In one of my previous articles (Investing in the stock market -9 powerful tips), tip number one was:
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.
If I may, I would like to explain where I'm coming from by stating that tip.
On October 16, 1990 the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences awarded 3 men each a third of the Nobel Peace Prize for their work in the theory of financial economics ? Harry Markowitz, Merton Miller and William Sharpe.
Harry Markowitz's work involved the theory of portfolio choice. (This in layman's terms was the introduction of a diversified portfolio to help offset the uncertainty and risk of investing in the stock market. Harry Markowitz has been labeled the 'Father of Diversification'.
William Sharpe used Markowitz's model from an individual investment theory to a market analysis theory based on price formation for financial assets. This formulation is called Capital Asset Pricing Model (CAPM). From what I understand about this model is that it places a "beta value" on a share, the higher the beta value, the higher the risk. By knowing the 'beta value' of each stock in a portfolio, the portfolio can be adjusted to either involve more or less risk.
Merton Miller's work involved dividends supplied by companies to a shareholder and its effect on stock market value and the effects of taxes. Miller's theorems are used for theoretical and empirical analysis in corporate finance.
Markowitz received his award for an essay published in 1952, "Portfolio Selection" and for his book in 1959, Portfolio Selection: Efficient Diversification.
Harry Markowitz, in his Nobel lecture given in 1990 says: "an investor who knew the future returns of a security with certainty would invest in only one security, namely the one with the highest future return'.
Nowhere could I find that an investor should own 27 different mutual funds.
For more excerpts from the book 'The Stockopoly Plan' please visit http://www.thestockopolyplan.com
Charles M. O'Melia is an individual investor with almost 40 years of experience and passion for the stock market. The author of the book 'The Stockopoly Plan ? Investing for Retirement'; published by American-Book Publishing. To order a copy of the book: http://www.thestockopolyplan.com
shuttle to Midway Beardstown .. Lockport Chicago limo O’HareYou've decided to try your luck at trading stocks or... Read More
IT'S REMINISCENT OF THE OLD children's tale about an old... Read More
Are hedge funds a suitable investment for you? Hedge funds... Read More
If you are serious about making and keeping money by... Read More
Disclaimer: Please note that I do not necessarily purchase, own,... Read More
Mutual funds were created with the idea that one person... Read More
Investors who exclusively use broadly diversified, no load mutual funds... Read More
Yesterday I received my monthly issue of MONEY magazine. This... Read More
In today's volatile and confusing stock markets everyone is searching... Read More
You probably know the story of Sherlock Holmes and the... Read More
Sometime in the third quarter of 1997, someone told me... Read More
In November of 2000 when the NASDAQ was trading at... Read More
Ever turn down a street, get half way and suddenly... Read More
Picture one of those clubs where only the real heavyweights... Read More
Before we get into all the good news out there,... Read More
A Guide to Using Stop Loss Orders Stop losses are... Read More
For weeks, no, months we have been bombarded with nothing... Read More
It depends on your level of understanding of the market... Read More
Do you have a financial planner? Does one of your... Read More
Trading is a fascinating activity.There are so many layers to... Read More
"Buy and hold" is one of the most heralded investment... Read More
During the day I watch CNBC-TV, the stock market channel.... Read More
Last time we looked at the real performance of the... Read More
Economists know more about how the fragments of society work... Read More
We have two candidates for president that have really different... Read More
Green Bay Hummer H2 SUV rentals ..THERE'S SOMETHING TO BE SAID FOR standing firm in the... Read More
Financial markets provide their participants with the most favorable conditions... Read More
Many people would like to diversify their portfolios to expand... Read More
Mutual funds are doing more and more to discourage investors... Read More
If you are going to be a winner in the... Read More
Mutual funds were created with the idea that one person... Read More
One of the main reasons many of us get into... Read More
Every successful trader has a winning system. There are of... Read More
A Guide to Using Stop Loss Orders Stop losses are... Read More
I made my very first investment in the stock market... Read More
The stock market has been going up for more than... Read More
During our travel down life's path we come to many... Read More
You have decided to buy some stock or mutual funds,... Read More
The stock market often closes a week in the middle... Read More
Success in small cap & micro cap stock trading like... Read More
When is a dividend not a dividend?The latest thing "conservative"... Read More
AS BUILDERS BEGIN WORK ON THE FREEDOM TOWER in New... Read More
If you've ever flipped on the television to CNN Financial... Read More
This article describes the model of a natural relationship between... Read More
One of the great "secrets" of successful people is discipline... Read More
Have you bought any mutual funds this year or late... Read More
If you have been watching the stock market at all... Read More
The basis of diminishing return discussions surround such simple notions;... Read More
All of the talking heads have been telling us that... Read More
How often have you come across an advertisement or e-mail... Read More
Stocks & Mutual Fund |