Investment Tips & Info

What is Loaning Money?

2007-01-18T12:03:00.000+07:00

So the old joke goes: if you lend your brother-in-law $50 and he never talks to you again, was it worth the investment?

The joke may be funny, but experiencing this in real life is anything but funny. Loaning money to a friend or family member is a bad decision.

Someone who lends money to a loved one has their heart - not their head - in the right place. It is okay to give money, but loaning money to someone with whom you have a relationship will lead to broken hearts and broken wallets. Check out the statistics from a recent money etiquette survey:

* 57% of people said they have seen a friendship or relationship ruined because one person didn't pay back the other.
* Almost 50% have loaned $100 or more to help out someone, but 55% don't get repaid.
* 71% lend money to immediate family members, 57% to relatives, and 54% to friends.

One fact not quoted in the survey is that Thanksgiving dinner tastes 100% better when friends or relatives don't owe one another money! Eating with your master is different than eating with your family.

Even some members of MyTotalMoneyMakeover.com feel the pinch. In a recent poll, 51% said they have loaned and never been repaid, 6% said they're in the situation right now, and the remaining 43% don't loan money in the first place.

Loaning money makes relationships awkward. Parents who lend their newly married daughter and her husband a down payment for a house think they are helping out the new family. Soon, however, they are giving the young couple disapproving looks when an upcoming vacation becomes more important than repaying the loan. This leads to nothing but resentment and pain on both sides.

Don't do this to people and relationships that means something to you. If someone is in genuine need, it's great to help. If you help with money, make it a gift instead of a loan. By not having an IOU having over your head, you will keep your relationships strong.

Source: Bankrate.com

This content is provided by Dave Ramsey's MyTotalMoneyMakeover.com. Dave Ramsey is changing the face of America by helping people beat debt and build wealth with his best-selling book, The Total Money Makeover, and nationally syndicated radio show, The Dave Ramsey Show. Read more of what Dave says about cosigning.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dave_Ramsey

Styles of Investment

2007-01-16T10:30:00.000+07:00

While there are a thousand and one investment opportunities you can choose from, there are just only three investment styles. And these investment styles depend largely on your risk tolerance and financial goals. The three investment styles are conservative, moderate, and aggressive.

Again, your risk tolerance and investment goals come into play, when choosing the right investment style. If for instance, you realize that you have a very low risk tolerance, naturally, your investment style will definitely be conservative, or at best, moderate. However, for those with a high risk tolerance, moderate or aggressive investment might be the best choice.

Also, your investment goals could determine your investment style, especially when you believe that risk tolerance does not constitute a determining factor. If for instance your investment is basically targeted at saving for retirement and you are still in your twenties. Obviously, there is nothing to rush about. Conservative or moderate investment could be the right choice. However, if you are concerned with raising money to buy a house in a year or two, you are definitely going to be an aggressive investor.

Let's look at these styles of investment. Conservative investment, just like the name implies basically involved gradually building profit over a long time. Here, the major concern is ensuring that the initial deposit is recovered. In other words, when a conservative investor invests $10,000, he wants to be sure that he will get his $10,000 back, no matter what happens. Conservative investment usually involves investing in common stocks and bonds, interest earning savings account and short term money market accounts.

A moderate investor has a higher tolerance for risk. While a moderate investor will more likely invest like a conservative investor, he is also more likely to reserve a portion of his investment funds for higher risk investments. So, let's say a moderate investor has $10,000 to invest, he is more likely to invest $5,000-$6,000 conservatively, and the remaining sum in higher risk investments.

An aggressive investor understands the rules of the game quite well. He is willing to stake his money to get back some quick profit or lose it all. So, he is capable of taking risks that the average investor won't dare take. Although, aggressive investors do invest conservatively too, however, they stake greater amounts of their money in riskier ventures, usually in the hope of achieving larger returns immediately or over a period of time.

As you can see, your investment patterns largely depend on your goals and tolerance for risk. But it is pertinent to state that whatever investment style or plan you choose, it is a good idea to get yourself acquainted with all the facts and risks involved with the investment. Knowledge makes for better and safer investment.

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Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Andrew_Smit

Small Business and Investment

2007-01-05T02:50:00.000+07:00

State laws have been relaxed to make it easier for small business to raise start-up and growth financing from the public. Many investors view this as an opportunity to “get in on the ground floor” of an emerging business and to “hit it big” as the small businesses grow into large ones.

Statistically, most small businesses fail within the first few years. Small business investments are among the most risky that investors can make. This guide suggests factors to consider for determining whether you should make a small business investment.

Risks and investment strategy
A basic principle of investing in a small business is: Never make small business investments that you cannot afford to lose! Never use funds that may be needed for other purposes, such as college education, retirement, loan repayment, or medical expenses.
Instead, use funds that would otherwise be used for a consumer purchase, such as a vacation or a down payment on a boat or a new car.

Above all, never let a commissioned securities salesperson or office or directors of a company convince you that the investment is not risky. Small business investments are generally hard to convert to cash (illiquid), even though the securities may technically be freely transferable. Thus, you will usually be unable to sell your securities if the company takes a turn for the worse.

In addition, just because the state has registered the offering does not mean that the particular investment will be successful. The state does not evaluate or endorse any investments. If anyone suggests otherwise, they are breaking the law.

If you plan to invest a large amount of money in a small business, you should consider investing smaller amounts in several small businesses. A few highly successful investments can offset the unsuccessful ones. However, even when using this strategy, only invest money you can afford to lose.

