The stock market is famous for its volatility, so it’s not too surprising that risk-averse investors are keen to find safer ways to invest money. Traditional stocks and shares are vulnerable to fluctuations in the market, and this can cause major losses that can wreak havoc in any investor’s portfolio. It’s no wonder, then, that alternative investments are becoming more popular as those who are investing for the first time, as well as those who are seasoned investors, look for options that will give them a reliable and secure source of ongoing income without so many risks.

So, what are alternative investments? It’s a term that is used to describe any type of investment outside the standard three asset classes of cash, bonds, and stocks. While these more unusual investment options have a role to play in any investor’s portfolio, it’s important to be aware that these investments can’t take over from traditional assets. As an investor, you shouldn’t sell your stocks, or take your cash out of your savings account and put it all into untraditional options. In fact, the majority of financial experts believe alternative investments can be put to best use when it comes to portfolio diversification.  Rather than putting all your money into stocks, it makes more sense to put some into stocks, some into bonds, and some into alternative investments such as fine art, wine, private equity, or hedge funds. This is one of the best ways to protect your portfolio.

Alternative investments have long been popular with institutional investors and high net-worth individuals, and this is because many of them require a bigger initial investment when compared to bonds and stocks. Also, in many cases, alternative investments have less liquidity than more traditional ones, so they are harder to cash in easily and quickly. Nevertheless, don’t be put off just yet. There are several benefits to making alternative investments.

Investing In Fine Art

Historically, price fluctuations within the fine art market do not reflect the standard fluctuations reflected in the traditional stock market. On the other hand, though, the art market has shifts of its own that may make investing more risky. Although buying sculptures and paintings in top auction houses and galleries will cost you a minimum of $10,000, it’s possible to enter this market with lower amounts of around $500 – $1,000 if you’re willing to gamble on undiscovered, smaller artists, or cheaper media such as lithography or photography.

Investing In Wine

You may never have considered investing in wine, but in fact, it’s possible to make steady returns of 6-15% each year in the long-term. The prices of some vintages will fluctuate year-to-year, however, the price of wine from the most popular vintages and vineyards will usually eventually increase when the supply becomes more scarce. On the downside, though, since wine collectors and connoisseurs are picky, you’ll need to do your research to choose vintages that represent a good investment, and you’ll need to invest in a large quantity to ensure sizeable returns.

Investing In Commodities

Livestock, crops, precious metals, and fossil fuels are all commodities. Their marketplace is extremely volatile since unpredictable world events and natural disasters can have direct impacts on prices. If there’s a drought in one year, the price of a certain crop may soar, but then the following year there may be a surplus that causes that commodity’s price to drop dramatically. Since commodities are unpredictable, they are better long-term investments than short-term ones. The safest way to benefit from commodities’ rising prices is to purchase ETFs. These mutual funds buy several commodities instead of just focusing on a single one. This eliminates a little of the uncertainty involved in choosing which commodity could fall or rise at any given time.

Investing In Real Estate

Real estate has long been an extremely popular form of alternative investment. Yet, even this long-standing option is subject to market fluctuations. The potential of crashes in the real estate market makes some investors nervous and wary about making investments in property. However, purchasing rental property usually provides a reliable and steady income as long as the right tenants can be found. It’s important, though, to remember other expenses such as general upkeep and property taxes that may limit profits together with major investments of effort and time.

Choosing The Right Alternative Investments

If you’re keen to make alternative investments, the key is to add them to an expanding portfolio of options. If you choose the right alternative investment for you, whether than be in wine, fine art, rental property or commodities, you should ensure that it forms part of a larger series of investments to protect you from potential risks. This way, you can enjoy greater financial security as well as maximum money-making potential.

The post Are There Any Safe Alternative Investments? appeared first on Wall Street Survivor.

source https://blog.wallstreetsurvivor.com/2020/06/02/are-there-any-safe-alternative-investments/

The ongoing coronavirus pandemic has led to the shutdown of major sectors of the economy, so many countries around the world are now facing an economic slowdown. As businesses clamor for subsidies from the government, the unemployment rate continues to rise.

Some experts warn of an impending recession, while others argue that it’s already here. Recession is a scary word for any kind of business, but it’s especially worrisome for small businesses that don’t benefit from the same level of financial cushioning as larger companies. We only have to think about the dot-com bubble from the early 2000s and 2008’s Great Recession to be reminded of the impact such events can have on the future of small businesses.

In this article, we will go through some of the most effective strategies for ensuring the continuity of your business in a less than predictable economic environment.

