Tag: Invest

Winter Wardrobe Essentials: Five Basic Clothing Pieces Worth the Investment

My blog focuses on Financial Literacy/Money. One of our most critical expenses is clothing. If you live in a winter climate, it’s important to know which clothes to invest your money in. The following guest post is entitled, Winter Wardrobe Essentials: Five Basic Clothing Pieces Worth the Investment.

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When winter rolls around, the temptation to splurge on trendy items that dominate the season can be strong. However, building a versatile and enduring wardrobe starts with investing in high-quality basics that stand the test of time. Here are five essential clothing pieces worth investing in this winter, broken down into key categories to keep you stylish and comfortable throughout the chilly months.

1. Quality Pants: The Everyday Staple

Pants are the backbone of a winter wardrobe, offering versatility, warmth, and effortless style. Investing in high-quality denim and dress pants ensures durability and a flattering fit that doesn’t stretch out or fade after a few washes.

Why Invest in Quality Pants?

● Durability: Premium pants and jeans are made with high-quality fabric and reinforced stitching, ensuring they hold up against everyday wear and frequent washing.
● Fit: Well-made bottoms are designed precisely, offering tailored cuts that flatter all body types. Look for options with a bit of stretch for comfort without compromising structure.
● Style Versatility: Dark washes and classic cuts, like straight-leg or slim-fit, pair easily with casual sweaters or dressier tops for a night out.

What to Look For:

● Material: Opt for 100% cotton or blends with a small percentage of elastane for comfort.
● Wash: Dark indigo, black, or mid-wash shades are timeless and versatile.
● Details: Avoid overly trendy embellishments, focusing on clean lines and classic pocket designs.

Investing in two to three pairs of high-quality bottoms can form the foundation of a winter wardrobe that transitions seamlessly between casual and elevated looks.

2. Coats: The Outerwear Hero

A high-quality coat is the crown jewel of a winter wardrobe. As the first thing people see when you step outside, choosing a coat that combines functionality with timeless style is essential.

Why Invest in a Quality Coat?

● Warmth: Superior fabrics like wool, cashmere, or down insulation provide excellent protection against the cold.
● Longevity: A well-made coat will last for years, making it a cost-effective choice in the long run.
● Polished Look: A tailored coat elevates even the simplest outfits, making you look put together effortlessly.

Types to Consider:

● Wool Coats: Perfect for office wear and formal occasions, a classic camel or black wool coat exudes sophistication.
● Puffer Jackets: For casual days, a high-quality puffer jacket with weather-resistant features offers unparalleled warmth and comfort.
● Trench or Overcoat: A tailored trench or overcoat provides a sleek silhouette and pairs beautifully with layers.

Look for coats with practical features like deep pockets, a sturdy lining, and high-quality buttons or zippers. Consider neutral colors complementing a wide range of outfits, ensuring maximum versatility.

3. Good Underwear: The Foundation of Comfort

Often overlooked, high-quality underwear is a game-changer for winter comfort. A great outfit starts with a solid foundation, and well-made undergarments provide both comfort and support during colder months.

Why Invest in Quality Underwear?

● Comfort: Premium fabrics like modal, merino wool, or breathable cotton keep you warm and dry.
● Durability: Investing in high-quality pieces ensures they maintain their elasticity and shape, even after repeated wear and washing.
● Confidence: Well-fitting underwear makes any outfit feel better, boosting your confidence throughout the day.

Winter-Specific Options:

● Thermal Layers: Merino wool or silk-blend thermal underwear is a must for those living in colder climates. These materials regulate body temperature while wicking away moisture.
● Seamless Styles: Look for seamless designs to avoid unwanted lines under tight-fitting jeans or dresses.

Replace old, worn-out underwear with durable, comfortable options that prioritize both function and style.

4. Versatile Sweaters: Cozy and Chic

No winter wardrobe is complete without a collection of versatile sweaters. From chunky knits to fine merino wool, sweaters are a staple for layering and keeping warm.

Why Invest in High-Quality Sweaters?

● Warmth: Premium materials like cashmere, wool, or alpaca provide excellent insulation.
● Style: A timeless sweater elevates your look, whether paired with jeans or layered over a dress shirt.
● Longevity: Quality sweaters resist pilling and maintain their shape better than cheaper options.

Styles to Consider:

● Crewneck: A classic crewneck sweater is a versatile piece that works for both casual and office settings.
● Turtleneck: Perfect for layering or wearing alone, turtlenecks add sophistication and warmth.
● Oversized Knits: These are ideal for a cozy, relaxed vibe on cold days.

