How To Create Wealth In The Stock Market

First and foremost, an opportunistic strategy for creating wealth in the stock market is needed. And the opportunistic strategy for creating wealth in the stock market must have two ingredients, a plan and a goal. The plan must be a definite, concrete plan of investing that would profit you and your family for the rest of your lives.

This opportunistic investment plan you begin should not profit anyone else ? not a stockbroker, a mutual fund or a financial advisor. This means you have to have confidence in yourself and in your own judgment as to whether the investment plan you begin has merit. And this means that the investment plan would and should have already been proven to you!

This definite, concrete plan you begin for creating wealth through opportunities in the stock market must also have a goal. The goal should be clear and specific, and once your have made up your mind to achieve that goal, then go forward and make that goal a reality.

What are the opportunistic traits of a strategic investment plan built on concrete that would actually allow the shareholder to profit through all the turmoil of an up and down stock market? The secret for creating wealth in the stock market; no matter what direction the market is heading?

As in what appears to be the most difficult investment question of all to answer, the answer lies in simplicity itself? investing in those companies that have a historical record of raising their dividend every year. Whether or not you can take this statement of fact to heart is your own judgment call. But it is this opportunistic trait that can and will create wealth for you and your family for the rest of your lives.

A company's ability to raise its dividend every year, coupled with stock appreciation is a very powerful wealth creating formula!

I'm going to provide you with two examples, though there are many more, some with even better results. The two examples are from my book, soon to be published by American Book Publishing ? The Stockopoly Plan (where an investment plan and a goal are written in stone).

The first example would be a stock purchased in 1990, Comerica (CMA). What led to the purchase of CMA? ? In 1990 CMA had a 21 year history of raising their dividend every year. Today's CMA has a 35 year history of raising their dividend every year. This opportunistic trait in CMA stock has garnished a little better than a15 percent return a year, compounded annually (just by having the dividends reinvested back into the stock each quarter through those years ? I prove this to you in The Stockopoly Plan), for the past 14 plus years. Today's CMA stock just recently touched a new high at $60 dollars a share, with a dividend yield of around 3½ percent. In April of 2003 the stock was selling around $37.50 a share, paying a dividend yield of around 5% a year. Am I tempted to sell my position in CMA? Do I care if the stock drops from this lofty price back to $37 a share? Why should I? If the stock drops back to $37 a share, my dividends being reinvested back into the stock each quarter purchases more shares, and my dividend income from CMA simply and dramatically accelerates. I am also already prepared that if a buy-out offer is ever made for the company to reap the profits of owning the stock (as well as the possibility of another stock split).

The second example is (unfortunately) in my book, also. I say unfortunately because my book is in the final copy edit stage, so no one has had a chance to read and benefit from it, and since a buy-out offer was made for the stock last week or so, the stock will no longer exist (this means a rewrite for me, before publication). The company in question is the Rouse Co. (RSE), which was just purchased by General Growth Properties (GGP). Oddly enough, you'll find GGP in my book, also ? if you bother to pick it up. Anyway, that's neither here nor there - RSE, on the takeover bid jumped over $16.00 a share in one day! Whew! Why couldn't they have waited a couple of months until my book was released? RSE had the opportunistic trait of raising their dividend every year since 1993 and I was quite content with its performance through the years.

Well, that last paragraph blew my train of thought on this article. All I can think about at the moment is my rewrite.

I would like to take this time to explain something to you. I have never considered myself a writer nor am I a stock market professional. I am simply a man with 39 years of experience and a passion for the stock market, trying to share what wisdom those years have given me. When I sit down to write an article, I seldom have an idea on what I'm going to say. It was the same way when I sat down to write my book. I just meant to put down a few words on paper for my 18-year old son so he would have a sound, concrete plan for investing in those companies that make up the stock market (quite frankly ? I didn't want him to blow his inheritance). Whether you find merit in what I say, I have no idea. What I do know is that life is just too short to learn everything you need to learn by yourself, without the help of others.

There, now I'm satisfied with that ending!

