FastSwings

Spread Betting Vs Trading

2012-01-27T07:20:00.000-08:00

Spread betting is an alternative investment option to trading. Here, people can place bets on how a market will perform. Instead of owning shares, this is a chance to bet on everything from gold and interest rates to sporting events. Though each type of investment involves research and gauging the market, spread betting and trading are very different. The following includes some basic information on the differences between the two investment options.

Bet on the Rise and Fall of Different Markets

Instead of buying shares, people bet on the rise and fall of the market. This means that spread betting doesn’t involve the ownership of anything. Additionally, it means that a person can make money by betting against the market as well as betting on its success. This key difference offers people more options when it comes to investing their money.

Fewer Fees and No Taxes

To buy shares in the stock market, people need to work with companies or brokers who negotiate this process. However, there are often commission, broker, and annual fees that link to this. Such fees can cut into one’s profits. Spread betting does not have such fees. Any taxes or fees are linked to the spread. This ensures people make the most of their money. Similarly, instead of paying to pay taxes on profits, people do not have to do this since no shares are owned. This also saves people money, especially if the betting goes well.

Less Money Upfront

Buying stock shares can become pricey, especially if people want to make a significant amount of money. A single share with an established or up-and-coming company can be expensive, and people tend to buy many shares at once. Thus, one would need to have a lot of liquid assets or cash upfront to be able to trade and make a large profit. This is not the case when it comes to spread betting. People do not need as much upfront cash, and they can also determine their stopping point so that they do not lose everything with one bet. This is a cost-efficient way to invest money. Similarly, not owning stocks means that one will not have to deal with the time and energy of selling and maintaining or watching them. This is a far easier way to invest money without spending a lot of money and time.

If people are smart, they can make quite a bit of money with spread betting. This is a chance to benefit from price movement. However, it is possible to lose money with this option of the market does not perform the way people estimate. This is why research needs to accompany any bet placed. There are always dangers when it comes to investing money into anything: whether a spread or the stock market. This is why education and research and careful investment are important.

Michael Brooks follows the spread betting and cfd trading markets closely and loves to exchange knowledge with fellow investors.

Stock Carnival Ecstasy - January 19, 2012

2012-01-19T19:43:00.000-08:00

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Welcome to the January 19, 2012 edition of Stock Carnival Ecstasy.In this edition we have Alexander Collins looking at What is Scalping in Forex Trading and how to profit from it. Tim @ Faith and Finance reports on Retail Sales which were up at the end of 2011. We have an article on REITs by Mike Piper. The Dividend Growth Investor shows us his Dividend Retirement Plan. And finally Steve presents Small Money Mistakes With Large Financial Consequences. Hope you enjoy the material, bookmark, share, tweet, like on Facebook and come back soon.

other

Jailan Marie presents Walking the Talk! What people really want! posted at Innovative Solutions For Positive Change.

Alexander Collins presents What is Scalping in Forex Trading and How to Succeed with It? posted at PipBurner Forex blog, saying, "Hello,
It would be great to see my post in blog carnaval"

stefanz presents Why nature and the economy are similar - Investing: Strategy, Risk, Tools, and more... - Skuzet posted at skuzet, saying, "Investors can learn something from nature. Both animals and companies depend on environmental factors. But there is more."

Theresa Torres presents 7 Tips for Repairing Your Credit After Bankruptcy posted at file your bankruptcy, saying, "Rebuilding your credit score after bankruptcy involves time and patience on your part. Following these simple steps can boost your credit faster."

Tim @ Faith and Finance presents Retail Sales Up in 2011: A Glimpse of Hope? posted at Faith and Finance, saying, "A quick look at how consumer spending ended in 2011. Sometimes the reports are difficult to interpret, but we break it down in a way that makes it easy to understand economics."

Chelsea Prescotti presents Mortgage Lenders Hunt Home Owners Even After Foreclosure posted at CreditScore.net, saying, "No one ever buys a home with the intention of one day losing it to foreclosure or being forced by circumstance into a short sale. Unfortunately, that is exactly the situation in which many homeowners find themselves. Financial struggles push thousands of homeowners into short sale or foreclosure every year. When the housing market collapsed in 2008-09, many found themselves upside-down in their mortgage and opted to simply walk away, leaving the bank to foreclose on the property and sell it for whatever a buyer would pay."

Rachel Cleary presents 10 Hidden Ways to Save Money on Auto Insurance posted at Auto Insurance Quotes, saying, "When it comes to saving money on car insurance, there are some things that you can control and some things that you can’t. You’re probably already aware of the importance of maintaining an excellent driving record and owning a reasonable vehicle in order to get low rates. There are several other special discounts floating around out there that aren’t often advertised. Familiarize yourself with the following list of special auto insurance discounts and mention them to your insurance company to see if you qualify."

Jeffery Weber presents January 2012 - Report on 0% Balance Transfer Credit Cards posted at Smart Balance Transfers, saying, "Consumers seeking to reduce interest expenses will find that the average length of balance transfer offers remains above 1 year, while average fees have dropped to just over 3%, making January a prime month to evaluate balance transfer options."

stocks

Mike Piper presents REITs Are Stocks posted at The Oblivious Investor, saying, "Despite misconceptions to the contrary, REITs are simply a type of stock. And they're already included in most broad index funds."

stefanz presents Discount model part 2: Cash flow - Investing: Strategy, Risk, Tools, and more... - Skuzet posted at skuzet, saying, "Valuing companies is one of the most important activities an investor should perform. In this series, the different types and the calculation of the discount models are described. In part two of this series, the discounted cash flow model is discussed"

Dividend Growth Investor presents My Dividend Retirement Plan posted at Dividend Growth Investor, saying, "I invest in dividend stocks, in order to generate a sufficient income stream, that would meet and exceed my expenses in retirement. Retirement to me is the point where my dividend income exceeds my expenses, which means that I no longer have to work for money.I am a big proponent of value investing, which is why I would only consider myself financially independent whenever the dividend income stream generated by my portfolio exceeds 1.5 times my annual expenses. In order to get there, there are several simple, but crucial principles I need to follow."

tips

Steve presents Small Money Mistakes With Large Financial Consequences – 2008 Taxes - Free Tax Filing Options posted at 2008 Taxes, saying, "All of us are liable to make mistakes every now and then; after all, we’re only human. But there are some seemingly small mistakes that can snowball into something big and bring irreparable consequences to businesses."

Ariel presents Oil And Gold: Connected! posted at Buy Gold Co., saying, "Rundown of the connected nature of gold and oil for traders."

That concludes this edition. Submit your blog article to the next edition of stock carnival ecstasy using our carnival submission form. Past posts and future hosts can be found on our blog carnival index page.

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What Christmas Shoppers and Retailers Might Expect

2012-01-15T15:43:00.000-08:00

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With the holiday season just around the corner, retailers in the United states are getting ready for a shopping season that is filled with uncertainty due to conflicting consumer financial reports and the changing patterns of American shoppers.

Recent reports from the National Retail Federation aren't exactly encouraging. While there will likely be an increase in holiday sales compared to last year's season, the increase will only be around 2.8 percent. Last year's holiday shopping season managed to produce a respectable and surprising 5.2 percent from the year before. Retailers that expected a similar performance this year may be in for a disappointment.

To make matters worse, holiday shoppers may also get a bit of a “sticker shock” this year. In 2008 and 2009, shoppers were treated to great prices due to high inventories once carried by hopeful retailers. During the last couple of years, stores have been forced to sell off large portions of their inventories at sharply reduced prices. Retailers have learned the lessons of the Great Recession, and they are now keeping lean inventories.

The lackluster American economy is also to blame for the grim forecast. The high unemployment and the weak demand from employers to hire new workers are two factors exacerbating the situation. A weak US dollar could also bring pain to clothing retailers this year, as expensive textiles may cause fashion stores to push their prices higher just in time for the holidays.

An annual consumer holiday shopping study released by Accenture, a respected global consulting firm, indicates that some consumers will be in a better position this year. High income shoppers will be the most benefited as stores are forced to reduce prices on high-ticket items.

Discount stores will now have to compete against traditional retailers in terms of pricing. Department stores have mostly refrained from offering price promotions this year, as many are waiting for the holiday shopping season to begin.

This year shoppers are expected to be more careful, controlled and fastidious over their holiday purchases. Shoppers are now more inclined to significantly research their potential purchases before heading off to the shopping malls or placing their online orders. Accenture believes that more shoppers are planning to use their smartphones to do price research and comparison shopping while physically at the stores.

As expected, the number of shoppers who plan to make more than half of their holiday purchases online has increased. After all, online social media platforms are already getting busy with pre-holiday season buzz. But the Accenture survey report has also uncovered an interesting fact surrounding holiday shopping: Black Friday, one of the biggest shopping days of the year, may be losing its charm.

The predawn madness at American shopping malls and big-box retailers has become a staple of consumer culture. But as much as customers want to save money, they may be growing weary of the theatrics that tend to go hand-in-hand with Black Friday. Less than half of the shoppers surveyed by Accenture plan to leave their homes at midnight to go shopping fore a large flat-screen television this year. Shoppers are now more likely to find bargains and free delivery offers than in previous years.

