Hard Asset Investment – A Great Way to Make Money

Shipping Container Investments are quite Profitable 

Investors always try to make more money through their investments. The traditional investment options like stocks have shown poor performance in the past. This has inspired investors to look for alternative ways of investing. Hard asset investments have gained have popularity in the present times. These assets show good performance even under difficult economic conditions. They have lower risks associated with them and yield better returns.

Overview of Hard Assets:

A hard asset refers to something you own which is tangible. It can be a type of physical asset like land, machines, inventory or building. It can also be financial like cash, credit or a financial instrument like a bill of exchange, draft, share, bond or a check. Hard assets are considered as very valuable since they can be used for producing or purchasing other goods or services.

The physical properties of a hard asset determine its value. Sometimes, its value depends on the fact that whether the hard asset can be reproduces or has been reproduced earlier. This rule applies to assets like paintings. Certain machinery types and buildings can also be included in this category. 

Hard Asset Investment Examples:

Hard asset investments are of various types. Some choices can turn out to be good while others can be bad, on the basis of the economy. Some popular hard asset investments are energy, forest products, renewable energy and water, base metals, precious metals and agriculture. Another hard asset which has gained immense popularity is shipping container. Shipping container investments have proved to be very profitable. Asset management companies like Pacific Tycoon deal with shipping container investments and can guide you to proceed right when investing in shipping containers.

High Demand

Hard assets have a high demand in the world today. The demand is extremely high in case of hard assets like metals and precious gems, luxury goods, food and energy. Metals with a high demand from consumers are steel, iron ore, aluminum and copper. Owing to the high level of demand, investing in these hard assets can turn out to be a good idea. 

Investing in Hard and Tangible Assets:

You can find numerous good reasons to invest in hard and tangible assets. These assets offer benefits that are usually not offered by other investment options. If your investor portfolio is full of bonds and stocks, you can easily diversify your portfolio by adding some investments in hard assets. You can expect very competitive returns to be yielded by such investments. Investing in such assets is also a great way of evading inflation. These investments also have the ability to improve your portfolio’s risk/reward profile. These investments are very lowly correlated to traditional investment types.

There are many websites that provide information on how to invest in hard assets. You can find many companies that deal with investments in tangible assets like platinum, silver, gold, certified coins, gemstones and diamonds. Such hard assets are meant for enjoying, holding on and then selling. They can result in significant profits.

Conclusion:

Hard asset investments offer many benefits over investments in conventional assets like stocks. These investments are less risky and provide high returns. They can also diversify your investor portfolio.

Summary: Hard asset investments have turned out to be more profitable than other investments. Investors are increasingly investing in hard and tangible assets nowadays.

Auto Financing Options for Retirees'

If you've recently become retired but have suddenly found yourself needing to purchase a new car (to visit family, for instance), there's a good chance that you'll want to get an idea of what your current financing options are now you're retired.

Whether you worked hard all your life to earn a pension plan from your company, or you invested in property as soon as you could and the investment paid off (or both), there still may come a time in which you need to look towards alternative methods in which to raise financing for your new car. Three of the most common, and useful, methods are listed below.

1) Loans

Even as a retiree it's very possible for you to get a car loan approved, especially if you've built up an exceptionally good credit score over your life. Though some may worry that they may be turned down for a loan because they're no longer working, in truth the companies paying out for these loans are much more interested in how quickly you've paid people back in the past (your credit score) rather than whether or not you currently have money coming in.

Of course, finding an auto loan that's right for you has become much more difficult in recent years as so many online sites have popped up selling essentially the same thing. For this reason, only look for the best car loans you can find online, and speak with them on the phone directly as the sooner you get them on the phone the sooner you can arrange a deal that suits you (something which is much easier to do when speaking to a real individual).

2) Children and Grandchildren

Borrowing money from family and friends can sometimes be difficult, but if the only reason you need a new car is so you can drive up to visit your children and grandchildren then there's a good chance that they would be very happy to help you finance your purchase, as it'll allow you to see each other more often.

