What Makes Gold So Valuable?

Why do people invest in gold? And what makes the hunk of metal so valuable anyway?

Do you hold gold in your investment portfolio? Why?

Double Your Nest Egg With Gold Miners

Diversify or perish. I think that's an H.G. Wells quote.

OK, OK, I know it's actually "adapt or perish." But if H.G. Wells managed investments rather than words, I bet he would have tweaked that quote to my version.

In fact, you've probably heard that golden nugget of investment wisdom before. It's something every investor should be well-acquainted with because it's the key to successful investing.

Plain and simple: Never put all of your investment eggs in one basket. If the market falls out from under that basket, your nest egg is going to crack and spill your savings all over the floor.

It's an easy bit of advice, I know. You can say that diversifying is the smart route, but what exactly should you diversify with?

For that question, I have one answer today: metal mining companies.

Every investor should have a bit of exposure to miners - especially small-cap miners, if you like capturing the quick pops that most of Wall Street tends to miss out on.

It simply gives you access to above-average share price volatility. Particularly today.

Now, many of you might be saying: "But isn't that a little risky?"

It can be, absolutely. Any sector that sees consistent volatility (like crypto assets) can be a bit risky - but much of that risk is managed by having a plan in place. That protects you from making knee-jerk moves or holding onto investments longer than you should.

You just need the right strategy. And if you don't have one in place, I'd say you should start looking for one now, because the spotlight is starting to shine on the mining industry as the commodity market recovers.

According to a report by PwC released last year, the mining industry saw a turning point in 2016. The top 40 mining companies aggregated a net profit of $20 billion - which handily tops the $28 billion loss of 2015. Meanwhile, their valuation climbed into 2017.

In fact, the market capitalization of those 40 companies rose 45% in 2016 to $714 billion.

And the good news is continuing for miners.

Take gold for instance. Miners are particularly sensitive to rising gold prices right now. As gold continues to climb (and it will), gold mining stocks will soar.

It's time to go long in this area.

In fact, since early December, the VanEck Vectors Junior Gold Miners ETF (NYSE: GDXJ) has been climbing away from its support line around $30. It's now up about 14.8%, a nice rally that could prosper further if it breaks through current levels.

All of this is to say that if you're looking to diversify more, miners are a great bet.

Jessica Cohn-Kleinberg is the managing editor of premium services at Banyan Hill Publishing. She also contributes to The Sovereign Investor Daily. To read more, click here.

Article Source: https://EzineArticles.com/expert/Jessica_Cohn-Kleinberg/2380788

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How To Invest in Cryptocurrency: Super Beginners Guide

Is cryptocurrency a bubble or the next big thing? Do you understand it?

Find out how to invest in this exciting new asset class in this short video!

Don't get left behind!

Student Loan Resolutions Amid Interest Rate Uncertainties Post Brexit

Post Brexit there is a lot of buzz over student loan repayments. Those who have just entered the job market are unsure about the best move regarding their debts.

The main cause of concern is burgeoning inflation following a lurking slump in the value of the pound after the Britain formally exits the EU. With sharp rise in interest rate, high inflation and languishing wages, the burden of debts is potentially soaring for students as well as young employees under 30.

It is a well-known fact that students in the UK graduate with the highest debt level (in the English-speaking world). Despite spending the whole year 2017 with the fear for elevated student loan costs, it is important to begin the New Year 2018 with more practical and approachable resolutions.

A debt is a debt and needs to be repaid. You cannot escape the financial obligations and live indebted till 50. Likewise, it would not be wise to raise homeowner loans and repay your student debts upfront to save the cost of interest. So, what should be the ideal approach to repay student loans in 2018? Let's find out below:

Calm Down. Set your payoff target!

Despite all these factors challenging early loan repayment decision, it is important to stay calm and focused. When the economic landscape makes a shift, it changes for all. Thus you are not the only one who is going to be affected by increasing inflation or interest rates.

