I am sure you have heard this axiom: If you don’t know where you are going, you will get there. Many folks investing today are on that path: they are investing without proper knowledge of the stock market, of investment basics, and lacking simple, concise, written goals. Later, these folks will experience great challenges.Among other things, the Federal Reserve’s Quantitative Easing program, a euphemism for pumping money into the economy, is fueling rising stock markets. This could entice even more folks to invest in stocks because they might see opportunities to ‘make money.’ Beware; before investing, at least, ensure you dispel three popular investment myths, and understand the potential investment’s opportunity cost.
Investing in the stock market is gambling
Low priced stocks, especially those at 52-week lows are worth buying
Investment analysts and advisors know how investments will perform
Investing In The Stock Market Is GamblingSimplistically, investing is just another spending form. You buy a book, a car, a house, and you buy stocks, bonds, or other investment instruments. The key is to develop a solid process to follow instinctively before spending: a spending decision process. Your attitude will decide how you behave, and so, you could choose to spend on stocks and bonds – invest – with a gambling motive. That’s why I advise folks never to invest unless they fulfill specific prerequisites, such as being debt free with an established process to replace major assets for cash, and having clear, concise, written investment goals.Then again, even with clear goals, individuals need to know that consistent, solid earnings is the key sustainer of a business’ value, and ultimately, its stock market price.Low Priced Stocks, Especially Those At 52-week Lows, Are Worth BuyingHere is a trap to avoid. A stock is trading at its 52-week low, falling over 50%, and you think it presents a buying opportunity. Maybe; on the other hand, maybe not! Likely, that business’ products and services no longer have the capability to produce previously perceived earnings. Alternatively, investment analysts and others may have promoted this business because of some fad or other irrelevant reason. Yahoo! and Nortel are examples of companies whose stock prices traded at unsustainable levels; after the expected collapse, their stock prices did not recover. Many other examples exist, particularly on the Japanese stock exchange.As I mentioned above, as with all spending, we need to follow a spending decision process before investing. This will allow us to use a fall in stock price as a trigger to identify business’ fundamentals and potential investment opportunities.Investment Analysts And Advisors Know How Investments Will Perform When you listen to these folks, you might forget that they, like you and I, have no clue about the future. Some are in conflicts of interest, blinded, and pushing particular products. Others might be sincere but are relying on the past. And we know, the past might not be a good predictor of the future.Can these folks help? Certainly, but each client must try to understand whom his or her advisor represents, and accept that advisors do not know the future. Accordingly, folks receiving investment advice must be fully aware that they, not their advisors, need to decide when and how to act from advice they get.Before you start investing, dispel the above three myths, learn key investment basics, and learn and make sure you fulfill specific investing preconditions.This final point is obvious but often folks overlook it. Investing in the stock market has an opportunity cost; it reduces, by amounts invested, funds available for other purposes. Ten thousand dollars invested in the market could buy a car, pay a portion of a college semester’s fees, or be donated to charity. Therefore, as part of your spending decision process, ask these three questions before deciding to invest:
What other alternatives exists to use funds you are about to invest?
Given your present and expected situation, is this the best use of funds today?
Will you need to replenish these funds to carry out other specific goals in the next three to five years?
© Copyright 2013, Michel A. Bell
Three Investing Myths To Unlearn Before Investing
Affordable Online Nutrition Degree Schools
Online Nutrition Schools – Helping you Become a Qualified NutritionistToday people are more interested in pursuing careers in fields which are less traditional and more interacting, therefore you will find tons of people heading towards careers in the human services sector, nursing and psychology industry etc.The nutritional field of study has also sparked much speculation among people and has become one of the most flourishing career path for people in the 21st century. With millions around the world encountering health related issues, the need for professionals in the nutritional sciences has doubled over the years.With the effect hundreds of colleges and universities in the US have started offering not only traditional degree options for them but also distance learning opportunities. For all those of you interested in visiting online nutrition schools in the US but have no idea about which are the school which are in demand and get you the best education.You can take into consideration the following nutrition schools which may help you lead a successful career in the nutritional field of study.Kaplan UniversityKaplan University is a privately run institute in Iowa which is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission. This university conducts both online and on-campus learning modes and offers various nutrition degrees. The university has campuses in other states as well and has been listed among the notable online nutrition schools. Kaplan University offers you the following programs in nutrition.
BS in Nutrition Science
Ashworth CollegeAshworth College helps you advance towards a career with the convenient and affordable online education it offers. This school offers a diploma program which trains you to help others lead a healthy live. This college follows a fully online format of education and also offers all lectures and material to students online.
Career Diploma in Nutrition, Diet & Health Sciences
University of BridgeportEstablished in 1927 this university today operates as a private coeducational educational body. University of Bridgeport has been a leader in providing innovative opportunities to all and therefore has been one of the premier online nutrition schools in the country. It currently offers the following nutrition program.
