7 Things You Need to Know Before You Start Investing...

Summary:Don't throw your money down the drain! Do a checklist of the 7 Things you really must know before start investing...
Keywords:beginner investors, general investing, investing, investment, money management
Article Body:Copyright 2006 Jason Chew
1. Know your current financial situation. Know you debts level. Calculate your income and expenses by taking into account the following:
Mortgage repaymentsPersonal tax Loans and overdrafts Living expenses Emergency funds Car expenses Entertainment Holidays School fees Credit card debts Family commitments
Before you start investing your money on any investment products, you should know how much you could spare each month for investment. General rule is that, you should clear your debts first, then save and invest later. That is to say the more money you put aside now, the better it will be for your future. I would say put aside 10% of your income for rainny days. 10% is a small amount that you won't feel a pinch. Save it until you have managed to build a "dam management funds".
2. Prepare funds for dam management. This goes in line with point 1. You need to keep at least 3 to 6 months ofyou income as dam management. After you have managed to do that then additional money that you saved can be used to invest.
3. Protect yourself and your family first. By this point, I mean you should have the basic life insurance that insure you and your family against terminal diseases and accident. This is very important as even though you might loose all your money through investment and if you or your family members need medical attention, it will be well taken care of.
4. Know your risk level. If you are not able to take big risks, short term investment and swing trading is notfor you. It's better to invest in mutual or trusts funds which will give a steady payout and have lower risk.If you are a high risk or medium risk taker, you can try invest in stocks, growth and hedge funds.
5. Diversify your investment. Expert would tell you it is a must to diversify your investment. Your investments needto have a steady mix of stocks, mutual funds and/or bonds. Beside that, your should invest in different industryand/or different regions. This will help you minimize your risk as fluctuations in the markets will not have a big impact on your investments. Your ideal mix will be 20-40% stock and the rest mutual funds and bonds.
6. Do your homework before you invest. It is good to seek expert advice. But, the money is ultimately yours. So you need to do some research and make a sound decision on what to invest even though your financial advisors might have already worked it out all for you. This is to make sure you know what you are investing and able to keep track of them. If your investments suffer loses you will be able to make a right decision whether to sell or hold if you know your stuff well.
7. Do stock take yearly if not frequently. Your investment might already be reaping in profits. But, it is good to know how well you fare at the end of the day. Reinvest the profits and celebrate if you have success. This will serve as motivations for you and will make you more determined to acheive your financial goals.

The Secret To Never Ending Financial Success

Summary:Which one will you choose: Wealth or Happiness?
Well: you can have BOTH.
You can be both rich and happy. It is great to have a huge bank account and at the same time, enjoy life with your loved ones. Money alone will never buy you happiness; but money can help you enjoy life more, which enhances your happiness.
Many people are saying that it is getting harder and harder to earn and make money these days. That may be true to some extent, but it all depends on the per...
Keywords:wealth,happiness,rich
Article Body:Which one will you choose: Wealth or Happiness?
Well: you can have BOTH.
You can be both rich and happy. It is great to have a huge bank account and at the same time, enjoy life with your loved ones. Money alone will never buy you happiness; but money can help you enjoy life more, which enhances your happiness.
Many people are saying that it is getting harder and harder to earn and make money these days. That may be true to some extent, but it all depends on the person and how he maximizes the use of resources available to him.
Mergers, downsizing of companies, and massive lay-offs occur more often now. Affected employees take this chance to engage in their true passions and open small businesses, do consulting work, join network marketing, and try their hand in internet businesses.
Indeed, these challenging times provide opportunities to build a business, which is arguably one of the best ways to become rich. These global circumstances ushered in the age of entrepreneurship where many young people are getting rich and strutting their way to the bank!
So, how were they able to do it? How were they able to overcome adversities and bounce back to lead happy and prosperous lives? What is the secret to their happiness and never-ending financial success?
The secret is in their perspective. These people live in a state of abundance. When you live in such a world, you will not be bothered by limitations. Do you want a successful career and a close relationship with your family? You can have both! Do you want to focus on business and still have enough time for fun and play? You can have both! Do you want to earn a fortune and do the work you love? Yes, you can have both!
These people have transcended the world of limitations. They keep in mind that there is limitless supply for everybody. They abhor penny pinching and aspire for the best. They believe that there will be always plenty of money to go around. They also think, “Isn’t it a shame to live cheaply in an abundant world?”
But this is not to say that you should rush out, shop, max out your credit card, and become financially irresponsible. This is not the way to minimize your money worries. What it means is that you must find your true passion and live your life’s purpose.
People who live with true abundance never worry about having enough. Worry keeps you from feeling free and joyful. Worry leads to a life full of fears. Fear gets in the way of creativity, change, and growth. It makes you seek stability and status quo. If you keep on worrying, it is difficult, if not impossible, to think of great abundance or believe that you can have all the things you aspire for.
Wealth or happiness? You can have both.
Expand your way of thinking and adopt an abundant mindset. Add a dose of creativity and think out of the box. Figure out a way to have the best of both worlds.

