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The New Safe Portfolio: Why Stocks, Bonds, and Cash Aren't Enough Anymore

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People are going to have to save more and invest more if they want to keep their same standard of living. Future returns in the market will not be as strong as they were in the 80s and 90s. The spending feast of the past 10 years inflated demand and created an artificial economic growth that was illusory. Now, comes the hard part. The easy money days are over and we will need to work harder and invest more prudently. Those who did so during the boom can exploit market opportunities now. Those who went along for the ride will need to roll up their sleeves and play catch-up.

Helen of FL 12:53PM June 22, 2009

I am no expert but have taken some investing courses. Every investor should. You can learn basics on how to protect yourself such as putting in a stop order if the price of your ETF goes below its moving average by 5% or whatever your risk tolerance is. Another is learning to read the overall markets, e.g. S&P500 to see if you should even be investing in stocks or move your cash to the sidelines.

Andy Mallon of NY 3:22PM March 30, 2009

Google:
Peter Schiff
Jim Rogers
Marc Faber
Ron Paul

George Mason of VA 3:49PM March 29, 2009

I get a kick out of reading advice from financial advisers who failed to warn small "investors" (aka suckers) of the dangers ahead back in 2006-Oct 2008. I have no idea of author Hevener's past advice, but he's just listed more ways to let the rich skim funds off the working person.
Take gold. Yeah, buy into gold shares now, and perhaps watch gold crash back to the $700 range. (And as for buying gold coins, not mentioned here, sounds great until one tries to sell the damn things, with high coin dealer commissions. Gone are the days some banks bought and sold monetary gold coins.) REITs? No one has any memory of the dismal past performance of most REITs? With shopping centers collapsing, other commercial real estate tottering, and condo conversions failing, which REITs? Emerging market stocks? Right, after they collapsed more last year than US or Pacing stocks.
I am not offering an alternative investment path. Wish I knew where to put the little funds I have after my IRA and 401ks caved. Am very nervous about the U.S. dollar collapsing, but don't really know how to protect what I have. Norwegian kroners? Swiss francs? The loonie at its current value? Should I have confidence in Everbank's foreign currency CDs with their near-zero interest rates?
I counsel healthy skepticim from anyone professing to offer investment advise.

Alan O. of MD 11:44AM March 29, 2009