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Buy And Hold: How To Perpetuate Your Investment Losses
A recent cartoon in my daily newspaper showed two guys sitting in a bar. One is saying to the other: "I did learn something from my broker...how to diversify my investment losses."While this struck me as funny, there is certainly an element of truth to it judging by the number of tragic e-mails and phone calls I have received over the past couple of years.This was brought home even more so by a reader who responded with strong disagreement to one of my articles. I advocate a methodical, disciplined approach to investing in no-load mutual funds. It keeps me invested during up markets and on the sidelines during down markets. It was exactly this approach that got me and my clients out of the market in October, 2000 and put us back in t...(related: Stocks)
Buy And Hold Investment Philosophy
Wall Street has been preaching the doctrine of Buy and Hold forever. The worst part about it is the small investor (and some big ones) actually believe it. Brokers and financial planners believe it, but when you show them they can get a better return by timing the market they just say, "It can't be done". They are either lazy or stupid.Most brokers have not learned their trade - investing. Webster says that means putting money into something (stocks) fo...(related: Stocks)
Buy And Hold Investment Strategy
"Buy and hold" is one of the most heralded investment strategies promoted today. "Buy and hold" is also one of the few investment methods where you are guaranteed to lose money 2 out of every 5 years...so why do it?Before expanding on the questionable value of "buy and hold", it's probably best to take a deeper look into who's spending their millions of dollars of marketing money convincing you that "buy and hold" is the best idea and why."Buy and Hold" Promoters"Buy and hold" promoters vary but I'm going to single out the mutual fund( http://www.stockrhythms.com/investing-in-mutual-funds.htm ) companies at this point since they seem to have the deepest advertising pockets and are highly visible in their promotion of "buy and hold".Mutual funds have a strong vested interest in having you b...(related: Stocks)
Buy Low - Sell High
Now where have I heard that before? I know. It was my broker.So I took his advice and bought some of the stocks he recommended. I am still waiting for the 'sell high' part of the equation. Everything he touted went up for a while and now it is lower than when I bought it. It is so low I can't bring myself to sell it. My capital has shrunk about 60% from where I started. That's a lot of money to me because it took a long time to save it. What happened?The brokerage company that your ...(related: Stocks)
Buying Mutual Funds
It looks like the market is ready to start up again so it is time to buy mutual funds, but you only want to invest your money in funds that go up. First, you don't want to start with a loss so be sure to purchase no-load mutual funds. There is no need to ever pay commissions as there are several thousand funds that have no commission whatsoever for either buying or selling.If you talk with a broker he will try to confuse you that a commission fund is better than a no-load fund. He is lying. Find another broker. Also don't pay any attention to who the fund manager is. All big name fund managers have cold periods when thei...(related: Stocks)
Buying New Issues
Has your broker been calling you recently with the "great opportunity" to get in on a new Initial Public Offering? With friends like that you don't need any enemies.I don't care how good this new stock offering sounds. The chances it will stay even or go up are about 1 in 3 and I don't want to play those odds with my money.Most of the new IPOs these days are from the technology sector. That is where the romance and big money has been, but the NASDAQ topped out on March 10 this year. It is a good idea to take a look at what has happened to these new offerings since that time.The S&P500 Index has dropped only 3% since March 10 while the NASDAQ Composite has fallen 43%. Here are a couple of numbers you will want to remember for the rest of your life if you ha...(related: Stocks)
Buying Stocks And The Importance Of Correct Timing
An investor can find and research the best stock on the market, one with huge potential but if the general market indices are negative, it will most likely be the wrong time to buy. A stock with tremendous accelerating earnings, rising sales, an up-trending chart pattern and a strong industry group may sound excellent to buy but will mean absolutely nothing if the market is positioned to move in the opposite direction of your expectations. As soon as a stock is purchased, the time comes for an investor to make a decision to hold or to sell. If the position shows a profit, hold as your judgment is correct. If the position shows a loss, cut it quickly and don't rationalize the situation before it doubles in size. Timing will play an import...(related: Stocks)
Can?t Stand The Heat
It seems that every day I turn on the TV and find a Poker game. Texas No Limit seems to be all the rage these days. I love watching it. When I discuss this with others, their response is always the same, "You should play." Ah, but what they don't know is I stay out of the kit...(related: Stocks)
Cash Is A Position
I go to the Money Show every year to visit withfriends who have booths and are speakers. Thenwhen folks are filing out of lectures I listento their comments on what I know the speaker hasbeen saying.The Money Show is for investors from all walksof life; however, my guess is the median age isclose to 60. Those who go have ...(related: Stocks)
