Archive for November, 2008
Tip! Start young. Open an investment account for your children and continue adding to it as they grow.
There are many people who feel that to make money in todays market and in the future, you must work off of advisory fees and not commissions.
An Investment or Financial Adviser is someone who manages a portfolio or advises a person what to do in their portfolio. For these services, an Adviser can retain a fee for doing so. They operate much like an Accountant or an Attorney would. Rather than directly sell a security for commission, they will receive a fixed percentage of the assets they manage. The license that most of them receive is the SERIES 65 (Registered Investment Advisor). What makes this arrangement attractive for the Adviser is that your income stream is much steadier. Your fees are set so if a customer is not particularly active, you still retain the normal advisory fee you charge.
Tip! Take an investment class or at least buy the book. Learn something about the way the stock market works both in your country of residence and the world economy overall.
The arrangement is equally beneficial to the customer. A customer does not feel the same pressure to buy as they would from a commission Stockbroker. A Stockbroker does not make money unless a customer buys or sells.
The SERIES 65 does not need to be sponsored and can be practiced independently. It also looks terrific on a resume and only takes 4-6 weeks to study for. If you are looking to add financial credentials prior to entering the securities business, the Series 65 is a great license to get. It is a multiple choice test and no educational pre-requisites are required.
A few states do not require an individual to hold a SERIES 65 to practice investment advice but it is a good idea to get it anyway. You want to be aware of certain rules and background of the industry. The licensing curriculum will explain all of the securities that apply. It is also a good “Title” to practice business under. Thousands and thousands of CPA’s, Lawyers, and other professionals have obtained their SERIES 65 license and became Financial Advisors. The ability to offer investment advice to their existing clientele has proved to be very beneficial to their business.
Tip! Biloxi, Mississippi – This is by far the newest city to feel the investment real estate boom. You see as some cities become less attractive to invest in investors ban together and start in another areas and Biloxi Mississippi seems to be this new place.
You are not allowed to work on commissions and advisory fees from the same client. The SEC views that as “double charging”, so you should decide what route is best for you. As said earlier, many feel the “fee route” is the best way to go now.
Good Luck!
Nick Hunter is the President of American Investment Training, Inc. (AIT) http://www.aitraining.com. He has personally taught thousands of students in the securities industry for over 15 years. AIT produces training courses for the financial industry.
November 27th, 2008
Tip! Wealth flow. The first thing to consider in a real estate investment is the flow of money.
…or Is My Brand Working?
To measure the impact and effectiveness of marketing and branding on the bottom line alone is a mistake. There are far too many facets of the success equation. It is easy to lose enthusiasm and focus if there are no intermediate benchmarks of success for activities that will ultimately affect the bottom line.
The value of reputation, relationships, brand awareness and consumer attitudes related to your business, are impossible to measure just on financial return.
Tip! It’s an established community with huge foreign investment and this inspires confidence for more people to come.
A thorough evaluation of where your business is now and the identification of the most important next goal is a good place to start.
Other measures of ROI are:
-number of leads generated
-total sales revenue generated
-change in awareness of your brand – attention form the media
-change in market share
-change in buying pattern re products, days etc.
-change in intent to buy
-increase in incremental sales revenue
-customer retention
Look for ways to track your progress keeping the end in mind. It is all about prioritizing and being able to identify and sort the factors that are crucial to your success, from the insignifcant details it’s so easy to get caught up in.
It may feel more productive to be doing, but it is actually more constructive to be planning. The odds of achieving marketing success increase exponentially if you are aware of what has succeeded and failed in the past. 80 to 90% of effort is well spent on identification, planning and determining the success metrics, with the balance on execution and assessment.
Tip! Determine the coherency of the program’s investment strategy. See if the owners know what they are talking about and if they have a sound business plan.
The owner of a successful business or product is often reported as saying, “It seemed to develop a life of it’s own and just take off.” It could be a lucky break but often it’s the result of years of experience and thought finally put into action.
Nancy Fraser is the President of Nota Bene Consulting a marketing and advertising firm that encourages their clients to “First Ponder, Then Dare”. Sign up for the free ezine at http://www.notable-marketing.com
November 24th, 2008
Tip! Accountant or bookkeeper. Keeping proper books for real estate investments is getting more complicated with all the tax-law changes.
Advice on investments can be found on the Internet or at a local brokerage firm. Many choose to invest on their own to save money by using a discount broker, reducing your transaction costs. Discount brokerage houses are set up just to carry out a trade, but do not give advice.
If you decide to do-it-yourself, you can go on the Internet and get advice for a small fee at a few sites. Then continue the trade through a discount brokerage house. In other words, an investment online site will give you a financial profile for a fee and they will give you a plan and recommendations on stocks and bonds. They will monitor your portfolio and give recommendations when to buy and sell when necessary.
Tip! Get a Bill of Sale For All Property Involved – Many types of personal property (appliances, furniture, fixtures, etc.) can be involved in an investment sale.
