Ask Stacy: How Do I Get Started Investing? | Money Talks News

Interest rates are a double-edged sword. With the exception of credit cards, rates to borrow are extremely low. Mortgage rates, for example, are as low as they?ve been since the end of World War II. So, if you?re a borrower, it?s all good. But if you?re a saver, it?s all bad. Rates on savings accounts are so low they?re practically zero.

What?s a saver to do? Here?s a question from a reader.

Dear Stacy,
How are middle-class Americans supposed to get ahead? Wages aren?t going up, but gas and food prices are. And the money banks are paying on their savings accounts are nothing. I?d like to try other kinds of investments, like stocks, but I?m afraid of risk. Is there anything I can do that to earn more without losing money? Please tell me what to do.
- Dave

I feel your pain, Dave. Compounding your savings by earning interest is critical to getting ahead. But the interest on savings accounts is doing the same thing as wages: going nowhere.

One alternative to crappy bank interest is stocks, but stocks involve risk. And while stocks and risk have always gone hand-in-hand, today it?s even worse for at least two reasons. First, the European debt crisis could ultimately hurt our economy, and in turn, our stock market. And second, the inability of the U.S. Congress to agree on anything from debt reduction to stimulus could also have a negative impact on our economy and stock market.

Nonetheless, every saver should always have some money in investments other than risk-free bank accounts. The reason is simple. Risk-free investments rarely keep up with inflation over time. And maintaining the purchasing power of your savings by earning more than the rate of inflation is the prime directive.

For a 90-second primer on investing, watch the following news story I shot on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange. We?ll continue the conversation on the other side.

To recap those tips:

  • Don?t ever put any money into stocks that you could possibly need within five years. The longer your time horizon, the lower your risk.
  • Don?t put all your eggs in one basket. If you can?t afford to own stock in at least 10 different companies, use a mutual fund or Exchange Traded Fund. That way you own a sliver of lots of different companies rather than just one or two.
  • Don?t invest in stocks all at once. Invest small amounts monthly. That way, should the market fall, you?ll have money on the sidelines to buy at lower prices.
  • To decide how much to put in stocks, here?s your rule of thumb: Subtract your age from 100 and that?s the percentage you might want to put in stocks. So if you?re 25 years old, you?d take 25 from 100 and put that amount, 75 percent, of your long-term savings into stocks. If you?re 75 years old, you?d only take that kind of risk with 25 percent of your savings. But remember, this is a rule of thumb. If you?re going to freak out when the market falls, invest less.

What should you buy?

Regular mutual funds: The idea behind mutual funds is pooling money from lots of investors to buy a large, diversified portfolio of stocks. And as I said above, it?s safer to own a sliver of a giant group of stocks than a bigger chunk of just one or two. One fund to consider is the Vanguard 500 Index fund. As the name implies, it owns the shares of 500 of the largest companies in America. The minimum investment is $3,000, but it costs nothing to buy or sell shares in the fund. There is an annual management fee, but it?s only 0.17 percent ? pretty small for a mutual fund. The fund, like the stock market overall, hasn?t done well over the last 1, 5, or 10 years. But it?s averaged better than 10 percent per year since its inception in 1976.

Once you open a mutual fund account, you can have money automatically added every month by linking it to a bank account.

ETFs: An Exchange Traded Fund, or ETF, is just a mutual fund that trades on an exchange like a stock. Here are two that allow you to get a lot of diversification: The Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF invests in 3,000 U.S. stocks. As I wrote this, the cost per share was about $65, so that would be your minimum investment: 1 share.

If you?d like to invest internationally, check out the Vanguard Total International Stock ETF (VXUS). This ETF is currently trading around $40 a share.

The disadvantage of an ETF is that to buy shares, you?ll need to open a brokerage account and pay a commission with every transaction. And even if you use a discount broker (I use Vanguard as my brokerage firm, but there are plenty out there) you?ll still pay at least a $5 commission every time. While that may not sound like much, if you?re only investing $100 a month, that?s 5 percent off the top. Here?s a site that has commission prices and reviews on lots of brokerage firms.

