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May 31, 2011

A Securities Law Primer For Startups (Part 2 of 2) By Cliff Ennico

Sadly, the securities laws don't make it easy for small startups to raise capital from lots of "little" investors. So how do you structure a startup when
-- You've got lots of people involved, some putting in money, others putting in "sweat equity" and still others providing both
-- You are looking to raise only a small amount of money (less than $250,000) to launch the business?
-- You cannot afford the services of a qualified securities attorney?

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May 24, 2011

47% See Major Changes in Defense, Social Security, Medicare As Necessary to Big Budget Cuts, 36% Don’t

Most voters know they want to cut government spending in a serious way, but despite the ongoing national budget-cutting debate, they don’t seem to recognize what that’s going to take.

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May 24, 2011

74% Favor Banning Regulators From Working For Those They Regulate For At Least Five Years

Americans overwhelmingly believe that government regulators should be banned from working for companies they regulate for at least five years. A sizable number also think companies that offer jobs to regulators should be banned from doing business with the government altogether.

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May 24, 2011

A Securities Law Primer for Startups (Part 1 of 2) By Cliff Ennico

"Some friends of mine and I are forming a limited liability company to develop and market a mobile phone software application. There are 12 of us in total, and we live in three different states. Five of us will be developing the product in our spare time without putting in any money. Three of us just want to put in money without getting involved in running the company, while the remaining four will be putting in money as well as doing some consulting work to develop and market the product. Our lawyer has told us we will have problems setting up this company because of the federal securities laws. Say what? We're only looking to raise about $25,000."  

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May 23, 2011

51% Think It’s Bribery When A Company Offers A Government Regulator A Job

The “revolving door” is a standard feature in Washington, D.C., with people regularly going back and forth between government and private industry jobs. The practice raises conflict-of-interest questions but is generally quite legal. Voters, however, think it smacks of bribery.

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May 18, 2011

52% See Home-Buying As Family’s Best Investment

While just over half of American adults still believe buying a home is a family’s best investment, very few would recommend selling a home in the current market.

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May 17, 2011

Just 51% of Homeowners Believe Their Home is Worth More Than Mortgage

Only half of Adult Homeowners say their house is worth more than what they still owe on their mortgage, but most have not missed or been late on a mortgage payment in the past six months.

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May 17, 2011

A 'Rich Guy' Speaks Out Against Higher Taxes (Part 2 of 2) By Cliff Ennico

In case you've forgotten who I am since last week, my name is Joe, and I make exactly $250,000 per year before taxes -- one of the so-called "rich people" whose taxes should be raised in order to redress what many otherwise smart people view as an "income inequality" that threatens the very fabric of American life.

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May 16, 2011

Just 15% of Homeowners Expect Value of Home to Go Up This Year

Homeowners continue to be skeptical about the value of their home in the short-term and even long-term confidence is limited.

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May 12, 2011

54% Expect Higher Interest Rates A Year From Now

Most American adults continue to believe interest rates will be higher in one year's time, but a majority says the rates they're paying now haven't changed over the past year.

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May 11, 2011

Americans Spending More On Groceries Than Ever Before

Adults nationwide remain heavily concerned about inflation, and the number who says they are paying more for groceries now compared to a year ago has reached a new high.

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May 11, 2011

Bailouts Remain Popular With Just 25% of Voters

Despite General Motors' seemingly improved financial picture and Chrysler's hopes to repay the government by next month, voters remain convinced that the bailouts of the big automakers were a mistake.

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May 10, 2011

72% of Working Adults Say Leaving Their Current Job Will Be Their Choice

Most working Americans continue to plan on staying with their current employer, but now nearly three-out-four say it will be their choice when it comes time to move on.

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May 10, 2011

50% Are At Least Somewhat Confident in U.S. Banking System

Americans remain narrowly divided in their views of the stability of the U.S. banking system but still express little concern about the safety of the money they have in the bank.

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May 10, 2011

A 'Rich Guy' Speaks Out Against Higher Taxes (Part 1 of 2) By Cliff Ennico

You don't know me. My name is Joe, and I make exactly $250,000 per year before taxes.

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May 9, 2011

20% Classify Themselves As the Working Poor

The number of working poor is at a recent high, but workers in general are expressing slightly more confidence in their short-term earnings.

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May 6, 2011

43% Say High Gas Prices Have Big Impact on Their Lifestyle

A plurality of Americans say high gas prices have had a significant impact on their daily lives and that they are driving less now than they were a year ago.

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May 5, 2011

44% Favor Eliminating Federal Gas Tax For Now

Voters strongly believe the government can do something to lower rising gas prices, but they have mixed feelings about dropping the federal gas tax.

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May 4, 2011

Discover (R) Consumer Spending Monitor (SM): Consumer Confidence Volatile Throughout April but Remains at 89.4

Consumers' confidence sharply rebounded in January, fueled by a surge in the number of middle-income consumers who see improvement in the U.S. economy and in their personal finances are improving, according to the Discover U.S. Spending Monitor.

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May 4, 2011

42% Say President Has Bigger Impact on Economy Than Fed Chairman, 41% Disagree

Voters still view the Federal Reserve Board's performance with skepticism and are evenly divided when asked whether the Fed chairman or President Obama have more clout when it comes to the economy.

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