Women and Money: The Reality Today

• 55% of  women over 65 will find themselves in poverty when they retire
• 40% of unmarried women have saved less than $1,000
• 37% of women spend retirement alone 

Startling statistics ladies. 

Most women will look at these statistics and think, that's not going to be me! 

Then go right ahead and plan the next girlfriends lunch or dinner date without looking at the bank account or the credit card balance. There is very little thought of how to ensure you do not find yourself included in the above statistics. So random incessant spending will continue without thought of the consequences, down the road, looking through the long lens. These statistical groupings are placing women in poverty every day, and few know what to do about it. 

What can be done? 

Any number of actions can change these statistics and the quality of life for all women. Ask any woman and I'll bet none of them would choose any of these girlfriend groups! Talking to girlfriends is one of the first (best) things that can be done to change the destiny of their girlfriends and which statistical group they may find themselves in. Girlfriends are a powerful group. Women will share with girlfriends they have now and the ones they have not yet been fortunate enough to meet yet. 

Women are smart and sassy. They also bond together when one of their sisters is in trouble. By opening this dialogue you may find that those closest to you, may not know the facts you now know. They may not know what to do about it either. Women share information freely and impress upon their friends what no man can. Women are naturally caregivers. This sharing with each other is at the heart of women care giving.

Planning will cause you to place yourself in situations where you won't be a statistic, part of a scary stat. How, you ask? Join our community at Femvestorsglobal for free daily information, alternatively you can join our book clubs (we offer 4 different geographical time zones- so there are no excuses ladies!). We also run virtual events or private 1:1 courses. You learn more, not just about finances. 

The very person you need for the best possible information will be sent to you. As long as learning takes place and actions are taken to change the numbers, both in the financial arena and then the stats, women don't have to find themselves in poverty. 

Invest in the knowledge and wisdom of wealth. We have heard that knowledge is power. For women, learning new vocabulary, words like monetising will bring you power and wealth. Learn now how to eliminate debt forever. Your today purchase can change the purchasing power you have in the future. Wouldn't it be awesome to know how? What do you have to do to acquire enough wealth for your future? Figure out how to share your prosperity and set some aside for those you love. It will come back to you multiplied more than you know. 

Girlfriend road trips are the best!! Memories forever! This is one road trip all the girlfriends cannot miss. This incredible ride could save them more than just the cost of gas. Investing in yourself will prove to bring increase to every aspect of your life. Finding wisdom about money can keep all women from becoming a scary statistic. Within the wealth side of these statistics lies comfort, ease, pampering and peace, which is why we do not record our group events so you have a safe space to talk. 

You will be so glad you did, sooner rather than later. 

Article Source for statistics: wiserwomen.org. 2016 retirement confidence survey, EPI.org 

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

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

Investing For Beginners

Why does investing seem so complicated? 

The number of ways you can invest is mind boggling. The worst part is that investment world uses a different terminology. If you are new to investing it won't be long before you encounter words like "moving averages, average weighted price, open interest, futures and option, book closure" etc. Let me stop before I put you to sleep. All you really want to do is to put your money in something where it will be safe and grow. Is that too much to ask for? 

Why are there so many different investing alternatives? 

Are they really different! If you have ever been to a grocery store you will see bottles of different cleaning products, most of which will be labeled "new!" "Improved!" or even better "New and Improved!" But no matter what they call it, when its all said and done these bottles are filled with nothing more than SOAP, same as they have always been. 

Investments are no different. At first glance it may appear that all these mutual funds, Exchange Traded Funds, Index Funds, unit trust, REIT's, options, futures are unique and require encyclopedic knowledge to understand the technicalities. But more often than not what you are looking at is nothing more than just an old way of investing in a new bottle. 

Understanding investing in simple terms: 

In a family tree you will have a male and a female at top of the list from where all the other branches came out. Similarly in investments at the top you have stock and bond. All other forms of investments are some form or other of these two. And their differences can be spotted just as easily as you can distinguish a man from a woman. 

What are stocks and bonds and what is the difference between the two? 

I will compare stocks to a flashy car; all powerful snazzy, attractive, dangerous, accident prone and bonds to the family car; nothing much to look at, slow, always takes you where you are going, always there for you. 

Some basic traits of the two: 

• People investing in stocks want to see a return on their money, bond holders want to make sure the return of their money. 
• Stocks are about taking risk and bonds are about avoiding risk. 
• Stocks offer unlimited upside potential, bonds offer limited downside potential. 
• Stocks mean ownership and bonds denote loaning. So we can say one is an ownership investment and the other is a loan investment. 
• The difference between an ownership investment and a loan investment is not too hard to understand. The differences are obvious once you know what to look for. 
• An ownership investment does not have an ending date. (When you buy a stock it never becomes due, you have to sell it to get cash) 
• Loan investments almost always have a due date (e.g. your fixed deposits with the bank). An Ownership investments rarely promise a specific return. A stock price can go up 10 times or remain static for years. 
• Loan investments nearly always promise a fixed return. A 12 month deposit certificate promises 2% return. 

Third major distinction is whether you will get your money back. 

In ownership investment there might be no such guarantee.

 A stock's price can go to zero. 

The loan investments are usually backed by the guarantee of the bank, corporation or the government. 

With the above distinctions in your mind try to figure out what you are invested in. 

