One of my favorite things about self-directed stock investing is finding under the radar, niche methods of locating companies for potential investment. Sometimes these little known stock selection edges can pay off handsomely for investors not afraid to try something new. I am particularly partial to niche-type strategies that have… Read More

As an old colleague often reminds me, “trading is easy, but investing is hard.” When you trade stocks, you only need to stick around for a few days or weeks to see whether your investment thesis is correct. But if you invest — and really want to score big gains… Read More

As a financial professional, I ask a lot of people for their views on the stock market, economy and where they think we’re headed. Not surprisingly, no one says we’re on the cusp of another big… Read More

When the economy is sluggish like we’ve seen during the past few years, consumers look to cut out unnecessary expenses. Often, the luxury items (vacations, jewelry, and large purchase items) get back seat treatment. Yet, consumers won’t shut off the heat, won’t stop eating and will keep the lights… Read More

Years ago, Wall Street analysts could differentiate stocks they favored against stocks with little appeal. A “buy” rating was all a client needed to know. But during the 1960s and 1970s, clients began to demand more information. They didn’t want to only know what to buy, but how much… Read More

One way to build a large stock portfolio is by taking advantage of dividend reinvestment plans, also known as DRIPs. Just like the name states, DRIPs reinvest dividend payments, so the investor is purchasing additional shares of… Read More

Temporary setbacks at a company can often create profit opportunities for patient investors. It’s hard to believe BP (NYSE: BP) was caught in the middle of an environmental disaster just two years ago, responsible for an estimated 200 million gallons of oil dumped into… Read More

More than one-third of companies in the S&P 500 have released 2012 quarterly results, and a clear set of themes have emerged. Profits have been slightly better than expected, while revenue has been a tad disappointing. More important, the forward view has been fairly dim: A wide range of companies… Read More