What will it take to recover?

The math of portfolio losses can be discouraging. For example, it takes a 100% return to recover from a 50% loss. This matrix shows you what average annual rate of return you will need to recover your portfolio’s original value based on the amount of your loss and the time frame to reach your goal.

Where the millionaires are

The 2009 World Wealth Report released by Capgemini and Merrill Lynch defines high-net-worth individuals as those with at least $1 million in financial assets, excluding collectibles, consumables, consumer durables and primary residences. Here’s where they live:

Truth in advertising

The Hans Brinker Budget Hotel in the heart of Amsterdam was a marketer’s worst nightmare. With spartan rooms, terrible food, rude guests, and no amenities to speak of, it had a distinct lack of ‘features and benefits’ upon which to base a marketing campaign. Fifteen years ago, local ad exec Erik Kessels decided the solution was to brand the Brinker as The Worst Hotel In The World. His ad campaign bragged, “Now a bed in every room!”, “Now even more noise!”, and that the ‘hotel’ sign out front with every letter except the L burnt out was using 80% less energy. It worked. Paid nights at the hotel have risen from 60,000 to 145,000 per year since the campaign.