Book Review: Betting on You: How to Put Yourself First and (Finally) Take Control of Your Career

April 2, 2021 By Leave a Comment

Betting on youOn popular demand from you readers, we are finally starting off with our book review section, where we’ll look to get our hands on some of the trending titles across the globe. Well to be honest, I’ve had this in mind for a long time now and it took a mail from one of SMJ’s young readers to finally kick start it.

The first book we’ll review today is “Betting on You: How to Put Yourself First and (Finally) Take Control of Your Career” by top career coach adn HR consultant Laurie Ruettimann and published by Henry Holt and Co. Sure the title sounds exciting and promises a lot, but does it have what it takes to make for a compelling read? Read on to know that!

As per the description on the website, “A decade ago, Ruettimann was uninspired, blaming others and herself for the unhappiness she felt. Until she had an epiphany: if she wanted a fulfilling existence, she couldn’t sit around and wait for change. She had to be her own leader. She had to truly take ahold of life—the good, the bad, and the downright ugly—in order to transform her future.” Given that a lot of our readers are young adults and might associate with a lot of advice dished out in the book (or at least I hoped so!), this felt like the perfect book to start our review section with. Although honestly, I did not have super high expectations for this book since self-help books are often more hot air than content, I have to admit most sections of the book struck a deep chord with me and I have been pleasantly surprised by this one!

The authenticity of Laurie’s words, the structure of writing, the intonation, it all feels so natural while leafing through this book. It only took me about a couple of days to breeze through it and that’s not because I was in a rush to get done with it but rather because it was a great read and I found it difficult to stop reading once I started (Yes, honestly! although it’s not a short read). Granted, some of the topics were more interesting than the others, but overall the content (and topics) seemed to be well connected and flowing. The book is packed with stories of others who managed to regain control of their personal and professional lives. With great advice for our professional lives, the author stays focused and drives home a key point throughout the book- You fix work by fixing yourself. She offers practical advice on approaching work in a smart and healthy manner, which includes knowing when to sign off for the day, focusing on augmenting on our capacity to learn, fixing those finances, and beating impostor syndrome once and for all, Ruettimann lays out the framework necessary to champion your interests and create a life you actually enjoy.

I especially loved Laurie’s advice on using premortem as a key tool, to visualize where we might go wrong and what might go wrong when embarking on any professional task. I’ve had situations where I’ve stumbled at key moments and while looking back at them, it feels so amateur on my part not to have visualized the pitfalls in advance and work towards covering the bases. Overall, the book provides realistic advice you can implement right away. If you haven’t already, order a copy now!

Filed Under: Book Reviews, Planning

When It Makes Financial Sense To Delay Marriage

February 25, 2019 By Leave a Comment

There’s no doubt that finding someone you feel would make a fantastic spouse is one of the greatest feelings in the world. That said, you’ve got to be careful of the timing of your nuptials, especially when it comes to your finances. Before you say “I do” or decide to pop the big question, consult your soon-to-be-shared finances to determine whether it makes sense to delay the marriage.

You Don’t Want To Incur a Marriage Penalty Tax

Be sure you have a solid idea of what your new tax bracket will be after getting married. It’s vital you realize that the married filing jointly tax bracket isn’t double your single bracket. There’s a chance you may actually be hit with a tax penalty after getting married, depending on how much your new shared income is. Usually, married couples receive a tax bonus when one spouse makes a lot less than the other. Sit down with an accountant familiar with filing taxes for married couples to get an idea of whether you’ll owe money the tax season after your wedding.

You Want To Stabilize Your Financial House

It makes sense that you feel hesitant about moving into a house that’s a little rundown and in need of some upgrades. The same applies to feeling hesitant about sharing financial responsibility with someone whose finances are stellar when yours need more than a little work. There’s nothing wrong with delaying marriage until you’ve paid off more of your debts, have more saved up in an emergency savings account, and have a better credit score. That way, you and your spouse have one less thing to worry about in your new married life.