You must try to focus on more productive approach such as planning for loan repayment without hurting your credit report. There is no point in crying over spilt milk. You must try to figure out when exactly you could be out of debt with your current job. It will help you stay motivated and stay attuned to your financial goals. You can make a typical 10-year loan repayment plan and calculate your monthly repayment share so as to get debt free at the end of this year.

There are two pathways to follow. You can either choose to increase your monthly installments or work for lump sum repayment to achieve the goal in the next decade:

Increase your monthly student loan payment

This approach could appear a tall order to many, especially in the beginning of their careers. However any contribution over the minimum monthly installment would help you reduce the principal amount. The interest is always accrued on the balance principal and thus you would eventually reduce the cost of your loan. There is no prepayment penalty on student loans. It is one of the convenient ways to reduce burden of student loans at ease.

Make a lump-sum student loan payment

If you do not want to take baby steps and want to see a remarkable improvement in your repayment goal, consider making lump-sum annual prepayment and sharply improve principal every year. Herein you must ask your lender to process your payment for principal only. This way you could reduce the burden of student loan more rapidly.

Another Approach: Refinance your student loans

However in case you find that your student loan is too overwhelming, you can opt for refinancing in 2018. You can save thousands of pounds in the entire term if you refinance your loan now. You can consolidate your main university loan along with other short-term loans at a lower interest rate. A lot of online loan partners assist students in the pursuit for low rate student loans. You can choose a long-term loan ranging from 5 to 20 years on fixed or variable interest rate.

All in all, setting your goals transparently can help you achieve the target with more ease. As you define the repayment plan in 2018, you can certainly enjoy debt free 2028. All the best!

Best Short Term Loans provide guidance on different type of loans. To get more information about short term student loans or homeowner loans, visit Bestshorttermloans.UK online.

Article Source: https://EzineArticles.com/expert/John_Samual/775370

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How to Invest in the Stock Market for Beginners

If you've never invested before, and have no idea what the stock market is, check out this short video that takes you through the initial steps of investing!

What will you invest in? Stocks and shares? Or the new and exciting world of cryptocurrency?!

Several Reasons Why You Are Always Broke

There are several reasons why people are broke. Here is my short list of reasons why people are broke and will continuously be broke. Your attitude towards money began when you were a child. You had great instructors and in most cases, they were your parents. Remember the axiom "from the root to the fruit?" Usually the fruit does not fall far from the tree, meaning that you are usually a product of your parents thinking. Sound Familiar?

Instead of waiting for your fate to magically change. You may want to take a serious look at all the things you are doing that may be contributing to your financial despondencies. That's right. Everything may actually be your own doing. Here are several known motives why people find themselves broke. You may recognize a few of them. If you follow some of the advice I am about to share with you, in time you will be able to dig yourself out of the hole you dug for yourself.

Many people have crutches that hold them back in life. Some people smoke, drink, eat tons of fast food and don't run unless they are being chased by a rabid dog. So maybe your health is not so great, but at least you are having a great time. Chances are, your finances aren't in good shape either. In most cases, bad habits are a big financial drain on your pocket book and there is nothing great about that at all. As a matter of fact, most people that I have come in contact with have many crutches they are depended upon. No one wants to admit they are suffering from multiple addictions. One thing that I am cognizant of is that if people can give up their personal crutches and extinguish their bad habits they can amass large amounts of money in short periods of time.

Just think about it for a second, a pack of cigarettes costs $8.00 on average and that comes out close to $2,900 a year on a pack-a-day smoking habit. Now, as for alcohol, even restrained drinking can add up. Just think of it, two glasses of wine a day can run you over $1,500 a year, and that calculation is based on consuming the cheap stuff at home. If you are a bar drinker and you prefer Bordeaux, you are paying a whole lot more. Wow! And you complain that you don't have money to go anywhere. I wonder why.

