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Posted by Mark Pokorny November 30, 2017
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How Do I Bounce Back from a Foreclosure Threat?

How Do I Bounce Back from a Foreclosure Threat?

If you were recently on the brink of foreclosure or if you are facing this possibility today, you understandably want to take necessary steps to secure your personal financial health. Your goals may be to protect your assets and to hopefully stay in your home. In some cases, homeowners can accomplish all of these goals, but you should set realistic expectations about the possibilities. These are some of the important steps that you could take to get back on track.

Adjust Your Budget

There are many reasons why you may have fallen behind on your mortgage payments, such as the loss of a job or a serious illness. Regardless of the cause, you must actively take steps to improve your finances as soon as possible. If you do not already have a budget, now is the time to make one. After you have created your budget, take a good look at it. Are there areas you can cut back in? Are you saving enough money to avoid another disaster? Remember that shaving $20 here and $50 there may not sound like a lot. However, when you analyze each separate expense with the goal of reducing it in some way, you can potentially save hundreds of dollars or more each month.

Talk to Your Lender

If you have not already done so, you need to reach out to your lender. Renegotiating your mortgage is a possibility, but you need to discuss your situation with your lender to determine if a new structure for your loan can be established. If not, you may be able to qualify for one of the housing assistance or mortgage relief programs. According to Dickson Frolich, one of the best programs for restructuring your mortgage is the federal government’s Housing Affordability and Stability Program that aims to help people who owe more than their home is worth. Speak with a mortgage broker for information about these programs and to determine if you qualify.

Think About Moving

You may want to stay in the home that you know and love, but this is not always possible. If your house is foreclosed on, you could lose all of the equity that you have established in it. When you sell the home before the foreclosure occurs, you could retain your equity. In addition, you can avoid having a foreclosure reported on your credit report. This negative mark on your credit report could affect your ability to get financing for years to come.

A pending foreclosure is a serious matter that requires your prompt and devoted attention. When you take thoughtful and strategic steps quickly, you may be able to reposition the situation so that you can enjoy the best results possible.




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Posted by Martin November 25, 2017
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Why Bitcoin is a mania and fake currency, faker than the dollar


Bitcoin had a tremendous run in the last year or two. Unfortunately, it is creating a fake sense of mastering the world of investing and invincibility. Many people entering into Bitcoin think that they mastered investing and nothing can go wrong because they have a strong understanding how to invest, that bitcoin is a new future, amazing technology, and it cannot be controlled by any government.
 

They dismiss any warning or criticism by saying that we do not understand bitcoin and thus cannot see what they see.
 

I do not consider myself an investing or trading guru. I started investing and trading in 2006, so 11 years ago. It cost me a lot of money learning the hard way how the market works. But I know one thing for sure and to know it no one needs to be a guru: it doesn’t matter what you are involved in, the trading/investing principles will always be same.
 

It is shocking to see how many ignorant people are now involved in buying bitcoin with no understanding those same principles which cost me tons of money in the past learning them. And I can see them doing the exact same mistakes, same ignorance, same arrogance.
 

Many bitcoiners access purchasing BTC with no rules nor strategy because they think they do not need any. “Bitcoin is different, it is not a rigged stock” they say. Many invest with no slight clue of what they are doing. Many invested in about a year ago or less, now they are sitting on nice gains, and they think they are now gurus of trading. They advertise and try to sell you more bitcoins because they get referrals. And they deeply believe that this is exactly how investing or trading world works. It is that easy! You buy a bitcoin, sit a bit, and turn it into huge gains. Almost like when people were buying several houses to flip them in a month for huge profits…
 

When was it? Ah, about 10 years ago, in 2008. A sad thing is that many bitcoiners were born in or after 2008 or were too young (5 or 6 years old) to grasp what was going on around them with the housing market. They do not have the knowledge. So telling them that what they are doing resembles the housing bubble means nothing to them.
 

Bitcoiners confuse demand in BTC with value and consider BTC undervalued at any level. When I asked them where is the value of BTC and whether they consider it undervalued or overvalued all of them (ALL!!) said that “bitcoin is still undervalued because it is a new technology, new economy, new world, new currency which cannot be controlled by any government. And the value is in iut because people think so and they want BTC and because they want BTC it is the value of it”.
 

How naive!

This will not end well.

The more I listen to bitcoiners praising BTC the more I see another resemblance with dot com bubble. Back then, investors too believed in a new technology, internet companies changing the world, they too were considered not to be regulated by the evil government because they could operate via free internet. And once again, the bitcoiners dismiss this argument too. Bitcoin is different. Well, it is not. It is not. And this mania will end one day. And it will not end well.
 

Here is a simplified look at what bitcoiners have wrong:

 
USD

JNJ

dot com

btc
 

Bitcoiners have two choices, they would either listen to others and approach BTC with caution or keep fooling themselves.

 




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Posted by Mark Pokorny November 17, 2017
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5 Red Flags to Look for in Real Estate Investments

5 Red Flags to Look for in Real Estate Investments

Depending on the circumstances, real estate can have enormous investment potential or be a complete disaster that drags you down financially. The key is knowing when a property has potential or screams disaster. Fortunately, there are some red flags you can look for to help you figure it out.

