interested in the stock market, what should i buy?

Stocks. Or socks. Now that I think about it you should probably stick to socks. Smocks would be acceptable as well.

A book. Any of those listed here would set you on the way to being a successful investor:

http://www.amazon.com/Peter-Lynch/e/B000AQ3INK

They are not new, but the advice in these books is time-tested and actually works, as compared to the "advice" you see around here.

Coach D wrote:

A book. Any of those listed here would set you on the way to being a successful investor:

http://www.amazon.com/Peter-Lynch/e/B000AQ3INK

They are not new, but the advice in these books is time-tested and actually works, as compared to the "advice" you see around here.

But first read this:

A rope.

In a couple years you won't be able to afford one when you need it.

DIVERSITY YO BONDS

MARKOWITZ PORTFOLIO THEORY GETS UP ON THAT EFFICIENT FRONTIER YA HEARD, ELIMINATE YO IDIOSYNCRATIC RISK DOG, NOBEL PRIZE WINNING RESEARCH YA DIG

Excuse us, the first line was meant to read "Diversify". Sorry for the error.

- Wu Tang Financial Long Term Capital Management Team

"Diversification is a protection against ignorance. It makes very little sense for those who know what they are doing." --Warren Buffett

"All you really need is a couple of good stocks"-- Peter Lynch, from "One Up On Wall Street"

Academic research has shown that Buffett has only owned 33 stocks EVER, and not at the same time. He has described owning even 10 stocks as "crazy." Berkshire-Hathaway is up roughly 70% this decade. How much have these so-called market experts (I mean Bogle, Malkiel, and the rest of the mutual fund propaganda gang) REALLY made in the same period? How much have people like Flagpole actually lost (except it has been established that he doesn't know how to calculate returns correctly--he doesn't understand exponential returns)?

Who would a rational person listen to?

I got to the point of being able to retire from high tech in 2000 and go into coaching by doing it the Peter Lynch way.

Mutual funds are great....for making profits for mutual fund companies.

Well, coach d, this should go to prove that I'm not the arrogant person some here like to portray me as. I'm fully admitting that I am NOT Warren Buffett and that I don't have the time to investigate 5-10 stocks each week to see if I should continue to buy, hold, or sell. The thing is though, that no one else is Warren Buffett either. Good for you that you were able to make enough money by following Peter Lynch's philosophy by 2000 to retire and go into coaching (you coaching for NO money?..if so, good show...if not, then you weren't really retired...you should say you "left" the high tech world).

You are incorrect though that I've been proven not to know how to calculate returns correctly. I am a spreadsheet and personal finance wizard and know very well how to calculate returns; I understand it completely.

Finally, you don't ever give advice here. Since you've been so successful, care to tell people here which stocks to buy (not which ones you DID buy, but which ones to buy in the future)? Peeps did that once with DNDN, and that was a bust. No doubt a person can make a lot of money on individual stocks, but there is a HUGE risk there too. You "retired" from high tech in 2000...well, that was at the end of a VERY good run on all stocks. I made a KILLING in the 90s. A little luck is good for anyone either in mutual funds or individual stocks.

We each make money our own way based on our own risk tolerance. I'm not willing to risk all my money on just a couple of stocks. I'm happy with the 11% annual return I've garnered now since 1989. You say you "retired" from the world of high tech in 2000. Well, I made enough to decide to work for myself...that initially was a big pay cut and has since climbed to the point that I now make more than I ever have. I would not have done that had I not made as much as I did in mutual funds (within retirement accounts and also outside them).

There is no safer way to wealth than becoming debt free and putting 15% or more like clockwork into good growth stock mutual funds. There are FASTER ways to wealth (if it goes well, because those same ways are also potentially FASTER to the poor house) that offer a LOT more risk, but that risk isn't for everyone.

Put it all on 22.

Get over yourself. You're the laughing stock of letsrun. And that is actually saying a lot given some of things people post of here. Your 5 minutes of fame are up. Actually they were up about 7 years ago. Do everyone a favor and take a hike. Make it your new year's resolution. No more letsrun. It would be cool to come here on January 1 and not see any posts from you.

