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Your thoughts on retirement savings, and some additional points from me …
by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, May 22, 2012 at 7:30am
Last week’s column on retirement savings rates elicited a lot of comments and thoughts from readers so I want to take some time today to ... [More »]
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Meditations on marshmallows and retirement
by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, May 15, 2012 at 7:30am
If you want to hear scary stories related to retirement, you don’t have to look very hard. For example, a trade association for the financial services ... [More »]
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Another good time to look at I-Bonds …
by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, May 8, 2012 at 7:30am
Last October, I told my Income Superstars subscribers it was a good time to consider diversifying their income portfolios with I-Bonds, and I ... [More »]
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Latest annual report on Social Security and Medicare
by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, May 1, 2012 at 7:30am
In February, I explained why the “Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012″ simply compounded Social Security’s big-picture problems. And now just two months later the program’s Trustees have released their latest annual report. The conclusion in a nutshell? Surprise, surprise: “The Social Security outlook has worsened significantly relative to last year’s [More »]
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Buying to close covered call positions …
by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, April 24, 2012 at 7:30am
About three months ago, I wrote a Money and Markets column that said I was going to start helping my dad generate more income from his dividend stocks by writing covered call options against them. And since we just closed out our first two positions using a special approach that I have not discussed here [More »]
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Putting this choppy action in perspective …
by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, April 17, 2012 at 7:30am
The mainstream media loves hyperbole — so nothing pleases reporters more than the kind of big stock market rally we just had followed by last week’s ... [More »]
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One more way to save on taxes (and help a child in the process) …
by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, April 10, 2012 at 7:30am
Okay, we’re really getting down to the wire now, with just one week left to file your taxes on time. This year you actually have until April 17th because ... [More »]
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“What about near-term tax hikes on dividends?” and other important questions …
by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, April 3, 2012 at 7:30am
Although the next Presidential election is still eight months away, a lot of investors are already asking me about possible changes ... [More »]
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One huge reason to consider a Roth IRA …
by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, March 27, 2012 at 7:30am
Last week, I went over the major advantages and differences among the various types of Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs) available to ... [More »]
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Some of My Favorite Tax Shelters
by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, March 20, 2012 at 7:30am
In last week’s column, I talked about the tax treatment of various types of dividend payments ... and toward the end, I said you could avoid most of the ... [More »]
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When Uncle Sam Wants Your Dividends …
by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, March 13, 2012 at 7:30am
I hate to remind you, but Tax Day is now just about one month away ... and unless you’re one of those really prepared people, it’s likely that you’re ... [More »]
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Can you still find good values in this market?
by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, March 6, 2012 at 7:30am
A lot of investors tell me they’re frustrated by all the recent stock market strength. Why? Because they got caught sitting on the sidelines and now ... [More »]
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Another idiotic decision on Social Security …
by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, February 28, 2012 at 7:30am
It’s no secret that I’m a harsh critic of the Social Security program, including the very way in which it was constructed back in the 1930s. More importantly ... [More »]
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Answers to your biggest questions …
by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, February 21, 2012 at 7:30am
Between my recent trip to the Orlando MoneyShow and all the regular e-mails I get from readers, I’ve had a lot of questions coming my way lately ... [More »]
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Simple steps to a better retirement plan …
by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, February 7, 2012 at 7:30am
In a couple days, I’ll be heading down to Orlando to attend the 2012 World MoneyShow. I always enjoy my time at this annual event because it gives me a chance to interact with other investors on a more personal level. I get to hear what they’re thinking about … to discuss the investments they’re [More »]
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Now is the time for this advanced (but easy to use) strategy!
by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, January 31, 2012 at 7:30am
Writing covered calls is a strategy I’ve discussed here before, but I wanted you to know that I am now getting ready to actually start ... [More »]
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Finding New Buys in Retail …
by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, January 24, 2012 at 7:30am
The holiday shopping season is now behind us, but that doesn’t mean investors should ignore retailers now. In fact, I just made a new recommendation in ... [More »]
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Inside: The names of three big winners from my portfolios!
by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, January 17, 2012 at 7:30am
Normally, I don’t name individual investment recommendations in this column because I don’t think it’s really fair to my paying Income Superstars ... [More »]
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Important forecasts for the stock market in 2012 …
by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, January 10, 2012 at 7:30am
Last week I told you why I continue to insist that most investments I recommend pay for themselves through steady income generation, and why ... [More »]
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The secret to a worry-free 2012 …
by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, January 3, 2012 at 7:30am
At the end of every year, I start looking back for some ideas of what the future might hold. And it’s no different this time. I suppose if you rely on ... [More »]
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Gearing up for another great year!
by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, December 27, 2011 at 7:30am
With 2012 right around the corner, I want to talk about some simple steps you can take right now — or in the New Year — to greatly improve your financial life. [More »]
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Last-minute investment gifts …
by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, December 20, 2011 at 7:30am
I’m a chronic procrastinator, especially when it comes to getting presents. And since I’m sure you might also find yourself in need of a last-minute gift for ... [More »]
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How willing are you to go against the crowd?
by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, November 29, 2011 at 7:30am
The way I see it, the idea of being a “contrarian investor” has gotten all twisted around by the mainstream media. It’s not as simple as just ... [More »]
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Three things to check off your list before 2012 …
by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, November 22, 2011 at 7:30am
I think it’s safe to say that this week marks the beginning of the mad holiday rush that will last until we ring in 2012 ... heck, a biker dressed as Santa ... [More »]
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How my own dad’s portfolio is faring right now …
by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, November 15, 2011 at 7:30am
If you’re a regular reader of this column, you may already know that I’ve been helping my own father invest $100,000 of his retirement money ... [More »]
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Answers to your questions on Treasuries, inflation, and a whole lot more …
by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, November 8, 2011 at 7:30am
Last week’s column on I Bonds generated quite a buzz ... so today I’d like to address some of the questions, comments, and other issues ... [More »]
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Why you should pay attention to today’s I-Bond announcement …
by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, November 1, 2011 at 7:30am
I’ve talked about inflation-protected bonds many times before — including both Treasury-Inflation Protected Securities (TIPS) and I-Bonds. And while I don’t believe the former represent compelling bargains at the moment, as I just told my Income Superstars subscribers — the latter are still a great way to get a very nice return with virtually zero [More »]
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Three Basic Technical Analysis Measures I Like …
by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, October 25, 2011 at 7:30am
Last week, I talked about a way to invest in markets without the need for perfect timing. But with all the sharp moves we’ve been witnessing, what if you want to try and ... [More »]
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A great way to avoid stock market ruin …
by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, October 18, 2011 at 7:30am
As part of our Italian vacation, my family and I visited the ancient Greek ruins of Agrigento, Sicily. And even as we approached the ... [More »]
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The other side of the income equation …
by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, October 11, 2011 at 7:30am
I spend most of my time showing investors new ways to boost their investment income. But I have to tell you that I also love finding new ways to save money, too! So when I ... [More »]
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Five beaten-down European dividend stocks worth looking into …
by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, October 4, 2011 at 7:30am
Soon enough, I’ll be leaving for an Italian vacation with my dad, wife, and daughter. We’ve been planning to do this trip for quite some time now, and it should be a great chance for ... [More »]
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Investors Should Really Be Finding Safety in Dividends
by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, September 27, 2011 at 7:30am
It’s amazing, but people just keep flocking to 10-year Treasuries for “safety!” In fact, as the recent stock market sell-off really got going, the yield on these U.S. government bonds hit 1.6714 percent … [More »]
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Three More Little-Known Facts about Social Security …
by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, September 20, 2011 at 7:30am
Last week’s column on how Washington’s latest jobs plan could further impact our already-ailing Social Security program got a lot of great comments from readers. For example, here's what ... [More »]
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“We’ll fix the economy by stealing more from your retirement!”
