Evaluating A Money Manager

Scams and frauds are designed to take your money through false promises and phony claims. Money management is supposedly designed to increase your net worth. Sometimes these two worlds meet and the results are not in your favor, i.e., you have a considerable decrease in net worth. The information in... Read More

Value Investing

By definition, value investing is the process of selecting stocks that trade for less than their intrinsic value. A value investor typically selects stocks with lower than average price-to-book or price-to-earning ratios. Of course, it is not nearly this simple. Value investing is the corner stone of long-term growth. Those... Read More

Economic Survival in the 21st Century - the Three Key Questions to Ask

In this "special report", I want to pose a few important "philosophical questions" to my readers. Firstly -- our Federal Reserve Chairman, Alan Greenspan, addressed the effects and implications of our aging population on things such as Social Security again in a speech that he made last Friday.... Read More

How To Create Wealth In The Stock Market

First and foremost, an opportunistic strategy for creating wealth in the stock market is needed. And the opportunistic strategy for creating wealth in the stock market must have two ingredients, a plan and a goal. The plan must be a definite, concrete plan of investing that would profit you and... Read More

Why the Rich Keep Getting Richer

Rich people: fortunate, lucky, selfish, and arrogant? Or highly educated, caring, brilliant individuals? Becoming rich isn't hard, but it does require a bit of time and knowledge. Having time to get rich, educating oneself, and buying assets are the three key factors in attaining untold wealth.Rich people usually either have... Read More

Investors: Avoid These 5 Common Tax Mistakes

For many investors, and even some tax professionals, sorting through the complex IRS rules on investment taxes can be a nightmare. Pitfalls abound, and the penalties for even simple mistakes can be severe. As April 15 rolls around, keep the following five common tax mistakes in mind ? and help... Read More

5 Ways To Protect Your Bond Portfolio From Rising Interest Rates

The Federal Reserve recently raised its target federal funds rate for the first time since March 2000. This could be just the tip of the iceberg, though, as many experts believe rising inflation and a strengthening economy will spur continued rate hikes for the foreseeable future.This is bad news for... Read More

IF - The Wonders of Investing

If it seems as if all investors are selling, who is buying? If trading has become entertainment ... Read More

Lobster Trapping for Investment Ideas

Recently, my family and I took a trip to Maine to visit relatives. During our stay, we toured the rocky shore lines and took in the beautiful architecture of the old towns.One sunny morning, three generations of Wardlaws boarded a lobster boat and set out on a guided lobster trapping... Read More

Tyranosaurus Rex

Everyone knows T Rex was the most fearsome of all dinosaurs. He could and did kill everything in his path for food or maybe stupid meanness. His brain was very small and he did not survive.There is a T-Rex among us today and it is disguised, but it is killing... Read More

Is a SEP Plan Right For Your Business

A SEP is a special type of IRA. Under a SEP plan the employer creates an IRA account for each eligible employee, hence the name SEP-IRA. A SEP is funded solely with employer contributions. Employees do not make contributions to their SEP-IRA retirement account. Any money that goes into a... Read More

How to Analyze the Veracity of Investment Newsletters

When trying to analyze whether a promotional ad for an investment newsletter or a market timing investment trading system is worthy of investigation, the following questions should be asked:Does the strategy have a track record? Without this you are really allowing your emotions to be in play. All of us... Read More

Wit and Wisdom on Money, Wall Street and Success - Part #1

I love to collect quotes as they concisely promote a philosophy which is readily understandable.In my 25+ years of investing I have collected hundreds of quotes related to Wisdom, Wall Street and Success. I submit this small selection with the hopes that it will enlighten the forces required for your... Read More

Wit and Wisdom on Money, Wall Street and Success - Part #2

Here are ten more WISDOM packed GEMS that ooffer very unqiue insights to the world of trading and investing.These quotes promote a philosophy which is readily understandable and sometimes hysterical.In my 25+ years of investing I have collected hundreds of quotes related to Wisdom, Wall Street and Success. I submit... Read More

Wit and Wisdom on Money, Wall Street and Success - Part #4

Can you concisely summarize your investment philosophy in a few sentences? My experience is that most people can't. The quotes that follow are diamonds that offer a real powerful education in the world of Risk Management. They have had a profound impact in my life. I pass them along hoping... Read More

Options Education : Opinion versus Fact!

The most basic aspect of trading is learning to differentiate between what is FACTUAL and what is OPINION. If you stay interested in the financial markets long enough you will discover that there are a lot of sharks out there who have become expert at making that task very difficult.Several... Read More

Investing 101: Risk Terminology - BETA

About thirty years ago, statisticians armed with all of their statistical theories began to confront the financial markets. A handful of useful tools emerged that the average investor should be familiar with when they look to purchase stocks.One secret that people "in the know" use is "BETA". "Beta" is a... Read More

Options Education: Financing the Calendar!

As a trader, one of the key things that I try to consciously do is to cultivate my instincts by talking with other traders and investors as often as possible. It still amazes me how large the divergence of opinion that exists regarding what people believe will unfold as we... Read More

Understanding The Real Rate of Return!

There is one indicator more than any other which determines the health of an economy and it is the Real Rate of Return. Furthermore this is the simplest of all indicators to understand because it determines the safety of assets. Next time you hear the TALKING HEADS discussing the nuances... Read More

Remembering TEOTWAWKI and Learning from It

Its only been about 5 years since we had major scares in the marketplace regarding Y2K. You might recall that many computer systems were not programmed to be able to understand the change from 1999 to 2000. There was a tremendous amount of panic created by those who were convinced... Read More

Asset Allocation: Critical to Your Investment Success

Asset allocation is a critical component of investing success. Both research and academic studies show asset allocation to be single most significant factor in determining your financial goals. Allocation influences both the total long-term return and risk of your investment portfolio. Other factors such as security selection and market timing... Read More

401(k) Plans

I've been in and interested in the stock market so long (one year shy of forty years) I can remember when the mutual fund pages in my home town paper were just one page! Now it looks like there are more mutual funds then there are stocks listed on the... Read More

Investing Offshore for Retirement

As an expatriate you are in a privileged savings and investing position. Make the most of the options available to you while you can, consider investing offshore for your retirement.While you reside overseas you are legally entitled to make use of any tax savings in the country in which you... Read More

Asset Location ? Increase Investing Returns & Reduce Your Taxes

Location ? Once the holy grail only for real estate investors is fast becoming the mantra for every stock, bond, and mutual fund investor. Experts and studies now recognize managing asset location is second only to asset allocation in determining the success of your investment returns.Importance of Asset Location: Asset... Read More

Poll Names Coin Laundries Best Investment For 2005

According to Morton Pollack, CEO of PWS, The Laundry Company and editor of the newsletter, "Historically, laundry owners have been a quiet group. Knowing they are onto a good thing, they've been pretty reticent. However, many now agree that it's time for respect to paid to this powerful investment vehicle... Read More

How to Setup a Profitable Trading Business

In my opinion trading is the most exciting and best way to earn a living in the world. With just a small amount of equipment and space you can do it from anywhere on the planet.When you think about it, it is one of the least expensive businesses to set... Read More

Trading Is Not Rocket Science!

Despite what some people may lead you to believe; day trading, swing trading and trend trading is not anywhere as difficult as they would like you to think. It really boils down to two key components.First, you have to have an approach that helps you identify trades that have a... Read More

Landlording 101, Tricks of The Trade

Looking Inside Your Tenant's Mind Basic Mind-Reading Report 101 for LandlordsIt goes without saying but I will say it anyway. The better you understand your tenants and their personal situation, the better you can serve their needs and your own. Notice that your needs come after your tenants. Always put... Read More

Sitcom Investing

A fickle stock market encourages good-humored mockery.Recently, as I watched the premiere of a sitcom, an obvious omission breached television etiquette. Silence followed every exaggerated comedic set-up. There was no laugh track. Where were the premeditated giggles from the show's "audience?" At last, the viewer determines the funny moment.It then... Read More

Day Traders and Swing Traders and Options? Maybe!

Typical day traders and swing traders look for stocks with quick, short term movements, and are not in the business of holding positions overnight let alone a week or two. So the use of options has not usually been a component of their trading strategies.Now however, some new opportunities for... Read More

Part II of Day Traders and Swing Traders and Options? Maybe!

Before every protective put trade it is possible to calculate your anticipated maximum loss. Use the formula: (stock price minus strike price) plus option price. For example, suppose you will pay $30.00 for your stock, and you want no more than a $3.50 loss on the position. Then you would... Read More

Larry, Moe and Curley, Investment Brokers

Larry, Moe and Curley were sitting in their favorite restaurant just off Wall Street having their usual 3 martini lunch and were discussing the day's events and their client portfolios.Larry:"I had 12 calls this morning from customers wanting to know why the market was going down".Moe: What did you tell... Read More

Trading Baskets Part I

Q. What is a basket?A basket is a group of up to 50 stocks that you can trade, manage and track as one entity.In another article, I wrote about a rather conservative method of being in the stock market. See: "A Triple Dipper: How to Make 3 Profits on 1... Read More

What My Horse Had For Breakfast

Let's see, he had some oats, fresh alfalfa and his vitamins. I know from the mixture that is great food and he will win the seventh race this afternoon. He can't lose because of his diet and a great jockey will be riding him.Kinda reminds me of what my broker... Read More

Justify Social Security ... Dont Save for Retirement

It is a common question when investors review their retirement plan-should we include social security benefits into our retirement income projections?It seems the closer an investor is to retirement, the more likely he/she will include social security benefits into the analysis. Younger investors, however, may feel compelled to omit such... Read More

Super Rules, OK?

Do you rule your superannuation or does it rule you?It's easy to fall for some myths about your super unless you do some clear thinking about who is in charge. Virtually all Australian employees now have a superannuation account, many have several, even more than they know about. We all... Read More

Overbought/Oversold

Has your broker ever told you that a stock is "overbought" or "oversold"? He probably went on the explain that the stock you own (I hope you didn't) had gone down so far that it now was oversold and due for a rally. He might also have encouraged you to... Read More

Protecting the Tax Advantage of Your Deferred Compensation

The American Jobs Creation Act of 2004 imposed strict new rules on non-qualified deferred compensation plans. Beginning in 2005, deferred compensation programs that are not in compliance with the new rules may be taxed as wages, slapped with a 20% excise tax, plus charged an interest penalty.Given the potentially huge... Read More

Is Starting A Business For Me? What To Consider Before Starting A Business

Do you have the right temperament?Starting a small business is one of the most serious decisions that a person can take in life. Positively, it often results in higher income levels than one could achieve as an employee together with the unique buzz of being your own boss but conversely... Read More

Rules for Simplified Employee Pension Plans better known as a SEP Plans

A SEP is a special type of IRA. Under a SEP plan the employer creates an IRA account for each eligible employee, hence the name SEP-IRA. A SEP is funded solely with employer contributions. Employees do not make contributions to their SEP-IRA retirement account. Any money that goes into a... Read More

Are You An Investment Dummy Like Me?

