Group Discussion - How did you get your start?

[Stocktrading101]

A majority of us in here are already on our way, well what did we do to really get on the track we are on now? This is an important discussion topic because as people get started, direction accompanies "the vision". So, let's discuss how you truly got started.

My vision - Came from loosing alot of money in mutual funds during 2002 market crash. (this is important: you have to "want" to learn; you need a "vision". I decided that I was going to learn how to handle my own finances so I wouldn't have to ever rely on mutual funds, a broker, or any outside source but myself ever again).

What I did - My dad was somewhat into stocks, so I used him as my mentor/question answerer (a vital person to have). The first stock thing I ever did was look at thousands upon thousands of charts to try and catch onto patterns. I also started a journal, and "pretended" to buy stocks, then track how the investment did overall. Today a simulator is a great place to do this (vice why we created the Falkin Trading Contests to learn and grow).

So, in summary I had THREE vital things to get started:

1. A Vision - DRIVE to succeed, I wanted to learn BAD!! What was or is your vision?
2. A Mentor/Question Answerer - My Dad was this for me, who is yours?
3. A practice journal - Simulators do the trick now. How did you practice first?

This is an excellent discussion topic and I know it will help alot of others who are just getting started. Thanks for reading and let the group discussion begin .

[Yee Sian]

Lol, i would like to start the ball rollin.

1. My Vision - Yea, it was this drive inside me to succeed, i can settle for nothing less. I wanted to become rich and successful, and i thought that investing in the stock market is a very useful tool. Like Blain, i too, want to learn really badly, even if it means staying up late at night, or waking up early in the morning(and getting scolded by me parents ) just to enjoy a few minutes of conversation with someone across the Pacific.

2. Mentors - Haha, i would like to thank the board, for having spent so much time answering my silly questions, as well as pushing me forward through providing me with materials to read, and games to play. Yea, i will say he was, and still is my great mentor. Mentors are wonderful, really. There are many other people who have helped me a lot, like Moss and Blain, wonderful people, really. "a vital person to have" indeed!

3. A practice journal - Yea, of course we have the great and wonderful investopedia, but there are others out there as well . For me, i am currently involved only in Falkin 3(wanted to better my understanding of stocks, better moving to things like forex) . You can learn about commodities trading and the like, really interesting.

4. An addition to what you can get started, try writing a diary on your views, and experiences in the stock market. Look back at it later on, and look at the kinds of stuff that you say. Is there anything to be learnt, any lessons to be taken from your mistakes(you may not spot whateverwas wrong with you when you are caught in the heat of the moment, but evaluate yourself later on, and the picture might be clearer) Haha, you can start a blog, like Blain or Mark.

[spncr2]

Here I go.

My visions was the same as both of yours. I wanted to be successful. I wanted the big cash. I have always saved my money and never wanted to buy anyhting b/c i knew that whatever it would have bee, it would have been deducted from my savings. The the market rolled around im my life. At my neighbors house my neigbor, Jeff, opened an envelope and said, "Alright a nice $3.67 from Disney. (Before his father died he both each of his sons 15 shares of Disney) I said, "wait a minute, a free $3?!" So i asked him more a he didn't know much about it. SO the idea of the stock market and shares were always in the back of my head from then on.

It later happened my my sister inroduced me to "The Blain Reinkensmeyer." It all happened on Siblings weekend at Western College in Kalamazoo, MI. She was telling me a little about him and said he trading in the stock market. BOOM! Then it clicked. I know had a connection to someone that was willing to help, had the education, and did it on his own, and the best part of it was HE'S SUCESSFUL!" So for the rest of the weekend the name never cleared my head. Not only was it the market that got my attention. We went out to eat later that night, my family and I, downtown KZOO and my sis said " Blain wants to buy an office down here for his business and rent out the botton or soemthing to like a starbucks or subway, etc. " After those few days and informative information, my level of thinking took a different path.

I kinda rambled on but my mentor/question asker was of course, Blain. My dad didn't know much about the market other than a few things about retirement. Another mentor of mine is Robert Kiyosaki. After reading his series, my financial education has taken a different toll.! I am so glad I came across his Books. (THanks blain for mentioned it to me )

Once i got home form Kalamazoo i immediatley emailed Blain. (oh, one more thing. Sister also said he had three monitors for all of his charts and stuff. I couldn't resiste but ask him. ) After my research began I cam eacross stocksquest. The first ever stock simulator game i have ever come across! I didnt' know much so it was nice to just learn about the ticker symbols and differnet types of orders. Hey, ya gotta start somewhere. I htink the first company i bought was Walmart (WMT.) I didnt' know how to look for patterns or the technical aspect of it. I just bought a sold a few things when i though it was right.

As time went buy i read about 5 books on specifically the stock market and trading. I did as much research on the internet i could. I kept up with yahoo finance just typing in random letters to try and find company that corresponded to their tickers. After about 6 months of hard but fun labor, I was a member on the rich dad forums. That was a GREAT experience. After that I soon began to watch the news, Jim Cramers, "Mad Money" And read the "Business" section of our newpaper. Knowledge exppanded as well as my links to help me. I became less shy about talking to others, and as Marks' grandpa used to say, "The sqeeky wheel gets the grease." And how true that was.

By this time I was in Richdad 2. Stock Symbols became more fluent and I would look for new stocks and realize new patterns. It was a great journey from then on. My life has changed dramatically from that first email from Blain and the first page of Rich dad Poor dad. Just for laughs, there was a total of 150 emails from Blain and I. And knowing Blain, they were all about a page long. I know am trading sucessfully in a Scottrade account. Thanks to Everyone who helped along this great journey!

God Bless!

[WizTrader]

A vision-Well, this one is easy, business takes dedication, I need something to dedicate my life to. Well, there it was-and its highly profitable and not standardized-its fast paced-and its....strangely fun. Everything else is just a bonus.


Seeing the world through business changes everything.


Mentors-Aliun has been a good friend, and a guy named Joe who is pretty awesome at this stuff. We all exchange ideas pretty well, among other people.


A practice journal-I do a biz sim every now and then, I'm going to buy Capitalism 2 and I'm starting to read up at investopedia etc.

[Stocktrading101]

First off Bump to all those excellent stories and input, thanks you guys for posting up such excellent information!!

I'm going to buy Capitalism 2

Is that a computer game? I think I have heard of computer games that will teach you the basics of real estate, investing, property management and such. I remember Sim City 2 being an excellent game for learning the basics about running and growing a city. Man, gotta love the old school 2D stuff...

[WizTrader]

Originally Posted by Stocktrading101

First off Bump to all those excellent stories and input, thanks you guys for posting up such excellent information!!



Is that a computer game? I think I have heard of computer games that will teach you the basics of real estate, investing, property management and such. I remember Sim City 2 being an excellent game for learning the basics about running and growing a city. Man, gotta love the old school 2D stuff...

Indeed, thats what its all about.


you should contact me on IM sometime

[Stocktrading101]

Attached are some of my first ever stock journal entries for those of you who wish to see them and maybe get an idea for how I got going !!

PS - I finished up the content for the 5 step program! Let the good times roll!

[Stocktrading101]

BuMp to that,