Invest in vanity. Buy stocks in high-profile companies whose products are designed to make you feel good and look good.

If you're uncomfortable with your financial advisor, it's probably with good reason.

Invest in vanity. Buy stocks in high-profile companies whose products are designed to make you feel good and look good.

Give a cold shoulder to cold callers. Never invest in anything based on a phone call from someone you don't know or whose office is a post office box.

The higher the yield, the higher the risk. A high yield is designed to attract investors. An outrageously high yield attracts fools.

Invest less at the end of the month. Brokers tend to push stocks at the end of the month in an effort to match or surpass their previous month's sales.

Bet on black. Buy low-debt or no-debt companies. When the economy is in trouble, these companies usually have enough cash on hand to stay out of trouble. And they seldom need to borrow when interest rates are high.