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	<title>Consumology &#187; University of Investment</title>
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	<link>http://www.consumology.com</link>
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		<title>Funeral Indemnity: Important Facets to Consider</title>
		<link>http://www.consumology.com/archives/2010/06/13/funeral-indemnity-important-facets-to-consider/</link>
		<comments>http://www.consumology.com/archives/2010/06/13/funeral-indemnity-important-facets-to-consider/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 14 Jun 2010 01:33:20 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Insurance + More]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Misc Infos]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[University of Investment]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[insurance]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.consumology.com/archives/2010/06/13/funeral-indemnity-important-facets-to-consider/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Article Excerpt]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Today, there isn&#8217;t any dearth of persons searching for <a href="http://www.zippy.com.au/funeral-insurance-quotes-and-plan-cover/">funeral insurance</a> options when it comes to looking after funeral expenditure. One useful and rudimentary alternative that you could go for is the &#8216;pay-out&#8217; option, which essentially functions as a savings balance.</p>
<p>The person will choose to buy a plan for a certain dollar amount, and when it&#8217;s required, the insurance company would compensate a family member with the given amount. The solitary shortcoming of this type of cover is that cost escalation may well mean that the sum total is too small.</p>
<p>The &#8216;pre payment&#8217; alternative allows the insured individual choose beforehand exactly what he will prefer when it comes to the various aspects of the burial ceremony, and these plans are usually tailor made.</p>
<p>Subsequently, when the time comes, the cover could be used for the exact options that were selected, at the matching price which they were years ago. Hence, in case you don&#8217;t want to trouble your loved ones with the expenses surrounding your passing away, this is the alternative to opt for.</p>
<p>No one enjoys thinking about the reality that they&#8217;re certainly getting older, and that someday, they might become terminally ill, or pass away sudden;y, without revealing to those close to them that are essential in their existence and that they are loved. For this reason, many individuals let you know how much they like you continually, given that you never know what&#8217;s going to go down.</p>
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		<title>So You Need Eye-Openers Concerning Forex Roboter, Huh?</title>
		<link>http://www.consumology.com/archives/2010/06/13/so-you-need-eye-openers-concerning-forex-roboter-huh/</link>
		<comments>http://www.consumology.com/archives/2010/06/13/so-you-need-eye-openers-concerning-forex-roboter-huh/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 14 Jun 2010 01:01:23 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[University of Investment]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[forex signals]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.consumology.com/archives/2010/06/13/so-you-need-eye-openers-concerning-forex-roboter-huh/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[A forex auto trader can be very lucrative. On what grounds would you not want to look into one? Despite popular belief, it is quite simple to earn additional money during hours hitherto thought to be unsuitable. So, if you desire to dispense with the worry of daily trading, and ensure that you can get on with tasks that demand more attention, forex trading software head and shoulders above the rest]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Making money has never been easier providing you use <a href="http://www.forex-butler.com/fap-turbo-expert-guide-crazy-conversion-easy-sales/">forex auto trading software</a> &#8211; why not raise your financial situation by giving it a shot? Working at odd times of the day is simple and appealing providing you have the proper means to do so lucratively. It just so happens, an automatic forex trader can turn trading into an easy and passive source of additional income without any stress or hassle. Skilled stockbrokers constantly keep their eyes on the market situation, in order to keep their shares afloat. Of course it is a job that requires a great amount of vigor, loyalty and direction. There&#8217;s no point in working that hard as long as you combine forex auto trading software with a realistic financial plan of action.</p>
<p>Once you have purchased forex auto trader, we heartily urge you to perform a couple of dummy trades so that you know how it works. Do it that way and you&#8217;ll have the time and the luxury to solidify your strategy before you start dealing with real cash. As mentioned before, the forex trader is advanced enough to be able to perform a lot of the background work for you, dependent upon your criteria. The Forex trader can be made to be fully self-regulating once the relevant info has been inputted. A forex robot can only be as good as its owner, however, so you should take heed of the following points. The forex trader is still a system that can only operate once given specific parameters, so you may still suffer marginal profits or even losses. Correctly deployed, it is a useful tool to be used whilst you see to other matters &#8211; it&#8217;s not a substitute for a human being physically trading on the market floor. It is the perfect multi-tasking tool for when your shares go up at the same time as you have other problems to solve. We recommend you keep an eye on it every once in a while, so that you are up to speed with what is going on. An automatic forex trader needs sustained updates to keep an accurate track of the market&#8217;s causes and trends whilst protecting your financial assets.</p>
