Archive for the ‘alternative investment’ Category
Foreign Currencies As Investment Vehicles
By Ukey Hoo
In many people's mind, investment vehicles comes in various forms, with the higher risk, higher returns vehicles being stocks, foreign exchange followed by mutual funds and ETFs, and finally the safest, low returns vehicles are treasuries, fixed deposits and bonds.
Is that really true? And is it a fair comparison for fixed deposits in today's market? That is the question I'm going to answer in this article.
Fixed Deposits, or Certificates of Deposits as known in the United States, is a contract you have with a bank to lend it a fixed amount of money for a fixed period at a fixed interest rate, after which you would get your money plus the interest back into your account.
The interest rate given is usually dependent on the period you place the deposit for, the longer the higher interest. While practically guaranteed, the interest rates are usually pretty low when compared with the returns you can get using other vehicles, which is why it is considered a low risk, low return vehicle.
However, with today's global market integration, it is no longer difficult to move money across countries. In fact, with a click of a button, you can transfer money from China to the United States, or from the United Kingdom to Singapore, using the bank's exchange rates. With this, a whole new arena has been created for those who are looking for good yield and cashflow, all in the same vehicle.
Today, as EUR is still consolidating at 1.36, down from its last peak of 1.60, while the NZD is at 0.71, up from its last bottom of 0.5. Having bought the Kiwi at 0.51 fourteen months back, and earning 4.5% interest per annum, my holdings had increased 40%, while having an annual cashflow of 4.5%. I'm changing my money into the EUR to cash in on the profits while taking advantage of the current depressed price of the EUR, to get an interest rate of 1.25% per annum.
So can Fixed Deposits still be a safe and low return vehicle for investment? The answer is definitely yes. But at the same time, Fixed Deposits can also be used as a cash flow instrument or hedge in foreign currency bets. This kind of investment has been done by locals going to the money changers and holding the paper currencies, but with the kind of global integration right now, you can make money with the paper currency you are currently holding.
So while the basic idea of a Fixed Deposit being a low risk and low return instrument, it can no longer be totally ignored as an alternative instrument for a higher risk, higher return global currency investment.
Ukey Hoo is a self taught passive income investor specializing in Real Estate and Foreign Currencies. He has achieved financial freedom in 4 years while being an employee and has been helping others achieve the same results since 2008. His blog at http://www.communityofwealth.com contains many resources which will help you in your quest for financial knowledge. See http://www.thriveinyourjob.communityofwealth.com for more details of how he became financially free in 4 years.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ukey_Hoo
http://EzineArticles.com/?Foreign-Currencies-As-Investment-Vehicles&id=4108085
In many people's mind, investment vehicles comes in various forms, with the higher risk, higher returns vehicles being stocks, foreign exchange followed by mutual funds and ETFs, and finally the safest, low returns vehicles are treasuries, fixed deposits and bonds.
Is that really true? And is it a fair comparison for fixed deposits in today's market? That is the question I'm going to answer in this article.
Fixed Deposits, or Certificates of Deposits as known in the United States, is a contract you have with a bank to lend it a fixed amount of money for a fixed period at a fixed interest rate, after which you would get your money plus the interest back into your account.
The interest rate given is usually dependent on the period you place the deposit for, the longer the higher interest. While practically guaranteed, the interest rates are usually pretty low when compared with the returns you can get using other vehicles, which is why it is considered a low risk, low return vehicle.
However, with today's global market integration, it is no longer difficult to move money across countries. In fact, with a click of a button, you can transfer money from China to the United States, or from the United Kingdom to Singapore, using the bank's exchange rates. With this, a whole new arena has been created for those who are looking for good yield and cashflow, all in the same vehicle.
Today, as EUR is still consolidating at 1.36, down from its last peak of 1.60, while the NZD is at 0.71, up from its last bottom of 0.5. Having bought the Kiwi at 0.51 fourteen months back, and earning 4.5% interest per annum, my holdings had increased 40%, while having an annual cashflow of 4.5%. I'm changing my money into the EUR to cash in on the profits while taking advantage of the current depressed price of the EUR, to get an interest rate of 1.25% per annum.
So can Fixed Deposits still be a safe and low return vehicle for investment? The answer is definitely yes. But at the same time, Fixed Deposits can also be used as a cash flow instrument or hedge in foreign currency bets. This kind of investment has been done by locals going to the money changers and holding the paper currencies, but with the kind of global integration right now, you can make money with the paper currency you are currently holding.
So while the basic idea of a Fixed Deposit being a low risk and low return instrument, it can no longer be totally ignored as an alternative instrument for a higher risk, higher return global currency investment.
Ukey Hoo is a self taught passive income investor specializing in Real Estate and Foreign Currencies. He has achieved financial freedom in 4 years while being an employee and has been helping others achieve the same results since 2008. His blog at http://www.communityofwealth.com contains many resources which will help you in your quest for financial knowledge. See http://www.thriveinyourjob.communityofwealth.com for more details of how he became financially free in 4 years.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ukey_Hoo
http://EzineArticles.com/?Foreign-Currencies-As-Investment-Vehicles&id=4108085
Silver Troy Ounces – Or – When is an Ounce Not an Ounce?
By Paul Bracchi
Question: What exactly is a Silver Troy ounce?
In recent times there has been a surge in interest in buying silver, as a hedge against economic uncertainty. Some buyers have been scooping up Silver ingots, others scrap silver. But for most investors their silver purchases take the form of Silver Coins or "Rounds". Indeed the demand for the Silver Eagle coin is now so great, that virtually the entire silver mining output of the United States is going to meet this demand. With so many new buyers in the market, this weights and measures question keeps arising.
You see, historically, bullion silver has been weighted in Troy ounces. In more recent times, grams and kilos have also been used, but this form of measurement is still an important unit in the silver market. The name "Troy" derives from Troyes in France and this metric formed one of the cornerstones of a measurement system that dates back to the middle ages. If you plan on buying a bullion coin, such as a "Round" then the chances are, that this unit of weight will be indicated on the surface.
So, the next question - the one you are itching to ask: Is a Troy ounce, heavier or lighter than a regular ounce? Good news! A Silver Troy ounce is about 10% heavier than the standard ounce. Comparing them both in metric:
1 troy ounce weighs 31.1 grams
1 "ordinary" ounce weighs 28.34 grams
So, when you buy a Silver bullion coin, you may be getting a little more silver than you expected!
