Investment and Saving

Is this the year you finally begin building your own investment portfolio? If you feel nervous about putting your money into the stock market, or aren’t sure how to get started, then this article by Lynda Claiborne is the perfect starter for you! What does financial freedom mean to you? For most people, it is […]

Volatility can make your stomach churn, and the volatility of an unstable stock market causes even the most-savvy investors to reach for the Pepto-Bismol. So you may be surprised to hear stock market volatility can actually be a good thing — at least for your retirement savings. Say you are investing $500 in a stock mutual […]

This election season has been interesting to say least, but some things never change, including the leading candidates from both parties predicting dire economic consequences if the other is elected. As we listen to the rants of the various politicians, are there any useful political trends that we can consider as investors? Will the person […]

In the first part of this series, we learned about five common mistakes that are so easy for investors to make. Maybe you recognized some mistakes in the list that you’ve made in the past or were making in the present. (You’ve fixed it, right?) Here is the second half of our ten-item list. Review […]

The world of investing can seem incredibly complex, but it doesn’t have to be if you if you stick with a steady game plan and avoid common investor mistakes that are so often fueled by emotion rather than logic. In this article and a subsequent one, we cover ten mistakes that so many undisciplined investors […]

In his latest bestseller, Money Master The Game, Tony Robbins encourages his readers to create a dream bucket for themselves. This is basically a piggy bank for your dreams where you save the money that will finance that things you’ve secretly been holding inside your heart. Maybe it’s money to go back to school and […]

Oh, we humans and our funny brains. We all hate losing money for all the obvious reasons, but our brains may actually make us fear the loss even more than we should. When it comes to a quickly deflating stock market, our loss-averse brains could lead us to make emotional, fear-based decisions that will lock […]

In the book, Unleash the Power of the Female Brain, Dr. Daniel G. Amen, a psychiatrist and brain imaging expert, imaged the brains of 46,000 men and women. He compared the blood flow and activity patterns between male and female brains and found significant differences. In summarizing his finding, Dr. Amen reported that female brains […]

We all know how important it is to create a will that clearly states how you want your estate managed and distributed after you die, but does your will include your online assets? What Are Online Assets?   Before the internet was born, our assets were paper bills, record collections, and vehicles that could be […]

When you first start investing, it’s easy to get caught up in the daily rollercoaster of the stock market or to give into your urge to “beat” the market by trading stocks on your own. However, study after study shows that the majority of investors would be best served by investing their money into plain […]

Most financial advisors suggest that a good rainy day fund or emergency savings fund contain three to six months of average living expenses. If you have a monthly mortgage payment, car payment, and some kiddos running around the house, that can really add up! How in the world are you going to save up that […]

Bonds are debt instruments issued by the U.S. government, state and local governments, corporations, and foreign entities. The issuer borrows money and promises to pay back the debt plus interest twice a year. If the issuer goes bankrupt, bond holders will be paid before stock holders. Here are some key elements of bonds: Principal or […]

“The sky is falling, the sky is falling” cried Chicken Little.  Some investors may agree.  What should you do If you find the stock market plummeting. 1.  Don’t panic. Remember that panic is not an effective, long-term investment strategy. But when the Nasdaq plunges as much as 5% a day for several days running, it’s hard […]

These are the times that test investor’s souls, or at least their tolerance for risk. If you invest in technology, biotech and other stocks that trade on NASDAQ, you’ve seen quite a bit of volatility this year. What does the future hold?More volatility, which means risk. In stock market terminology, risk is the chance that […]

Would you like to earn 8% or more on your money, guaranteed and risk-free? Like to trim your future expenses so you can retire early? Want to save thousands of dollars in interest expense? One simple investment can do it all: prepay your mortgage. To trim five years off a 30 year, 8% mortgage of […]

If you like roller coasters, you might be enjoying the ride on Wall Street these days, as the stock market spikes then tumbles, then hits bottom and careens up again. But for most of us, whose stomachs clench at such high jinks, these are unsettling times. But take heart – those reckless gyrations may actually […]

Selecting stocks can be tough. But stock selection is much easier once you understand stock market and economic cycles. Diversification is key. To build a portfolio, you should own several different stocks in several of the eight market sectors: consumer cyclicals, technology, financial, energy, industrials, basic materials, consumer non-cyclicals and utilities. Decide which of the […]

San Diego is growing. There are thousands more cars on the road every day – and they are all in my lane! I’m normally a cautious driver, but when the freeway lane I’m in slows to a crawl while those in adjacent lanes are flying by, I’m tempted to change lanes. But as soon as […]

