Originally Posted by toy71camaro (Post 399595)

Thanks for the feedback guys. :thumbsup:

I will look on Schwab to see what the show for the different sectors.. :)

i was looking at utilities, and they seemed so up/down. I wasnt sure if i would be better off diving into a more "steady eddie" (ie. PEP) vs what i seen in the utilities sector (PG&E, Edison, etc).

Originally Posted by toy71camaro (Post 399603)

LOL. What the hell was i looking at then...

I must of been comparing something else.. I dont have my notes in front of me at the moment.

Perhaps I mixed up ED in my head with a different one i was looking at. Since I've looked at so many lately. :wow:

And true, I am not looking to you for the solution (ie. WHAT stock to buy). with the last question i was merely trying to figure out if i needed more diversification to better "prepare" my investments for the "future".

And no worries, nothin personal at all. we are all learning here. I never mind being an example of either something good or bad. :rofl:

I did feel that i was a little to "consumer purchase" heavy (MCD, PEP, etc), which is why i brought it up in the first place. heheh :)

Thanks again for your help. :thumbsup: :hail:

Originally Posted by pw2006 (Post 399618)

Hi Albert-
Here's the link to Schwab's workshops.
http://www.schwab.com/public/schwab/...nch_workshops#

Here's one that might be what you are looking for:
Advice at Schwab
Learn key concepts to build and maintain a diversified portfolio along with the range of investment help and guidance available through Schwab. From a managed mutual fund or Exchange Traded Funds to guidance from a local advisor, we will explore the level of investment help that may be right for you.

Speaking of diversification... my bond knowledge kinda sucks so I am taking the following workshops.

Practical Bond Strategies
As an investor, you may be asking: Should I invest in bonds? Should I worry if interest rates rise? How can I generate income? In this workshop, we'll address the potential risks and rewards of bond investing and provide a guidance framework you can use to build a sound bond portfolio.

Muni Bonds: Investing Wisely Today
Tax-free returns. Relative safety. Convenience. There are many reasons to include municipal bonds in your portfolio. At this workshop, we’ll provide an update on the current fixed income environment, with a special focus on the municipal markets. We’ll also review the risks and rewards of investing in municipal bonds, and share our fixed income tools and resources, so you can make well-informed decisions.

Bond Investing: Beyond the Basics
Concerned about the bond market and how it might impact your portfolio? Do you want to become a savvier bond investor? Learn about the structure of the bond market, sophisticated investing strategies, and tools to help you invest with confidence.

Other brokers likely have similar training, I just happen to be comfortable with Schwab's no sales pitch approach. :cheers:

Originally Posted by GregWeld (Post 399576)

These "underwater mortgage" questions got me thinking about all the variations etc that must be out there... and I came to an interesting "investing 102" parallel....

Buying a house is a big deal. Huge. We sometimes don't treat it that way - but it is a MAJOR investment and commitment. So maybe the parallel is that a home is like buying a stock. You have to really like it before you buy it - it might not always go up - just because it did so in the past.... so, like a stock, you need to want to love it and want to be in it through good times and bad.

The Sector we mention all the time could be thought of as the city or neighborhood.... better think about the "hood" because you might be there awhile! And like a house -- you don't want to have to sell it in a down market -- so don't put all your cash into something that clearly might not be so "liquid".

In fact.... You may choose to (like a stock in a down market) add on to the house or remodel it because you're in it for the long haul and know that eventually it will pay off. And the dividend in a home is that you are living "somewhere" - regardless of the cash value at the time --- just like the dividend will pay you every quarter regardless of the stocks daily price.

All of this -- of course -- is based on having made a good purchase in the first place. So if you were in love with the home and city and neighborhood when you bought - then you don't mind living there for awhile. If you bough just based on you thought the house would immediately double - and you hate the place... and it didn't double... Well... then you're a weak holder and will sell at a loss the first chance you (you - being anyone, not a particular "you") get.

Originally Posted by toy71camaro (Post 399619)

awesome! Thanks! I was just reviewing their "learning Center" stuff. I ended up signing up for Schwab as well last week.

Originally Posted by GregWeld (Post 399606)

Trust me --- I have the same issue and have to look and triple check myself all the time... This is just a great example to have used.

Yes you're a bit lopsided on consumer stocks -- but that can be okay IF we're truly in a turnaround in the economy. However... I wouldn't continue to add to your lopsidedness! Thus the diversify "push".

All of you - trust me when I tell you that you'll be happy to be diversified! You feel like a real sap when all your "tech" (substitute ANY sector here) is flying and you're looking at your "laggards" and questioning why you're in those POS names..... and then --- a year goes by and it's the sector that was flying that sucks and your laggards are saving your butt. The biggest problem is that we have real short term memory!

In 2011 - we had down 400 point days and up 500 point days.... On those big down days it was my BOND portfolio that was going UP. So I look at the money and think -- Okay -- I have "X" amount of dough - part of it was down X and part of it was UP X... so overall -- not too bad.

We go to some cocktail party -- and some guy starts yapping about how much he's made doing blah blah blah.... and you compare yourself to him and think "WTF! I'm only up 10% and this bozo is doubling his money". Ask yourself to make a note and check back on how well he's doing next year and the year after that. Usually they disappear into thin air and you never see him again. It's the classic tortoise and the hare.... Ya just want to win in the end - not just for tomorrow. Diversify. Invest, don't trade yourself to death trying to chase the next hot deal. :lateral: :cheers: