Another massive bull run a year later took the BSE Sensex to its all-time high of 21,005 on 5 November 2010, only to give way to the current phase where a double-dip recession threatens the global economy Other sectors that have a hear bearing on your personal finances, such as mutual funds, insurance, housing or the debt market, have all reacted to the developments in their own distinct ways.
We have kept you informed and prepared throughout, be it our November 2008 issue (How to
Get Out of the Squeeze) that hit the stands barely days after the Lehman Brothers’ collapse or the one of April 2011 (Which Way To Go?) when the first signs of the present slowdown in the capital
market appeared. Our issue on mutual funds (Hooking the Best Funds, June 2011) and the more recent cover story package on retirement planning (Building a Nest Egg, October 2011) have surely
left you wiser on long-term financial planning. There has been a fair sprinkling of other stories on housing, home loan, insurance, tax planning and inheritance.
In keeping with our promise to keep you battle-ready, we revisit the stock markets in our cover story package in this 5th anniversary issue. The markets are delicately poised. However, as data collated by us and the voices of some of the biggest and m_ost as investors—Ramesh Damani, Parag Parikh, Motilal Oswal and Paresh Ithandwala—suggest, this could well be the time to build a portfolio for the future. The sharp correction over the past several months has surely thrown up fresh investment opportunities. The stock market always has pearls hidden beneath and those who are able to spot them can make huge gains, We try to help you in your search. In our second section, we bring to you the emerging trends in other sectors including mutual funds, insurance and real estate that you can capitalise on in the coming years.
When we launched MONEY TODAY in November 2006, 1 had written to you that “The challenge is to bring simplicity to a subject (personal finance) that is complex and ever-changing.” I believe we have been able to successfully meet the challenge. We will constantly strive to beat our own high standards and continue to bring you reliable content that is easily understood, to help you grow your money.

O’Connor took to her website Monday to announce the split writing,

“He is a wonderful man. I love him very much. I’m sorry I’m not a more regular woman. I truly believe though it is painful to admit, we made a mistake rushing into getting married, for altruistic reasons, and weren’t aware or prepared for the consequences on my husband’s life and the lives of those close to him. He has been terribly unhappy and I have therefore ended the marriage. I think he is too nice to do so. And too nice to trap.”

O’Connor goes on to say that the marriage was practically doomed from the beginning. She explains, “Within 3 hours of the ceremony being over the marriage was kyboshed by the behavior of certain people in my husband’s life.” She faults herself as well, saying, “And also by a bit of a wild ride i took us on looking for a bit of a smoke of weed for me wedding night as I don’t drink.”

This wedding night confession continues, as does O’Connor’s finger pointing. She calls out the people in her soon-to-be ex-husband’s life who may not enjoy the singer’s lifestyle. “I saw his life leave him because of how people close to him reacted. And I can’t take anyone’s life. And a woman wants to be a joy to her husband. So.. U love someone? Set them free.”

In the December 8th ceremony at the famous Little White Chapel in Las Vegas, she and Herridge said their “I Do’s” in a pink Cadillac at the drive thru window. Sadly, the marriage lasted only 18 days, but as she writes in her note to fans on her website, at least she “Got married in Vegas in a pink Cadillac! Can’t get more Rock n Roll than that.”

O’Connor reemerged over the summer with blunt bangs and dark lone to shaved her head , back in October. Ending her post about the split, O’Connor promises to continue being herself, writing, “Meanwhile I intend to get on with being fully me. With never an apology for ANY part if being FULLY ME.”

Head over to O’Connor’s website for her full note to fans and take a look at the photos from the Vegas nuptials below.

Pay Yourself First: Before you spend any of your money, make a commitment to take some off the top to go towards a savings or an investment account. Do this before paying your bills or a single penny. Better yet, use your pre-tax retirement account to pay yourself before Uncle Sam taxes his share.

Be Conscientious of your Spending: Resist urges to waste money, buy generic versus name brand, look out for discounts, do-it-yourself, avoid ATM fees, cut out junk food . . .

Track Your Spending: Look back at your bank and credit card statements for the past few months and take a good look at your spending habits. Find out where your money is going, what your biggest expenses are, and uncover unnecessary expenditures that can be eliminated.

Being Green Can Make You Rich: Don’t let the water run while brushing your teeth, turn off lights when not using rooms, adjust the thermostat when leaving your house, don’t drive more than you have to, don’t over-order when eating out, etc. Use the hundreds of dollars you save from being eco-friendly to invest in your future.

Be Consistent: Don’t try to make it rich by “playing the market” and trying to compete against professional traders and institution that move markets. Act like an investor and plan to be in the game as a wealth builder, which means ignoring the short-term ups and downs of the market and consistently managing your money well. Slow and steady is the only sure way to become wealthy.

Start a Part-Time Business: Boost your income by doing something you enjoy and that provides value. Start small and slow to understand what it is like to be a business owner. Most self-made millionaires earned their wealth by being business owners because of the tremendous income and tax reduction opportunities it presents. You can do this too.

Budget and Set Goals: Fail to plan and plan to fail. Creating long-term money goals and smaller goals along the way defines an end result, provides a sense of accomplishment and gives you something to hold yourself accountable towards.

Put Your Wealth Generating Plan on Autopilot: Make arrangements with your company or bank to automatically deposit funds in a separate savings or investment account before sending you your paycheck. Set up automatic bill pay services with your reoccurring bills in order to avoid late payment fees. Some companies even reward you with a discount for early or automatic payment.

Increase Your Financial IQ: Dedicate time, either daily or weekly, to improve your financial literacy. Read money magazines and websites, listen to money advisers while in the car, etc. The better you understand how the money game works, the more opportunities you will have to accumulate wealth.

Start Today: Quit waiting for the right answers and start now. The sooner the better when it comes to building wealth.