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(1888PressRelease) The Lake Cowichan Adventure Company, aka “The Tube Shack” announces the grand opening of it’s new location in Lake Cowichan, BC at 122 Southshore Rd in the heart of downtown Lake Cowichan. The Tube Shack is fully licensed and insured and is Lake Cowichan’s only All Inclusive river tubing adventure company.

For most people summer time and water just go hand in hand and no summer is complete without spending part of it enjoying water sports. Thousands of people have already experienced the fun and excitement of tubing the Cowichan River, and if you’ve never tried this popular water sport, there’s no better time than the present.

The Lake Cowichan Adventure Company, aka “The Tube Shack” announces the grand opening of it’s new location in Lake Cowichan, BC at 122 Southshore Rd in the heart of downtown Lake Cowichan. The Tube Shack is fully licensed and insured and is Lake Cowichan’s only All Inclusive river tubing adventure company.

The long hot, dry summers of the Lake Cowichan region make the crystal clear water of the Cowichan River an ideal place to spend the day. The Cowichan Valley is a glaciated valley that enjoys the warmest temperatures in Canada. The warm climate combined with all the natural water resources creates a virtual water sport paradise.

Cowichan River tubing is an island tradition that has been a favorite summer activity for both locals and visitors from far and wide for many years. Every year literally thousands of people join us and let the river take them on a tour of some of the most spectacular scenery in the world.

While tubing down the Cowichan River is a favorite activity for anyone that loves water sports, it’s also a popular past time for anyone that loves nature. With every bend and turn of the river, you’ll be guided along an eco-tour that you will never forget.

There’s a wide abundance of various species of flora and fauna that grows along the rivers edge. From beautiful wildflowers to lush foliage, there’s never a shortage on plant life. And, the stunning rock formations are a sight that you’ll not see anywhere else on planet earth.

The dense forests that border both sides of the river are home to numerous species of wildlife. You may catch a glimpse of a deer or elk indulging in a cool drink of water along the rivers edge. And, your heart might pound at the sight of a bear or cougar watching you from the forests cover.

For more information on Cowichan River Tubing find us on the web at http://www.cowichanriver.com

Source:
http://www.1888pressrelease.com/cowichan-river-tubing-grand-opening-2010-pr-223593.html

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Well Bernanke may be voted (as Beaver Cleaver would have said) a “swell guy”, but not in my mind. Oh sure, he’s done what every other “head of the Fed” would do: print money and lower rates exorbitantly!Remember how everyone raked Greenspan over the coals for taking interest rates down to the absurdly low level of 1% and how they said it was a mistake to take rates down that low and hold them low for so long? They blamed those actions as being one of the biggest contributors to the latest bubble!Greenspan’s Excesses x 2 = BernankeWell what do we have today? We have rates that got lowered quickly and they have hit bottom at a “range between 0% and 0.25%”, essentially zero percent. Bernanke says that rates make stay unusually low for an extended period of time. Think this is going to end any differently than producing another painful bubble that will pop? Of course not. Anytime interest rates are taken artificially low and held that way for any “extended period of time”, it causes rampant inflation and enormous speculation in all markets: stocks, commodities, real estate, etc. So don’t blame the speculators for taking advantage of something that the Fed caused. Speculators don’t cause the bubbles, but they do ride them. Those who have the power to “print money” and take rates down unusually low are the ones responsible for the bubbles. Don’t be fooled. There aren’t enough speculators in the world to overrule the long term effects of what the Fed can (and does) put into place. So where is all of this headed? Well, it’s killing the dollar once again. See the chart below. The dollar has been in a downtrend now since March and it’s not likely to end anytime soon.Also, many on “Main Street” don’t think they care if the dollar falls. They are just concerned about their 401ks, IRAs, etc. So they are worried exclusively about their stocks and it seems that the Fed is only worried about the same. The Dow has bottomed in the same month that the dollar turned downward. So the Fed is more than willing to sacrifice the U.S. dollar in order to help to artificially prop up stocks. That makes everyone feel “warm and fuzzy again”. However, what they don’t realize is that in doing it this way, it drives up the cost of every day goods as unusually high inflation hits the market, robbing their “ever-shrinking” dollars of purchasing power. So it becomes “tougher to live” day to day, but hey, your stocks are going up, right? Maybe not. Maybe it’s just “smoke and mirrors”.   Look at a chart of the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) as measured in gold (aka real money). You see, gold holds value despite inflation. So when you look at the Dow in “gold terms”, the Dow is actually still down trending. Why? Because the only way that the Fed can get the Dow, S&P 500, etc. to rise, is to cause the dollar to tank.Well if the Dow goes up in dollar value, but those dollars are worth less all the time, have you really made any “real” head way? I think not! And there’s no better way for this to be seen than viewing the Dow in “gold terms”. In other words, when you take into account the inflationary pressures over time, the Dow is actually LOSING GROUND!How you can Protect Yourself and Your Accounts from the Ruthless Fed!So since the Fed will not stop their actions what is one to do in order to protect themselves? Sell short the dollar, buy gold, buy foreign currencies, buy commodities and buy foreign stocks. These are the ways to preserve your purchasing power AND your retirement accounts at the same time. 

