| How to Become a Value Investor Posted: 17 Dec 2016 04:00 PM PST Value investing is a proven style to earn great returns in the stock market, as demonstrated by the stellar records of value investors like Benjamin Graham, Warren Buffett, John Templeton, Seth Klarman, and Joel Greenblatt. Value investments and funds focus on companies whose sales and growth margins are less than average. Stock holdings from value funds generally feature lower price-to-earnings and price-to-book ratios. This means that the market de-valued a fund more than it should have based on the fact that its market value is less than its intrinsic value. Value stocks typically have higher yields and value funds can capitalize on company turnarounds. While this may seem like a good way to make a good deal of money, these investments do have their risks. It may be the case that the market correctly devalued the worth of a company and that these companies may never reach their intrinsic value. [1] EditChoosing Investments - Develop a "circle of competence". This idea stems business theory and how investors might navigate a huge market full of different types of companies and funds. [2] The idea of a "circle of competence" is based upon the idea that most people, through education or life experience, develop useful knowledge about some areas of the world. For example, adults who have taken a simple economics course might know the basics of how to run a restaurant: finding a rental space for the business, hiring employees to cook and to serve guests, and have a general manager who oversees day to day problems. However, there are specific types of knowledge that make running a restaurant more successful, such as knowing how to get enough traffic into the restaurant, setting food and drink prices, and evaluating operating costs. Not everyone has to know about microchips or tech companies. There are plenty of investments on the market in pretty much any type of company. The key idea of investing within your circle of competence is to focus your investments in companies that you understand in terms of products, marketing, and structure. You don't have to become an expert on every type of technology or business.
- Search for new investment ideas. Find investments with companies that might have a currently low market value, but are well-organized, well-managed, and have a structure and product base that you understand. [3]
 - Watch the stock market's new low lists. These are stocks that have been making new lows in stock price within a given time period, typically 52 weeks. There may be several emerging market entities and stocks at low prices. [4]
- Scan each new issue of Value Line. This is a publication that tracks stocks and market entities. You should flag companies that are within your circle of competence and then do further research into each.
- Look at 13F disclosures of major companies such as banks, insurance companies, hedge funds, etc. These are documents that are filed for companies that document all assets valued over $100 million. You can get investment ideas from these.
- Read hedge fund and mutual fund letters. These are where investment firms often make the case for choosing particular investments.
- Read popular business press publications on a regular basis, such as The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, and the Financial Times. These papers will contain information about companies that could drive a new investment opportunity: company restructuring, acquisitions, lawsuits, etc.
- Evaluate businesses for potential investments. Make sure that you are investing in good businesses before buying investments and stock shares. Look up a company on Value Line and investigate its revenues, losses, and structure. A good business from an investment standpoint is one that can earn high returns on capital. Rarely, businesses can invest this capital back into the business. One way to find businesses that can do so is to look for companies that have grown book value at a high rate on a per share basis.
- Investors often look at a few factors when looking for companies with high returns on capital. For example, popular blogger and investor Greg Spiener suggests looking at the total amount of equity a business has added over the past decade. You should then calculate the return on that investment in terms of profit. This approach will reveal to you what percentage of a company's earnings was reinvested over the past 10 years. This information should help you predict future earnings for that company.
- Invest in good businesses and companies with good management structures. Remember, to keep your research and investments within your circle of competence. [5] Businesses which have high returns on capital will give you good gains on your investments. Companies with a solid management structure are more likely to succeed in the long-term. Some things to look for when evaluating a company for management structure are:
- Does the management have a significant financial investment in the company?
- Have they accomplished what they set out to do in the company mission statement? [6]
- If a company has management with significant investment in the company and they have accomplished many goals, it is likely a good company to invest in.
- To invest in a company, consider buying stock shares or other funds in which the company holds a lot of financial and corporate interest.
EditPurchasing Stocks - Consider your options in handling and purchasing your stocks. Most investors, especially those with large portfolios, buy and trade stocks using a broker.[7]
- You have the option of going through a broker or brokerage business.
