Retirement may be a long way off for you – or it might be right around the corner. No matter how near or far it is, you’ve absolutely got to start saving for it now. However, saving for retirement isn’t what it used to be with the increase in cost of living and the instability of social security. You have to invest for your retirement, as opposed to saving for it!
Let’s start by taking a look at the retirement plan offered by your company. Once upon a time, these plans were quite sound. However, after the Enron upset and all that followed, people aren’t as secure in their company retirement plans anymore. If you choose not to invest in your company’s retirement plan, you do have other options.
First, you can invest in stocks, bonds, mutual funds, certificates of deposit, and money market accounts. You do not have to state to anybody that the returns on these investments are to be used for retirement. Just simply let your money grow overtime, and when certain investments reach their maturity, reinvest them and continue to let your money grow.
You can also open an Individual Retirement Account (IRA). IRA’s are quite popular because the money is not taxed until you withdraw the funds. You may also be able to deduct your IRA contributions from the taxes that you owe. An IRA can be opened at most banks. A ROTH IRA is a newer type of retirement account. With a Roth, you pay taxes on the money that you are investing in your account, but when you cash out, no federal taxes are owed. Roth IRA’s can also be opened at a financial institution.
Another popular type of retirement account is the 401(k). 401(k’s) are typically offered through employers, but you may be able to open a 401(k) on your own. You should speak with a financial planner or accountant to help you with this. The Keogh plan is another type of IRA that is suitable for self employed people. Self-employed small business owners may also be interested in Simplified Employee Pension Plans (SEP). This is another type of Keogh plan that people typically find easier to administer than a regular Keogh plan.
Whichever retirement investment you choose, just make sure you choose one! Again, do not depend on social security, company retirement plans, or even an inheritance that may or may not come through!
Take care of your financial future by investing in it today.
Filed under Investing by on Oct 15th, 2009. 
When it comes to investing, many first time investors want to jump right in with both feet. Unfortunately, very few of those investors are successful. Investing in anything requires some degree of skill. It is important to remember that few investments are a sure thing – there is the risk of losing your money!
Before you jump right in, it is better to not only find out more about investing and how it all works, but also to determine what your goals are. What do you hope to achieve with your investments? Will you be funding a college education? Buying a home? Retiring? Before you invest a single penny, really think about what you hope to achieve with that investment. Knowing what your goal is will help you make smarter investment decisions along the way!
Too often, people invest money with dreams of becoming rich overnight.
This is possible – but it is also rare. It is usually a very bad idea to start investing with hopes of becoming rich overnight. It is safer to invest your money in such a way that it will grow slowly over time, and be used for retirement or a child’s education. However, if your investment goal is to get rich quick, you should learn as much about high-yield, short term investing as you possibly can before you invest.
You should strongly consider talking to a financial planner before making any investments. Your financial planner can help you determine what type of investing you must do to reach the financial goals that you have set. He or she can give you realistic information as to what kind of returns you can expect and how long it will take to reach your specific goals.
Again, remember that investing requires more than calling a broker and telling them that you want to buy stocks or bonds. It takes a certain amount of research and knowledge about the market if you hope to invest successfully.
Read more on Investing Basics – What Are Your Investment Goals…
Filed under Investing by on Oct 8th, 2009.
Many first time investors think that they should invest all of their savings. This isn’t necessarily true. To determine how much money you should invest, you must first determine how much you actually can afford to invest, and what your financial goals are.
First, let’s take a look at how much money you can currently afford to invest. Do you have savings that you can use? If so, great! However, you don’t want to cut yourself short when you tie your money up in an investment. What were your savings originally for?
It is important to keep three to six months of living expenses in a readily accessible savings account – don’t invest that money! Don’t invest any money that you may need to lay your hands on in a hurry in the future.
So, begin by determining how much of your savings should remain in your savings account, and how much can be used for investments. Unless you have funds from another source, such as an inheritance that you’ve recently received, this will probably be all that you currently have to invest.
Next, determine how much you can add to your investments in the future. If you are employed, you will continue to receive an income, and you can plan to use a portion of that income to build your investment portfolio over time. Speak with a qualified financial planner to set up a budget and determine how much of your future income you will be able to invest.
