From Financial Mentor:
Isn't it amazing how the choices that determine the bulk of our results are so boringly simple nobody wants to hear about them?
For example, let's say you want to drive from Los Angeles to New York and you're given the choice between two cars: a basic Toyota Camry or a one-of-a-kind, custom race car using the latest, coolest, whiz-bang technology.
Logic says to choose the basic Camry every time. It is the proven, reliable path to achieving the goal. However, the sleek, beautiful race car just reeks of sex appeal and seduces us into the driver's seat for a more-better-different adventure.
Don't get me wrong. I love adventure as much as the next person – probably a lot more. But there is a time and place for everything.
The financial game is about getting results – not having an adventure.
If you want to produce reliable results then use proven technology… even if it is boring...
Read full article...
More on building wealth:
Five easy ways to become wealthier in 2011
Why most investors should ignore stocks with big dividends
Three inexpensive ways to compound your money with dividends
View the original article here
Showing posts with label financial. Show all posts
Showing posts with label financial. Show all posts
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Saturday, January 29, 2011
The top five ways to file your taxes for free
From Money Crashers:
If you’re getting ready to send this year’s income taxes to Uncle Sam, you can avoid spending extra money on tax preparation by using the resources listed in this article.
There’s no need to pay more than your fair share in taxes, and similarly, there’s no need to pay extra when preparing them either! Note that these services will only cover your federal taxes, so you’ll need to either complete your state forms using another method or pay a fee to do them alongside the federal taxes.
If your taxes are simple, be sure to take advantage of these…
Read full article...
More on taxes:
The world's best place to file taxes
MUST read piece on the White House's huge tax lie
Crux Classic: This tax fact should make your blood boil
View the original article here
If you’re getting ready to send this year’s income taxes to Uncle Sam, you can avoid spending extra money on tax preparation by using the resources listed in this article.
There’s no need to pay more than your fair share in taxes, and similarly, there’s no need to pay extra when preparing them either! Note that these services will only cover your federal taxes, so you’ll need to either complete your state forms using another method or pay a fee to do them alongside the federal taxes.
If your taxes are simple, be sure to take advantage of these…
Read full article...
More on taxes:
The world's best place to file taxes
MUST read piece on the White House's huge tax lie
Crux Classic: This tax fact should make your blood boil
View the original article here
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Six big signs the market could plunge soon
From Gold Scents:
Warning signs are starting to build. To start we have a Dow Theory non-confirmation. Usually this is a sign of distribution.
Breadth is diverging. This often happens at intermediate tops.
Emerging markets have failed to make new highs.
China, the driver of global growth appears to be in a bear market.
Read full article (with charts)...
More on stocks:
This rare divergence could mean big trouble for stocks
Why this is a great time to buy "insurance" on your stocks
Top market-timer DeMark: A BIG stock market decline is about to begin
View the original article here
Warning signs are starting to build. To start we have a Dow Theory non-confirmation. Usually this is a sign of distribution.
Breadth is diverging. This often happens at intermediate tops.
Emerging markets have failed to make new highs.
China, the driver of global growth appears to be in a bear market.
Read full article (with charts)...
More on stocks:
This rare divergence could mean big trouble for stocks
Why this is a great time to buy "insurance" on your stocks
Top market-timer DeMark: A BIG stock market decline is about to begin
View the original article here
Thursday, January 13, 2011
When this alarm goes off, it's time to get out of stocks
From Jeff Clark in Growth Stock Wire:
Periods of low volatility in the stock market are always followed by periods of high volatility. Always.
It's as certain as spring following winter.
Of course, when you're suffering through temperatures that would make an Eskimo shiver, it's hard to remember spring is on its way. And when stocks are a one-way bet, when the market moves higher day after day in unending bullishness, it's hard to imagine it moving in the other direction.
But it always does. You can bet on it.
By the look of the Volatility Index (VIX), the market may be about to change temperature...
Read full article ...
More on stocks:
You're taking a big risk buying stocks today
This chart says the bear market will return in 2011
If you're thinking of buying stocks today, read this first
View the original article here
Periods of low volatility in the stock market are always followed by periods of high volatility. Always.
It's as certain as spring following winter.
Of course, when you're suffering through temperatures that would make an Eskimo shiver, it's hard to remember spring is on its way. And when stocks are a one-way bet, when the market moves higher day after day in unending bullishness, it's hard to imagine it moving in the other direction.
But it always does. You can bet on it.
By the look of the Volatility Index (VIX), the market may be about to change temperature...
Read full article ...
More on stocks:
You're taking a big risk buying stocks today
This chart says the bear market will return in 2011
If you're thinking of buying stocks today, read this first
View the original article here
Thursday, January 6, 2011
Warren Buffett is making a big bet on higher interest rates
Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway Inc. sold $1.5 billion of mostly fixed-rate debt to retire floating-rate notes at a time when government bond yields are rising and the U.S. is showing signs of economic improvement.
