Victory Investment

Archive for November, 2011

There are as many definitions of  “green” as there are shades of color. Wikipedia defines a green building, also known as a sustainable building as “ a structure that is designed, built, renovated, operated, or reused in an ecological and resource-efficient manner.”

Dade County Florida’s Website reads that, “Sustainable building practices go beyond energy and water conservation to incorporate environmentally sensitive site planning, resource efficient building materials and superior indoor environmental quality.” The website lists five key benefits of sustainable construction that seems to concisely capture the “spirit” of the green building concept.

The need to reduce costs associated with energy production and  importing building materials,  the importance of conserving water and natural resources and minimizing environmental impact are challenges that are even more paramount within our island communities. Green  initiatives provide excellent benefits but carry a pricetag asociated with implementation. We’ve looked at the benefits and the challenges, but what are the affordable solutions?

Thin-film solar and Atmospheric Water Generation are two affordable technolgies that fit expectioannly well in the Caribbean region. With the abundance of sunshine we receive intermingled with overcast days, it is still estimated that a solar radiation of 4-5 hours per day is typical for the region. Using lighweight thin-film solar, with a capacity of an estimated 5 watts/sq ft. a typical 1,200 sq ft home could easily support a roof laminted 3,000 Watt solar power system. A system of this size would generate an estimated 12-15kWh per day.  By reducing electiical lighintg, cooling, and appliance loads to less than 4k the solar system can also be recued in size.

How do we reduce our electrical load calculations? Design and retrofit with L.E.D. Lighting,  A typical home using high efficiency L.E.D. lighting would use just under 250 Watts for the entire lighting circuit and provide equal or higher lumen output than convenienal incandescent or CFL lighting systems. Heat pump water heating technologies provide an estimates 7,000 btu output and a max water temp of 135 while using less than 800 watts nominal. Air Conditioning units using proven ductless-split DC Inverter technologies provide remote controlled zoned cooling while using as little as 1,200 watts for a 11,000btu system. Energy efficient appliances are readily available and help to reduce overall electrical loads

A very natural solution for clean water production in the Caribbean has been around since the beginning of time. Atmospheric Water Generation (AWG) systems use the natural humidity in the air to produce up to 6gallons per day of pure filtered drinking water without the need for any plumbing or realated  infrastructure. Dispensing 99.9% pure water, the AWG system can be operated directly from solar power or plugs into a standard household outlet.  With a built in water heating element the units dispense hot or cold water on demand without the need for maintaining an inventory of bottled water. Production costs are estimated between .06 -0.14 per gallon of water.

What’s needed is a building system that can resist high winds, is versatile, structural, provides a high level of insulation, minimim waste and is affordable. Concrete Structural Insulated Panels (CSIP) provide an excellent alternative to conventional concrete block construction in the Caribbean. Proven and accepted throughout the United States, CSIP’s are pre-designed, pre-cut, professionally engineered, insulated, provide a strucural frame and exterior and interior concrete fire resistant surfaces for finishing. These lighweight concrete panels are produced by manufacturers that are members of the Unites States Green Building Council (USGBC) such as T.Clear Corp of Hamilton  Ohio. Their ProTec® CSIP building system  provides less skilled labor, reduces wall construction time to a matter days verses months and is competitively afforadble when compared to block or conventioanl construction techniques. The company literature states the panels are “framing, sheathing, insulation and interior wall surface all in one. This equates to building more homes in les time with fewer associated costs and waste.

Clean water, fresh air, low VOC and no off-gasing products should be the benchmark for homes built under the “green” design concept. Energy conservation and eco-friendly homes do not happen by accident, it takes planning and design guidelines to ensure homes provide comfort, style and are also affordable. Choosing off the shelf products that are eco-friendly minimize costs and help descrease the time required to source specialized products that add time and expense to the construction process. Despite the misconception, “green homes” can be stylish, affordable and built on a reduced timeline.

The Protec® Building System is currently used by HDC Development Corp  within the Bahamas to build as it describes, “Net Zero Energy Homes”. Recently receing apporavel from The Bahamas Ministry of Works, the Protec Building System®  is meticuoslesy engineered to design loads of up to 150 mile per winds. According to the information from the company’s website, these “Net Zero Energy Homes” gerernate more energy than they consume, have minimal environmental impact, resist high winds and are very compatiable to developers seeking higher construction productivity rates.

