You may wonder why a single mom writes for a solid, family-focused business like BUYandHOLD. I never questioned this contrary notion until a friend pointed out my position at this company. This observation caused me to sit up and take notice about how single parents might invest as a family when the family is fractured.

The easiest way to go about this venture is to walk through BUYandHOLD's Family Investment Guide to illustrate how single parents can claim these family pages as their own.

1. Turning Dreams Into Goals: While you may not have the opportunity to sit with a spouse to talk over future dreams, you can vocalize your goals with your children and close friends and relations. Take a clue from James Surowiecki's book, "The Wisdom of Crowds." Surowiecki claims that groups are smarter than a few chosen "experts," and that the decisions created by groups are far more accurate than the pros' decisions. One way to accomplish this goal is to join or create an investment club.
   
   
2. Taking Stock: "You may not think that the stock market is for rational people with children and car payments and mortgages." Well, there you go! Single parents fit right into the stock market scenario! Seriously, the stock market is risky, but any investment with potential to grow - on the average - of approximately 11.2% per year presents risk. The securities markets are subject to the risks of fluctuating prices and the uncertainty of rates of return and yields inherent in investing and past performance is no guarantee of future results. Single parents might have an edge here, because many of us have learned just how much risk we're comfortable with and we know just how much we can afford to invest. There are some caveats ?
   
   
3. The Power of Time: Time is definitely the factor in the equation of that 11.2% return. Add education to the math, but don't freak over the amount of edification you might think you need. Remember the wisdom of crowds and trust your own business sense when you create your portfolio.
   
   
4. Kids to College?: You bet! But, how can single parents afford this bill, especially when there are more important things - like food, the roof over our heads, etc. - to think about? Take a deep breath and think FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). At the moment, children with living-on-the-financial-edge parents have a better chance of government financial aid than children with rich and together-like parents. Remember that most of this aid comes in the form of loans, but it's a reprieve from that urgent, tense, and often guilt-ridden feeling that you haven't done enough for your child. That said, your child's education is a great carrot to begin and continue to invest in the stock market.
   
   
5. Slow and Steady: Enough said? Well, maybe not?
   
   
6. Why Trading Stocks Doesn't Work: Please, please, please don't buy a few books and fool yourself into believing that you know enough about the market to trade on a daily basis. This skill requires a full education, including all fundamental and technical aspects. In fact, the more you learn about the stock market, the more you might realize that daily trading is the riskiest and most expensive way to invest. Fortunately, most single parents are so busy with work and parenting (absentee parenting may not be physically draining, but this job can be very emotionally draining) that we can easily avoid the destructive day trading practice.
   
   
7. The Beauty of the Blues: Single parents might believe they have the corner on the blues; however, if we don't take stock of how blue chips can create a solid cornerstone for our portfolio's foundation, then our blues aren't complete.
   
   
8. Long-Term Investing Made Simple: Even if you don't consider yourself part of a "family," you can still invest. In fact, there are several ways to begin and, ironically, the first selection is all about individual investing. "Individual" may represent a crowd, but it's still singular and powerful. Just like us.
   
   
9. Almost There?: I hope the $20 figure caught your eye, because this price is about the same as a pair of jeans or tennis shoes. While this figure won't open the floodgates to instant riches, BUYandHOLD already told you that the stock market isn't about fast and volatile. It's about slow and steady.
   
   
10. Your Starting-Out Strategy: This page belongs to everyone whether you're married or single, because BUYandHOLD explains an easy 4-step plan that is key to investing success. It's all about making smart choices based on a minimal amount of stock-market education.
    
    
11. One-Stop Shopping: I love to see my name in print, especially when it's connected with other top-notch experts in this field. Just remember that I'm just like many of you - I don't have a degree in finance or the stock market. My investment education is like my investing - slow and steady. You can do the same.
    
    
12. There's More: We might dream about the ability to visit several stores on our rounds to stock our cupboards and closets, but we simply don't have the time. We often look for convenient, timesaving ways to accomplish our life tasks. BUYandHOLD offers that opportunity with educational and investment options, including ways to involve our children. It's better than a toy store, in my opinion (and I love toys).
    
    
13. Open 24-7: Wonder what to do when the kids are at your ex-significant other's place? This is the time for more education. Plug in, turn on, and read all you can about your options at BUYandHOLD. Just remember that emotional choices are not in the plan. Don't make any moves that will surprise you (and your "crowd") in the morning.
    
    
14. Any Budget or No Budget: Fractional shares? Perfect for fractured families?this means we can purchase that blue chip stock without chipping away at our grocery budget.
    
    
15. Private and Secure: BUYandHOLD is one of the few private and secure things in my life these days. No matter how you try, you will never know how, when, or how much I invest in my portfolio. In fact, you can't even contact me directly through this site. It works the same for you.
    
    
16. The Bottom Line: This is all about your future, whether you're part of a family or not. Think about it - investing is smarter, easier, and more educationally rewarding than ever, especially for the long-term investor. The trick is to think about it, but don't think too long. Today is just as good as any day to begin to invest in your future as a single parent.

Until Next Week,
Linda Goin