Few examples are: 

• your bank account or Government bonds 
• loan investment stock or mutual fund
• ownership investment 

What should I invest in? 

Having too much investment in one type can be bad for the investor. Loan investments are unable to keep pace with inflation, you might have your money safe but the purchasing power goes down. Too much risk avoidance will result in less return. 

Similarly Ownership investments can leave you without a penny in your pocket. The Idea is to keep a balance between the two. 

Neither is in a category of good or bad or one better than the other investment rather they serve different needs.

 Needs which can vary from one person to the other depending on ones investment time horizon and risk appetite. 

Stocks and bonds complement each other. 

In case you are new to investing first check your risk appetite, needs and time horizon of investments to decide where you should put your money.

Women Can Love Investing

Women can learn to love investing. Investing is a huge passion of mine. I find it empowering, freeing, and confidence building! You can learn to have your money work for you and make you money, so you're not dependent on working the rest of your life. It's awesome to see money being made with your computer and not from your work efforts! Once you learn to invest, it's like having your own golden goose. The golden goose provides more money for you over the years and works hard, so you don't have to.

Did you know women are better investors than men? There have been studies of men's and women's investment clubs and women consistently made more money with their investing. The reasoning is that women think through their investment decisions longer before selecting them and hold their investments longer.

Another reason women make good investors is because investing is like shopping. We're used to comparing prices, knowing brands, and watching for sales! Investing is the same way. You figure out what you want and you wait for a good price to buy it. You do that every week!

90% of women will have to manage their own money at some point in their lives (the average age of widowhood is 59). Do you want to learn about money when you're grieving and least able to deal with it or when you choose to?

Making money is simply a function of 3 things:

• the money you have to start with
• the time you have to compound 
• the rate you earn

The more of any of those 3 things you have, the easier it is. If you don't have a lot of money to start with, but you have a lot of years before you need the money, or you can compound (earn) a high rate, you can build wealth. 

If you want to learn how to swim, you can't cling to the side of the pool. Eventually you have to let go and try to swim. When you get good at swimming, you can eventually go into the deep end. You don't try that on the first day! It's the same thing with investing. If you want to build wealth, you can't keep your money in a savings account. You must give yourself time to learn to invest and let your money create a golden goose for you! 

The reason it's important to take some measured risk with your money, is because it allows you to get a higher return. For example, a savings account is paying 1% interest. At 1%, it will take 72 years to double your money. Not a great way to accumulate money to retire! But the stock market has returned 10% on average over the long-term, which will double your money in a little over 7 years! That will build wealth - the savings account won't - and you will be able to have a comfortable retirement. That's why you need to invest in stocks! 

I often hear women say they don't feel "worthy" of having a lot of money. I think this stems from the fact that women don't know their worth. Studies have shown that men know what they are worth in their job and women don't. Women are taught to be of service, to put our needs behind others, to be polite, to defer to others. If we translate that behavior to money, it means we won't feel worthy. We give the power away. We will have fears around it and "trust" others to handle it for us. We don't need to do that. Not anymore. 

I'm here to say women, you can do it! You can overcome your fear of loss or overwhelm. Investments don't require much time to manage once you've got the hang of it. I spend less than an hour a week handling my long term investments. More of my time is spent reading about investments and looking for new opportunities than tweaking the investments. 

I started in my late twenties with $0 (after paying off all my debts)and read lots of books about millionaires and investing. I taught myself how to invest in stocks and became a millionaire at age 38. The next year, I made $1 million in one year! I teach clients exactly the steps I took. It begins with having a wealthy mindset and ends with creating your legacy. Only one step involves investing! Did you know that you don't even have to have a lot of money to start investing? You can open an investment account online with only $500. There's no excuse not to learn! 

If you have a mentor, it can help take the fear of overwhelm away. A mentor can show you how to navigate easily, just like a tour guide can in a foreign country. Over time, you will gain confidence and realize it's not as difficult as you first thought. Like anything with practice, it gets easier - and the rewards are much better! You can learn to build serious wealth which will make your life a lot easier, less stressful, and give you a better marriage and family life. 

What is a stock? A "stock" is simply a share of ownership in a company (think of companies like your favorite brands in handbags, shoes, food, etc.). Companies sell shares of stock in their company when they want to raise money. Suppose up-and coming designer Tory Burch wanted to open boutiques around the world? She could sell shares in her company and raise the money to do that. The "stock market" is simply where lots of companies are selling shares. Initially they sell shares from their company to raise the money and from there investors buy and sell them to and from each other. It's kind of like eBay, except you're buying and selling shares of companies! 

But isn't it risky? Isn't it like gambling? There is risk, but you can mitigate risk several ways - buy spreading it out among multiple companies you own, by buying companies that have a low fluctuation of price, by not owning just stocks and adding in other types of investments. Some people speculate, but most people are not trying to "get rich quick", they are investing for the long-term, which is the safest way to invest. The longer you stay invested, the more likely it is you will make money with your investments. If you stayed invested during the crash of 2008, the stock market is up 80% from the low point. 

The Dalai Lama has said, "The Western woman will save the world." I believe that's true. Women are cooperative, intuitive, and we like to share with others. I see a lot of women giving to the less fortunate, like helping women start businesses with "micro" loans. The average loan someone in a foreign country needs to start a life-changing business to feed their family is only $27! The women in villages teach others in the village how to run a business, so the effects are far reaching and magnified. My mission is to change the statistics for women, where 1 in 5 of us are retiring with Zero dollars. 