Post by Holly Adams, a writer for CouponCroc.co.uk, the best place to find discounts and savings on all of your online holiday shopping this year.

Stock Carnival Ecstasy - January 10, 2012

2012-01-10T19:36:00.000-08:00

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Welcome to the January 10, 2012 edition of stock carnival ecstasy.In this issue we have three great articles starting with stefanz who has a investment checklist for all investors. Patrick LaRue has 4 Ways to Get the Most out of Your Retirement Budget. And finally we take a look at the Renewal Of Payroll Tax Cuts in Congress recently. Hope you enjoy the articles, bookmark, share, tweet, like on Facebook, and come back real soon.

other

Theresa Torres presents Ghost of Christmas 2011 Could Haunt Average American for 4 Years posted at CreditDonkey, saying, "This article provides some facts about holiday debt and advice on how to manage holiday debt repayment."

Dr. Dean presents Football and Personal Finance-14 Corollaries! posted at Dr. Dean's TheMillionaireNurse.com Blog, saying, "Financially speaking, it’s been a tough year, but then, every year can be. Need a ‘pat on the butt’ locker room pep talk? Get one here and then be ready to ‘get back in the game’."

Judy Blackburn presents How To Get Out Of Debt-The Smart & Quick Guide posted at Debt Consolidation, saying, "The holiday season is just about behind us and what lies ahead for many is the mounting piles of bills left over from the spending- and over spending- that frequently goes on this time of year."

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Sandra Adams presents Credit Cards for No Credit posted at Credit Cards for No Credit, saying, "Many credit card companies hire lawyers to twist contracts and trick consumers into signing an agreement that will not benefit the cardholder."

stefanz presents Investment checklist - Investing: Strategy, Risk, Tools, and more... - Skuzet posted at skuzet, saying, "Every investor wants to invest in the best possible companies and investment products. There are a lot of methods to find the best investment, and on this site you can find the different methods on a checklist."

Patrick LaRue presents 4 Ways to Get the Most out of Your Retirement Budget posted at 2010 Tax, saying, "As medical technology advances, society becomes safer and health knowledge becomes more mainstream, the life expectancy of humans tends to increase."

Steve presents House Republicans Agree On Short-Term Renewal Of Payroll Tax Cuts And Other Benefits posted at FastSwings, saying, "Republicans in the House of Delegates caved on Thursday to the President's, congressional Left wingers ', and fellow Republicans ' demands for a renewing of payroll tax cuts for employees."

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Forex Broker Choosing: My Tips on How Not to be Scammed

2011-11-30T07:21:00.000-08:00

The other day, I was on a popular Forex trading thread on an online forum, when someone interrupted the flow of trading ideas and strategies we had enjoyed for three days straight to spit out a heart-rending story of how he had been ripped off by a Forex broker based in Seychelles (he only found out the broker’s location after the incident; how naive could traders get?).

The poor fellow had apparently been taught the rudiments of Forex trading and by all accounts, he was doing well for a first timer (probably ticked off the scam market maker broker he was using). Then from out of the blue, he got an email from his broker, accusing him of using a third party access to trade his account (supposedly against their rules). He was branded a cheat and as punishment, his account was suspended and his funds seized. Now the broker could have their own rules regarding account access, but if you have a problem with a trader, why not at least return the trader’s original capital instead of using some cheap excuse to brazenly steal the trader’s money? The community of traders is presently contemplating sending representatives to Seychelles to take legal action, a process that will cost a lot of money without a guarantee of success. All this could have prevented if the trader had done his homework. In the next few sentences, I will briefly outline what I would have done from the get-go after coming across the broker’s web page, which had lured the unfortunate trader in with a 100% bonus.

Step by Step Process of Conducting Due Diligence of a Forex Broker

The first thing I would do on coming across this broker is to find out the true location of the broker. Some unscrupulous brokers maintain bank accounts in countries that have strong regulation, maintain a skeletal office there but site their main office somewhere else. It gets worse; the main office could be the cellar of a building in some far flung island on the earth, or some country with very lax financial and banking rules. This system of structured deceit is difficult to unravel. For this information, I would head over to some popular Forex review sites to check the broker out. This serves many purposes. Not only are you likely to get the actual location of these guys (and therefore their true regulatory status), you could stumble on some precious information. More often than not, you will get reviews of such a broker from others who have used their services. The bad ones do not hide.

If I visit the forum of a group like ForexPeaceArmy, there is a structured review system that tracks the complaints against any broker and how the brokers respond to the complaints. Complaints range from withdrawal issues to trading practices such as stop hunting. It is not unusual to see scam brokers paying off people or using multiple IDs to write good reviews about themselves. It is not long before they are caught. If you see this, you are better off running away from such a broker.

My next stop would be the websites of the regulatory agencies. This is assuming the broker in question passes the location test. Find out the status of each broker. Regulated brokers are assigned specific registration numbers and it is not hard to find out if a broker is a scam broker.

Usually, these steps are enough to fish out scam brokers. You can also add some good old commonsense to the mix. Personally, I do not use brokers that offer bonuses. That 100% bonus may just be a sign that the broker is getting desperate for money to steal or settle other clients in an elaborate Ponzi scheme.

Article provided by Alexander Collins. To learn more about smart ways to choose a Forex broker and unethical practices scam brokerages use, visit Alexander Collins blog.

Happy Trading!

Stock Carnival Ecstasy - November 24, 2011

2011-11-29T13:26:00.000-08:00

Image by Getty Images via @daylifeWelcome to the November 24, 2011 edition of stock carnival ecstasy. In this issue we take a look at the Envelope System: Budgeting Best Practices from Jason P. We also have Robert @ The College Investor who examines the Upcoming Tech IPOs including Groupon. And finally SteveR has some tax advice with the Top Ten Most Overlooked Tax Deductions. Hope you enjoy the posts, bookmark, tweet, share, like on Facebook and come back son.

other

J.R. Weber presents The Benefits of Chase BluePrint posted at Smart Balance Transfers, saying, "Chase BluePrint is a tool available on Chase branded credit cards that can help consumers better understand and exert control over credit card interest expenses."

Jason P. presents Envelope System: Budgeting Best Practices posted at One Money Design, saying, "Closer look at envelope system and when it works best and when it might be more challenging to use."

Jason P. presents What is a 529 Plan? posted at Comments for Childrens Savings Accounts HQ, saying, "Choosing a 529 plan is the smart way to go when investing in your child’s education savings plan."

stefanz presents Investment strategy unpicking stocks - Investing: Strategy, Risk, Tools, and more... - Skuzet posted at skuzet, saying, "Two main investment strategies combined creates a new strategy that will bring you the best of both worlds."

J.R. Weber presents Chase Freedom Rewards Cards: Freedom $200 Cash Back Vs. Freedom $100 posted at Smart Balance Transfers, saying, "Consumers comparing rewards cards who also have credit card debt are wise to look past headline bonus offers and find a card that offers rewards and value."

stocks

Alexander presents Best Dividend Stocks posted at Dividend Blog, saying, "The best dividend stocks aren’t those with the highest yields. They are stocks that provide steady dividend growth and capital appreciation for shareholders."

Robert @ The College Investor presents Considering the Upcoming Tech IPOs? posted at The College Investor, saying, "What to consider when investing in tech IPOs."

Net Worth Protect presents LinkedIn Prices Secondary Equity Offering at $71 per share, But are You Buying It? posted at NetWorthProtect.com, saying, "LinkedIn is offering another round of pubic equity, but I'm not buying their story, are you?"

Alexander presents 20 Potentially Undervalued Stocks With High Dividend Yields posted at Dividend Stocks, saying, "Value investing is back. Investors are flocking to anything with perceived value to avoid the market swings we are seeing every day."

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Charles Chua C K presents 5 Effective Ways for Baby Boomers to Protect Their Wealth posted at All About Living with Life.

Linda Rodriguez presents Your Rights Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act | Credit Cards for Fair Credit | Credit Cards for People With Fair Credit posted at Credit Cards for Fair Credit, saying, "You may now be wondering exactly what your rights are under this act. Your information is being sold, and you should know exactly what you can do to prevent damage to your credit and future as well as fix any current credit problems."

Amy Gardner presents 3 Real-Life Stories of People Crushed By Payday Loan Debt posted at Comments on: Disaster Strikes: 3 Real-Life Stories of People Crushed By Payday Loan Debt, saying, "There are thousands of stories online about people who have struggled with payday lending. Some accounts are worse than others, but their personal experiences always seem to have similar results; they all end up in a worse position than they were before their payday loan."

SteveR presents Top Ten Most Overlooked Tax Deductions posted at 2009 Taxes, saying, "Each year the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) reports the most common tax deductions taxpayers forget about when submitting their income tax return."

SteveR presents Home Energy Tax Credits: Save Money With Energy Efficient Appliances posted at 2011 Tax, saying, "Homeowners know that energy bills comprise a hefty chunk of monthly bills, and have recently been getting even higher."

