Get A Short-Term Advantage In The Money Market

 

When investors think about the capital markets, they typically ponder the merits of bonds, stocks or derivatives. Because it isn't as sexy and doesn't have the volatility of other securities, the money market is often far from the top of the list. Nevertheless, virtually all investors can use the money market to enhance their portfolios in one way or another. In this article, we'll explain how investors can use the dependability of the money market to their advantage.  

What Is It?The money market is a market that provides liquidity for individuals and institutions by dealing in short-term borrowing such as certificates of deposit, T-bills or other similar instruments with a maturity date of about one year or less. With that in mind, because the vehicles used in the money market are relatively safe when compared to their equity and debt counterparts, and are often backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government (such as with T-bills), the rate of return on a money market account is in the low single digits.
Asset PreservationIn spite of the relatively low returns, the money market can be a great way for investors to preserve, and even make, a little bit of money. Just think about this scenario: suppose that you have recently bailed out of a stock, but you haven't yet decided where to invest the proceeds. In this case, the money market can provide a relative safe haven for that capital by offering an annualized return of around 3- 4% without having to absorb any real risk.

HedgingThe money market is also a useful hedge against market declines. Suppose an investor is bearish on the outlook for the stock or the bond market. This investor could liquidate his account and opt to receive a check for the proceeds. Or, he may weather the storm while earning single-digit returns in the money market. In fact, the money market is where the big investment banks keep their funds in between deals, and where municipalities often invest proceeds from debt offerings while waiting to put the money to use in a project. (For more insight, see A Beginner's Guide To Hedging.)

LiquidityPerhaps the biggest advantage and the most attractive feature of the money market is liquidity. That is because there are countless entities looking to invest their capital in between investments, or as a hedge. This means that if an investor wants to liquidate a money market position, he or she will have very little trouble turning the funds into cash. This comes in handy if you need to write a check against the account. In fact, most brokerage firms and mutual funds will give their clients a book of checks when they open their accounts. Talk about convenient!

RisksThere are risks in every investment, but the money market is probably one of the safest places for your capital. After all, the funds are invested in relatively secure government or other short-term, high-quality debt. Usually, the real risk represents an opportunity cost. In other words, the risk that the funds invested in a money market account could have fared better in a different investment vehicle such as a stock or a bond. Also keep in mind that money market funds can sometimes fail to keep pace with inflation. This means that an investor's purchasing power may decline each year even if that investor is fully invested. For this reason, it rarely makes sense to put all of your  funds into the money market for an extended period of time. (For related reading, see All About Inflation.)
Buying InHow can you get involved? Most brokerage houses will give investors the option of "sweeping" proceeds from a stock or bond sale into a money market account so that they may earn interest while their money is in limbo. The only real disadvantage is that money market income will likely be taxed as a short-term capital gain, which means that you may owe the Internal Revenue Service a larger amount than if you were able to hold the securities for more than a year. (To learn more, see A Long-Term Mindset Meets Dreaded Capital Gains Tax.)

A taxable event can be avoided by buying into tax exempt money market funds. In this case, you would invest your capital in municipal notes. The income from these notes, if you live in the state in which they are originated, is often exempt from federal, state and local taxes. This means that the actual return, because of the tax advantages, may be much better then the taxable investment you might have considered as an alternative. (For more insight, read Avoid Tricky Tax Issues On Municipal Bonds.) ConclusionWhile the money market probably won't make you rich - it may not even outpace inflation by a large margin - it is a great place to park money while waiting for other investment opportunities to come to fruition, and for hedging a percentage of your portfolio against a market decline.