Focus on Your Core Competencies

Every business has something it excels at – its core products or services. This is what will carry you through the recession. There are times when you can invest resources in new paths since bigger risks can also mean bigger rewards. Unfortunately, this is not the best time for this strategy.

During a recession, the smartest thing you can do is scale back and focus on the products or services that perform best. Don’t channel any of your budget to perfecting or marketing weaker products.

If possible, try to generate extra revenue by providing goods and services that people generally associate with basic survival and safety or to products that have been shown to attract customers during this time. If your company is not specialized in these sectors, you can also support and partner up with another small company in return for some of the profit.

Another way to increase revenue is to offer VIP or economy versions of your products or services or to introduce subscription options with added benefits.

Adapt Your Commercial Strategy

Companies that have survived previous recessions often attribute their success to their ability to carry on longer than their competitors. This is because customers that can no longer get their products and services from the providers they were familiar with will switch to alternatives, and around 15% of them will not switch back post-recession.

This means that customer service should be your top priority so you can reduce churn while acquiring new customers. You’ll want to continue your marketing efforts while changing your delivery model. The pandemic has caused a unique type of recession where buyers prefer home deliveries and want to place orders online or by telephone. Make sure you have enough staff resources to handle orders and customer inquiries. Use on hold music to keep your customers from hanging up and maintain the level of professionalism they expect even if they have to wait longer than usual.

Your marketing strategy should also be sensitive to the times. Remember that your customers are also feeling the pressure which will be reflected in their spending habits. Your advertisements should emphasize how your products and services can benefit them right now. To improve brand perception, you can associate yourself with efforts to help your community overcome challenges caused by the pandemic. Don’t push for sales and keep your messages relevant while you place your brand front and center.

Protect Cash Flow

It’s no surprise that recessions result in slimmer profit margins that make it more challenging to maintain healthy cash flow. We know that if your cash flow dries up, you’re likely to have to close down your business.

To carry your business through the recession, you’re going to have to audit your current spending and cut back as much as possible. See if there are any resources or services that you can function without at least for a while or if you can renegotiate your contracts with collaborators or suppliers. Look for cheaper alternatives for the items you consider necessary and funnel the money you saved into keeping your business running.

Remember that any companies you collaborate with will also be struggling to stay afloat, so they’d rather renegotiate terms than lose your business. If you can’t get lower prices, you may get more flexible payment options or discounts for early payment. You won’t know unless you ask.

You’ll also want to look into financial assistance. You can either get money through government support to keep your employees on the payroll or search for other funding programs and lines of credit for small businesses. The most important aspect is to get a clear understanding of your financial records, so you know where to cut back and how to protect yourself.

On Managing Staff

As with any economic downturn, you may need to consider adjusting your staffing arrangements. It’s never an easy decision, but even the strongest companies may have to opt for layoffs. You’ll want to have a thorough understanding of your staffing costs. If possible, reduce hours before considering any layoffs. Of course, if you’re going to cut costs this way, you’ll want to lead by example and start by reducing your own income. Your employees will respect you more for it, and it improves morale.

As with any changes in a company, communication is key. You need to communicate early and clearly not just with your employees but with any stakeholders, including suppliers, creditors, and customers. Rash decisions that go against company values and public expectations can lead to a backlash that will hurt your profit margins and our chances of surviving the recession.

Regarding your staff, you’ll want to keep them up-to-date and involve them in the decision process. This creates an atmosphere of solidarity, and together you can come up with solutions that benefit everyone involved. They may be open to job-sharing arrangements or additional training so they can undertake more duties.

If you have to let some of your employees go, never do it in rounds as this will make the rest of the team more unproductive since they’ll be worried about what’s coming next, and you also want to make sure you understand your obligations when ending a contract.

The post 4 Strategies to Get Your Small Business through the Recession appeared first on Wall Street Survivor.

source https://blog.wallstreetsurvivor.com/2020/05/29/4-strategies-to-get-your-small-business-through-the-recession/

Throughout history, gold has remained a longstanding investment instrument. The unique properties of the precious metal have chiefly contributed to its value as a safety net for investors seeking stability for their investment portfolios, and they are also why gold advocates like Harald Seiz are so fascinated by it.

Not only has gold served as an investment vehicle, but it has also been used to foster cultural identity. Additionally, gold is used for a wide range of industrial applications. This has positioned gold as the most sought-after product in the commodity market.

This piece explores the reasons why gold is often perceived as a safe investment against inflation.

Gold returns could outperform the inflation rate, according to Harald Seiz

The general lack of big volatility in the price of gold makes it an attractive investment to investors. When investors buy gold, they buy an asset that will hold its value and therefore provide a good hedge or, in other words, protection against inflation.

