Any suggestions are welcome.

That is a pretty tough one right now with the market so volatile and the recession worries, but what I took as the best advice is to look at really good solid well-known companies and invest in one that has been beaten down really low thru no fault other than the market conditions.

Even now there is a good chance it will still drop lower but I bought Del Monte, good company everybody knows and less than 9 dollars a share.

I also bought WFC Well Fargo but I bought it when it was still in the 26.00 dollar range. It could drop back down and they are said to be one of the most solid financials that were not adversely affected by the mortgage crisis.

Hope this helps.

I am sure there are probably better choices out there, these are just 2 that I liked the most.

 I read an article that stated that HAL was a good long term investment because it gets all the government jobs.I wonder if that changes when CHENEY gets out of office in Novenber?

Don't buy based upon my recommendation but based upon your own DD. A long term investment I consider it to be six months to one year or longer.

BEXP,,DEIX,,CPST,,FRPT,,SPF,,PIR,,WCI,,ICO

Thanks Brisky,  Some more to check out I have not looked at yet except SPF, I have been watching that one.

Strong companies with good fundamentals that have a dominant position in their field.

REAL ESTATE ,HIGH YIELD MONEY MARKET ACCOUNTS, RARE GEMS , PAINTINGS, TREASURY BILLS FOR THE MODERATE INVESTORS MUTUAL FUNDS..DUETCHE MARKS AND  EUROBONDS...JUST TO NAME A FEWW SOME ARE HIHGLY RISKY BUT WITH PROPER ASSET ALLOXCATION YOU CAN GAIN ZERO RISK AND ADEQUATE CONTROL OVER YOUR PORTFOLIO............$

Thanks for the suggestions.  I do think it is important to have some good solid companies, along with a few higher risk ones, but I am not brave enough, at least not in real life.    

mesa, six, etfc, abk, tma try those!

why mesa?  They don't seem to be doing so well right now...

irishgreek:

Strong companies with good fundamentals that have a dominant position in their field.

couldnt agree more! right on the money. there are more EXTREMELY prosperous plays out there other tahn visa, google, apple, etc.

one just needs to know where to look. commodity futures are booming right now, copper right below $4, gold picking up, agriculture has ALWAYS been a good play factoring out harmful seasons/disasters, energy is soaring, crude oil up big, there are LOTS of opportunities when people expand their view from financials and tech stocks. actually with inflation on the horizon (or already here), the dollar once again weakening, supply and demand from foreign countrys rising, i really dont see why people still insist on financials and tech stocks.

CSIQ up big today, doubt they'll have that big a pullback seeing as how theyve been building up to this point for the past 4mo. to test resistance once again around $30-31

NE up big today as well, this stock is in oil and gas drilling

FEED was up HUGE friday and monday, may be starting a base with a slight correction

DAR in the same industry as FEED reports earnings this week, also another stock in ag

PDO also up, also in  oil and gas but not drilling, rather production and exploration

SM up big today, same industry as PDO

BHP up $2 a share, this one is in metals, more specifically copper

copper is going to have a huge year this year because of warehouse shortages, mines being closed, and the demand for them from china, india, and other countries expanding this year.

the dollar rally can onlyrun with so much momentum and once it gives... it will give BIG! the ten year treasury index shows that more people are running to safety than buying into the dow, nasdaq, and sp500. they're saying come in, the waters just fine! but in reality we are JUST in as much trouble as we were in february IF NOT WORSE! i'd hang onto my commodities long term and find it a safe investment. i'll say it here and stand by it. if you're investing in the dow, sp500, nasdaq, amex right now you will be whipsawed and jerked and dumped, UNLESS you keep an extremely tight leash on your investments. since this was a long-term post, i suggest commodities. ive watched the dow plummet below 1200 and ive seen crude oil go from $18 to $120, you decide which side of that exchange you want to be on.

 GTXO :)

witaj co slychac

EDUCATION

I agree that education is the best long term investment but portfolio wise I'd say what are your goals then choose whats good for you myself I like defense stocks, such as LMT NOC BA  I like retail stocks like dks gme mvl mat

But that's for me

Good luck