writing for advice to the column is kept confidential.

*** I've read your recent article recently on investing and found it of special interest. It has got me so fired-up! That I had to write you and ask you some pressing questions. I hope you can answer my basic questions so that I can get started in investing. Here it goes: Question: Can I invest on-line and with a broker (investment on-line companies based in America)? I know I can here in Bermuda but are Bermuda's necessarily the best? -------- Answer: It's a free country, and consumer choices rule. You can invest online through many various company Websites here, America or from anywhere in the world, for that matter. Electronics have given us a financial universe with no boundaries. Keep in mind that investing in another country's stock market subjects you to many its tax laws and reporting requirements, the significance of which should not be discounted.

What is best? Today, that is an extremely elusive definition to pin down. It almost boils down to this -- best is what you want it to be. Do you want to talk face-to-face to a real experienced financial advisor, or are you shopping trading only price? If you want to work with Bermuda's financial advisors, in general, you are within reach of some very good people. Bermuda's financial circles handle enormous amounts of cash flow every day, and in many respects, our best financial advisors have significantly more experience in all the global stock markets than a voice overseas at the end of a phone.

Today (and for most of this year) the investment markets have been ferocious, destroying the portfolios of some of the most savvy professionals in the business. You want to be very careful where you place your hard-earned money.

If you are interested in execution only trading where you pick a stock to purchase, you can shop the regular paper or electronic yellow pages for a company. But, be warned! You get what you pay for -- very little investment advice. Traders working on volume get paid on commission, if they don't move product, they don't eat. A little cost saving now can hurt you way down the road.

As an objective, independent, educational columnist, I cannot make specific recommendations on any product or service. My general advice is to look for and work with a competent, experienced, licensed professional financial advisor who will provide some objective advice and put your vested interests first. If you want to keep aside some "dabbling money'' fine, but be prepared to lose it all. The investing chat rooms are full of very sad stories from individual investors, one of which, is quoted below.

-------- Question: If 1) is "yes'', then can I invest my money in options and all of the investment vehicles as Americans do. Can I invest for aggressive growth as Americans? Or if "no'' what investments are off-limits to me? -------- Answer: You can invest in anything you want provided you have the money to do so; oil futures in China, currency exchange markets, and so on. Nothing is off-limits. But, that does not take into consideration how much money do you have? How hard did you work for this (40 hours, 80 hours, a month)? How much can you afford to lose? How old are you? What is your real long-term investing objective? Become rich overnight? Have a comfortable lifestyle ten-fifteen years down the road? Whatever your financial goals are, if you have little investing knowledge today, you do not, and I repeat do not want to start by investing in extremely risky ventures like options, futures and currency exchange markets.

CNBC and the advertising media are doing a terrific job of implied information; that is, if they keep talking about these investment services and I use that word loosely, the public really can handle all of these extremely esoteric schemes. I am talking specifically about the ads that feature items such as "YOU TOO CAN LEARN TO BE AN OPTIONS TRADER IN NINE EASY LESSONS. IT'S AS SIMPLE AS ONE-TWO-THREE''. What is always in fine print, if you can read it at all, is the wording to the effect that investing in these products is not guarantee of anything.

-------- Question: Can I use newspapers like the Wall Street Journal and Investor's Business Daily to choose my stocks and invest like the Americans do? -------- Answer: Absolutely, and there are thousands of places to get information, both printed and electronic. Smart Money; Money Magazine; Barrons; The Financial Times are all available here. For Websites, you only have to type investments (SEARCH) and have thousands come up. All of these are committed to helping the consumer learn, for with education comes informed choices.

-------- Question: Are Bermudians currently doing this and what are the groups or persons I can contact to get more information besides tuning into your interesting column? -------- Answer: There are a few investment clubs out there; you might call the Bermuda Stock Exchange to see if they have a listing. Why don't you think about starting one with your friends. We would welcome any and all input on your adventure into the investing world. We could track your progress and share it with our readers. One thing is for sure; there are many people just like you out there, dear reader, who would like to start preparing for a secure financial future.