JustFab.com

Here at JustFab.com, denim is one of our wardrobe VIPs. We all have our favorite pair of JustFab.com jeans that go with just about everything from a worn-in, slouchy sweatshirt to a sexy statement pair of JustFab.com heels. Our online boutique features an array of denim options including classic styles and the latest trends. Whether you’re in the market for a pleasing fit or a pop of bright color, the fashion experts at JustFab.com have curated the best in jeans to help you find your ultimate pair.

For an easy summer jean, look no further than JustFab.com’s Cool Crop. Available in dazzling colors – Carribean and Fire Coral – it features sumptuous stretchy fabric and a sleek, slimming look. This style showcases  a shorter inseam, it sits at the natural waistline and accentuates your curves. This JustFab.com style is cropped above ankle length and just right for slipping on with a sexy JustFab.com summer sandal or a skyscraper heel.

The Signature Skinny Brights is a springtime staple. This JustFab.com jean is made from a luxe, soft fabric and is incredibly flattering for all body-types.  Available in three bold colors, Brite Pink, Lime Punch and Diva Blue, it’s a warm weather layering piece that you’ll find yourself reaching for again and again. Sleek and slimming, JustFab.com created a well-made denim staple that will brighten your look and your attitude.

JustFab.com’s Killer Cutoffs are the perfect fit for a multitude of summer looks. Throw on over your bikini for a quick cover-up or wear with a button down for a day of running around – the possibilities are endless. Made of ultra-soft and luxurious premium denim, they not only feel great but highlight your assets with strategically positioned back pockets that lift and shape the rear. JustFab.com offers classic color choices like White and Blue Lagoon and on-trend hues including Iris and Green Envy.

The Signature Skinny Printed is JustFab.com’s take on the red-hot print pants trend. With an amazing array of options ranging from pretty romantic fresh florals to retro blue and white polka dots, there truly is a JustFab.com print for every look. Wear with a chambray shirt or weathered white tee to focus the attention on these pleasing prints, and pair with some JustFab.com killer heels or open-toe wedges to take this casual look to the next level.

All denim on JustFab.com is available for $39.95 or less with free shipping and exchanges.  Add a pair of denim to a regular order of $39.95 and get a pair for only $29.95.

Scott Safadi

Scott Safadi is a real estate professional specializing in property management in Silicon Valley. Scott Safadi knows a boom or a bust when he sees one. As Scott Safadi explains, the housing market is starting to sizzle at a remarkable rate in a few pockets around the country, including his home base in California. In this conversation, Scott Safadi warns potential homebuyers not to get so caught up that they miss the forest for the trees.

Interviewing Experts: Tell readers about your company, CBPM.

Scott Safadi: CBPM is a property management company that serves apartment owners and tenants in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Interviewing Experts: Describe what you have seen happening with the housing market in Silicon Valley.

Scott Safadi: It’s amazing. It really feels like the early 2000s again in Silicon Valley.

Interviewing Experts: So things are hot on the housing front?

Scott Safadi: Yes, houses are selling for way over list price and sellers are getting multiple offers again, some have gotten hundreds of offers.

Interviewing Experts: How much over list price have houses sold for in your area?

Scott Safadi: It is not uncommon for houses to sell for 20 percent over list price right now.

Interviewing Experts: What has sparked this housing activity?

Scott Safadi: A number of factors come into play. There are fewer houses for sale, as owners who were underwater are still recovering and hoping to sell for profit. Also, new home construction is just starting to crawl back.

Interviewing Experts: Have low interest rates helped spur home buying?

Scott Safadi: Yes, record low interest rates and low home prices are attracting people who are financially able, looking to upgrade, or want to get into a home for the first time.

Interviewing Experts: This sounds like a good thing, isn’t it?

Scott Safadi: Yes and no. It’s a great sign that the economy is recovering. On the other hand, people get attached to a boom and bust mentality and it can be devastating.

Interviewing Experts: Can you explain what that means?

Scott Safadi: Buyers get enamored with the thrill of the hunt. In bidding wars for example, buyers end up paying a lot more just because they want to have the winning bid.

Interviewing Experts: What if it’s the perfect house for the buyer?

Scott Safadi: Work with an agent who has your best financial interests in mind, not just their commission. And, hold on, as it could be a bumpy ride.

Interviewing Experts: How do homebuyers choose a good agent?

Scott Safadi: Get a personal referral. Talk to family and friends; they offer the best connections.

