By Walter Updegrave, Money Magazine senior editor
Walter Updegrave is a senior editor with Money Magazine and is the author of "How to Retire Rich in a Totally Changed World: Why You're Not in Kansas Anymore" (Three Rivers Press 2005).
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NEW YORK (Money) -- Question: I'm planning to invest some money in the stock market, but I'm wondering whether I should buy mutual funds or individual stocks. Which do you think is better? And in the event I decide to go with stocks, which ones to you think are really good buys now? --Monique Thompson
Answer: The stocks vs. funds issue has always been a biggie for individual investors. But the question of whether you should go it alone or turn over your money to a mutual fund manager who'll invest it for you is even more critical today, if only because this uncertain economy and volatile market make the rewards for success and the cost of failure that much higher.
Clearly, the answer will vary from person to person, depending on such factors as how much money you have to invest, how well versed you are in the ways of the financial markets and how much time and effort you want to put into your finances.
It's also clear that each approach has advantages and drawbacks. With mutual funds, you get convenience, a diversified portfolio and the security of knowing that you have an experienced stock picker working full time on your behalf.
On the other hand, you have less control over your investments - not just which ones you choose, but when you recognize gains. That can be an issue when it comes to taxes. If the fund manager sells enough shares at a profit so that the fund has realized capital gains in a given year, you'll have to pay tax on a share of those gains even if you haven't sold shares of the fund (assuming you hold the fund in a taxable account).
If you decide to buy stocks on your own, you definitely have more control over what you own and when you sell. But you've also got to be willing to devote more time and attention to your investments.
So as I see it, the decision to go with stocks or funds comes down to a realistic assessment of how much you want to make your own investing decisions and your ability to handle that responsibility. Here are three questions you might ask yourself to help you with that assessment.
Am I willing (and able) to analyze companies' prospects? You don't have to be a rocket scientist to identify promising stocks. But you should be able to evaluate a company's finances. What sort of earnings growth is it likely to achieve? What's the value of its assets? Is it vulnerable because of a heavy debt load or a weakness in its product lineup?
But even that's not enough. You've also got to be able to assess whether it's selling at an attractive price. If a company has solid earnings and an impeccable balance sheet but is so popular that it's trading at a bloated share price, buying it may be an invitation to subpar returns.
There are many ways you can develop stock-picking skills. CNNMoney's Money 101section has easy-to-read lessons on everything from assessing stocks to putting together a portfolio. The American Association of Individual Investors also offers lots of information about stock investing [www.aaii.com/basics/] that's geared toward beginners, as does the Learn [www.weseed.com/learn/learn.html] section of relatively new site called WeSeed.
But until you at least familiarize yourself with the basics of stock investing, stick with funds (or at least keep all but a tiny portion of your money in funds).
Am I ready to devote the time and effort to monitor my holdings? As we know from recent experience, the investing world can change dramatically. I certainly don't want to suggest you need to be buying or selling stocks every time the market or the economy reverses course or the fortunes change for a company whose stock you own. But there may be times when you should react.
If a company's potential has dimmed, you may want to sell some or all of your shares and plow the proceeds into a firm that has a rosier future. Conversely, if one of your stocks has racked up such huge gains that it now represents an outsize percentage of your portfolio, you may consider selling some shares to avoid having too much riding on one stock.
There may also be times when you can turn the tax system to your advantage, say, by selling shares that are trading for less than you paid for them and then using the loss to trim your tax bill.
Keeping an eye on your portfolio and making occasional adjustments isn't a 24/7 job. But you should be prepared to spend at least a few hours a week tending to your holdings. If you're not disposed to put in that amount of time - and possibly more during periods of upheaval - then you're better off in funds, which generally require less attention.
Do I have enough money to make it worthwhile to choose stocks on my own? Here, mutual funds offer a clear advantage for most investors. By using a tool such as Morningstar's Fund Screener, you can easily find funds that allow you in for a minimum initial investment of as little as $500, even less in some cases. Many of the funds on our Money 70 list of recommended funds also require a minimum of $1,000 or less. And once you're in, you can typically add to your account in increments of $50 to $250.
If you want a reasonably diversified portfolio of stocks, on the other hand, you're talking about a much larger investment. You don't have to buy in round lots of 100 shares as was the case back in the day. But at the same tie you don't want brokerage commissions to eat up your returns. So even if you figure on paying a modest $10-per-transaction brokerage fee, you'd probably want to invest a minimum of $1,000 per stock in order to prevent your costs from exceeding 1% of the amount you invest. (Remember, you'll also have to pay a fee when you sell.) Assuming you'll need at least 20 stocks to create a balanced portfolio, you're talking about investing in the neighborhood of $20,000 to $25,000, if not more.
You can always invest smaller amounts, either initially or when adding shares. But the less you invest, the higher the percentage of your return that gets eaten up by brokerage fees.
One final tip: If you're relying on personal finance columnists or cable TV pundits for stock picks, then my feeling is that you probably shouldn't be in stocks at all.
The point to buying individual shares is that you think you bring something to the table that adds value and can boost your return - in-depth research, expertise at valuing securities, a sense of discipline that prevents you from buying or selling on emotion.
But if all you're going to do is buy on someone else's say so - in other words, substitute their judgment for yours - you'll save yourself a lot of time, energy and money by acknowledging that upfront and sticking to funds.
Showing posts with label big money. Show all posts
Showing posts with label big money. Show all posts
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Bank of America raises $13.5 billion selling stock
CHARLOTTE (AP) — Bank of America (BAC) said Tuesday that in less than two weeks it has raised $13.47 billion through the sale of 1.25 billion shares at an average price of $10.77 each.
"We're pleased to have this portion of our capital plan completed," said Chief Financial Officer Joe Price, in a statement Tuesday. "This strengthens and diversifies our capital structure."
The government recently released the results of "stress tests" it ran on the nation's 19 largest banks to determine if they would need additional capital to protect against losses should the economy worsen. It found that Bank of America would need an additional $33.9 billion, more than any other bank reviewed.
Bank of America launched a plan to raise the capital through asset sales and stock offers. It recently sold part of its stake in China Construction Bank to Asian investors for about $7.3 billion, which together with the stock sales, put the bank well past the halfway mark in its capital raising goals.
