Off Topic: Mod E

[Sammy]

Jim, I found this on the Way Back Machine! This is from 2001. How cool is this!!! (I edited your name) .... Sam

About Jim
Jim *** is known as Brobd**** on various community boards. He lives in Florida and is a retired CMS from the US Air Force having served 30 years active (24 yr) and reserve (6 yr) duty from WWII to July 1971. Jim was in charge of Admin at Hq 5AF, Hq 5th Bomb Wing, among others. He was Advisor to Civil Air Patrol, Pacific Region for 5 years, 1959 to 1965.

What brought you to CNBC on MSN Money?
I had been using MSN Money for years, keeping my portfolio statistics and using the various features for obtaining investment ideas and opinions, but had not been using the boards here. I had been using CNBC boards and transferred over early before the actual combo date and found the community board concept to my liking and I adapted to it quickly. I have found various features here, such as Markets, Stocks, and Insight particularly useful. Investing is a constant learning process due to the ever changing world economy and business cycles. One must keep up, and MSN Money (now CNBC on MSN Money) is one of the very best financial sites available to do so.

How much time do you devote to investing and how do you use it? I am usually on line with CNBC on MSN Money during market hours, and often spend another hour or two checking and interacting on the boards. Find the real time quotes that are available handy when needed. The stock screening feature is also very helpful. Also, I do check the charts for my holdings regularly.

What is your investment philosophy and how did it come about?
There is one thing I have learned in over 40 years of investing in the stock market and that is preservation of capital is your job number one. Making money is what investing is all about, let the winners run and CUT LOSING POSITIONS before they can become large losses. I got blindsided by events in the 1973-74 market correction and lost significantly by being stubborn, but never again. One often will learn more from the mistakes than from books and advice… the school of hard knocks can be the best teacher. I now try to combine technical, statistical factors, and Fed actions with economic conditions to assess investment prospects. Use stock screeners. Never let the ego overcome solid common sense. This is largely a professional game, the majority of small investors out to do their own thing are mere monkeys in a crown of 800 pound gorillas. So one may be wise in keeping track of the gorillas.

The current market turn down is a first for many investors, how would you advise them? The market can go up and the market can go down, it's almost impossible to tell. Eventually the Fed rate cuts will have their effect. I think a study of the past DJI charts helps. But the problem is, each era has its own specific problems. So the past is not a totally reliable model, each drop and recovery is somewhat unique in its own time.

Fear gets carried too far near bottoms, just as elation at tops. One thing I have learned is that the market will do what at times you least expect. Right now I am just riding it out. Long term type investor, not a trader. It is too late to sell at large loss. My choice is to wait for recovery. I am sadly in ADCT which is now my worst nightmare. I think MOT, GLW, and the like will do fine but just have to ride it out. Right now I would advise NOT to buy anything, let the economy show better signs. Let company show profit. One might buy and stick with leaders such as IBM, MSFT, or defensive stocks right now. It is a close call one way or the other. Have we hit bottom? If not, stay in cash, treasuries and bonds. Don't go in where angels fear to tread.

What are your resources for investment information?
Well, CNBC on MSN Money is obviously my prime source. I can find most of what I want here, however I do use stockcharts.com useful in charting my favorite stocks. I also use smartmoney.com, quicken.com and Yahoo for other information. Then, of course, the home corporate sites of my investments are always useful. Following up on suggestions from the likes of Jim Jubak and others is worthwhile. The resources on the new CNBC on MSN Money are vast if one takes full advantage of it. New people should explore it thoroughly and they should be very pleased with what they find

What are your feelings on life and future hopes?
Life is largely what we make of it, our attitude counts a lot. I try to remain positive, even when things are not going well, like the last market year. I work out for an hour three days a week in the local hospital wellness conditioning program, using the treadmill, stationary bike, weights, etc., and feel good. Hope to be able to keep a high 180’s bowling average, but age and minor arthritis is always a problem. My wife Emily has not been as fortunate in health matters, and her care is an issue I am sure I have in common with many others. I would like to see the world more at peace and the economies begin to make a strong recovery soon. And of course, it would be nice to see the market turn up and make new highs in future years. Guess we all could use that!

Do you have anything else to say to the community?
Hope all are enjoying the CNBC on MSN Money experience. And good fortune to all!

[ModE98]

OMG, Sammy! How times have changed. Most professional trading is now by algorythims on computer systems. Often mere seconds for in/out trading.
Of course, wifey passed away in 2004 from alzheimers disease. Age is sinking my bowling average, along with the physical vulgarities of now being 88.
Of course too, again wishing the market to turn up and the economy find some solid ground. It does seem to appear the USA peaked out in 1999. Where is the next solid boom to come from (if any)? My time is long in the tooth, it's now up to generations X,Y & Z to rekindle lost hopes and dreams or face the fates to come in a fast changing world. Hope I am not becoming too pessimistic.

[Sammy]

Brobd (Mod E) I think the cycle is going to be a long one this time. History always repeats, but in this case this segment of history is tweaking the 'as usual' time line.

Love ya to pieces and delighted to find the interview in it's entirety.

Sam

[Value Buy]

Did Sammy also abbreviate your old nic?

Are you who I actually think you are?
Kudos if you are!

[ModE98]

Yes she did, I was Brobdingnagian (aka...Brob, or Brobd, and perhaps a few unmentionables