As the world evolves, so, too, does the landscape for income investors. Emerging markets — any country in the process of rapid growth and industrialization — were once the exotic purview of Wall Street’s high-risk trading desks. Read More

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

The U.S. federal government has 1.8 million civilian employees. Add in postal workers, and that number swells to 2.5 million. The government also owns a lot of land — about 30% of the country, in fact — but in addition to Grand Teton National Park and the Aberdeen Proving Grounds… Read More

They say the first time parents feel old is when they realize their children are old. When I graduated college, my mother still called me her baby. When I turned 40, she said I still reminded her of a schoolgirl. Then one night, my mother and I… Read More

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

Foreign stocks simply can’t be ignored. Thirty years ago, U.S. markets accounted for about 70% of the world’s stock market capitalization. That figure has fallen to about 40% today and is likely to keep falling with the rise of Brazil, India, China and others. Read More

Raise your right hand and repeat after me: “I will not get caught up in the banking hype.” Now say it again. This time like you mean it. Three banks — Citigroup (NYSE: C), Bank of America (NYSE: BAC) and Wells Fargo (NYSE: WFC)… Read More

The clock is ticking. We don’t have much time. That’s not just the opening line of the upcoming season of “24,” it’s the statistical reality of the world’s petroleum reserves. Fact: The world consumes 80 million barrels of oil every day. Read More

Fossil fuels are out, alternative energy is in and dozens of companies are likely to benefit from the transition. Investors can use one security to capture these imminent gains. Leaders of 192 countries are meeting at the U.N. Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen to… Read More

Exactly 250 U.S. companies are valued at more than $10 billion, but only 18 of them — the top 7.2% — have no long-term debt on their balance sheets. It’s an impressive statistic, but perhaps more notable to investors is that… Read More