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
limousine Ackley .. Lockport Chicago limo O’HareAs I have said many times before in this column... Read More
As one of my regular readers you know I have... Read More
Just about now everyone is confused as to which way... Read More
One of the great "secrets" of successful people is discipline... Read More
Outlined below are some of the advantages and disadvantages of... Read More
Before we get into all the good news out there,... Read More
When it comes to stock market trading it PAYS to... Read More
Jack and Jill went up the hill to fetch a... Read More
Have you bought any mutual funds this year or late... Read More
I love roller coasters. The steeper the better. High and... Read More
The Macedonian Stock Exchange (MSE) is not operating successfully. True,... Read More
It is difficult to make money in a bull market,... Read More
Every successful trader has a winning system. There are of... Read More
Profitable day traders recognize that momentum trading is among the... Read More
I use the P/E ratio as a secondary indicator for... Read More
A Guide to Using Stop Loss Orders Stop losses are... Read More
You should ignore analysts on TV, the radio, the newspaper... Read More
I continually hear from economists, talking heads, other market letter... Read More
I have a 2-car garage. There are nice shelves on... Read More
So you're started trading, you bought some positions with your... Read More
During the day I watch CNBC-TV, the stock market channel.... Read More
04/28/2005NASDAQ dropped -12.5% year to date in 2005. S&P500 index... Read More
Let's go into the details of why non-indexed mutual funds... Read More
Sometimes the best way of lowering exposure to risk is... Read More
What! Me worry?Many of you remember the cover of MAD... Read More
shuttle from O'Hare Alexander ..The stock market has not been very kind to your... Read More
To begin, you might look at playing the stock market... Read More
I often hear from people, "I don't trade. I invest.... Read More
After finding the price of a particular stock, usually the... Read More
Even if you don't own any of their stock or... Read More
The broker told me not to sell because the mutual... Read More
If you are a baby boomer, time is not on... Read More
Trading is a fascinating activity.There are so many layers to... Read More
Yesterday I received my monthly issue of MONEY magazine. This... Read More
Checked your 401K lately? Going back to about a year... Read More
Let's assume that you want to make some serious money... Read More
Every Wall Street analyst, financial planner and broker will tell... Read More
TOO OFTEN, INVESTORS SIMPLY CHOOSE TO follow the crowd. This... Read More
How is it possible that trash Companies are posting less... 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
Whenever I see mutual fund comparisons in the trade publications... Read More
As GuruFocus updates the stock buys and sells of gurus,... Read More
Time to look back2004 is over, now we are in... Read More
Ever turn down a street, get half way and suddenly... Read More
Most advisors will tell you they can beat the market.... Read More
On the 40 year journey through the turmoil of a... Read More
There is a famous cliff on the ocean in Acapulco... Read More
Why? Because I am going to shatter your conventional wisdom... Read More
You read and hear a lot about hedge funds. Unfortunately,... Read More
Stocks & Mutual Fund |