Comments on: My Own Nervousness http://www.mapgirl.net/mfc/2007/08/24/my-comments-on-a-tempest-in-teapot/ Just tidbits about money and finance. Mon, 01 Dec 2008 21:23:12 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5 By: dimes http://www.mapgirl.net/mfc/2007/08/24/my-comments-on-a-tempest-in-teapot/#comment-123228 dimes Sat, 25 Aug 2007 19:50:53 +0000 http://www.mapgirl.net/mfc/2007/08/24/my-comments-on-a-tempest-in-teapot/#comment-123228 Haha, took a week, but fivecentnickel got you to name names ;-) Let us all cower in his dominance. My husband is the same place you are with the REIT, and I know that if a lot of people knew how it was performing, they'd tell him to sell it and put the money into a long-term CD instead. They forget he's under age 30 and it's in his Roth IRA. And for him, like Lily, there's a LOT of time to rebound. If she were retiring next year, it would be a different story. I'm actually wondering if there's a list of bloggers who are actually qualified to give advice. I know JLP is, and Art Dinkin is, and who else? There's a whole lot of "I'm not a financial professional, but I play one on the internet" going around these days, and it can be hard to know who is knowledgeable, and who is just blowing hot air. Haha, took a week, but fivecentnickel got you to name names ;-) Let us all cower in his dominance.
My husband is the same place you are with the REIT, and I know that if a lot of people knew how it was performing, they’d tell him to sell it and put the money into a long-term CD instead. They forget he’s under age 30 and it’s in his Roth IRA. And for him, like Lily, there’s a LOT of time to rebound. If she were retiring next year, it would be a different story.
I’m actually wondering if there’s a list of bloggers who are actually qualified to give advice. I know JLP is, and Art Dinkin is, and who else? There’s a whole lot of “I’m not a financial professional, but I play one on the internet” going around these days, and it can be hard to know who is knowledgeable, and who is just blowing hot air.

]]> By: JLP http://www.mapgirl.net/mfc/2007/08/24/my-comments-on-a-tempest-in-teapot/#comment-122656 JLP Sat, 25 Aug 2007 03:50:28 +0000 http://www.mapgirl.net/mfc/2007/08/24/my-comments-on-a-tempest-in-teapot/#comment-122656 mapgirl, Good post. I'm pretty sure I crossed the line somewhere along the way. For that I apologize. I shouldn't have allowed myself to get so emotional. Readers shouldn't have to put up with our squabbles. That said, Trent is wrong if he thinks my post was a personal attack on him. mapgirl,

Good post.

I’m pretty sure I crossed the line somewhere along the way. For that I apologize. I shouldn’t have allowed myself to get so emotional. Readers shouldn’t have to put up with our squabbles.

That said, Trent is wrong if he thinks my post was a personal attack on him.

]]> By: Bronco http://www.mapgirl.net/mfc/2007/08/24/my-comments-on-a-tempest-in-teapot/#comment-122251 Bronco Fri, 24 Aug 2007 18:58:03 +0000 http://www.mapgirl.net/mfc/2007/08/24/my-comments-on-a-tempest-in-teapot/#comment-122251 Yes! Definitely sell the REIT! Yes! Definitely sell the REIT!

]]> By: Brad http://www.mapgirl.net/mfc/2007/08/24/my-comments-on-a-tempest-in-teapot/#comment-122166 Brad Fri, 24 Aug 2007 16:07:32 +0000 http://www.mapgirl.net/mfc/2007/08/24/my-comments-on-a-tempest-in-teapot/#comment-122166 The thing with Trent got out of control. I agree with JLP, nickel, you, and others that Trent is wrong about this, and he fought stubbornly to defend himself (don't we all?) . . . but it didn't have to turn into what it did. Trent means well, and so do JLP et al. Sometimes we just get carried away. Your words above put it in proper context, IMO, so don't worry too much about it. As a college sports fan, I know how crazy we can all get when posting online about something we feel strongly about-- you are wise to step back before speaking. We should all do that more often. The thing with Trent got out of control. I agree with JLP, nickel, you, and others that Trent is wrong about this, and he fought stubbornly to defend himself (don’t we all?) . . . but it didn’t have to turn into what it did.

Trent means well, and so do JLP et al. Sometimes we just get carried away. Your words above put it in proper context, IMO, so don’t worry too much about it. As a college sports fan, I know how crazy we can all get when posting online about something we feel strongly about– you are wise to step back before speaking. We should all do that more often.

