An Old Proverb for Investing

"If you don't know where you are going, any road will get you there."

This very much applies to the your retirement plans especially if you are investing in the stock market. The proverb clearly states you need to know where you are going and how to get there. Right now, do you know how much money you are going to need to retire in the style you wish and, right now, do you have a plan to get that money put away?

Unfortunately, most people don't. Many are saving, but with no plan. Are you one of those who let his broker or financial planner do the investing for you? I sure hope not. When I owned my brokerage company I can tell you about 1% of these "experts" know how to make money. My definition of a broker is one who makes you broker.

Brokers will talk circles around you with all the usual Wall Street smoke and mirrors. Their two great myths are "Buy and Hold" and "Dollar Cost Averaging", both of which don't work very well. And then they will mesmerize you with "Research" which is the greatest waste of time I can think of. Brokers are not taught how to make money and they don't even realize it. Their training is designed to keep the brokerage house from being sued. Brokers have been good students, but badly taught.

Let me prove that to you. If research was so good then why isn't every broker rich? He has access to more information than you will ever be able to get. The big wire houses subscribe to tons of information. Brokers seem to confuse information with money-making. Information is of no value at all if you can't turn it into the purchase of a stock or mutual fund that is going up.

I maintain you don't need to know anything about a stock or mutual fund. All you need to do is look at a chart of a particular equity and if it is going up at a 30-degree angle over the long term (last 3 months), then buy it. When it quits going up, sell it and find another one. Brokers will tell you this is too simplistic and won't work. As I said they have been badly taught.

If you are not happy with the returns on your investment portfolio you will want to reanalyze your goal. Set an amount. Change direction. Get on a better road to achieve that goal.

You cannot rely on someone else to do it for you. It is not their money, it is yours. No one will take the interest in that you do. Just do it!

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

efficient cleaning crew Northbrook ..
In The News:

Chinese hackers used Anthropic's Claude AI to launch autonomous cyberattacks on 30 organizations worldwide, marking a major shift in cybersecurity threats.
Apple's new Sleep Score feature gives you a rating for your nightly rest quality. Learn how to set it up on your Apple Watch and iPhone today.
Essential phone settings to enable before losing your device, including Find My network, location services and security features for iPhone and Android.
The Fox News AI Newsletter gives readers the latest AI technology advancements, covering the challenges and opportunities AI presents.
Cybersecurity research shows weak passwords remain a major threat, with simple patterns and number sequences putting millions of accounts at risk.
New Android malware BankBot YNRK silences phones, steals banking data and drains crypto wallets automatically. Learn how this advanced threat works.
FDA approves first human trial for Paradromics' brain-computer interface that could restore speech for paralyzed patients through neural technology.
New phishing platform QRR targets Microsoft 365 users across 1,000 domains in 90 countries. Learn how to spot fake login pages and protect your accounts.
OpenTable now uses AI to track your dining habits and share insights with restaurants. Learn what data they collect and how to protect your privacy.
Google's discontinued Nest thermostats still secretly upload home data to company servers despite losing smart features, raising serious privacy concerns.
New Android malware NGate steals NFC payment codes in real-time, allowing criminals to withdraw cash from ATMs without your card. Learn protection tips.
DoorDash confirms data breach exposing customer names, emails, addresses after social engineering attack. Learn how to protect yourself from scams.
Concerned about Google's AI scanning your Gmail? Learn how to disable Gemini features that access your emails, Drive files and Chat messages for privacy.
Google warns Android users about dangerous fake VPN apps hiding malware that steals passwords, banking details and personal data from phones and tablets.
Apple's digital passport feature lets iPhone users breeze through TSA checkpoints this holiday season using Digital ID technology at 250+ airports.
A new phishing scam targets family photos with fake "Cloud Storage Full" alerts. Criminals steal credit card information through fake sites. Learn protection tips.
South Korean scientists create ultra-thin fabric muscles that turn clothes into robotic assistants, lifting 33 pounds while weighing under half an ounce.
Archer Aviation has acquired Hawthorne Airport for $126M to launch an LA air taxi network ahead of the 2028 Olympics, featuring AI-powered eVTOL operations and next-gen aviation tech.
Stay up to date on the latest AI technology advancements and learn about the challenges and opportunities AI presents now and for the future.
Fake AI apps disguised as "ChatGPT" and "DALLĀ·E" are flooding app stores with dangerous malware that steals data and monitors users without detection.
Fake buyers demand specific vehicle reports from unknown sites to steal credit card information from car sellers, but warning signs can help identify these scams before paying.
Android users can now manage apps across multiple devices more easily with Google Play Store's updated remote uninstall button in the latest update.
NASA's Perseverance rover discovers shiny metallic rock on Mars that could be a meteorite from an ancient asteroid, containing high levels of iron and nickel.
Holiday scams spike during Black Friday and Cyber Monday as criminals exploit your leaked personal data. Learn how to protect yourself from fake stores and phishing.
Commerce Department proposes TP-Link router ban over Chinese security risks. Learn how this potential prohibition could affect your home network and devices.

The Information Age

It is wonderful to be alive in the information age.... Read More

Stocks & Oil, Sat Jun 18th, 2005

Both the stock market and oil prices rallied recently, which... Read More

Its Better

Question: How does it get better when it gets worse?Last... Read More

Downdraft

For the year 2000 we have seen hundreds of mutual... Read More

Finding A Good Stock

One of the things people are always asking me is... Read More

Whitewater Stock Market

Ever done any whitewater rafting or canoeing? Long periods of... Read More

Using Sector Funds to Construct Diversified Mutual Fund Portfolios

'Sector funds are too risky.' 'I doubled my money with... Read More

How to Pick Winning Stocks

There is nothing more exciting than finding an undervalued stock... Read More

Again With the Bubbles?

A few years back ? it seems like an eternity... Read More

Managing Investing and Stock Market Risks

Reduce your investing and stock market risks by:Setting your sights... Read More

Understanding the Bulls and the Bears

If you've ever flipped on the television to CNN Financial... Read More

Emotional Trading

The single most expensive stock market trades are those made... Read More

Mousetrap

The spring-loaded rat catcher is the ultimate low-tech device invented... Read More

Inverted Interest Rates

Inverted interest rates? What's that? Who cares? Even if you... Read More

Stock Valuation using the SMP Model

Disclaimer: Please note that I do not necessarily purchase, own,... Read More

Market Success

Who are the successful investors?There are those who follow the... Read More

The Top 10 Reasons to Invest in Mutual Funds

Everyone who follows the financial news has heard of mutual... Read More

Advantages and Disadvantages of Mutual Funds

Outlined below are some of the advantages and disadvantages of... Read More

Trading Baskets II: The Crapolio, A Roll of the Dice in the Stock Market

In a previously written article, we expanded the use of... Read More

Overseas Investing: Going Against the Mainstream

TOO OFTEN, INVESTORS SIMPLY CHOOSE TO follow the crowd. This... Read More

Defining a Long-Term Investment in the Stock Market

For some "long term" would mean holding a stock position... Read More

Online Investing & Online Stock & Share Trading: Difficulty in Taking Stop Losses in the Market

This is an extract of an article which was first... Read More

Inertia Syndrome

When it comes to buying a stock or mutual fund... Read More

Market Timing?

The recent criminal fiasco in the mutual fund industry is... Read More

Stock Market Volatility

In my opinion, due to the volatility of stock market... Read More

cleaning lady near Wilmette ..