Frequently Asked Questions

Investing

• How do I invest?

  Step 1
  

  Sign Up / Log In - When you get to the portal, you have the option to Sign Up or Log In. Existing users can move ahead and Log In, but if this is your first time to the portal, you will need to sign up with a new account.

  Create an Account - First time visitors to the portal will most likely need to create a new account. Keep in mind that passwords need to be at least 8 characters, and you will need to agree to the Terms of Use & Privacy Policy.

  You will need to create a basic profile to access most projects, requiring basic personal information such as your address and phone number. This information is stored on our secure Amazon Web Services-based platform.

  Step 2

  Click on Invest - You can choose to invest as an individual, or invest on behalf of an entity (such as a trust). You may be asked to provide information such as a Tax ID number, articles of incorporation, or an operating agreement to verify you are eligible to sign on behalf of this entity.

  Step 3

  Enter Amount - Enter the amount of the investment. Use the slider bar to determine how much you will invest in the project.

  Step 4

  Account Information - You then choose between two payment methods, ACH or Wire Transfer. If you prefer ACH, you will enter the name on your account, the account number and routing number (typically found at the bottom of blank check). You will also select the type of account - checking or savings - and type of account - personal or business. Please note, the maximum investment limit using ACH is $100,000. If you prefer Wire Transfer, you will receive an email with the instructions after you submit your investment. 

  Step 5 

  Review and Sign Documents - You will be directed to DocuSign to review and sign the Subscription Agreement.

  Step 6

  Signing the Agreement - You will receive the Subscription Agreement notification via email from DocuSign. You will click the link in that email, once on the DocuSign website, you can digitally signed the document and download a copy. 

  Step 7

  Signed Subscription Agreement Email - You will receive an email once the Subscription Agreement is countersigned and the offering is closed.

  Step 8

  Pending Investment Email - The project owner will get an email informing them of a pending investment on the offering. After your investment, you will be guided to the Investor Dashboard.

  Other optional steps (required for entity investors or accredited investors)

  • 3rd Party Investor Accreditation - Depending on the particular offering, you may need to upload information such a letter from an attorney or personal accountant verifying your status as an accredited investor.
  Feel free to email us at info@harvestreturns.com if you have trouble with the investing process.
  

• How much of my portfolio should I invest in Agriculture?

  Investors should consult a tax professional or financial adviser prior to making portfolio allocation decisions. Institutional investors such as pension funds and university endowments typically have around 10% of their portfolios in natural resources. An allocation of 5-15% of an individual’s portfolio in various types of agriculture (farmland & timberland) would not be unreasonable.

• Can I invest in these offerings with my IRA?

  Yes, you can invest in Harvest Returns Offerings with a self-directed IRA. Some types of transactions may be prohibited. Before you begin the investment process, please consult with your self-directed IRA custodian. You will create an "IRA" profile from your user account, and you will need the name of the entity and the Tax ID number from your IRA account to do so. Visit this page for more information.

• I'm not a U.S. citizen. Can I invest in these deals?

  Yes! Please consult your local legal representation and tax advisor before investing. 

• How liquid are these investments?

  Agriculture private placements are generally best for those with a long term investment horizon. Different offerings, however, will have different planned durations. There is a growing secondary market for private placement investments and some deals will allow the investor to sell back his interest at some point to the deal sponsor or an interested third party. Read the specific offering documents for details and consult your investment advisor as appropriate. 

• Are these investments risky?

  All investments have some element of risk. Agriculture is generally pretty safe. Visit this blog post for more information.

• How does Harvest Returns vet deals for the platform?

  Our goal is to provide a wide variety of agricultural deals with risk-adjusted returns for our investor pool. We receive many more queries from farmers who want to raise capital than we list. Our number one listing criteria is the track record of the sponsor. Do they have experience raising or growing the specific crop or have they contracted with an experienced farm manager to do so? Our sponsors undergo bad actor checks typical with private placement deals. We also analyze each deal's financial and market potential, and in the case of offshore deals, geopolitical risk factors. Whenever possible, our due diligence team will visit with the sponsor and the actual farm in person and where those visits have occurred, they will be noted in the platform's offering summary.
  
  All that said, Harvest Returns makes no claim as to the financial viability of these deals or their ability to achieve expected pro-forma returns. Investors should consult with legal and investment professionals, thoroughly read all investing documents, and do their own due diligence before investing. 
  
  

• Can I visit the farm before or after my investment?

  Yes, in many cases, investors or prospective investors can visit a project with prior approval. Please email info@harvestreturns.com to see if a farm visit is possible.

• I am not an accredited investor. Can I still invest in these deals?

  Maybe. Most of our deals require investors to be accredited per SEC regulations. There are some deals listed under Rule 506(b) that allow a limited number of "retail" or non-accredited deals. Details on who can invest are in the offering listing and offering documents which should be read before investing.
  
  Also see our blog on the subject. 
  

• How do I verify my accredited status?

  During the investment process, you may be required to affirm that you are an accredited investor. Different offerings may require different levels of proof, and may have different methods to provide that proof. Review instructions carefully while you go through the investment process.

• Can I cancel my investment?