SteveR presents Ensuring Charitable Contributions are made to Qualifying Organizations posted at 2008 Taxes, saying, "The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) grants organization eligibility in receiving donations and giving them a tax-deductible status."

That concludes this edition. Submit your blog article to the next edition of stock carnival ecstasy using our carnival submission form.
Past posts and future hosts can be found on our

blog carnival index page.

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The Facebook IPO Will Happen as Early as April 2012

2011-11-29T10:36:00.000-08:00

Image via CrunchBaseThe long anticipated Facebook IPO will materialize in 2012 between April and June. This is according to a Wall Street Journal report that was released on Monday.

The report is based on observations made by people who are considered to be familiar with the public offering. According to these sources, Facebook wants to offload 10 percent of its shares to the public to raise $10 billion. This will put the value of the company at approximately $100 billion or more. While this valuation might seem too high, another report that was released in June quoted a similar figure.

If it comes to pass, the IPO will be among the biggest in the history of corporate America and the entire world. The IPO would be bigger than Google's IPO that raised $23 billion in the year 2004.

Initially, Facebook was rumored to be preparing to go public between January and April 2012. However, recent reports had indicated that the IPO had been scheduled for September.

The Journal cautioned that Facebook has not yet made a final decision. The dates may change and the valuation of the company might also vary.

Spreadbetting on Stocks and Shares: A Brief Overview

2011-11-29T08:06:00.000-08:00

Image by RambergMediaImages via Flickr

Financial spread betting on stocks and shares provides many of the same benefits as purchasing actual shares, but without the stamp duty, commissions, and large sums of capital needed to realize a good return. By utilizing the services of spread betting companies, traders are able to speculate on the performance of individual stocks and shares, without ever taking ownership of the specific instruments involved. Rather, spreadbetting speculates on the rise or fall of stocks and shares over the course of a day, month or other period.

Spreadbetting on stocks and shares is a popular trading vehicle that permits traders the same exposure to a stock as a traditional investor, but at only a percentage of the capital. Add in the benefit of tax savings, since spreadbetting is not subject to capital gains or income tax in the UK, and traders have the opportunity to retain more of their returns (of course tax rules in any country are subject to change). The process is rather simple and the deposits required are minimal.

To illustrate how financial spread betting works in terms of stocks and shares, consider the following example. Company A is expected to announce quarterly income results in just a few days. According to news reports, the company is not realizing the level of profits it anticipated earlier in the year. Coupled with rising raw materials prices, a trader believes that stock prices for Company A will fall after the quarterly statements become public. As such, the trader decides to go short, or open a sell bet on Company A.

Spread betting companies list the spread price on Company A as 180p-183p. The trader places a bet at 10p per point at the sell price of 180p. He chooses a rolling daily bet, meaning the bet rolls over automatically to the next trading day, and each subsequent day, until he places a bet in the opposite direction. The first day of the announcement, stock prices fall to 175p, then fall again to 172p the following day. At this point in the process, the trader has realized a change of 8p at 10p per point. His total returns are 80 pounds.

The trader now believes the prices have dropped as much as they are going to, so he places an open buy bet according to the most recent spread price and waits for the stocks to begin climbing again. A new spread price of 172p-175p is issued, so he places an open buy bet, called going long, for 10p per point, starting at 175p. This time, however, the trader chooses to only bet on the current day's trading. At the close of the market, stocks in Company A have risen to 176p. He realizes a gain of only 1 point or 10p, for a total gain of 90 pounds tax-free over three days of trading.

Spreadbetting, like any other trading vehicles, presents a risk to traders. While spreadbetting offers traders the possibility of solid returns for little capital outlay, it also poses risks should the market move in the opposite direction of a trader's bet. It is possible for a trader to lose his entire deposit or considerably more, owing to the rate of exposure.

Michael Brooks is passionate about spread betting. Whether it is stocks, exchange traded funds, cfds or indices, Michael keeps his finger on the pulse of the industry.

The Bearish Case For Gold

2011-11-28T10:47:00.000-08:00

Image via WikipediaMany are seasoned to believe that now is the time to start piling all of their money into gold. The world hears the terrible financial news that seems to be coming out of Wall Street each and every day. It is not like things like this can be ignored forever. Individuals feel that they need to be making smart moves in order to preserve and make money in a market like this. One of the classical thoughts is to put money into gold.

Gold has always been thought of as a safe haven investment during turbulent times. It often trades paradoxically to the value of the dollar. The value of the dollar often falls during periods of economic turmoil. Therefore, one would assume that gold should be trading up during times like this. The fact of the matter is that it has. In fact, gold has increased in value during the last 10 years more than almost any time in history. This is the very reason why it is not a great investment now.

We all know that no investment can continue to rise in value forever. The ones that rise the fastest in a short amount of time are often the ones that fall the sharpest when the party is over. Therefore, it is probably not a great idea to put a lot of money to work in gold. However, there is more than just a rapid rise in price that should worry gold investors.

The gold markets are seemingly unstoppable at the moment. They are pricing in a worldwide recession the likes of which could be nearly impossible to climb out of. There are many things that indicate that the price of gold could climb even higher at some point in the future. However, the price right now is already somewhere that it shouldn't be at. It has become the popular trade on Wall Street, and that means that it has climbed even beyond the wildest dreams of those who think that the market is going to decline rapidly.

There has actually been some good economic indicators that have been coming out of Wall Street. These include signs that the employment market is starting to become a little stronger. It is also true that companies are beginning to report stronger revenue. These are just the early signs of a recovery of course, but they point to the idea that the economy may be starting to heal. It will likely be a long time before there is significant sustainable growth, but the early signs are there. With this, the price of gold may well decline as the market gets healthier and more investors decide to take on more risk. There is a significant likelihood that this could be the case in the next 3-5 years.

Gold is simply not the best play to make at a time like this. There are other options available to those who are serious about making a profit in this choppy market. Perhaps even purchasing stocks themselves would be a better move at the moment.

Petrusia Kowal is a commodities trader in Toronto, as well as a music teacher. People often pay attention to one end of the situation, and forget about the other. Be aware of the countless opportunities in a sluggish market. This is the likely the perfect time to refinance your auto insurance. Other financial products like credit cards and mortgage rates also often get quite competitive in such markets. Visit Kanetix to do some comparison shopping, and determine if you're getting the value that you deserve.

Some Common Mistakes that are Made on Tax Returns

2011-11-25T18:41:00.000-08:00

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Filing a tax return is something that many people have no problem but others find quite complicated and stressful. The process is actually quite simple but there are some common mistakes that people tend to make, which can make the processing of tax returns far slower, which can result in delays with any rebates that are due from the IRS.

Familiarizing yourself with the common mistakes that many people make on tax returns can help to make the process easier for you, as you will have a better idea of what you should and should not be doing when you complete your return. Whilst there are many common mistakes that can be made, five of the most common ones are listed below:

Problems with social security numbers: Many people make the very simple yet very common mistake of either missing social security numbers off the tax return or putting the incorrect numbers. Make sure that you check all social security numbers carefully and enter them exactly as they are shown on the social security card

Choosing the wrong filing status: Some people inadvertently choose the incorrect filing status on their tax return. If you are unsure as to which filing status you should use you can look at Publication 501, Exemptions, Standard Deduction, and Filing Information for further information and guidance

Errors with calculations: Even those who are whizz kids with numbers can sometimes make a mathematical error on their tax return. It is important that you double check all of your figures to ensure that they are all accurate. You can make things easier by filing your return online as all of the calculations will be done for you, saving you a lot of time and hassle

Incorrect banking details: This is an easy mistake to make, particularly when you have been completing your form and are probably fed up of looking at numbers! However, if you put the wrong account details you will be the one to suffer, as it will delay your rebate. If you are looking to have your refund paid direct to your bank make sure that you double check the accuracy of your banking details so that processing can be done quickly and easily by the IRS

Failing to sign and date the return: A surprising number of people forget to do the very simple but absolutely necessary task of signing and dating their tax return. Always make sure that you have done this before you submit your tax return

Esther works for an Illinois malpractice law firm and in her spare time is a personal finance and consumer blogger. She writes regularly about small business issues and issues affecting consumers, covering mortgages, savings and taxes.

Stock Carnival Ecstasy - November 10, 2011

2011-11-10T19:22:00.000-08:00

Image by Getty Images via @daylifeWelcome to the November 10, 2011 edition of stock carnival ecstasy. This edition begins with Nathan Richardson and an article on the Top 10 Rogue Traders. The Dividend Growth Investor takes a look at Why Sustainable Dividends Matter. We have an article on Why Trading Systems Are Not Profitable For Everyone from SteveR. And SteveR presents another article on How to Appeal Your Property Taxes. Hope you enjoy the posts, bookmark, share, tweet, like on Facebook and come back soon.

