Sandiego Apa

"When, in some obscure country town, the farmers come together to a special town meeting, to express their opinion on some subject which is vexing the land, that, I think, is the true Congress, and the most respectable one that is ever assembled in the United States."-- Henry David Thoreau, "Slavery in Massachusetts," 1906 Houghton Mifflin edition printingWhat is it that turns a man or a woman in to an Anarchist? When I ask this question, there are many others that I might as well ask. What is it that makes a person a Communist, a Socialist, a Liberal, a Leftist, a Syndicalist, a Freethinker, a Non-Conformist -- all words in to one, what is it that makes a man a Progressive? I know the...

The difference between rates and wages is not always clear to newly self-employed people and their wage-earning clients.Both look similar on the surface; both are expressed in dollars and cents per hour. But they each represent something very different.Wages are the payment a worker receives for his labor.Rates are the payment a business receives for performing a serivce to a client. In addition to the labor used in performing that service, rates must cover the business's overhead.Because of that, rates have to be higher than hourly wages earned by employees for comparable work.Most newly self-employed workers are former employees. They are accustomed to receiving pay based on wages...

Ballerina Music Boxes, inlaid music boxes, musical jewelry boxes, cylinder music boxes, and antique music boxes are delicate and beautiful. As most music box and antique collectors know, in order to preserve them, sometimes repair and restoration is needed. For this special work, it is important to choose a company that is reputable and an expert in this area. This is the second part of an interview with music box and mechaical insturment repair and restoration expert, Mr. Jim WeirJim does all kinds of antique musical box repairs and restoration. His work includes comb repairs, releading and tuning, dampering, cylinder repairing, and organ bridge work. Jim also offers all manner of musical box work...

Part of learning to become financially free is to begin to understand that there are three different types of income. They are: capital gains, passive income, and earned income. They are the three types of ways to make money, and are very easy to understand.Capital Gains - When you buy a stock, and sell it for a higher price, you have made a capital gain. If you buy a house and then later sell it for a profit, you have made a capital gain. If you buy an antique at a low price and then sell it for a nice profit, you have made a capital gain. Capital gains are not passive income. They are a one-time payment that you receive from an investment because your investment has increased in value. Investing...

Introduction: This article is written as a general discussion on the subject of "Due Diligence". It is for informational purposes and not intended to be a definitive guideline for your exact situation. You should consult the appropriate professionals with regard to your specific transaction or situation. Further, this article is in no way advocating, suggesting or implying that anyone engages in any type fraudulent activities whatsoever. These are simply the things a buyer should be aware of when doing due diligence in buyer a business.Due Diligence Defined: The phrase is composed of two words. "Due" which the dictionary defines as "Proper or Adequate" and Diligence, which is defined as "Degree...

There are several distinct advantages to outsourcing your bookkeeping functions. First and foremost is saving money. Having said that don't step over dollars to pick up dimes. You get what you pay for and if you don't pay for quality than you won't have quality service. However, you can save money by outsourcing because you won't be paying for employer payroll tax expense (FICA, FUTA and SUTA) workman's compensation and general liability insurances, vacation time, sick time, health insurance and other benefits a good full time bookkeeper will expect from his/her employer. Just remember, however, that these costs will be built into the consultant's hourly rate and their fee will reflect these...

Part of learning to become financially free is to begin to understand that there are three different types of income. They are: capital gains, passive income, and earned income. They are the three types of ways to make money, and are very easy to understand.Capital Gains - When you buy a stock, and sell it for a higher price, you have made a capital gain. If you buy a house and then later sell it for a profit, you have made a capital gain. If you buy an antique at a low price and then sell it for a nice profit, you have made a capital gain. Capital gains are not passive income. They are a one-time payment that you receive from an investment because your investment has increased in value. Investing...

What does FICA stand for?FICA stands for the Federal Insurance Contributions Act. The history of the act reverts back to the year 1935, when the government implemented the social security program. A provision to include social security taxes was included in this act. However, due to concerns over the constitutionality of the 1935 act, there were amendments made and the provision for collecting social security taxes was moved to the Internal Revenue Code in 1939. At this time it was renamed the Federal Insurance Contributions Act.What is FICA exactly?The Federal Insurance Contributions Act authorizes the IRS to collect taxes for the benefit of the social security program. Intuitively, we might...

