What Still Works on Wall Street—And What Doesn't
February 22, 2012
Twelve years after the great Internet bubble burst, investors are scrambling to find strategies and techniques that still make money, consistently and reliably. Even some very good businesses can get so overpriced that hanging on for a lifetime won’t bail you out.
So which investment principles have proved their worth right through this long era of hostile “climate change,” and which ones belong in the dumpster? In this article, I cover the top four factors that will ensure your success. More »
Retire in 2012? Four Factors to Consider
December 22, 2011
It's a spooky time for people contemplating retirement. The economy is still shaky, even after two-and-a-half years of supposed "recovery." Stocks continue to yo-yo wildly, while Treasury bills and bank deposits barely yield enough crumbs to keep a mouse alive. Unless you've got a plump government pension to lean on (and even those aren't totally secure these days), you may be wondering whether retiring in 2012 is really such a good idea at all. More »
The Best Deals in the Financial World
October 28, 2011
Times are tough, but the tough-minded are making the most of the times! Sure, you've got to be on the alert constantly, nowadays, for risks to your wealth—plunging markets; ever-changing laws and regulations; shady operators bent on fleecing you.
But there's a flip side. In a rough economy, honest providers of financial services are bending over backwards to deliver extra value. If you're a smart, careful consumer, you can find an abundance of deals that will stretch your dollar further. Here are some of the best I've uncovered lately. More »
Choose Your Portfolio
To access a portfolio, click on its name. Learn more about the portfolios »
Total Return
Incredible Dividend Machine
Fund Supermarket
All In The Family
Hassle-Free ETF
Annuity
Niche Investments
Aggressive Plays
Journal
-
Not the End of the World
Tue, 15 May 2012 18:08:19 ET
Chalk up another nasty day on Wall Street, as fears of a deepening European recession (and what it might mean for the future of the euro and the region's banks) weighed on stocks. At the closing bell, the Dow fell 63 points, with energy issues -- and raw materials generally -- taking some of the hardest knocks. Spot gold settled at $1,557.60 an ounce, its lowest close of 2012. More »
-
It's Going to Take Time
Thu, 10 May 2012 19:37:02 ET
Lots of cross-currents buffeting the markets right now. The headline U.S. stock indexes are trying hard to find support around current levels. (So far, so good: The Dow broke a six-day losing streak today, adding a modest 20 points.) However, business activity is cooling, even in America the Invincible, as the Citigroup Economic Surprise Index makes clear. CESI hit a seven-month low today. More »
-
Make Volatility Your Friend
Tue, 08 May 2012 21:28:20 ET
Let's step back for a little lesson in investment wisdom. I suspect we could all use a refresher, with the markets–notably stocks and gold–whipping around in recent sessions like a flag in a tornado. Today, the Dow swung 312 points from the opening bell to the day's low to the close, while the price of gold for June delivery traveled $46.90 an ounce (mostly down) during Comex business hours. More »
Latest Issue
-
May 2012 Issue & Supplement
Is it 'déjá vu all over again'? After six months of fabulous gains, hairline cracks are beginning to appear in the stock market's serene façade. Are we doomed to repeat the midyear market meltdowns of 2010 and 2011? Should you 'sell in May and go away'? In this month's visit, I'll tackle these ticklish questions head-on. If there's another big chute coming, the rewards for sidestepping it (or even betting on it) will be huge. But Mr. Market can also extract severe penalties if your timing is off. You and I want to chart a sensible middle course, avoiding the most serious risks while preserving our claim to the market's long-term wealth-building potential.
One sad result of Ben Bernanke's zero-interest-rate policy (ZIRP) is that retirees and other income seekers are virtually guaranteed a loss of purchasing power if they lend their savings to our own government. On p. 4, I'll show you how to escape this trap–with high-yielding foreign currencies. Imagine: Treasury bills paying 8% instead of zero, in a currency likely to appreciate against the dollar! More »
Calendar
Ask Richard
If Roth IRAs are tax-free, how come I can't hold master limited partnerships (MLPs) in them?
Because of a quirk in the tax law, Uncle Sam may deem part of your MLP earnings to be Unrelated Business Taxable Income. As stated in IRS publication 598 under 'Organizations Subject to the Tax,' if you hold an MLP inside a retirement account, you'll owe income tax on any UBTI credited to you above $1,000 a year. IRAs including Roth IRAs are subject to this tax. So you should only hold individual MLPs in a taxable account. And because individual MLPs issue a complex form called a K-1 at tax time instead of a 1099, you may also need a professional tax preparer to help you place all the numbers in the right slots on your return. Of course, there's a way around both of these complications. More »
About Richard E. Band
Richard E. Band is the newsletter world's #1 authority on investing for low-risk growth. His flagship Total Return Portfolio has quadrupled in value since its inception in 1990, while taking far less risk than the popular stock market index funds. More »
Today's Market
| DJIA | 12598.55 | -33.45 | -0.26% |
|---|---|---|---|
| NASDAQ | 2874.04 | -19.72 | -0.68% |
| S&P 500 | 1324.80 | -5.86 | -0.44% |
| Global DOW | 1789.08 | -18.31 | -1.01% |
Testimonials
Richard Band is a genius. I consider myself his most-satisfied reader. He helped me double my money in eight months. Profitable Investing has helped me be able to relax more and enjoy some of the beautiful things I've been able to accumulate. For this, there is really no way I can thank him enough.
–Larry Kravitsky, NY
