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pothead_bob
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Index funds and Precious Metals
#8742741 - 08/08/08 07:24 AM (15 years, 6 months ago) |
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I'm looking to invest some of my money. What do you guys think about index funds right now? I'm looking at the Vanguard for large-cap comapanies, small-cap companies, and the bond index. Do you think I should wait until the market improves a little, or at least until this huge sell-off slows down to get involved with an index fund?
Another thing, silver and gold are tanking big time as of late. Holy fuck, I'm losing my shirt on my investments in GLD and SLV. Do you think it's time to start dumping some more money into those ETFs? Think there is going to be a rally come Fall?
-------------------- No knowledge can be certain, if it is not based upon mathematics or upon some other knowledge which is itself based upon the mathematical sciences. -Leonardo da Vinci (1425-1519) Speak well of your enemies. After all, you made them.
Edited by pothead_bob (08/08/08 08:36 AM)
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DieCommie


Registered: 12/11/03
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Re: Index funds and Precious Metals [Re: pothead_bob]
#8743656 - 08/08/08 11:50 AM (15 years, 6 months ago) |
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I dumped my gold about 6 months ago. Contrary to what the gold-lusting conquistadors on this forum think, I believe in buy low, sell high. Im not going to pretend to know if there will be a rally come fall, but it seems possible combined with the election and all.
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pothead_bob
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Re: Index funds and Precious Metals [Re: DieCommie]
#8743770 - 08/08/08 12:13 PM (15 years, 6 months ago) |
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It's too late for me to sell off my PM stocks now. I'll just have to hope for a return in prices to sell them off later. I don't think the price will drop too much further. It's not like the dollar is that strong and oil is that cheap.
I bought some stock in AT&T, Exelon, and Con-Ed. I'm thinking of getting into index funds to diversify a little more. I'm kind of heavily weighted in utilities and precious metals right now.
I was also thinking of buying some SPH and natural gas production companies, but I'm waiting a little to see what oil does.
-------------------- No knowledge can be certain, if it is not based upon mathematics or upon some other knowledge which is itself based upon the mathematical sciences. -Leonardo da Vinci (1425-1519) Speak well of your enemies. After all, you made them.
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Ythan
ᕕ( ᐛ )ᕗ



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Re: Index funds and Precious Metals [Re: pothead_bob]
#8745704 - 08/08/08 07:00 PM (15 years, 6 months ago) |
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If you think the economy will eventually recover, and you're in it for the long term, IMHO it's a great time invest. Certainly nobody will accuse you of getting in at the top of the market. Personally, I've been increasing my monthly investment to take advantage of the cheap prices, and I mostly buy index funds like the ones you mentioned (specifically VTSMX, VGTSX and VBMFX).
If you'll need access to your money within the next couple of years, you probably don't want to put it in the stock market because it could still go way down before it heads back up. And some people think it's never headed up again, Wiccan_Seeker has made some compelling posts about the truly dire nature of the current economic crisis. But as bad as it is, my opinion is that this too shall pass. One thing I've taken away from talking to older, more experienced investors is that every crisis seems like the worst when you're in the middle of it, just like every bubble that comes along will "be different this time" and "last forever". If you can keep your wits about you and stick to your investment goals when everybody else is panicking (or conversely, getting too greedy), history has shown you will come out ahead in the end.
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pothead_bob
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Re: Index funds and Precious Metals [Re: Ythan]
#8745772 - 08/08/08 07:20 PM (15 years, 6 months ago) |
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I'm still toying with the idea of getting into index funds or not. I've been buying stocks recently, but index funds would be an easy way to diversify.
I'm not too worried about the market going down and staying down. The powers that be feed off of our wealth; they will fight tooth and nail to keep things moving. Today was a great day in the market. Maybe I'll sell off my winners and lock in the gains.
I saw that McDonalds was posting higher-than-expected earnings from last quarter this morning. I was thinking of buying it, but I didn't. And the stock went up 7%. I hate missing an oppurtunity to make a quick buck.
-------------------- No knowledge can be certain, if it is not based upon mathematics or upon some other knowledge which is itself based upon the mathematical sciences. -Leonardo da Vinci (1425-1519) Speak well of your enemies. After all, you made them.
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johnm214



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Re: Index funds and Precious Metals [Re: pothead_bob]
#8747410 - 08/09/08 02:04 AM (15 years, 6 months ago) |
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seems to me index funds are the best for those who are looking to invest in large companies and who don't have illegal information
Some day I'll get a decent sum of cash and I plan, at the moment, to throw it in snp 500 funds.
Low fees, low taxes, and a track record that beets expensive brokers.
Anyone care to argue some downsides?
I think its pretty cool myself
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pothead_bob
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Re: Index funds and Precious Metals [Re: johnm214]
#8747759 - 08/09/08 07:01 AM (15 years, 6 months ago) |
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I'm just thinking I may wait a little to get in considering that the market seems to be in a pullback right now.
-------------------- No knowledge can be certain, if it is not based upon mathematics or upon some other knowledge which is itself based upon the mathematical sciences. -Leonardo da Vinci (1425-1519) Speak well of your enemies. After all, you made them.
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