A Bright Foreign Investment Possibility - CHIE ETF

Due to a remarkable industrial growth in the past decades and an anticipatory bright future in this sector this country requires a large amount of energy. No wonder China has become a major player in this sector due to its ravenous demand. Considering the population explosion of this country and its enormous workforce China in 2010 has overtaken the United States to become the world's largest energy user.

In a report by McKinsey the energy consumption of China will account for 43% of the total GDP growth by 2020 as compared to 33% in 2010. As per the reports of the IEA (International Energy Agency) an advisor to 28 industrialized countries, China consumed 2.265 billion tones of oil equivalent of energy from sources such as coal, oil,Natural gas, hydro and nuclear power 4.4% more than USA. The same has been analyzed by BP PLC's statistical Review of World Energy.

As China's economy is anticipated to grow in the long term, more and more investment possibilities emerge in the form of products which are more accessible like the China ETF. ETF's are very apparent as the Fund Issuers publish the Fund assets and list them on a day to day basis. Though China straddles between the term of being associated as a developing or emerging economy and a world class economy, an investment in China ETF's can bring you a gain in terms of an exposure to China's Market and add to another feather in your cap as a great addition to ones Portfolio. This invest china energy sector acts as a hedge against the foreign investment risk.

It is stipulated in the Outline of China's 12th Five-Year Plan (2011-2015) for National Economic and Social Development that by 2015 the non-fossil energy will rise to11.4% in the national total primary consumption. The power consumption per unit of the GDP will drop by 16 % and CO2 emission per unit of GDP will definitely decrease by 17 % from 2010 onwards.As being one of the largest developing countries with a population of over 1.3 billion, China has committed that it must rely on itself to increase the power supply progressively to satisfy its enormous demands by focusing on the promotion of clean energy development and a strategic measure for new and renewable energy. The country is also expected to install 290 million kw hydropower generating capacity by 2015.

The government has stood out to encourage private investment into this sector as well to help regulate and strengthen the backbone of its infrastructure and overall economic growth.

Finding A Stairlift On A Budget

Stairlifts are pieces of assistive technology which help people to ascend and descend their stairs every day. They have been designed to stop people needing to bend their knees as they walk up stairs, and they help people who can't physically walk up their stairs do so. There are however, certain problems associated with getting one of these pieces of assistive technology which prevents a lot of people from having one, and the main one of these issues is the cost of buying a stairlift.

Stairlifts cost thousands of pounds and many people can't afford the initial cost, even with benefits from the government, so they simply go without a stairlift and try to cope. Some companies offer pre owned or reconditioned stairlifts, which are a much cheaper alternative to buying one first hand. A reconditioned stairlift will have been owned and used before, but stairlift suppliers will take these stairlifts and refurbish them, checking for any potential faults and making repairs where needed to ensure the stairlift is up to almost the same standards as brand new stairlifts.

Most stairlift suppliers will provide a free assessment of a home prior to installing any of their products, and they should present you with every option available to you instead of just one, giving you the details of how each stairlift differs. By choosing the cheapest option a person can save money but they could lose out on functionality they need for their stairlift, making this decision is hard and needs to be talked over with an expert.

Breaking down the separate costs of a stairlift, three distinct categories can be made. These are the initial cost, the on-going care, and the added cost to bills. People can save money on all three of these if they find a good supplier that will offer them a rental solution. Renting a stairlift can be more cost effective for someone than buying one, as some people may never be able to afford to buy a stairlift. Both straight and curved stairlifts can be rented, and thanks to still being owned by the company, most stairlift suppliers will offer a lifetime warranty included in the cost of the rental service, meaning on-going costs cover everything a stairlift requires. The only issue someone might have with renting a stairlift is finding a curved stairlift available for rent, as there are only a few select stairlift suppliers which will offer curved stairlifts to their customers, helping them stick to their budget.

How Cars and Phones Affect the Lithium Industry

Growing popularity of Lithium funds owes the credit to its extensive usage in portable digital products and automobile industry, the industrial needs are fuelling the demand forecast for the metal which in all likelihood, will continue to grow annually at a positive rate of 24% till 2021. Following this trend are the big money managers from the Wall Street Inc. who claim to be indirectly tapping on the growing sales of products using Lithium batteries, by acquiring or investing in Lithium stocks.

World-wide retail success of products like Apple's iPhones and iPads along with of Toyota's Hybrid electric car are the main focus for this investor league.

