If you do not have an investment plan in the stock market you are subject to impulses, urges, hunches, premonitions, strong feelings, greed, panic, fear, indecision, and just plain foolishness. In my opinion, without a plan, without that clear conception of a total stock market investment strategy, the chances of successful investing in the stock market are pretty slim.

A stock market investment plan is a means for you to follow a certain arrangement or procedure, it is a method of action that will aid you to ensure a successful investment in the stock market. With a concrete definite plan of action, directed toward a predetermined goal, the most difficult aspect of successful investing in the stock market is already accomplished. The proven stock market investment plan has already done the work for you, and the predetermined goals that you set for yourself will give you the desired power too fulfill them. Don't underestimate yourself and the power within you to accomplish what you set out to do. Set your stock market investment goals high, and steadily aim for them. Make up your mind you are going to fulfill them and get excited about them, and your goals will become a reality! (And sometimes, it only takes someone to tell you what you already know you can do!)

For me, (and, for any of you that have read and are acting on my book) successful investing in the stock market means only one thing! Money! I want money from all my stock market investments, and I want money sent to me every week of the year, for the rest of my life. It's a simple plan, but I'm a simple man. Nothing tricky here! If a company wants my investment dollars, they must pay me for them in the form of dividends every quarter. And if they want me to continue investing in their company, they will have to increase their dividend to me every year. I will have faith in their company as long as they continue rewarding my faith with more money! It's an arrangement that's non-negotiable. I guess you could call it a form of security analysis, a Jerry Maguire 'show me the money' form of security analysis.

Not only do the companies have to raise their dividend year after year, they have to show price appreciation in the market place on a historical basis. An investment plan should be geared toward receiving both ever-increasing dividends, as well as stock appreciation. After all, isn't that what investing in the stock market should be all about?

"A good book contains more real wealth than a good bank." ?Roy L. Smith

To read the PREFACE from a good book 'The Stockopoly Plan ? Investing for Retirement' visit http://www.thestockopolyplan.com

Charles M. O'Melia is an individual investor with 40 years of experience and passion for the stock market. The author of the book The Stockopoly Plan ? Investing for Retirement; published by American-Book Publishing. You can invest in the book at http://www.pdbookstore.com/comfiles/pages/CharlesMOMelia.shtml

You have permission to publish this article either electronically or in print, free of charge, as long as the author bylines are included. A courtesy copy of your publication would be appreciated. Please email to mailto:charles@thestockopolyplan.com