Analyzing the investment
Although there is no magic formula for making successful investment decisions, certain factors are considered important by professional venture investors. Some questions to consider are:

Ø How long has the company been in business? If it is a start-up or has only a brief operating history, are you being asked to pay more than the shares are worth?
Ø Consider whether management is dealing unfairly with investors by taking salaries or other benefits that are too large in view of the company’s stage of development, or by retaining an inordinate amount of equity stock of the company compared with the amount investors will receive. For example, is the public putting up 80 percent of the money but only receiving 10 percent of the company shares?
Ø How much experience does management have in the industry and in a small business? How successful were the managers in previous businesses?
Ø Do you know enough about the industry to be able to evaluate the company and to make a wise investment?
Ø Does the company have a realistic marketing plan and do they have the resources to market the product or service successfully?
Ø How or when will you get a return on your investment?

Making money on your investment
The two classic methods of making money on an investment in a small business are resale of stock in the public securities markets following a public offering, and receiving cash or marketable securities in a merger or other acquisition of the company.

If the company is not likely to go public or be sold out within a reasonable time (i.e., a family-owned or closely held corporation), it may not be a good investment for you – despite its prospects for success – because of the lack of opportunity to cash in on the investment. Management of a successful private company may receive a good return indefinitely through salaries and bonuses, but it is unlikely that there will be profits sufficient to pay dividends in proportion with the risk of the investment.

Other suggestions
Investors must be provided with a disclosure document – a prospectus – before making a final decision to invest. You need to read this material before investing.
Even the best small business venture offerings are highly risky. If you have a nagging sense of doubt, there is probably a good reason for it. Good investments are based on sound business criteria and not emotions. If you are not entirely comfortable, the best approach is usually not to invest. There will be many other opportunities. Do not let a securities salesperson pressure you into making a decision.

It is generally a good idea to see management of the company face-to-face to size them up. Focus on experience and record of accomplishment rather than a smooth sales presentation. If possible, take a sophisticated businessperson with you to help in your analysis. Beware of any information that differs from, or is not included in the disclosure document. All significant information is required by law to be in the disclosure document. Immediately report any problems to your state Office of the Commissioner of Securities.

Conclusion
Greater numbers of public investors are “getting on the ground floor” by investing in small businesses. When successful, these enterprises enhance the economy and provide jobs. They can also provide new investment opportunities, but the advantages must be balanced against the risky nature of small business investments.

by: Larry Westfall
About the author:
Larry Westfall is the owner of DIY Investing - http://www.pennystockebook.com

For more info, please visit also :
http://investment-tips-info.blogspot.com/

High Return On Investment Capital

2006-09-27T02:37:00.000+07:00

Many real estate investors make $5,000 to $10,000 or more by flipping houses. These investors buy a home from a distressed seller and resell it quickly for a profit. Just because a seller has serious problems like a pending foreclosure or divorce doesn't mean the house is a fixer. Many distressed sellers offer prime houses in perfect condition discounted for a quick sale.

Distressed sellers jump at the chance to get out from under their overwhelming problems with an offer to close in ten days. To purchase a home quickly, you need to be prepared to offer cash or a have secure loan in place with a reliable mortgage lender.

Other real estate investors prefer to buy fixers from distressed sellers. Distressed fixers present the best investment to make the highest return on your money. For instance, if you put 5 own on a $200,000 home, spend $5,000 fixing the house up, and another $3,000 in payments, your cash investment totals $18,000. If you sell the home for a $70,000 profit like many real estate fixers, you can see that your return on your investment of $18,000 for two months exceeds most other types of investments.

This investment plan assumes that you have the knowledge and skills, time to work on your fixer, and that you sell the house as soon as its finished to a qualified buyer. Home improvement centers help you with how-to classes, brochures, and advice. You need to give up your free time--TV, parties, leisure activities and work on your fixer. You could hire workers, but contractors and laborers work slowly and eat up your profits.

The last part of the equation, selling your house quickly to a qualified buyer means you need to do your homework. Many investors seek free help from a loan officer to price the house right and to qualify their buyers. These investors earn the sales commission by selling their houses by owner.

The most important issue, how you fix up your house, ensures that you quickly attract a buyer willing to pay top dollar for your transformed property. Investors using Design Psychology strategies for fixing houses sell their homes, for more than the asking price, three hours after putting the yard sign out.

Whether you want to make money investing in real estate by flipping or fixing houses, you need to understand your market. To get started in your real estate business, go house shopping. You'll soon learn how to pick up a flip or a fixer and be on your way to making a high return on your investment capital.

Copyright (C) 2005 Jeanette J. Fisher. All rights reserved.
by: Jeanette Joy Fishe
About the author:
Jeanette Fisher, author of Sell Your Home for Top Dollar--FAST! Design Psychology for Redesign and Home Staging, teaches Design Psychology. She also wrote Doghouse to Dollhouse for Dollars and other books. http://www.doghousetodollhousefordollars.comFor a free report, "Design Psychology for Selling Houses," go to http://sellfast.info
OR http://investment-tips-info.blogspot.com/

What is Negative Gearing? – it’s not to your benefit!

2006-09-24T23:58:00.000+07:00

Negative Gearing, what is that? What should I do? The concept of negative gearing has been originally developed to encourage real estate investment in Australia by allowing any income losses from property investment to be deductible from other income as a tax benefit. This means that the taxable income of the owner will be reduced after the deduction and therefore the total tax payable is also reduced.

In view of the fact that many of the profits from property investments are usually obtained as a capital gains at the time when the property is sold, but do not generate positive cash flow from rentals during the course of the holding period, negative gearing therefore came in to address this issue.

