Now you know that you can get investment information from the company itself, from a federal agency, from well-known publications available at the library, and from research analysts. But wait, there's more!

Radio and TV programs-- as well as an entire channel devoted to finance--offer advice and information, as do books, magazines, seminars, web sites, online discussion boards, blogs, podcasts, and newsletters. Some of this information is free, while some is fee-based. Of the fee-based, some are quite expensive.

The Internet has completely changed the way individual investors can obtain information. Financial web site portals have become rich depositories of securities information. With a few clicks, you can obtain all of the financial statements you need as well as financial histories going back for years, a comparison of analyst recommendations, and press releases for the latest company news. You can even receive e-mail alerts when something significant happens to a company and its stock.

What's the downside? Think of that noisy room we started out in. Sometimes when you have too much information coming at you, it's hard to pay attention to what's important. As you're evaluating all of the available sources, just remember the basics and stick to them.