Stick to neutral colors like gray, black, beige, or navy for maximum mix-and-match potential, and be sure to follow care instructions to keep them looking their best.

5. Sturdy Winter Boots: The Cold-Weather Essential

Winter boots are not only a practical necessity but also a key element of a stylish winter outfit. Investing in a pair of sturdy, high-quality boots ensures you’re ready for everything from icy commutes to festive gatherings.

Why Invest in Quality Winter Boots?

● Protection: Premium boots are made with materials like leather or waterproof Gore-Tex to shield your feet from snow, rain, and slush.
● Durability: High-quality boots withstand the wear and tear of winter conditions, making them a cost-effective choice over time.
● Comfort: With proper support and insulation, good boots keep your feet warm and comfortable during long days.

Styles to Consider:

● Ankle Boots: Perfect for mild winters, ankle boots in leather or suede pair beautifully with jeans or dresses.
● Snow Boots: For harsher conditions, opt for waterproof snow boots with non-slip soles.
● Chelsea Boots: These versatile, slip-on boots are a sleek option for both casual and semi-formal looks.

When shopping for boots, prioritize fit, grip, and material. A neutral color like black or brown ensures they complement your entire wardrobe.

Conclusion: Building a Timeless Winter Wardrobe

Investing in high-quality basics like jeans, coats, underwear, sweaters, and boots ensures you’re prepared for winter in style and comfort. These pieces provide the foundation for countless outfits, making them invaluable additions to your wardrobe. While the upfront cost may be higher, the durability, versatility, and timeless appeal of these essentials make them worth every penny.

Focus on classic styles, neutral colors, and premium materials to create a winter wardrobe that serves you well for years to come. Happy shopping—and stay warm! 

Ashley Nielsen

Ashley Nielsen earned a B.S. degree in Business Administration Marketing at Point Loma Nazarene University. She is a freelance writer who loves to share knowledge about general business, marketing, lifestyle, wellness, and financial tips. During her free time, she enjoys being outside, staying active, reading a book, or diving deep into her favorite music.

How To Invest As A First-Time Investor This Year

A key focus of my blog is Financial Literacy/Money. One of the keys to getting ahead in terms of money is learning to invest. It’s never too late to start but you want to do so wisely. The following contribute post is entitled, How To Invest As A First-Time Investor This Year.

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Always wanted to invest your money but don’t know where to start? You’re likely to be in the same boat as others who have very little knowledge or no clue of how to invest their money.

Unfortunately, it’s not something that’s really taught and instead is a learned skill that only so many will then choose to put to use as they start earning money. Here are some helpful tips to invest as a first-time investor this year.

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Get professional advice and guidance

First and foremost, when it comes to investing, it’s good to get to grips with how it works and how to make the most out of every dollar you’re spending. That means understanding everything that comes with investment, a topic that you might not have any personal knowledge of.

It’s not something we learn as kids unless there are influences in our lives that have invested already. A company like Manulife Wealth might be worth reaching out to in order to understand how your money could go further with the help of experts.

It’s an approach that’s much better to take than to try and figure out yourself or to jump in too soon and lose the money you wanted to profit from.

Start off with small investments

With all first-time investors, it’s always good to never bite off more than you can chew. With that in mind, start off with smaller investments, rather than spending all the money you have available on something that might not pan out.

Smaller investments are going to help drip feed what you’re investing into and it means you’ll have less of a bad experience with investing if you’re only losing small amounts to begin with.

Putting your money all on one investment and then losing it, might sour your experience so much that you don’t invest again.

Mix up your portfolio with low and high-risk investments

Try to mix up your portfolio with both low and high-risk investments. This is useful to do because it gives you a good chance of making a profit with some and other investments that might have made a loss, could make a gain on other investments.

The mix of low and high risk also gives your money the best opportunity for success because you’re spreading your risk more evenly.

Review your portfolio regularly

It’s useful to take a look at your portfolio regularly to ensure you’ve made all the relevant decisions and reviewed what might need to be sold or added to.

Diversifying your portfolio is one thing but you should be actively keeping up with a review of your investments every now and then.

Ensure you have a variety of short-term and long-term investments

Just like the low and high-risk investments, make sure you mix up the length of the investment too. Having a mix of both short-term and long-term investments again spreads the risk but could help set you up for the future too.

