Oil and gold prices are skyrocketing. The housing slump, along with the sub-prime write-off mess, has nowhere near run its course. Manufacturing employment is falling. And all this is occurring in the ever-important election year. But despite my jaundiced view of the U.S. presidential candidates and the storm clouds advancing over the U.S. economy, there are still promising investment opportunities to ride out the turbulence — you just need to stay focused, patient, and objective. This month marks my annual Q&A issue, so along with discussing the economy and the potential for a recession, I answer a number of the questions weighing on your minds.

Tags: AA, AAUK, ALCO, Alcoa, Alico, Anglo American, BA, Bank of Florida, BHP, BHP Billiton, Boeing, BOFL, BTU, Cameco, CCJ, China, China Panda, coca-Cola, coins, Dodge & Cox income, DODIX, Enerplus Resources, ERF, FDG, Fording Canadian Coal, GE, general electric, GLD, global economy, gold, Harry Winston Diamond Co., inflation, JOE, KO, manufacturing employment, municipal bonds, natural gas, NEM, Newmont Mining, NILSY, Norfolk Southern, NSC, oil, PBG, PCL, Peabody Energy, Penn West Energy, PEP, Pepsi Bottling, Pepsico, PG, Plum Creek Timber, president, presidential cycle, PRJPX, PRNEX, Procter & Gamble, PWE, Rayonier, RDS.A, recession, Rio Tinto, Royal Dutch Petroleum, RTP, Russia, RYN, Southwest Water Company, St. Joe, streetTracks Gold Shares, SWWC, Sysco, SYY, T. Rowe Price Group, T. Rowe Price Japan, T. Rowe Price�New Era, TAVIX, Teck Cominco, TEK-SVB.TO, terrorism, Third Avenue International Value, TimberWest Forest Corp., TROW, TWF.UN, UL, Unilever, United Parcel Service, UPS, Vanguard GNMA, Vanguard Growth Index, Vanguard Precious Metals & Mining, Vanguard Precious Metals & Mining Fund, Vanguard Short Term Investment Grade, Vanguard Value Index's, Vanguard Wellesley Income, Very Light Jet, VFIIX, VFSTX, VGPMX, VIGIX, VIVAX, Vladimir Putin, VLJ, VWINX, W.M. Wrigley, WWY

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

Today’s sub-prime lending mess has many institutional investors wringing their hands. So, this month I give you updates on all the hedge funds that have been clobbered by the sub-prime fiasco. Plus, many investors are worrying about a possible recession, but if you’ve been following my advice and set up a counterbalanced portfolio, a recession is a nonevent for you. Check out why I why I don’t think a recession is in the cards. Also, I have two new additions to the Stock Monster Master List, and I give you some insight into why I’m taking a huge position in a utility fund that you should be investing in as well. And I also have updates on our Top Ten Common Stocks and a new preferred that you should add to your portfolio. Make it a good month.

Tags: AAUK, AL, Alcan, American Century Global Gold, Anglo American, BDJ, BGEIX, BHP, BHP Billiton, BlackRick Enhanced Dividend Achievers Trust, BlackRock Global Opportunities Equity trust, BNI, BOE, BTU, Burlington Northern Santa Fe, Canadian Pacific Railway, coca-Cola, CP, DEO, DIA, Diageo, Dodge & Cox income, DODIX, Dow Diamonds Trust, Fed, Fidelity International real Estate, Fidelity Natural Gas, FIREX, FSNGX, GE, general electric, harley-davidson, hedge funds, HOG, ING Group, KO, Microsoft, MSFT, PCL, Peabody Energy, PEP, Pepsico, Plum Creek Timber, PRASX, PRJPX, Rayonier, Rio Tinto, RTP, RYN, T. Rowe Price Japan, T. rowe Price New Asia, UL, Unilver, United technologies, UTX, Vanguard GNMA, Vanguard Precious Metals & Mining, Vanguard Value Index, Vanguard Wellesley, VFIIX, VGPMX, VIVAX, volatility, VWINX, Wal-Mart, William Wrigley, WMT, WWY

It’s all about the oil. This month’s issue focuses on the United States’` dependency on oil and what this means for our investments. I offer four powerful considerations for you to factor into your investment thinking and a number of ways to protect your investments over the long-term. The strongest way to protect yourself is to invest in the companies that are part of our alternative energy future, such as the four new utility companies I want you to add to your portfolios this month. Plus, there are a few blue chips making bets on alternative energy and energy efficiency that are buys as well. Be sure to read this important issue!

Tags: <prgan Stanley trust Preferred VI, Archstone-Smith, ASN, Australia, BHP, BHP Billiton, BP, British Petroleum, Canadian General Investments, CIN, Cinergy, Delta & Pine Land, DLP, EQR, Equity residential, Fidelity International real Estate, FPL, FPL group, GE, general electric, harley-davidson, HDI, Hong Kong, Income Fund, India, iShares Singapore, mcCormick, MKC, Norfolk Southern, NSC, oil, PCL, PII, PIMCO real Commodity return, Plum Creek, Polaris, PSD, Puget Energy, Rayonier, RD, rio trinto, Royal Dutch, RTP, RYN, time warner, TWX, Union Pacific, UNP, Vanguard Precious Metals & Mining, Vanguard Wellesley, Xcel energy, XEL

In 1959, I started studying the stock market. Since then there has not been a single stock market downer in the year leading up to a presidential election. In fact, stocks usually make big gains-more so than in any other year of the election cycle. In this issue, I cover the impact of the presidential election cycle on the stock market, especially the year preceding the election. But the bulk of the issue is spent discussing my investment strategy. You need to read what I have to say about Japan versus South Korea. I also discuss fixed income and what you can expect in 2006 with regard to my Big Idea — the impending retirement of 76 million Americans. I have some new funds and some old for you to consider as well as some new stock offerings. Make sure to read this month’s issue; it will help you prepare for 2006.