Unfortunately, when green initiatives are initially introduced into some regions for the first time, typically there exists an entense amount of resistance  as traditional stakeholders, with  entrenched concepts and methods are challenged by the new technology. However, for the greater good of the entire Caribbean  region, traditional beauracratis “red tape” needs to be pierced so that a new generation may benefit from the advances in proven  technology and ensure our regions continued success in the renewable energy amd sustainable development sectors.
Openminded acceptance of proven “green technologies” will bring investment, trainig, jobs and prosperity to the Caribbean region. The region is ideal to capture the full potential of clean solar and wind power generation. Long-term economic growth is the fruit that’s harvested when we plant the seeds of green initiavtes today.

Reduced environmental impact
Waste reduction, resource conservation and matinainting pure water inventories are important issues that face any region, but even more so here in the Caribbean islands. As our population grow so does the need to pay more strict attention to the subject of  waste management and recycling. Education and acceptance of recycling is the key. Conservation is an adopted lifestyle and the population must see it as a benefit in order to embrace it. Tangible incentives such as reductions in Waste Collection rates for househgolds that recycle, reduced utility rates for homes with  Solar  or wind Power Generation systems and reduced municipal water rates for households with Atmospheric Water Generators would go a long way to helping the large public adopt and embrace “going green”. 

Lets hope the islands of the Caribbean region can by careful and wise use of our startegic natural  resources become the worldwide leader in the adoption and implemntation of proven green technologies. It is clear we have the most to gain and success will equate to increased toursim, investment, training, jobs and prosperity for our region.

The first point to remember is that everything involves both fundamentals and technicals. The fundamentals as I’ve mentioned before allows us to identify what the direction is, whether we are going north or south. But they can’t tell us exactly the price points when the market’s going to stop and pull back. The technicals gives us that extra dimension of knowing where the intersections are where the traffic lights are, and where the specific junctures in price and time from a trading point of view, and really the combination of both fundamentals and technicals that give us the perspective. So in this case the story for gold goes back about more than 10 years already to the ’99 and 2001 major double bottom. Literally at that time I had identified this really very, very large scale combination of factors elements of price and time and geometry and structure of the chart, which allowed me to, or anyone who’s looking at those elements to identify a projection that gold needed to turn the corner from that double bottom at 252-260. And would climb over the course of 13 years tenfold increase in value that it would go from 260 to 2,600. Along the way we can expect certain turning points and various price levels and at various time points, and the market has indeed unfolded very well in adherence to those intermediate junctures.

From the bottom of the crisis in 2008 where it came back to tag on a weekly closing basis exactly what the high from 2006 was, That symmetry allowed us to project with increasing confidence that we would continue on this path towards the 2,600 in 2014. From recent levels now we’re at about 1,500, but say from a month ago we were at 1,300 represented a remaining balance of doubling in value to get to the ultimate target. From where we are now it’s less than a doubling in value over the course of what is about three years to go. So it really is not a very major, not a very aggressive percentage gain that’s required over the remaining time frame to get to that major objective. What’s interesting is that when you take into account the other elements of the US dollar which is a considerable component to the movement in the price of gold, but not the exclusive component, it represents part of that movement to come. But gold is going to outperform the general devaluation of the dollar and the general depreciation of the dollar. It will also do so not because of a fundamental side, not because of excessive tightness of supply and not from excessive demand industrially, but really from increases in demand from private investors, commercial investors, professional investors as well as central bank buying from Asia.

It’s that combination on the investment side which is leading to, or causing gold to outperform the dollar and to continue moving higher, very much in line with the expectation. You mentioned silver, silver has as you know from the books I wrote now almost five years ago was my number one favorite commodity that was covered in that text and the expectation was for silver to ultimately reach a level around the same time as gold that would represent the gold silver ratio moving down in favor of silver, down to a level of 15 which was the historical lows for that gold silver ratio. We are now at 30 which has been a substantial out performance of silver over the last six months or so as we’ve come from levels up at 70 or 80 down towards 30, this represents silver out performing gold. From the current area it only means that silver needs to outperform by two times gold to reach the ratio of 15. In actual dollar terms silver now is very close to its historical record high from January 1980 which was , and naturally you can expect some sort of reaction and resistance to that level. Whether the reaction is in the form of a very sharp plunge, or whether the reaction is in the form of a hovering just below the 50, we’ll see very shortly. But ultimately we’ll see silver will pass the later this year and continue on its trajectory to reach its target which is around about 0 around the same time that gold is reaching 2,600.