The difference between rates and wages is not always clear to newly self-employed people and their wage-earning clients.Both look similar on the surface; both are expressed in dollars and cents per hour. But they each represent something very different.Wages are the payment a worker receives for his labor.Rates are the payment a business receives for performing a serivce to a client. In addition to the labor used in performing that service, rates must cover the business's overhead.Because of that, rates have to be higher than hourly wages earned by employees for comparable work.Most newly self-employed workers are former employees. They are accustomed to receiving pay based on wages...

Most small business owners seek advisors who can help them improve their businesses. They want advice from those who have the experience and really know what they're talking about. But they can only benefit from the sound counsel if they listen to the expert's guidance. Unfortunately, there are some entrepreneurs who aren't going to hear the professionals out or follow a plan no matter what. At that point, experts realize that they might as well save their breath and hope that the business owner will eventually see the error of their ways before it's too late.When it comes to offering his advice, franchisee Sam Badgley is very up front with his Fiducial clients in Williamstown, WV. He tells...

Ballerina Music Boxes, inlaid music boxes, musical jewelry boxes, cylinder music boxes, and antique music boxes are delicate and beautiful. As most music box and antique collectors know, in order to preserve them, sometimes repair and restoration is needed. For this special work, it is important to choose a company that is reputable and an expert in this area. This is the second part of an interview with music box and mechaical insturment repair and restoration expert, Mr. Jim WeirJim does all kinds of antique musical box repairs and restoration. His work includes comb repairs, releading and tuning, dampering, cylinder repairing, and organ bridge work. Jim also offers all manner of musical box work...

Miami is considered the largest urbanized city in the state of Florida. With the metropolitan area surrounded by the Miami River, Biscayne Bay, the Everglades, and the Atlantic Ocean, Miami a great place for residential homes and recreation areas.Types of Miami Real EstateWith the ever increasing demand for Miami real estate, properties both existing and new are readily available. You can choose from affordable homes to luxurious mansions, condos, lofts, apartment buildings and even pre-construction buildings. Whether it be for residence or commercial properties such as hotels, restaurants, offices or other income properties, you can find something that will suit your taste. Properties range from...

In the big world of investing, it seems we hear a lot about what securities to invest in, but not as much about what types of accounts to invest in. There are so many different types of investment accounts, each covering a different purpose, and new types of accounts seem to be created weekly. What are some of the basic types of investment accounts and what can they do for you? This article covers some of the accounts that are available currently and why you would use each one.Retirement AccountsIRA stands for Individual Retirement Account. An IRA is meant for those who do not have access to employer sponsored retirement plans such as 401(k) plans or those who would like to contribute more than the...

Remember the saying from one of Clint Eastwood's Dirty Harry movies---"A man has got to know his limitations". This applies equally well to the art of economic forecasting. The art (not science) of economics is useful in forecasting what the predominant risks are facing our national economy and the resulting consequences. With this in mind, let's examine our national economy and see why liquidity, both on a professional and personal level, will be king for the next decade at least.Do you have a metal chain in your house? Take a look at it. You will notice all the links are of equal size. The U.S. economy can, in a way, be represented by the links in a chain. But, the difference is that the...

It was never intended that man should be poor. When wealth is obtained under the proper conditions it broadens the life. Everything has its value. Everything has a good use and a bad use. The forces of mind like wealth can be directed either for good or evil. A little rest will re-create forces. Too much rest degenerates into laziness, and brainless, dreamy longings.If you acquire wealth unjustly from others, you are misusing your forces; but if your wealth comes through the right sources you will be blessed. Through wealth we can do things to uplift ourselves and humanity.Wealth is many persons' goal. It therefore stimulates their endeavor. They long for it in order to dress and live in...

Taxes of any type and form always burden you. Your income, off and on, is half eaten by the taxes you pay. These taxes can be federal taxes, state taxes, local income taxes, payroll taxes, which include Social Security and Medicare, sales tax, excise taxes and property taxes. However, if you are intelligent enough, you can apply tax-planning tricks that would eventually enhance your income. Given below are the effective steps for reducing your tax burden:1. Understand your tax situation - By understanding how much tax you will pay, or what part of your income is taxable, you would smoothen your tax burden. In addition, you should keep a fair account of your daily and miscellaneous spending on...

