedia reported on June 8, 2010 that the "experts predict that mortgage companies will begin to sue home owners in the next two years, including borrowers who ransack a house that has been lost to foreclosure and those who walk away from "underwater mortgages," with hopes of discouraging others from such behavior."

It was also reported that according to real estate and legal experts "the housing crisis will spark a wave of lawsuits filed by lenders seeking to recoup loses on home sales and foreclosure auctions that do not return enough money to pay the mortgages in full."

They continued that "lenders are unlikely to target borrowers who negotiate in good faith or have defaulted on their home due to job loss or other unforeseen circumstances;" but that "other borrowers could be hounded by collection agencies that have purchased their mortgage debt from their lender."

Source: RISMedia (06/08/10)

For the full story please refer to:

http://www.realtor.org/RMODaily.nsf/pages/News2010060902?OpenDocument

There Are Two Ways Of Spreading Light: To Be The Candle Or The Mirror That Reflects It. - Edith Wharton

For questions, a FREE In Home Consultation or a free preliminary solar proposal, contact Daniel @ 609-203-8293 or www.yoursolarexpert.com/DanielGuest

Verengo Solar In the News:

What McDonald’s Can Teach Us About Our LinkedIn Profiles

Daniel Guest (Sungevity, Inc.) — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 15:07:03 -0700

Is it not true that we are all complicated with many talents and abilities? Of course it is! But that is not how people make decisions on working with us. An “all things to all people approach” is a death token to receiving communications from your target market because they don’t know they are a perfect fit with your value proposition.Creating a Cohesive Message on Your Profile

Why does McDonalds not offer Pizza? Could they? They certainly have the capacity financially to do so. They don’t because it’s not what they are best at. They don’t because their market isn’t looking for it. They don’t because it’s inefficient.

Is McDonalds losing opportunities or potential business to Pizza Hut by not offering Pizza? Yes, does it hurt their success more than if they offered Pizza? No, if they offered Pizza, people would be confused, take longer to make a decision, and would confuse the value proposition McDonalds offers.

Get it? You have something you are great at. You have something you can focus on. Don’t be all things to all people or you will fall into the abyss of people doing the same thing, ultimately offering nothing by offering everything.

For questions, a FREE In Home Consultation or a free preliminary solar proposal, contact Daniel @ 609-203-8293 or www.yoursolarexpert.com/DanielGuest

Verengo Solar In the News:

Rainers and Bloggers: 7 questions to ask before hitting "Publish" or "Post"

Daniel Guest (Sungevity, Inc.) — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 13:54:17 -0700

There are many things a blogger should check before hitting the
“Publish” button. One of the greatest mistakes a blogger can make is
hitting the publish button too soon. I wish I could say I have never
made that mistake but I have made it more times than I would like to
admit!

Here are 7 questions that I ask before I hit the "publish" button:

1. Have I read the post in its entirety after finishing it?

I know that sounds obvious but many bloggers don't read what they
wrote before publishing it. When we fail to do this, our post may not
make sense or we may miss an important point that we wanted to make.
Take the time to read the entire post. It is well worth the effort!

2. Have I chosen my title carefully?

I strongly believe that the title is the most important part of the
post because unless the title grabs the attention of visitors, there is a
good chance that they won’t read the post! A good title should draw
people in. I have found that titles with numbers in them work well (i.e
23 ways to know it is going to be a really bad day).
Also, compelling titles (i.e. Kill your stress before it kills you!) and titles
with questions (i.e. Why can't we?) work well too.

3. Have I proofread it?

Again, this sounds obvious but it is not! If I don't take the time
to do a thorough proofread before I hit "Publish" there will be typos
and spelling mistakes ... guaranteed! If possible, have someone else
proofread it for you. I always find that helpful.

4. Have I linked to one or more of my older posts?

If you are anything like me, you have many great posts that haven't been read by a lot of
people and it's a shame (to me anyway;). Linking to older posts inside
your post helps bring those posts out into the light. It also helps to
complement or expand on the information that you have written.

5. Have I made sure that all my links are working?

I hate clicking on broken links! It frustrates me to no end!
Unfortunately, it does not take much to create a broken link. All it
takes is omitting a letter, a dot, or misspelling a word. Readers will
get frustrated when the link they click on doesn't work!

