Living in the City

"Charity degrades those who receive it, and hardens those who dispense it." "Money is not neutral; it changes everything, including the ability to neutrally judge what people will or will not do for you."

My financial life is marked with ups and downs. Early on, while business was very good, I had been privileged to smell the roses, so to speak. Yes, but as expected, nothing lasts forever. The 'wild abandon' years went by, so fast, the consequential thorns made my hands bleed. So how do you deal with the prospect of a gloomy and financially cash-strapped retirement? I hate to speculate, but this early, I could already smell the loneliness enveloping the air. It would be in appropriate for me to talk about the details. Suffice it to say, that money is not everything, yes, but it sure is wise to save up some. For the rainy days, to have something when you get sick and perhaps, if it wouldn't be much to ask, to enjoy retireme nt . I say, while there is time, study your options. Seek trustworthy assistance. Plan your financial future, not tomorrow, not next month, not when you receive a substantial amount of income, nor cash but NOW!!!. There is no better gift you can giv...

I am insisting on posting about investing topics despite my ignorance. Precisely. The truth is I am really studying up, researching and finding out everything I could on mutual funds, because I might just end up in this industry soon. As consultant or as an investor myself (I :-) wish). Different countries, different rules. That's my dilemma. There's not enough info I could get my hands on, about 'investing in mutual funds in the Philippines'. So my readings are mostly U.S. scenarios. I guess, and I hope I could use the American model when I evaluate Philippine mutual funds . From what I read these are some of the points stressed about mutual funds: 1. Management competency is a must. This means a track record of not less than 10 years. 2. Consider how the fund is being promoted. Rise or fall prices are fairly indicated in the last 2 quarterly reports. Fund must be fairly consistent. It is may be well to also watch fund performance both on the up and down markets...

Once you have made that one big decision to try go the investing path, these are some of the things to always keep in mind: 1. Investigate. Investigate. Investigate. This could never be over emphasized. Investing and using impulse, hunch, or rumor is never a good combination. Research and do the due diligence. 2. Always focus on the risks, especially the downside. Counting what you could lose is better than counting what could be earned. 3. Continue investigating even after the investment has been made. Big companies experience up and down movements just like any small ones. 4. Watch for the economic indicators. Movements are part of the daily investing grind. 5. Set realistic investment goals like 30-40% higher than cost is acceptable. Stock investments particularly, move, zoom, move up, take dips and assume new highs. 6. Diversify. Diversify. Diversify. In other words, do not put all your eggs in one basket. 7. Make it a point to use research as we ll as common sense in making inve...

Now that I am aging, I understand that having some savings in the bank is not and is never enough. Way, way back I should set aside money in several safe places where it should be earning well above my one, single savings account. If you have the chance now to do what I had failed to do, these are the things you should probably be thinking now according to some money related readings I came across: 1. Think about becoming an investor . This is really a difficult decision to make but you can make time to study, consult, confer with professionals, ask around from those who's been there. They say that it is really common sense and a commitment to deliberately know facts and fallacies about handling money. 2. Becoming an investor means that you have enough funds stashed away equivalent to 6-9 months worth of living expenses in savings. This will provide a temporary protection against a financial setback, an illness, or losing a a job and would serve as the liquid or cash resources ...

The secret of making money is commonly associated with a passionate belief in an innovative idea. It is rooted in hard work, determination and perseverance which requires the ability to mobilize resources to set a new concept in motion. Making money requires a fresh outlook, a new way of doing. Its mandate is to maximize meager resources at hand in order to effectively start a new beginning. A new business venture, yes, but at the same time looking far ahead. This is how the entrepreneurs do it. They are the new breed of business men who start with risks and uncertainty. Comfortable in their respective enclaves, they leave the security of their financial environment for the road less traveled. With guts, they create and recreate products, expand markets or offer new services in places where there was an obvious lack or have been otherwise served before. Individuals who take this road are the nouveau riche . They are the new breed of entrepreneurs who are creative, who dare dre...

It is now perfectly clear, that the global economy is in a down spin. Financial pundits claim however, that during fortune reversals, an opportunity is always to be found. And so therefore, it pays to have a good sense of the world's and each country's economic strengths and weaknesses. To be informed is to be prepared. Trends usually use indicators. Indicators that are commonly found and reported over the old and the new media. Take note of: 1. Housing Trends - consumer attitudes, interest rates 2. Sales of Department Stores - seasonal or geographic points to other indicators 3. Retail Sales - Monthly, Bi-annual and Annual 4. New Car Sales - consumer buying trends 5. Index of leading economic indicators (engines of economic growth) 6. Gross Domestic Product (GDP) - total value of goods sold (countrywide, worldwide, region wide) When GDP declines in two succeeding quarters, a recession is indicated. 7. Consumer Price Index (CPI) also known as cost of living index which measures...

Life is far from perfect. But it goes on. The world is not stopping by to wait for you to get up and do what you are supposed to do. This means that everyday, people need to earn and raise money to support their designated individual or family’s lifestyle. Sometimes, things get awry. Markets come falling. Deals go bad. Suddenly, people find themselves head and ears in debt -- from cash or from bad credit loans . Believe that there is hope. Money is available for those who are wise enough to make it right the second time. One need not suffer from bad credit credit cards any longer. Solvency issues can still be resolve. But it is important to take note, that in using credit to settle an account or pay a bill, responsibility is always the key. And discipline is the fuel behind the key.