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

As the month of July was coming to a close, the Dow fell by over 300 points in one day. On a day like this a fortress-like portfolio mix of 50% high-grade fixed income and 50% dividend-paying stocks, allows a prudent and astute investor to not only sleep well but perhaps even gloat a little. This month, I talk about what’s best for your portfolio if you’re about to retire in the next 5 to 10 years. Plus, I cover the six positions I am adding to that are in our portfolio. If you are looking to smooth out your portfolio, check out my fixed-income strategy. I discuss the potential of zeros and how my Young Research Valuation Indicator can point out buy signals for you. And I have one new stock for you and one stock to sell, plus a new list of blue-chip preferreds and an update on our Agricultural Commodities portfolio. Make it a good month!

Tags: Alcan, Alcoa, Alexander & Baldwin, Alico, American Express, BHP Billiton, BlackRock, Boeing, Cresud, DB Agricultural Commodities Fund, Deutsche Bank, Dodge & Cox International, Federated Investors, Fidelity Canada, general electric, harley-davidson, ING, iShares Singapore, johnson & johnson, JP Morgan, Merrill Lynch, Microsoft, New Era, Pepsico, Piedmont Natural gas, Plum Creek Timber, Powershares, retirement, Rio Tinto, ruger, Sturm, Syngenta, T. Rowe Price, T. Rowe Price Japan Fund, Tiffany, treasury, Vanguard GNMA, Vanguard Wellesley Income, Wal-Mart, withdrawal rate, Wrigley, Xstrata, Young Valuation Indicator, zeros

Discipline and patience were two things that the Boston Red Sox could have used in the 2003 Championship Series against the Yankees. And we preach about both everyday here at Intelligence Report — discipline to stay true to our diversified portfolio and the patience to keep our focus on the long term. This approach made us successful in 2005 and will continue to help us profit in the future. This month I discuss some of our successes from the past year as well as answer a number of your questions. I also provide you with a few opportunities to help your IRAs in the next year. As we continue in the New Year, be sure to read this month’s issue for my latest advice.

Tags: Alliance Resource Partners, Archstone-Smith, ARLP, ASN, BHP, BHP Billiton, BlackRock Dividend Achievers Trust, BlackRock Global Opportunities Equity trust, BPL, Buckeye Partners, Cameco, Canadian General Investments LTD, CCJ, China, Coal Master Limited Partnerships, counterbalancing, diversification, Dodge & Cox International, EQR, Equity residential, Fidelity International real Estate Fund, Holland balanced Fund, iShares Australia Omdex Fund, iShares MSCI Singapre Index, Kinder Morgan Energy Partners, KMP, Macquarie Infrastructure company trust, MIC, Natural resource Partners, Norfolk Southern, NRP, NSC, PII, Polaris, REIT, Retirement Compounders, RGR, Rio Tinto, Royce Value Trust, RTP, ruger, Smith & Wesson, streetTracks Gold Shares, Sturm, SWB, T. rowe Price New Asia, T. Rowe Price New Era, T. Vanguard Long-Term Investment grade, Third Avenue International, Third Avenue Small-cap value, Third Avenue Value, Union Pacific, UNP, Valero L.P., Vanguard GNMA, Vanguard Inflation Protected Securitites Fund, Vanguard Precious Metals & Mining, Vanguard Short Term Investment Grade, Vanguard Wellesley, Vanguard Wellington Balanced, VLI