Any Product out there on the stock market as good or better than a GIC | Page 2 | General financial discussion | Discussion forum

GS said
In mid 2008 I inherited a little over $100k. I added it to my existing investment mix and was then worth x+$100k. The dot com bubble burst within a few weeks and my net worth was quickly back to x. The $100k had evaporated.

Am I happy earning 2%. No! But am I willing to risk 100% of my investment? Again, No!

Lessons were learned!

Greg

Hi Greg!

You are not the only one to learn the hard way by investing in Tech Stocks!! My hard-way learning experince with Tech stocks came with Nortel! I should have taken the hint, when Bell divorced themselves from Nortel. Bell obviously knew something about Nortel that I didn't; but I failed to clue in!

The only problem with being happy earning 2%, is that after enjoying your 2% safe return, then you have to consider inflation @ 2% which means you are earning ZERO!

My portfolio is confined to really boring, safe old-people stuff: Banks, Utilities and Communications.

But you need an information source to do this kind of stuff. The first order of business would be to set up a free pretend portfolio at:

http://moneycentral.msn.com/st....._portfolio

This site contains a wealth of information, and it's my primary tracking/into site. For any given stock, this site provides you with summaries of who is buying what! Guess what? Banks invest primarily in other banks. Do you figure banks might know what they are doing?

Then you have a wealth of information as to where major investors like Canada Pension Plan, etal are placing their investments to earn 7% to 8% return; something we can all tolerate!!

I do not own a single stock that is not over 50% co-owned by the investing giants of the financial market. moneycentral.msn.com will provide you with all of that kind of information.

Do I have a favourite stock?? Yes, TransAlta Corp! Although I already held 5200 shares, amonth ago, I entered a stink-bid on June 12 for another 3800 shares @ $13.77. A month later, I am up $3800 on that acquisition, which is a mere minor bonus benefit compared to their annual 7.80%% dividend payout!!!

So . . . now with 9000 shares $133,830 earning at tolerable 7.80% = $10,438, without taking into account capital appreciation;

$133,830 @ 2% = $2,676 !!