BofA executives have said they are mulling sales of the bank's Columbia asset management unit, as well as several other businesses. The bank previously said it planned to sell its First Republic Bank unit, which it inherited when it bought Merrill Lynch & Co. in January. Those sales could help raise $10 billion.
"We're pleased to have this portion of our capital plan completed," said Chief Financial Officer Joe Price, in a statement Tuesday. "This strengthens and diversifies our capital structure."
The government recently released the results of "stress tests" it ran on the nation's 19 largest banks to determine if they would need additional capital to protect against losses should the economy worsen. It found that Bank of America would need an additional $33.9 billion, more than any other bank reviewed.
Bank of America launched a plan to raise the capital through asset sales and stock offers. It recently sold part of its stake in China Construction Bank to Asian investors for about $7.3 billion, which together with the stock sales, put the bank well past the halfway mark in its capital raising goals.
BofA executives have said they are mulling sales of the bank's Columbia asset management unit, as well as several other businesses. The bank previously said it planned to sell its First Republic Bank unit, which it inherited when it bought Merrill Lynch & Co. in January. Those sales could help raise $10 billion.
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Stock selloff accelerates
Dow sinks 200 points; Nasdaq, S&P 500 drop almost 3%. Reports show weaker-than-expected consumer spending and a big jump in foreclosures.
By Alexandra Twin, CNNMoney.com senior writer
NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- A stock selloff gained steam Wednesday afternoon, with the S&P 500 sliding for the third session in a row, as weaker retail sales and a report showing a big number of foreclosures gave investors a reason to retreat.
The Dow Jones industrial average (INDU) lost 200 points, or 2.4%, with under 2-1/2 hours left in the session. The S&P 500 (SPX) index fell 25 points, or 2.7%. The Nasdaq composite (COMP) dropped 48 points, or 2.8%.
The worse-than-expected retail sales was dragging on stocks, said Ryan Detrick, senior technical strategist at Schaeffer's Investment Research. He said investors were also a little jittery about the bevy of banks rushing to raise capital to pay back the government bailout money they received.
Detrick said that over the last two years, when the monthly retail sales report missed forecasts, the S&P 500 generally closed more than 1% lower on the session.
"We were due for a pause here and with questions about the consumer and the banks, investors are finding an excuse to take some profits," he said.
Stocks seesawed Tuesday as investors showed caution after a roughly 2-month rally that propelled all the major stock gauges by at least 30%. That hesitation remained in place Wednesday.
Stocks have risen since early March on bets that the economy is close to turning a corner. But April reports on retail sales and the housing market threw such bets into question.
Economy: Retail sales fell 0.4% in April, according to a report from the Commerce Department released before the market open. Sales were expected to hold steady, according to a consensus of economists surveyed by Briefing.com. Sales fell a revised 1.3% in March.
Sales excluding volatile autos fell 0.5% in April, after dropping 1.2% in the previous month. Economists forecasts had called for a rise of 0.2%.
The number of U.S. households facing foreclosure jumped 32% in April versus a year ago, according to RealtyTrac. More than 342,000 homes received notices of default in the month, up 1% from March.
In other economic news, March business inventories fell 1% after falling 1.4% in the previous month. Economists expected inventories to have fallen 1.1%.
Company news: AIG (AIG, Fortune 500) shares slipped as the company's CEO discussed restructuring plans at a House hearing about how the company plans to pay back billions in government loans.
In other news, Intel (INTC, Fortune 500) was fined a record $1.45 billion by the European Union for allegedly anti competitive practices, a decision the chipmaker plans to appeal. Shares were little changed.
Freddie Mac (FRE, Fortune 500) posted a $9.9 billion quarterly loss after the market close Tuesday and also asked the government for another $6.1 billion in aid.
GM (GM, Fortune 500) shares continued to slide on concerns that it will have to file for bankruptcy, with the stock touching $1 per share, the lowest level since 1933.
Market breadth was negative. On the New York Stock Exchange, losers topped winners six to one on volume of 690 million shares. On the New York Stock Exchange, decliners beat advancers four to one on volume of 1.09 billion shares.
By Alexandra Twin, CNNMoney.com senior writer
NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- A stock selloff gained steam Wednesday afternoon, with the S&P 500 sliding for the third session in a row, as weaker retail sales and a report showing a big number of foreclosures gave investors a reason to retreat.
The Dow Jones industrial average (INDU) lost 200 points, or 2.4%, with under 2-1/2 hours left in the session. The S&P 500 (SPX) index fell 25 points, or 2.7%. The Nasdaq composite (COMP) dropped 48 points, or 2.8%.
The worse-than-expected retail sales was dragging on stocks, said Ryan Detrick, senior technical strategist at Schaeffer's Investment Research. He said investors were also a little jittery about the bevy of banks rushing to raise capital to pay back the government bailout money they received.
Detrick said that over the last two years, when the monthly retail sales report missed forecasts, the S&P 500 generally closed more than 1% lower on the session.
"We were due for a pause here and with questions about the consumer and the banks, investors are finding an excuse to take some profits," he said.
Stocks seesawed Tuesday as investors showed caution after a roughly 2-month rally that propelled all the major stock gauges by at least 30%. That hesitation remained in place Wednesday.
Stocks have risen since early March on bets that the economy is close to turning a corner. But April reports on retail sales and the housing market threw such bets into question.
Economy: Retail sales fell 0.4% in April, according to a report from the Commerce Department released before the market open. Sales were expected to hold steady, according to a consensus of economists surveyed by Briefing.com. Sales fell a revised 1.3% in March.
Sales excluding volatile autos fell 0.5% in April, after dropping 1.2% in the previous month. Economists forecasts had called for a rise of 0.2%.
The number of U.S. households facing foreclosure jumped 32% in April versus a year ago, according to RealtyTrac. More than 342,000 homes received notices of default in the month, up 1% from March.
In other economic news, March business inventories fell 1% after falling 1.4% in the previous month. Economists expected inventories to have fallen 1.1%.
Company news: AIG (AIG, Fortune 500) shares slipped as the company's CEO discussed restructuring plans at a House hearing about how the company plans to pay back billions in government loans.