For more excerpts from the book 'The Stockopoly Plan'

visit http://www.thestockopolyplan.com

Charles M. O'Melia is an individual investor with almost 40 years of experience and passion for the stock market. Author of the book - The Stockopoly Plan-soon to be published by American Book Publishing

In The News:

Yahoo! News: Top Stories

A specialist works at his post on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange, Monday, Dec. 1, 2008. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)AP - The reality that the nation is indeed in recession and that the downturn may well be prolonged sent Wall Street plunging Monday, hurtling the Dow Jones industrials down nearly 700 points and wiping out more than half of last week's big gains. All the major indicators fell more than 7 percent, with the Standard & Poor's 500 index down nearly 9 percent.



President-elect Barack Obama, left, stands with Secretary of State-designate Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., center, and National Security Adviser-designate Ret. Marine Gen. James Jones, right, at a news conference in Chicago, Dec. 1, 2008. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)AP - Barack Obama announced a national security team Monday headed by Hillary Rodham Clinton, who fought him long and bitterly for the presidency, and Robert Gates, the man who has been running two wars for George W. Bush — striking choices by a president-elect who declared he wanted "strong personalities and strong opinions."



President George W. Bush speaks as he participates in the Saddleback Civil Forum on Global Health, Monday, Dec. 1, 2008, at the Newseum in Washington.  (AP Photo/Ron Edmonds)AP - President George W. Bush says history will judge him, but he is getting his own crack first. Bush is using his final 50 days in office to tout his legacy, hoping to leave a lasting impression of overshadowed progress. On Monday, World AIDS Day, Bush was heralded for his leadership in fighting the disease, a point that even his Democratic critics readily concede.



This undated file photo provided by the Illinois Department of Corrections shows Jennifer Hudson's estranged brother-in-law William Balfour. Balfour has been arrested Monday, Dec. 1, 2008 in Illinois in the deaths of the singer's mother, brother and 7-year-old nephew. (AP Photo/Illinois Department of Corrections)AP - Jennifer Hudson's estranged brother-in-law has been arrested in Illinois in the deaths of the singer's mother, brother and 7-year-old nephew.



Tape covers bullet holes in the windows of the newly-reopened Refresh Cafe in the landmark Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus train station, in Mumbai, India, Monday Dec. 1, 2008.  This scarred and traumatized city struggled back to its feet Monday, reopening schools and businesses, as residents tried to come to terms with the string of terror attacks that brought bloodshed to the heart of Mumbai. The owner of the cafe said he had little choice but to reopen the fast food restaurant in the station, even though its glass wall is scarred with bullet holes, half his staff refused to come back and his brother is on a ventilator in the intensive care unit after being shot in the abdomen by the attackers. (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis)AP - India demanded Monday that Pakistan take "strong action" against those behind the deadly Mumbai attacks, and Washington pressured Islamabad to cooperate with the investigation.



Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, center, waves to a crowd during a campaign stop for U.S. Sen. Saxby Chambliss, R-Ga, Monday, Dec. 1, 2008 in Savannah, Ga. Chambliss and Democratic challenger Jim Martin are   in a Tuesday runoff that will shape Democrats' hold on power in Washington. (AP Photo/Stephen Morton)AP - Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin urged Georgia voters to back Sen. Saxby Chambliss in Tuesday's runoff in an election eve appeal that underscored her popularity within the Republican Party and the GOP's efforts to stave off erosion of its shrinking Senate numbers.



In this photo released by KATV Television, news anchor Anne Pressly, is shown in a June 26, 2008, photo in Little Rock, Ark.  Pressly died Oct. 25, 2008 as a result of an Oct. 20 attack, and Little Rock Police named a suspect in the case Wednesday, Nov. 26, 2008. (AP Photo/KATV Television)AP - A television anchorwoman killed in her home had been sexually assaulted and beaten so badly in a suspected burglary that her jaw shattered and she broke a hand while trying to fend off her attacker's blows, her parents said Monday.



AP - Almost one in five young American adults has a personality disorder that interferes with everyday life, and even more abuse alcohol or drugs, researchers reported Monday in the most extensive study of its kind.

AP - A man who rammed his truck into a woman's vehicle on a highway early Friday told authorities he crashed into her while going more than 100 mph because God told him "she needed to be taken off the road."

New York Giants wide receiver Plaxico Burress, left, leaves the courthouse with  his lawyer, Benjamin Brafman, in New York, Monday, Dec. 1, 2008. Burress appeared in court on weapons possession charges. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)AP - Taken to court in handcuffs, Plaxico Burress posted $100,000 bail on weapons possession charges Monday as a frenzy grew around the case of the Giants star receiver who accidentally shot himself in a nightclub.



