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

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