<p>It is best to try to remember not to be tricked into believing that you&#8217;ve got it all pat; using a forex auto trader will not automatically bring you wealth and success. If you&#8217;re new to investment, do not charge in without knowing what is going on and without a game plan. So, to circumvent the hassle and lengthy hours of modern day trading, always remember that you can do it another way using the forex auto trader.</p>
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		<title>Get Some Eye-Openers Apropos Metatrader Four Expert Advisor</title>
		<link>http://www.consumology.com/archives/2010/05/19/get-some-eye-openers-apropos-metatrader-four-expert-advisor/</link>
		<comments>http://www.consumology.com/archives/2010/05/19/get-some-eye-openers-apropos-metatrader-four-expert-advisor/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 19 May 2010 11:40:09 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Entrepreneurs]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[University of Investment]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[forex autotrade software]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.consumology.com/archives/2010/05/19/get-some-eye-openers-apropos-metatrader-four-expert-advisor/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[If you know you can earn cash by trading both at work and during your leisure hours, why wouldn't you want to double that, triple it, or more? Provided you possess the right tools at hand, it is relatively easy to work at funny times of the day to supplement your income. So, if you want to get rid of the hassle of day-to-day trading, forex trading software head and shoulders above the rest]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>If you know you can easily make money by trading both at work as well as during your free hours, why wouldn&#8217;t you want to jump on that that with forex automatic trader? The idea of making cash whilst you sleep, work, and set about your daily business might sound discouraging, or even impossible, but it is not as trying as it might seem. So, if you&#8217;re searching for a simpler method of trading, forex automatic trader is able to help meet this demand and can facilitate boosting your income without causing too many problems.</p>
<p>Trained traders have their attention focused on the current market situation, using tricks gained from training and experience to keep their shares in the black. Nonetheless, such an occupation is a full-time commitment and requires a tremendous amount of staying power and drive. There is no point in working that hard, however, providing you combine forex automatic trading software with a innovative financial strategy.</p>
<p>As bleeding edge as forex automatic trading is, profitable results can only be gained if the user is practiced enough to earn them &#8211; it is recommended that you make a few practice trades in order to discover any costly mistakes that you might make. Hopefully, when you start using the software for real, you&#8217;ll be able to start turning a profit as well as avoiding any financial potholes. The next stage is when you assess and input your preferences, limits, and other particulars into the automatic forex trader to maximize your earning potential. The Forex trader can be made to be fully automated as soon as you have filled in what you are trading, the quantities, the timing and what level of risk you would prefer to take.</p>
<p>Visit and take a gander at our <a href="http://www.forex-butler.com/any-indicator-to-save-mt4-data-to-txt-format/">great website for forex online signals</a> info!</p>
<p>Nevertheless, you should be made aware of these points. To begin with, the system does not protect you from fiscal loss, or 100% guarantee a profit. Its purpose is to help enact your plan of action to continue trading when you don&#8217;t want to manually have to do it. It&#8217;s the ideal multi-tasking tool for those times when your shares go up at the same time as you have other things to do.</p>
<p>It does require semi-regular monitoring. You should never forget that you have the system running in the background &#8211; your share results should speak for themselves.</p>
<p>In conclusion, forex automatic trader is perfect for handling your market shares and investments, providing it is utilized properly. Take a bit-by-bit approach. So, to circumvent the tension and long hours of modern day trading, always remember that you have an alternative in the form of the forex automatic trader.</p>
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		<title>The Investor&#8217;s Internet Loan Portfolio Handbook</title>
		<link>http://www.consumology.com/archives/2009/12/02/the-investors-internet-loan-portfolio-handbook/</link>
