Hello my follower!
Today we are going to talk about your Personal Financial Advisors. You are a customer of your financial advisor. Not only that you make him lots of money. And each payday he takes money you have help make home in the form of a paycheck. So who is the boss here? You are! Your financial advisor should have the attitude that he works for you (which he does) and be there for you when you need him. If he does not understand this concept it is time for him to be fired by you...especially if he is losing you money.
Yesterday, was the big opening of the IPO, ALIBABA GROUP HOLDING LTD (BABA). This is the biggest thing since Google! I sincerely hope you got some yesterday to add to your portfolio. I was trying all day to get a hold of my financial advisor to make a trade as I was having some trouble with the Chase Bank on line service. No Call, No Show by financial advisor. He takes and has some lady call me after market close...which of course is way too late. Guess who got fired yesterday (9-19-2014) after losing me thousands of dollars. You guessed it, my financial advisor of three years. I have had this issue with him before and we talked about it. I gave him one more chance and he failed me again. Sorry, but you're fired when you keep loose me thousands of dollars when I need your services.
As it happened I have 2 other firms working for me. I was able to make a couple of nice trades myself on my Scottrade account where I have more money invested, but that has nothing to do with my financial advisor at Chase Bank. Sorry, but he just lost an account of over $1 million yesterday. That's why your financial advisor should be working hard to keep your business. It will not take too many accounts like mine and you know he will be sent out to pasture(unemployment line).
So what do I do now? There is not much that can be done. His boss is going to call me Monday. However, unless they plan on filling my pockets with all the money they lost for me I will no longer be their customer and transfer all 4 of my accounts with them. Their loss.
If you have a situation ever occur that your financial advisor is not following your instructions or is losing you money. I adamantly advise you to find a new firm and advisor.
Gus S.
Disclaimer:
Make sure to review any information found on this blog site with your personal financial advisor before making any decisions. I am providing general information and not financial advise. I am not a licensed stockbroker or financial advisor.
Saturday, September 20, 2014
Do You Have Old Pention Plans?
This is for my followers who are pushing the 55 year old mark or have pasted it. Sorry to say, but yes some of us are getting older and as we age so do our financial needs and our financial planning. So let's talk about those things today.
Did you know that the average length of stay with each employer is about 5 years. Now remember that is average. How many of you worked some place from the time you were in high school and maybe only worked there a month. You may have worked at your current job 15 years. But you have to average out all your various jobs from the first one to the last one even if you only worked one day.
Thus we do change jobs on the average of about every 5 years, many of us pushing age 55 or older are facing retirement in the fairly near future and we need to be planning for that day. Some like me may retire early. Some may never quit working or retire. But I have spoken about that in a previous blog you should read.
It is important that you know with each of your employers what your vested date is if you have a pension plan or 401K/403B matching plan with the company.
Example: I worked for Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Iowa for 6 years. I became a vested employee in their pension after 5 years and was too stupid to know it. Okay I have learned a lot since 1993 when I left their employment. Thus I am a retiree of their pension plan. One day out of the blue I got a letter in the mail about 10 years ago at my current address. BCBS of Iowa had finally found me after literally about 12 moves and 3 or 4 different states. In this letter I was informed I had pension money as a retiree! It also gave me a web address to go see the amount and some information as to how it was invested within the chosen annuity. It informed me my choices as to how the money could be paid out to me. This is the tricky part. When do you take your pension money. Especially on small pension payouts.
The amount of money was about $15,000.00 for me if I take a payout of my old pension plan with Blue Cross/Blue Shield. If I waited until I was 65, of course the amount would be a little more for a lump sum payout or for a monthly payout.
So what do you do? For MOST old pension plans like I have described here, which is a true example the best thing to do is take the decreased payout at age 55 years old, which I will be doing. Why? The answer is simple. It is your money at age 55 and you can invest it more wisely and make more money than you can in any annuity they may have it invested in. Would you rather get 2% per year or 10% to 30% per year? I have many investments and mutual funds making 10% to 30% per year. And you financial advisor should be able to find those for you too. The answer is simple then...more money in your pocket every year is only to your advantage.
So don't be stupid like I was, not knowing I had money out there until they contacted me over a decade later when they finally found me. You need to be checking with old employers that you worked for three years or longer. You might find a nice surprise like I did.
Gus S.
Disclaimer: Make sure to review any information found on this blog site with your personal financial advisor before making any decisions. I am providing general information and not financial advise. I am not a licensed stockbroker or financial advisor.
Did you know that the average length of stay with each employer is about 5 years. Now remember that is average. How many of you worked some place from the time you were in high school and maybe only worked there a month. You may have worked at your current job 15 years. But you have to average out all your various jobs from the first one to the last one even if you only worked one day.
