Archive for August, 2009

29 AugExecutive Protection 10 Secrets For Gaining Bodyguard Jobs

Job-loss protection


ive Protection 10 Secrets For Gaining Bodyguard Jobs provides inside secrets on how to find well paid executive protection bodyguard jobs.

Globally business security is a huge growth industry, and the sector of providing VIP executive protection for business executives is one of the fastest growing sectors of the security industry.

People are flocking to the executive protection industry searching for lucrative bodyguard jobs.

Professional bodyguards have never been in greater demand as businesses trade more freely overseas in joint venture business partnerships. Sadly this leaves many businesses vulnerable to attack from organised crime gangs and terrorist organisations.

Business executives and company directors are being specifically targeted for kidnap for ransom. Company freight and other valuable assets are being frequently hijacked. Marine transported freight; cargo and crew are under constant attack from modern day pirates.

This increase in attacks against businesses dictates a need for professionally trained bodyguards. Key emphasis on professionally trained.

Unfortunately the interpretation of a professionally trained bodyguard is wide open to interpretation and is often different between all the bodyguard training companies.

In my 20 plus years of close protection bodyguard industry experience the highest majority of bodyguards I’ve trained joined the close protection industry because they wanted a career change which offered them a sense of excitement but also paid well.

Hence lucrative openings for close protection jobs and the rush to join the executive protection sector providing close protection for business executives.

This is one of the sectors that many new close protection recruits leave their training programme seeking bodyguard jobs in Iraq, or bodyguard jobs in Afghanistan. In reality these close protection jobs are not for the feint hearted or fresh recruits.

Ideally you should begin by searching for a bodyguard job in the UK, or a bodyguard job in some other low to medium risk theatre so that you can learn your trade before seeking bodyguard jobs in any of the high to extremely high risk theatres of operation.

Cutting your teeth on a low risk close protection operation in the UK is often a great foundation to build your body guard jobs search campaign.

VIP Protection 10 Secrets #1

Bodyguard Job Research

Contrary to what many close protection companies may tell you when they attempt to extract your money for training body guard jobs are difficult to come by.

In-depth research into identifying recruitment agents and agencies offering bodyguard jobs in any of the security sectors is essential. The British American Security Expert is a good first port of call.

VIP Protection 10 Secrets #2

Close Protection Basic Training

Before you even begin to think about finding a bodyguard job in any of the security and close protection sectors you need to have completed your close protection basic training.

Complete your due diligence to identify that the company taking your money for training is recognised Internationally. If they are not then you will struggle to find any body guard jobs.

VIP Protection 10 Secrets #3

Close Protection Membership

It is always a huge help when seeking a bodyguard job in any of the close protection sectors to have a close protection membership in an internationally recognised bodyguard association.

Many past students found their first bodyguard job in the security industry by being a member of the LEBAI Law Enforcement & Bodyguard Association International.

VIP Protection 10 Secrets #4

Bodyguard Employment Mentoring

Well paid body guard jobs rarely present to fresh close protection recruits.

If you are serious about long term sustainable bodyguard job in the close protection sector then you need to retain the professional services of a globally recognised British American Security Expert to provide you with close protection mentoring.

VIP Protection 10 Secrets #5

Bodyguard Employment Identify Your Niche

Before you begin to search for close protection jobs, you need to identify your niche or your USP Unique Selling Point.

i.e. What particular skill set do you possess that sets you apart from every other recruit seeking well paid body guard jobs. Identify your niche & USP and better paid body guard jobs will come your way.

VIP Protection 10 Secrets #6

Bodyguard Job Advanced Training

The British American Security Expert recommends if you are looking for a bodyguard job in Iraq or Afghanistan than it’s essential to have graduated from advance close protection training that prepares you for high to extremely high risk close protection jobs.

Executive Protection 10 Secrets #7

Bodyguard Job Specialist Training

Many new recruits to the close protection industry view body guard jobs Iraq and Afghanistan as the route to instant riches.

Many enter this close protection jobs sector ill-equipped and ill-prepared. The key to obtaining close protection jobs in any high risk theatre of operation is graduation from close protection specialist training.

VIP Protection 10 Secrets #8

Bodyguard Employment Overseas Networking

Lots of recruits enter the close protection jobs market seeking bodyguard employment overseas. However it is worth noting that overseas bodyguard employment is generally found by registering with one or more of the agency recruitment companies.

VIP Protection 10 Secrets #9

Body Guard Jobs Marketing Yourself

The British American Security Expert has written extensively for the need for new bodyguard recruits to understand the need for marketing yourself.

The highest percentage of bodyguards seeking a bodyguard job in the security industry fail because they never address marketing themselves.

