Werlingdervish

When Bad Strategies Outperform

In trading growth stocks like Apple one has to look forward based on fundamentals and developing news in the industry. One most also enjoy trading in a sector and learn to know that sector very well. More important than analysis to growth stocks are good online rumor sites and speciality news sources. For Apple one can do this via AppleInvestornews.com. Jim Cramer suggests at least an hour homework a week for each stock-- I devote at least 2 hours each for my 8 picks as well as skimming a watch list. I've also been known to follow intraday stock prices and excecute trades via an iPhone. So even quick execution is within a part time investor's toolkit.

Professional money managers by contrast can not devote the time to individuals and their unique portfolios nor do they necessarily do the quick execution required. They no longer even have the clear advantage in technical analysis since the part time private investor can get analytical tools ready-made from eTrade or any online brokeridge. The one I like to use on eTrade is appropiately called Second Opinion--as that is it's only real worth in growth stocks.

As a part timer this is my daily pattern. At seven I Tivo CNBC's Sqawk Box for about 40 minutes of skimming breaking market news each morning. I then get online to setup any early morning trades CST--sometimes I use before/after hours trading. I check my portfolio at lunch time to get any midday bargains. At night I look at good rumor sites and speciality news for the following day.

In short the Jills of this modern world can be real winners right in face of the professionals if they are serious part-timers. Getting 60+% gains in the current market can be and is done by part-timers like myself. It is NOT luck.