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The Hush of Heaven

The Hush of Heaven 

(This is precisely why I have collected almost 700 sunrises in two years; with thanks to  Louis Bourgeois for capturing this with words) 

This is that time of day, the predawn hours, before the busyness of the world begins, that proves a solid portal for the soul.

It is in our highest function that we cultivate stillness, and simply sitting in this hush of heaven will suffice.

At the level of our human being-ness, this time, the quiet pre-dawn hours, have always proved the most difficult to endure. It is here that one would find the most extreme loneliness and the ache for leaving.

So, then, this time is the chalice in which the magic of transmutation occurs, where we are forced to awaken to our depths, beyond human, more real.

As a writer this time of day has always served this soulful endeavor. But now I see how very much more this daily devotion has yielded to me, and now to the world I serve.

The shift in my life, from human to that somewhat unnamable “something else,” has become defined by the rising sun. It was a moment of serendipity brought by the crescendo of one morning’s simple sunrise.

And then it becomes clear, in the silence, the beauty and the power that arises from seemingly nothing. The lesson deepens, about letting go of doing for the sake of being. I need do nothing.

In the stillness of each morning, this predawn hush, comes all the guidance, all the direction, and all the inspiration for that day….this is all that is needed.

There is something exquisitely simple and equally powerful about living one’s whole existence within the framework of one day.

If one learns to pay attention, especially during this “teaching time,” the hush of heaven shows us eternity, and in this we see the meaning of everything.

It is like opening an acorn and seeing the full magnificence of the oak tree, all coiled up in this possibility. One then knows god.

Each morning is this perfect acorn, awaiting your care, your allowing, that the magnificence of this one perfect day might unfold.

Like the hibiscus blooms out my window, whose whole existence is in this one day. Truly all of life only has today.

The hush of heaven holds my human heart, bringing sweet comfort, that everything I could ever need will be supplied in infinite abundance.

And I smile, and I await with gladness the rising sun.

What harms you may just help you

Are you (super) ignorant of how much money you could be making?

Don’t be (super) ignorant

In arguably the second-most controversial section of the award-winning investment book, “Who’s Taking Your Money? (and how to get some of it back!)”, Chapter 13 opens by stating that, “some people are just intellectually inferior… to hardwood…”

We could possibly change that last word to “driftwood”, as many hardwood timbers actually serve a defined and structured purpose, unlike the soppy pieces of wood that simply drift through life aimlessly without direction.

It may be cruel but it is a harsh fact of life: people who set themselves toward a certain goal or task will generally achieve it (or a semblance thereof), whilst people who bob along as victims of tides and circumstance will not achieve much (unless you count having a story about how much of a victim they are in life).

To continue the watery metaphor, we could discuss those who design their route after reading maps and charts left behind by wise sailors (guidebooks by mentors) or we could look at those who get caught up in merely watching or reacting to the uncontrollable currents (current events, current affairs); but you get the point. If you’re a column reader, you will be a classic succeeder.

As a guest on an international wealth creation teleconference two years ago, I asked the hypothetical question, “if you could continue to do your current job, and receive 10% wage increase and then, after 20 years, receive a bonus free car, would you switch companies?” With one exception, everyone on the call suggested that they would happily move.

The notable exception was a multi-multi-multi-millionaire who asked the pertinent question: “What kind of car do I get?” This question is further proof that millionaires are not just ‘lucky’ opportunists: they think differently (and this is a skill which can be learned).

One man asked the wise question, “Do I get a Ferrari or a Daewoo?”, whilst the rest of the callers were simply content with a 10% wage rise and a free anything. A free $10 000 car would be OK, but a free $40 Million car would be nicer… (just ask Ben Stiller’s character in the movie “Tower Heist”)

My reason for asking the question was an analogy about superannuation and it proved the point wonderfully. Most people are ignorant of the power of compounding and they are similarly ignorant of the control which they can exert over what is, and what shall be, their greatest investment. Someone who works without thinking and fails to choose their super will choose to fail with their super.

The employer will put you into the “default” fund if you fail to choose an option. It may be “safe as houses” (hang on, haven’t house prices dropped by 30%?) and your retirement money may be as solidly reliable as government bonds (yes, those big complex things that many investors are pulling out of, as major world governments accumulate debt which they cannot pay).

The default “balanced” fund for one of Queenslands’ major superannuation suppliers has had a barely positive result in the last five years: if you put $1000 in there in 2006 you would now have around $1020. If you think that you would have done better sitting in cash in the bank, you would be correct, and cash is the default option for many self-managed super funds (SMSF’s).

There are thousands of employer super funds to choose from and thousands of people who create their own SMSF’s to further direct their control of their monies.

Of the $430 Billion in Australian SMSF’s, it is interesting to note that only around 5% of this money is in “managed” investments such as managed funds or mutual funds. It would seem that the wealthier Aussies prefer to direct their own paths (around 88% of the $400+Bn is in direct shares, direct property and direct cash or trusts). [ABS 2011]

That “the rich get richer” is a cliché only because it is true; just not in the way that you may think. Those who are richest in education become richest in assets: it is all about knowing where to put the money and when (again, this skill can be learned: http://bitly.com/WealthClock).