I am good at a few things. I can certainly market well and I consult with others about how to bring more attention to their products and services on the internet for a living.I am a fair musician. I love music and play all sorts of percussion instruments and even... Read More

Profitability And Stock Turn Rate

The inventory of the typical store represents the largest single element of its total assets. The sale of goods from this inventory is the merchant's chief source of operating profit. Thus, the way in which this merchandise investment is put to work is of utmost importance in achieving a profitable... Read More

Retirement Is A Scary Proposition If Youre Without A Plan, And Running Out Of Time

Of the 75 million baby boomers nearing retirement today, many are:* Debt Ridden* Severely unprepared for retirement* Under Funded* Without a StrategyThis is a very serious problem in a country that we can all remember used to assure most people of a retirement where you are taken care of financially.We... Read More

Investing Online Has Its Rewards: Find Out How To Take Advantage Of Them

Computerized investing. Online investing. Have you taken the next step yet? These days among savvy investors, online investment resources are synonymous with opportunity.The capabilities that we currently have at our fingertips were unavailable just ten years ago. The speed at which you can invest with an online broker, along with... Read More

The Realities Of Market Timing

Market timing systems are based on patterns of activity in the past. Every system that you are likely to hear about works well when it is applied to historical data. If it didn't work historically, you would never hear about it. But patterns change, and the future is always the... Read More

Trading For A Living - Part 2

In part 1 of this article I started to look at the financial implications of giving up the day job to instead start trading full time for a living. There are more than just monetary considerations as we will see later, but for now, there are some more costs to... Read More

Types of Investment

The word 'investments' is one that most of us are familiar with hearing in financial context. For many of us, it may make us thing of big business and vasts sums of money, but there's much to the world of investments than multi-million dollar deals.Although it's true that, at the... Read More

Building The Foundation For Wealth

You wouldn't build your home on anything less than a solid foundation. Similarly, you can't build wealth and financial independence without first having sound foundational principles to build upon.I have found that many people are working on wealth building strategies such as maximizing their 401K returns, aggressive stock trading, and... Read More

The Perfect Mutual Fund

The Perfect Mutual Fund is the one you build yourself!The perfect Mutual Fund you build should have the objective of owning no more than 12 to 15 companies; owning shares in 12 companies would allow the diversity needed to sleep well at night and would provide a cash dividend every... Read More

Copy Cat or How to Use a Successful Trading System

How many books have you read about successful traders? How they did this or that and made a fortune and are still doing it. You say to yourself, "I'm going to follow his method and get rich".So you subscribe to his newsletter (they all have one, $250) and buy his... Read More

A Secret Revealed: Why Most (Day) Traders Fail

The following perspective on (day) trading comes from my many years of experience of active day trading or being the moderator of one of the largest day trading chat rooms on the Internet.One of the biggest problems I see with new traders (and even some old ones) has nothing to... Read More

Trading Systems

A trading system consists of a set of rules for viewing markets and making trades. The advantages of trading systems can be hidden when they become associated with trading platforms involving trade order submission and processing. A clarification of their roles can help explain the benefits of using a trading... Read More

Selecting Rules for Investing and Trading

There are three important differences between investing and trading. Overlooking them can lead to confusion. A beginning trader, for example, may use the terms interchangeably and misapply their rules with mixed and unrepeatable results. Investing and trading become more effective when their differences are clearly recognized. An investor's goal is... Read More

High Volatility Investments

Penny stocks and options are high volatility investments that attract both the trader and the long term investor because of the small amount of capital required to make substantial gains as compared with less volatile higher priced stocks. The long term investor buys a stock believing that a company's value... Read More

Maniac Investment

Let's first understand what maniac means. According to Webster a maniac is "mad; raging with madness; raging with disordered intellect". You don't know anyone like that, do you?There is a book that is still in print today that was originally published in 1841 with the title Extraordinary and Popular Delusions... Read More

Short Selling for Investors

Shorts. Let's see. If there are shorts there must be longs. Which is best? Longs or shorts?If you are trading in the stock the stock market experts like longs better than shorts. If you are "long" that means you own stock and that is "good". If you are short you... Read More

Just Say NO to Your Stock Broker

We have all heard that slogan that started back when Nancy Reagan was in Washington. It was all about drugs. Now I want to remind you this can be your slogan when you get one of those telephone solicitations from a strange broker or even your own stockbroker who is... Read More

Moving Average Convergence Divergence ( MACD ) Charts

The Moving Average Convergence Divergence charts, or MACD charts for short, are a technical indicator that is derived from the more simple moving average.The MACD charts are oscillating indicators, meaning that they move above and below a centerline or zero point. As with other oscillating and momentum indicators, a very... Read More

Do You Need A Financial Planner?

No matter how much money you make, it pays to keep on top of money coming in and going out. Even if you do a good job of that, there are important times in your life when talking with a professional adviser makes sense.Almost every major life event - finding... Read More

Stock Market Leaders and Laggards

Leaders are stocks that breakout immediately when the market confirms a new rally. In the first several weeks, strong stocks with leadership ability will breakout on volume above their 50-day average. Some of these stocks will breakout on the largest volume ever. Typically, newer stocks that have come public in... Read More

Brain Snappers and Other Wall Street Nonsense

The last time you spoke with your broker did he use any of the following words? Diversification, Price-to-earnings ratios, discretionary trading, lifting a leg (he's talking to you not your dog), leverage, divergence, fee-based compensation, escalator clause, tactical asset allocation and other mesmerizing words to place you in stupefying shock.Brokers... Read More

A Gadfly On A Dinosaurs Butt, Or The Hood-winking Of The American Investor

Have you ever noticed how some words in the English language are so perfectly named for what they describe? And how some words seem to be, I guess you could say, backwards? For instance, the word sunflower! How wonderfully aptly named is the sunflower, that beautiful yellow flower that follows... Read More

Which IRA Is Best For You?

An Ira is one of the greatest ways to save on taxes currently and accumulate money for the future.For individuals three types of IRA's will normally come under consideration.The Traditional or Regular IRA The Education IRA The Roth IRAEducation IRA is now called the Coverdell Education Savings Account (ESA).Education IRAs... Read More

College Savings Plans ? Are They The Best Choice For My Child?

College Savings Plans ? are they the best choice for my child?College Savings Plans, also called Section 529 plans, are one of the best ways to save for college because they offer:- Tax advantages- A variety of investment options- Flexible contribution options- Parental control- Little impact on eligibility for need-based... Read More

Quit and Retire Three Years Earlier!

For most people, there is a direct correlation between how worried they are about retirement income, and how much they can actually do about it. This is because the more worried you are, the closer you probably are to retirement, and the less time you have to do anything ?... Read More

Stocks: Reduce Risk Yet Maximize Profits

It is important to note that every smart investor wants to minimize risk while maximizing profit potential. Yet conventional investment theory tells us that in order to increase returns, you have to increase risk.You may be surprised to find that this conventional wisdom is not always true.When I was a... Read More

What Age Should I Start Saving For Retirement?

Ask this question to 100 people and you will receive 100 very different answers. The fact of the matter is there is no right age to start. But don't fret (did I just say fret?) knowledge is power!To borrow a line from Star Wars, "Use the force Luke." The force... Read More

Angels, Are They Real?

They're real, but few survive. High risk investing is dangerous to your bank balance. The process toward extinction is that an angel risks money in one venture. It fails. Then, he joins a group of angels and risks money in another venture. It fails. At this point, the angel usually... Read More

Why Do You Want to Become a Online Trader?

Motivational guru Tony Robbins teaches that the reason for doing something rates much higher than the methods you use to get the job done. In order to make your goal REAL, you need to attach severe, horrifying, intense and profound fear to failure.Open up a notepad either on a desk... Read More

The Dreaded Direct Question

(Please have a glass of water within reach before reading this article.)Your personal financial planning is the topic of discussion here today, but not quite yet. First I would like to bring your attention to the issue of bragging.The other day I was carrying on about how well our website... Read More

Beta Factors: How They Can Be Used In The Current Situation

Ever since the turn of the century, world stock markets have been very volatile. In other words there have been significant movements (up or down) in share prices. This phenomenon has been evidenced by the collapse in recent years of the share prices of the dot com companies (e.g. Yahoo,... Read More

Love The Thrill of Risk? Invest in an Annuity!

With the stock market in steep decline, people are looking for safe places to invest their savings. Many banks and investment companies are pushing annuities. Annuities offer a higher interest rate than CD's, but are they safe?You could view an annuity as a tax deferred CD. You don't pay taxes... Read More

POOF goes your RRIF !

Some time ago I attended a seminar where participants were told to burn some money; a reasonably-sized amount of money. You should have heard the gnawing and gnashing of teeth in that room! Step right up, folks, and light it on fire. Come on now. It's only money.Some people, likely... Read More

Retirement is Never Urgent Until

If you're like many people, your retirement savings have not been growing consistently over the years. We're not referring to the wild fluctuations in the stock market, but rather the fluctuations in our short-term needs. Every once in a while, it just seems like a good idea to yank ALL... Read More

Retirement or Financial Freedom?

In the past most people never retired. They died. The average life expectancy was much less than it is these days, and there were no financial planners around to help people save up enough to quit work. As recently as the 1960's, if you did manage to save up enough... Read More

The 8 Biggest Mistakes When Designing Portfolios - and How To Avoid Them

Are you as good an investor as you think? Do you consider yourself a well-informed investor able to anticipate and avoid nearly all pitfalls associated with investing? Chances are, you are making one of the common errors that could cost you hundreds or even thousands of dollars, or worse yet,... Read More

To Retire Rich, Save and Invest Early

If you want to retire rich, start saving investing early. The most powerful tool when it comes to retiring rich, is compounding your returns on money saved when you are young. Through the power of compound interest, cash invested today has a massive impact on your wealth level when you... Read More

Going Against the Conventional Investment Wisdom

First of all, I want to give everyone the disclaimer that I am not a registered financial advisor and I don't play one on TV. Therefore, I cannot legally provide financial advice and I will not do so. This is for informational purposes only and I'm not recommending any of... Read More

Reasons For Joining An Investment Club

Whether you're a novice investor or an experienced stock picker an investment club may be beneficial to growing your investment portfolio. This article explains what an investment club is, why you should have an investment program and finally why you should join an investment club.An investment club is nothing more... Read More

Stock Market Money Management Skills

Let's start by saying: You can't be afraid to take a loss. The investors that are the most successful in the stock market are the people who are willing to lose money.Having a strategy and/or a specific philosophy is an excellent starting point to investing but it won't mean a... Read More

How to Terror-Proof Your Money

"To drift is to be in hell, to be in heaven is to steer." -George Bernard ShawFormer Homeland Security Director, Tom Ridge, has said it's not a matter of "if" we'll have another terrorist attack, but when. Like the attack of 9/11, the financial effects of another terror attack will... Read More

25 Ways to Find Companies to Buy

When you start your program to purchase your "ideal" company, you quickly realize that your ultimate success will depend on two primary skill sets: 1) Your ability to FIND viable companies that are for sale, and 2) Your ability to effectively qualify the potential acquisition investment once found.This article is... Read More

The Cost of Green Eggs and Ham

Young readers know that March 4th is the birthday of Dr. Seuss. Many parents trip their tongues over Seuss stories like "Green Eggs and Ham". "Do you like green eggs and ham?/I do not like them, Sam-I-am./I do not like green eggs and ham".Our son wields a wild spatula when... Read More

It?s Not the Size of Your Bank Account

You might think that if you win the lottery or get a huge raise, all your problems will be solved. Sounds logical, right? Well, it might sound logical, but it isn't. Having a bigger bank account will not make all of your problems disappear. Why? Because money is nothing more... Read More

Rolling your 401k: Contributory IRA vs. Rollover IRA

In an ideal world you would start your working career with a great company in your early 20s, steadily climb the corporate ladder, retire at age 65, and draw a sufficient income from your accumulated 401k account to live happily ever after.Unfortunately, that's not how the real world works. If... Read More

What is an Investor Ready Business Plan

A Business Plan, as all good entrepreneurs starting out in life should know is the foundation, or rather a springboard, towards the establishment and growth of a new business. A business plan is an essential tool for companies raising capital ? and your business plan needs to be Investor Ready.What... Read More

Eight Questions to Ask Your Financial Advisor

You may like your financial advisor, but is he really looking out for you? All advisors are not created equal, and you have a right to know what makes them different! You also have a right to ask yours if he compares!(1) Do you use a holistic approach to financial... Read More

Porters Five Forces Analysis

If you've ever listened to Warren Buffett talk about investing, you've heard him mention the idea of a company's moat. The moat is a simple way of describing a company's competitive advantages. Company's with a strong competitive advantage have large moats, and therefore higher profit margins. And investors should always... Read More

Begging Your Trust in Africa

The syntax is tortured, the grammar mutilated, but the message - sent by snail mail, telex, fax, or e-mail - is coherent: an African bigwig or his heirs wish to transfer funds amassed in years of graft and venality to a safe bank account in the West. They seek the... Read More

Bankers in Denial

Denial is a ubiquitous psychological defense mechanism. It involves the repression of bad news, unpleasant information, and anxiety-inducing experiences. Judging by the German press, the country is in a state of denial regarding the waning health of its economy and the dwindling fortunes of its financial system.Commerzbank, Germany's fourth largest... Read More

Why You Need To Buy and Sell Gold Coins (Part 1)

The Value of Gold in a Era of Paper Assets, Stocks, Bonds and Mutual Funds...The facts behind the increasing demand for gold and silver, rare coins, and historic collectibles from the U.S. Mint...No other substance on Earth embodies the unique characteristics of gold. Its yellow lustre and beauty are unsurpassed.... Read More

Holy Grail Investments

Every year I go to the Money Show in Orlando, Florida. Thousands attend. It is mostly an older crowd with the youngsters about 40 years of age. I have been saying for years that until you have lost enough money trying to make a fortune you will not become serious... Read More

