JULIE STAV'S INVESTMENT CLUB |
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Total Return
Q: Dear Julie:
I am about to inherit a small amount of dollars from my grandmother. I want to invest it in a mutual fund since I don't plan to use it for at lest five years. I do not want to keep track of my investments on a daily basis. Some colleagues have advised me to choose funds that are "no load" because I won't be paying any fees out of my investment. What do you recommend?
From HISPANIC Trends Magazine - June / July 06
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Investing After Retirement
Q: Dear Julie: I have just started my own small business and I have a website that displays basic contact information for my company. I would like to expand this site to attract new business and process orders. How can I accomplish this goal in the most effective way and with a limited amount of money?
From HISPANIC Magazine - June / July 06
401K
Dear Julie,
I have decided to make some educated choices within my 401(K), but when I look at the menu of funds provided by my employer, I feel lost. Where do I begin?
From HISPANIC Trends Magazine - March / April 06
Investing After Retirement
Q: For years I have managed to put money aside in a stock mutual fund for my retirement. Now that I’m finally reaching retirement age, how should I change the way I invest what I have accumulated so my money lasts at least as long as I do?
From HISPANIC Magazine - April 2006
Interest-Only Loans Are Not for Everyone
Q: We are planning to buy a home soon and have been researching the different kinds of mortgages available now. Our broker is pushing for us to get one of those "interest-only" mortgages, but my husband is not quite convinced that it would be the most convenient for us. How do they really work? Do you recommend them?
From HISPANIC Magazine - March 2006
Waking Up the Sleeping Giant
Q: I have been depositing money into my 401(k) plan for years. How can I make sure that I am putting away enough money to provide me with the income Ineed when I retire? - Dave
From HISPANIC Magazine - February 2006
Debit Card Basics
Q: Two weeks ago, I used my debit card at the pump to pay for a $35 gas purchase. Four days later, I received a notice from my bank with a returned-check fee for “non sufficient funds.” When I called the bank, they told me that I had overdrawn my account because a $75 hold had been placed on my balance to cover the gas charge. This does not make sense to me. Can they do that?—Ramón
From HISPANIC Magazine - December 2005 / January 2006
Smart Car Shopping
Q: My wife and I are in the market for a new car. We have decided to purchase rather than lease it because we would like to give it to our daughter in four years, fully paid. How can we determine a fair price we should offer the dealer so we don’t end up paying too much for the car without engaging in the infamous “haggle ritual”? —Mike
From HISPANIC Magazine - November 2005
Advantage: Roth
Q: Just when I was beginning to make sense out of the alphabet soup of retirement investing, I understand that there is going to be a new option beginning in 2006. How will that affect me in my 401(k) at work? Thanks for your answer. —Will
From HISPANIC Magazine - October 2005
Bring Your Debts Home
Q: My wife and I have been considering using some of the equity we have in our home to consolidate our higher-interest credit card debt. What is the difference between a home equity loan and an equity line of credit and which one would be better for us? Thank you. —Robert
From HISPANIC Magazine - Septermber 2005
Don’t Like To Take Risks?
Q: I have some money that I don’t plan to use for five years. Although I know that I could invest in a mutual fund or stock, quite frankly the idea of not having my money guaranteed makes me very nervous. I am 40 years old. What are my options? Thank you, Henry
From HISPANIC Magazine - April 2005
A
Winning Team
Q. Dear Julie, I am running a small but profitable business.
We have a great group of key employees that work well together
and have the best interest of the business at heart. I would
like to establish a reward system that will motivate them
to grow with us. But, before I try to reinvent the wheel,
could you shed some light on this subject? Thank you, David.
From
HISPANIC Trends Magazine - March/April
2005
Advantage
Roth
Q:
Dear Julie, I am 32 years old, and my tax accountant suggested
that I open a Roth IRA account instead of a traditional
IRA. Even though I understood that it is still a retirement
account, could you please tell me, in plain English, what
benefits a Roth IRA will offer me over a regular IRA and
if there are any disadvantages with this type of account?
From
HISPANIC Magazine - March 2005
Funding
Your Future
Q:
Dear Julie, I am looking at my 401(k) account and I would
like to know how to distribute my investments. I have asked
other co-workers for advice and they told me that I should
place my money in the bond funds because they are safer
than stocks funds. I am 40 years old. Are they right? Please
help!
