Jan 24

In the current investing climate many investors are seeking out alternatives to traditional investment assets in an effort to boost poor returns and bolster the limp performance of their pension portfolios. While stocks and shares continue to display the kind of up-and-down volatility that would make a rollercoaster jealous, real-assets including fine wine, stamps, land and forestry have all continued to grow in values as rising global incomes combine with a growing global population to boost demand against a backdrop of limited supply.

Whenever supplies of an asset are limited and demand increases, we see the value increase as buyers compete for the best assets, so those investors in control of finite resources are likely to continue to capture capital growth regardless of the performance of the wider economy.

Whilst in is certainly true that some alternative investment assets rely on the existence of wealth for their end-use market; for example stamps and fine wine rely on the existence of wealthy buyers, it is also true that certain essential assets will enjoy a demand even if the global economy were to collapse tomorrow. These safe haven alternative investments include agricultural land, energy-generating assets, infrastructure and commodity driven properties such as forestry investments.

There is a limited global stock of land suitable for agricultural production and demand for food commodities and feedstock for animal feed and biofuels in growing exponentially as developing nations expend their populace and rising incomes lead to greater consumption of commodities. Indeed the giant populations of India and China are entering their most resource-intensive phase of growth, just like the west during the industrial revolution. The difference here is that the populations and resource requirements of these countries is much larger. This makes agricultural land a precious resource that is likely to become one of the most valuable assets on earth. Not only that, but goof quality farmland produces annual income from the production and sale of food commodities, so income streams also rise as food prices increase. It is worth noting that the amount of arable land per person on the plant has halved since only the 1960’s, going some way to explaining why so many institutional investors are holding more and more agriculture investments.

Renewable energy investments that produce income from solar, wind or agricultural crops are also seen as a potentially great alternative investment opportunity as they continue to generate revenue regardless of dividend performance in traditional investment markets. As long as the wind keeps blowing and the sun keeps shining, those in control of renewable energy investment assets will continue to earn up to 20 per cent per annul income yields based on current project establishment costs.

For the long-term investor, forestry investments continue to grow in any economic weather, because the majority of financial returns is actually driven by the biological growth of trees, not the performance of the economy. Whilst a relatively buoyant economy is essential in order for there to be demand for timber products, it is growth in emerging market economies what will drive future demand, and so investors who own a stake in a commercial forestry investment property close to emerging markets are likely to capture non-correlated growth and be able to create substantial revenues from the sale of essential commodities as trees turn into valuable timber stands.

In summary, alternative investments are popular because they generate returns not dependent on traditional markets, but investors should always be careful as these kinds of real-asset alternative investment all carry asset, location, sector and counterparty specific risks that many investor may not recognise or be able to screen for, so the use of an experienced consultant with a good track record of identifying successful alternative investment assets is essential in order to avoid undue risk and maximise upside potential.

David Garner is Partner at DGC Asset Management, an alternative investments boutique specialising in property transactions in the agriculture and renewable energy sectors.

Jan 23

People are worried, concerned and yes, even scared. How do you invest in these volatile and uncertain times? The memories of the Global Financial Crisis (GFC) of 2008-2009 are still fresh. They themselves may have “lost” money during this period as have many of their friends. They know people or have heard stories of people who “went into cash” at the right time.

The global economies and investment markets are again facing new uncertainly and volatility. People are asking themselves and their advisers questions such as:

• Will I lose my money?

• Is any place safe?

• Should I go into cash?

• Am I wasting my money by salary sacrificing into superannuation?

Let’s look at the recent past and where we are now.

In the beginning

The Australian share market peaked at around 6800 in November 2007. Concerns over the American subprime market and the creditworthiness of the debt products arising from these mortgages, Collateralised Debt Obligations (CDO’s), began to appear however the crisis did not reach a climax until September 2008 when the Americans permitted the large investment bank Lehman Brothers to fail. Up to that point the debt crisis and resulting failures of financial institutions in American were contained.

Once Lehman Brothers failed, there was a massive global loss of confidence and lending between even large financial institutions froze as there was a fear that they could not repay their borrowings. Investment uncertainty and volatility increased. Interest rates in Australia and overseas fell rapidly, governments propped up financial institutions, and there were massive government stimulus packages as well as government guarantees over depositor’s funds. The Australian share market hit a low of around 3100 in April 2009.

