http://www.moneysmartz.com/weblog/ Moneysmartz helps individuals easily navigate through the chaos and clutter of the Web to the information and advice they need to make smarter financial decisions. en Copyright 2008 personal+finance money Sat, 26 Jul 2008 09:42:03 -0600 http://www.movabletype.org/?v=4.21-en http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss CNNMoney.com is CNN.com's exclusive business site and the online home of several magazines including FORTUNE and MONEY. CNNMoney.com makes the Moneysmartz short-list for one-stop shop for personal finance information, advice, tools, and news. Best of all, the site is easy to navigate so in a few minutes you will know if this site is right for you. To learn more or post your review and comments, visit the CNNMoney.com Moneysmartz Profile.]]> http://www.moneysmartz.com/weblog/archives/2008/07/cnnmoney.php http://www.moneysmartz.com/weblog/archives/2008/07/cnnmoney.php Investing Moneysmartz Profiles and Reviews Personal Finance Sat, 26 Jul 2008 09:42:03 -0600 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.]]> http://www.moneysmartz.com/weblog/archives/2008/07/new_ratings.php http://www.moneysmartz.com/weblog/archives/2008/07/new_ratings.php Investing Moneysmartz Profiles and Reviews Tue, 08 Jul 2008 17:11:45 -0600 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.]]> http://www.moneysmartz.com/weblog/archives/2008/07/abnormal_returns.php http://www.moneysmartz.com/weblog/archives/2008/07/abnormal_returns.php Financial Blogs Investing Moneysmartz Profiles and Reviews Wed, 02 Jul 2008 12:10:30 -0600 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.]]> http://www.moneysmartz.com/weblog/archives/2008/06/the_big_picture.php http://www.moneysmartz.com/weblog/archives/2008/06/the_big_picture.php Economics Financial Blogs Investing Moneysmartz Profiles and Reviews Sun, 29 Jun 2008 11:15:00 -0600 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.]]> http://www.moneysmartz.com/weblog/archives/2008/06/yahoo_finance.php http://www.moneysmartz.com/weblog/archives/2008/06/yahoo_finance.php Investing Moneysmartz Profiles and Reviews Personal Finance Tue, 24 Jun 2008 09:58:32 -0600 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.]]> http://www.moneysmartz.com/weblog/archives/2008/06/economist.php http://www.moneysmartz.com/weblog/archives/2008/06/economist.php Economics Investing Moneysmartz Profiles and Reviews Mon, 16 Jun 2008 08:36:39 -0600 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.]]> http://www.moneysmartz.com/weblog/archives/2008/06/investing_education_update.php http://www.moneysmartz.com/weblog/archives/2008/06/investing_education_update.php Directory Updates Investing Sun, 08 Jun 2008 18:38:55 -0600 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.

Ultimately, selecting an investment professional is your responsibility, so whether you choose to do-it-yourself, or partner with one or many investment professionals, you control your financial destiny.

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]]> http://www.moneysmartz.com/weblog/archives/2008/06/investment_professional_selection_tips.php http://www.moneysmartz.com/weblog/archives/2008/06/investment_professional_selection_tips.php Financial Planning Investing The Moneysherpa Pages Sun, 01 Jun 2008 12:33:10 -0600 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.]]> http://www.moneysmartz.com/weblog/archives/2008/05/finviz.php http://www.moneysmartz.com/weblog/archives/2008/05/finviz.php Investing New and Notable Wed, 14 May 2008 15:36:39 -0600 The recently updated Moneysmartz Day Trading page, designed to highlight the risk of day trading, includes two cautionary listings from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"). According to the SEC, "Day trading is extremely risky and can result in substantial financial losses in a very short period of time." If you still have the stomach for day trading after visiting the SEC listings, then go to the Wikipedia and Investopedia listings to learn even more about day trading, including trading strategies for beginners.]]> http://www.moneysmartz.com/weblog/archives/2008/05/day_trading_update.php http://www.moneysmartz.com/weblog/archives/2008/05/day_trading_update.php Directory Updates Investing Tue, 13 May 2008 15:50:26 -0600 "The most important investment you can make is in yourself." Like much of the Q&A during yesterday's Berkshire Hathaway annual meeting of shareholders at Omaha's Qwest Center, Warren Buffett and Charlie Munger offered plenty of common sense wisdom and investing advice, including tips on a variety of topics:

• Self-Improvement: Invest in your mind and body. Your best asset is yourself.
• Investing: For smaller portfolios, invest in a low cost index fund like Vanguard.
• Business Ownership: If you have a great business, then don't sell. Your business is worth more every year. If you are looking to monetize your investment, sell to someone who will be a good steward of what you have created.
• Reading Suggestions for Kids: Start with your local newspaper. The more you learn, the more you will want to learn.
• Recommended Book About Investing: The Intelligent Investor, by Benjamin Graham, especially chapters 8 and 20.
• Fish of the Day Investment Ideas: Avoid them, as most are a way to sell more. For example, the 130/30 Long-Short Equity Fund.
• Business School: Most important concepts that should be learned are "how to value a business" and "how to assess market fluctuations."

