How to Protect Yourself From More Debt when Considering Separation and or Divorce

Several men and women are staying married, but living separated because of today's economy. In fact, there are still separated men and women who are sharing the same house. We often associated divorces with long messy battles, so why is this happening? 

It is happening because people just don't have the money to spend. Especially married couples with children are realising that it is in their best interest to live together but separately for the time being. But what if you aren't one of those individuals? What if you and your spouse have decided to part ways? What if you were enrolled in a debt relief program at the time? Or, what if you need to enroll in one now because you owe a lot of money to the creditors? 

Agreements: When it comes to divorce, if you own any shared assets, these will often be divided up. In the case of a home, that home is often sold during or after the divorce. If the home still has a mortgage, that amount is paid off first. Unless other special arrangements were made, the leftover money from the sale is typically divided between the two. A similar agreement needs to be made for debts. 

Lets say you two have a credit card (with both your names on the account) and that credit card has $100,000 in debt. You both used the card; therefore, it is debt that belongs to both of you. One of the first things you want to do is bring this to the attention of your lawyer. This debt can and should be worked into your divorce agreement. 

While there are steps that you can take to protect yourself when it comes to divorce and debt relief, there are some men and women who are placed in very unfortunate situations. They had their ex-spouse up and disappear or outright refuse to pay their portion of the debt. You might be surprised how much this happens. You want to keep your credit and finances in good standing, but it seems as if they could care less. What should you do? 

As tempting as it might be, you don't want to avoid paying the bills. You think "it isn't my responsibly," but the creditors will still come after you. You could always go the route of small claims court, but right now your focus should be taking care of your credit. This is particularly true if you have children; you'll never know when you need financing for a car or medical emergency. Here comes another problem though, if you are now a single parent you are struggling to make ends meet. The best thing for you to do is to talk to a debt relief program. 

In this case, debt relief programs that focus on consolidation typically aren't recommended. You will get a consolidated loan in just your (not your ex's either). Should you ever later want to go after them in small claims court, you might have hurt your chances. That is why settlement is best. What happens here is the amount you owed is reduced. A settlement company will agree to get your creditors to settle for less, making it a lot easier for you to pay. 

There has really never been a more advantageous time for consumers to try and eliminate unsecured debt. Creditors are very concerned about collecting and most have government money to make eliminating some of your debt financially feasible. 

Article Source: https://EzineArticles.com/expert/Morgan_Laronte/453774 

Financial Planning Challenges that Women Face

If you were to guess which issue women worry about most right now would you guess kids, family, our partner being faithful, health, time management, mental health or stress, or maybe even equal rights? 

The answer is...... our finances. 

This response may or may not surprise you now, but consider the following list of financial issues unique to us:

• We are more intimidated than men about financial issues 
• We earn less money than men (82 cents in the $)
• We are less prepared for retirement as we have less money to retire on
• We live on average 8 years longer than men 
• We don't know who to trust with our finances so we tend to leave it in the bank or spend it
• We are more conservative investors than men
• It is more challenging for single mothers, even more if you are a working parent
• We are caring for elderly parents 
• Our health insurance plans cost us more
• We tend to defer to men regarding long term financial decisions, even though we manage the daily household finances 
• Money may have been managed by our spouses  when married and then we do not know how to manage money if we end up divorced
• The finance Industry doesn't really cater for women and we generally don't trust the men in suits
• Women of Colour are the most dis-advantaged statistically when it comes to equality and earnings

A study by the National Center for Women and Retirement Research showed that women investors were more worried than men about running out of money in old age, preferred more conservative investments, wanted fixed/steady returns, were more unnerved by stock fluctuations and worried more about investment decisions. 

Due to this, our retirement years are severely impacted as we have earned less money, therefore we have less to retire on whilst we live longer.

Most and Anthes note that according to the Administration on Aging "...half the elderly widows now living in poverty were not living in poverty before their husbands died. 

The picture is even worse for older women in many minority groups.

The next generation of retirees may have been raised in an environment in which men handled the money decisions. 

Despite more women actually pay the weekly bills, we tend to have little knowledge of the larger family finances such as retirement plans, insurance, annuities, etc. because we defer this to our spouse's to make the decisions. 

It is essential for women to understand the 'big picture' of their finances, especially for retirement, divorce, or death of their spouse. 

Because we earn less than men, we are less prepared for retirement, and receive smaller retirement benefits, we need to make sure that our husband's retirement benefits will pass to us if our husband dies first. 

Because we may be more intimidated about asking questions of our attorney or financial advisor, we may miss crucial details (such as single-life annuity which may bring higher levels during the husband's life but that ends when the husband dies first), or incorrect beneficiaries on life insurance policies. 

During a divorce, we may be more concerned about custody issues and keeping the house than our future retirement and may agree to forgo retirement plans. 

Single parenting brings a whole host of financial challenges, including lost wages from parenting responsibilities and childcare and babysitters. 

If the extra expenses and possibly lower income are not included in the divorce settlement, as single mother may find that she is unable to keep the house and she loses the two most valuable assets: the house and her retirement plan. 

Women not only make less money than men, our health plan may cost more than for men due to mammograms, the cervical-cancer vaccine, Pap tests and pregnancy related services. 

This is unfair, but while the inequity exists, we must make an extra effort to contribute the difference to a Health Savings Account or savings program to avoid using credit to pay for the added medical bills if needed.

Another huge drain on women's finances is caring for our aging parents. 

More women care for aging parents than men. 

However distasteful it may be to condense a daughter's love for her parents into a discussion of money, this issue must be addressed so that women can prepare. 

Because of the aging baby-boomer population, these numbers will soon become staggering. 

If you add caring for young children into the mix at the same time, the financial results can be devastating. 

Because of the special issues facing women, it is crucial that we educate ourselves about finances and the realities of financial gender inequity and plan for our future. 

The male-dominated financial services industry is just beginning to realise the unique financial planning issues for women. 

This is where we come in ladies, to ensure you have the financial education so you have the knowledge you need to become financially fabulous.

