Without an investing or trading plan, you're headed for financial disaster.

Have you lost money in stocks or options?  Or maybe you're just not getting the consistent gains you're looking for?  Perhaps you're just drifting from one strategy to another, or you've tried taking "hot tips" from friends/family/co-workers... with poor results.  If so, you're not alone -- I talk to people in this situation practically every day.  What you probably need is guidance, coaching.... and a trading/investing plan.

The fact is, it's absolutely necessary to have an investing plan; otherwise, you're putting your money at risk with random, unfocused trades.  Having a plan means knowing what stocks to buy and WHY you're buying those stocks at the particular time you're buying them; when to buy them and, just as importantly, when to sell them; what to do when a stock trade or investment moves against you; how to read stock charts and price movement; managing your emotions when trading or investing; making sure that you're "hedged" properly so that your potential losses are limited and so you can sleep soundly at night; and other factors.  Jumping into the world of trading and investing is a way to lose money if you don't know exactly what you're doing and why you're doing it.  What you really need is someone to assist you in formulating an individualized trading/investing plan to suit your particular needs.

Before you choose a trading/investing coach, make sure that this person:

• Actually trades or invests his own money (I've used my own strategies for years and outperformed consistently).
• Is not only knowledgeable in financial matters, but has expertise in teaching (I have a master's
  degree in education -- something that very few of the so-called "trading experts" out there can claim).
  
• Has helped many other individuals in a situation similar to yours (I am proud to have helped so many people vastly improve their situation and enjoy greater peace of mind).
• Doesn't just give you "hot stock tips/alerts/signals" but instead helps you to learn to trade/invest profitably on your own (I'm not interested in making people dependent on me; I want to help people so that they can become proficient themselves).
• Focuses on limiting risk, instead of only focusing on making quick profits (I put capital preservation at the top of my list of financial priorities).
• Truly cares about his clients and provides excellent customer service (most "hot stock tips" services out there only send you a bunch of stock symbols but don't bother to answer your questions or concerns; on the other hand, I am proud to provide the best possible customer service and I am passionate about the well-being of my clients).

(Disclaimer: For informational purposes only, and not to be construed as financial, trading, or investing advice. Not a licensed or registered financial adviser. Financial results or profits cannot be guaranteed.)

I bought a stock or option and it went down! What do I do now?

Why You Need a Trading/Investing Plan

So you're considering putting together a trading or investing plan for stocks or options, or just jumping into it without a plan.... or maybe just leaving your money with and "adviser" and letting him or her take care of it for you? But consider this: Did you know that most high-priced "financial advisers" do WORSE than the overall market (the S&P 500)? And they charge hefty fees for this "service"... It's detrimental to the clients but it's perfectly legal and happens all the time. You'll actually do better than most of those high-priced "advisers" if you do it yourself, and you won't have to cough up massive fees (and many of these fees are "hidden" fees too).
But if you choose to do it yourself, you need to have an investing plan; otherwise you'll be putting your money at risk with random trades. Having a plan means knowing what stocks to buy and WHY you're buying those stocks at the particular time you're buying them; when to buy them and, just as importantly, when to sell them; what to do when a stock trade or investment moves against you; how to read stock charts and price movement; managing your emotions when trading or investing; making sure that you're "hedged" properly so that your potential losses are limited and so you can sleep soundly at night; and other factors. If you're "looking to dabble in the stock market a little bit," that's not a plan -- it's a way to lose money if you don't know exactly what you're doing and why you're doing it.
You can view my trading/investing YouTube videos here: https://www.youtube.com/c/davidmoadel/videos
(Not a licensed or registered investment adviser. For informational purposes only; not intended as investment advice. Please conduct your own research before making any trades or investments.)

How to protect yourself against a stock market crash: Hedging your investments/trades

Great Books for Beginning Traders/Investors: My short list of indispensable trading/investing classic reads

Occasionally I'm asked about books that beginning traders/investors ought to read. I'm encouraged by this question, as I feel that successful market participants are avid readers and researchers. New books and trendy methods come and go, but I believe that the "classics" are the best place to start reading about the markets. The following list includes some of the classics in the field (though of course this list is far from comprehensive):

• The Intelligent Investor by Benjamin Graham

• The Little Book of Common Sense Investing by John C. Bogle

• The Little Book that Beats the Market by Joel Greenblatt

• The Art of Short Selling by Kathryn F. Staley

• Options as a Strategic Investment by Lawrence G. McMillan

• The Encyclopedia of Chart Patterns by Thomas N. Bulkowski

• Common Stocks and Uncommon Profits by Phillip Fisher

There are more books to read, but this is a good starting point and these books have helped a lot of people over the years.

(Not a licensed or registered investment adviser. For informational purposes only; not intended as investment advice. Please conduct your own research before making any trades or investments.)

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