The demand has incredibly increased due to the widespread use of energy effective batteries. Between the years 2003-2007, the industry doubled its consumption of Lithium carbonate, which is a very important constituent of these rechargeable batteries. Since then the industrial demand has more than doubled in the past few years.

Billion dollar investment firms like JP Morgan Chase have over and again shown affinity to Lithium companies and their listed securities starting 2011. Analyst at Black Rock Inc. agrees; and along with Morgan, they are still bullish on Lithium ETFs and equities.

Most major car makers are now sincerely considering a feasible electric vehicle that can be mass produced, demand surge from the automobile industry itself may be well upwards of 160% from current levels. Toyota Prius is a definite game changer in this class with other mention worthy names is Chevy Volt and Tesla Roadster which are now commonly used electric vehicles.

The growth of this rare element has depended a lot upon the adoption of clean energy technology. In contrast to lead and other chemical products, it is significantly eco friendly and has much higher energy storing capabilities. The gadget industry would have never inflated to this level if it was not for the easy energy solutions that lithium batteries provide. Its unique attributes and a fact that it is a rare metal found only in the top layer of the earth's crust adds to the importance of miners and explorers of the mineral.

Mining this metal has gained momentum with the upsurge in its demand and it will remain robust for the coming years. The demand has increased 25% in the years 2010-2012 and it is expected to double by 2020. Also the electric cars using lithium ion batteries are likely to reach 1.5 - 3.0 million in 2015.

An obvious negative here lies in a sudden scientific discovery that is able to not only display better energy recharging capacities but is also compatible with the existing products that use lithium cells. Reasonably, a better substitute will wipe out the demands for the metal but an invention to carry out such a mutiny is unlikely to occur in near future, indicating a bright outlook on the sector.

Major Equities like Rockwood (the company produces lithium hydroxide and is world's largest producer of lithium products) and FMC are some of the biggest players of this arena. Other major corporations include Talison Lithium Ltd., Soc Quimica, and Minera de Chile. These companies more or less control the capital market, which is roughly valued to be around a billion dollars annually. Along with the limited choices on the equity front, timing your entry in the markets is another hindrance for direct investments. Investors willing to emulate the trend may use the Lithium Invest and funds that track the Solactive benchmark. Barring Global X LIT there are no pure plays on this industry available, but a country centric fund like Chile ETF may suffice the need for Lithium exposure.

Preventing Late Payments - Don't Rely on the Law!

In our March article on late payments, we looked at how the law has recently changed to help protect smaller businesses against the risks of late or non payment. However, questions still remain around how much protection is actually being offered to suppliers.

For example, the new rules state that customers can't request payment terms of longer than 60 days to be written into the contract unless they can show that a longer period isn't 'grossly unfair' to the supplier. But what does 'grossly unfair' actually mean? The concept is fuzzy at best! And does it imply that it's OK for customers to impose terms that are merely 'unfair', but not 'grossly unfair'?

This is just one of the issues that are causing concern. It may be that the only answer to the late payments problem is to change the law again, so that the time limits for paying commercial debts become non-negotiable. This is already the case in some countries such as France, where companies can find themselves subject to large fines and even criminal proceedings if they don't pay their bills on time.

Whatever your views on the revised late payments laws, it's not a good idea to simply assume they'll protect your business! Instead, you should take action now to address any late payment issues you're experiencing at the moment, or to prevent problems arising in the future. Here are a few pointers that will help:

1. Customer not paying? Find out why.

There could be a good reason why your customer hasn't paid on time. Maybe they're not happy with your work, in which case, this is most likely to be because they didn't fully understand what you were (and weren't) offering to do for them, or because there were delays that were unavoidable or created by the customer themselves.

Talking to your customers and finding out the reasons for non-payment should sort things out. And in the future, make your sure quotes and terms and conditions are crystal clear so you and your customer both know exactly where you stand.

2. Protect yourself with staged payments.

Asking for payment in two or more stages will help preserve cash flow whilst you're working on larger projects. Where appropriate, you could also consider asking for a deposit or partial payment up-front - perhaps when you're dealing with a new customer, or someone who has delayed paying you in the past. Make sure the details of any staged payments are set out clearly in a written contract before you start work.

3. Have a clear payment process in place.

Tell your customers when you expect to be paid and remind them of the payment terms when you send their invoice. Follow up with regular reminders or statements until the bill is settled in full.

You should also encourage your customers to tell you straightaway if they're having problems paying. You may be able to accommodate delayed or staged payments, but only if you know about them sooner rather than later! Make sure any changes to your original payment terms are agreed in writing; an exchange of emails is fine.