Another reason why people go broke would be that they try so desperately to keep up with the Joneses and don't realize in most cases that the Joneses are living a lie. Just because someone is driving a new car or is wearing an expensive gold watch doesn't mean that they are high rollers. Many people are living off credit cards. 70% of the people in the United States are living well over their head. The IRS states that only 5% of the American people are financially independent. That means that 95% of the American people are faking it. You should never try to live a lifestyle you cannot afford.

Instead of purchasing a new vehicle you might want to check out other options like purchasing a used vehicle in excellent condition. No one will know if it is a new vehicle or not, unless you tell them. The raw reality of it all would be that no one truly cares about you anyway. Lets' put my theory to the test. I want you to go outside every day for a month and ask everyone that you know or passes by to help you pay off your mortgage and vehicle loan. At the end of the month I want you to count the small change you have collected. You will find out what I already know. You will be no closer to paying of your home or vehicle or anything else for that matter. You may have enough to purchase a couple cheese burgers at the golden arches. Now, if you are trying to purchase a home, you may want to put down 20% and keep your monthly payment below 30% of your gross income. The golden rule when purchasing a home would be to own the home and not allow the home to own you. Don't become a prisoner of your home due to trying to keep up with the Joneses.

Do you have more month at the end of your paycheck? Are you taking care of an entourage that is not taking care of you? It is time for you to take a good look at the people you surround yourself with. Are you hanging around the wrong crowd? Didn't your mother use to tell you about hanging around the wrong crowd? I know my mother did. She use to tell me repeatedly "birds of a feather flock together" and she was right. I learned the hard way by hanging with the wrong people and yes, it did lead to trouble. The funny thing about what my mother told me back then still applies to me today. You have to be very careful of the people you surround yourself with. Everyone does not wish you well. You have gold-diggers, leeches, and other parasites out there that will latch on to you and strip your wallet or purse clean without leaving prints. They will come around empty handed and help you drink up, eat up, and spend up your money until it is all gone and once everything is gone, you will find no trace of them until the next time they sense you have something they want or need. They never seem to come around when they have money. Anytime you seen them, they have a tall tale to tell.

You have to make a list and check it twice, for you have to find out who's been naughty or nice. You must shun the parasites in your life. There comes a time in everyone's life to where they have to become cognizant of where they stand. They must take out the trash and know that they will be better off for doing so. You must become disciplined if you stand any chance of negating any bad habits you formed while surrounding yourself by the wrong crowd. Let me be the first to tell you. It will not be an easy road to follow, but it is surely probable.

I know that many people dread hearing about watching TV too much, but if you are watching TV too much you may want to pay close attention to this segment of this article. I get it, there is nothing like coming home from work and kicking off your shoes, getting comfortable on the couch, and cutting on the TV. But if you are falling behind on your financial obligations you may want to re-evaluate your comfort commitments with your TV set and make some major changes to your life-style obligations. Research found that 77% of those struggling financially spent more than an hour watching TV and 74% spent more than an hour surfing the internet for fun. Conversely, the majority of wealthy individuals spend their time engaging in self-development activities, getting involved in alterative income producing endeavors, and/or follow paths of their dreams that could very well lead to hefty financial rewards.

Whatever you do, don't let laziness, uncertainty, or fear keep you from reaching for the stars. Taking baby steps is better than not taking any steps at all when it comes to producing an alternative stream of income. If you have a spare room in your home, you may want to entertain the possibility of renting that room out to make ends meet.

I am sure your parents badgered you about how important it was to get an education. I hate to be a bearer of bad news, but they are right. I found out from experience long ago that your income can't surpass your knowledge. Oops! I let the cat out the bag. Lets' compare life time earnings between a typical high school graduate and a typical college graduate with a bachelor's degree. I am sure you will agree that the statistics are bewildering. Over a 40-year career, a worker with a bachelor's will earn $1 million more than a worker with just a public high school diploma. This is not a misprint. $2.42 million versus $1.37 million, according to the U.S. Census Bureau projections. If you have a master's degree, it bumps you up to $2.80 million. That is one world of a difference, wouldn't you agree!

