|
learn
about iMarketing
mybybe.com
video products
wordpress
blog templates
"Discover
How to Create Tens, Possibly Hundreds of New, Automatic
Profit Streams by Exploiting the Most Lucrative
Niche Markets Within Minutes!" one that
we use
our
big list of sites
for sale make us an offer we can`t
refuse-on one or all
c
GET 32 READY TO GO PLR PRODUCTS
YOU CAN USE RIGHT AWAY -CLICK
HERE
How
to Start an Investment Club
For Fun and Profit
This
information is designed to give you all the information about
an investment club, including how to start one and keep it
running successfully.
Online
Trading For Financial Freedom.
Online stock trading, daytrading and short term investing strategy for beginning
and experienced traders alike. You’ll be able to start your own investment club after
you read this and follow the steps outlined here. There
are many investment clubs around the country that have been
running for a long time. With a bit of work and planning
you too can be part of a successful investment club.
After reading this you’ll learn the following:
· What an investment club is all about
· The excitement of investing
· Why you should start an investing club
· Personal reasons for starting an investment
club
· Characteristics that should be present
in both the investment club and its members
· The different types of investors
· How to find members for an investment club
· What to expect from the first meeting
· What types of officers to elect for the
club
· Different types of business models
· How to register your investment club
· The importance of a mission statement
· The importance of an education program
· Types of brokers
· Types of investment software
· Resources for investment clubs
· The most active stocks today
· The meaning of stock symbols
· A glossary of investing terms
This information will get you up and investing in no time
and can be used as a guideline for successfully starting
your
own investment club.
The important thing is to have fun investing and learning
about the stock market with a group of people that share
your interests.
What is an Investment Club?
The definition of an investment club is simple:
a group of people who share an interest in the stock
market pooling their resources into one large investment.
Defining how an investment club works is more complicated.
In
most cases the investment club will be registered as a partnership
and the members of the club will make decisions together
on what stocks they consider to be a good investment risk.
The majority of the time the investment decisions will
be made after some research has been done regarding the stock
that is under consideration. This will be discussed at length
further in this book.
An important feature of an investment club is that the members are there to
have fun as they invest their money and learn about the stock market. Making
a profit isn’t the only goal of the club and members are encouraged to have
fun as they invest their money.
An investment club isn’t for those people who are looking
for a fast way to make some easy money. People who want a
quick turn around are discouraged from joining an investment
group and investing on their own.
A main feature of the investment group is to start to learn
how to invest your money and to invest for a long term rather
than a short one.
There are several things that you should keep in mind if you are thinking about
starting an investment club or have in interest in joining one that already
exists.
Make sure that you understand all the reasons why you should
start an investment group and the requirements needed to
be successful as a group. The following is a list of important
ideas and information that you should consider before starting
your club:
· Be realistic. If you’re starting an investment
club to make a killing in the stock market, you’ll most likely
be very disappointed. The goal of an investment club is to
learn more about the stock market and if you have dreams
of becoming rich you’ll be starting the club for the wrong
reasons. Joining an investment club means joining for a long
period of time.
·
Expect to be an amateur. Starting an investment club doesn’t
mean that you have to be an expert on the stock market. In
fact, an investment club is ideal for a group of amateurs
who want to learn about how the stock market works and what
it can do for them. An investment club is a safe environment
in which you can invest a little bit of money and not worry
about losing a large amount of your hard earned dollars when
something unexpected happens.
·
Amount of money to invest. Don’t think that you need a lot
of money for investment purposes to start an investment club.
The opposite is in fact true: you don’t need to have a lot
of money to invest to start an investment club. You can set
a minimal fee for each month’s contribution that is fits
into your budget. You’ll have the chance to determine what
the minimum monthly contribution should be each month when
you have your first meeting of the investment club.
·
Combined investment money. On your own you may not have enough
money to invest in the stock market in a way in which you
may be able to realize a profit. However, when you combine
your investment dollars with the dollars of others in the
club you’ll have a significant amount of money to invest
in the stocks that you’ve been watching and think may be
successful. Keep in mind that just as there is strength in
numbers there is also a shared sense of security when you’re
not investing alone.
·
Diplomacy. One thing that you should keep in mind is that
your voice will be part of the larger group and you may not
always have a say in which stocks you want to invest in.
If you’re unable to sit back and let another decision take
the place of something that you would rather see, then an
investment club might not be for you. You’ll need to have
the ability to let the majority rule whenever a decision
is made.
·
Learning experience. You should be prepared to be satisfied
to never realize a profit from the stock market. One of the
important goals and features of an investment club is that
you benefit from the learning experience of being with other
people with the same interests in the stock market. If you
never make a penny you should still be pleased with your
participation as part of an investment group.
Starting your own investment club will be a pleasurable, and perhaps profitable,
way to spend time with other people that share the same investment passion that
you do.
