Probably the best introduction to be is at the website here on the spring. Having all of my retirement in the market, and having been burned too many times with individual stocks, I am very suspicious of on-line trading, unless there is an absolute guarantee that the order will be filled at the lowest possible price, that it will be executed within a queue (i.e., no one gets preference), that orders expire as quickly (or as slowly) as one specifies. I have been in the NASDAQ for years, and while I didn't know for sure of what we have recently learned, I was pretty certain there was a shell game going on there. http://www.umeais.maine.edu/~hayward

I am curious to know how this direct stock marketing works. I have not yet found the proper information that I am seeking on this matter. I have never traded stock on the internet before, this is new to me.

hi. have never traded before but am speculating right now (is that the right term for watching a few penny stock?)...... i know several people who have had good luck trading on line. they use reputable investment services like suretrade, ameritrade, etc. so far, they've had no security problems and have made some money (as well as lost).

...and Marcia uses Merrill-Lynch....

hi.. i opened an ETrade acct last fall with $1000. I consider that acct and that $$ 'play money'. I have no big expectations. However on tuesday of this week I got a response to an 'unclaimed miney' query I had in to the great state of Texas. Initially I was extremely excited (why to follow) but today was given possibility that cloud may not be as silver as I thought. The story: Got two hits on an unclaimed money search, both held by the state, 1) 1992 dividend check (IBM stock)for $115.00 2) 1992 issue of 210 shares IBM Now... my stock savvy friends immediately told me that 210 shares in 1992 are actually 840 shares in 2000 due to 2:1 splits in 1997 and 1999. Not to mention a decades worth of dividend checks. Looking REALLY good isn't it? Today the state, in a passing remark said, it'll take 60-90 days to clear everything up an 'IF we still have the stock' STOP I said... what do you mean IF? Well, we might have sold it due to storage constraints. What do I get then, cried I? Well, the $$ the state got when it sold. So SPRING-ers and SPRING-ettes... here I sit, waiting to find out if I'll need my friend the financial planner or if I should instead, hire her roomate the lawyer.... In shock in Massachusetts, your friend Gena

Wow, that's great if you can get it Gena, it should be more than $10 grand I would think. How did you come by these and how did you misplace them?

Gen, talk to a lawyer~!!! That is unconscionable, and unethical as well. They cannot sell the stock without your signature!!!

Yeah.. thats what an investment banker guy I know said. BUT I don't know that they've sold them. They are quite possibly sitting there waiting for me to claim them, which I'm in the process of doing. As to value, 210 shares in 1992 are now 840 shares due to two splits that have occured. Market close last Tuesday had value of said 840 shares sitting at just over $93 grand. I'm either very very lucky (and now have a retirement fund) or I'm just lucky and have a bit of spare $$.

Fingers crossed from the capitalist in me.

Tell me about it! I would provide a security, that, though I have a job, I don't have. It would be the 'retirement fund' I don't really have. And it would allow me to move back to the southwest as I indicated in a different conference I wanted to do. Bottom line it would provide that 'net' that is so very nice to have.

That's so awesome Gena, I hope this comes through for you!

Wonder what Gena is up to these days?

still broke :-) The stock was not to be. I don't even remember anymore what happened. I think it was sold or something... before the splits. It WAS legal, I checked. I did get the $ from the sale. I think it came in under $300. The ETrade pretty much bottomed out as well. I'm just not good at this money stuff. How's everybody else doing?