6. Have I included a captivating image?

They say a picture is worth a thousand words. If that is true then
why not use one in your post? Images are a great way to entice people to
read the rest of your post. I work very hard at trying to find the perfect image for each post. I typically use Google Images for
this.

7. Have I included one or more ways to engage with my readers?

Blogging isn't a monologue for me. I want to build community with
my blog. I want to engage with my readers. To do this, I always ask a
question or two or make a call to action at the end of each of my posts.

By asking these questions before I hit the "Publish" button I have saved myself and my readers a lot of grief and frustration.

For questions, a FREE In Home Consultation or a free preliminary solar proposal, contact Daniel @ 609-203-8293 or www.yoursolarexpert.com/DanielGuest

Verengo Solar In the News:

Why Buy Now, Revisited

Daniel Guest (Sungevity, Inc.) — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 13:45:14 -0700

Anecdotally, it would appear that May was something less than a banner sales month for most homebuilders in the country. The expiration of the federal tax credit seems to have taken some wind out of the “sales sails”, especially in the early weeks of May. Many builders and salespeople are left scratching their heads over what to do now. The most pessimistic are wondering how to recover in this post-tax credit environment.

They might be missing something. Check the traffic numbers, folks. While the sales pace may be off, the traffic numbers have not really declined. That makes no sense whatsoever. If the tax credit was why people were buying, and the tax credit is now gone, shouldn’t the prospects be staying put at this point? Why are they still visiting the sales offices around the country?

Moreover, in my direct conversations with sales professionals it is clear that prospects have little interest in bringing up the topic. That is, the tax credit is yesterday’s news!

It is time, my friends, to forget that the tax credit ever existed and look instead at the realities of buying a home in 2010. Here’s a fact: the present buying opportunity is nothing short of phenomenal!

How strong is your “Why Buy Now?” argument? And I don’t just mean in its content, because it’s not about simply getting your facts right. I am more concerned about the delivery, about the passion and energy that goes into an urgency discussion. As a sales professional you must communicate that argument with energy and enthusiasm. The prospect must be left to believe that they are the smartest person in the world for buying when all the conditions are so favorable.

Are you prepared with this? Do you have work to do? Get this right and you might just change someone’s world!

For questions, a FREE In Home Consultation or a free preliminary solar proposal, contact Daniel @ 609-203-8293 or www.yoursolarexpert.com/DanielGuest

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Allstate vows to overtake State Farm as top insurer

Daniel Guest (Sungevity, Inc.) — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 10:13:15 -0700

Allstate vows to overtake State Farm as top insurer, setting stage for price war

Hired in 2007, CEO Thomas Wilson has emphasized Allstate's profitability over marketshare growth. Getty Images photo

By: Steve Daniels May 31, 2010

Allstate Corp. aims to topple State Farm Insurance Cos. as the country's leading insurer of homes and autos within a decade.

Northbrook-based Allstate's ambitious new goal to double its premiums in 10 years — outlined in a company memo obtained by Crain's — sets up a clash of the insurance industry's giants, both based in Illinois.

The battle to dominate the $235-billion consumer market could trigger price-cutting that would mean lower insurance rates for drivers and homeowners. But insurers' profits could suffer, as they did during an industrywide price war a decade ago.

The goal marks a dramatic new focus on marketshare growth at Allstate. CEO Thomas Wilson has emphasized Allstate's industry-leading profitability since taking charge of the company in 2007. But Allstate's stock price has languished as its core insurance businesses stalled in the face of competition from Geico and Progressive Corp., which sell policies mostly online, the fastest-growing sales channel.

Mr. Wilson has tried to expand Allstate's life insurance and financial services businesses. Still, auto and homeowners premiums accounted for $26 billion of Allstate's $32 billion in total revenue last year. Reigniting the property and casualty businesses would put a charge into overall growth.

In an April 30 memo, Allstate Senior Vice-president Joseph Richardson told agents, "We've declared our commitment to be the No. 1 provider of consumer protection in the U.S.! That's a powerful statement. It's a statement about being the best! Yes, the best. Doesn't it feel good to say? Just think about how great it will feel when we achieve it, and State Farm — and every other competitor — looks up to us!"

