Common Financial Leverages

Now that you have realized how important managing your finances is and know what it takes to change for the better, financially and personally, you will need a form of leverage to get to a higher financial level.

By this, I mean that you need to do more and more with less and less. In the financial sense, you need leverages that make you more money in return without exerting any or too much effort on your part.

Here are just some of the common financial leverages you can use in order to achieve your financial goals, may it be for security reasons or a strong desire for comfort and luxury:

• Savings
  Savings is a form of financial leverage, because there is some magic to be found in “compound interest”. Compound interest is earning interest on the total of an original principal sum and interest already earned. Obviously, one great thing to tell you here about compound interest that all the money requires no extra and work on your part. Once it has been deposited into your bank account, your money is the investment play field – where money works for you to make more money! But remember that compound interest can only work its magic if you give it time. So, start saving now, if you have not started yet!
  
• Insurance
  No, insurance is NOT a money-making vehicle, and you might find it strange that I consider this as a financial leverage. But think about it: if you (the bread winner especially) die today or you have lost a VERY BIG money-making asset to a natural disaster, theft whatsoever, you will be begging your insurance policy to help insure the losses!
  
  In a nutshell, insurance help transfers the financial risk from one party to another. We trade a small loss to avoid catastrophic ones! Some perceive this as a sort of bet between the insurer and insured on a loss or death, but this could not be further from the truth.Insurance can be divided into two general categories: life insurance and general insurance.
  
  Life insurance is defined as a contract which pays an agreed sum of money on the happening of an event, dependent on human life. General insurance, on the other hand, covers individuals and third parties against risks of damages or loss on events on based on human life. They may protect an individual, property or business.
  
  For more information on insurance, you will do well to consult your personal financial planner.
  
• Business
  The returns from a business can be phenomenal. This is strongly recommended for you if you want to join the ranks of the rich. If you dream of making big bucks, then you have to be in business.
  
  It does not matter what KIND of business, but as long as you are in business, you can join the ranks of the rich. What matters, though, is how you perform in business.
  
• Real Estate
  Now, here is yet another proven, time-tested leverage that the rich use since ages ago to become very rich. Leveraging finances using real estates date way back to the times of royals and dukes.
  
  It makes “cents” anyway, because you are probably living in a leverage yourself, you can use it in your favor to help leverage your financial position.
  
  A word on leverage: while there are several leverages to be used in order to elevate financially, you should treat leverages two-ways. Leverage can be great if used correctly. On the other hand, leverage can also be used against you if you misuse or abuse it. Simply put, treat leverage as a double-edged sword!

What is Financial Planning, Actually?

When you go to the bank, unit trust or insurance company, financial planning seems to be the new buzzword among customers, clients and people in the finance field. But, what is financial planning, actually? Is it strictly for the rich or people who have money to invest? Or is it for those who want to buy insurance and unit trusts?The truth is that whoever has financial challenges to solve or financial goals to achieve needs financial planning.

Regardless of how much money you are making, financial planning will help you achieve both greater wealth and financial security. Inadequate or poor financial planning can obviously lead to unimaginable financial disasters like nightmares come true. For instance, an uninsured loss can wipe out all your accumulated wealth.

Insufficient savings for retirement can force one into a reduced, low lifestyle or even worse, the postponement of retirement and many other financial catastrophes that are far too depressing to be named!

So in a nutshell, financial planning involves taking a broad view of one’s financial affairs covering many areas of wealth management and then going through a step-by-step process to solve financial problems and achieve financial goals.

Financial planning is also about making choices such as:

• Do I want to spend all my income today? Or should I save a portion of it?
• Should I clear all my debts right now? Or should I increase my savings for retirement instead?
• Should I plan for my child’s education? Or should I let him seek his own scholarship applications and apply for a student’s loan?

So, what is Included in Financial Planning? If you were to wonder what areas wealth management would cover, here are some examples:

• Cash flow management
  This involves assessing your current net financial net worth (what you own minus what you owe). This will generally tell you whether you are on your way to financial freedom… or financial disaster.
  
• Investment planning.
  Once you have determined the amount of money you would like to save, you should consider where to put your savings with the aim of receiving a higher return than your usual savings account. Forget the 2% p.a. interests for saving. You need something more sophisticated than that! An investment strategy has to be mapped out so that you will have greater success in meeting your desired financial goals.
  
• Insurance planning
  Insurance planning is required to in ensure that all your assets are protected and that your family members are well shielded by having sufficient insurance coverage.
  
• Tax planning
  The subject of tax planning affects everyone who receives income, yet it is an area that is largely ignored or forgotten by most people. Therefore, this area involves strategies making the most under the local tax regime in the area of your income, stocks, real estate, and property.
  
• Retirement planning
  You are not going to work your whole life, are you? When old age symptoms start to kick in or you have reached the mandatory retirement age, you will need to retire. Hence, having a retirement plan regardless of your age is essential!
  
• Estate planning
  Having an estate plan or a will shall ensure that your wishes for the future are carried out. In addition, an estate plan or a will can provide financial security for your family, ensure your property is preserved and avoid dispute among family members.
  
  All in all, an ideal financial plan does not focus on one aspect or product only, but it involves taking all areas of planning into consideration when making financial decisions.

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