You’ll be able to learn about the stock market in a safe
and secure environment with other people that understand
your fascination with the stock market.
The Thrill of Investing
Investing in the stock market is a fun and exciting way to learn more about financing
and more about investing your money successfully. When you start watching the
stock market you’ll see stock prices fall drastically overnight or jump madly
into a crazy arc of profit.
This thrill can be exciting and fun but you need to determine if this type
of risk taking with your hard earned money is something that you want to participate
in or watch from afar.
You have to be very aware of the fact that you could lose the money that
you’ve invested overnight. If your goal for your finances is to save money
safely so that you can retire, then maybe you need to put your money into a
savings account and watch it grow slowly.
However, if you’re willing to take risks so that your money has the potential
to increase fast and in large amounts, then you have the perfect personality
for someone who should be part of an investment club.
People who are part of an investment club are willing to take chances so that
they can make a profit, enjoying the entire process of the stock market and
checking each day to see how their stocks have done overnight.
But they are also sane and rational when it comes to their
money, wanting to retire with a nice sized nest egg as a
cushion.
Investing in the stock market is one way that you can make
large sums of money while having fun doing so.
When you invest in the stock market you need to be prepared
to have some periods of time where you’re operating at a
loss. During those periods when the stock market is slow
you’re probably better off putting your money into a savings
account in the bank.
But if you’re patient and ride out the slow times of the
stock market you’ll come back with a bang and make more of
a profit than if you had actually put your money into a savings
account.
When you’re part of an investment club you’re combining
your money with other investors who patiently wait through
the slow periods of the market for your investment profits
to pick up again.
There are several good reasons why investing in the stock market is both wise
and profitable:
· You have the chance for much better results and
profits than when you invest your money in annuity savings
or into the bank. Your money will be much more “liquid”,
meaning that you have the ability to move it around in the
stock market which you might not be able to do if you lock
your money into a savings account. This doesn’t mean that
you want to constantly buy and sell your stock. It does,
however, mean that you’ll have more control over where your
money goes, what you do with it, and how much of it you want
to invest into the stock market.
·
When you invest in the stock market you’ll have diversity
with your savings and money that you get from other sources,
such as inherited money, insurance, real estate, or your
business ventures. If you have extra money that isn’t spoken
for by bills and other expenses you’ll want to think about
investing your money.
·
You have the ability to realize some dreams in your life
that you may not be able to meet if you didn’t have the profit
that you can make from investing. Playing the stock market
means taking some of your dreams and making them a reality.
·
You’ll become much more knowledgeable about the investing
and business environment. If you already have an interest
in money investing then being part of an investment club
is a great way to obtain more knowledge and share your similar
interests with other people. You’ll be able to meet on a
regular basis with people who are learning about the stock
market right beside you.
·
When you invest in the stock market you’re taking your finances
into your own control. You’re not counting on the government
for your future financial requirements.
Being part of an investment club is exciting and fun. Making
profit along the way is a great bonus and will encourage
you even further.
Always keep in mind that you may never see a substantial
profit for many years. This shouldn’t discourage you, but
rather it should inspire you as you do something that interests
you.
Reasons For Starting a Club
Now that you know the thrill and excitement that investing in the stock market
can bring to your life you’ll want to know some of the reasons why people start
investment clubs. These reasons include:
· Combined investment knowledge. When you work with a group of people
who have a similar interest in the stock market you’ll be able to have a huge
amount of combined knowledge working in your favor. Even those complete newcomers
to the stock market will have a valued opinion and pieces of information that
when you add it all together equals a lot of thinking power. So long as you
have a plan of diplomacy you’ll be able to make decisions about where you’re
going to invest your money in such as way as the choice is of the majority
and is based on a great deal of thought. If you’re unable to take direction
from a group of people that you’re working with then an investment club may
not be for you.
·
Personal risk is low. Even though the money that your club has to invest can
be quite large, your own personal contribution can be very minimal. This way
you’re not risking a lot of your money while you learn how the stock market
works. You can still make some great investments but your loss factor will
be manageable for you. Keep in mind that when your club makes a profit, no
matter how small, the amount must be distributed throughout the membership.
·
More room for profit. Recent studies of investment clubs show that when a group
of people make investment decisions after a series of discussions and debates,
the potential for profit is greater than when individuals make their own decisions
about where and how to invest their money.
·
Similar interests. Members of an investment club enjoy getting together on
a regular basis to discuss the investment market and to learn more about a
subject that greatly interests them.
·
Invest regularly. Investment clubs have the ability to invest in the stock
market even when the market is dropping or is slow. Because the money in spread
out among a group of members the room for huge personal loss doesn’t exist.
·
Reinvest. Since most members are part of an investment club for fun, and to
learn more about the stock market, there will be more room for reinvesting
the gains and dividends that are earned from successful investments. When you
invest on your own you won’t be as willing to part with earned investment money
and reinvest everything that you gain.
