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Money panel

MARY FARRI: 53, accounting clerk, Clearwater

By Times Staff Writer
Published February 27, 2005

How did you get starting in investing?

Probably in the early '80s, I went to an investment seminar. I started with mutual funds. Prior to that, I had been in CDs.

What is your best investment so far?

In the long run, all of my IRA is in American Funds and I've kept diversifying.

What is your worst investment so far?

Probably holding onto a couple of Putnam Funds too long.

What have you learned about investing that you think all investors should know?

Pay yourself first. It's a regular savings program. Take a look at the long-run reputation of a fund or stock.

How would you describe your approach to investing?

I tend to go mostly for stocks. I would call myself above average in aggressiveness.

What do you find the most difficult about investing?

Deciding when to make a change.

How are you invested now?

I hardly ever do individual stocks. Mostly mutual funds, 90-plus percent mutual funds, the rest money market. And 85 to 90 percent of the mutual funds is growth. The rest, bonds.

Do you think now is a good time to invest?

I would say yeah. I'm not looking for there to be another big crash. I invest on a regular basis.

What is your goal for investing?

Sometime in my life, I'd like to have $1-million. I've only worked part time since I was 40. I love to travel. I would like never to have to work again on a full-time basis.

What is your biggest money concern right now?

That I haven't miscalculated and that I will run out of money.

Where do you get your investment tips?

The newspaper and any magazine I read, like Money magazine. I do research regularly on Morningstar.com, and I talk to a couple of brokers I know.

[Last modified February 27, 2005, 00:11:08]