by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, September 13, 2011 at 7:30am
If you read my column with any regularity, you have a good idea of where I stand on the Social Security program. But in a nutshell: I believe the way in which it was initially constructed — and, more importantly, continually expanded over ... [More »]
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Back to school with 529 plans …
by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, September 6, 2011 at 7:30am
It’s hard to believe, but my four-year-old daughter is gearing up for yet another stint at the local preschool. And next year at this time, I’ll be dropping her off at a bona-fide elementary school! So, yes, I’m painfully aware of how quickly time goes by ... [More »]
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Are Dividends Just for the Rich?
by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, August 30, 2011 at 7:30am
In response to last week’s column about dividend stocks vs. Treasuries, a reader named John wrote in to say, “If you have a couple million dollars, higher-priced dividend stocks make sense. For the smaller investor, not. $100,000 is not going to ... [More »]
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So Which Market Is “Getting it Wrong?”
by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, August 23, 2011 at 7:30am
Last week, Mike Larson did a great job of outlining some of the problems facing the global economy ... and there’s no doubt they’re pretty big hurdles. This explains why we saw yet another week of massive volatility, and some truly ... [More »]
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If you need a vacation from this market …
by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, August 9, 2011 at 7:30am
I spent last week on a family vacation to the Outer Banks of North Carolina ... and based on all that happened in the markets, maybe it was the very best time to be away from my desk! Make no mistake, I was still glued to stock quotes zipping ... [More »]
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About those “guaranteed” retirement benefits …
by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, August 2, 2011 at 7:30am
I continue to get a lot of feedback on my recent columns about Social Security. While some of you get what I'm saying - and are painfully aware of just how real the risks are - a number of responses suggest that many people still fail to recognize ... [More »]
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Looking for Dividend Stocks with Buffett’s Criteria
by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, July 26, 2011 at 7:30am
I’ve praised Warren Buffett in this space before, and for good reason — he has one of the most successful — and longest-running — investment track records in the world. Better yet, he always manages to keep ... [More »]
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Important update on Social Security and the debt ceiling …
by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, July 19, 2011 at 7:30am
As I first mentioned in an e-mail alert last week, the ongoing debt negotiations in Washington now include serious talks about alterations to the Social Security program. A number of you have since been asking questions about how ... [More »]
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Sometimes the most powerful investing strategies are also the simplest!
by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, July 12, 2011 at 7:30am
A lot of folks just don’t get dividends. They think they’re little throwaway payments that companies make to shareholders. Or they say only deep-pocketed investors really benefit from ... [More »]
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All-American Income Independence …
by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, July 5, 2011 at 7:30am
Talk about a fireworks display! Markets have been roiled by a number of events lately — from talk of a new double-dip in U.S. real estate to broader signs that the American economy could be headed for ... [More »]
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When it’s actually okay to “go naked” …
by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, June 28, 2011 at 7:30am
A few weeks ago, I told you about covered call writing ... which is my favorite income-generating options strategy. And in that article, I told you that I absolutely, positively did NOT recommend writing naked ... [More »]
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The first dividend stock I ever bought …
by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, June 21, 2011 at 7:30am
Last week, one of our country’s most storied corporations officially turned 100. And it just so happens to also be the firm that started my love affair with both the stock market and dividend payments. The ... [More »]
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Answers to some of your latest questions …
by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, June 14, 2011 at 7:30am
Over the last few weeks, I've covered a lot of ground in these Money and Markets columns — from dollar-cost averaging to more advanced options strategies. And naturally, a lot of you have been following up with ... [More »]
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How to capture those key investing moments …
by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, June 7, 2011 at 7:30am
It seems like only yesterday that I was writing to you about my daughter Vela’s first birthday ... and using the occasion to make the case that dollar-cost averaging was a terrific way to approach the stock ... [More »]
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A good call for higher income …
by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, May 31, 2011 at 7:30am
In my latest issue of Income Superstars, I told my subscribers about a compelling way to get even more income out of many of the stocks I’ve recommended to them ... and it’s a strategy that I’ve discussed ... [More »]
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Now here’s a powerful foreign dividend payer!
by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, May 24, 2011 at 7:30am
Last week, I talked about a long-time dividend recommendation of mine ... one that embodied many of the characteristics I think make conservative income stocks such strong wealth builders. Today, I want to ... [More »]
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A smoking hot stock from my current portfolio …
by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, May 17, 2011 at 7:30am
I’ve been talking about the stock market lately — both from a big-picture perspective and also by looking at individual companies. But I have NOT talked about any of the specific companies in the portfolios I run ... [More »]
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The very strongest sectors and countries right now …
by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, May 10, 2011 at 7:30am
Last week, I shared a recent stock screen I conducted ... and I commented on some of the specific companies that it turned up. Today, I want to continue looking at the stock market, but from a much ... [More »]
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Finding New Buys in this Fast-Moving Bull Market …
by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, May 3, 2011 at 7:30am
This past Saturday, my daughter’s preschool held their annual “Fun Fair” ... an afternoon of pony rides, moonbounces, face painting, and general disarray. After an hour spent volunteering at the ... [More »]
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Don’t Put Your Entire Nest Egg in One Basket
by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, April 26, 2011 at 7:30am
Every year, Easter is one of those gentle reminders that spring is finally here for real, and that summer is waiting around the corner. Of course, professionally speaking, all the seasonal references to eggs and ... [More »]
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Some tough questions from readers!
