You can own real estate without having to be a landlord.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=5mL5qbhSNeI

What is a REIT? A real estate investment trust (REIT) is a real estate investment company that manages a portfolio of income properties, distributing the lion’s share of its profits as dividends. By getting into a REIT, you can gain an ownership interest in prime commercial real estate … without the headaches of commercial real estate management.

How do REITs work? On one level, a REIT is an agreement with the IRS. In choosing a REIT structure, a real estate investment company agrees to pay out 90% or more of its taxable profits in dividends in exchange for avoiding corporate income tax.¹

In the typical public REIT, investors buy shares in the trust. (You may have heard the term “real estate stock” before; that’s what we’re talking about.) Like any other stock, REIT stock offers you the potential for dividend income and share value appreciation. REIT dividend income tends to be stable, as REITs usually invest in large commercial properties involving long-term tenant leases. The REIT may choose to make some of the dividend a nontaxable return of capital, which results in tax deferral and a lower taxable income for the investor during the period he or she holds the stock. That can boost the after-tax dividend yield. REITs don’t pass their losses onto investors, and they usually don’t have minimums.²

Non-traded REITs. Most REITs are listed on stock exchanges, but not all are. Some REITs are non-traded (or “non-listed”). Non-traded REITs are akin to private equity funds in that they are usually conceived to last less than 10 years before listing their shares, selling out, or liquidating. They typically invest aggressively when they start buying assets, and their dividend yields can be notably higher than those from publicly listed REITs.³

Are REITs right for your portfolio? Many investors are considering REITs these days, attracted by the diversification they provide for a portfolio. Notably, there are REIT mutual funds, closed end funds, and REIT ETFs to choose from, among several options. Before you make the move to invest in a REIT, be sure to speak with a qualified financial advisor who knows the particulars surrounding REIT investment.

Citations.

Now is a good time to examine what’s in your portfolio.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=D52wT6OXgyw

The stock market is unsettled … and perhaps its fluctuations are unsettling you. It’s a stressful time for the economy and Wall Street, and you may be concerned about your portfolio given what’s going on with oil prices, the real estate market, and rising unemployment figures. It may be a good time to review how your assets are invested.

Is your portfolio balanced? A balanced portfolio may help you ride out stock market turbulence. Stocks and mutual funds aren’t the only asset allocation choices you have, and you won’t be alone this winter if you decide to examine other investment options.

Fixed annuities and Treasuries become attractive to investors when the market turns volatile. Bonds tend to maintain their strength when stocks perform poorly; fixed annuities are simply contracts with insurance firms, not correlated to stock market performance (though certain types of annuities may enable you to take advantage of stock market gains while maintaining your principal). Fixed-income mutual funds, dividend income funds and bond funds also have their adherents.

Last but not least, you have cash, though cash holdings haven’t traditionally performed anywhere near the level of the stock markets.

Are you retired, or retiring? If you are, this is all the more reason to review and possibly even revise your portfolio. Frequently, people approach or enter retirement with portfolios that haven’t been reviewed in years. The asset allocation that seemed wise ten years ago may seem foolhardy today.

Often, people in their fifties and sixties feel they need to accumulate more money for retirement, and that feeling leads them to accept more risk in their portfolio than they should. In the absence of a salary, however, you’ll likely want consistent income and growth, and therein lies the appeal of a balanced investment approach designed to manage risk while encouraging an adequate return.

Why not take a look into your portfolio? Ask your financial advisor to assist you. You may find that you have a mix of investments that matches your risk tolerance. Or, your portfolio may need minor or major adjustments. The right balance may help you insulate your assets to a greater degree against financial ups and downs.