Aside from the typical life investments such as a first home, there are plenty of other investments out there worth exploring.

What Do Shareholders Do?

Two focuses of my blog are Financial Literacy/Money and Business/Entrepreneurship. A key aspect to the money world is investing. If you’re investing in paper assets, you must have a fundamental understanding of what shareholders are when it comes to companies and stocks. The following contributed post is entitled, What Do Shareholders Do?

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As a start-up company, you might not be too worried about shareholders, but the longer you are in business, and as you expand, it might be something that you start to consider. But what is it that shareholders do?

In short:

Shareholders own at least one share in a company (but the shareholder can be a company, organization, or a single person). They share in the company’s success as it grows, and their shares can give them some rights within the company too.

They can often play a vital role in the company’s future and how their financials look.

There are two common types that you should know about when it comes to shareholders.

Photo by Markus Winkler on Unsplash

Preference shareholders

One of the biggest benefits for preference shareholders is that they get priority over equity shareholders. However, while they do better in the profit distribution, they don’t have voting rights.

This means that they don’t have an impact when it comes to executive decisions. Another bonus for preference shareholders is that they get a fixed dividend rate, regardless of the company’s current profitability.

Equity shareholders

An equity shareholder has a stake in the company’s equity. They do have voting rights, but they can also take legal action if there are matters that arise they believe to be detrimental to the company.

Each of these shareholder types will have shareholder agreements that will outline everything they can and cannot do.

Why are shareholders important to a company?

Shareholders don’t just earn profit from their stocks in the company; they can also help the company grow. Shareholders will have a vested interest in financing, operations, control, and governance.

Financing

It is becoming more common for start-up companies to offer shares to raise cash for their growth, marketing, and more. Shareholders will buy shares, and the company will use that money for what they need to do.

Governing

There will be transparency between shareholders and board members (of public companies) pertaining to operations and how the business is. There will be many meetings between shareholders and the c-suite or other managers to the governing of the company.

Operations

Shareholders with voting rights (and even without) will have large sway over operations. This is because shareholders are investors, and investors want to keep the company on track so that they see a return on their investment.

Control

When shareholders don’t agree with certain personnel, acquisitions, or shuffling of the staff, they can use their say over what happened—effectively deciding who and who doesn’t have control of the company – and at what percentage they control.

Shareholders are a vital part of the company as it grows, and they do have many rights. They can take legal action where applicable, sign off or stop the signing of directors, and attend general body meetings.

They can also access copies of the financial statement, see accounts and call meetings. Even with all of this responsibility, shareholders have very few liabilities.

If you don’t have a business but are interested in buying shares in one, here are some more interesting ways that you can invest your money: Investment Tips Anyone Can Profit From.

Investment Tips Anyone Can Profit From

Two focuses of my blog are Financial Literacy/Money and Business/Entrepreneurship. A critical piece to winning with money is learning to invest. As with most things, there are numerous important aspects to learning to invest money. The following contributed post is entitled, Investment Tips Anyone Can Profit From.

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Whether you are new to investing, investing for yourself, or for your business, there are many avenues you can go down. Creating more wealth is a sensible life choice that offers you a lot more choice. How you choose to invest will play a huge role in how successful you are, and your choice is always going to be affected by your personal circumstances. So, when you look to invest, always be honest with yourself, invest only what you can afford to lose, and never get into an investment that you do not fully understand. Let’s have a look at a few options:

Image from Pixabay

Cryptocurrency
Cryptocurrency is still rising in popularity. In fact, more and more businesses are seeing this as a viable investment option and making investments this way. The rise in technology such as blockchain has made cryptocurrency easier than ever to use. There are also a lot more financial; institutions that can help you create an investment portfolio with cryptocurrency. Cryptocurrency may well be the future of all online transitions, so this could be a very good long-term investment. However, there are risks, such as law changes and the volatility of cryptocurrencies. So, be careful.

The Stock Market
The Stock Market is a great way to invest, you can make money on the share price increasing, and you can make money in dividend payouts too. The short-term, high-risk investors may not be so interested in dividends as they are about making big returns on the stock increasing over a short period of time. Long-term investors may well be more interested in the dividend payouts than they are about huge increases in the share price value over the short term. Decide what kind of investor you are and choose something that suits your needs. Younger people may well be more inclined to take risks, whereas older people may find the less risky, pretty much sure thing dividend payout a more attractive option. It may well be worth your while speaking to a financial advisor such as Prio Wealth Management, who can advise you on the best form of investment for your situation.