]]> By: mapgirl http://www.mapgirl.net/mfc/2007/08/24/my-comments-on-a-tempest-in-teapot/#comment-122135 mapgirl Fri, 24 Aug 2007 15:20:43 +0000 http://www.mapgirl.net/mfc/2007/08/24/my-comments-on-a-tempest-in-teapot/#comment-122135 Thanks Brad for the encouragement. I appreciate it. I spent a long time contemplating whether or not to say anything at all, hence my chicken out post of general advice. Sistah Ant - Investing in *individual stocks* IS WORK. That's why there are professionals who do it for you with mutual funds. But if you want to pick single stocks, start out small. Graham and Dodd tell folks to put 90% of the money into professionally managed investments, like government bonds and mutual funds. They say only put 10% of your money into individual stock investments so as to spread out your risk. For me, it's mad money of a certain kind and I hold most of my money in mutual funds. You will be happy to see where your money is in a year if you participate in your company's retirement plan. Even when I put in only 3% of my salary, I was happy know I had started putting something away, however small it was. Think of the ants who toil and save even the smallest crubms. ;-) Thanks Brad for the encouragement. I appreciate it. I spent a long time contemplating whether or not to say anything at all, hence my chicken out post of general advice.

Sistah Ant - Investing in *individual stocks* IS WORK. That’s why there are professionals who do it for you with mutual funds. But if you want to pick single stocks, start out small. Graham and Dodd tell folks to put 90% of the money into professionally managed investments, like government bonds and mutual funds. They say only put 10% of your money into individual stock investments so as to spread out your risk. For me, it’s mad money of a certain kind and I hold most of my money in mutual funds.

You will be happy to see where your money is in a year if you participate in your company’s retirement plan. Even when I put in only 3% of my salary, I was happy know I had started putting something away, however small it was. Think of the ants who toil and save even the smallest crubms. ;-)

]]> By: Brad http://www.mapgirl.net/mfc/2007/08/24/my-comments-on-a-tempest-in-teapot/#comment-122127 Brad Fri, 24 Aug 2007 15:04:24 +0000 http://www.mapgirl.net/mfc/2007/08/24/my-comments-on-a-tempest-in-teapot/#comment-122127 Sistah-- Yes, it can certainly look more painful than it is because the type of people who write PF blogs tend to be the type of people that want to get really serious and in depth about this sort of thing. That's not for everyone, and if you don't want that you can make it simple-- use a target retirement fund, or just a few diversified index funds. It can be easy! Mapgirl-- Preach on! My favorite line: "Live life as a skeptic." I recommend this in any area, not just personal finance. Get all the information you can, extract what makes the most sense for you, and don't rely on ANYONE 100%. Anyone can be wrong. Rely on multiple (ideally conflicting) info sources as well as your own head, and you'll be fine. Sistah– Yes, it can certainly look more painful than it is because the type of people who write PF blogs tend to be the type of people that want to get really serious and in depth about this sort of thing. That’s not for everyone, and if you don’t want that you can make it simple– use a target retirement fund, or just a few diversified index funds. It can be easy!

Mapgirl– Preach on! My favorite line: “Live life as a skeptic.” I recommend this in any area, not just personal finance. Get all the information you can, extract what makes the most sense for you, and don’t rely on ANYONE 100%. Anyone can be wrong. Rely on multiple (ideally conflicting) info sources as well as your own head, and you’ll be fine.

]]> By: Sistah Ant http://www.mapgirl.net/mfc/2007/08/24/my-comments-on-a-tempest-in-teapot/#comment-122116 Sistah Ant Fri, 24 Aug 2007 14:45:43 +0000 http://www.mapgirl.net/mfc/2007/08/24/my-comments-on-a-tempest-in-teapot/#comment-122116 I haven't started investing yet. I'm eligible for my company's retirement plan in about five weeks, and I plan to participate. I also want to start investing little by little, though I'm not sure when, just yet. If I listened to all the stuff I read on PF blogs, I'd honestly be too scared to put any of my money in the market. PF blogs make it sound like so much work - so much strategy, so much studying - such a crucial, low-margin-for-error thing. It makes it all that much more anxiety-ridden for the novice. No wonder people have been wigging out over the last several Dow fluctuations. I believe in educating myself from different sources, but I think your advice is best, Mapgirl - we each have to stay cool and watch the advice we heed. I haven’t started investing yet. I’m eligible for my company’s retirement plan in about five weeks, and I plan to participate. I also want to start investing little by little, though I’m not sure when, just yet.

If I listened to all the stuff I read on PF blogs, I’d honestly be too scared to put any of my money in the market. PF blogs make it sound like so much work - so much strategy, so much studying - such a crucial, low-margin-for-error thing. It makes it all that much more anxiety-ridden for the novice. No wonder people have been wigging out over the last several Dow fluctuations.

I believe in educating myself from different sources, but I think your advice is best, Mapgirl - we each have to stay cool and watch the advice we heed.

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