By the way, if you?re wondering why my recommendations are all Vanguard-related, rest assured that?s not because they pay me. Other than having a brokerage account there, I have no relationship with them whatsoever. I recommend them exclusively because they?re one of the lowest-cost players in the business.

Conclusion: Don?t expect miracles

I wrote this post in answer to a question regarding earning more than banks. Over time, stocks have done this. And the difference it can make on your savings is remarkable.

Let?s say you find yourself with an extra 10 bucks a day, or $300 a month. If the only thing you do is put your savings in a 1-percent money market account, after 20 years you?ll compound your way to a balance of $80,000. Nice. But if you earn 10 percent instead of 1 percent, your nest egg will increase to about $228,000. Way nicer.

I?ll end this post with the same analogy I started it with: the double-edged sword. Stocks pay more over time because they?re riskier. While they can go up, they can go down, and by a lot. They can also go sideways, which is what they?ve done for the better part of the last decade. So don?t expect instant results. Over the long-term, stocks will help conquer inflation. But over the short term, there?s no telling.

Subscribe by email

Like this article? Sign up for our email updates and we?ll send you a regular digest of our newest stories, full of money saving tips and advice, free! We?ll also email you a PDF of Stacy Johnson?s ?205 Ways to Save Money? as soon as you?ve subscribed. It?s full of great tips that?ll help you save a ton of extra cash. It doesn?t cost a dime, so why wait? Click here to sign up now.

Source: http://www.moneytalksnews.com/2011/12/27/ask-stacy-how-do-i-get-started-investing/

packers stock sale jason mayhem miller newt gingrich chicago bears margarito margarito horton hears a who

SFBags: Thank U! RT @rranelson: @SFBags No wonder u're busy-my new MacBook Air Travel Express is the awesome big bro 2 the iPad version! Keep it up!

Loader Thank U! RT @: @ No wonder u're busy-my new MacBook Air Travel Express is the awesome big bro 2 the iPad version! Keep it up!

Source:

jordy nelson hot chelle rae guile alton brown weather los angeles caleb hanie nascar

Bolivia's Morales hopes to build railway to Peru (AP)

LIMA, Peru ? Bolivia's president said Monday that he hopes to build a new railway linking his country to Peru that would facilitate exports to Asia.

Bolivian President Evo Morales said he has discussed the plan with Peruvian President Ollanta Humala. Morales told the Peruvian radio station RPP that the railway would run from Puerto Suarez, on Bolivia's border with Brazil, to the Pacific port of Ilo in Peru.

"It's my great dream," Morales said, adding that Brazil and Peru would also gain from having a railway link. He said it would carry agricultural products as well as other commodities to Asian countries.

Morales said in August after a visit to China that Chinese officials expressed interest in making the railway project a priority. It's not immediately clear how much the railway would cost, or how much financial support China might provide.

Bolivia and Peru currently export minerals to China including zinc and lead. Bolivia currently uses roads to truck shipments to Pacific ports in Chile.

Morales made the remarks Monday in the Peruvian city of Cusco, where he spent Christmas after meeting with Peru's president.

Humala also reiterated his support last week for Bolivia in its long-standing request that Chile provide the landlocked country with a corridor of land to access the Pacific coast.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/latam/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20111226/ap_on_re_la_am_ca/lt_bolivia_peru_train

good morning america new orleans jazz fest new orleans jazz fest dwight howard louis ck michelle duggar heisman

A Fresh Look at the Updated Iris App for Android

Last October we were surprised by Iris, a cool app that?s supposed to be Android?s response to the iPhone?s Siri. And yes, that?s right?Siri spelled backwards is Iris. One of the things that this Android app can brag about is the fact that it was created just within 8 hours. Its claim for omnipotence may not be absolute just yet, but this app is definitely a promising one. It reached a million downloads in a very short time, an indicator of good reception from Android users. The reviews over at the Android Market and over the Internet have been mostly good, too.

