17
Mar
2010
A loan flipchart for everyone to review
Two businesses—one a well-known bank and the other an investment firm—were planning to undertake a joint marketing program to expand the bank’s investment opportunities and generate new customers. The bank’s vision statement:
To enhance the value of our investors’ portfolios through long-term investing strategies while building trust and confidence by using the most rigorous financial analysis tools and face-to-face research to ensure investment security.
The investment firm’s vision statement: To provide our customers with the highest level of banking products and services with convenience and a safe and friendly attitude.
On the surface, the vision statements are complementary. The question that partners should ask themselves while strategically planning their partnership is this: “Based on these vision statements, what are the commonalities and the differences?” Then they can brainstorm these items and list them on a flipchart for everyone to review. Is there some difference that would prevent the two organizations from creating a joint marketing plan?
5
Oct
2009
How swiftly can you process your emotions?
Stocks trade on exchanges. Because dividends are either small or nonexistent, the value of your stock is determined solely by what other investors are willing to pay for it. In a calm market, you will experience a sense of unmanageability, because there is nothing you can do to force others to raise the price of your stocks. Even small losses in calm markets can be troubling because investors rarely want to admit their mistakes, feel the pain of loss, and move on. Focusing on prices rather than the cause of the losses, they hang on to losers until they can break even.
Optimism can grow into fantasy. Investors sometimes fall in love with their companies. They fantasize about new products and skyrocketing stock prices. All evidence of deteriorating fundamentals is rationalized away or ignored. Individual stocks can decline for years or decades. Believing fantasy can lead to many years of pain even in calm markets. However, we have seen few calm markets in recent years, and volatile markets are more troublesome.
In most markets, stock losses happen quickly. A bad earnings report can cut a stock price in half. An unexpected rate hike by the federal government can knock the whole market down 15 percent in a month. For still unexplained reasons, the whole market dropped 22 percent on October 19, 1987. Few investments move so quickly. Real estate rarely moves 1 percent a month. Unless you can process your emotions quickly, stocks will cause you a lot of pain.
6
Sep
2008
Introduction to Best Real Estates Blog
Welcome to the best real estates blog! This blog was established for people who would like to familiarize themselves with up-to-date information on real estate issues dealing with insurance, mortgage and loans or various real estate opportunities. It is our intention to present only confirmed and unbiased information. Those who are interested in becoming members of the best-real-estates team are encouraged to contact us by email.