Kristine Ann presents roth ira taxes posted at Roth IRA Rules and Guidelines, saying, "You should diverisfy for taxes just like you would for investment risk. In addition to your company retirement plan, you should also consider investing in a Roth IRA. A great strategy is to invest just enough to get the company matching (if you are lucky enough to work for a company that still offers matching contributions), then invest the rest of your money into a Roth IRA."

other

Bruce Givner presents Blog l Estate And Tax Planning l Asset Protection posted at Law Offices of Givner & Kaye, saying, "Daily insights on estate planning, tax planning, asset protection planning and other matters regarding the representation of high net worth individuals and their closely held corporations."

J.R. Weber presents Chase Slate 0% APR No Fee Balance Transfer Credit Card Offer posted at Smart Balance Transfers, saying, "Consumers seeking ways to reduce credit card expenses typically must pay a 3% transaction fee to obtain a 0% rate. The Chase Slate card removes this hurdle that prevents many from utilizing 0% balance transfers."

Someone presents Commodity ETF Futures Trading - Natural Gas, Oil, Gold and Silver - Contango, Backwardation posted at Metal Energy Blog, saying, "Metal Energy Blog is a reference document for new traders who are interested in leveraged Commodity ETF's"

Chelsea Prescotti presents How To improve Your Credit Score | CreditScore.net posted at CreditScore.net, saying, "Saying that your credit score plays a vital role in whether you can apply to acquire further credit, obtain reasonably priced car insurance, or take out a small business loan for example is a bit of an understatement. It plays an enormous role and it is something that shouldn’t be taken lightly. In short, a credit score helps lenders and credit card and insurance companies, for example, determine the risks involved in lending a borrower/applicant money, credit, or insurance respectively. It also helps lenders and other agencies determine the specific amounts, rates, and terms and conditions to offer a borrower/applicant."

SteveR presents 9 Things to Consider When Choosing an Online Forex Broker posted at Forex Trading System Central, saying, "When you start trading Forex, you automatically become a part of this huge trillion-dollar trading environment."

stocks

Nathan Richardson presents Top 10 Rogue Traders posted at Complex Search, saying, "These traders can make a lot of money – but sometimes they go rogue as mistakes prompt them to hide losses and make big gambles in an attempt to turn the tide. Take a look at the 10 biggest rogue traders."

Carlos Sera presents A Preservation Tale posted at Financial Tales, saying, "http://financialtales.com/financial-tales/high-net-worth-tales/a-preservation-tale/"

Dividend Growth Investor presents Why Sustainable Dividends Matter posted at Dividend Growth Investor, saying, "In order to reduce the risk of dividend cuts, I analyze the sustainability of the dividend payments before I commit any capital to new or existing positions. For most stocks, this means evaluating whether the dividend payout ratio is less than 60%."

Super Saver presents How the Greeks Stole Christmas posted at My Wealth Builder, saying, "The EU debt crisis and the likely Greek default will continue to be damper on the stock market."

SteveR presents Why Trading Systems Are Not Profitable For Everyone posted at FastSwings, saying, "Probably, all the things in this world are based on a difference. Two exactly the same cars turn out to be different in further usage – one of them brakes down faster for some reasons."

tips

SteveR presents Tame the Taxman: How to Appeal Your Property Taxes | 2011 Taxes posted at 2011 Taxes, saying, "Doing your taxes correctly is difficult enough without falling prey to misinformation"

SteveR presents Mortgage and the Emotional Costs Associated With It posted at Debt Consolidation, saying, "Home ownership is a really big responsibility and many people still see owning their own place as a primary goal in life, which can be both a wonderful and a dangerous idea."

That concludes this edition. Submit your blog article to the next edition of stock carnival ecstasy using our carnival submission form.

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Consumers Guide to Commodity Trading

2011-11-03T11:21:00.000-07:00

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Taking a practical approach to trading commodities can be really difficult for some who have preconceived notions that are inaccurate, or really make a negative impact on their morale.

Commodities are unique in that they are (almost always) tangible goods that are bought and sold, there can be price discrepancies on these goods that make them profitable to trade. Such a fact is not lost on the various commodities traders out there who make assumptions about futures and other financial instruments in an effort to bring about successful commodity trading. Unfortunately this can often result in losses if the trader is not experienced enough to make the right call, so it is important that one consider the chances of loss before moving forward with their trade.

Commodities trading often involve the use of equities (stocks) as a type of representation of what a rising or falling commodities price means to their particular profitability. A logging company for instance will greatly benefit from a rising cost in wood, while a company that specializes in electronics that feature precious metals will benefit in a drop of the cost of those metals.

It is these relationships that make commodities trading a natural pairing to occur with the equities market, and indeed it is this pairing that makes it possible for many traders to make a good deal of money. While it might seem like no big deal, this relationship is the beginning of how most private traders make their living from home involving commodities. In order to deal with commodities futures, derivatives, futures contracts, and other instruments you must either become a professional trader or pay someone else such as a CTA to act on your behalf.

If you are going to have another company act on commodity prices for you it is important that you trust this company or individual with your life, since they will be in charge of your money. One wrong move or misinterpreted order and you could find yourself losing a good deal of money, making the effort to avoid this sort of thing should be paramount on your to do list if you are going to employ the use of a third party.

If you want to take on the commodities market on your own it is important to realize that the single best way to do this is through the equities markets. Trading commodities futures online is another way to utilize commodities for trading, but it is a very complicated financial instrument that should never be used by anyone that does not understand what they are doing.

If you are interested in commodities futures you should take it upon yourself to understand this instrument inside and out, it is not nearly as simple as the spot market and if you do not make the right call you will quickly find yourself in some trouble. Taking the time to properly learn your craft before beginning is something that is extremely important, and you need to keep that in mind at all times.

Mark James is an intersted author in the world of commodity trading and investment in order to help investors make the most of their money.If you are interested in reading more about commodity trading and Gold investment, then please visit the following sites:QIA Commodities.com, Gold investment.com and Thisis money.com

Occupy Wall Street: How Will The Public React?

2011-11-02T10:39:00.000-07:00

The Occupy Wall Street movement began in earnest on September 17, 2011 as an anti-corporate, anti-banking demonstration. The ostensible purpose of the Occupy Wall Street movement is to redistribute wealth. Participants in the Occupy Wall Street movement come from a wide variety of backgrounds. Some are recent college graduates, others are unemployed individuals. Still more are anti-government and/or anti-capitalist activists.

Origins:

The Occupy Wall Street movement was initiated when a Canadian anti-consumerist publiction, AdBusters, registered the domain "occupywallstreet.org" on June 9, 2011. Four days later on June 13, AdBusters began to promote an assembly of peaceful protesters on Wall Street in Manhattan.

The movement began getting Internet traction and by August 23, 2011, the hacktivist group "Anonymous" endorsed the movement.
Since that time, labor unions, leftist activists and the reinvented organization ACORN clandestinely started funneling money into the movement. Some protesters actually are paid a stipend to attend.

Objectives:

The Occupy Wall Street movement spread to other cities as the Manhattan protesters began to gather. To date, the various Occupy Wall Street only has one clear, common thread: the reorganization of the American system. However, there is no one "voice". This makes the movement's goals disparate and anecdotal.

Although there is no one resounding message, there are elements of anti-semitism, some of which have appeared in both Internet and television videos. Other messages are that of anti-corporatism, anti-capitalism, anti-war and anti-establishment. Signs and placards displayed by demonstrators taut tax reform, wealth redistribution, displeasure with corporations and government.

The lone thread that is repeated throughout each occupied cities is the "99%". This is supposed to represent the "99%" of citizens set apart for the "1%". Or those who are the majority. However, the message behind the percentage often changes from individual to individual and city to city.

Public Relations:

As a matter of public relations, Occupy Wall Street has had a net-negative affect on the movement itself, rather than its targets. According to recent polling Americans are split on the movement. A CBS News/New York Times poll found that 43% of the public agreed with the sentiment of Occupy Wall Street. In the same poll, 27% of respondents did not agree with Occupy Wall Street. And a full 30% replied they "don't know" if Occupy Wall Street reflected their views. Although the poll's sample included 1,650 respondents, it was a measure of "all adults" and not "likely voters". To spite the movement's call for government intervention, the same CBS News/New York Times poll found 60% of Americans do not trust the government.

Banks and other financial institutions have recently come under fire for not only lending practices but fee increases. Banks claim as a result of the Dodd-Frank bill limiting so-called "swipe fees", revenues had to be made up elsewhere. Although the largest banks in the nation have been the subject of media scrutiny, their customer base remains high. The whole situation has put the banks under "the microscope". Employing a PR Consultancy is essential now more than ever. Though the Occupy Wall Street movement has not adversely affected the business of the corporations it has affected the trust the public places in these old and established institutions.

Photo: Thanks to j-No on Flickr.

Is Equity Release Still Worth It in the Current Economic Climate?

2011-11-02T07:03:00.000-07:00

Image by Getty Images via @daylife

Seniors are often hopeful of attaining a financially secured life with a wonderful house and tons of quality bonding time with their relatives. However, as the years go by, the life they aspire tends to become more difficult to achieve with the constantly increasing gap between the inflation and salary, not to mention the continuous rise in the cost of living. With the current economic climate going to a direction unfavorable to the majority of retirees, equity release may just be the most reasonable option.