Spread betting
Spread betting is another way you can make money off the stock market. Instead of buying and selling shares, you make informed bets on whether the value of a particular share will go up or down in a predefined period of time. If you have put in the work, this is less like gambling and more like educated betting.

Real Estate
Investing in real estate is a great thing for both the individual and the business to do. The buy to let market is always thriving, as is buying something as a project to do up and sell later. Property is currently on an upwards trend, and having a few properties in your portfolio can be a very business savvy choice. If you end up with enough properties, you can even create a property sideline or use a realtor to take control of the properties for you, so you can make money with minimal stress.

Buying To Let: Essential Factors To Consider Before Investing

Two focuses of my blog are Financial Literacy/Money and Business/Entrepreneurship. Another term for renting property is ‘Letting’. Before considering purchasing a property as an investment, there is lots to consider. The following contributed post is entitled, Buying To Let: Essential Factors To Consider Before Investing.

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Buying to let is one of the most popular forms of real estate investment. When you buy a property and rent it out, you not only put money into an asset that is likely to appreciate over time, but you also generate a regular income. Although there are several advantages of buying to let, it is important to understand what is involved in renting a property out. In this guide, we’ll explore some essential factors to consider before investing.

Image credit: https://www.pexels.com/photo/wood-house-table-luxury-5071145/

Rules and regulations
Buying a house to live in or sell on is different from purchasing a property to let. Before you set your heart on finding an investment property to rent, it’s crucial that you understand the rules and regulations. There are guidelines and stipulations in place for different types of properties, including houses in multiple occupation and bedsits and serviced apartments and blocks of flats. Research buying to let in detail, write down a list of questions and queries, and seek expert advice. It’s critical to make sure that you are aware of legislation or guidelines that will impact you if you decide to buy a certain type of property.

Finances
Figuring out your finances is essential if you plan to invest in real estate. You’ll need to set a budget for your investment property, but you’ll also need to analyze market trends and think about rental yields when exploring locations and different property types. Ideally, when you buy to let, you want to focus on areas where the demand for houses and flats is high and rental yields are substantial. When you start looking at properties, ask questions about the rental value and use calculations and market research to select the best options once you have a shortlist.

Market conditions and demand
Investing in real estate can be incredibly lucrative, but success is not guaranteed. To increase your chances of generating profits and making money, it’s critical to make the right moves at the right time. Keep a close eye on the market and gauge the level of demand for rental homes. As it becomes increasingly difficult for young people to get onto the ladder, for example, demand for rental properties is rising among young families and students and recent graduates. If you plan to buy to let, it’s wise to concentrate your search on neighborhoods where the demand for rental homes is surging and to try and purchase houses or flats when prices are low.

Your ideal tenant
Before you start a property search for an investment home to let, it’s wise to think about who you want to attract. Define an ideal tenant and tailor your search to find properties that will appeal to them. From families and young professionals to retirees, tenants have different preferences, and they will be drawn to certain types or styles of homes. Key factors for families, for example, include proximity to good schools, transport links, amenities such as stores and access to green spaces. Once you have an ideal tenant in mind, you can narrow down the options.

Picture via https://pixabay.com/photos/house-garage-driveway-architecture-1867187/

Management
Buying a house or an apartment to let isn’t as simple as purchasing a property and finding a tenant. As a landlord or landlady, you’ll be responsible for managing and maintaining your rental home. You can choose to take charge of general maintenance and to be the main point of contact for your tenant or you could hire a lettings agency to take care of these tasks for you. Working with an agency will also enable you to take advantage of services like advertising the property and finding new tenants at the end of a contract and carrying out inspections, but it will cost money. Weigh up the pros and cons before you decide what to do.

Upkeep
When you buy a property to let, it’s important to understand that you will be responsible for the upkeep of the house or flat. This may mean that you have to dedicate time and energy to finding contractors or local businesses to carry out work and that you have to pay for maintenance or repairs. It’s essential to be aware of the potential costs of letting out a property. Some issues can be very costly, for example, new heating systems or extensive roof repairs. It’s wise to have a contingency fund set up for your rental home. The contract you have with your tenant should outline who is responsible for which maintenance tasks.

Picture from https://www.pexels.com/photo/interior-design-of-a-house-1571460/

Buying to let is an excellent opportunity to invest in property and generate an income in the period between purchasing and selling a house or apartment. If you are hoping to invest in a rental property, it’s essential to be aware of the ins and outs and to ensure that you understand what is involved in the process.