Thus we do change jobs on the average of about every 5 years, many of us pushing age 55 or older are facing retirement in the fairly near future and we need to be planning for that day. Some like me may retire early. Some may never quit working or retire. But I have spoken about that in a previous blog you should read.
It is important that you know with each of your employers what your vested date is if you have a pension plan or 401K/403B matching plan with the company.
Example: I worked for Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Iowa for 6 years. I became a vested employee in their pension after 5 years and was too stupid to know it. Okay I have learned a lot since 1993 when I left their employment. Thus I am a retiree of their pension plan. One day out of the blue I got a letter in the mail about 10 years ago at my current address. BCBS of Iowa had finally found me after literally about 12 moves and 3 or 4 different states. In this letter I was informed I had pension money as a retiree! It also gave me a web address to go see the amount and some information as to how it was invested within the chosen annuity. It informed me my choices as to how the money could be paid out to me. This is the tricky part. When do you take your pension money. Especially on small pension payouts.
The amount of money was about $15,000.00 for me if I take a payout of my old pension plan with Blue Cross/Blue Shield. If I waited until I was 65, of course the amount would be a little more for a lump sum payout or for a monthly payout.
So what do you do? For MOST old pension plans like I have described here, which is a true example the best thing to do is take the decreased payout at age 55 years old, which I will be doing. Why? The answer is simple. It is your money at age 55 and you can invest it more wisely and make more money than you can in any annuity they may have it invested in. Would you rather get 2% per year or 10% to 30% per year? I have many investments and mutual funds making 10% to 30% per year. And you financial advisor should be able to find those for you too. The answer is simple then...more money in your pocket every year is only to your advantage.
So don't be stupid like I was, not knowing I had money out there until they contacted me over a decade later when they finally found me. You need to be checking with old employers that you worked for three years or longer. You might find a nice surprise like I did.
Gus S.
Disclaimer: Make sure to review any information found on this blog site with your personal financial advisor before making any decisions. I am providing general information and not financial advise. I am not a licensed stockbroker or financial advisor.
Tuesday, September 9, 2014
Bulls vs. Bears
Hello everyone! Sorry it has been so long since I last posted. But I have had another health issue but now I think I am back on the mend.
I have been reading various Bulls vs. Bears articles written by various people and so called "experts". But my problem has mainly been I don't know if these author's of the articles are talking about the Pro basketball and football teams in Chicago or if they are talking about the financial markets of Wall Street in NYC. Everyone seems to have totally different points of view and all of them simply cannot be right. So I might as well throw in my two cents and here it comes. :)
So experts are saying right now, that unless there is another recession we are going to continue on the Bull Market cycle for a long time. Well, I guess I am not quite as optimistic as all that. Let's look at some key points together.
First of all we cracked the 17,000 mark on the DOW this year already when we started out in January 2014 barely over 16,000. I along with most of the experts at that time said we would not quite hit 17,000 this year. Well we did and only by a thread thus far. The market as been staying extremely close to that 17,000 mark for a good month or so now. It is like everything is in a holding pattern. The DOW will gain 90 points today and lose 90 points tomorrow. So no real positive action or traction since hitting 17,000. Why? Because we did this year what everyone thought would not happen. They fear the market is over inflated. I feel that way too of the overall market. That is not always true with each individual stock though.
So what should you be doing with your portfolio right now? Well, first of all set up an appointment to talk to your financial advisor. Check out his/her advise and see what they have to say. For the less savvy or more conservative fund holders in mutual funds and bonds. Your financial advisor may just tell you to hold everything, keep adding to it each month and not to worry. That advise is probably good right now. It is not time for the conservative investor to think about any big moves.
For the more savvy investor that owns and dabbles in individual stocks too like I do. Your individual stock holdings if they were with sound companies have most likely done better than first predicted back in January 2014 by the experts. Everyone predicted a Mutual Fund year...yet both have done pretty good. So are you still investing, buy more individual stock right now or riding the wave and just reinvesting your dividends? There are some sectors that have been doing extremely well in the market this year. Healthcare would be one of those sectors that I personally like. I could sit here and name you stock after stock in the Healthcare sector that has made 20% or more so far this year. Yet another good year for Healthcare just like last year. I have been keeping my eye on technology stocks and alternative fuel and utilities and US oil companies...and I am not talking about the Exxon's and BP's. There is no money there to pick off their old bones for me. But there are Gems to be found out there. You just have to really watch the markets and do your homework.