A unit of Buffett's Omaha, Nebraska-based holding company issued $750 million of 4.25%, 10-year notes yesterday priced to yield 95 basis points more than similar-maturity Treasuries, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. It also sold $375 million of 3-year, 1.5% notes and the same amount of floating-rate debt yielding 33 basis points more than the 3-month London interbank offered rate, the data show.
"The market scrutinizes Buffett's moves very closely and this would indicate he's thinking interest rates in the longer term may go up," Vijay Chander, Hong Kong-based head of credit strategy at Standard Chartered Plc, said in a phone interview. "That's consistent with our house view that the U.S. economy is improving."
The world's most successful investor locked in interest payments on most of the debt as a report showed U.S. manufacturing expanded in December at the fastest pace in seven months, spurring confidence the world's biggest economy is gaining momentum. Former Federal Reserve Governor Frederic Mishkin said yesterday that while the central bank will complete its $600 billion bond-purchase program, a third round of so- called quantitative easing to spur growth is unlikely.
Treasury Yields
The yield on the benchmark 10-year Treasury note was at 3.35% today after falling to as low as 2.33 in October, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. It will advance to 3.53% by year-end, according to a Bloomberg survey of 66 banks and securities companies, with the most recent forecasts given the heaviest weightings.
Berkshire issued the debt through its Berkshire Hathaway Finance Corp. unit and plans to use the proceeds to repay floating-rate notes maturing this year, it said in a regulatory filing yesterday. It has $1.5 billion due on Jan. 11, Bloomberg data show. Buffett didn't immediately respond to a request for comment e-mailed to his assistant, Carrie Kizer, outside normal business hours in the U.S.
Berkshire guarantees all of Berkshire Hathaway Finance's debt, Moody's Investors Service said in a statement yesterday.
The company, whose holdings range from Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corp. to General Re Corp. and Fruit of the Loom Ltd., last sold public debt in December when it issued $500 million of 2.45%, five-year notes at a spread of 85 basis points, or 0.85 percentage point, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.
Floating Versus Fixed
In the floating-rate portion of the new debt Berkshire is paying 10 basis points less than in its last benchmark sale of similar-tenor securities. The company sold $2 billion of one- year securities, $1.1 billion of two-year notes and $1.2 billion of three-year debt in February, the data show. The 2013 notes, which priced at a spread of 43 basis points more than three- month Libor, traded at 100.55 cents on the dollar yesterday, according to Trace, the bond-price reporting system of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority.
When Buffett announced the $26 billion acquisition of Burlington Northern Santa Fe in November 2009, he described the railroad company as an "all-in wager" on the U.S. economy.
"Management believes that the credit crisis has abated and as a result, interest rates for investment grade issuers relative to government obligations have declined," Berkshire Hathaway said Nov. 5 in a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Stock Rally
Yesterday the Standard & Poor's 500 Index rallied to its highest close since Sept. 3, 2008 after the Institute for Supply Management said its manufacturing index climbed to 57 last month from 56.6 in November. Increased spending by American consumers and business investment is helping drive production gains at factories that make up about 11% of the U.S. economy.
Investors demand 166 basis points of extra yield to hold U.S. corporate debt instead of government securities, according to Bank of America Merrill Lynch's U.S. Corporate Master Index.
Goldman Sachs Group Inc., JPMorgan Chase & Co. and Wells Fargo & Co. managed yesterday's bond sale, Berkshire said in its regulatory filing.
View the original article here
A unit of Buffett's Omaha, Nebraska-based holding company issued $750 million of 4.25%, 10-year notes yesterday priced to yield 95 basis points more than similar-maturity Treasuries, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. It also sold $375 million of 3-year, 1.5% notes and the same amount of floating-rate debt yielding 33 basis points more than the 3-month London interbank offered rate, the data show.
"The market scrutinizes Buffett's moves very closely and this would indicate he's thinking interest rates in the longer term may go up," Vijay Chander, Hong Kong-based head of credit strategy at Standard Chartered Plc, said in a phone interview. "That's consistent with our house view that the U.S. economy is improving."
The world's most successful investor locked in interest payments on most of the debt as a report showed U.S. manufacturing expanded in December at the fastest pace in seven months, spurring confidence the world's biggest economy is gaining momentum. Former Federal Reserve Governor Frederic Mishkin said yesterday that while the central bank will complete its $600 billion bond-purchase program, a third round of so- called quantitative easing to spur growth is unlikely.
Treasury Yields
The yield on the benchmark 10-year Treasury note was at 3.35% today after falling to as low as 2.33 in October, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. It will advance to 3.53% by year-end, according to a Bloomberg survey of 66 banks and securities companies, with the most recent forecasts given the heaviest weightings.
