Free Online University Education

Everyone wants something free. Well probably the best thing you could get for free that has some value is an Education. Now thanks to the internet everyone can get a free University education - in just about any discipline you like. However do not expect an accreditation.

Ever hear the expression: "Nothing in Life is Free"? Or, "You get what you pay for?" The trouble with trite expressions is people start to believe them - simply because they are easy to remember. That does not imbue them with verisimilitude. Far from it. The masses swallow what is shoveled down their throat. None the less - it is possible to pick up a lot of valuable items for Free if one searches for them.

While there may be no financial outlay for free stuff the time it takes you to garner the material is what you must pay in order to get it. It is like digging for Free Gold. You buy the implements - pay for the transportation and then provide sweat labor digging in the ground to uninstall your fortune.

When you go surfing it is sort of the same. You do not pay to get there - except you had to find the site. And then you need to click on the various links and follow them to see if they contain what you want. Note also - while the sites are mostly FREE and various people post their items there for FREE - you are not guaranteed anything from anyone for anyone. Why? Simply because you did not pay a dime for getting there.

Also you should know that the world if full of rogues - and if you are looking for free stuff then clearly there is opportunity for the miscreants to endeavor to take advantage of you and of our own Free Site. So beware of anything Free. Therefore please be warned and investigate all that glitters - as it may in fact not be the gold you were expecting to find for free!

There is a plethora of resources from educational institutions such as MIT and Beverly Hills University. They provide free online courses including videos and pdf downloads. Well worth investigating. Do not be concerned about not getting accreditation as the days of the stuffy noses are quickly disappearing. What counts most in an education is "what you learn"!

Cellular Phone Repair

Cell phones have become a necessity for many people through the world. In such a scenario, life seems to come at a halt if there is a fault in your cellular phone and you need a repair.

Until recently, only the manufacturers underook the cellular phone repair job. Opportunities now exist for entrepreneurial individuals to start their own lucrative business, either as an employee of a cellular phone repair shop, or having their own stand-alone cellular phone repair operation.

Some basic steps may be followed if your cell phone is not working properly. First, determine if the problem is with the phone or the battery by replacing the battery. If you can not hear callers, make sure the volume is turned up, the router turned on, or the battery is charged. If these strategies do not work, take your cell phone to a cellular phone repair center.

Nowadays, customers may bring in a faulty phone to any of the cellular phone repair centers. A Work Order Form will be issued, and a deposit towards the cellular phone repair service must be made. An agreement is then signed for receiving a courtesy phone. All cellular phones have a one-year manufacturer's warranty. The cellular phone repair centers will repair or replace phones under warranty as long as the user did not cause any physical damage to the phone. If the warranty has expired, the cellular phone repair center may charge for repairs. Once the cellular phone repair job is over and the phone is returned by the relevant cellular phone repair center, the customer returns the courty phone, makes the final payment and receives the repaired unit. Sometimes it's best to just purchase a new phone, because cellular phone repair costs can be as high as the cost of a new phone.

A cellular phone repair technician has several sophisticated tools and techniques available for the repair job, such as:

Cleaners - They are used in cellular phone repair since they are oxide dissolving contact cleaners. These equipments are used to clean dirty pins in the phone and then aid in cellular phone repair.

Lamps - They are used while doing a cellular phone repair job to protect your eyes when you work. Table lamps come with high-frequency 4200Hz lamp without frequent sparking to avoid harmful effect to eyes, since a lot of work under deficient light at normal 50Hz / 60Hz can cause short eyesight and many eye diseases. It is a very useful tool for people who are doing the cellular phone repair business.

Phone Open Tools - A cellular phone repair job requires opening up of cellular phones. Several tools such as screwdrivers made of magnetic alloy steel can be used for this part of the job.

Programs - Cellular phone repair requires the cellular phone to be unlocked. Not all mobile phones can be unlocked with simple cable. Programming tools can be the only way to repair "death phones", those that have stopped working. A 24xxx chip reader can read and write EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory) in a phone without any problem. Power obtained from USB connection to computer port, serial port is used for reading / writing data during a cellular phone repair job. Programming tools are used in almost every cellular phone repair center.

