July 2nd, 2010
Investment management is best performed when you are calm and patient. When you have a plan you can be decisive in your decisions. For the best long term investment management results you have to have a hands on approach be goal oriented and follow a set decision making process. Higher education or intelligence is not required to have successful investment management strategies.
Investment management following the performance of Wall Street is problematic and sometime inappropriate if you have goals for your investments. Following Wall Street trends leads to disappointment due to the volatile nature related to the many variables of the markets.
The best investment management strategies focus on growing your base income, creating profit by trading and growing your overall working capital.
The interest and dividend created from your portfolio make up your base income. For long term comfort you want to have your income increase regularly. Profit may be realized when you sell securities for more than they were purchased for. When you trade you have the potential for profit. Managing your portfolio is key to increasing its yield and your overall cash flow.
Growing working capital is easy. It is the rate that falls between your realized gains on the equities in your portfolio and the average returns from your income securities in your portfolio. Equity allocations will make this capital even higher due to frequent trading and higher rates of return. Your risk to lose is higher with income securities. Equity allocations are more secure than income allocations. As you near retirement you want to reduce your asset allocations as a percentage of your equity.
This all may pose the question of is there really an income portfolio needing to be managed? Asset allocation can be a way to tweak the investment portfolio through the various life changes. The yacht or trip around the world you dreamed about in your twenties may no longer be a priority to you. When your values and goals change you may need to make necessary adjustments to your investment management strategies. When you use a working capital or cost basis approach you can keep a handle on your investments in a non threatening manner. When saving for your future your approach should be on the conservative order focused on income growth. When you set this plan in motion you can focus on the more important matters in your life.
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June 24th, 2010
When you develop strategies of managing your finances in order to pay your bills and meet your life goals you using the process of financial planning. Financial planning can seem to be complicated but it is necessary if you want to achieve your financial goals. In a financial plan you set objectives, create a budget and review and revise your plan from time to time.
The objectives of a financial plan are categorized into five groups. The first group consists of the items required for survival. Shelter, food, clothing are all basic needs that must be met. Other financial objectives are for emergency funds and savings. Then you have discretionary objectives. Insurance to protect your assets and health. Then there is estate planning, minimizing tax liabilities and providing for your heirs.
After you set your financial plan objectives you have to lie out a plan to carry them out. First you need to analyze your current situation. What are the things currently keeping you from attaining your goals? Then you can develop solutions to fix these obstacles. As you carry out you financial plan to meet your objectives you need to monitor your progress. Over time you may need to adjust your objectives and plans as your situation and need change. Your life is not static and your financial plan should not be static either.
The budget is another necessary step in the financial planning process. You develop the budget by looking at your objectives and finding the ways to implement your plan. In the budget you have to identify your spending habits, establish goals, track spending and evaluate if you are keeping to your budget. Small expenses can add up over time. If you can reduce as many large expenses as you can. Reducing your tax liability is another way that you can save money. Lastly do not forget about inflation and how it will affect your savings.
Remember to pull out your financial plan from time to time and make necessary revisions. This is an important step not to forget to do. If you do not monitor your progress you will not know that you are staying on course. Sometimes situations and changes in your life will require you to make adjustments to your financial plan. When you keep an up to date financial plan you will be able to face any financial challenge you are met with.
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