How To Remain An Aware, Capable & Sharp Investor

 

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When it comes to investing money, it’s important to remember that no matter how careful your analysis, no matter how little you invest or how much you diversify your portfolio, investing is always a risk. Keeping that in mind can aid you in making sure this process is properly aided, and that you discipline yourself going forward.

But when we say ‘properly aided,’ what do we mean? Well, remaining a capable, aware, and sharp investor relies on not only gathering information and learning to take advantage of opportunities, as well as minimizing risk, but it means knowing how to prioritize certain information streams and deciding which ones to act upon.

But how can you know which ones to select, and how can you glean this information daily without having to spend undue amounts of time just trying to manage it all? In this post, we’ll discuss three worthwhile tips that new or returning investors may wish to focus on, as well as how to measure your expectations and what that means in the long run.

Let’s begin:

Use RSS Feeds & API Integrations

Using RSS feeds and API integrations can help you keep on top of the news when you need to know a breaking story or even minor stories that can influence your investing strategy. Instead of implementing absolutely everything in this way, it can be a great idea to consider focusing on a few worthwhile resources that aid you properly. For instance, integrating cryptocurrency API options for your website or personal web tracker can make a massive difference just going forward. In that light, you’ll curate your investment strategy in the most guided and informed manner.

Follow Specific Journalists

Following a few specific journalists that you trust can help you avoid continually struggling to make decisions based on opposing takes and disparate information. This might take some time to curate, but reading the works of regularly contributive journalists from sites like Bloomberg, or even financial analysts working in a freelance and crowdfunded capacity using platforms like Substack, can make a really great difference going forward. Even if you take their advice with a pinch of salt, having great and informed financial minds continually weighing in can help you strengthen your own perspective and learn from more than just your own experience.

Invest In Worthwhile Software

There are many software suites you may consider necessary when investing, and this can depend on what kind of investments you hope to make. Trading platforms, for instance, are best defined and utilized by their latency, their ability to grant you up to the minute information, their wallet security, and your ability to manage the metrics of your portfolio. Figuring out which platform is best for your needs can be important, as is researching their history and what rules are in place. In that respect, you can not only move and invest your money but protect it as appropriate.

With this advice, you’re sure to remain a capable, aware and sharp investor through and through.

Take Away The Pain Of High Dental Costs

 

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A trip to the dentist can be expensive. However, there are ways in which you can reduce your dental bills. Below are just a few ways to save money on trips to the dentist.

Don’t ignore that toothache

Toothaches rarely go away simply by ignoring them. In most cases, the pain will get worse. Not only this, but the cost of getting it treated could increase too. A small infection can usually be treated cheaply with a dose of antibiotics. However, if you let it spread, you’re likely to require root canal treatment or a tooth extraction, which is a lot more unpleasant and a lot more expensive. 

Go for annual checkups

Annual checkups can help to detect dental problems early. This could allow you to get treatment early. Even if you don’t have any pain or discomfort, there could be issues such as hidden build-ups of plaque that a dentist may be able to spot before they lead to possible decay. Check-ups are often cheap so are worth it.

Consider dental insurance

Dental insurance can help to make dental treatment more affordable. This is particularly the case with major dental cover, which can pay for any major treatment for you. You’ll have to pay a monthly insurance fee of a few dollars, however this is likely to be much more manageable on a tight budget than having to fork out hundreds of dollars for a single procedure. It could be particularly useful for paying for emergency treatment, which you won’t have time to save up for. 

Shop around for dental treatment

A lot of people register with one dental practice and never try anywhere else. However, it can sometimes be worth considering other dental practices - especially when it comes to major treatment. Different clinics are likely to charge different rates. You may be able to pay less at another clinic for a certain procedure. If you know exactly what kind of treatment you need, you may be able to get a price quote over the phone. It may not be worth the hassle with cheap routine treatment.

Look after your teeth

By far the best thing you can do to save money on dental care is to look after your teeth. While dental problems can sometimes be out of our control, the majority are preventable.

Good dental hygiene could prevent you from having to spend money on fillings, crowns and other treatment to tackle decay. Make sure that you’re brushing your teeth twice per day for two minutes at a time. Some people find that they’re able to clean their teeth more easily by investing in an electric toothbrush, however a manual toothbrush could be just as effective. 

