A. Diversification is the key to successful investment. Economic conditions may cause distress in one or two segments of the economy, but there are always segments which offer safe harbor for investment.

B. Create an investment plan to maximize your investments. Recognize that discipline in investing, like in life, holds the key to success and recurring growth and development. Decide today to start investing. Dont wait or put off the decision.

C. Read to understand the fundamentals of investment. Understand how compounding interest helps your money to grow at a more rapid rate.

D. Work to minimize debt where possible. Although some level of debt is accepted as safe, larger amounts of debt will rob you of your abilities to create pathways of change in investment strategy.

E. Dont allow yourself to become locked-in to any specific investment strategy. Keep all your investment options open at all times.

F. Investigate any investments you anticipate making, fully. Who is managing the investment, and what is the anticipated payback on the investment?

G. Recognize that investment for the long term is preferable to a great number of short term investments.

H. Emotional ties to investments are risky. If you want to invest, for example, in the equities of a company that your father worked with, thats okbut dont treat this as an investmenttreat it like what it is---an emotional link.

I. Treat any use of Credit Cards with care. Never advance funds from a credit card to invest in another use of the funds. Invest on a planned basis, and recognize that you have planned your investments.

J. Develop a family budget. See exactly what you owe, what you can pay off, and how additional funds invested could bring you financial gain. Understand what you must plan for in the future. Will you need funds for education for children? Have you planned for your older years?

K. Use professional financial or legal advisors wherever possible.

L. Set aside a small amount (about three months salary) in an absolutely safe, easily accessed savings account or investment account to cover unexpected changes in employment or unexpected expenses. Do not consider this rainy day fund in your investment portfolio.

M. Look at increasing value as a defining element for anything you add to your Investment portfolio.

N. Dont pay interest on anything unless it is entirely impossible to avoid.

O. Create a paper trail for all your investments. It will come in handy at tax time, or to track the capital youve put in, orGod forbidif you die and someone has to come along behind you and track your investing.

P. Plan for your death long before it occurs. Have a clear, well-defined set of goals, and be certain that everything you want completed after your demise is spelled out in terms of actions, preparation for cost, andmost importantly---your wishes.

Q. Recognize that any investment which is being sold ashot---is probably not. At least 95% of the hot investments with which you will be presented have already been vetted and rejected by at least an equal percentage number of potential investors.

R. If it becomes important for you to change your investment strategy, decide what the specifics of change shall be, and make them your principal investment focus. Learn as much as you can about the investment as quickly as you can and in as much depth as you can.

S. Be certain that investment information you receive is powerful, useful, and practical. If you are a beginning investor, dont start out thinking you are going to change the world. You will not. You may, however, find that you enjoy managing your money and want to learn more about it. In that case, work with your Professional Financial Advisor.

T. As you become more astute with your money, its okay to look at more complex financial investing. Look at FOREX trading--- having your money managed to buy and sell currency pairs. It is a huge market, and traders abound that will help you understand the process and opportunities.

U. If someone offers you an investment with no risk, be sure you understand the level of risk you face. ALL investment has risk. Let us share that with you again. ALL investment has risk.

V. Always get all investment promises in writing. Understand that an investment which wont offer the safety or sanctity of making an offer in writing is probably covert and should be avoided.

W. One question you should always ask yourself on any investment: How quickly could I get my money back if I needed it?

X. Too often, investors look only at the return they will generate on an investment and do not examine the tax consequences. Always look at the implications of tax liability.