Stocks and the Market Now

[blah114]

In what stocks, ETFs, or mutual funds do you all invest?

Is a crash occurring similar to 2008 right now? I do not think so. People are smarter than that (ARMs, etc).

I've bought various stocks and mutual funds lately, and they are all down. I believe you BUY at this moment.. not sell.

I own a few oil stocks that I'd love to sell, but I don't want to realize the loss.

My favorite mutual fund is Franklin Income because it pays dividends. I also like ETFs because of the low cost.

I think Tesla and Apple are our future.. Amazon too.. maybe even Solar City. I don't necessarily invest in any of them, though, because they are high in price.

A friend recommended Cracker Barrel and Target as investments. I welcome thoughts.

What I've tried to do, and it's happened a few times:
if a stock doubles, or nearly does, I pull out the ORIGINAL investment into it.. that way, I am more apt to let it sit, go up, down, fluctuate. I figure at worst I will break even. This is not always possible, but it's a strategy by which I try to live.

I use brokerages that have fees because I trust them. I do NOT trust the independent firms much. I once had money in such a firm and they did not do anything bad to me, but I found out the year earlier, a broker of theirs was selling annuities to a fake firm/person.. he pocketed 100s of thousands from various clients. He did this independently of the firm's knowledge (per the court docs), but he worked for that firm while it all occurred. They had also changed their name a few times. I should not judge. But I pulled my money entirely from them. A neighbor had recommended them and they put me in Connoco, Blackrock, Lily, etc.. good stocks, etc.. but once I heard about the court cases , I moved everything. it's still in court now and the guy spent all the money he embezzled. it scared me off independent firms. I theorize the larger places (wells fargo, etc) are audited more and that type of stuff won't happen with their brokers.. I might be naïve.

[brandrea]

I do my own investing, but it does take a lot of time.

I invest globally using hedged and unhedged ETF's as I can't possibly dedicate enough time to research individual companies. Then there's also the practical issues of buying stocks that don't have ADR's.

Domestically, I buy individual stocks. My criteria, is that they are large cap, and pay a dividend. I'm in Canada so I follow the Two Minute Portfolio (Rob Carrick), theory for approx 50% of my portfolio. This has averaged about 10% a year for me.

I won't hit any home runs with this strategy, but that ok. I sleep at night and it's all about capital preservation and modest growth with dividend income for me.

[blah114]

Originally Posted by brandrea

I do my own investing, but it does take a lot of time.

I invest globally using hedged and unhedged ETF's as I can't possibly dedicate enough time to research individual companies. Then there's also the practical issues of buying stocks that don't have ADR's.

Domestically, I buy individual stocks. My criteria, is that they are large cap, and pay a dividend. I'm in Canada so I follow the Two Minute Portfolio (Rob Carrick), theory for approx 50% of my portfolio. This has averaged about 10% a year for me.

I won't hit any home runs with this strategy, but that ok. I sleep at night and it's all about capital preservation and modest growth with dividend income for me.

Thanks. FYI, to me, 10% IS a home run. I've had some years at 40%, others at 2%... over 25 years I've averaged 7.x% positive growth. And that's with loads of ups and downs. so, 10% is actually incredibly good.

I've read investment books and it's great to hear many opinions on it. What I've deduced is TIME (not the magazine) is needed to invest properly. when I bought Tesla stock, it was with the intention of having it still in 2030. I don't care what it's doing today. if it hits $180 or $190 I am going to buy a ton of it... that's just me. (when I say a ton, I am talking 70ish shares).

Thanks for your response. also fyi.. I do my own investing too, but I use a brokerage (3 actually).. two have reps with whom I speak.. and I give them ideas, bounce things off them.

For example, I just bought Gilead Sciences stock because it's quite low now. I figure it will go up to $130 by end of year. I try to have stuff in medical, financial, ETFs, auto, entertainment (Netflix, etc)... I , not to sound entirely corny, am trying to create a positive environment.. in other words, if a company makes money off suffering, not to name names, I won't invest in them. call me corny.

I have about 11 mutual funds too.. they don't grow a lot.. generally 3-5% yearly, but their 2% fees make me angry at times. I Am slowly trying to weigh the dividends vs growth in my head. when I was younger, I used to only look at the growth.. now I look at the dividends more. especially with mutual funds. 3 of my mutual funds don't allow investors anymore.. or haven't for years.. they pay large dividends... I will never likely get rid of these funds because they were "closed out" or maxed out to investors around 2000 or earlier. those have consistently yielded 4% growth every year, even in 2008. imagine that..

[blah114]

I like this guy's philosophy.. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe...ticle22387835/

[Thailawson]

I think blue chips with dividends is the way to go right now.

A lot of value in energy blue chips if you can hold on for 2-3 years.

[texex91]

Originally Posted by brandrea

I do my own investing, but it does take a lot of time.

I invest globally using hedged and unhedged ETF's as I can't possibly dedicate enough time to research individual companies. Then there's also the practical issues of buying stocks that don't have ADR's.