Till next time,
Happy silver coin buying.
Paul
If you would like to learn more about Silver and Bullion coins, then visit my websites for free information:
http://www.BuyBullionCoins.com/blog/
http://www.Silver-Dollar-Coin-Values.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Paul_Bracchi
http://EzineArticles.com/?Silver-Troy-Ounces---Or---When-is-an-Ounce-Not-an-Ounce?&id=4087346
Question: What exactly is a Silver Troy ounce?
In recent times there has been a surge in interest in buying silver, as a hedge against economic uncertainty. Some buyers have been scooping up Silver ingots, others scrap silver. But for most investors their silver purchases take the form of Silver Coins or "Rounds". Indeed the demand for the Silver Eagle coin is now so great, that virtually the entire silver mining output of the United States is going to meet this demand. With so many new buyers in the market, this weights and measures question keeps arising.
You see, historically, bullion silver has been weighted in Troy ounces. In more recent times, grams and kilos have also been used, but this form of measurement is still an important unit in the silver market. The name "Troy" derives from Troyes in France and this metric formed one of the cornerstones of a measurement system that dates back to the middle ages. If you plan on buying a bullion coin, such as a "Round" then the chances are, that this unit of weight will be indicated on the surface.
So, the next question - the one you are itching to ask: Is a Troy ounce, heavier or lighter than a regular ounce? Good news! A Silver Troy ounce is about 10% heavier than the standard ounce. Comparing them both in metric:
1 troy ounce weighs 31.1 grams
1 "ordinary" ounce weighs 28.34 grams
So, when you buy a Silver bullion coin, you may be getting a little more silver than you expected!
Till next time,
Happy silver coin buying.
Paul
If you would like to learn more about Silver and Bullion coins, then visit my websites for free information:
http://www.BuyBullionCoins.com/blog/
http://www.Silver-Dollar-Coin-Values.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Paul_Bracchi
http://EzineArticles.com/?Silver-Troy-Ounces---Or---When-is-an-Ounce-Not-an-Ounce?&id=4087346
Buying Your Gold Coins through Bullion Dealers
By Paul Bracchi
So, you are sitting in the offices of your favorite gold bullion dealer, mulling whether to choose a nice Gold Eagle over a Gold Maple - but, hold your horses: Why don't you ask the dealer the question that can make your collection much more interesting and potentially much more valuable: "What unusual stuff have you also got?"
You see, gold bullion dealers are only interested in the gold bullion content of the goods they buy. And coins fall into that category. Over time, they receive a huge range of gold coins which they value purely for their metal content. Yes, if something with definite "collector value" like an old gold guinea, heads their way, they will be sure to get full value for it.
But most of the time, they are not concerned about mint marks or dates. The vast majority of the coins they receive are not remotely rare, and in the hands of a bullion dealer, may even be heading for the melting pot - but it always pays to ask.
Over the years this question has brought me coins from all round the world and sometimes coins which were definitely worth more than their bullion value - as proved when I sold them. One example that sticks clearly in my memory was an 1887 proof British gold sovereign. Now, the 1887 Jubilee head sovereign is a coin which normally sells for its bullion price plus a premium.
But only 700 of the proofs were minted - and I was suddenly sat in a bullion dealers with one in my hand! So, next time you are in a bullion dealers and just about to plonk your money down on a beautiful gold coin - just pause and ask the question: "What unusual stuff have you also got?" This way you can bring a new and hopefully profitable dimension to your gold coin collection. It doesn't cost anything to ask! Till next time, Happy gold coin collecting.
Paul
If you would like to learn more about gold and bullion coins safely, then visit my websites for free information:
http://www.buybullioncoins.com/blog/
http://www.value-of-gold-coins.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Paul_Bracchi
http://EzineArticles.com/?Buying-Your-Gold-Coins-in-Bullion-Dealers&id=4086887
So, you are sitting in the offices of your favorite gold bullion dealer, mulling whether to choose a nice Gold Eagle over a Gold Maple - but, hold your horses: Why don't you ask the dealer the question that can make your collection much more interesting and potentially much more valuable: "What unusual stuff have you also got?"
You see, gold bullion dealers are only interested in the gold bullion content of the goods they buy. And coins fall into that category. Over time, they receive a huge range of gold coins which they value purely for their metal content. Yes, if something with definite "collector value" like an old gold guinea, heads their way, they will be sure to get full value for it.
But most of the time, they are not concerned about mint marks or dates. The vast majority of the coins they receive are not remotely rare, and in the hands of a bullion dealer, may even be heading for the melting pot - but it always pays to ask.
Over the years this question has brought me coins from all round the world and sometimes coins which were definitely worth more than their bullion value - as proved when I sold them. One example that sticks clearly in my memory was an 1887 proof British gold sovereign. Now, the 1887 Jubilee head sovereign is a coin which normally sells for its bullion price plus a premium.
But only 700 of the proofs were minted - and I was suddenly sat in a bullion dealers with one in my hand! So, next time you are in a bullion dealers and just about to plonk your money down on a beautiful gold coin - just pause and ask the question: "What unusual stuff have you also got?" This way you can bring a new and hopefully profitable dimension to your gold coin collection. It doesn't cost anything to ask! Till next time, Happy gold coin collecting.
Paul
If you would like to learn more about gold and bullion coins safely, then visit my websites for free information:
http://www.buybullioncoins.com/blog/
http://www.value-of-gold-coins.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Paul_Bracchi
http://EzineArticles.com/?Buying-Your-Gold-Coins-in-Bullion-Dealers&id=4086887
Ingot Gold Or Coin Gold – Which is the Right Choice For You?
By Paul Bracchi
Coin Gold or Ingot Gold that is the question! Sorry to butcher the words of William Shakespeare, but this is the question that many bullion investors have to find an answer to! Bullion Gold is traditionally sold in two forms, either ingot gold or coin gold. But before you plonk down your hard won cash you need to be certain, which one is right for you. Let's look at the pros and cons of each:
Coin Gold
This is the easiest to purchase - either from a bullion or coin dealer. Normally coin gold, takes the form of Krugerrands, American Gold Eagles or Gold Britannia's. These are the traditional 1 oz bullion coins. They are all also available in fractions of an ounce if your pocket book won't stretch too far.