Consider an investment scenario where you invest in a stock that gives a 2 percent return, but the rate of inflation is 3 percent, invariably, you are losing that 1 percent.

Historically, when the prices of goods attained an all-time high, the stock market often plunged, while the price of gold soared. This is because people tend to buy gold at an increased rate when their local currencies are nose-diving. This is because paper currencies lose their purchasing power in the face of inflation, unlike gold.

The renowned gold expert and entrepreneur Harald Seiz always advises: “A well-diversified portfolio is one that has gold in the right proportion.” Harald Seiz further states in his experience, gold has proven to outperform normal inflation rates on average, as the price of gold increases by eight percent every year on average since 2001. Compared to the usual Euro or USD inflation rate of two percent, gold clearly wins against traditional currencies.

Gold is a good hedge against currency devaluation

The value of gold is inversely correlated with the value of the U.S dollar. What this implies is that if the U.S. dollar loses its value because of inflation, gold tends to become more expensive.

A gold investor will be hedged against a weak dollar. As inflation rises and eats up the value of the U.S. dollar, the price per ounce of gold moves upward. An investment in gold annuls the effect of a falling dollar.

What makes gold attractive to smart investors is that gold loves bad news! In contrast to other financial instruments, the value of gold tends to move in the opposite direction to market uncertainty.

Gold is recyclable, non-corrosive, and preserves its value

In contrast to common coins, fiat currencies, and other types of assets, gold is known for maintaining its value over centuries. The properties of gold account for its uniqueness and value.

It is highly recyclable and resistant to corrosion. This enables small fragments of gold to be melted into coins or other expensive jewelry.

Gold has a well-earned and deserved reputation for making a great hedge against inflation, which eats away at the value of paper assets again and again. Fortunately, no matter what happens to gold, it will most likely at least retain the value that it took to mine and produce, while paper assets can theoretically go all the way down to zero.

Gold has a fixed inflationary supply

Due to the constraints in the supply of gold, it is impossible for any government to print an excessive supply of gold like with fiat currencies. Gold mining activities have continued to slow down due to the fast depletion of gold reserves.

 

Currntly, the inflationary supply of gold is fixed at 2 percent annually, which makes it an extremely rare precious metal. This constraint in the supply of gold is advantageous to gold investors, seeing as when the supply of gold decreases, the price of gold increases.

Gold-based IRAs are on the rise

Gold-based Investment Retirement Accounts (IRAs) are becoming increasingly popular these days. Backing your Investment Retirement Account with gold offers brilliant insurance for your retirement funds. If the market changes due to inflation, your investment portfolio does not shrink.

The gold-based IRA is a type of retirement account that is approved by the government and backed by actual physical gold. For many investors, paper assets are too much of a risk. Not only does a gold-based IRA protect your hard-earned money from the forces of inflation, but it also guides against the unsound fiscal policy.

The bottom line

The demand for gold is gradually creeping to an all-time high. Investing in gold has always been recommended as a good cushion against the harsh realities of inflation, especially as the economy is beginning to feel the pangs of recession.

However, it is a good call to have sound knowledge of all investment instruments before venturing into them.

The post Why Experts like Harald Seiz see Gold as a Safe Investment Against Inflation appeared first on Wall Street Survivor.

source https://blog.wallstreetsurvivor.com/2020/05/29/why-experts-like-harald-seiz-see-gold-as-a-safe-investment-against-inflation/

Some small businesses and other corporate entities have figured out a great way to add more success to their portfolios, through charitable giving. While the heart of a business lies within building a customer base and making a profit, there are many unique benefits for businesses that support a charity. Philanthropy isn’t just something that is good for the people or the planet. It also offers a company big bonuses that can support its mission and business plan. Here are the reasons why philanthropy is good for business.

The Right Thing To Do

The top reason to support philanthropy is that it’s the right thing to do. Business leaders have the ability to support great charities and give back to their communities. While making money and achieving financial success does feel good, the act of regularly helping the poor, the vulnerable, and the downtrodden can make someone feel completely fulfilled. Making a difference in the world may give a business owner a greater sense of purpose in life. Repeated generosity, such as giving to charity periodically, makes people feel happy. This happiness is greater than the joy felt after receiving a gift.

Improves Company Recognition

Giving back and supporting a charity also helps a company improve its name recognition and brand awareness. Companies that regularly support different charitable organizations may be more well known than other ventures. In today’s world of social media, stories about businesses offering philanthropic support to different causes tend to be shared more than other corporate news. As more people find out about a company’s philanthropic work, the company’s brand gets a big boost.