Cash
How many people went to a cash position this week? There is no question that this market has scared the bajebers out of many investors, me included. Fortunately, I started going to cash some time ago, but I did give back a substantial amount of my profit.Your broker never wants you to be in cash. You might...(related: Stocks)
Catnip Of The Stock Market
I have watched my cat play with a bag of catnip. At first he is having fun and slowly he becomes drunk with pleasure and then finally he becomes so tipsy he falls over to sleep it off. The pleasure part is great, but I am not sure if he awakes without a hangover.Rocket (that's his name) reminds me of a one of those people who buy a stock and hold it. At first while it is going up there is great pleasure and then euphoria until they know they are market geniuses. That's the drunken stage. Finally when the market turns against them they fall over not having enough sense to quit (sell) and later when realization returns they have a huge hangover (called hindsight) - and no money.Can these 4-footed animals teach us 2-footed beasts anything? Can we be smart enou...(related: Stocks)
Chart Reading
As an investor you will want to check out any equity before you buy it. Many investors go to Morningstar that is one of the largest providers of mutual fund information in the world. It is assumed that their information is correct. After all that is what you are paying for.Recently the SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission) ca...(related: Stocks)
China Syndrome
There has been great condemnation recently because China has been selling its goods on the world market at prices below what other countries, especially the U.S., can produce. It has been called exporting deflation.The major reason for these extremely low prices has been their labor costs which I am told are about $100 per month for ordinary factory workers. Even factories in Mexico are being closed and shipped to China because of the labor differential. These extremes in production costs are literally putting many, many companies out of business. When you look at the labels in almost any store you will note the product is made in some Asian country. As far as you, the consumer, is concerned you are buying a product at a good value. Politic...(related: Stocks)
Choosing A Fund
For years I have been saying you must have a fund that is outperforming the S&P500 Index. Well, I've changed my mind. Now I think your fund should be outperforming the NASDAQ Composite Index. So far this year, March 30, the S&P is up 1.3% and the NASDAQ Composite is up 9.5 %....(related: Stocks)
Choosing A Stock Broker
If you were to find that you had some severe illness that required surgery, would you attempt to perform that surgery upon yourself? What if your car broke down and needed a valve job? Would you get out the Craftsman tool set you got for Christmas three years ago and start tinkering under the hood even though you know absolutely nothing about engines? Of course you wouldn't do either of these things because there are times in life when we know we must seek the assistance of a professional. So why is it that so many people try to make...(related: Stocks)
Choosing An Investment Stock Broker
If you want one.And I don't recommend any broker with whom to trade who will be giving you advice on what to buy and sell. When a broker speaks it is a eulogy for your money. My definition of a broker is one who makes you broker.The reason I say this is that when I owned my brokerage company I hired and supervised over 300 brokers. The actual number of good traders I could count on one hand and have fingers left over.Let's understand that a broker is hired by a brokerage company for one reason - to generate commission, not to make you money. He is trained to analyze stocks or mutual funds, b...(related: Stocks)
Commoditizing The World
Let's discuss commodities; with the latest Enron situation, it is important to understand the way things work. A commodity is anything useful, especially a transportable agricultural product or mining product. This co...(related: Stocks)
Complacency Indicator
If you haven't heard of the technical indicator with the stock market symbol VIX it is now time to pay some attention to it. When the number is running low, as it is now, around 15 to 18 it means everyone is happy and thinks the stock market is going to continue up or at least continue on its current path and there is no need to sell anything. This is a measure of complacency. When the number goes above 35 it means everyone is very nervous and thinks the market is going to fall. It is considered a contrarian indicator.Wall Street ...(related: Stocks)
Complacency
During the month of January the Dow Jones Industrial Average, usually referred to as the DOW, had an almost 1,000 point range, most of it down and the average investor has yawned and said 'so what, this has happened many times before'.Is there any reason to worry now?The terrible event of September 11 shocked investors who sold heavily and then watched the market climb back ...(related: Stocks)
Defining A Long-term Investment In The Stock Market
For some "long term" would mean holding a stock position over the weekend. For others, it may mean holding a security for at least 1 year for the purpose of declaring a long-term capital gain, thus saving on taxes.The rigid definition of a long-term investment in the stock market would be holding a security for a minimum of 5 years, to as long as 30 years.I'm going to tell you my definition of a long-term investment in a security by telling you a story. A true story!My Mother worked as a teller in a small bank in Dover, New Jersey. The name of the bank was called The Dover Community Bank. While working at the bank (she eventually became a branch manage...(related: Stocks)
