**raises hand**

I haven't made a trade in a long time other than just reinvesting dividends and I'm not worried or itchy about anything...not even the Target my wife owns that has taking a beating lately.

Oh we all have "those"....... but the way I look at things -- I see ALL of my net worth as a giant collection of "stuff". Some of the stuff works some of the time and some of the stuff sucks.... but in the end -- is my overall net worth rising or falling. I just have to hit about 5 or 6 out of 10 to cover my mistakes (most of the time).

Investing 102 has done well for me. Not sure I had a "net" worth before this thread.. more like I was in the hole :D

Using Dave Ramsey's snowball principles, and the stuff discussed here, I now have a significant amount in retirement assets. Not to mention many other 'buckets' of money working for me :D Good stuff!

Good job, John! Congrats. I'm glad you've been able to get something from this thread as well.

I've just been hanging out for the most part. I have decided to take a gamble on a few more potentially volatile stocks. Nothing major just something I hope pays off in the long run. I'm thinking of ditching one that I'm honestly not sure will ever rebound and picking up Visa. I see us moving more and more towards a cashless society. I'd like to believe Visa and Master Card are poised to take advantage of that situation.

So good to hear!!! OMG you have no idea how happy stuff like this makes me!









Good thinking!


RE: Picking up "flyers" --- I bought 5000 shares of GOOSE (GOOS) this morning. We'll see if it's IPO can hold on to the gains. Sometime you MUST buy these kinds of stocks because they can be spectacular --- or they can ruin your return.... LOL

I should have put in the "newbie" asterisk -- that taking fliers on IPO's is for idiots and gamblers..... NORMALLY I'd advise you to wait for 1 or 2 quarters of reporting earnings before I'd step in front of the train. But I can afford to take these teeny fliers once in awhile. Sometimes they work - most times they don't.

So true. I picked up some SNAP last week at $19.10 then bailed out this morning. For some reason I don't feel very good on short term "risky" investments. I am going to stick to the Greg Weld dividend method moving forward.

There is a poster over on Seeking Alpha whose handle is "BuyAndHold". He claims to have never sold a stock. Of course he is not running around buying small caps either but doing due diligence and buying the same types of companies Weld approves of for 101. Said sure he's had a few stocks go to zero over the years but his winners always beat his losers. So many stories of people who sold only to see the stock go up later. They say the hardest decision isn't when to buy its when to sell. Well he has that one figured out I guess !
else.

Sold all my UP positions at a profit of 13.62% thanks to the wisdom of Mr. Greg Weld. I'm using the money to build my house. I kept the two down positions as I won't lose money if I can help it. They are both solid long term positions so I'll wait. :relax:

If it wasn't for the house, I would've stayed in long term. I hope to be in position to invest in the next cycle.

Since we're on the topic of buying and selling has anybody been buying weed stocks? Weld you have mentioned to invest in what you are aware of. What companies were behind your treatment? I've been buying some, I'm not going to miss out on this if it continues which I think it will. I did a lot of research before buying and now I hope I'm right :G-Dub:

Whether it's right or not I did the shotgun approach and bought 4 different companies. 1 in Canada.

I don't know about the long term with the industry, I think it's moving so quick it's hard to say how it's going to shake out. In the Seattle area, quick money opportunities are around. Short term loans-12/24 months at 10-15% are usually paid back within 6 months...the relationship is made and the deals continue on the next build. These loans are mainly on the mechanical systems for the grow side of things.

It's crazy, it seems they can't grow it fast enough!
:flag2:

This is a fantastic question with so many answers and probably none of them right.

My personal take on it ----- some people are going to pick the right one ---- most people are going to lose their butts..... This entire field is so subject to the prevailing laws in a state - but the FEDS aren't so sure about all of it.... and then there's the whole "can't bank" issues.

My feeling was and has been this.... when we finally go all 50 states in - and the FED finally gives in and rolls with it ---- then do the big terbacky guys get in and steamroll everyone else? I have no idea - it's just a hypothetical question. They have the money - the marketing and the distribution... but do they want in and would people accept their products ----- or do people want the old "head shop" independents. I have NO IDEA. When I have no idea -- I don't put my money at risk. I just simply don't know where it's all going.

I think you will see both, big tobacco selling dirt weed to the masses and micro grow operations selling to the upscale customers who can afford better. Think Hood River vodka compared to single malt scotch.

Good thoughts!

I read today where CANADA is about to legalize recreational marijuana nation wide. Amazing where we've come since when I was in high school and you went to prison.

To be clear folks ---- I don't use marijuana recreationally (I don't smoke it) -- but am still dosing at night time for what now appears to be my "no longer cancer" issues..... : > ) But that's a completely different thread.

Hey guys,

question for you all, I have my work 401k maxed to what they will match (still have debts that we are trying to snowball) and I have my personal IRA which has all my roll overs from previous jobs.

I was thinking that when we pay off everything, except the house, I want to start contributing to my IRA, BUT since I am can only contribute post-tax I was thinking maybe a ROTH makes sense.

thoughts?

ROTH IRA is the best gift the government ever gave you. Use it to the max if you qualify.

After that -- and you're truly debt free -- start tossing an extra $200 a month at the mortgage (or more or less depending on what you can afford). The interest rate isn't as important as the amount of MONTHS which grow into YEARS that you'll cut off your mortgage payments. Retiring with money in the bank/invested - and no mortgage and no payments.... oh yeah buddy! That's the way to enjoy your new found freedom!

Pretty F'n SAD if you ask me!
 