4. Know your rights to charge interest and recovery fees.

The changes to the Late Payment of Commercial Debt (Interest) Act 1998 that came into force on 16 March 2013 mean you can now reclaim 'reasonable recovery costs' from late-paying customers.

This is on top of your pre-existing rights to charge a set fee that depends on the amount of the debt, as well as interest at the current Bank of England base rate plus 8%. You don't have to invoke these rights, but make sure you're aware of them.

5. Don't let non-payers get away with it.

Occasionally, you may encounter the customer who just won't pay - and for no good reason. Don't set a precedent by letting them get away with it. There's an online government-run service that you can use to reclaim the debt, or I'm always happy to recommend a reputable debt collection agency or solicitor.

Six Lessons on Protecting Your Inheritance As a Beneficiary

Before my beloved aunt passed, she chose a cousin to serve as executrix. That executrix chose a CPA who was as unscrupulous as she and together, they ripped the estate and its beneficiaries off on thousands of dollars. They chose not to share any information with the seven beneficiaries or the estate lawyer. And to make matters worse, they skimmed off beneficiaries' inheritance payments by the thousands.

I was one of the beneficiaries who was ripped off, and include of the most important lessons learned from this experience so that you needn't go through a similar ideal.

LESSON 1: Make sure that the executor or executrix is bonded. It costs money, but will pay for itself, making the executor liable for valuables that may be stolen from a loved one's estate. No matter if that person is a family member. Never assume that he or she will be honest. I didn't know my cousin after so many years, as I had not seen her since we were children! She was a complete stranger to me. Had I been wiser, I would have insisted that she was bonded and made sure that my fellow-beneficiaries worked together to keep her honest..

LESSON 2: Always, always remember that estates are not policed. Unscrupulous persons, including professionals as CPAs, executors and atttorneys are not always what they seem. Check them out carefully and keep written records as well as copies of letters and other correspondence that you send or receive from any of them. If anything can go wrong, it will. To minimize the chances of something going wrong, beneficiaries should consider getting together and working as a team.

LESSON 3: Have the probate court assign someone to accompany an executor or executrix as he or she inventories assets in a decedent's home. Items as cash, jewelry, and other valuables can easily be stolen if an executor or executrix is left alone to his or her own devices..

LESSON 4: Remember that an executor or executrix is not your boss. He or she cannot deny you the right to visit a deceased parent's residence and take items as keepsakes. Another thing that executors must do is provide updated reports on their progress in administering a given estate. If an executor or executrix habitually refuses or procrastinates, beneficiaries have the right to get rid of him or her and request another person to serve. This may be as simple as requesting this transfer at probate court or hiring an attorney who is experienced and knowledgeable on estates and wills in your state. Every state differs in these matters, so it may be in all of your best interests as beneficiaries to decide what to do together.

LESSON 5: Be aware of how long an executor or executrix takes in responding to your questions or requests. If a month has passed and you have not heard from that person, start inquiring immediately and make copies of any written requests.

LESSON 6: Never sign off on anything without an opportunity to review the final accounting. Check it for omissions or errors, or hire an attorney to do that for you. Once you've signed off, you lose your right to have errors corrected and potentially thousands of dollars.

Pay attention and review those lessons before anything happens, so when the inevitable event occurs, you will what to look for and how to deal with it, avoiding mistakes and protecting what you are rightfully entitled to.

Arizona Moves To Approve Gold And Silver As Currency.

Will Arizona become the second U.S. state to approve Gold and Silver as a legal form of currency? The Arizona Senate approved State Bill 1439 and the bill will go to a vote in the Arizona House.

The State of Utah is the only other state that officially recognizes gold and silver coins as a form of legal tender. Governor Gary Herbert signed the bill into law in March of 2011, recognizing federally issued gold and silver coins as currency. In the State of Utah the law is now known as the Sound Money Act. In 2012, the number of U.S. states that were considering or had legislation pending to recognize gold and silver coins as legal tender was as high as 13 at one point.

When the Arizona Legislature moves to enact State Bill 1439 and Governor Brewer signs it into law, it would mean that any coin that is issued from the U.S. government, and contains gold or silver could be used for the payment of taxes and debts, which is the definition of legal tender. The law would also state that it could not be taxed as property, since it would now be considered money. If Arizona does pass the state bill, it would become effective in the year 2014. And although it would be considered a new currency in the state, nobody would be forced to accept gold or silver as payment.

Other states, including Virginia, South Dakota and Indiana all have similar bills, but have seemed to have either died in the in the State Assembly or were buried in Senate Committees. Some still see the move as a step that would undermine the U.S. dollar.

