The best investment guide would cover investment options and investment strategy. This investment guide would be complete and start with basic financial concepts and expand to include the entire universe of investments. That’s a tall order, so let’s just start with a simple version, and talk about all of the investments in the world in plain English.

Your best investment is a good, complete investment guide. I’ve been tuned in to the world of investing for 35 years and have read over 100 books on investments and investing. Most of them center on the stock market or some form of investment technique or get-rich-quick scheme. Many are time sensitive and out of date by the time you read them. Many tell you how to invest money like the author did when he made his millions.

What you seldom get with an investment guide or book is an understanding of investment basics and a simplified blueprint of your many investment options. So, here’s your simplest and free best investment guide to all of the investments in the world. There are only 4 different investments or asset classes out there depending on how you categorize things. Once you bring it down to this level you have a basic framework to work with.

CASH EQUIVALENTS and other safe investments pay interest. Either your principal or rate of interest is fixed for a period of time. Examples include U.S. Treasury bills, money market mutual funds and bank savings accounts. Advantages include high liquidity (access to your money) and safety, low risk.

BONDS are long-term debt instruments and they pay more interest income than the above. Examples include U.S. Treasury bonds, corporate bonds and bond funds of various types. Advantages include relatively high interest income with a moderate level of risk.

EQUITIES or STOCKS represent ownership in a corporation. Examples include blue chip stocks, growth stocks and equity funds. Advantages include ample liquidity, growth and some income in the form of dividends. Risk is significant and profit potential is high.

ALTERNATIVE INVESTMENTS is our final category. Examples include real estate, gold, and foreign investments. Advantages include high profit potential and an alternative to stocks when they are out of favor. Risk can be significant here as well.

That’s about as simple as an investment guide can get. All investment options can be fit into one of these asset classes. The important thing is that you have a perspective, and that you understand the investment characteristics of any investment before you invest money. For example, someone pitches an investment to you. Where does it fit in our above format?

How does it rate in terms of: safety, liquidity, growth and profit potential, income provided and risk? All investment options can be and should be rated in terms of the above to assure that they fit your needs and risk profile.

If you learn how to invest you’ll have a means of supporting yourself for the rest of your life. Once you have a sound understanding of investment basics you’ve built a great foundation for learning how to invest. The best investment guide would cover both.

A retired financial planner, James Leitz has an MBA (finance) and 35 years of investing experience. For 20 years he advised individual investors, working directly with them helping them to reach their financial goals.

This down-to-earth investment guide is geared to investing for beginners. In this investment guide you will learn to invest with your eyes open, plus: what mutual funds are, what kinds are available, and how to save cash when you invest money.

Investing for beginners is like learning how to swim. Not recommended: jumping in over your head in choppy waters off the coast of Maine in January to learn the butterfly stroke. Suggestion: learn to float first, getting your face wet under calm clear water.

Don’t try to learn to invest by speculating in the stock market or in the bond pits, either. Start investing in mutual funds where professionals pick the stocks and bonds for you. These funds are designed for the investing public. In my opinion, at least 95% of the investing public is best off investing here. Mutual funds simply pool money from investors and manage a portfolio of securities like stocks and bonds for the investors. You simply invest money in a lump sum, like $5000; or periodically, like $200 per month. The money you invest buys you shares in a fund.

The vast majority of funds fall into one of four categories based on what they invest in: stocks (also called equities), bonds, money market investments, and a combination of all of the above. For example, if you invest money in an equity fund, just about all of it will likely be invested in stocks.

Equity funds are the riskiest and have the greatest profit potential, with growth and perhaps some income as their primary objective. Bond funds invest in bonds to earn higher income for investors at a moderate level of risk, generally. Money market funds are the safest and pay interest rates that vary with interest rates in the economy. Balanced funds are the fourth category and invest in a balance of the other three major investment asset classes; and this makes them a great place to start investing.

Income or interest earned in a mutual fund is paid to investors in the form of dividends. Most investors simply choose to have their dividends automatically reinvested to buy additional shares in the fund in order to make their investment grow faster. What makes investing for beginners a challenge is that each general fund category has a number of varieties.

