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Dead Money will cost you

What is dead money?

Written by R. A. Stewart

 

What is dead money?

It is money which is spent on something which does not provide anything of value to you.

Interest paid on consumer debt falls into this category. It is dead money because interest does not provide any tangible value to you. Some may argue that interest paid on a mortgage on a property provides some value because the value of the property increases at a greater rate than the interest on the mortgage.

A fair point but falling house prices have meant that some houses have negative equity on them. All the more reason for you to reduce that mortgage as quickly as possible, more so when the mortgage interest rate is low.

Dead money can also be money which is locked away in an investment for very little return. An example of this is money just simply left in a savings account for a period of time. Inflation and the tax payable on the paltry interest means that your money is losing its value over a period of time. The only money which is left in an account such as this is money which is needed in the short term.

Just stuffing your money under the mattress is another form of dead money for the same reason as leaving it in a low interest account and this is because it is not earning any money.

If you think that just leaving money lying around is foolish enough most people own stuff which is worth money and if this was sold the money could be earning an income through shares or other investments. Most people own stuff which can be converted back into cash and put to work for them. Anything which is no longer needed and is just gathering dust fits this category.

It is important to know the difference between an asset and a liability. An asset increases your wealth but a liability is a drain on your finances.

Some investors consider the equity in their home as “dead money”. It all depends on where you are coming from because there is a clear choice between having equity in your home or having a debt. I recall someone told me years ago that he knew someone who took out a mortgage on his home to purchase shares then Black Monday took place. For younger people, the 1987 sharemarket crash which occurred during October of that year was named “Black Monday.”

After the crash his shares were worth a lot less than the loans owing on them. 

At the end of the day that is the risk with investing for capital gain and investors must weigh up the risks of losing their capital against the likely rewards. 

If you have some spare cash lying about doing nothing and you are wondering whether or not you should invest it in something risky but has the potential to grow the one question you should be asking is “What is this money for?”

Only then will you know whether this is money you should be taking risks with.

About this article

This article is the opinion of the writer and may not necessarily be applicable to your personal circumstances therefore caution is advised. You are welcome to use this article as content for your website/blog or ebook. Feel free to share this article.

Www.robertastewart.com

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The Art of Diversification

The Meaning of Diversification

Written by R. A. Stewart

Diversification is a word that you will hear in investment circles, particularly when investing in the share market, but what exactly does it mean?

To put it in plain language, Diversification is when you divide all of your money between different asset classes and companies. Your total portfolio may be x amount of dollars; an astute investor will invest a certain amount in power companies, a certain amount in banks, a certain amount in insurance companies, and so on.

We often hear of horror stories whenever a company folds and the one that crops up is that investors lost their entire savings in the one company. Big mistake!

That is leaving all of your eggs in the one basket because you do not know what kind of misfortune will hit any particular company.

Government regulations and the economic cycle are out of the control of the company. 

Then there are trends which will have some influence over the bottom line.

There is no guarantee that whatever occurred in the past will repeat itself in the future.

Investment platforms such as Sharesies, Hatch, and Kernel Wealth in New Zealand and Robin Hood in the US enable the ordinary man and woman in the street to invest with a minimum amount of money. This provides an excellent education tool for people who are willing to increase their financial literacy by taking part in the share market.

There is another method of diversification and that is by investing in managed funds or as they are described in the US, Mutual Funds. This is where your money is combined with that of other investors. It is a case of safety in numbers.

Managed Funds provide investors with three options, Growth Funds, Balanced Funds, and Conservative Funds.

Growth Funds are higher risk, higher growth stocks aimed at long term investors. That is investors who are investing for 10 years or more. The reason why they are more suitable for long term investors is because they have more time to recover from a market meltdown, which is more liable to happen with growth funds. The young ones are more suited to Growth Funds because they have more time to recover from a share market crash.

Conservative Funds are safer with investors unlikely to see the kind of falls occurring in the growth funds but the flip side is that an investment in conservative funds will not grow as fast.

