All about loans - recession

Swiss bank accounts 101, or something different?

Tue, 07 Oct 2008 09:56:51 +0000

Where should I keep my money (to protect it from the US economy)? I'm American and it's in US$, but I don't live there and don't have any good reason to keep it there. I don't have that much, but am about to receive an inheritance, which is why this is an issue. Let's say that about half of what I receive will be in either cash or liquid assets, and half will be in Beneficial IRAs (the amounts are significant to me, but probably wouldn't make an international financial planner/accountant blink). We all know about the US economy. The relative value of the dollar is decreasing, we can count on some inflation, the stock market, etc. etc. I plan on either investing or saving most of my money, but I am unlikely to ever use it in the US (I'm actually thinking about buying a flat in Europe as an investment right now). I may use a small chunk of it for some traveling/living expenses in the near future, and would generally prefer to have all of it secure but accessible and earning some income.

Questions about the possible economic depression

Wed, 17 Sep 2008 05:06:49 +0000

Questions about the best course of action to prepare for a possible economic depression I'm no economist, but I'm trying to learn about the possible economic depression everyone's been talking about since the recent financial upheaval. I have a number of questions. 1. I have always read that there are huge bargains to be had when the stock market tanks. If this is so, what stops investors from jumping INTO the market when there is a huge crash? For example, why not invest in an index fund as soon as the market drops off 500 points? Why *wouldn't* this be a good idea for the individual investor (assuming it isn't).

Liquidating an estate in the USA... in today's economy. Shouldn't we just wait a while?

Sat, 21 Jun 2008 15:33:53 +0000

How should we handle liquidating assets in an estate in the USA right now? Assets consist primarily of a stock portfolio and a house. My father recently passed away, leaving behind an investment portfolio worth about $650,000 and a house valued at $300,000. This will be split 6 ways; four of the inheritors have expressed a preference to liquidate everything straightaway and wash their hands of it. Aside from the emotional issues the other 2 inheritors have with rushing into this, we are wondering financially what is the best way to handle this given today's market conditions. My understanding is that housing prices are very low, and we can all see what's happening with the stock market. My first reaction is that now is an extremely bad time to be liquidating any assets from a strictly economical perspective; this view is what I am asking for your feedback on.

A real economic downturn, or not so much?

Mon, 05 May 2008 13:05:15 +0000

How is the downturn in the US economy affecting you? I live in Australia, so have limited exposure to the US day-to-day economy, but read a fair bit of US media. If you live in the US you can easily look at a NYT story quoting starving Florida realtors and say "beat up", but from here it is hard to tell what is genuine, and what is exaggerated (or at least unrepresentative) to sell newspapers. Are MeFi members really finding it tough? Context with a before and after would help understand comments.