Boosts Reputation

Companies that are known to support their communities and the people in them also experience a boost in their reputation. At some point in a business’s lifetime, it could get bad publicity or a negative review. The best way to fight negative feedback is to have plenty of positive, feel-good stories about the business. Getting out there and offering support to local charities and other philanthropies shows the company’s human side. It also carves out a reputation of kindness and positivity for a business.

Rallies Employee Morale

Just like business owners and the community benefit from corporate philanthropy, the employees of an organization also experience positive feelings with charitable giving. Employees who work for a company that helps make the world a better place may experience increased morale. The benefits of venture capitalist Mark Stevens charity giving is also felt by the staff members of the companies he leads, such as Nvidia.

Attracts Potential Customers

Businesses that have established a reputation for charitable giving and helping the world in times of crisis also attract more potential customers. In some ways, supporting philanthropy feels like an investment in the company’s future. It builds up the business’ reputation so that customers can associate the company with kindness and doing the right thing. Companies that have made charitable giving a big part of their mission have experienced boosts in sales and the number of new customers.

Offers Tax Benefits

Corporate charity also offers a company tax benefits. One way to take advantage of the financial benefits of supporting philanthropy is to claim a tax deduction for a charitable donation. It’s possible to get a deduction if a business gives to a qualifying organization. Businesses can claim the dollar amount of the donation if it’s cash, or they can claim the fair market value of the goods donated if it’s some other type of donation. Doing this helps a company save money on its taxes for the year due to lowering the overall taxable income of the corporation.

Allows for Free Advertising

Charity also offers an opportunity for a company to get free publicity for its good deeds. When an organization makes a big donation, there is often some sort of press release or news story accompanying it. The charity itself may create a publicity of the charitable donation for its own audiences. Instead of investing in a large advertising campaign, the company gets free, positive news stories on social media or television about its charitable work, which helps subtly spread the word about its products and services.

Supports the Community

Finally, the best reason to support a charity as a business is because it supports the community the company is part of. Doing business in a depressed community is a challenge, but a thriving business setting makes it easier to turn a profit. Companies should do whatever they can to ensure their local community has opportunities to thrive. There are many projects that businesses can support to improve the entrepreneurship and atmosphere in their town or city. Sometimes that means taking the lead and helping other organizations find their own successes.

Philanthropy and charitable giving are great ways to give a company a big boost in reputation, customer support, and employee satisfaction. Once a company is off to a good, successful start, it should begin considering how it will support its community in the form of philanthropy.

The post Why Philanthropy Is Good for Business? appeared first on Wall Street Survivor.

source https://blog.wallstreetsurvivor.com/2020/05/29/why-philanthropy-is-good-for-business/

Workplace safety is good for employers and their crews; practicing safety around the warehouse, shop, and plant prevents injuries, the loss of time, workers’ compensation claims, and increased insurance costs. Employers have a legal and moral obligation to provide a safe workplace, protect employees from injury, and keep the community safe from business-related hazards. Fortunately, there are many resources available to help you maintain safety in your workplace even when your employees are handling potentially hazardous materials and machinery.

Electricity

Safety must never be compromised, so paying attention to the basic safety guidelines when handling electricity is crucial. Proper workplace safety begins with the top administrators and doesn’t end until individual workers practice safety at all times:

• Stay away from any amount of water when working with electricity. Hands, equipment, wiring, and surfaces must be dry.
• Repair frayed cords, broken outlets and plugs, and damaged electrical insulation immediately.
• Turn off the main power source before handling electrical wiring or appliances. Put up a sign near the service panel, so other workers don’t turn the switch on until it’s safe.
• Train employees to recognize and understand warning signs on equipment, so they are compliant with local and federal electrical and wire codes.
• Use insulated tools, rubber gloves, goggles, and other appropriate personal protective equipment.

There are many potential risks when working with electricity. Train your employees to abide by safety protocols and make sure that safety signage is current and accurate.

Hot Work

Hot work operations include the use of an open flame or equipment that generates sparks. Some examples of hot work include cutting, soldering, welding, grinding, and brazing. This type of work can be dangerous, especially when the work is done around combustible materials. Some tips for maintaining safety including setting up designated spaces with fire-safe and hot work safety protocols. In some communities, permits are required, and in some situations, businesses must abide by a Hot Work Permit Program.

