I was walking through the mall this past weekend, and had one thing on my mind, a pair of black loafers. I went to various stores, and saw a pair of Hugo Boss loafers, that I absolutely loved, a pair of Kenneth Cole that were nice, and then a pair of Aldo loafers that would suffice. I went back and forth with all of them, but at the end, I decided on the pair of Hugo Boss, even though they were a little more expensive. I chose the Hugo Boss loafers because I knew that every Read more »

Suze Orman is a very well respected financial advisor who happens to be a motivational speaker, host of her television show on CNBC, and author of 6 consecutive New York Times Best Sellers. She was also selected by Time magazine as one of the TIME 100, The World’s Most Influential People. So if anyone understand finances, it would be her. She has compiled a list of top 10 money tips for 2010, that I would like to share with you all. I certainly took away a thing or two from this helpful article. Enjoy!

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Good morning YPs,

A friend of mine suggested I check out this clip of this 14 year old kid who is already investing his money in the stock market and has accumulated $50,000 in doing so. After checking out the clip I was immediately impressed on how he got involved in what most of us view as extremely complex. Basically he wanted a pair of Nike sneakers but his mother told him instead of wanting the sneakers he should want a piece of the company. Now he’s able to afford any pair of Nike sneakers he wants.

A lot of what we learn about money (good and bad) comes from what we’re exposed to when we’re young. I’ve been fortunate that I’ve been pretty disciplined with credit cards and haven’t fallen into the traps that so many young people fall into. I’d like to sit here and say that my parents played a huge role in my discipline but the truth is they didn’t. I think it’s very important that parents really talk to their kids about money, debt, and how to accumulate wealth at an early age. The biggest thing that stuck out to me in this clip is that the young man is investing in things he enjoys. As a result, his investments probably seem more like fun than anything else.

Check this out and definitely take a look at where your money is and what it’s doing for you.

YPRichB, YoungProfessionals Writer

YPDSing:  The Stock Markets are a very crucial part in the economy.  The amounts of money in the markets might boggle some minds.  With as much money as the markets control, it is very apparent how they can positively or negatively affect the global economy.  I think everyone should take an interest in how these markets work.  Whether you realize it or not, these things affect you and your families in a major way.  Having a general knowledge of how things work, can only increase your economic awareness.  In addition, you can also learn ways too make a lot of money.  Investing in the right stocks can be a very lucrative investing tool.  Although, investing in the stock markets is not a sure fire way to get rich, you can definitely increase your wealth with some strategic moves.  With that said, I encourage you YPs out there to take your education of the stock markets to the next level.  Do some research and become aware.  YPs Stand Up!!!

If you’d like to buy a share of stock in any publicly traded company you’ll most likely need the services of a brokerage firm. Though it’s possible to buy and sell shares of stock on your own, there are some practical and legal problems with this approach. The securities industry is highly regulated, so you can’t just hang a shingle and start selling stocks to the general public, unless you’re properly registered and licensed.When you want to buy groceries, you go to the Read more »

YPRuck: YP’s I know we all hear about the stock market all the time and this may not be the right time for some of us to invest but for those of us that are looking to invest in something that can benefit our future and our children’s future here is an article that discusses the basics of investing in the stock market.  Keep in mind that investing in the stock market is an investment that will not yield immediate profits but in the long term the right investment(s) will go a long way to a better future.  Young Professionals let’s start making smarter investments now to avoid having to work longer than we would like.  I don’t know about your success plan but my success plan does not include me working 40 years so let’s empower and educate ourselves and create our own opportunities.  Checkout this article and I hope you guys find it informative and motivates you to at least start thinking about investing in your futures.  As YPDSing would say, YP’s stand up!  

Maybe you never took Economics 101, and The Wall Street Journal might as well be written in a foreign language for all the sense it makes to you. But perhaps for the first time in your life you have some money saved, and the 2.5 percent interest you’re earning on it in your savings account isn’t enough. So you’re eyeing the stock market. Problem is you don’t know the first thing about it. You’ve come to the right place. Let’s start at the beginning.

