Do you want to earn some passive income? We give you twenty practical ideas to help you enhance your financial situation. You may need to invest some money or time to pursue your goals. Before you do choose which one will suit your needs and situation, take time to appreciate the meaning and value of passive income. Proceeds from passive income streams demand an initial investment and plenty of careful attention at the start. But once you put in the time and the diligent work, the payoff starts to grow and can sustain themselves, providing regular monetary rewards with much-reduced effort in managing the investment. From the actual personal experience of many people, augmenting to your portfolio the income from passive income sources can serve to enhance your earnings and fast-track your financial objectives in remarkable ways. And so, if you want to begin cashing in on passive income ideas, arm yourself with these fundamental principles: What Passive Income Requires Firstly, let us do away with some misconceptions about passive income. The word “passive” does not mean you merely wait, doing nothing for the income to come. Every passive income source demands at least one of these two requirements: 1) An initial monetary investment, or 2) An initial time investment Without at least one of these two, you cannot hope to acquire residual income. There are numerous passive income ideas you can apply no matter what your area of interest or involvement may be. Passive Income Sources that Require an Initial Monetary Investment Dividend Stocks – These are proven and reliable sources of passive income. Nevertheless, you need to do a lot of study to determine which stocks are worth investing a substantial amount of money into in order to obtain sizeable dividend returns. Investing consistently into dividend stocks can help you accumulate a significantly large residual income in the long-term. Investing into the following investment ventures requires opening an account at the most reputable online brokerage in order to reap the rewards you expect: Peer-to-Peer Lending – P2P lending involves providing loan money to borrowers who normally do not qualify for conventional loans. You, as the lender, have the power to select the borrowers and can also spread your financial exposure to minimize your risk. Two of the most common peer-to-peer lending platforms are Prosper and Lending Club. Properties for Lease – A great way of gaining monthly income is through leasing out property. To maximize your income potential, outsource the handling of the properties to a competent management firm. Crowd-funding has become a common way of starting out in rental properties. You can begin investing in real estate for as low as $5,000. The advantage of utilizing a platform over a DIY approach is that you spend less time and effort in managing the investment. Money Market Funds or CD Ladders – Creating a CD Ladder demands acquiring CDs (certificates of deposits) from banks in particular increments in order to earn bigger revenue on your money. Banks offer CDs as a low-risk investment but with also a low yield, providing an alternative investment choice for people who avoid high risk levels. You may consider these popular market funds to gain high yield returns: Annuities – As a form of insurance product, annuities can offer monthly passive income payments for life. However, before buying an annuity, consult a dependable financial counselor regarding the terms involved, since annuities may vary and do not always provide good returns. It may seem rather inappropriate to receive personal finance advice from wealthy people, considering they deal with tons of money whereas the ordinary person can hardly scratch a decent living. What use can you get from such advice as “Invest in gold rather than in silver” and others of that sort? Nevertheless, they can offer some sound advice for any kind of financial situation. After all, they have an uncommonly wide exposure to many money matters. Get these free tips from some friendly billionaires:
Begin as soon as you can For a few years, a Mexican businessman named Carlos Slim Helú held the distinction of being the world’s richest person, until Bill Gates reclaimed the title recently. Slim offers personal finance tips shared by most finance experts; and beginning early is one of them. This may not apply to people of more advanced age as they need to begin now to “redeem the time”, so to speak. For the earlier you start getting serious about handling, saving and investing your money, the greater your chances of avoiding making mistakes that will impact on your future financial security. Slim, for instance, bought shares in a Mexican bank when he was only 12 and worked for his earning father’s business for 200 pesos weekly before he turned 20. Discover Your Passion It costs nothing to start believing in your own abilities and potentials. Oprah Winfrey, another billionaire we all know, said that we are what we believe and that what we are now is a product of everything we have believed. You can change any situation you are in now; and the first step is to believe in yourself. Once a person believes in his or her own self-worth, discovering one’s passion – whether it is music, sports or photography – will only require a healthy dose of diligence and perseverance to achieve success. Christopher Paul Gardner, although a "mere" millionaire, was a homeless single-father once. Asked what his secret was, Gardner said, "Find something you are so passionate about, you can hardly go to sleep to do it again." If your passion is to make space-saving furniture, educate yourself on that subject through online articles or books now and become as good in it as you can be. No Need to Become Sophisticated Do you know how Warren Buffett made his billions? He accumulated his investment fortune by focusing on the fundamentals, that is, by choosing firms with strong yearly cash flows and those firms not in the danger of losing technical