New Ratings
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Archived Under: Investing , Moneysmartz Profiles and Reviews
Tags: Investing, Investing Research, Moneysmartz Profiles and Reviews
Keeping your finger on the pulse of what investment banks and independent research firms think about your favorite or not so favorite stocks can pay big dividends. Newratings.com offers an online database of equity research reports and ratings issued by investment banks and independent research firms. Newratings.com is still in beta and requires registration to use more advanced features, including a stock tracking tool. To learn more or post your review and comments, visit the newratings.com Moneysmartz Profile.
Abnormal Returns
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Archived Under: Financial Blogs , Investing , Moneysmartz Profiles and Reviews
Tags: Abnormal Returns, Financial Blogs, Investing, Moneysmartz Profiles and Reviews
Are you looking for a fast and efficient way to scan the Web for investment information and insight? Rated as one of the top 50 business blogs by the Times Online, Abnormal Returns, an investing blog, offers linkfest, a daily post of recent investment and market related information. Linkfest summarizes recent posts and articles from leading investment blogs and financial portals. You don't have to be a speed-reader to quickly review linkfest and click on links of interest. To learn more or post your review and comments, visit the Abnormal Returns Moneysmartz Profile.
The Big Picture
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Archived Under: Economics , Financial Blogs , Investing , Moneysmartz Profiles and Reviews
Tags: Economics, Financial Blogs, Investing, Moneysmartz Profiles and Reviews, The Big Picture
If you are looking for a rudder during these turbulent economic times, then The Big Picture, an economic and investing blog, offers straight talk and insight to help steady your ship. The Big Picture, authored by CNBC contributor and author Barry Ritholtz, does not sugar coat market turmoil, but instead offers insight that you can use to make smarter decisions. For example, when commenting on the definition of a bear market in a recent post, The Big Picture offers the following advice: "Rather than focus on terminology, investors should be considering their risk management strategies, what they are doing to preserve capital, and how they are psychologically prepared to deal with what could be an extended downturn." To learn more or post your review and comments, visit the The Big Picture Moneysmartz Profile.
Yahoo! Finance
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Archived Under: Investing , Moneysmartz Profiles and Reviews , Personal Finance
Tags: Investing, Moneysmartz Profiles and Reviews, Personal Finance, Yahoo! Finance
As an essential tool to help you make smarter financial decisions, Yahoo! Finance offers personal finance insight, tools, news and more. If you are looking to save time and commit to one financial portal, Yahoo! Finance should be at or near the top of your list. To learn more or post your review and comments, visit the Yahoo! Finance Moneysmartz Profile.
Economist.com
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Archived Under: Economics , Investing , Moneysmartz Profiles and Reviews
Tags: Economics, Economist, Investing, Moneysmartz Profiles and Reviews
As global markets become increasingly linked and experts tout risk reduction through global diversification, it pays to know what's happening outside the United States. Economist.com offers insight and opinion on international news, world politics, business, finance, science and technology, as well as overviews of cultural trends and regular industry, business and country special reports. To learn more or post your review and comments, visit the Economist.com Moneysmartz Profile.
Investing Education Update
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Archived Under: Directory Updates , Investing
Tags: Directory Updates, Investing, Investing Education
How much investing knowledge is enough? For some, visiting a financial portal every year is too much, while for others, complete immersion in CNNMoney, The Wall Street Journal, and all forms of investing information is not enough. The obvious answer is that your level of investing knowledge depends on your personal situation and interests. With increasing market complexity and volatility, and so much of your net worth depending on smart investment decisions, it's difficult to argue against spending some of your free time learning more about investing. The Moneysmartz Investing Education guide offers a list of free and for-fee investing education resources covering the full-spectrum of investing education needs. To view listings from leading providers of investment education, visit the Moneysmartz Investment Education guide.
Investment Professional Selection Tips
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Archived Under: Financial Planning , Investing , The Moneysherpa Pages
Tags: CFP, Financial Planning, FINRA, Investing, SEC, The Moneysherpa Pages
Do-it-yourself or get help? This question, a dilemma for many, will occur early and often during the course of your financial life. As your personal finances become more complex, you will inevitably need help from an investment professional. The following tips will help you make an informed selection:- Determine your personal finance objectives and think about the services that will meet these objectives. For example, are you saving for retirement, protecting against risk, preparing your estate, or putting money aside for the education of your children? These are just a few of the potential questions that will help determine the financial services you are seeking. Financial services fit into an array of disciplines, including financial planning, estate planning, retirement planning and preparation, tax planning, investment management, college financing and planning, and insurance. Investment professionals may specialize in one discipline or offer services in several areas. Don't worry if you can't think of a complete list of financial services to meet your needs, because, after all, this one important reason for getting help.
- Ask trusted sources like friends and relatives for the names of investment professionals. Keep in mind that everyone's financial situation is unique, so what is good for your neighbor, may not be good for you.
- Don't use titles or generic terms to make your selection. According to the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority ("FINRA"), the largest non-governmental regulator for all securities firms doing business in the United States, titles like Financial Adviser or Financial Planner can be used by investment professionals that may not "hold any specific designation."
- Understand professional designations. The list of designations continues to grow, with each one representing something different. FINRA lists almost 100 designations. There are requirements for each designation, so when an adviser lists a credential, ask questions about the meaning of the designation and where to go to verify the designation. For example, to verify the credentials of a purported Certified Financial Planner, visit the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standard's search page and enter the name of the professional. To understand the meaning of a designation, do a Google keyword web search using the designation title. For example, Google keyword search "CFA" links to the CFA Institute, the organization offering the Chartered Financial Analyst designation.
