The key to boosting income lies in a security most investors might not be familiar with. Nevertheless, more than 1,250 of these securities trade on U.S. exchanges. They invest in every almost every possible sector and niche of the market (from stocks and bonds to… Read More

Not a day goes by when we’re not bombarded by advertisements to save money on auto insurance. Geico, Allstate, Progressive, 21st Century… I’m not sure how they can all be the cheapest, but that’s entirely another story. The point is, these messages don’t really hit home with… Read More

It’s coming. Or, I should say, “he’s” coming. Warren Buffett? No. Bill Gross? No. I am referring to Dick Clark. He’s on his way. He will be hosting, again, the annual ball-drop on Times Square… Read More

Never judge a stock by its share price. Just because a stock trades for $5 does not make it “cheap.” Conversely, a stock that trades for $100 is not necessarily “expensive.” Millions of investors ignore this. Mention a stock and the first question out of most investors’… Read More

Benjamin Franklin once referred to the magic of compound interest as the “8th wonder of the universe” for its ability to systematically accumulate wealth. Inflation, then, which systematically destroys wealth, must be an evil twin. Nothing is quite like the relentless… Read More

An unprecedented level of industrial expansion during the past two decades has not only made China wealthy. It’s made the country really dirty. Now comes the clean up. Years of industrial growth, largely powered by coal, have left China choking in smog. Cities smolder… Read More

Back in July, investors eagerly anticipated Alcoa’s (NYSE: AA) second quarter financial snapshot — not for any particular interest in the aluminum sector, but simply because the Dow component happens to kickoff earnings season each quarter. Fortunately, the company pleased the… Read More

Today we conclude our three-part series examining the companies with the biggest bank accounts, and whether they are worthwhile investments for the upcoming New Year.   Company (Ticker) Cash/Near Cash General Electric (NYSE: GE) $61.4 Billion Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE: BRK-B) $26.9 Billion Ford (NYSE: F) $25.8 Billion Merck (NYSE: MRK)… Read More

Perhaps Willie Nelson put it best.  “If you’ve got the money, honey, I’ve got the time.” The United States’ top 10 most cash-rich companies certainly have enough jack to keep the party going. Today we continue looking at whether companies with a huge cash position make good… Read More

Cash, they say, is king. If that’s true — and after the financial crisis we can all agree that it is — then these 10 companies must be the masters of the universe.  Company (Ticker) Cash/Near Cash General Electric (NYSE: GE) $61.4 Billion Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE: BRK-B)… Read More