1. Do not spread your money too thin.
My friend has a little over $200,000 invested in the stock market through 27 different Mutual funds. In my opinion, 27 Mutual funds is 27 too many collecting load fees, management fees, commission fees, operating and advertising fees. Diversity is important, but just as important is over-diversification. Also, in my opinion, $200,000 should not be put into more than 12 stocks, let alone 27 different Mutual funds.
2. Do not pay commission fees to purchase a stock.
If you are going to invest your hard earned dollars into a company, the least the company could do is provide you a way to invest in their company commission free ? and they do!
3. Only purchase those companies that pay a dividend.
The same company that you invest in commission free should also offer you another incentive for you to invest ? a dividend for the use of your money.
4. Only purchase those companies that have a history of raising their dividend every year.
The same company should continue rewarding you for your faith in their company by increasing the amount of their dividend every year. Rising dividends are also the proof that the company is dong something right.
5. Dollar-cost average into each stock position.
By dollar-cost averaging (buying the same stock at different prices through the years) you'll never pay too much for the company's stock, even if the initial purchase is at a 52 week high. Have all the dividends from each company rolled back into more shares of each company, until retirement. The companies you invest in should do this for you, automatically, commission free.
6. Forget making a profit; instead focus on the income provided from your stock portfolio.
That's right! Forget making a profit. The burden is now lifted - no more pressure on making a buck in the stock market (Instead of trying to bend the spoon, that is impossible, instead just think of the spoon as ? omigosh! - I'm in the Matrix). When you focus on the amount of money your holdings are providing in dividends ? and when those companies selected have a history of raising their dividends each year ? a lower stock price allows the dividends that are being rolled back into the stock to accelerate your income. The total value of your portfolio may go lower, but your income from that lower priced portfolio would increase dramatically. Profit by income!
7. Make every stock purchase with the intent that the purchase will be a long-term investment.
Do not trade in and out of your holdings. There have been many up and downs in the stock market. The down markets only accelerate your income. GE has raised their dividend for 28 years in a row. Why sell it? 100 shares of GE ten years ago has turned into 1200 shares today due to stock splits, and that is not counting how many shares you would have now if the dividends were being rolled back into more shares of the stock through those years.
8. Understand that a lower stock price, after your initial purchase may be a blessing in disguise.
The income from your stock holdings should grow every quarter, no matter what the total amount of your stock portfolio is worth. (If your Mutual fund declines in price from one year to the next and if your income is not increasing (accelerating) from that fund, why are you in that fund?) A company pays their dividend not on how much their stock is worth in the market place. For example, a company pays a quarterly dividend of 50 cents a share. A company has little control on how much its stock price is worth in the market place on any given day. You will receive 50 cents a share per quarter whether the stock price is at 50 dollars a share, or drops to $40 a share or goes up to $70. While the stock is down at $40 a share your dividend reinvestment is loading up on more shares.
9. Develop a savings plan to add to your holdings each quarter to help your dividend reinvestments to accumulate more shares on a dollar-cost averaging basis.
The savings could be as little as $5.00 a week. Why put that savings in a savings account at 1.2 percent, when there are so many companies out there that are paying a 4 to 5% dividend yield and increasing their dividend every year? And since none of the companies you are investing in charge a commission, all of that $60.00 a quarter you saved and invested would help your dividend reinvestments to dollar-cost average into your holdings. Every cent you save and invest would work toward your ROI (Return on Investment).
10. Read my book 'the Stockopoly Plan' soon to be released by American Book Publishing.
I believe it will profit you and your family for the rest of your lives.
For more excerpts from the book 'The Stockopoly Plan' please visit http://www.thestockopolyplan.com
About The Author
You have permission to this article either electronically or in print as long as the author bylines are included, with a live link, and the article is not changed in any way (grammar and typos, excluded). Please provide a courtesy e-mail to http://www.thestockopolyplan.com telling where the article was published.
Charles M. O'Melia is an individual investor with almost 40 years of experience and passion for the stock market. Author of the book 'The Stockopoly Plan', soon to be released by American Book Publishing.
http://www.thestockopolyplan.com
recurring maid service Buffalo Grove ..04/28/2005NASDAQ dropped -12.5% year to date in 2005. S&P500 index... Read More
People are always asking me when should I sell my... Read More
As one of my regular readers you know I have... Read More
Time to look back2004 is over, now we are in... Read More
It is finally catching up with them. The brokerage companies... Read More
When you become interested in a stock or mutual fund... Read More
For some "long term" would mean holding a stock position... Read More
I love roller coasters. The steeper the better. High and... Read More
When the stock market is going up and all your... Read More
Ever notice how behavior in one area of life can... Read More
A Guide to Using Stop Loss Orders Stop losses are... Read More
Index Fund Trading can be one of the most profitable...or... Read More
The Bollinger Band theory is designed to depict the volatility... Read More
The greatest stock market myth is the idea that investing... Read More
If you have talked to a stock broker or financial... Read More
Very few people, even professionals, have heard of the Dalbar... Read More
Professional stock options traders use the term lean to refer... Read More
The stock market can present you with a lot of... Read More
Day trading is all about making buy and sell decisions.... Read More
Every broker and financial planner will tell you that you... Read More
THERE'S SOMETHING TO BE SAID FOR standing firm in the... Read More
The trash business in its efforts to cook their books... Read More
I am hearing predictions by brokers, financial planners, talk show... Read More
Unfortunately, most of you who are reading my column are... Read More
You probably have been told that options are risky. Even... Read More
premium house cleaning Glenview ..If you go to Haiti or other places in the... Read More
Everyone who follows the financial news has heard of mutual... Read More
A colleague of mine just returned from a scuba diving... Read More
Picture one of those clubs where only the real heavyweights... Read More
Dollar cost averaging is one of the most popular ideas... Read More
If you have been watching the stock market at all... Read More
During our travel down life's path we come to many... Read More
After finding the price of a particular stock, usually the... Read More
Do you own any mutual funds? In an IRA or... Read More
It depends on your level of understanding of the market... Read More
For years I have been saying you must have a... Read More
Hello Inflation, it has been awhile, I see you on... Read More
When you become interested in a stock or mutual fund... Read More
The debate rages all over Eastern and Central Europe, in... Read More
Stock trading remains a very competitive field and the stock... Read More
Mutual fund investing is a lot like Thai cooking. Everyone... Read More
I cringe every time I hear a novice investor tell... Read More
Let's assume that you want to make some serious money... Read More
When most analysts, financial planners, fund specialists and investors try... Read More
You remember (they show it on TV every year) the... Read More
Humpty Dumpty had a great fall and all the King's... Read More
We are already in it, but you can't see it.... Read More
When you stand on the ocean shore and watch the... Read More
As the man said, "I've got some good news and... Read More
The bulls and bears of the stock market are both... Read More
Stocks & Mutual Fund |