You lose either way
However, the flaw with negative gearing lies in its concept as well. If an investment generates a positive cash flow, the increased income will make the investor liable to pay more taxes as well. In the end, the investor loses either way. If he makes money from positive cash flow, he has to pay part of it off in taxes, while negative cash flow will take money out of his pocket. Therefore, with a negative geared property, it is not possible to get a positive cash flow and pay less tax at the same time.

No guarantees on property value appreciation
Investors who are encouraged to put their money into negative geared property should think twice. As these properties are expected to generate profits only through capital gains, the value in capital gains should then be greater than the total losses incurred over the course of the holding period. However, there is no guarantee that the value of the property will appreciate, or at least appreciate enough to cover your losses. Also, you can’t possibly use your expected future profits now as it is not been realized yet.

Beware of attractive property packages
Who gains from this then? Well, investors who are seeking investment property will tend to seek out property developers or sales agents. In order to make a property seem attractive, they are packaged with elaborate financial models with expected returns on investment. However, commissions and profits to the developers have all been packaged into the sale price. With this, investors end up paying premium price for a property with negative cash flow, which is used to pay for hefty commissions to sales agents and developers.

The disadvantage of property depreciations
Another aspect that should be watched out for would be property depreciation for taxation purposes. While it is true that depreciation is applied and is used for tax deductions, however, accumulative tax deductions for depreciation costs on property with appreciating value may cause capital gains taxes to be large. This is because the greater depreciation you apply onto the value of your property, the lower its value will be on paper. Therefore, your difference between the sale price and the book value of your property at the time of sale will be great. This leads to larger taxes imposed onto you.
Do not purchase because of tax benefits
Finally, making a property investment requires careful planning and consideration. Extra caution must be put in especially when a property is projected to generate a negative cash flow. In the end, tax benefits should not the main reason for property purchase. You may end up losing a great deal of money in the end.
For more Mortgage Information In Austrialia, please visit http://www.mortgagemall.com.au

by: Naomi Warne
About the author:
Naomi Warne of Around the Corner Real Estate Dealers, Sydney, has helped her clients with profitable property investments and numerous tax benefits. Having started as a real estate agent, Naomi has established herself as an analyst and property consultant.
For more info, please visit also :
http://investment-tips-info.blogspot.com/

How to Make Money with No Investment?

2006-09-24T02:47:00.000+07:00

It's challenging to make money with no investment capital but when you are starting from scratch you have nothing to lose. With your back to the wall, you can go forward confidently in the knowledge that you literally have little to lose.

In the begining it's a tentative situation. Your first few deals are small potatoes. To make money with no investment is not entirley accurate. Everyone has access to something. Some small amount that will be allocated for wealth building. I think back to when I was starting from scratch and at the time my cynical attitude made it painful, but looking back I remember the experience fondly.

Curiously, all great wealth once began from scratch. To make money with no investment capital is exactly the situation you need to be in if you want to succeed and get that first million under your belt.

You see, it's not how much you started with that counts. It's not how much you have made that counts. What matters is the system. HOW you do it. If that is based on sound principles then you will never fear poverty again.

I could make money with no investment capital if you dropped me in any free City on the planet. I guarantee you within a few months I'd be living well (providing I spoke the language).

Starting from scratch, the first thing I would do is find a market. No money, but I have my self. I can offer a service. As soon as I make a few hundred dollars saved, I would begin applying the principles of opportunity investment. I would trade up and up until I had borrowing capacity.

I would use the leverage that borrowing allows me to manufacture obscene compounding returns in real estate and large ticket items like used trucks and yachts. I would work until I was comfortable, then start spending on myself.

You are in a better situation than my scenario. You have friends, contacts, and knowledge of your town. You have experiences and intimate perceptions of the existing markets in your home town. All you need is the knowledge to make it happen.

To make money from scratch with no investment capital is easy. Don't be fooled into thinking your situation is hopeless. You need knowledge, tools, and skills. It's time you took a real shot at your first million, believe me the second and third will be easy.

"The pain of discipline is less then the pain of regret" -- Martin Thomas

Copyright2005 Opportunity Investor.com
by: Jack Reynolds
About the author:
Jack Reynolds enjoys offering valuable insights about wealth creation. If you want to discover how to build your own money machine and you dont have much money to start with then follow this link http://www.opportunity-investor.com, or http://investment-tips-info.blogspot.com/

What is Stock Market?

2006-09-23T06:28:00.000+07:00

Before you go to next step, you must to know about stock market. A stock market simulation game is a great way to practice your investment skills before actually investing any "real" money in the stock market. Simulation games are usually played on the internet, where people can experience the thrill of investing in the stock market without any risks, costs or any fear of losing money when and if they make a poor investment decision.

Many teachers and professors of banking and finance are now using stock market simulation games to teach their students about the rudiments of investing in stocks. Most stock market simulation games come with a fee to get started, but there are some that are free of any charge. One does not need have prior knowledge about the stock market to join.

This is how stock market simulation games usually work:

First, players must register. After registration, players are given an initial sum of "virtual" money to invest in companies of their choice. Players build a portfolio of stocks by buying and selling shares in companies. Most stock market simulation games use real-time market data.

The objective of most stock market simulation games is simple:

To increase the value of your portfolio of stocks so that it is greater than that of the other game players.

Below are some tips on choosing a stock market simulation game:

• Choose a stock market simulation game that is used and recommended by reputable colleges, high schools, middle school, investment clubs, brokers in training, corporate education courses and any other group of individuals studying markets in the U.S. and worldwide.