Of course, this won't take away from some of the awkwardness of having to ask them for money, something which can sometimes cause much pain and disagreement between families if you're unable to pay the money back on the agreed-upon schedule. Keep this in mind before approaching your children and grandchildren, but by no means take it as an absolute deterrent.

3) Your Savings

Even if you do have savings you may not want to use them to purchase a new car – instead looking into getting a loan so you can pay for the cost of your new auto slowly. This is entirely understandable, as when you move into retirement your thoughts shift to what you'll be doing with your money after you're gone, with you in most circumstances wanting to leave as much as you can to your children.

If you have a significant amount of savings, however, this may well be the best route for you as it likely won't even make a dent in the amount you've saved up. If you've been making money thanks to your savings growing with compound interest over the decades, it won't hurt to take a small amount out to pay for a new car, with this money being much better spend in this way – so you can visit your family whenever you please – than it would be if it was left to your children and grandchildren.

In conclusion, if you've recently become retired but have suddenly found yourself needing to purchase a new car (to visit family, for instance), there's a good chance that you'll want to get an idea of what your current financing options are now you're retired.

About the Author:

Blink Finance is a firm that offers financial services such as how and where to get the best car loans, personal loans, or business loans in Australia.

Dangerous Business of Non-profit Debt Consolidation

Wipe our Debt (Photo credit: Images_of_Money)

These days a large number of people are in debt. Some of them are in a deeper hole, while some are beginning to get stuck in the never ending cycle of debt repayment. Loan may provide you with funds required to fulfill your immediate demands, but the normal human attitude towards money is to spend it when you have it, and beg for more afterwards. Be it begging for time or money, after all, time is money!

This may not be something everyone wants, but the problem of debt is faced by almost everyone at some point in their life. These days, loans are taken right at the time when one is very young and he or she would get stuck in the debt repayment cycle for a very long time.

There are times when people need immediate action to solve the problem of debt payment. Suppose you are in debt, you have to pay $50000 by end of 3 years. If you default on repayment, you risk losing your house or car, whatever it is. This is where two options are usually seen, one is to borrow more money so you can pay off the other creditor, or go to a debt consolidation company who would extend your repayment period and also reduce the interest rate.

These debt consolidation companies have their own fees, which might just be an additional burden on you. But there are also these non-profit debt consolidation loans companies which charge absolutely nothing to you (At least that is what everyone thinks). Not all companies that use the tag non-profit are all honest and care for the people. They can scam you right away and you will be in an even deeper hole.

Such debt consolidation companies often advertise how quickly they would remove your debt by reducing you interest rates and the amount you pay. Often they tell you things which are too good to be true. There can be testimonials from people who are smiling and telling you how quickly their debt was cleared. But there is always a catch which can dig an even deeper hole in your bank account.

Signs of a Good Nonprofit debt consolidation company

• Nonprofits should charge a very small amount of fee to setup your account and other stuff that is required. A nonprofit debt consolidation company who charges no fee and promises to fix your debt problem should be carefully examined before dealing with them.
• Ask for a nonprofit organization license issued by the government or the state government. Most of the states require all nonprofit organizations to have a license to operate. Not having one would apparently look like some shady business and it is advisable for one to stay away from them. 
• If any debt consolidation company promises you to get you out of debt very fast, then they are lying. Stay away from them! Getting in the debt took you time, and getting out of it would require time too! Considering that you are at a tipping point is the reason why you went to a nonprofit debt consolidation company, i.e. you are in a deep hole. Filling a hole deep enough requires time. 
• Check out online reviews for all the nonprofit debt consolidation companies that you have on your list. If you need to make a choice, there is a very great website known as BBB (Better business Bureau). All you have to do it enter the organization name and check out their reviews.

Remember, no consolidation company is going to miraculously make your debt go away. It takes time to get out of it. Spend the money wisely, and choose a good debt consolidation company to pay off your debts.