by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, April 19, 2011 at 7:30am
You’ve been writing in like crazy lately, and asking me some really tough, intelligent questions. So I think it’s only fair that I publish some of the very best ones — along with my answers — for everyone to read ... [More »]
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When Uncle Sam wants your dividends …
by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, April 12, 2011 at 7:30am
Okay, I promise this is the last column I’m going to write about taxes for a long time. Really! It’s not like I enjoy talking about them all that much, mind you. It’s just that we are right down to the filing deadline ... [More »]
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Tax day tips for MLP investors …
by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, April 5, 2011 at 7:30am
While I’m hardly an expert on taxes, I do insist on doing my own return every year. And since I specialize in income investments, I also field tons of tax-related questions on dividend stocks and other investments ... [More »]
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A kid-friendly tax shelter to consider before April 18 …
by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, March 29, 2011 at 7:30am
In my last few columns I’ve been talking about a number of ways you can both save for retirement and reduce your tax burden. But today I want to talk about one more type of tax shelter that’s great for a ... [More »]
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The Ins and Outs of IRA Plans …
by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, March 22, 2011 at 7:30am
After last week’s column on Solo 401(k) plans, I got some great questions on other retirement account options, especially IRAs. I can’t think of a better time to address those other choices ... especially since ... [More »]
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Build Your Retirement While Flying Solo
by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, March 15, 2011 at 7:30am
It’s unfortunate, but the plain truth is that a lot of the very best retirement strategies just don’t get much play by the mainstream media. Take that little-known Social Security payback provision that recently ... [More »]
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Bargains abound in big pharma stocks …
by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, March 8, 2011 at 7:30am
About a month ago I told you about some of my favorite sectors for income right now, and healthcare was one of them. Today I want to drill down a little further and talk about a specific industry within that ... [More »]
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Inside: Your retirement questions answered …
by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, March 1, 2011 at 7:30am
Over the last few weeks, I’ve had a chance to interact with many of you — both in person at the Orlando MoneyShow and also through some lively discussions on my personal blog. Today I’d like to answer three ... [More »]
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Bigger profits without bigger risks?
by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, February 22, 2011 at 7:30am
Let’s face it: Ben Bernanke’s near-zero interest rate policies have been absolutely crushing conservative savers and investors. At the same time, they have been sending pretty much all other asset classes ... [More »]
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Here’s the secret strategy I promised you …
by Nilus Mattive | Sunday, February 20, 2011 at 7:30am
My personal blog has been on fire this last week with thousands of readers stopping in for our discussion on the best ways to profit from this stock market rally without losing sleep at night. In fact, for the past ... [More »]
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How to profit without pain …
by Nilus Mattive | Friday, February 18, 2011 at 12:30pm
I’m continually amazed at the witty, insightful — and potentially profitable — ideas being posted on my blog ... especially in reaction to yesterday’s question: What would it take for you to FEEL GOOD about ... [More »]
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Is it right to be sitting out this stock rally?
by Nilus Mattive | Thursday, February 17, 2011 at 1:00pm
Wow! My personal blog is lighting up with activity right now — all responding to my question: “Which threats to the economy and stock market have you sweating bullets over the safety of your portfolio?” ... [More »]
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Three Critical Threats to Your Retirement
by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, February 15, 2011 at 7:30am
I’m not going to mince words, today. Whether you’re far away from retirement like I am, or you’ve already stopped working, you face at least three critical threats ... Retirement Threat #1: The Social Security ... [More »]
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My favorite sectors for income now …
by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, February 8, 2011 at 7:30am
Overall, the S&P 500 handed investors a total return of 15 percent last year, which is pretty darn good. But as always, I think we have to look even deeper than just the broad market’s surface performance if we ... [More »]
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The Incredible Shrinking Social Security Fund
by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, February 1, 2011 at 8:30am
Last week, I talked about mounting problems for state and city pension funds ... along with the possibility that some of them could ultimately go belly up. And while a lot of folks continue to say such a thing could never happen, I have ... [More »]
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Dead ahead: State and city pension FAILURES!
by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, January 25, 2011 at 7:30am
Last week The New York Times dropped a bombshell, reporting that “policy makers are working behind the scenes to let states declare bankruptcy and get out from under crushing debts, including the pensions ... [More »]
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Four steps to a richer retirement
by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, January 18, 2011 at 7:30am
Take a quick survey of the retirement landscape and things look pretty darn dire. According to a survey conducted by Wells Fargo last month, the average American has managed to save a meager 7 percent ... [More »]
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Two big income investing trends to watch in 2011
by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, January 11, 2011 at 7:30am
Last week I talked about some relatively simple steps you could take to streamline your finances and increase your wealth in 2011. Today, I want to follow up on that story and talk about two of the biggest ... [More »]
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Four Financial Resolutions for 2011
by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, January 4, 2011 at 7:30am
Okay, another fresh year is upon us and millions of folks are now embarking on diets, smoking cessation plans, and new exercise routines. Those are all noble pursuits, to be sure. However, today I want to ... [More »]
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One reason to bet on U.S. stocks in 2011
by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, December 28, 2010 at 7:30am
There are definitely plenty of reasons to be concerned about the U.S. economy — and the broad market — in the year ahead. There are definitely plenty of reasons to be concerned about the U.S. economy — ... [More »]
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Stocking Stuffers for Your Favorite Investor
by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, December 21, 2010 at 7:30am
At my home, the tree is up. Our gingerbread house — a rather elaborate one, at that — has been assembled. And we’ve already been entertaining a number of guests over the last couple weeks ... [More »]
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A Social Security “Shot Across the Bow”
by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, December 14, 2010 at 7:30am
For nearly two years, I’ve been telling current Social Security recipients to consider using a little-known provision to boost their payments substantially. And in recent months, I ratcheted up my warnings to ... [More »]
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Should U.S. investors fear a “Japan scenario?”
by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, December 7, 2010 at 7:30am
With Ben Bernanke and the Federal Reserve now into their second round of quantitative easing, a lot of investors are becoming increasingly worried about the U.S. “becoming like Japan.” In short, they're ... [More »]
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Not much time left for year-end moves!
by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, November 30, 2010 at 7:30am
Lots of meals with friends and family. Hundreds of e-mails about shopping deals. And even a trip into the woods to saw down a nine-foot douglas fir for our living room. Yes, this past weekend clearly kicked off ... [More »]
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Dividends? Thanks but no thanks, banks!
by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, November 23, 2010 at 7:30am
Dividends have been all over the news lately, including a number of stories talking about the possibility that banks will begin paying out solid dividends again. Well, it might be a week for giving thanks, but I’m ... [More »]
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Time to Take Profits from Corporate Bonds?
by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, November 16, 2010 at 7:30am
Back in May of 2009, I wrote an article here in Money and Markets called “Time to Start Nibbling on Corporate Bonds.” As the name implied, I argued that investors looking for opportunities in fixed-income ... [More »]
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Four Steps to Fine-Tune Your Portfolio
by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, November 9, 2010 at 7:30am
In my last couple of columns, I told you about two different portfolios that I’ve been running, both of which contain dividend stocks and have been performing very strongly. That prompted some of you to write in ... [More »]
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The Power of Carefully Chosen Dividend Stocks
by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, November 2, 2010 at 7:30am
Last week, I talked a little bit about the recent performance of my dad’s income portfolio. In case you missed that column, the upshot was that every new recommendation I’ve made is up and beating the ... [More »]
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Five strategies I'm using to help dad beat the stock market
by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, October 26, 2010 at 7:30am
You might remember that back in June my 63-year-old dad decided to let me begin managing his $100,000 retirement account at Vanguard. The goal was to help him get better returns than he was earning with ... [More »]
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Further Limiting Your Risk with CDs (or Bonds)
by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, October 19, 2010 at 7:30am
It’s now official: As I suggested last week, Social Security recipients are not getting any cost-of-living increase in 2011. This marks the second straight year of flat monthly checks. That fact, combined with ... [More »]
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Will 2011 be another stagnant year for Social Security checks?
