James L. Paris's Blog, page 231
October 10, 2014
Americans Continue to Sink into the Abyss of Debt
According to a study recently conducted by the Urban Institute, just over one-third of adult Americans with a credit file have a debt in collections. For purposes of this study, “debt in collections” refers to a non-mortgage debt/bill, like a credit card or utility bill, that is more than six months past due. Perhaps just as shockingly, according to this study, is that just over five percent of all Americans with a credit file has a credit report that reflects past due debt, which means they are between 30 and 180 days late on a non-mortgage payment.
This data is not surprising, nor can its significance be overstated. We know from other data announced recently by Bankrate.com, just about one-third of all adult Americans has no savings whatsoever, and roughly two-thirds fall well short of possessing the recommended six months of living expenses that has long been such a popular guideline in the personal finance community. This information strongly implies that an enormous segment of the American population currently has very little distance between itself and the most dire of financial circumstances, which further suggests that a large number of people are relying on credit to live, to one degree or another. Beyond that, this data also clearly informs us that there are a lot of people walking around with marginalized credit profiles, to include diminished credit scores, and this circumstance is making life even tougher for those folks; even if someone with a checkered credit history is resolved to pay cash for everything he or she has, going forward, the reality is that the damage that presently “lives” on that person’s credit file can make it difficult to proceed in many facets of normal life, to include finding a better job, given that credit checks are now becoming a standard component of the prospective new hire vetting process.
New Video Breaks It All Down
The new credit repair workshop video covers this and a lot more. I also go into the matter of what kind of accounts you need to have open and how to get them even if you presently have bad credit. Also, members of ChristianMoneyPlus can watch the video for free and get unlimited help from me personally through the member Q and A dashboard.
Robert G. Yetman, Jr.
Managing Editor, The James L. Paris Report
October 7, 2014
Bible Prophecy Expert Terry James Joins Jim Paris Live
Terry James, author of Cauldron, joins Jim for a fascinating discussion about current events and Bible prophecy. How close are we to the Mark Of The Beast? Are the ISIL beheadings a glimpse into what will happen during the tribulation? How do current events in the Middle East fit into Bible prophecy? Does the new Apple Pay technology lay the groundwork for a coming cashless society as described in the book of Revelation?
Man Gets 20 Year Prison Sentence For Firing Warning Shot In Own Home
A Florida man gets a 20 year prison sentence for firing a warning shot in his own home while attempting to protect his daughter, Marriott fined $600,000 for jamming guests' personal WiFi hotspots, A Peer To Peer lending success story, Ebola compared to the 10 Worst Outbreaks In U.S. history, and will Hillary Clinton be our next president?
October 6, 2014
Florida: A single warning shot gets you 18 more years in prison than strangling your mother.
Case #1 - Strangled Mother (2 Year Sentence)
Case #2 - Fired Single Warning Shot (20 year sentence)
Need I say more?
Helping you make the most of God's money!
James L. Paris
Editor-In-Chief ChristianMoney.com
Follow Me on Twitter Twitter.com/jameslparis
Christian Financial Advice
Jim Paris 24 Hour Radio
October 5, 2014
How To Start An Internet Online Radio Show
*** New Video On How To Start An Internet Talk Show Now Available!
Ordering Information Below.
I was very excited this week to make a guest appearance on an Internet talk show. I have done a lot of talk show appearances in my career, but this one was extra special. A good friend of our organization, Diana Williams, asked me to appear on her BlogTalkRadio program, Word Wisdom. Diana has been involved with our Internet Coaching Program for many years. Diana is clearly a woman that is sold out to God. You can hear it in her voice, and she sounds like a real pro hosting her Internet talk show.
What has stuck with me this week is that we each have something really great to offer. God has given each of us a unique set of talents and interests. An Internet talk show is not just a lot of fun, but a chance for you to share your special gifts and insights with the world. I continue to be surprised at how few of our students have pursued their own Internet talk show.
