Investing in Gold - A Proposal

The glitter of gold is everlasting. It was there and it is still one of the most desired objects on earth. Gold has remained a popular investment. In the early times, people use to bury gold bars or gold ornaments by keeping them in an urn or a container and exhume it when needed.

In today's modern world a common person, either keeps it in bank lockers or invest it. Gold is the only precious commodity that is easily accessible as one can simply buy it from a gold dealer or a jewellery shop. Furthermore, gold commodities exchanges have made it a better option to enjoy the benefits derived from the profits earned on buying and selling it.

Investors usually purchase gold as a hedge to mitigate any probable economical, political turmoil or predicament and capitalise on its price movement, as it is quite lucrative. Usually such crises lead to a plunge in stock markets, war, inflation, unemployment and social turbulence.

Another reason of buying gold is that once the gold market sees an upside and all the world's biggest gold commodity exchanges start showing a bull run, investors rush to buy gold which in the end results in a gold price hike, affecting the international gold market. This usually results in financial gains for the investors in a particular time, small investors focus on day-today trading. However, the big guns of the gold market invest on a long-term basis.

Therefore, investors eyeing to invest in gold unswervingly have three alternatives. Firstly, they can buy gold as physical asset. Secondly, they can buy an Exchange Trade Futures (ETF) that facsimile the true worth of gold. Thirdly, go for trading in the futures and options commodities market.

Investing straight in commodities, such as gold or oil, is a difficult task for investors than investing in stocks and bonds; especially it tends to be quite intricate for a lay-man who is just concerned with the immediate result or gains without any complexities. The primary reason for a low turnout in gold investment is that stocks and bonds are easily transferable. It is simple to get to the average common investor.

Furthermore, to understand the system of futures and options market whether it is related to the stocks and bonds system or gold commodity exchanges are quite complicated and inhibits the investor to go for gold investment through gold commodity exchanges. It is not the case with gold only; investment in any commodity is conventionally more convoluted due to its complex nature. You cannot just buy gold and stay back, for that matter one has to track the market dynamics and future scenarios.

It is never been advisable to put all your savings in gold, though, a percentage of your savings of investments should be endowed in order to remain on the safe side. While your liquid funds would be readily available in case of any emergency. However, if you just want to earn profits buy gold and sell it as the price rises.

Do you want to buy gold bar, try our expert services by visiting us at http://www.goldmadesimple.com/

By Jack Wogan

How Do I Select a Financial Advisor and Investment Firm? What Makes One Different From Another?

Q: We were taking a walk in Princeton, New Jersey and were shocked by how many investment firms lined the streets. What are the major differences investors should consider when evaluating different investment firms, their services and their Financial Advisors?

The Problem - Choosing the Right Financial Advisor at the Right Firm. A recent internet based yellow page search for the words "stock broker" lists over 50 results in Princeton, New Jersey alone. They all seem the same, with one name fancier than the next. Their services range from stock brokerage to financial planning and wealth management. With so many firms to choose from, investors can easily make a wrong decision, which they will regret for the rest of their lives.

The Solution - A Little Due Diligence Goes a Long Way. Choosing the right financial advisor at the right firm is similar to selecting the right surgeon at the right hospital, but with a couple twists. Every investors needs to understand the different types of investment firms before they can make an educated decision.

Let's start with the largest firms in the industry. These are the firms we see advertising during the events like the Super Bowl. Please pay attention to the upcoming twist. These firms are publicly traded companies that trade on the stock exchange like any other stock. And, like any other stock, the Board of Directors must act in the best interest of shareholders - not clients of the firm.

Many of the middle and smaller sized firms are not publicly traded and can act in the best interest of their clients - not the shareholders. Finding out if the investment firm you are considering is a publicly traded company is as easy as looking it up online or calling the firm directly.

Understanding the Firm's Registration is Critical. Fiduciary duty is the highest level of duty an investment firm can exercise. When accepting fiduciary duty an investment firm must, by law, act in the best interest of its clients - above and beyond those of its shareholders or employees. All investment firms must register with security regulators. Most of the large investment firms register as a broker dealer, avoiding the obligation of fiduciary duty in the process.

If a firm registers as a Registered Investment Advisor (RIA) they are obligated by law to accept fiduciary duty. Here comes another twist. Some investment firms register as an RIA, but claim those aspects of their business are ancillary to their practice - mitigating their responsibility in the process.

If you can only remember one thing from this article, here it is: If you want the investment firm you are dealing with to place your interests above and beyond their interests, have them clearly accept fiduciary in writing on their company letterhead.

Understanding the Firm's Services is Critical. Many of the larger firms imply they provide independent financial planning and investment management services. In reality, their financial plans are "free" reports designed to lure you into their own investments. No doubt, there is some disclosure buried somewhere in the documents explaining all the conflicts, but most people do not have the time to search for them.

