How to Ensure a Solid Investment When Buying Property

Real estate always seems to be a popular investment. It is, however, not always as solid as some might think. It's very possible to lose money on real estate, especially if you don't go into the process with an understanding of what types of properties are the most valuable. Below are a few of the factors you should keep in mind when trying to ensure a solid property investment.

Lot Size

No one is making more land. This makes the size of a lot especially valuable, with a premium paid for every square foot in those cities that have experienced rapid growth. The goal is to find a property with the right kind of space for your ideal buyer or renter - big enough to seem impressive, but no so big that the acreage seems like it would be a burden.

Home Size

At least as important as the size of the lot is the size of the home. When you look to buy property, you want to buy the kind of home that your prospective tenants or buyers would want to move into. 



While you can never tell exactly what size a given customer might want, you can figure out what size of property tends to move the most quickly in the area in which you buy. Going too big or too small can leave you with a money-draining property on your hands.

Age of the Home

Older homes can have a great deal of appeal to some buyers, but with age comes problems. If you invest in an older home as a rental, for example, you can expect to have to deal with more repairs. 

If you're buying an older house to flip, you'll need to not only spend more money on rehabbing the property but also on adding upgrades. Unless you're buying in an area that tends to prize older homes, it's best to try to stick to something that's a little more modern. 

The Neighborhood

You can't change a property's location. Your goal should always be to find a property in either a neighborhood that is stable or one that is in the middle of a growth pattern. If you can do this, you can expect your property and rent values to rise until they reach a stable plateau. 

You might want to risk buying cheap in a rougher spot, but realize that you'll be betting on a kind of growth pattern that is never guaranteed to occur.

Do some research before you buy real estate. Find the right size, the right place, and the right age for the best results. With a little effort, you can make a great investment that will be there for decades to come.

4 Smart Investments for Your Large End-of-Year Bonus

There’s a lot of buzz about a recession on the horizon. This causes a lot of people to fear for their future. However, if you financially plan for the future, you won’t have to worry about a breakdown in your household. 

One of the best ways to financially plan for the future involves making wise investments. Consider some of the smartest ways you can use your large end-of-year bonus to invest in your family’s financial future.

Pay off debt

So many people spend a huge portion of their paycheck to pay off debt. Whether it’s credit card debt or a car note, find ways to quickly pay off the debt you have. If you have a large bonus from your job, consider using it to pay off the debt. Then, for the rest of the year, you can enjoy more money that stays in your bank account.

Start a business

There are more entrepreneurs than ever before. This is because more people are understanding how the tax laws are in favor of the landowner and the business owner. Consider starting a business that meets a need within the marketplace. Too often, people make the mistake of starting a business that surrounds a passion. 

If your passion and your paycheck come together for a lucrative endeavor, that’s great. However, focus on serving the community to meet an obvious need. This will help you remain profitable and relevant for years to come.

Purchase an investment property

An investment property is an excellent purchase. Use your bonus to make a real estate down payment. Once you purchase the property and get tenants in the building, your tenants will pay the mortgage and more. 

Let them pay off the mortgage while you cash the check each month. You can pass down investment properties to your children. Once the mortgage is paid off, you and your family can enjoy 100% of the rental income. It’s a great form of passive income.

Invest in the stock market

Though there are tons of people who are afraid of investing in the stock market, don’t be one of them. When it pertains to the stock market, the key is knowledge. If you take courses and learn the patterns of the market, this effort can be a smart place to invest your money.

While money is a commodity that you’ll want to use wisely, the same can be said for time. In fact, you can always make more money. However, you can’t get back the time that’s been spent. Use time as a commodity that’s on your side by using it wisely. 

For many investments, the earlier you start, the better off you’ll be. Once you’re educated regarding how to make smart investments, begin to invest.

Is StsRoyal a Good Place for You to Invest in Cryptocurrencies?

Now that the world has realized the importance of cryptocurrencies, more and more people are jumping into this market. They want to trade their fiat currencies to buy digital currencies. 

One of the reasons for this trend could be the understanding of cryptocurrencies, which was completely lacking when they were new. Now, when you want to invest your money in the cryptocurrency market and get some good returns, you have to pick the right platform to do so. 

That’s where StsRoyal comes in. Is this broker one of the best out there? Are there enough reasons for you to trade cryptocurrencies with this broker? Let’s find out.