AN OPENING

To reach its goal, Allstate must not only stem customer defections in its property and casualty business but achieve average annual growth of 7% in an industry likely to grow no faster than 3% a year. That means it must lure customers away from Bloomington-based State Farm, the longtime industry leader, with 19% of the market for auto and homeowners insurance.

State Farm, with $45 billion in premiums last year, has been raising rates recently to improve its poor auto-insurance profit margins. That may give Allstate an opening to woo customers with lower prices.

"Competition is great," a State Farm spokesman says. "It's what makes the business world work."

At the same time, Allstate needs to compete more effectively online against Ohio-based Progressive and Washington, D.C.-based Geico, the nation's No. 3 auto insurer. Since 2005, Geico's share of the U.S. auto market has climbed to 8.2% from 6.2%, while No. 2 Allstate's has dropped to 10.5% from 11.1%, according to data provider SNL Financial in Virginia.

In Illinois, Allstate recently offered a 5% discount to Geico customers who switch. Across the country, Allstate also is offering a one-time bonus — one agent says it's around $40 — to customers who buy directly from its Web site.

In his missive to agents, Mr. Richardson wrote, "We have to accelerate our ability to grow by leveraging our agencies and our direct capabilities. We will grow — and win — with both."

Allstate says it's not cutting rates across the board but lowering prices selectively by improving existing discounts, including for customers with multiple policies and those who pay premiums all at once.

Mr. Richardson said Allstate can double premiums in 10 years "while annually meeting leading underwriting profit targets."

Since the industry's last price war, Allstate has worked to bolster profits by using computer programs to target discounts to the most lucrative customers.

Investors, who were disappointed when the financial crisis forced Allstate to cut its dividend in half a year ago but still prize its lush auto-insurance profit margins, likely will worry about the new growth emphasis.

"Everyone says they're going to grow without sacrificing profitability," says analyst Meyer Shields at Stifel Nicolaus & Co. in Baltimore. "And it almost never happens."

ON THE PROWL?

Some think Allstate will need acquisitions to dethrone State Farm. Smaller insurers struggling to compete with online discounters are ripe buyout targets, says J. Paul Newsome, an analyst at Sandler O'Neill & Partners Inc. in New York.

Still, Mr. Newsome says, "I would be very surprised if they were able (to reach their growth goal). I don't think they have the marketing expertise and the distribution that will allow them to grow" like that.

For Allstate's 12,000-plus agents, who are under pressure from the company to expand their agencies or merge with larger ones, the rallying cry from Northbrook can act as a motivator.

"It's good to hear that kind of statement from the top," says Craig Wiggins, whose Huntsville, Ala., agency, with $8 million in annual premiums, is one of Allstate's largest in the Southeast.

"We're kind of like that sleeping dog on the porch," he says. "If you give that dog a kick, you wake it up."

For questions, a FREE In Home Consultation or a free preliminary solar proposal, contact Daniel @ 609-203-8293 or www.yoursolarexpert.com/DanielGuest

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Six Ways to Improve Your LinkedIn Profile

Daniel Guest (Sungevity, Inc.) — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 06:36:15 -0700

Your LinkedIn profile doesn’t have to be just an online resume. Yes,
it’s important to have information about your current position,
experience and education; however, there’s so much more that can help
you build business relationships through LinkedIn. You can pimp your
profile with numerous apps and other items. Here are six tips for
enhancing your personal LinkedIn profile:

I. Vanity URL

LinkedIn assigns each profile with a random string of numerals at the end of their profile URL. You can easily customize your URL with your name and/or personal brand. Here’s how:

Click on “Edit” link show in image below.

You’re taken to a page containing the below box. Type in the URL extension you want, hit “Set Address.”

II. Blog Feed

You can easily add your blog feed through one of the many applications offered by LinkedIn. Depending on the type of blog you have (e.g., WordPress, TypePad, LiveJournal, etc.), you will either use the
WordPress application, or the BlogLink application. Because our blog,
www.expertSEM.com, is on WordPress, I will use that as my example below.
However, adding any of the LinkedIn apps is super simple—LinkedIn walks
you through each step of the process.

