tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5465015914589377788.post7122987890312929070..comments2024-03-20T09:32:16.592-04:00Comments on Michael James on Money: How to Make Money in Stocks: Getting StartedMichael Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10362529610470788243noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5465015914589377788.post-62563572353224525202013-07-26T14:28:32.066-04:002013-07-26T14:28:32.066-04:00Actually, it's a 20-stock portfolio, two large...Actually, it's a 20-stock portfolio, two large-cap companies from 10 different sectors. Not sure if I'll implement it, but I would likely do so for the Canadian and US market if I did. Forty stocks would offer pretty good diversification. Would maybe add another ten stocks from different screens to come up with a 50-stock portfolio... now it's getting to be almost too many holdings. Anyway, something I'll have to decide upon.genehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05608927986297939720noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5465015914589377788.post-55155378869904049432013-07-26T09:01:04.471-04:002013-07-26T09:01:04.471-04:00@Gene: I have considered trying to build my own i...@Gene: I have considered trying to build my own index, but I concluded that I don't have an expectation of coming out ahead. But, I don't think I've written about this before. Maybe next week.<br /><br />The two-minute portfolio is a two-stock strategy. That makes it so high-risk that you expect high deviation from the index. If you go through a couple dozen such strategies, one is bound to outperform nicely over 2 or 3 decades. But most will underperform.<br /><br />Subscribing to newsletters isn't my thing any more. I find them to be full of manufactured overconfidence.Michael Jameshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10362529610470788243noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5465015914589377788.post-83195406551680541292013-07-25T21:08:39.932-04:002013-07-25T21:08:39.932-04:00Have you considered making a pseudo index fund by ...Have you considered making a pseudo index fund by buying perhaps 15 large-cap stocks from each of Canada and the USA, that would mimic an index? Not ideal for a growing portfolio, but for a relatively-stable account, and low commissions, it could save money on fees. Drawbacks are that it would be harder to increase or decrease holdings, and the savings wouldn't be huge over already inexpensive ETFs.<br /><br />I was intrigued by this article: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-investor/investment-ideas/got-two-minutes-you-can-beat-the-market/article7243076/?page=all<br /><br />I've also considered subscribing to a value-oriented newsletter, but it's hard to assess whether it would result in better performance than an index or what I could do on my own.genehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05608927986297939720noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5465015914589377788.post-33331338990762695622013-07-25T17:03:05.193-04:002013-07-25T17:03:05.193-04:00@Gene: I've been reluctant to disclose my por...@Gene: I've been reluctant to disclose my portfolio mix, mainly because I wouldn't want anyone to follow it blindly. That said, core holdings of mine are XIU in Canada and VTI in the US. I'm also still holding some Berkshire Hathaway (my last individual stock).Michael Jameshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10362529610470788243noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5465015914589377788.post-69334771787020568282013-07-25T16:51:10.003-04:002013-07-25T16:51:10.003-04:00I read a similar book by William J O'Neil, fou...I read a similar book by William J O'Neil, founder of Investors Business Daily a long time ago. Pretty much the same title, too. I used CANSLIM for awhile and had pretty good success, but that was during the late 90s when momentum was pretty much the only thing that was required to succeed in the market. Luckily my success scared me just when the bubble was poised to pop, and I moved a lot of my portfolio to Berkshire Hathaway around 99/2000.<br /><br />I recently sold a major holding and I'm looking for something to allocate the proceeds to. Seems like ETF index funds are a wise choice, considering how hard it is to beat the market and how easy it is to virtually match it. Do you have a post on what specific ETFs you use? I currently have small positions in XIC and VFV. genehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05608927986297939720noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5465015914589377788.post-60060794594596263092013-07-22T23:00:31.776-04:002013-07-22T23:00:31.776-04:00I'm pretty sure if you advertised as "...I'm pretty sure if you advertised as "'Weed' for sale. 100% organic" you'd get a few calls.... ; )Bet Crookshttp://financialcrooks.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5465015914589377788.post-25085023595421502402013-07-22T19:41:56.609-04:002013-07-22T19:41:56.609-04:00@Mark: I guess it depends on the reason for the 5...@Mark: I guess it depends on the reason for the 52-week low. For good companies you get a great buying opportunity. For a company like Eastman Kodak, it was a death spiral.<br /><br />I'm glad you're enjoying Kahneman's book as much as I did.Michael Jameshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10362529610470788243noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5465015914589377788.post-12325685775895420842013-07-22T19:27:10.527-04:002013-07-22T19:27:10.527-04:00I suppose "buy and hold and don't trade s...I suppose "buy and hold and don't trade stocks if ever" wouldn't sell many copies would it?<br /><br />For the most part, I wait to buy stocks when the price tanks, or at least, approaches the 52-week low. That's a signal for me. Funny that he says: “if a stock drops 7% to 8% below what you paid for it, sell.” I normally do the opposite. My most recent example, Telus.<br /><br />BTW - unrelated topic, Thinking Fast and Slow by Kahneman is amazing read.<br /><br />MarkMy Own Advisorhttp://www.myownadvisor.canoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5465015914589377788.post-8912201035363433522013-07-22T15:04:36.122-04:002013-07-22T15:04:36.122-04:00@Bet Crooks: I have surplus plants, too. If I st...@Bet Crooks: I have surplus plants, too. If I stop calling them weeds, do you think people will buy them?Michael Jameshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10362529610470788243noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5465015914589377788.post-69363862324002971372013-07-22T13:32:43.578-04:002013-07-22T13:32:43.578-04:00Rats. I thought this was going to be an article on...Rats. I thought this was going to be an article on how to sell my surplus plants (aka Matthiolas) and make a killing. Frankly, I'd likely have more luck with that than with trying to buy and sell based on chart analysis.<br /><br />The book I want to read isn't out yet. If you see the BBC be sure to tell him he has an audience waiting!Bet Crookshttp://financialcrooks.comnoreply@blogger.com