Equity release is a system that allows you to get the value of your property albeit having to still live there. This is open for individuals whose age range from 55 to 70. Ultimately, it is a means of increasing pension income for most retirees.

The two main kinds of schemes are the lifetime mortgage and home reversion scheme. The former is where a homeowner is charged an interest that will be rolled up to a lump to be paid when you move out or become deceased. In the home reversion scheme, a company will purchase the entire or part of the property at around 20 to 60 percent of the market value of the estate, and in return, a steady income or cash lump sum would be granted. The company would then sell the property after you are deceased.

Property prices have barely increased in the previous months, and it has been forecasted that real estate prices may roll back by about 20 percent after a couple of years. The 2.8 percent reduction in prices in the past year only emphasizes the distress of a possible downturn.

With the current economic climate, going for equity release is a hard decision to make. However, many experts are hopeful of this year being better than the last, with many lenders coming back in the market. Consumers and the market alike would be more self-assured, though it won’t be affecting the slowdown of property prices.

Change is inevitable in the economic climate, which is why homeowners should consider downsizing in the later years after any equity release scheme, or sell the property entirely and move to a sheltered house or care home. Also, be sure to check if the scheme allows transfer to another estate and if penalties are settled upon closing an equity release plan prior to death. Family members are most affected in the inheritance homeowners are to give to them, so it’s best to consult with them to prevent any possible misunderstandings in the future.

Andrew is a real estate blogger and journalist. He writes on all things to do with property and personal finance as well as small business finance, from managing your taxes through to investing in solar panels.

Stock Carnival Ecstasy - October 27, 2011

2011-10-27T11:28:00.000-07:00

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Welcome to the October 27, 2011 edition of Stock Carnival Ecstasy.In this issue we have Super Saver taking a look at October, and its not historically the worst month of the year to invest. We have the Four best Reasons to Try Forex Trading by Bill Smith. Dividend Growth Investor sees AT&T and Coca-Cola being more expensive than most perceive. And finally The DIV-Net presents an analysis of Genuine Parts Company (GPC). Hope you like the articles, bookmark, share, tweet, like on Facebook, and come back soon.

Michael Donelly presents Get a Better Deal on Insurance posted at www.anotherway.org, saying, "Whether you like it or not, if you own a car or a house, you need insurance – in fact, in the case of car insurance at least, it may be required by law. So there’s no getting away from it – and actually, it’s a pretty good idea, as unfortunately try as we might, accidents do happen..."

other

Super Saver presents October: Bear or Bull Month? posted at My Wealth Builder, saying, "Contrary to popular belief, October is not the worst month to be invested in stocks."

Bill Smith presents Four Reasons to Try Forex Trading posted at Forex Trading System Central, saying, "If you’re considering starting up a Forex trading account of your own, here are four good reasons why you should go ahead and take the plunge."

stocks

Dividend Growth Investor presents AT&T and Coca-Cola are more expensive that you think posted at Dividend Growth Investor, saying, "Many companies however generate one time gains or losses which directly affect earnings per share. As a result, I tend to “normalize” this key indicator, in order to have an objective analysis. Two companies, which appear to have higher earnings per share, due to one-time items include AT&T (T) and Coca-Cola (KO)."

Aussie Investor presents Highest Dividend Paying Shares - The Micro-Caps posted at Australian Investing, saying, "Over the long term dividends make up a large part of a share portfolio's returns. With that in mind, lets see what attractive dividend yields are available to us at the moment. We've already looked at the large caps and the small caps, so now it's time for the micro caps."

The DIV-Net presents Stock Analysis: Genuine Parts Company (GPC) posted at The DIV-Net, saying, "Genuine Parts Co is a leading wholesale distributor of automotive replacement parts, industrial parts and supplies, and office products."

tips

Will presents “The Greatest Trade Ever”, Or How To Profitably Go Against The Herd posted at Former Banker, saying, "When being a contrarian pays off in spectacular fashion!"

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Stock Carnival Ecstasy - October 18, 2011

2011-10-18T13:21:00.000-07:00

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Welcome to the October 18, 2011 edition of Stock Carnival Ecstasy.In this edition we have 20 articles from some of the best financial blogs on the Internet. Mike Piper takes a look at Vanguard’s New LifeStrategy Funds. Charles Chua C K has a great post on Ways to Determine the Worth of a Stock. We have an HELE Earnings Preview from Doug. And finally SteveR presents The Pitfalls Of Doing Your Own Taxes, which includes missing the extension deadline which occurred yesterday. Hope you enjoy the articles, bookmark, share, tweet, like on Facebook and come back soon.

Gordan Smith presents 10 Most Useless Statistics in Professional Sports posted at Internet Provider, saying, "We sports fans love our statistics, don’t we? Get a group of us together and the numbers just start flying. That’s because nothing conveys an understanding of, an abiding reverence for, and an unassailable expertise in, our favorite athletic pastimes than quoting lots of stats."

Everything Finance presents Visa Black Card Review posted at Everything Finance, saying, "The Visa Black Card is a unique card made of carbon, not plastic, that touts impressive benefits for its members, but also carries hefty fees. This card is available for a limited number of members (1% of the American population) and may be a good fit for those who travel frequently and are looking for travel perks."

Sandra Adams presents Historically Low Interest Rates? Not For Consumer Credit posted at Credit Cards for No Credit, saying, "The Federal Reserve Board has promised that interest rates near zero will remain in place through this year and next. Yet consumer credit card interest rates are still usurious. For an economy struggling to free itself from a balance sheet recession and based in large part on consumer purchases, a focus on lowering consumers’ debt burdens by lowering the interest rate paid on consumer debt instead of focusing on the overnight funds rate makes sense."

Michael Donelly presents It’s not Expensive to Prevent Burglary posted at www.anotherway.org, saying, "There are certain cases in which being frugal might actually cost a lot. And one of these cases is related to home security. Hoping that burglary won’t happen is not going to protect you against one of the most common crimes."

other

Mike Piper presents Evaluating Vanguard’s New LifeStrategy Funds posted at The Oblivious Investor, saying, "Vanguard recently announced major changes to their "LifeStrategy" funds. Are the changes positive? And what type of investors should be considering these funds?"

Shoeboxpublish presents The Short Selling of America posted at DCTrader, saying, "The repeal of a little known trading rule back in July of 2007, is shown to be the primary cause for the stock markets extreme volitility in the past few years. Wild swings of 300 or more points have become common place. This article explores why that is, and why stability will not be returned to the markets or the economy - until this little known trading rule is reinstated."

Nathan Richardson presents Benefits and Drawbacks of Credit Score Monitoring posted at Deals & Tips, saying, "For roughly $15-$20 per month, consumers will receive information from the credit bureau monitoring their score showing any changes to that score - is that fee worth it?"

Mark Roberts presents What You Should Know About Federal Income Tax posted at Tax Brackets, saying, "This weeks blog post is a guide on federal income tax. We highlight what income is federally taxed and what deductions you can claim."

stocks

Charles Chua C K presents 7 Effective Ways to Determine the Worth of a Stock posted at All About Living with Life.

Doug presents HELE Earnings Preview, Part 1 - the Kaz Impact posted at The Strategic Investor, saying, "Earnings preview of a deep value consumer staples company. The company reports earnings on Thursday. Part two is already published."

Frank presents Best Swing Trading Indicators | Leaked Stock Trading Tips posted at Leaked Stock Trading Tips.

Nesher presents How TheStreet helps you to become better investor? posted at Internet Stock Trading for Beginners.

John Border presents Gold Stocks List posted at Stock Market Basics, saying, "Gold stocks are a must in your portfolio and these definitely serve as proxy for holding the gold in physical form and help you gain from price rise of gold."

Dividend Growth Investor presents Ten Top High Dividend Growth Stocks for Long Term Returns posted at Dividend Growth Investor, saying, "Dividend Growth Stocks are one of the best kept secret in the investing world. After all, these are high quality companies which have strong competitive advantages that allow them to generate rising earnings over time. As a result, most of these companies generate so much in excess cash flow, that they are able to pay a higher dividend over time without sacrificing long term growth."

The DIV-Net presents Two Industrials Catching My Eye posted at The DIV-Net, saying, "I'm a huge believer in investing in dividend growth stocks. In fact, I'm such a huge believer that I'm going to be investing the majority of my net income into such stocks every single month for the next 11 years."

tips

Paul Stogner presents What is a Good Credit Score? posted at Credit Cards Truthiness, saying, "The majority of the general public doesn’t understand how their credit score is calculated, much less what a good credit score is. Generally speaking, one has to establish a record of timely payments and available credit to increase their score."

Jennifer Hill presents Effectively Balancing Income and Expenses posted at How Does Rent To Own Work?, saying, "When balancing your income and expenses becomes difficult, you will first need to decide to live frugally. This means you need to take control of your finances and learn how to organize them to make you successful."

