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

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

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

There’s no doubt in my mind that the world’s greatest and most successful rock and roll band is the Rolling Stones. However, this success would not have been possible without an enormous amount of focus and patience by the band. Focus and patience are what this issue is all about. What are you doing to make sure your portfolio maximizes its compound interest and dividends? This month, I provide some options to help you stay on point. Also, I revisit a few funds that you need to increase your holdings in, as well as introduce two new funds and three new stocks that I believe should be a part of your portfolio. Read this month’s issue for all the exciting details. Make it a good month.

Tags: ABER, aber diamond, ABX, American Century Global Gold, Australia, Barrick, Ben Grahm, Blackrock Enhanced Fund, Canadian General Investments, CAT, Caterpillar, Century Bank, Chemistry and Synergy, China, coca-Cola, diamonds, DIS, Disney, dividends, FAL, Falconbridge, Federated Investors, FII, FLEX, Flextronics, GE, general electric, harley-davidson, HDI, Hong Kong, Inco, iShares, iShares Goldman Sachs Natural resources Index fund, J.M. Smucker, Janus Fund, JOE, KO, Marvel, MVL, N, Norfolk Southern, NSC, Oak family funds, PDG, PEP, Pepsico, Placer Dome, power investing, presidential cycle, quadrennial theory, RGR, Rio Tinto, RTP, ruger, Singapore, SJM, St. Joe, streetTracks Gold Shares, Sturm, T. Rowe Price, T.Rowe price Dividend Growth, Third Avenue International Value, Third Avenue Small-cap value, TimberWest Forest, TROW, Union Pacific, United technologies, UNP, UTX, Vanguard GNMA, Vanguard Growth & Income, Vanguard Precious Metals & Mining, Warren Buffett, WFMI, Whole foolds

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

1948 was the beginning for the greatest jazz vocal group in history, the Four Freshman. Even today there is Four Freshman vocal group still maintaining great harmony and overtones–much like my favorite Third Avenue funds. Two of my favorite funds closed, but Third Avenue does have two value funds that you should take action on after you read this issue. I discuss what I believe are the three ways we can end the U.S. trade deficit and cope with the impact of a much cheaper U.S. dollar. I also revisit my Picks & Shovels strategy involving investing outside of China. I have two funds that are the right call for this Far East investment strategy. This month I have added four stocks to my list and eliminated some as well, so be sure to review. Lastly be sure to check out my new Perspective box, it will help you plan the rest of your investing year.

Tags: BHP, BHP Billiton, Castle Doctrine, Chaos Theory, China, COST, Costco, Four Freshmen, harley-davidson, HDI, Hong Kong, JAREX, jeb Bush, N.Y. community Bancorp, NYB, PII, Placer Dome. PDG, Polaris Industries, purchasing power parity, recession, RGR, Rio Tinto, RTP, ruger, second amendment, Sturm, T. Rowe Price New Asia Fund, T. Rowe Price New Era, Teck Cominco, Third Avenue Funds, Third Avenue International Value, Third Avenue Real Estate Value, Third Avenue Small-cap value, trade deficit, U.S. exports, Vanguard GNMA, Vanguard Precious Metals & Mining, WFMI, Whole foods, Yankee Candle, YCC, yuan