I have told my readers about many of the gems out there as we have went along. Did you take advantage of some of the gems I told you about. Well let's talk about Apple (AAPL). I told you this was a diamond in the ruff. One of these so called experts that wrote an article for Yahoo Financial wrote a SEARING article about Apple. I hunted him down for 3 days but I finally got a hold of his email address. Told him I read his article and that he must be crazy as a bat to advise people against taking the 7:1 Split. That this split was a for sure winner for many reasons including the new I-Phone that would be coming out in September. So lets review this now and see who was right and who was wrong...the so called "Expert" who wrote the searing Yahoo Financial Article or Me? Well I have to say "I told you so" to the so called "Expert" that was extremely rude to me in three emails because I wrote 1 email that questioned his so called "Expert" advise. Well, since the 7:1 Split by Apple, if you took my advise your holding are up by 25% plus, all the dividends...there was just another payment sent out the other day...plus the I-Phone 6 I think was released yesterday at 12:00 CDT. And Apple is currently up today while the DOW is taking another 80 point hit. So if you listened to me and not the so called Expert you have made some very decent money. More than one expert said to pass on the 7:1 Split on Apple...they were all wrong. But that one guy was a total asshole about it. I could sell my total holding in Apple today and be perfectly happy taking my money to the bank. While jerk expert sits there, passes on the split and has exactly what he invested. Nothing! I hope you followed my advise and that you are making money on Apple (APPL) too.
Now lets talk about CVS Pharmacy. A risky move on their part this past week, but I see it coming from many stores in the future. They pulled out all cigarette's and tobacco products in all of their stores. Not heard anything from Rite Aid Pharmacy. Walmart and Walgreens say they will not be pulling cigarettes and tobacco products from their shelves. So how will this affect CVS Pharmacy, the second largest Pharmacy Chain behind Walgreens. Well, I have been looking and so far it has not affected poorly on their stock prices. But it has only been a week and this evidently has not scared any CVS investors. But when the profit margins start coming out in months to come in the future, this will be the deciding factor that you may or may not start seeing changes for the worse or maybe even the better.
Well, I think I have said quite a bit in this posting today. But I am going to give you some stocks and mutual funds to look at and consider before I leave today. (RDY), (LLY), (HUM), (PRHSX), (KR), (HRL), (TAP)
See you next time!
Gus S.
Disclaimer: Make sure to review any information found on this blog site with your personal financial advisor before making any decisions. I am providing general information and not financial advise. I am not a licensed stockbroker or financial advisor.
I have been reading various Bulls vs. Bears articles written by various people and so called "experts". But my problem has mainly been I don't know if these author's of the articles are talking about the Pro basketball and football teams in Chicago or if they are talking about the financial markets of Wall Street in NYC. Everyone seems to have totally different points of view and all of them simply cannot be right. So I might as well throw in my two cents and here it comes. :)
So experts are saying right now, that unless there is another recession we are going to continue on the Bull Market cycle for a long time. Well, I guess I am not quite as optimistic as all that. Let's look at some key points together.
First of all we cracked the 17,000 mark on the DOW this year already when we started out in January 2014 barely over 16,000. I along with most of the experts at that time said we would not quite hit 17,000 this year. Well we did and only by a thread thus far. The market as been staying extremely close to that 17,000 mark for a good month or so now. It is like everything is in a holding pattern. The DOW will gain 90 points today and lose 90 points tomorrow. So no real positive action or traction since hitting 17,000. Why? Because we did this year what everyone thought would not happen. They fear the market is over inflated. I feel that way too of the overall market. That is not always true with each individual stock though.
So what should you be doing with your portfolio right now? Well, first of all set up an appointment to talk to your financial advisor. Check out his/her advise and see what they have to say. For the less savvy or more conservative fund holders in mutual funds and bonds. Your financial advisor may just tell you to hold everything, keep adding to it each month and not to worry. That advise is probably good right now. It is not time for the conservative investor to think about any big moves.
For the more savvy investor that owns and dabbles in individual stocks too like I do. Your individual stock holdings if they were with sound companies have most likely done better than first predicted back in January 2014 by the experts. Everyone predicted a Mutual Fund year...yet both have done pretty good. So are you still investing, buy more individual stock right now or riding the wave and just reinvesting your dividends? There are some sectors that have been doing extremely well in the market this year. Healthcare would be one of those sectors that I personally like. I could sit here and name you stock after stock in the Healthcare sector that has made 20% or more so far this year. Yet another good year for Healthcare just like last year. I have been keeping my eye on technology stocks and alternative fuel and utilities and US oil companies...and I am not talking about the Exxon's and BP's. There is no money there to pick off their old bones for me. But there are Gems to be found out there. You just have to really watch the markets and do your homework.