Berkshire issued the debt through its Berkshire Hathaway Finance Corp. unit and plans to use the proceeds to repay floating-rate notes maturing this year, it said in a regulatory filing yesterday. It has $1.5 billion due on Jan. 11, Bloomberg data show. Buffett didn't immediately respond to a request for comment e-mailed to his assistant, Carrie Kizer, outside normal business hours in the U.S.
Berkshire guarantees all of Berkshire Hathaway Finance's debt, Moody's Investors Service said in a statement yesterday.
The company, whose holdings range from Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corp. to General Re Corp. and Fruit of the Loom Ltd., last sold public debt in December when it issued $500 million of 2.45%, five-year notes at a spread of 85 basis points, or 0.85 percentage point, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.
Floating Versus Fixed
In the floating-rate portion of the new debt Berkshire is paying 10 basis points less than in its last benchmark sale of similar-tenor securities. The company sold $2 billion of one- year securities, $1.1 billion of two-year notes and $1.2 billion of three-year debt in February, the data show. The 2013 notes, which priced at a spread of 43 basis points more than three- month Libor, traded at 100.55 cents on the dollar yesterday, according to Trace, the bond-price reporting system of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority.
When Buffett announced the $26 billion acquisition of Burlington Northern Santa Fe in November 2009, he described the railroad company as an "all-in wager" on the U.S. economy.
"Management believes that the credit crisis has abated and as a result, interest rates for investment grade issuers relative to government obligations have declined," Berkshire Hathaway said Nov. 5 in a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Stock Rally
Yesterday the Standard & Poor's 500 Index rallied to its highest close since Sept. 3, 2008 after the Institute for Supply Management said its manufacturing index climbed to 57 last month from 56.6 in November. Increased spending by American consumers and business investment is helping drive production gains at factories that make up about 11% of the U.S. economy.
Investors demand 166 basis points of extra yield to hold U.S. corporate debt instead of government securities, according to Bank of America Merrill Lynch's U.S. Corporate Master Index.
Goldman Sachs Group Inc., JPMorgan Chase & Co. and Wells Fargo & Co. managed yesterday's bond sale, Berkshire said in its regulatory filing.
View the original article here
Friday, December 17, 2010
Jim Rogers: Get out of the financial sector before it's too late
From Newsmax:
Investor guru Jim Rogers says life on the farm will bring far more riches in coming years than the trenches of Wall Street.
Rogers, a commodities evangelist for more than a decade, has tweaked his pitch, saying the producers of the world — whether individuals, companies, or countries — will become the new growth sector.
In short, Rogers told the Reuters 2011 Investment Outlook Summit in New York, being productive, saving the fruits of your labor, and owning hard assets hold the keys to a bright future.
"All these people who got MBAs made a mistake. The city of London and Wall Street are not going to be great places to be in the next two or three decades. It's going to be the people who...
Read full article...
More from Jim Rogers:
Jim Rogers rips into Ben Bernanke at Oxford
Jim Rogers: The only assets you must own today
Jim Rogers: Paul Krugman is an idiot... Obama barely knows anything about the world
View the original article here
Investor guru Jim Rogers says life on the farm will bring far more riches in coming years than the trenches of Wall Street.
Rogers, a commodities evangelist for more than a decade, has tweaked his pitch, saying the producers of the world — whether individuals, companies, or countries — will become the new growth sector.
In short, Rogers told the Reuters 2011 Investment Outlook Summit in New York, being productive, saving the fruits of your labor, and owning hard assets hold the keys to a bright future.
"All these people who got MBAs made a mistake. The city of London and Wall Street are not going to be great places to be in the next two or three decades. It's going to be the people who...
Read full article...
More from Jim Rogers:
Jim Rogers rips into Ben Bernanke at Oxford
Jim Rogers: The only assets you must own today
Jim Rogers: Paul Krugman is an idiot... Obama barely knows anything about the world
View the original article here
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Casey Research: We're in the eye of the financial storm
From The Gold Report:
Carlsbad is several hundred miles south of Sutter's Mill, but the experts and investors who gathered for Casey Research's recent Gold Summit were just as enthusiastic about the precious metal as the prospectors who headed into the hills back in 1849.
Carlsbad is several hundred miles south of Sutter's Mill, but the experts and investors who gathered for Casey Research's recent Gold Summit were just as enthusiastic about the precious metal as the prospectors who headed into the hills back in 1849.
The Gold Report took the opportunity to speak with some of the many experts on hand. For three days, the leading experts in the resource investment sector gathered with investors to discuss the investment strategies. Doug Casey, Richard Russell, Ross Beaty, Eric Sprott, Ian McAvity, Rick Rule, Robert Prechter, and Bob Quartermain all gave their varied impressions on the market and their investment ideas.
The time was right to focus on gold because...
Read full article...
More from Casey Research:
A great opinion piece on buying gold coins
Casey Research: It's time to "batten down the hatches"
Doug Casey and Rick Rule: How to invest for the End of America
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