Now here’s your basic investment guide to saving money when you start investing. There are two primary costs when you invest money in funds: sales charges called LOADS, and yearly expenses. You pay a sales charge when you buy funds through a representative. For example, you write a check out for $10,000 and hand it to your financial planner who works on commission. Then, 5% comes off the top to pay for sales charges; and each year you are invested, expenses are automatically deducted from your investment. These yearly expenses can be 2% or more of the value of your investment.

Or you can buy NO-LOAD funds directly from some of the biggest and best fund companies in America and pay NO sales charges, with less than 1% a year deducted for management and other expenses. To cut costs even more go with index funds of either the stock or bond variety. Index funds simply track an index of securities, rather than trying to outperform the stock or bond market. Expenses are low because management costs are low; sometimes costing you less than ¼% a year. Plus, index funds have another advantage. You won’t beat the markets, but you shouldn’t under perform them either.

Investing for beginners need not be a game of sink or swim. Call a no-load fund company that deals directly with the public and ask for a free investor starter kit. Then start investing when you feel comfortable, and save cash when you invest money. If you have a limited financial background I suggest you find and read a complete investment guide before you invest.

A retired financial planner, James Leitz has an MBA (finance) and 35 years of investing experience. For 20 years he advised individual investors, working directly with them helping them to reach their financial goals.

Learn how to invest money and prosper; or don’t learn how to invest and continue to invest and lose money. It’s fun to invest money when you are winning. Get a financial education and see for yourself. You will NEVER feel left out once you know how to invest with a sound investment strategy. Let’s start that financial education now.

INVESTMENT BASICS

You can not put together a complete investment strategy without an understanding of the investments that are included in the package. Nor can you build your own house without knowledge of the pieces, parts, and tools required. Concentrate on investment basics before you decide on what plan to go with, or you may not be able to finish the job successfully. This means that you need to understand the investment characteristics of stocks and bonds, and how they compare to each other and to other investment alternatives.

Only then can you learn how to invest and put together a complete investment strategy. Like I said, it’s fun to invest when you’re making money; but you’ve got to start with the investment basics. Most people don’t know stocks from bonds. Start by reading articles or other publications that get down to the basics. For example: what are stocks, what are their risks and potential rewards, and how do they compare to bonds and other investment alternatives.

Now you are ready to learn about mutual funds, which are the investment of choice for most average investors. For most people they are the easiest and best way to invest in stocks and bonds, plus other asset classes. Mutual funds are simply investment packages that are professionally managed for you. To pick the right funds you’ll need to understand the asset class they invest in: stocks, bonds, money market or specialty (other).

HOW TO INVEST

Now you’re ready to learn how to invest and put the pieces together with a sound investment strategy. ASSET ALLOCATION is a crucial part of your investing and financial education, because how you allocate your money to the various asset classes will determine your success or failure… more than anything else. Simply put, how much should you invest in stocks vs. bonds vs. other investments? This is also called your asset mix. It’s much more important than what specific investments or funds you pick.

Once you’ve put a balanced portfolio of investments together you’ve got a great foundation. But if you want to continue to build and prosper you’ll need an ongoing investment strategy to make additions and changes over time as necessary. Read articles on investment strategy, asset allocation, and how to invest. It will all come together for you if you start at the beginning and build a step at a time.

Learn to invest like your financial future depends on it. With Uncle Sam in debt up to his eyeballs and employers fighting to survive, it does.

A retired financial planner, James Leitz has an MBA (finance) and 35 years of investing experience. For 20 years he advised individual investors, working directly with them helping them to reach their financial goals.

One of the most important things to take care during the wedding planning, you should always consider all aspects of an enjoyable wedding party.

Since you will be spending this not just with your soon to be lifetime partner, but with your closest friends and family as well, you have to think of the most unique wedding party ideas there is available.

The wedding parties get to be more memorable because of the souvenirs that your guests get to take home after the momentous event.