• Choose a stock market simulation game that is comprehensive and easy to implement in any Finance, Economics, or Investments class. A good stock market simulation game should feature trading of stocks, options, futures, mutual funds, bonds from the U.S. and many of the world's major markets.

• Choose a stock market simulation game that provides a valuable, reliable, and realistic trading simulation at a reasonable price to members and other individuals who are interested in learning more about investing and trading. The simulation game should also have some capability for testing a variety for investment strategies.

• Choose a stock market simulation game that has a toll-free customer service phone number and excellent e-mail support for members. The support function should be able to quickly answer any questions that members/players may have.

• Choose a stock market simulation game that is easy to use and easy to teach even to those who have never had any real hands-on investment experience.

by: scott morris
About the author:
Morris gathers information about simple trading systemsimple trading system.
For more info, please visit also :
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What is Annuity Help?

2006-09-22T14:43:00.000+07:00

Many people today are looking for annuity help. The biggest challenge seems to be that most of the help is biased. What exactly do I mean? I mean that there is always a vested interest for the person who is helping you with your annuities. They are out to sell you something so you don't know if they are doing it for your best interest or for theirs.

For instance, let's say you were looking for a fixed annuity. If you work with an agent who has a bias towards variable annuities or gets paid more for selling variable annuities, you may end up with something that doesn't fit your needs. Also, if you end up with a banker or financial advisor who does not do a good job at addressing your financial needs and concerns, you may end up with the investment of the day instead of the investment that's right for you. And by the time you realize it, it may be too late.

So how do you get help with your annuity? First and foremost you must help yourself. What is really good is to take inventory of where you are currently and where you want to be. Look at your current investments and your goals. Take a snapshot of your financial situation. This may sound elementary but most people don't do it. But the key is to do it before you seek help from an outside source.

Look, the reason is simple. The more you know going in, the better the chance that you will get what you want. Doing your financial homework is a critical piece of getting the right help. A good financial advisor will ask you to help him understand you so you can help him to help you. This is crucial to your financial future. Getting help with your annuity or your investments means helping yourself first.

The most important aspect of this comes at the time you need to make a financial decision about your annuities or your investments. If you know what you want, you will be able to figure out what you don't want. For example, if you want safety of principal and the advisor offers you a variable annuity, you can easily say no because you know that won't fit your goals. Also, the opposite is true. If you don't know what you want, you may know what you don't want and that may be a good place to start.

The bottom line is annuity and investment help begins with yourself. Understand your financial situation, your time frames, your needs for liquidity, and your goals. The specific investments and annuities you will use to accomplish your goals will come second. The more you help yourself, the more likely it is you will end up with the right annuity. Good luck and remember...

Ignorance is not bliss...

by: Tony Bahu
About the author:
Tony Bahu is the author of the controversial document 'Annuities: The Shocking Truths Revealed.' Learn the secrets that Banks and Insurance Companies Don't Want You to Know. Find out what agents aren't telling you at http://www.AnnuityMD.com, or http://investment-tips-info.blogspot.com/

Let's to Invest Now for Dividends Later

2006-09-20T10:58:00.000+07:00

No matter what age you are or even your level of employment or economic position, it may be a good idea to start preparing now, even in a meager way, for eventual financial security. Some people feel they need every dollar they make to get by from one paycheck to the next. While this may be true for some, there are others who squander significant sums on insignificant things. They could be socking that money away into an investment account that, over time, could lead to huge savings and a comfortable retirement.

It isn’t hard to get started. All you need is $100 to $500 to open an account, and anywhere from $25 to $50 monthly to continue building your stock or mutual fund portfolio. In fact, a young person aged 20 could deposit $2,000 and then not another dime. In forty years he or she might have tens of thousands of dollars. The stock market has followed fairly predictable patterns since its inception in the 1800s in New York City. Although historic events like the Great Depression and several global wars have impacted its activity, the gains and losses remain fairly consistent, with most investors earning a predictable return on their investment.

Of course, no one can predict what the future holds, or whether the pattern will continue. And none of us should invest more money than we can afford to lose—just in case the world economy crashes one of these days. But with steady deposits that continue to compound and earn interest over time, a sensible and prudent investor can substantially increase the amount of money going for retirement or a dream vacation at some future point.

If you are thinking about opening an investment account, do a little online browsing for more information. Visit sites like E-trade or Scott’s Trades to see how the process works. Start reading your newspaper’s financial pages for details about the latest stock prices and market trends. Do a little paper trading by following the daily stock news. Instead of actually purchasing stock, however, work it out on a piece of paper by pretending to buy a certain amount of stock for the specified price and then watching to see how it performs over the following week. Chart your gains or losses to figure out whether your stock deal was successful. If you do this for several months, you will soon learn to understand more about the stock market and how to buy and sell like the pros.

Even if your budget is tight, try to set aside a little money to open an investment account from any windfalls that come your way from job bonuses, inheritances, or cash gifts. Some people set aside their annual job raise, or part of it, as part of their investment strategy. Then, as your budget becomes looser with paid-off bills or grown-up kids, you may be able to start having a standard monthly amount deducted automatically from your paycheck and deposited into your investment account. This could take the form of a Roth IRA (individual retirement account), a money market fund, a mutual fund portfolio, or individual stock shares.

It probably is a good idea to take an investment class at the community college or sign up for a financial planning seminar. Success may be just a few years away if you start now and plan right.

by: Charles Kassotis
About the author:
You can find more great investment information at http://www.investmentcentral.com

For more info, please visit also :
http://investment-tips-info.blogspot.com/

Market Failures

2006-09-18T15:00:00.000+07:00

Why is it that we are often besieged by such painful downslides of economic activity such as Great Depression or the nerve wracking periods such as Stagflations? Why can’t we all be always happy with hundred percent employment all the time, with each and every one of us employed? The following article provides simple and complete Business Cycle explanations to Depressions before 1930s, Recessions after 1940s, Stagflations of 70s and Continuous Booms of 80s and 90s.