Some Reasons Why It Is a Great Platform for Cryptocurrency Trading

1. You Don’t Have to Overspend

One of the biggest issues you face when you trade with online brokers is paying too much out of your pocket. Of course, the cryptocurrency industry is still new and many online brokers are looking for ways to make money from new traders. 

With this broker, you do not have to spend your money on things that do not benefit you. For example, the commissions on your trades are almost negligible. The spreads are extremely tight so you are the one who walks away with a major part of the profit.

2. You Have Plenty of Options

A huge issue with most online brokers is that they have limits on the number of cryptocurrencies that you can trade on their platforms. However, that’s not the case when you trade with StsRoyal. 

This particular broker has made sure that you get access to the complete cryptocurrency market with all the digital assets that are available. Pick from the most valuable and the volatile ones as per your trading attitude.

3. You Can Trade without Installing Softwares

It can be hassling when you have to download a software tool or trading platform to trade cryptocurrencies. If there is an issue with the software, hackers can get access to your computer as well. You will not have to face such a problem with this broker since there is no download required for you to use the trading platform. 



You have to access the broker to reach the trading platform. The best thing is that you can access this platform from any part of the world you want without worrying about any compatibility issues with your devices and the operating system you have on them.

4. You Can Pick an Account of Your Choice

The cryptocurrency market is new without a doubt. However, you should not be limited to the type of account that you can trade with. With most other brokers, you have to rely on one or two types of accounts. These accounts might not be suitable for you, your trading style or the budget that you are carrying with you. 

However, you will not have to deal with this issue when you sign up with StsRoyal. This broker has five different accounts with different deposit requirements and features. You can choose an account that matches your trading habits and style. 

The Right Time to Make Profits from Cryptocurrencies Is Now

As overly optimistic as it might sound, now is the right time for you to make any money from this market. Cryptocurrencies are new and that’s why there is not much saturation in this industry. 

However, the more people walk into this financial market, the more difficult is will be for you to get your hands on the most valuable currencies. It is, therefore, sensible to make an investment in this market right now. Today’s investors could be the potential millionaires of tomorrow without any exaggeration.

4 Ways to Diversify Your Investments for Maximum Profit

Diversifying your portfolio is a great way to protect yourself should there ever be a market crash. While it sounds complicated, it’s easy. Many people hoard their money in banking accounts because they are afraid of investing and losing one dime of their hard-earned money.

Once you truly grasp the concept of diversification, you will understand it’s one of the best risk management techniques around. Additionally, scattering your wealth among many investments protects you if one stock is booming, and the other is tanking. Here are four steps you must learn for proper investing.

Use Different Types of Investments

Have you ever heard the saying don’t put all your eggs in one basket? Well, the same concept applies to investments. By using EFTs, mutual funds, and various stocks, you are diversifying the easy way. 

You don’t want to put everything you have in the stock market. Should it crash tomorrow, you will lose everything. Rather, you want to have a variety of investments so that your chances of failure reduced. Your stock accounts may be doing poorly, but your mutual funds may be through the roof.

Diversify with Different Rate of Returns

Just as important as diversifying your investments is picking those that have a different rate of return. It’s challenging when it comes to the stock market since you want to invest enough to make it a worthwhile adventure. 



For instance, if you’re going to invest, then you don’t want to limit yourself to a mere $200 on the stock. Rather, you want to put down a significant amount so that you don’t have to pay a great deal in fees. If your portfolio is loaded with only stocks, then it puts you at risk.

Consider Investments with Varying Risk

When expanding your portfolio, choose investments that have a rate of return that are each different. It will guarantee significant gains for some investments, which will offset losses in others. 

Keep in mind, though the intention is to reduce the risk, you aren’t limited to only blue-chip stocks. Consider things like precious metals, from a firm such as McAlvany ICA, as they can bring a great return.

Review Your Portfolio Frequently

It seems like you would only need to diversify your portfolio one time. However, that is a fallacy among investors. You must continually check your portfolio and make changes where they are needed. 

During your review, if you see something that isn’t consistent with your financial goals or the strategy you have planned, then you must make changes. You should conduct a review semi-annually. Additionally, buying and selling stocks regularly will keep your portfolio balanced, and you will be optimally diversified.