In other news, Intel (INTC, Fortune 500) was fined a record $1.45 billion by the European Union for allegedly anti competitive practices, a decision the chipmaker plans to appeal. Shares were little changed.
Freddie Mac (FRE, Fortune 500) posted a $9.9 billion quarterly loss after the market close Tuesday and also asked the government for another $6.1 billion in aid.
GM (GM, Fortune 500) shares continued to slide on concerns that it will have to file for bankruptcy, with the stock touching $1 per share, the lowest level since 1933.
Market breadth was negative. On the New York Stock Exchange, losers topped winners six to one on volume of 690 million shares. On the New York Stock Exchange, decliners beat advancers four to one on volume of 1.09 billion shares.
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Will 'world's best job' earn tourism dollars?
(CNN) -- The "best job in the world" contest has generated huge interest around the globe, but the jury is out on whether that will translate into more tourism dollars for Queensland, Australia.
Ben Southall will move into a three-bedroom beach home overlooking the Great Barrier Reef.
"That's the million dollar question," said Anthony Hayes, CEO of Tourism Quensland, which sponsored the contest.
"Quite frankly you can have $150 million worth of publicity, but if it doesn't generate sales you've really wasted your time on a pretty story."
A British man beat 34,000 other applicants Wednesday to win the right to stroll the white sands of a tropical island in Queensland, Australia, file weekly reports online to a global audience and earn a cool $100,000. Watch as lucky winner is revealed »
For the winner, Ben Southall, the six-month assignment is a far cry from his old job as a fundraiser.
"I love discovering new places," Southall said in his hyperkinetic minute-long application video for the position.
"Last year, I drove all around Africa, I crossed deserts, climbed mountains, run marathons, bungee jump, mountain-bike, scuba-dive and snorkel everywhere because I'm practically a fish myself."
Oh, and he rode an ostrich.
He will move into a three-bedroom beach home overlooking the tropical island's Great Barrier Reef. For six months, he will feed the fish, clean the pool and send weekly blog and video reports on what is happening on the island.
Other benefits include free return airfares from their nearest capital city, transport on the island, computer and camera gear and travel to other islands.
Ben Southall will move into a three-bedroom beach home overlooking the Great Barrier Reef.
"That's the million dollar question," said Anthony Hayes, CEO of Tourism Quensland, which sponsored the contest.
"Quite frankly you can have $150 million worth of publicity, but if it doesn't generate sales you've really wasted your time on a pretty story."
A British man beat 34,000 other applicants Wednesday to win the right to stroll the white sands of a tropical island in Queensland, Australia, file weekly reports online to a global audience and earn a cool $100,000. Watch as lucky winner is revealed »
For the winner, Ben Southall, the six-month assignment is a far cry from his old job as a fundraiser.
"I love discovering new places," Southall said in his hyperkinetic minute-long application video for the position.
"Last year, I drove all around Africa, I crossed deserts, climbed mountains, run marathons, bungee jump, mountain-bike, scuba-dive and snorkel everywhere because I'm practically a fish myself."
Oh, and he rode an ostrich.
He will move into a three-bedroom beach home overlooking the tropical island's Great Barrier Reef. For six months, he will feed the fish, clean the pool and send weekly blog and video reports on what is happening on the island.
Other benefits include free return airfares from their nearest capital city, transport on the island, computer and camera gear and travel to other islands.
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Top 10 Franchise Money Questions Answered
Top 10 Franchise Money Questions Answered
By Jeff Elgin,
How much money to buy a franchise? Where to get the funds? How long until I see a profit? Our expert tells all.
There are many reasons people decide they want to acquire their own franchise business--and each of these reasons involves a variety of considerations. In the mind of most people contemplating such a decision, however, there is one overriding factor: money. If you're considering buying a franchise, you should be asking yourself a number of significant money-related questions. Here's what we consider the "Top 10":
1. How much total investment will this franchise require? This is a key question, since the Uniform Franchise Offering Circular (UFOC) document normally expresses this information in terms of a very large range of possible answers. In your calls to existing franchisees, and your research concerning your local market, make sure to narrow down these answers to provide as accurate an answer as possible. If you aren't completely sure, be sure to err on the high side.
2. How much will I need in operating capital reserves to cover losses after opening the franchise until it reaches the breakeven point in terms of cash flow? You're not going to have any customers or revenue on the morning of your first day in your new business, but you will have expenses. Until your revenue grows enough to cover these expenses, you're going to have to feed additional cash into the business to pay the bills. Make sufficient allowance for this factor in your plans and, when in doubt, guess high. No one has ever gotten into trouble on a new business startup because he or she had put too much in financial reserves.
3. How much extra cash do I need to cover living expenses while I'm starting my franchise? This is one of the critical areas many new franchisees fail to consider. After becoming a franchisee, there's a gap in time before your new business begins operation and typically another gap before it starts making enough profit to cover your living expenses. You need to carefully budget your living expenses to understand how much you'll need on a monthly basis and then make sure you've got sufficient cash--in addition to your business investment--to cover your expenses during this period. Then add a significant reserve on top of this amount--it'll help you sleep better at night.
4. How long will it take my new franchise to reach break even? This is one of the most important money-related questions you'll need to answer. It's no fun to feed extra money into a business to cover operating losses, but that's the reality in most startups. You'll normally find the answer to this question is a potential range of time for the franchise you're considering. Always plan that it'll take the longest time within this range to reach breakeven, so you're as safe as possible.
5. How much of my total investment (including capital reserves) do I need to have in cash? This answer can range from 0 to 100 percent, depending on the franchise business being contemplated. There's no right or wrong answer--just make sure you know what applies to you and that you easily have that amount of cash on hand.
6. What standard financing options exist for me? The most common forms of standard financing are bank loans and/or commercial leases. Any bank loan to start a new business will probably either have to be secured by your personal collateral (such as the equity in your home) or through an SBA guarantee program, and the banks may require both forms of security. Most new franchisees find that securing an open line of credit against their home equity is the easiest and least expensive form of bank financing available to them. Leases can also be a favorable option, since they are typically fast to procure and secured by the assets that are being leased (though they sometimes require a personal guarantee as well).