Many of the middle and smaller sized firms imply they provide independent financial planning and investment management services. In reality, they are insurance salespeople trying to sell as much insurance as you can afford, and then some. One good litmus test is to find an investment firm that can assess a fee for a financial plan, whether or not you choose to utilize any of their other services. Another good litmus test is to find an investment firm that does not have their own investment products.

The Financial Advisor's Background is the Most Critical Aspect of Your Evaluation. When meeting with a Financial Advisor, consider it an interview. The reality is you are hiring them for the most important part of your life... well, at least your financial life.

Some important questions to ask include:

1. Where did you go to college or graduate school?
2. What degrees do you have?
3. What licenses and certifications do you have?
4. How long have you been in the industry?

Ideally, your Financial Advisor should have a strong academic background, carry the appropriate licenses for your needs and have good experience. Two designations stand out in the industries of financial planning and investment management: Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA), a program based on a series of progressively more difficult exams, and the Certified Financial Planner (CFP), a program based on one exam.

Conclusions. Selecting the right investment firm and Financial Advisor is a critical decision. Utilizing the criteria discussed in this article can turn a difficult task into one of ease. If you are already working with an investment firm and a Financial Advisor be sure they can provide the level of service and independence you deserve.

09/04/07
Skloff Financial Group
Question of the Month
By Aaron Skloff, AIF, CFA, MBA

Aaron Skloff, Accredited Investment Fiduciary (AIF), Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA), Master of Business Administration (MBA) is CEO of Skloff Financial Group, a Registered Investment Advisory firm based in Berkeley Heights, NJ. He can be contacted at http://www.skloff.com or 908-464-3060.

By Aaron Skloff

Bonds - Understanding the Basics

Bonds can be a good investment if you have some spare cash to invest. Bonds are generally safer than stocks and pay a better return than depositing your cash in a bank account. But do you understand the basics of bonds? Continue reading and you will learn what the basic terms mean.

The bond issuer is the entity who needs to borrow money and therefore has issued the bond. It can be any of various different organizations, but is most likely either a government agency or a company. Government bonds are usually safer than company bonds as there is very little risk of the issuer defaulting on the bond.

The par value, or nominal value, of a bond is the amount of money the issuer of the bond is borrowing from the purchaser of the bond. Each bond is often issued for $1,000 in the United States.

The coupon rate is the interest the bond is issued with. If, for example, the nominal interest rate is 5% on a bond with a nominal value of $1,000, you will receive $50 in interest every year. The nominal interest rate of a bond will stay the same until the bond is due.

The maturity date of a bond is the date the bond is completely repaid. Most bonds are issued for a number of years so the due date could be many years into the future. The length of time until the maturity date can be referred to as the term of the bond.

The issue price is the price you pay for the bond at the time it issued. It could be different from the par value of the bond and would most often be below the par value.

The market value is related to the par value, but is very likely different from it. Many bonds are traded on an exchange at a different price than when the bond was issued. This is the price at which the bond market trades the bond currently. If the bond value is less than the par value, the current yield will be higher than the coupon rate. The market value of the $1,000 bond might be trading at only $950.

The current yield is the interest you receive from owning the bond, calculated as a percentage. If the current interest rate level is different from when the bond was issued, the effective interest rate will be different too. The only time the coupon interest rate is equal to the current yield is when the market value is exactly equal to the par value. Then the bond is said to be traded at par value. In the example, the effective interest rate might be 5.5%.

Understanding these terms is essential if you want to understand your bond investments and what influence they have on your results.

Brian Ullitz, personal finance expert, author of the e-book Enjoy Healthy Personal Finances and founder of http://Finance4Everyone.org. If you find finances complicated, boring or intimidating get our free e-book now by enlisting to our newsletter. With this e-book you can learn to manage your debt, save money and enjoy a happier life.

By Brian Ullitz

How to Buy Shares - 3 Tips to Reduce Your Risk

There is a lot of information out there on how to buy shares. Here I have tried to give you three simple tips which you should live by when investing in shares.

1 Research Your Market

This may sound obvious, but you need to have as much information as possible to help you to make the best decision.

2 Decide Your Strategy

Decide your strategy before you buy your shares. The main strategies can be generalized into: value investing - where you purchase shares which you think are currently undervalued; growth investing - where you rely on long term growth, and finally, there is contrarian investing - this does not mean that you go against the trend, it means that you don't necessarily go with the market trend. Always know your strategy before you part with your money.

3 Don't Risk What You Can't Afford To Lose

This is advice which you will hear all the time, but it is very important advice. If you cannot afford to loose the money it will affect your decisions. To buy and sell shares successfully you need to be able to follow your strategy without worrying about the bottom line figures all the time.