Once you get the hang of things, it’s not difficult to learn the strategies to investing. Diversification is the protection you need to prevent a financial disaster.

Entrust Your Future—Why You Should Invest a Portion of Your Savings

From being able to weather the storm to make major purchases with greater ease, good financial management skills can often make a world of difference. While adequate savings is crucial for any long-term financial plan, squirreling your money away in a low-interest account may not always be the best option. 

Learning how to invest a portion of your savings can help to amplify your efforts and ensure that you will have the funds needed to deal with whatever the future holds.

Dealing with the Unexpected

Even the most comprehensive budget or detailed financial plan cannot account for every single eventuality. A robust investment portfolio can generate the funds you need to deal with anything unexpected. Budgets that are too narrow or that may lack flexibility often mean that even a minor issue or complication may lead to more serious problems.

Capitalizing on Opportunities

From real estate deals to planning a vacation or buying a new car, the right investment strategy makes it much easier to make big purchases or to take advantage of time-sensitive opportunities. 


Having stock to liquidate, the added revenue that bonds may provide or the financial benefits that come from learning how to trade forex can all play an important part in ensuring you are able to reach your financial goals. Being limited to your just your savings and salary often means that even modest purchases and opportunities will remain out of reach.

Planning a More Secure Future

Savings alone is rarely enough to provide a comfortable retirement. Investing a portion of your savings can go a long way towards ensuring a brighter and more financially secure future. Getting an early start is also important as the revenue and income that your portfolio may provide can be reinvested in order to maximize returns.

Coping with Major Economic Trends

Getting by during a recession or a down-turn in the market can be quite a struggle. Many novice investors mistakenly assume that an investment portfolio is little more than a financial liability during a bear market. Continuing to invest a portion of your income and savings can go a long way towards helping you to cope with such situations more easily and effectively.

Crafting and maintaining a more successful investment strategy may require a wide range of resources. Investing in a mutual fund, discussing your options with a financial planning service or learning more about how forex and currency exchange markets function can provide you with the insight and understanding you need in order to make more effective decisions. Planning for your financial future is never a concern that should be taken lightly.

4 Ways Real Estate Investors Can Protect Their Assets

If you have recently decided to invest in real estate, then you need to start thinking about some ways that you can protect your personal assets. Even though this type of venture can be lucrative, there are potential pitfalls around every corner, and a minor mistake could wreak havoc on your finances if you aren’t diligent.

Find the Right Insurance

Your insurance is going to be incredibly important in the coming years, and you need to make sure that you invest in the right policies. Even if you don’t plan on having any tenants on your property, you must still have a solid insurance policy. 

Without the correct insurance policy, a natural disaster or personal injury case could end up costing you huge sums of money.

Work with an Investment Group

There are quite a few reasons why many real estate entrepreneurs join larger investment groups. In addition to giving you access to more resources, an investment group could also limit your risks. Most investment groups are LLCs, and that means the individual shareholders won’t be responsible for any major issues with the properties. 



You can also find a group that has an attorney on retainer, and that legal professional is going to be invaluable if a lawsuit takes place.

Create a Land Trust

Also known as a title holding trust, a land trust is a legal entity that could protect you and your assets from a wide variety of risks. When you use a land trust to purchase a piece of property, the title of that land won’t actually be in your name. 

While you can still manage that property, other parties won’t be able to go after your personal assets if any liability issues occur. As an added bonus, land trusts can also be paired with LLCs to further protect your assets.

Limit Your Spouse’s Liability

Even if your spouse is going to help you manage the property, you should still separate your family’s assets from your business enterprise as much as possible. In most states, lenders can’t go after a spouse’s assets unless they co-signed for the credit cards or loans. 

The homestead exemption should keep your primary residence safe as well, but you might want to speak with a tax adviser about that particular exemption.

In addition to these few tips, you should also make sure that you remain patient and never overextend yourself. It might be tempting to jump at the first piece of real estate that you find, but you need to consider all of the variables before you invest any money.

Brooke Chaplan is a freelance writer and blogger. She lives and works out of her home in Los Lunas, New Mexico. She loves the outdoors and spends most of her time hiking, biking, and gardening. For more information, contact Brooke via Facebook at facebook.com/brooke.chaplan or Twitter @BrookeChaplan

3 Ways to Put Money Away for Your Retirement

Image via Flickr by KMR Photography 

It's wise to plan on your retirement. Planning will ensure that your golden years are free of hardships, stress, and worry. You should also consider looking for financial planning services and professional investment assistance.