With a plethora of investment books around, you may find it hard to read a handful of them and make an informed decision. We’d also suggest that if 90% of them agree on a point, it’s possible that the majority is wrong.

It would take a true contrarian to take cash OUT of the banks when everyone else is putting cash INTO the banks. It would take an incredible übermensch with nerves of steel to take money from cash IN the banks and put it into owning stock OF the bank itself.

Instead of leaving your cash in the super default fund and earning 4% per year for 5 years in a row, or putting the cash inside the bank and earning around 4%, you could have put your cash into bank stocks a few years ago.

In the last 3 years, stock in NAB has gone up 50%, as has Westpac. Commonwealth Bank is up 100% from January 2009 to January 2012, and ANZ is a smidge behind the 100% mark. We will not even mention mining stocks.

You can tell the people who do NOT own stock in their own bank; they are the ones who are constantly whinging about “the bastard banks” and lamenting the price of bank fees. If you owned part of the company and you just made 50% or 100% profit, you would not be whinging about it. So change.

How many times can we say “take control of your own destiny”, “stop being a victim and become an investor” or “buy a contrarian investment book”?

No excuses: for those who do not have the capital or the means to commence a SMSF, there are many funds around which will allow you to choose your own investments or even purchase direct stocks and shares inside of your “off the shelf” super fund. Just because your own fund said that they cannot do it, that doesn’t mean it is impossible. You just need to ask someone else.

Not only have I assisted clients to purchase stock with just $1000 in their work super fund, I have also opened super accounts for my kids whilst they were under 12 years old (another thing most super funds will tell you that you cannot do).

Rather than be accused of labouring the point or preaching to the choir, we will let it rest for now with some pointed yet sagacious advice: read something wise and make a decision now for a better future. The choice of a Daewoo or the Ferrari at 65 is entirely up to YOU; but you must decide now!

Jeremy Britton is an independent wealth coach and business coach who advises clients on all aspects of wealth creation. Find out more or purchase his best-selling investment book at www.24HourWealthCoach.com

The luckiest country in the world

The luckiest country in the world

“DownUnder” bucks the global trend to come out on top as world’s richest

Whilst America and Europe are harbouring concerns about “GFC Part Two” or a double dip recession, one little country has plenty of reason to celebrate.

At around 3% of the world population, Australia’s population footprint is tiny, but this “blip” on the radar for people is actually a “blimp” on the radar for wealth.

Australia is now ranked as the world’s wealthiest nation by a Credit Suisse re

The average Aussie is now worth almost US$250 000 net, around 400% wealthier than the average US citizen. The proportion of Australian adults worth more than $US100,000 is now eight times the global average.port, citing Aussie wealth figures far in excess of Japan, Singapore, Switzerland, UK and the USA.

The high wealth rate in Australia is attributed to the strong Australian dollar, property ownership levels and a robust labour market. It could also be said that most Australians were not as caught up in soaring debt, sub-prime loans and massive expenditure such as had been observed in the US and some European countries pre-GFC.

Australians have become wealthier in actual dollar terms, increasing by 300%-400% in a decade, even after adjusting for the improved Australian dollar and the fall in the $US.

“It can be hard for people to tell who is truly rich when they are looking at perceived wealth rather than net wealth,” says Australian wealth coach Jeremy Britton. “We may see the image of the so-called ‘wealthy’ in Ferraris and Porches without realising that many of these people may be leasing the expensive car with a high income and may not actually have much money in savings or investment.”

Britton says that the rising popularity of being “green” has also helped Aussies to save and accumulate money. “Helping the environment by recycling things in business and in the home has cut spending, leading to more actual held profits, both in the corporate world and in our own homes.”

“Of course, Australia has benefited greatly from its mining boom and our relationship with China, but an increased income is no good unless you actually save it and invest it. It would have been very easy for cashed-up Aussies to spend their fortunes frivolously, but most seemed to have accumulated the money quite well, compared to other nations. ”

The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) classifies someone as a millionaire only if they have more than $1 Million in “investable assets” such as cash, shares or property equity. Figures of those who are making higher-than average incomes do not necessarily show any correlation to net wealth.

The most recent ABS figures show that the average combined value of a true millionaire’s cars are only $36 000. This would seem to suggest that most Aussie millionaires do not drive cars worth more than a small house, and it may suggest that frugality, rather than flashiness, is one of the keys to true wealth.

Jeremy Britton is an independent wealth coach & business coach. He is often found on the beach, Facebook, or www.24HourWealthCoach.com.

Media contact +61410 468378

Flood waters drain financial fun but long-term profits ahead

Flood waters drain financial fun but long-term profits ahead

Recently the media has put much attention on the January Queensland floods, and yes it looks like the doomsayers will get loads of coverage from the February Floods as well. Much of the news media coverage is bad news and they almost never tell you what companies will make money next year (however we are happy to give you some general investment advice).

