Bought first shares

[englyn]

Finally overcame analysis paralysis and bought my first shares in a low cost LIC. Yay me!

(The said LIC has a good track record over decades, and has gained >20% this year, proving that the best time to buy shares is always ASAP.)

[pom]

Welcome to the rollercoaster to heaven ... although here the fun part is the up part.

[AlmostIndependent]

Congratulations! As pom said so perfectly welcome to the roller coaster to heaven. One piece of advice; keep an eye on the number of shares you own, not the dollar value. It helps to keep you from freaking out when things go downhill (which they will at some point during your investing career.) I had some serious gut checks in 2008 but managed to keep plowing money in even though the dollar value of my account would keep going down. Now I can happily report that in the last year I've made as much in investment gains as I did from actual work. Keep up the good work and try to remember that the downhill is an opportunity to buy like crazy. As Warren Buffet said “Be Fearful When Others Are Greedy and Greedy When Others Are Fearful”

[Peony]

Pardon my ignorance, but what's an LIC?

[englyn]

Now I can happily report that in the last year I've made as much in investment gains as I did from actual work.

Congratulations!

LIC=listed investment company, ie a company whose business is investing and in which you can buy shares. Berkshire Hathaway's possibly the most famous.

[clutchy]

if you buy Berk B you can get an 8% discount on geico insurance as an owner.