Isn't it time you empowered yourself to learn about money and investing? Isn't it time you felt your own worth and independence? Learning to create wealth yourself will do that for you and investing is a way you can build a lot of wealth. You just have to decide to do it and find a mentor such as Femvestorsglobal to reduce the learning time and improve your success rate. 

Soon you will have your own golden goose and love investing too! 

How to Demonstrate Smart Financial Habits to Your Kids

Your kids will follow your example in many things that they do so it is important that you practice what you preach. How to demonstrate smart financial habits to your kids starts with this important understanding. Use the trust that is instinctively there between you and your kids and teach them the right way. 

Kids need to learn that money doesn't just fall from a tree, it is hard-earned and must be used wisely. Start by giving them an allowance based on their age and understanding. Make it a regular ritual and request for books to be read in exchange. Note the point I wrote about reading books and not chores. 

Chores are a part of life and NOT a paid task. If you pay your kids for chores, you are teaching your kids to be employees where they exchange time for money. If you pay your kids to read books, you enable them to expand their thinking and create an Entrepreneur mindset.

When it comes to payment for reading books, choose a day each fortnight or each month and hand over their 'pay packet' pocket money in an envelope addressed with your child's name. Show respect for the money. Ask them how their last allowance was spent so that you can get a handle on their spending habits. Get them to keep a little notebook as their 'spending account ledger'. 

Congratulate them if they are saving their money. Encourage this habit and you might even reward their habit of saving by giving them a small bonus to add to their account. Ask if they are saving for something special. If they are close to their goal and it is near a birthday you could make up the difference as part of their birthday gift. You'll know it's something special to them so it will be appreciated.

If your child does want something extra special expect, given them a book of your choice which will help them grow, a jigsaw puzzle, quiz.  Let them learn that money must be an exchange for an education and is not just available for any desire. They will learn to appreciate the things that they buy with their own money. 

Don't pamper to every whim of your child. Limit the gifts you give them and let them enjoy the gift given before allowing them to begin playing with another. Having too many at once will make them jump from one thing to another. Explain why they are not getting everything that they ask for. If they really want something that you have said no to explain why and that they must save for it themselves.

The key here is to limit the amount your child has to spend on Consumerism. Look at not only putting the money into a savings account but also teach them how to invest their savings in Index funds and stocks. I bought shares in Disney and presented this as a share certificate in a frame with their favorite character so they know they are a part owner of The Disney company as opposed to a toy they do not need.

It may not always seem like it but kids will listen to their parents so don't give in to their demands to keep up with their peers. Be firm...kids appreciate and respond to positive parenting. They need to know their boundaries. Explain why you do things but don't spoil everything by demonstrating the opposite to your kids. Instill smart financial habits in your kids and demonstrate smart habits yourself...don't blow it!

Are You Afraid To Invest In Yourself?

I am sure that you have heard this phrase: "Your business can only grow to the extent that you grow." If you are playing small, hiding out, procrastinating, doing it all yourself, undercharging, under-earning or over-delivering, then you are getting in your own way. Without a doubt, each of these actions or habits will stall your business growth, repel ideal clients and sabotage your success.

As an Angel Investor, I have worked with many business owners for years, and the number one mistake I see such entrepreneurs make these days is failing to invest in themselves at a high level. This failure keeps them-and their businesses-stuck, for the quickest way I know to help alleviate self-sabotaging behaviors and quickly get back on track is by investing in and working with a mentor. We can help you identify the behaviors that are holding you back and show you how to move forward. We can work with you to create a customised plan that is appropriate for you and your business. 

Here are 3 advantages to investing in yourself at a high level: 

1. You will Make a Higher Commitment to Yourself: When you pay, you pay attention and therefore if you invest in a high-level mentor, you'll be more committed to doing what is required. Because you're paying for their services, you'll be more likely to follow through with their recommendations. 

2. Your Energy Is More Focused: Because you're spending time (and money) to work on your business strategies with someone else, you'll become much more focused on achieving your desired results. You'll allocate time, clear out your diary, making sure to listen to, and follow, your mentor's expert guidance. This often results in attracting more ideal clients who are extremely committed and invested in their business success. 

3. You'll Be More Decisive: Since you'll be motivated to get a solid return on your investment, you'll finally get out of analysis paralysis and take action. 

A quick exercise: Keeping in mind your end goals of making more money and attracting your ideal clients into your business, take out a note pad and pen and list all of the areas in your business where you are not taking action AND/OR the areas in which you are just confused about what the next steps should be. Once you've completed this list, circle the top 3 things that need to be done to build your business now.

Ladies- Build Your Money Machine

Girlfriend: a 'Money Machine' is a must, and timely to get one. Think of this as a well-oiled piece of equipment that churns and burns as it works for you, even when you don't. A properly tended producing machine is a constant, reliable source of cash flow. If you nurture it correctly, you'll eventually reach a point in your life when your 'Money Machine' takes over for you. When that happens, you no longer have to work. Instead, you'll work only because you love what you're doing. That's financial freedom!

