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By Times Staff WriterH.C. "PETE" WARNER: 64, retired, St. Petersburg
How did you get started in investing?
A college course, in the mid '60s. We had to pick two stocks to follow in the course.
What is your best investment so far?
Imperial Oil, most recently, a Canadian Shell Oil subsidiary.
What is your worst investment so far?
Checkers.
What have you learned about investing that you think all investors should know?
I think one of the things everybody should do is diversify. Don't put all your eggs in one basket. I think Enron was a valuable lesson. No. 2, buy good companies and leave it alone.
How would you describe your approach to investing?
Right now, I'd say it's probably relatively conservative.
What do you find the most difficult about investing?
Like everybody else, just keeping track of what's going on every day. That's how I make my investment choices, trying to anticipate what affects the market.
How are you invested now?
Sixty-five percent in what I would call retirement shares . . . about 5 percent in what I would call balanced funds, indexed to the market, and the rest in stocks.
Do you think now is a good time to invest?
I think any time is a good time to invest. I think you can make money in the market whether it's going up or down.
What is your goal for your investments?
Just enough money to live in retirement comfortably.
What is your biggest money concern right now?
As far as an investor is concerned, the effects that terrorists can have on the market in the short term.
Where did you get your investment tips?
I have both Vanguard and Fidelity (Internet) sites that I follow. I have a financial adviser.