I have a small IRA that I started about a year and a half ago. I rolled my 401k over from my previous employer to set it up. It is nothing wonderful, but it is a small start.

I know very little about stocks and bonds. I usually put my money in the Vanguard Funds or the like. You know, diversify.

Well, I decided to take a chance and actually purchase some stocks. So, what stocks to buy?

I once worked for Norfolk Southern Railroad (NSC), so I figured I would buy some railroad stock. In looking at the stocks, it looked like NS was going to hit a winning streak. I noticed the same thing with Canadian National (CNI). How did I know this? I randomly guessed. I know sad and scary isn’t it?

Anyway. I bought companies that I knew something about. Then I bought companies that had the name of each of my kids in it. Again, scary isn’t it? Then, after Delta fended off the hostile take over the other day, I bought some Delta stock. Heck it was only $1, I figured I could part with a couple hundred bucks that were sitting around in the IRA not being used. Besides, they have to go up sometime, right?

So, with that in mind and please remember we are not talking about a lot of money, I present to you how my stock portfolio is doing:

It wasn’t as bad as tossing darts at the stock page in the newspaper, but it was pretty close. Too bad I did not have $100,000 to invest.

But like everything in life, I am sure I will suffer loss at some point. However, my CNI stock split 2:1 right after I bought it. Yay me!

What do you think? Should I go into business as a stock analyst?

Yeah, right.