Vanguard Target Retirment funds V.S. managing your own investments?
344464
The Target Retirement Funds are a "one size fits all" approach, and not everyone has the same risk tolerance.  If you are sure you can stomach the volatility of 100% stocks then invest in 100% stocks for retirement.  I would suggest about 20% or so foreign stocks, for a slight decrease in your volatility.  If you have some money outside an IRA invest some of that portion in foreign stocks for the Foreign dividend tax credit.  Note that the Target Retirement funds invest ~20% in foreign stocks, but they can't offer the foreign tax credit because of the way they are structured.\n\nIf you are investing solely for retirement, 100% stocks may be a good idea.  Remember to fund other goals, like a rainy day fund for when you lose your job.  (It happens to the best.) Layoffs are most likely when the economy and stock market are down.   You also need to save for a down payment on a house.  Do you want to delay buying a house because the market is down 50%?\n\nThere is no magic age at which you have to start converting to bonds.  Off the top of my head, I would suggest 20-30 years before retirement.\n\nBefore investing in 100% stocks take their quiz to see if you have the stomach:
423889
The best way to do anything yourself is to learn something about it first. You'd be surprised at the thousands of books available on this one subject at your local library.\n\nBut most people spend more time deciding the color of their new car, than they do on a mutual fund advisor, for example. \n\nAre you really wanting to do this yourself, or are you asking about someone who is an expert who can do it for you?\n\nIf you invest in the stock market right now, or just buy into all the ETF's you can afford, it's a crap shoot, like rolling the dice, and the odds are probably not in your favor, whether you have an expert fund manager or not, because mutual funds are always "in" the market.\n\nThey say "Buy and Hold" for the long term is better, but that depends on when you get in, and what your definiton of "long term" is. \n\nThe Dow is now approaching all-time highs last seen in Jan 2000, so if your long-term definition is more than seven years, then you won't mind waiting another seven years for a profit.\n\nIn my opinion, the name of the game is capital preservation. When the risks are high, like right now, you get out of the stock and bond markets and park your cash in a interest bearing money market fund or CD or Treasury Bill.\n\nThis is simply not a good entry point for investors. Be patient, wait a few months, and you'll be able to buy much more stock a lot cheaper, the risks will be lower (even though they will seem higher), and your chance of success greater.\n\nIf you wish to research the “Buy and Hold Strategy” further, or perhaps trade yourself, I recommend two book titles. One is called "Which Is Better, Buy-and-Hold or Market Timing?" The other is "Do You Have What It Takes to Be a Market Timer?" They will give you plenty to think about.
652949
The best way to do anything yourself is to learn something about it first. You'd be surprised at the thousands of books available on this one subject at your local library.\n\nBut most people spend more time deciding the color of their new car, than they do on a mutual fund advisor, for example. \n\nAre you really wanting to do this yourself, or are you asking about someone who is an expert who can do it for you?\n\nIf you invest in the stock market right now, or just buy into all the ETF's you can afford, it's a crap shoot, like rolling the dice, and the odds are probably not in your favor, whether you have an expert fund manager or not, because mutual funds are always "in" the market.\n\nThey say "Buy and Hold" for the long term is better, but that depends on when you get in, and what your definiton of "long term" is. The phrase "Buy low and sell high" infers that you buy after a decline; decidedly not the case here.\n\nThe Dow is now approaching all-time highs last seen in Jan 2000, so if your long-term definition is more than seven years, then you won't mind waiting another seven years for a profit.\n\nIn my opinion, the name of the game is capital preservation. When the risks are high, like right now, you get out of the stock and bond markets and park your cash in a interest bearing money market fund or CD or Treasury Bill.\n\nThis is simply not a good entry point for investors. Be patient, wait a few months, and you'll be able to buy much more stock a lot cheaper, the risks will be lower (even though they will seem higher), and your chance of success greater.\n\nIf you wish to research the “Buy and Hold Strategy” further, or perhaps trade yourself, I recommend two book titles. One is called "Which Is Better, Buy-and-Hold or Market Timing?" The other is "Do You Have What It Takes to Be a Market Timer?" They will give you plenty to think about.
654122
If you want to EARN A 10-15% RETURN WITH A SECURED INVESTMENT, listen up. I am working with this company called ARTSTAR MANAGEMENT. They offer a 10-15% RETURN on your money. They can work with any money including IRA’s, and 401k’s, OR CD'S. They pay interest directly to you monthly and the investment is SECURED!!!! But they do have a minimum investment. Give this place a call it’s a great way to park money for safety and get a good return. Here is the address www.webuyhouses2.net Fill out a form and they will send you a no-obligation information package and you can compare their investment to the mutual funds and such. HAPPY INFORMED INVESTING!!!
317907
The best way to do anything yourself is to learn something about it first. You'd be surprised at the thousands of books available on this one subject at your local library.\n\nBut most people spend more time deciding the color of their new car, than they do on a mutual fund advisor, for example. \n\nAre you really wanting to do this yourself, or are you asking about someone who is an expert who can do it for you?\n\nIf you invest in the stock market right now, or just buy into all the ETF's you can afford, it's a crap shoot, like rolling the dice, and the odds are probably not in your favor, whether you have an expert fund manager or not, because mutual funds are always "in" the market.\n\nThey say "Buy and Hold" for the long term is better, but that depends on when you get in, and what your definiton of "long term" is. \n\nThe Dow is now approaching all-time highs last seen in Jan 2000, so if your long-term definition is more than seven years, then you won't mind waiting another seven years for a profit. There have been periods of over twenty years when the Dow went nowhere. This is not investing, but rather blind hope.\n\nFor most people, the name of the game is capital preservation. When the risks are high, like right now, you get out of the stock and bond markets and park your cash in a interest bearing money market fund or CD or Treasury Bill.\n\nThis is simply not a good entry point for investors. Be patient, wait a few months, and you'll be able to buy much more stock a lot cheaper, the risks will be lower (even though they will seem higher), and your chance of success greater.\n\nIf you wish to research the “Buy and Hold Strategy” further, or perhaps trade yourself, I recommend two book titles. One is called "Which Is Better, Buy-and-Hold or Market Timing?" The other is "Do You Have What It Takes to Be a Market Timer?" They will give you plenty to think about.
