“The Life Coaching professionals at the Life Coach Clinic helped me beyond measure,” says Dr. J. Jordan, a senior management consultant,” to achieve those overdue changes in my life and provided the foundations for successful new directions and personal fulfillment.”It’s for sure life isn’t static, and the one thing we can count on is change, but there’s so much talk these days about difficulty adjusting to the amount and rate of change these days, have you considered it as an exciting, fulfilling and proactive choice?I just got off the phone with a client in another country who has been asked to do a keynote address to an organizational group. It’s a professional conference for this group, but in the coming weeks, many of them are going to be transferred or given packages, as they downsize, a story that’s being played out in many companies around the world right now. She’s been asked to say something inspirational about change to these individuals who are about to have change forced upon them. Life Coach Victoria Butterell (http://www.LifeCoachClinic.com ) would have lots to say to a group like this. She knows all about the positive aspects of change. Not long ago she suffered a near-fatal car crash and was forced to retrain from her former position. “It changed my life,” she says, “and it changed it for the better. My car crash was a major wake-up call. I had ignored previous, smaller signs that I needed to change my life. The crash convinced me not to waste another minute of my life and, fundamentally, that I wanted to enable other people to make the most of their lives, too.” TRANSFORMATIONVictoria’s in an ideal position to help people awaken to the transformational possibilities in change, so much so she now advocates intentional change and helps other people make the changes they need and want to, or weather the ones they must.How about that? While most people are lamenting the constantly accelerating pace of change in today’s world, there’s a proactive position to be had: get out there and make change happen. More radical than that, try changing yourself. Dr. Jordan is one of Victoria Butterell’s former clients, and he now realizes the changes created in coaching in his life were “overdue.”How about you and your life? Are you overdue for a change? Have you thought about it that way?Life has a way of making us change, when we don’t get active and choose our own changes. SENIORS REGRET NOT HAVING MORE CHANGES When people over 65 were asked, in a recent survey, “If you could live your life over, what would you do differently?” they answered:1.I’d take more time to stop and ask the big questions.2.I’d be more courageous and take more risks in work and love.3.I’d try to live with purpose – to make a difference.THE CAUSE OF HAPPINESS IS … RISKThe wisdom seniors are sharing gels with recent research findings that the primary ingredient for finding happiness is being willing to RISK. Dr. Jordan, with the help of his coach, Victoria, has learned to embrace change. What does it take to embrace this “stressful” occurrence in your life and reap the benefits?Part of it depends upon the individual’s personal predisposition to change. This is ingrained is us because it comes from how change and ambiguity were handled when we were children. According to Holmes and Rahe, inventors of the now-famous stress scale which rates “life change units,” life is 44% more difficult now than it was 50 years ago. This means for all of us there was less change years ago when we were kids, so probably most of us need an adjustment in our predisposition to change. Changes are exciting when we choose them ourselves, and when we bolster our resilience – our ability to handle change and bounce back from adverse events. Some of the things we can do are learning and practicing a positive attitude, having a strong and supportive social network, and working with someone who’s experienced in transitions, such as a coach. Victoria’s philosophy is “Action from Adversity.” She would add these things to the list:1.Trust your intuition, completely. You’ll know what you need to do with your life while friends and family may not.2. Never give up. This is an inspirational quote from Winston Churchill – “Never give up. Never. Never. Never.”3.Be brave. “Change can be scary,” says Victoria. “Bite the bullet and go for it. Don’t regret the things you haven’t done in life.” Why “action from adversity?” You must take action. A useful metaphor is a cork in the ocean. We’re in the middle of our lives, like a cork on the ocean. The cork appears to move as a wave passes from left to right, but its position actually never changes other than a slight rotation. In other words, that cork is not going to wash up on shore eventually one day, it’s going to stay right where it is, forever. If you want to get somewhere, you have to TAKE ACTION.A COACH IS INVALUABLE AT SUCH A TIME“Completing the transition was tough,” says Victoria. “Most of my friends and family wanted me to “get over the crash” and “get back to normal” – my “life” as it had been before. I had to keep my determination and resolve, to change my life and keep changing it. I had to find the strength to take actions which were very scary, well out of my comfort zone and risky, but which would give my life greater meaning and fulfillment. A coach is invaluable at a time like this.”THIS ISN’T YOUR DRESS REHEARSAL“Life isn’t a dress rehearsal,” Victoria tells her clients. “Don’t wait for that wake-up call, make the most of your life, NOW.”IF THE SCRIPT ISN’T MEANT FOR YOU, RE-WRITE ITYou’re the star in the greatest show on earth, and all the world’s your stage!

