петък, 12 февруари 2016 г.

Examples Of Alternative Investments And How They Operate

By James Collins


Most people thinking about investment have bonds, stocks, exchange traded funds, stocks and pre-packaged categories, among others in mind. These options are limited in their returns because of market volatility and risks involved. There are fantastic examples of alternative investments whose rate of returns is impressive without exposing you to major risks. These alternative investment options are becoming accessible to the public, unlike in the past.

Private Equity firms are companies trading privately other than in stock markets. They specialize in multiple investment markets. They allow capital investment and also raise funds to fund their projects. Some of the areas where these companies make their money include investing in start-ups, financing the growth of other companies and through venture capital. Investors get their funds through IPOs or when the company gets its returns. The parent company has to deduct performance and management fees.

Another excellent example of alternate investment is direct investment in private companies. The investor provides seed capital to the firm through angel investing. Direct investment is similar to assisting start-ups to grow. The rate of return is not predictable. While some start-ups perform well, others fail leading to heavy losses. A small time investor is also capable of putting money directly into a company because not all start-ups require thousands of dollars.

Venture capital is a thriving investment segment if properly managed. The capitalist invests in a growing company at the early stages. Such companies are running excellent small scale businesses and require the funds to scale operations. Unfortunately, these funds are not available in the ordinary market because the firms lack records or a portfolio to support their demand. Since these are ideas, they might fail leading to huge loses.

Real assets are an exclusive club whose entry is guided by personal interest and the pride of owning a particular item. Some of the assets that fit into this category are coins, real estate, precious metal and agricultural land. Art, wine, baseball cards and rare coins also fall into this category. It is possible to buy the real assets directly or through a company that trades in the assets.

Hedge funds claim similarity to private equity only that the two focus on different market segments. Hedge fund managers are interested in equity long-short, distressed assets, macro-trends and arbitrages. They also raise money for other companies. Investors have easier access to their money because of high redemption frequency and easy liquidity.

The returns emanating from debt investment are drawing more people towards this segment. These debts are not rated by credit agencies or traded publicly. Debt traders ensure that private firms have a steady cash flow to sustain their operations despite over supply or over acquisition. Debts are traded through promissory notes and mezzanine debts. The company will pay a commission over the amount forwarded once the debt has been settled.

Alternate investment shields you from huge losses because the firms spread the risk through diverse investments. In case you opt to invest directly, scrutinize the company or venture to gauge the risk factors. The returns when investing in real assets may not be significant but there is prestige that comes with owning the rare assets.




About the Author:



Няма коментари:

Публикуване на коментар