Investing Tips As The New Year Approaches

With the year now in its final quarter, it is a good time for investors to be looking into the future. 2020 is just around the corner and before long it will be here. There are a number of variables that must be taken into account to ensure that one’s investment portfolio is healthy and prosperous going into the next decade.

The internet has made it easier and faster to check on one’s investment portfolio than ever before. This is a useful tool for both those looking to diversify their assets as well as those who are looking to downsize.

Before a person adds another investment into his or her portfolio, it is important to see whether or not it is a good idea. Making new investments at the beginning of a new year is not only a tradition, but also quite smart. Stocks are usually a bit cheaper at this time of year in an effort to appeal to new investors.

This makes it a good time to strike while the iron is hot. It is not a foolproof method however, and making sure that old investments are healthy and robust should be the first priority of anyone looking to the future.

There are a number of reasons to downsize one’s investment portfolio as well, and once again the new year provides a great opportunity to do so. If one has recently poured a lot of money into a wedding, or a baby, or a new home, then it would be wise to focus one’s financial assets on those things instead of further investments.

Remember that responsible and intelligent allocation of funds is the name of the game when it comes to investing. If money is not saved for large life purchases, then all other efforts are effectively futile.

The new year is just around the corner and it would be wise for all of those who are in the investment game to pay attention. There are a number of smart ways that one can grow their investment portfolio at this time of the year, but making rash decisions just because there is so many opportunities would be a folly. Being smart and investing wisely while keeping one’s overall financial health in mind is the best way to move forward.

About Kyle Dennis
Kyle Dennis is a Professional Trader, Entrepreneur, and Educator with the popular trading program called Raging Bull Trading. He is also the founder of the biotech stock program called Biotech Breakouts. Outside of work, Kyle Dennis is an avid traveler, and enjoys learning about new cultures and cuisines.

Learn more about Kyle Dennis by visiting him on Crunchbase.

Great Weekend Getaways Around the United States

Are you itching to get away for a weekend and need some ideas on where to go? There are some awesome US cities that are worth a visit with plenty to do and see. Here are 4 of some of the best weekend getaways.

Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston is a small coastal city with lots of old-world southern charm. A good place to set up house is at one of the hotels in the French Quarter. King Street, in the historic district, is perfect for walking around and taking in the beautiful architecture as well as boutique shopping. Head over to the waterfront for Low Country fresh seafood at Fleet Landing.

Before leaving Charleston, take a short trip just outside of downtown Charleston to visit Boone Hall Plantation. This is one of America’s oldest working farms that is steeped in the history of the south.

Boston, Massachusetts
Boston is a pedestrian, friendly city. Plan to stay either in the Back Bay area or at one of the hotels in the historic seaport Long Wharf area. Walk the Freedom Trail to tour of some of the city’s most historical sites dating back to the Revolutionary War. Stroll down Newberry Street for some exceptional shopping. The beautiful Boston Common is a respite in the heart of the city.

There are plenty of notable museums and art galleries. And of course, you have to experience the shops and booming food scene at Quincy Market. You should make one of your meals a classic New England seafood experience. Try the 1826 Union Oyster House located near Faneuil Hall.

Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville, commonly known as Music City, is the epicenter of country music. This is a lively city with a bustling night scene. Nashville is defined by its unique neighborhoods. The Music Row neighborhood is the heart of Nashville’s entertainment industry. Make sure you stop into one of the bars for happy hour and try some Tennessee whiskey. Grab a bite to eat at the great casual dining spots or food trucks. Then, listen to some live music at a local club.
East Nashville is an ethnically diverse and artsy neighborhood. You will find interesting architecture, art galleries, shops, and some really good food. Try the authentic hot chicken at Pepperfire Hot Chicken restaurant.

New York City, New York
There is no denying that New York City has much to offer. However, there is no way you can experience the entire city in one weekend. There are some things you can do that will give you a taste of this bustling city.

Choose a centrally located hotel, perhaps in Midtown. From there you can walk to Central Park, likely the best urban park in the country. After a stroll through the park, visit the Metropolitan Museum of Art at 5th Avenue and 82nd Street. While there, catch a great view of the city from the rooftop sculpture garden.

Catch the #7 train and head to Hudson Yards on the West Side. There are upscale shops, restaurants, and Vessel sculpture. From there you can walk the High Line. Finish up the weekend with a nice Italian brunch or supper at Lidia’s Eataly in the Flatiron District.

Learn more about Kyle Dennis by visiting him on Crunchbase.

