Newbie Do's:
I agree with Rivet here. Always continue to invest and don't give up.
I reccommend papertrading a strategy before putting your money to work. This will lessen the burden of losses, if the play doesn't work.
Also- use trailing stops when your stock goes up. Find a percentage or amount behind the high of the day, and move up with the trend. Don't try to guess the top, and don't feel bad taking a profit under that high- cause what goes up, always corrects (sometimes drastically).
Buy a couple of investment books and read them- use the "advice" that fits your stratey. Throw out the complicated crap. Keep it simple.
Record your buys and sells as they occur. Makes tax time much easier, and you can see your results. I use an excel spreadsheet, and I know others that use a leger. Use whatever works for you.
Never buy a stock based on "hype" alone. Research the company. Minimum- check the filings and PRs for diltution and/or legal problems. Understand the risk before jumping in.
Have a plan for an exit stragety- before you buy the stock. Plan the trade and trade the plan. If the plan fails you, know where that breaking point (Max Pain)is.
Never put all your money on one stock. Keep a little on the side for the next opportunity.
Hope this helps a few folk- Tim