My Own Radio Career Has Had Its Twists And Turns
If you are a regular visitor to ChristianMoney.com, you are no doubt aware of the recent launch of my new Sunday night radio show on The Genesis Communications Network. My days in traditional radio go all the way back to being a DJ and a sports broadcaster for my high school radio station near Chicago. In my early twenties I started a local Saturday radio show in Orlando to promote my financial planning practice. I later became the substitute host of financial author Charles J. Givens' nationwide radio program. This would lead me to eventually hosting my own national radio and TV programs for many years.
After my financial collapse in 2001, I never thought I would be back on the radio again. About five years later (with no money) I launched an Internet radio show on Talkshoe. I later transitioned that program to BlogTalkRadio. Even with my return to traditional radio this summer, I continue to use BlogtalkRadio as a platform that listeners can use to access my past shows.
Internet Radio - Will It Soon Dwarf Traditional Radio?
While it has not happened yet, the trend is exciting. Internet radio may soon draw more listeners than traditional radio. Since almost everyone has a smartphone these days, listening to podcasts has become easier than ever. Its not just podcasts, though, as hundreds of Internet radio networks are popping up with 24/7 programming (much of it live). In my own case, Jim Paris Live is carried on TalkStreamLive (TSL) on Sunday nights (the live broadcast). TSL also replays my show more than ten times each week. I continue to work on finding more and more outlets for the broadcast. We don't have very many radio stations carrying the show yet, but it almost doesn't matter with the amount of Internet exposure we benefit from.
The Cost To Start An Internet Talk Show
A basic BlogTalkRadio account is $39.95 per month. This gives you the ability to broadcast live, your own virtual studio, and the ability to take live calls. Even with this entry level account, you can broadcast up to two hours daily.
There are other even lower cost options. For example, many podcast hosting services like Podomatic offer a basic free account. In this case, you would simply record your program on your computer and then upload to your account. Once setup, your podcast feed can also be listed on iTunes and other podcast directories.
How Can I Make Money From My Internet Talk Show?
Some people host an Internet talk show simply to build a following. This becomes their base for marketing their latest eBook, driving traffic to their blog or website, or generating speaking engagements. Some hosts get sponsors, while others promote affiliate products during their show. One interesting business model is that of Adam Corolla. He offers his current episodes for free, but charges for access to older shows. Corolla recently settled a multi-million dollar lawsuit over the profits from his podcast. Corolla's 20 million monthly downloads landed his podcast in the Guinness Book Of World Records.
Special Video Replay Of Live Workshop
There is so much information to share about Internet broadcasting, I decided to teach a comprehensive workshop. In this training, Bob Yetman and I discussed the wide array of options for starting an Internet talk show. In addition to Internet radio, we discussed live Internet video (your own Internet TV show). Of course, there is Google Live Hangouts, but another exciting option is to start your own Roku channel (Livestream, and more).
We also shared how to find Internet radio networks to carry your show, how to set up your own 24/7 stream (like I have with Jim Paris Radio), how to get big name guests for your show, equipment, free editing software, show intros, music, and much more. Of course, I will also be taking live questions.
If you are a member of our Internet Coaching program, you can access this video for free. Simply log in to the members portal and you will find it in your video archive. For non-members, we are making available this video workshop for just $15.
Perhaps The Biggest Reason Of All To Be Excited About Internet Broadcasting
Each week I benefit from the live listens and downloads of my latest show, but many times more than that from downloads of past shows. Each episode represents viral content that you can keep on the Internet forever. In my own case, I use Facebook and Twitter to promote not just my latest show, but also older ones as well. Each program is also turned into a video and published to YouTube, GodTube, Pinterest, and countless other platforms. This represents an ongoing promotional benefit for years into the future.
Order The Video And Receive The Download Within 1 Minute
*** If this is not for you, consider telling your pastor about it. Churches can really benefit from online broadcasting.
Helping you make the most of God's money!