How To Find An Investment Advisor

Do you think you need an Investment Advisor? Hold on before you answer because this is sort of a trick question. Also, I am definitely biased because I am an Investment Advisor. Nonetheless, I think I can assist you in looking at this issue in a way that will serve... Read More

Your Worst Enemy To Successful Investing - The Media

How do you make your investment decisions and where do you get your information? If you're like most of the people I know, you look to the experts.That's fine, however it's important to be aware that for every expert, there's an opinion and for every opinion there's an expert. I... Read More

The Conflict of Interest Game

Disgruntled investors are going after Wall Street once again, this time accusing one of investment bank Morgan-Stanley's high-tech mutual funds of making biased stock picks.Recent lawsuits allege the Morgan Stanley Technology fund was influenced to buy and hold stocks of companies that delivered huge investment banking fees - or could... Read More

The Demise of Buy & Hold

Based on consistent results I think Buy & Hold should be renamed Buy, Hold & Bye-Bye. It sounded great for a while, especially for the huge majority of investors who don't have the time or interest in really doing due diligence on investments.Investing, for some, might be just a hobby,... Read More

Find a Methodology and Minimize Investment Madness

There are many reasons to be investing these days, and too much opportunity to not have your money working for you.However, I believe the majority of people dread having to deal with investment matters, and tend to jump into purchases and then hold their breath hoping for the best. After... Read More

Why You Need To Buy and Sell Gold Coins (Part 2)

How to Collect Rare Coins For Fun and ProfitTime has proven that collectors tend to make the most money in rare coins because they search out "undervalued coins" and buy during market lulls. Buying in today's market climate offers you superb upside profit potential.PUT IN PERSPECTIVE ? Rare coins have... Read More

The Differences Betweeen the Wealthy and Everyone Else

I recently received an e-mail from a young lady who had doubts about the principles of wealth found in "Rich Dad, Poor Dad". She mentioned a couple of past failed investments, and wanted to know what I thought about investing and financial freedom - whether it was just a myth,... Read More

Why You Need To Buy and Sell Gold Coins (Part 5)

Grading coinsThe condition of a coin is commonly summarized by a grade. Because the value of collectible coins often varies dramatically with grade and overly generous grading is not uncommon, reasonable grading proficiency is an important skill for collectors. The material presented here is intended only as an introduction to... Read More

Straddle Strategies in Option Trading

The straddle strategy is an option strategy that's based on buying both a call and put of a stock. Note that there are various forms of straddles, but we will only be covering the basic straddle strategy. To initiate a Straddle, we would buy a Call and Put of a... Read More

Retirement ? Its Sooner Than You Think!! (Honestly)

Many people hear "retirement" and think- what? 401K? Roth vs. Traditional IRA? Stocks, bonds, mutual funds? Do they?Or do many people put money away according to the suggested amount and then simply hope that when retirement comes all will work out?One report I read estimated that 66 million Americans have... Read More

Five Sure Fire Way to Secure Your Financial Future

"You can be poor when you're young, but you can't be poor when you're old." That was the tag line used some years ago in a financial services television commercial.Truer words were never spoken.I was relatively poor when I was young. Just about everybody I knew was and it was... Read More

Investing In or Owning Drug Lab Properties

Clean Up (includes the insides and the outside of a building)Air out the buildingRemoval of contaminated materials: Carpets, carpet pads, Linoleum, drapes and blinds, air-filters, refrigerators, range, water heater, all tenant clothing and their furniture.Removal needs to be to a site that accepts contaminated product.All people that remove these items... Read More

Using Divergences to Keep Out of Bad Trades

The American Football season just came to an end with my team getting close to the championship but falling short again. I am a big fan of the Indianapolis Colts and we keep having a groundhog day season year after year but it is still fun to watch. We have... Read More

Exchange Traded Funds

They call 'em ETFs.There are hundreds of them.The mutual funds don't want you to find out about them.Why?Because they beat the socks off mutual funds in so many categories. The expense ratios of most mutual funds runs about 1.5% and many are much higher. To buy a mutual fund you... Read More

Why You Need To Buy and Sell Gold Coins (Part 3)

Putting Rare Coin Market Cycles to Work for You...Until recently many people believed U.S. stocks would go up forever.However, recent crashes in high tech stocks and the overall stock market correction left many investors with huge losses. Clearly, market cycles are changing.The return of high inflation, combined with a slowing... Read More

Ask The SEC

Who is the SEC and why should I ask them anything? The Securities and Exchange Commission in Washington, DC is the government bureau that regulates the securities industry. They make the regulations that all stock exchange listed companies, brokerage houses and mutual funds must follow.My readers know that I am... Read More

It Must Be Joe Cockers Market

Agonizing displays of poor theatrics failed to entertain my mind one recent Saturday evening. I scrolled across several television channels hoping for an engaging program. Finally, one particular concert intrigued my senses. There on the stage performed one of rock and roll's most expressive singers.With every bit of his legendary... Read More

Buy: Hold: Sell: Jump

I'm sitting here at my computer desk with a cup of coffee at my elbow. The coffee rest in a mug, the mug garnished with the words Buy, Hold, Sell, Jump, vertically along its sides. Emblazoned across the top of the cup are the words, Wall Street, which encircles the... Read More

Stock Market Horizons: Gold $3,000, Oil $70

In the last two decades, even though gold prices have dwindled from $850 to $350 an ounce, there are still market gurus who predict gold price to hit $3000 an ounce. Hecla seems to be quite bullish about the future.With oil prices fluctuating between $40 and about $60 a barrel,... Read More

CYA

You all know what CYA stands for. Of course, Cover Your Assets.And everyone does it. You have protection against losing your car in an accident. You have protection against being sued from that car accident. You have locks on the doors to your home to protect against theft and personal... Read More

Coca-Cola - A Value Stock?

There has been much talk lately about Coca-Cola and its potential as a value stock ? as it now spots a dividend yield of 2.6% (which is the highest dividend yield since the late 1980s) and a P/E or less than 21 ? right at the bottom of its five-year... Read More

Top Ten Investment Mistakes

1. Lacking an investment plan a/k/a/ "Don't take a trip without packing the map". A pre-planned asset allocation generates positive results and eliminates emotional panic selling.2. Buying cheap stocks a/k/a "Road crews erect "Dead End" signs for a reason". Most stocks with low share prices also arrive at the bottom... Read More

Keep Stock Market Investment Profits

Have you had one of those huge investment winners ? a stock that went from $2.00 to $80.00? Or any other numbers you want that gave you a gigantic percent profit?Did you take the profit or did you watch the equity drop back down to what you paid for it?... Read More

Stock Market Retirement Investment Plan

For a successful retirement investment plan to work in the stock market, some 'reasonably sure' assumptions would have to be made:The retirement investment plan must take into consideration the one prevailing constant in any stock market security ? risk and uncertainty. Understanding that risk and uncertainty are the key factors... Read More

Trading Commodity Futures Using Support and Resistance - Paper Trading

Setting Up a Paper Trading AccountQuestion: I cannot trade with "real money" as yet; however, how do I go about setting up a paper trade account?Answer: You can paper trade various ways and it really does not require that you have anything more specialized than a notebook to track your... Read More

How Do I Start Investing Online and What Are Some Basic Tips?

If you are new to investing online, don't put your entire life savings into an online account. Start with a smaller sum, which will be easier to handle and keep track of. Once you feel confident, you can then decide to add more money to your investing online account.Once online,... Read More

Investigate Before You Invest

"Through wisdom is a house built. And by understanding it is established. And by knowledge shall every room be filled with precious and pleasant riches!" --BibleAlways do your very own homework ... The more you know, the better off you will always be! This requires that you keep educating yourself,... Read More

Dont Catch a Falling Knife

One of the most common mistakes made by inexperienced investors is trying to "catch a falling knife". This is the phrase used to describe the habit of buying stocks that are in "freefall", and is a poor strategy, albeit common among new investors. Sadly, it is a common practice even... Read More

Easily Finding A Good Stock

There is a tremendous amount of software, complicated high priced newsletters, radio and TV stock pickers and Internet web sites that will help you find a stock that is going to make you rich.The problem is you don't know if this is talk or are these gurus putting their own... Read More

Trend Following

Trend following also called momentum trading is the simplest and safest method of stock market investing. It puts you in stocks and mutual funds that are going up and gets you out when they start down. Properly done there is no guess work.How many times have you bought a stock... Read More

When Its Too Late to Save for Retirement

You are 55 years old (or somewhere around there) and your company is going to force you to retire at 65. You have $35,000 saved in your 401K and that's all. The house will be paid for by then so you will have a place to live. The company pension... Read More

Discipline in Trading and Investing

The one thing I can think of that most affects both trading and investing has to be self-discipline.Being disciplined is fully 50% of the job of trading or of investing. I don't care how good your trading system is, without the discipline needed to follow the system you don't have... Read More

Rules of Simple IRA Your Business Needs to Know

A Savings Incentive Match Plan for Employees plan, better known as a SIMPLE plan, is an IRA-based retirement plan available to employers with fewer than 100 employees.Under a SIMPLE IRA plan, an employee can contribute a portion of his pay to his SIMPLE IRA account. An employee can make a... Read More

Retirement Plan Considerations Cheat Sheet for Small Business

RETIREMENT PLAN CONSIDERATIONS are something every small business person needs to be thinking about. Do you have a strategic plan? Don't expect to have social security save you.Topics to consider when developing a retirement plan for yourself and your employees.ADVISOR:Independent Advisory Firm Insurance Brokerage Based Securities Brokerage BasedPLAN ADMINISTRATOR/SERVICE PROVIDER:Third... Read More

Raising Capital in Today?s ?New Economy?

We've helped a number of clients develop business plans and raise capital from "angel" investors, corporate entities and venture capitalists during the last 6-8 years. It's always a daunting process that can be full of pitfalls and require a tremendous amount of work ? but it can be done! Here... Read More

Investing: Do You Want To Make Money, Or Would You Rather Fool Around?

It always amazes me how much stock market investors resemble horse track bettors. Some are very conservative, willing to trade low returns for relative safety. Others bet with both hands, looking for the big score. In this article, I'd like to introduce you to a few characters I've met at... Read More

Short Term Savings Products

When you invest, it simply means that you are putting your funds in products, in this case short-term savings vehicles, which will allow you to reap high financial rewards.Here is a list of the more common short term savings products you should consider investing in.Savings account: If you are getting... Read More

Investing Pointers for Neophyte Investors

If you know next to nothing, how do you go about the business of investing? The first thing you need to know about investing is, how much do you really know? If its' not much, then you will need to read extensively to educate yourself.To become well-informed, you should read... Read More

Making It Second Nature

Not long ago I was laying on my son's floor throwing one of his toy balls back and forth in the air to myself and I had a strange revelation. I noticed that as I threw the ball up in the air my left arm automatically started to move to... Read More

California Deparment of Corporations and Franchise Opportunities Law

What CA Needs To Do To Address Issues in FranchisingWe should not allow anymore degradation of California through incessant over regulations in the franchising sector. No other sector of our economy provides as many jobs as franchising. Some people might say retail, yet over half of all retail jobs are... Read More

Investing As A Sport?

I said last week that money doesn't generally buy happiness, but the lack of it can buy absolute misery. This, by the way, is not just my personal observation. It is the conclusion of some of the most respected happiness researchers (Yes, there is such a thing -- read my... Read More

The Myth of the Earnings Yield

AbstractA very slim minority of firms distribute dividends. This truism has revolutionary implications. In the absence of dividends, the foundation of most - if not all - of the financial theories we employ in order to determine the value of shares, is falsified. These theories rely on a few implicit... Read More

Lessons in Transition

Q: What have been the most successful approaches to attracting direct foreign investments: offering prospective investors tax breaks and similar benefits, or improving the overall investment climate of the country?Empirical research has demonstrated that investors are not lured by tax breaks and monetary or fiscal investment incentives. They will take... Read More

Inflation Proof Your Investment Portfolio with ETF?s

Even though inflation has been relatively quiet in the U.S. since the late 1980's, there now appears to be some strong evidence that it may be starting to heat up again with an expanding economy, combined with skyrocketing oil and housing prices in certain key regions of the country. While... Read More

Effective Advice For A New Generation of Investors

CATCHING A FALLING KNIFEOne of the most common mistakes made by inexperienced investors is trying to "catch a falling knife". This is a habit, common among new investors, of buying stocks that are in "freefall", and it's a bad idea for an investment strategy. Unfortunately, it's common even among old... Read More

An Economical Retirement Investment Plan

The practice of economy, directed toward a retirement investment plan in the stock market, is in itself a source of great revenue. It is the art of making the most out of every stock market investment, with the definite purpose or goal being to provide a life that is fully... Read More

Foreign Investing - US Investors Still Missing Out?

