It’s not hard to spot a good employee. Here are a few characteristics I’ve identified:
1. Comes to work on time or early
2. Has a pleasant attitude and is helpful
3. Works a full day without supervision
4. Goes the extra mile without being asked
5. Has self-motivation
6. Has a vested interest is his or her professional development
7. Meets [...]

In the world of investment, no name is larger than Warren Buffett’s. Every investor dreams of imitating his remarkable rise to one of the richest men in the world. However, understanding the man and his choices are important before making choices based on his experience.

James J. Hill was born in 1838 in the small town of Eramosa Township in what-is-now Ontario. Due to a accident in his youth with an arrow, he was blinded in the right eye. While he had only nine years of formal schooling, he attended Rockwood Academy with much success. However, following the death of his father in 1852, he left school to begin working as a bookkeeper in Kentucky. After moving to St. Paul, Minnesota, Hill obtained work as a bookkeeper for a wholesale grocer. Eventually, he struck out on his own, providing wood to fuel Fort Snelling.

The Federal Reserve impacts the bond market heavily by setting rates. Because inflation is a prime component to the ultimate pay-out of the bond market, an adjustment in rates can cause the value of a bond to adjust either positively or negatively.

The Federal Reserve uses a variety of techniques to control its monetary policy in the bond market. Open market operations are activities conducted by the Fed to enforce these policies. These activities can be both short-term and long-term and generally involve the buying and selling of bonds.

Emerging markets across the planet are increasingly looked to by investors as a viable option to hedge against the uncertainty of traditional and domestic stocks. These emerging markets provide value and reasonable investment risks with the potential of gains in sectors otherwise overlooked.

In the world of investment, no name is larger than Warren Buffett’s. Every investor dreams of imitating his remarkable rise to one of the richest men in the world. However, during the economic downturn of 2008 and 2009, even the “Oracle of Omaha” failed to get the market right.

Mark-to-market accounting is a way to determine the actual, up-to-date value of a stock, bond or other financial instrument. It was implemented into the entire U.S. financial sector in response to fraud cases in an effort to help define the overall value of all parts of the economy.

A Ponzi scheme is a fraudulent form of investment in which funds are gathered from investors to pay disbursements to previous investors of a non-existing fund. These schemes are prevalent throughout sections of economy and gained notoriety following the subprime mortgage crisis.

While there are a number of different concepts and theories about investing, one of the most time-tested is the idea of value investing. Understanding the paradigm helps an investor choose stocks that are a great value and are more likely to provide a significant return than other securities.