What Is It?The money market is a market that provides liquidity for individuals and institutions by dealing in short-term borrowing such as certificates of deposit, T-bills or other similar instruments with a maturity date of about one year or less. With that in mind, because the vehicles used in the money market are relatively safe when compared to their equity and debt counterparts, and are often backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government (such as with T-bills), the rate of return on a money market account is in the low single digits.
Asset PreservationIn spite of the relatively low returns, the money market can be a great way for investors to preserve, and even make, a little bit of money. Just think about this scenario: suppose that you have recently bailed out of a stock, but you haven't yet decided where to invest the proceeds. In this case, the money market can provide a relative safe haven for that capital by offering an annualized return of around 3- 4% without having to absorb any real risk.

HedgingThe money market is also a useful hedge against market declines. Suppose an investor is bearish on the outlook for the stock or the bond market. This investor could liquidate his account and opt to receive a check for the proceeds. Or, he may weather the storm while earning single-digit returns in the money market. In fact, the money market is where the big investment banks keep their funds in between deals, and where municipalities often invest proceeds from debt offerings while waiting to put the money to use in a project. (For more insight, see A Beginner's Guide To Hedging.)

LiquidityPerhaps the biggest advantage and the most attractive feature of the money market is liquidity. That is because there are countless entities looking to invest their capital in between investments, or as a hedge. This means that if an investor wants to liquidate a money market position, he or she will have very little trouble turning the funds into cash. This comes in handy if you need to write a check against the account. In fact, most brokerage firms and mutual funds will give their clients a book of checks when they open their accounts. Talk about convenient!

RisksThere are risks in every investment, but the money market is probably one of the safest places for your capital. After all, the funds are invested in relatively secure government or other short-term, high-quality debt. Usually, the real risk represents an opportunity cost. In other words, the risk that the funds invested in a money market account could have fared better in a different investment vehicle such as a stock or a bond. Also keep in mind that money market funds can sometimes fail to keep pace with inflation. This means that an investor's purchasing power may decline each year even if that investor is fully invested. For this reason, it rarely makes sense to put all of your  funds into the money market for an extended period of time. (For related reading, see All About Inflation.)
Buying InHow can you get involved? Most brokerage houses will give investors the option of "sweeping" proceeds from a stock or bond sale into a money market account so that they may earn interest while their money is in limbo. The only real disadvantage is that money market income will likely be taxed as a short-term capital gain, which means that you may owe the Internal Revenue Service a larger amount than if you were able to hold the securities for more than a year. (To learn more, see A Long-Term Mindset Meets Dreaded Capital Gains Tax.)

A taxable event can be avoided by buying into tax exempt money market funds. In this case, you would invest your capital in municipal notes. The income from these notes, if you live in the state in which they are originated, is often exempt from federal, state and local taxes. This means that the actual return, because of the tax advantages, may be much better then the taxable investment you might have considered as an alternative. (For more insight, read Avoid Tricky Tax Issues On Municipal Bonds.) ConclusionWhile the money market probably won't make you rich - it may not even outpace inflation by a large margin - it is a great place to park money while waiting for other investment opportunities to come to fruition, and for hedging a percentage of your portfolio against a market decline.

What Is It?The money market is a market that provides liquidity for individuals and institutions by dealing in short-term borrowing such as certificates of deposit, T-bills or other similar instruments with a maturity date of about one year or less. With that in mind, because the vehicles used in the money market are relatively safe when compared to their equity and debt counterparts, and are often backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government (such as with T-bills), the rate of return on a money market account is in the low single digits.
Asset PreservationIn spite of the relatively low returns, the money market can be a great way for investors to preserve, and even make, a little bit of money. Just think about this scenario: suppose that you have recently bailed out of a stock, but you haven't yet decided where to invest the proceeds. In this case, the money market can provide a relative safe haven for that capital by offering an annualized return of around 3- 4% without having to absorb any real risk.

HedgingThe money market is also a useful hedge against market declines. Suppose an investor is bearish on the outlook for the stock or the bond market. This investor could liquidate his account and opt to receive a check for the proceeds. Or, he may weather the storm while earning single-digit returns in the money market. In fact, the money market is where the big investment banks keep their funds in between deals, and where municipalities often invest proceeds from debt offerings while waiting to put the money to use in a project. (For more insight, see A Beginner's Guide To Hedging.)

