<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<rss version="2.0"
	xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/"
	xmlns:wfw="http://wellformedweb.org/CommentAPI/"
	xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/"
	xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom"
	xmlns:sy="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/syndication/"
	xmlns:slash="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/slash/"
	>

<channel>
	<title>Investing Guide</title>
	<atom:link href="http://www.tok2008.org/feed/" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml" />
	<link>http://www.tok2008.org</link>
	<description></description>
	<lastBuildDate>Thu, 23 Feb 2012 06:54:16 +0000</lastBuildDate>
	<language>en</language>
	<sy:updatePeriod>hourly</sy:updatePeriod>
	<sy:updateFrequency>1</sy:updateFrequency>
	<generator>http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.1</generator>
		<item>
		<title>A Tale of Ten Jars Of Pickles: Six Advantages of Futures Trading</title>
		<link>http://www.tok2008.org/a-tale-of-ten-jars-of-pickles-six-advantages-of-futures-trading/</link>
		<comments>http://www.tok2008.org/a-tale-of-ten-jars-of-pickles-six-advantages-of-futures-trading/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 23 Feb 2012 06:54:16 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>J. Morgan</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Futures and Commodities]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Futures commodity]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[futures contracts]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Futures Trading]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Investments]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Paper Investment]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.tok2008.org/?p=554</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Let&#8217;s say you had a pretty good idea that if you bought 10 jars of pickles you&#8217;d make a lot of money, because from what you have been reading the demand for pickles was going to go up in the future. You pay fifty cents a jar, stash the jars in your pantry and sure [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Let&#8217;s say you had a pretty good idea that if you bought 10 jars of pickles you&#8217;d make a lot of money, because from what you have been reading the demand for pickles was going to go up in the future. You pay fifty cents a jar, stash the jars in your pantry and sure enough &#8212; the price of pickles doubles and you make a $5.00 profit.</p>
<p>But, supposing you have to have 100 jars minimum to trade. What are you going to do? The answer is to find somebody that has 90 jars and &#8220;go in on the trade&#8221; with them. Both of you share in the profit when the jars are sold. This is gives you the &#8220;leverage&#8221; you need to sell pickles in a market you could not have entered otherwise.<span id="more-554"></span></p>
<p>But let&#8217;s go further. Let&#8217;s say that jars of pickles are not physically being bought or sold. Your friend draws up a contract offering 100 jars of pickles at the going rate&#8230; and THIS is what is up for sale.</p>
<p>1) Leveraged Contracts</p>
<p>You now have a Futures commodity contract, and you can begin to see the advantages that Futures trading offers. They are highly &#8220;leveraged&#8221; investments; in order to invest in a contract you only need to buy a small fraction of it&#8217;s value, usually only about ten percent of the contract&#8217;s total worth. With this, you can trade huge amounts of commodities without ever having to buy the products outright.</p>
<p>If you predict the movement of the price of the commodities traded correctly, you&#8217;ve got the chance of a ten fold profit on an initial investment of ten percent of the actual futures contract&#8217;s value. Leverage will work to a tremendous advantage to the investor in futures trading.</p>
<p>2) A Paper Investment</p>
<p>Up until now, we&#8217;ve assumed you still own 10 jars of pickles. But let&#8217;s say you don&#8217;t have storage space for 10 pickle jars or your landlady is a &#8220;pickle-phobe&#8221; who says you can&#8217;t have more than two jars on the premises. With futures contracts you don&#8217;t need to physically buy and store them&#8230;you instead buy the contract. You now have what&#8217;s known as a &#8220;Paper Investment&#8221; The Advantage of a Paper Investment is that the investor doesn&#8217;t have to store or manage the commodities being traded&#8230;it&#8217;s all done on paper.</p>
<p>3) Liquidity of Futures Contracts</p>
<p>There are huge numbers of contracts traded on the market on a daily basis, with a large number of buyers and sellers placing orders very quickly, no matter what the commodity is. This is known as &#8220;liquidity&#8221;. Contracts can be bought and sold with ease, and your contract can be easily sold at any time&#8230;the trick being (of course) to sell &#8220;high&#8221; rather than &#8220;low&#8221;.</p>
<p>4) Fairer trading</p>
<p>The Futures trading market is a fairer trading situation as compared with stock and share trading. It is more difficult to get insider information on Futures which is a problem in price manipulation of stocks.</p>
<p>5) Lower Commissions</p>
<p>Commissions on futures markets tend to be smaller, and they are usually paid after the position has ended. Depending on the level of service, brokers&#8217; commissions are sometimes as low as five dollars to as high as two hundred dollars per transaction.</p>
<p>6) Quicker Profits</p>
<p>Futures trading may offer the investor a quicker way to make a profit. As a general rule, Futures markets move faster than the cash markets. but this can also pose more risk. There are quick gains, and quick losses. Incorrect predictions of commodities positions can take you down fast&#8230;correct ones can make you up&#8230;just as fast.</p>
<p>It all depends on your ability to predict&#8230; and that to a great extent on good sources of knowledge of commodities and how they are expected to perform.</p>
<p>John Young lives in Southern California with his wife and pet cat &#8220;Bear&#8221;. His new blog <a href="http://www.online-stock-trading-today.com/" target="_blank">http://www.online-stock-trading-today.com</a> provides a fresh and updated source of information on futures trading.</p>
]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://www.tok2008.org/a-tale-of-ten-jars-of-pickles-six-advantages-of-futures-trading/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Why You Should Buy Silver Now</title>
		<link>http://www.tok2008.org/why-you-should-buy-silver-now/</link>