		<comments>http://www.consumology.com/archives/2009/12/02/the-investors-internet-loan-portfolio-handbook/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 02 Dec 2009 08:24:57 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Financial World]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[University of Investment]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[debt buyers]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[debt sellers]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[loan portfolio]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[loans]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.consumology.com/archives/2009/12/02/the-investors-internet-loan-portfolio-handbook/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Though on the face of it in the Internet world it seems like an obvious step, before now the acquisition of loan portfolios had taken place through several markets with no one stop shop. This is no longer an irritation, as there is a firm that has recently been created with the intent of using the evolving methodologies of e-commerce to establish a centralized forum catering to this industry...]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>It seems astounding to think that before now, there has never been a one stop shop for selling subprime auto loan portfolios. They can now be acquired using a strategy popularised as a result of the growth of online commerce &#8212; the Internet-based bidding process patterned after eBay has been implemented by a visionary firm. Using this national open bidding platform, consumer and subprime loans are packaged at discount prices, available to banks and investors. Selling packages by this method standardizes the data and makes room in the market even for minor packages. Improve your access to potential investors through the reaching power characteristic of any online organization &#8212; take care that you&#8217;ve publicized your package to debt buyers. Place and time are no longer important concerns and business can be conducted at any time of day or night, which saves everyone a substantial amount of time and money.</p>
<p>Any and all potential customers should be located and reached if you want them to learn you have packages to sell. This service offers, as a consequence, all the applicable data available to any registrant at a time of their asking &#8212; making dealing in portfolios smoother and more economic. To sell loan portfolios, the greater the level of information you can get your hands on, the more opportunity you have for accomplishing great results. Transparency when dealing in loan portfolios reduces your risk and provides an overall awareness of just what your money will be buying, whether you are searching for consumer or subprime loans.</p>
<p>This degree of access to information creates the very real choice to handle these questions on your own instead of needing to funnel some of the generated income to someone else so as to handle it. Open communication with full disclosure creates a situation in which both buyer and seller will equally benefit.</p>
<p>Quicker choices of where to invest are achieved by keeping the packages standardized and not fragmented. We therefore waste less valuable time for buyers and sellers alike by quickly settling on the optimum package. Don&#8217;t forget that this system allows for an open bidding strategy, and this of course means there are numerous prospective buyers eager to bid, all of whom be granted the same information <a href="http://debtmarket.com/main.php?b=technology&#038;p=overview">transparency</a>. The Internet has generated you endless chances for the asking, and the scope to sell loan packages has just burst wide open. As it offers a wider scope, reliable standardization of data, and a chance to lay your hands on packages assembled to your exact needs, why not trade using the Internet?</p>
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		<title>Tips for Phoenix Home Inspection</title>
		<link>http://www.consumology.com/archives/2009/12/01/tips-for-phoenix-home-inspection/</link>
		<comments>http://www.consumology.com/archives/2009/12/01/tips-for-phoenix-home-inspection/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 01 Dec 2009 16:06:46 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Real Estate Infos]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[The Zen Of Home Improvement]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[University of Investment]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Cave Creek home inspections]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Cave Creek property inspection]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Phoenix property inspector]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[property inspections in Phoenix]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.consumology.com/archives/2009/12/01/tips-for-phoenix-home-inspection/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[These are just a few points to consider when you get a home inspection done.  This does not replace the recommendation of a real, qualified and experienced professional.  Please seek qualified help when you actually need your <a href="http://sonoranpropertyinspections.com">Phoenix property inspection</a> done or call 480-415-7977 if you are in the Phoenix, Arizona area.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Getting a quality home inspection in Cave Creek is vital whether you&#8217;re about to sell a home or buy a home.  Here are a few pointers to doing your own property inspection to make certain your property inspector does what is obligatory, but do not take this as legal services and always seek professional help.  These tenets could also differ from state to state.  </p>
<p>Before meeting with the Phoenix home inspector, you&#8217;ll be wanting to bring copies of the deed, survey, tax bill, leases, and bills for any major work on the property.  These documents will familiarize the property inspector with your property ; likewise, the search of the same will cause the vendor to invest time in the negotiation.  </p>
<p>1 ) Exterior Inspection<br />
