Dedicated to the success of the individual investor
Mission and Values
Mission Statement
The mission of SensibleStocks.com is to provide fact-based, actionable information to self-directed individual investors to help them profit in the stock market.
Guiding Values
(1) Devoted to the self-directed individual investor. The individual investor has needs that are different from institutional investors, such as limited amounts for investing but greater flexibility. SensibleStocks.com is dedicated to meeting these needs by providing information, analysis, guidance, and tools for success. My favorite reader is one who is an independent thinker, logical, and not overwhelmed by the emotions of the market.
(2) Gaining an edge. Peter Lynch said, “the amateur investor has numerous built-in advantages that, if exploited, should result in his or her outperforming the experts, and also the market in general.” SensibleStocks.com will help create an edge where it can. The edge usually comes from how information is interpreted and utilized, and from how behaviors are controlled.
(3) Fact-based. SensibleStocks.com is non-ideological. There is no "correct" style of investing. All information and strategies are fact-based and designed to increase the odds of success.
(4) Non-hyperbolic. SensibleStocks.com is meant to guide and educate, not bowl you over with unbelievable claims and promises. Its approach is to apply common sense and intelligence to facts. The goal is realistic, profitable results.
(5) Transparent. All information provided or published on Sensible Stocks.com is identified as to source. No secret formulas or "black box" algorithms are used. Source data is obtained from free public providers believed to be reliable. That data is then analyzed and interpreted to provide rational information for individual investors.
(6) Educational. The best investors know what they are doing and why. SensibleStocks. com explains the reasoning and facts behind all information that it presents. Users are encouraged to think for themselves and never stop learning.
(7) Clear and concise. All material is written to be clear and understandable. Jargon is kept to a minimum and defined when it is used. Concepts are simplified wherever possible. (8) Flexible. SensibleStocks.com encourages its users to modify or tweak its systems when the reader sees a better way. All scoring systems--for stocks, stock valuations, etc.--are open- ended, so that the reader can add, drop, or modify factors without unbalancing the overall system.
(9) Rational. Investors often sabotage themselves with self-defeating emotions. SensibleStocks.com treats investing like a business: dispassionately and logically. The market rewards intelligent decisions over the long term. An emphasis is placed on rules-based investing, because that helps take unhelpful emotions out of the equation.
(10) Fun. Stock investing should be fun. Don’t put your money into companies that make or do anything you don’t admire. Don't let the investing process wear you down. If it becomes onerous, take a break, or turn some or all of your investing over to mutual funds or an advisor that you trust.
(11) Innovative. SensibleStocks.com represents original "blank sheet of paper" thinking. We challenge common wisdom. That often leads to unique and innovative strategies, procedures, and systems.
(12) Results oriented. The best measures of investment success are based on the goals that you are trying to reach. For some investors, that means capital gains with little emphasis on income. For other investors, it means continually rising income combined with some capital gains. Most investors want safety of principal and to understand how much safety they may sacrifice commensurate with the risks they are taking. SensibleStocks.com measures itself along those scales. We are accountable. The public Dividend Growth Portfolio is funded by the author with his own money. It is a real-life (not "model") portfolio, and its results are updated and explained monthly.