Daily Investment Tips

Investing money wisely has never been easy, those who say it is easy only talk about investing but never try investing.The following investing tips will help you in your dream of investing money wisely.

1. Learn About Investing

Knowledge is power. Learn about finances, economy, reading and analysing company accounts. You can self educate yourself or pay for investing classes. The more you understand about how investment work the easier it will be to make an informed decision.

2. Don’t put all your eggs in one basket.

This has to be the number one rule of investing money wisely. Diversify your investments. Make a Proper Asset Allocation (Mix of bonds, stocks and Cash)

3. Open an Investment account

Open a bank account where every month you deposit a percentage of your monthly income. The money in this account should be used only for making investments.

4. Ignore Markets Up and Down

Markets are volatile and will have its swings the best thing is to ignore them. Nobody can predict what will happen in the short term, but history has taught us that over the long term markets move upwards.

5. Ignore The Noise

Everyday analysts and economists make predictions, estimates and give their view on how things will go, the media covers these reports extensively. The problem is that more often than not these reports are contradictory and confusing to the investors. Conclusion: Just ignore the noise.

6.Make changes as needed

Things change; you grow older and closer to retirement, you will have children, get a raise/promotion etc. Your portfolio should not be static and needs to change as your circumstances change. Make changes as needed.

7. Buy Index Fund

If all the above sound confusing just buy an index fund that tracks major indices. History has taught us that over the long term markets move upwards.

written by Constantine Njeru \\ tags: Analysing, Bonds, Buy Index Fund, Circumstances, Company Accounts, Economists, Eggs In One Basket, Estimates, Investing Money, Investing Tips, Investment Account, Investment Work, Knowledge Is Power, Major Indices, Money Investing, Money Investments, Proper Asset Allocation, Retirement, Swings, Term Markets

From January 1, 2011,  more than 10,000 baby boomers a day are turning 65 and that will continue for the next 19 years.

Best age to start collecting social security benefits?

The answer is, the longer you wait, the larger your monthly check.

You are allowed to start collecting Social security retirement benefits at age 62. If you opt to collect early,  you will get a lower monthly amount. The full benefits are are paid out if you begin collecting at age 66. You can also delay and start collecting a larger monthly check at 70. After age 70 there is no advantage in delaying.

To make it clear check out this NYTime example of the difference it can make by delaying the age when you start collecting your social security :-

Take those who are set to receive $1,000 a month at their full retirement age. If they sign up for benefits at age 62, they will collect only $750. But if they wait until 70, they will earn extra credit and receive up to $1,320 a month — nearly a third more.

To know how much you can collect, use the Social Security benefits calculator, to get the full picture of your benefits under different circumstances and scenarios. You can calculate your payments at age 62, 66, 70, or for any year in between.

written by Constantine Njeru \\ tags: 19 Years, Advantage, Baby Boomers, Calculator, Circumstances, Extra Credit, January 1, Retirement Age, Scenarios, Security Retirement Benefits, Social Security, Social Security Benefits, Social Security Retirement

Getting a good investment advisor should not be a matter of luck. You can do your home work by pre-screening potential investment advisors. You have to treat the potential advisors as a job seeker. This is the person you are hiring / employing to advise you on how to invest so just like any other employer go for the best.

How to screen investment advisors.

You can make a point of meeting the investment advisors face to face for a question and aswer question. In the first meeting you shuld be the one asking the questions not the other way round. The advisor should ask you questions after you have hired him.

Here are a few questions to get your started as provided by Securities and exchange commission

* What experience do you have, especially with people in my circumstances?

* Where did you go to school? What is your recent employment history?

* What licenses do you hold? Are you registered with the SEC, a state, or FINRA?

* Are the firm, the clearing firm, and any other related companies that will do business with me members of SIPC?

* What products and services do you offer?

* Can you only recommend a limited number of products or services to me? If so, why?

* How are you paid for your services? What is your usual hourly rate, flat fee, or commission?

* Have you ever been disciplined by any government regulator for unethical or improper conduct or been sued by a client who was not happy with the work you did?

The answers to this question will help you make a judgement on the invesment advisor competence and integrity.

written by Constantine Njeru \\ tags: Circumstances, Competence, Employment History, Face To Face, First Meeting, Hourly Rate, Improper Conduct, Integrity, Invest, Investment Advisor, Investment Advisors, Investment Broker, Job Seeker, Judgement, Matter Of Luck, Related Companies, School History, Securities And Exchange, Securities And Exchange Commission, Sipc

Litigations have become a fact of modern life. When people are facing litigation with a potential of hefty fine they tend to ask whether asset protection can work when one is facing litigation.

According to some lawyers. In some cases, yes, although asset planning options are ordinarily narrowed under such circumstances. Asset Protection is a vaccine, however, not a cure, and it is best viewed as preventive medicine. It is very difficult to purchase fire insurance once the fire has started. It is advisable to have the legal restructuring completed before litigation is even on the horizon. It can, however, be very helpful during and after litigation, as well.

So, consult with your lawyer for the best cause of direction.

written by Constantine Njeru \\ tags: Asset Protection, Circumstances, Fire Insurance, Horizon, Insurance, Lawyer, Lawyers, Litigation, Litigations, Medicine, People, Preventive Medicine, Protecting Your Assets, Restructuring