Some Hope

Gradually the measures in Australia and overseas took effect. Confidence rebounded to some degree and the Australia share market was soon back to 5000. The Reserve Bank began to raise interest rates from the low of 3% to 4.75% by November 2010. Talk was of how soon the federal budget would be back in surplus and how to contain the inflationary effects of the resource boom. Investment uncertainty and volatility decreased and money came back into the market.

The picture overseas was mixed. The BRIC countries of Brazil, Russia, India and China continued to grow at a fast pace as did other emerging and secondary economies such as Vietnam, South Korea, Malaysia, Turkey and Argentina to name a few. Commodity prices rose which has helped Australia as well as the oil rich countries.

Too soon to celebrate

Against this good news the effects of the GFC have had a lasting impact on other countries which have struggled with debt and economies which have not fully lifted out of recession. In Europe the debt crisis spread from Ireland to Greece and then to Portugal and more recently doubts over whether Spain and Italy can manage their debt. Countries such as Germany, which have bounced back strongly from the GFC, are reluctant to fund the mismanagement of the PIIGS (Portugal, Ireland, Italy, Greece and Spain).

The big concern however is the effect that a default of even a country such as Greece would have on the countries of the Euro. As 2011 progressed and into 2012, this concern has had a major impact on the share markets.

The other focus of bad news is the debt problems of America and its continuing lack of growth. America has taken on huge debt funding wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the bailout of financial institutions, a loss of revenue because of tax cuts to the rich and unfunded social security entitlement programs authorised by the Bush administration.

Market panic occurred in July and August 2011 when the debt problems in Europe became more serious and the political brinkmanship in America over lifting the federal government’s debt ceiling brought about a lack of confidence which was brought to a climax when Standard and Poor lowered their rating of American debt. The Australian market had one of its largest falls on 9th August, although it rebounded the same day. Once again investment uncertainty and volatility increased.

Going Forward

Major concerns on people’s minds are as follows:

1. We have a situation where Greece will almost certainly default on its debt, which could spread to other European countries.

2. Economic growth is poor in much of Europe and America however the means to stimulate growth through deficit financing and the lowering of interest rates is not available.

3. America has unique and persistent problems such as falling house prices, a reluctant to raise taxes and the ongoing drain of overseas military commitments.

4. There is friction between China and its trading partners, especially America, over the value of the yuan and persistent trade imbalances.

5. There are special concerns over China such as its continued desire to hold low yielding American debt and the sustainability of its economic model which has been reliant on exports and investments.

These concerns are summarised in a fear that we are on the verge of a second GFC. Hence the questions presented at the start of this article.

This is a reprinted summary from an article in http://www.barrylizmore.com.au

Barry Lizmore is a financial planner in Melbourne Australia and is a lecturer in financial planning at Deakin University. I have recently written a book, “Take Control of Your Money” which explains the financial planning process and answers questions such as:

What is financial planning? What can a financial planner do for me and how much can I do for myself? What questions should I ask a financial planner? How much should advice cost me and how do I know if I am getting good advice? How can I determine my lifestyle and financial goals? How can I reduce risk?

My educational web site which includes information on my book is http://www.barrylizmore.com.au

Jan 18

Fine wine investment market has changed dramatically in the last twenty years and is booming, even more so since Hong Kong removed a duty they had on wine, and demand has risen dramatically.

Investors look to alternatives ways to invest their money in trying times and with Asia’s rapid wealth, which looks only to increase, more and more money will be invested in fine wine. Investing in wine is thriving amongst the Asian markets, especially with the increasing demand from China.

Wine is generally more stable than stock-market linked indices allowing investors to securely own a tangible asset. Wine has always held its value and the reason why Bordeaux is a worthy asset is simply down to the laws of supply and demand. Investors want high returns from wine and fine wines can be a good, low-risk long term investment and less likely to follow the same paths as equity markets. There is no doubt that over the last 25 years wine has been a sound investment. Even in a bad harvest with a low quota, wines still get consumed and demand still remains stable and even grows with prices increasing up to 20% a year. Some wine investments have already outperformed gold and crude oil investments.

Fine wine is the only asset that operates with a perfect supply curve. It is the uniqueness in demand in wines that create a consistent growth curve which is why wine has little in common to other asset classes in terms of volatility. Wine investment is tax free as it does not attract Capital Gains Tax. VAT and Duty may also be avoided if your wine investment is kept in bonds.