One such advisory is www.createafund.com. It charges an upfront annual management fee of 1% on your capital. For this you get a plan prepared by a financial planner that allocates your assets, telling you how much of your money you should invest in stocks, how much in bonds and how much you should keep in cash. It also recommends specific stocks and bonds. Transaction costs are included in your fee.
The following tips on online resources should provide you with valuable information.
CNN online news is a great source for advice on the market and current research of stocks. Hoover’s site will give you recent stock news and company descriptions. Go to Quicken to find out a company’s profile and current quotes, and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) site will give you information about filings and enforcement. Make sure that you look for disclosure statements on Internet sites and newsletters on who wrote the information. Tips can sometimes be misleading because companies trying to sell stock write them.
Investment Advice provides detailed information on Investment Advice, Get Investment Advice, Investment Management Advice, Stock Investment Advice and more. Investment Advice is affiliated with Investment Portfolio Management.
November 20th, 2008
Tip! Every investment club must have a well-defined investment style or investment philosophy. There must be clear selection criteria such as what type of stocks to invest, the acceptable risk tolerance level and rate of return.
For the Creative Artist — Good Health Insurance is Truly a Lifetime Investment
Fellow artists, buying good health insurance is the best investment you can make in your lifetime! You can purchase fine jewelry, art works, vintage cars — but none of these can assure you the value, well-being, and peace of mind that a comprehensive health insurance plan will bring you. And you don’t have to pay for expensive expert advice before buying, either. For, no knowledgeable jeweler, fine art dealer or professional car salesman can begin to give you the self assurance and cool confidence that a good health insurance package affords you.
Modern Health Insurance Covers More Than You Think
At one time, health insurance coverage was at minimum basic level. Most major illnesses and surgery were covered, but that was about all. Any condition out of the ordinary or slightly obscure was dismissed as not suitable for health insurance coverage. And any medical problem or type of surgery that sounded the least bit “cosmetic”, you might as well just forget about. — No coverage would be granted, and you’d be made to feel you were foolish even to ask for it! In today’s health insurance market, however, there are policies that cover just about any medical condition, even pre-existing ones. And we all can benefit from this reassurance, especially as we get a year or two older. And there is better and better coverage for dependents now, so you can relax knowing your spouse and children will be well taken care of whenever health problems arise. Just imagine — you may soon be able to include your pet poodle or parrot on your updated health insurance policy! (And, how about adopting a couple of those cute stray cats, dogs or hedgehogs for inclusion in your health care coverage?)
Tip! Balance your portfolio at least annually so it constantly reflects your investment plan. Always stay on top of your investments unless you rather pay someone else to do it for you.
Pay Nothing Or Little For Office Visits — Let Health Insurance Take Care Of The Rest
Many health insurance policies require little or no payment up front for medical office visits or prescription drugs. At most, you may owe a $10 or $15 co-pay along with your health insurance identification card for all your doctors’ appointments — including specialists. And in some instances, even the co-pay can be billed for later payment. So, there’s never a need to worry that you won’t be able to afford your doctor’s fee.
Tip! Equity. Real estate investment equity may take several forms.
Buy Prescription Drugs For Nearly Nothing — Your Health Insurance Plan Will Pick Up The Balance
You won’t have to fret about pharmacy fees, for with current-day health insurance, most prescriptions cost a mere fraction of their worth. And you can go home feeling well cared for and wealthy. And generic drugs cost even less than their brand names do — even more savings from your health insurance “investment fund.”
And There Is Even Holistic Or Alternative Health Insurance
Tip! Put an ad in the paper. ‘Looking for investment properties to buy,’ might be sufficient to generate a few calls.
Can you believe it — there is finally health coverage for many holistic and alternative health treatments to make your insurance wants and needs complete. Even herbal cures and natural health massage are included, in many cases! So, artists all, call your nearest health insurance broker today, and make that guaranteed investment of your lifetime!
Ellen Gilmer Copywriter, Article Writer, copyright 2005
Tip! Leverage. Leverage, with regards to real estate investment, is the use of borrowed funds in order to purchase realty.
Ellen Gilmer is a writer-composer and artist who lives in New York City. Her business, Crystal Clear Artforms, is dedicated to the development and promotion of Thematic Arts (creative expression in multiple art forms). Ellen’s work includes copywriting and article writing, and she is a member of the Agora International Press Corps / AWAI Travel Writers Group. She has published two books: La Belle Famille (a novel), and Free Style Run of the Heart (a book of dramatic monologues with songs). (Publisher: The Pentland Press, Ltd.; Carnegie Publishing, in England) The Web Site address for Crystal Clear Artforms is: http://www.home.earthlink.net/~elgilmer
November 17th, 2008
starting a Real Estate investment group?I've been working as a Realtor for about 7 years now and I'm considering starting a real estate investment group. What's the best way to get started? I'm mainly interested in aquireing rental income properties. Any information on financing would be extremely helpful. Also, is it better to manage your own properties or have another company do it?…
The following article includes pertinent information that may cause you to reconsider what you thought you understood. The most important thing is to study with an open mind and be willing to revise your understanding if necessary.
