For two decades, the Japanese economy has been dead as a doornail – in spite of hefty Japanese consumer savings. Why?

Field Reporter: Are they slow-moving, chief?
Sheriff McClelland: Yeah, they’re dead. They’re all messed up.
– Night of the Living Dead (1968)

In B-grade horror movie lore, Tokyo has to fend off attacks from rampaging monsters like Mothra and Godzilla. If the cinema were more true-to-life, however, Japan would be less worried about overgrown fire-breathing lizards… and more terrified of zombies instead.

In response to a recent Taipan Daily asking what brought us out of the Great Depression, a number of you responded with a good question. “What about Japan?” Or rather, “What about Japan’s extraordinary rate of consumer savings – and why hasn’t it helped?”

After putting in a massive blowoff top to cap a truly insane 1980s bull market, Japanese stocks proceeded to head lower… for the next twenty years. The Nikkei is …

by Rick Amorey

You’ve had that degree for a few years now, and you have been working non-stop since then. Chances are, you were able to build up your savings properly through the years. You haven’t bothered about that student loan ever since you paid it off for the first two years of your employment. A glance at your savings account then tells you that now are the time for an investment. I imagine you have no plans of being an employee forever.

Your mind is now made up, and you want to start investing. The next question, then, is how do you plan to invest that hard-earned cash? There are quite a number of investments that you may choose to involve yourself in, but know that you have to choose carefully. Here are some of the more popular choices out there:

*Investing in your own business. This is probably the …

by Rick Amorey

The science of investing and trading requires the understanding of many complex things should you plan to make it in that venture. If there is only one advice that I could give to someone who wants to go ahead and invest, though, it is this: Don’t bet it all on one fight. Spread out your portfolio; don’t settle for just one.

I fully understand that many people find the prospect of multiple investments close to impossible. As much as you want to spread out, you have to start in that first investment somewhere. Unfortunately for you, these investments usually start at a high price. In many cases, that price is too high for the average American. So, many beginning investors end up in the trap of putting it all in one stock anyway. This is a potentially devastating move. Everyone has experienced bad purchases in their careers. …

by Rick Amorey

First and foremost, you must keep in mind that the beginning investor will not find it easy to earn good money on the stock exchange. Had it been that easy, then every investor would be very rich right now. Remember that the investing profits can take time, devoted study, disciplined efforts and of course, independent thought.

With that in mind, the stock market can be quite a mystery to the amateur investor. But there are a few basic tips and hints that will help the investor make informed choices for their needs. One’s goals may be a lot different from the next, and it will play a big part on one’s investing habits.

Stock Market Investing is really not as complex as some financial advisors would like you to believe. It’s really not as complex; anyone can do it. Remember this, and follow some basic tips that will …

by Rick Amorey

It’s a fact that all financial investments have risks. Ninety percent of people who enter into trading will end up losing their money. So what is it you’re doing wrong? These people do not have a good enough understanding of what’s going on in the situation, simply put. In a way, entering into investments is akin to playing a game of poker.

My theory is thus; the game of poker is a good simulation of the investment world, and the correct strategies in winning, or getting to the endgame, at least, is similar in both cases. I admit that this may sound a bit nontraditional, but do hear me out.

When one plays poker, you won’t get very far into the game if you just hold back and wait for the right hand to invest all your chips in. Obviously, even the best hands have an amount of …

by Rick Amorey

So last time I talked about a little slice of my financial life; I talked about how I began my independence in debt (thanks to the student loan), and how I strived to surpass it while eking out a life on my own. I then described myself at the present; finally free of debt, and finally standing up on my own two feet completely. And what do I do? I think of taking out a loan.

This is the sad financial situation that many Americans find themselves in these days. The land of the free occupied by people in constant debt; starting from an innocent student loan, and then going on to paying mortgages for your family’s home. Factor it that loan for their vehicles, and the education plan that they have in place so that their children will not suffer as much debt. Only by seeing …

by Mara Hernandez-Capili

Warren Buffet is Americas most famous investor. Any investor, especially those who want to be experts into trading stocks are looking up to him as a role model. He is famous because he was the richest man in the world for the year 2008; next to him is Microsoft owner and founder Bill Gates. He was also famous for his frugal living despite the fact that his company is worth to $69 billion dollars.

This piece is written to provide you with some insights on the famous investors strategy. The methods are actually simple questions that you need to ask yourself before plunging into a stock trading. First question is Is this business simple and understandable? It is easier for an investor to invest in a company that he is knowledgeable of in order to effectively forecast problems or growth events should they arise.

Second is to …

Trillions of taxpayer dollars spent and in return promises, hopes and more have filled the airwaves from presidential speeches, preliminary questionable economic data and a media that has called the official bottom to the stock market. The markets now sits up 25-30% in the last 6 weeks. All seems to be returning to normal or at least that is what those in the upper levels of government hope you think. The wool can only be pulled over the markets eyes for so long. Changing accounting rules to hide losses, pumping trillions of dollars into banks and financial institutions to re-inflate the credit bubble has a small chance if any at succeeding.

Let’s take a look at some of the recent data that has been swept under the rug while bank profits took the forefront. After an impressive drop in foreclosures in …

by Mara Hernandez-Capili

It is true that investments carry different risks. Risks are completely unavoidable and could get the best out of any investor (especially the beginners) if not managed and handled properly. Risks should not be feared rather it should be faced with a knowing attitude and courage. Risks should not stop anyone from investing and ultimately- for achieving financial freedom.

Trading Stocks involves risks on different facors. There is no guarantee if you will have a capital gain since the market is always fluctuating. The larger the amount you traded, the higher the risks of losing that investment. That is the reason why most people do not trade huge stocks when theyre just beginning and opt for smaller/ cheaper ones.

There are ways on how to manage risks in investments. First is to find an investment portfolio with a value you are comfortable with. The reason behind is …

by Mara Hernandez-Capili

Stocks or shares are defined as a chunk of the company that an institution or an individual buys that makes him a part owner of that company. As a part owner you get to experience company privileges such as voting rights. A shareholder also receives an annual dividend from the companys annual profits. For example you purchase 1,000 shares of MAC Company and the annual profit goes to $7.5 billion with 750,000 shares all-in-all, your annual dividend would be $10 million. That is just how simple the concept of stocks is. The dividend then is defined as the amount the shareholder would be getting from the companys profits in relation to the number of his shares.

Stock Trading is the act of buying and selling of stocks. It is oftentimes called as stocks exchange. The stock exchange is the brilliant and quickest …