Financial advisors in New Zealand have often stated that young people should invest their retirement savings in growth funds to maximise returns. 

Balanced Funds are a combination of Growth and Conservative Funds. They basically give you the best of both worlds.

Diversification does not mean that you should choose an online investment platform such as Sharesies or Robinhood and invest your whole life savings there. The reason is because there have been instances in the US when these types of online platforms have folded.

Some readers may say, “I know/read about an investor who put all of their money in one company and made a killing.”

My answer to that is, “Greed gets the better of people such as this in the end,”

What is likely to happen is that they will try the same thing again and again and give all of their previous gains back plus a whole lot more.

When you hear stories of so and so making a killing, what you do not hear about are those who tried the same thing and lost all of their money.

Be sensible with your money and you will reap a harvest in the end.

About this article

The contents of this article is of the writer’s own experience and opinion and may not be applicable to your personal circumstances, therefore, discretion is advised. You may use this article as content for your blog/website or ebook.

Read my other articles on www.robertastewart.com

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6 Benefits of Saving Money

The value of saving money

Written by R. A. Stewart

If there is one habit which will make your life easier it is the habit of saving money from each payday. As a responsible adult this is the mature thing to do. People who just spend all of their money leaving them broke before the next pay day arrives are irresponsible. 

Saving money without an end goal may seem pointless to some people and that is why it is important to have goals so that your money has a purpose. This gives you motivation to save otherwise you will become just like most people and just fritter your money away and when that rainy day comes there will be nothing to fall back on.

Here are reasons why you must save:

  1. Saving helps you to avoid borrowing

People who have no savings often borrow for stuff they need, such as some appliance breaking down or a medical emergency. Borrowing adds to the cost of whatever it is a debtor is paying for. This cost is called interest. Another word for interest is dead money because it gives you nothing tangible for your money. If you have debt then getting rid of it must be your first priority.

  1. Saving helps you to avoid future inconvenience

Imagine having no savings and the car, washing machine, or internet modem, or something else needs fixing and you have no savings. These are items which we take for granted but having no money to repair or replace something which needs replacing will cause you a great deal of inconvenience. Having a rainy day account for emergencies is a good idea.

Having

  1. Saving enables you to build your wealth

Saving money will help you to build your wealth portfolio and you do not need to have a fortune to begin investing but you do need to invest in order to create a fortune. Share market platforms such as Sharesies and Hatch enables anyone to invest on a shoestring. Investing with these platforms helps build your financial literacy.

  1. Saving provides more opportunities 

Saving money creates more future opportunities. It provides opportunities to study, to travel, and to move locations for work. Your future you will thank you for what you have saved today. Will anyone reach the age of 65 and regret having made consistent contributions to kiwisaver? I think not.

  1. Saving provides more peace of mind.

Saving provides a certain amount of peace of mind. When you have something up your sleeve to pay for emergencies when you need it life becomes much less stressful. That is something which should be part of your financial plan.

  1. Saving helps prepare for retirement

Having money behind you helps make your retirement years more comfortable. Whichever country you belong to it is important to join your country’s retirement scheme and take advantage of any tax incentives if any.

About this article: The contents are of the opinion of the writer and may not be applicable to your own personal circumstances. You are advised to seek professional budget advice if necessary. Feel free to print this off for easier reading. You may use this as content for your blog, website, or ebook.

Www.robertastewart.com

 

Disclaimer: I may receive a small commission if you sign up with sharesies. (see below)

 Investing with Sharesies is an accessible and straightforward way to invest in the stock market. By following these steps, you can get started on your investment journey and start building your wealth. However, before making any investment decisions, it is essential to do your research and seek professional advice if necessary.

 Join Sharesies here

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3 Mistakes Investors Make

Avoid these three Financial Mistakes

Written by R. A. Stewart

Building an investment portfolio is similar to building a relationship. It takes time and patience but over caution can be just as costly. A lot of tolerance is required because in finance and in life in general you do not always get your own way. Life has its own ups and it is during the downs that we show our true character. It is when our true colours come to the surface.

