GLOBAL STOCK AND BOND INVESTING

Stock Market Strategies

Making Stock Selections Based on the Picks of Large Investors
There are two systematic screens to discover who is placing "big bets" on what they think are great potential stock investments - Unusual Volume and Institutional Investments. Any investor - individual or institutional - can replicate these screens. Here's how.

Credit Contraction Spells Opportunity
The current market sell-off is only a brief moment in time. The key to long-term investment success and wealth building is not "picking the bottom." The key to success: take advantage of the opportunity to purchase an asset at an attractive valuation before the opportunity disappears.

Complex Equity Portfolio Structure: Is Your Advisor Leading You Down The Wrong Path?
Large cap. Mid cap. Small cap. Growth. Value. Momentum. Sectors. Active. Passive. Tactical timing. These style buckets, and others, help professional advisors select portfolio specialists with beat-their-benchmark track records. What's wrong is that a complex portfolio structure hurts investors like you by generating excessive capital gains taxes.

A Wealth Management Strategy: Invest in Customer Friendly Companies
Professor Fornell makes the case that companies that focus on customer satisfaction tend to outperform their peers as investments.

Investment Outlook with Sam Stovall of S & P (Webcast)

Sector Performance with Sam Stovall of S & P (Webcast)

Market Outlook with Sam Stovall of S & P (Webcast)

The Markets with Robert Shiller of Yale (Webcast)

Risk with Robert Shiller of Yale (Webcast)

Investing in the Stock Market: Focus on the Dow 30
The Author says the Dow 30 is a better deal than mutual funds or hedge funds.

Has Warren Buffett Strayed From His Investment Ideals?
At the 2007 Berkshire Hathaway Inc. annual meeting, billionaire investor and company chairman Warren Buffett put a new spin on an old adage: "Welcome the new, keep the old, one is silver the other is gold."

John Bogle Gives His Take on the Nervous Market

Market Overview: Volatility Continues
The stock market seems to have fallen off a cliff once again. After another week of market turmoil, some have panicked while others have sought safer investment options.

Painful Months: UBS Says Investors Are Not Happy

Art vs Stocks and Bonds: The Investment Potential of American Art
Given the current volatile stock market, investors are turning towards alternative investments including commodities, hedge funds, etc. Research by two professors of New York University's Stern School of Business makes a case for yet another alternative: the fine arts.

Key Value Investor Shares His Research Strategies

Stock Picks: Are You Following Your Neighbor's Advice?

Merrill, JP Morgan, Lehman Place Bets on Climate Change

Fall in Corporate Earnings Removes Market Cushion

Dividend Paying Stocks: Worthy Inflation Fighter But Also a Sound Investment Strategy
With 2008 approaching, this could be a good time to add a few dividend-paying stocks to your portfolio. Dividend paying stocks are especially suitable for those preparing for retirement, as a way to combat inflation and as a hedge against other declining investments.

That's No Bull: 2008 Demands a Defensive Investor and a Defensive Portfolio
It is hard not to feel a twinge of fear about your investment portfolio following the poor performance of the major stock indices going into 2008.

Yale Endowment Way Up As Equities Head South

ETFs and Mutual Funds

ETFs for a Global Slowdown
If you can't mitigate a U.S.-led downturn by shifting away from U.S. stocks, what can you do? One answer might be to get more defensive everywhere. Fortunately, ETF investors have hundreds of choices thanks to the many innovative index products that have been introduced in recent years.

Investment Advisor: How To Evaluate ETFs
Investors need to evaluate Exchange Traded Funds differently than mutual funds.

In Evaluating ETFs - Basket of Stocks, Not Fees, Counts Most
The difference of a few basis points between funds is likely to be overwhelmed by the difference in performance of the underlying investments, making fees a secondary and far less important consideration.

Investment Portfolio: The Case for a Mutual Fund Manager-Based Strategy
The main criteria the author uses in choosing funds are the managers' philosophy of investing and their track record in both up and down markets.

Mutual Funds: A Look Back at 2007 (Webcast)

Looking at Mutual Funds? Take the Long View

Investing in Emerging Markets

Investing in International Stocks: Some New Options
New international indexes can provide low cost access to various markets.

The Earthshaking Year: Behind the Numbers At China's Largest Firms
China shook up the financial universe over the past twelve months. The New Year promises even more of the same.

Investing in China: A Wealth Management Mid-Year Review
While the Chinese stock market has been on fire and opportunities abound, there are many risks to watch out for too.

India's Growth Lures Investors
Savvy investors are generally bullish on the near-and long-term prospects for investing in India, but all who would like a piece of India's future need to do their homework. And if you do, you can't help but notice contrasts and mixed signals.

Merrill Survey: Investors Find Safe Haven in Emerging Markets

Events Cast Doubt on the "Decoupling Hypothesis"

Top Advisors Make the Case for More BRIC Exposure

Webcasts

Mutual Funds: A Look Back at 2007 with Tom Roseen of Lipper

Investment Outlook with Sam Stovall of S & P

Sector Performance with Sam Stovall of S & P

Market Outlook with Sam Stovall of S & P

The Markets with Robert Shiller of Yale

Risk with Robert Shiller of Yale

Investing in Bonds

Investing in Bonds: The Multisector Bond Fund Investment Solution
Here are some ideas on maximizing fixed income allocations.

