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Technology Stocks : Qualcomm Incorporated (QCOM) -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Randall Knight who wrote (60996)	1/9/2000 10:38:00 AM
From: Sawtooth	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 152472

<< I have a general question for the thread...How many of you are gaining a reputation as a "stock guru" because of your history in purchasing QOCM and how many of you feel responsible for the wealth of friends and family simply due to the fact that people keep asking your advice regarding stocks and QCOM in particular?>> Randall: I go overboard to avoid finding myself in that situation; it's the last thing I want. I know a fellow who rec'd a stock to his mother-in-law at $32 riding the ego wave of being the stock player in the family. It was at a highly visible (to the family) and often mentioned $6 when the family gathered together for Christmas. Ouch!!! He was lucky if he got to lick the grease out of the bottom of the roaster pan after everyone else enjoyed the ham (he, obviously, was the turkey <ggg>). 'Course the guy would have been elevated to genius status if the stock had been at $50.) I'll talk about sectors and companies I like but make it clear that any broker contact is strictly after their own DD. Bottom line: I'll help them learn but never push. There's enough risk in handling my own accounts. Will be interesting to see other responses. ..........VVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVV

To: Randall Knight who wrote (60996)	1/9/2000 10:55:00 AM
From: Mark Fleming	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 152472

How many of you are gaining a reputation as a "stock guru" because of your history in purchasing QCOM and how many of you feel responsible for the wealth of friends and family simply due to the fact that people keep asking your advice regarding stocks and QCOM in particular? I see this happening everywhere. I live in San Luis Obispo and everywhere I go either get hearty thanks (one man kissed me at a party last week) and questions on what to buy next, or I get the "Gee, I wish I would have listened to you last year," and then they too especially want my current recommendations. I also get several calls a week for advice. My broker at MSDW in San Diego area has become somewhat of a local hero because of the hundreds of people he's put into QCOM over the years. He was the best performing MSDW broker in the U.S. last year due to his QCOM holding clients. Now he's got zillions of people wanting his services. His brother's story is similar to mine, only he's in Yacama (sp?), Washington. He's a doctor and has gotten many of the doctors in town into QCOM and is now the local guru. It's a crack up how many clients of my broker have similar stories like his brother and I. And, in turn, some people we've turned on to QCOM reports that they, too, have become popular due to putting many of their own group of friends and associates in QCOM. I told my broker that it's like a Multi Level Marketing company, with many levels of QCOM disciples spreading the word. BTW, I've been recommending some of the same stocks many here on the thread have, like JDSU. Of course, I've been pounding the table on QCOM over the last week. But, when asked for a company that could possibly do another QCOM-like rise, that is still early in their game, I'm recommending Echelon (ELON). I started telling people about this company at around 8 and it's now 25 or so. Look at the CEO and look at their partners.

To: Randall Knight who wrote (60996)	1/9/2000 10:58:00 AM
From: MileHigh	Respond to of 152472

Randall, Yes, I have spoken to 4-5 people in some detail about stocks lately. I do feel weird about it, but always tell them the same things you do... Good point about how many traders are multi-millionaires. Regards, MileHigh

To: Randall Knight who wrote (60996)	1/9/2000 11:38:00 AM
From: D.B. Cooper	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 152472

(How many of you are gaining a reputation as a "stock guru" because of your history in purchasing QOCM and how many of you feel responsible for the wealth of friends and family simply due to the fact that people keep asking your advice regarding stocks and QCOM in particular? ) I am personally becoming very uneasy with friends and family asking for stock tips. One of my oldest friends is now wanting in on the same stocks. Does not care about buy in price, or gains from this point on. Or that the market usually corrects after Jan 31. She lives up north in the wilds of British Columbia. Very poor information on stocks etc. Last night my wife and I where in a line up to order pizza and the people right behind us where talking about a stock that went up 30. It is becoming harder to look at a stock now. Is the runup due to future learnings or just mad speculation? don

To: Randall Knight who wrote (60996)	1/9/2000 1:05:00 PM
From: Jon Koplik	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 152472

Re : gaining a reputation as a "stock guru" because of your history in ... QCOM Yes, my wife and I have experienced almost exactly what you have described (as have (also) some people further down the "multi-level marketing scheme" (example - our next door neighbor)) What I am now telling people might be "the next one" is Globalstar. There is, however, one BIG difference between this recommendation and Qualcomm (two years ago) : With Globalstar -- I always make sure to tell each "tipee" that GSTRF will either go to zero or up sharply, and they should only put in an amount of money that would not ruin their life (or upset them too much) if it disappeared. With Qualcomm (two years ago), despite my constant awareness that "anything is possible" with investments, I actually never did feel the need to warn people that it (QCOM) might go to zero, because the case that people like Gregg Powers had laid out (in such excruciating detail) right here on SI made it seem that $40 or $50 on QCOM (before the subsequent 8 for 1 splitting of the shares) WAS effectively zero, given the realities of Qualcomm's business. Jon.

To: Randall Knight who wrote (60996)	1/9/2000 2:59:00 PM
From: R.V.M.	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 152472

Re the "guru" question: yes, even though I'm no guru. Was called three times in one day last week with questions on stocks, options....it was hard to get anything done. It does feel like a burden, especially when good friends sell their mutual funds (unfortunately at a low last week), and can't get into Q yet while it is rising. I sometimes wish I'd been more quiet about everything. Am repeating over and over, "You have to make your own decisions," and referring them to these threads. It's just hard not to want to help when you know a good thing. RVM

To: Randall Knight who wrote (60996)	1/9/2000 5:03:00 PM
From: waverider	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 152472

Randall...that was an interesting post. To be honest with you, I get the creeps whenever people ask those kinds of questions...and it happens to me all the time too. For the most part they have ZERO understanding of what the market is all about and all they really know is what they hear from talking heads on the 6 o'clock news. Lets see: -A lot of these people got their clocks cleaned when they got all goose bumpy and bought during those highs the two days we had after the split. They are still underwater and frankly it is the best thing that could have happened to them. -My nephew thought he was immortal because he bought some Q a year ago after I finally convinced him it was a great company and that it would be a good way to start a savings program. It was his FIRST purchase in the market. So he decided to buy more around $700 because GREED took over. You should have seen his face when I told him I cut back on my position about the same time. -When QCOM hit $700 the carpenter that helped me build my home ask me if he should put in $1000 into QCOM? He has basically a zero balance in his checking account and makes about $40,000 a year...has 2 kids...and...well, never mind. This is all quite worrisome to me. Like some of you (and not enough unfortunately) I have busted my ass over the last 10 years learning about the market. As many have mentioned here before, we have our "I almost lost everything" stories, but came back by shear will and determination to learn from our mistakes. A lot of these people asking for our advice have NOT been to war before and do NOT know what it is like to see their intestines all over the floor. I for one do NOT want to help them achieve that vision. Oh sure, they'll say they can withstand 10-30% drops...but we all know reality is a lot different from our dreams. The basic message I am trying to get across is take care with this new status some of our friends and neighbors want to give us. I know it feels good to have people ask for our advice, but CONSIDER the repercussions. It may feel cool for our egos now but... Gurus are best when they are mad of stone (one of Dylan's songs about the stock market, right?). The ONLY people I recommend stocks to are the ones who have trusted me enough to manage their money directly. I have their accounts on my computer and I push the buy and sell buttons. Everyone else can lose their asses on their own time thank you...because that is the position I always take...THE MARKET TAKES A LOT FASTER THAN IT GIVES. Hang Ten Dudes Rick