Walen School of Investing - learn how to make money and have a better life!

[AngelsLariat]

I'll tell you all how to invest.

Buy blue chip, only the top 10-12 companies, and of them, only those that pay the best dividends, reinvest the dividends, and watch. You won't get as rich as fast as point one of one percent of traders, but you won't get as poor as fast as 99.9% of traders!! You'll double your money in about 6 - 7 years, and possibly less if you move between companies because they don't all pay dividends on the same date.

That'll be B3000 please. I take PayPal.

When I went to University there were probably 7 major Blue Chip Companies. Many people said the same. Each of these a few years later went into some form of Bankrupcy. Section 11 or whatever. Great advice.

Seems like if the concept is that over time that big companies will produce good returns that you might as well just put your money in one of the Vanguard funds that tracks the S&P500 and let it ride.

You could do that, but here in Australia, fees for managed funds are high. I bailed out of managed funds years ago, and invest only directly in shares through an online broking service and pay only .2% on buys and sells, no ongoing commissions.

You could check what shares the managed funds are composed of and use the top few for you own investing. They generally are made up of a few shares that comprise 70-80% of the total, and a few speculative ones thrown in to 'balance' the fund.

Actually I was thinking of Index funds or ETF's rather than managed funds. I mentioned Vanguard only because they are an example of a family of funds with a low expense ratio.

Edited September 1, 2013 by AngelsLariat

[tropo]

What I charge to teach people investing is peanuts if you were thinking about the fees paid to managed funds.

Managed funds do have their place. Not everyone wants to stress out about daily market fluctuations. You pay the fees to avoid that. That's the whole idea of managed funds.

A well managed fund would probably be safer compared to investing off the back of knowledge gained from a one day seminar. Sometimes a little knowledge can be dangerous.

And that goes for anything. Reminds me of when I first came to LOS.....................

Yeah, which leads me to another point which I touched upon earlier that hasn't been addressed yet. Most people who take this course would have limited knowledge of the Thai language. Surely being able to read Thai is important if one wants to invest a lot of money in this market. Of course MacWalen is adept at Thai, so he has a huge advantage over most.... so perhaps another reason to join one of his language schools??

Edited September 1, 2013 by tropo

[transam]

What I charge to teach people investing is peanuts if you were thinking about the fees paid to managed funds.

Managed funds do have their place. Not everyone wants to stress out about daily market fluctuations. You pay the fees to avoid that. That's the whole idea of managed funds.

A well managed fund would probably be safer compared to investing off the back of knowledge gained from a one day seminar. Sometimes a little knowledge can be dangerous.

And that goes for anything. Reminds me of when I first came to LOS.....................

Yeah, which leads me to another point which I touched upon earlier that hasn't been addressed yet. Most people who take this course would have limited knowledge of the Thai language. Surely being able to read Thai is important if one wants to invest a lot of money in the this market. Of course MacWalen is adept at Thai, so he has a huge advantage over most.... so perhaps another reason to join one of his language schools??

Good point.

[tropo]

What I charge to teach people investing is peanuts if you were thinking about the fees paid to managed funds.

Managed funds do have their place. Not everyone wants to stress out about daily market fluctuations. You pay the fees to avoid that. That's the whole idea of managed funds.

A well managed fund would probably be safer compared to investing off the back of knowledge gained from a one day seminar. Sometimes a little knowledge can be dangerous.

No, it does not work like that. If you invest yourself you do not have to watch it everyday. That is what traders do, and we do not teach frequent trading and becoming poor but investing and becoming rich.

Anyone who personally invests in the stock market should keep a constant eye on what is happening, even if they don't frequently trade. It is important to watch trends.... ok, so every second day then?... or twice a week?

[JSixpack]

Hey--I made some good points there in the process of enjoying myself. You did bring up the notion of investing from abroad. Since you brought it up, it should be addressed.

There are two options really. If you have some point that you really must prove, then go to it. Otherwise you could try getting a life.

