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Wednesday, December 24, 2008

Money Making Opportunity - Generate Extra Cash

With so many out of work, laid off or staying in dead end jobs to make the ends meet, we need creative ways of generating extra income. Here are a few simple, innovative ideas to get the cash you need quickly. 1) Your personal gold mine, can be staring you right in the face. Many of us save momentos for years for nostalgia or for that one time that we might need them. That time never seems to come though. Why not allow someone else to enjoy them as much as you have. These nick nacks may seem inconsequential or even like junk to you and may seem like buried treasure to some one else. Go through your closets. Clear off your bookshelves. Unload those dresser drawers and create streams of income. Turn that old typewriter into a writer's dream and earn extra pocket money. Take that nineteen fifties dress out of the closet and make a retro chick happy, while filling your bank account. With the invention of online auctions, like ebay and ubid, you can turn trash to cash. Or you can go to flea markets and offer your treasure up to vendors for half the profits. Books can be redeemed for a partial profit through sites like half.com or even amazon.com. Once you have emptied your own closets, you can scour the malls for sales and resell those items online. Or better yet find a deal on one online auction and resell it on another. The only lmitation lies within your own imagination. 2) Have a brilliant idea or hobby? Turn it into an ebook. Write it using word or wordperfect and convert it into a pdf file using adobe 5.0. Then sell it on digibuy.com for 80% of the profits over and over again! 3) Recently sell your home through owner financing? If you are holding a note, there are companies that will purchase it from you for upfront cash. You may have to take a bit of a discount and you will have a large portion of your cash today instead of thirty years from now. 4) Won a lawsuit and recieving payments? You can do the same thing. Companies will actually pay you a large portion of what you won for the right to your payments. It's like taking the lump sum in a lottery winning! 5) Don't have a business of your own and need extra cash? There are plenty of affiliate programs out there that would be delighted to give you a percentage of their profits, for the privalege of having you market their products. Choose programs that you have personally used, so you can attest to the quality. Also choose programs that are at least two tiered. This means that you get paid wether you make a sale or someone you referred to the program makes a sale. Just one good referal can bring you a steady stream of montly income.

Grow Your Own Money Tree

Okay. So money doesn't really grow on trees. Unless you plant your own Mighty Money Tree, that is! Imagine that only a few moments ago you planted a young sapling in your back yard. You gave it just enough water to ensure a good start. Not too much, not too little. You even propped it up with a stake. You'll continue to nurture it, feed it, water it. And with each passing year, your tender young sapling will grow stronger. Taller. Healthy. As it ages, your tree can better defend itself from natural predators. Even harsh weather. Growing your savings account is similar to growing your new tree. Given lots of tender care, your savings account will become your Mighty Money Tree. Use the following tips to ensure a great start. So, grab your shovel and let's get planting! Prop Up Your New Savings Account To build an account you can enjoy for a lifetime, prop it up with nutrients to help it grow. a) Feed your account with bonuses. Deposit money saved through cancelled subscriptions. Don't forget those unexpected windfalls, either. How about money owed and paid back to you? Be sure to include these amounts, even if they're small. Small is great -- and very do-able. b) Nurture your savings weekly with money saved from using coupons. Do you buy items on sale? Take that money you saved and use it to grow your account. Tuck small amounts into an envelope. Deposit weekly. c) Shower your fund with birthday, anniversary or holiday gifts of money. Refunds, too! This is money you normally wouldn't have had (or already spent.) Remember, out of sight, out of mind! Fiercely Protect From Natural Enemies Just as you might spray your tree to ward off insects or disease, you must protect your fledgling savings account. It's precious -- and a result of your patience. a) Avoid spending too much time with others who make it seem 'natural' to go through money. They may not give it much thought because spending is a comfortable habit for them. But you actually have a plan. And you have the big picture of how and when you'll spend. You will decide the where and why of spending your money. Make your spending thoughtful. b) Pace yourself as you spend your weekly allotment of money. If you run on $35 per week (for example), that gives you five dollars per day. Stay just under that five, and you'll always be a few dollars ahead. You'll also be less tempted to tap your savings. c) Practice 'tough love' with chronic spenders who repeatedly borrow your money. Give yourself permission to state firmly that borrowing your money is 'not' an option. Remove the stakes that prop up others' spending. Say yes to protecting and taking care of your money. It will be there to support you, your family, and your true needs. Promote and Maintain Healthy Growth Small amounts add up big time, so keep money coming into your account on a regular basis. Keep it growing! a) Remember 'why' you set up your account. Know your balance at all times. Keep your eye on the bigger picture. Will it help you pay for a gently used car, eliminating future car payments year after year? Is it your 'freedom from working for others' fund? b) Begin with one great strategy, and use it to create a steady stream of money to feed your account. Will it be a direct deposit through payroll? Will you fund it by using only dollar bills, and setting aside all change at the end of each day? If so, scoop up your change and deposit weekly. c) Each month, find a new, creative way to put more money in your account. Then find another method and repeat for a month. Keep the top three or four methods which seem to work best for you. Toss the rest, because you want methods that work for you consistently. Need a starting point? Why not begin with spending ten dollars less at the store each week? Tuck your ten bucks into your savings account. It's simple, and it won't leave you feeling deprived. Lastly, feel the wonder of knowing that your money tree will continue to grow. Like a faithful friend, it will remain at your side. Your champion in good times, a comfort in the rough patches of life. It has the power to draw your dream out of the darkness and into the light. How long have you had that private, special dream? Only you can know. Now, what would 'you' do with your own Mighty Money Tree? Plant one today! Prop it up. Protect it. Watch it grow.

Friday, December 12, 2008

Four Easy Making Money Tips

To be a successful Forex trader, you need to be well versed with the basic strategies of controlling the risks involved. The Forex market functions very differently from other financial markets in terms of the speed and volatility of the market concerned. The enormous size of the dedicated online and offline money exchange market is not comparable to anything else in the financial world. In fact, nothing or no one controls the Forex market. It is uncontrollable! However, below are 4 easy money making tips for the dedicated marketer: • Do your own research. Forex is an individual, factor-less, money market! Its fundamentals are similar to any other speculative business. The increase in the risk factor means you have a higher chance for better profits. It is a known fact that the currency market is not only highly speculative, but also very volatile in nature. The standing of a particular currency changes in a matter of minutes, hours and days. The unpredictable nature of currency attracts and leads the investor to trade and invest. As such, when trading in the Forex market, it is very essential to be well informed and updated with the latest- second-wise updates in the market. It pays to conduct your own research. • Decide on how much you intend to earn and lose. Most people who enter the Forex arena rarely have a set limit of earning. However, it is very important to define how much you could risk as a loss. When you terminate or exit a position in the market, you need to understand the risk management issues that rule your daily transactions. You need to study and analyze unexpected corrections and variations in the foreign exchange rates. You should always balance possible profits with likely loss. • Always limit the orders. Remember, if you are short, the system will not allow you beyond a limit order below the current market price. Similarly, if you are long, the system will only allow an order above. When you limit your orders, it helps you to discipline your trades and most likely you are going to do better. • Learn from the experts. You should take time to learn, from the professional traders, if possible, on how to control risk by capping losses. Stop orders, also known as loss orders, enable you to set the exit point. The general rule of thumb states that you should set the stop orders closer to the opening price than the limit orders. The stop and limit placement depends on the risk-adversity you have. Trading in foreign currencies is potentially profitable if you stick to the rules of the market as you learn as much as possible from the experienced investors. You should venture into the Forex market only after you seriously consider the desired investment, gains and losses that you expect from your trading. So before you decide how and where to invest in, do consider the above 4 steps carefully, and you should be well on your way to becoming a successful Forex trader!

