Do You Sell at 10% Profit?

[Joe Moore]

Normally people follow the trend. If the trend is up, they buy more instead of selling. If you sell at 10% gain you will not probably get back into the same stock and you will lose 8% dividend. If I am not wrong, your gain is only 2%. Saying that everybody has their own strategies and you need to think what works for you. In my experience in the past, I left the market too early in many cases as I panicked and lost on future gains big time.

[Gailete]

For about four years now I have had a stock account (5 stocks), buying little bits when able, all are dividend paying stocks where the dividend is reinvested. In total the entire account is up over 30% (unless the market did something funky today ). One of the first stocks I bought is about double what I bought it at and that includes at one point pulling some of it out and buying another stock with the money. All of them are over 10% at this point.

I too am buying and holding. Except for one of the stocks they are all ones that I use their service, eat their product, their factory is in my town, etc. the minute I sense problems, I might sell, but otherwise there is no reason to for me anyhow. When the stock market goes down, I always hope I have some money built up in the cash account so I can buy more stocks at a lower price. I wouldn't think of selling at a 10% gain. I want this account to be long term, and I want to see how far it will go.

[Gailete]

bitcoins, I have heard little bits and pieces about bitcoins, but it sure must be bigger that I thought. On TV the other night that was the currency the guy was stealing/embezzling.

[cschin4]

I don't know. I used to have a PILE of individual mutual funds that I had NO IDEA what to do with. I then consolidated ALL of my money into a Wealth Management group and I am up $60K in the last couple months. Something I could never have done on my own.

[disneysteve]

I don't know. I used to have a PILE of individual mutual funds that I had NO IDEA what to do with. I then consolidated ALL of my money into a Wealth Management group and I am up $60K in the last couple months. Something I could never have done on my own.

The market had an incredible year. I suspect you would have seen similar returns (with lower expenses) had you continued to manage the money on your own. My 6 funds were up 15.14%, 29.74%, 32.33%, 32.40%, 35.49%, and 43.19% in 2013. It isn't tough to make a lot of money when you're getting returns like that.

[Nika]

The market had an incredible year. I suspect you would have seen similar returns (with lower expenses) had you continued to manage the money on your own. My 6 funds were up 15.14%, 29.74%, 32.33%, 32.40%, 35.49%, and 43.19% in 2013. It isn't tough to make a lot of money when you're getting returns like that.

Agreed.

Two more points: No one will care about your money as much as you do. And financial firm will put its interest first, ahead of yours. Making your money work for them will be their priority. Not to mention the fees.

Also, I watch too much "American Greed" to do this "all eggs, one basket" thing.