Hartmann’s mountain zebras are the largest of the mountain zebras. They look whiter than the Cape mountain zebras because their black stripes are narrower and more widely spaced.

There are two kinds of mountain zebra. They are the Hartman’s mountain zebra and the Cape mountain zebra. Taxonomists placed them in the subspecies group because the original mountain zebras may have changed morphologically through geographic isolation. The Hartman’s mountain zebra is an endangered wild equid living in a harsh yet fragile environment. This subspecies is differentiated from it’s close relative, the Cape mountain zebra because of it’s body size, ears and stripes. This Mountain Zebra is named after Dr. George Hartmann, 4-8-1865 to + 1945. Hartmann was a geographer, explorer, colonial politician and Major of the German land resistance. Hartmann is said to have named this zebra after his wife whose maiden name was Anna Woermann daughter of a ship-owner in Hamburg Germany.

Physical Description-Adults

Hartmann’s zebras have broad black stripes with an off-white, creamy color between them. The black stripes on the animals’ sides do not meet on the belly. The leg stripes extend horizontally, all the way down to the top of the hooves. These leg stripes can be thin and wrap around the entire leg. The stripe that covers the spine and top portion of the tail is said to be “zipper-like” in appearance. The most characteristic and interesting feature of both mountain zebra subspecies is a square flap of skin on the throat just below the head. This flap of skin, or dewlap, is larger on the males.

The average adult height at the shoulder is 120 – 130 cm or 4 – 4.3 ft. and the tail length is 50 cm or 20 in. The body length is 220 cm or 7.3 ft. The weight is 260 – 370 kg or 572 – 814 lb. There is no significant size difference between the sexes except the stallions are usually heavier.

Physical Description-Foals

Foals weigh about 25 kg or 55 pounds at birth. The foals’ white stripes are more brown in color than white. As a foal matures the stripes become white. Foals nurse for as long as 7 months. They are capable of grazing when they are 2 weeks old. Like many zebras the foal can stand on its feet within an hour after its birth and can run with the herd after a few hours. This adaptation gives zebra foals a much better chance of escaping from predators. Both male and female Hartmann’s mountain zebras sexually mature after two years.

Life Cycle

The longevity of Hartmann’s mountain zebras is between 25 to 30 years. They are not considered seasonal breeders since mares can foal any time of the year, but most foal sometime during the rainy season when the grass is at its best. Gestation, is 300 to 365 days.

Behavioral Description

Hartmann’s mountain zebras live in family groups that are made up of mares, foals and a dominant stallion. The normal size of a family group is 5 to 10 zebras. Stallions must fight for a dominant position in a family group. The winning stallion passes on his physical abilities for fighting to his foals. In this way zebras maintain the best physical shape for survival. After two years a male foal leaves his family group to form a bachelor group with other males. The males challenge stallions to get their own group or start new ones if enough mares are available from oversized family groups.

Some authorities have observed that Hartmann’s mountain zebras orient their bodies with the sun during the day. Hartmann’s mountain zebras will climb eastward facing slopes to absorb the sun’s morning warmth. As the day progresses they find shade. In Africa’s Namib desert Hartmann’s mountain zebras have been observed to sniff out water on the surface of dry river beds. They paw at the ground with their hooves to get to water that is sometimes three feet below the surface. By doing so these zebra’s benefit other desert dwelling animals. It has also been mentioned that Hartmann’s mountain zebras can go without water for four days.

Hartmann’s mountain zebras are diurnal. Most activity is during the coolest hours which is the morning and late afternoon. More than half of their day is spent eating and looking for food. They take dust baths once or twice a day.They are also excellent climbers and more sure-footed compared to zebras that live on the flat plains. Family groups are often found grazing with other animals.

Habitat Description

Parts of the Namib desert in which these animals live are covered with pink or peach colored sand dunes. The area is cris-crossed with granite river ravines that sustain a diversity of plant and animal life. Hartmann’s mountain zebras depend very much on these rivers for survival. The Naukluft region of Namib has been set aside as an African national park. Many Hartmann’s mountain zebras live in the Naukluft region. Some of the trees that grow in the ravines are Sycamore figs (Ficus sycomorus), sweet thorns and ebonies (Euclea pseudebenus). The grass grows as tall, tough mounds.

Somewhat unrelated to the Hartmann’s mountain zebra is a rare and unique plant that grows in their habitat called Welwitschia Mirabilis.

