To view this Magazine issue click here
Must have latest version of Adobe Reader, http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html
What Poker Can Teach Investors
Serious poker players experience both successes and failures, but good players come out ahead in the end. Investors can increase their success by integrating successful poker strategies into their investing strategies. Investors can learn to know their odds; weigh risk and reward; diversify; be selective; and know when to fold.
The GO Zone
During the 2005 hurricane season, parts of the Gulf Coast region were devastated. In the aftermath, the U.S. government passed the Gulf Opportunity Zone Act (GO Zone), providing incentives for investing in the area to encourage economic growth and rebuilding. GO Zone incentives include first-year accelerated depreciation and tax-free bonds to finance projects.
Viva Macau
In the past 50 years, Las Vegas has skyrocketed as an entertainment and tourism destination; in the past five years, Macau has started on a similar trajectory. Macau, like Hong Kong, is a Special Administrative Region of China; it has its own government and is the only place in China where gambling is legal. Steve Wynn and Sheldon Anderson are among the Vegas moguls who have been investing billions of dollars into turning Macau into the Vegas of the East.
Stock Loans: Have Your Cake and Eat It Too
Stock loans offer investors a tool with which to diversify their portfolios. Loans can be taken for up to 90 percent of the value of a stock portfolio and the funds can be used to purchase anything except more stocks. This allows investors to make investments outside of stocks while maintaining many of the benefits of owning stocks, such as dividends and long-term appreciation.
Oil and Gas Investments
Oil and gas investments tend to be speculative, but if successful, the returns can be huge. They offer potential tax breaks and an ongoing cash stream. Oil and gas investments are more difficult to find than many other types of investments, and often require more paperwork and higher net worth, but once an investment is underway, it can produce significant returns in a matter of months.
The Gold Standard
While gold is a volatile investment on its own, it can be an important counterpoint to other investments in a diverse portfolio. Gold can protect against declining currencies, changing interest rates and stock market fluctuations. A variety of investment opportunities are available, and many experts recommend a small amount of gold as part of a well-rounded, well-protected portfolio.
Investor Highlight
An interview with David Dweck, a Florida-based RE/MAX agent, mortgage broker, real estate investor and hard money lender. Dweck talks about why he is passionate about investing and his experiences in real estate and hard money lending. He also provides some advice for investors.