		<comments>http://www.tok2008.org/why-you-should-buy-silver-now/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 22 Feb 2012 18:28:04 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>J. Morgan</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Gold Silver]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Bonds]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Investment]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Silver]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[stock market]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[stocks]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.tok2008.org/?p=552</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The end of June marks the end of QE2. So what does that mean for the US economy? Is the dollar going up or down? Greece, Spain, Ireland, Italy, Portugal, they are all making quite a splash in the headlines today. Of course there are so many conflicts and wars going on, it is difficult [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The end of June marks the end of QE2. So what does that mean for the US economy? Is the dollar going up or down? Greece, Spain, Ireland, Italy, Portugal, they are all making quite a splash in the headlines today. Of course there are so many conflicts and wars going on, it is difficult at best to keep track of them all. So how do you protect yourself? Should I buy Silver now?</p>
<p>Let&#8217;s go back to the year 2000. The price of silver was around $5 per ounce. In fact silver stayed at the $5 level for years. Never the less, Wall Street and the media kept talking up the stock market. Stocks seemed to be the right investment to be in! Remember when the Dow back then was a big deal at 10,000? Today the Dow is around 12,000. So in 11 years or so the stock market went up to give you about a 2000 point gain. That gain is about a 17% return over that time. Silver on the other hand has risen from $5 per ounce to around $35 per ounce today or about a 560% return over that time.<span id="more-552"></span></p>
<p>Even with the huge gain that silver realized, it still has been buried and forgotten. Wall Street continues to talk up stocks and bonds. Recently silver rose even higher than $35 per ounce; it closed at over $48 in April. That recent sell off of silver from the high of $48 to today&#8217;s level at $35 represents a similar opportunity as when silver was $5.</p>
<p>Silver experts such as Ted Butler are calling for $200 per ounce. Some experts are stating their case for silver to rise as high as $400 per ounce. While we don&#8217;t know exactly how high silver may go, we do know one thing for sure. Silver is getting very scarce. With all of the industrial uses for silver it is being consumed faster than mined, thus a major silver shortage is coming. In a prosperous world economy, silver is used for antibacterial in water treatments, food, medical, electronics, solar energy, and more.</p>
<p>Besides silver&#8217;s industrial uses, silver dollars are money. There is so much geopolitical chaos in the world as well as financial instability, silver provides a critical hedge of protection. Silver, and its cousin gold, today represents your best option to store your hard earned money from being eaten away from the coming inflation-hyperinflation scenario. Recently, on the front page of USA Today there was an article stating the US debt was about $536,000 per US household. The unfunded liabilities such as Social Security and Welfare are not included. This debt cannot be paid back!</p>
<p>Today, while the news has placed silver in the back seat behind the stock market, you have the investment opportunity of a life time. Could silver go down a bit in the short term? Sure it can. The question for all of us is, are you a day trader or an investor? As an investor you know the world&#8217;s problems are not going to be solved any time soon. So should you buy silver now? Back the truck up and buy as much as you can before the rest of the world wakes up to the world&#8217;s best kept secret. Don&#8217;t wait until silver is being talked about in the news. If silver is back in the news then you missed the boat.</p>
<p>Learn how to properly diversify your portfolio with the proper position of gold and silver. At <a href="http://www.usgoldandsilveradvisors.com/" target="_blank">US Gold and Silver Advisors</a> we are constantly analyzing and monitoring global trends and conditions. We keep our clients well positioned in the safest and most financially rewarding segments of the gold and silver market</p>
]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://www.tok2008.org/why-you-should-buy-silver-now/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Load Disadvantages &#8211; Don&#8217;t Take Any Kind of Extravagant Services Offered by a Salesperson</title>
		<link>http://www.tok2008.org/load-disadvantages-dont-take-any-kind-of-extravagant-services-offered-by-a-salesperson/</link>
		<comments>http://www.tok2008.org/load-disadvantages-dont-take-any-kind-of-extravagant-services-offered-by-a-salesperson/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 22 Feb 2012 06:25:12 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>J. Morgan</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Mutual Funds]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[investing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Investors]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Load Disadvantages]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[loads expenses]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Mutual Fund]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.tok2008.org/?p=548</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Load refers to the fee that has to be paid to the salesperson who has convinced investors to invest their money in a specific mutual fund. The fee you pay in form of a load to the salesperson that doesn&#8217;t reach to the financial advisory. Simply, it sprightly moves to the pocket of the salesman. [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Load refers to the fee that has to be paid to the salesperson who has convinced investors to invest their money in a specific mutual fund. The fee you pay in form of a load to the salesperson that doesn&#8217;t reach to the financial advisory. Simply, it sprightly moves to the pocket of the salesman. If you want to know what are the loads disadvantages, then you need to take a look on these facts which can explain you more about it. These points are discussed below which are very essential to know before hiring a salesman services for your company.</p>
<p>Loads play no role in mutual funds</p>
<p>This is a kind of a fee that investor should pay to a salesperson to search the right place of their money. This is one of greatest disadvantages of the loads. So, when you are starting a mutual fund business, you don&#8217;t look for the loads services it can hamper your business goodwill and reputation. It is very complicated for the loaded mutual fund to pick with the load free amount for its some essential factors.<span id="more-548"></span></p>