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I don’t think there is any clearer perspective as to why the Democrats run Washington, and the Republicans have become the party of loyal resistance than Health Care. With the Health Care debate really starting to heat up for the summer, President Obama is already starting to get the mud from both ends of the isle.

I couldn’t help, but laugh last week when I was watching Sean Hannity interview Rush Limbaugh, and they talked about socialized health care and all the philosophical reasons why it shouldn’t happen. They didn’t even seem to get what their counterparts on the left (who see socialized health care as a moral imperative) can’t get. The USA cannot afford it!

I think President Obama gets it and, it should be the screen saver on his teleprompter. The US dollar has been in a down trend for years because of our massive deficits and we are already spending money like a 20 year old with their first credit card. There really is no philosophical or ethical debate here. Socialized Health Care will lead to a national bankruptcy. We cannot afford our current social programs like Medicare and Social Security. The last thing we need is another one.

As I listened to President Obama speak yesterday in regards to Health Care and tuned into all the Sunday political shows, it is obvious that he wants a public health care option and he is going to get it!

First of all, there are not enough conservatives to stop him and moderate republicans / democrats will see this as something that should help make a better playing field for an industry where costs are just going through the roof. Some people fail to see how this has been a huge weight on the economy since their employer pays for the majority of their care.

Small businesses need this (where the majority of jobs are created) and it may lead to some pay raises which will help create a stronger consumer.

Who are the winners and the losers in all of this?

Health insurance companies are losers here, with government being more of a player in their market, many of these stocks like Aetna (AET) and United Health Care (UNH) have not fared well at all. The sector that used to be defensive has become very vulnerable. This sector may be chock full of good stocks to own in a couple of years after everything shakes itself out.

Pharmaceuticals making generic drugs are winners here. The Obama plan loves generic drugs, and more and more people love the lower costs of generic drugs. The Big Drug makers like GSK (GSK) and Pfizer (PFE) are reacting. GSK has signed a deal with an Indian generic drug maker, and Pfizer is moving in this direction as well. Companies like these have a lot of clout in the medical community, when they start to go generic it can really be a self fulfilling prophecy.

With Hockey and Basketball seasons over, I look forward to seeing how all of this plays out over the summer. Politics and Business are great sports too.

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This stock market and economy has been brutal and they are not going to get much better in the near future.  The perspective has changed dramatically for those that have only 10-20 years until retirement.  Please click here to check out the free video blog! It is important to realize that many people have thrown away their old financial playbook since the events in 2008.   The game has changed and this is no time to be in denial about your financial future! Financial education is an absolute must in times like these!Planning for retirement has never been easy, but you need to make certain that you are flexible and willing to adapt to a new economy and all the side effects of the current financial remedies.   New strategies are “a must” and questioning the old ones is vital in order to make certain that you are on the right path.  Here are the 7 Ways to Save Your Retirement.

1.  Re-evaluate your budget.   I am certain that you can find a couple of things to cut out and save even more.  Re-training your mind to thinking that a homemade picnic in the park is more fun and exciting than going out to a fancy restaurant is the secret to saving.  Please take our personal finance course in order to gain from my years of experience as a financial planner. 
2. Have the courage to calculate your net worth.   Being in denial about your financial situation and refusing to look at the numbers will only make the problem worse.  The people that fail to accept where they are because it is easier to be in denial will be left behind.        
3. Re-evaluate your goals.  The people that will retire and do the things they want to do, are going to be practical now and make certain that their goals are practical and achievable.   Always run the numbers yourself.   It is fine to work with a financial planner, but no one will ever care more about your money than you! 
4.  Re-evaluate your investment strategy.  Many things have changed and there is certainly nothing wrong with questioning  the old rules like “Buy and Hold”, ”Stocks for the Long Run” and  “Long time Horizon/Perspective”.   These strategies tend to block your growth as an investor.  Developing a brand new investment strategy with the lessons learned is imperative in order to protecting your wealth going forward.   We look forward to helping you with this in our Investment Course!
5.  Prepare for inflation.  It is highly likely that there is going to be a high inflationary period after this deflation/recessionary period.    Making certain that you understand things like “TIPS” and other inflationary hedges that we go through in our Investment Course is an absolute must!   Also understanding monetary policy is which we go through in our foreign currency course will help you have a better idea as to where the US Dollar is going is also vital.  You can also download a free practice account in order to get started.    
6. Re-evaluate your thoughts and emotions in regards to Real Estate.  Many people have become obsessed with real estate and fail to see that it can be a real “false sense of security” with a lot of risk, due to all the borrowing when purchasing.  Make certain you are evaluating this properly as part of your net worth and the income that it may generate.  Having more vacation homes than vacations is not a retirement plan!
7. Stay Healthy.  Your health really is the most important thing when it comes to your finances.   Your health allows you to generate income, and make certain that you can continue to develop your skills and work as long as you need to. So take care of yourself along the way!

