That sounds like good advice doesn't it? Don't lose all your money.
After all what is an investor without funds in the brokerage account? Hint: BROKE!
On the subject of investing, this means getting out of a trade when it goes against you. Don't lose all your money. This is the MOST important thing any investor can do. Cut your losses before you're broke. It's easy to do, but some investors find it hard to implement. Don't become so attached to your buying decision that you ignore this advice.
Set a stop loss figure on every stock or investment you have. Decide on how much you are willing to lose before you buy. All brokerage accounts have a way to set a stop loss. You can do this right in your account so that it's triggered automatically.
Use an actual price or a percentage. Take the time to learn how to set up a stop loss order or trailing stop in your particular brokerage account. Or if you have the time and stick-with-it-ness to monitor your account on a regular basis (like all the time), keep track of where prices are mentally.
Here is an interesting chart that shows how much an investment has to go BACK up for you to get all your money out.
Take a look at this...
If the price per share goes down 10% - the stock has to go back up 11% for you to get back to even. Not convinced yet?
...down 20% - the stock has to go back up 25%.
...down 25% - the stock has to go back up 33%.
...down 50% - the stock has to go back up 100%.
...down 75% - the stock has to go back up 300%.
...down 90% - the stock has to go back up 900%.
Looking at this would suggest you are gambling if you set a stop loss at more than 25%.
Bottom line is, don't fight the trend and the hard reality of numbers - Use a stop loss to get out of any investment that goes bad. Don't lose all your money!
Tom Donaldson shares his investing experiences on his panglossian investor blog and invites you to join the panglossian investor blog discussion group.
Tinley Park executive chauffeured services .. Lockport Chicago limo O’HareAfter finding the price of a particular stock, usually the... Read More
Mutual fund investing is a lot like Thai cooking. Everyone... Read More
Humpty Dumpty had a great fall and all the King's... Read More
Unfortunately, most of you who are reading my column are... Read More
For years I have been saying you must have a... Read More
One of the things people are always asking me is... Read More
The stock market is very unstable at this time going... Read More
It has been said that low cost or even free... Read More
Carefully thinking through your goal as a trader is of... Read More
All stock trading and investing methods must deal with the... Read More
It looks like we have now entered a new bull... Read More
If you've ever flipped on the television to CNN Financial... Read More
Forget making a profit; instead focus on the income provided... Read More
We all know that emotions control every decision that an... Read More
Sometimes the best way of lowering exposure to risk is... Read More
When it comes to stock market trading it PAYS to... Read More
In his wonderful book, 'Multiple Streams of Income', best selling... Read More
The Shadow knows. Remember him? It seems a shadow has... Read More
With all the bad news that has been dumped upon... Read More
We need a rabbit!This was a pretty horrible week for... Read More
You must take the time once a month to review... Read More
I receive emails from Morningstar. This company provides statistics and... Read More
Have you seen all those big full page ads for... Read More
The Dow Theorycharles h. dowcharles h.... Read More
Ever notice how behavior in one area of life can... Read More
limo Chicago Hickory Hills ..One of the great truisms of Wall Street is "Don't... Read More
If you are fed up with early redemption charges and... Read More
As a novice trader, you'll often feel the need to... Read More
What is leverage?Here is a definition of leverage from an... Read More
It is difficult to make money in a bull market,... Read More
I continually hear from economists, talking heads, other market letter... Read More
If you're like many investors who squander those small dividend... Read More
What is the Series 7 Exam? If you... Read More
If it walks like a duck, quacks like a duck... Read More
Have you bought any mutual funds this year or late... Read More
You should ignore analysts on TV, the radio, the newspaper... Read More
For the last 12 years we have seen the Japanese... Read More
The stock market has been in an up trend for... Read More
Money: the most charged word in the planet. It means... Read More
The big bad bear is stirring again. So far he... Read More
If you have talked to a stock broker or financial... Read More
I know there are a lot of you out there... Read More
The World Bank claims that some two billion of the... Read More
Everything you invest in has risk so you want to... Read More
Let's hope you did not have any of the Enron... Read More
The Shadow knows. Remember him? It seems a shadow has... Read More
I was recently interviewed for a press release through a... Read More
For some "long term" would mean holding a stock position... Read More
I mean it when I say that. While plastic silverware... Read More
People are constantly asking me why is the stock market... Read More
Stocks & Mutual Fund |