With a million and one different ways to trade online, it’s easy for the process to feel alienating and impersonal. The rise of robo-advisors has only exacerbated this feeling. Like so many things, we’ve sacrificed personality for convenience. Why is that problematic? In my opinion, it’s because it lets people take their foot off the gas. They trust Fidelity to do right by them. Fidelity will absolutely do their best, but it will all be put into an aggregator, not based on the things that make you you. If you have the time, it’s worth building a portfolio for yourself instead of handing it off to someone else. If you don’t have the time, it’s worth trying to make the time. Whether you know it or not, there are things you know about the stock market that others might not. This comes from natural experience—say, for example, you’re a movie buff. While no one is trading stocks based on Bergman movies, you may have a wealth of knowledge about how movie distribution works. All of us have some unique knowledge within us, and, even if it’s incredibly obscure, it can be used to make money. (I will note, for you liberal arts majors out there, that some knowledge may be more valuable than others.) What you know best can be a great place to start stock wise, then expand from there. Once you’ve started building a custom portfolio, you need to find ways to learn the ins and outs of the markets without either spending a ton of money or a ton of time. If you’re spending a ton of either, you’re defeating the purpose of this entire exercise! To learn beyond what you know, it’s best to go to the experts. I recommend people use Chaikin Analytics as a learning resource, but there are many ways to go. Whichever you choose, you need to make sure they’re hitting a few key areas: —analytics —education —access Powerful analytic tools, like those used by the aforementioned robo-advisors, can be combined with your personal knowledge to achieve something special. Find a resource which will help you analyze stocks you’re unfamiliar with. A good resource will educate you in a variety of ways. Chaikin Analytics combines webinars, blogs, and longform articles to help you learn what you need to know, from the basics to the broad. Choosing where to trade is a big decision, because it dictates where you're putting your money. Another reason I like Chaikin Analytics is that it’s plugged in, directly, to the Score Priority Store suite, which lets me trade as I’m learning. Combining your lifetime of experience with analytic expertise is a smart way to make your portfolio a personal project. I’ve found that putting my own spin on my portfolio makes it easier to emotionally invest in my investment. To see what you could be learning from an educational resource and how it might help you perfect and personalize your portfolio, get a free demo here, then shop around. Source