Investing 102

[WSSix]

Lance, did you check that link a few pages back that I posted for Stuart? I think you might find the info you're looking for there. Not sure though and I'm not at home with my personal computer so I don't have the link bookmarked and available with this machine that I am on.

[SSLance]

Found it... thanks...

There is a US Dividend Champions spreadsheet on there that appears to be a fantastic resource for us.

[SSLance]

Alright... I'm back in. Hold on to your hats everyone, first time back in the market since 08/2011.

I picked up 10 stocks for now, about a quarter of the total amount I plan on putting back in. I've never done any online trading before, so this was all new to me. Kind of like everything else, was a bit of a learning curve to figuring out how everything works...but was pretty easy.

Now I'm going to turn it off for the weekend and let the earning begin.

Thanks everyone for holding my hand through this big step. Pretty sure I wouldn't have ever got back in the market if not for this thread.

[GregWeld]

Originally Posted by SSLance

Alright... I'm back in. Hold on to your hats everyone, first time back in the market since 08/2011.

I picked up 10 stocks for now, about a quarter of the total amount I plan on putting back in. I've never done any online trading before, so this was all new to me. Kind of like everything else, was a bit of a learning curve to figuring out how everything works...but was pretty easy.

Now I'm going to turn it off for the weekend and let the earning begin.

Thanks everyone for holding my hand through this big step. Pretty sure I wouldn't have ever got back in the market if not for this thread.

NOW all you have to do is change the way you (everyone) thinks -- rather than bailing at the first hiccup - become a BUYER not a seller... Don't take risk... Be an INVESTOR not a gambler... and sleep tight knowing that every 3 months folks are sending you money.

[Evil_s10]

Well I guess i've lurked for long enough not to chime in and say my thanks to all the contributors of this thread and especially Greg for making stocks something that I can finally look at and not feel discouraged or dumbfounded with.

Im 28 and have had a company 401k plan that is ran by 5/3rd Bank. This is one area of my saving that I dont have much control over. I am going to dig further into this in the next few weeks and try to find out if I have any chance to convert to stocks.

I setup a Schwab brokerage account about 3 months back and have set aside money each month for it. I just bought 5 shares of T (AT&T) last week and have my sights set on several more areas in the coming months.

Consumer Staples
MCD (Mcdonalds)

Consumer Staples
KO (Coke)

Energy
KMP (KinderMorgan)

Materials
PG (Procter & Gamble)

I am focusing now on making my portfolio hit on each sector and then I will focus on diversifying in each of my sectors. Right now my purchase of T has been a great learning experience and has allowed me to get my feet wet per se.

Thank you all for your time

Matthew Boehner

[GregWeld]

Good for you Matthew!!



The main intent of the posts that I do -- is to try to make sense of it all... and to take the fear out of "the market". I'm thrilled that I have been a help to you.

[GregWeld]

Anyone read up on the latest BITCOIN debacle??


You now can't get your money from one of the major "brokerages"? Mt Gox...


I don't understand the entire thing... and while Bitcoins have gone up HUGE... I wouldn't be able to stomach the gyrations.


There used to be a poster/member here that was hot on Bitcoin.... I'd love to know if he was able to make any money on this stuff -- or if it sucked him dry. My guess is - since he hasn't posted in a long time -- that the outcome ain't so hot -- but that's just guessing.

[GregWeld]

Well -- there's not much to write about.


Funny though -- when everyone talks about a 10% "correction" -- we don't get it. That's the way the market works -- which is why waiting and debating and sitting on the sidelines just costs you money over time. If you're always waiting for the perfect time to buy - you're never getting anywhere.

I had 3MM sitting waiting for the big move down - the one that hasn't come so far. So I'm just as guilty of this as anyone else. I put some of it to work last week and some more today. Can't just be sitting on cash - which is losing money IMHO since it's employees on vacation and being non-productive. Who does that?!?!?

So back into my usual parking spots.

It's okay... I'm okay with it. Not having a big down draft is okay.... nobody is spooked out of the market. Just having some normal days or weeks or months in the market is good. Trade on fundamentals... and not all this gibberish. The companies you invest in should have good solid earnings reports - that's all you need to know. They're making money - and they're willing to share it with you via dividends because you ARE an owner of the company (makes ya feel kinda important huh!? LOL).

[toy71camaro]

Yup.. Sitting and waiting is no fun either. lol

I'm finally getting "back in the game". Got the emergency account funded, and now setting $ aside to start pushing back into my Roth. Should be able to make my first purchase since early 2013 in March.

[SSLance]

I'm sitting here having a hard time keeping my powder dry so to speak...

Which is NOTHING like I thought I'd be feeling a couple of months ago.

I spent part of the morning calculating the ex-dividend dates of the 10 other stocks I've got picked out but haven't purchased yet...just to make sure I don't miss any payments from them in the near future.

By looking at most of the ex-dividend dates on the stocks that I did buy into, I was just a day late and dollar short on several of them... Oh well, I'll get them next time...