The Queensland floods are a blip on the radar as far as investment markets go. Some people may panic and sell their shares in insurance companies such as Westpac, QBE or Suncorp, but wise people will know that long-term profits are ahead.

Right now, millions of people are being reminded of the importance of insuring their houses and their possessions (yes, people in rental houses should insure their household contents for flood, theft and fire; it only costs around 50 cents a day to protect your beds, TV’s, washing machines, fridges and clothes).

Millions more people are also being reminded of the importance of having appropriate insurance! Although the media doomsayers have a field day beating up major insurance companies for not providing more comprehensive cover (covering stormwater damage but not flood damage), the policy-holders also need to take some responsibility. Note to self and others: have accountability for your own choices. Good insurance is not cheap and cheap insurance is not good.

Share prices of some of the major insurers may have taken a short-term dip due to panic selling, but the insurance policy makers know that a major flood will come once every fifty years and they plan for it. They have huge stockpiles of money stored up to pay out claims, and this is what they do.

The insurance companies then sit back for the next fifty years and pull in millions of dollars in premiums and store them up again, waiting for the floods in 2065. Rest assured that the insurance companies will make massive profits going forward, just as they did in the 30 years after the Brisbane 1974 floods.

Two massively important tips for this month, so write them down and tell your friends; we cannot over-emphasise the importance of these two wealth creation tips.

1) Protect what you have before trying to get more. Insure your house contents, your car, your life, your income, your partner’s life and your partner’s income. If you cannot afford to insure it then you need to sell something you don’t need so that you can afford to protect what you really want.

2) Invest where you spend. If you insure your car with AAMI, your boat with Mariner, your bike with Shannons, your mum’s car with Australian Pensioner’s Insurance and have a mortgage with Suncorp then stay tuned. Suncorp owns all of the forementioned companies. You may do well to invest into a few shares in the company where you are sending so much money (parcels of shares start at just $500).

Remember that this is general advice for all readers and may not be appropriate for YOU in your unique circumstances. To receive tailored investment or insurance advice for your own situation, contact the author or contact your bank or your financial planner. Initial appointments are generally free. Investment fees and some insurance premiums may be tax deductible.

Jeremy Britton is an independent wealth coach, advising clients on shares, property and business. For more information refer to www.24HourWealthCoach.com

Making your New Year’s resolutions “sticky”

Making your New Year’s resolutions “sticky”

It’s that time of year again when everyone expects you to make some life-changing decisions and finally get your life in order. Your well-meaning friends and relatives may have even made some New Year’s resolutions for you on your behalf… Bless ‘em.

Be prepared: if you tell your friends that you are going to clean out your wardrobe or donate 10% of your income to charity, they may well counter with, “Have you thought about adopting a child from Nigeria?” or “Why don’t you join a gym; then you can wear all your old ‘thin’ clothes again?” Again, Bless ‘em.

It is far easier for your friends to plan your life for you, simply because they do not have to live your life or deal with the consequences of your actions every day. Here are some ongoing resolutions that you may like to use, remembering; it’s your life.

1) Resolve to take it easy on yourself: Don’t aim to run 5 kilometres a day if you are currently doing zero. Start with running to the corner and back, then running around the block. Build yourself up by increasing the distance by 5-10% per day. Aim for incremental improvement, not perfection. An increase of 3% per day will mean 1000% improvement in one year.

2) Pay yourself first. Resolve to set aside 5% of all incoming money and put it into a separate account. After one month, take out half the money and gift it to your favourite charity or spend it on a guilt-free gift for you. After the third month, see if you can increase the 5% to 10%. Surplus funds that are not used for monthly gifting will become the cornerstone of an investment that will bring further income.

3) Listen to the advice of others but then act with your own intuition. It’s your life and you have to live it. Sometimes that means that you have to make your own mistakes and find out for yourself that the stove was too hot to touch. Mistakes are how we learn and our intuition is built up over time. Resolve to listen to what others THINK and then act how you best FEEL.

4) Resolve to pay one random stranger a compliment every single day for 30 days. You can tell the postman you like his hair, tell a lady that she has a nice dress or compliment a motorist on their choice of car. People love to be noticed and if the compliment comes from someone they do not know it makes them feel fantastic. This feeling, in turn, then shines onto you. “As you sow, so shall you reap.” You may receive an increase in confidence from talking to strangers, better self-esteem, or make new friends.

Remember to make it easy, make it incremental and be gentle on yourself. Rome wasn’t built in a day, and your new gym body, your million-dollar savings and investment plan or your new habits will be built one small step at a time. Even a 0.3% daily increase in your health, wealth and relationships will mean that your 2011 will be 100% better in all areas than your 2010!

We wish you a Frugal Christmas

Former years have seen rises in personal wealth (or the illusion of it), with rises in share markets and property prices but 2010 saw mostly rises in unemployment and dramatic rises in interest rates. Two of the Big Four banks raised their interest rates higher than the Reserve Bank; time to vote with your feet, Australia!