967463
I have BofA.  You don't pay a trading fee for self-directed investments as long as you have $25K in checking/savings/CD accounts with them.  There are no account maintenance fees either.
201107
This Vanguard investor questionnaire with give you a rough idea how to allocate your money, depending on your financial situation.  That's the do-it-yourself approach.  You may also want to try a financial advisor.
163073
S&P is good however i would go 60-65% stock and 40% bonds and cash investments so as to diversify your account while still making you a good rate of return.  When you get to around 60 you want to move more toward bonds and other save investments.  Remember as long as you diversify you will be fine so put your money into some other funds.  If you dont have a finicail planner available with your 401k plan seek out one to help.  Also www.bobbrinker.com and bankrate.com are good sites to help with investing.
95304
As stated, it depends on your age and your tolerance for risk. Savings bonds are guaranteed by the US Government, but only return about 4-6% per year, depending on the bond type. There are very safe mutual funds that allow you to invest over time (like bonds), but that will return a better percentage than savings bonds, which are the most conservative. Even mature people should not be investing "large" amounts of money in savings bonds, because there is a holding period. If you take the money out too soon, you pay a penalty (lose interest). Plus the returns are not that great.\n\nLastly, expecting that savings bonds will create the money you WILL need in retirement is unrealistic. You need to fund a 401(k) where you work, buy some stocks and mutual funds, then you can add some bonds. Diversification is the secret.
280469
Investing in the stock market for myself.  I have several stocks that I research at any time and invest in, then trade them when I feel they have reached their intrinsic value.  Some within a few days others within 18 months.  While doing that I am going to school for business finance and another school for CFP (Certified Financial Planner) and working part time for a company that is sponsoring me for my insurance, mortgage and brokerage licenses.  Once I am done with my education - end of 2007, I plan on working full time for a firm for 3 years while still building my personal wealth on Wall Street and through investing and managing money for others.  Then I plan on opening a not for profit financial planning office in town here for the lower to upper middle class.  Possibly with the lower class as well.  To teach them how to gain their financial independence.  Then in 2015 I plan on becoming semi retired and working strictly with people and their financial needs while traveling the world on my sail boat.
131847
In US stocks, most academic studies show that a broad index fund will have the lowest risk.  If you add in foreign stocks, studies differ, but a mix of ~80% US stocks and ~20% foreign stocks is optimal for lowest risk.\nI would suggest:\n80% Vanguard Total Stock Market Index fund\n20% Vanguard Total International Stock Index Fund \nHowever, unless you are very young, you should put some money in bonds, and increase this percent as you get close to retirement.  The bonds will further minimize risk, but they lower your overall return.
837511
Interesting question... but what's interesting is that institutional investors invest far more than that in a single company.  As for an individual willing to take on that risk, you see the answers written before mine.  I'll suggest something else: Shufflemaster (SHFL).
600265
Sure.  It's a reputable advisor.  It tends to steer its clients into conservative mix of mutual funds that'll do well over the long-haul and it tends to be good for people who need a little hand holding when the waters get rough.  This personal service comes a price.  Most of the funds they'll sell you are loaded funds, meaning you pay some decent sized commissions on the front-end (aka loads).\n\nIf you need less hand holding and would like to the avoid the loads (often 5-6% of each dollar you invest), I recommend directly investing with mutual fund companies such as Vanguard and T Rowe Price.
178271
Vanguard is the low priced leader in the industry. Low expenses and no loads. It is my number one choice. Fidelity has some very low expensed funds, but in comparing money market returns between Vanguard & Fidelity, Vanguard wins. The difference is slight, therefore I would choose convenience if you had a Fidelity office nearby and liked having an office to go to.\n\nAmong the fund families you have many choices, read the educational info @ bobbrinker.com\n\nContrary to the registered reps advice above, unless you are a sophisticated investor, picking a basket of stocks is nonsense. You can't possibly do the research as a sideline and hope to beat the indexes. \n\nI was a RR, Financial Ops & General securities princ. of several brokerage firms in the past. The industry wants you to buy stocks, they can't stand to see you buy no load funds.
884875
I started my investing with Edward Jones. They are lucrative and they have strict requirements before even considering someone for employment.  I have long since moved onto my own (and have done very well at it too) for first timers go ahead and pay the fees to invest in the long run its worth it.
820673
Don't buy mutual funds for the long run. They're not good investments. The problem is the fees that are involved. A mutual fund is a pool of money from a number of investors which is then invested and managed by a fund manager and usually his/her employees. This inherently means you get lower returns than if you bought stocks.\n\nThe reason is, the fund manager and employees all have to get paid, which cuts into your earnings. This makes them less attractive, so they often pay advisers to recommend them. This further cuts into your earnings. As a result, stocks are a much smarter option. The IRA isn't a bad idea, and there are different kinds of IRAs you can invest in.
1028430
I invested. I make about $5,000 a month. I used over $1 million. My percieved risk was fairly low because of the way that I invested. I do not take time to manage it. That's what I hired my financial advisor and broker for.