by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, October 12, 2010 at 7:30am
In just a few days, the Social Security Administration is going to let retirees know how much their checks will go up next year. Or, in this case, how their checks aren’t going to go up at all. If you were ... [More »]
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Do even CDs trump long-term Treasuries right now?
by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, October 5, 2010 at 7:30am
Last week I told you why many mutual fund investors could be setting themselves up for serious losses in Treasury bonds. Just to recap – the idea was that mutual funds often buy and sell before their bonds ... [More »]
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A Hazard of Buying Bond Funds Now
by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, September 28, 2010 at 7:30am
A number of us here at Weiss have been warning you about the dangers of buying bonds in this ultra-low-interest-rate environment, especially longer-dated U.S. Treasuries. But as I recently told my ... [More »]
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Are state pension plan fixes breaking retirement promises?
by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, September 21, 2010 at 7:30am
In early July, I told you how lawmakers have consistently overpromised and underdelivered when it comes to retirement plans for state and local government workers. And why, in doing so, they’ve only heaped ... [More »]
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Checking Out the Retailers
by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, September 14, 2010 at 7:30am
While Americans haven’t completely abandoned their spendthrift ways, there’s no doubt that the typical shopper is thinking a lot more about their purchases ... and in general, our nation is revisiting the idea of ... [More »]
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Four Ways to Make Your Money Work Harder
by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, September 7, 2010 at 7:30am
After a great Labor Day weekend, a lot of Americans are now back at their desks, hard at work ... and I’m no exception. But while you might rather be back at the beach or the family barbecue, the good news ... [More »]
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A stock that shrugged off the last recession …
by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, August 31, 2010 at 7:30am
Back in the fall of 2008, investors were running from the stock market like crazy because recessionary conditions had clearly set in. And with “double-dip” headlines all over the place and the Dow back around ... [More »]
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The Perils of Tapping a 401(k)
by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, August 24, 2010 at 7:30am
Fidelity just released a new report and it’s pretty depressing. The upshot? A record number of Americans are making hardship withdrawals from their 401(k) retirement plans. Worse yet, the number of U.S. ... [More »]
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Answers to Three Important Dividend Questions
by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, August 17, 2010 at 7:30am
I get asked a lot of great questions — both on my blog and through e-mails — and today I want to answer three very important ones that all relate to dividend investing. Let’s start with a major source of ... [More »]
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Income Triple Plays
by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, August 10, 2010 at 7:30am
Tomorrow is my dad’s 63rd birthday and his card is on its way. Of course, I already sent him a few presents more than a week ago — the first recommendations for his new income portfolio. And I’m happy ... [More »]
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The Best Sectors for Dividends Now …
by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, July 27, 2010 at 7:30am
Last week, I told you where my favorite places were to get solid income and protection from a possible double-dip recession. Today, I want to follow-up on that theme by telling you about some of ... [More »]
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Where to Find Recession-Proof Stocks
by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, July 20, 2010 at 7:30am
Isn't it amazing how quickly the mainstream media talk has turned from green shoots and recoveries to double-dip recessions and a whole laundry list of new economic worries? The whimsical nature ... [More »]
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Galveston vs. Social Security
by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, July 13, 2010 at 7:30am
I have devoted a number of my recent columns to the problems with Social Security and many state pension plans. And in one particular article, I also told you how the Amish have used a little known ... [More »]
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State Pension Woes Only Worsening …
by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, July 6, 2010 at 7:30am
I know some investors right now who are making major mistakes when it comes to retirement planning ... First, they have been consistently underestimating how much money they’ll need down the line. In ... [More »]
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Yet Another Bailout for Reckless Savers and Investors?
by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, June 29, 2010 at 7:30am
We all watched in horror as Washington bailed out failing financial institutions ... dishonest lenders ... and greedy borrowers and speculators with our tax dollars. And as responsible savers and investors, we ... [More »]
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Transcript: Extreme Income Portfolio Makeover
by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, June 22, 2010 at 7:30am
Washington has shown a complete disregard for our nation’s savers, especially those in — or near — retirement. Interest rates on traditional income investments are being kept artificially low ... [More »]
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Three Ways to Get Downside Protection with Dividend Stocks
by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, June 15, 2010 at 7:30am
You have only today and tomorrow to register for the urgent phone call I’m holding with my dad this Thursday at noon. During that call, I’ll tell you and Dad how to revamp your income portfolio to get an ... [More »]
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The income investments Dad and I are going to talk about next week …
by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, June 8, 2010 at 7:30am
Next week, my Dad and I are going to have a heart-to-heart talk about an extreme makeover for his income portfolio. First on my list of income investments to propose to Dad are my favorite , crash-resistant, ... [More »]
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Your worst retirement nightmare …
by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, June 1, 2010 at 7:30am
Wow! My dad was here visiting over the holiday weekend, and in between a round of golf and some barbecuing, I showed him all the great comments flooding my blog. He was amazed and relieved to hear ... [More »]
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What Is My Dad Doing for His Retirement?
by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, May 25, 2010 at 7:30am
I’m getting so many reader questions about my parents’ Social Security and retirement, I could write a book about them. You want to know: What are my parents planning for their retirement? What ... [More »]
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Wow! Thanks for Sharing Your Thoughts on Social Security …
by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, May 18, 2010 at 7:30am
Last week’s column on the Amish opting out of Social Security generated a tremendous response. Within a few hours of publication, I had hundreds of comments on my blog. I want you to know that I appreciated ... [More »]
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Just Saying No to Social Security …
by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, May 11, 2010 at 7:30am
Lancaster — known throughout the U.S. as Pennsylvania Dutch Country — is about 40 minutes away from my house. And whenever I pass through the area, I'm reminded of what it means to be ... [More »]
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Is it too late to buy stocks?
by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, May 4, 2010 at 7:30am
I love fielding intelligent questions on the markets and other financial topics, and lately you’ve been sending me plenty of them. For example, a Dividend Superstars subscriber named Sharlene recently ... [More »]
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Early earnings season indicators looking good …
by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, April 27, 2010 at 7:30am
Yet another earnings season is upon us, and so far things are looking good. For example, through the middle of last week about 85 stocks in the S&P 500 (worth 26 percent of the index’s total value) ... [More »]
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Teaching Your 401(k) to Roll Over and Other Tricks
by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, April 20, 2010 at 7:30am
Last week’s column talked about some of the “everyman” tax shelters available these days — including 401(k) plans and IRAs. Today I want to talk about how those two different accounts relate to each ... [More »]
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Three Cheers for Tax Shelters!