7. What alternative financing options exist for me? In addition to standard sources, there's always the standby financing source: family and friends. There are also a number of companies that assist people in accessing retirement dollars in IRA or 401(k) accounts, without early withdrawal penalties, to use as a funding source for a franchise business.
8. How much money can I make in this franchise? This is the $64 question. You will normally find the answer is related to the amount of time the business has been open. The first year will probably be a loss, but by the third year the business should be making good money. Ask a lot of existing franchisees about their experience at these levels, and make sure you know what your probable income will be by the time you complete that critical third year.
9. What are the ranges in financial performance of the existing franchisees? Though we've previously referred to the fact that there is going to be a range in franchisees' answers, this point is so important, it bears repeating. Don't stop your research until you are completely confident you know both the high and low end of the range. Two answers are not sufficient to establish a range you can have confidence in--10 or even more would be much better.
10. How financially strong is the franchise company? The franchise company is required to provide you with a copy of their audited financial statements in the UFOC document. You obviously want to work with a franchise company that is not only strong enough to survive, but that also has the resources to reinvest in training and support of the franchisees. Make sure you review their financials and ask for help from a competent advisor if you're not comfortable doing this yourself.
You should know the answer to each of these questions before you decide to invest in any franchise opportunity. If you do, and assuming the answers are acceptable to you, you can minimize some of your concerns about money as you build your new business.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jeff Elgin is the "Buying a Franchise" coach at Entrepreneur.com and has almost 20 years of experience in franchising, both as a franchisee and a senior franchise company executive. He is currently the CEO of FranChoice Inc., a company that provides free consulting to consumers looking for a franchise that best matches their needs.
By Jeff Elgin,
How much money to buy a franchise? Where to get the funds? How long until I see a profit? Our expert tells all.
There are many reasons people decide they want to acquire their own franchise business--and each of these reasons involves a variety of considerations. In the mind of most people contemplating such a decision, however, there is one overriding factor: money. If you're considering buying a franchise, you should be asking yourself a number of significant money-related questions. Here's what we consider the "Top 10":
1. How much total investment will this franchise require? This is a key question, since the Uniform Franchise Offering Circular (UFOC) document normally expresses this information in terms of a very large range of possible answers. In your calls to existing franchisees, and your research concerning your local market, make sure to narrow down these answers to provide as accurate an answer as possible. If you aren't completely sure, be sure to err on the high side.
2. How much will I need in operating capital reserves to cover losses after opening the franchise until it reaches the breakeven point in terms of cash flow? You're not going to have any customers or revenue on the morning of your first day in your new business, but you will have expenses. Until your revenue grows enough to cover these expenses, you're going to have to feed additional cash into the business to pay the bills. Make sufficient allowance for this factor in your plans and, when in doubt, guess high. No one has ever gotten into trouble on a new business startup because he or she had put too much in financial reserves.
3. How much extra cash do I need to cover living expenses while I'm starting my franchise? This is one of the critical areas many new franchisees fail to consider. After becoming a franchisee, there's a gap in time before your new business begins operation and typically another gap before it starts making enough profit to cover your living expenses. You need to carefully budget your living expenses to understand how much you'll need on a monthly basis and then make sure you've got sufficient cash--in addition to your business investment--to cover your expenses during this period. Then add a significant reserve on top of this amount--it'll help you sleep better at night.
4. How long will it take my new franchise to reach break even? This is one of the most important money-related questions you'll need to answer. It's no fun to feed extra money into a business to cover operating losses, but that's the reality in most startups. You'll normally find the answer to this question is a potential range of time for the franchise you're considering. Always plan that it'll take the longest time within this range to reach breakeven, so you're as safe as possible.
5. How much of my total investment (including capital reserves) do I need to have in cash? This answer can range from 0 to 100 percent, depending on the franchise business being contemplated. There's no right or wrong answer--just make sure you know what applies to you and that you easily have that amount of cash on hand.
6. What standard financing options exist for me? The most common forms of standard financing are bank loans and/or commercial leases. Any bank loan to start a new business will probably either have to be secured by your personal collateral (such as the equity in your home) or through an SBA guarantee program, and the banks may require both forms of security. Most new franchisees find that securing an open line of credit against their home equity is the easiest and least expensive form of bank financing available to them. Leases can also be a favorable option, since they are typically fast to procure and secured by the assets that are being leased (though they sometimes require a personal guarantee as well).
7. What alternative financing options exist for me? In addition to standard sources, there's always the standby financing source: family and friends. There are also a number of companies that assist people in accessing retirement dollars in IRA or 401(k) accounts, without early withdrawal penalties, to use as a funding source for a franchise business.
8. How much money can I make in this franchise? This is the $64 question. You will normally find the answer is related to the amount of time the business has been open. The first year will probably be a loss, but by the third year the business should be making good money. Ask a lot of existing franchisees about their experience at these levels, and make sure you know what your probable income will be by the time you complete that critical third year.
9. What are the ranges in financial performance of the existing franchisees? Though we've previously referred to the fact that there is going to be a range in franchisees' answers, this point is so important, it bears repeating. Don't stop your research until you are completely confident you know both the high and low end of the range. Two answers are not sufficient to establish a range you can have confidence in--10 or even more would be much better.
10. How financially strong is the franchise company? The franchise company is required to provide you with a copy of their audited financial statements in the UFOC document. You obviously want to work with a franchise company that is not only strong enough to survive, but that also has the resources to reinvest in training and support of the franchisees. Make sure you review their financials and ask for help from a competent advisor if you're not comfortable doing this yourself.
You should know the answer to each of these questions before you decide to invest in any franchise opportunity. If you do, and assuming the answers are acceptable to you, you can minimize some of your concerns about money as you build your new business.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jeff Elgin is the "Buying a Franchise" coach at Entrepreneur.com and has almost 20 years of experience in franchising, both as a franchisee and a senior franchise company executive. He is currently the CEO of FranChoice Inc., a company that provides free consulting to consumers looking for a franchise that best matches their needs.
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Make Money Online -Without Spending a Cent
Making money online used to pretty much require you to have your own Web site, products to sell and some marketing savvy. But a new generation of dot-coms have arisen that will pay you for what you know and who you know without you having to be a web designer or a marketing genius.