I think you have to distinguish between different commodities and the component that the dollar plays in terms of their pricing. For gold the dollar plays a more substantial role. That is a considerable portion of the movement of gold can be attributed, not 100% of course, but a considerable portion can be attributed to a reflection of the US dollar. Other commodities like silver which has a much larger industrial component to the applications and the demand for silver is not as tightly correlated to the US dollar. When you look at other commodities like oil which are really purely industrial related, the dollar plays a lesser role. In any event a substantial movement in the general value of the dollar because of either monetary inflation printing of the money will have a general effect of on the price of all commodities. So to the extent that the dollar ultimately loses half its value that represents a natural doubling in value for these other assets. In the case of gold it will hold its own and will slightly outperform the dollar.

In the case of silver it will do twice as well as gold over the next few years. In the case of oil and copper these will do even more than twice as well because of the percentage movements and tighter elements of supply and demand, which actually brings up the issue of where we are right now in terms of supply and demand for some of these commodities, particularly on the industrial side. The two elements that have been driving the markets in the last couple of months have been on the supply side the risk premium because of issues in Libya and the Middle East which have given a higher price range for oil than otherwise would be the case. Similarly on the demand side we’ve seen the crisis in Japan with the triple crisis of earthquake, tsunami and nuclear which have led to a sense of reduction of demand which would normally lower the price of oil. But there has been an interpretation that this crisis will pass and not have a lingering effect, and therefore it’s been overwhelmed by the supply side. I think ultimately what we are going to find is that the supply is going to resolve itself and I’m not very bearish on the situation in the Middle East. I think that it’s not going to have a lingering and Japan as well will resolve itself.

Ultimately we are going to look at real demand and real growth from around the world that will continue driving these commodities higher over the course of the rest of 2011 and throughout 2012. So we’ve got 18 more months in this round so to speak of substantial up side. A lot of this can be represented by movements in the equity markets.

If we are looking back all the way to March 2009 you know we’re already two years into this multiyear sequence. The initial really sharp up swing which was about 100% in the case of some of the equity indices around the world and more than a tripling in value with some of the commodities copper in particular. The initial movement off the lows of course is a, was a natural reaction to being a little bit over sold at the maximum fear of the market crisis. At the same time was powered by this vast increase in money supply that naturally weighs nominal price level of all these assets. But as we got into 2010 we had a pull back in the towards the second quarter middle of the year. From that point to middle of 2010 the last year has been really quite steadily upwards as you noted for stocks and commodities. This has reflected this last year the resurgence of economic growth particularly in Asia which has been powering ahead, and other parts of the world as well have been joining in. Of course there are some head winds here and there I mean Europe has its own debt kind of issues to work out and it’s always moving a little bit slower than everything else. But it will work its way through and US as well with its debt overhang has been slower to turn the corner. It’s been assisted and helped out of the doldrums by the maintenance of really low interest rates, which has helped to bring equity values up at the expense of the US dollar. So you might recall at one time I mentioned that over the larger span of time of these five to eight years, that we are in now, really you can put everything on the table into one of two camps, or one of two sides of the table. One side is the US dollar and US bonds and fixed income securities and on the other side is everything else that is equities, commodities and currencies. Generally these two groups are moving in opposite direction, that when the dollar is going down and the bonds are going down because of rising interest rates then everything else is going up because of this inflationary force.

Nothing goes in straight line though, and occasionally you will have reversal and you will have the appearance of the dollar going up and bonds bouncing up and everything else taking a corrective decline. If we look specifically at the equity markets your listeners who were in Vancouver back in February will recall that I had mentioned that there was a very large structure for the S&P which like gold has been in this multi-year advance and has a target, a long held target that I’ve had for more than decade that we will eventually reach in 2016, a little bit later than the highs for gold. In 2016 we’ll reach some high for equity markets and in particular for the S&P at 3,600. From current levels above 1,200 we’re now at 1,360 but from 1,200 it represents a tripling in value. So that’s more than three times from where we are now over the course of another five years. So it’s not an aggressive percentage for the remaining distance particularly when it’s facilitated by this extra layer of monetary inflation.

Specifically for what I had said back in February the market has been adhering very nicely. In fact from the bottom of 2009 the S&P went up 550 points which was a perfect almost to the point. From a bottom in July 2010 it has continued moving up with very similar patterns of symmetry and proportionality that followed a very specific rhythm.

