Time for an even cooler change...

On July 1, 2006 MarketWatch discontinued its support of the original (start with 1 million v. dollars) Virtual Stock Exchange. In its place is the game I was playing. $100,000.00 for a limited time. I did not do too well that time I started with $100,000.00 and ended with about $90,000.00.
So I am looking to start something new.
You see I don’t have a million dollars to play with. I don’t even have a hundred thousand. I am in the process of doing a little “virtual investing” while I am waiting for that cash to come.
What I am going to do now is a little take on the “virtual millionaire” game and “paper trade” $10,000.00 under the rules the SEC has put (like a vise grip) on today’s smaller investor.
1.) No day trading of stocks or options for now. SEC rules state that you must have $25K or more to take day rides on the market. Your broker will freeze your account for 90 days or more if you try that. They will, however, allow you to sell your stuff once every 72 hours. So comes the next rule…
2.) Plan to sell your issues in 4 days if you must. I am not a buy and hold guy. I want to make money at this not just brag about the stocks I own but can’t sell because they aren’t making anything.
3.) Pay the broker. Using this simulation, I will use E-Trades $14.00 per trade commission. Their smaller rates only apply to “Power Traders” and other wealthy individuals.
4.) Take 20 percent off yearly for taxes (no tax protection for traders) and give yourself 3.5% per year for your Cash side.
Wish me luck with this one. After I am done messing around, I expect to be trading with real money soon.
If you are out there thanks for reading. And on a personal note: yes, John, somebody does care about this type of stuff.
I do.