Friday, November 28, 2008

Forex Trading - Technical Analysis

Technical analysis tries to forecast future price movements by analzing past market data. One of the basic principles of technical analysis is that historical price data predicts future price action. Whereas the forex is a 24-hour market, there tends to be a signifcant amount of data that can be used to determine possible future price activity. This makes it an ideal market for traders that use technical tools, such as trends, charts and indicators. There are three basic steps forming the basis of technical analysis: 1. Market action discounts everything! This means that the price is a reflection of all components that is known to affect the market. Some of the factors are: fundamentals, supply and demand, political pressure factors and market sentiment. Pure technical analysis is only concerned with up and down price movements, not with the reasons for those changes. 2. Prices move in trends. Technical analysis is used to calculate patterns of market behavior. That market behavior has been recognized as significant. For many given patterns there is a high probability that they will produce the expected results. You should also be aware that there are patterns that repeat on a predictable basis. 3. History repeats itself. Forex Trading chart patterns have been recognized and categorized for over 100 years, and this leads to the conclusion that human psychology changes little over time. Since patterns have worked well in the past, it is assumed that they will not change in the future. Technical analysis goal is to forecast price trends in future based on historical data along with the volume. Any private investor can access the technical analysis tools in order to compute his or her trading decisions. Technical analysis has been in use for centuries, that's why its premises are based on the experience, prolonged observation and can be considered quite reliable. Japan traders have been using candlestick techniques since in the 18th century, so, it is thought as the oldest one Even fundamental traders will glance at a chart to see if they're buying at a fair price, selling at a historical top or entering a sideways market. Useful technical analysis tools RSI (Relative Strength Index) - The RSI is a price-following oscillator that ranges between 0 and 100. Chart patterns - Trend, Support, Resistance, Flag, Pennant, Wedge, Gap, Head and shoulders, Rectangle, Ascending triangle, Descending triangle, Symmetrical triangle, Breakout, Double top, Triple top, Double bottom, Triple bottom, Price channel, Rounding bottom, Rounding top. Fibonacci - Interpretation of the Fibonacci numbers in technical analysis predicts changes in trends as prices approach lines created by Fibonacci studies. When used in technical analysis, the golden ratio is typically translated into three percentages: 38.2%, 50% and 61.8%. Technical analysis is valuable because every possible bit of information is included in the price of a security, it is not necessary to analyze the fundamental, economic, political, etc. factors that might influence that price. Because all available information is already included in the current price, just a study of the price movement is required. This is just a very basic introduction to Forex Technical Analysis. You should do much more reading before investing your hard earned money. There are some amazing autopilot Forex Trading programs available. You might be interested in researching this type of automatic trading.

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

How to Eliminate Debt

To eliminate debt your number one priority is to not add to it. Paying down a credit card debt to only head out and use it again and again will ensure you never eliminate your debt. To become debt free you need to tackle one debt at a time; a relentless rolling payment plan is the key to financial freedom.

Taking on one debt at a time is a well proven method of beating down your debt chunk by chunk. Once you have paid off one debt you simply roll that debt's old payment dollars into your next debt. This will result in all your debts being paid off much quicker than otherwise would have been and the savings in interest payments could be enormous. Choosing which debts to eliminate first is easy. Simply start with the debt that is incurring the highest amount of interest.

Write all you debts down in order of highest interest first and the current balance. Next to each debt write the monthly required payment. From here you can see quickly where to begin and how much extra you'll be able to contribute to each of your debts as you roll payments down the line when the first debts are paid off.

Are Your Debt Repayments More Than You Can Afford?

It sounds simple to just eliminate your debts one by one but it isn't always that easy. Sometimes there isn't enough money to meet all of the debt repayments let alone pay one off completely and merge that extra money into another debt's monthly payment plan.

If your debts are more than you can handle then another option is to consolidate some or all of your debts into one new loan. This makes it easy to manage with just one repayment, one lender and one debt to focus on paying down. Debt consolidation isn't always the best way to save you money over the long term but it is certainly better than ending up in court or worse still being made bankrupt.

Overspending; buying material possessions that you can really do without and not sticking to a budget are all enemies of your goal to eliminate debt and be free. Short term gains such as big screen televisions are ultimately your long term pain. In just a few short years most people can manage to pay off large amounts of debt when they put their mind to it.

Sunday, November 9, 2008

The collapse of mortgage lenders on wealth management

The collapse of mortgage lender and austerity IndyMac Bancorp in July may not accept amorphous with belletrist of admonishing from Sen. Charles Schumer (D-NY), but the cyber banking casework industry and the abundance administration profession would do able-bodied to bethink the consecutive events. The senator's belletrist to several cyberbanking blank agencies, including the Office of Austerity Supervision and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. (FDIC), triggered an ancient coffer run on Pasadena, Calif.-based IndyMac. Eleven business canicule later, depositors had aloof $1.3 billion of the bank's about $19 billion in deposits, afore it was taken over by the FDIC. That bearings was just the alpha of a continued weekend in the cyberbanking casework sector. Mortgage giants Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae, adversity from an advancing crisis of broker aplomb of their own, were accustomed a buoy from the federal government, in the anatomy of a acting access in their abiding curve of credit. According to industry observers, the apathetic storm wreaked so abundant calamity in mid-July that it should forward a able arresting to abundance administration professionals: Do not yield the basics for granted. Indeed, there is acumen to accept that one investment action that has accustomed absorption lately-going it abandoned with no adviser at all-may get even added application now. "In this market, aggregate is upside down," says Michael Sonnenfeldt, cofounder of Tiger 21, a 160-member investment club for ultra-high-net-worth individuals. Cyberbanking advisors, he adds, accept to advance relationships with admired audience at times like this. It's one affair for affluent entrepreneurs to lose money on their own bets in, say, gold or futures-or even on bets recommended by abundance managers-when those wagers appear with well-understood risk. But with attention to what Sonnenfeldt says are structural issues-meaning backing in banknote or cash-like auction-rate balance or Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac-wealth managers are generally as abundant in the aphotic as their clients. "[Wealth managers] accept a business to bottle and sometimes they are not absolutely admonition what they know-or what they don't know," Sonnenfeldt says. Members of Tiger 21 do not consistently advance on the admonition of a abundance manager, he says. Those who go it abandoned await partly on the club's approved bedfellow speakers and the aggregate ability a part of adolescent club members. So as the troubles of mid-July unfolded, the reactions of Tiger 21 associates were about the aforementioned as they had been afterwards two added contempo blowups in 2008: They started communicating with anniversary added directly. One of those blowups abundant over the spring, amidst the freezing of the bazaar for auction-rate securities. During that episode, some club associates aggregate insights about the accomplishments taken by their cyberbanking admiral to balance their portfolios. In some cases, Tiger 21 associates accustomed loans adjoin those portfolios. Such information-sharing benefited the accumulation because abounding added associates were able to beacon assets out of auction-rate balance afore that bazaar stagnated. "A bulk of our members, in the endure anniversary or two, accept been apprehensive whether the money-market funds that they had invested in were captivation any Fannie [or] Freddie paper," Sonnenfeldt reports. At columnist time, Tiger 21's acknowledgment to the accepted bazaar woes was still unfolding. Banking disinterestedness analyst Richard Bove, for one, was not absolutely accessible to acknowledge a actual impact. "Wealth administration is impacted by the markets, not bank-loan issues," he says. But even by that measure, things aren't that great. By July 14, investors had spent a weekend digesting a diet of bad account about IndyMac, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac-and watched that day as Treasury yields abandoned on the 10-year addendum and the 30-year bonds. Plus, investors were authoritative a flight to superior abroad from animation in added markets. Through mid-July, the S&P 500 Index had collapsed 16% on the year; both the Nasdaq Composite and the Dow Jones Industrial Average had as well abandoned by amid 15% and 16% each. To be sure, not all high-net-worth investors will go it alone. Abounding of Tiger 21's members, for example, accept acceptable alive relationships with their abundance managers. But the club starts with the acceptance that abundance administration is not a priesthood. "What our associates are a lot of anxious about is that the apple has become added circuitous than anytime before, added quickly," Sonnenfeldt says. "Wealth managers who do not accept to that complication and get on top of some of the bulk basics-and add accuracy so their audience accept the risks-are in for some absolute trouble." One industry analyst explained the affairs that affiliated the general-market downturns and the appulse on the abundance administration bazaar by application history as a guide. In the deathwatch of the adverse abortion of the savings-and-loan industry in 1989, the Resolution Trust Corp. was formed, and ultimately purchased $125 billion in loans from the asleep banks and issued government-backed debt adjoin them, Merrill Lynch economist Sheryl King wrote in a address anachronous July 14. That bulk accounted for 2.25% of the prevailing gross calm product. In a worst-case-scenario of a bailout of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the government ability end up against some $300 billion, or about 2.1% of today's $14 abundance U.S. economy, King wrote, abacus that added phases in the cyberbanking crisis accept yet to unfold. The apartment market, for one, charcoal tenuou credit:Yogesh Kumar

Sunday, November 2, 2008

The Newest Online Banking

Do you still queue up in the bank to pay your credit card bills or patiently wait for your bank statement to arrive in the mail? Welcome to the internet age. Online banking has now become an alternative to going to the bank physically to transact business. It uses today's advanced computer technology to give users the option of doing away with the time-consuming and paper-based aspects of conventional banking in order to better manage finances more efficiently and easily.

With internet banking, you can monitor and perform banking transactions online, whenever and wherever you want as long as there is internet access. It lets you bank with maximum convenience, ease and security through the latest technology and it is for free.

Online banking offers a varied array of convenient and secure features for customer banking needs. Suffice it to say, you can do almost everything you need to do from the comfort of your home or office. Moreover, internet banking has been enhanced with even more customer-friendly improvements to make online banking much easier and safer.