The beauty of these coins is that you really do know what you are getting. In the case of the American gold eagle the purity and weight is backed by the US Government. Yes, there are some fake coins out there. I would be very careful buying off the internet, especially from certain countries which will go nameless.
However, on balance, if you go to a coin or bullion dealer, and buy a recognized bullion coin, you can have a high degree of confidence that you will actually get what you anticipated. Besides the coins I've mentioned above, other notable forms of coin gold include:
The Australian gold Nugget
The Austrian Philharmonic
The British Gold Sovereign
I should mention that the gold sovereign was minted in such vast numbers over the past 190+ years that there is a very dynamic market for this coin and because of their smaller size they are easier to sell. If you buy this coin in quantity, you can get deals where the price differential over Krugerrands or Eagles, all but disappears.
Ingot Gold
Ingots are the gold bricks that you will have seen on TV. They come in a variety of sizes, from fractions of a troy ounce, all the way up to 400 ounce house bricks - the so called "London good delivery bars". If you decide to pursue this route you really should buy ingot gold from a recognized producer. Fakes do exist - as recent revelations concerning gold plated tungsten bars has shown. Currently the smallest cast bars are produced by Umicore in Brazil, these weigh in at just 10gms. Some Banks also issue gold bars. Most of the banks are Swiss or German, such as Commerzbank, Credit Suisse and UBS.
Instead of a cast bar, you may be interested in a minted bar: These have a superior surface finish and are relatively new. The first accredited manufacturer was Argor-Heraeus in the early 50's. In this quick overview it would be remiss of me to forget one of the great Ingot gold producers: PAMP. Their output is peerless. If you decide to buy ingot gold, look for a recognized assayer, make sure the bar comes with a certificate that matches the serial number on the block and buy from a recognized source.
Till next time,
Whether you buy coin gold or ingot gold,
Happy Gold Buying!
Paul
If you would like to learn more about gold & bullion coins safely, then visit my websites for free information:
http://www.buybullioncoins.com/blog
http://www.value-of-gold-coins.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Paul_Bracchi
http://EzineArticles.com/?Ingot-Gold-Or-Coin-Gold---Which-is-the-Right-Choice-For-You?&id=4086818
Coin Gold or Ingot Gold that is the question! Sorry to butcher the words of William Shakespeare, but this is the question that many bullion investors have to find an answer to! Bullion Gold is traditionally sold in two forms, either ingot gold or coin gold. But before you plonk down your hard won cash you need to be certain, which one is right for you. Let's look at the pros and cons of each:
Coin Gold
This is the easiest to purchase - either from a bullion or coin dealer. Normally coin gold, takes the form of Krugerrands, American Gold Eagles or Gold Britannia's. These are the traditional 1 oz bullion coins. They are all also available in fractions of an ounce if your pocket book won't stretch too far.
The beauty of these coins is that you really do know what you are getting. In the case of the American gold eagle the purity and weight is backed by the US Government. Yes, there are some fake coins out there. I would be very careful buying off the internet, especially from certain countries which will go nameless.
However, on balance, if you go to a coin or bullion dealer, and buy a recognized bullion coin, you can have a high degree of confidence that you will actually get what you anticipated. Besides the coins I've mentioned above, other notable forms of coin gold include:
The Australian gold Nugget
The Austrian Philharmonic
The British Gold Sovereign
I should mention that the gold sovereign was minted in such vast numbers over the past 190+ years that there is a very dynamic market for this coin and because of their smaller size they are easier to sell. If you buy this coin in quantity, you can get deals where the price differential over Krugerrands or Eagles, all but disappears.
Ingot Gold
Ingots are the gold bricks that you will have seen on TV. They come in a variety of sizes, from fractions of a troy ounce, all the way up to 400 ounce house bricks - the so called "London good delivery bars". If you decide to pursue this route you really should buy ingot gold from a recognized producer. Fakes do exist - as recent revelations concerning gold plated tungsten bars has shown. Currently the smallest cast bars are produced by Umicore in Brazil, these weigh in at just 10gms. Some Banks also issue gold bars. Most of the banks are Swiss or German, such as Commerzbank, Credit Suisse and UBS.
Instead of a cast bar, you may be interested in a minted bar: These have a superior surface finish and are relatively new. The first accredited manufacturer was Argor-Heraeus in the early 50's. In this quick overview it would be remiss of me to forget one of the great Ingot gold producers: PAMP. Their output is peerless. If you decide to buy ingot gold, look for a recognized assayer, make sure the bar comes with a certificate that matches the serial number on the block and buy from a recognized source.
Till next time,
Whether you buy coin gold or ingot gold,
Happy Gold Buying!
Paul
If you would like to learn more about gold & bullion coins safely, then visit my websites for free information:
http://www.buybullioncoins.com/blog
http://www.value-of-gold-coins.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Paul_Bracchi
http://EzineArticles.com/?Ingot-Gold-Or-Coin-Gold---Which-is-the-Right-Choice-For-You?&id=4086818
Selling Gold? Get the Best Deal You Possibly Can!
By Paul Bracchi
It seems like you can't turn on the TV or the internet these days without being bombarded by adverts to sell your gold for cash. So you want to know: how much cash is my gold really worth? Here are some top tips for selling gold:
- Selling a family heirloom? Then maybe you really want to think twice. A lot of people "sell and regret". Better to wait and not sell on an impulse.
- If you are selling an old ring make sure they give you value for the stones in the ring - not just for the gold. One of the commonest excuses is to claim that the "stones are only paste". That maybe the case - but it also may not! If in doubt visit a local jeweler and ask about the ring (don't give any indication that you wish to sell).
- Make sure they weigh the gold in front of you. This is an obvious point, but a lot of Pawnbrokers have a habit of taking the gold "out the back" of the store.
- Ask the store is the scale they are using is a "legal for trade". If not- bye, bye!
- Make sure you understand the weights and measurement system used. Personally, I find it easiest to use the metric system in these cases.
- Gold has a higher value, the higher the gold content - 24kt is worth more than 14kt.
- Shop around. Visit at least three places to find the highest bid.
