While there are certain truths that will always apply in the investing world, some strategies can become outdated. If you’re doing the same things you were doing 20 years ago in the stock market today, there’s a good chance that you’re going to be losing money. Here are a few old school investing methods that you should probably look at dropping.

Balanced Portfolio

The old myth of the balanced portfolio doesn’t usually result in lower risk or better returns. Many investment advisors will recommend putting your money into 60 percent stocks and 40 percent bonds. Typically, this simply results in you creating a portfolio that moves right in line with the stock market anyway. This is especially true when bonds are paying next to nothing in interest. Don’t fall into the trap of putting your money into balanced mutual funds either. They seldom provide very good returns on your investment.

Following Expert Picks

Another popular strategy for investors is to find a columnist that they like and then invest in all of the stocks that they tell you are going to increase in value. Most of the time, these guys don’t really know what they’re talking about and they are usually wrong. If you make a habit of doing whatever the analysts tell you, you’ll probably not have a very strong portfolio. Most of them are simply in the business of getting people to invest in general, not necessarily picking winners. The experts at Fisher Investments office address this issue for most of their customers, and tell them to be very careful who they trust.

Buy and Hold

While there are times that a buy and hold strategy can still work, it is not the bastion of wealth creation that it once was. If you were using this type of strategy during the financial crisis of 2008, your portfolio probably took a bath. With so much economic uncertainty, it’s really hard to just pick a company and hold onto it for the long-term. The market changes so fast that a powerhouse company could be on the verge of going out of business in a short period of time. It’s up to you to be able to figure out which companies are going to stick around for the long haul and which ones won’t be.

Be sure to learn investment strategies that have been updated to reflect today’s market. There is still money to be made, it’s just a little bit more complex than it used to be.

If you want to ensure a comfortable lifestyle in your retirement years, now is the time to get serious about your finances. Some adults focus little attention on personal finances in their 20s or 30s. They might spend money unnecessarily, put off planning for retirement and acquire a ton of credit card debt. However, there are benefits to becoming financially fit at a young age. But, where do you start? As an average Joe, the thought of hiring a financial planner may seem far-fetched. You might think, “financial planners are for people who have money.”

This couldn’t be further from the truth. A financial planner is beneficial regardless of your income level. As an average Joe, you may be unfamiliar with ways to achieve financial freedom. You might have a savings account with your bank, in which you deposit funds into this account on a regular basis. How do you know if you’re saving enough? Additionally, are you on the right path for retirement? Financial planners can provide answers to these questions and more. Professionals, such as Charles E Phillips, have a broad knowledge of various areas of personal finance, thus they’re qualified to help you plan for the future.

Here are ways that a financial planner can help you:

• Help you plan for retirement. A financial planner will ask questions to assess your long-term goals, and based on this information, determine how much you need to maintain your lifestyle after retirement. Your planner may recommend saving strategies, such as investing in a 401(k), opening an individual retirement account, as well as other investments like money market accounts and certificate of deposits.

• Create a plan to help you pay off debt. Paying off debt puts you a step closer to financial freedom. A financial planner can assess your debts, including your mortgage, auto loan and credit cards, and help devise a realistic pay off strategy. This not only helps your credit, but frees up cash to increase your personal savings.

• Analyze your insurance needs. Too little insurance can devastate your finances. Dying without enough life insurance can impact your family’s livelihood. And if you don’t have disability insurance or long-term care insurance, a medical emergency can drain your life’s savings. A financial planner can determine your insurance needs based on your present income and health condition.

Whether you have questions about debt or investments, your planner is available to help you decipher the confusion. You’re trusting this person with your finances, thus it’s important to choose a skilled professional. Don’t trust any financial planner. Ask friends, coworkers or family members for recommendations, and then schedule free consultations with various planners. Ask questions about rates, fees and other services. Select a planner who understands your needs and goals.

Saving is something that everyone should do regardless of how much money you make and what your status is socially and professionally. As talked about in the previous article “Rainy Day Funds” and other articles, it is always a good idea to save money for times that you cannot foresee from now. It is also a good idea to save for the little things that you have deserved over the year, or have wanted for a long time.

To get started on saving your money, get creative and buy a piggy bank, change jar (one that can track how much you deposit), mattresses, PayPal.com, etc. Being creative can make it fun to save, and easy to store it away from yourself. Sometimes people wait till their change jar, piggybank, or whatever container they use to overflow and deposit it. Another good way to save is to take out a 401K with your job (if they have one). They’ll take it out before your pay is taxed and deposit it into an account for you. Other things that can go into savings, whether an account or a container, is student loan refunds, stimulus checks, birthday money, and even your lottery winnings!

Whichever way you choose to save, make sure you always add to it, and not subtract from it. Saving money will always come in handy, and it will make you feel a lot richer than you might have been feeling before.

Everyone, at some point in their life, will have a “rainy day”. For those who are unfamiliar with the phrase, it means a day or time period where one comes across times of unexpected financial troubles. It is always a good idea to save money for times that you cannot foresee from now.

The first step to preparing your rainy day fund is to have a savings plan for emergencies. It’s hard to predict when and where a financial emergency will emerge, and it’s better to be prepared for such occasion. Second, open up a separate account for your rainy day fund. Any spare funds that you receive, whether it’s a tax refunds, raises, a side job, or any extra income, is a good deposit for your newly created account. Third, it’s recommended that you have at least $1,000 to $3,000 in savings, but even if you save $500 it still helps wonders.

Having a rainy day account is very empowering to the soul. It gives you and your family a way out of financial troubles like unemployment for a period of time, or things that need fixing to maintain your life. Saving money also relinquishes stress levels, depression, and anxiety.

