Richard S. Schifreen

Home ownership: it's the American dream. To many people, owning and building
equity in a home means security. And just as Americans grow equity in their
homes to create a more stable financial future, companies and employees should
focus on growing professional equity to gain more stability in today's changing-at-the-speed-of-light
marketplace.

Equity is a fabulous
phenomenon. Someone purchases a home, paying just 5 to 20% of the home's value
as the down payment. Over time, equity—the value of the home—usually
increases as the owner continues to make payments toward the loan and improves
the property, and as the home appreciates. Of course, some properties do lose
equity if a second loan is secured, maintenance is ignored, or the neighborhood
declines. But, for the most part, as time passes and owners invest time and
funds into their purchase, they receive a valuable return on their investment.