The best, and worst, Dow stocks for 2012

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1. I'm with you. I have been investing since the mid-nineties though my employer & gradually learned

not to pick my own stocks. I thought I was such an expert as my investments increased in value in the late 90's with the tech sector soaring, and I thought I could pick good individual stocks ----but then they crashed and I learned quite a bit like Do Not Invest in Individual Stocks Unless You're Playing Around with a Small Amt. of $$$ You Can Afford to Lose!!!!! Now I just pick mutual funds that specialize in what I want to invest in, like solar, small cap/large cap, or stocks screened for certain criteria like no nukes or tobacco companies. I leave the individual cos. to my investment co., which is longstanding and has a good rep.

Since I began investing, the number of mutual funds and portfolios has jumped, not to mention ETFs. It's all very complicated to know what to invest in. I feel like I'm still a novice at all this, even though I've read a lot and occasionally change allocations as I've learned more over these 15 years.

My bro is a stock market expert who believes in buying good companies (not stocks) and holding them for a long time. He totally believes that no one can time the market and I have to agree. Most of the blather on TV and in magazines contains statements about what's already happened, and no one knows what WILL happen. My philosophy: if you think solar stocks will be doing well 20 yrs. from now (or health care, or railroads), buy into that sector and hold on, even if the fund is doing poorly now. Of course, you have to check out your investment company, the fund facts, and their records first. But picking individual stocks? NO!

My two cents.