The secret of creating your money machine is the "spend less than you earn and invest the difference" approach. Each month, you give part of your earnings to your investment that compose your money machine. You make sure to regularly feed your machine before you "donate" cash to the nearest multiplex or restaurant or department store. Having your own money machine will allow you to stop working to support yourself so that you can have time to pursue the other things you love. Maybe you'd like to kick back at some point and offer your time for your favorite charity or artistic endeavor - and your well tended sleek machine gets you there. 

And, to do this it takes a firm financial plan that takes you to your dreams. Life is definitely too short to delay pursuing passions, the things that excite you in life, and right now is key. Who wants to be a slave to money-to be held captive to a corporation, institution, or government office by a salary? Most of us would pursue a variety of interests if money were not a factor. We each dream of a lifelong quest-to learn a new skill, to do volunteer work, to start a small business, or simply to have some free time to go out and have fun. With a well-running money machine, you can do it. 

The money machine is designed to be a holding pen for cash that will be invested and doubled again and again until it's sufficient to generate the sum you will use to meet your monthly expenses through out your life. The incredible ability of money to grow works to your advantage, and it is the grease that makes your machine hum. This is the purpose of your well designed machine -to let you walk away from having to go to work each day to earn income. Your money machine will assume the role of providing income to pay your living expenses. At this point, you will have arrived at financial freedom, and once you set up your own personal engine, you will have it for life. 

Furthermore, the money machine allows you to serve your community or other ways that you are inspired to give back. Part of being a well-balanced person-of having a smooth ride on your journey of life -is not only enjoying personal benefits from your money machine, but also allocating some of those funds to good deeds. When we have ample financial resources, we can and must give back some to the society that has helped nurture us and supported our economic well-being. After all, everything we've gained in life has been a gift to us. Giving and sharing are also part of the power and joy of money.

 Your money machine isn't a piggy bank designed simply to hold a bundle of cash. Nor is it the location of one single investment. It is the sum of all your investments wisely invested to enable solid, steady returns. Your designer machine will be producing during the years when income is needed and wanted-and with a surprisingly low level of maintenance. With a well tended money machine, you'll enjoy that good feeling in the pit of your stomach that comes from being able to say, "I've guaranteed my financial future, and I feel great about it." 

Of course, you won't want to take your money machine for granted. As in other areas of your life, if you don't contribute, you don't get anything back. Try having a relationship in which all you do is take. Or try having a job where you do nothing but expect to be paid. Neither one will last very long. In the same way, your money machine depends upon your being a giver, not a taker. I'm talking about being not just a one-time contributor, or an on-again, off-again, sort-of contributor, but a consistent contributor. I'm talking about making the development of you machinery a priority in your life. Because, by looking out for your financial future, you're also caring for your soul and your health. 

When you feed your money machine, you can't dump just any old investment into it. Imagine someone with terrible eating habits, who puts lots of fats and sugars into his or her body. Over time, this person loses energy, slows down, and may even become ill because his or her body is not properly fueled. Your money machine is like your body: You can't put garbage into it and expect a healthy return. 

What are the "fats" and "sugars" of the investment world? There are two kinds of unhealthy investments to avoid: (1) investments that are excessively risky-investments in which you could lose all of your money-and (2) investments that have an inadequate rate of growth-investments that simply won't pay you very much. 

The creation of a Money Machine begins with your first investment, and with the plan you devise to add to it regularly. It is not something that can solve your financial problems all at once, like winning the lottery. It's a process. It might take ten, fifteen, or twenty years to fully fund your machine, depending on how much and how often you contribute to it, when you first begin, and how wisely you select your investments. Building your money machine to create continuing cash for your life, is embarking on a voyage toward financial freedom. 

Article Source: https://EzineArticles.com/expert/Joan_Perry/216137

Women Can Love Investing (Yes Really!)

Ladies- We can learn to love investing. Investing is a passion of mine. I find it empowering, freeing, and confidence building! You can learn to have your money work for you and make you money, so you're not dependent on working the rest of your life. It's awesome to see money being made with your computer and not from your labour! Once you learn to invest, it's like having your own golden goose. The golden goose provides more money for you over the years and works hard, so you don't have to. 

Did you know women are better investors than men? There have been studies of men's and women's investment clubs and women consistently made more money with their investing. The reasoning is that women think through their investment decisions longer before selecting them and hold their investments longer. 

Another reason women make good investors is because investing is like shopping. We're used to comparing prices, knowing brands, and watching for sales! Investing is the same way. You figure out what you want and you wait for a good price to buy it. Heck, you do that every week!

99% of women will have to manage their own money at some point in their lives (the average age of widowhood is 59). Do you want to learn about money when you're grieving and least able to deal with it or when you choose to? 

Making money is simply a function of 3 things: the money you have to start with, the time you have to compound, and the rate you earn. The more of any of those 3 things you have, the easier it is. If you don't have a lot of money to start with, but you have a lot of years before you need the money, or you can compound (earn) a high rate, you can build wealth. 

If you want to learn how to swim, you can't cling to the side of the pool. Eventually you have to let go and try to swim. When you get good at swimming, you can eventually go into the deep end. You don't try that on the first day! It's the same thing with investing. If you want to build wealth, you can't keep your money in a savings account. You must give yourself time to learn to invest and let your money create a golden goose for you! 

