16 — Wednesday, July 29, 1998 — North Shore News

north shore news

=p BUSINESS

Questions to count on
before investing funds

TAKE off your
rose-colored glasses
before you make
any investment
decisions.

We all want to believe
how easy it is to make
money, even when we are
warned of the risks.

But do warnings like
these really register?

@ Past performance i is no
guarantee of future results;
@ This investment is for the
- sophisticated investor;
@ There is no secondary
market for this investment;
§ This advice is based on
sources believed to be reli-
able;
@ Market values can fluctu-
ate.

When your financial plan-
ning approach or investment
strategy makes you a profit,
you might think: “I’m
smart.”

But when you lose
money, do you think: “I
blew it”? Or do you blame
the advertising, seminar or
financial adviser?

Every time I read about
somebody who is suing a
financial institution or advis-
er, [ know there would have
been no court action if the
individual had made, instead

of lost, money.

And I wonder who was
really at fault (perhaps both
adviser and clicat?) when
the investment advice or
scheme was in its early
stages

To confound the crooks
and substitute magnitying
glasses for the rose-colored
pair, do your duc diligence.

My book for lottery win-
ners includes a page of ques-
tions for their investment
advisers.

[ often hand out a
similar sheet at my moncy
seminars.

Key questions include:

& Are the principal and pro-
jected growth or income
guaranteed? If so, by whom?
@ What risks are involved in
this investment?

@ What do I need to du to
get back my money?

B Please list the types and
amounts of initial, ongoing,

redemption and all other

fees, commissions and costs

Ltor my investment) will

have to pay,

B What interest/

involverrent do you,

your company or associated

companies have in this

investme

® How does Revenue

Canada treat the income,

profits and losses produced
is investment?

Any reputable financial
adviser should be willing to
answer such questions in
writing, sign and date the
answers, and attach her or
his business card.

Just make sure you
understand the answers.

Then you should
also be willing to sign
this sheet.

— Copvright 1998 Mike
Grenby

Mike Grenby is a colum-
nist and independent person-
al financial adviser; he'll
answer questions in this col-
umn as Space allows but can-
not reply personally — con-
tact him at P.O. Box 50029,
South Slope R.P.O., Burnaby,
B.C. V5j 5G3; e-mail

mike@grenby.com and see pre-

vious columns at Mike’s web-
site, wwwgrenby.com

4 DR. TRACKER

‘SUMMER SPECIAL

_ ENDS FRIDAY JULY 31

0 GST &
NO PST

90 Days Voice mail &
90 Days Unlimited.

~ Local Calling
-« NO CHARGE

- 983-33 35

+3
1X30 Marine Dr (000°. OM
“ Van

Noanwoityer

ies ASAE A A on

| 99. 00mo.*

$1,383 down/36 mo, lease. $11,211 LEY.
‘ 96 CHEVY ( CAMARO

5 spd, T-tops, tilt, am/fm cass,
dual airbags

$18,977

4 96 ASTRO AWD

| fully equipped

$19,987

4x4, 5 spd, local, 1 owner, no
accidents

SPECIALS
“34 ton, 2 wd, x-cab, loaded

was $33,838 save 95, 000 |

89 SUBARU TURBO AWD 97 CHEVY MALIBU: :
WAGON, auto, S/R, pwr group only low kan, fully equipped,*

a/c, only $2,000 kip ; .
$18,878

f 97 FORD ESCORT

Station wagon, auto, a/c,

$13,888 $7,995