Environmental Interactions

Hartmann’s mountain zebra mix freely with groups of other grazing animals; the significance of this being that the combined sharp senses of a group of animals help detect predators. Together they form an effective early warning system against the areas predators; leopards and hyenas. Mammals that live in the same habitat are: steenbok, springbok, oryx, kudu, Dassie Rat, Chacma Baboon, rock dassie, klipspringer and ostrich. Many of these animals have adaptations that enable them to live in such a harsh habitat such as Namib and Naukluft. Herbivores like the Hartmann’s mountain zebra have special stomach fauna (animals mentioned above in “Life Cycle” as micro-organisms) to digest rough forage that other animals could not use. Also mentioned is the ability of the Hartmann’s mountain zebra to find and expose water for themselves and other desert dwelling animals.

Status in the Wild

IUCN 2000: Endangered.

CITES: Appendix II.

USFWS: Threatened.

Population Estimates:

362 Hartmann’s mountain zebra can be found within 47 zoos worldwide.
25,000 are known to exist in the wilds of Nambia.

http://wild-about-you.com/GameHartmannZebra.htm

The 4-Hour Work Week by Timothy Ferriss does what only the best books can do. It strikes a cord deep within us, confirming thoughts that we have always vaguely felt were true, and pointing us down a path that offers fresh hope for the future. Some of the outstanding points the author covers are:

1. Retirement as a goal is flawed. Doing the same thing for 8 hours a day until you breakdown or permanently stop is the wrong way to live. Ferriss says that alternating periods of activity and rest are necessary to survive, let alone thrive. He advocates distributing “mini-retirements” throughout life instead of hoarding the recovery and enjoyment for the retirement years.

2. The question one should ask oneself is not “What do I want in life?,” or “What are my goals?” but the real question should be “What would excite me?”. To focus in more, you should ask yourself, “What would I do if there were no way I could fail, or, if I were 10 times smarter than the rest of the world?”

3. Getting fired, despite coming as a surprise and leaving you scrambling for recover, is often a godsend. Someone else made the decision for you and it’s impossible for you to sit in the wrong job for the rest of your life. Most people aren’t lucky enough to get fired and die a slow spiritual death over 30-40 years of tolerating the mediocre.

The author describes several insightful ways to free up time for mini-retirements.

1. Start your own business, then turn the reins over to someone else who runs the operation for you. You become a ghost owner. As Ferriss quotes the Guardian of the Emerald City Gates in the Wizard of Oz, “Orders are nobody can see the Great Oz! Not nobody, not no how!”

2. Outsource your work to foreign and domestic virtual companies that specialize in outsourcing.

3. Negotiate with your present boss to work at home instead of working at the office. This allows you to focus your efforts on the important aspects of your job and doing them more quickly and efficiently.

While I think these are all reasonable options, this is where I part company with the author, in terms of how I approach passive income streams.

What works for me is to buy fixer-upper houses, repair them and rent them out. The work is front loaded with the initial purchase and repair of the property. After that initial push, like the 4 Hour Workweek, it requires minimal input and can allow time for mini-retirements.

For me, the advantage of real estate is that it provides both long-term and short term profits. Long-term from the average 5% increase in equity, and short-term from monthly rental payments and tax deductions. If you turn your rental properties over to a management company, you are free travel.

This is not to take anything away from The 4-Hour Workweek. On the contrary, the book is worth reading because it is eminently thought-provoking and written in a style that is wildly entertaining. (His hilarious Mad Lib fill-in-the-blank job resignation letter is a work of mad genius.) Yet, as I mentioned, the book goes way beyond this by examining deeper themes of life and work that are seldom addressed in such a enthralling manner.

Another excellent book that also takes a meaningful look at issues of work and money is “Your Money or Your Life: Transforming Your Relationship with Money and Achieving Financial Independence,” by Joe Dominguez and Vicki Robin.

Terry Sprouse is author of the book “Fix ‘em Up, Rent ‘em Out: How to Start Your Own House Fix-Up and Rental Business in Your Spare Time.”

