1. Roll over accounts.  If you’re nearing the age of retirement and you’re worried about losing the money you’ve carefully invested in your retirement accounts over the years, then there’s no reason you shouldn’t protect your funds by rolling them over into low-risk options like bonds (since you should be able to do so without incurring any penalties).  You’ve basically accumulated all that you’re going to, and if it is enough to live out your retirement, a low interest rate may sound a lot more appealing than the possibility of future losses.
2. Consider stocks.  Most people think that this is a terrible time to invest in the market, but that’s not really true.  If you already have stocks and you’re losing money on them, you may want to sell in order to cut your losses.  But if you’re just getting into investing and you think you’re better off playing it safe, you may want to think again.  Many reliable companies are suffering from low stock prices right now, but that only means that they stand to rebound over time.  So some solid advice from your broker could help you to choose the stocks that are going to show a significant return in a few years.
3. Look into global investments.  Diversity is the name of the game when it comes to making safe investments and protecting your capital.  Although some growing countries (like China) are enjoying premium rates at the moment, which may prompt you to steer clear of investing there, overall the global economy may be a safer bet than the national one.
4. Ask for proof.  Most brokers will send you regular reports regarding your investment portfolio, but if they give you the runaround or send you only company printouts (like Madoff is rumored to have done), you can bet that something isn’t right.  A broker on the up and up will have stocks registered with the SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission), along with paperwork to that effect.  And he should be willing, at any time, to provide you with proper documentation regarding your investments and your account statements.  And if it seems too good to be true (low risk, high reward) it probably is.
5. Insure your property.  Not all investments are on paper.  You can also consider assets, properties in particular, to be investments since they stand to appreciate over time and show a significant return.  But in order for housing to pay off, you need to keep it safe.  That means getting it insured, performing proper maintenance, and potentially even doing upgrades to increase value.

Emma Martin is a contributing writer for Hologuard, where you can find security labels and adhesives that protect against theft.

In terms of investment value, gold should be considered in the same way as any other stock, which is to say speculatively.  At the moment, the price of gold on the investment market is quite high, which means it definitely isn’t a good time to buy.  In fact, many people who have invested in gold are currently trying to sell.  Like any other commodity, the value of gold will go up and down.  Remember a couple of years ago when the price of gold crashed?  It had been at all-time high and then the bottom dropped out.  But it came back up slowly over time, so that it is once again terribly high.  It goes in cycles that are not exactly predictable, but you can bet that if you hold onto gold investments long enough, they’ll eventually go down and then come back up again.

So at the moment, you probably don’t want to buy, but considering the supply-demand equation, more people selling than buying means that the price should begin to come down in the near future.  Another factor to consider is the value of the dollar, which is really what determines the value of gold.  It is relative to currency.  If you’re confused, consider that gold is what backs paper currency for most countries.  Since nobody really wants to carry around gold as a means of currency (it would get quite heavy), we use paper money that is guaranteed to have a value in gold.  If you’ve heard of Fort Knox, then you probably realize that there are places in the country where gold is stored.

Now, money continues to be printed, but the amount of gold in our coffers stays roughly the same, year upon year.  What this means is that the value of a dollar goes down, so that more dollars are needed to equal the same value in gold.  So the further the value of a dollar drops, the more gold becomes worth (although there are also times when the government takes money out of circulation to increase the value of the dollar).  So it’s not just about supply and demand of gold bonds on the stock market, it’s about the number of dollars you would theoretically have to spend to get a certain amount of gold.

The long and short of it is that you don’t want to start buying up gold coins online or purchasing gold stocks for your investment portfolio at the moment.  Wait until the price drops significantly before buying.  If, on the other hand, you have gold or gold bonds to sell, now might be an ideal time to do so – if you can find a buyer.

For starters, it doesn’t look like the recession will end any time soon.  You need to think about the influx of cash required to keep you afloat not only in the short term, but over the next few years if the economy continues to fail.  You should look at how far in the red you are currently, consider the amount you may be able to get out of the bank, and then weigh the pros and cons of continuing on your current trajectory.  If you think it’s possible to hold out until the economy gets back on its feet (even if that’s a few years away), then it may be worth taking on the additional debt.  But if the burden is only likely to result in outright failure (bankruptcy), then perhaps you should simply cut your losses now and pull the plug.

However, you should also take into account what an infusion of cash could mean at this stage of your business plan.  Perhaps reinvesting in your business means taking it to the next level.  If you run an operation that is doing relatively well financially but you have simply become stagnant with your small store or limited local clientele, then it may be time to look into investments that will help you to expand into other markets.  Once you’ve proven that your product or service has potential, you can attract the interest of not only traditional lenders (banks), but also angel investors or even venture capital firms.  This could provide you with the money you need to revitalize your company and engineer the expansion that will lead you to future success.

