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A question that I hear over and over again is “How to retire early”. Despite many people feeling that an early retirement is just a pipe dream I strongly disagree. It is my honest belief that if you are willing to work hard (and smart), expand your mind with knowledge and do the things that most people don’t then you will no longer have to ask how to retire early. Instead you will be able to inspire your friends and tell them how you managed to retire early.

To retire early it is obvious that you will need to have a passive income or a huge amount of savings (which in turn can be used to create a passive income). The obvious question is ‘how do I find a residual income opportunity’ or how can I create a passive income. There are many ways to achieve this, some more passive than others.

First of all let’s look at how we can get our ‘money to work for us instead of working for money’. Continue reading ‘How to Retire Early – An Easy to Follow Guide’ »

Much has been accomplished since the early days of modern microfinance when NGOs and organizations such as Grameen Bank started lending to industrious, but poor, communities in Bangladesh. The sector now touches well over 100 million people worldwide and boasts a total loan portfolio in excess of US$40bn. Although significant growth was originally catalyzed by grant-led initiatives, such scale would likely not have been possible without the participation of commercial capital. In fact, with billions of individuals still lacking access to basic financial services, representing an estimated demand of US$300bn in loans, the future role of commercial capital will be even more critical. The reality is that it is impossible for microfinance to achieve its full potential without the participation of private equity and debt investment. Quite simply, there is nowhere near enough grant capital available to meet the funding requirements of the world’s microfinance institutions (MFIs) as they continue to scale.

A role for grant capital in microfinance, however, still exists. Indeed, there are many initiatives that simply fail to offer much potential for a commercial return, but are still critical to the continued development of the sector. These include programs for conducting social impact analysis or the development of microfinance products for “ultra-poor” clientele. In this respect, both commercial and grant capital can work hand-in-hand as the sector continues to evolve and bring more of the world’s poor into the formal economy. Continue reading ‘The Case For Private Equity Investment in Microfinance’ »

This article looks at the disadvantages of 401k plans that are not fully diversified. There are dozens of comparisons on the internet that allow you to compare traditional, Roth, 401ks and other retirement plans.

But, no matter which plan you choose, failing to diversify could make you lose.

Investment advisors see a danger inherent in 401ks. Employers are allowed to offer their employees company stock options, instead of matching contributions. It makes sense for the company, but not always for the employee. Continue reading ‘A Guide to the Disadvantages of 401k Plans That Are Not Fully Diversified’ »

According to one old investment adage, “there’s always a bull market somewhere.” If it isn’t in stocks, it’s in commodities. If not commodities, then bonds, and so on.

After years in the doldrums, some bond funds can now deliver the magic combination of stability in rocky markets, yields that beat inflation, good cash returns, and the potential for capital growth. When the credit crunch bit last autumn, corporate bond funds were the winners as investors avoided shares. Continue reading ‘Invest For Income and Growth – How to Yield 9.75% Per Annum With Security Over Assets’ »

There are so many opportunities for investment around you, you merely have to take the initiative to find out what they are. Having the discernment and all the right tools to find the best investment strategies are important, as is securing vital and timely advice. You will need to assimilate the basic investing concepts that are the key to maximizing your profits. In fact, these concepts are culled from good business principles that many successful business entrepreneurs benefit from knowing by heart.

Firstly, get as much education as you can about investing. Reliable and reputable sources of information are important. It would also be a good idea to have a mentor in your education process. Taking courses on investing is likewise a sound idea as it will arm you with additional strategies and investment tools. Secondly, diversify any and all of your investments. Never put your eggs all in one basket. Continue reading ‘Best Investment Strategies – Your Ultimate Guide’ »

Most folks on Wall Street and in the media don’t focus on small cap stocks. They’re less valuable, more unknown companies, they typically don’t involve significant sums of money, and they aren’t as exciting as the larger available stocks to invest in today.

Many experts have made the claim that the lack of focus on small cap stocks is unwarranted. Some claim that small caps are a better investment opportunity. In addition to increased chance of growth comes increased odds for loss. When choosing if small caps have a home in your portfolio be open minded.. Continue reading ‘Small Capitalization Stock Investment Opportunities’ »

A client has recently asked me if I could “explain what short selling is and how hedge funds use them. I have heard they are highly risky and I also know of concerns that exist about some of their ethical standards.”

Unlike the simple buying of shares where an investor buys them hoping that they will rise, short selling is a tactic used to make money when a share price goes down. If the price does fall the person who has shorted them gains and vice versa. Continue reading ‘Collusion in the Investment World’ »

If you think that you could set aside and postpone any kind of savings for your retirement as you do not intend to retire until several decades far from today, you are sadly mistaken. The earlier you save the better it is for you. Young people in their 20’s have the best advantage on their side – time.

Time is the best asset you can have when it comes to saving and investing for your retirement. The magic of being able to successfully accumulate your retirement fund is the power of compounding. This is the power of your money to grow and to keep on growing when you continue to add to it on a regular basis. Continue reading ‘Retirement Calculators – How Much is Enough?’ »

When it comes to investing large amounts of assets, an investment manager is the logical choice for most people. Most mutual fund companies or investment firms have investing counselors who are in charge of handling individual accounts or complete mutual fund groups.

They do this by controlling an investor’s portfolio either by direct action from the client or discretionary money management where the investor allows the investing manager to decide on what to do with his investing instruments. An investor is not just a private client but also refers to any agency that uses asset management investing as a key part of their portfolio.

For someone interesting in becoming an investment manager, it is best to have at least a bachelor’s degree in business. It is also necessary to complete at least one year of Chartered Financial Analyst Training if you are going to work for an investment firm. Also, it required to get registered and a license when working as an investing counselor. Continue reading ‘Investment Manager Facts’ »

Just thinking about where to invest can sometimes be a pain in the head. With the availability of different investment vehicles around, choosing can be difficult. If you don’t have any know-how about each investment, you’ll probably just depend on articles and news you’ve read. If you don’t have any idea where to put your money, you better consider putting it in a growth stock mutual fund. Investing in mutual funds is the best thing you must do especially if you’re an amateur investor. However, before you think about it, you must decide first whether you want a long-term or short-term investment.

If you prefer a short-term investment, then growth stock mutual fund is not right for you. You can just invest on certificates of deposit if that would be the case. The very essence in making investments is gaining profitable returns in terms of capital appreciation. That would be possible by investing in growth stocks. You have to bear in mind two things: grow and risk. With growth stock mutual fund, you will be able to realize big returns but you have to take risks too. So how will you know whether it is a growth stock? First and foremost, you must determine a growing company. Continue reading ‘Make Your Investment Grow With Growth Stock Mutual Fund’ »