Exchange traded funds have brought increased diversity to the investing landscape, including segments that were once nearly impossible for the average investor to access such as commodities. This is one of the most popular and fastest growing segments of the exchange traded world. In the past, investors had to own a futures account in order to invest in commodities, but exchange traded products have stepped in to act as a vehicle for buyers interested in achieving commodity exposure with minimal risks regarding margin and leverage.

Traders can gain exposure to various futures contracts and even physical commodities through the exchange-traded structure. The biggest issue with futures-based funds is contango, which is the storage costs for a commodity that can eat into returns on long position. The opposite of contango is backwardation. A long position in a backwardated ETF, if monitored closely, could lead to strong gains for a portfolio assuming that the backwardation continues unabated.

Most of the multi millionaires and billionaires on the Rich List 2011 made their money through successful businesses in a variety of different industries.

Is it possible, however, to get onto the list by being an investor?

Warren Buffett, who has often been the richest man in the world, is often considered to be the world's greatest investor too. He made a majority of his wealth via investing in the stock market and investing in whole companies. For the UK Rich List, there's also a range of billionaires and multi millionaires who made their money from investments. The Duke of Westminster, Gerald Cavendish Grosvenor, made his wealth from a number of property investments in the United Kingdom and the world. He also manages properties worldwide through his property group, Grosvenor. He even had unique investments, including a 100 year old yacht, which he spent seven years and 6 million pounds for restoration, before selling it for a profit.

Identifying clear, achievable goals is a vital part of anyone's financial plan. A financial goal is the exact amount of money needed for a specific purchase or service at a specific date. By defining your goal exactly helps you decide how much you need to set aside each month and track your progress.

The three types of goals are: short, mid and long-range. Short-range goals are to be met in one year or less, mid-range in one to five years, and long-range in five years or more. Vacations, gifts, and small home improvements are typical short-range goals. A down payment for a house is a common mid-range goal. Long-range goals may include saving for retirement and a child's college education.

Making a financial goals chart can help you determine the timeline for your goals and the amount of money you'll need to on a regular basis set aside in order to reach them. You may find the numbers intimidating or even not practical based on your current financial situation. You may be able to increase your income and/or decrease your expenses or have to consider adjusting your goals.