We all know how frustrating it can be to watch the stock we failed to trade when the timing was right. I've had some great experiences in the market, but ever since I took a big hit in '08, I hesitate to pull the trigger even when I'm confident in a stock's fundamentals. More often than not, my inaction leads to significant opportunity costs, and pondering "if only" and "what if" can be maddening.

Now, with a new presidency on the horizon and increased consumer confidence in the economy, I'm finally taking a more aggressive approach to my market behavior. I spoke with a friend of mine who's been at one of the largest hedge funds for over a decade, and seems to always know how to take advantage of the market in any period of flux. He told me that it's natural to feel apprehensive, especially after a loss, which is why he uses Real Money, a membership-based website headlined by Jim Cramer, to gain a competitive edge for his personal portfolio as well as for his clients.

When it comes to "pulling the trigger," Jim Cramer is one of the biggest advocates. Along with a staff of over 30 handpicked investing professionals, money managers, advisors, and analysts, he provides both long and short-term actionable investment ideas. Real Money's advisors aren't just journalists reporting the news after it's happened, but a proactive community of Wall Street experts that showcase their experienced perspectives and market-tested strategies in real-time, whether the market is up or down.

On the password-protected site, investors of all levels will find exclusive stock market information, including stock ideas from specialists like sell side technicians and chartists. Real Money's in-house chartist, Bruce Kamich, has a 40-year career with several bulge bracket firms, plus extensive knowledge of commodities, interest rates, equities, and ETFs. He's spotted some huge trends he shared with us, like the gold stocks, NovaGold and Yamana Gold, both for some very big gains. More recently, he made impressive calls on Timken Steel and giants of the oil-and-gas sector including Chesapeake Energy, which has rallied around 33% for he and his followers since his recommendation in October.

One of my favorite parts of the program is the advice and the alerts I receive throughout the trading day so I can act quickly before the news breaks on public domains. Cramer also posts three times each trading day on his daily market blog, which provides useful conclusions in a breezy and readable format, so I can always keep my finger on the market's pulse. You can follow along with the Real Money Ideas section, on the homepage when you login, to see which contributors' ideas pan out so you can decide whose ideas to follow. As a member, you can even contact any site contributor via email, including chief economist for ALM Advisors, Roger Arnold, and Jim Cramer himself.

With Real Money, I realized that there's always money to be made whether the market is bearish or bullish. With advice from professionals who have spent decades in the trenches, and are transparent about their strategies, I've become a more confident investor, and act on stock ideas to stop missing out on returns.

Update: The folks at Real Money are extending a special offer to our readers! Follow this link to get Real Money FREE for 14 days with no obligations! (It's also discounted to just $3/week if you choose to continue your membership.)