Human nature or emotion as it is can interfere with one’s better judgment. This applies to relationships and finance.

Here are the biggest mistakes made by investors.

Mistake number one-Greed

“If something is too good to be true then it almost certainly is,” but many people have fallen into this trap by investing in something which was offering above average returns. In doing so they completely ignored another rule in finance and that is to diversify. During the 2008 Global Financial Crisis many investors lost their entire life savings when various finance companies went under. Several people have their entire life savings invested in one company. Whatever has been reported about these companies it is up to investors to do their own due diligence and invest sensibly. Placing all of your eggs in one basket is certainly not investing sensibly. The key word for sensible investors is “diversify.” This minimizes risk. Two things to bear in mind is that when there is an opportunity for a capital gain as there is with shares, there is also the chance for a capital loss. The other thing to remember is that when you hear stories of someone who made a killing on the share market by placing all of their eggs in one basket, you seldom hear of individuals who tried the same thing and lost their money. Greed will eventually get the better of investors who thought they were smart enough to beat the market.

Mistake number two-Timidity

Playing it safe is risky. Being overcautious will mean that you miss out on opportunities which risk takers take advantage of. There is no suggestion that you should be reckless and ignore common sense precautions but in relationships you need to risk getting hurt in order to discover what you are looking for. As far as financial matters are concerned, you have to accept some level of risk but this is manageable by diversifying your portfolio. Managed Funds or Mutual Funds as they are also called is an excellent way for ordinary investors to get involved in the share market. In New Zealand, Kiwisaver, Sharesies, Kernel Wealth, Hatch, and Investnow are excellent platforms for ordinary investors to get involved in shares. If you are from the US you may want to look at Robinhood which operates in much the same way as Sharesies.

Mistake number three-Impatience

“It is time and not timing which is important in the share market,” is a cliche which is worth keeping in mind. Patience is a virtue and this is applicable to relationships and finances. Some people lack patience that they invest their money in abc shares then when their portfolio is stagnant they sell those and invest in something else and sod’s law, the shares they sold at a lower price suddenly rises meaning they have missed out on any gains which would have recovered their losses. The share market is a long term gain. If you require the money in the short term then investing in shares may not be the right option. Bank deposit probably is but you have got to do your homework. 

It is all about understanding the risks and whether you have the mindset to handle the ups and downs of the money markets.

It really is up to your own risk profile.

About this article

You may use this article as content for your blog/website and as content for your ebook. Feel free to share this article with others.

The information here is of the opinion of the writer and may not be applicable to your personal circumstances.

Invest in sharesies here:

Sharesies makes it possible for anyone to get into buying and selling shares. It is an online share market platform where you have the option of purchasing shares in individual companies or in various funds (managed/mutual funds). You can even start with $5. This is a no brainer because it gives investors young and not so young the chance to improve their financial literacy. There is certainly no substitute for experience when it comes to learning and this is applicable to everything else, not just investing.

Join sharesies here: https://sharesies.nz/r/377DFM

Disclaimer: I may receive a small sign up bonus if you join sharesies.

www.robertastewart.com

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Make Saving a Habit

Make Saving a Habit

If there is one financial habit which will get you ahead it is this one…

Saving!

Why you must develop the savings habit

It is not how big your pay packet is, what counts is what you do with the money. Irrespective of your financial situation, it makes economic sense to save a portion of your income regularly. the mains reasons for saving are;

1-For unexpected emergencies such as car expenses, the washing machine breaking down, or dental bills.

2-To put aside money for your retirement.

3-Holidays or wedding expenses.

4-study expenses

5-Home repairs.

6-To save for a deposit for a home.

7-Saving for a car

8-Saving for a business

Consequences of not having any savings

If you do not have any savings of your own then if an unexpected emergency crops up such as the car breaking down then you may have to borrow the money to pay for repairs and every time you borrow money, the interest you pay means that you are always paying a higher price for goods and services bought with borrowed money than someone who always pays in cash.