- There has been a huge growth in the number of businesses set up in the past few years, to take advantage of the rise in gold prices. Some of these companies have a "fly -by-night" reputation. So, find out how long they have been in the trade. What experience do they have? Ideally they will already have a "good reputation" - if they don't then you should beware.
I hope this helps you get the best price for your gold!
Till next time,
Happy Gold Buying (and Selling!)
Paul
If you would like to learn more about gold and bullion coins, then visit my websites for free information:
http://www.buybullioncoins.com/blog/
http://www.value-of-gold-coins.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Paul_Bracchi
http://EzineArticles.com/?Selling-Gold?-Get-the-Best-Deal-You-Possibly-Can!&id=4094715
It seems like you can't turn on the TV or the internet these days without being bombarded by adverts to sell your gold for cash. So you want to know: how much cash is my gold really worth? Here are some top tips for selling gold:
- Selling a family heirloom? Then maybe you really want to think twice. A lot of people "sell and regret". Better to wait and not sell on an impulse.
- If you are selling an old ring make sure they give you value for the stones in the ring - not just for the gold. One of the commonest excuses is to claim that the "stones are only paste". That maybe the case - but it also may not! If in doubt visit a local jeweler and ask about the ring (don't give any indication that you wish to sell).
- Make sure they weigh the gold in front of you. This is an obvious point, but a lot of Pawnbrokers have a habit of taking the gold "out the back" of the store.
- Ask the store is the scale they are using is a "legal for trade". If not- bye, bye!
- Make sure you understand the weights and measurement system used. Personally, I find it easiest to use the metric system in these cases.
- Gold has a higher value, the higher the gold content - 24kt is worth more than 14kt.
- Shop around. Visit at least three places to find the highest bid.
- There has been a huge growth in the number of businesses set up in the past few years, to take advantage of the rise in gold prices. Some of these companies have a "fly -by-night" reputation. So, find out how long they have been in the trade. What experience do they have? Ideally they will already have a "good reputation" - if they don't then you should beware.
I hope this helps you get the best price for your gold!
Till next time,
Happy Gold Buying (and Selling!)
Paul
If you would like to learn more about gold and bullion coins, then visit my websites for free information:
http://www.buybullioncoins.com/blog/
http://www.value-of-gold-coins.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Paul_Bracchi
http://EzineArticles.com/?Selling-Gold?-Get-the-Best-Deal-You-Possibly-Can!&id=4094715
Selling Your Gold Online
By Lawrence Reaves
Gold is a very precious and valuable metal and is widely sought after. The price of gold is at an all time high. If you have old unused or broken gold jewelry that is just taking up space in your drawer or jewelry box you can turn it into cash.
There are many highly reputable online sites that will pay you for your jewelry and then turn around and recycle it. It is a simple process and a very easy way to make some quick easy cash.
A big percentage of the gold in the world today is in the form of gold bullion or is used for fine ornamental decorations and jewelry. Throughout our history, gold has been used as a medium of exchange usually in gold bars and coins. In jewelry the gold content is measured in carats. This means 24 carat gold is the purest and 10 carat being the lowest.
Most gold used for industrial purposes and most jewelry is made from 14 carat gold. You will find in some antique jewelry 18 carat gold which also contains copper. Gold can be in different colors depending on which other metals are mixed with it. You can find blue, green and white gold in many different forms of jewelry.
Gold is used for other purposes too. It is used in electronics because it is an excellent conductor of electricity and heat. It is widely used in computers to join the components together. Gold is also used in spacecraft and aircraft components. Another use it has is in photography, where it is used to give an old fashioned look to black and white photos.
Dentists have used gold for fillings in teeth as far back as the 7th century BC. The reason it works so well for fillings is because it is non toxic and is malleable. It has been used in crowns, incisors and permanent bridges. Gold is also used in the medical profession for arthritis treatments though it is a medicine of last resort today.
The favored metal for all types of honors including the Nobel Prize and Olympic Gold Medal is gold. It is also very popular in making collectible coins and gold coins in particular, are sought after collectible items and make a good investment.
You will even find gold in some of the high end CD's on the market today. Gold has so many uses because of its chemistry; it's even used in automobiles and in cancer treatments and research. As you can see, gold is very much an integral part of our daily lives and this also helps explain why it is in such high demand.
If you have any type of gold jewelry just collecting dust and taking up space you can put it to good use by selling it so it can be recycled. The more recycled gold that is put to use the less mining of this precious metal has to be done. Turning in your unused gold jewelry is a way to put extra cash in your pocket and help save the environment at the same time. You will be recycling something that is valuable and will help save our natural resources.
The best online resource to sell gold or sell jewelry can be found at Refinity.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lawrence_Reaves
http://EzineArticles.com/?Selling-Your-Gold-Online&id=3988309
Gold is a very precious and valuable metal and is widely sought after. The price of gold is at an all time high. If you have old unused or broken gold jewelry that is just taking up space in your drawer or jewelry box you can turn it into cash.
There are many highly reputable online sites that will pay you for your jewelry and then turn around and recycle it. It is a simple process and a very easy way to make some quick easy cash.
A big percentage of the gold in the world today is in the form of gold bullion or is used for fine ornamental decorations and jewelry. Throughout our history, gold has been used as a medium of exchange usually in gold bars and coins. In jewelry the gold content is measured in carats. This means 24 carat gold is the purest and 10 carat being the lowest.
Most gold used for industrial purposes and most jewelry is made from 14 carat gold. You will find in some antique jewelry 18 carat gold which also contains copper. Gold can be in different colors depending on which other metals are mixed with it. You can find blue, green and white gold in many different forms of jewelry.
Gold is used for other purposes too. It is used in electronics because it is an excellent conductor of electricity and heat. It is widely used in computers to join the components together. Gold is also used in spacecraft and aircraft components. Another use it has is in photography, where it is used to give an old fashioned look to black and white photos.
Dentists have used gold for fillings in teeth as far back as the 7th century BC. The reason it works so well for fillings is because it is non toxic and is malleable. It has been used in crowns, incisors and permanent bridges. Gold is also used in the medical profession for arthritis treatments though it is a medicine of last resort today.
The favored metal for all types of honors including the Nobel Prize and Olympic Gold Medal is gold. It is also very popular in making collectible coins and gold coins in particular, are sought after collectible items and make a good investment.