VIP Protection 10 Secrets #10

Body Guard Jobs Promoting Your Business

You may be a highly trained bodyguard seeking close protection jobs in the security industry but you are more than likely one of the 90% plus close protection officers working for themselves.

This means when considering any kind of bodyguard job in the security industry you have to promote your business.

Until you accept that you are first and foremost a business person and second a close protection officer you will struggle to find any close protection jobs.



Dr. Mark D. Yates The British American Security Expert provides high risk close protection, counter terrorism & SWAT training & consultancy in 42 countries. He’s one of the world’s top 5 executive protection specialists hired by government, military special forces, security agencies & corporates for his security expertise. Claim his FREE 52 security tips & visit him at => http://www.closeprotectiongz.com or e-mail him at drmarkdyates@aol.com

28 AugIndex Mutual Funds- Ensuring Stability Of A Specific Financial Market

Financial marketing


Mutual funds come in a number of different categories, which all vary according to the rates of return, risk factor involved as well as the period of time they take to mature. An index mutual fund is a category of investment that seeks to ensure stability of a specific financial market, regardless of the prevailing market condition, be they good or bad. They do so by tracking the indices of the securities in a particular investment.

To ease the tracking movement, there is a software that one can make use of. The software requires little human input and hence, there is minimal interference with the records. This means that index mutual funds therefore require no form of active management and can do well in passive management. This directly translates to lower management fees and lower taxes as well.

Index investments can be bought from many investment managers, some of which include Dow Jones Industrial Average, the Wishire 5000 and the FTSE 100. Other indexes have been personalized by some individual companies in order to be able to develop investment pricing systems. The indexes, whether personalized or captured in a software, should be guided by research which touches on dividends, earnings, book value and sales as well.

There are many methods of creating indexes and one should be aware of the different methods, incase they would want to understand the differences in the methods. One of them is the traditional indexing which is the practice of owning a collection of securities in the same ratios as the target index. The synthetic indexing is the use of a combination of equity and low risk bonds. The combination is meant to replicate the performance of a similar investment.



Peter Gitundu Creates Interesting And Thought Provoking Content on Mutual Funds. For More Information, Read More Of His Articles Here INDEX MUTUAL FUNDSIf You Enjoyed This Article, Make Sure You SUBSCRIBE TO MY RSS FEED! To Receive My Most Recent Posts & Updates.

28 AugCheap Credit Cards



Cheap credit cards come in many varieties. In addition, there are many factors a consumer needs to take into consideration when determining whether or not a credit card is truly cheap.

The first factor most people consider when looking for cheap credit cards is its APR. The APR, or annual percentage rate, determines the amount of finance charges that will be added to the account if the balance is not paid in full at the end of each billing cycle. Therefore, the lower the APR, the less finance charges the cardholder will have to pay.

When comparing low interest credit cards, it is also important for the cardholder to look at how finance charges are determined. Most credit cards use the Average Daily Balance method. Other credit cards, however, use the Two Cycles Average Daily Balance method. With this method, finance charges are determined at two different times during the billing cycle. For those that carry a balance on their credit card from month to month, the Two Cycles Average Daily Balance method is more expensive. Therefore, a low interest credit card may not actually be the least expensive card to use if it uses the Two Cycles Average Daily Balance method.

Some cheap credit cards have an annual fee in exchange for offering a lower interest rate. Depending on the interest rate, this annual fee just might be worth paying. In this case, it is necessary for the cardholder to be aware of his or her spending habits. In this way, the cardholder can determine whether or not the money saved with the low interest rate will pay for the annual fee. If the savings gained by the lowered APR will not pay for the annual fee, it is not worth paying to have membership to the card.

The grace period associated with a cheap credit card is also an important consideration. The grace period is the number of days the cardholder has after making a purchase before finance charges are assessed to the card. Twenty-day grace periods are common in the credit industry. The longer the grace period, the less money the cardholder will ultimately pay in finance charges. A cheap credit card with a low interest rate is not worth it if the finance charges begin to apply immediately after the purchase. The money saved by a low interest rate will soon be lost as finance charges build each day.

Cheap Credit Cards and Reward Programs: Some cheap credit cards even offer reward programs. Generally, low interest credit cards that also have a reward program are reserved for those that have good or excellent credit. Or, these cards have an annual fee.

Even those reward credit cards that do not necessarily have a low interest rate can be considered to be a cheap credit card. This is because the value of the rewards earned can be greater than the money spent on annual fees or finance charges. Those that pay their credit card balance in full at the end of each billing cycle, for example, may not be so concerned about the interest rate of the credit card. In this case, cheap credit cards would be those that offer discounts or special reward program that make the credit card pay for itself.

