It is difficult to make money in a bull market, but what do you do when you are in a bear market? In what direction should you go not only to make money but to protect what you have from loss?
Almost immediately investors think what should I buy that will help me reach my financial goals? This answer may not be the one you will like. It is really not important what you buy as long as you know the rules of the game - the stock market game.
Rule One. You must know the general trend of the market. Is it going up or is it going down? You don't know and worse yet you don't know who does. There are many who do and you can be one of them if you wish, but you must also be willing to put aside the conventional wisdom of Wall Street otherwise known as lies. They tell you that you cannot time the market. You can and it is easy. I have been doing it for almost 20 years and so have many of my friends. Unfortunately, brokerage companies do not want you to learn this simple technique to protect your investments.
Once you know the general direction of the market you can act accordingly. If the trend is up you should own stocks and mutual funds. If it is down you should be out of the market in a money market fund or in bonds.
Go on the Internet to the web site www.bigcharts.com . Here you can type in the basic symbol for the S&P500 Index, SP500, and then use the Interactive Section to put in a 200-day Moving Average. If the price of the Index is below this line you should be in a money market and, if above, you should be buying stocks and no-load mutual funds. It is that simple.
Rule Two. Whatever you buy, and I don't care what it is, you must set a price below which if it drops that you will sell out. Period. As your equity moves up so should this stop-loss price so as to protect your profit. You don't want to give that back when the market or this particular equity starts down again.
The market direction changes from up to down in a rather steady cycle of about 14 to 16 years. It has been doing this since 1800. The year 2000 saw the top of the most recent up cycle and it is expected to repeat with another downward direction for the next 11 years. That is not very encouraging to people who have their retirement funds in a 401K or IRA. During this period a money market account will outperform a stock account.
The only alternative is a no-load bond mutual fund. This is better than trying to buy single bonds as there is always the chance a company will go out of business leaving you with nothing. Government bonds are excellent and safe.
Whether or not you agree the direction of the stock market remains down you should plan on a loss limit for the equities in your portfolio.
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
http://www.mutualfundmagic.com; 1-888-345-7870
premium house cleaning Highland Park ..Just about now everyone is confused as to which way... Read More
I mean it when I say that. While plastic silverware... Read More
Professional stock options traders use the term lean to refer... Read More
Humpty Dumpty had a great fall and all the King's... Read More
There is so much involved in developing peak performance, that... Read More
Have you been listening to the talking heads on CNBC-TV?... Read More
For weeks, no, months we have been bombarded with nothing... Read More
When you invest in the stock market for ever-increasing cash... Read More
As I said in Part I everyone in the insane... Read More
Who are the successful investors?There are those who follow the... Read More
Did you know you can make money (and a lot... Read More
Someday you may want to retire and continue to live... Read More
The gleam and bright lights of Wall Street lure in... Read More
As a novice trader, you'll often feel the need to... Read More
When you become interested in a stock or mutual fund... Read More
In his wonderful book, 'Multiple Streams of Income', best selling... Read More
On November 17 I bought 7 different mutual funds and... Read More
Buy high and sell low -- It's not a typo.Millions... Read More
Hello Inflation, it has been awhile, I see you on... Read More
In 1960 an engineer working for a watch company in... Read More
If you've ever flipped on the television to CNN Financial... Read More
Regardless of the fact that the world's stock markets have... Read More
Everybody is riding the Wall Street Roller coaster. Even if... Read More
Question: How does it get better when it gets worse?Last... Read More
We have two candidates for president that have really different... Read More
bedroom cleaning professionals Mundelein ..The basis of diminishing return discussions surround such simple notions;... Read More
The date October 13, 2000 will forever be embedded in... Read More
The Bollinger Band theory is designed to depict the volatility... Read More
This is the continuing story of our two imaginary traders,... Read More
Question: How does it get better when it gets worse?Last... Read More
It takes a total mental commitment to the task. It... Read More
One of the big advertising kicks today from mutual funds... Read More
The greatest stock market myth is the idea that investing... Read More
When you become interested in a stock or mutual fund... Read More
Being wrong is OK, but let's not carry it to... Read More
Disclaimer: Please note that I do not necessarily purchase, own,... Read More
In 1960 an engineer working for a watch company in... Read More
It has fallen upon the consumer to make our economy... Read More
I use the P/E ratio as a secondary indicator for... Read More
As an investor you will want to check out any... Read More
'Sector funds are too risky.' 'I doubled my money with... Read More
A recent cartoon in my daily newspaper showed two guys... Read More
Even if you don't own any of their stock or... Read More
Both the stock market and oil prices rallied recently, which... Read More
Every Wall Street analyst, financial planner and broker will tell... Read More
When you invest in the stock market for ever-increasing cash... Read More
This is a guide to the different types of mutual... Read More
If you're like many investors who squander those small dividend... Read More
Jack and Jill went up the hill to fetch a... Read More
You have a lock on your house. You have a... Read More
Stocks & Mutual Fund |