Fine wine as an investment should be bought from a reputable source and storing the wine correctly is vital to ensuring its investment potential. There is a huge choice of fine wine investment companies to help people get into the market, and investors need not know anything about vintage wine.

Case prices vary but some top performers can command £5000 for each case and it is not uncommon for prices to be double that. Investors should benefit from a full market cycle between three and five years with maximum returns on an eight to ten year period. It has always been said that wine matures with age and so does the investment. As wines mature and become consumed, they becomes rarer which adds value to investments.

Wine investment is not a new trend, and is no longer the domain of the knowledgeable few as more and more investors are benefiting greatly and joining this exciting and vibrant market.

Written by Vin-X wine investment brokers, http://www.vin-x.co.uk.

Nov 22

In the current global climate, defined by low interest rates; high inflation; volatile investment markets; and poor short term visibility, investors are seeking out alternative investments that generate growth and income that does not depend on traditional market performance.

As such, much attention has been focussed on timber investments as a tool to preserve capital, hedge inflation and generate superior income in a low-risk environment.

Institutional Investors such as pension funds, university endowments and hedge funds have long known the benefits of investing in timber assets, with many such as the Yale University Endowment Fund holding 28 per cent of their investment portfolio in real-asset alternative investments including tropical forestry investments and farmland.

Timber investments are seen as generating non-correlative investment returns due to the fact that the majority of revenues is sourced from the biological growth of the tree, with only a small percentage of return attributed to timber price growth or land value appreciation. One credible university study found that over 60 per cent of returns from forestry investments can be attributed to the ‘biological hedge’.

Demand for timber products remains strong, and rises roughly in line with population expansion, a factor compounded by economic expansion in developing nations leading to a n increase in consumption of timber products per capita as new homes and other infrastructure in developed.

Currently, around 30 per cent of global timber supplies are sourced from illegal logging, and a further 40 per cent form unsustainable sources. The future demand dynamics then indicates that timber investments are likely to continue to outperform other assets such as equities, as they have for the past 30 years.

Taking a very broad view, forestry investment returns can be enhanced and potential downside risk substantially reduced through the application of strategic species and location selection, combined with experienced forestry management to create a sustainable and profitable investment model.

Broadly speaking, the faster a tree grows into commercially viable timber, the greater the return on investment, so selecting fast-growing tropical timber species is the first step in consolidating profitable forestry investments. Bamboo is one example of a timber species with great potential as a subject of sustainable forestry investments due to the fact that the rate of biological growth is so rapid as to ensure a commercially viable, harvestable timber stand within 4 years of planting.

Other features to take into account to maximise forestry investment returns are sustainable plantations managements, suitable site selection and investing in upstream products developments, allowing timber growers to process their raw materials and sell value-added timber products such as boards and other processed wood products.

Investors interesting in harnessing the characteristics of forestry investments for their own portfolio should be encouraged to seek advice from an independent third party with experience in identifying and delivering successful forestry investment projects.

DGC Asset Management provide independent advice for Investors interested in direct forestry investments.

Nov 11

TEAK – the truly ‘Hard Asset’

Plantation Asset Management Limited now offers one of the best opportunities for private investors to add long-term value accreditation to their portfolios by owning their own teak plantation on specially selected land in Brazil. Projected returns – based on historic price data and industry production averages – show that £10,000 invested now will produce a total return of £140,000 over 25 years. These returns reflect only 5% annual price inflation for teak wood, which has in fact seen average annual price rises of 5.2% over the past 30 years.

And all this comes with the major advantage that Capital Gains Tax and Inheritance Tax breaks exist for all forestry investments, so that you can lock away assets for your retirement, or your children and grandchildren without worrying about the long-term tax implications. The tax advantages will also boost overall returns even further. So, whether you are planning for retirement or long-term savings goals, such as university and college fees, planting teak now will ensure you meet your targets. In this offer from Plantation Asset Management you will also have the protection of full insurance of your trees against any fire or storm damage. This insurance is built into the capital cost of your investment, and comes with a warranty that ensures the nursery company responsible for initial planting will compensate you if more than 20% of the teak saplings die within the first year. Your land will be purchased on a 30-year lease, and individual investors will own their leased land and trees enabling investors to choose their own exit timing. Management of individual plantations will be at the choice of the investor, from a choice of three local forestry management companies – all well qualified, experienced and known to Plantation Asset Management.

