Rule 1: Bulls, Bears Make Money, Pigs Get
Slaughtered
It's essential for all traders to know when to
take some off the table. More
Rule 2: It's OK to Pay the Taxes
Stop fearing the tax man and start fearing the
loss man because gains can be fleeting. More
Rule 3: Don't Buy All at Once
To maximize your profits, stage your buys,
work your orders and try to get the best price
over time. More
Rule 4: Buy Damaged Stocks, Not Damaged
Companies
There are no refunds on Wall Street, so do
your research and focus your trades on
damaged stocks rather than companies. More
Rule 5: Diversify to Control Risk
If you control the downside and diversify your
holdings, the upside will take care of itself.
More
Rule 6: Do Your Stock Homework
Before you buy any stock, it's important to
research all aspects of the company. More
Rule 7: No One Made a Dime by Panicking
There will always be a better time to leave the
table, so it is best to avoid the fleeing masses.
More
Rule 8: Buy Best-of-Breed Companies
Investing in the more expensive stock is
invariably worth it because you get piece of
mind. More
Rule 9: Defend Some Stocks, Not All
When trading gets tough, pick your favorite
stocks and defend only those. More
Rule 10: Bad Buys Won't Become Takeovers
Bad companies never get bids, so it's the good
fundamentals you need to focus on. More
Rule 11: Don't Own Too Many Names
It can be constraining, but it's better to have a
few positions you know well and like. More
Rule 12: Cash Is for Winners
If you don't like the market or have anything
compelling to buy, it's never wrong to go with
cash. More
Rule 13: No Woulda, Shoulda, Couldas
This damaging emotion is destructive to the
positive mindset needed to make investment
decisions. More
Rule 14: Expect, Don't Fear Corrections
It is not always clear when a correction will
strike, so expect and be prepared for one at all
times. More
Rule 15: Don't Forget Bonds
It's important to watch more than stocks, and
bonds are stocks' direct competition. More
Rule 16: Never Subsidize Losers With
Winners
Any trader stuck in this position would do well
to sell sinking stocks and wait a day. More
Rule 17: Check Hope at the Door
Hope is emotion, pure and simple, and trading
is not a game of emotion. More
Rule 18: Be Flexible
Recognize and be open to the unexpected
shifts in the market because business, by
nature, is dynamic, not static. More
Rule 19: When the Chiefs Retreat, So
Should You
High-level executives don't quit a company for
personal reasons, so that is a sign something is
wrong. More
Rule 20: Giving Up on Value Is a Sin
If you don't have patience, think about letting
someone who does run your money. More
Rule 21: Be a TV Critic
Accept that what you hear on television is
probably right, but no more than that. More
Rule 22: Wait 30 Days After
Preannouncements
Preannouncements signal ongoing weakness,
wait 30 days to see if anything has gotten
better before you pull the trigger to buy. More
Rule 23: Beware of Wall Street Hype
Never underestimate the promotion machine
because analysts get behind stocks and can
keep them propelled in an up direction well
beyond reason. More
Rule 24: Explain Your Picks
Buying stocks is a solitary event, too solitary
in fact, so always make sure you can articulate
your reasoning to someone else. More
Rule 25: There's Always a Bull Market
It's OK if you have to work hard to find it, just
don't default to what's in bear mode because
you are time-constrained or intellectually lazy.