From Supermarket to $tock Market: A Real Housewife's "Recipe for $uccess" Learn How to Day Trade with Cookie Jar Ca$h

By Mimi LoBrasco

Thanks to a lifetime of "Dear Diary" journals, this reader-friendly memoir and "recipe for $uccess" is a lighthearted, interactive, pre-entry-level, how-to/self-help handbook . . . and much more. It's written in a humorous, conversational tone for the curious stock market optimist, and for those who want to invest in their dreams and themselves. Confident fortune seekers and those who may be interested in a full-time or part-time day trading side hustle will enjoy it as well.

The useful tips and variety of essays throughout the book are straightforward, laughable and relatable. For those who need a little satire, comic relief, and entertainment {as an eyewitness}, Mimi describes the Wall Street dirty martini social scene and alludes to what goes on behind closed boardroom and bedroom doors up and down Wall Street and Main Street.

With state-of-the-art technology and the availability of easy do-it-yourself Internet trading platforms, record-breaking enthusiasm in cyber investing has significantly increased and crossed over to the Main Street workforce and legion of coffee house squatters. Since the current shift in a (remote) work-from-home economy, Wall Street (fantasyland) is no longer limited to, or reserved for, the "keep-the-change" jet-setters and money-savvy penthouse population.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Newman Springs Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Jun 28, 2022
• ISBN: 9781638812159

Book preview

Preface

Diary and Destiny

My story begins in Florence Italy, the capital of Tuscany and ranked by Forbes as one of the most beautiful cities in the world.

With footloose and fancy-free friends, roaming the cobblestone streets and time-worn vintage towns made backpacking through Europe an exciting travel experience. Exploring the culture while boutique-shopping was at the top of our list.

Surrounded by rolling hills, the city is located in central Italy and the home of Michelangelo’s creations, the beautiful Santa Maria del Fiore Cathedral (known as the jewel of the city) and the famous Ponte Vecchio Bridge.

While crossing the medieval arched pedestrian-only bridge which spans over the Arno River, known for its art, jewelry and souvenir shops, we stumbled upon, and stepped into a quaint, old European leather workshop. I can remember the sound of the squeaky uneven planked floorboards and the jingling chimes of the antique brass bells on the hand carved leaded glass door that squeaked us in. There is where I purchased my first soft-grain leather journal with tie flaps and blank white pages from the bearded renaissance shop owner himself. He was a friendly local merchant with a long, gray, grizzled beard who looked like a descendant of Leonardo da Vinci. After we exchanged Lire (money), he said to me in a warmhearted, melodious voice . . . Questo e il libro della tua vita, spero che le pagine siano piene di felicita.

Translation: This is the book of your life and I hope it’s filled with happiness.

Grazie! (Thank you!) I replied with a sincere, cheerful smile.

Every day from that day forward, I began a compulsive habit of jotting down all the things that went well, all the things that went wrong, and all things worth remembering, thanks to the art of writing.

Putting pen to paper while logging thoughts and feelings, clearly affirms there’s never been a dull moment. Thank goodness I had the notion and virtue to purchase the journal when I did. It and many more that followed became a reminder of life’s forget-me-nots. It’s nice remembering those who deserve to be center stage with a spotlight. Now, looking back, it was one of the best investments I ever made and the reason why the pages that follow are printed and possible.

Acknowledgements

I recently dreamt I won the Wall Street Running with the Bulls Award; after I tripped over my Red Carpet (off-the-rack) gown and stumbled up the steps to claim it (and just before they cut the microphone), the following people were mentioned in my acceptance speech:

My genius, blue-chip husband and hero — you are a true man of integrity and love of my life! You make me laugh every day. Don’t know where I’d be without thee had I missed the Love Boat! Thank you for keeping me centered, balanced, and for supporting and loving a hopeless case like me. You are my heart and soul.

My angels — Mom and Dad. They made our happy home a safe, joyful, carefree sanctuary. I miss them every day and know they’re rooting for me, and watching over all of us.

My grandparents — thank you for spoiling us, building our family with love, passing down traditions, and all the wonderful memories held in my heart.

Aunt Nettie and Uncle Robert — thank you for treating me like a daughter.

