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

Did you know that the only investment book on my desk is Graham, Dodd & Cottles’ Security Analysis? This book has been there since I began working in 1963 and is as treasured now as it was then. The guts of investing haven’t changed much through the decades either. Compound interest, value and patience are still the key. In fact many of our highest quality investments have been successful for over 80 years. In this month’s issue, I talk about the importance of dividend yields versus stock buybacks. Also this month you will notice that the Economic Analysis and Mutual Funds Monster Master List have been revised. My goal is to provide you with content that updates more frequently and is easier to read. Make it a good month!

Tags: American Express, balance, bear, Boeing, citigroup, coca-Cola, Epoch, ETN, euro, ExxonMobil, Fidelity Nordic, general electric, harley-davidson, Honda, HSBC, illinois tool works, inference reading, johnson & johnson, Laurent, Manitowoc, Norilsk, Pespsi Bottling, Polaris, Precious Metals & Mining, Russian, sugar, Switzerland, T. Rowe Price, United technologies, Villchur, Wellesley, Wellington, yen

This month, I talk about balance. Just like you need a balanced diet, you also need a proper balance with your investments. The proper balance is achieved
through diligent research and perspective, as well as the patience to achieve your goals. In this month’s issue of Intelligence Report, we
review the basics of our portfolio to create this balance and how well my current recommendations are succeeding for us. I also discuss an old favorite
on the Monster Master List, as I think now is the time to buy it since it is a likely takeover candidate. Have a happy Thanksgiving!

Tags: American Express, AXP, BA, BACprC, balance, Bank of America Issue, BDJ, BDV, Black Rock Dividend Achievers Trust, Black Rock Enhanced Dividend Achievers Trust, BOE, Boeing, CAG, Canada, CAT, Caterpillar, coca-Cola, ConAgra, DIA, dividends, Dodge & Cox Income Fund, DODIX, Dow Diamonds Trust, Enerplus, ERF, FDG, Fording Canadian Coal, Franklin Mutual Series Shares, GE, general electric, Global Opportunities Equity Trust, GNMA Fund, Halloween, harley-davidson, HOG, illinois tool works, ITW, JOE, KO, MCD, McDonalds, Microsoft, Morgan Stanley Cap, MSFT, MUTHX, omega-3, Omega-6, Penn West Energy, PRJPX, PRNEX, PWE, Retirement Compounders, RGR, ruger, Sell harley, Simple is Sophisticated, St. Joe, Sturm, T. Rowe Price Japan, T. Rowe Price New Era, TAREX, TAVFX, The Omega Diet, third Avenue Real Estate, Third Avenue Value, TimberWest Corp, time warner, Toronto, TWF.UN, TWX, United technologies, UTX, Vanguard Equity Income, Vanguard Precious Metals & Mining, Vanguard Short Term Investment Grade, VFIIX, VFSTX, VGPMX, WEIPX, Wrigley, WWY, Yankee Candle, YCC

Where do you put your money today? This month, I still have gold at the top of my list. In fact, there is a new offering from the U.S. government that I think you should buy. Also, the long-term increase trend in the Canadian dollar bodes well for our Canadian investments so I have two new funds from Canada that I want you to add to your equities positions as well. Plus, in my Monster List, I am bringing back one of my favorites, and I have breaking news that shows a strong future for this company’s new product line. Make it a good month.

Tags: AA, ABER, aber diamond, Al Qaeda, Al-Zaeqawi, Alcoa, ALEX, Alexander & Baldwin, Alpha Natural Resources, American Century Global Gold, ANR, Archstone-Smith, ASN, Bank of America Capital trust X11, BlackRock Enhanced Dividend Achievers Trust, BlackRock Global Opportunities Equities trust, BTU, CAG, Canadian General Investments, Cleveland-Cliffs, CLF, coca-Cola, ConAgra Foods, DD, DEL, Delta & Pine Land, Deltic timber, DLP, Dow Diamonds, DuPont, EQR, Equity residential, FAL, Falconbridge, FDG, Federated Investors, Fidelity Canada, FII, Florida rock, Fording Canadian Coal, FRK, harley-davidson, HDI, illinois tool works, Inco, Iraq, ITW, JOE, KO, Kurds, Marvel Enterprises, MVL, N, NOC, Norfolk Southern, Northrop Grumman, NSC, PD, Peabody Energy, Pentair, PEP, Pepsico, Phelps Dodge, Piedmont Natural gas, PII, PNR, PNY, Polaris Industries, Retirement Compounders, RFID, Smart Dust, Smart Rocks, St. Joe, streetTracks Gold Shares, Sysco, SYY, Teck Cominco, trinity Intustries, TRN, VNO, Vornado, Xstrata, XTA.L, Yankee Candle, YCC

I always talk to you about the power of compound growth–well, this month we get back to the basics. My wife and I recently visited Vermont’s Authentic Designs to order new lighting for our home. The skilled craftsmen of Authentic Designs still work on 150 year-old machines and turn out some masterful creations. Their guiding principle is “Simple Is Sophisticated.” I love that phrase, and I think it’s one that every investor should take to heart. In this month’s issue I cover all the “keep it simple” principles and steps that help our portfolios grow. This is an educational issue you won’t want to miss. Enjoy, and make it a good month!

Tags: ALEX, Alexander & Baldwin, Berkshire Hathaway, Brazil, BRKb, Efficiency Frontier, Fidelity Canada fund, Fidelity International real Estate, GE, general electric, harley-davidson, HDI, illinois tool works, Imer, Inco, iShares Australia, iShares Singapore, ITW, Jardine Matheson Holdings Ltd., JMHLY, JOE, LMI.L, Lonmin PLC, N, St. Joe, Third Avenue International Value, time warner, TWX, Vanguard GNMA, Vanguard Precious Metals & Mining, Vanguard Short Term Investment Grade, Vanguard tax-Managed growth & Income, Vanguard Wellington