Investing in Stocks as a Stay-at-Home Parent - My Income Journey (2024)

    Investing in Stocks as a Stay-at-Home Parent - My Income Journey (1)

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    What do stay-at-home parents and stock investors have in common? On the surface, they may not appear to be similar activities; however, there is the aspect of independence to consider.

    Just like parents who stay at home to manage a household, individuals who choose to make a living out of trading equity securities have a certain leeway in terms of managing their daily schedules, and both activities can also be treated as full-time jobs if so desired.

    Stay-at-home parents can also be stock investors and vice versa; however, trading equity securities has more of a lucrative potential. Thanks to internet technology in the 21st century, the idea of a mother who works from home is hardly farfetched; after all, telecommuting and freelancing have greatly expanded because setting up a home office or workstation has never been easier.

    In 2007, a New York Times article highlighted an interesting trend among Japanese homemakers who ventured into the world of stock and currency trading on a full-time basis. Many of these investors were women who fired up their online trading platforms at night, shortly after they had put their children to bed.

    Among these very active traders, a few success stories were found, but there were also tales of deep regret as women traded on margin and lost family savings due to the risky positions they took on the markets.

    It is important for stay-at-home parents to know that they can certainly fit stock investing into their lives, but they have to make rational decisions about how they will approach this financial endeavor.
    In the aforementioned New York Times article, the Japanese women at the center of the story had become day traders who hoped to squeeze daily earnings from their short-lived investments.

    To an extent, they approached the market like “casino grinders” or gamblers who hit the blackjack tables and apply a style of money management to cover their living expenses so they can do it all over again the next day.

    Some casino grinders are very successful, and the same can be said of day traders, but many others take on too much risk and lack sufficient money management skills to reach their financial goals.

    Stock investing is not the same as day trading; stay-at-home parents who are new to the world of financial exchanges should not take the same risks as a day trader. First of all, stock investing is not a work-from-home job; it is an economic activity that is perfect for people who have some capital they wish to put to work for them, which can be a few hundred or a few thousand dollars.

    This capital should not come from vital reserves; it should be money that a parent who stays home will not need to cover expenses.

    Equity securities, the publicly-traded shares of companies listed on major markets such as the Nasdaq and the New York Stock Exchange, can be bought and sold for profit. The adage “buy low, sell high” is an actual trading strategy that can be adopted by most beginners.

    Homemakers and others who stay home to look after their children can certainly make time to set up trading accounts and conduct the necessary research to identify stocks that they can profit from.

    Unlike day traders, stock investors can set a horizon for the positions they take on the markets; this will prevent them from being glued to their PC monitors and smartphones as they pour over technical charts with fingers crossed as CNBC blares on the background.

    In the end, stock investing can be an ideal financial pursuit for stay-at-home parents. This is not a job like setting up a home office to answer customer service calls from irate cable television subscribers; stock investing can substantially less stressful and far more rewarding for those who take the right approach.

    Below are a few companies that can help you get started in the finance markets.

    Trade King Advisors – Professionally managed personalized portfolios.

    LearnVest – Get a dedicated financial planner and a personalized plan to help you meet your investing, debt, or retirement goals.

    The Street – Join Jim Cramer’s investing club and learn how to build your portfolio.

    Personal Capital – Track your money, get expert advice, and get custom investing strategies.

    Motif Investing – Get up to $150 when you start trading.

    eToro – Trade with confidence on the world’s leading social trading network.

    Betterment – Customize your portfolio and easily sync your outside investments.

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    Investing in Stocks as a Stay-at-Home Parent - My Income Journey (2024)

    FAQs

    Why am I losing so much money in the stock market? ›

    Ultimately, many people lose money in the stock market because they simply can't wait long enough for meaningful profits to arrive. History shows that the longer you remain invested (in diversified stocks) the less chance you have of losing money in the stock market.