by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, April 13, 2010 at 7:30am
Okay, before you get the wrong idea ... today’s article is not going to talk about hiding money in foreign countries or any other strategy that is either suspicious or outright illegal. Cheating on your taxes is ... [More »]
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Your Choices for Keep-Safe Cash
by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, April 6, 2010 at 7:30am
Every time Easter approaches, I find myself thinking of baskets, eggs and all the other words we investors typically associate with portfolios and diversification. So I was certainly ready with plenty of ... [More »]
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Why I Just Recommended Two Industrials
by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, March 30, 2010 at 7:30am
If you read this column with any frequency, you know that I have continued to argue that the best values in U.S. stocks remain in defensive areas like consumer staples and utilities. So why, then, did I just ... [More »]
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Three Things Your Investments Must Do
by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, March 23, 2010 at 7:30am
Yet another Federal Reserve meeting is now behind us, and I’m wondering why I even bother to read the releases anymore. After all, Bernanke & Co. pretty much say the same thing month in and month out ... [More »]
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More Retirement Disasters
by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, March 16, 2010 at 7:30am
I can’t believe the number of frightening retirement stories I’ve seen in just the last week. They suggest that the vast majority of our country’s citizens are completely unprepared for life after work. They point ... [More »]
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The Dividends Are Flowing Again …
by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, March 9, 2010 at 7:30am
Last year’s dividend numbers were the worst in more than half a century, as corporations large and small struggled with a lack of financing, weak economic conditions, and poor earnings. But now, things are ... [More »]
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New Wisdom from Berkshire Hathaway
by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, March 2, 2010 at 7:30am
It’s no secret that I’m a huge fan of Warren Buffett (and his business partner Charlie Munger, too). That’s why I eagerly await the release of Berkshire Hathaway’s annual shareholder reports. The latest ... [More »]
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Soaring College Costs: Adding Insult to Injury
by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, February 23, 2010 at 7:30am
Last Thursday I got a call from a friendly guy who said he was a senior at my college alma mater. Sensing where the conversation was about to go, I simply said “Just so you know, I’m not going to donate ... [More »]
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The most popular questions from Orlando …
by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, February 16, 2010 at 7:30am
In last week’s column, I promised to talk more about some of the questions I was asked at the Orlando MoneyShow — both during my live presentation as well as in private conversations during the event ... [More »]
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The Undeniable Power of Steady Dividends
by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, February 9, 2010 at 7:30am
I was both amazed and encouraged by the great turnout I received for my workshop at last week’s MoneyShow. And if you were among the nearly 400 attendees who came to see me speak, I’d like to ... [More »]
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Thoughts on Obama's New Retirement Initiatives
by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, February 2, 2010 at 7:30am
Last week I told you about some of Washington’s latest ideas on “fixing” Social Security. And the very next night — as part of his first State of the Union address — President Obama referenced some of his own ... [More »]
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These Are Supposed to Be Social Security Fixes?
by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, January 26, 2010 at 7:30am
I take retirement matters very seriously, which is why I’m constantly on the alert for any hint of a change coming out of Washington. And make no mistake: There have been times when I agree with new ... [More »]
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Getting Back to U.S. Stocks and 2010
by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, January 19, 2010 at 7:30am
I just landed in Newark, New Jersey this morning after 23 days travelling throughout India ... and it feels good to be home! Despite the many problems in our country today, we should never take for ... [More »]
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DRIPS: More Impressive than the Taj Mahal!
by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, January 5, 2010 at 7:30am
When we were first planning our trip to India, my wife — and all her family members — insisted that I make an effort to go see the Taj Mahal ... [More »]
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As Delhi Proves, Dividends Know No Borders
by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, December 29, 2009 at 7:30am
While a lot of folks were spending December 25 opening presents, my family and I were hurriedly packing our bags and running off to the airport... [More »]
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Reminder: It’s Not Too Late for Year-End Moves
by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, December 15, 2009 at 7:30am
Since I’m not only doing the usual holiday running around, but also trying to prepare for an upcoming three-week trip to India, I’m acutely aware of just how hectic this time of the year can be... [More »]
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The Many Faces of Unemployment
by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, December 8, 2009 at 7:30am
Last Friday we got word that the employment picture in the U.S. improved substantially over the month of November... [More »]
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Give Thanks for Dividend Bargains
by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, December 1, 2009 at 7:30am
My wife and I hosted a big Thanksgiving dinner last Thursday, and as you might expect, the subject of investing came up before we even sat down ... [More »]
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Another Options Strategy for Income Investors
by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, November 24, 2009 at 7:30am
Writing covered calls is one of my favorite ways to generate additional income from stocks already owned, especially if they also pay dividends. That’s because you basically get two cash flows from ... [More »]
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Fighting Soaring College Costs
by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, November 17, 2009 at 7:30am
I’ve talked a lot about soaring costs for many of our biggest needs and wants — energy, health care, food, and more. But if you have kids or grandkids, you’re probably aware of another ... [More »]
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I Blame Everyone for the Credit Card Fiasco
by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, November 10, 2009 at 7:30am
I was recently talking to my mother, and she started talking about the evil credit card companies, and how they were out to get us all — right now — by jacking up our rates unfairly in a bid to ... [More »]
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A Preferred Share Primer
by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, November 3, 2009 at 7:30am
When I talk about dividend stocks here at Money and Markets, I almost always mean common shares of a company. But today I want to tell you about another class of stock that some income investors ... [More »]
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Two More of My Favorite Technical Indicators …
by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, October 27, 2009 at 7:30am
Two weeks ago, I told you why a quick look at Colgate’s chart led me to believe that its run was going to continue through the early fall. And I also said that I had a few reasons to be wary of the ... [More »]
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Yet Another Government Insult to Retirement Incomes
by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, October 20, 2009 at 7:30am
As if it isn’t bad enough that most retirement portfolios are still down significantly from their levels a year or two ago ... that housing wealth has been evaporated in towns across the country ... [More »]
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Have you been watching that stock I named in August?
by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, October 13, 2009 at 7:30am
Back in August, I did something I rarely do here in Money and Markets ... I profiled a specific stock, one that was currently in the Dividend Superstars portfolio. The company was ... [More »]
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Two Barriers on the Road to Wealth
by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, October 6, 2009 at 7:30am
Have you ever been driving on the road when traffic suddenly comes to a halt? You sit there wondering what the heck is going on up ahead for ten or fifteen minutes. Then, suddenly .. [More »]
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Four Big Economic Indicators to Watch
by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, September 29, 2009 at 7:30am
There are many items that influence the day-to-day moves in a stock, bond, or commodity’s price — earnings news, corporate financials, simple supply and demand, and a whole lot ... [More »]
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What Company Would You Buy with $100 Million?
by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, September 22, 2009 at 7:30am
Today, I’d like to play make believe by pretending we’ve just won $100 million with a Powerball ticket. I only suggest playing the lottery in Fantasy Land, of course. In real life I consider ... [More »]
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Pension Plan Shocker Dead Ahead!
