Sell Annuity Payments For Cash

An annuity is an investment that is paid monthly for a specific amount of time either during the life of the account holder or during the remaining lives of any beneficiaries. When investing in annuities, a lump sum is paid into the investment. The amount of money the account holder will make monthly will depend on what the interest rates were when the investment was made and what type of annuity (either a Term-certain annuity or a Life annuity) was invested in.

A Term-certain annuity allows any payments that have not yet been received before the account holder's death to continue to go to the estate, whereas a Life annuity normally stops at the death of the account holder. However, with a Life annuity it is possible to select additional options to include beneficiaries and this option does reduce the amount paid out monthly. Retirement pensions, a form of life annuity, can be paid out as a guaranteed annuity and are scheduled to pay out once the account holder has retired.

Many people choose to cash in or sell annuity payments early for a variety of reasons. Perhaps the investment was made when the interest rates were low, which will lead to monthly payments that aren't as much as the account holder would like. Sudden job loss, educational needs, unexpected medical expenses, and improvement of housing and transportation may all be reasons an individual may choose to sell annuity payments. Maybe there's another type of investment that would have a higher return and this investment isn't doing as well as hoped. Reasons will vary as much as the individuals.

When deciding to sell annuity payments, there are a few important points to consider. By selling annuity payments, will you be able to get a good return on the initial investment? Will selling the annuity rights help you to reach your financial goals? What are the interest rates currently compared with when the investment was first made? And lastly, are you losing money with the annuity?

When selling annuity payments or cashing in early, certain fees will be made which will reduce the amount of money the account holder will receive. Taxes, service charges, and interest are fees that may reduce the annuity return. Make sure to check with smaller - yet reputable - firms and not just go with brand names you may have seen on billboards. You'll likely find better terms from the lesser-known purchasers.

North Wales James Braid Golf Trail: Rhyl Golf Club

Scotsman James Braid (1870-1950) was a celebrated golf course architect and five times winner of the Open Championship. He designed many golf courses in his lifetime, with his best known work being that done at Gleneagles and Carnoustie.

The courses that Braid designed had several common features. In particular, James Braid courses are known for the way they take advantage of the land's natural layout, features and obstacles, with players being rewarded for accurate play. Playing for position is encouraged on Braid courses, through the use of dog legs. However, despite the common features, holes still vary greatly in length and character.

There are several courses throughout Britain that were designed or redesigned by James Braid, and of these, there are ten across the North Wales area. Braid's North Wales courses are linked together in the North Wales James Braid Golf Trail, with golfers who play all ten courses and send in their stamped course cards being rewarded with a special certificate. Courses on the trail include Wrexham, Nefyn, Bangor St Deiniol and Rhyl, which is the course we're looking at in this feature.

Established in 1890, Rhyl Golf Club is a founder member of the Welsh Golfing Union. At Rhyl Golf Club golfers play just yards away from the Irish Sea on a 9 hole (18 tee) challenging links course (Rhyl was originally an 18 hole course, stretching towards Rhyl's Alexander Hospital).

The fairways at Rhyl are large but tight, with well-guarded greens to challenge golfers of all levels. The course is par 71 (off the white tees) and is testing for any golfer, especially when the north and west winds are blowing.

At Rhyl, where the greens are fast and firm and always in excellent condition, playing conditions in winter are particularly good - it's a very dry course so golf is great here all year round.

Signature hole

The signature hole at Rhyl Golf Club is the 9th, which has a number of pot bunkers along the fairway and around the green. The 458 yards hole plays into the wind and is a par 4 on the outward 9 and a par 5 on the inward 9 - as Rhyl is a nine-hole course you'll play the same hole twice but on a different tee. With out of bounds on the left and bunkers dotted along the fairways - and the green being protected by deep bunkers - the 9th is out of range in two shots for many golfers.

Facilities

Rhyl Golf Club has an excellent clubhouse which was rebuilt in 2009. The clubhouse offers excellent business facilities and a function room with great catering and a well-stocked bar. Throughout the year many ticketed events take place at Rhyl Golf Club, including Christmas and new year parties, competitions and presentations.

Deals and offers

Check the Rhyl Golf Club website for the latest deals and offers, which include £10 green fees all week, and a buggy for £12.

Facts and figures

Size: 9 holes 6220 yards par 71

Address: Coast Road, Rhyl, LL18 3RE Tel: +44 (0)1745 353171

In the area

The course is in the popular seaside resort of Rhyl on the North Wales Coast. The town boasts an array of fun activities and attractions, and is within easy reach of Chester, Liverpool and Manchester. Also easy to reach by train, bus or car are the mountains, coast and attractions of Snowdonia; Bangor, Caernarfon and Conwy can all be reached within an hour or so by car or train.

