After the market debacles of 2000 and 2008, most investors now know that they
need to take charge and learn much more about what they’re doing when they save and invest their hard-earned money. However, many investors don’t know where to turn, whom to trust, or what they must stop doing if they are to achieve dramatically superior investment performance.
You don’t have to give your money to a Bernie Madoff, who’ll take it but won’t tell you exactly what he’s doing with it. Instead, you can and should read a few good investment books, attend some investment classes, or par- ticipate in an investment meet-up group so that you can learn how to invest with real confidence. At the very least, you should learn and under- stand well the sound principles and proven rules and methods that will protect and build your investment portfolio over time. Half of all Ameri- cans save and invest; now it’s time to learn to do it intelligently with criti- cal knowledge.
You’ll probably find this a whole new way of looking at America and its stock market. From the railroad to the auto and the airplane, from the radio and TV to computers, from jet airliners to space exploration, from massive discount stores to semiconductors and the Internet, this country has shown rapid, unceasing growth. Living standards for the great majority of Americans have improved materially from what they were 100, 50, or even 30 years ago.
Yes, there will always be problems, and everyone likes to criticize. But America’s innovators, entrepreneurs, and inventors have been a major dri- ving force behind its unparalleled growth. They have created the new indus- tries, new technologies, new products, new services, and most of the jobs from which we all have benefited.
Now it’s up to you to learn how to intelligently take advantage of the relentless growth opportunities America’s freedom makes possible and that entrepreneurs keep presenting for everyone during every business cycle.
In the following chapters, you will learn exactly how to pick big winners in the stock market and nail down the gains they produce. You will also learn how to substantially reduce your mistakes and losses.
Many people who dabble in stocks either have mediocre results or lose money because of their lack of knowledge. But no one has to continue to lose money. You can definitely learn to invest wisely. This book will provide you with the investment understanding, skills, and methods you need if you are to become a more successful investor.