·
Spread out investments. When you’re investing with a group of people you can
diversify your investments and not limit yourself to just one or two market
choices.
There are many other reasons why it’s mutually beneficial for people to join
together in an investment club. The main reason is that people have a genuine
interest in sharing their investment experience and knowledge with others with
the same interests.
Personal Reasons For Joining an Investment Club
There are personal reasons that you’ll want to start or join an investment
club. You’ll finally have the opportunity to play the stock market in a safe
environment that is low risk and lets you learn more about a subject that greatly
interests you.
Personal reasons for joining an investment club include:
· Confidence. You may feel safer and more secure when you learn about
the investment world with a group of other people with similar interests.
Starting out. If you’ve always wanted to invest in the stock market but been
reluctant to lose large sums of money because you don’t know what you’re doing,
then an investment club is great for you since you can be part of a large investment
team.
·
Low investments. If you only have a small amount of money to invest each month,
such as $25 to $60 dollars, then an investment club is perfect for you. You can
invest small amounts of money into the larger combined total of the entire club.
·
Investing education. If you’ve always wanted to learn more about investing in
the stock market, but you keep putting your interest aside, an investment club
is a great way to inspire you to attend meetings and learn more about how to
invest.
·
Socializing. Getting together with a group of people with similar interests is
an enjoyable way to learn about something that you’ve always wanted to be knowledgeable
about.
·
Inspiration. When you can safely work with people with similar interests you’ll
be inspired to take chances and learn as much as you can about investing.
There are many other personal reasons why you should start or join an investment
club. The main thing is that you want to invest some of your money in a way
that is fun and educational.
Federal
Grants! - Free Government Money!
FederalGrantSource.com free government money, business grants and cash grants
directory.
Requirements of a Successful Investment Club
For an investment club to be successful there are several requirements which
need to be in place so that the club runs and functions smoothly. When a group
of people come together with similar interests they need to have certain conditions
that are met and basic rules that are followed.
Each member of the club needs to be certain of the expectations and needs
to have some simple attributes that are met.
Some of these requirements are:
· Investment goals. Each member of the group needs to have the same
goal in mind and the same methods of achieving that goal. If some members of
the group are only interested in making a profit, instead of learning more
about investing and the details involved, there will be a divided set of goals.
All members of the club should have the same philosophy about investing.
·
Long term goals. Members of the club should be clear on what the long term
goals of the club are all about. There should be an understanding established
of what amount of the profits that are realized from investments are going
to be held and which amount is going to be reinvested immediately back into
the stock market. There should be an equal amount of growth and stability that
is agreed upon.
·
Organized communication. Club members should communicate on a regular basis.
Part of the experience of starting an investment club is getting together to
enjoy similar interests and goals.
·
Mandatory meetings. It’s important that members of the group are able to attend
all meetings. When there are decisions that need to be made about ongoing investments
and future investments it’s important that all members are part of the decision
process. If the group decision is held up because some members don’t attend
regularly the endeavors of the investment group are jeopardized.
·
Stock decisions. Before any stock is purchased or sold it will be required
that all members of the investment club are part of the study of these stocks
and part of the final decision.
·
Internet access. Members of the investment club will want to have computers
with Internet access so that they can keep track of the market from their homes
and so that they can communicate with other members on a frequent basis. The
importance of good communication between members of the group can’t be stressed
enough.
·
Accountability checkpoints. It will be very important that the investment club
have checkpoints in place that account for all investments, profits, losses,
and other money issues. These checkpoints should be readily available for all
members of the club to read at point in time.
An investment club needs to run smoothly with a great amount of reliability and
confidence among its members. When all members of the club expect and meet the
same requirements everyone works together in a way that induces success and,
hopefully, some profitability.
Get $25,000
In Free Grant Money!
Get at least $25,000 in Free Grant Money for Business and Personal needs
Proposals & Business
Docs Made Easy.
Stylish Ms Word Business Forms and Tech Templates.
Easy Money
To Start Your Business!
Here's How I Got Over $250,000 To Start Mine In Only 17 Days And How You Can
Do It Too!
Types of Investors
There are different styles and types of investors
that exist in the stock market. Investors use the
stock market to build their investment portfolio
so that they can see a long term profit that takes
place over a long period of time.
Someone who is just using the stock market to make money quickly for a short
period of time is called a “trader”. Members of an investment group fall into
the first category: they are in the investment market for the long haul.
There are different types of investors that use different methods to analyze
the market and the market conditions.
These three methods of analyzing the market are:
· Technical analysis. This method of analysis is used by a “momentum”
investor. Technical analysis looks at the price fluctuations that occur in
the stock market. The investor bases the decision to buy or sell on what he
feels the price will do next.
