ETFs Versus Mutual Funds – Which is Right For You?
ETFs Versus Mutual Funds – Which is Right For You?
In recent years more and more investors are selecting Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) over mutual funds. But what exactly is an ETF, and how do they differ from the mutual fund? The two have some similarities such as allowing investors to diversify their assets among numerous sectors of the market. However, there are several important distinctions worth noting.
Tax-Efficiency
If you own a mutual fund, then you have probably experienced a year-end capital gains distribution (even if your mutual fund had a negative return for the year) because trades made by the fund sponsor throughout the year flow to its shareholders. Depending on the size of your portfolio, this can create unwanted and unpredictable tax consequences at year-end. ETFs, however, do not have capital gains distributions because ETF sponsors do not transact with their shareholders. ETFs are traded among other investors. Hence, capital gains/losses are controlled by the investor making them highly tax efficient.
Liquidity and Transparency
While mutual funds investors can only buy or sell their shares directly from the fund sponsor and only at the end of each day, ETFs can be traded throughout the day just like stocks. Investors not only can actively trade ETFs, they can also employ the same trading strategies that apply to stocks (limit or stop loss orders, short-sales, and options). In addition, it’s easier to “look under the hood” of an ETF, because unlike mutual funds, ETFs report their holdings daily, giving investors up-to-date information.
Cost
Mutual fund companies, regardless of size, incur significant record-keeping expenses to keep track of all their shareholders. ETFs, however, are low-cost and do not have such expenses because they are traded among investors just like stocks. Unlike some mutual funds, ETFs do not have sales loads or require minimum investments; investors only have to pay a commission to their brokerage firm to trade ETFs. In addition, most popular ETFs are extremely liquid, as millions of shares are traded each day. This allows investors to easily trade their shares with minimal impact on price.
Based on this information, you may assume mutual funds are no longer good investment options; however, is not that simple. There is no hard and fast rule, but here are some good rules of thumb to determine which is right for you:
• Many mutual fund companies have low minimums to start (as low as $25), but commissions to trade ETFs make such small purchases very cost prohibitive.
• If an investor plans to dollar-cost-average (buy a fixed dollar amount every month) or reinvest dividends, then a mutual fund is a better option.
• Mutual funds are effective for gaining exposure to a very specific sector of the market. For instance, it may be more appropriate for an investor interested in investing in international high yield fixed income or a specific country.
The growth in ETFs has exploded in recent years, and according to estimates by the Financial Research Corp. of Boston, ETF assets will most likely reach $1.4 trillion by 2011. And while mutual funds still remain the dominant investment vehicles in individual retirement accounts where the bulk of investor assets are held, it is important to determine which, mutual funds or ETFs, is right for your unique circumstances.…
3 Keys to Getting the Best Home Investment Program
3 Keys to Getting the Best Home Investment Program
Today there are several different stock programs on the market which will generate analytically picked stocks which are set to go and profitable trends so that you can invest accordingly without needing the experience or time to invest yourself. These programs are modeled after programs which professional traders use to anticipate market data but are available on a home based scale.
All you’ve got to do is invest in the corresponding picks which they generate to make reliable money. Not every home investment program is as good as the next, so here’s what to look for to get the best stock program for the money.
First, look for the home investment program you go with to focus entirely on cheap stocks. Penny stocks perform with much more volatility than greater priced stocks as it takes virtually little trading influence and send them skyrocketing value. Some home investment programs exclusively target cheap stocks for this reason, because if you can find a cheap stock which is set to go on a profitable jump you can make far more money on it than an initially greater valued stock.
Next, go with a home investment program with a money back guarantee on it. Most importantly for the reason for doing this is the fact that it enables you to test the program first hand. This entails getting the program, receiving a handful stock picks, and following their performances along in the market accordingly. I’ve done this with every home investment program I’ve ever used and find it to be the best indication of whether or not this program is worth your money.
You can also check out a user review site or two to learn a thing about the most popular, not to mention the least popular, stock programs on the market. You can learn interesting insights about these programs which you likely never learn from the publisher themselves.…
How to Make US Government Spending Habits Work Toward Your Investing Process
How to Make US Government Spending Habits Work Toward Your Investing Process
We are better than most world economies only because we are sinking slower. We are however still going under. I see the direction of the U.S. government as something we, as its citizens better off not fighting but joining.
Here are some musings/observations about our economy that we as investors can use to our benefit.
