The world of investments can be daunting to anyone who lacks expert knowledge in the field. Thankfully, Alexander Studhalter is on hand to provide his valuable insight on what we should and should not be doing with our money. An entrepreneur and businessman with over 30 years of experience in investments, real estate and private equity, Studhalter is one of the most trustworthy names in the game, inspiring many people to take on his advice and make sound investments.

Why now is a good time for long-term investors?

According to Alexander Studhalter, almost any time is a good time for foreign investors to look to the US market, “There is so much wealth concentrated in the USA, more than at any other point in history.” he says, “The market also has great liquidity; the value of shares on the New York Stock Exchange and NASDAQ are much higher than other major global stock exchanges, such as London or Tokyo.”
Studhalter also points to the high turnover rates in the US, “That means if you are looking to buy shares, there is almost always someone who is willing to sell! The diversification helps too, with more companies providing different sectors to invest in than any other country.”

So much variety, but what is the best investment right now in the USA? Mr. Studhalter has used his professional experience to single out a few companies, “Enphase Energy stock is certainly one to watch. They have seen some impressive growth over the last few years with earnings forecasted to rise 81% this year to $4.37 a share, from just 10 cents in 2018. Another company with steady growth is the Texas Roadhouse dining chain. Its stock price has climbed 9% in 2022 and continues to be one of the best-performing restaurant brands in the United States, allowing it to outperform the overall stock market. Also, despite posting a loss for the third quarter, Boeing is experiencing a turnaround, with stock up 3% just in the last month. With an apparent deal with United Airlines on the horizon, now should be an ideal time to invest in the aircraft manufacturer.”

Why is the US market going up after hitting bear market lows in the first half of 2022?

Inexperienced foreign investors can be discouraged from investing when they hear a country is in a bear market. But what is a bear market? A bear market is when a stock market is experiencing a decline of at least 20% from recent highs. With the US market in decline in 2022, the S&P 500 was down 22% in the third quarter from the beginning of the year, putting it in the bear market region.
However, the market is now picking up and Alexander Studhalter points to history to provide reasons for this; “October is known as a ‘bear killer’ when people have often started to invest again after declines. Another factor, particularly for 2022, is the US Midterm elections. During midterm years, often for Democrat presidents in their first terms, we tend to see declines in the market, which then pick up once the elections have passed.”

Thanks to his 30 years of experience in investing, Studhalter knows this can now be a very beneficial time for investors, “Now the bear market period has ended, we are entering a ‘sweet spot’, this is the initial growth after a bear market which usually lasts for a few quarters, meaning we have a good chance of seeing strong returns on investments we make in this quarter.”

After a tough 2022 for a lot of people, Studhalter understands why people may be cautious, but has pointed to some low-risk investments to make now, “Caterpillar stock had a surge earlier this year and is now expected to continue steady growth, thanks to the US government’s recent spending packages. They could have around £1 trillion to use on production. Dexcom is also worth watching. With a flat base of 123.46, FDA approval of its new sensor should see gradual growth continue for now.”

Why do foreigners invest in the United States?

We hear a lot about the growth of newer economies around the world, plus, some smaller countries tend to attract a lot of foreign direct investment (FDI). But one of the older economies, which happens to be the largest – the United States – remained number one for FDI in 2021. Alexander Studhalter explains that “the US has the diversity and liquidity that I mentioned, which is attractive to foreign investors, but the statistics around FDI are not always a true reflection of the economy. For example, many multinationals have offshore financial centres where money flows through before reaching its final destination, which influences the figures. But still, the US market being so transparent and accessible means it continues to grow ahead of the booming Chinese economy, plus countries like Ireland and the Netherlands which have a small Gross Domestic Product but have good incentives for overseas investors.”

New legislation could impact that, however. The White House announced in September that under a new executive order, more restrictions and administrative checks will be placed on foreign investments, owing to some countries using such investments to access sensitive data and technology. “These restrictions could stunt growth but the US market will remain one of the most open and opportune for those looking for long or short-term investments,” according to Alexander Studhalter.

Everyone wants to save as much of their hard earned money as possible, and with rising costs affecting most households, saving has become more challenging and more important.

Luckily, saving money can sometimes be simple and might even be fun. It’s not always sacrifices and going without, sometimes it can mean learning a new hobby in order to do things yourself. Other times it can be oddly satisfying to cut back when you realise how wasteful you were being.

Let’s look at some ways you can save some cash…

Learning A New Skill

If you’re someone who has a particular knack for getting handy or creative, taking up a hobby like upholstery or woodworking could make use of what you have, rather than splashing out on new furnishings.

You may hate your current sofa, but reupholstering it is better than spending hundreds or perhaps even thousands on a new one.

With the help of some tools and materials, you can add some new padding to the inside of the sofa, and a new fabric covering on the outside, leaving things brand new without breaking the bank.

Tools and materials needed include:

• Upholstery beginner kit (to start you off or you could buy everything separately)
• Hammer (or magnetic hammer for easier experience)
• Tack claw 
• Upholstery staple gun (vary in size and power depending on thickness of material used)
• An array of nails, staples, straight needles and curved needles in different lengths

Insulate And Get The Most Out Of Heating

Heating is a big topic when it comes to saving money. You shouldn’t have to suffer in a bitter cold, so start insulating instead.

Simple draught excluders can help to stop heat escaping under doors, you could even upholster a cushioned one – this could actually be a great first project for beginners.

Draught excluders can be woollen fabric or adhesive strips, depending on their placement. If you have a chimney that isn’t used but lets it cool in, one of the best things to use is a product called a chimney sheep. Its woollen material is breathable, meaning you are less likely to have condensation problems.

Go Through Your Subscriptions

It might sound obvious, but checking through all of your subscriptions could help you identify ones you don’t use and cut them out. You might not think it’ll save much, but each subscription could be costing you £100+ a year.

Do you really use Spotify or Apple Music that much? When was the last time you used a specific streaming service such as Netflix or Disney+? If you haven’t used it in the last month, it’s a waste of money. If you’re paying monthly rather than a yearly deal, see if cancelling makes any difference to your routine.

To really save some money, you could try out subscribing to Netflix (or whichever streaming service you use) for just one month, reactivating your account whenever something you really want to watch has been added. Who knows, not having a subscription every month might even help you decide what to watch, as there’ll be more pressure to watch it before time runs out!

It’s not just TV and movies, everything is a subscription service these days. It can add up, becoming some of our biggest outgoings.

Think about things you don’t use enough to justify paying for – are you getting the most out of your gym membership? Or is it better to cancel it, and do a workout at home instead? You could save £20 a month, or £240 a year!

The same could be said for online subscription services for PlayStation, Xbox and so on. Are you gaming enough to justify that £15 every month? Or is it better to just get the subscription for a month you’ll actually use it, maybe when a big game comes out, and cancel it after.

Turn Off Electrics and Get Smart Devices

You should make sure you turn plugs off at the wall when not in use, as even a phone cable that isn’t currently charging your phone will still use some power. To make turning plugs off easier, try using smart plugs that enable you to switch everything off remotely.  Standby mode is also a big offender, so turn things off fully instead.

Don’t forget to check the efficiency of appliances that you buy too, there’s usually a rating from A to G.

Start Saving

Whether you want to learn a new hobby or not, these are just a few suggestions to help you save, so try some out and see the difference it makes.