Investing 102

[CRCRFT78]

Its been pretty quiet lately, anyone have any updates?

[GregWeld]

Originally Posted by CRCRFT78

Its been pretty quiet lately, anyone have any updates?

It has been quiet -- I've been quiet..... and the MARKET has been absolutely ROARING..... just wow.

It's been such a WOW -- that it's making me nervous and I'm not the nervous type. I took my cash position back up to way over a million bucks today - from just a couple hundred thousand..... cleaned up some losses (sold 10,000 of the 35,000 shares I hold in ETP).... since the losses are far smaller, and with the stellar run the market has had - that's what allows you to do such things.

Now then --- we also know the rules of summer..... Sell in May and go away.... well ==== it's a proven fact that beginning about May people start to kind of forget about the market and prefer to go on vacation instead... and that usually creates a dip in the summer months. I wanted to be just ahead of any of that selling - given the recent run up of epic proportions (which means that maybe more people will be taking profits (selling) coming into the summer).... and Congress goes on summer vacation - so the Donald could run his mouth off a bit more than normal -- and the FED is hiking rates which will also cause some adjustments to folks portfolios. All good - because we actually NEED a big sell off. Markets don't go straight up.

NOW ----------- remember this! If you are talking about RETIREMENT accounts -- DON'T do anything.... let 'em ride..... and if you are happy with your current portfolio - DON'T do anything.... let 'em ride. I'm a fairly "active" money manager and have ginormous positions - so I have to adjust them regularly lest they get out of control.

How many of you market mavens have gotten so that you're not so itchy fingered anymore -- and actually have finally gotten a grip on buy and hold and collect the dividends???? Not nearly as scary as it used to be huh -- once you have some nice fat gains in your accounts. Now you'll see that when you have a 20 or 25 or 40% gain on your holdings -- you don't really care if the market goes down 10% --- but you will have had to have owned for a bit to get to this point. It's sweet once you do though!

[ErikLS2]

I bought some GM today, partly because I work for them now, and the 4% dividend. Didn't think about the ex date at the time but went back and checked today, just happened to buy it on the ex date exactly, kinda nice.

[GregWeld]

Originally Posted by ErikLS2

I bought some GM today, partly because I work for them now, and the 4% dividend. Didn't think about the ex date at the time but went back and checked today, just happened to buy it on the ex date exactly, kinda nice.

Just so you know -- YOU WILL NOT GET THE DIVIDEND. There is at least a 3 day "settlement date" so you don't actually own the shares the minute you buy them - you must allow for the settlement time. Sorry to spoil your party.

[ErikLS2]

Originally Posted by GregWeld

Just so you know -- YOU WILL NOT GET THE DIVIDEND. There is at least a 3 day "settlement date" so you don't actually own the shares the minute you buy them - you must allow for the settlement time. Sorry to spoil your party.

Good to know, I never knew that. I didn't plan it that way anyway and we're only talking like $190, I don't buy in GW sized lots

[SSLance]

Originally Posted by GregWeld

How many of you market mavens have gotten so that you're not so itchy fingered anymore -- and actually have finally gotten a grip on buy and hold and collect the dividends???? Not nearly as scary as it used to be huh -- once you have some nice fat gains in your accounts. Now you'll see that when you have a 20 or 25 or 40% gain on your holdings -- you don't really care if the market goes down 10% --- but you will have had to have owned for a bit to get to this point. It's sweet once you do though!

**raises hand**

I haven't made a trade in a long time other than just reinvesting dividends and I'm not worried or itchy about anything...not even the Target my wife owns that has taking a beating lately.

[GregWeld]

Originally Posted by SSLance

**raises hand**

I haven't made a trade in a long time other than just reinvesting dividends and I'm not worried or itchy about anything...not even the Target my wife owns that has taking a beating lately.

Oh we all have "those"....... but the way I look at things -- I see ALL of my net worth as a giant collection of "stuff". Some of the stuff works some of the time and some of the stuff sucks.... but in the end -- is my overall net worth rising or falling. I just have to hit about 5 or 6 out of 10 to cover my mistakes (most of the time).

[WILWAXU]

Originally Posted by GregWeld

How many of you market mavens have gotten so that you're not so itchy fingered anymore -- and actually have finally gotten a grip on buy and hold and collect the dividends???? Not nearly as scary as it used to be huh -- once you have some nice fat gains in your accounts. Now you'll see that when you have a 20 or 25 or 40% gain on your holdings -- you don't really care if the market goes down 10% --- but you will have had to have owned for a bit to get to this point. It's sweet once you do though!

Investing 102 has done well for me. Not sure I had a "net" worth before this thread.. more like I was in the hole

Using Dave Ramsey's snowball principles, and the stuff discussed here, I now have a significant amount in retirement assets. Not to mention many other 'buckets' of money working for me Good stuff!

[WSSix]

Good job, John! Congrats. I'm glad you've been able to get something from this thread as well.

I've just been hanging out for the most part. I have decided to take a gamble on a few more potentially volatile stocks. Nothing major just something I hope pays off in the long run. I'm thinking of ditching one that I'm honestly not sure will ever rebound and picking up Visa. I see us moving more and more towards a cashless society. I'd like to believe Visa and Master Card are poised to take advantage of that situation.

[GregWeld]

Originally Posted by WILWAXU

Investing 102 has done well for me. Not sure I had a "net" worth before this thread.. more like I was in the hole

Using Dave Ramsey's snowball principles, and the stuff discussed here, I now have a significant amount in retirement assets. Not to mention many other 'buckets' of money working for me Good stuff!

So good to hear!!! OMG you have no idea how happy stuff like this makes me!

Originally Posted by WSSix

Good job, John! Congrats. I'm glad you've been able to get something from this thread as well.

I've just been hanging out for the most part. I have decided to take a gamble on a few more potentially volatile stocks. Nothing major just something I hope pays off in the long run. I'm thinking of ditching one that I'm honestly not sure will ever rebound and picking up Visa. I see us moving more and more towards a cashless society. I'd like to believe Visa and Master Card are poised to take advantage of that situation.

Good thinking!


RE: Picking up "flyers" --- I bought 5000 shares of GOOSE (GOOS) this morning. We'll see if it's IPO can hold on to the gains. Sometime you MUST buy these kinds of stocks because they can be spectacular --- or they can ruin your return.... LOL