Which of my several points were you not able to understand or that need proving? I'd be happy to simplify them for you or offer evidence that you can't google for yourself. Did you need the Vanguard website? Here it is: https://investor.vanguard.com/corporate-portal. Need to check with Thai brokers about the S&P 500? Here's a list of the 38 SET members: http://www.set.or.th/set/memberlist.do?language=en&country=US

Need more? No trouble at all! Takes only seconds.

Now, I confess to my embarrassed that I still don't understand your point. Seeking clarification, I asked several questions. (Where did I argue with you?) But you never answered. That's a bit strange--I won't say rude. Let me ask again:

• How that would equate to exposure to the Thai SET and the baht? Would Vanguard accept payment in Thai baht?
• Now is it true that a resident in Thailand, including our majority non-USA citizens, can simply, like, open a Vanguard account in the USA without actually going to the USA and/or providing a USA address?
• Apart from the possible bother and expense of all that, then what would be the advantage of buying THD there over just buying a SET index fund here with Thai baht?

Your answers could influence investment decisions!

Nor do I understand why you'd think I have only two options. I have a life already that many a man might envy, so scratch that one. I do happen to know of a kid dying of encephalitis in a local hospital, though. If I could give anyone a life, it would certainly be he.

You know, AngelsLariat, you might greatly benefit from MacWalen's seminar. Seriously. Suggest you consider taking it.

[Morakot]

What I charge to teach people investing is peanuts if you were thinking about the fees paid to managed funds.

Might be true, but still an order of magnitude higher than your average general introduction in print.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q6otSoMD7Bo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O-aA16M6SwQ

Edited September 1, 2013 by Morakot

[MacWalen]

Marakot, lost of materials available on investing. How about learning Thai from books without a teacher? For some people it works but for most it does not. We can also learn to play golf by watching videos of Tiger Woods. For those who would like contact with a teacher, someone who will help them to understand things better, maybe someone who is looking for a mentor as well. If replacing teachers with videos and books was so effective there would be no more schools but it does not seem to have happened yet.

Edited September 1, 2013 by MacWalen

[transam]

Computers are having a big impact in all fields of learning don't you think. You could write a book on your ''fail safe'' knowledge and make bundles.

[MacWalen]

Computers are having a big impact in all fields of learning don't you think. You could write a book on your ''fail safe'' knowledge and make bundles.

Im not sure where the computers come from. We are not dealing with computers here, they are just a tool to use.

[paddyjenkins]

It really is a pretty trivial thing to open a brokerage account in the US, UK or even other Asian countries, such as Singapore, even for residents of Thailand. The quality and value for money on offer in the US in particuliar is far ahead of any account available in Thailand or even Singapore, so I really find it hard to understand why foreigners here would not just do that. They will have access to lots of ETFs and investment trusts to provide either passive or managed exposure to Thailand (or anything else in the world) and for non Thai speakers/writers this may well make more sense than trying to do research into individual Thai stocks. Also, the commissons in a US brokerage will be far, far lower than in any local brokerage. Even if the financial reports are available in English that is still only a small subset of the information that one would desire, especially in a part of the world where corruption and "inaccuracy" is rife.

I bought Aberdeen New Thai, an investment trust, during/after SARS as I just wanted broad Thai (and THB) exposure when the markets and currency here were cheap and beaten down. I researched into Aberdeen and concluded they offered an excellent track record and very modest fees. Also, as an investment trust (like ETFs) they trade like stocks so no problem with transparency. Its all very well saying "i will do it better than any professional" but in truth very few of you will, although 90% will claim they will. When it comes to the US, UK/Europe, Singapore, Australia I often buy/sell single stocks, but when it comes to other countries all I look for is broad exposure unless there is an especially compelling individual stock story, but that is rare. I had found that Aberdeen New Thai seemed to have beaten the SET, that was more than everything I had wanted.

If people buy any old fund without doing their due diligence then its really their fault if they get their fingers burned.

I sold my Thai and other Asian funds in 2012 and will not get back in until I see some value. Again, researching this kind of stuff is pretty trivial, Yahoo Finance is an excllent source of information and to know the stories in depth is there really a single literate person on the planet now who doesn't know what "Google it" means? I am not saying making the right investment decisions is trivial, that is a jouney that will take a lifetime, but opening the account and getting the information is now easy thanks to the internet (another invention of the West by the way..."falang"...not Thais I am afraid...don't be ashamed of being a "falang", we have shaped the world).

