How to Choose an Investment Advisor

This newsletter has been developed to provide insights into the operation of the financial services industry, and to help individual investors make decisions concerning the type of advisement that best suits their needs. While there are many professionals who provide investment advice in one form or another, there are certain credentials and licenses financial professionals should possess before you entrust them with your savings. We will explore the various licenses and certifications to determine which type of professional might be best suited to your needs.

Financial Advisor, Financial Consultant, Investment Advisor, Financial Planner, Registered Representative, Stock Broker, Variable Products Agent or Insurance Agent are many of the terms used in the financial services industry to describe the professional duties performed. Fee based or commission based compensation are terms which get thrown into the mix, causing client confusion. In reality, a licensed professional can have all of those titles, perform all of those services, which we just identified, and work in a fee or commission based capacity with a client.

The National Association of Securities Dealers (NASD) is one of the associations which self regulates the securities industry. The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is the government agency which oversees the NASD and the exchanges, such as the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE). The NASD licenses Registered Representatives, while the SEC or individual state bureaus of securities register investment advisors (RIA). Financial Planner, Financial Consultant or other terms used to describe financial services professionals are other ways to describe an RIA. Insurance Agents are licensed by individual state Departments of Banking and Insurance. If the agent sells variable products, such as variable annuities or variable universal life insurance, they must also have an NASD License.

The NASD has many licenses, but many professionals have at least a Series 65, which is an NASD license needed to be a Registered Investment Advisor in many states. This is the minimum, short of having no license at all. In order to be a Registered Representative, the minimum license needed is a Series 6 from the NASD. This entitles a Representative to sell mutual funds, and obtain an affiliation with a securities firm. An insurance license to sell variable products enables the representative to also provide variable annuities or variable universal life insurance.

In order to advise and transact stock, bond, REIT and limited partnership sales, as well as mutual fund, ETF's, variable annuity and variable universal life sales, a Registered Representative needs to attain a Series 7 license, as well as a variable life license. By obtaining a Series 63, disclosing all investment advisement relationships to their broker/dealer and by registering with their state Bureau of Securities or the SEC, if assets are over 25 million, a registered representative can have a dual registration as a Registered Representative and Registered Investment Advisor. Once this stage has been reached, an Investment Advisor can demonstrate to a client whether fee based or commission based compensation is best for the client.

What To Look For In An Investment

Investment involves staking capital in an enterprise, with the expectation of profit. It is nothing but the use of liquid funds to gain income or increase capital. In order for money to grow, investors need to invest judiciously. There are certain guidelines to be followed to avoid major mistakes.

Price of the Company: An investor needs to research on the ‘Market Capitalization’ of the company he is planning to invest in. Market Capitalization or Market Cap is the total cost of acquiring the entire company. It refers to the price of all outstanding shares of a company multiplied by the quoted price per share, at any given point of time. It is important to gauge the relative cost of a stock, before making any investments in the company. This can be done by learning the ‘P/E Ratio’. P/E ratio refers to the Price is to Earnings Ratio. It is the ratio of a company’s current share price to its earnings per share.

P/E Ratio = Market Value per Share
Earnings per Share (EPS)

Example: If a company is trading at $50 per share and earnings per share over the last 1 year were $ 2 per share, then, P/E ratio for this company’s stocks would be $50/$2, that is, $25. High P/E value indicates that the company has high growth prospects in the future.

P/E ratio can be used to make important investment decisions, by comparing P/E values of various companies.

Is The Company Buying Back Shares: It is very important for investors to observe the per-share growth of a company. A company may not show considerable growth in sales, profit and revenue for a few consecutive years, but could generate large returns for investors by dropping the total number of outstanding shares.

Investment Policy of the Investor: An investor needs to have valid reasons for investing in a particular enterprise. Investment decisions should be solely based on the authenticity of a company. Authenticity, here involves the reputation of the company, its management, profits earned, market cap and other such fundamentals, related to economics and finance.