Standard Benefits of Cheap Credit Cards: In general, credit cards come with a number of perks. These benefits can include purchase protection, extended warranties, roadside assistance, and travel insurance. When sorting through cheap credit cards, consumers also need to take these benefits into consideration. Those that will never utilize these perks will probably just be concerned with finding a low interest credit card with no annual fee. For others, however, it might be a better idea to pay a little more in order to gain the added perks. Similarly, if the consumer has several cheap credit cards with the same available interest rate to choose from, it only makes sense to go with the one that offers the greatest number of added benefits or that has benefits most meaningful to the person’s lifestyle.



Will Roberts recommends you visit CreditCardAssist.com to learn more about cheap credit cards currently available in the marketplace.

27 AugShort Sale: Important Facts to Help Prevent Foreclosure

Preventing foreclosure


Short sale refers to real estate properties sold “short” of the balance due on the mortgage loan. When borrowers fall behind on payments and cannot afford to maintain future payments, some mortgage lenders will allow the property to be sold to repay the loan.



Short sale transactions are multifaceted and require approval from the lender. Short sales are managed by the bank’s loss mitigation department. Employees who work in this department are known as loss mitigators and act as a mediator between lenders and borrowers.

Loss mitigators do not have the authority to approve or disapprove short sale requests. Instead, they gather and review financial documents provided by the borrower and make recommendations to the bank based on the borrower’s ability to make good on their loan.

There is no law requiring banks to engage in short sale transactions. However, lenders who received bail-out money are encouraged to offer short sales to eliminate non-performing loans from their books. The only way to know if your lender offers short sales is to contact them to discuss policies and procedures.

When real estate enters into foreclosure the property is ineligible for short sale approval. Borrowers who are struggling to maintain mortgage payments or have become delinquent on their loan should contact their lender immediately to discuss the option of short selling.

Two types of short sale options are available. The first and most common, is referred to as a Deficiency Judgment. This is the worst case scenario and should be avoided at all costs. The way short selling works is lenders allow borrowers to sell the home at a discounted price to attract buyers. Let’s say you owe $200,000 on your mortgage note and sell the property for $185,000. This results in a deficiency of $15,000.

When borrowers are unable to pay the deficiency amount, lenders issue a deficiency judgment for the balance. The judgment remains on your credit report until it is repaid. How long would it take you to repay $15,000?

Deficiency judgments can cause serious financial fall-out that can haunt you for years to come. Having an attached judgment places debtors in the “high-risk” category and can prevent them from obtaining credit of any kind. Those who can obtain credit usually pay a higher rate of interest and lower credit limits. Higher interest rates can amount to several thousand dollars over the course of time.

The second type of short sale is referred to as Payment in Full without Pursuit of Deficiency Judgment. This means the bank accepts the sale price as payment in full toward the mortgage note. Once the home sells, the borrower turns the keys over to the new owner and walks away from the property without owing additional funds. Obviously, this is the preferred short sale strategy.

Most banks require borrowers to have a buyer lined up before granting short sale approval. A few lenders allow borrowers to list their home through a realtor and provide a grace period of two to three months to locate a buyer.

Locating a realtor to list short sale real estate can be challenging. Short sales require a considerable amount of work. Oftentimes, realtors must accept less commission or forego their commission altogether in order to close the deal. Few realtors want to work harder for less money.

One under-utilized source for locating buyers is real estate investors. Many investors are attracted to short sale real estate because properties are sold below market value and can provide a good return on their investment.

An extra bonus of short selling to investors is many purchase real estate with cash. As everyone knows, cash is king. In this case, cash can expedite the transaction and help borrowers qualify for short sale approval.

Many elements are involved with short sale homes. The best defense for borrowers is to become knowledgeable about the process. If necessary, consult with a short sale specialist or real estate attorney for advice and guidance.



Simon Volkov is a real estate investor, short sale specialist and author of “Short Sale Hardship Letter eBook Course
; a concise guide which can improve borrowers chance of obtaining short sale approval. Simon offers a unique short sale program and is currently accepting a limited number of participants. Learn more about Simon’s program by submitting information about your property via the “We Buy Houses” form available at Simon Volkov.

25 AugDomestic Abuse and Boomers: you Can Make the Break

Financial elder abuse


We’ve all seen headlines about women killed by an intimate partner or the elderly neglected by their children and are horrified by the devastating and insidious problem of domestic abuse. However, we are also relieved that it seems to happen to other people, never anyone we know. Unfortunately, this is not the case. Millions of boomers are suffering in silence, too afraid to speak up or too ashamed to break away from their current situation.

