Abstract
In order to determine the value of index investments as an investment strategy, this paper weighs several important considerations. It defines index funds and lists the types of index funds that are available to the investor. It then gives a thorough list and analysis of the major advantages and disadvantages of index investing. The paper then lists the alternatives to index investing and investigates the advantages and disadvantages of these alternatives. The Efficient Market Hypothesis is explained and how this might impact the evaluation of index investing and the alternatives to index investing. It concludes this case study by giving a personal analysis of whether the writer would include index investing in his personal portfolio.

From the Paper
"Simply put, an index fund is a mutual fund that attempts to match, with as much accuracy that is possible, the performance in a stock market index. Mutual funds have created S&P500 index funds in an attempt to copy the Standard and Poor (S&P)500 index, by buying all 500 stocks in the same percentage that they are present in the index.

"Interestingly, S&P 500 tracks the performance of large company stocks in the United States, like the Dow Jones Industrial Average. The S&P 500 index tracks the stock prices of 500 big companies, which account for close to 80 percent of the total market value all of the stocks that are traded in the United States. Index funds mirror the returns of a specific index, or a group of securities, that are considered measuring sticks of the behavior of the market as a whole. If the market increases 5% in one year, the index will also increase by close to 5% in the same specific time frame."

Tags:stock, trade, index, fund, mutual, investment, market

Abstract
This paper analyzes Daniel Solin's book, "The Smartest Investment Book You'll Ever Read". It also investigates the role that financial planners play in today's society and what benefit their profession provides. This paper states both the benefits as well as the downfalls to using a financial planner. The paper first investigates Solin's views on financial planners as well as a summary of his book, "The Smartest Investment Book You'll Ever Read". The paper then goes into further detail on financial planning as a profession, and why it is a superfluous service to spend your money on. The tone of the paper then changes as the paper investigates the pros to using financial planning services and why and how they may benefit society. The paper further goes into detail on what to do if you are pursuing a career as a financial planner in relation to Solin's book. Finally, the paper compares the positive/negative facts and opinions expressed throughout the paper to remind the reader of both sides before he or she forms an opinion.

From the Paper
"For the closing segment of the book, Solin breaks down the way to become a smart investor and "beat ninety five percent of the pros". He explains how this can be achieved in his "four step process". First, the investor needs to decide on their asset allocation by dividing the portfolio into three categories: stocks, bonds, and cash. He also emphasizes that to do this, the investor needs to consider age, health, if income will be needed from the portfolio, and life (such as job loss, divorce, accident, etc.) this will help determine how risky an investor should make their portfolio (Solin 111-113). The second step is to open a account with a firm that does not implement commissions such as Fidelity Investments, Vanguard Group, or T. Rowe Price. Solin then states that the third step is to select your investments. He shows that this is a simple step by providing tables that show low to high risk portfolio outlines for each of the firms mentioned above. "

Tags:investing, stocks, index, funds

Abstract
This paper looks at creative fund-raising in a day and age when organizations - non-profit organizations in particular - cannot rely upon government grant money as they once could. In particular, this essay defines fund-raising, identifies possible grant resources (which obviously do not have to include government agencies) and looks at various ways of developing donors through special fund-raising events. The paper shows how fund-raising is simply a process whereby organizations try to collect capital by whatever means are available to them; organizations also, in this day and age, possess more opportunities than in previous generations because of the profusion of philanthropic and private grant-giving entities and should consider these resources when looking for funds. Finally, the paper shows how when it comes to developing donors through special events, things like "theme nights," donor appreciation luncheons or dinners, and family-oriented events can all lead to the cultivation of strong donor relationships that can pay off time and again over a period of many years.

From the Paper
"This paper looks at creative fund-raising in a day and age when organizations - non-profit organizations in particular - cannot rely upon government grant money as they once could. In particular, this essay will define fund-raising, identify possible grant resources (which obviously do not have to include government agencies) and will look at various ways of developing donors through special fund-raising events. Ultimately, fund-raising is simply a process whereby organizations try to collect capital by whatever means are available to them; organizations also, in this day and age, possess more opportunities than in previous generations..."