Please keep in mind that going back to school does not guarantee a bigger paycheck, but it sure does not hurt to do so. If you do decide to go back to school, you will want to be cognizant of how much student loan debt you amass. A good practice that you will want to follow would be controlling the student loan amount borrowed. You will not want to borrow any more than you expect to earn in your first year of work.

There are several other reasons why you are always broke but I did mention that this was my short list. Just know that it is possible to turn it all around if you put your mind, heart, and soul into it.

If you would like to learn more about not becoming broke you may want to pick up my latest book "The Essential Keys To Financial Freedom." at http://www.drmarkhuddleston.com What are you waiting for? Do it today!

Article Source: https://EzineArticles.com/expert/Mark_Huddleston/2499373

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5 PASSIVE INCOME Tips From UNSHAKEABLE BY TONY ROBBINS [Book Review]

5 Passive income tips from Tony Robbins 'Unshakable'!

Tips to Effectively Pay Off Your Debts

Outstanding debts can inflict severe dents in even the best retirement plans which have been carefully crafted over a lifetime. Incurring a debt is seemingly unavoidable in the modern age, as a result of both higher cost of living and consumerism.

With each passing year, more and more Singaporeans are diving into the debt pool as they struggle to cover their daily expenses and make ends meet. As of December 2016, the average Singaporean household incurs an estimated $55,000 of debt, which is a 3% increase over 2015. Easily 75% of this household debt stems from unresolved mortgage loans. Some of this unsettled debt may even force retirees to expend their assets to cover their debt rather than passing it on to their beneficiaries.

However, there are several ways to effectively settle outstanding debts to ensure it doesn't put a crimp on some of those best retirement plans you've come up with.

1. Establish a Budget and Track It

Creating a proper budget is a great way to analyse and plan finances. By allocating a set amount of money towards a specific expense per month, the amount of expenses can be monitored more stringently and precautionary steps can be swiftly undertaken if the expenses overshoot the stipulated budget. It is only through proper budgeting can individuals or households create the necessary surpluses to pay off any existing debts.

Certain financial tools, such as Excel spreadsheets or even Mint.com, are particularly useful in keeping track of a personal or household budget.

The main problem for an individual who does not keep track of his/her monthly expenditure is that he/she does not know if he/she ends the month with a net reduction in savings, i.e., spending exceeds income and eats into savings. Knowing the amount of leftover balance is crucial since a continuous negative balance might lead to the creation of new debts. It is this type of debt that is the most dangerous as it rolls over at seemingly manageable interest rates month after month. Before the individual knows it, he/she would have made hefty payments on interest alone.

Tracking tools are thus crucial in identifying areas of weakness in one's monthly spending habits, but an individual must take affirmative action to reverse the negative balance situation. This can be done via listing out the monthly expenses and employing necessary cut backs on certain expenditures. Discipline is the key.

2. Laddering Debts by Interest Rate

Laddering debts is another technique used in settling outstanding debt. It involves listing out all current debts by interest rate, starting from the highest interest rate to the lowest interest rate. The debt with the highest interest rate costs the most money, so this debt needs to be settled first.

By paying off the most expensive debt first, the overall debt will be reduced significantly faster. Some individuals who incur multiple debts per month and employ laddering in their finances usually settle the minimum payment required for each debt, and use the balance cash from their payments to settle more of the debt with the highest interest rate.

For example, let's compare two debt instruments: one, a credit card with an outstanding balance of $4,000 with an interest rate of 24% and another, a credit line with an outstanding balance of $8,000 with an interest rate of 16%. Ideally, the minimum monthly payment required to settle each debt would first be made, and any leftover finances would be funneled to repaying more of the credit card debt even though the amount owed may be lower.

Laddering is especially useful in tackling multiple debts while avoiding the accidental creation of another new debt. Laddering also instills a sense of financial discipline that is good in tackling unresolved debts and preventing those debts from inflicting too much harm on those retirement plans you've kept in mind.

3. Balance Transfers

Balance transfers is another tool used to cut back on interest expenses whilst settling an attempt to pay off a debt over several months.