- Some other stock traders and investors like to do so online through sites such as E-trade or Ameritrade.
- Both brokers and e-trading companies will take a commission on your stocks when you buy and sell. E-trading companies tend to exact a lesser fee.
- One of the advantages of going with a brokerage company, such as Charles Schwab or Citigroup, is that they offer brokerage accounts.
- Through a brokerage account, you can buy and trade stocks yourself or go through a broker.
- By going with a company backed brokerage account, you have the advantage of being able to meet or call a broker to ask questions.
- Remember, it is not a broker's job to necessarily to your market research for you. You will need to research and know what type of stocks and investments you would like to buy and trade.
- Open a brokerage account and begin trading. If you are working with a broker, you will want to establish a regular routing and speak with them often.[8]
- To buy and trade stocks, you need to inform your broker of what stocks you would like to buy and how many shares you would like to purchase.
- The broker will execute the purchase or trade on your behalf.
- If you are going through a brokerage, your broker will exact a commission on the sale or trade. This fee typically several cents per share.
- Online brokerage accounts through Ameritrade or E-trade charge smaller commission fees, but remember that you do not have the advantage of the advice of a broker in these cases.
- Many companies allow you to manage your brokerage account online as well with a face-to-face broker.
- Decide whether you want to purchase stock at "market order" or "limited order". Your broker or online service will help you buy or trade stocks with both of these options.[9] A market order is when you request a stock purchase at market price. A limited order is when you request to purchase a stock at a limited price.
- For example, if a share of stock is $110 at market price, and you only want to pay $100 dollars, your broker will wait until the market price of the stock is $100 per share before making the purchase.
- Consider buying stocks directly from a company. While the traditional means of stock exchange is through brokerages, some companies offer stock purchases directly through purchase programs.[10] The advantage of direct-buy stocks is being able to avoid a brokerage commission fee.
- Online publications, such as DRIP Investor, will allow you to see lists of companies with direct-buy options.
- Direct-buy options can be tempting. Be sure to do your research on direct-buy stocks just as you would if you were going through a brokerage.
EditAvoiding Risks and Common Mistakes in Value Investing - Manage the risks of your portfolio. You will need to go over your investments and stock holdings regularly to see if any of your investments are performing poorly. [11]
 - Set aside a regular period of time to go over your portfolio. Think about each of your holdings.
- Evaluate whether or not each holding has any financial risks associated with it.
- Can you imagine a scenario where you could be wiped out financially? If so, you need to look for where your portfolio is weakest and attempt purchase other investments as safeguards in that event.
- Is your portfolio over-concentrated in one stock or industry? Seek to have a diverse portfolio that is not concentrated on one type of investment or industry. If you see that your portfolio is overly concentrated in one area, consider buying stock or investments in similar companies and industries.
- If your company's valuation is predicated on growth, are you certain that growth will occur? If you are uncertain that growth will occur, you will need to watch that investment carefully to see if it is worth holding onto.
- Are you holding undervalued shares that could result in a permanent loss of personal funds if the economy is in a downturn? If so, you may need to find a way to sell these or work in safeguards to prevent personal financial losses.
- Understand that you will need to put much of your time and effort into your portfolio. You will need to constantly do research on new investments, discuss your holdings with stock professionals, and hold some basic stocks and funds to fall back on. [12]
 - Don't fall back on simple analysis of your investments and the idea that these will be easy to sell if you decide to dump them. Don't base your decisions on a simple write-up of an investment in a financial magazine or blog.
- Stick to investments in companies within your circle of competence. While more exotic stock options such as biotech, alternative energy, and other emerging markets might seem more exciting, you should stick to simple investments in industries you understand.
- It can be tempting to jump on a technology fad. If you have little understanding of how tech firms and companies operate and are valued, you might not be able to properly evaluate the risks involved with investing in these companies.
- Always look into the track record of a company's management. A poor management strategy and history of poor management are red flags. You should not purchase investments or stocks in companies with this kind of record.