For now the better opportunities look to be elsewhere to me, although only time will tell. The capital that has flowed into Asia over the past few years has been huge, id like to see a fair portion of that money flow out before my money flows back in again.

Good luck, if you have to pay to take a course to learn how to do the trivial they you will need lots of luck in your subsequent investing. We aren't talking bonds, futures, options, technicals...for that stuff maybe a course, if given by the right people/group, but really, for this stuff?

Edited September 1, 2013 by paddyjenkins

[Asiantravel]

Marakot, lost of materials available on investing. How about learning Thai from books without a teacher? For some people it works but for most it does not. We can also learn to play golf by watching videos of Tiger Woods. For those who would like contact with a teacher, someone who will help them to understand things better, maybe someone who is looking for a mentor as well. If replacing teachers with videos and books was so effective there would be no more schools but it does not seem to have happened yet.

Recognizing the importance of promoting financial and investment knowledge and skills among the Thai public, Thailand Securities Institute (TSI) is established to function as a center for continuous and innovative education, providing knowledge of finance and investment for target groups that range from youth in elementary, secondary, and university educational levels to industrial practitioners and the general public. Different types of activities, as such, are continuously arranged with an aim to provide knowledge suitable for the needs, characteristics and requirements of each target group.

Course Summary

• Understanding Personal Finance

  Knowledge of financial planning, investment goal setting, nature of investment, investment motivations, types of investors, and investment conditions

• Investment Risks and Yields

  Yields from investment, factors influencing yields, investment risks, and relationship between risks and yields

• Alternative Investment for Low-Interest Rate Economy

  Nature of financial market and financial instruments, yields and risks of each type of investment and related taxes

• Portfolio Management for Beginners

  Introduction to portfolio management and risk management

• Basic Securities Analysis

  Fundamental analysis methods, overview economic analysis, as well as industrial, company, technical, and resources analysis

• Steps to Profit Earning

  Basic financial statement analysis and investment laws and regulations

• Get Ready to Invest

  Characteristics of and differences between self-investment and investment through specialists/professional practitioners, as well as related rights and laws

• Investor’s Rights

  Case studies, inspection of injustice, places to file complaints and related laws and regulations

http://www.tsi-thailand.org/EN/AboutTSI.html

[MacWalen]

For many Thailand is their new home. If they can invest here why not? They may be making money in Thailand and do not want to send it to another country to buy Thai funds etc. They may have children here and might want to invest for their future. Not all are treating Thailand as a temporary residence. I for my part am not going anywhere, I like it here and I will keep investing here. If you do not feel like investing in Thailand than fine. If you sold in 2012 then you have lost a lot of upward move. Chart attached.

[MacWalen]

Marakot, lost of materials available on investing. How about learning Thai from books without a teacher? For some people it works but for most it does not. We can also learn to play golf by watching videos of Tiger Woods. For those who would like contact with a teacher, someone who will help them to understand things better, maybe someone who is looking for a mentor as well. If replacing teachers with videos and books was so effective there would be no more schools but it does not seem to have happened yet.

Recognizing the importance of promoting financial and investment knowledge and skills among the Thai public, Thailand Securities Institute (TSI) is established to function as a center for continuous and innovative education, providing knowledge of finance and investment for target groups that range from youth in elementary, secondary, and university educational levels to industrial practitioners and the general public. Different types of activities, as such, are continuously arranged with an aim to provide knowledge suitable for the needs, characteristics and requirements of each target group.