3 Important Things Aspiring Investors Should Remember

A key focus of my blog is Financial Literacy/Money. For those unfamiliar with it, investing can be exciting but an overwhelming new world as well. As such there are some basics that beginners should keep in mind. The following guest post is entitled, 3 Important Things Aspiring Investors Should Remember.

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There are some important investments that a person needs to make in their lives. This includes education, a new home, insurance, and business among others. Making the right decision is crucial as these are all huge steps to take and can make a major impact on a person’s life. Thanks to technology, people are given access to important information that allows them to make smart decisions. From using apps for buying a house to diversifying your investment portfolio, technology has you covered.

While there are a lot of tips and tricks you can find online, it is still important to be vigilant on which ones to follow. If you are thinking about investing in a new home or business, it is important to keep these things in mind:

Don’t Invest Money You Don’t Have

Invest only when you have money to spare. Whether you are looking to buy a home or stocks, it is important to know that the money you are to invest might find its way back to you in five years or even longer. Long-term investments take time to grow and investing money you are looking to spend in less than a year for other priorities such as education, food, or bills is not a good idea.

If you are new to investing, it would be a great idea to do some research or seek professional advice. If you have an insurance policy, you can ask your insurance company for recommendations as they are most likely to have in-house financial advisors that can help you out. Investments are often costly, which means it is important to know everything that you need to before putting in your hard-earned money.

Shop Around

Sometimes you just want to grab a good offer before it runs out, which can be a huge mistake. Keep in mind that sales professionals can be quite persistent and urge you to make a hasty decision. Stick to the tried and tested process and take the time to shop around for offers. You will never know what you might be missing out on if you take up the first offer you come across.

You can also ask friends and family members who have firsthand knowledge when it comes to investing and ask them for recommendations and referrals. It is better to know what you are getting into and how to handle certain situations such as losses. There are advantages and disadvantages to investing and knowing if you are prepared to handle them can help you establish the amount you are willing to invest and the type of investment you should get into. There should be no guesswork involved and decisions must be based on facts and historical and current market trends.

Set Investment Goals

Goal setting is an important aspect of any career, business, or investment. Your goal must be specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, time-bound (SMART) to ensure you are setting it right. This also lets you establish realistic expectations for your investment. Your investment appetite plays a huge role and if you are new to investing it is important to learn what type of investor you are. These are things that cannot learn overnight, which is why many aspiring investors join workshops and groups for beginners. You can check reputable local or online groups to gain more knowledge and insight on investing.

When buying a home, for instance, you would want to set your sights on location, budget, and other priorities that involve you and your family’s daily lives. Buying a home that is far from a school can be a problem soon if starting a family is in your plans. The trip to the grocery store or mall can be a nightmare if you must go through hours of traffic before getting there.

These and other important factors must be considered when goal setting. You can also rely on new technologies such as apps to buy a home when looking for the best place-some have filters installed where you can tick on aspects such as location, number of bedrooms, and others.

There are two ways to invest-the smart way and the expensive way. The smart way involves taking the time to learn the ropes and doing your research. This takes time and effort but would definitely pay off in due time. The expensive way would involve spending more than what you can afford to lose and not investing any time and effort in learning more about investments. Make the right choice from the start and reap the benefits of your time, effort, and patience.

Habits Of Successful Investors

Two focuses of my blog are Financial Literacy/Money and Business/Entrepreneurship. Many people hear about investing and want to get involved, but don’t know where to begin and or to stay on track if they start. The following contributed post is entitled, Habits Of Successful Investors.

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Photo from Pexels.com: https://www.pexels.com/photo/person-holding-blue-ballpoint-pen-on-white-notebook-669610/

Becoming an investor requires a lot of constant research and planning to ensure that you are successful.

Planning is key

Ensuring that you have a plan in order to reach success is key. When it comes to making a plan, you do not need to invest in a fancy plan or hire someone to create you one. First of all you need to set your main outcome or goal of investing for a certain time period. This way you have something to work towards that you can aim for. You can use things like Platinum Data to help you to move forward with your goals in a way which is easy so setting the right goal to push yourself to success is important.

You want to be using this time to be saving any extra money to allow you to use it for a later date to help you to have the chance to double it. The basic knowledge to hold is to put away at least 20% of your earnings which includes anything that your employer matched.With this in mind you need to be saving money by thinking before making every purchase to ensure it will be worth your time.