LiquidityPerhaps the biggest advantage and the most attractive feature of the money market is liquidity. That is because there are countless entities looking to invest their capital in between investments, or as a hedge. This means that if an investor wants to liquidate a money market position, he or she will have very little trouble turning the funds into cash. This comes in handy if you need to write a check against the account. In fact, most brokerage firms and mutual funds will give their clients a book of checks when they open their accounts. Talk about convenient!

RisksThere are risks in every investment, but the money market is probably one of the safest places for your capital. After all, the funds are invested in relatively secure government or other short-term, high-quality debt. Usually, the real risk represents an opportunity cost. In other words, the risk that the funds invested in a money market account could have fared better in a different investment vehicle such as a stock or a bond. Also keep in mind that money market funds can sometimes fail to keep pace with inflation. This means that an investor's purchasing power may decline each year even if that investor is fully invested. For this reason, it rarely makes sense to put all of your  funds into the money market for an extended period of time. (For related reading, see All About Inflation.)
Buying InHow can you get involved? Most brokerage houses will give investors the option of "sweeping" proceeds from a stock or bond sale into a money market account so that they may earn interest while their money is in limbo. The only real disadvantage is that money market income will likely be taxed as a short-term capital gain, which means that you may owe the Internal Revenue Service a larger amount than if you were able to hold the securities for more than a year. (To learn more, see A Long-Term Mindset Meets Dreaded Capital Gains Tax.)

A taxable event can be avoided by buying into tax exempt money market funds. In this case, you would invest your capital in municipal notes. The income from these notes, if you live in the state in which they are originated, is often exempt from federal, state and local taxes. This means that the actual return, because of the tax advantages, may be much better then the taxable investment you might have considered as an alternative. (For more insight, read Avoid Tricky Tax Issues On Municipal Bonds.) ConclusionWhile the money market probably won't make you rich - it may not even outpace inflation by a large margin - it is a great place to park money while waiting for other investment opportunities to come to fruition, and for hedging a percentage of your portfolio against a market decline.

The Most Important Day in America in 50 Years... Coming in 2011. This day will change everything about our nation and your day-to-day life. Watch the eye-opening video presentation here.

5 Horrific Things That Can Haunt Your Finances 

You know the guy. The guy who bought a house to rent out and then an inspector showed up after and told him he needed $30,000 in repairs before it was rentable. And then one of the tenants flooded the house and insurance didn't cover it. Plus the tenant slipped in the water and threw out his back and then sued for $2 million. And, when the guy started repairs, the construction crew found an ancient burial ground under the foundation, so the whole place was declared an archaeological dig. And then he declared bankruptcy, but he was haunted by poltergeist and debt collectors for the rest of his life.

Horror stories in finance are nothing new. The ones that end in total financial ruin are always popular, especially if they involve some bizarre twists and, most importantly, are not happening to you. That said, there are many everyday events that can turn your life into a financial horror story. In this article, we'll look at some relatively common financial horrors that, like all good ghouls, may haunt you for a long time.

#WHAT IS #WiFi ? - What is #Wireless Network

 WHAT IS WiFi ? - What is Wireless Network

Wireless Fidelity – popularly known as Wi-Fi, developed on IEEE 802.11 standards, is widely used technology advancement in wireless communication.  As the name indicates, WI-FI provides wireless access to applications and data across a radio network.  WI-FI sets up numerous ways to build up a connection between the transmitter and the receiver such as DSSS, FHSS, IR – Infrared and OFDM. 

The development on WI-FI technology began in 1997 when the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) introduced the 802.11 technology that carried higher capacities of data across the network.  This greatly interested some of major brands across the globe such as the world famous Cisco Systems or 3COM.  Initially, the price of Wi-Fi was very high but around in 2002, the IT market witnessed the arrival of a break through product that worked under the new 802.11 g standards.  In 2003, IEEE sanctioned the standard and the world saw the creation of affordable Wi-Fi for the masses.