We support you with the basics of financial education and ensure that you find trusted advisors that understand your issues and are helping you plan accordingly. 

Don't be afraid to ask your advisors questions (we put a guide together on this exact topic so you know what questions to ask and are fully aware of the process). 

Now is the time to begin planning for the future: 

• Have a plan 
• Increase your knowledge and understanding of financial matters 
• Utilise trusted professional advisors to implement your plans  
• Regularly monitor your progress

Femvestorsglobal is your starting point to your financial journey, we will ensure you reach your "Moneymoon Destination"

Financial Success for Women

Truth Bomb Ladies- what we earn is mostly what we spend! 

Many of us spend our money without a budget and then complain when our finances begin to dwindle. The habits that we have created within ourselves with regards to how we spend our money can break or make us. The issue we have created is that we have the problem of spending within our means. Many find ourselves in a tight corner just because we couldn't say no to that flashy car or the expensive handbag we know we should not even be looking at, never mind talk of buying. 

Just like many bury ourselves deep into debt just to satisfy that yearn that has nothing to add to our personal finance or to our life for that matter. Many calculate what they spend at the end of each month and wonder where our money had gone and even what we had done with that thing we should not have bought but bought anyway and is not lying unused in a box in our room. 

Casual spending is not a friend to anyone and it can easily put you into trouble. It is something that can land you in bankruptcy left with nothing but the useless purchase of a life time that has no value to add to our life. There are a few things we need to check when determining our spending habit. 

These are: We need to see the wrong in what we are doing. We need not hide behind ignorance of our actions. We should know that it is not going to help us if we do not find solution to it. If you are in debt already, we need to pay it all off and then develop another healthier way of dealing with your finances. 

We need to know how much we spend at any particular time. Be conscious of the amount of money that is being paid for any thing you are buying so as to help you determine if that amount is worth it or if that thing is worth having. You need to map out ways to evaluate what you are spending each month and why you are over spending if you are. Know what you need and calculate what you can get when you turn away from that thing that you want but do not really need. 

Re-evaluate your lifestyle now. Invent new ways of handling your finances. This is something that will give you a new meaning into why and how you are spending what you are not supposed to. Get a new lifestyle that is healthier for your pocket. Design some kind of specification on the spending decision you make. Be careful with how you dish out your credit card and what you use it to buy. It is super easy to over spend when you know you can get it on credit. 

We as women have problems with how we spend out money, now is the time to learn to put a spending plan together, this can help in our day to day purchases so that we can see the error of what we do as clear as possible and this will be the first step towards a better habit.

We can support you with creating a spending plan and other financial success habits so you too can become financially fabulous. 

Check out www.femvestorsglobal.com for more information

Do You Have the Right to More Energy & More Money?

Thoreau said, "The price of anything is the amount of life you exchange for it." 

What if you came to the realisation that you are, indeed, exchanging your energy for your life? Would that change some of how you spend your time, i.e., your energy? I think it might. So, wouldn't it be wise to make sure that as often as possible, any energy that you're expending on an activity or expending on a person, you make into a positive exchange rather than a negative exchange? 

Let me ask you a question: 

Do you believe you have a right to more positive energy? 

If you don't believe you have a right to positive things, which includes positive energy, then I'm not sure you're going to find much value in this article. 

Let's flip for a moment to thinking about finances. Your sense of whether you have a right to positive energy is related to your sense that you have a right to ask for certain amounts of money when you are negotiating. The reason I'm bringing this up here is because when you value yourself (and the energy of your life), you will be better able to charge appropriately for your time, services, and products.

I recommend reading Suze Orman's book, entitled Women and Money, Owning the Power to Control Your Destiny. When I first got this book a couple of years ago, I read almost the whole thing in one evening. The title of chapter 4 is, "You Are Not on Sale." In this chapter she discusses how women in particular devalue themselves. She states,

If you under-value what you do, the world under-values who you are, and when you under-value who you are the world under-values what you do.  

This is a big message for all of us. There is extensive research available about how women continue to under-value what we have to offer much more so than men do. For example, a very interesting book was published a while back, titled Women Don’t Ask: The High Cost of Avoiding Negotiation and Positive Strategies for Change (Princeton University Press, 2003), was so influential that Fortune Magazine named it as one of the 75 smartest business books of all time. The book also was a Finalist for the Independent Publisher Book Awards.

Two academic women examined women professors and how they start out with the same amount of education and the same amount of experience as men, yet over time the women are always paid less and always ask for less. Apparently, men keep asking for more and they get more. The authors also looked at what it ends up costing women over their lifetime. It is not costing you $10,000 over your lifetime; it is costing you closer to half a million dollars. So, not only do you need to know how to ask...but you have to recognise your VALUE. 

Now, the second question I'd like to ask you in this article is: 

Whose responsibility is it for you to have more positive energy? 

This is clearly tied to the valuing of who you are and what you do. Again, as women, we tend to think people will notice what a good job we do and they will, of course, reward us with money and promotions and all kinds of things. And I will bet if I took a little poll here among the readers of this article, we might all find out that's not exactly how it works. We must truly value what we do and then know how to ask for the appropriate compensation for that. 

You do have some control over your time, energy, and compensation and I believe it's your responsibility to exert that control. You have to know what you have that is of value and you have to let other people know that as well. 

In all ways, you want to explore the ways you can maximise your positive energy - and the return on that energy. When you do, you're maximising your life.

Article source: Meggin Mckintosh

Romance and Our Finances

For perhaps as long as love has been a part of human society, currency or trade have also played their parts; the two often cross paths, for better or worse and make for an interesting look at two of the most highly sought after fundamentals of our world. 

