Private Wealth Blog

International Residential Real Estate and the U.S. Home Market

2014-07-12T12:30:00.003+02:00

At Millionaire Corner, Donald Liebenson reports on Real Estate Trends that International Home Buyers Cashing in on U.S. Market.

Hat tip to CaryGEE.

What is Social Trading All About?

2014-01-31T12:37:00.003+01:00

Social trading allows traders to trade financial investments online with the help of others. Wikipedia. We really do not know a lot about it, so we looked at this posting about eToro, a well-known online social trading platform:

Is eToro a Scam or Not?

We find the concept interesting, surely in the trend of the times and perhaps fun if one sticks to small amounts of cash, but please note that we have never used the platform and are not members of eToro nor do we recommend or not recommend it at the time of this posting. We are merely serving our information purpose. Perhaps we will try it one day, who knows.

But we do not want anyone to blame us if they try something like this and lose their shirt, so here is the boilerplate we have in our "Legal Notices":

"Nothing published at LawPundit™ should be construed as investment advice or as a solicitation to buy or sell any kind of financial instruments.
Caveat emptor (buyer beware).
The ability to exercise personal responsibility for one’s own actions and choices is a kind of immense private wealth.
Take it seriously but enjoy it for what it represents.
LawPundit™ expressly disclaims any liability for the consequences of links to third party websites."

Entrepreneurial Life: Crowdfunded Equity Investment Among Wealthy Investors Now Possible Under Jumpstart Our Business Start-ups Act

2013-09-30T18:14:00.001+02:00

Public crowdfunded equity investment in the place of private financing?

The legally sanctioned opportunity to raise large amounts of start-up money through "crowdfunding" recently became a reality through the so-called JOBS Act, although such equity investment is still limited by law to investors who have a net worth in excess of $US 1 million or an income of more than $200,000 per year.

Jenna Wortham has the details of the story at the New York Times in Law Opens Financing of Start-Ups to Crowds.

Deal Book's Private Equity at the New York Times

2013-09-30T17:27:00.001+02:00

See at the Deal Book at the New York Times:

Private Equity

Private Equity and Management Fees: Income or Capital Gains? It Makes a Big Difference in Taxes

2012-09-06T20:04:00.001+02:00

See the New York Times editorial at More Tax Tricks, Private Equity Style.

KSL Capital Partners Buy Grove Park Inn Resort and Spa in North Carolina

2012-05-30T14:31:00.000+02:00

KSL Capital Partners just acquired the historic Grove Park Inn Resort and Spa.

We were there in June, 2008 and this our photo of the hotel entrance:

KSL is a private equity company that invests in travel and leisure businesses. See KSL CAPITAL PARTNERS CLOSES $2 BILLION PRIVATE EQUITY FUND.

Credit Derivatives and a Sabaean Theft of the Oxen of the JPMorgan Jobses: Banking Laws and Legality: Time to Change the Rules of the Game?

2012-05-28T00:54:00.004+02:00

The title to this posting applies to a highly informative article by Azam Ahmed at the New York Times on How Boaz Weinstein and Hedge Funds Outsmarted JPMorgan.

The market for credit derivatives has struck a "gambling" bank again.

Whatever the "croupier" regulators in Washington D.C. are doing about gambling with credit derivatives, it does not seem to be working.

Can keeping banks from "gambling" and keeping other "gamblers" from "counting financial cards" be that difficult?!

Or have we none smart enough in government to deal with the people they are supposed to regulate?

Maybe the government should hire some of the people who are MAKING billions to tell them how the system can outsmart those who are busy outsmarting the system. Why are all the top chess players on the private side of the equation?

On the other hand, we are very much in favor of wealth accumulating in the hands of those who understand wealth, and who know what to do with money, so perhaps this is just a battle for the survival of the fittest in financial circles.

But then again, what gain does the average citizen have from this, other than financial ups AND downs. Recessions are adjustments, nothing more.

After all, as a legal matter, all kinds of gambling can be prohibited by law, also financial gambling by banks and funds. Maybe also the government should hedge ITS bets!

But what then would be the cost of prohibition? Would the money all then run off to overseas gambling meccas? Perhaps.

Nevertheless, who says we have to play by traditional rules that always favor those who have deeply studied and best understand the game to be played, in which case the result of the game is determined by those same rules -- as John von Neumann game theory so aptly demonstrated.

It is perhaps time to change the rules and level the playing field -- again.

Pawn to King 5 to open the game!

That might bring things back to "square one".

Crossposted at LawPundit.

Scarce Natural Resources Billionaires and Investment at StreetAuthority via Nathan Slaughter

2012-05-20T22:07:00.001+02:00

At StreetAuthority.com, Nathan Slaughter has a presentation titled The 9 Best Stocks to Own for the Next Decade, whose actual purpose is to gain new subscribers for Slaughter's Newsletters. Nevertheless, it is a presentation loaded with a lot of essential facts about the increasing scarcity of natural resources and inter alia the commodity investments of billionaire investors. There is a Power-Point like "video", mostly text, accompanied by voice, and a text transcript of that video which is a much faster way to view the material.

Please be aware that this material is posted for information only and is in no way advice to buy, sell or hold any of the stocks mentioned or to invest in any of the natural resources discussed or suggested. Caveat emptor. YOU alone are responsible for your investments and we disclaim any and all liability for any actions taken or not taken based upon this or other of our postings.