A Fixed Income Portfolio to Weather the Storm
With all of the uncertainty out there, it's natural to be a little skittish right now. However, by considering several time-tested strategies,and timely opportunities, you can build a fixed income portfolio capable of weathering the storm.

Art vs Stocks and Bonds: The Investment Potential of American Art
Given the current volatile stock market, investors are turning towards alternative investments including commodities, hedge funds, etc. Research by two professors of New York University's Stern School of Business makes a case for yet another alternative: the fine arts.

Demographic Trends Favor Equities Over Bonds - Morgan Stanley

ALTERNATIVE INVESTMENTS

Gold May Glitter, But It Doesn't Stack Up As a Long-term Investment
Gold prices tend to ride a wave of investor emotion, says noted economist Jeremy Siegel. Investors and speculators have bid gold prices up over the past year because they consider it a safe haven amid worries about the credit crunch, slowing economy, rising inflation and stock market volatility. "Once the fears are past, gold goes back down."

Timberland: Wealth Emerges From the Forest
Billions of dollars have been invested in timberland by institutional and high-net worth investors over the past 20 years. By some measures, returns have outpaced stocks and other financial assets.

Forget Those Big Deals (and Headlines): Private Equity Firms Are Shopping the Middle Market
With a slowing economy and fear-inducing headlines popping up every day, there's still one ray of light-the middle market. Find out why in this insightful exploration into the world of $500 million to $1 billion deals.

Brazilian Real Estate Is Having a Ball
Brazil's real estate market, awakened from its lethargy in mid-2005, has continued to grow, fed by the country's economic and political stability, the powerful reduction in interest rates, and the measures taken by the Lula government to provide incentives for civil construction and home buying.

The Case for Alternative Investments in Your Portfolio
Why ignore the chance to manage risk and earn higher returns?

Why Commodities Make Sense Now
Commodities should have a place in an investor's portfolio. It is no longer simply a matter of whether or not you believe that we are in a bull market or a bubble, but it is a matter of properly diversifying your investments. While diversification might not seem as important when most every investment is going up, it becomes increasingly important during times of economic uncertainty.

Commodities Benefiting from Market Swings

Alternative Investments: Can Gold Climb to $1,000?
You be the judge if the precious metal will rise and shine.

Investors Cautioned on "New Gold Rush"

Preserving the Value of Your Art Collection: Tips for Effective Art Succession Planning
Failure to plan for these assets during your lifetime can prove costly.

Art vs Stocks and Bonds: The Investment Potential of American Art
Given the current volatile stock market, investors are turning towards alternative investments including commodities, hedge funds, etc. Research by two professors of New York University's Stern School of Business makes a case for yet another alternative: the fine arts.

Investing in Hedge Funds

Hedge Funds Thrive Amidst Market Chaos
Hedge funds finished off 2007 ahead of most equity benchmarks. Here's a look at past, present and future hedge performance and several key trends.

Hedge Fund Performance: Recent Data, Analysis and Trends
Investors have cast a wary eye on the performance of hedge funds so far during 2007. While the final data for all of 2007 is still a few weeks away, we decided to take a look at how various hedge funds have performed through most of the year and compare them with other investment benchmarks.

Successful Hedge Fund Investing: Seven Sensible Strategies
For investors looking to gain an investing edge, hedge funds may be the smart solution. There are no guarantees with investing and there are no shortcuts. The same is true with hedge fund investing.

The Future of Hedge Funds: Outlook, Perspectives, and Developing Trends
Most of the coming changes will be beneficial to private investors.

How Activist Hedge Fund Managers Aim to Extract Value for Investors
It may take a bit of time but most activists are ultimately able to achieve what is known as a "catalyst," or major improvement in the stock price through such actions as the sale of a company or a stock buy back.

Investing in Real Estate

Real Estate Opportunities: Non-Traded REITS and Limited Partnerhips
How to get institutional grade real estate into your portfolio.

Robert Shiller of Yale on Real Estate (Webcast)

Too Soon to Write off Real Estate: Global REITS may be an Option

TRUST & ESTATE PLAN

Estate Planning in Uncertain Times
This is not the first time in history that the economy has faltered. And it won't be the last. If some of your wealth has been eroded or is in jeopardy, it is more important than ever to assure that what remains of it is distributed to your heirs and beneficiaries as efficiently and effectively as possible.

Preparing Adult Children for Inheritance: How to Maintain Harmonious Relations Across Generations
Wealth created by one generation can deeply enrich the lives of generations to follow. However, multi-generational wealth may also pose challenges. In an article for Wealth Management Exchange, Joe Calabrese of Harris myCFO explores the four basic issues of inheritance: entitlement, differing needs, the grandchild conundrum, and distribution.