You should also protect your teeth when playing sports like hockey or martial arts. Major dental reconstruction is certain not to be cheap. Buy a fitted gum shield to protect your teeth if there’s any risk of losing them while practicing your sport.

Is Your Brand Stuck In The Dark Ages?

 

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We all like to believe that we’re “hip” and “trendy” and that we know precisely what the younger generations are doing. After all, we are the younger generation, right? 

Well, not so fast. As the decades pass, things change. And if you’re out of it, you’ll always struggle to get back into the swing of things.

But it doesn’t just apply to social interactions. It matters to businesses too. Some companies are absolutely on the bleeding edge of innovation, while others are like old relics from a bygone era. 

Is your brand still stuck in the dark ages? Here’s how to find out. 

You’re Still Using A Fax Machine

It’s hard to believe that anyone is still using a fax machine these days. But some companies swear by it. There’s nothing quite like getting a phone-connected printer to print out the messages you get on a piece of paper, instead of displaying them on a screen. 

But let’s face it, times have moved on. And fax machines seem hopelessly anachronistic in the modern world. 

You’re Still Not Using Influencers

Influencers, according to agencies like Unruly, are one of the best ways to connect with your customers. And yet relatively few brands are actually using them.

And that’s not because of a shortage of people out there. Today, there are thousands of influencers, all miniature celebrities in their own right. Instead, it’s because they don’t understand the impact that they can have. 

Influencers are a form of social proof. Audiences trust them because they assume that they have no brand affiliations and are just like them. That’s rarely the case, but most consumers don’t know this yet, making influencers powerful allies. 

You Still Insist On In-Person Interactions

We all know managers who began their careers in the 1980s who believe that face-to-face contact is essential in the workplace. It’s this breed who is currently maintaining the giant stock of commercial office space around the world. 

But do you really need in-person interactions to run a business? Well, these days, for most industries, the honest answer is no.

Yes - it’s nice to socialize with people when you go to work. And yes, perhaps productivity is slightly higher when your manager is literally breathing down your neck. But, overall, it probably isn’t going to have a big impact on the overall success of your company. 

You Use Regular Mail To Send Messages

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Some companies and organizations still use snail mail to tell their customers about their products or new deals. And that’s surprising. After all, we’ve known for years that snail mail is nothing compared to the lightning-quick speed of modern email services. 

You Still Use Direct Advertising

Direct advertising was virtually the only way to communicate with customers in the past. So most brands concentrated on creating semi-vulgar jingles they hoped consumers would remember. But that approach is pretty much dead in the modern digital space. People don’t market using direct advertising anymore. Instead, they create great content and sales funnels they ultimately hope will lead to conversion. 

You Can Improve Your Company's Cash Flow

 

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Even the most successful businesses can be hit with cash flow problems on occasion, and small businesses are even more likely to have this issue, so it’s important if you want your company to be a success, that you do everything you can to improve your cash flow situation.

With that in mind, here are some simple things you can do to improve your company’s cash flow starting now.

Lease instead of buying

You may really need that flatbed truck for transporting building materials for your crew to use or you may not be able to function without that industrial screen printing machine, but do you really need to own it? Leasing is a great way to improve cash flow because you are only required to pay a small amount each month instead of a huge cost upfront. This means, when times are tough, you have more available in the bank account to see you through. It may seem counterintuitive, but it can really work well.

Chase up invoices

If you need money right now, then you’re going to have to get more serious about chasing up those clients whose payments are overdue. Non-payers are a huge pain in the butt, but there are strategies you can use to get them to cough up, including offering them a discount if they do so within X number of days. If your finances aren’t exactly fighting fit, it may be necessary to do just that, even though it’s not much fun dealing with evasive clients at the best of times!

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Streamline your inventory

Take stock of your inventory and work out which products are selling and which are not doing well at all. Get rid of all the stuff that isn’t making you much money (even if you have to sell at a discount) and stop buying more. Focus on stocking a slimline inventory of the stuff that makes you the most money and your cash flow will improve immediately.

