| If you were suffering from an illness and you didn't | | | | jurisdictions that provide the most favorable |
| know what it was who would you look to for | | | | conditions for their operations and they often keep |
| answers? Would you listen to your next door | | | | an arms length stance when providing information. To |
| neighbor who is something of a hypochondriac, your | | | | some extent this is justified as they could be |
| brother who works as a porter at the hospital or a | | | | exposed to exploitation if details are made available. |
| website that you find using Google? | | | | This doesn't mean to say that you should discount all |
| Hopefully you would have rejected all those options | | | | such opportunities, just ensure you do your |
| as whilst they may have an interest in helping you | | | | homework beforehand. One of the ways to do this |
| their level of expertise may be less than is really | | | | is to find others who have the experience to help. As |
| needed. Personally I'd seek out someone who has | | | | the online investing matures more and more people |
| the knowledge and experience to help me in the first | | | | will have a track record of experiences that you can |
| instance. | | | | call on. |
| Do your research | | | | Spread your net wide |
| The same should hold true when you want to invest | | | | If you don't have anybody in your immediate social |
| online. You should not rely on hearsay, rumor or | | | | circle who can help then spend time on the internet |
| speculation as these can result in you losing funds | | | | to search out knowledgeable people. Join forums and |
| rather than increasing them. At the end of the day | | | | discussion groups that offer advice and help. Ask |
| any decision you make will be a personal one and you | | | | questions and monitor the quality of the answers |
| should accept that this is the case. | | | | given. Resist those who clearly aim to sell to you |
| But before you make a decision you should do all you | | | | without any regard to your own situation. Make sure |
| can to investigate the opportunity so that you feel | | | | you are given the full story about an opportunity, |
| confident in making that decision. In the vast majority | | | | both the good and the bad. |
| of cases this level of confidence will not be (and | | | | Start small |
| shouldn't be) 100%. There are just too many | | | | If you find an investment that you feel confident |
| variables to consider when making any decision such | | | | with begin with a small investment and monitor its |
| as this. Just eighteen months ago you could have | | | | performance closely. Keep up to date with news by |
| been highly confident making a decision to invest at | | | | monitoring forums, blogs and discussions so that if |
| your local bank, the economic crisis has destroyed | | | | any problems are identified you will find out quickly. |
| even that level of confidence so investing online | | | | Don't rush into a decision as some problems are |
| should raise your curiosity even more. | | | | exaggerated and given time can be overcome. Use |
| Clearly there are no formal bodies that you can turn | | | | common sense to guide your decision making and |
| to for reassurance as it is very difficult to police the | | | | create a balanced portfolio to spread the risk. |
| world of online investments. Companies are based in | | | | |