This week on “Your Money Your Choices”, the Money Q&A podcast, we talk to Rob Aeschbach who is a veteran, financial planner, and personal finance blogger who is passionate about helping people take control of their finances. He’s the publisher and lead writer of the personla finance blog, RobAeschbach.com. In the podcast, Rob talks about why everyone needs an estate plan, the essential tools that you need, and helps to answer your estate planning questions.

Over half of all young parents in America do not have a last will and testament. They often think they do not need an estate plan, that it is too expensive, or that they just want to hide their heads in the sand and pretend they aren’t going to die. Baby Boomers are even worse about estate planning with over 40% of the generation neglecting to even have a will. A will, of course, is just one critical tool in an overall estate plan that everyone should have. There are other tools you need as well in your estate plan.

Join us as we talk to Rob Aeschbach, who is a financial blogger and financial planner who is the publisher of the popular website, RobAeschbach.com. Rob is a former Marine and a no nonsense financial planner who gives it to you straight. You won’t want to miss this great conversation about how everyone should have a will and the other critical pieces of a basic estate plan.

Interview With Feedly’s Founder

Additionally, I interview Cyril Moutran, who is the lead creator and founder of Feedly. Feedly allows you to organize your favorite blogs, news sites, podcasts, YouTube channels, and more in an RSS Reader. You can access all of those items in one place through your web browser, smartphone, iPad, and more. Many people do not realize that Google Reader is ending this summer. Google is shutting down the Google Reader on July 1st, 2013. With Feedly, you can migrate your Google Reader account and continue reading the blogs you love to follow with this great RSS reader. You won’t want to miss my interview in this episode with Cyril Moutran about all of the incredible features of Feedly.

Roth IRAs, CDs, stocks, insurance, your 401K . . .what are the right choices for your financial future? Your Money: Your Choices will clear out the cobwebs and confusion surrounding these concepts and more with clear and concise information. You’ll hear tips and tools that you can put into action right now to help save your hard earned income in way that will protect your future for a healthy retirement. Whether you are a single mom or a father of five, “Your Money: Your Choices” will get you on track and put your money back in your control where it belongs!

Past Episodes Of “Your Money  Your Choices”

• Episode #7 (5-20-13) - Why Everyone Needs To Have A Will And An Estate Plan
• Episode #6 (5-6-13) - Increase Your Investment Return With Peer-To-Peer Lending
• Episode #5 (4-22-13) - Living Your Life And Completing Your Bucket List
• Episode #4 (4-8-13) - How To Incorporate Your Values Into Financial Planning
• Episode #3 (3-18-13) - You Need A Side Hustle To Earn Extra Income
• Episode #2 (3-4-13) - Conquering Your Debt With The Debt Movement
• Episode #1 (2-18-13) - Everyone Should Be An Entrepreneur

The post This Week’s Podcast: Essential Estate Planning Questions and Answers with Rob Aeschbach appeared first on Money Q&A.

It is my great honor to host this week’s edition of the Carnival of Retirement. It is the 71st Edition of the Carnival of Retirement. There is a a ton of great personal finance and retirement specific articles this week in the Carnival of Retirement. You don’t want to miss them.

Roger Wohlner @ The Chicago Financial Planner writes Stock Market Highs and Your Retirement – Over the past 13 years we have seen two market peaks followed by pronounced market drops. As someone saving for retirement what should you do at this point?

Dividend Growth Investor @ Dividend Growth Investor writes Procter & Gamble (PG) – A dividend stock to hold forever – The Procter & Gamble Company (PG) provides consumer packaged goods in the United States and internationally. This dividend aristocrat has paid uninterrupted dividends on its common stock since 1891 and increased payments to common shareholders every for 57 consecutive years.

Darwin @ Darwin’s Money writes What’s a Stay at Home Mom Worth? – What is a stay at home mom worth? It’s a tough question to answer and this recent study thinks they have the answer. I beg to differ. Weigh in on how you’d value moms.

AxeMan @ Axe Debt writes Why Credit Cards Are Not For Everyone – Credit cards are not bad in and of themselves. Millions of people use them responsibly every day and even pay them off each month. However, for some people having a credit card can be a bad idea.

Jules Wilson @ Faithful With a Few writes A Neighborly Gesture – A short phone call and a small gesture made a huge difference in the relationship between us and our neighbor. How can this apply to your relationships?

Jules Wilson @ Fat Guy, Skinny Wallet writes I’ve Been Having A Horrible Time Lately – My wife and I have both been having a rough time both physically and mentally. Find out how this rough patch has hurt our health and our finances.

Arnel Ariate @ Money Soldiers writes Seven Easy Ways to Cut Spending Now – These simple steps you can take today will help you lower your expenses right away. Credit in the form of a loan or credit card can be useful but establishing savings within your current budget can go a long way.

Lance @ Money Life and More writes Don’t Mix Family, Friends and Money – Our Townhouse Rental – We were going to rent our townhouse out to someone we didn’t know, but my fiancee mentioned that one of her friends wants to move soon and loves our townhouse so we decided we could rent it out to her instead. That was the plan… until things went wrong!

Michael @ Financial Ramblings writes Risk Tolerance and Your Social Situation – Much attention has been paid to the importance of risk tolerance when determining your ideal portfolio allocation. But what factors influence your willingness to take (financial) risks? As it turns out, your social situation may play an important role.

Irfan Ahamed @ Everything About Investment writes Tips For Investing In A Roth IRA – A Roth Individual Retirement Account (IRA) is a type of investment account for people who are saving for retirement. Roth IRAs can be indispensable savings tools. If you follow the rules and invest wisely, your money can grow tax-free. Following are some tips for investing in a Roth IRA.

Jordann @ Making Sense of Cents writes How Being A Minimalist Has Helped My Finances – I didn’t always have minimalist tendencies. Though I never considered myself a collector, I did have a ton of clothing and furniture while in University, and the size of my book collection growing up bordered on the absurd side. For the last few years though, accumulating large volumes of stuff wasn’t really on my agenda anymore, it just didn’t hold the same appeal that it used to.