Too much pressure on bottom line figures may cause you to deviate from your strategy and to miss out on successful share buying.

Basically, if you ignore any of the above there is a good chance that you will fail. A clear mind and confidence are essential to success and if you cannot abide by the three simple guidelines above then it is probably not the right time or place for you to start investing in shares.

Learn more about investing in shares and different strategies.

A place to learn and discuss everything about shares and the financial markets at http://www.financialsharereport.com

By Reg Maudling

Investing in Gold, Silver and Coins By Barry Unterbrink

The collecting of coins, gold, silver and other precious metals can be fun and financially rewarding. These tangible items are often referred to as "hard assets" because they are heavier than most other commodities or collectibles. Someone once quipped, "if you drop an asset on your toes, and it hurts, then it's probably a hard asset and valuable". Try that with 50 ozs. of silver or a brick of gold - ouch!

The renewed interest in precious metals has been built upon their price rise during the past few years. In fact, there's been a bull market in gold and silver for 5-6 years. Coincident with the lows of the last bear market for stocks in 2002, gold rose from under $300 to just over $1,000 per ounce. That run bested the gains seen by most of the traditional classes of financial assets - stocks, bonds, money markets. Silver, being the main industrial metal, rose almost four-fold, per ounce, equating to a larger percent gain than gold over the past 5 years.

Basically, there are a just a few ways to go about collecting or investing in this arena. You can buy the physical metal and store it hoping it will go up in value, or you can collect numismatic (fancy word for coin collecting) pieces that have either collector value and some gold or silver content value or both. I prefer coins since that is the way I got myself started as a teenager. Of course, back then wages were low for a teenager (as they are today), so I was limited to a few silver coins and some one ounce silver ingots; gold was out of my price range. My father signed up as a silver dealer with a mining company that was riding the wave of investor speculation as silver shot to over $50 per ounce in 1980, so that helped pique my interest also. When I learned to appreciate the smallish cache of coins I collected with my money, my parents later gifted me a bag of silver dollars. During the 1940's and '50's, Las Vegas slot machines accepted them when you gambled. My Grandpa was prescient, he had kept them all those years in his Ohio home and passed them on to my Father. It was fun to sort them and look catalog their value. They dated from the 1870's to the 1920's. I considered it a hobby and rarely sold or traded many coins. I understood the United States' common series of cents, nickels, dimes and dollars, so that's what I collected.

Gold and silver have not shown us a great track record to profits over longer periods of time, however. The price rises in recent years came after a long period of suffering - gold was $850 in 1980 when the Dow Jones stock index was under 1,000. So overall, you have lost big just holding physical gold or silver the past 25 years because inflation has stripped away your profits if you had any to tally. The metals seems to trade in fits and spurts, and often rise in time of investor panic in other areas of finance (recent mortgage and banking mess). Owning collectible coins, in my opinion, has yielded better and more predictable returns over long periods of time, even coins not containing gold or silver, such as early coppers cents.

This study following that I embarked upon should show you that coins can be fun and profitable if you have some patience. I took a list of a few USA coins that I now own or wish I owned, and computed their rate of return over the past 8-9 years. Surprisingly, a collector can assemble a complete set of most American coins going back almost 100 years in cents, nickels, dimes and quarters because most dates are very common in all but the better uncirculated grades. Few exceptions exist, so I will key on those few semi-precious key dates which are still somewhat affordable today that most collectors need to finish their collection. These are coins with low mintage's that are the key dates in its collection. I used the pricing at Coinvaluesonline.com, a good and fair reference source. Shown are the date and mint of the coin, the price rise over 8-9 years, and lastly, the compounded price per year average gain, so you can measure the gains apples to apples. Coin grades used hovered around fine to extra fine condition.

1909-S Indian 1 cent, $435 to $950 in 9 years = +9%
1909-S VDB Lincoln 1 cent, $650 to $1,600 in 9 years = +10%
1914-D Lincoln 1 cent, $425 to $1,100 in 9 years = +11%
1921-S Liberty 5 cent, $675 to $1,000 in 9 years = +4.5%
1916-D Liberty 10 cent, $1,250 to $3,000 in 9 yrs. = +10%
1932-D Washington 25 cent, $155 to $400 in 8 years = +12.5%
1884-CC Morgan $1, $55 to $235 in 9 yrs. = +17%
1889-CC Morgan $1, $440 to $2,000 in 9 yrs. = +18%