Buying love with money: Phrasing the idea in such blunt terms is often a little off putting for many individuals who believe that love isn't for sale. A gift given from person to another is not always the result of great expense, or in some cases any monetary expense at all, however in a world where the phrase time is money exists how can one eliminate the idea that a certain amount of affection or approval has just been, for all intents and purposes, purchased? It can be difficult to determine a person's feelings for another where money is involved. Most people would agree that gifts are a healthy expression of individuals' feelings, but would at the same time be offended by the idea that love can be purchased for the right price. If we look back not too many years ago, at a world where women in particular, though not exclusively, found that without the aid of a husband or relative they were nearly unable to support themselves it is easy to understand how such feelings could indeed be purchased. 

Considering the level of poverty so many people shared, the idea that a person could break free from such living conditions through the generosity (or sometimes just lust,) of another person would have extreme and lasting emotional consequences. In many cases, a prosperous marriage meant not only that a woman would never go hungry again, but that her family would also be provided for. While in some of these examples real love may have originated without the involvement of wealth; many of them were simply a trade, beautiful daughter or son, in exchange for financial security. In some cases this would be referred to as lust not love, but for many people the overwhelming sense of desire can easily be perceived as just such an emotion. Where some of these relationships may have begun with a pretty face or attractive body, the desire to take care of and provide for an individual suggests feelings that run a little deeper than pure desire. Though the idea may not be particularly appealing to many, it does beg the question: can love be bought? 

Lust for sale? Amoral to some and illegal in many places the concept of buying a little physical action from a person for a set price is one of the oldest topics of debate throughout the world. Whether you believe it wrong or right, or simply don't think about it, purchasing desire has been widely available in every country throughout the world as far back as any records can show. While lust does not share many of the same feelings with love it has certain powerful qualities that have driven many men and women to reach deep into their pocket books. In this case the person making the purchase is unlikely to invoke feelings of love from the person they are paying, but is it possible that some emotional attachment, some facsimile of love will come with it? Though it might be in many ways false love, the illusion can be extremely convincing. This is example of just how convincing can be seen in the well known gold digger, though perhaps not a very flattering term to use the concept is quite accurate: a person who marries are aligns themselves with another person who has the means to care for them, in many cases more than care for, providing substantial wealth. 

Though some might say there is a difference between a prostitute and a person who marries for money, it can be difficult to know where the line is drawn. On the other hand, a person who is attracted to another, at least in part, because that person could provide a comfortable, even lavish lifestyle, can hardly be blamed for finding the prospect appealing. Is it wrong to be attracted to a person for their money? Is it wrong to use your wealth in an attempt to attract others? These questions are ages old and yet still without definite answers from almost every society. Putting legalities aside, for most reasonable people it presents quite problem: is it fair to judge others for how they wish to live their lives? Most would say no. On the other hand the idea of selling sex for money has for many years been associated with other illegal and sometimes dangerous activities that tend take place in the same locations. Amoral or not, it is a true reflection of our growth as a society that these desires often outweigh logic; whether for or against, the emotional response is usually one sided and without thought to the oppositions' feelings or opinions. 

Money and relationships: It has been recorded numerous times that one of the most common reasons for couples splitting up is finance. Some attempt to avoid this issue by keeping separate bank accounts and treating the relationship, in terms of money, more like a roommate situation than a romantic one. In other situations one person entirely supports another financially while the other remains at home, perhaps attending school, pursing a creative profession or even more commonly to raise a family. However you and your partner have decided to address your financial decisions during stressful moments problems can be difficult to avoid. A few tips to keep in mind when dealing with this issue:

• Financial difficulty cannot always be attributed to one or both people; in certain situations it can be extremely difficult to deal with poverty or limited funds, remember not to place blame simply because the situation is frustrating. 
• If trying to cut back on overspending, remember to cut on equal sides; it can be a stressful endeavor to eliminate certain excess from your life, remember that your partner feels the same way about their own. 
• However terrible the situation, try to find things to laugh about with each other, it won't be easy but it can help to create a feeling of unity. 
• If one person is supporting another and this situation met with approval on both sides, don't throw blame out simply because financial problems have occurred by reminding a person that they are not bringing an income into the relationship, especially for those that accomplish a great deal at home, though it might not be paid work, it can be extremely hurtful and will not be forgotten even if the situation improves. 
• Do not try to hide financial problems from your significant other; often these issues are much better to face as a solid unit and a great deal of stress can be eliminated by sharing the burden.
• Forcing your partner to bear the positive attitude so that you can continue to panic or sulk is also unhelpful; regardless of your usual dynamic, try to be strong for your partner in these unhappy times. 
• When possible, if nothing can be done at the time to correct the situation, seek distraction with your partner, putting distance, at least temporarily between your relationship and finances. 

Will the ties between money and love ever come to an end? Most likely not, as long as our society continues to include both aspects in it. To keep one from injuring the other requires patience, understanding and at times, accepting what you don't understand. The long history for both weaves an intricate web of human development that is still just as alluring and confusing today as it was thousands of years ago.

Article Source: https://EzineArticles.com/expert/Alison_Sardelli/203131

Financial Success Habits and Our Old Beliefs

Are you struggling with your money goals and your finance goals? I think a lot of people are these days, especially with the current economic climate right? Why do we all struggle with these goals to achieve in life? Why do we grapple with issues around accomplishing a goal in terms of our finances? In my experience, this is all deep in our subconscious and goes back to our childhood and throughout our teen and adult life. 

In the past couple of years, I have been blessed to see some of the most successful business men and women in the world. I have sat for hours as they speak about how they struggled to overcome their own struggles with their money goals and finance goals. I have listened to speakers who slept on the streets, slept in train stations etc... to conquer their money goals and finally learn how to set life goals! I have seen the pain in their eyes and the emotional attachment that this period still has with them. 

Why do people go through periods of struggle with their money and finance goals? Well, when you think about it, as kids we are very much subjected to a lot of "myths" about money and how it is viewed by society. Have you ever heard some of these common myths before... 