Tags: AA, ABX, AL, Al Qaeda, Alcan, Alcoa, American Century Zero Cupon, Archstone-Smith, ASN, Barrick Gold, BHP, BHP Billiton, BlackRock Dividend Achievers Trust, BlackRock Global Energy & resources Trust, BP, Cameco, Canadialn General Investments, CCJ, China, Commodity Real Return, COST, Costco, Dodge & Cox income, election year cycle, ExxonMobil, FAL, Falconbridge, FCEa, Fidelity International real Estate, Fiduciary/Claymore MLP Opportunity Fund, forest City, GDP, General Jon Abizaid, Iraq, iShares MSCI Australia Index, iShares MSCI Singapre Index, jazz, Katrina, MCD, McDonalds, Microsoft, MSFT, Mutoual Series, NEM, Newmont Mining, Norfolk Southern, NSC, PCL, PDG, PEP, Pepsico, PIMCO, PIMCO All Asset, Placer Dome, PLD, Plum Creek, President Bush, PRJPX, Prologis, Rayonier, RD, Rio Tinto, Royal Dutch, RTP, RYN, streetTracks Gold Shares, T. Rowe Price Japan Fund, T. Rowe Price New Asia Fund, T. Rowe Price New Era, T. Rowe Price Teck cominco, Third Avenue International, Third Avenue International Value, third Avenue Real Estate, Third Avenue Small-Cap, Third Avenue Small-cap value, Third Avenue Value, Third Avenue Vanguard Precious metals & Mining, Union Pacific, UNP, Vanguard GNMA, Vanguard Inflation Protected Securities, Vanguard Intermediate Term Treasury, Vanguard Precious Metals & Mining, Vanguard Short Term Investment Grade, Vanguard Wellesley Income Fund, Vanguard Wellington, VWELX, XOM

High water is the theme of this month’s issue as I analyze hurricane-related issues and why they are vital for you when considering my Big Idea. You should also focus on the following points when considering the future: income, migration and leisure. I discuss each of these issues for you this month, as well as, what is working for us. While this has been a down year for most if you have followed our plan, you are having a darn nice year. All my balanced funds and fixed income funds are up for the year. And there are some I would consider cheap funds and stocks that I want you to focus on, especially Vanguard funds and commodities — gold, aluminum, nickel, and uranium. There is much to cover this month but if you remain focused and take immediate action, you will continue to be successful.

Tags: AA, ABN Amro capital V11, AL, Alcan, Alcoa, Bank of America, bear market, Cabco Goldman Sachs, Cameco, Canadian General Investments, CAT, Caterpillar, CCJ, China, DEL, Deltic Lumber, Dodge & cox, FAL, Falconbridge, harley-davidson, HDI, J.P. Morgan chase, JOE, Lehman Bros, Mandarin Oriental International, MCD, McDonalds, MOIL.SI, Mutual Series, New Era, Norfolk Southern, NSC, PCL, PDG, PEP, Pepsico, PII, Placer Dome, Plum Creek, Polaris Industries, Rayonier, RGR, ruger, RYN, St. Joe, Sturm, T. rowe Price New Asia, Third Avenue International Value, Third Avenue Value, Vanguard GNMA, Vanguard Precious Metals & Mining, Vanguard Short Term Investment Grade, Wells Fargo

In this month’s issue I focus on the effects of Hurricane Katrina and what it means for your investments and for the U.S. economy. No matter the outlook, your investment strategy need not be altered, as I have been guiding you in the direction of a fully counterbalanced portfolio capable of riding out even catastrophic events like Katrina. Remember a conservative approach to investing wins. I devote the bulk of this issue to review our portfolios and what kind of return you need to plan for. And as promised I’ve included my end-of-summer “Mostly Stocks” section, which provides intelligence on many of our Monster Master List names. You must act now to take care of your portfolio as I have been stressing for the past few months.

Tags: AA, AL, Alcan, Alcoa, ALEX, Alexander & Baldwin, artom Whitman values Fund, BHP, BHP Billiton, BPL, Buckeye Partners, CAG, CAT, Caterpillar, Cleveland-Cliffs, CLF, coca-Cola, ConAgra, ConocoPhillips, COP, Delta & Pine Land, DLP, Enerplus resources fund, ERF, ExxonMobil, FAL, Falconbridge, FDG, Fording Canadian Coal trust, harley-davidson, HBC, HDI, Hormel, HRL, HSBC Holdings, ITW, J.M. Smucker, JOE, JPM Chase Capital XIV, Katrina, Kinder Morgan Energy Partners, KMP, KO, Legg Mason, LM, Mandarin Oriental International, McCormic, MCD, McDonalds, Microsoft, MKC, MOIL.SI, MSFT, Natural resource Partners, NRP, O;;onois tool Works, PCL, PDG, PEP, Pepsico, PFE, Pfizer, Piedmont Natural gas, PII, Placer Dom, Plum Creek, PNY, Polaris, Rayonier, RGR, Rio Tinto, RTP, ruger, RYN, SJM, St. Joe, Sturm, T. Rowe Price New Era, Teck Cominco, Third Avenue International Value, Third Avenue Real Estate Value, Third Avenue Small-cap value, Third Avenue Value, Third Avenue values, Valero LP, Vanguard GNMA, Vanguard Precious Metals & Mining, Vanguard Short Term Investment Grade, Vanguard Wellington, VLI, XOM