Why You Need to Read Faster

Learning to speed read can enhance many areas of your life. This skill is highly valued by both those who possess the skill as well as those who would like to. It can help you be better informed about current events and improve your overall knowledge, something that slow readers might find more difficult to do. Reading quickly may not make you smarter, but it will certainly help you be more informed.

Students with a heavy reading load across a variety of subject areas can benefit greatly from reading faster. Reading for academic purposes can be very time consuming; however, learning to speed read can help you absorb information from a lot of different areas in the least time possible. This ability can make a big difference in the results you are able to achieve.

It can also assist your career because it allows you to regularly update your professional knowledge as well as to perform your responsibilities more effectively by being able to keep up with your workplace reading requirements. You will also learn skills that make research a lot easier and quicker which is another distinct advantage in this fast paced world.

One of the most obvious ways that a faster rate of reading can improve your reading experience is when you read fiction. You can enjoy a novel without wasting a lot of valuable time. You will be able to read many more books than you could otherwise get to and in the process you will greatly enrich your understanding and knowledge. You can read a book more than twice as fast as a slow reader, and scan newspapers and magazines with lightning speed.

If you develop your reading abilities in this way, your reading experience will be greatly enriched. In fact, our modern lives tend to be so busy that being able to read a lot of information quickly with excellent comprehension is highly advantageous.

There are a number of ways to learn to read faster, but one of the most accessible is to use a book, which is also usually the most affordable option. There are other ways to learn this valuable skill. You can attend a speed reading class or take a course online. Any of these methods will teach you a lot more than how to read faster, they will teach you how to better comprehend and retain the information you read. In fact, you will be training your brain to understand new ideas more quickly than ever before as well as saving time.

No matter which way you go about it, learning to speed read can improve your life in many areas, including your career, your education, and your personal pursuits.

Utilizing Book Publishing to Expand Your Ministry

I talk with pastors, organization leaders, and speakers about how they can expand their ministry or organization by developing a line of books and they are simply amazed. When we think of growing or developing our organization many times we think of TV, radio, more programs, etc. but many people just don't think of expanding or developing their organization by publishing a book. This is one of the most powerful ways of growing as an organization for several reasons:

o For one, a book is the best to of learning for a visual learner. You can't expect that because you speak in person, on TV, or radio that the people that hear you are learning as much as you would hope they are. Some people are simply more visual than they are auditory so it's what you can show them that makes the difference. These people like charts, graphs, pictures, and written words. A well written and visually captivating book will speak volumes to these people. This is important to you because you want your audience to receive you well. The better your audience receives you, the more your words will reflect through their lives. They will also tell and recommend more people to your ministry.

o Also, a book is the most enduring method of communication. It's not through radio, satellite, TV, or seminar that history from the earliest times BC have been recorded and taught to us; but it's through the printed medium. Your written words stand throughout the ages. When you write a book, you not only write for today but for people 60 years and even 600 years from today. Consider the Holy Bible and other ancient records of history and how they have endured time and changed the hearts of men that we will never have met, us ourselves, as well as those we won't get the opportunity to meet.

o A book is a great way to begin, expand, or develop your ministry because it's less expensive than other mediums. It's less expensive and consumes far less time to publish a book than to launch a TV or even a radio program. However, if you do have one of these as your ministry, then publishing a book is a great way to further develop that which you have already established.

You should definitely do more research on book publishing as a great opportunity to begin, expand, or further develop your ministry, speaking career, or organization into an effective and prosperous one.

History of Antique Engagement and Wedding Rings

The early Roman era is credited with the initial custom of giving rings for wedding purposes. After families reached a marriage agreement for their children, an engagement would be celebrated with an established rite. Engagement rings would be exchanged during this ceremony. The engagement ring would be placed on the left ring-finger in accordance to an Egyptian belief that that a very fine vein ran directly to the heart from the left finger. The Romans used an ancient clasped hand design for betrothal rings. This "fede" or "trust" ring remained popular for centuries and is still used in jewelry.

Typically antique wedding rings from the 19 th century and the 20 th century were plain gold bands. Many of these gold bands were engraved with expressions of affection or important dates. Gemstones in antique jewelry were expensive luxuries as trade with the Middle East and Asia had not yet allowed for the flow of imported stones. Not all wedding rings were plain gold during the 19 th century. Some antique wedding rings were made with a delicate designs using turquoise, which symbolized the forget-me-not flower. It was not uncommon to find 19 th century wedding rings using pearls or small diamonds.