  Yes, you can cancel your investment up to the closure of a round of funding. Once the funding round has closed, you will not be able to cancel your investment. As of April 17, 2023, the refund timeframe for all investments funded via ACH will be up to 60 days following the date the funds are received into escrow. Refunds made via wire will be returned within 3-5 business days. If you have any questions about this update in policy, please reach out to us at info@harvestreturns.com.

• What if I have trouble processing my investment?

  Please contact:
  
  Phone: 1-844-673-8876 
  info@harvestreturns.com 

• Can I modify my investment?

  No, you cannot modify an investment after you've completed your commitment to invest. If you wish to invest a different amount or make other such modifications, you may cancel your previous investment and make a new investment.

• Can the issuer or the portal cancel my investment?

  Yes, as long as your funds are still in escrow, or haven't yet been received, your investment may be canceled. Once the funding round has closed, your investment cannot be canceled.

• How are contracts signed?

  During the investment process, you will receive specific instructions about how you are to sign any documents. Each offering may use it's own method of signing, so review instructions carefully during the investment process.

• How do I pay?

  During the investment process, you will receive specific instructions for that offerings method of payment. The method of payment is specific to each project, so carefully review each step of the investment process. The platform is set up to take investor funds in escrow via ACH or Wire Transfer. On certain offerings, we will accept cryptocurrency (Bitcoin or Ethereum) with no transaction fees to investors. 

• How much can I invest?

  The amount of funding you can invest depends on your status as an investor, the governing regulation and limits the issuer has chosen to place. When you begin your investment, you will be shown both the maximum and minimum investment limits.

• What happens if an offering doesn't reach it's funding goal?

  If an offering hasn't reached it's funding goal by the end of a funding round, the project will close and your committed funds will be refunded. As of April 17, 2023, the refund timeframe for all investments funded via ACH will be up to 60 days following the date the funds are received into escrow. Refunds made via wire will be returned within 3-5 business days. If you have any questions about this update in policy, please reach out to us at info@harvestreturns.com.

• When will the offering close?

  An offering closes when either the maximum amount of funding has been reached, or the end date of the funding round has been closed.

• Who can invest?

  Different types of offerings allow for different investors. Some types of offerings require that you be an accredited investor, while others allow everyone the opportunity to invest. Some offerings may even require that you live within a certain area to invest. Knowing what kind of investor you are will help you understand in which offerings you may invest.

• Will I pay a fee for investing?

  No, you are not assessed any fees for your investment during any investment round. The fees associated with running the project are paid by the issuer. The costs to validate your accreditation as a qualified investor are paid for by Harvest Returns. Other fees, to include legal entity establishment, processing financial transactions, and any broker-dealer costs are deducted from the overall raise amount and will be discussed in detail in each offering document.

• Will I receive project updates after I invest?

  You may receive updates from the project issuer on the status and progress of the project. You will be notified directly of these updates, and they may be viewed on the project itself under the update section.

• Do I have to pay taxes on these investments?

  Generally, dividends are taxed as ordinary income and appreciation at the end of a deal are taxed as capital gains. Harvest Returns will distribute K-1 or other annual tax documents provided by the deal's sponsor. Please consult your tax professional before making an investment.

• Are these investments EB-5 eligible?

  Maybe. The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services has an immigrant Investor Program called EB-5. Under this program, entrepreneurs (and their spouses and unmarried children under 21) are eligible to apply for a green card. Harvest Returns will highlight EB-5-eligible investments where applicable. Consult an immigration attorney before investing based on EB-5.

• All of the tiles are blacked out with a lock. Why can't I see the deal I am looking for?

  The US Securities and Exchange Commission requires us to restrict some offerings to certain investors. Please take a moment to go through the next step of registration by providing your address and other necessary details. To do this, please make sure you are logged in, go to the investord dashboard (menu - dashboard), select "Investment Profiles", "Edit". Once completed, you will have access to all "Live" offerings.

• Can I invest as a legal entity, like an LLC?

  Yes, you can. After you have created a user account you can have multiple "profiles" under the same account. You can chose from either Individual, Custodian, or Entity for each of your profiles. If you are wishing to invest in an offering that is only open to Accredited Investors, your entity must meet the requirements to be eligible to participate in that offering. 

• I didn't finish my investment. How do I complete my investment?

  Please log in and select "dashboard" from the menu on the top right. You will be able to resume checkout of your investment. Also check your email for your Docusign agreement of the offering documents. If you do not see an email, it's possible the email went to your spam folder.

• Why do you ask for so much personal information?

  Banking regulations and money-laundering laws require us to ask for and verify various pieces of personal information before we can allow you to make an investment.
  

• If my investment is cancelled, when can I expect to see my funds returned?

  As of April 17, 2023, the refund timeframe for all investments funded via ACH will be up to 60 days following the date the funds are received into escrow. Refunds made via wire will be returned within 3-5 business days. If you have any questions about this update in policy, please reach out to us at info@harvestreturns.com.

• It looks like you have a lot of offerings. How do I find out when you have a new one?

  We announce our offering launches and webinars via email. If you aren't seeing them, check your spam folder...

• I manage a family office and want to invest in one of these operating companies directly. Can I do that?

  Yes, we have a large pipeline of quality agriculture-related deals. Please email info@harvestreturns.com for details.