<p>Higher expenses</p>
<p>If you are investing your money without loads expenses, then you will be charged less from the funds expenditure. Here, the term expenses that refers to the loads chargers which are generally spend for finding the assets. Higher expenses related to loads are the most effective disadvantages. Companies going through such phase can really come across huge expenses.</p>
<p>There is hardly any difference in the return value</p>
<p>There is hardly any difference in returns. For a long time it&#8217;s been watched that there is hardly any difference among the performance of the loads and the loaded ones. The only difference you will find is in terms of the commission that needs to be paid to the salesperson. As a result of which, the fund results will differ from one period to the other, however, the general pattern will remain the same. Debate about which of the funds are better, no load and loaded counterparts, is one that cannot end up very soon. Although differences between 2 kinds are numerous, lots of writers try and narrow them to case of who will win from deal: investor or broker. It is inappropriate to claim you are better off in case, you invest in the load free funds in place of parking money in the loaded counterpart.</p>
<p>Looking for more <a href="http://www.globalfunds.com.au/" target="_blank">wealth building strategies</a> and tips? Visit us at Global Mutual Funds &#8211; Australia&#8217;s pre-eminent provider of global investment product alternatives and solutions. Find out what you need to know about equities, options trading, and how exchange traded funds can help build your long term wealth.</p>
]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://www.tok2008.org/load-disadvantages-dont-take-any-kind-of-extravagant-services-offered-by-a-salesperson/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Drowning in Debt and Unprepared for Retirement?</title>
		<link>http://www.tok2008.org/drowning-in-debt-and-unprepared-for-retirement/</link>
		<comments>http://www.tok2008.org/drowning-in-debt-and-unprepared-for-retirement/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 21 Feb 2012 18:24:58 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>J. Morgan</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Retirement Planning]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Debt]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[pension plans]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[retirement]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[retirement funds]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[retirement plans]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.tok2008.org/?p=546</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[2011 marks the first year Baby Boomers reach retirement age. Every year for the next 19 years more and more Americans will find themselves in the position of having to choose between retiring at poverty level or continuing to work beyond age 65. Right now a whopping 96% of us are unable to retire without [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>2011 marks the first year Baby Boomers reach retirement age. Every year for the next 19 years more and more Americans will find themselves in the position of having to choose between retiring at poverty level or continuing to work beyond age 65. Right now a whopping 96% of us are unable to retire without being dependent on the government, our kids, or charity. How did this happen?</p>
<p>Why have we been unable to accumulate the money necessary to retire? Here are some reasons:</p>
<p>Life expectancy is trending upward dramatically and we are outliving our retirement funds. We&#8217;re living much longer than we were just a century ago. In 1900, life expectancy was 47 years. In 2003 it was 77 years. This upward trend is predicted to continue and it&#8217;s possible that retirement years could soon equal or even exceed working years. Do you remember when it was a rare achievement to attain age 100? There are now more than 53,000 centenarian Americans according to the 2010 census. If it&#8217;s your 100th birthday, Willard Scott probably isn&#8217;t going to have time to make a big deal about it because you&#8217;re only one of the hundred-forty-something others who turned 100 today!<span id="more-546"></span></p>
<p>Retirement plans aren&#8217;t what they used to be. In the 1940s, 50s, 60s and early 1970s almost every employer provided defined benefit pension plans for their employees. These plans typically provided a pension based on a percentage of the employee&#8217;s income averaged over the last several years prior to retirement. That percentage normally ranged from 30% to 60% of salary and, combined with Social Security, made for a decent retirement income. In 1980 a new retirement strategy was introduced, the defined contribution plan or 401(k). This plan allowed employees to contribute pre-tax money, but with limits to the amount contributed. And it significantly reduced or eliminated employer contribution. In most 401(k) plans, investment decisions are made by the employee, and most of us are not trained or experienced in making that type of decision. The 401(k) as a retirement vehicle has proved to be an abysmal failure. The stock market averaged a little better than 12% annually in the eight years from 1984 to 2002. The average 401(k) fund investor netted an average of less than 3% during the same period. And since these are tax-deferred plans there will be a tax bill due upon withdrawal, just when we&#8217;re least likely to afford it.</p>
<p>Many of us are smothering under a mountain of debt. Nearly half of American households are spending more than they&#8217;re earning, and that is not a recipe for a successful retirement. Some of us are living paycheck-to-paycheck or (even worse) using credit cards to pay our bills, so there is nothing left to contribute to a retirement fund. Some of us were counting on our home equity to help fund our retirement, until the real estate market collapsed.</p>
<p>There is no quick or painless fix for this dilemma. For some of us it&#8217;s too late, but many of us can avert or repair financial disaster by acting NOW.</p>
<p>George Bartlett is a licensed professional specializing in debt elimination and retirement strategies. He strongly recommends this breakthrough web-based financial wellness system: <a href="http://www.19103465384.info/" target="_blank">http://www.19103465384.info</a></p>
<h4>Incoming search terms:</h4><ul><li>how to invest 6 000 wisely in ira in feb 2012</li></ul>]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://www.tok2008.org/drowning-in-debt-and-unprepared-for-retirement/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Monthly Income Investments: A Logical Move to Make Ends Meet</title>