From that bottom in at 1,250 the market has recovered as expected and the next level that I had projected was 1,360. In fact in the most recent report that I did from middle April, I said that during this month which we are just finishing now that the S&P needed to recover from 1,300 up to 1,365 and we literally closed last week at 1,363 now 1,364. And so we’re now here now at the anticipated resistance level. So what do I expect from reaching this target? I expect that we will have a very modest, say only about a 2% dip next week which could take us right back to tag that familiar inflection point of 1,332. and that if by holding at that level it would give the market confidence to power ahead to the next target which are at 1,440 and 1,560.

And the percentage movements to get from where we are now at 1,360 up to 1,560 is another 200 points or only about a 15% movement. Sometimes it’s important to bear in mind the percentages and not just the raw points because as you move through time the points can look big or look small depending on what the absolute level is, the percentages are more pertinent. In this case the time frame to reach 1,560 is only to the middle of July. So that’s only a few months from now and so I anticipate a 2% dip then 15% climb to the middle of the year then you will have a sharper pull back which would be a natural continuation. And if you look further ahead to the end of 2011 and into 2012, I am expecting with the general recovery and economic growth around the world and stronger equity markets generally, I would be looking for the S&P to power up to 1,900. Then ultimately finish in 2012 at about 2,400, then having a bigger drop in 2013, then resuming in a somewhat more choppy fashion compared with the fluid fashion that we’ve had generally in the last year or so, but a somewhat more choppy fashion to move up towards its final objective at 3,600 in 2016. So that’s the big picture view of how these markets should unfold and as always it’s a question of individual investors and traders looking at their own risk tolerances and portfolios and all various different elements to go into what is the most appropriate way to trade these kind of instruments, what leverages and so on are appropriate for any individual. But from a pure market perspective my expectation is we’ll see these up and downs as the market unfolds towards its targeted 2016.

In case you wish to acquire mutual funds, you really want to grasp nearly everything you’ll be able to concerning how to . Mutual funds will be the path to proceed to be able to build seriously fantastic purchases in your investment.

This is because they can be extremely quick to acquire plus these are generally also very simple to trade.

Mutual funds are generally vibrant in benefits plus abilities. You’ll have got to complete your groundwork on how to buy mutual funds.

You absolutely need to identify which of these could accommodate exactly what you would need and can provide you with the mutual funds that you could certainly get. The 1st step is always to find the fundamental steps on how to buy mutual funds.

This can be basically a portfolio made up of the selection of securities including bonds, certificates, in addition to stocks and options.

The majority of funds have got concentration or a focal point that could direct you with the type of investment which you are venturing. The subsequent phase if perhaps you intend to buy mutual funds would be to locate your current investment ambitions.

Your unique objectives eventually define the type of mutual monetary fund that’s appropriate to all your specifications.

In the event you intend to pay off for your personal college degree or save the money for your personal pension, it only is sensible that you obtain the maximum amount of income as you are able to with your mutual fund.

Figure out how you invest in mutual funds in addition to allow it to show with your all round stock portfolio. Your total investment is simply the component of your current group investments.

These should really subsequently get allocated to your mutual resources in respect to your investment plan.

It is easy to identify the percentage after which you can simply firmly stick to these. When you intend to buy mutual funds, make sure if these encompass equities that may very well be a liability to your investment.

Immediately after having finished these, the following procedure on just how to buy mutual funds is always to determine your risk appetite. You are able to tailor your investment funds in such a way that you are generally much less aggressive.

It really is likewise beneficial to diversify your investment funds given that some market sectors could experience a recession.

Just by diversifying your current mutual funds into stocks, bonds along with also money market, you may easily reduce the consequence with your stock portfolio.

Last but not least, as you search for the mutual funds that are worth investing, financial magazines and also mutual funds assessment internet sites will be able to demonstrate the risks, fund performances, plus additional details for example mutual fund manager performance, entire investments handled in addition to stock portfolio

If you are contemplating investing in property in Queensland but harboring doubts, it would be wise to do some research and take the time to talk to an investment property expert. You will soon come to the realization that a long-term investment plan in property can provide a source of income, an opportunity to build equity over time and security for your future. There are companies that offer advice and expert help in investment, guiding you through the entire process, enabling you to make well informed decisions.