Negotiate

Suppliers love to hold on to good customers for as long as possible, so if you have a good rep with your own suppliers, it may be possible for you to negotiate a better rate of the products you stock. It’s hard if you’re not super confident, but all you have to do is call them up, explain the problem and let them know you may have to move to a cheaper supplier, and chances are they’ll be dying to shave a little off the margins, which will help you tremendously.

Bulk buy with other businesses

Another way of lowering your stock overheads is to partner up with other companies who require similar products because, when you buy in larger quantities it tends to cost you less per item. Are there any local companies who would consider bubbling up with you? Have a look around and reach out to people because they may be more receptive than you think.

Cash flow problems are no fun, but they can be overcome and the ideas above will surely help you to do so.

Why Isn't Your Property Selling

It happens a lot more than you might think: someone puts their property on the market, ready to have buyers snapping at their heels, and then nothing comes through the door. No offers, no queries, and the estate agent just keeps telling you to hold on. 

However, you’re just not sure if any news on selling is going to come your way, and you’re tired of waiting around for so long, wondering why you can’t make a return on your investment. You need answers now!

But in truth, there are many reasons as to why your property might not be selling. And with this post, we’re going to list the three most common below; make sure your property doesn’t fit any of the below criteria and you’ll get a sale in no time. 

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You’ve Valued Wrong

How high is the asking price of your property? Because it might be much higher than a buyer would ever want to pay for it! Sure, you’re looking to get as much money as possible, but when you get your home valued and then stick an extra 20% on top of the asking price, you’re not going to net a sale at all. Just bring it down a notch! 

No One Knows it’s For Sale 

A house that’s only recently been put up for sale might as well exist in a vacuum; many people aren’t going to notice it without you getting the word out about it! And when it comes to real estate investor marketing, you’ve got your work cut out for you. 

You need to get your property onto all the main real estate selling websites, to ensure you get as much coverage as possible for people looking for properties in your area. You also need to work with a reliable estate agent that is known for having a good and established online presence. And don’t be afraid to hit social networks either; Facebook Marketplace alone can net you a sale in record time, thanks to its accessibility. 

Your Home Doesn’t Look All That Great

Finally, it might be time to stand outside your property, from a distance, and consider how it looks. Because what you see is a great property with a lot of potential, but what others see is a run-down, potential fixer-upper that no one would realistically want to take on. 

So you need to jazz your home’s exterior up a bit - making it more appealing to the outside eye can cut down the selling process by at least a couple of months. Think about repainting, or planting a bit of greenery, or at least making sure your property looks clean. 

So, your property might not be selling thanks to too high an asking price, too little marketing, and maybe even just some bad curb appeal. But once you know what to work on, you can remedy the issue, and get the property back on the market to really make you some money. 

Can You Make A Good Living Being A Self-Employed Nurse?

 

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You have your nursing diploma under your belt and you are ready to enter the job market. As a beginner, there are many possibilities available to you. You can, for example, work in a hospital or establish yourself as a self-employed person. If you choose this second solution, it is essential to prepare yourself well. However, it is important to note that having a job in a hospital will give you security, job safety, a guaranteed wage and more. In this instance, you should look at current hospitalist job listings to see what may be suited to you. If you are looking at branching out from hospital or working in a hospital and also working part time freelance, then you will need to look at how it could be profitable for you.

Call in the financial experts

Your accountant not only knows what form of business best suits your profile, but he also helps you in many other areas. They are experts on finances and taxes. By working with an accountant, you won't have to worry about your tax returns or the accounting obligations of an independent professional. Would you like to benefit from more specific support for your sector? Contact a professional organization. They will advise you on matters such as your equipment and provide you with practical advice which will be good for the future.

Register as a self-employed person

Each independent nurse must register with the government for tax reasons. Registration can be done online easily.

1. Open a new bank account

In order to separate your private and professional transactions, it is important as a self-employed person to open a different current account with a local bank. 

2. Registration at a business counter

Have you chosen your form of business and opened an account in a bank? You can register at an approved business counter. In practice, your accountant can do this for you. 

3. Join a social insurance fund

Your life as a self-employed person can only begin once you are affiliated with a social insurance fund. You will therefore pay your taxes which will also contribute towards your pension in the future.

