84
the possibility of so reducing chances as to
make satisfactory investment results a practical
certainty from the outset.
This dubious frame of mind we consider
rather advantageous than otherwise, because
it should tend to egg the doubter on to
a close study of the subject of averaging
investment risks. All investigations which
he will make will lead to a better under
standing of the subject, and to the ultimate
conviction that we have in no way overstated
the accuracy, with which an investor can pre
arrange a given result.
Having once determined what results he
desires, and having discovered what classes
of stocks he should include in his investment
list, an investor should be guided by the
following main points of a safe Investment
Scheme, which are applicable to all investment
schemes whatever the desired object may be.
1.—The Division of Capital. The amount
invested in every separate stock must be alike ;
therefore the number of stocks which the in
vestor decides to hold settles the amount of
capital to be placed in each. In our opinion
the evolution of invested savings should be
somewhat as follows :—When annual earnings
first begin to exceed the annual expenditure,
the Post Office Savings Bank should be the