If you are considering investing in property in order to rent it out and earning money from it, you will need to do some specific research especially to determine the monthly rental price of the property. Take a few tours around the neighborhood yourself; go at different times and days of the week to get a good idea of the area. Sunday might be the complete opposite of a Tuesday night for example. You want to know and make sure if there is anything that may turn out to be a plus or a problem for the future tenants. Like schools, bars, crime, shops, parking space etc. The history of the property is crucial to know if the tenants used to rent for long periods because then you shouldn’t have any problems sub leasing the house either. Research the rental rates for equal properties in the neighborhood and see what they are asking. Check out the infrastructure as well, motorways, public transport etc. If the house is in need of renovation you should take these costs into consideration.

The most difficult part of the process will be finding the right property to suit your requirements. This can take some time as it could be a while until a suitable property comes onto the market, and then there are all the processes involved in purchasing it. Every property you look at will be unique dependent on its location, the current state of the market and the local economy. Most people say that it’s all about location location location and with a Queensland investment property you can be sure it will be the perfect investment.

This is where the experts in the field of investing in property come in. To do this all on your own it will be a little exhausting and there is a lot of hard work involved. Most of you have a busy life already and then to make extra time for this might hold you back to invest at all. Not only do they assist you with putting together a long-term property investment plan but they’ll also find you the perfect real-estate that has the possibility to create the capital growth you are looking for in the first place. Other issues like financing, conveyance, and insurance and property management are no rocket science for them either. With the knowledge and help of the expert there’s little left for you to do or stress about!

Some property investment advisors obtain their market data from local government, regulatory and leading private industry bodies, but to ensure their advice is entirely accurate they also employ teams of professionals who research the location directly by liaising with contractors, local agents, developers and even local residents. Also taking into consideration factors such as the local environment, facilities and amenities, quality of the neighborhood, transport systems and local economy, they use their findings to locate properties with strong long-term investment potential for their customers. The types of people they have coming to these advisors for advice are seeking to improve their lifestyle by eliminating financial worries and gain security in the knowledge that they can better provide for future family responsibilities.

For new investors, the notion of making their first residential property investment is extremely exhilarating, whilst others will feel apprehension or trepidation. All these feelings are typical, however your excitement could prevent you from making the best investment, and your fear prevent you from even getting started! It is not uncommon for ordinary investors to accrue two or even three properties over a number of years, the financial confidence and increased cash flow these can generate will improve your standard of living tenfold. Always remember to do a thorough research before you invest in anything!

The unrivalled landscapes, cultural heritage and thriving towns and cities are just part of the reason that three out of four of the UK’s top 100 companies have a business location in the North West. Some of the most recognised brands in the world call the North West home, from the leading search engine to luxury car manufacturers.

With over 400 million people within a 4 hour flight of the North West, the business investment opportunity has never been better.

Here are ten more compelling reasons to invest in England’s North West

1. The Northwest has over 7m residents and more than 230,000 businesses. With a turnover of £106 billion, higher than 14 EU countries including Denmark and Finland, it is the 12th largest economy in Europe.

2. This region has the UK’s highest turnover and workforce capacity in the manufacturing sector, making it one of only three regions that positively contributes to the UK balance of Trade.

3. The largest concentration of universities in the United Kingdom is in the North West, and produces over 50,000 graduates a year. The University of Manchester is the UK’s largest single site university and has a turnover of £500 million per year. Leading national businesses such as those in the aerospace, pharmaceutical and nuclear fields work closely with the region’s universities.

4. As well as being home to some of the world’s leading financial, research and manufacturing companies, and many universities, you may be surprised to learn that almost a third of the North West is designated as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The Lake District is the most famous of these, and there are well known national parks and wildlife areas in Lancashire, Greater Manchester, Merseyside and Cheshire. Whilst in the North West, you are never very far from the countryside, the coast, or spectacular views.

5. World class engineering in aerospace, automotive, advanced materials and chemical manufacturing can all be found in the North West. Nuclear power research and environmental technology are also important industries.

6. The largest food and drink producing region in England and Wales is the North West in terms of manufacturing units, and is responsible for almost 15% of total regional employment. Some of the worlds leading food and drink companies have their primary business location in the North West.

7. Home to 31,000 digital and creative companies, employing over 320,000 people, the North West is a thriving region in terms of media and modern technology investment. Information technology, web design and marketing feature strongly, and Liverpool is widely acknowledged as one of the leading cities in terms of computer games design. TV and film production in the region is increasing, and the North West is the second largest broadcasting market in the UK, and home to the largest production company outside of London.