Tags:creative, fund, raising, century

Abstract
The following paper reviews the policy of the IMF to impose stringent conditions upon the loans it releases to developing nations. The paper pays particular attention to why the IMF approach hurts developing nations. It further explores how the lending policy of the Fund acts as a sort of neo-colonialism that perpetuates north-south global imbalances. Finally, the political nature of the IMF and how this manifests itself in the loan conditions of the Fund will also be touched upon. In the end, the IMF would serve everyone better if it would narrow its scope of activities and focus on preventing fiscal crises rather than aggravating them in the world's poorest states.

From the Paper
"The following paper will review the policy of the IMF to impose stringent conditions upon the loans it releases to developing nations. The paper will pay especial attention to why the IMF approach hurts developing nations and time will also be devoted to how the lending policy of the Fund acts as a sort of neo-colonialism that perpetuates north-south global imbalances. Finally, the political nature of the IMF and how this manifests itself in the loan conditions of the Fund will also be touched upon. In the end, the IMF would serve everyone better if it would narrow its scope of activities and focus on preventing fiscal crises rather than..."

Tags:international, monetary, fund

Abstract
This paper takes a look at the history of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund, and examines the results of their structural adjustment policies on the borrowing country through the ages. This paper also reviews the influence of the modern day G7 nations on the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund.

From the Paper
"The World Bank and the International Monetary Fund was founded after World War II to help avoid great depression, the Bank and the Fund supplying member governments with money to avoid short-term crisises. In New Hampshire financial representatives from the 44 allied nations devised methods to reduce the impediments to international financial growth that had arisen as a result of the war. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) was created to refresh theinternational trade volume that had decreased due to instability while war, when countries had abandoned the gold standard. The US dollar become the universal standard of currency, specialists found it the best substitution for gold."

Tags:bank, fund, international, monetary, world

Abstract
This paper presents a case study of Intersect Investments that addresses several issues. The first part of the paper includes the process of "Generic Benchmarking. " The paper then describes two companies that led their organization in a similar situation through a change, detailing their results.

From the Paper
"According to James Gibson, John Ivancevich and James Donnelly in their book 'Organizations Behavior Structure Processes,' change is usually both stressful and difficult. In business the more radical the change the more resistance can be expected. The more directly a change.affects an employee the more likely they are to oppose actively or passively that change. The more radical the change the more careful management must be about how and when the change is made. In business change often comes in the form of..."

Tags:change, change management, intersect investments, case study, benchmarking

Abstract
This paper explains the concept of SRI (Social and Responsible Investment), its history, relationship to religion and a global ethical approach, the form of these funds and the players. Next, the author explores former research studies and theories on ethical performance of SRI and then examines empirically the impact of SRI on companies in terms of ethics. The paper concludes that, contrary to modern financial theory, SRI does not lead to the destruction of financial value.
Charts, several quotations and the complete interviews are included in the paper.

Table of Content:
Content
Introduction
Goals
Organization
Presentation of the Social and Responsible Investment
Definition
History
From Religious Principles to Global Ethical Approach
The Boom of the SRI Market
Different Forms of SRI funds
Different Players in the SRI Market
Overview
Major Players
Conclusion
Socially Responsible Investment and Economic Value Creation
Theoretical Consequences of the Ethical Criterions on the Economic Performance of Portfolios
SRI Investment, A Priori Less Profitable According to Modern Financial Theories
The Possibility of a Profitable SRI
The Stakeholder Process (Based on Donaldson, Preston, 1995)
Conclusion
former Empirical Researches
Literature Presentation
Results
The Study of Indexes
The Role of Indexes
The FTSE KLD Social Index Performance
Conclusion
Socially Responsible Investment and Ethical Value Creation
The Question of the Difference between SRI and Conventional Investment
The Ethical Impact of SRI
Limits
Conclusion
General Conclusion
Appendix: Explanation of the SRI Financial Performance through the History
Appendix: The Stakeholder Theory of the Corporation: Concepts, Evidence, and Implications
Appendix: Interviews

From the Paper
"In this context, it may be possible contest our theoretical conclusion. First argument: when you integrate a wider vision of the firm that encompasses social and governance criterion in addition to the financial criterion, this brings new information that are valuable, and that play a positive role in the investor decision process . In fact the more information you have the best you invest. In a long term view, those information also contribute to a selection of companies which will minimize their exposition to a range of many different risks and which will be able to benefit from future opportunities."