With the help of a financial planner, you can be sure that you are not investing more than you should – or less than you should in order to reach your investment goals.
For many types of investments, a certain initial investment amount will be required. Hopefully, you’ve done your research, and you have found an investment that will prove to be sound. If this is the case, you probably already know what the required initial investment is.
If the money that you have available for investments does not meet the required initial investment, you may have to look at other investments. Never borrow money to invest, and never use money that you have not set aside for investing!
Filed under Investing by on Oct 1st, 2009.
While quite a bit of time and research goes into selecting stocks, it is often hard to know when to pull out – especially for first time investors. The good news is that if you have chosen your stocks carefully, you won’t need to pull out for a very long time, such as when you are ready to retire. But there are specific instances when you will need to sell your stocks before you have reached your financial goals.
You may think that the time to sell is when the stock value is about to drop – and you may even be advised by your broker to do this. But this isn’t necessarily the right course of action.
Stocks go up and down all the time, depending on the economy…and of course the economy depends on the stock market as well. This is why it is so hard to determine whether you should sell your stock or not. Stocks go down, but they also tend to go back up.
You have to do more research, and you have to keep up with the stability of the companies that you invest in. Changes in corporations have a profound impact on the value of the stock. For instance, a new CEO can affect the value of stock. A plummet in the industry can affect a stock. Many things – all combined – affect the value of stock. But there are really only three good reasons to sell a stock.
The first reason is having reached your financial goals. Once you’ve reached retirement, you may wish to sell your stocks and put your money in safer financial vehicles, such as a savings account.
This is a common practice for those who have invested for the purpose of financing their retirement. The second reason to sell a stock is if there are major changes in the business you are investing in that cause, or will cause, the value of the stock to drop, with little or no possibility of the value rising again. Ideally, you would sell your stock in this situation before the value starts to drop.
If the value of the stock spikes, this is the third reason you may want to sell.
If your stock is valued at $100 per share today, but drastically rises to $200 per share next week, it is a great time to sell – especially if the outlook is that the value will drop back down to $100 per share soon. You would sell when the stock was worth $200 per share.
As a beginner, you definitely want to consult with a broker or a financial advisor before buying or selling stocks. They will work with you to help you make the right decisions to reach your financial goals.
Filed under Investing by on Sep 24th, 2009.
If you are anxious to get your investments started, you can get started right away without having a lot of knowledge about the stock market. Start by being a conservative investor with a low risk tolerance. This will give you a way to making your money grow while you learn more about investing.
Start with an interest bearing savings account. You may already have one. If you don’t, you should. A savings account can be opened at the same bank that you do your checking at – or at any other bank. A savings account should pay 2 – 4% on the money that you have in the account.
It’s not a lot of money – unless you have a million dollars in that account – but it is a start, and it is money making money.
Next, invest in money market funds. This can often be done through your bank. These funds have higher interest payouts than typical savings accounts, but they work much the same way. These are short term investments, so your money won’t be tied up for a long period of time – but again, it is money making money.
Certificates of Deposit are also sound investments with no risk. The interest rates on CD’s are typically higher than those of savings accounts or Money Market Funds.
You can select the duration of your investment, and interest is paid regularly until the CD reaches maturity. CD’s can be purchased at your bank, and your bank will insure them against loss. When the CD reaches maturity, you receive your original investment, plus the interest that the CD has earned.
If you are just starting out, one or all of these three types of investments is the best starting point. Again, this will allow your money to start making money for you while you learn more about investing in other places.
Filed under Investing by on Sep 17th, 2009.
Donald Trump and countless other billionaires made their fortune starting in real estate investment properties. They buy in strategic areas when the market's low and resell when the market inflates. Sometimes these transactions happen fast, like with special offers on condos that haven't been built yet but will soon be worth double or even triple the pre-sale price. Property investments can be a practical supplemental retirement plan.
