Hello Friends. I'm hoping that some of you might share your opinion.
I began investing in March of 2000. My small portfolio has only gotten smaller--it's always been in the red--it's currently down 70%. My portfolio consists of INTC, QCOM, SEBL, CSCO, SUNW, GMST, BRCD, EMC, RMBS, NTAP, and JDSU (from largest to smallest holding).
I feel that I probably took on too much risk, too soon in my investing career. Certainly, no tragedy has occurred, but I am somewhat discouraged.
I've recently been laid-off from my job at INTC and am using this opportunity to change careers. I'll be going back to school for several years (to become an elementary school teacher!!).
So, I'm at the beginning of an investing hiatus. For many of the reasons that I've stated here, I am not currently actively investing in any way. And, most importantly, I'm not following the holdings in my portfolio.
I feel that I need to respond to my portfolio in some way because I am not planning on being actively involved with it for the next two years. A few choices:
1. Do absolutely nothing. Though I feel naïve and a bit out of my league, I built my portfolio after "some" reasonable thought and research. Don't get freaked by the market. Come back to my portfolio in a few years.
2. Sell everything and put the money into an index fund. This is maybe where I should have been all along. Accept my loss as an education.
3. Try to evaluate my portfolio, sell the stocks I'm not comfortable with and put that money into an index fund. This option worries me since I may currently lack energy, time, and confidence to make anything but a gut decision.
I'm certainly not looking for anyone to make a decision for me that only I can make. But I do respect the wisdom on this message board and thank you in advance for any of your thoughts.
darbyc (Stan) |
