[geoffc]

My product tastes are pretty mainstream, nothing obscure. In the early days I liked Windows and Netware as I did a lot of consulting work with them and had good runs with them. I sat out the dotcom boom and bust as I was putting all my cash into my gigs. In the internet era I liked the business Saas'es (SFDC, N, HUBS, BOX) because I believe in and understand that industry. I was amazed by OSX the first time I tried it so bought Apple. I bought Amazon, Google and SIRI pretty early when I saw what heavy users of the products me and my family were. I was blown away by the first Tesla I saw and bought that. I like the latest fitbits so I just bought some of that, let's see what happens to that. I don't look at the price or financials on either the entrance or exit so on the negative side I sold Apple a few years ago and missed the last half of the run.

[pedrocr]

What criteria do you use to exit then? Do you track returns over time somehow? Would be really interesting to compare to Nasdaq or another relevant benchmark.

[geoffc]

I exit when I either no longer love the product or see a replacement product I like better. I have my accounts at Fidelity and my 10 year RoR is 33% vs 9.78% for the S&P 500 (31% going back to 2003 when I consolidated accounts there).

What I like about the approach is that product is a leading indicator and can be judged by anyone. The financials and stock price seem to trail the product by 1-3 years on both the upside and downside.

BTW I fully agree with the original premise of the thread and think if you try actively trade on financials, timing etc. as a part timer you will get smoked by the pros, sooner or later.

[pedrocr]

Thanks, that's really interesting. I guess you mean RoI and those are yearly numbers? You've multiplied your money by 17? If so, those are some great bets, congratulations.

[IAmGraydon]

You’re saying you made an average yearly return of 33% for 10 years?

[reanimated]

No, it's 33% return in 10 year period, so like 3,3% in a year in average.

[pedrocr]

If it was that it would be a 2.9% return per year and massively underperfom the S&P500.