• Money is the root of all evil 
• Getting rich is a matter of luck or fate 
• Having a lot of money will make me less spiritual or pure 
• Money will change me 
• Money won't make me happy 
• I'm too young to be rich
• I'm too old to start making money
• I don't deserve or not worthy of money 
• I'm already quite comfortable
• I don't need to push myself 

I bet these sayings are familiar to the majority of you? We struggle with our money goals and finance goals because we have been so conditioned by phrases like "I'm not made of money" or "Money doesn't grow on trees", that it is inherent in our subconscious. It is almost like a disease and we don't even realize it! I have been very lucky to attend various seminars on this subject that have really brought this to my conscious mind. When something is conscious, we can train the brain so that success in our money goals and finance goals becomes habitual. 

After attending seminars, reading books and being more aware of these myths and negative stories we have all heard about, I began to realise that this severely impacts our goals to achieve in life, in such a negative way. I then started to see things differently and made an observation that many people I have spoken to lately, have agreed with. What we watch on TV has a big impact on our money goals and finance goals! 

I grew up in the "Disney" era, where my beliefs on money stemmed from my childhood and romantic movies and books. I would live happily ever after, Prince Charming would always look after me. My childhood toys were Barbie having a fabulous life with Ken. Outside of Barbie dolls, I had toys such as a pram to push my kids in, a toy cooker, plastic tea set and a toy convertible car and caravan that Ken bought me. I had make-up, shoes and princess dress-up outfits, a plastic girl's head for practicing hairstyles.

Growing older, I continue to buy these "so called toys" into my adult life- clothes, shoes, handbags, expensive cars, designer make-up, frequent holidays and high self maintenance activities. I spiralled into a lot of debt.

Fast forward paying off the credit cards, loans and eventually getting myself out of debt, I started to then seriously focus on my financial habits and following others. Once you start to model and try to replicate successful people, you see things with new eyes. I often speak so highly of the seminars and the business speakers that I have been privileged to see live. After spending three full days at an event on "money goals" 3 years ago, someone once remarked that I was in a "cult". It made me think, perhaps I have been in a "cult" with my money goals and finance goals before I began to see the light that the successful gurus have shown me. 

So I guess its time to debunk some of the myths above and leave you with some new belief systems to mull over: 

1) Making money doesn't restrict freedom, it PROMOTES freedom 

2) To master money, I must MANAGE money 

3) Wealthy and successful people aren't smarter than me, they just have better money management Financial HABITS 

Some people think that the concept of changing your mindset is all "mumbo jumbo". 

I beg to differ. I think that if we begin to look at things with new eyes, that we can really start to focus on our money goals and finance goals. In fact, you can focus on new ways to achieve your goals in life! So what are your new money associations? 

Fill in the blank: Money is__________ 

Only 20% of people set goals. 

The other 80% think they have goals... but these are only wishes! 

Are you open to some different perspectives on how to set and achieve goals?

If so, check out Femvestorsglobal.com

We support you with goal setting, getting clarity on a vision for your life and turning your dreams into reality. We give you the GPS to your "Moneymoon Destination".

5 Ways to Reduce your Spending & Create Immediate Money to Start Investing

Most of us are well aware that in order to improve our finances and to become wealthy, we need to follow a process that takes us from being in debt to having financial assets that provide us with an income. 

If so many people are aware of this, why do so few ever acquire investments? 

There are two reasons: firstly, many of us are already living on more than our income each month, and so finding money to invest often seems unlikely. 

Secondly, there is a common misunderstanding that investing is complicated. 

Femvestorsglobal are here to tell you that it is not.

By following these five steps, you can easily save a regular amount of money sufficient to act as your investment money: 

1. Reduce your entertainment spending 

Chances are, you don't know exactly how much you spend on entertainment each month, and the total is probably higher than you would guess. Common entertainment splurges are alcoholic drinks, cigarettes, nights out drinking, trips to the cinema, Netflix, weekends away, holidays and family activities like bowling and swimming. All of these quickly add up, especially if you are paying for two (you and your spouse) or four (you, spouse and two children) people each time. Rather than seeing entertainment spending as a necessity, you must be realistic about the amount you can afford to spend on these things each month. What can you sacrifice to help your investment budget? 

2. Take control of our duplications

The things we buy time and time again, despite having similar things already. The obvious is 10 pairs of black shoes. How many black handbags, pairs of blue jeans, summer jackets or winter coats, luxurious bubble baths and shower gels, lipsticks, red nail varnish or excessive bedding for our home do we really need?  Identify what your duplications are and assess whether you need all of the items you have already. Sell any you don't use or pay attention to, and commit to not buying any of these items for a 6 -12 month period. Be aware that when you are around these items, you will feel a temptation to buy. Either avoid the malls and avoid scrolling on the internet online. 

Don't give in- Your future self will thankyou

3. Watch your food spending 

Meals to celebrate a birthday, the weekly grocery shop, the chocolates to cheer us up, the lunch bought each day at work, the ice cream while walking the dog, the Starbucks on the way to the office, extra treats for the kids, the takeaways when you're just too tired to cook... food spending takes up a huge chunk of our income each month. Unless your end goal is to be obese and unhealthy, this is a habit well worth overcoming right away. 

A shocking amount of food bought ends up being thrown away and wasted. You are literally throwing away a portion of your income each month by buying food that will not be used. To get your food spending under control, make sure you plan your meals in advance each week and buy accordingly, never go food shopping while hungry or without a list, and don't make the mistake of aimlessly wandering up and down every single aisle in the supermarket. 

Calculate how much your shopping will total and take that amount in cash - do not have a debit or credit card with you. If your shopping exceeds the amount of cash you have, replace some less essential items. Buy cheaper brands of cleaning products, toilet rolls and alcohol. Arrange alternative celebrations- don't treat food as a reward or comforter.

 4. Buy less 'treats' and stop impulse buys 

Do you have a gym membership? When was the last time you used it? The majority of people who have a gym membership will actually pay less over the course of a year if they cancel the membership and pay for each gym session as they attend. Cancel your membership now - unless you really go several times every single week. Consider your magazine and newspaper subscriptions. How many of these can you access free online? How many do you not even get around to reading properly? With the amount of free information available online, there is rarely a need to pay for any magazines or newspapers. 