Many supporters of precious metals feel that the central bank is permanently damaging the value of the our currency by printing trillions of dollars and pumping it into the economy, which they feel is destroying the buying power of the greenback. Many have put that allegation squarely on the shoulders of Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke and the government's financial policies.

The question that arises is, why states are looking to take this course of action? The Utah bills name may very well sum it all up, the sound money act. What many people do not remember and for good reason is that in 1779 the United States defaulted on the Continental and again in 1862 with the Greenback. So it would be hard to say that it is has never happened before, when history would tell us something different.

Another Move Away From the Dollar - And What It Means to You!

For three years, these SAFE Insights have pointed out the danger of the U.S. dollar losing its place as the worlds' reserve currency; further, these Insights have stated clearly that in the globally competitive economy, China & Russia are anything but allies. Beginning in earnest three years ago when Russia and China concluded a trade pact that called for trading outside of the U.S. dollar, this trend to reducing the dollar as a trading vehicle has continued. China has recently concluded an agreement with Brazil to trade without using dollars, and just recently concluded a similar agreement with Australia. There are two important questions that American's face when considering this issue; what is the importance of having the dollar as the world's reserve currency and what are the ramifications of losing that status? These two fundamental questions are of course followed by "and what do you do about it?"

The importance of living in the nation that holds that coveted position is life-style. When goods around the world are priced in your nation's currency, you receive a slight discount on all imported goods because you don't face a markup on prices that reflect conversion of purchases into other currencies. In addition, the reserve status creates a substantial demand for a nation's currency so as supply and demand always impact prices, the value of the issuing nation's currency is held up. This is no more visible than in the pricing of oil. As oil is priced in dollars, oil in the United States is less expensive than other countries and therefore our economy benefits from lower energy prices. It's not possible to state exactly where gas prices would be if the dollar lost its importance to the trading of oil, but rest assured, gas prices would rise by a significant percentage, perhaps as much as 20% or more if the dollar were replaced.

The United States economy is now $15.8 trillion dollars with about $2.5 trillion of that coming from imports. Therefore, as the U.S. dollar moves out of its position as the reserve currency, the cost of these imported goods will rise. On the other side of this however, the export side of the U.S. today is around $1.7 trillion or so and that number would benefit as the value of the dollar decreases.

So we come to the bottom line, what to do about this? There are policy issues our government should most certainly do chief among which is quit debasing the currency by spending so much more than we earn. But for the individual trying to build wealth for themselves and their families the issue is how to capitalize on this transition so you're not left behind. There are fundamental things you should certainly be doing like not putting yourself in a position of borrowing money to survive and paying off your indebtedness and positioning your lifestyle so that you're saving that magical 10% each paycheck. With that said though, you need to position your investments (your retained earnings) to benefit from this strategic change. What companies will prosper in an environment of inflation and a devaluing dollar? Clearly commodities will react to rising prices so that means gold, silver and all precious metals; agricultural products; and other basic materials will likely see price appreciation as the dollar loses value. The second benefiting areas are exporting companies. As the dollar depreciates versus other currencies, their products become less expensive to the importing country so with lower prices, sales improve. So these two themes should be considered in your investments but bear in mind that the future is never perfectly predicted so while these trends will establish and continue, they won't happen immediately and they won't establish in a straight line. Prices will rise and fall in the short-term even as the longer term trend is up. So use these two themes as a part of your overall investment plan, not the total plan.

Building wealth is a function of two basic things; saving capital and investing capital. Saving capital is a function of spending less than you make and investing capital is a function of knowledge and action. You must take steps each and every day to insure that you are both saving and investing to the best of your ability. The fact of the matter is two things are inevitable; things will change and you will get older (Lord wiling). As things in our world change with increasing rapidness and you recognize that your life expectancy is now around 85 years old, it should hit you like a brick in the head that you must be protecting your own life-style and the only way to do that is to save capital and invest it well. American's by and large do NOT have the capital accumulated to provide a sound retirement for themselves and this is a burgeoning bubble that will burst in a very ugly way. As baby-boomers retire and possibly outlive their savings they will be forced to seek help from government; this is part of the $100 trillion in unfunded liabilities accruing by the U.S. government. The snowball effect from this is not pleasant but you can position yourself to capitalize on it and not suffer through it and you should start today if you haven't already and you should seek to improve if you have started. How do you improve, seek more knowledge and learn how to better take action, and that is the value of S.A.F.E. to you.