8. Approximately 11% of the regions workforce is involved in business and finance. The North West offers a broad range of financial, legal, property and consultancy services. Major international financial institutions are also investing in the North West, particularly in Manchester.

9. With approximately 230 biomedical companies employing 25,000 people, the area between Liverpool and Manchester on the M62 / M56 corridor, is home also home to six multinational pharmaceutical companies. Liverpool is home to the new National Biomanufacturing Centre, whilst the University of Manchester has the only 5-star Biological Sciences Department in the country. Genetics research also features prominently in the North West.

10. Quality of life is very important here. With affordable housing, excellent shopping, nightlife, musical heritage, internationally renowned sporting success and world class football, and horseracing venues, uninterrupted coastline and more, there is always plenty to do in the North West, whether in the city or the countryside.

The northwest is the ideal business location for UK investment. From food to finance, medicine to media and genetics to game design, the North West has it all.

Searching for people and firms that can offer private funding for real estate may prove to be tough yet will lead you to being successful in your financial growth. Most people will need guidance to alleviate the trouble with taking the required steps toward long term financial stability. The success of your investment objectives can be hard and challenging since traditional lenders are likely to avoid individual with poor credit score. Quite often, approaching private people for financing is usually a lot easier and will help commence any investment plans.

These kinds of private funds are financial resources that are offered through private organization or individuals. Private funding for real estate, business, and much more can find a number of financial institutions in the private sector. There are merits in private funding including lower cost and the most important is its flexibility when compared to other financial loans.

The expenses in addition to payments you make will surely consume your income, and using private funds might help you with all your financial goals. Private funds will assist you begin your investment in real estate and various businesses. This will allow you to control your finances and accomplish your targets which usually might not be possible when you have financial loans other than private funding.

Applying for funds from private establishment and individuals just means that you loan funds from them and they want to have a return of their investment. This would make borrowing flexible given that this provide you with the advantage of getting a loan that could fit your investment goals and loaning requirements.

Loaning from a financial institution might not be difficult as you think it is. There are tons of selections where you can borrow private funds; it may be from a family member, friend and a business associate. The first step in acquiring private funds is to tell these people that you would like to borrow money. Other than the people mentioned previously, you will find other lenders who are able to provide you with funds.

You’ll be able to secure private funding for real estate and other investment goals by making contact with investment clubs and real estate clubs. Investors who are searching for private funding will probably recommend you seek for private individuals or organizations who are willing to spend money on your investment goals. Creating a great plus wider number of contacts will make this easier for you to look for private funds. You will also find this helpful as you can understand new opportunities and you will have a group of private lenders who understand your investment goals.

Another option for you to secure private funding from possible loan providers is through the advertisements on the net. These kinds of advertisements will assist you to learn more about private funding, how you can secure one and other needed information. Although it’s not a good idea to promote yourself, you can attend networking events and investment workshops in order to meet other people who know about private lending and are interested in loaning for investment funds. The interest rates for private funding is generally around 9-15%, making it beneficial for both parties.

Private funding for real estate and other investment goals can be the key to starting a long term financial security and wealth. Through private funds, you can access the desired income for the investment goals. You’ll be able to achieve your goals faster and easier when compared with the traditional lenders.

In today’s difficult  investment marketplace it’s more important than ever to conduct a large amount of research and due diligence on your own to pave the road to financial freedom.  There are large numbers of investment advisors, wealth managers, and financial planners that abound in financial world, but one has to keep in mind that at the end of the day, the only person that truly has your best interests is yourself.

Finding a great financial professional can be helpful for certain investors, but there are also many pitfalls involved. It is easy to fall prey to advisors that are just looking for your business to supplement their own income, or that have ulterior motives.  Most are honest and hardworking people, but even so they manage handfuls of clients on a day to day basis and only have so much time for your specific account.  There is also a fee involved no matter what sort of financial professional  is involved and your goal is to generate extra profits and gain a greater net worth not spend more of your hard-earned dollars.  If one does decide to use an investment professional it is still a great idea to take a proactive role in managing one’s finances and always keep an eye on your professional so that you can understand and stay abreast of your investment portfolio.

There are many ways to start to educate yourself on the world of investing.

A)     If you are a beginner start buying books on personal finance so that you can get an overview of how to best manage your finances on every level from personal budgeting to taxes to understanding the numerous types of investment vehicles that abound.  Any of the “Dummies” guides and a plethora of other basic books should suffice.

