It is clear that there will be attractive investment opportunities over the coming months in the stock markets. The question we all ask is, 'How can I position myself to make the right decisions and take advantage of these opportunities?' Market Insights provides a new and unique service assisting investors to develop their investment insights and skills.

Market Insights was founded by Don Hoctor, following many requests from colleagues and friends to provide an investment coaching service to those interested in improving their investment skills.

Don started investing in 1987, just before the famous stock market crash of that year and has experienced a number of bull and bear markets over the past 20 years. He has also devoted considerable time to studying the financial markets, investor behaviour and the operations of successful investors. Over the years, he has invested successfully in a range of financial instruments and has found that investing becomes more rewarding the more you understand the technical and behavioural aspects of the markets.

In 1984, he qualified as a Chartered Accountant with KPMG in Galway. He subsequently worked overseas with Ernst and Young. He returned to Ireland in 1992 and moved into industry, working as a financial controller and adviser. In 2007, he resigned his position and took on a part time consultancy role with his former company so that he could concentrate on the financial markets.

"Investing is a fascinating challenge, which is well within the scope of those who take an interest in and develop a good understanding of the markets. The advent of the Internet has been a huge boost to private investors, as there is a vast body of useful information available online and share dealing costs are a fraction of what they were in the past.

"Today's private investor can buy shares in almost any international market quite easily over the internet. However, successful investing requires an understanding of the markets, which only comes with experience (sometimes painful). As the saying goes, 'Invest your time, before your money'," he says.

According to Don, even for those investors who favour property over shares, there are many interesting opportunities in the markets. For example, it is possible to purchase shares in international property companies that are trading at substantial discounts to their net asset value, he says.

"Investing without a good understanding of the markets is a bit like playing golf or other sports without learning the technical side of the game. When things get difficult, you lack the basics to fall back on and your performance will suffer, and indeed your losses can be significant. For example, over recent weeks/months, it would have been clear to the well informed investor that the market risks were on the downside, despite the fact that stocks may have looked attractively priced.

"Many of the rules for success in the markets go counter to basic human instincts. Even successful business people may record below average performance and take unnecessary risks unless they understand the markets and the rules for successful investing.

"It is disappointing to see people work hard to accumulate capital and then make poor investment decisions. If you are investing and you do not fully understand the investment, the associated risks and investment alternatives, it makes sense to get an independent second opinion," he says.