Considering that the festive holiday season (regardless of your religious beliefs) was originally said to be all about Jesus, we can always claim to be following biblical precedent when we are frugal at Christmas.

Consider that 2000 years ago, according to tradition, God gave the world a small baby who was destined to be the saviour of the world. God did not send Rambo or Chuck Norris to save the Palestinians from Roman slavery, nor did he give a billion buckets of gold. The baby in a manger was a seedling gift of hope.

In honour of this tradition, we suggest that you give a small gift that means big things will come. Spread some frugality this year and also help to spread HOPE for the New Year. 2011 just has to be better than 2010, right?

1. Blooming great gift: Consider a few packets of seeds instead of a bouquet of flowers. They are cheaper to send through the post & will grow in value over the next few months, unlike flowers which will wilt & die within a few days. Those in small apartments or units can be given something small for a window box or movable planter pots. Also consider edible treats such as fruits or vegetables. There are also many species of flowers which are safe to eat, such as chrysanthemums, roses, daisies and more; check with the nursery and deliver something beautiful, tasty and practical!

2. Handmade Gifts: homemade jams and other homemade baked goods from the talented ladies and something creative from the talented blokes. Recycle some old household goods or get carving, whittling, gluing or wiring. Nothing says Christmas love like investing your precious time (not just your money) into a gift. We once received a model aeroplane made from empty beer cans and one created from old wooden clothes pegs. Novel, fun and a good talking point.

3. Newspaper Gift Wrapping: Wrap children's birthday gifts in old comics for a fun twist. A fancy red ribbon would go nicely with black and white newsprint for adults, or even "brown paper packages tied up with string" for a “Mary (Poppins) Christmas”.

4. Christmas Presence: Giving someone your time is a very valuable thing and memories last a long time. You could give a couple the gift of a night off by babysitting their kids, or you could pack a picnic basket for a single friend to have an afternoon together chatting and drinking wine in an unusual location. Most mums would love an hour of housework done while they relax in the bath and dad would love for his car to be cleaned or shed tidied.

Whatever you decide, keep it simple, practical and keep the love central to your theme. Holiday seasons are all about spending time with family, friends and loved ones, not spending money for the profits of big banks, toy companies and retail stores.


Jeremy Britton is an independent wealth adviser. For more tips, tricks & advice go to www.24hourwealthcoach.com. Article also featured in Strike publications, Ipswich City News

Interest rates are INTERESTING, part 1: both sides to the coin

Rising interest rates may seem like a burden for Australians, particularly those who are paying off a large mortgage. The thing to remember is that whilst the family picnic may be ruined by wet weather, the farmers love the rain! More rain will eventually mean more food and more picnics later on.

Examples of people who may be affected positively by interest rate rises are investors, particularly self-funded retirees or those who are about to retire (such as the "Baby Boomers"). These people will now be receiving a higher income which means that they can spend more money on new goods and services; possibly in your workplace.

Yes, the average home-owner with a mortgage will have to spend more money on their bank loan, but this will have a flow-on effect in the greater economy. Consider that without an interest rate rise, the economy may overheat, which causes further job losses. A higher interest rate can be a good thing if your homeloan costs more but you do get to keep your job!

At present, interest rates are at record lows in the UK and the USA (below 1%). We will look more at why this is in “Interest Rates Part Two: how to make $50 000 for nothing”. These economies are suffering badly and job losses are at record highs. The economies in Australia and China are weathering the economic storms more strongly, and both countries have just raised their interest rates.

International investors are strongly attracted to Australia with its stronger dollar, more secure economy and higher rates of return on investment. Investors are attracted to China for similar reasons. Investors’ money is rapidly leaving the USA & UK (earning 1% interest) and flooding to Australia and China to be invested at 5% or greater. This international investment means more jobs, even if the mortgages are going up.

Whilst mortgage rates may be high for the foreseeable future, homeowners are advised to cut back on unnecessary expenditure, such as cable TV, cigarettes, alcohol, work lunches or anything that is not essential or anything does not MAKE you money or SAVE you money. Ensure you do essential maintenance on the car but hold off on the new in-dash DVD player.

Consider doing an imaginary cashflow projection based on a 10% mortgage; you will soon see areas where you can cut back. You can pay 10% payments off the mortgage anyway; this will put you in front on the loan, impress the banks and be good insulation if anything unexpected should occur.

Next article: How to make $50 000 for nothing & Higher interest rates just like 1992: where to invest for the best returns beyond 2015.

Saving versus Investing: what's the difference?

Banks can be good: if you own them


Saving versus Investing: what's the difference?

Many well-meaning people, including parents, teachers and financial advisers, tell you to save.

"Just save," they say, without telling you where or how or why. "Save 10% of your money and you'll be rich one day."

It sounds like good advice. Is it? The question is, did THEY follow it? Did they save? Are they rich? Does it work?