With small investments, you can enjoy great rewards when you are old and possibly ready to take a break from work-related stress. You do not need lots of money to plan for retirement. Then again, it is never too late or too early to get started.

Here are the top three proven ways of setting aside money for your retirement.

1. Invest In Penny Stocks

Any stock that trades for $5 a share or less can be a worthy penny stock. Even though penny stocks are high-risk investments, they also have the potential of bringing forth high rewards. 

Understanding the market history and diligently doing your research is the surest way to ensure your investment is profitable.

To mitigate risks, you must not make blind investments. Consider enlisting a broker to educate you on the market trends and equip you with the tips and tricks to thrive. 

When traded right, penny stock investments only require small capital, and the returns can be glorious.

2. Venture into Real Estate

Did you know that you don't need to be financially endowed to invest in real estate? You have the crowdfunding option, and although it may sound intimidating, it is something worth a look. 

This option works by allowing many people to invest small amounts into a specific project. Credible companies will enable you to choose the kinds of properties that are in line with your investment objectives. 




Again, the surest way to gain financial security through real estate investments is by making educated decisions. Keep in mind that even with crowdfunding, you face the same investment risk as any other real estate investor. On the bright side, the lower capital requirements can leave you enjoying consistent income with each passing month.

3. Make a Small Business Investment

Another proven way to ensure financial security upon retirement is to invest in small businesses. You have the option of venturing into entrepreneurship or investing in an established enterprise as a silent partner. 

What makes this option enticing is that the anticipated return on investment is potentially higher.

Just like other forms of significant investments, this one too poses some level of risk. Doing your research ahead of time will help you find opportunities with higher chances of generating substantial returns. 

Some ventures can provide unlimited income that the generations after you will enjoy.

There are many ways of investing for a comfortable retirement. With more professionals getting familiar with what works and what doesn't, it is easier than ever to find a venture that matches your needs and goals. 

With proper guidance, you'll easily have nothing but blissful moments as you flip through the chapters of life after retirement. If you get stuck, you can also inquire from professionals to help you invest in the right venture.

4 Smart Investments to Help You Through Your Retirement

To retire with a high standard of living, it’s essential to make the right investment during your working life. While everyone knows about basic investment vehicles like 401(k)s and IRAs, there are other types of investments that can make your retirement smoother and more enjoyable. Here are four of the smartest investments you can make to set yourself up for a good retirement.

Real Estate

It should go without saying that you will need to own your own home by the time you retire. If you want to achieve some extra cash flow after your working years, though, it may also be a good idea to acquire a few other properties to use as rentals. 

Income from rent is mainly passive and will provide you with a steady, predictable flow of cash each month. The equity in your rental properties is also an essential feature of real estate investing since the properties can be liquidated for large amounts of money if you ever find yourself in need of extra capital.

High-dividend Stocks

Investing for long-term equity growth may be the best strategy for a younger person, but as you near retirement, it may be an excellent idea to re-balance your portfolio in favor of stocks that pay high dividend yields. 

Like rent, dividends represent a fairly reliable and predictable income that can help you handle your expenses without touching the principal of your investment. With the right stocks and enough capital invested, dividends can amount to a considerable annual income. Stocks with the highest dividend yields can deliver 4 percent or more annually in cash flow.

Gold

Although it won’t produce any cash flow, gold is a great investment for hedging against inflation and economic downturns. When economic conditions turn negative, investors typically flock to gold, driving up prices until stocks and bonds become sensible investments again. 

If you can find some gold bullion for sale, it’s a great way to protect your investment portfolio against future economic risks.
High-yield bonds

If you prefer bonds to stocks, high-yield bonds may be a good option for your portfolio. Like dividend-paying stocks, these bonds can offer you substantial cash flow due to their reasonably high yield levels. 

Mixing high-yield bonds and dividend-paying stocks can also be a useful strategy for achieving a portfolio with good cash flow that is also properly diversified.

By making some or all of these investments before you retire, you can set yourself up for a higher standard of living after your working life is over. As with any investment, be sure to carefully consider the risks and benefits of each of these assets before putting your money into them.

Investing in 2020: Forex or Bitcoin?