Evan @ My Journey to Millions writes If You’ve Been Thinking about Getting Life Insurance, Now Is the Time – There are two reasons why you should look into your life insurance sooner than later. One has to do with the life insurance companies and the other is you.

Matt @ Living in Financial Excellence writes Time Management Challenge: Full-Time School & Full-Time Work – A while back I decided to take advantage of some GI Bill benefits that were still available to me. I returned to school to pursue a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree. The good news is I’ll graduate without needing any loans. The bad news is in order to receive my full GI Bill benefits, I have to attend classes at least half time.

Lazy Man @ Lazy Man and Money writes Committing to a Credit Card? Don’t Underestimate Annual Fees – OK, so are no annual fee credit cards always better to carry? Well, yes and no…

Jacob @ Cash Cow Couple writes How to Make Money on Craigslist – I’ve been buying and selling goods online for almost 10 years. Let me show you how to make money on Craigslist!

Kyle @ The Penny Hoarder writes Get Paid to Exercise – I’ve been an avid runner for over 20 years now, and I’m usually out hiking, biking, or generally moving somewhere. There’s nothing quite like the feeling of being able to lace up my shoes and head out the door after a long day.

Brent @ PersonalFinance-Tips writes How Can A First Time Home Buyer Get The Best Deal – Owning a dream house and the feeling associated with it is perhaps one of the best in the world. The presence of a roof above the head which solely belongs to you is infact a great achievement. House-owning is a vital aspect in any person’s life. Your financial, mental and physical wellbeing depends a great deal on a home.

Tushar @ Start Investing Money writes Are You Ready for Risky Investments? – Most of us are aware that risky investments come with the potential to bring us bigger rewards. The higher the risk the bigger the potential reward can be. However, it is all too easy to get caught up in the idea of significant rewards.

Robert @ The College Investor writes 6 Ways To Avoid The Chains Of Credit Card Slavery – Some financial experts advise young people to skip using credit cards. It’s true that if used incorrectly they can be a great way to damage your finances. Even the most disciplined among us know how convenient and seductive it can be to pull out the plastic and swipe.

Kanwal @ Simply Investing writes Top 5 Things Mutual Fund Companies Don’t Really Want You to Know – Last month I had the opportunity to write a guest blog post for Modest Money. In this guest blog post I covered the top five things mutual funds companies don’t really want you to know.

Shredding Debt @ Shredding Debt writes Debt Payoff Progress for April 2013 – I am close to my net worth goal for the year, but I realize that the market can easily go down which is why I want to focus on paying off debt to improve our net worth.

Grand Per Month @ Grand Per Month writes 101 Ways to Make Money In Your Spare Time By Jackie Beck – A Review – If you want a jump start on ways to make extra money, Jackie Beck’s 101 Ways to Make Extra Money In Your Spare Time may be just the book for you.

Ryan @ Cash Money Life writes How to Safely Invest Your Money – Is it even possible to safely invest your money? Yes, it is! Here’s what you can do to keep your money as safe as possible.

Mike @ Personal Finance Journey writes ETrading online an observation and adventure – An impression of where to start and whats involved in Etrading for the new investor and the possibilities for your personal finance growth and plans.

Steven @ MyDividendStocks writes Life Insurance for the Terminally Ill: Can it Be Obtained? – Receiving the news that you, or a loved one, has been diagnosed as “terminally ill” with a short life expectancy remaining deals a blow that is emotionally devastating. Furthermore, it can be financially devastating, especially if you or your loved one doesn’t currently possess the life insurance that would secure other loved ones when the time comes.

JP @ My Family Finances writes Taking Care of Kids While Trying to Stay Financially Stable – Learning how to prioritize can help you make the most of the money that you are earning now so that you can manage the future efficiently.

Gary @ Gajizmo writes Credit Score Scale – What Is A Good Credit Score? – Do you know what a good credit score is? This article discusses many aspects of credit scores, including why it’s important, how it is calculated, the credit score scale, what different scores mean, how to improve your history, etc.

Jester @ The Ultimate Juggle writes Simple Ways to Improve Your Finances – Everyone wants more money and less stress due to money, but it’s not always as easy as wanting it to happen. But, it doesn’t mean it’s impossible. In fact, getting a handle on your money and improving your financial situation is often easier than it seems.

harry campbell @ Your PF Pro writes Reader Question: Should I Close My Old Credit Cards and Open a New One? – When you’re first getting started with building credit, your score will be dominated by the low age of your accounts, the total limit of your accounts and your utilization. There’s not a whole lot you can do about the low age of your accounts other than wait it out. You always want to keep your oldest line of credit open even if you rarely use the card.

Roger the Amateur Financier @ The Amateur Financier writes 7 Things You Can Make Rather Than Buy – There is a tendency in the modern world to simply opt for the simplest method in life.

krantcents @ KrantCents writes How to Become Minimum Wage Millionaire – Can you earn minimum wage and still become a millionaire? The short answer is yes! I am sure you have heard of so called poor people becoming millionaires, although not overnight. I am not talking about professional athletes, entertainers or lottery winners.

BARBARA FRIEDBERG @ Barbara Friedberg Personal Finance writes STEP UP NOTES OFFER HIGHER YIELDS THAN CASH – Bond investing product; Check out Step up Notes? Similar to a bond ladder.

Crystal @ Budgeting in the Fun Stuff writes Need Your Life Insurance Questions! – Hi everybody! I need you to ask every life insurance question that you have.

Corey @ Steadfast Finances writes How to Drastically Reduce Your Spending – In this poor economy, many people find themselves having to drastically reduce their spending in order to make ends meet. However, there are a lot of people who leave things hanging in the balance for too long. Then their only options are to have cereal for dinner and steal loo paper from the company’s bathroom.

Debt Guru @ Debt Free Blog writes Top 10 Things Affecting Your Credit Score – You want to be sure you have good credit, but sometimes it’s hard to identify why your credit is unsteady. Read here to see the top 10 credit changers.

Don @ MoneySmartGuides writes Starting the Home Buying Process – The home buying process can be a stressful one at times. It’s key to have a plan before starting so that you purchase a home you can afford.