You Don’t Want To Lose Child Benefits or Support

If you or your significant other have kids, your getting married is sure to impact them in more ways than one. Are the kids going to college in a few years? Maybe they’re already in college. Either way, their financial aid could be reduced through blended finances. Any child support or spousal support currently coming in could be either cut off or reduced after you’re legally married. Again, consulting with either an accountant or a financial expert like Don Gayhardt can give you a clear picture of what you two can expect so you make a well-informed decision.

You’ve Got (or Are Looking Into) Income-Based Student Loan Repayment

If one of the debts you’re carrying into the marriage is of the student loan variety, check to see how and if you can expect your loan terms to change after getting married. Your current repayment amount could be based on your current income. By marrying someone with a high income, or just by having a combined income, you could end up having to pay more for your student loans.

One of You Isn’t Good With Money

Maybe you’ve been working on getting better with your finances for several years, but your significant other can barely stick to a budget or balance a checkbook. This is where you can’t let your feelings blind you from making what could be a regrettable decision. You don’t want your soon-to-be-spouse ruining all the financial work you’ve done by damaging your credit score due to late payments on bills that are in both your names. Consider enrolling in some financial literacy courses together so you both can learn how to keep your finances and credit reports in good health before getting married.

Before tying the knot, you and the love of your life want to be on the same page romantically and financially. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with delaying your marriage if your finances aren’t yet in sync.

Filed Under: Featured, Finance, Planning

Why Everyone Needs a Budget

February 25, 2019 By Leave a Comment

Perhaps you don’t see the point of writing down and tracking your bills each month. After all, you pay your bills and your system has worked so far. However, if you don’t track your money you may be spending far too much in some places and not enough in others to ever achieve the kind of financial success that affords you a comfortable lifestyle.

Realize Your Goals

By tracking your money and reducing your expenses, you can begin to free up money. As you eliminate or reduce a bill, take the extra money and create a savings plan. With the account or savings envelopes, if you should choose to go that route, you can use the saved money to pay for college tuition, buy a new car, put a down payment on a new home, or plan a lavish vacation that you’ve only dreamed about until now.

Monthly Bills

Having a budget also lets you keep an eye on your monthly household bills. If one suddenly rises out of the normal range, you can review it closely and then if necessary contact the service provider. The same goes for your insurance. If the rates go up seemingly without reason, you can use the opportunity to get homeowners, auto and motorcycle insurance quotes for free. And, if you own a home and a motor vehicle, many of these same insurance companies also offer a discount for bundling the services, so you can save even more money.

What You Can Afford

A budget gives you a clear understanding of your finances. If you find at the end of each month you have nothing left over for you, it’s time to change things. You have the ability to reduce your debt and change your current spending habits. For example, if you have five credit cards that are at or close to their limit, you are using them the wrong way. Having credit cards is a wonderful way to have a backup plan and even earn rewards. However, if you use the credit for daily purchases and then cannot pay the accumulated balance entirely each month, you’re not only harming your credit score but also adding on interest fees. A budget can identify areas of weakness and open your eyes to it before it costs you more money.

Tracking Your Money

Once you create a budget you get to see exactly where it goes each month. This gives you the opportunity to track what you spend and where you spend the most. If you’re new to the concept of budgeting, it’s going to reveal your spending habits. But knowing where your money goes, you can begin the process of reducing the wasteful spending and debt so that you have more money left over to spend on the things you enjoy doing.

When you create and stick to a budget, you get a true understanding of your current financial situation. If you don’t take in enough to cover all your monthly expenses, then you can find ways to bring in extra money before you have late fees and end up with a poor credit score. It also lets you stay on top of your expenses so that you only take on debt that you can afford.

Filed Under: Finance

What Trading Options Have You Not Considered Yet?

