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Money panel

JUDY AKERS: 65, retired, St. Petersburg

By Times Staff Writer
Published January 8, 2006

How did you get started in investing?

With a 401(k) about 15 years ago.

What has been your best investment so far?

Probably Imperial Tobacco.

What has been your worst investment so far?

A telephone call from an inspirational speaker who sold me a $5,000 investment for a wireless telephone company. It was a fraud.

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

Do your own research.

What do you find the most difficult about investing?

Not to get greedy and think you know where the top is. After you've got a good profit, take it. Don't try to hold on to the last penny. It falls quicker than it goes up.

How would you describe your approach to investing?

Very conservative. I have to feel it's a sure thing to get into it.

How are you invested now?

I'm in stocks and mutual funds and bonds.

What changes, if any, have you made in your investments in the past year?

I've taken profits more often, then get back in on a correction.

Do you think now is a good time to invest?

Depends on what you're buying. There are a lot of things out there. It just depends on what you're looking for. There's always something going up.

What is your goal for investing?

When I first started out in the '90s, it was to get my daughter through college. We're retired, so it's to travel and just leisure money for the next 35 years.

What is your biggest money concern right now?

I guess it would be what might happen in (another) terrorism event. The fear of the unknown is always out there with all of us.

Where do you get investment tips?

I do a lot of reading; I read Forbes and I read Investor's Business Daily pretty regularly, and I keep up on all the news bulletins as far as what's going around. I go to the college library and use the Internet.

[Last modified January 6, 2006, 20:07:02]