I doubt anyone reading this thread is in this situation -- but if they/you are.... they/you only have yourself to blame. Saving and investing is a discipline... if you have no discipline... Well.... good luck 'cause you're going to need it.




62% of Americans have less than $1,000 in a savings account. Even at higher income levels of between $100,000 and $149,999, 44% had less than $1,000.


66 million Americans have zero dollars saved in an emergency fund. 47% of Americans could not afford an emergency expense of $400.


43% of working-age families have no retirement savings at all. The median working-age couple has saved only $5,000 for retirement. 70% of couples have less than $50,000 saved.


65% of credit card users carry a balance (don’t pay off their bill every month), paying an average interest rate of over 15%. The average credit card debt for households that carry a balance is $16,048.

I can say not to terribly long ago I fell into at least one of those categories. I sort of look at my brokerage account as a savings. It's available if I need it. I put in a little over 6k last year. :peepwall:

Who bought TSLA? :G-Dub:

None here.. but it's looking like a rocketship.

Yup, it's crazy. Glad I was able to work my way out of that mess. I do wish I would have started earlier :D .. but thankful everyday for where I am.

AWESOME!!! You should be proud - you looked - you understood - and most importantly -- you took action. Words are just BS --- but actually DOING --- AWESOMENESS!

Greg, before this thread I was in that boat. But after several years of plucking away, we are turning the corner, rely less on credit, have a little savings, and paying more cash. We are getting there, and as always, thank you for your information.

ROTH IT IS!
haha

thanks.

As far as those figures, I read an article recently about the 8 money mistakes middle class people make. It had quite a few of those. I think I was only guilty of #8 (relatively big car payments)

http://www.businessinsider.com/8-mon...-making-2017-3

but some of that just blows my mind.

I had a coworker the same age as I was who did not put any money into his 401k, had virtually no savings, and had 3 cars on a lease. But then again he chose to live with his roommates (parents) and was in his 30s...

Good to hear Mike!!


Hey == we're running Thunderhill this month = April 22/23rd

And then I rented Thill for May 18th for a private track day for a few buddies to run ====== the FIRST ANNUAL I AIN'T DEAD YET RACE..... Love to see ya!

Good on the ROTH -- it's a true gift -- the younger you are the more the gift will be because taking all those gains and dividends TAX FREE == just WOW that can be so YUGE! LOL


It really makes me happy when I see and hear everyone here gaining some traction. And while it might seem paltry or "not much" now..... I know in my heart of hearts that the compounding will show people how great it can be with just a little bit of time.

Now -- if we can just avoid these financial calamities in the market (1999 dot.bomb bust = 2007 housing bust)..... but even WITH THOSE people would be so f'n far ahead!!

So hope I can make the second annual event!! I'll be much closer by this time next year!!!

YOU WILL BE INCLUDED!!

Love this! And a bit jealous! :thumbsup:

LOL ---- "things" (as you're all well aware) have changed a bit for me.... It might be hard for me to do - but I'm going to start having even more fun in my life going forward.


Too bad you're so far away. Although we took a vote -- if you'd arrive with The Salt Lick brisket and some ribs you may be considered! LOL

And I'm very happy about that! :)

The new place down the street from me that is so good does vacuum packed briskets. I could send you one. ;)

I think Franklins is doing chilled vacuum packed briskets too now.

I pre-ordered some brisket and ribs for my birthday, it was funny just walking up past the giant line and getting my order, in and out in 10 minutes

I am taking my boys to a Robot thing on the 23rd. My oldest is getting into building robots at school. I am going to try and make the 18th.

Truer words were never spoken!! In a great market == doesn't matter -- but when shizzle hits the fan == and it ALWAYS does..... this counts. I've preached it here continuously.




If there is one thing that is universal in the investment world, it is that quality trumps all in the long-run.

There's so little to ADD to the last 500 pages ---- but I would say that these last couple days should show folks what happens when the market pops -- miss that VERY few big pop days that happen per year - and it will affect your overall returns. Being IN the market rather than on the sidelines -- you get the rewards..... watching from the sidelines "waiting" (on whatever the hell someone is waiting for) will have a negative affect on the overall performance.

I've said this many times in past posts. Hopefully - as this thread gets longer in the tooth - people begin to see the real life results.

Just for fun. Does anyone else know of companies that are private that they wish were public so they could invest in them? My two are Hyvee and Menard's. I always spend at least $100 at Menards even though I went in to buy $20 worth of lumber.

Chick fil A comes to mind. I've been getting hammered in the market. Dividends still coming in but stock prices have been going south. Wish i had more to continue to throw in. Investing is the best drug ive found yet. Wish i would have bought some RACE its been on a run.

Uber, Aibnb and Lyft come to mind. Would be interesting as public companies

Now you begin to see how dividends help your mind and help you stay in the game even when everything sucks (like owning a paid for rental house).

"Time will help" --- unless you've picked some really bad names --- CPST comes to mind.

I own 500 shares of RACE..... "just because". So far it's been good/okay.

YOU need to eat at The Red Ash before Adrienne moves to her new joint.... get the 60 ounce Ribeye -- or maybe the Osso bucco... and a Caesar Salad.... and then the ice cream with espresso to dump over it.

I didn't have time to see anyone on this trip -- it was a surprise trip - surprised I made it!! LOL

Now that the '40 Ford is in Georgetown (Custom Hot Rods of Andice) -- And Adrienne is there - I'll fly down a little more often. We'll be there for Gwen's birthday for about 3 days in a couple weeks. I'd love to see if we have the time to all get together - Eric - you - Gerno - SW.....