Is Silver As Good of an Investment As Gold?

Posted on September 24, 2010 by Guest Writer

 James T Monaghan

Most people consider investing in precious metals a way to secure their investment because no matter how steep the recession has been in the world, the prices of metals like gold and silver have never gone down to zero. However before making such investments it is important to understand the basic principal of investing. Most people pour in money expecting high rates of return. In order to secure greater profits an analysis of the market trend is extremely important.

Although gold has proven to be a very expensive metal over the years, the fact that increase in its price has not been significant compared to the inflation rate makes most people give second thoughts to investing in gold. On the other hand, silver has been much cheaper than gold in every period of time, and the rate at which its price has increased has always been pretty high. Most of the times the price of silver has increased twice as much, ensuring its investors get heavy returns.

Being so expensive gold can not be put to a wide range of purposes. Globally only the elite class can afford to buy loads and loads of gold jewellery which is probably the only most popular way this metal can be utilized. On the contrary silver is globally consumed and used for a variety of purposes. Its importance as a part of medical, photographic and computer supplies keeps its purchasing power at a very significant level.

Another important plus point for investing in silver is that it is highly economical and affordable by the masses. Initially people thought of purchasing dollars as a good investment however previously dollar rates have declined tremendously which has turned many to investing in precious metals. Gold and silver prove to be the most popular ones. History is evident of the fact that silver has had great increase in its price compared to gold, every time the dollar rates declined.

Like gold, silver can be purchased as bars and is available in many different levels of purity. Therefore before investing in silver it is important to contact a reputable agent who is reliable and renowned for dealing in fine quality silver. Unlike gold which is normally bought as a jewelry item, silver is popular to be used as an ornament or decorations as well as bars.

The entire discussion concludes to the fact that the high level of affordability and tremendous range of uses that silver can be put to, render it a favorable investment by many people. It is a safe asset to be added to your investment portfolio and especially for people who cannot spend lavishly, investing in silver means great returns on low cost.

James T Monaghan is an expert investment advisor who loves pointing clients in the right direction, particularly in terms of how to invest in gold and penny stock investment.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=James_T_Monaghan

Posted in Investing | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Rules of Investing in Roth IRA Plans

Posted on September 21, 2010 by Guest Writer

 Hussein Abdulrasool

In this section, we look at the general rules that apply to both the traditional IRAs and the Roth IRA.

1) Restricted Transactions

You are not allowed to perform all of these following transactions under both the traditional and the Roth IRA.

* Borrowing funds from your IRA to pay off debt or loans.

* Buying personal property with funds from your IRA

* Selling your personal property to an IRA

2) Cash Only

Any payments or contributions you make towards an IRA must be in cash. You are not permitted to contribute to an IRA in the form of stock holdings or bonds. This applies only to IRA contributions and NOT IRA Rollovers or Conversions.

3) Custodial or Trust Accounts

Your IRA (Individual Retirement Account) must be held as a trust or custodial account at any of the following holdings:

* Your local bank

* Credit Union (must be Federally Insured)

* Mutual fund brokers

* Stock brokers

* Insurance companies

* Loan or savings brokers

4) Timing Differences

Contributions or payments must be made from the first day of the calendar year till the day you file your income tax return - there are no extensions. For example, if you file your income tax return on April 30th, then you can make IRA contributions from January 1st to April 30th of the year ONLY (if April 30th is a holiday, then the deadline is the first business day after April 30th).

Here are a few reminders about IRA contribution timings and rules:

* If you make a contribution on April 30th, it is important to say for which year it is, is it for the previous year or the next taxation year?

* If you treat the contribution as previous year's contribution, it will be taken as if you made the contribution before December 31st, of the previous year.

* You can file your income tax return before making IRA contributions. Just include these expected IRA contributions to your income tax return beforehand. Incase you do NOT end up making the contributions, submit a modified Income Tax Return to the IRS and cancel out the contributions.

For more information on investing in Roth IRA plans, visit us here.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Hussein_Abdulrasool

 

Posted in Retirement Planning | Tagged | Leave a comment

Stocks Or Mutual Funds Investing?

Posted on September 20, 2010 by Guest Writer

Ricky Deez

Because of the busy lifestyle of most people, they prefer things to be simplified. This is where investing guides come in. Now, you have a chance to better understand car or automobile, insurance, personal loans, mortgage, retirement, and investment. All the concepts that you need to learn are given in simplified form and even if the book or guide is a bit long, you will be able to read it with ease since the terms are understandable - without the technical jargon.