4. Get your insurance sorted

As a self-employed person, you do not benefit from the same protection as a salaried worker: therefore be sure to protect yourself sufficiently. Some insurances are compulsory, others are strongly recommended. As an independent nursing care provider, you may be faced with patients at any time claiming compensation for injury. A professional liability insurance will protect you in case of a fault committed in the context of your business. Any issues that go to court, could possibly be costly, which could hinder your career and finances. 

Being in the medical industry can be a profitable career and there are many avenues to explore. So whether you want something more secure, such as a fixed job within a hospital environment, or if you prefer to work self-employed within the community, it will be a great choice.

2021 Investment Update by Alpha Fiduciary

Guest post by: Arthur Doglione

www.alphafiduciary.com

Raise your hand if you predicted 2020 would see a global pandemic, massive unemployment caused by the first ever government mandated economic shut down in history, a highly contested election, and a stock market recovery from the lows that was amongst the strongest in U.S. history, all in the same year? Ok, put your hand down, there is always one in a crowd! While the calendar has turned all the pages of 2020, there are many differing opinions as to the current health of the U.S. economy and financial markets, have they come too far too soon, what effects will government stimulus and economic dislocations have on the financial markets in 2021 and beyond?

Widespread uncertainty in 2020 failed to dampen the outlook and recovery of equities in Q2 and Q3 2020, record low interest rates were certainly the fuel and spark the markets needed, however the markets took a pause in early Q4 as election chaos gave investors pause, until positive vaccine news once again provided the spark in November 2020. Stocks across the board have risen to new heights, awakening even value stocks from their multiyear slumber. However, following such an impressive rise some on Wall Street believe the rally has come too far too soon, prompting calls of a “bubble” in both stocks and bonds.

While it is our opinion that we are not currently experiencing a bubble in equities, we will grant that the most striking characteristic of economic bubbles, the very thing that fuels their existence is our blindness to them! Perhaps we should first define what a bubble is, one definition of a bubble is that an assets price rises rapidly to the point of being disconnected from any reasonable measure of its inherent value. This is typically caused by emotional inertia driving future expectations higher causing an implausible gap between price and value, some might say Bitcoin! Just an observation largely based perhaps on an inability to make a case for its value given many still can’t even determine if it’s a currency or a commodity! If it’s a currency there is not, and cannot ever be enough in supply to serve this role, if it’s to be viewed as a commodity similarly to gold or silver, I’ve yet to find anything that requires Bitcoin in its manufacture. It may very well continue its explosive price ascent, but attempts to determine “what it’s worth” have been difficult, if not futile.

One asset class where we believe weakness will continue is bonds; with rates at record lows and significantly elevated federal spending to support the economy as well as fund party pledges, we are aware the Fed’s desire is to keep short term rates at low levels, this does not preclude the free markets from pulling the intermediate and long end of the yield curve higher. This realization may seem unsettling to some investors, however, if the economy does start to show better growth in the second half of 2021 as we expect it will, we will likely see rates rise and bond prices fall. Alpha Fiduciary has focused on bond allocations largely supported by real assets or special circumstances which we believe are preferable to own, relative to traditional fixed rate bonds, in rising rate environments.

Finally, earning season will likely provide support for stocks as we begin to see the world return to a more normal operating environment, it would not surprise us to see at least a temporary surge in economic growth before settling in to a more gradual and sustainable GDP growth in the 2.5% range as pent-up demand is satisfied in 2021.

While we don’t think most longer-term investors should underweight stocks in this environment, we favor a core/tactical approach to equities as we believe this presents an attractive upside capture while posed to potentially reduce downside exposure should factors signal to reduce equity exposure in the event it’s warranted.

There are many different approaches to the tactical management of equities, designed and employed with the goal to gain exposure to asset classes when they are rising, and to reduce exposure to those asset classes to limit or reduce downside capture.

If you would like to discover if Alpha Fiduciary’s wealth management approach can benefit you, please visit www.alphafiduciary.com www.alphafiduciary.com/whoweare or call us at 480-505-4033.

Alpha Fiduciary is a SEC registered investment advisory firm. This blog is provided for informational purposes only and should not be construed as personalized investment advice and should not be considered as a solicitation to buy or sell any security or investment advisory service. Please refer to the Investment Adviser Public Disclosure website (www.adviserinfo.sec.gov) to review our Form ADV Brochure for more information.