I have told my readers about many of the gems out there as we have went along. Did you take advantage of some of the gems I told you about. Well let's talk about Apple (AAPL). I told you this was a diamond in the ruff. One of these so called experts that wrote an article for Yahoo Financial wrote a SEARING article about Apple. I hunted him down for 3 days but I finally got a hold of his email address. Told him I read his article and that he must be crazy as a bat to advise people against taking the 7:1 Split. That this split was a for sure winner for many reasons including the new I-Phone that would be coming out in September. So lets review this now and see who was right and who was wrong...the so called "Expert" who wrote the searing Yahoo Financial Article or Me? Well I have to say "I told you so" to the so called "Expert" that was extremely rude to me in three emails because I wrote 1 email that questioned his so called "Expert" advise. Well, since the 7:1 Split by Apple, if you took my advise your holding are up by 25% plus, all the dividends...there was just another payment sent out the other day...plus the I-Phone 6 I think was released yesterday at 12:00 CDT. And Apple is currently up today while the DOW is taking another 80 point hit. So if you listened to me and not the so called Expert you have made some very decent money. More than one expert said to pass on the 7:1 Split on Apple...they were all wrong. But that one guy was a total asshole about it. I could sell my total holding in Apple today and be perfectly happy taking my money to the bank. While jerk expert sits there, passes on the split and has exactly what he invested. Nothing! I hope you followed my advise and that you are making money on Apple (APPL) too.
Now lets talk about CVS Pharmacy. A risky move on their part this past week, but I see it coming from many stores in the future. They pulled out all cigarette's and tobacco products in all of their stores. Not heard anything from Rite Aid Pharmacy. Walmart and Walgreens say they will not be pulling cigarettes and tobacco products from their shelves. So how will this affect CVS Pharmacy, the second largest Pharmacy Chain behind Walgreens. Well, I have been looking and so far it has not affected poorly on their stock prices. But it has only been a week and this evidently has not scared any CVS investors. But when the profit margins start coming out in months to come in the future, this will be the deciding factor that you may or may not start seeing changes for the worse or maybe even the better.
Well, I think I have said quite a bit in this posting today. But I am going to give you some stocks and mutual funds to look at and consider before I leave today. (RDY), (LLY), (HUM), (PRHSX), (KR), (HRL), (TAP)
See you next time!
Gus S.
Disclaimer: Make sure to review any information found on this blog site with your personal financial advisor before making any decisions. I am providing general information and not financial advise. I am not a licensed stockbroker or financial advisor.
Sunday, July 27, 2014
What is the Stock Market Looking like Now!
Been a while since my last post. I post when I can. But this summer has been extremely busy for me due to health issues and vacations etc..
The DOW has been on a roller-coaster ride and in early postings I shared with you this was to be expected. On Friday the DOW closed with a loss of 123.23 at 16,960.67. It has been up and down past the 17,000.00 mark quite a bit lately depending on the day. Some Individual Stocks have been doing good, some taking hits from the roller coaster ride. There are several decent stock splits to play right now, but Mutual Funds is the safe place to be this year. If you do have Individual Stocks right now, do NOT sell! Just sit back and hold them for now and see what 2015 has to offer. For those of you buying into Apple (AAPL) like I advised in earlier posting before it had a 7 to 1 split, you should be happy seeing a 20% plus increase since the split. The roller coaster ride is not affecting this stock very much. Even though I have a good profit to cash in on, I continue to hold. I feel this stock has more potential left in it, while some Mutual Funds are cashing in their profits. I feel they wish they had waited longer and held on before Apple is done doing it's thing. Apple still has a lot of grown potential and is a mover and shaker in the market. Poor Twitter (TWTR) is holding steady after taking a sever pounding and showing no growth in the past month or so. Steer clear of Twitter. Facebook is kind of in the same spot. It has done well for investors but it holds it own and is a stagnant mover at this time.
So where is the money? What kind of recommendations can I give today? Well if you bought into Rite Aid Pharmacy/Cooperation (RAD) when I suggested it and still holding you are enjoying a hefty 115% profit from a year ago on your investment (not quite been a year yet). For those of you that got out and took a nice profit like I did, I bet you are sorry you did, like I am. But today is the day to get back in. After the significant drop in the DOW on Friday a lot of stocks took a hit. Make it work to your advantage. Rite Aid (RAD) is selling at $7.05, down from a 52 week high of $8.62. That is $1.57 fall from the 52 week high. Time to get back in with (RAD). If you are looking for a Mutual Fund that is safe to put your money in right now for the long term, I can only suggest (PRHSX), T. Rowe Price Health Sciences. You will not go wrong there for the long haul if you wish a safe place to put your money until at least the middle of 2015 when we get done with this roller coaster ride.
So what is the future looking like right now to me. Well, sorry to say but much of the same for the year and probably into 2015. Most Individual Stocks will suffer the most and be happy if your Mutual Funds hold their own. If we get to the mid 17,000.00 on the DOW and can hold it, I suggest you be happy. But that is an optimistic view I think. I kind of expect that starting in 2015 about mid year things will look up slightly. But until the World events settle down a little and we get Obama our of office (I am a Democrat) do not expect a lot. Better hope for a new incoming President in a couple of years that is more of a stronger President and has a strong economic policy. That is when things will take the up swing.