If you're wondering how you will manage without these 'treats', consider if you are trying to hide from some real pain (a deep rooted issue) that can be better managed. 

5. Avoid ATMs

Give yourself a weekly budget and withdraw this amount at the beginning of the week. Then hide your credit and debit cards (or give them to a friend who will not give them back to you until the next week or put them in the freezer like I did and delete all payment apps on your mobile) and force yourself to spend just that amount. 

This will force you to closely examine your spending and will change the way you think about money and spending. 

By following these five steps, you will have an extra amount of free cash each month that can be invested however you choose. 

If you are new to investing, discuss your options with Femvestorsglobal. 

In no time at all, you will have an investment plan prepared and will be on the road to controlling your own finances. 

Our team are here to support you every step of the way. We offer a variety of programs at difference price points and timeframes so support you with your investing journey.

How Do I Get Into Commercial Real Estate Investing?

First of all, commercial investing is not as hard as people think. There seems to be a stigma surrounding commercial investing. People think it's the big glass 100 million dollar buildings downtown. Sure, it is, but it's not always that. There are many different kinds of commercial investing that you can get into. You can start small and work your way up. It's not as hard as people think. It's not as hard to get funded, to find deals, and sometimes not as much work, once you have the deals. 

Everyone that owns commercial properties are not like Donald Trump. They don't all have their own TV shows, aren't in the news, aren't in the casinos, own sports teams, and don't have the perfect woman on their arm. It's just real people that own most of the commercial properties out there. People like you and me. It's the guy next store. The guy that owns a few Dunkin Donuts stores. There are all types of commercial properties. 

Let's talk about the basics. First off, what is commercial investing? When it houses a business, it's a commercial investment. Business parks, where it's one level, and there are many different buildings, those are commercial rented condos or business offices. It consists of office buildings in office parks. There are also industrial parks which look like office parks, but they are mostly blue collar businesses like manufacturers, warehouses, and storage places. This also includes strip malls where there are Starbucks, Dunkin Donuts, UPS stores, etc. It's one building, one-story tall that's broken off into many different stores. Then we have our indoor malls where there are hundreds of stores inside, which include an anchor store, which is the main store, like a Decathlon or Target to get your attention. There are also office condos which house doctors, offices too. Also, we have warehouses, and even apartment houses. These are considered recession-proof properties. Assisted living facilities are commercial properties as well. Let's not forget about land. People are buying land and putting a cell tower or antennae on the land and making money. 

When you are out driving around, please pay attention to what you are seeing. Start noticing these commercial properties. Start thinking about commercial investing! Commercial investing adds a zero. You can do one deal a year in commercial investing and become a multi-millionaire. Some people have done one deal and it has changed their life, enabling them to retire. Don't let it intimidate you. It just has one more zero on the end! 

One of the things about commercial investing is that once you own the property, it's easier to maintain it because most of the time, you will let the pros handle it. You will have a management team to handle the payments, as well as attorneys and accountants handling the day to day work. There will be less day to day work once you own that commercial property, versus a residential property. Let's face it. If you own one piece of property with tenants in there, you know how much work that is. If you have a few properties, it's even more work dealing with tenants not paying, collections, disappearing tenants, and cleaning it out and finding new tenants. It's a lot of work! Virtually, you can pretty much have the pros do it for you. You can hire a management team, attorney, and accountant. Properties generally throw off enough monthly cash flow so that you can have it all taken care of for you. 

Anything you do with residential properties, you can do with commercial properties! You can buy and hold a house and rent it out, as well as a commercial property. You can wholesale it, get a contract on it, find someone to pay more, flip it, and step out of the deal. You never owned it. You get your finders' fee or spread, but instead of making $3,000 or $8,000, you can start making $50,000 to $200,000 just by flipping commercial deals. Just add another zero or two! Don't let it intimidate you! 

You can also lease commercial properties with the option to buy and make the big bucks! 

All of the same techniques you can use with houses, you can use with commercial properties. Note that one of the main differences is how you get the value. You can have two apartment buildings across the street from each other or in the same complex, and both apartment buildings can be identical. But, if one is 30% occupied and one is 70% occupied, and the first one is worth $700,000 and the next one worth 3 or 4 million, the only difference is how much it's occupied. How do you make big money fast in commercial investing? You find the one that is 30% occupied, find 5 or 6 tenants and bring it up to 70% occupied, and then you sell, get out of it, and make the spread. You can double or quadruple the cost or equity of commercial property by controlling it, filling it, and then getting out of it. It's a beautiful thing! 

Don't let commercial investing intimidate you. Add a couple of zero's to the profit! Consider opening your mind about commercial investing. Start thinking big! 

Article Source: https://EzineArticles.com/expert/Nick_Cifonie/237825

Make Sure You Are Crystal Clear About Your "Invest" Definition

In today's unstable economy, many people are searching for alternative means of making money and creating their own retirement plans. It is becoming clear that corporations and governments cannot guarantee your retirement plan upon turning 65. As a result, many are taking control of their own futures and putting their money into investments like property and shares. For others, it may be a distant dream, but they are not quite sure where they should begin. The definition of "invest" is a broad one and there are several methods. 

Buying a property is considered a fairly safe kind of investment, because real estate generally appreciates in value. There are a couple of different options to choose from. You can purchase a single home, a multi-unit complex or a vacation home to rent out to various tenants; alternatively, you can purchase a home for a low price and renovate it, then sell it for a higher price. Each option has its pros and cons and it's important to do some research before making a decision on which method you will go with.

Becoming a landlord is a huge responsibility, and you will need to become familiar with the local laws regarding tenants. They will be well aware of their rights, so you should be aware of yours. If you consider yourself a DIY person and can install floors, renovate bathrooms and apply a coat of paint, then flipping properties may be for you. 

When you complete the renovations yourself, you save money and increase your profit. When everything has been done, sell it at market value. Once it's sold, you can collect a nice big lump sum of money. Now, you can find another home and repeat the entire process. When you rent your properties, you receive a smaller amount of money, but it is a steady monthly income.