You may already have some idea of what this app can do, given it?s a Siri counterpart. The app is indeed a voice recognition utility. You will be able to have a little chitchat with the app, which will try to answer all your questions by searching for information, mainly through Wikipedia.

What are its pros?

This Android app is packed with many useful features. Its main aim is to let you have the ultimate voice interaction with your Android device.

  • Easy access to the app by pressing the Search button.
  • Through Iris, you will be able to call or dial a phone number just by talking to the app.
  • Sending text messages is another nice feature built into the app.
  • The app is capable of finding places like coffee shops, restaurants, and hotels.
  • You will be able to ask Iris to search and play a song for you.
  • Iris is also capable of searching for and playing back video for users.
  • The app can also provide you with movie reviews and even recommend which movies to watch.
  • You can also ask Iris for the latest news and it will search and read it for you.

The list of things Iris can do is not limited to the things listed above. The app can do more and you can discover them while using Iris.

What are its cons?

The app is not yet perfect. There are many improvements that can be done with Iris. This is an understandable thing since the app is quite new. Iris is a feature-rich app, although not all these features are working properly just yet. Well, Siri is not yet perfect either.

  • Sometimes, it does not understand some of the words or phrases you say.
  • There is a tendency that you will get irrelevant answers to your questions. Sometimes, it will even give you funny answers.
  • At times the app will crash. There are times where it will force close for no reason at all. This will depend on the device you?re using, as well.
  • The app is a bit slow in answering your questions.
  • The voice used in the app is too robotic.
  • The app needs further development.

As you can see, there are a lot of things Iris has to improve on. Many of the reviews would say so, as well. Good thing about this app, though, is that the developers are not stopping just yet. They are continuously making improvements with Iris.

Are you enticed to install Iris now? It is indeed an app worth a try. If you can?t take full advantage of all its features since not all are working properly just yet, for sure the app will have a way of tickling you with its funny answers to your queries. Do you interact with Iris on your phone?

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/PlanetAndroidCom/~3/h8fW11BAwx4/

chicago bears margarito margarito horton hears a who horton hears a who cotto margarito big daddy

Frequency of established cardiovascular disease and its risk factors in Chinese patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.

Source

Department of Nephrology, First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, 58 Zhongshan Road II, Guangzhou, 510080, People's Republic of China.

Abstract

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is one of the most serious complications of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). This study investigated the frequency of established CVD and its associated risk factors in Chinese patients with SLE. A retrospective, cross-sectional analysis was conducted of 1,072 consecutive patients with SLE from a single center. Patients with CVD were identified on the basis of medical record documentation. Stepwise multivariate logistic regression was used to assess the risk factors of CVD. Of the 1,072 patients with SLE, 71 (6.6%) had CVD. Patients with CVD were older than patients without CVD (39.0???15.6 vs. 31.9???13.3?years; P?<?0.001), the frequency of CVD in patients aged ?19?years, between 20 and 39?years, between 40 and 69?years, and greater than 60?years was increased by 3.4%, 5.5%, 9.2%, 20.4%, respectively. The frequency of CVD was higher in SLE patients with nephritis than without nephritis (7.6% vs. 3.8%; P?=?0.026). Multivariate regression analyses confirmed that age ?60?years (OR?=?5.098; 95% CI 1.333, 19.488), higher diastolic blood pressure (OR?=?1.050; 95% CI 1.022, 1.078), higher serum creatinine levels (OR?=?1.002; 95% CI 1.000, 1.003), and long-term use of glucocorticoids (OR?=?1.005; 95% CI 1.000, 1.010) were risk factors for CVD. HDL-C levels (OR?=?0.121; 95% CI 0.041, 0.358) were negatively associated with CVD in patients with SLE. Our data suggest that the frequency of CVD was high in Chinese patients with SLE, and independent risk factors for CVD were increased age, higher diastolic blood pressure, higher serum creatinine levels, long-term use of glucocorticoids, and lower HDL-C levels.