Miss T. @ Prairie Eco Thrifter writes Butt Out! How I Successfully Quit Smoking – True confession time! I smoked cigarettes for over 20 years. Here’s my story and some tips for you if you are a smoker wanting to quit.

Tony @ We Only Do This Once writes How to Reclaim Your Life from Clutter – It’s Spring, so there is no better time than now to start reclaiming your life from clutter. Imagine your ideal space in your home. Start with one small room. Can you visualize what your room looks like without clutter? Start creating the atmosphere you want to live in, one trinket at a time.

Crystal @ Married (with Debt) writes What Happens To A Dream Deferred? – What happens to a dream deferred? With my husband’s career facing a crossroads, it’s a question I can’t get out of my mind lately.

Ted Jenkin @ Your Smart Money Moves writes What Do I Give For A Graduation Gift? – Read this article to find out some graduation gift ideas for your graduate that fit your personal financial budget!

Joe @ Midlife Finance writes 10 Ways To Ditch The Rat Race… For Good – We’ve been working actively for some years to tell the rat race to chase its own tail and we’re making progress, thanks to these ideas:

Steve @ Ready To Quit My Job! writes Don’t Quit, Negotiate A Severance Package Instead – Even if you don’t like your job anymore, don’t walk away with nothing. Negotiate a severance pay instead of quitting.

Little House @ Little House in the Valley writes Cutting Down on Bills and Everyday Expenses – Cutting down your bills seems impossible at first, but it’s important to look at everything in front of you and keep an open mind about what you actually need versus things that are just convenient.

Daniel @ Sweating the Big Stuff writes 5 Crazy Ways People Waste Money – Some people like earning more, and some people like being frugal to save money. Nobody likes to waste money, so be sure you’re not making these mistakes!

LaTisha @ Young Finances writes Pay Off Student Loans or Invest? – If you’re a college graduate in your twenties, you may have student loans to pay off. The average student finishes school with $27,000 worth of debt.

DJ Wetzel @ Money for College Project writes College Students Trash is Everyman’s Treasure – College students throw away millions of dollars of items each year. You find these items in college dumpsters and resell on ebay, craigslist, or at a yardsale

Peter @ Bible Money Matters writes 5 Signs You Are Financially Ready to Retire – If you retire before your finances are in order, there is a good chance that you will outlive your money. Before you quit your job, make sure that you are truly ready to retire:

Melissa @ Minting Nickels writes How to Grow Your Savings Account – We all know that we should have a beefy savings account, but few of us do, mainly because it’s way more fun to spend it. So how can we ignore all that cool stuff we can buy and build a savings account instead?

Adam @ Money Bulldog writes iPad vs Laptop ~ In the Hand or In the Lap? – The iPad is the ‘cool’ choice for many portable computer buyers, but how do they compare to laptops and which is right for your needs? Find out here.

Adam @ Money Rebound writes Secrets of Saving ~ Why You Should Start Saving Today – Due to decades of easy credit many people have forgotten how to save money. Find out why you should start saving today!

Dividend Growth Investor @ Dividend Growth Investor writes Why would I not sell dividend stocks even after a 1000% gain? – In a previous article I wrote on when to sell dividend stocks, many investors were absolutely furious that I would not even think about selling after a stock I own goes up 1000% in value.

CAPI @ Creating a Passive Income writes What to Do When Investing with Inflation? – Investors must move forward with financial intelligence, and things like inflation make it tricky. Read here to learn how to invest with inflation.

Maria @ The Money Principle writes A forced experiment in minimalism – I am in Cape Town and my luggage is somewhere else in the world. May be the union between minimalism and me is not one of passion but I am up for it!

Mr. Frenzy @ Frenzied Finances writes The Part-Time Pros: 10 Part-Time Jobs Worth Your Time – Interested in making a few extra dollars? Need another steady source of income? Here are ten part-time jobs worth investigating, worth your time.

IMB @ Investing Money writes Ways to Search for Great Stocks – Looking to invest in stocks? You need to know where to find the good ones. Read here for finance and investing tips on finding great stocks to invest in.

MMD @ IRA vs 401k Central writes Your Retirement Accounts – The Best Tax Saving Investment – If you’d like to hang on to your money, then look no further than your retirement accounts to find the best tax saving investment – your IRA and 401k.

Michelle @ See Debt Run writes Budget Like a Rock Star – Even rich people have to budget. I know it’s depressing that we’ll always have to keep track of our finances, but at least we can learn to budget in style.

MR @ Money Reasons writes Am I Focusing Too Hard On Investments? – Do you find that you are focusing too hard on investments? Perhaps it’s time to alter your investment pattern so that you optimize your investment research time?

Amanda L Grossman @ Frugal Confessions writes The Amish Next Door: How they Manage their Children’s Money – As some of you may know, my father is a full-time Amish taxi driver in Lancaster County, PA*. One of my father’s main employers is a man named Leroy.

Irfan Ahamed @ Everything About Investment writes Generating Passive Income: Make Your Money Work for You – How would you feel if the money in your bank account brought in even more money, with minimal additional effort? That’s what it means to have passive income.

Pauline @ Reach Financial Independence writes Pauline’s jacket and life priorities – I was criticized for wearing the same jacket but my finances are strong and I am reaching my goals. Peer pressure does not help you plan your financial future.

Investor Junkie @ Investor Junkie writes Why You Shouldn’t Rely Completely on Your Public Pension – There was a time — not so very long ago — when the promise of a state or local pension made for a worry-free retirement. With most public pensions, all of that is still true, but the storm clouds are gathering. If you’re in the pubic sector, will you be ready for what could be some big changes?

SBB @ Simple Budget Blog writes Get to Know Your Travel Accommodations – Planning a holiday? There are many different temporary travel accommodations. Read here for differences between hotels, motels, and everything in between.

Hank @ Money Q&A writes How to Find Your First Accountant And Personal Finance Team Member – Finding a trustworthy accountant can be a difficult decision. But, here are some tips to help make finding an accountant the easy way to help your finances.

Wayne @ Young Family Finance writes Cutting the Cord: Lower Cost Alternatives to Cable – Cable’s a major part of most homes for young families. We know you like your cable, but it is costly. Read here for tips on cheaper choices.

