indecisiveness

[mailmanusa]

Lets say you indicators are totally flat as to which way to go. If you're in, do you stay in or get out? If your out, do you stay out or get in? I was just wondering what kind of thoughts go through different peoples heads when this happens.

 

[Birchtree]

You simply have to run in front of the train or get out of the way - it's an individual choice.

 

[atcsat64]

You simply have to run in front of the train or get out of the way - it's an individual choice.

Unfortunately, most of us here (I think) have fallen in front of the train a few times. The old saying applies: What doesn't kill ya only makes you stronger. Makes ya think harder next time, or stay in G and sit on the sidelines...

 

[Birchtree]

Yes, I still find myself bending over to pick up a copper on the sidewalk. That's a lot of bending over to make any gain. The G fund is simply for sissy's and a place to hide on occasion - you need to take risk if you want to make money. Every penny would give me approx $300 but I want $30,000. I can't get that with the G fund. Well I could if I had 100,000 shares I guess.

 

[atcsat64]

Lets say you indicators are totally flat as to which way to go. If you're in, do you stay in or get out? If your out, do you stay out or get in? I was just wondering what kind of thoughts go through different peoples heads when this happens.

Mailman, this is one way I decide if I'm on the fence: if the G penny is about to pay, I have no problem moving into it. Gives me time to read, helps me off the fence after the "for-sure" penny pays.

 

[Birchtree]

Figure out how much net you would have if you collected the copper every time it paid for the next ten years. The distance required between collection dates will be widening after the first of the year because interest rates will be declining. I still say running in front of the train is the best policy. Think of the cardiovascular benefit you would receive - you'll live longer to accumulate more gains. Never rest - keep the money working. Snort.

 

[atcsat64]

Wow, birch, I thought more ideas would've been posted on this topic by now. Here's one that I've used - asked the unlucky one I work with what he plans and do the opposite! Yep, flipping a coin, and drawing a fund from a hat. But being on the fence with the IFT deadline approaching after all the studying and reading and eeny meany minee moeing it actually makes me look for a reason to stay OUT of the G. I know I ain't gonna get rich from the G. My money doesn't stay put long (currently 100% I for last two days), I have IFT'd 7 of last 10 days but I really only average about 2 per week, so I've kinda gotten immune to that shock hitting that enter button with all the apples and oranges on the line (I'm not to bananas yet, if you read that post). With no direction either way the chances are equal for a gain or a loss, but it's not like we lose everything if we're wrong - usually only a small %. I tend to be out there with birch in front of the train... tripping occaisionally but only blaming myself when I do.

 

[James48843]

I try to be "in" as much as possible, but I have moved off to the sidelines whenever it looks to me like we've hit a peak. Even when I move out, I try to leave somein, just in case I guessed wrong. I try not to worry about the short ups and downs, but if anything is more than a three or four day trend, I try to play the trend.

Miss it many times, however. Like this week. I back out to only 30% in stocks last friday, and then pulled to only 15% stocks on Monday this week. Only to miss a nice run. What triggered me to pull back? One of the things was that there were more decliners than gainers for a couple days, and it looked to me like "C" was petering out.

I was wrong.

So today, I went BACK into stocks 100%, thinking that the number of shares overall gaining is beating the number loosing, so it still has some room to run north.

Oh well, 16 years more till retirement.