Start with an exterior assessment.  With clipboard and pad, record impressions about bordering property, drives, walkways, stairways, and handicap access.  Note the parking situation, grading, and landscaping.  Inspect the condition of outside walls, doors, and windows.  Use your binoculars to check the roof, or if feasible check it close-up.  Is it cracking or thick with too many layers?  Are the gutters and downspouts in good condition?  Water is destructive, so focus on drainage.  Look for damp conditions, peeling paint, cracking mortar, algae and mould.  </p>
<p>2) Major Systems Inspection<br />
The basement is one of the most important parts of a property.  From there, begin considering the major systems.  Check the foundation by studying the outside walls for sandy, cracked, or deteriorated mortar.  To find air leaks, look for cobwebs-spiders spin them near openings to prey upon insects who enter from outside.  Explain this entomology lesson to the seller as you pick at those energy inefficient cracks.  Check the sump for water which indicates leakage.  Water pulls termites, so use your screwdriver to probe rafters for rotten wood.  </p>
<p>3) Living Area Inspection<br />
 Next, inspect the living area.  Check for an alarm system and smoke detectors.  Note the smell-it can affect value.  Tally the number of bedrooms and bathrooms.  ( According to FHA, a&#8217;bedroom&#8217; isn&#8217;t a bedroom if you have to walk through it to access another room.  ) Many older homes lack closet space, so make note.  Inspect the composition and condition of floors and walls.  Test all windows and doors for ease of use.  Also check that all electric sockets are grounded ( three prong ) and functional ( you may use a cheap electric tester.  ) </p>
<p>These are only a few points to consider when you get a home inspection done.  This does not replace the advice of a genuine, qualified and experienced professional.  Please seek qualified help when you actually need your <a href="http://sonoranpropertyinspections.com">Cave Creek home inspections</a> done or call 480-415-7977 if you are in the Scottsdale, Arizona area.</p>
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		<title>Is There Really A Magic Formula For Investing?</title>
		<link>http://www.consumology.com/archives/2009/11/02/is-there-really-a-magic-formula-for-investing/</link>
		<comments>http://www.consumology.com/archives/2009/11/02/is-there-really-a-magic-formula-for-investing/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 02 Nov 2009 14:18:39 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[University of Investment]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.consumology.com/archives/2009/11/02/is-there-really-a-magic-formula-for-investing/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[One question almost every investor asks at some point is whether it is possible to achieve above market returns by selecting a diversified group of stocks according to some formula, rather than having to evaluate each stock from every angle. There are obvious advantages to such a formulaic approach. For the individual, the amount of [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>One question almost every investor asks at some point is whether it is possible to achieve above market returns by selecting a diversified group of stocks according to some formula, rather than having to evaluate each stock from every angle. There are obvious advantages to such a formulaic approach. For the individual, the amount of time and effort spent caring for his investments would be reduced, leaving more time for him to spend on more enjoyable and fulfilling tasks. For the institution, large sums of money could be deployed without having to rely upon the investing acumen of a single talented stock picker. Many of the proposed systems also offer the advantage of matching the inflow of investable funds with investment opportunities. An investor who follows no formula, and evaluates each stock from every angle, may often find himself holding cash. Historically, this has been a problem for some excellent stock pickers. So, there are real advantages to favoring a formulaic approach to investing if such an approach would yield returns similar to the returns a complete stock by stock analysis would yield.</p>
<p>Many investment writers have proposed at least one such formulaic approach during their lifetime. The most promising formulaic approaches have been articulated by three men: Benjamin Graham, David Dreman, and Joel Greenblatt. As each of these approaches appeals to logic and common sense, they are not unique to these three men. But, these are the three names with which these approaches are usually most closely associated; so, there is little need to draw upon sources beyond theirs.</p>
<p>Benjamin Graham wrote three books of consequence: &#8220;Security Analysis&#8221;, &#8220;The Intelligent Investor&#8221;, and &#8220;The Interpretation of Financial Statements&#8221;. Within each book, he hints at various workable approaches both in stocks and bonds; however, he is most explicit in his best known work, &#8220;The Intelligent Investor&#8221;. There, Graham discusses the purchase of shares for less than two &#8211; thirds of their net current asset value. The belief that this method would yield above market returns is supported on both empirical and logical grounds. In fact, it currently enjoys far too much support to be practicable. Public companies rarely trade below their net current asset values. This is unlikely to change in the future. Buyout firms, unconventional money managers, and vulture investors now check such excessive bouts of public pessimism by taking large or controlling stakes in troubled companies. As a result, the investing public is less likely to indulge its pessimism as feverishly as it once did; for, many cheap stocks now have the silver lining of being takeover targets. As Graham&#8217;s net current asset value method is neither workable at present, nor is likely to prove workable in the future, we must set it aside.</p>
