How To Invest In The Right Sectors
A sector is simply a fancy term for what business a company is in. Traditionally these were: “manufacturing”, “retail,” “energy/fuel”, “banking/financial”, “pharmaceutical”, “telecommunications” and “transportation.”...
Should I Get Out Of Debt Or Save For Retirement?
The easy answer to this tough question: Put your money where it will do the most good. Compare the interest rate on the debt against the potential investment returns on the retirement savings, and choose the one that pays better. So if you’re paying 14% interest on your loans, and earning 10% interest...
How To Invest In Global Markets With $1,000 Or Less
Every time you wear a suit, drink a soda or drive a car, you contribute to the global market place. It’s not so much whether you will be a global investor it’s whether you’ll do so consciously, and with a plan of action. It’s surprisingly easy to invest in companies all over the...
Questions To Ask Before You Choose A Mutual Fund
With thousands of mutual funds to choose from, picking the one that’s right for you means you need to do your homework. Regardless of the specific fund you’re attracted to — sector funds that specialize in a particular industry, or index funds, which duplicate the yardsticks of the economy,...
How To Handle Multiple Retirement Accounts
At some point in you working life, you’re likely to manage from three to five retirement accounts at the same time. This doesn’t include Social Security or defined-benefit pensions that are managed for you. Hard to believe that you’ll have so many? Let’s look at the various types. Your...
How To Get Started Investing
You know you’ve been putting it off for too long and now you’re ready —you’ve decided to start investing. There’s just one small dilemma, you’re already sleeping under your desk, you eat most of your meals out of cartons and you don’t have a clue where to squeeze...
When To Sell A Stock – Investing 101
Knowing when to sell a stock or fund is every bit as important as deciding what to buy, and twice as difficult–probably the hardest decision an investor must make. The quandaries are manifold. Investors who sell losers too late lose twice: once on the holding and once on potential appreciation...
How To Reduce Your Credit Card Debt
For many consumers, credit card debt is a deep “black hole”—an endless cycle of new cards, rolled-over debts, unpaid bills, and calls from bill collectors—with seemingly no way out. Across the country, Americans are using credit cards to spend more than their incomes, and consumer debt...
Investing Basics – How To Invest In Bonds
Bonds are tricky, in part because most are traded on an over-the-counter basis, which means they’re not listed on any organized exchange. And by their very nature, bonds are complex. Each one has four main features: its principal, or par value; its interest payment, or coupon; its maturity, or...
Top 10 Tips For Women On Building Wealth
Women need to manage their money even more carefully than men, but many ignore or delay financial planning. Here are 10 steps women need to take to build a secure future. 1. Act now. Each day you delay puts your retirement date further away, and reduces your chances of weathering a serious financial...
4 Money Saving Tips For Buying A Manufactured Home
If you’re thinking about buying a mobile home, these four money-saving tips can help you get the most for your money. 1. Hire a professional. A licensed Realtor that is familiar with manufactured home sales will help you find the best homes for your money and negotiate the lowest possible price...
5 Tips For Long-Term Stock Investing
Investing for the long-term requires careful planning. Although stocks may carry the most risk, they also offer the greatest potential for return. Here are five tips to help you maximize your portfolio, by investing in stocks for the long-term. 1 – Research before buying stocks. You should only...
Valuing Stocks – What Are Growth Companies?
While there’s no formal definition of the terms, a ‘growth company’ or ‘growth stock’ generally refers to a company that is still in the building phase of its business. Companies that aren’t in growth mode are usually classified as mature and their stocks are deemed...
The Risk Of Corporate Bonds
Investing in fixed-income securities, such as corporate bonds, is generally considered to carry less risk than investing in equity securities, or stocks. Although a debate about the above proposition is the subject for another day (or two), there are several different forms of risk associated with corporate...
Saving Money For Retirement
Saving money now for a goal that’s far off in the future is not an easy thing to do. There are plenty of urgent needs competing for your hard-won paycheck already—bills, cars, a house, braces for the kids and college leap instantly to mind for most young parents. And most of us would rather avoid...
Steps To Preparing A Personal Budget
Preparing a monthly budget is the key to financial security. If you want to make better use of your money, you must learn to take control of it. That means budgeting for today’s needs and tomorrow’s plans. Here are some steps: * Figure out what you spend. List your monthly living costs including...
Year-End Investing Moves
Even the savviest stock pickers had a tough time revving their portfolios in this year’s disappointing stock market. But now, at year-end, you have a good chance to bolster your retirement stash and save money. Simply follow the three steps below — they may turn out to be the most lucrative moves...
Retirement Savings Strategies – Best Investment Options
You’ve heard it before, but it’s the golden rule of investing: the sooner you start putting money aside, the more the power of compound interest can work for you. How does compound interest work? By keeping your money invested over a long period of time, you earn interest on the interest...
Keys To Successful Investing
By investing, we can reach our ultimate financial goals—whether for education or for retirement. Here are some of the keys to successful investing. Following these suggestions can help even the most inexperienced investors achieve high returns. Set Objectives Always identify clear goals and objectives...
Retirement Planning For Women – How Much Is Enough?
Women need to save more money for retirement than men. Yet they generally have less disposable cash to set aside. And what they do save, they tend to invest too conservatively. On average, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, women live longer than men, work fewer years, change jobs more frequently,...
