Why take a chance on having just one designer create and capture the logo you want when you can have dozens competing to win the right to create it for you.  Here’s a revolutionary online service that let’s you do just that!

As Simple As 1-2-3

LogoTournament is one of the coolest online services I’ve seen in a long while.  It essentially allows you to create a contest for money (minimum prize is $250) to see who can create the logo that best fits the design, look and feel you want to capture.  And it couldn’t be easier as there are only three steps:

1. Fill out a logo questionnaire and set the prize amount – this is where you briefly describe your company and the style of logo you want by moving 12 different style sliders to help you describe precisely the look and feel of your company or service branding;
2. Designers submit their logo ideas – almost immediately, talented designers from around the world will start submitting finished logo ideas.  You can also provide additional feedback to further tweak the ones you feel are the closest to what you are looking for;
3. Select a winner and download your logo file – payment is made via Paypal or credit card.

LogoTournament is a form of “crowdsourcing” at its highest level.  As I’ve said for over 15 years, there is an incredible (and growing) pool of talent available to all of us for very reasonable prices and the Internet is our gateway to those resources.

View this 7 minute video which explains the connection between interest rates & mortgage backed securities. For those who monitor interest rates - this video highlights why one cannot rely on the media! It also describes how the Federal Reserve works - and what they are doing to keep interest rates low.

Ultimately anyone "interest rate shopping" or looking for home financing must work with a Mortgage Professional who understands the importance of not just watching mortgage backed securities, but gives great guidance.

Your credit history can determine whether you get a good job, a decent apartment or reasonable rates on insurance. If you're just starting out, you have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to build a credit history the right way. Here's what to do, and what to avoid.

#1: Check your credit report

You'll first want to see what, if anything, lenders are saying about you. That kind of information is contained in your credit report at each of the three major bureaus: Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. Credit reports are used to create your credit score, the three-digit number lenders typically use to gauge your creditworthiness. Lenders also may look at the report itself, as may the landlords, employers and insurance companies who use credit to evaluate applicants.

#2: Establish checking and savings accounts

Lenders see these accounts as signs of stability. Opening checking and savings account is also one of the few things you can do as a minor to start building a financial history.

#3: Understand the basics of credit scoring

You need to know that the two most important factors in your score are:

• Whether you pay your bills on time.
• How much of your available credit you actually use.

It's essential that you pay all your bills on time, all the time. Set up automatic payments or reminder systems so that you're never, ever late. Keeping your credit use to less than 30% of your credit limits will help you get the best possible credit score.

#4: Apply for credit while you're a college student

It turns out that there's no easier time to get a card than while you're a college student. Look for a card with a low or nonexistent annual fee and low interest rates. Opening a slew of credit accounts in a short period of time can make you look like a risky customer.

#5: Apply for a secured credit card

If you can't get a regular credit card, apply for the secured version. These require you to deposit money with a lender; your credit limit is usually equal to the deposit.
Ideally, the card you pick would:

• Have no application fee and a low annual fee
• Convert to a regular, unsecured credit card after 12 to 18 months of on-time payments
• Be reported to all three credit bureaus - If it doesn’t, the card won't help build your credit history.

#6: Get a finance company card

Gas companies and department stores that issue charge cards typically use finance companies, rather than major banks, to handle the transactions. These cards don't do as much for your credit score as a bank card (Visa, MasterCard, Discover, etc.), but they're usually easier to get.

#7: Get an installment loan

To get the best credit score, you need a mix of different credit types including revolving accounts (credit cards, lines of credit) and installment accounts (auto loans, personal loans, mortgages). Once you've had and used plastic responsibly for a year or so, consider applying for a small installment loan from your credit union or bank. Keeping the duration short -- no more than a year or two -- will help you build credit while limiting the amount of interest you pay.

#8: Use revolving accounts lightly but regularly

For a credit score to be generated, you have to have had credit for at least six months, with at least one of your accounts updated in the past six months. Using your cards regularly should ensure that your report is updated regularly. It also will keep the lender interested in you as a customer. If you get a credit card and never use it, the issuer could cancel the account.
Just remember the credit tips mentioned earlier:
• Don't charge more than 30% of the card's limit.
• Don't charge more than you can pay off in a month. As mentioned earlier, you don't have to pay interest on a credit card to get a good credit score, and it's a smart financial habit to pay off your credit cards in full each month.
• Make sure you pay the bill, and all your other bills, on time.

The reaction from consumers was loud and angry and Congressional representatives responded by passing pro-consumer legislation under The Credit Card Act of 2009. While tighter restrictions on credit card companies is a good thing, don't be fooled into thinking that all the credit card mess has been solved.

Many of the changes do not take effect until February 2010 and until then some credit card companies continue to exploit their customers, even the ones with good credit. You'll need to remain vigilant and closely monitor your credit card activity.

Avoid late fees. Many card companies have significantly increased fees for late payment. If you mail in your payment, be sure to mail it early enough to get there on time.