Deborah Brown presents Frugal Living posted at First Credit Card, saying, "Frugal living doesn’t just consist of the decisions you make before a trip to the grocery store; it is a daily choice that makes up the lifestyle a frugal shopper must live by. There are so many ways you can save money with a slight change in your shopping habits."

Linda Rodriguez presents Jury Bias in East Texas Green Patent Litigation posted at Credit Cards for Fair Credit, saying, "The Eastern District of Texas is known as a great venue for plaintiffs in patent litigation. It has it all. The district has judges who know the issues, rules and courts that get cases to resolve quickly, juries who give out large plaintiffs’ verdicts, and a reputation that increases the risk on the defendants and encourages settlements. But there may be an underlying bias against green technology that may make this venue less appealing for green patent litigation."

SteveR presents The Pitfalls Of Doing Your Own Taxes posted at 2010Taxes, saying, "Doing all your own taxes might seem like an easy enough thing to tug off. You recently draw W-2 form, make the numbers and you really are good to go. However, there are often more to making your taxes than just simple math, and in many cases that could be hard to practise for some people."

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An Introductions to Options Trading

2011-10-18T08:44:00.000-07:00

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The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission defines options as contracts that give purchasers the right to sell or buy securities like stocks within a given period at a fixed price. They are binding contracts whose properties and terms are strictly defined. Although the buyers have the right to sell or buy the securities, they are not obligated to do so.

When the period of an option passes, the contract becomes void. However, a purchaser makes an initial deposit that is not refunded in such an eventuality. On the other hand, the seller is obligated to sell the security in question at the agreed price if the buyer goes ahead with the purchase within the agreed timeframe.

Example
Perhaps someone wants to buy property for $500,000 but does not expect to get the money for 3 months. He gets into an option contract with the seller to make the purchase within 3 months and pays $5000. No matter how much the property’s value rises within the period, he will still buy it at the agreed price. If the buyer changes his mind, however, he will not be forced to buy the property but will lose the $5000.

The Basics
Call: This is the contract that provides the right to purchase a security within a given timeframe at an agreed price. Investors buying calls expect the values of the securities to rise within the agreed period.

Put: This option provides the right to sell a security within a specified timeframe at a given price. Investors buying puts expect prices to fall before the period agreed on expires.

This means the options trading market is primarily composed of 4 types of participants: buyers and sellers of calls and puts respectively. Option sellers are known as writers while the buyers are called holders. While holders are not obligated to go through with their contracts, writers are obligated to do so.

Strike Price: This is the agreed price at which a given security can either be sold or bought. If the share price is more than the strike price, the option is “in-the-money.”

Intrinsic Value: This refers to the amount of money by which a given option is in-the-money.
Premium: This is the total cost of an option.

Types and Styles of Options
Over-the-Counter options involve 2 private parties. They have unrestricted terms and do not get listed on exchanges.
Exchange-traded options are settled in a clearing house. They have standardized contracts that provide more accurate pricing models.

Option styles include American, European, Bermudan, Vanilla, Exotic and Barrier.
Investors use option trading for 2 primary purposes – hedging and speculation.

Looking for advice or options strategies? Sentinel offers a complete range of stockbroking services over Australian listed shares and derivatives. As full service stockbrokers we're able to give advice and make recommendations on buying and selling shares and derivatives.

Stock Carnival Ecstasy - October 4, 2011

2011-10-04T17:14:00.000-07:00

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Welcome to the October 4, 2011 edition of Stock Carnival Ecstasy.In the top 8 stories for the week we start with Ahmad Hassam who has an ETF trading system on How To Trade ETFs For About 10 Minutes A Week. Ken Faulkenberry takes a look at Global Investment Trends. What is Net Asset value? User 'Mutual Fund' has the answer for us. And Jose D. Roncal compares Stocks to Bonds, which is the best for you. Hope you enjoy these articles, bookmark, share, tweet, link on Facebook and come back next time.

Roxanne Porter presents 10 Expenses No Nanny Should Be Expected to Pay Herself posted at Nanny Jobs, saying, "In dealing with financial responsibilities, you will need to decide what is expected of your nanny. Below is a list of ten expenses that nanny’s should not have to pay for, while on the job for their families:"

other

J.R. Weber presents Citi Dividend $200 Cash Back Credit Card Offer Details posted at Smart Balance Transfers, saying, "Credit card companies continue to roll out incentives to consumers. Citibank hopped on the bandwagon with a new $200 cash back promotion."

Mike Piper presents A Request for Vanguard (or Fidelity, or Schwab…) posted at The Oblivious Investor, saying, "Why don't more brokerage firms allow for one-step rebalancing, rather than having to enter a separate transaction for each of your holdings?"

Nathan Richardson presents As Debit Card Fee Caps Come Into Effect, Banks Raise Fees on Consumers posted at Deals & Tips, saying, "Are you ready for the next move in the war on consumers? Banks are preparing to institute debit card fees in response to the caps that are about to go into effect."

stocks

Ahmad Hassam presents The Portfolio Prophet -How To Trade ETFs For About 10 Minutes A Week & Safely Grow Your Investment Portfolio! | Killer Trading Systems posted at Killer Trading Systems, saying, "These Portfolio Prophet FREE Presentations show how to trade ETFs in about 10 minutes a week and safely grow your investment portfolio."

Ken Faulkenberry presents Top Global Investment Trends to Invest In – 2011 posted at Arbor Asset Allocation Model Portfolio (AAAMP) Blog, saying, "There are some of the top global investment trends that should be included in your portfolio asset allocation in 2011 and beyond."

Mutual Fund presents What is NAV or Net Asset value? posted at Mutual Fund, saying, "This article explains what is NAV or Net Asset Value of mutual funds."

Jose D. Roncal presents Stocks Versus Bonds: Which is Right for You? posted at José Roncal, saying, "Anyone about to enter into the market for the first time is probably feeling skittish right about now. Wall Street flailed through an unprecedented crisis while Congress struggled to please everybody in the biggest financial bailout in the country’s history. When things didn’t go as planned, September 29th saw the largest one-day drop in the market’s history. Markets still have not recovered, despite an 11th hour $700 billion rescue plan Congress hammered out to prevent a real catastrophe."

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5 Money Saving Tips for College Students

2011-09-26T13:25:00.000-07:00

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The time you spend in college can be incredibly beneficial. Not only are you getting an education, but you're experiencing first-hand what it is like to live on your own with minimal outside support. While college life can be incredibly exciting, these first few years can have a devastating effect on your financial future if not planned out properly. Here are some financial tips everyone entering college should keep in mind.

Create a Budget

Now is the time to learn how to create a budget and stick to it no matter what happens. You are likely on a very fixed income, based on what you are getting for living expenses from your student loans, from family support, or from what is likely only a part-time job. Make a list of your known expenses, like meals not covered under your university meal plan or gas for your car, and make sure you have enough set aside for these things each week. You'll also want to set a limit on any excess spending you do.

Stick with the Dorms

Many colleges require freshmen to live in the on-campus housing. Other students may prefer the freedom of living in off-campus housing, renting apartments or houses alone or with others. Take a very close look at the expenses involved with both. You may actually find the convenience of living in a dorm to be a bit less stressful, especially during the more intense years of schooling near the end of your degree program. Besides, in a dorm you will not have to worry about the unreliability of others to pay their portions of the bills.

Take Advantage of Student Discounts

You were issued a student ID when you started class, so make sure you use it. There are dozens of places all over the country that give discounts to students. Showing your college ID to your movie theater and local restaurant can save you a considerable amount of money – and those are far from the only places offering discounts, too. Always ask if a student discount is available.

Open a Savings Account

Mom and dad won't always be able to bail you out of difficult financial situations. Start a savings account now and you won't find yourself high and dry the day after graduation. It doesn't matter if you deposit $5 or $50 – adding something on a regular basis will ensure you have some cash on hand when you really need it.

Ditch the ATM Card

Your ATM/debit card may make purchases incredibly convenient, but it also makes it easy to lose track of your expenditures. Use your card to withdraw the cash you'll need for the week and then leave the card at home. You'll have a better visual idea of how much money you have left and you'll be less likely to tap into next week's budgeted cash in advance. You'll also want to make sure you are using a bank that does not charge ATM fees. If your bank doesn't have a local branch near your college you may want to consider switching.

Keep a close eye on your finances throughout your college years. Doing so will ensure you don't end up in debt before you have a decent job and will make transitioning to the working world that much easier.

About the Author: Deborah Blair is a full-time writer with a major focus on personal finance. She writes about saving money, credit repair, and finding secured bad credit loans for those with poor financial histories.

Stock Carnival Ecstasy - September 22, 2011

2011-09-22T19:40:00.000-07:00

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Welcome to the September 22, 2011 edition of Stock Carnival Ecstasy.We have the top 12 articles for the period presented below. Everything Finance has a great post on the Disadvantages of Investing in Treasury Bills. We have an article on CNBC's Virtual Stock Game from Kyle Taylor. Alexander takes a look at Intel. And finally Steve Zussino sees Netflix falling from its 52 week high.

