Blackstocks.com: In the Know

What can be Learned from Warren Buffett, the world's second-richest man

According to the Associate Press, Warren Buffett, the world's second-richest man, wowed the world last summer when he announced that he plans to give away most of his $48.4 billion fortune, and now he wants to make sure those donations are spent quickly.

Most of Buffett's shares of his holding company, Berkshire Hathaway Inc., will go to five charitable foundations over time, but the billionaire plans to eventually give all of his shares away.

Here's what can be learned:

1. Obviously this Warren Buffet has a well though out plan.
2. It's clear he's considered the tax consequences of his will by giving to foundations.
3. He also has outlined a game plan to avoid the instituionalization of the waelth he has created by distributing it within speciofic persiod of times.
4. Most important he's come to grips with his "life Bank" which is outlined in "The 10 principles of Wealth for Black Folks and Other People Too!" Mr. Buffet understands that his "Life Bank" is running and he's come to grips with that by undertsanding that statitics says; he has about 12 more years - give or take a few- on this earth
5. Much more than can meet the eye.

Buffett said in his annual letter to shareholders Thursday that he stipulated in his will that the proceeds from all Berkshire shares he owns at death must be used for "philanthropic purposes within 10 years after my estate is closed." He estimated his estate should be settled within three years of his death.

Who makes the big bucks?

CEOs, chief operating officers, top executives and surgeons top the list of jobs with the highest salaries, according to recent figures from Salary.com.

CEOs' paychecks dwarf all others, according to the Salary.com numbers. The average CEO takes home $688,572 per year in salary alone. The figure jumps to $1.18 million with bonuses, according to the data.

"The thing that's interesting about CEOs is that there is the biggest variance in pay," says Lena Bottos, director of compensation for Salary.com. "There are so many factors that affect it. You can go from very small numbers to very large numbers."

And the numbers on the check don't always tell the whole story. "It's less about salary and more about the mix" of things such as bonuses and stock options, she says. With CEO pay, "different things become hot over time."

Blackstocks.com 10th Anniversary Year

Some of the best information you can find any where on the Internet can be found on Blackstocks.com.

During its 10th anniversary year, www.blackstocks.com is focusing on the following objectives:

1) Increasing members knowledge and access to credit; and

2) Increasing the creative means for African Americans and other people to access capital; and

3) Increasing members knowledge of the impact of the stock market on their lives.

Technorati tags: top black sites, Best African American Sites, health, money, entertainment, business, music, film, auto Show, www.blackstocks.com, 1blackstites.com, awards, African-American, Asian-American and Latino Executives of the Year, Urban Car and Truck of the Year, Diversity, credit cards, invest, capital, ShareBuilder, Alton Perkins

Great Stocks - Starts with Oprah

According to Jim Cramer's new book, Mad Money: Watch TV, Get Rich Oprah can bring you value. If you watch Jim Cramer's show on CNBC on a regular basis and have already read his previous book, Real Money: Sane Investing in an Insane World, there's probably not a lot of new material in the book. However, Cramer does provide a list of 20 lessons for individual investors, based on his best - and worst - calls on the "Mad Money" TV show.

He also outlines the various resources he uses to research his stock picks. In fact, in the book (page 180) Cramer acknowledges the power of Oprah to move stock prices:

According to Cramer,'Most important, I pay attention to Oprah. Don't laugh at that; I'm serious. One of my best calls ever, Deckers (DECK), a stock I recommended on November 30, 2005 came straight out of Oprah. She endorsed their shoes, and I knew that endorsement would translate into big sales. The stock was at $23.03 when I got on it, and five months later on April 28, the stock closed at $42.69. In less than half a year, Oprah gave you an 85 percent gain. That's better than most of the stocks Investor's Business Daily picks out. Oprah really counts. According to Cramer, ' She's the biggest force driving the American consumer, and you've gotta pay attention to her if you want to predict my recommendations.'

Technorati tags: www.blackstocks.com, Jim Cramer, Mad Money: Watch TV, Oprah, CNBC, Real Money, Investing in an Insane World, stock prices, Alton Perkins, money, www.1blacksites.com

African-American entrepreneurs and Dr. King

Black-owned businesses are key to Dr.King's equality drive

It is not enough for Americans to simply remember the dream of equality preached by the Rev. Martin Luther King. Equality for all Americans, particularly African-Americans, is a continuing struggle.

Dr. King battled for civil rights against legal oppressions -- official segregation in schools and public accommodations. Thanks to civil rights-era pioneers such as Dr. King, those battles have largely been won.

But the battle continues, particularly for the economic empowerment of African-Americans. Some of the greatest warriors for economic equality are black entrepreneurs.

A Census Bureau study released last summer and reported in Business Week indicated that black-owned businesses are growing rapidly. They have increased 45 percent from 1997 to 2002. They generate $89 billion in revenue, an amount that has increased 25 percent over the period of the study.  To get the latest figures on the Black Buying Power visit Target Market News

Do You Have The Right Stuff?

Do You Have The Right Stuff?

Success and Leadership qualities on Success TV. Famed author Stephen Covey talks about success and leadership.

According to Covey leaders are not born or made, they are self made.

See leadership Video

See leadership Video

Technorati tags: Alton Perkins, www.blackstocks.com, Stephen Covey, leadership, management, success, wealth, African American

Don't let your credit bureau take you for a Ride

Don't let your credit bureau take you for a Ride

To make a long story short, get your Fico score and three credit reports directly from from my.FICO.com.

Now here's the long story.

When seeking your credit score you don't want to be taken for a ride by your credit bureau. Why not? Most often the credit bureaus won't be singing the same song as your car lender, mortgage company or other lender. That's not good.

Why not? Often the big three (TransUnion, Equifax, and Experian ) will be singing from a one page of sheet music the VantageScore.  The lender will be singing from another; the FICO Score.

What does this mean?

Cookie Dough$

Cookie Dough$

How do you go from making cookies for yourself to making millions.  The world famous Wally Amos shares how he did it twice on Blackstocks.com/Success TV.

Wally Amos Video

Technorati tags: Alton Perkins, www.blackstocks.com, Wally Amos, leadership, management, success, wealth, African American

Consuelo Mack Wealthtrack - Where can you find value in 2007?

Where can you find value in 2007?

Get your retirement portfolio on track for the new year with Consuelo Mack Wealthtrack.

Conselo discusses what happened in the different markets in 20006 clearly showing that investor diversification is where is at.

Conselo specifically talks about stocks, bonds, real estate, art, and collectibles. Only two stock funds lost money last year, those investing in Japan; and those going short. betting stocks would go down. Also, for an unprecedented 7th time real estate funds went up nearly 34%.

To get notable trends and find out where the value will be found this year check out Consuelo Mack Wealthtrack - Video.

Technorati tags: Alton Perkins, www.blackstocks.com, stocks, investments, Asset Allocation, Time Horizon, Diversification, risk, African Americans, Diverisfication, Consuelo Mack

Nelson Mandela and Oprah as Good as Gold

Nelson Mandela and Oprah as Good as Gold

Oprah's opens her academy in South Africa with the help of Nelson Mandela

Click for a video short take

Click for a video short take

Technorati tags: Alton Perkins, www.blackstocks.com, stocks, investments, wealth, Oprah, Nelson Mandela, SOuth AFrica, money, videos, African American