John S @ Frugal Rules writes 5 Things I Wish I Knew Before I Graduated From College – It’s sadly been too long since I graduated from college. There are a number of things I wish I knew before I did, chiefly among them avoiding debt, investing early for retirement by taking advantage of a 401k and networking all with the intention of growing professionally as well as growing my wealth.

Jacob @ AllPersonalFinance writes How to Get Into the Savings Habit – One of the most important things you can do to achieve financial health (and maybe even some measure of financial independence) is to save money. However, it can be very hard to get into the habit of saving.

Corey @ 20s Finances writes How I Survived College Financially – Here are simple ways that I earned income throughout college and how you can do the same.

Mr.CBB @ Canadian Budget Binder writes Working Towards A Debt Free Lifestyle In 8 Steps – Working towards a debt free lifestyle is possible, that is if you really want it bad enough. I’m sure you all know that the 8 steps are only stepping stones, meaning one step leads to another.. You may only need 1 step but the first step may be the most important of all. You can make that happen.

Suba @ Broke Professionals writes 5 Things I Learned From Selling My House – Selling my house highlighted every real estate mistake I’d ever made. Now I’m applying that knowledge to buying a house for the second time.

Ashley @ Money Talks Coaching writes My Dad Passed Away – Last month I wrote about how my Dad was diagnosed with Cancer. Well, he passed away on April 12th. Just 4 days shy of his 60th birthday.

Jon @ Novel Investor writes The 5 Best Short Term Investments Right Now – When you invest money for a short term goal, taking extra risk is like playing with fire. The best short term investments preserve your money.

Kevin @ Passiveincometoretire writes Using Technology to Improve Your Small Business – As a small business owner, you may think you don’t have time to keep up on the latest technology. Think again. You can improve your communication, efficiency and productivity by investigating the software, electronics and online services available to keep your business humming.

Luke @ Learn Bonds writes Using Ray Dalio’s 5 Principles to Reach Your Investment Goals – Here’s what you need to know about the 5 principles to reach your investment goals.

Jacob @ AllPersonalFinance writes Why Entrepreneurs Need to Learn Finance ASAP – While some entrepreneurs think they can just get a “finance guy,” there are some really good reasons for developing your own financial skills. The financing portion of your business is the bottom line, right? Finances dictate decisions, form possibilities and ultimately drive a business.

SFB @ Simple Finance Blog writes Different Types of Home Loans – Are you in the market to buy a home and planning to apply for a loan? Gone are those days when a buyer would have to choose from among a few kinds of home loans.

Tushar @ Finance TUBE writes 5 Crazy small business ideas that worked – Have you got an idea that seems just too crazy to catch on? There are many small business owners in the world who have succeeded in making a living doing unconventional things – and most often they’re inspired by financial necessity or adversity in their own lives.

A Blinkin @ Funancials writes The Honeymoon is Over and the Dollar is Weak – Trading currency can be a great way to make money. The Foreign Exchange is a market that never sleeps. Due to different time zones in different countries, you can theoretically trade any hour of the day. Another advantage is that there is no such thing as a “bear market.&

SB @ One Cent at a Time writes Few Cost Effective Ways for Cooling your Home – How to keep cool without running high Air Conditioning bill? This article talks about some techniques we used to beat heat in our childhood in India where AC was a luxury. It has some of the methods you can use now to reduce the electricity bill.

R.J. Weiss @ The Insurance Protection Blog writes Auto Insurance for Teenage Drivers: 7 Costly Insurance Mistakes Parents with Teen Drivers Make – Auto insurance mistakes parents make with teen drivers, that cost time and money.

Jules Wilson @ Faithful With a Few writes Mother’s Day Traditions – I feel Mother’s Day should be celebrated however the mom wants to,instead I felt obligated to go to a family Mother’s Day celebration with aunts, uncles, grandparents, and cousins.

Lance @ Money Life and More writes Best 0% Balance Transfer Credit Cards – If you’ve sworn off debt but are trying to dig your way out, 0% balance transfer credit cards can be a great tool. You have to know that you’ve completely sworn off incurring any more debt in order to play the 0% balance transfer game, but if you’re certain then you can save a ton of money by taking advantage of some of the best balance transfer credit card offers.

Michael Kitces @ Nerd’s Eye View writes Should Financial Planners Invest Using Bucket Strategies Or Just Report That Way? – Strategies that break investments into separate “buckets” for certain goals have become increasingly popular lately, but research is showing that they may not always create better outcomes. Still, it’s so appealing to keep track of investments this way, does that mean what we really need is a better way to track what we’ve got to monitor in buckets, even if we don’t invest that way for retirement?

Paul @ The Frugal Toad writes Frugal Living with Children – Lessons From Mom – With Mother’s Day fast approaching I am reminded of the many lessons my Mom taught me as a child. Be respectful always towards others, if you fall, pick yourself up and try again, and make the most of what you have. I was lucky to grow up in a family with six brothers and sisters, we learned to share and to be resourceful. It is this last lesson that I’d like to share some memories.

Thanks again for everyone who submitted articles to the Carnival of Retirement. If you are interested in having one of your retirement articles included in a future edition of the Carnival of Retirement, be sure to visit the Blogger Carnival page to submit your article. Thanks!

The post Carnival Of Retirement – 71st Edition appeared first on Money Q&A.

Are you getting the best rate of return on your investment? The market is heating up but are your investments? Kiplinger’s Personal Finance Magazine just discussed 45 ways to boost your investment yield in their latest issue. I have to say that I was pretty disappointed in their recommendations. I love the magazine, but I didn’t really care for a list of mutual funds and Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs). I wanted concrete ideas on how to earn a 10% annual rate of return on my investments.

US Treasuries are earning less than 1% and money market funds are not fairing much better. Certificates of deposit are barely scraping by at 2% or so even for the longest maturities. Last year the S&P 500 Index finished up over 13%, and this year has started off just as well (knock on wood) with the market up another 14% year to date (YTD). But, are these levels going to last? The stock market has returned an after of 8% annually over the past century. So, where can an investor find 10% when the market retraces or moves sideways?