For example, given the competitive nature of the unsecured credit market, banks often provide very low teaser rates for clients who transfer their existing unsecured debt from other banks. The effective interest rates could be as low as 4% p.a. versus the normal 24% p.a. one pays on credit card balances. However, the catch is such promotional rates lasts only for a certain period, for example 6 months. Nevertheless, balance transfers can lower the interest costs of an existing debt.

Balance transfers do carry their own risks. Individuals transferring balances must remember to either settle the debt after the transfer or look for another such opportunity before the lower interest on the account to which the balance is transferred expires, otherwise he/she risks paying an even higher interest rate.

Individuals using the balance transfers may also fail to address the continuous build-up of debt, thus wiping out any benefit from such a strategy. In the end, despite this cost-saving strategy, individuals end up with even more debts that impinge on savings, not to mention any future retirement plans.

4. Contacting Consumer Credit Counseling Services

If a person is having immense trouble settling their debts or even coming up with the minimum monthly payments, they should consider engaging a consumer credit counseling service. In Singapore, this service is aptly named as the Credit Counseling Singapore ("CCS") and offers solution-based credit counseling for individuals beleaguered by financial debt.

The CCS's debt management services only cost $130 and pairs up debt-laden individuals with a credit counsellor. The credit counsellor will assess the indebtedness of an individual's situation and assist him/her by making a financial estimate of the debts owed, identify available resources which can be used to cover the debts and even plan a monthly budget which incorporates all living expenses. Solutions to tackle the debt problem and monthly negative balances will be meted out to alleviate the burden of debt.

If one is concerned over how his/her debt would affect his/her retirement plans, contacting the CCS would be the right way to go. If the retirement plan has already taken the old debt into account, proper financial restructuring could reduce the interest and installment payments that need to be made.

Even the best retirement plans may be in jeopardy in the face of unresolved debts. By adopting better financial habits such as establishing a budget, laddering debts and transferring balances, an unsettled debt situation might become easier to handle. If a debt problem persists, the CCS can be engaged to work out a solution to stave off unresolved debts. Financial advisers may also be consulted to better streamline finances and handle monthly expenses, thus ensuring a more secure and better retirement in the future.

Financial Alliance is an independent financial advisory firm that provides its clients with sound and objective financial advice to protect and grow their wealth. Providing top-notch services to both corporations and individuals, Financial Alliance is a trusted brand in Singapore and has been navigating its clients' financial future for 15 years. For more information about Financial Alliance, click on the link: http://www.fa.com.sg/.

"Important: The information and opinions in this article are for general information purposes only. They should not be relied on as professional financial advice. Readers should seek independent financial advice that is customised to their specific financial objectives, situations & needs."

Article Source: https://EzineArticles.com/expert/Janet_Smith/2461821

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Top 10 Ways to Earn Passive Income I'm doing it right now!

How many income streams do you currently have?

If you think of your financial stability like a table with it's legs, and your different income streams are the legs. What happens when you only have one income stream, like so many? Your financial situation begins to feel a little unstable doesn't it?

What would happen if that single leg broke? This highlights the importance of having multiple streams of income to support you.

Market Numbers Through 2017 - Not Quite As Impressive As You Think

No one would deny that 2017 was a banner year for the markets... at yearend, all the equity indices were close to their all time highs. Even the WSMSI (Working Capital Model Select Income Index) had a capital growth number approaching 12%.

But, lets step around Wall Street's promotional pennants, and look at the numbers over the longterm, say this century so far...

You'll recall that the period from 1999 through 2009 was dubbed "The Dismal Decade" by a Wall Street that just couldn't cope with the idea that the "shock market" (collectively) could actually go backwards over such a long period of time.

Has the "bull market" that evolved from the dismal decade really produced the type of gains you've been hearing about?