Course Summary

• Understanding Personal Finance

  Knowledge of financial planning, investment goal setting, nature of investment, investment motivations, types of investors, and investment conditions

• Investment Risks and Yields

  Yields from investment, factors influencing yields, investment risks, and relationship between risks and yields

• Alternative Investment for Low-Interest Rate Economy

  Nature of financial market and financial instruments, yields and risks of each type of investment and related taxes

• Portfolio Management for Beginners

  Introduction to portfolio management and risk management

• Basic Securities Analysis

  Fundamental analysis methods, overview economic analysis, as well as industrial, company, technical, and resources analysis

• Steps to Profit Earning

  Basic financial statement analysis and investment laws and regulations

• Get Ready to Invest

  Characteristics of and differences between self-investment and investment through specialists/professional practitioners, as well as related rights and laws

• Investor’s Rights

  Case studies, inspection of injustice, places to file complaints and related laws and regulations

http://www.tsi-thailand.org/EN/AboutTSI.html

And? Did you hear about this course in Pattaya? I certainly have not heard about it in Bangkok. Is it taught in English? If there is such a course it means there cannot be another that explains how things work? Do you know many Thai people that invest in set or even in managed funds? If not then do you think there is still room for promoting investment knowledge that not only rich benefit but a small guy can also buy shares of PTT for example and get dividends? I could go on and on.

[paddyjenkins]

For many Thailand is their new home. If they can invest here why not? They may be making money in Thailand and do not want to send it to another country to buy Thai funds etc. They may have children here and might want to invest for their future. Not all are treating Thailand as a temporary residence. I for my part am not going anywhere, I like it here and I will keep investing here. If you do not feel like investing in Thailand than fine. If you sold in 2012 then you have lost a lot of upward move. Chart attached.

what a strange response and inappropriate chart, just going back to 2009. im well aware of what the chart looks like. do you not know when SARS was...well, go and look it up, but it was a long time before 2009. i made over 400% from my thailand investment, not including over a decade of dividends. here is a lesson for you...buy low when the idiots are panicking and sell high when the idiots are buying....i don't care about missing some of the froth at the top, i am happy to have made over 400% and to have moved on to better value choices. and by the way, those choices may not be available at these local brokers.

and obviously if someone is fully "localised" then they may want a local account, but most of the posters on thaivisa will have funds in their home countries and for these people it will not really make much sense to bring extra cash in when there are superior brokerage and investment choices available at home or in other countries. i don't live in my country of birth, but i keep money in several currencies and in several countries and invest where the best investment choices are, not where i happen to live.

really, this is like debating with a 12 year old.

[Asiantravel]

Marakot, lost of materials available on investing. How about learning Thai from books without a teacher? For some people it works but for most it does not. We can also learn to play golf by watching videos of Tiger Woods. For those who would like contact with a teacher, someone who will help them to understand things better, maybe someone who is looking for a mentor as well. If replacing teachers with videos and books was so effective there would be no more schools but it does not seem to have happened yet.

Recognizing the importance of promoting financial and investment knowledge and skills among the Thai public, Thailand Securities Institute (TSI) is established to function as a center for continuous and innovative education, providing knowledge of finance and investment for target groups that range from youth in elementary, secondary, and university educational levels to industrial practitioners and the general public. Different types of activities, as such, are continuously arranged with an aim to provide knowledge suitable for the needs, characteristics and requirements of each target group.

Course Summary

• Understanding Personal Finance

  Knowledge of financial planning, investment goal setting, nature of investment, investment motivations, types of investors, and investment conditions

• Investment Risks and Yields

  Yields from investment, factors influencing yields, investment risks, and relationship between risks and yields

• Alternative Investment for Low-Interest Rate Economy

  Nature of financial market and financial instruments, yields and risks of each type of investment and related taxes

• Portfolio Management for Beginners

  Introduction to portfolio management and risk management

• Basic Securities Analysis

  Fundamental analysis methods, overview economic analysis, as well as industrial, company, technical, and resources analysis

• Steps to Profit Earning

  Basic financial statement analysis and investment laws and regulations

• Get Ready to Invest

  Characteristics of and differences between self-investment and investment through specialists/professional practitioners, as well as related rights and laws

• Investor’s Rights

  Case studies, inspection of injustice, places to file complaints and related laws and regulations

http://www.tsi-thailand.org/EN/AboutTSI.html

And? Did you hear about this course in Pattaya? I certainly have not heard about it in Bangkok. Is it taught in English? If there is such a course it means there cannot be another that explains how things work? Do you know many Thai people that invest in set or even in managed funds? If not then do you think there is still room for promoting investment knowledge that not only rich benefit but a small guy can also buy shares of PTT for example and get dividends? I could go on and on.

ermmmm

If it is your aspiration to teach members of the public about financial matters, you should at least know TSI is part of the stock exchange itself. At least they provide a reference regarding the topics that are covered wheras you have provided zilch.