Hazardous Materials

There are many safety rules regarding the handling of chemicals and other hazardous materials. These begin with making sure that employees adhere to the protocols you’ve established. Your workers must use the appropriate PPE and be cautious around the materials. Other rules for safety include

• Maintaining proper labeling and replacing damaged containers or labels immediately.
• Only using materials, containers, and labels for their appropriate purposes.
• Keeping food, drink, and cosmetics away from all materials.
• Avoid touching glasses, contact lenses, and anything else on the face.
• Keep the work area clean and re-clean areas at least once during a shift.

The Department of Transportation has authority over these materials while they are transported and has established nine categories that are based on chemical and physical properties. Your employees must be aware of the regulations regarding packaging, labeling, and marking of products before they are shipped.

Explosives

When professionals handle explosives and participate in blasting projects, there’s a potential for hard to those workers involved, people in and around the area, any property in the vicinity, and the environment. There are, of course, several steps involved in maintaining safety during these activities:

• Ongoing training for employees
• The use of appropriate PPE
• Enhanced site security
• Strict supervision and oversight of employees, equipment, keys, and explosives
• Clear communication between all related parties
• The use of prominent warning signs, barricades, and guards
• Procedures in place for reporting suspicious behavior

Much of the danger when using explosives comes from the theft of materials by employees, vendors, customers, and others. On-site dangers may increase when employees aren’t cautious or get distracted when handling explosives. It is also vital that signs are clear, prominent, and up to date.

Overall Safety Procedures

Proper training should be consistent when employees use or work in and around hazardous situations. Classes should include information about emergency procedures, such as evacuation, first aid, and emergency reporting. Additionally, regulatory signs and labels are required for compliance with OSHA and DOT requirements. Your employees must understand how to read, understand, use, and replace those signs. This task is easier when working with a sign and label manufacturer that understands the requirements for workplace safety and offers helpful services, such as the EZMAKE Sign System.

When it comes to the safety of your workers, your workplace, and the surrounding community, there are no shortcuts. The right protocols, signage, training, and attitudes toward safety can prevent injuries, property damage, and worst-case scenarios. Are there corrective steps you should take at your workplace?

The post Are You Practicing Workplace Safety? appeared first on Wall Street Survivor.

source https://blog.wallstreetsurvivor.com/2020/05/29/are-you-practicing-workplace-safety/

Once you have established your business, the next step is to think of how you can grow it. Growth may not happen overnight, but it will surely happen if you take the right steps and are consistent with your efforts. Consider the following tips for growing a small business.

Work On a Strong Online Presence

Most searches for both goods and service providers are done online. Thus, as a small business owner, it will work to your advantage if you establish a strong online presence. Make sure you are listed on search directories, write about your products so people can easily find them, and consider setting up an online store. You don’t have to open an e-commerce store if you don’t have many products. You can just use some e-commerce plugins on your website. As you are doing all these, remember to do some keyword research so as to find the exact words customers are using to search for your goods and services. If you don’t have the expertise, consider hiring someone who is an expert in areas such as social media, copywriting, and SEO services.

Think of New Business

Introducing new products and services, or expanding your market, are two more steps you can take to grow your business. Be on the lookout for new customer needs that you can solve. Check if there is a new market you haven’t explored and find ways to tap into it. When you sell more products and make sales to more people, your profits will grow. However, make sure you test the viability of every new venture before investing your money to avoid losses.

Get the Right Services

As a small business owner, you need to purchase a number of services. Examples include utilities, insurance, software, marketing, and accounting. The key is to get the right services from a reputable service provider. For instance, for something like business insurance, you need a package that will cover your risks from a provider who will not let you down when you submit your claims. As outlined on The Hartford, some key examples of business insurance you can take to cover risks include commercial property insurance, general liability insurance, workers’ compensation insurance, commercial auto insurance, and data breach insurance. The Hartford is a company that provides a wide range of insurance solutions for small businesses.

When it comes to software, choose affordable solutions that are effective and efficient. Reputation is an important consideration when making a decision. With the right solutions, your operations will run smoothly, and growth will not be hampered.

Offer Exceptional Customer Service

Great customer service can give you two key benefits; one, customer retention, and two referrals. When your customers are satisfied, their chances of going elsewhere reduce. They can also share their satisfaction with others, and this leads to more business. Thus, as you work on other business processes, don’t forget to work on your customer service.

Keep reviewing everything you are doing and make changes if you don’t get the desired results. And, when you start to see some significant growth, don’t stop. Make the efforts continual if you want the results to be continual.

The post How to Grow Your Small Businesses appeared first on Wall Street Survivor.

source https://blog.wallstreetsurvivor.com/2020/05/26/how-to-grow-your-small-businesses/

If you’re new to forex trading, honing your skills through a forex demo account is essential before you start trading for real in Jordan. This article will give you 6 reasons why you might need to open a demo account. 

