Stocks, Mutual Funds, investment basics. - Page 2

**Iowanian** · 04-18-2007, 10:58 AM

At this time, the dow is approaching the neighborhood of 13,000. Historical highs.

I'm trying to learn more about investments, in plain English how some of these things work and how to best use them.

I don't dabble in day trading, but have mutual funds and ownership shares in a Bio Co.

When I watch the Dow climb, it makes me happy that I'm making some money, that the college fund is growing, but it also makes me wonder.....when is it time to pull back, and put that gain into something safer to 'hold' the value. Will the market keep climbing? What will the ceiling be? Keep putting money in or hold off for a drop?

How do Index funds work....

I'm here to learn.

Brock · 04-18-2007, 02:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sd4chiefs

http://www.cramerwatch.org/

I don't know what to tell you. I'm up 13 percent this year, and I've bought stocks that I never heard of before Cramer mentioned them. Understood that you have to wade through a lot of bullshit.

Zebedee DuBois · 04-18-2007, 02:16 PM

I had been into owning individual stocks, but really wasn't keeping up.

I have changed my strategy to owning several types of mutual funds. Growth, Value, Foreign growth, and about 30% in bond funds. All no-load, 4 or (preferably) 5 star rating from moringstar.

So far this year, my investments are making about twice what I am making at my job.

But....I am no expert.

Braincase · 04-18-2007, 02:32 PM

If you believe in global warming, invest in Air Conditioning manufacturers.

If you think the war situation is going to get worse, invest in liquor and cigarettes.

If you think libs are going to take over, invest in gold.

If you think I'm an asshole, invest in antifreeze futures.

Zebedee DuBois · 04-18-2007, 02:36 PM

For the record,

Dow is the largest producer of ethylene glycol, followed by Shell and BASF.

Sorry, Braincase, I had to look it up.

Saleenman607 · 04-18-2007, 02:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChiefsFan4Life

fool.com is a good website to read up on

Absolutely......The Motley Fool has the best investor website hands down. If you are a neophite, or well versed in investments...fool.com cannot be beat......

**Iowanian** · 04-18-2007, 02:41 PM

Whats the symbol for Prestone, BC?

rageeumr · 04-18-2007, 03:13 PM

I just started an IRA at Vanguard. Put 100% of the money into their Vanguard 500 fund. S&P 500 index. Long term I just don't think I have the time to do the research required to consistenly beat the market with a broadly diversified portfolio. I've put some money into some stocks in a non-retirement account, I think I have the time to manage them right now. I'm not looking for a home run, but just trying to get more than the 5% I get out of my Emigrant account.

I'm doing my MBA at KU right now, and my Investments professor has the "post of the day" on the Motley Fool today. Really intriguing if you're looking for a company to invest in.

http://www.fool.com/community/pod/current.htm

ChiefsfaninPA · 04-18-2007, 04:06 PM

The best advice I can give is don't worry about what the market is doing now. If you are investing long term (at least 5 years) it will have its ups and downs. Don't try to time the market. You will lose. It has been shown historically that putting money in and keeping it in the market is better than timing the market. They did a study that even if you knew the dates the market hit its peak and the dates it also hit its lows, and made your investments accordingly, you still wouldn't have made as much money as leaving your money alone through good and bad times. Personally, whenever the market is down I put in more money. It is like buying stuff on clearance only better. I manage the retirement accounts for state employees so I do know a little. I never tell people not to invest in individual stocks but as a rule I wouldn't advise it. You have to really do your homework and keep doing it as long as you own the stock. For some people they enjoy it and are good at it, but most people are not.

yeti · 04-18-2007, 04:24 PM

first of all stocks that pay dividends are your friend. get in for the long term and if you want to do individual stocks make sure that your portfolio contains at LEAST 8 to 15 stocks to virtually eliminate your diversifiable risk and there is a lot of value and simplicity to just performing basic fundamental analysis. If you invest in solid companies that are not overpriced (although pretty much everything is right now but just look at the Price to Book value ratio) things should be all right over the long term. just a few thoughts.