Investors are in need of solid information about mutual funds and stocks. If you want to start transforming debt into wealth, you must grab quality newsletters and guides to make you a better investor. You have to learn the basics or fundamentals of investing.

If you're a beginner, you should try to invest on mutual funds. This is a great way to test the waters and since professional investors are the ones managing your account, you get to earn profits even with little experience or knowledge. However, your investment efforts shouldn't end there. Just imagine how much money you can make if you're the one making the investment decisions and managing your own account! Don't hesitate to learn the basics of the trade through several publications.

It is vital that you focus on quality publications that offer concepts that you need to learn and understand. You have to identify the risks involved with mutual funds and the ways to succeed. Make it a point to check the fee structure and other important aspects to help you come up with an informed decision.

Another option would be to invest in stocks. This is the ideal choice once you've mastered the investment of mutual funds. Since this is a fairly complex level, you will need to find the perfect investing guide. By doing so, you can invest on individual stocks and earn profits. There are many stocks info that you can read. Take your time and be sure to pick the right ones. The market game for stocks is different in comparison to mutual funds. Without adequate knowledge, you can lose out a lot of money.

Are you thinking of transforming debt into wealth? This is the time to start your research. If the info sources you've found are too complicated and you hardly understand the contents, look around for more simplified materials. A lot of people don't want to admit their 'dumb' especially in the world of stock investing. Thanks to the investment guide, you get to learn everything you need to know.

The internet can make things and topics a lot simpler. All you have to do is sit down and do your homework. This is one of the most important things that you can invest when it comes to mutual funds or stock investments. You should be prepared and equipped with the right knowledge. When you're ready, you will surely be able to earn a lot of profits. Find a simple guide today.

My site can offer more information at Qwoter, and you can also get additional topics such as transforming debt into wealth.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ricky_Deez

Posted in Investing | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Debt Reduction Advice – Einstein Could Have Used It!

Posted on September 19, 2010 by Guest Writer

 Dann Roberts

Do you feel financially dumb or do you think you're a financial genius? If you're in debt then you probably think of yourself as dumb, not a genius. But this isn't necessarily true. There is no relationship between debt and intelligence!

Many people think the groundbreaking "geniuses" of history were financially smart and disciplined. In fact, the EXACT OPPOSITE is true in most cases! For example all of these famous people have gone bankrupt or died in poverty:

- Christopher Columbus (discovered the New World - died in poverty)
- P.T. Barnum (founded Barnum & Bailey's Circus - died in poverty)
- Francis Ford Coppola (God Father director - went bankrupt early in career)
- Walt Disney (created animation empire - went bankrupt early in career)

...and many others!

All of these "geniuses" would have benefited from some good debt reduction advice!

Trying to pay off your debts without debt reduction advice can be like discovering a new world, inventing the newest scientific breakthrough, and becoming the biggest worldwide pop star all in one challenge. It's a major challenge because most people don't know what to do to make it happen. When you try to solve the problem without debt reduction advice, you are handicapping yourself and delaying your success. In fact, you are probably losing thousands of dollars in interest and fees by simply not doing the right things in the right sequence.

So what's the first step in transforming yourself from "financially dumb" to "financial genius?" You're right! Do what REAL financial geniuses do and seek a debt reduction advice now.

Dann Roberts specializes in financial research and advice relating to personal lending, debt, making money in creative ways, and investing for a financial future. He has authored many articles and financial success stories of people from all walks of life (including his own high debt survival story).

To get a FREE list of ONE HUNDRED PLUS debt reduction and income enhancement tips, visit http://www.survive-a-recession.com/debt-reduction.php

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dann_Roberts

Posted in Financial Planning | Tagged | Leave a comment

How Starting a Hobby Based Business Can Be a Strong Income Builder

Posted on September 18, 2010 by Guest Writer

Dann Roberts

What do you do every day in your spare time? Most likely you spend it on the Internet, running errands, watching TV or a movie, and doing some sort of hobby.

Hobbies reflect our personality in ways that non-creative activities like TV simply do not. Hobbies are an expression of our passion for life, to express who we are, and often create something brand new. They are fulfilling personally and psychologically. They add balance and joy to our stressful lives.

How would you like that hobby to become an income builder? Wouldn't it be spend much more time on your hobbies and actually make money from them? That's what it means to have a hobby-based personal business.