As you can see, the average price appreciation has registered around 10% or better for most of the selections. The past few years, there's been a renewed interest in the Lincoln penny, and older Morgan Silver Dollars. Since mintages are fixed and known, once demand picks up, prices rise sometimes fast. The higher grades command king's ransom's of $5,000-$10,000. A rare 1804 silver dollar sold at auction this month for $2 million. Its pedigree dates back to 1950 when it traded for $3,250. That's +11.5% per year gain, also in line with the results above. My study is not entirely scientific, so I'm sure you could punch some holes in it using other coins and time frames. Coin prices move around with demand and investor interest. Also, remember, collectibles should usually not represent a large portion of your retirement assets unless you are an expert in that area. It's difficult to hold coins and precious metals inside IRA's for example unless they are US Mint authorized. Coins and precious metals don't pay any dividends or interest like stocks or bonds. Lastly, as collectibles, coins, gold and even gold funds are taxed at a higher 28% capital gains rate vs. the 15% rate most stock investors enjoy. With all that aside, once you catch the collector bug, you'll surely enjoy the process of collecting, and hopefully the financial rewards also. It's a great hobby to pass along to your children someday, or to cash in and retire on.

~Barry Unterbrink, Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor

Barry Unterbrink has held postions in the financial services industry since 1982. His experience includes portfolio manager for institutional pension funds totaling $80 million, Investment Advisory President and financial newsletter publisher (Consensus of Insiders). A finance graduate of Stetson University, he currently operates as a fee-based Retirement Planning Counselor. He has resided in Fort Lauderdale since 1968. He can be reached at (954) 719-1151 or at http://www.stetsonwealthmanagement.com

By Barry Unterbrink

Precious Metals and Inflation - Protect Your Dollars With Silver Bullion

The fear of inflation has got millions of investors floundering for safer investment options for their money than what they had previously been using. Many investment and financial advisors are looking to precious metals as a way to protect their investors' money from the dire effects of inflation that is inevitable. Such personal finance experts, such as Robert Kiyosaki, are quite vocal in their support of the long term investment in gold and silver as a hedge against the impending inflation that Warren Buffett has been quoted as saying he thought would begin to appear in the next two to five years.

In 1940, there was about 10 billion ounces of silver available in the world, of which half was owned by the United States. More than sixty years of ceaseless consumption later and the U.S. Government owns absolutely no silver to speak of. It remains one of the most necessary precious metals in the world.

SILVER HAS A MULTITUDE OF USES

While gold may be the most popular of the precious metals, it is used almost exclusively for jewelry and adornment purposes, whereas silver on the other hand is widely used. Because of its importance to the technology industry as a necessary component of many electronic devices from cell phones to television sets, silver is uniquely poised to increase greatly in value in the coming years. In fact, some analysts question whether or not the value of silver has not been kept artificially low for decades.

SILVER PRICES WILL EVENTUALLY GO UP - PURCHASE SILVER NOW

Investing in silver bullion is far less costly than gold, though the low availability and the ever-increasing demand on the existing supply (due to the high use in technological applications) will no doubt raise the price of silver in the coming years. The trend toward investment in precious metals is growing in popularity as larger numbers of people are becoming disheartened by their failing investments in the stock market and other traditional venues.

Two of the most popular brands of silver bullion bars are Engelhard and Johnson Matthey, each of which produce the popular 100 troy ounce bars that are among the most popular with retail investors.

To find out more about the history of silver (including why it is one of the most important of the precious metals), as well as what you can expect it to do in the future based on historical trends, download the digital booklet, A Guide to Silver Coin Investing. It is absolutely free; there is no cost and absolutely no obligation whatsoever.

Many people are curious about how to protect their money, but often overlook the many benefits of silver coins. Take a look at our Free Guide to get started today.

By Jeffrey Lewis

Candlestick Patterns Foretold the Bankruptcy of GM Long Ago

Now that the seemingly inevitable has finally happened, it occurred to us to take a look back in an effort to see whether the Candlesticks had left any clues along the way. That quick little study has been very revealing.

But first: a little background.

Candlestick charts are "bar charts with ambition." The basic difference is that the range between the opening price and the closing price is "fattened-out" into a cylinder. If the close is higher than the open, the cylinder is left blank, or "white." If the close is lower than the open, the cylinder is filled in, "black."

This is Pattern Recognition 101. The use of the cylinder makes it very easy for the reader to see what the mood of the traders was, during that particular time period; and the recognition by the eye of the pattern and of its implications is instantaneous.

The Candlesticks are especially effective when price data are being delivered to the computer screen in real time. It is fascinating to watch the ups and downs of price movement; one can very nearly read the minds of the investors as they make net decisions, as a group, to buy and to sell.

The Monthly Candlestick GM bars of September, October, and November 2007, together, form a bearish "Evening Star" pattern, in which the Star is a fairly well-formed Shooting Star, which is also bearish. At that time, shares were selling in the $35 range.

