I'm not RECOMMENDING it…. I'm just saying this for Investing 102.


NOW maybe it's time to start to take a small bite out of Facebook (FB). It's wild as far as a P/E @184 X's earnings… but they have now shown they have a mobile strategy and more importantly - they can monetize it.

For those young 'un's out there -- that have a grand or so to play with in their accounts… maybe it's time to look at this for a growth play.

Already started to nibble at it got 16 @ $32.15, and then again 12 @ $26.75

Nice way to average down Bob. That's good investing 102 right there!


If you loved it enough to buy at $33 -- and fundamentally nothing has changed and it's now at $26 -- why wouldn't you buy more! So good for you.

The way I look at those is that it has a new average cost of "X" (lower than your original cost) and now it has to move LESS to get me back to even.


Did I ever write about the $93,000 loss I took doing that?? Okay - that was extreme - and stupid - because there was a fundamental reason the stock was headed south… and I chose to ignore the info. My bad!

You told me about it, but probably didn't write about it.

My cost average is $29.83

Just about pulled the trigger on FB this morning at $47.05......it was swinging between 47-48 in the first 30 minutes of trading.........couldn't get comfortable..........

Symbol
FB
Last
51.415
Change
+2.405 (+4.91%)
Bid
51.41
Ask
51.42
High
51.42
Low
46.50
Volume
163,870,160
Time (ET)
1:07:25 PM

:bang: :bang:

I'm not buying it - don't use the product - and it doesn't fit my "dividend payers only" strategy (given my retirement status) and personally I think "social media" is something that can turn on a dime - as I've seen my own family switch from one to something else. That kind of fickleness bothers me… BUT FB seems to have quite the audience -- and actually seems to have evolved from teenie boppers to more main stream - especially given people like yourself using it. "More mature" users tend not to switch around…

the teens aren't as interested in facebook, cause they like the picture sharing more. Its the "look at me" generation. They will eventually join facebook when they go to college and move away to keep up with friends.

I wonder who owns instagram... oh yeah Facebook does. wait till the adds start popping up on instagram, more revenue for FB.

Maybe Jody could float an IPO for Lateral-G…..



I still just don't get the whole social media market --- and then I think about the time I spend on here - and all the SOCIAL stuff done here etc --- so then I get it.

Instagram has been the only way I could get any up to date info on my '33 build. I still don't understand how to use it -- and have killed off a couple things I was following because it's just info overload but I have really enjoyed seeing my car getting painted almost in real time.


YES --- KIDS THESE DAYS ARE THE MOST NARCISSISTIC GROUP EVER IN THE HISTORY OF THE UNIVERSE. I follow my own kids on Instagram -- and I'm embarrassed of the content they post… the pics of shoes - and cars - and watches and drinks and oh my…. But they ALL seem to post this kind of crappola. They have no money - they have no real hobbies they can indulge themselves in YET…. so they have to post whatever it is that turns 'em on at the moment I guess.

there 'ya go!!!!!!!!!! :D

My fellow Schwab-ers have probably seen that they're really pushing their "ThomasPartners" dividend growth strategy lately. It's a portfolio of only stocks with a strong dividend history. Thanks to the SEC, portfolios are public information...so I wanted to take a peek into what they are holding so I can start doing research for my 2014 purchases.

The attached photos is my markup of the ThomasPartners list. I put a "-" next to the stocks I have in common with them, and "circled" the names of the stocks I am going to research for a potential buy.

http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/b...pscd6e57a1.jpg

http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/b...ps8fe64608.jpg

Happy Halloween! :bur2:

That would be a really well rounded group of investments Steven… Kudos to you in what you have already and what you plan to add.


See! This really isn't difficult is it. That list contains 100 names = too many to hold unless you've got a couple BILLION…. 20 to 25 for a normal person is a good base. Too many and you can't keep track -- too few (okay to start with) and you don't have enough diversity. And when you hold the best of the best - you sleep well at night even in down markets. And that's the place you need to get to. The rest will take care of itself.

another nice thing is the dividends are redistributed....nice and easy. :thumbsup:

Tesla (TSLA) seems to be one of these other "priced to perfection" lessons. This is why at my stage of life I DO NOT buy these kinds of stocks. Yet for the younger guys with time on their side and the desire… sometimes "events" like this in a stock are the opportunity to get in.

Nobody should buy stocks like these unless they really really understand and acknowledge that they are very high risk. They can have very high rewards - and or they can blow up before your very eyes. If you don't have the capital (whatever that number is) and you don't have the stomach to ride these kinds of stocks (wild ponies really) then stay out of them. If you DO have - just remember "buyer beware".