Source: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?tmpl=NoSidebarfile&db=PubMed&cmd=Retrieve&list_uids=22193369&dopt=Abstract

vincent brown vincent brown willow smith tom bradley tom bradley penn state riot penn state riot

Study: Smiles on Facebook mean more than smiles in real life

By Natalie Asorey

College freshmen might want to take a look at their Facebook profile pictures for a peek at their life satisfaction once it?s time to turn the tassel.
Two longitudinal studies showed that smile intensity coded from a Facebook profile picture from participants? first semester in college predicted self-reported life satisfaction as they approached graduation.

The studies were conducted by Shigehiro Oishi and J. Patrick Seder of the University of Virginia?s psychology department, and results were published in October.

Oishi and two other research assistants coded for smiling intensity by looking at two muscles associated with smiling ? one that causes raised cheeks and squinting and another that raises the corners of the mouth ? and rated each from one to five. The scores were added to create an intensity scale of two to 10, with 10 being the most intense.

Participants with higher intensity scores were found to be more satisfied with their lives both at the end of their first semester and after three and a half years, as they were about to graduate.

According to the report, the association ?between smile intensity and life satisfaction was partially mediated by the quality of participants? first-semester social relationships.?
The research does not show the extent to which such social relationships act as a link, however.

According to the report, smile intensity may indicate that a person acts similarly in ?real life? and therefore has more positive relationships or that those who smile more intensely may elicit the same positive responses in others, thereby solidifying relationships.

Alexander Cantillo, a junior psychology major at the University of Florida, says she believes both may be valid reasons.

?The more you smile, the more positive you feel about yourself and the happier you become with life,? he said. ?The positive energy derived just by a simple smile rubs off on others, and that is why you see that trend.?

Kim McCall, interpersonal communication professor at the University of Florida, said smiling communicates positive energy, reactions and emotions.

?When we smile or see another person smile, it makes us think the other person likes us and we are much more likely to start a conversation,? she said. ?Smiling can be an asset when meeting someone new, during a job interview or even when having lunch with a friend.?

Among the studies? limitations is that the first set of participants were University of Virginia freshmen who had a Facebook profile in 2005, when the platform expanded to over 800 college networks and had more than 5.5 million users.

It?s plausible that this group of participants used Facebook in a much different way than those who use it now, according to the report.

Facebook now boasts more than 750 million users, according to the website, and has added content-sharing features throughout its years.

Marc Briz, a sophomore history major at Brown University, said he prefers artistic profile pictures rather than those with a ?straight-forward smile.?
?I feel like the study might be simplifying how students approach Facebook in the first place,? Briz said.

?Even kids who are sad are not going to put pictures of themselves with a frown,? he said. ?They?re going to put a picture that reflects well of them.?

You might also be interested in:

  1. Facebook memorials a part of campus life
  2. Real life: In college with my Mom
  3. The Odyssey: Facebook adds a new dimension to employment
  4. 5 ways to take your life back from Facebook
  5. Let?s be ?Facebook Official?

The views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect the views of USA TODAY.

Source: http://www.usatodayeducate.com/staging/index.php/campuslife/study-smiles-on-facebook-mean-more-than-smiles-in-real-life

hell on wheels new york city marathon andy williams andy williams nyc marathon nyc marathon coriolis effect

LG finalizes its Ice Cream Sandwich update schedule (Digital Trends)

Android Ice Cream Sandwich largeLG has been evaluating its Optimus smartphone range over the past few weeks, in order to see which models would be blessed with an upgrade to Android 4.0. Initially, it was just a handful of phones on the list, but according to a new post on their official Facebook page, several other devices have been deemed suitable too.

However, while LG gives, it also takes away, as those in line for a taste of Google???s new version of Android are potentially in for a long wait. There are going to be two phases to the update, running through the second and third quarters of 2012.

The first wave of updates to Ice Cream Sandwich will consist of the brand-new Prada 3.0, the Optimus LTE, Optimus 2X, Optimus Sol, LG Eclipse and the LG my Touch Q. These will receive the new software sometime between April and June.