- Changes in management structure and financial holdings of a company will be available in the 13F disclosures of the company.
- If you have lost money, pay attention to why and how. It is important to learn lessons from your investment mistakes. A financial loss may show you where your portfolio is lacking and which of your investments are too risky.
- Do some research in the history of financial investment to see what strategies have worked in a successful market. There are many books and articles on this subject available from financial news sources such as Forbes and the Wall Street Journal.
- Be a learning machine. You need to constantly do research on new investments and opportunities. [13] Even after you have built up a good portfolio, you will still need to research new investments. Doing this will allow you to see how the financial market is changing. Part of being a successful value investor is knowing how the financial market is changing.
- Read financial newspapers and stock exchange information on a daily basis.
- Always think about how a changing market will have an effect on your portfolio.
- You might want to sell some investments or re-evaluate certain holdings in light of your research.
- On the other hand, you might discover new investment opportunities that can help safeguard more risky holdings that you have.
- This will allow you also to see what emerging companies are up and coming. This will allow you to make new investments.
- Follow the blogs of successful investors to see what kinds of unique opportunities and strategies they are using. These can draw your attention to new types of companies or sources for your research.
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| How to Prevent Dry Chapped Lips Posted: 17 Dec 2016 08:00 AM PST Chapped lips can be dry, cracked, and painful. They can be caused by a variety of things, including dry weather, licking your lips, and certain medications.[1] They tend to be especially bothersome during the cold winter months. Thankfully, you can prevent them by following a few easy practices. EditTaking Care of your Lips - Drink plenty of water. Being dehydrated can cause dry, chapped lips. Try to increase the amount of water you drink to help keep your lips hydrated.[2]
- Winter has especially dry air, so make sure to increase hydration during this season.
- Drink at least the recommended 8 glasses of water a day.
- Use a humidifier to add moisture to the air. If you live in a dry climate, prevent dry chapped lips by keeping your air humidified. You can purchase humidifiers at most big-box stores and drug stores.[3]
- Aim for a humidity level in your home of between 30-50%.[4]
- Keep your humidifier clean by washing it according to the manufacturer's instructions. Otherwise, it could become moldy or host bacteria and other nasty things that could make you sick.[5]
- Start wearing less lipstick. Lipstick can dry out your lips so wear tinted lip gloss or better yet, embrace your bare lips.
- Avoid going out in harsh conditions without protection. Exposing your lips to the sun, wind, and cold will dry them out. Always apply a lip balm or cover with a scarf before venturing out.[6]
- Seal in moisture with a lip balm or chapstick that contains sunscreen to prevent sunburning (yes, lips can sunburn too!).
- Apply thirty minutes before going outside.
- If swimming, re-apply often.
- Check your intake of vitamins and other essentials. Having any vitamin deficiencies can cause your lips to dry and crack. Make sure you are getting enough of the following vitamins and minerals, and speak with your doctor if you aren't sure you're getting enough:[7]
- B Vitamins
- Iron
- Essential Fatty Acids
- Multivitamins
- Mineral Supplements
EditUsing Topical Applications - Apply a moisturizer. Using a moisturizer will help your lips to stay hydrated and to absorb moisture more easily. Moisturizers are an essential part of keeping your lips as hydrated as they can be. Look for the following ingredients in your moisturizers:[8]
- Shea Butter
- Emu Butter
- Vitamin E Oil
- Coconut Oil
- Use lip balm. Apply a lip balm to promote healing and prevent chapped lips. Lip balm also helps to seal in moisture and protect your lips from outside irritations.[9]
- Apply lip balm every hour or two to treat dry lips and to keep them healthy.
- Use balm with SPF of at least 16 to save your lips from sun damage.
- Apply lip balm after you have applied a moisturizer.
- Find a balm that has beeswax, petroleum, or dimethicone.
- Try using petroleum jelly. Petroleum jelly (e.g., Vaseline) can help seal and protect your lips, acting as a balm. Using petroleum may also help to protect against the sun, which may dry and crack lips.[10]
- Apply a sunscreen formulated for lips under the petroleum jelly.