10 Ways To Earn A 10% Rate Of Return On Your Investment

Peer-To-Peer Lending Has A Great Rate Of Return

Peer-To-Peer Lending through companies like Lending Club are my favorite way to earn a rate of return over 10% annually. Lending Club‘s most conservatively A rated loan earns over 6% for the investor. It does not take long or much more risk to earn over 10% returns. And, Lending Club‘s most risky investments earn a rate of return of over 20% annually.

I’m a huge fan of Lending Club and have recommended investors adding Lending Club loans to their investment portfolio for years here on Money Q&A. Be sure to check out my interview with Peter Renton and Lending Club’s CMO, Scott Sanborn, on our podcast, “Your Money: Your Choices” two weeks ago.

Starting Your Own Business

I am a huge fan of starting your own business. I wish everyone would have the entrepreneurial spirit. It was one of the best ways to earn a 10% rate of return on your investment. Whether it is opening a neighborhood restaurant or as simple as starting a blog, a business venture is a great way to boost your investments’ returns.

Short-Term Stock Trading

Granted, short-term stock trading is not for everyone and should not be done with a large portion of your entire investment portfolio. Trying to time the stock market is a rough way to earn a 10% rate of return on your investments, but it could be well worth your time and efforts with a small portion of your investment portfolio.

I have been using Jason Bond’s Swing Trading service for the past three months, and I’ve been having a blast trading stocks on a short term basis. And, even better, I’m up 15% over the course of the past 12 weeks. That’s a lot better than 10% annualized of course. Jason Bond Swing Trades is a service that teaches investors how to, not day trade, but invest in small cap stocks which are held only a few days or weeks. You can follow along as Jason trades his own portfolio, mirror his trades, and learn the ropes of short term technical analysis trading. I was skeptical at first, but I have actually really enjoyed getting back into stock trading. It also doesn’t hurt that I’m up!

Investing In Real Estate

Real estate is a great way to earn over 10% rate of return on your money. I’m a big fan of becoming a landlord which I’ve talked about several times here on Money Q&A. While you need to run your numbers and do your research, you can earn a 10% rate of return on your investments with your rents.

Real Estate Investment Trusts (REIT) are another great option if you do not want to own real estate directly. REITs are required by law to distribute a majority of their earnings to their shareholders in the form of dividends. These payouts and real estate’s impending comeback make REITs an attractive alternative to help investors reach the 10% threshold.

Master Limited Partnerships (MLP)

Master Limited Partnerships are partnerships that trade like a stock. They are risky and not for every investor, but they can often offer a larger rate of return than other investments. Many MLPs invest in the energy sector, minerals, and other raw material type ventures. They often have a high yield because they do not pay income taxes themselves and pass on that responsibility to their shareholders.

Art And Other Collectables Can Diversify Your Investments

Beverly Solomon who is the Creative Director of musee-solomon recommends investing in art and other collectibles. “Good art, great collectibles, quality antiques as a whole are safe investments that tend to grow in value at as good as or better rate than almost any other investment. Plus they–unlike stocks or bonds–have the added bonus of your being able to enjoy them in your home on a daily basis,” she said.

Create A Product To Boost Your Rate Of Return On Your Investments

Robert Pagliariri wrote one of my favorite books, “The Other 8 Hours”, where he talked about becoming a creator. It is not enough to simply work a 9 to 5 job and hope to become rich. It unfortunately just does not work that way. Those who are more successful than most are creators. They create businesses. They create products. They make things people want to buy. That’s how you can earn a 10% rate of return on your investment.

Junk Bonds Are An Interesting Choice

Junk bonds get a bad rap simply because of their name. But, don’t be fool by the lingo. There are basically two categories of bonds: investment grade and junk bonds. Junk bonds are simply high yield, higher risk bonds from companies who have seen their credit ratings suffer from the rating agencies like Moody’s and Standard and Poor’s. Junk bonds typically have a rating of BB or Ba or less depending on whose scale you use.

The Barclays US Investment Grade Credit Index, which tracks high grade bonds, returned 1.63% through April of this year. The safest grade junk bond is earning 5% interest annually with less safe options earning a rate of return more than that. While 10% may be the riskiest of all junk bonds, it is still possible with some to earn that much.

Paying Off Your Debt Is Like An Investment

Paying off a debt with a high interest rate is the same as having earned that exact same rate of return. It is all about opportunity costs. What is the best opportunity for you to put your money to work for you? For example, if you have a credit card with a balance that is charting you a 16% interest rate, paying off that debt would be the same as having invested and earning that 16% on the investment. Paying off high interest debt is a great way to earn a stellar rate of return.

Stocks For The Long Term

“Make it automatic,” said David Rae, a retirement income specialist and CFP, recommends setting up automatic investments. “Put money away every month, when time are good and times are bad. Avoiding investing mistakes will make you more money in the long run than trying to pick the hottest sector/stock/fund/investment of the years.”

With the help of a Financial Planner, you can pick a well diversified investment portfolio appropriate to your financial situation and the amount of risk that you are willing to accept. Granted, you may need to take on more risk if you want that 10% rate of return.

Most of us are a victim of recency bias. An entire generation of investors have only known the stock market of 2003 to 2013. Our most recent past is not a precursor to what our long term investing future will be. A 10% annual rate of return over the long term is very much achievable.

The post Ten Ways To Earn A 10% Rate Of Return On Your Investments appeared first on Money Q&A.

Some estimates say that almost half of all Facebook users age 18 to 34 check their Facebook accounts right when they wake up in the morning. Over a quarter even check their friends’ statuses before they get out of bed. Twitter addiction isn’t much better. One study says that over 20% of Twitter users use their accounts as their only means to find out the morning news.

While there is a growing explosion of the use of social media and its addictive properties, there is a danger to its overuse as well. American workers and companies are feeling the wrath of overuse and unhealthy social media use during company time. It can be detrimental to your career as well which has the potential to impact your wallet.

