Equities

An equity investment is money that is invested in a company by purchasing shares of that company in the stock market. These shares are typically traded on a stock exchange.

Why Should I Choose Equities?

Equity investors purchase shares of a company with the expectation that they’ll rise in value in the form of capital gains, and/or generate capital dividends.

If an equity investment rises in value, the investor would receive the monetary difference if they sold their shares, or if the company's assets are liquidated and all its obligations are met. Equities can strengthen a portfolio’s asset allocation by adding diversification.

The Benefits Of Equities

The main benefit from an equity investment is the possibility to increase the value of the principal amount invested. This comes in the form of capital gains and dividends.An equity fund offers investors a diversified investment option typically for a minimum initial investment amount.

If an investor wanted to achieve the same level of diversification as an equity fund, it would require much more – and much more manual – capital investment. Investors may also be able to increase investment through rights shares, should a company wish to raise additional capital in equity markets.

Cryptocurrency

Cryptocurrencies are digital currencies that exist on decentralized databases or ledgers. They are not controlled by a central authority in the way that conventional currencies are controlled by central banks.

The decentralized ledgers most commonly take the form of a blockchain. These blockchains act as peer to peer networks and allow anyone to transact directly with anyone else. Blockchains are maintained by miners and all transactions are approved by the majority consensus of all the miners.

Cryptocurrencies are best compared to a commodity, rather than a stock or bond. Companies earn profits which accrue to shareholders, and also pay dividends. Bonds on the other hand are tradable loans which pay interest. In the case of cryptocurrencies, their long-term value is based on scarcity and the fact that they have a finite or limited supply.

As more people invest in a coin, or buy the coin to transact on a network, demand increases and the price rises. In the short to medium term, the price of crypto assets is driven by sentiment about the future demand for a coin. This makes cryptocurrencies speculative investments.

Offshore Funds

An offshore mutual fund is an investment vehicle-based in an offshore location outside the jurisdiction of the United States, often used as a tax haven.

Offshore mutual funds are domiciled internationally. They may provide investment exposure to international markets. They are known to offer some cost benefits such as lower taxes, as well.

Internationally domiciled funds are obligated to follow the laws and regulations of the country where they are incorporated. Funds may choose their domicile to target a specific investor. Many offshore funds are incorporated in the Bahamas or Cayman Islands, which offer tax efficiencies. Taxation, regulation, and investor demand are three main factors influencing the country a fund chooses to incorporate in.

Offshore funds can have higher risks. With domicile in a foreign country, investors may not clearly understand a fund’s terms and conditions, which could lead to unprotected loss of capital.

Funds Management & Asset Management

Funds management can be simply explained as the task of managing a pool of money on behalf of others, with the aim of maximising the amount it grows by. This leads to the alternative name of investment management, which is also often used to describe this activity. Asset management refers to the process of developing, operating, maintaining, and selling assets in a cost-effective manner. Most commonly used in finance, the term is used in reference to individuals or firms that manage assets on behalf of individuals or other entities.

What is a funds manager and what do they do? Fund managers run investment portfolios as funds that investors can move in and out of. They are experts in the financial market who analyse what assets to buy and sell, with the goal of increasing the value of the funds under their control.

An investor who wishes to enter a fund may have to pay an upfront fee, with a percentage of their total investment then taken as a management fee on an annual basis. The reason many investors are happy to do this is that they feel they will get a better return if they leave their money in the hands of an expert who will make the decisions for them.

Asset management refers to the process of developing, operating, maintaining, and selling assets in a cost-effective manner. Most commonly used in finance, the term is used in reference to individuals or firms that manage assets on behalf of individuals or other entities.

Every company needs to keep track of its assets. That way, its stakeholders will know which assets are available to be employed to provide optimal returns. The assets owned by any business fall into two main categories: fixed and current assets. Fixed or non-current assets refer to assets acquired for long-term use, while current assets are those that can be converted into cash within a short amount of time.

Importance of Asset Management

Enables a firm to account for all of its assets

Helps guarantee the accuracy of amortization rates

Helps identify and manage risks

Removes ghost assets in the company’s inventory

Wealth Management

Wealth management is an investment advisory service for high-net-worth individuals.

Wealth management services are offered because individuals with a high net worth often have complicated financial situations. With that, many seek out professional wealth management services to help manage their investments, taxes, business transactions, and more. Instead of a broad service, wealth management often provides individual wealth management solutions. The specialized approach allows a level of customization that could not be otherwise obtained.

Let's consider an example of an individual with a considerable net worth. This individual has ownership interests in two businesses and $5 million in invested assets. They are looking to set up a trust for their child and they want to ensure that their retirement needs are taken care of.

After managing their wealth independently for years, this individual decides to hire the help of a wealth management service. Typically, this involves a team of professionals with different specializations. These experts can craft a plan that is designed to optimize the client's wealth and mobilize the assets to reach their client's goals.