On the Weekly chart, there was a Bearish Engulfing bar in October 2007 and four Bearish Engulfing bars during 2008.

On the Daily chart, there were two Bearish Engulfing bars in December 2007; a Bearish Engulfing bar in
February 2008; an Evening Star (in which the Star was a Doji Shooting Star) in July 2008; a Bearish Engulfing bar in September 2008; a Bearish Engulfing bar in October 2008; two more in December 2008; and another Bearish Engulfing bar in May 2009.

In retrospect, bearish Candlestick warnings were in more than adequate supply from late 2007 onward. Any investor who had even a rudimentary understanding of Candlestick charting would have known that the news was not good, and could have taken appropriate action. There were no secrets; it was all out in the open for everyone to see.

The author owns CandleWave, LLC, which publishes its Investment Newsletter twice per week and its Action Suggestions three times per week. The Action Suggestions review the major Indexes (and suggest precise safety stops); Gold; Silver; Crude Oil; five Forex pairs; the Dow 30 (individually); and includes the Commodities Daily Report. The CommoditiesJunction website sells the Commodities Daily Report (30-day trial for only $9.99). The Candelaabra website sells our "Candelaabra" trading system Operating Manual and a risk-free 30-day Joint Trial of Candelaabra and of Genesis Financial Technologies' "Trade Navigator" platform. Hop to it and get the Risk Free Trial now, right here at http://www.candelaabra.com/

By William Kurtz

How to Benefit From Silver As Gold Prices Rise

For longer than any of us have been alive, silver and gold prices have been closely tied together. In fact, there was a United States law that was put in place back in 1792 that fixed the gold to silver ratio at 1:15. What that means, in short, is that one troy ounce of gold would buy fifteen troy ounces of silver. While gold may get more attention and be more psychologically attractive, silver prices have been keeping pace and in some cases surpassing the growth of gold over the years.

ANCIENT SILVER

There is simply no denying that gold is a good investment, but anyone who doubts the value of silver need only look to the Holy Bible to see that it has been used as an exchange medium since the ancient days as described in the very first book of the Old Testament (Genesis 23:16). Still, gold prices are fairly high and as such may be out of reach for the average investor while silver remains a fantastic way to diversify your investment assets.

The cost of precious metals may fluctuate but there is an intrinsic value that is permanent and unaffected by silver or gold prices. Many experts are recommending the inclusion of silver coins in investment portfolios as a way to help protect your finances from the potential damage of inflation.

SILVER IS COST-EFFECTIVE

Because of the tremendous cost difference between silver and gold prices, investing in silver is a far more cost-effective way to increase your investment portfolio while at the same time protect it from the frightening trends in the financial markets over the last couple of years.

In the decade between 1971 and 1981, the price of silver increased almost five times. During the same period, the value of the U.S. dollar dropped to less than half of its value.

While it is true that no investment is 100% safe, precious metals have held value for thousands of years, yet everyday stock certificates become entirely worthless. Why not invest in something that will be valuable even if the markets get worse than they already are?

If you are still trying to decide what direction the future of your investments should take, I strongly recommend that you download a free copy of my digital booklet, A Guide to Silver Coin Investing. In it you will learn more about why silver is a strong, sound liquid investment that will have a value even in the worst financial times.

Most people have no idea where begin with silver coin investing. Download our Free Guide to get started today.

By Jeffrey Lewis

Investing in Precious Metals - The Coming Silver Boom

While trying to find the best investment opportunities for their clients, major financial experts are looking at the commodities markets with a specific eye on precious metals and with good reason. Gold and silver have been a valuable form of currency for thousands of years, and it is highly unlikely that their intrinsic value will diminish much in the future, considering they are being used more than ever.

In addition to being one of the most collectible and valuable of the precious metals, silver is a necessary component in many everyday electronics which will only serve to increase its value well into the future. As the price of gold nears the $1,000 per ounce mark, more average investors are looking to silver to diversify their investment portfolios. As the technology sector continues to produce an amazing volume of computers and cell phones - all of which require silver to operate - there is a silver boom just around the corner that is going to pay off big for the wise investors who start putting their money in silver now while it is still at a relatively low price range.

FACT: There is less silver bullion in the world today than gold, which will eventually cause the cost to skyrocket.

It used to be that investing in precious metals was something our grandparents did. Then our generation saw the dot com bust. Now the worst economic situation this country has known since the Great Depression is upon us. Many of the most highly respected and well known companies are either laying off their work forces, closing their doors, or turning to the government to be bailed out.

The stock market is not looking as inviting as it did just a few years ago, and the real estate market that only five years ago was thriving with new investors renovating and "flipping" run-down properties is now in a tailspin of millions of foreclosures. 401k investments lost thousands upon thousands of dollars for hard working people who thought their retirement investments were safe.

