Dont Ask Your Broker

Unfortunately, most of you who are reading my column are suffering some substantial losses in the stock market. Whether it is mutual funds or individual stocks everything with mighty few exceptions is going down. Maybe you are just giving back some nice profits, but maybe it is beginning to bite into your original principal.

You are wondering what should I do? I know, I'll call my broker. He knows all about the market. Please! Don't ask your broker. I already know what he will tell you. The usual Wall Street smoke and mirrors answer. "Don't worry. This is just a healthy correction in a bull market. It will come back". It makes me sick to hear this kind of nonsense from a supposedly informed and intelligent (?) person. By the way, what is "healthy" about a 38% "correction"?

If this guy was so smart when he had you buy these stocks and mutual funds then why wasn't he smart enough to have you sell before you gave back 50% or more of your portfolio? He is working under the guise of investment conventional wisdom that is conventional but not wisdom. "Mr. Mushroom, you are in for the long term so don't worry about these aberrations." YUK! That is what you are - a mushroom. Grown in the dark and fed you-know-what.

There are times when you should have on only one position - CASH. Cash is a position, but brokers are not taught that. They never heard of it.

When I was a floor trader guys would come to me and say, "Al, what do you have on?" and my reply, "Nothing" drew a shocked look. "How can you be down here on the floor and not be trading?" It is very simple, I was there to make money, not to trade. Many times you should not be doing anything. It is the same for the average investor. He should be in cash when there is a bear market as there is right now. How long it will last I don't know, but I will know when it is over and the bull has returned. Your broker won't know because he has not been trained to make money, only to make commission.

Every stock and mutual fund you own should be examined regularly (preferably weekly) and a stop placed under each position so (just in case) that hummer decides to tank you will be out with your profit. Never let a winning trade go to a loss. You must protect your capital at all times.

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

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.

Whos Calling?

Its dinnertime and the phone rings. It's Joe Noname with... Read More

The Holy Grail (of Investment)

Every year I go to the Money Show in Orlando,... Read More

Hedge Fund Advertising

Have you seen all those big full page ads for... Read More

Your Trading Objective: Why is that so Important?

You've decided to try your luck at trading stocks or... Read More

Duck

Duck! No I don't mean a quack, quack. I meant... Read More

Stock Analysis

I receive emails from Morningstar. This company provides statistics and... Read More

How Much Information Do You Need?

You have decided to buy some stock or mutual funds,... Read More

Size Counts!

What the heck am I talking about?It is often said... Read More

Fools Gold

The stock market has been in an up trend for... Read More

The Secret Method to Selecting a Winning Trading System

Every successful trader has a winning system. There are of... Read More

Wal-Mart: Discount Store, Discounted Stock?

As GuruFocus updates the stock buys and sells of gurus,... Read More

This Market Is Different

All of the talking heads have been telling us that... Read More

Struggling Stocks, Booming Commodities

04/28/2005NASDAQ dropped -12.5% year to date in 2005. S&P500 index... Read More

The Exclusive Club of Large Caps

Picture one of those clubs where only the real heavyweights... Read More

Maximizing a Stock Market Investment

Maximizing a stock market investmentThere are several factors an investor... Read More

Stock Chart Reading

As an investor you will want to check out any... Read More

Nest Eggs and Omelets

Do you have a nest egg? You know, a place... Read More

The Problem With Hedge Funds

Are hedge funds a suitable investment for you? Hedge funds... Read More

Never Lose Money

Never lose money in the stock market again. Yeah, I... Read More

Being Wrong Buying Stock is Okay

Being wrong is OK, but let's not carry it to... Read More

How Eating Bitumen Made Me a Better Trader

Trading is a fascinating activity.There are so many layers to... Read More

How to Short Stocks? How to Make Money when Your Stocks Go Down by Shorting

The stock market can present you with a lot of... Read More

Zero Sum Game

Most people think the stock market is a zero sum... Read More

Trading as a Business

What can I expect to make my first year of... Read More

Discover the Retirement Breakthrough the Federal Government Created for You - The Roth IRA!

If you don't know what a Roth IRA is then... Read More

cleaning lady near Wilmette ..