Gus S.
Disclaimer: Make sure to review any information found on this blog site with your personal financial advisor before making any decisions. I am providing general information and not financial advise. I am not a licensed stockbroker or financial advisor.
The DOW has been on a roller-coaster ride and in early postings I shared with you this was to be expected. On Friday the DOW closed with a loss of 123.23 at 16,960.67. It has been up and down past the 17,000.00 mark quite a bit lately depending on the day. Some Individual Stocks have been doing good, some taking hits from the roller coaster ride. There are several decent stock splits to play right now, but Mutual Funds is the safe place to be this year. If you do have Individual Stocks right now, do NOT sell! Just sit back and hold them for now and see what 2015 has to offer. For those of you buying into Apple (AAPL) like I advised in earlier posting before it had a 7 to 1 split, you should be happy seeing a 20% plus increase since the split. The roller coaster ride is not affecting this stock very much. Even though I have a good profit to cash in on, I continue to hold. I feel this stock has more potential left in it, while some Mutual Funds are cashing in their profits. I feel they wish they had waited longer and held on before Apple is done doing it's thing. Apple still has a lot of grown potential and is a mover and shaker in the market. Poor Twitter (TWTR) is holding steady after taking a sever pounding and showing no growth in the past month or so. Steer clear of Twitter. Facebook is kind of in the same spot. It has done well for investors but it holds it own and is a stagnant mover at this time.
So where is the money? What kind of recommendations can I give today? Well if you bought into Rite Aid Pharmacy/Cooperation (RAD) when I suggested it and still holding you are enjoying a hefty 115% profit from a year ago on your investment (not quite been a year yet). For those of you that got out and took a nice profit like I did, I bet you are sorry you did, like I am. But today is the day to get back in. After the significant drop in the DOW on Friday a lot of stocks took a hit. Make it work to your advantage. Rite Aid (RAD) is selling at $7.05, down from a 52 week high of $8.62. That is $1.57 fall from the 52 week high. Time to get back in with (RAD). If you are looking for a Mutual Fund that is safe to put your money in right now for the long term, I can only suggest (PRHSX), T. Rowe Price Health Sciences. You will not go wrong there for the long haul if you wish a safe place to put your money until at least the middle of 2015 when we get done with this roller coaster ride.
So what is the future looking like right now to me. Well, sorry to say but much of the same for the year and probably into 2015. Most Individual Stocks will suffer the most and be happy if your Mutual Funds hold their own. If we get to the mid 17,000.00 on the DOW and can hold it, I suggest you be happy. But that is an optimistic view I think. I kind of expect that starting in 2015 about mid year things will look up slightly. But until the World events settle down a little and we get Obama our of office (I am a Democrat) do not expect a lot. Better hope for a new incoming President in a couple of years that is more of a stronger President and has a strong economic policy. That is when things will take the up swing.
Gus S.
Disclaimer: Make sure to review any information found on this blog site with your personal financial advisor before making any decisions. I am providing general information and not financial advise. I am not a licensed stockbroker or financial advisor.
Thursday, June 12, 2014
Good News and Bad News in the Market
Hello Readers! We have a little bit to talk about today in the trending of the market. There is some good and there is some bad we will talk about today.
First the Good: The market really took a run at getting to $17,000 in the past week. It fell just short and started to take a turn downward due to some bad report from some major key stocks in the market like McDonalds and Wal-Mart who failed to meet quarterly profit projections. Also a little bad news on job growth and unemployment figures. So the market has back off and put ups several losses in the last several days or so, backing down from that $17,000 mark. Don't worry though. We are NOT going to have a crash anytime soon. A little bad new always makes the market fall a little, mainly due to over reaction.
Good solid Mutual Funds and Stocks are holding their own and seeing very little to any losses at all. However, it the risker Stocks and Mutual funds you need to watch more closely. No, I am not sayings to sell them off. But I am also saying not to buy or be very careful of your buys right. This is a small and probably short lived period to hold and wait until the downward trend in the market starts to get a little relief. Yes, the relief is coming in the current trend and when it does you need to be ready to buy if you are want to get some cheaper prices. But be patient. Keep close watch on the Stock Market and the stocks in your portfolio. If you are ready to make a move and buy make sure you are tracking what is happening daily so you don't miss out on your best opportunities.
Those of you following my blog I have an update on Apple (AAPL). I felt this was a good buy to get in on when they announced a 7:1 stock split. It met all my criteria to buy a splitting stock and I shared that information with you. Since my personal purchase prior to the split and since the split, Apple is up 17% for me. A nice chunk of change for the pocket. However, for those jumping on the wagon with Apple I suggest HOLDING for now. I see more profit in the stock in the near future. Even up 17% it is still not time to take your money and run.