EditAvoiding Irritants - Rule out allergies. You may be allergic to substances that come in contact with your lips. Fragrances and dyes are common culprits. If you frequently get chapped lips, use only products on them that have no fragrances or dyes.[11]
- Toothpaste is another common culprit. If your lips itch, feel dry or painful, or blister after brushing your teeth, you may be allergic to the ingredients in your toothpaste. Try switching to a natural product with fewer preservatives, dyes, or flavorings.[12]
- Lipstick is the most common cause of contact cheilitis (contact allergy) on the lips for women, but toothpaste is the most common cause for men.[13]
- Don't lick your lips. Licking your lips will cause more chapping. Even though it might seem like this helps keep them hydrated, it actually dries lips out. In fact, "lip-licker's dermatitis" is frequently seen in people who lick their lips too much, and can cause an itchy rash around the mouth.[14] Use a lip moisturizer instead.[15]
- Avoid using flavored lip balms, as this may encourage licking your lips.
- Don't over-apply any product as this may also cause you to lick your lips.
- Don't bite or pick your lips. Biting lips removes their protective covering which causes further drying. Allow your lips to heal and function without picking or biting them.[16]
- Pay attention to when you bite or pick your lips as you might not notice doing it.
- Ask a friend to remind you not to bite or pick if they see you doing it.
- Avoid certain foods. Spicy and acidic foods may irritate your lips. Pay attention to your lips after eating and look for any signs of irritation. Try removing these foods from your diet for a few weeks to see if that irritation subsides.[17]
- Avoid anything with hot peppers or sauces.
- Don't eat any highly acidic foods such as tomatoes.
- Some foods, like mango peels, contain irritants that should also be avoided.
- Breathe through your nose. The constant flow of air caused by breathing through your mouth can dry your lips out and cause them to chap. Breathe through your nose instead.[18]
- If you have trouble breathing through your nose, see your doctor. You may have allergies or another health condition causing congestion.
- Look at your medications. Certain medications may dry your lips out as a side effect. Talk to your doctor to learn if any of your medications might be responsible for chapped lips.[19] Medications may include prescription and non-prescription drugs used to treat:
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Pain
- Severe acne (Accutane)
- Congestion, allergies, and other respiratory troubles
- Never stop any medication without a doctor's approval.
- Ask your doctor for alternatives or how to manage this side effect.
- Know when to see a doctor. In some cases, chapped lips may be the sign of another medical issue that will require a doctor's care. If you have any of the following, see your doctor:
- Persistent chapping despite treatment
- Very painful chapping
- Swelling or drainage from the lips
- Chapping in the corners of your mouth
- Painful sores on or near the lips
- Sores that don't heal
- Always drink plenty of water and stay hydrated.
- Try using chapstick or balm at night to prevent dry lips in the morning.
- Make sure you remember to apply moisturisers in the morning. The driest time for your lips is just after waking up!
- Main causes of chapped lips are sun, wind, and cold or dry air.
- Apply lipbalm before eating and wash your lips after eating.
- Wash your hands before touching your face to apply a balm or hydration.
- Apply honey on your lips before bed every night.
- Never ingest chapstick, sunscreen, or balms as these may be toxic.