by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, September 15, 2009 at 7:30am
I’ve talked about corporate pension plans before, but in a few short weeks I think we’re going to get some shocking news. Namely, that the government backup for failed pension plans is ... [More »]
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What to Make of Corporate Bonds Now
by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, September 8, 2009 at 7:30am
As I’ve made clear plenty of times before ... I consider solid dividend-paying stocks to be the best long-term income investments on the planet. But I also keep a watchful eye on other ... [More »]
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Important Follow-Up on Dollar-Cost Averaging
by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, September 1, 2009 at 7:30am
Three weeks ago, I showed you why dollar-cost averaging would have worked very well since the first time I mentioned the strategy here in Money and Markets during the summer of 2008 ... [More »]
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Sizing Up the Big, Bad Bear
by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, August 25, 2009 at 7:30am
It seems as though just about everyone has now completely written off the bear market as “so last quarter.” Isn’t it amazing what a couple months of upticks can do? Don’t get me ... [More »]
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Bernanke’s Fed “Indecision” Meeting and More …
by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, August 18, 2009 at 7:30am
Last week, the Federal Reserve held a two-day interest rate policy meeting, and nobody was surprised by their lack of action. Heck, it’s unlikely that we’re going to see a real change ... [More »]
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Recent Proof that Dollar-Cost Averaging Still Works
by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, August 11, 2009 at 7:30am
More than a year ago — when the S&P 500 had begun to wobble but still sat comfortably near 1,400 — I wrote a column right here in Money and Markets talking about dollar-cost averaging ... [More »]
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Named Inside: One of My Favorite Consumer Staples Stocks
by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, August 4, 2009 at 7:30am
I don’t normally do this in Money and Markets, but today I want to do an in-depth story on one single company ... a stock that is currently in the Dividend Superstars portfolio.If you’re ... [More »]
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Important Update on Sector Performances During This Rally
by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, July 28, 2009 at 7:30am
I spend a lot of time crunching data, reading third-party research, and studying market history. And one of my favorite things to watch is the relative performance of the individual market ... [More »]
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Making Sense of Second-Quarter Earnings So Far
by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, July 21, 2009 at 7:30am
As a stock guy, I keep a close eye on earnings releases ... not just on the companies that I follow for Dividend Superstars, but across all sectors and industries. That’s because earnings results ... [More »]
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My Case Against (Most) Retailers …
by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, July 14, 2009 at 7:30am
In last week’s column, I gave you some ideas on the kind of companies I currently favor ... namely those firms that have strong brands, economically-insensitive products, and strong finances ... [More »]
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The Latest on Dividends, and other Market Metrics …
by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, July 7, 2009 at 7:30am
I wanted to take a break from the consumer-oriented pieces I’ve been doing lately to give you a complete update on the stock market in general, and dividend payments in particular ... [More »]
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Does "Unfair Isaac" Give Credit Where It's Due?
by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, June 30, 2009 at 7:30am
In the Dividend Superstars issue that just went to press, I talked about FICO credit scores — the three-digit numbers that greatly determine how much money we can borrow, what interest ... [More »]
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Wow! Thanks for All the Wisdom!
by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, June 23, 2009 at 7:30am
I was amazed and overwhelmed by all of the great feedback you shared with me after last week’s column. My blog was filled with your wonderful anecdotes, advice, and even a little ... [More »]
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A Day in the Life of “Mr. and Mrs. Median”
by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, June 16, 2009 at 7:30am
I often use a lot of market history and economic data to support the arguments I make here in Money & Markets. That’s because I believe crunching numbers, comparing the past to the ... [More »]
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Get Out of Higher-Risk Stocks Now!
by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, June 9, 2009 at 7:30am
The stock market’s rally has been impressive. The major indexes are now up about 40 percent from their recent lows, give or take a few percentage points. And for anyone who scooped ... [More »]
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GM's Bankruptcy and Changes to the Dow!
by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, June 2, 2009 at 7:30am
The bankruptcy of General Motors isn’t surprising ... in fact, Martin repeatedly warned Money & Markets readers — for years — that it was coming. Still, the effects of this bankruptcy will ... [More »]
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What to Make of Annuities Now
by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, May 26, 2009 at 7:30am
Last week I talked about Social Security. And given the problems with that program, along with the toll the bear market has taken on many portfolios, it’s clear why there has been a ... [More »]
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Social Security Situation Worsening; What to Do …
by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, May 19, 2009 at 7:30am
We got lots of disturbing news from Washington last week. But the latest updates on Social Security and Medicare really got my blood boiling. It is now estimated that both programs’ ... [More »]
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Money Market Mayhem Continues!
by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, May 12, 2009 at 7:30am
Although Wall Street has been partying like it’s 1999 or 2007 or some other happy time, I recently saw yet another stark reminder that our recent financial crisis did in fact just happen ... [More »]
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Time to Start Nibbling on Corporate Bonds?
by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, May 5, 2009 at 7:30am
I think Mike Larson did a great job outlining the dangers of longer-term U.S. Treasury bonds in his past two Money & Markets columns. And like Mike, I continue to believe there is more pain ... [More »]
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As Goes GM’s Pension, So Goes Yours?
by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, April 28, 2009 at 3:00pm
Yesterday, General Motors said it was cutting another 21,000 jobs, getting rid of its Pontiac brand, and begging Washington to take a 50 percent equity stake. Meanwhile, Chrysler reached ... [More »]
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Making Sense of These Deflationary Times
by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, April 21, 2009 at 3:00pm
Clearly, deflation remains the biggest near-term threat to the U.S. economy. At the consumer level, prices pulled back 0.1 percent during the month of March. That was mainly driven by ... [More »]
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Putting All Your Nest Eggs in One Basket?
by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, April 14, 2009 at 3:00pm
Even though The Bunny is long gone, I’m still finding pieces of fake Easter basket grass all over the house. I’m not sure why we bothered to put it in our daughter Vela’s basket anyway ... [More »]
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A Few Days Left to Contribute to IRAs and Coverdells!
by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, April 7, 2009 at 3:00pm
Last week, I told you all about the way dividends are taxed. And I hope you were able to use that information as you prepare for the looming April 15th tax filing deadline. As you well know, that’s ... [More »]
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Dividends and Tax Time
by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, March 31, 2009 at 3:00pm
As much as I hate to say it, yet another tax day is rapidly approaching. Like me, you’re probably busy wrestling with all the forms and trying to figure out all the convoluted rules and regulations ... [More »]
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Another Silent Threat to Your Wealth
by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, March 24, 2009 at 3:00pm
I don’t need to tell you how much damage has been done to our country’s wealth over the last year and a half. We have seen trillions lost as housing prices plummet, stocks crater, and jobs get ... [More »]
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What to Make of Those Two Big Credit Downgrades
by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, March 17, 2009 at 3:00pm
Last week saw two publicly-traded companies lose their AAA credit ratings. That might not sound like a lot ... until you realize that there were only seven to start with! First, Standard & Poor’s ... [More »]
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Lessons from Warren Buffett's Latest Letter
by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, March 10, 2009 at 3:00pm
"By yearend, investors of all stripes were bloodied and confused, much as if they were small birds that had strayed into a badminton game." That's how Warren Buffett describes the recent market ... [More »]
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Has Washington Forgotten Our Other Financial Mess?
by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, March 3, 2009 at 3:00pm
My new retirement report just went to press yesterday, so the material is fresh in my mind. And while I can't share the contents with you here in Money and Markets, there is one topic in that ... [More »]
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Dealing with Dire Dividend News
by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, February 24, 2009 at 3:00pm
Yesterday, JPMorgan Chase said it was cutting its dividend by a whopping 87%. And unfortunately it’s just the latest in a long string of major companies slashing their payments ... [More »]
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Lifecycle Funds and Your Asset Allocation
by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, February 17, 2009 at 3:30pm
I’ve been getting some great comments and questions on my blog, and much of the recent activity has been focused on retirement matters. The timing of these questions couldn’t be better since ... [More »]
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Deflation Is Here; Time for Inflation Protection?