But it's hard to tell hype from the real deal. I did a search on "make money online" and "making money online", and much of the information out there is just promoting various infoproducts, mostly about Internet marketing. I see why people sometimes ask, "Is anyone making money online besides Internet marketing experts?"
So I put together a list of business opportunities with legitimate companies that:
Pay cash, not just points towards rewards or a chance to win money
Don't require you to have your own Web domain or your own products
Don't involve any hard-selling
Aren't just promoting more Internet marketing
Give a good return on your time investment
In the interest of objectivity, none of the links below are affiliate links, and none of them have paid or provided any other consideration for their presence here. These are legitimate companies with business models that allow you to get paid for a wide range of activities.
Help friends find better jobs.
Sites like H3.com connect employers with prospective employees, many of whom are already employed and not actively job-hunting, via networking - the people who know these qualified candidates. Rewards for referring a candidate who gets hired range from a few hundred dollars to as much as $5,000 - not chump change. This is a great way to break into the recruiting business with no overhead.
Connect suppliers with buyers.
Referral fees are a common practice in business, but they haven't been used much in online networking sites because there was no way to track them. InnerSell provides that. Vendors set the referral fees they're willing to pay, then when a deal happens, you get 70% of the referral fee.
Provide business contact information.
One of the greatest challenges in sales is getting accurate contact information about prospective customers. A growing number of services have launched in the past couple of years to help address this, but most rely on members to maintain their own contact information. Jigsaw, on the other hand, pays members to help keep information up-to-date on the people they know, not just themselves, and pays them to do so ($1 for each unique new qualifying contact you put into the system). According to Jigsaw, in their first payout after launch, the top ten point-earns each received more than $750.
Become a semi-pro reporter.
Creative Reporter is a new program from Creative Weblogging that lets just about anyone become a paid reporter/blogger. They're looking for people to create original, but non-exclusive, blog posts / articles of 250-500 words on topics including parenting, celebrities, travel, mobile technology, and more. Pay is $10 per 1,000 page views on your posts (that's excellent pay for Web writing, although there's no telling how much traffic/money you'll actually get).
Related: Professional Blogging
Write your own blog.
You don't have to have your own Web site, or install blogging software, or even figure out how to set up the advertising. At Blogger you can set up a blog for free in less than five minutes without knowing a thing about web design, and Blogger even automates setting up Google AdSense so you can make money off your blog by displaying ads and getting paid when people click on the ads. To make even more money from it, set up an affiliate program (see below) for books, music, etc., and insert your affiliate links whenever you refer to those items. You'll have to get a lot of traffic to become a six-figure blogger, but pick an interesting topic, write well, tell all your friends, and you're off to a good start.
Related: Monetizing Your Blog
Advertise other people's products.
If you already have a Web site or a blog, look for vendors that offer related but non-competing products and see if they have an affiliate program. Stick to familiar products and brands - they're easier to sell. To promote those products:
Place simple text or graphical ads in appropriate places on your site
Include links to purchase products you review or recommend in a blog, discussion forum or mailing list you control
Create a dedicated sales page or Web site to promote a particular product
They all work - it just depends on how much time you have to spend on it and your level of expertise with Web design and marketing.
Related: How to Really Make Money on the Internet With an Amazon.com Affiliate Site
The above list is by no means comprehensive, but it highlights some of the new and interesting ways to make money online without investing any money, without having a product of your own, and without having expert sales and marketing skills. Most of all, unlike taking surveys or getting paid to read e-mail, the potential return on your time investment is substantial.
But it's hard to tell hype from the real deal. I did a search on "make money online" and "making money online", and much of the information out there is just promoting various infoproducts, mostly about Internet marketing. I see why people sometimes ask, "Is anyone making money online besides Internet marketing experts?"
So I put together a list of business opportunities with legitimate companies that:
Pay cash, not just points towards rewards or a chance to win money
Don't require you to have your own Web domain or your own products
Don't involve any hard-selling
Aren't just promoting more Internet marketing
Give a good return on your time investment
In the interest of objectivity, none of the links below are affiliate links, and none of them have paid or provided any other consideration for their presence here. These are legitimate companies with business models that allow you to get paid for a wide range of activities.
Help friends find better jobs.
Sites like H3.com connect employers with prospective employees, many of whom are already employed and not actively job-hunting, via networking - the people who know these qualified candidates. Rewards for referring a candidate who gets hired range from a few hundred dollars to as much as $5,000 - not chump change. This is a great way to break into the recruiting business with no overhead.
Connect suppliers with buyers.
Referral fees are a common practice in business, but they haven't been used much in online networking sites because there was no way to track them. InnerSell provides that. Vendors set the referral fees they're willing to pay, then when a deal happens, you get 70% of the referral fee.
Provide business contact information.
One of the greatest challenges in sales is getting accurate contact information about prospective customers. A growing number of services have launched in the past couple of years to help address this, but most rely on members to maintain their own contact information. Jigsaw, on the other hand, pays members to help keep information up-to-date on the people they know, not just themselves, and pays them to do so ($1 for each unique new qualifying contact you put into the system). According to Jigsaw, in their first payout after launch, the top ten point-earns each received more than $750.
Become a semi-pro reporter.
Creative Reporter is a new program from Creative Weblogging that lets just about anyone become a paid reporter/blogger. They're looking for people to create original, but non-exclusive, blog posts / articles of 250-500 words on topics including parenting, celebrities, travel, mobile technology, and more. Pay is $10 per 1,000 page views on your posts (that's excellent pay for Web writing, although there's no telling how much traffic/money you'll actually get).
Related: Professional Blogging
Write your own blog.
You don't have to have your own Web site, or install blogging software, or even figure out how to set up the advertising. At Blogger you can set up a blog for free in less than five minutes without knowing a thing about web design, and Blogger even automates setting up Google AdSense so you can make money off your blog by displaying ads and getting paid when people click on the ads. To make even more money from it, set up an affiliate program (see below) for books, music, etc., and insert your affiliate links whenever you refer to those items. You'll have to get a lot of traffic to become a six-figure blogger, but pick an interesting topic, write well, tell all your friends, and you're off to a good start.
