Q: Pull your socks up all the way up so that they sit just below your knees, and button the shirt from the bottom so that it’s ready to tuck in. These two garments will provide the base for the shirt stays—the rest of your ensemble can stay in the drawer for now. Shirt stays resemble miniature suspenders. The two-armed end is designed to hold the bottom edge of a dress shirt, while the longer end runs down to your socks. Fasten the two small clips on the “Y” end of the stay to the shirt’s hem about 5 inches (13 cm) apart. Do the same on the opposite side. The shorter straps should rest on either side of your hip bones, with the longer strap reaching down the length of your leg.  If your shirt stays have sliding clips, make sure the button side is inserted all the way into the metal frame. Give the clip a light tug to test whether it's secure. Be careful not to let the fabric of the shirt bunch up between the straps. Pull the longer straps down and fasten them on the outsides of your legs. The stays will cause your shirt tail and socks to pull towards each other, creating a little tension in both directions. Not only will this keep your shirt from riding up, it will also keep your socks from falling down!  If you find that the clips keep slipping off your socks, try folding the tops of the socks down about an inch to create a sturdier anchor point. Shirt stays tend to be a one-size-fits-all accessory, so anyone can wear them with confidence. However, you may need to shop around for stays with adjustable straps if you’re well above average height or have particularly long legs. Pull your pants on over your shirt, then button and belt them. Make any last-minute adjustments to the fabric around your waistline as needed. Your shirt should stay tucked in while you get the rest of your outfit together, and throughout your busy afternoon.  Move around a little to test your range of motion. Every time you bend or lift your arms, the stays will draw your shirt tail right back into place. When worn correctly, shirt stays should be comfortable, unobtrusive, and invisible. Keep in mind that it may be necessary to unclip your shirt stays when it comes time to use the restroom.
A: Put on your dress shirt and socks. Attach one end of the shirt stays to the bottom of the shirt. Secure the other clip to the top of your sock. Finish getting dressed.

Q: The first step to choosing individual stocks versus mutual funds is to understand your risk tolerance. Due to diversification, purchasing mutual funds is typically lower risk, as your investment will be mostly immune from the risk of one company performing poorly.  If you are uncomfortable with the idea of potentially substantial losses, investing in mutual funds is likely a better choice. While mutual funds can and do lose money (due to the overall market doing poorly, or entire industries that a mutual fund may be over-concentrated), the risk is generally lower due to low risk of poor performance by one stock. Mutual funds also provide greater opportunity to customize your risk level by purchasing different types of funds, or investing in low-risk funds. While mutual funds are very diversified, they are often organized according to stocks with differing characteristics. By purchasing multiple funds, you can attain a level of diversification and risk reduction that would be very difficult to replicate with stocks. For example, you could purchase a Large-Cap domestic fund and an international fund. This would not only immunize you to the risk of a single stock failing, but also to the risk of the U.S. economy or stock market doing poorly. Ask yourself honestly if you have the time, interest, or knowledge to manage a portfolio of your own stocks. If you are knowledgeable about investing (or have time to learn), and prefer having full control over your finances, buying individual stocks can present an attractive opportunity.  If you feel you have the time, knowledge, and expertise to buy individual stocks, be aware of the risks. A recent study found that while looking at 3,000 stocks over a 24 year period, 39% of stocks were unprofitable, 19% lost 75% of their value (or more), and 64% under-performed the overall market. Just 25% of the stocks were responsible for all the market's gains. This shows the difficulty of picking successful stocks. Individuals who are successful, however, have the potential to earn returns significantly above what could be earned by investing in a mutual fund. When you invest your money, you will likely have a time line as to when you will require the money. If you are investing for retirement, for example, and are fairly young, this timeline may be several decades. Conversely, if you are in your 50's or 60's and investing for retirement, you may require the money in a few years. Typically, higher-risk investments (like stocks) are more appropriate if you have a longer duration until you require the money.  Investing in stocks is desirable if you have a long period until the money is required. This is because it allows you significant time to recover any losses. For example, if you invest $30,000 intended for retirement in your 20's and lose the entire sum, you have several decades to re-accumulate the sum. The same loss in your late 60's could be catastrophic. Therefore, it is wise to select mutual funds for any funds that you will need within a short time frame. With mutual funds the likelihood of the value declining substantially is much lower, thereby preserving your wealth for when you require it. A financial adviser can be an excellent resource in terms of helping to establish not only whether to utilize stocks or mutual funds, but also to guide you in selecting specific stocks or mutual funds to purchase. Advisers will often do so after having a conversation with you about your goals, risk-tolerance, and knowledge.
A: Assess your risk tolerance. Assess your personal characteristics. Identify your investing duration. Consult your financial institution.

Q: Use a rag to rub warm water and isopropyl alcohol around the hole to clean off any dirt or grime. Let it dry for a few minutes before continuing. This will help the glue adhere to the rubber. Scrub the edges of the hole with sandpaper until it appears to take on a rougher texture. Remove the insole of the shoe and place a piece of duct tape inside the shoe where the hole is. If the hole does not go all the way through the inside of the shoe, put your finger in the hole and push up to see where the hole is and cover that part with duct tape. Being careful not to touch the adhesive with your bare hands, gently squeeze it into the hole. Make sure the entire hole is filled, and don’t worry if there is some overflow. The ice cube will allow you to smooth the surface of the glue without sticking to it. You can also use a tongue depressor or spoon covered with petroleum jelly. Set the shoe so that the sole is facing upwards. Leave it somewhere out of the way where it will be cool and dry. Leave it for at least a full day. Check to see if there is dried glue protruding from the hole or spilling out over the edges. If there is, use 120-grit sandpaper to sand it down until the bottom of the sole is smooth.
A:
Clean the area around the hole with water and alcohol. Roughen up the edges of the hole with 120-grit sandpaper. Put duct tape over the inside of the shoe above the hole. Fill the hole with shoe sole adhesive. Use an ice cube to smooth the surface of the adhesive. Let the shoe dry for 24 hours with the sole turned up. Sand down any dried adhesive that overflowed from the hole.