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Show Me the Money Honey

Posted on 20. May, 2008 by Talita in Current Affairs

In the interests of promoting individual empowerment I would like to encourage our readers to enter the Sanlam I-Trade competition. Before I go on, let me just say that this is not a promotion for Sanlam, it’s something that I’ve been told about and that I genuinely enjoy. First, about trading online; partly because private investment bankers don’t really treat you as an individual unless you have in excess of half a million to invest and secondly because there is a growing number of individuals who want to invest their own money, the idea of trading as an individual has become popular in recent times. There’s also the private investment clubs going around town where friends band together, like a stok-vel and invest their joint funds. This in particular entails possible dangers but as I’m not here to give legal advice, just be warned to ask questions first.

The sudden interest has spawned courses teaching individuals how stock-market investing works like Share Tracking (not affiliated to any bank or investment company that I know of) and internet trading platforms are being offered by more and more institutions. So how does this work? Well to begin with, the bad news is hat you are obviously all on your own and if you’re interested in this investment form, then I assume you’re quite comfortable calling the shots and taking the risk involved. As far as trading platforms are concerned, I’m going to explain using the Sanlam I-Trade platform because it’s the only one I’m acquainted with. This web-site provides you with every possible form of data you may require regarding specific companies, research and price movements, the latter you can, if you choose, have streamed live as if you were a broker sitting in the JSE. Also included is a learning centre that gives you an idea what to do with all this data, how to conduct technical analysis in other words. For use of the site, one pays a monthly subscription fee of between R15 and R114 rand depending on the package you choose. The only other fee involved is the trading fee which works out to just over 1.1% of your transaction value including tax.

And then ladies and gentlemen, the games begin. Two major bonuses of this site it their Maps application that gives you a visual overview of your portfolio (you have to see it to appreciate it) and the site is incredibly user-friendly – an blind idiot could find his way around (no disrespect meant).

Now back to the competition. Sanlam I-Trade provides you with a virtual portfolio and an account of 1 million rand. You register on-line for free and anyone can enter. Because of the competition, they have an offer on their I-View package of R100 for a subscription for the rest of this year which will allow you access the vast amount of data, charts and of course the learning center. The whistle blows on the 9^th of June 2008 and who ever profits most, will win R100 000. You have nothing to loose, much to learn and there’s so much fun to be had.

Trading is of course how the current richest man in the world made his fortune and it’s not rocket science. Even if you play conservatively, in the long-term stocks remain an important part of any balanced investment portfolio and if you do your home work and use common sense, chances are you’ll turn a profit. Shares are also a reasonably conservative investment tool compared to other financial instruments so even though it’s unfamiliar right now, it’s not like you’re jumping into the deep end. Either way – I’ve stated my case and I can assure you I’m definitely entering!

Check out www.sanlamitrade.co.za for more info.

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Tags: bank, conservative investment tool, internet trading platforms, web-site, ZAR