		<link>http://www.tok2008.org/monthly-income-investments-a-logical-move-to-make-ends-meet/</link>
		<comments>http://www.tok2008.org/monthly-income-investments-a-logical-move-to-make-ends-meet/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 21 Feb 2012 06:24:17 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>J. Morgan</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Day Trading]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Annuities]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Income Investments]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Investments]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[retirement]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[retirement income]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.tok2008.org/?p=543</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Monthly income investments are a way to make sure there is still money coming in even if there is no longer any job to provide for a steady monthly income. This is especially important for those who just retired. The economy has driven many people to lose their jobs, not because they are not good [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Monthly income investments are a way to make sure there is still money coming in even if there is no longer any job to provide for a steady monthly income. This is especially important for those who just retired.</p>
<p>The economy has driven many people to lose their jobs, not because they are not good at it, but because the companies folded up or the companies retrenched in an attempt to stay afloat. And then there are others who had to retire or have reached the retirement age. It really does not matter what the reasons are, the important thing is to make ends meet. One way to do this is to get into monthly income investments.<span id="more-543"></span></p>
<p>It is very important to have a source of income even if there is no longer any work. There are a few investments to consider which can provide that monthly income. Just make sure to choose that investment which should most benefit you. Here are some of the monthly income investments:</p>
<p>1. Closed End Funds &#8211; this can provide for a monthly and quarterly income. These are not like the annuities offered by insurance companies. Where annuities are guaranteed, there is no guarantee of income here but this is quite popular with the retirement group. These are covered called, interests, stocks, bonds and dividends. Each of these have their own objective and it is important to research each and find out if this should benefit you and your family before you think of buying.</p>
<p>2. Immediate Annuities &#8211; these are usually offered by insurance companies and come with a guarantee of income for the rest of your days. However, the strength of the guarantee is only as strong as the offering company so study the company well.</p>
<p>3. Variable Annuities &#8211; here, the money invested is placed in a portfolio of your choice. Again, these are offered by insurance companies but these involve certain fees which you may have to pay. This is not as good as the immediate annuities but it does offer a lifetime of income.</p>
<p>4. Retirement Income &#8211; this offers control of the money invested which will have to be invested first to a portfolio which may or may not include stocks and bonds. The interest of the full amount received upon retirement is the monthly income. However, the interest rates are so low at this point in time that it may not be a good idea to consider this. The income received each month may not be enough to cover for the household costs. This should be carefully studied before any action is to be taken.</p>
<p>Fixed Monthly Income Inc. is one of the most popular and fastest growing investment companies in the world. We help thousands of people to save, invest and manage their money. For more info please visit <a href="http://www.fmincome.com/" target="_blank">monthly income investments</a>.</p>
<h4>Incoming search terms:</h4><ul><li>equipment for day trading like a professional</li></ul>]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://www.tok2008.org/monthly-income-investments-a-logical-move-to-make-ends-meet/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Planning Your Goals And Big NHS Pension Changes</title>
		<link>http://www.tok2008.org/planning-your-goals-and-big-nhs-pension-changes/</link>
		<comments>http://www.tok2008.org/planning-your-goals-and-big-nhs-pension-changes/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 20 Feb 2012 18:24:21 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>J. Morgan</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Retirement Planning]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[financial planning]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[financial strategy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[funds]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[NHS Pension]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Pension]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.tok2008.org/?p=538</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Recently we&#8217;ve touched on the subject of happiness, and what is needed to be happy. We&#8217;ve also mentioned the fact that, generally, people can start to really think about living the life they love and want if they are financially secure, and feel in control of their lives. After all, it&#8217;s difficult to plan for [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Recently we&#8217;ve touched on the subject of happiness, and what is needed to be happy.</p>
<p>We&#8217;ve also mentioned the fact that, generally, people can start to really think about living the life they love and want if they are financially secure, and feel in control of their lives.</p>
<p>After all, it&#8217;s difficult to plan for the next 20 years thinking lovely things if your daily life is all about struggle, worry and survival.</p>
<p>This is very relevant when discussing the new HMRC pension tax changes, and the NHS Pension Scheme rule changes that are to be announced soon.<span id="more-538"></span></p>
<p>Many doctors and dentists are very worried about the impact that all these changes will have on their finances. Having started to take into account these factors already, and with The Hutton Review yet to be fully announced, many clients are keen to assess what impact the changes may have on their personal plans.</p>
<p>This is particularly true since our clients typically earn (in the NHS) 100k-150k pa or more, and usually have 20-30 years Service plus.</p>
<p>This is where the new rules on the Annual Allowance (how much you can contribute to your pensions) can become tricky. If you add the fact that HMRC is reducing the amount you can have in your pension pots (the Lifetime Allowance) from 1.8m to 1.5m in April, there are a lot of calculations to make!</p>