Saving money requires you to live within your means and to live modestly. Good savers will not purchase items brand new when they can find the same item in a charity shop at a fraction of the price. 

Your choices will make or break you

Every time you make a choice there will be consequences, good or bad. The key is to make enough good choices to succeed and to minimize your bad choices. It is important to keep your eyes and ears open to what is happening around you and listen to wise people who have succeeded in their chosen field. Having said that, you must row your own boat and discover your own calling in life.

Joining your country’s retirement scheme.

Many countries around the world have their own retirement savings scheme where a portion of your gross income is invested in that country’s retirement fund and your money cannot be withdrawn until you reach retirement age which varies between different countries. (In New Zealand it is currently 65)

Accumulate investments.

It is a good idea to not only have a retirement fund but invest in various areas to increase your financial knowledge. The share market, managed trusts, and fixed term investments are all well worth getting into.

Don’t place all your eggs in one basket

Don’t under any circumstances place all of your eggs in one basket. There is no guarantee that a particular company will not go under irrespective of how solid it appears. After all, if a company is in trouble, its directors are hardly going to shout it out from the rooftops are they? During the economic downturn around 2008, many people lost a lot of money in failed finance companies and the tragedy was that many of these folk invested their entire life savings into the one company. In other words they placed all of their eggs into one basket. The number one rule is to spread your risk. Divide your money among several different companies. That way you stand a far better chance of protecting your financial assets.

Www.robertastewart.com

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Using the rule of 72 to get wealthy

Using the rule of 72 to get wealthy

Written by R. A. Stewart

Do you know how long it takes for your money to double using the rule of 72?

Using the 72 formula it works like this:

Simply divide 72 by the interest you are receiving on your money. Of course the calculation does not include the tax paid on your investment.

Another name for the rule of 72 is compounding interest or dividends as is the case when investing in the share markets. You are receiving an income from your original investment plus from the dividends and interest which are left untouched.

This is called compound interest.

There may be a temptation to hasten the doubling up period by searching for high interest investments. My advice is to be careful because if a finance company is paying it’s depositor’s higher than normal interest rates it only means that they are charging their borrowers higher interest rates than the banks. The reason why someone would pay higher interest rates is because they couldn’t get a bank loan because they are considered risky borrowers.

Several finance companies went belly up during the Global Financial Crisis of 2007/2008. These were companies paying higher interest to their investors than market rates.

I did lose money on some of these companies. On reflection, instead of letting the interest compound I should have taken them and invested the interest into my Kiwisaver account.

The rule of 72 is just as applicable to investing in the share market. Your investment can grow using the same principle in managed funds or mutual funds as they are also called but profits can vary. 

You can calculate how much your investment needs to grow per annum in order to double within a specified time. 

72 / your time frame (years)

If you want your money to double in 10 years then you would need an average annual return of 7.2%

The important factor is time. Young people have that in their favour. 

Someone on the verge of retirement is not going to make plans for what they are going to do in thirty years time. Your age is an important consideration to where and what you invest in.

The rule of 72 also works for borrowers. You can work out how long it will take for your debt to grow with this simple formula: 72 / interest rate so if you are paying 15 percent interest rate the amount you owe will double in 4.8 years.

That is of course assuming that you have done nothing to pay off the debt.

It underlines the importance of paying off debt as quickly as possible.

About this article

This article is of the opinion of the writer and may not be applicable to your personal circumstances therefore discretion is advised. You are welcome to use this article as content for your blog or website. 

I may receive a small commission if you sign up for Sharesies or Coinbase.

www.robertastewart.com

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He who never made a mistake…

He who never made a mistake…

never made anything.

You could read all you can about the share market but investors will from time to time go against their better judgement and invest in something because of greed or it is something they are interested in. I have lost money in the past from some of my investments.