Terry’s blogs:
http://www.fixemup.org
http://www.squidoo.com/fixerupper

When you need cash

Home refinancing is a great idea when you need to get your hands on a great deal of available cash for any of several reasons. Essentially, what you are doing is trading the equity in your house for cash in hand that you can use in any way you want. The equity may have accrued because you have been paying on a mortgage long enough to pay down the principal so there is a difference between the value of the house and the amount you owe. Refinancing obligates you to paying more money or borrowing for a longer term, but may be the best option if you need immediate cash in large amounts.

When you want to pay off some debts

Debts can be financially debilitating, whether they are secured or unsecured obligations. If you are constantly worrying about having enough income to pay the monthly obligations that you have incurred, home refinancing may be an option you would like to consider. You trade the equity of your home for cash which you use to pay off some of the smaller and higher interest debts that cause so much outgo from your earnings each pay period. Your mortgage will usually cost you less than the expensive minimum balances on the credit card or other debts.

When you want to reduce the payment of high interest fees

A home refinancing loan is often used to reduce the outgo caused by paying high interest rates on credit card debt and other smaller loans. Just like paying off other debts with the proceeds of your refinance, the reduction of credit card debt can make a huge difference in your financial picture. You will pay far less in interest payments with an equity based loan than with credit card debt and part of your interest may be tax deductible.

When you want to lower monthly loan payments

When you have paid down the principal on a mature loan and want to reduce the monthly outgo from your budget, you can do a home refinancing that will reduce the cost of the monthly payment. Because you are creating a new loan for the new equity amount, you are also changing the other terms. You can reduce the term and still pay slightly less each month if the new interest rates are lower than in the original mortgage loan. Some homeowners with mature mortgages are paying far less than rent costs would be by using the concept of refinancing the reduced principal.

When you are simplifying your life

If you have reached a stage in life where you want to relax and take more time to just enjoy life, you may also want to reduce some of the life stressors. If you use home refinancing as a tool to reduce your payment levels, it also has the advantage of removing some of your financial stress. Lower monthly payments sent to the mortgage loan company means you can afford many more enjoyable things in your life.

When you are trying to decide if home refinancing is a good option for you, checking the resources available at Home Refinancing or Home Loan Refinance is an excellent tactic. The more information you have, the more likelihood of making a good decision.

I’ve noticed that many people new to trading are a bit confused about the mechanics of setting up and funding a trading account with a broker. You needn’t be, if you can manage internet banking, then establishing and operating a trading brokerage account is a snip.

The first step is to find your broker. As a trader, you are looking for an efficient electronic platform that lets you manage your account and trading activity interactively over the internet. A few things to look for include:

• Low cost of execution for the contracts you intend to trade. Prices are either quoted as a “round trip” or “per side”. As a future trade involves two separate transactions – Buy to open, Sell to close, or vice versa – a “round trip” price covers both sides. If you see an advertisement for $5 per side, you know that a trade will cost you $10.

• Fast execution of the orders you enter. By “fast” I mean virtually instant execution of market orders. The trading platform must provide a direct electronic interface to the market. Do not entertain any two stage system where orders are submitted to brokers who then submit them to the exchange.

• Support for all common order types. At the very least, you should be able to enter market, stop and limit orders. If you don’t want to be tied to the screen for the full session, you should have orders such as “one cancels other” or “one triggers other” available, so that your strategy can be automated.

• A chart is the trader’s basic tool for analysis and good brokers supply excellent packages as part of their offering. You should be able to display market information in multiple formats and time frames. The package must support the display of common indicators and studies on the charts.

• Real time data feeds are vital to the day trader. You should be able to watch your charts updating on your screen in real time. You should also be able to see “market depth” information. (This shows the number of orders resting in the market at various bid/ask levels.) In general, there is a monthly charge for this service, which is often waived if you make a certain number of transactions.

• Access to international markets. The move to electronic markets has enabled brokers to provide direct interfaces with exchanges around the world. As well as the US Markets, you want to be able to trade European and Asian markets. This is particularly important for non-US based investors.

• 24-hour support service is essential. Most of the time you will never need to contact your broker by phone, conducting all your normal trading activities via the internet. But if something does go amiss, you want to know that there is somebody available to fix your problem immediately. In fast moving markets, time can be of the essence.

• Last, but not least, it is useful if your trading platform allows you to trade futures options as well as pure futures contracts. As your trading develops, you may want to utilize option strategies and it is frustrating if that means you have to change your broker.

During my career I have used two futures brokers – Xpresstrade and Interactive Brokers. Both provided excellent service. Xpresstrade uses a browser based trading platform which means that you do not have to download any special software onto your computer. I found it simple to use, with powerful features, and the support was first class.

