Investing 102

[GregWeld]

Here's another thing I think about whether it's buying or selling.


Make a list of what you want to do -- a PLAN -- Put down important things like your average cost -- what the "EX" date is for the next dividend... Making sure you put a "MUST BUY" or MUST SELL before whatever dates you plan to use. There's no rush generally to buy or sell.... so if you have a plan in place that you can look at to keep you on track it will help.

Why sell a stock 5 days before you were to get a dividend of .40 a share?

Why not try to buy a stock either just before it's EX date - or After it trades EX and either pick up the dividend -- or buy it on the dividend "dip" effectively collecting the dividend via the discount.

Check for their EARNINGS ANNOUNCEMENTS.... I'd never buy a stock like Amazon just before their earnings announcements. You can get crushed overnight... so be patient and wait to find out what they're saying about going forward (the most important part of earnings!). If it jumps up so what - things are fine and earnings are good and they say the future looks bright. Better than than buying in and they miss earnings and say going forward sucks and you get killed 15% in one day.