Your Best Mutual Fund Investment Guide If Clueless

A Mutual Fund is a Finance Investment by convention of a basket of currency that is contributed to by any number of parties. The pooled money is then traded on the stock market. These accumulated funds are used to trade in several different companies in equal share to reduce the risk of what a company collapsing could do to the overall portfolio.

As a result of the size of what a Mutual Fund’s trade is they get particular bulk discounts in the execution of trade orders. Traditionally there is a trade cost incurred during each trade which limits smaller trader’s activity sufficiently. When so much of a stock is being held onto, even the slightest price swing of pennies could amount to thousands of dollars of either profit or loss for the Mutual Fund Companies and the Private Investors that had funded them.

As a Private Investor the challenge is to spread the stocks you buy across several companies and industries. Due to the nature of the trade costs you will find it is not worth the fees to spread the trades out too much and will want to stay focused on a certain few companies. There are certainly benefits and negatives to both kinds of Investors, whether they are Institutional such as the Mutual Funds or Private such as an Individual.

The Private Investor benefits in such ways as the weight of their trades are so small that they barely impact the market at all where a Mutual Fund can cause a chaotic swing when a large bid is opened. Usually Mutual Companies put their funds into stocks slowly, just a small amount at a time so as to not interrupt the delicate balance of the Trading Volume. A chaotic move upward could even trigger a Double Top followed by a large dip in the price of a stock shortly after.

Financial Investments of this sort are always aided with some of the most complicated mathematics to provide detailed price trending reports to detect instability before it even happens. This method is referred to as Technical Analysis and when combined with the standard Fundamental Analysis it can identify profit opportunities seamlessly. Even many of the Private Investors have access to these mathematical tools as a result of the Internet whereas before it was restricted to Mutual Fund Companies.

Mutual Funds do not traditionally involve themselves in Illiquid Assets such as Penny Stocks or Microcap Companies due to the large volume of their trades. The execution time would be tremendous and the volume of what is being traded would undoubtedly disturb the chart pattern quite rapidly leading to momentum movements, potentially in an unfavorable way. The light weight of a Private Investors trades makes little to no difference in the machinery of the market.

If you are about to choose a Mutual Fund Portfolio Manager then make sure that you are completely aware of your fees before doing business. There are a lot of hidden fees usually in the fine print. Reading these line by line is very important to the safety of your investment money that you will retire on later in life.

Author Bio: Mark Long is a well-known finance writer as he worked his initial few days in Mutual Fund Company as Finance Investment specialist. Mark generally advises about Investment, Settlements, Annuities, retirement plans to his customers.

Six Industries That Will Perform Well as Baby Boomers Retire

The first wave of baby boomers has reached retirement age and they continue to buck trends; defying expectations set by previous generations. Nearly 80 million baby boomers born between 1945 and 1964 have a combined wealth which tops $3.5 trillion. This demographic block is a unique force to be reckoned with and some industries are well placed to benefit from this wealth. If you are looking to change your career, or just to start a side business, these are some of the industries you should be looking in to.

Senior Dating Companies

Believe it or not, the divorce rate has increased in the past 20 years among baby boomers over 50. As this group enters their golden years, they do so with vigor and a level of confidence unknown to previous generations. Rather than going “gentle into that good night” this segment of the population actively seeks love and companionship if they are single due to divorce or widowhood. Many may have tried online dating before, and become disaffected, and others may not trust internet sites to help them find companionship. This being the case, clubs and venues that cater to the single senior crowd have plenty of potential.

Healthcare Industry

Geriatric healthcare and areas that support it will become a booming industry. There will be an increase in demand for all services from routine and preventative care to palliative care. The Department of Labor projects the demand for in home care will grow about 70% over the next decade. These services can be provided by small and large companies, and there is room in the market for both, but smaller players should be prepared to handle the ins and outs of medical billing, and negotiating with insurance providers. An increasing number of seniors will likely rely on government supplemented healthcare, and those who wish to enter this market would do well to study out government regulations and set up relationships with insurers now.