Bills Payment - There is no need to line up at payment centers to meet your payment due dates. Pay your utility and credit card bills online at your convenience. You can also set up scheduled payments for recurring transactions. You get to receive an online payment confirmation number for reference. This service also allows you to view pending and past payments. You can add payees as well as delete payees you have created.

Account Details - Keep track and manage your accounts anytime, anywhere. View balances and updated transactions of your savings and checking accounts credit card statements, time deposits and loan accounts. Peruse your previous transactions. Export your transactions into a selected range of personal financial management software packages. You can even print your account statements.

Electronic Statements - With electronic statement, there is no more waiting for the mail. You can receive your bank statement through email or view online all day any day. Access past statements for easy reference. Some banks even offer interactive electronic statements with check images and notices and search for specifics such as check numbers and amounts.

Fund Transfers - Transfer funds between your accounts within the bank or just as easily to other accounts in other local or foreign banks. For transfer to other accounts, an online activation code is used to ensure that funds are transferred only to registered payees. You can also request for demand drafts. Set up scheduled transfers to accounts within your bank. Define the amount, affectivity and frequency of your payments. Banking Alerts - Receive email alerts notifying you of important bank and credit card movements. If your balance falls below the minimum requirement or a posted check caused large withdrawal from your account; an alert will be sent for your review.

Banking Services - Book time deposit and provide instructions online. Order new checkbooks. Request for stop payments on checks. View posted check images online. Obtain quotes for investment products. Purchase bank draft. Request to open new accounts. Enquire about the latest interest and foreign rates. Pay taxes online.

Online Security - Banks use the latest and most secure technology. SSL encryption codes protect online bank transactions. Users are also given Security Device that generates a unique code to ensure bank transactions enjoy a high level of security. Other online security features include computer firewall protection, user ID and password authentication with code encryption and digital certificates.

credit:goarticle

Friday, October 31, 2008

Retirement Planning After 60's

This week we are discussing a scenario where an individual is about to reach 60 and are wondering whether they have to take their pensions at 60, or if they can delay this decision. And indeed, what are their overall options?

Some years ago, many in the pensions world advised investors not to touch their pension until it was absolutely necessary. The main reason for leaving pensions until the last minute was that they grew tax-free and the older you were the bigger pension you could buy.

Here is the advice we gave (in conversational style to the client):

(Note: We are referring to personal pension style plans)

Some of your policies have not shown any growth in recent years; one reason being that they now no longer grow tax-free following the introduction of Gordon Brown's stealth tax in 1997 when he removed dividend tax credits from pension funds (raising £5bn pa in the process).

The most frightening aspect, however, is that annuity rates do not always increase with older age. We must look more closely at each of your policies.

Many policies, particularly older individual policies, contain guaranteed annuity rates. This means there is a contractual obligation on the company to pay you a significantly greater pension than you could buy on the open market.

One of the reasons Equitable Life got into trouble was that it offered guaranteed annuity rates at all ages in all situations.

Not all policies work this way and your old Sun Life policy has a guaranteed annuity rate but, unusually, it applies only on your 60th birthday. It is available only on that date and so you must now look to take benefits from this arrangement.

You have another old with profits policy which we have wanted to move for several years but did not because of high penalties. Due to your employment circumstances when this policy was taken out, we have been able to provide protection for your tax-free cash which means that the whole policy is now available as a one-off cash payment. Continuing with this policy in its present form with tax-free cash protection would mean that the lump sum available would be unlikely to increase because of the investment fund used.

At your 60th birthday we have the ability to transfer the policy to another arrangement, retaining the tax-free cash protection and achieving a better return.

However, if you feel, like many commentators, that it is going to be several years before there is any meaningful return on investment funds and you have use for a cash payment now, I suggest you consider taking all this cash and putting it in your pocket.

Interestingly, while your Sun Life policy provides the ability for you to take some of the money as tax-free cash payment, you might want to consider taking all the cash from the second policy and no cash from the Sun Life policy, so that you can take advantage of the guaranteed annuity rates.

Another interesting twist with one of your contracts is that should you die, unlike all new pension policies where the full fund value would be paid out on death, your policy provides only for a return of contributions paid.

Being an old with profits contract, you have access to the full fund on your birthday. I am happy that it should stay within the pension environment but you should transfer it to another arrangement where you have greater control over the investments but more particularly, should you die, the full fund value would be payable to your nominated beneficiaries.

As you can see, there are many circumstances why you should always review pension policies as they approach their stated normal retirement date. In fact, we would go one step further and suggest that all investors should review their pension contracts as soon as possible as it's crucial to ensure the money is invested in line with your risk profile and risk tolerance levels (i.e. what percentage fall in value you will accept during tough stock market conditions).

The Financial Tips Bottom Line

No one knows what will happen to annuity rates. Over the last 15 years, we have seen the amount of pension that can be purchased fall from around 15% to 6%. The economic climate is very worrying. There is a belief that interest rates will have to fall and if they do, you can expect annuity rates to worsen.

ACTION POINT

The old adage of leaving your pension until the last possible moment is no longer the case. You must now continually monitor the situation as there is no promise that by delaying taking your pensions, you would achieve a greater income.

Make sure you contact your adviser (or find one if you don't have one) and ask them to do an audit of your pension(s), as well as recommend solutions available.

Tuesday, October 28, 2008

How to reduce day trading risk?

Day trading is one of the most active forms of trading which require high position sizing and quick responses to market changes. Because of this activeness, day trading involves more risk. The requirements of day traders are also high including real-time market access, news, charts and powerful technical analysis tools; and any system failure, wrong information or ineffective price analysis can result in huge loses. Reducing the risks involved is essential and here are some suggestions for that.

1. Targeting stocks of certain groups or industries.Specializing in stock of a handful of known industries or companies helps you to study the market deeply and to find more profitable trading opportunities. But never over specialize on one industry or group of companies, as this can increase your risk to market.

2. Creating and trading from a Hot/Short list of stocks. Create a list of stocks which fall in to your day trading regulations, such as price, volatility, risk, news trading, etc. Now you can screen stocks to be traded from this short list. 3. Updating your Short List. Regular modification of your day trading short list is also important. Constantly remove equities which no-longer fulfill your regulation or which have lesser trading opportunities, and constantly add new equities/groups which satisfy you regulations. 4. Practicing basic risk minimizing tactics. Like using of stop losses, never adding to losing positions and closing positions when market is against you. 5. Keeping low risk levels. Find a suitable risk level according to your account size, stocks trading, risk capital involved, margin usage, etc. It is good to limit risks below 1-2% of your account size. 6. Using lesser number of but effective technical analysis tools. Technical analysis and stock screening is always necessary but be sure that you are using the right tools at the right time to evaluate the right stocks. 7. Never trading in high uncertainty. It is always the better option to keep the money in hand for profiting from future opportunities than wasting that on totally uncertain positions. 8. Limiting the frequency of trades. Never trade stocks because of greed, trade only when there is an opportunity. It is better to concentrate at one trade a time, as it helps you in active management of trades and better position sizing. 9. Being vigilant with your margin trading. Trading on margin is a double edged sward; it can magnify your profit but also can magnify your loss. Keep reasonable margin levels with respect to your position size, profit goal and shares traded. High margin trades are better when you are sure about price direction. Beginner traders should use lower margins. 10. Evaluating your success and failures. For that write down all your trades, including what helped you to profit from the trade or what caused you to suffer loss. Go through them regularly.

credit:articlebase

Personal Financial Planning during the U.S. Crisis

In order to obtain financial success, you must begin with a reliable personal financial planning program. This program will help you address important factors relating to how you handle your everyday finances so you can maximize what money you got. With proper budget planning, you can get more value out of your money and avoid experiencing financial crisis. Your first step is recognizing the importance of having a personal financial planning program so you can determine how you can reach your goal and what else can motivate you towards achieving it. Getting Started With Personal Financial Planning Today, when most people hear the word "budget", it readily implies a negative connotation. They think that budgeting is only for those experiencing financial shortage or crisis. However, even with enough financial resources as of the moment, an effective financial planning program will ensure that you will be able to maintain your financial status. Therefore, personal financial budgeting involves the following: 1. Financial budget for your day-to-day finances while not depriving yourself of what provides you enjoyment and satisfaction. 2. Setting up larger financial goals to which your daily budget and planning is aim towards. 3. Making sure that you have enough savings in case of emergencies or unexpected financial struggles. The Importance of Budget Others think that by creating a budget for your finances, it is similar to lack of financial freedom. However, it is of the exact opposite. By creating a budget, you are able to create a financial safety net so you have enough money to spend on things that you want without hurting your financial condition. Regardless of how little or large you earn on a monthly or yearly basis, budget enables you to take an effective step towards a healthier financial foundation. Hence, you can easily realize whatever financial goals you have. When making a budget, it is important to keep track of every detail in your expenses - even up to the last cent. Hence, you can also evaluate your spending habits. It allows you to determine whether you are placing your money on important things or whether you can do without it. How To Set Financial Goals? Financial goals serve as the endpoint of all efforts toward controlling your finances. Therefore, you need to clearly state what your goals are when it comes to your finances and what steps you need to achieve it. Step 1: Choose a specific goal. It could be saving for your house's down payment, sending one of your kids to college, buying a new computer, or going on vacation. Step 2: Your main financial goal is typically long-term. Hence, you need to break it down into smaller goals, which will serve as your stepping stone towards that bigger goal. Step 3: Inform yourself about ideas or strategies that will enable you to effectively handle your finances. There are several books or materials over the internet that provides the information you need. Step 4: Keep track of your goal. Evaluate your financial records alongside your spending habits. Then, you can determine whether you are following the necessary steps that will lead towards your goal. Therefore, you must get started on devising ways to maximize your finances and enjoy it to the fullest. A personal financial planning program would help you establish the steps that will lead towards more financial success in the future. Credit:articlebase

