I thought it would be fun to have a financial quiz in the form of a game. Have you ever played I’ve Never? I’ve never is usually a drinking game, so grab a cold one while reading this :-). The way is works is one person says I’ve Never “kissed a girl” or “stolen candy.” All game players drink if they have done this. Since we’re not all together this I’ve Never quiz requires you to paste all the I’ve Never questions into the comments section and put the word “YES” next to any that apply to you. Yes is the minimum answer requested, but feel free to add as much commentary as possible. It will be fun. We’ll get to know each other better and hopefully have a few laughs. I also through in a few blogging I’ve Never quiz questions. Be honest, be creative, and have fun. Let the quiz begin.
Financial Quiz – I’ve Never
- I’ve never bought a stock just because it had a high dividend yield?
Yes – I bought shares of Navios Maritime Partners (NMM) just because it had a high yield. I sold out before things got really bad. I took a $265 loss, which was about a 24% loss. - I’ve never bought a stock and sold it the same day?
No – But I’ve thought about it. - I’ve never lost money on an investment?
Yes – Many times, but mostly unrealized losses. This year, I’m still negative on energy stocks, but hopefully I’ll win in the end. Of course there was the big one, where I lost everything. Learn more about that here. - I’ve never made $500 a month in dividends?
Yes – My best month to date was $784.66 in March of this year. - I’ve never made $1,000 a month in dividends?
No – But I’m hopeful that I will reach $1,000 this December. - I’ve never made $2,000 a month in dividends?
No – But I’m dreaming of this day. I’ll answer yes now for my man Dividend Hustler! - I’ve never bought a stock without analyzing the company first?
Yes – I bought Philip Morris just because I wanted the stock. I knew it paid a high dividend and I know that smokers rarely quit. So far this has been a great stock for me. I own 126 shares at a cost basis of $9,300 and its market value today is $12,460. - I’ve never bought a stock just because other bloggers were buying it?
Yes – I did buy BHP Billiton (BBL) just because a lot of bloggers were buying the stock. I got lucky on this one. I sold out a few months later for a small gain. - I’ve never DRIP invested?
Yes – I DRIP most of the stocks in my portfolio. - I’ve never spent $5,000 on one stock transaction?
Yes – Philip Morris (PM), Gilead Sciences (GILD), Conoco Philips (COP), Johnson And Johnson (JNJ), and a few others. - I’ve never bought a stock that everyone told me to stay away from?
Yes – COPA Holdings (CPA). I’ve lost 40% of value on this stock so far. I’m still holding out a while longer to see if it recovers. - I’ve never tried to time the market?
No. Not really. - Have you ever bought a stock just to beat an ex-date?
Yes – I was going to buy the stock anyway, but I bought it a few days earlier than planned to capture a quick dividend. The stock is Principal Financial Group (PFG). - I’ve never avoided a stock because it cost more than $100 a share?
Yes – I used to hate buying stocks that were too expensive. I’ve avoided stocks like Tesla, Netflix, and Google of this reason. I think others do this too, because it seems many more people were buying Apple after the 7-1 split that drove the price under $100. - I’ve never written a premium article on Seeking Alpha?
Yes – I’ve written under my old blog, Dividend Dreams, but as Investment Hunting I’ve not written any premium articles. I don’t know if I will. The SA crowd is annoying to me, a bunch of Internet trolls. - I’ve never tried to self promote my blog on Reddit?
Yes – I’ve tried this and it works well. Reddit is one of my biggest inbound traffic sites. - I’ve never gotten caught self-promoting on Reddit?
Yes – I’ve been warned and flagged. Those Reddit guys hate self-promotion. - I’ve never created a Pinterest account for my blog?
Yes – It’s still a new account, only a few months old. I am starting to get referral traffic from Pinterest, about 30 visits a day. - I’ve never written a guest post?
No – Not yet, but I’d like to. - I’ve never allowed a guest post on my site?
Yes – Only one so far. Do you want to be a guest poster on my site? - I’ve never exaggerated about my dividend income?
No, I’ve misstated accidentally but is was under reported, not over-reported. - I’ve never taken the advice of a broker?