Keeping a lump sum of money in a bank account is not a good wealth-building method. If you decide not to purchase any more properties, another investment option is shares. When you buy the shares of a company, you are becoming part owner of that company. There are many public organisations and companies that offer their shares for purchase. You can get them via a self-directed investment account or a stockbroker. Due diligence and research are imperative before deciding which companies to include in your portfolio. 

You make a profit with shares by buying low and selling high. Depending on the type of company you invest in, you could see profits in just a few weeks, or it might take a few years. Many people buy stocks and hang on to them for at least 10 years; others sell them as soon as they realise they will make money.

An easier option is to invest in Index funds and or Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) where you are buying a group of companies as opposed to one individual company. Buying into a group of companies protects you when the prices fall as you are not as exposed in comparison to one individual company.

But above all be clear as to your invest definition, and increase your knowledge and resources, you are able to make better decisions. Having a comprehensive plan is a good first step to taking care of your financial security. The time has come to stop depending on governments and corporations to provide your funds for retirement. 

Article Source: https://EzineArticles.com/expert/Mike_McLoughlin/587899

Strategies For Investing In Physical Gold

Buying physical gold has become a popular investment amongst investors these days. People who want to see their investment secure elect to invest in physical gold rather than Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs). The reason for wanting to acquire this precious metal is that it is easy to locate and easy to buy. 

Gold can be bought in the form of coins, ingots and bullion, and it comes in different shapes. In the current economic climate, it is an alternative investment class to stock market investing. 

The price of gold has risen steadily since the Second World War and has continued to grow. When it has fallen, it has only dipped a little bit, and most gold investors get their money back. Or if they want they hold onto their purchase and save it for when the price goes back up again. 

Three facts about buying physical gold 

Firstly, Let us take gold jewellery; there are remarkably few people who don't own a gold item.  If physical gold is dressed up in some delicate jewellery is worn by some important personality, the price will increase extensively. If you want to sell your gold jewellery, you would get a return when the markets are thriving. Every woman always has several items of gold jewellery that they have bought over the years. Jewellery can go out of date, and any gold that you may have can be sold as scrap for a price. 

Secondly, a more secure form of investing in gold is the ultimate gold bar. It is true; you cannot find it easily in some places. However, in many countries, you can order online and have it sent through via the postal service. You need to ensure you buy from trusted sources to ensure authenticity. The biggest gain in owning a gold bar is that it's price will undoubtedly increase according to shifts in the economy. This is also influenced by the rise and demise of gold mines around the globe. 

Thirdly, gold bullion is clearly a safe investment because it props up some of the other investments in the conventional markets. All governments always have some money tied up in gold, as a hedge against any financial mishaps. It will require extensive research to find and buy it but it is possible. However, compared to gold bars, you will have the assurance that it contains one hundred percent pure gold. The bullion is not adulterated by being fused with other metals such as copper. Gold bullion usually has the governmental stamp to convince you of it's purity. Therefore, if you are rethinking your strategy on investment, then gold may be an investment class you wish to consider.  It will help offset any shortcomings if the market crashes again. If you are a small investor, then buying a few gold bars every so often will not be difficult to keep either. You could put them somewhere safe in your home, and not forget where you put them. 

Article Source: https://EzineArticles.com/expert/Taneem_Sira_Sarwar/1495041

How Any Woman Can Become Rich

Did you know that there is no shortage of money? The problem is that you may not believe that you are worthy of having a lot of money. Anything you believe you can have, you will receive it. If someone is going to get rich, then why not YOU?

Many women are on the list of the rich and famous today. There is no secret on how to get money. You either inherit money or acquire it through some type of business (unfortunately, a lottery win is extremely unlikely). People's reasons for acquiring a lot of money are different from others. Some will apply money to their daily needs and wants to live a better life. Others may save their fortune and leave it to their children. Some use money to devote to a charitable cause to make the world a better place to live. 

If you want to create wealth, you must do something different. First, pay off all those credit cards and get out of debt. Second, you should make saving and investing your money a high priority in your life. To keep most of your money, you must make wise investments. You may start this process by seeking the advice from financial experts. 

When you use money to fulfill your purpose by starting a business to help others fulfill theirs, then you are doing good. When you are doing good with money, you can expect to draw more money to you. Once you start drawing money to you, then the sky is the limit. This means that you can get lots of money or as much as you want or need to fulfill your purpose. It is like standing under a water fall, "If you stand under a water fall, you are bound to get wet." The same is true with money, if you follow the principles of making and investing money, over a period of time, you are bound to get rich.

To the new and experienced entrepreneurs, getting help with your small business is very crucial to your success. Getting the right help will cause you to avoid costly mistakes, and it can also help you to save a lot of time, money and energy. You will need to get the right help to form the legal structure of the business, financial, management, procurement/certification, marketing, pricing products, preparing a business plan, and more. 

There are many successful business coaches and mentors that you can learn from, you just need to be clear on the areas you require support with. Look for recommendations within your local communities, FB groups, online sites such as Upwork and network with those around you. 

Always remember when you are starting out- to focus on the areas you are good at, get support in the areas you are not so great. You do not need to hire full time employees, look at pay on demand type services for booking keeping, accountancy, virtual assistants etc. I would also suggest you look for collaborations with others where you can exchange services which is a won-win for many people.

Article Source: https://EzineArticles.com/expert/Dr._Mary_E._Waters/99920

Where to start when Investing in the Stock Market

Investing in the share market has never been as easy as it is today thanks to share market platforms where everyday investors can invest as little as $10 at a time. Compare that to investing through a share broker where fees make this uneconomic unless you are able to invest a few thousand dollars at a time. Problem with this is that unless one had tens of thousands of dollars to invest then diversification where money is invested in a variety of companies is out of the question. 

