It's been a long time

It has been a long time since my last post. Had a lot of family health & financial issues to deal with. Things have improved over the last few weeks and I am finally finding time to get back to updating my blog. Since last August I have pared back my holdings, both in Direct Stock Purchase (DSP) plans and Brokerage accounts. By the end of last year I had reduced my DSP holdings from:

1. Aqua America (Google Yahoo Earnings Chart)


2. Caterpillar (Google Yahoo Earnings Chart)


3. Duke Energy (Google Yahoo Earnings Chart)


4. Exxon Mobil (Google Yahoo Earnings Chart)


5. Paychex (Google Yahoo Earnings Chart)


6. Pfizer (Google Yahoo Earnings Chart)


7. Limited Inc. (Google Yahoo Earnings Chart)

To

1. Duke Energy (Google Yahoo Earnings Chart)


2. Pfizer (Google Yahoo Earnings Chart)

Last month I signed up for two new DSP plans:

1. Oneok Inc. (Google Yahoo Earnings Chart)


2. PNM Resources Inc. (Google Yahoo Earnings Chart)

Among the above 4 DSP plans I currently participate in, on a monthly basis I contribute:

• $75 to Duke Energy
• $75 to Oneok Inc.
• $100 to Pfizer
• $100 to PNM Resources

On a related note, I opened custodial accounts for my children, one in Scottrade and one in Sharebuilder. I took advantage of the Costco special for new Sharebuilder accounts. Click here to read more about this special offer to Costco members. Costco members who open new individual, joint or custodial accounts with ShareBuilder will receive a $55 cash bonus deposited to their Sharebuilder account.

I bought shares for the following two companies in the custodial accounts:

1. Manitowoc Company (Google Yahoo Earnings Chart)


2. Perficient, Inc. (Google Yahoo Earnings Chart)