Something I've noticed is that the 'experts' rarely get it right.

For me, just knowing what happens in summertime, item prices (like food or gas), holidays, if we're heading to an escalation in war, a depression, what defensive stocks are, etc. I've found I usually do better than the 'professionals'.

First, I've always bought stocks in companies I can understand.
Basically, just following simple things I can easily make sense of (product type, P/E, dividend yield, current news events and customer sentiment). I always repurchase more stock with the dividend and rarely if ever sell on highs or lows, just buy a little more when I can.

I've been asked many times to give my investing advice. Here's what I'd suggest for those just entering the market wanting to get started:

• Watch what people like Warren Buffet or other investors BUY (not what they say on the news).
• Buy in things you believe in and understand, and if they're still heading in a positive direction.
• Understand people buy and sell more on the news they hear vs. the actual value of the stock.
• Learn what P/E is, read their long and short term prospectives, how their cash flow is, and who's buying it and how recently they've purchased/sold.
• If the people running the company have recently bought a lot of stock, buy, if they've sold a lot, don't.
• Don't time the market, don't buy or sell short term, only buy things you want to buy and hold until you retire or until it's at a high and you desperately need the money.

This is by far a very boiled down and simple guide, but it's enough to get you started as you learn more about the market. Only use money you won't need for 10+ years.

Doing that I think you can do well. That's all I got, hope it helps a little, it's always worked well for me.