Long Term Goals of the Investor: Investment involves risk but intelligent planning of long-term goals makes investing safe. An investor needs to select a good company that requires him to pay the minimum possible amount initially. He should consider the ‘Dollar-cost Averaging Program’.

Dollar Cost Averaging Program: This involves investing a particular amount in the same investment, periodically. Investors need not invest a lump sum amount in a stock all at once. They can invest a little every month in the same stock. Since an investor puts in the same amount of money, he can purchase more shares when the prices are lower. This basically lowers an investor’s average cost per share in comparison to the average market price per share, in the same time period. Dollar cost averaging builds the habit of setting aside money for investment.

Reinvesting the dividends, to grow over a long period of time, often proves highly profitable. An investor should look for all valid essentials of an investment before investing.

Investment Property Financing

1. Property and people

Certain requirements are in place that affect rules for conventional funding.People should usually get property financing even when they can afford to purchase a property.

Aristotle, in Politics, advocates "private property." In one of the first known expositions of tragedy of the commons he says, "that which is common to the greatest number has the least care bestowed upon it. Every one thinks chiefly of his own, hardly at all of the common interest; and only when he is himself concerned as an individual." In addition, he says when property is common there natural problems that arise due to differences in labor: "If they do not share equally enjoyments and toils, those who labor much and get little will necessarily complain of those who labor little and receive or consume much. But indeed there is always a difficulty in men living together and having all human relations in common, but especially in their having common property."

2. Investment propery financing

Pretty much anyone can obtain investment property financing. Everything from first time purchasing to re-financing on any investment property is available with very good terms. As the real estate market grows so does the need for investment property financing. This situation is forcing more and more people with no money to have to apply for a mortgage. The selection of competitive mortgages is determined by the long-term costs and interest, that can add up over the years.

3. seller and investment property financing

Investment property financing can generally be up to 125 % of the value of the property. Another type of investment property financing is seller financing. Seller investment property financing is one of the best ways for someone to get financing when their credit will not allow them to get conventional investment property financing.

4. It is important to plan investments well

Everybody should do investment planning when investing. With the choices of programs that are available for investment property financing, there are many options to work from depending on your situation. People will generally be able to get any investment property financing program.

How To Get Investment Property Loans

1. You and investment property loans

What do you think you would be like as a propety investor. Well now you can purchase investment property with more options and flexibility than you have ever thought possible, using investment property loans. Getting an Investment property loan is easier than you think.

It is more than possible for you to intelligently finance properties with investment property loans. In Economics, investment means the purchase (and thus the production) of capital goods - goods which are not consumed but instead used in future production. Examples include building a railroad, or a factory, clearing land, or putting oneself through college. In the national income accounts, investment is also a component of GDP given in the formula GDP = C + I + G + NX. The investment function in that aspect is divided into non-residential investment (such as factories, machinery etc) and residential investment (new houses).

2. Payment options

Different loans require different things. We will discuss the options available to you in order for you to get your investment property loan.With the increase of lenders available for your investment property loan there has been an increase in the different down payment options as well. Many of them are based on things such as credit score requirements, and whether or not the property will qualify for a particular investment property loan.

4. What the internet says

While you can get a lot of accurate and useful information from the internet, you can also get misleading information from the internet such as claims saying a large down payment is required to get investment property loans. This is not the case anymore, as more and more people are investing in property without making any down payments.percent Down Payment Options. Lower mortgage rates can be obtained while getting the investment property loan you are looking for. This is easy when you put some sort of down payment on the property. This mitigates the banks risk and offers more options for the investment property loan. Many benefits can be obtained when a person uses a tiny down payment.

Successful Real Estate Property Investment

Just because real estate prices seem to have hit a temporary ceiling in many countries around the world, that doesn’t mean that profits from property investments are hard to come by.

