Top Investment Tips for Over 50's

retirement (Photo credit: 401(K) 2013)

Post-retirement survival is a major concern with the 50plus person. They look forward to securing their lives financially in the years following retirement. Right investment is the only solution to mitigate their worries about what life would be once they have retired from full-time professional engagement. You are approaching the retirement age if you are in your 50’s now. Delaying investment planning will do no good to you. Rather, it will cost you the comfort of a financially secure life. So, do hurry up planning investments to reap fruits for your twilight years. Here are some feasible investment tips and advice for your benefit. 

If you age 50 or more, the time span of investment is shorter for you. You are definitely looking to have stable returns on investment, at this stage. Make sure to choose from low-risk investment options. Needless to mention, lower risks mean lower returns. Investment plans such as government stock and grade bonds which offer fixed interest as sure return will benefit the 50 plus people like you. Isn't it the safe investment advice to support your post-retirement life? 

Investment in shares to reap gains in a short time is one of the promising tips but with some risk for the 50 plus. Counted among conservative investment plans, shares involve risk factors but of a low level. It may incur temporary capital loss and lower the possibility of good returns that you expect from such investments. However, you can go for it if you don’t mind taking risk to some extent. 

Do you belong to the group of balanced investors? If yes, medium to long-term investment plans would work to your benefit. You are looking to ensure both – capital security and income surety. Balanced investment plans involve market volatility. If the market dips, returns go down. When the market rises, returns go up. The balance of ups and down in the market ensure balanced returns over a long term. There is no reason to fear market volatility. 

Doing a business after professional retirement is not a bad idea. You can start a business of your own in the same niche you have been into till the retirement age. It is because doing a known business is much easier and less challenging than doing a new one. More, you can better utilize your professional expertise and experience in this way. If you are looking to retire in your 50’s, investing in a business is advisable. Having a futuristic business model and a business planning is the key to max out returns on this sort of investment. Having business goals and setting a time frame to achieve them helps a lot as well. 

Being 50 or 50 plus is not too late for investment. You can invest irrespective of your age. What matters is proper evaluation of your needs, investment purpose and expected returns. Hope, you and others in the group of the 50plus will benefit from these investment tips.

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The Benefits of a Wireless Network in Your Office

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The future of business operations is the virtual office. It's unimaginable how a modern business could function today without wireless data technology. From data storage and analysis to networking and communication, almost every part of business uses computers in some way. 

The addition of a wireless Internet connection has further revolutionized computer usage. If you do not have a wireless network set up in your office, it's time you learn about the benefits of having one.

The greatest benefit of using a wireless Internet connection is the capability of multiple users connecting on a single network. Before we had wireless Internet, we had to use wired cable connections to go online, which severely restricted mobility. If your office is still using this outmoded technology you do not know the freedom wireless connections give. When you set up a wireless network in your office it will allow you or anyone your working with to connect their device.

Wireless data technology gives you increased flexibility and and allows your productivity to increase. With the wireless office, sharing data is made so much easier. When working on a project with someone else, wireless technology allows you to share data easier and faster. Instead of sharing external storage devices, a wireless network allows you to share data from one source. Network software even allows you to work on the same data or documents at the same time.

Wireless networking in your office can even save you money in the long run. Your office doesn't have to buy and maintain bulky hardware which not only saves money but also can save your office energy dollars. Maintenance is simplified because wired technology needs IT support which is expensive. With simplicity, reduced maintenance, and ease of use making your office a wireless office is your only choice. 

How to Check Your Credit for Free

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Credit is a large portion of how most Americans do business in today's world. It can be the means to secure a home, purchase a car, or even assist in applying for a job. Many Americans don't know what their credit score is or if there is even damage to their credit report. A credit report can show past amounts that are due, whether an individual is a late payer, and can help discern if a person's identity has been taken and used for credit-related purposes.

You have worked hard throughout your life to keep your credit intact and don't want to be a victim by paying bills that don't belong to you. Some of these credit reports can cost money you don't have. However, there are several ways one can access this information for free both online and off.

1. FreeCreditReport.com - Millions of people use FreeCreditReport.com regularly in order to receive their free annual report. The downside to most online methods is that they don't include your credit score. This score can be very important when dealing with banks, retirement methods, and/or insurance plans.

