|
|
|
A Sucker Born Every Minute
An article about choosing safe investments. First published in our client newsletter “The Balanced Report” Spring 1993 This old adage should really be rephrased as "There is a sucker born every minute and two to take him". In our work we are...
Greed Hits the Mailbox
Nearly every investor receives them in the mail: slick and usually colorful PR pieces, disguised as investment research, which are really nothing more than promoters out to convince you to buy their stock “on the ground floor.”
Many promotions...
Learn How To Trade Stock Properly
Learn How To Trade Stock Properly
In a volatile market such as stock trading, learning how to
trade stock is crucial, there is no sure fire way of continually
posting growths in profits for any investor year after year,
stock after stock....
Peter Scannell - Market Timing Whistle Blower
In March 2000, Peter Scannell had only a fundamental knowledge of how a mutual fund company worked. Despite this, he got a job at Putnam Investments' call center in Quincy , Massachusetts . Peter Scannell was only working there a short time when...
Santa Claus Rally: Is a Year-End Stock Recovery Coming to Town?
Now that we are in the holiday season, you will be hearing more
about the so-called "Santa Claus Rally." It is a well-known
phenomenon, first discovered by Yale Hirsch and published in his
Stock Trader's Almanac. During this year-end rally,...
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Investing Psychology - Know Thyself
America will continue to be the land of opportunity and regardless of what course our economy takes over the next few years, it's likely that investment opportunities will be numerous and attractive. Companies driven by the ever increasing advancements in technology will emerge, while older companies, out of necessity, will come forth with new products. One industry or another will enjoy a boom period relative to the rest. And, of course there will be casualties - there always is.
For the astute investor there's always opportunities to buy investments (stocks, bonds, commodities, mutual funds, etc.) before "the crowd" finds out and it's already over-valued or to buy a so-called "blue chip" temporarily out of favor, at a depressed price.
In many instances, the differences between great rewards and huge losses are subtle. However, before you can embark anew or jump back into the game you must ask yourself several questions wrapped into one.
They can be lonely questions because only you can answer them. It involves not only how much money you feel comfortable investing but it also takes into account the level of risk you are comfortable with.
First, does your financial condition permit you to invest; second, can you assume the current risk implicit in the markets; and third, is the market a safe place for you to be. Let's take them one at a time.
Your Financial Position
One point should be made clear at the outset: you don't have to be wealthy to invest. In the past, insiders have trumped the belief that stock ownership is a rich man's game but with approximately 50% of american households currently in the market that is no longer the case.
The goals of the small investor is not of enlarging their fortune because clearly they currently don't have one but to make available some money, however small, for the purpose of growing it over time. Regardless of your income level, investment is possible if three conditions are met:
1. If you are relatively assured of a steady income. Of course, these days nothing is set in stone.
2. If you are meeting your current household expenses and obligations.
3. If you have cash reserves with which to meet unforeseen emergencies. You have to decide how much but I would suggest enough to cover 3 months of living expenses.
Of course, these conditions are simply safeguards due to the inescapable fact that stock prices fluctuate and that your judgment of when to buy, when to sell and how long to hold should never be dictated by outside circumstances. Investment should be undertaken only with funds you can honestly and legitimately earmarked as discretionary.
A reserve also enables you to pick and choose. Whether you have a few hundred or a few thousand lying around should not automatically mean that it's time to invest it. What's the hurry? As the professionals say, "The market is always there." If the trend isn't to your liking or price's are over-valued a reserve allows you the luxury of waiting for more favorable conditions.
Finally, a reserve permits investment over a period of time rather than all at once. Some "experts" feel you should back what seems to be a good situation with all the investment funds at your command. Others will warn against greed and advise
partial investment to spread the risk.
This article is not the place to discuss the merits of either philosphy. The point is to give yourself the flexibility of moving whatever way "your" judgment dictates.
Your Personal Situation
Your age, health, the number of dependents you support, the kind of job you have, or the type of goals you have set for yourself are just a few of the possible factors that will weigh into your investment decisions. Unfortunately, there is no rule, no prescription, no secret formula to follow.
The story is told of two salesmen who met at the airport. Their conversation went something like this: "How's business?" asked the first. "Oh, very good," said the second, "and yours?" "Fine, fine," said the first. "I got orders for a thousand gross last week. I sell buttons." "Really," said the second. "I've had one order in the last three years." "and you call that good?" said the first. "Actually yes," said the second, "I sell suspension bridges."
Like the salesmen, the investor must have a clear notion of his goals and expectations and they must realize what is normal and acceptable to someone else might not be what is normal or acceptable to them.
What Kind of Person You Are
Consideration of your investment goals brings up the final point of personal evaluation - You. Very simply because your goals are a reflection of your temperament and personality.
You must go beyond your goals and pin down the traits and characteristics they stem from. Are your goals realistic? How do you regard money? How do you handle it? Are you easy-come, easy-go or do you count pennies? Are decisions involving money difficult for you to make? Are you on top of your budget or always running to keep up?
These are generalized questions and there are no absolute answers. Speculators should stay out of the market, but on the other hand, being a tight-wad is no virtue either. An overly cautious or conservative temperament may not be well-suited to react to the ever changing market conditions and thus miss out on opportunities to sell or buy.