Patrick, Sr. — thank you for making #919 and #822 members of the Big T fleet, and for being an extra-ordinary brother and instrumental influence! You navigated through the rocky terrain of Wall Street for many years and helped me learn from it. If not for your guidance, suggestions, and introducing me to the technical charts, I would not have been as $uccessful.

My priceless family portfolio — many thanks for all the fun-filled family vacations, tiki-torch pool parties, the all-you-could-eat gourmet smorgasbord buffets, and the many riotous holiday get-togethers. You remind me every day how wealthy I really am, and love all of you sooo much!

Thank you, Cassandra, Alexis, Patrick Jr., Sophia, Isabella, Thomas, Victoria and fur baby Mia. You kids offset the seriousness of life and make every experience awesome. I’m so proud of your many achievements. Thank you for all your hugs, kisses, text messages, paw prints, and for filling a new chamber of my heart with love and happiness. I never knew how much love my heart could hold until someone called me Aunt Mimi.

Dawn and Liliana — two amazing Blue-Ribbon supermoms! You did a great job and make hang-gliding through life while raising the kids look easy. Nice work, ladies! Thank you for linking me forever with your intelligent, kind, caring offspring, our godchildren.

Momma Jeanette, Sal and Joey — thank you for always being there for us, especially when we need a vision specialist, a crackerjack mechanical engineer, a celebratory banana cake, a Wegmans run at 11:58 p.m., and much, much more.

Sadie — my soul-sista, trusted confidante, and fellow Wall Streeter . . . thank you for introducing me to Dino, for not getting mad when Jo and I hung your kitchen wallpaper upside down, for ringing mom’s doorbell, and for all the girl-talk therapy and side-splitting, giggle-fest, belly-laughs we share. Ding! Ding! Ding!

In no particular order, I’m grateful to the following people for a number of reasons: Lillian (Nana), Mr. Joe (Papa), Uncle Roro, Connie, Rosario, Didi, Steve, Dolores, Phyllis, Arlene, Debbie, Linda, Jo, Lou, Nan, AJ, Melanie, and Louise.

Endless thanks and a big shout-out to my fabulous Staten Island clients; especially all those who became friends. (Including all you crazies who gave me hives and made my eyes roll and twitch!)

Thank you, Sisters of St. John the Baptist, for teaching me the meaning of kindness, patience, and decorum, and for morphing me into an independent, respectable woman. Making the world a more loving, peaceful, spiritual place is not easy. We appreciate your work! Oh, and if you have a minute, can you please pray that no one blocks me? Bless you!

Professor Castello — thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule. Your students are truly fortunate to have you as an educator.

Mr. Stock Market — thanks (a million) for the memories and the money. I’m grateful to all the brilliant investment-banking luminaries and gatekeepers of finance, especially the hardworking, aggressive, $uccessful power brokers, big spenders, and philanthropists who taught me how to manage the market, the mayhem, and the men in my life.

Thank you to all those who wittingly or unwittingly inspired me to pen my thoughts, especially those who recognize and see themselves in the story and made it possible to gather the details (and dirt) within these pages. I’m very obliged!

Rebecca, and Charles Schwab staff, thank you for your round-the-clock knowledgeable, courteous technical support. Your tools helped me accelerate my trading ability and achieve a profitable financial outcome for 14 years and counting.

Thank you Newman Springs Publishing team for: inking, illustrating, tweaking, and transmitting my words into print. Mega thanks to my liaison, Miss Put it on The List for helping me alooooooooong!

Special thanks to all my fellow budding authors who helped pave the way for me. Seriously, I couldn’t have done it without you. We should meet for coffee someday — my treat!

Thank you, reader, for making me a writer. I hope I said something important.

Thanks to Starbucks and Dunkin’ Donuts for the caffeine buzz, which helped me stay awake during marathon writing sessions. Especially the nights that carried over into the early hours of the morning. There were many. By the way, I’m still waiting for my reserved parking space!

Last, but not least, thank God for keeping my soul intact and for all the people mentioned above whom I’ve had the honor of sharing my life with. Life is better for knowing all of you! Hope I didn’t forget anyone. If so, the next few words are for you . . . oops, thank you!