The reason it's important to take some measured risk with your money, is because it allows you to get a higher return. For example, if a savings account was paying 1% interest. At 1%, it will take 72 years to double your money. Not a great way to accumulate money to retire! But the stock market has returned 10% on average over the long-term, which will double your money in a little over 7 years! That will build wealth - the savings account won't - and you will be able to have a comfortable retirement. That's why you need to invest in stocks! 

I often hear women say they don't feel "worthy" of having a lot of money. I think a lot of this stems from the fact as women, we don't know our self- worth. Studies have shown that men know what they are worth in their job and women don't. At first, it was surprising for me to hear this, but then it made sense. Women are taught to be of service, to put our needs behind others, to be polite, to defer to others. If we translate that behavior to money, it means we don't feel worthy. We give the power away. We will have fears around it and "trust" others to handle it for us. We don't need to do that. Not anymore. 

I'm here to say women, you can do it! You can overcome your fear of loss or overwhelm. Investments don't require much time to manage once you've got the hang of it. I spend less than an hour a week handling my personal investments. However, most of my time is spent reading about investments and looking for new opportunities than tweaking the investments themselves. 

I started in my late twenties with $0, I read lot of books and attended several training courses about millionaires and investing. I also looked at where Billionaires invested, listened to podcasts and taught myself how to invest in stocks and became a millionaire at age 38. It begins with having a wealthy mindset and ends with creating your legacy. Only one step involves investing! Did you know that you don't even have to have a lot of money to start investing? You can open an investment account online for free. There's no excuse not to learn! 

If you have a mentor, it can help take the fear of overwhelm away. A mentor can show you how to navigate easily, just like a tour guide can in a foreign country. Over time, you will gain confidence and realise it's not as difficult as you first thought. Like anything with practice, it gets easier - and the rewards are much better! You can learn to build serious wealth which will make your life a lot easier, less stressful, and give you a better marriage and family life. 

What is a stock? A "stock" is simply a share of ownership in a company (think of companies like your favorite brands in handbags, shoes, food, etc.). Companies sell shares of stock in their company when they want to raise money. Suppose designer Stella Mcartney wanted to open boutiques around the world? She could sell shares in her company and raise the money to do that. 

The "stock market" is simply where lots of companies are selling shares. Initially they sell shares from their company to raise the money and from there investors buy and sell them to and from each other. It's kind of like eBay, except you're buying and selling shares of companies!

But isn't it risky? Isn't it like gambling? There is risk, but you can mitigate risk several ways - buy spreading it out among multiple companies you own, by buying companies that have a low fluctuation of price, by not owning just stocks and adding in other types of investments. Some people speculate, but most people are not trying to "get rich quick", they are investing for the long-term, which is the safest way to invest. The longer you stay invested, the more likely it is you will make money with your investments. If you stayed invested during the crash of 2008, the stock market is up 80% from the low point. 

The Dalai Lama has said, "The Western woman will save the world." I believe that's true. Women are cooperative, intuitive, and we like to share with others. I see a lot of women giving to the less fortunate, like helping women start businesses with "micro" loans. The average loan someone in a foreign country needs to start a life-changing business to feed their family is only $27! The women in villages teach others in the village how to run a business, so the effects are far reaching and magnified. 

Isn't it time you empowered yourself to learn about money and investing? Isn't it time you felt your own worth and independence? Learning to create wealth yourself will do that for you and investing is a way you can build a lot of wealth. You just have to decide to do it and find a mentor to reduce the learning time and improve your success rate. Soon you will have your own golden goose and love investing too! 

Article Source: https://EzineArticles.com/expert/Linda_P._Jones/303130 

Women and Money - The Girls Want to Get a Grip While Men Want to Get Ahead

There's nothing like a pandemic for highlighting where we've been going wrong with our money management. But do recent events mean that both men and women will become more financially prudent? 

I am fascinated by the subtle, yet important, differences in men's and women's financial views. Women are very keen to get a better a grip on their finances, while men are set on making as much money as they can, focusing on maximising income.

Here are the top financial views: Women's top 5 money outcomes: 

1. Take charge of my finances more (66%) 

2. Get better value for money (63%) 

3. Plan my financial future (62%) 

4. Be more responsible with money (59%) 

5. Plan how to make more money (56%) 

Men's top 5 money outcomes:

1. Plan how to make more money (73%) 

2. Plan my financial future (70%)

 3. Get better value for money (70%) 

4. Take charge of my finances more (56%) 

5. Cut back on my personal spending (52%) 

When we think about how good we are with money, it's often our past money blunders that spring to mind. The time we blew a windfall on a fancy car, instead of paying off some debt. The money we left for too long in a poor investment fund. The years we delayed starting a retirement fund. 

When the economic climate is reasonably healthy, our finances can withstand those kinds of knocks a little better. It's when times gets tough that we are hit with the folly of our past behaviour. And of course, money we waste without thinking during prosperous times becomes a drain during leaner periods. 

Not switching a mortgage to a lower interest rate, for example, could cost thousands of $$$$ over the mortgage term. Even that daily cappuccino and magazine adds up to hundreds a year. I have also found many people will have a direct debit going out of their bank account that they should cancel, an online subscription they'd forgotten about or a charity donation they thought was a one-off that's been taken every year.

When discussing past money mistakes, its clear that a women's big mistake was not being as upfront as men about asking for money. Whether it was pushing the boss for a pay rise or negotiating better self-employed rates, many women had less because of a fear of asking for money or undervaluing what they had to offer. 

