Stocks, Real Estate Boost US Household Wealth in 1st Q of 2013 to Record High

A newly released report from the Federal Reserve Bank shows that total US household net worth climbed to $70.35 trillion in the first three months of 2013 from the fourth quarter of 2012, setting a new all time high [http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/us/
Stocks-real-estate-boost-US-household-wealth/articleshow/
20470746.cms].

Roughly 50% of the gains in 1st Q of 2013 were from stocks as the major stock indices [Dow Jones Industrial Average and S&P 500] ascended to record levels in 2013.

Another quarter of the gain in the 1st Q came from rising home prices. S&P/Case-Shiller Home Price Indices [http://us.spindices.com/index-family/real-estate/sp-case-shiller] are the leading measures of US residential real estate prices, tracking changes in the value of residential real estate both na

What God Has Joined, Is Not Easily Broken……

I can recall during the period in which my ex-husband and I were fighting to save our marriage. Out of desperation for answers, one Sunday afternoon, we decided to watch the movie, “Not Easily Broken”. If you unaware of the subject matter of the movie, please allow me to brief you. The movie is based on a young couple that marries with great expectations for their future together. Along the away, things happen, unexpected shifts occur. The couple is then faced with challenging issues surrounding, “power-struggles”, “infidelity”, “finances”, “control”, “insecurities”, “career”, “jealousy”, “communication” or lack thereof, “illness”, and last but not least, the infamous “mother-in-law” A.K.A “Queen Buttinsky”.

In the movie, the Pastor placed an invisible chord of three strands around the co

The Unexpected Leader

• Barak Obama
• credibility
• Emerge
• leaders
• Leadership
• mentor
• organizations

Barak Obama, Sarah Palin, Jay-Z , Mark Zuckerberg, Barney Frank, Harriet Tubman, Susan B. Anthony, Elizabeth Cady Stanton- what do these people have in common? They are national examples of the “Unexpected Leader.”

These leaders burst on the scene shaking things up and no one sees them coming. Their emergence as leaders is frequently met with shock, disbelief and a lot of “it is not supposed to be your turn” energy and commentary!

I’ve been intrigued by this Unexpected Leader concept for years, in part because I am often experienced as the Unexpected Leader. Watching a number of these leaders emerge inspired me to study the special challenges these individuals face. Often what makes the leader unexpected is race, gender, age, physical ability or sexual orientation. Unexpectedness is also c

GBS Spotlight: Kimberly Reed – CEO & Managing Partner of Reed Development Group LLC

Name: Kimberly Reed
Title: CEO & Managing Partner
Company: Reed Development Group LLC
Location: Cherry Hill, NJ

What is your name and what do you do?

Kimberly S. Reed, CDP, Corporatepreneur™, Managing Partner and CEO, Reed Development Group, LLC (RDG), has earned a reputation as one of the most dynamic speakers and trainers. Reed speaks on topics ranging from entrepreneurial leadership, leadership, professional and personal development, life transformation and public speaking internationally. Also, she is a regular speaker and lecturer at the Wharton Business School’s and Villanova University’s LEAD Programs, Executive 50, Temple University, Howard University’s Leadership Programs, national professional organizations and Sharon Baptist Bible Institute. In February 2013, Reed made her co

Finding Your Internal Positioning System (IPS): What’s Ingrained In You?

He who does not know one thing knows another.
Kenyan Proverb

Carving out space or time for yourself in the shotgun-style house I grew up in on a woody rural road in Waverly Virginia wasn’t easy. My determined single mother and we four children lived with her wise parents in this six room abode with no hallways or indoor plumbing. I slept in a back room off of the kitchen, sharing a bed with an aunt.

Every morning during the week my grandmother came down to the kitchen at 5 a.m. to start breakfast for my grandfather and send him off to work. I always awoke when I heard her. She was the alarm clock for everyone in the house. There was something comforting about that hour, knowing another safe day had started. I wouldn’t go back to sleep but instead set aside this time to think about the upc

The “Scale” Friend or Foe? – Learning to Overcome the “S” Word

Let’s stop for a moment to reflect on “self”, and what it means to get one’s self in order. I was drawn to the idea for this discussion when I learned of the outrage that was caused when Allure magazine decided to disclose Zoe Saldana’s weight on the cover of their magazine.