Next, LG will be dealing with the Optimus 3D, Optimus Big, Optimus Q2, Optimus EX and the Optimus Black; all of which are in the second wave of updates, potentially beginning in July next year. CNET points out that the Optimus Black?s update should cover AT&T?s Nitro HD and Sprint?s Marquee, as they?re essentially the same devices.

So, to recap, owners of relevant phones could get Ice Cream Sandwich as early as late March/early April 2012, or as late as September 2012. Put like that, it?s easy to see why the Facebook comments are less than complimentary of LG?s efforts.

However, it?s now understood how complicated the process can be and we?re still grateful that LG ? and others ? are so readily sharing their ICS plans, and that it?s getting done at all.

This article was originally posted on Digital Trends

More from Digital Trends

A closer look at Google?s handset unity initiative for Android

Sprint and T-Mobile may get the iPhone 5

Coming Nexus phone?s details surface

Sony Ericsson?s Ice Cream Sandwich update coming in early 2012

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/tech/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/digitaltrends/20111227/tc_digitaltrends/lgfinalizesitsicecreamsandwichupdateschedule

alfa romeo giulietta xbox update xbox update nba schedule nhl realignment nhl realignment kristin chenoweth

Ron Paul Book Makes Woman Cry (VIDEO)

Conventional wisdom suggests that one should never discuss politics or religion in polite company. Doing so during the holidays is particularly unwise, and can lead to unnecessary drama, arguments and even tears.

One woman learned this lesson recently when she started looking through a book she received as a Christmas gift. The title? "Liberty Defined: 50 Essential Issues That Affect Our Freedom" by Ron Paul, Mediaite reported. Unfortunately, her teary reaction to Paul's writings were captured on video and then posted on the Internet.

Was the video staged? Or is this woman truly taken aback by the GOP presidential candidate's words? You decide.

'; var coords = [-5, -72]; // display fb-bubble FloatingPrompt.embed(this, html, undefined, 'top', {fp_intersects:1, timeout_remove:2000,ignore_arrow: true, width:236, add_xy:coords, class_name: 'clear-overlay'}); });

Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/12/28/bad-christmas-gift-ron-paul-book_n_1172133.html

recursion amy schumer amy schumer ascii art ascii art andrew mason once in a blue moon

China and Rare Earth 2012

LiveTradingNews

China's Ministry of Commerce Tuesday announced the 1st batch of Rare Earth export quotas for Y 2012, totaling 10,546 tons.

Eleven companies will share the quotas, including 7 Rare Earth producers and 4 distribution companies, according to a statement on the ministry's website.

All 11 companies have passed environmental inspections. Quotas have been reserved for other Rare Earth enterprises but will not be released until they pass environmental inspections, an unnamed official at the ministry said.

Next year's Rare Earth quotas will remain unchanged from Y 2011 in order to guarantee International market demand and maintain a stable supply of Rare Earth, the official said.

China's Rare Earth exports totaled 14,750 tons during the 1st 11 months of Y 2011, accounting for 49% of the Country's total export quotas.

Like us on Facebook

Rare Earths, a group of 17 elements, are metals widely used in high-tech products ranging from flat-screen televisions to lasers and hybrid cars.

China's Rare Earth sales account for nearly 90% of the Global total.

The Country has been tightening control of Rare Earth supply by restricting output and exports, adopting stringent environmental standards and launching crackdowns on illegal mining activities.

Paul A. Ebeling, Jnr.

Paul A. Ebeling, Jnr

Paul A. Ebeling, Jnr. writes and publishes The Red Roadmaster's Technical Report on the US Major Market Indices, a weekly, highly-regarded financial market letter, read by opinion makers, business leaders and organizations around the world.

Paul A. Ebeling, Jnr has studied the global financial and stock markets since 1984, following a successful business career that included investment banking, and market and business analysis. He is a specialist in equities/commodities, and an accomplished chart reader who advises technicians with regard to Major Indices Resistance/Support Levels.

Source: http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/273384/20111228/china-rare-earth-2012.htm

how to carve a turkey how to cook a turkey dog the bounty hunter yorkshire pudding obscura miracle on 34th street whitney cummings