Thread: Need hlep with my portfolio

d.olverson wrote:

Hi guys, I have learned a lot from this site over the months. I have now learned as you become a more complex investor you need tools to help you manage what you have created. I have a TSP, IRA, Mutual Fund, 3 individual stocks and some Bonds.



I have been reading about investment portfolios, so I went to a few sites to create one and none would let me add my TSP and bonds to my tracker which makes up most of my investments. Does anyone have any sites or ideas for a portfolio that would let me add bonds and my TSP.?



Stock question for any experienced or expert out there, I am new at this and I probably should have posted this before I started dropping the money in. what I did is buy stocks like (F) Ford, (LU) Lucent and (PAX) Paxson Com. I figure Ford is like a cold every other person has one, LU and PAX I picked up at almost there 52 week low so I can hold on to them. I don’t want to buy and sell; I am looking for stock that I can sit on and sale when a better opportunity appears. Is this a good idea? Is there a better way in doing this?

hi d.

sound strategy, trick is identifying that "better opportunity". LU and PAX look very speculative and I would put only a small % in them, unless you want to follow them closely every day. F has been hammered ytd. Buying ishares looks pretty neat for investments outside TSP, diversification, sector rotation, and not alot of volatility. (SPY )for S&P 500, (QQQQ) for nasdaq 100, (DIA) for dow 30, to name a few.

the market will teach you alot about yourself; amazingly enough, my broker says"spend your time before you spend your money"

d. olverson,

My advice would be to keep your portfolio simple - you don't really need bonds or even mutual funds if you buy individual stocks. You can build your own mutual fund. Try to concentrate on good stocks that pay dividends and have those dividends reinvested on an automatic pilot system. Your TSP account can work the same way - you have to go through an accumulation phase first to build a portfolio. You can become a complex investor but keep your investments simple to maintain better control. I recently helped a Navy dentist build a deferred compensation investment plan. We bought 41 different stocks and he continues to purchase another 5 on a recurring basis every two weeks. He receives 187 dividend hits a year - money coming in all the time from his 46 stock position. These dividends are paid every three months and with any luck some will increase their payouts over time. We started with $135,000 so there is the possibility that eventually some capital gains may have to be taken to redistribute even more money to new positions. It's simple and easy - we leave future progress up to fate and capitalism - what a great country.

Dennis

Thanks for the advice Birchtree, I am not that big yet but hope to be one day. How do you manage all of your investments? I have to go around to 4 or 5 different web sites to check on the day’s progress. I was hoping there was a more stream line way of organizing investments. And you are right I should not have to track my Bonds.



Futurestrader thanks for the reply I looked at PAX a little harder and I will not purchase any more. I did some research on (SPY), looks great but expressive per share. Members like you and Birchtree keep coming back to this site. :^

d. olverson,

I mentioned the portfolio the Commander has and how most of it is on autopilot. Well today one of his stocks (Georgia Pacific-GP) shot up over 12 points which will provide a nice profit that we really don't want - we would prefer to keep the stock for the long haul - but you can't stand in the way of progress. There is a possibility of other buyers arriving on the scene and starting a bidding process upwards. When it settles we'll pick another couple of stocks to add to the portfolio. I think I'll have him ask his wife what she might like to own - family participation you know.

How do I manage my portfolio - by the seat of my pants most of the time. I operate out into the future usually 9 to 12 months out. So anything short term my gut usually rules. I don't ever panic and I enjoy a few body punches every now and then - remember no pain no gain. Keeping a focus on the future to me is key and requires the most work - where is the next top, how will we recognize it when it arrives, how will we play it, ride a shallow bottom or run for the hills. I'm basically a foolish contrarian so I tend to stray from the masses, so I guess when everyone is back like 2000, it'll be time to just gently pull back, take some off the table.