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| How to Have a Happy Betta Fish Posted: 17 Dec 2016 12:00 AM PST Does your betta fish look sad? Is he often resting at the bottom of his tank? Your fish might be bored or even sick. It is a popular belief that betta fish need little to no care, but this is not true. Here are some ways you can help keep your betta fish happy and healthy. EditWatching For Signs Of Illness - Know what a healthy betta looks and acts like. A healthy betta eats vigorously, swims around and is active, is colorful and vibrant, has fins and a tail that spread out like fans, and has scales and a body that look slick and clean.[1]
- Know what a sick betta looks and acts like. Sometimes, a betta acts sad because he is sick. If your betta is lethargic, check the tank's temperature and test the water. You may need to do a water change or turn up the heater. Signs of a sick betta are: [2]
- Does not eat at all or eats reluctantly
- Is inactive; stays in a corner of the tank, lays at the bottom, or is always at the surface
- Purposely runs into objects, as if in an effort to scratch itself
- Looks pale, grey, or generally dull in color
- Tail and/or fins are clumped, closed, stiff looking, or falling apart
- Body has open sores, white cottony patches, red spots or white spots, or lumps
- Eyes are protruding or swollen looking
- Gills don't close all the way and stay half-open; they may look swollen or red
- Scales are raised like a pine cone
- Belly looks either hollow or extended and swollen[3]
- Diagnose your betta's illness. There are several common betta illnesses that can be treated if diagnosed correctly, but you should be sure about what your fish has before starting treatment. Some medicines work for several different types of fish illnesses, but you should be sure to get the correct one. Some common fish illnesses are: [4]
- Fungal infection: look for white cottony patches on body and head, closed up fins, pale color, less activity
- Tail and/or fin rot: look for fin and tail getting shorter, falling apart, having a darker color, less activity and reluctant eating
- Ick: look for small white spots (like the body was sprinkled with salt), less activity and eating, and attempted scratching against rocks or plants
- Velvet: look for less activity, loss of appetite and color. Velvet (a parasite) can be hard to spot so use a flashlight and look for a fine gold or rusty mist on the fish's body
- Dropsy: look for a big, extended belly and scales that are raised and look like pine cones. Unfortunately this is one disease for which there is no known treatment; it is thought to be a bacteria that causes kidney failure, and may be linked to feeding live worms to a betta.[5]
- Isolate your sick betta for treatment. If you keep other fish or water animals (snails or frogs) with your betta as companions, you'll need to remove your betta from the communal tank to treat it. You don't want to treat healthy fish or water animals if they aren't sick, though a complete water change for the whole tank is a good idea if you have one sick fish. Your sick betta may need to be isolated for up to 3-4 weeks while it gets better. Go to your nearest pet store and look for medicines that treat the various illnesses listed above; they will all most likely contain types of antibiotics (tetracycline, ampicillin) or anti-fungals (maracin).[6]
- Speak to the pet store aquarium specialist or to a veterinarian. Do this if your fish seems sick and you cannot determine what is wrong, especially BEFORE beginning treatment. It is not a good idea to treat your betta with the wrong medicines, because this could make him sicker.[7]
EditCreating A Nice Home For Your Betta - Choose a good home for your betta. Bettas need a tank that holds a minimum of . Bettas also need a heater, as they are tropical fish that prefer temperatures from 76-84 degrees Fahrenheit, and a filter. Be sure to have cycled the filter, too.[8]
- Be sure to always check that your heater is working properly, because a heater that makes the water too hot for your fish (over 82 degrees Fahrenheit) is also bad for the fish and can harm him.
- A filter is necessary. For smaller tanks, get a special low-current one. A regular filter in a small tank may create too much current for the fish. Do not aerate your fish's tank, as this might create too much movement in the water for your betta's likings. Betta fish like mostly still or very low current water.
- Keep the water clean. Betta are happiest when they have clean water, so be sure to do a 10% water change every week for , twice a week for tanks .
- A 10% water change means that you remove 10% of the water and replace that amount with clean water. Many people use distilled or spring water, but dechlorinated tap water is better, as drinking water lacks some minerals that are good for fish.
- Contrary to some beliefs, betta do NOT survive in tiny puddles or filthy environments. Their natural environments are large rice paddies and slow moving streams. In most cases, the bigger the betta tank, the better.