Flagpole wrote:I am a spreadsheet and personal finance wizard

Letsrun Spokesperson wrote:

Get over yourself. You're the laughing stock of letsrun. And that is actually saying a lot given some of things people post of here. Your 5 minutes of fame are up. Actually they were up about 7 years ago. Do everyone a favor and take a hike. Make it your new year's resolution. No more letsrun. It would be cool to come here on January 1 and not see any posts from you.

Amen to that, brother. (well, except for the "brother" part)

Awesome, so I should put all my money into one stock and I might make 70% in a decade? Or I might lose 100% in a decade. Then what do I do? Then you'd probably just say I did it wrong, huh?

1) No need to "get over myself" brother. I was responding to a poster who said I know nothing about how gains are calculated, and that's just BS. It's my JOB to know that, and I'm very good at my self-employed job, and as I said, a spreadsheet and personal finance wizard; some things in life are just the truth Ruth!2) Regarding me being the laughing stock of Letsrun, I have several e-mails a week from different posters here telling me otherwise...not that I care if I'm a laughing stock or not...the financial advice I give is solid, so if you want to laugh at that, then you're just wrong. If you want to laugh at my HUGE biceps or amazing musical talents, then you're just jealous I guess...my mother always said you'd all be jealous. (and yes, that's a joke).3) Never looked for fame brother, but I've been way more famous as a musician and a writer than I am here at Letsrun. This is just a message board after all. I consider the famous people here the runners that we've heard of...not anyone else. I'm certainly not famous from my postings on Letsrun. I'm just a very physically powerful and handsome guy with exceptional smarts who posts about his awesome life from time to time. Hardly makes me famous brother.

Letsrun Spokesperson wrote:

Get over yourself. You're the laughing stock of letsrun. And that is actually saying a lot given some of things people post of here. Your 5 minutes of fame are up. Actually they were up about 7 years ago. Do everyone a favor and take a hike. Make it your new year's resolution. No more letsrun. It would be cool to come here on January 1 and not see any posts from you.

Flagpole wrote:I am a spreadsheet and personal finance wizard

OUR POLICY AT WU TANG FINANCIAL IS TO DIVERSIFY YO BONDS. WE DO UNDERSTAND THAT IN LIGHT OF THE CURRENT ECONOMIC CLIMATE BONDS MAY NOT BE THE BEST INVESTMENT BUT WE WILL DIVERSIFY YOURS ANYWAY.

But seriously Coach D: if it's really "that easy" to pick a winner or two, why doesn't everyone do it? I don't think you understand risk vs. return, CAPM or the idea of diversifying away as much specific risk as possible while keeping nearly the same return - you aren't rewarded for holding specific risk.

Wow. The fact that you went to such great lengths to rebut some random guy critcizing you just proves that guy's point. You are the laughingstock of letsrun.

INCORRECT! Was that short enough for you?

Nothing you write on here is short enough. Even if its one word.

Flagpole wrote:

INCORRECT! Was that short enough for you?

Can you get over the fact that you have to try and put flagpole down? Even if I dont agree with his ideas/investment techniques, I dont rip on him for it.

For suggesting stocks, I have a few that I am keeping track of (energy, pharma. and communications). I would suggest watching yesterdays 60 minutes episode. Something to consider if you want to buy now.

peaches wrote:

Can you get over the fact that you have to try and put flagpole down? Even if I dont agree with his ideas/investment techniques, I dont rip on him for it.

For suggesting stocks, I have a few that I am keeping track of (energy, pharma. and communications). I would suggest watching yesterdays 60 minutes episode. Something to consider if you want to buy now.

Old Man - "Peaches, you're late...AGAIN. I pay you, so I want you to be here on time. You've earned the graveyard shift with Chumley. [Chumley creepily smiles]

The above makes no sense unless you've seen Pawn Stars...one of the best shows on television.