What You Should Know About Your Stock Portfolio

There’s a lot of articles written on investing every year. There is so much information available that after reading everything, you may find yourself even more confused than before. Therefore, what do you really need to know about investing? This article contains all you need to know.

Stocks are more than just pieces of paper made for buying and selling. With stock ownership, you become a member of the company. This means you are entitled to both claims and earnings. Voting privileges are sometimes granted by stock ownership.

Set yourself up with realistic expectations when investing in common stocks. Many people know that unless you participate in high risk trading, which has a high chance of failing, you will not have success with the market overnight.

Before you do anything that involves investing with a broker or trader, make sure you understand what fees you might be liable for. Learn more about entry and exit fees before signing up. You’d be surprised how quickly these fees can add up.

It is smart to keep a savings account with about six months’ worth of living expenses in it, set aside for emergencies. This allows you to have a cushion if you lose a job, suffer an illness or have any other issues that prevent you from covering your bills, so that you do not need to dip into your investments.

When searching for stocks then look into those that get you a greater return than 10%, which is the market average, because you can actually get that type of return from index funds. If the stock includes dividends you would simply add that percentage to the the growth rate percentage to determine the total likely return on the investment. If your stock yields 3% and also has 10% earnings growth, expect somewhere around a 13% overall return.

Do not forget to exercise your right to vote if you happen to own common stocks. While each company differs, you may be able to vote for directors or for proposals that involve major changes like merging with another company.

It is usually a waste of your effort to try timing the markets. It has been proven that steadily investing over a large period of time has the best results. Figure out how much of your money you can afford to invest. Start making regular investments and dedicate yourself to repeating the process.

If you value the assistance of a broker, but want the option of also trading on your own, look for a broker that can offer you both online and full-service options. This way you have the best of both worlds, you get to make your own picks while taking advantage of the professional advice your broker offers. This is the best way to have control yourself but also have access to assistance.

To make your stock portfolio better, create a plan including specific strategies. The strategies in your plan should be about when you will buy and when you will sell. A firm budget should also be a part of your plan. Decide how much you can afford to spend and stick to it. This will help you to make prudent choices, instead of being rash and relying on your emotions.

One account you should have, is a high bearing account containing at least six months’ salary. Then if a sudden emergency happens, like an extended period of unemployment, or a medical emergency, you have enough cash to carry you through the rough patch.

Consult with an expert before deciding to trade stocks on your own. The services a competent advisor can provide go far beyond recommending individual stocks. They can help you figure out your goals, your tolerance for risk, and other important information. You can then formulate a solid plan together based on this information.

Cash isn’t necessarily profit. Cash invested in not necessarily cash at hand, so remember that your investments need cash in order to thrive. Reinvesting your returns can help you to earn even more, but also keep your bills up-to-date. Try to retain a six month emergency savings balance, as a “just in case” precaution.

If you choose to go with a brokerage firm, you need one that is trustworthy. Many companies make extravagant claims that they will make you rich, but they simply do not have the skill or know-how to live up to their claims. The web is a valuable tool in the search for a good broker.

Stick to the sectors you know the most about. If you’re investing without the help of a broker, choose companies which you know a fair amount about.

Now you have all the information you need to know. You should know the basics to investing and why it is wise to know this. It is fun as a child to not plan too far into the future; however, it is important to look further ahead. Because you now have some great knowledge, you need to utilize it in order to remain in control of your finances.

Wayne Aguilar
 

Welcome to my site, Let me share a bit about myself… I am fortunate to have enjoyed a long career as an investor, financial commentator and investment advisor. I learned from many successful investors during my 25 years in the investment and trading industry. I now enjoy trading my own accounts full-time and through this website hope to give back to those who also aspire to find financial independence through investing.