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Why not consider FOREX Trading?

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The Basics of FOREX Trading

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Let’s face it, there’s no such thing as a safe investment, especially not these days. But FOREX Trading is one way to build your financial future without exposing yourself to huge risk.

WHY? Because you can make money if the foreign currency you are bidding goes UP, OR DOWN!

And unlike the stock market, there aren’t thousands of stocks to choose from and monitor, just seven paired currencies, for example, US Dollar and the Euro trading against each other.

Want to learn more? Download the FREE 21 page PDF The Basics of FOREX Trading from popular finance and investment author Jeff Hamilton now:

Here is an interesting article on the bailout, and how it has had little impact because the crisis is so deep. It gives a succinct history of the crisis, and what the meltdown really means.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081006/ap_on_bi_ge/financial_meltdown

I can’t talk about your 401k, but I can talk about mine. While contributing about $225,000 pre-tax over 15 years, I’ve lost about $100,000 in value. Thus, my 401k has “grown” $125,000 in 15 years, but at a cost of $225,000 pre-tax dollars.

I write all this because I want to state that the 401K losses were a result of two things: laziness for not acting sooner, and misinformation from so-called investment experts.

Specifically: I was too highly invested in corporate stocks. This occurred largely at the recommendation of ‘experts’ that always looked at DOW historical averages and determined future growth is assured.

As I discovered, it’s easy to say the word “diversified”, but actually harder to implement it than you might think.

I mean, if your ‘expert’ recommends 70-90% stock allocation, how is that diversified? In other words, not only should your stock portfolio be diversified - but the INVESTMENTS THEMSELVES should be diversified

What I found was that to remain diversified, you should never be more that 40% invested in stocks at any one time, and that is combined 401k and personal holdings.

Interestingly, I got a few hundred shares in a stock incentive plan separate from my 401K. This put me even more into stocks than I had realized

As of last year, I was like 95% in stocks! As of today, my 401k is only 11.5% in stocks, the 88.5% bonds and cash. Honestly, I have been moving money since early June and losing a lot less in my 401K than those who keep the “recommended” 70-90% stock allocation.
My conclusion is that 401K has too many pluses to pass up: employer match, forced contributions and pre-tax savings.

But, in hindsight, I would also recommend it to be heavy in bonds and cash, especially during this bear market.

If you don’t own real estate at all, you might consider a loan (up to $50,000 without penalty!) from your 401K, and use it for the down payment on something nice and affordable. But, with the real estate markets also in shambles, it is not a given that your purchase today will be a growth opportunity  tomorrow.

That being the case, there is no reason not to put some money into foreign currencies and/or commodities. Whether buying euro, gold, oil, fine art, old wines, or even sports memorabilia, there are MANY opportunities beyond stocks and real estate! DON’T BE LAZY and DON’T BELIEVE THE EXPERTS!!!

http://www.reuters.com/article/newsOne/idUSN2433847420080624

It is not by mistake that twice under Republican financial and political leadership, the US economy is in shambles.  Republicans point to the tax exemption for primary home sale profits enacted under Clinton as the culprit.  Yet, on closer examination, we see that absurdly low interest rates coupled with loan ’securitization’ schemes and continued dependence on foreign oil as the real contributing factors to a struggling economy.  Artificially low interest rates, combined with high government debt translates directly into over supply of US currency (i.e. printing so much it becomes worthless), to the inevitable devaluation of the dollar.   Securitization schemes proliferated as the government turned its back on monitoring, regulating and enforcing laws in banking and mortgage industries.  The bomb-first, ask questions later GOP approach to world politics has all but guaranteed the highest possible prices for foreign oil while undermining America’s global fight against political conservative extremism and its resultant terrorist activities geared towards intimidating women and harming secular interests.

As energy and food prices soar, non-staple expendable income for American’s is at historic lows.  Can Democrats fix the mess, or are they just as much to blame as the Republicans?  If Democrats don’t own up to their part in creating the mess, how can we trust them to clean it up???

Not a day goes by without foreclosure hitting the headlines.

For more information on foreclosure, why not browse these really great articles:

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