Different Types Of Mutual Funds
This is a guide to the different types of mutual funds. When it comes to investing in mutual funds, investors have literally thousands of choices.Before you invest in any given fund, decide whether the investment strategy and risks of the fund are a good fit for you. The first step to successful investing is figuring out your financial goals and risk tolerance - either on your own or with the help of a financial professional. Once you know what you're saving for, when you'll need the money, and how much risk you can tolerate, you can more easily narrow your choices.Most mutual funds fall into one of three main categories - money market funds, bond funds (a...(related: Stocks)
Different Ways Of Buying Stocks
Let's say you are interested in this one company. You read its annual report, like what you see and y...(related: Stocks)
Direction
It is difficult to make money in a bull market, but what do you do when you are in a bear market? In what direction shou...(related: Stocks)
Discipline
One of the great "secrets" of successful people is discipline and it doesn't make any difference whether it is manufacturing, processing, servicing or investing in the stock market.Before you can have that discipline you must have a successful plan and stick with it. If the method you use does not work or results in smaller profits it should be abandoned and a better one found. For the average investor the plans laid out by Wall Street do not work and over the long run you will lose money. Actually you will make a very small percentage, but the return will be mitigated due to ongoing inflation. The great majority of investors...(related: Stocks)
Discover The Biggest Trading & Investing Online Mistake
Any online investor / trader seeks an excellent off or online future trading career opportunity. Despite this goal, did you know 95 percent of all traders go broke within the first two months? Why do investors lose vast amounts of wealth in one or more of the following markets ? option trading, forex trading or currency trading, stock trading, future or commodity trading etc? in such a short amount of time?Most online investors / traders interact in devastating forms of thinking, which convinces the mind to the point where the trader believes that an educational enhancement ability that develops superb market research skills is not important. On the contrary, if tradin...(related: Stocks)
Discover The Retirement Breakthrough The Federal Government Created For You - The Roth Ira!
If you don't know what a Roth IRA is then stop everything, print this article and read it carefully as this will certainly be the most valuable information you read this year. This next retirement account is to your net worth what light bulb was to electricity. Let me tell you about this wonderful financial invention called a Roth IRA!
Dispelling Illusions Of The Stock Market
How can you dispel an illusion unless you look directly at it? The magician distracts the eye with one hand while he does his manipulation with the other. You are looking in the wrong place and not seeing what is actually happening.Wall Street has mastered this move even beyond the wildest dreams of Houdini. Investors have become...(related: Stocks)
Diversification
Wall Street's watchword has always been diversification, but what does it mean and why do they say it?The standard Wall Street definition is flexible because each broker or financial planner will vary the portfolio based on your age and income. They say that the younger you are the more risk you should take and the older you ar...(related: Stocks)
Dividend Reinvestment Plans: Investing On Automatic Pilot
If you're like many investors who squander those small dividend checks from your stock portfolio, a Dividend Reinvestment Plan (DRP) might be just what you need. Just as its name implies, a Dividend Reinvestment Plan allows you to reinvest some or all of those dividends into more stock of the issuing company. Unlike purchases made through traditional means, partial or fractional shares, as well as whole shares, are available.Technically, there are two types of DRPs. The first type involves buying shares at the market through an outside trustee. Although the company may subsidize the transaction costs, buying shares at a discount is not allowed.The second type allows you to purchase di...(related: Stocks)
Dividends
When is a dividend not a dividend?The latest thing "conservative" brokers are preaching these days is to buy stocks that pay dividends. Everyone likes dividends. I know I do,...(related: Stocks)
Diy Portfolio Management
Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) are growing. Investors are choosing low annual expense and market return over high annual expense and promised performance.Total ETF inflow is growing faster than Mutual Fund inflow. ETF inflow grew from $42.5 billion in 2000 to $54.4 billion in 2004. In contrast, mutual fund inflow fell from $309.4 billion in 2000 to $180.3 billion in 2004. Standard & Poors Depositary Receipts Trust (SPY) is the largest and oldest ETF. From the one fund SPY started in 1993 the number of ETFs has grown to 150 in 2004.Growth of ETFs is fueled by investors searching for market pe...(related: Stocks)
Do You Know What Is The Single Most Critical Mistake In Trading The Stock Market??
