No-Secret Income Strategies

We recently started doing some offline marketing for some of our financial products. Before I went full time on the Internet in 1997, I had been doing mail order biz for years (since the time I was about 15 years old).

What I’ve noticed is that a lot of the big online marketers are tying in offline promotions as well. It really is a great idea, and we had done some offline marketing to drive traffic to our sites, but we are going to be hitting this in a BIG way this year!

When it comes to offline marketing, there is nothing I like more than the good old post card. A post card does not have to be opened. It is easy to stick into your pocket and carry to your desk or office.

Post cards can help even brick and mortar businesses generate traffic (and sales) too. The problem is that many business owners (online and off) don’t know anything about marketing with post cards.

Did you know that you can easily have cards printed and mailed for you – all online? That you can reach just about any target market with Post Cards?

We are using cards to help our affiliates generate more referral income. Let’s face it, not everyone can master online marketing techniques. They seem to change daily (although the principles stay the same – never ending strategies pop up all the time), and there is no end to it.

Have you tried any (or all) of the following:

* Search Engine Optimization (an uphill battle to say the least)

* Pay Per Click Campaigns (can be Expensive)

* Article Marketing (though many think they can – not everyone is a writer)

* Traffic Programs & Schemes (these change weekly)

* Ezine Advertising

* Email List Marketing

* You Tube & Video Traffic Tips

* Social Networks (Twitter, Myface etc)

The list goes on and on! Who has that kinda time? I’m a full time online marketer and teacher and I can’t keep up with it all! I can’t imagine anyone who is working a full-time job, and trying to get a net biz going too, mastering the online marketing trade.

However, any idiot (myself included) can mail a card! You really only need to master 1 or 2 things with post cards:

1) Mailing Lists

If you master the strategies of finding good lists to mail to, and how to match them up with your offer, you could even have a bad card and still generate traffic and make money. You may already have a list of customers or clients to mail to. It could be a pot of gold for you!

2) Create a Good Card

I am assuming that you already know how to put a stamp on a card (and if you don’t, you can get it done for you all online) and drop it in the mail. If you have a good offer on your card, you would be surprised how ugly the card can be and still work (for some markets the ugly card may actually pull better).

Of course, you will need some type of follow-up system and a good product or service to offer.

Here is the message of a post card that has pulled well for us:

this post card can generate investment capital for you

There you have it. That simple card is has been drawing folks to our site. Have you thought of using offline marketing to draw in traffic? If you have, don’t overlook the powerful post card! To see the offer on the card click here.

After the melt down in the stock market, many of the millions of baby boomers who are now retiring (or close to it) are looking for a solid retirement vehicle. How would you like to own Guaranteed Retirement Contracts?

If the market tanks, you get paid. If the market goes nowhere, you get paid. If the market goes up, you get paid even more. Some of these contracts have paid as much as 11% on your money.

What’s more, You can start collecting large monthly paychecks right away. If you are at all worried about the stock market, and you are looking for an investment that will send you a paycheck every month, no matter what happens with the economy or markets, these contracts are definitely something you should consider.

Barron’s calls these unique investments, “The new way to retire.” And Money Magazine stated that these contracts, “will become the retirement investing rage.” The Journal of Financial Planning said that these contracts, “could be a magic bullet.”

The monthly checks you receive are guaranteed, not only by a cash-rich U.S. firm, but also by the state government in which the company operates.

If you want to guarantee a lucrative paycheck every single month, no matter what happens in the markets or the economy, this could be the perfect investment answer for you!

So what is this unusual investment that can guarantee you a nice check every month no matter what the market does? Indexed Annuities. There are different types of annuity contracts you can buy, but the indexed version is your best option in my opinion. Why? Because it is tied to the market when the market is rising, and reverts back to a guaranteed interest plan when the market is dropping. You get the best of both worlds! Why worry about another drop in the market when you can benefit ONLY from up moves?