Even during a real estate market slowdown, stagnation or depression profits can be made locally and overseas. This article shows you the top ten tips that real estate investors apply to their property portfolio building strategy to ensure success from their investments.

1) Research the curve - the concept of a property market cycle existing is not myth it’s a fact and is generally accepted to be based on a price-income relationship. Check the recent historical price data for properties in the area of the country you’re considering purchasing in and try to determine the overall feel in the market for prices currently. Are prices rising, are prices falling or have they reached a peak. You need to know where the curve of the property market cycle is at in your preferred investment area.

2) Get ahead of the curve – as a basic rule of thumb, professional real estate property investors seek to buy ahead of the curve. If a market is rising they will try and target up and coming areas, areas that are close to locations that have peaked, areas close to locations experiencing redevelopment or investment. These areas will most likely become ‘the next big thing’ and those who by in before the trend will stand to make the most gains. As a market is stagnating or falling many successful investors target areas that enjoyed the best levels of growth, yields and profits very early on in the previous cycle because these areas will most likely be the first areas to become profitable as the cycle begins turning towards positive once more.

3) Know your market – who are you buying property for? Are you buying to let to young executives, purchasing for renovation to resell to a family market or purchasing jet to let real estate for short term rental to holiday makers? Think about your market before you make a purchase. Know what they look for in a property and ensure that is what you are going to be offering them

4) Think further afield – there are emerging real estate property markets around the world where countries’ economies are going from strength to strength, where a growing tourism sector is pushing up demand or where constitutional legislation has been or is about to be changed to allow for foreign freehold ownership of property for example. Look further afield than your own back yard for your next property investment and diversify that real estate portfolio for maximum success.

5) Purchase price – set yourself a budget that will realistically allow you to purchase what you’re looking for and profit from that purchase either through capital gains or rental yield.

6) Entry costs – research fees, charges and all expenses you will incur when you buy your property – they differ from country to country and sometimes even from state to state. In Turkey for example you should add on an additional 5% of the purchase price for all fees, in Spain you will need to factor in an average of 10% and in Germany fees and charges can be in excess of 20%. Know how much you will have to incur and factor this amount into your budget to avoid any nasty surprises and to ensure your investment can become profitable.

7) Capital growth potential – what factors point to the potential profitability of your real estate property investment? If you’re looking overseas at an emerging market, which economic or social indicators exist to suggest that property prices will increase? If you’re buying to let out are there any indications to suggest that demand for rental accommodation will remain strong, increase or even decline? Think about what you want to achieve from your investment and then research and find out whether your expectations are realistic.

8) Exit costs – if you will incur substantial capital gains taxation liability if you sell your property investment for profit, will that render the investment profitless? In Spain a foreign buyer can incur up to 35% capital gains tax, in Turkey on the other hand property sales are capital gains tax free if the underlying real estate has been owned for four or more years.

9) Profit margins – what levels of capital growth can you realistically gain on your property investment or how much rental income can you generate? Work out these facts and then work backwards towards your initial budget to work out your potential profit margins. At all times you have to keep the bigger picture in mind to ensure that your real estate investment has good potential for profit.

10) Think long term – unless you’re buying property off plan and intending to flip it for resale and profit before completion you should view real estate investment as a long term investment. Real estate is a slow to liquidate asset, cash tied up in property is not simple to free up. Take a long term approach to your property portfolio and give your assets time to increase in value before cashing them in for profit.

Make Smart Investment Decisions

There is a harsh fact about reality. The good job that you have may not last your entire life or career. The stability of the job may change and the particulars about it may change it to one that is completely undesirable. You must think ahead and plan on making your money work for you. No matter how much you have, you must plan on saving at least three months salary for a rainy day. Additionally you must set aside a proportion of your salary to invest now in well performing businesses on the stock exchange, as well as through available mutual funds which have a superior performance and you should consider investing in real estate. Particularly you should consider real estate that you can fix up for rental properties.