Logical · 04-18-2007, 04:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Iowanian

I'm definitely not looking for "Get rich quick" sollutions, but want steady growth in the money I am able to invest.

I do have a broker that I trust for the investments I have, however I also like to have some idea as to what I think should be done. Right now, I've got some in the higher risk stuff that is doing well, I've made some money this year, but wonder if the right thing to do is to keep riding the wave, or pull back and save some of that gain. The majority of my investments are in safer mutal fund areas where I don't see the huge gains, but steady and supposedly "safer".

Brock,
With the self directed IRA, "I" am selecting the companies that make up the fund?

Personal advice is now is not likely a good time to jump in, if you are looking at an alternative you might want to consider commodities, you really need to know what you are doing to make money in bonds.

Taco John · 04-18-2007, 04:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sd4chiefs

http://www.cramerwatch.org/

That site is so deceiving...

Jim Kramer does not trade the way they are trading. They are looking for get rich quick solutions. Kramer is get rich steady. That site measures ROI over 30 days... It takes Kramer 30 days just to move INTO a position, and 30 days for him to move OUT of a position.

Kramer isn't perfect, and he gets some wrong, but he gets plenty right.

**2112** · 04-18-2007, 06:09 PM

Invest your money in property..it's the best investment.

Who knows..maybe in 20 years Iowania will be developed like the East coast is right now.

**sd4chiefs** · 04-18-2007, 08:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Taco John

That site is so deceiving...

Jim Kramer does not trade the way they are trading. They are looking for get rich quick solutions. Kramer is get rich steady. That site measures ROI over 30 days... It takes Kramer 30 days just to move INTO a position, and 30 days for him to move OUT of a position.

Kramer isn't perfect, and he gets some wrong, but he gets plenty right.

His name is spelled with a 'C'

What about this one.

http://dealbook.blogs.nytimes.com/20...s-in-question/

After sifting through 246 stock recommendations over a period of about 11 weeks, three researchers from the Kellogg School of Management claim to have found that buying Mr. Cramer’s televised picks is a losing proposition.

Cramer is getting rich selling his books that he plugs on his show.

recxjake · 04-18-2007, 08:23 PM

Fidelity Roth IRA... Fidelity Freedom Fund 2040... that is what I do... 100 bucks a month... when I'm 59 1/2 I will be a millionaire! (I'm in college now, when I get a real job I will fully invest)

rocks · 04-18-2007, 08:30 PM

Do yourself a favor and find a good Financial Consultant or CFP. Nothing in life worth having is free. IMO

04-18-2007, 10:58 AM
Iowanian Supporter Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Utopia Casino cash: $4638454	Stocks, Mutual Funds, investment basics. At this time, the dow is approaching the neighborhood of 13,000. Historical highs. I'm trying to learn more about investments, in plain English how some of these things work and how to best use them. I don't dabble in day trading, but have mutual funds and ownership shares in a Bio Co. When I watch the Dow climb, it makes me happy that I'm making some money, that the college fund is growing, but it also makes me wonder.....when is it time to pull back, and put that gain into something safer to 'hold' the value. Will the market keep climbing? What will the ceiling be? Keep putting money in or hold off for a drop? How do Index funds work.... I'm here to learn.
Posts: 61,556

04-18-2007, 02:16 PM	#17
Zebedee DuBois Veteran Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: floating in a tin can Casino cash: $1625199	I had been into owning individual stocks, but really wasn't keeping up. I have changed my strategy to owning several types of mutual funds. Growth, Value, Foreign growth, and about 30% in bond funds. All no-load, 4 or (preferably) 5 star rating from moringstar. So far this year, my investments are making about twice what I am making at my job. But....I am no expert. __________________ What am I even doing here?
Posts: 3,779

