You can keep up to date with your investments in a variety of different ways. These include TV shows, using the internet or the new phones such as the iPhone and the stock trading newsletter. All have advantages and disadvantages.

The financial shows are brilliant. You can just turn them on at anytime and see where the markets are. I doesn't require much time, you can see all that you need to in a couple of seconds. It is great to have it on in the background while you are getting ready for work or cooking the dinner.

The trouble is that you can't interact with the TV show. It is easy to follow the market but difficult to follow your individual stocks. This is where the internet comes into its own. You can search for any stock of your choice and you will be able to find lots of information to help you with your research.

Then you have the stock trading newsletter. These tend to be mailed to individual investors but these days they are available on the internet too. You tend to pay a subscription and each month you tend to get new recommendations and updates. This is great for getting an independent view on certain stocks but you usually can't influence the stocks they look at.

Next I will talk about smart phones such as the iPhone. You can buy specific apps that allow you to follow your portfolio from anywhere and at anytime. They are expensive but it allows you so much flexibility. You can research the markets while you are out and about. Now that we have the iPad then this is going to easier and easier.

I think to keep fully up to date then you need to do everything I have mentioned. Keep in touch with the markets on the TV, dig deeper with your research on the internet and use a stock trading newsletter to generate ideas. A simple way to combine all three is using a phone.