relevance in the fast-changing world of technology. He also spent his early years in investing on insurance firms. For many, it is not a fancy way to earn; but it worked out well for him. No matter how small or big your money is, the right way to invest is by sticking with the fundamentals. Live a Simple Life Just like the previous tip, Warren Buffet lived this motto – he still lives in a house he bought in 1957 for $31,500. Likewise, Carlos Slim also lives in the same house for over 40 years. Many people, however, continually seek things that bring on financial disaster instead of those things that bring on financial security. Walking and Riding on Public Transport is Cool Three billionaires we do not often hear of -- John Caudwell, David Cheriton, and Chuck Feeney -- either walk, ride bikes or take public transport to move about. Nothing beats these three means as far as saving money is concerned, aside from taking care of one’s health and the environment. There is no shame in riding public transport – only trolls think negatively of good things. A Car is only a Tool, not a Luxury Item Walmart owner Jim Walton uses a 15-year-old pickup truck while Ingvar Kamprad of Ikea uses a 10-year-old Volvo. Cars do not establish any real social or financial status. If you are into restoring or buying fancy or classic car models, go ahead as long as you have the money to spare or to invest. In general, however, even wealthy people only need to get from Point A to Point B safely and comfortably. A car is nothing more than a tool as useful for doing a task as a computer or a hammer. Diamond-studded Benzes or gold-plated Porsches are toys only Saudi princes can afford. Some of us ordinary mortals get wide-eyed listening to billionaires dispense financial advice; others cannot take it at all, especially if they are going through financial straits. Yet many rich people began with as much money as the man behind the theater ticketing booth, or even less. These tips can serve you well in any financial situation, as long as you have the desire to improve your lot. Buy at the lowest possible price, earn as much as you can in any decent way and do not splurge your money on needless things. Pursue your passion and nurture it, no matter how much you earn from your job. The important thing is that you find fulfillment daily in the things you do. Money itself is merely a tool for achieving genuine success and happiness. Being a billionaire does not guarantee happiness – or even success -- in life. Some billionaires, in fact, can learn a thing or two about true happiness from poor people. Are you doing a financial spring-cleaning this year? Scan your papers to keep an electronic bank of valuable documents. There are certain steps to observe according to the kind of expense, asset or transaction; but, in general, make sure that your digital files of your records are as legible and accurate as your hard copies and also as easily accessible when you need them.
So, what documents do you need to save or discard? Here is a rundown: Taxes – You may need to keep your tax documents while the statute of limitations applies. These will include the following: W-2 and 1099 forms, invoices, receipts, cancelled checks, mileage logs, proofs of payment and other records pertaining to deductions, income or credits claimed on your return. Student loans – Never ever discard your student-loan master promissory note because it the legal support for your loans. Keep it until the time you have repaid the debt. Credit cards – It is wise to keep credit card statements for as long as 7 years. In case you are already paperless, determine how long to obtain your statements online. This is easier than eventually having to request them via snail mail in the future. Real estate - Your FICO score measures your qualification for a mortgage and the interest rate you need to pay. You have to reach a score of about 620 to be considered by any lender in order to qualify. If you are not qualified for an affordable rate, you may have to wait before buying a home for the time when your credit improves – it will take more than 7 years to have negative activity on your report. Insurance – Many do not easily warm up to the need for life insurance for obvious reasons, one of which is the uncomfortable feeling of knowing how temporary life really is. However, accepting the inevitability of our own mortality should convince us of the importance of keeping our original documents, such as assignment of beneficiaries, always available on hand. Banks/brokers – Regarding documents for brokerage accounts and banks, you probably already hold an edge: majority of financial institutions provide a completely digital alternative, facilitating ease of storage. Bitcoin – If you have bitcoin or some kind of cryptocurrency, download the most recent records without discarding any. Incidentally, IRS has started cracking down on cryptocurrency holders; and there is still no specific rule or stand regarding how to treat these tokens. Moreover, cryptocurrency transaction logs are most probably likely electronic-based. Knowing the uncertainty, there is no sense in discarding any record of such transactions? Employee benefits – Employees accumulate so much paperwork from company-sponsored benefits, such as a 401(k), HSK and medical insurance policies. Keep these papers for a minimum of 3 years. As for EoB junk, you can discard them; but papers with tax or legal implications should be safely stored. Retirement –The most important document is the beneficiary form, which is what you fill out when opening a retirement account and assigns your account to a beneficiary upon your death. It is not your will or living trust. Keep your forms are updated and inform your executor and beneficiaries where you store your papers. A Professional’s suggestions on How to invest for your character How does an investor balance his or her portfolio with the risks? Richard Flax, chief investment officer at Moneyfarm, suggests: ‘We will