Wednesday, October 22, 2008

Easy ways to overcome credit problem

Believe it or not, people are paralyzed at the thought that our economy is a bit shaky. They look at all the credit problems that we are having, and they give up on fixing their own credit problems before they even start. However, it doesn't have to be that way. As bad as your credit problems are, they can be solved. All it takes is a few minutes a day and it can dramatically fix your credit problems and your credit scores in no time. Here are 5 ways to cure your credit problems and move closer to the credit you truly deserve. 1. Create an action plan to eliminate your debt the smart way. If you are overcome by credit card debt, rest assured that you can join the ranks of thousands of others who are shedding their debt using a simple strategy. First look at the balances of your credit cards and determine which on has the smallest balance. Your only job is to send the minimum payments on the larger balanced cards and focus any extra money on the credit card with the smallest balance. Soon, you will eliminate the debt on that credit card and you are one step closer to being completely debt free. Now, focus on the next smallest balanced credit card and get rid of that. Be sure to focus the majority of your budget towards the one card while paying the minimum payments on the other cards until you eliminate all of them. 2. Leverage other people's credit to get approved for your own. If your credit problem revolves around not getting approved, then ask your friends or family members to cosign for you while you establish your credit once again. The important thing is that you are on the loan too, otherwise it doesn't help at all. Using someone else's credibility allows you to get the credit you need at that time, and helps you get better established to apply for your own credit within a short period of time. 3. Accept the higher than normal interest rate as a short term solution. If your problem is that you can only qualify for high rate credit, then accept it (as long as you can afford it) and make your payments on time with the expectation to refinance for better terms within 6 - 12 months. This can be the step necessary to rebuild your credit and secure better financing over the long run. It's like biting the bullet now to save yourself thousands of dollars over the next few years. Although you don't solve your credit problem now, you will shortly by sacrificing a few months of having high rates. 4. Plan to wait for your next big purchase. It may be possible that you are looking to buy a house or car and your credit is not up to par. The best thing to do in this situation is to wait before you make the purchase. It may end up costing you a whole lot of money to make the purchase when you're credit is damaged compared to waiting it out. A good thing to do if this is your credit problem is to ask yourself, "how else can I solve this problem? " If you need to buy a car, perhaps you can take the bus or find a ride to work. Perhaps you can find a used car for a couple hundred dollars just to get by until your credit is back in shape. 5. Look for creative ways to bring in extra cash in your home to get rid of debt. If you are facing issues like not being able to afford your debt, then you should look for ways to increase your income or cash flow. Some ideas include selling household items that you don't really need or use on eBay or Craigslist. You'd be amazed by the items that people buy every day. Another option is to start a small business in your home with something that you are already good at doing. Are you good at quilting, making jewelry, or installing stereo systems? There are people looking for those things all over the place. Making money from these things can supercharge your debt payment plan. As you can see, with a little thought, creativity, and action, it is completely possible to eliminate your credit problems. You must create a plan of attack to eliminate your debt by starting with the smallest credit card balance first and looking for other creative ways to bring in extra money every month. It may also make sense to use a co-borrower or temporarily take on loans with higher than usual terms to get you in the position to obtain much better terms later on. And finally, it may also be best to put off large purchases when necessary so that you don't buy into something that ends up giving your much larger credit problems. Use these tips and you will be much better off!

Saturday, October 18, 2008

Saving Money during The U.S. Economy Crisis

The U.S. economy isn't that hot right now and when you worry about your money, you're not alone. In fact, millions of Americans are in the same shoes as you. Since every penny counts in today's world, it's important to know some of the few saving money tips that can save you a few dollars every month. Remember that every penny counts! Here are some steps you can take in order start saving money. The electric bill - If you don't have a digital thermostat, I suggest you get one. Once you get one, set your heat or air down to a low or high rate when you're at work. There's no reason to have the house at 70 degrees when you're working. Instead in the summer, have the house at 80 and turn on the air conditioning when you get home. The same goes in the winter, when you're not home or even sleeping, lower your heat and just pile up the blankets! This alone can save you a fortune during the month. Use coupons - Every time you grocery shop, hop on online coupon websites and see how much you can save. Some grocery stores will even provide you with simple and cheap meal creating ideas. Your dinner meals can be made for less than $10. Don't believe me? Do some research online and find out for yourself! Don't eat out - Eating out is fine but with a family of four, you're spending way too much. Instead, try and limit your eating out. If you only eat out once or twice a month compared to five times, you're already saving a hundred dollars. Sure, it can be convenient but if you want to save money, don't eat out, it's that simple. Limit your driving - Gas prices aren't cheap today. Instead of making ten trips a week, condense to a few trips. Do all of your errands at once. So when you need to grocery shop and go to the doctor's office try and do it all in one day. This way you're saving on gas and you're save your car some troubles. It's always best to create a plan and stick with it. Just watch your finances - Each month, write down everything you spend a dollar on. At the end of the month, look back and see what you're spending your money on. Are you eating out instead of packing a lunch? If so, cut that out. There are so many things you can cut out to save money on. Just because you're cheap, it doesn't mean you have to live a cheap life. There are many ways to have fun while saving money! Saving money is so easy and no one cares what you look like or what you drive. You're saving your wallet and family money. The more money you save, the earlier you can retire. Don't work 10 extra years just so you can show people that you drive a BMW. Saving money is easy. It just takes discipline and action. credit:articlebase

Saturday, October 4, 2008

Life Insurance - Which type is suitbale for you?

This may be a good time to rethink the types of life insurance policies you should buy. Until the market settles down many people don't want to be spending a lot of money. Everyone is looking for a safe place to put their money. We see some stocks, like Wachovia, slide then rise again. Others may take a longer time before they are again viable.

What of life insurance though? Which types of life insurance policies should we buy?

Term life insurance requires very little premium outlay and, for some, may be a good idea. Why would one want to put out money for the higher premium permanent policies at this time. You get the same death benefit with term insurance as as you would with the more costly universal life, variable universal life and whole life policies. You have a variety of term policies to choose from.

Yearly Renewable Term

This policy has a premium that increases every year so you would likely want to keep it for a very short period of time. The premium is very low, initially. The death benefit is level throughout.

Decreasing Term

This is a policy that is more often than not used to pay off a mortgage balance upon the death of the insured. The death benefit decreases with the mortgage balance and the premium is level throughout.

5 Year Term

If you are uncertain what type of life insurance policy you should buy you probably should take out a 5 year term policy now and convert to a permanent policy later on.

Other Level Term Policies

The 10 year term, 15 year term, 20 year term, 25 year term or 30 year term may be best for you now. You will have quite a while to think where you go from here. Your family, or business, will be protected meanwhile.

Permanent Policies

During a past recession I saw something I considered quite strange at the time. People were putting large sums of money in annuities but they also put considerable sums in single premium, limited payment and regular whole life policies. At that time I was with the Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company, Now Northwestern Mutual Financial Network. When I asked why they said that they were not looking to make any big profit. They wanted safety and they knew the reputation of that company. They felt they would not loose their money. They were right.

There are other companies that you can feel safe with. Check out their performance with the A. M. Best company. There are also what may be arguably better types of life insurance policies to safely put your money in. I refer to the universal and the variable universal life policies. If you choose to do this, however, you should make it your responsibility to check out the performance history of the company and how well they do with these policies.