For more wit and financial wisdom from Warren Buffett, visit the Moneysmartz Warren Buffett page.]]> http://www.moneysmartz.com/weblog/archives/2008/05/tips_from_the_woodstock_of_capitalism_08.php http://www.moneysmartz.com/weblog/archives/2008/05/tips_from_the_woodstock_of_capitalism_08.php Investing The Moneysherpa Pages Sun, 04 May 2008 08:53:43 -0600 Staid, steady, and low-key, not the ingredients to attract over 30,000 admirers to Nebraska on a blustery May weekend. However, for many, Berkshire Hathaway's annual meeting, and its star attraction, Warren Buffett, have enough sparks to sizzle an Omaha steak without a grill.

The newly created Moneysmartz Warren Buffett category includes quotes, letters, and insight into the wit and undeniable wisdom of Warren Buffett.

For entertaining and useful investment insight, be sure to visit the link to Berkshire Hathaway Inc. shareholder letters. To learn about how the "Oracle of Omaha" does it, visit the Investopedia Editor Best Bet.

Even if you won't be making a pilgrimage to the "Woodstock of capitalism" this weekend, don't miss the chance to learn from the master by visiting a link or two at the Moneysmartz Warren Buffett page. ]]> http://www.moneysmartz.com/weblog/archives/2008/05/warren_buffett.php http://www.moneysmartz.com/weblog/archives/2008/05/warren_buffett.php Directory Updates Investing Fri, 02 May 2008 05:47:36 -0600 Information is power, but too much information can be overwhelming. The secret to do-it-yourself company investment research is to find the most reliable and relevant sources of free information.

The recently updated Moneysmartz Major Company Information category provides links to market research leaders offering both free and for-fee resources to help you get under the hood of potential equity investments.

A great place to start and meet most of your research needs is Yahoo! Finance. Once on the site, enter the ticker symbol of your target company or do a search to find their ticker symbol, and click "get quotes." For example, here's what you will find after entering GE. The Yahoo! Finance GE page includes charts, quotes, news and information, company information, analyst coverage, ownership, and financial information.

Visit the Securities Exchange Commission Edgar database for free access to financial and related filings by public companies. Stock pickers can roll up their sleeves and dig into the SEC information.

Finally, if you prefer a short and sweet synopsis of your favorite company, then visit the Portfolio.com link.

Once you browse through the Moneysmartz Major Company Information category, you will be prepared to turn your information into power and better investment returns.]]> http://www.moneysmartz.com/weblog/archives/2008/04/major_company_information_update.php http://www.moneysmartz.com/weblog/archives/2008/04/major_company_information_update.php Directory Updates Investing Mon, 28 Apr 2008 06:11:17 -0600 Commodity volatility is on the rise. Visit your local gas station or try buying rice in bulk and you will see evidence of soaring commodity prices. Should you add commodity futures trading to your investment arsenal?

The answer for most investors is a strong and simple no, but for a select few, those with the means, perspective, and training, trading commodity futures is a risky, but viable, investment alternative.

The updated Moneysmartz Commodities and Futures Investing category offers an introduction to commodity futures, including general information, news and market information, and places to start trading.

The Moneysmartz Editor recommends visiting Lind Waldock, an online trading brokerage with everything you need to learn, practice trading risk-free, and trade with your own money. If you are looking for more information, then visit the CNNMoney commodity markets page and Reality Based Trading for a commodity futures primer.

Since the rising and falling cost of commodities should continue to dominate the news, it is a great time to at least learn more about commodity futures and the potential of futures trading in your investment strategy.]]> http://www.moneysmartz.com/weblog/archives/2008/04/commodities_and_futures_investing_update.php http://www.moneysmartz.com/weblog/archives/2008/04/commodities_and_futures_investing_update.php Directory Updates Investing Sun, 27 Apr 2008 05:43:53 -0600 Brokerages, and the brokers who work for them, bring buyers and sellers of securities together, and receive a commission for facilitating the sale. Unlike the old days, a trade, or sale, does not require person-to-person interaction. So, not surprisingly, technology is becoming increasingly important, and the distinctions between brokerage firms are blurring.

The updated Moneysmartz Brokerages category includes the major classes of brokerage firms, including "Premium," "Full-Service," and "Discount Brokers." To help differentiate between brokerage firms, visit the SmartMoney Editor Best Best for brokerage rankings. If you need more information about your personal broker, visit FINRA's BrokerCheck to learn more about the background of your investment professional.

If you are averse to technology, or just feel more comfortable working with an individual instead of a computer, most brokerages offer hands-on trading assistance, both on the phone or in person with a local investment professional.

One final note, to get the best per trade rates, embrace technology and learn how to make your trades online, without human assistance.]]> http://www.moneysmartz.com/weblog/archives/2008/04/brokerages_update.php http://www.moneysmartz.com/weblog/archives/2008/04/brokerages_update.php Directory Updates Investing Sat, 26 Apr 2008 05:49:24 -0600