Things To Do In SW Florida

James Royal, Ph.D. | (TNS) Bankrate.com

Investing can often be broken down into a few simple rules that investors can follow to be successful. But success can be as much about what to do as it is what not to do. On top of that, our emotions throw a wrench into the whole process. While everyone knows you need to “buy low and sell high,” our temperament often leads us to selling low and buying high.

So it’s key to develop a set of “golden rules” to help guide you through the tough times. Anyone can make money when the market is rising. But when the market gets choppy, investors who succeed and thrive are those who have a long-term plan that works.

Here are 10 golden rules of investing to follow to make you a more successful — and hopefully wealthy — investor.

Rule No. 1 — Never lose money

Let’s kick it off with some timeless advice from legendary investor Warren Buffett, who said, “Rule No. 1 is never lose money. Rule No. 2 is never forget Rule No. 1.” The Oracle of Omaha’s advice stresses the importance of avoiding loss in your portfolio. When you have more money in your portfolio, you can make more money on it. So, a loss hurts your future earning power. read more

Rachel Christian | (TNS) Bankrate.com

Most baby boomers — those born between 1946 and 1964 — are now in retirement. While many have enjoyed successful careers and comfortable lifestyles, others find themselves in a less-than-ideal financial situation. A common regret among this generation is not saving more for their golden years.

According to Bankrate’s 2024 Financial Regrets survey, 37% of baby boomers (ages 60-78) say their biggest financial regret is not saving enough for retirement. Of participants in the survey, it was the most commonly cited regret by far.

By examining the financial regrets and successes of baby boomers, younger generations can learn from their good habits — and steer clear of their bad ones.

5 biggest financial lessons from baby boomers

Here are the five biggest lessons younger generations can learn from baby boomers — and how to implement these good habits into your own life.

1. Start saving early

If boomers could go back and do one thing differently, many would start saving for retirement earlier.

Saving for retirement might not be top of mind when you’re just starting out in your career, but thanks to the power of compound interest, it pays to start early. Every dollar you save today has the potential to grow exponentially over time. read more

Cruise lines traditionally roll out some of the best deals of the year for Black Friday and Cyber Monday with some discounts already available.

Here’s a rundown of deals from some of the lines.

Atlas Ocean Voyages: The all-inclusive luxury line offers up to 20% off and up to $600 onboard credit for suites or $400 for staterooms on select Antarctica expeditions. Book by Dec. 7. Details at atlasoceanvoyages.com or call 844-442-8527.

Carnival Cruise Line: Free room upgrades and up to 40% off cruises rates on select sailings through March 2025 for sailings booked by Dec. 8. Details at carnival.com or call 800-764-7419.

Celebrity Cruises: Book between Nov. 29-Dec. 3. Guests can save up to 75% on the second guest in their stateroom, plus up to $800 in
additional savings per stateroom. Good for sailings departing from Nov. 8, 2024 through May 10, 2027. Guests can also save up to 35% on
shore excursions and other onboard amenities. Offer is not applicable on Galapagos sailings. Details at celebritycruises.com or call 888-751-7804. read more

By ANNE D’INNOCENZIO, HALELUYA HADERO and ALEXANDRA OLSON, Associated Press Business Writers

NEW YORK (AP) — Retailers in the U.S. rewarded shoppers who ventured out for Black Friday with giveaways and bigger-than expected discounts on a day that still reigns as the much-hyped kickoff of the holiday shopping season despite losing some luster.

Department stores, shopping malls and merchants — big and small — see the day after Thanksgiving as a way to energize shoppers and to get them into physical stores at a time when many do the bulk of their browsing and buying online.

Enough consumers enjoy holiday shopping in person that Black Friday remains the biggest day of the year for retail foot traffic in the U.S., according to retail technology company Sensormatic Solutions.

At Macy’s Herald Square in Manhattan, a steady stream of shoppers early Friday found some shoes and handbags priced half-off, special occasion dresses marked down by 30%, and 60% off the store’s luxury bedding brand. read more

Black Friday has become something of an anachronism in the e-commerce era. The day after Thanksgiving marks the official start of the holiday shopping season, but retailers already have spent weeks flooding their websites and customers’ email inboxes with early Black Friday offers.

If history is any guide and advertisers are to be believed, the best bargains still are to be had from Black Friday through Cyber Monday, a four-day period known in the retail world as BFCM for short. That may be especially true for big ticket items, seasonal merchandise and the latest trendy products.

Consumer advocates note, however, that deep discounts are not a once-a-year opportunity. They advise shoppers to comparison shop, research price histories and to read the fine print to make sure they are buying what they really wanted at a good price.

That said, some people enjoy stepping out from behind a computer or phone screen to take in the holiday atmosphere and music at a local mall or shopping area. Retailers are promising in-store experiences and exclusives to get them through the door. A number of stores that were closed on Thanksgiving reopen early Friday as retailers work to kick the holiday shopping season into high gear. read more