Apprenticed Investor: Tracking Elephants

Here's an interesting question: If you could look at one and only one source before buying your next stock, which would you choose: a fundamental analyst's report (with no charts in it), or the chart of your choosing? While I like having access to both, I cannot ever imagine buying something without first looking at the chart.

And so we wade into the ongoing battle between technical and fundamental analysts. Frankly, it's one of the sillier debates in investing. But I've heard so many bad arguments and misleading theories about technical analysis that I decided to weigh in.

Before we wade too deeply into the controversy, ask yourself: "Why do I need to choose?" Why wouldn't you use any tool that can be shown to have value? You wouldn't build a house using only a hammer, but no drills or saws. Why limit yourself away from a tool that can assist you as an investor? ...