- Conduct face-to-face interviews with prospective investment professionals. FINRA suggests the following questions: "areas of specialization, professional designations, registrations or licenses, education, work history, investment experience, products and services, and disciplinary history." Be sure to ask about compensation, which may be hourly, a flat annual fee, commission based, percentage of assets managed, or a combination of commissions and fees. Ask if the professional or their firm receives additional compensation for selling particular investment products. Finally, in the case of a professional offering investment products, ask if their firm is a member of the Securities Investor Protection Corporation ("SIPC"). According to FINRA, "the SIPC provides limited customer protection if a firm becomes insolvent."
- Verify state and federal regulatory registrations of the investment professional and their firm. Ask the prospective professional if they and their firm are registered at the state, federal, or at both the state and federal level and the actual name of these regulatory authorities. Once you have the name of the regulatory authorities, visit them online or call to verify registration. Many investment professionals and their firms are registered by FINRA, so a great place to start is FINRA's BrokerCheck, "a free online tool to help investors check the professional background of current and former FINRA-registered securities firms and brokers." In addition, FINRA provides links to state regulatory authorities.
- Ask for references. Going the extra mile and checking references is worth the effort when considering that you may be entering into a lifelong relationship with the selected investment professional.
- Make sure the services being offered fit your unique needs and situation. Every investment professional should tailor a solution unique to you and your situation. Beware of professionals offering "one-size-fits-all" services.
Suggested Sites: FINRA, Securities and Exchange Commission, CFP.net, Financial Planning Association
Guide Categories: Financial Planning, Insurance, Investing, Estate Planning, Retirement Planning, Tax Preparation and Planning, College Financing and Planning
Surviving and Thriving in 2008
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Archived Under: Financial Planning , The Moneysherpa Pages
Tags: Financial Planning, The Moneysherpa Pages
2008 started with such promise. Sure, the danger signs were everywhere, but like every New Year, optimism prevailed. Well into 2008, many wish for another new year and an end to the stream of economic woe and confusion. Before throwing in the towel, Moneysmartz offers the following ideas to survive and thrive:- Take stock of your current financial situation. Begin by calculating your net worth and determining if you have enough saved in an emergency fund. You might find that you are in better shape than you thought or that you need to act right away to shore up your financial situation.
- Prepare a budget. Sites like Mint.com make it easy and it won't take as much time as you think.
- Assess your protection against risk by inventorying your insurance coverage. In the event of a worst-case, you'll be happy you took the time.
- Avoid making investment decisions based on emotion. Understand your risk tolerance and investment time horizon to avoid selling low and buying high.
- Learn more about the big economic issues of the day so you can make smarter and more informed decisions.
- Try not to lose sleep over a loss in your home value if you don't intend to sell, refinance, or get a home equity loan. The market will eventually recover. This provides small comfort to those facing a reset on their mortgage interest rate or foreclosure, but for the majority of homeowners, a reset or foreclosure is not a concern.
- Reduce your daily spending through frugality. Go to sites like Valpak.com for money saving coupons.
- Focus on the areas where you have more control, including your job, your education, your health, and your family. If you are worried about losing your job, then prepare your resume, start calling your friends, and prepare for a change.
Suggested Sites: NetWorthIQ, Mint.com, A.M. Best, Insurance.com, CCH Financial Planning Toolkit, About.com Economics, FrontDoor, Federal Reserve Education: Foreclosures, About.com Frugal Living, Cool Savings, Vault.
Guide Categories: Assessing Your Financial Situation, Financial Calculators, Financial Goal Setting, Financial Planning, Insurance, Investing, Investment Time Horizon, Economics, The Federal Reserve Bank, Stagflation, Mortgages, Real Estate, Foreclosures, Frugality, Coupons, Compensation and Benefits.
Worst Case Insurance Planning
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Archived Under: Financial Planning , Insurance , The Moneysherpa Pages
Tags: Financial Planning, Insurance, The Moneysherpa Pages
Chances are you don't have enough insurance coverage. In fact, according to the Insurance Information Institute, nearly 60% of American homes are inadequately covered. So if you think you fall into this group, here's a way to get motivated to get the insurance you really need. Visualize your worst-case scenarios. It's a difficult way to plan, but if a worst-case occurs, you will be thankful you took the time to think ahead. To learn the basics of insurance planning and start filling gaps, visit the MSN Money and Marketwatch guide "Making sure your insurance fits." The Moneysmartz Insurance Guide offers even more links to relevant and reliable sources of Insurance information and advice.
FINVIZ
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Archived Under: Investing , New and Notable
Tags: Investing, Investing Research, New and Notable
What if you could assess the state of the financial markets in a blink of an eye? FINVIZ.com, a provider of financial research, analysis, and visualization services, helps investors visualize market opportunities in seconds, instead of minutes or more. FINVIZ.com Maps yield unique insights through a bird's eye view of the stock market, including the visualization of company capitalization, industry, and stock price movements. To learn how to use FINVIZ, click the guided tour link at the bottom of the home page for a brief video introduction. To screen stocks and find out what the analysts are saying about your favorite investment, visit the Screener page. For insight into insider trades, go to Insider. Visit Portfolio to create you own investment portfolio watchlist, tracking daily performance and linking to recent news. Registration is required to use the FINVIZ Portfolio section, but it is free and only takes a few seconds. To learn about new site features, visit the FINVIZ blog. Whether you are an avid stock picker or casual market observer, beware, FINVIZ may be addictive.