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What's Stopping You Defined

With the financial markets free falling in late September and early October 2008, we were left bewildered as trusted brokers and banks disappeared for good or lost high percentages of their market capitalisation. We are undoubtedly in the midst of one of the greatest periods of wealth destruction of our lifetimes.

We jump into 2009 with not only the values of our houses being slashed but the value of our pension funds decimated. We also find ourselves dealing with the constant apprehension around finances. After spending frivolously over the last few years on plasma TVs, expensive cars and new houses, we are now faced with trying to rebuild our own personal balance sheets. This is not easy with job uncertainty an ever present reality and as the current economy produces recession, bail outs and bankruptcy.

This uncertainty and constant fear is bound to be both stressful and traumatic as we are undoubtedly, dealing with a significant financial and ultimately, a significant personal crisis.

 

 

SELF EVALUATION Take the test and find out What's Stopping You?

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Global Trader is here to tell you why there is nothing more important than YOU taking control of your finances and future. If you are still not clued up on The Credit Crisis, click below for a brief explanation.

 

Who do we blame? Looking at this picture, you see families (yes, that is you and me), banks, financial institutions, governments etc. I think it is safe to say it started with the consumer and ultimately it is now left to the consumer to stimulate the economy. The institutions tried to make a quick buck and failed miserably. There seem to be a lot of finger pointing and more ways ‘to skin a cat’ than we have time to cover here. (Would you like to know more? Read our selected credit crisis articles above).  However, it's human nature to never take the blame or accountability when something bad happens.

This is where we challenge your mindset! Shouldn't you take some accountability for your investments? After all, have the pin stripe suits met your expectations and requirements recently? Can you accurately answer any of the below (by not quickly opening your monthly post or phoning your broker):


  • Do you know how your equity portfolio or unit trusts are performing?
  • Do you know what your retirement annuity is sitting on now compared to a year ago?

Well done if you could! You are on the path to financial independence and clearly in a position to look after your future wealth! For the rest of us, information is key. The “greatest financial disaster since the Great Depression” has become the catchphrase for the current situation. The major similarities between the financial meltdown of 1929 and today, are the sharp drop in stock prices and the major destruction of wealth. The Dow Jones Index peaked around 380 in October 1929 and then declined 48 percent to 199 in October 1930. During the current depression, the Dow declined 37 percent between the October 2007 peak and October 2008. As the Great Depression continued, the Dow Jones Index fell to a low of 41.2 in the middle of 1932 (a further 82%), a fate that seems unlikely (but not impossible) today, as we find ourselves in the era of technological maturity. At our fingertips we have access to research, news, financial products and new services. Anything we desire, from anywhere in the world. All the more reason to stop making excuses and take the step towards increasing your own accountability, understanding and personal involvement around your wealth creation, preservation and the associated management.

"Rule number one in my book is: Stop listening to professionals! 20 years in this business convinces me that any normal person using the customary 3% of the brain can pick stocks just as well as, if not better than, the average Wall Street expert." 

We at Global Trader tend to agree with what Peter Lynch, arguably one of the best Wall Street Stock Investors, had to say above and challenge you to use that customary 3%.

Investigating the origin of the word ‘crisis’, you would be surprised to discover that "crisis" did not originally mean a bad event, but a decision or impending decision. There is no direct opposite to "crisis" but there is for "decision" which is, "indecision". This suggests to me that whatever the crisis (as described by either dictionary or local newspaper), it is a time to choose. Now is the time to decide. Now is the time to act.

Stop hiding behind excuses of fear, time, money, education. Let us help you learn how to safeguard your future by addressing your fears through education and providing you with the right tools and products for your risk appetite. After all, throwing stones at your broker or bank won’t change anything at the end of the day.

Now is the time to accept we are the change we have been waiting for. We can think of nothing more personal to talk to you about, than YOU and your wealth creation.

WHAT'S STOPPING YOU?

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First World Trader (Pty) Ltd t/a Global Trader is an authorised Financial Services Provider by the Financial Services Board (FSB) of South Africa, FSB License No. 22588.
Global Trader is a derivatives member of the Johannesburg Stock Exchange.