·
Fundamental analysis #1. Fundamental analysis is used by the “growth” investor.
This type of analysis decides if a certain company is a good investment based
on the earnings of the company, growth sales, and margins of profit.
·
Fundamental analysis #2. A “value” investor uses this type of analysis. This
method of analysis is similar to the analysis that a growth investor uses but
is slightly different. A value investor takes a close look at those companies
in the stock market that have a low value. The investor looks at stocks that
are currently cheap and low but that have the potential to make a good comeback.
Most investment clubs use the fundamental method of analysis to make most
of their investing decisions.
They find companies that are listed on the stock market that show good growth,
profit, and earnings but that are still cheap to buy and haven’t yet reached
their potential.
Members of the investment club buy this stock and hold on to it for several
years so long as the fundamentals, as listed previously, continue to hold strong.
This type of investment strategy is called “buy and hold”.
Getting an Investment Club Started
Step 1 – Finding Members
Once you have the basic information gathered together about why you should
start an investment club, and the requirements that members should have, you’re
ready to take the first step towards officially starting your investment club.
You’ll need to find members to join your club and you can achieve in this
a number of ways.
If you have one or two friends who have shown a mutual interest in the stock
market or bond market you can approach them to join your investment club.
You can find other people who are interested in joining in your club by advertising
in the newspaper or by posting notices on community bulletin boards.
The important thing to remember is that you want to attract people who have
an interest in learning more about the stock market while they invest small
amounts of money.
You shouldn’t be too concerned if the majority of the people who have expressed
an interest in joining your club are all new to the stock market. In fact,
this can be a good thing that your club is composed of people who have no real
expertise in the market.
People who have prior experience with the stock market may quickly become frustrated
dealing with amateurs.
Don’t be too worried about being part of a group of people that have no experience
since there are many resources that are available to help you learn about investing
and the process that you need to follow.
Prior to your first meeting with those people interested in joining your
investment group you should provide them with information about the club. This
includes letting them know what the club is going to be about and how it should
be run.
Step 2 – The First Meeting
When you meet for the first time there are several things that you’ll need
to discuss. Let everyone have the opportunity to add their input into the meeting
so that all opinions are taken into account.
Make sure that you schedule a large amount of time for this first meeting
so that you have plenty of time to talk about all of the following issues:
· Common interest of the stock market. Make sure that all of you have
the same interest in starting an investment club. You want to make certain
that you’re all the same page about the club is all about.
·
Organization. Discuss the exact details of how the club is going to be run.
At this time you can talk about the goals of your club administration and how
you plan to achieve this organization.
·
Commitment. All members should be aware of the commitment level that is required
to participate in an investing club. This reaffirming that there is a seriousness
to be a member of the club will give anyone who has second thoughts a chance
to decline being a member.
·
Reading material. There should be a listing of material about investing that
everyone should read to become more familiar with investing techniques and
definitions. At the time of the next meeting members can start to discuss the
finer points of investing.
·
Strategy of investing. There should be a mutual agreement about what investing
style your club is going to focus on. Take a vote if the group is divided about
any investing issues. Since this is still the first meeting any member that
is in serious disagreement about the decisions made at this first meeting has
a chance to decline being a member. Members should agree that this is long
term commitment and if their goal is to get rich in a year or two and then
leave the club it goes against the goal of the investment club.
·
Monthly contribution. Members should come to a mutual agreement upon how much
money they are each going to contribute each month. Keep in mind that you can
make changes to the minimum amount policy at a later date. Many clubs start
out with small contributions of anywhere from $25 to $60 dollars. This money
is used for the club’s administrative fees as well as a contribution into the
investment fund.
The initial first meeting is a great way to clear the air and start to establish
some basic guidelines for the way your investment club is going to be run and
what your goals are going to be.
You’ll want to make sure that the majority of the members are thinking the
same way.
There are several other administrative issues that you’ll want to discuss
at your first meeting. These administrative issues include:
· Meeting times. All members should agree on (1) the days and time
that you’re going to meet (most investment clubs meet once each month), (2)
the place that you’re going to meet, (3) the length of the meetings (most meetings
last about two to three hours), (4) the organizational format that each meeting
is going to take.
·
Number of members. Agree on the size of the investment club. Studies show that
a good size for an investment club is approximately 12 to 15 members. When
you limit the size of the club to this many members you’re still small enough
to hold meetings in member’s homes.
·
Meeting place. You might want to come up with alternative meeting places, such
as local library or café, to use as an alternative meeting choice.
·
Club name. You’ll want to come up with a name for your investment club. You
don’t need to make this decision on your first meeting but members should come
to the next meeting ready with several ideas to share for a club name.
Once you’ve agreed on all of the above issues you’re ready for your second
meeting where you’ll be taking care of more of the finer points of investing,
such as legal details and tax issues.