Now it is coming to light that stock truly is a risky investment even when the company is a household name like AIG or General Motors.

If you are ready to explore alternatives to traditional investments, why not download my free Guide to Silver Coin Investing and find out how you can help to protect your wealth from inflation. Help to secure your future for yourself and your family.

Many people are curious about how to protect their money, but often overlook the many benefits of silver coins. Take a look at our Free Guide to get started today.

By Jeffrey Lewis

Running For Cover - Private Alternative Investment Funds Could Be the Safest Haven

With the absolute implosion of global financial markets, the investment world is learning that alternative investments need to be private. I don't think there has ever been a better illustration of a "pull down" effect within the last 70 years. It almost seems ridiculous to keep using the word "historic" as each day seems to be, or break a piece of financial history. Looking at the first half of 2008, we all sat back and said, " Wow, that was pretty bad." I am guessing that many investors wish they could have capped their losses at the levels seen in the first half of the year. However, many didn't and more couldn't because the new question on everyone's mind has been where is the safe haven?

This has been a serious question that hasn't been answered, and I believe that it's mostly due to looking in the wrong places. When you don't trust the markets or the financial system that is supporting it, then why would you look for safety there? It's like being scared of flying because the last 100 flights have crashed, and the only thing you have to prevent your own flight from crashing is hope. Instead, you should be thinking of an alternative method of travel, just like investors should be thinking of an alternative method of investing. I know that there has been a lot of pre-programming by the financial world that hedge funds, exchange traded funds, etc., are all alternative investment funds.

However, they are either trading on the public exchanges or using strategies that are trading through the public exchanges, and the result is that they have been annihilated like everything else.

One of the biggest reasons for going into an alternative investment has been that it should provide a good return and a diversification from traditional investments. It is not only that our views and definitions of what an alternative investment actually is have changed, but also diversification in general. Mutual funds, which have been the traditional investment symbol of diversification, are down and down big. Why? Simply because all of their positions are in the public markets. Emerging markets were also the new alternative direction for investors looking for diversification from US investments. However, in a very eye-popping report from Bloomberg, hedge fund closures in Asia have jumped 19% this year, and needless to say investors looking to the emerging markets found submerging ones instead. Redemptions are haunting them like many North American hedge funds and redemptions will bring one thing and one thing only, losses.

So, what do we do? For one thing, stop playing in a game that is controlled by forces that can't be controlled. Unlike public investments, private investments that are not publically traded have two things controlling their returns; their business model and the execution of that model. There are no analysts, institutions dumping shares, or crowd to run with or from. There is only the pure performance of that model. Now to be very clear, when the entire economy is going down it's hard to fight momentum and all things get affected in some way or another. But there is a big difference in being affected by performance and being affected by public perception. Also, another very important factor to consider is that when everything is going down, unsecured investments are the first to get hit. Lehman shareholders are a classic case of this, and by their bondholders also getting hit, it was a perfect illustration of what asset-backed really means and doesn't mean. Assets that are actually tangible can be liquidated to get your principal back. Investing in an alternative investment fund whose model is backed by a tangible asset provides another strong line of defense to protect your principal in the end.

I have spoken to several investors in the last week and they all have the same question, "Where do we place our money to shelter us from the market?" The answer to the question is in the question; the place needs to be somewhere that is away "from" the market, and not "in" the market. When you run for cover you're looking for protection. Protection from what may have already happened and what's to come. If you are thinking that safety is somewhere in the market, let me leave you with a question. Would you seek shelter from a hurricane by running into a tornado?

by: Dominic Mazzone

Spotting Profitable Investment Trends in 2009

I attended an overseas property trade show called OPP Live a few months ago. This was the fourth year I've been to the show and as usual it was very well organized and I met a lot of old friends plus a wide variety of interesting people who work in the industry.

The atmosphere at this years' show was very different to the previous ones though. Previous OPP Live shows were all held in very different economic environments, where profit margins were wide, the public's appetite for overseas property was insatiable, and financing for builders and buyers was very easy to come by.

As most employers reading this will no doubt agree - property companies who take too long to trim unnecessary overheads and refuse to adjust their product offering to suit a changing marketplace will soon find themselves out of business.

Meeting a Changing Markets Needs

We've certainly no intention of making those kinds of mistakes in my organisation, and judging by the recent media interest and the huge response to our Florida Foreclosure services, there is still a huge demand for property that buyers can identify as being a great value medium to long term investment. Some of our readers may also be interested in our Florida property of the week below.

Outside of the USA, Panama remains very popular due to its uniquely international economy, although there is a firm emphasis on purchasing developments that are already under construction.