Why should people pay you one satang, when you are not even or approved or licensed by SEC? You also propose to ask people to sign a contract even though you have never answered my question as to whether attendees will be allowed to see the document before they show up. If people are being asked to sign a contract, it is perfectly reasonable for them to see the document in advance as well is being able to keep a copy of what they will be asked to sign.

[tropo]

For many Thailand is their new home. If they can invest here why not? They may be making money in Thailand and do not want to send it to another country to buy Thai funds etc. They may have children here and might want to invest for their future. Not all are treating Thailand as a temporary residence. I for my part am not going anywhere, I like it here and I will keep investing here. If you do not feel like investing in Thailand than fine. If you sold in 2012 then you have lost a lot of upward move. Chart attached.

... which still begs the question, even though we may be living in Thailand full time, why invest in a market in a country that is known for major corruption at all levels and everything is written in a foreign language... Most of us expats have income coming in from our home countries and just bring in enough to live on. It's much easier, and safer to invest in our home markets. It's even a nuisance sending money out of Thailand. I needed to show a work permit to my bank to do that, which I cannot get on a retirement visa.

Location is arbitrary these days. Saying we should invest in Thailand because we're living in Thailand doesn't make sense. For tax and visa purposes it doesn't make sense either. I'm still waiting for a compelling reason to start investing in the Thailand market.

The banks in Thailand have a pathetic record of protecting personal funds too. There's been a number of threads on here over the years where people's ATM cards have been cloned and all their money stolen - and the banks just turn a blind eye to it. That's more than pathetic - it's criminal.

Edited September 1, 2013 by tropo

[MacWalen]

i made over 400% from my thailand investment, not including over a decade of dividends.

So there you are paddy! Investing in Thailand may not be so bad after all. 400%! You qualify to be one of the teachers then, we should talk. I like people like you. Not just talk nonsense but bringing something of value for those who want to learn. Very happy for you. So when people have knowledge and are ready when the time is right they can make a killing in the stock market. That is exactly the point. Of course, if you did not sell and made 600-1000% it would not hurt you, would it? I congratulate you on the great return in any case. Well done!

[MacWalen]

Asiantravel, I know what I need to know, and I keep learning as there is always something more to know about investing. Fundamental concepts however do not change very much.

Edited September 1, 2013 by MacWalen

[MacWalen]

What I charge to teach people investing is peanuts if you were thinking about the fees paid to managed funds.

Might be true, but still an order of magnitude higher than your average general introduction in print.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q6otSoMD7Bo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O-aA16M6SwQ

There is a third one also. Very good.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r2xWp6HokYg

Edited September 1, 2013 by MacWalen

[Morakot]

Marakot, lost of materials available on investing. How about learning Thai from books without a teacher?

Learning through communicating... Your method sounds like spoon-feeding to me. Possibly works for learning a language, although I doubt it; definitely not for this subject.

"Where do computers come from?" The gentleman made a valid point. Here my advise free of charge: You cannot successfully invest if you don't understand the underlying infrastructure.

[MacWalen]

Marakot, lost of materials available on investing. How about learning Thai from books without a teacher?

Learning through communicating... Your method sounds like spoon-feeding to me. Possibly works for learning a language, although I doubt it; definitely not for this subject.

"Where do computers come from?" The gentleman made a valid point. Here my advise free of charge: You cannot successfully invest if you don't understand the underlying infrastructure.

Marakot, Warren Buffet is known for not being great at computers, actually started using one much later than others. He certainly does not worry about computers in his investing decisions. My question is, have you actually every bough or sold shares? Do you have a broker's account in any country? Because you do not sound like someone who knows much about it. Edited : watching movies about investing is not the same.