James L. Paris
Editor-In-Chief ChristianMoney.com
Follow Me on Twitter Twitter.com/jameslparis
Christian Financial Advice
Jim Paris 24 Hour Radio
How To Start Your Own Internet Talk Show
I was very excited this week to make a guest appearance on an Internet talk show. I have done a lot of talk show appearances in my career, but this one was extra special. A good friend of our organization, Diana Williams, asked me to appear on her BlogTalkRadio program, Word Wisdom. Diana has been involved with our Internet Coaching Program for many years. Diana is clearly a woman that is sold out to God. You can hear it in her voice, and she sounds like a real pro hosting her Internet talk show.
What has stuck with me this week is that we each have something really great to offer. God has given each of us a unique set of talents and interests. An Internet talk show is not just a lot of fun, but a chance for you to share your special gifts and insights with the world. I continue to be surprised at how few of our students have pursued their own Internet talk show.
My Own Radio Career Has Had Its Twists And Turns
If you are a regular visitor to ChristianMoney.com, you are no doubt aware of the recent launch of my new Sunday night radio show on The Genesis Communications Network. My days in traditional radio go all the way back to being a DJ and a sports broadcaster for my high school radio station near Chicago. In my early twenties I started a local Saturday radio show in Orlando to promote my financial planning practice. I later became the substitute host of financial author Charles J. Givens' nationwide radio program. This would lead me to eventually hosting my own national radio and TV programs for many years.
After my financial collapse in 2001, I never thought I would be back on the radio again. About five years later (with no money) I launched an Internet radio show on Talkshoe. I later transitioned that program to BlogTalkRadio. Even with my return to traditional radio this summer, I continue to use BlogtalkRadio as a platform that listeners can use to access my past shows.
Internet Radio - Will It Soon Dwarf Traditional Radio?
While it has not happened yet, the trend is exciting. Internet radio may soon draw more listeners than traditional radio. Since almost everyone has a smartphone these days, listening to podcasts has become easier than ever. Its not just podcasts, though, as hundreds of Internet radio networks are popping up with 24/7 programming (much of it live). In my own case, Jim Paris Live is carried on TalkStreamLive (TSL) on Sunday nights (the live broadcast). TSL also replays my show more than ten times each week. I continue to work on finding more and more outlets for the broadcast. We don't have very many radio stations carrying the show yet, but it almost doesn't matter with the amount of Internet exposure we benefit from.
The Cost To Start An Internet Talk Show
A basic BlogTalkRadio account is $39.95 per month. This gives you the ability to broadcast live, your own virtual studio, and the ability to take live calls. Even with this entry level account, you can broadcast up to two hours daily.
There are other even lower cost options. For example, many podcast hosting services like Podomatic offer a basic free account. In this case, you would simply record your program on your computer and then upload to your account. Once setup, your podcast feed can also be listed on iTunes and other podcast directories.
How Can I Make Money From My Internet Talk Show?
Some people host an Internet talk show simply to build a following. This becomes their base for marketing their latest eBook, driving traffic to their blog or website, or generating speaking engagements. Some hosts get sponsors, while others promote affiliate products during their show. One interesting business model is that of Adam Corolla. He offers his current episodes for free, but charges for access to older shows. Corolla recently settled a multi-million dollar lawsuit over the profits from his podcast. Corolla's 20 million monthly downloads landed his podcast in the Guiness Book Of World Records.
Special Workshop On Wednesday Night October 8, 2014 at 8:05 pm Eastern
There is so much information to share about Internet broadcasting, I thought teaching a comprehensive workshop would be in order. In this training, Bob Yetman and I will be discussing the wide array of options for starting an Internet talk show. In addition to Internet radio, I will also be discussing live Internet video (your own Internet TV show). Of course, there is Google Live Hangouts, but another exciting option is to start your own Roku channel (Livestream, and more).
I will also be sharing how to find Internet radio networks to carry your show, how to set up your own 24/7 stream (like I have with Jim Paris Radio), how to get big name guests for your show, equipment, free editing software, show intros, music, and much more. Of course, I will also be taking live questions.