First, go to the applications page. You’ll find an “Add Applications” link under your summary (if you have one, if not, it will be located near the bottom of your profile):

Next, you simply need to find the application of your choosing. Look for WordPress or BlogLink in the list.

The WordPress application allows you to select specific types of feeds. If your blog has numerous authors or different categories, you can choose to show only your blogs or only those in a specific, relevant
category. For example, this is the feed I use on my LinkedIn profile:

III. Twitter Integration

You can add your Twitter feed in two ways: 1. through an application or 2. in your settings. If you do this, however, remember that your tweets will be automatically posted as your LinkedIn status. Be sure not
to double-post by clicking on your LinkedIn account within HootSuite or
whichever Twitter client you use.

To add the Twitter app, follow steps above, find app and follow directions.

To add through your settings, click on “Settings” in upper right-hand corner. Find the Twitter Settings” link.

Edit settings to display your Twitter account and share tweets in LinkedIn status.

IV. Share Presentations

You can add presentations and documents that you have created to your LinkedIn profile with the SlideShare application. You must have a SlideShare.net account to import documents.

Follow the steps above for adding an applications, then look for the SlideShare app and follow directions.

V. Share Documents

Although you can add PDFs to your profile with SlideShare, you are limited to three documents. We recommend using SlideShare for your three most recent presentations, and using another app for PDFs or other
documents.

Again, follow steps for adding applications, find Box.net Files and follow directions.

VI. Strategic Anchor Text

LinkedIn allows you to add three website links to your profile. These links should direct to your corporate website, corporate blog, personal blog, corporate Facebook page or other relevant sites that you own and
control. The key to these links is using strategic keywords. For
example, I’ve used “interactive marketing agency” to link to the
Location3 Media website on my profile.

Click on the “Edit” link beside your websites. You will be taken to a page with this section:

In the drop down, choose “Other,” enter your keyword in the first field and your URL in the second one.

That’s it. Easy as pie! Follow these six tips and you’ll be well on your way to an enhanced LinkedIn profile—a living, breathing representation of your professional life and an interactive avenue for
establishing new business relationships.

For questions, a FREE In Home Consultation or a free preliminary solar proposal, contact Daniel @ 609-203-8293 or www.yoursolarexpert.com/DanielGuest

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Game Changer-6 New Hurdles For Home Financing

Daniel Guest (Sungevity, Inc.) — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 18:02:54 -0700

If you've been in the market for a mortgage recently, you've no doubt noticed how difficult it can be to get approved. You're not imagining it, and it's not just you. Paul McFadden, a loan officer with The Legacy Group in Bellevue, Washington, says,

"These days, the number of mortgage applications that get approved is probably three out of 10. In the heyday, it was nine out of 10. Normally five or six out of 10 would be the ratio."

Underwriting standards have tightened, meaning that borrowers need higher credit scores, more income and higher down payments. And that's not all. There are many challenges to financing a home, but the following six are especially problematic in today's market.

1. Higher Credit Score Requirements

Want a loan? You'd better have top-notch credit to get the best deal, or in some cases, to get approved at all. McFadden notes that "although loans can be had in most cases for credit scores down to 620, they often come with a higher rate and/or fees."

Gregory B. Meyer, Community Relations Manager with Meriwest Credit Union, says, "Credit is an issue, as lenders have raised the bar on credit scores. In 2006, a 680 FICO would get you into a house. Now it takes about a 740." (If the recession has wrecked havoc on your FICO score, these tips will help you rebuild your credit. Don't miss Bounce Back From A Credit Score Disaster.)

2. Greater Scrutiny of Income and Assets

Meyer also says that "In the past, banks were lax in verifying income and deposits. Now those things have more scrutiny."

Tom Wissert, who has more than 30 years of experience in real estate, banking and mortgage lending, cautions that "homebuyers better get ready to prove that just about anything that looks 'hinky' on their application is not an issue. Mortgage lenders today have to verify, re-verify and re-verify again. Qualified buyers are now put through the ringer and often turned down because of appraisal issues, property issues or anything that looks strange even if the buyer can prove they can pay cash for the property."

