Rules Of The Road

Before this week, the vast majority of readers who discovered The Kirk Report did so through three primary ways: 1) word of mouth from other readers and direct links from other blogs, 2) positive referrals in the mainstream financial press, and 3) from doing a keyword search at an online search engine. The Barron's article, however, has released the floodgates. As a result, readership has changed overnight and because of that, I think it is now appropriate to do a rules of the road post, particularly for those of you who are new readers.

What I do at this website is to provide access to what I know, what I've learned, the tools & research I use, what I'm thinking about & reading, and what I'm doing in response. As a reader, you're in the position of sitting over my shoulder to some degree, learning from both my strengths and weaknesses so that you can improve your own skill set and knowledge about the market. I've been doing this for a long time, but I still have lots to learn.

The Kirk Report, however, is not a stock pick advisory or recommendation service. I do not provide personalized investment advice or stock pick recommendations of any kind, at any time. As you'll discover, I only share what I'm personally doing & thinking, no more & no less. Please don't simply disregard these statements as just another mumbo jumbo disclaimer that you read other places and soon then forget. It is a matter of personal importance to me that you know where and why I stand on this issue.

Over the years, I've met and have become friends with some of the most successful traders in the world. And, I will tell you a little secret - none of these successful people have ever relied on others for stock picks or investment advice to make their fortunes. All successful investors and traders must discover that you have to make your own fortune in the market.

The good news is that each and every one of you have the power and opportunity to do so, providing that you're also willing to accept the responsibility that necessarily entails. To find success in the market, you must understand, know, and fully appreciate the fact that you must develop your own strategy and approach to the market. While I can help you do that to some extent, my own opinions, views, trading decisions, etc. cannot serve as a substitute for yours, no matter how right or good they may be.

For some of you, I know these words will be very disappointing. It is just much easier for me to tell you to go out and buy XYZ and for you to make tons of money doing so. I understand that desire. If I could pay someone to trade for me and make me big money by doing nothing I'd jump at that opportunity. But, that's not the way life works in reality. Trading successfully takes dedication, hard work, perseverance, skills, and knowledge. I can only help you with some of that but trust me, if you do make the decision to become successful, it will be worth the work. At least it always has for me.

In the end, the absolute largest obstacle in the way of most individual traders and investors is that they must realize that there are no short cuts to success. If you've managed to overcome that obstacle, I think you're really going to like what you find here.