Related: Monetizing Your Blog
Advertise other people's products.
If you already have a Web site or a blog, look for vendors that offer related but non-competing products and see if they have an affiliate program. Stick to familiar products and brands - they're easier to sell. To promote those products:
Place simple text or graphical ads in appropriate places on your site
Include links to purchase products you review or recommend in a blog, discussion forum or mailing list you control
Create a dedicated sales page or Web site to promote a particular product
They all work - it just depends on how much time you have to spend on it and your level of expertise with Web design and marketing.
Related: How to Really Make Money on the Internet With an Amazon.com Affiliate Site
The above list is by no means comprehensive, but it highlights some of the new and interesting ways to make money online without investing any money, without having a product of your own, and without having expert sales and marketing skills. Most of all, unlike taking surveys or getting paid to read e-mail, the potential return on your time investment is substantial.
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
Finding Unclaimed Money by Person Name
Perhaps you have heard about free unclaimed money on the internet, on television, in the newspaper, or from a money hungry friend. Sounds interesting, right? Now you decide to check it out for yourself and your family members. Who knows, there might be some money out there that is yours! You can look up the possibilities of finding unclaimed money by person name. It's easy. And it is free.
To start, remember this most important point: you never have to pay someone to search this out for you. It is free information available to anyone from your local state government Treasurer's Office. If you get an email saying you have money and they can find it for $29.99, ignore that, those websites are a scam. Some have been shut down by the government.
Okay, when you reach the Treasurer's Office, whether in person or online at their official website, you want to find the Unclaimed Property office or link. If you or the person who you are trying to help have lived in any other state, go online and do the same thing at every state you have lived in, or that relatives may have lived in. Who knows, maybe they left you a little inheritance you did not know about? Many people have "secret" accounts at banks and credit unions, or hide assets in a secret bank box. These are a little harder to find. If you have lots of time, check every state, you never know!
Right now, estimates are that over $300 Billion dollars in unclaimed money is being held by the government escheats offices in the 50 states in the US. This money can come from a variety of sources, from dormant bank accounts to unclaimed inheritances and class action lawsuits, and more. If not claimed, it will fall to the government. That is what "escheats" means, "that which falls to one". They have to provide time for people to claim, and each state has its own laws on that time limit.
To start finding unclaimed money by person name, online, enter the name into the search box. Do this again and again, for every possible form and name that person of interest has ever used. Were they married? Did they use an alias? What was the maiden name of a woman? You might also want to put in other family members names, especially if it is your own name you are trying to look up. The search will quickly tell you if you name falls among those owed money by the government escheats office. If you are at an office, fill out the form.
Never pay anyone a fee for finding unclaimed money by person name. You don't have to. This is a free government service available to you or anyone who wants to use it. When you do receive your money, cash the check immediately, or it could end up back in the unclaimed property department again!
The easiest way to find unclaimed money is by visiting an unclaimed money search site. All you need to do is enter your name, press one button and you will find out within seconds if there is money waiting for you. Click over to my site and learn about the best ways to search for unclaimed money
To start, remember this most important point: you never have to pay someone to search this out for you. It is free information available to anyone from your local state government Treasurer's Office. If you get an email saying you have money and they can find it for $29.99, ignore that, those websites are a scam. Some have been shut down by the government.
Okay, when you reach the Treasurer's Office, whether in person or online at their official website, you want to find the Unclaimed Property office or link. If you or the person who you are trying to help have lived in any other state, go online and do the same thing at every state you have lived in, or that relatives may have lived in. Who knows, maybe they left you a little inheritance you did not know about? Many people have "secret" accounts at banks and credit unions, or hide assets in a secret bank box. These are a little harder to find. If you have lots of time, check every state, you never know!
Right now, estimates are that over $300 Billion dollars in unclaimed money is being held by the government escheats offices in the 50 states in the US. This money can come from a variety of sources, from dormant bank accounts to unclaimed inheritances and class action lawsuits, and more. If not claimed, it will fall to the government. That is what "escheats" means, "that which falls to one". They have to provide time for people to claim, and each state has its own laws on that time limit.
To start finding unclaimed money by person name, online, enter the name into the search box. Do this again and again, for every possible form and name that person of interest has ever used. Were they married? Did they use an alias? What was the maiden name of a woman? You might also want to put in other family members names, especially if it is your own name you are trying to look up. The search will quickly tell you if you name falls among those owed money by the government escheats office. If you are at an office, fill out the form.
Never pay anyone a fee for finding unclaimed money by person name. You don't have to. This is a free government service available to you or anyone who wants to use it. When you do receive your money, cash the check immediately, or it could end up back in the unclaimed property department again!
The easiest way to find unclaimed money is by visiting an unclaimed money search site. All you need to do is enter your name, press one button and you will find out within seconds if there is money waiting for you. Click over to my site and learn about the best ways to search for unclaimed money
Thursday, September 18, 2008
QYAO
Qyao set out to create the Social - Economic Network, harnessing the power of Internet-based social and economic networks to directly benefit the Members who help to create the community.
Becoming a member of Qyao is simple. Complete a brief sign-up page (name, age, location and email address.). Once you're a Member, you can start earning Money online and even get a Franchise.
(Position of Franchise Advisor requires a commitment to lucrative work. Work contains communication with all media advertising Franchises and it can be part time or full time. Applicant can start part time and switch to full time in probation period. Full time Franchise Advisors have guarantied minimum monthly payout. Part time Franchise Advisors get paid depending on their work.
Franchise Advisor earns flat payout and commission. Flat payout is $7,800.00 per Franchise unit and 5% monthly commission of Franchise unit income each month. After 3 month probation period Franchise Advisor’s guarantied minimum payout is $15,000.00/month. )
just COPY AND PASTE THIS LINK BELOW
http://qyao.com/general.php?REF=72381
Becoming a member of Qyao is simple. Complete a brief sign-up page (name, age, location and email address.). Once you're a Member, you can start earning Money online and even get a Franchise.
(Position of Franchise Advisor requires a commitment to lucrative work. Work contains communication with all media advertising Franchises and it can be part time or full time. Applicant can start part time and switch to full time in probation period. Full time Franchise Advisors have guarantied minimum monthly payout. Part time Franchise Advisors get paid depending on their work.