Senator Hillary Clinton speaks to the media after being announced by President-elect Barack Obama as his choice for Secretary of State along with General Jim Jones as his choice for National Security Advisor during a news conference in Chicago, December 1, 2008. (Jeff Haynes/Reuters)Reuters - U.S. President-elect Barack Obama named former rival Hillary Clinton as secretary of state on Monday and said Robert Gates would remain defense secretary in a national security team charged with recasting America's leadership role in the world.



Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange, December 1, 2008. (Brendan McDermid/Reuters)Reuters - Stocks tumbled on Monday as signs of a deepening economic slump around the world erased much of last week's sharp gains, with banks and retailers among Wall Street's biggest casualties.



Members of ZAKA, Israel's non-governmental rescue-and-recovery organization which specializes in collecting human remains to ensure a proper Jewish burial, speak with policemen after performing religious rituals in front of Nariman House in Mumbai's Colaba area, December 1, 2008. (Jayanta Shaw/Reuters)Reuters - India demanded Pakistan take decisive action over deadly attacks in Mumbai it said were carried out by militants from its nuclear-armed rival, while the West urged cooperation to ease tension.



President Bush and first lady Laura Bush walk to make a statement on the attacks in Mumbai on the South Lawn of the White House, November 29, 2008. (Yuri Gripas/Reuters)Reuters - President George W. Bush said the biggest regret of his presidency was flawed intelligence that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction and told ABC "World News" in an interview airing on Monday that he was unprepared for war when he took office.



A woman watches as people shop in the Time's Square Toys 'R' Us store on 'Black Friday' in New York, November 28, 2008. (Brendan McDermid/Reuters)Reuters - The U.S. economy has been in a recession for a year, the nation's business cycle arbiter declared on Monday, while European leaders vowed to step up public spending to try to cushion a deepening downturn.



Speaker of the House Rep. Nancy Pelosi speaks during a news conference in the U.S. Capitol in Washington November 21, 2008. (Molly Riley/Reuters)Reuters - U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi met leading governors on Monday to discuss the size and shape of an economic stimulus package that one Democratic aide said was likely to cost around $500 billion.



An anti-government demonstrator chases after a suspected pro-government supporter in Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport on December 1, 2008. (Kerek Wongsa =/Reuters)Reuters - Thai protesters prepared to end their three-month occupation of the Prime Minister's office on Monday to consolidate their grip on the main airport ahead of a court verdict that could dissolve the elected government.



Birmingham Mayor Larry P. Langford in an undated photo. (Handout/Reuters)Reuters - Federal authorities arrested the mayor of Birmingham, Alabama, on Monday in a corruption probe surrounding a massive sewer bond debt that has forced Jefferson County to the brink of bankruptcy.



Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano, President-elect Barack Obama's choice for homeland security chief, speaks at a press conference at the Hilton Hotel in Chicago, Illinois. Obama on Monday nominated Hillary Clinton to be his AFP - Barack Obama on Monday nominated Hillary Clinton to be his "tough," "smart" secretary of state as his former foe vowed to give her all to steer America through a storm of international crises.



Map locating the attacks in Mumbai. India has formally accused AFP - India on Monday formally accused "elements" in Pakistan of being behind the devastating Islamic militant attacks in Mumbai and demanded that Islamabad take "strong action".




The Power of Small Numbers: Trading Success is Based on Consistency, Not Home Runs

Online trading is so seductive - just sit, click, and rake in... Read More

Get Wealthy With the Rule of 72

When it comes time to retire how many people would like to... Read More

Bad News - Why The Financial News Media Can Cost You Money!

The communication innovations we have around us today like the internet, financial... Read More

Credit Scores = ROI Profits for Real Estate Investors

Strong credit saves real estate investors money on mortgage finance costs. A... Read More

Seven Investment Terms Everyone Should Know

For those who have never given their financial future a second thought,... Read More

Emotions: A Traders Worst Enemy; Get Rid of Fear and Greed - Youll be Glad You Did

You hear it over and over and over in books, forums, and... Read More

Trading For A Living - Part 2

In part 1 of this article I started to look at the... Read More

Chinas Great Missed Opportunity

While a U.S. Representative to the Asian Development Bank Executive Board of... Read More

Inflation Proof Your Investment Portfolio with ETF?s

Even though inflation has been relatively quiet in the U.S. since the... Read More

Invest or be Pink Slipped

Firing an employee seems to be easier and easier for corporations. Up... Read More

Stocks, Oil, and Bonds

A barrel of oil bounced to over $60 Thu, which triggered a... Read More

Investing 101: Risk Terminology - BETA

About thirty years ago, statisticians armed with all of their statistical theories... Read More

Investing: Do You Want To Make Money, Or Would You Rather Fool Around?

