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By Times Staff WriterSteve Shrago, 43, certified financial planner, St. Petersburg.
Q. When do you get started in investing?
A gift of Mattel stock from my dad when I was kid, about 10. He was a broker. I just got interested in investing.
Q. What is your best investment so far?Tootsie Roll. I bought that years ago and it's been splitting. Now it's way down, so I bought some more.
Q. What is your worst investment so far?My worst investment was not getting out of my Seligman New Technology Fund when I first thought about it.
Q. What have you learned about investing you think others should know?Most of the time, look for stocks that pay dividends. The stock market goes up and down, but if you get your stock dividends reinvested, it's a very inexpensive way to invest.
Q. How would you describe your approach to investing?Very value-oriented. Buying companies on sale, buying companies that pay dividends. I like to see a company that has good cash flow and no, or very little, debt.
Q. What do you find the most difficult about investing?Trying to time when to buy and sell.
Q. How are you invested now?I've been putting money monthly into three different mutual funds; 100 percent stock for my long-term investing.
Q. Do you think now is a good time to invest?No, not really. I think valuations have gotten out of hand in general. I would invest a little at a time and pick stocks that haven't moved much.
Q. Where do you get your investment tips?I like Barron's. But a lot of it is common sense.