You will even find gold in some of the high end CD's on the market today. Gold has so many uses because of its chemistry; it's even used in automobiles and in cancer treatments and research. As you can see, gold is very much an integral part of our daily lives and this also helps explain why it is in such high demand.
If you have any type of gold jewelry just collecting dust and taking up space you can put it to good use by selling it so it can be recycled. The more recycled gold that is put to use the less mining of this precious metal has to be done. Turning in your unused gold jewelry is a way to put extra cash in your pocket and help save the environment at the same time. You will be recycling something that is valuable and will help save our natural resources.
The best online resource to sell gold or sell jewelry can be found at Refinity.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lawrence_Reaves
http://EzineArticles.com/?Selling-Your-Gold-Online&id=3988309
A Very Brief History of Silver
By S. Z. Negron
Many people don't realize that for thousands of years, silver was the world's money, not gold. Economist Milton Freidman said, "The major monetary metal in history is silver, not gold." Archeologists have found evidence of examples of it being used as money dating back over 5000 years!
The first mention of silver in the Bible dates back to the Old Testament at about 1800 BC. In fact, back in those days, it was the only metal accepted as money. Early colonial America preferred it to gold too. It was the general legal tender until 1873 when it was demonetized and gold became the metal of choice.
Since then, gold has been considered money whereas silver was thought as something used to make stuff. Many people ignore silver especially at the current price, when compared to gold. Since silver is considered more for industrial uses than money, it always seems to get short changed in the eyes of the public.
The great discovery of the Comstock Lode in 1859 was a direct cause of the change in perception of silver as a monetary alternative. All that silver coming out of Nevada caused a giant decline in value for all silver throughout the world. Then during the industrial revolution and the onset of photography, the demand for silver began to grow and it caused a conflict in silver's monetary value. That, in turn, caused volatility in the worldwide silver market.
While silver may not be seen as a currency alternative now, the history of silver as money is solid and will never really change. As problems with the U.S. Dollar worsen, some of the wealth from paper money will go into silver, strengthening its value.
Right now, the ration in price from gold to silver is almost 60 to 1. Experts believe that there will be a correction soon to bring that ration back down to half of that. For reasons such as these, I recommend you seriously consider investing in silver for the long haul now.
Did you know the value of the dollar is dropping daily? Visit my website to find out how you can protect your family from a potential financial collapse and keep the ones you love safe by purchasing 99.9% pure silver.
Visit this website right now - http://www.SilverSnowBalls.us.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=S._Z._Negron
http://EzineArticles.com/?A-Very-Brief-History-of-Silver&id=3927075
Many people don't realize that for thousands of years, silver was the world's money, not gold. Economist Milton Freidman said, "The major monetary metal in history is silver, not gold." Archeologists have found evidence of examples of it being used as money dating back over 5000 years!
The first mention of silver in the Bible dates back to the Old Testament at about 1800 BC. In fact, back in those days, it was the only metal accepted as money. Early colonial America preferred it to gold too. It was the general legal tender until 1873 when it was demonetized and gold became the metal of choice.
Since then, gold has been considered money whereas silver was thought as something used to make stuff. Many people ignore silver especially at the current price, when compared to gold. Since silver is considered more for industrial uses than money, it always seems to get short changed in the eyes of the public.
The great discovery of the Comstock Lode in 1859 was a direct cause of the change in perception of silver as a monetary alternative. All that silver coming out of Nevada caused a giant decline in value for all silver throughout the world. Then during the industrial revolution and the onset of photography, the demand for silver began to grow and it caused a conflict in silver's monetary value. That, in turn, caused volatility in the worldwide silver market.
While silver may not be seen as a currency alternative now, the history of silver as money is solid and will never really change. As problems with the U.S. Dollar worsen, some of the wealth from paper money will go into silver, strengthening its value.
Right now, the ration in price from gold to silver is almost 60 to 1. Experts believe that there will be a correction soon to bring that ration back down to half of that. For reasons such as these, I recommend you seriously consider investing in silver for the long haul now.
Did you know the value of the dollar is dropping daily? Visit my website to find out how you can protect your family from a potential financial collapse and keep the ones you love safe by purchasing 99.9% pure silver.
Visit this website right now - http://www.SilverSnowBalls.us.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=S._Z._Negron
http://EzineArticles.com/?A-Very-Brief-History-of-Silver&id=3927075
Is it Worth Investing in American Eagle Coins?
By S. Z. Negron
American Eagle Silver Dollars are legal tender coins made at the U.S. Mint at West Point, NY. The have been produced since 1986 and have the face value of one U.S. dollar. As this article is being written, they are worth much more than the face value since the price of an ounce of silver has been more than one dollar for over 40 years.
These 99% pure silver coins are backed by the U.S. Government in regards to their weight and silver purity. American Eagle Silver Dollars are the most popular silver coins in the world right now. Also, due to its current value, they are easily cashed at any time.
There are many coin dealers that consider the silver dollar one of the most beautiful coins ever made. The beautiful Walking Liberty design was created by Adolph A Weinman, who was highly praised and recognized worldwide and was first used on the U.S. Silver Half Dollars from 1916 until 1947. The design on the back of the coin was The image of a powerful eagle by John Mercanti, which includes a shield, and 13 stars above the eagles head. The 13 stars represent the 13 original American colonies.
The American Eagle Silver Dollar is the largest silver dollars ever made by the U.S. Mint. By law, when the coins are cut, they must contain 1 troy ounce of 99.9% pure silver and is 40.6mm or 1.598 inches in diameter. These coins are quite large and make a great impression to boot! Every Silver Eagle is struck with extreme care and precision and must meet high standards at the U.S. Mint. These great coins are an affordable way to own pure silver and create and build wealth for you and your family starting today.
Many times these coins are used as investments, gifts, collected. or even as protection in a case of a national disaster or bank failure. If there is a run on the banks, you better make sure you have some precious metals stashed at home for food and shelter, my friend!
Silver coins have always been known to be accepted in times of emergency and disasters. This is the best time to start creating or expanding your silver collection. The price is right now, I say!
Did you know the value of the dollar is dropping daily? Visit my website to find out how you can protect your family from a potential financial collapse and keep the ones you love safe by purchasing 99.9% pure silver.