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Composing lists can be a very helpful way to quickly see a great deal of organized information. When considering a significant decision such as buying a home, making lists can be the easiest way to get a grasp on what you are looking for.

First, put together your dream house list. This includes all your desires such as a pool or wraparound porch. If you are married, you and your spouse should try to agree on one list; after all you are only buying one house. After you are finished with your list, set it aside and formulate your minimum home list. What is the bare minimum you would both be willing to live with if you absolutely had to? Any potential houses you consider should fit in between one of those two lists. If it doesn’t, you wouldn’t like it.
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A quick read through today’s real estate headlines can be confusing.
Depending on which expert you believe, the market is currently bottoming, trending up, trending down, or heading toward the edge of a cliff.

Don’t let the chorus of experts confuse you. These experts are the same that took us to where we are by selling a market that was totally unsustainable. Over the next year, general market conditions for home buying may get better – or worse – than they are today. There are no guarantees. However, it’s important to remember that buying decisions should be based not only on market conditions, but individual needs.

It’s true that many areas of the country are considered overvalued, including South Florida but there are bargains to be had in all types of markets. If you’re intent on finding one, it’s a good idea to remember some important real estate fundamentals:

No one can be sure where the market is headed so real estate speculation is best left to the so called “experts.”
Buying a home to live in is different than investing for rental or speculative purposes.
If you are planning to buy a home as your primary residence plan to keep it for at least several years, you will significantly minimize your risk.
Just as the “size of the bubble” varies from region to region, so will be the timing of market corrections. Therefore, timing the market is a very risky strategy. The key during any type of market is to follow a disciplined approach to buying regardless of whether you work with an agent or choose to go on your own.
How do you find a home in this market?
First, do not be EMOTIONAL. This is one of the most important financial decisions of your life and one with long term implications. You must stay calm, cool and collected. This is a buyers’ market but you will lose your advantage if you tilt your hand. The days in which you were rushed to act are gone.

Second, define REALISTIC objectives. You want to buy the RIGHT HOME at the RIGHT PRICE and in today’s market there are quite a few properties that will meet your criteria. Prices have been trending down recently but keep in mind that a low price does not necessarily mean that it is a good deal; it only means that the price is low. The key questions are (1) How much I can afford and (2) what is the best deal I can get for my money given the number of options that are currently available. I may be able to afford the elephant but can I afford to feed the beast?

Third, prioritize those properties that meet your criteria and schedule visits. Value is an important consideration but not the only one. You need to prioritize your search based on a match of offered features versus your needs. Make sure you separate essential features from those that are “nice to have.” And then schedule visits to your targeted properties. Your real estate professional and free local search engines like the one offered by www.homekeys.com can be valuable resources in researching and identifying properties that meet your search criteria.

Fourth, enhance your KNOWLEDGE of the market. Knowledge is power and if your goal is to get the best deal for your money you need to access data and information that will allow you to make a rational decision. When you identify a home you are interested in here are some questions to guide you throughout the process:

What did the last or current owner pay for the target property?
When did the transaction take place?
What have been the recent sales in the neighborhood during the last 12 months?
Which of those properties were truly comparable to my target property?
Were there other properties not quite comparable that sold during the same period?
How did the final sales price compare to the asking price?
How long were these properties in the market?
What is happening in the neighborhood?
How many properties are for sale within proximity to your target?
How long have those properties been listed?
What are the asking prices?
What is the most likely market value of the target property now? Don’t rely on subjective opinions of value from sellers or a seller’s agent. Get a transparent, unbiased opinion of value.
Fifth, get FINANCING — this strengthens your bargaining position. The problem in today’s market is not the lack of available properties but obtaining financing. The days of easy financing are over and may not come back for the foreseeable future. The pendulum has swung from “high tolerance for risk” to “no tolerance for risk”. However, financing is available for those that are wiling to put some skin in the game, have good credit and can show earnings power. Time is of the essence for sellers and buyers need to be ready to prove their “readiness to buy”. And first time buyers should take advantage of the $ 8,000 tax credit available until December 1, 2009.