On two recent occasions, I mailed payments that I thought allowed ample time to arrive by the deadline only to find out they "posted" my payment one day late. The result - a $39 late payment fee. One solution is to go online on the due date to be certain your payment was received. If not, you can pay immediately online to avoid the penalty.

Keep your cards active. Because of the financial crunch, many card companies are terminating cards of customers who are not using their credit card. The reason? The company has extended you credit that you are not using and because of the financial crisis, they are under pressure to reduce the amount of credit they have extended. Since they are not making any money on you, terminating your credit becomes their best solution.

Your best move is to use your credit cards but pay off your balance every month, on time. Think of it as an extension of your checking account rather than a source for borrowing money you don't have.

Shred those "convenience" checks. These are the blank checks that your credit card sends you and encourages you to use to pay off bills or treat yourself to a trip to the mall.

First, the checks are nothing more than an advance against your credit card and carry very high transaction fees and often much higher interest rates.
There is no "grace period," meaning interest is calculated from the moment you use the check and you lose protections that go with credit card purchases granted under the Fair Credit Billing Act such as refunds for defective merchandise.

You also don't receive bonus or reward points such as free airline tickets.
Shred them so they don't fall into dishonest hands, or even better, contact your credit card company and tell them not to send them in the future.

Credit cards continue to be a useful tool in your money toolbox. They help establish and build your credit, are a convenient method of paying for goods and services without having to carry large amounts of cash, and can provide reward points that you can use for free purchases such as airline tickets.

Solid Second Half Sends Bears to 73-63 Win at Saint Louis

The win gave Missouri State a 10-0 record for the first time since 1996-97 and just the second time in its Division I era.

Mallett's point output was a career best as the Bears improved their overall lead in the series against SLU to 16-7.

After holding a narrow 31-28 lead at the half, the Bears stormed out of the locker room with a 10-2 run to start the second half and quickly gain an 11-point advantage less than four minutes into the second period.

The Bears improved their lead to 13 with 10:12 to play on a three-pointer by Adam Leonard, his second of the game, to pull ahead 51-38. However, the Billikens (7-4) used a flurry of three-pointers that began at the 9:47 mark to pull within 53-49 at the 7:09 mark on Christian Salecich's second three of the half.

The Bears retaliated with a pair of jumpers by Adam Leonard and one by Caleb Patterson and regained a double-figure lead, 59-49 with 5:44 to play. Clutch free throw shooting down the stretch secured the win, Missouri State's ninth by a double-figure margin.

Cuonzo Martin's team made 26-of-30 (.867) free throws in the game and fired at a 52.2-percent clip in the second half to finish 22-for-50 (.440).

Weems added 11 for the Bears to extend his double-figure scoring streak to 11 straight games, while Will Creekmore scored 10, including 4-of-4 from the line.

Saint Louis was led by Willie Reed's 19 points, while Salecich and Justin Jordan contributed 15 apiece. The Billikens were 20-for-51 (.392) from the field and 18-of-23 (.783) at the line.

Missouri State closes out its non-conference schedule Tuesday at Arkansas (6-5) for a 7:05 p.m. start.

In the first half, the Bears were able to convert 9-of-11 free throws to help overcome a poor shooting performance, making just 10-of-27 (.370) from the field and just 2-of-11 (.182) from three-point range.

The Bears fought off a brief Billikens' 12-11 lead at the 12:12 mark with a 12-4 run that included buckets by Weems, Mallett and Leonard and eventually led 31-28 at the break.

Missouri State's best-ever season starts:

• 1948-49 - 21-0
• 1957-58 - 19-0
• 1950-51 - 13-0
• 1947-48 - 12-0
• 1958-59 - 12-0
• 1949-50 - 10-0
• 1996-97 - 10-0

Now that we’re closing in on the end of 2009 — and most people will be glad to bid good riddance to an economically brutal year — many experts are making their predictions for 2010.

Lawrence Yun, the chief economist for the National Association of Realtors, recently released his predictions for next year’s real estate market. Of course, many consumers roll their collective eyes at this, since he's an expert on the payroll of an organization that has a vested interest in keeping information upbeat. And Yun is often broiled in comments from real estate bears.

Yun, however, is a respected economist, and while one may want to take his predictions in context, he’s had a pretty decent track record. One problem with economics is that the average person thinks it’s an exact science because it appears to be all about numbers. You add, you subtract, you divide, you multiply…how hard can it be?

In fact, economics is a very divisive field because it can be much more subjective than objective. When it comes to economics, numbers are a matter of interpretation.

So, before looking at Yun’s predictions for 2010, let’s see how he did in 2009. In his forecast released in October 2008, Yun wasn’t perfect, but it would be difficult to find an economist who was.

For 2009, Yun predicted existing home sales would rise and hit 5.4 million and new homes sales would fall under 500,000. On these counts, Yun was on target. In September, existing home sales were at an annual rate of 5.54 million. That spiked to an annual rate of 6.10 million in October, which Yun is crediting to the first-time home buyer tax credit. New home sales were on an annual pace of 430,000 units in October.