When everything settles down again some people will choose to switch to a term policy and invest your money in mutual funds or probably a money market plan.

credit:articlebase

If Banking Failed - How To Protect Yourself

The thought of this only several short years ago was not in anyone’s mind. Today from the UK to the States and beyond this fear is forefront in so many people.We have seen so far this year 13 bank failures, scared savers rushed to withdraw their deposits. Each bank failure seems bigger. First there was Indy Mac and then last weeks Washington Mutual. The largest bank failure yet! While that number is still well below the number of financial institutions that went Bankrupt during the savings-and-loan crisis of the late 1980s and early 1990s, people are scared. To make matters worse approximately 117 banks are on the FDIC watch list currently. (You can check your banks ratings at Bankrate.com and BauerFinancial.com. As well you can go to the FDIC's Web site, www.fdic.gov and research your bank. ) What really happens when a bank fails? If another bank buys the bank, as was what transpired with J.P. Morgan Chase and their purchase of Washington Mutual, then it is business as usual. Customers of the failed bank can continue to carry on to write checks and withdraw their money usually without any interruption in service. The issue arises when there is no buyer. This necessitates that the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp to come in and take over the financial institution. In the best scenario the FDIC will start mailing out checks to customers for their insured deposits within 48 hours. Those with amounts over the FDIC's limits of $100,000 per person, per insured institution, will receive payments as the assets of the bank are sold. Some won't get all their money back. If you have over the $100,000 there are steps you can do to protect yourself such as opening various joint accounts, retirement accounts and revocable trusts. If you have a tremendous amount of money this too can be covered. You could deposit your money with a bank that participates in the Certificate of Deposit Account Registry Service, or CDARS. The deposit-placement service disperses the funds in individual CDs under $100,000 in member banks. In theory this sounds fine as long as you do not have more than $100,000 per account, BUT the fact is that FDIC started the year with approx $53 billion dollars in the pool. Due to the insolvency so far this year this number is down and is in the $40 billion dollar range with only 13 bank failures so far. Do the math! There are approximately 117 banks on watch…How many of these need to fail in order that the pool of FDIC money is diminished. If the cost of future bank failures exceeds the assets that the FDIC is holding, they have the option to draw on other resources to protect depositors. As well, the FDIC is looking at raising the rates that it charges the banks it insures as a way to bring in additional funds. The FDIC can also draw on lines of credit with the Treasury Department. This occurred in early 1991. The fact is no one has yet to lose money with the FDIC’s program, Hopefully this will continue in the coming years. credit:articlebase

Forex Trading - 7 Thing to make you success

It's important to succeed at Forex trading, is it not? So, what's it like when you imagine quickly and painlessly trading the Forex successfully? Then, just imagine how great you'll feel when you can quickly and easily spot the market conditions and setups that will lead to successful and profitable trades. It's easy to do for traders who use proven methods , tested Forex trading strategies, and most importantly good coaching and training. After all, winning is what proven coaching and Forex training does for you. The role of the truly effective trading coach is to create the right conditions for learning to happen, and to continually motivate their students. Most Forex traders are already highly motivated and therefore the task is to maintain that motivation and to generate excitement and enthusiasm. The roles that an effective trainer/coach undertake are many and varied. At some stage they will be your: instructor, assessor, friend, mentor, facilitator, demonstrator, advisor, supporter, fact finder, motivator, counselor, organizer, planner and the fountain of all knowledge - so it's important to find a good one. With the thousands of different Forex training courses available, how do you know who's got one that works? There are many to choose from, all making the same claims. Plus, Forex training is notorious for being filled with charlatans out there selling their get-rich-quick snake-oil. The reality is that not everyone can make thousands of dollars overnight. If you could, we would all just buy the latest "Miracle Money System" DVD set for $500 and quit our jobs tomorrow. Yeah right! The problem with being new to the Forex is that you don't know who to trust. So let me show you seven "must haves" to get a real, genuine education in Forex. You should get, as a minimum: One - 24/7 Access to online training materials - professional videos, recorded live trading sessions etc. It's important to be able to have access to them on your own time, and at your own pace. Plus, it's nice to review things when you're trading. Two - A comprehensive written manual - some people learn better by reading than watching videos and nothing can substitute for well written teaching materials. Three - Look for courses that offer live interactive sessions that let you look over the shoulder of a professional trader in real-time. These should be offered at least monthly but weekly or daily is even better. Four - You want live monthly extended day-long online classes that allow you to review, all the information you received, get updates on the current market, and learn what's working now. Six - One-on-one mentoring (this one should probably be #1) to give you specific actionable trading advice. Encourage you to make progress and correct bad trading habits or techniques. This is the big one! Nothing works better than personalized coaching. Seven - The live onsite option - Look for courses that offer periodic onsite training opportunities. An in-person seminar has its own dynamic and its own unique learning opportunities that you miss in ebooks, videos, or email and telephone mentoring. Look for those seven features in a Forex training course that is offered by a successful professional trainer, with proven abilities to teach. After all, just because someone's a great trader does not mean they can teach. Michael Jordan was a legendary basketball player, but openly admits he can't coach. Remember, success comes with commitment and action "period". credit: Winston McCafferty/articlebase

Friday, September 26, 2008

Get Easy Step for Profitable Online Futures Trading

A lot of people seem to think that futures trading is harder than trading in other financial instruments. But like all things in life, it's only hard because we don't understand it fully. The basic principle that you need to remember is that the bigger the risk, the bigger the potential payout, and this cannot be any truer for online futures trading. Online futures trading can be profitable once you understand the concept and inner workings in its entirety; get the hang of it and be on your way to online futures trading success. You'll also need the right attitude; think you can succeed, and you will. The first step to profitable online futures trading is the method you employ on a trade. Day trading is a common practice, but in order to rake in the profits you'll need to catch the big trends, and the way you can catch them is by using the breakout method. What exactly is the breakout method? It is a system whereby the trader capitalizes on the moment when price momentum carries a stock beyond the breakout point, far enough for the trader to grab a profit. Such trades can be long or short, depending on the direction of the break. Most traders lose most of their money because they don't use a breakout system, and this is where you can learn from their mistake. By using a breakout system the right way, you can win big at futures trading. Step 1 of profitable futures trading is to trade on breakouts. So what's step 2? Many traders lack the confidence to stay with the system for long, and this is where they fail. It boils down to simple human psychology; out-psyche your competition. You need to have the discipline when others don't, and you need to understand money management well in order for your trades to be profitable. Every investment has a risk, and a lot of traders would rather stick with as little risk as possible. So in order for you to make it big, you need to take the risk when others aren't. Of course you shouldn't be rash about it; take a calculated risk when you see a trade worth making. You might not be trading a lot this way, but every trade that you do make will be the best ones anyone else might not have dared to capitalize on. Step 3 to note is that about 90 percent of traders fail when trading futures, so avoid being part of the statistic by trading in isolation. It is imperative that you stay focused and not let the news or doubtful traders or even your own doubts affect your staying power. Those who fail at trading futures only have themselves to blame, because they allow themselves to be swayed by the hearsay of others who tell them that they are wrong, that they're taking unnecessary risks. It's important for you to remember the basic principle of investing, as mentioned in the first few lines of this article: the bigger the risk, the bigger the payout. Discipline is crucial if you want to earn bigger returns from online futures trading, and you must not let others sway you from your decision to stick with your chosen strategy. So there you have it. By applying these 3 easy steps to profitable online futures trading, you too can win big at futures trading. All it takes is discipline and a little bit of confidence! credit:p2p

Learning The Cheap Way to Consolidate Your Debt

People that look for an easy way out of dealing with the cost of living frequently decide to get in more debt. In the beginning, they think it's the cure all to get rid of their financial problems. What they probably don't realize at the time is that they just added another layer of financial burden on them with additional debt and loans. When it comes time to pay back the debt, they get more frustrated than ever. They didn't think about the consequences of acting so hastily when they initially acquired the additional debt in the first place. Regardless of how they feel now, they still have to repay the debt. Most creditors and lenders will charge high interest rates, which makes it even more frustrating. There is a way that debtors can get out of their current situation and get the cheapest way to consolidate debt. A cheap debt consolidation loan would help to ease some of the burden of high interest rates. These loans are used to repay debts such as credit cards and unsecured loans. When looking for a cheap way to consolidate debt, having a cheap debt consolidation loan would prove to be beneficial for credit card debt. Credit card debts are notorious for having interest rates that are always climbing upward. There are other benefits with these types of loans when you're looking for a cheap way to consolidate debt: Lower interest rates Monthly payment reduction Consolidation of debts No bankruptcy filings One monthly payment to cover debts owed Able to save more money Less creditors and lenders to deal with Quicker way to get out of debt Keep in mind when you see the word "cheap" in terms of interest rates, that doesn't mean that it's etched in stone. When looking for a cheap debt consolidation loan, you have to factor in the cost of the loan, how long the loan is for and other additional fees that will be tacked on. That's not to say that you won't find one. Persistence is the key to finding what you want. It may take a few days or a few weeks until you come upon which kind of cheap loan is right for your financial situation. Another thing to note about these types of loans is in order to get a cheaper rate, you may have to put up some collateral in the form of real estate, your personal home or any asset that is of value. This will take some of the risk away from the lender and place it on you. Lenders usually like to use real estate because their value can be determined. If you are willing to take on the risk of using collateral to get a cheap loan, then it's your call. Keep in mind that if the loan goes into default, you're without a home. So, that is something to think about. Of course, if you are able you cheap debt consolidation loans are available without having to put up collateral. You have to study the pros and cons when you're looking for a cheap way to consolidate debt. It's not an easy task, but it can certainly help you with your financial burden. credit:articlebase

Friday, September 5, 2008

The Pros And Cons Of Having A Credit Card

Are you a credit card owner? If you are not, the thought may have crossed your mind. After all, you have likely received numerous credit card offers in the mail or you may have even been presented with credit card offers online. To determine if having a credit card is the best decision for you, you are advised to examine the pros and cons of having one. A few of the most influential pros and cons are outlined below for your convenience.