Interactive Brokers (IB) is my current broker and I am delighted with their offering. Everything is automated, and there are a multitude of different facilities available on their trading platform. For example, orders can be entered through a conventional order entry screen, directly from a “book trader” screen, or by using graphic tools directly on the charts.

IB has excellent support services. However, they cater for the knowledgable trader and are not into “hand holding” support. A beginner may find their interface more confusing than some others, like Xpresstrade.

As an indication of prices you can expect, Xpresstrade charges $5 per side for common electronic contracts; IB charges $2.40. Both offer discount structures for volume traders.

As I type this I am following the Corn market at the Chicago Board of Trade. Click here to see my simple trading screen.

I have two windows open. On the right is the charting window set to follow the session using 2 minute candlestick bars, with volume shown along the bottom. It is easy to display studies, or draw trend lines on the chart.

To the left is the “book trader” window which displays market depth at various price levels, and permits one click entry of all common order types. For example, left clicking a particular price level enters a Limit order, and a right click enters a stop order. Buy/Sell buttons at the top of the screen enter immediate Market orders.

This is a great setup for day trading. Screens are easy to customize; so each trader can have their own setup, according to personal preference and the tools they like to use.

I have noticed that new non-US traders sometimes feel reluctant to open accounts with US brokerage firms. Naturally they feel more comfortable and “connected” working with a brokerage based in their own country.

But I advise you to think internationally in this business. The US futures markets are big and the industry servicing them is well established and sophisticated. Look for the “best” brokerage, not necessarily a local one. Remember that your interaction will be totally web based, so it really doesn’t matter where their office is.

Another fear I have heard expressed by new offshore traders is that their money is not secure, or may be difficult to access. All that I can say is that in over ten years trading experience I have found depositing and withdrawing funds to be simplicity itself, and absolutely reliable. US futures brokers are strictly regulated, maybe better regulated than brokers in your own country.

The best brokers provide facilities on their website which completely automates the account application process. Be prepared to spend a bit of time on this because because there are several documents to be read and completed. It can be a bit intimidating the first time you do it; there is a lot of boilerplate ensuring that you understand the nature of various risks involved. You are also asked questions about your assets and prior trading experience. It is important to read this material carefully, but avoid becoming too discouraged by all the legal language – the brokerages need to advise you of all worst case scenarios and, naturally enough, ensure that they can not be held responsible for losses incurred during normal trading activities.

Quite soon after submitting your application form you will (hopefully) be advised by email of your account acceptance and provided with details including User Id and Password. Login and change the password as soon as possible.

An offshore trader using a US brokerage has a couple of extra steps to go through. You must fax (or email scanned copies of) your passport and a utility bill to comply with stricter security regulations since 9/11. You will also be asked to fill in a W-8 form for tax purposes. If you have no other business activity in the U.S. and live in a country which has reciprocal tax agreements, completion of this form means that the brokerage does not have to withhold a percentage of profits for taxation purposes. This simplifies matters, because you only need to declare income and pay taxes in your own country.

Once you have a user account and password, you can log into your account. At this point you need to fund it. This is normally done by a standard electronic funds transfer. Offshore traders may need to wire funds, but this is a simple thing to arrange from your bank branch. (In my case, Interactive Brokers provide the facility to deposit funds using the standard Australian funds transfer system which is easily done via internet banking.When the funds arrive in your account, it is activated and you can view your balance on the screen. When you trade, the balance is updated in real time.

Normally there is a facility on the secure web site to set up details of your bank account. Having done this once, you can withdraw funds whenever you wish with just a few clicks of your mouse.

That is all there is to it. Following these few simple steps sets you up with a brokerage account providing access to markets throughout the world, with software facilities which were once the exclusive province of large investment houses.

Now you are ready to start playing the trading game!

David Bennett is an independent Futures Trader. He lives on the Gold Coast of Australia, trading financial and grains futures contracts in Chicago.

Visit http://12oclocktrades.com for more articles.

The federal government will soon be returning 27 billion dollars to 130 million US households as part of the 2007 tax stimulus package.

Right. Well, let’s put aside for the moment the fact that it was our money to begin with, and we’ll also put aside that the federal government doesn’t have 27 billion dollars to spare unless it dips further into debt to the Chinese by floating more bonds.