Did you know that in 2018 global trading volumes in the forex market were at an all time record high? Why? Because of the volatility in the world markets, more and more people are turning to forex to trade in, in order to get a better rate of return. 

In the US alone, over 14 million households (according to Statista) have an online trading account. The forex market turns over more than $5 trillion each and every day – if that isn’t incentive enough to get into forex trading, what is? 

Of course this can be an incredibly daunting market to break into, which is why practicing trading through a forex demo account first, is crucial, if you don’t want to lose money making silly mistakes. 

What is a forex demo account

You’ve probably got a fairly good understanding of what a Jordan forex demo account is – it’s essentially a paper trading account which gives you information from live markets, simulating the real trading environment. All without putting any of your actual money at play (or at risk).

Using a demo account allows you to start trading online quickly and easily, practicing and learning what works for you before doing it for real, with cold hard cash. 

If this is your first time trading, then using a forex demo is a must to get a feel for what live trading is actually like, as well as to get used to the trading platform and the broker you’re using.

How to open a forex demo account

Opening a demo account is quick and easy. All you have to do is pick your prefered platform and in a matter of minutes you’ll have a practice forex account all set up –  ready for you to try your hand at trading currency, without losing money, should it all go horribly wrong. 

Why trade with a demo account?

The safety net of a demo account will be invaluable as you navigate the often confusing world of forex. By using a demo account you’ll quickly learn the ins and outs of your chosen trading platform. You can figure out your prefered trading strategy too, analysing the results once you’ve made your trades (not that this will necessarily translate through to success in the real markets). It’s a risk free way of learning how to trade on the global currency market. 

Let’s take a look at these in more depth.

1. Learn how to trade risk free

When you trade with a demo account it’s identical to a live account. You’re learning to trade on the job, but without any of the risk. 

You can put all of your trade training into practice without losing any real money. In a demo account you trade with virtual funds, and you don’t have to switch to a live account until you’re entirely comfortable trading on the demo account. 

Most platforms also have a learning hub where if you’re new to trading you can learn how to trade for free. Even if you’re a novice, or intermediate, or even an experienced trader you should never stop learning.

2. Get to know your trading platform

MetaTrader4, more commonly known as MT4, is the most popular trading platform for online traders to use. It has an interface that’s been developed to handle the full range of clients that use it, making it the best tool for both beginner traders through to professional forex traders. 

When you open a demo account you learn how to trade using this platform – how to close your trade and how to put all the different tools to best use. 

Before you open a live account, it’s essential you’re completely familiar with the ins and outs of trading – when you go live it’s your actual capital at risk. By using a demo account you’re setting yourself up for long term financial success.  

3. Discover your boundaries

Trading brings out a range of emotions and you need to know where your boundaries are, and you don’t want to discover them when you’re trading with your actual money. 

Overconfidence can carry you way beyond your comfort zone, and when you’re trading for real, this can equal devastating losses. 

By playing around with your boundaries on the demo account, you’ll learn how to deal with euphoria and disappointment, so they don’t cloud your judgement in future trades.

5. Develop your trading strategy

Testing and adjusting a trading strategy is key to success. One trading strategy won’t work for all trades, such is life. You need to develop a trading strategy that allows you to be flexible and roll with the punches. You can learn and develop such a strategy, or strategies on a demo account. 

Over time, the more trades you do, the more you’ll see what your own trading patterns look like, and you can analyse what you’re doing well and what you need to improve on. 

Not putting your own capital at risk in a demo account means you can be as creative as you like and try all sorts of trading strategies, including really far-fetched ones and find out which work best for you.

6. Figure out your trading routine

Once you know your strategy, you can then figure out your trading routine. Just because you live in Jordan, doesn’t mean must you solely trade in Jordan. 

That’s the beauty of online trading, you have access to the global forex markets. Most traders choose to trade around the opening of the big markets – Tokyo, London and New York (12am, 8am and 2.30pm GMT). However that doesn’t mean that you have to trade then. 

You want to find a time that suits you. A time when you’re completely focused on what you’re doing – develop your routine to fit around your work and home life. The last thing you want is to make poor trading decisions because you’re distracted. 

Finally

Remember, forex trading is a marathon – so plan for the long term and practice, practice practice trading on a forex demo account. It’ll pay dividends in the long run.

The post 6 Reasons You Need A Forex Demo Account in Jordan appeared first on Wall Street Survivor.

source https://blog.wallstreetsurvivor.com/2020/05/21/6-reasons-you-need-a-forex-demo-account-in-jordan/

The coronavirus pandemic has had a devastating impact upon the world’s financial markets, but there is one sector that has fared better than most: funds that are focused on environmental, social and governance (ESG) strategies. These funds look to invest in quality companies that are also socially responsible, and that they are doing well is not by accident, nor should it be considered a short-term trend.

