Investing: Stock Market, silver, etc...

[usmccharles]

I always like the idea of investing my money, even as a young kid i collected basketball and football cards but i did so as an investment.  I still have my original collection with over 500 Jordans, barry sanders rookie, etc...so i always have been one to look at the big picture. 

 

Recently i accepted a job in the great city of San Diego, i believe it was founded by the Romans...so now i have the financial means to slowly start building a portfolia for the future. 

 

That being said, i have never really got into the stock market.  Couple years ago i got really big into buying silver and was purchasing it at around 29$ an oucnce and ended up cashing it all out around 55$ an ounce which was the right call.  The only stock I ever bought was Apple when it was about 75$ and then some silver mining company, both turned out pretty well as i only hung on to them for a couple months.  Theres my experience

 

So, i know im going to start buying silver again because its at an incredible 15$ ounce, thats something i can easily afford to pick up here and there and let sit around.  But as far as stocks, i dont really know where to go from here.  Im not expecting to purchase a penny stock and get super rich or anything, just some 1st and 2nd rounders and maybe a sleeper or two (see what i did there) and ride it out.  So can anyone reccomend any good apps for stock tracking (have an android) and ideas for investing, not sure if thats against the rules or not.   Any good books or articles that i could check out to read? i have done my own reading and am on some forums, but i like to talk to people that i somewhat know and a online community i frequent every day.  If someone doesnt want to share anything openly, feel free to PM me, look forward to learning something from you guys.

 

 

Charles

[usmccharles]

no one? really?

[Gordo52]

no one? really?

Just follow your heart. That's what I always do.

[usmccharles]

Well then

[PuRock]

Just don't go into it thinking your a day trader.  For the casual investor, it's more about long-term gains then making a quick buck.  Penny stocks are penny stocks for a reason.

 

Start by finding a company you like.  Then read up about them and do some research.  Look at the analyst estimates.  Look at the competition.  Where do you see them in 5 and 10 years?  Etc.  I too bought stock in Apple a long time ago because I saw the branding trend.  I still own the stock at a 500% return on investment.  The point is being patient is your best friend.  

 

Since you said you are interesting in building your portfolio for the future.  I suggest opening a Roth IRA (assuming you are under the income threshold).  You can contribute up to $5,500/year after taxes.  If you open with a Charles Schwab (or someone similar) you can invest in stocks, mutual funds, etc.  You can also take out contributions tax free (but not profits until you retire).   

[usmccharles]

Just don't go into it thinking your a day trader.  For the casual investor, it's more about long-term gains then making a quick buck.  Penny stocks are penny stocks for a reason.

 

Start by finding a company you like.  Then read up about them and do some research.  Look at the analyst estimates.  Look at the competition.  Where do you see them in 5 and 10 years?  Etc.  I too bought stock in Apple a long time ago because I saw the branding trend.  I still own the stock at a 500% return on investment.  The point is being patient is your best friend.  

 

Since you said you are interesting in building your portfolio for the future.  I suggest opening a Roth IRA (assuming you are under the income threshold).  You can contribute up to $5,500/year after taxes.  If you open with a Charles Schwab (or someone similar) you can invest in stocks, mutual funds, etc.  You can also take out contributions tax free (but not profits until you retire).   

Any specific reading you can suggest?  I started a 401k at my new job putting 6% in.  My thing is, where do i even go to find stocks i do like? i mean i would obviously put money in some of the blue chip stocks, but where would i go about up and coming company stocks, kind of like what you did with apple?  My thing is i just dont know how to get started. 

 

Also, do you recommend getting a etrade account or anything account that allows me to do it myself? or just pay someone else to do it?

[PuRock]

Any specific reading you can suggest?  I started a 401k at my new job putting 6% in.  My thing is, where do i even go to find stocks i do like? i mean i would obviously put money in some of the blue chip stocks, but where would i go about up and coming company stocks, kind of like what you did with apple?  My thing is i just dont know how to get started. 

 

Also, do you recommend getting a etrade account or anything account that allows me to do it myself? or just pay someone else to do it?

 

A 401k may restrict what you can invest in.  Usually a 401k will have a defined set of mutual funds that you can invest in and that is all.

 

I like reading articles on the 'Seeking Alpha' website.  It's the bleacher report of stock articles.  Tons of articles, plenty of different perspectives.  Some articles are for the hardcore daytraders, others for the average Joe.  I usually find some new stocks/companies I never heard of from here.  But then I do my own research independent of that website.  If you find a company you like, plug it into google finance.  They'll give you its charts, recent articles on the company, a link to analyst estimates,  etc.  Really easy for the average investor.  

