Your fellow members will also have access to their own details from now, so they can update change of address for themselves from now on, freeing the administrative burden a little for club officers.

- How Do I Register My Clubs Details?
- How Do I Login & view my Clubs Details?
- How Can I View my Club's Portfolio?
- How Do I Set Up a Portfolio for My Club?
- How Can I Receive Updates on our Club's Portfolio Performance? (Coming Soon)
- How Can I find a Company to Research?
- How do I Add A Member?
- How do I delete A Member?
- I can't edit details of other club members
- How do I become an Admin User?
- Do I have to put my email address in and telephone number in?
- How can I change my details?
- What happened to our club portfolio from the old site?
- My username and password don't work
- I can't edit My Club Portfolio
- Portfolio Questions (Please remember only Admin Users can amend Club Portfolios)
- I need help with my accounting software package


2. Basic Help for Starting & Running a Club

- Can I join a club in my area?
- Do I know enough people?
- Do we need to recruit an expert?
- Is there much administration?
- How much time will it take?
- How much does it cost?
- Are there any tax advantages?
- Can I use a club to save for my children or nieces/nephews?
- Can I charge my club for my financial knowledge?
- Is it not better to put my savings into a bank account?


1. Help using this Website

Q. How Do I Register My Clubs Details?
A. Click on the white text link in the top right hand corner of the site marked register (this is always visible) or click here. From here, you will be asked to go through 2 simple stages.
Stage One simply asks you to enter your club details such as your clubs name, number of members etc. Please try and have these details to hand.
That is all - the club is registered. Now an email will be automatically sent to you. Once you have logged in you can add members to your club.



Q. How Do I Login & view my Clubs Details?
A. Click on the white text link in the top right hand corner of the site marked Login (this is always visible) or click here.
You will be presented with the login screen. Please use the login details you have received in the email from us.
Note - If you are an existing proshareclubs user logging into this 'new' site for the first time, please enter the login details supplied in the letter you have received from us.
Once you have logged in, you will be presented with your homepage which includes a current valuation of your club's portfolio.



Q. How Can I View my Club's Portfolio?
A. You can use the same route as logging in suggested above. You can also click on the tab near the top of the page marked portfolio. You will be asked to login with your details. Once done, you can then view your portfolio.



Q. How Do I Set Up a Portfolio for My Club?
A. You need to be your club's Administration user in order to do this.
Once you have registered your club, you will be asked to set up your Club's Portfolio. Simply follow the onscreen instructions and the service will be set up quickly.
For Club Admin Users only
Explanation for adding transactions, cash balance companies & deleting/adding companies.



Q. How Can I Receive Updates on our Club's Portfolio Performance? (Coming Soon)
A. ProShareClubs.co.uk has the facility to allow you and all your club members to receive a regular email showing you how your club's portfolio has performed. Your club admin user can arrange this service for you when he/she registers your club.



Q. How Can I find a Company to Research?
A. Click on the tab marked Investment Research. On the page that appears, type in the company name (or 3-4 letter symbol if you know it) you are after. From the list of matches that appear, click on the company you want. You will then be taken to the relevant Company Research page, where you can view latest prices, news and charts.



Q. How do I Add A Member?
A. Only Admin Users have the ability to add/delete members. You can tell if you are a Admin User from your Portfolio Valuation page as there should be three bold links at the top of each of the page called Edit My Details, Edit My Club and Edit Club Members. If there is only one link called Edit MY Details, you are not an Admin User.

To add a member, click on the link marked 'Edit Club Members' on the Portfolio Valuation page. This opens the 'My Club Members' screen. On this screen, click on the link near the top of the page called 'To add a new member click here'. This opens a new screen called Personal Details into which you type your new member details. Please add a username and password as well as an email address so we can email your new club member their account details.



Q. How do I delete A Member?
A. Only Admin Users have the ability to add/delete members. You can tell if you are a Admin User from your Portfolio Valuation page as there should be three bold links at the top of each of the page called Edit My Details, Edit My Club and Edit Club Members. If there is only one link called Edit MY Details, you are not an Admin User.

To delete a member, click on the link marked 'Edit Club Members' on the Portfolio Valuation page. This opens the 'My Club Members' screen. Next to the member you wish to remove, click on the the word delete. By pressing 'ok' on the confirmation window that appears you will delete this member from your club.



Q. I can't edit details of other club members?
A. Only Admin Users have the ability to edit details of other club members. You can tell if you are a Admin User from your Portfolio Valuation page as there should be three bold links at the top of each of the page called Edit My Details, Edit My Club and Edit Club Members. If there is only one link called Edit MY Details, you are not an Admin User.

