Brought to you compliments of Sarah M. Place, MBA
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August 2005
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Saturday, February 4, 2012
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Avoid Procrastination
The biggest money mistake isn’t a money issue at all...it’s a personal issue. The mistake is procrastinating when it comes to personal finances. I have tried for years to figure out why so that I could be more effective in motivating people to make decisions and take action, but I haven’t had much success. Maybe it is because personal finance issues don’t seem as urgent as other problems we face. Or perhaps it is because personal finance is an area that is a bit uncomfortable to most people. Or maybe it is because people feel they need some help in this area but don’t know whom to turn to. For these and perhaps other reasons, taking action on saving, investing, or protection issues is easy to put off entirely.
Please don’t procrastinate about your finances. Get some help, develop your financial plan, then start implementing your plan. Start saving, start investing, have a will drawn up, buy some insurance, or do whatever else you need to do. Just do something. If you need help, please call or e-mail me and we can discuss your needs.
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Bond Strategies for Various Financial Goals
The strategies used for bond investing will depend on the financial objectives you are pursuing. Those financial objectives could include earning interest while preserving principal, maximizing income, managing interest rate risk, helping reduce the volatility of stock investments, investing for a specific future goal, recognizing a loss for tax purposes, or reducing income taxes. Consider these bond strategies to help you achieve these financial objectives.
[FULL ARTICLE]
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Are Muni Bonds Appropriate for You?
No investment, including municipal bonds,
is appropriate for every investor. Before purchasing municipal bonds for your investment portfolio, consider
their advantages and disadvantages to see if they are appropriate
for your portfolio and will help you achieve your investment objectives.
[FULL ARTICLE]
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Keeping an Eye on the Economy
Watching key economic indicators over time
should help you understand the signals the economy is sending.
While you may not make financial decisions with certainty, understanding
the economy should help you make decisions, such as which investments
to purchase and sell, when to lock in mortgage rates, and when
to purchase major durable goods, with more confidence.
[FULL ARTICLE]
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Assessing a Bond's Credit Risk
Credit risk is the risk that the issuer's
credit rating will be downgraded, which could decrease the bond's
value. Lower credit ratings also are an indicator that a bond
may be subject to default risk, or the risk that the issuer will
not be able to pay interest and/or principal. When investing in
bonds, be sure to assess these risks.
[FULL ARTICLE]
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The Basics of TIPS
Treasury Inflation Protection Securities
(TIPS), issued by the U.S. Treasury, are similar to other Treasury
bonds in a number of respects. The main difference between TIPS and other
government bonds is that the bond's face value is adjusted periodically
for inflation based on the increase in the Consumer Price Index
for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U).
[FULL ARTICLE]
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Sarah has over fifteen years experience in the financial services industry. She received her MBA at St. Mary's University Graduate School of Business in San Antonio, TX and her bachelor’s degree in Economics–Finance at Bentley College in Waltham, MA. The firm she founded, Place Trade Financial, Inc., (Member NASD, SIPC) is an active member of the Securities Industry Association (SIA).
Feel free to contact Sarah via e-mail at
sarah@placetrade.com
or visit our Web site
www.placetrade.com
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Published by
Sarah M. Place
Copyright © 2005 Place Trade Financial, Inc., Member NASD/SIPC. All rights reserved.
This newsletter intends to offer factual and up-to-date information on the subjects discussed, but should not be regarded as a complete analysis of these subjects. The appropriate professional advisors should be consulted before implementing any options presented. No party assumes liability for any loss or damage resulting from errors or omissions or reliance on or use of this material.
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TELL A FRIEND
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