I'm in. A few individual stocks and bonds but the bulk is in mutual funds. Fairly aggressive at the moment but in the next 10-12 years will look at going more conservative as I near retirement.

Same here. I've got a couple of core stocks in big, safe companies. The rest is divided across a broad range of mutual funds.

Google was a good buy 6 months ago.....a very good buy.

 

Bought it at 448. Sold it about 12% higher .

Some mutual funds, but I primarily trade the Forex.

Some mutual funds, but I primarily trade the Forex.

Do you keep up with the currency exchange rates or let your Broker do that.

 

Not many investors, probably have traded in this area.

Do you keep up with the currency exchange rates or let your Broker do that.

 

Not many investors, probably have traded in this area.

I do it. I use Esignal as my information provider. It has a monthly fee ($$$) and has way more data than you need to do simple trend trading, but if you wish to get fancy, you can formulate a strategy from scratch. To effectively trade the Forex over an extended period of time, you need to have multiple strategies. Most Forex brokers, provide online tools for more than basic moving averages and Bollinger bands.

Do any of you guys use any investment services? I started using Motley Fool about 2 years ago and its been a home run. I don't invest in all of their recommendations but with the exception of a few, the ones I have picked have done very well.

 

I am of the mindset to avoid mutual funds.

My 401(k) has a large % of my investments in the stock market and real estate.

Do any of you guys use any investment services? I started using Motley Fool about 2 years ago and its been a home run. I don't invest in all of their recommendations but with the exception of a few, the ones I have picked have done very well.

 

I am of the mindset to avoid mutual funds.

Never have. I do most of my own research and then consult with my Broker.

 

My 401(k) has a large % of my investments in the stock market and real estate.

Do you get to distribute the percentages and select the type of selections?

Never have. I do most of my own research and then consult with my Broker.

 

Do you get to distribute the percentages and select the type of selections?

 

Yes. I have total control over all my investments.

I have a mix of cash/mf's/stocks. I have a systematic investment plan that I have adhered to for a very long time now. Most of my clients' funds that I manage are in mutual funds since it is easier to diversify using mutual funds when they don't have a large amount to invest initially.

I have a mix of cash/mf's/stocks. I have a systematic investment plan that I have adhered to for a very long time now. Most of my clients' funds that I manage are in mutual funds since it is easier to diversify using mutual funds when they don't have a large amount to invest initially.

 

Why would it matter how much cash they have to invest? If I only have $5000 to invest, how is that limiting diversification?

Yes. I have total control over all my investments.

 

As do I. I have self-directed IRAs that I pick the stocks.

Why would it matter how much cash they have to invest? If I only have $5000 to invest, how is that limiting diversification?

 

With only $5,000 to invest, the number of individual stocks you could purchase would be very low because you generally need to buy in lots of 100 to get the best ask price. If you put $5,000 in one mutual fund, you suddenly have a stake in literally hundreds of companies' stocks/bonds/etc owned by that particular mutual fund. Mutual funds are generally the best alternative for the small investor or those who want to manage their own money but don't want to deal with the potential volatility of individual stocks/bonds/etc.

I guess I'm putting into a 401K for the first time -- thanks to all those previous crummy companies that were too cheap to do such a thing for their employees -- and I'll confess I don't know jack bone about it. Completely lost. Personally, I'd rather they deposited the money into my horse racing account. But I guess I'm in.

I guess I'm putting into a 401K for the first time -- thanks to all those previous crummy companies that were too cheap to do such a thing for their employees -- and I'll confess I don't know jack bone about it. Completely lost. Personally, I'd rather they deposited the money into my horse racing account. But I guess I'm in.

 

Perhaps we can discuss an investment plan to suit your needs at the game tomorrow. No charge of course.