Investing

[BtownBeers]

Just don't get blacklisted daytrading if you aren't licensed.

[Rusty27]

I'll be working as long as I live. Hopefully I can make it to 75 or 80. I really don't care to be around after that.

[ssigman]

well mike can max out his 401k and ira funds and then stuff the rest of his money in his stash of man thongs

[klicks]

I agree with Mike that you cannot rely on social security - same is true in both our countries. Your 401K etc. are like what we call RRSP (Registered Retirement Security Plans) and they basically work the same, permit you to basically defer taxes until you are retired and start pulling back those funds - ideally at a lower tax rate than you would have paid on that money now. I think 401K or whatever similar programs are available are the first place to put your available investment capital - simply because you get to reduce your taxable income by the amount you invest (to limits - not sure what they are in the US, but here they are about 18% of your gross income - anything more than that does not give you any further reduction in taxable income) and because you do not get taxed (now) in any capital gains on investments in those programs. Depending on your risk tolerance, how long until you ope to retire, etc. I figure you are best to invest in some kind of blend of low risk, stable return investments (T bonds, GICs etc.) and some higher risk higher potential return investments like stocks. While I agree with Bil that the stock markets are for all intensive purposes rigged to big and industrial investors - as long as you realize that, and as long as you don't invest more into stocks than you are willing to lose, then money can be made in stocks - and typically you'll make more than the you would on guaranteed investments. Of course, the down side is you can get hammered on stocks, especially in short term scenarios. Anyway, I personally have my RRSP (or 401K if I was american) at about 70% stocks and mutual funds - mostly in what I consider long term investments, 'blue chip' kind of companies but I throw in a couple more volatile ones as well, and about 30% 'safe' investments. I'm no financial expert, but that's my '2 euros' (as Jay would say) on this subject! Ultimately, I think it's mostly common sense - higher risk means higher possible returns, guarenteed investments mean lower returns - so don't invest it all in one area, don't invest more than you can lose in higher risk stocks, etc. and max out your tax free (or more accurately, tax deferred) investment opp's like 401Ks before investing outside of them. As far as picking stocks - hell who knows, there's lot's of experts out there and lot's of websites that provide insight, advice and analysis tools, but I tend to invest in what I know so I at least can pretend to know what I'm doing

[BaldBil]

You all make good points about the advantages. My policy is simple and from it I will not waver; "Keep your enemies close and your money closer."

[ssigman]

makes total sense klickds..personally i'm an idiot and let it ride so right now i'm at 90% stocks with about 20% invested in overseas stocks..thats why i want my rollover to slowly get moved to the roth so that i can put that into mutual funds and diversify my portfolio...which sounds great until you see how much its worth

[ssigmanstinks]

at this point in your life, you are far enough from retirement to be as heavy in stocks as you are. I wouldn't worry too much about it, there will be some point in the next 37 working years before retirement to pull out of the stocks at a profit I'm sure.

[ssigman]

famous last words...how long before people start jumping out of windows again??

[ssigmanstinks]

also, I've been looking into that pdrt you have, I'd dump that shit next time it breaks 2 bucks,

[ssigman]

that is my plan...but it'll never go that high again...i messed on up that one...particle drilling..it sounded like a winner

[ssigmanstinks]

yep, sounds great right up until the quarterly reports showing 0 revenue, and the fact that they missed a claim of having 10 rentable units by well...... 10 units. hehe, sorry.