Re: Birchtree's account talk
Gents,
It's good to have the questions. I would define my investment approach with one word: simplicity. I'm strictly an equity man at this point. The only mutual funds I own our in TSP and my wife's Florida Retirement System. I don't play with puts or options or even ETFs. Back in 2000 I stayed away from technology and instead was buying REIT stocks, energy, utilities, basic materials, industrials, all things that were out of favor and boring. Was I envious that I was only making moderate dollars when everyone else was riding the tiger, of course, but I was also not a fool. I rode my Ducati down into the triple bottoms of July 2002, October 2002, and March 2003, and simply continued to load up on the boring stuff. I was redeemed in the 3,000 point run of 2003 and have yet to look back. If I have a secret it is simply to be future oriented. I like to position myself ahead of the market and let the market come to me. All you have to do is be correct on the trend and right on the individual purchases. I mean look, who in their right mind wants to buy housing stocks now - well I do and I am.
Presently I have 226 individual stocks in my oceanic account and many of them I have owned for years - sometimes they hurt me and sometimes they show admiration. During the last two correction I made 18 sales to raise cash at different levels of price. During the July-August correction I made 199 individual stock purchases, buying all the way down to the bottom of the well. You simply have to enjoy the pain that lower pricing delivers. Now that I've chosen my destiny I'll sit tight and see where the market takes me. If we go to 15,600 and beyond serious money will come my way. If we head into a recession then I'll be selective in some profit taking (who wants to pay my taxes) and just sit tight and continue to reinvest my dividends. You simply have to do your homework and be confident in your investment choices. That is what makes the difference in the investment arena - know yourself and your limits. I've often thought about the possibility of taking my account short against the box - you could call it a fantasy because I'd never do it. Now I am slowly approaching the time when pistol shooting may be a practical solution to the boredom of old age - taking my tugboat out for some quick runs could be the right answer. Ocean has more money than I do and it appears he's getting more active - soon me too.
When I say this You have to understand that I know where you are. You have made your money and you have the ability to use your, your, your, ------the best way to make money is to have money to invest, you have it, must be nice, YOU ARE THE MAN!!
