The current recession is deeper and already longer than any since World War II. This caused big trouble for managers in their 40s and early 50s. They tend to be more expensive than their younger counterparts; they may lack some of the high-tech savvy needed to succeed in a more efficient workplace; and they face a downsized job market that will stay that way much longer than usual.

According to Wharton finance and statistics professor Francis X. Diebold, co-director of the Wharton Financial Institutions Center, the current employment picture is closely aligned with the depth of the recession. “If the recession really did bottom out in February or March, and if we stay on track and start growing at a positive rate by the end of this year — which is by no means certain — it could still be 2013 before we see some significant employment optimism.”

Many companies laid off mid-to-senior level managers because they were expensive. It was particularly hard in IT industry. If you are one of those older managers that are struggling to find job, here are some helpful hints for you.

Go International: Many companies in emerging markets are looking for talented and well connected foreign nationals. Your first step will be to network with headhunters in your target market and check the job listings in top two job portals in your target country.

Go Teach: If you have passion to teach, getting a teaching job in schools/colleges will be an ideal option. If you have Ph.D, you will find the doors wide open for you in online universities; they need well qualified teaching professionals to teach their popular courses.

Go Consult: If the above choices don’t work out for you, become a consultant in the domain of your expertise.

Heading into this quarter’s earnings season investors were extremely nervous, as well they should have been, because of the terrible economic backdrop for corporate earnings. So far only a handful of the largest companies have reported, but to say that they have been a big surprise to the upside is an understatement.

Alcoa started earnings season with a pretty nice beat, which is much different than its consistent misses over the last few years. Yesterday was when things kicked into high gear, with several major companies reporting earnings. Yesterday morning Goldman Sachs blew away profit expectations, earning more than any analyst had estimated, even topping last year’s profit. Clearly Goldman Sachs has gone right back to the position it was in before the financial crisis, as the clear leader in the industry. The company that many like to call gold mine will indeed be able to be called that again now, at least for the time being. Also yesterday morning Johnson and Johnson beat earnings estimates by earning $1.15 per share. The company also reaffirmed expectations for the entire year.

The biggest surprise of them all came yesterday evening when Intel delivered an absolutely brilliant earnings report that stunned Wall Street. Revenue was expected to come in at 7.28 billion dollars and the company brought in 8 billion. Earnings per share were 18 cents versus analysts estimates of 8 cents per share. Strategists are calling this beat phenomenal and saying that the company hit one way out of the park on this report.

What does all of this mean anyways? It could mean that corporations are doing a solid job of adapting to the new economic environment. It could also be that we have just seen a small amount of companies that have reported, and the companies that will report later on will not issue such positive forecasts. It is fair to say that if earnings continue to come in this strong over the next few weeks the stock market will likely respond well and the overall economic picture will improve quite a lot.

Earnings season comes around every quarter and it is generally a very volatile time for the stock market. Investors are trying to weigh both the results from the company as well as the future guidance from the company. The volatility and the large volume in individual stocks makes earnings season a good time for traders to try to make some money moving in and out of these names that are reporting their earnings. Let’s take a look at four tips to help you make money trading stocks during the earnings season.

Four tips for trading stocks during earnings season

1. Consider price movement and expectations prior to earnings- This is is important for traders to do because some stocks consistently move upward before they report and sell off even if they report good news. This is the classic buy the rumor and sell the news trade, which occurs frequently during earnings season. If expectations have been low, the stock is much more likely to pop from any kind of positive surprise.
2. Pay close attention to forward looking statements- The truth of the matter is the stock market is generally much more concerned with how the company is going to do in the next quarter than it did in the last. Those who simply look at the bottom line number are often missing the point.
3. Use historical norms to help plan trades- Take a look and see how a company typically does when it reports earnings. There are some companies that are constantly disappointing while others seem to always surprise to the upside. You need to know this information before trading these stocks.
4. Place stop losses on your trades- I’m not always the type of person that advocates stop losses, but if you are going to do a lot of trading in earnings season you should probably considering placing stop losses. Since volatility is extremely high this will give you a little bit of a safety net should things go wrong.

One thing that many people are very wrong about is that they believe they don’t have enough money saved to invest in anything. It is quite common to hear someone say “I would like to invest, but I don’t have enough money.” The truth is, there are more options than ever to help people invest, even if the amounts they have saved up are quite small.

What are some asset classes that you can invest in with small amounts of money? Some of the best to invest in include: certificates of deposit, mutual funds, money market savings accounts, and stocks. You may be think that these things aren’t typically available to those with small amounts of money to invest, but lately there has been a move to include the smaller investor.

Certificates of deposit and money market savings accounts are both solid investment choices offered by just about every bank, and quite a few insurance companies. Some banks still have pretty high minimums on these investments, but increasingly there has been a move toward allowing people to open these types of accounts with as little as $500. These investments are guaranteed by the FDIC. You won’t get rich quick, but you’ll definitely gain some money.