Many would be tempted to say “no”. Trying to save is hard. For a start, you have to go without things you can see in order to get something you cannot see. For example, at the age of sixteen and working your first job, you may have had the choice to go without a new stereo in order to "be rich someday". Forget it: most bought the stereo that they could see.

In addition, saving does not give you leverage. It is sort of like trying to pick up your fat aunt and lift her off the ground. It is slow, sweaty, and not very glamorous. Using leverage, you could put your fat aunt onto a seesaw and use a fulcrum to lift her up. It looks so easy once you know how.

“Saving Cash” can waste your time, and your money!

Saving money into a standard bank account (back when the bank didn't charge you fees to lend them money) took a long time.

Imagine putting a crisp $10 note into the bank back in 1990. Wow, that was a lot of money, back then. Ten dollars in 1990 was the price of two student movie tickets, or four hour's work flipping burgers at McDonalds.

Fast forward to today, and the same crisp ten dollar note would be slightly larger. Ignoring the applicable bank fees, without allowing for taxes, and just counting interest, you would now have about $15. Nowadays that does NOT get you two student movie tickets, and is NOT enough to pay someone for four McHour's work...

What has happened is that inflation has traveled faster than bank interest. Although your money appears to have grown, the purchasing power of the money has shrunk.

[For more lessons on inflation, read Chapter Two of “Who’s taking Your Money?” or check the internet or library. In 1930’s Germany, workers were paid twice a day due to rapid inflation. In Zimbabwe in 2009, workers were paid in petrol due to the “zimbillions”…]

Banks can be good: if you own them

Imagine now, that when you walked into the bank back in 1990, and instead of saving into a bank account, you handed your $10 to the manager and said "Hey buddy, I want to buy some shares in your bank."

Depending upon the bank that you walked into, you may have received one Commonwealth Bank share, two of the National, five of the Westpac and so on (find out what the 1990 share price was for YOUR bank).

Fast forward again to the present and see what your $10 would be now worth. Before you do the quick math and say a figure of between $40 and $100, remember that bank shares do not just GROW in price, they also pay you income each year.

This means that your seedling $10 which you planted did not just grow into a bigger tree, it also produced fruit. Depending upon whether you picked the fruit or let it drop to seed and grow more trees, you may have far more than $100 accumulated.

If your $10 bank share investment was now worth $100+, you will find that you have more than enough money to take half a dozen students out for a movie, and possibly a beverage as well, or enough to pay a McSoldier for two whole days of flipping burgers...

What has happened here? Why is your money so much more? The amount has grown substantially, exponentially. You have become an Investor, not just a Saver. When you save, you lend the bank money. When you invest, you OWN the bank.

In the last twenty years or so, interest rates have come down from 15% on cash to around 5%. And yet the bank still makes massive profits. In 1992, a Westpac bank share would have cost you around $2, and you would have received around 15 cents in income (dividend or "share rent"). In 2010, the same share would be worth $25, and you would receive around $1 in income. This income, of course, increases steadily each year.

Safe as Houses? More Profitable!

To put the above investment into (a strange) perspective, imagine buying a house in 1992 for $20,000 and renting it out for $30 per week. In 2010, the same house would be valued at $180 000, and paying you $200 per week...

For a start, there are not too many houses which you can buy for $180 000 that return $200 per week. Certainly there are very few houses that have had such dramatic growth on their value and their income.

It would be a challenge for you to find a house that could rival the shares for ongoing costs… The difference between the two is, having to spend absolutely nothing on maintenance, insurance, rates etc.

Why do we love Australian shares?

Because, deep down, we are lazy.

We do not want to paint our investment, mow its lawn, collect its rent, pay its rates, advertise and interview tenants, and we certainly do not want to go to the trouble of paying taxes on its income every year... And if we ever decide to sell it, we do not want to have to hammer a sign into the ground, call multiple agents and then put coffee on as hundreds of hopefuls traipse through it and look at it...

We want our investment to sit quietly and grow, paying income that is tax-paid, having no maintenance, no ongoing costs, and not taking up too much room. We want to be able to sell it in a day with one phone-call, or take it with us when we move. Easy!

Lazy Investors of the world, unite!

You can “own the bank” by buying shares in your preferred bank, starting with as little as $500. For more information, go to www.24hourwealthcoach.com & click on “Open an Investment account”, call 1300 762 624 or buzz your favourite broker.

This article was part-published in PROPERTY section of Ipswich "City News" October 2010 & is reproduced here in its unedited entirety. http://www.defencenews.com.au/inbrowser.aspx?id=16

Business Swap Sunshine Coast 2 min promo

Zimbabwe Wedding & Honeymoon

Slideshow movie of Jeremy & Yvie's wedding & honeymoon in Zimbabwe, Africa; set to Toni Child's song "Zimbabwe"

Wealth or Poverty? Choose your VIEW

Can Happiness make you Money? Can you have a Millionaire Mindset simply by changing your view of Wealth?
20 slides will change the way you look at your life

Wealth or Poverty? Choose your VIEW

View more presentations from Jeremy Britton.

