If we look ahead to 2010, many economists are expecting the economy to continue to get better.  Whether you buy into a full U.S. recovery or that certain areas of the economy will do better than others, there are some ETFs should consider.
Inflation / Weak Dollar Plays
When it comes to the inflation story, I’m a believer that it will happen in the future.  With this, we can expect rising commodities especially gold.  I strongly recommend that investors have at least some exposure to gold, and a lot of exposure to …

The non-partisan Tax Foundation recently did a study to determine what the best states were for doing business.  The findings aren’t that surprising in my opinion.
Best States For Doing Business (in order)

South Dakota
Wyoming
Alaska
Nevada
Florida

Worst States For Doing Business (in order)

New Jersey
New York
California
Ohio
Iowa

These rankings were compiled based on the tax environment which can either encourage or discourage business activity.  According to this organization:
The ideal tax system, whether at the local, state or federal level, is simple, transparent, stable, neutral to business activity, and pro-growth.
The study also cites that unfriendly tax environments for …

When it comes to deciding what degree or area to study while in college, the availability of jobs in that field should definitely be a factor.  My view is that the more specific the field of study, the better shape you will find yourself in.  Let’s look at a few examples.
Computer Science Degree
When it comes to software and other computer science areas, this is an expanding field which means jobs are not going anywhere.  Sure, we may be outsourcing some basic coding responsibilities to India, but there will still be …

The inflation trade is heating up with gold hitting some recent highs (above $1040 as of today).  The bad part of this scenario is that the US dollar continues to lose value.  I found myself asking today why more Americans are not more upset about the continued loss of purchasing power that their money is experiencing in the name of “recovery”.
Lack Of A Visible Indicator
I started to think that perhaps one reason why more people are not aware or upset about the loss of value in the dollar is because …

If you read my blog, you know that I’m a big fan of online income.  It’s one of my main pursuits and it’s something I encourage frequently to anyone.  I know several people who make good money off the web, and I also know a few people that make enough to replace a full-time income from their online sources.  While many individuals might consider making an actual living by making money online as an incredible feat, many still wonder how secure such an income might be?
Online Revenue Types
Before being able …

Many people were introduced to the VIX, or the volatily index as many like to call it, over the past year.  During the crash in the fall of 2008, the VIX rose to insanely high levels.  So, what is it?  Should you pay attention to it?
According to Wikipedia:
VIX is the ticker symbol for the Chicago Board Options Exchange Volatility Index, a popular measure of the implied volatility of S&P 500 index options. A high value corresponds to a more volatile market and therefore more costly options, which can be used …

Two things I talk about frequently on this blog are the extreme importance of controlling spending as well as the new age of frugality that I believe has begun over the last year or so.  This unique, historic recession has finally put an end to the insane consumption of the general public.  The savings rate is starting to rise again (which is a good thing) despite the government’s attempts to get you to part with your cash on everything from cars to houses to appliances.
One major cause of the rise …

I had an interesting discussion with someone today regarding inflation.  The question came up why do we not have inflation right now?  Many people talk about it like it is a sure thing yet we don’t have it and these people have been saying the same thing for a while now.
Two Opposing Forces
The main reason why inflation has not gotten out of control in today’s economy is because there are two opposing forces.  On one end you have the inflationary forces due to the monetary policy of governments around the …