No hard data

If you’re buying an investment property to rent out, you’ll want details about the neighborhood. How many other homes are rentals, how many are vacant, what’s the crime rate, etc.? If you can’t get these details from the seller, consider it a sign that the neighborhood probably isn’t one you want to invest.

The math doesn’t make sense

You want to make money on this property. Naturally, you’re going to try to talk the seller down on the price, especially if it’s been on the market for a while. If they refuse to budge, ask yourself why. If the price is already higher than you’d expect, and they’re not budging, you should walk away.

High maintenance

On paper, it looks like a significant investment. But when you look at it with your own eyes, you see all the investments you’d have to make in repairs and upgrades before you could even begin to turn a profit. There’s nothing wrong with making a couple of repairs or updates to a new property. However, if there’s a lot of work to be done (especially if it’s work that’s not included in the advertisement), it’s probably not worth your time or money.

Bad or poor neighborhood

It might be a high crime rate. Maybe it’s bad schools. Or maybe it’s a neighborhood that’s in a very rural area with a long drive to anything. Whatever it is, if the neighborhood has a reputation for being unsafe, bad, or otherwise undesirable, that reputation won’t go away anytime soon. You can’t throw enough money at that property to make it worthwhile.

Government is not landlord-friendly

They may require annual inspections, special permits, or have created eviction laws that are so strict that you practically can’t evict a problem tenant. Whatever it is, it may be more hassle than it’s worth.

A qualified real estate lawyer can also help you with all of these red flags. Hiring a good lawyer can ensure that, whether your gut tells you something’s wrong or not, you don’t end up getting in over your head.

 




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Posted by Mark Pokorny November 16, 2017
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What’s Responsible For The MLM Explosion in the United States?

What's Responsible For The MLM Explosion in the United States?

Social security had a deficit of 68 billion dollars last year. They collected less than they needed to pay for overhead and benefits. Could this explain why thousands of individuals in the U.S are signing up as distributors in MLM companies every week? Below are reasons people join MLM brands like doTERRA and Cutco:

 

Escape from 9-5 Drudgery

Some people don’t find satisfaction in their 9-5 jobs. This is why, according to Workplace Psychology, results-only work environments have been growing in popularity since 2001. MLM companies encourage distributors to aim at personal financial independence. While a majority of those who join MLM companies fail, there’re some who succeed. People who work hard and do the MLM business right may one day afford to quit their jobs.

 

Desire to be Self Employed

Almost every employee dreams of becoming their own boss someday. Some professionals start side businesses while still employed. But running a small business while holding down a full-time job can be challenging. MLM companies such as Mary Kay Inc. and NuSkin can help you start your inventory with minimal startup capital. Moreover, MLM corporations own systems that handle many business operational aspects for their marketers, making them attractive options for hedging against risk. Sole proprietors in traditional businesses usually manage everything and incur all the accompanying risk personally. Even when a major brand is providing you with a lot of assistance, though, you still need to be careful about how you manage cash and investments in order to keep the sales pipe flowing.

 

Make Money

There’re two ways you can make money in MLM. First, you can make money selling the MLM Company’s products. Second, you can make money when your underlines sell products. You, therefore, have to recruit like-minded people into your organization continually. Failure happens a lot, and many quit. Those who endure can make considerable amounts of money in MLM brands.

 

Desire for Personal Freedom

Full-time distributors work for themselves. There’s no manager to give orders. Distributors draw their schedules. Furthermore, direct marketers manage their time. Independent-minded individuals might find the MLM model suitable for their personality.

 

Networking Opportunities

Network marketing offers new distributors an opportunity to meet and interact with successful direct sellers. Successful distributors may inspire you and other marketers down the multilevel structure to work harder and become successful too. Additionally, you could become friends with some of the network marketers you will meet.

 

Having a well-paying job is nice, but there’s a lot of economic uncertainty today. Relying on one income could be risky. Fortunately, there are many ways to create as many income streams as possible. But success in the network marketing industry requires hard work and dedication.  Once you’re making serious dough, you’re going to need help investing it wisely. You need someone in your corner to help you understand and execute on investment strategies. Let me be in your corner.




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Posted by Martin November 15, 2017
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Transportation index (DJT) points to economy slowdown, so they say…


Transportation index (DJT) is usually considered a good indicator of the US economy.
 

An old say goes – “manufacturing makes, transportation takes”. Transportation is considered a leading indicator and usually slows down first before we notice in any major indexes or economic reports.
 

Some investors use DJT for economic forecasting.
 

There is however a major issue with this. Even transportation works in waves. You have weeks or months of slowdowns and weeks or months of strong transportation demand. Saying that we are in trouble because DJT is in decline may not show the entire picture.
 
It is definitely a concern to pay attention to but not to panic and close all your position or go 100% cash.
 
Below is a chart showing DJT in correlation with DOW (violet color) and S&P 500 (blue color). As you can see, we saw three slowdowns in DJT and three times the markets responded to it. But then the index rebounded and the markets saw another all time high rally.
 