Investors are still too slowly realizing what the academics have long pointed out ?- adding foreign stocks to your portfolio will, over the long term, increase your returns and lower the overall risk of your portfolio.US investors embracing foreign investing are both realists and optimists. They are optimistic that the... Read More

The Difference Between Investing and Trading

Investing and Trading are not the same thing. The returns you seek, the length of time it takes to achieve those returns, the amount of risk one is prepared to take, and the commitment one can make to monitor the investments dictate the strategy of whether to invest or trade.InvestingInvesting... Read More

Fundamentals of Option Pricing

When one begins to consider an option, it is very important to figure out how the premium is calculated. Option premiums depend on a variety of factors including the time left to expiry as well as the price of the underlying security. There are two parts to an option premium:... Read More

Just what is Arbitrage Investment?

In the simplest of terms, Arbitrage means to exploit price differential.Usually it meant looking at differing sources of an investment, and if there was a price difference between Source A and Source B - then the investor / dealer / broker / manager would buy from the lower priced source,... Read More

An Old Dividend Stock Investment Idea, for a New Generation

Death and taxes! The certainties of life! And then, of course, there are the mortgage payments, the utility bills, phone bills, the car payments and thirsty automobiles. Add that to the grocery and clothing bills, and there appears to be more then just death and taxes as certainties of life.Having... Read More

Numismatics are for Collectors, Not Investors

As a precious metals investor, you may heard much about numismatic and "semi-numismatic" coins, particularly the St. Gaudens $20 double eagle gold coin. While coin collecting can be an interesting hobby, it is not necessarily related to metals investing. Coins of this type vary in value with the ebb and... Read More

Investor Guide to Financial Health

Step 1: Spend less than you earnPerhaps the simplest financial concept is the toughest for us to conquer- spend less than you earn. After paying your living expenses (bills, loan and mortgage payments, cost of food, charitable contributions, taxes, etc), you can begin to save and invest toward your future.... Read More

Boost Your Income With Financial Spread Betting

About 6 years ago I started to notice that certain friends of mine had quit their jobs but continued to live very luxurious lifestyles - seemingly without doing very much. I thought they must just be using up their savings until I discovered they were all making a fantastic living... Read More

Planning Starts with the Basics

When developing a plan for your finances, the toughest question often is: "Where do I begin?" Before investing in stocks and bonds or buying life insurance, before implementing any change or making any decisions, you first need to analyze and understand your entire financial picture. Two documents allow you to... Read More

Trading Tips No 3: Online Trading and Investing: Buy, Hold, and Hope

So you have learned how to trade the markets by mastering a few trading tools like Moving Averages, Channels, Stochastics, MACD, or RSI - that is a great accomplishment achieved by only a few. However, having the tools and rules to trade markets successfully, year in and year out, is... Read More

Risk and Reward

If you are doing your own investing in the stock market, what would be the first question you would ask yourself before you make any trade or investment? If your answer is how fundamentally sound the stock is, or whether the stock just broke out of a trading range on... Read More

Choosing A Financial Advisor

With so many financial advisors trying to woo you with their qualifications and experience, how do find one you can trust your finances with? 'Trust' is the keyword here, as you will depend on him/her for your future financial security. A good financial advisor can help you determine which investments... Read More

Financial Planners

"Financial planners are like dentists: they may occasionally inflict pain, but in the end, you will be better off for following their advice!"Whoever wrote these lines must have either been a financial planner or someone who relied heavily on planners for finance management. We all know that planning our finances... Read More

Why have Investment Plans for the Stock Market

If you do not have an investment plan in the stock market you are subject to impulses, urges, hunches, premonitions, strong feelings, greed, panic, fear, indecision, and just plain foolishness. In my opinion, without a plan, without that clear conception of a total stock market investment strategy, the chances of... Read More

Franchise Opportunity Sellers Beware; franchise buyers lie on forms?

It seems completely absurd that franchise buyers lie about their financial position, available cash and abilities in order to buy a franchise. After spending 8 years setting up franchises around the nation and fielding inquiries I am appalled at the lack of integrity of the average business buyer. If you... Read More

Discipline in Investing and Trading

Discipline can be simply defined as your ability to follow your investing and trading plan.Discipline is a rather simple concept. You just need to define what, when and how you want to trade and manage it. You also need to decide how to handle your account when you are making... Read More

Realistic Investing Expectations

Over the long term stocks have provided us with great average return results. But this average return masks a great deal of volatility, because returns have fluctuated within a very wide band.This extreme volatility is the chief risk of investing in stocks, but it is a risk that tends to... Read More

Why You Need To Buy and Sell Gold Coins (Part 6)

Pre-1933 Gold Outperforms Today's Gold Bullion...Since 1970, an investment strategy that included Pre-1933 gold has been proven to outperform modern gold bullion, gold bars, Krugerrands, Canadian Maple Leafs, or American Eagles.In fact, $1,000 invested in common date, Pre-1933 Gold coins has a market value of $19,595. But, gold bullion would... Read More

June 2005: Weather Forecasts for Weather Traders

If Johannes Kepler, the renowned 17th century astronomer and discoverer of the planetary laws of motion, could speak from the heavenlies, he might have a few words of wisdom to share with the National Weather Service. Although Kepler's name is not normally associated with meteorology, he was quite the weather... Read More

Help with My Annuity

The cries are heard from the distance, "I need help with my annuities." Nothing has changed...just a lonely senior who can't trust anybody with her annuity because every time she asks for advice, someone tries to make her invest in a different annuity...Sound familiar? Well you are not alone.Often times... Read More

Annuity Help

Many people today are looking for annuity help. The biggest challenge seems to be that most of the help is biased. What exactly do I mean? I mean that there is always a vested interest for the person who is helping you with your annuities. They are out to sell... Read More

Can Your Annuity Do This?

Many people buy annuities according to their agent's recommendations. However, many people do not even know what they own. It is a good idea to take inventory of your investments, and particularly your annuity. It is important to understand what your annuity can and cannot do and what features it... Read More

Annuity Investment - The Whole Truth

Do you ever feel like you haven't been told the whole truth? Kind of like something is missing? Well, you are not alone.With many investors awestruck over the last several years by the declining stock markets, many feel like they're out in the cold. Why didn't my broker get me... Read More

Annuity Investment Guide

While there is not a lack of information on annuities, there certainly is a lack of good information. In an age full of information, we are constantly bombarded with irrelevant data. Annuities are great investment vehicles. Annuities are bad investment vehicles. Annuities were my mom's worst nightmare. You have heard... Read More

Annuity Owner Mistakes

Okay, so I can tell you I have sat in front of countless numbers of people who have made mistakes when purchasing and owning annuities. And I have visited people who wish they never got involved in an annuity. And I have seen people who say that their annuity is... Read More

Should You Put Your Annuity in an IRA?

Let me start by answering that question...if an annuity fits your investment objectives than there is no reason that an annuity should not go in your IRA. Okay all you smarty pants out there who keep arguing that it is tax deferred and it does not belong in your IRA...SO... Read More

Variable Annuities

You know all the articles you read about annuities that have extremely high fees? And the ones that people lose a lot of money in? Well, these are better known as variable annuities. yes, they do have some advantages. They do offer market upside potential, have a guaranteed death benefit,... Read More

An Investment Real Estate Strategy Unknown To Most Is A Negative Amortization Loan

If you want to make the most of your personal or investment real estate, you should consider a negative amortization loan. Mortgage amortization is basically mortgage balance reduction. Consequently, when a mortgage has negative amortization, the loan balance not only is not reduced, it actually grows. So, why should you... Read More

Well Managed Investing Risks Bring Rewards!

"Risk comes from not knowing what you're doing!" Warren Buffett (1930 - )We often listen to people who hesitate to invest in the stock market because they fear risk. There are older people who fear that a stock crash could leave them destitute. There are young couples who pine for... Read More

Investing for Retirement - Not an All or Nothing Play

In 1519, Hernando Cortes, beached on the shores of unexplored Mexico, made a fateful decision: he would burn the ships he and his men arrived in and attempt to overthrow Montezuma and the mighty Aztec empire. The decision was risky. The Aztecs were meant to possess large numbers of brave... Read More

How to Invest Your Money

Think carefully on how to invest your money because if you make wrong decisions it could cost you dearly. There are many ways in which to invest your money and as such seeking the advice of a professional would be a very wise move. The information below will help give... Read More

Useful Tips on Investing

Here are some useful tips on investing. When you make an investment, you are giving your money to a company or an enterprise, hoping that it will be successful and pay you back with even more money. Some investments make money, and some don't.You can potentially make money in an... Read More

Trading Tips No 4: Technical Analysis The Holy Grail Syndrome

Everyone knows that the Holy Grail of investing and trading is a myth. Finding a good technical analysis tool that will give you a trading system that wins all the time is called the holy grail of trading. This means that one would never have a losing trade, not to... Read More

Learn How to Lose and Risk Management

One of the leading traders on Chicago Mercantile Exchange, because of a single trade lost everything!For all of his years of experience and money, he had failed to master the most important concept in trading: Risk Management!Each trader seems to have his own unique way of identifying market opportunities. One... Read More

Investing & Online Stock & Share Trading- The Stock & Share Markets are Booming But Be Warned

I had the pleasure of being invited on a friend's yacht to sail in a race on Sydney Harbour yesterday. On board, as one of our motley crew, I met a top ranking corporate executive from one of Australia's largest banks, who we'll call 'Phil' here for the purpose of... Read More

Trading Tips No 7: Developing a Casino Mentality for the Day Trader

I submit that the successful day trader would profit well to adopt a casino mentality. At first glance, this sounds reckless and nothing more than a gambling attitude - but it's not. Why? Because everyone knows that it's the casinos that profit and take in all the money on a... Read More

Investing and the Fear of Regret and Greed

People tend to feel sorrow and grief after having made an error in judgement.Investors deciding whether to sell or buy a security are typically emotionally affected by whether the security was bought or sold for more or less than the current price.One theory is that investors avoid selling stocks that... Read More

My Way Or The Highway: Give Your Financial Professionals A Good Talking To!

All this talk about Investing is encouraging lately. Over the last few years, more people have become interested in the duty to invest there money, then ever before. However, when you follow most investment offers to their logical conclusion, they are disgustingly futile.Yet, many people take up these "offers" nonetheless.... Read More

Diversify!

The best way to avoid being hit hard by a stock market crash or another Enron/Worldcom fiasco is to make sure you don't put all your eggs in one basket. Diversification helps ensure steady growth of your net worth as you accumulate more assets.This idea is not limited to the... Read More

Success Trading: Some Basic Terminology for New Traders

The world of trading can get very complex because the financial markets are complex. There thousands and thousands of successful traders out there today. The amazing thing is that they all have carved their own niches and approach the markets in a unique way. This should be wonderful news for... Read More

Success Trading: More Basic Terminology for New Traders

One important aspect of trading the markets is to understand how to feel it's overall pulse. In the stock market, this is measured by measuring the movements of selected stocks across various sectors to let us know how the market is doing in general. A gentleman by the name of... Read More

Investing in World Markets

There are many different ways to invest in world markets: stocks, bonds, mutual funds, options, commodities or currencies. Sometimes people refer to these options as investment vehicles (or method of investment). Some of these vehicles may fit your personal characteristics or lifestyle better than others. The point is that no... Read More

Success Trading: Yet More Basic Terminology for New Traders

In this day and age of online brokers for virtually every market out there, there are some very useful tools that will help protect your account and lock in profits when you have them. It is our recommendation that you use a good online broker and take advantage of not... Read More

Success Trading for New Traders: What Does Bid and Ask Mean?

Do you ever wonder exactly what's going on in the trading pits after you've sent an order to purchase stock? You've no doubt seen market quotes either online or even in the newspaper. Have you noticed that there are always two sets of prices given? What exactly do those mean... Read More

Buying a Home - Your BIGGEST Investment

This column has often focused on intangible investments like stocks that a young investor might hold in their portfolio. While these are one of the most important components of an investment plan, it is not the dominant one for most young people. Even for some who are much further down... Read More

How to Invest Overseas - Intelligently!

