Investing for beginners

[MinnesotaEric]

buy low-sell high
sell high-buy low
really don't see the difference as long as the shares are there to borrow...

Most of the whiners and complainers of short selling don't even bother to use cash accounts...they trade out of street accounts which leave their shares available to loan...they are their own worst enemies...!

As for oil futures....I don't like competing with the IMF and the world bank..

Speaking of, I looked at the major owner of USO finding out that it is the Treasury and Federal Reserve and opened up an actual investment position. I mean how long can oil remain at $5.00, oh until the end of tomorrow, then it will bounce to next month's contract which is currently trading.

Oopps I see they just did a giant reverse split on tomorrow's May contract.

 

[Racenut]

So everything I read says leveraged ETF's are dangerous for us mere mortals. So what's the best way for us mortals to take advantage of rock bottom oil in longer terms? Yes, I'm assuming that within a year or two it will be multiples higher than it is now. Buying barrels of oil and storing them seems inconvenient at best.

 

[California]

Buying barrels of oil and storing them seems inconvenient at best.

For the first time ever oil prices are ... negative! Negative $37.63 per barrel.

Slate - this means that anybody who is supposed to receive a shipment of American crude but doesnt want it will have to pay somebody else to take it.

Anybody here have contracts to buy April oil?

 

[Tomtint]

For the first time ever oil prices are ... negative! Negative $37.63 per barrel.

Slate - this means that anybody who is supposed to receive a shipment of American crude but doesnt want it will have to pay somebody else to take it.

Anybody here have contracts to buy April oil?

The irony here is that you can't actually buy it for -37.63....

 

[vaillandt6]

To begin with, I can advise you to watch instructional videos on YouTube on this topic. This is the most straightforward and most understandable way to understand where everything comes from and how it all works. I studied this way myself, and it took about a year before I started working on my investment portfolio with the Find Dividend Investment Ideas service. I didn't rush to take any action before figuring out all the nuances and how it all works. Of course, I am far from a financier by education, but even if I have figured out the topic in this way, then you will succeed too and you have nothing to fear

 

[California]

to begin with, I can advise you to watch educational videos on YouTube on this topic

Dunno that I would advise a beginner to start there. Most of the financial vids that I see listed on YT are wildly contradictory with one another, and to the slightly more experienced eye many, most, are pushing something not in the best interest of the naive beginner.

I suggest start with the fundamentals. Look up the concept of 'Boglehead' and go from there.

And recognize the fundamental difference between investing and speculation. Speculation in essence means betting your money that your personal judgement is better than the whole world of financial analysts and other speculators, who overall have unimaginable research and computing power that you don't have access to.

 

[Raul-02]

best way to start investing for beginners?

Buy Ben Graham's book. Practice Dollar Cost Averaging. Buy what you know. NEVER take advice from any one about what stocks to buy especially on TV. Buy solid good companies when you think they are a little cheaper, Add them any way even when they are not.
NEVER take advice on stock tips from any one.
Don't talk yourself into feeling as though you have to be a day trader.
Buy what you know. Did I mention not listening to stock tips?
ALWAYS have a few grand or more on hand for when the market goes to **** and you can clean up when there's blood in the water.

 

[Fuddy1952]

This post is two years old.
My advice though is time: earlier you start investing the better. So many factors like risk tolerance, living below your means, becoming debt free, etc. I would max out your IRA and a Roth IRA. Mutual funds have advantage of diversity, reinvesting dividends and capital gains grows faster.
Good advice not listening to stock tips. In 2008 an investment advisor on the news said consumer staples was a terrible investment. I immediately wire transfered bank to Fidelity Consumer Staples fund, one best choice I ever made. Why? No matter what In a downturn people are still buying food, detergent, etc. Her advice was causing people to sell.
Don't try timing the market, people saying "buy the dip". Best time to plant a tree is 30
years ago.
Here's an example of $5,000 in the S&P for 30 years adding $2,000/year ($38.48/week):

View attachment 731995

 

[California]

This post is two years old.
My advice though is time: earlier you start investing the better. So many factors like risk tolerance, living below your means, becoming debt free, etc. I would max out your IRA and a Roth IRA. Mutual funds have advantage of diversity, reinvesting dividends and capital gains grows faster.
Good advice not listening to stock tips. In 2008 an investment advisor on the news said consumer staples was a terrible investment. I immediately wire transfered bank to Fidelity Consumer Staples fund, one best choice I ever made. Why? No matter what In a downturn people are still buying food, detergent, etc. Her advice was causing people to sell.
Don't try timing the market, people saying "buy the dip". Best time to plant a tree is 30
years ago.
Here's an example of $5,000 in the S&P for 30 years adding $2,000/year ($38.48/week):

View attachment 731995

Fuddy, all good advice. It worked for me. From nothing, to retirement at 54. Now 30+ years later our savings balance is greater than the day I retired, and we've started pushing out money to our kids who despite great careers, are facing harsher times than we experienced.

Your attachment disappeared, 'not found'. Can you re-post it?

 

[Fuddy1952]

Sure...