Just Starting to Invest?

How to trade in the stock market, whether it be in your rsp, 401k, or investment capital account, is what brings us together… and I’m glad you’re here. In fact, let me just take a moment and introduce myself. I’ve created a page just for that… so you can get to know me… and, if you’d like, I’d love to learn a little about you too, so feel free to visit the “About Me” page.

Investing can be exciting… but it can also be a little scary too, especially if you’re just starting to invest. And I bet you have some questions… lots of questions about things like:

• How does the Stock Market work?
• How do I chose a broker?
• How do I diversify my portfolio?
• What is the minimum amount I need to invest?
• How do I place a trade?
• What do I need to know to be successful?
• I’ve heard investing in the Stock Market is a huge risk… is it?
• Can I be a successful investor doing it on my own?

In fact, not only am I going to provide you reliable resources to help answer those questions, but I think you’ll enjoy how I personalize this information for you! Ask any question, at any time, and I’ll do some digging and provide you with the simple “need to know” type of info. without bogging you down in all the confusion that’s out there.

So welcome… I’m glad you’re here. If there is anything I can do for you, just let me know. I assure you, you’re not the only one with that question.

The stock market can be a rather scary venture for the average investor… a maze of twist and turns on the road to financial success.  Yet today, more than ever before, the individual “household” investor has access to the same information as the “professional” investor… so there’s no informational disadvantage. The challenge usually is not a matter of lack of information; rather, it is how to sift the wheat from the chaff. Each month, I’m going to point you to a new resources that will help explain basic Stock Market information including (just click the links):

• Common Terminology – Here’s a great resource for almost any stock term you might be looking for… and don’t worry, I’ll break down the one’s that really matter for you as we go along.
• Introduction to the Stock Market – What is it? How does it work… I’ve got a few ideas for you to consider. Feel free to choose from a Rap Video, a Cartoon, a Slap Stick Comedy, a rather dull but quite informative Explanation, or just enjoy a humorous commercial (it won’t teach you much, but it’s funny).
• How to Develop your Own Investment Strategy
• And other Resources…

So visit often… check out this “Just Starting to Invest” section for the latest resources. If there’s anything you are looking for that you don’t see here, just send me an email and let me know. I’ll either include it or point you to where you can find the resources.

Everyone has an opinion about investing in stocks… yet research shows that the vast majority of individual investors, and many “professional” investors, lose money investing. Personally, I believe it is because we’ve accepted, without evaluation, several common investment myths. Stick around and we’ll discuss some of the most common one’s you’ve heard and discuss any issues you have concerning these investment myths.

No BIG Risks Required! Write that on a sticky note and post it on your computer. So many people think investing is a “gamble” and you have to “risk big to win big.” Nothing is further from the truth. Investing is not about taking chances… save that for the casinos. Investing is about protecting your capital, minimizing your losses, and maximizing your returns. You invest to make money, not lose it through foolish decisions.