tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9026484337051027793.post6471591395160389241..comments2008-06-06T18:20:09.387-04:00Andyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14309605333128481208noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9026484337051027793.post-79537185023802077972008-06-06T18:20:00.000-04:002008-06-06T18:20:00.000-04:00Anonymous. Thanks for you comment. Here are my responses to some of your critiscms:<BR/><BR/>1. "Your $16,000 play on Apple is little better than taking your money to Las Vegas" - Well you may think this is speculation buy per this a <A HREF="http://www.savingtoinvest.com/2008/06/my-shiny-new-iphone-and-why-i-bought.html" REL="nofollow">post</A>, I explained the reasons behind buying the stock and my initial reaction. It is definetly not a speculative play and is going to be one of my longer term holdings. I spent almost 1 month tracking the stock closely before buying it. However like going to Vegas, I never invest more than I can afford to lose (though I plan to win and invest successfully)<BR/><BR/>2. Your portfolio is "diversified" only in the way that the personal finance pundits define it". - I agree my portfolio is not as diversifed as it should be. However over the last month I have invested in some Vanguard funds and am looking to better diversify the portfolio (case in point, my recent review of DuPont). Tune into to my next portfolio update to see what I mean. <BR/><BR/>3. "..simply to spread your money in a half dozen or so mutual funds, invest regularly from your salary, and use the time that you formerly spent on your research and blogging activities to better ends..." - I do have a 401K, to which I contribute 15% (incl company match). I am an active investor and the blog provides a way to share my thoughts (and generate some revenue along the way). While all this does take time, I do spend much more time with my gamily and other better activities. Fortunately I am good at time management and don't have an overtly stressful job which means I have enough time to do the things I like and have to do. However I do like your proposal to spread my gunds across a dozen or so funds. I plan to do that but to also have upto 10 individual stocks in my portfolio.<BR/><BR/>4. "Life's too short to obsess on investing in securities--which the way you and your kind do it is nothing more than a hobby anyway." I don't obssess on my investments -though I do like to track and follow them closely. I feel being involved with your finances is a good thing rather then avoiding it. I admit I enjoy personal finance and investing related activities, but it is a serious hobby and my financial future is not something I take lightly. Also as this site grows I realize that it may influence some readers so I am careful and honest about what I write and endorse. <BR/><BR/>I hope that addresses your main points. I was taken aback when I first read your comment, but after awhile it made me think about what I do and how it do when it comes to this blog and personal finance. I would like to thank you for the reality check, but believe that my finances have improved as a result of being more aware; and based on the feedback I have recieved on this blog, a number of people enjoy what I write about.Andyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14309605333128481208noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9026484337051027793.post-91036392641585909702008-06-05T14:49:00.000-04:002008-06-05T14:49:00.000-04:00I just ran across your blog. It's quite the piece of work. You obviously spend many many hours researching stocks, reading commentary, and blogging about it.<BR/><BR/>However, it is my opinion that individuals who are mucking around with individual stocks are not investors, they are nothing more than speculators engaging in a risky hobby, no matter how "diversified" they think they are. Your $16,000 play on Apple is little better than taking your money to Las Vegas. Do you have information that the general public does not have? If not, then you are just a speculator, a gambler. Your portfolio is "diversified" only in the way that the personal finance pundits define it.<BR/><BR/>My advice to people like you is (apart from a 401k, which I assume, if you have one, is separate from this whole investment plan you blog about) simply to spread your money in a half dozen or so mutual funds, invest regularly from your salary, and use the time that you formerly spent on your research and blogging activities to better ends--like more time with your family, volunteering for an organization, or enjoying a hobby (or even another job--the only proven way to get rich is through "investing" many hours of hard work for which you get paid, not speculating in the securities market). Life's too short to obsess on investing in securities--which the way you and your kind do it is nothing more than a hobby anyway.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com