Franchise Advisor earns flat payout and commission. Flat payout is $7,800.00 per Franchise unit and 5% monthly commission of Franchise unit income each month. After 3 month probation period Franchise Advisor’s guarantied minimum payout is $15,000.00/month. )
just COPY AND PASTE THIS LINK BELOW
http://qyao.com/general.php?REF=72381
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Save big on a tiny income
Editor's note: Join columnist MP Dunleavey and a group of women as they seek to strip away the myths around money, liberate themselves from debt and find financial sanity. Follow the ongoing quest of the Women in Red every other Wednesday in Dunleavey's column on MSN Money.
When I wrote an article describing how some of the Women in Red could save more, I got an earful from frustrated readers, many of whom don't earn as much as the women in the group.
"Let's deal with the real world," wrote one woman, who declined to give her name. "If I had that kind of income I could save easily. Try (saving) on the incomes of most of us working, single moms, which is more like $2,500 a month! Cut our expenses? How???"
Carrie Bowers, 29, of Colorado, added: "How would the average service worker go about saving for retirement, a child's education (or even (her) own in hopes of moving up in the world) on less than $18,000 a year? Some financial advice for the public-transit set would be appreciated more than you know."
With her dunce cap on, this writer decided to unearth smart savings strategies anyone can use, no matter how much they earn -- from real-life tips contributed by women on our blog, to the abundance of savings stories right here on MSN Money.
As you might expect with such a wealth of ideas, there are many ways to fire up your inner-savings goddess. Try one, try 'em all.
Spare change = big bucks
Stash a dollar in a jar every time you do the laundry, says blogger LBL.
Save all your $5 bills in a coffee can. (My husband and I do this so we have extra fun money.) Or save all your $20 bills in shoe box ("I saved for a trip to Europe this way," says Bowers, who earns $1,800 a month working in a cafe.)
Cash in your spare change. Many banks and credit unions will sort your change without charging a fee. Or, do it yourself: "We invested in a $30 coin sorter, which has paid for itself three times over," writes a reader who calls herself darcie1590.
Salt away all those little rebates, refunds and reimbursement checks.
Take free money. Now some institutions, like Bank of America and even PayPal, are offering what you might call "spare change" savings plans. Bank of America will round up any purchase you make and deposit the extra change in a savings account for you. For a limited time, they'll even match your spare change up to $250. If you use the PayPal debit card, they'll refund 1% of your purchase immediately, wrote Kit on the blog. Other cards may offer similar deals; don't let free cash pass you by (but beware of hidden fees).
More from MSN Money
10 times you can’t afford to skimp
Quiz: Are you a smart spender?
10 easy ways to save $500 or more
20 great ways to save on a shoestring
The real reason you're broke
Calculator: Is your debt too high to handle?
Don't even think about it
Even if you love to save, it can be hard to sock away that cash -- unless you let Mother Technology do it for you. Nearly everyone on the blog -- and in the WIR -- has an automatic transfer set up from their checking to their savings.
You can do this anywhere you bank, but a number of readers favor ING Direct.
At 3.4%, ING pays a lot more interest than you can get on most no-minimum savings accounts.
Because the account is online -- and there's no direct ATM access -- you can't touch your savings without thinking about it.
Savers can set up multiple sub-accounts at no extra charge -- for different purposes (vacation, new roof, Sally's sweet 16).
To test-drive ING's basic savings plan, I set up an account in 15 minutes to have $25 a week taken out of checking and put into a little account I nicknamed "Happy Money." I'm richer already!
Play little money games
Create bank errors in your favor. "If I spend $2.16 on a coffee, I deduct $3 (in my check register)," writes AJ. "It really adds up." Several readers share AJ's strategy, including a blogger named Natalie, who even rounds down her paycheck. A $425 check would become $400 in the check register -- and the $25 is saved.
Make a fair trade. One reader swapped her cleaning skills for day-care time for her child; Beth of the WIR recently helped a neighbor build a fence in exchange for some pocket money; in exchange for some editing, a friend is going to organize my messy apartment. The swaps are endless -- and the savings can be huge. "You can get together with friends and have a clothes or furniture/house item swap," adds Nancy.
Switch from paper to plastic. A surprising number of women are mega-advocates of relying on credit cards as a way of controlling spending. Some get cash back or miles; some just feel handling cash is too risky. "I don't carry cash, I don't use cash," writes Chris. "This has helped to curb impulse spending, which equates to effective saving." Caveat: These responsible souls pay the card balance in full each month, often depositing the cash for purchases in advance. Ahem!
Divide and conquer. Divide the total amount of your car insurance (or other irregular expense) by 12 and sock away that amount each month so you don't get caught short. Lea says she won't blow her holiday budget this year because she's used this system to save each month for gifts.
Never pay full price
Buy non-perishables in bulk (i.e., cereals, rice, pastas, dried fruit and canned goods); bulk prices are much lower.
Share the savings. Bowers says one friend will buy toiletries and such at a warehouse store and divvy the spoils up with friends.
Buy generic instead of brand-name products. "I've stopped eating Cheerios in favor of Toasty-O's -- my paycheck loves me for it, and my tastebuds don't know the difference," writes Chada.Sign up to be notified whenever MP publishes a new article.
Preferred format:
HTMLPlain TextLearn more about newsletters
Research before you buy. Most readers say bargains can be found for any item if you put a little time into finding discount Web sites, clearance centers, warehouse outlets and the like.
"Look at the Pottery Barn catalog, shop at Goodwill," writes Chada again. "You'd be amazed at what you can turn into a masterpiece with a little paint and stain."
Fly cheap. Renee recommends mobissimo.com and itasoftware.com -- both travel search engines that comb the Web to find the lowest of the lowest possible prices.
Build it, grow it, make it, cook it yourself
A big way to save on a small income is to embrace DIY as your financial salvation. In addition to sewing, making gifts and homemade cards, cooking at home, and baking everything from scratch, here are some other creative ways to save:
"We've made lamps, a window seat, a bar, our headboard, a corner sofa and various tables and shelves," writes Kelly. "It's saved us a fortune."
