With the recent concerns of Covid-19 virus, known also as the Corona virus, business’ have needed to adapt to new ways to conduct business. One way to adapt is to add additional services in response to needs. Another is to adjust how things are done.The concerns regarding spreading viruses and bacteria is a real concern and it has definitely been brought to the top of nearly everyone’s mind due to the global pandemic of the Corona virus. People are increasing the social distancing between themselves and some areas bars and restaurants have been closed down and people have are instructed to stay home to help prevent spread of the virus.For real estate in most places the buying of homes and condos continues and as a result home inspections continue as well. For home inspections it is recommended that very few people attend the home inspection and of course stay at least 6 feet apart. No more hand shaking when the inspector meets the home buyer. Inspectors are washing hands more frequently and applying hand sanitizer frequently. Many are wearing gloves and face masks. Face masks are to be worn really only if one is sick or tending to someone who is known to be a carrier of the virus. If a buyer or home inspector is sick they should stay at their own home to help prevent spread. Usually home buyers are not right next to the inspector som there is low risk of transmission. So the change of how the home inspection is conducted has not varied much.The concern is largely from the home buyers having concerns about moving into a home that may somehow be infected. This naturally is concerning because the new home owner does not know who was in the home just prior to their moving in, This has sparked new services from home inspection companies.One such new service is fogging or physically applying a disinfectant to the home to help kill bacteria and viruses. Application is done after the sellers have moved their stuff out and before the new owners put their stuff in. Habitation Investigation is offering the service at no charge to their home buying clients though a “sister company” Environmental Consultants of Ohio. This service helps home buyers feel better about not only looking at home, also with moving into a home where strangers recently occupied.Two roles of home inspections is to provide information to the home buyer so they can make an informed decision and to help remove many of the unknowns that exist when home buying. The disinfectant is another way to help reduce the concern of the unknown. Of course it does not prevent the home from getting “infected” after the treatment, it does provide some peace of mind.

The Enterprise Investment Scheme (EIS) has been designed by the UK Government to encourage private investment into small, high risk trading companies by offering a range of tax incentives.Providing the underlying investments made by the EIS are held for at least three years (for Income Tax relief and tax free growth), the current tax reliefs available for UK investors are:30% upfront Income Tax relief up to maximum investment of £1 million, which can be carried back to the previous tax year100% Inheritance Tax relief (provided the investments have been held for at least 2 years at time of death)Capital gains tax deferral for the life of the investmentTax-free growthTax relief from investment lossesIf you are looking to invest across a range of EIS managers and would like a simple way of administering your investments, the scheme has been designed with you in mind.EIS may be right for you if any of the following statements apply:· You have significant savings and want to diversify your investments while benefiting from the tax incentives· You are keen to benefit from the growth potential offered by investment in smaller companies· You would like to reduce the potential Inheritance Tax due on your estate· You would like to reduce your Income Tax liability· You want to defer a capital gain· You have a significant pension fund but are now exposed to the Annual Pension and/or Lifetime Allowance· You have elected for Pension Enhanced Protection or Fixed Protection· You want a tax efficient savings vehicle without the restrictions attached to pensions· You are a UK resident non domicile and would like to remit overseas income and capital gains tax freeWe believe that EIS/SEIS portfolios are the investment of choice if you want to make larger contributions to fund your retirement in a tax efficient manner.However, the tax benefits of investing should be your secondary and not primary reason for investing. EIS (and SEIS) is designed to provide an excellent investment opportunity in its own right.Direct Application:Investors can choose to invest via an offer to purchase new shares directly into an EIS qualifying company. The biggest benefit of this option is that the investor has direct control over the investment. However, not many people have the skills needed to carry out the necessary due diligence needed and the lack of thorough due diligence carries exceptionally high risk.Investors who are seeking a more diverse portfolio may find this investment option a little less attractive as “all their eggs will be in one basket”. Additionally, the same benefit (more control) can also be a drawback as investors will not have the benefits of working with professional advisers.A discretionary service:This option allows investors to invest their EIS/SEIS money through a discretionary manager. For most investors the attractive aspect of this option is access to professional advice and information via trained and qualified personnel and recommended by a financial adviser. An adviser will likely simplify the investment process by handling special paperwork and dealing with other details.However, as with a direct investment, the client is likely to be invested in a small number of companies and very exposed to the fluctuation in valuationA platform:You can use a platform offering EIS/SEIS solutions for EIS/SEIS investors, helping to simplify the EIS investment process. From those looking at longer term investment (perhaps for those considering inheritance tax (IHT)) to those looking for more “asset focused” investments, to those considering Seed EIS investment.With the availability of a wide range of managers, clients and advisers can significantly reduce risk with greater diversification all within one application form.