Interviewing Experts: What advice do you have for homebuyers?

Scott Safadi: A cautionary tale: Don’t buy out of your price range, consider many different properties, and don’t let a bidding war entice you to spend more than you can afford.

Interviewing Experts: Thanks for your advice!

Scott Safadi: Glad to help homebuyers avoid the disasters of 2008.

About Scott Safadi:

Scott Safadi is a Northern California native who currently lives in Saratoga with his wife and daughter. Scott Safadi experienced both the boom and bust of the housing market in Silicon Valley through the purchase of his own home in 2007 and through his property management business, CBPM. When not immersed in real estate, Scott Safadi enjoys spending time with his family, playing tennis, and backpacking.

Travis Jones Rush Properties

Located just outside the Kansas City metro area, Johnson County is one of the top 20 counties in per capita income nationwide. Travis Jones of Rush Properties explains current housing trends in this Midwestern jewel.

According to Travis Jones of Rush Properties, Johnson County, Kan., is notable for having three of the top 100 best cities to live in according to Money Magazine. Today, the county is still considered one of the best places to live in the United States and is currently enjoying remarkable market conditions for both buyers and sellers, says Travis Jones, Rush Properties founder.

Understanding the market

Travis Jones of Rush Properties explains that the market can be a confusing concept for many people. There are numbers and statistics that don’t seem to make sense. Travis Jones of Rush Properties explains that it isn’t that difficult when you break it down into layman terms. Using Johnson County as an example, Travis Jones of Rush Properties sites April 2013 statistics.

• Median versus average list price was $283,425 in Johnson County, which means that exactly half of the homes listed were above that price point.
• Average list price, which Travis Jones of Rush Properties reports was $368,059, is the average price of all homes on the market.
• DOM is an acronym for Days on Market. Travis Jones of Rush Properties clarifies that the average DOM for Johnson County was 77 days.
• Price per square foot was $115. Price per square foot is calculated according to heated and cooled space in the home, explains Travis Jones, Rush Properties founder.
• MAI stands for Market Action Index. According to Travis Jones of Rush Properties, the MAI measures the amount of inventory versus the number of buyers. In Johnson County during April, the MAI was just under 40. Travis Jones, Rush Properties founder, explains that this indicates a seller’s market.

A strong market

Travis Jones of Rush Properties reports that Johnson County is an extremely stable market. With the number of sold homes and the number of listed homes virtually balancing themselves out, Travis Jones of Rush Properties notes that there are very few homes available at any given time.

Much like the rest of the U.S., Johnson County did suffer during the economic downturn of the mid-2000s. However, as Travis Jones of Rush Properties reports, the market has seen a steady recovery over the last few years. Johnson County is known for having an excellent school system and for offering a remarkable quality of life, which Travis Jones of Rush Properties explains has helped keep market value fair even during the worst of the recession.

Travis Jones of Rush Properties notes that there are many reasons that buyers and sellers alike should be confident in the Johnson County real estate market. With its close proximity to Kansas City, noteworthy landscapes, access to major highways, and reasonable property taxes, Travis Jones of Rush Properties insists that the county and its cities are positioned to remain the best places to live for many years to come.

Low interest rates

Despite being a sellers’ market, Travis Jones of Rush Properties reports that low interest rates also offer an advantage for buyers. Rates have hovered around 3.25 percent with even lower rates for shorter-term loans.

About Travis Jones and Rush Properties

Travis Jones of Rush Properties has been buying and selling homes in and around Johnson County for the last 15 years. Rush Properties works with Homeowner in foreclosure, offering alternative options.

Criminals can acquire personal identification through a number of different privacy breaches. Typically, the perpetrators get the information directly from victims by fraudulently gathering information via trash piles, theft of personal documents from homes and vehicles, or—more brazenly—by pickpocketing or purse snatching.

While no one can guarantee they won’t become a victim of identity theft at some point, there are a few ways to help thwart would-be title takers.

Omit. The risk of ID theft can be mitigated partially by not offering too much personal information online or over the telephone. Many companies have a standard contact form that asks for a plethora of personal information. Often, many of these fields are not required but get completed anyway. A good rule here is offer only the information needed to complete a specific task at hand. Social Security cards should not be kept on one’s person and the number should not be filled out on medical or other forms not related to employment.