Creating Infinite Wealth, or making your first million: is it all about Strategy or all about Mindset?

Our new friend is a multi-multi-millionaire now, but a few years ago he was homeless for the third time after a third failed business. Harv said something that many millionaires already know and that most poor people do not yet realise:

“If you want to change the FRUITS, you have to change the ROOTS.”

For almost 20 years Jeremy concentrated on financial planning, teaching strategy to thousands of people. If you want to learn the best techniques for share trading, stock picking, investing, or flipping property, creating wealth or reducing tax, just ask!

But the more he tried to learn from millionaires and billionaires so that he could teach the strategy and techniques to the general public; he discovered that there was even more to learn… There were many secrets to creating wealth & also one big secret to keeping it!

In order to get the techniques of wealth creation to more and more people, Jeremy wrote newsletters, blogs, books, articles for newspapers and magazines and held seminars all over the country.

As well as domestically, we sold books and newsletters in the USA and Asia; thousands were learning the secret strategies of millionaires… so why were they not rich?

“If you want to change the fruits, you have to change the roots.”

After several failed attempts at business, Harv realised it was not the fault of the government, the clients, his advisers or his strategies. The failures emerged from deep inside of himself.

If there is a deep-seated subconscious aversion to being wealthy, all the strategy in the world will not matter. Perhaps that is why around 95% of lottery winners blow the money: deep down, they may not feel worthy.

Perhaps this is also why millionaires who have been bankrupt (Donald Trump, Larry King, Robert Kiyosaki, Kim Basinger, Tia Carrera, Walt Disney, Willie Nelson, Don Johnson) always seem to bounce back: perhaps they DO feel worthy.

The 24Hour Wealth Coach team can now assist you with your MINDSET as well as your STRATEGY.

Change your roots & change your fruits.

Motivation, mindset, NLP, EFT, meditation and hypnotherapy are now offered to you alongside the traditional techniques of wealth creation.

Meetings can be done in our main street offices, over the phone or on Skype. Initial consultations are still free, so call today to make a convenient time.

Office: (toll-free Aus) 1300 762 624
Skype: jjbritton
Mobile: (Int'l) +61 (0)410 468 378

The Rise of the SUPER Women

The rise of the SUPER Woman

Women could soon be retiring with more money than men

Today’s women are leading the men in the art of making their money work for them (whilst the men seem to be still “working for the money”).

More women than ever before are choosing to participate in the Self Managed Super Fund arena, and now for the first time, the female investors outnumber the men!

Australian Business Register figures show that in the 35-44 age bracket, there are almost 16% females in SMSF’s, compared to just 13% for their male counterparts.

The figures are higher in the 45-54 age bracket, with 28% of women in SMSF’s, as opposed to just 25% of men.

Again, in the pre-retirees age of 55-64, female members of SMSF’s outnumber the men by almost 35% to 34%.

For the first time, women’s super balances may exceed men’s; due to the females taking more control.

Although traditionally women spend less time in the workforce due to raising a family, and even though the balance of the average super fund is still higher for a male ($107 000 compared to $81 000 for women), be prepared for this to shift.

Last year, a man in the default balanced option of an Australian super fund may have been fortunate enough to gain 11%. A woman who chose to have a SMSF invested into her own choice of property, shares or index funds could have made returns of 34% or up to 93%.

Based on performances such as these, and the potential for greater returns from greater choice, the average woman could soon be retiring with more money than the average man, not from working harder or longer, but by working smarter.

“Women will ask for directions (regarding money), something men may fail to do.”

Wealth coach & financial commentator Jeremy Britton says that increasing numbers of women are asking for more control and more options with their investments.

“Women are now more likely to start asking questions if their money is not performing, and more likely to look closely at what is available to them as an alternative. This could include Self Managed Super Funds, gearing inside of super, direct shares, i-shares, warrants, options, CFD’s or index funds as opposed to traditional managed funds”.

“For women, this (going to a financial adviser) may be like asking for directions; something that men may feel less confident doing.”

“Perhaps the men do not wish to request financial advice for the same reason that men generally do not ask for directions, they often seek less medical advice and men will generally not ask for help whilst fixing things. It could possibly be seen as less manly. What the men have to realise is that no-one can be an expert on everything, and it is OK to seek advice on your money.”

Statistics tell us that the women are making more informed choices about their financial future, and no longer relying on a man or the government to look after them.

With more marriages ending in divorce and the growing number of women in the workforce and in business, the trend could be for women to accumulate more money than the men over their working life.

This accumulation of more money is despite the fact that women are still likely to earn lower wages than men in a similar role, and more likely to have shorter time in the workforce, due to raising children.

Perhaps if the men were bold enough to ask for assistance (directions), then they too, could make more money in less time. It will be interesting to see which occurs first: more men asking for financial advice, or women accumulating greater retirement savings than the men.

