PsychoticChemist
Confused about dryer sheets
- Joined
- Sep 22, 2008
- Messages
- 9
Hello people
Im twenty seven (just starting out). I've a B.S. degree and work as an analytical chemist for a biotech company. I earn a decent salary and Im looking to go back to school for the full enchellada (PhD) in the next couple years.
I bought a house (technically a second house since we started out in a mobile home and made a decent return on it) one year ago, Ive been married five years (he makes an average wage) and we are getting along fine monetarily (fine being better than most).
I have a decent mind for money and my credit rating is in the high 700s to low 800s as I have had a credit card since the age of 13. I tried investing at a young age, and it went over about as well as a lead balloon. I think most of it was due to the fact that I opened my first brokerage account at 17, I didnt have a grasp on the wonderful tool that is called "the internet" and I fell into a general investment scheme that is called Edward Jones. As a result I lost about 20% of the funds, and had to withdraw the account in my skimpy college years to buy food and pay the water bill.
I should also mention that I did my biochemistry degree in three years at a state school and paid for all three years as I attended by working more than one job (usually three in the summer time). Lets just say I dont remember much from the ages of 17-21 and it wasnt because of booze, drugs, or a huge case of apathy. I worked my ever loving tail off to afford my degree.
All that in, Id like to start investing again. I have a few savings bonds, a skimpy IRA start, a collection of company stocks, and a few thousand in savings. I could probably scrape together a couple grand at a moments notice, and probably could stand to lose about a grand without crying too hard. I know I dont have near what I should... but I guess my only excuse is that Im twenty seven. At least I have a house and its not upsidedown in equity (in fact I probably have at least 25K in equity even in this downturn market).
Most of my questions are how do I get started? Ive requested company after company's literature on IRA and rothIRA funding. I also visited my bank (wells fargo) even though I loath dealing with the bank, and asked for advice. The man who I spoke with practically threw a phone at me to speak with someone about setting up an account, of which I had no idea how worked, and then told me that he didnt have any literature on the account for me to read. Holy shibbits!
For all my research and feeling outward, I have yet to find something that makes me happy with results. Call it being fire-shy after the Edward Jones deal, but I dont fancy losing 20% of my money over 4 years of investing because Im too ignorant of the system to understand what to do with it.
Does anyone have a good book to reccomend?? or maybe a decent bank program?? or even a bit of advice on who to ask. I dont mind spending a bit of money for financial advice, but I dont want to pay $60 for someone to tell me to keep my credit cards low and ordered, and all my financial ducks in a row. Im ahead of the game there, and everywhere, except retirement planning.
I dont even have a goal, although I know I wont be withdrawing any social security in 40 (or, at this rate 70) years.
Thanks for reading my rambling... any advice for someone in my situation?
Im twenty seven (just starting out). I've a B.S. degree and work as an analytical chemist for a biotech company. I earn a decent salary and Im looking to go back to school for the full enchellada (PhD) in the next couple years.
I bought a house (technically a second house since we started out in a mobile home and made a decent return on it) one year ago, Ive been married five years (he makes an average wage) and we are getting along fine monetarily (fine being better than most).
I have a decent mind for money and my credit rating is in the high 700s to low 800s as I have had a credit card since the age of 13. I tried investing at a young age, and it went over about as well as a lead balloon. I think most of it was due to the fact that I opened my first brokerage account at 17, I didnt have a grasp on the wonderful tool that is called "the internet" and I fell into a general investment scheme that is called Edward Jones. As a result I lost about 20% of the funds, and had to withdraw the account in my skimpy college years to buy food and pay the water bill.
I should also mention that I did my biochemistry degree in three years at a state school and paid for all three years as I attended by working more than one job (usually three in the summer time). Lets just say I dont remember much from the ages of 17-21 and it wasnt because of booze, drugs, or a huge case of apathy. I worked my ever loving tail off to afford my degree.
All that in, Id like to start investing again. I have a few savings bonds, a skimpy IRA start, a collection of company stocks, and a few thousand in savings. I could probably scrape together a couple grand at a moments notice, and probably could stand to lose about a grand without crying too hard. I know I dont have near what I should... but I guess my only excuse is that Im twenty seven. At least I have a house and its not upsidedown in equity (in fact I probably have at least 25K in equity even in this downturn market).
Most of my questions are how do I get started? Ive requested company after company's literature on IRA and rothIRA funding. I also visited my bank (wells fargo) even though I loath dealing with the bank, and asked for advice. The man who I spoke with practically threw a phone at me to speak with someone about setting up an account, of which I had no idea how worked, and then told me that he didnt have any literature on the account for me to read. Holy shibbits!
For all my research and feeling outward, I have yet to find something that makes me happy with results. Call it being fire-shy after the Edward Jones deal, but I dont fancy losing 20% of my money over 4 years of investing because Im too ignorant of the system to understand what to do with it.
Does anyone have a good book to reccomend?? or maybe a decent bank program?? or even a bit of advice on who to ask. I dont mind spending a bit of money for financial advice, but I dont want to pay $60 for someone to tell me to keep my credit cards low and ordered, and all my financial ducks in a row. Im ahead of the game there, and everywhere, except retirement planning.
I dont even have a goal, although I know I wont be withdrawing any social security in 40 (or, at this rate 70) years.
Thanks for reading my rambling... any advice for someone in my situation?