Eighty-five percent of financial advisors are at least cautiously optimistic about the market’s prospects for growth in 2010, a recent survey indicates.
The survey, performed by SEI Investments (NASDAQ: SEIC), found that 70 percent of advisors anticipate that a diversified portfolio will grow between zero and 10 percent. A “diversified” portfolio was defined as one with 60 percent equities and 40 percent fixed-income investments.
But if Friday’s consumer sentiment results are any indication, recovery is likely to be slow. The preliminary release of the Reuters-University of Michigan consumer sentiment poll said that sentiment barely edged up in the new year: The groups’ index rose just 0.3 percentage points from December’s score of 72.5.
While the current conditions index increased from 78 to 81, the expectations index score declined from 68.9 to 67.5, suggesting that consumers don’t plan to ramp up spending aggressively as 2010 progresses.
A separate survey performed by Consumer Reports determined that Americans are still uncertain about the direction of the job market: The magazine’s Employment Index remained unchanged from December’s value.
“Employment numbers continue to drag the economy’s recovery,” Consumer Reports National Research Center director Ed Farrell said. Read more…
From the time that cell phone service was introduced in the US in the early 80’s, it has come a long way. Today the USA is the second largest cellular market with around 200 million cellular and PCS subscribers. What was only a cellular service is also now segregated as PCS telephone service other than cellular. While the cellular service operates on an 800 MHz frequency range and PCS (Personal Communications Service) utilizes the 1900 MHz range. From the days of analog cellular, to digital technology to the available 3G services of today, the US cell phone service providers are gearing up to upgrade to 4G levels in the near future offering maximum coverage and internet download speeds in all the stats.
Looking through the customer and user reviews on the internet, you are sure to come across grumbling, unsatisfied and frustrated customers who use the wireless services available in the US. While most customers are unsatisfied with the services provided for the price they paid, the others are unsatisfied with the back office and customer service support that is being provided.
Liberty International has launched a new free cell phone service that is named WOW Mobile, to which is sure to wow! T
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Right now, my office is a mess. There’s a huge pile of things waiting to be filed. There are a few stacks of books that need to be sent out for PaperBackSwap. I have several pieces of correspondence that need addressing. The closet is overstuffed with all sorts of different things. The floor has a large number of boxes that need breaking down and storing (or disposing). My desk really needs to be cleaned up, too, with countless things that need to be dealt with sitting around.
Yet, whenever I look at the whole mess, I get the feeling described in the title of this post. Instead of dealing with it, I feel a bit overwhelmed – and I also feel like there are more urgent things pushing at me to get finished. Like writing this article, for instance.
So many of the projects that we feel overwhelmed a bit by are ones that fall into that “important but not urgent” category. Things like starting a good filing system, switching our accounts to a new bank, keeping in regular contact with old friends and key work associates – all of them are things we know we ought to be doing, but we put them aside.
Don’t.
Those things that are important but don’t feel urgent are the very things that are the keys to building the life that we want. It is the
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Getting started with an online broker can be a challenge, thanks to the competition out there. Let’s take a look at TradeKing, which is one of the popular online brokers for stock and options trading. I happen to like this broker quite a bit, mainly for its tools and pricing.
TradeKing Review: Top Discount Brokerage
TradeKing has a top discount brokerage designation, given that they have won several awards of late. Some awards include:
- #1 Online Discount Broker by Smart Money (for 2006 & 2007)
- 4 out of 5 Stars, according to Barron’s (in 2009)
- Top-Rated Customer Service, according to Kiplinger’s (in 2008)
But before proceeding with online stock trading, it’s also a good idea to find out how much their trades will cost you. At TradeKing, you’re charged $4.95 per trade, plus 65 cents per options contract. It’s the same price whether you’re making your transaction online or if it’s broker-assisted. Compared to higher-priced brokers like Fidelity or TD Ameritrade, where you might pay over $40 for broker-assisted trades, the savings can add up.
You don’t have to worry about account minimums and inactivity fees here. For a margin-enab
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