A consultant (from the latin consultus meaning "legal expert") is a professional who provides expert advice in a particular domain or area of expertise such as accountancy, technology, the law, human resources, marketing, medicine, finance, public affairs, communication, or more esoteric areas of knowledge, for example engineering of different kinds, scientific specialties such as materials science, instrumentation, avionics, and stress analysis.

A consultant is also the term used to denote the most senior medical position in the United Kingdom (e.g., a consultant surgeon).

Ways in which consultants work

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Often a consultant provides expertise to clients who require a particular type of knowledge or service for a specific period of time, thus providing an economy to the client. In other situations, companies implementing a major project may need additional experienced staff to assist with increased work during that period.

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Latest financial news - CNNMoney.com

Porsche-Volkswagen showdown looms
Fri, 03 Jul 2009 12:50:37 -0400
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Japan backs dollar as reserve currency
Fri, 03 Jul 2009 10:45:13 -0400
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Bacon entrepreneurs bring in the bucks
Fri, 03 Jul 2009 10:33:58 -0400
Tired of hearing that everything tastes like chicken? So are Seattle entrepreneurs Justin Esch and Dave Lefkow. They want it all to taste like bacon.

Standard Newswire: Financial

Boehner, Westmoreland Unveil 'Bloodhounds' Video Asking: Where Are the Jobs
Thu, 02 Jul 2009 12:22:38 -0600
Job-Sniffing GOP Bloodhound Ellie Mae Makes Debut, Finds Few Jobs from Trillion-Dollar 'Stimulus'  Contact: Michael Steel, Kevin Smith, Steve Forde, 202-225-4000; all with John Boehner's Office  WASHINGTON, July 2 /Standard Newswire/ -- House Republican Leader John Boehner (R-OH) today released a new web video targeting Washington Democrats' trillion-dollar "stimulus" bill and asking "where are the jobs?" The tongue-in-cheek web video, inspired Source: Republican Leader Press Office
New Book Challenges Wall Street's Asset Allocation Paradigm
Thu, 02 Jul 2009 10:05:08 -0600
After years of managing his family's retirement assets, private investor Peter Casula Jr. divulges his secrets on beating the market. Contact: Peter Casula Jr., 800-834-1803, logos1237@sbcglobal.net, www.rosedogbookstore.com  LOS ANGELES, July 2 /Standard Newswire/ -- Going against the grain in Wall Street can definitely pay off, as Peter Casula Jr. can attest: his portfolios have earned double digit returns since their inception in 2003 and ending in 2007. While Source: Standard Newswire
U.S.-built Ferry Sets Sail for Africa
Thu, 25 Jun 2009 10:19:10 -0600
Thain Boatworks, Inc. Ships its First Containerized Ferry to Uganda Thain and EarthWise Ventures, Inc., is Major Step Toward Rebuilding African Infrastructure Contact: Rob Smith, 425-319-1032 EVERETT, Wash., June 25 /Standard Newswire/ -- Thain Boatworks and EarthWise Ventures, Inc. will be shipping the first Thain Containerizable Ferry from Everett to Uganda the final week of July.  According to Robert Smith, U.S.A CEO of EarthWise Ventures and President of Thain Boatworks, & Source: Standard Newswire