Still The Best Asset Class

All in all, I remain convinced that property is by far the best asset class to invest in. It also remains a uniquely fulfilling experience. I just can't bring myself to leave surplus cash in a bank account with meager interest rates and I certainly won't be putting it in our ridiculously volatile stock markets.

But you have to choose carefully

Big profits are definately there for the taking in the property industry but your investments absolutely have to be in the right locations, at the right prices and you must research them thoroughly and examine your personal finances carefully before committing.

These are all fundamental rules to abide by in both booms and recessions. The difference is that people ignoring them will suffer a lot more now than they would have done 5 years ago.

by: Colin Murphy

Stock Market Trading Your Best Investment

Your stock market trading dominions are your income. When you remain by your conventions you play in acquire. All the unvaried if you breach your own timber handling formulas the most believable termination is that you'll cease off realize. When you've an trusty stripe of capital dealing conventions it is essential to touch them in intelligence. Here is one learning that can gather advantages. Interpret these decrees preceding to your day beginnings and also interpret the conventions when your day ceases.

Of course you need to abide by a band of finds if you acquire them. It is natural to want to breach or prefer decrees and it questions condition to continue behaving in conformity with the completed conventions. There are a lot of boldface dealers and sure-enough bargainers out there, but never any stale sheer dealers. Keeping your working capital basal safe is important to improve stock market trading (http://www.tradingtrainerblog.com/).

A few dealers score a symmetric lower disposition for deprivation. The fundamental aim here is to bonk endowment betokens region the boundaries of your temperament for deprivation. Remain abreast of almost the executing of you gun stock and adhere your domesticity deprivation taper. This is a make that present allow you to aim the most taboo of arising buys in. Proceed getting and begetting individual at this one process of treatment.

Never ascension up from unitary distributing practice to a distinct. Mastery one and exclusive forge instead of go just at applying a lot of manners. Never brook heed to extortionate belief most the option trading strategy (http://www.tradingtrainerblog.com/are-options-risky-really/) or divide stocks you're handling or are already dealings. Everything is contemplated in the toll and intensiveness.

What are your feelings concerning the stock market? Does it make you feel happy or sad? Would you be more comfortable with a plush infant's toy? This is the real world, and making money requires one to take risk. Sure, there are easier plays, but to make a lot of cash, one must be willing to gamble! Consider that the next time you find a bunch of gibberish on a web log or common page! Try the hamburger next time.

In order to win in the stock exchange you do not demand to do anything prodigious. You merely necessitate to not doing what the ordinary bargainer acts. The average out bargainer is discrepant and ungoverned. Ask yourself daily, "Did I accompany my technique now?" If your reply is ordinal then you're distressed and it is time to recommit yourself stock market trading and option strategies (http://www.tradingtrainerblog.com/three-rules-for-option-trading/) dominions.

by: David Baxwell

Start an Internet Marketing Business with Very Little Investment

You can start an Internet marketing business with a very small investment. As opposed to the off-line world on the online world you can start a business very cheaply. It no longer takes $50,000 or more just to start a small business. You can literally start an Internet marketing business with an investment of less than $100.

There are just say few necessary things you need to start your journey to online success.

First, you'll need your own domain name. Having your own domain name is an absolute must if you want to start a legitimate business online. In the off-line world you would need a storefront, in the online world you need a domain name. There are many places to get a good domain name and the cost can range in between $1 and $10 depending on where you buy the domain name.

Next, you'll need hosting. A hosting account is where you will store the files necessary to build a website. A hosting company will host those files and stir from to your end-user for you. This makes a lot of sense and is very easy to start up. You can find hosting accounts for as little as $10 or less a month. Now, as you business gets bigger you will need to upgrade your hosting. Once you become big online you'll need a very old reliable host because you could be serving hundreds if not thousands of people an hour on your website.

You will also need a way to take money. As a business owner just starting out PayPal is a very good option for collecting money online. It is super simple to set up any fees will not kill you. Also, he will need your own shopping cart. You can find open source shopping carts that you can use for free. The best part about most shopping carts is it automatically integrate with PayPal. One of the advantages of using open source shopping carts, is that they usually integrate with PayPal. Make sure to read the documentation and find one that does.

Next, you'll need an autoresponder account. An autoresponder allowed you to collect the name and e-mail address of your website visitors. This is not spam. This is called opt in e-mail marketing. What you want to do, is put a form on your site that asks the visitor for their name and e-mail address. This way, they're giving you permission to contact them. Now, you'll want to bribe them with some type of freebie or really good information to get them to give you their name and e-mail address. Unfortunately I cannot go into detail on this in this article. But, you will want to research more into auto responders and opt in e-mail marketing.