Well maybe that's overstating it a little, but it's certainly one of the most important.It is?(drum roll please)? "the need to be right"!Now that probably wasn't what you were expecting. You might have thought it was going to be something like not picking the trend or putting too much m...(related: Stocks)
Does Japan Matter?
For the last 12 years we have seen the Japanese stock market slowly sinking from a high of 38,000 to about 8,000, more than a 75% loss and very close to the price of the Dow Jones Industrial Average. Why should we care about their stock market?Please understand that...(related: Stocks)
Dollar Cost Averaging
Dollar cost averaging is one of the most popular ideas in the investment community. Everyone seems to like it and it has become a watchw...(related: Stocks)
Dont Ask Your Broker
Unfortunately, most of you who are reading my column are suffering some substantial losses in the stock market. Whether it is mutual funds or individual stocks everything with mighty few exceptions is going down. Maybe you are just giving back some nice profits, but maybe it is beginning to bite into your original principal.You are wondering what should I do? I know, I'll call my broker. He knows all about...(related: Stocks)
Dont Buy Stocks Based On P/e Ratio Alone
I use the P/E ratio as a secondary indicator for buying and selling stocks but I don't use the ratio in the same a manner as many value investors teach. I will explain the difference in my methodology for using the P/E ratio to your advantage.Many value investors will pass on a growth stock that has a P/E ratio higher than a predetermined level. For example, they may discard all stocks that have a ratio of 15 or higher, no matter what industry group they come from. Some investors will discard any stocks that have P/E ratios above the industry group averages, concluding that they are grossly overvalued. I am not saying that this method doesn't work, because it does but it will not work when you focus on buying young innovative small cap stocks that are growing at tremendous rates, rates that "big caps" can no longer sustain.I have ...(related: Stocks)
Dont Buy Worldcom! A Guide To Wise Bottom Fishing
Over the past few months, several investment professionals have brought up the topic of the down-and-out company of the day and whether to buy now as a speculation. Last year, K-Mart was the big n...(related: Stocks)
Dont Fight The Fed
One of the great truisms of Wall Street is "Don't fight the Fed". For the long term investors this ...(related: Stocks)
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You Wont Like This
Why? Because I am going to shatter your conventional wisdom as I have many times in previous columns about the lies that Wall Street continues to tell you. This time we are going to go deeper into the economy to unearth the truth about lies the politicians are telling you.Let's understand from the beginning that few politicians understand basic economics. Just ...(related: Stocks)
Never Fall In Love!
Recently I watched my favorite football team lose a vital game.I simply love this team.I became so emotional about it; I thought "?this isn't good for my health". Can you believe that, but that's how we get when we are passionate. I simply couldn't believe (I didn't want to believe) they could lose.However, as a committed fan, I was going all the way with them. If they were going down, I was going down with them. After all, you don't give up on your team simply because they don't win every game. On this occasion, I was so wound up, willing them to win, knowing all along they had blown their chances.I really should have walked away from the TV. However, I stayed for the pain. Oh, the exquisite agony. At the end, my shoulders and head were down, I felt like I'd run a marathon and deeply felt...(related: Stocks)
Trading Tips No 5: Stock Trading Curve Drawdown And Commitment
All stock trading and investing methods must deal with the inevitable drawdown from the most recent peak in one's stock trading curve to a bottom before reversing and making a new high. Seasoned systems traders are well familiar with the drawdown phenomenon and the importance of drawdown as a percen...(related: Stocks)
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