Membership to CSA is inexpensive and educational materials are very informative and drive home above noted investment principles. For only $79 a year, I decided to join CSA which includes a bimonthly magazine with two company stock studies, market outlook, financial planning and more. In addition, I have access to low cost investing program where I have set-up my investment plan. The great thing about such a program is that you can buy shares in any dollar amount from such companies as Johnson and Johnson, Microsoft, Pfizer, Wal-Mart. Your money is pooled with other investors and trades are executed during specified trading windows. For example, if you invested $50 in a stock that is trading at $30, you will own 1.67 shares. Another great feature is that dividends are automatically reinvested allowing for compounded growth.

Whether you join an investment club or are a self-directed investor, you work at your own pace. Learning how to analyze companies using stock selection guide which is a tool that was created over fifty years ago and is organized in five sections. The section guidelines will help you determine if company would be a good investment by:

1. Evaluating historical sales and profit growth and estimate future growth 2. Analyzing historical management performance 3. Analyzing historical profit and price data 4. Evaluating risk and reward and; 5. Determining potential return on an investment.

The software is easy to use and you can download company profiles with historical information thus saving you data entry effort. As company financials are released quarterly and yearly, you just enter information and keep an eye on performance.

For more information, you can check our http://www.better-investing.com or http://www.shareowner.com to find out more information.

Finally, if you want to be a successful investor keep in mind following:

1) A focus on long term. 2) A discipline to apply in building and managing a portfolio. 3) Patience to persevere.

Bear or bull markets, a sound, disciplined investment strategy will bring you investment success over long-term.

How Do they Rate? Most importantly, how do competing banks rate for their online banking services, fees, and support? I have discovered a number of sources providing key ratings and evaluations of major US and Canadian banks and would like to provide you with these important links that lay out in detail services, fees and rankings offered by banks.

For US Bank Comparisons

According to a Consumer Reports (CR) study that will be published in its February 2002 issue, just over one-fifth (22%) of US households are banking online. About 80% of respondents consider online banking "easy and quick," and 60% of e-bankers are concerned that their banks would share personal data.

Consumer Reports' top five online banks include, in descending order: E*Trade, Citibank, NetBank, JP Morgan Chase and Bank One. For another comparison of PC/Online banking services and fees by US banks visit Bankrate.com at this URL: http://www.bankrate.com/brm/publ/onlifees.asp

For a ranking of top US internet banks in Fall 2001 based on ease of use, customer confidence, on-site resources, relationship services, and overall cost, visit Gomez.com at: http://www.gomez.com/scorecards/index.asp?topcat_id=1§ion=Gomezwire

For Canadian Bank Ratings

A poll done on Canadians by market research firm NFO Cfgroup showed about 24 per cent of adult Canadians have signed up for on-line banking, compared with about 20 per cent who had logged on during same period a year earlier. About 61 per cent of respondents said they clicked their accounts once a week, while 82 per cent reported using on-line banking at least once a month.

The study also found that online banking is less likely to be used for more complicated transactions such as opening accounts, taking out loans or applying for mortgages.

View 2001 Canadian Online Banking Report by Moneysense.ca at: http://www.moneysense.ca/eng/banking_credit/banking/online_banking/showcontent.jsp?cid=576275

Or for those who wish to do their own research, here are web addresses for major US and Canadian banks offering online services. Happy banking!

US Banks

American Bank www.pcbanker.com American Express Centurion Bank www.americanexpress.com/banking Bank Caroline www.bankcaroline.com Bank of America www.bankofamerica.com Bank One www.bankone.com BankAtlantic www.bankatlantic.com BankDirect www.bankdirect.com Chase Manhattan Bank www.chase.com Citibankwww.citibank.com Claritybank.comwww.claritybank.com E*TRADE Bankwww.etradebank.com Ebankwww.ebank.com everbank.comwww.everbank.com Fidelity Deposit and Discount Bankwww.the-fidelity.com First Internet Bank of Indianawww.firstib.com First Union National Bankwww.firstunion.com Flagstar Bankwww.flagstarbanking.com Fleet National Bankwww.fleet.com NBankwww.nbank.com NetBankwww.netbank.com Nexity Bankwww.nexitybank.com Pennsylvania State ECUwww.psecu.com SouthTrust Bankwww.southtrust.com Stonebridge Bankwww.stonebridgebank.com U.S. Bankwww.usbank.com USAccess Bankwww.usaccessbank.com VirtualBankwww.virtualbank.com Wachovia Bankwww.wachovia.com Washington Mutual Bankwww.washingtonmutual.com Wells Fargo Bankwww.wellsfargo.com Woodforest National Bankwww.woodforest.com

Canadian Banks

TD Canada Trustwww.tdcanadatrust.com Bank of Montrealwww.bmo.com Royal Bankwww.rbc.com Scotiabankwww.scotiabank.ca CIBCwww.cibc.com Citizen¡¦s Bankwww.citizensbank.ca President¡¦s Choicewww.preschoicefinancial.com National Bankwww.nbc.ca

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Jim Slobodzian, BComm (Hon) publishes the Enroute.ca E-MONEY GUIDE providing free weekly news and tips on using money online. http://www.enroute.ca or email info@enroute.ca