YoYoMama

Coach: Growth and Growth Yield at a Reasonable Price

Mr. Carnavale highlights quality investments, but consistently, the yield on the dividend is really too low for true tow-the-line dividend investors. I'm somewhat confused as to why these articles are filed as "dividend" articles by SA. A yield of .9% is not at all a good choice for a true dividend portfolio. The minimum yield should be 3%. Some of us are daring "high yield only" folks, and our minimum is 5% or more.

But for capital appreciation portfolios, I think this author nails it consistently with excellent choices. I just think the dividends on these are so low that it should be considered a nice bonus on a capital appreciation stock, and not an option for a true dividend investor.

Newsletter Writers Are Increasingly Bullish

Agreed. When the bears finally capitulate, it's time to sell, the onslaught has begun.


On Nov 25 06:11 PM user396040 wrote:

> This is definitely a contrarian signal that should be watched. I
> have intentionally stayed off the "Do not call" list so that I get
> a stream of cold calls from brokers. While this is very, very unpleasant,
> the advice of cold-calling brokers is a very powerful contrartian
> signal. The only two times I got cold calls advising me to open
> an account with a short position were in the summer of 2002 and in
> February of this year - both turned out to be excellent times to
> buy. Right now, I am getting more and more cold calls from brokers
> wanting to open up long positions and, recently, calls from precious
> metal dealers and brokers.

We Have Nothing to Fear but Uncle Sam Himself

My small business is in Texas, a state which fosters small businesses with a favorable tax environment and relatively little government interference. We cannot help what Uncle Sam does, but it is a comfort to at least not have to deal with state interference as well. This is why so many businesses are relocating to Texas.

Our company used to be one of those that socrateaz talked about. No profit, losing ground by the day. We brought in a consultant, who advised us we did not have a good business model. We then piggybacked our experience into a different kind of business, one that was unique and had little competition. Within 2 years, we were profitable, and are now growing an average rate of 10% per quarter.

When you own your own business, it becomes like your child. You are emotionally invested in it. I understand. This is why it is to your advantage to bring in an outside viewpoint that can assess how you may better profit from the marketplace.

This may mean giving up what you have worked for for almost 10 years, and starting something new. But ultimately, being in business is about making money, not fulfilling a dream. This was a hard lesson for my husband and I to learn, but it has made all the difference in the world financially.

We’ve Survived Worse Markets (and Economies) Before – the 1970s

"Back in those unenlightened days, there were no index funds, no ETFs, and few no-load mutual funds, so it was incumbent on the investor who would be successful to pay very close attention to the three things I still review anew each day:

How should I allocate assets among asset classes, what is the optimal time to rebalance portfolios, and which sectors, industries and companies will do best this week, this month, this year?"

This is the best takeaway I have from this article. Yes, times are bad now. Yes, they were bad in the 70's, I lived through it. Focus on your life and portfolio. Keep positive, stay on course.

Doing the very things the author proposes has me up in my portfolio 30% since November 2008. Great advice in all economic climates.

Is America Ready for Assembly Line Medicine?

It is arrogance, and maybe ignorance, to think we have the best health care system in the world. What we do have is the most expensive system, and hospitals, doctors and insurance companies are complicit.

I had surgery several years ago in Costa Rica. The cost was 1/3 of what I would have paid in the USA. The care was far more superior than anything I received in the USA. The costs were explained upfront, and that is exactly what I paid. In fact, I received a refund on the back end, because my condition was not as critical as first thought!

Here in America, as a standard process, it always goes they way prairiedog says. Every possible means to jack up the costs are employed. And are these costs ever cleared through the paying consumer? No. How else do you explain the fact that I was charged $7.00 for a pitcher of tap water on one hospital stay in the US?

Why do they do it? Because "insurance" will pay. Well, I have news for you...where does the insurance company get it's money? That's right. From the pockets of you and me, one way or another, whether it's from higher insurance premiums, or tax dollars for Medicare / Medicaid.

Every one is getting in a lather about the demise of for profit insurance. The truth of the matter is, having experienced care in a country that actually OUTLAWS insurance, and the care was so much better for it. God willing, I will always have the choice on major care to be able to get out of the USA and have any surgeries performed overseas.

Seven Dividend Stocks to Take the Emotion Out of Investing

Yep. Alternatives may make some headway, but the world will run on oil / gas for many generations. MLPs are the best way to exploit this for your portfolio.

International exchange-traded trust-preferreds, which are only taxed at 15%, are also little known, but appear to be a good source of fixed income. Many are yeilding well over 10%. Less the 15% tax, and you are still coming out over 8%. A great way to take advantage of the trend to all things international.

There is a fabulous website, www.quantumonline.com, that lists every conceivable debt instrument and preferred stock imaginable. I've watched the int'l debt instruments for a while, and technically, they do not seem to trade in tandem with the market. So you just have to watch, find your entry point, and reap the dividends.

High-Dividend ETF Plays

It's interesting how those who actually participate in high yield investing would have a much different definition of "high yield" than would the author. Most high yield investors (myself included) would not touch a yield under 5%. None of these ETFS even come close.