    How to invest in stocks and not lose money? ›

    Stay invested with the "buy and hold" strategy

    The buy and hold strategy is exactly what it sounds like — you buy stocks that you believe will perform well over the long-term, then hold onto them for years to come.

    What to do if you lose all your money on stocks? ›

    Write it off. The silver lining of any investment loss is the ability to use it to offset capital gains (or offset ordinary income, up to $3,000 per year). Not only is it a tax-smart strategy, but also knowing that you leveraged a loss to save on taxes can provide some consolation as well as boost morale.

    Can you live off investing in stocks? ›

    Once you have $1 million in assets, you can look seriously at living entirely off the returns of a portfolio. After all, the S&P 500 alone averages 10% returns per year. Setting aside taxes and down-year investment portfolio management, a $1 million index fund could provide $100,000 annually.

    Why do 90% of people lose money in the stock market? ›

    Staggering data reveals 90% of retail investors underperform the broader market. Lack of patience and undisciplined trading behaviors cause most losses. Insufficient market knowledge and overconfidence lead to costly mistakes. Tips from famous investors on how to achieve long-term success.

    What is the 90% rule in trading? ›

    It is a high-stakes game where many are lured by the promise of quick riches but ultimately face harsh realities. One of the harsh realities of trading is the “Rule of 90,” which suggests that 90% of new traders lose 90% of their starting capital within 90 days of their first trade.

    How much money do I need to invest to make $1000 a month? ›

    A stock portfolio focused on dividends can generate $1,000 per month or more in perpetual passive income, Mircea Iosif wrote on Medium. “For example, at a 4% dividend yield, you would need a portfolio worth $300,000.

    What is the 3 day rule in stocks? ›

    The 3-Day Rule in stock trading refers to the settlement rule that requires the finalization of a transaction within three business days after the trade date. This rule impacts how payments and orders are processed, requiring traders to have funds or credit in their accounts to cover purchases by the settlement date.

    What is the 3-5-7 rule in trading? ›

    A risk management principle known as the “3-5-7” rule in trading advises diversifying one's financial holdings to reduce risk. The 3% rule states that you should never risk more than 3% of your whole trading capital on a single deal.

    At what age should you get out of the stock market? ›

    There are no set ages to get into or to get out of the stock market. While older clients may want to reduce their investing risk as they age, this doesn't necessarily mean they should be totally out of the stock market.

    Has a stock ever come back from $0? ›

    Can a stock ever rebound after it has gone to zero? Yes, but unlikely. A more typical example is the corporate shell gets zeroed and a new company is vended [sold] into the shell (the legal entity that remains after the bankruptcy) and the company begins trading again.

    Do I owe money if my stock goes down? ›

    No. A stock price can't go negative, or, that is, fall below zero. So an investor does not owe anyone money. They will, however, lose whatever money they invested in the stock if the stock falls to zero.

    How much money do I need to invest to make 3000 a month? ›

    Imagine you wish to amass $3000 monthly from your investments, amounting to $36,000 annually. If you park your funds in a savings account offering a 2% annual interest rate, you'd need to inject roughly $1.8 million into the account. This substantial amount is due to savings accounts' relatively low return rate.

    How to make $5000 a month in dividends? ›

    To generate $5,000 per month in dividends, you would need a portfolio value of approximately $1 million invested in stocks with an average dividend yield of 5%. For example, Johnson & Johnson stock currently yields 2.7% annually. $1 million invested would generate about $27,000 per year or $2,250 per month.

    How much does it take to recover 20% loss? ›

    After a loss, it takes a greater gain to return to your original value. If you invested $100,000, and your account declined 20%. If you gained 20% back, you would be $4,000 short of your initial investment. To fully recover from the 20% loss, you'd need to gain 25%.

    Should I keep my money out of the stock market? ›

    Key Takeaways. While holding or moving to cash might feel good mentally and help avoid short-term stock market volatility, it is unlikely to be wise over the long term. Once you cash out a stock that's dropped in price, you move from a paper loss to an actual loss.

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