That aside, Bush hopes this windfall will give the economy a “shot in the arm”–he obviously anticipates that that spend-happy consumers will fritter away the funds on consumer electronics, overpriced sneakers, fried snacks, or whatever useless junk Madison Avenue can shove down our throats.

Don’t be a sucker. A tax refund like this is a blessing that doesn’t come often. If you spend it on restaurants and ipods and Nikes, you’ll be just the sucker the Bush administration is hoping you’ll be. I say: take the money and run–straight to your bank, trustee, or brokerage and put that money away for the future. My family’s $1200 is going straight into an asset-protected and tax-free 529 education plan we set up for my daughter before she was even born.

Here are 7 great things you can do with your tax stimulus refund–but be warned–these are prudent, healthy financial moves that aren’t going to enrich the US retail industry, nor make you thinner, cooler, or more beautiful–only smarter and wiser.

1. Invest in a 529 Education plan. Quick definition: a 529 education plan is form of trust where you contribute money for the education of pretty much anyone (most folks set them up for children). Here’s the kicker: the funds grow tax-free as long as they are ultimately withdrawn for “educational purposes”. Another benefit: the funds belong to the trust, not to you anymore. Get sued? No problem, the 529 funds are protected. Declare bankruptcy? No problem, the 529 funds belong to the beneficiary, not to you. A $1200 investment, might grown to 20,000 dollars over 20 years.

2. Open (or fund) your IRA. IRA’s are the steroids of the personal finance world. No single device offers so many benefits. Here are a few: IRAs are good for retirement (obvioulsy); IRAs reduce your taxes; IRAs enjoy a fair degree of asset protection in most states, and are completely protected from lawsuits in some states.

3. Open a Roth. Roth IRAs are strange creatures. The contributions do not reduce your taxes, but the money in a Roth grows tax-free. Roths do enjoy asset protection in some states.

4. Pay off your credit cards. Credit cards are the cancer of personal finance. They impose the highest interest rates, typically for the most casual and useless of purchases, and the interest accrued and paid on credit cards offers no tax benefit.

5. Improve your home. Okay, so for this one you’ll have to pony up some dough at Home Depot or Lowes, but you’ll get a benefit: you’ll increase the value of your home.

6. Pay down your mortgage. Remember, you are always free to make a payment to the principal portion of your mortgage. You’ll reduce your monthly payment, and pay off your home faster.

7. Get your car serviced, and bank the rest. You probably have ignored this one. Why not change the oil, replace the air filter, and get your other service done. Your car will run better, save you money on gas, and last longer.

The preceding is a Learn About Law staff article. From http://www.LearnAboutLaw.com/, a collection of valuable legal resources: articles, how-to guides research tools, forums, Q&As, and self-help books.

Budgets can be tricky. They seem so simple. All you have to do is subtract your spending from your income and have money left over. Then you set spending goals and stick with them. Easy? Not for most people.

The majority of budgets fail for the same reasons. With a few tips, you can start your budget off on the right foot.

Tip #1: Look to your spending

The vast majority of consumers cannot simply use a preset budget and succeed. We all have different necessities and wants. While gasoline may be a large expense for my family due to commute times, it may not be a consideration for someone who takes the subway to work. One family eats differently than another.

The key is to look at what you are currently spending and find ways to change it. Look to cutting back as much as possible where you can. Don’t just go by the “20% of your income” rule. The key is to keep cutting until you can’t anymore. If you are financially sound, you just need to maintain where you are.

Tip #2: Be accurate

When you are listing your income and expenses, it is essential that you are accurate. Don’t round up or down. In fact, I suggest that you go right down to the penny.

When it comes to your spending, you should track it carefully for at least two months in order to see where you are spending your money. If you leave out the fact that you get a latte every morning on the way to work, you will not have an accurate picture of where your money is going. That is why you can follow your budget, yet not have any money left over at the end of the month.

Tip #3: Think outside of the month

There are a few real budget busters that can wreck your budget. Think about the yearly expenses you have that pop up here and there. You need to include a savings to handle your auto maintenance, homeowner’s insurance, property taxes, service contracts and other yearly expenses. If you put back a little each month, your budget won’t be blown out of the water when they are due. You just pay it and keep going.