· From 1999 through 2009, the NASDAQ (home of "FANG" type companies since forever) shrunk by a whopping 34%. From 1999 through 2017, it was the worst performing of all the indices, rising just 71%, or an average of less than 3% compounded, per year. So even the spectacular 160% market value gain since 2009 hasn't produced spectacular longterm performance.

· From 1999 through 2009, the S & P 500 (although less speculative than the NASDAQ overall) lost a scary 39% of its value. Recovering more quickly than the NASDAQ, the S & P has gained approximately 94% in market value over the past 18 years, or an average of less than 4% compounded, annually. So not so much to celebrate in the S & P either... for the longterm investor.

· From 1999 through 2017, the higher quality content DJIA suffered less than the other indices through the dismal decade, losing less than 1% per year, on average. But its 18 year, overall performance, of 115% market value growth was an average of less than 5% per year. Reflective of higher quality content, yes, but really not so impressive overall.

So what about an income purpose investing approach during the same two time periods?

· From 1999 through 2017, a $100,000 portfolio of income Closed End Funds (CEFs) paying roughly 7% per year, compounded annually, would have grown the invested capital to roughly $340,000 by the end of 2017... a 240% gain in Working Capital, and nearly three times the average longterm gain of the three equity averages!

· During the dismal decade itself, a $100,000 portfolio of income CEFs paying 7%, and compounded annually, would have grown the investment capital by roughly 111% (10% annually).

· Note that the average annual gain of roughly 13% is based on annual rather than monthly reinvestment of earnings... so it would actually be even higher. Hmmm, kinda makes you wonder, doesn't it?

Now some what ifs:

· What if you were living on the income or growth of your portfolio at any time before mid-2010?

· What if you were living on 4% of your portfolio "growth" or "total return" prior to the end of 1999, how much did you have left when the rally began in 2010?

· What if we don't get enough more years of double digit market growth for the equity markets to catch up with the income illustration above?

· What if the market doesn't produce "total return" greater than your expenditure needs forever?

· What if your portfolio contained enough income purpose securities to provide for your expenditures, combined with equity securities of a quality superior to those contained in the Dow?

· What if the stock market corrects again this year?

Buy the book

"The Brainwashing of the American Investor: The Book That Wall Street does not Want YOU to Read" outlines strategies and disciplines that could get you to a safer and more productive retirement income portfolio.

Article Source: https://EzineArticles.com/expert/Steve_Selengut/12786

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How to Retire Early: The Shockingly Simple Math

How can you manage your money so you can retire early? Can anyone do this?

Watch now to find out!

The History of Money Revealed

Throughout history a many variation of things have been money. Before the invention things like livestock, rocks, shells, beads and metals like gold and silver were all forms of money. In fact, in ancient time's people physical exchanged goods directly for other physical goods. For example, if I have fish but needed coconuts and in turn you had coconuts but needed fish, then there would be a mutual agreement between us and a transaction could be made. This way of carrying out exchange was known as the barter system.

The barter system however, brought with it some challenges such as double co-incidence of wants. What if we both needed coconuts? Also, there was no common measure of value and no medium to measure the value of goods so who decides if your coconuts are actually more valuable than my fish?

Commodity money was then created to address this concern. A commodity is a basic item which can be used by almost, if not, everyone. Things like seeds, tobacco, tea, salt and even cattle were considered commodities however, carrying bags of these items over a period of time proved to be extremely difficult... especially trying to carry cattle! There were three main functions to money in these days: money must be a medium of exchange, a unit of account and, a store of value. Although these commodities were considered to be mediums of exchange it was difficult to consider them units of account and given that these commodities were also perishable items they could never truly be considered to be a store of value either.

Then came the introduction of coins and paper money. However, according to Wikipedia 'due to the complexities of ancient history and because of the fact that the true origins of economic systems actually precedes written history, it is impossible to trace the true origin of the invention of money'. That-said, metal objects were introduced as money because metal was readily available, appeared easy to work with and, was recyclable. Countries around the world were minting their own series of coins with specific values making it easier to compare the cost of various items. Some of the earliest known paper money dates back to ancient China, where the issuing of paper money became common from about AD 960 onward.