You Are Not Working

Believe it or not, but your employer hired you to work. They didn’t hire you to update your Facebook status. While you are playing around on the internet and at different social media websites either on your work computer or your smart phone, you are not working or earning a profit for your employer’s business. This is the number one detriment to your career when it comes to social media websites at work. How much more productive could you be to your job if you didn’t update your status? How many more great ideas or new business leads could you have come up with during that time? We are all a function of what we accomplish at work, and you will accomplish less if you are not actively working.

People Know Too Much About You

It often isn’t healthy for too many of your peers and often your subordinates to know too much about you. While it can be beneficial for your team to know each other in a deeper sense, there are many personal aspects of our lives which we freely post online now. The true danger comes when a leader’s authority is undermined because of who he or she is friends with online on social media websites.

Your Boss Knows Where You Are

Checking in on Foursquare and now on Facebook can have a serious repercussion to your career. Now your boss and your coworkers can see where you are. You have to be cognizant of where you check in online and more importantly at what time of the day that you checked in. Where you supposed to be at your desk instead of on a coffee run? Did you telegraph to the entire world that you left work early the other day? Make sure that you also turn off the location tracking that most social media websites include in your status updates now.

You Feel Bad About Your Life

A new study found that one out of every three Facebook users felt jealous or envious after looking through pictures and posts from their friends. The study found that your friends vacation pictures make you the most depressed. So, this is just another classic example of how social media is not just possibly ruining your career, but it is making your miserable too. So, push back from the Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Snap Pic, Google Plus, and the list goes on and on. Take a break!

I’ll be the first to admit that I use social media a lot. I’m a blogger. I almost have to. But, there is a fine line between a lot of use and obsessed. Whether you are talking about your job, your finances, your health, or even your relationship with your friends and family, like most things in life social media is better in moderation.

Are You Addicted To Social Media

Answer these questions to give you an idea if you may have a problem being addicted to social media websites or the internet.

1. Have you tried to turn off your social media, email, or Facebook account and ended up going immediately back to the site?

2. Do you find yourself less productive in your work or studies?

3. Do you use social media websites as an escape for relaxation and pleasure?

4. Do you find yourself constantly checking how many people liked or commented on your updates?

While the title of this post and the body talks about how more and more people have an unhealthy relationship and are potentially addicted to Facebook, that’s not the only social media site. So, please do not think that I have a vendetta against Facebook specifically. I don’t. I love it and use it just like everyone else. It is just one of the many that has captured our internet usage with abandon and won’t let go.

What about you? Are you addicted to social media websites and updating your profiles and statues? Do your friends’ happy vacation pictures make you jealous and depressed? How many people do you know either personally or indirectly whose lives were turned upside down by what was posted about them and their family online?

The post Why Facebook And Social Media May Be Ruining Your Career appeared first on Money Q&A.

This week on Money Q&A’s podcast,  “Your Money Your Choices”, we talk to Peter Renton who is one of the subject matter experts on Peer-To-Peer Lending. He’s the publisher of Lend Academy and the author of “The Lending Club Story“. In the podcast, Peter talks about how easy it is to get started investing in peer-to-peer lending through websites like Lending Club.

Episode #6: Increase Your Investment Return With Peer-To-Peer Lending

Are you sick and tired of earning less than 1% on your savings accounts or money market funds? Government bonds are not offering much better in the way of rates of return either. But, Peer to Peer lending is allowing investors to act like a bank and invest in individual loans with people looking to repay debt, consolidate loans, pay for weddings, buy new cars, and much more. Peer-to-peer lending offers investors a larger rate of return than many other investment options. Join us as we talk to Peter Renton, a financial blogger and peer-to-peer authority who is the publisher of the popular site, Lend Academy. Additionally, Peter is the author of “The Lending Club Story”. You won’t want to miss this great conversation about how to increase your rate of returns on your investments with Peer to Peer lending.

Interview With Lending Club’s Chief Marketing Officer

Additionally, I interview Scott Sanborn, Lending Club’s Chief Marketing Officer, on the benefits of investing in peer-to-peer lending notes for investors. Together we talk about what a great investing website Lending Club is and more specifically how investors can earn a great rate of return on their investments in loans directly to borrowers. You won’t want to miss this great interview as well on this episode.

Roth IRAs, CDs, stocks, insurance, your 401K . . .what are the right choices for your financial future? Your Money: Your Choices will clear out the cobwebs and confusion surrounding these concepts and more with clear and concise information. You’ll hear tips and tools that you can put into action right now to help save your hard earned income in way that will protect your future for a healthy retirement. Whether you are a single mom or a father of five, “Your Money: Your Choices” will get you on track and put your money back in your control where it belongs!

Past Episodes Of “Your Money  Your Choices”

• Episode #6 (5-6-13) - Increase Your Investment Return With Peer-To-Peer Lending
• Episode #5 (4-22-13) - Living Your Life And Completing Your Bucket List
• Episode #4 (4-8-13) - How To Incorporate Your Values Into Financial Planning
• Episode #3 (3-18-13) - You Need A Side Hustle To Earn Extra Income
• Episode #2 (3-4-13) - Conquering Your Debt With The Debt Movement
• Episode #1 (2-18-13) - Everyone Should Be An Entrepreneur

The post This Week’s Podcast with Peter Renton from Lend Academy appeared first on Money Q&A.

Whether you’re a domestic or commercial customer, keeping an eye on your energy tariff is imperative if you want to pay the least you can for your energy use. Comparing suppliers is often much easier than you may expect, whether you’re comparing for home or business gas. In fact, while many people may think that switching business gas would be an arduous task that requires a lot of hoops to be jumped through, it’s actually much easier than that.

If you have been doing your research and you have found that the supplier you currently receive your energy from isn’t the best deal for you circumstances, taking the first step and purchasing a new deal online is all you need to do. You will have a 9-day cooling-off period anyway, should you change your mind, but if you decide to continue, the switching process couldn’t be simpler.

After applying and purchasing your new deal online, the switching process will begin. Once you receive your new contract pack in the post, read through it to check that all the details are correct. If there’s anything you’re unsure about, give them a call to help clairfy the situation.

Once everything is in motion, the transporter who operates the gaslines that connect to your business premises will be contacted and informed that the energy provider is changing. The transporter than informs your current provider so that you won’t get billed twice. New meter readings will be taken so that your bills are accurate and up-to-date and you’ll be informed of a switchover date.