Here is the thing that really confused me. It wasn’t the nude photo of Zoe in all her bare beautiful glory that was causing the commotion, instead it was the mention of her weight on the front cover….hhhmmm. I began to ponder the thought….and I had to ask the question, “what is really wrong with this picture?”

Why were so many people outraged at the revealing of Zoe’s weight, when the exposure of her bare naked body didn’t even cause a stir? I could be wrong, and please forgive me if I am, but could it be that Zoe’s t

The Top 5 Non-Profit Speakers to Consider for Your Next Conference

A’Lelia Bundles tops our list of Non-Profit Speakers to Consider for Your Next Conference. She is a world renowned author, non-profit board chair, and journalist who brings a unique perspective to any platform. Her speeches incorporate historical analysis, politics, and entrepreneurship in a way that anyone can access.

A’Lelia Bundles is a descendant of the incomparable Madam CJ Walker. Her third book, Joy Goddess of Harlem: The Life and Times of A’Lelia Walker, is a biography of her Madam CJ Walker. For 30 years, she has blazed a trail of investigative research and philanthropy. She has appeared on ABC’s “Good Morning America,” NBC’s “Today,” CBS’s “Sunday Morning,” NPR’s “Morning Edition” and WNET/13’s “A Walk Through Harlem”. her experience in the non-profit sector incorporates her vast

ACCESS TO SELF – LIQUIDATING CREDIT INSTRUMENTS IS AN ESSENTIAL ELEMENT TO CREATE WEALTH

• S

One crucial element in creating wealth is one’s creditworthiness. There are five criteria that most lenders use to assess a borrower’s creditworthiness: capacity, collateral, capital, conditions, and character.

The standard or quantitative measure is one’s credit score or FICO^® Score  [http://www.myfico.com]. The FICO^® Score is the standard credit score in the US, used in more than 90% of lending decisions, by financial institutions making mortgage loans ]homes] or extending a credit instrument to entrepreneurs. Access to self-liquidating credit instrument is an essential element in the success of a business enterprise and the ultimately creation of wealth for shareholders/entrepreneurs..

Wealth is generally the sum of such major assets as a home and other real estate holdings, stocks and

GBS Spotlight: Dr. Avis Jones-DeWeever – National Public Radio Host

Name: Dr. Avis Jones-DeWeever
Title: Host, Focus Point with Avis Jones-DeWeever
Company: National Public Radio
Location: Washington, DC

What is your name and what do you do?

My name is Dr. Avis Jones-DeWeever, and I currently wear many professional hats. Social Entrepreneur, Radio Host, Writer, Activist and Speaker, each represent a slice of what fills my days and professional passion. I am the immediate past Executive Director of the National Council of Negro Women, the nation’s oldest organization devoted to the advancement of both Civil Rights and Women’s Rights, and the current Host of National Public Radio’s Focus Point with Avis Jones-DeWeever, a show which provides a fresh perspective on the intersection of race, gender, politics, and life.

I am also the Founding President and CE

Your Relationship May Be Broken, But You Don’t Have to Be

Yet another reality TV show relationship bites the dust. It was just announced that Trina Braxton of the We TV hit show “The Braxtons” has finally filed for divorce from her cheating husband, Gabe. As you may recall, Trina was publicly humiliated by his cyber-cheating, but they both stepped out. Gabriel has admitted to cheating on Trina with numerous women in the past and Trina admitted to cheating on Gabriel — all of which played out on their reality TV show.

I’m surprised the marriage lasted as long as it did. But love is resilient, so you never know how much you can take until turmoil hits your life and you’re challenged by what’s in your head vs. what’s in your heart.

Nevertheless, the drama of relationships that we see play out on TV doesn’t even begin to compare to what people face o