Prologue

I

Checklist

Dear reader, I know it’s tacky, impolite, in poor taste and bad manners to talk about money . . . I’m doing it for you! So let’s pull up a couch and get comfortable.

Since we just met, below is a checklist with a few nitty-gritty questions to help us get acquainted:

Are you hooked on the idea of getting your hands on a huge fortune?

Are you a scratch-off, lottery-ticket jackpot daydreamer?

Do you pray over your Powerball tickets, waiting for a money miracle?

Do you fantasize about having it all, maybe even a Swiss bank account?

Think you’re gonna fly to Vegas with Jeff Bezos, Suze Orman, or Jay-Z, and get married by Elvis?

Think you could be shackled to a Mr. Billionaire, Ms. Megamillions, or Mr. Megamillions for the rest of your life, till death do you part? I’m a sublime optimist, applaud your sentiment, and love a good rags-to-riches story too!

Are your fingers crossed waiting for fame and fortune from your wish-granting Fairy Godmother or Godfather; the one with magical powers and pixie dust? How sweet!

Are you hoping to be the lucky stiff who finds a fake fingernail in your egg McGriddled breakfast muffin so you could collect a BIG settlement? Ummm . . . ewww!

Are you planning on getting rich the old-fashioned way; by waiting for a sizable inheritance and Grandpa to die? Geez!

Think you could accidently free-fall off a Ferris wheel or a Tilt-A-Whirl at the carnival and get rich that god-awful way? Good grief!

Were you jumping for joy when you got the card, call, or e-mail telling you you’ve won the Sri Lankan sweepstakes? Me too!

Do you run to your front door when the bell rings, hoping it’s the Publishers Clearing House prize patrol with a ten-million-dollar check in your name? If only!

Are you living on a shoestring and looking for ways to make money because you’re one of the many sympathetic people who’ve been sending their next-to-nothing paychecks to the homeless prince in Nigeria? Mercy you!

I heard all those yesses!

Here’s the shocking truth . . . you’re not alone!

Whatever your story is don’t worry; this is not a personality, psychological, common sense, or aptitude test.

It’s true, there’s a lot of ways to get rich, including dumb luck and knocking on wood. But practically speaking, obtaining wealth (free money) without effort isn’t likely.

Very few accomplishments are easily achieved without aggravation, perspiration, preparation, inspiration and determination. The key to $uccess and making serious money is you with a little help from me, the housewife-Stockologist with the green thumb for making money.

Are you stuck in neutral and want to accelerate to get a leg up in life? Are you looking for another way to make a fortune while making a living, but don’t know where to start? This paperback book could be a catalyst and first step in the mental process of believing in you.

Relax, ya got this! Heck, it’s not like you’ll be scaling Mount Everest or flying a Boeing 747. Sometimes just reading about other ambitious people who started from scratch and became $uccessful is all one needs to unlock the door, propel forward, and take a running leap of faith. Confidence is the key to becoming $uccessful!

Let’s keep it real; it’s true, dreams can come true — and a big lie — it’s not lonely at the top! There are millions of millionaires with a great life and a spare house here and there with a flat-screen TV in every room. Why shouldn’t you be one of them?

It’s time for us to get chummy, and time for you to be proactive and think positive.

Repeat after me in a LOUD voice:

SHOW ME THE MONEY!

HELP! Momma needs a pair of Jimmy Choo shoes!

My life needs an upgrade, and I need ‘mo’ money so I could afford the extra guacamole on my burrito!

Laughter may heal, but we all know that unless you’re laughing all the way to the bank, money is no joke, and not having it is nothing to laugh about, especially when you’re a grown-up and need to pay the electric bill.

However, the many quirky men and women wealth-seekers who go beyond the horizontal dotted line (stock market lingo) and get caught up in the fantasyland of greedy money and expensive possessions are worth writing, reading, and laughing about.

If you would like to fill your pockets with extra folding money and want to consider an exciting future by way of stock market stakeholder, this self-help, how-to, elementary-level handbook is filled with practical advice and was written to serve as a gateway for beginners.

There’s more to this diverse read than its title implies. It’s outlined and presented in a way to tickle your funny bone and help you embark on an exciting, nerve-racking, moneymaking journey.