He says that we are now seeing regulatory overkill "after years of letting the rules be compromised by mortgage lenders who would not follow the traditional rules that are time-proven to work." (We walk through the steps needed to secure the best loan to finance the purchase of your home in Understanding Your Mortgage.)

3. Ever-Changing Borrower Requirements

Many borrowers are finding that they can't pin down just what they need to do to get their mortgages approved. Warren Greenlee, a broker with Re/Max at the Lake in Mooresville, North Carolina, says that a couple of years ago, "anybody with decent credit could get a loan for any size home. Now it is critical to have credit scores above 700, total debt ratios below 36%, a minimum of 20% down to avoid PMI and good stable employment. Unfortunately, a buyer can have all of these items fall into the current guidelines, only to have the guidelines change."

Greg Cook, a licensed California mortgage broker with the First Time Home Buyers Network, says that for the "'middle of the road' consumer, those without a large down payment and average to slightly above average credit scores, home financing has become a moving target."

4. Home Appraisals are coming in Low

Mortgage banker Darren Clark of Villa Mortgage, Inc., in Cincinnati, Ohio says, "Because of slow sales, which lead to few comparables, and the large amount of short sales, sheriff's sales, and bank-owned sales, which are priced at a fraction of a dollar, houses are not appraising for the contract price."

He adds, "Part of this problem can be blamed on the government enacting HVCC [the Home Valuation Code of Conduct], which regulates the appraisal industry, and was an attempt to curtail fraud, but has turned into an unexpected a hindrance on the real estate market recovery."

The problem with HVCC, according to Clark, is that appraisals are now often completed by appraisers who are inexperienced and often unfamiliar with the markets they are working in, resulting in inaccurate appraisals and unnecessarily rejected loan applications. (With interest rates at all-time lows and major rate hikes around the corner, many experts say the best time to snag a mortgage is right now. Don't miss Why Now Is The Time To Buy A Home.)

5. Fewer Opportunities for Small Business Owners and Independent Contractors

"Congress recently introduced legislation that would make 'liar loans' illegal," says Cook. "Liar loans" are another term for low or no-documentation loans. As the name implies, some borrowers have used these loans to deceive their way into a mortgage they didn't really qualify for. However, these loans are also a valuable tool for many honest workers who are non-U.S. citizens or self-employed and therefore don't receive regular paycheck stubs or have a simple, straightforward way to prove their income to lenders.

"Typically, a business owner pays himself the minimum amount to avoid paying payroll taxes while reinvesting profits into his business. Banks will no longer make exceptions for circumstances like these and turn many loans down that previously would have been granted."

6. Condo Purchases Face Additional Tests

Aimee Renkes, a mortgage consultant with Wintrust Mortgage in Chicago, says, "Condo loans are much tougher these days as we have to approve the condo building in addition to the buyer. We are documenting cash reserves, owner occupancy rates, low delinquency rates on monthly assessments and more. In some markets, such as Chicago, this can be tough to overcome. Additionally, the FHA recently changed the condo approval method, which has further inhibited many buyers who only qualify for FHA loans."

For questions, a FREE In Home Consultation or a free preliminary solar proposal, contact Daniel @ 609-203-8293 or www.yoursolarexpert.com/DanielGuest

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Should You Avoid LSVs?

Daniel Guest (Sungevity, Inc.) — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 16:43:56 -0700

According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety you should. LSVs or Low Speed Vehicles are becoming more popular than ever but are pushing outside their original intended use.

According to the IIHS, "More states are allowing a relatively new breed of vehicle on public roads, but crash tests by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety show why the mix of low-speed vehicles (LSVs) or minitrucks and regular traffic is a deadly combination. LSVs are designed for tooling around residential neighborhoods, and minitrucks are for hauling cargo off-road. While these vehicles have a lot of appeal as a way to reduce emissions and cut fuel use, they don't have to meet the basic safety standards that cars and pickups do, and they aren't designed to protect their occupants in crashes."

The IIHS recommends using safety tested but smaller vehicles such as the smart fortwo instead of a LSV. And on the insurance side, a smaller safety tested car instead of a LSV will be more insurance friendly.

