Alternative Investments: Trustworthy Or Rip-off?
This week, the FSA announced new proposals to control the alternative market because
of "the high levels of unsuitable advice it has uncovered and the prospective for customer detriment", The Telegraph reported.
If the proposals go through, the promotion of Unauthorised Collective Investment Schemes, or UCIS, will be banned to retail investors, while sales will be limited only to investors who earn over 100,000 per year and have over 250,000 to invest or have extensive experience and understand the risks.
Are the FINANCIAL SERVICES AUTHORITY correct to crack down? Carbon credit schemes are one of the higher profile products, with over 100 companies reported to the watchdog in the last 12 months - up from 6 in June last year.
But the products are otherwise known as popular with investors as they are with businesses. Interest in
alternative investments escalated this summer, says Alternative Marketplace, a portal that advertises alternative products ranging from farmland and green energy to
renewable forestry and
carbon credit schemes. Indeed, traffic to the web site increased by 72 percent between July and August 2012.
So are alternatives a rip-off or a trustworthy investment strategy? Andrew Cook, Managing Partner in Caesar Alternatives, a consultancy specialising in
rare earth metal investments, explains.
What are rare earth metals?
"Rare earth metals are the elements used primarily in high-end technology, such as mobile phones and solar panels. China has now cornered the market, which now allows them to raise prices, which could cause values to spike."
What kind of returns can investors get?
"It is very difficult to say. It is at the medium-to-high end of the risk spectrum. Values have rised in the last few years and could go up."
Alternative investments have a reputation of being risky and unreliable. Do you find that's an obstacle you have to overcome?
"The people that we pitch our product towards are looking for something speculative. For a potentially higher return, they accept that there is naturally a higher level of risk involved. The metals are stored in London, so it's not a paper asset or something out in South America - it is something that's physical that they can inspect themselves. That's vital."
Words like "scam" and "con" fly around a lot. Have you encountered activity, or businesses, in the market that made you think "Hmmm... that's a bit dodgy"?
"I've encountered firms in the regulated marketplace that I would consider quite dodgy! Only because it is regulated, it doesn't mean the investment will give a good return - it only means that the money won't be siphoned off into someone's offshore account and the directors aren't going to run off with your cash! If the money is invested in something that's worthless, you're going to get burned."
Is that a case of a bad product or a bad broker?
The problem is that the way it's structured, clients are pitched on products that give good returns to the broker. That doesn't necessarily mean it's a bad investment, but clients need to be aware of it."
What tips would you give to avoid scams?
You need to think logically and do your own research. Purchasing into real estate funds in 2007, when property was at its peak, probably wasn't the best idea, but people did it. And then some of the funds became illiquid and people's money was locked away for years. It's a case of looking at what you're investing. Your money should certainly not go directly to a firm unless they're regulated. It is always best to deal with things based in the UK and Europe so you can check on what you're buying. Don't simply believe the sales pitch. Be sensible."
by: Roberto Doi
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