Lets talk about Stock Splits a second. If your stock holding consist of only Individual Stocks that are going to split you're doing it wrong and not keeping a balance in your Individual Stocks Holdings! I have a good mix of Individual Stocks not splitting, but I am going to jump on the band wagon when I feel I see a good opportunity with a stock that is going to split...Just like Apple.
I have found a good split I am jumping on that meets all my criteria that I will share with you. This is the Middleby Corp. (MIDD) I like that it is a global company and manufacturing in a must have kitten appliances for professional kittens, mainly restaurant kittens but also manufacture home appliances as well, hitting both markets on a global scale. It is going to split at 3:1 and meets all my criteria for a good stock split opportunity. I know this is short notice, but if you want in on this split you need to buy before June 16, 2014.
Lets look at another stock split coming up I would NOT recommend. Alaska Air Group (ALK). This stock is going to split at 2:1. It will right at it's 52 week low. Too high of risk for me. Also I am not in love the industry. The are a regional airline that take people to the back woods and hard to reach places of Alaska and deliver cargo to such places. This is far from an attractive buy for me to get on. I suggest you let splits like this pass on by too and don't give a thought of buying and getting in on.
The so called "Experts" say the market is going to hold steady and go up until the end of summer. I tend to agree, but I see some ups and downs in the market along the way just like we have seen thus far this year. Don't hold your breath for an excellent year overall like we did last year in 2013.
Disclaimer: Make sure to review any information found on this blog site with your personal financial advisor before making any decisions. I am providing general information and not financial advise. I am not a licensed stockbroker or financial advisor.
First the Good: The market really took a run at getting to $17,000 in the past week. It fell just short and started to take a turn downward due to some bad report from some major key stocks in the market like McDonalds and Wal-Mart who failed to meet quarterly profit projections. Also a little bad news on job growth and unemployment figures. So the market has back off and put ups several losses in the last several days or so, backing down from that $17,000 mark. Don't worry though. We are NOT going to have a crash anytime soon. A little bad new always makes the market fall a little, mainly due to over reaction.
Good solid Mutual Funds and Stocks are holding their own and seeing very little to any losses at all. However, it the risker Stocks and Mutual funds you need to watch more closely. No, I am not sayings to sell them off. But I am also saying not to buy or be very careful of your buys right. This is a small and probably short lived period to hold and wait until the downward trend in the market starts to get a little relief. Yes, the relief is coming in the current trend and when it does you need to be ready to buy if you are want to get some cheaper prices. But be patient. Keep close watch on the Stock Market and the stocks in your portfolio. If you are ready to make a move and buy make sure you are tracking what is happening daily so you don't miss out on your best opportunities.
Those of you following my blog I have an update on Apple (AAPL). I felt this was a good buy to get in on when they announced a 7:1 stock split. It met all my criteria to buy a splitting stock and I shared that information with you. Since my personal purchase prior to the split and since the split, Apple is up 17% for me. A nice chunk of change for the pocket. However, for those jumping on the wagon with Apple I suggest HOLDING for now. I see more profit in the stock in the near future. Even up 17% it is still not time to take your money and run.
Lets talk about Stock Splits a second. If your stock holding consist of only Individual Stocks that are going to split you're doing it wrong and not keeping a balance in your Individual Stocks Holdings! I have a good mix of Individual Stocks not splitting, but I am going to jump on the band wagon when I feel I see a good opportunity with a stock that is going to split...Just like Apple.
I have found a good split I am jumping on that meets all my criteria that I will share with you. This is the Middleby Corp. (MIDD) I like that it is a global company and manufacturing in a must have kitten appliances for professional kittens, mainly restaurant kittens but also manufacture home appliances as well, hitting both markets on a global scale. It is going to split at 3:1 and meets all my criteria for a good stock split opportunity. I know this is short notice, but if you want in on this split you need to buy before June 16, 2014.
Lets look at another stock split coming up I would NOT recommend. Alaska Air Group (ALK). This stock is going to split at 2:1. It will right at it's 52 week low. Too high of risk for me. Also I am not in love the industry. The are a regional airline that take people to the back woods and hard to reach places of Alaska and deliver cargo to such places. This is far from an attractive buy for me to get on. I suggest you let splits like this pass on by too and don't give a thought of buying and getting in on.
The so called "Experts" say the market is going to hold steady and go up until the end of summer. I tend to agree, but I see some ups and downs in the market along the way just like we have seen thus far this year. Don't hold your breath for an excellent year overall like we did last year in 2013.
Disclaimer: Make sure to review any information found on this blog site with your personal financial advisor before making any decisions. I am providing general information and not financial advise. I am not a licensed stockbroker or financial advisor.
Thursday, June 5, 2014
Where To Make Money Now In The Market
Sorry for the gap since my last post to this Blog. But things have been tight in the market and there has not been much to share. So today I am going to address "Where To Make Money Now In the Market".
