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Investing Small Potatoes

A blog by Ray C Maratea in Sunday Columns

  • Entries

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About this column

Tips on how to invest and save for the future for those who don't have a lot of extra money to work with.

Entries in this blog

Investing With Small Potatoes

Your Perspective And How It Changes As You Age

In a matter of ninety days, I will turn 94 years of age. When I was young, I paid little or no attention to such things as savings or insurance of any kind. But since learning how to drive, laws made it imperative that I pay for auto insurance and when I began to work at a full-time job I learned about Social Security, Unemployment tax, NYS Disability tax, etc. Oh I forgot healthcare costs. Our society tries to take care of those who are unable to take care of themselves. I am in favor of all th
Investing With Small Potatoes

"Spiders": Are They Safe To Touch?

Spider Funds are funds containing the stocks of all eleven sectors of the stock market. So for instance they help me because my goal is to invest only in stocks that pay dividends, spider funds are a mixture of both. Holding them gives me the ability to own a cross section of the Growth Stocks I would never buy. They trade electronically and have no management  involvement. And of course, some pay dividends to my liking. The last market correction in the eighties left so many investors horrified
Investing With Small Potatoes

"Just The Thought Of Investing Scares Me"

"Just The Thought Of Investing Scares Me" This part is for those of you who are clearly intimidated by the thought of deciding which stocks to own. My columns were intended to give you confidence and I If failed you, I will repeat what I said, in terms easier to absorb. An effortless way to design a basket of stocks can be simply by focusing on the things you use daily. By this I mean products and services you must have to make your day complete such as shampoo, soap, breakfast cereal. Oh, do no
Investing With Small Potatoes

When Is The Right Time?

When I feel strongly about a subject, I am inclined to go back to that subject again. So, this column is once again to stress on the subject “when should I begin buying stocks? The answer is anytime. While I cannot speak for the contents of other brokerage firms, I can say Charles Scwhab’s platform offers the ability to enter the stock market slowly and carefully reducing the risk of investing dramatically. Stock Slices On Schwab’s platform there is a heading called “Trade” when you click on tha
Investing With Small Potatoes

Why "Dip Buying"?

Recently I responded to a survey from Charles Schwab and intentionally gave them a negative rating. Not too long after I received a phone call from one of their staff seeking reasons but before he finished, I had to tell him the purpose of my negative responses was to get their attention. He asked for clarification, and I told him the following: I mentor about ten individuals on the strategy of dip buying and have found it difficult to convince an individual to purchase stock as it continues to
Investing With Small Potatoes

Organizing Your Stocks And Examining The Value Of Your Stock Selection

My last column covered the steps you need to take to get set up with your stock brokerage account and banking arrangements. This column will give you some tips for selecting stocks for your portfolio. My preference for stocks is limited to Consumer Staples, Healthcare, Utilities and Communications, to name a few. Also, because I am a Dip Buyer (buying stocks when their price dips below what I first paid for it), I also focus on the dividend yield of the stock which is, simply put, when some comp
Investing With Small Potatoes

An Introduction to "Investing with Small Potatoes"

Welcome to Small Potatoes, a new column designed to help those who believe their income level prevents them from participating in the stock market to growing their savings. Earlier this year I celebrated my 93rd birthday. Recently I have been reflecting on my life increasingly. I am happy to share a brief history of how I became the person I am. My parents were both in their teens when they arrived from Naples, Italy. From what I have learned, most marriages in those days were pre-arranged. I wa

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