I have been doing my own investing since 1986 and have never had a broker.
Though buy and hold is supposedly on its deathbed (at least according to some) I still think the concept holds promise. Therefore I look for companies that have good long term growth prospects and are reasonably priced, and with not too much debt. I also look at their earnings track record, and see if they consistently turn out good earnings growth, year after year. I have a pretty good record on picking stocks that will move up. My biggest problem is knowing when to get out of a stock, which I can be lousy at.
Though buy and hold is supposedly on its deathbed (at least according to some) I still think the concept holds promise. Therefore I look for companies that have good long term growth prospects and are reasonably priced, and with not too much debt. I also look at their earnings track record, and see if they consistently turn out good earnings growth, year after year. I have a pretty good record on picking stocks that will move up. My biggest problem is knowing when to get out of a stock, which I can be lousy at.