How many investors would be inclined to believe they had found the proverbial “sure thing” if they owned shares in the company described below? Following its initial public offering in late 1985, this NYSE-listed firm achieved steady growth in earnings and dividends, and the shares delivered an annualized return of 24.8% from January 1986 through […]

The threat of recession is all over the news, forcing many investors (those without a plan) to panic. Our readers should take heart; our recommended portfolios have been researched rigorously, and while no investment plan is perfect, we are highly confident that those who do not waiver from our approach will be rewarded for their

Global equity markets have plummeted. The chart to the left tells the story. Now, more than ever, it is essential that investors avoid panic and remain committed to disciplined investing. • I will understand my own circumstances and formulate an investment plan based on my needs, not in anticipation of market trends.• I will remind

We are often asked about the nature of our investment research and how it is affected by our parent organization, the American Institute for Economic Research (AIER). Indeed, in the world of money management it is an unusual arrangement, but one that confers benefits to both organizations and, by extension, to the donors, subscribers, and

We have changed the “back page” of the INVESTMENT GUIDE in order to provide you with more useful information regarding our recommended investment vehicles. We have also changed our recommendations considerably following a careful review of investment vehicles available for each of our recommended asset classes. We have eliminated or replaced several recommended investment vehicles.

In the roll call of disappointing earnings and business write downs from investment banks lies a grim common refrain—the once glittering and somewhat mysterious world of structured finance is in trouble. The financial losses and many cuts to staff at banks such as UBS, Citigroup and Merrill Lynch are centered in that new industry, which

Who is to blame for the “subprime mess?” Though there is no clear scapegoat, indignant politicians and regulators are already responding with a raft ofbailouts and proposed solutions. We are skeptical of interference. The mortgage market has the ability to emerge stronger without interference from Washington. Mortgage lending has changed dramatically in recent years. Today,

  The greatest threat posed by the meteoric rise in mortgage defaults and the resultant collateral damage in the capital markets is that they might cause investors to abandon their long-term strategy. Investors who are aware of their capacity for risk, and who have established an appropriate allocation plan should view recent events as no

The yield curve has returned to “normal” status, whereby long-term interest rates exceed short-term rates. The chart below depicts the spread between the 10-year Treasury note and the 13-week Treasury bill. In mid-May the spread became positive. Long term rates, however, remain well below their historical average. The second chart displays the yield on the