Whilst having a SMSF is not a guarantee that you will make more money than someone without a SMSF, the growing number of female SMSF owners can be an indicator that many more women are asking for what they want in the financial arena.

Investors (male or female) who ask questions, seek education and request financial advice are more likely to make better money in future than those who do not seek advice.

WARNING

The above is general advice only. Always deal with a qualified and licensed professional who can advise you on your own unique situation. Jeremy Britton is the author of “Who’s Taking Your Money? (and how to get some of it back!)”. The book is available in bookshops or online & has a money-back guarantee.

For more information or reader offers please call IMP Pty Ltd on 1300 762 624 or Jeremy Britton 0410 468 378. www.24HourWealthCoach.com

What is an i-share, update 2010

What is an i-share? (What is an ishare?)

Where can I find returns of 50%, safely, from home?

It has been over 18 months since we published the article "What is an i-share?" on the internet blog and the news travels slowly for some. If you would like to see the original article, you can scroll down or press CTRL+F & type in "what is an i-share".

[Interestingly, if you go to Google and do a world-wide search for "what is an i-share" using the quotation marks, you will only receive TWO matches...]

[When is the last time you typed in something to Google and only received two matches? Crikey, you can find over 900 000 references for "fried ice-cream recipe", almost 2 million pages for "drop forty pounds by Christmas" and over 400 000 references to "Buddha's testicles"... (no offence to anyone, regardless of their religious beliefs: we just thought of the most obscure things that we could think of to see if we could return a result of only two matches in Google!)]

Why is there so little information on i-shares, particularly when they are so fabulously GOOD?

In the year that was 2008-09, we experienced the (so-called) "Global Financial Crisis" or "GFC". This was a year of massive share-market drops, billions of dollars wiped out of super funds (apparently) and personal investors cried into their coffee as stockmarkets around the world plummeted like a hot rock...

Or did they?

If the "GFC" was truly a "Global" event, perhaps somebody forgot to translate the memo into languages other than English...

[It is oddly amusing to watch the "World Series" of baseball in the USA, knowing that only the US ever competes in it: no other country has ever won the (so-called) World Series of Baseball.]

[Also amusing is the western world's "World Music Awards" and Movie Industry Awards, which predominantly showcase singers and actors who speak English and work in the USA, UK, Australia or Canada.

Somehow we often forget that movies in China or India will draw crowds 100 times greater than movies in English, or we forget that artists singing in Asia will sell many more millions of albums than artists in the USA or UK.

Remember that China & India are 38% of the world population; USA, UK, Australia & Canada all together make up only 6%. And now back to our feature presentation...]

If the "GFC" was truly a "Global" event, perhaps somebody forgot to translate the memo into languages other than English...

In the "Global Financial Crisis", the US market dropped over 50%, the Australian market dropped over 50%, Europe and the UK fared worse... but what happened in the rest of the world?

China and India ALONE make up almost 38% of the world population; and they are still having more babies. Asian economies are not just growing their populations, they are growing their workforce, their output, their GDP and their business income.

Whilst the US market and the Australian market were going down 50% last year with the "GFC", what was happening in other countries?

We used to hear about the "BRIC" economies, what happened there?

Good question, thanks for asking. While the "rest of the world" (the ones who speak English) were showing negative returns, the average of the (Brazil, Russia, India & China) "BRIC index" posted a return of positive +93%.

Can I invest into BRIC from home?

Yes, you can actually buy the indexes of these countries (or the combined BRIC index) quite easily on the Australian or US stock exchange. To open a broking account for no charge, go to www.24HourWealthCoach.com and click on INVESTORS at the bottom of the page. Trades start from just $19.

What about returns in other economies?

Whilst the English-speaking world was reporting doom & gloom in the newspapers and watching stocks fall by 50%, the BRIC index posted +93%. The available index in China posted a healthy +52%.

The available index in Hong Kong returned investors +60%. Yes, this one is available to both US investors and Australian investors

Other "future emerging" economies returned +46%. This doesn't sound so impressive, coming off the back of China's +52% and Hong Kong's +60%, but remember that we are comparing to the average reported GFC return of around minus -50%.

That disparity reflects an almost 100% difference in returns between the "average" investor (who may have been invested into the default fund for super, or an average managed fund or stock portfolio) and the "educated" investor, who may have followed our advice 18 months ago and decided to invest into other economies.

But wait, there's still more...

OK, so BRIC is beautiful and Asia is awesome, what other areas should we watch in order to make lots of money in future?

As investors and consumers look for better returns on their money and better bargains, we expect much more outsourcing to occur.

A few years ago, the average Chinese wage was around $1 US per day. With major corporations opening factories all across mainland China, workers found that competitors would "bid up" the daily rate in order to get more workers.

Over the last five years, an enterprising Chinese worker could have seen their earnings lift from $1 per day to around $1 per hour. Some Chinese workers now receive over US $2 000 per year for their work (2010 Bureau figures).

This rate is still far lower than the average worker in developed countries, BUT there are still some companies who want to pay less than this hourly rate.