Hence, here are some unique wedding party ideas that you can apply in your own wedding to make things more impressive and interesting to everyone.

Idea # 1 – Food:

If both of you are food enthusiasts, then you can send out adorned, printed out files wherein the recipes of the menu served during the party is laid out, to all of your guests so that they can try it on their own.

Idea # 2 – Wine:

Encourage everyone to start their wine cellar by giving away bottles of wine as souvenirs.

You can even hold a contest for those who would be able to tell an interesting story that brings back wonderful memories about the wine.

Idea # 3 – Advice:

Set a sort of open forum during the wedding party, wherein you would give a chance for everyone to give their own advices to you and your partner to be able to live a lasting marriage after the wedding.

Gather up delightful stories that others can say about you and your partner with the help of a friend who has the time to go around and meet your friends and special loved ones.

Idea # 4 – Community Bonding:

This could also somehow serve as a pre-wedding party wherein you would take your other couple friends out and play sports together like bowling, golf, tree adventure, etc.

Have an enjoyable meal with your family and friends and talk about topics that would help improve your relationships.

Keep it in your mind that these unique wedding party ideas are not just meant to make the wedding couple alone to be happy, but also to add entertainment and enjoyment to beloved guests.

The bride and the groom should take this opportunity to value these people as their future relationship supporters and advisers as the couple would embark on a whole new journey of their lives.

There are some more options that you can find over the net to find some unique wedding party ideas.

There is certain etiquette when it comes to planning a wedding party (or wedding shower). The established guidelines are not laws that must be followed (or suffer the consequences). They are just a set of helpful considerations one can contemplate during the planning stages of a wedding party.

Here are some helpful tips to guide you through your planning:

DON’T: Wait for one of the bridesmaids to get a party together.
DO: Host it if you want to.

If you really want to throw a party for the future bride and groom, go right ahead. There is a common misconception about the bridesmaids being the ones who should host the party. Any friends of the bride or groom are more than welcome to host the party.

DON’T: Schedule the party to take place within a month of the wedding.
DO: Schedule it to take place two to three months before the wedding.

The reason for this is pretty obvious. This is a courtesy to the bride and groom. They both (let’s be honest, it’s mostly the bride we’re talking about) have a lot to take care of in that last month before the wedding. They probably won’t be able to enjoy themselves as much when they’re thinking of everything they need to get done before their big day.

DON’T: Invite anyone and everyone to the party.
DO: Invite anyone who’s on the wedding guest list.

A word of caution, it’s okay to invite anyone you’d like off of the list of those invited to the wedding, but don’t invite everyone from it. Try to keep it to the bride and groom’s closest friends. If you invite everyone, it might seem like some sort of gift receiving power struggle.

DON’T: Wait until the last minute to send out the invitations.
DO: Send out your invitations at least a month before the party.

If you wait until the last minute to get this step taken care of, chances are there will be problems. Mainly, people won’t be able to attend the party because you didn’t give them enough time to make sure their schedules were clear. Waiting too long also gives them that much more time to plan something else for that day. Get your invitation to them early enough so they can reserve that spot for your party.

This wedding party planning etiquette won’t ensure that absolutely nothing will go wrong, but keeping these do’s and don’ts in the forefront of your mind will give you a great chance of throwing a nearly perfect wedding party that the bride, groom, and friends will remember fondly.

A wedding party is the event where your friends and family all gather together to celebrate the newly weds and have fun and pleasure. Pitting down hair and throwing away your tie is what usually happens during the party, and there is nothing more pleasurable than this moment. However you will need to make sure that all these things go well and smoothly prior to the party taking place, therefore carefully considered party planning is very important. Planning a wedding party is unlike planning any others. The amount of time taken into consideration and carefully chosen details are the core factors that will decide the quality of party after all.