#FAQ #WiFi.

What is Wi Fi?

A way to get Internet access, the term Wi Fi is a play upon the decades-old term HiFi that describes the type of output generated by quality musical hardware, Wi Fi stands for Wireless Fidelity and is used to define any of the wireless technology in the IEEE 802.11 specification - including (but not necessarily limited to) the wireless protocols 802.11a, 802.11b, and 802.11g. The Wi-Fi Alliance is the body responsible for promoting the term and its association with various wireless technology standards.

What is WiFi? #wifi #wireless #wlan

What Is WiFi? How WiFi works??

A wireless network uses radio waves, just like cell phones, televisions and radios do. In fact, communication across a wireless network is a lot like two-way radio communication. Here's what happens:

1. A computer's wireless adapter translates data into a radio signal and transmits it using an antenna.
2. A wireless router receives the signal and decodes it. The router sends the information to the Internet using a physical, wired Ethernet connection.

What is WiFi? #wifi #wireless #wlan

What is WiFi?

 

Wi-Fi, which stands for wireless fidelity, in a play on the older term Hi-Fi, is a wireless networking technology used across the globe. Wi-Fi refers to any system that uses the 802.11 standard, which was developed by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) and released in 1997. The term Wi-Fi, which is alternatively spelled WiFi, Wi-fi, Wifi, or wifi, was pushed by the Wi-Fi Alliance, a trade group that pioneered commercialization of the technology.

In a Wi-Fi network, computers with wifi network cards connect wirelessly to a wireless router. The router is connected to the Internet by means of a modem, typically a cable or DSL modem. Any user within 200 feet or so (about 61 meters) of the access point can then connect to the Internet, though for good transfer rates, distances of 100 feet (30.5 meters) or less are more common. Retailers also sell wireless signal boosters that extend the range of a wireless network.

Wifi networks can either be "open", such that anyone can use them, or "closed", in which case a password is needed. An area blanketed in wireless access is often called a wireless hotspot. There are efforts underway to turn entire cities, such as San Francisco, Portland, and Philadelphia, into big wireless hotspots. Many of these plans will offer free, ad-supported service or ad-free service for a small fee. San Francisco recently chose Google to supply it with a wireless network.

Wifi technology uses radio for communication, typically operating at a frequency of 2.4GHz. Electronics that are "WiFi Certified" are guaranteed to interoperate with each other regardless of brand. Wifi is technology designed to cater to the lightweight computing systems of the future, which are mobile and designed to consume minimal power. PDAs, laptops, and various accessories are designed to be wifi-compatible. There are even phones under development that would switch seamlessly from cellular networks to wifi networks

 

Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg visits China #FB #FACEBOOK #ZUCKERBURG #SOCIAL

Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg visits China.

 

Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg has begun a visit to China, sparking rumours that the site might increase its presence in the country.

Speculation started when a photo of Zuckerberg at the offices of China's largest search engine, Baidu, appeared online,
A Baidu spokesman confirmed Zuckerberg had lunch with CEO Robin Li, but later added that the pair had known each other for a long time.
Posting on his Twitter page Baidu's Kaiser Kuo said: "C'mon people. Robin and Mark have known each other for a while. Mark's interest in China is well known. Keep the speculation in check."
At the moment the Chinese government's so called Great Firewall stops people using Facebook as well as other websites like Twitter and Youtube.
No entourage But 26-year-old Zuckerberg, who studied Mandarin, has already hinted he would like Facebook to have a real presence amongst China's 500 million regular internet users.
"How can you connect with the whole world if you leave 1.6 billion people out?" he asked in October.
Having been denied access to China, Mr Zuckerberg is not as well known there as he is in the rest of the world.
But Mr Kuo says he has had some exposure after recently being named Time Magazine's 2010 Person of the Year.
It is thought Mr Zuckerberg is in China mainly for a holiday with his long term Chinese-American girlfriend, Priscilla Chan.
No other details of the visit have been revealed except that the pair visited the Tibetan Lama Temple in Beijing.
Facebook registered a .cn domain name back in 2007.
It even introduced a Chinese language version of the site in 2008.
However, it still can't be accessed by people living on the Chinese mainland.