Do you think you have what it takes to persevere, prosper, and be a stock market scalper? Not good at math? Neither am I. Do you think you have the mentality to $ucceed and make money running with the bulls, bears, and hogs? Your path to prosperity, while giggling every now and again, will begin as soon as you start educating, researching, strategizing, practicing, and trusting yourself.

For those of you who have allergies and are on a healing path, my recipe for $uccess is free-range, organic, non-GMO, non-dairy, yolk-, sugar-, soy-, MSG-, gluten-, and fat-free.

It doesn’t matter how old you are or whether you live in Hollywood, Bollywood, Dollywood or the hood. There aren’t a lot of rules to follow, daily attendance is up to you, and you don’t need talent, a résumé, or a college degree to $ucceed. Sound good so far?

Whether you’re a spend-thrift, a penny-pincher, employed, unemployed, greedy, generous, male, female, or an alien from outer space makes no difference. Doesn’t matter what your credit, SAT, tennis, golf, or bowling scores are, either. No one is going to be keeping score except you.

I’m going to try to build and boost your self-confidence, flip your happy switch, and attempt to help you ease out of the rat-race and ease into a new BMW. But, be prepared; the road to riches and the path to freedom are littered with plenty of obstructive bumpy-potholes, blind spots, roadblocks, and warning signs.

You’ll be on a journey and hopefully on your way to filling your purse, money clips, wallets, pockets, and cookie jar with cash. Maybe even a secret bank account with two commas and a few extra zeros. Wouldn’t that be nice?

II

The Trading Boom

Here’s the unconventional 101 on how and why the stock market works:

It works because two people disagree and both think they’re right, minus the romance. There’s nothing personal or permanent about buying and selling shares in a publicly traded company.

The experts say:

If you want to be $uccessful in the stock market, one should never make the mistake of getting emotionally involved, and never under any circumstances marry or get too attached to a stock, bond, commodity, currency, or the wrong financial advisor. It’ll make the difference between winning and losing.

Winning equals hallelujah!

It means: VIP status, joy, hope, freedom, pricey gadgets, flying first class, and living an abundant luxe life without financial limits because you have assets, a passport, and a high net worth.

Losing equals zilch!

It means: feeling trapped and cut off with no phone service. It means driving with a broken windshield wiper and your gas light on. It means the happy days of French-pressed premium coffee, smartphone upgrades, and extra toys for the kids at Christmas are over.

There are six sucker levels to caveat emptor (buyer beware) day trading:

Level One

This is the: I’M GONNA BE RICH! . . .

"fantasy" level.

Level Two

The "sexy" level.

’Cause you’re convinced BIG easy money will buy you that (racing red) Ferrari you’ve been dreaming about.

Level Three

The "shakedown" level.

It’s when you pass the hat and ask family and friends to borrow money for working capital before you sell your Ford Pinto.

Level Four

The "risky" level.

You sold the Pinto and can’t wait to pull-up in your new Ferrari.

That’ll show ’em!!! (Fingers crossed!)

Level Five

This is the greedy unpredictable level. You pointed, clicked, and bought 500 shares of Schmuck Stock, Inc. A tip you got from the savvy buyer who bought your squeaky Ford Pinto with the hanging tailpipe and missing fender that gets two miles per gallon.

Oops! You were fully invested. Shares dramatically dropped, and presto . . . you’re wiped out and need to call Dad to borrow his car.

Level Six

The grateful level.

’Cause you kept your night job at Amazon and your shift starts in an hour.

What goes up comes down. Stock market data, technical charts, and trend lines prove it. It’s the reason why millionaires become thousandaires overnight.

Timing is everything when trading!

FYI: The life-expectancy of an equitable stock is very similar to the life-expectancy and longevity of a woman’s bra. Both totally depend on its resilience and durability. You’ll know it’s time to let go when it starts to irritate you and feels uncomfortable.

Trading scenario-based example:

Let’s say you took the leap and bought shares in a company. If their value suddenly drops because the market abruptly changed direction and your shares become a hold instead of a sold, as a shareholder, you can get paid to wait if the company pays a dividend. Should this occur, and is likely to happen at some point if you’re managing your own money, you can look on the upside and consider it an investment until your stock boomerangs.