SmartMoney.com

4 Gadgets to Stay Connected on the Road (Deal of the Day)
letters@smartmoney.com (Kelli B. Grant) Thu, 02 Jul 2009 00:00:00 -0400
As Americans look to save on travel costs and gasoline prices hold fairly steady, more people are turning to their own cars to get them where they want to go. But few sounds drown out the joy of a summer road trip faster than a backseat chorus of “Are we there yet?” Fortunately for the chauffeurs of the vocal and impatient, gadget makers have released new devices designed to make car trips easier for passengers, not to mention drivers. Among the possibilities: tuning into live TV while idling in traffic, getting enough battery power from your computer to play the entire "Harry Potter" DVD lineup back-to-back, and turning your cellphone into a radar detector. SmartMoney.com talked to auto and electronics experts, as well as drivers, to find car-worthy gadgets. Here are four ways to stay in touch on the road: 1) Live TV New satellite services ensure that a lengthy road trip doesn’t mean the family misses the latest episodes of hit summer series like “Burn Notice,” or popular kids’ shows, such as “Hannah Montana.” “This would be a lifesaver,” says Lisa Tyler, a spokeswoman for social networking site MomsLikeMe.com. She routinely sets up the car’s DVD player with videos for her four-and-a-half year-old twin boys but says it’s tough to keep their interest with the same shows on the family’s annual 14-hour summer roadtrip from Virginia to Florida. “With TV, you get the variety of programming,” Tyler says. Systems can be installed in most vehicles, as long as you have an FM radio and a monitor. The technology is still in early adoption, so expect to pay steep fees for equipment. A few systems on the market: AT&T (T) CruiseCast. Browse the lineup of 42 satellite TV and radio channels, including Disney (DIS) XD, Discovery Kids, Animal Planet and Accuweather. The antenna/receiver combo costs $1,300, and a monthly subscription is $28. DirecTV (DTV) Total Choice Mobile. Watch any of the satellite service’s 185 channels, including the major networks and niche offerings like The History Channel and Spike. The service requires a subscription to the satellite provider (packages start at $30 per month) and an unobtrusive receiver (roughly $2,000) to be installed on your vehicle’s roof. Sirius (SIRI) Backseat TV. Programming is currently limited to three kid-friendly channels: Nickelodeon, Disney Channel and Cartoon Network. To set up the service you’ll need an audio/video tuner ($300), as well as a monthly subscription ($7, in addition to regular satellite radio subscription fees, which start at $7 a month). 2) Power converter Forgot the car charger for your favorite electronic device? No sweat. Inexpensive power converters enable you to power any device that uses a standard plug, including your cellphone, your laptop or a blender for smoothies near the beach. This coffee-cup-shaped version ($30, from ThinkGeek) plugs into the cigarette lighter in your vehicle. It can power up to three devices at the same time, and fits into the car’s drink holder for easy storage and access. 3) Your smartphone Whether he’s driving the family car or his motorcycle, debt counselor Steve Rhode of GetOutofDebt.org always brings his Apple (AAPL) iPhone along for the trip. “It’s my travel essential,” he says. “I rely on it.” In addition to music and games, Rhode has loaded his phone with apps to make his trips easier, including weather monitor RadarScope ($9.99 on iTunes) and “AroundMe” (free), which locates the nearest restaurants and other amenities. “I can make a more informed decision about where I get off the highway,” Rhode says. A few other useful apps for the road: Trapster. Avoid speeding tickets with this free app for the BlackBerry, iPhone, Android device or other phone operating system. It uses GPS to alert you when you’re approaching known speed traps, red-light cameras and speed cameras. SitorSquat. This free app for BlackBerry and the iPhone uses GPS to find nearby restrooms. An active user community rates each from zero to five stars for cleanliness. 4) GPS New standalone and dashboard models on the market do more than direct you from Point A to Point B. Some alert you to congested roadways and offer alternate routes to cut your travel time. Voice activation commands let you keep your eyes on the road and your hands on the wheel. A handful — like the Garmin (GRMN) nüvi 265WT (on sale at Best Buy for $220, a 33% discount) — include Bluetooth technology, which allows you to reroute cellphone calls through the device’s built-in speakers and microphone. “We’re all in favor of anything that prevents distraction in a vehicle,” says Fran Clader, a spokeswoman for the California Highway Patrol, which has issued more than 100,000 citations to drivers using handheld cellphones on the road. And in New Jersey, hands-free might soon be the only legal way to operate your GPS.) Many GPS models also include programs that can play your MP3 collection, point you to the nearest bookstore or amusement park and locate the cheapest gas around. SMARTMONEY ® Layout and look and feel of SmartMoney.com are trademarks of SmartMoney, a joint venture between Dow Jones & Company, Inc. and Hearst SM Partnership. © 1995 - 2009 SmartMoney. All Rights Reserved.
Ginnie Mae Bonds, Student Loans, Finding a Planner (Ask SmartMoney)
letters@smartmoney.com (Stephanie AuWerter) Thu, 02 Jul 2009 00:00:00 -0400
QUESTION: I like the yields on GNMA bonds. What are the risks? —Frank Summers, Santa Ana, Calif. Anyone tracking bonds backed by “Ginnie Mae” mortgages (from the Government National Mortgage Association) is likely wondering, “What mortgage meltdown?” Ginnie Mae creates mortgage-backed securities consisting primarily of loans guaranteed by the Federal Housing Administration, which typically backs loans to folks with shaky credit and small down payments. These bonds have had an impressive run: The Barclays Capital U.S. MBS Fixed Rate GNMA index has an 8.6 percent one-year total return, compared with 8 percent for the intermediate Treasury bond index. Despite their government backing, Ginnie Mae bonds carry slightly more risk than Treasurys. When a mortgage is paid back early (because the homeowner has moved, refinanced or was foreclosed upon), for instance, you’ll get your money back but miss out on future interest payments. You could then buy a new GNMA bond, but if mortgage rates have fallen, you’re stuck with a lower yield. “That’s a heightened risk right now,” says Ronald Reardon, a principal in Vanguard’s