March 7, 2018 By 1 Comment

The Volatility Index (VIX)is an important indicator of market turbulence. Recently, it emerged that traders were utilizing cutting-edge algorithms to manipulate the VIX by posting quotes on the S&P 500 options index without actually buying or selling any of the underlying financial instruments. This surprising revelation was made by a whistle-blower, and the market movements resulted in substantial costs for investors across the board. The VIX, otherwise known as the fear index gauges volatility in the equities markets. The higher the figure, and the sharper the rise, the greater the selloff. There are many ways to gauge the performance of equities markets, notably:

  • Inflation Rates
  • Employment Figures
  • Economic Indicators
  • US Dollar Index (DXY)
  • Probability Analysis of Interest Rate Hikes

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The Volatility Index was hovering around 10.0 – 12.0 from September 2017 through January 2018. However, by February, the volatility index momentarily spiked above 47.5, before retreating to its current level of 26.24. The numbers themselves are simply reflective of thisbearish sentiment, and the fear mongering taking place in stock markets. The 50-day moving average for the VIX is 13.56, and the 200-day moving average for the VIX is 11.41. The current level is double that, indicating that bullish sentiment on Wall Street has temporarily receded, and the bears are out in full force. Based on the above graphic, it is clear that the S&P 500 index is entering correction territory which means that a 10% decline in the overall level of the index has been reached. The current performance of the major 3 US bourses for the year to date is as follows:

  • The Dow Jones Industrial Average is down 0.98% for the year to date however, it has a 1-year return of 22.83%
  • The S&P 500 index has a year to date return of -0.84%, and a 1-year return of 16.12%.
  • The NASDAQ composite index has a year to date return of 0.98%, and a 1-year return of 22.29%.

Clearly, despite the negative hype in February, the longer-term performance of US equities markets remains bullish. This indicates that the fundamentals of market dynamics are strong. If we look to the US economic indicators, it is clear why traders should remain optimistic in their trading decisions says Wilkins Finance guru Marcus Powell:

“The US GDP growth rate was last measured at 2.6%, and the unemployment rate remained steady at 4.1%. Currently, the inflation rate is 2.1%, and the interest rate is at 1.5%. These are positive economic indicators, and they point to a fundamentally sound economy. If we turn our attention to business confidence, the rating of 59.1 index points is bullish. Anything above 50 represents an expansionary economy, or positive sentiment. Both the services PMI and Manufacturing PMI are above the critical 50 benchmark at 53.3 and 55.5 respectively. These are important growth triggers for traders.”

What Trading Options Are Likely to Make an Impact in 2018?

The usual suspects will remain hot favourites this year, including bank stocks, financial stocks, and believe it or not equities in general. We are in correction territory, perhaps even heading towards a short-term bearish market – but that does not mean that the equities bull run is over. Corrections allow traders and investors to capitalize on value-driven purchases of blue-chip stocks. If you can score Google, Facebook, Bank of America or other stock at discount of 10% to 15%, why not buy into the markets?

The rise in interest rates is inevitable – this is part of a long-term strategy of quantitative tightening that the Fed has adopted. The current interest rate is 1.5%, and is likely to jump 25 basis points by Wednesday, March 21, 2018. Rate hikes help bank stocks and financial stocks, given that they make their money from interest-related repayments. As a rule, the safe money is always on bank stocks at times like this. Derivatives trading can protect against stock market declines with things like put options on bank stocks, call options on gold, and further diversification of financial portfolios.

Filed Under: Trading

The Real Scoop On Electrolytes for Horses

November 20, 2017 By Leave a Comment

A healthy balance of minerals and nutrients can be difficult to maintain when the weather is hot, or there is an unexpected heavy activity that involves extended profuse sweating. The addition of an electrolyte supplement might be necessary to bring the large body of a horse back into balance.

What are electrolytes?

Electrolytes are minerals that are found in the blood of most living creatures and help them carry out the electrochemical processes needed to get things done. There should always be a good balance to ensure nutrients are being broken down right and that water can move in and out of cells normally. The most common forms of electrolytes are sodium chloride and potassium chloride. These salts end up breaking down into ions that carry positive and negative charges.

