Index funds aren't actively managed. I generally agree with you on human-managed mutual funds; I usually stay out of those.

Took a nice profit on EXM & MSFT a few days ago!

Now waiting for AA, HRB & ESI to go higher for the sell.

A man's gotta do what a man's gotta do. If Panda thought the market was going to crash, then he's out and relatively safer. OTOH, have you checked what money market, etc accounts earn? I don't call 0.05% return on my hard earned money safe at all. That said, look at my earlier posts. At any given moment with the market not in an uptrend, I have upwards of 80% money in cash - and frankly my gut churns more in those cases, than when I'm 80% in some form of investment when the market is rallying. Right now I'm somewhere in between, point being I am beating interest paying accounts and the market.

No you can't always beat the market, but you can follow ride the herd with market leaders and know to get out when your picked leaders are off 7-8%. This is the best, easiest and toughest of all investment rules. But you just must know the statistics are with you. If any stock is down 8% from your purchase price, sell it. Don't ride it, don't double down, don't wait. Sell it and learn what was wrong with your choice. A related rule, buy more on the way up. Ah such a tough thing to do.............

I try to buy equities with high dividend yield, which so long as the company is sound and dividend stays solid, yields DCA when the price is down. I dont exactly follow the 8% rule but it depends upon the situation.

I hear you. It's tough with the PF picks, but I've been burned with them enough to truly buy the dips (which is pushing the rules actually). Most, but not all, are pretty good companies and the huge chunks of change "randomly" fired in in the owner's direction are nothing to shake a stick at. I mean I have a mess of them up 10%, 15%, 20%+ and they are still giving me money? What's up with that?

I own PDLI that has a 10.4% Dividend.

Yeah watch that pig tank like a dog when they cut the dividend.

OK!

Just a heads up. I am selling about 5-6 equities tomorrow.

Anyone getting a Greek haircut?

Anyone take profits today? I would be soon if you didn't today....it's way over-extended.

Hear ya.....

I took profits in a couple stocks that went way up a couple days ago, but that's ok, I did well.

I wouldn't say WAY over extended, but I've taken some cash off the table. We are still in a well confirmed uptrend - I have not checked today's volume in depth.

Based on stuff I've read on here, I bought a chunk of Alcoa stock earlier this week...Tuesday maybe. Timing on that couldn't have been better. I haven't taken anything out yet. Maybe today.