adjust the contents of the portfolio according to the investor profile. That essentially requires adjusting the values of higher risk assets (such as, equities and commodities) and lower risk assets (including, government bonds and cash). The risk exposure in an asset changes according to how a client responds to risk, allowing a target level suitable for every profile. Any investment approach must look forward and backward, considering various risk metrics, such as volatility and drawdown, and creating portfolios founded on projected gains and past risk parameters. Why diversification and time are important Investors need to diversify but must avoid being overly diversified. Many people in the UK invest in a single stock or just a few stocks, depending only on a few firms and experiencing great volatility. On the other hand, one can shift to the other extreme and have plenty of funds that provide the same objective, adding complexity, increasing costs and, in the end, not giving the desired gains. You have no other choice than to take greater risks. No free rides in the process. Your money can rise or fall; determine where you are in the picture where you are comfortable. Go for the long-term duration. Which type of investor are you really? Consider these professional suggestions: First, the right time frame -- with more time you have the potential to build more wealth through compounding and the lower the risk of short-term loss. Determine also how you respond to loss, or volatility. Although volatility means nothing to an ordinary client – since performance is the main concern – how do you respond when the portfolio value drops? Also, find out whether you are a nervous investor by asking yourself how often you check your portfolio. A very important task is to educate yourself about the financial markets, as this determines how much you comprehend investing. Lastly, how much do you possess? If you own several properties and have no mortgages, your capacity for risk is much greater as your will only lose a small amount in comparison to your wealth. Looking forward and backward at the same time provides an advantage to the investor. As professionals, we aim for various degrees of risk based on what a client reveals to us and in what category of investor they fall into. Many investors have no idea of what kind of investor they are. Instead of dealing with the question early on, they plod along with no idea what they are and what they are doing wrong.
This question is vital in finding out what your goals are, how you handle risk and how you respond to gaining or losing money – factors that greatly impact your investments. Understanding these factors will help you avoid errors in choosing your investments. This will not only spare you from going through restless nights due to taking so much risk but also from losing bright opportunities to gain significant wealth. Let us look at five various kinds of investor to help you appreciate the importance of this matter. The conservative investor The conservative investor is one who takes great effort in charting his or her course and safeguarding his money. Such type is a safe player, always concerned about gaining a better gain compared to merely holding on to cash; although this individual is content with being able to sleep soundly instead of tossing and turning at night in the hopes of achieving the biggest possible gains possible. For various reasons these individuals could include senior investors nurturing their pension plans while making use of them, as well as younger investors who play it safe within shallow waters with their meager and hard-earned savings. The focused investor This type of investor is open to greater risk compared to the conservative version; although safeguarding their wealth is a primary consideration as well. And while they may be open to fresh ideas for investments, they tread cautiously and remain alert against anything that may endanger their investments. The focused investors are always mindful of everything they do and remain steady on course with their investing strategy without being diverted or distracted by any mishaps. The have the tenacity to build their wealth through meticulous and prudent moves. The driven investor This type is the no-nonsense, business-only investor. They stay fixed on their goals and chart out a clear road map for those goals. He or she knows exactly the purpose for investing and what benefits to aim for. The next move is to choose the best investments to keep in a portfolio in order to attain the set goals. The driven investor is open to taking on higher risk for greater gains, although this kind will make sure the rationale for doing something and what it will entail. The exploring investor This type of investor is obviously looking for a challenging discovery along the path of long-term investing. This individual has a deeply inquisitive mind. Investing has become a challenge for this investor and provides opportunities to test new ways of building wealth. Nevertheless, the exploring investor is not reckless but is open to experimenting to discover the most advantageous approach. The exploring investor realizes that investing provides great wealth on the long-term basis and the chance to choose many directions goes well with this type. As a competent explorer, he or she keeps an emergency plan along with a broad mind for assessing the risks along the way. The adventurous investor The adventurous type of investor is one most open to taking steps that demand taking a leap of faith. This investor optimistically sees the glass as half-full, allowing for great possibilities in what others would see as dismal or risky. This investor type has set up a contingency cash fund somewhere secure which allows him or her to handle investment risks. As such, this individual goes for the unappreciated asset type or sector that is low-priced while others stay away from it, or could be picking more on the low market times – hoping