TORONTO, ONTARIO–(Marketwire - Nov. 13, 2008) - Unlike most other 20 year olds, Evan Kosiner is currently more focused on launching his fifth company than with getting to class on time.

On November 11th, 2008, this committed entrepreneur launches Traffic on Demand (TOD), a service which will provide on-demand traffic, weather and commuter updates to anyone with telephone access - all for free. Initially launching in Toronto, the service will roll out to major cities across Canada by mid-2009 - including Montreal, Ottawa, Vancouver, Calgary, Hamilton, Barrie, Kitchener-Waterloo and the Niagara region.

“I’m very excited about this venture,” says Kosiner. “With TOD, a simple phone call is all it takes to get the latest information you need.”

TOD is just the most recent company started by Kosiner. A successful entrepreneur since the age of 13, he recently became Chairman of the Kosiner Group (www.kosiner.com), an umbrella organization for his five current companies. His entrepreneurial journey began with Carabiner Productions, a production company that distributed short films and segments made by teens for teens. It has since grown into The Television Development Company, which today creates corporate videos and segments for promotional use.

A mere two years after starting his first company, the 15 year old Kosiner unveiled Exclusive Entertainment, a disc jockey venture that would have him praised by a Toronto publication as “the Bar Mitzvah king (who) rules Forest Hill.” This too has grown from its humble roots, becoming PR/AV (Public Relations Audio Visual), which currently services mid to large scale corporate functions.

Company number three appeared in April 2007 with the birth of Uplights By Design (uplightsbydesign.com), which strategically placed theatrical lights throughout a banquet venue, thus creating a stunning ambience and memorable wedding experiences. Uplights By Design was also the first company in Canada to offer its clients state-of-the-art LED Par Can lights, creating an atmospheric glow with minimal power requirements and heat generation - and therefore eco-friendly to boot! Continuing in an environmental vein, Kosiner then launched GoCARDS (GoCARDS.ca) in September 2007, an online printing house that provides eco-friendly business cards, postcards and flyers - economically and efficiently.

Running five companies would be a feat for anyone, but it hasn’t stopped Kosiner from also currently pursuing a degree in Radio and Television Arts at Ryerson University. Far from being overwhelmed, it’s a juggling act that the 20 year old actually relishes.

“I’m heavily involved with the day-to-day goings on of all my companies, especially Traffic On Demand,” he says. “I’m a big believer in making TOD’s services easy to use in an effort to get people where they want to go faster.” And the wait for traffic-fatigued Torontonians just got shorter - Toronto customers can already take advantage of the services offered by TOD by simply dialing (416) 485-4854.

By Morris Mann

Coaching Is For Champion Athletes And Successful Small Business Owners As Well

You may have played on a sports team and had a coach. But, that may not help you understand how coaching can help in business. If you want to be a successful entrepreneur, or the CEO of your company, the focus, goal orientation and strength building of a coach is invaluable.

You may be surprised to know that not only great athletes like Michael Jordan or Tiger Woods had coaches. Not only great singers, great actors, or other great artists had coaches. But,CEOs and great business leaders like Michael Dell, Meg Whitman, and Scott McNealy used coaches to reach success.

WHAT IS SMALL BUSINESS COACHING ?

Many people try to explain the coaching process by explaining what it is not. It is not therapy, as there little emphasis on your past, or your psychological profile. It is not business consulting, because the relationship is a collaborative one. The business coach has expertise, but worked with you as a partner to apply what will work best for you.

The executive and small business coach is there to help you set extraordinary goals, and to make you accountable to accomplish them by building on your strengths.

THE REALITY OF COACHING IS DIFFERENT FROM THE MYTHS

MYTH: Coaching is for washout, weak figures who can’t make it on their own.

REALITY: It is just those executives with the profiles of champions and a track record of success that understand and maximize the benefits of coaching.

MYTH: Coaching starts by identifying your weaknesses and filling in the gaps.

REALITY: Coaching encourages you to declare a powerful future, of what is possible and predictable based on your strengths. It is there to give you the clarity, power, and velocity to reach your goals.

DO YOU KNOW WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN AN EXECUTIVE SMALL BUSINESS COACH ?

•    Business Expertise - A coach should quickly understand what it’s like to be in your place. You should have a coach with business experience of running and /or starting a small business to be able to understand your challenges.

•    Professional Training - In addition to business experience, a coach should have training in how to help people make positive change in their lives. Such training is from Psychology, Coaching, Social Work or HR programs.

•    Encouragement and Support - Your coach is your partner. You must feel that in addition to understanding your situation, that your coach recognizes your strengths and uses them to build your business success

•    Goal Oriented - The purpose of the coaching partnership is to get results. One of the key strategies for making that happen is for your coach to collaborate with you to set challenging yet realistic goals, while holding you accountable as well

HOW DO YOU HIRE A SMALL BUSINESS COACH ?

It is not essential to be geographically close to your coach. Most coaching is done by telephone. That opens up the possibilities for you. You can check for coaching online, and it is advisable to review a coach’s website to get a sense of whether you feel the coach’s background matches your needs. Do not hire a diet or spiritual life coach if you are looking for strategic business planningand growth or ways to find money for your business startup.