The solution to this is Index funds, where your money is pooled with those of other investors. The Index fund tracks indices such as the S&P500, Nasdaq, Dow Jones, FTSE, ASX, Dax etc. Expense ratio fees are low and the benefit is that you don't have to pay buy and sell fees to an advisor every time an organisation leaves or joins an Index. 

Your money is also now invested in a variety of companies and industry types for diversification and for risk mitigation.

Sharesies is a popular trading platform in New Zealand but is certainly not the only one; Hatch, Kernel, and Invest Now are others. In the US, Robin Hood and Webull are popular trading platforms. In Australia Raiz, Spaceship, CommSec are popular and in the UK you can open a Stocks and Shares ISA which allows you to have a tax efficient trading account.

There are so many benefits of getting involved in the share market in this way with the main one being that it improves your financial literacy. It is all very well just reading books of a financial nature but knowledge comes from action otherwise what you may have learned on paper is just information. 

The basic rules of investing still need to be adhered to such as not placing all of your eggs in the one basket and investing according to your goals. If you require the money in the short-term then investing in growth stocks which are high return but with higher risk is not a suitable investment because chances are that the stock price will be down at the time when you need the money.

Micro investing is an excellent way to get involved in the share market. It helps to build your financial know-how, not to mention your wealth. 

Femvestorsglobal supports you in all areas of financial education as we help you with the basic fundamentals of investing, we give you everything you need so you have both the confidence and courage to start investing yourself.

So what are you waiting for?

Why Should I Invest in the Stock Market? The Truth Revealed!

Why do people invest in stocks? For some, it's like gambling. They high associated to the adrenaline that comes as a result of throwing hundreds or thousands of dollars into high-risk, high-reward endeavors. Of course, many individuals are highly calculated and look at investing in the stock market as a way to fund their future, perhaps in an extremely comfortable fashion. Of course, this is actually very possible to do, but not without the proper psychology, mechanics, and discipline in place. 

So why should we invest in the stock market? 

No matter how you look at it, your stock picks will be a gamble. It is possible for an undisciplined individual to bankrupt themselves very quickly. With that being said, there are several advantages of stock trading and investing that far outweigh the risks involved. 

Firstly, with a long-term focus, there is seldom a regulated market that doesn't rebound. This means that with a bit of due diligence, you can continually invest in an index fund whether the market is weak or strong, and chances are good that you'll come out on top eventually. 

Imaging this scenario. You invest in the stock market in a fairly low risk way, meaning you pick an  index fund (you can even invest in the NASDAQ itself) and invest $300 per month into your fund. What happens when the market goes up? Your stocks are worth more! But what happens when the market goes down? While the pessimist may panic, the wise man or woman will simply view this as an opportunity to purchase even MORE shares for that same 300 bucks! 

Then, when the market goes back up, you've got LOADS of shares enjoying this increase in value. Does this make sense? I know it's pretty basic stuff, but the basics are where a LOT of people unfortunately make their mistakes. 

Another reason I invest in the stock market, and why I firmly believe you should, too, is that you can get out of a bad decision in a heartbeat. Just sell your shares. Done. Do you think you have that kind of freedom to just walk away in the real estate business? Not a chance!

 The point is - and hear me loud and clear, I LOVE real estate - the stock market is a far more streamlined investment. For all intents and purposes, it's digital vs. physical. Both are valid in terms of return on investment, but only the stock market allows you to be incredibly efficient with your investment maneuvers. 

Consider starting small, if you're a beginning investor. And above all else, educate yourself. Read books, attend courses, join and converse with Femvestorsglobal... it's YOUR capital, so you'd better know your stuff! Do NOT blindly trust the "experts," as they're just people... and they can be just as wrong as anybody else!

Remember, education is everything!

9 Diverse Types of Investment That Will Ensure Your Financial Future

I know almost all of the people in this world are concerned about their financial future. I don't know anyone who isn't. And if you're already a married man or woman, you will surely think of your kids who are going to college in the next few years. Some are also tired already of working. That's why most retire in an early age. I reckon they're just exhausted of their usual job. Who doesn't want to have an assurance that you will have a progressive financial life? No one, right? And I also know that you want to retire without brooding about your financial situation. 

Most people are like that. Unfortunately, there are also a lot of people who do not even know what to do with their hard-earned money. They do not know how to invest. They aren't aware that there are diverse types of investment. If all you know about saving your money is putting it in a piggy bank, hiding it somewhere in your cabinet, then you should really learn about the types of investment. There is actually 9 of it. The stocks, bonds, real estate, foreign currency, mutual funds/ETF's (Exchange Traded Funds), certificates of deposit, insurance and savings account are the types of investment that you could use. 

-Stocks are buying a portion of a company or corporation. You'll become a stockholder of that company. Thus, you have your own rights there. You can gain profit with this type of investment by receiving stock dividends from that corporation. Another way of gaining profit in this is to buy low-amount stocks and then sell it in a higher price. Stocks are also considered as Medium-risk investment. 

-On the other hand, investing in bonds is like loaning your money to the Government. Because of that, the risk in this type of investment is a lower risk investment. 

-Real estate investing is buying a property and then selling it in a higher price soon. Some real estate investors do not sell their property. They just use it for rental. That's why the flow of money to them is continuous but not that massive money like reselling it. In a buyer's market, it's better if you buy properties today and then re-sell it when the time changes into a seller's market. You can also buy REITS (Real Estate Investment Trusts) which is like buying property on the stock market as opposed to buying physical property.

 -Foreign currency or one of the types of investment in foreign exchange (FOREX) deals with currency trading market. It is always open and can be accessed through the use of internet. With this type of investment, you'll need to trade currency pairs for other currency pairs in the hope that you will trade for currency that has more value. 

-Regarding the mutual or Exchange Traded funds, when you invest in this, you include a variety of different investments, such as high-risk, long-term, short-term, stocks, Index funds, bonds, and the like. 

-Crypto currency is a high risk strategy. Bitcoin is the most known and a promising commodity. The upside is unknown and it is very speculative. Unless you are a high risk investor, ignore this type of asset class as the price is known to drop -80% in a short time and you need to be able to control your emotions, otherwise you will lose a lot of money.