that the long-term view favors such a strategy. Nevertheless, the adventurous investor does not gamble; on the contrary, each move is strictly weighed for its consequences. Keeping your money in bank savings accounts at present will produce negligible interest rates. Hence, leaving all your money in banks may give you considerable safety but not much growth. On the other hand, investing your money in stocks may bring higher returns; but the risks are much higher. And you could actually lose part or all your money at times. Try these few easy rules to help you remain strong in the market and gain big returns through a large long-term stock portfolio: 1. Spread your investment. Diversification distributes your risks through a number of stocks in various markets as well as in bonds, mutual funds and other instruments. Follow a rule of thumb such that each instrument or stock should not be more than 10% of your entire portfolio. Likewise, try to invest in diverse national regions, Asia, Europe, US and rising new markets areas. Also invest into hedge funds, commodity funds and property funds. This strategy provides a safeguard against any failure in any specific sector. 2. Investigate. Do your research in various industries and from diverse sources. Opt for firms with products and strategies you are familiar with. Browse or visit as many online resources that provide tips on evaluating and comparing investments. Although historical performance does not assure future performance -- in general, choosing a mutual fund or unit trust that showed a strong record in the last couple of years and which requires low management fees is a good move. 3. Invest back dividend payouts. A significantly big percentage of the entire gains in majority of portfolios is a result of reinvesting dividends and not from stock price increase. For instance, a 3% yield may seem paltry; however, in the long run, it will produce a huge profit. Opt for investments that have a sound record of dividend payouts and retain them as your long-term leverage. 4. Keep the performers and sell the nonperformers. Constantly check how your investments perform in relation to the market index. You will be tempted to sell when some of your holdings are doing well for a quick profit; however, hold on to them on a long-term basis to maximize gains. As for market nonperformers, get rid of them even if you have the urge to keep them for a possible upsurge or an increase of your holding at basement prices. That is not the best investment approach, as suffering a low setback early in the process is better than a big loss in the future. Never allow you emotions to convince you to hold on to your stocks. 5. Avoid mob rule. Although difficult to pull since most people rush headlong, buy whenever the stock market is down, sell when the stock market up your least performing stocks and invest into other instruments, such as bonds and property. 6. Look far into the future. Avoid making trades so often, as agents’ fees will diminish your gains. Remember, be patient and aim for the long-term results. Trends and fashions do not last long. Be prudent in diversifying your portfolio. Never lose your equanimity at times when markets collapse – take them as open seasons for buying courageously. Lastly, when you do need money, be ready to sell. Your investment is meant to support your personal and family financial needs; hence, make use of it instead of belt-tightening or living like Spartans in order to accumulate wealth until that time when you are too old to enjoy it – or worse, too dead. We all know who Warren Buffett is and what he has achieved as a phenomenal investor. More than that, however, he is also a good story-teller and an effective teacher. For fifty years, he has essentially painted his company, Berkshire Hathaway, to become a gigantic mural showcasing the numerous investment styles and management strategies he has implemented.
Every year, Buffett writes to Berkshire Hathaway shareholders in his capacity as chairman and chief executive, continually strengthening his reputation as a leading investor. Let us consider three valuable tips contained in his latest letter: 1. Fees can do you in Less than a decade ago, Buffett wagered that passive index fund would surpass several hedge funds. He is way ahead by a wide margin on that bet, even as early as a couple of years ago, that the bet was effectively settled before the ten-year deadline. Buffett explains it this way in his letter: "Although most managers at both levels were honest and smart people, the results for their investors were quite dismal. Unfortunately, the large fixed fees paid to the concerned funds and funds-of-funds, which were absolutely unjustified by performance, meant that their managers received huge compensations for the past nine years. Gordon Gekko would have said: 'Fees never sleep'." 2. Use their fear as your weapon Mr. Buffett retells the parable of Mr. Market this way: "When times are troubled, you have two choices: First, as an investor, use people’s fear as an opportunity to buy at low prices. Second, your own fear will work against you, as it is also needless. Investors who wait patiently on the long-term and avoid huge fees and unwanted expenses will surely do well in the end." The better choice is to let others panic and stay calm; likewise, remain on course for the long haul. 3. At times, share buybacks is the way to go They have various titles: repurchases, buybacks or capital returns; and companies love offering them. If you have surplus cash hidden and you wish to enhance your return on equity and to improve per-share earnings, as well as to satisfy investors without being tied yearly, go for the Share Buyback. Buffett put it so plainly; every investor will not need an interpreter or mentor to get it. "Here is a simple analogy: With three equal partners in a business valued at $3000 and one is bought out by the other two for $900, each one makes $50 out of the deal. However, if the two paid $1100 in the buy-out, the remaining partners lose $50 each. This holds true for corporations and their shareholders.” Buffett, therefore, suggests: "Before considering any repurchases, a CEO and the board should unite and say, 'What is good at a certain price is bad at another'." If you are the kind of shareholder who delights in a company repurchasing shares, let this be a lesson to cure that impulse. Just make certain the decision is good. A lot of investors stayed away from Berkshire Hathaway shares, thinking the firm was big, its shares pricey and its chairman old. But within the past year, those shares went up 29%. Trump’s entry and other factors helped raise the share price. But as Buffett keeps telling people, short-term predictions are unreliable and they need to buy quality shares on long-term investments At Devin Consultants, Our Clients Come First