To prepare for some of the more detailed information and decisions that you’re
going to have to make you should assign tasks to members to come prepared to
the next meeting with the following information and data:
· partnership agreement forms
·
information for preparing a mission statement
·
banking information
·
legal forms, such as tax information
·
information about forming a partnership
·
local bylaws about investing
·
broker information
·
accounting information
·
investing information and articles
·
a listing of current members, including phone numbers and addresses
When attention is paid to all of the above details your investment club will
be off to a good start.
Delegating duties is a great way to involve all members and to get tasks
completed in a timely fashion.
Step 3 - Election of Officers
When the time arrives for the second meeting of your investment club you’ll
want to finalize some decisions that have to do with the way your club is run
and organized.
You’ll want to determine some of the responsibilities that need to be met
and what officers are going to be elected to handle those responsibilities.
All positions should be clearly defined so that members can be elected to
these positions. Keep in mind that all members of the club will have responsibilities
but when you elect officers you’ll have certain positions filled where members
have a particular duty and task.
Most investment clubs will have the following officers:
· President. The president can also be known as the presiding partner.
The president is the one who decides when the next meeting is going to take
place (usually done with a mutual vote but made official by the president),
presides over the meetings, and plans activities (usually done with a mutual
decision by other members).
·
Vice president. The vice president can also be known as the assistant presiding
partner. The vice president is the member that stands in when the president
is absent or needs help with presidential duties. The vice president is often
the one who plans some of the educational information that is provided to the
club at meetings.
·
Treasurer. The treasurer is also known as the financial partner. The treasurer
is the one who deals with the brokerage firm and does the buying and the selling
of stock. The treasurer also is responsible for keeping accurate records of
the financial holdings of the club, the financial contributions of each of
the members, and any other records that concern themselves with money and financial
matters.
·
Secretary. The secretary is also known as the recording partner. The secretary
is responsible for keeping the minutes of each meeting. The secretary also
lets other members know of any upcoming meetings. If a member misses a meeting
the secretary is the one who passes the minutes of the last meeting to the
absent member so that everyone is kept up to date of all meeting decisions.
·
Education officer. Many clubs have what is known as an education officer. This
member of the club is responsible for organizing educational activities such
as guest speakers, reading materials, field trips, and presentations that have
to do with investing.
When you elect members to fill the above positions you’re simply making sure
that your club is run in an organized and efficient way.
Tips For the Second Meeting
After your first meeting has been a success you’ll want to make sure that certain
things have been completed for the second meeting.
These tasks include:
· Registering your investment clubs business entity with the state.
This includes the name of your investment club. When the paperwork returns,
the newly elected Secretary of your investment club should make sure that the
paperwork is filed and that members of the club have access to the information.
·
Tax ID Number. This is the time to file the information that is required to
obtain a Tax ID Number. The newly elected treasurer will now be able to open
up a banking checking account for your club as well open a brokerage account.
If your investment club hasn’t decided on what brokerage to use this task will
have to be delayed until a later date.
·
Education program. The vice president, or the education officer, should be
planning the first education program that you’re going to start learning.
·
Accounting. The newly elected treasurer should have the accounting system set
up by the time your second meeting rolls around.
·
Software programs. If your investment club is going to use other types of software
to keep track of stocks, profits, expenses, and other administrative information
the newly hired secretary can purchase this software and have it installed.
Remember to keep in mind that if more than one member of your club is going
to use the software program on their computer that you’ll have to purchase
multiple copies of the software or buy multiple licenses for more than one
user.
·
Copies of last minutes. The secretary should be sure to have copies of the
minutes from the last meeting available for all members of your club. This
is so that each member, whether or not they are an elected officer, feels that
they are a part of the entire investment club.
·
Original copies. All original copies of official documentation should be kept
by the secretary in a safe place. This includes any registration papers, member
information, stock purchases, and any other official records that need to safe
guarded.
Your investment group should be as well prepared as possible for the second
meeting. If you find that one or two people from the first meeting have dropped
out, but you still want to keep up the numbers of your membership, you should
invite any new members to this second meeting.
Step 4 – The Business Model
Your investment club will need to decide what type of entity you’re going to
adopt for business purposes. You’ll have to decide whether you’re going to
be a corporation, a general partnership, or limited liability partnership.
Each of these business models has their own advantages and disadvantages.
· Corporation. Most investment clubs will avoid becoming a corporation.
This is because corporations are taxable business entities that require knowledgeable
accounting skills to make them run smoothly and in accord with government regulations.
A corporation generally means a lot of paperwork. This paperwork can be avoided
by choosing another business model for your purpose of running an investment
club.
·
General partnership. This type of business model requires less paperwork and
knowledge about taxes and other financial issues. Most investment clubs choose
a general partnership as their choice of a business entity. A general partnership
has nominal paperwork and costs associated with it because the taxes are passed
to each partner’s tax returns. This type of business model will let you accomplish
what you need to do to run your investment club with the least amount of tax
influence.
