The United States and China have been locked in a dysfunctional relationship for far too long. We here in the states have been consuming Chinese imports at an ever-rising rate. And China has helped fuel our addiction by keeping its goods very cheap. It’s managed this by pouring much of… Read More

What a roller coaster. On Friday the markets drop about -3%. As of the close today, most of that has been made back. I know investors are wondering what they should do.  In most cases, I think the answer is “nothing.” As Warren Buffett said, “I buy on the assumption… Read More

Talk about some serious volatility. The past two years have been some of the most hectic ever — on both the downside and the upside. Meanwhile, if you’re trying to escape the ups and downs in some of the typical safe-haven investments, you’re being paid next to… Read More

I’ve noticed an emerging trend from my subscribers. It started out about two years ago as a whisper. Month by month, email by email, that whisper has become a little louder. Today, I’m hearing it loud and clear and received my last email about it just a… Read More

Investors may feel like they have nowhere to turn during times like these. Equity investors have... Read More

Investors may feel like they have nowhere to turn during times like these. Equity investors have seen a -35% return in the S&P 500 during the past 10 years, making it known as “The Lost... Read More

Every portfolio needs a strong foundation of stable and dependable investments. Solid income producers and tried and true equities are the hallmark of a prudent retirement plan.   But is that enough?   Those of us heading into retirement may have to do more with our… Read More

Stock market volatility has caused many investors to question their commitment to buying individual stocks. This combined with a decade of flat to slightly negative stock market returns has stoked a debate over whether buy-and-hold investing makes any sense going forward. Defensive-minded investors looking to lower equity… Read More

My friend Chris was irate. “My broker just ripped me off!” he pouted. “Royal Dutch Shell (NYSE: RDS-A) said in a press release they would pay $0.84 a share, but instead my broker gave me $0.714 a share.” I tried to explain to Chris that it’s not… Read More

It’s no secret. Markets have been tanking. Investors are fearful that the debt crisis in Europe will derail the recovery. As many analysts predict slower economic growth or a “new normal” in the years ahead, high dividend stocks could replace growth… Read More

Here’s the most important number you need to know today: $8 billion. That’s the amount of cash that BP (NYSE: BP) is likely to generate, year-in and year-out, assuming energy prices stay where they are right now. And that number should be kept in mind as investors tally up all… Read More