Just as any investment plan goes, there is no exact answer as to where your cash should be injected. In fact, it’s a gamble. Either you are lucky or you’re not. But there are means of improving the investment choice you make. One of the most obvious ways to improve investment returns is to know more about what you are investing in and what the market looks like.

Come 2020 there are bound to be many more investment opportunities. We take a look at where your money would best be invested, Bitcoin or Forex. Anything far and in-between is up to you, naturally.

While a number of online businesses are adopting Bitcoin as a payment option and other sites like novibet.co.uk evolving to make Bitcoin more mainstream, it's natural to wonder which would be a better investment.

But with two of the biggest markets in competition, if you had to choose, where would you invest your hard-earned cash? According to financial evaluators, either or bears their own risks but here is what we know so far.

Forex Trading Advantages

The advantages to Forex Trading, according to professional analysts, is that the market is an open one. It is easy to access and opposed to Bitcoin, investors, and trade through their brokers on a ledger where transactions are recorded and tracked. Being recognized globally far longer than Bitcoin also works in favour of Forex trading. 



For those unfamiliar with Bitcoin, Forex seems like a safer investment, which in some ways puts Forex in an advantageous position. Forex, unlike Bitcoin, is liquid and can be accessed immediately without any need of wallets or middle ground. Investors can freely move cash from one account to the other.

Bitcoin Trading Advantages

If we reflect on the history of Bitcoin, in its short its existence, the cryptocurrency has had a quick claim to fame, fallen just as fast as it rises, and has made a steady recovery. 

Nevertheless, people have been wondering how 2020 looks in terms of investing in the coin and despite negative feedback from less than 30 percent of users, it would appear Bitcoin has restored its reputation and investors are siding with Bitcoin investment.

If you needed proof, you could say the proof is in the pudding. Most of the new online companies dealing with merchant vendors and peer to peer sales are adopting Bitcoin as a payment option. 

In fact, there have been a number of online companies based solely on Bitcoin transactions to have been developed in 2019. With this being said, we can see and feel the strong presence of the crypto, leading us to believe that come 2020, Bitcoin will be as strong as ever.

While both trades have their pros and cons, the future of trading and investing may just be in favour of Bitcoin. But for now, it remains a gamble, Forex being as popular as ever and Bitcoin drawing in admirers from around the globe. All that remains to be seen is which of the two will be a better investment in 2020.

Beginner’s Guide To Collecting Gold And Silver Coins

Image Source: Pixabay

More individuals are investing in gold and silver as concerns about economic stability rises. Based on its long history of resilience against other currencies and commodities, these precious metals are highly recommended for investments and wealth protection.

If the idea of collecting gold or silver is appealing to you, then read on to know the basics of collecting coins for the first time.

Getting Started With Your Coin Collection

1. Be familiar with “mint lingo.”

Coin collecting, just like any other specialised hobby, has its own language that collectors are familiar with. So, it is important for beginners to get to know the key terms in the industry in order to know what they are dealing with during transactions. 

For example, you should educate yourself on the many types of coins available, whether they are circulation coins, uncirculated coins, commemorative coins, proof coins, or numismatic coins that can be added to your collection. 



It would also help beginners to understand the difference between the face value (nominal value displayed on the coin) and its intrinsic value (actual value) because this would determine how much one should be willing to pay for a coin.

It is also important to learn the “coin anatomy” as the body of a coin has its own terms for reference. These include the obverse (“heads”) and the reverse (“tails”), relief, field, rim, and edge.

2. Start acquiring coins.

Typically, there are two ways to begin your coin collection: acquiring coins that appeal to you and acquiring coin sets. For collectors, any coin can be considered of high value for many reasons, including its emotional significance to the owner, its intrinsic value, or its rich component materials such as pure gold and pure silver. Gold or silver coins you can get from City Gold Bullion can be great starters for your upcoming coin collection.

Aside from procuring coins that pique your interest, you can also invest in coin sets, a collection of uncirculated or proof coins that are in true “mint” condition, as a beginner’s set.

Image Source: Pixabay

3. Determine what type of collection you are building.

Eventually, you will notice similar attributes in the coins that you are collecting. Whether it’s the design or the colours, or whatever characteristic, these will help define what your collection will be and influence the coin sets you will continue to collect. 

