Stock Investing For Dummies »

Paul Mladjenovic is a well-known Certified Financial Planner and national speaker on investing and financial matters. He is the owner of PM Financial Services and www.SuperMoneyLinks.com, and he has been quoted or referenced by media outlets, publications, and financial Web sites. Mladjenovic is the author of the first two editions of Stock Investing For Dummies as well as Precious Metals Investing For Dummies.

Now updated! Your expert guide to building a profitable stock portfolio

Want to make money in stocks without losing your shirt? This practical guide gives you proven strategies for weathering the current economic crisis and for selecting and managing profitable investments in either a bear or bull market. You'll navigate the new economic landscape and choose the right stocks for different situations — and you'll find fresh real-world examples that show you how to maximize your returns.

• Get started with the basics — understand stock value, assess your finances, set your investing goals, and know your investing style
• Recognize the risks — explore different kinds of risk and weigh risk against return
• Make informed investing decisions — research stocks, understand growth and income investing, and use basic economics to improve your stock strategy
• Build a strong foundation for your portfolio — investigate industries, evaluate a company's financial health, and understand the effect of politics/government on stock investing
• Capitalize on emerging sector opportunities — from precious metals to alternative energy, discover the hot sectors that will make your portfolio thrive
• Build (and hold on to) your wealth — get expert tips and tactics for utilizing brokerage orders, buying with fewer costs, and keeping the taxman at bay

Open the book and find:

• The differences between stock investing and trading
• How to understand and use indexes
• The various types of brokers and how to choose one
• New ways to gather stock information online
• Methods for tracking insider trading
• Early signs of megatrends that can affect your portfolio
• Solutions for protecting your profits
• Investing resources and financial ratios

Introduction.
Part I: The Essentials of Stock Investing.
Chapter 1: Exploring the Basics.
Chapter 2: Taking Stock of Your Current Financial Situation and Goals.
Chapter 3: Defining Common Approaches to Stock Investing.
Chapter 4: Recognizing the Risks.
Chapter 5: Say Cheese: Getting a Snapshot of the Market.
Part II: Before You Get Started.
Chapter 6: Gathering Information.
Chapter 7: Going for Brokers.
Chapter 8: Investing for Growth.
Chapter 9: Investing for Income.
Part III: Picking Winners.
Chapter 10: Running the Numbers: Using Basic Accounting to Choose Winning Stocks.
Chapter 11: Decoding Company Documents.
Chapter 12: Analyzing Industries.
Chapter 13: Money, Mayhem, and Votes.
Part IV: Investment Strategies and Tactics.
Chapter 14: Taking the Bull (Or Bear) by the Horns.
Chapter 15: Choosing a Strategy That's Just Right for You.
Chapter 16: Stop! In the Name of Money.
Chapter 17: Getting a Handle on DPPs, DRPs, and DCA . . . PDQ.
Chapter 18: Corporate Hijinks: Looking at What the Insiders Do.
Chapter 19: Tax Benefits and Obligations.
Part V: The Part of Tens.
Chapter 20: Ten Things to Think About Before You Invest.
Chapter 21: Ten Things to Remember After You Invest.
Chapter 22: Ten Signals of a Stock Price Increase.
Chapter 23: Ten Warning Signs of a Stock's Decline.
Chapter 24: Ten Ways to Protect Yourself from Fraud.
Appendix A: Resources for Stock Investors.
Appendix B: Financial Ratios.
Index.