A Look Into How The Travel Industry Affects The Stock Market

With the lowest unemployment rate in 50 years, it’s not surprising that many Americans are finding themselves with a little disposable income. With disposable income, it can seem a sure bet that people will start turning to travel in their leisure time. The savvy investor would turn to travel stocks. However, many want to know exactly how the stock market fares in terms of travel. What can have an effect on a travel stock?

There are many factors that can affect travel stocks. With the recent spate of unpredictable weather patterns firing off hurricanes, and international tensions on the rise, leading technology-based booking sites like Priceline and Expedia have reported a slowdown in their third-quarter earnings.

Weather, the traveler’s best friend, and worst enemy entered into the equation for the Caribbean and Southeast US, both popular tourist destinations. The impacts were massive, affecting most tourism-based businesses such as hotels and cruises. Of course, this made the tenured investors uneasy.

Priceline’s outlook painted a grim picture of booking growth topping 16%, certainly a far cry from the 25% growth seen for the third quarter only a year previous. Expedia saw it’s a fair share of slowdowns as well, due to poor management and weather.

Trivago, another major technology-based travel booking company, managed to disappoint its investors with a guidance revenue growth rate of only 40% for a full-year outlook. This was after closing with the first half of the year at an unprecedented 67% growth.

However, to every cloud there is a silver lining. Investing in technology-based travel companies, while seemingly shaky, is still a great idea! The slowdowns are par for the course, and the industry is still seeing a viable growth rate in the double digits. This leaves plenty of room for an exponential uptick in booking sales, and from there, the sky’s the limit.

The moral of the investing story for the savvy investor is while the weather may seem like an untenable opponent, the perseverance of the individual to vacation happily away from their locale still stands. The stocks in the major companies will still grow, and sticking out the slowdown can see amazing returns in the future. While stocks can never be termed a “sure bet” travel stocks are as close to one as an investor can get.

Important Stock Market Terms to Know

The stock market is a public exchange between buyers and sellers. Companies issue stocks, which are part of a company’s equity, and people buy shares of that stock. A dividend is a piece of that company. Buyers can get one or more shares of a stock, depending on how much money they are willing to invest.

The purpose of buying and selling stocks is to avoid inflation, which is when the price of a certain economy rises over time, reducing the value of money. A person can buy shares at one point in time, and if the company does well in the future, the shares can be sold at a higher price than initially purchased.

Participating in the stock market can be a gamble. Here are some terms to know how to navigate the stock market as a beginner.

Annual Report
Companies want buyers to purchase shares of their stocks, to increase their profits. To inform potential buyers about their shares, companies prepare an annual report to be presented to shareholders. This report contains information about the performance of the shares throughout the previous year, in an attempt to persuade shareholders to buy more.

Leverage
Buying a share of stock is not the only thing a buyer can do. Borrowing is also an option. When you borrow a share from a broker, who is essentially a middleman between the buying and selling process, you can sell the share at a higher price. Then you can return the share and keep the profits made. This is called leverage, and it can be a risky business.

Short-Selling
Speaking of borrowing, shares can also be borrowed from other buyers. The share is sold before it has a chance to lose its value, hence the term “short-selling.” The profit obtained from this exchange can be used to buy the share back when it costs less than before, allowing the share to be returned to the original person it was borrowed from. This results in keeping the difference between the profits made from selling the share.

Volatility
To describe the extent to which a stock’s price rises and falls, the term ‘volatility’ is used. Highly volatile stocks have unstable price changes, even throughout just a day. The stock price can skyrocket unsuspectingly, or it can take a dive. It can be difficult to estimate a volatile stock’s trajectory, which is why buying a shared form such stocks are high-risk. However, a stock like this can be extremely rewarding during its high points.

Leadership Tips To Remember As An Entrepreneur

To succeed in the market today, entrepreneurs need a set of various competencies, one of which is leadership. Leadership happens to be that major ingredient, which can facilitate a business’s sustained existence and competitiveness in the market. Luckily, leadership is a trainable attribute that can be gradually built and enhanced. Here are four major leadership tips to remember as an entrepreneur.

Be Goal-Oriented
Every leader should be able to think beyond the short-term into the long-term. In a company setting, where so many goals made exist, coordinating different functions may prove a major challenge. The only way that leaders can survive is to remain goal-oriented, where every function within the organization on a daily basis is geared towards achieving specific objectives. Goal setting allows leaders to remain focused, even when intermediary challenges threatened to derail the organization’s course.

Lead From The Front
A leader should lead from the front in almost all aspects of organizational importance. Subordinates in a leadership structure will highly likely follow the leader’s example. Endeavoring to be competent in virtually all attributes of a good leader ensures that you win the trust and heart of the rest of the workers. When it comes to leading from the front, although much can be said, it all revolves around setting high standards and expectations for other workers.

