Tad Borek <borekfm[at]pacbell.net> writes:

- quote -

I've recommended folks read that book, Personal Finance for Dummies,
ever since the first edition came out, what, 6 or 8 years ago.

The most recent edition, 4th ed, is dated 2003. I did a bit
of searching online and found no hints that a 5th or updated
edition is coming any time soon. (Oddly enough, I saw a
reference to an *audiobook* 5th ed, but I don't believe it).
Nothing on the For Dummies website, either.

So before we keep telling folks to read this - and I do plan
on doing so, as it's really about the best general introduction
and overview I've seen for a lay reader - we might start a
quick list of the things which have *changed* since 2003.

Most of the tax cuts and changes extended in 2003 were first
passed in 2001, so I suspect most of it is reasonably well
covered. Any ideas about more recent changes?

Off the top of my head:
Roth 401(k)s
HSAs
Medicare Drug program.



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Thanks Tad,

I really appreciate the advice...I am reading now, its not harsh...its
good advice. I'll take it.

Thanks,
Rahul

Draw wrote:
- quote -

Draw...I don't want to be harsh, but please please please do yourself a
favor and spend some time reading and learning before hopping into
investing. Country funds (especially emerging market ones like India)
are very risky investments, hedge funds are only for "accredited
investors" (SEC speak for "people who have or earn piles of money"), and
there's no such thing as a "mutual fund IPO".

A great start (someone might have suggested this) is Eric Tyson's
"Dummies" book on personal finance. You could lose your shirt by just
hopping into things, but it doesn't need to be that way!

-Tad

Draw wrote:
- quote -

from the Yahoo Finance Calendar.

Thanks Guys,

Just one more question, where can I find info about new mutual fund
IPOs coming out. Anybody know of a mailing list or something that can
inform me of an upcoming IPO?

Thanks,
Draw

India Funds:
http://www.parchayi.net/invest.php

drawoh[at]rediffmail.com wrote:
- quote -

1. About how much do you have to invest monthly right now?
Do you have a lump sum you also want to tuck away? One
problem young people with little savings face is finding a
brokerage with low minimum mutual fund investment
requirements. If you have $3000 or so, you're probably in
good enough shape.

2. Are you maxing out the matching portion of any 401(k)
your employer offers? After this, the next step is to open a
Roth IRA account

3. Start experimenting with asset allocation tools like
those listed at
http://home.earthlink.net/~elle_navorski/id4.html . This
will introduce you to diversifying for minimal risk and
maximum gain.

4. Strongly consider index mutual funds for your first
investments. The expenses of these are very low. When held
for a long time they pay as well as anything else in stocks
could be expected to pay. Vanguard is a great place to start
for index funds.

5. Lurk here often and read the responses to help refine
your strategy. Then remember the only stupid question is an
unasked one (assuming you tried via, say, googling, to
answer your question).

If you are just starting, use a global fund instead of banking on one
area. If you are going to take a sector, style or region bet do not do
it with more than 10% or so of your portfolio. I know those areas are
tempting but it could also be a growth trap (read Jeremy Siegel's
Future for investors and Stocks for the long run).

As far as hedge funds are concerned, avoid them. Any fund you can get
into without a more significant asset level ($1mm plus) is probably not
worth it. (Google views by David Swenson from the Yale Endowement).

And focusing on earning the money and let the portfolio grow with time.

Good luck.

In article <1141590374.287024.54130[at]j33g2000cwa.googlegroups.com> ,
drawoh[at]rediffmail.com wrote:

- quote -

Nearly every firm has that. Look for funds that have names that
contain the phrase "asia-pacific" in them.

- quote -

Yes, they are legit. But most often open only to high net worth
individuals.

- quote -

You can always get a managed account to have smart wall street people
pick the stocks for you. But I wouldn't advise that. Investing
in individual stocks is not an efficient use of your time and money.

- quote -

You need to educate yourself. Book stores are filled with books
on personal finance. There is even a very good one that has
the name "for dummies". Despite that name, it is an excellent
book.

-john-

--
================================================== ====================
John A. Weeks III 952-432-2708 john[at]johnweeks.com
Newave Communications http://www.johnweeks.com
================================================== ====================

Guys,

I have just started earning. I am looking to invest in funds(mutual)
that invest in China, India, and other east asian markets. Can someone
tell whom should I start talking to about this. Which firms in the US
can help me do this.
I also wanted to know about Hedge Funds, first, are they legit? If yes,
what are the questions I should be asking?
I don't think I am capable of investing in individual stocks simply
because I am not even a moderately big player at this stage, nor have I
done enough research to trust my decisions.

Basically, any advice to get me started.

Thanks & Regards
Draw