John's bio
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It would be all to easy for me to espouse various stock market investment theories – when to be successful in investing, I argue that one should stay the course of longer term investment as described in my book, A Way to Wealth – The Art of Investing in Common Stocks. Sure, we have had many sharp and fearful declines in the market, which I have pointed out in some of my other articles – and there will be more in the future.
However, sharp market declines should usually not cause one to sell long held mutual funds or carefully chosen equities. I must admit at times my confidence has been shaken. For example, prior to the decline beginning on February 27, 2007, I had begun a program of diversifying some of my assets out of stocks (I had been almost 100% invested in equities for some time). When the market broke, I quickly concluded this program of diversifying so that I sold near the price I had intended. In
retrospect, concluding this program at the time of the market break was not the optimal course of action, but I call it as much a lesson as an insurance premium to achieve the diversification I wanted. We can only go with our best knowledge and with the odds in our favor.
We can increase our knowledge of how to invest profitably by reading books on the subject of the stock market written by the best investors out there. Books by Peter Lynch and John Neff are favorites of mine. By imitating the investing behavior of the best investors, I believe we can greatly
increase our odds for success and be reassured to a certain extent that we can get through difficult markets.
In my book, A Way to Wealth – The Art of Investing in Common Stocks, sold on my website, I present a method of investing that is easy to understand and that most anyone can apply. Further I have found that the method is capable of producing sizeable gains in a portfolio of stocks and equity funds over time. Over the time I have been using the method I describe in the book, my invested assets have grown very well.
In many of the mutual funds in which I have invested I have multiplied my original investment. I chose most of my funds in the manner described in my book, by doing some very basic, but I believe very profound research. This research begins with perusing the mutual fund rankings as presented periodically in Forbes magazine. I discuss the necessary further research elsewhere on my website and in my book.
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This article contains the opinions and ideas of its author and is designed to provide useful general information to the reader on the subject matter covered. The author may or may not have current positions in the investments mentioned in this work, and the author may from time to time make investments in a manner that is not described here. Past investment performance is no guarantee or prediction of future results and any investments made, based on the opinions and ideas contained in this work, may or may not be successful. The strategies contained herein may not be suitable for every investor or situation, and the author is not engaged in, and should not be construed to be, rendering legal, accounting, investment advisory or other professional services to the reader or any other person. Readers should consult their own advisers for advice particular to their individual circumstances.