So add the overall economic growth (GDP reached 3% for the first time in a decade) and you will see that this is probably just a dip.
 
I added 5 year and 20 year charts for perspective. As you can see, the transportation is still growing well and there is no concern over the economy and its growth. Of course, it may change all on a dime so keep an eye on it but do not overreact.

 
S&P 500 intraday

S&P 500 intraday

S&P 500 intraday
 




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Posted by Martin November 15, 2017
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Those were the days


There are days when you don’t want to have too many trades on. Today is one of those days. S&P500 was down 20 points in the morning (it recovered all morning losses already, or almost all).
 

Selling like this have negative impact on the comfort of your trading. So if you have too many trades on, short on available cash (or God forbid all in) days like today will crush your mood significantly. When you wake up in the morning and see all your positions red you will start panicking and acting irrationally (if this ever happens to you, than before you touch your keyboard, close the computer and go outside. Go away from it and forget that there is any Wall Street out there. It’s not worth it to act under a heart attack…
 

So, stay small. Set a limit of how much money you can commit to trading and do not exceed that limit. No matter how tempting it may be to open yet another trade. Set a limit which will make you comfortable. Start with 10% for example and as you gain confidence, add a bit more to it. But never exceed that limit. Unless you are happy to lose all your money.
 

S&P 500 intraday

S&P 500 intraday
 




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Posted by Martin November 11, 2017
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IRA positions November 10th 2017


AAPL call spread
 

AAPL put spread
 

AAPL put spread
 

ABBV put
 

BA Iron Condor
 

BAC Put spread
 

COF put roll
 

DPZ call spread
 

DPZ put spread
 

SPX call addition
 

SPX iron condor
 

Closed positions
 

 

SPX iron condor
 

COF roll
 

AMZN spread closed
 




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Posted by Mark Pokorny November 10, 2017
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Going Bankrupt Over Medical Bills: What are Your Options?

Going Bankrupt Over Medical Bills: What are Your Options?

Medical debt is one of the most common causes of bankruptcy. With the ever-rising costs of medical care, more and more people find themselves in debt for a variety of medical procedures. Medical debt is not only a problem for those without insurance. In fact, many people who have medical insurance have ended up in bankruptcy court due to deductibles, copays, and the expense of medical care that is not covered by insurance. For those feeling buried in medical debt, there are a number of different bankruptcy options to consider.

Chapter 7

Chapter 7 bankruptcy wipes away all a person’s unsecured debts which according to bankruptcy attorneys, makes it the most common type of bankruptcy filed in the United States. This includes medical debt. All debts are included together, and there is no distinction between medical and other types of owed money. There are certain income guidelines that people need to meet to qualify for Chapter 7 bankruptcy. The income guidelines vary depending on geographic location and based upon the average income in the area and the local cost of living. The court will consider a person’s income and debt amounts to make a decision whether or not to allow the debts to be discharged.

 

Chapter 13

In Chapter 13 bankruptcy, the court looks at both a debtor’s debt and income to determine a new debt amount. The court then also sets up a payment plan for the debtor. Medical debt can be discharged or reduced in a Chapter 13 bankruptcy. It is important to note that the amount of debt that can be discharged in a chapter 13 bankruptcy is capped at an amount that changes periodically. However, the limit is quite large at about $400,000.

 

Debt Settlement

For those who have some ability to pay, debt settlement may be an option to consider. Debt settlement involves negotiating with the creditors to lower the amount of debt that is owed. This is a common practice with medical debt, but it is not always easy to do. Settlement is particularly difficult when the debt is owed to various creditors.

 

The decision as to whether to file for bankruptcy or not, and what type of bankruptcy to pursue can be a difficult one. However, an experienced attorney can help to make an informed decision based upon specific needs. An experienced bankruptcy attorney will be familiar with the local laws and regulations and can provide a wealth of knowledge to help those who are in debt to make the right decision. No matter what medical situation you face, paying it all back is possible, and bankruptcy can be a good route to go when overwhelmed with payments.




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Posted by Martin November 07, 2017
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Capital One (COF) roll down and out


My original trade in COF is slowly turning against me. Today, COF dropped down by 2.36% and there is a higher chance that the selling may continue.
 

Although, the trade has 70% POP and 2 days to expiration I decided to move the trade out and down.
 

I am trying to spread my trades to have expiration every week and as of today, I have expiration on every Friday in November. My next “free” expiration is in December 8th so that is the expiration week I will try to roll this trade.
 

Here is the original trade link:
 

https://www.facebook.com/groups/putdividends/permalink/1999065260361711/
 

With this roll, I am lowering my current 89.50 put strike down to 87.50 put (which sits at the support) and move the trade into December 8th.
 

COF adjustment
 

COF adjustment 1
 

COF adjustment 2
 




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Posted by Martin November 07, 2017
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Sold Domino Pizza (DPZ) vertical (IRA)


Entering a new trade for tomorrow morning using DPZ:
 

STO 1 DPZ Dec15 150.00 put
BTO 1 DPZ Dec15 120.00 put
@ 0.50 credit limit
 

DZP vertical
 

The trade executed this morning for 0.50 credit.
 




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