2. Rent-a-Car Locations - Some rental car companies commit to a credit check when you apply. Those rental companies will accept or reject your application to rent a vehicle based on your credit score. Oddly enough, some of them will print out the reason for your rejection by handing you a receipt of the actual score itself. In some areas, Hertz Rent-a-Car prints this number for you in bold. All it will cost you is five to ten minutes of your time to apply.

3. AnnualCreditReport.com - Another online method you could explore is using AnnualCreditReport.com. It's similar to FreeCreditReport.com as it will scan for your information from the three major credit reporting agencies. Unfortunately, this report doesn't include your actual credit score either. Getting your actual number could cost between $7.95 and $10 depending on what site you go to in order to get it.

4. Three Major Reports - Each of the three major credit reporting agencies provide an annual credit check that you can obtain for free. Each one can be visited individually at any time. Many people will spread each visit throughout the year in order to have three separate monitoring methods. As each one will give you one free report per year, you could get one in April, August, and December and have a quarterly view of your credit statistics. These companies are:

  Experian

  TransUnion

  Equifax

5. Aspects of Banking - Various methods of banking could net a credit report including your score. Some lenders will provide a credit report or synopsis including the score number during a loan or new account procedure. Although most of the time they will require a follow-through of the cash loan or new account, some of them don't. It's quite a bit of effort just to find your credit information for free, but the whole process could be illuminating to find out how your credit looks to the banking world.

It's always a good idea to make sure your credit is in sound condition. Any discrepancies you find should be dealt with immediately for they could hinder your benefits and insurance claims. Keep your eye on your credit rating and take advantage of free information. It's your credit, it should belong to you.

Author Byline:

Allison once she graduated from college, as it allowed her to combine her two passions: writing and children. She has enjoyed furthering her writing career with www.nannyclassifieds.com. She can be in touch through e-mail allisonDOTnannyclassifiedsATgmail rest you know.

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Maintaining Positive Cash Flow in Your Business

If you do not have good cash flow, your business will suffer. As in your own life, the lack of cash flow can cause bad decisions to be made.

You may say my company makes lots of money. You pay all your bills and even have cash reserves for future projects. You don’t have cash flow projections, and you’re doing fine. 

The problem with good revenue flow is that all that cash could cover up bad business practices. The problem comes when the revenue falls.

Here are a few good tips for your cash flow management.

1. Always keep a percentage of cash as a reserve

When starting a business, you have an initial stake in cash. Many businesses make their first mistake by thinking everything will go well. In the first year of a new business, many things can go wrong. 

Business owners are great with business ideas but bad with the management of day to day operations. Keeping a percentage of cash in reserve will soften the bumps along the way of your new business.

Evaluating a company's financial statements helps you decide how to improve your business’s finances and plan long-term growth. Financing cash flow is a favorable option for businesses that generate revenue for sales but don’t have assets to offer as collateral.

Cash flow financing means borrowers use cash as collateral to secure a loan.

2. Accounts receivable collection times can be a nightmare

In the best scenario, you serve your client and expect prompt payment. But in reality, your client doesn’t see things the same way. Their business is on their minds, not paying you. 

Don’t let collections become a major part of your business day. You need to convey to your clients through invoices and communication that you want to be paid in a timely way.

3. Set up terms and discounts on your invoices

You’re not in the financing business. Offering credit to your clients is a courtesy, not a requirement. Do not let them abuse it. It’s OK to have terms on your invoices but don’t go overboard.

3. Don’t pay fees

Whether it’s late fees on your bills or NSF fees to the bank, it’s just unnecessary. Keeping track and being aware of what’s happening in your business is your job.

4. Discounts aren’t always necessary

It is not unreasonable to charge a reasonable price for your goods and services. Yet many companies fear losing business by not giving discounts. You will find when making business-to-business sales that your customers are not looking for unreasonable prices. 

They are counting on you, and they like your product or service. They want to buy from you and know you need to make a profit.

5. Don’t forget to pay yourself

There are two kinds of business owners, the ones that like to grow companies and are entrepreneurial and the others that look at the company as a cash machine. 

There are problems with both types. The business builder gets their satisfaction out of seeing a company flourish. The big spender looks for the company to furnish a high lifestyle. 

You need to find a happy medium between the two. The amount of pay an owner takes has to balance with the company's state. Finding the balance is the trick.

Cash flow is the lifeblood of your business. How you manage it determines if your company prospers or fails.

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