Toyota agrees record $32.4m US fine over recalls #toyota #car #industry #

Toyota agrees record $32.4m US fine over recalls

Toyota has agreed to pay a record fine in the US of $32.4m (£20.8m) over its handling of millions of car recalls.

This is the second big fine the world's largest carmaker will pay to US authorities, after agreeing a $16.4m penalty in April.
The carmaker said it was "pleased to have resolved these legacy issues", but did not admit any violations of US law.
Toyota has recalled more than 10 million cars worldwide since September last year, issuing 14 recalls in 2010.
The latest fine also refers to recalls made in 2005 concerning steering defects in nearly one million vehicles.
"These agreements are an opportunity to turn the page to an even more constructive relationship with the [US] National Highway Safety Administration [NHSA] and focus even more on listening to our customers and meeting their high expectations for safe and reliable vehicles," said Steve St Angelo, Toyota's chief quality officer in North America.
He added that the carmaker had "substantially strengthened" its ability to investigate customer concerns in recent months.
US Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood also said he was "pleased that Toyota agreed to pay the maximum possible penalty".
Brake defects In September last year, Toyota recalled 4 million cars after fears that the accelerator pedal could get stuck on the floormat.
In January this year, it recalled a further 2.3 million cars to fix potentially faulty accelerator pedals.
In August, it recalled a further 1.1 million Corolla and Matrix models over an engine control system fault, and in October it called in more than 1.5 million cars over brake and fuel pump defects.
The carmaker was harshly criticised over the earlier recalls for not acting more quickly.
The NHSA said Toyota had not reported the defects to it within the stipulated time allowed.

 

Dog gives birth to 17 puppies in Germany

 

  A dog in Germany has given birth to 17 puppies.

Etana, the Rhodesian Ridgeback from Ebereschenhof, north of Berlin had nine dogs and eight bitches.
The litter is unusual in that all were born naturally with no need for a Caesarian section and all have survived.
The Rhodesian Ridgeback is a hunting dog originating from Zimbabwe and it was originally bred to help hunt lions.

 

Internet rules to get go ahead by US regulators

 

 

 

 Controversial new rules affecting the running of the internet are expected to be approved by US regulators today.

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) will vote on a principle known as net neutrality; a tenet that ensures all web traffic is treated equally.

The rules have been criticised for setting different standards for fixed line broadband and mobile operators.

Officials said the regulations are "the first time the Commission has adopted enforceable rules" to govern the web.

Tuesday's vote is the culmination of five years of fighting over how best to ensure the free flow of information in all its forms over the internet.

The proposal also comes at a time when consumers are increasingly accessing the web via smart phones and turning to the internet to watch TV shows.

8 Steps To An Organized Financial Life 

 

Lack of organization can harm your finances as much or more than being short on cash. Losing bills can lead to late fees, and not keeping track of your bank account could cause overdraft fees. The following are some tips that will help you stay on top of your bills and accounts, and will lead to greater organization and, most importantly, less spending.

1. 
   Pull Out Your Budget at Least Once Per Month
   Your bills could change on a monthly basis. Revise your budget as bills come in and adjust other expenses to make up for it, so you don't accidentally overdraw your bank account. For instance, some months and seasons bring higher electrical bills than others. Let's say your electric bill is a $100 more in June than it was in May. Your budget may be based on spring electricity usage or the usage from a month where you had a lower electric bill. Since June's electric bill signals a change in expenses, you take out your monthly budget to see what other area of your budget you could adjust so you can pay your electric bill.
   
