| |
| |
|
|
Investing Information |
|
Your Portfolio and "Old Ironsides"
The USS Constitution first ventured into the waters in 1798. From there she became an icon of durability and success. In battle, the ship became known as "Old Ironsides" because the shots fired from enemy ships seemed to bounce off her hull. She may be best remembered for her service in the War of 1812. Today, the loyal ship may be found resting quietly in the Boston Harbor. During the week of the Fourth of July, at the Boston Harborfest, "Old Ironsides" makes her annual voyage down the harbor. This is termed the "Turn-Around" cruise. As investors, we can learn a lot from this old ship and its history. The first is longevity. It is easy to be influenced by the short-term direction of the market. A long-term perspective, if warranted, is best observed. Of course if you have a short-term goal, aggressive investments such as individual stocks may not be the best alternative. However, if you have many years before retirement, you should ignore the short-term volatility. As with "Old Ironsides," she fought many a battle, but more than two hundred years later remains afloat and above water. A second point to remember, just like the ship, your portfolio may require maintenance from time to time. Positions may weaken and require your attention. Other positions may grow to a point where profit taking is in order. As with the strong currents of the seas, the market will take its direction and you must adapt to it. Finally, you should consider periodic reviews (i.e. monthly, quarterly, annually) vital to your portfolio. Even the USS Constitution has an annual appointment, with America, where she makes her "Turn-Around" trip. This allows her to weather evenly while at dock during the year and to keep her on active commission. Onlookers, meanwhile, have the opportunity to view all sides of the ship. You, too, should be familiar with all areas of your portfolio. This Fourth of July, when you reflect upon our independence, remember to schedule a visit with your savings. Wardlaw's belief is that familiar life elements best illustrate practical investment strategies; not typical investment jargon. With that philosophy, the author assists financial planners/advisors, brokerage firms, periodicals, and other investment information syndicates create informative and entertaining articles. For comments and questions, please contact the author at tools2invest@yahoo.com or visit http://www.tools2invest.com
MORE RESOURCES:
Investing - Google News |
|
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
Forex market offers opportunity and information The forex market is what is called an international exchange currency market, where currencies are exchanged on a daily basis. There are five forex market centers around the world - New York, London, Tokyo, Frankfurt and Zurich. Begging Your Trust in Africa The syntax is tortured, the grammar mutilated, but the message - sent by snail mail, telex, fax, or e-mail - is coherent: an African bigwig or his heirs wish to transfer funds amassed in years of graft and venality to a safe bank account in the West. They seek the recipient's permission to make use of his or her inconspicuous services for a percentage of the loot - usually many millions of dollars. Use of a Franchise Business as a Family Tax Planning Strategy Suggesting the use of a franchise business as a vehicle for family estate and tax planning. Specifically using as an example, The Car Wash Guys, a portable car wash franchise, where you will be purchasing a completely designed and outfitted car wash truck and the right to develop a specific city or regional area with out of pocket start-up costs between $25-50,000. Real Estate Clubs Hot Among Investors Six or seven years ago, the stock market was booming, Internet companies that no one had ever heard of were valued at billions of dollars, and anyone and everyone was investing their money in tech stocks. Then, in 2000, the stock market crashed, the Internet companies closed their doors, investors lost trillions of dollars, and life went back to normal, more or less. Risk and Reward If you are doing your own investing in the stock market, what would be the first question you would ask yourself before you make any trade or investment? If your answer is how fundamentally sound the stock is, or whether the stock just broke out of a trading range on a chart, or the fact that the stock has gone down 50% in the last 6 months, or whether the volatility is low now so it is a good time to buy or sell, then you are probably on the road to ruin. These strategies have nothing in common with each other and there are all kinds of different criteria that I did not mention that have nothing in common with each other. Getting Started Investing is Often the Hardest Part There are several reasons people give for not investing their money in things like stocks, bonds, and mutual funds. One reason is that they feel that they don't have enough money to make a serious investment, but a more common reason that many people have absolutely no idea how to go about getting started investing. Volatile Range The stock market fell sharply Thu and Fri before and after the employment reports Fri morning. The Nonfarm Payrolls report showed 207,000 net jobs were added in July, which were 27,000 more than the market expected. Making It Second Nature Not long ago I was laying on my son's floor throwing one of his toy balls back and forth in the air to myself and I had a strange revelation. I noticed that as I threw the ball up in the air my left arm automatically started to move to where the ball was going to come down. The Perfect Mutual Fund The Perfect Mutual Fund is the one you build yourself!The perfect Mutual Fund you build should have the objective of owning no more than 12 to 15 companies; owning shares in 12 companies would allow the diversity needed to sleep well at night and would provide a cash dividend every week of the year.The 12 companies (with staggered dividend payout dates) in your perfect Mutual Fund should not only provide a cash dividend every week of the year, the companies should also have a historical record of raising their dividends every year for at least the past 8 years (to eliminate risk). Out-Of-State Investors Check List of Questions The following lists of questions are suggested questions to ask before you plan to purchase residential real estate outside of your neighborhood.It's probably best to speak with at least three licensed real estate sales professionals and three property managers in the area. Gold and Silver Maple Leafs Get New Packaging Gold Maple Leafs and Silver Maple Leafs are receiving packaging makeovers, changes clearly mandated by investor disfavor with packaging that the Royal Canadian Mint has used since the coins were introduced. Gold Maple Leafs debuted in 1979, Silver Maple Leafs in 1988. When It Comes To Investing, Asking The Right Questions Can Help You Make The Right Decisions Are you ready to open your pathway to financial independence?Well you should be. The sooner the better. Chile Leads the Latin Pack Everyone's talking about China. Don't miss the opportunities in the other CHI. Choosing A Financial Advisor With so many financial advisors trying to woo you with their qualifications and experience, how do find one you can trust your finances with? 'Trust' is the keyword here, as you will depend on him/her for your future financial security. A good financial advisor can help you determine which investments are best suited for you, based on your financial goals. For Entrepreneurs A SIMPLE Plan May Be Best Q: I own a small decorating business and I'll be the first to admit that I don't know anything about taxes or retirement plans. I'd like to set up a 401(k) or an IRA or some other kind of retirement plan for me and my three employees. Is Starting A Business For Me? What To Consider Before Starting A Business Do you have the right temperament?Starting a small business is one of the most serious decisions that a person can take in life. Positively, it often results in higher income levels than one could achieve as an employee together with the unique buzz of being your own boss but conversely it also can be stressful, will demand longer working hours and will probably reduce your ability to take long holidays. Almost Anyone Can Open A Roth IRA! The Roth is kind of weird until you get used to it in terms of how much you can put in (contribute) each year depending on how much you earn (compensation). Because of this you really have two limits, one dealing with your compensation and the other dealing with your contribution. Are You An Investment Dummy Like Me? I am good at a few things. I can certainly market well and I consult with others about how to bring more attention to their products and services on the internet for a living. Reading Between The Lines In Annual Proxy Statements Upper Saddle River, N.J. Your Portfolio and "Old Ironsides" The USS Constitution first ventured into the waters in 1798. From there she became an icon of durability and success.
|
||||||||||||||