Investing

So that you make the most out of every penny you own, it is a good idea to keep an eye on the market constantly. Rather than using a lot of money on each investment, try to concentrate on the low-fee investment products as these will have a higher turn over due to its expense ratios. Research on the best investment products that will offer a good value in doing so, to avoid you losing out on money. It is normal to feel uneasy when the market drops but sticking with your instincts can continue to have a long term impact which will allow you to reach your goals that you set.

Focusing on the right things

After-tax returns could really benefit you to become big. Some accounts will have positive annuities which is a great way of getting you a better after tax return. This is often a great way of using your money to generate more on smaller amounts. These smaller amounts can add up fast. A good method is to put a varying amount of money into multiple types of accounts that are based on the tax efficiency of the tax treatment of the type of account.

Take care when looking at taxes as this shouldn’t benefit you alone as this method is just to top you up and be an added bonus.

Although investing can be a complex method, it requires smart thinking and constant watching to complete successfully yet it can help you reach your goals. The planning process can be such a big impact that it can help you to stay within your plan so you don’t go off astray that you make unnecessary investments that do not help you in the future. It is best to be confident in your plan to ensure that you make reasonable investment to be successful.

These Tips will Help you to Make your Very First Investment

Two focuses of my blog are Financial Literacy/Money and Business/Entrepreneurship. If you haven’t started, learning to invest your money is a smart, but also a potentially perilous undertaking if you don’t know what you’re doing. There are lots of books, teachers and programs out there encouraging us to invest but many people don’t know where to start. The following contributed post is entitled, These Tips will Help you to Make your Very First Investment.

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Making your very first investment can be a daunting task to say the least. You may find that your mind flashes back to the very first global crises and market dips. This is understandable, but at the end of the day, you have to make sure that you do everything you can to move past this or you may end up stunting your own potential. If you want to make a positive change then this guide will tell you everything you need to know.

Set some Goals

Before you even begin thinking about making your first investment, you need to figure out why you are investing. You need to start out with a specific life goal, whether it’s your wedding or even your retirement. Don’t throw up a number, do your research and try to be a bit specific about it if you can. Online calculators can easily help you to figure out your investment strategy and it can also help you to really make the most out of your finances overall. Your goals may well change over time and there is nothing wrong with this, but at least you have a tangible reward that you can try and push for.

Source: Pexels (CC0 License)

Work Out a Timeline

Next up, you have to figure out what timeline you are going to have to reach your goal. This will help you to figure out how much you need to put away. As a general rule, it helps to follow the 50-30-20 strategy. This is where 50% of your income goes towards your living expenses. 30% of your money will be for discretionary spending and 20% will then go away for your savings. This amount may vary of course, depending on your goal and your overall time horizon. Often, the more money you can put into your investment, the better. This is all because of compound interest. This will enable you to earn way more interest on your returns. That being said, you have to make sure that you understand what you can afford. If you start baking into your plan that you are eventually going to have a great career and can therefore put away more, then you will end up being disappointed. Start with what you know you have right now and adjust it later on. If you do this, then you will soon find that you can come out on top with ease.

Understand your Risk Tolerance

Alongside your timeline, you need to put in the work to increase your risk tolerance. This is especially the case for medical device investors. If you are a millennial, your objectives will be quite long-term in the overall nature. There isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach here, so if you are an investor, you have to make sure that you are true to yourself where possible. If you know that you are not comfortable with what you are doing so far then you will end up making the wrong investment.

Diversify

When you have managed to pin down your goal and your strategy overall, it’s then time for you to work out the best vehicle for your investment needs. For a lot of first-time investors, this will be an index fund which is passively managed. This will give you access to a lot of market indices or even a low-cost digital manager who will go ahead and make your portfolio for you on your behalf. The most important element that you have to look for however is diversification. You need to try and get exposure to a lot of different asset classes, whether they are equities, bonds or even property. You need to have a portfolio that is diversified enough so you don’t lose sleep if something was to happen.

Remember about Fees

Digital wealth platforms have really helped to lower the entry barriers to the investment world. That being said, you will still need to pay fees. If you go for a wealth managing platform, then you will end up paying more as well. If you want to get the best result out of your investing experience, then you need to try and opt for a platform where you don’t have to pay an exit fee. If you can do this, then you will soon find that you have way more flexibility over your investment and that you can also really help yourself to take things to that next level in terms of your overall profit margin. If you have never invested before or if you want to try and experiment a little before you lock yourself in, then it is a good idea for you to start up a demo account. When you do this, you will soon find that you can experiment with a virtual currency, so you don’t have to worry about a thing at all there.

