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

Do we have boom times in the U.S. or the start of a nutcracker of a new recession? For some of you, the next year is going to feel like a depression. For others, opportunities will be abundant, and you will enjoy tremendous gains in your portfolios. To help you end up on the latter side, this month I give you an overview of this complex economic, monetary, and investment scenario. And while the market’s volatility amid the credit mess can cause investors to worry, there are some reasons for optimism — especially considering the differences between today’s digital-age economy and the economy of old. Also remember that with volatility come opportunities to buy some very cheap stocks. In this issue, I also have updates to both my Monster Master Lists, with two new stocks and one new fund. Plus, all of our Top Ten Common Stocks remain strong buys, so read the January issue to find out more. Happy Holidays.

Tags: ABER, aber diamond, Anheuser Busch, BA, BAC, BACprJ, Bank of America, barclays, BHP, BHP Billiton, BKH, Black Hills, Boeing, BU, C, CDO, citigroup, coca-Cola, CPRF, credit cycle, Credit Suisse, CS, DIA, Dodge & Coz Stock, DODGX, don imus, dowdiamonds trust, EWS, EWZ, export, FDG, Fording Canadian Coal, GE, general electric, GLD, Harry Winston Diamon Corp., Hormel Foods, HRL, illinois tool works, industrial production, iShares Brazil, iShares Singapore, ITW, JNJ, johnson & johnson, KO, mcCormick, MKC, models, nestle, NILSY, Norilsk Nickel, NSRGY, nutcracker, PCL, PEP, Pepsico, pum creek, Rayonier, Rio Tinto, RTP, RYN, schlumberger, securitization, SLB, StatoilHydro, STO, streetTracks Gold Shares, TAVIX, Third Avenue International, Vanguard GNMA, VFIIX, WFMI, Whole foods, Young World Money Forecast

Many successful capital management firms and hedge funds took a scalding bath in August. In fact, Jeremy Grantham believes that up to half of the hedge funds and many of the private equity firms “will cease to exist.” But taking investment risks isn’t our method. Rather, my consistent advice to you over the years has been to rely first and foremost on adding cash to your retirement account through interest and dividends. The more you focus on compounding, the better you will sleep. This month I have a bank stock and three other companies that I am adding to my Monster Master List for you to invest in, as well as updates on my Top Ten Common Stocks. Also this month, I cover a mutual fund with a large stake in big bank stocks and what they are doing to make sure that shareholders have a reliable source of income. Make it a good month!

Tags: American Century Global BGEIX, Andarko Petroleum, Anglo American AAUKF, Apache APA, APC, BA, BAC, Bank of America, BDJ, BDV, BlackRock Dividen Achievers Trust, BlackRock Enhanced Dividend Achievers Trust, BlackRock Global Opportunities Equity trust, BOE, Boeing, boton globe, butterfly effect, C, Chevron, citigroup, compound interest, Corp. SYY, CVX, DODBX, Dodge & Cox balanced, Dodge & Cox income, DODIX, EWJ, Garmin, GDX, general electric AAA-rated 6.45%, GRMN, iShares MSCI japan, JM Smucker, Long-Term Capital Management, Market Vectors Gold Miners Index, mutual funds, NEM, nestle, Newmont Mining, NSRGY, PBG, PEP, Pepsi Bottling, Pepsico, PG, PRJPX, Procter & Gamble, RGR, ruger, SJM, Sturm, Sysco, T-bills, T. Rowe Price, T. Rowe Price Japan, TROW, United technologies, UTX, Vanguard GNMA, Vanguard Precious Mining & Mtals, VFIIX, VGPMX, wall street journal

“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

I need to remind you of what I wrote last month — most of the unique mutual funds are closing. But this month I have another option for you to consider. Along with the fund updates, I give you a tool to help you become an insightful investor — a way to review a company’s cash flow and determine if it is a good investment. Also, I have four new stock offerings for you to consider — a few laggards that I believe are really good buys right now, along with a new layout for the newsletter. Make it a good month.

Tags: Alliance Resource Partners, American Express, AXP, BA, BlackRock, Boeing, C, citigroup, DIS, Dividend Achievers, dividends, Dow Diamonds Trust, Enhanced Dividend Achievers, ETF, Fiduciary Claymore MLP, GG, Global Opportunity, Goldcorp, HBC, Holland balanced Fund, HSBC, J.M. Smucker, Jardine Matheson, JMHLY, JNJ, johnson & johnson, Mutual fund, Mutual Series, PEP, Pepsico, PetroFund, PTF, SJM, Sysco, SYY, T. Rowe Price New Era, time warner, TWX, United technologies, UTX, Vanguard Precious Metals & Mining, Walt Disney