This is a "behavioral" warning!
I read SeekingAlpha every day as well as many other newsletters and articles etc. Some of the worst investments I've ever made were from reading about the next great blowout investment - get all excited about it and pushed the buy button.
Be very wary of that "type" of investing in yourselves. Once a person finally "discovers" investing - has some success - and becomes enthusiastic... they are looking for ways to stretch their wings. They have a fresh pile of cash and are just itching to put this work.
By NOT having something on the horizon - where they've "pre-selected" the name and then have some time to watch it - read about it - "live with it" a little while leads to the frantic search to get their money to work. All it takes is one well written (even well meaning!) article - and they jump into it (whatever it is).
Don't be a Rob Lowe investor. Make your shopping list... double back on that list and watch and read everything that comes your way on all your names - feel free to modify the list. Substitute or add a name. Stay abreast of the "market" in general... and make certain you have your BASE built on a solid foundation. After you have 20 names... and by the time you've gotten to that point -- then you can buy some outliers... you can jump on an IPO or two... you can broaden your risk. You'll have experienced ups and downs - success and failures - you'll no longer look to the grocery store clerk for investing ideas - you'll be comfortable with your own choices - and why you chose them.
I'll make you this guarantee:
You WILL lose the most money when buying a company that you know nothing about - haven't known about before last week... and didn't "follow" for awhile. When that "investment" turns south -- and doubt creeps in -- and the base in your brain doesn't really get why you bought it in the first place... you'll hit the sell button and lock in a loss.
Why do I say this? Because after doing this for 30 years - I've been there and done that.
I'm thrilled you guys are into reading - and are poking around - and are discussing all this stuff. That is how you learn. I'm not talking about not readying everything you can get your hands on. I'm talking about tempering the new info and not jumping in too quickly. Think about how many pieces of clothing you've bought because it's "on sale" - brought it home - and then never worn it... did you buy it because it's something you've really wanted for a long time - or was it the shiny new thing and it was on sale - but it's blue and you never wear blue...
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