By Carrie Reeder

Refinancing your mortgage after a Chapter 7 bankruptcy allows you to cash out your equity and find lower rates. You can also lower your payments by extending your loan term. Two years after your bankruptcy has been discharged, you may qualify for conventional rates. But if you need a refi loan sooner, you can find a sub-prime lender to work with you.

Timing Your Refinancing

Most financial advisors will counsel you to wait two years before applying for a new loan. Within those two years, you can reestablish your credit score to good standing and qualify for a Fannie Mae loan with market rates.

However, you can find refinancing sooner by working with a sub-prime lender. Depending on your credit score, cash assets, and income, you can find a financing package only a couple of points higher than conventional rates.

Before You Apply For A Refi Loan

Before you apply for a refi loan, check your credit report to be sure that your bankruptcy was properly discharged. Make sure accounts are in good standing and have accurate information. You can also include a letter explaining the circumstances of your bankruptcy, which can help your loan application.

Also, take the time to research lenders. Just like with any product, shopping around will guarantee that you get the best deal. It just takes a few minutes to receive loan quotes online. And you can review them at home with no pressure. While you are looking at rates, also note fees and closing costs.

Getting Better Rates

If you didn’t get the best terms or rates on your first mortgage, now is the time to find them. For the lowest payments, choose an adjustable rate mortgage. Usually for the first two to five years rates will be lower than fixed rates. Some lenders will also allow you to lock in a rate for a fee.

Interest rates can also be lowered by choosing a shorter term loan. While your total interest costs will be less, your monthly payments will be higher. Some lenders will also lower rates if you set up an automatic payment, usually debited from your checking account.

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By Jack Newton

A common question heard at tax time is “how long does it take to get my refund back?” Consumers, especially those struggling in tough economic times, look forward to the financial boost that a tax refund gives. The good news is that the IRS provides the necessary tools that make finding the status of a federal tax refund check just a mouse click away. With state refund checks however, it’s a little trickier since you have to know which state agency controls the tax return process. In this article, we’ll guide you through the IRS’s guidelines for when how long the refund check should take, and review the proper channels for getting both federal and state tax fund questions answered.

Federal Tax Refunds

How you file your taxes, via either U.S. mail or electronic filing, dictates how long it normally takes to receive a refund. Filing a return through the mail is, of course, the slower of the two processes. For those who mail their federal return, the IRS will remit a tax refund within six weeks after they have been received the completed return. If you file electronically, you should receive your tax refund within three weeks.

The IRS allows two options for receiving a federal tax refund: paper check sent via the mail, or an electronic funds transfer (also called a direct deposit). The direct deposit method, not surprisingly, is always the quicker option. The Federal 1040 form contains a section where consumers can opt for a direct deposit. If you want the IRS to electronically deposit your refund into more than one account you will need to file a separate form 8888.

How to Check on Your Federal Tax Refund

For anyone wanting to check the status of their tax refund, simply go to the IRS’s “where’s my refund” web site at irs.gov/individuals/article/0,,id=96596,00.html, where you’ll find an easy to use tool to request the information. If you would rather check the refund status by phone, you may call 1-800-829-1954. The IRS asks that you wait 3 days after filing electronically, or 3 weeks after mailing a return before checking for a status update. For those who file an amended return, however, the period to receive a refund check will take 8-12 weeks.

For efilers (e.g., those who file electronically) a refund cycle chart can be found at irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p2043.pdf that gives target dates when either an electronic direct deposit or mailed paper check should be expected given a particular filing date.

Tips on Ensuring a Quick Refund

By eliminating mistakes, consumers can ensure that their refund is received in as timely a fashion as possible. The most common mistakes, which can cause delays in receiving a refund, are listed below:

1. Social security number missing or incorrect

2. Incorrect tax result, given reported income and filing status, was entered

3. Mathematical errors in figuring the taxable income, withholding and estimated tax payments, Earned Income Credit, Standard Deduction for age 65 or over or blind, the taxable amount of social security benefits, and child and dependent care credit

4. Items entered on incorrect line, especially estimated tax and withholding

5. General Math Errors

State Tax Refund Process

As you might expect, each state has its own specific agencies and rules that govern taxation processes. Many states have a Department of Revenue that deals with tax filings and returns, for other states it may be the Tax Commission, Department of Taxation, or some other similar named department.

To check status on a state tax refund, find the state taxation agency (via the web page at aicpa.org/yellow/yptsgus.htm) for your particular state and go their website. Most state agencies, like the IRS, provide tools or resources for consumers to check on tax refund status.

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By Tom Atkins

Do you understand your FICO score? When your credit history is reported it is shown as a three-digit number. It’s important that you know what that number is, particularly if you plan to use credit to make purchases. This three-digit number is known as a FICO score. FICO stands for the Fair Isaac and Company which began credit scoring sometime in the 1950’s. Their strategy was to use 30 different factors to determine risk. The three major credit bureaus, Trans Union, Experian and Equifax, use FICO scores when making credit reports.

