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The article focuses on maximizing retirement benifits by proper planning. Topics discussed include investing into 401(k) plan and diversified portfolio; impact of taxes, unpredictable investment returns, and rising health care costs on the same; and managing the spending for retirement and use the inflation rate for adjusting withdrawals in subsequent years.

In this article, the author discusses latest buys and sells of Warren Buffett, chief executive officer (CEO) of Berkshire Hathaway, which lead to increase in its market value and average annual compound rate of return. Topics discussed include increase in stake in Apple making its biggest position at Wells Fargo, unloading of shares in American Airlines as part of minor repositioning, and accumulation of majority of stakes at International Business Machines (IBM).

The article offers information on the better rate of return in the index funds in the U.S. Topics discussed include claim more than half of the assets in the investment-management business by 2020; portfolio valuation of Vanguard 500 Index which is linked to Standard & Poor's 500-stock index; and low-fees, tax and trading expenses in index funds.

The article focuses on several dividend-paying stocks falling into three categories, brisk growth, stability and high yields. Topics discussed include no delivering of sizable share-price gains by high-yield stocks with stronger price appreciation produced from stocks with greater dividend growth, firms steadily raising their dividends such as Johnson & Johnson with increasing revenues due to entry of new drugs and medical devices in the market and Procter & Gamble with brands such as Gillette.

A chart is presented with informant ion on the annualized total return of U.S. stock funds such as Vanguard, Putnam, and Prudential as well as international stock funds including Aberdeen, Alliance Bernstein, and Fidelity Advisor.

The article presents recommendations for investments as of June 2013. Topics include the low yield of U.S. Treasury bonds compared to projected inflation rates, high yield products such as floating-rate bank loans, preferred stocks, and master limited partnerships (MLPs), and high-return, high-risk stocks and funds such as Northern Tier Energy, Advantage Municipal Income Trust II, and Invesco Mortgage Capital.

The article profiles 25 U.S. no-load mutual funds selected by the publication based on factors such as long-term performance, expenses, and annual returns. Noted funds on the list include Harding Loevner Emerging Markets, Metropolitan West Unconstrained Bond, and Osterweis Strategic Income. Topics covered include corporate bonds, portfolio management, and growth rates. INSETS: How We Pick the Funds;The Markets and Our Picks Thrive.

The article looks at index mutual funds, as of 2013. It reports that index funds have proliferated, rendering the choice of a fund more complex for investors. It cites their advantages, including strong financial performance and lower fees than actively managed funds typically carry. It discusses various categories of index funds, including exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and funds indexed to commodities.

The article advises readers on which bond funds and exchange-traded funds (ETFs) provide the best yields for investors while minimizing risk. Recommended investments include short and medium-term bonds, municipal bonds, mortgage securities, high-yield bonds, and emerging-markets debt .It suggests investors take on more risk by purchasing bonds with longer maturities or those with lower credit ratings to boost yield. Specific mutual funds and exchange-traded funds are mentioned. INSET: A Missed Call on Interest Rates.

The article focuses on companies that are predicted to maintain growth and stock dividend yield. Examples are listed as the fast food restaurant chain McDonald's, the consumer products conglomerate Colgate-Palmolive, and the fastener company Fastenal. The computer manufacturing company International Business Machines (IBM) and the diabetes-care product maker Novo Nordisk are also listed.

The article presents investment advice for 2011. In the author's view stocks could achieve decent gains of up to 10%, even if unemployment remains high and economic growth subdued, because corporations are in generally good financial shape and often do a substantial share of their business in faster-growing foreign markets. Among firms whose shares are recommended are consumer-electronics producer Apple Inc., consumer-goods maker Procter & Gamble, and semiconductor-equipment manufacturer Marvell Technology. INSET: A Mixed Bag for Our 2010 Calls.

The article discusses investments in higher-yielding accounts without sacrificing investment safety in the U.S. Some community banks and credit unions offer up to 5 percent on balances of up to 25,000 U.S. dollars. Certificates of Deposit (CD) are ideal for money above 25,000 U.S. dollars. It is also suggested to invest in short-term bonds and bank loans.

The article provides information on the top-performing stock funds from 2007-2009. The average one-year return for the different categories ranged from -20 percent to -32 percent. The average ten-year returns in large-company growth and large-company blend were found to be negative. According to the article, investing more abroad, particularly in fast-growing emerging markets is needed for larger returns. Categories of stock funds include large-company value funds, small and midsize growth funds, and small and midsize blend funds.