1. There is no reward for savers anymore. We punish people who do everything right. Savers earn nothing on their bank deposits, and the purchasing power of their savings falls further every day. When the interest rates are lower than the rate of inflation, simply saving or investing in low risk instruments such as treasury or municipal bonds doesn’t work.
2. The Government DOES however reward indebtedness. My financial plan now includes going into as much debt as I can. The Government rewards people who take on more debt than they can manage. I watch people who haven’t made a mortgage payment in years and still live in their house, which never gets foreclosed.
3. The Government devalues our money by printing more whenever it’s convenient to cover its ever increasing debt. Therefore what seems like a large amount of money today will amount to nothing in the future with the inflation of the dollar.
4. Many Americans believe they are entitled to something. The lower income populations feel entitled to Government handouts and the rich are entitled to lower taxes than the rest of us. Middle income people pay the fare and don’t expect rewards.
5. Government insurance of banks assures them they can’t fail, no matter how many bad loans they make. We created a penalty-free environment for stupidity. Use this to your advantage.
You’ll lose when you play against the Government. Don’t play against the Government, play with them. Don’t work hard to pay off debt. If you really want to go all the way, skip a few house payments every year, and invest that money.
Before you start skipping house payments however, be sure to refinance your house and get as much equity out of it as you can. Remember, the Government doesn’t reward you for having equity in your house. You don’t get to deduct anything on your taxes for home equity, but you can deduct a second mortgage interest.
Once you’ve borrowed to the limit at long term and low interest, pay back the loan with as little of the principle as you can manage. If you can get an interest-only loan, all the better. If you can get a thirty year loan at under 3% interest, you’ve got the best of all worlds.
The plan is to pay back as little principle as possible. Emulate your role model, the U.S. Government. After 30 more years of inflation, the annual income of the average household will be $500,000 a year.
If you managed to borrow a half million dollars during that time for example, go ahead and pay it back. It will be like having a $50,000 loan today. It’ll be chump change. Retire the loan and thank the Government for the continued devaluation of the dollar.
You could invest the principle for 30 years and get rich using their policies, while paying practically nothing for the money. This is my retirement plan. Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.…
5 Necessary Advice for Investors In Stock Trading
5 Necessary Advice for Investors In Stock Trading
Investing in the Internet is a new huge trend and it’s worth to know for beginners some basics. So, I would like you to have a look at the following stock trading advice for the novices.
I need to say, the people who want to be involved in stock trading need to know much. This is the knowledge about different situations on the market, security of types of trades. Of course, nobody is perfect about it. But certainly some tips exist about making the inputs more beneficial
Where Should You Invest
Today so many sites exist for online trading, such as TradeKing, E-Trade, Scottrade. All of them may be used by newbie for advice and they help to find a brokerage firm with attractive rates of commissions. These sites also have free courses and important tips for successful trading. Plus they may offer deals, as free accounts for trading for a special gap of time.
The Investment Advice: Learn the Basics.
The Ropes for novice investors is understanding the utilities and the operations in trades. The basis orders, fro example stop-loss and limit and other more complicated operations are available.
Initial Tools for Stock Trading
Learning the stops and limits are vital for successful trades on the initial stages. Direct purchases and sells or orders they all require permanent watch, however other exchanges let investors to make safe nets for purchases and sells that helps to create better trading. And it doesn’t have to be viewed all the time.
Making Inputs to Learn Trades and Orders
The novices in investment have to practice to use the limit of stop orders and will make fell free to invest. Free trades are available at and at related sites. Though, real trades are to help newbie to understand the importance of trades and real risk.
A good experience may be received through handling small amounts of money. One of the clues to success in trading is the low buying and higher sale that is attained by variability in a security. Novice in investment can use the tools at online companies and it will help them to be good at trading.
Looking for Indicators
There are indicators that can aid the investors to foresee the next move according to the security. But it doesn’t give the whole picture, as there exist different techniques to make an analysis of the presented course within the particular time. The tips here are: days of success or raising/falling tendency of the market.
The above mentioned tips and advice can undoubtedly help newbie in investment to understand the mechanism and tendencies in order to gain a return from that. First, they need to choose a good site, study the orders, search for potential indicators and then practice, of course. That will help a new investor make a notable progress in his online trading.…
Easy Tips to Start Investing Tomorrow
Easy Tips to Start Investing Tomorrow
Most people know that they should invest their money. Over time, well thought out investments can out-perform most simple savings accounts. But the idea of actually starting an investment can be paralyzing.