Most people don’t realize that every state has a state guaranty fund that backs annuity contracts. This state fund will kick in and pay you should the insurance company who sold you the contract go out of business. Normally the guaranty fund insures your annuity (and life insurance contracts) up to $100,000.

So there you have it, a Guaranteed Retirement Vehicle with an Indexed Annuity. Be sure to get my new Video Course and learn more about this and other Rock Solid income streams.

While most countries on earth were experiencing melt down in 2008, our friends down under never really went into the recession cycle. Yes, during unprecedented global and economic strife, Australia stayed largely unaffected.

Sure, they had a slow down, but it did not qualify as a recession. The good news now for investors and traders is that, unlike many countries, the economy down under is growing!

The housing market in Australia was also largely untouched during the downturn. While the American housing market is trying to find its footing, Australian home prices are making new highs! This is causing consumers there to feel confident as their net worth is growing. Also, the population of Australia is growing at a record pace. This means the housing market looks good for possibly years to come!

The Australian government, like many around the world, provided a stimulus plan to help improve the economy. The big difference is that the government there could afford to do so.

Probably the most attractive aspect for investors is the trade that Australia has with Asia. The resource rich nation has long been a favorite supplier to nearby China. This and many other factors has investors strongly eyeing down under plays.

Here are a few simple ways for you to invest in Australia.

First a couple ETF plays:

iShares MSCI Australia Index (EWA)

For more up-to-date information on this Fund see:

http://seekingalpha.com/symbol/ewa

You could also get a look at their holdings if you wanted to invest in individual companies.

Here is an ETF that invests in Australian currency:

CurrencyShares Australian Dollar Trust (FXA)

The Australian dollar has been one of the world’s strongest currencies lately.

Here is a possible over the counter play (at the time of this writing it is not very liquid, but that could soon change) on the Asciano Group. The company owns the largest railroad freight carrier in Australia. They transport commodities like iron and coal, as well as grain and construction material. While they had a tough year in 2008, there are good signs of strong growth for the firm.

ASCIANO GROUP (AANOF.PK)

I like AANOF up to $1.85 per share. I could see you fairly quickly doubling your money on this one. You can also buy the stock in Australia (ASX: AIO), but that could be more of a hassle.

Do you like energy? If so, one of the largest suppliers down under is actually and American company based in St. Louis, Missouri. Peabody Energy is also active in China and India.

Peabody Energy Corp. (BTU)

There you have it. My Top 4 plays from Down Under

This little-known, rising-star asset class has created quite a buzz lately. At least for those in-the-know investors who have heard of them (again, very few investors have). You are ahead of the rush that will surely come toward MLPs by reading this.

In this article we will cover some basics on Master Limited Partnerships (MLPs), and the tax planning issues involved.

Unlike corporations, MLPs pay no corporate-level tax. The partnership company passes the majority of their income to investors.

MLP investors are actually just what the name implies, partners in the public company (technically you are called a “Unit Holder” or a Limited Partner). MLP ownership is measured in units (not shares as with stocks). The quarterly income payments are called distributions (not dividends). Distributions are usually 80-90% tax free, because as a partner you share the income and expense depreciation.

Because of this depreciation allowance, 80-90% of the income payments you receive from a typical MLP is considered a return of capital by the IRS. Which means you won’t pay taxes immediately on that 80-90% of the income. The other 10 or 20% will be taxed at your normal earned-income rate.

This tax treatment actually can cause a few issues for investors. MLPs are not normally recommended as investments for your IRA. However, there are now a few ETFs that are primarily investing in MLPs, and paying dividends out to investors. Since the ETF is a normal corporation, it does pay taxes and issues 1099s and NOT K-1’s (which is what you will get as an MLP unit holder).

Since MLPs allow investors to defer 80-90% of their personal income tax liability for years, or possibly indefinitely, you probably want to get the help of a competent CPA or tax advisor. In addition to the tax deferred issue, you may be required to file state taxes in the states where your MLP does business (this may not affect you at all unless you are a major player).