15 Indicators We're Watching Now

Very helpful. Count me as a follower.

Obamacare: Affordable Private Insurance Is Already Available

"Obviously, his coverage might be different from mine, but mine covers just about everything and there is NO DEDUCTIBLE for preventive care. In addition, I pay my deductible out of my HSA IRA, so the feds pick up about 28%."

This is what I understand about you. You either work for a corporation which provides you a nice group health plan. Or you have no pre-existing conditions which exclude you from a personal plan.

Congratulations on your good fortune. This means you still don't get it.

Those on group plans have NO IDEA the pain those of us with pre-existing or personal plans go through. Those with good plans (group or government) and/or have no pre-existing have this perception that because my plan is good, therefore everyone's is good.

There is a world of difference between large group plans and those on personal insurance. The difference is bargaining power.

Those of us on personal plans have no bargaining power. We are just one person on one policy. Therefore, the insurance company does with us what they want.

Under the banner of "reasonable and customary", the insurers can pay 30% on a perfectly legitimate claim, whereas the policy may state 80%. They do so because we have no HR department which will take on the fight for us and hold the insurance company accountable.

Rates are raised on us disproportionately. My policy went up 20% this year, and we went to the doctor only two or three times last year, and have no ongoing prescriptions through insurance. How much did yours go up?

Those on personal insurance face daily the possibility of rescission. Insurance company statistics say 10 - 15% percent. More independent studies show the rescission rate is almost 30%.

All this, and we pay 20% more next year for the same treatment.

DO NOT tell me my policy is just fine. I know better. You don't.

On Nov 10 05:59 PM Paco6945 wrote:

> Only two commenters indicated what they pay for health insurance:
> YoYoMama and jse17. YoYoMama pays $7K per year for a family of 5
> - that's $1,400 per person per year with a $3,000 deductible per
> person and jse17 pays $3,500 per person per year with a $500 deductible
> per person.
>
> I'm not sure these numbers are that out of line. I pay about $1,500
> per year for homeowners insurance with a $5K deductible -- been doing
> that for 30 years and have never had a claim. I own a small company
> (28 employees) and our plan (which we pay) costs about $240 per month
> per person. It is an HSA plan with a $3K deductible, but individuals
> can pay the $3K, if it is incurred, out of their HSA IRA -- so the
> feds effectively pick up somewhere between 20% and 35% of the deductible.
>
>
> If you think health care is expensive now, wait until the government
> runs it.

Why The Market's Set to Move Lower For the Rest of the Month

Glad I didn't listen to you and your dismissal of TA. I'm up 30% since November 2008 - that's with two market bottoms - and up 90% since the March lows. All because I have followed the technicals of my holdings (pre- and post-Nov 2008) - and of the market - very, very closely.

Given the fundamentals of our economy, it's a perfectly valid choice to stay in cash now. You won't make any money, but on the other hand, because you aren't losing any either.

But if your choice was to short this market, in face of a clear technical uptrend, well, the losses you incurred are exactly what you asked for.

Ignore TA and market direction at your own peril.


On Nov 20 04:12 PM twitee wrote:

> In case you have not realized, technical and fundamental analysis
> has been out of the window since March 9 2009.
>
> The central banker and the Fed are busy pumping up the market with
> billions of tax payer money.
>
> This is a one way street my friends, there is no room for failure
> of the market. There may be drop in the market, but it will last
> for a short period and there would be no meaningful correction.
>
>
> We live in an era of separation between the main street from Wall
> street. Good luck trying to apply Technical and fundamental analysis
> on your investment.
>
>
>
>

11 Stocks Increasing Dividends, Long-Term Return

Thank you for profiling PNNT, which pays a handsome and increasing dividend. I hold it, I love it.

Con Ed: Slow and Steady Wins the Dividend Race

Yield is 5.63%, did not see that stated outright in this article.

Golden Shorting Opportunity, if Stocks Pull Back

It would seem safer simply to short the indices via short ETFs like SDS.

2009: Already a Record Year for MLPs

I own EVEP, RGNC, NRGY, HEP, NGLS, CPNO, WPZ, PVX and, yes, LINE. Other strong performers to consider are ERF, EPD and DEP. I would watch your entry points, I entered most of these positions when oil was under $60 pb.


On Nov 18 11:16 AM DuffBeer wrote:

> YoYo
> Is LINE one of them ? I am in the process of resetting our portfolio
>
> to income vs speculation/growth. Would you please share some of your
>
> companies that I should consider for my change over.
> Thanks
> DuffBeer

Winning Investment Strategy: Focus on Value-Based Dividend Growth

AAII.com has every possible screener one can imagine. The cost is $39.00 per year.


On Nov 18 03:28 PM NoGambler wrote:

> Most instructive.
>
> What online screeners are you using?
>
> I have suspicions about the US economy and am going long in Brazil.
>
>
> What about screeners for foreign companies (say Brazil) with stocks
> or ADRs that trade in America?
>
> An older fellow, I've just signed on as a follower of yours.
>
> Again, thanks for a most instructive contribution!