[SLUG] FoolWatch Weekly Digest: 12 Investing Must-Knows

[The Motley Fool]

Title: The Motley Fool: FoolWatch Weekly Digest

EDITOR'S PICKS FOR WEEK OF 10-24-2003 12 Investing Must-Knows Good Time to Buy or Sell a Home? 8 Simple Rules for Trading 5 Investing Don'ts ADVERTISEMENT BY RETIRE OVERSEAS Live like royalty on $17 a day. Own an exotic beachfront getaway for $35,000. Enjoy fine dining for $7 per person. Employ a maid or gardener for $2 a day. FREE REPORT "With the year of good returns from the market averages, investors may be swayed by emotion positively or negatively. But we are neither geniuses in bull markets nor idiots in bear markets. The path doesn't change." Tom Jacobs, "Bull Market Genius?" » Get the Best Online Broker Millions of average folks are successfully trading online. All you need is a computer, a modem, and access to the World Wide Web. You simply open an account with the brokerage of your choice by filling out some paperwork and mailing in a check. Then click over to its website, log on via a password, and proceed to check the status of your account or place a trade order. What should you look for when shopping for a broker? That depends on what kind of investor you are, but here are 10 aspects to investigate: 1. Trading commissions: How much will it cost to buy stocks or other securities you'll want in your portfolio? 2. Other fees: Check for annual maintenance fees, or inactivity fees if you're not a frequent trader. 3. Minimum initial deposit: If you don't have a lot of investable assets, look for a broker with low minimums. 4. Customer service: Check out the reputation of the broker's customer service (you can begin at our Discount Broker discussion board). 5. Traditional banking services: A brokerage account can often double as a checking account. 6. Research: Does the broker provide objective, independent security analysis? 7. Mutual funds: If you're interested in funds, make sure your broker has access to high-quality, low-cost fund families. 8. Investment product selection: Will you want certificates of deposit? Options? Bonds? 9. Other methods of getting your trades executed: If your computer is down -- or you're away from home -- can you make a trade via phone? 10. Other freebies and perks: Many brokers offer special deals to new customers, which may be the final bonus that tips the scales in its favor. Want to learn more? Then visit our Broker Center. Meet Up With Fools in Your City Fools everywhere are getting together. Join the fun in your city or town. Work for Hidden Gems Looking for interesting work? Tom Gardner needs an investment research assistant for his monthly newsletter. ADVERTISEMENT BY RETIRE OVERSEAS Live like royalty on $17 a day. Own an exotic beachfront getaway for $35,000. Enjoy fine dining for $7 per person. Employ a maid or gardener for $2 a day. FREE REPORT Not A Subscriber To This Newsletter? You should be - signup is a breeze! Don't use just any credit card - get a Fool Card! The program has all the features we recommend: no annual fee, low rates, cash back ...if you like cash. Learn more. SUBSCRIPTION SERVICES: Subscribe, unsubscribe, change format, suspend delivery ADVERTISEMENT BY RETIRE OVERSEAS MORE NEWSLETTERS FoolWatch Weekly Investing Strategies Investing Basics Personal Finance SIGN UP NOW! Did you enjoy this? Forward it on to a friend! Legal Information. Copyright © 1995-2003 The Motley Fool. All rights reserved. Email Powered by IronPort Systems

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