Forget about It

The last step for investors would be for you to forget about your investment. A lot of platforms that can be used to invest now give you some kind of on-demand performance overview. Observing your portfolio is a good way for you to monitor the amount of risk you are facing, but that being said, it’s important to ensure that it does not disrupt your strategy overall. You need to check your investments on a quarterly rota if possible. If you can do this, then you will ensure that you are not making any mistakes by leaving your investment for too long and you also eliminate the risk of pulling out of an investment impatiently. Of course, there are many benefits to investing, but at the end of the day, you also have to make sure that you are exploring the right options and that you are also taking the right steps to safeguard yourself against any risk. If you can ensure that this is the case, then you can easily hire an advisor. When you do, they can help you to stay on top of anything you might need to know, and
they can also work with you to ensure that you are taking the right steps to protect your portfolio.

Areas of Your Business to Invest in During the Pandemic

Three focuses of my blog is Financial Literacy/Money, Business/Entrepreneurship and Organizational/Management Discussions. Many businesses will have to figure out how to course correct and rebound during the Covid-19 pandemic and in its aftermath. The following contributed post is entitled, Areas of Your Business to Invest in During the Pandemic.

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The coronavirus and Covid-19 pandemic has hit the majority of us pretty hard when it comes to business. Whilst the main tragedy of the pandemic has been health consequences, the economy and business have taken a battering too. Countless businesses have collapsed – whether that’s because they have been unable to operate while adhering to lockdown guidelines, or because people are more reluctant to spend their money when their own jobs are on the line. If your business has managed to make it this far, it’s important that you know where you should be investing your money to help to keep things afloat and to keep sales ticking over. Hopefully, some of the advice below will give you a few key areas to focus on!

Marketing

With many companies looking to cut costs, many are making the mistake of cutting marketing when many businesses need marketing now more than ever. It’s going to be hard to get people to part with their cash for non-essential purchases right now, but if you’re going to do it, marketing is going to play a key role. You need to create desire and appeal around your products, placing them in your target demographic’s view as regularly as possible to encourage them to actually purchase what you have to offer. Market is what will help to achieve this. Whether you carry out marketing in-house, or whether you are using a digital marketing company, some key areas to consider include:

● SEO campaigns
● PPC campaigns
● Email marketing campaigns
● Social media marketing campaigns
● Social media influencer collaborations
● Competitions and giveaways

Your Website

If you previously had a brick and mortar based business, chances are many of your sales were carried out in-store. You may have simply had a website as a complementary presence, but may never have invested all too much in it. But now, while people are trying to spend as much time as possible inside their homes, it really is the time to make sure that your website is the absolute best that it can be. This is now going to be the space where customers engage with your brand. It’s about so much more than simply listing your products for sale and seeing if people buy them. You need quality website design and user experience to ensure that people stay on your site, enjoy being on your site and will return to your site. Now, this advice applies to all businesses. Even if you have a restaurant or cafe, you may want to consider providing online orders to generate an income during these trying times. A website is important for every business right now. There are a number of professionals you should collaborate with to get your website up to scratch. We’ll explore a few below.

Website Designers

Website designers know what they’re doing. They know what works on a website. They know what doesn’t work. If you’re avoiding paying for a web designer’s services, it’s worth remembering that various studies have shown that many people decide whether they’re going to stay on a site or click the exit tab within a matter of seconds. You need to make your site look good to get people to stay. You need to make sure your site works to get them to engage with your brand or buy. A consultation with web designers will help to familiarise them with what you’re looking for. This can include information like your brand’s style, its branded colours, its typography, its logo and more. You can also ask for extra marketing features, like a mailing list sign up form, discount pop ups and much more.

Product Photographers

If you’re selling products, you’re going to need some pretty good product photography to make sure they stand out from the crowd. Remember that photos are almost all your customers have to decide whether they want to buy what you’re offering. It gives them a look at what’s on offer. Now, nowadays, many of us try to take product photos ourselves with our smartphones. While smartphone quality is getting better, it can’t mimic the eye, the skill and the expertise of a professional product photographer. Use a professional to display your products in the best light possible.

