Peer-to-Peer Lending and Equity Crowdfunding


Book Description

Written by an industry pioneer who has hands-on experience in the brave new world of peer-to-peer lending and equity crowdfunding, this book serves as a resource for investors and entrepreneurs alike and investigates how these alternative mechanisms will increase the financial and operational capacity of borrowers, lenders, buyers, and sellers in the private markets. More than 60 governments across the globe have established financial inclusion as a policy priority and are vying for access to and use of financial services by households and firms to boost economic growth. A thought leader on securities-based crowdfunding, author Kim Wales explores how women and the millennial generation, the world's largest groups of people, can influence "crowd" direct investment, economic freedom, and economic growth. The book provides building blocks to instruct investors and entrepreneurs about how to leverage social networks and supplies tools to help retail investors—"the crowd"—to understand the language, risks, and rewards of this type of investment. Providing an indispensable resource for investors and entrepreneurs, Peer-to-Peer Lending and Equity Crowdfunding summarizes past theory as well as current schools of thought related to capital formation and economic growth, explains why creating a secondary market for private placement offerings is essential to stimulating market liquidity, and documents how public-private partnerships using digital finance will enhance financial inclusion and positively impact investing. The book not only describes how crowdfunding works but also explains investment approaches, secondary markets, governance and compliance, transparency, and risk models that are necessary for investors to make informed decisions.




The Dumb Things Smart People Do with Their Money


Book Description

You’re smart. So don’t be dumb about money. Pinpoint your biggest money blind spots and take control of your finances with these tools from CBS News Business Analyst and host of the nationally syndicated radio show Jill on Money, Jill Schlesinger. “A must-read . . . This straightforward and pleasingly opinionated book may persuade more of us to think about financial planning.”—Financial Times Hey you . . . you saw the title. You get the deal. You’re smart. You’ve made a few dollars. You’ve done what the financial books and websites tell you to do. So why isn’t it working? Maybe emotions and expectations are getting in the way of good sense—or you’re paying attention to the wrong people. If you’ve started counting your lattes, for god’s sake, just stop. Read this book instead. After decades of working as a Wall Street trader, investment adviser, and money expert for CBS News, Jill Schlesinger reveals thirteen costly mistakes you may be making right now with your money. Drawing on personal stories and a hefty dose of humor, Schlesinger argues that even the brightest people can behave like financial dumb-asses because of emotional blind spots. So if you’ve saved for college for your kids before saving for retirement, or you’ve avoided drafting a will, this is the book for you. By following Schlesinger’s rules about retirement, college financing, insurance, real estate, and more, you can save money and avoid countless sleepless nights. It could be the smartest investment you make all year. Praise for The Dumb Things Smart People Do with Their Money “Common sense is not always common, especially when it comes to managing your money. Consider Jill Schlesinger’s book your guide to all the things you should know about money but were never taught. After reading it, you’ll be smarter, wiser, and maybe even wealthier.”—Chris Guillebeau, author of Side Hustle and The $100 Startup “A must-read, whether you’re digging yourself out of a financial hole or stacking up savings for the future, The Dumb Things Smart People Do with Their Money is a personal finance gold mine loaded with smart financial nuggets delivered in Schlesinger’s straight-talking, judgment-free style.”—Beth Kobliner, author of Make Your Kid a Money Genius (Even If You’re Not) and Get a Financial Life




Venture Deals


Book Description

An engaging guide to excelling in today's venture capital arena Beginning in 2005, Brad Feld and Jason Mendelson, managing directors at Foundry Group, wrote a long series of blog posts describing all the parts of a typical venture capital Term Sheet: a document which outlines key financial and other terms of a proposed investment. Since this time, they've seen the series used as the basis for a number of college courses, and have been thanked by thousands of people who have used the information to gain a better understanding of the venture capital field. Drawn from the past work Feld and Mendelson have written about in their blog and augmented with newer material, Venture Capital Financings puts this discipline in perspective and lays out the strategies that allow entrepreneurs to excel in their start-up companies. Page by page, this book discusses all facets of the venture capital fundraising process. Along the way, Feld and Mendelson touch on everything from how valuations are set to what externalities venture capitalists face that factor into entrepreneurs' businesses. Includes a breakdown analysis of the mechanics of a Term Sheet and the tactics needed to negotiate Details the different stages of the venture capital process, from starting a venture and seeing it through to the later stages Explores the entire venture capital ecosystem including those who invest in venture capitalist Contain standard documents that are used in these transactions Written by two highly regarded experts in the world of venture capital The venture capital arena is a complex and competitive place, but with this book as your guide, you'll discover what it takes to make your way through it.