<p>David Dreman is known as a contrarian investor. In his case, it is an appropriate label, because of his keen interest in behavioral finance. However, in most cases the line separating the value investor from the contrarian investor is fuzzy at best. Dreman&#8217;s contrarian investing strategies are derived from three measures: price to earnings, price to cash flow, and price to book value. Of these measures, the price to earnings ratio is by far the most conspicuous. It is quoted nearly everywhere the share price is quoted. When inverted, the price to earnings ratio becomes the earnings yield. To put this another way, a stock&#8217;s earnings yield is &#8220;e&#8221; over &#8220;p&#8221;. Dreman describes the strategy of buying stocks trading at low prices relative to their earnings as the low P/E approach; but, he could have just as easily called it the high earnings yield approach. Whatever you call it, this approach has proved effective in the past. A diversified group of low P/E stocks has usually outperformed both a diversified group of high P/E stocks and the market as a whole. </p>
<p>This fact suggests that investors have a very hard time quantifying the future prospects of most public companies. While they may be able to make correct qualitative comparisons between businesses, they have trouble assigning a price to these qualitative differences. This does not come as a surprise to anyone with much knowledge of human judgment (and misjudgment). I am sure there is some technical term for this deficiency, but I know it only as &#8220;checklist syndrome&#8221;. Within any mental model, one must both describe the variables and assign weights to these variables. Humans tend to have little difficulty describing the variables &#8211; that is, creating the checklist. However, they rarely have any clue as to the weight that ought to be given to each variable. This is why you will sometimes hear analysts say something like: the factor that tipped the balance in favor of online sales this holiday season was high gas prices (yes, this is an actual paraphrase; but, I won&#8217;t attribute it, because publicly attaching such an inane argument to anyone&#8217;s name is just cruel). It is true that avoiding paying high prices at the pump is a possible motivating factor in a shopper&#8217;s decision to make online Christmas purchases. However, it is an immaterial factor. It is a mere pebble on the scales. This is the same kind of thinking that places far too much value on a stock&#8217;s future earnings growth and far too little value on a stock&#8217;s current earnings. </p>
<p>The other two contrarian methods: the low price to cash flow approach and the low price to book value approach work for the same reasons. They exploit the natural human tendency to see a false equality in the factors, and to run down a checklist. For instance, a stock that has a triple digit price to cash flow ratio, but is in all other respects an extraordinary business, will be judged favorably by a checklist approach. However, if great weight is assigned to present cash flows relative to the stock price, the stock will be judged unfavorably. This also illustrates the second strength of the three contrarian methods. They heavily weight the known factors. Of course, they do not heavily weight all known factors. They only consider three easily quantifiable known factors. An excellent brand, a growing industry, a superb management team, etc. may also be known factors. However, they are not precisely quantifiable. I would argue that while these factors may not be quantifiable they are calculable; that is to say, while no exact value may be assigned to them, they are useful data that ought to be considered when evaluating an investment. </p>
<p>There is the possibility of a middle ground here. These three contrarian methods may be used as a screen. Then, the investor may apply his own active judgment to winnow the qualifying stocks down to a final portfolio. Personally, I do not believe this is an acceptable compromise. These three methods do not adequately model the diversity of great investments. Therefore, they must either exclude some of the best stocks or include too many of the worst stocks. It is wise to place great weight upon each of these measures; however, it is foolish disqualify any stock because of a single criterion (which is exactly what such a screen does). </p>
<p>Finally, there is Joel Greenblatt&#8217;s &#8220;magic formula&#8221;. This is the most interesting formulaic approach to investing, both because it does not subject stocks to any true/false tests and because it is a composite of the two most important readily quantifiable measures a stock has: earnings yield and return on capital. As you will recall, earnings yield is simply the inverse of the P/E ratio; so, a stock with a high earnings yield is simply a low P/E stock. Return on capital may be thought of as the number of pennies earned for each dollar invested in the business. The exact formula that Greenblatt uses is described in &#8220;The Little Book That Beats the Market&#8221;. However, the formula used is rather unimportant. Over large groups of stocks (which is what Greenblatt suggests the magic formula be used on) any differences between the various return on capital formulae will not have much affect on the performance of the portfolios constructed. Greenblatt claims his magic formula may be used in two different ways: as an automated portfolio generation tool or as a screen. For an investor like you (that is, one with sufficient curiosity and commitment to frequent a site such as this) the latter use is the more appropriate one. The magic formula will serve you well as a screen. I would argue, however, that you needn&#8217;t limit yourself to stocks screened by the magic formula, if you have full confidence in your judgment regarding some other stock.</p>