During the early 1900s, wedding jewelry was designed to be delicate and feminine. Edwardian wedding rings were set in platinum or a mix of yellow gold topped with platinum or silver to allow diamonds to shine. Diamonds were the most common gemstone in 1910 wedding rings. Edwardian engagement rings would often have old-mine cut diamonds or old-European-cut diamonds. Old-mine cut and European-cut diamonds have high crowns that enhance luster under candlelight. 1910 antique filigree rings were crafted with delicate gold or platinum. Antique platinum diamond rings have maintained much of their beauty because of the durability of platinum.

The 1920s wedding rings used more geometric designs and colored stones. Art Deco engagement rings were constructed with old-mine cut, European-cut and brilliant-cut diamonds and set primarily in platinum or white gold. New diamond cutting techniques allowed for new diamond cuts which would add an enhanced geometric flair. Synthetic sapphires or rubies were used to accent art deco engagement rings. 1920s engagement ring shapes featured a center diamond in square, octagonal or hexagonal pronged settings. Art Deco wedding ring settings may have been domed or even stair stepped. 1920's and 1930s engagement rings would be embellished with engraved designs on the shoulders and shanks of rings. The 1930s wedding rings would be made of 18kt and 14kt white gold filigree designs. Ring shanks would continue to be thin by today's standards.

During the 1940s, platinum was required for war efforts and was prohibited for other purposes in the U.S. Silver would often be used instead of platinum and jewelry hoarding occurred.

1960s and 1970s wedding rings would bring a change by using yellow gold mixed with diamonds instead of platinum, silver or white gold.

When shopping for antique and estate wedding rings it is important to confirm that the ring is symmetrical. It is also important to verify that all gemstones in estate engagement rings are tight and in good condition. Antique diamonds should be closely examined for chips or internal fractures. Antique platinum rings should be checked closely to see if the engraved design is still visible and that all parts of the filigree are intact. Antique Pearl or Turquoise wedding rings need to be checked for discoloration and scratches. If an estate wedding ring needs to be resized, make certain that all hallmarks and inscriptions are retained.

Interview with James L Therrian, Author of "Dance of the Heart"

Interview with James L. Terrian

author of Dance of the Heart

James Therrian (2007)

ISBN 9780615135007

Today, Tyler R. Tichelaar of Reader Views is pleased to be joined by James Therrian, author of "Dance of the Heart."

James Therrian was born in Michigan and spent most of his early years in the rainy Northwest before following the sun to Maui, Santa Fe, New Mexico & California. An avid writer, James has attended workshops with Lew Hunter of the famed Screenwriting 434 class at UCLA. James currently lives and writes in San Diego and works with the University of California San Diego.

Tyler: Thank you, James, for joining me today. To begin, would you briefly tell us what your new novel, "Dance of the Heart" is about?

James: "Dance of the Heart" is a love story and a story about attractions. The main character Michael is a successful professional dancer who has a happy settled life, which suddenly changes after the death of his dance partner Margo. Her replacement Elizabeth is totally opposite from Margo, who was a nasty bitter woman. Michael is mesmerized by Elizabeth and falls head over heels for her the minute he lays eyes on her. The problem is that Michael is a gay man in a long-term relationship with his lover, David.

Tyler: James, are you a dancer yourself?

James: No I am not a dancer, but enjoy the ballet and performing arts.

Tyler: Where did you come up with the idea for "Dance of the Heart?"

James: It was an idea I came up with for a creative writing class I took years ago. I wanted to show that everyone is the same when it comes to the heart; no matter who we are or whom we love, we all have similar challenges and choices to make in life.

Tyler: Of course, the book is not just about dancing in its literal sense, but about love and how love can change. I am especially struck by the fact that the main character, Michael, is gay and has a lover, David, but then begins to fall in love with his female dance partner, Elizabeth. Do you think it is possible for a person to fall in love with people of both sexes?

James: Yes I do. Many of us have feelings for people who are inappropriate, be it the same sex, someone who is married, or someone we know the people in our lives would not accept, so usually we just keep our feelings hidden. In Michael's case, the question isn't whether he has feelings for Elizabeth, it is can he change who he is for love?

Tyler: In the novel, Michael doesn't just question whom he loves, but his own sexual identity and preference. Do you think Michael truly is gay or that a person's sexual preference can change over time?

James: For some people a sexual identity is a choice. For instance, some people live their entire lives not being who they are because they are afraid to declare themselves. Many live double lives, but that's an entirely different conversation. Michael is gay, but attractions can make us all question what we want at times.

Tyler: One of the characters, Michael's mother, Sally, states, "You can't choose who you fall in love with, but you can choose what you do with it." Would it be fair to say that is the theme of the book? Was the exploration of that statement why you wrote the book?

James: "Dance of the Heart" does explores the theme that sometimes love has surprises for us all. What we do with them is the choice we have to make. I also wanted to show that when it comes to affairs of the heart, we are all the same, no matter who we are or how we choose to define ourselves.

