Coolhand's Market Analysis

Welcome to the biggest casino in existence, where bets are placed on a seemingly infinite number of financial vehicles spanning hundreds of markets and thousands of sectors across the entire planet. Choose your favorite game mode from fundamentals to charting, astrology to sentiment, and many, many others. Step right up ladies and gentlemen, there's big money to me made.

Sounds like fun, doesn't it? Even Jim Cramer makes it sound like a carnival. Speaking of Jim Cramer, make sure you check some statistics regarding his picks:

http://www.cramerproject.com/stocks.php

But this post isn't about Jim Cramer. He just happens to be one of the most visible market gurus out there. Judging by his stock pick performance, a below average one as gurus go. And he's suppose to be very market savvy.

But perhaps that's a subjective opinion. Fact of the matter is no market guru gets it right all the time.

So where does that leave the average investor?

Make no mistake, the market takes no prisoners if one decides to move their money around. It's tough enough on buy and holders; it can be brutal for an unskilled trader.

This particular blog is not aimed at those who have been trading for awhile and/or developed some skills and market savvy to guide their way. I'm really speaking to those who are looking for an alternative to buy and hold. Those folks who are unhappy with their performance, but are at odds with how to change it. Those folks who want to learn, but are finding it a confusing venture.

My recommendation? Find a good quality service (it does not have to be expensive) to keep yourself grounded while trying to get your arms around the markets. I've said this before, and it's only my opinion, but I've learned that unless you have the time and smarts to follow the action, it can be a humbling, painful experience, which often results in complete frustration and emotional distress.

I have my own guru that I'm plugged in to and I wouldn't have it any other way. Eventually, I may decide to go it alone, but I have a life and a job, not to mention a daughter to keep track of so I need a trusted source of information.

Whatever you decide to do, remember that the objective is to beat the market. Not every trade will be a winner, but over time, hopefully, you'll do better than you were doing before. I hope this post isn't viewed as a sales pitch either, it isn't. Simply put, the cost of getting good advice is nothing compared to the losses that too often come with attempting to trade the markets through trial and error.

Consider giving yourself an edge.