Financial Education
Don’t push the panic button (yet!)
Posted November 3, 2008 by Bernz
Listen, I know all the news lately has you worried. We’re facing a global economic recession and that is very scary. But in spite of all the latest happenings, life should go on. So, in spite of the paper’s headline and what your co-workers are chatting about around the water cooler here are some tips that assure you panicking (just yet) is not the right move.
As I mentioned in my post, Bargain stocks, a good deal, one of the things you can do right now is to take care of new money coming in. This gives you an opportunity to put funds in those areas where contributions are low.
Another thing I strongly suggest is that you look at how your old money is invested and who it is invested with. Call your money manager and get help with this. What you’ll likely learn is that your money is safe but you’ll also learn about where your assets are and what you can do to make sure they are protected. Word of caution you’re stripping money from your retirement savings and future gains because compound interest wipes away that opportunity as does annual fees that are more than 3% a year.
Posted in Financial Education | 2 Comments »
It Pays to Go Green
Posted October 21, 2008 by Bernz
Who would of thought that an economic crisis 
would prove just how good going green can be. I’ve seen people stretch (and stress) their brain on ways to come up with ways to spend less and save more only to decide that putting their effort toward a eco-friendly life-style would prove to be smart and practical.
While we all know that carpooling and recycling helps reduce our carbon footprint and eliminate waste, there are other eco-conscious opportunities that might not be so apparent.
For instance, you might be able to qualify for a federal tax credit, which is more valuable that a standard deduction, if you make certain energy-efficient upgrades to your primary residence.
Posted in Financial Education | No Comments »
Where to get money for college
Posted October 19, 2008 by Bernz
The plight and turmoil of the U.S. economy has caused me to think about our children’s’ future. It’s scary right now to try to even comprehend what it will be like. If you once thought you’d borrow funding for college that could be out. Maybe you were planning on using your retirement funds—at least some of them. Perhaps that’s no longer a good solution either. Thinking about selling your kidney?
If none of these alternatives seem like viable options, and I really hope you weren’t seriously thinking about that kidney thing, then you might want to investigate starting a Tax-advantaged college savings account. Basically this is a savings account you open at a bank, credit union, or any financial institution that provides principal security but pays a low interest rate. Typically these accounts limit the number of transactions you can have before your institution charges a fee.
Another option (one that provides higher interest but has no guarantee of principal) is a money market mutual fund. This might be a more attractive savings option because while both a savings account and a money market mutual fund let you access your money quickly, with the later, you actually have an investment vehicle and the returns you receive are based on federal interest rates.
Posted in Financial Education | 2 Comments »
Boost your portfolio with ETFs
Posted October 15, 2008 by Bernz
First off, ETF stands for exchange-traded funds. It’s a fund that tracks a market index, only it trades like a stock on the exchange. That said; let’s take a closer look at the attractive benefits you get from investing in ETFs.
One of the top reasons that make purchasing ETFs so appealing is there flexibility. For instance, if you’re an investor who’s concerned about getting quick access to your cash, then you can sell ETF shares whenever the need arises. Let’s say you need cash before lunch. Well, if you have ETF shares you don’t have to wait until the market closes at 4p.m. to sell them like you do with stock. You could just call your broker at 9 in the morning and place an order and then your trade will be conducted at whatever the current price is.
Another major advantage to investing in ETFs is their simplicity. ETFs work well for those investors who find the whole process of analyzing and picking the “right” stock confusing, boring, or to big a hassle.
Posted in Financial Education | 1 Comment »
All the articles and content written here on Invesmint.com is for general information only and based solely on the authors personal opinions and discretion. It was not and should not be a substitute for professional advice. Visitors of this site (Invesmint.com) are encouraged to seek appropriate professional advice before acting upon the content or information from this site. Again, the content of this website is not a source for professional advice.
INVESMINT.COM hereby excludes liability for any claims, losses, demands, or damages of any kind whatsoever with regard to any information, content, or services provided at our web site, including but not limited to direct, indirect, incidental, or consequential loss or damages, compensatory damages, loss of profits, or data, or otherwise.
Get Updates via Email
-
Advertisement
-
Recent Posts
Recent Comments
- Recession Proof Your Job: 4 Ways to Avoid Unemployment on Don’t push the panic button (yet!)
- Skirt» Blog Archive » what is hard money lending on What is Hard Money Lending And When Should You Use It?
- 401 k Plan on What is Hard Money Lending And When Should You Use It?
- San Antonio AC Repair Guy on Debt and Obesity Are Related, Study Finds
- Kat on Borrowing from your 401k Plan – Is it always the wrong thing to do?
- Tweets that mention An Introduction to Investing in the Stock Market -- Topsy.com on An Introduction to Investing in the Stock Market
- Philip Walter on What is Hard Money Lending And When Should You Use It?
- Tax debt settlement on Smart Ways to Get IRS Tax Debt Relief