what is the morningstar review?
918688
Morningstar is famous for its mutual fund coverage. But in the research department, they are known for their sector diversification and allocation tools.\n\nFrom personal experience, the morningstar review is their "9-Box allocation" tool where you can see how your portfolio is allocated based on value, blend, and growth categories crossed by large cap, mid-cap, and small-cap market capitalizations.\n\nMorningstar is always a great help to see how my portfolio is allocated based on sector and industry allocations versus major indices such as the S&P 500.
358597
None.  IMHO, you should start by learning how to invest, determining WHAT to buy through Fundamental Analysis and determining WHEN to buy with Technical Analysis. \n\nIMO, newsletters only make narrow recomendations based on their system of analysis and investment strategies, and often they are compensated heavily for their recomendations and therefore dangerously biased.   I firmly believe that to get a clear picture about any stock, and to determine whether you're actually going to invest in it, it's best to do your own research and adapt a system that meets your investment needs, style and risk level.  There are many stocks ripe for the picking just about at any time if you know how and where to look.\n\nStart with Investors.com, it's William O'Neil's online version of Investors Business Daily.  The How To Invest section is the best place to start learning the importance of Fundamentals and the basics of Technical Analysis.   The site has the IBD 100, a cross index list of the market leaders, the Stock Checkup, a great tool for checking fundamentals on any stock, and articles and analysis of stocks and general market conditions.  They also run various screens every day which in addition to the other lists, (IBD100, New America, stocks under $10, CANSLIM select, ect) are very helpful for finding investment ideas with solid Fundementals that are ready to move.  The CANSLIM method alone is a very successful and popular trading system, but I prefer to use a combination of Fund & Tech Analysis, rather that just the rating system alone.\n\nFrom there you can move on to more detailed study of Technical Analysis.  \n\nStart with StockCharts.com, they have an excellent free Chart School which helpfully explains various chart patterns and Technical Indicators and overlays.  Pay particular attention to the Chart Patterns section, and make sure you learn about Zig Zag patterns, Bollinger Bands, Moving Average, Volume, RSI, the MACD (Mac-D), The Williams %er, Stochastics, and the Chaikin Money Flow.  Sounds complicated, but when you start chart reading you'll want about a half a dozen or so of these overlays and indicators.  I personally rely heavily on the ZIG-ZAG, MACD, Chaikin Money Flow, Volume, Moving Average and RSI.\n\nStockTA.com is also an excellent Technical Analysis site, with charted Fibonacci resistance and support lines and will tell you if the stock is bullish or bearish in the short, medium and long run.  The site also has an extensive Candle Pattern Glossary and a fantastic technical screener.\n\nThe above sites do have premium services, but all the services I mentioned are free.  After you've absorbed some of the Technical information, do some reading on Fibonacci numbers and Elliot Wave theory, there are good links in the "School" section of StockTA.com.  I've been using Elliot Wave and Fibonacci's to help refine my in and out points.  StockCharts.com's "ZigZag" overlay helps me plot and count the waves and that helps determine where I am in the overall pattern.  \n\nSo basically I'll find interesting stocks through the screens on Investors.com or StockTA.com, run them through the Stock Checkup at Investors.com, if they measure up I'll run them through the Analyisis & Fib Analysis at StockTA.com and do an extensive chart study, examining the 2 yr, 1 yr, 6 mth, 3 mth, 1 mth & 5 day.  I'll also do my due dilligence, studying the profile, key statistics, headlines, etc. through Yahoo Finance and web searches.  If it all measures up and the stock is in a base or in a pull back and it's starting a wave 1 or wave 3, it's time to buy.\n\nRemember, always protect your downside with a stop loss or a trailing stop loss.  Once you have absorbed a few of the things I've mentioned, the fog will begin to lift and you'll start seeing which stocks should be bought or sold and you'll be able to do your own analysis on any stock, no matter where
571929
I have never heard of them. What type of investment are you looking to do?
532477
Hoovers.com is really nice, but they have a lot of stuff that you need a subscription for...also look at Value Line and Morningstar, two big names. If you want anything for free, i agree, Yahoo Finance is good (thats what i use, all a**kissing aside), CNNmoney.com and Investors Business Daily are also good starts
328497
I'm not here to encourage or dissuade you from Motley Fool,I'll just give you my opinion.\n\n Motley Fool is 1 of the most "forward" investment advisor forums on the net.Mind you,this isn't good or bad.That depends upon your investment/trading style.For the day-trader, the Fool is useless;except for the "buzz" it generates.For Investing; you'd do better by following the advice of an FA, and work on what they recommend.\n GOOD LUCK
428109
I don't think those subscription services are what you need.  The problem with most of them is that they are over hyped and usually don't account for real world practice and conditions.  If you want to make a lot of money on the market you got to do your own research.  Think about it,  if the subscriptions are that hot why do they tell other people about it?  I am a licensed adviser and I have seen too many people looking for the short cut and after being disappointed a few times quit the market all together.  I would recommend you to look at some thing like the Motley Fools or IBD and look at what they like and why they like what they like and then do your own research on the company or fund managers.  When you buy a fund you are betting on the management's ability to beat the market, that is all.  Another thing, this I learned myself after thousands of dollars worth of market lessons.  Don't try to time the market.  There are to many factors that we do not control.  The consistent way to beat the market is through figuring out the fundamentals and let time do the growing for you.  Market timing and refusing to cut loses are two sure way to decimate your portfolio.  So be careful and do your research before sinking your hard earned dollars.