It always amazes me how much stock market investors resemble horse track... Read More

Gold and Silver Maple Leafs Get New Packaging

Gold Maple Leafs and Silver Maple Leafs are receiving packaging makeovers, changes... Read More

Waiting 20 Years Can Cost You Millions - Dont Wait Start Today

Many Young people live for Today. They really don't fully understand the... Read More

Is Starting A Business For Me? What To Consider Before Starting A Business

Do you have the right temperament?Starting a small business is one of... Read More

Profitability And Stock Turn Rate

The inventory of the typical store represents the largest single element of... Read More

Going Offshore For Asset Protection

There are a number of key reasons why individuals and businesses consider... Read More

The Economy Is Not The Stock Market

Several days ago, the Commerce Department reported that May's factory orders had... Read More

The Convertible Craze Brightens The Future Of Equities

Convertibles are stealing the show with their safe investment image in today's... Read More

Retirement is Never Urgent Until

If you're like many people, your retirement savings have not been growing... Read More

The Conflict of Interest Game

Disgruntled investors are going after Wall Street once again, this time accusing... Read More

Eight Questions to Ask Your Financial Advisor

You may like your financial advisor, but is he really looking out... Read More

Evaluating A Money Manager

Scams and frauds are designed to take your money through false promises... Read More

Economic Survival in the 21st Century - the Three Key Questions to Ask

In this "special report", I want to pose a few important "philosophical... Read More

Invisible Mutual Fund Fees Erode Your Returns!

Many investors think that investing in mutual funds is free. What nonsense!... Read More

Annuity Help

Many people today are looking for annuity help. The biggest challenge seems... Read More

Have Analysts Gotten Honest?

It caught my attention when I heard an analyst on a popular... Read More

Volatile Oil

The Light Crude Continuous Contract fell from $67.70 a barrel on Monday... Read More

Options Education : Opinion versus Fact!

The most basic aspect of trading is learning to differentiate between what... Read More

Success Trading: Yet More Basic Terminology for New Traders

In this day and age of online brokers for virtually every market... Read More

Almost Anyone Can Open A Roth IRA!

The Roth is kind of weird until you get used to it... Read More

Discipline in Trading and Investing

The one thing I can think of that most affects both trading... Read More

The Key Ingredient To Increase Preconstruction Profits By Over $20,000

One of the greatest preconstruction investing issues that I hear from individual... Read More

Consolidation Period

The economic data reported Fri showed continued above trend growth with disinflation... Read More

Making Every Penny Count

More and more workers are leaving their jobs and taking their 401... Read More

The Differences Betweeen the Wealthy and Everyone Else

I recently received an e-mail from a young lady who had doubts... Read More

The American Age of Inflation is Over

"The American Age of Inflation is finished." So says economist Robert Samuelson... Read More

Buying Florida Investment Properties and Where Its Hot

Relaxing in Style: Florida Investment PropertiesIn Florida, relaxing in the sun and... Read More

It Is Never Too Early To Start A Roth IRA!

The Roth is kind of weird until you get used to it... Read More

Investors: Avoid These 5 Common Tax Mistakes

For many investors, and even some tax professionals, sorting through the complex... Read More

Preholiday Trading

The Light Crude Continuous Contract closed at $66.13 a barrel Friday, after... Read More

Angels Investors and Their Networks

What is an Angel Investor? An Angel is usually a private person... Read More

Investing and the Fear of Regret and Greed

People tend to feel sorrow and grief after having made an error... Read More

The Basics of Tax-Free UK Financial Spread Betting

Financial Spread Betting (or Trading) offers a tax free method of speculating... Read More

Holy Grail Investments

Every year I go to the Money Show in Orlando, Florida. Thousands... Read More

Numismatics are for Collectors, Not Investors

As a precious metals investor, you may heard much about numismatic and... Read More