Stock Market Thread

[Jake]

OK, hi, I need y'alls help. I (somehow) just figured out over the past week or so, that AOL has been giving me company stock every year as part of my bonus. I have money in my 401k, I have cash savings, I'm doing "fine" as fine can be. But I know nothing about the stock market.

So, the AOL stock is split into thirds. One third has already vested, which I guess means I can sell it either for cash or to re-invest in other stocks. The other two thirds vest in March '14 and March '15, so I have to let those sit, I think.

Assuming that's all correct... what should I do with the third that has vested? Part of me wonders if I should wait 'til we do our Q3 earnings report, but I have no idea how that will go - and think maybe I oughta get in on a different company or two before they do their Q3 earnings reports.

Ideas? If I sell and re-invest in a different company(ies) - who's even worth going with or considering? I'm not talking much cash here, so it's not worth dealing with a broker. I'll just do it myself.