In recent months, many advisors have talked a lot about the wisdom of investing overseas, but most have failed to really address the way to do that. For new investors, investing in the U.S. is challenging enough, but investing across borders is often even more daunting.Many major issues need to... Read More

It?s Never too Early to Start Investing!

Remember the old saying, "never too late to start"? Well, try this on for size: when it comes to investing, it's never too early to start. Time really is of the essence here. Those of us who find ourselves between the ages of twenty and forty should make investing for... Read More

The Real Cost of a Bad Habit

What is the value of a good habit? Think of some daily habits, like brushing your teeth, or buckling a seat belt, or flushing. All of these habits have value important to some part of life. Failing to follow through on some habits can lead to some nasty results, and... Read More

Now is the Time to Invest for Your Retirement!

Yes, it's the time we've all been waiting for?tax season! We know you've gotten a jump start and filed early this year, right? Of course not, but rather than dreading this part of the year, we should all look to it as a point for new opportunities. Many readers don't... Read More

Franchise Investing, Franchise Opportunities and Franchising Renewals

Have you considered buying a franchise instead of trying to start a business from scratch. Many franchise agreements are renewed every five or ten years, automatically. If you do not want to renew your franchise you need to let the franchisor know a little bit in advance as it generally... Read More

Going Offshore For Asset Protection

There are a number of key reasons why individuals and businesses consider going offshore for asset protection purposes.The asset protection advantages the offshore world offers extend from protecting a business from excessive taxation to opening doors to enable wealth and asset enrichment via the utilisation of offshore investment opportunities.Until relatively... Read More

The Three Legged Stool

My paternal grandparents were born near Lake Como, Italy. My grandfather learned how to farm, and he did just that until he died chopping wood at age 88. As a boy, I would walk into the barn where I watched him milking cows. Never got the hang of it, but... Read More

Commodities - The Next Big Wave of Fortune Building

Have you often wished you could have got in on a tremendous money making opportunity before it took off? How would you feel if you had bought Microsoft stock when it first went public and your investment doubled 5 times? Imagine how rich you would be right now?I'm not saying... Read More

Finding a Broker

"Hey Joe! I need help finding a broker. I notice that discount commission rates are pretty much the same. So how do I choose?"Commission is definitely not the most important factor in choosing a broker. Most important in choosing a brokerage firm is the per trade slippage, the difference between... Read More

Makin The Sauce

Let's face it, you're on a roll. After getting down to your attorney's office to sign the new Living Trust and then diligently tracking down your assets to fund the trust, you should be congratulated. You're one of the responsible ones - 70% of the people who die each year... Read More

When NOT to Invest

Unfortunately, many investors who are seduced by the lure of easy money try to become "active" investors before they have the skills, the resources, or the appropriate intellectual framework to do so.This is not to say that investing in stocks is extraordinarily difficult ... It is not!However, beating the market... Read More

What Is A Fair Market Value, Really? If Youre Going To Trade, Be Sure Its Worth It!

I've been involved in online trading, specifically with stock and index options, for several years. In this time, I've spent a great deal of time thinking about value and the fact that anything, be it a stock or currency or even a house, is worth exactly whatever someone else will... Read More

The Power of Small Numbers: Trading Success is Based on Consistency, Not Home Runs

Online trading is so seductive - just sit, click, and rake in the profits! But as anyone who has ever seriously attempted online trading will probably tell you, it's just not as easy as it sounds.Many beginning traders are seduced by the lure of the "home run", that big trade... Read More

Emotions: A Traders Worst Enemy; Get Rid of Fear and Greed - Youll be Glad You Did

You hear it over and over and over in books, forums, and chatrooms. Fear and greed, fear and greed, fear and greed. Emotions are a trader's worst enemy. What are we supposed to do about it? We are human after all. Human beings have emotions. We can't just throw a... Read More

The American Age of Inflation is Over

"The American Age of Inflation is finished." So says economist Robert Samuelson in his December 2nd Washington Post column.This type of refrain is common. We often hear that this or that is ended ? that such things only happen in the past, and that our new, more advanced time is... Read More

Have You Ever Seen A Map of the World Turned Upside Down?

For those accustomed to viewing things a certain way, it is quite disconcerting. One almost expects the ocean to pour out. It just seems wrong. Yet, the way we view the globe is entirely arbitrary, based largely on the way we've always seen it.When we view things from a different... Read More

Real Estate Clubs Hot Among Investors

Six or seven years ago, the stock market was booming, Internet companies that no one had ever heard of were valued at billions of dollars, and anyone and everyone was investing their money in tech stocks. Then, in 2000, the stock market crashed, the Internet companies closed their doors, investors... Read More

Seecrets on Investment: Tired of Making Huge Losses in the Stock Market ? Part 1

Over 80% of all individual investors lose money in any given span of ten years. This figure is likely to be higher, given most people's reluctance to reveal their losses. This article provides a broad outline of this financial landscape. It reflects the author's personal views as an individual investor... Read More

Margin Benefits are Marginal at Best

Margin is one of those things that novices find puzzling about the stock market, but the concept is really quite simple. Still, with understanding the basics of using margin accounts, determining the wisdom of using margin can be quite a conundrum.A margin account is a traditional investment account with margin... Read More

Global Markets: A Window on the World Economy

Expectations drive the market. Every stock price is driven by what people expect the company to do. That's why all the talk about a strong or weak economy has such an impact. But those aren't the only expectations moving us. We've seen the impact of war and terrorism worries on... Read More

Have Analysts Gotten Honest?

It caught my attention when I heard an analyst on a popular financial news program tell investors to sell a stock because too many analysts liked the company, citing the fact that there were no sell ratings.It seemed perfectly logical to me that analysts wouldn't be telling investors to sell... Read More

Creating a Financial Future - Putting Your Plan Into Action Part 1

This column has previously discussed "picturing the future that we desire", and outlining a plan to achieve it. We mentioned that the plan must include goal-setting, measurement, and implementation. That implementation is this column's focus.Putting the plan into action is what implementation is all about. Its one thing to have... Read More

Creating a Financial Future--Putting Your Plan Into Action Part 2

Real Estate can be a useful tool for investing. The simplest real estate investment is not truly an investment, but a cost-reduction ? that is owning your own home. Buying rather than renting allows one to put residential costs toward assets rather than into someone else's pocket. However, if interest... Read More

Options Made Easy and Investor Education - Simple Enough for a 10 yr Old Kid

How many of you out there think that the market is performing well?How many think the market is performing poorly?And how many feel the markets performance is neutral?Actually none of these answers is correct. You see, learning and reading our options made easy articles, you will realize that the market... Read More

Critical Investors Business Daily Responsibilities - If not Followed Could Cost You Millions!

When thinking about the investors business daily responsibilities in today’s market environment, the best remedy for this situation is for you to get more involved in your own investing decisions.The problem is that most individual investors do not have the knowledge, resources, or time to spend doing their own research,... Read More

Powerful Options Basics Lessons Improving your trading in 180 days.

An option is a traded security that is a derivative product.By derivative product we mean that it is a product whose value is based upon or derived from the price of something else. Since we are talking about stocks, a stock option is based upon, among other things, the price... Read More

Secret Stock Options Trading Strategies the Experts Don`t Want You to Know

To understand stock options, we need to look at Webster’s Dictionary’s definition of the word strategy.Webster’s Dictionary defines the term strategy as1. a) the science of planning and directing larger scale military operations, specifically (as distinguished from TACTICS) of maneuvering forces into the most advantageous position prior to actual engagement... Read More

Powerful Hidden Techniques Mystery Formula - The Covered Call Option Trading Buy-Write Strategy

For better or worse, most option trading investors purchase stocks with the intent of holding their shares for an extended period of time.We do this mainly because the media and industry professionals have drilled into our heads, year after year, time after time, that it’s best to buy and hold.... Read More

Seven Investment Terms Everyone Should Know

For those who have never given their financial future a second thought, the term "Financial Planning" could be a scary one. Investments can be a smart way to invest money for your future, but it can be confusing for those who have no experience in the financial business. Before you... Read More

Preparing to Invest: How to get started

Investments can be a source of great potential earnings. The two most common reasons that a person does not invest are either they do not have the money or they do not know how to get started. These are some ways to prepare for investing and some things to consider... Read More

Critical Options Investing Tip When Trading Naked Calls and Puts

An option is a derivative trading product that is best used by investors as a hedging tool providing investing profit protection and profit enhancement. Although it is a powerful risk management tool, it can also be used effectively as a stand-alone trading vehicle.Under the proper conditions, options do not have... Read More

Hedge Fund 101 - Make Money with Hedge Funds

Investors are always looking for the best investments that will yield the most profit. Any investor who can afford the extra cost should consider investing in Hedge Funds. Hedge Funds were started in 1949 by Alfred Winslow Jones, who pioneered non-traditional investment strategies. Jones innovated this new investment strategy by... Read More

Invest or be Pink Slipped

Firing an employee seems to be easier and easier for corporations. Up until now you allowed them to set your clocks. Now its time to fight back! Beat them at their own game. They had your future pegged. Now your certainty is in your own hands.Corporations attempt to make the... Read More

The Arrow-Debreu Contingent Claims Model of Investment

Throughout the discussion of speculation and stability, we emphasized that uncertainty theorists now have a generally accepted framework for modeling choice under uncertainty. Economic theorists have chosen to model uncertainty as the revelation of a state of the world. Individuals in these models face investment and consumption decisions based on... Read More

Will a Falling Dollar Derail Your Plans for Retirement?

How much are you willing to pay for a tank of gas? We've all watched as gas prices hit record highs, but what would you do if you filled your tank and paid by credit card only to discover on your monthly statement that you paid $80 to fill an... Read More

Planning for Retirement

Almost without exception, people don't start planning for their retirement early enough in their lives. Young people leaving High School or College and going into their first paid position find it difficult to look or see ahead to age sixty or sixty-five. Still, time marches on and retirement does arrive.Unfortunately... Read More

Creating Momentum with Options - Pro and Cons of At-the-money, In-the-money, and Out-of-the-money

To create momentum in your options trading you need to understand the advantages and disadvantages of at-the-money options, in-the-money options and out-of-the-money options.An at-the-money option has both advantages and disadvantages over stock and in-the-money options. First, the at-the-money option will be cheaper then both the stock and the in-the-money option.... Read More

Investing and Asset Allocation

Sometimes you spend sleepless nights worrying about which stocks to buy and which to sell, which funds to own and which to dump and whether to get into bonds.All of these are legitimate concerns, but the greatest determinant of your success as an investor will not be your sagacity in... Read More

Online Trading Options Strategies - Rolling

Rolling is defined in options online trading as moving a position from one strike to another either vertically in the same month, horizontally to another month or some combination thereof.Other times, you may have to buy your short call back so that you will not lose your stock. Sometimes, you... Read More

Basic Options Terms

Options are good investing and speculative instruments. But options terminology may confuse even experienced investors. In this article we will take up some basic options terms.Option - A contract that grants the holder the right, but not the obligation, to buy or sell a particular security at a predetermined price... Read More

Retire Dollar Smart

Jim Miller is a registered investment advisor. This means that he is not beholden to a particular brokerage or financial institution. As such, he does not charge monthly fees for "money-managing"; instead, through a consultation fee he is free to give whatever advice will best benefit his clients; he doesn't... Read More

Guru Focused: Robert Olstein?s Short Sells

While it is rather rare that value gurus sell stocks short, Robert Olstein has been selling short in his Financial Alert Fund. The accountant-turned fund manager spots values by looking behind the numbers. In the second quarter of 2004, Robert Olstein sold short American Italian Pasta Co. (PLB) at $31.... Read More

New U.S. Mint Coins a Golden Opportunity

In April, the U.S. Mint revealed plans to strike in early 2006 new .9999 bullion coins to go after the growing world market for .9999 fine (24-karat) gold coins. Studies show that pure gold coins claim 60% of the world's gold bullion coin market, which is some $2.4 billion annually.... Read More

Keeping It Interesting

Some lines from a movie never leave your mind; I don't remember the context always, but I do recall the dialog. "The Big Chill" is one of the few movies I own (VHS). At dinner, William Hurt, Jeff Goldbloom, and Tom Berenger argue about their past like dogs growling for... Read More

Angel Investors: Who They Are & When Are They Appropriate

Angel investors are individuals who invest in emerging business ventures. Angels typically provide both capital and know-how to companies who are in either their start-up or expansion phases. To reflect the increased risk of investing in such firms, angels seek a higher rate of return versus traditional public stock investments.Angel... Read More

Investing In Sons Business Could Cause A Real Family Feud

Q: My youngest son wants to borrow $5,000 to start his own business. My wife is afraid to tell him no. She thinks we should just give him the money and not expect anything in return. I disagree. He doesn't have a very good track record with money, so I'm... Read More

For Entrepreneurs A SIMPLE Plan May Be Best

Q: I own a small decorating business and I'll be the first to admit that I don't know anything about taxes or retirement plans. I'd like to set up a 401(k) or an IRA or some other kind of retirement plan for me and my three employees. What are the... Read More

Bearish or Bullish?

