Cedar Fair Unit Holder Question

I hope this isn't a stupid question.

I'm a Cedar Fair unit holder and am currently buy my shares through Vangaurd. Anyway, is there any other way to manage/buy my units without using a brokerage firm? I thought I heard someone say that if you had at least 50 units that you could go through Cedar Fair.

Any help in this matter would be appretiated. I anjoy the dividens from FUN, but the fees I pay to vangaurd for managing the account and to buy more units sux.

If you're buying the right way, it's not that expensive. I buy monthly from Sharebuilder at like $4 a month, for whatever amount I set up.

The 50 share minimum is for dividend re-investing. I don't think you can buy directly from Cedar Fair, but you can buy shares from their transfer agent, American Stock Transfer & Trust.

I'm not sure if the 50 share minimum to re-invest dividends is only if you buy from American Stock Transfer & Trust, or if that true of all brokerage firms.

Edit: I looked at the American Stock Transfer & Trust website, the minimum initial investment in Cedar Fair is 50 shares.

*** Edited 1/21/2007 10:55:21 PM UTC by 0g*** *** Edited 1/21/2007 10:57:05 PM UTC by 0g***

Vanguard is a good place to buy mutual funds, but not the place you want to buy individual stocks. I would look at some place like Fidelity, Ameritrade, Schwab, Etrade, or another brokerage to buy individual stocks.

I don't know how often you buy shares, but you could start buying 2 or 4 times a years so that you can buy more shares each time you pay the commission.

Well, I forget exactly why I chose Vanguard to begin with (it was so long ago), but it looks like I need to find someone else. I appretiate the help everyone. Thanks. :)

I love Vanguard for their no-load, low expense mutual funds (more specifically index funds) and have my Roth IRA there, but their brokerage services look crappy and expensive. To buy individual stocks, I'd look at either Sharebuilder (if you plan to be investing automatically) or maybe Scottrade.

Let's be honest here though - for the average person, picking stocks that will beat the market over the long term - especially after incurred trading costs is very difficult and unless you are investing large amounts of money, your expenses (as a result of the trading commissions) are going to really cut into your returns. Even at 4 bucks a trade, you need to be investing 200 bucks or more just to keep your expenses under 2% - and I'd say 2% is actually way more than you should be aiming for. I wouldn't invest any less than $1,000 at a time for 4 bucks.

While it's certainly cool to have a few units of Cedar Fair, make sure you are properly diversified and your asset allocation (stock/bonds/cash mix) matches your tolerance for risk and your time horizon. Don't bet your entire portfolio on any one company (no matter how much you believe in it).

From the kid who has nightmares that I make him miss Suzie Orman for the third week in a row, and listened to "Money Talk" on AM radio the whole way back from Ohio today. Zzzzzzzzz ;)

Dave Ramsey > Suze Orman

I don't think there's anything wrong with putting a small percentage of your investment into stocks, especially if you like a particular company. However, I think most investments belong in mutual funds. Put your money into a Roth IRA and take advantage of your company's 401(k) match, if it is offered.

But if you have debt outside a mortgage, or lack an emergency fund, you should take care of that before thinking about investing.

If you earn or spend money, you should give Dave a listen.

*** Edited 1/22/2007 12:00:57 PM UTC by Walt***

I like him too. :)

I think they're both give good advice to people with financial problems. They cut right to the chase and tell them what they need to do to get out of it. For me, Ramsey's "debt snowball" method doesn't make good financial sense because it involves paying off smaller amounts (often with smaller interest rates) first. But to someone in a ton of debt who needs to see that they are making progress, it probably works great.

I confess that I even watch Jim Cramer on CNBC, but mostly for entertainment. His strategy is just not practical for most people and his record (at least on his show) is less than stellar.

And Walt's advice about the Roth and the 401k match are no brainers. It's funny how many people don't follow it though.

It's funny this came up on Pointbuzz. Two of my biggest interests (CP and investing) being talked about in one place! Too good to be true! :)

Dave rocks. :)

The great thing about the debt snowball is that it's motivating. Paying off a couple of small things first gives momentum. I think it works because 80% of finances are mental and emotional. Making progress is encouraging.

And I'm not sure a small debt means a small interest rate. In fact, I think a lot of times it's the other way around. For many, large debts are things like student loans, home equity loans, and mortgages, which all have lower interest rates.

But any debt plan is better than no debt plan. :)

I can't wait for Maxed Out to hit NetFlix.

Investing in Cedar Fair is like putting money in a savings account, only the distribution is a lot better than savings interest. I make that comparison because it's very nearly a sure thing.

I did the day trader thing for a couple of weeks once. I didn't have the stomach for it. I came out about a grand ahead with a $10k pool to play with, but I totally got lucky. I actually lost $4k on one stock doubled on two others. Of course, this was 2000 when the market was totally irrational anyway. Not a great time to start learning!

My investment advice is more simple: Put money away, use investment resources at your disposal (most companies with decent 401K's have advisers that are free), don't piss away money renting a place, and most importantly, don't be a stingy asshole who never has fun. You can't take it with you if you get hit by a bus tomorrow.

Jeff, that's been my philosophy for about 5 years now. Cedar Fair is only 1 of about 4 ways I have my money invested.

*** Edited 1/22/2007 6:01:32 PM UTC by Jason Hammond***

Walt said:
Put your money into a Roth IRA and take advantage of your company's 401(k) match, if it is offered.

How ironic, I literally just got back from a Roth IRA/ 401(k) luncheon with my company.

My dentist has stock with Cedar Fair and he has never been to CP!

He told me that Cedar Fair stock had always made him money and he sold his shares a couple years ago because he was concerned about the retirement that was going to happen in the future (Kinzel). I told him that he shouldn't have sold out and kept his investment, but he was happy with his decision.

Then, he told me last month that he reinvested into Cedar Fair and he has been satisfied with the profit he makes on it STILL!