   To save $100, you exchange two dinners out for a bike ride with a packed lunch. You might also grab self-made or deli-made sandwiches to bring to a concert in the park instead of going out for pricey drinks. The best part about having to cut down on one expense to pay for another is it will force you to break traditions and try something different.

Is #Buying A #Franchise Wise? f#inance

Is Buying A Franchise Wise? 

 

Many people think that buying a franchise is a sure way to become a millionaire, but in reality, there are a number of reasons why becoming a franchisee isn't all it's cracked up to be. In this article, we'll take a look at some important considerations before you dive head-first into a franchise purchase

Pesky Start-Up Costs and Royalty FeesStart-up costs and royalty fees can put a serious damper on a franchisee's take-home pay. For example, when opening a McDonald's, the franchisee must not only pay money toward the location, he or she must also pony up a $45,000 franchise fee for the right to operate the business for a period of 20 years. After 20 years, assuming the company agrees to renew the contract, another $45,000 franchise fee is charged.

The total monetary layout to open a McDonald's franchise can range anywhere from $500,000 to $1.6 million.

The real kicker, however, is the ongoing royalty fee. Here's how it works: Each and every year, franchisees must pay the franchise a fee equivalent to 12.5% of sales. It also means that no matter how successful you are as a business owner and how innovative you are at driving revenue, you'll always have two partners: Uncle Sam and company headquarters. In Pictures: Top 7 Franchise Dangers

The unfortunate part is that royalty fees are pretty standard in the franchise world. In fact, Burger King charges its franchisees 4.5% of sales in addition to a $50,000 franchise fee, and Dunkin' Donuts has its franchisees cough up 5.9% of sales each year in addition to a franchise fee that can range anywhere from $40,000 to $80,000, depending upon the location.

Subtract payroll, food costs and taxes - in addition to these royalties - and it's easy to see why life as a franchisee may not be the life of luxury you imagined.

Lofty Raw Material CostsIn order to maintain consistency among their offerings, most franchises insist that their franchisees buy raw materials directly from them or from a supplier with which they have a "special" relationship, meaning that they receive rebates on what the franchisees order. In any case, the prices that they charge for these materials (either the company or the supplier) are often much higher than what the materials would be sold for elsewhere.

In fact, it's not uncommon for some fast-food franchisees to pay 5-10% above prevailing market value for a box of lettuce or tomatoes, or other produce that could easily be bought elsewhere. After all, produce is produce, right? It's fairly consistent from vendor to vendor. The point is that over a year's time, the premium that a franchisee may have to pay for raw materials can equate to big bucks!

Furthermore, if the franchisee does decide to go elsewhere for its raw materials and it violate the initial contract, the franchise has the legal right to terminate the relationship and, theoretically, the franchisee could lose his or her entire investment.

Lack of Financing Most franchises don't provide financing. This means that the franchisee will probably have to tap his or her savings or obtain some other source of financing (such as a small business loan). In other words, the franchisee is on his or her own!

With that in mind, some franchises, such as Lawn Doctor (which offers lawn and turf treatment services), will finance franchise fees, start-up costs, inventories and equipment to help their franchisees get started. Situations like these are particularly attractive because although franchisees will probably have to put up a portion of their personal assets as collateral for the loan, at least they won't have to zero out their bank accounts or tap retirement funds to set up shop. (To read more about financing, see Should You Take A Loan From Your Plan?, Getting A Loan Without Your Parents and Qualified Plan Loans: Guidelines To Operations.)

Lack of Territory ControlWhile most franchises will limit the number of stores that they open in a given area because of fears of market saturation and diminishing returns, many franchises will still try to fit as many retail locations into a given area as possible.