In looking at the differences between men and women's spending behaviour, Women tend to engage in more emotional spending. For many women that usually means they hit the shops/spend online when feeling depressed, unhappy or stressed. Women are also more likely to name kids' treats as one of their money weaknesses. This is another example of how, when it comes to money, women aren't so good at putting themselves first. After all, women are socialised to take care of others and pushiness is not a quality that's encouraged in girls, but it's clear that later on in life this can leave us poorer. 

Women (and men's) most common past money mistakes: 

1. Emotional spending 70% (men 61%) 

2. Reckless spending 64% (men 39%) 

3. Reluctance to ask for money 62% (men 47%) 

4. Spending on kids/dependents 46% (men 30%)

 5. Fear of money 44% (men 48%) 

 Article Source: https://EzineArticles.com/expert/Karen_Pine/520953

5 Reasons Financial Planning Is Different For Women Than Men

Financial planning saves a lot of stress and anxiety over money. Both men and women - single or married - should take part in planning for their future. But women face a different set of challenges. 

This article is not intended to express how difficult it is for us to be a woman. We have tremendous opportunities and have already come a long way in the working world. 

That being said, our financial planning needs can be altered in many ways by factors that may be out of our control. 

The 5 reasons we need to plan differently are outlined below. They may not be applicable in every case, but we are more likely to experience these factors than men. With clarity, a well thought out and evolving financial plan, we as women can achieve financial confidence, independence and peace of mind. 

Increased Longevity 

Women are estimated to live 5 to 6 years longer than men. This increased longevity means that our retirement savings needs to last longer. During those extra years, we may incur even more expenses. Health concerns may surface or the need for skilled care may arise. All of this amounts to increased expenditures during our later years of life. Longevity that isn't planned for can put a strain on retirement savings. We should not plan on receiving or inheriting money from our spouse. People remaining unmarried or marriages ending in divorce, a monthly income from a spouse's pension, may not be an option. We need to plan for personal longevity because of this. 

Break In Employment 

It is not uncommon for us to take a break from employment when children are being born and raised. Some women decide to quit their corporate gig and become a stay at home mom. Or... they trade in their higher paying job for one that offers more flexibility and better hours. This puts us in a position where less personal income may be coming in. This has a significant impact on our ability to save for retirement. 

Also, getting back into the labor market right where we left off can be difficult. After years away, technology, younger workers, more experienced workers, and industry changes can make this harder to do. Women taking a break in employment to raise a family may face these obstacles when trying to re-enter the workforce. 

Life as a Woman Costs More 

It doesn't come as a surprise that we generally spend more in certain areas than men. The entire beauty and cosmetic industries are largely focused on women. Generally, women spend more on makeup, hair and skin care products. We generally spend more on clothing, shoes and accessories as well. The above expenses tend to occur on a much more frequent and recurring basis. Men don't spend nearly as much on these. 

Additional financial planning and budgeting can help reign in any excessive spending in this category. In most cases, even tightening the belt on some of these items may not solve the problem. Life as a woman... still costs more. 

Women Are More Likely To Experience Independence 

Whether it is due to outliving our spouse, being single, widowed or divorced, we are more likely to be the sole financial decision maker at some point in our life. This is another reason why it is important to have a financial plan that prepares for the future. In previous generations, women were accustomed to taking a back seat with finances. This is no longer the case. Today a proactive approach to future financial needs is always advisable. 

Women May Earn Less Than Men 

This is a long standing concern. We still statistically earn less than men. Women may take a break in employment which may hinder their salary growth, or we are less likely to ask for a raise which causes us to be treated differently compared to our male counterparts. 

This may have a significant effect on our future financial situation. The good news is that both men and women have the same opportunity to prepare for retirement. The sooner you are able to start investing and planning for your retirement, the better prepared you will be. The longer you allow your money to grow and compound, the more stable your financial future will be. 

In Summary: 

All of these reasons need to be factored in when determining your financial plan. Woman tend to be challenged by these 5 concerns more often than men. Regardless of salary or marital status, the sooner and more focused we are to take control of our finances... the better off we will be. 

Article Source: https://EzineArticles.com/expert/Chelsea_Maderer/2425629

Top Quality Forex Education Is Essential to Success

The Foreign Exchange Market or Forex offers traders a unique opportunity as the most expansive financial market across the world. There is no need for a centralised location because trades are executed electronically, allowing the entire world to participate.

Forex trading has to do with making money by trading in different currencies. As with most investments, the idea is to buy low and sell high, which is easier said than done. Most traders wouldn't describe Forex as complicated. But there are some important things to know before you can expect to make profitable trades in this highly liquid financial market. 

The reality is that currency trading offers an opportunity to make huge profits. People trading in the currency exchange market have literally made millions before they even realised it. However, whenever there is huge earning potential, as there is with Forex, there are huge risks as well. In fact, many people have lost substantial amounts of money trading in foreign exchange market. 

Investment experts always advise people to get a good Forex education before going down this path. To do well, you need to be fully educated and this cannot be achieved with a crash course or by reading a few articles you find online.

Most colleges and universities with a good business school will offer courses that teach the ins and outs of trading in financial markets, including Forex. These courses provide students with the knowledge and training needed to be successful. Rather than going in blindly and risk losses it's important to be fully prepared with the right Forex education from a highly rated business school.