It really is that simple! The suppliers will do the legwork – all you have to do is sign up to the new contract and continue paying your business gas bills on time.

Don’t be complacent. Energy tariffs are changing all the time and for your business to thrive, you need to stay ahead of the game and ensure you’re not spending unnecessarily on your business gas bill. Compare providers and don’t believe that the price you pay is necessarily the best value for your needs. Take a look at the tariffs online, today.

The post Switching Business Gas Tariffs: It’s Easier than It Looks appeared first on Money Q&A.

Finding a trustworthy accountant can be a difficult decision. Plus, finding an accountant that matches your needs and has experience with your type of business can also be difficult. But, if you’re generating solid income from your business, and no longer have time for the bookkeeping, hiring an accountant can be a worthwhile investment so that you can focus on areas of your business that make you money. Here are some tips to help you find your first accountant.

Understand Your Needs

The first thing you need to do is understand your accounting needs. There are a wide variety of accountants, and some specialize in just entering your business into Quickbooks, while others will help you with your taxes as well. Other, even, will provide advice on how to structure your business to save money on taxes or other expenses. Consider what you are looking for and what you business needs, and look for an accountant that can help you in that area.

Get A Referral

Finding someone you trust and that has experience with your business type can be difficult. You should get a referral if possible. Ask you banker, your tax professional, or even other businesses in your local Better Business Bureau or any organizations you’re a part of. By getting a referral, you know that at least someone else uses the accountant and likes them enough to recommend them.

Research Your First Accountant

Finally, you need to make sure that you do your own research and vet them appropriately. Search for them online, check with the Better Business Bureau, and ask around at your local Chamber of Commerce. Make sure that you don’t find anything negative about them. Finding no information is not necessarily a bad thing.

You should also set up a sit down meeting in person to discuss your needs and expectations, and see what they would need from you. You want to be sure that you feel comfortable with them since they will be handling your business accounts.

The post How to Find Your First Accountant And Personal Finance Team Member appeared first on Money Q&A.

This is a guest post by David Silverstone who writes about personal finance, credit cards, and debit cards on the website, Credit Card Insider, which is a credit resource, providing plain-language guidance from industry leaders.

Credit card debt is huge in the U.S. Last year, the average American household’s credit card debt was equal to $15,799. American consumers know that they need to eliminate this debt, but they also know that they will have large purchases to make in the future. These larger purchases may be necessities, such as refrigerators, new cars and houses, but it can also be a pleasurable expense, such as a fabulous dream vacation. The new trend is to save for these purchases so that consumers do not have to use their credit cards, and some people are choosing to embark on this adventure by engaging in reverse budgeting.

What Is Reverse Budgeting?

Reverse budgeting is way in which people save for their purchases without having to resort to burdening themselves with more debt. First, consumers decide how they would like to use the money they are going to save. Then, they will calculate how much money they will need to pay for their dreams. The next step is to determine how much money they can set aside per month to save for their goals.

Reverse budgeting has been growing in popularity, and the reason may be because so many Americans already owe so much money to their creditors. One way that people have begun to save for future purchases is to obtain prepaid debit cards.

How Do Prepaid Debit Cards Work? 

Prepaid debit cards are an extremely convenient way to make purchases, and they prevent people from spending more money than they have. Furthermore, it’s really easy for consumers to add funds to their prepaid debit cards every month. After they have succeeded in saving the amount of money they needed for their goals, they can use their cards to pay for the item online or inside the store. They can also use them to pay several different bills online.

Advantages of Prepaid Debit Cards

Prepaid debit cards do have their advantages and disadvantages. Consumers like credit cards because they eliminate the need to carry a large sum of cash. Those who would like to keep from adding to their credit card debts cannot resort to using credit cards, but if they have a prepaid debit card, they can travel all over the country or even outside of U.S. borders and have a safe method of payment that is widely accepted.

The amount of money that is on the prepaid card is all that consumers can spend. If they were to try to purchase something outside of their budgets, the card would be denied.

Disadvantages of Prepaid Debit Cards

Undoubtedly, people who are carrying too much credit card debt are paying with lower credit scores. Debit card issuers are not extending credit to holders of prepaid debit cards because these consumers add money to their cards’ balances. Therefore, debit card issuers do not report to the major credit bureaus that their clients are paying their bills on time every month because there aren’t any bills to be paid. In this manner, consumers lose the opportunity to help increase their credit scores because they are paying with a prepaid debit card. 

Even the best prepaid debit cards also carry fees. Depending on the card, people may be required to pay several different fees for many purposes. For example, if people need cash for any reason and they obtain it from an ATM, they may be charged $2 for every such transaction. Consumers may also need to pay a fee to activate the card, another fee to reload the card and yet another fee to maintain the account.

Reverse budgeting can help people keep their minds on saving rather than spending, and prepaid debit cards may be an appropriate way to keep their savings safe. If they ensure that they are paying the least amount in fees, this method may greatly benefit Americans with large credit card debts.

This is a guest post by David Silverstone who writes about personal finance, credit cards, and debit cards on the website, Credit Card Insider. If you would like to write an article for Money Q&A, please visit our Guest Posting Guidelines page.

The post How To Use Prepaid Debit Cards To Budget For Big Purchases appeared first on Money Q&A.

This week on Money Q&A’s podcast, Your Money: Your Choices, we talk to Adam Shepard whose book, “One Year Lived” recently came out. In the podcast, Adam talks about what it takes to follow your dreams, to check items off your bucket list, and even more importantly how to pay for those dreams. It was a truly fascinating interview.

“One Year Lived” by Adam Shepard

And, for everyone who leaves a comment at the bottom of this post for TODAY ONLY on Monday, April 22th, 2013 I will email you the full copy of Adam’s book, “One Year Lived” for a limited time for you to read on your eReader, Kindle, Nook, or computer. (Don’t worry…I have Adam’s permission for one day only to send you a copy of his book…simply for leaving a comment below. Don’t miss this great opportunity!