If you are a member of our Internet Coaching program, you can attend this special live training for free. Simply log in to the members portal and put in a support ticket requesting the webinar link. For non-members, we are making available the live workshop for just $20 (Includes a link to the replay at no additional cost). We are again limiting the ticket sales on this workshop to 50. If you are interested in being on this one live, lock in your space right away.
Perhaps The Biggest Reason Of All To Be Excited About Internet Broadcasting
Each week I benefit from the live listens and downloads of my latest show, but many times more than that from downloads of past shows. Each episode represents viral content that you can keep on the Internet forever. In my own case, I use Facebook and Twitter to promote not just my latest show, but also older ones as well. Each program is also turned into a video and published to YouTube, GodTube, Pinterest, and countless other platforms. This represents an ongoing promotional benefit for years into the future.
*** If this is not for you, consider telling your pastor about it. Churches can really benefit from online broadcasting.
Helping you make the most of God's money!
James L. Paris
Editor-In-Chief ChristianMoney.com
Follow Me on Twitter Twitter.com/jameslparis
Christian Financial Advice
Jim Paris 24 Hour Radio
October 3, 2014
Credit Scoring - Go Where The Points Are
I shared a graphic the other night on my live workshop on credit repair that I just had to make part of a blog post.
If you understand what I am about to share with you, you will be in a position to very quickly raise your credit score. The chart above could not make it more clear that the real credit game is in the two largest slices of the credit scoring pie.
30% Debt Utilization Ratio
Fancy term, right? But the idea is simple. On revolving accounts, points are added to your score by comparing the amount of available credit to how much of it you have used. This is all about keeping low balances on your credit cards. If you never go above 30 to 50% of your available credit line, you will win big with points in this category. Note: maxing out your card each month and then paying it off when the bill comes will not help.
Here's the deal - since we don't know the actual day of the month that the credit bureau will report the balance on the account, we must consistently keep a low balance (all throughout the month) to gain the most points. This is a little piece of information that makes my book and video on credit repair truly unique. I learned this through trial and error while helping hundreds of people repair their credit.
35% Payment History
Duh? OK Jim, I know that making on time payments is part of my credit score. Yes, the general idea of making on time payments we all get. In fact, some people believe that on time payments comprise 100% of the their score. Here is the nuance to this - only accounts that are currently reporting, or that have reported in the last 18 months, will make up most of this component.
This means that older accounts that have not reported fresh data in recent months are of little consequence here. It also means that you must have a handful of open accounts that you are making timely payments on. The absence of late payments due to little or no open credit does not cut it here.
New Video Breaks It All Down
The new credit repair workshop video covers this and a lot more. I also go into the matter of what kind of accounts you need to have open and how to get them even if you presently have bad credit. Also, members of ChristianMoneyPlus can watch the video for free and get unlimited help from me personally through the member Q and A dashboard.
Helping you make the most of God's money!
James L. Paris
Editor-In-Chief ChristianMoney.com
Follow Me on Twitter Twitter.com/jameslparis
Christian Financial Advice
Jim Paris 24 Hour Radio
New Major Breakthrough For Short eBooks
For those of you that have been involved with our recent workshop on how to quickly write an eBook, you will remember the backstory I shared about our little eBook, Credit Scoring Secrets. For those that missed it, this is a short eBook that is only 33 pages. The irony for us is that we never thought that this tiny eBook would turn out to be such a BIG success. As you can see below, this book is now #10 in Budgeting, #13 in Credit Ratings and Credit Repair, and #26 in Kindle Short Reads (One Hour) Business And Money.
I was aware of Kindle Singles (a category for article length eBooks), but Kindle Short Reads is new. The 'one hour read' category starts with books that are 33 pages in length. Maybe a coincidence, but our book is 33 pages (just making it into the one hour category). Other page length categories in Short Reads -
15 minutes (1-11 pages)
30 minutes (12-21 pages)
45 minutes (22-32 pages)
One hour (33-43 pages)
90 minutes (44-64 pages)
Two hours or more (65-100 pages)
This is so exciting, I can't contain myself! What is the big deal? First, Amazon has made a brilliant move here to categorize short books in such a way. What is the biggest complaint you here from people today about reading? No time to read, right? Well, this breaks down book lengths by the reading time. This also gives those of us that want to write shorter eBooks a fantastic venue for them to be discovered.