While collectors have the freedom and flexibility to collect bits and pieces of varying types, it will be more exciting to search for particular coin sets and more rewarding when you successfully acquire them.

For beginners, you can collect coins based on a particular year, a particular country, a specific time period, design themes, and metal or composition. 

Some collectors focus their efforts on coins made of certain metals like gold or silver. If you include high-end coins such as gold bullions in your collection, you will be happy to learn that their values generally increase over time too.

4. Invest in a starter kit.

As a beginner coin collector, you do not need to spend a lot on equipment in order to start collecting. You only need a basic reference book about coin collecting, a magnifying glass (at least 7x magnification) to help you inspect coins and check the details up close, a notebook or an app to keep track of your collection, a good quality storage holder, and cotton gloves for proper handling of coins to keep them in mint condition.

Image Source: Unsplash

Eventually, as your collection grows and your interest in the activity increases, you will also need to invest in tools and supplies specifically made for coin collecting.

Ascending Triangle Definition and Tactics

An ascending triangle can reveal a lot about current market sentiments and how well an asset is going to perform in the coming period. It’s a great tool to use when you need to spot the right breakout from a certain pattern. Traders can highlight them in advance and take advantage of the right moment to invest.

When it comes to how best you can use ascending triangles, they can be leveraged across one-minute charts, five-minute charts and longer time periods. They’re dynamic and flexible at the same time, while allowing traders to incorporate real time data into their mix.

Regardless of whether you’re day-trading or scalping, the ascending triangle can be used successfully to perform a wide array of trades. The triangle takes advantage of supply and demand balances to get the right valuation at the right time.

Understanding the formation

The ascending triangle is basically a continuation pattern that can be drawn across critical data points. It is a bullish triangle that eventually leads to a breakout opportunity. When the opportunity can be tracked in advance, it opens up avenues for traders to make a profit. It’s the perfect bullish pattern that can uncover potential trades in the future.

It is also the opposite of a descending triangle, which is commonly termed as the bear pattern or bear projection. Essentially, the ascending triangle has three key elements, which are –

Upward trend line – This is the connecting of the lows as a rising trend line across a time-based parameter. The bullish pattern can be joined through this line and aligned against the second component.

A flat resistance level – The resistance level is a flat line, that isn’t allowing the value of a certain asset to go ahead of a peak price point. The market has tried several times to break through this line, but the balance of price power shifts back.

Connecting line – After charting both the lines, the connecting line forms the third base of the triangle. This helps complete the ascending triangle, showing the complete picture to the savvy investor.

Remember – The trendline of the ascending triangle needs to run through at least two swing highs and lows. This can help with the initial setup of the ascending triangle formation.

Key tactics when using ascending triangles

It’s not just about finding the perfect time to buy or sell a certain asset class. It’s also about taking advantage of the area inside the triangle as well. This is important to note as it can help you find multiple opportunities instead of just the one. If the triangle is touching across points in the future, then it can be a good predictor of perceived value by the market.




Sellers may be interested in staying put at a certain point, because of an announcement made by a certain analyst. Buyers may also want to get more aggressive as the trend seeps downwards inside the triangle charted.

Ascending triangles can also be formed when you want to make a profit in the short term. Automated software packages can detect when an ascending triangle is being formed for you to take maximum advantage. Additionally, traders can make a calculated forwards move if they are going to expect the price of a certain asset to reach a certain point within the triangle.

Another important tactic to be mindful of is to chart the right data. This takes a bit of judgment and experience, but the right dataset can help you get better results when working with massively fluctuating points. An ascending triangle can be followed by a descending one, and vice-versa. Traders that can take advantage of both, emerge more profitable in the long run.

How to Invest in Your Retirement

Saving for retirement can be a daunting task for many people. You know it is important to have money set aside for later in life, but you may be overwhelmed by the logistics and unsure of your options.

Actually, like many things in life, investing in your retirement is not so stressful when it is broken down into smaller, more manageable chunks of information. For instance, consider the following three ways to save, invest and plan for retirement:

Take Advantage of Any Matching Options for Your 401K

If your employer offers a retirement plan like a 401K and also matches a certain percentage of the amount that you contribute, by all means do whatever you can to add the max to the retirement account. Any amount that your employer matches is essentially free money, so it’s definitely worth looking into. 