The following is the most comprehensive ever explanation to the most mysterious phenomenon of Capitalism – the Business Cycles. In order to ensure that the article can be read by any well educated reader, I have minimized the economics jargon and have added a short and simple introduction to the structure of the economy. Each and every one of us would be interested to know as to why we cannot have a paradise on earth.

The income that we earn is normally divided into two portions, Consumption and Savings. We normally consume a large portion of the income we earn for our day to day necessities as well as irregular buys. Regular necessities include food, clothing, toothpastes, soaps and other daily necessities. Irregular buys include bikes, cars, books, movies, music and so on. After we spend most of our incomes on Consumption, we save a small portion of our income and invest it in shares, bonds, fixed deposits and other long term investments.

In direct relation to our above mentioned activity, our economy is divided into two sectors – Consumption sector and Investment sector. If we exclude the government spending, Consumption sector constitutes roughly around 80% of the size of economy. It includes everything that we buy – food, clothing, cars, bikes, TVs and other durable goods, books – every thing. And around 20 percent of the size our economy is constituted by the Investment sector. Investment sector mainly includes activities such as installing new plants and capacities, and housing. A three sector model would also include government spending as well. However free markets have more to do with these sectors and less to do with Government Spending, so let us exclude governemnt spending. The figures given above are only approximate and can vary sizeably from economy to economy.

So how are profits made by the Consumption sector manufacturers? In any economy, Consumption sector always produces in excess of its requirements – it produces surplus. Consumption sector capitalists as well as households also save a certain portion of their income. Investors invest these Savings in the Investment sector. So these Savings turn into the earnings of the Investment sector capitalists and workers. The workers and capitalists of the Investment sector then spend their earnings on the consumption goods. So basically the surplus production of the Consumption sector is consumed by the workers and capitalists of the Investment sector. Therefore in a circular flow monetary economy, the income of the Investment sector becomes the profit or surplus of the Consumption sector firms. There is a small assumption that is made here on which I shall allude to at the end of the article.

So there are two things that we have to note here. First the size of the investment sector decides on the size of the profits of the Consumption sector. If there are huge Investments made, the Consumption sector capitalists make huge surpluses or profits and if the size of the Investment sector is on the lower side, the Consumption sector capitalists would make lower surpluses or profits. Also all of the Savings made should always be invested. If Savings are made but are not invested, then it would lead to a lower size of Investments and lower profits. Insufficient profits would force the producers to cut down on their production levels and this would directly lead to rising unemployment and recession! It is a long recognized economic thought that Savings made should be compulsorily invested fully so that the economy can be in equilibrium. If the Savings made are not invested fully, it can lead to disequilibrium between Supply and Demand and can lead to piling up of unsold stocks of inventories and a subsequent recession.

With the above short introduction to the structure of our economy, we are ready for a small journey into the fascinating world of Business Cycles.

Our economies are rarely ever static. They keep growing in size every year. Now in a growing economy Consumption also grows. Year on year more cars are purchased, more televisions are bought, more computers are installed and so on. It is natural that when Consumption grows by say 6%, the suppliers would expect their surplus also to grow by 6% because surplus, which is called profit in the business parlance, is obviously measured in percentage terms. However the surplus production has to be consumed by the workers of the Investment sector which obviously means that even Investment would have to grow by 6%. However this would mean that Savings, which is the fund for Investment, would also have to grow by 6%. What would happen if Consumption grows by 6% but Investment or Savings do not grow by an equivalent percentage? To the extent of the inequality, producers’ surplus would remain unsold and the economy would be in disequilibrium. So the equilibrium condition of the economy would be –

Periodic Growth percentage of Consumption = Periodic growth percentage of Investment = Periodic growth percentage of Savings.

Suppose during a particular period, there was a perfect equilibrium in which Consumption was C, Investment was I and Savings was S. Suppose during the next financial period C grows by a certain X percentage points. Then S and I would also have to grow by the same X percentage points. Suppose either I or S does not grow by X percentage points, the economy would be in disequilibrium even if Investment is equal to Savings!

Here in lies a blue print for different types of Business Cycles.

A normal characteristic of any recession is the presence of huge un-invested Savings. Investors hoard money without investing it because of lack of investor confidence. At the trough or the lowest point in a business cycle, Consumption is relatively low and Savings are relatively high, especially un-invested Savings. Then as economic activity picks up, all of the Savings are invested and the producers of the Consumption sector would be able to realize their expected surpluses. The size of Investment sector is equal to the surplus of the Consumption sector. Since Savings are high and are fully invested, the producers of the Consumption sector would be able to realize huge surpluses. Economic activity picks up a roaring speed.

As economic activity picks up, there starts a battle amongst the producers for market shares. For example, each car manufacturer wants to sell as many cars as possible. He would not think – let me produce less cars now, let me save and invest more for later. So as the battle for market share picks up, Consumption accelerates at the expense of Savings i.e. Consumption grows at a faster rate than Savings. Our above mentioned condition tells us that for equilibrium to exist, Consumption and Savings have to grow at an equal pace. So if Consumption grows at a faster pace than Savings, would this lead to disequilibrium immediately? This may not immediately lead to disequilibrium because producers would obviously not keep expecting to earn abnormally high profits the way they earned in the initial stages of the boom. Their expectations are also geared towards comparatively lower profits or what is called as normal profits as the boom progresses and therefore lower growth rate in Savings vis-à-vis Consumption would not immediately damage their expectations of surplus. This way the boom progresses from the trough to the peak for a few years.