-Certificates of Deposit, or CDs, are alike to savings accounts, except they pay better interest. The reason for the higher interest rate is simple: when you open a CD at your local financial institution, you agree to leave the money there for a set amount of time; generally, the shortest amount of time is six months, but you may agree to a term of one year, two years, or even five years. The longer you agree to keep the CD, the higher the interest rate. 

-Some people choose to use life insurance as an investment. Many policies have investment properties, and an insurance agent or financial advisor can help you choose which the right one is. 

-Savings accounts offer very little return. In fact, despite they are technically a form of investment, they barely qualify anymore. They are certainly a very good way to teach your kids the process of saving though. 

Those are just some of the diverse types of investment. 

You may also want to invest in a business. You can either invest in a company that's just starting up, an existing business that is for sale or creating your own business. 

Being a Financially Independent Woman and In a Relationship

You take care of yourself emotionally, mentally, physically and spiritually, but you may never have thought of it that you had to take care of yourself financially. Being in a committed relationship (married or co-habiting) doesn't mean you have to be totally dependent on your spouse to provide for you. Just because you are in this relationship shouldn't mean that you lose yourself in your partner and their life. You still are a human being, an individual and you have your own two feet to stand on (figuratively speaking) as well as your own hands and backbone to do what needs to be done. Your husband or partner isn't there for you to ride on. 

Here is an example of what I am talking about. When you watch those guys on the unicycle in the circus, they can do some pretty amazing things right, especially up on a high wire. But when you add two people to that single wheel, things get pretty intense and while you watch them on that unicycle you find you hold your breath a lot. What about when you add three people to that one wheeled vehicle? Really gets scary right? 

I know I have seen those circus people get up to 5 people on one tiny little wheel. Not for me thanks. I prefer 4 wheels and a running board. You have a good, sturdy car with 4 wheels on the ground; it's solid and safe for more than just one person to be in, right? Well, why would it be any different for a marriage/relationship and finances? It doesn't matter where you live in the world, why would you put all your trust on a one wheeled vehicle, namely your husband's financial wheel? What if something happened to them? What if something happened to the money they brought in? Look at the way this economy is going? Wonder why it's not as good as people keep wishing it to be? That is a story for another time; but just understand that you don't have to be stuck on that unicycle with your partner or husband. Grab a wheel, stretch out of your comfort zone and get financially independent. It will not only help you in the long run, but think of the benefits of earning an income for yourself, having investments and working as a 'team' WITH your partner rather than expecting them to have it all while you sit in the dark.

When you are financially independent it isn't saying you are expecting the worst of the marriage/relationship, you are just making sure that it is on equal terms so that you can work towards having an awesome relationship. You would be surprised at how many partners actually love knowing that their spouse's don't 'need' them financially and feel more secure knowing that if anything was to happen to them that their partners were very well taken care of and strong enough to get through anything. I have also been told that when they see  their partners financially independent they (the spouse) feel like a huge weight lifted off their shoulders and they don't have this 'thing' hanging over their heads. They WANT to create a cash flow rather than HAVE to create one. 

There are poems, stories, sayings about how strong women are and yet soft on the inside. Why not use that to our benefit financially? We are great at multi-tasking and taking care of others, so why not take care of ourselves too? We would most certainly sleep better knowing the bills were paid, savings account was in the black, kids were well taken care of, what our investments were doing, etc because we are involved in the creation of these things. 

The next time you see an opportunity to help you get financially independent don't be afraid to take the chance...grab that opportunity, it could be the best thing you ever did for yourself and your family. Until next time, have a  prosperous week. 

4 Financial Accounts Every Woman Should Have

Life can be easier when you have the financial bases covered. See if you've got the right types of accounts to help you with cash needs, emergencies, and your long-term retirement. 

1. First, do you have a bank account and ATM card with your name on it? 

It doesn't matter if you share the account with a spouse or significant other. Just make sure your name is on the account, and that you have the ability to pay bills and withdraw money. Most of us take this checking privilege for granted, but it's the most basic money account we all need. 

2. Second, do you have an emergency fund? 

I like to call it comfort-cash. This should equal whatever you might need to get through unexpected hardships that crop up, from job losses to car breakdowns. 

When you're prepared with at least 4-6 months of living expenses, you're less likely to borrow from high-interest credit cards, or sell your retirement investments with penalties or losses. 

Where should you keep a comfort-cash fund? Put it in a high interest savings account. Yes I know, it doesn't pay much, but the key here is liquidity. You need to be able to get to those funds quickly when you need them. 

3. Third, do you have a major credit card in your name only? 

It's OK to share one credit card account with a spouse, but every woman should also have a different account with just her name on it. 

You want to make sure you're building your own financial identity, and that you are the only influence on that account. In case of a later divorce or loss of partner, you've got your own credit history and credit score established. 

If you don't qualify for a credit card with good terms yet, look into getting a secured credit card, backed by a savings account you set up when you apply. You prove you're responsible with paying off card debt, before moving to a standard, unsecured credit card. 

4. Fourth, do you have a retirement savings account in your name? 

This might be an employer plan at your workplace, or an Individual Retirement Account. Retirement accounts provide tax-deferred or tax-free savings, which grow faster without current taxation. 

If you don't have an employer retirement plan, but you do have earned income, open your own retirement account. If you're not working, agree your spouse contributes to your retirement future. These help build retirement accounts for a spouse who has low earnings, or is helping raise the kids at home. 

Don't make the mistake of assuming governments will cover all your needs. It wasn't meant to, and it won't. And while taxable savings are good, tax-advantaged retirement accounts are even better. 

How did you do? 

Don't worry if you lack one or two of these categories. But make a priority of establishing what you still need. You'll be setting up your own safety net, helping insure access to cash, and building financial security by owning these four accounts.

 

Article Source: https://EzineArticles.com/expert/Robin_Applegarth/729871