Ultrasonic Cleaner - It is a device that transfers ultrasonic sound waves to a cleaning liquid or solvent that dislodges embedded dirt on objects immersed in it. The ultrasonic cleaner is used during cellular phone repair to clear the PCB board of cellular phones.

If your phone becomes faulty, do not panic. Just take the basic steps that have been highlighted above. If this does not work out, you can still take your phone to a cellular phone repair center where a cellular phone repair technician can solve your problem.

Top 3 Strategies For Selling Services

Selling services is quite different from selling products, even though some marketers may disagree with me. Therefore, it is important to develop a strong and unique service selling strategy.

Top 3 Strategies for Selling Services:

# 1 Strategy: Focus your service business on a specific segment of customer (for example, the real estate market, doctors, banks, specific industries, etc.). Marketing professional services to a specific customer group must focus on why the customer needs those services and how outsourcing services fulfills the customers needs.

For example, if you are a graphic designer and you target residential property developers as your clients, you need to develop a strategy and approach that communicates why the developer should select you to design his / her project campaign and how your specific services will help sell the project. Focus on what you deliver. Prepare a budget for total cost (not hourly costs); or break your budget down into specific categories, such as advertising - television, newspapers and magazines; signage; and promotional brochures and direct mailing.

# 2 Strategy: Focus your service business on what you, and your business, can deliver. Your customers are buying your skills, your experience, your training and education - in effect, they are buying what you are capable of delivering. Often they are also buying your reputation and credibility: service selling is about building strong relationships. Customers who buy financial, legal, medical, business services need to trust in that relationship. It is challenging to convince customers to switch from another service to you without first building a trust relationship.

If you have staff that are delivering services for your company, your customers are buying the services of your staff. Be careful that you treat your staff well - if they leave, often the customers that they have been working with will also leave.

# 3 Strategy: Focus on pricing your services on a project basis (if possible). Pricing by the hour or showing the cost on a per hour basis often leaves the customer wondering about wasted time or excess billed time. So, when you prepare quotes for your services show the price as an all inclusive price. For example, for legal services for the incorporation of small businesses, quote a flat fee. If you are concerned that you will need to provide extra services at no charge, make sure that you detail what service you provide for that price. And show what the extras might cost as additional notes on the price quote. Most service businesses believe they need to bill for every hour (or quarter hour) spent; but the reality is that if the business builds its price structure correctly than hourly charges can be incorporated into a flat fee structure.

Selling service is like selling a product in one key way: satisfied customers will mean return business and often will mean increased business through referrals. Service businesses are difficult to sell because they're typically owner-dependent, with little in the way of capital equipment (like manufacturers have).

It is more difficult to 'prove' the value of the service you provide because service, by its very nature, is intangible, whereas a product is tangible. When you develop your marketing plan and selling strategy, you need to focus on referrals, on satisfied customers, on samples of your work whatever is most appropriate in your business. You want to, and need to, communicate the quality of your service.

Recognize that selling service in a business-to-business environment is generally a longer cycle than selling products and therefore your selling strategy needs to focus on a strong marketing program. Customers will need more information, more points of contact, and more time to make their buying decision. Selling service in a consumer environment is typically a short cycle (for example, hair styling and cutting). Be consistent with your selling strategy, focus your efforts on strong and relevant business ideas that support the service you are selling. Do the follow-up. Make another contact. Build a communications cycle for your service that makes sense.

Finally, because your success is so dependent on your relationship with your customer and on your ability to satisfies expectations, you need to survey your customers on a regular basis and ensure that they are satisfied with the service you provide.

Top Mobile Apps for Monitoring Health and Fitness

Healthcare costs are rising for consumers and for companies providing health insurance to their employees. One solution many companies have explored to help mitigate healthcare costs has been to encourage individuals to focus on preventative care and overall healthy lifestyle choices. When people develop healthy habits, the need for medical care tends to go down and the amount of money spent on medical care goes with it.

