[GregWeld]

Good questions Bill, and I'm glad you've found this interesting. I've been working hard to try to make it EASY (need that big red E A S Y button)....

So along that EASY theme.... I don't use ANY of the stuff you asked about. Don't need it. Don't need to clutter my head with useless info such as the Beta. That - in my HUMBLE (yeah right!) opinion is where people go sideways.

Investing IS NOT COMPLICATED and doesn't need to be "learned". Follow my steps - that I have listed and discussed in previous posts... regarding simple easy to understand "anyone can do this" investing approach. Pick names you know - compare them to the competition - check the long term chart - make sure they pay a dividend - diversify. If the companies growth is steady eddy - then I want a bigger dividend payout. If the stock meets all of the above and has a smallish dividend then it must have stellar growth as the 'offsetting factor'. If I have too many boring smallish payers -- and can AFFORD SOME RISK I offset that smallish dividend/growth with a bit more risk (JNK - HYG - NLY) just for "instance".

Lots of people can argue numbers and such all day long - they pull stuff from here and there... but like a drag race car - can they put it DOWN? I know guys that spout all manor of info about motors and traction etc - but when you line up they get crushed. Some can talk and some can DO.

The important STEPS are to pick - compare - make a list - compare 'em again to make sure you understand... check for diversity... do what your brain says is right for you... if you like CHEVRON GAS over EXXON then buy the Chevron. If you shop Home Depot over Lowes - buy the Home Depot (if all the info is pretty comparable). If you don't do it that way - you kick yourself in the ass when it doesn't go your way.

The guys that listen to the talking heads on TV all the time... and listen to the news and then REACT constantly -- they're getting BEAT. Now - obviously you have to listen for BIG NEWS - let's just pick SEARS.... because if you're in that name (and you shouldn't have been because it doesn't meet ANY of the above criteria) then you need to make a decision to hold 'em or fold 'em... But if you sold McDonalds because the news said someone spilled coffee - and you think that is really going to kill the company - REALLY? - then you're reacting to just "news" and you'll lose.

Whenever I'm thinking too much -- I go back and revisit those charts and stretch 'em out as long as they'll go... and if it's a good chart... and the dividend is intact and growing - then I can soothe myself. If I'm thinking about a pick too much -- and stressing over it - then I go and look at all the stuff - try to remember why I picked it - and if I'm still stewing - I sell it and start looking (may take me days or weeks to find/settle on the new one) for a better INVESTMENT.

It really is just that simple. I'm running mid 8 figures... and this is EXACTLY how I do it. And I kid you not when I say this is just exactly how I've been doing it for YEARS. I retired at 41 and I'm 58 now and this is all I've done for "work" all this time - running my own investments. I've never once looked at a beta... or anything else more complicated than what I just wrote. If it works for me - it will work for you.