5 Ways to Beat the Market

Book excerpt: Since the turn of the century, gyrations in the financial markets have brought to light the risk that one is burdened with when investing in stocks. After hitting an all-time high in early 2000, the S&P 500 lost over a third of its value in two years. It recovered the loss only to fall again in 2008, but this time the crash was even worse. In just seventeen months the S&P 500 plummeted 57%! An investment made in 2000 was only worth half its original value nine years later. One is left wondering, "is there a way to invest in stocks that will allow me to make money without keeping me awake at night?" The good news is there is not only one way but five. Drawing on analysis of fifty years worth of data, "Five Ways to Beat the Market" presents five methods that will allow you to make money more quickly than the stock market itself will grow. These methods have the added bonus of getting you out of stocks when the market sours, thereby reducing your risk. Each method is presented with performance data from 1960 through 2009 detailing how much money an investment would have made and how likely a loss would have been. Step by step instructions are included, outlining exactly what you need to do to employ these methods successfully. Ways to boost your performance are also suggested, once the basic methods are covered. Over the fifty year test period, average compounded returns of 12% - 13% per year were recorded while avoiding the huge stock market crashes that have occurred. The "experts" will tell you that the only way to safely invest is to buy stock and hold on to them indefinitely. What they don't tell you is that you'll also need to cross your fingers and pray nothing bad will happen. Once you've mastered the simple methods in this book, you'll no longer need to worry. You will know when to get into the market and when to get out. Not only will you sleep better at night, but you'll enrich yourself in the process.