Master Teamwork
The core essence of leadership is to provide guidance to an existing team. To be an effective leader, therefore, one needs to know how to form a well-balanced team in the workplace. Coordinating different team activities through progressive training, coaching, teaching, and delegation of responsibilities enable each team to work together towards achieving the identified goal. Coordinating teamwork is not as simple as just delegating responsibilities. It has to do with eliciting the best performance within each team by providing the necessary atmosphere for optimal production.

Excellence In Communication
Communication is what brings people together to work as a unit. Being a leader puts one at the center of an organization. To succeed in such an endeavor, one needs to master different types of organizational communication. Knowing how to compose, channel, and listen to information facilitates a cordial working relationship that is governed by an appropriate feedback system.

Learn more about Kyle Dennis by visiting him on Crunchbase.

Three Tech Stocks You Should Consider Buying Now

Tech stocks have been on a tear recently. Although the sector saw some pretty wild fluctuations in 2018, it has still outpaced the S&P 500 over the last decade. Many analysts believe this year’s strong performance may signal the potential for even more long-term growth. Here are three tech stocks that may be worth watching going forward.

Microsoft
The company was out of favor with many investors over the past several years. However, Microsoft is back in a big way. In early 2019, it was the only company with a $1 trillion market cap. Investors believe it still has room to grow. The company has put itself in a position to dominate AI and machine learning, and it now devotes most of its resources to this rapidly advancing technology.

Micron
Micron is an undervalued company, which is good news for value investors. This memory-chip maker is ready for a big comeback after the company suffered a recent downturn. Many tech investors consider Micron a strong buy. Most of the company’s struggles stemmed from the U.S. government’s squabble over trade with China. Once the two countries agree on a trade deal, Micron should see stronger free cash flow. Investors point to the company trading at a very low 5.6 times earnings.

Paypal
As the leader in alternative banking and finance, PayPal remains a dominant force in the tech sector. The company’s model focuses on both merchants and consumers, which gives PayPal almost full control over the ever-popular customer experience. PayPal is also in a unique position to “democratize” banking and finance. The company hopes its growing presence will open the doors to underserved populations with little to no banking options. Estimates show that the number is well over 2 billion people worldwide. Some analysts speculate Paypal could see 20 percent earnings growth over the next decade.

Honorable Mention
Apple remains one of the most dominant companies in the world, so why would anyone bet against the company? In early 2004, Apple’s stock was worth just south of $4 per share. Today, the company has a market cap of $900 billion. Many millionaires can thank Apple for their healthy investment portfolios. Who is to say the stock will not double, or even triple, over the next decade?

About Kyle Dennis
Kyle Dennis is a Professional Trader, Entrepreneur, and Educator with the popular trading program called Raging Bull Trading. He is also the founder of the biotech stock program called Biotech Breakouts. Outside of work, Kyle Dennis is an avid traveler, and enjoys learning about new cultures and cuisines.

Learn more about Kyle Dennis by visiting him on Crunchbase.

Tips For Starting A Small Business

Starting a business is exciting, but it can also be intimidating. While it is an opportunity for you to realize your dreams, failure can result in a financial disaster. Instead of letting those worries keep you from trying to start your business, your fear of failure should motivate you to succeed.

Listen to Everything
Once people find out that you’re starting your own business, they will be eager to impart their wisdom. Some will try to discourage you for their own reasons, while others will genuinely try to help. In either case, listen to everything and think about what they’re saying and what their body language is telling you. Some advice will work for you, but don’t be afraid to discard opinions that don’t seem to promote the goals you’re trying to achieve.

Solve a Problem
It’s not enough to sell a popular item or a new innovation. Your product should be a solution that’s unique and useful to consumers. No matter what product you have developed, its primary selling points should revolve around how it can be useful to your targeted consumers. The more inventive your solution, the more likely your product will sell.

Try a Trial Run
As you start out, offer your product to a few friends and co-workers to get their feedback. This will help you learn how to refine the product and how to market it to consumers. If you do this before you start your business, you can work out the kinks before offering your product to the public.

Allow Your Business to Grow at Its Own Pace
While it may be tempting to go out and buy high-priced equipment and tools, try only to buy the equipment you need. You can upgrade later as your business grows and you begin generating a profit. Similarly, only hire those employees that you need to ensure the daily operation of your business. If it’s cheaper to outsource some tasks, go ahead and do that.

The first couple of years that you run your business will be lean, and you may not see a profit right away. Smart entrepreneurs will plan for this by saving extra money to cover expenses during those first years, or they may keep a job on the side. As long as you develop a strong business strategy and dedicate yourself to its success, there’s no reason you can’t build a thriving business.

Learn more about Kyle Dennis by visiting him on Crunchbase.