After a few years of growth of Consumption at a faster rate than Savings, the percentage of Savings in the income would drop so low that Savings are not sufficient to meet the expectations of surplus of the producers of the Consumption sector. Even if Savings are fully invested, this does not generate the surplus as expected by the Consumption sector because of the lower size of investment and would lead to disequilibrium. Producers see their unsold inventory stock piles rise and their profits dwindle. The situation needs correction. Consumption needs to be cut and Savings need to be raised. As they are not able to sell their goods, the producers of Consumption sector would be more than willing to do so. They cut their production and increase their Savings.

However the required correction might not materialize! The very objective of capitalist economies is Consumption. If Consumption is on the decline, we cannot expect Investment to increase. We cannot have fewer bikes sold as compared to previous year and at the same time have much higher Investment in the bike sector as compared to the previous year. A cut in Consumption might increase Savings but would not raise Investment. Investment follows the path of Consumption and it itself starts in the downward trend. As a result the increased Savings are not invested and the disequilibrium takes on a relatively permanent position and we have a recession! There are no automatic forces to ensure immediate correction. What started with a cut in Consumption to increase Savings leads to a fall in Investment. This drop in Investment leads to a further depletion of aggregate demand which then prompts the producers to cut their production levels even further. Consumption declines even further and the spiral continues until the economy settles at a low output with a lot of unemployment. This sort of downward spirals were recognized by the eminent British economist John Maynard Keynes. Eventually, after a few years of low output, some invention or some enthusiastic entrepreneurs who are attracted by prevalent low interest rates might trigger Investment to reverse its downward path and start the process of expansion all over again. I believe that most recessions in US and Europe after 1940s occurred in this way. I would call these cycles – the Consumption led Business Cycles.

by: R Thotakura
© 2005 Thotakura R,US registration:TXU 1-256-191

About the author:
Thotakura R is the originator a new revolutionary economic model called "Threeway Economics" that demystifies the longstanding mysteries of capitalism to a great level of detail including Business Cycles,Inverted Yield Curves,Inflations,Price/Wage rigidities. To learn more, Visit his site at: http://www.threewayeconomics.com

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Picking An Asset Management Team That Is Right For You

2006-09-17T13:14:00.000+07:00

You can find the right team to manage your physical assets by evaluating three essential areas of any investment firm. These essential areas are philosophy, process, and performance.

Becoming successful in business is not a “my way or the highway” type of deal. Finding the perfect investment firm to manage your assets shouldn’t be either. Because there are so many industries, so many investors, and so many different strategies of success, picking the right asset management team can be an overwhelming task. However it doesn’t have to be.

Investment philosophy is extremely important in choosing the right asset management team. Different investors have different philosophies on asset management. Some investors focus on small assets with high growth potential. Other investors focus on large assets that are extremely valuable. It is up to you to decide which investment strategy best suits your needs.

Next to philosophy on asset management is process. How does your asset management team approach investing? Are portfolio management decisions made by a single person or by a collective group? What criterion is being used to base asset management decisions off of? Is this criterion being researched by competent experienced analysts? The answers to these questions give valuable insight into the processes used by your asset management team.

The last essential area you should be aware of when choosing a firm to manage your assets is performance. Look at the performance record of your asset and investment manager. Find out the risk levels and earning potentials of your portfolio and compare your findings with the performance level of your investment manager.

Does your asset manager have a performance history of taking mid-level risks that have optimized earning potential for previous clients? Does she believe that a well diversified blended portfolio is the best way of maximizing your investment for the long haul? Is your financial advisor available to answer your questions when they arise?

Understanding what you are looking for in an asset management team and balancing that knowledge with an investment firm’s philosophy, process, and performance will help ensure that your asset management team has your best interests at heart. By doing this basic research and examining these three areas, you can rest assured knowing that your assets are in capable hands.

by: Jennifer Harper
About the author:
Jennifer Harper is author of “Everything Home” and “Money Management for Millionaires.” You can find additional material on asset management by browsing the informative asset management resources available at http://www.asset--management.info

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How to FInance your Real Estate investment Properties

2006-09-16T08:53:00.000+07:00

Real estate investment financing is way more creative and offers more options than you think, unlike traditional residential real estate mortgages. The golden rule in real estate investment is OPM (Other People’s Money).

I have enough money; shouldn’t I buy my real estate investment for cash? No, I absolutely advice against investing large sums of cash into a single real estate investment. There are two reasons why not. First, you give away most of your profits by not leveraging your real estate investment. Second, it is far too risky to put every egg into one basket.

Let me explain the leverage issue for a moment. I will give you an example of a $100,000 investment property that typically increases its value (appreciates) by 7% average a year. Maybe more, maybe less depending where you live. Paying all cash for this property will yield in a 7% appreciation profit plus the net profit from renting the place. Now you’re looking at roughly 15% of returns.

If you’re conservative with your investments you might be satisfied with this kind of a return. These days you might get equal or better returns with other conservative investments minus the hassle of being a landlord. But you don’t mind being a landlord, because you understand and utilize the leveraging method with financing your real estate investment.

With the example above you will make roughly $15,000 a year in profits from your investment. Now let’s take a closer look at what leveraging can do for you. Today a typical real estate investor can get financing as high as 95% - 97% of the purchase price. Occasionally 100% financing is available as well. But this would be totally unfair in this example to compare this with all cash purchasing.