Why should I give electrolytes?

When a horse is subjected to extremely high temperatures for long periods of time, will be involved in a heavy competition, or has undergone a lot of physical exertion that involves sweating, electrolyte supplements can be a good thing. They will be losing a ton of electrolytes through the sweat and need to have them replaced.

What are the signs my horse needs electrolytes?

Anytime that your horse has been, or will be getting physically exerted or in a situation that involves extended periods of profuse sweating, electrolytes should be added. This can be done after the exertion or planned a few days in advance.

How are electrolytes given to horses?

Electrolytes can be added to feed, water, or placed on the gums in the form of a gel. The main thing to look for in quality is that it is easy for the horse to break down and use.

When to Avoid Using Electrolytes

A horse that is eating a good diet, kept in comfortable temperatures and not worked out strenuously should not need electrolytes. Adding too much can cause digestive difficulties in balancing minerals and nutrients. Only add this type of supplement when you are certain it is beneficial.

Contact experts in animal insurance like Ark Agency for all of your insurance needs, such as horse mortality insurance today!

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Three Reasons to Consider Buying an Auto Franchise

October 15, 2017 By 3 Comments

If you want to go into business, one great opportunity is to buy a franchise. This type of business opportunity has many advantages. Your business will have name recognition and a built-in customer base. In addition to this, many franchises offer local and national advertising campaigns and other means of supporting your efforts at success. The biggest issue is deciding on which franchise is best for your, but before you do this, you need to decide on the general franchise category. The following are three reasons you should think about an auto repair franchise.

Cars are not a fad
Most people drive cars, and they will continue to do so in the future. This means that you can buy into a franchise knowing that there will be demand for your products and services for many years to come. With a food franchise, there is always the possibility that people’s tastes will change. Many other retail stores can go out of business simply because the products are no longer wanted by consumers. This is not going to be a problem for you with automobile repairs and servicing.

The aftermarket is huge
Automobile shops are responsible for servicing more than three-fourths of the work done to cars in this nation. Car dealerships focus most of their attention on newer cars that they have sold, but the aftermarket is where most of the business can be found. Of course, this market is not limited to car repair. There are a wide range of subdivisions in the aftermarket. One good example is tires. There are tire shop franchises that are dedicated to selling mostly tires. Tires are a big business. Not only are there aftermarket distributors of tires, but there are tire companies that manufacture strictly for this market.

Other areas of service
Along with tires, there are automotive parts franchises, shops dedicated to brakes, mufflers and oil changes. Regardless of the specific area of the franchise, all of them have brand name recognition in common. People want to take their cars to a name they can trust, and it is many of the successful national and regional franchise names that have built up a high level of trust in consumers. For this reason alone, it makes sense to buy a franchise rather than to start your own business and attempting to build up trust in consumers.

Take your time to find the best franchise for your needs, but it is recommended that you take a long look at the opportunities in the automobile aftermarket.

Filed Under: Business

Bankruptcy is the New Old Thing

June 27, 2017 By Leave a Comment

Bankruptcy has always been a way for consumers to dip out of their obligations with creditors. It used to be so that anyone could file for a Chapter 7 when way over their head in debt and be free of worry. When filing for a Chapter 7, your assets are dissolved and given to your creditors as compensation, then whatever other debts you have became null and void. So if you had a student loan, mortgage or credit card debt, they would easily disappear, giving you a new beginning. But since 2005, this has since changed thanks to the Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act.

This means that the law has to work harder to ensure that consumers aren’t abusing their rights to file for bankruptcy, by making is very inconvenient. The goal is to prevent consumers from running up their debts and using bankruptcy as a shield from having to pay them. There are new requirements for consumers who’d wish to file for bankruptcy, such as mandatory credit counseling, audits, “means tests”, which make sure that you aren’t hiding wealth, high filing fees and a ban that prevents consumers from filing for bankruptcy again within 8 years. If these terms are met, then the consumer will have to file for a Chapter 13, which means you won’t get away squeaky clean from your debts. This will require you to set up a 5-year payment plan with your creditors .

