American Money

With cheap flights and travel insurance available even cheaper than ever before, there is no reason why you can’t go and visit Latin America to consider your retirement plans. With the soaring costs of living in many countries, and a limited retirement budget, somewhere in South America might be your solution.

There is a growing trend for many people from Europe and the USA to retire in South America. Once considered a dangerous region, improved nation to nation relationships, and a growing political stability has meant South America is a real option for retirement. Travel from Europe and the USA is extremely affordable, and good cheap travel insurance is always available for independent travelers. Here is a look at the reasons why it is such a good region to retire to.  Read more... (536 words, estimated 2:09 mins reading time)

• Cost of Living. The cost of living in many of the Latin countries is very affordable. It can be many more times cheaper than your normal cost of living, particularly when compared with Europe. Learn to buy your expensive ticket items in your home country and bring them in as personal belongings. Items such as laptops and other important goods can get a little pricey.

To say that the current global investment market has given investors pause for thought would be a major understatement. They want out of the nuthouse, and they want some security for their money, for once. The 2008 crash did one useful thing, if nothing else- It redefined the relationship between investors and the investment market more than anything since 1929. The US market went from the biggest market of all time to a testimony to the powers of debt collection, and took its professional credibility with it.

Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) started in the 90s, largely as an alternative to mutual funds. They were like the small mammals among the dinosaurs, and were “boutique” investments with high unit prices for investing in baskets of stocks which were usually based on specific indices. Unlike mutuals, they could also be traded in real time on the markets, so they gained some popularity as low risk, high value investments.

ETFs are managed funds, (small percentile fees) and they’re generally managed by major leaguers like Vanguard, Deutsche Bank and other heavyweights. That level of management helped separate the wheat from the chaff when the mortgage securities disaster happened. There were several ETFs specializing in mortgage securities, and they, like anything and everything connected with those securities, were hammered by the markets.  Read more... (558 words, estimated 2:14 mins reading time)

Getting a job is the usual way people make money but it is not the only way. Anyone who brainstorms and takes some initiative can come up with creative money making ideas that will put some extra cash in their pockets. In fact, that is how many businesses get started. Often, someone will have a hobby or idea that starts out small and with some work turns into a business. Read the rest of this entry »