Investing can seem like a scary thing to many young people. After all, the global markets are very volatile right now, paving the way for massive sell offs in the market. Global pressures of debt and political unrest in many parts of the world are also adding fuel to the fire - making it seem like a horrible time to start investing.

Well, here’s some news for you: it’s almost never a bad time to start investing. In fact, to quote the ever wise Warren Buffet, “Be fearful when others are greedy, and be greedy when others are fearful.” Markets will always be volatile, and with anything in life there will always be some bad that comes with the good, but even with the rocky nature of the stock market you may still earn a higher return for your investment than you would in a regular savings account. Furthermore, the younger you start, the more time you'll have, allowing you to wait out rough patches in the market and recover from short-term dips.

Unfortunately, young investors have shown to be the first to bail during rough economic times. However, for those of you who are young and want to take advantage of the potential gains there are some great books you can read to get you started.

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It is nearly the end of the year again when we make our New Year's resolutions for the following year. Looking at cleaning up your finances is a worthy New Year's resolution that will pay off in the long run with a well-formulated plan.

Wouldn't it be great to end 2012 debt and be worry free? To be able to have a restful night's sleep without fearing debt collectors and post threatening legal action and bailiffs would be wonderful.

There are lots of money saving ideas and ways to help reduce debt and support you on your way to a debt free life.

Forex is a $4.2trillion daily business. No financial trading hub can boast of the kind of money that circulates in the Forex market. Given that a few years ago, the daily Forex turnover was just about 30% of today’s values, it is safe to say that in the next five years, we may see the daily turnover reach almost $10 trillion. With so much money floating around in one financial hub, it is not surprising that the Forex market will naturally draw out the human element of greed in some of its participants.

Of all the participants in the Forex market, the brokers are in a better position to profit financially. They make money from spreads and commissions generated by traders, irrespective of the market conditions. In a situation where there is a quest and accompanying pressure by humanity to live well and have the best that life can offer, it is not surprising that some brokers engage in practices that short-change clients and scam money off them.

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There are many people these days who would like to consider starting their own business. Whilst some people may think that now is the worst time to consider starting a business due to the economic fragility and turbulent financial climate, others believe that now is the perfect time to consider this due to the uncertainty over employment, job losses and pay cuts.

However, no matter how keen and eager you are to start your own business, one of the things that is likely to pose a challenge for many people is finding the money to start up your own business. Of course, the amount of money that you need to start your own business will vary depending on the type of business that you plan to start, what you already have versus what you need, and what is involved in setting up e.g. renting premises or buying equipment.

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Social media giant Facebook is slated to IPO in the spring or early summer of 2012, and this change will carry the requirement of public financial records. According to some experts, the company could possibly see a $10 billion gain at a valuation of up to $100 billion. The company has not yet chosen a specific bank for this endeavor, and some financial experts wonder how the IPO will affect the way Facebook does business in the long run.

Thought you had enough with just a checking and savings account? Got your tax account set up and think your financial picture is complete? Hold your horses, because there are a few more types of financial accounts you might want to consider.  These accounts may not be as basic as the ones mentioned above, but they may still play a role in diversifying your portfolio, gaining interest, building good credit, and being prepared for any financial "bumps in the road".

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If you’re a Sin City enthusiast like myself, a tiny glimpse into the scandals that ensue behind closed doors on the city strip offer a world of intrigue and entertainment. I came across an article recently that offers a glimpse into the major bankruptcies that have occurred for Las Vegas Casinos. Naturally, what came to mind was the scene in Ocean’s 11, a Sin City original, where Rusty and Danny, AKA the dreamy Brad Pitt and George Clooney, are explained the top 3 casino robberies ever attempted. Fabricated or not, while reading the article I had a difficult time not envisioning the top bankruptcies, and ultimate scandal, in my head as if playing before me like a well scripted movie scene, just as Ocean’s 11 so masterfully painted a picture of the attempted robberies of LV casinos. Unfortunately, as I read further, the bankruptcies of Las Vegas casinos are a lot less glitzy: Donald Trump is no Brad Pitt.

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Allstate Corp., the second largest home and auto insurance company in the United States, announced a significant fall in net income during its third quarter earnings call. The year-over-year loss of net income was significant; the company had posted $367 million in the previous third quarter, compared to $165 million this year. Despite losing 55 percent in net income, Allstate's third quarter earnings beat overall expectations, resulting in shares rising as much as 6% in after hours trading on Monday.

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If you want to start trading stocks online, it’s very important to go with a website that works well for your needs and skill level. Whether you’re just starting out in trading at all, or simply moving to an online venue, there are various options to explore. Your money is extremely important, so you don’t want to make a decision about where you will trade without doing some research. When trying to find a stock trading website, really learn about what that site will offer you, and seek out user reviews to find out what others who have used it think about it. Just like any decision regarding your money, it’s not one to take lightly. To get started, here are some online stock trading websites to consider.

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Everyone knows Warren Buffett as the billionaire who made his fortune through simple investment rules combined with savvy expertise with balance sheets. Granted, he gave most of his fortune away and lives an extremely humble life, but that’s by choice and not necessity. Warren Buffet is the Yoda of investment and a financial philanthropist whose actions inadvertently command respect.

Rule #1: Don’t lose money. Rule #2: See rule #1. That said and done it’s not as clear-cut as it would seem. Before applying the two investment rules above, there are a set of commandments that need to be followed to ensure you’re not accessing a financial drain.