If you were a major manufacturer of mobile phones, cars, DVD players and plasma screens, where would you put your factory?

You could put your factory anywhere you liked, but if you employed US workers or Australian staff, you could be paying $40 000 to $50 000 per year. The lower rates of pay in China ($2 0000 p.a.) are a big part of the reason why "everything is made in China" and major companies can sell products more cheaply than previously and still make massive profits. (Consider how much cheaper most electrical appliances are now, compared to five years ago).

Show me the MONEY!

Remember that you heard it here first, and remember to take some action on the new information, otherwise it is just hearsay. No-one wants to hear you say "I knew ten years ago that China was going to be a major economic super-power". That is like taking no action and then telling everyone that you knew the winner of the race after it is over.

Put your money where your mouth is, so instead of saying "Yes, I knew that" long after the event is over, you can say "I just made $500 betting on that winner" or

"Yes, my investment in China back in 2001 is now up 387%"

[True story. After a trip to China in 2000, Jeremy invested into a "Who's Taking Your Money?" stock and sold out in 2007 for over 450% gain. Buy the book & get a Money Back Guarantee here. ]

Is the Chinese boom over? Not by a long-shot. China's growth will continue, albeit at a steadier pace. There may be other areas in the world who are ready to boom very quickly, just as China did.

Now that the average wage in China is increasing, where will the factories go? Who will be making my digital camera in 2015?

Looking at where the big corporations may go to build their new factories is a matter of research and guessing. So, we like to just look at the "early adopters" and see where they go, because we know that where Nike goes, the rest of the big corporate world may eventually follow...

Rather than flying around the world chasing corporate executives in Lear jets to see where they land, we use the internet. You can readily find out the increasing GDP of a country, its wage growth and the growth of its local stock market, all from your own home PC.

While stocks in China grew at 52% over the last year, who did better?

To mention just two, Brazil's stock market index was up a whopping 128%, and Peru returned a healthy 104%.

Wait a second, Did you say "Peru"? As in Paddington Bear, Peru?

Yes, Peru. It was thirty years ago that China was closed to the world, and not one tourist had ever set foot on the Great Wall. Twenty years ago, the USA was the world's most prosperous nation who sent money to "the poor Chinese" to feed the starving primitives. Ten years ago, no Chinese citizen could own a car. Five years ago, the USA imported ("bought") from China $243 Billion worth of goods and exported ("sold") just $41 Billion, netting the Chinese a US$200 Billion profit from USA alone...

In 2010, the USA owes China over $780 Billion... An amazing turnaround for the once-poor nation to be lending almost a Trillion dollars to the USA. Now that the Chinese own almost 25% of the USA, will they continue to trade?

Absolutely. The Chinese know how to make money. But as US factories are forced to pay up to $2 000 a year for skilled Chinese workers, they are looking further afield for labour forces. Peru and Brazil are countries that offer cheap labour. Wages for a "garment cutter" in Peru are just $180 per year. A personal assistant can be had in Brazil for just over $120 per year.

Your Levi jeans that are currently designed in USA and made in China could soon be made in Brazil or Peru.

Within the next few years, "Made in China" may no longer be so wide-spread, just as "Made in Japan" was prolific before 1997 and is now scarce.

Australian & US investors can access investments in these newly emerging economies by buying the Index of that country or region. This is like buying a basket of the top 25 or top 100 shares and is much safer than buying an individual company.

The ("i" being for international) i-share code for investing into the Chinese index -- from America is FXI, from the UK is FXC and from Australia the Chinese index trades on the local stock exchange as IZZ.

For Brazil, BRIC, China, Hong Kong, Peru and other codes, plus a list of their performance, google i-shares or contact us at www.24HourWealthCoach.com.

Seriously? What the? Wait... Peru? The Peruvian sharemarket is up 104%?

Yes. We are not promising that any of these future emerging economies will be "the next China", nor do we promise that past performance will continue. We just look at what is happening, what has happened and try to draw a line to what is likely to occur in future.

Wages in China, although having grown dramatically, are not yet on par with the western world. This may indicate that China has some growth up its sleeve and a long way to go over the next decade. China could possibly sustain growth from 5% to 10% year on year for a long way yet. Ditto for India.

Having said that, growth in the other third world countries may supersede China and India in the shorter-term. Judging by recent performances, they are doing very well and still have a way to go.

WARNING

Invest wisely and safely; we suggest that i-shares are a small section of your portfolio as the emerging economies carry higher risk than established countries. Do not invest all of your money into one region or one index; spread the risk.

For further information or to start investing overseas, contact your existing broker or a financial planner who can advise on i-shares, or visit our website or call 1300 762 624. Be wise enough to take care and sensible enough to take action.

Investment Management Professionals Pty Ltd ABN 37 115 359 316, Corrporate Authorised Representative #306558, WealthSure Pty Ltd,

ABN 93 097 405 108, AFSL 238030. www.24hourwealthcoach.com