No – I’ve listened to a few but never found that their advice was interesting. - I’ve never avoided funds due to high management costs?
Yes – I do this all the time. My 401k holdings have investments I like but avoid because fees are well over 1%. - I’ve never bought a stock on OTC Markets?
Yes – I’ve recently bought a few mining OTC stocks. I’m hopeful that Lithium prices will go way up. Demand for Lithium is expected to grow exponentially over the next 5-years. I bought 5,000 shares of Dajin Resources Corp (DJIFF), 3,500 shares of Nevada Energy Metals (SSMLF), and 4,000 shares of Galaxy Resources LTD (GALXF). This is highly risky and pure speculation. I feel good that one of these three will hit it big and more than cover the loses of the other two. FI Fighter is a big time metals and mining investor. If you want to learn a ton of information about these investments, go visit FI Fighter. - I’ve never bought a stock traded on foreign markets?
No, not yet. - I’ve never bought a stock for purely speculative purposes?
Yes – Petrobras (PBR) was 100% speculation as was Lumber Liquidators (LL). I made quick money on PBR, buying around $6.50 and selling around $9. This was about a $2,000 payday. Lumber Liquidators I’m still stuck with and will likely be for sometime unless I decide to call it a loss and sell for tax reasons. Also, see above, my mining stocks are pure speculation. - I’ve never lost more than 50% on a stock?
Yes – Lumber Liquidators, and VEREIT, Inc (ARCP). A lot of us lost money on this one :-(. It was so bad that they changed their name. You remember them as American Realty Capital Properties. An accounting scandal led to this loss. - I’ve never lost more than 75% on a stock?
No, I sure hope I don’t ever have this happen. - I’ve never doubled my investment through stock appreciation?
No. My best appreciation is Dr. Pepper Snapple (DPS) at a 77% increase and Altria (MO) at a 64% increase. Both increases are unrealized. - I’ve never regretted buying a stock, right after I bought it?
Yes – I regret buying Copa Holdings (CPA) and National-Oilwell Varco (NOV). - I’ve never regretted selling a stock?
Yes – I regret selling $25,000 worth of Apple stock six years ago, ouch. I also regret selling McDonald’s (MCD) stock. I sold this stock last year and a few weeks later the stock headed way up. Who knew all day breakfast would be the kicker.
I’ve Never Quiz Takeaways
Well as you can see, I’ve never done a lot of things. Investing like everything in life is a learned skill. I still make mistakes and have regrets, but I’m getting better at it everyday. The more I read, the better I get. So keep on writing and investing. This community has taught me so much more than I could ever learn from investing books.
Now it’s your turn to take the quiz. How many YES votes are you going to have? Copy and past the quiz questions below and respond in the comments section.
I’ve never bought a stock just because it had a high dividend yield?
I’ve never bought a stock and sold it the same day?
I’ve never lost money on an investment?
I’ve never made $500 a month in dividends?
I’ve never made $1,000 a month in dividends?
I’ve never made $2,000 a month in dividends?
I’ve never bought a stock without analyzing the company first?
I’ve never bought a stock just because other bloggers were buying it?
I’ve never DRIP invested?
I’ve never spent $5,000 in one stock transaction?
I’ve never bought a stock that everyone told me to stay away from?
I’ve never tried to time the market?
I’ve never avoided a stock because it cost more than $100 a share?
I’ve never written a premium article on Seeking Alpha?
I’ve never tried to self promote my blog on Reddit?
I’ve never gotten caught self-promoting on Reddit?
I’ve never created a Pinterest account for my blog?
I’ve never written a guest post?
I’ve never allowed a guest post on my site?
I’ve never exaggerated about my dividend income?
I’ve never taken the advice of a broker?
I’ve never avoided funds due to high management costs?
I’ve never bought a stock on OTC Markets?
I’ve never bought a stock traded on foreign markets?
I’ve never bought a stock for purely speculative purposes?
I’ve never lost more than 50% on a stock?
I’ve never lost more than 75% on a stock?
I’ve never doubled my investment through stock appreciation?
I’ve never regretted buying a stock?
I’ve never regretted selling a stock?