Destroy. Simply enough, destroying personal information keeps it out of the hands of criminals. A shredder is invaluable for getting rid of all documents. A word of warning: don’t throw the shredder’s wastebasket away without dividing it among a few different outgoing trash bags. A desperate criminal can—and will—piece together bits of information if they must.

Secure. When filling out a form online make sure that it’s on a secure and encrypted page. Double-check the web addresses and if it doesn’t begin with https (note the “s” on the end), it’s not a secure site. Also, PCs should be set at the highest possible security setting to guard against malware or invisible phishing schemes.

In recent years, many commercially available ID theft protection services have become available. These may offer some level of protection but cannot guard 100 percent against all forms of identity theft.

Charles Brennan

Charles Brennan, a Las Vegas, Nevada based entrepreneur, philanthropist, and longtime rock and roll enthusiast recently opened the Brennan Rock and Roll Academy with the Boys and Girls Club of Sioux Empire.  With a little help from several big-name friends, Charles Brennan presented a weeklong celebration to mark this grand occasion. Here, Interviewing Experts talks with Charles Brennan about this new program for kids.

Interviewing Experts:  Thanks so much for joining us today!  Please tell readers about this phenomenal program.

Charles Brennan:  This program means the world to me.  Through the Rock and Roll Academy, we are giving kids in need access to music lessons, equipment, and performance opportunities.

Interviewing Experts:  How did the Brennan Rock and Roll Academy come to be?

Charles Brennan:  I was in the business for years and have made some really good friends in the music industry.  After discussions with Alice Cooper and my son, who attended the School of Rock in Las Vegas, Nevada, the Brennan Rock and Roll Academy was born.

Interviewing Experts:  Were you a performer?

Charles Brennan:  No, I never mastered an instrument, so I managed bands, opened a venue and promoted concerts.

Interviewing Experts:  Why Sioux Falls?

Charles Brennan:  I’ve lived in Las Vegas, Nevada for years, but Sioux Falls is my hometown.  I am so fortunate to be able to bring this program to kids in my old neighborhood.  I grew up just 6 blocks from the Brennan Rock and Roll Academy.

Interviewing Experts:  How do kids get involved?

Charles Brennan:  The Rock and Roll Academy will serve the kids who are members of the Boys and Girls Club of the Sioux Empire.

Interviewing Experts:  Tell readers exactly what kids will be learning at the Academy?

Charles Brennan:  Everything we do will be focused on rock and roll.  Kids will take weekly music lessons on guitar, bass, keyboard, drums, and/or vocals and will rehearse with a band each week.

Interviewing Experts:  Will the kids perform as well?

Charles Brennan:  Yes, kids will have the opportunity to perform in front of a live crowd, just like real rock stars.

Interviewing Experts:  Incredible!  Tell readers what happened during the grand opening week.

Charles Brennan:  Some of my good friends performed to help open the Rock and Roll Academy in style.  George Lopez, Louie Anderson, Night Ranger, the “Pawn Stars”, Alice Cooper, and some members of Ratt, Warrant, the Doors, and Motley Crew all made appearances.  Even Gene Simmons of KISS made a surprise appearance on March 30^th and performed.

Interviewing Experts:  How did the community get involved?

Charles Brennan:  The kick-off concerts were open to the public.  The facility was open for tours on Friday and, with a phone call ahead, visitors are welcome anytime.

Interviewing Experts:  What are you hoping the Brennan Rock and Roll Academy will accomplish?

Charles Brennan:  At the very heart of this program, we are committed to helping kids dream big and be successful in life.  Maybe they become rock stars, maybe not.  The journey, through lessons, teamwork, and performance, will give them skills that will guide them through life.  That’s what’s important.

Charles Brennan, former owner of The Blitz Ballroom and concert promoter, is the Founder and CEO of Las Vegas, Nevada based Dollar Loan Center and founder of Clark County Collection Services.  Charles Brennan and his family reside in Las Vegas, Nevada. 

Rick Dover

Rick Dover is the general manager of Family Pride Corporation, a family owned and operated company that designs, builds, renovates and manages assisted living facilities for senior adults at affordable rates.

Interviewing Experts: Thank you, Rick Dover, for taking the time to speak with us today.

Rick Dover: It’s my pleasure. I’m always eager to talk about Family Pride Corporation and the services we provide.

Interviewing Experts: How did you first become interested in providing senior adult housing?

Rick Dover: My grandfather, Richard Emerson, needed more care than we could provide at home. We researched assisted living facilities, but couldn’t find the perfect fit for him.

