Investing in power: Local women gather to learn about stocks and boost their own financial confidence

Once a month, local women young and old, retired and employed, and from all backgrounds gather to research companies, crunch numbers and purchase shares of stock. It may not be the typical leisure activity, but these women have found fun, friendship and empowerment in investment clubs.

"It's all about the learning process. We know we're not going to make millions, but we learn how to venture out on our own personal investments," says Brenda Moyers, a Cape Radiology employee and president of the Diamonds and Pearls Investment Club. The group of 25 women recently celebrated its 10th anniversary and the fact that it has achieved a diverse portfolio of over $100,000.

The club meets monthly to share and discuss research, pool their money, and possibly vote on which stocks to purchase. Cheryl Mothes, financial adviser with Edward Jones in Jackson, attends each meeting equipped with company profiles and investment advice.

Moyers, a charter member of the club, says that 10 years ago, she didn't know anything about the stock market. After reading a book called "Smart Women Finish Rich" and hearing about another investment club that was doing well, Moyers took interest in the stock market and wanted to learn more.

"I knew I would never be rich in terms of being a millionaire, but I thought if I could learn to take better care of my money, that would be great," says Moyers. "This club teaches me to make money and be smart about money." She believes one of the most valuable lessons she's learned is that she has many options for her money -- she can do more than stash it in a savings account and collect a small amount of interest. "Women today are much smarter than that. My grandmother saved her money in a fruit jar. We've come a long way," says Moyers.

Members of the Diamonds and Pearls Investment Club hold their meetings at the Cape Girardeau Public Library. Pictured from left is President Brenda Moyers, Vice President Mary Valleroy, Ruth Masterson, Janice Hill, Shirley Young, Advisor Cheryl Mothes, Treasurer Joyce Westrich, Betty Parker, Ann Wagganer, Mary Scherer, Mary Greaser, and Secretary Dolly Jewel. (Kristin Eberts)

About nine women showed up at the club's first meeting in 2000, she recalls, and they quickly discovered they liked the idea and invited others. Over half the current members of Diamonds and Pearls are charter members.

"It's fun, but we learn from experience," says Joyce Westrich, a charter member and treasurer of Diamonds and Pearls.

Friendship and networking is another important aspect of the club. Every few months, the club has "ladies' night out" at a restaurant for a short meeting, dinner and to catch up on "who's doing what," says Moyers.

"The main thing is that not only is it fun, we're learning a lot and gaining confidence as far as our financial lives are concerned," says Moyers. "It's not life or death if we lose money. We just put a little here and see how it does, and then maybe invest in it personally."

In addition to Diamonds and Pearls, Mothes advises three other investment clubs -- two are mixed-gender, and the other, Heartland Investment Club, is all women, though men are welcome to join. Like Moyers, Mothes believes the social aspect of the clubs makes for an enjoyable and educational experience.

"Investing can be very intimidating for individuals, and this is a way to come and learn with friends in a nonthreatening environment," she explains. "In a group they're more comfortable and they know coming to learn is the purpose. They don't necessarily have to come up with ideas on their own, but they'll be given ideas to share and learn from each other."

Wanda Duncan, a real estate agent and treasurer of Heartland Investment Club, describes the club as a group of self-motivated women who wanted to understand their stock statements and know how to handle the accounts if their husbands died. Like the Diamonds and Pearls Investment Club, Heartland members meet each month to pool their money, discuss company research and vote on stock investments. The club has 12 members and 11 years of history, and together, they have about $65,000 invested in 26 companies, says Duncan.

Though club members make all the stock decisions, they rely on Mothes to help them read the Standard & Poor analysis, analyze stock and decide if it's a good buy.

"We're not married to any stock. Any of them can wind up on the chopping block if it's not performing well," says Duncan. She adds that while she often hears or reads information about the stock market, it can't replace in-depth analysis and research. "We're not going to buy stock just because someone says it's a good buy," she says.

In addition to comparing dividends and rewards, investment clubs study how stocks have performed in the past five years, company ratings, what's going on in the world politically and economically and even who's running the companies.

"The past deems the future. It always has and it always will," says Duncan.

Most, if not all, of the women in the Heartland and Diamonds and Pearls investment clubs use what they've learned to make their own investments.

"I pay more attention the the market now and it helps me personally, too," says Mary Greaser, a charter member of Diamonds and Pearls.

"It's a place for us to learn, and we lose some and we win some. We don't feel threatened, because $50 a month is not going to make or break us," says Duncan. "What really drives me is that I have the power to make decisions and use what I've learned."