The dizzying twists and turns of the market have sunk more than a few rookie investors who simply didn't have the mettle to stick with their strategy. Gene Walden one of America's bestselling investing authors, has written a simple, succinct, straightforward guide to successful stock market investing strategies. This book shows you don't need command of technical jargon, sophisticated strategies nor complex number-crunching formulas, to be successful. Keep it simple and stick with it.

For this book, he has talked with some of the top investment professionals in the world including mutual fund managers, analysts, economists, authors and newsletter publishers, stockbrokers, money managers and successful investors. Readers will discover they don't have to learn these truths the hard way:

- The odds favor the investor who is in for the long term, because a company with increasing sales and profits will see its value go up.

- Diversification requires a portfolio that includes several industry groups, not just several stocks within one group.

- To quote Peter Lynch: "Selling your winners and holding your losers is like cutting your flowers and watering your weeds."

- A good time to build a position in a stock is when its industry is out of favor on Wall Street, and prices are sagging.

Gene Walden is the author of the best-selling investment classics The 100 Best Stocks to Own in America, a five-time Money/Fortune Book Club selection and The 100 Best Mutual Funds to Own in America. Walden has been a contributor to the Wall Street Journal, Investor's Business Daily, Dow Jones News Service, and many other business and financial publications.

Contents:

Part 1: Getting in the Game 1

The Lazy Way / Dollar Cost Averaging / Index Funds First Steps / Realistic Expectations / Random Walk Theory Market Opportunities Drawbacks of the Dow Overcoming Fear of the Market / Retiring Rich Commission-Free Stocks

Part 2: Covering the Bases 33

Why Stocks / Diversification / Market Timing Buy and Sell Strategies / Bear Market Investing Fundamental Versus Technical Analysis / Living With Volatility / Seasonal Patterns / Buying Weakness / Hot Tips / Courage

Part 3: Building a Winning Portfolio 71

Basics / Momentum / Buying Bargains / Good Stocks / Good Sectors / Bouncers Corrections / Buying Panic / Building An All-Star Portfolio / Long-Term Focus / Undiscovered Stocks Financial Analysis / Buy and Hold / Buying More / Economic Cycles / Investing in Retirement / Investing in What You Know / Small Stocks / Margin Accounts / Sell Strategies Mutual Funds

Part 4: Avoiding Troubled Waters 143

Peace of Mind / Opportunities to Avoid / Cheap Stocks Price-Earnings Ratios / Selling Winners Greed Dumping Losers / Signs of Trouble Reading Annual Reports

Part 5: How Far to Trust the Experts 185

The Investment Press / Investment Newsletters Securities Analysts / Hiring a Broker / Using a Broker / Firing a Broker / Life Insurance

Part 6: Maintaining a Healthy Perspective 211

Controlling Emotions / Hard Work / Trusting Your Judgment / Patience and Perseverance Earning and Learning

Index 224