Sometimes wrong equals long! I mention this because, as a beginner, you should dig deep, do the groundwork research, and screen quality blue-chip stocks that have consistent earnings that pay a quarterly dividend. Stocks with a sustainable (3% plus) yield would be good, more is better if you can get it. Short-term becomes long-term in a matter of minutes if a stock stalls. Dividends are supplemental income that pays you while waiting for gains. Trading hinges on profits! It’s a wait-and-watch occupation.

As a day trader, before you point and click your mouse to buy shares in a company, think exit price for every trade. If you struggle at managing your emotions and can’t let go of a toxic relationship or an old pair of shoes, chances are you’re going to have a problem letting go of a position, even if it’s far above your exit price. In this case, greed can quickly turn into a mistake and will make you reach for a fistful of Rolaids, especially if you overbought while on a buying binge.

You have to learn to let go! It was one of the hardest lessons I had to teach myself; besides juggling, solving the Rubik’s cube, and how to work my damn cell phone. Profits and discipline will buy those pricey all the rage Adidas YEEZY sneakers for your fashion-forward tweens. Never under any circumstances do I allow greed to take control of my emotions. It’s a bonus if a position exceeds my target exit price.

There are no forever stocks when you’re a trader! If and when a stock suddenly begins to trade sideways, as long as I break-even I’m totally comfortable letting go and selling sooner pre-profit. It’s called docile discipline and tactical defense timing.

As a market participant, you’re not going to want to have to rebalance your available cash flow to play catch-up because you lost money on a trade. Expect a pulse-pounding headache if you get stuck in a trade gone wrong because you waited too long. I guarantee you will feel your capillaries tightening and you’ll be asking yourself, Why did I do that? Boo hoo!

Think you can manage your own portfolio? Do you have the horsepower to give yourself permission for a time-out, walk away, and sign off on flat, non-event days while traders wait for clarity? There are pockets of days when supply and demand cancel each other out and stocks won’t budge. You need strength to find balance. Can you say, See you later, Mr. Stock Market, you’re not taunting and teasing me all day, I’m shutting down and going to the beach? Think you can be the boss and make an executive decision?

Rule of Thumb: Trade only to make money, not to fill your time because of boredom. Trading is a business and a different way of thinking. You’re working for you and on your payroll, so don’t forget the payroll taxes. Like it or not, the IRS is your silent partner. I saw that smirk! I don’t make the rules, I just play by them.

Be prepared, you might get it wrong before you get it right.

Research matters - know what you own!

Can you answer this simple question:

What does Apple Inc. manufacture?

Apple juice

Apple sauce

Both

Something else

Trading scenario-based example:

Your research tells you it’s time to buy 100 shares of Apple Inc. stock (ticker symbol AAPL). You point, click, and buy. Within minutes or perhaps the hour, momentum, consensus, and news channels agree with the sky-rocketing price action. Yee-haw, you’re riding the bull and drooling because you’re in the money and feeling smart. Do you get greedy and wait to cash out and hope the market pushes the price much higher, or do you sell your position and make a handsome profit and not worry about the foreboding downside?

Capital preservation is key. The smartest people warn, underscore, and say: Don’t delay, hit the sell button. Take the money and ring the cash register. Pennies and incremental profits add up at the end of the day, week, month, and year. Smaller, more frequent profits pay off. I promise!

It’s true; the higher the risk the higher the reward, but remember . . . the higher your blood pressure will go if and while you wait.

Some tech stocks could have a major run in a matter of hours. Unless you want to have an out-of-money experience, don’t wait too long. If a profit is in the palm of your hand, at the tip of your click finger, selling gets you that family vacation; sailing the seven seas and swimming with the dolphins you’ve been thinking about. Waiting will give you hives and make you squirm. Don’t cheat yourself!

Stocks sizzle and fizzle within minutes. If you don’t want to have an angina attack, you need courage to take what you can make, so you could limit your frustration and get a good night’s sleep. A partial profit is better than none. If money begins to leak out of your account, keep in mind a slow leak can sink a ship.