What should you invest in?
How much money should you invest?
Where do you even start?
First things first – do you have a broker?
A broker is a person or institution which facilitates the sale and purchase of investment vehicles such as equities (stock) or mutual funds. Now, if you’re just starting out, you’re probably not going to get much interest from the big investment firms. Instead, consider using a simple online discount brokerage. The fees are generally smaller and the initial monetary commitment that is required is lower.
After you’ve set yourself up with a broker, you need to transfer money into the brokerage. How much you start with is entirely up to you – but remember, many brokerages will have a minimum amount that is required to open an account. When you first start investing, it’s often easiest to begin with the minimum amount and contribute more as you grow more comfortable.
Next comes the tough part – what do you invest in?
When you’re first starting to invest, there are generally two options that people consider: equities or funds. Equities generally refer to the purchase of stock while funds, such as mutual funds or ETFs, refer to collections of investment vehicles, some of which may be equities. While the choice is yours and you should certainly research it further, most people often find it easiest to start investing in mutual funds or ETFs because it gives them exposure to many companies at once, rather than taking a risk on a single stock pick.
Then – just get started and make a purchase! While some people might feel tempted to wait for the “best” price, in reality, no one can predict what the economy will do with 100 percent accuracy. You might not get the best price, the stock might go down, and it might go up – but as long as you intend on holding it for the long term, you’ll be able to weather the storm. In fact, many people find it advantageous to contribute regularly to their investments. Over the course of a year, this “averages” your purchase cost – at times you’ll pay the best price and at times you’ll pay the worst, but on average, you pay something in the middle.
Finally, always remember that a simple savings account is an investment as well.
It’s a very conservative investment and it won’t make you a huge amount of money, but if you are uncertain of how to proceed, it’s never a bad idea to simply stash that money away in a savings account.…
What Is an Investment?
What Is an “Investment”?
Investing or the making of an investment cannot be confined simply to the world of economics and finance. While it is true that it is most commonly seem in that frame of reference, it is broader and is actually a part of every person’s life.
Investment, as I like to define it, is the act of putting effort into something now in the hopes of getting a return later. It can be almost ANYTHING – time is a very common investment. Take fitness, for example: you put in time at the gym now, so that you end up with a healthier body and better physique later. In a sense, as I write in my blog, you are trading time now for more time later.
There are hundreds of types of investments. From stocks, bonds, and mutual funds (and all of the types in each), to government investment in military or infrastructure. The list is essentially never-ending. But these are not the type that matter most, though I do find them an essential part of financial security and freedom. Examples of investment outside of the markets or government often include investing your time in another person, – much like Multi-Level Marketing (MLM), or the way businesses often use franchises – investing time and effort into cultivating your intellect, or investing money in a toy, movie, book or other item that will bring you some sort of happiness. The reality of the situation is, a large portion of the things we do are technically investments, and the return on investment is simply our incentive. And, as I hope we are all aware, incentives drive the world, and drive 99% of everything you or I do.
So whether it is your goal to lose 60 pounds this year, or whether you want to start your own network of multi-level marketers, remember that you’re making an investment. That knowledge alone will give you an extra incentive to work hard to achieve your goal.
On an ending note, look for articles or blog posts in the future to learn in detail about each type of investment. And learn to expect that no matter what, if someone is putting time in to something, they want to see something out of it. So maybe, just maybe, learn to be a skeptic and not always trust that a friend or co-worker’s motivation for helping is completely pure. Because, well, it MIGHT not be.…
Reasons and Benefits of Doing Business in Thailand
Reasons and Benefits of Doing Business in Thailand
Known as the Land of Smiles, Thailand is country of exquisite beauty, historical treasures and hospitable people. The incredible natural beauty, the world-class cuisine, tropical climate and relaxed lifestyle are some of the major reasons to start a new business in Thailand. Starting your own business in Thailand is the best way to enjoy the enamored lifestyle and earn a comfortable living in the Kingdom. Thailand is the second largest economy in the 10-nation ASEAN. The nation is rich in natural resources, such as timber, rice and precious stones. Textile, jewelry, tourism and electronic appliances are also some of the bigger players that add to the GDP of the nation. Starting up a business in this country is not a straightforward process. In order to run business successfully in this country, there are several important issues to be taken in consideration.