Interviewing Experts: Why is that?

Rick Dover: Large chains usually don’t focus on residents’ individual preferences, so our loved ones’ desires are often sacrificed to a daily regimen for the sake of expediency. We didn’t want that style of care for my grandfather.

Interviewing Experts: So you decided to build it yourself?

Rick Dover: Yes. He’s my grandfather. We wanted the best for him and that was the only way we could get everything on our wish list.

Interviewing Experts: What spurred you to expand the operation?

Rick Dover: When we saw how happy my grandfather was in his new home, we realized that was what everyone wanted for their loved ones. We decided to offer others that choice.

Interviewing Experts: What exactly do your facilities offer that you can’t find elsewhere?

Rick Dover: Maybe it’s the difference between a house and a home. A house is shelter, a place where people live, but a home is a place they love to be. We like to think of our residents as family and our centers as home.

Interviewing Experts: Can you elaborate on that?

Rick Dover: We create personalized care plans that take into account the different personalities and desires of our residents. We offer comfort and support and leave our residents’ dignity intact.

Interviewing Experts: What are seniors and their families looking for in senior living housing?

Rick Dover: Studies show that seniors want homes that are easy to manage, less expensive to operate, constructed with safety in mind, and affordable. We design our facilities with all of that in mind and then add the little extras that make it special.

Interviewing Experts: What do you do about seniors who need help but don’t want to admit it?

Rick Dover: A family can’t force a loved one to accept help or move into an assisted living facility; however, they can provide them with information and reassurance. We suggest families ask others for help. Often a senior adult will listen to his or her doctor or another impartial party in these situations.

Interviewing Experts: You offer other options for seniors besides assisted living, correct?

Rick Dover: Our centers offer different communities for independent living, assisted living and dementia care.

Interviewing Experts: What is the difference between independent and assisted living?

Rick Dover: Residents can choose the level of care they want. Each program is designed around the individual resident’s wants and needs. As those needs change, the level of care is adjusted accordingly.

Interviewing Experts: It sounds like Family Pride Corporation covers a wide range of options.

Rick Dover: We think those choices are what make us unique. Senior adults have different needs, and we help them and their families with the transition through the various stages of aging.

Interviewing Experts: What do you mean by “various stages” of aging?

Rick Dover: Aging is just another phase of a person’s life. Senior living and assisted living isn’t a bad thing. More often than not it’s an exciting adventure of meeting new friends and building more memories.

Interviewing Experts: It almost sounds like a holiday.

Rick Dover: Some of our residents say they feel like it’s like a vacation when they move into our independent living homes.

Interviewing Experts: Why is that?

Rick Dover: Many are downsizing from large homes that require a lot of work and expense.

Interviewing Experts: So it’s a vacation from worry?

Rick Dover: That and more.

Interviewing Experts: Are there ever regrets?

Rick Dover: This isn’t a rash decision. It is a well thought-out life plan. The only regret I’ve ever heard was that they didn’t reach the decision earlier.

Interviewing Experts: What about cost?

Rick Dover: Our residents pay one monthly payment. There are no hidden costs and no deposits or buy-in fees.

Rick Dover and Family Pride Corporation renovate, design, build, manage and maintain award-winning residential environments. Their senior living centers provide the very best service to residents at affordable rates.

Matt Schilit

Matt Schilit is a longtime school administrator, having served as a teacher, assistant principal and principal.  In his current position with the Allendale County School District in South Carolina, Matt Schilit supervises all data, evaluation and testing. Since testing is an integral part of a school’s funding, it is important for school systems to find leaders such at Matt Schilit with extensive experience in the classroom environment.

Recently, Matt Schilit sat down for a conversation about the exciting new opportunities that technology, such as the Apple iPad, can bring to the school administrator’s job performance.

Interviewing Experts: Matt Schilit, you have voiced a great deal of enthusiasm about the Apple iPad. How is it so different from a laptop computer?

Matt Schilit:  It is the portability and wide variety of applications that set the iPad apart.  It used to seem so easy to bring a laptop into a meeting but now even that seems clunky and old-school!  The iPad is so small I can take it with me wherever I go and access all its amazing applications.

Interviewing Experts: Matt Schilit, what kind of applications do you refer to?

Matt Schilit:  With communication apps such as Skype and Google Talk, I can go anywhere in the school or off campus and still stay in touch with my staff, including every teacher in every classroom! And I am totally connected to the outside world as well.

