Money Blog: Savings & Investments (Page 13)
How to Ask Your Boss for a Raise
You work hard, and you’re good at what you do. But you feel like you’re not quite earning what you ought to. The effort, time, and attention you put into your job are not being reflected in your salary, and something needs to change. In other words, it’s about time for a raise––but, of course, because your boss is not forthcoming with it, you are going to have to be the one to initiate the... ❯❯❯
Advice for New Stock Market Investors
While some novice investors spend long hours pouring over individual stocks to find the best opportunity, many financial advisors suggest that starting a portfolio with individual stocks is a rookie mistake. If your portfolio is not established, you run the risk of losing everything if your single stock fails. Instead, it is suggested that new investors select low-cost mutual funds. Mutual funds... ❯❯❯
10 Things Your Bank Won't Tell You
Dealing with your bank can be a frustrating experience. Unfortunately, you need someplace to stash your money. You also will have a hard time getting a loan without a bank to facilitate one. When dealing with your bank, here are 10 things that they will not tell you. Some of these items may surprise you. 1. Customer Service Isn't A PriorityMost banks have cut back on customer service staff since... ❯❯❯
Retirement Savings: Should You Opt for a Pension or a Lump Sum
Let’s say you’ve been working for around 20 to 30 years and are finally reaching your retirement age. Now you have a big decision to make – should you opt for pension or a lump sum? In most cases, pension plans give workers the choice to either opt to take a lump sum from time to time, or monthly check payments throughout their lives from then onwards. Most workers prefer to choose lump sum... ❯❯❯
Why You Should Invest
Investing has become increasingly important over the years, as the future of social security benefits becomes unknown. People want to insure their futures, and they know that if they are depending on Social Security benefits, and in some cases retirement plans, that they may be in for a rude awakening when they no longer have the ability to earn a steady income. Investing is the answer to the... ❯❯❯
How Much Money Should You Invest?
Many first time investors think that they should invest all of their savings. This isn’t necessarily true. To determine how much money you should invest, you must first determine how much you actually can afford to invest, and what your financial goals are. First, let’s take a look at how much money you can currently afford to invest. Do you have savings that you can use? If so, great! However,... ❯❯❯
Different Types of Investments
Overall, there are three different kinds of investments. These include stocks, bonds, and cash. Sounds simple, right? Well, unfortunately, it gets very complicated from there. You see, each type of investment has numerous types of investments that fall under it. There is quite a bit to learn about each different investment type. The stock market can be a big scary place for those who know little... ❯❯❯
The Importance of Diversification
“Don’t put all of your eggs in one basket!” You’ve probably heard that over and over again throughout your life…and when it comes to investing, it is very true. Diversification is the key to successful investing. All successful investors build portfolios that are widely diversified, and you should too! Diversifying your investments might include purchasing various stocks in many different... ❯❯❯
Determine Your Risk Tolerance
Each individual has a risk tolerance that should not be ignored. Any good stock broker or financial planner knows this, and they should make the effort to help you determine what your risk tolerance is. Then, they should work with you to find investments that do not exceed your risk tolerance. Determining one’s risk tolerance involves several different things. First, you need to know how much... ❯❯❯