143999
Go to the link\nhttp://www.quantonics.com/Steins_TCoOatFoP_Review.html
111542
every year all the major financial magazines do a brokerage comparison. Smartmoney, Money Mag, Barrons, etc.\n\nthey usually give a great review. I could give you some pointers, but you did not provide any details.
254263
http://quicktake.morningstar.com/Stock/Income10.asp?Country=USA&Symbol=MRK&stocktab=finance&pgid=qtqnnavfinstate\n\nhttp://finance.yahoo.com/q/sec?s=mrk\n\nEnjoy!
1169132
I know an advisor and he's definitely a good guy and passionate about his career.  Just make sure you are "purchasing" what you want and don't give in to all of their suggestions.  They are one of many good financial companies.
186492
You are exactly right in your concerns. \n\nThe quality of data on the web and even the quality available to brokerages is TERRIBLE. The primary problem is NOT the daily pricing, but rather the handling of dividends, splits, mergers, and other corporate actions that impact total return (what you actually make on a share).\n\nI personally make a living taking the standard data provided by the exchanges and then fixing and cleaning it for use by people like yourself.\n\nNevertheless, my services also come with a standard disclaimer which I deeply regret having to use because of potential liability. \n\nThe three companies that take data quality seriously are Investors FastTrack, Morningstar, and Lipper. I would encourage you to use these services in making sensible long-term investment decisions.
560874
http://www.actuaries.org/LIBRARY/Submissions/financial_assetse.cfm\n\nThis provides a decent description for you.\n\nCheers\nAlister\nhttp://www.marketscience.com.au
28586
Morningstar is a nice resource, but remember it is strictly backwards-looking analysis. Kiplingers is OK but is biased towards no loads. (There is a recent study out in the Journal of Financial Planning {October, 2005} that challenges the idea that index funds always outperform actively managed funds.\n\nHere's what I start with when looking for a fund to fill an asset category:\nPerformance relative to peers\nAsset size (Avoid the bloated funds)\nManager Tenure (Great 5 & 10 year numbers mean little if the manager has only been there for 2 years)\nFee structure\n\nThe important thing to remember is to allocate your assets in a manner in line with your time horizon and risk tolerance and DON'T CHASE PERFORMANCE. This years winners are not usually on the top of the heap next year.\n\nIt is never a bad idea to consult a financial planner, either.
439181
I've been studing the market game for about a year now, i didn't knew anything a year ago, I havent invested anything yet, i've just been practicing in stock simulators like stocktrak.com for about 2 months now, im happy i've made almost a 7% in my simulations (im happy with that since i am a rookie), I think I need to do a lot more reading, studing and practicing before I invest a single dollar for real. I think now I understand the markets much better.\n\nSince I am in a similar position as you are, just 1 year ahead studing :) , I would strongly recommend you to start by studing Profr. Peter Navarro's material. First I studied his audio course "Big picture investing", and read his books "when is raining in Brazil buy Starbucks", "when the markets move will you be ready?" and now i'm reading his most recent book "the well timed strategy", for me it was great to start with the audio course, since he explains the basics to understand the market, and it comes with a very didactic printed course guide. Profr. Navarro has been a great teacher for me, I don't think there are other books as good as this for a beginer, and belive me, i've done my research and been reading a lot!! after the audio course i was able to understand and take more "juice" from his books and other books that I have read, I recommend you to do the same thing.\n\nRegarding the Can Slim system teached by IBD's Bill O'Neal, I think he is a real master, his investing approach is great and relatively easy to follow if you use the investing tools on investors bussiness daily and do your research homework every day, actually, I just took the Can Slim Level I Seminar some weeks ago, and I am already subscribed for the level II seminar to be held at the end of this month, BUT, if i hadn't studied Profr. Navarro's material before, I am shure I would understanded much less from the can slim seminar, so I recomend you to start with Profr. Peter Navarro's material, its great material and has been a lot of help for me.\n\nYou can find Profr. Navarro's audio courses and books at barnes and noble, either in the book store or online, is not an expensive material, i would have pay 10 times its price, its worth much more.\n\nAnd, once you start to study, the learning curve never ends!! start with Prof. Navarro, before you buy any material much more expensive and not worth its price, belive me i've done it :(..im shure you will thank me.\n\nGood luck!!!
431020
Here is a very thorough and point-by-point comparison of these two products:\n\nhttp://financialsoft.about.com/od/reviewsfinancesoftware/a/MDel06vsQDel06.htm
13197
You can drop by this site to look at the recent review on it.\n\nhttp://explodingstocks.blogspot.com/
459436
Maybe look into GASB34.  It's an accounting standard for government.  It is causing a lot of uproar because of what it means for asset management.  Hot topic right now.