fixed-income department, noting that the Obama administration wants to keep mortgage rates low. If you decide to go this route, consider a low-fee mutual fund. And beware that the recent Ginnie Mae rally may be on the verge of downsizing. QUESTION: My son, who graduated in 2005, has $60,000 in private student loans. Can he consolidate them? —Bill Lee, Iola, Kan. Yes, though it’s not as easy as it used to be. Private student loans can be consolidated only through private student-loan providers that specifically offer the service—and now, thanks to the credit crunch, that’s just four firms, says Mark Kantrowitz, publisher of FinAid.org, which offers a list of providers on its Web site. Interest rates on private loans are variable and tied to another rate, like the three-month London Interbank Offering Rate (currently 0.66 percent), plus an additional 4 to 14 percent. It takes a 100-point improvement in a borrower’s credit score to garner better terms, though. Also, private loans can’t be consolidated with Federal student loans, which carry lower fixed rates. QUESTION: How do you choose a financial planner? I don’t know where to start. —Tania Giordani, Chicago Start with a recommendation from someone in a similar financial situation, then tackle the due diligence. Believe it or not, anyone can call himself a financial planner or adviser, though he’ll need certain credentials for some tasks. Almost anyone offering to buy and sell securities for your account, for instance, needs to be a registered investment adviser with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Some planners work for insurance firms, which means they’re beholden to state insurance laws. Certified financial planners have met certain work requirements, passed an exam and agreed to follow the CFP Board of Standards’s ethics code. Cost is also a consideration. Some planners charge a fee (either a flat fee or a percentage of assets), others are paid by commission, and some use a combo approach. “Obviously, if you want advice, you should expect to pay for it,” says Barbara Roper, director of investor protections for the Consumer Federation of America. “Just make sure the advice benefits you, not the salesperson.” Finally, a preliminary meeting is usually free of charge. Ultimately, it comes down to chemistry. If it feels like a fit, you’ve found your planner. SMARTMONEY ® Layout and look and feel of SmartMoney.com are trademarks of SmartMoney, a joint venture between Dow Jones & Company, Inc. and Hearst SM Partnership. © 1995 - 2009 SmartMoney. All Rights Reserved.
Broker Talk: Cyclical Sector Allocation Is Back (Broker Talk)
letters@smartmoney.com (Dan Burrows) Thu, 02 Jul 2009 00:00:00 -0400
The recent market weakness might be making some investors nervous, but it also affords them an opportunity to pick up investments in cyclical sectors at more attractive prices, the brokerages say. Who's Talking: Marc Zabicki, senior market strategist, Ameriprise Financial The Gist: The market's "extraordinary" rally that started in early March cooled off in the last two weeks of June, but that's no cause for alarm, Zabicki says. In his view, the correction is overdue and, he says, it should be modest in nature. "We believe the February and early March trading represented extraordinarily irrational expectations that have since been corrected by a sensible assessment of the business cycle," the strategist says. "We believe market sentiment and renewed realization of fundamentals will keep the current bout of equity weakness relatively contained." With the market looking to be range-bound in the near term, investors would do well to take advantage of the lower stock prices and adjust their portfolios to reflect a more balanced allocation between cyclical and defensive sectors. In fact, Zabicki upgraded early cycle sectors like industrials (to Overweight from Equal Weight) and energy (to Equal Weight from Underweight) while downgrading more defensive sectors such as consumer staples (to Equal Weight from Overweight) and utilities (to Underweight from Equal Weight). "In our view, these shifts bring our U.S. equity allocations more balance, with no bias toward cyclical or defensive exposure," Zabicki says. Here's how Ameriprise now weights the 10 sectors of the S&P 500: SectorWeight Consumer DiscretionaryUnderweight Consumer StaplesEqual Weight EnergyEqual Weight FinancialsOverweight Health CareOverweight IndustrialsOverweight Information TechnologyEqual Weight MaterialsUnderweight TelecomEqual Weight UtilitiesUnderweight Who's Talking: Brad Sorensen, director of market and sector analysis, Charles Schwab Center for Financial Research The Gist: Like Zabicki, Sorensen sees the recent market weakness as an opportunity to "play the pullback" and increase exposure to more cyclical stocks at cheaper prices. "The impressive overall market rally from the March lows has stalled, while the cyclical areas that had benefitted from hopes of an economic recovery have pulled back," says Sorensen. "However, in every situation lies an opportunity: Investors looking to make some shorter-term moves could benefit from buying stocks and funds at lower prices." However, in contrast to Zabicki, Sorensen takes a slightly less balanced, more pro-cyclical view when it comes to sector allocation. Schwab continues to believe that global reflationary policies, combined with the possibility of a continued weakening of the dollar, will benefit the more cyclical technology, industrials and materials sectors. In contrast, they believe defensive-oriented consumer staples, telecommunication, and utilities sectors will underperform. The differences between Ameriprise's more balanced weighting and Schwab's more aggressive outlook can be seen in their respective views of some key sectors. For example, where Ameriprise advocates overweighting financials, Schwab calls the sector at Market Perform (Ameriprise's equivalent of Equal Weight.) Schwab is also more bullish on Materials, which it puts at Outperform, vs. Ameriprise's Underweight. Here is Schwab's recommended allocation to the 10 sectors of the S&P 500: SectorWeight Consumer DiscretionaryMarket Perform Consumer StaplesUnderperform EnergyMarket Perform FinancialsMarket Perform Health CareMarket Perform IndustrialsOutperform Information TechnologyOutperform MaterialsOutperform TelecomUnderperform UtilitiesUnderperform SMARTMONEY ® Layout and look and feel of SmartMoney.com are trademarks of SmartMoney, a joint venture between Dow Jones & Company, Inc. and Hearst SM Partnership. © 1995 - 2009 SmartMoney. All Rights Reserved.

