investments
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What Bankrupt Athletes Wish They Knew About Financial Windfalls
Few among us haven't dreamed of sudden riches - the financial windfall of a big legal settlement, an unexpected inheritance, a winning lottery ticket, or, for the young and athletically gifted, a lucrative contract with a major professional sports franchise.
But it turns out that few are prepared for a financial windfall when it comes their way.
Nowhere is this more obvious than with big sports stars.
Despite the proliferation of multimillion-dollar contracts, an astonishing number of professional athletes are forced to declare bankruptcy within a few years of hanging up their jerseys.
In the National Football League, for example, where the average salary is $1.9 million, 78% of former players are in bankruptcy within five years of retirement. That figure is 60% for former National Basketball Association players, who earn an average of $5.5 million a year as players.
How can people so generously compensated go broke so quickly?
Part of it has to do with youth, but many of the mistakes athletes make with the financial windfall of a professional sports salary also are made by regular people who suddenly come into large sums of money.
There's a lot we all can learn from their mistakes. When it comes to financial windfalls, it's best to know what to expect ahead of time so you can put the money to work for you instead of squandering it.
"Every single day, people come into large sums of money, whether it's a thousand dollars or a million, and without proper planning, funds quickly disappear," writes Jim Wang in U.S. News and World Report. "Just look at the horrible stories you often hear of lottery winners, and you'll have enough evidence that everyone needs a little preparation, even if you don't expect to get a windfall."
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My Favorite Investment in the World's Newest "Sweet Spot"
Having lived in Singapore as a child I've always been fond of Southeast Asia.
Fifty years later, though, I like it for a slightly different reason. It's become a place where I like to invest.
In fact, I believe the region is the world's newest "sweet spot" for investors.
Of course, you don't hear much about the economies of Southeast Asia. Given the media's penchant for bad news, that alone should tell you something.
But unlike the U.S., Europe, China, India and Japan, the region is doing just fine, which is why you should consider putting some money in places like Malaysia and Singapore.
In fact, in a moment I'm going to tell you what my favorite company in the region is.
First, though, I'd like to give you a first-hand glimpse of the ongoing economic miracle in Singapore.
Because one thing is for certain: The place is gigantically richer than it was when I lived there as a child.
Needless to say, so much has changed since the new independent government took over from British rule.
At the time, most of our neighbors in Singapore were fearful of the change, and for good reason. Independence in other countries, notably India, had brought nothing but trouble and bloodshed.
However, my father reassured us. He said the new leader, Lee Kuan-yew, was both sensible and very able, so things would be fine.
Admittedly, father was no great shakes when it came to investments, but by George he knew his stuff on geopolitics. In the 50 years since then, Singapore has been just about the most successful society on earth.
My Favorite Investment in Southeast Asia
Today, the important thing for investors to know about Singapore is that it is now a rich country. Believe it or not, it's the fifth richest in the world. The United States is only 12th.
Singapore also ranks at the top on the World Bank's Ease of Doing Business Index, second on the Heritage Foundation's Index of Economic Freedom, and fifth on Transparency International's Corruption Perceptions Index.
In other words, your money is much safer in Singapore than it is at home, or even under the mattress!
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The Five Questions You Need to Ask Your Financial Advisor Right Now
If you have a financial advisor you need to read this-especially if you are one of the 99%.
That's everybody who isn't a gazillionaire. You may know a few people who fit this bill.
Being a 99-percenter just means that you want to do better.
In that regard, you're no different than the 1%. They just have more money and by extension more freedom than you.
That doesn't mean they are any smarter.
I know plenty of uber-rich people who are financially inept. You probably do, too.
What sets people apart sometimes, though, is as simple as the questions they ask. True 1-percenters have this down pat-even if they don't have a gazillion dollars.
Here are five things you need to ask your financial advisor today if you want to join them.
If you do, you'll profit more consistently, reduce your risk and invest with greater peace of mind.
And I have no doubt that you will join the real 1%.
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Emerging Market Dividend Stocks Give Investors the Best of Both Worlds
In today's market, dividend investing is the best way to achieve a decent income stream without taking on too much risk.
On the other hand, this is also true: emerging markets give investors the benefit of the world's fastest economic growth.
Investors would be wise then to combine these two strategies by buying emerging markets stocks that pay steady dividends.
In practice, this is more difficult than it ought to be - but it's not impossible.
In fact, as you'll learn later I have found numerous ways to profit from this best of both worlds strategy.
What You Need to Know About Emerging Market Dividend Stocks
Dividend-paying stocks in emerging markets have the same advantages as they do in the U.S. market.
Just like here in The States, a sizeable dividend from overseas is not only money in your pocket, it's also evidence that the management is working in your interests as a shareholder.
And by paying dividends investors can be sure that at least some of the earnings the company is generating are real and not the result of an accounting flim-flam.
If a company in a fast-growing emerging market is able to pay a decent dividend and participate in local growth, then you can anticipate very good returns indeed, since the dividend itself is likely to grow on the back of the company's rapidly increasing profits.
Of course, there are always risks in emerging market investing, but a good yield gives your holding a solidity that isn't present in companies with mere paper earnings.
But here's what you need to know...
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Money-Markets, CDs, and Bonds: The Ups and Downs of Stashing Your Cash
In today's volatile markets many investors are faced with the same troublesome question - "Where should I park my cash?"
In fact, investors have withdrawn a net total of $328 billion from the stock market since 2007, according to Strategic Insight.
Ever since, a big portion that cash has been looking for a home.
It seems simple enough, but investors are finding the answer to be more complicated than they imagined...
Thanks to our friends at the Federal Reserve, interest rates are at record lows. In fact, they're so low that most investors are getting practically nothing in returns.
Meanwhile, the stock market has put on a New Year's rally, rewarding those who were willing to jump in while leaving cautious investors wondering if they're holding too much boring old cash.
However, in order to have an adequate safety net, your cash on hand should be enough to cover about a year's worth of expenses, according to Shah Gilani, a retired hedge fund manager and Editor of the acclaimed Wall Street Insights & Indictments newsletter.
"That's a good safety net," Shah says.
But no matter how much cash you hold, you still have to balance your need for higher returns against your risk tolerance.
Because whether you're thinking "safety first" or are tempted to reach for a little more yield, the choice you make might determine whether you're able to sleep at night.
Three Places to Park Your Cash
With that in mind, here's a look at three of the most popular places to park your cash.
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