<p>As ever, we want the client to have the funds to achieve their goals, and to do this as safely and as tax efficiently as possible. But these changes are a real threat to senior medics and dentists who earn high amounts and have paid into the scheme for many years and who are perhaps just a few years away from retirement.</p>
<p>Quite simply the government want their pound of flesh, and have targeted the higher earners in particular by introducing these new limits.</p>
<p>We are awaiting the full details of the changes, but the next year or so should prove interesting as we review all the planning for existing clients, and see what new clients bring to the table!</p>
<p>In fact, we have just agreed to work with a Consultant who has Mental Health Officer Status, meaning her 40 years&#8217; service is completed by age 55!</p>
<p>From experience, we know that having a financial strategy is the surest way for you succeed in your aims, and since we have not touched on this for a while, what exactly is proper financial planning about?</p>
<p>We say &#8216;proper&#8217;, as there are some financial advisers who operate by simply selling a series of financial products and rely on the commission from this for their income.</p>
<p>No sale no income.</p>
<p>There&#8217;s nothing wrong as such with this proposition, it&#8217;s just that we believe there&#8217;s a more reliable way in which you can plan your future.</p>
<p>Planning is not about amassing wealth for the sake of it, it&#8217;s all about ensuring you have enough money to turn your dreams into reality.</p>
<p>Our clients will know this, but if you don&#8217;t currently deal with us, here are extracts from the material we give to new clients to help them create the life they want.</p>
<p>Goal Setting &#8211; What do you really want out of your life?</p>
<p>Our Mission Statement:</p>
<p>To empower you to achieve your goals by questioning and measuring your financial life planning.</p>
<p>The first step of any successful financial strategy is to decide what your objectives and life goals are. Get your goals right and everything falls into place.</p>
<p>Successful people have a clear vision of what they want and are working towards.</p>
<p>&#8220;The Harvard class of 1954 was asked who among them handwritten down on paper the goals they hoped to accomplish in their lives. Only 2% had taken the time or had the inclination to specifically and clearly record their goals in writing.</p>
<p>Twenty years later, the same group was contacted. Those individuals who were in the 2%, those who had clearly defined, written goals, had amassed more wealth than the remaining 98% combined&#8221;.</p>
<p>Simple, yes.</p>
<p>But easy?</p>
<p>Probably not.</p>
<p>But we believe that you must have a clear vision of what you are working towards, in order to motivate yourself. Successful people are very clear about who they are and what they want.</p>
<p>Unsuccessful people are often confused and uncertain.</p>
<p>However, it is not easy to get your goals right. If it was easy, everybody would be doing it. Getting it right requires clear thought, some soul searching and, above all, honesty.</p>
<p>For many of our clients this is the most challenging and revealing part of their financial plan. Goals require a<br />
serious personal commitment. You cannot set a goal for anyone else.</p>
<p>It must belong to YOU.</p>
<p>How do you do it?</p>
<p>When people do have goals, they often define them in material terms &#8211; for example, a larger house, a better job, more money, a luxury car. Most of us are under the delusion that we act freely.</p>
<p>In truth, we are often enslaved to our egos and to ego-based aspects of our materialistic lifestyle. We can be held captive by our jobs, our mortgages, our clothes or our need to outdo others.</p>
<p>Although many of your concerns will be money orientated, self discovery often has little to do with attaining vast sums of money.</p>
<p>Success, we believe, is composed of four key ingredients:</p>
<p>• Health and Energy<br />
• Loving Relationships<br />
• Meaningful Work (a person&#8217;s need for meaning and purpose)<br />
• Financial Independence (we need to have enough so that we do not worry)</p>
<p>Take the time now to write down on a piece of paper all the things that you honestly want for yourself, your dreams and aspirations. You can be as selfish as you like as they can concern only you.</p>
<p>These are likely to fall into a number of broad categories:</p>
<p>• Personal<br />
• Relationships<br />
• Work<br />
• Physical / health<br />
• Personal space / environment<br />
• Educational / intellectual<br />
• Hobbies / interests / passions</p>
<p>Don&#8217;t confuse what your real goals are with haphazard thoughts. Some of the ones we commonly hear are when clients say they want:</p>
<p>• A big pension<br />
• Enough money<br />
• Save some money for the family<br />
• Pay off the mortgage</p>
<p>It&#8217;s fairly obvious to see that these thoughts will not help them build a robust financial plan.</p>
<p>So, once a client has focused on their real goals in life, we then look at timescale.</p>
<p>&#8216;Dreams are just dreams if you don&#8217;t have a deadline&#8217;.</p>
<p>As an example of dreams becoming reality, a Consultant client recently decided to work part time from age 60, taking 24 hour retirement and taking his NHS Pension. After reviewing his situation, we confirmed that his finances were in good health and that this was a good option.</p>
<p>This freed up time to enjoy his hobby of boating amongst other things.</p>
<p>But instead of working, say 3 days a week, he made an arrangement with a colleague (who also wanted to go part time) for each of them to work one week on and one week off.</p>
<p>This really gives him the quality time he needs, and as a result he can go boating for a week at a time very easily.</p>
<p>Perfect!</p>
<p>The Financial Tips Bottom Line</p>
<p>Planning is becoming even more important due to the radical changes in the NHS Pension Scheme with regards to The Hutton Report and recent HMRC announcements on tax.</p>
<p>Having a cohesive financial strategy allied to what you want to achieve in your life is vital.</p>
<p>ACTION POINT</p>
<p>Do you have your own financial strategy based on your measured goals? Are you taking into account all the recent changes in pension taxation and will you be hit with an unexpected tax bill? What effect will The Hutton Report have on your finances?</p>
<p>Take professional advice from a fee based financial planner you can trust who will review your position and provide you with a comprehensive strategy for the longet term.</p>
