Poll: Do you own stock?

[FoBoT]

i have some stock options from work, i don't currently own any stock directly

my 401(k) is in mutual funds

 

[milagro]

Originally posted by: HappyPuppy

Originally posted by: Svnla
Yes , directly and by mutual funds. In the long term, stocks will outperformce all other equities such as bonds, cash, t bill, ect.

Right!

Yeah...historical statistics are pure bullsh1t

 

[BurnItDwn]

yea ... I own some WAG stock ... though It has not been stagnant over the last few years.

I also indirectly own stock through my companies profit sharing ... its invested in a stable large company stock fund ... I put 2% in to it, and the company matches depending on how profits are, last two years were pretty good, so the company contribution to profit sharing matched my contribution by a factor of greater than 3 to 1 both years. Before that It was about 2.5 or 2 to I, but I don't remember the exact figure

 

[Svnla]

Originally posted by: milagro

Originally posted by: HappyPuppy

Originally posted by: Svnla
Yes , directly and by mutual funds. In the long term, stocks will outperformce all other equities such as bonds, cash, t bill, ect.

Right!

Yeah...historical statistics are pure bullsh1t

Learn the facts before you open your mouth and show the world how little your brains are.



Click me

Click me for more


Now show me your proof.

 

[eplebnista]

No

 

[Shockwave]

Both.
6% company match at 50%
Scotrade account

 

[StageLeft]

I have them only through mutual funds (right now it's only a 401k, but I'll get into an index fund sometime I guess!). Owning individual stocks is not for the average investor, but the average gambler. The statistics are totally clear on this fact: If you're trying to play the stock market you are amlost guaranteed to do worse than if you simply send your cash into a mutual fund or index fund or something like that. Almost no individual investors can consistently beat the market. If the average professional investor can't, why can the average 9-5 joe who spends 10 min reading the business section of the paper every morning?

 

[Argo]

Originally posted by: Skoorb
I have them only through mutual funds (right now it's only a 401k, but I'll get into an index fund sometime I guess!). Owning individual stocks is not for the average investor, but the average gambler. The statistics are totally clear on this fact: If you're trying to play the stock market you are amlost guaranteed to do worse than if you simply send your cash into a mutual fund or index fund or something like that. Almost no individual investors can consistently beat the market. If the average professional investor can't, why can the average 9-5 joe who spends 10 min reading the business section of the paper every morning?

Who said anything about playing? I would suggest researching a lot of companies, find 4 or 5 that you like (look at balance sheets, cash flows, competitors, etc) and then invest in those companies long term. Review your investment on an annual basis and make changes if situation at any of the companies changes.

Long term - this method will do better than 95% of mutual funds. The problem with mutual funds is that they can't have a single stock contribute more than 5% of total fund value. As the result, they're more diluted than your portfolio, so if you choose wisely you can beat most funds. I strongly suggest reading Peter Lynch's "Beating the Street" if you're interested in investing.

 

[Viper GTS]

I have about 600 shares of Fidelity's Freedom 2040 fund (FFFFX).

Viper GTS

 

[StageLeft]

Originally posted by: Argo

Originally posted by: Skoorb
I have them only through mutual funds (right now it's only a 401k, but I'll get into an index fund sometime I guess!). Owning individual stocks is not for the average investor, but the average gambler. The statistics are totally clear on this fact: If you're trying to play the stock market you are amlost guaranteed to do worse than if you simply send your cash into a mutual fund or index fund or something like that. Almost no individual investors can consistently beat the market. If the average professional investor can't, why can the average 9-5 joe who spends 10 min reading the business section of the paper every morning?

Who said anything about playing? I would suggest researching a lot of companies, find 4 or 5 that you like (look at balance sheets, cash flows, competitors, etc) and then invest in those companies long term. Review your investment on an annual basis and make changes if situation at any of the companies changes.

Long term - this method will do better than 95% of mutual funds. The problem with mutual funds is that they can't have a single stock contribute more than 5% of total fund value. As the result, they're more diluted than your portfolio, so if you choose wisely you can beat most funds. I strongly suggest reading Peter Lynch's "Beating the Street" if you're interested in investing.

Are you basing that 95% figure on anything substantial...? Everything I've read said that individual investing is a bad move if you're the average joe looking to maximize your ROI.

I have about 600 shares of Fidelity's Freedom 2040 fund

Yeah that's the one that mrsskoorb has for her 401k as well. Mine is a mix of things I picked out somewhat blinded at enterprise funds

 

[FeathersMcGraw]

Originally posted by: Argo

Who said anything about playing? I would suggest researching a lot of companies, find 4 or 5 that you like (look at balance sheets, cash flows, competitors, etc) and then invest in those companies long term. Review your investment on an annual basis and make changes if situation at any of the companies changes.

Long term - this method will do better than 95% of mutual funds. The problem with mutual funds is that they can't have a single stock contribute more than 5% of total fund value. As the result, they're more diluted than your portfolio, so if you choose wisely you can beat most funds. I strongly suggest reading Peter Lynch's "Beating the Street" if you're interested in investing.

While this is true, mutual funds have the distinct advantage for people who are too lazy or number-fearing to peruse financial statements. If you're planning on buying and holding anyway, I'd just as soon let compounding handle my gains for me rather than trying to be an armchair market analyst. There's less glory, but also (potentially) less risk and effort.

 

[Argo]

Skoorb,

I'm basing 95% figure on the book I recommended. The author, Peter Lynch was the manager of the one most successful mutual funds in the 80s, so I believe him. It's been shown that most mutual funds don't even beat the market. If you invest in an exchange trade index stock you have a good chance of beating most mutual funds.

Everything I've read said that individual investing is a bad move if you're the average joe looking to maximize your ROI.

I think that refers to people trying to do day trading or buying shares without any research. I know tons of people who bought AMD or MSFT stock just because they are "cool" companies, or because their uncle Bubba owns that stock. The truth is, you need to do a ton of research before you buy the stock.

 

[richardycc]

my company just changed the % of contribution from 13% max to 50% or up to $13000/yr. I upped mine to 20% and will eventually change to self manage account instead of mutual funds, I am just too cheap to pay that 50$ annual fee. I am trying to retire in 10yrs or so.

 

[randomlinh]

investing.... what brokers do folks tend to use? online or otherwise.

 

[nemesismk2]

AMD and IMGTECH!

 

[gistech1978]

yes, directly.

 

[abracadabra1]

student....index funds

 

[Nitemare]

Strong Growth 20
Invesco Technology
Van Kampen Emerging Growth
& Home Depot

 

[Hector13]

Originally posted by: Svnla

Originally posted by: milagro

Originally posted by: HappyPuppy

Originally posted by: Svnla
Yes , directly and by mutual funds. In the long term, stocks will outperformce all other equities such as bonds, cash, t bill, ect.

Right!

Yeah...historical statistics are pure bullsh1t

Learn the facts before you open your mouth and show the world how little your brains are.



Click me

Click me for more


Now show me your proof.

that's great except that you are looking at historical returns. Show me a graph for future returns and I'll believe you...

also, I don't know what you think equities are, but they are stocks... so I don't see how stocks are going to outperform equities any time soon.

 

[thraxes]

Although I am a student I put some savings in the stock market just after 9-11 and while all stocks were really low. My reasoning was they were massively undervalued and it could only go up... And boy, was I right

Lufthansa

 

[tnitsuj]

Mutual funds in my 401k and IRA. My wife buys individual stocks which I am seriously trying to discourage her from doing.