To answer that you must look at your portfolio and determine what kind of investor you. Are you a conservative, moderate or aggressive investor. Are you a beginner, intermediate or savvy investor. I will try and address all this today in my Blog posting.
If you a novice investor and more geared toward conservative mutual fund holding, you portfolio your financial advisor most likely has you in a conservative managed fund product, or you have mutual funds that are mixed with bonds and stocks or you have about as much or more invested in bond funds as you do stock mutual funds. For the basic or new investor in the market I suggest you continue on this path this year. Mutual Funds or good Managed Accounts consisting as I just described are going to be where you need to stay. For no various type investor are we going to see the big gains and percentage increasing our portfolio's as we did last year.
The intermediate and moderate investor should follow the same outline I have give as the conservative or more novice type investor. A moderate investor takes on a little more risk than the conservative investor in their portfolio. Those people approaching retirement or who are already retired should focus all their money invested or the over whelming amount into a conservative or slightly moderate category. Those who are retired need to depend on their investment for income during their retirement year, not so much on growth. Some growth is good, too much is certainly not to the retiree's advantage. Stick with the mutual funds.
For the younger or savvy investor that is more aggressive in their portfolio I recommend a good aggressive Managed Account or mutual funds with the over whelming being large and small cap stock funds. Also throw a little into a good Emerging Market and International Mutual Fund. A savvy investor is also going to be that person that like some individual stocks in their portfolio. You can be a young, savvy and aggressive investor or an older or even retired savvy investor. But I maintain or a small amount compared to the rest of my portfolio in individual stocks due to their added risk. I stay away from food stocks usually and penny stocks. You want individual stocks that are going to pay good dividends. Dividend stocks have a history since time to out produce stocks that do not pay dividends. Go with the odds and keep them in your favor as much as you can.
Mutual Funds this year overall are going to be better than individual. Of course their are always excepts. I play the individual stocks with my small holding, mainly in GOOD stock splits using my own solid formula. I am NOT a day trader. But I do keep individual stocks on the short term and take my 15 to 25 percent profit and sell it off and start looking for a new stock or stock that is going to make me money with a fairly fast and short term of having to hold it. But I never cash out for anything less than a 10% profit as it is usually not worth it selling at that percentage. Over the past year I have taken off (cashed in) for over 30% profit in my individual stock holding and never taking out money that would put me below my initial investment in my individual stock funds. Don't ever be afraid to take money off the table and side it into your pocket for play money, but never take off the table an amount that dips you below your initial investment for your individual stock account. Personally, I have all my individual stocks with Scottrade and separate from my other accounts with my financial advisor and that company. I can make much cheaper trades with Scottrade than I can with JP Morgan/Chase so why not save money for yourself instead of to someone else is the way I look at it. Your money is your money regardless of what financial institution holds the account for you.
Hope you find some of this information useful today.
Gus S.
Disclaimer: Make sure to review any information found on this blog site with your personal financial advisor before making any decisions. I am providing general information and not financial advise. I am not a licensed stockbroker or financial advisor.
To answer that you must look at your portfolio and determine what kind of investor you. Are you a conservative, moderate or aggressive investor. Are you a beginner, intermediate or savvy investor. I will try and address all this today in my Blog posting.
If you a novice investor and more geared toward conservative mutual fund holding, you portfolio your financial advisor most likely has you in a conservative managed fund product, or you have mutual funds that are mixed with bonds and stocks or you have about as much or more invested in bond funds as you do stock mutual funds. For the basic or new investor in the market I suggest you continue on this path this year. Mutual Funds or good Managed Accounts consisting as I just described are going to be where you need to stay. For no various type investor are we going to see the big gains and percentage increasing our portfolio's as we did last year.
The intermediate and moderate investor should follow the same outline I have give as the conservative or more novice type investor. A moderate investor takes on a little more risk than the conservative investor in their portfolio. Those people approaching retirement or who are already retired should focus all their money invested or the over whelming amount into a conservative or slightly moderate category. Those who are retired need to depend on their investment for income during their retirement year, not so much on growth. Some growth is good, too much is certainly not to the retiree's advantage. Stick with the mutual funds.
For the younger or savvy investor that is more aggressive in their portfolio I recommend a good aggressive Managed Account or mutual funds with the over whelming being large and small cap stock funds. Also throw a little into a good Emerging Market and International Mutual Fund. A savvy investor is also going to be that person that like some individual stocks in their portfolio. You can be a young, savvy and aggressive investor or an older or even retired savvy investor. But I maintain or a small amount compared to the rest of my portfolio in individual stocks due to their added risk. I stay away from food stocks usually and penny stocks. You want individual stocks that are going to pay good dividends. Dividend stocks have a history since time to out produce stocks that do not pay dividends. Go with the odds and keep them in your favor as much as you can.