by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, February 10, 2009 at 3:00pm
It’s clear that deflation has taken center stage in the U.S. economy. As I told my Dividend Superstars subscribers last month, you can see falling prices just about everywhere you look ... [More »]
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Is the Market Headed Back to November's Low?
by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, February 3, 2009 at 3:00pm
The S&P 500 lost 8.57% last month, which was the worst January on record. Even worse, a January loss for the index has typically meant a full-year loss for the market about 75% of the time ... [More »]
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Merger and Dividend News from Pfizer and Dow Chemical
by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, January 27, 2009 at 3:00pm
I can’t believe how quickly things are changing in these markets! One trading day after I sent out my latest issue of Dividend Superstars, two firms that are widely held by investors announced ... [More »]
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A big stock rally in … 2011?
by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, January 20, 2009 at 3:21pm
I don’t consider myself a political person. I don’t stay up late on election nights to tally results. Nor do I put signs up in my front yard. In fact, my personal views about the way our great ... [More »]
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Building a Better Bond Portfolio
by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, January 13, 2009 at 3:00pm
I’m always talking about dividend stocks, and I continue to believe they’re the best income investments around. That’s why my recently-published 2009 Annual Forecast Issue contained a whole slew of ... [More »]
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Finding Solid Dividend Payers in 2009
by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, January 6, 2009 at 3:00pm
The New Year got off to a strong start with stocks posting a nice little pop on the first day of trading. And even after yesterday’s pullback, the broad indexes are still well above their recent lows ... [More »]
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Financial New Year's Resolutions
by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, December 30, 2008 at 3:00pm
Building wealth is all about making good choices. And when you boil it down to its essence, it’s about linking together a bunch of small steps toward one, clear, long-term goal ... [More »]
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Three More Year-End Steps for Greater Wealth
by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, December 23, 2008 at 3:00pm
First off, I want to take this opportunity to wish you a very happy holiday season! I hope you find plenty of time to celebrate with your friends and family. And I look forward to helping you ... [More »]
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Two Smart Year-End Moves
by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, December 16, 2008 at 3:00pm
This past year was rough on most investment portfolios. Many are worth a lot less on paper than they were in 2007. But there are always ways to turn those lemons into lemonade before New Year’s Day ... [More »]
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Three gift ideas for your favorite investor
by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, December 9, 2008 at 3:00pm
With the holiday shopping season in full swing, you might be busily hunting for gifts that are both affordable and practical. So today I wanted to share three ideas that I think make great gifts for that special someone in your life ... [More »]
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Another Way to Gauge the Safety of Dividends
by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, December 2, 2008 at 3:00pm
Over the past few weeks, I’ve told you about some dividend bright spots — companies and sectors where payments continue to rise despite the weakening economy. But I’ve also told you ... [More »]
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A Hidden Benefit of Roth IRAs
by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, November 25, 2008 at 3:00pm
With the upcoming holiday rapidly approaching, we should all start thinking about what we’re thankful for. You know, just in case someone at the dinner table puts us on the spot. Here’s what ... [More »]
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A Time to Face Our Investing Fears
by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, November 18, 2008 at 3:00pm
Every time it looks like a real stock market rally is about to happen, the indexes end up right back down where they started (or lower). Panic and doomsday scenarios are all over the newspapers ... [More »]
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Look at the Dividend Tech Stocks!
by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, November 11, 2008 at 3:00pm
Last week, I told you that McDonald's is a great example of a company with strong fundamentals and continued dividend strength. Yesterday, we saw more proof: The company said global same-store ... [More »]
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Supersize Your Dividends at McDonald's
by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, November 4, 2008 at 3:00pm
I'm not a fan of fast food. And since my wife is a strict vegetarian, I don't eat very many hamburgers, even of the slow-cooked variety. So you'd think McDonald's would be way off my radar ... [More »]
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Yes, You Can Still Find Solid, Reliable, Fat Dividends
by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, October 28, 2008 at 3:00pm
Dividend investors have a right to be worried at the moment. Not only are stock indexes plummeting, but a large number of firms are also slashing their payments to shareholders. Many are ... [More »]
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Dividend Superstars Crushing Other Income Investments
by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, October 21, 2008 at 3:00pm
A few months ago, right here in Money and Markets, I said utility stocks that boast steadily rising dividend payments are better income investments than bonds. And as the credit ... [More »]
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A Big Step Toward Income AND Safety
by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, October 14, 2008 at 3:00pm
Last week, I gave you the numbers on previous bear and bull markets in the U.S. And I told you about some strategies that can work together to both protect you from downside market action ... [More »]
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Buffett and the Bear
by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, October 7, 2008 at 3:00pm
I listen to Warren Buffett's words carefully. Not because I'm a hero worshipper, but because the Oracle of Omaha knows the investment world inside and out. His conglomerate, Berkshire ... [More »]
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It takes some hammering to build a foundation …
by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, September 30, 2008 at 5:00pm
I just got back from Bangkok, and beyond the terrific temples and fascinating foods, two things stand out ...#1. The city's vigorous construction activity, especially the workers hammering away ... [More »]
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Two Major Retirement Decisions
by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, September 23, 2008 at 3:00pm
I know these are trying times for a lot of investors. But I hope the day-to-day swings don't dissuade you from keeping your eye on the big picture. That's especially true of your retirement planning ... [More »]
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Five Misunderstood Stock Market Terms
by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, September 16, 2008 at 7:30am
There's a lot of confusion out there in the markets right now. But I want you to know that my stance hasn't changed one bit — I continue to think dividend superstar stocks are a great way for income investors ... [More »]
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Your 2009 Tax Bill (and Beyond)
by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, September 9, 2008 at 3:00pm
With the national conventions behind us, and a series of debates now on the horizon, today I want to give you a little preview of what each of the two major party's candidates might do to ... [More »]
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Beijing Demands Dividends; Eight Chinese ADRs …
by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, September 2, 2008 at 3:00pm
The China Securities Regulatory Commission — Beijing's equivalent of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission — is pressing the country's listed companies to adopt more ... [More »]
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Dividends and More in Latin America
by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, August 26, 2008 at 3:00pm
I just got back from Costa Rica. It was my third visit to the country in the last ten years. And within that same decade, I've also spent time in Panama and Peru. As a surfer, I go to Latin ... [More »]
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Get Lazy with Dividend Exchange Traded Funds
by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, August 19, 2008 at 3:00pm
It's no secret that I believe a concentrated list of well-chosen dividend payers is the best way to secure healthy income and reap nice capital gains over time. That's especially true if you ... [More »]
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Your Top Five Dividend Questions Answered
by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, August 12, 2008 at 3:00pm