Since these new rules have taken place, there has been a slight cut back in bankruptcy filings by consumers. To give you an idea, between 2001 and 2004, there was about 1.5 million people in the U.S. filing for bankruptcy annually. But since the economic disaster we’re facing, the numbers of filings have been increasing again. Here is a visual of how things were looking during 2010:

What Happens After Bankruptcy?

Once you have filed for bankruptcy, you will have to endure the long process of rebuilding your bad credit. You don’t really have many choices, except for secured credit cards, which is a good option after filing a Chapter  or 13. With the secured credit card, you will be required to put upfront collateral, usually around $300-1000, allowing you a credit line that is equal to your collateral. The card issuer holds on to your money until you’re ready to close your account with them. You are responsible for paying your bill monthly, or you’ll face interest rates like with a regular credit card (putting you back in debt).

If getting a secured credit card sounds good to you, we recommend that you consult with your local credit union or bank, since they are more likely to give you more affordable fees and rates than those you’ll find on the Web (take a look at our wall of shame for an idea of what to stay away from). Top banks like Wells Fargo and Citibank allow you to trade in your secured credit card for an unsecured credit card after 1-1.5 years of doing well. The popularity of prepaid debit cards have surged, but we don’t recommend them for your credit building. But if worse comes to worst, you can opt for them to help get you out of your bad credit pit.

If you’re trying to stay out of bankruptcy, it’s important to have good financial habits. This includes bargain shopping. You can find deals from Groupon to shop at places like American Eagle, JCPenney and Nordstrom.

Filed Under: Debt, Finance

An Introduction to Online Trading

November 28, 2016 By 2 Comments

Firstly, what is online trading?

Put simply, online trading is when a trader buys or sells financial assets using an online trading platform, rather than commissioning an individual or brokerage firm. Online trading has seen an increase in popularity among newbie traders as it allows freedom to trade without the assistance of a broker, as well as offering lower rates of commission and a smaller amount of capital to get started. Nearly all types of assets can be traded online, including bonds, stocks, currencies, futures and options, with minimal fuss and zero office overheads if trading from home. All that is required is connection to the internet and access to a computer. It is important though that those considering online trading have an in depth understanding of not only the process but also the risks involved before starting out to minimise chance of loss. While online trading can be extremely lucrative, there’s potential for loss if not approached wisely. Never bet more than you can afford to lose, and seek advice from an independant financial advisor or broker before starting, as this will enable you to gain understanding and make intelligent bets. A popular type of online trading is in binary options, which we’re going to look at in more detail.

‘Binary Options’

Binary options are derivative products, in that their value derives from the movement in value of a base or underlying asset of some kind. This base asset could be a stock, currency pair or indice, and the point of the trade is to correctly predict the outcome of a ‘yes’ or ‘no’ scenario. Will the value of US/EUR currency pair be above a certain value by 4pm today? Yes or no? If a trader is successful with a ‘yes’ in their bid to buy at say $40, they will earn a fixed amount less the $40 bid price. Binary means there are only two options; yes or no. There are many factors that influence whether a base asset will rise or fall prior to a particular point in time, and these factors are known as ‘indicators’. Indicators include major economic announcements (such as unemployment rates, business news, investor interests, take-overs etc) and a variety of worldwide business/economic figures. Experienced traders use their up to date knowledge of specific markets to predict the outcome of a binary option. The ability to read economic signals and keep up to date with as much market news as possible is key to successful online trading.