Bringing Financial Services Online

Summary:The variety of financial tools and services available today has multiplied dramatically from a generation ago. On both the personal front and in the business sector there has been a dramatic increase in the number of products available, the methods by which they are delivered and the services they require.
The internet is a perfect system for laying out preliminary information in the financial services industry, where product options can get complicated fairly quickly. Bus...
Keywords:website hosting, financial services, online finance, financial websites
Article Body:The variety of financial tools and services available today has multiplied dramatically from a generation ago. On both the personal front and in the business sector there has been a dramatic increase in the number of products available, the methods by which they are delivered and the services they require.
The internet is a perfect system for laying out preliminary information in the financial services industry, where product options can get complicated fairly quickly. Businesses of all sizes that are engaged in some portion of this industry are finding that a website makes good business sense.
An enormous amount of financially related business is still done at the local level. Mortgages, auto and home loans and insurance policies are still usually secured from a local agent. The small businessman engaged in providing such products need only think about the amount of time he or she spends on the phone explaining the basics of their services to realize how much time a website could save them.
When a customer calls about auto insurance, think about the ability to refer the caller to your website to learn about the required minimum coverage, about the relationship of the vehicle's value, about the relationship of personal injury coverage to health insurance.
Think about having a website that explains the four or five home mortgage options that are available, about how they are affected by down payment, credit history and loan amount. Consider the enormous number of variables available in health insurance for both individuals and families, and envision a chart on your own website that explains how those policies work.
That's only a start on the types of benefits a website can provide to a small businessman or regional company in the financial services business. Your website can provide explanations, charts, even video clips explaining:
* Retirement planning* Medicare insurance options* Home loans, including specialties such as tenants-in kind* Real estate history and trends in your area* Auto insurance, including the effects of driving records and assigned risk* Investments - mutual funds or annuities? Stocks or CDs?* Estate planning* Health insurance - a new policy, or COBRA?
These are a few examples plucked from a vast array of financial services that are out there today. Your website can become your reference library, your consulting tool, and your business partner when it comes to educating your clients. Websites provide multidimensional explanations of material in a far more effective fashion than brochures. No matter how glossy, stacks of paper that use terms only half understood are intimidating to people.
Your website can have an entire dictionary section, so that potential customers can learn terminology at their leisure, rather than ask embarrassing questions. And of course, the fewer questions they have when they pay a call on you, the less time is consumed in moving towards a potential sale.
Use the graphics capability of a website to maximize the attractive nature of your particular company. Take advantage of a personalized business website to explain why your services are better, unique, priced more reasonably, performed more thoroughly. With any complex financial product, you'll need to explain how your selection of products can meet an entire range of consumer needs. Your website can do that for you.
Financial products can be presented online just as attractively as real estate is today. For every financial product, there is a personal benefit that can be reinforced with images. For products with multiple options and complex purchasing decisions, a website provides a consumer with an invaluable tool that is available 24/7. Your potential customer won't be sitting across from you, concerned that there's been a question missed or an issue not fully understood. A website is like an office staff to a financial services professional: there's no better business for harnessing the efficiency of the new technology.

Business Dress - Women

Like it or not, the first impression people get from you is your appearance. When engaged in an interview or you are already hired, you always want to look best. Clean cut, professional looking people get treated like a professional. How you dress sends specific signals to people. Let’s start from head to toe for women. First of all, never wear too much jewelry or makeup. One item of jewelry is enough. A small ring on one finger, or small earrings is plenty. No big loops ladies. Makeup should be conservative, just plain powder or concealer and barely any eye makeup. No lipstick is appropriate at an interview. It is just not professional. The woman’s suit should be wool, linen, or cotton/polyester. Stick with navy, gray, and medium blues, at least for the first interview. As for blouses, solid colors and natural fabrics, such as cotton or silk look clean and professional. A scarf says a lot about a business woman; it is a powerful status symbol. Shoes should never be open toed and stay within 2 ½ inch heels, nothing faddish or multicolored. The color of your shoe should be the same or darker than your skirt. Pantyhose should always be neutral skin tones, nothing outlandish, unless you are interviewing in the fashion industry. A briefcase is an excellent choice for a business woman, but don’t bring along your purse too. It looks awkward trying to juggle them around. You should choose either brown or burgundy, black or navy, either one is fine. You do not want to ever distract the interviewer with your outfit, makeup or accessories. Last but definitely not least is your personal hygiene. Bad breath, dandruff, body odor, and dirty unmanicured nails do not give a good impression. When it comes to body odor, you are what you eat. If you consume a lot of garlic, onions, cilantro, and junk food, not only will it show in your skin, but it will seep through your pores. Gross. Make sure you eat a natural healthy diet so you always smell plea

