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.
2. Do not pay commission fees to purchase a stock.
If you are going to invest your hard earned dollars into a company, the least the company could do is provide you a way to invest in their company commission free ? and they do!
3. Only purchase those companies that pay a dividend.
The same company that you invest in commission free should also offer you another incentive for you to invest ? a dividend for the use of your money.
4. Only purchase those companies that have a history of raising their dividend every year.
The same company should continue rewarding you for your faith in their company by increasing the amount of their dividend every year. Rising dividends are also the proof that the company is dong something right.
5. Dollar-cost average into each stock position.
By dollar-cost averaging (buying the same stock at different prices through the years) you'll never pay too much for the company's stock, even if the initial purchase is at a 52 week high. Have all the dividends from each company rolled back into more shares of each company, until retirement. The companies you invest in should do this for you, automatically, commission free.
6. Forget making a profit; instead focus on the income provided from your stock portfolio.
That's right! Forget making a profit. The burden is now lifted - no more pressure on making a buck in the stock market (Instead of trying to bend the spoon, that is impossible, instead just think of the spoon as ? omigosh! - I'm in the Matrix). When you focus on the amount of money your holdings are providing in dividends ? and when those companies selected have a history of raising their dividends each year ? a lower stock price allows the dividends that are being rolled back into the stock to accelerate your income. The total value of your portfolio may go lower, but your income from that lower priced portfolio would increase dramatically. Profit by income!
7. Make every stock purchase with the intent that the purchase will be a long-term investment.
Do not trade in and out of your holdings. There have been many up and downs in the stock market. The down markets only accelerate your income. GE has raised their dividend for 28 years in a row. Why sell it? 100 shares of GE ten years ago has turned into 1200 shares today due to stock splits, and that is not counting how many shares you would have now if the dividends were being rolled back into more shares of the stock through those years.
8. Understand that a lower stock price, after your initial purchase may be a blessing in disguise.
The income from your stock holdings should grow every quarter, no matter what the total amount of your stock portfolio is worth. (If your Mutual fund declines in price from one year to the next and if your income is not increasing (accelerating) from that fund, why are you in that fund?) A company pays their dividend not on how much their stock is worth in the market place. For example, a company pays a quarterly dividend of 50 cents a share. A company has little control on how much its stock price is worth in the market place on any given day. You will receive 50 cents a share per quarter whether the stock price is at 50 dollars a share, or drops to $40 a share or goes up to $70. While the stock is down at $40 a share your dividend reinvestment is loading up on more shares.
9. Develop a savings plan to add to your holdings each quarter to help your dividend reinvestments to accumulate more shares on a dollar-cost averaging basis.
The savings could be as little as $5.00 a week. Why put that savings in a savings account at 1.2 percent, when there are so many companies out there that are paying a 4 to 5% dividend yield and increasing their dividend every year? And since none of the companies you are investing in charge a commission, all of that $60.00 a quarter you saved and invested would help your dividend reinvestments to dollar-cost average into your holdings. Every cent you save and invest would work toward your ROI (Return on Investment).
10. Read my book 'the Stockopoly Plan' soon to be released by American Book Publishing.
I believe it will profit you and your family for the rest of your lives.
For more excerpts from the book 'The Stockopoly Plan' please visit http://www.thestockopolyplan.com
About The Author
You have permission to this article either electronically or in print as long as the author bylines are included, with a live link, and the article is not changed in any way (grammar and typos, excluded). Please provide a courtesy e-mail to http://www.thestockopolyplan.com telling where the article was published.
Charles M. O'Melia is an individual investor with almost 40 years of experience and passion for the stock market. Author of the book 'The Stockopoly Plan', soon to be released by American Book Publishing.
http://www.thestockopolyplan.com
post construction cleaning Deerfield ..The Dow Theorycharles h. dowcharles h.... Read More
I cringe every time I hear a novice investor tell... Read More
We all know the expression, "My country, right or wrong",... Read More
Economists know more about how the fragments of society work... Read More
Several times each month I am solicited by various market... Read More
As an investor you will want to check out any... Read More
You'd have had to be living on a desert island... Read More
Fundamental analysis.Fundamentals analysis says the best way to predict the... Read More
Stocks breakout from properly formed bases everyday but many investors... Read More
For weeks, no, months we have been bombarded with nothing... Read More
This is the continuing story of our two imaginary traders,... Read More
The ABC's of Stock Trading SuccessStock trading success...why is it... Read More
You must take the time once a month to review... Read More
It is difficult to make money in a bull market,... Read More
I constantly hear the talking heads on CNBC-TV, the radio... Read More
We all know that emotions control every decision that an... Read More
When purchasing mutual funds we are cautioned to read the... Read More
I am hearing predictions by brokers, financial planners, talk show... Read More
I go to the Money Show every year to visit... Read More
Refuse is a serious issue in any society, about as... Read More
04/28/2005NASDAQ dropped -12.5% year to date in 2005. S&P500 index... Read More
It has fallen upon the consumer to make our economy... Read More
For the last 12 years we have seen the Japanese... Read More
Every day I hear someone on CNBC proclaim that "this... Read More
Both the stock market and oil prices rallied recently, which... Read More
Airbnb cleaning service Bannockburn ..Everybody is riding the Wall Street Roller coaster. Even if... Read More
Before we get into all the good news out there,... Read More
If you are going to be a winner in the... Read More
If you are a baby boomer, time is not on... Read More
Every publicly traded company is required by the SEC(Securities and... Read More
Let's hope you did not have any of the Enron... Read More
On November 17 I bought 7 different mutual funds and... Read More
Never lose money in the stock market again. Yeah, I... Read More
It seems that every day I turn on the TV... Read More
The Dow Theorycharles h. dowcharles h.... Read More
You have heard about a particular mutual fund from a... Read More
A Guide to Using Stop Loss Orders Stop losses are... Read More
With over 6,000 mutual funds available, it may be tempting... Read More
Ever notice how behavior in one area of life can... Read More
We are already in it, but you can't see it.... Read More
For the last 12 years we have seen the Japanese... Read More
The demand for world oil is increasing while world reserves... Read More
I am taking the time to help others learn the... Read More
Let's say you are interested in this one company. You... Read More
Professional stock options traders use the term lean to refer... Read More
Several times each month I am solicited by various market... Read More
Starbucks earnings are up again and so is their stock... Read More
Today we are inundated with tons of information about the... Read More
∙ Make every investment in the stock market a long-term... Read More
You've decided to try your luck at trading stocks or... Read More
Stocks & Mutual Fund |