You need to consider a few things that go into party planning to celebrate a wedding. First of all, think of how many and what kind of people will attend. The group of people after the ceremony will most likely be divided into several different groups, such as older people, young generations, men of 20s and women alike. Also bride and groom can have fun time with their own friends group separately. But you can mix any group in the party until a certain time when older folks can be free to leave if they want. Considering who will be belonging to which group is vital to planning ahead, thus providing them more comfortable and cozy environment while enjoying the entire party.

The best wedding party would be that everyone feels they are considered, well taken care of and finally they had wonderful time. Another thing to be considered is the venue. Depending on the weather condition, and the time and the season of the year, you can either go outside or have it indoors. If it’s outdoors then make sure the weather condition and prepare shelters for unforeseen circumstances. Compared to it, indoors party is easier as it is not mainly dependent on the weather that much. Also the place of venues should be attractive one where people can feel comfortable and relaxed. When there are alcohol beverages involved in the party, make sure underage children’s permission and restriction. It is important that the entire environment is conductive all the people at the party regardless of their ages.

Arrange a live band who can drop a great music tunes on the dance floor as all the people would want to have fun all night. In addition to the entertainment, the food would be another factor that people are seeking. Just getting enough cakes is the best way to go. Also don’t forget to prepare best soft drinks and champagne as the party won’t be ever complete without a toast from friends wishing the newly married couple. If anyone wants to speak and congratulate in public, give them a chance and it will become unforgettable moment for all.

Bad credit credit cards are offered by many banks as financial tools to help people establish or re-establish their good credit rating. Bad credit credit cards are primarily intended to make it easier to obtain and re-build credit, which is good for consumers and merchants as well. For all practical purposes, bad credit credit cards are just like regular credit cards, but they are specifically for high risk cardholders. If you have arrears, defaults and general bad credit score or bad credit rating, you may find that bad credit credit cards are available to you. Bad credit credit cards are considered the best choice for credit card deals if your credit score is below 550.

If you find that there are problems in approval of a traditional credit card then you can apply for other options like prepaid debit card, First Premiere Bank Cards and Orchard Cards and secured credit cards. Applying for these cards is exactly like applying for a standard credit card, with applications available on paper and online. Bad credit credit cards typically have a higher interest rate and lower credit limit than standard credit cards, but the issuers are more lenient when looking at past credit history. The fact that bad credit credit cards carry a high interest rate (most likely 20% or more) shouldn’t prevent you from getting one in an effort to get your credit back on track. Still, it is true that bad credit credit cards must be used responsibly, or your situation will just worsen.

From astronomically-high interest rates to ridiculously-exorbitant fees, erroneous information abounds. When it comes to bad credit credit cards, the myths definitely abound. In fact, bad credit credit cards are some of the most misunderstood financial tools of all time. Fortunately, the myths are oftentimes unfounded and bad credit credit cards are no longer the stigma they used to be. You might be relieved to find out that bad credit credit cards can actually have pretty decent interest rates. With so many credit card companies and so many different offers, it’s easier than ever for consumers to take advantage of reward programs. However, you must consider the factors such as financing fees, annual fees, introductory offers, credit requirements, availability of online banking, and others.

In spite of the additional fees bad credit credit cards are an excellent method for the people with bad or no credit, to improve their credit rating and to enjoy the benefits of credit cards. There are many other benefits to consider, which might be more valuable than a low rate. By paying off the monthly balance and avoiding high interest rates, you steer clear of more debt and show yourself to be a lower risk borrower over time. However, as you maintain regular payments, the creditor may gradually increase the spending limit. If you use a bad credit credit card for small purchases for a year or two and consistently pay the entire balance every month, not only will you not be charged interest, but you will rebuild your credit and be able to get lower rate loans in the future.

As you can see, bad credit credit cards are unique cards geared towards people who have had trouble getting approved for a standard unsecured credit card. However even with bad credit, its still possible to find a credit card for you, even if it means that you have to pay a slightly higher rate of interest. So if you are trying to rebuild your credit don’t think about it to much because bad credit credit cards when used properly are a cheap way to rebuild your credit.