Interviewing Experts: Matt Schilit, how about the increased ability to be away from your office; is there a downside to that?

Matt Schilit:  Not really.  With applications like Dropbox, Google Docs, and Docs to Go, I have access to all my documents stored in the Cloud. I can type a letter to a parent, save it to my Google Docs or Dropbox and have immediate access to that document using my Docs to Go app.  Back in the office I can then edit, print and send it.

Interviewing Experts: Matt Schilit, are you also able to access shared documents?

Matt Schilit:  Yes, of course.  With those same applications I have access to my entire professional document library, also stored in the Cloud.   I have immediate access to all official school documents such as the Student Handbook.

Interviewing Experts: Matt Schilit, is there any other plus to using this new technology?

Matt Schilit:  Well, besides the general boost to organizational efficiency, there is an image element as well.  Carrying and using an iPad as an administrator shows how much you as the leader embrace technology as it makes your job easier while you lead the school.  It’s inspiring to the teachers and students.

Matt Schilit holds a BA in Physical Education and a Master’s in Educational Administration from the University of South Carolina.

Just Fab

Just Fab, the popular e-tailer revolutionizing the online shopping experience, offers a winning combination of celebrity style, wide selection and simplistic ordering.  Just Fab designs, produces, and sells all of its own shoes, handbags, denim and accessories, passing the savings on to shoppers by eliminating the middleman.   Just Fab items are just $39.95 or less and shipping is always free.  With over 11 million members and growing, Just Fab has changed the online retail landscape.

At the heart of Just Fab’s success is their über talented Chief Stylist, Jessica Paster.  For over 16 years, Jessica Paster has been dressing celebrities, including movie stars Emily Blunt, Eva Longoria, and Cate Blanchett.  She has also worked with world-class musicians, including Mariah Carey and Hilary Duff.  Just Fab members have also benefitted from Ms. Paster’s star-studded friendships with such celebrities as Avril Lavigne, the pop-punk princess turned designer, who developed the Abbey Dawn Collection for Just Fab.

Just Fab attributes much of Jessica Paster’s success to the winning combination of great taste and hard work that has allowed her to work in film, television and advertising.  She has been featured on MTV and E! On the Red Carpet for her expert eye for all things fashionable.  Celebrities who have worked with Just Fab and Jessica Paster appreciate her fashion sense without the pretense that so often comes with the business.

As the Chief Stylist for Just Fab, Jessica Paster is truly in her element.  Ms. Paster leads the personalized styling service Just Fab offers to VIP members.  Each month, Just Fab VIP members receive handpicked selections of handbags, shoes, and accessories – all based on each member’s personal style.  Jessica ensures the boutiques are perfectly suited for each Just Fab fashionista.  She is well-heeled for this role at Just Fab, having styled celebrities for red carpet moments both at the Oscars and Golden Globes.

Additionally, Jessica Paster has partnered with Just Fab to design special collections, including a holiday and a summer collection.  The Just Fab 2012 holiday collection featured satin, sparkles, and hot holiday party pieces.  The Just Fab summer collection includes sandals perfect for the beach, and light, airy colors and prints.  Jessica Paster describes her own style as clean and minimalistic.  At Just Fab, Jessica can be seen wearing a lot of black with touches of big, bold colors.

For the Just Fab April Picks, Jessica Paster chose the Cadiz, a super seductive sandal with an island-patterned platform, the Just Fab Hayworth clutch with lady-like lace and a golden chain handle, and the Just Fab Go Mod colorblock bangles.  These three pieces will instantly add on-trend flair to any Just Fab fashion maven’s look, says Paster.

Just Fab members recognize Jessica Paster as one of the most sought-after stylists in Hollywood. Paster shares her expertise with women everywhere, even those without the celebrity paycheck.  To learn more about Just Fab and to take advantage of Paster’s celebrity style expertise, visit Just Fab online at JustFab.com.

Pam Gray Bonaventure

Pam Gray of Bonaventure Senior Living has been in the senior care industry for more than 20 years. With a wealth of experience in serving seniors, Pam Gray, Bonaventure COO since 2007, understands that one size does not fit all when it comes to retirement communities. In the following interview, Pam Gray of Bonaventure describes some of the most popular types of retirement communities.

Interviewing Experts: Thanks for joining us! Please tell readers about Bonaventure.