<p>Ray Prince is a fee based Certified Financial Planner with Rutherford Wilkinson ltd, and helps UK Resident Doctors and Dentists plan to achieve their financial objectives. Just visit <a href="http://www.medicaldentalfs.com/" target="_blank">http://www.medicaldentalfs.com</a> where you can request your free retirement planning guide.</p>
<p>Rutherford Wilkinson ltd is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority.</p>
]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://www.tok2008.org/planning-your-goals-and-big-nhs-pension-changes/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Income Tax On Returns From SIP Investments</title>
		<link>http://www.tok2008.org/income-tax-on-returns-from-sip-investments/</link>
		<comments>http://www.tok2008.org/income-tax-on-returns-from-sip-investments/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 20 Feb 2012 06:33:24 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>J. Morgan</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Mutual Funds]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Income Tax]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Investments]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[SIP]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Systematic Investment Plan]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.tok2008.org/?p=536</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[In last article we talked about SIP (Systematic Investment Plan) for mutual fund investments and the power of SIP in investment strategies. Now in this article I am going tell you about the tax benefits and tax structure related to SIP investment in mutual funds. Any person in this country is bound to pay income [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>In last article we talked about SIP (Systematic Investment Plan) for mutual fund investments and the power of SIP in investment strategies. Now in this article I am going tell you about the tax benefits and tax structure related to SIP investment in mutual funds.</p>
<p>Any person in this country is bound to pay income tax to the government and hence, it is very important to understand the tax factors and how income tax applies to your investments and on the returns.</p>
<p>What Is The Tax Structure On Returns Generated With SIP Investment In Mutual Funds?<span id="more-536"></span></p>
<p>Equity investments whether through SIP or Lump sum are totally tax-free If held for one year or more from the date of investment i.e. you get the Long Term Capital Gains Tax benefit.</p>
<p>What Are The Various Cost Involved?</p>
<p>SIP carry no extra cost and are totally free as</p>
<p>* No Entry load while buying.<br />
* No Exit load if sold after a year from buying.<br />
* 1-2% load if exited before a year.<br />
* Fund management&#8217;s charge, which is NAV adjusted so you do not need to worry about it.</p>
<p>How To Invest / Get Started In SIP And Mutual Funds? Investing in SIP should always be Goal based and for longer tenures. SIP is not a quick rich formula and is not for the investors who seek or want high return for short-term investments. SIP shows its power on long duration, just like compounding interest. So think like a smart investor and plan your investment strategy in a way than can give you large return on long duration with the minimum risk factor.</p>
<p>* First select your Goal Amount to be accumulated.<br />
* Calculate the amount of SIP you need to invest regularly.<br />
* Select the category / theme you wish to put your money.<br />
* Opt for the best performing fund in that category with good track record.<br />
* Don&#8217;t put all your eggs in one basket. Diversification is the key to success in SIP investments.</p>
<p>When To Start And How Soon We Start SIP Investment In Mutual Funds?</p>
<p>Now is the time to begin your SIP accumulation Be disciplined and regular and you can gain a CAGR (Compound Annual Growth Rate) of 15-18% over long run.</p>
<p>In fact you should think about investment as faster as you can, because in SIP investment we get return similar to compound interest and&#8230;</p>
<p>Compound interest is the 8th wonder of the world &#8211; Albert Einstein</p>
<p>Learn more about smart investment options: Click here &#8211;&gt; <a href="http://www.investmentguide.co.in/" target="_blank">Investment Guide.</a></p>
<p>Need more help on mutual fund investment? Click here: Mutual Fund Investments.</p>
<h4>Incoming search terms:</h4><ul><li>incoming search terms:money mutual</li></ul>]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://www.tok2008.org/income-tax-on-returns-from-sip-investments/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Mutual Funds &#8211; Key Points To Consider Before Investing</title>
		<link>http://www.tok2008.org/mutual-funds-key-points-to-consider-before-investing/</link>
		<comments>http://www.tok2008.org/mutual-funds-key-points-to-consider-before-investing/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 19 Feb 2012 18:24:29 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>J. Morgan</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Mutual Funds]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[investing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Net Asset Value]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[stock market]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[trading]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.tok2008.org/?p=531</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Stock Market is a term which evokes a spectrum of emotions in different people. Some strongly feel it is nothing but gambling, some others feel it is a sure fire way to lose money. A few get a high on trading in stocks all day long. Some use it wisely to increase their wealth. The [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Stock Market is a term which evokes a spectrum of emotions in different people. Some strongly feel it is nothing but gambling, some others feel it is a sure fire way to lose money. A few get a high on trading in stocks all day long. Some use it wisely to increase their wealth. The fears associated with the stock market have come down significantly since the early nineties and now a majority of people feel comfortable investing in the stock market. The article is specific for Indian investors though most of the ideas expressed are universal.</p>
<p>Investing in the stock market requires careful study, constant review and quick decisions. Cherry picking a stock and keeping yourselves updated about the company and timing your buying and selling can take up a major part of your time. This is where the Mutual Fund industry can lend you their hand. A Mutual Fund is managed by a Fund Manager and a team of analysts who take their time to study the stock market and invest your money. It saves you from all the hassles of stock market investing and you also have somebody to take care of your money.<span id="more-531"></span></p>
