Category Archives: Investments
ABLE Plans: Helping Families of Kids With Special Needs Save for the Future
Starting July 1, Florida families with children who have special needs will have another option available to help them save for the future costs of caring for their loved one. Florida’s ABLE United Program is one of four such plans nationwide. The ABLE (Achieving a Better Life Act) investment plan will allow families to… Read More »
How to Make Sense of Your Monthly Account Statements
Brokerage account statements can be lengthy and complicated. Having a basic idea of what you are looking at, however, can help you spot mistakes, unauthorized activity, and even fraud. Here are the key types of information generally found on monthly account statements and some potential red flags that warrant follow-up with your brokerage firm…. Read More »
What to Know Before Following your Broker to a New Firm
If you have been with your broker for a while, chances are you have developed a good relationship with him or her. If he or she decides to change brokerage firms one day, you will most likely be asked to follow him or her to the new brokerage firm. A good relationship with your… Read More »
Securities-Backed Lines of Credit: Are They Worth the Risk?
If you have a brokerage account, you have probably received a pitch from your broker for a securities-backed line of credit (SBLOC). Contrary to the flashy marketing brochure you may have seen, SBLOCs aren’t the best things since sliced bread. Know the facts before you consider one. An SBLOC is a non-purpose revolving line… Read More »
Master Limited Partnerships: What You Need to Know
We have received several inquiries recently about investments in master limited partnerships (MLPs). It seems that, although the popularity of MLPs is growing, many investors still don’t understand exactly what an MLP is or the risks involved in investing in one. An MLP is a kind of limited partnership that is publicly traded on… Read More »
Crowdfunding and Securities? What?!
As many readers may know, “crowdfunding” is a modern innovation for raising money. Typically using internet sites like Indiegogo, Kickstarter, or GoFundMe, a person can set up a website to raise money to develop a product or initiate some kind of project. Projects funded through crowdfunding range the gamut from feature films to video… Read More »
Joining the Crowd: Crowdfunding 101 for Investors
Starting May 16, 2016, companies can use crowdfunding to offer securities to John Q. Public. Crowdfunding generally refers to obtaining small individual investments from a large number of people to finance a particular project. Here are some helpful tips to see if making a crowdfunding investment may be right for you. Who uses crowdfunding?… Read More »
The Dangers of Non-Traded REITs
Many investors may be familiar with an investment known as a REIT, or real estate investment trust. A REIT is a trust or a company that owns real-estate-related assets, such as apartment buildings, commercial office space, or mortgage debt. REITs come in many shapes and sizes and often specialize in one type of real… Read More »
High Yields on CD’s May Mean Hidden High Commissions
High-yield CD’s offer higher interest rates than other bank products. What the promoters of these high-yield CD’s don’t tell you is that the commissions are much higher than bank CD’s. The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) recently issued an investor alert to warn investors that some companies are now using marketing ploys in which… Read More »
How to Find the Right Financial Advisor for You
Are you just starting to invest and ready to open your first brokerage account? Are unhappy with your current broker? Here are some tips from the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) on how to find the right financial advisor and brokerage firm. Ask for Recommendations Talk to your friends and family members about who… Read More »