MS in Human Nutrition
University of Massachusetts – AmherstUniversity of Massachusetts – Amherst functions as the largest public university in New England. The university has promoted healthy living in many ways and has been over the years consistently ranked among the notable online nutrition schools and today offers the following degree options for people.
Master of Public Health in Nutrition
ConclusionAll the schools mentioned here are all accredited and may turn out to be the perfect option for you to pursue a degree in nutrition. If you do not find any of these online nutrition schools matching your needs then before searching for another school always make a check if it is regionally accredited.
Skin Care For Your Everlasting Beauty
In a previous article I talked in general about the secrets of how to get a Natural makeup look. Now I will cover in more detail all you need to know about a good skin care regimen. I will unveil the skin care secrets that will be the foundation of a lifelong healthy, beautiful face. This will create, support and reinforce a solid basis for astonishing looks and healthier skin.I have to start by telling you that knowing your skin is the first step to a beautiful and healthy skin. We cannot pick the correct skin care regimen without this knowledge. There are four general types of skin: dry, which is generally manifested by a lack of shine, has fine pores, and it has the tendency to develop early wrinkles; oily, which is exactly the opposite, having extra shine and dilated pores, but without the proper skin care regimen, it can develop blackheads, acne and other problems; normal skin is the dreamy skin just perfect and with a balanced grade of hydration; sensitive skin is not that uncommon, and without the correct skin care regimen can lead to serious skin problems where you least want them. This type of skin has reddish appearance, it may itch, peel, and it feels very tight. Finally mix skin, which combine one or various types of skin in different parts of the face generally on the “T” zone (forehead, nose and shin).We are continually expelling many toxins from our skin through our sweat. When the water of our sweat dries we are left off with those toxins. Over time, these accumulate, and they damage our skin and make it dry. To remove the makeup of the eyes and mouth we need to use a makeup remover that has the same hydration as the tears. The skin around the eyes and mouth is more prone to wrinkles due to the lack of hydration. When removing the makeup, don’t rub your eyes and mouth. Just use soft and slow movements, doing this will prevent wrinkles. Finally, for the rest of your face, use a product that is for your skin type. Apply the cleaner softly to your face for a minute or so to avoid wrinkles. Some homemade face cleaners are: Lemon and yogurt Milk Cleaner, Strawberry milk cleaner, etc.A good skin care regimen cannot be complete without a tonic that matches your skin type. The tonic eliminates the rest of the toxins and dirt from your skin leaving it fresh. It is preferable to use a non-alcohol tonic. Alcohol based products can produce more problems to the skin because they can give you the false impression of controlling the oil of your skin, but at the end, can produce even more, causing more unwanted acne and oily skin. It is very important to apply the tonic over very clean skin to get the complete benefit from it. Some good homemade tonics are: Rose water, Chamomile tonic, etc.Our skin is changing constantly and produces new and young cells every day. These will replace the dead cells, but to allow those new cells to reach that superior level of regeneration, we must get rid of our dead ones. That is why exfoliating our skin, the next step in our skin care regimen is so important. When we don’t exfoliate we are just leaving those dead cells blocking the way to the new cell giving our skin a dull and opaque appearance. Exfoliation removes dead cells leaving a free way for the new ones to regenerate your skin and support a youthful look. This rejuvenating effect is the natural result of removing the dead cells stimulating the production of young and new cells. In addition, with a good exfoliation the lotions and treatments for the skin will have a better absorbtion and will work even better at deeper level. Some homemade exfoliators are: oatmeal, salt, etc.Let’s talk about a good skin care regimen masque. Incorporating this into your skin care regimen will give your skin a boost of beauty; it will help to prolong and support the good health and look of your skin. With the continuous use of the masque the face will recuperate the firmness and will diminish wrinkles. To maximize its effects, exfoliate before using any masque. This will help the masque to penetrate better and work at the molecular level of your skin. Before applying it, heat the masque a little bit in your hand, this way it will work better. Avoid the eye area, there are masques made specifically for the eyes. By following these simple tips, you will always experience the best of your favorite masque. Some homemade masques are made with: clay, egg, etc.Now let’s hydrate! After giving your skin all these pampering, it is important to hydrate it. The environmental hazards and aging can change the production of collagen. This has the effect of causing loss of hydration giving your skin a dry, dull and unhealthy look. Fortunately, finding a good moisturizer to complete your skin care regimen will solve the issue. The moisturizer’s function is to keep the water molecules and form a protective shield that avoids water evaporation. When we feel that our skin still feels tight and dry, means that you need more water, and that its time to use the replenishing serum. These are an extra hydration to the skin, it’s more watery, and will be absorb by the skin completely. Some of my recommended homemade moisturizers are: coconut crème, honey crème, etc.To close, remember that a good skin care regimen is the difference between a beautiful, youthful looking skin and the undesired alternative. Do not skip your daily skin care regimen, and the difference will be happily obvious to you… and others!