For questions, a FREE In Home Consultation or a free preliminary solar proposal, contact Daniel @ 609-203-8293 or www.yoursolarexpert.com/DanielGuest

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Walking Away From Your Home Loan

Daniel Guest (Sungevity, Inc.) — Thu, 27 May 2010 09:02:01 -0700

Real estate market

Sad but true numbers tell the story in real estate:

26% of homeowners defaulted when they could afford to pay their loan.

11.3 million … number of U.S. homeowners whose mortgage balance exceeds the value of their home.

2015 is the year the typical homeowner who is now underwater will have some equity in his home.

14% is the average discount on a home sold by foreclosure vs. its equivalent in a traditional sale.

150 Credit score points that someone with a 780 score could lose are a short sale.

760 credit score you need to qualify for the best rates on a mortgage.

For questions, a FREE In Home Consultation or a free preliminary solar proposal, contact Daniel @ 609-203-8293 or www.yoursolarexpert.com/DanielGuest

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Pollution in the Workplace

Daniel Guest (Sungevity, Inc.) — Thu, 27 May 2010 08:26:07 -0700

When considering pollution risks, people usually think about the deteriorating ozone layer, oil spills and smog, not the contaminants found in our offices. And yet, there is risk of pollution conditions such as mold, bacterial outbreaks, fumes from cleaning products, dumpsters, fuel tanks and carbon monoxide released from heating systems.

An environmental policy is designed to offer protection against costs associated with indoor pollution. With highly affordable premiums and heightened environmental awareness to issues like toxic mold, environmental policies are becoming a must-have protection for property owners.

For questions, a FREE In Home Consultation or a free preliminary solar proposal, contact Daniel @ 609-203-8293 or www.yoursolarexpert.com/DanielGuest

Verengo Solar In the News:

Free Three Months of a Dental Discount Plan

Daniel Guest (Sungevity, Inc.) — Wed, 26 May 2010 10:32:23 -0700

Have you wanted dental insurance but not sure you want the large cost? Some choose a dental discount plan. Dental discount plans are not insurance but can save you money on your dental insurance bill.

If you are considering your choices in dental insurance and decide you would like to try a dental discount plan you may want to check out dentalplans.com. They are offering a extra three months free with the yearly purchase of most plans.

For questions, a FREE In Home Consultation or a free preliminary solar proposal, contact Daniel @ 609-203-8293 or www.yoursolarexpert.com/DanielGuest

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Mortgage Rates and What Will Move them This Week: May 24, 2010

Daniel Guest (Sungevity, Inc.) — Tue, 25 May 2010 12:25:49 -0700

As always good info here...

Via Robert Rauf (REMN The Real Estate Mortgage Network):

Last week was another solid week for mortgages bringing rates down yet again to levels we may never see again in our life times. Fannies closed the week with a gain of 17/32nds which currently allows us to lend to highly qualified buyers at rates below 5% for a 30 year fixed rate with no points. This may be even lower than the last dip we saw over a year ago, I am sure we will look back at this year as the opportunity that got away, Lowest rates in a generation, low priced homes and an improving economy... It certainly doesn'tget any better. I would love to be hanging out with friends in a few years and say "I have 4.75 or 4.875% on my loan" It is likely you will be the winner in that conversation!

This week will be another one driven more by the flight to quality we have seen in the past few weeks. There is a lot of data being reported, along with excess supply in the form of Treasury auctions...

Here is this week's Calendar:

Monday, May 24: April Existing home sales expected +5.2%. The actual report was much stronger than anticipated at 7.6% increase, but much of this is seen as a rush to get in prior to the tax credit going away. I would imagine that increases moving forward for the next month or so will be discounted until the "after tax credit" effect is seen. That being said, the market lost its initial gains this morning ahead of the news and is now trading pretty flat.

Tuesday, May 25: May Consumer Confidence expected +1.9%. Confidence may be up, but the market doesn't care what we think, they only care about what we actually do. Not a likely market mover.