<p>The Mutual Fund industry has come a long way since its introduction in India in the early 90s. Mutual Funds provide a variety of options according to your risk profile to get high tax effective returns. Having said that, I would caution readers that investing in mutual funds also needs a bit of effort from your side. Getting into the wrong mutual fund at the wrong time can destroy your wealth. The risks associated with investing in any asset class [Stocks or Gold or commodities or bonds] are applicable to mutual funds also. For the more conservative investor, mutual funds offer exposure to fixed income instruments through fixed maturity plan (FMP)/debt funds wherein your money is invested in debt instruments. FMPs/Debt funds are more tax efficient than direct investment in FDs or bonds/debentures etc. I give below some points that should be kept in mind while investing in mutual funds.</p>
<p>a. If you are looking at investing money for the short term (1-3 years) and want the best tax efficient return then go for Debt funds/FMPs.</p>
<p>b. If you want exposure to stock markets then remember that stock market returns can be achieved only over the long term as markets usually see- saws with an upward bias over the long term. So you may have to stick around for more than 5 years. Do not check your NAV(Net Asset Value) everyday and feel excited or melancholic due to the erratic movement.</p>
<p>c. There are more than 30 fund houses (AMCs) offering more than 700 schemes. Choose the AMCs that have been around for a long time (5-10 years would be a good metric). Do not diversify too much and stick to good fund houses. The details of fund houses can be found in the website of Association of Mutual Funds of India. You can also get the rating of each mutual fund on this website. Always check to see if the AUM (Assets under management) is high; this ensures that the Mutual Fund has the flexibility to take a hit in case one or two companies that they had invested in get into trouble.</p>
<p>d. Always remember that past performance is not a guide for future performance. Go for consistent performers.</p>
<p>e. Go for New Fund Offer [NFO] only during a significant downturn as this enables the fund to get into stocks at lower prices. For Debt funds opt for NFOs when interest rates start peaking. Do not get into an NFO because you are swayed by the smart ad in the media. Usually NFOs focus on the flavor of the season to tempt you [Commodities, Green Energy, Emerging markets etc].Some may play out; some will die a natural death. So exercise abundant caution.</p>
<p>f. The best time to start an SIP is when the market starts showing a downward trend and the worst time to panic and stop an SIP is when the stock market goes into deep decline. In fact this is the time when the real investors rub their hands in glee. So you should try and increase your SIP amount when the market is really down and then once the market bounces back you can go back to your regular amount. Fix a base and set a target &#8211; e.g., for every 100 point fall in Nifty index increase SIP by Rs. 1000 and reduce exposure similarly as the market bounces back.</p>
<p>g. Do not expect extraordinary returns. On a long term basis mutual funds give an annual return of 12-15%.</p>
<p>h. Do a review once a year and check out from sectors that you feel have peaked out.</p>
<p>i. It is recommended to have an SIP in an index fund/exchange traded fund (ETF). An index fund invests in companies that form the particular index. For example if the index fund is based on the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) Sensex, then it invests its funds in the companies that make up the index and the NAV tracks the BSE Sensex. This fund will always have a return that closely mirrors the return of the stock market. This is a very safe way and protects you from individual gyrations in stock price of a company or sector. The stock exchange will promptly replace a company from the index in case it starts underperforming and your fund does the same. So you are always assured of a return very close to the market return.</p>
<p>j. Do not confuse an insurance product which invests in the stock market with a mutual fund. They are two totally different products. Insurance products have high charges and give far lower returns than a mutual fund.</p>
<p>Mutual funds are ideal for people who do not have the time or patience to take the effort needed for successful stock picking. They offer the investor a wide choice of exposure to different asset classes and sectors according to risk profile and if chosen wisely can provide extremely satisfying returns to increase wealth.</p>
<p>The writer works as the Country Head for AGEM India Branch, the foreign branch office of the Euro 32 Million Spanish company AGEM S.A. He is in charge of the Indian operations and primarily engaged in sourcing of products from India. He is also Consultant, International Business Development for QualiMed Systems, a fast upcoming medical equipment start-up. His interest in investment started when his father introduced him to the stock markets in the early nineties in the pre-Harshad Mehta era. He also writes for the investment column &#8220;Money Matters&#8221; in the website Yentha.com.</p>
]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://www.tok2008.org/mutual-funds-key-points-to-consider-before-investing/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Your Guide to Online Spread Betting</title>
		<link>http://www.tok2008.org/your-guide-to-online-spread-betting/</link>
		<comments>http://www.tok2008.org/your-guide-to-online-spread-betting/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 19 Feb 2012 06:27:00 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>J. Morgan</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Futures and Commodities]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[betting]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[global market]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Spread Betting]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[trading facilitates]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[trading plan]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.tok2008.org/?p=521</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Many people are interested in speculation and betting on the global market. The best possible option available for speculation is online spread betting. This is a kind of dual trading facilitates the speculators to achieve profit irrespective of the direction of the markets. There is no intermediary brokers required for which you need to make [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Many people are interested in speculation and betting on the global market. The best possible option available for speculation is online spread betting. This is a kind of dual trading facilitates the speculators to achieve profit irrespective of the direction of the markets. There is no intermediary brokers required for which you need to make payment for commission.</p>