A common scenario in the 401K match world is for your employer to put 50 cents into your retirement plan for every dollar you put in—this is usually up to 6 percent of your gross salary for the year. So, if you earn $40K at your job and contribute $2,400, or 6 percent to your 401K plan, your boss will add in $1,200 more.

Start Your Own Tax-Advantaged Nest Egg

While a 401K is a great place to start, especially if it involves the aforementioned matching option, you should also consider starting your own retirement savings accounts. You can open a traditional or Roth IRA account, and put money into it as you can; this will allow your money to grow tax-free until your start to withdraw it in retirement. 




You can speak with your banker about opening an IRA account or if you have a financial planner he or she can help you as well. There are limits for how much you can contribute to an IRA every year; on the flip side, you can also set aside smaller amounts of money into the account.

Have an Action Plan in Place for Financial Emergencies

In a perfect world, you will continue to work as long as you wish and then live happily off of your retirement savings. Unfortunately, people sometimes encounter severe financial emergencies that can wipe out their savings. For instance, a serious medical condition that requires months of treatment and hospital stays can be devastating for your retirement accounts. 

To help prevent your nest egg from being shattered, you may want to have an action plan ready to go that will help pay for medical treatments and other financial emergencies. One idea is to look into selling your life insurance policy through a company like Coventry Direct. 

This will allow you to gain access to much-needed funds to help pay for medical bills and other financial hardships that may unexpectedly arise as you get older. Again, it is hoped that you will not endure a situation like this, but looking into an option like this now rather than later is a good idea and can give you invaluable peace of mind.

You Will Get There, One Dollar at a Time

Saving for retirement does not have to be a stressful process—in fact, your employer may already be willing and able to help you get there. Start by speaking with your HR department about a matching plan and then head to the bank to see about an IRA. These steps, along with looking into emergency options for cash if need be, will help you to plump up your retirement savings and allow you to enjoy your golden years.

Is It Good to Fund Your Investment with a Personal Loan?

With the rise of available loans and investment options in India, an increasing number of investors seem to opt for unsecured loans to invest in equity funds and Initial Public Offers to earn a profit and repay the loan. As the equity market stabilizes in the last fiscal quarters and the Sensex reaches an all-time high, people are capitalizing borrowed money to earn a substantial return against their investment.

There are certain things that an investor should look out for before they put borrowed money into investments. They should know about the best short term investments, along with the benchmark index to earn the maximum returns at the end of each year.

Is it right to fund your investment with a loan?

You can fund your investment options in India with a loan if you take care of a few things. For example, you should not put your money into an investment scheme that will mature after your credit is due. You should also consider whether the return on the investment is higher than the sum of credit. If the benchmark index (Nifty) shows returns of at least 13% annually, you will earn approximately 24% on your investment portfolio for the years ahead.




A personal loan is one of the best options if you want to invest the borrowed money. Personal loans come with various features and benefits that can assist you to earn the highest against your investment. Financial institutions offer flexible tenors on this type of unsecured loans, which puts less strain on your finances and eliminates any worries about losing an asset in case you fail to repay in time.

Things to look out for before investing

If you are looking for how to apply for a personal loan to invest the funds, you should check out a few precautions before you invest that money in the market. Let’s take a look.

• Have an alternate source of income – Financial experts suggest borrowers to have an alternative source of income to pay the EMIs if they plan to invest the funds from such loans into investment options in India. Systematic withdrawal from the market to pay the EMI can prove detrimental if you want to earn a high return.
• Carefully choosing the investment plans – Ideally, you should invest in the best investment plans for 3 years or 4 years. These often carry stock options that are fundamentally strong, and you also won’t have to pay for short-term capital gains.
• Check the loan rates – The interest rates on a personal loan play a critical factor to determine you get a substantial return. If you choose an advance with a high rate of interest, you will have to hand over a significant amount of money to the lender when the payment gets due. You will also pay larger EMIs during the repayment tenor.
• Opt for low interest rate personal loans - To earn the best returns without straining your finances during the loan tenor. You can use a personal loan EMI calculator to determine a preferred monthly installment rate for repayments.
• Know about additional charges and fees – Along with the interest rates, you should also learn whether a lender asks for any fees and charges. Ideally, you should check it while you look for your personal loan eligibility criteria.

Various financial institutions charge a minimum processing fee and interest rate on personal loans.