You can get pretty much every service I have mentioned in this article for less than $100 if you budget right. Don't go for the first thing you find, look around and find the best deals for the best services. There is no reason why you can't get a domain name, hosting, a free open source shopping cart and an autoresponder account for less than $100.

by: Shannon Herod

Dos and Don’ts While Buying Estate Investment Real Estate

There a several proven ways to indulge in buying estate investment real estate and put yourself on the road to real estate wealth. Investors often "flip" properties by buying a property, renovating it soon after and then selling it for a profit. This method is proved to work for investors who study the market carefully and make good assumptions about the profit they might make by buying estate investment real estate at a certain point of time. Although it is a good idea to invest now, buying estate investment real estate is not as liquid as investing money in the stock market. So unless you have the right kind of expertise, it is advisable to opt for a different kind of investment.

Do:

- Research alone may not help at all times. While buying estate investment real estate, it is important to consult a local real estate professional. This will provide you help in finding and evaluating an investment property before you can buy it.

- The location that the property is situated in always impacts the value of any piece of real estate. Research about current position of the property is a must.

- Whether the property chosen is affordable for you or not must be looked into rationally before making the decision, which involves some more homework. Budget every expense that might be involved in the process.

- Having an achievable exit strategy even before entering is very important while buying estate investment real estate. It is a big investment decision and unless you have a ‘plan B’, it could be highly risky. Especially with the current economic situation, when the real estate business is susceptible to sudden changes, this step is a must.

Don’t:

- Do not overpay for the property. Good research and consulting professionals will help you avoid this mistake. Sometimes, mismanaged properties that require some fixing up work can be profitable as well. So make sure you double-check each prospect many times.

- Abide by the rules. Do not overlook or disobey any rules and regulations. There are strict laws in the real estate field and noncompliance could result in hefty fines.

- After buying estate investment real estate, if you wish to give it out for rent or lease, make sure you know the prospective clients, their credit and employment details. Whether they will be able to afford the regular payment scheme that is agreed upon or not should be looked into.

- Do not take on more than you can handle. While buying estate investment real estate, start off on a small scale. Investing too much at once increases your risk of losing everything at one shot. Major investments made in areas that won't provide a decent rate of (ROI) return on investment should be avoided.

- If you enter a partnership, you should be comfortable with the arrangement. At least one of the partners should have good knowledge of the business.

by: Otto Ruebsamen

Good Investment Properties available in Maryland and Washington D.C.

Maryland investment property is definitely something to consider, especially in light of the recent state of foreclosures. While foreclosures are bad news for the seller, they can be really good news for people looking to make a new and lucrative investment. Remember that with foreclosures, the parties involved would like to get rid of the property as soon as possible. While this does mean a good bargain for potential investors, it's also important to be clear about a few things.

The Minimal Risk Factor

One of the biggest advantages of pre-foreclosure investments with Maryland investment property is that there is a greatly reduced risk factor. From the point of view of the seller, they want to get out of the house and be done with the bank as soon as possible. From the point of view of the bank, a house that is foreclosed doesn't make them any money. In other words, both the bank and the seller will be willing to sell as quickly as possible. This will probably mean reduced prices as well as more flexible payment plans.

Some other factor to consider with Maryland investment property are any hidden or extra costs that come about when rehabbing the property. Because everyone involved would like to move the property as quickly as possible, your extra costs will also be greatly reduced. You can easily negotiate for a lower down-payment amount and you'll find that other small fees can also be reduced or cut out completely. Bear in mind that foreclosures are also known as a Buyer's Market. This is because the buyer not only has the upper hand; they also have the most to profit.

What Else?

If you're looking at Maryland investment property for your own use, then foreclosures are a speedy option. Unlike other homes, where you will probably have to wait for the tenant to leave, these homes are either already vacant or the owners are about to vacate. This means that you can move in almost as soon as the deal is closed. You will however need to show proof that you are able to purchase the foreclosed property. If you are using your own cash, proper financial records are required. For example, your bank statement. If you are using financing, you will need to show that your loan is approved by your lender.

If you are a first time investor or are unsure about investing trends, putting your money into pre-foreclosures is not only lucrative, it is also a relatively safe investment option. If you are familiar with house renovation and redecorating, there's nothing like foreclosure investment to make some quick and good money. All you have to do is get the foreclosed home at a bargain price, do the necessary renovations and repairs that add value to the property then put the house back on the market for a good profit. Many people have earned sizable capital by renovating their properties this way.

While you can handle your pre-foreclosure bids yourself, it might be a good idea to hire an agent to help you out. In that way, you'll not only gain access to the best homes, you'll also be in a better position to make a good bid and get the best bargain for your Maryland investment property.

by: Robert Kilonzo