Tip #4: Keep reviewing constantly

If you simply make a budget and then file it away, you have wasted your time. Your budget is the one financial tool that you must review frequently. Keep you eye on it. If you need to revise categories, add or subtract columns and trim costs, do it. A budget isn’t set in stone. It is ever fluctuating, just like your finances. By keeping a close eye on it, you are able to make sure that it continues to work.

Budgeting is the best way to become debt free and financially stable. There are so many advantages. But it does take a little work. Start with giving it three months. Work really hard at it for three months, and you will begin to see changes in your financial situation. Keep it up. Sometimes you will drop the ball, but a budget makes it easy to get right back on track.

Martin Lukac represents RateTake Mortgage marketplace. RateTake matches consumers with multiple lenders offering low Refinance rates from our network of accredited lenders.

Morocco has recently seen a surge in foreign investment when it comes to the real estate market. Not only is the Moroccan real estate market offering the investors with prices half the amount when compared to the cities in Europe, certain policies like tax free rentals etc are making Morocco a hot spot amongst investors.

The recent consensus has shown that the real estate market in Morocco is slowly but steadily expanding, while many schemes offered by the government are boosting the market further. This is correct time for all the investors interested in morocco real estate to invest in the properties. As the tourism industry grows in morocco, what with the open skies policy and Plan Azure Vision 2010, the prices and rates of the properties in morocco are bound to increase by manifold. Timely investment will ensure that investors reap huge benefits and profits from their investments in the Moroccan properties. The real estate market will grow over 15% per annum, while the earnings and yields are bound to touch the double figures in percentage.

While the properties are still ample and prices within reach, investing now will definitely be the smartest thing to do. Experts predict that the prices in the real estate of morocco will see a continuous rise for the next four to five years, before slowing down in growth. At present it is estimated that a two or three bedroom apartment would cost you around 150,000 €, while a three bedroom villa can be bagged for 245,000 € approximately. Meanwhile, for those seeking for buying apartments, a square meter of area can be had for as low as €800. Last one year has seen the prices rise by almost 75%.

Even though the world is facing a big slump in economy and real estate markets especially, morocco is not affected by it at all. While the economy still faces a steady rise, the real estate markets are also becoming stronger by the day. Further, for investors, the new schemes promoted and more liberalized tax systems have ensured the rising interest of foreign investors in morocco.

Rental income in morocco has been exempted from all taxes for 5 years, while the investor does not require paying for the capital gains by selling a property after 10 years of its buy. Besides, properties sold within 6 to 10 years of their purchase will have to pay for 10% profits, while properties sold within 5 years of purchase will be required to pay either 20% profits or 3% of the total sales price. Some of the best cities enjoying the attention from the real estate investors happen to be Casblanca, Rabat, Fes, Marrakech and Tangier. Besides, acquiring loans in morocco is extremely easy. The interest rates vary from 5.5% to 6.5%, while about 70% of the property cost can be had as a loan.

As the tourism industry expands, the real estate market becomes more promising by each passing day. Invest now for an assured investment! When are you investing?

Darryl Steinfeldt is author of this article on Morocco property.

Find more information about Mroperty in Morocco here

An offshore bank account is an account at a bank located outside the United States or other country of residence of the banking client. These bank accounts are known for having low tax liabilities, thus making them also commonly known as tax havens. Offshore bank accounts also tend to provide financial and legal benefits. These benefits may include:

• less controlling legal regulation
• little to no taxation
• greater secrecy
• easy access to funds
• protection against local financial or political instability

Popular Offshore Banking Destinations

The most infamous and popular offshore banking centers in the global market are the Cayman Islands and Switzerland. Other well-known established destinations for offshore banking include the following (in alphabetical order):

• Bahamas
• Barbados
• Belize
• Bermuda
• British Virgin Islands
• Cyprus
• Dominica
• Gibraltar
• Ghana
• Hong Kong
• Labuan, Malaysia
• Liechtenstein
• Luxembourg
• Malta
• Macau
• Mauritius
• Monaco
• Montserrat
• Nauru
• Panama
• Seychelles
• Turks and Caicos Islands

Bad Reputation

Because of the seemingly lax regulation of monies deposited in offshore bank accounts, offshore banking has gotten something of a bad rap over the last few years. These types of bank accounts have often been associated with tax evasion, money laundering and organized crime. Offshore banking has been erroneously linked to shady business practices and underground economy. Legally, however, this type of banking does not deem personal funds safe from being subject to income tax on earned interest. U.S. taxpayers are required to report (on penalty of perjury), any offshore bank accounts which may be in their possession. Offshore banking institutions are not obligated to declare any income to foreign tax authorities (A.K.A. the IRS) because they are protected by bank secrecy. This lack of regulation toward reporting suspected tax evaders does not make not reporting the income (or evading income tax associated with it) legal.