Paper money began, what we would call in today's generation, trending. Nations around the world today all use paper money. Through the evolution of paper money has come a longer list of functions from the previous three. Money must continue to be a medium of exchange and a unit of account however, it must also be portable, durable, divisible, and fungible, which means the dollar in your pocket is worth the same value as the dollar in my pocket. Money has always maintained that it is a store of value however, this is where things begin to turn a bit grey.

Why?

Consider that $100 US dollars from just a decade or two ago purchased a lot more goods and services than it would today. The same is true for the euro, the pound, and the yuan. All around the world the money of many nations are suffering what is known as devaluation meaning year after year our money is buying less and less. How then can we maintain that paper money is a store of value?

People all over the world today seem to be working harder for money that is continuously buying less. So, just like the barter system could not be maintained as a viable way of trade, the current system we use on a global scale has also become a broken one. In all parts of the world we have one major inherent problem and that is that our money does not maintain its value.

There are ways to solve this problem just as our civilization found ways to solve the barter and commodity system. Take the time now to educate yourself on how.

Click Here!

As an independent insurance advisor and income protection specialist, Ryan has been providing clients with customized personal insurance and financial solutions through disability, life, critical illness, long-term care, and other personal insurance products while providing strategies for hedging income and preserving wealth through physical gold and silver acquisition.

Article Source: https://EzineArticles.com/expert/Ryan_D._Forrester/2093018

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Bitcoin Explained & Made Simple | Guardian Animations

What the hell is Bitcoin anyway? There are so many different crypto assets these days, but at 9 years old BTC is defiantly the oldest and most well established.

Check out this great little video explaining the inner workings of this exciting new asset class!

3 Threats to Amazon You Must Own Today

I love it when a plan comes together.

In early November, I wrote about Brazil's airplane maker, Embraer (NYSE: ERJ), and its promising lineup of defense and civilian aircraft manufacturing contracts.

Separately, in December, I said: "If you're looking for the best place to invest in 2018, one of your best bets is to put on your investment banker's hat and bet on 'M&As' - mergers and acquisitions."

Both predictions converged just before Christmas. Embraer's shareholders reaped an instant 30% windfall when Boeing announced it was in talks for a "potential combination" with the company.

It's not a done deal, of course.

As Embraer's largest shareholder, Brazil's government may only want to sell a big piece, not the entire company. Or perhaps it demands onerous financial terms.

But the point is, in a wide swath of industries - not just aerospace, but pharmaceuticals, chip manufacturing, packaging, chemicals, consumer goods, media, telecommunications and more - the game of M&A "musical chairs" is already underway.

And no one wants to be left without a seat when the music stops.

Amazon Competitors to Invest In

Another sector where I expect to see a lot of M&A activity this year? The U.S. retail sector.

A major theme I expect to emerge this year are Amazon competitors pairing off with the goal of better competing against Amazon.com Inc. (Nasdaq: AMZN).

For instance, eBay Inc. (Nasdaq: EBAY) is a likely buyout candidate.

Potential buyers? Google, among many possible suitors. It desperately needs an internet retail arm of its own if it wants to go head to head as one of the Amazon competitors.

eBay, as one of the most venerable internet retail brand names, and with an existing network of fulfillment warehouses, would be a good place to start.

The Kroger Co. (NYSE: KR) is another buyout possibility for Amazon competitors. Its stock is down 35% from last year's highs owing to worries about whether it can compete with Amazon - an overblown fear as far as I'm concerned.

The grocer has nearly 3,000 stores around the U.S. Its success in selling organic foods is a major reason Whole Foods leaped into the arms of Amazon to begin with.

Kroger is no laggard in "retail tech" either - a few days ago, the chain said it will roll out "cashierless" checkout technology in its stores this year.

W.W. Grainger Inc. (NYSE: GWW) is yet another candidate for a merger deal, in my opinion.