Ideally, your Forex education should teach you how to most effectively read charts so that you can spot the trends. Once you become skilled at reading currency exchange market charts you'll see where certain currencies are going. Learning this will be critical in helping you decide which ones to buy and sell and when. This is why it is so important that you know how to accurately read these charts before getting into the foreign exchange market. Honing this particular skill will definitely help you increase your odds of making money. Without knowing how to accurately read the charts, your risk of losing money is greatly increased. That's the reality. 

In looking for the right school, you will want to choose one that offers you real-time trading experience, which is typically done with dummy as well as real accounts. We all learn best through experience, so the best schools offering Forex education will require students to set up dummy investment accounts to practice with. They will also expect you to set up real funded accounts for actual currency trading. But since you're just learning, these real accounts should be quite small so that you're not at risk of losing a lot of money. 

The only way you'll gain the experience you need to feel confident as you enter the foreign exchange market is by doing practice trades in dummy and real accounts. Then, when you actually start trading in currencies, you'll have a good idea of how it all works. A top-quality business school will be equipped to teach you how to use various Forex trading systems. This will give you a chance to determine which one is easiest for you. All of this practice gives you first-hand knowledge on how these systems work, so you can avoid mistakes once you're doing this for real. 

Since currency trading is available to practically anyone with a computer connected up to the Internet, people are often under the impression that few skills are required. This is far from the truth because do well you do need skills, plus a considerable amount of money. This is not for amateurs because there is no guarantee that your investment(s) will be profitable. Forex is risky, which is why you need the skills to accurately read the charts before investing in the foreign exchange market. A good Forex education is essential if you want the best chance of success. 

It is extremely important that you understand the risks involved in currency trading. You need to realize that many investors have had severe financial losses because they entered the foreign exchange market without the knowledge and skills needed to succeed. The key to making money in the Forex market is to learn the fundamentals and get the necessary practice ahead of time. 

When you're equipped with a good Forex education, you greatly increase your chances of making good money trading currencies. Without that, you could put yourself at huge financial risk. 

There are a number of excellent business schools available with courses that teach the fundamentals of the foreign exchange market. When deciding which school to attend, make sure they offer you real-time experience in Forex trading with dummy and real accounts. The practice you get doing these trades will undoubtedly help you succeed at this in the real world. 

There is a FREE Forex course attached to this blog for anyone who is new to Forex trading. This course will help you understand the basics and practice in a demo environment to gain experience. We are not affiliated with this company. Paying it forwards!!

Article Source: https://EzineArticles.com/expert/Frank_Breinling/604596

Why Personal Finance Software Is Important

Why personal finance software is important 

These days, technology has really revolutionised people's way of life, including their financial life. Back in the day, most people used a pen and paper to document their earnings, spending, and finances. 

What is personal finance software? 

Home finance software refers to a financial tool that enables you to prepare a budget, track your expenses, and check your overall finances. These days, there is no valid reason why you should be disorganised and mired in debt because there are many good personal finance programs that you can use to keep track of your money, plan your future, and completely control your finances. If you have a PC, mobile or laptop, you are lucky because you can easily find good home finance software at little cost or free. Application programmers have now catered for the high demand for these applications as they now come with all sorts of functions and capabilities that can save your money, time and effort. 

Analysis 

You can now analyse your finances unaided. Finance software will analyse your important financial details. Details such as your monthly expenses will stick out. Many personal finance applications also allow personalisation. If there is one particular aspect you want to know about your finances, you can simply create a specialised analysis. Many personal finance programs can also give you a monthly analysis-an excellent way to see how you actually spend your money over this timeframe. 

Budget creation 

We all know the importance of a personal budget. But creating a real budget that you'll stick to is easier said than done. You can find a personal finance application that creates a realistic budget for you. Simply enter your basic information into the software and quickly create a simple budget. 

Checkbook balances and bill payments 

Sometimes you'll fail to pay bills on time. When it happens, interest rates are more than likely to shoot up. Fortunately, you can avoid this mistake once and for all. Look for a personal finance application that'll remind you when to pay your bills. Likewise, you can create a Direct Debit with your bank just by ticking a box. Sum up any amounts withdrawn from your account and check carefully anything that seems suspicious. Once you have everything on record, it becomes much easier to know how your finances are faring. 

Trust yourself and no one else 

When it comes to finances, it is best to keep track of all you have carefully. You may trust your finances with your financial adviser, however, it is still important to know where every cent is at, always. With a personal finance application, your money will never be far away from you. Whether you are paying bills, balancing your checkbook, tracking your paycheck, or creating a personal budget, you should not live without personal finance software. 

Whatever your financial lifestyle needs are, any financial software will help you budget properly and plan for your future.

Check out the FREE personal debt calculator Undebt.IT software (Link at the top of this page) as well as our Instagram and Facebook pages as to which other apps/tools we recommend. 

Please also get in touch for FREE Support if you need a bit of extra help.

Article Source: https://EzineArticles.com/expert/John_C_Watson/1346542

Six Finance Tips to Money, Wealth, Financial Security and Personal Finances

 Today everyone wants their money to be safe and secure. However, the financial world is growing more unstable and our needs are changing at a rapid pace. The necessity for individuals and families to save and manage their money has never been greater, harder and it is not getting any easier. Managing a budget, saving and investing your money wisely is the immense subject on everyone's mind. Saving money has become extremely hard today. You should save for retirement, save for your kids' college education, save in case you get laid off and save just to create a sense of comfort. 