Even after intensive research on past and current events there is still no guarantee of success, as sometimes information that would have led to a correct prediction has been missed or misinterpreted. There are some useful tools that can help advise online traders when it comes to generating predictions, such as binary option robots, known as BOTS. Binary Options Bots are advanced pieces of software that automatically analyse large chunks of historical and current market data. They use a complex algorithm to number crunch masses of relevant information and churn out hundreds of predictions within seconds. They can significantly reduce the amount of research an individual trader has to carry out but should only be used to complement and advise, rather than as a fail safe measure for success.

Do I need qualifications to trade online?

You don’t need any specific qualifications to trade online, but a background or even interest in finance or investing, albeit not necessary, will increase your chances of success. While qualifications aren’t necessary, as discussed already an interest in current affairs, finance and the stock market is crucial, and as with any type of trading you will want to minimise costly errors by studying the industry as much as possible before attempting live trading. The markets are changing and reacting continuously so believing yourself to be an expert is dangerous – approach it as a continuous learning curve, continually keeping yourself up to date. Start with small trades that you can afford to lose until you’ve gained the knowledge, experience and confidence to bet higher – but never betting more than you can afford to lose. This is not advisable and can lead to financial losses.

Where do I start?

The best place to start online training is, of course, online! Do your research and find a well established online broker that offers up to date trading platforms, as well as advice to help you get started. Large firms such as CMC Markets and other reputable online broker provide training materials and demo accounts where novice traders can practise with virtual money until they feel confident to use their trading platforms. This is hugely beneficial, as research, while important, is no substitute for experience.

Lastly, tips to help you get started

Never invest more than you can afford to lose although We’ve already discussed this in detail, it is so important not to get carried away and bet more than you can afford to lose, as this can have disastrous consequences. Once you’ve made a profit, use this as a base to  then invest from, slowly building it up over time.

Start small Start by making small investments, increasing the amount after you have gained experience and feel confident to do so.

Ensure you have enough time to dedicate to research Online trading should be approached as a part time job, not as a hobby. It’s imperative that you keep yourself up to date with the latest political and financial news. If you don’t feel that you will have enough time to do this, seek help from a professional who can trade on behalf of you.

Be patient! Building profit from online trading isn’t instant – it requires patience and perseverance. Patience will not only allow you to make informed, rational bets, but you will require patience if you want to see your income rise, as everyone will experience losses. Ideally you will build profit and use this to trade, making educated bets and having made enough profit so that you can afford to stomach any losses. If you persevere, as your experience grows you are far more likely to succeed and find online trading to be a rewarding and profitable experience.

Filed Under: Trading

6 Tips to Have an Excellent Life after You Retire

April 23, 2016 By Leave a Comment

This is a Guest Post by Tina from ProFinanceBlog.com

Life after retirement – lovely images pop in your mind when you think of it, images of peace and tranquillity, uninterrupted by the hustles of a busy work life. Problem is you couldn’t take the scary images out because they might turn out the reality.

The greying gentlemen have limited financial options. But someone in his mid-30s or early 40s has many such options. Remember, which fruit you reap in the present depends on which tree you’ve sowed in the past. Same way, how your retirement life would be like depends on how you are managing your finances now.

The pre-retirement phase

The phase begins in your early 50s and ends with your retirement. Let’s pin on 52 as the beginning of this phase. At this stage, your priorities are to estimate the possible earning from social security and pension, and making an assessment of how much the employer-sponsored pre-tax retirement saving plans (with and without limit) might yield. A correct (or even semi-correct) assessment would reveal how much you’d pull out every month after you retire.

Investment opportunities

Don’t be too optimistic, you never know when the inflation will start to hover around the higher digits. Not to mention, the deposit interest rate has been historically low in this country, which means stashing the money that you receive from the IRA and 401(K) and 403(K) in the savings account won’t get you a satisfying monthly amount.

Hence, start exploring the investment opportunities from today. Just as I said in the beginning, people in their mid-30s or early-40s have some leverage. They can experiment and fail, only to pull their finances together and invest again, venture out from the frame of a safe investment, which is almost impossible for someone, who’s reaching 60. If you have the leverage, use it.