Everything Finance presents Disadvantages of Investing in Treasury Bills posted at Everything Finance, saying, "Many people like investing in Treasury bills because they are generally safe, when compared to other investments. Indeed, even with current economic troubles, Treasury bills are still backed by the most stable taxpayer base in the world."

Sandra Adams presents Improving Your Credit Score posted at Credit Cards for No Credit, saying, "The best advice that you can ever get for having a good credit score is to responsibly handle your credit over a long period of time. For those who haven’t done that, there are a few things that you can do to begin to repair your credit score."

other

Maria Clark presents How is a credit score calculated? posted at Credit Cards for Bad Credit Resource, saying, "The payment history category of the credit score formula considers account payment information, adverse public filings, delinquencies, amount of payments that are delinquent, and the number of past due items."

Tommy John presents Should they Abandon the Alternative Minimum Tax? posted at 2010Taxes, saying, "In recent negotiations on the debt ceiling, one of the considerations under discussion was that Congress remove the Alternative Minimum Tax"

Carlos Sera presents A Required Rate Tale | Financial Tales posted at Financial Tales, saying, "The real question that should be asked is—How much stock should investors hold? Old or young has nothing to do with it. So, how much stock should investors hold? The answer is—as much as required to earn the returns necessary to achieve your goals and is why I call this tale A Required Rate Tale."

stocks

Kyle Taylor presents Win $1,000,000 Playing CNBC's Virtual Stock Game posted at The Penny Hoarder.

Alexander presents Is Intel A Good Buy? posted at Dividend Stocks, saying, "Founded in 1968, Intel Corporation (INTC) has grown into a 104 billion dollar company that today dominates the global semi-conductor industry, providing processors for the PC and server market. It is only second to Korea’s Samsung Electronics, with a market cap of 118 billion."

Dividend Growth Investor presents Dividend Stocks – The safest investment in the world posted at Dividend Growth Investor, saying, "Companies that raise dividends also provide a rising stream of income which retirees could use to live off their portfolios. As a result, investors would not have to worry about selling their growth stocks when the market tanks in order to pay their monthly expenses."

Steve Zussino presents Is Netflix (NFLX) stock headed for the bottom? posted at Canadian Personal Finance, saying, "One of the main reasons I don’t like to invest in technology companies or technology services anymore is that the next ‘big thing’ can come along and convince the consumer to switch brands.

An example is Netflix (NFLX).

Their Unique Selling Proposition is that they are an easy way to view a huge library of videos and you can watch on a variety of devices and you do not need to buy cable anymore at an affordable price."

Mutual Fund presents What is a Mutual Fund? posted at Mutual Fund, saying, "Here is an article that explains in simple terms what is a mutual fund. If you have no idea about mutual funds, this article will explain that."

tips

Deborah Brown presents Secured v. Unsecured Card posted at First Credit Card, saying, "An unsecured credit card is a traditional credit card where the bank issuing the credit card does not require the card holder to make a deposit or otherwise pledge security for the credit line."

Kyle Taylor presents 5 Weird Ways to Make Money Recycling posted at The Penny Hoarder, saying, "Collecting cans for the recycling center is not the only way to make a buck with your recyclables. Check out these 5 new, very weird ways to make extra money recycling…"

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Stock Carnival Ecstasy - September 8, 2011

2011-09-08T16:25:00.000-07:00

Image by Chris Pirillo via Flickr

Welcome to the September 8, 2011 edition of Stock Carnival Ecstasy.In this issue we have 17 stories that you will find interesting dealing with investing, credit, debt and finance. Everything Finance gets us started with a post on budgeting for couples. For those looking to make 401k Withdrawals, Justin Tops has a nice article on what to know and understand. A. Lee takes a look at the resignation of Steve Jobs. And finally, Tim Fraticelli takes a look at the volatility in the markets as of late. Hope you enjoy the articles, bookmark, share, tweet, like on Facebook, and come back soon.

Everything Finance presents 5 Creative Ways To Save Money On Your Cell Phone Bill posted at Everything Finance, saying, "#1 – Employee and student discounts
Most major cell phone providers – including Sprint, AT&T, and Verizon – offer special discounts for employees of..."

Everything Finance presents The Best Credit Cards For Job Seekers posted at Everything Finance, saying, "It might not be the first big thought that enters a job seeker’s mind, when checking out employment ads and scoping around websites such as Monster or Craigslist."

Everything Finance presents The Best Credit Score to Buy a Car posted at Everything Finance, saying, "When you go to buy a car, you want to get the best deal. While getting a good deal does rely on your negotiating skills to a certain extent, getting the most bang for your buck also includes getting a good interest rate on your auto loan."

Everything Finance presents Budgeting Tips for Couples posted at Everything Finance, saying, "The days where your biggest decision as a couple was what movie you were going to watch are over. Now, you are taking a new step as partners – perhaps you have recently moved in together, or are considering starting a family.

Read more: http://www.everythingfinanceblog.com/2010/10/budgeting-tips-for-couples.html#ixzz12RASiXVA"

other

Tarik presents Make Vacation Time Every Day – 3 Steps to Retiring Today posted at Success starts today, saying, "You will never need a vacation again."

Linda Rodriguez presents How has credit grown? posted at Credit Cards for Fair Credit, saying, "The growth in the debt burdened carried by American households began to accelerate in the 90s. Adjusted for inflation, the average family in the 1990s had a debt to income ratio of 85%."

Maria Clark presents Handling Credit Card Debt posted at Credit Cards for Bad Credit.

Mike Piper presents You Call This an Efficient Market? posted at The Oblivious Investor, saying, "Is the extreme volatility of the stock market a sign that it's not an efficient market?"

Marvin Grossman presents Fake Nurses, Fake Patients and Other Strange Credit Card Crimes posted at CardRatings Blog, saying, "The police are searching for a fake nurse who stole some very real credit cards. Fake nurses aren't only out there. Beware of fake patients."

Deborah Brown presents Establishing Credit posted at First Credit Card.

Nathan Richardson presents What is the Average Credit Score? posted at Deals & Tips, saying, "Credit scores are one of the most important factors determining whether or not a consumer will be approved for a loan or line of credit."

Justin Tops presents Making 401k Withdrawals posted at 401k Calculator, saying, "With the economy doing badly, you may be thinking of making a 401k withdrawal. This post outlines some of the things to consider before you do."

stocks

A. Lee presents Apple: Steve Jobs Resigned! posted at CRM Help Desk Software.com, saying, "When the CEO of the most powerful IT companies leaves, the whole industry will see shake up!"

Tim Fraticelli presents Why is the Stock Market so Volatile Now? posted at Faith and Finance, saying, "August has been an extremely volatile month for the stock market. With daily surges and dips will above 400 points, both the media and investors are asking the question “What’s happening to the markets?"

rob quigley presents The Rally the Past Two Weeks Has Been Unconvincing posted at The Chartographer's Map Room.

stefanz presents Stock buybacks and issuing of shares - Investing: Strategy, Risk, Tools, and more... - Skuzet posted at skuzet, saying, "There are several reasons why companies announce stock buyback programs and issue shares. But what are the effects of the stock buybacks and share issuing? In this article, the different effects are discussed."

tips

Dorothy presents Why would I want a secured credit card? posted at Secured Credit Cards.

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A Beginners Guide to Selecting The Right Platform For Trading Stocks Online

2011-08-29T20:11:00.000-07:00

Image by Ed Yourdon via Flickr

It’s a sad fact that very few people will be able to get up one day, take a gentle dip into the investing in the stock market for the first time and make some money. Investing in stocks and shares is a little too complicated for that. With even traders who are long in the tooth having trouble choosing investments sometimes those who are new to the game should always take the upmost care. However, this doesn’t mean beginner investors shouldn’t have a go. Even with the world markets in the state they are in, there is still money to be made from the right, careful investments. But getting those investments right comes down to three or four crucial details – timing, analysis, cool decision taking and lastly, a very good investment broker.

However, of all those attributes, getting a good broker can be the hardest for new investors, mainly because good brokers will cost you a fortune. Whilst brokers can offer you years of experience and knowledge, unfortunately they will also take a large commission that will cut down your profits (should you be lucky enough to make any). Thankfully, nowadays there are all kinds of online trading platforms that can help you with the actual brokerage and trading of your investments. These new online trading systems assist investors by allowing them to buy stocks at a fair price as well as supplying them with the newest and most complete analysis available at the time in order that they can make educated decisions on their investments. Some of the common platforms used by investors are Fidelity, E-Trade and Scottrade. These are popular platforms and each of them have their pros and cons but they have been tried and tested for many years and are a good place to start for new investors. Before you choose one of them read up as many reviews of them as you can find and take advantage of any free trials you can find.

There are certain factors you should weigh up when taking your decision but the main decision should be based on the price of their account fees and who has the lowest margin rates. Once you have narrowed it down to the best value platforms you should then choose one based on how good the staff and support are. Any trading platform worth it salt will have brokers working for them who are happy to help their customers and guide them towards making safe investments.

Lastly, remember that whichever platform you sign on with, it should not be your only investment source and you should only invest money you can afford to lose. Markets can be volatile, especially in the current climate, so if you are new to the game, play carefully.