If you are interested in stock investing and the stock market, you may have plenty of questions. Even if you have already started investing, you may still have many questions about the details of the stock market and your options. Even the stock investing pro needs tips now and again... Read More

Penny Stock Investing

The Nature of Penny StocksFor anyone new to investing in penny stocks, you should first be made aware of the differences between these micro-cap stocks and the more conventional blue-chip and mid-cap investments. Unlike buying shares in a large, stable company like Ford or IBM, you are dealing with speculative... Read More

Finding the Perfect Company

The perfect company - it's the holy grail of the investment world. The company that will make its initial investment hundreds of times over. It's what everyone shoots for. To have bought Microsoft when it first went public... It's how fortunes are made. What does make "the perfect company"?The search... Read More

Beginning Investor - Investment Terms

Over the course of the past two months, readers have brought to my attention that there is a steep learning curve for investment terminology. That's why the focus of this month's Beginning Investor column will be investment terminology. The world of finance can be complex. This article doesn't intend to... Read More

Index Trading Weekly Update

Here is a sample of the last newsletter:SP500 Last Signal Comment We just had a new sell signal last friday on june 10th 2005. As expected we faced strong resistance at 1200 and it ended up with a double top as stated in previous issues. We made 36 points... Read More

Investing and Understanding What You Buy

"There is nothing more frightful than ignorance in action!" Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749 - 1832)I don't really know how cars actually work. Not really! I know how to drive them, but if you asked me how they work, I would not really know how to definitely explain it.That small... Read More

Can Using Sales Leaseback Method of Investment Property Acquisition Reduce Risk?

Sales Leaseback compared to traditional property investmentCan a Sales Leaseback arrangement make investing in Orlando investment properties more safe and reliable?Yes. Providing a guaranteed rental amount each month is the safest and most reliable way to realize a return on your investment. In addition to freeing you from any financial... Read More

Is Offshore Banking for You?

You've probably heard about people who keep their money offshore. Most likely you assume they're all wealthy businessmen; millionaires, who have so much money they somehow 'qualify' to move it out of the country, right? Wrong! Offshore banking can be a benefit for anybody regardless of income.There are certain components... Read More

Time is Money and We Are Running Out of Both!

One of the fundamental principles of finance is the concept that $1 today is more valuable than $1 a year from now.Making adjustments for inflation, the dollar will buy less goods and services next year.But I can invest that dollar today and earn a ROI (Return On Investment) in the... Read More

DXPortfolio: A Great Passive Investment of 25% to $40% per month

First, I need to explain about e-currencies or digital currencies. DXPortfolio are based and supported by the supply and demand of e-currency. Before, I go on to explain how I have used my e-gold account in accordance with my DXPortfolioto grow a nice size nest egg for later (which is... Read More

Angels Investors and Their Networks

What is an Angel Investor? An Angel is usually a private person who invests in small businesses. The Angel is generally a successful businessperson or entrepreneur who looks to invest in a business that has potential for growing their investment in the future.Angels are mainly successful entrepreneurs who may have... Read More

Press Release Scams and Successes: Reading Between the Lines

Press releases are a means through which companies can keep the public up to date regarding their recent affairs. It is the duty of every public company to keep its investors and indirectly potential investors aware of what is going on in the company. It should not be forgotten, however,... Read More

Your Portfolio and ?Old Ironsides?

The USS Constitution first ventured into the waters in 1798. From there she became an icon of durability and success.In battle, the ship became known as "Old Ironsides" because the shots fired from enemy ships seemed to bounce off her hull. She may be best remembered for her service in... Read More

When It Comes To Investing, Asking The Right Questions Can Help You Make The Right Decisions

Are you ready to open your pathway to financial independence?Well you should be. The sooner the better. But, how do you get started?There is so much to know about investing and the truth is it will take a lot of training and guidance in order to get the hang of... Read More

Delist My Corporation Please

It use to be said that once a company was de-listed from the NASDAQ it was the kiss of death, not so any more. With Sarbanes Oxley and all the insane reporting requirements it might save your company from incessant lawsuits from investors and the government regulators who are out... Read More

Investing: The Art Of Making Your Money Work For You

There is a lot to know about investing. It all depends on what type of investing you are interested in as well. There are many different types of investment options out there. So what is investing, specifically?When you invest, you are paying in a certain amount of money that you... Read More

Buying Florida Investment Properties and Where Its Hot

Relaxing in Style: Florida Investment PropertiesIn Florida, relaxing in the sun and sand is a way of life. There's no better way to experience a slice of Florida living than buying your own space. Florida Investment Property provide just that-a place that you can return to year after year for... Read More

Investing & Online Stock & Share Trading: Money & Risk Management - Atkinson Portfolio Planner (1)

This article was originally featured in Daryl Guppy's 'Tutorials in Applied Technical Analysis', voted no 1 trading newsletter in Australia by Shares magazine & no 4 in the world by US Stocks & Commodities magazine and is reprinted here with Daryl's permission.In addition to developing sound technical analysis skills, strong... Read More

Stocks, Oil, and Bonds

A barrel of oil bounced to over $60 Thu, which triggered a steep sell-off in the stock market Thu and Fri, although oil pulled-back to around $59 a barrel, and closed at $59.84 a barrel Fri.There are many reasons why oil prices are high, including a "price premium" for potentially... Read More

How To Start Investing For Financial Independence, Part 1

Today, I am going to start a multi-part series about how to go from being a beginning investor to being "financially independent" in a steady and predictable way. At our website, we get tons of e-mails about how do I start, how do I start with little $'s, etc., etc.,... Read More

Before You Invest You Must Read This

It is important to answer the following questions before you begin to invest any of your money. The answers to these questions will help to guide you to when, what, where, and how much to invest. Do not skip these questions and make sure you write it all down. You... Read More

HYIPs Investments or Scams?

High Yield Investment Programs (HYIPs) appear at first to be the secret to unlimited wealth and fortune, but as you can guess that quickly changes. However, I have found myself still using them in a very limited fashion as a generator for my digital currency exchange. I will discuss that... Read More

Shop More, Save More for College Gimmick or Reality?

The man sat in a chair beside a dressing room at a Tampa, Fla. maternity store. "That one looks great," he says to his pregnant wife. "I really like that one."Just as his wife steps behind a curtain to slip on the next outfit, a voice bellows from behind the... Read More

An Introduction to Offshore Investing

Once upon a time, offshore investment strategies were spoken of in hushed tones. They were conversations restricted to the plush offices of private Swiss bankers, or a dinner table topic in the expensive playgrounds of the multi-millionaires.Thanks to the information explosion of the 1990s, the internet has opened up many... Read More

July 2005: Hurricane Forecasts for Weather Traders

Tropical Storm Arlene formed as a tropical depression on June 8, 2005 near 83 West Longitude and 17 North Latitude. Although Dr. Bill Gray's updated hurricane forecast for 2005 calls for 15 named storms, with 8 of the 15 being hurricanes, orthodox meteorology cannot pinpoint the time and place for... Read More

Invest To Make Money, Not To Get Rich

The technology boom of the '90s romanticized the "rags-to-riches" ideal that all of us dream about when investing. For those that invested $1000 in Dell at $5 during 1990, held through the seven splits, then sold in March 2000 at $59, the dream was a reality. That investment would have... Read More

Use of a Franchise Business as a Family Tax Planning Strategy

Suggesting the use of a franchise business as a vehicle for family estate and tax planning. Specifically using as an example, The Car Wash Guys, a portable car wash franchise, where you will be purchasing a completely designed and outfitted car wash truck and the right to develop a specific... Read More

Out-Of-State Investors Check List of Questions

The following lists of questions are suggested questions to ask before you plan to purchase residential real estate outside of your neighborhood.It's probably best to speak with at least three licensed real estate sales professionals and three property managers in the area. During each interview, you'll want to learn as... Read More

Gold; What Type of Gold to Buy

JewelryThe advantages are:? Gold Jewelry is the easiest of the gold to buy and has the enjoyment of being able to be worn.The disadvantages are:? Retail Jewelry is often marked up by 300% or more in the shops.? The real value of Jewelry is in the stones and the value... Read More

Focus Your Investments on the Long Term

"All human power is a compound of time and patience!" Honore de Balzac (1799 - 1850)Long term investing or "Buy and Hold" is not about hunches, emotions, stock tips, market timing or making quick profits! It's about using proven long-term strategies to accumulate wealth over time!A large part of the... Read More

Approaches to Investing

Here is a small summary of the three major approaches to investing:1. Fundamental AnalysisTruly superior companies exist, are sometimes undervalued by markets, and can be identified by mostly financial research. Earnings and dividends, stock prices and markets can be adequately forecasted. All these can be identified by analysis of their... Read More

Getting Started In Investing

Are you ready to open your pathway to financial independence?Well you should be. The sooner the better. But, how do you get started?There is so much to know about investing and the truth is it will take a lot of training and guidance in order to get the hang of... Read More

Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?

I am sure you have probably read about the power of compound interest. And how if you invested $10,000 at 10% return and let it compound for 50 years you would have a little over 1 million dollars.Now that's all well and good, but who wants to wait around for... Read More

Pros & Cons of Investing in Bonds

What are Bonds?A bond is a debt security, by which you are lending money to a government, municipality, corporation, federal agency or other entity known as the issuer. In return for investing in the bond, the issuer promises to pay you a specified rate of interest during the life of... Read More

5 Things To Know About The Stock Market

50% Of U.S. Households Invest In The Stock Market Individuals invest in the stock market directly, through mutual funds, their pension plans, profit sharing plans, 401k's, IRA's, etc.Mutual Funds Dominate The Market It is mainly the mutual funds, buying and selling, who move the market and cause individual stocks to... Read More

5 Day Trading Tips for Success

1. How to Treat Gap Openings A gap up or gap down open is an emotional move, and it often will reverse course and turn in to "trap open". Gaps that are less than 4 points on the SP Future tend to get filled in the same day, especially Tuesday... Read More

Issuing Warrants to Investors

When raising capital for a business venture, warrants are a common form of equity that is given to investors. A warrant is like an option ? it gives the holder the right to buy a security at a fixed or formulaic price, which is known as the "exercise" or "strike"... Read More

Six Principles of Successful Investing

1. Begin investing immediatelyProcrastination is the number one enemy of investing. An early start in investing can make an enormous difference as the investor will be able to truly reap the rewards of compounding over a longer period of time.2. Invest for the long-termDo not be influenced by short term... Read More

Forex Trading Best Practices

FOREX, the term for the FOReign EXchange market, is an international exchange market where currencies from many different countries are bought and sold. Both long-term hedge investors and short-term investors that seek quick profits use FOREX. Trade reaches between 1 and 1.5 trillion US dollars per day. Needless to say,... Read More

Day Trading the SP Futures with Initial S/R and the NYSE TICK

For instance, if the market moves up in the first 20 minutes of trading, touches the initial resistance zone, and then turns down, this implies that a good tradable downtrend move is likely to develop.How strong that new trend becomes is market-dependent. As the market falls, its reaction to each... Read More

The Key Ingredient To Increase Preconstruction Profits By Over $20,000

One of the greatest preconstruction investing issues that I hear from individual investors is that they can't get access to what they believe are good projects. Regardless if the preconstruction project is a beach condo, a townhouse, a single family home, or even land investment, individuals are finding that many... Read More

Get Wealthy With the Rule of 72

When it comes time to retire how many people would like to have a nest egg that is 2 or 3 or even 4 times larger than what they have? With an answer so obvious allow me to explain how you can make it happen for yourself.First we'll explain the... Read More

Investing in New Zealand - Learn how to Find Unique Investment Opportunities

Investing in New Zealand might be much easier than investing in other western countries, thank to the excellent infrastructure, the low taxes and the assistance of the supportive NZ government.Technological Face of New ZealandNew Zealand has a unique reputation within the global market place. This country offers a complicated dichotomy... Read More

The Basics of Tax-Free UK Financial Spread Betting

Financial Spread Betting (or Trading) offers a tax free method of speculating on financial markets.Quite simply, if you think a particular index, share, commodity, currency or sector will rise, you place an UP bet. This also referred to as a Long position or a buy.On the other hand if you... Read More

Making Every Penny Count

More and more workers are leaving their jobs and taking their 401 k retirement plan funds with them. While some are rolling their funds over into IRAs or other qualified plans; many are taking their distributions in cash. Once an employee has left the job, any payments of earned vacation,... Read More

The Economy Is Not The Stock Market

Several days ago, the Commerce Department reported that May's factory orders had increased by a 2.9 percent. This was well covered by 'the press', as it was to be a positive influence on 'the market' (yes, the quotes are intentional.....you'll see why). The enthusiasm was understandable - the $394 billion... Read More

Gold and Silver Maple Leafs Get New Packaging

Gold Maple Leafs and Silver Maple Leafs are receiving packaging makeovers, changes clearly mandated by investor disfavor with packaging that the Royal Canadian Mint has used since the coins were introduced. Gold Maple Leafs debuted in 1979, Silver Maple Leafs in 1988. The changes appear to be good moves, which... Read More

Bad News - Why The Financial News Media Can Cost You Money!