Right now -- it's more fun to be at SEMA… and not watching the stock market - and that's why I invest the way I do - and just get the dividends. :>)

Greg, I want to thank you for the time, effort and knowledge that you have put into this thread! I am a 31 year old who has made plenty of mistakes over the years with my investments and have been trying to change my way of thinking. Keep it up, you are my financial hero!:king:

thats the difference between an investor and a day trader

Tesla fell off the table. I'll be interested to see how it plays out. I don't have much love for Elon Musk combined with no dealer support....

I havent heard anything negative besides the new car fire due to a collision. maybe he bought another rocket?

wow. Twitter with quite an IPO.

People that use this product really seem to like it. Me, dunno, dont use it so didnt make a buck on this one.

edit, ummm CNN said it went up 75% today, i just heard other wise on the CBS news. Too confusing. Always double check your sources?

I've just started using twitter. its actually a really great interaction tool.

That being said. I didn't have the money to gamble. LOL

The initial IPO i think was $28. that's what the initial people got. But I read the first sale on the "open market" was for around $48. So unless you got the inside scoop on the IPO price, you didn't make out like a bandit. yet, anyway. Only time will tell.

however, they haven't been profitable. So like Facebook, I'm curious to see what they do to become profitable. Obviously Ad's, but they've got to figure something out that doesn't overwhelm the user base with nonsense adds and drive people away too.

exactly....not a good investment till they start making money. You'd think people would have learned from the Faceplant fiasco.

Thats my number 1 b$tch with Tech stocks. While you can make bank, you just cant see which ones are a "valued" product to their clients.

The only way i see social media companies turning a profit is with ads, maybe there is another form of revenue we cant see.. But if there is, does it pencil out with the investors, i dont know....

I'm on the road enjoying the hell out of myself. And posting from a iPad sucks. But I found an article on what are Warren Buffets favorite 10 stocks. The reason for the post? See any "gambling" in any of these names? This is the 1st or 2nd richest guy in America! He got there by investing not gambling.


http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/...tocks/3614505/

IBM looks like a gamble at -5% ytd

-5% with 68.1 Million shares I'm willing to bet he didn't see a change in dividend payout. On top if it's an automatic reinvestment with stock buys he is getting bargin stock. Next year it might be back up 12% YTD

Always refer to the long term charts... Lower on the left? Higher on the right?

In 2009 iBM was $80.00 - yesterday it was $183.00 - down 5% "this period" or up $100 in 4 years?


If you have 10 names in your portfolio a couple will be "under performers" and one or two might be responsible for all of your account gain. The account gain in total is what you're shooting for.

Like an autocross.... If you run 10 times... You might hit cones once in awhile but if you win overall... That's what counts.

Just to be sure. I don't love IBM. The low 2% is the main reason and the volatility in this name (like a yoyo!) is what keeps me out of it, but overall
It's been a moneymaker for those willing to stick with it.

I bought 500 shares of Twitter (TWTR) today....



So here's why I post this info. Just because someone else does doesn't mean you should. I can afford to take a very small position in a name like this. Think about the relative size of what 500 shares of a name is for me - when a typical position is 10,000 or 20,000 or 50,000 shares. If you're just building up your retirement account build a nice big base FIRST, then once you have $100K plus earning some dividends... Now you could "afford" to take on a risk like this. And you keep that risk really small in relation to your overall financial health!

Tiptoe first! I expect this name to be cut in half at some point and if it gets hit like that I'll buy another 500 and then that's it. Not another single share. If it doubles I'll take out my investment and let the house money ride. Period. It's gambling. But for me it's like gambling one dollar and then walking away. Don't get caught up in trying to make the big score.

was 500 the IPO limit or are you just tip-toeing:G-Dub: ....I don't know anything about this investment stuff :EmoteClueless: but I try anything once :confused18:, there was that one time I had mescal in Mexico....thank god i didn't end up in jail, that wasn't a good idea

Well almost three weeks ago I found this thread and am up to page 300. I have learned sooo much. I'll be back in a day or two and join you guys in the present. It was really interesting reading through the thread about "future" events that have already happened.

The 500 was just the random amount I chose to buy.




Mescal in Mexico! Now that's a gamble!

Okay! Just wow! That's a lot of info to take in!


Welcome! Did you find anything of any value?


Hahahaha

Thinking about a similar move on GOGO, they are setting up all the in-flight wi-fi, texting, electronic device usage. Something like 8 or 9 of the 10 biggest airlines are using them. Of course, no earnings yet, putting it all back in the business but I would think it's only a matter of time before you can get full internet on a plane ride and these guys seem like the ones that will bring it to you. Sounds like worth risking a SMALL portion of what I have on.

Well I'm done. I want to go back and read at lot of the links posted along the way but I just finished reading the last post here.

