Stocks, who here invests?

[masuerte]

I have 3 places where I've put my money lately.

-50% of my money in A 403b retirement plan based on a UCLA fund run by Fidelity that currently increased by 2.3% (based on last year)

-40% in A liquid HSBC internet bank @ 5% APY (last year) and now down to 3.8% this year

-the rest in a Checking account.

Now... as for my liquid savings, I'm thinking of taking it away from HSBC and it's no-shitty rates and transferring it to an index fund. I'm also toying with the idea of doing the same with my retirement money if Fidelity allows for it.

Are index funds really the safest investments that can leave me a 10% return in the long term? Am I retarded? And if so, what books should I read?

[HisPiffness]

Read "Unconventional Success" by David Swensen.

[mikeman]

Depending on how old you are,I wouldnt touch your retirement money.Also I dont know to much about index funds,but you might want to look at some mutual funds,some have a pretty good rate of return.I would also reccomend going to see a financial planner,then atleast they can tell you what is/isnt a good idea.

[HisPiffness]

Depending on how old you are,I wouldnt touch your retirement money.Also I dont know to much about index funds,but you might want to look at some mutual funds,some have a pretty good rate of return.I would also reccomend going to see a financial planner,then atleast they can tell you what is/isnt a good idea.

Mutual funds have been known to have relatively low returns coupled with management fees that can really eat up how much you earn. A difference of 1% in management fees can literally cost you tens of thousands of dollars in the log run with compounding interest and the fact that you won't be able to touch your retirement account for many years. Many mutual funds fail to match the returns for indices, and charge you the management fees on top of the poor(er) performance. Some funds, notably Vanguard, are known for their low fees, so you may want to look into those.

Here are some links to some good sites for money management/investing on the internet:

pfblog.org

iwillteachyoutoberich.com

allfinancialmatters.com

getrichslowly.com

As for my previous post, Swensen's (Unconventional Success) talks about sensible investing. The basic thrust is people are such poor stock pickers it's better to diversify and try and match indices (i.e. invest in index funds as well as a enough stocks, bonds, real estate holdings, etc.) Here is a good summary of the basic points of the book:

http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2007/10/03/one-man-who-beats-the-market-and-his-suggestions-for-individual-investors/

[Yardsale]

Hi guys, anyone else in the stock game here on sufu? How's your portfolio doing?

[sean_]

this should be good

i have a pretty good amount of money invested right now

but im not spilling any secrets, yet

[Yardsale]

my biggest move as of late is heavy in V @ 70. Monday at market close can't come soon enough!

[FunkyFrenchy]

ask JK.

10char

[lovinthee47s]

keeping it a secret

[Guest Montreal]

Daytrader here.

Usually like to trade stocks like AAPL.. something with TONS of liquidity. Made an absolute killing on BSC and LEH last month - enough so that I don't need to trade for a few months. Currently longing V and I have a considerable amount of AAPL that I am longing (got in at the 116 low in February).

[Fuuma]

Damn, I misread the thread title as "socks, who here invests?", thought it would be about Pantherella and Lanvin. You guys absolutely ruined my day

[Yardsale]

Damn, I misread the thread title as "socks, who here invests?", thought it would be about Pantherella and Lanvin. You guys absolutely ruined my day

I'm sorry bro, although I'm sure your socks portfolio is diverse and going strong

[Yardsale]

So many novices cowering like bitches before V's earning report today. I feel like William Wallace telling my noob troops "HOLD...HOLD...HOLD...HOLD!!!!!!!!!!"

god.

[Doublethink]

I invest in pure silver and gold. It is the real money so I buy I buy it knowing it will never fail.

Bob Chapman will tell you more.

[photo]

I have a couple questions about stocks, not like which ones to buy but how exactly do you go about starting? Do you need a fairly large starter of money that you see as being expendable? Do you guys go throught brokers, is that what they are called, to trade? Sorry for the pretty dumb questions just wanting to gain info. Thanks

[Yardsale]

www.investopedia.com do some reading.

Me personally on my trading account I never put it anything I can't afford to lose. My M.O. has been acceptable small loses with less frequent large gains.

I don't use a broker

[photo]

Thanks for the link Yardsale

[Yardsale]

Haha I almost fell into analysis paralysis with Visa last night after the market closed. Now it's around 77 and I'm planning to take some profit (still long though) just to secure some loot

[mikeman]

I have a couple questions about stocks, not like which ones to buy but how exactly do you go about starting? Do you need a fairly large starter of money that you see as being expendable? Do you guys go throught brokers, is that what they are called, to trade? Sorry for the pretty dumb questions just wanting to gain info. Thanks

I have also recently gotten into investing in stocks.I use the sharebuilder site because they have pretty low fees.I dont think its worth going to a broker unless you have a large amount of cash because they usually take a pretty big commission.

[lovinthee47s]

lol he negged all the people in this thread

no shit you invest in V.. look at MA

[Yardsale]

lol he negged all the people in this thread

no shit you invest in V.. look at MA

Only you. Why even post if you're going to add nothing to the conversation. Supertrash is a few subforums down.

[lovinthee47s]

alright this thread is going nowhere but anyways..

i have 69 shares of V..

took a hit today it will rebound....

hoping for V to hit 100 in may

[Yardsale]

I sold American Apparel for nice little one and a half point pop. Should have held longer but it's a bit rocky and I have other small-caps to keep in the stable

[showbiz00ditc]

my dad wants me to get into daytrading

it does interest me ... but im a big risk taker, and love gambling ... so i dunno if itd work out well. (or maybe thats where all the moneys made?)

I wanna start out with an online e-trade account but i looked at what you need to sign up for it and it seemed like alot of stuff

[constant struggle]

I am currently holding a few long positions (some in alternate energy)...

The market is scaring me right now and I want to see what happens in the next few months before I invest more...... its too too uncertain, if there is a big dip I might buy some additional longs

[Yardsale]

Yeah the market isn't doing too well at all, but there are a couple defying the laws of logic, and there's some diamonds in the rough as well. I'm going to hold for a bit then back the truck up when the market dips more.

[poly800rock]

I am currently holding a few long positions (some in alternate energy)...

The market is scaring me right now and I want to see what happens in the next few months before I invest more...... its too too uncertain, if there is a big dip I might buy some additional longs

I'm in on chinese alternative energy. but being as they are so volitile anyhow, it's either go big or go home

[Guest spazzz]

my dad wants me to get into daytrading

it does interest me ... but im a big risk taker, and love gambling ... so i dunno if itd work out well. (or maybe thats where all the moneys made?)

I wanna start out with an online e-trade account but i looked at what you need to sign up for it and it seemed like alot of stuff

scott trade is cheaper. etrade blows

[lovinthee47s]

yeah im gonna hold V..

its doing pretty good and is headed in a good direction

compared to the general stock market

anyone gonna go liquid anytime soon?

[Yardsale]

yeah im gonna hold V..

its doing pretty good and is headed in a good direction

compared to the general stock market

anyone gonna go liquid anytime soon?

I sold off a small chunk of V to lock in some profits at 80, which in hindsight was a pretty sharp move because of the dip on Friday.

I still feel like it'll hit the 100 sometime this month, here's hoping