Dwdrums2112's Investing Journal-A Beginner's Journey through the Stock Market

So I have decided to make a journal of any trading or investing that occurs in my life. I am by no means an experienced investor in stocks, but I do hope a mutual learning experience can be benefited from this thread. I might even post any tangible investments I make, as I enjoy antiques and anything that I see as a suitable venture. Without further delay, I will show what I have been following on my papermoney accounts: 

Long-term holdings: 

TGT

DVA

PMT

FIATY

TSLA

STZ

SWHC

WMT

FTE

GLD (to follow gold) 

C

CBOU

Shorted Stocks:

BOREF (So far shorted @ 16.15, now at 10.26; pretty proud of myself ) 

BBY 

So far, this portfolio has proved to be pretty solid. SWHC has been a great buy in, and I feel that TSLA will fill in the electric motor car niche market that no major car company seems to fill. We can only see. WMT seems to be a good long term buy in, just wish I could have bought in earlier. I am not currently trading any options, as my knowledge of them is so scarce. I also enjoy penny stocks. Feel free to talk in my thread, any questions and comments (hopefully constructive) are welcome. Thanks for reading guys. 

Yeah that's rule one is controlling emotions, especially at market. I'll try to set a benchmark for my short term stuff to "take the money and run" and not expect an unlimited profit gain. My actual trading will be a majority of short term until I build up enough capital to actually put some in more long term set ups. I am a college student so money is scarce to say the least. But I believe I can make something of myself with this endeavor. 

Even on paper I seem to be pretty solid with selling at an appropriate time, but like you say, actual cash is much different. I'd like to build myself up on micro caps, and start out with VERY small amounts/shares. 

Will surely do that. 

So far today, my account on Thinkorswim's paper money is doing ok. Bought into some penny stocks to learn to follow them, hoping to see some action soon. Seems like I am much better at anticipating Nasdaq and Nyse stocks then I am the OTC's, but I will have to get good at it. Any tips on penny stocks in here would be monumentally helpful. I know some people say stay away, but there is a place for them in every portfolio, especially one that has a limited number of starting money. I try to catch on to these penny stocks early but never seem to get in. We will see this week I suppose..

Thank you sir, it will be soon enough whether I am crying or smiling after this one haha. 

Hello everyone, today was filled with me entering in on some micro caps on my paper trading account on ToS. I am having trouble deciding what broker best suits my needs, as I hear that some are better for trading certain types of stocks than others. If anyone has an opinion on a good broker for an entry level investor, it would be much appreciated. There are dozens out there. I have done my reading but I have not pulled the trigger on one yet. As stated, I would have to start with lower cost stocks due to my financial standpoint. Please note that I am a college student and I am allotting this cash for my investing purposes, and (currently) do not have a house/family/any type of collateral to worry about if I lose out. Hopefully that doesnt happen regardless.

Please let me know what your opinions are on any broker you have had experience with. Any input is appreciated. Hope everyone's day was profitable! 

Jon   

Quote:

Originally Posted by IchibomB 

I started out with ToS (TD Ameritrade now) and have been with them ever since. 

They really are an amazing resource. Any advice for me as a beginner? Besides Forex hehe. 

Not much trading done on my papermoney today.. Nothing really on my short term invests, still holding onto long terms. Didn't sell any. 

Quote:

Originally Posted by IchibomB 

 Keep it simple. Use s/r, trendlines, channels. Watch triple tops, double tops, wedges, ascending/descending wedges.

Look at the bigger picture first, smaller picture second. The real key will be handling your emotions because

most traders take drawdown. Some more than others but we all take it. 

Thanks for the post. Will take that to heart. Are you the guy that started the ToS questions thread? 

I do have a lot of questions as it is a very in-depth platform for a beginner. But I have been trying it for a couple weeks and I am starting to understand all of the tools. I might shoot you a PM. 

Haha will do, I will ask. 

Update for today: No trading done today, spent the day running errands and completing work for my summer class . It ends tomorrow so hopefully I will be able to focus on learning more on stocks until fall semester starts. Thinking about switching to being a finance major, as I am currently a biology major. Anyone on the forums a business degree holder?