Thursday, July 30, 2015

How to Implement a Twitter Card for Blogger.








In order to add Twitter Cards in Blogger you have to add a few lines of code to your template. Before editing the template remember to back it up first, then click on edit html, and copy the below code after the <head> opening tag.

The Code:


<meta content='summary_large_image' name='twitter:card'/>
<meta content='@IcebergGem' name='twitter:creator'/>
<meta content='@IcebergGem' name='twitter:site'/>
<meta expr:content='data:blog.homepageUrl' name='twitter:domain'/>
<b:if cond='data:blog.pageType == &quot;item&quot;'>
<meta name="twitter:url" expr:content='data:blog.url' />
<meta expr:content='data:blog.pageName' name='twitter:title'/>
<meta expr:content='data:blog.postImageUrl' name='twitter:image:src'/>
<b:else/>
<meta expr:content='data:blog.homepageUrl' name='twitter:url'/>
<meta expr:content='data:blog.pageTitle' name='twitter:title'/>
<meta content='Image URL' name='twitter:image:src'/>
</b:if>
<b:if cond='data:blog.metaDescription'>
<meta expr:content='data:blog.metaDescription' name='twitter:description'/>
</b:if>
<meta expr:content='data:blog.Url' name='twitter:url'/>





The above code will Add Summary large image Twitter Card. Before adding the code remember replace my IcebergGem twitter handle with yours.



Next, you need to go Twitter Validator ( https://cards-dev.twitter.com/validator ) to test the code. And please make sure all of your Blog posts have a search description and your Blog/Website in general has a search description or it will not work.
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Thursday, July 23, 2015

The Best Prepaid Debit Cards of 2015 (July 2015)!




Prepaid debits cards, WHY?!?!? It's better than cashing checks at the liquor store, better than check cashing places, and better than stuffing cash under the mattress.  It's easy to overdraft accounts during hard-times and therefore be in bad standing with banks to obtain future checking accounts or obtain future saving accounts; this is a good way to get back on track. For everyone else: you have access to more ATMs without fees compared to a traditional bank, possibly rewards,and you can deposit cash unlike the average online bank.

I would say another advantage of prepaid debit cards is that you can game the rewards/points system of credit cards by loading credit onto the AMEX prepaids that support non AMEX credit cards and pay mortgages, pay rent, pay student loans etc. thorough bill pay....and then you get AMEX pre-paid rewards as well. However, AMEX caught on in 2015 and stopped the gaming. However, you can load the Serve Card (AMEX prepaid card) with AMEX credit cards, but you will not get AMEX credit card rewards, so you can't double dip. To end on a good-note, if you have a rewards debit card you can double dip by doing debit transfers and take advantage of debit rewards and AMEX rewards.

Sidenote: you can only have one of the AMEX prepaid cards (doesn't include sub-accounts)


Anyways....






In order of preference:


1a. Serve (By American Express)  https://www.serve.com/help/
pros:
  • 1 free ATM withdrawal any ATM per month
  • check clear is set at 6days and there is no fee
  • free atm withdraw at money pass ATMs
  • easy to deposit cash without fees at CVS, 7-Eleven, Walmart, family dollar
  • Amex offers 
  • access to pre-sale event tickets
  • $100,000 max balance

cons:
  • Amex is not accepted everywhere such as mom-pop Chinese carryout, mom-pop liquor stores, mom-pop restaurants etc.
  • lack same day check clear
  • $1 monthly fee unless monthly direct deposit or $500 deposit per month
  • $15,000 max spending limit per month
  • $5,000 max cash deposit per month ($2,500 max per day)
  • unable to earn interest

1b. REDcard (By American Express)
differences from serve: https://amex.serve.com/prepaidredcard/faqs/

  • 5% off purchases at Target
  • free Target shipping
  • no AMEX rewards
  • waive foreign transaction fees
  • no monthly fees
  • free ATM withdrawals Target stores and Allpoint ATM (does not work at other ATMs)
  • only add cash at target
  • unable to add checks


1c. Bluebird (By American Express)
differences from serve: https://www.bluebird.com/faqs?linknav=us-Prepaid-Bluebird-Home-Faqs

  • Walmart offers
  • AMEX rewards
  • write checks
  • waive foreign transaction fees
  • no monthly fees
  • only add cash at walmart
  • ability to add checks over $2,000 (by mail)
  • free ATM withdrawals Walmart and Money Pass ATMs 




2. Moven https://www.moven.com/app.html#faq
pros:
  • no monthly fees
  • free ATM withdrawal at star ATMs
  • ability for check to clear same day
  • able to spend $10,000 per 24 hours

cons:
  • separate app for check deposit powered by Ingo
  • check clear takes 10-days for no fee
  • fee to load cash instantly
  • $10,000 monthly deposit limit
  • unable to earn interest
  • maximum balance is $10,000 (verified info from Moven over phone)



 3. Kaiku https://www.kaiku.com/legal/cardholder
pros:
  • load $10,000 cash per day
  • load $25,000 per month
  • free ATM withdrawal at Allpoint ATMs
  • ability for check to clear same day

cons:
  • $3 monthly fee unless a direct deposit of $750 is made each month
  • maximum balance is $10,000 (verified info from kaiku over phone)
  • limited to only $3,000 spending per day
  • unable to earn interest
  • fee to load cash instantly
  • check clear takes 10-days for no fee
  • separate app for check deposit powered by Ingo



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Sunday, July 19, 2015

What are Mergers and Acquisitions?



