It’s a presidential election year here in the United States, and elsewhere in the world, there are some nasty conditions arising in countries like Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iran, and China. Given all this, it’s very important that we stick to my core investment strategy — dividends, income and compound growth. And there are also some great international investments. This month I discuss one of my international favorites–it has become a world-class knowledge-based economy.

Tags: AA, Achievers Trust, AL, Alcoa, Alico, American Century Global Gold, American Express, Anadarko Petroleum, Apache, APC, Australlian dollar, avoid, AXP, Bank of Florida, Barron's, BDJ, BDV, BGEIX, BHP, BHP Billiton, BlackRock Dividend Achievers Trust, BlackRock Enhanced Dividend, BlackRock Global Opportunities, BlackRock World Investment Trust, BOE, BOFL, BWC, C, Canadian dollar, citigroup, Clinton, Companhia Vale do Rio Doce, Cresud, CRESY, CVRD, DIA, Dodge & Cox International, Dow Diamonds Trust, Dow Jones, Dow Jones Iindustrials, DUK, Duke Energy, election, EWA, EWH, EWL, EWS, FDX, Federal Express, Federated Investors, FICDX, Fidelity Canada, Fidelity Select Natural Gas, Fidelity Select Natural Gas Fund, FII, Franklin Mutual Series Financial Services � -Z Class, FSNGX, general electric, Giuliani, GLD, harley-davidson, HBC, HOG, HSBC Holdings, Illinois Tool, Investment Trusts, iShares MSCI Australia, iShares MSCI Hong Kong, iShares MSCI Singapore, iShares MSCI Switzerland, ITW, JOE, McCain, NAREIT, National Association of Real Estate, Obama, PCL, PEP, Pepsico, PLD, Plum Creek Timber, PPP, PRJPX, ProLogis Trust, purchasing power parity, RDS.A, Rio Tinto, Romney, Royal Dutch Shell, RTP, Singapore dollar, St. Joe, streetTracks Gold Shares, Sysco Corp, SYY, T. Rowe Price Emerging Europe & Mediterranean, T. Rowe Price Japan, TAREX, TAVIX, TEFAX, the Wall Street Journal, Third Avenue International Value, Third Avenue Real Estate Value, Transports, UL, UNG, Unilever, United States Natural Gas ETF, Vanguard GNMA, Vanguard Value Index, Vanguard Wellesley Income, VFIIX, VIVAX, VNO, Vornado Realty Trust, VWINX, Xstrata, XTA.L, yuan

“Walk, Don’t Run” as recorded by Johnny Smith and also by the Ventures was a seminal rock and roll classic, and it is a great approach to start out your lifetime financial plan. Take it slow and easy. I can get you started with this approach with some “retirement arithmetic.” It will help you sort out your financial options. Also, I review my reasons for continuing to invest in gold and why you should do the same. Along with those gems, I have two new preferreds for the fixed-income portions of your portfolios. And I give you updates on many of my Monster Master List Stocks. Make it a good month.

Tags: AA, Alcoa, American Century Global Gold, American Express, Australia, AXP, BA, Berkshire Hathaway, BlackRock Enhanced Dividend Achievers, BlackRock Global Opportunities, Boeing, BRKb, C, China, citigroup, DIS, Disney, Dow Diamonds Trust, FAL, Falconbridge, GE, general electric, gold, Hong Kong, Inco, inflation, iShares, JNJ, JOE, johnson & johnson, Marvel, Microsoft, MSFT, MVL, N, purchasing power parity, Royal bank of Scotland, Singapore, St. Joe, streetTracks Gold Shares, Third Avenue Real Estate Value, Vanguard Precious Metals & Mining, Vanguard Short Term Investment Grade, Vangurad GNMA