Do You Invest?
By hofferp
@hofferp (4734)
United States
March 20, 2010 12:43am CST
I started investing a portion of my earnings in the stock market in my 30s. I'm now in my 60s and still have a good portion of my money in the stock market (equities). The older I get I realize I better begin to allocate more of my money in to conservative/less risky ventures. Do you invest? Have you been investing long or did you just start? Do you do your own investing or do you use a financial planner or other advisor? I do my own investing. I've thought about using a financial planner, but so far I haven't gone with one.
1 person likes this
4 responses
@louisefrank (356)
•
20 Mar 10
You're so sensible! I have worked for a national company since I left school (apart from breaks to have kids) and it has a really good pension scheme, so I haven't worried too much about my old age! I have also bought stocks, occasionally, especially back in the 80s when the British government was privatising public companies. I now wish I'd bought many more stocks and shares as I don't have many. I have been saving in a high rate savings account for years but recently interest rates have tumbled so I feel a bit exposed, financially. I'm such an idiot about finance that I'm now going to get some proper advice about what to do with my money from an independent financial adviser.
2 people like this
@hofferp (4734)
• United States
20 Mar 10
Thanks. In the 80s when I was new to investing, I spent hundreds of hours studying investing, finance, mutual funds, etc. after work and on the weekends. I had the money to pay for a financial advisor, but I wanted to be in more control of my money, so I learned everything I could. Now I say, oh it's easy, but then I think back, and I can remember being a little overwhelmed when I started. Getting a financial advisor is a good idea, but do some studying on your own, so you know if your advisor is taking care of your interests or his own. Start with Googling something like "selecting a financial planner". Good luck and thanks for your response!
1 person likes this
@cecillecarmela (3818)
• Philippines
20 Mar 10
Hello hofferp :)
I am a graduating student next week and will hopefully soon land a better job. Recently, I have been so interested to having my own business someday and investing in the stock market because of a local preacher who is also an entrepreneur at the same time. Both of them are fun though it can be quite risky. It is definitely one of my to-do's in life someday but for the meantime, I'll get a job first then save money so that we can buy our own car since having one is a necessity in our place.
1 person likes this
@hofferp (4734)
• United States
20 Mar 10
Congratulations on your graduation! First thing I'd do is set up a savings account and an emergency account and put money in to these. Then I would look at investing, but know what you're investing for -- a home, a business, retirement. Based on your goals and your level of risk (how much money are you willing to lose), then you allocate how much money will go in to stocks, how much will go in to bonds, how much will go in to other vehicles. You won't want to put all your money in to stocks. I invest through no-load mutual funds. And through my mutual funds, I have money invested in real estate, equities, bonds, money markets, etc.
I hope some day you save and invest enough money that you do get your own business.
@cecillecarmela (3818)
• Philippines
21 Mar 10
Hah! That seems so hard. :) Maybe I should buy a book guide for investing. Or do you have any financial advisors? What's the best way to learn the secrets and basics of investment? :))
@hofferp (4734)
• United States
21 Mar 10
I never bought a book. I did get some newsletters, when I first started, but you don't even have to do that. Go to Yahoo Finance. They have a whole tutorial on how to invest. It's basically a free education. You can learn everything you need to learn, free, online. When I started investing, the internet was new (1980s) and that kind of information just wasn't out there, but now it is. I've never used a financial planner because I want to be in control of my money. I don't want to pay someone to do it for me. Just start Googling (how to invest)...the information is there and good luck!
@dawnald (85146)
• Shingle Springs, California
22 Mar 10
We've been investing since our late 20's. The financial planner is my husband and he works with our stock broker.
@hofferp (4734)
• United States
22 Mar 10
I, too, prefer doing my own financial planning. I don't have a stock broker, because I buy/exchange mutual funds myself. I've been doing it so long that I'm "grandfathered in" and can move my money around without a now-required financial planner. When you make your decision about staying, separating, etc., I assume you will also be talking about your investments? Good luck in whatever you decide.
1 person likes this
@dawnald (85146)
• Shingle Springs, California
22 Mar 10
I'll probably be a chicken sh*t and put it all in a nice 1% T-bill or something. 
@teamrose (1492)
• United States
22 Mar 10
I invest in the stock market. I have be doing it for about 20 years. So far I am happy with my returns, although in the last 3 years my profits have been rather low or none. I will continue though because I believe in the long run, the real estate and the stock market is the best way to save money.
@hofferp (4734)
• United States
22 Mar 10
I'm with you, in the long run, the stock market and real estate are the ways to earn a decent return. I didn't lose any money in 2008, I sat on the sidelines until about May of 2009. I was fully invested until January of this year. Then my "sell signals" hit and I got back out of the market. I'm back in, now, but I watch my funds very closely. I can't afford to lose like I did during the tech bubble. Thanks for your reply and good luck with your investing.
