Article by Darwin Graves

Worried about your stocks? Blame it on Wall Street.

Investors today face a barrage of conflicting information and exaggerated return claims from what most people consider the “market” -; the S&P 500 or the Dow Jones Industrial Average. But these indexes only comprise about 12 percent of all U.S. stocks. The reality is that these stocks can’t be predicted with any consistency, especially long-term.

In the complicated world of financial services, you’re being misled.

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Article by John Kim

In the first four parts of this series of investing in small cap stocks, you learned buying and selling strategies. Now once you carefully research and identify an industry or sector that you are convinced will grow exponentially over the next one to five years, how do you identify the best companies? In this bonus tips article, I’ll discuss how subscribing to the “a rising tide lifts all boats” theory can severely hinder your stock performance.

As of the writing of this article, spring 2006, many sectors look very promising. Precious metals, technology, nanotechnology, renewable/ alternative energy, and so on. But thinking that you can just buy any companies in high-growth sectors without doing considerable research can be disastrous. So here are three tips to help you out in this process.

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We must try to go green at our homes. This is because at our homes we get complete liberty to do whatever we want to. Sitting in our homes, we can destroy or develop the environment. Here are some tips which can prove to be helpful in going green at home:-

1. One can install a thermostat which can be programmed and thus can help in saving a lot of energy every year.
2. Heating our homes at 68 degrees and cool them at 72 degrees later on. But at night time reduce both of them. This step would help in saving almost 6% energy for every 2 degree reduction.
3. When upgrading appliances and electronics, one must look at the certification of energy star. More stars the appliance and electronic item has more energy would it help to save.
4. It is even known that CRT’s are less efficient in saving energy as compared to flat screen monitors or laptops.
5. Cracks in one’s house should be properly sealed with the help of caulk and expanding foam. Such cracks can be seen at pipers and wires which come through doors, windows, etc.
6. Weather-strip should be used for doors and windows.
7. Water heater should be wrapped up with an insulation blanket.
8. Moreover, water heaters should even be upgraded. Either a tank less model should be chosen or a solar water heater. If one is not in the favour of choosing any of the above option, it is simple. One should look at the energy star option which can at least be helpful in saving some more energy.
9. Hot water pipes should even be wrapped up with pre-fitted insulating tubes which should even be pre-foamed.
10. Refrigerator coils should be vacuumed which can help in improving efficiency.
11. One’s freezer should be kept full for best optimum power usage.
12. Microwave tends to use a lot of energy, so its usage should be keep to a really minimum level. It is suggested that stoves and ovens should be brought into use more often.
13. A small 5 minutes shower can even clean one’s body completely. Therefore save water and bath smartly.
14. While washing dishes or shaving or even while brushing, the free flow of taps should be prevented.
15. Dishwashers should be brought into use and the cleaning of dishes by hand should be kept to the basics only. This step actually saves a lot of water.
16. On one’s faucets, aerators should be installed which even can save water.
17. Traditional toilets should be replaced by new models which are low-flow ones.
18. In our homes, energy audit should be performed.
19. When given an option one should opt for reusable bags instead of using paper or plastic.
20. One must recycling their computer equipments and electronics.
21. Clothes requiring dry cleaning should be used only when it is very necessary.
22. Green cleaning methods should be used. Many cleaning green alternatives should be used which help in cleaning almost every household item.

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Millions of people dream about owning their own business. Having the independence that being your own boss brings, the security that no one can fire you, enjoying a good income – and for the most successful – the accumulation of wealth and prosperity. Unfortunately, the cards are stacked against a new small business making it big – or making it at all. An endless stream of problems makes competition from large, sophisticated chains too intense. Many new start-ups end as failures.

Buying a franchise represents a different approach to starting a business.  For an upfront franchise fee plus ongoing royalty payments, the parent company teaches its business model and methods to the franchised-operator who shoulders all operating and financial responsibilities of the outlet. Some statistics are impressive: it is said over 40% of all U.S. retail sales are through franchised establishments. While franchise giants like McDonalds, KFC, H&R Block and Radio Shack are familiar, household names, franchises are available in a wide range of industries. The list of 3,000-plus companies selling franchises span over 100 different industry categories.

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Investing in alternative energies, or “green energy” may seem like the only bright spot on the investment horizon. As stories circulate about peak oil and the prospect of running out of fossil fuel, alternative energy investing seems to make good sense. But here are a few things you need to consider before converting your entire portfolio into alternative fuels.

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Hoboken, NJ (June 2008)—Sure, you’d like to “go green” in your investments. If you could find some financially sound options, why not? As environmental issues have heated up and gained more and more press, you’ve embraced the concept of saving the planet. You’ve changed your light bulbs, strived to live the “reduce, reuse, and recycle” mantra, and even traded in your gas-guzzling SUV for a hybrid. (Well, at least you’ve considered it!) Problem is, you need to feel secure about your retirement years—and the concept of green investing just seems a little too, well, trendy for comfort.      

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This time of year, now through the first quarter of next year, you will see articles offering year-end tax planning tips. Tax planning tips can increase income in future years, so be careful. Many tax tips often involve accelerating deductions, deferring income, or last-minute charitable deductions (the first three following tips).

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