This article focuses on the performance of Smithtown Bancorp. In 2008, it reported a 10% increase in profits to $15.7 million or $1.55 per share. The stock was able to post a return of 12% annually over the past ten years which beats Standard & Poor's 500-stock index by an average of 15 percentage points each year. In addition, the bank has successfully avoiding making bad loans. The bank chose not to participate in the federal government's Troubled Asset Relief Program even though it was eligible for $38 million in capital. INSET: Five More Stress-Free Banks.

The article assesses the performance of investment advisors during the financial crisis and stock-market collapse in the U.S. It notes that the judgment on the performance of advisors should be based on regular reports on the dollar and percentage returns of the investment portfolio. The discipline imposed on chartered financial analysts (CFA) and certified financial planners (CFP) is mentioned. INSETS: Do a Background Check;Putting Your Interests First.

The article presents information on the top 25 mutual funds recommended by "Kiplinger's Personal Finance" magazine, as of May 2009. Since taking over Fidelity Contrafund in September 1990, Will Danoff has led the large-company growth fund to an annualized return of 11%. The portfolio turnover rate of Vanguard Primecap Core is said to be exceptionally low for a growth fund. Under Joel Tillinghast, the fund has returned an annualized 11% since its inception in December 1989. INSETS: Tax-Smart Investing;After a Miserable Year, We Substitute Five New Funds;THREE PLANS FOR REACHING YOUR GOALS;KEY INFORMATION ABOUT THE KIPLINGER 25

The article examines various investment products that promise secure returns. Annuities often involve lump-sum investments of $100,000 or more. Investors can expect generous annual withdrawals without fear of outliving their savings, but they often pay from 0.6% to 1% of their initial investment amount for guarantees that include minimum withdrawal benefits or minimum income benefits. Stable-value funds are offered primarily through employers' defined-contribution plans. INSET: SIPC TO THE RESCUE.

The article outlines some of the best growth companies that investors should consider for the long-term. One company is Philip Morris International. One advantage of the company is that it can push through price increases and that it is a profitable business, having a 55% return on equity. Another growth company to consider is Nestlé. The company has a bulletproof balance sheet which enables it to maintain a triple-A credit rating. Also the company's earnings growth remains steady.

The article features Dimensional Fund Advisors (DFA). Among the executives of DFA are economist Myron Scholes, chief investment officer Eduardo Repetto and University of Chicago finance professor Eugene Fama. The DFA philosophy is based on the relationship between risk and return, which is said to be mean the riskier stocks produce higher returns on average over time than other types of stocks. One of the tactics used by DFA to increase returns is flexible approach to indexing.

The article describes eight investing categories that produce good-to-great current returns. They include closed-end income funds such as the First Trust Strategic High Income which borrows to invest in bank loans, mortgage related securities and junk bonds. Another are junk bonds that rebounded smartly as the credit crunch eased and investors began to feel more confident that the economic downturn would not be severe. INSET: Rich Returns From Safe Bonds.

The article recommends several bond funds for investors. Dodge & Cox Income has a nearly 20-year history of producing above-average returns with low risk. TCW Total Return Bond is said to be a safe way to invest in mortgage securities, one of the biggest sectors of the bond market. Vanguard Inflation-Protected Securities fund was up 12% in 2007 as rising prices and falling interest rates sent investors searching for inflation protection.

The article offers a look at the performance of several tax-free bond funds. It explains the various categories of tax-free bond funds, which include shorter-term municipal funds, intermediate-term municipal funds, long-term municipal funds and high-yield municipal funds. It shows the annualized total return and decile rank of various tax-free bond funds such as Aim High Income Municipal A, Aim Municipal Bd A and Alpine Ultra Short Tax Optimized Inc.

The article offers a look at mutual funds in the U.S. that have the best returns in various categories. Large-company growth funds struck back in 2007. American Century Legacy Focused Large Cap, a no-load fund that is less than two years old, led this category in 2007. Four years of mostly outstanding performance came to a crashing halt for small and midsize value funds in 2007, with Pinnacle Value leading the category. Meanwhile, Energy and natural resources funds dominated the sector funds due to the six-year-long bull market in gold and oil prices.

The article presents some basic facts about mutual funds. It compares the benefits of investing in mutual funds with stock picking. It claims that stock mutual funds can tap double-digit returns. It offers some tips to investors on selecting mutual funds for their investment portfolio and provides advice on selling funds. INSETS: Peace of mind;Beware of fee creep.