We commit ourselves to the mission of offering and making available professional financial solutions and investment services to all people. We stand by the principle that by placing our clients' interests first and foremost, reducing complicated investment matters in simple, understandable words, and assisting individuals in need, we will achieve our mission. Investments Planners with One Philosophy Each and every member of our financial team undergoes stringent training in administering Devin's main philosophy, which is founded on sound academic research and modern Behavioral Finance. Every one of our planners believes that all people, whether wealthy or having average income, deserves excellent financial counsel and planning guidance. With any of our professional experts, you can trust that YOU ATTAIN THE HIGHEST BENEFITS ABOVE ALL and derive the best experience with Devin Consultants. Begin Planning your Financial Security Today Our Devin Consultants expert will guide you create a plan in merely 3 easy steps. 1. Talk You can talk and we will listen as you detail your needs, goals and anxieties. We will then create a customized plan that shows you how we can assist you attain your investment objectives. 2. Act We will collaborate with you in executing the plan. We continue to guide you through the process by providing you with updates on your financial status and necessary adjustments as events transpire in your life. 3. Relax No need to fret as long as we are here for you. Get in touch with us when you need us for any problem at all. If it is about money, you can depend on us. Call or email us today. Creating More Wealth to Meet Your Essential Needs
Devin Consultants carries the fiduciary mandate to serve your needs as a top priority. Hence, we ask a minimal annual fee according to the value of your assets, not the transactions. That is, we do not demand commissions or third-party payments - removing a possible source of conflict of interest often seen in the investment industry. What are your needs? Right at the start of our relationship, we collaborate with our clients directly. Particularly your leadership, in order to evaluate the following essential matters: • Strategic plan • Short- and long-term goals • Top priorities • Mission statement • Yearly budget • Legal and financial structure of the organization • Other pertinent issues The information we get from you will be used to effectively manage your assets. The following procedure will utilize your information to build, institute and manage a financial plan tailor-fitted according to your goals and needs: 1. We undertake a meticulous assessment of your goals to determine your risk tolerance level and assist you in laying down a financial plan schedule dovetailed to your objectives. 2. We help you make, evaluate or reconfigure (if necessary) your Investment Policy Statement such that it represents your investment requirements while seeking to reduce the potential liability risk of the company as well as board members. 3. We create a properly-diversified asset distribution approach suited to your needs and objectives in order to achieve liquidity and minimize risk exposure. 4. We offer current, unrelenting portfolio care and management, along with appropriate strategic adjustments done through our day-to-day monitoring of your assets. 5. We undertake bookkeeping duties of your account, as well as provide you with monthly updates and access to your accounts online. 6. Lastly, we will perform regular review of Your Investment Policy Statement and Asset Allocation to validate that all aspects of your strategy remain viable and suited to your dynamic requirements. Starting with the larger perspective to the tiniest item, Devin Consultants manages your organizational financial needs while focusing on achieving your highest interests. Focusing on Your Highest Interests
Company executives and members who sit on boards possess special and vital duties with regard to managing assets which have been entrusted to them. As such, Devin Consultants also has the similar fiduciary duty to assist you in undertaking your responsibilities. Being a registered provider of investment advice, we are prepared to serve your fiduciary needs according to your best interests. We are not in the habit of offering the latest hot tips or grabbing the newest fad, because charting your company's financial security should never be seen as a game of chance. Instead, we help you attain your essential goals efficiently and effectively through making solid and discriminating investment decisions. Moreover, Devin Consultants has put together a professional and well-experienced powerhouse of financial experts to support its clients. These are trained to listen to your story and appreciate your company's financial circumstances so that they can provide personalized investment solutions aimed at helping you to attain your goals. Our financial experts are a rich source of insights and information to resolve your issues and find the appropriate solutions, providing you with continuing assistance and guarantee that you obtain the excellent service. |