Domestically, I buy individual stocks. My criteria, is that they are large cap, and pay a dividend. I'm in Canada so I follow the Two Minute Portfolio (Rob Carrick), theory for approx 50% of my portfolio. This has averaged about 10% a year for me.

I won't hit any home runs with this strategy, but that ok. I sleep at night and it's all about capital preservation and modest growth with dividend income for me.

Is the 2016 Two minute portfolio out?

[blah114]

Originally Posted by texex91

Is the 2016 Two minute portfolio out?

I don't think it is..

I just had a thought.. what if you or someone, anyone, put together the 15minute plan, but with Canadian as #1 and USA#2.. .in each sector... that's a thought too. take the #1 Canadian from each sector and #1 USA.. that's a great idea in my opinion.

[towernick]

Frozen orange juice futures and pork bellies!

[beshannon]

Originally Posted by blah114

In what stocks, ETFs, or mutual funds do you all invest?

Far too many factors to answer this simple question.

Time horizon?
Risk tolerance?
Debt?
Net worth?
Current income?
Other assets?
Tax situation?

[THC]

I have 20k in a regular bank savings account earning nothing.. But if the market keeps correcting next week, I will jump in as stocks like Apple, will be very attractive

[blah114]

Originally Posted by THC

I have 20k in a regular bank savings account earning nothing.. But if the market keeps correcting next week, I will jump in as stocks like Apple, will be very attractive

may I suggest, if you don't mind.. transferring that money into a High Yield Savings account with someone like American Express... if you've not already. it's FDIC.. and it gains .89%.. most banks' savings accts have like .01%.. up to you. If you have done this already, I apologize for being pedantic.

the stock market is so risky.. but if you are going to buy even 1 year from now.. you have the right idea and may as well buy soon or now. Apple is really going low now. and I don't see them "not recovering..." I am betting their stock hits at least $200 USD per share by 2018. once they announce they are doing cars, etc.. which I am betting they will.. or they will buy Tesla or some other automaker.. you can bet their stock will jump. I have had Apple for a few years.. and it goes up, down, up, down.. now it is still higher than at what I bought it. if it hits $80-$90 per share, I'd jump on it, were I you.

[blah114]

Originally Posted by beshannon

Far too many factors to answer this simple question.

Time horizon?
Risk tolerance?
Debt?
Net worth?
Current income?
Other assets?
Tax situation?

I wasn't asking for advice, necessarily.. I understand that if I had, people would need more info.. I mean absolutely no offense at all and I likely insinuated I wanted advice.. well, I do want people's experiences, if that is ok and I am not being mean or sarcastic.. meaning, I'd want yours if you don't mind(!). so, sorry if I came across cryptically.

[blah114]

Originally Posted by towernick

Frozen orange juice futures and pork bellies!

Yeah, Mortimer, etc.. I get it.

[Etschell]

Originally Posted by blah114

may I suggest, if you don't mind.. transferring that money into a High Yield Savings account with someone like American Express... if you've not already. it's FDIC.. and it gains .89%.. most banks' savings accts have like .01%.. up to you. If you have done this already, I apologize for being pedantic.

the stock market is so risky.. but if you are going to buy even 1 year from now.. you have the right idea and may as well buy soon or now. Apple is really going low now. and I don't see them "not recovering..." I am betting their stock hits at least $200 USD per share by 2018. once they announce they are doing cars, etc.. which I am betting they will.. or they will buy Tesla or some other automaker.. you can bet their stock will jump. I have had Apple for a few years.. and it goes up, down, up, down.. now it is still higher than at what I bought it. if it hits $80-$90 per share, I'd jump on it, were I you.

Ally bank fdic insured formerly gmac they pay 2 percent.

[texex91]

Originally Posted by Etschell

Ally bank fdic insured formerly gmac they pay 2 percent.

On a 5 YEAR! No thanks!

[blah114]

Hi, I am just checking in to see what people think with the United States elections and the stock market . Part of me wants to dump a lot and then rebuy the other part just says leave it as is . I don't care what candidate people support . I think the elections are rigged and I think the position is pretty much as seen on TV ... but for some reason, people seem to go crazy during the election processes

[Etschell]

Originally Posted by texex91

On a 5 YEAR! No thanks!

it only has a 2 month early penalty withdrawal. 2% is actually looking a lot better now. highest is 1.75%

[Etschell]

Originally Posted by blah114

Hi, I am just checking in to see what people think with the United States elections and the stock market . Part of me wants to dump a lot and then rebuy the other part just says leave it as is . I don't care what candidate people support . I think the elections are rigged and I think the position is pretty much as seen on TV ... but for some reason, people seem to go crazy during the election processes

401k / IRA leave it if you are under 59 1/2

Brokerage consider hedging.

[breitlings]

I use a different book to base my investments so I buy gold.

[blah114]

Here we are a bit later.. bouncing this back up to see what opinions have changed, been formed.. my Gilead sciences is ok at best, but Tesla long term will hit higher.

Mutual fund fees are down, so I’ve migrated a few ETFs to mutual funds. I’ve also, or had also, bought a load of international fund ETFs like DFE and others. Those have done well. What goes up must come down.. but the last 12 months have proven good for the stock market.