Pros of owning investment properties are obvious. Hypothetically speaking, imagine owning a six-plex in a slow-changing, yet prosperous part of Atlanta where you charged each tenant $1,000. Your monthly mortgage for the building might be $3,000 but you'll still have that extra $3,000 cushion each month. Another benefit of property investments is the generous tax kickback you may receive. If you delight in getting your lump sum tax return at the end of the year, then perhaps investing and selling properties when you need that quick chunk of cash is right for you. Also, there's no penalty for opting out early or age regulations regarding when you can start using your earnings. You don't have to be rich or super business savvy to add property ownership into your retirement planning agenda. It's been dubbed "the equal opportunity wealth builder."
Cons of investment properties include the no guarantee risk. It's also not a feasible option for everyone because of high transaction prices. Not everyone has thousands of dollars saved to make a substantial down payment. Vacancies, bad tenants, maintenance costs and property oversupply are a few of the disadvantages. Like any investment, there are many factors beyond your control that could affect your income. For better guarantees, 401ks or IRAs should be included in your financial retirement planning.
According to Money Magazine, economists predict a 15% decline in the most expensive housing markets in the next year, thanks to rising mortgage rates. Therefore, smart investors will look to places like Panama City, Florida, Olympia or Washington for investment properties, while steering clear of Santa Barbara, New York City and Las Vegas.
Your success will depend largely on the investment you choose, but also on your tenants. Security deposits, a slightly higher rent or the realtor you choose, will usually keep the riff-raff out.
Many couples buy large homes to fit their children comfortably, but find it's too much space when the kids move out of the house. In this case, downgrading to a small bungalow or apartment and letting someone else pay the mortgage is beneficial. While it's not superior to a 401k or IRA, investment properties are a retirement planning option that may work for you.
Read more on An Overview Of Retirement Planning With Investment Properties…
Filed under Investing, Retirement by on Sep 14th, 2009. Comment.
The different types of stock are what confuse most first time investors. That confusion causes people to turn away from the stock market altogether, or to make unwise investments. If you are going to play the stock market, you must know what types of stock are available and what it all means!
Common Stock is a term that you will hear quite often. Anyone can purchase common stock, regardless of age, income, age, or financial standing. Common stock is essentially part ownership in the business you are investing in. As the company grows and earns money, the value of your stock rises. On the other hand, if the company does poorly or goes bankrupt, the value of your stock falls. Common stock holders do not participate in the day to day operations of a business, but
they do have the power to elect the board of directors.
Along with common stock, there are also different classes of stock. The different classes of stock in one company are often called Class A and Class B. The first class, class A, essentially gives the stock owner more votes per share of stock than the owners of class B stock. The ability to create different classes of stock in a corporation has existed since 1987. Many investors avoid stock that has more than one class, and stocks that have more than one class are not called common stock.
The most upscale type of stock is of course Preferred Stock. Preferred stock isn’t exactly a stock. It is a mix of a stock and a bond. The owner’s of preferred stock can lay claim to the assets of the company in the case of bankruptcy, and preferred stock holders get the proceeds of the profits from a company before the common stock owners. If you think that you may prefer this preferred stock, be aware that the company typically has the right to buy the stock back from the stock owner and stop paying dividends.
Filed under Investing by on Sep 10th, 2009.
Overall, there are three different kinds of investments. These include stocks, bonds, and cash. Sounds simple, right? Well, unfortunately, it gets very complicated from there. You see, each type of investment has numerous types of investments that fall under it.
There is quite a bit to learn about each different investment type. The stock market can be a big scary place for those who know little or nothing about investing. Fortunately, the amount of information that you need to learn has a direct relation to the type of investor that you are. There are also three types of investors: conservative, moderate, and aggressive. The different types of investments also cater to the two levels of risk tolerance: high risk and low risk.
Conservative investors often invest in cash. This means that they put their money in interest bearing savings accounts, money market accounts, mutual funds, US Treasury bills, and Certificates of Deposit. These are very safe investments that grow over a long period of time. These are also low risk investments.
Moderate investors often invest in cash and bonds, and may dabble in the stock market. Moderate investing may be low or moderate risks. Moderate investors often also invest in real estate, providing that it is low risk real estate.
Aggressive investors commonly do most of their investing in the stock market, which is higher risk. They also tend to invest in business ventures as well as higher risk real estate. For instance, if an aggressive investor puts his or her money into an older apartment building, then invests more money renovating the property, they are running a risk. They expect to be able to rent the apartments out for more money than the apartments are currently worth – or to sell the entire property for a profit on their initial investments. In some cases, this works out just fine, and in other cases, it doesn’t. It’s a risk.