Mobile applications exist for virtually every purpose, including a growing number of apps designed to help individuals monitor their personal health and fitness. Some great examples of these apps can be found for both iOS users and Android users:

• Loseit! (iOS): Loseit! is a free app designed to help users count calories. It also provides nutrition information for many popular restaurants, allowing users to make intelligent choices while dining out. This particular app also allows users to keep track of physical activity, to monitor both caloric intake and calories burned while exercising. Again, this is one of many apps for the purpose of monitoring diet and fitness, and it happens to be free of charge







• iBody (iOS): On the other end of the price spectrum at $9.99, the iBody application provides many of the same functions as the free Loseit! app, but goes much further. Space for recording heart rate and blood pressure can help users maximize the effectiveness of their workouts. These are but two example of a myriad of options available up and down the price scale, so depending on your specific goals and needs there is an app out there that will meet the cost and functionality parameters for which you are looking.







• Endomono Sports Tracker (Android): The Sports Tracker helps users map jogging routes and track distance and average speeds. It also provides audio feedback for every mile/kilometer traveled and a history of users' lap times and music playlists. This app also includes elements of gamification, allowing users to challenge friends to beat their time on routes and share the results of their workouts on Facebook.







• Food & Nutrition (Android): The Food & Nutrition Tracker is helpful when used in conjunction with the Sports Tracker if weight loss is one of your specific goals. This app provides nutrition information on thousands of foods which makes it easy to make decisions that best mesh with your physical activity level as you work to achieve your goals.







• AllSports GPS (Android): If you find using two free apps to be too cumbersome, the AllSports GPS app is $9.99 and it tracks exercise information such as calories burned, distance traveled, and average speed. It also functions as a calorie counter to help keep track of caloric intake. This app is also great for individuals who like to share goals and progress with friends and family.

There are many more apps available than can be discussed here, so rest assured that one or more exists (or will exist soon) to help anyone get healthy and stay healthy. You'll save money in the long run by avoiding many health problems associated with a lack of proper nutrition and exercise. Your body will thank you and perhaps your employer will thank you as well.

Retirement Plan Needs to Address Financial Costs and Burdens of Aging

By the time you hit age 40 you should have saved some money for your future retirement. The problem is too many people forget to protect those retirement funds from the high costs of Long-Term Care. The US Department of Health and Human Services says if you reach the age of 65 you will have a 70% chance of needing some type extended care service. Health insurance, Medicare and supplements will only pay for a small amount of skilled services and only for 100 days. They will pay nothing towards custodial services (help with activities-of-daily living) which most people will need as they age.

Often this means crisis management. Family members become caregivers. Caregiving is hard but when a family member must be a caregiver it adds more dimensions. This usually means the responsibility falls on the lap of a daughter or daughter-in-law. They generally have their own care and family responsibilities. Not to mention the emotional hardship that ties into a family member being a caregiver.

The financial costs and burdens of aging will impact your savings and your family. Affordable LTC insurance will secure your assets and ease the burden that is placed on family.

There are very few true specialists in long-term care insurance. This means you should seek the help of a true Long-Term Care Specialist. This person should have at least three years' experience in Long-Term Care Insurance, represent the major insurance companies and have at least 150 clients with Long-Term Care Insurance.

Most financial advisors and general insurance agents do not have the skills required to design an affordable plan based on your specific needs. Plus, they usually do not understand underwriting requirements which each insurance company uses to determine if they will even offer a policy to you. They generally have never experienced a claim, so they do not have a full understanding of how these policies actually get used at the time of claim.

This is why I assist consumers nationwide using my unique process where a client views my computer screen while we speak on the phone. A number of other top specialists will do the same thing. The key here is asking many detailed questions about your health, family history, retirement plans and concerns. Most financial advisors and general insurance agents may ask only a few questions. This means the recommendations that they may give you are not appropriate and may even cost you more money than it should.