It is never easy to put more money into your business, especially during a recession.  Not only is the decision a hard one, but the inception might be even more difficult.  Whether you’re selling diamonds, taking tour groups scuba diving, offering online printing services, or catering weddings and other events, you need to consider not only the viability of your business (money owed, income, and of course, the current market) but also the amount of money and time that would need to go into keeping your company afloat or working towards expansion.  Once you have thought it through the decision should become clear.

1.  Learn to budget.  Some people have to declare bankruptcy because of a situation beyond their control, such as illness or injury (with attendant costs not covered by insurance), or job loss.  But most of us simply never learned how to budget properly and paid the ultimate price for it.  So first things first.  In order to avoid making the same mistake twice, you need to learn to live within your means before you can even think about your credit.  Write out a comprehensive list of income versus expenses and make sure you’re earning more than you spend!

2.  Learn to save.  This is a hard pill to swallow for most people.  You work hard for your money and you want to spend it.  But again, this is part of what got you in trouble in the first place.  So once you’ve paid your bills and allotted yourself a little spending cash, put the rest into savings (and don’t touch it!).  An even better plan is to automatically remove a percentage of each pay check to your savings, and whatever is left over can be your fun money.

3.   Reduce bills.  If you’re going to rebuild your credit, the best way to start is by reducing expenditures.  Paying $100+ a month for your cable/internet/phone package (plus another fifty for the cell phone)?  Cut it down to $30 for cable, get Netflix and Hulu Plus (for TV and movies at a combined cost under $20), and spend the other $50 on a cell phone plan (get rid of home phone, which you don’t use anyway).  You’ll actually be spending less because you would have had the cell anyway.  Now look at all of your expenses and find ways to likewise reduce them.

4.  Get a secure card.  You might have trouble getting a credit card after bankruptcy.  This is actually a godsend because the last thing you need is a line of credit you can’t afford to pay.  Instead, build up your savings and get a secure card.  It is usually obtained through your bank and you must give them money as collateral.  For example, a card with a $500 limit will require you to sign a $500 check over to the bank to hold (in case you fail to pay).  At the end of a year, you’ll get your money back (plus interest) and keep the card.  You’ll also be on the path to rebuilding your credit rating.

5.   Talk to a loan agent.  Your final step is to talk to a loan agent.  While you can certainly take out a bad-credit loan, you’re going to pay a ridiculous amount of interest on it.  Instead, ask an agent at a reputable lender what they require from you in order to offer a loan.  They’ll tell you how much cash you need for a down payment and the minimum credit score required to qualify, which will give you something to work towards.

Emma Martin writes for Auto Payment Calculator where you can find information on shopping for a new car and much more.

Traditional IRA

One option is a traditional IRA.  Your money will earn money, and you won’t pay taxes on it until you retire; this is especially nice because your income will be lower, placing you in a lower tax bracket.  It’s also tax-deductible until you withdraw, and there is no income limit to qualify.  You need to be careful here, though, as there is a 10% tax penalty for early withdrawal, and your spouse’s income or employer-provided 401(k) may affect your eligibility and/or your contribution limit.

Nondeductible IRA

A nondeductible IRA can be a good option if you are not going to be retiring soon but you have maxed out your 401(k) and do not qualify for a traditional IRA.  This one is not tax-deductible since you contribute after-tax money, but just like a traditional IRA, it is taxed as though it was ordinary income rather than other types of savings gains, and you won’t have to pay until it’s time to withdraw.

Roth IRA

A Roth IRA is a good choice if you are still working with no plans to retire soon.  This one is also not tax-deductible, but it is essentially tax-free.  You can start to withdraw money five years after opening the account without an early withdrawal penalty, but there is an income limit in order to qualify for this one.  If you file taxes as single, your income limit is $95,000.  Couples must make less than $150,000 combined.

Pay Off Debt

This one is always a good option.  If you’ve maxed out your 401(k) but have quite a bundle of debt, you’ll want to pay it off before you retire and are living on a lower income.  You can use all of your extra money that would be going into your 401(k) for your debt, or find a balance between this and depositing money into an IRA.

Other options include regular savings (which won’t net you as much gain), mutual funds, variable annuities, etc.  There is some debate over whether variable annuities are beneficial due to annual fees, contract fees, and the potential for loss, so if you’re considering this one, do some research and try to stick to annuities with low fees.