Grainger isn't usually thought of as a retailer. It's considered an "industrial supply" business, selling everything under the sun - cleaning products, paper clips, shelving systems, you name it - to other businesses.

Like Kroger, the stock was knocked down last year as investors fled in fear of Amazon. But Grainger's network of warehouses and distribution centers are ready-made assets for any company hoping to "bulk up" and compete effectively against Amazon.

Best of all, these three companies aren't fixer-uppers. They're already successful, profitable companies.

Together, they'll report $15 a share in profits in 2018. Two of the three pay dividends of around 2% as well.

A veteran investor and longtime financial journalist, Jeff L. Yastine is a contributor to Sovereign Investor Daily and Winning Investor Daily. He also serves as editorial director, focusing on creation and development of new products and editorial resources that will help Banyan Hill members "be sovereign." Read more here.

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How The Stock Exchange Works (For Dummies)

Have you ever wondered how the stock exchange works? Or maybe you were just curious as to what the stock market actually is? What is a FTSE anyway?

Over 4 million people have watched this video to find out!

4 Current Commodity Tips You Need to Know About

Commodities are an incredibly strong investment choice. A great way to build a diverse portfolio, they lack the volatility of stocks while providing great room for financial growth.

But investing in commodities without knowing what you're doing is a bad idea.

If you want to make this investment, you'll need to develop an intelligent strategy. Here are some commodity tips to help you make that move.

Commodities Explained

Before you read any other commodity tips, you need to understand the concept. Commodities are structured trades around the delivery, sale, import, and export of a particular good. Popular commodities include oil, gold, and soybeans.

The most popular strategy for investing in commodities is signing a futures contract. These ensure that you will own the commodity for a set amount of time before selling it on a certain date at a specific price.

Here are a few tips for making the most out of your commodity trades in 2017.

Why ETFs Are A Good Choice

If you're looking for an effective way to invest in commodities, one of the best ways to do it is through ETFs. ETFs, or Exchange-traded funds, can either monitor a commodity or a specific market index.

ETFs can be a great way for beginners to invest in commodities. They are easy to manage and involve a lot less red tape than a futures index. While investing in ETFs is not the only way to make a profit off of a commodity investment, it is the best way to get acquainted.

How To Use a Short Position

Many have a strong preference for the simple game of going long on their commodities. But this can be a mistake. There's a lot of money to be made off of the short sell, and it also isn't particularly difficult.

If you detect a market depreciation, you should sell shares in a commodity. Let the commodity depreciate in value: when you feel it has bottomed out and will experience a resurgence in value, you should buy shares.

This will allow you to minimize the cost of purchasing valuable commodities while profiting off of purchases of a commodity at a low value. Every trader should stop worrying and love the short.

Read The News (Financial and Otherwise)

Commodities are very complex. But in a way, they can also be relatively simple to understand. As a matter of fact, indexes for every commodity from corn to currency will appear in the newspaper. And not just in the business section.

Staying on top of everything from policy to boardroom rumors can help you make the right decision. So devote at least an hour to the news each day.

Be An Oil Skeptic

Oil is one of the most popular commodities. And while it can perform well or poorly in various technical analyses, an essential part of risk mitigation involves taking a look at the international political environment.

Whether it's through long-term transformations in the energy market or instability in OPEC nations, the future for oil is questionable. In the name of risk mitigation, we would advise approaching oil with caution.

Beyond Commodity Tips: Work With The Best

Tips can take you far. But you can go even further by working with seasoned financial professionals.

Work with the experts in various areas of trading. One of these areas is commodities trading. But whether you're looking to succeed at the trading of commodity ETFs or to continue boosting an already thriving portfolio, always look for the best people to work with.

Trade Finance Consultant, Business Development Strategist, Strategic Trade Risk Mitigation Solutions Provider Visit http://www.adamsmith.tv for more details.

It is one of India's leading Trade Finance Company, performing business of arranging trade finance and providing consultancy, advisory, structuring and management services relating to trade finance transactions. One of its main expertise is in commodity trade finance.

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