Canyon Lake Views Page � August 200�

by Cindy WhartonFive steps to moving a website

Cindy Wharton is the owner of Local Tech Service. Cindy can be reached by email at Cindy@LocalTechService.com. For more information, contact Local Tech Service at 830-708-5247 or visit www.LocalTechService.com.

Switching to a new website host isn’t hard. The hard part is ensuring that your website stays up and running during the switch-over. These steps will ensure that your website won’t experience any downtime as you switch providers.

Step One - Set up your new hosting ac-count. You want to make sure this is up and running okay before you even begin to think about moving your site. Make sure there are no billing issues and that you’re absolutely sure this is the right host for you; then proceed to Step Two.

Step Two - Backup your current website. FTP to your current hosting account (or login to its File Manager) and save every single file to your computer’s hard drive. Also export any SQL databases you may have. In addition, make a note of the email addresses that are part of your account, and any other setting that you’ll have to use with your new hosting account. If you’re using your current host’s webmail program to check your email, it is recommended that you download all of your mail to a PC-based client such as Outlook, as it is very unlikely that you can move these stored messages to your new hosting account’s webmail program.

Step Three - Add your domain name to your new hosting ac-count and upload your website files. Next, add your domain name to your new hosting provider’s Domain Manager. Then, upload your website’s files to that domain’s directory, and import your databas-es. Then, before going any further, test everything to make sure it works okay, and that you’ve set everything up right. It is imperative that you do this! Now is also a good time to add your email accounts in the Email Manager. Continue once you’re absolutely sure that everything is working properly.

Step Four - Change your domain name’s DNS Settings. In this step, change the DNS settings of your domain name to point to your site at your new hosting provider. You can obtain the proper DNS settings from your new host. Your old host or your domain registrar should be able to help enter these if you’re having trouble. DNS changes take up to 48 hours to propagate, so wait at least that long before continuing.

Step Five - Cancel your old hosting account. So that you don’t get double-billed, it’s important to cancel your old website hosting account as soon as you’re sure that everything is working properly at your new host. Just contact your old host’s billing or support de-partment, and then you’re all set!Article source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Daniel_Briere

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©2007 Sue Sweat

Canyon Lake Views Page 13 August 2007

in conjunction with this plan. Additionally, employers are required to make a contribution each year and can not establish a vesting plan. Your employees must also be aware that SIMPLE IRA’s have lower contribution levels than other plans like a 401k and loans against the vested balance are not permitted.

Choosing a retirement plan is one of the most impor-tant financial decisions a business owner will make. A good retirement plan offered as part of your employee

benefits serves as a means of attracting and retaining valuable employees. I recommend that you contact your financial advisor to review your company’s needs and determine which plan would be best suited for your needs.

SERgio zEpEda, maasenior associate

PHONE 210-383-5301 • FAX 830-964-41421535 hilltop ridge, canyon lake , texas 78132

international financial planning network

Star

Financial

ServiceS

and Money

conceptS

capital

corp. All Securities through Money Concepts Capital Corp., Member NASD/SIPC11440 Jog Rd. Palm Beach Gardens, FL. 33418-3764 (561) 472-2000

by Carrie E. Campbell, JD

Carrie Campbell is the managing law partner in the firm of Mounger & Campbell, LLP. She is also a wife, mother of two girls, and is a member of the Rotary Club of Wimberley, Friends of the Wimberley Village Library, and the Op-erations Committee for the new Community Center. The office is located at 173 FM3237, Bldg. B, in Wimberley. She can be reached at 512-847-1308.

512-847-1308

Identity theftIn this culture where we each are burdened with numerous

identification numbers, it is all too easy for criminals to steal vital information. Victims of identity theft learn too well the enormous difficulty of cleaning up such as mess. The best way to protect yourself is to use common sense and follow a few precautions: (1) get your credit report on a regular basis to check for any unknown accounts that may have been opened using your social security number; (2) put a password on EVERYTHING, especially if you live in a place where others have frequent access to your computer such as in a dorm room; (3) never give out information to some-one over the telephone unless you initiate the communication; and (4) guard your letters/bills by using the blue post office collection boxes for your outgoing mail.

If you become a victim of identity theft, immediately place a fraud alert on your credit report and obtain a current report to verify which accounts are correct. Close those accounts that were tampered with, and work with your bank to obtain access to a new account for the ongoing need to pay your bills and buy necessi-ties. It is extremely important that you also file a report with your local law enforcement agency. Such a report will be significant in proving to creditors that you are a victim of identity theft. Further-more, you should file a complaint with the Federal Trade Com-mission who keeps track of the latest trends and schemes used by these criminals in order to shut down widespread crime rings that engage in this particular activity.

The decision about what type of retirement plan to offer your employees can be a complex one. There are several options to choose from, including a traditional 401k, SEP IRA, Safe Harbor 401k, or a SIMPLE IRA. If you are a small business owner and have been con-sidering adding a retirement plan for your employees and are looking for a plan that is both a benefit to your company and your employees, why not consider a SIMPLE IRA Plan?

A SIMPLE IRA Plan (Savings Incentive Matching Plan for Employees) is designed for small employers with no more than 100 employees, which allows for matching contributions toward your employees’ retirement. Employees can make contributions from their paychecks and receive an employer matching contribu-tion of up to 3%.

Let’s take a brief look some advantages of a SIMPLE IRA Plan. This plan has the same benefits of a 401k where matching contribu-tions are tax deductible and your business can receive tax credits or other incentives for starting a plan. The features of a SIMPLE IRA include: 1) no government reporting is required by employer; 2) administration costs are low; 3) contributions are immediately 100% vested; 4) employees can contribute 100% of earned income up to $10,500 (for 2007); 5) employees control and direct their own investments; and 6) catch-up contributions are permitted of an ad-ditional $2500 to $13000 over the age of 50.

These are great advantages to the plan; however before starting a SIMPLE IRA Plan, you must know that any eligible employer is not allowed to maintain another retirement plan in addition to or

by Sergio ZepedaSIMPLE IRA: A great alternative for your small business

Sergio Zepeda is a licensed independent financial advisor for Star Financial Services and Money Concepts Capital Corp. and has been a Canyon Lake resident since 2000. He specializes in retirement planning, and small business group retirement and insurance plans. For more information call 210-383-5301.

If despite your best efforts you are un-successful in dealing with creditors, you may wish to consult with an attorney ex-perienced with the Fair Debt Collection laws. Quality legal representation can be very effective in getting your record clear.