Understanding Stocks

186 UNDERSTANDING STOCKS
must depend on a stockbroker or a stranger on television to tell you
what stocks to buy or sell, you are destined to lose money. You have no
one to blame but yourself when you do.
If you lose money, the government won’t help you, nor will anyone
on Wall Street. Remember that making money in the stock market is
serious business. It is as serious as raising children or working at a fulltime
job. In the end, you must take responsibility for your own investments.
You’re completely on your own.
In the past, many investors and traders made money in the market
but had no clue as to how they were doing it. “I’m doing nothing, and
look how much money I’m making,” several investors told me. You
should not be surprised to learn that many of these people lost everything.
In a few years, people will be lulled into thinking that it’s safe to
participate in the market again. The historic $8 trillion in losses will be
forgotten. My hope is that after you read this book, you won’t make the
same mistakes that millions of other people made in the past.
Now that you are aware of the risks as well as the rewards, you have
a choice. If you are willing to take the time to learn what works on Wall
Street, you can survive and prosper as a twenty-first-century investor.
To win, you have to be faster, more knowledgeable, and more flexible
than investors in the past. As soon as you put down this book, begin
thinking and planning. Don’t stop until you have created a successful
portfolio.
On the other hand, if you decide that stocks are not for you, at least
you have a better understanding of how the stock market works. This is
information that should help you no matter what you decide to do in
the future. Always be on the lookout for profitable money-making opportunities
while remaining cautious. When in doubt, however, don’t
do it.
Finally, I have learned from experience that the best investment you
can make is in people. You can’t go wrong spending money on a college
education, your home, a new business, your children, or those who desperately
need your help. This is what I believe: Why make money if you
don’t use it to improve your life or the lives of others?
It’s been a pleasure sharing my knowledge with you. I wish all of
you the best of luck and hope that all your financial dreams come true.