The article presents strategies that investors can use to maximize returns and minimize income taxes in the U.S. For investors, 2008 is a significant tax year because the 5% and 15% rates on long-term capital gains and qualified stock dividends are set to expire at the end of 2010. Investors also have a rare opportunity to take profits on stocks or funds and pay no tax. If one do not need income, consider tilting holdings toward stocks that do not pay dividends, such as growth stocks. INSETS: PAY UNCLE SAM ON YOUR TERMS;BENEFITING FROM CAREFUL MANAGEMENT;THE JOYS OF TAX-FREE INTEREST;Turn Investment Loses Into Tax Savings

The article presents five strategies for identifying stocks that will keep one out of trouble during stormy markets. For statistics geeks, the intersection of safety and good performance means a stock has a high alpha and a low beta. Alpha measures the amount by which an investment's return exceeds the yield of risk-free Treasury bills. Beta compares a stock's movements with that of a benchmark for domestic stocks, typically Standard & Poor's 500-stock index. INSET: DISCOUNT hunters.

The article focuses on the tools used in retirement planning. The author says a software can calculate probabilities based on a long list of assumptions, including the rate of inflation and investment returns. A Monte Carlo simulation can factor in a range of possible returns as well as a range of inflation rates and other factors. Morningstar's Asset Allocator assumes retirees will be conservative so it builds in a gloomy 1%-a-year after-inflation return on investments after retirement.

The article talks about tripling investment gains in the U.S. To triple money in five years, an investor must earn an annualized 24.6 percent return, such as investing in T. Rowe Price Media & Telecom. To compound money by 14.7 percent annualized, invest with a talented fund manager who looks for small and middle-size companies capable of generating growth of that magnitude. By investing in Selected American Shares, investors can triple their money in ten years. INSETS: TRIPLE PLAYS;How LEVERAGE hits home;A bet on COLLEGE costs.

The article offers information on the top 10 best commission-charging stock funds in 2006. Since its 1993 launch, Keeley Smell Cap Value has delivered big gains by investing in an unusual niche: businesses undergoing a metamorphosis. At heart, Keeley is a bargain hunter. Legg Mason Partners Aggressive Growth has returned an annualized 14% over the past 23 years. In Victory Diversified Stock's 17-year history, it lost money only one year, 2002, when it fell 23%. INSET: NO-LOAD clones of load funds.

This article suggests that investors should focus on quality to cope with the current risk-averse environment of 2006. It makes senses to shift some money from small-company funds to large-company funds, especially those rich in dividend-payers. Robert Millen, co-manager of Jensen Portfolio, claims one way to discern quality is to study a company's return on equity. Although foreign stocks took the brunt of the recent correction, one can still make a case for them. INSETS: HEDGE funds that work;Preparing for ROCKY times.

The article offers business ideas for generating great current returns. Investing in a trust gives one an interest in its assets, usually part of the output of working oil or gas fields. Bank stocks appear to be an especially attractive source of juicy yields. Other sectors where one can find high-yielding common stocks are drugs and big, integrated energy companies. INSET: Once again, CASH rules.

The article offers guidelines on investing in educational technology. Schools in the U.S. have spent more than 25 million dollars on various forms of educational technology, such as whiteboard, computers and electronic pens. According to Market Data Retrieval, the use of such technology will increase by 2006. It is necessary that schools must construct valid measures to evaluate the full benefits from such investments. School purchasers must have a true understanding of the cost of the technology.

Offers ideas on investing in the U.S. market in 2005. Average yields on one-year certificates of deposit (CD); Advantages of money-market mutual funds; Strategy for staying flexible with CD investments.

Offers ideas on investments that pay solid dividend or interest income. Type of mortgage real estate investment trusts that should be avoided; Advantages of investing in debts or bonds issued in developing countries; Key to investing in emerging-markets debt; Potential yield with blue-chip banks and utilities. INSET: Where you can find fat TAX-FREE YIELDS.

Presents an interview with Ron Muhlenkamp, owner of Muhlenkamp Fund, about investing. Association between economy and individual stocks; Perception on return on equity; Factors that he considers in investing.

Presents eight ways to earn eight percent or more on investments during a time of low-returns. Increased risk associated with eight percent yields in an environment in which risk-free returns yield one percent; Recommendation that investors take prudent risks; Closed-end mutual funds; Preferred stock; Corporate junk bonds; Real estate investment trusts; Municipal bonds; Investments in royalty trusts; Purchasing individual corporate bonds; Investing in mortgages. INSET: THE 4% SOLUTION TO INSOMNIA, by Courtney McGrath.