The communication innovations we have around us today like the internet, financial newspapers, and special interest television channels focused on investing like CNBC are a high speed pipeline of nonsensical chatter. All these sources of information mean that there is no shortage of media people trying to answer our questions... Read More

Reading Between The Lines In Annual Proxy Statements

Upper Saddle River, N.J. - May 11, 2005 - Now that a large number of the proxy statements for public companies with fiscal years ending December 31, 2004 have been issued, those of us that scrutinize them for a living, as well as those that have invested in those companies,... Read More

Shareholders Meeting Changing With Times

A significant number of corporations that settled accounts in the past year are ready to hold their annual shareholders meetings.In this year's meetings, more than 300 companies plan as their main focus of attention defense measures against hostile takeover bids.Interestingly, more companies have introduced systems to allow shareholders to vote... Read More

Making Your Investment Dollars Work for You

Investments are scary for some people, especially those who have never invested before. We grow up hearing horror stories about how this person or that person lost everything they had on some bad investment some odd years ago and it builds in us a fear of investing so profound that... Read More

How Eating Bitumen Made Me a Better Stock Trader

Stock market trading is a fascinating activity.There are so many layers to it. And so many paths that you can go down.Soon after we first got interested in the stock market I became captivated by technical analysis. I finally felt that I was in control. It gave me great confidence... Read More

The Truth About Real Estate Investing - Is It Right For You?

You have probably been hearing, seeing and reading that real estate investing is the best thing since sliced bread. There are many late night cable television infomercials spewing out sales pitches for courses that teach you how to buy residential real estate no money down or for next to nothing.... Read More

It Is Never Too Early To Start A Roth IRA!

The Roth is kind of weird until you get used to it in terms of how much you can put in (contribute) each year depending on how much you earn (compensation). Because of this you really have two limits, one dealing with your compensation and the other dealing with your... Read More

The Perfect Economy?

The U.S. economic data reported this week showed strong output growth with tame inflation. Industrial Production expanded at about 1% in June, three times greater than expected, while both the June Consumer and Producer Price Indices were unchanged. Also, the June Capacity Utilization rate rose to 80.0%, and the June... Read More

Day Trading Strategy or Stock Trading Software? The Way You Pick Stocks Affects Your Results

The trading method you employ to approach the stock market can make a big difference in your results.Stock trading is a very competitive field and in order to succeed you need to FOCUS on a set of simple strategies that you can implement without hesitation.The real "secret" of the stock... Read More

Advice for International Investors on How to Safeguard Their Profits

What are the risks?Today, investors are increasingly turning to global markets to find opportunities for profit, giving urgency to the issue of protecting returns from foreign exchange risk. While there are many excellent investment opportunities to be found all over the world, volatility in the currency markets can and does... Read More

Discover the Foundation of Retiring Wealthy - The IRA!

Let me tell you about some legal ways to avoid getting taxed on profits from the stock market. You can make a lot of money now with the stock market as low as it is at this time as I teach you in my home study course. The very best... Read More

Almost Anyone Can Open A Roth IRA!

The Roth is kind of weird until you get used to it in terms of how much you can put in (contribute) each year depending on how much you earn (compensation). Because of this you really have two limits, one dealing with your compensation and the other dealing with your... Read More

Mutual Fund Returns May Not Be As They Seem!

Arthur Levitt, during his tenure at the SEC, experienced many cases where the non-indexed mutual fund manager bought shares for their own accounts before the fund bought the shares. The fund's purchases drove up the price of the stocks and the fund manager's made a killing on the deal. This... Read More

Invisible Mutual Fund Fees Erode Your Returns!

Many investors think that investing in mutual funds is free. What nonsense! Funds collect more than $50 billion a year in fees from investors. That is truly a ton of money. The first way you get hosed in a mutual fund is due to high fees charged. These fees can... Read More

Caveat Emptor: You May Owe Taxes Despite 401(K) Losses!

One among many ways you lose money in non-indexed mutual funds is the tax trap. You may have to pay taxes even when your mutual fund loses money! To many people this is painfully unexpected. Here is how this counter intuitive event occurs. By law, mutual funds do not pay... Read More

A Safe Port For Mutual Funds But Not You!

Soft dollars, a form of legal kickback, is a sly way you can get ripped off by mutual fund managers. Full service brokers give these kickbacks to non-indexed mutual funds in the form of a "rebate" to purchase research, software, and even computer equipment.You pay for these soft dollars! In... Read More

Mutual Fund Selection Made Simple By Indexing!

Non-indexed mutual funds try to keep it secret that actively managed mutual very funds rarely do better stock market indexes. The higher fees of the managed funds really make it hard for these funds to out compete indexed funds. Smart financial journalists occasionally rat out fund managers for not educating... Read More

The Past Does Not Equal The Future: Mutual Fund Returns!

A way that investors get ripped off and in a sense rip themselves off is based on the culture of performance in the mutual fund industry. If you stop and think about it there is absolutely no reason that the past has to equal the future. If you have not... Read More

Missleading Fund Names Wreak Havoc On Investor Returns!

Mutual fund managers use fake fund names to part you from your money such that you cannot judge what a fund does by its name. Many funds have names that are outright misleading or even deceptive. In the late 1990's, for instance, during the technology stock bubble, some portfolio managers... Read More

Four Key Components To Building A Trading System

Need some insight on what you should really be striving for when you're building a mechanical trading system? When it comes down to it, there are really only a few criteria that are used in judging the merits of a trading system. The most obvious one is profitability - does... Read More

In a Time of Need

As I take my leisurely walk with my dog through the older section of the local cemetery, I pause to read the details on the barely legible, weathered headstones. I am fascinated with the dates, for I know each stone has a story to tell, a history of its own... Read More

Before You Start Investing

There maybe several reasons why you to want to invest your money. You may want to retire early, want to build your own business in the future, or to pay for your kid's education. Should everyone start investing outside their retirement accounts right away? The answer to this question is... Read More

Find Your Investing Soulmate on the Jersey Turnpike

As a followup to a previous column, "Irreconcilable Differences," I received an e-mail from a reader asking how she could ensure, ahead of time, investment compatibility with a future spouse.Unfortunately, like most issues in life, the direct approach does not work. Asking him, "Sweetie, how will you invest our 401(k)... Read More

Consolidation Period

The economic data reported Fri showed continued above trend growth with disinflation (at the core level, excluding food and energy) in the second quarter. Real output growth has slowed from about 4% in 2003 & 2004 to just over 3 1/2% so far this year, while a core inflation rate... Read More

Why Should I Use Penny Shares to Build Wealth?

A strategic question. Why indeed?1. A penny share would usually refer to a share available for less than $1.00. This makes the aquisition of shares manageable by even the most modest investment budget.2. The London Business School's research indicates that generally the smaller companies outperform their big brothers every year... Read More

Looking For a Safe Investment? Try a Certificate of Deposit

If you are looking for a safe investment and you have between $100 -$1,000 to invest, you should consider a certificate of deposit or CD. When purchased through a bank, CD's are federally insured up to $100,000.When you invest in a certificate of deposit, you are lending your money to... Read More

Property Investment Just Got Exciting

There is an area in Brazil that has lower crime & lower property prices than where your are probably sitting right now!Demand from the increasing retirement population and from those who have benefited from their own property markets are now pushing overseas property prices up. Brazilian property prices are still... Read More

Art Investing for a Financial Future

When we think of investing we probably conjure images in our minds of the New York Stock Exchange, suited stock brokers making deals, bonds and treasury bills, and all manner of financial matters. The last thing we probably think about is art. Art investing, however, can be a big money... Read More

Better Investing Made Easy

If there were one piece of advice that an investor could ask for, the question would probably be something like "What do I need to do to invest better?" Better investing choices are sought by investors every day. Some find them and succeed, others do not. The difference clearly lies... Read More

Everybody Wants to Know How to Invest

Those unfamiliar with the process of making and managing investments often have more than a few trepidations about investing in general. They figure that, since they do not know how to invest, they will never learn. Of course the horror stories of investors who lost their life savings on some... Read More

Getting Started Investing is Often the Hardest Part

There are several reasons people give for not investing their money in things like stocks, bonds, and mutual funds. One reason is that they feel that they don't have enough money to make a serious investment, but a more common reason that many people have absolutely no idea how to... Read More

Expand Your Pool of Investors for Your Company

If you own a company that sells complicated products and you want more investors, consider having topics on your web site that discuss the background needed to understand your products and your company. For example, if your company specializes in producing and researching monoclonal antibodies, post articles discussing exactly what... Read More

Direcway & Wildblue Set to Square Off this Fall?

There is a cat fight brewing between Direcway LLC, Starband and Wildblue Communications for the large number of people in the U.S. who can't get some type of broadband internet and are willing to pay $50 or more to get better speeds. The combatants are telling investors there are 20-30... Read More

Need To Trade!

You don't HAVE to be trading.As a novice trader, you'll often feel the need to trade.You may be bored or frustrated. Or you just want to try a certain type of trade.STOP!Realize that you don't have to be trading all the time to be successful. In fact not trading is... Read More

What If You Absolutely Positively Could Not Lose - Would You Play the Stock Market?

Seniors on fixed incomes face a unique problem. Where do they invest their savings to get maximum return on investment with limited risk? Some of the traditional places like CDs and Treasury Notes are extremely safe, however the yields tend to be very low. Stocks and Mutual Funds while offering... Read More

Forex market offers opportunity and information

The forex market is what is called an international exchange currency market, where currencies are exchanged on a daily basis. There are five forex market centers around the world ? New York, London, Tokyo, Frankfurt and Zurich. One does not need to be on the trading floor, so to speak... Read More

The Biggest Oil Opportunity in the World ? And How You Can Profit From It

Where is the second biggest deposit of oil reserves in the world?In the oil sands region of Alberta, Canada. Oil sands are a thick, viscid mixture of bitumen, sand, clay, and water. Alberta's oil sands is comprised of 3 regions with the Athabasca area being the largest and the closest... Read More

Creating Wealth by Gearing Up

Gearing is where you borrow money to invest. As already mentioned, it is best to clear all your debt before looking at investment. However, there will arise situations where the investment is a good one and it is necessary to borrow a small amount to make the deal work. The... Read More

Playing With Money - And Making More

Ready to start playing with your money? Not interested in complicated businesses or boring bank C.D.'s? Here are some methods that aren't quite a business because you can do them once, or just whenever you feel like it. Start small and the risk is small.Loan SharkingYears ago a friend got... Read More

Volatile Range

The stock market fell sharply Thu and Fri before and after the employment reports Fri morning. The Nonfarm Payrolls report showed 207,000 net jobs were added in July, which were 27,000 more than the market expected. Also, Hourly Earnings in July rose 0.4%, which was twice what the market expected.... Read More

Credit Scores = ROI Profits for Real Estate Investors

Strong credit saves real estate investors money on mortgage finance costs. A good credit score, along with the other credit and mortgage qualifications, means that investors can pay lower fees for financing, such as points and interest charges. Also, good credit scores help you avoid garbage fees associated with nonprime... Read More