The ebb and flow of the market fluctuates tick by tick, from day to day. The day trader money magnets who play big and trade by the clock, trade hour by hour and rarely hold unsteady positions overnight. The market measures how it feels on that day only. No two days are alike and depends on volatility.

Trading scenario-based example:

The following what if is one of the scariest: if your up position unexpectedly gaps down, makes an about face and there is a sell-off for a long period of time, greed and fear will make you feel very stupid and a margin call will make you feel anguish, which is why beginners should never buy on margin. You don’t want to borrow trouble!

III

COVID-19 Shockwaves

Did you ever think you could walk into a bank wearing a mask, ask the teller for money, and not end up on the evening news? Me neither!

The nightmare on Wall Street, Main Street, my street, and your street happened today. The next few jaw-dropping paragraphs are an unexpected, sudden addition to this chapter.

The high level of uncertainty and airborne droplets is a bullseye example of why the stock market is considered by many to be, one hell-of-a stress test.

Pandemic News Flash: Stocks Slide!

The novel coronavirus, COVID-19, sent the Dow Jones Industrial tumbling over 600 points. It’s Friday, the Chinese New Year, China is in lockdown, and Wall Street is worried. The quarantine epidemic created a disruption in global supply chains and the global economy.

The Bull, the Bear and the Virus

The turmoil and persistent pressure sent stocks down even further. It’s magnitude was unknown and was responsible for a lot of stressful tooth-grinding.

We are partners in pursuit of profits, not predicaments. There are plenty of ways to make mistakes in the market. The pandemic is the perfect example of why marrying stocks, especially over a weekend during a health crisis, is a risky idea. You need to alleviate pressure, minimize fear and get out of iffy trades. Monday morning markets are unpredictable.

It was just the beginning of a dysfunctional Maalox/Midol market and what became an economic and social disaster.

After several months of Dr. Fauci news briefings and volatile market downswings, frequent alarming White House headlines followed.

Breaking News:

Global Markets in Turmoil

Futures Down Sharply

Outbreak throughout the World

Trading Halted

Confirmation:

It’s a national disaster and global pandemic!

Domestic and European travel restrictions implemented.

All schools and sports games are cancelled.

US company mandated closures.

Families are quarantined while cities are on lockdown.

Scary? Hell yeah! Where is everyone? Times Square was a ghost town.

Economically speaking, it felt like 1987, 2008/2009 all over again, but much worse. It’s a plague, and sadly, lives are lost. This time it’s a biological global health crisis, and a terrifying nightmare with long-term effects.

Downturn in the 2020 economy and equity markets resul-

ted in companies cutting earnings estimates. Stocks continued tumbling for months. Business interruption, societal shifts, loss of jobs and foot traffic resulted in lost money for brick-and-mortar retail Main Street shop owners across America.

There’s no playbook for a pandemic. Supply and demand fear was dominating the stock market and the supermarket. Everyone was running and hoarding non-perishable food and paper goods.

The Wall Street black suburban vehicles began filing into the White House. The male-dominated stock market masterminds were at work trying to stabilize the market while the National Guard was trying to stabilize the USA.

News Flash:

Friday, March 13, 2020, the Dow set to open ‘up’ 1,000 points after the worst day since the 1987 crash. It was a temporary welcome relief. The bulls were running in the same direction.

9:30 a.m. — Jim Cramer (the Babe Ruth of Wall Street) just said in a very authoritative high-pitched voice, The worst is yet to come! Wow, was he right! For those on margin, it was an acute colitis attack. The UP market and economy turned out to be a major head fake. There was a sudden collapse, and consumer stability was questionable.

With no real sense of time or what day of the week it was, Dino and I were in a bunker in New Jersey flying the American flag, quarantined, praying for family, friends, medical personnel, and first responders, waiting for the virus to peak and pass, and of course, the vaccine.

White House News Brief:

President Trump announcement . . . Social distancing is a matter of life and death on Planet Doom!

It was an unforeseen global tragedy and time for us to hold our breath and wear a face mask in public. Despite the facial breakouts and skin rashes, folks complied with the health rules in place.

Overnight, I became an endurance marathoner; running and racing to my parked car to yank-off the mandatory life-saving mask, like millions of other mask wearers. Never again, will I complain about having to run in the house to take off my underwire-bra and vinyl,