We make investments in order to get good returns on our money. But we often feel disappointed by how our investments fare. A lot of the times, this is because we do not invest in a structured way and don’t even monitor returns regularly from our investments. Here I will discuss some practical ways with which you can maximize the gains on your investments. [Read more…]
How to Establish a Second Source of Income
If you are stuck in a situation where your current income does not cover your normal expenses or you do not have job security, then it is time to look for a second source of income. Establishing a second income source makes your earnings more diverse and reduces the risk of financial distress if you lose your main job. It can help you retire early by boosting your savings and may even offer an alternative source of income after retirement. [Read more…]
Saving Money for an Anxiety Free Retirement
The recession has perhaps hit retirees the worst as they were forced to sit back and watch their life savings dissolve right before their eyes without being able to do anything about it.
The typical problems faced by retirees- decreased mobility, more likelihood of debilities and many others are hugely exacerbated when an additional stress factor is added to the mix – that of worrying if there is enough money left to handle basic needs such as being able to attend to emergencies. These anxieties can be taken care of to a large extent by tweaking the retirement savings plan during the earning years. [Read more…]
Diversify Your Investments Before It’s too Late
Don’t put all eggs in one basket. This adage holds true even in the highly sophisticated world of finance. Investors have always been advised to spread their investments among different baskets of assets that do not depreciate in value at the same time. This diversification is believed to make investments less risky, as even if one asset starts falling in value, your profits from other assets can offset that loss. [Read more…]
Investment Lessons from the Financial Crisis
The financial crisis and the painful recession are behind us now. Although the unemployment numbers are still very high, there are many reasons to believe that things will soon start improving on that front too. These have been major events, and it is important to learn from them as an investor.
If you were invested in stocks just before the collapse of the stock market, you would understandably be skeptical right now. Many investors lost their faith in the market and have refrained from investing since then. But you have to put your money in some assets, and as the rebound in the stock market since March 2009 has showed, if you time your investment correctly there are still some great opportunities to earn profits. Here are some lessons that you should take away from the crisis to become a better investor.
Don’t Panic
When the stock market was at its lowest levels in 2009, almost everyone had a pessimistic outlook. More bad news was in store, we were told by the so-called financial experts. But investors who were able to shut out the noise sensed an opportunity and their investments have grown by more than 60% since then. The important lesson is to not go with the hype. Analyze the satiation with a calm mind and try to find opportunities.
Think Long Term
Anyone who tells you that you can make assured quick money in the market either has no idea of what he is talking about or is simply fooling you. In the short term, the market is nothing more than a casino. You’ll win some, you’ll lose some, and then you’ll realize that it was a total waste of time. Keep your investment horizon long term. Treat your investments in good stocks as an asset and not as a bet. You should target modest but assured returns instead of going for risky investments.
Diversify
One of the oldest tenets of investing is still one of the most important. When you invest, you should never concentrate all your risk in a single stock. By creating a diversified portfolio, which also has bonds in it, you spread your risk. So if the price of one of your stocks collapses, you would still be able to make up for that loss with profits from other stocks.
Keep these tips in mind and be smart about your investments. Don’t make investment decisions because they feel right, you need to think them through.