Quick cash loans are more commonly known as pay day loans in the financial market. The popularity of these types of loans is growing due to the ease they offer to the borrowers. These loans are short term loans and like all other short term loans have a high interest rate. People can acquire these loans according to their needs to meet emergency money requirements on time. Pay day loans allow borrowers to access the cash against the applied loans within twenty four hours of the loan approval. Cash advance loans or quick cash loans can be applied for in more than one way which includes:

1. Applying and submitting pay day loan forms manually by visiting a financial institute or a bank

2. Applying and submitting pay day loan forms through the World Wide Web

3. Applying and submitting the pay day loan forms through telephonic services

These approaches make the application process time efficient. Also the application form for pay day loan has been designed and developed keeping in mind the urgency of the applicants and includes only the mandatory fields that may include:

a) Full name

b) The applicant’s current employment status

c) Recent telephone bill

d) Recent residential address

e) Recent pay-stub

f) A voided check

g) The applicant’s valid bank account

h) Complete bank statement

i) A copy of applicant’s social security card

j) A copy of applicant’s state issued ID etc.

k) Sold references of other people

The information obtained through these application forms is verified by the companies offering the cash loans. Any further information required by the companies is found out through their own network. However, the individuals have to be honest when filling out these forms or their loans will get rejected. Even those individuals who do not have a strong credit report can apply for pay day loans and easily manage their financial troubles.

Unlike traditional loans, pay day loans or cash loans do not require collateral but consider the employment proof of their applicants as collateral provided. Applicants who wish to apply for cash loans must make sure to borrow an amount that they can easily repay on time, otherwise they might head straight into a debt trap. The penalty fee for pay day loans is very high and can end up being many times the principal borrowed.

Therefore pay day loan borrowers are advised to carefully read the terms and conditions of their pay day loans company and get clarification about unknown terms and jargon. This will prevent any misunderstanding later on. Also, it is important to avoid the cash loans company that penalizes their borrowers for paying earlier than the agreed time. It is also important for borrowers to get information about the limit imposed by the state on the interest rate that these companies can apply to the quick cash loans. This will help borrowers in bargaining for the loans at better interest rates.

Borrowers who are vigilant can make use of the cash advance loans in many ways. They can manage any unexpected expense with ease and maintain their financial independence and confidentiality. However, the following applicants might not be able to obtain a pay day loan:

1- Have a history of being ignorant to the repayment of such loans

2- Reimburse through bounced checks

3- Provide false personal and/or contact information on the application forms

4- Are unemployed and have no source of income

5- Are not equals to or more than eighteen years of age

6- Are not legal citizens

7- Any criminal or fraudulent activities in the past

8- Have a history of being a bank defaulter

These days cash loans have conveniently helped many families make both ends meet.

Everything may seem fine one minute and then all of a sudden, an emergency may pop up out of nowhere. Quick money from a payday cash loan can make life much easier and solve many problems. If you are in need of money fast and have other concerns, you may receive what you need on the same day and with few hassles. Here are some things to know about this type of financing that can make it easier to obtain.

Your credit might be so bad that you think you cannot borrow anything anywhere. For people that have poor or no credit there is good news. Payday cash loans are not hard to qualify for. In fact, most of these lenders do not require a credit check with the application. It takes very little time to apply and receive a response.

When you borrow money with a paycheck or payday loan you repay it with your next paycheck. You will not have to worry about weekly or monthly payments. You only pay a fee at the time you get the money. This way, interest is not accrued or added up like with loans that are amortized. Most lenders are required to list their annual percentage rates and they may seem high. These rates are misleading because annual rates do not apply to loans that are paid off quickly. So do not be mislead by the APR and go by the upfront fees that are listed. This tells you the entire story.

The best place to find a good payday cash loan is the World Wide Web. This is the most convenient way to shop for fast loans. You have a much wider selection this way, because you are not restricted to local lenders. In addition, you do not have to drive all over town to find a lender. All you need is Internet access and your personal computer.

Any good search engine will reveal a number of lenders available. You also can click on payday cash loan information links and ads at many online sites these days. With these huge selections you may compare many services, so choose ones that have the most agreeable terms to save money.

