I've been lucky... I have selectively invested in Higher risk investments despite my "conservative" goal Rate of Return. I've tried to be diversified, but I routinely move money around and then find myself way overboard in particular sectors.

Like I said, I've been really lucky.

For example, I timed a big move from Tech stocks in late 1999. I call it luck, because it was really just based on a "gut feel" that the market was getting way over-valued. I believe the DOW will hit 20,000 SOMEDAY, but when people were saying it was right around the corner I just got the sick feeling that something had to break. I timed the move better, or I could have timed it much worse...It really was blind luck.

Anyway, then I found that I had a lot of "cash" or "near cash" investments that were burning a hole in my pocket and it was available to buy my way back in at lower prices. Unfortunately, while that resulted in some big wins in some stocks like CSCO, INTC, etc..., it also caused some big loses as well in stocks like WCOM (Some of the boats came back up with the tide, but some were stuck to the bottom and sunk!)

The real estate is bare farmland...Hope to one day either buy a neighboring farmhouse, or build one. Its not a large piece of land, but it does give back enough rental income to meet the meager payments...It would be a breakeven more or less except that the price of land has skyrocketed in the last few years in this area. (Mainly because of ethanol speculation I believe, but also because of the housing boom and urban sprawl)*. I'm not sure that can or will last. Either way, its not a very liquid asset unless I am willing to "Leverage" it by borrowing more money against the appreciated capital...It might be a bad move, but I'm holding on to it for now...I might do a Like Kind Exchange in a few years when I find the "right farmstead" or if some sucker, opps i mean speculator comes along and makes a good offer. (of course real-estate has run-up just about everywhere...Which again brings up "luck".)

I still own some stocks. And to be honest, I'm in way to aggressive a stance right now. I need to sell some and take a few profits, but the accountant in me has me waiting until January 1 to defer the tax bill. The conservative in me is saying sell sell sell. And the greedy capitalist in me is saying ride the wave. Time will tell if the luck holds!

I try not to gamble, but I got to admit that I have gambled...And right now I am taking a gamble.

I love talking investing. And as Scott Evil already isn't my real name (obviously) there is enough anonimminmnintiy for me. I can see why there isn't for some.