·
Limited liability corporations. This type of a business model is much like
the general partnership but it gives individual members of your investment
group a bit more liability protection. Keep in mind that this type of business
entity can be expensive and will need more paperwork.
Members of your investment group will have to decide which of the above business
models works best for your club.
You will have to make a decision one way or the other since establishing
a business entity is a requirement for tax purposes.
Step 5 – Registration
Where your investment club is located will be a deciding factor about the requirements
for the registration of your club.
The requirements for registration will be different depending on what state
or province you live in.
You’ll have to contact your local government to find out what your own requirements
are.
If you live in the United States you can contact the Office of the Secretary
of State for more information about registering your investment club:
http://www.nass.org/sos/sosflags.html
The United States will assign what is known as a “Federal Tax ID Number”
to your investment club. You’ll need to use this ID number on all your tax
returns.
You’ll also need the ID number when you’re dealing with a brokerage firm
and your bank when you’re opening up accounts for your investment club.
To obtain a Federal Tax ID Number you need to get an IRS Form SS-4, which can
be obtained at any local library.
Or you can contact the IRS website directly on the Internet to obtain a copy.
http://www.irs.gov/businesses/small/article/0,,id=102767,00.html
The procedure, and process, of obtaining a government ID number for tax purposes
will vary depending on what country you live in. The above information is exclusive
to the United States.
No matter what country that you live in, it’s important that you request your
Tax ID Number as soon as you can to avoid delay. A delay could mean a delay
in your investing schedule.
Mission Statement
You’ll want to come up with an appropriate mission statement for your investment
club.
This isn’t something that you need to do right away but within a few months
of your startup you’ll want to have your mission statement in place.
A mission statement for your investment club is a simple way for you to stay
focused and aware of the goals that you’ve set out for your investment club.
Your mission statement will outline clearly how your investment club is going
to be organized and how you’re going to reach your goals.
You’ll want to write down your mission statement and make sure that each
member of the club, and any future members, has a copy of the mission statement.
Educational Program
When your investment club is just starting out you’ll want to find educational
material that is going to give all the members an overview of how investing works.
As time passes, and members become more experienced and knowledgeable about
investing, you’ll want to increase the intensity of your educational program.
No matter where you are in the level of education material that you’re looking
at you’ll want to have a definite plan about what you want to learn.
Start out slow with your educational program and build up. Take time to have
meetings that discuss just what each member knows about investing and what
they want to learn about the process.
Keep lists of what people want to learn so that you’ve always got ideas for
educational programs in the future.
There may be times when you want to ask a guest speaker to your meetings to
give you first hand experience of the investing world. This is a great way
to get information that you can actively use in your own investment club.
Experienced investors can give you an overview of their own investing guidelines
and advice.
In the long run this can give your club some great new ideas of how to invest
your monthly contributions. And the more ideas that you have the more investment
incentives you’ll have.
Finding a Broker
Your investment club will have to find an investment broker to work with. You
can delegate someone to come up with some broker choices and then take a final
vote for your decision.
Many investment clubs will use a full-time broker who guides them and offers
advice at the occasional meeting. If you don’t want to use a broker on a full-time
basis you can use what is known as a discount broker.
A discount broker will give you some detailed information about stocks but
won’t give you advice about what to sell or buy. Using a discount broker seems
to be the more popular choice since the purpose of the investment club is to
make your own decisions about what stocks you’re going to be dealing with.
When you use a discount broker you won’t have to pay a huge commission to
a full time broker.
Your club will have to take a vote and decide what is in the interest of
the majority.
You might also want to think about using the services of an online broker.
Online discount brokers will have low commissions that can be a benefit to
your club when it comes to the way you handle your finances. On average an
online broker will be up to $8 or less per transaction.
How to Find a Discount Broker
If your investment club has decided that it’s in your best interests to use
a discount broker you’ll need to know how to find one.
It won’t matter what discount broker that you decide to use so long as your
club is being allowed to pick your own stocks.
There is a great deal of competition when it comes to discount brokers so
you’ll be able to get some great deals in broker fees if you take the time
to look for them.
Your investment club should delegate one or two members to find the best
discount brokers that they can find, both on the Internet and locally.
There are a few things that you should keep in mind when you’re looking for
a discount broker:
· Customer service that the broker offers
·
Fees
·
Other incentives to hire the broker
The fees that you have to pay the discount broker will generally be quite
low. You’ll be able to see many discount brokers offering you their services
both locally and on the Internet.
However, many times choosing the discount broker with the lowest fees means
that you may be sacrificing some customer service for this lower fee.
You’ll have to decide if you want to trade low price for customer service.
If you’re thinking about hiring your discount broker from the Internet there
are some things that you should keep in mind.