Visit this website right now - http://www.SilverSnowBalls.us
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=S._Z._Negron
http://EzineArticles.com/?Is-it-Worth-Investing-in-American-Eagle-Coins?&id=3926243
American Eagle Silver Dollars are legal tender coins made at the U.S. Mint at West Point, NY. The have been produced since 1986 and have the face value of one U.S. dollar. As this article is being written, they are worth much more than the face value since the price of an ounce of silver has been more than one dollar for over 40 years.
These 99% pure silver coins are backed by the U.S. Government in regards to their weight and silver purity. American Eagle Silver Dollars are the most popular silver coins in the world right now. Also, due to its current value, they are easily cashed at any time.
There are many coin dealers that consider the silver dollar one of the most beautiful coins ever made. The beautiful Walking Liberty design was created by Adolph A Weinman, who was highly praised and recognized worldwide and was first used on the U.S. Silver Half Dollars from 1916 until 1947. The design on the back of the coin was The image of a powerful eagle by John Mercanti, which includes a shield, and 13 stars above the eagles head. The 13 stars represent the 13 original American colonies.
The American Eagle Silver Dollar is the largest silver dollars ever made by the U.S. Mint. By law, when the coins are cut, they must contain 1 troy ounce of 99.9% pure silver and is 40.6mm or 1.598 inches in diameter. These coins are quite large and make a great impression to boot! Every Silver Eagle is struck with extreme care and precision and must meet high standards at the U.S. Mint. These great coins are an affordable way to own pure silver and create and build wealth for you and your family starting today.
Many times these coins are used as investments, gifts, collected. or even as protection in a case of a national disaster or bank failure. If there is a run on the banks, you better make sure you have some precious metals stashed at home for food and shelter, my friend!
Silver coins have always been known to be accepted in times of emergency and disasters. This is the best time to start creating or expanding your silver collection. The price is right now, I say!
Did you know the value of the dollar is dropping daily? Visit my website to find out how you can protect your family from a potential financial collapse and keep the ones you love safe by purchasing 99.9% pure silver.
Visit this website right now - http://www.SilverSnowBalls.us
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=S._Z._Negron
http://EzineArticles.com/?Is-it-Worth-Investing-in-American-Eagle-Coins?&id=3926243
Research Parks and Universities – The Economic Drivers of Tomorrow
By Gene Pinder
If the United States hopes to pull itself out of its economic quagmire, both in the short- and long-term, the success of that effort may hinge on the successful partnership of research parks and universities. And with good reason. Research parks have proven to be valuable job creators and economic development machines in the past decade.
While their success has largely been dependent on the drive and perseverance of highly motivated entrepreneurs and venture capitalists, cities and universities alike have aligned to develop environments which foster such innovation and creativity. But there's still a lot of work to be done as numerous roadblock stand in the way of accelerating these efforts.
Perhaps the biggest roadblock is simply a lack of capital. For all of the talk of implementing innovation "zones" that trigger an avalanche of great business ideas, the fact remains that money available to support and nurture entrepreneurial pursuits is woefully inadequate, particularly in a weak economy. Outside of a few locations such as Silicon Valley, Boston and perhaps Austin, can any city or county (or state for that matter) say they are adequately supporting the growth of new ventures?
Take the Triangle area of North Carolina, for example. Considered by many to be a hub of entrepreneurial activity in the state, especially in biotechnology, the amount of dollars readily available to entrepreneurs is minuscule. Not only are there few subsidized rent opportunities, but actual cash awards from grants or endowments don't measure up to the need.
Some say that nurturing startups is a role best suited to angel investors and venture capitalists and that's true - in a booming economy when money just seems to flow out of the trees. But in bad times, the VC community retreats and nurtures its current crop of holdings or it chooses its opportunities even more carefully. And angel investors - they're even worse off, having been singed by the drop in their portfolios. The end result - few deals get made and those that are done - call them "near sure things" that have a decent chance of success compared to the risk. To say that investors are risk averse in a down economy is an understatement. Everybody hunkers down.
Of course, many people would argue that regardless of the economy entrepreneurs will always find a way to start and build companies. That's true. Bootstrapping can often be the best course for a startup, even if it starts out as an absolute necessity and then becomes a force of habit. But that won't cut if the U.S. as a whole hopes to compete with China's booming economic activity or it hopes create meaningful, sustainable jobs. The fact of the matter is - economic policy at all levels of government - is not providing the necessary "juice" for entrepreneurs to try to get projects off the ground at an accelerated pace.
What's needed? Buckets of money, such as grants that award $25,000 to hundreds, if not thousands, of people in each community each year to get ideas off the ground. We know most will fail. What we don't know is which ones will be wildly successful or which entrepreneurs will learn from their failure and come up with even better ideas.
Some critics would argue that the role of government shouldn't compete with angel investors. True enough. But what if by earmarking dollars for the very beginning of the company-generating process and taking the biggest risks, angel investors could reap the rewards of that strategy by then investing in those companies that emerge from the trial-by-fire with legitimate products and viable markets? In other words, let government money reduce some of the risk by investing in the riskiest of ventures - the unproven business plan. That's win-win and a good use of government resources.
How can universities and research parks help? By creating a nurturing, positive environment. People like being in and around universities. In addition to the numerous opportunities to learn new skills, hear bold ideas and take advantage of rich cultural resources, universities foster a cross pollination of people with different backgrounds. This open avenue keeps ideas flowing and innovation on the minds of the young and old alike. And by putting a research park inside the boundaries of a university, even greater cross pollination occurs between researchers, students and budding entrepreneurs.
Centennial Campus, the research park and campus of NC State, is good example. Land that was initially sought to expand the main campus turned into a vision and bold experiment for government leaders in the mid-1980s. The idea - to create a physical location for collaboration to occur, which would result in accelerated innovation. And it has occurred, as companies start and leave on campus as they grow or stay put and take advantage of the research at their doorstep.
But it's not enough, even at Centennial Campus, where incubator space only scratches the surface at providing needed space for the many would-be entrepreneurs in the Triangle area. Dollars and space. If the U.S. is serious about investing in its future, then the place to start is in the current and planned university owned or operated research parks. Provide dollars for startups. Make subsidized rent available. Give them every chance to succeed.
All large companies first started small. They first had five or six or seven employees and then grew. Universities and their research parks have an enormous role to play in that economic sandbox. We should be accelerating their contribution with much-needed capital to startups and entrepreneurs.
