Wealth Building Information

Cost Averaging - It Makes Sense (Dollars & Cents)


It's no secret that the market goes UP...the market, goes DOWN. That's the basics of Investing 101.

For many of us the shape of the market day to day has about as much influence on our lives as the time of the tides that day. But for investors - especially first time investors - it can be a rollercoaster of heart racing highs and stomach churning lows. Every movement is being carefully reviewed and if it turns down then investors with itchy feet jump out.

If you know the benefits of investing, how can you avoid the stress of putting your hard earned money into the market?

Financial planners and investors are quite clear on the subject. New investors should not make an investment unless they are going to let it sit at least 5 to 7 years - the longer the better.

Why?

Well, the economy DOES move up and down, but we have never seen it bottom out (and if it did - well, you'd have much bigger concerns than your investment).

By selecting a diversified portfolio, such as a mutual fund, you can usually base your prediction on past activity and you'll see that in any 7-15 year period the investor always came out with more than he put in.

How do you take advantage of that? When should you invest?

Well, if shares were being sold for $10 each and you had invested $100 you would have purchased 10 shares. Now, if that is your whole investment you would be very upset if the value went down to $5, wouldn't you? Now your stock is worth $50. What would you do? Sell before it goes lower and loose $50?

Using the 'Cost Averaging' technique:

Cost averaging means you continue to put the same amount of investment into the market regularly - preferably every month. Now if you did that you would have invested another $100. At $5 a share you would buy 20 shares. Right now you have invested $200 but only own $150 worth of shares.

What happens when the price goes up?

When the price goes back up (and it will) it may stop at $8 per share. Now what? Well, you invest your next $100 and buy 12 shares.

You now have 42 shares valued at $8 each. That totals $336. Your investment was $300 so you just made 12% off of your investment.

Combining the cost of averaging with the 10% recommended for us to set aside for savings or investment - what's stopping you from jumping in?

Lucy Vestirian is the webmaster for http://www.fyinvest.com which is the premier invest site on the Web. Visit http://www.fyinvest.com to learn about different investment ideas and strategies


MORE RESOURCES:

Wealth building should be the ultimate goal of real estate investing
Asheville Citizen-Times, NC - Aug 7, 2008
If you talk to people on the street, they will tell you that real estate is in the tank, and that it's not a good investment. If you ask, "What is the best ...


IDBI Fortis expands AP operations
Moneycontrol.com, India - Aug 21, 2008
“With the growing incomes, more and more people want to invest their money for long term wealth building. We hope to target this segment with our unique ...


Abu Dhabi fund hires RMJM for Algeria project
Scotland on Sunday, UK - Aug 9, 2008
By Nathalie Thomas AN ABU Dhabi sovereign wealth fund has hired Scottish architectural firm RMJM to work on a vast leisure and residential project in ...


Build wealth a little at a time
The Reporter, WI - Aug 19, 2008
According to "Building Wealth: A Beginners Guide to Securing Your Financial Future" from the Dallas Federal Reserve Bank, building wealth requires having ...


Broke and Depressed to Fit and Successful by Donna Krech
Natural News.com, AZ - Aug 27, 2008
... I would find the next thing and I would be totally jazzed and "this time this is going to be it, this was going to be my wealth building planner, ...


The World's Greatest Get-Rich Formula
Motley Fool - Aug 5, 2008
Historically, the stock market has been the most effective wealth-building vehicle of all. Plowing your money into a low-cost index fund wouldn't be a bad ...


You Missed the Best Day to Buy
Motley Fool - Aug 23, 2008
Similarly, in order to take advantage of the greatest long-term wealth-building machine available to us individual investors, you have to be in the market. ...


The Lazy Investor's Guide to Retirement Success
Motley Fool - Aug 21, 2008
I think defined contribution plans like 401(k)s may be the finest wealth-building tools ever created. Making regular contributions to a plan requires just ...


P1D will Gift NetTrav Sites to All World Wind West Fall Summit Guests
WebWire (press release), GA - Aug 25, 2008
New Wealth Building Event (WBE): The WBE—P1D’s Live Online live business presentation--has been redesigned. • New WBE trailer: This 3 minute online video is ...


CBJ: Daybook
Charlottesville Daily Progress, VA - Aug 24, 2008
By The Daily Progress Staff Money Mastery: How to Use Wealth-Building Tools. Sponsored by UVa Commu-nity Credit Union. 2 to 3:30 pm at 3300 Berkmar Drive. ...

Wealth-Building - Google News

Good Credit Loans | home | site map | School Bus Clothing | Florida Pool Heating
© 2006