15% return sounds like a lot, but wait till you see this. Let’s assume that the rental income will cover all your expenses including the mortgage payments. Taking the same example from before your net return would be the 7% appreciation profits of your property. This would translate into a $7,000 a year profit. With a 95% financing in place you would get $7,000 return on $5,000 (your 5% down payment) invested. This is a whopping 140%
return on investment.

With the same $100,000 you can go out there and get 20 investment properties, finance 95% of it and make an amazing $140,000 profit a year. This beats the projected $15,000 profits with an all cash transaction any day.

Of course you will have a lot of trouble to get financing for 20 properties in a single year. Typically 5-6 new rental property mortgages are the maximum lenders will allow these days. This is the signal to get creative with your financing structures.

In this case sellers financing would be your key to achieve your goal of maximum leverage of your investment dollars. Despite the message from all these late night infomercials, seller financing is harder to get than they want you to make believe it is.

It all depends on the seller’s ability to offer seller financing and the seller’s motivation. Only about 1 out of 20 properties for sale are able to get seller financing. That means that there’s no mortgage balance on the property. From this narrow selection the seller must be motivated to sell under these conditions. This could be tax reasons, time constraints, personal reasons and many more.

As you can see this translates into a lot of work to achieve your goals. But let me tell you one thing. This separates the tire kicker real estate investors from the real go-getters. Wouldn’t you agree that a little bit of hard work and determination is well worth it to build a real estate empire?

I think it is well worth the trouble and hard work. At the end of the day you keep building your real estate investment portfolio and sooner than later you will be able to cash in.

by: Peter Dobler
Copyright 2005 Peter Dobler
About the author:
Peter Dobler is a 20+ year veteran in the IT business. He is an active Real Estate Investor and a successful Internet business owner. Learn more about real estate investments at http://www.suncoastrenttoown.comor send a blank email to mailto:suncoastrenttoown@getresponse.com

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Market Simulation Games Best Stock

2006-09-13T17:54:00.000+07:00

Scott morris said that a stock market simulation game is a great way to practice your investment skills before actually investing any "real" money in the stock market.

Simulation games are usually played on the internet, where people can experience the thrill of investing in the stock market without any risks, costs or any fear of losing money when and if they make a poor investment decision.

Many teachers and professors of banking and finance are now using stock market simulation games to teach their students about the rudiments of investing in stocks. Most stock market simulation games come with a fee to get started, but there are some that are free of any charge. One does not need have prior knowledge about the stock market to join.

This is how stock market simulation games usually work:

First, players must register. After registration, players are given an initial sum of "virtual" money to invest in companies of their choice. Players build a portfolio of stocks by buying and selling shares in companies. Most stock market simulation games use real-time market data.

The objective of most stock market simulation games is simple:

To increase the value of your portfolio of stocks so that it is greater than that of the other game players.

Below are some tips on choosing a stock market simulation game:

• Choose a stock market simulation game that is used and recommended by reputable colleges, high schools, middle school, investment clubs, brokers in training, corporate education courses and any other group of individuals studying markets in the U.S. and worldwide.

• Choose a stock market simulation game that is comprehensive and easy to implement in any Finance, Economics, or Investments class. A good stock market simulation game should feature trading of stocks, options, futures, mutual funds, bonds from the U.S. and many of the world's major markets.

• Choose a stock market simulation game that provides a valuable, reliable, and realistic trading simulation at a reasonable price to members and other individuals who are interested in learning more about investing and trading. The simulation game should also have some capability for testing a variety for investment strategies.

• Choose a stock market simulation game that has a toll-free customer service phone number and excellent e-mail support for members. The support function should be able to quickly answer any questions that members/players may have.

• Choose a stock market simulation game that is easy to use and easy to teach even to those who have never had any real hands-on investment experience.

About the author:
Scott Morris manages his personal site on stocks investments and venture capital investments http://ceoinvestments.comfor more information, you can visit http://ceoinvestments.com

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Small business investments

2006-09-12T18:33:00.000+07:00

How to Start an Investment Club - Business Model

2006-09-11T17:14:00.000+07:00

Your investment club will need to decide what type of entity you're going to adopt for business purposes. You'll have to decide whether you're going to be a corporation, a general partnership, or limited liability partnership.

Each of these business models has their own advantages and disadvantages.

· Corporation. Most investment clubs will avoid becoming a corporation. This is because corporations are taxable business entities that require knowledgeable accounting skills to make them run smoothly and in accord with government regulations. A corporation generally means a lot of paperwork. This paperwork can be avoided by choosing another business model for your purpose of running an investment club.

· General partnership. This type of business model requires less paperwork and knowledge about taxes and other financial issues. Most investment clubs choose a general partnership as their choice of a business entity. A general partnership has nominal paperwork and costs associated with it because the taxes are passed to each partner's tax returns. This type of business model will let you accomplish what you need to do to run your investment club with the least amount of tax influence.

· Limited liability corporations. This type of a business model is much like the general partnership but it gives individual members of your investment group a bit more liability protection. Keep in mind that this type of business entity can be expensive and will need more paperwork.

Members of your investment group will have to decide which of the above business models works best for your club.

You will have to make a decision one way or the other since establishing a business entity is a requirement for tax purposes.

by: chris hickman
About the author:
Chris Hickman owns a full info site about investment clubs. Check Out his site at http://www.ez-investment-clubs.com

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Investment Property : What You Need to Know Before You Buy

2006-09-10T16:46:00.000+07:00

Welcome to the second portion of a two-part series on investment property. In the first installment, “How Not to Become a Slumlord”, we discussed a little of what it takes to own and operate a property as well as some of the do’s and don’ts of the property management trade. In this second segment, we will be discussing some pre-investment principles that will help you maximize your ROI.