Mutual Funds this year overall are going to be better than individual. Of course their are always excepts. I play the individual stocks with my small holding, mainly in GOOD stock splits using my own solid formula. I am NOT a day trader. But I do keep individual stocks on the short term and take my 15 to 25 percent profit and sell it off and start looking for a new stock or stock that is going to make me money with a fairly fast and short term of having to hold it. But I never cash out for anything less than a 10% profit as it is usually not worth it selling at that percentage. Over the past year I have taken off (cashed in) for over 30% profit in my individual stock holding and never taking out money that would put me below my initial investment in my individual stock funds. Don't ever be afraid to take money off the table and side it into your pocket for play money, but never take off the table an amount that dips you below your initial investment for your individual stock account. Personally, I have all my individual stocks with Scottrade and separate from my other accounts with my financial advisor and that company. I can make much cheaper trades with Scottrade than I can with JP Morgan/Chase so why not save money for yourself instead of to someone else is the way I look at it. Your money is your money regardless of what financial institution holds the account for you.
Hope you find some of this information useful today.
Gus S.
Disclaimer: Make sure to review any information found on this blog site with your personal financial advisor before making any decisions. I am providing general information and not financial advise. I am not a licensed stockbroker or financial advisor.
Friday, May 2, 2014
Twitter Drops Like a Rock
Hello everyone. It is now time to readdress Twitter (TWTR). Guess it is now time to say, "I Told You SO".
I warned all my readers in a couple of my old blog entries to steer clear of Twitter and not to buy. That it was extremely over valued when it came on the market on it's very first day of trading.
Why did I give this advise in previous blogs entries? Because of what you are starting to see now begin to take form just as I said it would.
1. Extremely over valued stock.
2. Disorganized management and mismanaged company.
3. Lack of innovation by it's management and leadership.
4. Because it continues to operate in the red and the company makes no profits.
I have been reading several articles prior to writing my blog entry today. Some experts are finally starting to agree with me in what I shared with you a long time ago. And NOT to consider buying Twitter until it hits around the $15.00 per share mark as I also advised you. Twitter is up a little in the market today at $39.35 per share. A big drop from it's 52 week high of $74.73. Well if you bought into Twitter and you sold it at or around it's 52 week high I guess you are a lucky hero, if not you are losing your shit like so many others...that would not include me as I saw all the warning signs and passed on buying this stock.
Although Goldman Sachs still recommend it Twitter as a BUY, I think there view is overly optimistic at this point until Twitter drops to the $15.00 range.
http://news.yahoo.com/twitter-stock-slumps-50-percent-goldman-deutsche-bank-050209455--sector.html
Others experts take a much less optimistic view of things like myself and are finally says what I said from the beginning.
http://blogs.marketwatch.com/cody/2014/05/01/twitter-is-all-but-doomed/
Hope you find this update about Twitter interesting and possibly helpful.
Gus S.
Disclaimer: Make sure to review any information found on this blog site with your personal financial advisor before making any decisions. I am providing general information and not financial advise. I am not a licensed stockbroker or financial advisor.
I warned all my readers in a couple of my old blog entries to steer clear of Twitter and not to buy. That it was extremely over valued when it came on the market on it's very first day of trading.
Why did I give this advise in previous blogs entries? Because of what you are starting to see now begin to take form just as I said it would.
1. Extremely over valued stock.
2. Disorganized management and mismanaged company.
3. Lack of innovation by it's management and leadership.
4. Because it continues to operate in the red and the company makes no profits.
I have been reading several articles prior to writing my blog entry today. Some experts are finally starting to agree with me in what I shared with you a long time ago. And NOT to consider buying Twitter until it hits around the $15.00 per share mark as I also advised you. Twitter is up a little in the market today at $39.35 per share. A big drop from it's 52 week high of $74.73. Well if you bought into Twitter and you sold it at or around it's 52 week high I guess you are a lucky hero, if not you are losing your shit like so many others...that would not include me as I saw all the warning signs and passed on buying this stock.
Although Goldman Sachs still recommend it Twitter as a BUY, I think there view is overly optimistic at this point until Twitter drops to the $15.00 range.
http://news.yahoo.com/twitter-stock-slumps-50-percent-goldman-deutsche-bank-050209455--sector.html
Others experts take a much less optimistic view of things like myself and are finally says what I said from the beginning.
http://blogs.marketwatch.com/cody/2014/05/01/twitter-is-all-but-doomed/
Hope you find this update about Twitter interesting and possibly helpful.
Gus S.
Disclaimer: Make sure to review any information found on this blog site with your personal financial advisor before making any decisions. I am providing general information and not financial advise. I am not a licensed stockbroker or financial advisor.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)