Since they do not deal exclusively in Long-Term Care planning they usually do not understand the products and the positive impacts they can have on your loved ones. They also tend to over-insure. A true Long-Term Care Specialist will make the appropriate recommendations and consumers discover that LTC insurance is very affordable and adds a tremendous amount of peace-of-mind as you plan for your future retirements.

If you are speaking to someone about Long-Term Care Insurance be sure to ask a few questions:

How long have you been working with Long-Term Care Insurance?

According to the American Association for Long-Term Care Insurance (AALTCI) no less than three years is acceptable.

How many clients do you have with LTC insurance?

No less than 100 is acceptable says the AALTCI.

How many companies do you represent?

The AALTCI says no less than three.

How many claims have you been involved with?

The more the better, keep in mind a person working three years may not have had any claims yet despite having more than 150 clients. Ideally you want a person who has experience 15+ claims.

What is your general philosophy when you design a Long-Term Care Insurance plan?

Listen to how they answer the question and make a judgment if it sounds like it is well thought out.

Here are a few warning signs you should be aware of:

1. The agent or advisor sends you quotes without asking many questions. A true Long-Term Care Specialist will spend a lot of time asking detailed questions and family history, in addition to asking about your future (or current) retirement plans. If they only take five minutes or less you should run away.

2. The agent or advisor immediately starts talking about asset based or hybrid plans without asking you many questions. These are life insurance or annuities with riders for Long-Term Care. They can be an outstanding way to plan for some people but anyone who brings this type of solution to you without asking many questions should be avoided.

3. The agent or advisor does not explain the Long-Term Care Partnership Program. Not all states have active partnership plans in place but most do. If they do not mention it be sure to ask. If they can not explain it move on.

4. The agent or advisor does not have a website, or their website has very little information available, it is usually not a good sign. True LTC specialists will usually have a comprehensive website with many resources available for education.

5. The agent or advisor recommends you self-insure and put money in investments. For most people this places your money in too much risk, does not provide tax benefits and does not reduce the burden placed on family since most LTC policies have case management. It may make the advisor money but you should be more concerned how it will protect your money and reduce family burden. If they make this kind of recommendation ask them to put it in writing. Then ask how their plan would really benefit you and your family from the financial costs and burdens of aging.

Long-Term Care Insurance has become a key part of retirement planning. Seek out a specialist to help you add peace-of-mind to your plan. It is an easy and affordable way to help you have a successful future retirement.

Working with a Long-Term Care specialist will allow you to get the accurate information you seek. There are several reference websites for research:

LTC News offers articles and resources: http://www.ltcnews.com

US Department of Health and Human Services : https://longtermcare.acl.gov/

Long-Term Care will impact you, your family, your savings and your lifestyle. Long-Term Care Insurance is Easy and Affordable Asset Protection. These plans not only protect your savings but reduce the burdens placed on family members. Act before you retire to take advantage of lower premiums and your overall better health.

Home Business Opportunities and Internet Marketing

Internet marketing is pretty easy and anyone can do it. So it makes an ideal home business. But even though anyone can do it, most people fail at internet marketing. Why?

This answer is that there are two things lacking from many home businesses: knowledge and persistence. If you start a new business you can get by without much experience. But to do it you will have to gain knowledge and never give up in your noble quest.

Most people who start a new business do not do enough research, so they are at a disadvantage. They don''t know what they do not know. People get discouraged without immediate results, and there before many give up before their business has had enough time to be successful. Do not do this! You must make the commitment in the beginning and stick with it no matter what. You will be successful, it just takes time.

So be sure to do your research, starting right now. There are many different ways to learn about internet marketing, including researching on the internet! Here are four different ways to learn what you need to know about your new business opportunity:

1. Do research online,
2. Read books from the library or bookstore,
3. Study successful internet marketing businesses,
4. Talk to successful internet marketers and other successful home business owners.

Researching Internet marketing online can be a great source of information but there are some problems with relying just on your research:

o You will get deluged with too much information.
o You will get some information that is misleading.
o You will get some information that is flat out wrong.
o You will get information that is out of date.

