Finance & Business 

The BCG matrix or also called BCG model relates to marketing. The BCG model is a well-known portfolio management tool used in product life cycle theory. BCG matrix is often used to prioritize which products within company product mix get more funding and attention.

Five Forces model of Michael Porter is a very elaborate concept for evaluating company's competitive position. Michael Porter provided a framework that models an industry and therefore implicitly also businesses as being influenced by five forces. Michael Porter's Five Forces model is often used in strategic planning.

SWOT analysis, method, or model is a way to analyze competitive position of your company. SWOT analysis uses so-called SWOT matrix to assess both internal and external aspects of doing your business. The SWOT framework is a tool for auditing an organization and its environment.

This page provides an overview of definitions of basic tax terms and concepts. The tax world can be very confusing, and it certainly helps to have at least the basic definitions on one page. You are welcome to use the definitions below for reference purposes, but we advise you to always consult official IRS documentation and sources or your personal tax advisor before making decisions regarding your situation.

What is the difference between a marginal and average tax rate? Even though it may not be so obvious, understanding the difference between a marginal and average tax rate can help lower your total taxes.

Federal tax rates 2009 - This page provides tax rates applicable to income earned in 2009 and taxed on your tax return filed in 2010. These tax rates apply to taxable ordinary income. In case you are looking for tax rates related to your 2008 earnings that you report on your April 2009 tax return, then go to our Tax rates schedule 2008 page.

Below you can find 2007 tax rates. These rates apply to taxable ordinary income earned in year 2007, and are effective for the tax return that you file in 2008.

You can see that tax rates progressively increase as income increases.

Tax brackets were changed for the tax year 2008 to reflect the rate of inflation in the US economy. When comparing the tax rate schedule for 2007 and 2008, we can see that only the tax brackets have changed. The tax rates themselves remained the same.

Capital gains tax rates are applied to your capital gain depending on the type of investment asset and the holding period. Capital gain is taxed differently based on whether your capital gain is short-term or long-term.

When it comes to taxation of investments, it makes a difference whether your capital gain is long term or short term. Capital gains from long-tem investments are taxed differently from short-term investments. Short-term investment gains are usually taxed more than short-term profit.