There are three basic principles of investment property that you should know before you buy an investment property in order to avoid overpaying:

Time
How long do you plan on owning the investment property? As with stocks and bonds, the value of your investment may change significantly during the time you own it. While most real estate will appreciate in value over time, there are frequent fluctuations in the short-term market. If you plan on selling your investment property after less than five years, be prepared to accept the investment risk inherent in a shorter time horizon. This is especially true if you bought your property in an overheated real estate market. If this is the case, you could find yourself losing money if the market has taken a temporary downturn, especially if you’ve had to make major repairs to the property.

If you plan on owning the property for the next twenty to twenty-five years, it’s almost certain that your investment property will appreciate in value. There’s also a good chance, however, that you’ll have to make major repairs like replacing the roof, wiring system, or major appliances like a water heater or refrigerator. Of course, these repairs will be offset by the fact that you’ve had/will have twenty plus years to recoup the cost. If on the other hand, you’re only planning on owning an investment property for the next five years, buying a “fixer up’er” can eat up all the profits you would have made during your shorter investment horizon.

Networking
If you want the best deal possible on an investment property, than there are some people you’ll want to be friends with. City hall clerks and bank employees may know what properties will be available on foreclosure and when they will go on the market. Real estate agents usually know everything real estate related within their respective territory. Some prospective landlords even run ads in local newspapers.

Many individuals interested in entering the investment property market may even join local landlord or investment property owners organizations. These types of organizations hold regular meetings where you can get the inside scoop on what’s for sale in your area. The National Real Estate Investors Association is an online organization that provides a wealth of information and resources to potential investment property owners.

Financial Preparation
Get your finances in order. The less debt you have when you walk into your local lending institution, the better loan you’ll get. This is common sense, but it’s even more true for those seeking financing for an investment property. This is because lenders know that people are much more likely to default on a rental property than on their own homes. This means that the bank will demand a larger down payment and higher interest rates that you may have expected. It’s also a good idea to have some extra cash left over to make unforeseen repairs should they arise.

By wisely choosing an investment property time horizon, making contacts in the investment property community, and preparing proper financial means, your investment may become a significant means of supplementing retirement and other savings accounts.

by: Cameron Brown

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Do you want to generate extra dollars and new friends in the stock market?

2006-09-07T01:01:00.000+07:00

What is an Investment Club?

The definition of an investment club is simple: a group of people who share an interest in the stock market pooling their resources into one large investment. Defining how an investment club works is more complicated.

The majority of the time the investment decisions will be made after some research has been done regarding the stock that is under consideration. This will be discussed at length further in this book.

An important feature of an investment club is that the members are there to have fun as they invest their money and learn about the stock market. Making a profit isn’t the only goal of the club and members are encouraged to have fun as they invest their money.

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by: Alice
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How Investment Plans Work

2006-09-07T00:23:00.000+07:00

More people are choosing investment plans than ever before. With the rising cost of living and the growing insecurity about the availability of many retirement funds, many individuals are looking to investment plans to begin a nest egg or to make some additional money via investment without having to spend a lot of time purchasing stocks and bonds.

Investment plans allow individuals to simply purchase a specific amount of stocks, bonds, or indices on a regular repeating basis, cutting out a large part of the hassle while allowing for some of the main advantages of investment.

If you've been considering an investment plan but aren't completely sure what they might entail, the following information might help you to decide whether or not an investment plan is the right investment option for you.

The Mechanics of an Investment Plan

Basically, an investment plan is a method of making multiple investments over time at regular set intervals. The funds for the investment are taken from a cheque, savings, or money market account automatically, and are used to purchase stocks or bonds that you have decided upon beforehand. In most cases you can change the amount, frequency, or purchased stocks or bonds of the automatic investments at any time, though depending upon the broker through whom you're doing the investments you may be subject to fees or penalties especially if changing details relatively close to the next investment date. Most online investment firms offer investment plans that you can change at any time free of charge.

Deciding How Much to Invest

When deciding how much to invest each cycle with an investment plan, you should take care not to overextend your funds and bring yourself up short. Make sure that the amount that you choose is available and that you'll have it to spare each time your investment comes up. it can be difficult to plan for events in the future, and just because you have a surplus now doesn't mean that you won't find money running tight a few investment cycles from now.

If you feel that you're reaching a point where you won't be able to afford your regular investment, go ahead and reduce the investment amount or put a hold on the next scheduled investment. better to put less in than short yourself afterwards.

Choosing What to Invest In

Making the decision of which stocks and bonds to invest in can take some time, but it's worth it. this is your money that you're dealing with, and you shouldn't invest it without putting some thought and research into your decisions. Find stocks or bonds that have performed well over time, and that are likely to continue doing so. they may be expensive at times, but you aren't making your total investment all at once so it doesn't matter as much.

Don't be afraid to add new stocks or bonds to your plan later, either. this can help to diversify your portfolio.

Deciding On an Investment Interval

You also need to decide how often you wish to make your investments. this will largely depend upon the cycle of your paycheques and your monthly bills and expenses. You may decide to invest once per month, after everything has been paid, or you might want to invest a little from every paycheque.

The more often you invest, the lower the amount of each investment can be. after all, two or four small investments per month might end up purchasing more than one larger one.

Decide on what works best for your lifestyle, and modify it as needed later if it doesn't seem to work out for you.

by: John Mussi

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