The Complete Direct Investing Handbook


Book Description

The practical guide to direct investing strategies and best practices The Complete Direct Investing Handbook provides comprehensive guidelines, principles and practical perspectives on this increasingly attractive private equity investment strategy. Interviews with leading family office investors, qualified private equity buyers, and top direct investing advisors provide essential insights, and attention to the nuanced processes of direct investing. The books is a hands-on resource for family offices and those investors interested in generating returns through private company ownership to be more effective in creating returns in a complex market. Direct investing best practices are explored in-depth, with guidance on strategy and the evaluation and assessment of various investment opportunities. The process begins with a codified and specific investment goal, and a robust strategy tailored to the investor's individual needs. Useful insight on 'narrowing the field' helps investors select the appropriate opportunities to meet their investment goals, and practical tools help streamline the process of capital deployment and in turn providing more opportunities to achieve desired returns. Despite the growing interest in direct investing, there is little public information available to investors and there is a lack of transparency into practical standards. This book bridges the gap between strategy and execution, with comprehensive guidance and real-world insights. Define and craft a focused investment thesis and appropriate timeline specific to your needs Identify the right type, size, duration, and risk profile aligned to your investment objectives Gain perspective on real-world direct investing and a deeper understanding of the risks and rewards Better understand best practices and institutional investment rigor to develop bespoke processes and policies that create better outcomes for independent investors Historically, extraordinary wealth has been created through equity in privately-held enterprise. Today, family offices and direct investors are looking more and more toward large capital deployment in early-stage and growth-oriented private equity investments, but are constrained by a lack of informed, established practices. The Complete Direct Investing Handbook provides the much-needed guidance and tools that can improve direct investment outcomes.




Federal Energy Guidelines


Book Description




Green Entrepreneur Handbook


Book Description

Written by a practicing business attorney with startup experience in the environmental and technology sectors, this comprehensive handbook assists entrepreneurs in tackling the wide variety of opportunities to go green. A one-stop resource for entrepreneurs, it helps readers incorporate clean technology, environmental practices, and green business approaches into the work environment. The book discusses how to sell to utilities, explores fundraising outlets for green businesses, covers government incentives, presents key startup tools aimed at green businesses, and addresses challenges of many new businesses, such as raising money and making sales. Additional resources are available on the book's website.




The Inside Guide to Funding Real Estate Investments


Book Description

Great financing is the holy grail of real estate--with the power to make or break the deal. Learn how to get the money you need for the property you need. Whether you are brokering your first deal or your fiftieth, finding the right financing for that specific situation can be the most important challenge you face. However, you can find nearly unlimited supplies of funding for all your real estate deals if you know where to look The Inside Guide to Funding Real Estate Investments introduces you to the range of options available--from traditional mortgages and asset-based loans to crowdfunding and private money--and provides an inside look into the loan process as a whole and how lenders think through different scenarios. Learn all there is to know about: What lenders are looking for How to close with confidence How to maintain sufficient liquidity How to protect your credit position for future deals What to do when deals go south Whether you’re planning to fix and flip or buy and hold, you can rest confidently that you are in prime position to not only avoid costly borrowing mistakes but also be set up for real estate success beyond what you thought possible with The Inside Guide to Funding Real Estate Investments by your side.







The Intelligent REIT Investor Guide


Book Description

Demystify real estate investment trusts with this masterful guide from an industry expert. In The Intelligent REIT Investor Guide, author Brad Thomas walks you through both basic and advanced topics in the profitable, sustainable world of real estate investment trusts. From historical industry performance to the equations needed to calculate key metrics in REIT stocks, this book covers the history, vocabulary, principles, and analysis you’ll need to invest wisely in this growing asset class. Find out how you can strengthen your investment decisions and conclusions with publicly traded REITs in the short- and long-terms alike. With this book you’ll: Understand exactly what REITs are, how they work, and why they’ve achieved such impressive historical returns Discover how REITS have performed over the decades up against other asset classes Compare and contrast the various subsectors – such as residential, retail, office, healthcare, self-storage, lodging, technology, and more – to understand which ones can work better in your personal portfolio. Perfect for personal and professional investors alike, The Intelligent REIT Investor Guide is an invaluable guide to a crucial asset class that is often overlooked or poorly understood despite its undeniable impact on portfolios over the past 60 years.