Here is a sample:

Air New Zealand (early 2000s)

This company I thought was a reasonably safe investment. Air New Zealand was once owned by the government but it was privatized during the late 1980s or 90s. However, the company almost went under during 2001 I think it was when their shares dropped to 14 cents each from about $1.50. The government bailed them out and still owns about 51% of the company. During covid, the government bailed them out again after the border closures placed them in a financially precarious situation.

Lombard Finance L.T.D

This was one of those finance companies which offered higher interest rates than the banks for fixed term accounts. Lombard as it turned out had too much money tied up in too few projects and when one of their creditors folded it brought Lombard down with them. It lent money to property developers. Lombard Finance collapsed in 2008

Provincial Finance L.T.D

This company lent money for consumable items such as cars etc. It, like Lombard, offered higher interest rates for fixed term than the high street banks. It was also a victim of the Global Financial Crisis.

Dominion Finance L.T.D

Another finance company which fell victim to the Global Financial Crisis. It too offered higher fixed term rates than the banks were offering.

Must be a lesson there somewhere.

These were by no means the only finance companies which went belly up during the G.F.C; South Canterbury Finance and Hanover Finance were high profile collapses. 

Some investors lost their entire life savings in Hanover FInance. 

That is a classic case of putting all your eggs in the one basket; a crucial mistake which affected how some folk will live during their retirement years. 

Greed sometimes over rules better judgement.

We sometimes hear stories of young folk who have bought xxx stock in xxx company which has risen in value by a ridiculous amount. This type of rise is not sustainable and it is only a matter of time before the rising share value slows or in some cases takes a spectacular dive. 

I mentioned young folk because they do not have the past experience of older investors.

It has to be said that those who have made the most investment mistakes are likely to be in a better financial situation than those who played it safe all their lives and just kept their money in low interest accounts. Certainly better than those who are spenders rather than savers.

The bottom line is that it pays to diversify and spread your risk but the level of risk one takes is dependent on a person’s age because younger people have more time to recover from financial mistakes.

A lot of people cannot stomach the thought of losing a few grand on their investments yet would have problem frittering that money on lottery tickets, cigarettes, or booze. In order to achieve more favourable financial outcomes it is important to do a stock take of your outgoings (spending) and transfer money which would otherwise have been wasted into something more profitable. This could be starting an internet-based business, investments, or upskilling.

During the 1987 sharemarket crash thousands of investors lost fortunes. Many of them borrowed money using the value of their shares as collateral and the rising share prices meant that they were able to borrow more money. The collapse of the markets left investors with shares which were worth less than the value of the loans taken out to purchase them. The lesson here is to never borrow money for shares.

Here is a quote from the Auckland City mayor concerning debt levels. “Capacity to borrow is not the issue. It’s the capacity to pay it back.”

The other lesson is that it may be better to invest in upskilling. It never hurts to add another string to your bow.

This article is the result of the writer’s experience and opinion and not considered as financial advice. If you require qualified financial advice see your bank manager or financial advisor.

www.robertastewart.com

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Here are 6 ways to make Capital Gains

The article below is of the sole opinion of the writer and is not considered to be financial advice. If you require advice on a financial matter then consult your bank manager or other financial advisor. You may share this article or publish it to your own site or blog.

6 Ways to Make Capital Gains

Written by R. A. Stewart

There are basically two types of investment income. Capital Gains and Investment Income.

Investment income is income you receive from an asset, examples of investment income are interest on savings, rent from property, and dividends from shares.

Capital gains is the increased value of an asset; examples of capital gains is the increased value of property, shares, and other assets.

Some investments provide capital gains but no income; examples of these are precious metals such as gold, bitcoin, antiques and other collectable items.

Here are investments which provide Capital Gains:

The Sharemarket

The sharemarket offers excellent opportunities for capital gain. For most people, investing directly into the markets is not an option because the transaction fees once taken out for buying and selling shares make it not worth their while, however, there are plenty of managed funds investors with limited means can participate in. Sharesies in New Zealand  is one.  Investors can drip feed money into the markets with Sharesies and there is the option of investing in various funds or individual companies. Other similar types of platforms in New Zealand  are Investnow, Kernelwealth, and Hatch. These are not the only ones though. 