IntroductionTraditionally investing has been seen as the preserve of the wealthy and has a reputation for being a minefield to the uninitiated. As western standards of living continue to increase, more and more people are beginning to realize the benefits investing even small sums can bring. This article seeks to explore some basic principles to help you get started with investing.1. What’s the basic premise of investing?The Collins English Dictionary defines the word invest in the following way; “To lay out, for profit or advantage.” To layout refers to the fact that something of value is needed in the first place in order to generate more wealth. In essence investing is a means of taking a pre defined sum of money and using it in such a way as to increase its original value, therefore generating a profit.2. Why Invest?This is one of the most fundamental questions that any person looking to invest needs to ask. The general answer is pretty obvious, to generate a profit, but the reason behind the investment are far more important and will directly influence how and where you chose to invest. In addition the answer will also determine the level of risk you are willing to expose yourself to and which will be explored in more detail later.Reasons as to why people invest are varied and may include some of the following; to build up a nest egg for retirement, to provide a financial safety net, to pay for future education or university fees for children, for fun because of the buzz investing can create.3. How Should I invest?This is also a deeply personal question and will depend upon the amount of money an individual has at their disposal. It is important to stress that investment takes many different forms all of which facilitate differing levels of investment. A single mum might decide to invest $20 or a business entrepreneur $1 million but both will seek a return on their capital outlay and how they go about achieving their investment goals may differ substantially.4. What level of risk should I expose myself to?Such a decision is very important as ultimately it will dictate the profitability of your final investment. In many respects this question will also be determined by the answer to the previous question, why invest? If an investment is being made to safeguard a financial future the level of risk taken may be lower than an individual investing for fun.Generally investments are made in three distinct categories low, medium and high. Low risk investments include Government bonds and savings accounts. Medium Risk investments could include certain types of shares or property. High Risk investments will almost certainly include shares in rapidly expanding companies exploring new markets. The dot.com crash in the late nineties, in which thousands of newly established technology companies went bust, is an example of a high risk investment going very wrong.What types of investment are there?This is not an easy question to answer because in theory anything that earns a profit from an initial outlay can be classed as an investment.There are however some common forms of investment that deserve further explanation.a) Government BondsThese are deemed low risk investments as money is invested in Government related projects and assets. It is unheard of in the western world for a Government to go bankrupt.b) SharesThis is a means of holding a stake in a company trading on the stock exchange and investors benefit from its profitability. Whilst share dealing can be low risk particularly if you are investing in established companies in the FTSE 100, most share investments are deemed medium or high risk. This is because such investments have the potential to return excellent profits but there is also a raised risk of losing your total investment.c) AntiquesAntiques are often a great source of investment given that they hold their value at the very least and have the added benefit of being easy to sell if you need a quick cash injection. In addition if you wish to leave a sum of money to family after your death they won’t be hit with inheritance taxes often associated with large amounts of physical cash. Perhaps one of the major drawbacks to investing in Antiques is the requirement of a level of technical expertise, or access to those skills, to ensure that suitable items are invested in.d) PropertyProperty can also be a very lucrative source of investment as property prices continue to increase across the developed world. Generally property prices increase in value in the long term.e) SavingsWhilst banks often make the distinction between savings and investments, in essence savings are a form of investment as the money you save with the bank is invested in low risk shares on your behalf, which ultimately enables financial institutions to make interest payments to you.How to investNow that you have more information to help you get started with investment the next step is to speak to an independent financial advisor. These consultations are almost always free and you can get specific advice tailored to your individual needs concerning investing. In the UK there is an excellent site for finding Independent Financial Advisors called unbiased, see the link at the end of this articleSummaryThis article has attempted to provide advice to enable individuals to get started with investment. Discussion has taken place about the basic premise of investing and the profitability of such a decision, along with examining different reasons for investing. Attention has also been given to how much might be invested and at what level of risk this might be undertaken at. Finally we have explored the vast array of investment options available and what the next step is for a budding investor.