Alex is a freelance journalist and financial blogger. He loves to write about football and jazz but spends most of his days writing about mortgages, stocks and shares and payday loans.

Stock Carnival Ecstasy - August 25, 2011

2011-08-25T19:11:00.000-07:00

Image via Wikipedia

Welcome to the August 25, 2011 edition of Stock Carnival Ecstasy.This time we start off with a tax story that was popular across the US this past month, Sale Tax Holidays by Robert Moore. Mike Piper takes a look at investing all of your current income into a retirement plan when the markets are struggling. Online Dividends has 5 Stocks that are On Sale. And finally for the next leg up on gold, John Border looks at ways to purchase gold. Hope you enjoy the content, bookmark, share, like on Facebook, Stumble, Tweet and come back real soon.

Robert Moore presents Sales Tax 2011 Holiday Spurs Lots Of Shopping posted at 2011 Tax, saying, "A sales tax holiday is used by many states to spur sending during the month of August."

other

Kyle Taylor presents Get Paid $100 to Name a Company posted at The Penny Hoarder, saying, "There is a new trend called "naming contests" where small businesses outsource their branding to consumers like us. Check out how to enter a naming contest and why it could make you a $100 or more."

Mike Piper presents Does It Still Make Sense to Max Out Your 401k? posted at The Oblivious Investor, saying, "In light of the recent craziness in the stock market, does it still make sense for people to max out their retirement accounts?"

CardWisdom presents Understanding The Chase Sapphire $500 Offer posted at Smart Balance Transfers, saying, "Chase is offering a lucrative $500 sign up bonus on their Sapphire credit card, but this deal is not for everyone."

Kyle Taylor presents Does BP Oil Owe us $6,000? posted at The Penny Hoarder, saying, "I recently found out that I might be owed a ton of money from three different class action settlements. The experience made me realize that I should be on the lookout for others. Here's how I found them and submitted my claim form..."

stocks

Online Dividends presents 5 Stocks On Sale posted at The DIV-Net, saying, "With the drop in the market being the talk of the town, it's not terribly difficult to find value. I could probably put a list of 30 or more stocks that I find particular value in, but I think ultimately you want to stick to your plan. You should always think about allocation, diversification and buying quality on sale."

tips

Jonathan Milligan presents Get Me Out of Debt! posted at Simple Life Habits, saying, "Are you drowning in financial debt? Here are 5 of my favorite tips for turning around your financial situation."

John Border presents How to buy gold in the stock market posted at Stock Market Basics, saying, "The best way to have gold in your portfolio is to buy gold stocks or gold etf as opposed to buying physical gold."

Robert Moore presents Ten Tax Tips For Individuals Who Are Moving This Summer | 2011 Taxes posted at 2011 Taxes, saying, "Keep all of your hotel receipts. You can deduct the money you spent on lodging while moving from one place to another."

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Landmarks in the Forex History

2011-08-21T14:16:00.000-07:00

Image via Wikipedia

Some of the main landmark events in the forex history without which the forex market wouldn’t be the same as we know it today are the so-called Plaza accord and Louvre accord. They had very powerful influence on the principles of modern currency trading.

Plaza Accord or Plaza Agreement is the agreement between the USA, France, Germany, Great Britain and Japan about the coordination of efforts in order to adjust the exchange rates, signed in 1985 at the Plaza Hotel, New York. The essence of the Plaza Accord for the currency market development was the revaluation of the existing exchange rate system.

According to the Plaza Agreement, US dollar was depreciated in relation to the G-5’s and Japanese currencies. This was achieved by these countries’ central banks intervention in the currency markets.

The aims of the Plaza Accord were to reduce the current account deficit in the USA and to drag the US economy out of recession. As a result, US currency was devalued for about a half of its previous value, while European and Japanese currencies were, on the contrary, revalued for 50%.

The key significance of the Plaza Agreement and exchange rate adjustment lied in the cooperation between the world countries in the economic terms. This was the rise of the economic globalization which continued and deepened in future.

The Louvre Accord (signed in 1987 in Paris) is an agreement between the USA, Germany, France, Great Britain, Japan, and Canada about the coordination of G-6’s currency interventions aimed at supporting their exchange rates and stabilizing the US dollar which was depreciating. The Louvre Accord followed the Plaza Accord.

What made the Plaza Accord different from the Louvre Accord is the fact that the Plaza Accord was a trade agreement aimed at currencies exchange rates adjustment to meet the suitable trade levels for all the countries. While the Louvre Accord focused not only on readjustments, but also on synchronization of fiscal and monetary policies within all countries on the macroeconomic level.

There were three goals that the Louvre Accord was striving to achieve: to balance the currency market and thus the whole world economic system, to introduce coordinated world monetary consultations in case US dollar declined more than 5% and to stabilize the monetary system for the least developed countries thus promoting their growth. All these goals were supposed to be achieved in case the world monetary coordination prescribed by the Louvre Accord was consistent and permanent.

The Louvre Accord was the world’s final attempt to establish a fixed exchanged rate – an attempt that failed which proved that no more measures should be taken in that direction. Finally, the world once and for all became aware of the inevitability of implementing the floating exchange rate, in which the market forces of demand and supply form the price for a certain currency in the foreign exchange market.

Alexander Collins is a CEO of Forexeasystems and developer of currency trading strategy ProFx and another auto forex trading software as EA Shark and EA Sigma.

Stock Carnival Ecstasy - August 11, 2011

2011-08-12T14:25:00.001-07:00

Image by Getty Images via @daylife

Welcome to the August 11, 2011 edition of Stock Carnival Ecstasy.This is the first edition with quite a bit of editing, something like a best of carnival. Just too much non-financial articles were submitted so I weeded out the ones that did not match the theme. Robert Moore got us started looking at what corporations pay in taxes in the US, which is zero for some of the larger businesses. Maxim Kazawy has the Highest Dividend Paying Stocks in Professional Services Industry. We have some Forex Investing Myths from Alex Almendes. Finally, Alexander takes a look at the Best Investments For Steady Income. Hope you enjoy all the articles, bookmark, share, tweet, like on Facebook, and come back soon.

Tax Debt Help presents Latrell Sprewell the No. 1 Delinquent Taxpayer in Wisconsin posted at Tax Debt Help Blog.

Robert Moore presents The 2011 Tax Rate For US Corporations And Microsoft posted at 2011 Tax, saying, "In the United States Microsoft paid just under $500 million in taxes, and in other countries, they were paying as low as 7% rates on their multiple billions of dollars in profits."

Sienna Mason presents 5 tips for trading forex « Talking Forex posted at Talking Forex, saying, "Talking Forex is here to teach beginners about the foreign exchange market – introductory articles include 'Just what is a pip?', 'When to trade forex', 'Types of currency pairs' and 'Safe haven currencies'."

other

MoneyThinking presents Meet the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau posted at Money Thinking.

Robert Moore presents Top 5 Online 2011 Online Tax Scams | 2011 Taxes posted at 2011 Taxes, saying, "Tax scams are a new this tax season with a couple additional ways to trick taxpayers into giving over their personal information."

Marvin Grossman presents Inside the Life of Centurion Cardholder posted at CardRatings Blog, saying, "The mysterious American Express "Black" card draws much speculation. A Centurion cardholder tells all about her card."

stocks

Maxim Kazawy presents Highest Dividend Paying Stocks in Professional Services Industry in the S&P 500 posted at Highest Dividend Paying Stocks, saying, "In this article, we will go over 4 highest dividend paying companies in the S&P 500 that are related to providing professional services to other businesses, consumers & customers worldwide."

Dividend Growth Investor presents Dividend Stocks make great acquisitions posted at Dividend Growth Investor, saying, "The dividend growth strategy tries to focus on companies which have strong brands, wide moats and a customer base which is willing to pay a premium for the product or service the company is providing. These quality characteristics allow select dividend stocks to generate growing earnings per share, and generate excess cash flows each year."

tips

Felicia presents Forex Forecast: 1 August 2011 GBPUSD posted at Forex news, trader, forecast, tools and calendar.

Judy Blackburn presents Should You Pay for Identity Protection? posted at Debt Consolidation, saying, "Identity protection varies in services and in price, knowing what you are getting for a monthly fee is important in selecting a good company."

Alex Almendes presents Forex Investing; Myths posted at Financial Tips|Personal Money Management|Investment Guide, saying, "Many people are simply afraid to invest their hard-earned money in the Forex market. Most of these fears are the result of the hearing inaccurate or incomplete. Do not fall into this trap. Read more about myths to be dispelled."

Alexander presents Best Investments For Steady Income posted at Dividend Stocks, saying, "The best investment is a diversified portfolio of stocks, funds and trusts that increase in value while paying steady income."

Judy Blackburn presents Maintaining An Extraordinary Credit Score posted at Debt Consolidation, saying, "If you are looking to secure a loan with a decent interest rate to consolidate debt or purchase a new item, have a good credit score is helpful."

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Technorati tags: stock carnival ecstasy, blog carnival.

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