B)      If you are not a beginner, or have already taken this step keep yourself informed of the economy at large by keeping current with business news and market conditions.  General market commentary can be found on sites like http://www.cnnmoney.com  or http://www.forbes.com or even your local/online newspaper.

C)      Start to find investment information sources that benefit your specific goals and your specific investment vehicles.  There are newsletters and websites for every single type of investor from novice to professional and every type of investment vehicle from stocks to bonds. Pick investment vehicles that suit your tastes, risk tolerance and goals as an investor.  

D)     Figure out what investment newsletters, investment websites and investment information products work the best for other investors and more importantly yourself. A site that ranks and reviews investment information products like http://www.greedreviews.com  can come in handy to get peer reviews on financial information from other like-minded investors.  Greedreviews.com benefit is that it is unbiased information and not being pushed on you from advertisers or sites with ulterior motives.

E)       Never assume that any one source is going to be the end all be all. Research investments, keep a balanced portfolio and always keep a careful eye on your portfolio.

Investing success is possible, but one has to be as cautious with investing as they do their health. It requires maintenance, updates, and a constant stream of knowledge.

Gold, silver and other precious metals are a worthwhile investment. These are a source of stability during economically tough times. So, there is a constant demand for these metals in the market. However, one should always buy these metals from trusted and certified dealers so as to be sure of the authenticity and purity.

That is why, most people prefer APMEX. It is an abbreviation for American Precious Metals Exchange. Only thirteen companies worldwide are certified to buy precious metals from American Mint. One of these is APMEX. It can be used to buy gold, silver, platinum, palladium, etc. APMEX silver and APMEX gold are worldwide famous for their authenticity. APMEX is an online provider from where people can buy precious metals 24×7. It is the largest and most trusted with an ‘A+’ honor from Better Business Bureau.

APMEX has a wide variety of gold coins and bars. As on 1/3/2011, the bid for APMEX gold stood at 16.80. APMEX gold and bullion contains a wide variety of gold coins such as Gold American Eagle Coins, Gold Buffalo Coins and pre – 1933 US Gold Coins. Apart from these, gold coins from other countries are also available. Canadian Maple Leaves and Chinese Panda are even available. APMEX gold collection is perfect both for investors and collectors.

APMEX silver collection is also enviable. APMEX silver collection contains silver bullion bars and coins. As on 1/3/2011, the price of silver stood at .75. Pure silver bars, 90% silver junk coins, silver coins and silver rounds are available here. APMEX silver coins include Morgan Silver dollars, Silver American Eagle, Silver Chinese Pandas and much more.Gold, silver and other precious metals are a worthwhile investment. These are a source of stability during economically tough times.

APMEX.com also provides a wide range in gift options. Silver bullion, gold bullion and collectables are available. Pendants, bars, jewelry and themed coins make good gifting items. For example, there is a set of 5 coins, each with a worth of half a penny. It has themed upon the novel and movie franchisee Harry Potter and its heroes. The heroes include Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, Ronald Weasley, Albus Dumbledore and Rubeus Hagrid.

Are you using the “buy & hold” or the “traditional asset allocation” approach to investing? Do you realize that both of them can put your money at considerable risk for loss — while not even maximizing its growth potential? Read on for an alternative that’s safer and has the potential of far better returns.

That safer approach is much less well-known, yet it is one of the key approaches of the wealthy. It goes by a variety of names, including “formulaic investing” and “quantitative investing.” These are not so much official terms but refer to a specific methodology that is employed to get the best possible results.

Let’s look at the basic principles behind quantitative investing. Advisors employing that methodology tend to start with a top-down approach, where they take a look at equities in large caps, small caps, and international caps, among others, to get a sense of the broad indicators, via mathematical algorithms.

Then, they use a computer to analyze the various stocks, and find the 10 to 15 individual stocks from each of these categories that have the best potential.

But that’s just part of it. Another crucial part is the decision whether it’s a smart move to be in equities in the first place. This is decided with the help of something called recession probability analytics.

Recession probability analytics takes various indices in the market place and ranks as well as evaluates them. It takes for example retail sales results, the unemployment rate, the housing market, the discrepancy between the European currencies and the dollar, and more. The computer then uses a point system to evaluate the results.

