- Strategic Stock Trading: Master Personal Finance Using Wallstreetwindow Stock Investing Strategies With Stock Market Technical Analysis
- The Intelligent Investor: The Definitive Book on Value Investing. A Book of Practical Counsel (Revised Edition)
- Understanding Stocks
- Stock Investing For Dummies
- The Neatest Little Guide to Stock Market Investing, 2010 Edition
Avoid stock tips. Do your own research and do not seek or pay attention to any stock tips, even from insiders. Warren Buffet says that he throws away all letters that are mailed to him recomending one stock. He says that these salesmen are being paid to say good things about the stock so that the company can raise money by dumping stocks on unsuspecting investors.
- Likewise, don't watch CNBC or pay attention to any television, radio or internet coverage of the stock market. You should focus on investing for the long term, 20 years, 30 years, 50 years, or more, and not get distracted by short term gyrations of the market.
Invest regularly and systematically. Dollar cost averaging forces you to buy low and sell high and is a simple, sound strategy. Just set aside a fixed sum of money, such as $1000, to buy stocks every month. Set aside a percentage of each paycheck to go into savings. Always leave at least six to 12 months living expenses in cash for emergencies. And remember that bear markets are for buying. If the stock market drops by 20% or more, move more cash into stocks, and move all available discretionary cash and bonds into stocks if the stock market drops by more than 50%. The stock market has always bounced back, even from the crash that occurred between 1929-1932.
Consider selling portions of your holdings as a stock appreciates significantly, at least 50% to 300%, based on quality of the stock. Use upper limit for better quality stocks. Letting your winners run as long as the story is still good will increase your long-term chance for success. Warren Buffet says that you should hold winners forever, but if the price-to-book gets too high (above 100 is too high), you should consider selling the stock.
Consult a reputable broker, banker, or investment adviser if you need to. Read as many books and articles as possible written by experts who have successfully invested in the types of markets in which you have an interest. You will also want to read articles helping you with the emotional and psychological aspects of investing, to help you deal with the ups and downs of participating in the stock market. It is important for you to know how to make the smartest choices possible when investing in stock, and even if you do make the wisest decisions, to know how to deal with loss in the event that it happens.
Learn how to budget your money and to spend your earnings wisely. Most investors have to be careful not to spend any of their profits, and to keep some aside for future use, and for retirement, as well as emergencies.