04-18-2007, 02:32 PM	#18
Braincase Banned Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Pond> Me <Barn Casino cash: $11298284	If you believe in global warming, invest in Air Conditioning manufacturers. If you think the war situation is going to get worse, invest in liquor and cigarettes. If you think libs are going to take over, invest in gold. If you think I'm an asshole, invest in antifreeze futures. __________________ BrainCase
Posts: 15,429

04-18-2007, 02:36 PM	#19
Zebedee DuBois Veteran Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: floating in a tin can Casino cash: $1625199	For the record, Dow is the largest producer of ethylene glycol, followed by Shell and BASF. Sorry, Braincase, I had to look it up. __________________ What am I even doing here?
Posts: 3,779

04-18-2007, 02:41 PM	#21
Iowanian Supporter Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Utopia Casino cash: $4638454	Whats the symbol for Prestone, BC?
Posts: 61,556

04-18-2007, 03:13 PM	#22
rageeumr Veteran Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: St. Louis :( Casino cash: $9989900	I just started an IRA at Vanguard. Put 100% of the money into their Vanguard 500 fund. S&P 500 index. Long term I just don't think I have the time to do the research required to consistenly beat the market with a broadly diversified portfolio. I've put some money into some stocks in a non-retirement account, I think I have the time to manage them right now. I'm not looking for a home run, but just trying to get more than the 5% I get out of my Emigrant account. I'm doing my MBA at KU right now, and my Investments professor has the "post of the day" on the Motley Fool today. Really intriguing if you're looking for a company to invest in. http://www.fool.com/community/pod/current.htm
Posts: 2,313

04-18-2007, 04:06 PM	#23
ChiefsfaninPA "F_ck Family Fun Night" Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: York, PA Casino cash: $10005025	The best advice I can give is don't worry about what the market is doing now. If you are investing long term (at least 5 years) it will have its ups and downs. Don't try to time the market. You will lose. It has been shown historically that putting money in and keeping it in the market is better than timing the market. They did a study that even if you knew the dates the market hit its peak and the dates it also hit its lows, and made your investments accordingly, you still wouldn't have made as much money as leaving your money alone through good and bad times. Personally, whenever the market is down I put in more money. It is like buying stuff on clearance only better. I manage the retirement accounts for state employees so I do know a little. I never tell people not to invest in individual stocks but as a rule I wouldn't advise it. You have to really do your homework and keep doing it as long as you own the stock. For some people they enjoy it and are good at it, but most people are not.
Posts: 2,373

04-18-2007, 04:24 PM	#24
yeti Kansas City Chiefs Football Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Texas Casino cash: $8703278	first of all stocks that pay dividends are your friend. get in for the long term and if you want to do individual stocks make sure that your portfolio contains at LEAST 8 to 15 stocks to virtually eliminate your diversifiable risk and there is a lot of value and simplicity to just performing basic fundamental analysis. If you invest in solid companies that are not overpriced (although pretty much everything is right now but just look at the Price to Book value ratio) things should be all right over the long term. just a few thoughts.
Posts: 1,028

04-18-2007, 06:09 PM	#27
2112 Reset Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Parts Unknown Casino cash: $8506765	Invest your money in property..it's the best investment. Who knows..maybe in 20 years Iowania will be developed like the East coast is right now.
Posts: 22,064

04-18-2007, 08:23 PM	#29
recxjake MVP Join Date: Oct 2005 Casino cash: $10004900	Fidelity Roth IRA... Fidelity Freedom Fund 2040... that is what I do... 100 bucks a month... when I'm 59 1/2 I will be a millionaire! (I'm in college now, when I get a real job I will fully invest)
Posts: 5,133

04-18-2007, 08:30 PM	#30
rocks Box of Rocks Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Joplin Missouri Casino cash: $10004900	Do yourself a favor and find a good Financial Consultant or CFP. Nothing in life worth having is free. IMO
Posts: 315