On the Other Hand

Proponents of offshore banking have condemned any efforts towards supervision and control. They claim the process is driven, not by safety and financial issues, but by the aspiration of local banks and the IRS to control the funds stored in offshore bank accounts. They refer to the alleged fact that offshore banking offers a competitive threat to the established banking and taxation systems in countries such as the U.S.

Tightening Regulations

Even for those hoping to find easy tax havens and money laundering shelters in offshore accounts will find that the old rules no longer apply. The regulation of offshore banking is improving in many ways. The regulation of these elusive banking institutions is increasingly monitored by supranational nongovernmental organizations such as the International Monetary Fund. Offshore banks are required to report at least quarterly on many different aspects of their business. The increased focus on anti-money laundering initiatives in several different countries signifies that bank employees at all levels are encouraged to report suspicion of money laundering to the local authorities despite bank secrecy. Additionally, there is increased cooperation between police authorities across international borders.

In Conclusion

Though offshore banking has traditionally been notorious for money laundering, tax evasion and for being a tool for organized crime, increased regulation is making those stigmas a thing of the past. There are many advantages of offshore banking, most of which are legal and perfectly honorable. The desire of local banks to control all funds originated in the U.S. and “get a piece of the pie” does not immediately translate to dishonest money laundering schemes.

Financial Services Company offering offshore investments, can show you how an offshore savings account can benefit you. With offices in Bermuda, the Bahamas, Grand Cayman and London.

The stock market is crashing. Government bailouts are rampant. The political climate is uncertain. Credit has all but disappeared for ready buyers if you can even find one. Yet, your dreams of retirement remain. What can you do? There is an answer that you may have overlooked. By understanding the power of an ESOP you could be well on your way to your retirement in the next 90 days.

An ESOP (Employee Stock Ownership Plan) is a tax-advantaged vehicle that enables you to sell your business to your employees. This program was established by Congress in 1974 and today there are about 12,000 ESOP owned companies. Many business owners have either never heard of an ESOP or have a misunderstanding of how it works. Here are some common misconceptions along with solutions to your dilemma.

My employees can’t afford to buy my company and they are not “ownership material.” In reality, an ESOP doesn’t cost your employees anything. The ESOP is created which buys your stock. Your employees are beneficiaries of the ESOP. The ESOP distributes stock to your employees’ ESOP accounts each year based on their percentage of the overall payroll. The employees continue to perform their regular duties and answer to management as they currently do. They do not have general voting power or control of how the company is managed. An employee’s ESOP account is like a free retirement account that they earn by loyal service to the company. When they retire or leave after becoming vested they take the value of their account with them. Many companies with “blue-collar” employees are ESOP-owned.

I want to retire in the next few years. Who is going to run the company? The beauty of an ESOP is that you can “have your cake and eat it too”. An ESOP allows you to create a definite exit strategy while letting you remain in the control of the company for as long as you like. As Trustee of the ESOT you continue to run the company as you do right now and you continue to draw a salary. You are still the boss even though you don’t own the company. Your goal will be to work yourself out of a job so you can begin your retirement. That is accomplished by either grooming one of your senior employees to take your place or by hiring a qualified replacement as a manager. That can happen within months if you’re anxious to leave or you can stage the transition over several years. The bottom line is that it is always your choice.

Who is the buyer? That’s the great thing about selling to an ESOP. You don’t need a buyer. The ESOP is the entity that is created to buy your stock. You can create your exit strategy today by enlisting the help of Dynasty Capital Advisors. They specialize in setting up an ESOP and they take care of all the details.

Where does the money come from? Now we’re getting down to the real purpose of this article. Typically, specialized ESOP lenders would fund the entire transaction and you would get a big check at closing. One downside was that a portion of that check was pledged back to the lender to help secure the loan. One of the main benefits of an ESOP is that you can take that cash and reinvest it in stocks and bonds and defer the capital gains tax on your sale indefinitely. But, who wants to put their money in the stock market these days? And, since credit has tightened so much in the last year, it’s very difficult to find lenders who will fund 100% of the transaction. Financing is still available for a portion of the transaction depending on the collateral position of the company, but in most cases it’s more attractive for you to be the banker yourself and avoid all the red tape that goes along with dealing with banks these days. This structure allows you to collect the interest income rather than paying it to the banks.

