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Times Staff WriterMARLENE CONCEPCION: 56, retired, Hudson
Q. How did you get started in investing?
I was thinking about retirement (and) started looking for annuities, late '70s and early '80s, when they were giving away toasters and TVs. I've been staying mostly with annuities.
Q. What is your best investment so far?
Not really one. My favorite stock, and it's in all of my portfolio, is Home Depot. I'm always following Home Depot. Got to have Home Depot and they've never let me down.
Q. What is your worst investment so far?
Variable annuities back in early 1999. Dropped $15,000 to $20,000 in a few months. That was a bad one.
Q. What have you learned about investing that you think all investors should know?
I don't always listen to what the other guys - neighbors and relatives - say. I listen to financial planners, and I have three different ones for different inputs: tax adviser, lawyer and a financial adviser.
Q. How would you describe your approach to investing?
Conservative. I used to be: Let's make some money. Now, let me save what I have and make a little bit at a time rather than lose a lot at a time.
Q. What do you find the most difficult about investing?
Maybe knowing that sometimes you have to know the money is there for the duration.
Q. How are you invested now?
Pretty equal: 20 to 25 percent in variable annuities, fixed annuities, index funds, bonds and blue chip stocks.
Q. Do you think now is a good time to invest?
I think right now, stay with what you got and wait until after the election. A lot of stuff is going on with the war, Medicare, etc. Play it safe until you see what's happening with the market.
Q. What is your goal for your investing?
That money outlives my life. I want to make sure there's more money than I'll ever need in my lifetime . . . until I live to be 112.
Q. Where do you get investment tips?
Mostly from financial advisers. I check it (on the Internet) in the morning or at night if I'm curious. If I hear a rumor about one of my stocks, I'll go through and do a search.