In the previous article, we described the various methods developed in the West to cope with the ever-burgeoning public sector.Yet, economies in transition everywhere in the world have learned a lesson the hard way: not everything that is Western - necessarily fits their needs. Many Western techniques, methods, systems and ways of thinking cannot be applied in Macedonia, for instance.The public sector is a great burden on economies everywhere.It is mostly financed by collecting taxes from individuals and businesses.Taxes are re-allocation of economic resources. Taxes are nothing but money transfers from one group of citizens (the taxpayers) to other groups: to those who cannot pay taxes (such as...

Anyone living on this planet knows that the Japanese system -- if not broken -- is in serious need of repair. The nenkojoretsu system (the literal translation is "years-merit-order") channels millions of workers in an orderly, predictable way through the corporate system.Examples of the nenkojoretsu system:- Longevity determines a worker's rank in the organization.- Competence is equated with age.- Experience counts more than expertise.- Each spring, and with no explanation, workers receive slips of paper advising them of nearly identical raises.- During the first 15 years with their respective company, workers receive promotions regardless of their ability.- The best indication of high performance...

Books like many items, simply rot away on our shelves and become clutter if we don't use them. Left unused for long periods of time, well, you know what happens to many of them. They collect a ridiculous amount of dust, turn yellow, and start to fall apart! Unused books create stagnant or stuck energy in your home. And they start to smell bad, too!Is this the life you intended for the book when you bought it? Wouldn't it be great to share what you got out of the book with others? Why are you hanging on to them when they could be having a useful life and continue to be of value to people?Okay, so if I can't appeal to your philanthropic nature, let me try the money angle. : ) If you donate your...

Taxes are a drag for every US citizen who is forced to give away part of their earnings on a yearly basis. While most Americans simply complain over taxes, others are taking a more proactive approach: retirement abroad.For folks who have spent a lifetime trying to build an estate and set aside hard earned assets, paying taxes on said assets becomes a huge burden. Not so much because they cannot afford it, they just do not feel as though they should be required to pay.Many people, not just retirees, feel that their quality of life is not up to par. In fact, 25% of the college educated say that they have thought about leaving the country to pursue more suitable locations. Whether it is a cultural or a...

"At the death of our founder," says W. J. Grundy, the former chairman of Jomac, Inc., a Pennsylvania manufacturer of protective gloves, "we spent over $3 million to redeem stock so estate taxes could be paid and control of the company could be maintained. This was $3 million not available for operations and the division in trouble was sold -- reducing our employment by about 30 employees and our sales by about $5 million."(Boston Globe, June 15, 2000) The Center for the Study of Taxation found that three out of four families faced with liquidating all or part of their business to pay the estate tax would have to cut their payroll in the process. Studies by the Institute for Policy Innovation (IPI...

There are several distinct advantages to outsourcing your bookkeeping functions. First and foremost is saving money. Having said that don't step over dollars to pick up dimes. You get what you pay for and if you don't pay for quality than you won't have quality service. However, you can save money by outsourcing because you won't be paying for employer payroll tax expense (FICA, FUTA and SUTA) workman's compensation and general liability insurances, vacation time, sick time, health insurance and other benefits a good full time bookkeeper will expect from his/her employer. Just remember, however, that these costs will be built into the consultant's hourly rate and their fee will reflect these...

Work smarter, not harderWhat is one of the best ways to work smarter without working harder? The answer is outsourcing. Whether you need occasional or ongoing assistance, outsourcing can save you money and time. Graphic designers, copywriters, bookkeepers, website programmers, office assistants, and other types of professionals are all readily available.And, there's a new way of hiring people - the World Wide Web connects independent professionals and small businesses that don't need or want full-time help. Try typing "Virtual Assistant" into a search engine. You will find a vast array of online resources. According to the International Virtual Assistants Association,"A Virtual Assistant (VA) is an...

The difference between rates and wages is not always clear to newly self-employed people and their wage-earning clients.Both look similar on the surface; both are expressed in dollars and cents per hour. But they each represent something very different.Wages are the payment a worker receives for his labor.Rates are the payment a business receives for performing a serivce to a client. In addition to the labor used in performing that service, rates must cover the business's overhead.Because of that, rates have to be higher than hourly wages earned by employees for comparable work.Most newly self-employed workers are former employees. They are accustomed to receiving pay based on wages...

