Free investment boards? (+ personal finance advice)

[axelfox]

I've gotten my financial aid back from my school, and the total amount will exceed my costs. My dad say to take the extra money and invest it, which sound pretty good. I think I can make more money on the market than what the interest charges will be.

So, I'm looking for a good investment message board. Fool.com charges for their, and although it is pretty good, I don't want to spend the money for something I'll end up using once or twice. I've checked yahoo groups, but I can't find anything through that clutter.

thanks

 

[OREOSpeedwagon]

The Motley Fool

 

[axelfox]

i know that one already, but you have to pay to post.

 

[kranky]

I think your dad gave you bad advice. Why take a chance on increasing the amount of debt you will have when you get out of school?

 

[linuxboy]

If you want to invest, decide on the amount of risk you are willing to bear and your long term plans.

If this is just "play money", and you want to see what it can do, then invest in sector stocks. If you want something more conservative, stick with large caps and blue chip. If you want more diversification, do bonds.

If you want to beat the bank, just chuck it into a money market, same liquidity and you can write checks.



What exactly is this for? How old are you? What is your income? What are young short, intermediate, and long term plans?


My present suggestion would be to throw it in a Roth IRA, unless you need a tax deduction and invest in a good mutual fund. Those have historically obtained 8-12 % returns, which is good money when compounded over 40 years.


Take into account tax deferred growth. If you are investing and want to make it a serious consideration, heck, even a simple annuity is better than straight investment or consider a VUL policy where you get life protection in case you die.


Tell me more if you want help. If you want personal finance advice, post here. If you want hot stock tips, I'll smack you silly and tell you to do your own research, both fundamental and technical.


Cheers !

 

[Maetryx]

Andrew Tobias wrote several excellent books on investing. They have grandiose titles like _The Only Investment Guide You'll Ever Need_. But in fact, they are very practical, down to earth personal finance advice books. They help you figure out if you're even in the position to start investing, or if you should be concentrating on increasing your savings (yes) or paying down existing debt (yes).

Oh, BTW, gold is outstripping the market by leaps and bounds. It's up to $325/oz or so today (from around $310/oz last week, up from $265/oz. about a year ago). Yet it never makes the business news. My gold mining stocks have doubled in value since January.

 

[abc]

yeah gold mutual funds... but the funds got fees and stuff that kick in when you sell the mutual funds off. know any good gold funds? say 10k to invest?

 

[axelfox]

^

 

[alrocky]

Morningstar.com. Consider a no-load total stock market mutual fund in a Roth IRA.