This method of scoring is used to assess the possibility of your loan defaulting. The credit card and installment loan industry have used this method for a number of years. The mortgage industry is using this scoring system as well. A credit score will help lenders simplify underwriting by categorizing borrowers more quickly. If you have a high credit score your application will probably get a superficial but positive review. Wherein, a low credit score may get a quick review and a quick denial.

Credit scores fall between 300 and 900. Most consumers score between 500 and 800. A score in the 500s is very low. This indicates to the lender that the borrower is a high risk. A score in the 600s is medium. In this case your payment history will be closely examined. More than likely, written explanations will be required to explain your derogatory credit before you are issued new credit. Some lenders will not extend credit to consumers with a score less than 640. A FICO score of 680 or higher is considered high. This translates into low risk for the lender and lower costs for you.

Each reporting agency provides up to four reason codes when they post FICO scores. This helps the consumer understand why they received a low score on their credit report. The reason codes are the main factors that contribute to the consumer’s score. If you address these factors, your FICO score may be affected in a more positive way. The following is a list of factors that impact your FICO score:

1. Numerous accounts opened within the last twelve months.

2. No current credit card balance.

3. Short credit history.

4. Delinquencies

5. Credit card balances near their maximum.

6. Tax liens, judgments or bankruptcies.

7. Excessive credit inquiries.

8. Not enough revolving credit accounts.

Remember, FICO scores are only guidelines. Factors other than FICO scoring can impact underwriting decisions. The following examples of compensation factors may help a lender to be more lenient:

1. A larger down payment.

2. Low debt-to-income ratio.

3. Excellent history of saving money.

4. Previous paid loan with current lender.

5. Available home equity or collateral.

About the Author: Tom Atkins is a staff writer at

Debt Journal

and is an occasional contributor to several other websites, including

Finance Journal

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City Breaks in Scotland

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TracyScotland is a city with plenty of things for a family or individuals who are planning a break. Like we say, “Good things come in small packages”, Scotland is a small country with lots of things to see and do on a short city break. Whether you are planning a short break with family, activity break, festive Breaks or Themed Breaks, Scotland has it all. If you are planning the break for two days or more, choose the guided tour of the beautiful Scottish Highlands, see the unforgettable Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo or take in the Open Golf Championship at St. Andrews. Think of a three-day tour of Skye and the Highlands or a whisky-themed break in Scotland’s capital city or a mountain adventure holiday or take a city break in the stunning Scottish capital-Edinburgh. Within every few hours of your travelling, you will experience a rapid change in the landscape from the gentle rolling hills to rugged coasts and dramatic, towering peaks. The cosmopolitan cities that are full with the future promises rub in shoulders with the ancient castles and monuments. While Edinburgh Festival and other festivals recalls the country’s cultural influence, the pristine sandy beaches offer peace and tranquillity. Country parks and outstanding nature reserves in other ways have something different for every visitor. While you tour in the city, shop your bags full and lunch at a top restaurant. A whisky-themed weekend with a visit to the famous Scotch Malt Whisky Society is also something that will interest you. Edinburgh break with a trip to Loch Ness is also an option. The sheer variety of Scotland’s natural beauty never fails to impress you. The country offers an amazing range of landscapes, from the gentle rolling hills of Dumfries and Galloway to the breathtaking peaks of the Cairngorms, and from the rugged coastlines of the north east to the sub-tropical gardens of Wester Ross. Scotland certainly has many treasures crammed into its compact territory. Every visitor will find something that will suit to his/her tastes. For the history buff, few cities compare with Edinburgh and Glasgow. The food lovers don’t miss Aberdeen and Angus (for the beef prepared varieties), and Dumfries & Galloway(for Smoked Salmon). The thirsty ones can satisfy themselves with the peerless malt whiskies of the Isle of Islay or Oban. The wild mountain scenery of the Highlands & Northern Islands will attract nature lovers. Those who want to dance with the cold-sparking waves of sea can enjoy your breaks in Outer Hebrides. Now book a fabulous hotel close to the attractions and in the destination of your break. Scotland’s each town offer variety accommodation options from luxury serviced apartments, hotels, lodges, hostels and self catering cottages that suits your taste and budget. Every hotels and accommodation in Scotland caters to your special break interests from family holidays, romantic breaks, weddings or business. Scotland”s Personal Hotels offer you a selection of great value short breaks all over Scotland. While, there are hotel accommodation that caters to activity breaks like, Golf, hill walking, horse riding, fishing, shooting and cycling to extreme sports and off road driving. Book your Scotland breaks today and get the right hotel accommodation!More about Scotland city breaks

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