<p>The main purpose of this speculation is to maintain an active market in all categories, a sports event, a horse race, etc. The range of markets includes gold, foreign exchange, oil, petroleum, shares and much more. It has shown a fast growth in the United Kingdom in recent years, as millions of gamblers are involved.<span id="more-521"></span></p>
<p>This type of betting offers a wide range of spreads from simple 50:50 chance to more complex; hedging, prediction and limit order strategies. Using the different methods is found to be easy and convenient for an experience trader, However, beginners should always stick to the basics at first.</p>
<p>These kind of bets carry a very high level of risk, so it is recommended that beginners only invest money that they can afford to lose. Further, it has to be ensured they place bets only for small amounts on well known events. On gaining experience and learning the strategies of betting, they can increase and diversify their bets latter on.</p>
<p>When it comes to strategy, the higher the risk the higher the returns and these are aspects that must be considered. People, before placing their bets should ensure that their objectives of investments are clear and matched with the betting platform that they are using. It is also a benefit to understand the risk factors and seek necessary tips and advice.</p>
<p>There is no hard secret behind this type of speculation. The key to success is nothing but the common sense of the trader and the strict adherence to a trading plan. Even though there is no assured way to win money from bets, there are certainly plenty of strategies and tactics that are making a select few a lot of money.</p>
<p>These investments are generally provided spread betting companies and firms. If you are wondering how these companies make profits, it is quite simple. If you place a buying bet with a spread betting company, there is an opposite party who place the selling bet. Eventually, one party will win, and the other will lose, it is the spread that the company profits from.</p>
<p>You will notice a buy and a sell price when you enter a trade, it is the amount in between that the company takes as profit. For example you might enter a GBP/USD forex trade at a price of 1.6310 when the actual price is 1.6313; it is this difference that gives the company the profit.</p>
<p>Investing is an exciting way to make money online, investments in the <a href="http://www.dogoffx.info/" target="_blank">financial markets</a> can carry a great deal of risk if you don&#8217;t have any experience. Using a spread betting strategy to limit your risks and maximise your profits is essential to success.</p>
]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://www.tok2008.org/your-guide-to-online-spread-betting/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Tips For Trading Like a Professional</title>
		<link>http://www.tok2008.org/tips-for-trading-like-a-professional/</link>
		<comments>http://www.tok2008.org/tips-for-trading-like-a-professional/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 18 Feb 2012 18:25:32 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>J. Morgan</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Day Trading]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[day traders]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[day trading]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[market]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[stocks]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[trading]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.tok2008.org/?p=518</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[If you want to trade like a professional, then you must do what professional traders do. Professional day traders study the markets on a regular basis and are constantly coming up with strategies to help them be extremely successful. They know how to quickly spot trends and patterns so they can capitalize on them. They [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>If you want to trade like a professional, then you must do what professional traders do. Professional day traders study the markets on a regular basis and are constantly coming up with strategies to help them be extremely successful. They know how to quickly spot trends and patterns so they can capitalize on them. They have a list of stocks that they keep an eye on so they can learn how to better predict when those stocks will move up or down.</p>
<p>A professional day trader understands that diversification is key. They never put all of their eggs in one basket. This way they know they can not be wiped out with just one bad trade. You can&#8217;t have the all or nothing mentality and expect to be a successful day trader. Its just too risky. You also can&#8217;t believe everything that you hear. There is a lot of talk that goes on in the day trading business. And if you believe everything that you hear, you will be in a lot of trouble.<span id="more-518"></span></p>
<p>Here are a few more tips to help you trade like a professional</p>
<p>Have A Dedicated Space For Working</p>
<p>All professional day traders have a space that they use for day trading only. Usually this will consist of a computer, in some cases several computers, magazines, newspapers and a TV to keep an eye on whats going on in the market. You should have a set schedule that you stick to everyday. The US markets are open for about 6 hours. So you can either work during that time or you can work before and after the markets open and close.</p>
<p>Create A Strategy And Stick To It</p>
<p>Professional day traders have a clear strategy that they stick to no matter what. They are extremely disciplined. They don&#8217;t let their emotions affect the their decision making. They make every trade based on a pre-determined strategy. They know when to get out and they know when to stay in. Without a clear strategy your chances of success as a day trader are pretty slim.</p>
<p>Use Technology To Your Advantage</p>
<p>There are a ton of different softwares on the market that can help you be a more effective day trader. Learn how to use this technology to your advantage. Software allows you to set things up to run on complete autopilot. So not only will this save you time, it can save you money as well.</p>
<p>Get LIVE futures Advice From Our Experts of Seasoned Analysts. Join The FFT Trading Club and Receive A Free Special Complimentary 7 Day Trial. Visit: http://forecastfortomorrow.com/Trading-Club</p>
]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://www.tok2008.org/tips-for-trading-like-a-professional/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
	</channel>
</rss>