Perhaps, the biggest pro or plus side to owning a credit card is ease of use. It is no secret that credit cards are easy to use. Many retailers are simplifying the process of paying for purchases with a credit card. What does this mean for you? It means that credit cards are becoming even easier to use. Whether you regularly find yourself in a rush or if you dread holding up the cash register lines, when filling out a check or searching for the correct amount of a change, a credit card may be just what you need.

In keeping with ease of use, you will find another pro to having a credit card. That pro is the ability to shop online. In recent years, the popularity of online shopping has, literally, skyrocketed. Many consumers love having the option of shopping in their pajamas and having their purchases delivered directly to their door. Unfortunately, many online retailers have restrictions, in terms of methods of payment accepted. Unless you are lucky enough to find an online retailer that accepts electronic checks, you will not be able to benefit from online shopping unless you own a credit card.

The perks or benefits you often gain access to is just another one of the many pros to having a credit card. The credit card perks or benefits you receive will all depend on the credit card in question. In fact, that is why it is important for you to choose your credit card carefully. Credit card comparison enables you to choose the credit card that best fits you and your needs. If your cards are played right, that credit card can be one that you can benefit from immensely. It is common for many credit card companies to allow or offer balance transfers, rewards, and so much more.

It is also important to mention the protection that you receive. In the event that your credit card become lost or stolen, you should not find yourself responsible for any illegally made purchases. With that in mind, it is first important to fully review each credit card application you complete. Most credit card companies have rules and restrictions, concerning theft protection. These rules and restrictions may include a liability limit, as well as a time frame in which you must report your credit card lost or stolen.

Although there are a number of pros to owning a credit card, it is also important to examine the cons or downsides to owning one as well. If you have a television, a radio, or internet access, you likely already know how large of a problem credit card debt is. It is something that millions of Americans suffer from. Yes, having a credit card does put you at risk for debt, but this is a risk that you can eliminate. By properly using your credit card and making on time payments, you will not find yourself falling victim to credit card debt. In fact, your credit score may even improve from owning and properly using a credit card!

As outlined above, there are a number of pros to owning a credit card. Of course, the decision as to whether or not you want to own a credit card is your decision to make, but it is important to remember that credit cards can do more good than harm, if used properly.

Finance Your Car With Poor Credit

Cars don't look at your credit before they decide to breakdown. Anyone, with poor credit or great credit, could find themselves in a situation where they need an auto loan. Fortunately, those with poor credit do have options available for financing their vehicles.

"Bad Credit Car Loans"

One of the most common methods of purchasing a car with poor credit is with a "bad credit car loan". You can acquire these loans through auto dealerships, online lenders, and high risk lenders. Typically these loans are available for anyone with a credit score below 600. People can find themselves in this situation after a divorce, after bankruptcy, if they have little credit, or if they have made poor financial decisions. The "bad credit car loans" are designed to protect the lender. They have higher interest rates than conventional auto loans. However, it is in your best interest to shop around for a bad credit car loan

Risks of Shopping around

There is a risk of shopping around for an auto loan. Submitting loan applications to several different companies will lower your credit score even more. It is in your best interest to find an organization that will find various Bad credit car loans for you, but only check your credit report one time.

Home Equity Loan

Another way to get auto financing with poor credit is with a home equity loan. The interest rate on a home equity loan is usually lower than the interest rate on a "bad credit car loan". Another advantage is that the interest is tax deductible on a home equity loan. The one obvious disadvantage to this type of financing is that you are using your home as collateral. If you are not able to pay your loan, then you put your home in jeopardy.

Do not lose hope if you have poor credit. There are still options available to finance your car. Bad credit car loans, and home equity loans can help you achieve your goal of purchasing a new vehicle.

Sunday, July 27, 2008

How to Invest In Stock Market?

Some of the financial experts warn that delving into the profitable but challenging world of investments is definitely not for those who are fearful. The faint-hearted will find it difficult to survive the highs and lows involved with successful stock market investing.

Much like a roller coaster, the economy and stock market fluctuate and take unpredictable turns. With this in mind, it often seems nearly impossible to find the right stocks to make a profit. This perspective is changing with the advent of information technology. With just a few mouse clicks, the world of investments is at the user's fingertips so they can make educated investment decisions. Globally, people are becoming more enthused about investing as investments and computing develop a beneficial relationship.

Stock market investments are selling more rapidly than ever before as a result of advanced technology today. The ultimate goal for each investor is to get a viable stock no matter what else is going on around them. People who are looking to take advantage of this timing should consider some basic advice before they get started.

1. Stock market investments are not guaranteed.

Many people feel it is easy to buy stocks. Basically speaking, anyone can purchase stocks and is capable of stock ownership. However, the real problem with stock market investments is very few people know the right time to sell their stocks. The very heart and essence of the stock market is knowing the precise moment to sell stocks for maximum profits.

Solid advice for those looking to make a good stock market investment is to never gamble all they have on it. This advice goes double for people who have little understanding of how the stock market actually works. It is always better to lose a small investment rather than a large one so start small.

2. Only invest in what you feel comfortable with.

Certain investment opportunities look quite attractive and alluring but it is essential that investors avoid investing in them if they are not ready to lose money. Regardless of how anyone else feels about the stock, if the investor is uncomfortable they should not invest in it.

3. The "trailing stop strategy" of riding stocks high.

The "trailing stop strategy" is a technique frequently employed by stock market investing experts. What these savvy investors do is ride their stock high while maintaining an exit strategy should the situation get out of control. The liquidity of their investment is vital to their business. Knowing their liquidity so they can readily convert it into cash is a key element to success with this investment strategy.

Another tip stock market experts frequently recommend is using the every day costs as a strategy. Investors should have a calculator ready at all times to appreciate the best stock market investments based on every day costs.

The bottom line about investing in the stock market is not necessarily picking the winners but steering clear of the losers. Missing out on the winners doesn't hurt as much as investing in the losers.

credit:isnare

Sunday, July 20, 2008

Option Trading - The Way to Diversify Risk!!!