That's why it's not uncommon to see five different McDonald's locations within a five- mile area - the corporate head is trying to squeeze every last dollar out of the territory. But the individual franchisee is really the one who suffers. Every time a new location opens within close proximity, their potential market is essentially cut in half!

Lack of Individual CreativityFranchises demand uniformity. In fact, everything from in-store décor, signage, products offered and the uniforms the employees wear is dictated by the franchise. For a person who likes to be creative this can mean a bleak existence.

Unfortunately almost every (if not all) franchise has similar requirements. So, if you like to be your own boss, a franchise is probably not for you.

Franchise May Not Know Your AreaYou've probably heard many times that "location, location, location" is the most important factor in determining the success or failure of any business.

The point is that unless the franchise sets up shop in a favorable location that's going to support the business, the franchisee will have an incredibly difficult time making ends meet.

Take the Pizza Hut that's located about five miles from my home as an example. Now I'm sure that the folks who compiled the demographics on the area and secured the location for the franchisee thought it would work out fine. After all, the town is chock full of people and in close proximity to a major highway.

But what headquarters probably failed to uncover was that the location is also virtually surrounded by adult communities. In other words, people who usually aren't too keen on eating pizza or dining out with any frequency. In addition, a few miles up the road where the younger (pizza eating) crowd is located, there are four or five mom-and-pop

Therefore, although franchises may be able to do a quick demographic study and gauge whether there is a good chance that a location will fare well, they rarely know an area as well as the locals.

What Is Your Risk Tolerance? 

 

 

Risk tolerance is a topic that is often discussed, but rarely defined. It is not unusual to read a trade recommendation discussing alternatives or options based on different risk tolerances. But how does an individual investor determine his or her risk tolerance? How can understanding this concept help investors in diversifying their portfolios? Read on as we delve into this concept. (To learn more, read Determining Risk And The Risk Pyramid.)

Risk Tolerance by Time frame
An often seen cliché is that of what we'll refer to as "age-based" risk tolerance. It is conventional wisdom that a younger investor has a long-term time horizon in terms of the need for investments and can take more risk. Following this logic, an older individual has a short investment horizon, especially once that individual is retired, and would have low risk tolerance. While this may be true in general, there are certainly a number of other considerations that come into play. (For related reading, see The Seasons Of An Investor's Life and Portfolio Management For The Under-30 Crowd.)

6 Signs That You've Made It To Middle Class . #finance #middle #class

6 Signs That You've Made It To Middle Class 

 

Not so long ago, most people viewed the hallmarks of success as something along the lines of a house, a white picket fence, two weeks vacation, two children and the ability to send those kids to college. Today, the middle class is a vanishing breed according to nearly every survey and statistic on the topic. Its disappearance is of such grave concern to the fabric of American society that the U.S. government launched a task force to explore the issue. Despite all of the attention to the subject, defining "middle class" remains a challenge, as everyone wants to be in the middle regardless of their income. Instead of focusing on the dollars, let's take a look at the lifestyle benchmarks that define middle class status. (For a background on the topic

Have You Made it to the Middle?
A wide variety of numbers have been thrown around in an effort to define the middle. People earning 20% of the average income and people earning 80% all claim to be part of the middle class. More than a few millionaires make the claim too. While there is no official financial standard, the middle class as defined by the government task force is characterized in terms of six financial aspirations, which we can view as benchmarks.

If Attacked by a Florida Panther "Don't Run, Fight"

 

 

 

 

 

 

If attacked by an endangered Florida panther, stand tall and fight back -- that's the advice wildlife officials are giving after a series of recent panther attacks on domestic animals in the southeast U.S. state.

Budgeting When You're Broke . #budget #short #money #finance problem

Budgeting When You're Broke 

 

Suffering from a lack of cash? It’s likely that you don’t follow a budget that reflects your earnings. Smart budgeting prevents eviction, increased credit card debt, and ruined credit scores. It’s never too late to achieve your financial goals – get started now with these 10 steps to make your financial life less stressful.