Answers to the most frequently asked questions can be found below.
If you still cannot find an answer, please contact us.
What is Nicoya Research and who is Jason Hamlin?
A: Nicoya Research was created to help investors maximize investment returns. There are free articles full of valuable information on the website, as well as a premium paid content, which includes model portfolios, trade alerts, newsletters and a chat room.
Jason is the founder of Nicoya Research. He previously worked in data analytics for the world’s largest research firm, consulting to Fortune 500 companies. Jason eventually leveraged those skills to trade successfully full-time. After helping friends and family optimize their investments, he decided to launch Gold Stock Bull and then Nicoya Research.
Jason’s work appears on a number of respected financial websites and he is regular keynote speaker at investment conferences throughout North America. Jason has passed several FINRA investment exams includes the Series Series 7 and Series 63, but is NOT a licensed investment advisor. The content on this website is only the opinions of Jason or Nicoya Research analysts and NOT recommendations to invest. We are NOT investment advisors and encourage all clients to consult with a registered investment advisor before putting money at risk.
Is Nicoya Research for beginners or professionals?
A: We cater to both types of investors. Beginners will appreciate our guides, detailed breakdown of strategies and rationale for trades and prompt replies to questions via email or the chat room.
Seasoned investors will appreciate the full scope of fundamental and technical analysis across a variety of investment sectors and asset classes. We pride ourselves on identifying trends early and taking positions before the wider investing public takes notice.
We believe that all subscribers will learn valuable information and trading strategies to help them achieve their investment goals.
What are the model portfolios?
A: We provide real-time model portfolios that can be accessed by members at any time. Our portfolios cover both core and speculative positions that we believe will generate significant returns. They contain the company name, ticker, entry price and date, allocation percentage, price target and current gain/loss.
Model portfolios are lists of stock selection ideas, NOT a recommended portfolio. Each investor should do his/her own research to ascertain whether a particular stock selection meets their own investment criteria before buying or selling. We are not registered investment advisors and can not provide specific investment advice. Premium members will receive an email update whenever there is a change to the portfolio.
How many stocks do you hold in the portfolio and how often do you issue buy and sell signals?
A: We typically hold 10-20 positions, including both long-term core holdings and more speculative positions that can be swing traded. I look for opportunities to profit no matter the direction that the stock market is moving. On average, we typically issue trade alerts once every week or two, but the frequency is market dependent.
Do you cover larger cap, small cap or penny stocks?
A: We cover the full range from multi-billion dollar global companies to small cap plays that fly under the radar of most investors. The small and mid-cap companies are often the ones with the greatest upside potential, so this tends to be our area of focus.
We put in hours of in-depth research to determine which companies are undervalued and under-appreciated by the market. With our small cap investments, we aim for a return of 100% or more in a year. We typically avoid companies with a market cap of $10 million or less.
Small/medium market cap companies are also more likely to be takeover targets. The share price of companies being acquired will often advance by 40% or more on the day the acquisition is announced.
Higher reward is typically accompanied by higher risk. However, we attempt to mitigate this risk thorough extensive due diligence. This includes looking for companies with seasoned management that has a track record of raising funds without diluting shareholders, growing top and bottom lines, high insider ownership, politically-stable jurisdictions, strong balance sheets, near-term price catalysts and other factors.
How do you provide the trading alerts?
A: Trade alerts are emailed to members or texted whenever we buy, sell or make any allocation change to a model portfolio. We provide a short description of the company and rationale for the trade. Members can login to the password-protected area of the website to view the current portfolio, trade history and the latest newsletter at any time. We never accept compensation to promote stocks, eliminating conflict of interest.
Can you manage my money and trade for me?
A: While I passed the necessary investment exams to do so, I am not a licensed investment advisor and can not manage your money or make trades for you. I also cannot give individual investment advice. If you are looking for this, please consult with a licensed investment advisor.
Do I need to open my own online brokerage account?
A: My service makes it simple for anyone to trade their own money with an online trading account from TDAmeritrade, E*Trade, Schwab or any other broker. Most online brokers only require $1,000 to get started and charge as little as $5 per trade. You can add or withdraw funds as needed and can track your performance as you go. It is empowering to take control of your financial future, rather than leaving your money in a low-rate savings account or CD, weak performing IRA/401K or with a poor-performing money manager.
Is there a minimum amount that I need to invest?
A: There is no minimum requirement that you need to use our investment research effectively. It is up to you to decide how much you want to invest. In terms of the amount to make the subscription price worthwhile, just a 5% improvement on a portfolio of $10,000 would more than pay for the price of the membership.
Do I need to be able to trade stocks on Canadian exchanges?
A: Most of the stocks that we hold are available on U.S.-based exchanges. Sometimes the liquidity is better on the local exchange in Canada or Australia, but the vast majority of our trades can be executed on the NYSE or NASDAQ.
When purchasing shares on the OTC/Pink Sheet, there are usually larger spreads between the bid and ask price. Therefore, it is important to use limit orders and I usually like to submit ‘stink bids’ well below the last price a stock traded. If you don’t want to trade on the OTC exchange, you can open an account at a brokerage like Interactive Brokers, which allows you to buy and sell on Canadian exchanges and multiple international exchanges.
How do I get started when you already have positions that were purchased months ago? Should I buy at a different price or wait for new trades?
A: Some subscribers will go ahead and pick up current positions at different entry prices, ideally on a dip, while others will wait for new trades. Some subscribers like to mirror our trades and portfolio positions, while others will pick and choose a few of the positions that are right for them. It is ultimately up to you how you use the information. However, if we are still holding a position, we are still bullish on that company and believe the stock price will continue moving higher. Please note that you will not be able to replicate the exact results of our portfolio/trades, but you should be able to get close if you are an active investor.
Do you sell client email addresses and other personal information?
A: No, I never share or sell your personal information to anyone, for any reason. I hate getting spam as much as you and have nothing but contempt for email marketers that fill up my inbox with unwanted offers.
How do I pay for the membership and is it safe to pay online?
A: You can pay with any major credit card, PayPal, Bitcoin or offline methods such as a bank check or money order. Nicoya Research uses the latest security encryption methods and never views or stores your credit card information. Credit card transactions are processed by Stripeor Authorize.net, the largest and safest payment processors in the business. Nicoya Research is a verified merchant with Stripe, Authorize.net and Paypal, which you can confirm by clicking on their logos during sign up. We haven’t had a single issue reported with credit card security or fraud at Nicoya Research.
Are the membership payments recurring?
A: Yes, all of the memberships are recurring for your convenience. Your credit card or PayPal account will be automatically charged each quarter or year, depending on your membership type. You can cancel at anytime if you aren’t 100% satisfied.
Do you offer refunds?
A: Yes. If you’re not 100% satisfied, simply let us know within the first 30 days and we will refund your membership fee, minus a $95 “tire kicker” fee. Our research costs considerable time and money to produce, so this fee provides a measure of protection and helps attract high-quality members interested in long-term relationships.
There are no refunds outside of the first 30 days of your membership. If you wish to cancel, please do so before your subscription/membership renews.
How can I cancel my membership or change my email address?
A: You can manage or cancel your membership on your account page.
If you have a question that was not answered please send us an email and we will get back to you as soon as possible.