There are a variety of different trading strategies that options can be used for. Subscribing to an option trading newsletter provides you access to information and data that may not be known to the general public. The OTCs are traded not in exchanges, but between two independent groups; hence these transfers are the bi-lateral contracts. At the time this options position was purchased, the underlying asset was about $191.10, well below the strike price. In no way can an option buyer lose more than the price of the option, the premium. These products are also known as non-vanilla, and their structure may be quite different from the standard option. Using options can be difficult but a broker involved in a Forex trading option will use this valuable tool to increase their bottom line. Using the complex strategies does not necessarily result in better gains than with basic puts and calls. Using the complex strategies does not necessarily result in better gains than with basic puts and calls. Another option to trade a stock is the over-the-counter (OTC) trading, which is the opposite of exchange trading occurring in option exchanges or futures exchanges. The OTCs are traded not in exchanges, but between two independent groups; hence these transfers are the bi-lateral contracts. Self discipline, confidence, the ability to see the bigger picture, accepting losses as part of the game, controlling your fear and greed - all of these elements work together to make you a successful trader. Option trading is more complicated than stock trading because traders must choose from many variables besides the direction they believe the market will move. Many brokers in Forex option trading enjoy additional choices that single payment option trading gives them. Options trading generally deals with trading treasury bonds, stock indexes and foreign currencies. A rising value of the stock market is determinant of a prospering economy. This system is nice if you like to see profits, because you don't run the risk of a stock that's risen suddenly dropping again and wiping out your profit - you took your profit early. In the United States, there are presently six exchanges where stock options are traded, including four open-outcry marketplaces and two electronic marketplaces. Simply enter the scenario and let it play it out, if you are right then cash is deposited into your account, what can be better than that! If you are not right, then the loss is simply your premium. The open-outcry marketplaces are Philadelphia Stock Exchange (PHLX), American Stock Exchange (AMEX) in New York City, the Pacific Exchange (PCX) in San Francisco, and the Chicago Board Options Exchange (CBOE). It's also important not to abandon your system the second you see a trade making a loss. After getting into the market with stock trading, online traders tend to look for the next challenge. A broker involved in Forex option trading has traditional options that allow the right to purchase something from the option seller at a specific time and price. However, certain things should be kept in mind while trading online. All the brokerage expenses and minute trading information is mentioned in the site. For a beginner, it's easy to get drawn into the complex net, believing that there must be a simple solution that will hand you the keys to stock market success. Options Trading provides detailed information on Options Trading, Stock Options Trading, Futures Options Trading, Options Trading Software and more. A rising value of the stock market is determinant of a prospering economy. Online stock market trading allows a person to be in touch with the latest stock market developments while sitting at his place. These trading companies keep their investor updated with all the developments of day trading. It's inevitable that catching one of those stocks just before it takes off is an exciting possibility, inspiring the beginning trader to take the plunge. Single payment option trading premiums cost more than the standard options do. The information present is enough even for an inexperienced person to invest in the stock market. Careful consideration and sound money management techniques are a must for successful option trading. It's important to realize that a winning system is one that consistently delivers profit over a longer time frame - and part of the equation is that a percentage of trades will be losers. Having said that, there are a number of very successful trading systems that work well over the long term. When you trade options you are buying or selling options contracts. It's inevitable that catching one of those stocks just before it takes off is an exciting possibility, inspiring the beginning trader to take the plunge. After getting into the market with stock trading, online traders tend to look for the next challenge. credit:articlesnatch

Friday, July 18, 2008

Are You Ready for Loan?

When most individuals decide to make a large purchase, such as a home or a car, they carefully examine their finances to ensure that they will be able to make payments and still maintain an acceptable standard of living. Unfortunately, many individuals and families don't put the same careful consideration into personal loans and they therefore risk losing both their good credit standing and whatever is being used as collateral for the loan. So how should one prepare when considering such a loan? The following steps may help you determine whether you are prepared or not.

1) Determine how much you would like to borrow and for how long you are willing to make payments. Usually, the longer your loan is outstanding, the more interest you will pay.

2) As you would with a larger purchase such as a car, or a home, carefully review your budget and evaluate the amount you are able to comfortably repay on a monthly basis. Honestly consider the outcome if something unexpected were to arise, would you be able to continue making payments? Compare this amount with your answers to question #1. Do your numbers add up, or will you have to re-evaluate the length of the loan or the amount you are requesting.

3) Consider the type of loan you want. Many people aren't aware that there are many kinds of loans. Generally people go to their financial institution and apply for either a secured or unsecured loan based on their salary, credit rating and other criteria. Many don't know that if they have poor credit, or even no credit, that there are alternative solutions such as car-title loans, on which a vehicle is used as collateral. Research your options to determine what is the right loan for your situation.

4) Once you know what kind of loan you want, you should next determine which lender you would like to borrow from. Ensure that your lender is a reputable one. Check with the Better Business Bureau, or a similar entity to see if the organization has complaints against it. If you are not familiar with the lender, ask for references from previous customers.

5) Carefully review the terms of your agreement. You don't want to be trapped into a loan which pays only interest for months or even years without paying down the capital. If your loan repayment plan is for 24 months, ensure that you will have completely repaid the loan at that point and won't have to renegotiate further payments.

Applying for a loan is serious business and should not be taken lightly. Remember that if you are not able to make repayments, there will be serious consequences. By taking the right steps, you can ensure that your loan experience will be a good one.

credit:ezinearticles

Saturday, July 12, 2008

Improve Your Liquidity To Avoid Any Default

Sales turnover and net profits may follow a rollercoaster pattern familiar to most business but when the cash flow dries up the game is over. Urgent attention to the management of working capital can provide every business with the cash resources to exploit its potential Most businesses will experience periods of lower sales and times when losses may be incurred as expenses exceed sales income. The situation is recoverable by producing higher sales and reducing costs and expenses. A business that runs out of cash resources is dead in the water. Debtors and sales income management The objective is to obtain payment from customers as fast as possible improving cash flow and minimising the risk of bad debts and not being paid at all. Payment terms offered to customers should be clearly stated and fixed as standard accounting figures according to the amount of funding the business is prepared to offer its clients. Because that is exactly what credit terms to customers is, free cash funding in exchange for eventual sales income. Consideration should be given to using a cash discount system to encourage sales invoices to be paid faster. In some businesses it would be appropriate to obtain up front deposits and scheduled payments. Review this practise to obtain a greater proportion of payments faster to improve liquidity. New customers should be subjected to a strict credit check. All new customers where credit check details are not available should be invoiced by the accounting function on a pro forma basis. Any businesses who fail to meet the highest credit score required should remain on a pro forma invoice basis. The credit control function needs consideration from the first step of issuing customers with a sales invoice, producing customer statements of the debt owed and a set procedure of credit control letters and telephone follow ups that actually achieve the end result of getting the cash in. An essential process in the credit control procedure would be to ensure the accountant or bookkeeper always issues sales invoices and customer statements promptly. Incorporate into the terms of trade a set of rules to invoke interest payments for late payment and late payment debt recovery costs. In the UK the Late Payment of Commercial Debts (Interest) Act 1998 sets out the statutory rights of business to claim interest and costs. Consider the possibility of factoring sales invoices due from debtors either by selling the sales invoices to a third party or raising cash on the value of those invoices pending payment. Factoring has the disadvantage of often not being cheap but does have the advantage of generating a regular stream of cash. Bad debts have a double impact on any business and all possible steps should be taken to reduce the risk. A bad debt not only uses valuable resources in chasing the debt with the negative impact on cash flow and liquidity but also is a straight loss to the net profit and a strong indicator that the accounting function is failing the business. Creditors and expenditure management The objective is to extend the time allowed for payment of expenses the business incurs. Consider the frequency of all payments made to suppliers. Small business have alternative payment terms available for the payment of taxes. In the UK value added tax can be paid quarterly or monthly, vat cash accounting can ease the tax liability due in critical periods and paye payments can be paid quarterly rather than monthly for smaller businesses. Every opportunity should be considered to improve liquidity and that would include the frequency which employee salaries and wages are paid. A sensitive area since it involves the most important people to the business success but adopting a payment period to coincide with the receipt of cash from customers may in some circumstances balance liquidity. General creditors are a major area to be addressed in terms of both the amount of credit received from suppliers and the time required to pay those creditor accounts. Larger orders on extended payments terms creates a risk area should the goods not be used but can greatly assist cash flow as the business is effectively borrowing free cash from its suppliers. Stock levels are crucial to financial management of the creditor total. High stock levels use valuable working capital which is offset in part by the level of creditors. Higher levels of stock financed by free credit from creditors lowers the cash flow requirements on the other parts of the business. credit:articlecity

Tuesday, July 8, 2008

Forex Currency Trading Beginner

I have read this article and I think the article is good for the forex currency trading beginner. I'm going to take the time to share advice for a forex currency trading beginner. This can be quite a difficult market for new people. It is very uncompromising and indifferent to the fact that you're new. It's very easy to jump into, but very easy to lose all your money if you're not being smart. This requires you to get the right information when it comes to starting out. I'm going to share a little about the lessons I learned when I first started out and they should be able to help you. Watch the news before you start trading You wouldn't believe the times that I got burned because I didn't watch the news in the morning before I started trading. Typically the market doesn't care about the news, but there is always some sort of financial news or report being released that the market pays particular attention to. The main one to watch out for is the Federal Reserve and any announcement about interest rates. I started to notice that on the days the Federal Reserve would be announcing things, the market would be very calm until the information was released and it goes erratic. This isn't good to be in the middle of a trade when this happens. Cut Your Losses I think it is very important to understand why you have to cut your losses. A lot of people repeat the same things to me, "but it will go back up". That is a 100% correct statement, but it misleading. The fact is that it could take a year for a currency to make it back up. If you've been holding onto the US dollar since it went down, you might not see it for another decade. By cutting your losses, you get your remaining money back and you can reinvest it in a profitable. This is a very important thing for a forex currency trading beginner to understand. credit:ezinearticles