Online brokers generally fall into one of three groups:
· Very inexpensive. If your investment group is planning on doing a
lot of buying and selling in the stock market you’ll want to think about using
a very inexpensive broker for your transactions. Most of these inexpensive
brokers charge anywhere from $4 to $12 per trade.
·
Moderately priced. The mid range price that these brokers charge is anywhere
from $12 to $20 per trade.
·
Expensive. Brokers that charge a high fee per trade often offer you the best
customer service so the price might be worth it to your investment club. You’ll
have the opportunity to work with a broker that gives you great service. These
brokers generally charge anywhere from $20 to $30 per trade.
When you’re looking for a broker and basing your decision on customer service
and the way the website operates you’ll want to take some time looking at the
broker’s website.
You’ll want to make sure that the website is easy to use and easy to navigate.
You’ll want to know what type of customer service the broker offers. You’ll
soon be able to make your decision about customer service after you conduct
your first trade with the broker.
Make sure that you find out if there are any other incentives offered that
make you want to hire the broker.
Other perks that online brokers offer that can be of benefit to your investment
club include:
· educational books and materials to buy at a discounted price or to
read online.
·
air miles for your air mile program
·
free Internet access
·
a discount on your first trade
Your investment club shouldn’t make its decision about what broker to use
based on the extra incentives that are offered.
Take your time when deciding what broker you’re finally going to use. If
it comes down to two or three brokers that have caught the attention of members
of your investment group you’ll have to vote and have a majority ruling.
Always keep in mind that you can switch brokers at any time that you want if
you’re not happy with the first broker that you’ve been working with.
Investment Software
There are many different types of software that are available to your investment
club to make things, such as investment decisions and accounting practices, easier
and more efficient for you to complete.
It will be to your benefit to have several of the members of your investment
club have different types of software on their home computer so that you can
make more informed decisions about where you want to invest.
· Stock analyzer. There are different types of software available that
will help you analyze the stocks that you’re interested in and keeping an eye
on.
·
Accounting software. You’ll want to have software for accounting purposes so
that you can keep track of all your finances and generate reports for all members
of your investment club to have for their records. You’ll also want to use
your accounting software to keep track of cash transactions, member transactions,
and security transactions.
·
Portfolio record keeper. This type of software will keep track of your portfolio.
It will track details such as investment fees and transactions, your purchases
and sales, member transactions, and stock market fluctuations for your stocks.
There are many other different types of software that you can use to help
your investment club to run smoothly and so that you can keep track of your
profits and expenses.
Resources For Investment Clubs
The following links are some great resources that your investment club should
take advantage of to make the most out of your investing experience:
Stock analyzer
Available from Kingsoft:
http://www.kinginet.com/
Available from NAIC:
http://www.better-investing.org/about/software/nsa.html
National Association of Investors Corporation (NAIC)
This web site has a great deal of investing information that will be a great
benefit to you and your investing club.
http://www.better-investing.org/
US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)
This website gives you some basic information about investment club regulations.
Securities and Exchange Commission
Office of Investor Education and Assistance
450 Fifth Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20549-0213
http://www.sec.gov/investor/pubs/invclub.htm
Investment Calculators
These tools can help you calculate a variety of information that includes the
future value and present value of stocks.
http://www.investopedia.com/calculator/
NAIC Club Accounting Software
This piece of software is perfect for all your accounting needs.
http://www.better-investing.org/about/software/nca.html
NAIC Portfolio Record Keeper
This software will help you keep track of the information that is important
to your stock portfolio.
http://www.better-investing.org/about/software/prk.html
Bivio
This is a good online source of useful information for investment clubs.
http://www.bivio.com/index.html
Stock Symbols
This is a quick introduction into the letter symbols that identify stocks according
to a variety of details. Each security has a particular letter that has been
assigned to it to make it unique and so that you can easily identify it.
· A - Class A
·
B - Class B
·
C - Issuer qualification exceptions
·
D - New
·
E - Delinquent in required filings with the SEC
·
F - Foreign
·
G - First convertible bond
·
H - Second convertible bond, same company
·
I - Third convertible bond, same company
·
J - Voting
·
K - Nonvoting
·
L - Miscellaneous situations, such as depository receipts, stubs,
additional warrants, and units
·
M - Fourth preferred, same company
·
N - Third preferred, same company
·
O - Second preferred, same company
·
P - First preferred, same company
·
Q - Bankruptcy proceedings
·
R - Rights
·
S - Shares of beneficial interest
·
T - With warrants or with rights
·
U - Units
·
V - When-issued and when-distributed
·
W - Warrants
·
Y - ADR (American Depository Receipts)
·
Z - Miscellaneous situations such as depository receipts, stubs, additional
warrants, and units
After you’ve been investing for a short time and reading the stock market,
you’ll become familiar with these symbols.
