Tag Archives: personal finance

The Emotions of Money

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When we want to find out about what it takes to be financially smart, we often focus on the practical aspects of money such as budgeting, saving, investing and planning for our financial goals. It makes sense to think that if we learn and apply all the right financial principles, then we should be well equipped to become successful with money.

However, very often we forget to consider the effects that the psychological side of money may have on our results. The cold, hard facts of bank balances, expense figures, interest rates and growth targets are not the only determinants of money success; our emotions surrounding our finances also play an essential role.

About five years ago I attended a financial seminar called the Millionaire Mind Intensive, which promised to transform the way people thought about money. The major premise of the event was that by exposing any negative underlying feelings about money and replacing them with positive emotions, you would be better able to carry out the tasks necessary for financial achievement. Continue reading The Emotions of Money →

The Hidden Costs of Investing

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When many people think about investing, they have one major question in mind, “How much money am I going to make?”, and they usually don’t consider what they may have to give up in order to get their desired profit. However, natural law dictates that in order to receive, you must be willing to sacrifice something in return.

If you want to create wealth from investing, you will have to make some compromises in order to achieve your objectives. You’re not going to be blessed with wealth from this source without paying a price for it.

While it may be relatively simple to determine the direct expenses that can accompany an investment transaction, there are some hidden costs which may not be that obvious. Let’s look at some of the areas in which you must be willing to give and take in order to get the best from investing. Continue reading The Hidden Costs of Investing →

This Little Investor Went to the Market

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There are several things to consider if you are thinking about investing. Where do you go to purchase an investment? What are all the available options? How do you know which is the right one? When is the best time to buy or sell an investment? Whom should you trust to give you advice? Why should you even invest your money at all?

It can be initially difficult to find answers to these questions. After all, you can’t just walk into an investment superstore, browse through the aisles, read the labels on the different products, ask the store attendant some questions, select the right option and pay for it at the checkout counter.

If investing was as easy as shopping, we would probably all be very wealthy!

Continue reading This Little Investor Went to the Market →

Investing Is Not Rocket Science

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Many persons think that investments are mega money-making deals that can only be carried out by wealthy individuals such as financier Michael Lee Chin or hotelier Gordon ‘Butch’ Stewart. It’s also commonly believed that investing involves very technical and complex financial transactions that are outside of the understanding of the average person.

These mistaken notions often lead persons to become intimidated by the thought of investing, and this unfounded fear often prevents them from creating wealth with the use of solid investments. The reality is that once you have a desire to learn about investing, it is possible to find out all you need to know to become a competent and successful investor.

My personal experience offers living proof that anyone, regardless of background, education, age, or sophistication, can figure out the intricacies of investing. Just over 10 years ago I had no idea that there was even as concept called investing; in fact, I didn’t even practise the simple habit of saving my money. Continue reading Investing Is Not Rocket Science →

Getting Started with Investing

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Whenever I examine the topic of investing, I often receive responses from readers who want to learn more about how they can make their money work for them in some type of investment. It seems that while they have a desire to invest, many persons are unable to proceed because they just don’t know where to start.

When I first learnt about the concept of investing many years ago, I was initially hesitant about putting money into anything that couldn’t guarantee a positive return. While I understood about saving and receiving interest on my money, it seemed like a risky idea to commit my hard-earned funds into an endeavour, hoping that it would generate a profit.

I remember doing a training course that required the students to create a portfolio which included stock investments. At the time, I didn’t know anything about the stock market, and I was annoyed that I was being forced to invest in something that could lose money.

Very reluctantly, I placed 20 per cent of my ‘pretend’ funds on a few stock picks, and prepared for a disastrous result. Continue reading Getting Started with Investing →

How to become a successful investor

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Last week we looked at several investor personalities which Robert Kiyosaki describes in his best-selling investing book, CASHFLOW Quadrant. While examining the attitudes and actions of different types of investors, he explains that most of them will only achieve minimal success because they lack the financial intelligence required to become wealthy.

Kiyosaki outlines three investor types that will become successful with money. The first is the long-term investor that is actively involved in making investment decisions. He explains that these persons invest in their own financial education before they buy an investment, so that they can fully understand how to make appropriate choices with their money.