Episode 5 – Living Your Life And Completing Your Bucket List

Do you have a bucket list? Do you have a list of goals that you want to complete before you die? I sure do. I have talked a lot about my 100 Goals Before I Die and trying to complete them. The problem is that most of us simply write out a bucket list and then make excuses as to why we haven’t check many items off it or any items at all for that matter. It doesn’t have to be that way though. Join us as we talk to Adam Shepard who is the author of “One Year Lived”. He’s been featured in the New York Times, Christian Science Monitor, the New York Post, the Atlantic, on the Today Show, CNN, Fox News, NPR, 20/20, and others, talking about completing his bucket list. You won’t want to miss this great conversation about how to finally start checking off items on your bucket list.

Additionally in this episode, we talked to Scott Dudelson who is the Chief Operating Officer for Swagbucks.com. Swagbucks.com is the web’s premier rewards website. Swagbucks.com allows web users to earn virtual currency by doing the things you are already doing every day such as searching the web, shopping at your favorite retailers (like Sears, Hotels.com, Best Buy, Macy’s, and tons of other retailers), and by engaging in other activities such as phone recycling, submitting polls, and completing special offers. Swagbucks.com is the only place on the web to get what you want without ever having to spend a dime.

Roth IRAs, CDs, stocks, insurance, your 401K . . .what are the right choices for your financial future? Your Money: Your Choices will clear out the cobwebs and confusion surrounding these concepts and more with clear and concise information. You’ll hear tips and tools that you can put into action right now to help save your hard earned income in way that will protect your future for a healthy retirement. Whether you are a single mom or a father of five, “Your Money: Your Choices” will get you on track and put your money back in your control where it belongs!

Other Episodes Of “Your Money  Your Choices”

• Episode #6 (5-6-13) - Increase Your Investment Return With Peer-To-Peer Lending
• Episode #5 (4-22-13) - Living Your Life And Completing Your Bucket List
• Episode #4 (4-8-13) - How To Incorporate Your Values Into Financial Planning
• Episode #3 (3-18-13) - You Need A Side Hustle To Earn Extra Income
• Episode #2 (3-4-13) - Conquering Your Debt With The Debt Movement
• Episode #1 (2-18-13) - Everyone Should Be An Entrepreneur

The post This Week’s Podcast with Adam Shepard the author of “One Year Lived” appeared first on Money Q&A.

Have you heard about socially conscious investing? Socially conscious investing basically means that you or the mutual funds that you use will not invest in companies that do not promote the social good. This takes entire industries like alcohol, gambling, gun manufacturers, potential environmental polluters  and the like out of the investing mix of potential companies in the possibilities for your investments.

Several mutual funds have gravitated to this investing style as a way to market and differentiate themselves from the masses of funds that comprise the investing universe. Socially responsible investing (SRI) mutual funds look to limit or restrict their investments in companies that promote what the general public would consider vices. They shy away from investing in companies that are seen as environmental polluters, makers addictive substances like alcohol or tobacco, and other companies. Many of these mutual funds have also removed themselves from investing in companies that have been seen as having bad corporate governance policies and practices. They have also shunned companies with suspected human rights violations.

Socially Conscious Investing Mutual Funds Have Gained In Popularity

Socially conscious investments and socially conscious investing mutual funds has exploded in popularity in recent years. The number of socially conscious investing mutual funds or socially responsible mutual funds in the United States has grown to over 250 with assets of more than $300billion as of 2010, this is up 30 fold since their inception in 1995. According to InvestmentNews.com and Morningstar Inc, socially conscious investing mutual funds have had over $3 billion in net inflows into these types of funds in the past three years ending in 2012.

So, What’s Wrong With Socially Conscious Investing?

Human rights violations, corporate board misbehavior, pollution, you may be asking why this would even need to be discussed. No one wants to actively invest in companies that commit these atrocities  And, you’re right for the most part. But, there is a flaw in this investment strategy though. These mutual funds and their investors often are too restrictive.

When you buy shares in a mutual fund that restricts what the fund manager can invest in and companies he or she can buy shares in, you must to be willing to accept the possibility of lower rates of return for your investment than you would have normally received in the stock market. This is in exchange for investing in causes or things that are important to your own morales and beliefs.There are so many profitable companies that are left out from investors in these socially conscious investing mutual funds that you would not normally shy away from. Many of the companies that socially conscious investing mutual funds disgard are many that you probably use every day.

It can also be hard to understand which stocks fit a socially conscious investing mutual fund’s purchasing criteria. For example, Apple has notoriously had issues with its labor practices in the factories that it uses overseas. Should that eliminate this stellar company with great stock price returns from consideration for you to invest in? Many socially conscious investing mutual funds think that it does marrot exclusion from their investments. The same can be said for large oil companies that we depend on in America day in and day out because of their often negative environmental impacts. While these may or may not seem like a big deal to many investors, simply excluding these types of companies can quickly get an investor’s portfolio out of sync with the overall stock market’s rate of return if he or she is not careful.

Is Socially Conscious Investing Profitable?

Lets face the facts. We didn’t get involved in investing to sit on the side lines and not earn a profit. The entire mantra of a publicly traded company is to earn a profit for their shareholders. While it is not recommended that companies do so at the expense of society as a whole, it is not a good financial practice for investors to simply write them off completely either. Socially conscious investing mutual funds have initially lagged the stock market’s indices during their inception, but as more funds have entered the marketplace, they have rallied in recent years to closely keep up with the overall stock market averages.

One area that is of concern though is the fees that socially conscious investing mutual funds charge their customers. SRI funds can often have an annual expense ratio of over 1.20%. This is often on top of a upfront load or sales charge that they charge their investors which can often be as much as 4% or more. The expense ratio of many, but not all, of these socially conscious investing mutual funds can approach 1% annually as well.

So, should you invest in socially conscious investments? While I am not a fan, I can understand their allure to investors. I would just caution you to read the prospectus carefully. Understand the fees and expenses that these funds charge their investors. You should also know exactly what a socially conscious investing mutual fund will and more importantly will NOT invest in. You may be surprised at how strict they are and how they might not mirror your beliefs after all.

The post Why Socially Conscious Investing May Be Costing You A Lot Of Money appeared first on Money Q&A.