In almost all cases, a coach should offer you a free consultation to make sure that you both feel it can be a successful and productive relationship.

HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE ?

It is really different for everyone, and depends on your long term goals. It is not therapy and will not take years of sessions. On the other hand it is not an advice program. I like to compare it to dieting or physical fitness. You can hear a lecture about what to do, but it takes months of practice to change old habits and establish new ones.

Small Business Coaching is the follow through on insuring you do your best. It is helping you develop real optimism and achieve extraordinary goals. It is a collaborative effort developing a vision and making it happen.

Morris N. Mann

Executive and Family Business Consultant/Coach

Investing in Human Capital

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Morris_Mann
http://EzineArticles.com/?Create-A-Successful-Small-Business-Together-With-A-Business-Coach&id=689973

Hi everyone,

When I meet with people starting a small business, typically what does not get addressed is paying yourself.  It is imperative that you pay yourself!  So we put together some informtional data for you to hopefully answer some of your questions.

Joseph asked:

Q.    How much of my IRA contribution is tax deductible?

A.    It depends.  All strategies work different based on your income whether you have met the full available contribution for that year and if you and your spouse, if jointly filed, earned more in taxable compensation than the maximum deductible amount for your IRA contributions.  In most cases you will be able to deduct the full amount of your contribution up to the maximum deductible amount.

 

Richard asked:

Q.    I am leaving my company and taking my 401K proceeds.  How much time do

I have to deposit them in an IRA before they are taxed as income?

            A.  Typically you have 60 days to roll over your distribution if the money was

                  given to you.  The safest way to do this is to have the company administrator

                  write a check to the IRA rollover account directly.  This insures that nothing

                   is withheld in taxes and is a much easier and cleaner way of achieving your

                   transition.

 

Gabriel asked:

Q.    Can I have multiple IRA accounts at different institutions?

A.    Yes.

 

Thomas asked:

Q.    What is the fee structure associated wit IRA’s?

A.    First of all it is important to understand that there are variable products and traditional products available.  Most traditional products charge no fee and are a more secure avenue of attaining your goals.  Variable accounts on the other hand can vary from ten to sixty dollars per fund.  They each offer different services and benefits and you should consult with your financial advisor for the best plan of action. 

 

Jesse asked:

Q.    If I have an IRA in a brokerage account can I sell the stock in my brokerage account and immediately invest it into my traditional IRA account?    

A.    You can not mix a non IRA brokerage account with an IRA account without creating tax ramifications.  (By law this is considered self dealing and would not be allowed.)

 

Ashley asked:

Q.    What happens if I contribute too much to my IRA?

A.    Typically you would need to with drawl some or all of the money from the plan or reallocate it to next year contributions.  In this situation, the tax payer has until the due date for filing their tax returns. Not including any extensions to with drawl the excess contributions plus any income generated by the excess contributions. 

 

Billy asked:

Q.    What are the implications for my estate if I leave my investments in my IRA?

A.    IRA accounts can be rolled over to a spouse with no immediate income taxation or to the descendent, the estate, or the spousal beneficiary.  However, if there is no surviving spouse or when the surviving spouse dies still owning the IRA assets these assets are typically highly taxed.  Proper planning for your estate with life insurance a consulting with your financial advisor on a frequent basis will generally help you avoid these potential problems.

 

Theresa asked:

Q.    What type of investment can be used as an IRA?

A.    Almost all investments are technically eligible for inclusion in an IRA account.  Most commonly people will link their IRA to some form of an Annuity avoiding probate tax and broadening the spectrum of the potential investment options.

 

David asked:

Q.    Is Gold an eligible purchase inside an IRA?

A.    Yes.  This is a very excellent question. This is a popular form of investing in today’s unstable market.    

 

Randy asked:

Q.    How do I decide which IRA is right for me?

A.    It depends on your taxable income, your age and your family status. It is best to let your financial advisor do a thorough analysis of your situation and they will best be able to guide you in the direction that will help you achieve your goals.

 

Danny asked:

Q.    How do I sign up for an IRA?

A.    Only certain organizations can open an IRA for you.  They are called trustees or custodians.  The IRS may approve certain financial institutions, brokerage firms or insurance companies to act as a trustee or custodian for IRA’s.  I would recommend you seek out an independent brokerage.  Most reputable brokerages do not charge an in house fee because they are compensated directly from the trustee or custodian that they place you with.  More importantly they are not representing one trustee but several and will be able to offer you a variety of options not just one vehicle that could limit your potential for greater success.

 

Gretchen asked:

Q.    Can I donate my IRA to a charity or as a gift?

A.    The best way is to name the charity as the beneficiary of your IRA.  This will help avoid a heavy tax burden when you take money out while still alive.  Keeping in mind if you donate any monies prior to age 59 ½ you will still incur a 10% early penalty.

 

Wade asked:

Q.    Can I borrow funds from my IRA? 

A.  No, but if properly set up with the right trustee most companies will allow you to take a 10% penalty fee with drawl on an annual basis.