And the results boil down to answering the question whether it’s a good idea to be in equities right now or not. If the result is at 50% or above, it indicates that great caution is appropriate. In fact, the higher the number, the less good of an idea it is to be in the market. If, on the other hand, the results are below 50 percent, the market is the place to be.

The beauty of such a system is that it can tell those who use it to get out of the market when the indicators suggest the strong possibility of a recession. And doing that can cut potential losses dramatically. It even does it all without getting their emotions involved.

What do they do with the money in that case? They hold it in cash. That way, they may not make money, but they also won’t lose any money. And once the indicators say it’s time to get back into the market, the cash holdings can be put to work right away. Are you using the “buy & hold” or the “traditional asset allocation” approach to investing? Do you realize that both of them can put your money at considerable risk for loss — while not even maximizing its growth potential? Read on for an alternative that’s safer and has the potential of far better returns.

That safer approach is much less well-known, yet it is one of the key approaches of the wealthy. It goes by a variety of names, including “formulaic investing” and “quantitative investing.” These are not so much official terms but refer to a specific methodology that is employed to get the best possible results.

Let’s look at the basic principles behind quantitative investing. Advisors employing that methodology tend to start with a top-down approach, where they take a look at equities in large caps, small caps, and international caps, among others, to get a sense of the broad indicators, via mathematical algorithms.

Then, they use a computer to analyze the various stocks, and find the 10 to 15 individual stocks from each of these categories that have the best potential.

But that’s just part of it. Another crucial part is the decision whether it’s a smart move to be in equities in the first place. This is decided with the help of something called recession probability analytics.

Recession probability analytics takes various indices in the market place and ranks as well as evaluates them. It takes for example retail sales results, the unemployment rate, the housing market, the discrepancy between the European currencies and the dollar, and more. The computer then uses a point system to evaluate the results.

And the results boil down to answering the question whether it’s a good idea to be in equities right now or not. If the result is at 50% or above, it indicates that great caution is appropriate. In fact, the higher the number, the less good of an idea it is to be in the market. If, on the other hand, the results are below 50 percent, the market is the place to be.

The beauty of such a system is that it can tell those who use it to get out of the market when the indicators suggest the strong possibility of a recession. And doing that can cut potential losses dramatically. It even does it all without getting their emotions involved.

What do they do with the money in that case? They hold it in cash. That way, they may not make money, but they also won’t lose any money. And once the indicators say it’s time to get back into the market, the cash holdings can be put to work right away.

Encouraging indicators in the in the form of advanced tax collection and industrial production at 17.6 per cent in the month of March 2010 have brought enough cheer to investors investing in India. According to the Union Finance Minister of India, Mr Pranab Mukherjee, these factors are propelling the economy in the right direction. Owing to the euro zone financial turmoil and better job security in the Gulf, investors too are returning to India and better monsoon and strong production output mean the growth story in India would continue to attract investments.

Exports have risen by 35 per cent to US$ 16.1 billion, on increasing demand in the western economies. Better conducive environments prevail now in the states such as Karnataka, Kerala, etc., which have created industry friendly environs for doing business in India. The states are now implementing new industrial policies, revised IT policies too. have opened up in sectors such as infrastructure, power, etc., which have helped in boosting the economy in the northward direction.

Overseas investors are now being guided through online facilitation platforms as OIFC, which engages in providing facilitation advice through an expert panel on queries related to investment opportunities and doing . The refurbished foreign direct investment policy with updations scheduled on a regular basis by the government too is a step in this direction.

Tax reforms and incentives such as direct tax code (DTC), higher float in indices for free trading etc are initiatives that are expected to bolster more investments into the thrust sectors. The doors have opened to international trade with signing of free trade agreements (FTAs) with economies such as Finland and income tax agreements to avoid double taxation. The government has also set up two income tax overseas units (ITOUs) within Indian Missions in Singapore and Mauritius. Eight more such units have further been approved in USA, UK, Netherlands, Japan, Cyprus, Germany, France and UAE. These will facilitate smooth garnering of taxation revenues without hindrances and tax evasions in cross-border transactions.

The growth trend is substantiated with the report data that has come out recently. The Centre of Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE) in its report stated that it expects industrial production to grow by a buoyant 9.2 per cent in 2010-11. The growth would come on top of a 10.4 per cent growth in industrial production, as measured by the Index of Industrial Production (IIP) in 2009-10, CMIE said.

These factors are hence expected to help retain continuity in investment in prime sectors.