Because of its strength, durability and weather-resistant properties, teak wood has been highly-prized and valued for centuries and remains a key component of modern construction and design. The wood is used in the making of floors, outdoor decking, outdoor furniture, solid doors and expensive decks for boats, as well as high-grade indoor furniture and fittings. Currently, there is strong demand for teak across China, Europe, India, Japan and the USA, and world consumption of industrial wood is expected to grow by 60% in the next five years, so that demand will overtake current potential supply in 2015 (source: United Nations). Thus, investment in teak wood now is a priority for forward-thinking investors.

Hard Wood = Hard Asset = Hard Cash

Teak is relatively fast growing, maturing in 10-15 years, and most furniture makers suggest teak wood aged between 12-15 years is ideal for their business – at this age teak has all the durability and weather resistance but is more easily workable than fully matured wood. Younger wood still has its uses, particularly at the cheaper end of the furniture spectrum and for fencing and light construction, whilst fully mature wood is the most valuable. Peak returns for teak are usually projected at 20-25 years, which is why Plantation Asset Management Limited has structured its offering on a 25-year plan, in which investors can exit after just 5, 10, 15 or 20 years. We will buy back your land and trees at cost + 5% per annum or you have the option to sell via our website trading platform or to a third party at any time. The offer comes with a low minimum investment of just £3,450 – including the plantation management fee. Investment is based on plots of 1/10th of a hectare (roughly a quarter of an acre), and investors can buy multiple plots subject to availability. Unlike many other forestry products there are no other further or on going costs/fees. This is a unique proposition. Management costs, including insurance, of the plantations are built into your investment, and you will receive regular information on the progress of planting and growth to be provided by the project managers. You are also free to visit your plantation and meet the farm managers and inspect your trees.

Select-Global is one of the most influential and innovative companies in the Alternative Investment and SIPP Investment arena.  We are dedicated to guiding our investors through the sometimes complex world of investment opportunities that the global Alternative Investment markets offer.

Oct 31

There has been a surprising, although not fully unanticipated, rise in the amount of alternative investors over recent years and various specialist investment companies now exist to cater for this demand by offering investments that are not only lucrative, but are also environmentally friendly.

Investing in our own planet is becoming big business these days and now there are a number of ways solo investors and larger companies and organisations can make money whilst concentrating on reducing their own carbon emissions.

Carbon Trading

Carbon trading is basically an economical approach to reducing pollution and the resultant build up of green house gasses in the earth’s atmosphere which in turn leads to climate change and global warming, and so far it has been very effective. Industries that emit pollutants into the atmosphere are now required to purchase permits to do so. The total amount they are permitted to pollute comes under strict controls. All industries must have these permits, and these permits are effectively carbon credits. Each carbon credit is worth 1 tonne of Co2 or the equivalent amount of emitted polutants.

This credit system encourages those who pollute to reduce their emissions, and when they do so they will have spare credit that they can trade to industries and businesses that need more credit to increase their own levels. This way the polluting business that buys the excess credit isn’t really adding any more Co2 to the atmosphere because they have purchased the credit from a business that has reduced their pollution level.

This trading provides avenues for investment by identifying those companies who are attempting to gain carbon credit by reducing emissions.

Pensions

Carbon credits are also a very popular choice for SIPPs (self invested personal pensions). Because only a few, very select investments are made each year, and the tax office allows for extra revenue to be made from SIPPs, there is a very good chance of excellent returns. If you’re going to put money away for your future retirement and you want an alternative investment, then you may as well invest it in something that will give you a good return and also protect rare Earth commodities for future generations too.

This is further enabled through investment specialists being able to offer short, medium and long term investments, with exit strategies in place to allow investors to get out when they want; very unlike collective investment schemes that don’t allow this type of management and manoeuvrability.

Select-Global is one of the most influential and innovative companies in the Alternative Investment and SIPP Investment arena.  We are dedicated to guiding our investors through the sometimes complex world of investment opportunities that the global Alternative Investment markets offer. Our mission is to provide the most up-to-date information and investment advice in the world’s most favourable Alternative Investment and SIPP Investment markets. We pride ourselves on the unparalleled levels of professionalism and the ethical services we offer our clients. http://www.select-global.com

Oct 24

The “socially responsible” and green investment market has been growing exponentially over the last few years, making up over 11% of all assets under professional management. This should not come as a surprise, considering that more and more top CEOs and institutional investors are adopting a decision-making paradigm that requires social and environmental impacts to be carefully considered before money is lent or invested.

