how much do you think a good SP earn/yr?

[FuZzYknUckLeS]

Fuzzy,

Can you point out one item that I mentioned in my post regarding stock prices that was not correct? So, spare me your bullshit mate.

Crapshoots are for those that throw money at a given situation. I'm frugal beyond your imagination, and when and if, I was to extend funds into a venture, you can bet your sweet ass I know every iota about the project, product, demand, market and the people involved.

In regards to a current venture that has the potential of high returns, I'd suggest that you do your homework as I do and maybe you might find one. If you do, you'll need the courage to pull the trigger by putting forth substantial funds, and that possibility, based on your recent post seems nebulous.

I cannot point out one item that is not correct. However, you missed my point. Stocks in GENERAL are a crapshoot, with maybe the exception of insider trading. A gamble. No guaranteed return. I've made both types of investments. Ones that made good $, and others that sucked ass and fizzled out. Point is, you quoted PAST PERFORMERS that, at the time of initial investment, were essentially crapshoots. For example,

1996 buy 40k shares TD Trust at 9.60 = $384k
2005 sell 40k shares TD Trust at 46.20 = $1,848,000.00

In 1996, did you know that TD would end up at 46.20 ten years later? No, you did not. That's my point. Gsus, I wish it was that easy!

 

[Maury Beniowski]

Here's another one:

If I had bought 100 IBM shares in 1920, and held on to them until now, I would be richer than Bill Gates... So there, I'm an expert!

It doesn't take guts to look backwards; it's looking ahead that's a little more gut wrenching...!

 

[sdw]

Sunset

I don't much like biotech. Huge money burn, too much potential liability even when they work. The side effects of many medicines can cost a fortune.

Microsoft demonstrated what happens to your stock price when you spend all your time in court. They are still a cash cow with 40 - 50 billion in the bank and yet their stock doesn't reflect their value.

The fusion thing is where Ballard was a few years ago. Again a huge money burn and the regulatory stuff is going to be a downer. I don't see people supporting any form of atomic energy unless there is no other choice. Emotion rules on this because I've spent years with a reactor less than a 100 feet away with no ill effect. Of course it wasn't Russian ;-O

I know of technology that is going to give us cars capable of 500K on an 8 hour charge. We use it now, but it's still too expensive for the automotive industry. I am invested in it because it also has a market as standby power in applications that can't afford a brown out. It will eventually appear in cars.

The lighting stuff is already in use in applications. When it gets a little more affordable, there is going to be a huge rush to retro fit because it saves a fortune in energy costs. What many people fail to understand is that lighting, office equipment, etc. all create heat which has to be removed. It's wiser to use technology that doesn't create the heat in the first place. I'm invested in it.

To the Perbs who don't like to do research. Don't ask me to tell you which companies these are. It's illegal for me to tell you. I won't be pulling a Martha Stewart for people.

All of these companies were found either through my job or through the investment club I belong to.

I highly recommend belonging to an investment club with a number of people with varied knowledge. It aids in doing the necessary research.

 

[sdw]

Annalise

The first thing to do is determine how much risk you are willing to take. The Motley Fool has some tools to help you determine this. I think it's http://www.motleyfool.com or do a Google search for the URL.

I subscripe to the view that the money that you invest should always be money that you can afford to lose. Never borrow to "leaverage" an investment that is hyped to you. Stocks that are being hyped are always very close to their last stop. Example BreX, Nortel, Enron, I could go on and on.

I'm quite conservative, so I always tell people that their first investment is in themself. If you don't have an education, invest in one. The next investment is in their financial security. Own your home, fully invest your RRSP, put money that you would die if you lost in the very safe Widows and Orphans stocks (It's not a W&D if it doesn't pay dividends) Government Bonds, GICs, etc.

Once you are in the position that you have a sum that you won't die if you lose it, research companies that you like. Do you buy their product? Do you think others will? Does what the company is doing excite you? I don't mean the person that is paid to hype the stock, I mean what the company is actually doing. Go to the library and get their financial reports. Do the numbers add up? Are they actually selling a product? There is a horror story in BC of reasonably smart people that got caught by the hype and invested in a company that was only selling a dream. (mostly of the insider getting rich and moving to an offshore haven)

Watch the company for at least 6 months. If it is real, it'll still be around. If it's moose pasture, Murray and buds will have already cashed out. It's a good idea to develope a list of people who, if they are associated with a company, you will not invest. I managed to avoid 360 Networks that way and unfortunatly that can work against you, because I stayed away from PCS which was real but had people on my list promoting it.

Visit the company. I can't stress how important this is. You deal with many people. Ever wanted to run away screaming when you met someone? If the building doesn't match the picture on the pamphlet, it looks like a phone room, the building is a post office box, don't invest.

Nobody can intelligently invest in more than 5 companies at a time. That's with full research. Mutual funds invest in more because the law requires them to do it and they have staff. Mutual and Pension funds got badly hurt in 2000 because even they couldn't actually research their investments properly with too many.

Subscribe to industy journals in the business that you are researching. Most are free and the amount of information that you can get is incredible. You may find that the company that you are interested in isn't the most exciting play in that industry.

 

[lenny]

and at the rate I am putting it away the only thing I know and understand is GIC's.

So any advice for a lady who is saving at a larger rate then I'd care to share publicly, and who has serious trust issues, with a tiny little brain to understand it herself ?

You can do much better than GIC's. Your bank will set up an appointment
for you to see one of its financial planners. She will explain some options
to you, if you have sufficient funds to make it worthwhile for you to do
this. Otherwise GIC's are a good idea.

 

[Sunset]

SunsetI highly recommend belonging to an investment club with a number of people with varied knowledge. It aids in doing the necessary research.

Steve,

I enjoyed reading your posts; it's very refreshing to discuss investing with someone as knowledgeable as yourself. You're correct regarding research, it takes me a while to identify an idea pre-IPO and study its feasibility. Once, I've satisfied my indicators, I'll jump in with all fours. I look for opportunities with a potential pop of 500% or more; long a venture or stock and short an market index. I'm patient and only invest when and only when my indicators are positive.

Don’t give up hope about cold fusion because it has taken many years to explain other technologies, so I’m very reluctant to dismiss cold fusion at this time. Cold fusion would be a very safe and clean energy source. One very top level explanation of cold fusion is by exposing an electrode to heavy water, oxygen is combined with the hydrogen isotope deuterium which releases energy allowing the deuterium nuclei to move into a molecular lattice, overcoming their natural repulsion and fuse together, releasing energy. At this time there is no equation for performing cold fusion at ambient temperatures. But, we might be surprised one day and it would be a good idea to be in on the ground floor.

 

[sdw]

Sunset

I try to point people in the right direction on investing. This is partly because I meet so many who have the attitude of Fuzzy or want to commit their home and future to something that has been hyped to death. Both methods are mistaken.

The part you quoted wasn't directed at you specifically. I know that others will read the thread and some don't have the financial resources to help a startup. The joint effort of an investment club allows people to participate at what I feel is the safest and most profitable level. The investment club that I belong to has done very well through the last 30 years.

There are some rules that must be followed if an investment club is to be successful and hold together. One, don't present an investment that you are personally involved in. Two, all of your investment in the presented investment must be through the club. A member puts themself in a conflict of interest position if they have a personal investment in a club investment and it creates conflict inside the club. Three, the investment club is not a checking account. There will be disbursements, but needing to pull money out means the club may have to cash out the investment. That hurts everyone else and creates conflict.

All of the members of my club also have their own investments outside of the club. We trade ideas, but sometimes something I like doesn't fit with what the club is doing.

The best thing is that the club taught me what to look for and how to do the looking.