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FRED W. WRIGHT JR.John Duxbury: 73, retired, Palm Harbor
Q. How did you get started in investing?
I had some rental property, about 40 years ago. That generated some cash. That's when we started.
Q. What is your best investment so far?
The most consistent one has been some annuities. They've performed on a consistent basis for years.
Q. What is your worst investment so far?
Conseco. It went belly-up.
Q. What have you learned about investing that you think all investors should know?
You need to be widely diversified in various investments, whether it be real estate, bonds, mutual funds, stocks, whatever.
Q. How would you describe your approach to investing?
Reasonably conservative. I'll take some risk. I've basically been into fixed-income type investments recently.
Q. What do you find the most difficult about investing?
The uncertainty. Most times I have no idea what's going on. I don't think most people do. They've been talking about interest rates going up for four years, and they haven't. It's the total unknown and the irrationality of it.
Q. How are you invested now?
About 40 percent annuities, about 40 percent fixed-income, about 10 percent cash and about 10 percent equities.
Q. Do you think now is a good time to invest?
No, I don't think it's a good time to invest. I think it's a very poor time to invest. Where do you invest? Stocks aren't going anyplace. Bonds have gone down.
Q. What is your goal for investing?
My goal right now is to maintain the principal of my investments (and) produce more than the inflation rate. If I can make 7 percent, I'd be happy - 3 percent to spend, 3 percent to cover inflation and 1 percent to save.
Q. Where do you get your investment advice?
Basically, I read the newspaper. I use my brokerage, which sends me e-mails every day. I use Quicken.com and Morningstar.com to review various things I'm looking at.
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