How to start a business in Thailand:
According to the Foreign Business Act (FBA), Thai government restricts business categories for foreigners. (Except for U.S. citizens who can engage in the business under the same rules as Thai nationals – Thai treaty of Amity). The foreigners are restricted from engaging in some business categories, unless a permit is obtained.
The most common way to initiate a new business venture in the country is by having a partnership with a Thai citizen. The labor, immigration and foreign investment laws are quite complex in Thailand, and hence a foreigner or alien cannot take part in day-to-day activities of business and requires a Thai national partner to run the front part. One can also think of opening a limited company in Thailand, but just remember, the Thai government restricts foreign investment in industries, like banking, transportation and communications. All the company documents are to be filed in Thai language and one may require professional help. The foreign owner shareholders can have only 49% and 51% is given to the Thai shareholder.
Benefits of starting new business in Thailand:
Thailand is considered as one of the region’s most attractive foreign investment destination. Thai government offers many incentives to the foreign investors. Incentives include tax exemptions and other generous concessions, permission to own land and import duty exemptions. However, foreigners are not allowed outright ownership of land.
Foreign Business Act is the main governing body that outlines the types and categories of businesses open to foreigners. It also sets the laws and regulations and restrictions for specific sectors such as insurance business, real estate and financial institutional businesses. To run your business successfully in this country, you require knowledge about the country’s Foreign Business Act, legal system and tax laws.
Unlike most of the other countries where it takes 38 days to start up a business, it takes on an average 33 days to start the business. Manual labor and construction is very affordable here as compared to other nations. The large, adaptable and intelligent workforce increases the potential for development and success of business. This regional center for trade and manufacturing has become an attractive place for doing business.…
How to Plan for Unexpected Expenses When Running a Business
It sounds ironic to plan for the unexpected. But, in business, it could mean the difference between surviving or failing in the event of an unplanned situation.
As a business, you are bound to face unexpected expenses from time to time and it’s necessary to prepare for them. It could be anything from equipment repairs to sudden opportunities that require additional capital you may not have planned.
Whatever the case is, the first step to prepare for the situation is to be in a solid financial state. In this article, we’ll discuss further how you can build an emergency fund.
Protect Your Business From Unexpected Expenses With These Tips
- Build up an emergency fund.
An emergency fund is usually a few months of expenses in the bank for your business. It’s like a rainy day fund which you set aside for when emergency expenses occur. These include:
- Equipment breakdowns
- Utility problems; and
- Unprecedented business growth
Having an emergency fund provides a sense of security that you have enough funds to tide you over in lean times. It also means having enough money when the need arises without resorting to other options such as borrowing money with high-interest rates or tapping your personal funds.
- Track your expenses
Make it a habit to account for everything you spend.
Start by listing your fixed expenses: lease, taxes, insurance, and payroll. Then look at your financial history in the past year, along with your bank and credit card statements to identify the irregular expenses you have paid.
Tally up the amount and whatever is above your regular expenses, factor it in when calculating your emergency fund.
- Cut back expenses where possible
Aside from saving money, also prioritise cutting down your expenses. Review your finances—cancel subscriptions you haven’t used in a while (e.g. SaaS tools you no longer need) and shop around for better rates.
It is also where prioritising preventive maintenance and repairs matters. When detected early, you can address issues quickly, for the less amount you would pay for emergency repairs. It shows that while paying for maintenance may seem counterintuitive, it sure can keep your equipment and utilities in good shape, saving you a lot of money and headaches in the long run.
- Plan Ahead
Concerning the above point, it makes sense to plan for the events that are bound to happen in your business. You cannot accurately consider an equipment breakdown as an emergency expense when maintaining it to prevent such serious issues is one of the responsibilities of running a business.
Protecting your business from unexpected expenses mostly boils down to planning for things that could go wrong. Anticipate them and build up a decent emergency fund—you should be fine.
- Build Your Credit Score
Even with an emergency fund, there will come a time when you will have to borrow money to get started.
Having a high credit score can do several things, the most important of which is proving to the bank that your company has good financial records and is trustworthy. The interest rate on your loans could also be lower. Some of the ways to improve your credit score are as follows:
- Pay your bills on time
- Pay off your debt and keep your credit card balances low
- Do not close unused credit cards
- Apply for a new credit account only as needed
Takeaway
Running a business can catch you off-guard when things don’t go as planned. But, don’t let unforeseen expenses get in the way of your success.
Find a financial modelling company that offers consulting services and financial forecasts and projections to help you create a budget that accounts for unexpected expenses. They can also assist you in implementing strategies to reduce your expenses and further fuel your growth.