Mutual funds and individual stocks are both solid options for those looking to invest with small amounts of money as well. Direct Purchase Plans  offer the investor the chance to buy a stock directly through the company and completely avoid commissions. The minimum investment for these is often as low as $100. For an investor who is looking to start an investment portfolio with small amounts of money, mutual funds are a great way to get instant diversification. Low minimum mutual funds are becoming much more widespread over the last few years. The minimum to invest in these funds can be anywhere from $100 to $500.

Don’t let yourself think that there aren’t options for investing with small amounts of money. You always have to start small with investments and build up your portfolio over time. Now is as good of a time as any to get started!

There are some people who just can’t tolerate the risks and quick swings of the stock market. It is always a good idea to know ahead of time if you are the type that doesn’t belong investing in the stock market, so before you invest it is a good idea to consider your objectives and your risk tolerance. There are a few specific things about some people’s personalities or investing styles that should keep them away from the market altogether. What are some signs the market isn’t for you?

Three Signs the stock market isn’t for you

1. You lie awake at night wondering if you made the right investment decision- This kind of thing is precisely what you can’t do if you want to invest in the stock market. Eventually this will get the best of you and you will be unable to take it anymore. When you invest in a stock you should thoroughly research it and once you feel you have picked a solid stock you have to be comfortable with your selection, even if the first few days are bumpy. You have to be able to keep your emotions in check when investing.
2. You like guaranteed returns- While the stock market has an attractive long-term annual percentage gain compared to other asset classes, there are absolutely no guarantees when investing in the stock market. It is entirely possible to lose all the money you invest in a stock, as has been seen in recent years through companies like Enron. If you want a guarantee as to how the investment is going to perform, you’ll need to look elsewhere.
3. You need the money in short period of time- There are plenty of investment asset options that fit well for investors that need their money back in a short period of time, but stocks aren’t one of them. It is next to impossible to predict how stocks will do in a short period of time so don’t try to count on them for quick money.

If you fit into these categories you should think twice before investing money in the stock market.  Before investing in the stock market ask yourself if stocks are right for you.

It’s the summertime now and everyone is wanting to get away for a while, but the economy isn’t good and money is tight so you have to keep things to a minimum this year. That is the way it is for a huge amount of people right now, but that doesn’t mean you aren’t able to go on any kind of vacation at all. Make the vacation shorter than normal in duration or go to a place not as far away, but everyone needs a little bit of rest and relaxation at some point. Here are some sites that will help you save money on your next vacation.

Four Travel Sites That Will Save You Money

1. Travelzoo- Travelzoo is a favorite of mine because of the ease of use and the great deals it consistently offers. Travelzoo has great deals on everything from hotels and airfare all the way to entertainment and cruises. The site offers a Top 20 list each week for free, and can be easily customized for any city or destination.
2. Hotwire- It’s next to impossible to beat Hotwire’samazing rates on hotels and airfares. The site isn’t quite as easy to use because you aren’t given the full information until after paying, but you won’t find a cheaper rate than you can get on Hotwire. This is an especially good site to use for great hotel rates.
3. Expedia- Expedia is a very user-friendly website that allows you to search for the best deal and read numerous reviews on each possibility. The vacation packages on Expedia are usually quite attractively priced, so be sure to take a look at those.
4. Kayak- Kayak is a less well-known travel site, but it does a lot of good work for those looking for a cheap vacation. Kayak is basically a travel search engine which combines the prices for all the travel related sites on the web and helps you find the cheapest rate on whatever it is you are looking to do. This one is a keeper!

Give yourself that much needed vacation, but be sure to keep your costs to a minimum as much as you possibly can.

In the last few days there has been a lot more talk about jobless recoveries and how maybe the current economic environment lends itself to a jobless recovery for the United States as well as other parts of the world. These thoughts have been started recently because of the disappointment from the jobs data while other parts of the economy appear to be stabilizing slightly.

What exactly is a jobless recovery? A jobless recovery is basically an economic turnaround that occurs without the help of the labor market. In this type of recovery businesses would start spending and investing more money, but would not hire new employees.

While a jobless recovery may be better than no recovery at all in some ways, it is generally true that a “jobless recovery” is not a lasting recovery. Jobless recoveries tend to gloss over the true underlying status of the economy and create a false sense of security for investors. The Gross Domestic Product of a country will improve during a jobless recovery, but many of the consumer related numbers are likely to continue to languish since the jobs picture doesn’t give consumers any real hope.

In the end a recovery without the aid of employment numbers is a recovery that is destined to disappoint. Consumers are responsible for 2/3 of the GDP in the United States, and almost that much in many of the other developed nations. If these consumers are without a job or have significant fears about the status of their job, they are unlikely to be very confident about the economy. How could we expect someone without a job to feel confident about the economy or want to spend any of the little bit of money they have?

As an investor you would be wise to not get your hopes up about a jobless recovery. An economic recovery that comes without the jobs picture improving is likely temporary and will only gloss over the real underlying issues that continue to exist.

What do you do if you desperately need a loan or insurance but you have no idea about your credit score?

First, understand how the lending process works. Your credit score will determine whether or not a lender can give you the credit you need. In order to get a loan you need a good credit score.