The article focuses on online savings and checking accounts in the U.S. that offer attractive yields at lower fees. Topics discussed include no minimum-balance requirement at Bank of Internet USA Rewards Checking account, interest offered by GE Capital Bank Online Savings and MySavingsDirect My Savings, and healthy interest rates offered by Nationwide's online banking unit on certificates of deposit (CD).

Charts are presented which show the returns and yields of 215 of the largest taxable and tax-free bond mutual funds that only require $25,000 or less to open an account and 117 of the largest exchange-traded bond funds that have existed for at least one year as of April 2014.

The article discusses popular retirement plan mutual funds, with a focus on funds that provide the greatest rates of return . Topics include a long-term analysis of popular 401(k) plan funds based upon volatility and performance, advice for altering 401(k) choices to avoid poorly performing funds, and recommendations for the best funds in categories including target-date funds, balanced funds, and global and foreign stock funds. INSET: What to Do If Your Choices Sink.

The article discusses six fast-growing U.S. companies that the author predicts will produce returns to investors, with information on price-earnings ratios of their stock. Companies include aircraft leasing company Air Lease, electrical generator manufacturer Generac Holdings, and medical waste disposal company Stericycle.

The article presents methodology and tools to help districts measure and articulate the costs and benefits of proposed technology projects. It presents several methodologies proposed by several school chief information officers(CIO).CIO Steve Young has said that he would not always calculate return on investment for everything. CIO Lewis Wynn states that he would focus on high-priority purchases. CIO Alice Owen mentions that he would be clear about their needs.

The article offers the author's insights on the state of stock index returns. It says that companies in the Standard & Poor's 500 Index are expected to record 6% growth in earnings in 2012 and 10% in 2013. Analysts also expect that S&P firms will improve buy-outs by 15% in average. It mentions the increase in bank lending which is a sign of recovery. INSET: NO LOVE FOR BONDS.

The article presents an analysis of fixed-income, high yield investments, which are also yield steady. Included in the author's discussion of fixed-income investments are investor grade high-quality bonds, and speculative grade, lower quality bonds, which are high-yield, or junk bonds. Topics include the relationship between spreads and default rates, and the risk of high-yield bonds. INSET: FOUR TOP JUNK BOND FUNDS.

The article discusses the advantages of investing in stable-value funds for retirees during the financial crisis. From the stock market's peak on October 9, 2007, through its trough on March 9, 2009, the average stable-value fund returned 7%, while Standard & Poor's 500-stock index lost 55%. Stable-value funds also returned an annualized 5.5%, on average, over the past ten years through June 30, 2009.

The article discusses how hidden investment charges can affect a person's comfortable retirement. Fees for managing investments are subtracted from gains or added to losses before calculating the annual return. Other costs, such as administrative and record-keeping fees, are often divvied up among plan participants. A recent AARP study found that more than 80% of 401(k) plan participants were unaware of how much they were paying in fees associated with their company's retirement savings plan.

The article stresses the need for investors to diversify their investment portfolio. It explains the effects of asset selection on the total return and volatility of an investment. It describes different types of investments, such as stocks and bonds, and presents three model portfolios that an investor can adopt. It also advises investors to invest in funds that seek growth stocks as well as those that specialize in value stocks. INSETS: Long-term: 10+ years away;Medium-term: 5 to 10 years;Short-term: Fewer than 5 years.

State pensions have seen overall improvement, but there are some notable laggards. Strong investment returns have boosted the median funding ratio…the fraction of what is needed now in order to deliver promised future benefits… to 72.5%. [Extracted from the article]

The article focuses on the exchange-traded-fund (ETF) industry and presents suggestions for choosing a potential fund. It analyzes the legitimate investing theme of ETF and its marketing methods. The author suggests examining the fund's goals, strategies and holdings to make sure that the investor was getting the right exposure.

The article focuses on top-yielding online savings accounts in the U.S. Topics covered include advice for investors to choose savings accounts that consistently offers a strong yield, reason for excluding the Fitness Bank Savings Account from the top-yielding savings account chart, and yield of Purepoint Financial Online Savings and Live Oak Bank Online Savings.

The article presents information on new ways of measuring risk to help investors in determining the stocks that can be high-yielding. Topics covered include spreads of unconventional income securities being chosen by some investors in response to the collapse of bank rates and bond yields, areas that investors can tap for high yield such as commercial mortgage-backed securities and nonbank business lending and some of the recommended investments like Ares Capital and Apollo Investment.