Domestic abuse is any coercive behavior that a spouse/child/caregiver uses to exploit, injure, mistreat or violate another person. The tactics an abuser uses include intimidation, threats, put downs and other verbal sabotage. It may also include physical or sexual violence and often involves financial secrecy, dependence and restrictions. Abuse cuts across all socio-economic boundaries, all ages, both genders and all religions. It is based on the principals of power and control and is perpetrated most frequently against women, but is growing amongst men. Abuse is no longer a family matter. It has grown into a crime. The Social Service community will investigate any suspected abuse against a child, the elderly or the infirmed and prosecute the offender.

While the large contingency of Americans known as baby boomers is far from elderly, they are aging. The first group of boomers just turned 60 this year. In some states, social services will investigate alleged abuse of anyone over 60. In most other states, the age is 65. The number of older victims continues to increase. Regrettably, few younger victims seek help; even fewer older victims contact domestic abuse programs or report abuse to authorities. Fear appears to be a major factor, especially the threat of harm.

To understand the mindset of an abused woman, examine this scenario. You’re a 50 year old woman, married 30 years, and in a turbulent relationship for the majority of that time. You have two options. You can stay in the marriage or you can leave. If you leave, where do you go? The idea that you should leave your home to stay somewhere else or with someone else is scary. Are you financially secure? Do you have the confidence or wherewithal to care for yourself? How can you tell the kids/relatives about the abuse, since you’ve kept it a secret all these years? For the past 30 years you were made to feel helpless, worthless, stupid, isolated and unloved. Can you be independent? If you stay, can you endure another 30 years of abuse from someone who feels entitled and who rarely takes responsibility for his inappropriate behavior?

The abuser, on the other hand, is illustrated in this parable of a newly married couple. After the ceremony, a farmer and his new bride climb into a horse-drawn buggy and begin their trip back to the farm. As they travel along, the horse suddenly stops. The farmer gets out of the buggy, goes up to the horse, and says, “That’s ONE!” Then gets back into the buggy, takes the reins and the horse moves forward. Once again, the horse suddenly stops. The farmer gets off the buggy, goes up to the horse and yells, “That’s TWO!” Then he gets on again and the horse continues moving. In the middle of nowhere, the horse stops one more time. This time, the farmer takes his shotgun and as he goes up to the poor horse, he looks him in the eye and tells him, “That’s

THREE!” and shoots him dead. By then the farmer’s wife is terrified, and she doesn’t know what to think. “What did you do that for?” she asks her new husband. Looking into her eyes, the farmer pauses and says, “That’s ONE!”

This anecdote is an example of psychological abuse. In view of the widespread intimidation of so many women, the story is not very funny, but is an excellent example of the abuser’s mindset. It shows the subtle, yet insidious behavior that sets the stage for years and years of coercion and manipulation ahead for this young woman.

What can you do? There are three steps you can take to start the process of change.

1. Acknowledge that your power and ability to feel complete, whole and free-thinking have been taken from you. The self-doubt, insecurity and shame associated with the abuse have made you into a shell of who you used to be.

2. Talk to someone. Don’t keep it a secret. Find a professional experienced in domestic abuse and a support group to learn the dynamics of abuse and how to break the cycle.

3. Realize that you can regain your sense of self, your wisdom, and your motivation and become empowered to live life enthusiastically and without fear.

Your therapist/support group will guide you to do the following:

1. Get support from family and friends.

2. Work on a safety plan to assure your well-being in the marriage or after you leave.

3. Encourage you to know your financial status. All women should have an updated will and be able to protect their resources before there is a crisis.

4. Speak to a lawyer to get legal information regarding safeguarding your assets.

5. Document all emotional abuse (in a journal), and report all physical abuse to authorities.

Anyone in an abusive relationship needs a lot of support. Baby boomers, in particular, may have more difficulty because the years of emotional abuse leave long lasting scars, and take away a woman’s confidence to make choices. Furthermore, boomers have so much invested in their marriage – a nice home, financial security, a full social life, which is hard to give up. However, at what expense?

There is no shame in seeking help, nor is their guilt for allowing this kind of behavior to be a part of your life for so many years. Changing an abusive relationship or breaking away from the abuse are both not easy. However, when you are ready, there are numerous resources available and a healthy new start ahead.

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Amy Sherman, LMHC, is a licensed mental health counselor in private practice. She is the author of “Distress-Free Aging: A Boomer’s Guide to Creating a Fulfilled and Purposeful Life.” Go to www.bummedoutboomer.com and receive 75 Strss-Relieving Activities when you sign up for her free eNewsletter. Amy can reached at amy@bummedoutboomer.com or 561-281-2975.