Investment BS Thread - Stocks/Futures/Mutual Funds/Bonds/Commodities/Options/ETFs/401ks/Etc

has anyone been keeping an eye on Blue Apron? I am wondering if they are a buy. They seem to have shifted from mail-order food kits to in-store kits.... which the investors are happy about. Not sure I buy into the hype unless their earnings start recovering.. but it may be a good time to buy. They were in the low 2s just a few weeks ago (at 3.15 now)

 

Also, I highly suggest you guys open up an account at Marcus (goldman sachs).. they have just increased their interest rate (again) to 1.7% APY. That is really good, especially for perhaps an emergency savings account. I opened one about a year ago, and they have very quickly raised their interest rates in line with the Fed's hikes. Most banks take a very long time to give money back to their account holders. I have been pleased with the expediency of rate increases by GS Bank.

 

UVV had a hell of a run today. But, I'm scared of tobacco

 

CHK retreated as soon as it touched $5... what a surprise

 

That's what I'm thinking as well. If the bottom falls out, it will be entirely emotional, early speculation. Since we are so far from next earnings report, it should be fairly smooth sailing for a bit. And since they are doing more ad campaigns, it may bode well for them.

 

I was buying and selling, trying to time the market. I learned that is a losing strategy. I would have made 100+% last year if I just left it alone. Instead I made 42% on my money. I go long now. Pick a good stock and hold on for the ride.

 

Walt, I have to agree with you there.

 

I read books on investing, and while I learn a lot, this is the main thing I have found. According to the “great” investors, trying to time the market is no different than gambling.

 

Exactly!! I enjoy playing high stakes cash game poker. So that was the draw, but losing/not making money is no fun. lol, I learned the hard way.

 

Honestly, there is strategy in poker, so your odds are probably better there.

Don’t get me wrong, finding good stocks at low prices and holding will make you money. I just don’t think trying to guess highs and lows will, it just takes time.

 

I actually think investing is easier than poker to make profits. Poker can kill you with a principle called variance. Play perfect, still get killed,lol.

 

https://seekingalpha.com/article/4177588-micron-good-news-continues

 

What do you guys think of this for a portfolio (built for long term, looking for a sustained return over the course of years, not get rich quick):

I am thinking of funding it about evenly split in quarters:

1. SPY (to mirror the S&P)
2. DIA (to mirror the Dow)
3. QQQ (to mirror the Nasdaq)
4. Berkshire Hathaway (class B of course)

I just set an account up with 1 share of each of these (about $1k in it to start). I am really thinking about getting out of the guided (i.e. pay an annual fee) account and trying to do the whole thing on my own.

Anything anyone would add? Take away? Horrible idea? Genius?

 

Are you doing this within a tax advantaged account?

 

No, but I only plan to buy and hold. I don't plan to withdraw anything for at least 5 years, probably much longer if everything goes ok.

Can you expand on what problems I will run into if I only add to this, not withdraw?

Edit: I am somewhat new to this. My goal here is to get out of a portfolio that I am paying a fee on to have it managed (0.85%) and try to get similar returns on my own. Please, any problems I may run into, I want to hear!

 

What are your goals? If you truly plan to keep the money in there for much longer perhaps start looking at any sort of tax advranged account ( a retirement account - 401k, IRAs etc...)

Perhaps contribute 50-50 to both accounts. With the one account being accessible in a few years for let’s say a down payment on a house, and the other for your future retirement. All depends on your goals.

 

My goal is to grow the account as much as possible (within the risk I am willing to take). I would only need to access it for an emergency, I would not be dipping into it for a house, car, etc. I guess my goal would be to grow it to a point I can live the way I want to off of what it makes, whether that's in 5 years or 25 years, that is the ultimate goal.

I do not want to make this a retirement account though. I don't want to get into too much personal detail, but I don't need a retirement income in that sense (I get VA disability that is enough to get by on).

So the goal: maximum growth, with a willingness for very high risk, over as long a period as it takes (I have 30+ years until retirement age).

 

Based on the above, am I on the right track splitting evenly between the 3 ETFs that track the market? I would be happy with the past 10+ years that that strategy has produced, if it continued of course.

Edit: I did not mean to quote myself, no clue what happened, but this was all supposed to be one message!

 

SMRT is annoying me. I'm still holding, but it is not doing what I expected it to do. This could be a longer game than I thought. Mostly annoyed because most everything else is up today.

Shouldve purchased CLNE when I had the chance. I tend to call certain things and then don't actually do anything and miss out. ergh

 

I do not think the bottom will fall out until the next earnings report.. and even so they would need to start losing money again. I think they are being fairly conservative with their business approach now.. so I don't see why the stock would fall on fundamentals. That being said, speculative investors can ruin it lol