Setting Financial Goals
Posted on October 31, 2007 - Filed Under Investing, Money | Leave a Comment
In a previous post we identified seven steps that you can do in order to improve your financial future. The first of theser steps is writing down your financial goals. Write down what you want to accomplish in the next 12 months, how you will do it and when you want to accomplish these goals. If you actually write them down you will be much more likely to stick to them. Then review them every quarter to see if you are on track.
Here are 4 ways to set good financial goals.
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Best Money Posts
Posted on October 28, 2007 - Filed Under Credit, Debt, Investing, Money | Leave a Comment
There is a lot of financial information on the Internet, and I try and read as much of it as I can. Some of the best financial posts that I read last week were:
- Another Reason to Value Your Credit Score – If you have a low credit score and move your new utility accounts might require a large deposit.
The Worst Mortgage in the World and a Look at Creative Loans - The mortgage industry keeps coming up with new and creative financing options that usually end up making them money and screwing you the lender.
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7 Steps To Improving Your Financial Situation
Posted on October 26, 2007 - Filed Under Investing, Money | Leave a Comment
We have identified seven steps that you can do in order to improve your financial future. These steps can be done at any time of the year and we will write more about each step over the coming week.
1. Set Goals:
Write down what you want to accomplish in the next 12 months, how you will do it and when you want to accomplish these goals. If you actually write them down you will be much more likely to stick to them. Then review them every quarter to see if you are on track.
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Five Investment Principles To Follow
Posted on October 23, 2007 - Filed Under Investing, Money | Leave a Comment
There are many different ideas and strategies when it comes to investing. Here are five investment principles you can follow, as we do at The Wilson Report, to build a sound financial future for yourself.
1. Develop A Long-Term Plan:
It’s nearly impossible to reach your investment goals without a plan. You have to know where you are going, in order to get there. Here are some tips on plotting a course for your investments:
- Define Your Investment Objectives:
- Do you want growth, income or a combination of both? Do you need tax-free income?
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Two Examples of Good Debt
Posted on October 23, 2007 - Filed Under Money | Leave a Comment
I keep reading that all debt is bad. Suddenly debt , like trans-fats, have become uncool. But is all debt bad? I don’t believe so, and a recent Money article seems to agree with me. So what is a good debt? Here are two examples of good debt.
Buying a House
Buying a house with all cash is beyond the vast majority of Americans. So if you want to buy a house, you need to borrow in order to do so.
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Are Loan Default Problems Getting Worse?
Posted on October 21, 2007 - Filed Under Investing, Money | Leave a Comment
Financial Times this weekend asked whether the U.S. loan problem was getting worse. It is a good question as it appears that the sub-prime mortgage problems are spilling over to other sectors of the economy.
“What started out merely as a subprime problem has expanded more broadly in the mortgage space and problems are getting worse at a faster pace than many had expected,” said Michael Mayo, Deutsche Bank analyst.
On top of this, there is an uptick in auto loan problems, which may or may not be seasonal, and there is more body language from the banks that the state of the consumer was somewhat less strong [than thought].”
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Getting Your Credit Score To 850
Posted on October 19, 2007 - Filed Under Credit | Leave a Comment
Looking for an early New Years Resolution? How about a perfect credit score of 850?
Under the FICO scoring formula, credit scores range from 300 to 850. Excellent credit is anything over 750 and most consumers (58 percent) have FICO scores of 700 or higher.
According to Craig Watts, public affairs manager for the Fair Isaac Corporation there are three main ways to improve your credit score. They are:
- Never miss a bill payment date
- Take out new credit only when you really need it
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10 Signs Of Serious Debt Trouble
Posted on October 16, 2007 - Filed Under Credit, Debt, Money | Leave a Comment
Bankrate and Yahoo both had articles recently around signs that you are in serious debt trouble. I tweaked their lists to come up with the top ten signs that you are in serious debt trouble.
- Your credit card balances are rising while your income is decreasing.
- You’re unable to make the minimum payments on your credit cards
- You use cash advances from one card to pay another
- You are at or perilously near the limit on each of your credit cards.
- You are frequently charged fees for late payments or for going over your credit limit
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Ten Financial Questions to Ask Before Saying ‘I Do’
Posted on October 3, 2007 - Filed Under Money | Leave a Comment
Interesting article in Kiplinger about how important it is for so to be newlyweds to be in agreement with their financial goals and expectations.
“Financial dates are a great way for couples to set priorities, build trust and increase marital bliss,” says Jennifer Openshaw, chief executive of FamilyFN, a Los Angeles company that provides financial advice. “Probably the biggest mistake couples make is not talking about money. It’s really about setting aside time so you can both plan for your hopes and dreams.”
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