Friday, June 27, 2008

Learn Top 10 Tips For Successful Stock Trading

Trading stocks simply isn’t for everyone. Some people can stand the volatility and the pressure that comes with it, and some people can’t. Even among the few who can handle the heat, fewer yet will ultimately be successful doing it. While no exact rules can dictate what makes a lucrative stock trader, those Wall Street sages who are legends for making killer winnings in a short amount of time all have a few characteristics in common. 1. Successful stock traders can fight their instincts and act counter-intuitively. 2. Successful traders maintain a regimented system that’s as easy and efficient as possible. It rarely makes a difference which system you use — technical analysis versus fundamentals or value versus quality, for example — as long as you adhere to it. A successful trader knows the benefits, as well as the shortcomings, of their system and executes trades based solely upon the system. "The secret to success is consistency of purpose." This means, you must create separate tactics for establishing positions and closing them. 3. Successful traders calculate risk and make decisions that lower their risk exposure. Successful traders abhor losing money and manage their losses before they become too great, even if that entails throwing in the towel and acknowledging they made an incorrect call. 4. However, successful traders are not afraid of mistakes or taking chances. Successful traders have what Native Americans refer to as, "sovereignty," which is the right and capability to do the wrong thing. Essentially, sovereignty is the courage to make your own mistakes, for it’s from our greatest failures that we learn the most. 5. Successful traders are not embarrassed or afraid of taking losses. In fact, they expect them and know that an important part of trading is limiting losses and preserving capital. 6. Successful traders master how to analyze stocks. Many traders only use one form of analysis or seek research from one source, but comparing various reports and charts can give you a better picture. 7. Successful traders lead balanced lives. The rush that a homerun trade can produce is addictive, but a successful trader knows when to walk away — and more importantly, has something to walk toward, whether that is family, friends or hobbies. 8. A successful trader cultivates patience. This means letting profitable positions run their course, but it also means that when the market turns against them, they have the patience to try again and approach the market resiliently, courageously and with confidence. 9. A successful trader has a strong drive for success. Trading requires steady efforts, not haphazard positions established cavalierly. Determination to succeed can make all of the difference when the market is tumultuous because many people abandon ship. 10. A successful trader has discipline. That means reviewing markets and researching trades even if he isn't in the mood. Discipline also means holding to your strategy — not buying or selling positions because everyone else is doing it. 5 Bonus Tips 11. A successful trader understands the tactical differences between defensive and offensive behavior, and when each is best used. First, preserve capital, then profit. 12. Successful traders remain as emotionally detached as possible — this means ignoring rumors or Wall Street hearsay. They resist the temptation to join the crowd. Stop loss limits can help traders stay objective by preserving profits and ensuring that profit comes off of the table. While you may miss the rush of the lowest entry points and the highest selling points, stop losses let you sleep at night and live your life without being glued to the computer screen. 13. A successful trader knows himself and is very objective about his strengths and weaknesses. Know how to combat your weakness and implement strategies that capitalize on your strengths. 14. A successful trader knows their portfolio. Never let a trade slip through the cracks — keep detailed records and review your holdings often. 15. A successful trader sticks to the rules — the rules they set for themselves. When markets are moving swiftly, it’s easy to lose your head. So, formulate a plan outside of the heat of the moment and stick to it to ensure trading success. credit:

Thursday, June 26, 2008

Forex Trading Tip - Earn More Money Win Win

This is a sobering fact - but unless you accept it then you will never win at forex trading so here is your fore tip to put you on the right track...

You're on your own and only you can give yourself success - no one else. Forget all the $100 buck robots promising you financial freedom, try these forex systems and they will burn your equity. They have never been traded and have made paper profits only and wouldn't sell for $100 bucks either. Also forget all the mentors with their secrets - there hardly secrets if you know them!

Even if you do find someone to follow who has a good forex trading strategy, you can still lose, if you don't have confidence in what you're doing and understand the logic. The reason is - if you don't understand how and why the system works, you won't have the confidence to follow it, through losing periods and all trading systems have these.

credit:amazines.com

You're on your own - if you follow or if you have your own forex trading system - you have to execute it with discipline.

If you understand this, then the forex market is probably an area you can make money, if you don't, either re think your forex education or do something else.

Forex trading is hard and you would expect that - with the rewards on offer.

Keep in mind 95% of traders lose and that's a fact so it's not easy.

Now if you have the right mindset, you learn currency trading the right way and win and the good news is:

Anyone can learn to trade - trading is a learned skill, so you just have to do it the right way and that doesn't mean working hard, it means working smart. A couple of weeks and you will be all set. All you need is a simple, logical forex trading strategy you can execute with discipline and your on your way.

In forex trading it's not about how much time you spend on your market timing - you are judged on how much money you make with your trading signal and that's it and a simple trading system will work well.

So if you want to win, you. Simply, get the right forex knowledge and apply it with discipline and you can earn a great second or life changing income, in under 30 minutes a day and enjoy currency trading success.

Saturday, June 21, 2008

Financial Advisor with 5 features

The dictionary meaning of advisor means “an expert who gives advice”. It means the people who are expert in their field should gives advice or says guidelines to give best possible ways to make the task easy.

The advisor is also called consultants in the present time. There are many types of advisor or consultants in the service as well as in the industrial sector. They are usually called as professionals.

1.With the upcoming financial market the importance of the advisor gets increases. The Financial Advisor is necessary because normally the customer are busy with another tasks and they have no time to see where to invest or how to save taxes on their income.

2. The Financial Advisor take consulting fees for giving advises to the customers. There are different types of financial advisors some are specializes in stock market and mutual funds while some are specialize in other derivatives like banks and government investment tools. You must be clear about where to divert your funds to get the benefits at a lesser risk. Accordingly you need to select the financial advisor.

3. You must take the financial advisor in good faith because on the bases of the expertise of finance advisor you are able to make an investment. However some time the financial advisor self-righteously suggest something odd that your mind can’t accept it. It is better to select the honest and frank advisor. As a customer you must have to smart enough to take the decision.

4. It is financial advisors duty to make their customer satisfied by giving them proper advise. You can see that honest and frank advisors can make their business grow easily than the financial advisor who misguide and lead the customer into debt.

5. At present some financial advisor become a instruments of the various financial companies They will get remuneration in terms of points from the selling the funds and other financial tools. It is now best of the interest to the financial advisor rather than thinking for the customer profits. So such types of wrong of self-interest practice can give bad reputation in the market.

The honesty with the client or customer is the keys in the financial advise business. credit:1888articles

Saturday, June 14, 2008

Day Trading for Beginners

Up until recently, "day trading" was a practice that was shunned by Wall Street’s big boys. Nowadays, it's become much more popular and is a common practice amongst folks of all ages and financial trading backgrounds. Day trading, as the name implies, is when you buy and sell financial investments during the day and settle all your outstanding positions prior to the market closing. The main goal is to make fast profits from any price increases or decreases that happen during a single day of trading. When the stock market closes down, any news that is put out later on can bear on the opening price of a financial instrument on the next trading day. From a strategical standpoint, day trading brings down the risk of incurring a loss overnight due to differences between an opening price and the previous day’s ending price. Stocks, options, futures, and currencies are the most frequently day traded financial instruments. The most significant thing that a beginner needs to know about day trading is that while it can be highly profitable, it's also very risky. Modern statistics indicate that 70-90% of all day traders incur losses in their trades. These statistics are nearly as high as those affiliated with losses from gambling, and are a clear-cut indication that day trading isn't meant for amateurs who hope to "strike it rich" in a short period of time. Really, there are very few individual investors who have the time, money, and personality required to deal with the losses of day trading. If you're seriously thinking about becoming a day trader, here is some basic advice about the practice that could help you along: Funds needed. According to U.S. law, you'll need at the least $25,000 to day trade stocks (more than 8 roundtrip trades in a single calendar week). To day trade currencies, you only need a few hundred bucks. Because of the smaller startup capital requirement, it might be wise to start with trading currencies if you're a novice. Additionally, trading currencies is also a great deal simpler than trading stocks since you only have a fixed amount of currencies that you can decide to trade. Sustaining losses. The majority of new day traders will incur terrible losses in their first few months. That's how come so many of them give up before they even begin to make money. Once you embark upon day trading, be sure you only utilize money that you are able to lose. It's a very bad idea to use money that's needed for things such as your mortgage payments, your life insurance policy, or your every day living expenses. Limiting your losses. Among the biggest causes why day traders lose money is because they don't know how to restrict their losses. There's no particular formula on when and how to limit your losses, but perhaps this scenario could help you interpret what normally happens. An unskilled day trader purchases a stock and the price of the stock instantly begins falling. The day trader chooses to wait because he is confident the price will come back up again. The stock’s price continues to go down during the day, and the day trader kicks himself for not having cut his losses sooner. Upon market closing time, he assures himself he has no option but to hold on to the stock. In the evening, bad news about the stock is brought out, making the opening price of the stock to spiral down even more. Our day trader is now a good deal less wealthier than he would have been had he cut his losses when the stock first started dropping. Credit:articlebiz