I get a lot of great feedback from readers, including lots of great questions about my favorite subject — dividends. Today I want to give you my answers to the five most common — and most ... [More »]
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Three Dividend Stocks That Love Devalued Dollars
by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, August 5, 2008 at 3:00pm
U.S. investors have few good choices right now. Our credit markets are seized up and bonds are fraught with risk ... interest rates on most conservative safe havens are insultingly low ... [More »]
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Safety AND High Yields
by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, July 29, 2008 at 3:00pm
Yesterday, the Dow plunged. Today, it's soaring. All proof positive that you urgently need two things: First, you need protection against the risk of stock price declines. Second, ... [More »]
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A Little-Known Benefit of Stock Indexes
by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, July 22, 2008 at 3:00pm
I love scouring the market for attractive stocks with smaller market capitalizations (the number of shares outstanding times the current stock price), especially ones that pay nice ... [More »]
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The Next Dividend Stock to Get Bought Out
by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, July 15, 2008 at 3:00pm
Last Friday, The Wall Street Journal reported that InBev would be upping its buyout offer for Anheuser-Busch by another $5 a share. On a day when the S&P 500 lost ground, shares of ... [More »]
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Three Ways to Guard Against Market Drops
by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, July 8, 2008 at 3:00pm
June wasn't kind to the stock market. In fact, the S&P 500 had its worst month since September 2002 and its worst June since 1930. So far, July hasn't been much better. End result: ... [More »]
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Five Small Steps for Big Financial Gains
by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, July 1, 2008 at 3:00pm
With the markets gyrating erratically ... the economy rapidly deteriorating ... and housing markets imploding all around us, it's hard to feel much control over our nation's financial destiny ... [More »]
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Why Dividends and Growth Go Together
by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, June 24, 2008 at 3:00pm
Florida summers are hot and humid, so we take a lot of family trips to our community's pool. It's a nice way to cool off, relax, and chat with our neighbors. I've met all kinds of interesting ... [More »]
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An Investing Strategy for the Ages
by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, June 17, 2008 at 3:00pm
My daughter Vela turned one last week. We had a great little island-theme party complete with grilled mahi-mahi, coconut cake, and pineapple ice cream. I'm not sure if Vela knew what ... [More »]
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Make Dividend Reinvestment Work for You!
by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, June 10, 2008 at 3:00pm
I recently got a question on my blog asking whether it's better to cash in dividend checks or reinvest them. It's a great topic, and I have a very definitive answer: If you're an income investor who ... [More »]
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The Real Misery Index
by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, June 3, 2008 at 3:00pm
Santa Barbara is hardly the picture of poverty. Oprah's mansion is there, and the city's median house is worth a cool million. Heck, I proposed to my wife there — we ate some tremendous ... [More »]
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Bud Is a Takeover Candidate? I’ll Drink to That!
by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, May 27, 2008 at 3:00pm
Wow! Three weeks ago, one of my recommended companies announced it was being acquired — at a nice premium — by Mars (with help from Warren Buffett). Now, another of my ... [More »]
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Your Pipeline to Profits: MLPs for Higher Yields!
by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, May 20, 2008 at 3:00pm
As you know, I think stockholders deserve to get their fair share of a company's profits. And that's why I love investing in companies that not only make substantial distributions to their shareholders ... [More »]
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A Great Way to Find Great Stocks!
by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, May 13, 2008 at 3:00pm
There are thousands of stocks trading on U.S. exchanges right now. And there are thousands more trading on major foreign exchanges. So there are clearly lots of opportunities out there at any given time ... [More »]
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Three Lessons from the Wrigley Buyout
by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, May 6, 2008 at 3:00pm
Last week, chewing gum powerhouse William Wrigley Jr. Co. made a major announcement — it was being acquired by privately-held Mars Inc. Even more interesting: Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway ... [More »]
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How to Give Children Financial Independence
by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, April 29, 2008 at 3:00pm
My daughter is only 10 months old, but my wife and I are already anticipating the day she comes asking us for money to buy the latest designer handbag. Disha is making a list of her favorite stores ... [More »]
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Why Utilities Really Trump Treasuries
by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, April 22, 2008 at 3:00pm
I recently read an article on Forbes' website that attempted to help income investors compare the merits of utility stocks and U.S. Treasury bonds. On the bad news side, the column noted ... [More »]
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5 Ways to Beat the Tax Man!
by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, April 15, 2008 at 3:00pm
Today is my least favorite day of the year. Like clockwork, Uncle Sam is knocking on my door ... he's asking for a handful of complicated forms ... oh, and he wants a large percentage of my hard-earned ... [More »]
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Solid Yields Despite Low Interest Rates
by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, February 5, 2008 at 7:30am
Tony Sagami is off today. And in light of the recent Fed actions to push interest rates down so far, so fast, he asked me to share my thoughts on income investments with you ... [More »]
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Named Inside: A Great Stock for Recession
by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, December 11, 2007 at 7:30am
Tony's off today, so he asked me to fill in for him. Since he's such an advocate of foreign investing, and I'm the advocate of dividend-paying stocks, I'm taking this opportunity to tell you ... [More »]
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Why Dividends Will Almost Always Make You Money
by Nilus Mattive | Saturday, June 16, 2007 at 7:30am
Martin's out of town today, so he asked me to fill in for him again. I'd like to use this opportunity to tell you more about a topic that too many analysts have neglected for too long: Dividends. See ... [More »]
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U.S. Stocks that BENEFIT from a Falling Dollar
by Nilus Mattive | Monday, June 11, 2007 at 8:00am
Good morning! Martin's off today. So he's asked me to jump in. I'm Nilus Mattive, the Associate Editor of Money and Markets, and it's my job to edit nearly every issue you get every morning ... [More »]
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Dividend yields of 7.5%, 8.3% and 13.1% …
by Nilus Mattive | Saturday, June 9, 2007 at 8:00am
Caring for seniors is a long tradition in our family — and perhaps in yours as well. When I was first going with Elisabeth, she was playing an important role in the care of her ailing grandmother ... [More »]
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Gala Edition: High Income with Richer Dividends
by Nilus Mattive | Saturday, June 2, 2007 at 8:00am
Never before has my generation — and my parents' generation — had a greater need for higher income! And never before have we seen most yields stay so low for so long! Fortunately, however, more ... [More »]
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Surviving Soaring Retirement Costs
by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, October 24, 2006 at 4:00pm
The Social Security Administration just announced that benefit recipients will get a 3.3% "raise" in 2007. But this cost-of-living adjustment just isn't going to cut it ... not in today's world. First off ... [More »]
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New! Double-Dipped Dividends and Incredible Income Stocks
by Nilus Mattive | Monday, October 23, 2006 at 8:00am
Martin is off today, enjoying a European vacation with his family. So he's asked me to jump in with my views on how stock investors can significantly boost their income. The topic has been on my mind ... [More »]
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The Coming Consumer Crunch
by Nilus Mattive | Friday, September 1, 2006 at 8:00am
When I first began working with my father to help him write his investment newsletter, I had scant experience and no formal training. I was barely 18. In contrast, Nilus Mattive, who works with all of ... [More »]
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