Profitable Investing Goals - The Number One Tip for Making Profitable Investments

Michael Jordan, Joe Montana, and Tiger Woods were great for a reason, they had goals. The same is true of those entering the investment field, have a goal in your career and set your mind to reach that goal. Before even making your first transaction in the world of stock investing you should ask yourself, what are you expecting to achieve?

Everybody likes to be charitable, but it has a place and a time and neither is found in the world of stock investing. Most investors simply want a good return on their investment. But what is considered a good return? Enough for retirement? If it is based on what they want for retirement the question becomes how long is it until retirement age? If it is in two years your investment strategy will be much different than for those who are retiring in 15 years time.

As an example, let's use me as a typical investor. 40 years old with a decent income and the ability to invest $300 per month. We'll have to change my circumstances just a bit and imagine I have nothing in my portfolio but I want the ultimate dream - I want $1 million dollars to retire with. The question is, if I have the $300 available right now, is my target something I can hit? Assuming that I can match - if not better - a stock index return which is running at 10.4% annually, my sum would be worth roughly $380,000 by the time I get to retiring at 65 years young.

Damn - missed my $1,000,000 target!

To hit that level - I need to invest more than $300 per month. (To hit that I'd need a return of at least 17 - 18% pa. Okay - an index fund isn't going to do it for me, especially as the history of these shows it won't better much more than the 10.5% mark!)

Okay - let's look at another scenario for me shall we?

Let's imagine that I've actually been working away at my investments and funds for a while (must have listened to my dad!!) and I have a touch over $100,000 saved away.

Putting your shoulder to the wheel is what’s required to make substantial profits in real estate.

Can I hit the target million with that amount as a lump sum starter?

Well, if I am set in using the index funds as my investment vehicle of choice, the answer is Yes!

So long as no major market upheaval hits and remains (ignoring the standard fluctuations you'll get over an extended period of investing) I should have over the $1,000,000 mark by the time I retire - and I won't have to add a cent more to my savings either.

But what makes this possible for me to hit my target? The fact that I HAD a target.

Goals - targets - aims, they all help us to focus on getting to the end of the race with the result we want.

Goals to help you focus on your investment are what help you design your investment plan.

Do you need to be aggressive and look for a major return or can you simply protect your savings and earn a more modest return to reach your goal?

Set yourself a (realistic) investing strategy towards it, keeping it in mind always.

Be modest and be focused.

Duncan Roberts hasn't quite hit the million yet - but he's working on it. Learn more tips and advice for a sensible and profitable investing strategy at his website http://www.theadvicecentre.info/investing/investing-strategy.htm

 

Real Estate Investing Tip: Four Ways to Increase Your Property Investment Returns

Have you tried your luck at foreign exchange, bonds and stocks, but to no avail? Are you perplexed as to what to put your money on? Consider real estate investment, as several people have turned into millionaires through shrewd investments in real estate. By means of this article, we will elaborate four common real estate investing tips, which would help you realize significant profits via property investment. Be it a newbie or a seasoned investor, these tips are sure to be of help to one and all alike.

Real estate investing tip #1 – Perhaps the most lucrative investment technique is to buy a run down property, fix it up, and then sell at a significant profit. Since the property is shabby, you might be able to acquire it for a low price. However, you must ensure that the cost incurred in the repair is restricted to a minimum so as to guarantee a profit. You can do this by making sure that the basic amenities are in place, without going overboard with the renovation. Such a buy-fix-sell scenario demands excellent property valuation skills and a rather frugal attitude while renovating.

Real estate investing tip #2 – Purchase properties that are about to face a foreclosure. A property typically faces foreclosure when the homeowner is financially distressed and is unable to repay the loan. Another common reason for foreclosures is dissolution of marriage with the abandonment of the house by either of the couple. Such a distressed property can be bagged for a low price by an articulate investor, who can convince the homeowner to sell the property prior to the foreclosure sale. Then the investor may sell the newly bought property at a significant gain.

Real estate investing tip #3 – Locality is a paramount aspect in real estate investment. Two similarly built houses may have varying valuations if they are situated in different locations. So, you must be abreast of the hot locations in your concerned region. If you are just about to start you real estate venture, I suggest you look for places that offer high rentals. Purchasing a property in such a region would result in a healthy monthly source of income.

Real estate investing tip #4 – Ever heard of Warren Buffett? The acclaimed stock investor made billions through a contrarian’s approach to stock investment. You may take a contrarian’s view to real estate investment as well. For instance, you may buy a property when it is out of favor with the majority of investors. That is, acting in opposition to the majority opinion. A contrarian’s approach is not a sure shot path to real estate success. Moreover, it’s complicated and therefore beginners are advised against it.

All in all, there are several avenues that you could realize profit in real estate. However, it is imperative that you be prepared to put in extra work hours, especially at the beginning of your real estate career.

Copyright © 2006 Joel Teo. All rights reserved. (You may publish this article in its entirety with the following author's information with live links only.)

Joel Teo writes about making money with Property Investment. His site, http://www.RealEstateInvestment101.info provides a wealth of informative articles & Tips.

Investing in Penny Stocks - How To Make Huge Profit From Small Beginnings

Investing in penny stocks is all about defining the rules and playing by them as all of the big time investors have before you.

