Mail Bag

An archive of my responses to members questions, comments and suggestions.

October 22, 2007

  • Big Wall Street Myth: The Self Investor Can’t Be Successful

    The following is a portion of an email sent to me from someone looking to get into the stock market and wondering how to proceed.  I have had a few discussions with her getting her started down the right path and she sent me the following over the weekend:
    "Last night I had dinner in a [...]

September 6, 2007

  • CANSLIM Inquiry; Model Portfolio Performance & Buy/Sell Alerts

    A member recently wrote in with the following questions:
    I came across your site the other day when searching CANSLIM. I find your site very interesting, and would like to ask you a few questions if you don’t mind.
    1. How is your portfolio doing this year, and what’s the YTD return?
    2. I am [...]

May 3, 2007

March 15, 2007

  • Tracking Upgrades and Downgrades

    Question:
    What source do you use for upgrades and downgrades.. or do you even mess with it?
    My Response:
    Upgrades and Downgrades are useful to know before the market opens.  Often times valuation downgrades can occur after a stock has run up significantly and act as a "sale" allowing you to get in to the position if you [...]

March 6, 2007

February 25, 2007

  • Using An Automated Buy Order: Buy Stops With a Limit

    Question: 
    I am a little confused. What does using buy stops with a limit mean?  Isn’t using the buy stop good enough?

    My Response:

    Using a buy stop will trigger an "at the market" order at a specified price.  For example, if you were away for the day but wanted to get into a stock that might [...]

February 22, 2007

February 20, 2007

February 15, 2007

  • Tracking the Break Outs and Making the Purchase

    Every once in awhile I get a request to send out alerts sooner so that members don’t miss the break out or get in at a better price.  When a high quality stock breaks out often times I will purchase in the Model Portfolio, which you will be alerted to within minutes.  Sometimes, by the [...]

February 12, 2007

February 1, 2007

  • Searching for Multiple Stocks

    Question:
    Is it – or could it be – possible to do a search on more than one stock in the breakout tracker?  I often have several (OK, many) stocks that I want to check on and I have to punch in their tickers one by one.  I would like to input all of them in [...]

January 29, 2007

January 25, 2007

  • Add Type of Base to Breakout Tracker?

    Question:
    I was thinking on your website that it might be a good idea to be able to sort stocks based on what kind of a base that it is in. Like a cup with handle, a flat base, a double bottom base, etc.  You said that you like flat bases the best.

    My Response:

    It’s very difficult [...]

January 24, 2007

January 17, 2007

  • I Got a Flyer in the Mail, the Stock Looks Good. Your Thoughts?

     
    Question:
    I got a flyer in the mail yesterday about ETLY:BB. What do you think of it?  It was from James L. Rapholz’s, "Economic Advice" newsletter.  Just wanted to know what you thought of it.
    My Response:
    Take that flyer or print out of any email promoting a stock and immediately use it for starting a fire [...]

October 19, 2006

October 15, 2006

September 2, 2006

August 31, 2006

  • I’m Overwhelmed With All the Information

    Comment:
    I’m not sure the service is for me.. it looks very good but I’m overwhelmed by all the information.
    My Response:
    I know what you mean about information overload – it’s the main reason for creating this site.  The success of my members is extremely important to me.  This system is something I’ve been working on for [...]

January 13, 2006

  • What’s the Criteria for Adding Stocks to the Database?

    Question/Comment:
    Thanks, Tate, for being so responsive. I also appreciate the feedback you give me to help continue the never-ending learning process. It is helpful to know that you have a watch list from which you take stocks for the database. Would you be willing to share the criteria for making the cut to your database? [...]