Yet despite all of this growth, research shows that this market is far smaller than it would be if investors were more fully informed about how competitive the returns could be. Luckily, this inefficiency has and could pay off for those investors who have stayed ahead of the investment curve. As we learnt with the internet boom of the 90s, it is generally the early stage and informed investor who ultimately succeeds.

The challenge of green investing is twofold: To increase personal wealth while avoiding harm to people and the environment. This can be a daunting task, but new breed of investment consultancy companies specialising in green investment projects in rapidly growing, emerging markets, aim to provide unique green investment opportunities that will maximise the profit for investors, as they at the same time work towards a healthier planet.

These companies specialise in consulting on green investments, with the conviction that they are destined to make a higher, longer and more sustainable return on investment than traditional stocks and bonds.

Together, socially responsible and Green investing should aim to help make the planet a better place. As we collectively strive towards this goal, one thing is undeniable: Enormous profits are at stake as the World goes Green. Perhaps, the time has come where we are now witnessing the next social and technological revolution that will change the course of history.

The timing could not be more perfect for new investors. It should be possible to generate solid returns, capital wealth and environmental protection at the same time. Sustainable investment is the only investment that has a future, and investment strategies concentrating on this theme will also help to restore and maintain the health of our forests, fields and seas.

The main aim for Green Investors is to find new, ecologically responsible and profitable solutions to global environment dilemmas. Investment consultants have to understand that the only viable way to attract adequate investment capital to restore and maintain global health is to ensure that green investing is more attractive than the alternatives.

GlobalGreenCapacity Ltd. acts as consultant on green and socially responsible investments to the private and institutional investor community in Europe Our goal is to provide consultancy to managers of unique, green investment opportunities that will maximise the profit for investors, as they at the same time work towards a healthier planet.

Aug 11

Investment is the best strategy to secure your finances, specially when recession is ready to rock your boat. The unrelenting negative economic news of past two weeks have painted a grim picture of global finances. Recession predictions have started proliferating faster than reality shows. It’s the indication to make a shift in your investment decision, and think differently; rather smartly.

Following are some core investment strategy to encounter the negative effects of recession:

Stocks

Recession is a part of economic cycle. It can be considered as a natural part of growth, wherein the cycle comes to rest and creates a breathing room for economy to regain its strength. If you are smart enough and have a long term investment plan, recession can be one of the best opportunities for buying stocks.

Foreign currency exchange

From investors point of view, investing in foreign currency is a very attractive option. Such investments offer diversification as the individual currencies have low correlation amongst themselves, and in general they also do have low correlation with other asset classes. There are different ways to diversify into foreign currency, and the most recommended is Forex Investment Market.

Equity in other countries

Investment on other countries whose economy is more independent, makes a sense during recession. Such investments can be helpful for investors hoping to diversify their business portfolios. The Asian markets are least correlated to the U.S. stock market globally, and unfurls a great opportunity for foreign investment.

India is amongst the most preferred destinations for global investors. The country in the past has shown great resilience during the global meltdown which started in USA in 2007. Investing in India can be a wise decision because of the encouragement provided government of India to the foreign investors. FDI (Foreign Direct Investment) initiatives and liberal foreign investment policies makes India the destination of choice for global investors.

Real estate

Real estate can be one of the major investments during the tough time of recession. During the time of financial uncertainty, it is recommended to focus on attaining cash-flow from the investment made in property rather than appreciation.

Investment in gold

Gold is a proven, quality, long term asset with universal acceptability. The precious metal serves as a wealth store during a slide into deep crisis. Buying gold purely protects the wealth and tend to multiply the investment with the passage of time. It has been observed that value of gold has been constantly rising in recent months as many investors are spooked with the fear of inflation and financial turmoil.

http://finance.indiamart.com/

Apr 27

Saving money and investing it to earn something extra is a common process. Either an investment is made for buying a house or for doubling the money, both types of payments help to secure your future. If you are a regular news reader or news listener and follow the information provided on the business segment, you might be aware of the rising value of Iraqi dinars. Seeing such an increase in the Iraq’s currency value, the desire of the individuals to invest in the market gets stimulated. Dinar investment, however, is supposed to be the maximum money-making business for the individuals who wish to get profits. With such an enhancement in the investment market, Iraq keeps on forming new currencies, the most recent of which is the 10000 dinar.