Big time stock traders and investors have played by the rules and started out small, or even very small, swearing by a defined set of rules that basically state they will not continue any cycle of failing that loses them money, over and over.

Losing money instead of learning these rules is something that is unacceptable and potentially crippling to a new investor - even though your brain is trying to tell you that "Heck, it doesn't matter, they're only Penny Stocks after all!" (Damn you brain!!)

However, follow a few simple rules and you should be ahead of the penny stock investing game.

Number One and MOST important - Never, ever, under any circumstance borrow money to invest; this is possibly the biggest rule to stay out of investment trouble.

Yes, I know! You think you have the upper hand with some “inside” information that could help you build a huge portfolio in no time!

So have thousands of others before you - and they were all WRONG!

Please, don’t jump on a story with the only answer being borrowing money. If you start to lose money on the stock market, then the debt repayment will come directly out of your pocket. If this happens, trust me - you are now in big trouble.

Even if you begin to make money then you will be spending it to repay the loan instead of saving or reinvesting the funds.

This money will stand by and haunt you as you continue to try to make a living off of the stocks you are trading.

Always save up to be able to invest as a rule of thumb, debt will be chased until you finally catch up by being farther behind than you were to begin with.

DON'T DO IT!

Investing in profitable companies is a big rule to keep in mind when investing in penny stocks. I know that reads and sounds awfully silly and a waste of breath but believe me - sometimes people simply invest in a company without determining if the company is profitable or not.

Either they like the name itself - or the product / service the company offers - or even they know a cousin of the manager of the typing pool and reckon it's keeping it in the family!

Don’t be the sucker that buys a stock and then tunes in to the television or logs on to the internet to see that its quarterly earnings are down and its revenue per share is dropping like a four-ton boulder of the Empire State building - very hard and very fast!).

Find information on how to find a profitable company, it is readily available on the internet, and then determine which company to invest in. Guides for how to evaluate companies, their accounts declarations and markets are readily available.

Also, do all of your homework, research and analysis before you buy a stock that is not garnering any type of attention.

One of the most important things for investors to look at is volume, anything less than one million shares per day is not worth touching. It is a pointless task to purchase a stock that is trading 9,000 shares a day because it will be nearly impossible to sell once you are ready to do so.

Stocks need attention to have liquidity, which basically means that for it to sell it must have value. Don’t be stuck with a rising stock that you will be unable to sell later. Don't just think of all the lovely profit you'll generate - think about the mechanics of actually being able to realise that profit. After all - so what if you've made $1.20 per share in three months - if you can't actually sell them!

Oh - and in case you forget! DON'T BORROW MONEY FOR INVESTING!!

Duncan Roberts has been investing his own money - not a loan - for quite a few years now. You can learn more tips, tricks and strategy for penny stocks investing at his website http://www.theadvicecentre.info/investing/index.htm

Investing in a Dream Kitchen

The kitchen is the heart of the home. It is where the family congregates right before a meal, catching up on each other’s day before heading to the table. It is where you will putter (often working on the table, while waiting for food to cook), and where you will share a cup of coffee with friends. If you plan to sell your home, the kitchen is also the first place that potential buyers will look at, and one of the factors that can dramatically increase (or decrease) your house’s resale value.

These are just some of the reasons why it is a good idea to invest in your kitchen: its appearance, functionality, and general atmosphere. The question, however, is where to start. After all, most people may want to space out their renovations, rather than spend a large amount of money to fix it in one go.

Coordinate your Appliances

One of the easiest ways of creating a sense of harmony is to coordinate the colors of your appliances. You can replace the doors of your refrigerator and dishwasher, and trade in your microwave and other small appliances for something that matches the overall look.

Change your Cabinets

It’s amazing how the small details can make a big difference. Replace your cabinet doors with one with nice panels, interesting woodwork, or beautiful handles. In fact, beautiful cabinet doors can act as a design element while serving a very practical purpose. In a very small kitchen, where there’s little room for décor, cabinets may be your only chance to make a big “design statement”.

Repaint the walls

Color sets the mood of a room. Choose a homey color, one that lifts the mood and creates a feeling of comfort and being welcomed. Avoid very bright colors (unless as an accent) as it can intensify the feeling of being “hot” (and a hot kitchen is not a comfortable kitchen). You can also use colored trim accents above the sink, near the windows, over the work area, or underneath the cabinets.

Organize your Kitchen Tools

The best kitchens are not only beautiful, but convenient. There are many kitchen organizers that can keep kitchen tools and supplies handy—hooks, jars, racks— while acting as a form of décor. However, don’t buy any kitchen organizers without thinking out what you need and where you should put it. For example, if you have very small table space, you’ll need organizers that let you hang your tools. You should also install or place the organizers near the area where you would most naturally use them—if you have to walk across the kitchen to access them, then you’re still not making good use of your kitchen space.

Increase the Kitchen Ventilation and Lighting

Cooking can be uncomfortable: hot, messy, stuffy. Install fans and blowers to make it a more pleasant experience, and make the most use of windows. As for lighting, you will need lights positioned near the area where you prepare the ingredients, as well as right over the stove. You may also want to install “mood lights” or lamps if you plan to use the kitchen as a mini-dining area.

Resources.eu.com is an online resource centre covering many topics including home and garden and kitchens.

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