On the downside, Yun saw unemployment peaking at 6.7 percent mid-year and “steadily heading down” after that. Of course, we now know that unemployment peaked at 10.2 percent in October.

A look ahead

Now on to 2010 a synopsis of what Yun predicts:

• He sees the extended home buyers tax credit creating more demand and predicts a 20 percent increase in sales over the first half of the year as compared to the first half of 2009.

• Yun says this will result in a drop in inventory of homes for sale and that we will see an increase in home values by mid-year. He predicts that the median sales price will increase 2 to 4 percent for the year and that pent-up demand for new homes will lead to a 50 percent spike in sales from historically low levels.

• As any good economist would, Yun is hedging his bets on a couple of key factors. He says sales and price increases are contingent on interest rates staying between 5 and 5.5 percent. Currently, rates are under 5 percent. He also says that the Gross Domestic Product must climb 3 percent for the year for enough jobs to be added to the economy. He says we should see positive job growth in the spring.

Overall, Yun’s predictions are for a year any would take after coming through the dark tunnel that was 2009. Whether he proves correct…well, we’ll have to wait a year to find that out.

Do You Qualify?

You may qualify for a tax credit if:

• You make an eligible energy upgrade in 2009.
• The project meets IRS energy-efficiency standards.
• Your credits won't exceed your total tax liability.

Uncle Sam is offering taxpayers generous incentives to make their residences more energy efficient. Many of the eligible home improvements, such as adding insulation, can earn a tax credit of up to $1,500. More ambitious upgrades, such as installing solar panels, can net a credit worth 30% of the total cost of the project.

Improvements must meet IRS energy-efficiency standards to qualify. Don’t assume an Energy Star label is enough. Sometimes it isn’t. Save receipts and manufacturers’ statements certifying the tax credit-worthiness of the products. The IRS could ask for them. Consult a tax adviser.

Tax credit capped at $1,500

Replace aging windows, HVAC systems, and non-solar water heaters, install efficient biomass stoves, add insulation, or fix a worn roof, and you might collect a tidy credit come tax time. To encourage greater energy efficiency, homeowners can recoup 30% of the cost, up to $1,500, for making any of these qualifying upgrades during 2009 or 2010. Claim the credit for the year in which you complete the project.

The improvements must be made to your existing primary residence to be eligible. You can include the labor costs for HVAC, stove, and water heater installations; only the cost of materials counts for insulation, roofs, and windows (as well as exterior doors and skylights). Ask your contractor for a receipt that itemizes materials and labor. The IRS refers to the tax relief you can get for these projects collectively as the Nonbusiness Energy Property Credit.

Keep in mind that the $1,500 cap applies to all of the projects combined for both years. You can’t claim a $1,500 credit for new windows in 2009 and a separate $1,500 credit for a new furnace in 2010. A $5,000 project would max out the credit.

Uncapped energy tax credit

There’s no cap on tax credits for a handful of residential projects that involve alternative energy sources including solar, geothermal, and wind. That’s good news considering costs can run into five figures for photovoltaic systems (for electricity), solar water heaters, geothermal heat pumps, and small wind turbines. Fuel cells qualify too, though they’re subject to slightly different criteria.

This tax incentive is called the Residential Energy Efficient Property Credit by the IRS. Homeowners can earn it anytime between 2009 and 2016 for the tax year that one of these systems is placed into service. The tax credit, equal to 30% of the project cost, applies to second homes as well as primary residences. New homes are eligible too. A rental property generally is excluded unless it’s a second home that’s only rented out part of the year.

You can use the uncapped tax credit even if you’re using the capped tax credit. In fact, you can claim separate uncapped credits for a wind turbine, a geothermal heat pump, and a solar water heater. Use IRS Form 5695, which has separate pages for capped and uncapped tax credits.

How tax credits work

A tax credit is usually more valuable than a tax deduction because the credit lowers your tax bill—or increases your refund—dollar for dollar. Think of it this way: A $1,500 deduction will save $363 on taxes owed for a married couple filing jointly with an adjusted gross income of $100,000. That same couple would save the full $1,500 with a $1,500 tax credit. Married filing separately taxpayers may be able to take separate $1,500 tax credits.

Residential energy tax credits do have limits. The IRS considers the credits “non-refundable,” which means you can’t claim more in credits than you paid out in federal income taxes. You may be able to carry forward some of your surplus uncapped tax credits to future years.

While Form 5695 shouldn’t take more than an hour or two to complete, it’s a good idea to consult a tax adviser. Credits are gold, so you don’t want to risk missing one. H&R Block’s average fee to prepare a tax return is $187, but cost varies considerably depending on complexity.

This article provides general information about tax laws and consequences, but is not intended to be relied upon by readers as tax or legal advice applicable to particular transactions or circumstances. Readers should consult a tax professional for such advice, and are reminded that tax laws may vary by jurisdiction.