Why should I finance the sale of my own company? Typically, if you were dealing with a third party buyer, it would not make much sense at all. It would be like loaning several million dollars to someone you don’t know and also giving up control of your company. But, with an ESOP, you still control the company, and by remaining in control you can assure that you get paid in a timely manner. You can structure the loan terms however you want, and if the company should have a bad month you have the ability as the lender to delay or defer a payment rather than risk a default on a bank loan. The biggest question to ask yourself is “What would I be doing with the money if I got cash?” If you are truly selling to retire you are likely going to put it somewhere safe to generate retirement income. You could put it in the bank and maybe get 5% interest, but banks aren’t doing so well these days as we have seen in the news, and the FDIC only insures accounts up to $100,000. By leaving your money invested in the company that you have spent a lifetime building, you know that as long as you are in control it is secured by something of value. And, by properly structuring your finance package to include trustee compensation, stock options, and other perks, your rate of return can exceed 30% rather than 5% at the bank.

How long does it take to set all this up? As the banker, you would avoid a great deal of time and expense by not dealing with an outside bank. Dynasty Capital Advisors will analyze your company, prepare a Feasibility Study for the ESOP, prepare all plan documents, coordinate outside professionals such as an independent valuation expert and the Trust attorney, and close the sale to the ESOP in less than 90 days.

Will I get my price? A sale to an ESOP is always at fair market value as established by an independent valuation. This means that you will receive the highest price possible that can be supported by factual data. You don’t have to deal with buyers who will try to beat you down on your price. Dynasty Capital will provide you with a valuation that will come within 5% of the final price for your review at no cost.

How can I find out if this is right for me? Dynasty Capital Advisors will prepare a Pre-Feasibility Study at no cost for you to determine whether an ESOP is right for your company. You will receive a free stock valuation to help you decide if the money is right. You will also receive an Investment Analysis that will show the benefits of financing the transaction. There is no obligation for you to explore the benefits of an ESOP transaction.

Selling your business doesn’t have to be an uncertainty that is dictated by a weak economy or the woes of Wall Street. By using an ESOP as your exit strategy, you can control everything from the buyer to the banker by eliminating both of them. And, you protect your employees at the same time while leaving your company in the hands of the people that have helped build it. This is a process that leaves you in complete control of every decision. Now you can design your retirement on your own terms without having to haggle over the price or play the games so typical in a business sale. Call Dynasty Capital Advisors today and find out how quickly you could be experiencing retirement freedom. For more information about how an ESOP could be the solution to your exit strategy, call Myron Goodrum, Vice President of Dynasty Capital Advisors at 603-785-4331 or email at mgoodrum@dynastycapital.com.

Town homes are growing in popularity, they are similar to an apartment, except you buy them, not rent. You still have all the same decisions and paperwork in buying townhouses versus a regular single family home. Some town homes are detached and others are bundled together like apartment housing. One advantage of a town home is their maintenance, lawn, and snow removal, those types of chores are usually covered by your association fees.

As with apartment living there are some bylaws or rules of things you can’t do, or have. However if you like apartment living, but don’t want to just throw your money away every month on rent, then buying a town home might be just the thing for you. You will also have close neighbors, like in an apartment, so if you like to have other people close by then you should love living in a town home. Town homes are located in most major cities so you will be conveniently located to all the downtown city hustle and bustle. You can catch a taxi if you don’t want to drive or walk to dinner or your favorite shops.

Most town homes come with a basement and garage, so no more Laundromat or coin operated machines to share. You can have your own set in your own home. And with a garage you don’t have to scrape snow, and ice off your car in the morning. Some town home communities have amentities, like a club house, pool, and work out rooms. Town homes are very popular with first time home buyers, especially, people with very busy schedules that don’t have a lot of time for yard work, home maintenance and snow removal. It is also a good choice for retirees, who have spent many years working and taking care of a home. No matter what your situation you will enjoy owning a town home. The pride of ownership, and the freedom that comes with it, will last a lifetime.

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