Edited September 1, 2013 by MacWalen

[Morakot]

Not mentioning that financial subjects are often taught by Bangladeshi, Indian and Pakistani lecturers who immigrated to Australia and got a cushy job at uni, sometimes hard to understand what they say.

Understanding is only hard if it ever were the case, because you probably haven't had enough exposure to these cultures/ linguistic patterns. Some of our best people originate from these places, like for example Muhammad Yunus from Bangladesh.

It's not an underlying racist tendency you have by any chance?

Edited September 1, 2013 by Morakot

[Morakot]

"Where do computers come from?" The gentleman made a valid point. Here my advise free of charge: You cannot successfully invest if you don't understand the underlying infrastructure.

Marakot, Warren Buffet is known for not being great at computers, actually started using one much later than others. He certainly does not worry about computers in his investing decisions. My question is, have you actually every bough or sold shares? Do you have a broker's account in any country?

Best to read posts before replying. A " Broker's account" that's exactly what I am talking about, underlying infrastructure that permits the capacity to invest and trade, and with it the complex socio-technical, legal networks that facilitate the very operations of using for example your account. Please don't tell me you use ledgers for your portfolio.

The point is that most of this is implicit that to some extent needs to be made systematically accessible in an introductory course. An adequate reading list on the matter of material in print (be it in electronic form or for illustration in this forum in audio form) may help.

Edited September 1, 2013 by Morakot

[Asiantravel]

For many Thailand is their new home. If they can invest here why not? They may be making money in Thailand and do not want to send it to another country to buy Thai funds etc. They may have children here and might want to invest for their future. Not all are treating Thailand as a temporary residence. I for my part am not going anywhere, I like it here and I will keep investing here. If you do not feel like investing in Thailand than fine. If you sold in 2012 then you have lost a lot of upward move. Chart attached.

what a strange response and inappropriate chart, just going back to 2009. im well aware of what the chart looks like. do you not know when SARS was...well, go and look it up, but it was a long time before 2009. i made over 400% from my thailand investment, not including over a decade of dividends. here is a lesson for you...buy low when the idiots are panicking and sell high when the idiots are buying....i don't care about missing some of the froth at the top, i am happy to have made over 400% and to have moved on to better value choices. and by the way, those choices may not be available at these local brokers.

and obviously if someone is fully "localised" then they may want a local account, but most of the posters on thaivisa will have funds in their home countries and for these people it will not really make much sense to bring extra cash in when there are superior brokerage and investment choices available at home or in other countries. i don't live in my country of birth, but i keep money in several currencies and in several countries and invest where the best investment choices are, not where i happen to live.

really, this is like debating with a 12 year old.

[MacWalen]

Here is how Walen School's portfolio is developing till 2 Sep 2013. This is a great learning example as you can see what an investor would see in his port. There will be a daily change in the value of your portfolio.

[RandomSand]

“Everybody's a Genius in a Bull market”

[transam]

“Everybody's a Genius in a Bull market”

Moooooooooooooooo.

[MacWalen]

“Everybody's a Genius in a Bull market”

I am aware of market turmoils but I have stayed alive to see another day and I am wiser and much richer now as a result. In 2007 I lost more money on derivatives that some people will earn in a lifetime so I am not ignorant when it comes to the dangers involved. I also know mistakes I have made, and I also know how rewarding it is when you know what you are doing.

[AngelsLariat]

Everybody's a Genius in a Bull market

I am aware of market turmoils but I have stayed alive to see another day and I am wiser and much richer now as a result. In 2007 I lost more money on derivatives that some people will earn in a lifetime so I am not ignorant when it comes to the dangers involved. I also know mistakes I have made, and I also know how rewarding it is when you know what you are doing.

So you lost a ton of money in 2007 and since then have been doing well in the market? A lot of people can make that same claim. If you had made money in 2007, or had been fully invested in a portfolio of stocks that you never sold and have since recovered to their pre-2007 highs, that would be a much more impressive credential.

Edited September 6, 2013 by AngelsLariat

[itchybum]

When does the Walen Stock brokerage open ?

And the Walen offshore bank ?

And the Walen golf school.

And the Walen hedge fund.

??