Life expectancy

Anticipate your life expectancy before you retire, or else you might face financial hardships in the late years of your life. Your retirement savings should be enough to give you financial support till the end. How much is enough? Depends on how long you live.

Most life expectancy calculators ask you to reveal your age and gender because they gauge the lifespan using geopolitical data. If you are 30 years old now, then your current life expectancy is more than 80 years. It’ll increase with time because of the advancements in the areas of medicine and therapeutic treatment, and the spread of health awareness.

Tax insinuations

Different areas making up your retirement income have different tax insinuations. Distribution methods are not uniform. For example, if you invest in equity now and get a handsome return when you retire (or freshly after that), it’d be completely tax-free.

On the other hand, the money you withdraw from the conventional IRA accounts and 401(K) come under tax. If you have securities in your taxable accounts, it’s wise to sell them out.

The best strategy is to hire a tax consultant or a financial advisor, so he explains various tax situations in your post-retirement life and you could decide your course of action.

Employ a tracking system

Do that today, and check your monthly budget a month down the line. If it looks like a balance sheet, then you are doing it right. A balance sheet has columns for losses and gains; that’s how the tracking system should make the budget look like. All the money that’s coming in, and all the money that’s flowing out should be tracked.

What’s the point of such a tracking system? It’ll stay activated even after you retire and keep a tab on all your earning and spending. Simply put, tracking all your retirement earning would be incredibly easy. Retired people may use money from fixed income sources such as pension and social security for leisure and entertainment purposes. A tracking system in which a stable income is mapped with paying for required utilities prevents them from doing that.

Filed Under: Planning, Retirement

Understanding How Trading CFD At XTrade Works

March 26, 2016 By Leave a Comment

Trading CFD is the term that experts at XTrade use to describe when people make a trade on the difference between the point where the trade is entered and exited (The Contract for Difference). The CFD is an instrument which reflects the movements of the asset being traded. It is what allows for a profit or loss to be realised when the asset moves in relation to the position that was undertaken. The underlying asset is not actually owned when someone is trading CFDs. All that happens is that a client makes an agreement with a broker.

The Popularity Of Trading CFD Rises

The idea of trading CFD has really taken off in the last few years – it has become one of the most popular forms of trading as people find that it is more convenient, and faster, than actually buying the asset itself – whether the asset is a share, a currency pair, or a commodity.

CFDs are popular in part because brokers like XTrade require much smaller margins for them than they do for traditional assets. A traditional broker may expect a 50% margin, which means that you need to put down a lot of money to get started with worthwhile trades. A CFD broker will allow people to trade for a margin of around one tenth that – which means a much, much smaller outlay.

Before you get too excited, though, note that when you enter into trading CFD, the position shows a loss that is equal to the size of the spread. Before you can even break even, the stock will need to appreciate by the size of the spread. That, essentially, is the commission that you are paying to the broker. So, at that point you are not making much of a profit.

Where things get appealing, though, is that if the stock continues to appreciate, then the gains will be bigger, in percentage terms, than they would be on the owned stock itself.

Benefits Of Trading At XTrade

CFDs offer the benefit of more flexibility, higher leverage, and, once that ‘commission’ is paid off actual gains (whereas there will be commissions and other fees to worry about with other trading methods). The lower margin requirements mean that traders at XTrade can enter the market more easily – however because the leverage is increased, this means that both gains and losses are amplified. You run the risk of making a massive loss if things go wrong with trading CFD – but the same could be said for heavily leveraged accounts with any other form of financial instrument.

Most CFD brokers, XTrade included, offer products all over the world, for all kinds of asset. This means that you can pick something that you are confident in trading, and likely enjoy better success than you would if you were limited to trading in more specific niches.

The CFD market does not usually have a short selling rule, so you can short the asset at any time, with no extra cost. This is something that is not common in other markets, and is a big benefit.

Filed Under: Trading
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