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[K10AV8R]

I retired from the military recently and couldn’t find a stable job as a pilot in the US so I’m in Afghanistan as a contractor for a while. I have no TV but I do have internet and am looking to make some money with my money.

My recent purchases where BIEL at 0.07, CTIC at 1.5, and XOM at 68.00. My research ability is limited so I’m looking for advise on these and others.

[andre3k1]

welcome. you've definitely come to the right place for good advice (versus pump n dumps)

definitely lurk around in the forums and see what other guys are saying.

[Fishes]

Welcome. I too started the way you have! I do earn some money but my business is off and the income is about what unemployment would be! I had some cash. Decided the bank does not pay enough. So Wall Street here I am. What an experience!

My advice is to read every thing you can! Either on line or books. Avoid the info for money sites! They sound great but there are a ton of free resources on the Web! Just Google what it is your looking for and your choices are almost unlimited! This site is excellent so far!

I use Motley Fools free stuff and have taken advantage of their trials and then canceled when the trial is done! The brokers all have educational stuff and things that give good info to help with your investing! I use Yahoo Finance for news and tracking my portfolios in one place! News for your stocks is always important and Yahoo, Google finance, AOL etc all have good resources!

Keep your costs per trade down! I use Share Builders, Think or Swim and Zecco. SB has a feature for $20.00 per month that allows you to trade on Mondays for Tuesday morning trades and they are free! That helps for your long term investments. Not great for Day or Momentum trading!

Zecco is $4.50 each trade. TOS is either $5.00 or 9.95. If you order over say 400 shares they charge .00125 per share and the fee can accelerate quickly if you buy thousands! TOS has the best Charting of the three that I use! You are on your own when it comes time to press "buy" or "sell" and you need to pay attention because it is real easy to screw up and it can cost you! Support for each site has been pretty good for me.

Decide early on what type of trader you are and stay true to it! I have done Day, Buy and Hold and Momentum Trading! When things are rallying like they have since March lows buy and hold is great! You can keep your per trade cost down! However, it does not allow you take advantage of short term profit opportunities or loss avoidance as the other two styles! I like all three! However, I am told that it is best to choose one and refine it.

I really am not experienced enough to give you technical insights! I am learning that end. It can take years to gain experience to learn to read charts effectively! I do know it is as much art as science!

This site appears to have some experienced and successful traders! Find one and follow them! It may be profitable! Always remember you are on your own! Let the buyer beware is the rule of law. Do your own research (Do Diligence) before you spend! No body cares about you like you will!


Good luck!

[zippy]

welcome! much respect to you for your work overseas brother

...keep an eye on the forums, plenty of great traders here to assist.

[K10AV8R]

Thanks...great advice

[victoria]

Welcome. Thanks for your past service to our country! It must be rough in Afghanistan-from TV it looks like a very hard place to live. Stocks are a favorite past time. Good luck!

[K10AV8R]

Only a favorite pastime for me if they go in the correct direction:)