"There is little that can't be cleaned with (a mix of) vinegar and baking soda," writes ylm23. "We use the mix throughout the kitchen, bathroom, dining room -- and have scrubbed pots and pans with it."
"Don't forget gardening as a money-saving venture," writes a green-thumbed reader. "One year, I fed the four of us and a neighbor for almost four months from a 10-by-15-foot garden."
When I wrote an article describing how some of the Women in Red could save more, I got an earful from frustrated readers, many of whom don't earn as much as the women in the group.
"Let's deal with the real world," wrote one woman, who declined to give her name. "If I had that kind of income I could save easily. Try (saving) on the incomes of most of us working, single moms, which is more like $2,500 a month! Cut our expenses? How???"
Carrie Bowers, 29, of Colorado, added: "How would the average service worker go about saving for retirement, a child's education (or even (her) own in hopes of moving up in the world) on less than $18,000 a year? Some financial advice for the public-transit set would be appreciated more than you know."
With her dunce cap on, this writer decided to unearth smart savings strategies anyone can use, no matter how much they earn -- from real-life tips contributed by women on our blog, to the abundance of savings stories right here on MSN Money.
As you might expect with such a wealth of ideas, there are many ways to fire up your inner-savings goddess. Try one, try 'em all.
Spare change = big bucks
Stash a dollar in a jar every time you do the laundry, says blogger LBL.
Save all your $5 bills in a coffee can. (My husband and I do this so we have extra fun money.) Or save all your $20 bills in shoe box ("I saved for a trip to Europe this way," says Bowers, who earns $1,800 a month working in a cafe.)
Cash in your spare change. Many banks and credit unions will sort your change without charging a fee. Or, do it yourself: "We invested in a $30 coin sorter, which has paid for itself three times over," writes a reader who calls herself darcie1590.
Salt away all those little rebates, refunds and reimbursement checks.
Take free money. Now some institutions, like Bank of America and even PayPal, are offering what you might call "spare change" savings plans. Bank of America will round up any purchase you make and deposit the extra change in a savings account for you. For a limited time, they'll even match your spare change up to $250. If you use the PayPal debit card, they'll refund 1% of your purchase immediately, wrote Kit on the blog. Other cards may offer similar deals; don't let free cash pass you by (but beware of hidden fees).
More from MSN Money
10 times you can’t afford to skimp
Quiz: Are you a smart spender?
10 easy ways to save $500 or more
20 great ways to save on a shoestring
The real reason you're broke
Calculator: Is your debt too high to handle?
Don't even think about it
Even if you love to save, it can be hard to sock away that cash -- unless you let Mother Technology do it for you. Nearly everyone on the blog -- and in the WIR -- has an automatic transfer set up from their checking to their savings.
You can do this anywhere you bank, but a number of readers favor ING Direct.
At 3.4%, ING pays a lot more interest than you can get on most no-minimum savings accounts.
Because the account is online -- and there's no direct ATM access -- you can't touch your savings without thinking about it.
Savers can set up multiple sub-accounts at no extra charge -- for different purposes (vacation, new roof, Sally's sweet 16).
To test-drive ING's basic savings plan, I set up an account in 15 minutes to have $25 a week taken out of checking and put into a little account I nicknamed "Happy Money." I'm richer already!
Play little money games
Create bank errors in your favor. "If I spend $2.16 on a coffee, I deduct $3 (in my check register)," writes AJ. "It really adds up." Several readers share AJ's strategy, including a blogger named Natalie, who even rounds down her paycheck. A $425 check would become $400 in the check register -- and the $25 is saved.
Make a fair trade. One reader swapped her cleaning skills for day-care time for her child; Beth of the WIR recently helped a neighbor build a fence in exchange for some pocket money; in exchange for some editing, a friend is going to organize my messy apartment. The swaps are endless -- and the savings can be huge. "You can get together with friends and have a clothes or furniture/house item swap," adds Nancy.
Switch from paper to plastic. A surprising number of women are mega-advocates of relying on credit cards as a way of controlling spending. Some get cash back or miles; some just feel handling cash is too risky. "I don't carry cash, I don't use cash," writes Chris. "This has helped to curb impulse spending, which equates to effective saving." Caveat: These responsible souls pay the card balance in full each month, often depositing the cash for purchases in advance. Ahem!
Divide and conquer. Divide the total amount of your car insurance (or other irregular expense) by 12 and sock away that amount each month so you don't get caught short. Lea says she won't blow her holiday budget this year because she's used this system to save each month for gifts.
Never pay full price
Buy non-perishables in bulk (i.e., cereals, rice, pastas, dried fruit and canned goods); bulk prices are much lower.
Share the savings. Bowers says one friend will buy toiletries and such at a warehouse store and divvy the spoils up with friends.
Buy generic instead of brand-name products. "I've stopped eating Cheerios in favor of Toasty-O's -- my paycheck loves me for it, and my tastebuds don't know the difference," writes Chada.Sign up to be notified whenever MP publishes a new article.
Preferred format:
HTMLPlain TextLearn more about newsletters
Research before you buy. Most readers say bargains can be found for any item if you put a little time into finding discount Web sites, clearance centers, warehouse outlets and the like.
"Look at the Pottery Barn catalog, shop at Goodwill," writes Chada again. "You'd be amazed at what you can turn into a masterpiece with a little paint and stain."
Fly cheap. Renee recommends mobissimo.com and itasoftware.com -- both travel search engines that comb the Web to find the lowest of the lowest possible prices.
Build it, grow it, make it, cook it yourself
A big way to save on a small income is to embrace DIY as your financial salvation. In addition to sewing, making gifts and homemade cards, cooking at home, and baking everything from scratch, here are some other creative ways to save:
"We've made lamps, a window seat, a bar, our headboard, a corner sofa and various tables and shelves," writes Kelly. "It's saved us a fortune."
"There is little that can't be cleaned with (a mix of) vinegar and baking soda," writes ylm23. "We use the mix throughout the kitchen, bathroom, dining room -- and have scrubbed pots and pans with it."
"Don't forget gardening as a money-saving venture," writes a green-thumbed reader. "One year, I fed the four of us and a neighbor for almost four months from a 10-by-15-foot garden."
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