Get professional advice on unexpected business costs today.
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The Frenzy Behind Online Stock Trading
The Frenzy Behind Online Stock Trading
Markets dealing in shares and stocks are considered as liquid, supporting and driving the viscosity and density probability factors at a given period of time. Therefore, an investor runs the risk of incurring loss in trading if he/she is not updated with the ongoing market dynamics.
Online trading is an exciting new way of trading in the stock markets in India, and the rest of the market in the world for that matter. Online trading exposes the user to numerous options that leads to efficient and effective result of the investor’s trade. This is the way to ensure better market access, high-speed transactions, etc.
There are number of strategies that are meant for online stock trading in India. The main benefit of online trading is easy money. Another attractive points of online trading is that trader can trade in each and every type of security such as IPOs, bonds and mutual funds.
Thanks to online platform, an investor can keep himself/herself informed by way of collecting the required information on all the topics associated with stock analysis and research. Other than that, an investor or trader is also able to get help by seeking expert views that are again based on stock market and the desired shares. Other than that, traders receive real time information for carrying out trades, something which is unavailable while conducting live trade. This information includes market watch on particular stocks, stock graphs and charts, etc. Orders can also be placed via phones even if you are offline.
Indian stock market is considered as one of the biggest stock trading markets in the continent of Asia. With the help of a consistently high GDP as well as a dynamic and buoyant economy, India is continually outgrowing other economies in this region. And with the advent of online stock trading, the trading in Indian market has become all the more convenient.
In India, for carrying out online stock trading or any online investment, you need to open an online trading and demat account. For all those who are not informed about demat account, it refers to dematerialization account. It is meant for holding the securities electronically instead of holding it physically. The functioning of a Demat account resembles that of a bank account. All the buying and selling of shares are also adjusted in this account.
However, in case you wish to carry out online trading of stocks and that too in a cost-effective manner, you are expected to have clean credit track record, a pre-requisite of opening an online trading and demat account. Other than that, it is advisable to rope in a financial adviser while figuring out a trading or investment pattern, something which is important for efficient channelization of your money.…
Characteristics of a Victorious Real Estate Investor
Characteristics of a Victorious Real Estate Investor
To become a successful real estate investor one must have the capability to identify good real estate deals and invest in them. You should also be able to assess the true value of properties based on when you expect to sell. Your purchase must be made at a reasonably low price to allow for a profitable sale at a later date.
Real estate investing is a strange type of profession that has no accepted curriculum of formal training. The only way to learn the art of successful art of investing in real estate answer is for you to find a mentor who can teach you the secret formula. You must become an adept at appraising and finding out the true value of a property as this information is critical to make an informed investment decisions. Realtors, appraisers, and banks determine what a property is worth by studying recent comparable sales in the same neighborhood. You must be able to do the same.
Leveraging is key factor for investors in real estate because the less cash you part with on each transaction, the more properties you can buy with your total available money. If you are long-term investor, leveraging will work in your favor if the markets in which you invest appreciate in the long run and your income from the properties can pay for most of your monthly debt.
Exit strategies are also equally crucial to successful investing. As a real estate investor you must know exactly when to sell the property even as you buy. You must completely study the market and your work out your plan even before you invest. Real estate investors can help you interpret market indicators such as the average length of time houses have been on the market. This information it will help you make better investment decisions.
Successful investors make it a point to review their portfolios at least once a quarter and work aggressively to get rid of the losing properties before they can seriously erode the profits from their winners. Bestow enough attention to protect your properties from creditors, plaintiffs, and the taxman. It is no doubt complicated, and time consuming – but yet every successful investor takes the time to do it, thus assuring that their hard-earned money is not imperiled.
To succeed in real estate investing, you must cultivate the art of moving with people as the business is built around people – sellers, tenants, contractors, agents, financiers etc. Since there is no written code of ethics for investors, it is up to each investor to decide how he will deal with customers, tenants, sellers, workers etc.
Do your market research thoroughly and look at houses that are priced lower than comparable properties in the neighborhood. Purchase the property with the lowest possible cash down-payment and get the seller to carry back a second mortgage or deed of trust for the property. If you can get a low enough price and generous terms you can make almost any property into a successful investment.
Finally, one last important rule for investing in real estate is – do not become sentimental about a property that you are purchasing for investment. Always look at the property from the viewpoint of a critical purchaser and a businesslike investor.…