I feel the FM is missing a huge opportunity to attract loyal new readers. I was never in the corporate world, having trained as a scientist. As scientists are usually not well remunerated, I decided very hesitantly, when I was approaching middle age about 30 years ago, to try online investing on the JSE to augment my retirement savings.
In those days, there were wonderful magazines offering really basic instructions on investing principles for newbies, such as “What does p:e mean?”, “What does ROE mean and what can it signify?”, “What does the earnings and dividend yield mean?”, “What do NAV and PEG mean?” and so on.
Diedrich Schutte’s contributions in Investor.com South Africa, with teachings such as “Price is what you pay, value is what you get”, were invaluable. These concepts may be laughably simple if you have a BCom, but are essential for a nervous amateur to learn to gain confidence to even contemplate starting a personal trading venture.
I made a few mistakes (as even the pros do), but had some fun and now that I am retired I receive some monthly dividends to boost my university pension.
Come on, FM — fill the gap and earn some new appreciative readers.
Len Steinhardt, by e-mail
