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November 8, 2015 Personal One Comment

Teach children financial management skills without ever talking about money

Teach children financial management skills without ever talking about money Good financial management skills aren’t necessarily about money. Whether children are 3, 13 or 23, parents can instill good life habits that parlay into sound financial skills. Parents have the responsibility to teach their children how to be independent … Continue reading at msue.anr.msu.edu Snapshot: […]

November 8, 2015 ETF 18 Comments

For ETF Investors, It’s All About Yellen

October 31, 2015 Large Cap No Comments

10 Quick Tips About Investing In The Stock Market

10 Quick Tips About Investing In The Stock Market Here are 10 of my favorite tips that ambitious investors can go through quick … So if you want to own individual stocks, buy large-cap value stocks. Unless conditions in their industry are really bad, the companies will continue sending you checks. Continue reading at finance.yahoo.com […]

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October 27, 2015 Economy No Comments

Survey: Millennials around the world worry most about economic inequality

Actor’s stage a tug-of-war between the rich and the poor to depict the world’s struggle against economic inequality at a U.N. summit in September. Millennials identified economic inequality as their top global concern in a survey released Sunday by the World Economic Forum.(Photo: Don Emmert, AFP/Getty Images) Millennials around the world worry most about social […]

October 26, 2015 Markets No Comments

Stock market experts are worried about bond market liquidity

Barclays’ US equity strategist Jonathan Glionna is worried about bond market liquidity. Or, if Glionna isn’t exactly worried about it, he’s at least writing at length about how bond market liquidity could matter to equity investors in the future. In a note to clients on Monday, Glionna looks at the role stocks play in hybrid […]

October 24, 2015 Personal No Comments

4 Things Scouting Teaches Kids About Personal Finance

Several images likely pop into your mind when you think about Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts: hiking, camping out in the woods and boxes of Thin Mints and those soft shortbread cookies. But there’s more to scouting than friendship and food. Your son or daughter can walk away with a series of skills, embracing a […]

I want you to think about money for a moment. Who uses it? The whole world does in some form or another. Another advantage that the Forex market has is that there will always be a need for money. You are simply trading one currency for another in the currency market as the 4x is commonly reffered to. The Forex market is not going anywhere. It is here to stay. The only question is then who will be a part of it. We need money to buy the things we use everyday and so do those who live in the other parts of this world.

Wherever you look, you will find various rating systems on mutual funds, each of which uses a different approach. All of them are designed to weed through the thousands of funds to get to the best ones. But is there really such a thing? Does a high rating really mean a fund will do better in the future? Many people seem to think so. A recent study showed that Morningstar, North America's most recognized rating system for funds, has a tremendous influence on fund sales. If Morningstar gives a five-star rating, those funds typically enjoy increased sales as a result.

Ratings are a very important element in trying to distinguish between good and bad funds. Good research, however, goes far beyond just looking for five stars or an A+. When evaluating funds, look at the quantitative, measurable characteristics of a fund: returns up against the benchmark, costs, risks, taxes and manager tenure. Use rating systems as part of your research, but remember: just because the analysts give them top marks, it does not mean they will be the best investment in the future, and doesn't it mean that they'll be the best investment for you in particular. Take the time to understand how the ratings were achieved. This will be the first step to educating yourself about funds.