Money Investment Clubs

[jeffrey]

By Mansi Gupta

A money club is a great place for people to get together and share thoughts, ideas and goals about money, planning, finance. Here people learn about finances and ways to reach ones financial goals. Friends in the money club provide encouragement that each member needs to succeed.

This is one major reason why money clubs have picked up significant momentum since their inception a couple of years ago. Their aim is not to evaluate price/earnings ratios, but to help members navigate prickly personal finance dilemmas. In a time of economic unease, by joining a money club people can establish and follow through their personal financial goals, which may include improving money management, increasing ones savings for retirement, spending intelligently, saving for children's education, diversifying portfolio, curbing debt and advancing estate planning or buying a home etc.




In order to have a successful club take certain precautions. A new investment club must have a solid structure to ensure the club's agenda is carried out efficiently and without friction with legal agreements and bylaws in case the club invests jointly in order to avoid any unscrupulous person joining the club. Make sure that the number of members is such that it is not too difficult to find a meeting place. This will mean a higher retention and not an over abundance of management will be required. An investment club must have a clear way of determining each member's share at a given point in time as members are likely to contribute funds on a periodic basis, and may intend to withdraw funds from their share of the club's assets at some time in the future.

Make sure that all members equally share the work. Pick a leader or rotate leadership. Stay organized. Help the members to learn and polish their stock researching capabilities, this way all the members can contribute. There should be regular guest speakers and field trips so that the club members are able to sustain their interest instead of sticking to the same routine.

Meeting should be once a month since more of the meeting would be a burden for some people and if it is less than people would gradually loose interest. The meeting should be regular with time and venue set. Changing venues could be inconvenient for people and can derail them from their focus and subsequently lessen their zeal to attend.

Make sure that the members are performing correct calculations. This is essential and careful attention should be paid to the club's accounting system. The National Association of Investors Corp. (NAIC) offers instructions and software on how to keep track of contributions and gains.

When looking for members of the club, one can select friends, coworker or search the Internet in order to make sure members have similar interest, goals and backgrounds for them to understand each other and contribute accordingly. When a member attains a financial goal, it should be celebrated with adequate prize or gift certificate. This would drive competition and thereby encourage everyone to do well.

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Mansi Gupta writes about money clubs.