But don’t let that scare you off. The tax hassle is well worth the benefits! With many MLPs you can earn well over 10% on your money (again with 80-90% tax deferred) in quarterly distribution checks. Where else can you get that kind of return? The unit price (like a rising stock) can add even more to your yield. I’m not a big fan of the buy and hold strategy, but these are investments you may want to hold many years for Rock-Solid income!

Your favorite tax software will walk you through the whole tax issue fairly quickly. MLPs send K-1 tax forms around March 15 (as do LLCs), and the whole K-1 process was recently made clearer by the IRS.

MLPs trade on the major exchanges just like any stock. They can be purchased easily through your online discount broker at the same low commissions you pay to buy any stock.

However, getting information on MLPs can be difficult. Currently there is no official clearing house of information on these little-known securities. You have to do your homework to find them. (get my Video Course “How To Analyze Anything” and discover free online tools to find all the MLP info you need)

Here are a couple ETFs you might look at that invest in MLPs:

JP MORGAN ALERIAN ETF (AMJ)

KYE is a Kayne Anderson fund that holds shares of KYN, an MLP.

Here are a couple of my current favorite MLPs:

Plains All American Pipeline LP (PAA)
Enterprise Products Partners LP (EPD)

I recently got a teaser email that was touting a 401(r) royalty check. First let me share with you some highlights about this investment that for the most part is true, and then I’ll tell you what a 401(r) check really is. Here are a few points the email (from our friends at Personal Finance) was touting:

Not many Americans have heard of this secret money strategy.

Unlike IRA or 401(k) plans, 401(r) lets you draw checks at any time, at any age and with no income requirements of any kind. I strongly believe that every man, woman and child should be taking advantage of this strategy.

Paychecks can be $10,000, $20,000, $50,000 or more Depending on your particular situation. The best news is, they are largely tax free (you may have to pay tax on 10 – 20% of the money)!

These normally aren’t publicized like traditional IRA or 401(k) retirement plans. Perhaps that is why so few know anything about them.

In a recent article, Kiplinger’s Personal Finance pointedly said of this investment “a hidden asset class that Wall Street hasn’t awoken to.”

This amazing asset can give you a nearly tax-free income you can start collecting at any time.

Forbes magazine said that they are “a good place to be during this market funk. They offer good yields, tax breaks and strong growth potential.”

Barron’s stated, these income streams are a “pay off for taxpayers… offering double-digit returns today.”

“Enjoy largely untaxed income”
—Forbes Magazine

OK, so what exactly are 401(r) Royalty payments? Why are they the best place for your savings now? How can you get your name on the list to start getting paid this mostly tax-free income?

Actually I think the 401(r) is a play on the Royalty word. There is no such section in the IRS code that I can find. The 401 section ends with (o). What they are really pushing is MLPs. I have written about them before many times, and am really fond of the investment vehicle!

Actually with MLPs you are deferring the taxes, and you will have to pay them later. However, you can defer them for a long time and maybe even pass your MLPs onto your heirs.

If you’re  not familiar with MLPs, they are publicly traded partnerships called Master Limited Partnerships. They focus mainly on the energy arena. Primarily dealing with natural resources like coal and oil. Most of the large and stable MLPs are pipeline companies. They are set up similarly to REITs. MLPs pay no corporate tax as long as they pass along essentially all of their income to unitholders (the limited partners, those who own shares of the MLP). MLPs Generally pass along a lot more money than they make, and you can defer your taxes on a lot of it. Of course, “no taxes” and “deferred taxes” are very different. Check with your tax advisor.

MLPs can be somewhat difficult to get info on. Check out my new “How To Analyze Anything” video course for simple strategies to use free online tools to learn all you need to know about MLPs (and much more). To get your Free MLP Report go here.