For those willing to take an extra risk, "it's an advantage, " Mr. D'Andrea says.

WSJ: Putting Stocks in Hock: Securities Back More Big Loans

In 2003, D'Andrea co-founded Kiva Systems, applying the knowledge learnt creating a team of soccer-playing robots at Cornell University.

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Separately, National Economic Council chief Laura D'Andrea Tyson confirmed she is resigning to take an endowed chair at the University of California at Berkeley.

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In between in his other projects at ETH Zurich, which include developing balancing cubes and actuated wingsuits, D'Andrea is also looking for ways to commercialize the university's innovations.

CNN: Flying robots learn mind-boggling tricks

One popular real-estate strategy, according to Anthony D'Andrea, UBS's head of securities-based lending: Use a stock-based loan to make an all cash bid for a property, then refinance into a traditional mortgage once the deal is closed.

WSJ: Putting Stocks in Hock: Securities Back More Big Loans

Researchers: Milton Beck, Christopher Grenga, Godwin Maidment, Andrea D.

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Forbes researcher Andrea D.

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