This is not to say you should skip the step of online research. It's just that you must be very careful to validate what you learn from other sources. That is one reason to use all available research methods at your disposal.

Reading books is a good way to get in depth information about different internet marketing topics. This approach works best on topics where you have particular deep interest. It is easy for you to research the author and read independent reviews about the book. If it gets great reviews and is a subject you are extremely interested in, you should take the time to read it.

You do have to be careful in time management so make sure that the book is extremely worthy and will help your new business succeed.

In the next article we will discuss more ways to obtain valuable information about your new internet business opportunity.

Choosing a Financial Planner - 10 Questions to Ask

There are a lot of reasons you might be considering getting help from a financial planner. Planning for retirement is usually a primary reason. Along with others like the education of your children, or buying a home or not having the know how to get your finances in order. Whatever the needs may be the right financial planner will be instrumental in securing the future.

This article is intended to help you assess any number of financial planners until find the one that is right for you. You will be looking for a qualified individual who is both professional and with what you can feel comfortable with. You can use this article to create a checklist if you would like.

1. How Experienced Are You?

Ask about how long they have been a financial planner. Ask about the types of companies that they associated with and how many there are. Ask for a brief description of heir experience in relation to their current practice.

2. What Qualifications Do You Have?

Ask the kind of qualifications they have. They are a ChFC (Chartered Financial Consultant), CFP (Certified Financial Planner), PFS (Personal Financial Specialist) or a CPA (Certified Public Accountant). A lot of financial professionals can use the term "Financial Planner" so make sure to find about which designs are carried. Ask how the planner holds current with changing trends, product developments and new product releases.

3. What Kinds Of Services Are Offered?

The services offered are dependent on issues like licensing, areas of expertise and credentials. Giving investment advice requires you to be registered with state or federal authorities generally speaking. Also, in order to sell mutual funds, stocks, securities, or insurance products a planner must be properly licensed. Like me, I carry all the appropriate licenses for the insurance products I sell.

4. What Kind Of Technique Do You Use?

Some financial planners want you to have accepted a designated worth before moving ahead. Some planners like to provide advice only in the areas desired. Some financial planners will develop one scenario by bundling all facets of your financial objectives. Make sure you familiarize yourself with the financial situations the planner is most comfortable with.

5. Are You The Only Person I Will Be Working With?

Make sure to find out if the planner will pursue the plan designed for you, will the planner have assistants or will the planner refer you to other professionals.

6. How Do You Require Payment?

Payment will be included in the agreement you design. The planner will lay it out in writing how payment will be scheduled. There are usually a few different methods a planner that will use.
a. Salary. The employer of the planner will receive payments from you either in fees or awards
and pay the planner a salary.
b. Flat Rate. There will be a percentage, flat rate or even just an hourly rate.
c. Commissions. A commission paid on the products sold to you to carry out the plan designed for you.
d. Combination. Payment may be a combination of certain fees and a commission on products sold. Some may offset certain fees for purchase of certain products.

7. What Are Your Normal Charges?

A planner should be able to provide an estimated, or a ballpark figure based on having rendered these services before. Usually the estimate will include the flat fee or hourly rate for the services. It will also include the commission paid on the products you may purchase based on their recommendations.

8. Will Other Parties Benefit From The Advice You Give Me?

Ask the planner to divide, in writing, any conflicts of interest that might arise based on the business relationships that hold. Will the planner receive any business for referring you to another professional for advice or suggestions / products?

9. Have You Ever Had Action Brought Against You for Unethical Behavior?

There are several professional and governmental organizations such as the NASD (National Association of Securities Dealers) state insurance dept. and CFP (Certified Financial Planner) Board who keep records of these actions. Ask what organizations this planner is specifically regulated by. Ask for the disclosure form known as the Form ADV 2. This is a form the planner should have available upon request. This is just a simple form that identifies all the organizations he / she is affiliated with.

10. Get It In writing.

I do not care how you ask, get it in writing. Make sure all details of the agreement are spelled out and understood. Make sure to keep this document in a safe reliable place.