After reading all this I so wish I had started following this thread 2 years ago when it started. I would be in a much better position riding this wave up.

My 401Ks are all up but its time to really take control. I'm 40 (almost 41) years old and really disapointed in myself. I started learning about finances and retirement in my late 20's but never really did anything about it. Family and life got in the way and I realize i've wasted 12 years I could have been building a real retirement.

I've been thinking alot about this latley and finding this thread has really awaken me.

Thanks to all my fellow car buddies that have contributed to this thread!!

Also a really special thanks to GW for the information to share. I have listened to a lot of talk radio and finance shows for years but the (investing for dummies) way you explain things makes it so must eaisier for me to understand.

So this thread does a great job of talking about long term and I have a pretty good idea of what I am going to do but what about short to medium term. Where should I put money instead of .002% I get in my saving account. I've been paying about 2000-2500 a month on credit card debt and am down to 2 payments to zero on that balance.

Ive got about 20K in old company 401k money. I will be rolling that to a IRA "Investing 102" account but I need to start socking away as much as I can for a new house / shop and my 54 build. I was going to dive right in the the 54' but its going on hold a little while I get in a better financial position. I just don't want to wake up and be 60 and never built it. Its the build I've had in my head for years.

My current house was fine with me and the wife and my the wife and daughter but now with 2 yo twins added we are just going to run out of room in a short few years.

Where should I put money I will need 2-4 years from now?

Welcome to the thread! lots to soak in huh? lol.


As for your question of where to put the money in short term (less than 5 years), i would just put it away in a money market/higher yield savings. You're going to need that money, and don't want to risk it being on the downside when that time comes. (Capital One pays like .75%, Ally a little more, check around. bankrate.com may help).

I'd work hard on my 3-6 month emergency fund after you get that CC Debt cleared out. That money sits in a savings/money market account. NEVER to be touched unless an emergency arises. Thats your "when Murphy calls" backup plan. then look at saving money for that next upgrade (house, 54 build, etc). Make a monthly budget and stick to it. you wont realize how much money you've been piddling away on things over the years. It'll open your eyes.

If your into reading more, check out Total Money Makeover from Dave Ramsey, and Richest Man in Babylon. Both great financial books. Once you get that process down you can focus on turning your money into working for you.

Thanks Albert,

I have read the Total Money Makeover and listened to his show for a couple years when I had a job that let me listen to the radio all day.

I was trucking along pretty good on my debt snowball for what income I had to work with and 3 and a half years ago my 2nd daughter died at birth. I had all the medical bills from that pile up and I was so down in the dumps my pays went down a lot. I work as a service writer and its 100% commission. If I'm not on my a game then pay falls off the map.

Well a year later we were blessed with a son and daughter but the girl had to stay in NICU for about 10 days. I was not even through paying for the bills the the year before when those hit. Even with insurance there was a large chunk. I did payment plans as much as I could but we also started letting the card balances go up. I was pretty under water for a while.

I got my head on strait at work and have been busting my ass so I'm down to the last $4500.00

I don't have to have new cars. I drive a beater $2000.00 car daily for the last 4 years and I have a 12 year old Dodge 2500 diesel for when I need to haul.

I do have 2 car payments but only one is a falling asset the other is a 69 Camaro I could sell any time for 10K more than I paid. The other is the wifes 12' Camaro ( Dave would scold me on that one:buttkick: )

Man.. Sorry to hear about your loss. Thats a tough one. Then to have one of the twins stuck in NICU. I bet that was scary. But sounded like you handled it pretty well. You just gotta be strong during those times, and not sorry so much about the debt. That'll come back later. (always, right? lol).

Glad to hear now that your digging in your boots and hitting it hard. Knock out that list little bit and get that emergency fund stored up so you dont have to stress (man, i never realized how much of a stress relief it was to have one!!). Then you can get focused on being the best dad, and putting some money aside for the future and that build!! Looking forward to hearing your success stories!!

If there's anything I can do to help you along with your journey, let me know! This is all about learning here. I've been on this thread about a year now and have grown tremendously. Taken control of my entire finances (401k too) and its doing very well! (Granted, so has the market in total, LOL). But, learning what this is about, and how to apply it, is the important part. I'm no great investor, but I am good at managing my money, and running numbers. I'll help as best as I can!

Anyone looked at Bitcoin lately? $762 each!

The boom came after the US govt officially gave it its blessing and said they would not be regulating it. Crazy.

Unless there is some sort of massive conspiracy going on, I think it has proven itself in the market. $100 was a bargain not long ago!

Had I known about it early on I would have tossed a few bucks in for the heck of it and let it ride. No way in hell I would touch it now.

Did you gamble on some?

I didnt. I dont have the extra coin to be gambler, yet. ;) :newbie: :G-Dub: