I’m sorry this is my first time posting and I thought I had posted this in the General Chat section. Please locate to correct section..........sorry......
Well, you’ll have to give us more info than that. Investment is based on the suitability to you income, assets, employment situation, age, etc.
diversify
In this order, stepwise as you can accomplish each:
1) Set aside 6 months to 1 year of cash in a Federally Insured Bank.
2) Eliminate expensive debt (anything over, say, 6%, like credit cards, autos, etc.)
3) Take full advantage of 401K and IRA contribution limits.
4) Invest additional amounts outside of 401K and IRA in taxable funds.
5) For items 3 and 4, focus on the following in order:
a) Broad U.S. Stock Index fund, like Vanguard Total Stock Market Index.
b) Broad International Stock Index fund, like Vanguard Total International Index Fund.
c) Broad bond fund. This is where it gets tricky. Lots of different opinions here.
i. I prefer corporate bonds because I think government bonds have substantial quality downgrade risks.
ii. Most people would recommend an intermediate term bond fund.
iii. I don’t like even intermediate bond funds because I think interest rate increases are likely, so I am keeping my bond funds short.
7. Blend
a) Relatively Conservative: 30% U.S. Stock / 10% International Stock / 50% Bonds.
b) Relatively Aggressive: 40% U.S. Stock / 40% International Stock / 20% Bonds.
c) Pick how Conservative / Agressive you want to be, and blend accordingly.
8. Invest Continuously, and don’t look at performance. Keep your blend about right by investing in what has gone down in price and percent of your portfolio.
That’s my fast and loose thinking on the subject. Others will disagree.
BLOAT
I recommend www.bogleheads.org
Read a lot. When I first started, I subscribed to Money Magazine, which gave a lot of the basics of investing. I’m not sure that’s the one to take now, but I’m sure others here can suggest one that won’t cost an arm & a leg.
I’d certainly be very careful, as the economic situation is uncertain with many forecasting a collapse. Might want to just build a large cash reserve until we’re sure Obama is out of office.
Buy low, sell high.
If I were you, I would consider my answers to all of the above and then seek the advice of a financial planner who charges for his or her services based upon assets under management, and who therefore encourages a long-term, flexible strategy to meet your changing needs.
Buy Argentine War Bonds
One word... PLASTICS
I have found Morningstar.com to be very helpful. They have a free side and a premium side. A beginner can use the free side to build a foundation and, if you find it useful later on you can subscribe to the premium side which gives you access to their analyst research on specific stocks and mutual funds. Just to tuck away for down the road, the premium service costs about $150 bucks a year but T. Rowe Price investors can access it free once they have 100,000 dollars with the firm. I tend to prefer Price and Vanguard as they are no-load (no commission to brokerage)and were not involved in the after-hours trading controversy a few years back. Good luck!
If kept in ‘like new’ condition, firearms RARELY drop in value, and look cool in your house. Ammo only increases in value.
IMHO most financial advisors are not very good.
Concentrate on the basics:
Food, shelter, water, power, transportation.
Everybody needs them.
Buy a small 10 acre farm and a small tractor.
Be prepared when the bottom falls out.(It is coming).
Here’s how I started. I subscribed to Moneypaper which now is here: http://www.directinvesting.com/
Within two years I owned about 20 different blue-chip stocks, albeit one and two shares each, but the dividends were reinvested and now, 30 years later, I have a decent stock portfolio. I would suggest you call their toll free number if you find the website too confusing. They are a super bunch and it’s a terrific way to get started investing without breaking the bank.
Have fun!
If you want to invest in the stock market you do need a broker. I use a discount brokerage. As stated before you want a cash account with no margins. Set up a simple Yahoo financial account and track stocks before trading. You brokerage will also have screens for you set up to monitor stock prices. Read, listen and only invest “risk capital”. This is money you can afford to lose. You don’t want to be betting the your grocery money on the market. There are books, tv programs (Fast Money and yes Jim Cramer on Mad Money(ducking)). But the ultimate responsibility is on YOU when you invest. You can’t blame the guy on tv, the guy who wrote a book or the crooked manipulated market. If you have any questions I’m sure somebody on here can direct you to a reliable source.