<p>These four formulaic approaches (the three from Dreman and the one from Greenblatt) will likely yield returns greater than or equal to the returns you would obtain from an index fund. Therefore, you would do better to invest in your own basket of qualifying stocks than in the prefabricated market basket. If you want to be a passive investor, or believe yourself incapable of being an active investor, these formulaic approaches are your best bet. In fact, if I were approached by an institution making long &#8211; term investments and using only a very small percentage of the fund for operating expenses, I would recommend an automated process derived from these four approaches. I would also recommend that 100% of the fund&#8217;s investable assets be put into equities, but that is a discussion for another day (in fact, it&#8217;s a discussion for Tuesday; my next podcast is devoted to the dangers of diversification). If, however, you believe you have what it takes to be an active investor, and that is truly what you wish to be, then, I would suggest you do not use these approaches for anything more than helping you generate some useful ideas.</p>
<p>If you choose this path, you need to be clear about what being an active investor entails. Read this next part very carefully (it is correct even though it may not appear to be): I have never found a screen that generates more than one buy order per hundred stocks returned. Even after I have narrowed the list of possible stocks down by a cursory review of the industry and the business itself, I have never found a method that can consistently generate more than one buy order per twenty &#8211; five annual reports read. Here, I am citing my best past experiences. In my experience, most screens result in less than one buy order per three hundred stocks returned, and I usually read more like fifty to a hundred annual reports per buy order at a minimum. You may choose to invest in far more stocks than I do. Perhaps instead of limiting yourself to your five to twelve best ideas as I do, you might want to put money into your best twenty &#8211; five to thirty ideas. Do the math, and you&#8217;ll see that is still quite a bit of homework. That&#8217;s why remaining a passive investor is the best bet for most people. The time and effort demanded of the active investor is simply too taxing. They have more important, more enjoyable things to do. If that&#8217;s true for you, the four formulaic approaches outlined above should guide you to above market returns.</p>
<p class="articletext">
<p class="articletext">
Geoff Gannon writes a daily value investing blog and produces a twice weekly (half hour) value investing podcast at Gannon on Investing.</p>
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		<title>Speculators and Speculation</title>
		<link>http://www.consumology.com/archives/2009/11/02/speculators-and-speculation/</link>
		<comments>http://www.consumology.com/archives/2009/11/02/speculators-and-speculation/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 02 Nov 2009 14:06:09 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[University of Investment]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.consumology.com/archives/2009/11/02/speculators-and-speculation/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Speculators get a bad rap. Speculation in stocks, currecies and commodities futures is a necessary part of our economy. Many people have the idea that there is no added value in people &#8220;gambling&#8221; on commodities prices, for example. The truth is, most people just don&#8217;t understand of the role of speculators and speculation. 
The Truth [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Speculators get a bad rap. Speculation in stocks, currecies and commodities futures is a necessary part of our economy. Many people have the idea that there is no added value in people &#8220;gambling&#8221; on commodities prices, for example. The truth is, most people just don&#8217;t understand of the role of speculators and speculation. </p>
<p><b>The Truth About &#8216;Speculation&#8217;</b></p>
<p>Speculative trading is crucial to a modern economy. Let&#8217;s use corn for an example. A farmer can plant his corn, and then see the price drop so low by harvest time that he loses his investment, and possibly goes bankrupt. How can he prevent this?</p>
<p>By selling some of his future production now, at a set price, he can plan ahead safely. The contracts he creates and sells will go up and down with the price of corn, but the risk is all in the hands of the speculators who buy them. They profit by re-selling them if the price goes up, and they lose money if it goes down. Our farmer, though, has his price, and can plan his business now.</p>
<p>Now, on the other side, a cereal company needs predictability in the prices of their basic commodities, in order to plan future production. They can&#8217;t hire new employees and buy new equipment, only to see the price of corn triple, making consumers unwilling to buy their expensive corn flakes. Buy a contract for future delivery at a set price, and they can plan, and again, the speculators take on the risk. They sell a contract, planning to buy the corn necessary for delivery. They make money if the price drops, and lose if it goes up, because they have to deliver at a set price.</p>