To edit details of other club members, click on the link marked 'Edit Club Members' on the Portfolio Valuation page. This opens the 'My Club Members' screen. Click on the word edit next to the member whose details you wish to amend. The next screen, called Personal Details, allows you to do this.



Q. How do I become an Admin User?
A. Your club's existing Admin User(s) will have to login to the site and then click on the link marked 'Edit Club Members' on the Portfolio Valuation page. This opens the 'My Club Members' screen. On this screen next to your name they should tick the box marked 'Admin User' and then save the changes. When you subsequently login, you should have 3 bold links on your Portfolio Valuation page, signifying you are an Admin User.



Q. What if I don't have an e-mail address or phone number?
ProShare Investment Clubs no longer sends out a quarterly newsletter by post. However, we do now send out a monthly newsletter via e-mail informing you of all the latest news and information for investment clubs. Your e-mail address is required so that we can deliver this to you.

A. If you want to know more information about your email address, telephone numbers and www.proshareclubs.co.uk, please refer to the terms and conditions on the website.



Q. How can I change my details?
A. All club members can now administer their own details, allowing them to both personalise the service they can receive in the future through the website and also to help the general administration of the club. To change any of your personal details, please click on the link marked 'Edit My Details' on the Portfolio Valuation page. This opens the Personal Details screen here you can change your information.



Q. What happened to our club portfolio from the old site?
A. These should be available after you have logged in. If not, please send an email to [email protected] indicating what the problem is and we will get back to you.



Q. My username and password don't work?
A. Firstly, you can use the account reminder facility available on every login to request an email to be sent to you confirming what your account details are. Secondly, you can ask your Admin User to send you these as he/she will have access to them. Finally, you can always send an email to [email protected] requesting your account details or for an immediate answer call 0207 868 5101 (calls to this number charged at 60p per minute)



Q. I can't edit My Club Portfolio
A. Only Admin Users have the ability to edit the Club Portfolio. You can tell if you are a Admin User from your Portfolio Valuation page as there should be three bold links at the top of each of the page called Edit My Details, Edit My Club and Edit Club Members. If there is only one link called Edit MY Details, you are not an Admin User.

To edit your club Portfolio, please refer to section 15 below, which specifically details Portfolio FAQs.



Q. Portfolio Questions (Please remember only Admin Users can amend Club Portfolios)

i.	Add an instrument Click on the Add equities to your portfolio link - this will open a pop-up window through which you can find and then  select instruments to add.
i.	Delete an instrument Click on the red cross to the left hand side of the particular instrument. That will remove the instrument.
i.	Add a transaction Click on the trade link to the right hand side of the instrument you wish to trade. This will open up the transaction page, into which you can enter all the details of your trade including commission.
iv.	Amend a transaction Click on the history link to the right hand side of the particular instrument. This brings up a list of trades done in that instrument. On this page click on the edit link next to the specific trade. The Edit Transaction screen appears and now you can amend trade details including the date.

Q. I need help with my accounting software package?
A. For questions about accounting software, please visit www.iclubcentral.co.uk or telephone 0871 711 0696 (National call rate).


2. Basic Help for Starting & Running a Club

Q. Can I join a club in my area?
A.Unfortunately, we are not able to pass on the names of investment clubs due to The Data Protection Act. The vast majority of clubs insist on preserving their anonymity. This is because their membership usually comprises friends, relatives and colleagues - people who have already known each other for some time.

They are sometimes wary about introducing strangers into their groups, particularly as money is involved. It might be possible to enter an existing group where you know someone who is already in that club and they can introduce you to the group and vouch for you.

The very best way of becoming involved in the movement is to start a club of your own. While this may seem fairly daunting at first, we emphasise that this is not, repeat not, a difficult process.
ProShare produces an Investment Club Manual, which covers every conceivable aspect of starting and running a club. It makes the whole process as easy as possible and there’s a ProShare Helpline to assist with any teething troubles.

While it can be exciting to start a new club, don't feel like you need to reinvent the wheel to garner the great benefits of clubbing. Many people feel they will be better off joining a club that has already ironed out many of the 'start up' bumps.

Club members come and go, so lots of successful clubs can find themselves a little short-handed. If you're willing to pitch in a few pounds each month and shoulder a share of responsibility for running a club then we can help you out.

Send an email to [email protected] with the following details:

• Name
• Age
• City
• County

We will do our best to match your details with clubs in your area who are seeking members. Please be patient. Remember - you will need to wait until the club has its next meeting before they will be able to discuss a prospective membership.



Q. Do I know enough people?
A. You only need a handful of people to form a club. As few as five will be plenty and you can sure be that once the club gets off the ground interest will grow and you will soon be turning people away. Do not feel that you have to do all of the recruitment work yourself. Ask a couple of interested friends to recruit their friends and acquaintances and make your job a little easier.



