
If you think you need to learn more about investing, you're in good company. In a recent poll,
97 percent of American investors said it was important to increase their investment
knowledge. Almost half said they could have avoided a negative experience in the market if
they had known more about investing
1.
In the old days, many workers retired at
age 65 with a gold watch and a lifelong
pension. They didn't need to know how
the stock market works or understand
issues affecting bond prices. But as more
people are discovering, responsibility for
retirement income has shifted to the
individual.
One advantage you have is the ability to
tap a source of professional advice to help
with the decisions you are likely to face as
you prepare for your financial future.
Do It Yourself or Do It with Help?
If your refrigerator stopped working
tomorrow and you wanted it repaired, you
would be faced with a decision: hire a
qualified repairman or learn how to fix it
yourself.
So it goes with investing. You could set
out to learn for yourself what works and,
given enough time and money, could
probably become an accomplished
investor. But time is a key element in
successful investing. After you had
learned any lessons from your mistakes,
there might not be enough time left to
apply what you had learned to reach your
goals.
The alternative is to take an active role in
planning your retirement, using
professional guidance along the way. Of
course, professional advice is no
guarantee of success, but it may help you
make more informed decisions and better
use of your time and money.
Most people could afford to learn more about investing, but don't let a lack of knowledge stand in the
way of your retirement goals. Call today if you would like to review your personal financial situation.
1National Association of Securities Dealers, 2004
Fee based Asset Management and Securities offered through Linsco Private Ledger. Member NASD/SIPC.