Tuesday: Auction #1 with the Treasury selling $42 Billion of 2 year notes. This one is a bit of a crap shoot, on one hand we have Europe looking for a place to toss money since they are scared of European debt, but on the other the 2 yr notes are below 1%, so it is not likely that the price will be driven up much (thus lowering the yield). This one could go either way for mortgage rates.

Wednesday, May 26: April Durable goods expected +1.1% ex auto +0.5%. As forecast this is not a likely market mover.

Wednesday: April new Home Sales expected +2.1%. it is not likely this will be a factor, even if it is a good news number. the improvement on both new homes and existing homes are a bit tarnished since it was at the tail end of the tax credit.

Wednesday: Treasury Auction of $40 Billion in 5 year notes. Normally I would worry more about the 5 yr than the 2 year, but in this case these are yielding more than double the 2 year notes (above 2%) so this should be well bid and should be supportive of steady rates.

Thursday, May 27: GDP revised for the first quarter anticipated +3.4%. This number is priced in, if we get shocked here by a stronger number (not very likely) we may see a rally in stocks at the expense of rates.

Thursday: Initial Jobless claims anticipated at 455,000. Still well above 400k, so still a recessionary number that is supportive of steady rates.

Thursday: Treasury auctions $31 Billion in 7 year notes. This one is pretty similar to mortgages, so we need to pay attention to it. Still a bit of a crap shoot. Rates are pretty low to commit to investing all the way out to 2016. Investors may not bid this one unless the yield is higher, and that will put pressure on mortgage rates. But we still have European woes that may help the appetite for this weeks auctions, (more below.)

Friday: April Personal Income expected +0.5% Spending +0.3% and PCE index +0.1%. The important one here is the last one, the consumption index. This is where we spend as consumers and as forecast it is pretty weak and is supportive of steady rates.

Friday: market closes at 2pm for memorial day weekend. This is always a light trading day and ahead of a long weekend traders tend to be conservative.

Monday: market closed for Memorial day

This week is likely to keep a sharp eye on Europe. We will probably see continued flights to quality which is good news with the three auctions this week, but flights to quality can be fleeting. At one point investors will wake up and all say "Europe aint all that bad" and POOF, that flight to quality will run the other direction causing rates to go up. With rates so darn close to all time lows the safest bet here is to lock and not look back, in the grand scheme of things does it really matter if you get 4.75 or 4.875%? the chances are that we will quickly see mid 5's again once this market turns.

Friday can be a tricky day ahead of a long weekend, the combo of a short day, and our markets closed on Monday cause for light and conservative trading ahead of the weekend.... Keep in mind that Memorial day is an American Holiday, and foreign markets will be open Monday, which adds to the conservative trading ahead of the weekend.

Have a great week and a Happy Memorial Day Weekend!

Rob

Robert Rauf

Mortgage Banker

NMLS ID# 248937

www.RobertRaufHomeLoans.com or my blog: http://activerain.com/blogs/rrauf

(732)223-1630 x102

Since 1987 I have been helping my clients fulfill their dream of home ownership!

Real Estate Mortgage Network Inc.

NJ Mortgages, New Jersey Mortgages, Mortgages in NJ, mortgage in New Jersey, Mortgages in New Jersey

For questions, a FREE In Home Consultation or a free preliminary solar proposal, contact Daniel @ 609-203-8293 or www.yoursolarexpert.com/DanielGuest

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Email Marketing - What You Don't Know Can Destroy You

Daniel Guest (Sungevity, Inc.) — Tue, 25 May 2010 12:23:22 -0700

Do you know the difference between an acceptable marketing email and a spam email? You might think they do. But if you’re not familiar with the CAN-SPAM act, you may be surprised. If you’re an online marketer, what you don’t know CAN hurt you!

Little marketing mistakes can (and do) lead to big consequences. For example, internet marketers can be fined up to $16,000 PER EMAIL for neglecting to provide their physical mailing address on an email solicitation. When violations are identified, more than one party can be held responsible. (For example: The independent representative who sent the email AND the company whose products are being marketed.)

Below is a list of the basic rules that will keep you compliant with the CAN-SPAM act:

1. Honestly Identify Yourself – Your email ‘to,’ ‘from,’ and ‘reply-to’ fields must accurately define who you are and provide your valid email address.