Everyone is talking about the ecomomy and how bad things are. Politicians and big business men are playing ping-pong with our emotions and wallets.

Everywhere I turn I hear about the 1% versus the 99%. Occupy Wall Street and various other offshoot “Occupy” groups are springing up all over the country.

With all this noise I wonder if it’s a good time to play the stock market. So many people are distracted because of the news coverag and naysayers. Is this a good time to be playing the stock market?

The reality is, business goes on and as usual. The stock market is still moving forward. People are still buying goods and services and companies are still making money.

Even in a recession we still need food, clothing, gas, shelter, and numerous other things. As  idealistic as it is to want to boycott, sit down, and/or be an activist life still goes on. We can complain about what happening or we can do something about it.

I think there are opportunities in the stock market, but it requires education and innovative thought. For me I have to get input from an experienced person that I can trust. There are many online brokerage services and products like Scottrade that offer quick and inexpensive options to jump into the market.

For me, I need a bit more hand holding and guidance. A while ago I spoke to an investment adviser that seemed on the up and up. He seemed genuinely interested in helping me set up accounts, transfer my retirement fund, and start making money to fund my dreams.

Thankfully I have a little nest egg to turn over which will make getting started much simpler and less stressful. I won’t have to figure out how to get the money to put into the market and beginning playing with the big boys.

Someday soon, I’ll be sitting pretty with a diverse portfolio of my favorite companies. In the meantime, I’m back to the grindstone to make a dollar out of 15 cents like everyone else.

That is probably the question in the minds of many people right now. That is a question I am contemplating, but I’m not planning to bail out just yet.

Netflix, The Ultimate Cable Alternative!

A couple of years ago I heard about Netflix, signed up for the free trial, and got hooked. What more could you ask for if looking for a DVD rental and cable alternative? I signed up in good faith, like millions of others, thinking their business model would not change. At least not drastically. But they did and still I’m hanging on. Why? Because for now, they still have good content that me and my kids enjoy.

Netflix, Too Big to Fail?

Despite the stupid move they made with increasing the price almost 60%, they have managed to keep me on as a subscriber. I dumped the DVD plan after they separated it from the Watch Instantly feature. Instead of paying one price for both, they split it and now charge for both. No more DVDs for me.

My son is not too happy about that. He asks me almost every time he logs on to Netflix, “why did you  change it mom!” Even if I explained that I do not want to pay for the DVDs, he would just look at me like I’ve grown two horns. So I just shrug and keep going. He’s distracted by the latest episode of his favorite show that is streaming through the computer by then anyway.

Netflix, Ummmm Are They Failing?

So Netflix’s stock is falling according to CNN. The outcry was too loud to ignore. Did they really think people wouldn’t just cancel?

That’s the problem with getting too big for your britches Mr. Big Brand. The consumers will revolt, especially if they are already apart of the penny-pinching, frugal crowd.

Netflix was a way to escape the big cable companies that continually increased their rates. Despite what these conglomerates think, entertainment is still an optional expense. We don’t have to have it and we don’t have to get it from you.

The Rise of Alternative Entertainment Sources

With the rise of Internet online streaming from companies like Hulu.com, YouTube, and a host others, the entertainment alternatives are pretty vast.

I’m not dumping Netflix…yet. But I’m keeping my eye on them and at the same time I’m considering other sources of entertainment. Hmmmmm the Library is looking pretty promising.

When: November 5, 2011

Where: Smyrna Conference Center in Smyrna, GA (in the Atlanta Metro area)

Why: Because you are a smart woman and smart women get educated about money.

Here are a few more details:

Worth It! The Money Conference for Women will provide reliable Money Management, Investing, Career, Entrepreneur, Savings, Credit and Retirement Planning Strategies for exactly where you are in your Financial Life. This Conference is designed to address the unique challenges women face in a safe and fun environment.

Going to this conference is worth it, just like the names says. I know the organizer, Andrea Amir, and she knows her stuff. She’s put this conference together to women in the Atlanta area the opportunity to hear great speakers and network with other smart, savvy women.

Even if you don’t live in Atlanta you are still invited to come.

Click here to ==>>> REGISTER

Here is a bit more about what is planned:

Worth It! The Money Conference for Women will provide reliable Money Management, Investing, Career, Entrepreneur, Savings, Credit and Retirement Planning Strategies for exactly where you are in your Financial Life. This Conference is designed to address the unique challenges women face in a safe and fun environment.

Join us for:

Fantastic Keynote Speakers
Over 9 Different Sessions to choose from
Straight Talk from Real Experts
Catered Lunch and Surprise Snack
Swag galore filled bag with financial resources and other goodies
Door Prizes and Sponsor Giveaways
Access to Financial Resources

Here is a Sampling of some of our 9 educational sessions

* Minding Your Money Matters
*So You Want to Be An Entrepreneur?
*Earn Your Worth! Secrets to A Successful Career and Salary
*The Emotional Side of Money
*How Do I Get Out Of Debt?
and many many more

Should you attend?

– Are you living paycheck to paycheck and can’t even think about saving for retirement?
-Do you think it’s not worth bothering to save small amounts of money?
-Do you believe you can put off saving, investing for your future because you have plenty of time?
-Are you stalling because you are not sure what to do?
-Do you know how to make your dreams a reality? Owning a house? Starting a business?
-Are your spending habits out of control putting you into debt? *Do you wonder what your retirement years will look like?

If you answered YES to any of these questions, then Worth It! The Money Conference for Women is for you! Please join us in learning how to plan, recover and look forward to your future with financial health.

To register ==>> CLICK HERE