<p>Not just farmers, but all industries based on basic commodities would go through terrible swings in fortune if it weren&#8217;t for these &#8220;gamblers,&#8221; who take on the risk. Without them, there would be more bankruptcies, and more dramatic swings in consumer prices. In all markets with speculation, speculators provide the liquidity and ability to plan ahead that is needed.</p>
<p><b>New Ideas In Speculation</b></p>
<p>Maybe we need more speculation, not less. Wouldn&#8217;t it be nice if businesses and even individuals could guarantee that gas for their cars would be near the same price next year? Speculators could provide that guarantee, and some businesses would love that kind of predictability.</p>
<p>You buy a contract, for example, to get your next 1000 gallons of gas at $2.20 per gallon. You put down a small deposit, and pay as you go, but you know that the next 1000 gallons will be $2,200, guaranteed.</p>
<p>A speculators role is to back the other side of the contract (to sell it). He is the one guaranteeing your price, so if the average price for the next 1000 gallons is $1.80, you still pay $2,200 in the end, but his cost is $1,800, so he makes $400 on the contract. Now if the price averages $3.30, he pays $3,300. You still pay $2,200, so he gambled and lost $1,100.</p>
<p>Speculators, like most gamblers, will probably bet on almost anything. We need to find more ways for them to take on our risks. Just imagine the many contracts could be invented, based on speculation.</p>
<p class="articletext">
<p class="articletext">
Steve Gillman has been exploring new ideas for decades. Visit his site for invention ideas, business ideas, story ideas, political and economic theories, deep thoughts, and more. Get a free gift too: New Ideas ( <a href="http://www.999ideas.com" rel="nofollow">www.999ideas.com</a> )</p>
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		<title>Save up to Twenty Five Pounds a Month and Build a Cash Sum for Your Child</title>
		<link>http://www.consumology.com/archives/2008/12/09/save-up-to-twenty-five-pounds-a-month-and-build-a-cash-sum-for-your-child/</link>
		<comments>http://www.consumology.com/archives/2008/12/09/save-up-to-twenty-five-pounds-a-month-and-build-a-cash-sum-for-your-child/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 09 Dec 2008 19:32:50 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Financial World]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[University of Investment]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[childsavings]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.consumology.com/archives/2008/12/09/save-up-to-twenty-five-pounds-a-month-and-build-a-cash-sum-for-your-child/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Children grow so quickly which means it is important to start thinking about saving when they&#8217;re young. By saving from just &#163;10 to &#163;25 a month with Scottish Friendly&#8217;s Child Bond immediately you could aid them when they are older. Situations where this might prove useful might include helping to pay for university fees or [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Children grow so quickly which means it is important to start thinking about saving when they&#8217;re young. By saving from just &#163;10 to &#163;25 a month with Scottish Friendly&#8217;s Child Bond immediately you could aid them when they are older. Situations where this might prove useful might include helping to pay for university fees or to find the money for  a residence.</p>
<p>You can invest in a <a href = "http://www.scottishfriendly.co.uk/tax-free/index.html">tax-free savings</a> plan for any child with a Scottish Friendly Child Bond. It&#8217;s tax-free since it&#8217;s a friendly society savings plan, and as such under prevailing law it grows free of income or capital gains tax.  It is a good way for parents, grandparents, family members and friends to make a huge financial difference when the kids are older.</p>
<p>To sum up the Child Bond is a with-profits investment plan: It invests for long-term growth as well as a certain element of security, in stocks and shares, fixed interest funds and cash.</p>
<p>Money grows through the addition of potential yearly bonuses and at the relevant time when the bond reaches maturity there is a tax-free payout. The value of bonuses depends on how much profit we make and how we decide to distribute it.<br />
Please note that bonuses are not guaranteed.</p>
<p>The Child Bond can last for a minimum of 10 years, but you are able to invest for longer if you wish &#8211; perhaps to coincide with an 18th or 21st birthday. You can save either monthly, annually or with a lump sum payment.It&#8217;s completely up to you. It should not be forgotten that if the plan is cashed in at a point prior to the end of the term, the amount the child will be paid may be less than the amount paid in.</p>
<p>If you choose the monthly option, you can begin saving from as little as &#163;10 a month &#8211; up to a maximum of &#163;25 per month. Or you can make once a year payments of up to &#163;270 a year.</p>
<p>You can also make the payment of all of the premiums in one go through our lump sum funding plan. If you invest the maximum possible figure of &#163;2,340 for a decade, this actually invests &#163;270 a year into the Child Bond &#8211; making twenty seven hundred pounds in total. The minimum lump sum of &#163;1,040 will provide &#163;120 a year for 10 years &#8211; a total of &#163;1,200. This provides a route for you to pay all your premiums at once and is very popular with grandparents who like the reassurance of knowing all premiums for the full term of the plan are taken care of.</p>
<p>This plan includes life cover, so you should consider if this is suitable for your financial  needs.</p>
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