Ten Estate Planning Guidelines for the High Net Worth
WME takes some of the legalese out of estate planning.

Minimizing Estate Taxes: Don't Wait Until You Die To Start Giving Away Your Millions
Two case studies present tax-saving game plans.

Ten Essential Year-End Tasks to Safeguard Your Estate
The end of the year means it's time to review your investment and estate plans and make the moves that will safeguard your estate from unnecessary taxation. It is also a critical time to make sure your investments are in line with changing objectives for yourself and your family.

Transferring Wealth to Charities: What are Your Options?
Get a sense of which charitable vehicle or vehicles most suit your needs and interests.

Retirement Planning - Donating Pension Plan Assets: Charities Gain, IRS Loses
A case study on shielding pension assets from the tax collector.

Preserving the Value of Your Art Collection: Tips for Effective Art Succession Planning
Failure to plan for these assets during your lifetime can prove costly.

SELECTING & MONITORING ADVISORS

Conflicts of Interest and the Trusted Advisor
The advisor/investor relationship contains ripe territory for real or perceived conflicts of interest. With proper handling, these potential pitfalls can be resolved before they sabotage the success of a financial plan.

Does Your Investment Advisor Have an Audited Track Record?
With the recent market turmoil, investors are looking for more credibility and transparency from their advisors. Institutional investors have long demanded audited track records from advisors to confirm performance claims. Now many private investors are doing the same.

Trust Equity: Critical Link Between Investors and Advisors
Trust builds equity between investors and advisors. Wealth advisors today are giving more attention to what is being termed "life planning," or "client-centered planning," to help establish trust with investors.

How to Manage Your Team: Don't Cede Control of Your Wealth to Investment Advisors
Most of my advisors have told me "It's best for us to be your quarterback and oversee all your investments vs. having multiple firms manage your money."

How to Select a Family Office As Wealth Manager
A primer on what to expect in terms of service and capabilities.

Which Advisor is Best?
Advisors don't provide audited track records. So how do you shop for the best? Answer: Very carefully.

INVESTMENT PLAN AND PORTFOLIO

Managing Your Wealth Wisely: Six Proven Strategies (Special Report)
Act now to get immediate free access to this special report, written by the editors of Wealth Management Exchange.

Evolving Separately Managed Accounts Become Strategy Option for Affluent Investors
There's a cycle that occurs approximately every four years as capital gains build up in investors' accounts. In tax year 2000, for instance, investors were subject to low performance in many mutual funds - especially high-tech stocks. At the same time, these investors got hit with excessive capital gains taxes. The same thing occurred during the 2003 thru 2007-tax period.

Complex Equity Portfolio Structure: Is Your Advisor Leading You Down The Wrong Path?
Large cap. Mid cap. Small cap. Growth. Value. Momentum. Sectors. Active. Passive. Tactical timing. These style buckets, and others, help professional advisors select portfolio specialists with beat-their-benchmark track records. What's wrong is that a complex portfolio structure hurts investors like you by generating excessive capital gains taxes.

Simplify Your Equity Portfolio To Achieve Tax Efficiency
Tax bill higher than expected? You might need better planning to achieve greater savings over the next few years. Consider having your advisor abandon the complex equity portfolio with lots of turnover that generates tax.

That's No Bull: 2008 Demands a Defensive Investor and a Defensive Portfolio
It is hard not to feel a twinge of fear about your investment portfolio following the poor performance of the major stock indices going into 2008.

Managing Your Portfolio: Frequent Rebalancing Helps Maintain Allocation Targets
Investment Guru David Swensen on what he did and what you can do with your portfolio.

Asset Allocation Strategy: How to Invest Like Harvard
An investment plan for private investors drawn from the proven practices of large endowments.

Investment Portfolio: The Case for a Mutual Fund Manager-Based Strategy
The main criteria the author uses in choosing funds are the managers' philosophy of investing and their track record in both up and down markets.

CHARITABLE GIVING

Earthquakes, Cyclones, Tornadoes: What You Can Do to Help
Earthquakes in China; cyclones in Myanmar; killer tornadoes in the Midwest and Southeast U.S. The world has been rocked by a series of devastating natural disasters in the past week. If you want to help, here are some of the organizations you can contact.

Transferring Wealth to Charities: What are Your Options?
Get a sense of which charitable vehicle or vehicles most suit your needs and interests.

RAISING RESPONSIBLE CHILDREN

How To Teach Your Child How To Invest
You can help make investing an enjoyable and educational experience for your children

Preparing Adult Children for Inheritance: How to Maintain Harmonious Relations Across Generations
Wealth created by one generation can deeply enrich the lives of generations to follow. However, multi-generational wealth may also pose challenges. In an article for Wealth Management Exchange, Joe Calabrese of Harris myCFO explores the four basic issues of inheritance: entitlement, differing needs, the grandchild conundrum, and distribution.

Holidays are an Ideal Opportunity For Communicating Values to the Next Generation
The Thanksgiving holiday is an ideal time to pull back from the daily concerns that preoccupy us and focus on issues that truly matter -- family and values.