Q. Do we need to recruit an expert?
A. Many clubs run without ‘expert’ members. Buying and selling shares is fairly straightforward. The ProShare Investor Update series is a series of fact sheets on all different aspects of investment that a new club will find useful. Most stockbrokers will be delighted to help you at the outset and at least ten major brokers have special departments and dealing services for investment clubs.

ProShare has developed The Investors Toolkit to help all investors and especially novices make informed investment decisions. This unique system allows private investors and clubs, however inexperienced, to use their own skills to accurately assess the track record of a company and its management, and decide whether its share price today represents good value for money.

The Investors Toolkit consists of a guide to analysing shares, Share Appraisal Forms, The Investor’s Guide to Information Sources, a sample copy of CD REFS and a full set of ProShare investor updates. More on the Toolkit

Although your members might not have direct stock market experience, the strength of an investment club lies in the fact that members will have a variety of expertise from their job and other interests and this enables them to make recommendations based on experience - for which there is no substitute.



Q. Is there much administration?
A. No. It really isn’t too complicated, particularly when you follow The ProShare Manual. You can always call our Helpline with any queries. Formalities at meetings should be kept to a minimum and most of the time at meetings should be spent discussing the merits of particular shares. Duties can be shared amongst club personnel with the key jobs of secretary and treasurer taking no more than an hour a month.

Some clubs even have deputies for the roles of Treasurer, Chairman and Secretary so that duties can be split up even further. The beauty of an investment club is that the job of investigating particular shares or sectors can be divided between members, with each member responsible for a particular piece of research which can be reported back at meetings. The workload will not fall on your shoulders alone!



Q. How much time will it take?
A. The ProShare Manual outlines a paper-based ‘unit valuation’ system for keeping your accounts in order and if you follow it you should not need to spend more than a couple of hours a month on it. If you have access to a PC, an easy-to-use program has been devised specially for investment clubs by ICLUB central Inc, who can be contacted for further information.



Q. How much does it cost?
A. The monthly subscription can vary from as little as £10 to as much as £100 or more, but the most common subscription level is between £25 and £30. Some clubs begin with an initial lump sum payment by members, which enables the club to make investments straight away rather than having to wait until the monthly subscriptions have built up over time. Remember that the lower the subscription level, the less frequently the club will be able to make investments.

For example, if a club has 20 members who subscribe a standard £10 per month, it will only be feasible to invest every 2-3 months (as investments should be made in ‘chunks’ of no less than £500 because of broker’s minimum commission charges). However, the time in between making investments can be spent carefully researching shares and perhaps even running a fantasy portfolio!



Q. Are there any tax advantages?
A. Whilst there are many other advantages to investing through an investment club such as shared knowledge and costs - there are no tax benefits given to members of an investment club.

Members are taxed individually and everyone in the club is liable to pay tax on their share of the club’s profits, both income tax on dividends and capital gains tax on any increase in price of shares sold.

Full details and even sample forms are contained in The ProShare Investment Club Manual or from your local tax office. See our Investor Update on Tax also.



Q. Can I use a club to save for my children or nieces/nephews?
A. You can certainly earmark your club investments for your children’s future, as all club investments should be made with a long-term perspective in mind. You cannot, however, hold investments in the name of a minor, as they are not able to buy and sell shares until they are 18.

There are no tax advantages to holding investments in a child’s name as if the money invested for a child has come from the parent, any income that it generates over £100 per annum, will be liable for capital gains and/or income tax at the adult’s normal rate. See our Investor Update on Children



Q. Can I charge my club for my financial knowledge?
A. No member can be paid for their services to the club. The Financial Services Act 1986 covers many areas of investment business and there are severe penalties for breaching the rules and regulations of the Act.

It is a requirement of the Act that anyone carrying out investment business must be authorised – and this involves a great deal of time and effort and taking specific exams. Ordinary investors, such as members of investment clubs, are exempt provided that they act only on their own or the club’s behalf and are not paid for their services. Agreed expenses for stationery, postage etc. is OK – anything else is illegal!

You should look at the investment club as a way of sharing your knowledge with friends, not profiting from them. You will be surprised how much you learn from participating in a club. Even the most inexperienced members in the club will have experience from work, hobbies or life in general that will give them an expertise in a particular companies and sectors that you know nothing about!



Q. Is it not better to put my savings into a bank account?
A. Over any 10 year period, investment in company shares is proven to be a most lucrative form of investment provided it is done with care and knowledge. ProShare does not encourage people to put all their savings into the stock market. As a rough guide we suggest that the money an individual decides to invest in shares should be cash he does not want to use for at least five years. In this way the variations in the market should, over time, even out.

Clubs, like individuals, should aim for a varied and balanced portfolio to protect against fluctuations in particular sectors.