Things you must do to maximize your chances of obtaining a small business loan

The things you really ought to discuss with your bank manager to get the business loan you need.
Keywords:small business loans, small business finance, small business, business loans
Article Body:To get approval for your small business loan application, you must be able to meet the lending criteria set down. Some organisations are more risk averse than others, and will therefore have more stringent criteria. To vastly increase your chances of a successful funding application, you will need to present the following information:
1. The reason for the loan. The lender will be looking for something that fits within the normal range and expertise of your business. The amount may cover a number of items, so you will need to cover each.
2. The amount required, and the repayment term of the small business loan you want. (e.g. $10,000 term 5 years, payable quarterly).
3. Details of how you will repay the amount borrowed. For example:- From the increase in profits of reduced running costs of the Whizzbang Go4It
4. Details of security you will be able to offer to the lender. This will act as reassurance for the lender. If you're not prepared to put up some aspect of security, then why should they?
5. You will need to include your business plan which will serve to answer essential questions relating to management capabilities, information about the market you operate in. What kind of business you are in etc.
6. 3 Years financial statements. You will need to present quality financial information from your accounting software, preferably signed off by your accountant or tax advisor.
7. Latest Set of Management accounts. Again produced from your accounting software.
8. Accounts receivables (debtors) and payables (creditors) ageing reports.
9. Principals financial statements - Particularly required if some form of security is necessary.
If you are a new company, the emphasis is going to be on your business plan , and the security (also called collateral) you or your business can provide against the loan.
You must take the time to practice presenting your case to the bank or lender to iron out any glitches. Practice on your colleagues and family (you never know, they might be so impressed, they'll invest or lend!). It may help to role play the lender and come up with as many pointy questions as possible. The more time you take the better your chances will be. (But remember, don't fall into the analysis paralysis trap!)
Good luck!

Some Facts About Women in Business

Since mentoring many small business hopefuls I’ve come to realize a very disturbing fact. Many very bright and hopeful female entrepreneurs have crossed my office threshold with the mistaken idea that just being a woman gives them an advantage over their male counterparts. Sadly, this is not as true as we’ve been led to believe.

Certainly the female population of today is much better off than their mother’s or grandmothers, but obtaining financial support/loans isn’t viewed by bankers any differently than it is for male entrepreneurs.
A myth has been circulating for years that has led entrepreneurs to believe that women-owned and minority-owned businesses can obtain loans easier. Unfortunately, that is only a myth.

If your entrepreneurial dream requires a bank loan, the process isn’t any easier if you’re a woman or a minority. The only slight advantage is that there may be additional lending sources available if you’re in either of these categories. But you still have to sell the lender on your business and means of repayment.

Both male and female executives in the corporate arena have much in common in terms of professional aspirations. However, the playing field is far from being equal. A survey was done by a non-profit research group called Catalyst recently. Male & female executives at 1,000 of the largest corporations in the U.S. were surveyed and more than half of the women said that they aspire to a CEO position. They were even willing to make sacrifices such as delaying a marriage and/or children, and that very willingness shouts to us that the field isn’t equal.

Other survey results were as follows:

49.5% of all employed managers and professionals are women, but they still tend to manage only other women.
The highest-paid female executive still earns only 68% of the salary paid to her male counterpart.
Firms that include women on their senior management teams showed greater improvement in corporate performance.
62% of the firms that included women on their senior management team saw their market share grow, compared with only 39% of companies with no female senior management.

Advancements in technology should help ease the movement of more women into leadership. Computers enable women to work more flexible hours and better balance work and family commitments, which is not expected of their male counterparts. (How equal is that?)

So-called feminine leadership traits will grow in importance in the 21st century, according to more than 160 international companies and 75 senior executives’ view of their firm’s progress toward gender equity.

Most respondents, predominantly male, predicted wide-spread abandonment of the “command and control” managerial style for a more “team-oriented” approach. That doesn’t seem all that bad to me. I can think of a lot of companies that could use more teamwork and less monarchy leadership.

