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Financial News Nothing about money changes faster than the news about money. It's part economics, part politics, part gossip, part fortune telling, and always addictive. Web:
Investment Fraud For most people, investment decisions are driven by fear and greed. Let me repeat that: fear and greed. Say it to yourself: fear and greed. Dishonest people know that, and they play to it, which is why investment fraud is an enormous problem. The world is full of people who will be glad to say and do anything to get your money. The best defense is to learn how to recognize fraud so you don't get fooled. I am sure you have heard the old saying, "If it sounds too good to be true, it is." There is no better advice to remember when you are investing. Web:
Investment Glossaries The world of money is complex, and from time to time, you are going to encounter an unfamiliar technical term. For example, say you are reading a prospectus or a report, and you see a reference to a term you don't understand, such as "capital rationing". My advice is to spend a few moments, and use a glossary to find out what the word means. In this way, you will build your vocabulary over time. (By the way, capital rationing refers to the placing of limits on the amount of new investment that can be undertaken by a company.) Web:
Investment Resources As soon as you start to invest, you enter a new world in which it seems as if everyone wants to give you advice. There are books, seminars, brokers, investments advisors, and well-meaning friends and relatives -- it seems as if everyone wants to tell you what to do with your money. My advice? Go slowly, and don't do anything you don't understand completely. Remember, you can't lose money by leaving it in the bank while you take time to learn. You can lose money jumping into something you don't understand. Web:
Investment Talk and General Discussion Mutual funds, IRAs, discount brokerages, margin terms -- do you sometimes feel like your head is going to spin around? Learn everything you need to know about investments and handling money. Make your money work for you. Usenet:
Mutual Funds A mutual fund is a fund, run by an investment company, in which you can buy shares. The investment company uses the money in the fund to invest in a variety of financial instruments, most often stocks. The value of the fund's share rises and falls in relation to its holdings. The advantage of investing in a mutual fund is that it offers more diversification and better management than you could provide for yourself. There are thousands of mutual funds in many different categories, so it helps a lot to do some homework before you invest. Web:
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Online Investment Games Playing the stock market can be exhilarating or devastating, depending on how well you do -- if you are using your own money. If you want the excitement without the risk, try one of these online investment games. Start with a given amount of imaginary money and build an imaginary portfolio. Then compete against other people to see who can create the most imaginary profits. (For even more fun, you can imagine how much tax you would have to pay on your winnings if they were real.) Web:
OTC Stocks Many stocks do not meet the requirements to be listed on a regular stock exchange. Such securities are known as OTC (over the counter) stocks or penny stocks, and are traded between dealers, either by computer or over the phone. OTC stocks typically trade at very low prices (less than a dollar a share), and investing in such securities is usually considered risky. Such stocks are often from young companies with no track record, although they are sometimes from older companies that used to be listed but have fallen on hard times. In the U.S., price quotes for OTC stocks can be found on the OTC Bulletin Board or in the Pink Sheets, a publication of the National Quotation Bureau. The rules for trading OTC stocks are enforced by the National Association of Securities Dealers (NASD). Web:
Reports About Financial Professionals One day, I was checking one of my brokerage accounts on the Web, when I noticed that the name of my broker had changed. (The name is displayed whenever I look at my account.) I found out that the brokerage company had fired her, but had not bothered to tell me. (Why should they? I'm only a customer.) Instead they silently moved my account to another broker. When I called the company and asked why the original broker had been fired, they declined to offer any details. But then I checked the Web site of the National Association of Securities Dealers, and I was able to find out what really happened. When you need information about a broker, a futures trader or a certified financial planner, don't depend on someone volunteering the information. Check with the appropriate regulatory agency, and find out for yourself. Web:
Stock Market Data The next time your therapist tells you to take stock in yourself, you will know where to look. Here are some resources that can help you find stock information for just about any security you can imagine. (And who wouldn't like to imagine more security?) Web:
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