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LISA GILLETTE: 42, sales account executive, St. Petersburg
By Times Staff Writer
Published April 10, 2005
How did you get started in investing?
My father-in-law set my husband and me up with a Schwab account. I'm finance-oriented, so I just started doing some trading and investing on my own.
What is your best investment so far?
Apple Computers. I bought it in early 2000 when it was on its way down, around $22. It recently split and is still over $41 a share.
What is your worst investment so far?
Cisco. It was one of my first purchases. I bought it all the way down until it was in the $20s, and I never recovered.
What have you learned about investing that you think all investors should know?
Patience. I'm one of those people. I want a portfolio for when I retire. I strongly believe in taking your profits off the table.
How would you describe your approach to investing?
I'm more blue chip or small cap. I want a good company that's going to be there for a long time. I'm not looking into the higher risk sectors. I stick pretty much with the insurance, utilities and blue chips.
What do you find the most difficult about investing?
Knowing when the best buying point is.
How are you invested now?
About 20 percent in stocks, 50 percent in mutual funds, very little in bonds, rest in cash.
What changes, if any, have you made in your investments in the past year?
I sold (some stocks) when (they were) high and put it into cash. Now I'm sitting on the sidelines for some more socially conscious funds - mutual funds made up of stocks like Ben & Jerry's, Time Warner - companies more investing in charitable organizations (and) being more environmentally ahead of everybody.
Do you think now is a good time to invest?
No. I never think it's good to buy high. I think it's very high right now.
What is your goal for investing?
We want to be sure we're well diversified. We want to retire at a regular age.
What is your biggest money concern right now?
How aggressively we should be on paying off our mortgage.
Where do you get your investment tips?
I like Motley Fool and I listen to them on the radio. I use Schwab and Fidelity Web sites. And I like some talk radio (shows), which give you a lot of ideas and a lot of opinions.
[Last modified April 10, 2005, 00:39:14]
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