Retiring comfortably is not easy for many, but yet it is very achievable.  Unfortunately, we will never reach a place where we have “zero money concerns”. Ironically the people that achieve their financial goals celebrate this fact, knowing that it keeps them from making the big financial mistakes.   Sincerely, Bob O’BrienSr. Instructorwww.mywealth.com

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Do you think your character has any relationship with your finances?

Are you Purposeful (goals & objectives)? Are you Patient (saving)? Are you Responsible (borrowing)? Are you Moderate (balance & budgeting)? Are you Selfless (retirement)? Are you Reliable (credit)? Are you Courageous (business & investing)? Are you Punctual? (35% of U.S. FICO is based on this character) and the list goes on.

True Wealth & Prosperity can only be achieved by discovering and developing one’s hidden treasures:

“Regard man as a mine rich in gems of inestimable value. Education can, alone, cause it to reveal its treasures, and enable mankind to benefit therefrom.”

Of course development of hidden potentials (virtues) must be complemented with learning and implementing various elements of local economy in daily financial activities.

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 Retirement Planning FREE Books on Tape - Part 2 [24:25m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

This is the continuation of our FREE Audiobooks / Books on Tape downloads on the book Retirement Planning. We know our listener’s time is valuable and many of you have busy schedules. Therefore we have endeavoured to put this book on a series of podcasts or a FREE audiobook / book on tape so that you play it now by clicking the play button above this post (turn up your speakers) or download them to your iTunes and iPod to listen while running or working out later. To subscribe to the podcast and download into iTunes, click here.

In this Podcast, the following topics are covered:

A.  What will it cost to be retired in the future?

At a minimum, you want to:  Decide on the annual income you desire in today’s dollars; Pick a retirement date; Determine your lifetime average inflation rate; Determine the average rate of return you expect on your investments before and after retirement; Determine the current market value of all your investments to include regular accounts, IRAs, and company tax-deferred savings plans like 401(k) plans; Obtain an estimate of any company-provided pension benefit; Obtain an estimate of future Social Security benefits; and Armed with this data, you can determine the annual savings required for you to enjoy the good life. 

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Couple weeks back, I wrote about stock investing tips and one of my final tips discussed using an online stock brokerage account once you get familiar with stock trading and have some experience behind you. To continue that topic, it would be helpful to know what features to look for in an online broker, as there are many options out there.

Whether you are a novice or seasoned veteran to online stock trading, here are some important features and points to keep in mind when you open an online stock trading account.

What trading tools do you need to conduct your research? Company historicals, independent market research, real time quotes, SEC reports, etc. Check to see what trading tools are provided by the broker, both free and premium tools, which may cost you.

What types of online trading are you planning to do, stocks, mutual funds, bonds, ETFs, retirement accounts, IRAs, etc.? Are these investments offered by the broker? What are the respective fees for each of these investments?

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 Retirement Planning FREE Books on Tape - Part 1 [14:45m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

This is the first of many FREE Audiobooks / Books on Tape downloads on the book Retirement Planning. We know our listener’s time is valuable and many of you have busy schedules. Therefore we have endeavoured to put this book on a series of podcasts or a FREE audiobook / book on tape so that you play it now by clicking the play button above this post (turn up your speakers) or download them to your iTunes and iPod to listen while running or working out later. To subscribe to the podcast and download into iTunes, click here.

In this Podcast, the following topics are covered:

Introduction: When is the right time to start planning for retirement? In your 20’s, 30’s or 50’s? How about early retirement? Isn’t that what we all want.

Should you retire: Is it too late to plan for retirement? Can you still work during retirement? Is Social Security and Medicare enough to cover all your expenses and still live comfortably? These and many basic questions regarding retirement are addressed.
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Here are my weekly money savings tips:

1. Maintain a good credit score! It will save you thousands of dollars in the short and long term when you need to borrow money to buy a car or a home. Creditors will give you an interest rate and the loan amount based on your income and credit score.

2. Large sums of money should NEVER be left in a checking account or even a low-interest bank savings account. Rather, put the money into a high interest savings account (like an ING savings), money market fund, or other forms of short term high interest investments with a fixed return.

3. If you have an employer matching 401K plan, maximize your contributions, so that you double your money!

4. Set aside 10% of your paycheck towards some form of long term savings account, like a money market account, mutual fund, retirement plan, or 401K.  As you pay amount increases, your contribution will also increase automatically. 10% will also ensure that you stay ahead of inflation.

5. One of the best investments you can make is to first pay off all your high credit card debts. Credit cards typically carry a high interest rate and by paying off these debts, you get one of the best returns available which also is tax-free.

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So you have a job and you make money. Is it enough to cover all your expenses? Is it enough to put aside some money towards your retirement? What about those credit card debts, home mortgages, and travel expenses coming up? What about starting a family, paying for your children’s education? Have you already started planning for retirement? What steps have you taken?  Perhaps you have consulted with retirement planning services and professionals or found some online sources for financial planning software and retirement planning tools.

Ok, so we have raised a number of questions and hopefully sparked some ideas and thoughts in your mind. Our last podcast introduced the topic of financial freedom and how the resources learned from our community can be shared with our listeners. The ultimate goal being that we can use this information to achieve financial success in our lives. Read the rest of this entry »

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