Copywriters

Copywriters can sell your products and your brand with words. They can craft an “about” page. They can write appealing product descriptions. They can write up FAQs. You name it, a copywriter will be able to take care of it. Never underestimate the power of words on your website.

Cybersecurity

Chances are that you and any of your staff are working from home right now. Cybercriminals are also aware of this and may target your business, identifying it as vulnerable. A switch to remote working can leave all sorts of areas open to attack as you and your team get used to mobile operations. This is why you really need to ramp up your cybersecurity. Again, there are a bunch of areas you can focus on here. These include:

● Making sure staff use approved devices
● Setting up a virtual private network (or “VPN”)
● Training yourself and staff on cybersecurity
● Implementing spam filters to block phishing emails

Product Development

While you may be trying to save money wherever possible, launching a new product could, in fact, make you the money you need to help stay afloat. You may have a product development plan that you’ve been clutching onto since the pandemic hit and if you do, now may be the time to revisit and see if it’s viable to put your product idea into production. Think about how much of an investment you’ll need to make vs the time you’ll need to launch it. If you’re ticking all of the right boxes, then it might be time to put your new product into production to help your business make more money.

Team Building

Any business owner is well aware that team spirit is often what keeps companies afloat during hard times. This can be difficult to maintain when everyone’s working from their own homes and nobody is in direct contact with one another. But it is possible to keep team spirit alive virtually. Make sure to invest in virtual team building in whatever ways possible. Invest in chat or instant messaging software so your team members can chat amongst themselves. Arrange zoom calls for meetings and catch ups. Check in on everyone regularly.

These are just a few areas you may be wise to invest in right now. Each has its own significant perks, so don’t cast any out immediately. Hopefully, some of these suggestions will really help your business to keep going during this difficult year!

A Quick Guide To Investing For Beginners

A key focus of my blog is Financial Literacy/Money. Unless you were raised in a family of investors, it can be a whole new world. In addition to beginning your investing journey, it’s important to begin it as safely as possible. The following contributed post is entitled, A Quick Guide To Investing For Beginners.

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Picture by Nattanan23 from Pexels – CC0 Licence

‘Investing is the act of allocating resources, usually money, with the expectation of generating an income or profit’ Investopedia.com.

If you’re eager to invest but unsure where to begin, this quick guide covers the basics to escort you in the right direction. Below are a few commonly asked questions that you may be thinking about, coupled with answers to help you decide; whether investing is right for you, the opportunities available, and some top tips to help you invest with confidence.

Is investing the right option for me?
Before investing, firstly think about whether you have a substantial amount of savings, like an emergency fund. And whether you need to pay off any high-interest debts such as credit cards and finance agreements, as these should ultimately be your top priorities.

Beyond this, if you have the means to ride out the current pandemic without jeopardizing your finances. Money leftover to play with, and time to invest for the long-term, before a particular life event such as retirement. You’ll have a better chance of riding out the ups and downs of the market, and investing could be an excellent option for you to boost your future income. Especially when the interest on savings accounts at the moment is pitiful.

However, if you’re hoping for a get rich quick scheme, investing may not be of interest to you. It takes time to accumulate wealth from investments, and there is always the risk you could lose the money you put in.

What investment opportunities are there?
From tangible objects to living things, there’s a broad spectrum of items for you to invest in. Here are a few for you to consider;

➢ Property – commercial and residential buildings
➢ Foreign Currency
➢ Cryptocurrency
➢ Real estate
➢ Shares within a company
➢ Art and antiques
➢ Commodities such as oil, coffee, and gold

A concept and currency that’s piqued the interest of newbie and experienced investors alike is virtual currency, and sites like Bitit, have made it far easier to begin investing. To find more on Bitit, there is a wealth of information online to help you decide whether investing cryptocurrency is right for you.

Top tips for investing?
With an array of different opportunities to invest your cash, research and familiarize yourself with your options because you should;

‘Never invest in a business you cannot understand.’ – Warren Buffett

When learning about investing, you’ll often see the term investment portfolio mentioned a lot. It’s a sensible money management technique used by investors to create a diverse collection of investments, which shall hopefully provide them with a higher prospect of making a return. For instance, should one of your investments cause you to lose money, you would still have other investments in your portfolio that may endure the volatility of the market.

In summary, the top tips for investing are;

➢ Research investment opportunities you are interested in
➢ Diversify your investment portfolio
➢ Refrain from withdrawing your money too soon. You need to stomach the ups and downs and refrain from withdrawing your cash too early.