db0255:

Yea I'm allowed to trade, and I haven't seen any limit yet. My friend also.
Also, not reinvesting dividends, is a bad idea. In general you're missing out on a good 2-4% a year not compounded. Just because fractional shares are annoying isn't a good enough reason to not reinvest.

You didn't read what I wrote.  I am not against investing dividends, I don't think it makes sense to end up with fractional shares.  Buy whole shares.  I believe in staying invested, but fractional shares are messy.   I suggest investing the dividend with other cash as whole shares.  Since the transaction cost at Zecco are zero, there's no problem doing that.

If you're part of a company sponsored program, it makes sense to reinvest dividends.  As I mentioned earlier, there are many companies with stock purchase plans and dividend reinvestment that don't charge fees.

 

---

Slow 'n Steady!
www.manifestinvesting.com

Purely Technical:

Technical Analysis is the superior form of analysis across EVERY timeframe (although it is often mistaken for being an art that is only applicable to the short term)..

Make no mistake about it. I use tech. analysis for my investment decisions as well.  But I have to disagree with your statement.

Look at the Nasdaq chart before the crash of 2000.  It is indistinguisable from the stock charts of many companies that experience periods of reasonable accelerating growth.  But for many Nasdaq companies at the time, the PE ratios went through the roof, in the order of hundreds.  PMCS, BRCM, etc. were the darlings of Wall Street at the time, but look at them now.  There is no way you can tell, just by looking at the charts alone, whether a company's stock is experiencing reasonable accumulation or unreasonable speculation.  

Just a quick question I need some good websites for other markets like Dongwei Su, other chinese markets, Japanese and european markets and so forth.  I have never bought other foreign stocks but would like to learn how and how timing works with buying them on zecco or if you even can.  If someone would let me know Id really appreciate it.  Thanks

---

Get Rich or Die Trying

What are you talking about bankrates.com?Is that the website where it will give me the highest yield on my checking and savings accounts like you stated?

I'm a young investor. I just recently turned 24 and one of the best investments i have made would be the 200 bucks i paid for stock advice on the motley fools hiddens gems page. Some of their stock advice has been the best thing that has happened to me and the 200 was well worth it...

As for young investors i think the biggest mistake they make is they like to play with penny stocks. As we know penny stocks tend to bring a lot of volatility with them. Remember just because you own a lot of share of a company it's not a good thing. It's better to own a few shares of a solid company that has a solid earnings sheet. A Low P/E ratio is always nice.

The second mistake i think young investors make is they do the day trading thing. That is definatley something you dont want to start off doing. It's way to risky and you start treating your stocks like you are gambling.

Then there is the panic selling. They see the market take a hit and they panic and sell their company because it is down for the day. If you have a solid company there is no reason to get rid of it. Patience is the name of the game.

A Few basic things you should know. When you hold a stock for over a year when you sell it you will only have to pay 15% tax (long term capitol gains) If you sell it before one year then you will have to treat any profits as income.

Also if you do decide to do the day trading thing remember if you sell a company for a loss you cant deduct the losses if you buy back the stock within a month.

As for a few stock tips from the motley fool...Some of their best for me have been BWLD, LOOP, CMG/B just to name a few. They have done wonders for me. Best of luck to you other youngins

Hey all, new to the boards, fairly new to stocks. I have a growing portfolio at 22 now, and looking to get set in long term positions on TD Ameri before my free trading is up...then bring my spec. plays over to Zecco.

Some of these stocks were given to me in paper form that I just had transfered over, some I purchased. GOOG and AAPL I got into fairly early and have made some nice return on thus far. Anyways, id love to know which positions (maybe 5 or 6) to keep on TDA.

Apple, Citi, Google, Pepsi, Chicago Bridge & Iron, WalMart, Disney,Mastercard

My spec plays are not included in that list (already set on bringing them over). However, I feel like I have too much $ spread around in too many stocks. Any thoughts? Was thinking about adding Mobil (XOM) to that list of long positions as well. Thanks!

yes . . . it is off topic . . . but "bankrate.com" will allow you to do many financial service searches in order to find the very best rates and services available for any given financial need that you have. its an important part of your financial approach to make the most of all the money you have, not just the money you have with your broker.

i stated the website as plural before but please note that it is actually "bankrate.com".

just go to the tab labeled "checking and savings". there should be a blue box with your options for searching. click on either "interest checking" or "mma" to find the best rates available for your money. most of the best bank rates will be available from internet banks which means that youll need to have consistent internet access to be able to keep up with your online bank accounts.

It all depends on how much you have in each of these positions. Diversification has proven to be really effective, but spreading yourself thin over positions that are not sufficiently large is dangerous because of comissions.

If TD still charges $10 a trade, and let's say you have $1000 invested in each of those stocks. You would need a return of at least 2% on a given stock to break-even!

In short, either fund larger positions in TD (and sacrifice some diversification benefit) or switch your positions into Zecco where low comissions allow for diversification.

- Rick
Check Out My Investing/Personal Finance Blog!

also make sure you complete the "money market sweep" form for your zecco account or lose out on a 4.76% return on your cash balance!

for other brokerages be sure to compare their cash interest rates as well. it can make a difference.

rsdunlop:

Hey all, new to the boards, fairly new to stocks. I have a growing portfolio at 22 now, and looking to get set in long term positions on TD Ameri before my free trading is up...then bring my spec. plays over to Zecco.

Some of these stocks were given to me in paper form that I just had transfered over, some I purchased. GOOG and AAPL I got into fairly early and have made some nice return on thus far. Anyways, id love to know which positions (maybe 5 or 6) to keep on TDA.

Apple, Citi, Google, Pepsi, Chicago Bridge & Iron, WalMart, Disney,Mastercard

My spec plays are not included in that list (already set on bringing them over). However, I feel like I have too much $ spread around in too many stocks. Any thoughts? Was thinking about adding Mobil (XOM) to that list of long positions as well. Thanks!

 

I am inferring that you're interested in purchasing a variety of different companies for reasons of diversification.  My experience is that diversification is concept thrown around without much thought.   Diversification has to be considered in the context or risk and risk has to be examined in terms of your personal tolerance.   If you have a low tolerance for risk, you might want to consider a large portfolio of companies (20+) or even an index fund.  If you have a high tolerance for risk, consider fewer companies.  I have never been diversified, even though I do own many companies.  I have discovered that risk has a powerful neutralizing force called time.

If you owned 10 to 12 companies, leading companies, in unrelated industries, and you planned to hold them for many years, you'd be fairly well diversified.  You'd also assume extra risk; however, that has to be your choice.   My personal experience has satisfied me that the assumption of risk due to lack of diversification does lead to  better, long-term returns.

---

Slow 'n Steady!
www.manifestinvesting.com

I'm 25 and just entered the zecco world. Would love to become part of a young community of investors that have good advice and attitude about the market. Im down for retiring early!

Can anyone give me a list of 10 good stocks to start out with right now? Im looking to get in with about $3000. Any advice would be very much appreciated. Thanks.

smkell