From HISPANIC Magazine - January/February 2005
Home
or Office? You Decide!
Q. Hi Julie. My employer has offered me the option of
working from my home to save travel time and increase productivity.
I think it’s a great idea, but I don’t know
how to set up my office at home. Can you tell me what to
look for, what to avoid and anything else you feel I should
be aware of before committing myself?
From
HISPANIC Trends Magazine - January/February
2005
Finding
a Mortgage
Q: My wife and I want to be pre-approved for a home
mortgage before we actually buy our first home. We understand
how to compare between fixed-rate loans, but when it comes
to adjustable rate mortgages, it becomes an alphabet soup.
Can you please help us ask the right questions so we can
get the information we really need and make the best decision
for us? Thank you. —Albert
From HISPANIC Magazine - December
2004
Productive
Salary Strategies
Q. Dear Julie, As a small business owner, one of my main
concerns is to make sure my small staff is happy, motivated
and well compensated. However, I don’t know where
to turn to find out if I am paying my three employees too
much or perhaps not enough! How do I determine what is fair
and how do I put a system in place for future hires? Thank
you for your help. Monica.
From
HISPANIC Trends Magazine - December
2004
Scoring
Good Credit
Q: Dear Julie, I have recently applied for a credit
card and I was told that my credit has been denied due to
my FICO score. I have heard of it, but don’t exactly
understand how it works. Could you please explain what a
FICO score is and what I can do to improve it in order to
obtain credit. —Antonio.
From
HISPANIC Magazine - November
2004
Business
Plans That Mean Business
Q. Dear Julie, I’ve started a small business in
my spare time. I am ready to take it to the next level.
My friends tell me that I need to write a business plan,
but nobody has been able to tell me how to write one. Can
you please walk me through the necessary steps to make sure
I cover all my bases?
From
HISPANIC Trends Magazine - October 2004
The
Bottom Line on Funds
Q: Dear Julie, I have some money set aside in a savings
account that I plan not to use for at least five years.
I want to invest it in a mutual fund since I am a very busy
person and I do not want to keep track of my investments
on a daily basis. One of my colleagues has advised me to
choose funds that are “no load” because I won’t
be paying any fees out of my investment. What do you recommend?
—John
From
HISPANIC Magazine - October 2004
Leaping
Into Cyberspace
Q. Dear Julie, I am a business owner and I have a website
that displays basic contact information for my company.
I would like to expand this site to attract new business
and process orders. How can I accomplish this goal in the
most effective way and with a limited amount of money?
From
HISPANIC Trends Magazine - September 2004
Annuities
101
Q: Dear Julie, I am 37 years old and I’ve been
offered an annuity by a financial advisor. What exactly
is an annuity and should I consider investing in one? —Alfredo.
From
HISPANIC Magazine - September 2004
By
the Rules
Q. Dear Julie, I am running a very successful business
in the food industry. Since I’ve had to hire a few
people in a short period of time, and we have made up the
rules as we’ve gone along, how do I develop a system
to notify new employees about my company to make sure that
everyone has the same information?
From
HISPANIC Trends Magazine - August 2004
Buy
or Lease?
Q: Dear Julie, I need a new car and I’m overwhelmed
by the first decision I need to make—my emotional
attachment to the pride of ownership and the financial considerations
of getting the best deal. Am I better off buying or leasing
my next car? —Gilbert.
From
HISPANIC Magazine - July/August 2004
Small Biz Retirement Options
Q.
I have a small business and I would like to establish a
retirement plan for myself that would include those employees
that have been with me from the beginning. Julie, it is
really confusing trying to decipher my options. Can you
please help me? From
HISPANIC Trends Magazine - June/July 2004
Planning
for Retirement
Q: I am planning to retire in less than a year. My employer
has provided me with the choices I have for my pension and
I’m a little confused. There are basically two choices:
a higher monthly retirement income that will stop when I
die, and a lower monthly income that my wife will continue
to receive in the event of my death. Which one is better?
—Emilio C.
From
HISPANIC Magazine - June 2004
Julie
Stav
Stav,
an elementary school teacher-turned-stockbroker and financial
planner, now spouts off financial advice to a national audience
on PBS and through appearances on shows such as Univisión's Despierta América and Barbara Walters' gabfest The
View on ABC.
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