Finding False Gold in Penny Stock

As far as traders go, many do not see the penny stock as a solid way to do business. Many believe that dealing with penny stock is a risky business. And it really is. Some traders think that the next Microsoft and Walmart stock is buried in a penny stock,... Read More

Investing in Car Dealerships: Doing Your Homework

This article attempts to help give the investor a broader basis upon which to decide whether a dealership merits their time, money and attention.Interviewing Factories and Financial InstitutionsLenders have an affirmative duty not to promiscuously disclose the financial condition of their debtors. In addition, most Sales and Service Agreements contain... Read More

Investing in Car Dealerships: How to Do It Right

The financial characteristics of the automobile dealership are attractive:". . . moderate growth and risk and high returns. Franchised new car dealer revenues have grown at a 7.2% annual rate since 1992, about twice the rate of GDP. Moreover, this growth has come with only moderate risk, as the dealer... Read More

Investing Psychology Today Requires All Traders to Awaken Their Speculator Minds

Stock trading strategies are as rampant today, as they were during the Great Bull Market. Yet, can you truly master the stock market like so many investing books propose?Consider this: When you can't even trust the financial reports of analysts, and the company bean counters that feed them with data,... Read More

How to Buy to Let

Find out everything you need to know about buy to let. Learn what to buy, where to buy and what not to buy. All this information about buy to let won't cost you a penny.buying? If the area is full of buy to let property investors the supply of property... Read More

The High Price of Oil

In less than four years, the price of oil has risen about 300%, or over $50 a barrel. The Light Crude Continuous Contract (of oil futures) hit an all-time high at $67.80 a barrel Friday, and closed the week at $67.40 a barrel. Persistently high oil prices will eventually slow... Read More

Chinas Great Missed Opportunity

While a U.S. Representative to the Asian Development Bank Executive Board of Directors during the first Bush Administration, I consistently called for China to "bite the bullet" and privatize its state-owned companies as soon as possible. Representatives from European and other Asian countries would just shake their heads and mutter... Read More

Chinas Inscrutable Currency Strategy

Purpose: Expose Opportunities for Smart InvestorsThe move by China's central bank to drop the yuan's rigid peg to the dollar on the day of my return after a three-week trip to Asia left a host of questions unanswered. The basket of currencies that will allegedly determine the value of the... Read More

Use this Simple Trick its to Buy $100 Bills Direct from your Bank for only $97

Most People just don't understand the power of using their home as a Wealth Creation Tool. How many people do you know who have lived in the same house for 10, 15 or more years and have virtually no mortgage, You know the Type 'House Rich Cash Poor'. There are... Read More

The Switzerland of Asia Shines

In many respects, Singapore is the Switzerland of Asia.Begun in 1819 as a British trading colony, the Republic of Singapore was founded in 1965 under the leadership of the current Prime Minister's father, Mr. Lee Kuan Yew. While it is only 1/5 the size of Rhode Island and three times... Read More

Asset Allocation Lessons: The 70% Inflation Solution

For investors only... and for speculators who need to invest their winnings.Lesson One: Asset Allocation is an Investment Planning Tool, not an Investment Strategy... few investment professionals understand the distinction, because most think that Investment Planning and Financial Planning are the same thing. Financial Planning is a broader concept, and... Read More

Volatile Oil

The Light Crude Continuous Contract fell from $67.70 a barrel on Monday to $62.75 on Thursday, and closed at $65.79 on Friday. Consequently, oil stocks followed the sharp move in oil prices last week.The first chart is an OIH (basket of oil stocks) daily chart, which suggests a consolidation or... Read More

Dumb Money

Many people have, at one time or another, taken some of their hard-earned funds, and decided to put them in the stock market. These well-meaning individuals either acted on a tip they saw on CNBC, or actually believed one of those crazy faxes/emails that said XBXB @ $0.17/share was the... Read More

Waiting 20 Years Can Cost You Millions - Dont Wait Start Today

Many Young people live for Today. They really don't fully understand the power of compound interest. The Difference between investing as little as $20 a week at age 20 or waiting until age 50 can be over $3,000,000 (yes 3 Million). Don't wait start today!Recently I was in a 7-11... Read More

Is Your Mutual Fund the Right One for You?

Mutual Funds are considered to be one of the best investments one can get hands on. They're very flexible and cost-effective. An excellent investment for people with restricted knowledge, time or, money.For beginners, who might have a perplexed expression on their faces at the mention of mutual funds; let me... Read More

The Convertible Craze Brightens The Future Of Equities

Convertibles are stealing the show with their safe investment image in today's "protective" market. They seem to be overshadowing the stocks and bonds, and this holds true for the mediocre issuers.A convertible bond, as the name suggests, can be converted into a company's common stock. The bonds are a source... Read More

How to Choose the Right Share Class

You'll want to opt for the no-load or institutional share class instead. If you're a no-load investor who is determined to buy a fund that's primarily broker-sold, go through a supermarket and opt for the D shares.If you are using a broker or planner, the decision about whether to opt... Read More

Chile Leads the Latin Pack

Everyone's talking about China. Don't miss the opportunities in the other CHI..Yes. Chile with an "LE" not "NA"While the whole region is back in favor with investors, it seems appropriate to highlight Chile which is the economic star of Latin America.Chile is about two times the size of Montana and... Read More

Scots Beat Yanks in China Bank Deal

With visions of an ATM in every neighborhood in China, foreign banks and investment firms are queuing up to join the "China Club."Moneybags CommunismThe initiation fee for the "China Club" is straightforward and pure moneybags communism: invest cold hard cash in its largely insolvent state-owned banks, put your reputation on... Read More

Raising Capital Using a Public Company

Going public in this manner is ideal for companies that may not be large enough to attract an underwriter for an IPO and those that don't need to raise capital immediately. They want to go public because of the many benefits that being a public company offers such as increased... Read More

Trading Expert Discovers Ways To Beat Stock Market Odds With Money Management

The first point to mastering money management is that you have to understand when you're trading on the stock market is that you are playing the odds ? but unlike many forms of gambling, you can make money. The key to making this money is to respect the risk that... Read More

Introduction To FOREX

The Foreign Exchange Market, better known as FOREX, is a worldwide market for buying and selling currencies. It handles a huge volume of transactions 24 hours a day, 5 days a week. Daily exchanges are worth approximately $1.5 trillion (US dollars). In comparison, the United States Treasury Bond market averages... Read More

Can Your Annuity Do This?

Okay, so I can tell you I have sat in front of countless numbers of people who have made mistakes when purchasing and owning annuities. And I have visited people who wish they never got involved in an annuity. And I have seen people who say that their annuity is... Read More

Sell Discipline for Investors: Importance and Execution

Investors usually don't have an aversion to buying an asset. The real gut wrenching decision is when - and if - to sell. What most don't realize (or don't want to realize) is the overwhelming importance of the sell decision. Let's explore the reasons why and the techniques that can... Read More

The Benefits of Laddering Your CD Investments

If you've decided to stock some money away in a certificate of deposit, why not reap the highest benefit over time by laddering your CD investments? What's a CD latter? I'm glad you asked.A CD ladder is made up by purchasing several CD's at one time with different maturity dates.... Read More

Preholiday Trading

The Light Crude Continuous Contract closed at $66.13 a barrel Friday, after hitting an all-time high at $67.95 a barrel earlier in the day. A week from Monday is Labor Day, which marks the end of the summer driving season. Consequently, I believe, oil hit a short-term top Friday or... Read More

Investment Rowing

You have rowed a boat at some time haven't you? Yes, put the oars in the water and pull. Of course, you don't know where you are going because you are sitting backwards. Every so often you have to turn to look ahead to see if you are pulling in... Read More

How to Use Annual Report

There are many steps in calculating the fair value of a company. However, before we even do that, it is imperative to know how a company earns its profit. Does it do that by selling to consumers? licensing its technology to other companies? or extracting natural resources from the ground?The... Read More

The Economys Greatest Depression Downturn Ever Is Now Just A Few Years Away

What really controls the economy? Forget interest rates, forget deficits, forget the Fed, forget IRAQ, forget which party is in office. In fact, forget just about everything that permeates the news. The greatest force that has controlled the long-term trend of the economy for at least the last century doesn't... Read More

Oil and Gasoline Price Uncertainties

The Light Crude Continuous Contract hit an all-time high at $70.85 a barrel, while Unleaded Gasoline Futures spiked 50% or $1 a gallon on Tuesday. However, oil closed the week at $67.57 a barrel, while gasoline finished the week up 15%. There's still uncertainty over the extent of oil and... Read More

How to Calculate the Value of Your U.S. Savings Bonds

If you're like many Americans over the age of 55, you've probably had money taken out of your paychecks for years and years in order to purchase U. S. savings bonds. Those bonds are probably sitting in a safe deposit box at your local bank or in a drawer safely... Read More

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Delist My Corporation Please

It use to be said that once a company was de-listed from the NASDAQ it was the kiss of death, not so any more. With Sarbanes Oxley and all the... Read More

Everybody Wants to Know How to Invest

Those unfamiliar with the process of making and managing investments often have more than a few trepidations about investing in general. They figure that, since they do not know how... Read More

Get Wealthy With the Rule of 72

When it comes time to retire how many people would like to have a nest egg that is 2 or 3 or even 4 times larger than what they have?... Read More

How to Calculate the Value of Your U.S. Savings Bonds

If you're like many Americans over the age of 55, you've probably had money taken out of your paychecks for years and years in order to purchase U. S. savings... Read More

Creating a Financial Future--Putting Your Plan Into Action Part 2

Real Estate can be a useful tool for investing. The simplest real estate investment is not truly an investment, but a cost-reduction ? that is owning your own home. Buying... Read More

Making It Second Nature

Not long ago I was laying on my son's floor throwing one of his toy balls back and forth in the air to myself and I had a strange revelation.... Read More

IF - The Wonders of Investing

If it seems as if all investors are selling, who is buying?... Read More

Success Trading: Some Basic Terminology for New Traders

The world of trading can get very complex because the financial markets are complex. There thousands and thousands of successful traders out there today. The amazing thing is that they... Read More

Why You Need To Buy and Sell Gold Coins (Part 1)

The Value of Gold in a Era of Paper Assets, Stocks, Bonds and Mutual Funds...The facts behind the increasing demand for gold and silver, rare coins, and historic collectibles from... Read More

What Is A Fair Market Value, Really? If Youre Going To Trade, Be Sure Its Worth It!

I've been involved in online trading, specifically with stock and index options, for several years. In this time, I've spent a great deal of time thinking about value and the... Read More

Day Trading Strategy or Stock Trading Software? The Way You Pick Stocks Affects Your Results

The trading method you employ to approach the stock market can make a big difference in your results.Stock trading is a very competitive field and in order to succeed you... Read More

Property Investment Just Got Exciting

There is an area in Brazil that has lower crime & lower property prices than where your are probably sitting right now!Demand from the increasing retirement population and from those... Read More

A Gadfly On A Dinosaurs Butt, Or The Hood-winking Of The American Investor

Have you ever noticed how some words in the English language are so perfectly named for what they describe? And how some words seem to be, I guess you could... Read More

Almost Anyone Can Open A Roth IRA!

The Roth is kind of weird until you get used to it in terms of how much you can put in (contribute) each year depending on how much you earn... Read More

The Key Ingredient To Increase Preconstruction Profits By Over $20,000

One of the greatest preconstruction investing issues that I hear from individual investors is that they can't get access to what they believe are good projects. Regardless if the preconstruction... Read More

Forex market offers opportunity and information

The forex market is what is called an international exchange currency market, where currencies are exchanged on a daily basis. There are five forex market centers around the world ?... Read More

Value Investing

By definition, value investing is the process of selecting stocks that trade for less than their intrinsic value. A value investor typically selects stocks with lower than average price-to-book or... Read More

Franchise Opportunity Sellers Beware; franchise buyers lie on forms?

It seems completely absurd that franchise buyers lie about their financial position, available cash and abilities in order to buy a franchise. After spending 8 years setting up franchises around... Read More

Franchise Investing, Franchise Opportunities and Franchising Renewals

Have you considered buying a franchise instead of trying to start a business from scratch. Many franchise agreements are renewed every five or ten years, automatically. If you do not... Read More

Selecting Rules for Investing and Trading

There are three important differences between investing and trading. Overlooking them can lead to confusion. A beginning trader, for example, may use the terms interchangeably and misapply their rules with... Read More