Sixth, NEGOTIATE effectively —remember your goal: to get the best deal for your money. Here are a few suggestions:

When you find a home that meets your needs, be ready to make an offer quickly. The right way to make an offer is with a contract offer to buy, proof of financing and an escrow deposit. Never give a deposit directly to a seller. Give it to your attorney or your title company.
In a competitive market, it’s important to act decisively.
At the same time, don’t be intimidated by multiple offers. New homes are listed every day, so don’t be pressured into overspending or unacceptable contract terms.
Do not be shy — price aggressively and do not rationalize your offer. Chances are you will end up paying more than what you have to if you let emotions drive the process.
Avoid gimmicks— remember you are buying a house and not a trip to PARIS, a BMW or a Plasma TV. There is no such thing as a free lunch. Be firm and ready to walk away. There will be other properties waiting for you.
Mr. Iraola is the founder and CEO of The Aloaris Group a privately owned group that provides financing and manages start up ventures with the potential to revolutionize existing business models. The Group also provides a full range of advisory services to companies operating or planning to operate in emerging markets. He is also a co founder and CEO of Homekeys a developer, integrator and provider of state of the art web-based information tools and services for the real estate industry. Details can be found at http://www.homekeys.net Mr. Iraola currently serves on the Board of Directors of Central Hudson Energy Group Inc. (NYSE:CHG). He previously served on the Boards of Phelps Dodge Corporation, SWM and Southern Copper Co.

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

One of the greatest investments you can possibly make is right within your grasp every day. It requires only a small initial investment, it pays off quickly and the return is much higher than if you invest your money in the stock market.

It almost sound too good to be true doesn’t it? Even though I would normally advise you to be very skeptical of anybody making the above claims, I think this concept holds true on the promises. What I am talking about is investing in the sales offers you will find every day where you shop. If done correctly, you can get a very good return on your investment.

How is it done?

The idea behind the concept is that shops will offer you to buy larger numbers of items instead of buying only one item. The larger numbers will be sold at a cheaper price per item. Of course this requires you to pay for more items at the beginning and this is why I consider it an investment. You spend some money now in order for you to save, or receive, more money in the future, which is basic for any investment.

Let’s take an example to illustrate it. Say you like to buy a certain brand of cereal. You can either buy one pack for $10 or 3 packs for $25. For simplicity’s sake, let’s assume you always eat one pack of cereal every month. In June you can use $10 or $25. If you choose to spend $25, you can consider the extra $15 you spend as an investment. The investment will save you $10 in July and $10 in August. In total you end up saving $5 ($10+$10+$10-$25) on an investment of $15 extra. It is a return in two months’ time of more than 30%! This is much more than you can reasonably expect from any other investment.

I know the numbers of this example might be a little confusing for some people. If you are one of those people, don’t despair. Just know that as long as you get a cheaper price per product if you buy more products at the same time, it will be a good investment. The numbers just show you exactly how good the investment is.

Consider the risks of this investment

As most things that seem too good to be true, yet are the genuine deal, it requires something else, though. This requires some discipline of you. When you use this method you have to make sure you don’t end up buying too much. You don’t want to buy things that will either spoil before you use them, or that you won’t use them all up. If you buy too much, it will be a bad investment, as you will end up throwing some of it out.

Another thing you should be aware of is that it is important not to just increase your consumption of goods. If, for example, we have some Coke in the house, we tend to drink more Coke than if we don’t have any around. This can be countered by considering this an investment and by making sure you hide away those things you are not currently consuming.

Leverage your investments

The example is just one item on the grocery list. You have several other items and, for many of them, it will be possible to make similar investments. But maybe you don’t have the cash to do it right away. Make a decision to start with one item and then invest the money you save on that investment into similar investments in the future. Create your own small fund for investments. Before you know it, you will have turned your finances around in a big way.

Brian Ullitz, personal finance expert, author of the e-book Enjoy Healthy Personal Finances and founder of http://Finance4Everyone.org If you find finances complicated, boring or intimidating get our free e-book now by enlisting to our newsletter. With this e-book you can learn to manage your debt, save money and enjoy a happier life.

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