- Keep the tank out of direct sunlight and away from air conditioning vents. Direct sunlight and air conditioning will make large temperature fluctuations, which are harmful to the betta. Bettas are happiest in water that steadily remains 78-82 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Buy decorations and plants for the tank. Betta love having places to hide. Tunnels, caves, and plants (live or artificial) are all great decorations for a betta tank. If you choose artificial plants, silk plants are a great option, as they are less likely to damage a betta's fins. Live plants (called "betta bulbs" at pet stores) are popular and bettas like them, just make sure that they don't become too big for the tank. They can be trimmed down if they do. Betta need to have room to swim around, so be sure to not overcrowd the tank with decor. It is recommended to have one area clear for swimming, and another for when your betta wants to hide.[9]
EditFeeding Your Betta - Buy proper betta food for your betta. A well fed betta is a happy betta. There are many brands that carry fish food specifically made for betta fish on the market, and you should avoid giving bettas food that is made for other types of fish, even tropical fish.
- The types of food made for betta are usually pellets or flakes made up of whole fish meal, shrimp meal, whole dried krill, and some other vitamins and soybean and/or whole wheat flour. Betta are carnivores, so they need a varied and high protein diet. If you can spare the extra expense, you can feed bettas mosquito larva, live brine shrimp, live worms, or frozen and/or freeze dried live food. Be extra cautious when feeding betta live food, however, for the reasons explained in step 3. Also, be sure that live food is fresh (not rotted) and clean (rinse it with clean water first) or you risk giving your betta an illness such as Dropsy.[10]
- Feed your betta only once or twice a day. Feed only what he can eat within two minutes. This is very important. If you feed twice a day, you should feed less (only 2-3 pellets) each time. Bettas have small appetites, so you don't want to overfeed them. Uneaten food left in the tank will contribute to poor water quality and may lead to disease in your betta.[11]
- Watch for signs of overfeeding. If your betta has an extended belly (it sticks out a lot near the lower fin), you may be feeding him too much. This can cause bladder problems in some types of betta. Especially beware of overfeeding if you ever feed your betta live food (mosquito larva, live brine shrimp or worms). They are more prone to overeat when offered live food. It's even okay to skip feeding for a day once a week, to let the digestive system of your betta rest.[12]
EditInteracting With Your Betta - Talk to your Betta. Many betta like to hear their person's voice. You may notice that your betta swims more actively when you talk to the tank. You can also move your finger around on the glass of the tank, or wiggle it at the surface of the water. He will try to jump toward it. Just be careful not to let him jump out of the tank. Betta fish are curious fish, and they like to play! He or she might follow you around the room when you walk around too.[13]
- Move around his decorations or buy him new ones. Having different decorations that you switch out at different times give your betta more of a variety of things to look at, and will keep his life enriched.
- Decide if you should introduce another betta fish for your betta. If it is female, it MAY like the company of two or three other female betta fish. It is recommended to have more than two so they won't fight constantly if they are aggressive to one another. This is called a "female betta sorority tank." Be prepared, however, to keep them in separate tanks if they do not get along.[14]
- Male bettas most definitely CANNOT live with other male bettas. They will attack each other, which is why bettas are nicknamed "Siamese fighting fish." A male betta can be in a tank with female betta for breeding purposes, but you should leave this to professional aquarium breeders, or when you get more experienced with fish-keeping.
- Carefully bring in some "company" to pal with the betta fish. Again, some betta, male or female, will never get along with others in the tank. Suggested possible tank mates for betta are apple snails, ghost shrimp, red cherry shrimp, African dwarf frogs, cory catfish, and neon tetras.[15]
- Watch for signs of not getting along. If you do introduce other fish or animals to the tank, you'll need to keep a careful eye on them. Signs include damaged fins or bodies in the other fish or water animals. You may not always see the betta attacking, but keeping a careful eye on the health of the other fish or animals in the tank is necessary. Do they look hurt? Are any of them hiding constantly? These could be signs that the betta is being aggressive toward them, and you should separate the betta for the well-being of your other fish or water animals in the tank. If you do not have a tank divider or a separate tank ready, then try adding more decorations to provide hiding places for the victims and ease for the aggressor.[16] Treat the hurt fish first.
- Make sure to avoid colorful, aggressive and fish with long fins such as guppies as tank mates. Also, while neon tetras are usually okay, some other types of tetra are "fin nippers" (such as serpae tetras) so be sure to research what type you're thinking of getting if you want to get tetras as company for your betta.[17]
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