Short eBooks; No Longer The Ugly Stepchild
When short eBooks are simply listed alongside longer books, some Amazon shoppers might perceive them as inferior. Shorter eBooks may look like a grocery item that ends up in the bargain bin with all of the other dented cans and opened items. A consumer might perceive a short eBook as having little value compared to the 200 page book just a glance away. This new category does several things. First, for the person looking for a quick read, they can go right to this section and pick out a book that fits perfectly within their available reading time. Secondly, it gives the short eBook a venue all its own that bigger books are precluded from. Lastly, it communicates to the Amazon shopper that this short eBook was written to be just that. It is not an inferior work, it was written with the intent to be a short book. So, still not sure why I am so excited? This new category gives short eBook writers legitimacy! Yes, short is the new big!
Get Started Today With Your Own eBooks
As you can see from the page counts above, you can even get down to a 15 minute read of 1 to 11 pages! What? You have no more excuses! You could write a short eBook like this in one sitting. By the way, this is not just for the non-fiction writer. Short works of fiction are absolutely exploding, and big name fiction writers like Stephen King are even getting in on this.
Check out my earlier article all about shorter eBooks and my eBook coaching program. My new video is now available for just $15, giving a complete overview of the short eBook opportunity. Here is a fun clip from my radio show where I was pointing out how 4 eBooks could replace the interest earned from a $500,000 CD in the bank.
Helping you make the most of God's money!
James L. Paris
Editor-In-Chief ChristianMoney.com
Follow Me on Twitter Twitter.com/jameslparis
Christian Financial Advice
Jim Paris 24 Hour Radio
September 30, 2014
Credit Repair: Understanding Time Limits And Statutes Of Limitation On Debt
There is quite a lot of confusion about the issue of how long an item can legally stay on a credit report. Oddly enough, people will really dig in their heels about what they believe to be true. There are about as many urban myths about time limits in the world of credit repair as there are Elvis sightings.
The above comment is on one of our very popular YouTube videos on credit repair. Note the classic confusion and misunderstanding about the issue of statute of limitations and the length of time an item can stay on a credit report. Also, notice the hubris in the post. On the topic of credit repair there are a lot of 'experts' out there that know just enough to be hopelessly confused.
Statute Of Limitations
The period of years that a debt is considered to be legally enforceable is known as the statute of limitations. This is a law that determines how long after an event that legal proceeding may be initiated. For the purposes of this blog we are going to focus strictly on how it applies to consumer debt and credit reports. The length of time that a debt is considered legally owed varies by state. Practically speaking, this is the time window during which you can be sued for an unpaid debt. This has nothing to do with your credit report, and has no bearing on how long an item can be reported on your credit file. The clock starts ticking typically from the date of your last payment.
If Statute Of Limitations On Debt Has Nothing To Do With Credit Reports And Credit Scores, Why Even Bring It Up?
As I mentioned in my last article on credit repair, the main method of boosting a credit score is establishing new positive credit accounts. Depending on the situation, however, settling certain debts plaguing a credit report may make sense. It is important for people to know that if a debt is already past the statute of limitations for their state, it is time barred (they can't be sued). Even though the item is no longer 'legally' collectible, it may still remain on your credit report (based on the rules of The Fair Credit Reporting Act). BUT, and this is a really, really, BIG BUT... if you start making payments again on a time-barred date you may waive your rights for protection under the statute of limitations. In essence, you may have reset the clock on that debt, and you may have provided the opportunity for a creditor to sue you. Yep, collection agents know how this works - and if they can get you to make even a small payment, the game may be back on. How To Settle A Collection Debt.
