Noble corp ( NE ) Marvel Ent. ( MVL )

[svtrucks]

I have added both of these to my account to balance my holdings in the last 2 weeks.
I think Marvel will do well with the comic films coming and Noble seems to be in a good position with the energy exporation business. I am new on indivual holdings deciding to do this with the mutual funds that I own.
I have:
AGII LU
MVL HD
NE
MSFT
PEP
BTU
CPST
CD
Any advice Optimus?

[optimus25]

What mutual funds do you own? What type of account are these stocks held in? Are they held in Taxable or tax qualified (IRA's). Do you participate in any sort of salary deferral (401K or 403B)? What's your holding period? Daytrading, swing (1-3 weeks), or long term?

[svtrucks]

I have FCNTX( Contrafund) 40%, FRESX(Real Estate)10%, International growth)FIGRX10%, Fidelity select defense3%. FLTMX(muni-gov't bond)12%, FLPSX(Low-price stock)20%, 5-10% short-term mm FTEXX. These are in a brokerage account, I plan on using these to supplement my retirement, I also have an IRA, and a simple IRA.
I want to trade to generate higher returns and for fun with the short term money I have in my money market, I also have an emercy fund with 3 months of living expenses in it. I have been self employed for the last 3 years and contributing to a simple IRA , along with dollar cost averaging my mutual funds.
I typically like to buy and hold, don't really want to manage it on a daily basis...
Thanks,

[optimus25]

I like Contrafund (great fund), International Growth, and Low Price Stock (which btw is closed to new investors and is a superfund that I wish I could have found before it closed). On your fund holdings I'm really impressed. You may want to increase your international growth holdings to at least 15%. Increase your emergency fund to 5-6 mo's of living expenses if you can. Look into a muni bond that's in your state as you can save on state and federal tax.

It looks to me like you have done some savvy investment planning. Did you work with an advisor to create your holdings?

I had worked in the retirement plan consulting industry for four years and I need to ask you why a simple IRA? Do you have any employees? What industry is your business in?

I agree with trading for fun and I certainly will be more confident if I had a solid portfolio to fall back on. As far as your holdings, it takes too much time to research every stock, I looked briefly at the companies and found that you've diversified well. You're spread out among different industries. I don't like MSFT too much because they're such a big company, more like a lumbering giant. If you're only in your 30's I would definitely increase my tech exposure through QCOM, STX, & MFE. I like the Biotech Sector GILD, CELG, & PDLI. I'm waiting for pullbacks and will only buy when the above stocks move lower.

[svtrucks]

I have done a lot of reasearch on mutual funds and have done very well with Fidelity.
My business has no employess and I have two partners we have a lot of peaks and valleys. They wanted the simple instead of the one you can put up to $40-k in . I plan on retiring before I am 59, if the funds I have do well.
Thanks for your advice Optimus!

[deepinwonder]

DH has an SEP-IRA for people who are self employed. You can put more tax exempt money into it each year, than you can a regular IRA, depending on how much you make.

[optimus25]

Your research has paid off svt. Retirement at 59? What are you gonna be doing after that?

Hopefully its something you enjoy. Good luck.