• Know about the investment option – Before you invest in a particular stock or mutual fund, know how it performed since it was introduced to the market. It will help you shortlist the best investment options in India and prevent you from losing money.
• Understand the risk level – Certain investment schemes come with more risk but higher returns. You should opt for a scheme that you are comfortable with. For example, if you prefer a safer investment with guaranteed returns, you can put the money in fixed or recurring deposits or government debt bonds.

Investments via funds from a personal loan should be a careful and deliberate task with proper planning and strategies. While it is easy to meet a personal loan eligibility, you should consider the pros and cons of the credit along with the investment option itself to ensure a guaranteed gain.

A Guide to Start Investing

Every wealth management advisor will start with one very basic principle: you need to save money--and the earlier, the better. We don’t think it’s necessary to convince you of the wisdom in that.

Here’s the problem: for most of us, investing is much harder than it sounds. There are already too many demands on our money: student loans, rent, car repairs, and groceries, just to name a few. Buying a new alternator before you go on that road trip is a much higher priority than saving up for retirement.

When you’re living on a shoestring budget, how can you invest without making major sacrifices in your life?

Well, here are some ways that you can start investing NOW - not when your car is paid off, not when you’ve finally gotten around to setting a budget, not when retirement gets close enough to scare you straight. You can put these principles into action without feeling like you’re living like a pauper.

Making Short-Term Investments

Sometimes we have expendable cash for a little while, but we’re anticipating big costs in the future, so locking away that cash into a long-term investment account feels crazy. However, there’s a better option than letting it sit in a savings account with a return of 1% or less: short-term investments! 

When it comes to short-term investments, it’s better to focus on low-risk options, since there’s not as much time for the investment to self-correct. However, even low-risk, low-return investments will do you a lot more good than a savings account. 




Talk to your investment broker about short-term investment options, or check out some easy online investment software or apps (like Acorn, Robinhood, and Betterment) that will let you play with short-term projects.

Setting Up Automatic Deposits to Investment Accounts

This is one of the most reliable and time-honored habits of smart investors. Automatic deposits into a retirement account will allow you to invest without feeling the pain of conscious deductions. If you invest before even counting that money as part of your monthly income, it doesn’t have the same pang. 

Use Extra Savings Techniques to Grow Your Investment

We all have a few things that happen throughout the year that just feel like bonus money. Any time you have that boost, consider turning it into investment, instead of an indulgence that will depreciate the moment you buy it.

• Tax returns: We’re in a dangerous place when we start considering tax returns money that’s owed to us, because we never know precisely how much it will be. Consider depositing the whole amount as soon as you get it, or treat yourself to something you really want or need, but turn over any surplus to savings.
• Yearly bonuses at work: If your company does yearly bonuses, think about it as a gift towards your retirement instead of fuel for yet another Holiday impulse-buy.
• Rebates: Some are factored into the price of something we buy, but some rebates come as a surprise.
• Sales: Did you just save 30 bucks on that jacket that you really wanted to buy? What a windfall! But most of us will forget about those savings, or spend them on something we don’t need because we look at it as free money. Put that free money to work instead.
• Resolution savings: Have you ever gone without a certain treat for a certain amount of time, due to Lent, or a health resolution with a friend? When my grandmother wanted to quit smoking, I promised to give up chocolate to support her. Even more than the health bonus that this brought, I realized that I was saving up to $15 a month by cutting an unhealthy habit out of my life. It’s not much, but it does add up! We all need our indulgences, but the next time you make a health resolution, consider the savings in cash. It will keep you motivated because it’s a positive benefit that you can see right away. To keep from rewarding yourself by falling straight back into your favorite treat, put that money towards a rainy day instead.

Bonus: Educate Yourself, Over Time

As you can see, it’s fairly simple to start investing. All you need to do is put your best foot forward to start getting involved. The key, after that, is to continually get better and better at it. 

This comes with continuously educating yourself about what your accounts are doing, and what you can do in the future to improve your portfolio. With time, a clearer understanding of things like fund transfers, cryptocurrency, and common vs preferred stocks will feel like 2nd nature to you.

In Summary!

So, next time your dad guilts you about planning for retirement, or you read an article that makes you feel way behind in money matters, don’t beat yourself up about it. Just put these three methods to work and watch your savings accumulate without feeling the pain.