Investing 103: Direct Stocks Investment Part 1

For more than a year now, I have carefully tracked my direct stocks investments using my online stock broker, COL Financial. So far I am proud to say that I have attained past my initial target of 10% gain/loss in my portfolio (dividends not yet included).  I've made bad choices along the way due to sudden burst of emotions as a newbie and crazy excitement which led me to jump along the bandwagon to test shallow waters. But hopefully, with those experiences which I now regard as my learning point in my young journey to financial freedom and abundance, it simply taught me two very important things -- stick with the fundamental values of the company and do cost averaging with a twist.

My portfolio as of January 9, 2015. Note the box in red.
NOTE: The Gain/Loss % will vary depending if you have sold your shares, locked in profits and/or added shares to your existing stocks. I will further explain it on my next posts. =)

Stocks investing isn't new, even in the Philippine setting either. The Philippine Stock Exchange (PSEI) had been continuously operating since its inception in the late 1920s. Unfortunately, this method of paper-based investment has not been widely spread among the common middle to lower class population due to its "for-the-rich-only-image". Back in the days, finding a stock broker and seeking platforms for stocks investing is not as easily accessible as it is now and investment products which have low minimum investment deposits are also not commonly offered by financial companies and/or banks unless you'd inquire thoroughly about it. If you are in the stock market know-how and obviously have the means back in the day, you're lucky to know this pot of gold. But as the world changes, people are now in the loop of getting more financially aware and seeking to be literate enough to care more about their financial situation and future retirement options. Thankfully, the technology that we have through the use of internet which paved the way for the creation of easy and accessible online stock brokerage platforms gives everybody a fair chance at this form of investing.

Due to this sudden demand, traditional financial companies opted to upgrade their system and adopt this new technological change. As of this writing there are more than 5 companies that offer accesible online stock investing platforms accredited by SEC. Each have their own different features to boost that entices potential investors. Out of these handful of companies, I carefully chose my online stock broker due to its proven 20 years record in the industry.

On a personal note, I use COL Financial  because of their features. Recommendation from friends and numerous positive reviews that I have read on the internet also added to that decision. But among these, I primarily chose the company because they allow OFWs like me who are living abroad to process my application without any hassle of having to go back home for issues of personal appearance. I also find their site easy to navigate, their updated articles about the stock market easy to understand for a non-business major like me and a lot of friendly-to-use options. I'm not in any way connected with this company nor advertising them but simply putting my two cents on my decision when I applied to start my direct stocks investment. Like what I have stated, there are other companies to choose from and it would always depend on the potential investor's personal preference.

For information on which online accredited stocks broker to choose, I have made a list below with with their minimum amount for deposit. Click the name of the company and you will be directly linked to their site.


LIST OF 2014 ACCREDITED ONLINE STOCK BROKERS IN THE PHILIPPINES
(Some changes may appear as I will try to update this list once in a while)

AB Capital Securities Inc.
Minimum Investment: 10,000 Php

Abacus Securities Corporation
Minimum Investment: 10,000 Php

Accord Capital Equities Corporation
Minimum Investment: 5,000 Php

Angping and Associates Securities, Inc.
Minimum Investment: 5,000 Php

BPI Securities Corporation
Minimum Investment: None if you have an account with BPI

COL Financial Group Inc. (former Citiseconline)
Minimum Investment: 5,000 Php (Easy Investment Program/EIP)

F. Yap Securities Inc.
Minimum Investment: 25,000 Php

First Metro Securities Brokerage Corporation
Minimum Investment: 25,000 Php (initial for new clients)

RCBC Securities Inc.
Minimum Investment: Check with the company for more info.

Wealth Securities Inc.
Minimum Investment: 10,000 Php

Regarding account opening, requirements and other necessary information, it is highly recommended to CONTACT each company and inquire for further details.





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See my other posts about my journey towards financial freedom and abundance at Investing 101: The Basics of Financial Freedom and Investing 102: Enriching Financial Literacy

New Year's Resolutions

All of us every single year, we're a different person. I don't think were the same person all our lives. - Steven Spielberg

January feels special in a very different way. Not only because its my birth month which would remind me that I would age again another year (Thank God) but it's technically the representation of the alpha in the Roman Calendar that is commonly used. This month marks as the official start of another year full of hopes, dreams, desires, wishes, regrets, failures, disappointments, frustrations and so on. Its the start of yet another crazy yet interesting life story. 

Now why does every year people feel compelled to come up with their very own version of New Year's Resolutions? What the hell are these lists really for? According to my ever so reliant best friend Google, a "New Year's resolution is a tradition wherein a person makes a promise to do an act of self-improvement." So literally speaking, people are making lists of good deeds to do to reform oneself to probably be a much better citizen of the world. That's awesome. Really.

But only if these things are not just written on paper and would soon be forgotten after 24 hours.

Unfortunately, I, myself has failed so many times in making sure that I would follow or even do my supposed New Year's resolutions. Since I was a kid I always have this habit of listing the top 10 things that I would need to do to change myself for the better. But sadly, out of these usual 10 things that I would come up with, it would already be a miracle if I would have done at least one of them! Most are actually so-good-to-be-true, nonsensical dreams that only appears great on written paper.

What's supposed to be the problem here?

The answer is Me. Myself. And I.

It's that simple.

Honestly, I tend to be lazy in doing them or probably less inspired to achieve them. But looking back at my favorite yearly New Year's resolutions that would always be a repetition of last year, they seemed quite impossible to accomplish at some point. Imagine, promising myself not to argue with anybody for a year or to be always nice to everyone no matter what?  That would make me a Saint already! But kidding aside.. reviewing them now, I now that I would've done them only that I just need to push myself more and that's what has been lacking for the past years. 

My old 2013 Journal

But somehow, a miracle occurred. When I was cleaning my stack of yearly journals and stacking the old ones in a box, I came to read a page where I did my 2013 New Year's resolutions. And guess what? I actually, seriously, surprisingly and honestly did 90% of them! That really put a smile on my face like a crazy kid. Maybe I did have a change of heart somewhere. Because of that, it suddenly inspired me to continue my own tradition of self-improvement on a yearly basis. It may be very difficult and unrealistic most of the times, but the fact that I decided to list them down simply means that I honestly admit to myself all of my negativity and I fully accept the challenge of changing them to make myself a much better version of me. Besides, change would always need to start within oneself by accepting oneself fully -- from the worst to the best.

So did I continue to be successful with my 2014 New Year's resolutions? The answer is surprisingly yes again, which of course made me more than excited to write now my 2015 New Year's Resolutions. :D

1. Be more thankful and happy.

2. Be more accepting and forgiving.

3. Be more patient and understanding.

4. Be more honest and open.

5. Love more.