These investors are financially disciplined; they live within their means and minimise their liabilities. Once they have identified their goals, they find out how much they need to invest to attain their objectives and create realistic action plans. They seek advice from competent financial advisors, are usually conservative, and avoid complex investing options. Continue reading How to become a successful investor →

What type of investor are you?

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Too many people live out their lives without setting financial goals or thinking of ways to get ahead in life. Like the ancient Arabic saying, “He who knows not, and knows not he knows not, is a fool,” they are dangerously unconscious about the importance of creating and carrying out a plan of action to become financially secure and successful.

One of the strategies that can help you to finance your dreams and achieve your objectives is investing. Investing is simply the act of putting your money to work in some type of endeavour with the expectation of making profit. The idea is that you are actively trying to increase the value of your initial investment and/or earn an income from your efforts.

While investing can be a key component in creating wealth, persons who decide to invest may receive vastly different results than they had expected. Although it may be relatively easy to put your money into some type of investment, it is not a given that you will make a profit.

The level of success you obtain will be largely dependent on your investing expertise.

Continue reading What type of investor are you? →

Investment tips from an ancient time

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In today’s technologically driven society, persons looking for advice can readily turn to the Internet to find solutions to almost any problem that they might encounter. When it comes to financial issues, it’s not difficult to search online and quickly find answers to a variety of questions about money.

One of the financial questions foremost on many people’s minds is how to become wealthy by investing. Many readers express that they would like to find the secret to making money work for them, so that they can work less.

However, while it’s important to learn about the operations of different investment options, it is even more essential to discover the principles of investing.

One resource that contains many of the basic laws of investing and creating wealth is The Richest Man in Babylon, by George S Clason. Although this book was written in the 1920s, it still provides relevant and practical nuggets of wisdom that can help you to understand what it takes to build sustainable wealth.

Continue reading Investment tips from an ancient time →

Going Viral with your Dream

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We have recently been looking at the importance of each person creating a vision for his or her personal growth and financial progress. I believe that Jamaica’s future economic development will be dependent on the ability of all of us to take charge of our own destinies, instead of waiting around for someone else to create change.

An unfolding Internet phenomenon has substantiated my belief that one person with a passionate dream for a better life can influence others to join in the vision. Clifton Brown, resident of Mavis Bank, St Andrew, was interviewed on a local television news programme about the woes caused by the recent inclement weather in his community.

Whenever heavy rains fall, the Yallahs River overflows and becomes a raging current across several roadways, including the Robertsfield main road, leaving the citizens marooned. Brown explained that people had to pay to be carried over by skilled persons, or by trucks or buses which could manage the flow. He appealed for a bridge to be constructed to rectify this perennial problem.

The vision becomes viral

I am sure that Brown had no idea that his impassioned plea captured on the television show would have led to him achieving celebrity status. His enthusiastic speech drew out the creativity of a young university student, Kevin-Sean Hamilton, who used clips of his interview to make an amusing music video that spread quickly on the Internet. Continue reading Going Viral with your Dream →

Waiting in Vain?

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Dearest readers,

Since February 2006 I have been faithfully writing on the subject of personal finance, teaching you about the essentials of managing, multiplying and maintaining your money. It has been my pleasure to share all the money lessons I’ve learnt while searching to find answers to solve my own financial challenges.

Over the last five years, I have been honoured and humbled by the hundreds of readers who have shared their testimonies of how my articles have encouraged and enlightened them towards improving their financial situations. In fact, I have been privileged to meet and become friends with some of my more enthusiastic supporters.

Despite all the naysayers and negativity in the country, I have always held firm in my belief that it is possible for each and every one of us to be successful with money. Once a determined effort is made to learn and apply all the important principles that govern money, no one should continue to experience financial distress indefinitely.

However, as I write this article, I must admit that my heart is a little heavy. Yes, I have been preaching about the principles of money success and practising positive thinking about our problems, but this cannot be enough.

I recognise that a whole lot more needs to be done if the people of Jamaica are truly going to experience a change of economic fortunes.

Continue reading Waiting in Vain? →