Monday, May 24, 2010

Weiss Ratings: 20 Giant Banks Still Vulnerable | Money and Markets: Free Investment Email Newsletter

Weiss Ratings: 20 Giant Banks Still Vulnerable Money and Markets: Free Investment Email Newsletter

I received this email from the Weiss blog this morning. I have recently featured a review of his book about how to survive the depression.

The list has a lot of disturbing names including Bank of America and Citibank. It's worth taking a look at for consideration. Use your own judgement as to how you think this information could impact you personally.

It is not the intent of this blog to promote any one particular viewpoint but to raise awareness and get people doing their own research and not just take whatever assessment that the financial institutions would want us to think.

If they are the experts then how could they have allowed and/or not foreseen the crisis we are now in?

Saturday, May 22, 2010

12 Ways to Fix Social Security - Yahoo! Finance

12 Ways to Fix Social Security - Yahoo! Finance

This article is not directly related to banking but is extremely critical to the American economy and the retirement of all individuals. The subject has been being discussed for more than twenty years but only recently making the front page news. It is one of those unpopular truths that politicians on both sides would rather avoid taking about but necessity is beginning to demand it. Be informed and pass the word.

The alarms are sounding and we need it respond by taking personal steps to prepare.

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

5 Reasons to Find a New Bank Adapting And Grow#voted

5 Reasons to Find a New Bank Adapting And Grow#voted

I was a customer of Washington Mutual before the hostile takeover by Chase Bank. When I was with WAMU I was able to call them up, discuss any situation, and discuss the options available. Their service was wonderful and service was friendly.

In comes Chase Bank. When a reporting problem was discovered on my payment I spent hours and hours and hours on the phone listening to canned music, being rerouted, writing letters, and restating my social security number. The problem never was resolved to my satisfaction.

Contrast again my local Sterling Savings Bank. Through the years they have helped with receiving deposits for rental units, assisted with loans, provided free fax services for my business transactions. When I call them they know my voice before I even say my name. This is service and if we don't get it we should be shopping around.

I keep saying it because there is no more important issue here: It's our money. Not the banks. Even when they make loans to you or your neighbor it is still with our money. They have no money except what we give them yet if they act like you are not the most important factor of their business then it's time to look around. When enough people realize and start acting on this things will change and change for the better.

Hope you take a look at the attached link and do an inventory of your own service.

5 Reasons to Find a New Bank Adapting And Grow#voted

5 Reasons to Find a New Bank Adapting And Grow#voted

I was a customer of Washington Mutual before the hostile takeover by Chase Bank. When I was with WAMU I was able to call them up, discuss any situation, and discuss the options available. Their service was wonderful and service was friendly.

In comes Chase Bank. When a reporting problem was discovered on my payment I spent hours and hours and hours on the phone listening to canned music, being rerouted, writing letters, and restating my social security number. The problem never was resolved to my satisfaction.

Contrast again my local Sterling Savings Bank. Through the years they have helped with receiving deposits for rental units, assisted with loans, provided free fax services for my business transactions. When I call them they know my voice before I even say my name. This is service and if we don't get it we should be shopping around.

I keep saying it because there is no more important issue here: It's our money. Not the banks. Even when they make loans to you or your neighbor it is still with our money. They have no money except what we give them yet if they act like you are not the most important factor of their business then it's time to look around. When enough people realize and start acting on this things will change and change for the better.

Hope you take a look at the attached link and do an inventory of your own service.

Tuesday, May 4, 2010

END THE FED by Ron Paul

I just got finished listening to this on a book on cassette.  My oh my.  What a lot to think about. The book has two primary themes: returning to the gold standard and a pitch to abolish the Federal Reserve Bank.  The author offers compelling reasons to think about this.  Having taken banking courses in the past it was very interesting to hear a viewpoint that was quite the opposite of what I had been previously taught about the fed, the reasons for it's being, it's impact on the overall economy especially the current banking crisis, and the alternatives if it were not in existance.

I think the most interesting thing is to realize is that Ron Paul is now the number two man in the Republican Party pegged for the up coming presidential election.  Would I vote for him?  I'll have to think about it but it sure will make and interesting election.

I would encourage everybody to read this book for two reasons:  1) His thoughts may inform and challenge you in what you believe about the economy and, 2) As a major political player it would be good to know what he's talking about so you would know whether you would want to support him or not.  Ron Paul is definately not the mainstream candidate.

I will note that I thought the CD was the way to go because the pace was fast.  I think reading the book might be a little bogged down at times but I did wish I could look things up and go over them a couple times.  The last three chapters were great so if you start and decide not to finish skip to the end.  Chapter 13 was especially well summarized.

Amazon link:
http://www.amazon.com/End-Fed-Ron-Paul/dp/0446549193/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1273031728&sr=1-1#noop