Emma Reyes,
If you rely on an "expert" then you're at greater risk. Yes it does take time to learn how to make money. Those who focus their time on making money will be much further ahead than somebody who doesn't

Ultimately if you understand your own risks and the nature of them, then you'll be able to manage them better. How many people have lost money in the stock markets lately, or real estate because they've listed to specialists or experts and have done none of the due diligence themselves?

My belief is, if you invest your money in something,you better know that vehicle very well. Otherwise you're at risk.

Specialists, especially commission based ones, are interested in ... commissions!

Bless your Pinoy heart,

You see, PeTrick, the point is that to become a money-making expert you need plenty of time. If this is your main job then it's ok. But if you have to combine several at a time, there's a possibility of loss. So, in this case it's just wiser to refer to a specialist.

If you're a novice in investing than it's wiser to refer to the experts in this business. If you work nd don't have enough time left, you may try investing on-line. Your profit will be high enough, but be careful when choosing the company.

Hi sorry I cannot help you because I don't have any idea about this matter.

What would I do if I had $5,000 to invest, and I was a complete novice when I came to the stock market?

To succeed at anything education is required. We live in an expert driven society. We just want to concentrate on our own expertise and delegate everything else to other experts. However, I strongly believe there are three areas in our life in which we must become our own expert, or else we will suffer immeasurably.

So where do we have to go beyond “readin’, ritin’ and rythma-tick”? The first and perhaps most obvious area is family - - both our spiritual family and our physical family. Our family is where we can gain our greatest satisfaction and happiness. If we can learn giving, sharing and responsibility summed up in the word carrying, we do well, very well.

The second area that is crucial is our health. It must becoming clear that simply depending upon doctors and big Pharma is the road to slow suicide. We need to listen to our body and optimize how we feel. This means wholesome food, adequate exercise and sunshine, as well as above all else, personal peace. We need to educate our selves to fall into harmony with nature.

The third area we can never delegate is the management of our money. The worst thing we can do is to gullibly and blindly find a financial “expert” to take care of it. Our entire financial industry is designed to fleece the unsuspecting public. The structure rewards its advisers in a way that is contrary to our best interests. It's called bonuses and commissions.

To begin educating ourselves in investments, is far better to read books and attend seminars where we are the ones who are taught the nuts and bolts of the stock market, the real estate market, and either home-based business or personal entrepreneurship.

My personal expertise is in the stock market. I read many books on the psychology of investing, analysis of stock market charts, the biographies of those investors who personally made it big in the market, and on trading systems. Where I ended up is using the best online broker I know of, interactivebrokers.com, and the best training system I could search out, TraderZone.com.

But don't follow blindly my thoughts and recommendations - - that would start you on the road to disaster. Go educate yourself. Become your own best expert in the crucial areas of your life. That is where you'll find peace and prosperity.

what vehicle? do you have any suggestion? do they have a website?

hey momoney,

sometimes just having the piece of mind of having that reserve in place is good enough.

I keep a 3-6 month reserve in a very low interest vehicle. It's just there in case. I'm not expecting a return on this money like I do with my other investments. This is my peace of mind fund.

well the problem with a saving account is that the interest is low now I just want the option to remove my money penalty free after 3 months as a precaution. I don't foresee needing it but life is a series of surprises. So I want to just have that piece of mind. But on the other hand I want my money to be making me money. I work hard for it so it should work hard for me right?

Raymond, Raymond, Raymond...
I'm not sure that Deanna Natale has her license to sell mutual funds or stock investments.

momoney,
I'll invite my stock investing friend to give some ideas.

My question to you is...
Do you have your short term cash reserve in place?

If you don't put the money into a low risk savings account and keep it for a rainy day.