The difference between rates and wages is not always clear to newly self-employed people and their wage-earning clients.Both look similar on the surface; both are expressed in dollars and cents per hour. But they each represent something very different.Wages are the payment a worker receives for his labor.Rates are the payment a business receives for performing a serivce to a client. In addition to the labor used in performing that service, rates must cover the business's overhead.Because of that, rates have to be higher than hourly wages earned by employees for comparable work.Most newly self-employed workers are former employees. They are accustomed to receiving pay based on wages...

To be justified, taxes should satisfy a few conditions:Above all, they should encourage economic activity by providing incentives to save and to invest. Savings - transformed into investments- enhance productivity and growth of the economy as a whole.A tax should be simple - to administer and to comply with. It should be "fair" (progressive, in professional lingo) - although no one seems to agree on what this means.At best, it should replace other taxes, whose compliance with the above conditions is less rigorous. In this case it will, usually, lead to budget cuts and reduce the overall tax burden.The most well known tax is the income tax. However, it fails to satisfy even one of the conditions...

The difference between rates and wages is not always clear to newly self-employed people and their wage-earning clients.Both look similar on the surface; both are expressed in dollars and cents per hour. But they each represent something very different.Wages are the payment a worker receives for his labor.Rates are the payment a business receives for performing a serivce to a client. In addition to the labor used in performing that service, rates must cover the business's overhead.Because of that, rates have to be higher than hourly wages earned by employees for comparable work.Most newly self-employed workers are former employees. They are accustomed to receiving pay based on wages...

Government budgets represent between 25% and 50% of he Gross Domestic Product (GDP), depending on the country. The members of the European Union (Germany, France) and the Scandinavian countries represent the apex of this encroachment upon the national resources. Other countries (Great Britain, to name one) fare better. But even the more developed countries in South East Asia do not clear the 25% hurdle.The government budget, therefore, is the single most important economic decision, the most crucial economic event every (fiscal) year.The government finances its budget mainly by taxing individuals and corporations. Ultimately, households pay the bill. Even corporations are owned by individuals and...

Here are seven ways for owners of small businesses to save money on their taxes.1. Incorporate Yourself: If you`re still a proprietor or partner of a business, it`s time to incorporate yourself. Not only will you limit your liability, but you may enjoy lower tax rates on small business income and other tax advantages as well.2. Be Home Based: If possible, continue (or switch to) being a home based business. Not only will you keep your overhead down, but you will be able to write-off (or deduct) the business use of your home.3. Income Split: Pay reasonable wages to your spouse and children. In this way, you can legally divert income taxed at your higher rate to your family...

Today it begins.I have always known I was a freelancer. The phrase my family uses to describe me is "not a nine-to-five-er." That said, nine-to-five does carry some not-so-romantic but comforting benefits. Health insurance. Travel reimbursement. Gas mileage. A regular paycheck.But alas, I'm the daughter and granddaughter of entrepreneurs, and I'm also of the "ownership society."I love to write. No such thing as retirement--writing is who I am. But with that ideal and that passion comes every writer's downfall. Running a business. Getting paid.We right-brained people with our horrendous filing cabinets and hard drives/Zip drives full of e-mails have to spend time organizing, like any...

There are several distinct advantages to outsourcing your bookkeeping functions. First and foremost is saving money. Having said that don't step over dollars to pick up dimes. You get what you pay for and if you don't pay for quality than you won't have quality service. However, you can save money by outsourcing because you won't be paying for employer payroll tax expense (FICA, FUTA and SUTA) workman's compensation and general liability insurances, vacation time, sick time, health insurance and other benefits a good full time bookkeeper will expect from his/her employer. Just remember, however, that these costs will be built into the consultant's hourly rate and their fee will reflect these...

The United States has never done a full study on the economic losses caused by the toll ways, which impede our daily lives and the flow of our transportation. Transportation is vital to the health of a nation, its GDP and the flow of commerce and trade. Each time we put up a barrier or tax something we slow down our civilization and that has a ripple effect which extends past the regions where those toll ways are. Toll Ways are a tax on civilization and make no sense because they slow economic progress and therefore cause a decrease in economic output and the over all tax base of payroll and sales tax. In the end we all lose. But how much did we lose and how much are we losing each day?All toll ways...