Smart Money

• Following my own advice and getting my credit score from MyFICO.com #
• Finishing re-installing and transfering database information for Smart Money blog at http://smartmoney.aynbrand.com #

Popularity: 65% [?]

On the road to taking care of one New Year’s resolution - getting my financial situation in order - I am happy to report I have improved my FICO credit score in one week by finally accepting that my savings account is actually costing me money (as the interest doesn’t offset my credit card APRs), and consequently committed to putting more into my credit card payments instead of savings until at least three cards are paid off.

If you want to learn how you can improve your credit score, here are some suggestions from MyFICO (to learn about what FICO is and how it works, visit http://www.myfico.com/CreditEducation/)

When making your personal New Year’s resolutions, don’t forget to make a list for your business. Now is the perfect time to clean up any lingering tasks and get your business organized for the upcoming year.

At AYN Brand, our New Year’s business resolutions are:

1. Get Organized:

• Print out and set-up my planner with DIY’s free planner templates
• Migrate the pipeline to SugarCRM for better sales management.
• Migrate all accounts to QuickBooks Pro for better accounts management and financial tracking/reports.
• Clean up contacts database with Plaxo’s De-Duper and reactivate or remove old and/or inactive accounts.

2. Go Green: Commit to “Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle” and integrate environmentally responsible practices in all our business operations. Not only is this good for the environment, but the savings you reap from implementing green activities like rec♦ycling supplies and reducing waste is good for your company’s bottom line.

1. Best Stock to Buy and Forget: MDT - Medtronic, the Minneapolis maker of medical device, is well-positioned to grow with America’s aging population.

2. Best Domestic Stock Fund: FAIRX - Fairholme minimizes risk in bear markets and maximizes return in bullish ones.

3. Best International Stock Fund: DODFX - Dodge & Cox International has outperformed the competition in recent years with meticulous research, modest management fees, and strong stock picks.

4. Best All-Around Retirement Account: The Roth IRA is tops with decades of tax-free growth and tax-free income in retirement.

5. Best “Target Date” Retirement Funds: T. Rowe Price pursues an aggressive growth strategy that beats out competitors.

To get on the path to wealth, you must first gauge your current financial health.

Step 1: Download your free credit report at annualcreditreport.com. If you find any errors, notify the bureau and the creditor of the mistake. Make sure to keep records of your communications and all supporting documents.

For your credit score, request your FICO from Equifax - it’s worth the $7.95 cost. The FICO score range is 300 to 850 : 700 and above is good.

Popularity: 66% [?]