"Although they are often uttered in the same breath and used as though they were synonymous, the terms merger and acquisition mean slightly different things.

When one company takes over another and clearly established itself as the new owner, the purchase is called an acquisition. From a legal point of view, the target company ceases to exist, the buyer "swallows" the business and the buyer's stock continues to be traded.

In the pure sense of the term, a merger happens when two firms, often of about the same size, agree to go forward as a single new company rather than remain separately owned and operated. This kind of action is more precisely referred to as a "merger of equals." Both companies' stocks are surrendered and new company stock is issued in its place. For example, both Daimler-Benz and Chrysler ceased to exist when the two firms merged, and a new company, DaimlerChrysler, was created.

In practice, however, actual mergers of equals don't happen very often. Usually, one company will buy another and, as part of the deal's terms, simply allow the acquired firm to proclaim that the action is a merger of equals, even if it's technically an acquisition. Being bought out often carries negative connotations, therefore, by describing the deal as a merger, deal makers and top managers try to make the takeover more palatable.

A purchase deal will also be called a merger when both CEOs agree that joining together is in the best interest of both of their companies. But when the deal is unfriendly - that is, when the target company does not want to be purchased - it is always regarded as an acquisition.

Whether a purchase is considered a merger or an acquisition really depends on whether the purchase is friendly or hostile and how it is announced. In other words, the real difference lies in how the purchase is communicated to and received by the target company's board of directors, employees and shareholders.

As you can see, an acquisition may be only slightly different from a merger. In fact, it may be different in name only. Like mergers, acquisitions are actions through which companies seek economies of scale, efficiencies and enhanced market visibility. Unlike all mergers, all acquisitions involve one firm purchasing another - there is no exchange of stock or consolidation as a new company. Acquisitions are often congenial, and all parties feel satisfied with the deal. Other times, acquisitions are more hostile. "

( http://www.investopedia.com/university/mergers/mergers1.asp#ixzz3gLEhlWL7 )

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Saturday, July 18, 2015

What are Extended Hours (extended trading)?



4am-9:30am and 4pm-8pm. Access to extended hours is determined by your brokerage. Institutional investors have full access to extended hours.
What's Wrong with the Normal Hours?
"Companies are strategic about their announcements of important information. They don't like to make announcements during the regular trading session because it could cause a large knee-jerk reaction that misrepresents the true value of their stock. If a company was to announce its last-quarter earnings and they were worse than expected, a large-scale move out of the stock could result in big losses that may not be warranted.

Although announcing this information before or after the close of the trading day may still cause a large reaction, by the time the market opens, investors and analysts will have read the entirety of the announcement, causing the stock price to better reflect fair value."

( http://www.investopedia.com/financial-edge/1112/trading-in-the-pre--and-post-market-sessions.aspx#ixzz3fUmDjAms )

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Tuesday, July 14, 2015

What is After Hours Trading (post-market)?



A period of trading activity that occurs between 4pm(Closing Bell)-8pm. However, your brokerage may only offer after hours trading until 5pm. Institutional Investors have full access until 8pm.

"After-hours trading volume in specific stocks often surges upon the occurrence of market-moving events, such as earnings reports, pre-earnings announcements or M&A activity. Lower liquidity and wider bid-ask spreads are a common feature of after-hours trading. However, investors may consider this a small price to pay for the privilege of exiting a losing position before regular trading commences, or initiating a new position ahead of the crowd. After-hours trading is heaviest in the first hour or two after markets close, before tapering off sharply. As financial markets become increasingly integrated with the advent of globalization, after-hours trading is likely to expand going forward."

 ( http://www.investopedia.com/terms/a/afterhourstrading.asp#ixzz3fsdxgiss )

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Friday, July 10, 2015

What is Pre-Market Trading?



A period of trading activity that occurs bewteen 4am-Opening Bell (9:30am). However, your brokerage may not offer pre-market trading until as late as 8am. Institutional Investors have full access at 4am.

"Many investors and traders watch the pre-market trading activity to judge the strength and direction of the market in anticipation for the regular trading session. Pre-market trading activity generally has limited volume and liquidity, and therefore, large bid-ask spreads are common. Many retail brokers offer pre-market trading, but may limit the types of orders that can be used during the pre-market period."

( http://www.investopedia.com/terms/p/premarket.asp#ixzz3fUjhTIuq )

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Thursday, July 9, 2015

What is an Institutional Investor?



"Large organizations (such as banks, finance companies, insurance companies, labor union funds, mutual funds or unit trusts, pension funds) which have considerable cash reserves that need to be invested. Institutional investors are by far the biggest participants in securities trading and their share of stockmarket volumes have consistently grown over the years. For example, on a typical day, about 70 percent of the trading on the NYSE is on the behalf of institutional investors. Because they are considered knowledgeable and strong enough to safeguard their own interests, institutional investors are relatively less restricted by the security regulations designed to protect smaller investors."

( http://www.businessdictionary.com/definition/institutional-investors.html#ixzz3fPG8L9Z8 )
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Friday, July 3, 2015

What Is a Retail Investor?

...aka individual investor, aka small investor, aka home gamer? 








It is NOT your shoe collection...but the buying and sell of securities for personal accounts. Retail investing does not include the buying and the selling of securities for companies or for organizations.  



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