My cat Augie loves to lie in the sun all day. Who wouldn’t?  But even in sunny San Diego, it sometimes rains. Augie hates that, and he turns away from the open door in disgust. Then he goes to a different door to be let out. He’s looking for the door where it isn’t raining […]

Uh oh, the stock market slid again. So what else is new? Even patient optimists have gotten fed up with the market, which is exactly why it’s going down.  As the last rat (excuse the expression) bails off the ship, there will be no more sellers left. With only buyers left at the party, the […]

Making changes to your home can disrupt your life, and it can be harmful to your finances as well. Before you decide on your next home improvement project, check out how much it will improve your home’s value. According to figures from the National Association of the Remodeling Industry, remodeling your kitchen or bathroom is […]

Is it time to go house hunting? If so, here are eight great tips to help you get the best deal: Start with the basics. Read the classifieds, visit open houses, and let brokers know what kind of housing you’re seeking. Apply to a lender for preapproval so you’ll know exactly how much home you can […]

There are volumes written about how to become a successful investor, and the advice is often quite complex. Here are some common-sense tips that will improve your investment success, no matter what your level of financial sophistication. 1. Come early to the party, and stay late. Begin investing as soon as you can, be patient, […]

From what we’ve seen over the past 20 years, women are more likely to be better investors than men. Here’s why: They tend to research their investments more thoroughly and invest to meet specific long-term goals. They are inclined to hold onto their investments longer than their male counterparts, and panic less easily, even when […]

Perhaps it was Confucius who said, “Nothing ventured, nothing gained.” Investing for the future is always a game of chance and risk-taking is part of the game plan.  The goal is to make your money grow—keeping ahead of inflation, using interest rates to your advantage in saving and borrowing, riding safely through the ups and […]

Appraisals are costlier, and the results less favorable. Many would-be home buyers are receiving lower-than-anticipated appraisals on desired properties. Appraisers now will count only comparative property sales during the last three months. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are requiring appraisers to complete additional research and reporting, and many appraisers are charging more for this extra work. Loans […]

Benjamin Franklin, one of our founding fathers, was a very savvy guy.  He said that a penny saved is a penny earned, but he proved that it really can be worth millions. In his will Franklin left the cities of Boston and Philadelphia 1,000 pounds each (the equivalent of $4,444). He asked that the funds […]

Today’s investments are steps toward tomorrow’s dreams. Whether it’s real estate, stocks, bonds, or another financial product, we buy in hopes that our investments will prosper and help us reach our financial goals. But all investments carry risk. It’s risk that provides the opportunity for money to grow. We as consumers have rights and responsibilities […]

Bring on the picnics, parades, and fireworks—it’s time for our nation’s annual celebration of faith! July Fourth marks one of the world’s great acts of faith when a bold group of American patriots signed their names to the Declaration of Independence and risked everything for the dream of a free and just society. Of course, […]

Are we heading into a Great Depression? Probably not. “While today’s situation does not necessarily imply another Great Depression, the economic downturn and those comparisons can encourage us to turn worry into a positive,” said Ethan Ewing of Bills.com. “Consider the lessons learned from the Great Depression and apply some of your grandparents’ financial knowledge […]

Looking for perfect gift for your children or grandchildren? Instead of giving cash or the latest gadget, try giving a financial gift. These gifts will help your loved ones to develop valuable money skills that will last long after the holiday season. Mutual funds: Giving shares in a mutual fund can be an excellent way […]

After she was widowed, Mary received a lump sum from her husband’s life insurance policy. Mary needed current income and also wanted to invest for her retirement. Her financial planner, Harriet, suggested mutual funds. Harriet explained that a mutual fund is a professionally managed pool of stocks and/or bonds that provide reduced portfolio risk through […]

After Anna received half of a joint stock brokerage account in her divorce, she went to see Sam, a stockbroker recommended by a family friend. Sam quickly found that Anna’s knowledge of investments was slim, so he explained stocks to her. Stocks in a company represent a portion of ownership, called shares, that are bought […]

An excerpt from the seminar “Surviving the Stock Market” by Carol Kean, fee-only investment adviser. How are your investments affected by emotional vs. rational behavior? That is a real concern for many investors as they analyze the stock market. You must deal with your own emotions as a stock market investor, hanging on as the waves get choppy. But even […]

Happy days are here again! The economy is flourishing, real estate is booming, and Internet stocks are going to the moon. We’re saving less, and no wonder. There’s no need to save, with all the wealth being created under our noses. But how much of the wealth is real, and how much is illusion? Here’s […]

By Michelle Kennedy Hogan What is a hedge fund anyway? Recently, I read a report that stated hedge funds might actually be a better place to put your money than mutual funds. The report went on to say that, according to Van Hedge Fund Advisors International (they track hedge funds’ performance), that almost all of […]