What's a good method for picking stocks for long term investing?

Question

I don't want to be a day trader. I don't want to buy securities with the expectation of selling them a month or 2 later. I'm seeking 15% annual returns over 5 to 10 years. Is that unreasonable?

What online brokerage is best? And what's the best research site out there?

I like Yahoo Finance. I also like Morningstar. I also really like TheStreet.com

Answer 1

The Intelligent Investor by Ben Graham can help with your financial education.

Answer 2

I use Scottrade; http://www.scottrade.com/ Where I live they even have an Office I can call or drop by to talk to a real person.
Picking stocks for long term is not hard. I not promise you make 15% but, I just give some examples.
Rule #1 Buy low, sell high. That simple.
Rule #2 Learn from past History. Anyone who knew anything about Yahoo. Knew to buy Google when it went public. But, did they buy Opera? There is a reason!!!!!
Rule #3 Buy companies that are good companies but in a restructure. K-Mart is/was a good example. They bought Sears.
Rule #4 Be patient. When the stock down is when you keep buying. Have a stop point for when it come up. Xerox is a good example.
Learn as much as you can, usually you can focus on a few industries and work them. Utilities, Internet whatever. I have done well with Utilities in a Restructure. I shy from computer companies, they seem to do an uphill and back down and stabilize there.
There a lot to learn, and everyone has some good advise. You just have to form your Strategy so it work for you.