Glossary of Investment Terms
The following investment terms will help give your investment club a basic
introduction into the language of investing.
The more that you understand about the world of investing the more you’ll
enjoy your investment club. The information has been compiled from the following
website:
http://www.netvest.com/edu/edu_glossary.html
ALL OR NONE (AON)
A stipulation to either a buy or a sell order which instructs the broker to
either fill the order in its entirety of to fill none at all, the customer
won't accept a partial execution (only 300 shares out of an order for 1000).
APPRECIATION
The increase in the value of an asset.
ASKED PRICE
The lowest price that anyone has declared that he will sell his security for
at a given time. In over-the-counter stocks, the "ask" is the best
quoted price at which a Market Maker is willing to sell a stock.
AT-THE-MONEY
An option where the strike (exercise) price is exactly equal to the trading
price of the underlying security.
BID PRICE
The highest price anyone has declared that he wants to pay for a security at
a given time.
BROKER
(1) An individual or a firm that charges a fee or commission for executing buy
and sell orders submitted by another individual or firm. (2) The role of a brokerage
firm when it acts as an agent for a customer and charges the customer for its
services.
CALL OPTION
An option contract that gives the holder the right to purchase, and places
upon the obligation to sell, a specified number of shares of the underlying
stock at the given strike price on or before the expiration date of the contract.
CAPITAL
Accumulated money or goods used to produce income
COMMERCIAL PAPER
Short-term loans with maturities ranging from 2 to 270 days that are made to
banks and corporations.
COMMODITY
Bulk goods such as metals, foodstuffs and grains which have the price determined
by competitive bids and offers.
COMMON STOCK
An equity security that represents ownership in a corporation.
CUSIP NUMBER
A unique 9-digit number code for a given class of security (i.e.: Microsoft
common stock or Acorn International Fund). CUSIP stands for the Committee
on Uniformed Security Identification Procedures.
DAY ORDER
An order to buy or sell which, if not executed, expires at the end of the trading
day it was entered.
DEALER
The role of a securities firm when it acts as a principal in a particular trade.
A firm is acting as a dealer when it buys or sells a security for its own
account and at its own risk and then charges the customer a markup or markdown.
DO NOT REDUCE (DNR)
Stipulation to order that instructs the broker not to decrease the limit price
on buy-limit and sell-stop orders on the record date of a cash dividend.
EXCHANGE
Any organization, association or group of persons that maintains or provides
a marketplace in which securities can be bought and sold. An exchange does not
have to have a physical place of business and several electronic exchanges do
business.
NASDAQ National Market Securities
The NASDAQ National Market consists of over 3,000 companies that have a national
or international shareholder base, have applied for listing, meet stringent
financial requirements and agree to specific corporate governance standards.
To list initially, companies are required to have significant net tangible
assets or operating income, a minimum public float of 500,000 shares, at
least 400 shareholders, and a bid price of at least $5.
NASDAQ Small Cap Market Securities
The NASDAQ Small Cap Market consists of over 1,400 companies that want the
sponsorship of Market Makers, have applied for listing and meet specific
financial requirements. Once a company is approved and listed on this market,
Market Makers are able to quote and trade the company's securities through
a sophisticated electronic trading and surveillance system.
PENNY STOCKS
Low prices stocks trading in the over-the-counter market. Typically refers
to shares trading below one dollar a share.
TRADING AUTHORIZATION
Document granting power-of-attorney rights to an agent of the account holder(s).
You will find downloadable forms for both Limited Trading Authorization and
Full Trading Authorization in the Industry Forms Download area.
Conclusion
Starting your own investment club for fun and profit is easy when you follow
the advice and guidelines as outlined in this book.
It doesn’t matter whether you’re an amateur investor just starting out, or
a more experienced investor that wants to expand into more investments, there
are people out there who share your interests and goals.
When you’re part of an investment group you’ll have the benefit of learning
more about investing in the stock market combined with the enjoyment of spending
time with people who have a common goal: to become more knowledgeable about
investing and have fun doing it.
There are many books that you can purchase, and places on the Internet, that
outline the information and data that you need to invest successfully and profitably.
cb
"Discover
How to Create Tens, Possibly Hundreds of New, Automatic
Profit Streams by Exploiting the Most Lucrative
Niche Markets Within Minutes!" one that
we use
our
big list of sites
for sale make us an offer we can`t
refuse-on one or all
Bloggers
Profit
Circle
moneysenseblog
COPYWRITER
SPLACE.COM
master of web copywriting
Instant
Graphics Vault
IGIMAGE
VAULT.COM
Instant Product
Gold Mine
IPGOLDMINE
Profit Email Club
e-z-email.com
publishinginabox
Internet Marketing
Internet Marketing Citadel
nichepublishing
High Quality E-Covers INSTANTLY |