Purchasing a commercial investment property has become very popular nowadays. Rental income can be a nice supplement to your salary and as the value of the property increases, you may at some point sell it for more. The rental returns may help you save some money to buy your own place. However, with all these potential benefits, your success is not guaranteed. To increase the chances for a successful investment, there are a few steps that you should follow when buying the place.
Where To Buy?
With commercial investment property there is no point in taking an emotional decision when deciding on where to buy the place. As you buy it for profit, the most important rule is
Investment…?Hey, I'm a college student that have twenty five hundred bucks (2,500) with no immediate purpose, nonetheless, I wanted to invest this amount and make a little profit; I know it's not much, but hey, Its enough to generate a small profit, which is exactly what I'm looking for…!Any ideas?Stock, re-seller, anything????…
to buy in a growth area. Experts regard suburbs as promising areas for a commercial investment property. The best strategy is to inspect as many areas as you can to see what their offer is. The proximity of public facilities, shops and restaurants is also important.
What To Buy?
While houses may be nicer than units, they are also more expensive and more difficult to maintain. If you purchase an appartment, the owners share their expenses when something goes wrong. A room with a view is a great extra, but you shouldn’t spend too much just to have a beautiful view. If your commercial investment property is too expensive, you will also need a high rent to recoup your expenses and you may have difficulty in finding tenants. If the property is currently rented, it gives you a chance to gather some information on the rental history of the place. This way you can estimate your revenue more accurately.
Getting A Loan
Truthfully, the only difference between you and an investment banking experts is time. If you’ll invest a little more time in reading, you’ll be that much nearer to expert status when it comes to an investment banking.
Some lenders may have higher interest rates and require a higher down-payment for a commercial investment property loan than for a home loan. This is because they feel the risk is higher. However, if you shop around a bit more, you may get lucky and
Eurobonds Are Not Only For The EuropeansWhat exactly is a Eurobond? Well, it's a bond which is issued as well as traded in a different country from the one where its currency is denominated. The funny thing is that a Eurobond does not necessarily have to originate or circulate only in Europe. Most Eurobonds however, are issued for trade by investors in Europe.
be able to get a home loan for your commercial investment property.
Renting The Place
When you estimate your rental revenue, bare in mind that there might be some short periods when you won’t have any tenants (e.g. during repairs or when tenants move out and you have to find new ones). You also have to figure out how long you want to keep your commercial investment property. In time, the rental income may exceed the mortgage repayments and you will become positively-geared.
If you choose to manage the property yourself, you can save the property management fee. However, it can be a very time-consuming and stressful activity, especially if you have tenants complaining about every little thing. Contracting a property manager may get you rid of all this hassle, but it will also cost you some money.
Now might be a good time to write down the main points covered above. The act of putting it down on paper will help you remember what’s important about an investment banking.
November 13th, 2008
You should be able to find several indispensable facts about an investment property in the following paragraphs. If there’s at least one fact you didn’t know before, imagine the difference it might make.
A great place to find foreclosure listings in the Housing and Urban development website. This is a government organization with an aim to make homes available to those of moderate incomes. Buying a home through HUD can be a lengthy process but usually worth it. Homes can be bought at good prices and low interest mortgages can be arranged.
The Housing and Urban Development organization is aimed mainly at individuals and families looking to purchase a home. However, investors are not left out. Usually the homes go through a bid period set by HUD. Individuals then bid on the property via their real estate agent. If the property is not sold to an individual or family then investors are invited to join in. If an investor does purchase the property through HUD they are allowed to do with it what they choose. They can rent it out or fix it up and sell it on just like any other property.
Buying a foreclosed home through HUD is similar to purchasing other
Investment PropertyLooking to purchase or refinance a non-owner occupied investment property? Owning investment property is a smart choice, especially in today’s real estate market. …
homes. You must first figure out how much you can afford. Once you have done that, you need to find a real estate agent in that area that is authorized to sell HUD homes. Once you have done this, you need to get pre-approval for financing. You can get approved up to a certain amount and this number will be given to you real estate agent. Once this step is completed you can submit your bid online.
Those of you not familiar with the latest on an investment property now have at least a basic understanding. But there’s more to come.
Once your bid is accepted, then you are highly encouraged to have the home inspected. All of the homes are sold on an as is basis and HUD makes no repairs. Some homes are in a good condition but many need a large amount of work.
The housing and Urban Development office lists foreclosed properties in every state. Their priorities are individuals but investors are often allowed to take part. There are some great opportunities available when purchasing a home through HUD. By following the rules both individuals and investors can benefit from foreclosure investing.
That’s the latest from the an investment property authorities. Once you’re familiar with these ideas, you’ll be ready to move to the next level.
November 6th, 2008