DIY investors need a comprehensive list of investment and financial planning related links. This list from the American Association of Individual Investors is an excellent place to start to build a personal list. I would suggest checking the links out and eliminating those you feel aren't useful and then, over time, adding those you like.
As one who has been in the investment field for a long time, I constantly marvel at the resources available to today's investors. When I started managing assets, I had to call various brokers every day to get what is called a "bill run" and to get color on the market. That's how my day started. Today, yields on Treasury bills are available with the push of a button; and views on what is driving the market are easy to get. Analytical tools abound and are free - investors just need to know where to look.
In addition to outside resources, it is important for the DIY investor to fully understand the tools available at his or her brokerage, as I've discussed before. If you're with Schwab, TD Ameritrade, Scott Trade or whomever, putter online until you understand the analytical resources available. Don't let it be like your VCR, where you never learned all the features on how to record etc.
Picture by Matt Steenhoek
Agreed that things have never been so good for the DIY investor. The wealth of info available in astounding, and the low cost investment options were unheard of 20 or 30 years ago. Yet there are still "investment experts" out there looking to a 4% commission on every purchase and a 2% management fee every year..... no one should have to pay these types of fees anymore if they just do a little research.
ReplyDeleteAs you probably know there is a concept known as asymmetric information in economics that goes along with adverse selection and your recent post on moral hazard. The seller always has more information than the buyer. It explains why you are likely to get a lemon in the used car market etc. I think it applies here as well. The financial services industry has done very well hiding their costs. Everybody along the line gets a slice and the investing public is unaware. In fact, many people believe their 401ks are managed for free.
ReplyDelete