Tags:boom, indexes, institutional, retail, stockholder

Abstract
The paper looks at the efficient market hypothesis (EMH) and explores whether or not an application of it to the investment phenomenon of mutual funds will explain the performance of those funds relative to the index on average. More specifically, the paper examines the proposition that, if EMH is true, then mutual funds cannot hope to beat the market index. The paper reveals that the efficient market hypothesis has shortcomings that make it a less-than-reliable predictor of what mutual funds will do over "the long haul"; at the same time, a number of longitudinal studies have confirmed that mutual funds - especially actively-managed mutual funds - fall short of achieving the growth the market achieves on its own. The paper concludes that given this reality, it appears as though mutual funds are an uncertain investment even if EMH does not work in actuality.

From the Paper
"Over the last forty years, the Efficient Market Hypothesis or EMH has been arguably the most significant theory dealing with investment. With this in mind, the following paper will look at EMH and explore whether or not an application of it to the investment phenomenon of mutual funds will explain the performance of those funds relative to the index on average. More specifically, the next several pages will look at the proposition that, if EMH is true, then mutual funds cannot hope to beat the market index. As will become clear, a few interesting revelations manifest themselves when the topic is explored. For one thing, the Efficient Market..."

Tags:efficient, market, hypothesis

Abstract
This paper explains that basic Keynesian theory states that, "in a normal economy," there is a high level of employment, and everyone is spending salaries as usual, which means there is a circular flow of money in the economy. The author points out that, according to Keynes, if stock market prices rose sharply, this would be an indication that the economy was looking up and that consumers were willing to spend more. The paper responds that, if Congress passes an increase in income tax rates to take effect next year, according to Keynes, the effects of this measure should be salutary, if the increased funds are accrued by the federal government and utilized properly to create jobs by expanding the government programs of public works.

Table of Contents
Overview of Keynesian Theory and the Current U.S Economic Situation
Hypothetical Occurrence 1#: The stock market prices rise sharply.
Hypothetical Occurrence 2#: The Conference Board's Index of Consumer Confidence falls for the fifth straight month.
Hypothetical Occurrence 3#: The rate of capacity utilization rises.
Hypothetical Occurrence 4#: The government institutes a 10% investment tax credit retroactive to the start of the year.
Hypothetical Occurrence 5#: Congress passes an increase in income tax rates to take effect next year.

From the Paper
"Keynes stated that "in a normal economy," there is a high level of employment, and everyone is spending salaries as usual. This means there is a circular flow of money in the economy. Individual spending becomes part of total earnings. Total earnings become part of the total spending, generating profits. When something happens to shake consumer confidence in the economy, consumers begin to save their money. Because consumer spending is part of other consumer's earnings, consumer's decisions to hoard money cause retailers to spend less and to lay off employees. Responding to these difficult times, "other consumers resort to hoarding money as well." "

Tags:flow, tax, stock, confidence, utilization

Abstract
This paper examines three major American stock exchanges: the New York Stock Exchange, the American Stock Exchange and the Nasdaq. The paper points out that they collectively represent thousands of publicly traded corporations, mutual funds and other entities, all with different trading prices and market capitalizations. To simplify the complex task of identifying performance trends that can affect the markets and the U.S. economy, a series of indices have been designed to guage market performance. The paper holds that the four most commonly cited indices are the Dow Jones Industrial Average, the Standard & Poor's 500, the New York Stock Exchange Composite, and the Nasdaq 100. The paper concludes that, while each index has its relative strengths and weaknesses, together these indices perform a valuable role in helping both the general public and investment experts make sense of the American stock markets.

Outline:
The Dow Jones
S&P 500
NYSE Composite
Nasdaq 100
Conclusion

From the Paper
"The New York Stock Exchange created the NYSE Composite in the mid-1960s and revamped it in 2003 in what it called an attempt to modernize it and make it more transparent (TSC Staff, 2003). This involved removing mutual funds, trusts and derivatives from the index, which pared down its total membership by about 700. NYSE claimed that, under its old composition, the NYSE Composite was double-counting some companies that were also held in these mutual funds and trusts (TSC Staff, 2003). As part of the changes introduced to the NYSE Composite, NYSE also reset its base value from 500 to 5,000. This type of change has been made before, as the index was founded with only a base value of 50. These changes have arguably not diminished the overall value of the NYSE Composite index. Because NYSE trades many of America's oldest and largest blue-chip companies, it remains the flagship exchange for the American stock markets. Because the NYSE Composite provides a way to measure the overall performance of this important exchange, it will remain a critical stock market index."

Tags:stocks, Nasdaq, Dow, Jones, NYSE