John Paulson's Stock Picks for the First Quarter 2012 via Seeking Alpha

2012-05-20T21:01:00.001+02:00

Guan Wang has the story
at
Billionaire John Paulson's Q1 Stock Picks - Seeking Alpha

Please be aware that this material is posted for information only and is in no way advice to buy, sell or hold any of these stocks. Caveat emptor. YOU alone are responsible for your investments and we disclaim any and all liability for any actions taken or not taken based upon this or other of our postings.

John Paulson, Hedge Fund Manager, Has Made Some Interesting Stock Purchases This Year

2012-05-20T20:52:00.000+02:00

James Brumley at StreetAuthority, Austin, Texas, in a February 21, 2012, posting, reported that The Man Who Made $15 Billion from the Housing Bubble Just Bought These 5 Stocks .... See that link for the stocks. It has been a while since February, so it is interesting to see how those stocks have performed in the interim.

Please be aware that this material is posted for information only and is in no way advice to buy, sell or hold any of these stocks. Caveat emptor. YOU alone are responsible for your investments and we disclaim any and all liability for any actions taken or not taken based upon this or other of our postings.

Gingrich Critique of Private Equity -- the Most Powerful Force in American Business

2012-01-23T19:27:00.000+01:00

Chris Ladd reports on Gingrich's Risky Private Equity Critique

Where is All the Money? When in Doubt, Look to Politics and Private Equity

2012-01-23T19:26:00.000+01:00

See Julie Creswell in her New York Times Business Day article
at

In a Romney Believer, Private Equity’s Risks and Rewards,

a story about Marc J. Leder of Sun Capital,
who got into the business through current Presidential candidate Mitt Romney,
who made his fortune with Bain Capital.

Warren Buffett Bashes Private Equity in Video -- Wall Street Journal

2012-01-15T00:38:00.000+01:00

Video - Warren Buffett Slams Private Equity - WSJ.com: - Sent using Google Toolbar

An International Directory of Top Interior Designers and Architects: The AD 100

2011-10-07T20:12:00.000+02:00

See the AD 100 at architecturaldigest.com.

Private Wealth Can Have to Do with Private Banking

2011-10-07T19:11:00.000+02:00

Private wealth can have a lot to do with private banking.

From the Wikipedia and Private Banking (image and text):

"Private banking concerns the high-quality provision of a range of financial and related services to wealthy clients, principally individuals and their families. Typically the services on offer combine retail banking products such as payment and account facilities plus a wide range of up-market investment related services."

Wealth - Where Do We Draw the Line?

2011-08-25T13:46:00.000+02:00

The interesting thing here is that the wealth line is subjective, as reported by Bruce Watson of DailyFinance.com in How Rich Is Rich? Where America Draws the Wealth Line.

Wealth for most people appears to average out at about twice their own earnings.

Even millionaires place the wealth line at about twice what they themselves have.

The grass is always greener?

Institutional Investing Summit at Fairmont Monte Carlo Monaco October 18-20, 2011

2011-08-04T17:33:00.001+02:00

All the world is talking about debt agreements, but in the last analysis investing is the name of the game. Where are institutional investors putting their money? From 18-20 October 2011 the European Alternative & Institutional Investing Summit will be held at the Fairmont Monte Carlo in Monte Carlo, Monaco.

The Best Kept Secret of Trading; The 10:00 am Rule | eToro Online Forex Trading

2011-04-15T21:36:00.000+02:00

The Best Kept Secret of Trading; The 10:00 am Rule | eToro Online Forex Trading: "- Sent using Google Toolbar"

Prviate Equity Held Loan on Atlantis Resorts in Danger of Default by Kerzner International Holdings Ltd.?

2011-03-25T13:35:00.001+01:00

Atlantis Owner Said Facing Possible Default on Loan Held by Private Equity - Bloomberg

Wealth Management Acquisitions by Wells Fargo?

2011-03-25T13:31:00.000+01:00

Wells Fargo Leads Charge for Wealth Management - TheStreet

Only the fittest to survive in 'crowded' private equity market

2011-03-11T15:39:00.000+01:00

Only the fittest to survive in 'crowded' private equity market: "- Sent using Google Toolbar"

Buyout Offer of $1.34 Billion for 1-99 Cents Only Stores

2011-03-11T15:38:00.000+01:00

A report from Reuters tells us that UPDATE 1-99 Cents Only Stores gets $1.34 billion buyout offer, as private equity firms target "dollar" stores.

Robin Wauters at TechCrunch: Private Equity Firm Acquires Internet Brands In $640 Million Deal

2010-09-21T22:52:00.000+02:00

Robin Wauters at TechCrunch:

Private Equity Firm Acquires Internet Brands In $640 Million Deal

Private Equity IPOs 7% Better than Standard & Poor's 500 in 1st Half of 2010

2010-07-14T15:38:00.000+02:00

The Wall Street Journal Online (subscription required to read full article) reports that Private Equity IPOs 7% Better than Standard & Poor's 500 in 1st Half of 2010

Hedge Fund and Private Equity Trends: Credit Eases

2010-07-14T15:34:00.000+02:00

Credit Eases for Hedge Funds and Private Equity - DealBook Blog - NYTimes.com: "- Sent using Google Toolbar"