These businesses are easy to start, cost next to nothing to begin, and often generate quick and steady profits. Why is this so? First, you probably already know a lot of people who do the same thing and who trust your opinion. If you tell somebody a product or service is good and worth buying, they'll probably buy it based on your opinion! That's called "instant customer loyalty" and it's something that other businesses don't have when they start up. Second, the investment necessary to get started is usually very small. You often have all the equipment or space required from your hobby already, so you will have no cost to build or buy them. Most businesses require at least 1 year of investment capital, a big loan secured by your house and personal credit, and won't make a profit for 6 months or more. A hobby-based business can be profitable in the very first week!

Some examples of income builder hobby businesses are: pet boarding/pet sitting (for animal lovers), repossessed auto buyer and seller, resume writer, personal chef, math tutor, freelance journalist, and many more! Virtually any passion or skill you have can be turned into an income builder business.

Why not get started today and start the new business that will be your extra income builder?

For more FREE ideas on income builder businesses, visit http://www.survive-a-recession.com/building-income-ideas.php

About the author: Dann Roberts specializes in financial research and advice relating to personal lending, debt, making money in creative ways, and investing for a financial future.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dann_Roberts

Posted in Small Business | Tagged , | Leave a comment

How to Use a Real Estate Investment Model

Posted on September 17, 2010 by Guest Writer

 Dann Roberts

When using a real estate investment model, whether it's an Excel spreadsheet or an off the shelf software application, there are several things you should consider. These would be considered best practices for modeling any residential or multi unit property investment.

At the start, you need to have a clear and detailed plan for the property purchase, financing, rehabilitation, rental role, marketing, taxes, legal and other income and expenses. This means an inspection of the property should have already been done. You should know with some accuracy what financing rates and terms you are likely to get from your lenders. You definitely must know the expected taxes and insurance costs. Finally, if the property has been used for rental previously you should obtain as much rental history as possible, including data by unit, tenants, month, year, and percentage on time vs. late payments. This gives you a complete view of the property from a financial standpoint and prepares you to input solid data into your real estate investment model.

Next, you need to input as much data as possible into the model. Each different real estate investment model requires different data and formats. The most popular is monthly or quarterly data. Once this is done you will be able to identify gaps in your data, which you can fill in based on your initial assumptions or past experience, or go back and get more historical data.

Then you should get a baseline scenario. This is typically the property "as is" with no changes to the tenants, building condition, taxes, insurance, rental rates, financing, etc. This will give you a view on what kind of cash flows the property generates currently, which you can project into the future. At this point, you may also make a preliminary go or no go decision on the investment.

Finally, if you've decided to move ahead you can start modeling different scenarios in your real estate investment model. What if I repaint and landscape? What if I evict the existing tenants and replace them with new better paying tenants at higher rates? What if we obtain a local development subsidy? What are my financing rates and how does the break even point change as interest rates change? What if I get a 2nd mortgage? How big does the down payment need to be? What if we advertise? How much will that cost, how quickly will it bring new tenants, at what price, and how will this affect the cash flows.

There are many more details to do, but the above process is a high level best practices for using your real estate investment model.

To find out more about the real estate investment model process and see a complete screenshot walk-through go to http://www.financial-edu.com/residential-real-estate-excel-model.php

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dann_Roberts

Posted in Real Estate Investing | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

10 Tips On How To Get Rich Fast

Posted on September 16, 2010 by Guest Writer

Jude Minar

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if you could get rich tomorrow? What would you do with all that money? Well believe it or not it can be done. Now I didn’t say it would be easy I just said you could do it. Here are 10 tips on how to get rich fast.

1. Invest - Start young. In fact start while you are in elementary school, kindergarten is even better. It’s the beauty of compound interest and over time your money will grow into a nice nest egg. Okay if you are reading this you are probably too old to start in elementary school but you can get your kids hooked. As for you the best plan of defense is to invest 50% of your salary in a high risk market fund or the penny stock market. You’ve got a 50-50 chance. You’ll either make a million or be broke in 90 days.

2. Marry Rich - Now how difficult can this be? All you need to do is find someone who has loads of money and marry them. Okay I didn’t say you’d be happy just rich. Perhaps not a solution for most of us but it apparently works for a few.

3. Win The Lottery - Ya ya I know the odds of getting struck by lightening are better than the odds of winning the lottery but you can’t win if you don’t try and it’s one of the few ways I know of that you can get rich fast.

4. Rich Parents - If you come from a wealthy family then you are half way there. All you have to do is stay in their good books and convince mom and dad to not spend their money and leave it to you when they pass. After all why should your parents get to enjoy the wealth they reaped?