Gene Pinder is the Director of Marketing for Centennial Campus, a research park and campus owned and operated by NC State University. He has also been a marketing executive for two startups and has run his own marketing consulting and research firm.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Gene_Pinder
http://EzineArticles.com/?Research-Parks-and-Universities---The-Economic-Drivers-of-Tomorrow&id=3982684
If the United States hopes to pull itself out of its economic quagmire, both in the short- and long-term, the success of that effort may hinge on the successful partnership of research parks and universities. And with good reason. Research parks have proven to be valuable job creators and economic development machines in the past decade.
While their success has largely been dependent on the drive and perseverance of highly motivated entrepreneurs and venture capitalists, cities and universities alike have aligned to develop environments which foster such innovation and creativity. But there's still a lot of work to be done as numerous roadblock stand in the way of accelerating these efforts.
Perhaps the biggest roadblock is simply a lack of capital. For all of the talk of implementing innovation "zones" that trigger an avalanche of great business ideas, the fact remains that money available to support and nurture entrepreneurial pursuits is woefully inadequate, particularly in a weak economy. Outside of a few locations such as Silicon Valley, Boston and perhaps Austin, can any city or county (or state for that matter) say they are adequately supporting the growth of new ventures?
Take the Triangle area of North Carolina, for example. Considered by many to be a hub of entrepreneurial activity in the state, especially in biotechnology, the amount of dollars readily available to entrepreneurs is minuscule. Not only are there few subsidized rent opportunities, but actual cash awards from grants or endowments don't measure up to the need.
Some say that nurturing startups is a role best suited to angel investors and venture capitalists and that's true - in a booming economy when money just seems to flow out of the trees. But in bad times, the VC community retreats and nurtures its current crop of holdings or it chooses its opportunities even more carefully. And angel investors - they're even worse off, having been singed by the drop in their portfolios. The end result - few deals get made and those that are done - call them "near sure things" that have a decent chance of success compared to the risk. To say that investors are risk averse in a down economy is an understatement. Everybody hunkers down.
Of course, many people would argue that regardless of the economy entrepreneurs will always find a way to start and build companies. That's true. Bootstrapping can often be the best course for a startup, even if it starts out as an absolute necessity and then becomes a force of habit. But that won't cut if the U.S. as a whole hopes to compete with China's booming economic activity or it hopes create meaningful, sustainable jobs. The fact of the matter is - economic policy at all levels of government - is not providing the necessary "juice" for entrepreneurs to try to get projects off the ground at an accelerated pace.
What's needed? Buckets of money, such as grants that award $25,000 to hundreds, if not thousands, of people in each community each year to get ideas off the ground. We know most will fail. What we don't know is which ones will be wildly successful or which entrepreneurs will learn from their failure and come up with even better ideas.
Some critics would argue that the role of government shouldn't compete with angel investors. True enough. But what if by earmarking dollars for the very beginning of the company-generating process and taking the biggest risks, angel investors could reap the rewards of that strategy by then investing in those companies that emerge from the trial-by-fire with legitimate products and viable markets? In other words, let government money reduce some of the risk by investing in the riskiest of ventures - the unproven business plan. That's win-win and a good use of government resources.
How can universities and research parks help? By creating a nurturing, positive environment. People like being in and around universities. In addition to the numerous opportunities to learn new skills, hear bold ideas and take advantage of rich cultural resources, universities foster a cross pollination of people with different backgrounds. This open avenue keeps ideas flowing and innovation on the minds of the young and old alike. And by putting a research park inside the boundaries of a university, even greater cross pollination occurs between researchers, students and budding entrepreneurs.
Centennial Campus, the research park and campus of NC State, is good example. Land that was initially sought to expand the main campus turned into a vision and bold experiment for government leaders in the mid-1980s. The idea - to create a physical location for collaboration to occur, which would result in accelerated innovation. And it has occurred, as companies start and leave on campus as they grow or stay put and take advantage of the research at their doorstep.
But it's not enough, even at Centennial Campus, where incubator space only scratches the surface at providing needed space for the many would-be entrepreneurs in the Triangle area. Dollars and space. If the U.S. is serious about investing in its future, then the place to start is in the current and planned university owned or operated research parks. Provide dollars for startups. Make subsidized rent available. Give them every chance to succeed.
All large companies first started small. They first had five or six or seven employees and then grew. Universities and their research parks have an enormous role to play in that economic sandbox. We should be accelerating their contribution with much-needed capital to startups and entrepreneurs.
Gene Pinder is the Director of Marketing for Centennial Campus, a research park and campus owned and operated by NC State University. He has also been a marketing executive for two startups and has run his own marketing consulting and research firm.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Gene_Pinder
http://EzineArticles.com/?Research-Parks-and-Universities---The-Economic-Drivers-of-Tomorrow&id=3982684
Sources of Wealth, Entrepreneurship, Rental Property, and Employment Income
By Ato Mensah
Before you begin to assess which type of wealth generation you want to begin with, or pursue, we highly recommend you read our previous article titled "What is Wealth?" which takes a look at what "wealth" actually means. It will help put things into perspective and force you to analyze what it is you really want to achieve in life.
Through various forms of research, and experience, we've come to the conclusion that there are 4 basic sources of wealth. The smaller the base you start with, the harder you have to work to generate wealth.
1. Employment Income (Earning your wage)
Now if you are an investment banker living in an affordable neighborhood earning $100,000 + bonus, employment income may be enough to help you generate wealth. For all others, take a serious look at your Gross Earnings instead of your Net Earnings. We are often deceived, because gross pay is over-emphasized in our society. For example, someone may ask you "how much do you make?" and you say $50,000. In reality, after taxes and deductions we are looking at $38,500 of Net Earnings.
This is the trap most of us in the middle class find ourselves in. This is hardly enough money to give us the quality of life we dream of before the age of 65. For this source to be effective in building wealth, you would probably have receive a 10% raise annually, while maintaining your expenses. If you desire to maximize employment income, you must have more disciplined spending than ever before. The Government will take more and more taxes from you to fund massive deficits. Cut your expenses to achieve savings goals. Find a hobby you are good at and turn it into a part-time business. Start reading and listening to business news and learn to invest your savings.
