What if They Closed the Stock Market?

Suggest to most any Wall Street professional that the stock market should be closed for a while and you will likely find yourself in an argument."That icon we know as the New York Stock Exchange is but one of several market places where billions of shares worth billions of dollars change hands almost every day," says financial planner, Joel Kelley. "On the NASDAQ Exchange, no paper is exchanged, it's electronic.
But the result is still the same. One party sells and another party buys."This routine continues Monday through Friday, closing for weekends, holidays and national emergencies. "In reality," says Kelley, "the exchanges are the realm of trading professionals.

They are the people who make the markets work, providing a forum for the buyers and sellers of these pieces of companies we call stocks.
But, for the rest of us, it might be good if they closed the stock market for a while."Here are Kelley's reasons:? Most of us are long-term investors. We invest for our retirement, our children's education and our financial security. As long-term investors, we must endure negative market cycles and still manage to stay the course.
? Unfortunately, staying the course is easier said than done.

Financial news is everywhere: television, radio, newspapers and the Internet. Markets move with lightning speed and the play-by-play coverage of the action may often sound more like an exciting sporting event than a financial report. ? How we react to the news as investors is one of the keys to long-term success.
? In our jobs and everyday lives, we work hard. Our society is one of the most work-centered on Earth.

When it comes to building a house, selling merchandise or teaching our youth, idle time is not considered productive time ? we are rewarded for "doing something." But, when it comes to investing, the urge to "do something" often hinders our success.
? Successful investing is really about buying a dollar of value for less than a dollar, then waiting until the true value is recognized and selling at a profit.
Opportunities to buy stocks "on sale" don't come along every day.
In fact, you may see only a few "sale" periods during your lifetime.
? When market declines do come along, it's akin to being able to buy winter coats in the summertime, when nobody seems to want them.

We witnessed just such an opportunity during the bear market of 2002. ? None of us can predict when the next "sale" will come along, we can stay alert and be ready to take advantage of good opportunities.
The wait can be long ? years, in fact.
What do you do in the meantime? ? Make sure your portfolio is diversified, don't put all your eggs in one basket.? Maintain exposure in all asset classes including bonds, large company stock, small company stocks, growth and value style stock, international stock, real estate and cash equivalents.
Index mutual funds are available in all these asset classes and at a relatively low cost.

? Proper asset allocation helps you reduce overall portfolio risk, while increasing the chances of good overall returns over longer periods of time. When one investment zigs, the non-correlate investments may zag. ? Also, be sure to match your investment selections to your risk tolerance. Don't take on more risk than you can bear. You'll sleep a lot better as a result.

"The great investor Warren Buffett once said, 'In the short run the market is a voting machine; in the long run, it's a weighing machine.'
Whether you invest in individual stocks or index mutual funds, the principle is the same," Kelley says.
"Invest regularly. Set aside a portion of all you earn to save and invest." "Be prepared to take advantage of bargains. Have your shopping list ready," he counsels. "Watch for the stocks (or stock mutual funds) you think have long-term worth.

Buy them when they are 'on sale.' The companies and mutual funds that increase their earnings over time will eventually be weighed in the market place and rewarded with higher share prices."Will the stock market really close?
No, but you can act as if it is ? and stay the course during volatile and uncertain times. You'll be a much more disciplined and successful long-term investor a result.Joel Kelley is a fee-only financial planner practicing in Asheville, North Carolina. He is the manager of Woodstone Financial, LLC. For more information, visit www.woodstonefinancial.com.Contact:???Joel Kelley, PrincipalWoodstone Financial, LLCOne Town Square Boulevard, Suite 204Asheville, NC
28803 Phone: 828.687.8082 Email: e-mail protected from spam bots.


Advisors Volunteer To Enhance Community Financial Security As Part Of The American College's National Financial Awareness Day

Bryn Mawr, PA (ContentDesk) December 22, 2005 -- With over 150,000 financial practitioners in its Alumni Association, The American College, the nations leading financial services educator, announced today that it is launching a national initiative designed to enhance consumers financial security.On March 6, 2006, graduates of The American College will open their practices for one day and offer members of their local communities the opportunity to learn more about issues affecting their personal finances.
American College alumni participating in National Financial Awareness Day will spend the day answering questions, sponsoring informational seminars and discussing the key elements of a sound financial plan.
This event is being offered as a free public service and is designed to help individuals understand the importance of planning today to create a lifetime of financial security.???Consumers need help reaching their financial goals, said Larry Barton, PhD., President...

Advisors Volunteer To Enhance Community Financial Security As Part Of The American College's National Financial Awareness Day
Financial planning > Advisors Volunteer To Enhance Community Financial Security As Part Of The American College's National Financial Awareness Day

Debt Consolidation Help: Enlightens Your Darkness Of Debts

Today every person will find himself in the vicious circle of debts. The basic reason behind this can be that people of present generation believe in high standard of living and want to lead a comfortable and luxurious life. Due to this they start spending lavishly and extravagantly. Unnecessary spending affects their budget and forces them to go for a loan. Once the person is in the web of debt, it is very difficult to come out of it.

When the date of repayment of debt comes near, the person finds himself in the more confused and baffled situation that can affect him physically and mentally both.

The person surrounded by debts may sometimes feel lack of money and time while making repayments of debts.
Debt consolidation acts as a helping hand to the people in debts.

Today various debt consolidation agencies provide advice to the individuals irrespective of their credit situations regarding the ways available to consolidate their debts...

Debt Consolidation Help: Enlightens Your Darkness Of Debts
Financial planning > Debt Consolidation Help: Enlightens Your Darkness Of Debts

Financial Freedom = Delayed Gratification

What is delayed gratification? Do you stop towonder? It appears that the self storageindustry is growing out of control. Even worse,it is people who have a place called home thatare using these places to a great extent. I was listening to an interesting program on theradio that was discussing this issue. I must saythat I was surprised and shocked.I always thought that these places were used bypeople in transit. But, if people have the needto rent these places on a long term basis, Ihave to wonder if the American culture of wantingeverything now, has gone a bit too far.I was discussing this with one of my friends recently.

Guess, I touched on a weak spot here. He admitted that he had been spending $200 every month for the past six years on renting a little space in the neighborhood. I asked him what he hadstored in there. He said "this and that, I don't even remember. I have not even taken a look in thepast four years.".

You know that $200/month investedwisely could have...

Financial Freedom = Delayed Gratification
Financial planning > Financial Freedom = Delayed Gratification

Free Internet telephony made easy! conaito VoIP ActiveX SDK

ActiveX library for developers of VoIP audio applications, such as voice chat, conference, VoIP, providing real-time low latency multi-client audio streaming over UDP/IP networks. Includes efficient components for sound recording, playback, encoding, decoding, mixing, resampling, reading, and writing wave files, mixer volume controls access. Provides UDP/IP server and client components for peer-to-peer, multi-user, and broadcast audio communications. Really easy to use! Working with Firewall and NAT!
SDK is the best way to add voice conference and text conference into your application and web pages.
SDK includes voip activex, voip ocx, voip com, voip dll, voip lib and voip cab, so you can use the one you like the most.Imagine which advantages your business would achieve because of the integration of?? a voice messengers.

Saving telephone costs, fast data transfer, leaving messages on the workplace and so on though your workers could be in different countries!?...

Free Internet telephony made easy! conaito VoIP ActiveX SDK
Financial planning > Free Internet telephony made easy! conaito VoIP ActiveX SDK