Gold is known as a crisis commodity because its value commonly rises when other assets decrease. When economies are slumping or in turmoil, gold generally shines and is always valuable anywhere in the world. Deciding to invest in a gold individual retirement account, or IRA, is not a bad idea at any time. However, there are some tips for investing in a gold IRA that can help you make a better decision:

Gold IRA Companies

Before you decide to invest your IRA in gold, you must do your due diligence when finding the right company to handle the account. There are many unprofessional IRA companies that can leave you high and dry when you place your account with them. Others do not have good customer service, experience or charge fees that are hidden from you.

You must do some research on a company in order to compare their fees and their success at handling this type of an account. Most of this information can be found over the Internet. Do not take the word of the company and their website to make this decision. Call the better business bureau, ask to speak to current and past clients and find out what they charge before investing your retirement money with them. [Read more…]

In these challenging economic times more and more people are turning to gold as a source of investment. Here are a few tips for new investors and people who have been buying gold but want some simple reminders:

1 – Research which gold will be best for your investment.

Gold can be bought in three forms:

• Gold coins
• Gold stocks
• Gold bullion bars

If you truly want to invest in gold, and are not a numismatist, then you do not want to purchase gold coins. Buying gold coins is not the most economical way to invest.

The most economical investment will usually be found in gold bullion. Of course, this depends on the amount of money you have as an investor. Gold is sold by the ounce and as you increase the number of ounces the price of the ounce goes down. [Read more…]

Living (and loving) Life

It’s no secret that inflation has caused grocery prices to skyrocket, and that has many families struggling to put quality, nutritious food on their tables while also being able to pay their other bills.

Fortunately, there are ways that you can save a lot of money and feed your family well. It takes practice, but if you will follow these great tips, you will be on your way to saving a ton of money each week:  [Read more…]

Most families spend a great deal of time trying to save money. When the bills come, they debate and argue about all sorts of expenditures. However, many of these arguments can be avoided or lessened by just paying closer attention to spending during the rest of the month.

The Problem

It’s amazing how fast small expenditures can add up if they are not tracked. A couple will get up in the morning to take junior to the soccer game in the next town over. Dad asks, “What are we having for breakfast?” To which Mom replies, “We can get something on the way.” Junior chimes in, “I want a chocolate doughnut and some apple juice. Oh, and I need a bottle of water for the game.” [Read more…]

Combined with the right strategy, promotional items can be a worthwhile marketing investment. However, simply having your logo slapped on a mug, hat, pen or other giveaway item doesn’t guarantee it’s money well spent.

To get the full potential and the greatest value from your promotional products, here are some considerations to keep in mind:

1 – Your Brand Message

Start with your message, not an item you like. What kinds of items are consistent with the brand you intend to convey? What sort of impression should prospects and clients have about your company? Is it trustworthy, fun, hip, or conservative? Do you have a tagline that would be supported by a specific item? Would you like your item to spark conversation, be played with, or be used daily? [Read more…]