2. Entrepreneurship (Start a business)
I put this as number two but if you truly desire wealth, this is the number one source of wealth. The earlier the better... The main reason to become self employed part-time or full-time is the learning experience. Yes, "consistent income" is nice (ie. a JOB job), but once you learn the formula for writing business plans and continuously seeking opportunities, you will be full of great ideas that you can eventually turn into a sustained source of income. You will mostly likely go through some hard times, maybe even 1-5 years of development, but once you start you will always have a fire burning and will not stop until you acquire what you truly desire. If you keep trying you will eventually get one big business break and will be on your way to wealth creation.
3. Investing (In stocks, bonds, futures, options etc.)
Many invest, but few make money. Meaning, few consistently earn between 10% to 30% annual returns. Many have RRSPs or 401Ks, but these compose of a highly diversified group of of stocks. Everyone should have some sort of investment, but if you are ambitious and not already rich, things like mutual funds should only represent 20% or less of your investments. If you are not sure where to start you can:
4. Real Estate Investment
When we say real estate we mean rental properties not investing in the home you live in. Remember, in order to become financially wealthy you need to have continuous income. Rental properties typically generate 3 primary sources of revenue;
One word of advice on a side note, if you decide to pursue this direction make sure you aim to have more than one property in the long-run. The more properties you own, the less stressful it becomes if god forbid, you have property damage from tenants which could result in you having to pay for repairs or cover the mortgage for a month or two. The money you make from the other properties will help to reduce the amount of money that will ultimately come out of your own pocket.
- http://www.MastermindGrowth.com
People make investing sound hard but it's not... Do It Yourself! Study realistic and unorthodox strategies to create your own success model. For the latest in Major World Financial News, Investing, Generating Wealth from a Global perspective visit:
http://www.mastermindgrowth.com
Feel free to post your comments and opinions on any of our topics
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ato_Mensah
http://EzineArticles.com/?Sources-of-Wealth,-Entrepreneurship,-Rental-Property,-and-Employment-Income&id=4015787
Before you begin to assess which type of wealth generation you want to begin with, or pursue, we highly recommend you read our previous article titled "What is Wealth?" which takes a look at what "wealth" actually means. It will help put things into perspective and force you to analyze what it is you really want to achieve in life.
Through various forms of research, and experience, we've come to the conclusion that there are 4 basic sources of wealth. The smaller the base you start with, the harder you have to work to generate wealth.
1. Employment Income (Earning your wage)
Now if you are an investment banker living in an affordable neighborhood earning $100,000 + bonus, employment income may be enough to help you generate wealth. For all others, take a serious look at your Gross Earnings instead of your Net Earnings. We are often deceived, because gross pay is over-emphasized in our society. For example, someone may ask you "how much do you make?" and you say $50,000. In reality, after taxes and deductions we are looking at $38,500 of Net Earnings.
This is the trap most of us in the middle class find ourselves in. This is hardly enough money to give us the quality of life we dream of before the age of 65. For this source to be effective in building wealth, you would probably have receive a 10% raise annually, while maintaining your expenses. If you desire to maximize employment income, you must have more disciplined spending than ever before. The Government will take more and more taxes from you to fund massive deficits. Cut your expenses to achieve savings goals. Find a hobby you are good at and turn it into a part-time business. Start reading and listening to business news and learn to invest your savings.
2. Entrepreneurship (Start a business)
I put this as number two but if you truly desire wealth, this is the number one source of wealth. The earlier the better... The main reason to become self employed part-time or full-time is the learning experience. Yes, "consistent income" is nice (ie. a JOB job), but once you learn the formula for writing business plans and continuously seeking opportunities, you will be full of great ideas that you can eventually turn into a sustained source of income. You will mostly likely go through some hard times, maybe even 1-5 years of development, but once you start you will always have a fire burning and will not stop until you acquire what you truly desire. If you keep trying you will eventually get one big business break and will be on your way to wealth creation.
3. Investing (In stocks, bonds, futures, options etc.)
Many invest, but few make money. Meaning, few consistently earn between 10% to 30% annual returns. Many have RRSPs or 401Ks, but these compose of a highly diversified group of of stocks. Everyone should have some sort of investment, but if you are ambitious and not already rich, things like mutual funds should only represent 20% or less of your investments. If you are not sure where to start you can:
- Go to Investopedia.com, start searching Google, reading business magazines to find out how stocks work.
- Pick some industries or companies you are interested in... We started with, Solar Energy, Insurance and Gold-related companies.
- Sign up with a discount broker individually or with a few partners.
- Put in $5,000 or more if you have it and start learning from experience.
4. Real Estate Investment
When we say real estate we mean rental properties not investing in the home you live in. Remember, in order to become financially wealthy you need to have continuous income. Rental properties typically generate 3 primary sources of revenue;
- Through appreciation - if you hold onto your property long enough, the value of the house will appreciate, allowing you to sell it at a substantially higher price than what you bought it for. Even in bad times such as these, if you can manage to hold onto your rental property for the next 10-15 years, the market will eventually recover. Keep in mind that rental properties are long-term investments.
- Rental Income - this is where the "continuous income" we spoke about comes into play. If you can gradually build your collection of rental properties, it can generate great sources of monthly revenue to support your future endeavors.
- Mortgage Payments - the beauty of a rental property is that you rarely have to pay your own mortgage. You sit back and maintain the property while your tenants pay it off for you. 10-15 years down the road and voila!... you'll have a large chunk of your mortgage paid off.
One word of advice on a side note, if you decide to pursue this direction make sure you aim to have more than one property in the long-run. The more properties you own, the less stressful it becomes if god forbid, you have property damage from tenants which could result in you having to pay for repairs or cover the mortgage for a month or two. The money you make from the other properties will help to reduce the amount of money that will ultimately come out of your own pocket.
- http://www.MastermindGrowth.com
People make investing sound hard but it's not... Do It Yourself! Study realistic and unorthodox strategies to create your own success model. For the latest in Major World Financial News, Investing, Generating Wealth from a Global perspective visit:
http://www.mastermindgrowth.com
Feel free to post your comments and opinions on any of our topics
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ato_Mensah
http://EzineArticles.com/?Sources-of-Wealth,-Entrepreneurship,-Rental-Property,-and-Employment-Income&id=4015787