Before you start investing, it is very important that you learn about the different types of investments, and what those investments can do for you. Understand the risks involved, and pay attention to past trends as well.
History does indeed repeat itself, and investors know this first hand!
Filed under Investing by on Sep 3rd, 2009.
Efficient allocation of the financial resources of a firm is an imperative necessity for the efficient functioning of a firm. The firm’s investment decisions involve decisions regarding long-term capital assets such as land, buildings, equipment and more. The investment on these assets is considered very important because it enables an organization to make profits. It, therefore, follows that the future development of a firm could, to a large extent, depend on effective selection of capital investment projects.
Filed under Investing by on Aug 26th, 2009. Comment.
Depending on the type of investing that you plan to do, you may need to hire a broker to handle your investments for you. Brokers work for brokerage houses and have the ability to buy and sell stock on the stock exchange. You may wonder if you really need a broker. If you intend to buy or sell stocks on the stock exchange, you must have a broker.
Filed under Investing by on Mar 30th, 2009. Comment.
Anything that helps you save is simply great and needs your attention.
The 401k retirement plan is a system that a company offers its employees as a benefit. The following are the main advantages:
1. Saving made simple – the saving that go into the 401k retirement plan is directly deducted from your pay. Often the employer will match what you are saving, depending upon what scheme you/ your company adopts. The fact that payment is deducted directly from the salary is excellent, because in this way you are not tempted to skip the savings.
2. The 401k retirement plan, being a retirement plan, will not allow you to draw out on this fund until you reach a certain age, and hence, provide you a cushioned nest when you would need financial support the most, i.e. post retirement age.
3. The 401k retirement plan is protected by law even if you quit the particular job under which you were given this benefit. You will have the option to roll the money into an IRA, leave it in the 401k retirement plan fund and avail of it as scheduled, after your retirement, or take it out as a lump sum. Keep in mind however, that if you take it out you will be required to pay taxes on it and hence, you will loose a good part of it.
4. The 401k retirement savings is totally tax-free and hence this plan, when it matures will give a neat sum which will provide the necessary security post-retirement. Your money will be saved quickly and effortlessly and this will provide you a wonderful cushion in your retirement age.
Filed under Investing by on Jul 11th, 2008. Comment.
The invention of the Internet has brought about many changes in the way that we conduct our lives and our personal business. We can pay our bills online, shop online, bank online, and even date online!
Filed under Investing by on May 27th, 2008. Comment.
Perplexed by the U.S. economy? You're not alone.
If you want hear WHY a lot of us are in the shape we are in and how much worse it could get, check this out. It's nearly 40 min. long but is worth it.
Filed under Auto Loan, Bankruptcy, Credit Cards, Investing by on Apr 10th, 2008. Comment.
Investing Offshore, Could it Be for You
Jay Moncliff
Offshore investing is simply placing your investment dollars in an account with a bank that is not in the United States. There are several advantages to investing offshore.
Filed under Investing by on Feb 2nd, 2008. Comment.
Compilation from the Korelin Economics Report in April.
More and more proof that we are losing a financial war with ourselves…
Filed under Investing, The Economy by on Jan 4th, 2008. Comment.
Defining your savings goals is the first thing to do before you invest, especially when that investment will have an impact on your child's future. It is after-all your child's future that you are investing in–and school finance cannot be avoided, as babies will grow into adults who need to be given the best opportunities we can offer as parents.
Filed under Investing, Saving Money by on Nov 16th, 2007. Comment.
With the uncertain future of Social Security benefits, investing in your future is more important than ever. If you are depending on Social Security benefits, and in some cases retirement plans, you may be in for a rude awakening when those instruments no longer earn a steady income. Investing in your future is the answer.
Filed under Investing by on Oct 19th, 2007. Comment.
There are many mistakes that can be made along the way when it comes to financial retirement savings and investing. Many folks work hard to save money for retirement, but make little financial mistakes along the way that add up later and can hit hard when they least expect it.
Filed under Investing, Retirement by on Oct 19th, 2007. Comment.
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