These business gurus saw this new style as requiring skills that are “more feminine than masculine,” thus giving an edge to female managers. However, another 15-year study has shown that female managers are no more inclusive or democratic than men when making workplace decisions.

As grim as these facts might be, I don’t want to discourage any prospective female entrepreneurs. Female business owners know that they may have to work twice as hard for half the recognition and pay, but ladies – statistics show they’ll outlive their male counterparts.

We know that any woman who is a wife and mother and also in business, could do the job of two air traffic controllers without breaking a sweat even as the airport burns to the ground.
James Makoetla
Local Marketing & Advertising Agent

No Need To Fear Poverty As It Can Be Overcome By Focusing On Super Prosperity

Summary:‘When Poverty enters from the front door of a house, the Love runs away from the back door’. That is a saying from the past and is equally true in the modern times too. And to safe-guard love at home, as home is where the heart is, we should not leave the door open for the ruinous poverty to slide in, even a little bit. The poverty, the destroyer of love spells doom. We have seen at least a glimpse of poverty at certain stages in life. Haven’t we? We see the dreadful shadow of poverty when we loose a job, get laid off even temporarilly,suffers a heavy financial loss, find unable to make ends meet, encounter deficiencies of income, fall into heavy debt etc. At such a time a nice house-hold would appear a hell-on -earth to one who is under the shade of poverty. Keywords: Article Body:‘When Poverty enters from the front door of a house, the Love runs away from the back door’. That is a saying from the past and is equally true in the modern times too. And to safe-guard love at home, as home is where the heart is, we should not leave the door open for the ruinous poverty to slide in, even a little bit. The poverty, the destroyer of love spells doom. We have seen at least a glimpse of poverty at certain stages in life. Haven’t we? We see the dreadful shadow of poverty when we loose a job, get laid off even temporally, suffers a heavy financial loss, find unable to make ends meet, encounter deficiencies of income, fall in to heavy debt etc. At such a time a nice house-hold would appear a hell-on -earth to one who is under the shade of poverty. What causes poverty? Is it ‘the stars and stars above us that governs our fate’, or is it our own negative thought patterns or is the poverty the result of bad luck. Let us analyze. As believed from earliest times, if it is the fate that causes poverty, then it can be overcome with determined endeavor as we can see many examples of people who were in utter poverty but with courageous attempts were able to overcome it and build vast fortunes for themselves and generations to follow, Walt Disney’s story is one good example. The world abounds with poof that the fate can be over come with consistent purpose-focused-efforts. The secret is the rubber ball principle. That is a rubber ball bounces back when it is dropped down. Greater its fall higher it bounces. The life too has its falls. The falls are the failures in life. Every time you fall, if you bounce back like the rubber ball, then your failures will support you to bounce back to success. When continued with an unruffled determination you will go on falling and bouncing higher and higher to reach your focused level of attainment. If it is not the fate but it is ones own negative thought-patterns that slip one in to a poverty situation (as present day theorists believes), then too the poverty can be overcome. The negative thoughts can be replaced with positive thoughts with focused efforts to leave no room in the mind for negative thought patterns to dominate. Once the mind is built up with positive thoughts the pin-point focus should be on reaching your life’s purpose. Then the positive thoughts will give enough power to one to energetically spring up to a high level of prosperity overcoming setbacks at poverty levels. This in other words is putting ‘Think and believe everything is Possible’ in to practice. If for instance, it is nothing else but one’s bad luck that brings misfortune that leads one to poverty, as many people think, and then too it can be overcome. There is a saying that goes on like this… “Luck is nothing else, but the end product of Pluck.” Yes, ‘Pluck’ means courage. And with undeterred courage (that can even move mountains) poverty can be moved out of sight. Therefore, we need not worry even if the poverty situation resulted due to bad luck. As you see what ever the causes of poverty may be, what we need to avoid poverty is focused, unwavering, resolute, dogged courage. With courage you also need cast-iron focus at a vision, a definite goal set high above the poverty level. Importantly, it has to be at a higher level of prosperity well above the reach of poverty. Thus, a goal at super Prosperity level should be the focus. That is a level that ensures Financial Freedom. It will be a level of effortless wealth generations to fulfill your and your loved ones dreams and fill your home with love. Today more and more people from poverty levels with nothing reach prosperity level than any other time in history. Find out what secrets they use reach such heights in Prosperity by defeating Poverty. What ideas, what proven methods are available today for you to do the same. You can know more about ideas and secrets of wealth generation and on proven methods used by some people to climb from lowest poverty levels to super prosperity levels at my website: http://www.chanano.com/ Copyright © Chandrasoma Perera