License To Trade

My faint interest in the stock market started when I was in secondary school. Occasionally, I would glanced at the stock market page when I read the newspapers. Checking out the stock market in general, looking at the exchange rates as well as the price of gold. That was about 20 years ago. Nothing heavy, except browsing and sometimes not even understanding what the figures meant. Just that you could either make or lose money out of the stock market. As I went to tertiary education and subsequently joined the workforce, my interest fickle on and off according to my mood.


Now, once more, as I ponder how to increase my net worth without much toiling and working hard, I turn to the stock market for inspiration. Someone once told me that too much cash sitting around may not mean a good thing. Hmm, how should I make my hard-earned money work harder for me?

I have considered a few options like savings accounts, fixed deposits, gold account, property, unit trusts, and stock market. I am still learning and looking for more information about all these investment vehicles. I have been doing the same things for the past few years, even though I don't have any spare cash to invest. I read and read and read, until I itch to try my hands in all these investments vehicles. At least they are more interesting than pure accounting.

I have tried savings account, fixed deposits and unit trusts. At the moment, I dare not say that my financial management skill is up to mark. I am still at the learning stage. Should I add investment in the stock market as part of my learning portfolio? What if I lose instead of make more money? After all, at the end of the day, investing in stock market is still a form of gambling. No matter how much information you have.

After much pondering and procrastination, I finally made the move to open a trading account today, without the financing facility, though. At least, I make sure I don't borrow to invest. With this license to trade on hand now, I am not sure how long it will take me to decide to take the next step to start dribbling in the stock market.

One day, one week, one month, one year, or one lifetime?