Tyler: How have readers so far responded to the novel and especially its themes of love and sexual identity?

James: I have had very positive feedback from the readers I have talked to. Michael is a gay man; however, "Dance of the Heart" is a story about love and attractions. One reader told me that she thought it would be a good book for her teenage daughter to read in school as a part of her diversity studies. I was pleased to hear this because I purposely wrote the story to appeal to all readers. It is a funny and wholesome story and has reminders for everyone about the lessons we have to learn in life.

"Dance of the Heart" twists a familiar genre with the fact that the main character is gay, but thinks he may be in love with a woman. I think many readers can relate to Michael's plight as we all do silly things when we fall in love.

Tyler: James, what can we expect next from your pen?

James: My next book, which I am currently working on, is an instructional book on how to self publish a book. I have also been working on a book about what Americans will need to do to thrive in the future as well as leave a livable planet for our children.

Tyler: More and more authors, myself included, are self-publishing these days, yet self-publishing still retains a certain stigma. How would you respond to the critics of self-publishing?

James: It's the familiar old boys club story in my opinion. There are thousands of stories out there that merit being published; however, getting a publisher to pick up your book can be challenging given the way traditional publishing works. It's not impossible to find a publisher; however, it can feel like the proverbial needle-in-a-haystack for most authors. After comparing how traditional publishing and self-publishing worked, I decided to self publish as it allowed more control of my work. Through my self-publishing journey, I actually took the time to learn the skills to do my own typesetting, layout and cover. My next book will be much easier to publish as I now have software, knowledge and skills to truly self publish. Essentially I have become a publisher in addition to an author.

There are definite advantages to being with a large publishing house as they have marketing departments, industry connections and contacts, but I believe that the industry is changing with self-publishing becoming more prevalent. It is similar to the old Hollywood studio system and the advent of independent filmmakers and the affects it has had on the movie business. Self-publishing is very similar to the independent film industry. There are many excellent self-published books out there and I think in the future many authors will choose to self-publish.

Tyler: Do you think self-publishing will continue to be the trend and ultimately be dominant in the market over the books of traditional publishing houses?

James: I am amazed with how many people have approached me telling me they have story they always wanted to publish. I encourage them to go for it as it can happen if they have the commitment to see it through. Personally it has been an extremely satisfying life accomplishment for me to publish "Dance of the Heart" and the fact that it is being well received is even more rewarding.

I do see self-publishing continuing to gain market share. The biggest challenge for self-published authors is of course promotion. This is the advantage of being with a traditional publishing house. They have the resources to get the word out. Most authors are simply writers and have no idea how to promote their book. I recommend finding a professional to help get the word out, because you could have the best story ever written, but if people don't know about it, they won't have the opportunity to read your work. This is a good investment, as not only could you sell some books, you may eventually find a traditional publisher who is interested in picking up your book.

Tyler: You also mentioned you are writing a non-fiction book about how Americans can thrive and yet leave behind a livable planet. Could you tell us a little bit about your past writing? Have you written both fiction and non-fiction, and what do you see as the special difficulties or advantages of writing each kind of prose?

James: I enjoy all kinds of writing and am not afraid to jump into a new genre. I have written both fiction and non-fiction pieces in addition to doing travel writing while in Hawaii. My first audience was a group of coworkers at a bank I worked for years ago. Everyday, I filled in for the receptionist while she went to lunch. During that hour, I wrote installments to a suspense thriller, set on the Oregon coast. I shared my story with the other assistants on the floor who eagerly awaited my new chapters. Years later, I moved to Hawaii and sent a series of stories of my adventures to my friends on the mainland, which I called "Memos from Maui." Living on Hawaii is kind of like living in a foreign country and I had fun sharing my observations of life on a tropical island. "Memos from Maui" was well received and I knew then that I was hooked; I had to do something with my writing. Both fiction and non-fiction have their own advantages and challenges, but non-fiction commentaries I find are easy to write. Fiction takes more thought and imagination, but where you go with it is totally up to you. Having said that, I think a good writer isn't afraid to take on a new challenge. I also write poetry which I have had published as well.

Recently I was involved in a playwriting workshop, which was a great learning experience. Part of the workshop involved writing a 10-minute play to be directed and acted by professionals on stage. I took three chapters from "Dance of the Heart" and was able to see a part of my story acted out on the stage. It was an insightful process and I grew as a writer from the experience.

Tyler: Thank you for joining me today, James. Before we go, can you tell our readers where they can find out more about "Dance of the Heart" and where they can purchase copies?

James: "Dance of the Heart" can be purchased on-line by visiting http://www.danceoftheheart.net. It can also be ordered through any bookstore from Borders to your local bookstore. Thank you, Tyler.