Posted on 08/12/2009 1:15:30 AM PDT by Slings and Arrows
I would very much like to learn how to invest my money in an informed manner - stocks, bonds, commodities, money markets, etc. The problem is that I don't know where to start.
Can any Freepers please recommend any books, websites, etc., that could help me get started? Assume that I'm starting from zero (not Zer0): I need to learn the language, the definitions, the data investors use in picking their investments, everything. I'm not looking to get rich overnight (although I wouldn't object); what I'm looking for is how to create a stable, long-term personal investment strategy.
Any help is appreciated.
learn to follow your judgment. that’s what doing your own research amounts to - discerning and following valid hunches.
I have a nice bridge you can buy which will teach you a lesson you’ll never forget.
As a scientist, I absolutely agree. I’m trying to get enough knowledge to inform my hunches.
Don’t bother. Obama already has a plan for investing your money.
:^P
I thought you nailed it here.
Check out http://thinkorswim.com
They have one of the best trading platforms available and lots of free information and videos on stock/option trading. They also have more formal classes available that won’t set you back an arm and a leg. You can set up a papertrading account for free to get practice and experience before you use real fiat papermoney.
http://smartflix.com has some investment videos.
Invest as much as you can through an IRA account or the like.
Your age expressed as a percent should be the proportion of investments in fixed income vehicles and 100 minus your age should be the percentage invested in stocks. The mix should be rebalanced on an annual basis.
All of you investments should be diversified among industries and even among countries.
Be wary of some age old strategies which were grounded on conditions which have significantly changed. For example the "true and tested" buy-and-hold strategy was based on much higher tax rates and much higher stock broker commissions. IRA accounts totally eliminate tax considerations and can be established at discount brokers. An example of people still suffering from the buy-and-hold strategy is the Japanese Nikkei Index which hit a high well above 36000 in the late 1980's and is presently lingering about 10000. Thus, be flexible.
One risk you will rarely hear explicitly mentioned is the risk of withdrawal. If a large portion of your investment is trading at a loss and you have to make a withdrawal to meet an emergency or mandated by law, you will be diminishng your investment base by a much higher percentage. Thus, the need to remain flexible.
lol. yeah, investing 101.
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Is this routine, or is FR under some kind of attack?
Here is a link http://www.investopedia.com
If you goggle or yahoo investopedia it will come up with a list of tutorials, also msn.com and click on money tab has some tutorials on investing 101.
Good luck
IF you take a class or seminar, you'll get advice that used to work, until everyone else found out about it, and then started selling/teaching the book/method to all the other people in the seats around you.
If you go to a banker, you'll be advised to invest in whatever is most profitable to the bank. Asking a property investor will get you offered “bargains” on the “investment properties” he's losing money on, or otherwise can't unload. A stock broker will....
SO, bottom line, I would recommend that you invest in hard assets; the larger the caliber, the better.
Much obliged. I was thinking about my experiences as a computer scientist.
I suspect it’s just the server having hiccups. I’m sure JohnRob will fix it when he wakes up.
I thought you maybe able to offer some advice
These ideas are what I am looking for. Thank you all.
Indeed, it seems "papertrading" might be redundant.
Care to invest in a Tokyo hot-dog stand? ;-)
Will I have to wok the dog?
Er... no, that’s Korea.
Japanese doggies are pampered little dears that even have their own restaurants.
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