The Overlap Between The Statute Of Limitations And The Fair Credit Reporting Act
Let's say that you live in a state that has a five year statute of limitations on credit card debt. Even though you may be past the five years and the debt is no longer legally collectible, it can still remain on your credit report for two more years. During this overlapping window is when people get very confused. Many times people believe that a time-barred debt can no longer remain on their credit file. The general rule for the length of time an item can stay on your report is seven years. The seven years is calculated using the date of last activity (usually the date of your last payment). So, by making one single small payment on an old debt you may have restarted both the statute of limitations and the seven year credit reporting period. In direct response to the YouTube comment above, they are partially correct. In theory, the date of default is the date that the seven year clock should be based on. The reality is that collection agencies will use any reason that they can come up with to extend the number of years an item can stay on your credit file.
How Long Derogatory Items Can Stay On Your Credit Report
Defaulted debts/charge-offs, late payments, foreclosures, and judgments can remain for seven years.
A bankruptcy can stay on your report for ten years from the date of discharge.
A tax lien can stay on your credit file indefinitely. There is a new IRS program providing a way to get a paid tax lien removed. How To Remove A Tax Lien From Your Credit Report.
Can An Item Be Removed Early?
In some cases negative items can be removed early. As time passes, older collection items may not be able to be verified or the original creditor can not document the debt. We have letters available for such situations. These letters are available to members of our premium content site, ChristianMoneyPlus.
Live Credit Repair Workshop Wednesday Night (October 1, 2014)
This will be a 60 to 90 minute online webinar (length will depend on the number of questions). We will be doing this live on Wednesday night at 8:05 pm Eastern. I want to do this on our webinar platform which will allow me to do a more complete overview using the tools I don't have on a Hangout. Frankly, I am also not willing to give this valuable information away. If you are already a member of ChristianMoneyPlus, you can go for free. Just send me an e mail and I will reply with the link. If you are not a member, we would love to have you and the tuition is only $15. If you can't attend live, no worries - I will send out a link to the replay to all those that are enrolled for this session.
I am limiting this one to 50 students as I want to keep things at a level where I can handle the Q and A without it getting crazy. Our shopping cart is already programmed to limit enrollment to 50 and go into 'sold out' mode after that. Here is your link to sign up. $15 and you are on your way to a good credit score!
Helping you make the most of God's money!
James L. Paris
Editor-In-Chief ChristianMoney.com
Follow Me on Twitter Twitter.com/jameslparis
Christian Financial Advice
Jim Paris 24 Hour Radio
September 29, 2014
People Making $45,000 A Day In New Booming Home Based Business
It may be one of the most profitable home based business in the world, yet most Americans don't know about it. It is the lucrative business of stealing tax refunds. Last year alone, more than $5.2 billion was stolen. The scammers simply buy lists of Social Security numbers and begin filing tax returns online. The IRS online filing system has no means of confirming that it is the actual taxpayer filing the return. Victims only learn that their refund has been stolen after attempting to file their return. The IRS will reject their filing, notifying them that a return has already been filed under that Social Security number. After learning that your refund has been stolen, it may take years to get things straightened out and finally get your money.
According a a recent 60 Minutes story, a Miami man by the name of Corey Williams was submitting fifteen bogus returns a day. Williams says he would average $3,000 for each return he filed. On a typical day he would file fifteen - $45,000 per day (not bad). Williams says all he needed was a laptop computer and he did it all from the comfort of his home. Even more shocking, 60 Minutes reports that the IRS still has no way to stop this scam.
Williams was operating out of his Miami, FL home (Miami is a hotbed for identity theft and tax refund fraud). The scam, however, is occurring nationwide. For example, this month 26 year old James Ekeke of Smyrna, GA was indicted for an alleged $4 million refund stealing operation of his own.
What Can You Do To Protect Yourself?
Apparently there is not much you can do, other than to be sure and file your return as early as possible. Experts say that the longer you wait to file, the greater the window of opportunity you provide thieves to get your refund before you do. Of course, it should go without saying, but also do what you can to protect your Social Security number (if its not already up for sale online).
Helping you make the most of God's money!
James L. Paris
Editor-In-Chief ChristianMoney.com
Follow Me on Twitter Twitter.com/jameslparis
Christian Financial Advice
Jim Paris 24 Hour Radio