 

But then again some of the best stocks I've owned are companies I've had personal experience with and believe in.  I was one of the early users of Netflix when they launched as a DVD shipping company.  Really liked their business model and enjoyed their product.  Not only did they gain my business but my investment as well.  I saw the upcoming Hunger Game franchise as a potential huge winner for Lionsgate back at the end of 2011, turned out pretty well. Ofcourse there have been duds as well.  

 

If you want to dabble in the stock market with the future in mind, I still suggest a Roth IRA.  You can open one up at any of the brokerage websites (Schwab, Fidelity, etrade, etc).  That way you can invest in individual stocks, mutual funds, etc but do not have to worry about the headaches of taxes on realized gains etc.  You contribute money to your Roth IRA after tax.  You can withdraw any funds up the amount you contributed (tax free), you just can't withdraw any profits until after you retire.  So you can realize gains and still have access to funds.  The best of both worlds.  Only downside is that you max out at the $5,500/year contribution limit.  

 

You don't necessarily need to pay someone to help you.  You can open a brokerage account anywhere you want.  Of course if you have $500k+ to invest, you can give the company I work for a call  : )    

[usmccharles]

A 401k may restrict what you can invest in.  Usually a 401k will have a defined set of mutual funds that you can invest in and that is all.

 

I like reading articles on the 'Seeking Alpha' website.  It's the bleacher report of stock articles.  Tons of articles, plenty of different perspectives.  Some articles are for the hardcore daytraders, others for the average Joe.  I usually find some new stocks/companies I never heard of from here.  But then I do my own research independent of that website.  If you find a company you like, plug it into google finance.  They'll give you its charts, recent articles on the company, a link to analyst estimates,  etc.  Really easy for the average investor.  

 

But then again some of the best stocks I've owned are companies I've had personal experience with and believe in.  I was one of the early users of Netflix when they launched as a DVD shipping company.  Really liked their business model and enjoyed their product.  Not only did they gain my business but my investment as well.  I saw the upcoming Hunger Game franchise as a potential huge winner for Lionsgate back at the end of 2011, turned out pretty well. Ofcourse there have been duds as well.  

 

If you want to dabble in the stock market with the future in mind, I still suggest a Roth IRA.  You can open one up at any of the brokerage websites (Schwab, Fidelity, etrade, etc).  That way you can invest in individual stocks, mutual funds, etc but do not have to worry about the headaches of taxes on realized gains etc.  You contribute money to your Roth IRA after tax.  You can withdraw any funds up the amount you contributed (tax free), you just can't withdraw any profits until after you retire.  So you can realize gains and still have access to funds.  The best of both worlds.  Only downside is that you max out at the $5,500/year contribution limit.  

 

You don't necessarily need to pay someone to help you.  You can open a brokerage account anywhere you want.  Of course if you have $500k+ to invest, you can give the company I work for a call  : )    

Very good info, thank you. 

 

What is your take on silver?  something i always liked purchasing and its at an extreme low right now

[PuRock]

Very good info, thank you. 

 

What is your take on silver?  something i always liked purchasing and its at an extreme low right now

 

I've never paid much attention to commodities outside of how the price of crude oil is affecting oil companies.  Really couldn't tell you much about silver and if its a good investment.  

[usmccharles]

I've never paid much attention to commodities outside of how the price of crude oil is affecting oil companies.  Really couldn't tell you much about silver and if its a good investment.  

I like the fact that they are something i can physically hold.  My recent handling of it didnt make much money, but the buy-in price was roughly double.  now it only around 16$ ounce its very appealing to me. 

[Winchester]

Any specific reading you can suggest?  I started a 401k at my new job putting 6% in.  My thing is, where do i even go to find stocks i do like? i mean i would obviously put money in some of the blue chip stocks, but where would i go about up and coming company stocks, kind of like what you did with apple?  My thing is i just dont know how to get started. 

 

Also, do you recommend getting a etrade account or anything account that allows me to do it myself? or just pay someone else to do it?

Message me after the holidays. I will tell you what to buy and when to sell. Just let know how much you want to spend in a day. If you are willing to spend $500-$1000 so at a clip you can sell in about 3 days to about 2 weeks and average about 10% profit. And pretty safe investments. Nothing huge but you do that enough and it adds up.

[usmccharles]

Message me after the holidays. I will tell you what to buy and when to sell. Just let know how much you want to spend in a day. If you are willing to spend $500-$1000 so at a clip you can sell in about 3 days to about 2 weeks and average about 10% profit. And pretty safe investments. Nothing huge but you do that enough and it adds up.

I'm always interested in advice and suggestions. I'm going to start school for financing soon. May I ask what you do for a living or where you have your experience from?