The value in knowing thyself and how you will likely respond in a variety of financial situations is vital. Any personality type can count profits but it requires a certain rigor, a certain fortitude to face up to the adverse situations that investing unveils. If you have a character flaw, losing money will quickly expose it.
In a now famous pronouncement, the elder Morgan stared at a questioner who wanted to know what stock prices would do and he said, "They will fluctuate." The statement is as pertinent today as it was then. As a result, the question you must ask becomes, "How will I respond when they do?" If you "Know Thyself" you'll have the answer.
This article may be reproduced only in its entirety.
About the Author: Kevin Erickson is an entrepreneur and writer. For other articles he has written visit: Forex Trading System | Trading Stocks | Options Trading
Source: www.isnare.com
|
|
|
|
|
| Morningstar: Stocks, Mutual Funds, and Investing |
| Offers investment research. Covers stocks, funds and college savings plans. |
| www.morningstar.com |
|
| StockSmart - Putting the Individual Investor Ahead |
| StockSmart putting individual investors ahead with research that allows individuals to easily compare industry competitors. Take stock quotes to the next ... |
| www.stocksmart.com |
|
| Finance - Stocks-Mutual-Funds Ezine Articles |
| EzineArticles.com allows ezine or email list publishers to upload or download free expert content that can be used within email newsletters or websites. |
| ezinearticles.com |
|
| Finance: Stocks Mutual Funds Articles from EzineArticles.com |
| http://ezinearticles.com/?cat=Finance:Stocks-Mutual-Funds Free Content For Your Ezine or Website http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.0/ Having a ... |
| ezinearticles.com |
|
| NewsIsFree: USATODAY.com: Stocks/Mutual Funds: Information About ... |
| USATODAY.com: Stocks/Mutual Funds · Original XML Source Money Classifieds - Stocks/Mutual Funds Copyright 2011, USATODAY.com, USA TODAY ... |
| www.newsisfree.com |
|
| Online Giving - Campus Crusade for Christ International |
| Credit Card by Mail or Phone. Other Ways to Give. Non-Cash Gifts: Stocks, Mutual Funds, & Property Gifts · Planned Giving: Wills, Trusts & Annuities ... |
| https: |
|
| New way to watch stocks, mutual funds & 401k at office. Free ... |
| Excel workbook for stocks and mutual funds. Download quotes directly from Internet. |
| www.esquotes.com |
|
| News From The Associated Press |
| Copyright 2005 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Comments and questions. |
| customwire.ap.org |
|
| Google Finance Launches : Track Stocks, Mutual Funds & Companies |
| Google Finance offers an easier way to search for stocks, mutual funds, public and private companies. Further, Google Finance also offers a broad range of ... |
| www.quickonlinetips.com |
|
| Yahoo! Answers - Individual stocks, mutual funds, and ETFs? |
| 2 answers - what are the difference between individual stocks , mutual funds and ETFs? which one is better for investment ? |
| answers.yahoo.com |
|
| Petition Spot :: View Forum - Investing: Stocks, Mutual Funds |
| Investing: Stocks, Mutual Funds Moderators: None Users browsing this forum: None, Goto page. Post new topic · Petition Spot Forum Index->Investing: Stocks, ... |
| www.petitionspot.com |
|
| Donate Stocks/Mutual Funds/Bonds: Beth Israel Deaconess Medical ... |
| Subordinate Link Selected Link (Level 3): Donate Stocks/Mutual Funds/Bonds · Subordinate Link Donate by Telephone · Subordinate Link Employee Giving ... |
| www.bidmc.harvard.edu |
|
| Gifts of Stocks/Mutual Funds/Bonds: Beth Israel Deaconess Medical ... |
| Subordinate Link Selected Link (Level 3): Gifts of Stocks/Mutual Funds/Bonds · Subordinate Link Donate By Telephone or Mail ... |
| www.bidmc.harvard.edu |
|
| U.S. stocks - mutual funds that invest in American companies ... |
| US stocks - mutual funds that invest in American companies from Kiplingers Personal Finance Magazine in Business & Finance provided free by LookSmart Find ... |
| www.findarticles.com |
|
| Investment capsule: - stocks, mutual funds and fixed income Money ... |
| Investment capsule: - stocks, mutual funds and fixed income from Money Digest in Business & Finance provided free by LookSmart Find Articles. |
| www.findarticles.com |
|
| stocks mutual funds invest free stock quotes stock picks investing ... |
| Free short term stock picks. Buy, sell and hold recommendations. Stock market, financial investments, quotes, mutual funds. |
| home.flash.net |
|
| Stocks/Mutual Funds - Gospel for Asia |
| 14500 native missionaries already serve and plant over 10 churches daily. Help sponsor a native missionary for $30 per month. 100% goes directly to the ... |
| www.gfa.org |
|
| Keeping Good Records: Stocks, Mutual Funds, and Bond Investing |
| Keeping Good Records: Stocks, Mutual Funds, and Bond Investing. |
| taxes.about.com |
|
| Online Trading at Fidelity- Stocks, mutual funds, ETFs, options ... |
| With Fidelity online trading, you get low commissions, trading tools, and a range of investment options. |
| https: |
|
| Articles for Reprint - Stocks-Mutual-Funds |
| Stocks-Mutual-Funds. Personal-Finance · Currency-Trading ... By Sachin A | On June 1, 2006 | In Stocks-Mutual-Funds | Rated. Full Article · Print Article ... |
| www.articles-hub.com |
|
|