Your retirement scheme invests in managed (Mutual Funds) and they are also a form of Capital Gains. In New Zealand joining kiwisaver is a no brainer. KIwisaver is New Zealand’s retirement scheme.

Property

The property market has been a popular Captain Gains tool for a lot of investors using not only their money but other people’s money in the form of a loan. Income is gained from rents which pays for the mortgage. All related costs are the most popular form of capital gains and the easiest one for the novice investor to get their toe wet in the markets and learn as you go because there are several mutual funds which are available and the start up costs are minimal. In New Zealand Sharesies only costs $1 to get into which gives you the chance to invest in managed funds or individual companies. It is a great way for tax deduction. This type of investment can turn to custard such as wayward tenants. If you are prepared to take the risk then this investment may suit.

Your own home is a good source of Capital Gains if you intend to sell at some point.

Another way to get in on the property ladder is to purchase shares in property investment companies in the sharemarket. This can be done by investing in individual companies or managed funds which invest in property.

Compound Interest

You must have heard of compound interest; that is when you invest in fixed term accounts for x% interest. Instead of receiving your interest payments into your bank account you let them be added on to your principal and you earn interest on your principal and previous interest payments. This is called compounded interest. 

The increase to your capital is called “Capital Gains.”

Interest rates are very low at present (2020); in some instances lower than the inflation rate which makes this kind of investing less attractive. It is important therefore to do your due diligence and not be enticed by some finance company offering higher interest rates than normal, because with higher interest rates comes higher risk. These finance companies offering higher interest rates lend to higher risk types of borrowers. 

I am not saying that you should not invest your money in these companies but rather do your due diligence and at least diversify your portfolio rather than plonking all of your life savings into the one company.

Gold

This one is purely speculative but can be a good hedge against a downturn in the markets. The one drawback with gold is finding a place to store it. Another way to invest in gold is buying gold stocks in the sharemarket. Purchasing gold coins from auction sites such as Ebay and Trademe is another option. As with other investments it pays to do your homework and read all you can about gold and other precious metals. The following website provides information for those interested in gold:

 

Crypto Currency

Crypto currency such as Bitcoin and the like should be treated as speculative investments, therefore, only invest money in this if you can afford to lose it. What I am saying is use your discretionary income to purchase crypto currency. This type of investing can be a rollercoaster but one piece of advice which may be useful is to not just purchase all your crypto currency in one transaction but to do on a weekly, fortnightly, or monthly basis so that there is a chance that you have made a purchase when the currency is low. It is called averaging.

Collectables/Antiques

Investing in collectables can give you a sense of satisfaction and profit when you intent to sell. You really have to know your stuff when dealing in antiques. Always remember, something is only worth what others are prepared to pay for. If someone is prepared to pay $1,000 for a painting at auction then that is what it is worth, however, if another painting is sold at auction for just $10, then that is it’s worth. The value of something is only a matter of opinion.

Recently (2020), some Banksie paintings sold for over $100,000 in New Zealand. The seller of the paintings paid a total of $500 for them in London (UK) some years earlier. It just shows how one’s eye for a bargain can be profitable.

For smaller items such as postage stamps, bank notes, beer labels, and so forth collectors can list their duplicates on auction websites to help fund their hobby.

 

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How to make or lose a fortune

Written by R. A. Stewart

“How can I make a fortune on the share market?”-a question some random person may be thinking to him or herself and if I really knew the answer to that question then I would be rich beyond my wildest dreams.

I can’t tell you how to get rich but at least I can give you some hints to help save you losing your shirt and a lot more.

Share prices do not always represent value, but rather the opinions of the wisest men in finance. The markets tell the story of the times. The stock market moves according to the news coming out from various companies. Shares prices are often ahead of actual happenings.

When you are trading on shares you are competing with some of the best financial brains in the country. They have the benefit of years of research and experience behind them. Not to mention huge financial resources and every conceivable aid to assist them.