5. Get An Education - Go to school for lots of years, accumulate plenty of debt, and choose a career that pays big bucks. After about 10 years in your profession you should be rolling in the dough and you might even be filthy rich before you get old

6. Become A Star - Heck if Jennifer Aniston or Nicolas Cage can do it why can’t you. A couple of acting lessons and you should be set. All you need to do is head to Hollywood and strike it big. One good movie and you’ll be set for life.

7. Invest In Real Estate - Buy high sell low – whoops I think I got that backwards. Buy low, wait 10 years, 20 years, maybe even 30 years but inflation will have your investment growing by leaps and bounds and you could be filthy rich especially if you bought in an up and coming city while house prices were still low. Now if you bought in Hicksville USA you may have a problem. It might take more than your lifetime to see any dramatic increases. Oh well you can leave it to your kids who can leave it to their kids and in another 100 years or so someone’s going to be sitting pretty.

8. The Internet Way - Heck where have you been. A quick search on the Web will reveal plenty of sites that will teach you how to make $50,000 a day. Now I think most of us could live quite comfortably on that don’t you? All you need to do is part with about $500 and they’ll tell you the secrets of wealth in one page or less. If the first one doesn’t do it for you perhaps you might want to try a few more. Oh wait a minute. Perhaps what you need to do is set up one of these sights, then you’ll be the one getting rich off the other poor fools that part with their $500.

9. Bank Robbery - Okay highly illegal and could land you a lifetime in the slammer but desperate needs require desperate measures. After all if you get caught you might not be rich but you’ll have free room and board for the rest of your life and then you could write a book about what not to do when robbing a bank and well see you could get rich from your book. And even better, you’ll stay rich because there is really no place to spend it while in jail.

10. High Risk Work - Take on those high risk jobs no one else wants. You know counselor in Iraq, bean counter in Afghanistan, Oil tycoon in Iran. But hey if you live through it you’ll be rolling in the dough. What does it matter that 99% never live through it. You’ve got a 1% chance and when it comes to getting rich those are pretty good odds.

Sure most of these ideas are pretty off the wall but if getting rich fast was easy wouldn’t we all be rich? Then what fun would there be in that? We’d all have too much money and probably be bored to tears. So why not aim for better life with good friends, love, happiness, and enough money to live comfortably but not so much that you stop dreaming about what you would do if you were rich.

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Make Money Writing About Your Favorite Topic

Posted on September 15, 2010 by Guest Writer

Mika Hamilton

Nowadays, a lot of people are jumping at any opportunity to make money on line. People who can afford their own website are earning income by making websites with topical content. Some people try too hard to please everyone, which is very hard to do. You will sound less convincing and insincere if you try to please everyone. The best way to make money on line is to try and appeal to a specific group of people.

This is what it means to have a topical content website; you pick a topic that you like and you think will appeal to people and build your website around it. Just be sure to pick a profitable topic and focus on it. You need to make sure that the topic you picked is the heart and soul of your website.

When you have a topical website, it will be aimed at a particular group of people. You will make money with a topical website because the people that the site is aimed at will keep coming back. These people will also spread the word to their friends who have similar interested, thus increasing your client base.

Before you decide on the topic to use, you should research for popular topics on line. The topic you choose should be dynamic; it has to be a topic that is constantly updated. You don't want to end up with a topic that rarely changes. The constant changes or progression of your topic will be what makes your clients come back to visit your website. Try checking the common keyword searches for various search engines and compare them. Do this for a few days to make sure that the keyword searches are consistently popular; what might be "hot" one day might not be the next.

When you choose your website domain name, try to relate it to your topic. This will make it easier for future visitors to find your website and it will have a higher probability of appearing on search engines. Remember that information is what you clients want, so you have to provide plenty of relevant articles for them to read. You can also voice out your own opinion about the topic. You can provide a feature in your website that allows your clients to write their own opinion about the topic. Offering your clients with a message board or a chat room will keep your website interesting and interactive.

You can make income from your site by joining Google AdSense. This will allow you to have ads that are targeted on the specific topic. You can also look for products that are related to your topic or downloads that you think will appeal to your clients.

Before you launch your site, you have to make sure you have several pages in your site that your clients can visit. Remember not to deviate from your topic too much. You can also offer your clients with newsletter that they can receive via email that will update them on any changes on your website.

Keep your website interesting by occasionally changing the layout. Be sure to update your website periodically once it is up and running. Once you get the hang of it, you can venture on to another topical website.

Do you want more money making ideas? Check out our website where you will find tons of ideas such as doing online surveys for money, affiliate marketing, or just earning a little extra pocket money. For more ideas visit http://www.101waystomakemoney.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mika_Hamilton

Posted in Small Business | Tagged , | Leave a comment