I have investing on my brain as I am planning for 2012. I don’t have much experience in investing on my own, I have relied on where my retirement accounts are through my employer. As I give you what is working for me, I am not endorsing any company or idea, just sharing what I have done. Feel free to comment or share with other ideas or sources.

My employee investing company is Charles Schwab. Good and reliable, but I don’t do anything but make changes once a year during open enrollment. I must count on them to make choices for me as my employer also contributes on my behalf.

I personally have had accounts with Fidelity and was able to save for years. I only recently closed that account and took a loss because of a downed economy and the need for the cash out. I don’t suggest you do that if it can be avoided, but by the grace of God I had that money when I needed it. Very easy to get to, online advice, and a person at the other end of the phone if I needed it. It had a 200 dollar minimum to get started and to do it online, you needed to contribute 200.00 every month automatically to get the best rates. Not affordable for everyone.

I am now in a position to rethink investing and am willing to take an active part in buying stock for myself. I am researching sites that offer education and information on this very topic and I came across this site at www.sharebuilder.com/ingdirect

It gives you step by step instructions on buying and selling stock, it has a minimum investment, and has over 700 selections to get you started. Will I do it? I am still in the researching steps. Should you do it?

As a woman, ask youself these questions:

1. Do I have the extra cash to loose?

2. Do I have the time to research the subject and the sites?

3. Am I being impulsive or have I thought this through?

4. Is the rest of my financial plan in order? Budget, savings, emergency fund, debt paid?

If you have the answers to the questions and you have the time to research, this might be a great time to get started with investing for 2012. Remember to be cautious, as any time you invest, you also must be ready to loose. Let me know what you discover.