Never lose sight of the fact that someone’s gain is nearly always someone else’s loss-don’t let it be yours. Share prices can drop sudden and faster than they rise. Don’t let it overwhelm you.

A “tip” is just an opinion. There are plenty of people who are willing to advise you to sell or to buy. Don’t let any of this throw you off course.

Some companies have professional directors whose job it is to enhance the company’s image. They add little else to the company’s bottom line.

All of the glossy brochures about a company may look impressive but they can be doctored to look better than they really are.

The financial jungle can be rough and those losses can be hard to swallow but one must learn to take a financial hit occasional and not be discouraged from taking further risks. When I say risks I mean calculated ones. 

If you are going to make yourself ill by worrying if your shares drop by a percentage point or more then stay out of the share market and be a little more on the conservative side with your investing. 

In this day and age with modern technology and online share market platforms it is much easier for ordinary people to build a portfolio on a modest income. Managed funds enable anyone to tap into the best financial brains in finance-even the financially ignorant.

Even so, keeping up to date with the financial world will help you in the long run.

Share trading can be divided into three categories.

1 Long term: For people wanting to build a nest egg for their retirement. The type of investment will depend on your risk profile and your age. Investors may want to just invest regularly into this type of fund and forget them.

2 Medium Term: For investors wanting a reasonable return up to five years with a chance of a capital gain.

3 Short term: This is for money that may be needed within the next 12-24 months. It should be placed in more conservative accounts. Money in this category may be required for appliance repairs or replacement and so forth. It is for the unforeseeable expenses. Many financial advisors even suggest having an emergency fund for this purpose.

About this article

This article is of the opinion of the writer and may not necessarily be applicable to your own personal circumstances, therefore caution is advised. Read my other articles on www.robertastewart.com 

 

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Diversification in the share market

Written by Robert A. Stewart

Diversification is a term we often come across in the investment industry but what does this really mean for the Mum and Dad investor and how can the ordinary investor profit from diversification? Here is an article written in simple language which everyday investors can understand.

Diversification in the share market

What it is and how you can make it work for you

Diversify, diversify, diversify are terms you will come across in the world of investments so what does it mean and how can you make it work to grow your wealth?

When someone says you should diversify your investments what is meant is that your investments are spread out among different companies and sectors in order to reduce your risk.

An investor may have shares in a phone company, a power company, a bank, an insurance company and so on.

This kind of diversification was once beyond the means of the average investor because one had to purchase at least $3,000 worth of each share just to make it viable because of the broker’s commission on each buy and sell transaction.

Not any more!

Online share market trading platforms such as Sharesies in New Zealand and Robinhood in the US have opened the way for anyone of any means to get involved in the markets. These platforms enable anyone to build up their financial literacy on a shoestring. There are lots of other online investment platforms similar to Sharesies and Robinhood which gives you a wide choice. 

With sharesies the minimum investment you can make is $5 but with Kernel Wealth, another online investment platform in New Zealand the minimum investment is $100. This is just an example of different rules for different companies.

Mum and Dad investors can buy into a range of diverse companies on a shoestring with sharesies and robin hood which in the long term is good for those astute enough to participate.

Investing in individual companies is not the only way to build up a diverse portfolio; the other way is investing in managed funds or as it is referred to in the States, Mutual Funds. 

When buying into these funds you are combining your money with other investors to purchase units  in the funds. Fund managers will purchase shares in a range of companies on your behalf.

The level of risk can vary depending on the industry in which the fund manager invests your money.

These investments are generally referred to as Growth Funds which have the potential to grow your savings but at a higher risk. 

Those investors who want a mixture of high risk and low risk funds will invest in what is called Balanced funds. This is a combination of growth and balanced funds. Investors may have the option of choosing which percentage of their investment they would like in growth or conservative funds..

Diversification is an excellent wealth building strategy for the average investors who wants to create a nest egg for the future. It is a matter knowing what you want to achieve with your investments and investing accordingly.

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