Fool.co.uk - Headlines

Telematics Is The Future
Fri, 03 Jul 2009 00:00:00 -0000
This telematics tiddler has a blue-chip customer base and its profits have risen by 27%.
Three Very Different Growth Shares
Fri, 03 Jul 2009 00:00:00 -0000
Searching for growth shares often throws up interesting and diverse candidates.

The Financial Page

James Surowiecki: Caveat Mortgagor
James Surowiecki Mon, 29 Jun 2009 04:00:00 -0000
In 1937, the Massengill Company began selling a health product called Elixir Sulfanilamide, which contained one of the antibiotic sulfa drugs. Unfortunately, it also contained diethylene glycol, a solvent that happens to be deadly to humans. In a matter of months, the elixir killed more than a hundred consumers. The . . .
Will gas prices pump up inflation?
James Surowiecki Mon, 15 Jun 2009 04:00:00 -0000
How fast the world turns. Only a few months ago, as consumer spending evaporated and commodity prices collapsed, investors and policymakers were haunted by the spectre of deflation. Today, with the economy showing some signs of bottoming and commodity prices back on the rise, the worry du jour has suddenly . . .
James Surowiecki: Argentina's great coin shortage.
James Surowiecki Mon, 01 Jun 2009 04:00:00 -0000
As you walk into the Retiro train station in downtown Buenos Aires these days, you pass a long line of people snaking their way from the station’s entrance to a single window. At first glance, this is unsurprising: what’s more common than a queue in a train station? But there . . .

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