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Money panel

ROLAND WATKINS: 70, retired, Oldsmar

By Times Staff Writer
Published October 12, 2003

Q. How did you get started in investing?

I started with stock option money in 1985. I did quite a bit with a brokerage.

Q. What is your best investment so far?

I think some of the Internet companies, like Cisco Systems, and Chrysler. I never invested heavily in anything.

Q. What is your worst investment so far?

I try to forget them. I haven't been investing individually for about six years.

Q. What have you learned about investing that you think other investors should know?

I would get a good finance guy. You can't know enough about what's going on.

Q. How would you describe your approach to investing?

Cautious, now that I'm old. I don't want to lose what I've got.

Q. How are you invested?

Sixty percent in variable annuities - about 70 percent of those are in stocks; the other 40 percent in bonds. I'm happy to make the interest the variable annuities offer after 10 years with the guarantee I won't lose capital.

Q. What do you find the most difficult about investing?

Trust. I don't think anyone knows (what's going on).

Q. Do you think now is a good time to invest?

Yes, because the stock market is low. It's still got a long way to go up.

Q. Do you have a goal for your investing?

To hold onto my capital. When I changed financial advisers, I hammered that into them.

[Last modified October 12, 2003, 01:18:30]

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