Winning any kind of prize is something that many people never have the chance to do. If you have recently discovered that you have won one of your state's lottery prizes, you are in rare company. However, roughly 70% of winners end up spending their money or losing it within five years. Here are some actions to take so that you avoid that fate. Avoid Telling Many People When you realize that you have a winning ticket, you may be tempted to tell everyone you know. [Read More]

If you're in the planning stages to acquire a new business for the first time, it's important to understand as much as you can about the company's current market and viability. To get a clear picture of those things, you need a complete competitive analysis. These reports give you a comprehensive look not only at the company's consumer market, but also the competition and growth potential. Most software made for merger and acquisition management includes support for building an analysis like this, but here is an overview of the basic components to help you understand its structure. [Read More]

If you're interested in investing in order to enjoy high returns but high-risk has you feeling hesitant, then you should be aware that there is a better way. By opting for alternative investing, it is possible to yield big returns with a low risk. If you aren't familiar with alternative investing, then here is some basic information to get you started: What is alternative investing?  This type of investing involves hedge funds, real estate, commodities, and some others. [Read More]

If you're nearing retirement, you may be concerned about how best to stretch your nest egg in an unpredictable and expensive market. Although the 4 percent rule has been around for years -- allowing you to withdraw 4 percent of your portfolio each year to preserve your principal -- recent market changes have left financial analysts leery of telling clients they can withdraw this much during down markets without causing permanent damage to investment principal. [Read More]