Pam Gray, Bonaventure COO: Bonaventure is a senior living and care company, with 37 communities located in six western U.S. states.

Interviewing Experts: Describe Bonaventure’s senior communities.

Pam Gray, Bonaventure COO:  Bonaventure provides independent retirement communities, full service retirement, assisted living, and memory care residences.

Interviewing Experts: How do these residences differ?

Pam Gray, Bonaventure COO: The retirement communities are for older adults who are healthy and active and want to live around other seniors and enjoy spending their free time doing what they want to do, such as participating in our wide variety of scheduled activities.

Interviewing Experts: What activities do you offer these healthy, active seniors?

Pam Gray, Bonaventure COO: Bonaventure offers daily activities like gardening, dance lessons, exercise classes, arts and crafts, and scheduled outings to local attractions.

Interviewing Experts: What about Assisted Living?

Pam Gray, Bonaventure COO: These communities are for seniors who want to enjoy their retirement years, but may also need assistance with daily living tasks, such as dressing and bathing. They are not necessarily in need of skilled medical care.

Interviewing Experts: What is unique about Memory Care?

Pam Gray, Bonaventure COO:  Memory Care residences address the unique needs of seniors facing dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. Here, the focus is on helping the senior live with dignity while taking part in activities specifically designed with their particular needs in mind.

Interviewing Experts: What other types of retirement communities are out there?

Pam Gray, Bonaventure COO: There are mixed-age communities where retirees and young families live side by side. There are also independent retirement cottages sometimes located on-site with retirement living residences that are a lot like Bonaventure retirement communities.  The cottages are separate houses with their own yards, garage, full kitchens, multiple bedrooms – just like your own house but with all the benefits of a full service staff.

Interviewing Experts: Do seniors have to move from place to place as they age to get additional services?

Pam Gray, Bonaventure COO: In some cases, yes. However, with Continuing Care Retirement Communities (CCRCs), seniors can stay in one community all through the aging process.  As their needs changes, the communities can adapt to the resident without requiring another big move to a new location.

Interviewing Experts: Besides staying in one place, what are the benefits of CCRCs?

Pam Gray, Bonaventure COO: CCRCs encourage community building and allow spouses to stay together, no matter what health concerns arise.

Interviewing Experts: What if a senior wants to stay in his or her own home?

Pam Gray, Bonaventure COO: There are home health care agencies which provide in-home services.  In Naturally Occurring Retirement Communities, seniors band together to secure services they may need, like all pitching in for transportation.

Interviewing Experts: Are there other examples?

Pam Gray, Bonaventure COO: Co-housing allows seniors to live in their own house or condo while sharing a community space, like cooking and dining facilities.

Interviewing Experts: What about residences for the seniors with serious medical issues?

Pam Gray, Bonaventure COO: More traditional nursing homes provide skilled nursing 24 hours a day, seven days a week for those with the greatest needs.

Interviewing Experts: How should people choose a retirement community?

Pam Gray, Bonaventure COO: Consider facility features; proximity to family, shopping and parks; on-site opportunities; level of care and overall expense.  Most importantly, you want to feel “at home” in your community, so developing a relationship with the care staff is crucial.

Interviewing Experts: How can people learn more about Bonaventure?

Pam Gray, Bonaventure COO: Visit us online at RetirementPerfected.com to locate your nearest community and simply come in for a visit!

Pam Gray, Bonaventure and its team pride themselves in providing compassionate care to thousands of seniors annually. In addition to senior care, Pam Gray of Bonaventure enjoys gardening and spending time with her family. To learn more about Pam Gray, Bonaventure and senior residences, call (503) 566-5715.

Investing in these small companies that may not even have office space yet can be daunting. Someone may be putting their hard earned cash on the line to back a group of people who may not amount to anything. Or they could be about to create the next Google. But there are ways to tell if a company is a solid investment or too big of a risk.

Wise investors do business with companies in industries with which the investors are familiar. It wouldn’t make much sense to throw cash at a company that provides an education service when the investors know nothing about education. Without experience, it would be difficult to spot flaws in the business plan or execution of the product. By staying within a familiar niche, investors will have a more active role in the growth of the company and help guide it toward success.

Of course, no matter how much knowledge an investor has within a particular industry, there’s still a big possibility the project will fail—and the money will go with it. But by doing their homework and taking the time to identify the strongest startups with the most promise, investors can see a big return if they’re patient.