Momentum strategy: Skip stocks, go for sectors - Mar. 5, 2014. A momentum strategy can boost returns without too much risk.
Just don't be too greedy. (Money Magazine) That's especially true if you are constantly moving in and out of individual securities, which is the classic momentum strategy. Yet a decent body of research suggests that entire asset classes that shine in one year have a better-than-average chance of outperforming in the next. "Momentum is persistent, pervasive, and well documented in virtually every investment and in every country," says Gregg Fisher, chief investment officer with the asset-management firm Gerstein Fisher.
Asset allocation: What's wrong with a stock-heavy mix? - Jan. 4. (MONEY Magazine) -- I am 35 and consider myself an aggressive investor.
I have at least 90% of my money in stock mutual funds. Best investments at ages 35 to 44 - Apr. 16. How should you divvy up your investments in your late 30s and early 40s?
Try this model portfolio. (MONEY Magazine) -- When it comes to putting together a retirement portfolio, you need to think like an athlete running a marathon. The race isn't always easy. No doubt you'll experience periods in which the market puts you to the test, whether in the form of raging bears like those of 2000 and 2008 or the jolting volatility that's come with the climb back from the financial crisis. Gas prices: If you can't beat 'em, join 'em - Book a profit on $5 gas (1) Shelling out extra cash for $4 or even $5 a gallon is infuriating.
To make up for some of that pain, earn some extra dough by investing in stocks and funds that benefit from soaring oil and gas prices. Investors are already capitalizing on the run-up, plowing more than $666 million into the Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLE) during the last two weeks -- more than any other ETF -- according to IndexUniverse. United States Oil (USO), which tracks crude oil futures, has also raked in a significant amount. Oil prices surged 7% in February, sending gas prices up almost 29 cents a gallon, or more than 8%, for the month. And experts think that momentum is far from over.
"There's a pretty good backdrop for energy prices to stay high, and keep rising," said Bob Carey, Chief Investment Officer at First Trust Advisors. On the other hand, an improving economy is lifting the energy demand outlook, which is also pushing prices higher. NEXT: Big Oil stocks. Money 70: The best funds you can buy. NEW YORK (Money Magazine) When Money magazine introduced the MONEY 70 list in 2007, the investing landscape sure was different.
Exchange-traded funds were just coming onto the scene, and the merits of the strategy guiding them and index mutual funds were still the subject of great debate. Top picks from top pros - Meggan Walsh (1) Manager tenure: 9 years Fund type: Large-cap value Expenses: 0.95% Her picks General Mills: "General Mills has strong brands.
Plus, the market underappreciates its joint venture with Nestle to expand into developing markets. Ticonderoga's top pick for 2012 is its top pick for 2011: Apple. Prospered in last year's economic storms, prepared for even rougher weather ahead Click to enlarge.
"During 2011," writes Ticonderoga's Brian White in a note to clients Tuesday, "Apple was the best performer in our universe of twenty companies, rising by 26%. " Investor's guide 2012: Best bets in tech - Jan. 3. (MONEY Magazine) -- Seeking shelter from the stormy market?
Think tech, especially big, established technology companies, which could rival traditional plays like utilities and consumer staples as premier defensive investments. Financial strength is one key reason, notes James Swanson, chief investment strategist for MFS Investment Management. The tech sector is the only group in the Standard & Poor's 500 with more cash than debt on its books. That has enabled many tech giants to initiate or hike dividend payments. While the group's average 1.1% yield is still only half the S&P's, there's plenty of room to increase the payout.
Even more important, keeping current on technology is increasingly an imperative for business. Result: "The tech sector has become less vulnerable to the business cycle," says George Sertl, co-manager of the Artisan Value fund. Cloud Investing, Buffett-Style. The best way to play emerging markets. FORTUNE -- Ever since the great crash of 2008, when emerging markets plummeted more than 50%, one strategy has jumped in popularity: buying multinationals to play the fast-growing markets.
Giants like Coca-Cola rarely collapse like their developing markets-based competitors. They sell into all the hottest markets such as Brazil, India, and China. Retirement Calculator & Financial Retirement Planner - T. Rowe Price. Why you should stop trying to beat the market - Nov. 4. Investing in the market for beginners - Mar. 10. By Walter Updegrave, senior editorMarch 10, 2011: 2:04 PM ET.
Where can I find a fund with an 8% return on investment? - Jan. 28. By Walter Updegrave, senior editorJanuary 28, 2011: 11:39 AM ET (Money Magazine) -- I always see people saying that if you save and then earn an annual return of 7% or 8% on your investments, you should be able to accumulate enough for a decent retirement. But please tell, where, oh where, can I get a 7% or 8% return on investment these days? Why you should stop trying to beat the market - Oct. 21.
Finding the right balance between investing and saving will reap retirement rewards. (MONEY Magazine) -- How much better will you do if you invest well instead of poorly (or earn the average)? -- James McGrath, San Marcos, Calif. Considering all the attention investment pros (and financial magazines) lavish on picking the right stocks and funds, I can understand why you might think superior investing ranks above all else when it comes to a `secure future and a comfortable retirement. Savvy investing is certainly important -- you don't want to blow your savings on lousy funds or ineffectual strategies. And you'll end up richer if you happen upon a winning investment. But as a practical matter you can't know in advance which fund or stock will beat the market -- in fact, over the past 15 years, only 55% of U.S. equity funds did so, according to Morningstar. To see what I mean, check out this example. What to do with $10,000 - Bet on pros who can handle a bear market (1) - Money Magazine.
When the S&P hits the skids, the last person you want managing your money is some newly-minted MBA. ETFs for the long haul - Staying on track with ETFs (1) Thanks to their low-cost and tax-friendly structure, exchange traded funds are increasingly gaining favor with investors. The market for ETFs is fairly young, with the first fund launching just 18 years ago. Today, there are more than 1,100 to choose from and the market is growing by leaps and bounds.
Some ETFs track broad indexes, such as the Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF (VTI), while others are more narrow, such as ones that track gold or silver. And some carry higher risks than others. Mutual funds and risk - Nov. 3.