2. Keep Your Subject Line Honest – If your email is an advertisement, it must be identified as one.

3. List Your Physical Address – Your business’ physical mailing address must be provided on all commercial emails. (Registered Post Office boxes and private mail boxes are also acceptable.)

4. Allow Your Recipients a Way to Opt-Out – There must be easy to find directions instructing your recipients on how they can be removed from your distribution list.

5. Honor Unsubscribe Requests – If a person requests to unsubscribe from your email marketing campaign, you have 10 days to remove their email address from your distribution list. You may not attempt to contact them again from another email address after they have opted out.

6. List Privacy – When a person chooses to unsubscribe from your email campaign, you cannot sell and/or give their email information to a third party.

The most common result of violating these policies is that your email account will be blacklisted. This means that your email recipients have selected to ‘block sender’ or ‘report as spam’ from their inboxes. If you are blacklisted from enough peoples’ inboxes, the internet service providers will begin to block your emails, and even to those who WANT to receive them won’t be able to.

A worst case scenario would be that the Federal Trade Commission (or some other federal or state agency) will intervene. If this happens, your fines can become high enough to bankrupt your business, or even lead to imprisonment.

There are easy-to-read and understand facts about the CAN-SPAM act on the Federal Trade Commission’s website:
http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/business/ecommerce/bus61.shtm

For questions, a FREE In Home Consultation or a free preliminary solar proposal, contact Daniel @ 609-203-8293 or www.yoursolarexpert.com/DanielGuest

Verengo Solar In the News:

Five Business Books That Changed My Leadership Style

Daniel Guest (Sungevity, Inc.) — Fri, 21 May 2010 14:22:01 -0700

I read a lot of business books, not just because I want to know what the competition is up to but because I’m always hungry for new insights and understanding. Sadly, many are so packed with frameworks, matrices and checklists that the moment I put them down, I’ve forgotten them. They may be great advertisements for the author’s consulting practice, but often they’re badly written and packed with errors –instead of memorable sources of inspiration or action. So when a good one comes along, it makes a deep impression. A few can even change your game. Here are my top five, each of which changed how I work in some way:

Hidden Value by Jeffrey Pfeffer and Charles O’Reilly. I think this is my all-time favorite because it’s well written, well researched and contains a message that never ages. Pfeffer’s argument is that the people you hire contain more value than most companies ever tap. And he backs it up with great stories and data. Why does SAS Institute needs half the number of quality assurance people that Microsoft requires? Because they treat their people better. In a recession, this argument matters more than ever. This book gave me the evidence I needed to run things the way I wanted to.
Mavericks at Work by the fabulous Polly Labarre and Bill Taylor. Weird and wonderful companies that succeed by challenging (though rarely really breaking) the rules. Great examples from Cirque du Soleil, IBM, Pixar and more. For me, this book proved terrific at convincing investors that looking after people isn’t a waste of money. It’s not an argument you should need to have, but when you do, the examples are clinchers.
The Wisdom of Crowds by James Surowiecki. An intellectual tour de force that illustrates why consensus is often so important and effective. This argument isn’t just powerful when it comes to diversity; it really made me think about how we get and use the information that is sitting inside our companies.
Why Smart Executives Fail by Sidney Finkelstein. A great examination of the mistakes that just keep happening over and over again. It isn’t because the executives were stupid or venal — they were often smarter than the rest of us, which means they have a lot to teach us. I’ve found this invaluable when it comes to advising the companies whose boards I sit on. They often can’t see the patterns they’re repeating — but this spells it out beautifully.
On the Psychology of Military Incompetence by Norman F. Dixon. Probably out of print and not strictly speaking a business book, but this is my riposte to those slavish admirers of Sun Tzu. War is full of horrible mistakes, and we can learn a lot from them. It’s helpful for any leaders to remember that military-style leadership is as famous for disasters as for victories. And it puts us all in our place when it comes to ego.

There are other books that affected my career — I’ll write about those another time — but I can honestly say that these books changed the way I work. Has any business book ever done that for you?

For questions, a FREE In Home Consultation or a free preliminary solar proposal, contact Daniel @ 609-203-8293 or www.yoursolarexpert.com/DanielGuest

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