Have you looked at your finances lately? The process of saving money, create wealth and achieving all of your financial goals start with the awareness what personal finance is. Personal finances are not about cashing your payroll check, paying your bills and meeting all of your monthly obligations. It is about having enough money saved in order to meet all of your financial goals in life. 

Money is a medium of exchange, but the lack of money adds to great emotional stress in our lives. Take control of your finances immediately by reviewing the following tips provided.

Today is an excellent time to start reviewing your finances and put together a good financial program with goals that fits your financial needs. After you review your finances, take immediate action and make some positive adjustments. Do not try to take care of it by yourself. Make sure all of your family members know about your plans and they can assist you in meeting all of your financial goals. An important issue is to measure your results and make all possible changes needed. When you and your family achieve all of the goals, reward yourselves. Rewards are always great motivators. Start Today.

Six Personal Finance 

Tips 1. It is not what you earn, it is what you save. Save at least 10% or more of your net earning from every paycheck. The important issue is to spend less than what you earn. Do not go beyond your means. 

2. To maintain a good savings account take control of your spending. A good spending plan, not a budget, will let you know where you are spending. Decide on what you want to spend your money on in advance and keep track of all of your monthly transactions. From there you will know what your spending habits are. 

3. Is your Bank meeting your needs? Possibly you might need to look at another bank that offers a much greater savings and or investment program. Today, Online Banks offer great investment programs.

 4. Apply and use credit cards that offer 0% for 12 months or more. Every monthly payment that you make will go directly to the balance and not to the high interest. When the 0% intro program is about to expire review what the interest rate will be. If the rate after that period is 10% or more, apply for another 0% credit card and transfer the remaining balance. Keep this process and you will never make an interest payment. 

5. Buy a home. Your best investment is your home but only if you get a low interest rate mortgage. If the current interest rate is 2% lower than your present rate, refinance and lower your monthly payment.

 6. The only possible way to build wealth is to determine a percentage of your income that you are willing to invest every year. 

Article Source: https://EzineArticles.com/expert/Alfredo_Valenzuela/795153

Growing Your Business - Why Separating Business and Personal Finances is Good

 This article is not all about finances. Well, it's partially about finances. More importantly, it's about how to grow your business. Growing your business doesn't just happen by magic. There's no business growth fairy that takes away a balance sheet and leaves a bigger business under your pillow. It takes a consistent, carefully managed investment to create your own success.

 And that investment starts with something that you might not have considered: Separating your business and personal finances. Surprised? 

Here are the reasons. First, you'll want to separate your business and personal finances for tax purposes. If you keep them combined, you might not be eligible for certain deductions, but if you separate them, you may be entitled to deduct expenses for your home office and mileage allowance. Likewise, you may be responsible for paying certain taxes on your business that do not apply to your personal income. Separating your finances is the only way to ensure that you properly follow all tax laws and receive all advantages to which you are entitled by law. That can grow your business by clarifying your paperwork and possibly making more money available (because of more deductions) which you can reinvest in your business. 

Another important reason for separating your finances is to get a loan or a grant so you can invest in your business. Separating your finances helps to establish a paper trail and helps you to create financial reports that demonstrate the business' performance. If your finances are separated it will be much easier to determine which income and expenses belong to the business itself. 

Third, separating your finances can help you decide how best to grow and develop the business as well. You will be able to see the areas in which the business excels as well as those areas in which it needs some extra help. You can generate targeted, accurate reports and financial statements that show at a glance how the business performs in various areas. 

 How Can I Separate My Business and Personal Finances? 

The easiest way to separate your business and personal finances is to open a business bank account. If you use credit to make business-related purchases, apply for a card in the name of the business. Have all payments made to the business account, and use only those funds and the business credit card to make purchases. 

How Do I Get Paid? 

You have multiple options for paying yourself. Some business owners find it best to write themselves a set paycheck every week. If you are confident that the business will retain enough funds to pay your salary each time, this will streamline the process and make it easier to accurately pay your personal income taxes.

 However, if your business is new or unstable, you may find it better to pass funds through the business account to your personal account. You might decide to retain just enough money in the business account to pay for expenses, and transfer everything that is left into your personal account. This is an ideal solution for those who have many personal expenses but few business expenses and earn wildly different sums on each contract. 

Setting Up and Maintaining Bookkeeping and Accounting 

Many business owners find themselves confused and overwhelmed by the paperwork that is involved in maintaining separate accounts. 

Check out Invoice Ninja, the leading free open-source online invoicing app for freelancers and businesses.

Also consider hiring outside help. A Virtual Assistant company can set up and maintain your bookkeeping and accounting. Your VA can even handle payroll, writing your paycheck each week. You can maintain as much or as little control over the process as you desire. You can hire the VA for a set number of hours per week or per month, or simply retain his or her services on a per-project basis.

My post last week recommended "Successful Female Entrepreneurs" as a source, alternatively, you can also find VA's from websites such as Fiverr and Upwork.

Ultimately, separating your business and personal finances can seem like a complicated task in the short term but in the long term it is an effective way to grow your business. 

 Article Source: https://EzineArticles.com/expert/Heather_Villa/388875