When you get to a lender’s website you can check out their services. Read the terms closely and make sure to follow the instructions. Most lenders have a few simple qualifications. For example, you must be a United States citizen and at least 18 years of age.

Employment qualifications for paycheck loans are not stringent. Many lenders require you to be with the same employer for at least six months. You also must meet the minimum requirements for wages but that is not difficult in most cases.

Most online lenders require applicants to have a bank account that can be accessed by direct deposit. This makes the entire process easy for you and the lender. You can apply for your money and when approved it is simply transferred to your bank account. You do not have to go sign papers and receive a check. Checks can sometimes take days or weeks to clear, depending on the bank. You might need your funds right away and a long wait will be too late if you have an emergency situation to tend to.

Direct deposit makes it possible to get your money on the same day you apply in some cases. However, this depends on the time of day and week that you apply. For example, if it is late in the evening or on a weekend, you may not receive funds until the next business day.

When you apply for your fast payday cash loan you will need to list your current address and all contact information. You also must provide your employer info and Social Security information. There is no need to worry about security as the lenders use websites that utilize features like secure socket layer and special encryption that makes your personal information safe and secure.

In some instances, you may be required to fax a signature or other information to receive your money. This depends on the circumstances, and many people will not have to fax anything. The entire process is fast, easy, and very simple. You repay the money via direct deposit from your account. If you need money quickly and you cannot borrow from normal channels right away, consider fast payday cash loan advantages. This can get you the money for emergency auto repairs or other problems. In fact, you can use the money for anything that you want.

Emergency cash has a variety of sources. Ideally, an emergency fund is something you might have built up already. But if you don’t happen to have one yet, then getting an emergency cash loan might be highly advisable. This article discusses topics about emergency cash loans and basically where to get them.

A Little Help From Your Friends

A loan is an option, but before making a decision on whether to get a loan or not, it might be a great idea to consider your family or perhaps network of friends first. If your financial drought resulted from a personal problem, they may be willing to help you more. But of course, if they refuse to lend you money, don’t be offended – it may be just a risk they are not willing to take, or they may have no budget or amount to lend you. Remember, they too could end up needing such amounts for emergencies as well.

Emergency Cash From the Bank

Depending on how immediate you needed the cash on hand, you can always opt for an emergency cash loan from the bank. This may be your best option as a last resort for your immediate needs. You may acquire such offers from the bank in different ways:

• Using your credit card – charges
• By getting a home equity loan
• A line of credit from your Home Equity
• Through a Signature (unsecured loan)

When it comes to seeking emergency borrowed cash, it’s always best to consider credit unions as an alternative. They may be more willing to work with you and your problems than other firms.

Payday Loans – Dangerous Option

There may be times when you are looking for a loan, but just doesn’t have the credit required. In this case, borrowing – in a traditional way – just won’t be an option. In these cases, you might want to consider getting a payday loan instead. But if it is your decision, it would really help to be very careful.

When dealing with payday loans, being careful is not a just a great advice, but a must-do tip as well. The truth is, if mishandled, they could only bring you to a worse situation than where you are at the moment. Let’s just put it this way, a payday cash advance is almost like a band-aid, a short term remedy which by the way won’t really heal you. And to add to it, it won’t help you fix the things in the long term basis. Always put to mind that these types of options carries very high interest rates, and may cost you more than expected.

In the other hand, title loans are also considered high cost loans. You may be able to get a quicker amount of cash, but your risk the ownership of your assets.

Emergency Cash Loan Alternatives

Eventually, an emergency fund will be a necessary. If it’s something you don’t have today, it might be smart to start having one.

The next best thing to consider is your assets. Is there something you can sell that may be able to cover this emergency fund needs? It is ideally a much better option than getting yourself in debt. Some of these possibilities may be: your nice car or TV, or even a favorite couch you own. Selling the item could solve your problem, while getting a loan may just put you in a situation where you would still have to sell the things you love just to pay for it. So which is better?