Stock investment on the internet in one such new technological avenue. Stock brokers have understood long before the public the great advantage that the speed of the internet gave them in financial matters. They offer to the public the advantage of internet sales and buying of company stocks and mutual funds. At least seven years ago the stock market utilized proprietary computers, intranets, wide area networks (WANS) to manage and predict the public sales and purchases of commodities, stocks, and bonds. The market place is a very competitive place. The government and the stock market board exist to provide a fair market where no one person or block of investors have a larger influence than any other. Prior to the internet and the 21st century only large blocks of investors or extremely wealthy ones could purchase stocks and commodities as an investment. This is because they were limited to how small or large a package of stock could be sold. When banks or other groups of investors, retired math teachers, became involved then investment packages could be subdivided smaller. Hence more people could afford to invest their surplus cash into more risky but profitable ventures. The invention of the telegraph allowed the transfer of information at the speed of light. After this the invention of the Teletype maintained the technological edge into most of the 20th century. when the age of the personal computer arrived then financier Mr.Bloomberg advanced both the electronic management of stock but provided the pioneer work to facilitate the inclusion of the internet into the confines of Wall Street.

You can acquire attractive properties which require very little in the way of repair. Some only need cleaning and painting to become profitable rentals. Today in Tulsa, Oklahoma there is a vast excess of available homes which have become available. These are offered by banks, mortgage investment firms, and real estate agencies. On the other hand the reason why these are available should be mentioned. The city of Tulsa has been through a devastating financial depression which began shortly after major internet companies and communications groups went bankrupt. This led to the loss of over 75,000 technical jobs and over $250,000,000 in lost revenues from income and sales taxes. These jobs have not be replaced but have been out sourced to off shore resources. I remember walking several miles along the edge of several housing divisions which were marked by the rarity of an occupied house. Most were marked by the "For Sale" signs and tall unmown grass. There are some real bargains here in Tulsa for those with good salaried jobs! These can become a smart investment for you which has stability and that can increase in profitability over the years.

Home Equity Loans, Investment

Home equity stands for the capital of the house, and it is the over all price of a house. The equity is an equivalent of the capital and a home equity refers to the capital that is equivalent to the price value of the house. The home equity investment is the investment that is made in constructing the house and making it value appreciate. This investment allows you to take up loan from the financial institutions depending on the rate of appreciation of the value of the house.

Home equity loan is also referred to as second mortgage. There are different types of equity loan depending on the loan amount you receive. One of the equity loans allows a borrower to opt for a fixed loan amount which is provided on a monthly basis. This loan amount is decided considering the value of the house. Hence constructing the house and making its price is an investment that allows you to obtain a loan.

The home equity investment is a wise choice as in most cases the price of a piece of land and the constructed house only increases with time. There are a number of ways by which one can make a better investment. The home equity loan amount is provided on a credit earn basis. The borrower has to earn credits which are allocated depending on the earning capacity, the history of the credit of a borrower and the value of the house. If a person is able to get a good score the equity loan is provided. If the credit history of a person is not good then the loan is denied.

There is a latest type of equity loan where in an investor is not required to show any documents related to the income. There are no verifications made but one has to compromise in terms of the loan amount that is calculated. This is not a bad option for those who do not earn a very good income.

The equity loans are generally opted for, for renovation purposes, or to pay the medical bills. A person who is not capable of paying of the bills related to renovations made or the medical bills can opt for the equity loan to pay of he bills. Making use of these simple concepts a person can generate income and thus keep away from taking high interest loans.

When the equity loan is applied for a small amount of fees is levied which includes the assessment and the other costs incurred by the company to decide for the loan amount. The loan money borrowed against a home equity loan may be used for getting rid of the debts, or to pay for some medical services availed.

These are one of the frequently used loans for consolidating the debts or to make urgent payments. Thus home equity should be considered as a source of investment. A person can get a loan against the home equity. This loan can be put to use for the general as well as specific expenses.