While you have a myriad of good investment options available to you, ESG investing, which has been growing in popularity in recent years, is one of the more interesting and promising ones. This article describes what ESG investing is, how and why ESG funds are currently outpacing other sectors, their future outlook and how you can take advantage of this trend.

What Is ESG Investing?

ESG investing is different than traditional forms of investment in that the focus of investors goes beyond financial factors such as growth potential and risk. These additional factors relate to whether a company’s activities are having a positive impact upon the world. This impact can take shape in various forms, such as environmental sustainability, how it treats its customers, employees and community, and how it is structured to both encourage openness and prevent corruption.

In essence, investors are looking for companies that not only perform well but also act well.

Prior to the coronavirus epidemic, ESG funds had not only been growing tremendously, they had also been less volatile than standard funds.

How and Why ESG Funds Have Lately Been Outperforming the Market

During the coronavirus pandemic, the performance of ESG funds has been dramatic. In March of this year, Bloomberg looked at close to 3,000 ESG funds. They found that about 400 of them produced a positive return for the year even before the stock market began to rebound. Close to 50 of these even managed to produce gains of 10% or more.

Although Bloomberg also found that the average ESG fund at the time had lost 12.2% since the beginning of the year, this represented about half the decline of the S&P 500 over the same period. An analysis from Morningstar further backed these findings. They found that 24 of the 26 ESG funds that they looked at performed better than comparable non-ESG funds during the crisis.

Numerous factors can be credited for this performance. This includes better risk management among the companies within the funds’ portfolios, less exposure to companies related to or reliant upon fossil fuels, and a general interest among investors to support companies that are doing their part in trying to heal the world.

The Outlook for ESG Funds

Some may be concerned with how ESG funds will perform once the pandemic is over, especially as, in the past, these funds have only outperformed standard funds in the aftermath of crises and during years in which the stock market was experiencing a downturn. But we may find ourselves in a world that has fundamentally changed forever.

Some now see ESG investing as a mega trend. Steen Jakobsen, who is the chief economist of Saxo Bank, has said, “For the first time since World War II we sense a shift in which climate and the environment — not growth — will become the priority of governments and their citizens, as shortages of food, clean water and air become existential questions.”

How You Can Take Advantage of the Trend Toward ESG Investing

You can take advantage of the trend toward ESG investing by selecting from the large number of ESG funds that are available. They come in the form of both mutual funds and exchange-traded funds (ETFs), with some being passive index funds that build their portfolios based on established ESG rankings and others being actively managed.

There are also many types of ESG funds to choose from. There are broadly diversified funds as well as those that focus on either large or small companies. There are further funds that invest in foreign countries and those that operate specifically in emerging markets.

You can additionally invest in ESG funds that focus on specific interests, such as climate change or the conservation of important resources.

Summary

There are very real reasons why ESG funds are performing better than other sectors during the pandemic. What’s more, there are good reasons to believe that this trend will continue even after the current crisis has subsided, making it an attractive investment option to consider.

The post How ESG Funds Have Been Outperforming the Market appeared first on Wall Street Survivor.

source https://blog.wallstreetsurvivor.com/2020/05/21/how-esg-funds-have-been-outperforming-the-market/

Today we are going to be providing you with everything you need to know when it comes to a Home Warranty.

We’re going to be breaking it down into simple and easy to understand terms, and providing you with an overview of some of the top home warranty companies available on the market to get you set up and covered.

When considering taking out a home warranty it is important to do your research to find the best deals not only from a financial standpoint but find those that cover the things important to you and your family.

Sit back and relax as we dive right into how to the most out of your home warranty!

What is Home Warranty?

A home warranty is a great way to ensure that the things you love the most under your roof are protected at all times.

Whether it be protection for the likes of theft, breakdown, or underperforming appliances within the household, there is a wide range of home warranty companies that all seem to offer different types of coverage and services.

Although it may be suggested in the name, home warranty throughout the United States often does not act as a legal standpoint when it comes to warranty, but will simply ensure that your faulty or damaged goods are repaired or replaced if required.

In order to start considering your home warranty provider, it may be worth firstly making note of the things you wish to cover and how much you are willing to spend.

Different providers offer different levels of protection, which of course differs in price. Whilst some providers offer plans that cover both your appliances and systems within the household, they do come at a more premium cost, so if this is something that is out of your price range you can look to personalize your coverage plan accordingly to meet your needs and budged.