Fitness

Many baby boomers wisely have embraced fitness as a way to stave off aches and pains that accompany age. There has been an increase in the number of “mature” clients who attend gyms and use the services of personal trainers. Healthier, toned seniors, have become a game changer as rocking chairs are swapped for mopeds. Fitness programs tailored specifically for seniors and their health concerns will do well.

Senior-Friendly Communities

The demand for retirement/senior living communities that provide access to amenities like centers of culture, schools for continuing education and athletic facilities will soar. Architects will see an uptick in requests for senior-friendly communities. Along with these communities will come a demand for good transportation and nearby services. Aspiring entrepreneurs should start investigating what types of amenities and services these communities will want, and be prepared to serve them.

Recreation

Baby boomers will turn to recreation workers for trips and excursions tailored-made to their group. It behooves travel agents and those connected with the tourism agency to create packages that are senior-friendly because there is a burgeoning market on the rise.

Financial Advisers

Finally, baby boomers will become more reliant on savvy financial advisors to ensure their nest eggs will yield necessary dividends to support a comfortable retirement. With all the talk about entitlement uncertainty, baby boomers are aggressively exploring ways to secure their financial future.

Since the census bureau projects that Americans 65 and older will comprise 1/5th of the population by 2030, entrepreneurs should take note and focus their attention on this group. These industries and others are poised to enjoy a surge in baby boomer consumerism.

Reducing Your Spending On Loss: 5 Tips For Protecting Your Assets

We grow up accustomed to the fact that we're going to deal with some loss along the way. We've all dropped a great dessert, or maybe even had someone steal something we liked. But when it comes to our financial standing, there are some things we can do to protect ourselves from loss. Whatever your financial status may be, you can use some of the following five tips to protect your assets.

Invest in proper insurance

If you are the proud owner of a business, it is imperative that you have liability insurance to shield your pockets. A sudden accident on the work site or another unfortunate incident could leave an unprotected business owner stripped of their assets in a lawsuit. Homeowner’s insurance is a great advantage in case of a natural disaster, and auto insurance is a must-have for your vehicle.

Keep an eye on your bank accounts

Monitor your bank account on a regular basis, and be sure to report any suspicious activity as soon as your recognize it. If you are in a business partnership, make sure to formalize the union to protect your assets in case of disaster. Remember that anything that your business partner does, you are considered responsible for as well. Simplify joint accounts wherever possible to ensure that anyone with open access to your financial assets does not abuse the privilege.

Use a quality home security system

Your home is a place where your valuable property should be safe. However, many homes are vulnerable. With a system from a company such as Vivint Home Security or others, you can shield your possessions from unscrupulous burglars who seek valuables of all kinds. A Peoria AZ specialist in home security suggested that in the United States a burglary occurs almost every 14 seconds. So, an investment into a decent system can be a great protection against loss of assets in your future.

Minimize online transactions

In this high-paced technological age, the desire to conduct business online for convenience is high. However, millions of people find themselves the victim of identity theft and other online capers where cyber-criminals can drain assets. Keep your online transactions to a minimum, and invest in the best virus protection possible. Keep your bank information safe, and never enter personal information in an unsecured site. Aim to do transactions over the phone, by certified mail, or in person, wherever possible to offer yourself an extra edge of security.

Protect your assets after you are gone

Designate a responsible power of attorney to manage your finances in case you are unable to for any reason. If you plan to leave some of your assets to children or other relatives, remember to place them in a legacy trust. An estate planner can help you set up a trust in your state so you can comfortably leave wealth to your heirs.

No matter the type of assets that you have, it is important to protect them from harm. A financial planner can help you place your assets in an ideal arrangement where they will not be depleted. Seek wise investment advice before placing any of your finances in the stock market or other money account. Using this information can help keep your assets secure at all times.