It depends on your level of understanding of the market and the amount of money you have.
If you a sophisticated investor with a substantial amount invested you are probably already receiving more than one. If you have very little market savvy it will be difficult to choose one that fits the size of your portfolio. If you are just getting started my advice is don't buy one - yet.
Most of the advice is Wall Street goobledegook and most of the remainder is stuff you can't use anyway. Even the simplest letters have too much information and require more time than most working people have to act upon their recommendations.
There are literally hundreds of stock and mutual fund letters from which to choose. The first thing you want to know is what has been the track record - how much annual return has the advisor received for his readers over the past few years. Some will quote you wonderful figures, but these may be predicated on following all of his advice all the time. If that is the case you had better first ask how much money is required to buy at least 100 shares of everything he recommends when he recommends it. Don't let him weasel out of it - make him give you an answer or don't buy it. That amount may be more than you have so you must then pick and choose between his recommendations and you might not pick all the good ones, just all the bad ones.
There is one type of letter I consider essential to everyone. It times the market. By that I mean they tell you when the general market is going up and when to sell out because it is going down. Almost every broker will tell you it can't be done. He tells you that because he doesn't know how to do it and won't take the time to find out. He is a professional loser and doesn't deserve to be your broker.
The market timing service I have been using since 1986 is Fabian's Investment Resource out of California. They have a 20-year real time track record.
In the last 100 years we have had 30 bear markets which are defined as the overall market going down more than 20 percent and some more than 40 percent. Even the best stocks and mutual funds will go down in a bear market because they act like ships - when the tide goes out all ships go down with it. You don't want to have any market positions at that time.
The first basic advisory service should be for market timing. Check their claims and actual track record. Then as you learn more you may expand your horizon to picking individual issues or mutual funds.
Al Thomas' book, "If It Doesn't Go Up, Don't Buy It!" has helped thousands of people make money and keep their profits with his simple 2-step method. Read the first chapter at http://www.mutualfundmagic.com and discover why he's the man that Wall Street does not want you to know.
Copyright 2005
tidy up service Northbrook ..Every day in any financial publication you will find the... Read More
How many times have you said to yourself, "I'd like... Read More
Before we get into all the good news out there,... Read More
Have you ever thought of investing? Do you have a... Read More
People are always asking me when should I sell my... Read More
Many people would like to diversify their portfolios to expand... Read More
Ever done any whitewater rafting or canoeing? Long periods of... Read More
What are you thinking when it comes to your no... Read More
So you're started trading, you bought some positions with your... Read More
I was devastated!I just couldn't believe it. I was 10... Read More
"If you don't know where you are going, any road... Read More
Ever wondered what is a mutual fund? A mutual fund... Read More
'Sector funds are too risky.' 'I doubled my money with... Read More
The gleam and bright lights of Wall Street lure in... Read More
As GuruFocus updates the stock buys and sells of gurus,... Read More
Hello Inflation, it has been awhile, I see you on... Read More
The Winter Games for the Olympics are coming up soon... Read More
The Shadow knows. Remember him? It seems a shadow has... Read More
As one of my regular readers you know I have... Read More
It has fallen upon the consumer to make our economy... Read More
Let's say you are interested in this one company. You... Read More
In my opinion, due to the volatility of stock market... Read More
On Friday or Saturday evening my wife gets a movie... Read More
Someday you may want to retire and continue to live... Read More
If you are a baby boomer, time is not on... Read More
reliable home cleaners Buffalo Grove ..I have a 2-car garage. There are nice shelves on... Read More
I constantly hear the talking heads on CNBC-TV, the radio... Read More
'Sector funds are too risky.' 'I doubled my money with... Read More
I made my very first investment in the stock market... Read More
To begin, you might look at playing the stock market... Read More
Should the market turn against you, it is important that... Read More
There are many important things you need to know to... Read More
The thinking process of the brain relating to the... Read More
Before they go over the cliff to their destruction these... Read More
What can I expect to make my first year of... Read More
We have two candidates for president that have really different... Read More
When you become interested in a stock or mutual fund... Read More
Every day on CNBC-TV they show a 200-day moving average... Read More
For years I have been saying you must have a... Read More
Robert Rodriguez likes to buy stocks at their lows. When... Read More
The debate rages all over Eastern and Central Europe, in... Read More
I'll bet with almost anyone that has stocks or mutual... Read More
Yesterday I received my monthly issue of MONEY magazine. This... Read More
On November 17 I bought 7 different mutual funds and... Read More
I know there are a lot of you out there... Read More
I cringe every time I hear a novice investor tell... Read More
Just about now everyone is confused as to which way... Read More
We are already in it, but you can't see it.... Read More
Every Wall Street analyst, financial planner and broker will tell... Read More
You remember the story about the frog that was put... Read More
Stocks & Mutual Fund |