What’s the Difference Between Diversification and Asset Allocation?

Frequently I hear these terms used interchangeably, but they are two distinct concepts seeking to solve the same problem. Investing efficiently and effectively is not about…

Topics Essential to RG146 Financial Planning Courses

Financial planning is a large and exciting industry within the Australian financial scene. The ASIC RG146 guidelines stipulate the minimum training requirements that must be met in order to work in this industry. The financial planning course is key to gaining the appropriate creditation.

Guide To Free Government Grants

Anyone thinking about going into business for themselves, or wanting to expand an existing business should rush for the world’s largest “one-step-money-stop” where free money to start or expand a business is being held for you by the Federal Government. It sounds absolutely incredible that people living right here in the United States of America would not know that each year the world’s largest source of free business help delivers:

Top 5 Locations for Overseas Property Investment

The UK property market might be in the doldrums but overseas property investment has never looked so alluring. Here we’ll take a look at five of the best locations for overseas property investment.

Tips on How To Get Rich

Even though today’s economy is not ripe for investment options to get rich, there are still more than a few ways to gain wealth. The following are but a few examples of ways to get rich. Find a company that has a product that will reduce energy costs.

How Compounding Interest Works

Compounding money or compound interest is the fastest and easiest way to make money. There are two ways to compound money and they are through investing and building a business. In your checking or savings account, you may notice that you make interest on your money.

The Money Saving Numbers I Try to Live My Life By

In these difficult and trying economic times I am reminded of the following quote: “Annual income twenty pounds, annual expenditure nineteen nineteen and six, result happiness. Annual income twenty pounds, annual expenditure twenty pounds ought and six, result misery.” – Charles Dickens, David Copperfield, Ch. 12

The Importance of Diversification

More than anything else, many people worry about running out of money once they have decided to retire. Diversifying sources of retirement income helps mitigate this risk. Diversification is…

How to Take a Value Investing Approach to Teaching About Wealth Building

In today’s wild business climate of corporate downsizing, hostile takeovers, rising and falling interest rates and a stock market ever on an inexplicable spiral, you really need the help of an expensive brokerage house to help you make sense of it all, right? Not so fast! Here are some things you should consider before handing over your money to the hands of strangers.

What’s Riskier: CDs or Stocks?

It was only a few years ago I’d have clients bemoaning their CD rates which were “only” 5% and how they remember bank rates north of 10%. And now…

2001-2011: The Golden Years of Investing

I’m being tongue in cheek, but speaking literally of gold and all the gold hype. Before 2000…

Longevity Risk

I see financial advising as a mix of many skills. Sometimes it’s that of investor psychologist, but in the nuts and bolts of it I’m a…

A Second Opinion

Very recently I had a conversation with somebody that went something like this: ME: Tell me about the other advisors in your life. THEM: I have a tax advisor, an attorney set up a trust for us and another financial advisor at XYZ Firm [the name has been changed to protect the innocent]. ME: Ah good, sounds like you value advice.

In Today’s Market, What’s a Baby Boomer To Do?

The year 2011 brings the first wave of Baby Boomers turning 65. Every single day…

Are You a “Charlie Brown Investor?”

Many of you may recognize this as a quote from Linus in A Charlie Brown Christmas. The investing world seems to keep getting more and more Charlie Browny all the time…