What is a credit score? Basically it’s the score from FICO that tells the lenders about your credit worthiness. FICO Scores are calculated from a lot of different credit data in your credit report. Actual calculation of FICO score is a secret like Coke Recipe. Your payment history, length of your credit history and types of credit used play major role in deciding your credit score. 

How can you get your credit score? In order to determine your credit sore, you will need your credit report. This will be sent to you every three months by national credit reporting companies. You can get your credit report for free. However, if you wish to get your credit score, you will have to pay these companies a nominal fee.

Equifax, Experian and TransUnion are the three credit reporting agencies in the United States. They use the FICO software to generate credit scores which are then sold to lenders who wish to get data regarding the credit score of their customers. You don’t have to be a lender to get details about your credit score. FICO, Experian, Equifax and TransUnion also sell credit score to their customers. Besides national credit reporting companies, there are several other websites and tools that will enable you to get your credit report and calculate your credit score for free.

1. Quizzle.com – this web site enables you to determine your credit score, the value of your home, property etc for free.
2. Experian.com – Experian is a leading provider of analytical services and their web site has a feature which permits you to check out your credit score.
3. Freecreditreport.com – As the name suggests, this is another website for free credit reports. You can get credit reports from Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion through this web site.
4. Creditreport.com – Use this site to get both your credit report and your credit score for free.
5. myFico.com – You can get your credit scores directly from FICO at this website.

Now that you have an idea about your credit score, the next question is how you can improve it. If you have a good credit score, you won’t have much trouble getting a loan but poor credit has to be repaired. Start by paying your bills on time. Cut down expenses on food and clothing and focus on paying off your bills. Don’t max out your credit card. Credit card debt can wreck havoc with your credit scores so, use credit cards only if you have to. What can you do if you have already run up credit card debt? Work on repaying it as soon as possible. Try and pay at least the minimum amount each month so that you don’t have to pay higher interest.

If you have applied for credit from different lenders recently, that also can have a negative impact on your credit score. The kinds of credit accounts you have can also affect your credit score. Having a couple of established credit accounts can boost your credit score. On the other hand too many credit accounts can lower the score.

You will need a minimum credit score of 700 points if you plan to get a loan or mortgage. Experts feel that a credit score of 740 gives you the best shot at getting a good loan, insurance or mortgage scheme

Once you learn how to manage and improve your credit score, getting credit should not be all that difficult.

Remember last month’s upside surprise from the non farm payrolls data? That is now history as today’s data from the month of June showed a much larger than expected loss of 467,000 jobs in the month. Analysts were looking for a loss of 325,000 jobs this month, and May’s number was a loss of just 322,000 jobs. Clearly this puts a major damper on the economic recovery prospects, and it will have to make investors think twice before believing in a market rally at this point.

Many strategists are now leaning more toward a W shaped economic recovery, meaning that the economy would start to turn upward as it did in the last couple months, then resume a sharp slide to the downside before finally recovering again. Many on Wall Street believe that another couple of jobs numbers like today’s will confirm that we are indeed in the second slide of this economic downturn.

There were no signs of strength inside the payroll data today, but the service industry was notably weak as was the consutruction industry. The only sector that moved to the upside was the healthcare industry, and even it is weakening from previous months.

Immediately stock markets around the world reacted in a very negative way to this June non farm payroll data in the United States, and for good reason. Those who were talking about all of the economic “green shoots” and the prospects of a recovery in the second half of the year were severely muted by such a weak number. Certainly the hope is that if this is indeed a second leg down that it is short lived and not as severe as the first leg. The bottom line is, there will be no permanent economic recovery without an improvement in the employment situation.

Before you start investing that hard earned money of yours, you should ask yourself some difficult questions and do all the research necessary to help you succeed. Investing your money is a process that should not be a quick one, rather it should involve several steps and the first should be planning thoroughly. Here are the questions you need to ask yourself before you get started investing.

Five questions to ask yourself before investing

1. What are my goals? You need to know what it is you want from your money. Set some realistic expectations for returns that you are wishing to receive and then see what kind of assets match those returns on a historical basis. Your goals should also be personalized to your families current situation.
2. What are my needs? This question asks both when you will need the money and what do you need the money to do for you. For example, do you need this money for retirement or for children’s college tuition? Your personal needs should always dictate how you invest.
3. What kind of risk tolerance do I have? Understanding the amount of risk you can tolerate is extremely important. If you have difficulty tolerating quick movements or the possibility of losing your total investment, stocks may not be right for you. Probably the single most common mistake investors make is not understanding their personal risk tolerance until after investing in the stock market.
4. Should I do this on my own or get a financial advisor? There are obviously advantages to investing on your own if you know what you are doing, number one of which is certainly saving a lot of money in fees. There is also a lot of risk associated with investing on your own, especially if you do not have the time to put in to research your investments on a consistent basis.
5. What will my investment strategy be? The fact of the matter is, you truly must have a very clear strategy for investing your money. Stick to the strategy you make and do not deviate because of events that occur. A winning strategy is worth a whole lot to an investor.