From: James_Conley@NeXT.COM
Newsgroups: misc.invest
Subject: Re: NAIC....
Date: 17 Dec 92 17:26:16 GMT
Reply-To: James_Conley@NeXT.COM


	I disagree with this, but I can understand why someone would be less  
than happy with the materials.  I was rather disappointed the first time I read  
through them myself.  The manual itself concentrates on a reasonable strategy  
for getting a decent return without too much risk by buying growth stocks and  
dollar cost averaging.  Nothing exciting here if you've heard of it before,  
I'll grant you.  Also, although the DRIPs they offer aren't as "special" as  
they used to be now that more companies allow people to buy the first share  
directly and brokerage commissions are a lot lower, it is still a decent  
service at a reasonable price.

	However, the real guts of NAIC is the investment clubs.  They can  
supply most of what you need to start one and keep it running.  And since  
you're likely to have novices in a club you start, it is a good starting point.   
Much better than a club would probably have without it since it enforces a  
reasonable discipline of how to pick stocks rather than "hey, I really like  
brand X's widgets."

	Basically, if you've read three books on investing, you've probably  
heard all the NAIC stuff before and in fact, probably a lot more than you'll  
learn from their manuals and magazines.  As an individual investor I can't say  
I'd be particularly impressed with the material either.  However, for starting  
a club it was a big help.

	As for NAII, they're better for an individual since they concentrate on  
more technical aspects of investing.  My problem is that they seem to spend too  
much time on analyzing stuff I couldn't care less about (annuities, life  
insurance, etc.)  If you're looking for heavy stock information, I'd recommend  
something like Technical Analysis of Stocks and Commodities magazine.  It will  
make your brain hurt a little trying to figure out what they hell they are  
talking about sometimes, but certainly doesn't try to hit the lowest common  
denominator like Money or Forbes.  It doesn't recommend stocks, but explains  
and analyzes systems of investment.  Of course, if you're a random walker, you  
probably won't find much of interest.

	If you just want to pick stocks, I'd go for Value Line (however, it is  
pretty expensive so you might want to take a weekly stroll to the library.)  It  
is basically a stock ranking service that throws in a lot of statistics on  
around 1700 stocks.  They've had a pretty decent record over the years-- not  
the best, but certainly solid.

Mike


In article <dlaird.2mc2@terapin.com> dlaird@terapin.com (Delbert Laird) writes:
> Well folks,
> 
> Anyone that's considering joining the NAIC should re-evaluate the decision.   
I
> joined on the assumption that I would gain valuable insight and an "upper  
hand"
> by being part of such a foundation...WRONG.
> 
> First, they sent me the wrong manual (I expressed desire for the group
> manual).  Then, I learned about their "Special Dividend Investment Program"  
and
> was utterly bored with it...Finally, overall presentation was below 
> mediocre (IMHO) regarding the service they provide...Not to mention the 
> monthly magazine that's REALLY of no use to the individual small investor.
> 
> (Stick with conventional magazine sources: Forbes, Money, etc)
> 
> ---> Anyone have anything to say about the OTHER organization?...NAII? (sp)
> 
> Note: misc.invest FAQ master can add this to my NAIC contribution at his
>       leisure.
> 
> dlaird@terapin.com
Newsgroups: misc.invest