Investment Kindergarten

Preface

Anglo Offshore International Group, as we have discussed in other parts of this website has an unprecedented access to the finest, internationally renowned financial vehicles available today. Equally our clients represent some of the most successful and innovatory executive, professional and business people within Latin America and the Caribbean and we have no doubt whatsoever they will continue to lead the businesses they are associated with, on into the future. Within their professions they are considered stars, driving and developing their businesses, with a varied combination of flair and pragmatism in addition to reputations of excellent business manager skills, especially in controlling and meeting budget and profitability expectations.

One would assume therefore that those fiercely, fiscally disciplined individuals whom are intimately acquainted on a daily basis with making important financial decisions, often with multi million US dollars hanging in the balance, would therefore easily address their personal finances in a similar manner. You would be totally wrong!

It was in fact many of those of our profiled clients who actually suggested this section, simply because it was those extremely successful people who could and did recognised that their actually net wealth was no where nearly as good as it should have been. Indeed, much of their professional monetary success had been either lying dead, poorly managed or even worse badly or inappropriately invested thereby incurring considerable losses.

I initially was going to call this section “Investment for Dummies” but truthfully none of the above individual, are “dummies” . They are very talented and even after losses are by any standard extremely wealthy. Equally, the fact that we know them, means that they are clients of ours and as such, no longer are invested inappropriately. However, they freely admit that their lack of knowledge regarding even the basic personal financial structures available, their benefits and disciplines needed to ensure a successful outcome are rudimentary at best. Yet they know enough to know how little they actually know and how important this part of their financial lives are and how necessary it is to understand enough to enable them to be in full control of their financial future. If these leaders of business can recognise that need, then they are not “Dummies” they just need access to the relevant information presented in the simplest format, subsequently I named it “Investment kindergarten” in recognition of that need.

For those individuals with either less accumulated assets or smaller existing of future income stream potentials then perhaps an even greater need exists to understand the fundamentals, especially what is sound and appropriate and what is below standard and should be avoided like the plague…

FUNDAMENTAL OVERSIGHT

If you take a few moments to assess your existing and future financial state, what do you really see? A rollercoaster ride to date, of regular boom and bust cycles, with similar prospects going forward or a comfortable and fulfilling future, your children enjoying the best education that money can buy, or simply the satisfaction of knowing that the basic investment programmes are in place to ensure your financial future is secure. Less than one percent of the individuals we meet or are introduced to, can meet the latter standard…this is especially true in Latin America. Yet nearly everyone when asked directly about their long term financial welfare, no matter their unique hopes and aspirations, state categorically its immense importance to them.

I shall be kind to the other 99% and state that they probably got too wrapped up in the challenges of their day to day lives but for any individual to change the dream of a secure future into a practical achievable process, requires a structured realistic plan matched to commitment and some discipline… For many of you it will be a paradigm change and some of you will not make it and as my first client was some 34 years ago I have seen enough to know, that those that believe that easier alternatives exists and /or that somehow it will all work out, are fundamentally irredeemable and as such are beyond reach of any content or commonsense herein.

It does not matter how old you may be or how little time is left to create the platform… Every independent assessment undertaken anywhere in the world, proves conclusively that any individual who implements the basic disciplines of instigating and manages an appropriate saving initiative are happier, healthier and generally live longer than those who don’t. Those that start early enough can ensure that they and their family are inviolate. They are never vulnerable to the whims of fate or Murphy.

No matter the specific financial philosophy undertaken, the usual goals are to ensure that a comfortable retirement is sustainable without worry. Children and family needs are met and that the methodologies selected are tailored to suit the individual’s needs are legal, achievable and secure. We shall commence our first lesson with the most common need facilitated… A Retirement Plan.

Next: Retirement Planning