Make sure you get paid. The massive bull market of 1982-1999 changed the investment landscape dramatically, making growth investors out of everyone new to investing. Thanks to discount brokerages like E*trade and Ameritrade, investing was more accessible than ever before. Throw in the creation of 401(k)s and other investment focused retirement plans and you’ve got a genuine investing boom. Between 1983 and 1999, the percentage of US households involved in the market jumped from 19% to 49%. Amidst all the hubbub, dividends and income plays became unfashionable. With stock prices soaring to new highs almost every day in the late ‘90s, investors wanted growth, not boring payouts. And we all know how well this philosophy performed during the Tech Crash. One of the most quoted statistics regarding the stock market is the view that stocks have returned average annual gains of 10% since 1926. Far ...

The current financial services melt-down has had differing effects on different companies. Dealing with the realities of the situation has become the only way that most can move forward. Some are assessing their situation while others are moving to right the issues. If there is one thing that most can agree upon; it would be that admitting to losses, making the needed moves now and working to move forward are the only ways to get back toward solid results.

E*Trade Financial Corp., an online trading concern, works to facilitate the online trading of certain financial products. In a general sense, the company is a retail company that offers the “average” person an opportunity to trade stocks and buy mutual funds. As with many financial institutions and companies, E*Trade Financial has been going through a period of adjustment. It has, however, readjusted in a significant manner and appears to be moving forward

...

Prepare yourself now.

The market is widely referred to as a discounting mechanism. However, its ability to discount anything extends only as far as the collective knowledge of its participants. And to be blunt, the vast majority of today’s investors— professional or otherwise— know little if anything about making money in the market.

With the advent of discount brokerages— E*trade, Ameritrade, etc— in the late ‘90s, a huge wave of novice investors entered the US financial markets. Between 1990 and 2000, the number of US households invested in mutual funds doubled from 25 million to 50 million. This wave of new, uninformed money supported two major trends: the Tech Bubble, and the rise of the financial media.

Regarding the latter, in 1990, stock market developments were relegated to 15 minutes of coverage on major news programs. Only ten years later, there were at …

As I have discussed in the past, I keep up with a cross section of stocks from every sector and industry.  However, most of my in-depth research and interest for the purpose of this site lies in the financial services sector.  With that sentiment in mind, I intend to use this medium to regularly discuss their valuations, news, and corporate strategies.  (Note: I do reserve the right to occasionally discuss stocks outside the financial services arena that I believe are attractive assets and my conviction list will be constructed with stocks from every sector) The firms I will cover in depth on this site: 

Investment Banks - Bear Stearns, Goldman Sachs, Lehman Bros., Merrill Lynch, & Morgan Stanley

Asset Management - Lazard, Och Ziff, & Blackstone

Money Bank Centers - Citigroup, Bank of America, JP Morgan, Wells Fargo, & Wachovia

Investment Brokerages - E-trade, Schwab, & TD Ameritrade

You can download my

...

You have 2 opportunities (one in San Diego and the other in Phoenix) to get some great education and learn not only about how to use Trade-Ideas more effectively with your trading plan, but you'll also have the opportunity to see how our latest tool, the Automated Trading Bot, automates a trading plan with OptionsXpress.February 23, 2008 9:00 am - 4:15 pm Hilton San Diego Mission Valley (619) 543-9000 901 Camino Del Rio South, San Diego CA 92108 (FREE workshop)March 14-16, 2008 Arizona Grand Resort (888) 216-48377777 South Pointe Parkway, Phoenix AZ 85044 (fee to attend)Smaller, Frequent Broker Events Offer More Education than the Big Tent Expos: A Trend That Will Stick?You and I, dear reader, are in the middle of some interesting, exciting trends affecting ongoing education, good technology and good partnerships. We are ...