With the dominance of dinar investment process, the current currency market of Iraq has received immense appreciation and has gained huge popularity in the financial sphere. But still some people doubt whether making an investment in this case would be a practical decision. Seeing the fraud financial cases in recent times, emergence of such a doubt in the minds of the investors is totally justifiable. If they invest somewhere, which would not give them any return, it will be useless. Thus, to play safe and make a wise financial decision, it is important for them to know more and more about the facts related to dinar investment in Iraq.

Around the year 2003, the value of Iraqi dinars had lowered down to a great extent. This was the time when the nation got invaded. But over a period of time, the political and economic status of the country has stabilized to such an extent that even the worst situations faced by the citizens have been brought under control. This has ultimately fostered the dinar investment market to a maximum limit. One more factor that needs a mention here is the enhanced security measures of Iraq, which has made it quite convenient and safe for the investors to go for dinar investment without any fear of getting trapped in fraudulent issues.

In addition to security, improved value of the Iraqi currency has also made the money market of the nation reliable. During its initial phase, the dinar investment market was limited to domestic investors, but gradually, it approached the foreign market as well and received affirmative response. The only fear of unsafe financial transaction compelled the foreign investors not to invest in the Iraqi dinar market, but the enhanced security situations have helped the outside investors to make profits in this currency market without any hesitation and fear.

Whether you invest in 10000 dinar in the currency market of Iraq or lower, you must make sure that you do it after considering some of the major aspects of the process. Before you opt for making dinar investment, analyze and examine how stable an Iraqi market is and the boundaries to which the business of such an investment extends. To know whether this option is right for you, go through the terms and conditions that are required to be followed and see if they all suit your requirements.

Sam Pattison is not only an investor on Iraqi dinar but also a freelance content writer. For information on dinar investment & 10000 dinar he recommends you to visit http://www.gidassociates.com/.

Apr 25

Yes, you, a women, can invest safely in the stock market. My daughter shivers at the thought but knows she must and so can you.

Too often ladies think the stock market is a man’s world or that it is too risky. The “too risky” attitude is actually what keeps most women out of the market. The only reason two of my three daughters have investments is because their workplace offers retirement accounts.

If you are like any of my daughters you look at investing in a similar way: your money is too precious to lose, buying new shoes is very important and for the kids always need new clothes. None of these viewpoints should keep you out of the investment world and in fact should be reasons to be an investor. Let’s look at these in a bit more detail:

Money is too precious – absolutely true, but investing doesn’t mean you have to take unnecessary risks. Speeding through a yellow light is taking an unnecessary risk. Investing can be safe if you follow key, conservative buying and selling rules like I have mentioned in other articles and use software that allows you to the option of setting it up to reflect your own personal nature. Putting money in an ordinary savings account today sets you up to lose. If inflation is running at 2.7%, today’s rate, and a typical savings account is paying 0.01% then you are automatically losing big time because your money sitting in that savings account will have less buying power tomorrow and especially in a year than if it were invested conservatively in a dividend paying stock, ETF, or mutual fund.

New Shoes and New Clothes – this answer to being able to afford to spend more may not make sense at first, but think about it a moment. If you have an investment plan like I have discussed in previous articles that generates money instead of losing it in a savings account, you can take those profits and buy more clothes and shoes.

If you are like my daughter who loves new clothes and can hardly avoid any sale at Macy’s or the Gap and shivers with the thought of putting her hard earned cash in the investment markets, then like she and I have discussed, you need to look at investing from your perspective and not from a typical man’s perspective.

Her perspective is that she wants the money to be there tomorrow. That is her first and foremost thought. Does she want it to grow and build? You bet, but she wants the original amount to be as rock solid as possible. The keys to investing from this perspective are simple:

• Use a reliable, proven, easy software program to make buy/sell recommendations
• Avoid stock tips
• Consider ETFs and mutual funds because they offer diversification and more safety than just putting all your dollar eggs in one stock basket
• Write down you concerns and objectives so you can tailor your investing to your personality and goals.

Author Raymond Dominick is the designer of Dynamic Investor Pro investment software for stocks, ETFs and mutual funds. He has been investing in the markets since his teenage years. An experienced business manager and journalist, he has been a registered investment advisor representative, also a professional photographer who loves escaping to the wonders of Glacier National Park in Montana.
View his software at: http://www.dynamicinvestorpro.com

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