The stock market has been going up for more than 7 months and many investors who held on through the big crash of 2000 are seeing their portfolios get back some of what had disappeared. Is now the time to sell those equities that are 'even' with what you paid for them? No.
The reason I say "no" is because that is a guess and to be a successful investor you don't want to be guessing. That is a sure way to go broke. Then what is a better way? When you talk with a broker he never advises you to sell. In that case you could be sucked into another huge downward move. There must be a way.
Yes, there is. You let the market tell you. No, you don't have to be clairvoyant. When you buy any stock or mutual fund the first question for your broker should be, "When do I sell?" If he says you should hold on "for the long haul" I definitely recommend you fire him and find someone who knows how to protect your capital. If you buy a stock or fund for $40 per share you must know immediately how much you are willing to risk (lose) if that equity starts down instead of up. The same applies to giving back any of the profits you have earned.
When you are playing poker you don't put more money in the pot when you have a mixed suit 2, 5 and 10. The best thing to do is fold.
Over the last few months almost everyone has seen his stock and funds go up and he thinks he is a genius for hanging on. Don't confuse genius with a bull market. So what do I mean let the market tell you? It actually is very simple. You place an Open Stop Loss Order with your broker on all your stocks. You determine the risk and place the loss limit at that point. Some people use 10% and others may limit their loss to 7% and yet others to 15%. That is your risk quotient.
You will find that if your stock or fund is sold as a result of the stop loss that in 4 to 6 months that equity will be lower than where you got out even if it went higher for a short period of time. When a stop is executed don't look back. Find another equity or keep your money in cash in a money market account. Cash is a position. Sometimes it will make you more money than owning any stock especially when the market is headed down.
People become confused by Wall Street into thinking that buying right is the way to make money. Wrong! The secret of success in the market is a well disciplined exit strategy. Know when to hold 'em and know when to fold 'em.
Al Thomas' book, "If It Doesn't Go Up, Don't Buy It!" has helped thousands of people make money and keep their profits with his simple 2-step method. Read the first chapter at http://www.mutualfundmagic.com and discover why he's the man that Wall Street does not want you to know.
Copyright 2005
tidy up service Glenview ..Since I can remember, and that's a long time ago,... Read More
Any online investor / trader seeks an excellent off or... Read More
It seems that every day I turn on the TV... Read More
We've all heard of the stock market and probably have... Read More
You have a lock on your house. You have a... Read More
As the man said, "I've got some good news and... Read More
What does it take to be a stock trader? It... Read More
Every stock market investor faces one primal enemy. An enemy... Read More
The demand for world oil is increasing while world reserves... Read More
One of the basic laws of physics states that a... Read More
People are always asking me when should I sell my... Read More
Right now there doesn't seem to be any "gold fever".... Read More
The Dow Theorycharles h. dowcharles h.... Read More
∙ Make every investment in the stock market a long-term... Read More
Dollar cost averaging is one of the most popular ideas... Read More
It looks like the market is ready to start up... Read More
Before we get into all the good news out there,... Read More
I read a comment by a forum member on another... Read More
Should the market turn against you, it is important that... Read More
It depends on your level of understanding of the market... Read More
How many people went to a cash position this week?... Read More
With all the bad news that has been dumped upon... Read More
This article describes the model of a natural relationship between... Read More
You read and hear a lot about hedge funds. Unfortunately,... Read More
A recent cartoon in my daily newspaper showed two guys... Read More
full-service cleaning Mundelein ..How do you invest? What do you really pay? At... Read More
When it comes to stock market trading it PAYS to... Read More
There are formulas for just about everything, but it has... Read More
First let's see what protectionism is. According to Mr. Webster... Read More
Sidney felt sick as she looked at her latest OptionsXpress... Read More
This article describes the model of a natural relationship between... Read More
There are so many kinds of work that needs to... Read More
I was devastated!I just couldn't believe it. I was 10... Read More
You should ignore analysts on TV, the radio, the newspaper... Read More
Picking a beaten-down stock requires a different kind of selection... Read More
Checked your 401K lately? Going back to about a year... Read More
Reach in your pocket and take out that big roll... Read More
One of the basic laws of physics states that a... Read More
The ABC's of Stock Trading SuccessStock trading success...why is it... Read More
Most people think the stock market is a zero sum... Read More
You probably know the story of Sherlock Holmes and the... Read More
One of the things people are always asking me is... Read More
Even if you don't own any of their stock or... Read More
So you're started trading, you bought some positions with your... Read More
Mutual funds were moderately successful in creating a presence in... Read More
Ever jumped out of an airplane? It's OK if you... Read More
If you have been watching the stock market at all... Read More
It looks like the market is ready to start up... Read More
In a previously written article, we expanded the use of... Read More
I have been trading for several decades and was an... Read More
Stocks & Mutual Fund |