Personally -- I have ZERO invested in tech -- despite the fact that it is tech that has created my personal net worth! Go figure that one!


A couple reasons for that... and they're decidedly real simple. Tech typically doesn't pay decent dividends... and more importantly... I'm not willing to do the WORK that it takes to keep up with the fast pace of innovation that drives this sector.

I'm not taking the time to figure out if I should invest in Apple because of the phone --- or Samsung because they make the glass (I don't know if they do or not!) for the phone... or some other part of it.

I love to read about what's going on - I like using the products - I'm a tech guy without being a techie. But I've said it before on here - I'm done trying to hit the next big deal. Been there done that. It worked well - but I'm luckier than most - and I live in an area where there is more than a little opportunity to be involved and we're well connected in that area etc. But I've lost a fortune doing that too...

I like investing in stuff that I am certain is not probably going to burn me with a sudden change.

Terbacky stocks have growth and pay a great dividend... and I'm sure people are so stupid that they're going to keep on smoking.

Energy needs pipes - refineries - and we're still using it for heat and transportation and industry. Don't see that changing by Friday morning!

Food and drink... everyone in the world needs it. Let's watch the average weight of the Chinese grow. :willy: :rofl:

You get my point....

I'm too stupid to figure out which company is going to invent the next super drug... but I'm pretty sure bandaids, toothpaste, and mouthwash are going to keep selling. :unibrow:

In my personal portfolio -- I balance all this with a bit of risk. I prefer high yield corporate bond funds (not individual bonds) AS LONG AS the economy seems to not be going south! So I'm watching the economy closely because if that turns south - I'm out of corporates!

I'm pretty sure people out there are still leveraged and that there's money to be made by borrowing low and lending high (the oldest game in the world other than hookers!).... so I like companies that can do that... but if interest rates "change" I'm OUT of that in a heartbeat -- and I need to be out of that BEFORE interest rates change -- So I'm keeping my ear to the ground for ANY sense that might happen. I can jump in and out of this type of investment in a nanosecond - so it's (so far) a good place to pick up income and park cash.

This is a good article about the upcoming elections -- and the possible outcome -- and more importantly - the authors opinion on what the outcome might do to your investments..


http://www.cnbc.com/id/49232956

Sounds like they are predicting stocks to be on sale towards the end of the year and maybe beginning of next year. And that's about the only thing I can say without getting political.

You COKE (KO) owners will be happy with the dividend you'll see in your account today!


I love free money!!


:unibrow:

Funny! And yes -- let's not mix politics in here - even though it is important!

Politically we have some giant events ahead of us.... the elections... and the fiscal cliff. IMHO both may provide BUYING opportunities for the long term investor. I'm just MENTALLY preparing myself for a roller coaster of highs and lows. There's really just no way to predict what is going to happen -- and I'm just not going to dump stocks that pay me to own them -- over the possible higher taxes I "might" have to pay on that income. There's also little alternative investment that I can make to earn the same return (total return). So considering I'm just Joe average man --- I think when people really look at what they can do with their money -- the tax issue will not really be such a big deal.

The bigger issue - longer term - is whether all of this gangs up on us and stalls the economy. And IMHO that would be a catastrophe as the FED and the rest of the world is in no position to provide more bail outs etc. We're out of bullets. That's why I think cooler heads will prevail and we'll just keep pluggin' along. OR I should say -- that's my hope -- and that's how I'm going to position my investments... until something happens to change my mind. :cheers:

Well, I'm glad I'm in this for the long run. I'll be ready to max my Roth out in the beginning of the next year so I can definitely buy some more stocks then. I also believe I have my new savings account squared away so I can start moving some money from there to buy stocks in just a normal brokerage account I also have.

Well said and I'm right there with you hoping for the best.


I've made more money in dividend payments on five stocks since April than I have since the start of the year with just my savings account. The savings account has about 1/3 more money in it as well. I'm happy. :D

When I get free time at work, I read through this thread a few pages at a time. There is some great free advice and I need to put some action behind it. I have been a saver since my teenage years and I was very fortunate to have had grandparents and parents that started me off with a little nest egg. Now that I have finished with college/med school/residency, I am looking forward to being a little more proactive with my strategies.

Good to hear Stephen! And lucky you!


I think that's the main message you'll pick up from this thread --- which is, it isn't hard - you don't have to have a degree in economics.... you just need to learn a little and pay a little attention and you'll do just fine!

I'm living proof that a dummy can do it!

Sweet. :cheers:

Yeah buddy!


Here's what I love about a stock like this.... I don't care what the political situation is - or isn't - I'm not worried about any fallout from a name like this.

I have a $24K "unrealized" gain --- and it's paid me 11K so far this year in dividends. So you sleep well at night -- your money is growing without you having to do anything and they're sending you cash! WTH is wrong with that?!?!:woot: