published: October 4th, 2008

The Benefits of Laddering Your CD Investments

If you’ve decided to stock some money away in a certificate of deposit, why not reap the highest benefit over time by laddering your CD investments? What’s a CD latter? I’m glad you asked.

A CD ladder is made up by purchasing several CD’s at one time with different maturity dates. One example of a CD ladder is to have maturity dates of one year, two year, three year, four year, and a five year CD. These five investments make up the rungs of your CD ladder with one certificate maturing every year for the next five years.

For example, let’s say you had $10,000.00 to invest. You would buy 5 CD’s for $2,000 each with each one invested for one year more than the first. So you’d have a $2,000 CD maturing in one year, another in two years, and so on up to the last one which matures in five years. Every year for the next five years one of your CD matures and earns you interest on your $2000 principal.

When your certificate of deposit matures, you roll it over into another CD. The best strategy is to purchase a new CD at the longest term, which in our example above would be five years. This strategy allows you to take advantage of the higher rates normally associated with longer-term CDs while maintaining more frequent access to part of your funds.

Another advantage to laddering your CD’s is that over time it evens out the high and low interest rate cycles. Some years interest rates will be high, other years the rates will be lower. Currently banks are paying some of the highest CD rates we’ve seen in the last decade.

Before deciding on laddering your CD’s, make sure you can afford to do without that money for a period of time. You’ll pay a penalty for withdrawing your funds before your CD reaches maturity.

Also, don’t get stuck on the idea that you have to invest in a 5-year ladder. You may be more comfortable with a three year ladder based on your financial needs. Or you may want to try a ladder with a 3 month, a 6 month, a 12 month, and a 24 month maturity.

The benefits of laddering your CD investment is that you lower your risk of losing money when rates are low, increase your returns when rates are high, and still have access to a portion of your money should you need it for an emergency.

© 2005, http://www.yourfreecreditreportnow.com
Author: James H. Dimmitt

James is editor of “TO YOUR CREDIT”, a free weekly newsletter with tips to help you manage your personal finances. Subscribe today and receive his e-book “IDENTITY THEFT- How To Avoid Becoming the Next Victim!” and other money-saving bonuses by visiting http://www.yourfreecreditreportnow.com

Related posts

published: September 20th, 2008

Buying DVD Is it worth it

There are a lot of good audio/video players available especially for movie enthusiast but is “good” enough? Guess not. Video and audio performance in all modern DVD players is excellent. Personal preferences, your budget, and your existing home theater setup all play a large role in determining which player is best for you. The budget and quality should be taken into consideration before buying the product by most consumers.

When we talk about quality, DVD is the new generation of optical technology. DVD is essentially a much bigger and faster CD that can hold cinema-like videos, better-than-CD audio, still photos, and computer data. DVD aims to bring home entertainment, computers, and business information with a single digital format. DVD has the capability to produce near-studio-quality video and better-than-CD-quality audio. DVD is vastly superior to consumer videotape and generally better than laserdiscs.

Most players support a standard set of features such as Language choice (for automatic selection of video scenes, audio tracks, subtitle tracks, and menus). Special effects playback: freeze, step, slow, fast, and scan. Parental lock (for denying playback of discs or scenes with objectionable material). Programmability (playback of selected sections in a desired sequence). Random play and repeat play. Digital audio output. Recognition and output of DTS Digital Surround audio tracks. Playback of audio CDs. Instant search to title, chapter, music track, and timecode. Durable (no wear from playing, only from physical damage). Compact size (easy to handle, store, and ship; players can be portable; replication is cheaper than tapes or laserdiscs).

The primary advantages of DVD are video quality, surround sound, and extra features. In addition, DVD will not degrade with age by overplaying it like a videotape hence it will allow you save lots of money and be able to collect your favorite movie and televisions shows for years and still be able to play it over and over again.

Most movie experts choose DVD as their preference for movie entertainment because of high quality resolution and excellent audio performance giving an excellent movie experience in their homes! Try it and see it for yourself and you’ll learn than every penny spent is worth it!

http://www.tvdvdplanet.com was recently established as a premiere dvd store selling all the best shows from the past. We will continue to expand our show line up and service to meet the growing needs of our customers. We are an independently owned and operated company.

Related posts

published: July 14th, 2008

A Guide To Finding CD DVD Replication and Packaging

We have come a long way from the time when only professionals could replicate CDs and DVDs. With the advent of blank media and the technology to duplicate it or burn it, almost anyone can now make their own CD. The ability to place digital media on a disc has changed how we both use and view this type of media today. It has taken only a few years for CDs to take over the spot once exclusively held by cassettes. Video and music cassettes are becoming dinosaurs before our very eyes. In time, our children may even view them like we used to view vinyl records and 8-tracks!

But where do you find CD and DVD replication and packaging services? Any large city worth it’s salt will have these types of duplication services. It is also very easy to find companies on the Internet that do this kind of business, and in fact, specialize in it. The world of CD and DVD duplication is wide open with many options for businesses and individuals.

For companies that simply need many CDs or DVDs replicated, there is a thriving market for duplication towers that don’t need a PC to be operated. They are the perfect choice for a business that needs to copy a lot of media without all the fuss and expense. Any good computer or large electronics store should have this type of hardware, and if not, should be able to point you in the right direction.

If you are in the music or video business and want to replicate your CD or DVD for sale to the public, some very good companies that oversee the entire process, from replication to artworks and graphics on the CD to creative packaging options are common. They specialize in helping those in the entertainment industry. They provide the technology needed for this service. Instead of burning the CD or DVD, they use a more permanent “glass press” method. They also have the creativeness to make the CD a custom design with mass appeal. They also help with the packaging so that it stands out from the rest.

Perhaps the advent of all these businesses that replicate and package CDs and DVDs mean that just about anyone can now produce their work and have it copied for friends and family or on a much larger scale. This is a great way for independent musicians and others to have an outlet for their work so that it will be heard and seen. It can have a professional look that will impress people to give it a listen or look-see. For people who are serious about their career in the entertainment business, this could not be better, and the good news is that you don’t have to look far to find a company that will do the job right.

Bob Hett offers simple and concise information for those interested in cd and dvd duplication. Get the answers that you are seeking at http://www.cdduplicationcenter.info

Related posts