The Seattle Mariners® team logo can now be featured on the Major League Baseball™ Extra Bases™ Credit Card issued by Bank of America. (www.marinerscreditcard.com). This rewards credit card is scoring big with avid baseball fans and credit card consumers across the country. Like many department stores, colleges and airlines have done for decades, Major League Baseball™ teams are now being displayed on consumer credit cards. These sports oriented rewards credit cards — a great way for fans to express their undying team loyalty – are proving to be a home run in the credit card industry.
Features offered by the Major League Baseball™ Extra Bases™ Credit Card from Bank of America include:
• No annual fee.
• 0% introductory Annual Percentage Rate (APR) on balance transfers and cash advance checks for your first 12 billing cycles.
• Earn 1 point for every net retail dollar spent redeemable for MLB™ autographed memorabilia, once-in-a-lifetime MLB™ experiences, cash rewards and travel with no blackout dates.
• Get an official MLB™ licensed jersey after your first qualifying transaction(s) using your MLB™ Extra Bases™ credit card.
During a period of economic instability, uncertainty in the stock market, illiquidity in the credit markets and the softening real estate market, one thing remains constant – sports fans are crazy about Major League Baseball. Historically, baseball has given the public something to believe in and something to hope for, particularly during difficult economic times. With the MLB™ Extra Bases™ credit card, Mariners fans can be reminded of their favorite team every time they take out their wallets. Real fans carry the card with pride. Visit www.marinerscreditcard.com to complete the credit card application online in a few short minutes.
http://www.articlesbase.com/baseball-articles/seattle-mariners-credit-card-major-league-baseball-extra-bases-mastercard-626556.html
Have you ever imagined that it was possible to double or even triple your current investment earnings without having to fork over a nickel to Uncle Sam in taxes? Believe it or not, it is possible…with a self investing IRA or 401(k). These two retirement savings accounts allow you to build wealth while saving on taxes. A self directed IRA or 401(k) are savings plans that give you the decision making power when it comes to investing your contributions. With this type of control, your free to invest and reinvest, multiple times, maximizing your earnings.
One of the more popular investments individual’s make with their self managed savings accounts is real estate. Now this doesn’t mean you can buy a new home for yourself, or get a better rate on your present mortgage, but investing 401(k) money in real estate, or IRA money, is a way to buy and sell property for a profit. A self investing IRA keeps your money actively working for you, rather than passively sitting in the bank earning a minimum return.
When you set up a self investing IRA you will have to make a decision on how you are going to take the tax benefit provided by the government. What it boils down to is a “pay now” or “pay later” situation.
If you want to “pay now,” you can set up a self directed, Roth IRA, which is funded with money from income that has already been taxed. Any earnings you make from your investments remain tax free. For example, if you decide to invest in real estate, you can continue to invest and reinvest your earnings, multiple times, and the profits you make remain tax free. Even when you pull your money out at retirement, you won’t owe any taxes on your earnings. Your “already taxed” contributions can also be withdrawn, tax-free.
If you want to “pay later,” you would set up a traditional, self investing IRA, which is funded with money that you deduct from you taxable income for that year. Any earnings you make from your investments remain tax deferred, until you withdraw them at retirement. At that time, applicable taxes would be due. Just like with self managed Roth IRA, you have the control to maximize your earnings by investing in a profitable vehicle like real estate.
Investing 401(k) money in real estate is no different from an IRA. The difference comes in the maximum amount the government allows you to put into each of these accounts. A self investing IRA is limited to a $5000 maximum contribution for 2008. The maximum allowable contribution to a self directed 401(k) is $15,500 for 2008. The “pay now” or “pay later” decision must also be made when setting up a self directed 401(k).
You will find that most financial institutions will discourage you from setting up a self investing IRA or 401(k). This is because they don’t want to lose the fees profits they make from selling and managing their in-house investments.
If you want to set up one of these self managed accounts you’re going to have to find a company that specializes in managing these types of savings plans. These companies are there to take your investment orders and manage the hassle of the paperwork and regulation compliance.
Make no mistake about it. Owning a self investing IRA is going to mean taking an active role in determining your financial destiny. These savings accounts are not for people who can’t be bothered with the “hassle” and “uncertainty” of making investment decisions. But if you really want to take advantage of the fantastic opportunity to maximize your earnings and save on taxes, then a self investing IRA or 401(k) is the way to go.