There’s no Such Thing as a Free Lunch – or a Free Investing Seminar
June 8th 2008 10:26
If you think anybody that sells or markets property, mortgages, or managed funds, is going to “help” you get the best investment and give you “free” advice, please wake up and smell the coffee. But when promoters of investments tell us things we want to hear – a positive spin – it is hard to remain impartial.
Over the past decade, who knows how many millions Mums and Dads have lost by buying overpriced property through two-tiered property marketers. I was amazed to find The Investor’s Club, Queensland, founded by former bankrupt Kevin (& Kathy) Young, still running. Their positive spin is the wild statement that it's OK that interest rates rise as you can charge 10% more rent each year to cover interest costs. This is often impractical, with leases in place and legal restrictions on rental increases. Despite the convenience, buying new property through a one-stop shop, including mortgage finance, legals, valuations, and property management, means that you would never get unbiased advice.
Although not as rampant as the late 90s, some developers still use marketing firms who give free “retirement planning” seminars. Assets to Wealth used this method recently on Western Australians. Told of capital growth success in other such developments (not yet realised), they were lured to invest in new developments near Ipswich, specifically the $120 million Highbury Park housing estate at Redbank Plains, and the unit development of Blaxland Gardens. They were not aware that the building company (Scottsdale Homes Development Group) was headed up by a man State Parliament once dubbed the “King Con” of Gold Coast property marketeering scams, Dudley Quinlivan. The price of this ‘free’ misleading education was paying 20 to 30% more than the private market. The full story was in the Courier Mail on September 9, 2007 (Over-hype in the housing market).
Thousands of Australians have lost money, or opportunity, simply by not doing their own research. That is why I feel strongly that everyone should inform themselves of their overall choices, compare with other properties (or chosen asset), find out what the investment will cost them, and what the investment will most likely return to them.
If you want to become more aware of the whole investing arena, and avoid getting caught out by swindlers, please come to my interactive “Getting Started in Investing” workshop starting June 28 at Pathways, North Lakes (off Bruce Hwy). It’s not free – but it’s bloody good value.
Over the past decade, who knows how many millions Mums and Dads have lost by buying overpriced property through two-tiered property marketers. I was amazed to find The Investor’s Club, Queensland, founded by former bankrupt Kevin (& Kathy) Young, still running. Their positive spin is the wild statement that it's OK that interest rates rise as you can charge 10% more rent each year to cover interest costs. This is often impractical, with leases in place and legal restrictions on rental increases. Despite the convenience, buying new property through a one-stop shop, including mortgage finance, legals, valuations, and property management, means that you would never get unbiased advice.
Although not as rampant as the late 90s, some developers still use marketing firms who give free “retirement planning” seminars. Assets to Wealth used this method recently on Western Australians. Told of capital growth success in other such developments (not yet realised), they were lured to invest in new developments near Ipswich, specifically the $120 million Highbury Park housing estate at Redbank Plains, and the unit development of Blaxland Gardens. They were not aware that the building company (Scottsdale Homes Development Group) was headed up by a man State Parliament once dubbed the “King Con” of Gold Coast property marketeering scams, Dudley Quinlivan. The price of this ‘free’ misleading education was paying 20 to 30% more than the private market. The full story was in the Courier Mail on September 9, 2007 (Over-hype in the housing market).
Thousands of Australians have lost money, or opportunity, simply by not doing their own research. That is why I feel strongly that everyone should inform themselves of their overall choices, compare with other properties (or chosen asset), find out what the investment will cost them, and what the investment will most likely return to them.
If you want to become more aware of the whole investing arena, and avoid getting caught out by swindlers, please come to my interactive “Getting Started in Investing” workshop starting June 28 at Pathways, North Lakes (off Bruce Hwy). It’s not free – but it’s bloody good value.
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Comment by Anonymous
What is being promoted at these seminars anyway - "getting starting in investing"... Investing in what - my guess is property! Seems like a transparent, underhanded tactic to try and give consumers a reason to do business with them instead of their competitors. A $120 million development in Ipswich is mentioned as being run by a Gold Coast Marketeer - that's a pretty big development to be a "scam" - $120 MILLION - if it was a scam, I can't imagine that flying under the radar of authorities. I am interested in the property market, and looking for information about how to get into it, but all this this article says to me is that the author is pitching their own investment opportunities and trying to scare consumers into not going to other seminars by saying they are swindlers. Don't trust people who bad mouth their competitors!
Comment by Jen Lancaster
Self-Publishing Pros and Cons
small_business_scope
Thanks for your comments, being suspicious certainly is wise these days. However, I do not promote anything, only self-education. Incidentally my workshop was $10 not thousands, it was just an offer if anyone would like to learn how to get started.
The developments I refer to are running the fine line of the law, they are just giving the investors really bad value for their money. I give the sources and names to check into it for yourself.
Again, I have never and will never profit from financial institution commissions or benefits. Still toiling away for the people.