What does your Home Warranty Cover?

By taking out a home warranty, you can look to receive cover over appliances such as your oven, fridge, and AC system. As the levels of cover alter between the plethora of available home warranty providers on the market, it is important to read the terms and conditions of your agreement to see what is and isn’t covered.

Some providers will also let you build a custom plan, which will come at a more premium price compared to standard plans available, but this will allow you to cater your coverage to the appliances and systems that are most important to you and the overall upkeep of your home.

Why do you need Home Warranty?

As discussed, a home warranty is a great way to ensure that your appliances and systems are protected from faults and damage and from as little as a few dollars a month you can have peace of mind that if something were to go wrong you can be back on your feet in no time.

Without a home warranty, it may be costly to hire someone to come into your home and repair malfunctioning equipment, and is often more cost-effective to replace the system altogether, but by taking out a warranty that covers the appliances that are prone to problems such as your boiler and washing machine you can look to save some serious money over time.

Which Home Warranty provider is best for you?

You can check out these home warranty companies at Crediful.com to find a more comprehensive breakdown of some of our favorites, but for now, we will talk you through our standout provider;

Choice Home Warranty boats an impressive 4.8-star review from its customers so it is easy to see why this is one of our top picks. With representatives available 24/7, 365 days of the year you can be sure that you are always being looked after with this provider, leaving you with sound peace of mind.

Choice Home Warranty offers both a Total Plan; which covers pretty much everything inside your standard American household and a more basic plan that covers the essentials such as your AC system, washer and dryer, and your refrigerator. This provider also lets you add further items such as your pool for an additional cost.

Summary

We understand that with the sheer amount of Home Warranty providers and differences in the services that they all offer can be a little overwhelming, so we hope that we have been able to break it down into more manageable ways that you can protect your household items throughout this post.

If you have found it helpful or have any additional tips that you think others should look out for and apply, be sure to leave your comments in the section down below!

The post Advantages of Having a Home Warranty appeared first on Wall Street Survivor.

source https://blog.wallstreetsurvivor.com/2020/05/20/advantages-of-having-a-home-warranty/

As the housing market repairs itself, so do the home values. With home equity on the rise, it gives way for potential investments and financial fortitude. If you find yourself with a decent amount of home equity, it might be worth it to consider investing in a home equity loan to try something new.

What Can I Accomplish with a Home Equity Loan?

If your mortgage is low, but your home is retaining high equity, it can be the ideal situation for a home equity loan. A home equity loan can then be used to invest in a new potential second source of income-whether it be adventurous like a business venture, investing in a rental property, or other forms of investment. Taking out a home equity loan can have the goal of generating a profit that exceeds the cost of the loan.

If you’ve been waiting for your chance to start a business or own more properties to make residual income, the time has never been greater.

Additionally, taking out a home equity loan can mean using that cash to increase its value. If you plan to sell the home in the future, making substantial improvements can make the home higher in value to sell.

How Do Home Equity Loans Work?

States like California have some of the highest valued property in the nation, especially in cities like Stockton and Los Angeles. So, similar to Title Loans in Stockton, when you utilize a home equity loan here, you are borrowing off of an asset or collateral. Your home’s location can affect loan value!

You will use the value, or the equity in your home in order to obtain funding. You will borrow off of your home, which makes it the collateral for the loan.  If your home is not already paid off, generally, you will be paying two loans- your mortgage, and your loan payment.

What are the Risks of a Home Equity Loan?

While the outcome can be rewarding, there are risks to consider with this loan. Your business or rental property might be profitable and help cover the principle loan. However, one potential outcome to consider with a home equity loan is the potential loss of your home. Extracting its value for cash can be a good idea, but the risks of being unable to pay off the first and second loan should also be a factor in your decision to borrow off of your home.

Be certain you are borrowing for the right reasons- you should have a solid business or financial plan in place before choosing this loan to avoid risks or potential consequences.

Be Smart about Your Lender

When choosing the right bank or lender for your home equity loan, stick close to home! Often, your home bank can be the best place to start to compare rates. Be mindful to shop around and find the best rate for your financial situation, just as you would with any other loan. Your current mortgage lender can also be a good avenue to choose, as they may already be a trusted source of lending. A trusted lender can make or break your experience with your loan, as good rates and customer service make a huge difference!

The post Using a Home Equity Loan to Invest: Risks and Rewards appeared first on Wall Street Survivor.

source https://blog.wallstreetsurvivor.com/2020/05/20/using-a-home-equity-loan-to-invest-risks-and-rewards/